"Young Master?" Sebastian was hovering behind Ciel as they walked.
"Not here. If he found out, he wouldn't leave me alone." Ciel said. He was starting to sweat and he pulled at his shirt collar because it was starting to choke and suffocate him. He struggled to put one foot in front of the other as the world around him started spinning.
The moment they turned the corner, Sebastian picked Ciel up and rushed back inside, heading straight to the master bedroom.
Ciel was breathing heavily and was very pale. He closed his eyes and was still trying to pull at his tie. Sebastian quickly took the tie off and unbuttoned the first couple of buttons of Ciel's shirt.
"Breathe, Young Master... Slow and easy now... Breathe..." Sebastian coached.
"I think I'm going to be sick..." Ciel said. He just barely managed to lean forward before emptying the content of his stomach on the carpet. He heaved and retched and Sebastian gently massaged the back of his neck.
After he was done, Ciel was exhausted. He hunched forward and the only thing stopping him from taking a dive to the floor was Sebastian's arm across his chest. Once he felt somewhat better and was confident he wouldn't throw up again, he raised his head. "I'm alright now."
Sebastian let go of him and after making sure Ciel wouldn't fall, he left to get a basin from the bathroom and a couple of damp washcloths. He came back and poured a glass of water and handed it to Ciel and held the basin under the teen's chin so that he could rinse his mouth. Once Ciel was done, Sebastian dabbed on the boy's mouth with a clean cloth.
"How are you feeling?" Sebastian asked.
"Not good, but at least I won't be throwing up any second now. I hope." Ciel replied.
"Come now, let us get you changed and then you can rest." Sebastian went to retrieve Ciel's pajamas. He changed him and encouraged him to lie down. "Please get some rest, Young Master."
"Yes." Ciel nodded weakly and Sebastian tucked him in.
Ciel could hear Sebastian moving around to clean up, but he didn't have the energy to keep his eyes open as he drifted off to sleep.
When Ciel woke up, he felt much better. It was still daylight, although he couldn't tell what time it was since the days were starting to get longer.
"Sebastian..." Ciel called and a few moments later, Sebastian knocked on his door and entered the room.
"Good afternoon, Young Master. How are you feeling?" Sebastian asked, taking off his glove to check on Ciel's temperature. No fever. He sighed in relief.
"Much better, actually." Ciel said and sat up. "I think I'm going to get some work done."
Sebastian hesitated only for a moment. "Certainly, sir." He left to get Ciel a change of clothes and dressed him.
"No tie." Ciel said, remembering the choking sensation.
Sebastian put the tie aside and undid the first two buttons of Ciel's shirt.
They stepped out of the room and Sebastian escorted Ciel to his study before leaving to get Ciel's afternoon tea.
Ciel sat down behind his desk and looked at the stack of papers. He started reading, but his stomach growled.
"I'm not going to deal with this on an empty stomach." Ciel said.
Ciel turned his chair around and looked outside. He sighed when he recalled Soma's words about love, romance, and happiness.
"If only life is that simple..." Ciel mused.
A few minutes later, Sebastian came back, pushing the tea cart.
"Are you happy?" Ciel asked without turning around.
"Pardon?" Sebastian was taken aback by the seemingly out of nowhere question.
Ciel turned his chair around to face the butler. "Are you happy? With... what you have now, with us, with this relationship?"
Sebastian didn't reply, busying himself with the pie and tea before serving them.
"Well?" Ciel prompted.
"Happiness is not something that I am familiar with. I am pleased when things go smoothly, when the household is running well, when we close a case. I am satisfied when I have accomplished my tasks or when I have completed a contract and gotten my reward." Sebastian said.
Ciel waited.
"Can a demon be happy? It sounds almost absurd. Happiness is something that is so pure and innocent, something that a creature like me should not be able to feel. But then again, if I can love, then perhaps, I can be happy too, although I have no idea how it feels like." Sebastian knelt down in front of Ciel and took the earl's hand in his. "Is it the feeling that I get whenever I see you smile and hear you laugh? Or whenever you tell me that you love me? Or whenever I hold you in my arms and know that you are safe? Or whenever I kiss you? Because I have never felt anything like that before and if that is what being happy is like, then yes, Young Master, I am happy."
