Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/5957086.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Kuroshitsuji_|_Black_Butler
  Relationship:
      Sebastian_Michaelis/Grell_Sutcliff, Ciel_Phantomhive/Alois_Trancy
  Character:
      Sebastian_Michaelis, Grell_Sutcliff, Ciel_Phantomhive, Alois_Trancy, A
      shit_ton_of_OCs_-_Character, William_T._Spears, Ronald_Knox
  Additional Tags:
      Depression, Post_anime_canon, Ciel_and_Alois_are_actually_very_very_old
      but_their_bodies_are_young_so, That's_why_the_underage_tag, Temporary
      Character_Death
  Series:
      Part 1 of Modern!Anime-canon_divergence_Kuro
  Stats:
      Published: 2011-01-04 Words: 84803
****** Haunting Eternity ******
by Kandakicksass
Summary
     After a hundred years, the world is a completely different place-
     Grell Sutcliff was almost a completely different person, and even
     Sebastian had changed. The only thing that hadn't changed was Grell's
     love for him. Anime based.
     *** Reposted from Fanfiction to archive it.
Notes
     I'm deleting my old FFnet account, and saving everything not already
     on AO3. I'll reformat and fix it later, but for now I'm just posting
     all 30-something chapters as one file. It is frankly badly written,
     but I most likely will never edit it. I hope you can enjoy the
     convoluted plot in the way you only can with old, definitely-written-
     by-teenagers fic.
Title: Haunting Eternity
Category: Anime/Manga » Kuroshitsuji
Author: Kandakicksass
Language: English, Rating: Rated: M
Genre: Romance/General
Published: 04-01-11, Updated: 06-15-11
Chapters: 34, Words: 87,589
===============================================================================
Chapter 1: Chapter 1
===============================================================================
I'm not sure what hole I pulled this story out of, but I hope it's liked! I
would like for it to be fairly long, so things aren't going to move as quickly
as normal, and the chapters not as long as I would like (maybe). I've never
done a really long story before (my most is a seven chapter fic), so please
stay with me to see how it works out! Anyway, just FYI, this is anime-based
(obviously, since it's clearly not manga-based).
"Boss Sutcliff, this case is a little odd. What am I supposed to do when
there's a demon involved?"
Ronald Knox hadn't knocked, but then, he hadn't knocked in years. Thirty, maybe
forty if his memory served. He poked his head in, waving the envelope with his
assignment slightly to capture the elder reaper's attention.
"Cut the arm with the seal off," Grell answered absently, not looking away from
the window. "Until the arm grows back, the soul can be taken. Be fast about it,
though. Demons are vicious." Ronald nodded, stepping into the redhead's office.
Grell's appearance hadn't changed at all in the past hundred years—his hair was
still too vivid, his eyes still too piercing. He still wore that red jacket,
kept in pristine condition by the halted time in the reaper society. His boots
were still as clean and shiny as they'd been the day Grell had bought them.
"Mr. Sutcliff," Ronald said softly, and Grell looked over at him.
"Yeah?"
"You sound tired."
Grell laughed, leaning back in his chair and running a hand through his soft
crimson locks. "Yeah, I am. Ugh, Will's overworking me…" He sighed. "I think
it's Will who needs sleep, though. He's been exhausted lately." Ronald made a
face.
"Yeah, and he's taking it out on us." Grell laughed again.
"Yes! Exactly! Ah, ai wa chi mamire," the reaper sighed. Ronald cocked his head
at him.
"What language is that?"
"Japanese. It means "love is covered in blood"—it's from some musical that Will
took me to a couple weeks ago," Grell explained. "Totally ridiculous. They had
shinigamiin it—death gods, like us—only they sung and danced… it was odd.
Funny, but odd. I mean, seriously—we don't do that."
"What was it called?" the blonde asked. "I'm curious now." Grell thought.
"Kuroshitsuji, I think. It was the second one—called "The Most Beautiful DEATH
in the World". I liked the title, but the rest of it was ridiculous!" he
scoffed. "Funny, but ridiculous. I mean, we have work to do. We don't have time
for dance numbers." He rolled his eyes. "It was about some butler, whatever. I
wasn't really paying attention. I was more angry about the fact that not only
was one of the shinigami morons, like, dressed like me—almost to the dot, it
was weird!—everyone was giving Will and I strange looks. Some guy came up to me
and high fived me, telling me I was totally hardcore!" He shook his head,
exasperated.
Ronald laughed. "Maybe you were finally getting some credit for your, um…
femininity!"
Grell pouted. "Yeah, that's not it. People don't treat ladies like that! I
should know!" He bit his lip, his eyebrows furrowed in irritation. "Psh.
Anyway."
"Grell!"
The redhead looked up at his stern superior, who had burst into the room,
stopping next to Ronald. "Yeah, Will? You look stressed."
"Are you too busy to take care of a couple reapings?" he asked. "We're really
understaffed at the moment, and I don't want to pile more work on the junior
reapers—we've had thatfiasco before." Grell winced, both at the prospect of
extra work and the memory.
Grell wanted to, it was written all over his face. Since he was now much more
senior than he had been, he had much more paperwork, since he was a supervisor,
much like William had been. He couldn't say how much he wanted to go out, but
he was so busy. "Maybe a few, Will, but I'm up to my knees in paperwork. Is
there anyoneelse?"
Will sighed. "Even one or two would be helpful, if you have time. They're
slated for tomorrow; I'll bring in the schedule. Could you take some, too,
Knox? I know tomorrow is your day off, but…" William trailed off.
Ronald sighed. "Yeah, sure. We're so busy nowadays. You'd think things would
quiet down since the mortality rates have gotten lower. I mean, it's the
2000's, for gods' sake!"
William nodded. "I completely agree. I don't understand why we don't seem to
have enough reapers. We were fine back at the turn of the twentieth century,
and the mortality rates were much higher." He seemed a little more relaxed
knowing the two would help out. "I'm going to go see if Mr. Undertaker can
help." He leaned down, giving Grell a soft kiss on the corner of his mouth.
"See you tonight, love."
"Bye, Will."
Grell turned back to his paperwork, but Ronald didn't leave. "Are you and Mr.
Spears still together?"
Grell shook his head. "Nah, not since… well, it's been awhile. Over a hundred
years, I think."
"You mean… since the Sebastian thing?"
Grell paused in his writing, looking up at Ronald with a carefully constructed
expression. "Yes. Not since Sebastian. We still live together, because it's
easier, and we're friends, so it's fine," he answered. Ronald could see his
superior wilt a little. "He still cares about me, though I haven't the foggiest
idea why." He gave a little laugh. "I mean, despite the fact that I ama
beautiful maiden!" Ronald rolled his eyes.
"How long has it been since you last saw Sebastian?" he asked.
Grell's expression darkened, and he shrugged. "Ninety years or so. Not long
after Will and I split. He took the brat and left London after the Hannah
Annafellows incident."
"Didn't the little Phantomhive become a demon because of that?"
He nodded again. "Yes. He took the demon brat and left."
Ronald snickered, and Grell looked up at him questioningly. "Technically,
didn't the little master take him?"
Grell laughed, his visage brightening slightly. "Good point! Oh, I can't wait
until I see Bassie again—because I'm sure I will!—and I can tell him that!
Imagine how much fun that would be!"
Ronald smiled.
"What are you so happy about? Not that I don't want you to be happy, of course!
I can't be the only ray of sunshine in this place!"
"It's nothing. I just haven't seen you this much like your old self in a
while."
Grell blinked. "What do you mean, Knoxie?"
Ronald laughed. "See? That's it right there. You haven't called me Knoxie in
what… forty years? You're a lot more serious; makes it harder for us to get in
trouble together." He nudged Grell's shoulder and winked, making the red haired
reaper giggle.
"I'm not more serious; I just have more responsibility. I'm a manager, now!
Never thought I'd get those old farts to respect me enough to give me the
position," he huffed. "I'm so tired, Knoxie."
"I think you're bi-polar, that's what I think," Ronald suggested, chuckling.
"This side of you comes out every now and again. Like you have split
personalities." Grell tapped his chin in thought.
"Highly likely. Everyone needs a secret personality for different situations!
After all, I'm just a deadlyefficient butler!" Automatically, the backwards
love sign came out and he grinned before dissolving in a mess of giggles.
Ronald was happy Grell sounded more like his old self. This was the most normal
he'd seen Grell in quite a while. It had been a couple months since he'd last
seen even a glimpse of this side of the reaper.
"Hey, it's dinner time. Why don't we go catch a bite? McDonalds is open all
night, so…" Ronald suggested, and Grell looked between the door and his work.
"You're going to stay overtime anyway, so why not grab a bite and come back?
It's not like I'm taking you out partying all night." Grell laughed.
"Yeah, you're right, Knoxie. Let's go!"
They left, Grell practically jumping on the reaper, who was currently trying to
pry him off. "I said dinner! This isn't a date, you can't just hump me in
public, Mr. Sutcliff! Grell!"
The red haired reaper was laughing loudly, and Ronald noticed several employees
peeking out from their offices with half-smiles on their faces.
"Good mood, Grell?" Eric asked, passing them.
"Yep!" he answered, swinging the hand he had grabbed. Ronald let him, intent to
keep the mood intact. Eric's partner of almost a century, Allen, waved with a
surprised grin on his face. They hadn't seen Grell in such a good mood in a
while, either. "Hey, Knoxie, gimme a piggy back ride!"
Ronald agreed, laughing with his child-like boss. Grell slung his arms around
Ronald's neck, hopping onto his back with agility exclusive to non-humans, like
demons and reapers. Ronald carried him out, letting him down when they got to
the crowded streets of London.
"Ah, I haven't been out here in a while!" Grell sighed happily. He stretched
his arms, letting his red coat slide down to his elbows. There. The final
puzzle piece is in place. This is the Grell I know, Ronald thought, feeling
accomplished. "Ooh, instead of McDonalds, can we have Burger King?" Death gods
technically didn't needhuman food, but the more eccentric ones like Grell and
Ronald, sometimes even William if he was in the mood, ate it every now and
again.
They had dinner, chatting and just generally enjoying each other's company.
Grell and his obsession with chips had inspired him to get three orders of the
stuff. They were an invention Ronald knew Grell was thankful for. He would have
William make them all the time, Ronald knew, because they both would come in
with batches of the potato food—Grell to eat, William to give away so he
wouldn't have to.
Sometimes, though, Grell scared Ronald. He could remember a time when Grell had
been like this—wild and out of control—all the time. Nowadays, his eccentric
side came out only rarely. When Grell was tying his hair back, his mood serious
and dark, Ronald worried about him, unable to find even a speck of his friend
in the almost sadreaper he turned into.
Now though, he could concentrate on keeping his mood up. It wasn't much of an
effort, though—once Grell got going, he kept himself up until he saw something
that would hit him and bring him down again. With another bout of nostalgia, he
remembered the days when the reaper didn't even havean off switch. Sometimes
now it seemed he didn't have an onswitch.
When they finished eating, Ronald gave in to Grell's begging and took him on a
minor shopping trip. It wasn't until they were deep in the crevices of the
third pawn shop, however, that he realized what Grell was looking for—something
to tie him to the past that London had seemingly left behind.
"Aha!" Grell breathed after hours of searching, Ronald with no idea what he was
looking for. "And it's in good condition, too!"
Ronald looked over Grell's shoulder, his eyes widenening as he realized when
Grell held tenderly in his hands.
"A Funtom Bitter Rabbit from old England, huh? That thing's expensive. An
antique. Sell it online and you could get more than a hundred pounds for that
thing, cheap." Grell looked back at the owner of the shop.
"How much do you want for it?" he asked immediately, his voice deadserious.
The man thought about it. "Seventy. That thing's been here forever. No one even
knows what it is. A shame, too." The strange thing was, when Ronald heard him
speak, he could tell the man actually thought that. "Funtom used to be the
world's leading toymaker, and then they just… fell of the face of the earth.
The Phantomhive earl, the head of the company, just disappeared, and the
company fell to ruin. A damned shame, even if it wasa century ago."
Grell nodded, a particular look on his face. "Yes. Ciel Phantomhive, if I
remember correctly." Ronald knew he did.
"Yeah," the man agreed. "That was it. Ciel, and that butler of his, Sebastian."
Here, Grell winced visibly. "Look, I've got a whole box of Funtom toys I'll
sell you for a hundred fifty pounds, total, with the rabbit. It's over there."
He pointed, and Grell went and retreived it. "I have to go to the loo, but when
I get back, I'll ring it up for you."
"Thank you," Grell said politely. Then he looked over at Ronald and gave him a
look that broke his heart. "Thanks for bringing me out, Knoxie."
Then he looked back down at the rabbit again, and fell silent.
Did I do okay for a first chapter? I'm planning on going slow—but I'm
introducing Sebastian next chapter! He and Grell aren't going to meet for a
couple more chapters, though. Next chapter is Ciel & Sebastian's POV, so look
out for it!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 2: Chapter 2
===============================================================================
I plan to update this story often, so the chapters won't be as long as they are
most of the time with my stories, but there will be more updates, so it's okay.
My goal is at least 2000 words for each chapter, minimal, so it's not like
their tiny. KK? KK. BTW, check out my Deviantart under the same name as here;
I've post a picture of present day Grell. It's nothing fancy, but it's not too
bad, I think.
Ciel Phantomhive sat at his desk, tapping at his laptop absently. He knew
something was going to happen—he just didn't know what. It unsettled him, to be
honest, and not much had in the past hundred years. A bitter smile curved his
lips upward. He wasn't sure anymore if his immortality was a blessing or a
curse.
"Young master, the transaction is complete. The previous owner just signed the
papers and left."
Ciel looked up at his butler's flat expression, then he let his gaze rake over
Sebastian's new uniform, almost identical to the one had worn during Ciel's
human days. A smirk traced his lips.
"Enjoy your official uniform, Sebastian?" he drawled. "I know just how much you
lovedthe old one." He sounded mocking, and Sebastian nodded stiffly, making
Ciel sigh. "I'm sorry. You are my butler, and it will arouse suspicion if you
do not dress as such in high society England. But if it helps, you do look…" He
paused, trying to find the right wording. "Dashing." He chuckled to himself and
Sebastian rolled his eyes.
"Thank you, my lord. Now all you need to do is sign these forms, and the manor
is yours again," he said smoothly, handing the papers to the demon child.
Ciel took them, giving them a once over. He signed, sighing in irritation.
"Ridiculous, that I have to buy back my own manor house. Isn't it ridiculous?"
"Quite ridiculous, young master. But a far more pressing issue—the man you
agreed to shelter last night is slated to die soon. I can smell death all
around him," Sebastian informed him.
"So?"
"We are in England again, my lord. Do you really want to deal with the London
branch of the dispatch society?" he asked carefully.
To the butler's apparent confusion, Ciel's lips curled upward in a mischievous
grin. "Ah, yes. Spears, Knox…" Here he paused dramatically. "And that other
reaper… what was his name? Oh, right. Grell Sutcliff."
Sebastian's eye twitched. "Yes."
"And… what? You want me to take his soul before a death god comes that might
molest you?" Ciel was greatly amused.
Stiffly, Sebastian nodded. "That was what I was getting at, my lord."
Ciel laughed outright. "Let them come! I'm bored."
He watched Sebastian's fury make itself known for a mere second, and Ciel
sighed, apologizing for the second time.
"I'm sorry, Sebastian. It's the demon in me—I can't control myself. That was
rude. I ate just the other day, so you can have the soul if you want." Ciel's
voice was dulled and Sebastian let out a sigh of his own, smiling tiredly at
his smaller companion.
"Yes, we demons are known for our uncontrollable sadism," he agreed. "But… you
are almost a completely different person than you used to be, young master.
Before, you would not have even apologized. Not all the change is for the
worse." Ciel knocked his knuckles against the desk he had bought all those
years ago absently. He had never thought his old furniture would be there
still, but there it was. "Tis not a bad thing, my lord."
"I know. It's just a… tiring thought."
A smiled turned the corner of Sebastian's mouth upward. "Not everything has
changed, my lord. Just look at this." Sebastian held out a newspaper, open to
the third page.
"A ball? Sebastian, as reassuring as that was, I don't care about balls."
"It's not the ball I'm showing you, my lord," Sebastian corrected with a soft
smile reserved only for Ciel. Things had changed so much singe the late 1800s,
not only between himself and his butler (whose relationship had taken a much
more amiable turn since Ciel had matured), and that made what Sebastian was
pointing to just that more shocking.
"Is that… Elizabeth?" he asked, surprise coloring his tone.
"Her great-granddaughter, actually," Sebastian answered quietly. "The lady
Elizabeth is too sick now to attend balls, and almost blind." Ciel looked down
again at the grinning teenager standing at the side of an equally lovely
middle-aged woman, and tried to imagine Elizabeth as anything but the bubbly
girl she used to be. "I checked up on things when you first began negotiations
to buy the manor house back. She has lived a long, fulfilling live, my lord."
"What you're saying is that she's nearly dead." Sebastian nodded, an almost
rueful look on his face that made him look more human than he ever had.
"Strange, how badly that makes me feel. I was okay with the thought of her
already being dead, but the idea of her dying greatly upsets me. The others,
Sohma, Agne, Finny, Mey-Rin, Bard… they're all dead now. And I'm fine. But the
thought of being here when Elizabeth dies…"
"It is human, my lord. Something you used to be," his butler said gently. "If
it helps, I feel the same way… sort of. Elizabeth was one of your closest
friends, even if you did not feel the same way about her as she felt about you.
It is understandable that the thought her as a sickly elderly woman would upset
you. To be honest…" Sebastian hesitated. "To be honest, it does upset me as
well. Funny. The longer I stay in the human world, the more human I feel." He
have a humorless chuckle.
Ciel looked down at the girl again, then at her mother.
"What was her daughter's name?" he asked.
"Ciela. Creative, was she not? The young lady there is called Ciela also, after
her grandmother. Ciela Elizabeth Middleford. Her mother is Frances, named after
the lady Marquis, hergrandmother."
Ciel laughed under his breath. "Nearly blind, is she? Arrange a visit for
today, Sebastian. I want to see her once more."
Sebastian smiled. "Yes, my lord."
When Ciel looked up again, he was grinning. "I'm going to give her a night to
remember in her afterlife. Take care of that soul, Sebastian, and prepare the
carria—prepare the car."
Sebastian nodded, repeating "yes, my lord" with a deep bow.
Fifteen minutes later, the Phantomhive manor had a body buried in the back of
the nicely well-kept garden, and a young master on his way to London.
"The house hasn't changed, either," he said quietly as they parked outside the
front, looking up at the manor the Marquis had helped build with her own hands.
Sebastian disagreed. "The gardeners on riding lawnmowers are new—just imagine
the field day Finnian would have had with those should they have had them in
our day."
Ciel laughed. "Yes. Anyway, let's go in." He got out of the car, walking up the
marble staircase to the door, his Nike sneakers thumping on the rock. He
allowed himself to think for a moment how odd it still was to him—the khakis
and t-shirts instead of cute little suits and what were now considered school
boy outfits. Sebastian followed him, his own shoes clacking professionally, as,
in his opinion, every butler's should.
Sebastian knocked for him, and they waited until a butler dressed in a
swallowtail coat similar to Sebastian's opened it.
"I'm here to see the lady Elizabeth," Ciel announced.
"Lady Elizabeth has no appointments for the day," he butler informed them in a
flat voice.
"I do not remember ever being so rude," Sebastian muttered under his breath,
making a small grin brighten Ciel's expression.
"Would you so kindly tell your lady Ciel Phantomhive has come to see her? I can
assure you, if she should find out I was turned out, she will be most
displeased." Ciel smirked at the clearly irked butler, who said "just a moment"
before shutting the door on them. They waited patiently until the butler, now
furious, opened the door again and ushered them inside.
"Go up the stairs," he butler sniffed, gesturing toward a staircase to his
left. "First door on the right." He stalked away.
"I know for a fact I was a much more hospitable butler," Sebastian complained,
now irked himself. Ciel laughed at his irritated butler as they climbed the
stairs. "How horrible he was! I should shudder if I were ever working with
him." When they reached the top, he knocked hard on the door.
"Come in!"
Ciel froze, the voice ringing through his ears. It was brittle and weak… so
old.
He didn't notice that Sebastian had silently opened the door until his view
turned from mahogany wood to that of a withered elderly woman in a soft pink
nightgown. Her white hair was long, and flowed around her in soft ringlets.
"Hello?" the woman called, sounding unsure.
"Hello, Lizzie," Ciel answered softly.
"C-Ciel?"
"Yes, Lizzie, it's me." He cleared his throat. "It's me. How have you been,
Elizabeth?"
She seemed to be in shock. "A hundred years," she whispered. "It's been a
hundred years."
"Yes, Lizzie. What are you, a hundred twenty, a hundred thirty? Forty even? You
have to be the oldest person on earth, Lizzie. I'm proud of you. If I knew
anyone determined enough to make it to a hundred thirty, it would be you."
"Ciel…" she murmured, tears welling in her milky eyes. "Oh, Ciel. You still
sound like a boy. Tell me, Ciel. What happened to you?"
He hesitated.
"Lady Elizabeth, if you do not want an uncomfortable explanation, do not ask
the question," the elder demon told her gently. He had a steading and
comforting hand on Ciel's shoulder, who took a deep breath.
"Sebastian?" she exclaimed as loudly as she could.
"Yes, Lady Elizabeth. It is I. Please, do not strain yourself. Calm down," he
replied. "It is remarkable—and extremely unusual—you have lived to this age.
Straining yourself cannot be good for you."
"I wondered what happened to you after you disappeared. To think that you're
alive…" Her weak voice was filled with wonder.
"Amazing, isn't it?" Ciel sounded bitter, before he cleared his throat again.
"That's not why I'm here, though, Lizzie. I just wanted to see you, one last
time." He paused before adding, "Before William T. Spears sends some idiot
reaper to take your soul."
Elizabeth's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something before a
chipper voice interrupted them.
"Mr. Spears didn't send me. Boss Sutcliff is the dispatch manager taking care
of things like that now! Jeez get it right! Mr. Spears got promoted to a senior
manager ages ago. The only one he sends out is Boss Sutcliff! He just over sees
things!"
Ciel's eyes jumped from his ex-fiancé to the reaper sitting on the chair across
the room. "Ronald Knox!"
Ronald sounded chipper, but now that Ciel was looking at him, he actually
looked kind of angry. "Yeah, that's me. You guys might want to say your
goodbyes. I'm being nice today, as a present to Boss Sutcliff, so I'll give you
a minute to say something."
Ciel promptly turned back to Elizabeth.
"Lizzie," he murmured. "Is there anything you'd like to say to me before I go?"
"Only that I love you," she murmured in a fading voice. "I always have… oh, my…
Ciel…" She gave him the sweetest smile she could muster the energy for, and he
cupped her face, smiling down at her before leaning in to kiss her forehead.
"I love you, too, Lizzie. You were truly very special to me. You're one of my
closest friends. I won't forget you." She smiled, closing her eyes.
"Good… I don't want you to forget me. I love you." She shut her mouth, and Ciel
stepped back.
"Do what you have to, Knox."
He looked away as Knox moved up to Elizabeth, choosing to ignore the sound of
the lawnmower that had been ahead of its time in their day.
"So… you guys are back in England, huh?" Ronald asked, sitting down on the edge
of the bed to wipe the… what was that, excess soul?... off the blades of the
mower.
"Yes," Sebastian answered.
"Let your little master answer, Sebby," Ronald snapped.
"Yes, we've returned," Ciel answered softly. "I will be beginning Funtom
company once again."
"How're you managing that? The way I hear it, you left everything behind when
you left," the blonde reaper asked suspiciously. Ciel chuckled at the thought.
"I'm passing myself off as my own great-great-grandson, actually. It's a
miracle everything worked out. I got my money back, my mansion…" Ciel grinned
at the thought of his success. "My title. God, I didn't realize how much it
hurt to leave my life behind until I returned to it." His grin faded.
"Everything you knew is gone, though," Ronald observed, his voice no longer
hostile, but merely curious. "Everything has changed."
Ciel nodded, his expression much darker… sadder. "Yes. It has."
Ronald nodded. "Everything has changed on my end, too. So I feel you. I mean,
even I've changed—look, I'm not trying to kill you both right now." Ciel
laughed without humor. "Even Boss Sutcliff has changed…"
Sebastian looked up, his curiosity piqued. "That idiot Grell Sutcliff has
changed? How so?"
Suddenly, the hostility returned to Ronald's eyes. "You should know, demon."
Sebastian's eyes widened in confusion. "How… what do you mean, Knox?"
Ronald spat at him. "Do you really have no idea how deep his feelings went for
you? Boss Sutcliff is almost a completely different person now. His personality
from before is still there sometimes… it comes and goes. You ruined him,
without even realizing it."
"I ruined him," Sebastian repeated, bristling. "Iruined him! How about that
William of yours who treats him like a dog!"
Ronald stood, anger clear in his ringed eyes. "William treats him so well! You
don't know anything about their relationship. The only reason they aren't
happily together now is because you showed up!"
Ronald took a deep breath.
"I've got to go," he said suddenly. "Look… if you see Boss Sutcliff, do me a
favor, and don't let him see you. He bought a whole box of old Funtom toys the
other day, out of nostalgia. Don't come back into his life only to ruin him
more."
When Ciel and Sebastian blinked, he was gone, and Sebastian was dumbfounded.
So… did I do good? I'm so excited for this fic! As usual, please tell me what
you think! (BTW, the theme song for this chapter is kind of Flower by GACKT,
just FYI)
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 3: Chapter 3
===============================================================================
Just so you know, William is a good guy in this because I'm so sick of the
abusive!Will stereotype. Isn't it annoying? I like Will, even though reading
fanfiction makes me want to hate him, and I don't like that. So he's a good
guy. Just a little explanation, LOL.
He had been staring at the little Funtom rabbit for a good half hour, his thumb
running over the button he'd sewn on its stomach. He'd found the button in his
death scythe when William had returned it to him, jammed somewhere past the
whirling blades, knowing it belonged to Sebastian.
He knew the Bitter Rabbit couldn't do anything for him, but he couldn't seem to
put it down. He caressed the button again before looking up at the full length
mirror in front of him. He was sitting in the floor of his bathroom, which was,
in fact, filled with mirrors so he could see every angle of himself to check
for any minor imperfections (it was a little known fact that his perfectionism
had to do with his severe OCD that made him feel sick when things weren't in
their proper place, be it a ribbon or a creased edge on a shirt).
For the first tine, he didn't like a single aspect of what he saw.
What he saw was a broken man. He had long, tangled red hair and bloodshot,
ringed green eyes. His eyelashes were wet and his cheeks were tearstained,
still smeared with the aftermath of his most recent crying jag. His lower lip
was swollen from his biting it so much, and his skin was almost white. He'd
always been pale, but this was beyond the norm, even for him. His skinny, lithe
frame looked small in his short cotton shorts and robe, both red. He looked
like a train wreck, but that was to be expect. He was never exactly pleasant to
look at after his breakdowns; they usually involved harm to something that
normally left debris on him, and tears.
Grell Sutcliff didn't recognize the man in the mirror.
He wiped his nose with the Kleenex in his left fist, sighing to himself. He
wasn't totally sure why he was still taking Sebastian's absence so hard,
especially now, when it had been so long. Some of it was probably
nostalgia—remembering happier times when his biggest worries were avoiding
Will's wrath, and fawning over the butler of a little earl, before depression
had sucked the fun out of everything. But another piece of him reminded him his
feelings hadn't changed in the last hundred years. He was still as upset as he
was the day he'd found that box on the table before Sebastian left. He knew he
was dramatic, but this took the cake, even for him.
He couldn't tell if his love for Sebastian was a blessing or a curse. He had
worried he would never love, and the feeling of knowing he could… it was a
wonderful thing. Now, however, the love hadn't faded any (even though it was an
irrational and impulsive love in the first place) and it was killing him.
He heard the door of the study open, and waited patiently for William to come
and say what he wanted to say, hoping William would bring his mood back up
again, because he didn't want to be sad anymore, didn't want to think anymore.
He wanted to be careless and happy, and he didn't have any control over his
emotions anymore. He never talkedabout them to even get them sorted out.
Sure enough, William practically materialized in the doorway, deep concern
etched into his face.
"Grell, are you hungry? It's dinner time, and I'm thinking pizza," Will asked
carefully, trying not to upset the reaper slumped on the floor. Grell had gone
off on him so many times lately over the smallest of things. His moods were
unstable, going from anger to tearful remorse to happiness in a flash.
Few reapers ate regularly, since they needed much less nourishment than humans,
but the more one ate, the more powerful and healthy one was, and William
insisted on regular meals. Some didn't eat at all, and they could live like
that, but they weren't half as strong as the ones who did, and were rather
sickly.
"I…" Grell almost said he didn't want to, but he didn't want to let the
depression overtake him. "Sure. Pizza. Can I have pepperoni?"
Will smiled in blatant relief. "Sure. One large pepperoni pizza." Grell smiled
back as enthusiastically as he could and attempted to stand, but he really was
just so tired, and to be honest, he couldn't muster up the energy to move.
Before he had to give himself another pep talk, however, he was pulled into the
arms of a very worried William T. Spears.
Grell squealed, slinging his arms around the elder reaper's neck, willingly
handing himself over to the more exuberant mood that called to him. "Will! You
mustn't treat a lady like this; it isn't nice!" he giggled, barely noticing as
his demeanor changed.
William gave that small chuckle of his. "I can treat thislady however I
want—shebelongs to me," he retorted playfully, and smiled. Grell knew he was
joking, and appreciated the humor.
"Ah, Will, I love you," he sighed happily. He knew that now—he did love Will,
just not the same way he loved Sebastian. "You're my best friend." If only he'd
realized he could love, that he just hadn't found someone to fall in love with
yet, maybe he wouldn't have been trying so hard… maybe he wouldn't have fallen
so hard for a man—a demon!—who would likely never love him back.
"And you're my best friend," Will returned. "I love you, too."
Grell smiled. "I know." He and William really were best friends now—almost like
brothers, this they knew. Now, he just wished they'd figured that out before
they'd begun dating, more than a hundred years ago. They could have avoided the
awkward anger after William found him hitting on the demon, the years of
resentment, the weird post-breakup friends stage.
William carried him to the couch in the living room before setting him down and
sitting down next to him. He smiled briefly before grabbing the phone on the
coffee table.
"Hello—yes. I need someone to order a large pepperoni pizza and bring it to the
room of William Spears and Grell Sutcliff. Yes. 6568-56454. Thank you." He
looked down at Grell. "It's on it's way."
"You have a pretty number for your bill account, Will." When the other reaper
laughed, he smiled, burying his nose into Will's side. "Thanks."
Grell fiddled with Will's watch. "You've been really tired lately, Will. Are
you okay?"
Will blinked, looking down at him in confusion. "I've been tired? You're the
one tossing at night. I've been up worrying about you." Grell blinked in
return, and uncomfortable feeling settling the pit of his stomach. He'd been
tossing? Worse than that, he'd been bothering Will? Oh, no.
"I'm sorry," he murmured. "I just… I've been having nightmares." He felt Will
put a finger under his chin, making him look up at him.
"Grell, I think we need to talk about this," William said, an eyebrow raised,
the concern in his eyes so blatant it made him feel bad. "I want the old you
back… or at least a more… happy version of this one. I almost miss the Grell
that trashed the apartment at least once a week." Grell laughed at the memory
the statement presented, then nodded, calming down.
"You're right. I guess… I just don't know how to start." He sighed. "I feel so
pathetic, all the time, because I can't think about it clearly, or even control
it."
Will smiled. "Maybe that's a good place to start. Why can't you control it? And
then you can move on to the cause of your unrest." Grell smiled, and took a
deep breath. It was so like Will to be so understanding. He was stern in
public, and he hated demons, but to those he cared about, he really was the
sweetest person on the planet.
"I feel overwhelmed," he said carefully, getting his footing on the subject. "I
feel… like I can't even rationalize why I'm feeling the way I do, but I'm
feeling it anyway. I miss him, all the time, and when I think about him for too
long, I start crying. I feel unstable… I feel like a different person." He
shivered. "It scares me, sometimes. I've got so much bottled inside me, trying
not to bother anyone else, that I can't breathe sometimes."
"Is it really that bad?" William murmured, his voice thick. Grell was amazing
at how deeply William cared for him, and how much he hated seeing the red
haired reaper upset. Grell nodded.
"Sebastian… I saw him, spent time around him. I knew that he wasn't really
good, I knew he was a sadistic, horrible thing… you know I like that, Will. You
know I don't mind that. But on top of it, you could see so clearly traces of
humanity in him, and that makes it worse, because I could just feel myself
falling for both sides of him—human, and inhuman."
"He has traces of humanity?" Will sounded utterly disbelieving, and Grell
frowned at him.
"I'll have you know my Sebby as all sorts of lovely human traits about him—he's
sweet and kind, even if he tries to pass it off as a fluke, or a joke if it
happens. You can tell, even if he's mocking sometimes, that he cares about the
brat—he looks at him like a little brother. I just hope the little noble has
realized that!" he informed him hotly, then blushed. "I spent a lot of time
just watching Sebby back in the day."
William still looked disbelieving, but he laughed. "I can tell. Well, keep
going." Grell nodded.
"Ah, yes. Well… I don't know, to be honest. I just haven't stopped thinking
about him since he left." Grell sighed. "I can't stop. I love him, Will. Even
though I know he's never coming back to England, even though I know he'll
probably never even consider the idea of being with me."
A strange look passed over Will's face, but he didn't say anything except, "You
don't know that."
Grell took his hand, running his thumb over Will's knuckles lazily. "I know
he's a demon, I know he's bound to that brat Phantomhive forever… I know he's
mean and sadistic, no matter how lovely he can be. I know that even if he did
feel the same way, it's probably outlawed in reaper society and I'd probably be
beheaded…"
William laughed at that one. "Okay, this one I can make you feel better on.
It's frowned upon, not illegal. Some people wouldn't like it, but they can't
tell you what to do on that subject. That's you're personal life, and that they
can't interfere in." Grell brightened.
"Really?" Will nodded. "Well, that's good. I mean, there are still all the
other reasons why we'll never be together, but at least we have that, right?"
Will chuckled, nodding again. "You really do love him, don't you?"
Grell looked up at the ceiling, trying to figure out what to say, trying to
pinpoint exactly what he was feeling that was making his heart contract when
Will asked.
"Yes," he said after a moment of pure silence. "Yes. I love him." He let out a
shaky chuckle. "I love him so much—me, a butler of death!"
William shook his head, rolling his eyes. "I don't even know why you still say
that. You're not a butler anymore." Grell rolled his own eyes.
"It's the principal of the thing, Will!" he argued. "I was a butler, and Sebby
was a butler… it ties us together!" He paused. "It's the only thing that ties
us together anymore, besides our past."
"Grell," William murmured.
"No," he interrupted. "I love Sebastian. And… and I want him to come back." He
was feeling stronger, better, because he had been able to describe the mess of
emotions in him. And now, he wanted something to do with his new feeling of
strength. "I do, and I hope he does. I hope my Sebby comes home! But if he
doesn't…" His voice got quieter. "If he doesn't, I don't want to be swallowed
up by sadness." He stood.
"You love him, but you want to be able to live without him," William
summerized. "So you want to be able to be an equal with him? If he can live
without you, you can live without him?"
Grell blinked. "That's not what I was going for, but I like that, too."
William sighed. "Then what wereyou going for?"
Grell grinned at him, putting a hand on his hip, and Will watched in awe as the
color slowly returned to his face, shining through the tearstains that Grell
quickly rubbed away. "I'm doing it for me! Because if he doesn't come back,
shouldn't I be able to love someone else?"
"You still want him to come back, though."
"Yes!" Grell agreed. "I do! But if he doesn't… if he doesn't, eventually,
hopefully, I'll be able to get over him. And then… then maybe I can find
another demon just like him!"
Will just stared at the overly excited reaper, who looked down at him and then
blushed again. "No? Okay. That might not be the best of ideas. I'll find a
demon similar to him!"
William just shook his head, and Grell laughed. William listened for a moment
to the loud, almost musical (no matter how obnoxious the sound was) laugher
before he joined in, deciding he liked it. He didn't know what made him feel
better, the fact that he knew what was going on now, or the fact that Grell had
decided that instead of giving up, he was going to save himself.
This chapter was hard to write because halfway through I decided to go watch a
GACKT video to motivate me, and I got distracted (some motivation). I told
myself, 'okay, me, finish the chapter and you can go watch the very awesome
members of SCREW do interesting things in front of a camera'. THAT was good
motivation!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 4: Chapter 4
===============================================================================
We're getting closer! Grell and Sebastian aren't going to meet in this chapter,
but they will SOON—wink wink. Anyway, just a warning, Sebastian/Grell is the
main pairing, but there will also be slight-past Undertaker/Ciel, Alois/Ciel,
and Undertaker/Will. I don't know, just go with it.
"Are you okay, my lord?"
Sebastian watched in his peripheral vision as his silent master looked up at
him. "I'm fine, Sebastian. It was mostly just shock, after all."
"She will be missed," he said gently. "But think of it like this—she lived a
long, happy human life. That is more thank you can say." Ciel sighed.
"I know, and that's all I wanted for her. I'm… glad she had it. It simply hit
me how I really am starting a new life, no matter how much of my old one I
bring back," he answered carefully. Sebastian nodded.
"I understand, my lord."
Suddenly, Ciel looked up again, startling Sebastian. "And you, Sebastian? What
of you and your blast from the past, Knox's news?"
Sebastian's eyes went from the road home to his young lord. The ever-crimson
orbs narrowed. "What news… are you referring to, young master?"
"You know which news. About Sutcliff—aren't you the least bit curious about how
he is now if he's as different as Knox says?" He paused. "Or, by any chance,
guilty?" Sebastian glared at him. "Don't look at me like that. I saw how
shocked you were after Knox left. Don't tell me you felt nothing. You've been
in the human world for too long; human emotions are manifesting themselves in
you. Tell me the truth."
Sebastian sighed. "I do feel some… pity for the reaper. Not guilt—" Here, he
smirked. "I do not believe I am that far gone as of yet, my lord. And, I do
admit I'm curious to see Sutcliff again—just to see if he is really as
different as Knox says. I have no desire to be molested, however…" He made a
face, and Ciel let out a childish laugh. Just because he has matured didn't
mean he wasn't still a young boy, Sebastian thought. On the contrary, it was
more like he was stuck in that phase between boyhood and manhood forever, but
then, it suited him.
"You know, Sebastian," Ciel chuckled. "I always thought you looked good
together. Red and black—proper and eccentric." Here he grew serious, his blue
eye looking up at Sebastian piercingly. "Do you realize just how much more
lively you are when that idiot reaper is around?"
Sebastian blinked at him. "How unlike you to say, young master. I do not,
however, think you have any basis for that statement. I think it was your
imagination acting up."
Ciel raised his eyebrows before his eyes lit up as something occurred to him.
"Oh? By any chance did you find Undertaker when you did your "checking" on
things?"
Sebastian cocked his head in confusion, slowing the car. "Yes. He opened a new
parlor a few blocks away from his old building in downtown London. Why?"
A large smirk made itself known on Ciel's face, who then ordered Sebastian to
turn the car around. "We're going to visit an old friend." The drive was short
as Sebastian drove faster at his master's urging. When they arrived, Ciel let
himself out on one of the rare occasions as he was too impatient to wait for
Sebastian, who was already on his way to open the door.
Ciel didn't bother with his 'I'm an important earl' façade; instead he jogged
up, banging on the door. He sighed when he received no answer before he entered
on his own. "Undertaker? Are you here?" Sebastian followed him quietly, trying
to figure out what his young Phantomhive master was after.
"My lord earl?" came the hissing, overjoyed reply. "Well, well! I never thought
I'd see the day you came back to London, never!"
Ciel blinked in shock. "What are you wearing!"
Sebastian was having a similar reaction to the goth aristocrat outfit the
reaper was sporting—a pair of long, dark pants and a detailed knee length coat
with sleeves longer than even his last outfit. The shoes seemed to be the same
ones he had worn before—strangely kept in perfect condition—but his hat had
been replaced.
"A beanie!" Ciel exclaimed, putting his hands on his own khaki-clad hips.
"Really?" Undertaker laughed—thought the sound was more like cackling.
"Yes, milord—a beanie. And as for my clothes, they're a Japanese brand called
'Moi-même-Moitié'. You would like them, milord, I'm sure." Then he began
cackling again.
"Yes," he agreed dryly. "I'm sure. Anyway, why did you change shops?"
"I sold my old one," he replied cheerily. "To avoid suspicion, you see. But I
wanted to open a new business some years ago, and as you can see, I did, yes I
did."
Sebastian cocked his head again. Now that he thought about it, Undertaker was
still hiding his face with his hair. He wasn't sure why, though. Everyone who
mattered already knew he was a retired reaper.
"So, your lordship, to what do I owe the pleasure? Are you guard-dogging again
already?" Undertaker giggled.
"No, actually. I hope to never "guard-dog" again to be perfectly honest… well,
until I get bored, at least. I'm actually here for your opinion on something…
or rather, for your take on a memory," Ciel answered, more cheerful that
Sebastian had ever seen, and suspicion set in. His eyes narrowed.
Undertaker swayed in excitement.
Ciel's smile became mischievous. "You see, Undertaker, I noticed something, and
Sebastian thinks it was my imagination. As you are the only one left who would
remember such a thing… do you remember if Sebastian acted any different around
the reaper Grell Sutcliff that he normally did before we left England?"
Sebastian looked at Ciel like a precious little brother, or close friend (if
demons could be said to have such things), but at the moment, he had a great,
vague desire to punch that smirk right off the noble's face.
Undertaker's mouth dropped slightly before his giggles resumed.
"Ooh, Miss Sutcliff, eh? Are you taking an interest in our lovely lady?" he
giggled, and Ciel couldn't help chuckling. "Does that strike you as funny,
milord? I find you incredibly lovely as well, as you well know. Is that funny,
too?" Undertaker's smile was devious.
Apparently, Ciel did not find it funny, because his cheeks burned at the words.
"I—you—shut up! That's not what I asked you!" Sebastian raised any eyebrow at
his master, his curiosity piqued. What was Ciel hiding from him between himself
and Undertaker?
Undertaker laughed. "Of course, my lord. To answer the question you did ask,
yes."
At once, Ciel's irritated, embarrassed expression gave way to triumph. "Oh,
really? How so?"
Sebastian was going to kill him.
Undertaker thought for a moment. "He was much more fun when Miss Sutcliff was
around, for sure… more alive." He chuckled evilly. "Like a couple stupidly in
love, they were. One blatantly obvious in his affections, the other unaware…"
Sebastian looked from Ciel, whose death he was plotting, to Undertaker with a
dropped jaw. How in hell had he been outnumbered?
"That is ridiculous," he scoffed when he regained the power of speech. "Young
master, how can you think the Undertaker's opinion holds any sway? He is
insane, my lord!"
"Not as insane as you think," he muttered under his breath, making the
Undertaker giggle again, and Sebastian blinked.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
Ciel looked up, his cheeks flushing. "Nothing, except he is in full control of
his mental facilities. They're just… stranger facilities than most."
Sebastian didn't know what to say.
"Anyway, we'd better be going! Sebastian, let's go," Ciel announced, pushing
his butler toward the door, who still seemed to be in deep thought. He managed
to get Sebastian to the door before a loud voice called to them.
"Oh, little earl! Just a moment!"
Ciel went rigid, before giving Sebastian the order to stay where he was,
darting back inside. Sebastian wasn't sure how long he stood there, waiting for
Ciel to come back, even though he was sure he heard some yelling from inside.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and he was unable to pin one thought
down.
Did he really act so different around the enamored reaper? How could that have
happened when he hadn't even realized it? He found the red-loving man amusing,
sure, and he was as good of a source of entertainment as he was annoyance, but
how had he gone to bare tolerance… to enjoying his presence, it seemed? He
couldn't deny that he had felt something finding out that Grell had changed
because of him. It wasn't guilt, not really—it was more like confusion, and
slight worry.
The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became. Why was the reaper
so infatuated with him? Of course, he didn't know if he still was—though for
some reason, the idea of Grell having gotten over him upset him slightly. His
narcism was starting to get even to himself—but that didn't change the fact
that Grell had been obsessed!
He was so fired up steam could have come out of his ears and he wouldn't have
been surprised.
"Hey, what do you look so pissed off about?"
Sebastian looked up at the face of one Ronald Knox, his eyes narrowing
automatically. "What do you want?"
Knox rolled his eyes.
"I wanted to talk to you about Boss Sutcliff."
Sebastian let out an irritated snort. "Why must everyone talk about that
annoying reaper today! First you brought him up, the young master would not
stop going on about him, and then he brought Undertaker into it!" He huffed
exasperatedly. "Why is everything about the reaper?"
Knox snorted himself. "Look, demon, I just want to specify what I asked you to
do earlier."
"You mean staying away from him?"
Knox nodded. "Yes, that. I was informed that as of a couple minutes ago, Boss
Sutcliff decided to try and get over you." He paused. "I'm upgrading my
request. I'm not asking you to stay away from him—I'm telling you. He doesn't
know you're back in England—we didn't know either, until I saw you earlier and
informed Will."
"So? What does that have to do with anything?" Sebastian asked, looking down at
the multi-hair colored reaper. Ronald looked right back up with a
serious—deadly serious—look in his eye.
"He doesn't know you're back, Michaelis. He's hoping—desperately hoping. But he
doesn't know, and knowing that you're back… it will just give him more hope
that you may feel the same way one day." Ronald's voice was quiet and clipped.
"His feelings for you are real, demon. God knows why. Just let him get over you
in peace."
"Are you ordering me, Ronald Knox?" Sebastian asked disdainfully, his ruby eyes
filled with anger.
"Yes," Ronald said, his own ringed eyes furious.
Sebastian curled his lip over a fang, shaking his head in disgust. "I have no
plans to see the reaper, Knox. As you will kindly recall, I was never that big
of a fan in the first place. He was the one obsessed with me, not the other way
around."
Knox laughed shortly at that. "Is that really what you deluded yourself into
thinking, Michaelis? Wow, you're even more delusional than I thought."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Sebastian asked, his voice sharp.
Ronald laughed at him, the sound harsh and angry. "Michaelis, it's obvious you
had feelings for him. The way you acted around him—like a little kid with a
crush you didn't know what to do with!"
Sebastian blinked.
"Anyway, just listen to what I said, okay? I'm out of here!"
When Sebastian recovered, Knox was gone, and Ciel was standing next to him with
an annoyed expression.
"Jeez, what's up with you today, Sebastian? Quiz spazzing out on me!" Ciel
complained. "Stupid demon."
Sebastian's eye twitched. He'd been overruled three times that day, and then
the young master had to go and call him stupid? It was not his day.
On the way home, Sebastian decided to turn the tables on his irksome young
lord.
"So, what is going on between you and Undertaker?" he asked conversationally,
making Ciel jump, looking up at him with wide, embarrassed eyes and a tell-tale
blush on his pale cheeks.
"Nothing!" Too quick.
"What a ridiculous lie, my lord. But, if you wish, I can go back and ask
Undertaker myself. He, of course, will answer me honestly if I provide adequate
payment…"
Ciel growled at him. "Damn you, demon."
"You are a demon as well, my lord."
Ciel sighed, tugging on a lock of hair. "We're fuck buddies, okay?"
Sebastian blinked at him, the car swerving slightly. "My lord! You—" Then he
stopped himself. It wasn't like he could lecture the boy—he was a demon, after
all. "You… watch your language. And how did that happen?"
Ciel laughed at him slightly, his cheeks still pink. "I ran into him one night
when I sent you out to do something stupid to amuse me—" Sebastian glared at
him. "—and things just… got heated. Apparently, he has a thing for young boys."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"And he just magically decided to… have intercourse with you after you turned
into a demon?"
Ciel shrugged. "Oh, he was interested before that. But when I was human, I was…
er, more of a prude? I guess that's how you'd put that. I had to tell him no
more than once. But as a demon, I have a larger sex drive…" Here, he cut
himself off with a dark look. "Such an inconvenience…"
Sebastian laughed.
"Of course, my lord." Sebastian thanked whatever deity was up there that he'd
learned to control his own.
It was a little while after that when Ciel spoke again. "Sebastian… do you ever
think something's missing?"
Sebastian felt something compel him to listen. "I… sometimes, yes, my lord."
"I feel that way all the time," Ciel murmured. "And sometimes I have the
strangest feeling… I want to see him. Which is ridiculous any way you look at
it because all he ever wanted to do was kill me… or possess me, whichever." His
voice quieted to a whisper.
Sebastian's eyes widened in confusion. "Who, my lord?"
Ciel shook his head. "No one—or at least, no one I want to talk about. The
point… when Sutcliff came up today, I got the same feeling from you. I don't
think you love him, or anything like that, but you… it seems like you have
similar feelings to mine. That you want to see him, even if you don't know
why." He sighed. "Am I totally foolish?"
Sebastian, though somewhat dumbfounded (because loath as he was to admit it,
Ciel had hit the nail on the head), smiled. "Not totally foolish, my lord. You
understand more than I give you credit for."
Ahhhh… I like it. Grell and Sebastian meet soooooon… -insert evil grin here-
BTW, you might like to know I bought a Ciel ring- I fix this now- RING!, and it
got here today. Just FYI.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 5: Chapter 5
===============================================================================
Here it is, the big one, the one you're all waiting for—THE MEETING! You'll
probably be mad at me at the end, though—LOL!
Grell felt a warm hand shaking him slightly.
"Grell, it's time to wake up." The reaper squeezed his eyes shut tighter,
shaking his head. He let out a soft moan.
"Aweh, Sebastian, I don't want to wake up."
"Grell, Sebastian isn't here. Grell, it's time to wake up. You promised to help
me reap a bit today since you cancelled last week, remember?"
Grell shook his head again, this time letting out a softer moan of pure
sadness. His dream was slipping away from him—Sebastianwas slipping away from
him. He couldn't let Sebastian slip away from him, not again! He had missed him
so much! His mind reached out, trying to hold onto those few peaceful hours of
sleep when he had just sat in a field with the demon, talking and playing with
his slightly messy black hair, being everything together that they weren't when
he awoke.
But his eyes opened and the dark haired man shaking him awake wasn't the demon
who had taken his heart so seriously without even realizing it, but William. A
deep feeling of sadness—horrible, despairing sadness—rolled through him. He had
hoped for another face.
Grell sighed, the sound long and exhausted. "I'm sorry, Will. Good morning."
Will sighed as well, pushing a strand of crimson hair out of his eyes.
"Good morning, Grell. A nightmare?"
He nodded, then thought and shook his head. "It was a dream. A good dream."
William looked somewhat skeptical. "A good… was Sebastian in it?"
He nodded hestitatingly and Will sighed. "Some of them are nightmares… just not
that one."
"Is that why you haven't been sleeping well?" He nodded. "Well, get dressed,
okay? You can't reap in shorts and a robe." He wore those clothes, or something
similar, every night. Grell smiled, wiping sleep away from his eyes.
"'Kay. We busy today?"
William shook his head. "Not really. The list is somewhat short today. But…
dress… well, I know you won't dress casually, but in something other than your
normal work outfit. Okay? I have a surprise for you tonight."
Grell sat up, suddenly full of energy. "A surprise? What is it?"
William rolled his eyes. "Why do people always feel the need to ask what
something is when someone says 'it's a surprise'? The word 'surprise' implies
I'm not going to tell you, Grell." The reaper pouted, but William just laughed.
"No, sorry. Besides, it doesn't matter if you don't get out of bed and get your
work done! I'm not taking you if you aren't finished for the day!"
"Aw, Will! You wound my heart so!" Grell cried dramatically, but the dark
haired death god had switched into professional mode, which meant he wouldn't
take any of Grell's begging, pleading, or blackmail.
"Come, Grell, hurry up, will you?"
Will left him alone to get dressed, which was good, because as close as they
were, even when they were dating Grell wasn't comfortable with showing him his
body. He wasn't shy, but he and Will were just so close, for some reason it was
awkward.
It took nearly seven minutes to decide what he wanted to wear—he had a whole
closet full of random clothes and nowhere to wear them! It was so bad, made
even worse by the fact that whenever he saw something cute, he bought it,
regardless of the fact that he simply didn't need that many clothes since he
just wore his work outfit ninety percent of the time.
In the end, though, he wound up with a cute v-neck t-shirt with frills around
the collar, black flared jeans, a red partial skirt, and the jacket he loved so
much. Of course, his favorite boots were a must.
"Is this okay, Will?" he asked, twirling after he ventured into the living
room. William looked up, then smiled.
"Yes, it's fine. You look…" He sighed, knowing he had to go through with the
compliment. "You look great, Grell." The red haired reaper laughed in success.
William stood, and the couch springs creaked. He gave Grell a warm smile.
"Shall we go? I have to stop by the office for just a moment, but then we have
the whole day to ourselves and our death scythes." Grell nodded, grinning.
"Ooh, we're going to have so much fun! Right, Will?" he laughed, and nodded. He
may have been sullen and tired these past few years, but everyone and their
mothers knew how much Grell loved his job. Will had asked him once why he was
so excited about field work when he detest his job—for then he had thought
Grell had. "Aaaahn… Will, you're so cute," the reaper had giggled, poking him
in the cheek. "I don't detest my job, Will—I love it! I just hate the
paperwork."
Grell took his arm as they left the apartment, heading downstairs to the
office. Even though it was well known that William and the red head weren't
dating, Grell still enjoyed being Will's "arm candy".
"Good morning, Mr. Spears, Mr. Sutcliff," a secretary giggled in their
direction as they stepped down into the office floor.
"Good morning, Ariel," William returned politely. Grell, however, was no longer
listening.
"Ronald?" he called to the reaper unlocking a drawer in his filing cabinet with
an angry look on his face. "Knoxie, what's wrong?"
Ronald looked up, his expression clearing at once. "Boss Sutcliff! You look
amazing! Are you going out?"
Grell forgot about his subordinate's previous dark expression, nodding with a
wide smile. "Uh huh! Will and I are going out reaping…" His voice quieted to an
dramatic whisper. "… then he has a surprise for me!"
Ronald raised his eyebrows at the excited reaper wiggling his hips in front of
him, looking from him to the darker haired reaper a few offices away,
retrieving the to-die list for the day from the hanging folder on his door.
Grell paused, then added, "Well, if I'm good and we don't have to go into
overtime." He made a face. "But it ismy day off. The only reason I'd have to
work overtime too is because I'd be with Will. I hope we don't have to."
Ronald laughed. "I'm sure you won't. Just be good."
Grell nodded, determined. "You're right! I just need to be a good little butler
of death!" Ronald stared at him blankly, as if to say "does he really feel the
need to do that every time he says 'death'?"
He'd barely finished speaking (or cheering himself on, whichever way you look
at it) when Will walked up, offering the flamboyant reaper his arm. "Let's go,
Grell." Grell took it with another giggle, waving goodbye to his partially
blonde friend.
William was normally annoyed by his friend when he acted so… girlish and
unmanageable, but this time it meant he was healing, and happy. William
welcomed the change. He would willingly give up for his obedient, efficient
Grell for the whiny, carefree one he had hated for so many years. Sometimes,
the sullen Grell scared him, reminding William that under an exotic, strange
exterior, Grell was a very strong, deadly reaper who was nothing like the
eccentric man he'd known for so long.
The first soul on the list was the Baron de Cherbourg, a French diplomat to be
killed in a car wreck. William let the red reaper have his fun with that one,
watching with his ringed eyes as Grell, invisible to the humans around, waved
cheerily at the confused soul before doing the deed. When he finished, he
jogged back up to the reaper watching him with an expression reminiscent of a
puppy trying to please the master attempting to train him. He became visible,
his scythe tucked away out of sight.
The rest of the day went by in a similar manner, taking turns as they
systematically made their way down the to-die list. Grell had forgotten how
much fun it was to work with William when he wasn't causing mischief. William
laughed more often, smiled and enjoyed himself. He was more creative when it
came to the reaping process, and kinder to boot—three times he had taken the
time to patiently explain to the poor souls what had happened to them, and
where they were going.
"Last one," Will said at last, just as the sun was beginning to go down. "Just
in time, too."
Grell eagerly stepped forward to take care of it. "Hey… Will…" He gave his
senior his best puppy dog look. "Can I…" He trailed off hopefully, knowing Will
would understand what he was asking.
"Ugh… fine. Make it look like an accident, okay, Grell?"
Grell cheered and his scythe whirled. He went in for the kill, startling the
little girl he was targeting (who was supposed to fall off of the top of the
staircase and break her neck) by opening the door to her small apartment.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice soft and trembling. She really was a cute
little thing, with wispy blonde hair and forget-me-not blue eyes that reminded
Grell of something, something he had a feeling was better left forgotten.
"My name is Grell Sutcliff, the butler of death!" he introduced himself with a
huge smile and the almost automatic gesture.
"I…" She started crying, tears rolling down her porcelain cheeks. "Don't hurt
me, please!" Grell cocked his head, asking himself if she was sick. She was far
too pale… then he realized it was fear that turned her skin white—it was the
same shade his own had been not a week before, and his expression darkened. She
was on the to-die list—what he was doing wasn't selfish, not at all. It wasn't
that she reminded him of himself. He was just doing his job.
He ran up the stairs, grabbing one clothed arm and jerking her down the stairs.
She screamed, but no one was home to hear it, and before she could even finish
the cry, he had met her at the bottom, and she had met the business end of his
scythe.
He looked down at her corpse, his expression serious and even slightly angry,
before he took a deep breath and reminded himself why he was there—he was
working with Will, trying to forget about everything andanythingto do with
Sebastian.
His own mental ploy worked. He walked away, a cheerful grin on his face as he
wiped away a drop of blood that had landed on his cheek with a handkerchief—the
only drop that had marred him in any way. A beautiful red. He looked back at
the body, and grinned. She was lovely, all covered in his favorite color.
"Do I get my surprise yet?" he asked the brunette, who laughed and nodded.
"Yes, Grell. We've got to hurry, though—it starts in ten minutes!"
They hid themselves from the human eye, some going in the same direction,
running faster than mortally possible. But then, they weren't mortal, were
they? They were immortal.
"It's hosted by some earl in honor of the re-opening of his old family company
or something. I don't know who, or what company—they're planning to announce it
after the show," William explained in his ear, as they were now finding seats
in a packed stadium. "But we'll probably leave before that. We're just here
for—"
A shower of sparks was shot off above their heads, and Will smiled at Grell's
star struck expression.
"—the fireworks," he finished, giving Grell a grin. Grell's eyes lit up and he
squealed in delight.
"Oh, Will, thank you!" he cheered. "Thank you, thank you, thank—" Another
firework went off, and Grell gasped. "So pretty!"
They found a seat, but like most of the other occupants of the stadium, they
were on their feet, Grell jumping with each explosion in excitement. Will was
being jostled, too, since the redhead was stillholding onto his arm, but Will
had promised himself he wouldn't complain that day.
When he realized Grell had stopped jumping, it was too late. He looked down at
his shorter subordinate (even in heels, Grell was somewhat short), staring in
confusion for a moment before he recognized the look on his face. Grell looked
shocked, his mouth shut tight, his eyes wide. He looked like he was about to
start screaming, or crying. His lower lip was trembling, and William could feel
Grell's lithe body shudder against his own.
William looked to the side.
There he was, the picture of haunting beauty, the child earl and his butler,
but it was the butler William was concerned with. He hadn't changed a bit since
the reaper had last seen them—the only thing unusual about him was the look on
his face, so similar to the red head's. A look of shock, and horror that
shortly turned to confusion as Grell tore off, his arm ripped from William's as
he darted in the opposite direction, away from the source of his heart's
pounding, painful pounding, and the sharp pain in his chest that made him feel
like he couldn't breath…
Yeah, I said you'd be mad at me. CLIFFIE! Akire Rosales, you called it. But if
it helps, I have been updating quite regularly, which, if you know me, is odd.
I warn you, it probably won't be like this for long. I don't know why, but I'm
almost drowning in inspiration at the moment, which is… very strange. But it's
good, isn't it? –smiles-
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 6: Chapter 6
===============================================================================
You're gonna be mad at me again. Maybe more mad. –insert evil laugh here- I'm
sorry, but this is how I had to do this. At least you don't have to wait TOO
long for ch. 7! Anyway, I TOLD you there would be Alois/Ciel…
Sometimes Sebastian gave Ciel five extra minutes in the morning. Ciel had never
lost the human habit of sleeping at night, but Sebastian wasn't complaining.
Ciel sleeping at night meant he could spend time he didn't use asleep doing
other things—some he enjoyed, some he didn't.
Now, he let Ciel sleep in so he could imagine that the boy was still human.
Even unnaturally still in the way that only demons could be, Ciel looked much
more innocent when he was asleep. Sebastian missed those days when he was frail
and weak. He still used his butler to do his dirty work, and thatwas at least a
blessing. Sebastian couldn't imagine how dreadfully dull his life would become
if Ciel started taking care of himself.
Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed. "Young master," he said gently. "Young
master, it is time to wake up."
"Since when do you sit down to wake me up?" Ciel grumbled, rolling over to face
away from his butler.
"Today is a busy day, my lord. Perhaps I wanted a small break before the chaos
begins. Is that not acceptable, my lord?" Ciel glared at him over his shoulder.
"What aren't you telling me, demon?" he growled. Sebastian sighed.
"How hypocritical of you, my lord. But it is nothing you need to worry about.
It is just a feeling I have at the moment."
"What kindof feeling?" Ciel was always hard to deal with in the mornings as of
late.
"Nothing too terrible, my lord. I just have a feeling something's going to
happen, and I cannot quite tell whether it's a 'good something' or a 'bad
something'."
Ciel sat up, still when so many years ago there would have been a yawn, or
perhaps him rubbing his eyes. Often, he wondered if the boy was actually alive,
or just a little adorable bisque doll.
"Is this feeling that the Funtom re-opening ceremony is going to fail, by any
chance?" His voice was flat, knowing by then that Sebastian's "feelings" were
normally spot on. Sebastian shook his head.
"No, my lord. The firework show should be fine. I just have this feeling some
minor detail is… going to cause me a great deal of grief." His eyebrows
furrowed. "I cannot put my finger on it."
Ciel did yawn then, but it was fake and more out of habit than anything. "As
long as this 'feeling' of yours doesn't involve me."
"Well, I cannot say it does not, but the firework show and ceremony are not
involved. I have a whole other vibe about you for the day." His smile was
small, but serious. Ciel sighed, and shrugged, swinging his feet over the edge
of the bed. Taking his cue, Sebastian walked around with an outfit much too
short for the average man, but his young master wasa child. He began dressing
the boy once his pajama pants were discarded, and the moment he finished, Ciel
was spluttering at him in shock.
"S-Sebastian… how did you…"
Ciel gasped down at the exact blue velvet outfit he'd worn the day of the curry
contest. Sebastian's smile was nostalgic—sad, almost.
"No, what kind of butler would I be if I could not even do this much?"
"Why?" Ciel whispered. Sebastian held one of Ciel's hands with his own gloved
ones.
"Because I figure we show them that you really are Ciel Phantomhive. We went
out with a bang, my lord. Let us come back with one." He paused, then smirked.
"Besides, they will think you're cute."
"They'll think I look ridiculous—they'll put two and two together. People don't
dress like this anymore," he murmured half heartedly. "These clothes are so
old… late 1800's style. Won't they think it odd, me wearing such an
oldfashion?" So he said, but his hand was smoothing the material fondly.
"Not so, my lord. Look at Undertaker. Among the rich, old fashions are new.
Besides… they will think you're just emphasizing that you're 'Ciel
Phantomhive's great-great-grandson'."
Ciel looked down, his index finger on his right hand running a line down his
left thumb. "Not entirely," he murmured. "Sometimes I astound myself with my
foolishness."
Sebastian let a smile curve his lips upward. "Do not be so hard on yourself, my
lord. I can get it back for you… however, this one you may have more fun if you
come with me."
"You're saying I'll have funwith you going on a wild goose chase to find my
ring?" His voice was colored with disbelief.
He nodded. "Not a wild goose chase, my lord. I know exactly where your ring is.
The trick is getting it off the Earl Trancy's fat finger."
"Earl Trancy?" Ciel repeated, his eyes widening with so many different emotions
Sebastian didn't know how to place them all. "Earl Trancy?" His breath seemed
to catch on him, which the butler found to be an awfully funny reaction for his
lord to have.
"Yes," Sebastian answered carefully. "After Jim Macken was consumed by Hanna
Annafellows, the real Alois Trancy turned up at the mansion of his uncle, so it
seems. He and the Alois you knew looked very similar, so the deliberate mix up
Jim Macken caused was understandable. The current Earl Trancy is his grandson.
It is he who wears your ring."
Ciel small body was trembling slightly, his expression unreadable. "And how did
Earl Trancy obtain my ring?"
Sebastian let out a little breath. "Since you were the only member of your
family left, there was no one for it to be passed down to when you left it
behind. Then the new master of the house sold it after the servants died. You
left the house to them, so they lived in it until old age about… forty, fifty
years ago? Mey-Rin has a granddaughter about the age of my physical appearance,
but it was never legalized for her to inherit the house."
"The bastard who bought my manor… sold my ring?"
Sebastian nodded. "As well as the Trancy family ring. That is how the new Earl
Trancy fond yours—he was looking for his own. He found them both, and still has
them."
Ciel was quiet for awhile. "We are going to get my ring back, Sebastian, and
then we are going to find Mey-Rin's girl and request that she comes to work for
us if she so desires. Is that clear?"
Sebastian bowed his head. "Yes, my lord."
Two hours later, after a very long drive, Ciel Phantomhive and Sebastian
Michaelis found themselves outside the large doors of the Queen's spider's
estate, Ciel with such a deathly serious look on his face he looked much older
than he was supposed to be. When the door opened, Sebastian half expected the
butler standing underneath the familiar spider's web to be Claude, but it
wasn't—he was a most unfamiliar, older gentleman who seemed much kinder than
the last butler they had encountered.
"Hello, we're here to see the master of the house?" Sebastian said for his
master, who seemed almost ill. The butler nodded.
"Your names are?"
"My master's name is Ciel, the Earl of Phantomhive. My name is
inconsequential—for I am only a butler." Sebastian's smile was reminiscent of
the old days.
"Very good, sir. My lord, if you would step into the entrance, I will go and
see if my master is busy." The butler bowed to them politely and Sebastian
nodded back in satisfaction.
"Much better than the last one," he muttered, and Ciel let out a nervous laugh.
The man couldn't have been gone for three minutes before he came back with a
smile.
"Earl Phantomhive, butler. Please come with me. Master Trancy is waiting for
you in the parlor."
They followed, entering the room. For a minute, they could think of nothing but
the sheer grandnessof the place, so like their own mansion, that had not
changed in a hundred years. The second thought was the horrifically fatman
sitting in an armchair with a blue diamond on his finger much to small for it.
Ciel's eyes narrowed for the slightest moment before his expression cleared and
he smiled pleasantly.
"Earl Trancy," he greeted the man with a nod. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"You as well. You must be Phantomhive's grandson."
"Great-great-grandson, actually," he corrected pleasantly. "I came on my rounds
to, how shall I put it, introduce myself to the other nobles. The social season
is just upon us you must realize."
Earl Trancy nodded, smoothing back an unflattering blonde curl. "Yes, yes.
Social season." He made a sound almost like a groan while he re-situated
himself in the seat. "You seem much like a noble yourself."
Ciel's eyes narrowed again. "I ama noble, Earl Trancy. Perhaps I was raised
away from London, but I was still raised by a Phantomhive." His voice had an
irritated edge to it.
"You were raised this way, huh?" He seemed to be looking Ciel over. "Quite the
outfit you've got on."
"It's something my great-great-grandfather wore. Sebastian here found it and
patched it up for me for the grand re-opening of Funtom tonight. Surely you'll
attend?" Sebastian smiled unnoticeably. Surely the Earl wouldn't make it long
enough to attend.
"Sebastian? Strange, isn't it, that he has the same name as your relative's
butler." He glared at Ciel. "Who are you, boy, and what are you playing at? You
have the same name as the boy from all those years ago, and your butler has the
same name as his. You must be an impostor! You think no one will notice you're
stealing straight out of history?"
"He's not stealing, father. He's simply reclaiming what's his, that's all."
Sebastian couldn't believe his ears and when he looked down at his young
master, he could tell Ciel hadn't, either. His entire body had gone still, his
eyes widening to the point where it looked like it hurt, his entire face ashen.
Earl Trancy jumped, then stood after a few failed attempts, seeming panicked.
"E-Earl Phantomhive, please wait a moment. My son is terribly ill—he's not all
there in the head, it seems—please, just a moment!"
"I'm not ill!" that familiar voice cried, angry now. "You foolish—father, I'm
not ill!"
"Alois! How dare you disgrace the name of your great-grandfather! At least he
could admit his faults!"
"You didn't know him, you old fart!" the voice argued heatedly. "Ciel! Oh,
Ciel-darling, you'll vouch for me, right?"
Ciel slowly turned around, shock and disbelief etched into his features. There
was a sort of agony in his eyes Sebastian didn't understand.
"Alois," he whispered.
Blonde, blue eyed, wearing a simple pair of jean shorts and thigh high socks.
Over his green t-shirt, he was wearing a plum-colored jacket. Truly, it had to
be the same boy, this child who couldn't be more than sixteen wearing such an
ecstatic expression.
"Alois," he repeated, his voice shaky, and Alois nodded excitedly.
"See father, he knows me! He knows it's me—just like I know it's him!" he
laughed, running past his father up to the petrified boy shaking at Sebastian's
side. "Oh, Ciel, it's been so long! I've been reincarnated or whatever you want
to call it—I'm back! Isn't it wonderful?"
Ciel seemed to be unable to speak, but Alois didn't seem to mind. He quieted,
placing his palm on Ciel's cheek tenderly.
"Oh, Ciel…"
Ciel didn't seem to know what to do, his hand moving unconsciously to sit on
top of Alois's. The blonde's smile was smug, triumphant. "See, father? Ciel, he
knows me. The same Ciel from years ago."
"Do you really expect me to believe you're a reincarnated boy eaten by a
demon?" Earl Trancy growled, clearly furious.
"He is," Ciel whispered. "He is. It's Alois. Alois Trancy. Jim Macken. Alois."
Alois nodded, pulling an unresisting Ciel into his arms. Sebastian was frozen
in shock of his own. What was wrong with his young master? Surely he wasn't
going to allow the blonde to be so familiar with him?
What really topped was when Ciel, his expression still dumbfounded, laid his
head on Alois's chest. "His heart beats," he whispered. "It's Alois."
Alois laughed, his voice joyful. "Yes. Olé!" That seemed to snap Ciel out of
his trance.
"You!" he breathed, pulling away, though his hand was still on Alois's, which
had moved from his face to hang in the air between them. "You—you're!"
Sebastian had never seen his young master at a loss for what to do, but there
he was.
"What are you?" the earl butted in again. "Who the hell are you?"
Ciel turned from Alois to the earl, a venomous look on his face. Even Alois was
a little taken aback by the hate. "I am your worst nightmare," he growled. "I
am the owner of the ring you wear on your fat finger!Give it back!"
Sebastian was impressed at how frightening his young master looked even when he
was holding the hand of a sluttily dressed blonde.
The earl seemed to realize the danger when he looked at the pure fury on Ciel's
face, taking a step back. "You… you really are—"
"I am a demon—I am Ciel Phantomhive!" he roared. "Give me back my ring!"
Earl Trancy pulled the jewelry off of his finger, flinging it at him. He caught
it easily, taking the time to place it on his left thumb.
"And the Trancy ring."
"You don't need it—this ring belongs to my family!" he cried. Ciel's gaze
turned downright malicious.
"That ring belongs to Alois Trancy. You will had it over." He jerked his head
in Alois's direction. "Now!"
He did so, and Alois scrambled to catch it, a gleeful grin on his face.
"Sebastian." The butler nodded, a devious smirk of his own curving his lips in
a maniacal way.
"Yes, my lord."
There were screams, and then, silence.
"BYE, CIEL!"
"He won't leave me alone," Ciel whispered as he got in the car to head to the
stadium. "He will not leave me alone. I would bet you my entire fortune he
won't leave me alone. He will haunt me."
"He is only human, my lord," Sebastian murmured, getting into the driver's
side. "Only human, with no Claude." Sebastian had a feeling the 'he' his young
master had been referring to a week before, when he'd questioned Sebastian
about Grell, was Alois, and that could mean several different things for Ciel
and his butler.
Ciel nodded, and was silent for the rest of the drive.
"How long did we waste there, cleaning up the mess, making it look like an
accident? How long did we waste having tea with that… that Alois, listening to
him ramble about fate and god knows what else, becoming friends with him,
becoming allies?"
"A couple hours. Alois plans on telling the police when they arrive that he had
just found him dead there, that it was a terrible accident. When we return, my
lord, it should be about time for the show to start."
He nodded, looking off into the distance in a way that made Sebastian think he
was locked inside his own head again. His eyes were glazed, his expression
still holding the hints of horror they had earlier.
It was another two hours later and another very long car ride back to London
when they found themselves searching the stands for seats to watch the show.
Ciel had a microphone hidden in his sleeves for when the show was over so he
could make an entrance from the crowd.
He was glad the boy was wearing velvet since he didn't even have a coat, it
being past December and into early January. Ciel looked slightly stunned still,
but it was wearing off fast, and Sebastian was thankful. They had found a seat,
and were heading toward it, when Sebastian looked up from his young master
making his way over to the spare seats in the row they had climbed to.
Then he stopped walking, making the boy look back at him with a puzzled
expression.
He was laughing, Sebastian realized dazedly. He was laughing, holding on to
William T. Spears's arm with a giggling air that he seemed to perfect better
than most women the butler knew. He had color in his cheeks and looked happy.
Not fully happy, no, and there were rings around his eyes that were barely
noticeable, but he was laughing. And then he stopped, just as Sebastian had.
Ciel hadn't noticed the cause of his sudden inability to move, but the cause
itself had. The cause itself was looking at him in shock and fear and god knows
what else, all emotions mirroring his own.
Sebastian's first thought was beautiful.
He stood there in his frozen petrification, and he was beautiful. His long red
hair hadn't changed any, still silky and glossy, falling over his shoulders in
an elegant cascade that surely took time to perfect. He was wearing the coat
and boots Sebastian was so used to, but instead of his vest and pants, he was
wearing a v-neck shirt and a partial skirt over a pair of black flared jeans.
The clothes suited him—they were feminine, but still for men, which Sebastian
preferred over a dress any day.
He could see the fear and horror and awe in those ringed green eyes, and he
mirrored it. He raised his hand, reaching out for something he didn't even know
why he wanted, when Grell seemed to all at once become seized by terror and
fled.
Sebastian couldn't name the feeling that shot through him like ice when Grell
ran, Grell ran from him, like he was being chased by his own scythe. All he
knew, besides Grell's retreating figure and the striking hatred and
astonishment in the eyes of the brunette reaper, was that he needed to follow.
He did.
GOMENESAI! I just… this is where it ended. I'm sorry! Look out for chapter
seven!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 7: Chapter 7
===============================================================================
Here you go! You guys deserve it. And many thanks to Akire Rosales and Gureru-
sama, who have been two of my main reviewers and one of the reasons I've kept
on top of this story. Just so you know, I won't be able to update this tomorrow
with chapter eight, so don't think I'm abandoning it or anything because I
skipped a day. It's my mom's birthday and she requires I spend the day with
her. Ugh.
He couldn't breathe, his legs burned, and his feet hurt. Contrary to popular
belief, death gods could run faster than humans, but they got worn out easily.
Sometimes they ran for fun, but in general, reapers just… appeared places.
Still, he ran now, too brain dead to think to just slip into another
dimension—besides, even if he did, the demon would likely dart in after him.
Part of him was telling him to stop, to turn around and face him. No matter
what he told Will, he couldn't get over Sebastian that easily, and there was no
way he was ready yet. He loved Sebastian, more than he'd ever loved anyone in
any way, and he wanted to just wrap his arms around him and tell him so. Still,
there was that other half of him—the terrified part that didn't know what to
say to Sebastian, or even if he shouldsay anything or if he should just keep
his mouth shut and pretend he hadn't seen him. How much easier things would be
if he could just do that!
So instead of making a decision, he kept running, hoping against hope that he
could lose the demon in the labyrinth that was London, hoped that eventually,
he would get bored with his reaper prey and wander back to the brat.
But why had they even returned to London? Grell's mind raced as he attempted to
think up any sort of answer. It was obvious now the re-opening was for Funtom,
but just what was Ciel planning, coming back? He didn't know whether to hate
the boy for returning, or worship him.
Grell gave himself one look when Sebastian's footsteps were far enough away,
one look at the face of the man who had haunted his dreams for a century.
Of course, the moment he did look back, his own footsteps slowed to a walk, his
mouth open in silent awe. Sebastian really hadn't changed at all. He still had
those ruby eyes framed by a fringe of dark lashes, aristocratic features and
silky black hair. Sebastian was still stunning, taller than him as he had been
for a hundred years.
Grell didn't even realize how short the distance between them had gotten until
one gloved hand reached out and grabbed his upper arm. He looked down at it in
horror, realizing now that he'd been snapped out of his haze that he had been
caught.
"Why are you running from me?" Sebastian demanded, his eyebrows furrowed
together in confusion and frustration. Grell wrestled against him, which only
made black clad arms wrap around him tightly.
"Why are you following?" he returned desperately, trying to fight and realizing
he had little will to do so.
Sebastian didn't reply for a moment, instead staring intently at Grell. "You
look exhausted. Have you not been sleeping, you idiot reaper?"
It was surely the first time Sebastian had ever been so rude, and it sparked
Grell's need to flee. He attempted to struggle and was just pulled closer into
a clothed chest that smelled faintly of licorice. Why would he smell like
licorice? Grell inhaled, relaxing.
"You smell good, Sebby," he said quietly, giving Sebastian a weak smile. He
wasn't taking it.
"Why do you look so tired?"
Grell sighed, pulling half-heartedly away, but Sebastian didn't loosen his
grip. "I have nightmares, Sebby. It's no big deal."
Sebastian wasn't going for it. "Nightmares, hm? I hear interesting things from
Ronald Knox, you know. Do these nightmares have to do with me?"
Grell's eyes widened. "You've—why have you been talking to Ronald?" he
demanded, looking up at Sebastian.
Sebastian snorted. "Tis not so much that I have been talking to Knox; it is
more that Knox is talking to me," he explained tightly, a hint of irritation
still etched into his features.
"Why is Knoxie talking to you?" he rephrased. "I don't like the sound of this.
Sebastian, tell me the truth!" Sebastian examined his expression, letting go of
his arm to run a finger over the side of his face lightly. Grell froze, unable
to pull away even if he wanted to. He felt shivers rake his body.
Sebastian…
"Your 'Knoxie' was warning me to stay away from you," he answered thoughtfully.
"He threatened me, actually. He told me that being around you would ruin you,
and that he didn't want you knowing I was back in England."
Grell's eyes widened further, disbelief deep in their green pools, and his
lower lip trembled slightly. "Ronald knew you were back in England?"
Sebastian obviously hadn't realized that this would upset him, because his own
eyes widened in surprise before he made a face in regret for just a moment that
was normally accompanied by a curse.
"Who else knows?" he asked, grabbing Sebastian's shoulders and shaking
slightly. "Who else? Sebastian!"