"I think, yes. That's what being happy is like because I feel exactly the same way..." Ciel said before he leaned down and kissed Sebastian. "Like, right now." He grinned.
They shared a few more kisses before Ciel couldn't ignore his growling stomach anymore and started eating.
"I'm due for a visit to the factory in West London some time this month." Ciel said as he looked through the documents. "And arrange for a meeting with Mr. Brown and his team. They have been given unexpected extension due to what happened, but if there is any more delay, the production line would be halted."
Sebastian was busy taking notes as he listened to Ciel's instruction.
"While you're at it, contact Mr. Victor Wilson and remind him that he needs to send me his product samples soon if he wants to keep the collaboration." Ciel said. "I think that should be all for now."
Sebastian excused himself and left with the cart, leaving Ciel to work on the paperwork.
Ciel spent the afternoon catching up on paperwork, only stopping at dinner time. After dinner, he went to the library to read until Sebastian fetched him at bedtime.
"Join me." Ciel said from his place in the tub.
"I think not, my lord. We both know where that will lead and you are still not recovered yet." Sebastian said and Ciel pouted slightly. The demon smiled. "I will make it up to you after you are back to full health."
"Promise?" Ciel asked, smirking now.
"Promise." Sebastian said and leaned down to press his lips on Ciel's to seal it.
After his bath, Ciel was dressed in his pajamas and put to bed.
"Will you at least get into bed instead of sitting there?" Ciel asked.
"Yes, of course." Sebastian agreed. He stripped down to his shirt and trousers and got under the cover. They lay on their sides, facing each other.
"I've been thinking..." Ciel said. "It's time for you to move to this room."
"That would be unwise, Young Master. The servants will get suspicious, especially Mr. Tanaka." Sebastian said.
"You can still keep your room. It's the butler's room and there's only one butler here. So that room will remain empty for you to use. Or your cats, apparently."
"So you know..." Sebastian grinned.
"Honestly, disobeying a direct order, for cats... One would think that you love them more than you love your master."
"Cats do hold a special place in my heart. If I had one, that is."
"Oh? Do they hold a more special place in your non-existent heart than your master then?" Ciel raised his eyebrows.
"Do I detect jealousy, my lord?" Sebastian asked teasingly.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Ciel glared at him. "Why would I be jealous of cats?"
Sebastian chuckled. "If there is anything that could compete with you for my affection, that would be cats."
Ciel narrowed his eyes. "Well, then I have to remind you again whom you belong to, you insolent butler." He leaned over to kiss Sebastian and moved to straddle the demon without breaking their kiss. Then his hand moved to undo Sebastian's shirt button.
"Young Master, we cannot. You are not well enough for this." Sebastian said, breaking their kiss. Only this morning Ciel almost passed out from a walk in the garden and a conversation with Soma, he was definitely not ready for something that was more physically demanding.
"If you agree to move here, then I will stop." Ciel said.
"Are you blackmailing me, sir?" Sebastian asked, his eyes wide in mock surprise.
"You should know by now that I'm not above such act." Ciel said.
"Such act is not befitting for an earl." Sebastian said.
"Hm? And I suppose this," Ciel slipped his hand under Sebastian's shirt and caressed the smooth skin underneath teasingly. "... is befitting for an earl?"
"Ah, no... I suppose not..." Sebastian said, gasping at the feel of Ciel's hand on his bare skin. The things that his master could do to him... Sometimes it frightened him.
"Move here, Sebastian." Ciel murmured, placing little kisses on his lover's face. "You'll still have the butler's room for your cats. Nothing has to change."
"Then what is the point of doing it?" Sebastian asked. He didn't understand.