"William knows," Sebastian answered, sighing. "Ronald called him after running
into me, and William called him back after you apparently 'decided to get over
me' last week. Ronald has been by a couple times since then to explicitly
explain what I should not do in order to avoid you."
Grell looked stunned, hurt shining in his lovely ringed eyes. "They didn't tell
me."
Sebastian sighed, pity in his eyes that Grell didn't like at all. "Well,
telling you might have defeated the purpose of keeping me from you."
"But why would they do that to me?" he cried, banging a fist lightly against
Sebastian's chest, who didn't even blink. "Why wouldn't they tell me, knowing
how much I wanted you to come home? Why didn't they…" He tried pulling away
again, and Sebastian still wouldn't let him, so he laid his head on Sebastian's
chest, trying to hold back angry tears. "What I would give to paint them red."
"Do not be so harsh; you do not mean it. They were looking out for you, no?"
"No!" He looked up, his eyelashes glistening. "This—how could they? I've
dreamed for a century I'd see you again, and you come back and they hide you
from me!" He clenched his teeth, pushing his glasses up to rub furiously at his
eyes.
"You know I am here now, do you not?" Sebastian looked like he was confused as
to why he was trying to reassure him, and Grell felt similarly. Sebastian hated
him. Why was he being so kind?
"I…" He didn't know what to say, just as he feared. "Yes." Sebastian smiled,
still appearing somewhat confused, and wiped the tears from the corners of
Grell's eyes.
"Now, see? It is not so bad. They were trying to protect you, Mr. Sutcliff.
Only that," he said gently, and Grell looked up again.
"Don't call me that! Just call me Grell!" He was practically begging.
Sebastian smiled, but Grell couldn't tell whether it was a real smile, or one
of the polite 'yes, my lord' smiles he gave his young master. "Of course,
Grell. Please, calm down."
He finally released Grell, who stumbled back, Sebastian being his main method
of support for the last five minutes. "Ow!" He'd forgotten how much his feet
hurt. He slumped to the ground, tugging a boot off and rubbing the balls of his
foot. That was certainly going to be the last time he ran in heels if he could
help it. He hissed as his finger ran over a particularly sore spot, and
Sebastian kneeled down next to him.
"Grell? Are you in great pain?"
He nodded, biting his lip. He tried to focus enough to draw himself back into
the reaper realm, but he was just so tired, and his head swam slightly from
hurt and shock and exhaustion. He was screwed until Will came to get him—but he
didn't even want to see Will!
Sebastian tsked, sliding an arm around his waist, making the redhead look up in
surprise. He slid the other arm under Grell's thighs, then nodded his head at
the boot laying on the cobblestone alley floor. Grell grabbed it, speechless,
and Sebastian hoisted his rather light body into his arms.
"I assume you want me to take you to William, so he can take you home?"
Sebastian asked as he began walking back in the direction of the stadium. Grell
shook his head.
"I'm not sure… if you could get me to a bench or something, I'll sleep there.
Will and I are roommates…" He felt tears well in his eyes again, and he
tightened his hold on Sebastian. "And I don't want to go back with him. I'll
sleep on a rooftop, or a bench or something."
Sebastian raised his eyebrows at him. "Do you really think I am going to allow
that?" Against his will—especially toward Sebastian!—he bristled, his emotions
flying again to another extreme, anger.
"What, you think you have a say in where I sleep? I don't care how much I love
you, Sebastian Michaelis, I'm not going back with William!" he growled, and
began struggling against the arms he just wanted to relax into and let hold him
until he fell asleep.
Sebastian remained calm, taking every jab. "I was not suggesting you go back. I
was suggesting you stay with me—the young master permitting—until you felt like
you can talk things out with your friends and go home. Right now, I do not
think it safe for you to go back."
Grell fiddled with the lapel of his jacket, his anger dampening. "You're right.
I'm sorry." He sounded weak, and pathetic, and he hated himself for it.
Sebastian walked leisurely in comfortable silence, rocking the reaper growing
sleepy in his arms. Grell was resting against him, his eyes clothes, breathing
evenly, but he wasn't asleep. It would probably have taken a while to return if
it weren't for William and Ciel meeting them halfway.
"Please return Grell to me," William requested, his expression hard, holding
out his arms. Grell opened his eyes, tightening his hold on Sebastian again.
Sebastian gave him a polite smile with an edge as hard as William's glare and
shook his head. "I think not, Mr. Spears. Grell does not wish to return with
you at the moment. My lord…" He turned to Ciel, who was watching him with
raised eyebrows. "Would you be so kind as allow the reaper to lodge with us
until he feels… well enough to return to his own home?"
"Why can't he go now?" Ciel sounded skeptical, but there was a hint of
satisfaction in his tone that made Grell think there was something regarding
him that he wasn't aware of between the master and his servant.
"He is lodging with the reaper next to you, my lord, and he does not feel like
he can stay with him safely. I will explain everything when we are alone, my
lord."
Ciel sighed, nodding. "I suppose it can't hurt. But Mr. Sutcliff—"
"Grell, please," he murmured, not looking at the boy.
"Grell. You are welcome to stay with us, but I expect you to aid Sebastian with
his duties. You are, after all…" Here, Grell looked up with an unrecognizable
expression wordlessly, and Ciel was smiling somewhatkindlyat him! "… a
deadlyefficient butler, am I right?"
Grell felt something warm spark within him. Maybe the brat wasn't as bad as he
thought. "I… yes! Thank you… lord Phantomhive." Ciel smiled, then cleared his
throat.
"Well, it's settled then. You should go, take him home, Sebastian," he ordered.
"Grell, you may begin tomorrow. Sebastian will wake you up when he feels he's
ready to begin instructing you on how things work in my household—the right
way, may I add. I don't want you messing up my tea anymore, you understand?"
Grell felt like he was reviewing a hazy memory, the days when he'd served as a
trial butler, learning from Sebastian for Angelina. He nodded, barely able to
get the words 'thank you' out before they were flying. He let out a weak
squeal, clutching onto Sebastian, who was chuckling at his passenger under his
breath. Excitedly terrified, he shut his eyes, laughing at the sheer rush of
everything. His moods were flying with him, but he preferred this one to his
hole of anger and depression.
When he opened his eyes again, he was inside, being set on a bed. Sebastian
smiled at him, taking his jacket and shoe, pulling the other boot off gently.
"My room is right next to this one, Grell, so if you need anything, I should be
in there." Grell nodded, and Sebastian set his things down on a chair sitting
at a vanity a few feet away. "I will run a bath for you tomorrow morning. Would
you like a pair of pajamas, or a nightgown?"
Sebastian was teasing him, Grell realized, and he grinned, trying to be as
upbeat and cheerful as he could.
"Pajamas, please," he requested sweetly. "God knows what you'd do to me if I
were in a nightgown!"
Sebastian rolled his eyes, but he seemed happier knowing Grell wasn't upset
anymore. He pulled a pair out of a drawer of the vanity and handed them to him.
"Is there anything else you require before bed, Grell?"
The redhead shook his head. "No. I'm just going to braid my hair when I get
dressed, so it's not a mess in the morning, and then I'll go to bed. Is Ciel
still at the show to make his speech for the Funtom company?"
Sebastian nodded. "He will be there for an hour more, and I will go get him
when he calls me." He tapped his left hand with a slight smile. "I will wait
outside the door. Please let me know when you have finished dressing, and I
will braid your hair for you. It has to be faster."
Grell blushed, and nodded. "Thank you." Sebastian shook his head, stepping
outside.
He undressed, lingering on his jeans, feeling embarrassed to be undressing in
another's home. He did so quickly, pulling the satin pants on and leaving the
buttons undone on the shirt. He wasn't shy when it came to his body; it was
only with William that he felt uncomfortable for some reason—like William was
his brother, or parent.
"I'm ready," he called softly, then cursed to himself, realizing Sebastian
probably couldn't hear him. "I'm—" he called louder, but Sebastian was already
opening the door with a smile.
"I heard you, Grell. I am, after all, one hell of a butler." He winked, coming
to sit behind him, gathering his hair.
Grell sat there quietly, humming in satisfaction as Sebastian braided his hair.
He'd been a little antsy about the idea at first—he'd let Will and Ronald both
try once, and both of them tugged on his hair so much his scalp hurt. Sebastian
was gentle about it, and it actually felt nice.
When it was finished, Sebastian set it over his shoulder, and left a hand on
his shoulder as he climbed off the bed. "Please, I am right next door if you
need anything," he said as Grell climbed under the covers. Sebastian smoothed
them, practically tucking him in, and Grell thought that he'd never been so
cared for. He nodded at Sebastian, who was waiting expectantly for an answer.
"I will see you in the morning, Grell."
"Wait!" Grell said before he got too far away, sitting up and ruining the
effort Sebastian had put into tucking him in, but instead of looking annoyed,
Sebastian looked amused. "Come back, just for a sec!"
Sebastian mock-sighed, and walked back. "Yes?"
Grell motioned for him to lean in, as if he wanted to tell him a secret, before
leaning up and pressing a soft kiss to his cheek quickly. "Good night!" he said
with a smile. He'd expected Sebastian to be angry, but instead the demon looked
almost pleased.
Then, Sebastian shocked him by leaning down and kissing him on the cheek as
well, even softer. "Good night, Grell."
He walked out, leaving Grell with a hand over the blush staining his cheek, and
a smile. He'd never been loved before, and even if it wasn't real, even if it
was only temporary pity, he wasn't going to turn down even an illusion of it,
especially not from Sebastian. He laid his head on the pillow, falling asleep
with a smile still on his lips.
I hope this makes up for the last chapter not being a continuation of what
happened after Grell ran! Again, I won't be on tomorrow due to my mother's
birthday, so the next chapter isn't until Monday (unless I'm super ambitious
today… o.o)… So this chapter isn't a cliffhanger. I love all of you!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 8: Chapter 8
===============================================================================
You guys had better love me. By the way, for all of you who probably think
Sebastian's being ooc, just read this chapter. It'll make a little more sense
as to why Sebby's being so nice.
Sebastian stood outside the door to Grell's room, debating whether he really
wanted to wake up the red haired reaper yet. Grell really had look exhausted
yesterday, the rings under his eyes light, but noticeable.
He frowned at the thought. He didn't know why he was so concerned about the
redhead—he didn't even know why he'd chased after him. He was worried about
him, yes, and he certainly didn't love him as the young master claimed to be
sure of, but he certainly didn't dislike him anymore. He was quite amusing, if
truth be told, and Sebastian found that being around him made him laugh more
than usual.
He knocked on the mahogany wood and when he didn't receive an answer, he
sighed, going in anyway with a change of clothes for Grell brought by a very
irritated William folded over his arm. He set the clothes on the chair, moving
over to the sleeping reaper wrapped up in his blankets, his long braid laying
out behind him.
"Grell," he murmured, reaching over to lay a hand on his shoulder. "Grell, it
is time to wake up."
Grell's previously peaceful expression took a slight turn, his eyebrows
furrowing, his lips tugging downward. He looked… almost as if he were going to
cry. "William, just give me five more minutes. I had another dream… it was so
wonderful …" His voice sounded almost choked.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. He had a feeling that Grell was passing the day
before off as a dream. Did he often have dreams like that? He felt pity strike
through him. It was strange how he wished he could have been there for the
reaper—the same way he felt for herafter a long trip with his master. The
thought of the cat that had strayed in the gardens out back was suddenly, for
some reason, not as appealing as the thought of Grell right before him. He felt
a little better, now that he'd been able to pin why he suddenly felt so kind
toward the reaper—he thought of him as a pet. He'd had a great many pets in his
life, and he had no problem adding Grell to the list.
"Grell," he tried again. "You promised the young master you would help me with
my duties today, did you not?" He didn't mean to let his fondness of the reaper
(of course, it was only morning; there were a great many things he'd done in
the past that could make that fondness disappear) into his voice, but he had.
Slowly, Grell opened his eyes, blinking up at him before a wide smile spread
across his face. "It wasn't a dream!" he exclaimed, and Sebastian couldn't help
chuckling. "Oh, Sebby, you're really back!" Before Sebastian could do anything
about it, Grell propelled himself forward into Sebastian's arms, squeezing him
happily.
Sebastian wasn't sure what to do in this situation—he hadn't received a great
many hugs in his time, but he returned it timidly. Instead of being annoyed, as
he figured he would be upon being attacked by the reaper again after so many
years, he was rather pleased with the reaction. It was almost cute, how Grell
was still so enamored of him.
"Yes, Grell. I have clothes for you to change into after your bath, and a robe
for you to wear before so I can get those pajamas cleaned for tomorrow as soon
as possible. Surely you would like to begin the day?"
Grell looked up at him, pouting. "Aweh, Sebby, can't we stay in bed?" He
wiggled his hips as well as he could tangled in sheets and Sebastian, who
laughed.
"You promised, Grell. Besides, you get to stay at my side all day. Is that not
enough incentive for you to get up?" he said, a smile on his lips. Grell
thought about it before he sighed dramatically and nodded.
"Oh, Sebby, you know me so well!"
Sebastian shook his head and rolled his eyes playfully, extracting himself from
the tangle of Grell's arms. "I am going to be in the bathroom—" He nodded
toward the door next to the vanity. "—running your bath. I doubt you need me to
get a robe on you for your bath, nor do you need me to dress you afterwards."
"But what if I wantyou to dress me?" Grell asked, batting his eyelashes at him,
and Sebastian rolled his eyes again.
"My dear Grell, we have work today." He hadn't had sex in over a century and a
half, but he wasn't going to just screw Grell when he asked. He was a pet,
nothing more, he reminded himself. Even if he wasstrangely, exotically
gorgeous.
He got up, going into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him so Grell could
change in peace. He was sure the red head probably felt a little embarrassed
doing so with him so close, or even just in a strange place that wasn't his own
home, so the closed door hopefully gave him a semblance of privacy.
It was roughly a minute later when there was a timid knock on the door.
"Sebby?" Grell called, and Sebastian let out a deep breath. This was his new
little pet, he reminded himself. "Sebby, can I come in?"
"Of course, Grell," he returned, a smile on his lips. "Why not?" The door
opened and Grell poked his head in, that cute smile still on his face.
"Sebby, are you sure you don't want to join me?" The door opened in time for
Sebastian to catch a wiggle of his hips and he laughed.
"Yes, I am sure. I have duties, you know. Perhaps some other time." He knew he
was probably being cruel giving Grell hopes like that which he had no plans to
fulfill, but who knew what was going to happen in the future?
Grell sighed, then winced as he rocked too hard.
"Your feet still hurt?" Sebastian asked, frowning. Grell nodded. "I do not
understand why you are just now being hurt by those boots when you wear them
all the time."
"It was from running in them so much," he said with an accompanying hum and
Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
"Why did you run in the first place?" he asked, and Grell looked away. He could
tell Grell's mood had shifted and he deduced that what Knox had said was
true—Grell really wasn't in the best of conditions. This upset him, especially
knowing the cause of his little toy's distress was him.
"I don't know, meh," he grumbled after a moment of silent. "I just… had to. I
saw you, and I just…" He sighed, looking up at the ceiling. "I freaked."
Sebastian gestured him over, pulling his hands from the water and wiping them
on a towel. He didn't like Grell's bad mood, and to change it, he pulled Grell
into his arms, petting his hair like a kitten. "Shh," he murmured. "Do not be
so upset. See? Everything is fine. Be in a good mood, okay?" Grell nodded,
humming again and tracing a pattern on his upper arm.
"Sorry."
Sebastian petted him again. "It is fine, love. You need to get back up to where
you used to be, mood-wise. It hurts me to see you so upset."
What was he saying? Sebastian wasn't so sure; he really was going all out—he
even had a mental image of a little kitten Grell, which really was quite
amusing. He was running his fingers through Grell's hair now, making the reaper
purr that wasn't helping his mental picture any, but he didn't mind. Once he
got in the frame of mind it really wasn't difficult to be kind and loving
toward the reaper.
Still, there was a nagging voice in the back of his head that told him he
wasgoing to ruin the reaper, this adorable reaper in his arms. So much
affection—how much could Grell take before he snapped, or worse—became used to
it, became so used to it that when Sebastian lost interest like he did with so
many of his pets (one exception being a very lovely tabby that used to hang
around the mansion before the black one), he would break? Sebastian felt a
horrible sense of dread at the thought, and prayed to whatever deity that would
listen that he never lost interest.
"Okay, love, bath time." This time, Grell seemed to realize he called him
'love', and looked up with an ecstatic grin on his face.
"Ooh, you love me, Sebby?"
Sebastian chose not to answer, but to instead simply smile, before he stood and
left, telling his pet to get undressed and in the tub. "When you are finished,
Grell, meet me in the kitchen to help me make lunch for the young master. Then
we are going out with him, to help him find a young woman."
"Is he looking for a wife?" Grell asked curiously, and Sebastian laughed,
unable to help it.
"No, Grell. He is looking for a maid, actually. Our previous maid, Mey-Rin, had
a granddaughter that my… resources tell me is unemployed. We meant to go find
her and ask her to work here yesterday, but after running into Alois Trancy, we
ran out of time." Normally, Sebastian wouldn't have been so lax with
information, but this was Grell, his darling, adorable Grell, who wasn't human
himself, who now worked alongside his love interest for the time being. It
wasn't like there was much point in hiding things from him.
"Alois Trancy?" Grell's eyebrows arched. "What… I thought he was eaten by
Hannah Annafellows!" The mention of her name developed a tick in his right eye.
"Yes, we are not sure what happened, exactly. All we know is he's been re-
born."
"Huh," he said, looking like was pondering something very hard. "And what about
that bastard that tried to kill you?"
"Claude is dead, Grell," he said patiently, with a smile. "And now, you should
get into the bath before it gets cold, yes?"
Grell looked over at the water and nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He
stood, slipping the robe off of his shoulders and Sebastian took his leave,
shutting the door behind him.
It was almost an hour and a half later when, shortly after Sebastian finished
with the general cleaning (having figured Grell would take a long bath), Grell
descended the staircase, looking perfect in his usual attire, coat and boots
aside with slippers on his feet Sebastian had set next to the bed last night,
knowing he wouldn't want to put the boots on again.
"So what are we making your little lord?" he asked curiously.
"A hamburger," Sebastian replied, and Grell cocked his head to the side.
"You know, last time I was here, you were making his little lordship scones and
wrapped-whatever and food I can't even pronounce," he observed, and Sebastian
nodded.
"The times have changed, Grell, and as it so happens, the young master likes
some of the changes—burgers included," Sebastian explained patiently, and Grell
nodded. "I was hoping you could take care of the side dish—very simple, just
some chips."
Grell's eyes lit up and Sebastian himself was a little confused.
"I love chips! Can I have some, too?" Sebastian laughed, and made a mental note
of the fact.
"Yes, Grell, you may have some of the leftovers," he answered, and Grell
cheered, getting started.
Lunch was a fairly uneventful affair, other than Ciel's slight praise to Grell,
who had apparently improved in his tea-making skills since the late 1800s—who
was very proud of himself.
For the rest of the time, he followed Sebastian like a baby duckling, normally
acting as the jack for various things. There was a faucet in the third floor
bathroom that leaked, which Sebastian fixed with Grell handing him tools, and
there was also a broken piece of machinery that Grell personally was confused
as to what it was until Sebastian explained that it was a water heater—one of
several in a row, actually.
"We have a pretty neutral temperature in my realm. Our water comes from a sea
there and it's pretty warm, so there's no need to heat it," Grell pointed out
when Sebastian gave him a strange look for asking. "We don't need air
conditioners or water heaters. Personally, I don't get why your water's cold."
Sebastian rolled his eyes, opting not to explain that he had no idea because
Hell was pretty hot, and their water was fairly warm as well.
By the end of the day, Sebastian was sure he knew almost everything about his
new little pet, including the color of lingerie he preferred—red, of course. He
wasn't going to complain, though. He wanted Grell to be able to talk to him,
needed Grell to be able to talk to him. It was how he worked with his pets—his
goal was to make his pets as happy as possible, and to do that, he needed to
know as much about them as he could—their likes, dislikes, quirks, fetishes…
and as it so happened, Grell was insanely open about all four of those
categories.
Grell stood in the short stretch of hallway in between their rooms, holding
onto his hand, swinging it slightly with a pout on his face.
"Grell," Sebastian said gently. "It is time for you to go to bed. You need
sleep."
"I know," he whined, making the demon chuckle at his childish reaper. "But
can't I have a kiss before I do? It's been such a weird day; I want to make
sure you're real." He could hear the truth in the words, but he was fairly sure
Grell had ulterior motives. He sighed, smiling while he shook his head.
"Fine," he conceded, leaning it and placing his lips on Grell's cheek lightly.
Grell went still under him as he obviously didn't think Sebastian would agree
so readily. "Good night, Grell."
Grell had a dreamy smile on his face when he nodded, hugged Sebastian tightly
for a split second, and turned, entering his room and closing the door behind
him.
Still standing there, listening to the faint footsteps as Grell got ready for
bed, Sebastian smiled as well. His cute, perfect little pet. The voice nagged
at him again and he shushed it. Him, get bored of Grell? Not any time soon.
If this doesn't upload right (fanfiction is being a bitch) I apologize for not
having it up on time. But in my defense, I wrote this the same day as I wrote
chapter seven, and I posted both of them, but Fanfiction is, well, not working.
It says on my personal page it's uploaded, but on the public page, it says
there's still only six chapters. I hope it gets fixed soon. For such a
wonderful site, its flaws are horrendous.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 9: Chapter 9
===============================================================================
I've decided that even if Fanfiction keeps doing what it's doing, I'm just
going to continue with my writing schedule anyway. It can just deal with the
onslaught of updates when it decides to work right.
When Grell opened his eyes, his first thought wasn't that he wasn't in his room
back in the dispatch society—it was that the sunlight streaming in through the
windows on either side of the bed he was in was yellow—bright, cheery. This was
strange, because for one thing, he always kept his curtains closed (which had
obviously been forgotten last night), and for another, the sun in the reaper
realm gave off a light that was somewhere between blue and violet in hue. This
meant he wasn't at home, and for a moment he was confused, before his eyes
locked on the demon sitting in the vanity chair, giving him a small smile.
"Sebby!" he cried happily. "Good morning!"
"I take it you forgot you were staying with your dear Sebby?" Sebastian
chuckled, not moving from his seat. Grell shook his head quickly, a blush
staining his cheeks.
"I'm sorry! I have so many dreams, Sebastian, I can never figure out what's
real and what's not until I'm fully awake," he explained. "Good morning."
This time, Sebastian nodded, returning with, "And a good morning to you,
Grell."
Grell fiddled, not sure what to say. He knew what he shouldsay, but he wasn't
sure how to put it without coming off as trying to be a freeloader.
"Just say it, Grell," Sebastian said gently. "You are obviously distressed
about something." Grell sighed, wringing his hands. When he decided his long,
slender fingers had taken enough abuse, he moved to playing with his braid.
"Grell…"
"I just… I think I should probably go into work today," he mumbled. "I'm not
ready to go back to my apartment, but if I skip work, I'll get in trouble, I
know it. Will would be really mad, and he'd make sure I get extra punishment.
Or…" He looked up to meet Sebastian's eyes. "Or he'd find a way to blame you,
and they'd send the dispatch society after you. I don't want that to happen."
"So what you are asking is if you can move in here temporarily, but still go to
work," Sebastian summed up. "It sounds reasonable. What are your days off?"
"Wednesdays, and I usually get off work, if I'm finished for the day, around
four," he answered faithfully. "I can still help you out around the manor when
I'm not at work."
Sebastian smiled, nodding, even though there seemed a slight tick in his eye
again. Grell hated making him look like that. He wasn't sure why Sebastian
would look so annoyed under his smile—what he had said. The demon didn't
appearto be angry with him, but Grell could never be sure.
Sometimes, he was still slightly afraid of the butler. He couldn't read
Sebastian very well, and he'd nearly died at his gloved hands once. Grell could
never tell whether Sebastian liked him, or hated him. He loved Sebastian, but
he didn't want to be in a relationship with him until he was sure… sure if
Sebastian was using him or not. Despite his anger, Will and Ronald were right.
Sebastian hadhurt him, and he was perfectly able to do so again. How would he
handle it if he had Sebastian, and he were ripped away?
He knew the answer was not very well.
Sebastian's hand on his face brought him out of his reverie, and he looked up
at him with wide, honest eyes. "Are you okay, Grell?" He nodded, leaning into
the palm, nuzzling it.
"I am. I just shudder to think what work will be like today." Something
occurred to him and he looked up at Sebastian in horror. "You don't think
Will'll hit a lady, do you?"
Sebastian laughed, and Grell took a moment to admire the sound. Sebastian had
never laughed much before, and he seemed to be doing it often now. For some
reason, this made Grell unreasonably happy. "I do not think he will hit you,"
he answered, still chuckling. "What kind of man hits a maiden?" Grell beamed,
thrilled.
"A horrible one!" Grell answered, and Sebastian nodded, helping him out of bed
with a smile.
"Come on, then, get ready to work. I can drive you, if you would like, to the
general entrance." Grell nodded. "I will explain to the young master as well,
by the way. I do not think he will have a problem with the plan; he has enough
faith in me." Grell nodded, picking up the freshly cleaned outfit sitting on
the vanity.
Grell shook his pajama top off of his shoulders, uncaring of the demon watching
avidly behind him. He wasn't a shy person by any means, and he had no qualms
about letting people—especially not Sebastian—see his body. He got insecure
about his appearance at times—the gaudy red hair he usually loved, the razor
sharp teeth (he wasn't quite sure what had happened there)—but he is figure
wasn't something he worried about. He knew that if nothing else, he had a nice
body, curvier than the average man's, but still slim, with gorgeous angles no
woman he knew possessed.
He heard the door shut and he sighed. So kind to his ego Sebastian was, running
out at the beginning of the show. Grell sighed. He figured Sebastian was trying
to be a gentleman, and Grell, even though eh found it ridiculous, appreciated
it. After all, he wasa lady of taste—he wasn't going to for some pervert off
the street.
He slipped out of the drawstring pants, too, pulling his slacks on, buttoning
them so they fit snugly. He had all of his clothes tailored—extra room (save
for clothes that were meant to be baggy) made him twitch; it was just a little
quirk. When he was finished, he tied the striped ribbon around his neck and
pulled the tie out of his hair, letting his braid go free. He put his glasses
on and pushed them up his nose.
There was a scratch on the right lens from them falling off when he'd forgotten
(been too dazed) to take them off his first night at Phantomhive manor, but
he'd get them fixed when he went in.
After pulling his boots and coat on, he ventured outside uncertainly. He was
always a little wary of running into the earl Phantomhive in the hall. He
didn't dislike the little master any longer, but the dark aura around him—the
pain and suffering he had endured… it unsettled Grell. It worried and upset
him, made him feel the odd urge to protect him. He was starting to think of the
boy as his own child and that was… strange.
"Oh, Grell." Mentally, he cursed. Of course.
"Yes, my lord?" he said politely, trying to be good and respectful so the
little master wouldn't throw him out. When he looked up, however, Ciel was
smiling a little nervously. Grell cocked his head to the side.
"I hear you're going to work today," Ciel said conversationally, and Grell
nodded.
"Yes, sir."
Ciel bit his lip, obviously weighing his options, before he blurted, "Can I go
with you?"
Grell blinked in surprise. The little lord wanted to go with him to work? He
hadn't the foggiest idea why. Chances were he had nothing but paperwork for the
day (and a lot of it, judging by the mood William was likely to be in) and that
was the most boring thing he'd ever done. He couldn't imagine how boring it
would be to watch.
"Please, Grell?" he pleaded, the words sounding awkward coming from his
aristocratic mouth. "You've no idea how dreadfullyboring it is here. Sebastian
has plans to tutor me again, and it's not like I have any work yet—Funtom
doesn't open officially until next week! Please! You can apparate or whatever,
right?"
Grell couldn't help but chuckle. "Apparate? My lord, this is not Harry Potter."
He blushed, but pressed on. "Then what do you call it?"
Grell blinked. "I don't think we ever really named it," he mused. "It's just
something we do."
Ciel huffed. "But can you take people with you when you do it?"
Grell was trying to decide whether Sebastian would kill him for taking Ciel.
"Well, yes, but what does Sebby say?" He couldn't help it; he'd always wanted a
child, and the opportunity to pretend Sebastian was the other half of his
parental unit was one he simply couldn't pass up.
"Sebastian would neverlet me go!" Ciel complained, appearing horrified at the
very prospect of asking the demon. "He'll just say I have lessons to do!
Please, Grell!"
Grell had a mental image of this makeshift take your child to work day, and he
liked it. For some reason, he could see himself boasting about his cute son
Ciel—because the kid wasadorable. "Okay," he relented finally and Ciel's eyes
lit up. He'd taken to forgoing his eye patch as of late when he was alone at
home, and when Grell gave in, he pulled it out of the pocket of his jeans and
put it on excitedly.
He opened his mouth to say something, but Grell shushed him, no matter how cute
this childish Ciel was. He'd heard Sebastian's footsteps, and he panicked. If
Sebastian caught them, they were done for, and Grell was inhugetrouble!
"Arms around my waist tightly, hurry!" he ordered, and Ciel flung his arms
around Grell's slim middle without hesitation.
When Ciel opened his eyes again, they were standing outside the G.R.
Corporation building, which was, ironically, a weapon-making company whose
initials stood for 'grim reaper'. They walked inside, Grell confident, Ciel
confused.
"Mr. Sutcliff!" the counter girl gasped.
"Why look so surprised?" he asked, and she looked down at her feet in respect.
The higher ups, who were aware the building doubled as an entrance to the
dispatch society, instructed all of their counter helps to be incredibly polite
to the reapers.
"Mr. Spears told me we probably shouldn't be expecting you for awhile," she
explained, her cheeks a light shade of pink.
Grell sighed. "Of course he did," the reaper grumbled. "Well, I'm here, and I'm
going up. Goodbye."
She called a goodbye after him, but the irritated man ignored her as they got
into the elevator. Ciel was quiet, obviously trying not to pry, until he saw
the key pad.
"Three floors?" Ciel exclaimed. "But this only a two-story building!"
Grell grinned. "Ah, my little lord, there is so much you do not know about our
world." Ciel looked kind of annoyed and Grell realized he'd just used one of
his pet names for the young lord, and he grinned. A pouting Ciel was a cute
Ciel.
The elevator stopped and the door opened. Grell heard a sharp gasp from his
little lord.
"Hello, Mr. Sutcliff," the same cheery secretary greeted him. "And guest." Ciel
had a hand fisted into Grell's coat, and nodded. He was trying to come off as
confident and stern, but Grell could practically feel the boy's nervousness
coming off of him in waves.
"Hello, Ariel. This is—"
"The earl Ciel Phantomhive," an edgy voice finished. The bite in the familiar
voice normally would have made him feel guilty, but this time, he felt no
guilt, only anger.
"To you it is the lord earlCiel Phantomhive," the red head bit back, his voice
a low growl. "Have some respect."
Ronald's teeth clenched, making an angry blush spread across the upper part of
his face. "So what, he's your best friend now?" Ciel took an inconspicuous step
closer to Grell, who couldn't help but feel protective. He'd never been
anyone's protector before—people didn't huddle into his side for safety. They
ran away. Ciel was a demon, but he was still a child, and he was without his
butler security blanket. He was a demon, yes, but an outnumbered one who had
been led into the lion's den by someone who only wanted to protect him.
"You look scary," a junior reaper stuttered. Grell could understand that—he'd
always been the nice one, the fun one. He didn't think any of his juniors—or
even most of his seniors—had ever seen him so serious, so deadly. There was a
reason he was such a well-known reaper, and it wasn't because of his screw ups
or his flamboyancy.
"Turning your back on your own kind?" Ronald sounded hurt, under the anger—but
Ronald was indirectly threatening Ciel. That would not do.
"I'm protecting a child." Ciel let out a small grumble of protest, but his
voice trembled. "He's not harming anyone. We're just going to sit in my office
while I do my work. You don't like it? Stay the hell out of my office then."
Eric stood a few feet away, holding hands with Alan and they were obviously
thinking of nothing but that Grell Sutcliff had bought a demon into the office.
"You're even talking like one now."
Grell snorted. "Grow up, Slingsby. The little lord didn't do anything, nor does
he have plans to." Eric's malicious eyes turned toward Ciel, the threat in them
pushing him over the edge, and Grell snapped. The red head scooped the boy into
his arms, crushing him against his chest before he began to scream.
"You got something against Ciel? About this demon? Well, he's a hellof a lot
kinder than you, and a better friend to boot!" Ciel held onto him tightly,
shaking, and Grell had tears in his eyes, but he wasn't done. He knew he
shouldn't go there, he knew it was cruel, but he couldn't stop his mouth from
moving. "And you know what? Ciel was the one who gave me a place to sleep so I
wouldn't have to stay with my cold, lyingroommate! He's never lied, or kept
things from me, and neither has Sebastian!"
His co-workers stared at him in open mouthed shock before they followed Grell's
teary glare to Ronald Knox, who stood in their midst, dumbstruck.
Grell, feeling drained and fiercely protective of the eternally teenaged boy
burying his face in his shoulder, pushed his way past the crowd and stormed
into his office, slamming the door behind him. When he set Ciel down, the earl
backed up enough to examine him. Tiredly, Grell wiped his eyes, smiling dryly
at the pale demon who didn't quite know what to say.
"Going to throw up again, my little lord?"
Ciel shook his head, appearing concerned behind this façade of irritation, at
both the nickname and the mention of the weakness.
"I'm sorry you had to see that," he continued. "I'm afraid my co-workers aren't
always the most pleasant of people. They normally aren't as hostile."
"I don't doubt that," Ciel muttered, but even though the words sounded like
they should be sarcastic, they weren't. "They were only trying to protect you,
you know."
"Protecting me and outright lying to me about something that would make me
happier than I've been in an entire century are two very different things," he
disagreed shortly. "One shouldn't play with a lady's heart like that."
Ciel looked up at him, and admiration was clear in his eyes, making Grell give
him a small smile. So the little lord had finally realized he wasn't just a
creepy gender-confused would-be grim reaper, huh?
The rest of the day past uneventfully, with more small talk than they'd ever
exchanged before and more than enough paperwork. Ciel told Grell what they'd
been doing since they'd left London, and in turn Grell explained what Sebastian
meant when he had apparently told him Grell had been "a ghost of his former
self".
"Not a ghost, per se," he said as he finished the last of his work, about to
leave and pick up a few things from his apartment before they went back to the
manor. "Not really. I was just… I snapped, you know? I wasn't myself, not all
the time. Of course, I was still a lady of class—" Here Ciel snorted, laughing
a little. "—oh, shush you. Anyway, I wasn't a monster or anything, but I was…
unstable. My moods flipped like a light switch… easily and without warning."
"Really? That must have been… uncomfortable, not being able to be sure of your
own emotions."
Grell nodded. "It was exactly like that. I was scared of myself—I guess I
shouldn't act like it was past thing when it wasn't even a week ago. I screamed
sometimes, flying off the handle at the smallest things… but then a few minutes
later I'd be giggling and like my old self. William and Ronald thought of
nothing but keeping my moods up." He made a face as he stood, stretching, and
Ciel stood as well, making ready to go.
"You said we're stopping by your apartment, right?" Ciel asked, and Grell
nodded.
"Yeah, I'm just going to pick up some clothes, makeup, whatever." He grinned.
"Lingerie." Ciel made a face as well, this one slightly more comical than
Grell's.
They headed up, and Ciel tried to be calm when Grell could tell he was excited
to see where he lived. Grell unlocked the door, making the familiar entrance
into the room. He took his coat off for a second.
"There are drinks in the fridge, if you're interested," Grell offered, knowing
that unlike a lot of demons, Ciel still ate and drank. Ciel shook his head,
instead following Grell into a large room with a four-poster bed with red
sheets, and a large vanity, at least twice the length of the one in his
temporary room in the manor.
He pulled a few sets of clothes out of the drawer, knowing Sebastian had little
to do besides laundry and wouldn't appreciate him bringing a million outfits
that would limit his need to do the chore. He grabbed a couple other pairs of
shoes, as well as his own slippers. He pulled his own silk robe, imported from
Japan, which had a lovely red floral pattern on it. There were sakura blossoms
decorating the hem, and Grell had always thought it was lovely.
He grabbed his makeup bag, as well, which Ciel raised an eyebrow at but didn't
say anything. He was almost finishing packing, grabbing last his journal, a
small but thick book he kept on his nightstand, knowing that if William ever
looked at it, the guilt would show on his face and he'd confess before
promising not to do it again. It wasn't like there was anything in there he was
too afraid to say out loud, anyway.
Startling both of them, William's voice came from the doorway.
"Are you coming home so early?" He sounded edgy, and nervous. He was pointedly
not looking at Ciel.
"No," Grell said shortly. "I'm packing."
William winced, stepping into the room. "Grell, I'm sorry."
"I figured as much." He snapped his suitcase closed. "And I respect that you
apologized, and appreciate it." His gaze was cold, but underneath it, the hurt
was visible. He wasn't quite sure why William and Ronald looked so wounded—it
was they who had done wrong. "I love you, Will—you're a very precious friend.
But I'm angry with you."
"You don't sound like it." William folded his arms, shuffling his feet.
"I got over the initial anger," he confessed. "When I yelled at Ronald this
morning. But I'm not going to forgive you, not for a while. Do you realize how
much that hurt?"
"What?" he asked, his voice a little hoarse. Grell looked him straight in the
eye when he responded.
"I love him, Will. And you know that, know it was killing me not to see him,"
he replied, his voice steely to hide the pain. "You, my best friend… I trusted
you to do what was best for me. Lying to me, trying to hide Sebastian from me."
Ciel's eye widened—obviously he hadn't known about that part, and that blue eye
went from widening to narrowing in anger, taking Grell's hand assuredly. He was
sure this wasn't something Ciel did lightly (or ever), and he was touched by
the show of their alliance. "Trying to hide Sebastian from me," he echoed, the
pain still fresh. "It wasn't what was right for me, Will. It was what was
wrongfor me. It was a mistake, and I'm sure you know that now. But I'm not
going to forgive you for it until I have time to cool off. Until I do, my
little lord permitting… I will be staying at the Phantomhive estate." Ciel
squeezed his hand in assurance.
To be honest, Grell was a little surprised that he was taking this so calmly,
speaking to Grell calmly instead of seething.
William nodded, turning his face away to hide his shame, and Grell did the
same, to hide his own ache, before nodding at Ciel, who hugged him again, and
they disappeared.
When they came to again, they stood outside the open door to the manor,
Sebastian in the doorway with a relieved, precious smile.
He opened his mouth before Grell could explain or perhaps beg for forgiveness.
"Welcome home, Grell, young master."
Ciel nodded, letting go of Grell with a light blush, and dashing inside. He
knew he would probably get an earful from Sebastian later, Grell was sure, and
he stood stoically while he looked at the ground, waiting for his own
punishment.
Instead, he heard footsteps approach, and he felt a light kiss be placed on the
corner of his mouth, just barely touching his own lips. "Welcome home, Grell."
Grell looked up into golden red eyes, momentarily kind, and that lovely smile
that would surely kill him from its sheer beauty one of these days.
"Thank you," he murmured back, and Sebastian held him as if he already knew
what had happened, and what he needed. Grell wasn't going to turn down the
embrace, and he buried himself in the warmth that was this demonic, celestial
being he loved so much.
So, this is my longest chapter to date, I think, for this story. Not bad, eh?
I'm proud of it.
===============================================================================
Chapter 10: Chapter 10
===============================================================================
Okay, so we're on chapter ten! Officially my longest story, and we're just
getting started. I hope you're excited!
To be completely honest, Sebastian's first day without Grell since running into
him at the firework show had been completely, utterly… horrible. He'd gone to
meet the reaper at his room to tell him the car was ready, only to find him
gone. He'd actually cursed out loud for the first time in years, thinking Grell
had been stolen. He'd just finished a thorough search for the young master upon
discovering that he, too, was missing, when he'd received a call from the phone
in the young master's office. This call was, in fact, from one very irritated
William T. Spears, who informed him both his pet and his young master were safe
at the dispatch society, as well as the exact time Grell got off work,
permitting he didn't have to work over time.
The relief flooding through him had startled and confused him, but he set it
aside to finish his work before the two childlike occupants of the manor
returned.
The frustration that had built up inside him all day had reminding him about
something—he was quite possessive with his pets. Even the idea of Grell going
to work angered him. He sighed. He would have to stop being so possessive, lest
he drive Grell away. But still, Grell seemed like the oppressive type that
wouldn't mind—even might enjoy—being obsessed over. Sebastian sighed again. He
wasn't going to stress over how he was going to treat his pet. He'd leave that
decision to Grell.
He stopped by Grell's room a couple times a day, just to inhale the scent of
his red headed reaper. It was during one such visit when the scent of him
seemed much stronger outside the closed window, and a small smile graced his
features. He knew the way portal tunnels, for lack of a better name,
worked—they went through the sky, giving off a strong whiff of whoever was
using it.
He met their arrival with a carefully constructed expression at the front door,
letting only relief show. He didn't want Grell to see his anger and assume it
was athim when it wasn't. His young master had been hugging Grell, holding onto
his waist desperately like he probably had with his mother. The minute they
appeared and noticed Sebastian standing there, he let go with a blush, running
inside before his butler could say anything.
Grell didn't run away, but he looked down at his boots, shame in his expressive
emerald eyes. However, it wasn't the guilt in his eyes that caught his
attention—it was how puffy and red they were. He'd been crying? A strange
mixture of anger and worry stirred inside of him.
Instead of lecturing, or even speaking, Sebastian went forward and kissed him
lightly, on the very corner of his mouth before opening his arms slightly,
issuing the invitation. He'd already made the decision that if Grell willingly
hugged him, then he could possess his little pet just like any other—Grell
would be his, entirely. Grell stepped into his arms, burying his face into
Sebastian's chest, and sealed his fate. Sebastian stroked his hair lightly, and
Grell made a sound almost like a purr, but not quite.
"Would you like to tell me now, little love, or later?" Sebastian murmured into
his hair gently.
"Later," the red head mumbled, the sound muffled by his lapel. "I don't want to
even think about it now. Later, before bed."
Sebastian nodded, just holding him for a moment more before he leaned back to
give his pet a small, reassuring smile. "Shall we work then?" Grell nodded, and
they did just that. Grell wasn't allowed to help him with any minor tending to
the winter garden he needed to do, however—after the last incident with the
skull-shaped hedges… never again. Sebastian still shuddered at the thought.
When night came, the physically and mentally exhausted reaper found himself
sitting on his bed in the pajamas provided by Sebastian (he'd brought his own,
but for some reason, he preferred the silk ones given to him by his love and
his new little lord that smelled like the Phantomhive manor, and roses) while
said demon braided his hair.
"Grell," Sebastian murmured after his third attempt at changing the subject.
"What could be so bad you'd hide it from me?" When Grell stubbornly refused to
respond, Sebastian decided he had to take the low road. "Do you not trust me,
pet? Do you not love me like you say you do?"
This, of course, brought Grell out of his silence. "Of course I love you!" he
exclaimed, turning around and putting a hand on his shoulder in assurance. "I
love you so much! Too much." The last part was spoken so softly, Sebastian
almost didn't catch it, and he was close to wishing he hadn't.
"Then tell me, pet." Was Grell scared he'd go kill his so-called reaper
"friends"? When the idea occurred to him, he had to admit it was a sound
conclusion, and a likely one.
Grell sighed, playing with Sebastian's lapel, and the chain signifying his
station at the Phantomhive manor. When the old uniform had worn away, he'd kept
the chain as his last link to his past—the beautiful silver chain with the
Phantomhive crest on it. "Ciel asked to come to work with me today," he began
quietly. "I couldn't think of a good enough reason to refuse him, so I agreed.
It was like…" He seemed embarrassed.
"Take your son to work day?" Sebastian filled in with a raised eyebrow and the
blushing Grell nodded.
"I was excited—surely you remember how I've always wanted a child…" he trailed
off before he sighed and returned to the story. "And it was fun, everything was
fine until we got to the office, and Ronald exposed him as Ciel Phantomhive,
the demon boy." Here, his voice went from hesitant to some combination of
bitter and frosty. "At first, I felt only a need to protect the little lord and
my anger at Ronald for lying to me. But then, everyone crowded us and Eric was
looking at Ciel like he was going to hurthim!" Grell's teeth clenched and
Sebastian traced circles into the back of his hand to calm him.
"And?" Sebastian prompted, and Grell took a deep breath, looking ashamed of
himself.
"And then I snapped," he told him miserably. "I picked the little lord up—I
probably held him too tight, but I had to be sure he was going to be safe! I
picked him up, and I started screaming at them. Loudly, saying horrible
things…" His eyes glazed over, but cleared on their own after a moment. "I
called Ronald a bad friend, told them about Ciel letting me stay here, how kind
he was." His voice was colored with shame. "I scared at least three junior
reapers."
"And now they know why you are their senior," Sebastian tried gently, but Grell
wouldn't have it.
"I've never snapped that badly before, not in public," he whispered. "Not with
anyone but William and now, everyone knows how unstable I am. Everyone!"
And then Sebastian was astounded to hear a harsh sob rip itself from Grell's
chest.
"Grell, you're not unstable."
Grell's sob turned into a choked laugh. "Not… Sebastian, I'm far more unstable
than you realize."
Sebastian disagreed—he knew Grell was unstable, but he preferred to ignore the
fact because it was his fault. He clutched the red head to him, tightly, and
let Grell cry into his chest. The demon stroked his hair just as he had earlier
that day and it calmed him the same way.
"Sebastian, why did you leave London?" the reaper asked in a tired voice when
his tears had run dry. "I missed you so much. It hurt—really hurtto not see
you. I knew you didn't like me, but sometimes I would just peek in on you, just
to make sure you were okay. And when you left, I was sure you'd been killed or
something, or the little lord had been killed, and you'd gone back to hell."
His eyes darkened. "Those first few months were the hardest of my life. I tried
to kill myself, when the pain was too much, and I was so confused because I
didn't know why it hurt so much…"
"It was an order, Grell." Hearing his confession, to be honest, extremely upset
Sebastian. It disturbed him, and made him hate himself a little. He could see
more questions in those ringed eyes, and expected them to be about his contract
with Ciel, but he was surprised to find they weren't.
"Sebastian?"
"Yes, Grell?"
"Do you care about me?"
In short, Sebastian was dumbfounded. Where had thatquestion come from? Wasn't
the answer to that question painfully obvious?"
"Of course I care about you."
"How much?"
Sebastian raised one eyebrow, but answered truthfully. "More than is healthy,
pet."
"Is that how you think of me, Sebastian? As a pet?" God, was that hurthe heard
in Grell's voice? He'd known he would hurt him in the end, but he'd never
expected it to be so soon.
"I… yes, Grell. A very special pet." He'd never actually felt guilt before, but
he felt it now, biting and vivid.
"Do you love me?"
"Yes." Had he really just said that? It was true, but even so, it was the
light, weak love of a man and affectionate toy. The possessive, obsessive love.
"Explain that to me, then," Grell demanded, wiping his eyes determinedly. "I'm
a pet to you, but you love me, however small that love is. How does that work?"
Sebastian looked at him, examining his lovely features—his near-perfect skin,
ringed green eyes, long eyelashes, kissable mouth. Beautiful, beautiful Grell.
"I am happy when you're with me," he started softly, lacing his fingers with
the reaper's. "And I miss you when you're gone. I do not want to share you—that
being said, I very much dislike it when others touch you. You make me happy,
and I would kill anyone who ever tried to harm you. When you are upset, it
makes me want to violently kill—" When he saw Grell's alarmed expression, he
decided to tone down what he was going to say. "—maimwhoever caused your
tears."
He pressed his lips to Grell's temple.
"I think you are beautiful when you are laughing, and even crying, and when you
are angry, your rage makes you look like a goddess." Grell couldn't help but
beam at the feminine term.
"Sounds like love to me." His voice was small.
"Yes," he agreed gently. "It is love. But I feel the same way about every cat
that crosses my path, if only for a split second. It is true, what I feel for
you…" He let a finger trail from the pale temple to his jaw. "What I feel for
you is stronger, but still the same. I fear every day that I will grow bored of
you, and hurt you in the process."
"That is more than the love for a kitten, Sebastian," Grell snorted. "It's very
different. It may be similar, but it's growing… or has a chance of growing."
"Tis merely stronger," Sebastian murmured honestly, and Grell bit his lip. "I
know myself well, Grell, and it is the very same thing I feel for a cat.
Stronger, but the same."
"Do I even have a chance?" he asked brokenly, trying to sound strong. "A chance
you may fall in love with me, ever?"
Sebastian stroked his hair, a little harder. "There is always a chance." A
chance bigger than I'd like, he added mentally. His beautiful, beautiful Grell.
Grell leaned up, struggling to make Sebastian loosen his hold on him. When
Sebastian did, he sat on his knees and put both of his hands on the demon's
shoulders. He blinked, unable to stop him, or even wantto stop him, as Grell
leaned in, kissing him lightly, but with all the passion and love in his lithe
body.
Bewildered, Sebastian returned in, watching as Grell's eyes fluttered shut. "I
love you," he whispered when he broke away. "And I hope that soon, one day…
everyou'll love me, too."
"I… I think it is a likely possibility," he responded, still to dumbfounded to
think up a lie. Grell smiled, and pulled him down onto the covers, not even
attempting to get under them.
"Stay with me tonight." He paused, then added as an afterthought, a plea,
"Please?" Sebastian nodded, getting comfortable before pulling his pet into his
arms, where they both drifted asleep.
Um… yeah. So it's officially begun! Exciting, ne~! No? Yeah, well, screw you,
too. ;) I hope you guys enjoyed this, and um… yeah, next chapter should be out
tomorrow. Likely possibility? I think so. Meow.
Ja ne!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 11: Chapter 11
===============================================================================
We are officially past ten chapters, which is a first for me, so… Yeah, I'm
totally jazzed about this story. By the way, there is a Ciel/Ciel on here you
can find in my favorites titled Deux Baise which you ALL need to look up. It's
fantastic—it really is.
Warmth.
It was a strange feeling, warmth. He was so used to be cold that being warm,
for once, was strange. Reapers had a lower body temperature than most humans
and demons, but right now he felt almost hot, and he snuggled into that warmth.
When he felt his personal source of heat snuggle back, his eyes shot open in
surprise.
Then yesterday returned to him and he sighed, burying his face into the spot
between Sebastian's chin and collar. He played with the chin again, guilt
flooding through him. He'd barely been in control of himself relieving those
horrible memories… the raw emotions had been as strong as they'd been when they
were fresh, and they'd gripped him. And then, to make it even worse, he'd asked
Sebastian all those prying, self-conscious, desperate questions. Then of course
he'd asked him to stay!
Grell pulled back to look at Sebastian's sleeping face, carding his fingers
through that lovely black hair. He sat up, leaning down to kiss Sebastian
lightly before slipping out of bed as quietly as possible. He slid his robe and
slippers on, luckily escaping from the room without waking the demon.
He padded upstairs, intent on speaking to Ciel—apologizing, actually. The day
before had been terrible—he'd completely lost it, and he'd probably scared or
hurt Ciel. However, when he neared his little lord's bedroom (for Sebastian
hadn't woken him, so he figured he could apologize while he filled in for the
sleeping butler) he heard the little master yell, and he darted inside,
terrified something had happened to him.
Well, something hadhappened to the little lord—a blonde, blue eyed
something—but Grell didn't think it was lethal. Annoying, yes, but not lethal.
"Grell!" Ciel cried when he realized the red head was standing in the doorway,
scrambling out from under the blonde that had been straddling him. "Grell!" He
darted to the reaper and stood pressed against the aghast reaper's side, half
hidden. "I found that thingin my trunk when I was looking for something to wear
since someonedidn't wake me!"
Grell looked up at the "thing" pouting on the large bed, then down at his
flushed "son" before his expression hardened. However funny he found the
situation, Ciel was hiding behind him and that made the blonde boy a threat.
"Ciel, I'm not a thing!" he complained. "I'm an Alois!"
Grell coughed, realization hitting him. "Thisis Alois Trancy?"
Ciel gave a hard nod. "In the flesh, and he was hiding in my trunk!" he
complained, tugging on Grell's soft cotton robe. "My trunk! Why on earth would
he hide in my trunk?"
"Well, it's not like you'd let me in willingly," Alois argued. "Do you know how
much trouble it was to sneak in yesterday when you were gone?"
Ciel's eyes bulged and he stomped in front of Grell, his hands on his pajama-
clad hips. "Listen here, you nuisance! What makes you think I'd even want you
around!" he demanded, his child's voice adorable, so stern and ferocious. Grell
had to remind himself that Ciel was a demon, and could very well stand up for
himself.
Alois complained and Grell had to admit the kid was cute. He had messy pale
blonde hair and the bluest forget-me-not eyes he'd ever seen. His lips were
pouty and he had a slender frame, though muscular and larger than Ciel's.
"My little lord, is there something you'd like me to do with this?" he asked
pointedly, jabbing a thumb in Alois's direction, making the young earl complain
even louder and Ciel rubbed his temples in irritation.
"Yes, get rid of him!" Ciel growled, and Alois whined as Grell made his way
over, grabbing him by the collar.
"Come on, Ciel! I only wanted to visit—I won't jump on you anymore or anything!
We can have tea and talk and I'll be good, I swear! Come on, make Sebastian's
girlfriend let me go!"
Ciel continued to rub his temples with two fingers. "Okay, point A—Sebastian's
"girlfriend" is actually Sebastian's "boyfriend", and point B—fine! If you
promiseto be calm and not jump on me any more!"
Grell sighed, letting the blonde go when he agreed, and the kid looked up,
peering at him before checking him out. "Oh my god! You area guy!" he
exclaimed, and the reaper couldn't help but chuckle. Even Ciel laughed at him,
even though the tick in his left eye was still highly visible.
"Well, yes. But you shouldn't care, should you?" He leaned down to eye level,
locking eyes with the earl, who appeared to be star struck. "After all, isn't
mystique a part of a lady's intrigue?"
"I thought you just said you were a guy," Alois mumbled, too busy eyeing
Grell's lips to speak more clearly, and Ciel rolled his eyes.
"You obviously don't know a thing about Grell," the little lord snorted. "He's
a very… unique person. And what does mystery have to do with your being a man?"
Grell sniffed, straightening, and the action only made Alois's eyes trail from
his lips to his groin, and he looked very pleased with what he saw—after all,
silk was clingy. The reaper caught him looking, and smacked him in the side of
the head.
"Alois!" Ciel barked, his cheeks pink. "Stop staring! Do you realize how rude
that is?"
"But you've got a hot butler!" he whined. "Did you replace Sebastian? I won't
complain, this one is just as gorgeous…"
Ciel growled, and Grell huffed. "I'll have you know, I did notreplace Sebby!
I'm staying here, helping out when I'm not at—work!" He looked over at the
clock on the nightstand and groaned. "Crap!"
"Grell, calm down," Ciel sighed. "I got a call from Spears last night saying he
thinks it best you don't come in today. He's going to have a pep talk with
your… co-workers, explain what's been going on so they understand you just…"
"Had a breakdown?" he offered helpfully, and the little lord nodded. "Well,
crap. Still sucks—my paycheck—"
"Is fine," Ciel interrupted. "You're getting paid, since it was Spears's idea."
Grell nodded, letting out a deep breath, jumping when Ciel started yelling
again at the blonde, who was apparently now checking out his ass.
"Ciel, don't be mad, I still love you best!" Alois crowed, and Ciel went beet
red, motioning for Grell to come stand in front of him as Alois made the
motions of going to hug him. The amused reaper did so, "protecting" his little
master from the dirty blonde. "You're such a prude," he sighed dramatically.
"Think of all the fun we could have!"
Ciel growled, livid. "Little lord," Grell said gently. "I'm going to wake
Sebastian, but would you like me to dress you first?" He'd never dressed the
little master, but he couldn't deny that it sounded like fun.
Ciel nodded, letting go of his robe and stepping away. "I would like to wear
something… something like…"
"The old days," Grell finished softly, and Ciel nodded. "I was in your closet
the other day and I found something Sebastian ordered that'll be perfect." He
went to retrieve the outfit and the minute Ciel saw it, he was nodding.
"Yes, that's it," he murmured, touching the fabric lightly. It was green, so
similar to the one he'd worn so often in the late eighteen eighties. "I assume
you candress me?"
Grell rolled his own eyes, pushing his smudged glasses up his nose. He'd slept
in them again, on accident. He sat Ciel down on the edge of his bed after
locking Alois in the closet since he was intent on seeing Ciel naked.
"Good thinking," the little lord muttered as Grell pulled his clothes off and
replacing the shirt with a plain white one.
"He's annoying. I have great respect for you, dealing with that," Grell replied
cheerfully, ignoring Alois's loud "hey!"from the closet. Ciel stood so he could
pull the green shorts over Ciel's hips, buttoning them. They were a perfect
fit, as expected of Sebastian. He put his jacket on and buttoned it. Ciel sat
back down so Grell could put his socks on, and he did, buckling them to the
straps neatly. "Did I do a sufficient job, young master?" he asked with a
cheeky grin. Ciel muffled a chuckle with a cough, and grunted.
"You did fine," he said indifferently, turning up his nose, before they both
laughed. "Go get dressed and wake my butler. Tell him we expect tea in my
office—" Here he winced. "In half an hour. Alois likes earl grey." His words
were clipped and Grell smoothed his hair to calm him. He seemed embarrassed,
but his anger seemed to dim just the slightest bit. Grell left with a short
bow, leaving it to Ciel to let the blonde out of the closet. He skipped
downstairs to his room, peeking in to get a good look at his sleeping love
before he woke him.
"Good morning, Sebby," he murmured, walking in. His demon rubbed his eyes,
peering up at him curiously.
"Good morning, Grell. What time is it, pet?" He looked alarmed for a moment
before Grell put a finger to his lips and shushed him.
"Calm down, Sebby," he said cheerily, draping himself over Sebastian's body and
giving him another quick kiss. "Ciel's up, and I tended to him this morning!"
He puffed out his chest proudly. "The little lord said I did a good job, and
says you should have tea ready—earl grey—in half an hour in the office. For
two. We have a, er, guest. Yeah, that's somewhat right." Grell made a face and
Sebastian cocked his head in confusion. "The little brat Alois showed up
yesterday it seems and hid in his trunk. Ciel found him and got… attacked. It
was funny, though." Grell snickered to himself until he managed to calm
himself.
"Alois?" Sebastian repeated with a raised eyebrow, and the red head nodded.
"Uh huh. It's weird, I used to call Ciel a little brat," he pointed out,
giggling. "And now it's Alois! But Ciel ismy little master now. Things have
changed so much in just a few days!" He sighed dramatically before smiling.
"It's not bad change." He kissed the demon again, softly, who returned it with
a slight smile.
"I am going to get cleaned up," he informed him, smiling warmly. "You get
dressed, and meet me in the young master's office to help me prepare the tea."
Grell nodded and watched Sebastian go, sighing in contentment. He couldn't
believe the gift he'd been given so recently. It was priceless, just being able
to be there with Sebastian.
Instead of getting dressed, he pulled his knees to his chest and thought. He
was so blessed he almost felt numb, color constantly in his cheeks. Wasn't it a
week ago that he'd been crying, bleeding, drowning himself in pain? He couldn't
remember how that felt at the moment; he could barely access anything past the
acute happiness that welled within him. He'd felt a shard of it yesterday when
he'd freaked, when he'd vented his frustration, but nothing near the horrible,
aching, brokenfeeling that he'd been wallowing in for the last century.
But now, things had changed. He was waking up with Sebastian at his side,
holding him, and that alone was something he never thought he'd have, topped
with Sebastian lovinghim. It wasn't quite the kind of love he was looking for,
but it was still love, still something that could blossom. Sebastian cared for
him, cared whether he lived or died. He got upset when he was and would do
anything for him. Wasn't that what mattered?
He got up and got dressed, cleaning his glasses. In apology, Ronald had taken
them to be fixed the day before, and Grell had calmed enough to calmly
apologize for yelling before explaining very explicitly to Ronald why he wasn't
ready to forgive him yet. Ronald had been surprisingly mature about the whole
ordeal, guilt seeping out through his aura, and Grell appreciated that. He knew
Ronald regretted it, and he knew that one day he would be able to forgive the
two. He just didn't know when.
Later, he walked up the stairs to the little lord's office with lunch, pausing
outside the door when he heard strange sounds coming from within. He cocked his
head in confusion, opening the door a crack before standing there in shock,
watching the very awkward scene before him unfold.
"Alois," Ciel groaned, his nails digging into the wood of the desk. In the back
of his mind, he made a note to tell Sebastian to fix those little grooves
later, but his conscious mind was too busy being shocked to register the note.
The blonde had a hand teasing one of Ciel's nipples lightly, trapped between
the earl's body and the desk, the other hidden from view. Ciel's face was
heated, his eyes closed, his eye patch laying on the floor.
"Like that, don't you?" Alois murmured into his ear, leaning over the boy's
slim body while he actually thrusted inside his little lord's body. "You've
changed so much since we last met." He kissed the shell of Ciel's ear lightly,
making the dark-haired boy shudder, a high keening sound escaping his throat
before he could stop it.
"I—ah!—Alois!" Tears welled in his eyes as he panted, rocking against Alois.
"Please, h-harder!"
Grell stepped back and calmly shut the door, being careful not to make a sound.
He noticed Sebastian standing a few feet away and shook his head, leaving lunch
and walking over to him.
"I feel sick," Grell muttered. Sebastian, of excellent hearing, made a face.
"As do I. I found them a minute or so before you." He winced. "I care about my
master, but that was too much."
"Ah, my boy has grown so fast," Grell sighed. "Too fast." He blushed when he
saw the look Sebastian was giving him. "What? We're the closest things to
parents he has, and admit it, we kind of act like it. He treats us like it
sometimes. I've just sort of started to think of him like that… and that was
plain…" He shuddered. "You know, once upon a time I would have found that hot.
Shows how much things havechanged."
Sebastian nodded, looking a little green as Ciel became very audible, with or
without demonic hearing. "Don't worry, Grell. I completely agree. I will, ah,
keep check on him. When he is done, I will serve him lunch. You go make sure
you do not puke." Grell nodded, offering his face up for a kiss, which was
given.
As he walked away—quickly—he reminded himself that things wouldn't always be
like this, so fun and carefree. There was sure to be something brewing, even
though he didn't know what. There always was. He reminded himself to enjoy
himself now, because who knew if he'd be able to later? He had to hold onto
these days with Sebastian, had to.
After all, when Sebastian and the little lord—so quickly a part of his
life!—left, what would be left of him but memories and decaying happiness?
In case you're wondering about the Alois/Ciel… yeah, I don't know. But I like
it. So I hope it was enjoyed, and I promise the Sebby/Grell, when it happens,
will be much longer and much more explicit. :3 Yeah, fun, ne? The A/C will have
a rather large part of the story, since it will intertwine with Sebastian and
Grell's relationship, and there will be lots of emotions running high. Since
Ciel is pretty much like their son now, it's a little weird, and it'll just get
weirder. As for Sebastian and Grell, their relationship has barely started, so…
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 12: Chapter 12
===============================================================================
I'm sorry this wasn't done yesterday. I was so busy yesterday I got about a
thousand words done before going crap… I'm short about half a normal chapter.
Sebastian re-dressed his silent master, who stood in stony silence, his cheeks
a dark shade of cerise, his slender eyebrows furrowed. Sebastian was silent
himself, trying not to even think about the reason he was dressing his master
when Grell had already dressed him once that day, or even why Alois was sitting
on top of Ciel's desk with a cat got the canary look on his face.
He looked far too smug for Sebastian's tastes, actually. He looked like a boy
who had been chasing something it seemed he'd never catch up to when he finally
did, and caught it. And oh, how Ciel had been caught. Sebastian winced at the
thought; it wasn't pleasant. He could admit his master was good looking—the boy
was adorable, but Sebastian thought of him like a little brother, or son, even,
and watching him get screwed so hard there were bruises on his lower stomach
from the corner of the desk was not something Sebastian enjoyed seeing, or ever
hoped to see again.
Poor Grell had looked thoroughly traumatized, and he couldn't blame him. Alois
and Ciel's rendezvous had lasted longer than he'd thought, and he'd sent the
twitching reaper to heat up the food again while he dressed the boy. It was a
shame, too; Grell had dressed him rather well—it almost shocked him that he'd
done so well dressing the boy on his first time.
"Now, young master," Sebastian said calmly. "I think we need to talk."
"There's nothing to talk about," he growled, his face burning, and Alois
laughed. "Don't laugh, cur!"
Then, even Sebastian had to laugh. It had been at least a couple decades since
he'd last heard the term 'cur', and Alois's reaction to it was priceless. He'd
blinked, then his jaw had fallen open, before he narrowed his eyes in a pout,
crossing his arms. Ciel glared at him, stepping away.
"Oh, Ciel, you're so cute," Alois giggled when the lord accidentally bumped
into him and his blush darkened a few shades. The blonde wrapped his arms
around the flushed earl, who smacked him, but didn't attempt to pull away.
"My lord," Sebastian said sternly. This was no time to be deterred. "My lord,
you cannot go on like this."
Ciel raised an eyebrow, trying to keep his face from Alois's lips
unsuccessfully. "This? What is 'this', Sebastian?"
His butler raised an eyebrow right back. "Promiscuously, my lord. You already
have Undertaker as an, erm…" He sighed, finding no other way around it. "You
already have Undertaker as a fuck buddy." His voice was flat; he really didn't
like cursing if he could avoid it.
Ciel couldn't help a chuckle, but Alois wasn't as amused.
"Undertaker?" he repeated. "Fuck buddy?"
Ciel's chuckling stopped, and he looked over at Alois with a semi-serious
expression. "I…" He seemed at a loss for what to say. Alois, on the other hand,
had lost his teasing smile and dug his fingers into the collar of Ciel's shirt.
"You belong to me, Phantomhive," Alois all but growled in his face. "To me. I
don't care what the fuck you've been doing these past hundred years, but right
now, I'm the only thing you need to worry about. Got that? Whatever hold on you
Undertakerhad, he won't have it anymore. Do you hear me?"
Ciel was silent for a moment, looking up at Alois with wide eyes, before his
expression hardened and he put his hands on his hips in outrage. "Who do you
think you are, bossing me around? You're not my queen, nor my king, nor anyone
else with the authority to tell me what to do!"
"I'm your lover," Alois hissed, pulling him closer. "And you shall do what I
say! Dammit, Ciel!"
Sebastian sighed, waiting for Grell to come back, and when he heard the light,
quick footsteps coming down the hall he was unreasonably relieved. "Little
master," Grell called, opening the door. His voice still held a bit of
hesitance, like he wasn't sure he wanted to see what he was about to walk in
on, and when he saw that all three parties were fully clothed, he too
sighed—only his was in relief. "I re-heated your lunch. I also brought tea."
"Thank you," Ciel said, pulling away from a very disgruntled Alois and walking
over to give Grell a light hug. Sebastian raised an eyebrow at the scene. Since
when did the young master huganyone, let alone Grell? He couldn't complain,
though. The lord would do well to have a parental figure in his life, and Grell
was more than up to the task. "Are you… um, okay?"
Grell blinked down at him, still patting him gently on the back. "Yes, why?"
Ciel colored. "I just figured… since you both apparently saw me just now."
"Us," Alois cut in, his voice a grumble. He obviously wasn't letting go of his
small argument with the darker haired earl.
"Us," Ciel agreed in an irritated voice. Grell made a small choking sound.
"I was working on erasing it from my memory, actually," he admitted, and Ciel
nodded, blushing.
"So yeah, sorry. I—Alois, you have no sense of timing!" In apologizing, he'd
obviously decided to shift the blame from himself to the blonde, who now gaped
at him.
"Ciel, you were just as into it as I was, so don't make it seem like it was all
my fault!" the blonde complained.
Ciel coughed in embarrassment. "The point is, I know seeing me… like that…" He
winced. "I know that can't have been pleasant."
"Like watching my own son," Grell agreed cheerfully. "Completely disgusting."
Predictably, Ciel's voice became heated, and Sebastian thought it interesting
that his first thought was how to protect Grell should the demon boy become
violent. "So what, I'm your son now?" It undoubtedly amused Sebastian that his
pet seemed to find the angry young earl cute.
"Of course you are, my little lord," he replied, ruffling Ciel's hair.
Sebastian watched with raised eyebrows, expecting the lord to move away from
the hug he was still in and slap the red head—of course, the elder demon would
have to interfere at that point; he wasn't going to let anyone harm his pet.
Funnily, however, Ciel didn't move; he just squeezed tighter, digging his chin
into Grell's abdomen as he looked up at him.
"Tch. Whatever." Grell laughed in victory.
"What, my lord, no hug for your most loyal of servants?" Sebastian teased, but
he couldn't deny he did feel sort of jealous. By all intents and purposes, if
Grell was one of his parents here in the new world, then shouldn't Sebastian
also be his parent? "I haveprotected you for the past century, almost like a
father. Do I not get some credit?"
A hint of the fangirl side of Grell made itself known and he nodded
enthusiastically, giving the surprised lord a puppy dog look. "Yes! I'll be
your mommy, and Sebastian will be your daddy! It's perfect! I've always wanted
to be a mommy!" He was practically jumping up and down in excitement.
Ciel's right eye twitched. "So what? You'd take in any kid of the street to
mother? Am I convenient? If that's it, Sutcliff, you can get the hell out of my
manor this instant!"
Sebastian had to give it to the reaper; he didn't even flinch. He just leaned
down and nuzzled the top of the earl's head. "Of course not, my little lord,"
he chirped. "You're special! I wouldn't trade you for the world." He sounded
like a doting mother, and Sebastian was starting to see Grell as a mother,
which kind of frightened him.
Ciel turned pink. "When I woke up this morning, I didn't have any parents. Now
I have two." He sounded a tad overwhelmed.
"Yep! Now give your "father" a hug! He's turning green from jealousy!"
That wasn't quite true, but he was still surprised Grell had been able to
detect the traces of the emotion. Ciel sighed, releasing Grell and walking
over, wrapping his arms around Sebastian in a tentative embrace.
"Thank you for taking care of me, Sebastian. I do suppose you deserve more
credit," Ciel mumbled and Sebastian chuckled, rubbing circles into his back. He
was somewhat relieved the boy wouldn't start calling him 'father'—no matter how
kindly or lovingly he thought of the boy, that would have been too far.
"You are welcome, my lord." Ciel, too, seemed relieved Sebastian hadn't just
begun using his first name. Grell wasn't much one for respect, so it was normal
for him to slip up and call him by his name, but it would be awkward if
Sebastian did it, and they both knew that.
"Okay," Ciel coughed again, his cheeks heating up. "I'm going to go yell at
Alois—I mean, we're going on a walk though the garden. Grell, go get me my
coat."
Sebastian raised his eyebrows. "Giving me a break, young master?" Ciel snorted,
shaking his head.
"No. Don't be stupid. Grell rearranged my clothes, remember? He knows where my
coats are."
Sebastian bowed. "Of course. You are right, as usual, my lord."
Grell was already back—Sebastian hadn't even noticed he'd left. The "coat"
wasn't a coat at all, however, it was a dark green cloak. Ciel blinked at it,
he giggled and grinned cheekily.
"I thought it fit today's theme." When the young master turned his questioning
gaze on Grell, he smiled, then threw a plain coat in Alois's direction. "Here,"
he said flatly. "Enjoy." Both the young earl and his butler snickered when
Alois began complaining.
The much shorter earl dragged the blonde out by the wrist and the two adults
watched them go, lunch still uneaten. Grell gazed down at it with a sigh.
"So much work for nothing," he murmured dramatically. "A pity!" Then his eyes
lit up and he bounded over to the demon, pulling on his sleeve excitedly. "Did
you see all of that, Sebby? I'm a mommy! I have a little boy!"
Sebastian laughed. "Do you not mean wehave a little boy?"
Grell's brilliant emerald eyes shone. "Yes, our son!" He seemed so excited. "I
kind of want to go watch him yell at the blonde idiot, but I have this feeling
that the yelling he'll be doing isn't the kind I want to watch." Sebastian
chuckled at his disgruntled reaper.
"You are probably very right. From what I can tell, Alois Trancy is a highly
sexual being." He winced himself, but he smoothed his expression and grinned
surprisingly impishly. "So, do you want to fix our young lord's clothes when he
comes in, or shall I?"
Grell blanched. "I'll do it, and pretend his clothes got snagged by a branch."
"You do that," Sebastian laughed loudly. "So, if you want children so badly,
why do you not just adopt?"
Grell shrugged nonchalantly, but his expression had become very serious.
Almost… sad.
"Parents are a much bigger part of a child's life in my world. They teach their
children everything they know. Our kind doesn't go to school until we're well
into what would be our teens. Unless you have a child of your own, which they
can't really stop…" His expression darkened further. "Adoption is only
available to very mature, responsible reapers. Like Will, for instance. And I…
I've caused too much trouble, I guess." He sounded very bitter when he said
that, and even more so when he added, "I've tried. Trust me."
"I trust you," Sebastian murmured, coming up and wrapping his arms around him
from behind. "Interested in doing what they did?" His tone of voice, on a
normal person, would have been accompanied by a perverted waggle of his
eyebrows, but this was the reserved Sebastian and he couldn't let his
reputation be damaged like that, even if Grell couldn't see it.
Grell snorted. "I'm a difficult person to arouse, my love." He looked back and
grinned. "I'm kinky, what can I say?" Sebastian chuckled, dropping a kiss onto
his shoulder lightly.
"That is fine by me. I am the same way." He grinned wolfishly before he calmed
slightly and whispered something into Grell's ear. "I love you."
Grell turned in his arms, locking his own behind his neck, smiling up at him.
"I love you, too." The kissed, and the world stopped spinning for just a
moment.
I'd write more but something just… I can barely type. I'm trembling and I feel
sick. I just had to finish this for you. Sorry this is late.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 13: Chapter 13
===============================================================================
I'm doing my best to get this up, but if it's late, please don't be mad at me!
I totally threw a twist in this story here, because… . I thought it went here.
Ninety percent of you are going to be SO mad at me!
Grell sighed, leaning back in his office chair. His right hand was still
working, filling out paperwork for the few souls he'd reaped earlier as if
independent from his body, the left tapping incessantly on the arm rest. The
reaping had been the fun part, even though he'd nearly lost one of the
cinematic records (which was now safely tucked in the library, thank god). Now
he was stuck in the office unless some extra souls came up for documentation.
He really hoped there was—it was far too boring just sitting here alone.
And he was alone—usually, it wasn't so bad. Ronald often came in to talk to him
when his own work was finished, which would have been about half an hour
before. Grell's eyes darkened and the letters his pen made got darker as he
applied more pressure. He didn't let up until the ball-point tore through the
page, and he sighed again, pulling out a fresh sheet to start over.
All of his co-workers were boycotting him now, actually. He'd tried having a
conversation with a very hesitant Alan when Eric had come up, pulling the much
more timid reaper away with a stupid line about how he treating demons like his
children. So what? Ciel was still a child, and he cared about him. Just because
the little lord was a demon didn't mean he didn't need a parental figure.
Speaking of… he checked the time, and grinned, even if it was only a slight
smile.
Sebastian had promised him he would bring Ciel in and visit. Sebastian was well
aware that he was being ignored unless he was being ordered to do something,
with the exception of William, and Grell wasn't ready to talk to him, so
Sebastian thought it might make things better if he brought
something—someone—to cheer him up.
Grell played with a lock of hair, examining the very lack of split ends. Things
had turned out very differently than he'd thought they would a month ago. A
month ago, he'd spent most of his time in a state of constant depression,
unable to even hope that he'd get out of it. It wasn't like that now; he was
much more free. Free to love, free to hope… it was a new feeling, being able to
do all of that.
And it was also horrible, because he could still feel a shadow of his guilt,
his shame, his horrible, sickening emptinessinside of him, just waiting for the
opportunity to take control of him again. As much as he hated to admit it,
Sebastian's absence all those years had created a gaping hole in his previously
impervious armor.
He fingered the spot just over his heart, drawing a little contract seal there.
It seemed sometimes that Sebastian had one on him, some mark, some
somethingthat meant they belonged together, whether Sebastian thought of him as
a pet or not. He could accept that, being a pet, even though he knew very well
Sebastian could feel for him, wouldfeel for him.
It had been a little over two months since the incident with Ciel in the
office, and he thought Sebastian was making nice progress. The demon went out
of his way to do nice things for him (he'd asked him why once, and he'd just
blinked before replying that he'd just wantedto), met him after work to walk
home… Sebastian really was a wonderful person, demon or not. He was obsessive,
violent and cunning, but then, so was Grell, so why should it matter?
He played with a bracelet that Sebastian had given him made of pure silver—for
the demon knew how he preferred the metal. He liked gold, too, but only when
his eyes were flashing it, the green turning to gold in heat, or anger. He
smiled at it. It was so beautiful—delicate and curving, like a vine around his
wrist. It was almost sad, his fondness for pretty things, but it was himjust
the same.
"What the fuck are theydoing here?"
Grell would know the sound of that discrimination anywhere. He got up, rattling
the desk slightly, leaving his office. The minute he made his appearance, the
office went eerily quiet. Down the hall, his knight in shining armor—or rather,
his Sebastian in shining butler uniform—stood, holding the hand of a stiff,
stone-faced thirteen year old. When Ciel saw him, he let go of Sebastian,
running like his life depended on it, launching himself at the red head, who
received him with a hug. Sebastian followed at a much slower pace, kissing him
lightly when he arrived.
"Hello, pet," he greeted him cheerily, ignoring the malicious stares coming
from his so-called "friends". "I take it work has been slow?"
"Extremely," he responded, his voice a tad hoarse. "Thanks for bringing the
little lord." Said lord was clutching onto his coat as he always did, giving
anyone who dared to glare at him even darker looks. Grell couldn't help but
admire his bravery—even he would be hesitant to walk back into an office full
of people who wanted him dead with no reassurance he would live. Ciel trembled
slightly, but it was better than the full-on shaking he'd done last time he'd
visited.
"Can you still work even when distracted by those things?" Eric asked rudely,
but Grell felt just a little bit better seeing Alan look at the reaper in…
disappointment? Either way, he didn't like what Eric was saying, and that gave
him just the barest hint of hope.
"Of course I can," he replied smoothly, not letting his hurt into his voice.
"But for future reference, call my son a 'thing' one more time and watch how
fast I break your jaw."
Eric's eyes narrowed at him, then at Sebastian when he slid an arm around
Grell's shoulders, setting the other hand on Ciel's shoulder.
Yes,he thought, this is what I've been missing.
"Or I could do it," Sebastian suggested cheerily. "My Grell and my young
master—two people you do not want to mess with." His tone was light on the
surface, but there was an underlying edge of utter threat that was impossible
to miss. Even Ciel shuddered at the sound of it.
"You two are ridiculous," Eric spat, clearly out of ideas. "You think they're
worth it, Grell? They're demons!"
Grell's expression hardened, but before he could say anything, Alan spoke up.
"Eric, stop it!" he cried. "You're the one that's being ridiculous! Mr.
Sutcliff—Grell, he loves him! And he loves the boy! Grell doesn't see your
way—I don't even see your way! Your prejudices are stupid!" Eric blinked at him
in shock.
"Alan, what are you saying?" he asked, his voice unsure.