Ciel sat back on his heels. "I guess it's for the sentimentality, if nothing else."
"Sentimentality?" Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "I did not take you as a hopeless romantic, my lord. Prince Soma, perhaps, but not you."
Ciel swatted at Sebastian's chest. "Don't ever mention that name when we're in bed. It kills the mood. I'm not some hopeless romantic fool, but..." He paused and blushed.
"My, my... Is that a blush, my lord?" Sebastian teased.
Another swat. "Shut it." Ciel grumbled. "My point is, I just... I want this room to be our room." He was blushing furiously now. "Even if you don't stay here every night, knowing that this is our room, well, it makes me happy." 'That sounds cringey.' Ciel thought. "And it's bloody inconvenient to have to invite you to join me night after night." He added.
"You do realize that once we have crossed that line, there will be no going back?"
Ciel looked at him. "I think we've reached the point of no return a long time ago. This is just another step that I want us to take. It's hardly a line to be crossed."
Sebastian seemed to think about it.
"Besides, you spend most nights here anyway. This has become your room too, in a way. I mean, this is your side of the bed and that's mine." Ciel pointed. "It's just making it official. Giving it a proper name instead of a mere impression. Why are you hesitating about this?"
"I am a demon and you are a human. No human would invite a demon to share their bed." Sebastian said.
"I'm not inviting just any demon though. I'm inviting my demon." Ciel said. Then knowing how possessive Sebastian could be, he added, "Or would you rather I summon another demon and invite them into my bed instead? I'm sure that they..." Ciel's words ended in a yelp as Sebastian flipped them over. Ciel was now lying on his back, with the demon hovering above him.
"No." Sebastian growled, his eyes blazing dangerously. "You are mine and I do not share."
"Exactly." Ciel agreed, reaching up to stroke Sebastian's cheek to soothe him. "I am yours and you are mine. So, move here, make this our room and our bed."
Sebastian sighed and his eyes shifted back to their usual warm garnet colour. "I just do not want you to regret it in the future, my lord."
"I'm in love with a demon. I think sharing a bed with him is the least of my problems."
Sebastian pressed his lips on Ciel's gently. "Very well then, sir. If you wish to invite me to your bed, then I will gladly accept it. Now, please keep your end of the deal and get some rest."
"Since when did we have that deal?" Ciel asked.
"I seem to recall you saying that you would stop if I agreed to move here." Sebastian rolled off Ciel, gathered him close, and pulled at the blanket to cover them both. "Please get some sleep."
Ciel snuggled up to Sebastian and yawned.
"Oh, and one more thing, if I may..." Sebastian said.
"Hm? What is it?" Ciel asked.
"Please do not ever mention another demon when we are in bed. It kills the mood."
Ciel laughed.
Sebastian looked at the sleeping young man in his arms. He never imagined himself to be here. He never imagined himself ever falling in love. He didn't even know he was capable of such act. But Ciel Phantomhive was no ordinary person. The demon sighed.
"What have you done to me, Young Master?" Sebastian asked, not for the first time in the past few years. He had gone against his very nature, ignoring his hunger, his 'reward', and had willingly bound himself to him, for eternity. This young man, as stubborn and as infuriating as he was, had managed to awaken things inside of him, feelings that he never even knew he had. He didn't even have a heart, so how he could love this human so dearly and so fiercely was beyond him. And what amazed him more was that how Ciel had returned his feelings, knowing what Sebastian really was. And even more so, he had agreed to spend eternity with a demon.
The past few years had been filled with one wonder after another as he discovered the depth of his feelings for Ciel, as they learned to navigate their way through this unlikely relationship together.
"I will do anything for you, do you know that, my lord?" Sebastian murmured against Ciel's hair. "Anything you ask me to. Do you know why? Because you are my young master, my heaven, my everything..."
As usual, Sebastian left a couple of hours later. He didn't need to sleep, so unless Ciel had specifically asked him to stay for the whole night, he usually left some time after the young man fell asleep to tend to his nightly duties.