Alan stomped his foot in frustration. "You knowwhat I'm saying! I love you,
Eric, and I would no matter what you were—human, animal, or demon. Would you
not love me if I were a demon? Our species doesn't determine who we are!"
Eric looked dumbfounded and Grell could feel tears well in his eyes. How was it
that Alan understood, but his own two closest friends didn't?
"I'm sorry, Grell," Alan apologized. "We've all been stupid about this. You
love the de—you love Mr. Sebastian, right?"
He nodded wordlessly.
"Then that's all that matters! Think about it!" he said to everyone who had
gathered around them (Grell was starting to thing circling him was the new
trend). "If your best friend, or lover, became a demon, would you love them
less? No! Grell can't help who he loves."
And while Grell watched, Sebastian's comforting arm around his shoulder, as a
rumble of agreement swept through the crowd. These were all lower class
reapers, and Will wasn't among them, but it meant so much to Grell. These were
his friends.
One by one, they apologized and Grell couldn't help but let a few tears escape
and he didn't bother to wipe them away. They stained his cheeks while he
laughed in relief, and pure happiness. These people, his friends. Ciel grinned
up at him, holding his hand in encouragement, and Sebastian held him. He was
almost in shock, drowning in giddy, heartrending surprise.
Eric stood by himself, an angry look on his face, and William stood in the
doorway to his office with a determined, impatient expression, like he was
waiting for something, but what?
Grell sat up straight suddenly, the feeling of a sort of click in his head. He
looked around in confusion; what was going on? And why was someone holding him
when his boyfriend was standing by his office?
"Let me go, you creeper. I know I'm just that irresistible, but you have to
have some respect for a lady, you know," he griped, pulling out of the arms. He
looked down when he felt the small, smooth hand holding his. "And aren't you
just the cutestthing! Aweh, you're so adorable!"
The two unfamiliar faces stared back at him in shock, the boy's pure disbelief,
the taller one in confusion.
"Grell?" he said slowly, then the red head got a good look at his face.
"Well, blow me away, you're gorgeous!" Grell exclaimed. "Good god, what is up
with that? Who are you?"
He blinked, realization setting in his eyes, which was kind of weird. What was
up with this guy, and why did the kid look like he was going to go into shock?
The entire office had gone silent, like they were all holding their breath.
"Grell, I think you should maybe come with me," William said in his ear, and he
looked back with a wide grin.
"Ooh, Will!" he cheered, latching himself onto the reaper. "Don't be mad at me,
darling, I was just appreciating him—isn't he lovely? And the boy is just
adorable!"
"Grell," he said sternly, wrapping his own arm around his shoulders. "Grell
come with me. Sebastian, you should leave."
"Sebastian, huh?" Grell mused, tapping his chin with a wide grin on his face.
"I think I'll call you Sebby! What do you say to that, cutie?" He didn't
respond, his mouth slightly open, his eyes wide and astonished… and kind of
anguished? "Nah, you don't have to answer, handsome! Ooh, Will, who is this
guy? Is he the new recruit?"
"Michaelis, leave!" Will barked, and the man swept the stunned boy in his arms,
taking a step back.
"Grell," he repeated, his voice blank. "Grell, do you not remember me?"
"Nothing to remember; I've never met you before! You're standing in a reaper
office, surely you know our memories are perfect since we have such control
over them!" he giggled, twirling a lock of his hair. "Silly."
"Who did this to you?"
"The question is, who told them," William said in a strained voice, and
Sebastian's eyes widened further. "I surely didn't."
"You mean it was the seniors?" he asked in a low voice.
"The supervisors, the originals, yes," William sighed, seeming so tired.
"Unless he remembers on his own, they're not going to give his memories back.
Someone complained, and they decided it the best course of action."
"I know your rules, and our relationship was not against them!" the man said
harshly.
"I know!" William cried in frustration. "They were trying to appease office
problems! If he remembers on his own, then they're not going to do anything to
stop you again, but if he doesn't, they'll decide that he was tricked or
infatuated or something and they'll just leave him like this!" Grell had no
idea what they were talking about. "But I don't know who complained."
"It was me," Eric spoke up, giving Grell a wide, almost disturbing grin, and he
waved. Grell waved back and Eric seemed almost smug. Sebastian pulled back, the
boy shaking in his arms.
"We are leaving," he said shortly. "But we be keeping in touch, Spears."
William nodded, and then the two left, the boy watching him as he went with
huge, shocked eyes.
"As for you," William said, turning on Eric. "We'll be having a talk later,
Slingsby."
"I had nothing to do with this!" Alan interjected desperately, pity and horror
in his eyes. "I didn't even know!"
William nodded. "I know, Humpries. It's fine." William steered him away then,
listening to him gripe about being dragged without shutting him up, which had
to have been a first.
"Will, what's wrong?" he asked. "You're being awfullyquiet!" He giggled again.
"What is wrong? Why is everyone so upset?"
William seemed to be either contemplating something very hard, or regretting
something, and Grell, behind his smile, was starting to feel very serious. Was
it something about those two people back there, Sebastian, and the little boy?
William wasn't normally so serious, and especially not so quiet. It wasn't like
him. He was normally stern, but never silent, and never so damn stony.
"Hey, Will, stop being so depressing!" he complained. "You're starting to worry
me! What's wrong, you great oaf?"
Will looked down at him and the desperation in his eyes stunned him. "I didn't
know what to do!" he whispered, gripping both of his upper arms. "I just… he
was going to ruin you! He was getting attached, you were getting attached—the
supervisors, I tried to stop them, but once the decision was made, I couldn't
do anything!"
"What decision?" Grell demanded. "What are you talking about? Jeez, Will, you
sound like a crazy person!" The hands encircling his forearms tightened until
they almost hurt.
"I didn't want them to do this," he whispered. "God, I know how angry you were
at me… I knew that if I let this happen you would hate me more but I couldn't
stop them!"
"Will, whatever it is, just forget about it, okay?" Grell inquired, touching
his face lightly, wondering why the office was still staring at William with a
look of such heartbreak. Some looked hesitant, like they weren't sure what to
think. "You're hyperventilating."
Then all at once, he relaxed and smiled, though the expression was tight.
"Grell, don't worry about it. Let's just go. I'll explain over dinner."
He nodded uncertainly, and they left.
Heheeeeeheeeeeheeeee….
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 14: Chapter 14
===============================================================================
How many of you hate me right now? No worries, this is NOT a fic with a sad
end, so don't worry. Calm down. Hey! Set the fruit and veggies down! Don't pelt
me with different foodstuffs!
Sebastian stood next to his young master's bed, not saying anything. He had his
hand on the tea tray and he knew the earl was awake. His breathing was very
smooth and even when he was awake, audible. Now, his breathing was inaudible—he
could barely catch it, and for half of the time he stood there, he was pretty
sure the earl wasn'tbreathing. He sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed.
He placed a hand on the side of the earl's head, not pressuring him to get up.
"My lord," he murmured. Ciel curled even tighter in on himself. "My lord, are
you okay?" Ciel let out a long breath. Translation: I don't want to talk about
it. That's right, he spoke tired, devastated Ciel.
Sebastian understood the way the boy was feeling, however; he felt something
very similar himself. He wasn't proud of it, and he wasn't going to admit it to
the young master, but he had spent at least ten minutes starting at the empty
bed his reaper, his Grell, usually occupied. It was possibly the darkest ten
minutes of his long, long life.
The bed was still made, red sheets smoothed and flawless. The sheets themselves
had been bought as a present for the red head who had taken them with star-
struck eyes. He could remember the very look on his face—like it was the first
gift he'd ever received, and he'd loved it. He'd gone, neglecting the rest of
his duties (not that Sebastian had said anything because it almost amused him,
even though he could remember hating it when Mey-Rin, or the other servants had
left their work) to go put them on his bed. He had stared at those red sheets
that morning, and the red silk pillow the reaper brought form his apartment.
He thought it might have been the first time he'd ever gone into Grell's room
in the morning to find him notin his bed. He'd gone in to find Grell awake
before—this happened often, Grell sitting up in bed with several pillows
propping him up, a warm smile on his face.
"Good morning, Sebby."
It was quite possibly his favorite greeting in the world, but only from his
reaper. Even his young master's greetings in the morning weren't so precious to
him.
As he sat there, stroking Ciel's hair lightly, he thought. It was strange; he
couldn't extract himself from his most recent memories as of late. Since last
night, he couldn't bring himself into the present. He could remember
everything, and he couldn't forget it, no matter how many times he tried to
bury it. He remembered walking away in shock, barely able to continue to move,
a small body in his arms, shaking like he was going to be sick. He remembered
that vividly, that small trembling body.
"Would you like me to come back later, my lord?" Sebastian murmured. Ciel
sighed as well, sitting up, a glazed quality to his eyes.
"No, Sebastian," he murmured. "I'm fine. Please… what is for breakfast today?"
Sebastian nodded silently, lowering hand.
"Jackson's earl grey and scones, my lord. Alois is also planning to visit
today." He got up to prepare the tea, but Ciel didn't move.
"Call him, and tell him to come again some other day. I'm not feeling well
enough to see him." Sebastian nodded, handing his young lord the cup. He took
it, sipping it quietly, before sitting it down again, his expression twisted.
"I don't want it," he said bitterly. "I'm a demon—can demons throw up?"
Sebastian nodded.
"If the occasion arises," he replied quietly. "It is possible."
"Well, I feel like I'm going to," Ciel snapped. "I feel sick. When is Grell
coming home? You mentioned last night you talked to Spears before I went to
bed. Surely he knows something… when Grell will get his memories back." His
voice was hesitant and hopeful.
"My lord," he murmured, trying to figure out how to put the information without
upsetting him further. It seemed impossible. "You are aware Grell was only
staying with us because of his love for me." The very thought made him wince;
it had also lost him a year's worth of memories. "Spears has figured out
little, but the basics are this: Eric Slingsby complained to the originals, the
elders—they are called the supervisors, since they do not really do much.
Undertaker is one such reaper. The 'supervisors' care very little about
relationships as long as the reaper is not betraying their world."
"So?"
"Slingsby complained, my lord, and the supervisors acted on what they thought
was best to keep office peace by shadowing around the last century in Grell's
cinematic record. They figure that if Grell loves me enough that his memories
return to him, then it is Eric's problem to deal with. If his memories do not
return…" His voice faltered and it was strange to admit even to himself how
much the thought of what he was about to say pained him. He was sure he'd never
felt so much pain before, not over a single being. "If his memories do not
return, they will figure he was just infatuated or tricked, and they will leave
him the way he is."
"So what you're saying is that if his memories don't return, he won't be coming
back?" His voice held more bravado than he'd ever heard the young master use at
one time, yet it trembled and was weak. Sebastian, even knowing the shattering
feeling inside his own chest, couldn't fathom how hard this must be on Ciel.
This boy had lost his own parents so long ago, and was now relying on his
butler and a grim reaper for the love and guidance he'd been denied in his
human years. How horrible it must be to have that ripped from you as well.
"Yes, my lord," he replied, his voice quiet.
Ciel was silent for a long while, just sitting there with his head hung. When
he spoke again, his voice was small, that of a frightened little child. "What
if he doesn't remember?" he asked, sounding choked. "What if he forgets us?"
Sebastian hadn't seen Ciel cry since they had met, but his eyes were filled
with tears now, even if they didn't spill.
Sebastian blamed Grell for making him feel, for making him feel sadness and
pity and worry and love. He walked over, kneeling before his young lord who had
gone to bed in a nightgown much like he had so many years ago, looking for a
comfort lost long ago. "My lord," he murmured, placing his hands firmly on
either side of the earl's head, making him make eye contact. "You know as well
as I how much Grell loves us!" Both of them. Just when had they become a
family? Ciel sniffed, shaking again. When had this child become so weak?
Probably when his entire world was spun on its axis faster than light travels.
"I-I kn-know, but he's—" He cut himself off, a single tear running down his
cheeks. "If he never c-comes back!" Nothing he said was a full thought, and
Sebastian couldn't blame him. His own thoughts were barely organized.
Sebastian knew what to do. "Young master, may I pick you up? I would like to
show you something." Ciel waved him off with a broken 'whatever', which he took
as a yes. He slid his arms around his eternally young master, hoisting him up
easily. He made his way quickly to the front door, making his way through it as
if he was making an entrance to a spectacular party.
"Look at this house," Sebastian ordered, positioning Ciel so he could see it.
He did as he was asked, then looked back at Sebastian. "And at me, yes. And at
you." He scaled the building, running over the top to face the garden. "Look
out, at all that Phantomhive land you have run around and played hide and seek
in like the child you are. Look at all of it."
"What is the point of this, Sebastian?" he asked hoarsely.
"The point is, young master, that Grell loves all of this—you, me, the house,
the land. Everything. We are his family, and even if we have yet to admit it,
even if we have pretended all of this was only temporary, this is his home, and
he knows it." Sebastian took in a deep breath. "You know that, my lord. After
this month, how could you doubt it? He loves us, far too much to ever let us
go. A simple record-shadowing is not going to keep him from us."
He wished there was something else he could say, but he had no reassurances.
All he had was his faith in Grell's love, and that was it. A dark spiral began
inside of him. What if Ciel was right, what if Grell didn't come back? What if
they never saw him again? He had another thought, one that chilled his blood.
What if they didsee him again, and he tried to kill them?
He winced.
"You're right," the young master whispered, and Sebastian blinked down at him.
"You're right. I can't believe I was being so stupid. Grell wouldn't abandon
us, not over something so…" He was whispering now, as if saying it would make
it true. For both of their sakes, he prayed—something he hadn't done in how
many centuries—that it would come true.
"Do you love him, too, Sebastian?" he asked after a few moments of listening to
the cold February wind blow around them. "Love him like I love him, like loves
you?" He had his face buried in the crook of Sebastian's neck, his arms in a
choke hold around his neck, but Sebastian was able to make the words out just
fine.
"Yes," he murmured. "I think I just may be starting to."
"Starting to?"
He smiled softly. "Demons do not love easily, young master, not demons as old
as I. Our human emotions, if we were ever human to begin with, get swept away
by time. We feel fickle love, fickle fondness—like the way a man feels about
his pet. That is how I feel about him—or, used to feel. Now, that love is
changing into something deeper, something more concrete. Something not…"
"Fickle?"
"Easy to understand was what I was going to say, but 'fickle' is just as true,"
Sebastian chuckled quietly. "He is special to me, and he knows it."
"He knows you think of him as a pet, and he still stayed?" Ciel asked, sounding
incredulous behind the pain. Sebastian nodded. "Well. He must reallylove you."
"He does, my lord, and he loves you, too. That is what I have been telling you.
And I think knowing you love him as well will make him happy. When he comes
home…" He had to cough to avoid sounding as choked up as his young master did.
"When he comes home, you should tell him that, no matter how mature and stony
you like to act."
Ciel nodded absently. "Only if you do."
"I will, my lord," Sebastian chuckled.
They were quiet again for a little while, the silence almost comforting, until
his young master bolted upright and Sebastian almost lost his hold on the boy.
"Did you tell Alois not to come?" he shrieked. "He comes early, you know that!"
Sebastian's eyes widened. "No, my lord." Ciel groaned loudly, fisting his eyes.
"Dammit!" he swore, and Sebastian frowned.
"Do you really hate the blonde earl so much?" he asked curiously. Why would
Ciel act like he hated him so much when he and… and Grell had seem him getting
screwed by the blonde a month and a half previous?
"No, of course not," Ciel sighed. "He's… he's frustrating, and annoying, but I
don't hate him. I'm almost fond of him, really. I just don't want to be jumped
when I'm already so—" Abruptly, he stopped talking, and Sebastian didn't need
to look down to know the boy's cheeks would be pink. He wasn't going to ask
when Ciel had begun to be so open with him, and he wasn't going to challenge
it. He liked knowing everything about his master, and he tired of the guessing
games he'd been forced to play for the past century.
"Upset?"
Ciel nodded against his shoulder. "He's the same, Sebastian. He's the same as
us. The only difference is that he hasn't been watching the years fly by on a
different plane than he's standing on, like we have. He's in the wrong world,
just like we are." His voice was suddenly very sad. "He knows the same pain.
He's lost everyone, and I can't even begin to describe what it was like seeing
him again, the one piece of this world that hadn't changed. It was like an
epiphany—maybe I wasn't a complete alien here—Alois was still Alois, and for
that matter, Undertaker was still Undertaker… it was the strangest feeling." He
paused. "I don't think I need to explain it, though. You should understand well
enough."
Sebastian nodded. "That I do, my lord."
"Ciel, what are you doing on the roof? Come down and play with me!"
"Shall we go down and greet your guest?" Sebastian asked wryly, and Ciel
sighed, nodding.
"I suppose we shall."
Not a bad chapter, no? I think you understand why I did what I did to Grell now
in light of Sebastian's revelations in this chapter. I hope you're not too mad
at me! PST—the next one will be… erm, interesting! ;P
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 15: Chapter 15
===============================================================================
So yeah, I was going to write Madara/Itachi porn, but this came out instead
because even though I didn't want to, I had to. I'd better be loved! Is anyone
reading this besides the four I normally hear from? Lol By the way, more shout
outs to Akire Rosales and Gureru-sama—thanks for the motivation, guys!
To put it bluntly, Grell Sutcliff was in shock. William was giving him that
serious, doubtful look, like he wasn't sure about everything he had just said
but he had to say it. Like he wanted to tell the truth, but could only tell the
lie.
"A century?" he repeated, dumbstruck. William swallowed, and nodded. "A whole
century? How did… god, a century." He didn't know how to process that
information. "It's… we're in the 2000s!"
"Early 2011," he said mildly and Grell could feel a very intense headache
coming on as he tried to understand what he was being told. "They're not… quite
sure how this happened." Grell looked up incredulously.
"They don't know how an entire century of my cinematic record got shadowed?" he
shrieked. "Well, they'd better figure it out because I'm rather deadlywhen I'm
angry!" William looked like he could believe it; he'd obviously never seen the
shinigami so freaked out—no, it wasn't like that. It was more like he hadseen
it, and he was terrified of seeing it again. Something dark and heavy settled
into the pit of Grell's stomach. He really didn't like the way that sounded in
his head. Just what had happened in the last hundred years?
"Grell… a lot of stuff as happened in the time period you can't remember," he
said timidly—William, timid! What a strange world this was, 2011.
"Like what?" he asked flatly, and Will sighed.
"There are cars now. We have more work than ever, for another," he said, trying
to work around something. Obviously, there was something he wasn't saying, but
Grell wasn't totally sure he wanted to know what that something was.
"Will," he sighed. "What aren't you telling me? I know you're avoiding
something, I just can't tell what." He bit his lip. "C'mon, Will, you know you
can tell me anything. Or… is it something that the supervisors don't want me to
know? Was this on purpose?"
"I can't tell you that," he answered quietly. "I don't know all of the details
anyway. The point… well, we broke up. That's one of the big things."
Grell felt his jaw physically drop. He and Will had broken up? They weren't
exactly perfect for each other, but he'd been so sure that they couldbe—after
all, they were such close friends, and the sex was amazing. He wasn't always
totally comfortable with William seeing his body, and neither was the brunette,
but they could work past that. How in the world had they broken up and he'd
been left standing? "How…?" His throat was dry and he took a sip of his root
beer, staring down at his ham and swiss burger vacantly, his brain burning
valuable fuel trying to wrap his brain around it.
"Grell," he said, wincing. This was obviously the part he was trying work his
way around. "You fell in love with someone else." The minute 'love' came out of
his mouth, the rest came in a rush and Grell looked up. He'd fallen in love
with someone else? How had that happened—he was so sure he couldn't love. It
was why he was with Will, he was trying to learn.
He suddenly felt very small, and very vulnerable. How had that happened? He'd
fallen in love… obviously it had either ended badly, or something had happened,
from the look on William's face. Love… the word still sent shivers down his
spine, frightening him. He had fallen in love, finally, finally accessed that
part of his heart that had been locked from him, and…
He had to squeeze his eyes shut to avoid crying. What luck, finding the one
thing he'd wanted since he'd become fully conscious of anything only to have it
wiped from his memory. A clear slate, previously holding something so dear and
precious.
"Was it a girl? A man? Tell me about it," Grell demanded, wiping his eyes
angrily. "I want to know everything—I searched for so long, I deserve to know
the fruits of my success." His voice was bitter and Will looked even more
terrified.
"Grell, I'll tell you, just… don't be so…" He seemed at a loss for words. He
seemed horrified by Grell's darker mood. "Grell, you've been in a state of
constant… you've been in a hole for a century, Grell. Just… be happy, okay?
I'll tell you, I swear to god, I will. Just bring your mood up."
He cocked his head, seriously confused. He'd been depressed for a century? How
had thathappened? He was one of the brightest, sunniest people he knew, if not
one of the most twisted.
Either way, William was beginning to speak, and he was going to hang onto every
word spoken about his love, even if it killed him. "I won't tell you his
name—that might be too much just yet, since the elders are still decided how to
handle this situation. But… he's…" He took a deep breath, as if he knew this
was going to shake Grell's foundation. "The man you fell in love with, he's a
demon. He's a rather good looking man, if I do say so myself…" He sounded
irritated just saying the words. "Black hair, red eyes, pale skin, the works.
He's working as a butler now."
"A demon butler?" Grell asked, raising an eyebrow, doing what William asked and
forcing his mood back up. "I've never heard of someone of his ilk being a
butler."
William smiled tightly. "Believe it or not, you were a butler for a time as
well, and I believe you said the exact same thing to him."
"Me, a butler?" Grell repeated, surprise lighting his eyes. "Weird—well, I'm
sure I was a deadlyefficient butler!" William rolled his eyes.
"Yes, well, I've heard that one before, too," he said dryly and Grell laughed.
"It was the beginning of your memory loss, actually, so present you is pretty
much the same you from the Jack the Ripper incident."
"Jack the Ripper?" he repeated, but William waved the question off.
"Anyway, he's a demon butler, yes. And you… my lord, you were so infatuated
with him it was ridiculous." He sounded amused by it now, which Grell took as a
good sign, but his voice darkened shortly afterwards. "I didn't realize that it
was more than infatuation until later."
"How?" Grell asked, hanging on to every word.
"He left," Will said simply, and Grell stiffened. He'd… left him?
He didn't realize that he'd asked the question out loud until William answered.
"No, you weren't together. He was a demon—he didn't return your feelings, at
least, not as much, and not half as consciously. His young master, however, the
boy he was under contract with, became a demon due to an unfortunate and rather
upsetting incident with another demon… two actually…" He frowned in annoyance.
"Well, anyway, they left London, and you were broken."
"Broken?" he arched an eyebrow, thinking Will was being overly dramatic, but
then he actually looked at the reaper. It occurred to him that he wasn't being
dramatic—at all. He was being completely, heartbreakingly serious.
"Broken," he repeated, his voice sad. Will didn't get sad—he was William T.
Spears for god's sake! William didn't feel any emotion at all—which meant that
whatever had happened to him had been very, very serious. "Completely
devastated. You hardly ate—as a matter of fact, I believe you didn't eat at all
for that first month. You hardly slept. You would just sit there in the
bathroom in front of your mirrors and stare at yourself, trying to find every
imperfection you could…" His voice trailed off, raw with pain.
"I… Will, you can't be…"
"But I am. For weeks, you drowned in your own misery. Weeks! Then weeks turned
into months, and months to years… slowly, for a while, I thought you were
getting better. I wasn't stupid enough to think it would happen over night, but
you were happier. Then I realized that you weren't getting better at all. You
were just getting worse, and worse…"
"How could me being happier be worse?" he asked, skeptically. When Will looked
back at him, he froze at the fresh horror in those deep brown eyes.
"You weren't happier," he replied softly. "You were bi polar. Your moods wood
flip like a switch, all the time. You would be ecstatic one moment, the next
screaming and crying, breaking everything… Ronald and I were the only ones who
saw your really bad freak outs. Most of the time, you were neutral—tired,
completely emotionless. Something would always happen and you'd start screaming
again, though, and the screaming would turn to tears. It was unbearable."
"Sounds like I wasn't a very fun roommate." His voice was small again,
hesitant.
"Not at all," William said bluntly, but Grell knew he didn't mean it as an
insult. "It frightened me, to be honest. I thought you would never get better."
"Did I?"
"Due to some unforeseen circumstances, yes. Very recently, actually—within the
last two months. You've been more stable… though you had one very harsh
breakdown over the boy."
Grell looked up at that. "What boy?"
"A month and a half ago, about, your demon's young master wanted to come with
you to work. He'd started to see you as a parent, you see, and you him.
Slingsby… he grew very, very angry about the whole ordeal. The rest of the
office crowded you and the boy, and you broke down. You screamed at them,
crying… I wasn't there, but that's what I heard from Ronald." He sounded tired
now. "That's the basic story. If you want more, I'll tell you, but I think
maybe we should go home, and you should get some sleep."
Grell nodded, getting up when Will gestured toward the door. They hadn't eaten
at all and Will asked for a box and paid. He knew as well as anyone that Will
was a practical man—he wasn't going to waste money, or food.
Three hours later Grell found himself laying on his bed, unsure of what to do.
Even the room he was in had touches of unfamiliarity, though thankfully the
most important things hadn't changed. He lay quite silently for him, playing
with a lock of strangely long crimson hair. He couldn't control his fingers as
he thought, playing with that strand. It wasn't something he usually did—he
normally played with the beads on his glasses—yet it was a very familiar,
almost automatic thing; he must have picked it up sometime in the last hundred
years. He sighed, letting the lock of hair go.
His hair used to hang down to his pelvis—now, it was almost knee-length. He'd
obviously cut it at some point; otherwise, it'd be past his feet. His hand
trailed to his hair again and he growled to himself.
Grell giggled, twirling the chain on his classes. It was a habit he'd had for
years and the chain was wearing thin. Alan was saying something, laughing, and
the red head wasn't paying attention when a different, unfamiliar reaper from
the Ireland branch knocked into him, jerking his hand and effectively snapping
the brittle chain.
"Shit!" he cried as the beads scattered.
He curled in pain as the memory returned to him, blinking when he'd recovered
use of his brain. That explained why he played with his hair instead of the
chain. He touched them, the beads, tenderly. Well, it had obviously been fixed
at sometime, because they were the same beads, he could tell.
He thought back to his dinner with William and all he'd been told. Had he
really lost all of that time? A hundred years worth of memories? He looked down
at his hair again. Yes. He had.
He twirled a strand around his finger, just thinking. Will had seemed almost
pained, like he knew he wasn't able to tell the whole story, and he hated
himself for it. God knows he didn't blame Will for it, though, knowing he'd
probably told him more than he was meant to.
"Hey, Grell. I heard you cry out—are you okay?" Will appeared in the doorway
and he looked up, nodding.
"Yeah, I just—I was thinking about my beads, and why I don't play with them
anymore, and I remembered."
Will's expression popped, surprise and hope becoming very evident in his
features. "You remembered something?" Grell nodded, musing.
"Yes, when my beads broke. You look awfully hopeful—do you really want me to
get my memories back?" he asked curiously, positioning himself on his knees
like he was getting ready for a bed time story. Will nodded.
"I do," he said honestly. "I really do. What they did to you… it's obviously
not good for you, and it's not good for anyone else except Slingsby." He said
his name like a dirty word. "Everyone is upset about it, as well as two very
important individuals who likely needyou to get your memories back. They're
probably praying about it this moment."
"The man and the boy?" he asked. "You did mention when we got home that I'd
been staying with them, that they'd returned to London."
He nodded. "As well as Ronald and I."
He nodded as well, thoughtfully. "I'm going to bed, so…" He seemed lost in his
own thoughts. "I'll let you know if I remember anything else." Will nodded,
kissing his forehead.
"When you do remember—you loved him too much not too—just promise you won't
hate me too much. I regret what I did, though I won't mention what now, and I
love you. You're a very precious friend." Grell wanted to ask, but he knew it
wasn't time.
"Yes, Will, of course. I love you, too." The thing was, he was pretty sure he
did, and when Will left, he forced himself to sleep, holding onto that. He
could love—he loved Will, and he loved whoever his mystery man was. He loved
them very much.
Just before his mind slipped into unconsciousness, he saw a face—the face of
Sebastian, the man from the office earlier that day. He didn't know why, and it
scared him. He pushed it from his mind and drifted into a very uneasy sleep.
So, what do you think? I'm confident you all liked it—lol!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 16: Chapter 16
===============================================================================
I've decided on an alternate title for this story since everyone seems to be
doing it—"His Butler, The Most Over-used Kurofic Title In History". Amusing,
ne?
Sebastian couldn't remember the last time the boy in his arms had been so
vulnerable, so… human. They'd been lying there in bed for hours—the moon had
come and gone at least twice, but Ciel hadn't moved at all. He remained curled
in Sebastian's arms, his eyes glazed and unresponsive. He'd barely said
anything in the entire time they'd laid there, just a couple almost inaudible
ramblings in his sleep about Grell, and being abandoned.
The butler couldn't remember when he'd begun to call Ciel his child in his
thoughts. It was sometime after the red head had arrived, he was sure of that.
He stroked Ciel's hair, the bluish hue seeming brighter because of the sunlight
shining through the window.
Morning again.
Sebastian neither loved nor dreaded the new day. It was simply another twenty-
four hours in which he was likely to stay in bed with his depressed lord,
thinking about a red head that, no matter what he told Ciel, might not ever
come home. His hold on the demonic being in his arms tightened at the thought
and for some reason, and uncomfortable, angry prickling began in his chest. It
made his frustration rise considerably, the thought that Grell might have left
them for good.
Ciel, still sleeping with tear stains on his pale face, curled his fingers into
Sebastian's lapel and Sebastian was tempted to pull them off because it was
exactly the same thing the red head used to do, but he reminded himself that
this was their son. He'd taken to referring to the lord in his head in such a
way—and had actually said 'my son' instead of 'my lord' once, but Ciel hadn't
reacted to it, as if he was all too aware of Grell's influence over both of
them.
It still confused him how he'd grown so attached to the red head in a little
more than two months. Even if he had felt something more than hatred for the
reaper back in the late eighteen hundreds, it didn't explain why he felt so
strongly for him now. Ciel made a small whimper in his arms and Sebastian knew
it was time to wake the boy.
"My lord," he murmured. Usually, that was enough to wake him, but his sleep was
deep, his nightmares gripping. "It is time for you to wake up, my child." He
didn't want to call him anything that would remind the boy to directly of
Grell, like "my son" or simply calling him by his name. He had opted to go with
the formal but still personal "child", which Ciel seemed to like.
Almost reluctantly, sad, ruby red eyes slowly parted and he looked up at
Sebastian before resting his head on the butler's shoulder again, shifting back
to blue. "Any word?" The question was almost inaudible, like he knew the
answer. Sebastian hated to shake his head.
"No, young master. Nothing."
Ciel let out a very shallow breath. "I suspected as much." His voice was tired.
"I dream about it," he whispered. "All the time. About him never coming back."
Sebastian silently stroked his hair, feeling the soft indigo strands sliding
through his fingers. Ciel seemed to curl in on himself, wrapping his arms
around his own body in an attempt to keep himself together. Sebastian continued
to play with his hair, not wanting to say anything. "Do you miss him as well,
Sebastian?"
"Yes, my lord," he answered. "I feel his absence just as much as you." Ciel
sighed, sitting up and stretching.
"Go get me something to wear," he commanded at last. "Something red." Sebastian
frowned, but did as he was told. He didn't take that as a good sign—Ciel was
pining, and Ciel was never quite there in the head when he was pining. He had
pined for his parents, and in his solitude Sebastian had felt him pining for
his aunt. He had pined for Alois, too, though Sebastian hadn't realized it at
the time. It… frightened him, the pining.
On the other hand, it was almost amusing. He could remember the days when he
had referred to Grell as "that useless reaper". Now, he lost his mind in how
much he missed the flamboyant man.
"You are not acting like yourself, my lord." Ciel raised his eyebrow at him
from the bed, but the look didn't have as much scorn as it used to.
"How so?" he asked, his voice confused under its stony outer layer.
Sebastian paused before pulling out a pair of jeans, a red button down, a red
jacket, and red converse. He wasn't going to allow his master to walk around in
red head to toe, but he knew just a red shirt or coat wouldn't satisfy him. He
dressed the boy quickly and efficiently, still trying to figure out how to
answer him.
"You are much…" He took a deep breath, unsure of how his lord would take it.
"You are more human, my lord. You see Grell and I…"
"Like my parents," he finished with an eye roll. "Don't act so surprised about
it, Sebastian. You know me far better than I know myself. Even though I hate to
show weakness—" It was a show of how much he changed to admit such a thing. "—I
needed someone. To replace them." His voice dropped, becoming much quieter.
"You should know that better than I. A hundred years… they've been gone so
long!" His teeth clenched and Sebastian listened in silent, morbid wonder as he
spilled his innermost thoughts. "It has been a hundred years since I was
loved."
"You do not seem like the type of person to be after such a thing," Sebastian
said slowly and Ciel snorted.
"I was human, Sebastian—I'll never be the pure, ruthless demon you are…" Here
he smiled just a tad sadistically. "Or rather, used to be. You're not so cold
any longer."
He nodded, taking it without offense. It was quite true. "We have both been in
the human world for too long, my lord." Ciel nodded, but he didn't look like he
quite believed it. "My lord… why…" Ciel wiped at his eyes furiously. Of course
Sebastian had noticed the tears welling in them.
"I hate feeling like this," he choked. "I haven't felt like this in a hundred
years—why now, why this?" Sebastian was suddenly at a loss for words and just
listened to the boy as he forced out word after word, syllable after syllable.
"I don't likebeing unhappy—all the time, just trying to chase that feeling
away! Feeling like I'm not good enough, that I have no purpose, drowning in it…
it's so hard to breathe!" The child wrapped his arms around himself, looking
like he was going to start trembling again.
"Would you like to go visit Hell?" he asked quietly, almost reluctantly. Even
though he made a snow about being "too human", he had a horrible feeling going
back to his domain would make his very human feelings for Grell disappear. He
bit his lip, waiting for Ciel's answer, hoping he'd say no. He had promised
himself not to lose interest in the reaper—going back to Hell would just force
the interest out of him. He couldn't allow that to happen.
"No," he whispered. "No. I don't want to go back. I don't want to lose my pa—I
don't want to lose this. Whatever this is." I don't want to lose my parents
again. Sebastian understood perfectly how he felt. "Sebastian."
The butler looked up to see his fragile lord holding out his arms, a most
vulnerable expression on his young face. Sebastian leaned forward, drawing the
boy into his arms, letting him soak his jacket in even more tears, rocking him
softly. "My lord…"
"Bring him back," he bit out harshly against his shoulder and Sebastian went
rigid. "I won't lose him! No, I won't lose anyone else! Not him, nor Alois, nor
you! Bring him back, I don't care how!" His voice became a mess of sobs,
unintelligible, but Sebastian had gotten the message.
"Now, my lord?"
"When Alois arrives to keep me company," he managed. "Then you will leave, and
you will bring him back." His words were hard, a command. Sebastian didn't have
to hear the "this is an order" to know that.
He nodded, holding the boy for just a bit longer. Ciel pressed his face into
the raven's neck, smearing tears into his skin, but Sebastian wasn't going to
complain. This was the boy that used to rather cry by himself, who now asked to
be held, and loved. Sebastian could understand that. He could love the boy—he
did love the boy. And when he got his reaper back—for he was determined to make
it a matter of 'when', not 'if'—they would cherish him the way parents were
supposed to. For eternity.
"Is Ciel okay?"
Alois had apparently let himself in and for once, he seemed serious. No, to be
precise… he looked scared. Sebastian was confused before it hit him—this was
almost the exact state he himself had been in so long ago. Ciel looked up,
wiping his tears.
"He will be in time," Sebastian answered smoothly, picking Ciel up and walking
over to the blonde. "He requests that you stay with him until I return. Can you
do that?" The blonde nodded. "Good. Please take care of him, Master Alois. He
is quite fragile as of late." He handed the boy to the sixteen year old, who
took him determinedly. Normally, Ciel would have complained or resisted the
boy's grip, but now he simply buried his face in Alois's shirt, hiding it from
view, and held on tightly.
"Are you going to find Ciel's mom?" Such naivety… Sebastian almost admired it.
"Yes, I'm going to find Grell."
Alois stood there, looking down at the boy in his arms before nodded. "Bring
him back, 'kay? Ciel's sad, and when Ciel's sad, I'm sad." Sebastian smiled
tightly. Once upon a time, he would never allow the two to be alone together on
the fear that they would attempt to kill each other. He felt secure enough now
to do so, knowing that Alois would watch out for his lord when he wasn't there.
"I shall hopefully return soon. If I do not…" He trailed off, knowing the
blonde would understand.
"I'll stay with him," he promised, and Sebastian nodded before leaving.
It was nearly twenty minutes later when he found himself on the streets of
London, trying to pick out the faint smell of roses underneath all the other
scents laced in the city. It was a very cliched thing to smell of, roses, but
Sebastian had long since grown used to the scent. He had growned to used to it,
and learned to love it. His beautiful rose, a more vibrant red than any of the
others, and more lively to boot.
A glimpse of red, he thought in despiration after another two hours of
searching. He could smell him everywhere—was he hiding? No, that wasn't like
Grell, even before the Madam Red incident. Even then, Grell would have run to
him, fawning over his looks, his voice, his ass, whatever he could before he
was hit.
So where was he?
His scent just grew stronger as he inched downtown and Sebastian found himself
desperately checking every splash of red in his sight. He wasn't there—there
was never enough red. It was more than a splash, you see—he needed a bathof
red, a whole swarm of it, all concentrated into one spot.
When he found it, he was in a dark alley, and he'd barely caught sight of that
jacket and the long crimson hair accompanied it before he'd moved on. But he
had seen it, and nearly dashed into the alley, breathing heavily just from
shock. There he was, his rose, his love, his pet, standing there above a newly
dead corpse with his chainsaw in hand, reviewing the cinematic record.
"Grell," he breathed.
The reaper looked over, his expression lighting up. "Well, if it isn't Sebby! I
remember you—we met in the office! Still as gorgeous as ever!" He sounded
excited, even though he was obviously a little confused by this fact.
"Yes," he said carefully. "Yes, we did. And I have been looking for you. You
would think, with that hair and gaudy red jacket, that you would be easy to
find."
He laughed, obviously in agreement. "Wouldn't you think? To tell the truth, I
don't even know where this jacket came from, but I do love it. It's my favorite
color…" He played with it, his eyes still appraising Sebastian. It was odd how
he couldn't muster up the disgust he had felt to accompany the red head's
checking him out that he used to feel.
"You got that jacket from Angelina Dalles," he told him quietly. "Madam Red."
Grell blinked, suspicion lighting in his eyes, but he didn't say anything about
it. "Madam Red? Who is this woman? I think I may like her!" His voice was
light, edging on that mad joy Sebastian had heard it in when thinking about his
messy mayhem.
"You killed her," Sebasitan said calmly. "Many years ago—over a hundred,
actually."
Grell's smile became even more twisted and he took on an offensive stance,
firing up his death scythe.
"I knew you weren't human," he declared triumphantly. "You're a demon!"
Sebastian nodded, carefully switching his position to defense. Normally, he
would have gone on the offense as well, but he couldn't even picture himself
fighting Grell.
How had he let his own nature slip from him so? He was a demon, he was supposed
to relish the thought of a fight—with a reaper! They were supposed to be mortal
enemies. He couldn't even bring himself to care anymore—he loved Grell too damn
much.
As he said the word demon, an uncomfortable look crossed Grell's face, like he
had put two and two together in his mind and didn't like the conclusion.
Sebastian watched, his heart aching, as Grell locked that thought away and
grinned at him, the expression just a tad hesitant.
"I hate to waste such a pretty face, but then… I'm sure you'll look just as
lovely all made up," Grell giggled, keeping a tight lock on his revelation.
Sebastian nodded, knowing what Grell was thinking, and hoped against hope he'd
be able to stop his precious little pet before he did something he would regret
for the rest of his long, immortal life.
I'm sorry this is late. I've been working on other things, but I suppose that
the amazingness of this chapter will make it up to you. ;P
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 17: Chapter 17
===============================================================================
Yes, it's chapter 17. Officially my longest story, and I still love it. This is
a good thing. ^w^
Underneath his game face, Grell was scared. The demon in front of him was just
standing there, his slender legs in a defensive position, his hand raised
slightly. His expression was determined, and under the stoic mask, Grell could
see the vulnerablity in his wine-red eyes. If Grell attacked him, he wouldn't
fight back save for the most basic acts of self defense. Normally, that would
encourage him, but for some reason it just made him feel sick behind his battle
high, like fighting the demon—this "Sebastian"—would be something he'd regret
for a very long time.
"Will you not come at me, Grell? Do you not want to fight me?" Normally, Grell
would have called it taunting, but the demon sounded so sad. "Color me red,
love." He felt sick again, that little part of him that didn't want to fight
crying out in response to the nausea that the demon's words brought. Love…
"Don't call me that," he hissed, cupping his ears. He barely noticed as his
death scythe clattered to the ground and he backed up, the madness inside of
him trying to take over. He could remember giving himself to that crazy demon
hiding inside, enjoying the high, but he could still feel that warning
resonation through him that if he hurt Sebastian, for whatever reason, he would
hate himself for it later.
The demon took a step forward, towards Grell, reaching out slowly. "Grell,
love, I do not want to fight you."
Grell was under the impression that if Sebastian called him that one more time,
he would be obligated to kill himself. He had no idea why, but his heart would
thunder in his ears and his head would pound every time he heard the word from
the raven's mouth. "Don't call me that!" he cried again, pressing his palms
over his ears even harder, his nails digging into the flesh of his scalp. "I
told you not to call me that!"
Sebastian looked somewhat… hurt? "That is okay. That is fine, but fighting is
not necessary. I will explain everything, I promise, so calm down."
"Explain what?" he asked in a low voice, lowering his hands slowly. Sebastian
sighed in relief.
"Everything," he said encouragingly. "I will explain whatever William declined
to. I promise, I will not lie to you, love." He seemed only to realize his slip
up when Grell let out a shrill shriek, his heart clenching in his chest. He
couldn't breathe and in desperation, he did the only thing he could think of—he
dove and scooped up his death scythe, charging at the source of his torment.
Sebastian blocked the first swing, his expression giving away how much he was
cursing himself at the moment. His mistake was going to cost him, but the red
haired reaper was too far gone to care. The moment his pale hand had wrapped
around his scythe, he'd let himself go, giving himself over to the bloodthirsty
thing inside of him. He raged, flinging himself at Sebastian, who dodged every
attack, doing everything he could to avoid harming Grell. The reaper, on the
other hand, seemed to be doing everything in his power to makeSebastian hurt
him and the demon actually looked scared.
The vulnerable part of him still drowning warned him again, practically
screaming at him not to hurt this demon called Sebastian Michaelis. Still, he
struck and struck, trying to find the weak point that would make the demon
fall.
"Grell!" he exclaimed after a narrowly avoided blow, darting down next to the
man and knocking the reaper to the ground. "Stop!"
Panicking, Grell thrust the chainsaw up as Sebastian leaned over him, the
whirling blades ripping through the demon's rib cage, making his ruby colored
eyes widen in shock as he coughed, blood splattering his lips like paint. He
fell back and Grell just sat there as tears, wild and uncontrollable, bubbled
up in his throat like laughter, but the sound that came out was anything but.
It was raw and animalistic, a harsh howl that pierced through the night like a
blade. He waited, listening to the sound echo off the buildings in London,
whimpering to himself, trying to fend off tears as he waited for Sebastian to
move.
Then it hit him, what he had done to this demon who had done nothing to him,
who made him feel, and the tears fought him back and won, spilling over.
"Sebastian?" he sobbed, crawling to the raven's side, looking down into his
motionless face. "I didn't mean to really kill you! I don't want you to die!"
Tears rolled down his cheeks, making his eyes burn. He crumpled, curling in on
himself as grief flooded through him in waves. He buried his face in the
corpse's chest, unable to comprehend why he was crying over a stranger.
"Grell," he heard. He fell silent, his breath catching in his throat as hope
welled within him with the tears. He heard an uncomfortable, wet-sounding
cough. "I am not dead yet." His voice was soft and relieved and when Grell
looked up at the demon's face, his blood covered lips were curved upward in a
smile. A tender, tired smile. "I promise, I am alive."
He sounded weak, but Grell could hear his breathing get stronger as his body
began to heal. Grell watched in disbelief as his wound started to clot and scab
over. When the process was finished he stared down at the shiny scar until
Sebastian sat up, drawing the red head into his arms. He cried while Sebastian
held and rocked him, murmuring soothing nothings into his ear. He couldn't
place why it seemed so familiar, being in Sebastian's arms, but he wouldn't
complain. Couldn't complain.
"Grell," Sebastian murmured and Grell looked up only to have his lips meet pink
ones that tasted like copper.
Grell broke away, screaming in agony as a hundred years worth of memories
returned to him all at once. He could feel the far away arms of Sebastian,
holding him upright. Grell kept screaming, nausea taking over and he pulled
away from the demon, coughing before he emptied the contents of his stomach
onto the gravel. He looked over at his love, his eyes red, his cheeks tear
stained, his throat burning, and Sebastian sat there in shock, his arms still
open.
"Your hair is a mess, love," the butler whispered, regaining his composure.
Tears again rose to Grell's eyes. "Shh, love. What is wrong?"
"I almost killed you," he forced out, his voice thick. "I could have killed
you." He had never actually thought about hurting himself before, but he felt
like the only way to pay for what he had done—to someone he loved so much—was
to run himself through with the scythe now dirty with his precious Sebastian's
blood. "God, how could I? I just…" The memory of exactly what he had done
flashed through his mind, all too vivid, and he turned and dry heaved, his
stomach churning without anything to offer. This time, Sebastian held his hair
back in case he did manage to throw anything up, rubbing his back lightly.
"You were not yourself, love," Sebastian murmured, kissing the spot just under
the red head's ear. "You have changed in the past hundred years.
Grell nodded, still bent over, his hair hiding his face as he breathed heavily.
"I just can't believe I could hurt you, no matter how many memories were
erased. You're a part of me. How could I do such a horrible thing… to you?"
"You were pressured, love," he said gently. "You had little clue of what to do.
I could see in your eyes you had no desire to hurt me. I just panicked you."
Grell wiped at his cheeks, letting his demon comfort him. "It no fault of
yours." He nodded and Sebastian pulled him to his feet. When they discovered
his legs wouldn't hold him, Sebastian silently picked him up and Grell rested
his head against Sebastian's chest.
"Would you like to stop by your apartment, pet?" He shook his head, crimson
hair waving throug the wair, damp with sweat and sick.
"I just want to go home," he blubbered, wiping at his eyes again. When had the
Phantomhive manor become his home? He couldn't quite remember. Sebastian nodded
while Grell let the careful motion of being carried lull him to a sleep-like
state.
"We shall run you a bath," Sebastian told him once they entered the manor. "But
first, I think your son would like to see you, pet."
"He missed me?"
Sebastian nodded, carrying him up the stairs. "He pined for you nearly the
entire week you have been gone." He paused and smiled. "Wait until you see what
he is wearing today." With that said, he knocked on the door to the young
master's room. "My lord? May we come in?"
It was barely more than a second later when the door was yanked open by the
short lord with wide, hopeful eyes. Sebastian had set Grell on his feet just a
moment before and he stood just behind the demon, so Ciel didn't see him right
away. In the couple seconds he had, he appraised Ciel's outfit—shirt, jacket,
and shoes, all red. Pining indeed. "Is he back?"
"Perhaps, my child, you should ask him," Sebastian suggested quietly, stepping
aside. Ciel went rigid in shock before he slammed his small body into the
reaper's, trembling against him. Grell stood there, surprised, and wondered why
Ciel was shaking when he realized it was tears, much like his own, that rattled
his body so. Choking up himself, Grell lifted the boy off his feet and cradled
him in his arms, letting him cry his frustrations, worries, and lonelinessinto
Grell's red-clad shoulder.
"Don't you everdo that again!" Ciel cried roughly when his tears had stopped,
pulling at two handfuls of messy red hair. "This is an order—don't you
everleave me again!" Grell thought that even if he wasn't a demon, he could
still manage to follow the request.
"Yes, my little lord," Grell murmured. Ciel's blue eyes were bloodshot, like
he'd been crying a lot. They were puffy and his nose was red. The earl buried
his head in the spot between Grell's jaw and collar, unwilling to move, and
while Grell slowly rocked him, he noticed Alois breathing a sigh on relief from
his perch on Ciel's bed. Grell couldn't help but feel relieved that the blonde
was there for Ciel. He didn't like the fact that he was much closer to him that
he liked, but even as a parent (or would-be parent, depending on the viewer),
he could admit the two earls were very good for each other.
Sebastian rubbed Ciel's back gently and took the boy, who struggled, from
Grell's arms. "My lord, it has been a trying day, has it not? We should let
your "mother" get a back and some rest, yes?"
The earl seemed to consider this and sighed in defeat, hugging Grell one last
time when he was set down. "Get clean, Grell, okay? And sleep. You look so
tired…" Grell leaned down so Ciel's inquisitive fingers could comfortably trace
a line down his cheek. The boy leaned up, kissing the line he had made lightly
before he pulled away. "I missed you, Grell." The words were supprisingly
vulnerable for the boy and Grell appreciated them.
An hour later, Grell found himself soaked in hot water, his breathing light and
easy, almost asleep. Sebastian had washed his hair and stroked it lightly. "He
is not the only one that missed you," the butler murmured, leaning down to kiss
Grell gently. Grell smiled against his Sebastian's lips, kissing him back.
"I missed you both, even though I didn't know it," he said, then looked down at
his feet, which poked out from the water slightly. "I felt like I was missing
something the entire time I was there, even though I was happy to have Will
with me, and Ronald, and all of my other friends…" A dark look passed his face.
"They're not too happy with Eric."
"Oh, yes," Sebastian said flatly, his hand still moving in soothing circles at
Grell's temple. "The one who complained."
Grell nodded absently. "Yes. Alan's left him, you know. Said he couldn't be
with someone who would try and rip apart what we have, a love like ours." He
faltered, then corrected hastily, "Well, a sort-of love like ours." His cheeks
darkened a shade. Sebastian was quiet for a while and when Grell looked up
again he looked thoughtful.
"I think we can call it love, pet," he murmured, and Grell's eyes filled up
with tears yet again. "Do not look at me like that." He didn't have to say it,
but Grell could see how much his absense had affected him.
"I love you," he whispered, reaching up to trace the planes of Sebastian's face
much Ciel had done to him earlier. "I love you so much." His voice was almost
unintelligable, but Sebastian obviously understood what he said. He pressed his
lips to the reaper's forehead and whispered back.
"I love you, too, pet. I love you, too."
Has anyone noticed that as Sebby/Grell writers, we all steal little bits and
pieces and ideas from each other? It just occurred to me—the whole family
Sebby-Grell-Ciel idea, for instance, has been done at least three times. Yet,
it's still totally okay, because we're all awesome! ^.^
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 18: Chapter 18
===============================================================================
C'mon, guys! Almost a hundred reviews, so let's move! ^.^ I've noticed, though,
that all of my reviews are from the same, like, four people, though—lol! That's
all right, Sebby/Grell isn't the most popular pairing in the world. The readers
I do have are wonderful, so I won't complain!
Sebastian Michaelis had seen the passing of almost two million years, seen the
rise and fall of every once-great nation, seen the deaths of every ruler known
to the modern man. He had stood in the crowd with a smirk when Marie Antoinette
was beheaded, he had advised the famous king Tutankhamun before his untimely
death. He had sailed on the RMS Titanic, and he had watched it sink to the
bottom of the Atlantic. For a time, he had followed its journey through the icy
water before he let it fade from view.
He had served under Queen Elizabeth I for a time, and both of her
predecessors—he was convinced that the rich and powerful would stop at nothing
to become even more so. He had started the black plague, watched as people
died, and laughed. He and his young lord had murdered Adolf Hitler and made it
seem like a suicide to avoid suspicion, and had visited Henrick Himmler before
his death and almost scared him to an early grave.
He had done so much, became famous in his world, all for what? To find himself
in the arms of a reaper?
Yet he knew that tearing himself away would not only hurt that reaper, but kill
him as well. A week without Grell Sutcliff had been torture. How would he fare
were the man ripped from him permanently? With this thought he accepted his
fate and cuddled closer, convinced there had to be some way to get even closer
to his red haired beauty.
He had certainly not seen the reaper that way before—yet over time, he had
begun to see things the way Grell had always hoped he would. He had never
denied that the man was attractive—it was an exotic beauty, but it was beauty
none the less. His hair was like silk, a vivid shade of red that never dulled.
His eyes, framed by a thick fringe of lashes, were intoxicating—ringed and
green, like every other reaper's in existence, but Sebastian was sure Grell's
were prettier. His skin was flawless and peach-colored, his sharp teeth nothing
but perfect white.
Despite his flaws, despite what he was, despite the fact that he laid there in
the arms of his beloved, nit picking their entire relationship, Grell Sutcliff
was in love with him, and had been for a century.
Sebastian wasn't quite sure how that one had happened, however. When he'd met
him, he'd been polite, but he hadn't been very kind. Grell had seemed enamored
of him from the beginning, the forever clumsy, irresponsible butler that
Sebastian couldn't stand. As he stroked red hair now, he tried to imagine
himself doing this a hundred years previous, and couldn't. Grell hadn't quite
been the same person then, and even though he had to admit now that he'd been
fairly attracted to him then (even if he had been ignorant of it), but he never
would have been the type of person Sebastian went for.
Then, a century later, there he was. He could still remember the look on the
reaper's face—shock and disbelief, utter despair deep in those ringed eyes, the
rings around them dark purple, almost hidden by his glasses. He could still see
vividly the way the color had drained for his face before he'd made a break for
it, running as fast as his legs could carry him. Sebastian had known right then
that the death god known as "Grell Sutcliff" had changed.
He hadn't even thought about it before he'd run after him, pushing his demon
body to move faster, to catch him. He'd chased many a reaper, many a demon,
many a human. They'd been prey, every single one. Grell was the first not to
end up dead at his hands. No, Grell seemed to thriveat his side. A first… a
wonderful first.
Grell stirred in his arms, yawning, nuzzling into Sebastian's chest. One pale
hand was curled in the short hair at the base of the demon's neck and the other
was tucked into Sebastian's side. He caressed the red hair that flowed around
them like a waterfall. Everywhere he looked there was red. He thought he might
be content never going back to the black he had lived in for centuries.
Green eyes slowly opened and pink lips curved upward in a warm smile. "Good
morning," he murmured, laying a kiss on Sebastian's jaw. Yes, this was what he
had been missing those days when he'd woken alone, groping for a body that
wasn't there. Grell leaned up, giving him a soft kiss, tucking a strand of
crimson behind his ear.
"Good morning, love," he returned with a smile of his own. "You look lovely."
He surprised himself by being sincere, but then, with the revelation he'd had
the day before, maybe the idea shouldn't be that much of a shock. Grell blushed
prettily when Sebastian kissed him again.
"You don't look half bad yourself there, Sebby," he giggled when Sebastian
kissed his nose. "Okay, I relent—you look gorgeous. As always!" The demon
laughed and Grell followed suit. "Our son should be about ready to get up,
right?" Sebastian nodded, sitting up and kissing his reaper one more time.
"How about we make it a joint effort, hm? I am sure he will like being woken
with a kiss from his 'mother'," Sebastian suggested, chuckling. Grell was up in
a second, already getting dressed. Unlike before, Sebastian stayed to watch the
show. Last time he had skipped out, he could feel Grell's displeasure radiating
from him in waves—for some reason, the thought of Grell's exhibitionism aroused
him slightly. Fortunately, the arousal was only a mental reaction and not a
physical one, or he'd have to make his young master wait a little longer
because neither Grell nor Sebastian would be leaving the red head's room for at
least five more minutes. Grell dressed quickly, so the show was short, but it
was still pleasant.
"Don't you ever take that uniform off, Sebby?" he asked conversationally as he
slid his vest on.
He looked down at his butlers uniform, slightly wrinkled from laying down with
it on, and back up at the red head, shaking his head. "When I bathe. Other than
that… no, not really." He laughed under his breath. "I have found myself quite
used to it."
"Surely you wore something else while you were… abroad?" Grell asked, sitting
down on the edge of the bed and bouncing slightly.
"Well, you do have a point there," he conceded. "Yes. I wore suits." Grell
laughed. "What? Do you really believe the young master to allow himself to be
seen with me dressed casually? No matter where we are, or what century, I am
but his humble servant." Grell rolled his eyes.
"We're gonna have to teach that boy a thing or two about that ego of his," the
reaper said slyly, and Sebastian laughed again. Things really were looking up
for him. He reached up, tracing a line from Grell's hairline to his jaw,
confusing the reaper. The bags under his eyes were gone and his skin glowed. He
looked healthy. Sebastian just nodded with a small smile and leaned forward,
gently guiding Grell into another kiss.
"I love you," he murmured against the man's lips, and listened the sound of his
heartbeat, which picked up in time. Music to his ears—a steady rhythm that
could lull him back to sleep if he let it. That wet, pounding sound that was so
dear to him. So dear he could rip it out of the man's chest and hold it.
He shoved Grell back, his eyes wide and shimmering pink, his breathing heavy,
the demon blood in his veins thrumming through his body like repressed liquid
fire. Grell sat there in confusion, his lips still open from their kiss, worry
and shock in his own green eyes. He reached forward and Sebastian scrambled
back.
"No," he whispered. "Do not touch me now, Grell."
Grell's lower lip quivered, but he could see the effort the reaper was putting
in to stay calm. "What…" He cleared his throat, his hand still suspended in mid
air. "What happened?" His voice had broken, but he coughed and tried to hide
it.
Sebastian closed his eyes, refusing to look at the one he cared so much about,
trying to forget that lucid, biting image of killing the reaper in a bout of
violent, devilishlove. He hadn't thought such a thing in years, but there it
was—that horrible, demonic part of him that demanded to be satisfied.
"Sebastian?" he said just a tad louder, his voice edging up an octave or two.
Clearly, he was shaken—and he had every reason to be. Sebastian had never
treated him so, of course he'd be confused.
A second later he had the reaper in his arms, petting his hair, crushing him to
his body. "I am so sorry," he whispered. "I am sorry!" Grell was frozen in
shock, obviously at a loss for what to do as Sebastian worried over him like a
mother hen, making sure he hadn't done anything to him unintentionally.
"What was that?" Grell demanded once Sebastian had calmed down. The butler had
to struggle to control his inner demon.
"I think…" he murmured carefully, his arms still around the reaper, and he
worried Grell might be able to feel him tremble slightly, feel the heat under
his skin. "I think I am losing control of my… demonic nature."
Grell looked up at him wordlessly from under those long red-brown eyelashes,
imploring Sebastian to explain, and he did, guilt biting at him.
"Our kind, we need to visit Hell every now and again, to remind ourselves of
who we are, what we are. It is how we keep our nature in check around humans,"
Sebastian explained quietly, his hand smoothing red hair. "The more time we
spend in this world, Grell, the more human we become. And after a while…" He
looked down in shame, the first time that Grell had ever seen the emotion from
the demon. "After a while, love, we lose control."
He looked up, and his eyes were that dazzling pink again, his expression
heartbroken.
"I almost killed you," he whispered, then chuckled without humor. "I know how
you feel now, love. And I feel sick." It was quite the thing for him to
say—he'd never said it before, but then, he'd never felt the way he did now
before.
"So…" Grell took a deep breath. "How do you… fix that?" His voice was hesitant,
like he knew he wouldn't like the answer. Sebastian looked down again, his eyes
shifting back to red.
"I need to visit Hell. The young master probably should as well." His voice was
low, but Grell didn't seem to understand what that meant. Sebastian loved that
about him—how carefully naïve he was. He loved Grell, so much. Enough to do
this, to do this horrible thing to avoid killing him. Sebastian gathered his
resolve. He could not kill Grell because he knew the minute he returned to his
senses and stood in a pool of the blood of the slaughtered death god he would
likely find someone to slaughter him.
He kissed Grell's forehead again. He couldn't live without Grell now... maybe
after his visit to Hell, but now? He couldn't live apart from him, even knowing
he was safe and alive, nor would he be able to survive knowing that the man he
loved so dearly was buried in an unmarked grave, or worse, in the cold
mausoleums of the reapers.
"What is so serious about that?" Grell asked, cocking his head to the side in
confusion, but Sebastian could tell that dread was bubbling in his stomach, the
same way it did in his own.
"The chances are very good," he said, his voice tight. "That if I go to Hell,
my feelings—my very human feelings for you… will disappear, and I will lose
what I feel for you."
Grell looked up at him, his lips shut tight and just like the day the reaper
had been returned to him, the color drained from his face and his eyes widened
in horror. Only one thing was different—instead of running, Grell buried his
head in Sebastian's shoulder and tried not to burst into tears.
(Insert astricts here—FF GIMME MEH ASTRICTS BACK!) – As in this has nothing to
do with the actual story. Don't take it seriously!
OMAKE ONE!
Grell and Sebastian sat in the garden when spring came, Grell with a handful of
brightly colored, sugar-covered birds. Sebastian eyed them wearily, not even
wanting to know what his pet was stuffing his face with. When Grell bit into
one, munching happily. Sebastian cocked his head in confusion when he saw that
the inside was white.
"What are you eating?" he asked incredulously.
Grell looked over, biting a little chocolate dot off of the bird's head.
"Peeps, duh. Delicious marshmallow treats! And I totally just ate his eye."
Sebastian's eye twitched.
(Insert astricts here—FF GIMME MEH ASTRICTS BACK!)
OMAKE TWO!
When Sebastian caught Grell, he let the reaper slump to the ground, before
sighing and kneeling down. "Mr. Sutcliff, really."
Grell looked up, trying not to cry. "What?"
"Are you depressed?" he inquired and Grell nodded dramatically.
"Yes! I am!" he cried, flinging his arms around the demon who went still in
shock. "Are you here to save me from my hole of loneliness?"
Sebastian clucked reproachfully. "Yes. As a matter of fact, you know, Grell…"
His eyes shone and he leaned up for a kiss, excited that Sebastian cared enough
to bring him out of his slump.
Sebastian's eyes flashed cruelly. "Depression hurts, Grell. Cymbalta can help."
(Insert astricts here—FF GIMME MEH ASTRICTS BACK!)
Ciel took a deep breath, shuffling his feet nervously. "I… erm, Sebastian… G-
Grell…" For some reason, he looked more afraid of Grell than Sebastian, which
confused both would-be parents.
"Yes?" Sebastian said impatiently, but Grell held his hand up, silencing his
love.
"You have to approach this delicately!" he hissed in the demon's ear. "What is
it, darling?"
Ciel blushed, and looked down, nodding. He went to sit on Grell's lap when
Grell gestured. He looked up at his "mother" and said, very, veryquietly…
"I'm pregnant."
"Oh my fucking god, you did not just say that! I'm going to kick that kid's
ass—Alois Trancy, get your skinny ass in here, you littlebastard!"
Sebastian watched Grell scream, then looked down at the shocked boy who had
tumbled to the floor when Grell had stood up angrily.
"Grell, were you not telling me to handle this delicately?"
I'm not sure what's up with the omakes—I just that you would like some comic
relief after this heavy chapter. ^.^
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 19: Chapter 19
===============================================================================
Ah, meow. Chapter nineteen. So close to a hundred reviews! Four more, people!
*does dance* I am SO pumped! I don't quite get it, though… this fic hasn't even
been up a month yet, I don't think… Anyway, not complaining, lol!
Grell quietly opened the door to Ciel's room, trying to think of something to
say. So far, he was coming up blank. His heart was still racing, but he was
trying—trying to forget, at least temporarily, what Sebastian had told him that
morning. The boy laying there, completely oblivious, was almost enough to do
it, too. He just watched him breathe evenly, in and out.
Ciel, thank whatever deity that watched over the damned boy, was fast asleep.
Grell considered this a blessing because he'd found Ciel in the habit of
eavesdropping, and he wasn't sure how the little lord would take the
information that would be presented to him later. He was eager to have at least
a few peaceful last moments with his dear child.
He padded over to the side of Ciel's bed and sat down. He brushed a strand of
unruly indigo hair out of his eyes. "It's time to wake, love," he murmured,
placing a kiss on the waking demon's cheek on impulse. Ciel frowned in his
sleep, reaching out and snuggling into Grell's side. His throat closed and for
a few moments he just sat there, stroking the boy's hair, trying not to disturb
him.
He looked up to see Sebastian in the doorway and he waved him away. This was
his time with Ciel, and he wasn't going to share just yet. Sebastian looked
heartbroken and Grell couldn't look at him without wanting to cry. He loved the
demon far too much to let him go and wipe away the evidence of their
relationship from his mind, but he had no choice. Grell bit his lower lip, his
teeth drawing blood, as he thought of what he stood to lose. His home—for the
Phantomhive manor had become his home, and the apartment "William's
apartment"—his son, his love… everything that mattered to him, he could very
easily lose, very soon.
"Grell?" Ciel mumbled, blinking up at him. "Good morning." Grell smiled down at
him, at his son, laying so complacently next to him. This boy… Grell's eyes
darkened as he thought. This boy was one half of everything to him. The other
half likely watched them still, waiting for Grell to be ready to explain
everything. He forced himself to brighten up—this was the last nice moment he
might ever have with Ciel again, and he wanted to make it count.
Grell chuckled under his breath. He had rarely seen the boy so amiable in the
morning. "Good morning, love. It's time to get up." Ciel sat, scratching his
cheek absently while his eyes adjusted.
"Are you going to dress me?" he asked, yawning. Grell nodded. "Something red, I
presume?" Grell laughed, and nodded, getting up off the bed and heading to the
closet.
"It looks good on you, my little master," he said. "But then, you aremy son. It
makes sense." Ciel laughed, stretching. "What? I'm being serious!" Ciel laughed
again and Grell emerged from the closet with an outfit very similar to his old
style—a pair of ironed shorts, knee high socks, button down shirt, ribbon,
blazer, and a pair of small heels like the ones he had worn all those years
ago. All were red with the exception of the socks and the shirt.
"I'm going to look like a fire truck!" he complained good-naturedly while Grell
dressed him.
"A cute fire truck," he countered. "You really do look good in red, my little
son. It suits you." He tied the ribbon and smoothed Ciel's hair, reluctant to
let the boy go to start the day. "What tea would you like? I have Earl Grey
with me, and Oolong."
"Why bring two?" he asked skeptically. "But I'll have Oolong. Earl Grey for my
afternoon tea, if you don't mind. What did you bring for breakfast?"
A quirky smile turned Grell's lips upward. "That, I give you no choice. I've
brought an omelet I've made myself, and for a side, scones—I assume that's to
your liking, little lord?" Ciel turned his nose up.
"Whatever," he sniffed, but then he looked back down and laughed. "You look
upset, Grell. What's wrong?" Grell looked up in surprised only to find Ciel
examining his features carefully. He looked away again in guilt. Only his
little master would notice such a thing, and call him on it.
"I… we shall have to talk, my little son, but later. Not now. I'm having too
much fun!" Grell made his voice deliberately cheery to offset the clearly
confused earl. Ciel wasn't going to fall for it, however, and Grell wasn't
surprised. He'd noticed the boy was quite sensitive to the emotions of others,
especially those close to him. He'd grown extraordinarily good at reading
Sebastian which flabbergasted the reaper, and the reaper himself.
"No, you will tell me now!" he ordered, irked. "What are you keeping from me,
Grell?" The red head sighed.
"Sebastian," he called. "I suppose you should probably come in and help me
explain now." Sebastian was at his side at once, helping Grell to his feet and
sitting down next to Ciel on the bed. "Ciel, my little lord…" Grell was still
debating how to tell him when Sebastian cut to the chase.
"We have to go back to Hell, my lord," he said formally, but his voice was
tight and it was clear he wasn't at all enthusiastic about the idea. Ciel
blinked, looking over at him in shock. "No, do not give me that look, my lord.
It is high time we visit. You have far less control than I—it is a shock you
have lasted this long without maiming something." Ciel's lips sealed tight. "Or
have you, young master?"
Ciel looked away. "I don't know what you mean. I'm not going back to Hell, and
that's final." Sebastian growled and Ciel looked up, his expression angry.
"Sebastian, you know as well as I do that if we go now, everything we've worked
for, everything we've achieved…" He cut himself off, seething. "A family,
Sebastian!" He stood, stomping his foot.
Grell frowned, turning his gaze to the window. Watching Ciel so upset bothered
him more than he would be able to voice and even the hand on his, covered by a
white glove, wasn't comforting him.
"A family," Sebastian repeated quietly. "Yes. And I almost killed that family
this morning."
Ciel went silent, the blood draining from his face. He stilled before he cocked
his head, stepping back. "What do you mean?" His voice was hoarse and trembled.
Sebastian looked up at him, his wine-red eyes darker than usual. His lovely,
almost inhumanfeatures were grave and he almost looked like what he was with
the ice in his eyes and the black hair that framed his face messily. "I mean
that this morning, I almost ripped Grell's heart out of his chest," Sebastian
answered coldly, the words clipped. "Straight out. I almost killed him, young
master, out of love."
"What does that have to do with Hell?" he asked, unable to keep his gaze on his
butler. "What does your creepy idea of love have to do with going to Hell?"
Sebastian laughed, and the sound almost hurt Grell's ears. It was unpleasant,
like a beautiful melody with such a harsh undertone it makes your ears bleed.
"Myidea of love? It was the demon part of me that almost killed him. The demon
inside of you must be growing restless as well, is it not, my lord? We have
been away for too long. The demon part of us fights the human part. The
feelings, and twists them. This morning, I was thinking of how…" His unreadable
eyes moved to Grell and the reaper knew how difficult the confession had to be
for him. He squeezed Sebastian's hand. "I was thinking of how precious Grell
was to me, and his heartbeat, and was very, very close to ripping his heart out
to hold it."
Ciel looked like he was going to sick. "No."
"Yes," Grell said softly. "I watched him—he pulled away from me. He looked…
scared. Just think, Ciel, my little son… just think… how would you handle it if
the urge came to you? You could hurt Alois. You could hurt me." He thought
about what he said and blushed. "I mean, you could tryto hurt me. It's not like
I'm totally defenseless." But they all knew that Ciel would hurt him, because
Grell wouldn't fight back. Grell definitely wouldn't raise a hand against the
boy, even if he was after his life.
They heard the door ring from downstairs—the sound was so very loud.
"I'll get it," Grell murmured, leaning over to kiss Sebastian softly, then
pressed a kiss to Ciel's shocked forehead as well. He left, turning at the door
to see Ciel fall into Sebastian's arms. Grell allowed himself a small smile.
His Sebby would take care of their boy. He always had.
He went downstairs, trying to ignore the sound of his heels clacking in the
empty halls. It had been such a lively place before. Now, the servants were
gone and its only occupants were two demons and a reaper. He sighed, laughing
to himself. A pitiful existence they shared… but they were together.
He opened the door.
"Erm… hello?"
Grell blinked at the short woman standing in the doorway with a suitcase and a
small messenger bag. She had shoulder-length red hair that was almost fuchsia
in color and dark brown eyes. The woman was simply dressed in a pair of jeans
and a button down white shirt, a simple black coat over the whole ensemble. She
looked to be in her late thirties, early forties, but she was still very
pretty.
"I'm Rinny," she said in a hesitant voice. "Um… I got a letter with a job offer
for this address a couple months ago. I was wondering if I could talk to…" She
set the suitcase down and pulled a letter out of the pocket of her jeans. "The
Earl Ciel Phantomhive?" She looked up at him hopefully.
Grell cocked his head at her, confused. Ciel hadn't mentioned anything about a
new employee. "Ah… yes, come in. I'll go get the little lord…" He ushered her
inside and shut the door behind her. "May I ask why you have bags with you if
you're wondering about a job?"
She looked over at him, strangely unaffected by the grand place she was in.
"It's a live in job."
"And if it's been two months, why do you assume it's still an open offer?"
Grell hated to be so rude, but he had to make sure she wasn't a threat. The
situation was rather strange, after all.
She looked over at him. "The lord Phantomhive isn't human, is he?" she asked
instead of answering and Grell went still in shock.
"What—"
She smiled. "I thought so. I grew up in this house, you know. My parents… they
died in a car accident when I was three. I had nowhere to go, so my
grandmother, who had sold the mansion for money to survive and worked there for
the new owner… she begged him to let me stay. I did, until I was ten and she
died. I was sent to some random relative I cared nothing for. But my
grandmother… she would tell me all about her lord, before he had just
disappeared."
She let the words sink in and Grell froze in shock. "You…"
"I've seen old pictures of the lord, and when I got the job offer, I did some
research on my prospective employer. They're the same person, yes? The Ciel
Phantomhive from the late eighteen hundreds, and now." When Grell didn't
answer, she sighed. "My grandmother was a maid for the lord Phantomhive. Her
name was Mey-Rin."
Grell sucked in a sharp breath. "You're the maid's granddaughter!" He examined
her closely. "Well, I'll be damned," he breathed. "Can't believe I didn't see
the resemblance. It hasbeen a hundred years…"
The woman laughed and Grell realized he'd just given away the fact that he,
too, was inhuman.
"You must be Rinny," Grell heard a voice announce and he whirled around to face
the little lord coming down the stairs. "Grell, mother…" He winced when he said
it, but Grell couldn't have been happier. He'd always wanted to be a mother,
and Ciel knew it. "You can take care of her until we return, yes? Just show her
to the a servant's bedroom. You know what you can delegate to her from
Sebastian's duties, don't you?"
Until we return. Grell's smile dropped and he nodded. "I can." His voice was
hoarse and he cleared his throat. "How long… will you be gone, my lord?"
"A month or so," he answered carefully. "Rinny, thank you for coming. Can we
discuss the specifics of your pay when I return?" She nodded.
"Of course, lord Phantomhive," she said respectfully. "I don't mind in the
least. It's not like I have anything waiting for me." She chuckled humorlessly.
Grell thought he might like her.
He walked over and gave Ciel a fierce hug. "I love you, my son," he murmured
into Ciel's hair. The boy hugged him back after a moment and buried his face in
Grell's chest. "You little brat." Ciel laughed, but he looked upset again.
Grell kissed his forehead. He didn't want them to go, either.
"I love you, too," he choked, then stormed outside to avoid the others seeing
his eyes, which were starting to look almost like they were filling with tears.
"What about me, pet?" Sebastian asked, holding out his arms and Grell stepped
into them eagerly. "I love you very much, Grell. You know that, don't you?"
He nodded, leaning up and kissing Sebastian as hard as he could. Their lips
would be bruised, but he couldn't bring himself to care. "I love you, too. More
than you'll ever know." Sebastian nodded, kissing him lightly one more time.
"Goodbye, Sebastian."
Sebastian walked to the door and turned back, his torment in his eyes.
"Goodbye, love."
And then he was gone.
Grell tried not to cry and succeeded for the most part, but he was pretty sure
Rinny had seen the tear that had escaped, because she watched him with a
sympathetic gaze until he'd snapped at her to start paying attention to what he
was telling her to do.
Was this chapter a fail? I think maybe not, but I'm not sure. I like Rinny, and
she's an OC, yes, but if you think about it, it makes sense. I mean, there have
to be decendents, yes? Yes.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 20: Chapter 20
===============================================================================
So, holy fucking shit, chapter 20. Over a hundred reviews. O.O WOW. And for
everyone who's asked, I PROMISE, this will have a happy ending. I don't…
always… do the horrible depressing ending thing. I was tempted, but no. ;P
Sebastian watched as Ciel wiped at his eyes furiously. He normally would have
said something, teased him perhaps, but the crushing feeling in his own chest
made it a little difficult to make fun of the upset earl.
"Tis only a month, my lord. Nothing more," he said gently, but he was very
close to doing the very same thing his young lord was. Ciel voiced what he was
thinking.
"And who knows who we'll be when we return," he said bitterly. "Who knows if
we'll be so horrible to kick Grell out, or worse—what if we left him? Knowing
him, he'd develop insane abandonment issues. Just think about it—Grell with
abandonment issues!" He shuddered. "He'd never forgive us if we abandoned him."
"It might shock you, what he will forgive," he murmured, smoothing Ciel's hair
the same way Grell would have. "The loves us more than you credit him for. We
are his life—you know that." He sighed. "You are his child, my lord. He will
always see you as such."
Ciel nodded, his eyes on the ground as he walked over to the car. Faintly, they
could hear the sound of sobs, catching and hoarse, like the person crying was
trying not to. They both knew who it was and Ciel was obviously trying to block
it out. Sebastian, however, couldn't, and felt sick thinking about it, his
beautiful Grell crying again. He'd been crying so much recently that he was
disgusted with himself. He'd heard him talking to himself more than once,
asking himself what he'd done with the "bloody" reaper that had once been so
strong and unflappable.
Sebastian had found it almost funny at the time—Grell had never been
unflappable. He was certainly strong, but he was easy to get to. He realized
now what the reaper had meant about being unflappable. He used to be the kind
of person who would never get honestly upset. Now, he broke down and found
himself awash in tears. Sebastian could understand why that would upset him,
finding himself so weak.
The drive was nearly two hours long and it was spent in silence. Ciel had no
preference for music—he rarely listened to it—and he was in no mood for idle
chatting. To be honest, Sebastian couldn't have asked for more. He too was much
too somber to keep up a conversation.
There, another reason why he understood Grell's self-frustration so well. He
felt it as well, wondering constantly when he had been reduced to the lover of
a death god, meant to be his enemy. He let his mind wander—they weren't
reallylovers, he supposed. He'd thought about it—not too much, but he'd
definitely given the idea some consideration. He couldn't deny that he wanted
to—really, he wasn't sure how he'd missed how attractive Grell was before. It
was certainly an exotic sort of beauty, but he was striking in his own way.
Sebastian had to admit he'd never been too partial to red heads—to him, the
color was gaudy and flamboyant. Perhaps that was why it fit the reaper so well.
He, too, was out of control and eccentric. It was perfect for him, really.
When they arrived to the location Ciel had ordered, he parked the car on the
side of the road, helping his young master out. They stood for a moment and
just stared at the small plain in front of them, grassy and unblemished, before
Ciel sighed and began forward, leaving the car. It was a road no one took and
Ciel hoped that no one would steal it. He had no desire to walk back home when
they returned.
"Would you like to do the honors, sir, or shall I?" Sebastian asked, looking
over at his young lord. Once upon a time, the question would have been mocking.
Now, it was simply tired.
Ciel sighed yet again. "I suppose I shall. I've got to practice doing it, yes?"
He laughed humorlessly and pulled the eye patch off, storing it in one red
pocket. He looked down, concentrating very hard.
The earth swallowed them whole and Ciel yelped. He'd never gotten used to the
sudden drop into the water-like substance that acted as a barrier between their
dimension and earth and it always took his breath away. Sebastian would be
amused if it weren't for the situation. Once submerged, he took his lord's
hand, who was trying to swim violently with an angry expression on his young
face, and pulled them both downward through the gate-water.
It wasn't a long swim—the gate-water was meant to act as a net, in case someone
fell in who wasn't meant to, but instances as such were rare. Only death gods,
like Grell, and demons could open such a gate, and both were extremely careful
how and where they did it, so the defenses were rather low.
Sebastian pulled Ciel through and broke surface into the hot, red sun that
burned in the sky of their realm. Ciel coughed, letting Sebastian propel him
onto warm, dry land, who shortly followed, ringing his clothes out.
"Name?"
Sebastian looked over at the secretary who sat there at a small desk with a
bored look. She hadn't changed since she'd been appointed the job some four
hundred years prior, and Sebastian was glad for that. She was an old friend, if
that was what you wanted to call someone who raided your home and slept with
anything you brought home (be it friends, family, or pets).
"Hermetia, you should not have to ask me that," he said reproachfully. "And if
you should know who I am, you should know who he is." He helped Ciel to his
feet.
The demon, whose latest name had been "Hermetia", smiled. "Of course not. Have
you ever considered the idea that I simply like giving you trouble?"
He laughed and Ciel gave her a disgruntled look. He knew that, like himself,
Ciel could feel the beast inside of him calm. "My name has not changed, Herm,
and it will not unless something happens to this one." He nodded toward the
young master. "But if you must, Sebastian Michaelis and Ciel Phantomhive."
She chuckled and wrote the names down. "Glad to see you back. I was beginning
to fear you'd lost control and begun to prey on some unsuspecting villagers."
Both she and Sebastian laughed at an inside joke he had no intention of
explaining to Ciel, which was interrupted when another demon hauled himself out
of the gate-pool.
"Gerald Torch," he muttered to Hermetia, who nodded and wrote it down under
Ciel's name and looked back to the two as the demon stalked away with an angry
expression.
Hermetia grinned, and Ciel watched as Sebastian chatted with her, examining the
two. It was in his nature to suspect Sebastian of cheating, but looking at
them, he decided it wasn't like that. Sure, Hermetia was very pretty—she had
shoulder length brown hair and laughing blue eyes framed by brown-blonde
lashes. She had a nice figure, too, but that was one of the very things he
thought would prevent Sebastian from being tempted to break Grell's heart.
For one, Ciel was pretty sure Sebastian was gay—if you could call a demon
"gay". He'd mentioned it once, and Sebastian had simply told him that there
were no labels like that in Hell, and that it was in his nature to be as wicket
and sinful as possible. He was attracted to men, which by human standards made
him gay, but by demonic standards, he was normal. For two, no matter how pretty
the woman was, she wasn't really Sebastian's type. He liked a little variety
(and Ciel felt sick for knowing this), someone different. Normally, that didn't
include totally outlandish (Grell being the exception), but Hermetia wasn't
particularly spectacular, even if she had a interesting personality.
"We should go, Herm," Sebastian said after a few minutes, a hand on Ciel's arm.
"But we will certainly come visit to make your job less boring, yes?"
She nodded and waved them off, returning to a battered mystery novel that
looked almost like a porn novel, but Ciel wasn't going to look too deeply into
the matter.
"This is an order—you are not allowed to cheat on Grell," Ciel commanded
quietly when they were far enough away, knowing Sebastian would be able to
decipher that he'd picked up on the slight flirtatious vibes Hermetia had been
giving off. Sebastian raised his eyebrow down at him, but nodded.
"I would not dream of it, my lord. You do not need to make it an order,"
Sebastian admitted with a small smile playing on his lips. He had Ciel's hand
as he led the lord to his home. "I love him, my lord. Just like I love you."
Playfully, he kissed Ciel the way Grell did and the boy jumped, his face
turning a dark shade of red that would have made his "mother" proud.
"You do not," he said hotly. "Don't lie!" Sebastian laughed at this display of
embarrassment.
"But I do, my lord," he chuckled. "Perhaps Grell has rubbed off on me, hm? You
have in turn become my son as well." Ciel grumbled something under his breath,
but his tone was light enough. He almost sounded… happy.
Sebastian thought he might be losing his mind.
Ciel walked up the cobblestone steps to Sebastian's home, similar in style to a
house on earth, but much larger. The population of demons was a lot smaller
than that of humans, thus there was more room for larger houses. Everyone had a
job as well, and plenty of money. Sebastian often wondered why the humans
didn't do as his own species did, but then, he had resigned himself to never
trying to understand the odd, often irrational species.
Once inside, Ciel pulled his blazer off and set it down, kicking his shoes off
and slipping on a pair of slippers he'd left last time he was there. He walked
into the kitchen and grabbed something sugary out of the pantry. Sebastian
greatly respected his lord for this—he may have been an aristocrat and a brat,
but his little lord was respectful enough not to try and order Sebastian around
in his own territory.
"Doesn't that kid… what's his name… didn't his newest contractor name him
'Carne'? Doesn't he usually come over when you come home?" Ciel asked
conversationally and Sebastian nodded, removing his own jacket and setting it
on the coat rack.
"I believe he had a new master after the little blonde girl," he answered
thoughtfully. "I'm thinking he is going by Raine now." Ciel nodded, then set
the sugared confectionary down, hopping down from the bar stool he'd sat
himself at.
"You know, I think you should all just get names for yourself and not bother
with the naming business. The whole "oh, I don't have a name!" thing is
annoying. What are we supposed to call you people in between masters?" he
asked, irked. Sebastian laughed.
"First of all, we are yourpeople as well, my lord. And second, we usually have
a common alias we go by when we are not under contract," he said, chuckling.
"I, for example, usually go by Elixiral."
Ciel gave him a dirty look. "Too pretty for someone like you. You should just
go by Sebastian from now on." Sebastian laughed again, ruffling his hair. Ciel
swatted his hand away, frowning. "I'm not kidding."
"I know you most certainly are not. That just happens to be the funny thing,"
he teased. The young earl rolled his eyes and walked upstairs.
"Sebastian! You're home!"
Ciel stopped at the top stair and padded back down, his socked feet making
thumps on the carpet. He turned to Sebastian in accusation. "I toldyou!" The
butler sighed and nodded.
"Yes, my lord, you told me." A walking ball on energy rolled into the room,
looking between Ciel and Sebastian, and grinned.
"Hello, little earl," Raine greeted him with a goofy grin. Ciel rolled his
eyes.
"It's the Undertaker of the demon world…" he muttered, going back up and
disappearing from view. Sebastian gave his guest a flat look and the much
younger demon, who had been taught all he knew from the demon standing in front
of him crossly, pouted.
"Brother, you've got to stop looking like that," he complained. "Someone will
think you're an asshole." He laughed at his own bad joke and Sebastian's eye
twitched. He was doing this for Grell, and it was certainly a serious
situation, but he was starting to think that he wouldn't be able to take much
more of…
He gave Raine a look over, taking in the eccentrically styled blonde hair and
violet eyes. He'd gotten a tattoo, Sebastian noticed disapprovingly, and an
eyebrow piercing.
Yes, he wouldn't be able to take much of that thing, and he'd only been there
two minutes.
Hell was going to be, well, hell.
Don't worry, there will be more explination about Raine in the next Sebastian-
Ciel POV chapter. He's not just a totally random little beast, promise. He's
actually got a point for being in here. The next Sebastian chapter will
probably be pretty light to offset the Grell chapter, which will probably be
rather dark. Just letting you know. Ja ne, everyone!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 21: Chapter 21
===============================================================================
Has anyone noticed that there is like, ZERO full-on Alois/Ciel slash on here,
but PLENTY of it as a side pairing? I'm guilty of it. Who started that? SOMEONE
WRITE FULL ON ALOIS/CIEL, PLEASE! If you do, I will~~! :3
Side note: No, Grell will not be getting pregnant. I've had several questions
about this, and while I considered it, you don't even want to KNOW the plot
idea that came with it. It would have turned this story into an angst fest, and
it wasn't originally meant to be like that, so I scrapped it. Kay? Kay.
Grell really didn't feel like getting out of bed. He knew he probably should,
and that he was supposed to show Rinny her duties today (seeing as he'd broken
down in tears when he'd tried the day before), but it didn't seem quite worth
it. Getting out of the bed that, at least for now, still smelled like Sebastian
seemed like a bad idea. In an attempt to avoid leaving, he looked around the
room.
It was really more like their room, to be honest. The closet held not only
Grell's clothes (a small minority of them; he'd have to go and retrieve the
rest at some point), but Sebastian's as well, and everything the demon needed
to get ready in the morning or before bed was in the room, too. The tattered
books Sebastian read when alone and bored lay on his night stand, which had
been moved into the room since there was only one originally, which Grell used.
Sebastian's spare shoes sat next to Grell's red and black boots, which he
usually left in favor of slippers when in the house.
"Master Grell," Rinny called from outside, knocking loudly. "Get up. Does
Master Sebastian usually have this much trouble getting you out of bed?"
"Sebastian is normally in bed with me," he growled, burying himself further in
the sheets. "And stop calling me 'master'. Ciel is the little master here, not
me."
"Lord Phantomhive considers you and Master Sebastian his parents, which puts
you at a higher status than me," she said calmly. "Master Sebastian won't be
pleased when I tell him how you spent the entire time he was gone brooding. You
have to give me my duties before you leave for work, which, judging by the
angry phone call I received from a man by the name of William T. Spears, you
are late for."
Grell groaned and sat up. He felt horrible, but she was right—if Sebastian was
still his Sebastian when he came home, it would definitely upset him knowing
Grell couldn't pull himself together enough to go to work, which he loved.
Grell sighed, fisting the sheets. He hated himself so much as of late. He had
become such a weakling and part of him wanted to blame Sebastian, to hate
Sebastian, for turning him into such a pathetic wretch. On the other hand,
however, it was his own weakness. It sickened him that the had become so easily
overwhelmed by his feelings.
He got out of bed and dressed, surprising Rinny when he opened the door with a
flat expression. "I'm up," he said dryly. "Are you happy now?" She nodded.
"Yes. Now, my duties?"
Grell showed her around briskly, running down the basic schedule that he was
going to have her go through while he was gone. "This room," he said, nodding
toward Sebastian's. "And my own belong to Sebastian and I exclusively, and
however unused his may be, they are off-limits. The little master's bedroom and
office are also off-limits. I will deal with all of them when I get home at
four thirty."
He had to admit, he was all but pretending to be Sebastian at the moment, and
was unnecessarily proud of himself for being able to pull it off. He could
remember the days when he'd been the incompetent one, and now he was elite.
"Remember, your duties are meals, laundry, and general cleaning. Sebastian and
I will see to everything else, and whatever you can't handle. Yes?" She nodded,
and followed him as he walked quickly downstairs, to the front door. "Oh, and
if someone comes by the name of Alois Trancy, the Trancy earl—" He paused.
"Blonde, mischievous looking. A little insane. Make him aware that Ciel is
gone, and won't return for a month. If he would still like to come in, let him,
and tell him even if he choses not to, I would gladly explain what happened
when I get off work. Tell him when I get off, and that if he wants to wait
here, he can wait in Ciel's office."
"He's allowed in the young master's office, but I'm not?" she asked playfully
and he managed to loosen his guard enough to smile back, grateful that she was
trying to lighten the mood.
"He is the little master's…" He made a face. "… significant other. No, you
don't even want to knowwhat that implies." He paused. "Okay, well, it's
something I've consid—no, that's not the point. Alois knows what to do and not
do. I trust the kid… even if he's a little brat who's tarnishing my baby." He
made another face, and laughed when Rinny did. "I'll see you when I get off
work."
She nodded, and closed the door after him.
When he snapped back into focus, he was standing outside the G.R. building and
walked in. The secretary looked up at him and smiled.
"Hello, Mr. Sutcliff," she greeted him pleasantly. "How are you today?" Eliza
Duncan, whom Grell called Liza for short, was a short woman of twenty three,
who had dark brown hair and amber eyes framed by hay-colored eyelashes. There
were several freckles on her high cheekbones. All in all, she was very cute and
if Grell swung that way, he might be tempted toward her. As it was, she was
engaged to a nice young man whose family owned a clothing store Grell
frequently shopped at, and Grell himself was both gay, so he doubted anything
would happen between them.
"I've been better," he shrugged. "Been worse. Did you know Sebby left?"
She raised an eyebrow. As of late, the human secretary Eliza Duncan—he called
her Liza for short—had become his confident for all things Sebastian. Ronald
and William were both a fairly regular part of his life, but they still hadn't
quite gotten used to the Sebastian-related part of his life, now that Sebastian
was actuallya part of it. Eliza, as a human, had nothing to do with them, and
could listen objectively.
It helped that she was of the opinion that Eric was in the wrong, and was now
icing him quite thoroughly. "No, why did he leave?" He sighed, resting his
elbow on the counter and propping his head up on his hand. He knew it probably
wasn't healthy for him to talk about Sebastian so much, but of course he did
anyway. He could never seem to stop.
"Something about his being a demon, and losing control of himself around me,"
he replied glumly. "And I understand, of course, I would do the same thing.
It's just frustrating. I miss my Sebby." He sighed again dramatically.
She nodded, shuffling through some papers. "I can understand that, Mr.
Sutcliff. When is he coming back? Do you know?" He shrugged.
"In a month or so. The problem is, he may not be the same Sebastian when he
comes back." He frowned. "And to be honest, that worries me. I've worked so
hard for Sebby to love me like I love him."
"Sounds like you succeeded," she said. "So what's the problem?"
"His feelings are human, and he's… not a human," he explained carefully. "He
thinks that Hell, while calming down the demon part of him, might also calm the
human part that developed while he was here on earth." The beautiful, human
light that shone inside him like a beacon. He definitely wasn't an angel, but
Grell knew he would never be able to fall for someone utterly evil. Sebastian
wasn't 'evil'. He was dark, and twisted, but he had a heart. Grell loved his
heart. Suddenly, he understood the appeal of ripping it out of his chest. To be
able to hold the organ in his hands, to truly have his heart while painting him
such a beautiful red… Grell could certainlysee the appeal.
Then the image of his angelic demon dead flashed through him and the appeal
faded, replaced with horror. He was definitely able to understand why Sebastian
had been so frightened. The idea made his blood run cold, and he resolutely
decided not to think of it again.
She nodded again, sympathetic. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sutcliff. If it helps, It sounds
like nothing is for certain yet, so you may still have a chance," she said with
a encouraging smile. "Don't give up so early in the race."
He nodded, smiling tightly. "Thanks, Liza. I'd better go, but I'll talk to you
later." She nodded and waved as he got on the elevator.
"Good morning, Grell," William greeted him hesitantly when he stepped off of
the elavator. Grell sighed.
"How did you find out?" he asked, giving William a flat look. The reaper gave
him a half-smile.
"He called to inform me to keep you busy with field work so paperwork wouldn't
drive you off of the deep end," he answered and Grell rolled his ringed eyes.
"Always efficient, my Sebby," Grell chuckled, giving a tired sigh. "But I think
I'll be fine, field work or no. Admit it, though… you like him." William
laughed, shrugging.
"Let's just say he's not as… horrible as I originally thought. He has real
feelings for you, which is enough for me. We'll never be friends, but…" he
trailed off, letting Grell put two and two together, who smiled.
"Do you think that he'll come back?" Grell asked, ignoring the secretary that
was hanging onto their every word, likely for some juicy gossip. "Or rather,
come back and still be himself?" William patted his shoulder lightly, walking
him to his office.
"Demons… they don't feel love lightly, Grell," William replied carefully. "So
yes, I think chances are fairly good that he will. Love is a strong emotion."
Grell smiled at him gratefully.
"I don't know what I'd do without you," Grell told him, grinning. "You really
are a life saver."
For once, William's smile was warm. "You're the life saver. Heavens knows I
wouldn't be the same person I am now if it weren't for you." Grell thought back
to the amusing days they had spent as partners during their academy days, and
laughed. William was obviously thinking the same thing, because he, too
laughed. "You are my closest friend, Grell. Just know that. I would do
practically anything for you."
"I know."
"After all, you still have that horrendous scythe of yours, do you not?" he
asked with a wink, and Grell laughed. "Yes, that is what I thought. So, how are
you doing without Sebastian so far?" William sounded slightly uncomfortable
now, but he was trying, and Grell couldn't deny how he appreciated William's
effort.
"I'm… I've been worse," Grell answered, sitting down in his office chair and
leaning back. "It's only the first day, though. I'm sure I'll be feeling it by
tonight. It's…" He struggled to find the right word. "It's a very dark thing,
being apart from him. And for so long!" He shuddered. "It hasn't really hit me
yet, but when it does, you can be sure you'll be hearing some commotion from
me." He chuckled dryly and William sat down on the other side of his desk.
"I'm sorry this is happening," Will said hesitantly. "Sebastian feels horrible
about it as well, or so he said over the phone last night." Grell nodded,
letting out a breath.
"I know he feels horrible about it," Grell said at last. "And I don't blame him
in the slightest. I love him and I wouldn't dream of blaming him. It's not who
he is. It's what, and I know that." He smiled slightly. "It amazes me, and… I
can't believe that he loves me so much that he is willing to overcome his
species for me. It's… overwhelmingly heartwarming."
William made a face. "Grell, you know I'm here for you, but please, please,
stop with the Sebastian love fest. I don't know how much of it I can take."
"All right, dork, let me work," he giggled. "We can go out for lunch or
something, okay?" He nodded, and departed. Grell got to work.
Several hours later, Grell trudged up the steps to his home, feeling the
emptiness of the manor from the outside. It was usually a lively place, and his
return was usually met with a hug and a kiss from his demon. He felt almost
sick, thinking that he might never receive the welcome again.
If his Sebastian was still his Sebastian when he came home, Grell was going to
jump his ass, whether he liked it or not.
"Welcome home, Master Grell," Rinny greeted him, opening the door just as he
reached for the handle. He nodded and walked in, looking around the spotless
manor with a satisfied smile. "I finished my work for the day, and the earl of
Trancy is in the young lord's office as you requested."
"How long has he been there?" Grell asked absently.
She thought. "A little before lunch. I brought him something to eat and haven't
heard a peep from him since." Grell nodded.
"Thank you, Rinny. If you would like to go into town for something, you can
take one of the cars," he told her, but she shook her head.
"If I'm done for the night, I'll just retire to my room, Master Grell," she
said politely and he nodded.
"That's fine." Grell left her and walked upstairs. He had a lot of explaining
to do.
So, I will have more about the little annoying creature that calls himself
Sebastian's brother in the next chapter, and in chapter 23, we'll get to see
the Grell-Alois one on one, and see just how Alois was reincarnated, and what
his feelings are for Ciel, yada yada. Be excited! Am I boring everyone with all
of these chapters that are more plot and backstory than Sebastian/Grell? If I
am, I'm sorry. T.T
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 22: Chapter 22
===============================================================================
I had to trudge through several emotions before I could finally bring myself to
write this. This follows two very dark poems, the beginning of an ItaSasu that
is going to join the ranks of Narcissist Diaries in terms of creepiness (said
fic is a SasuNaru… sort of… and I suggest you read it), and several new marks
that will undoubtedly become scars, so I'd better be loved.
Blonde hair almost white, gelled into different directions. It almost looked
casually messy, but it was far too stiff for it to be natural. Eyes, framed by
a thick fringe of pale blonde lashes, were violet in color and striking. Pale
skin, a small, petite nose, and bee-stung lips curved upward. A lithe body that
almost rivaled that of his beloved's, but was far too shota for Sebastian's
tastes.
Oh, and Sebastian had never been one for suicidal tendencies, but if the boy
didn't shut his mouth now, he was going to go nuts on himself with the meat
cleaver he was using to chop the meat Ciel requested for dinner.
"I'm serious, Sebastian! You haven't been home in what, forty years? Fifty? I
can't even countthem anymore! I'm not at home often, but I'm never gone so
long! And your little master—can't he grow? Will he be a shrimp forever?"
Sebastian's eye twitched, but he forced himself to remain calm. The desire to
kill himself was fading in favor of killing Raine, but such a thing—however
satisfying an act like that might be—would only end in trouble on his end, and
would deprive Ciel of his "father", and Grell of his love. Grell. The thought
soothed him, and inspired him to calm down instead of maim the little creature
standing before him in a black t-shirt and jean shorts with his hands on his
hips in what Sebastian was sure was supposed to be a stern gesture.
He was much less than impressed with the boy who seemed to think he was Alois
Trancy. He'd never been fond of the blonde fairy boy who'd treated his young
master like a sex toy, but to be honest, he much preferred Alois to the menace
giving him a wide grin now. At least Alois had boundaries… he assumed.
"Are you trying to make me kick you out of my home, Raine?" he asked with a
twitching eyebrow. He had to admit, it sounded like a good idea, but knowing
the littler demon (who was still almost a foot taller than Ciel), he would just
stalk about outside until Sebastian let him in again or strangled him.
Raine sighed. "You promised you would visit, what? Three months ago?" Sebastian
winced. He had promised that—he was actually two months and three weeks
overdue. To anyone else, he would have apologized for being so appallingly
late, but to him, he was going to forgo that formality.
"I was… preoccupied. We certainly would have visited, but both the young master
and I were otherwise contented. We had other reasons for not returning than
avoiding you." The primary reason for him being his beautiful Grell.
Raine nodded casually. "I'm sure. You know, Sebastian, some pretty serious
rumors have been going around about you, the infamous Elixiral… sleeping with a
death god." Sebastian had never heard Raine sound so serious, and Sebastian
spoke without thinking.
"We have not slept together, you retard," he snapped, then the blood drained
from his face as he realized what he had just given away.
Raine grinned nastily and Sebastian sighed, knowing he'd sealed his own fate.
"So, you areseeing a reaper. I wondered. What is she like?" Sebastian gritted
his teeth. He'd known Raine would react like that, but it still pissed him off.
This was Grell the boy was talking about, not some random prostitute of the
street! He cared about the kid, he did, but he was a pain in the ass and a
flirt, first and foremost.
He also knew that if he didn't tell him, some way or another, Raine would find
out, likely through talking when he returned to the human world, and he didn't
want the blonde around for that long. It would be far easier in the long run to
just give in and tell him what he wanted to know. "First of all, Grell is
certainly not a woman, no matter how he refers to himself." He wouldn't tell
anyone else about this, but this was the child he'd mentored and become the
elder brother to. Raine hopefully knew better than to try something, so… "And I
do not see why you are interested. You do not normally show intrigue in my male
lovers…"
He did, however, have a habit of stealing a great deal of his female ones, but
that bothered Sebastian much less because he did so when Sebastian was bored.
They were all playthings, and Raine found it amusing to take them when they
were still high off of the elder demon before twisting them to his own desires.
This bothered him little, but he knew that if Raine found someone Sebastian
really cared for… well, the boy was much devious than Sebastian was himself,
and the worry was starting to grow.
The thought was much darker than he would like to admit out loud—it just proved
how weak he'd become in his affections for Grell, but then, he wouldn't trade
in the feeble human emotions for anything. To give them up, to give Grell up?
He couldn't do that.
"You're risking your reputation by sleeping with a death god. That must mean
there's something special about him," Raine shrugged. "It just surprises
me—you, who hates death gods more than any other I know!" Sebastian winced; it
was a rather true statement. He had.
"Grell is important to me." He was trying to be nonchalant, but he was starting
to disturb and worry him that Raine gave a damn. The Raine he knew and was
annoyed by wouldn't care about the boys he slept with. The only reason he could
assume Rain would care was if he had pieced the pieces together, and that upset
him. Raine, being aware that Sebastian had very real, strong feelings for
someone? It would definitely inspire him to cause Sebastian problems.
"Then tell me about him," Raine said casually and Sebastian sighed again. He
was starting to think even killing Raine wouldn't solve this problem that had
cropped up. He only hoped that telling him would quench his curiosity.
"What is there to tell?" Far too much. "He has red hair—red hair—and red
glasses, and a red jacket, and green eyes. He also calls himself a woman, and
has sharp teeth that somewhat remind me of a shark." Somehow, it didn't seem to
sum up everything about him, even though it was a rather precise physical
summary. Grell was so lovely, and the description was almost… unflattering. He
would have to apologize later; even if Grell wasn't there, he felt disloyal by
betraying him in such a light, even if it was on accident.
"Sounds interesting." Raine's violet eyes flashed, a threatening amber glint in
them, and his smile curved upward into a smirk. Sebastian felt anger seethe
within him. The little beast was challenging him!
Sebastian had to tell himself… several times… to calm down before he attacked
the little mongrel. Once upon a time, Raine had been a cute, timid child. What
had happened to that? He'd grown up into a full-fledged assailant, and it
disgusted Sebastian. What an unrefined child.
"Almost… kinky," Raine continued, either oblivious of how angry he was making
his "brother" or sadistic (or masochistic, depending on how one looks at it)
enough not to care. "All that red… makes me think of blood. Does he like blood,
Sebastian?"
Sebastian gritted his teeth. He had a feeling Raine knew more than he was
letting on and was now teasing him. He had taught Raine well. Too well, it
seemed.
"So why have you been named like a fairy?" he asked, his voice tight, trying to
change the subject. "If you have neglected to notice, it is more than a little
ridiculous. 'Raine'—bah. Unbecoming for beings such as us." On top of a warning
to change the subject, it was also an opportunity—to escape without having
Sebastian ready to kill him the next time he made one wrong move.
"My last master was a teenage girl who thought it would be cool to give me a
stupid "fantasy" name," he answered smoothly. "And you didn't answer the
question. Does your Grell like blood, Sebastian?"
His eyes flashed and hinted at his true nature. Raine smirked. He could
practically hear him think "success". He was going to kill the brat. "Yes.
Grell likes blood, probably more than is healthy." The obsession, which likely
had something to do with a traumatic event in his childhood judging from one of
the things Will had told him once (he wasn't going to ask about it until he
felt Grell was ready), had dimmed slightly in the past hundred years, but
Sebastian had a feeling that was due to his depression, and that it would
rebound when he got his energies, his full emotional potential back. That, at
least, was a happy thought. Grell was recovering, and their constant problems
didn't seem to be helping, but he was getting better.
"Huh, interesting," he said, sounding casual once more. "I'm going to have to
get acquainted with this "Grell". Mr. Sutcliff sounds like an amusing specimen,
doesn't he? What do you think, Sebby? Is he amusing?"
If Sebastian had been angry before, he was furious now, anger surging through
him in waves. "How long have you been spying on us?" he growled.
Raine's expression became deadly. "Two and a half months, more or less," he
answered, dropping all pretense at friendliness. "And let me tell you,
Sebastian, I'm not at all proud of you. How low you've stooped, to love a
reaper? He's practically a human with benefits, and he certainly doesn't have
the best background... though, it makes him kind of cute, doesn't it? How…
insanehe is."
"You little viper."
Sebastian had taken him on as an apprentice when he was the equivalent of
fifteen human years old. He had taught him everything from feeding to
contracting. He had awoken the sadism inside of him, he had taught him to be a
demon! He had gone to every ceremony, become his official brother to the law as
all mentors did! And this is what the innocent little boy had become. Sebastian
almost wondered who had been teaching the boy behind his back, because he
certainly hadn't instructed him to be a disloyal skank, to be frank about it.
"What?" he asked innocently. "Do you think I plan on doing something to your
precious Grell?"
"If you so much as speak to him I will tear you limb from limb, Seriel," he
growled. Raine laughed.
"How angry you are, to use my given name!" His peals of laugher filled the room
and Sebastian noticed that Ciel now stood in the stairwell, his cold, bi-
colored eyes trained on the laughing demon with distaste and warning. It almost
amused Sebastian—he was certain that if Ciel was really determined, he could
cause Raine more pain than he could ever imagine. "I haven't been called that
since my first master." It happened to be a demon tradition, discarding their
given names when they achieved their first contract.
"Even Lucifer himself will not be able to express how angry I am with you,"
Sebastian growled in a low voice. "I would advise staying away from Grell."
Seriel-Raine laughed again. "Pathetic, feeling so strongly for a reaper. But,
to each his own, I suppose." His gaze turned icy. "Elixiral, do you realize
what I've had to live up to all of these years? I'm sick of your leftovers. I'm
always just a little to late in keeping up with you."
"He's your mentor," Ciel said, entering the conversation for the first time.
"He's supposed to be more accomplished than you."
Seriel-Raine snorted. "Whatever. I can't even get laid anymore—every chick I go
after asks me if you're my mentor, and decides they'd rather fuck you!" He
sounded furious about this, as if it were reason enough to try and steal the
love of his brother's life.
"Such crass language," Sebastian said, his voice calm in a deadly way. "I would
put time in finding more refined speech." It sickened him that this boy had
come from his tutelage.
Seriel-Raine rolled his eyes, heading back toward the front door. "I'm going to
prove to you, once and for all, that I'm better than you, brother. Maybe I
wouldn't mind so much if you were around more often, if you gave a damn about
me instead of your precious young master. But you don't. You're never home,
even when you say you will be, and if you are, little Phantomhive comes first.
I'm sick of it."
He left, the threat still hanging in the air.
Ciel looked up at him with a stormy gaze. "I hope this month passes quickly or
we might have to change plans and go home a little earlier than expected."
Sebastian nodded, his mind still far off, where his beautiful Grell lay waiting
for his protector, his Sebastian, to return.
Yeah, Raine is a little bastard. ^.^ Yes, he's certainly not a good guy. There
is more than a little demonic nature getting in the way here. That's right—I
tricked you and distracted you from the real problem in this arc—jeez. I can't
get over how I have arcs in my FANFICTION…
===============================================================================
Chapter 23: Chapter 23
===============================================================================
When Grell walked into the little master's study, he found Alois in plain
sight, playing with the red head's Bitter Rabbit, his finger lightly tracing
the rim of the little black button. "You really love him, huh?" the blonde
asked conversationally. He flopped the rabbit's ear, not looking up. Grell
didn't like the look on Alois's face. It was entirely too vulnerable and made
Grell's mothering instincts (regardless of what Will had seemed to think for a
century, they actually existed. Grell wasn't just some cross dresser wanting to
play the part) take over with alarming force.
"Alois, what's wrong?" Grell asked quietly, coming and sitting in a chair in
front of the desk. Alois still didn't look up at him.
"Ciel left," he murmured. "The maid said he'd only be gone a little while, but
is that really true?"
Grell's gaze softened, moving around the desk to force Alois to look at him. He
knelt in front of the chair. "Alois," he said gently, petting the rabbit the
boy had obviously taken from the reaper's room, but Grell didn't mind. It was
still in one piece, and that was what mattered. "Alois? Are you feeling
insecure because Ciel left you behind?"
Alois turned his head. The Bitter Rabbit fell to the floor and Grell took the
time to set it aside. "He left you, too. How do you know they're coming back
for you? How do you know your love isn't one-sided?"
Grell sighed. "Sebastian told me he loved me. Sebastian doesn't lie. You should
know that by now. Demons don't lie."
"Claude lied," he responded wistfully. "He lied all the time. I was so jealous
of Ciel in the beginning. Sebastian cared for him, even if only for his soul. I
envied him that." His eyes darkened considerably. "Little did I realize that it
was nothing compared to how Sebastian cares for him now, or how he cares about
you."
"Alois…"
"No, I'm even more jealous now," he continued. "He has you, too. He basically
has a whole family. Everyone to love him. It's like my dream… and the result is
that my own love for him pales in comparison. It'd be nice if he loved me,
too."
"Alois, he does love you," Grell assured him gently, reaching up to stroke
blonde hair the same way he did with Ciel. He noticed that Alois's blue eyes
were welling with tears, and that made him uncomfortable. It saddened him that
Alois was so upset.
"Even if he does, it doesn't matter," he choked. Grell had to give it to
him—Ciel would have been in tears by that point, and Alois's eyes weren't even
red yet—it was obvious he hadn't cried at all since he'd arrived. "I'm not a
demon, or a reaper, or anything. I'm just… a stupid human!" He gritted his
teeth, slamming his fist against the arm rest of Ciel's chair.
"Yet he loves you still," Grell murmured, wiping his thumb under Alois's eye
and brushing away the tear that had fallen. "He and Sebastian left to visit
Hell, to reign in their demon natures, because Sebastian had almost hurt me
yesterday." Alois's eyes widened. "And do you know what? It terrified him, to
think that he could hurt you, when I pointed it out to him. You should have
seen the look on his face."
Alois still looked doubtful, and Grell continued.
"And I care about you. I could bet Sebastian is beginning to care about you as
well. You are who the young master has chosen, and while we don't approve of
your sex drive…" Alois laughed, then hiccupped, and Grell chuckled, too. "We
have accepted his choice. After all, you sure are a cutie." Grell winked and
Alois laughed again.
"Really?" he asked, wiping at his eyes. Grell nodded.
"Really, really. You want family, Alois, and you've got it, right here. All you
have to do is ask. A mother's love is never restricted to one child!" he
boasted and Alois nodded, holding his arms out timidly. Grinning, Grell leaned
forward and hugged him. "I don't mind having an extra boy."
Alois nodded, pulling away with a grin. "So, you wanna hear about how I came
back? It's a pretty cool story!"
Grell perked up, interested. It was a question that had been plaguing him for a
while now, and he was very interested in hearing how Alois had returned from
the grave. "Yes. I have to admit, I'm a bit curious about how that happened."
Alois settled into the chair, pulling his feet up and sitting cross-legged. "It
was crazy! Hannah and Claude were crushed right? Well, demons can't die—they
can become permanently paralyzed, but that's it."
"They can too die," Grell sniffed. "If I go at one with my death scythe, I can
kill anything!"
Alois blinked at him before pouting when he thought about it. "Besides that,"
he sniffed. "As I was saying, they got crushed—and Luka and I." Grell winced,
thinking the boy would become even more upset by thinking about it, but he just
plowed on through. "And Hannah got so weak! It was kind of… funny, actually.
All the blood—demons bleed so prettily."
Grell smiled, relishing the thought. "Yes, yes, they do."
Alois grinned, his eyes bright. "It's lovely, isn't it? For some reason, it's
so much lovelierthan just normal blood. Maybe it's something about watching
such a powerful immortal person bleeding. Where have you seen a demon bleed?"
"Sebastian," Grell replied dreamily. "It was so lovely… I just wanted to paint
him all up!" He dissolved into a mess of giggles. "We used to be enemies, you
know. When we met, I kind of had a crush on him. I loved him, really. Somuch."
He sighed. "But he didn't feel the same way back then—you saw a little of our
crazy relationship, I think."
"I did," he answered. "Why did you fight, though?"
Grell's eyes slid away. "I kind of killed Ciel's aunt," he admitted. "She…
disappointed me."
"Then it's all right, then," Alois said cheerily and Grell cracked a smile.
"Yes, well, it hurt Ciel a great deal, and he ordered Sebby to take me down. I
didn't really want to fight him, but it was what I had to do." He shrugged.
"So, anyway. Hannah, getting weak."
Alois nodded, getting back into the explanation. "Yes, so she lost her hold on
my soul! She'd had Luka for so long that he was almost a complete part of her,
but I wasn't, and I just… left!" His eyes glittered brightly and Grell couldn't
help but think that he and Alois had a lot more in common than he'd originally
thought. "I don't remember much after that, really. Just growing up Alois
Trancy again—but I remembered everything. I hear that's very rare for a
reincarnation!" He said this proudly and Grell nodded.
"It is! It's rare people are reincarnated, period—and I should know," he
pointed out. "Being what I am and all, but it's so uncommon! Reincarnations
almost never remember their past. So you're special!" Alois laughed, and nodded
enthusiastically.
"I'm glad I remember," he said with a grin. "I wouldn't be with Ciel now if I
didn't." He paused, seeming to think very hard about something. Grell didn't
disturb him, and simply let him think until he spoke again. "I love Ciel, and I
think he loves me, too," he mused slowly. Grell could practically hear the
gears in his head turning. "I'm not going to give up. I'm going to make him
love me."
"Even more than he already does?" He wasn't going to let the boy think that he
was unloved now, because he certainly was not. Grell thought that even he could
love the boy, if given the chance.
Alois nodded. "Yes. More. Always more!"
Grell smiled, and nodded as well. "I can respect that," he conceded. "I feel
the same way."
The blonde nodded, yawning and stretching. "By the way, this arrived shortly
after lunch. The maid didn't hear the door ring, and I answered it. The guy
standing there asked me to give this to you," he said brightly, handing him a
letter. "He wanted you to read it when you got home, and told me to tell you
that he would see you tomorrow."
Grell looked from the letter to the Trancy in confusion, who shrugged. "I'm
going to go get something to eat. Tell me what it's about when I get back!" He
jumped up and skipped from the room in a way that was very typical of the earl.
Grell chuckled and stood, wincing when his stiff legs complained from being in
the same position for so long. He sat down in the office chair and opened the
letter.
Grell,
First of all, don't feel weird from anything I say. After our talk today, I
just wanted to explain because I'm sure you noticed how uncomfortable I was. I
don't want you to think that I don't accept your relationship, or something
stupid such as that.
It was Will's handwriting, and had his voice, too. Definitely Will. Grell had
to admit, it didn't seem like he was going to say anything upsetting, and he
was curious.
It certainly isn't that I particularly dislike Mr. Michaelis at this point.
He's taken care of you, cleaned up after my mistake, and I appreciate it.
You've no idea how much I appreciate it. While we may never be friends, like
you so desire, I think that we may well get along.
The truth is, I've been… at odds with your Sebastian for the wrong reasons. Of
course, I don't like what he is, but his demonic nature isn't originally what
made me dislike him. The original problem was that I was simply jealous.
I know you had never really felt anything more than a friendly affection for me
from the beginning, but I didn't. I had real, romantic feelings for you then.
To be frank, knowing that even though you were with me you'd fallen for
Sebastian so easily… it hurt. I see now that it just proved that we were only
meant to be friends, but it made me wonder what I was doing wrong that your
feelings for me could be erased so easily.
I don't want you to come and apologize, or try to explain yourself, because I
know what I didn't then. Honestly, I was being stupid, and blind, to not
realize that you were simply looking for love and was taking it in any form,
and couldn't tell the difference. Looking back on it now, even though I was
angry and hurt, I was happy you'd found him.
I want you to be happy, Grell, and if that means accepting that we are no more
than friends, then I honestly don't have a problem with that. You and
Sebastian… you glow when you're together, and I can't explain how relieved it
makes me to know that you're happy. You have problems, up and downs, but every
relationship does, and I feel you're getting more stable.
In complete honesty, since you are my best friend, I feel you should know I'm
seeing someone, and while it certainly isn't someone even I expected myself to
end up with, I think it might work out. I'll tell you tomorrow who it is, and
maybe we can visit him.
I feel you should also know, since he's been on an extended field period and
hasn't been in the office, Alan has been keeping in touch with me. He was upset
over the end of his relationship with Eric, but he has accepted it, and is
feeling better. He should be back next week, and has mentioned to me that he
would like to tell you about his "field trip" in Venice helping the Italian
dispatch society. I'll give you the details during break time at work tomorrow.
With much love,
William
Alois walked back into the room with a scone to find Grell laughing, feeling
like a weight had been taken off of his shoulders. "What is it?" he asked
lightly, coming around the desk and snatching the letter out of Grell's hands.
He sat down in Grell's lap (who was glad he was somewhat sturdy because Alois
was nearly sixteen and heavier than he looked, even though he was much lighter
than a sixteen year old should be). The boy scanned the letter.
"You know, it's rude to read other people's mail," Grell sniffed, a tad miffed,
but he was more amused than upset. Alois ignored him and finished reading, and
when he was done he looked up at Grell with wide, curious blue eyes.
"This guy is very in touch with his feelings," he said wisely and they both
laughed loudly, filling the room with their giggles. Grell wrapped his arms
around Alois's waist, securing him, and tried to muffle his laughter into the
blonde's shoulder.
"He is," Grell agreed, wiping a tear from his eye, the other arm making sure
Alois wouldn't slide off of his lap like a little boy. "William is very
emotional—but a beast in bed!"
They dissolved into giggles again. "Is he really?" Alois asked, looking very
interested. Grell had to give it to him; he may not like the fact that Alois
was using his sexual energy on fucking his son, but he hadn't had anyone to
gossip with in so long, at least not about William. Sebastian would listen, but
he definitely wouldn't want to hear stories about their sex life when Sebastian
and Grell hadn't even had sex yet.
"Oh, yeah!" Grell said enthusiastically. "He doesn't look like it—I mean, he
looks like sucha stuffed shirt, doesn't he?" Alois, who had seen him earlier
when he'd delivered the letter, nodded enthusiastically.
"Cute, though," he chimed in, and the red head nodded. He was in complete
agreement. He loved Sebastian with the entirety of his heart, but he could
admit, William was a looker.
For the rest of the night, the red-haired death god and his new, odd, little
son spent the time gossiping and trying to banish the loneliness they had in
common, derived from the absence of their loves. Grell needed someone to reach
out to, and as it turned out, Alois was trying desperately to find someone to
hold his hand while his only confident was away. They were well suited for each
other, and while Alois would never replace his darling little Phantomhive,
Grell was sure he would be able to find enough love in his heart for the
damaged blonde as well.
C'mon, you knew it would happen eventually. ;P Alois is such a cutie, and he
needs some love. He also needs a bigger part in the story, because it's
starting to seem like his relationship with Ciel is totally random. It's not,
and later there will be a HUGE part that Alois has to play. So yeah. He's not
some random character there just for comedic relief.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 24: Chapter 24
===============================================================================
I don't know why this chapter was so hard to write… O.O I just didn't want to
write, like, anything… and I wanted to be with Grell instead ^.^. I also was
distracted by the manga Sakura Gari, and I was slightly reluctant to leave it.
Sebastian thought that if he said nothing at all for the rest of his life, he
would be okay with that.
There were many ways he could tell Grell he loved him again, given the chance,
without words. There were many ways to communicate with Ciel as well, though it
would be rarely necessary—the job of a butler is to take orders, and follow
them to the dot. He could do so silently, provided the young master allowed him
to, which he doubted highly.
It just so happened that whenever he spoke, he got himself in deeper trouble.
With Ciel, the closer he allowed himself to get to him, the closer he got to
eternal servitude. The more he spoke to Grell, the more human emotions—love,
jealousy, worry—he succumbed to. And apparently, the looser the leash he gave
Raine-Seriel, whatever he was called anymore (because he felt like the Seriel
he had once known was dead now, an arrogant child left in his wake), the more
problems the boy would give him.
No, he decided absently, waiting for Ciel to speak to him, the blonde was
undeserving of a name given by a master. To Sebastian, he would be Seriel once
again, until the day he finally matured—or was killed by Sebastian's own hand,
either way.
"You shouldn't have told him anything," Ciel murmured at least. "He may have
already had an idea of your affections for Grell, but I do believe you—how is
it said in modern society? 'Screwed yourself over', I believe."
"You are more blatant in your own affections, my lord," Sebastian muttered,
disliking the pettiness in his own voice.
"I don't have Seriel at my heels, waiting for me to step aside long enough for
the person whom I love most to be stolen from me. His goal is to steal only
your desire," the young earl pointed out, and had apparently gotten Sebastian's
idea regarding what to call the psychotic demon. "Can you honestly say that you
had no idea of what that idiot was going to try and pull? He's a terror and you
know it."
"My greatest failure," Sebastian sighed. "I have mentored many young demons,
but only this one has ended quite so badly." He was trying not to think too
hard about it, but he really didn't like the thought of Seriel attempting to
"steal" Grell. He frowned when it occurred to him that his Grell would resist,
and in doing so, Seriel would probably become irritated and kill him.
He didn't like the idea of killing Grell himself, and the idea of that idiot
killing Grell made the blood in his body boil even more.
Ciel watched him with his curious blue eye, the other dull violet, the eye
patch absent. "Quit looking like you're about to risk your stability and go up
and stay with him. Grell will be fine—he is still a reaper."
"I know that," Sebastian snapped before wincing when Ciel raised an eyebrow at
him. "I worry still. He is… important to me, you know that."
"He can take care of himself," Ciel shrugged, turning away. "He still has that
chain saw with him, yes?" Reluctantly, Sebastian nodded, but his worry was not
appeased in the least and the young earl sighed. "Is there any way to… speed up
the process?"
"Of what, my lord?"
He waved his hand toward his own body. "The process of calming our nature. Is
there any way to speed it up so we can go home sooner?"
Sebastian thought before saying slowly, "Well, the more demonic energy we are
exposed to, the sooner our demons will calm. We may be able to cut it by half
if we spend much time around veryhigh energy. But I know of only one, my lord,
who would have the aura necessary to accomplish this, and I am not sure how he
would take us intruding on his personal space long enough to do this."
"Who?" he asked, annoyed, but the dread on his face told Sebastian he already
knew whom he spoke of. Sebastian winced. "Come on, Sebastian, spit it out, why
don't you?"
"Lucifer, my lord."
Ciel made a face and he knew the same image was going through both of their
minds—that of a cocky, white haired angel with a perverted smile and lewd blue
eyes. Of course, he did have a nice body, but even among demons he was a sexual
deviant and he had no boundaries—small children, men twice is age, more than
one man at a time… one would think that the angel part of him would require him
to have class, but he had very little of it when it came to an opportunity to
get laid.
"Still want to speed it up?" The young master sighed, and nodded. "I satisfied
his desires last time. Tis your turn, my lord." Of course, by "satisfied his
desires", he meant he had pleaded to be given a rain check, and had convinced
the fallen angel to make do with a hand job and an impromptu make out
session—all of which Ciel didn't need to know. Ciel winced.
"Yes, I thought you might say that," he grumbled, shedding himself of his
jacket. "Sebastian, bring me something…" He struggled to find something to
describe what he wanted without getting vulgar. "Something ourdearLucifer would
appreciate." He made another face that Sebastian almost missed, but he couldn't
deny that he was slightly amused.
On another level, it vaguely unsettled him knowing that he was pretty much
offering up his son on a silver platter in skimpy leather, but they had no
choice, and Sebastian really wasn't up for being had again. The first time,
while pleasant, had been morethan enough. He hadn't been able to sit for a
week, and the youngest of his mentored siblings, a little pixie he'd nicknamed
"Lory" whose given name was Loren, had teased him mercilessly about it.
Of course, shortly following this incident, Sebastian had found reason enough
to visit Lucifer and had brought his bubbly little Loren along, who looked no
more than seven with his huge lilac eyes and shaggy brown hair that curled
wildly. Needless to say, when they'd left, Loren had been white in the face and
limping heavily, and Sebastian had been rather proud of himself, and of his
little charge, who hadn't fainted once while being taken.
Ciel surprised him, however—he'd been had by Lucifer twice because Sebastian
was clever when it came to avoiding such a situation, and both times he had
taken it very well, especially for one his size. It seemed the boy really was
built for taking it up the ass, bluntly put, and Sebastian couldn't deny that
it was rather helpful.
Sebastian returned to his sulking young master with a very tight t-shirt and
leather shorts. He saw the shorts and groaned.
"Really, is leather so unpleasant?"
"There is no room to breathe," the earl complained, pulling them over his very
pert rear with a little groan. Sebastian couldn't help but snicker at him.
"Well, my lord, you need not wear them for long," Sebastian chuckled, adjusting
the t-shirt so it fit just so over the boy's barely existent muscles. "So
scrawny. We should get you to a gym, my lord."
Ciel blushed and smacked his hands away, pulling at the very revealing, v-neck
crop-top in a way that made very obvious his embarrassment. "This aura idea of
yours had better work," he grumbled, his cheeks a very dark shade of pink.
Sebastian shrugged.
"It will; I've done it before. And that outfit?" He looked the boy over, who
was obviously uncomfortable in the revealing clothes. "Yes, that will
definitely work as well," he added dryly. Ciel blushed even darker and snapped
something at him that he wasn't listening to.
They left shortly, and walked—more like Sebastian carried Ciel—toward the
direction of their king's palace. It was a very short walk—Sebastian, while not
very old in the grand scheme of things, was very accomplished, and had been
given a home near their lord's.
When they arrived, Sebastian knocked on the door for his flustered young
master, who was trying desperately to pull his shirt down and the shorts up to
no avail.
"Yes?" The woman standing in the doorway was also scantily dressed, but she
looked very tired, as if she'd grown used to the clothes far, far too long ago.
"Are you hear to see Master Lucifer?" Her voice was raw, hoarse, like she had
spent much time screaming. Her shirt was bloodstained, and Sebastian sighed.
That man never changed.
"I am," he said, nodding. "Those marks?" She winced.
"Azazel's work, I'm afraid," she answered quietly and Sebastian nodded.
"I thought it might be. You're still alive—Lucifer has an eye on him, I take
it?" She nodded. "How far did Azazel get before Lucifer stepped in?"
She winced, and turned around, pulling her shirt up to reveal several angry-
looking welts. Sebastian winced at the sight of them; he'd been on the wrong
side of the left hand's wrath, and it wasn't pretty. He thanked the gods that
Lucifer had stepped in because while demons were supposed to be nefarious,
Azazel took it to a new level. He abused all he could before Lucifer got a hold
of him.
"Elixiral? Or—isn't it Sebastian?"
Sebastian looked up at the surprised man standing in the entrance to the
hallway leading to his private quarters.
He was tall—much taller than Sebastian—probably seven foot. He had a hard,
strong body with perfectly defined muscles and rather… well endowed organs. It
was his face that was really striking, however. High cheekbones and forget-me-
not blue eyes, so deep any could drown in them. His hair was so blonde it was
nearly white, and fell to his waist.
"And Ciel Phantomhive," he said, a smile curving his lips upward. "Go on, let
them in, Morphia." He nodded toward her with a gentle grin and she nodded
quickly. She looked relieved that it had been him instead of the left hand.
"Welcome. Morphia, if you wouldn't mind, tea in the west study?" She nodded.
Sebastian had always respected his lord—an angel, perhaps, but he was also a
splendid demon. He had the characteristics of both as a fallen, but still
retained his dear perfection that made him who he was.
"We have something we'd like to ask of you, my lord," Ciel said calmly,
indicating with a small kick of his legs that he wanted to be set down. "And we
have a preposition that you may or may not like."
He laughed, and they followed him to the west study. They were both well-
acquainted with the room; when they met, they did so there, and the couch in
the corner was almost entirely exclusive to their use.
"So, what is this preposition you have for me?" Lucifer asked, grabbing a cup
of tea from the tray set on the table. No maid was in sight—they were quick
with their work.
"We would like to stay here with you, if you do not mind my lord, for a little
over a week," Sebastian said bluntly. Lucifer laughed, his pale pink lips wet
with tea, and glistened, capturing their attention unwillingly. Sebastian
cursed himself—it really didn't help that Lucifer was so beautiful. He could
capture the attention of an asexual being, he was so lovely!
"And does this have to do with getting back to earth with the reaper I've been
so informed of by that little fairy boy… what is he called, Raine?"
"We prefer using his given name, Seriel," Ciel said smoothly. "He is a
nuisance, and an immature one at that. He does not deserve a master-given
name."
Lucifer nodded, grinning. "I understand that—the kid's a brat. He came running
to me today to tell me how he was going to rip what you loved most from you. I
assume that's why you're in a hurry to get home?" Sebastian sighed, resolving
to kill Seriel as soon as he got the chance, and nodded. "And I assume you
assume you're in trouble?"
Ciel looked up at him and Sebastian was slightly ashamed to admit it, but he
nodded yes. Ciel held such strong compassion and sympathy in his eyes… he
rested his head against Sebastian's shoulder in a show of alliance. Lucifer
smiled at them.
"I honestly don't care whom you seek love from, Elixiral. I mean, I, too, am
guilty of it," he said, shrugging casually. His expression was bitter-sweet and
Sebastian felt almost sad, thinking about the shattered union between Lucifer
and his great brother Michael, who had helped cast him from heaven without a
second thought. "From what I hear, you and this reaper, this 'Grell', are well
suited for each other."
Sebastian nodded. "We are." Lucifer nodded, his smile melancholy.
"It's fine," he said after a long silence. "Please, stay. You'll need to stay
in my bed as well, if you want it to work, which I'm also okay with."
Ciel winced and Lucifer couldn't help but laugh, nor could Sebastian, who tried
to keep it to a soft chuckle for his master's sake and failed. "Do I…?"
Lucifer this time roared with laugher, having to wipe tears from his eyes. "If
you let me bed you tonight, I'll let you off for the rest of your stay… if,
that is, Sebastian uses that pretty mouth to my advantage!"
Sebastian made a face. "My lord, are such jokes really necessary?" Lucifer
nodded enthusiastically. "Very classy. I know not if I even wantto stay any
more." Though he attempted to remain stoic, he couldn't help smiling when even
Ciel laughed. He and his companions continued to chat animatedly (as animatedly
as Ciel and Sebastian were wrought to do), but he couldn't help worry in the
back of his mind about his Grell, who lay alone in bed at night at home.
He would have to be strong, and Sebastian knew he could be. His Grell was had a
beautiful strength that wouldn't let his demon down. If it came down to it,
Grell could protect himself. And if he didn't…
Sebastian's thoughts darkened for a split second.
If he didn't, Sebastian would shortly join him in either insanity or death,
whichever came first.
The next couple Sebastian POV chapters will have a much lighter atmosphere, and
the next couple Grell chapters, well, for the most part, won't. Please keep
reading, and just so you know, I'm really honored with the reviews! There have
been less of them lately, but that's okay, because I know people have still
been reading, and really, that's all that matters. If you have time, please
review, though, because it boosts my spirits as well as my inspiration!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 25: Chapter 25
===============================================================================
So, I find it hilarious that everyone hates Lucy so much. If you think about
it, he's not so bad. Everyone is calling him a creeper! He's not, really—he's a
pervert, yeah, but he's hot (okay, not a good reason), and when you read the
next Sebastian chapter, I think you'll like him more. Sebastian really respects
him, so if that says anything…
Grell was beginning to think that his entire future would revolve around his
newfound identity as a house wife. For some reason, he thought as he carded his
fingers through blonde hair, that didn't bother him at all. He had been
initially disappointed when he woke to find the body in his arms wasn't Ciel,
but he'd since forced himself to be happy that he at least had Alois. It had
only been two days since his beloved and his son had left, yet Grell already
wanted them back. He crushed the blonde in his arms closer. He and Alois were
in the same boat.
It was still rather difficult, the transition from Alois being the random kid
who did illicit things to his boy to his second son, but Grell thought he was
adapting fairly well, considering the circumstances. The tale he told broke the
reaper's heart. The little master really was all Alois had, and even the red
head couldn't wish to take the boy from him.
Alois yawned and rolled away, biting his lower lip innocently. Grell knew
subconsciously that Alois was anything but, however, at this point he cared
very little about that. Alois really was like a little boy. He had very little
control over his emotions, and was ruled by them. He cried easily and to be
honest, it hurt Grell and he knew it hurt Ciel to see him upset. They had spent
the past two months all together, and Grell knew a lot about their
relationship. Ciel was beginning to really care for him.
To be honest, that relieved Grell. He'd been worrying that his poor little boy
would be hardened for the rest of his life, unable to love except for his
parents, unable to feel anything but the need to beloved.
"Grell?" Alois whimpered, waking slowly but surely. He rolled back over,
burying his face in Grell's silk-covered chest. The pajamas he had on were a
very lovely shade of red, bought by Sebastian just a few days before his memory
was wiped. "Grell, I'm still tired."
"I know, kiddo," Grell sighed, dropping a kiss down onto golden hair. "But
they'll be back in—a little under three weeks." His own words made him cringe;
it wasn't a comforting thought at all. It had been nine days since the two
demons had disappeared, and Grell felt their absence every minute. While he
hated to say it, it was more the lack of Sebastian by his side. He wasn't going
to lie. He loved them both, very much, but it was the very lack of Sebastianin
his life that upset him.
He sat up, pulling Alois with him. "We need to get up," the blonde said matter-
of-factly. "I don't want to."
Grell couldn't help but chuckle at the boy's blunt way of speaking. Word games
weren't his specialty, but that was okay. Alois would have no need for them
now. They didn't live in the same world they used to, and now Alois had to
worry not about lying about his identity, only about the species of his lover.
"I'm afraid you'll have to, love," Grell said, ruffling his hair. "Come on; if
you're good, I'll let you wear one of Ciel's outfits." They wouldn't be too
difficult to get to, seeing as, once again, they had fallen asleep on Ciel's
bed. Alois and Grell both had a habit of ending the day nostalgically. The
first night, they'd actually winded up with Grell sleeping in the office chair,
Alois snoozing on top of him. The second, Ciel's bed (where Alois had been,
coincidentally, creep-sniffing the pillow). The third, Sebastian's (where Grell
had been creep-sniffing one of Sebastian's uniforms, ironically enough). So on,
and so forth.
That got Alois up, who bounded out of bed, almost ricocheting himself in the
direction of the closet. Ciel had few clothes that would fit Alois, but Grell
knew he would make it work.
When the blonde came out again, he was dressed head-to-toe in green, a familiar
outfit just slightly more modern than Ciel's favorite, which was currently at
the dry-cleaners, due to be picked up in two days. It had taken the reaper
awhile to get himself together enough to even think about the laundry (which he
told Rinny to leave alone until he'd taken care of Ciel's things and could go
through specific instructions for them with her), but he'd done it eventually.
It was Grell's day off, and he was thankful for that. Work had been…
exhausting, as of late. He could barely enjoy his field work, and thatwas a
shocker, even to him. He'd known he was slipping, emotion-wise, but he didn't
think he was that far gone. He hadn't lacked enthusiasm for his work since…
His thoughts darkened for a second before he convinced himself to stay happy.
Since before Sebastian had come back into his life.
"Your friends are coming for tea today, right?" Alois chimed after he'd put his
outfit on display. "The one who looks like he has a stick up his ass, and the
one who rides around on a lawn mower like a retard."
Grell couldn't help but laugh, loudly, at the descriptions of his fellow death
gods, and nodded. "Yes, Williamand Ronald." Alois made a face and Grell
grinned. He kind of had the idea that his blonde son didn't exactly like the
other reapers. William was too stern for Alois's tastes, and that combined with
the glasses reminded him of Claude. Ronald was simply too loud and noisy with
too little sense.
Apparently, Alois hadn't liked Grell in the beginning, either, but he'd since
grown used to him, even if he wasn't as flamboyant as he used to be. "You at
least had a purpose," Alois had explained at one point over the last week. "You
were all dark and exciting, like me. You liked blood. You were…"
"Crazy?" Grell had giggled while he gave his death scythe a few practice
swings, and Alois nodded.
The blonde was now twirling around, singing to himself. Grell recognized the
song as one popular in the late eighteen hundreds and had to remind himself
that Alois had been around for that.
"Is Claude still alive somewhere?" the red head asked casually, honestly
curious, and Alois stopped spinning with a thoughtful look on his face. "You
mentioned Hannah had lost enough energy to hold onto you and you slipped away,
but you never said what happened to them."
"I don't know," the blonde mused. "I've heard demons can't die—"
"Except by me!" Grell chimed in, hopping to his feet to get himself dressed as
well. He figured doing so was a good idea. He greatly enjoyed his pajamas, and
he knew that they looked good on him, but he kind of figured that the rest of
the world (primarily William and Ronald) wouldn't want to see him in them,
especially knowing that they were a present from Sebastian.
Alois giggled and nodded. "Except by one of you, and there wasn't a death god
there, I remember that much. Unless they've died since, they shouldbe alive…"
"Maybe they're together!" Grell added with a giggle and Alois froze for a
second before bursting out into laughter. The thought was incredibly
ridiculous, to be honest—strong, clever Hannah and obsessive, awkward Claude…
they'd never work as a couple, but it didn't stop the image of Hannah
attempting to top the black-haired demon from ingraining itself in his head
with a snort of laughter.
"Oh, god, dominate Hannah and submissive Claude…" Alois sighed happily, wiping
a tear from his eye. Grell couldn't help but think fondly that Alois and he
practically shared a brain. "You know, you can't really tell how dominate she
really is until you reallyget inside of her… but I bet you noticed it, huh?"
Grell shrugged, a serene, slightly unhinged look on his face. "What can I say?
I read people sowell…" he purred, pulling his pants on and buttoning the
previously open vest. He brushed his hair off of his shoulder rather vainly.
"Maybe too well. I knew Sebastian wanted me before he knew it himself!" Grell
boasted, giggling.
"Master Grell! Master Alois!" Rinny called from outside the door, making her
first appearance of the day. "You have a visitor, Master Grell!" Grell's visage
brightened.
"Are William and Ronald here?"
"No!" He blinked in confusion, his smile slipping, and Grell felt Alois's blue
eyes on him. "He won't give his name. He's blonde, and his eyes are kind of…
purple?" Grell cocked his head in confusion. He didn't know anyone by that
description, but if they didn't know each other, how would the person know
where to findGrell? It wasn't like he'd registered an official change of
residence (even though he probably should, and move the rest of his things to
the Phantomhive mansion).
"Did he say anything else?" Grell inquired, tying his ribbon around his neck
and slipping his glasses on, the chain jingling slightly. He caught sight of
himself in the little master's mirror and smiled slightly. He looked good, for
the first time in a long while. He'd finally regained his color, his eyes
bright, his weight finally back up to normal instead of the skinny little body
he had.
"He said he's… a little brother to the master Sebastian?"
Grell perked up, making a slightly impulsive decision. "Well, let him in. I'll
be right down."
Grell ran a brush through his hair quickly and headed downstairs, followed
shortly by his son. Alois hummed at his side, skipping lightly as they went
down the staircase.
Of course, the minute they hit the last step, they both stopped.
The young man standing there was about the same height as Alois with blonde
hair a shade darker than the adorable Trancy's and eyes so light violet they
were almost lilac. He had a slender built and would have been attractive if it
weren't for a light scar that ran up from his chin to his nose. It would have
been almost invisible to the human eye, but a reaper's glasses were much
stronger than necessary to make up for the horrible eyesight, and the scar was
intensified.
"Hello," he greeted them pleasantly. "You must be… Grell Sutcliff, yes?" His
voice was light and airy, but Grell could sense some sort of underlying
darkness under it.
"Yes, I am," Grell agreed with a grin, showing razor sharp teeth. He didn't
think that the boy was a threat, 'brother' of Sebastian's (and Grell wasn't
stupid, he knew how the demon hierarchy worked—the fact that this boy was
Sebastian's 'brother' made him a demon who had been taught the ropes by his
darling), but he wanted the kid to be sure of who he was dealing with. Grell
may have been a house wife at that particular point in time, but he was still a
death god, and he was still rather bloodthirsty, even though he'd managed to
get a hold on that part of his personality.
The demon, however, didn't look fazed. He just grinned and nodded. "I am
Raine," he introduced himself, his tone friendly. "You can call me Seriel, if
you like. It seems to be rather popular among the public as of late."
"What about me?" Alois complained. "I get that you're Sebastian's lover, and
you're Sebastian's brother, but I'm Ciel's lover! So don't I get an
introduction?" Alois bit his lower lip, pouting, puppy-eyeing him.
Grell looked down at him, blinking, before he laughed. "Okay, introduce
yourself then."
Alois's disposition immediately brightened and he chirped, "I'm Alois Trancy!
I'm an earl, and I'm fucking Ciel!"
So inconspicuous, the boy.
Raine laughed loudly. "Well, aren't you secretive," Raine giggled, rocking back
and forth on expensive looking heels.
To be honest, Grell liked his outfit. He was wearing a pair of black shorts,
the length Alois normally wore, and a blouse a very deep shade of burgundy. His
heels, knee-length leather boots (or rather, they lookedlike leather, but upon
further speculation, the texture was different and when he sniffed as
inconspicuously as he could, they smelled different), were spotless and a dark
shade of brown, almost black.
Normally, leather smelled like death and had a faint scent of meat and the
animal that they were made of. This was similar, but very different. He didn't
recognize the scent that they gave off (while normally very faint, he could
still smell their origin). Were they made from animals from the demon
world—from Hell?
"So," Grell interrupted when the blondes' conversation had run its course.
"What exactly are you doing here?" Raine looked up at him and smiled widely,
but the expression for some reason seemed off. To be honest, it kind of creeped
him out and made him feel like there was something he was missing. Something
huge.
"Why, I just want to get to know you better," Raine answered, laughing. "Just
like anylittle brother. I mean, Sebastian really cares for you, right? He loves
you, even though it's so rare for a demon, yes?"
Grell didn't usually like to brag (who was he kidding? He lovedbragging), but
he couldn't help himself this time. "Well, yeah!" he said, sounding like a love
struck girl very possessive of her boyfriend. "We've been through so much, and
he'd do anything for me. He loves me, more than he's ever loved anyone," he
added smugly.
The smile on Raine's face just grew wider. "Yes, that's what I thought. It's a
first for Sebastian, that's for sure." He laughed then, and the sound made a
deep feeling of unsettlement go down Grell's spine.
He still didn't think that Raine was a threat—he'd only met the kid just a few
minutes ago!—but he was going to keep an eye on him. Threat or no, he couldn't
be trusted.
Heehee… I hope you enjoyed the 25 th chapter! GO ME! Review, review, review.
The next Grell chapter is from Raine's POV… interesting.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 26: Chapter 26
===============================================================================
Chapter 26. There's this chapter, in which you guys had better think open-
mindedly instead of being mean to Lucy again—lol. And then, after this chapter,
we have a Raine-centered chapter. KK? KK. This will also be late because at the
moment, I am sick, and no mood to write.
By the way, chapter 56 of the manga came out today, and I'm one happy bitch(: I
love my GRELL-CHANNN!
Sebastian was, even after all that time with Grell, unused to waking up with
someone near him. There was a pair of very strong arms around him, a face
buried into the nape of his neck. There was a body in his arms as well, warm
and alive. For a moment, he almost thought he was home—or rather, on earth—but
that made little to no sense. Even if he were, he certainly wouldn't be in the
position of the woman.
He wished he was with Grell, honestly. Two things mattered to him—Grell, and
the child in his arms. Ciel, as if acknowledging that he was being thought
about, buried his face into Sebastian's chest, who was beginning to feel like a
teddy bear. Or perhaps a comfort blanket, he amended when Ciel let out a small
moan of pain in his sleep. Nightmares again.
Sleepily, he stroked blue-tinted hair soothingly. He wasn't going to lie; he
enjoyed the nights when Alois stayed over and Sebastian didn't have to wait
around, waiting for his young master to practically seize in his sleep the way
he did when his dreams were less than pleasant.
Behind him, Lucifer groaned lightly. "Eeh? You're already awake?" He pulled
away, rubbing at his eyes. He looked very tired still, blonde hair in disarray,
blue eyes hazy. His voice was thick with sleep. Sebastian fought the smile that
wanted to appear.
"A butler's day begins early," he answered smoothly, still stroking the waking
Phantomhive's hair. Lucifer stretched, yawning. Sebastian watched him out of
the corner of his eye. He was still stunning, even first thing in the morning.
Sometimes, he wondered if it was an angel thing, or if it was specific for him.
"And a Phantomhive's?"
Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle. "Not quite so early." As if on cue, Ciel
turned in Sebastian's arms, mumbling to himself about the time. "You see, even
now, he doesn't want to face the day." Ciel opened his eyes, purple and blue
meeting red wearily.
"I'm still tired, Sebastian," he said, his voice grouchy, and Sebastian
chuckled as loudly as he dared without angering the young lord.
"Yes, my lord. I do not doubt that. None the less, it is time for you to get
up. What would you prefer for breakfast so I can—" Sebastian began, but he was
cut off by Lucifer, who had a rather intense look on his face.
"So my servants can make it," he finished, promising Sebastian pain with his
eyes if he didn't agree. "You are my guests so you will both be served." The
look in his eyes suggested that Sebastian not argue, and he didn't for fear of
being killed. He knew Lucifer well enough; he took being a good host to new
heights.
Ciel sat up, rubbing at his eyes sleepily. "What time is it, Sebastian?" he
asked, ignoring Lucifer, who looked a little miffed that his interference was
making little impact on either demon. Sebastian probably would have argued with
him (he wasa butler, after all, and it was a butler's duty to prepare his
master's meals) but he knew that it would do little good. Lucifer was more
stubborn than anyone he'd ever met, and more persuasive to boot.
"A little past ten, my lord."
The young master nodded, sliding out of bed. He was still wearing the clothes
he'd been wearing the day before, per the request of their sullen host, who was
a irritated he'd been cheated out of a lay. Ciel had somehow managed to
convince him to let them stay without offering their bodies with the excuse
that he was already committed, and in retaliation (despite the fact that it was
Lucifer who had conceded) the angel had insisted that Ciel dress in clothes
becoming a prostitute for the remainder of their stay, just to embarrass him.
Honestly, Sebastian was a little surprised that Lucifer had backed off so
easily with Ciel being one of his favorites. It shouldn't have been shocking,
really—Lucifer was still an angel, fallen or not, and he had many traits that
were reminiscent of his "glory days". Perhaps it was a moral that had not faded
when he fell, or perhaps a remainder of his lord's laws still ingrained in his
head. Either way, it had always made Lucifer a little uncomfortable to share
his bed in that way with someone in a committed relationship. Still, he didn't
expect the fallen to give up his adorable young master.
He winced. The thought of his "Son" and Lucifer together really didn't bear
thinking about. Originally, he was willing to do whatever he had to, but he
still didn't want to visual. They both may have been good looking, but it
wasn't something he was interested in.
"I'm going to visit the kitchen," Ciel announced, interrupting Sebastian's
train of thought. The butler nodded. "When I'm finished eating, I'm going to
wander around the estate." He didn't even wait for a reply before he left. The
butler sighed, shaking his head at Ciel's poor manners. Surely he had taught
him better than that.
"You know, Ciel may be the only demon I know who takes the time to eat,"
Lucifer said conversationally, his lips twitching upward into a quirky grin.
Sebastian couldn't help but laugh at that one. "So hypocritical." The blonde
laughed as well. Being an angel, Lucifer did eat, even if he was considered a
demon by most. Angels, much like reapers, didn't need daily nourishment. "My
young lord has yet to give up many of his human tendencies. Sleeping at night,
tea and meals, et cetera."
"So, what? He wishes he were human?" For some reason, his voice held a sort of
nostalgic sadness.
"Sometimes, his own fall to darkness haunts him," Sebastian responded, knowing
the angel would understand. "The decades have weighed on him. It's a little
better now that he has Alois, but eventually, he will lose him as well, to age,
sickness… death… it frightens Ciel. He's beginning to really love the boy."
"Alois, his earl boy toy, right. Why doesn't he just make him a demon?"
Curiosity was obvious in his voice, but also hesitation, like he was scared of
what the answer would be.
Sebastian had to think about how he wanted to respond. "I think he is afraid
Alois will come to hate what he is, the same way he has, and will blame Ciel
for it. It scares him to think that in making the boy immortal to be with him,
Alois would end up hating him."
"I can understand that. Still… if it were me, I would do everything in my power
to keep the one I love at my side, no matter what," he murmured. "If it weren't
too late, I would now. I would go back and do it over."
Sebastian didn't think he'd ever seen the man looking so vulnerable. He'd
basically considered the angel his family since childhood, and he barely knew
anything about the reason for Lucifer's sadness. He couldn't help but feel
curious, but it was a dark curiosity.
"What exactly happened between Michael and yourself?" he asked quietly. "You
never talked about it, and I have never asked." It was true; Michael had come
up multiple times over the years. They had thousands to discuss the matter, yet
Lucifer had never offered the information and of course, Sebastian had never
demanded it. The human emotions which had manifested within him ate at him now,
twisting his nature into something new, something half shadowed, half bathed in
light.
Lucifer sighed, his shoulders slumped. "Many things, really. Our relationship
was damned the moment our lord created humans, created woman."
"How did women affect your relationship?" Sebastian asked, confused. He knew
Lucifer hated humans, but the way he spoke just now made Sebastian think he had
something against women specifically.
Blue eyes darkened from cerulean, the color of the earth's sky, to navy, the
color of the ocean at midnight, almost black. Years of pain and suffering
burned in the fallen's gaze. "Did you know that there are no female angels?"
Sebastian shook his head, not sure of what Lucifer was getting at. "There
aren't, so of course, two men being together was perfectly normal. There wasn't
any other way to be. Then, he created human, and made woman, the supposed
'other half' of man. The word 'homosexual' came into being, and relationships
like mine and Michael's became unnatural… sinful." Sebastian's eyes widened; he
knew where this was going.
"You…"
"Resisted," the angel finished bitterly, his smile wry. "I fought, I refused to
give up on what Michael and I had. I told him it was unfair, that I loved
Michael. I begged him, and…"
"You turned around only to find that Michael was not there to support you, his
lover," Sebastian concluded with a wince. "What horrible betrayal." The emotion
in Lucifer's eyes told him he'd assumed correctly and anger surged within him.
Sebastian had little experience with serious relationships, but he had strong
opinions of them—one being that lovers should support each other
unconditionally.
"Such a perfect soldier," Lucifer sighed. "He always had been and I knew that,
reveled in it, even. But we were so good together, strong and perfect.
Beautiful. We'd been together since the beginning of time… long centuries. Yet
the first hint of struggle and he refused to fight for us. Would you fight for
your lover were you told to give him up?"
Sebastian nodded. "Without a second thought."
Lucifer smiled and evidently decided to change the subject, weary of discussing
his dreary past. "Tell me about him, your Grell. I've never seen you serious
before, so he must be special. What of him?" It was different, telling Lucifer,
than telling Seriel. He trusted Lucifer, respected him.
"He is wonderful," Sebastian began. "Wonderful, and terrible. I have met no one
like him in all of my years, all of my centuries. He truly is a unique
creature." He chuckled at the thought and Lucifer rested his hand on his chin,
his elbow digging into the bed.
"What does he look like?"
"He is, undeniably, beautiful," he answered immediately. "He has the reaper
eyes, ringed, but they are far greener than most. His hair is a very vivid
shade of red and he has very sharp teeth, somewhat reminiscent of a shark's.
Sometimes, he is rather intimidating, but when we are alone…" He trailed off
with a wistful sigh. "When we are alone, I see the hidden part of him. He is
fragile, vulnerable, yet so strong at the same time. I love him. I honestly
do."
"So rare in beings like you," Lucifer commented. "You're very lucky. I'm sick
of the heartless beings here, you know. They can access only the dark
emotions—anger, fear, hatred, vengeance. So few take the time to let the human
world show them the other side of things."
"You are very experienced in them?"
"Of course!" Lucifer answered. "I'm an angel, dear Elixiral. Being what I am, I
have more experience with the lighter emotions than the dark. Happiness, love,
adoration… we angels, we thrive in them." His voice, so like music, was
melancholy, the way it always was when he spoke of his past. "Thrived, should I
say. I suppose I'm not counted among their ranks any longer."
Sebastian felt bad for the man laying in front of him, weakened by the shadows
of his memories. Demons were, for the most part, a supportive species of their
own kind and were very protective. Lucifer was practically one of them and his
sadness brought out anger in Sebastian, anger at his "god" who had abandoned
him, anger at Michael.
"I hope you and Grell stay together," Lucifer said suddenly. "I hope you beat
the odds. If there is anything I can do, please, don't hesitate to ask. You
two, though I haven't met your reaper, represent Michael and I in your
struggles, your difficulties. I can see myself in you, and I want it to work
out."
"You would like him," Sebastian said softly. "You really would. He has the
perfect mixture of light and darkness, and he is lovely."
"You love him; I am not surprised," Lucifer chuckled. "He sounds enchanting.
One day, I would like to meet him."
Sebastian smiled at the thought. His beautiful Grell, meeting Lucifer. He
really did think they would get along. Grell had such an appreciation for
lovely things, broken things, ancient things.
"I would like that as well."
They talked for a while longer, until Ciel came back and launched himself into
Sebastian's arms, determined to spar with him the old-fashioned way, which made
the elder demon laugh. He loved his Grell, and he loved his young master.
Lucifer had lost what he loved, and it pained him even then. Sebastian would
not allow that to happen to him. He would hold onto Grell and onto his son, and
he would not let go.
He looked up at Lucifer with a determined expression and the angel smiled,
knowing what he was thinking.
He was going to fight for Grell. No one and nothing—be it his demonic nature or
Seriel—would take the red head from him. He wouldn't allow it.
Um, yeah. I feel bad for Lucy. See? He's a perv, but he's not a bad guy. If you
want to hate someone, hate Seriel. You're REALLY going to hate him soon.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 27: Chapter 27
===============================================================================
I am back! I'm sorry this took longer than usual; I found myself oddly caught
up with another pairing, and started a oneshot for that, which should be out at
SOME point. You're all going to be disgusted with me when you find out what the
pairing is, lol! Likely the most obscure Harry Potter pairing in the world!
By the way, feel free to read the words "Jack the Ripper" with a Japanese
accent. That's what I do!
Sebastian's little brother or no, Grell did not like the blonde demon in the
slightest. Making the excuse of being a servant and he a guest, Grell made his
son and his "new friend" tea and stood in silence, stroking Alois's hair from
behind, as they drank (or rather, Alois drank and Raine pretended to). However,
there was no way in hell he was leaving his over-eager child alone with a demon
who had such a nasty smile.
The reaper really didn't enjoy Raine's presence at all. He insisted on staying
for hours, and he came over daily. In one week, he had Grell wanting to take
his chain saw and ram it through that flat stomach. Alois seemed to have no
problem with him, but the Trancy earl wasmore than a little naïve.
He made sure to keep an eye on the little demon. He had tried to visit
Sebastian's room daily (thanks to Rinny, who had given him a tour, Raine didn't
know that Sebastian's bedroom was more like Sebastian's storage room), which
Grell always steered him away from in irritation every time. Grell also didn't
like the way the blonde spoke to him. His voice was either condescending or
sickeningly sweet, and Grell had noticed that not oncehad Raine ever used his
name. He called the reaper 'Sebastian's darling', like a title, and it honestly
creeped him out. The emphasis made on his relationship with Sebastian made him
uncomfortable.
At the moment, he stood next to Ciel's office chair in which Alois sat,
chatting animatedly with the other blonde. The two could have been brothers in
terms of appearance, Grell thought. The way Raine sat there, completely open,
blonde hair everywhere, long, sinewy limbs sprawled in the armchair in front of
the desk, did remind him of his carefree boy, but there was a much darker air
underneath it. He felt like it was necessary to put a wall between the boy he
cared about and the boy he almost feared. He knew that if it came down to it,
he'd be able to take the demon in a fight. But would Alois survive? Whatever
Raine wanted…
Grell was terrified there would be casualties. Specifically, acasualty. If
anything happened to Alois… his blood went cold at the thought of both his own
sadness and his young master's. Ciel might never forgive him if he let Alois
die. He knew that if it happened, he would be pressed to take serious measures.
Measures for which Ciel may never forgive him.
"Why do you look so glum, Sebastian's darling?" Raine giggled, looking over at
him for the first time. "You've been standing there all day with such a
scarylook on your face. You should be happier! You dear Sebastian is coming
home in two weeks!" Something about the way he said it was smug, like he had
something planned for Sebastian to come home to.
"I'm not glum," he said simply with a small, forced smile. He petted Alois's
blonde head and the boy looked up at him with a bright smile. "Simply serious."
"Too serious," the Trancy chimed in. "It's not like you at all! You're normally
much brighter!"
Grell chuckled at that. Alois was right. Where was his cheer? Where was his
happy tendency to relish a good fight? He thought about what it would be like
to fight Raine with new eyes, providing Alois would be safe. He had to admit,
it wouldbe fun.
"What are you thinking about?" Raine inquired, giggling still. "You look as if
you're imagining what it would be like to kill me!" Hit the nail on the head,
he did. Grell forced back the somber nature which had taken hold of him and
grinned back, flashing him a glint of those sharp, angled teeth. He flipped his
red hair over his shoulder. He really needed to regain his fighting spirit,
after all, and Raine seemed like a perfectly acceptable target.
"I wouldn't say kill," Grell shrugged, but his eyes held his bloody malice.
"But maim might be a bit closer." Alois looked up at him in surprise, confusion
coloring his features. Grell smiled down at him, winking, but he didn't think
to tone down the vicious edge to that grin and Alois shivered, flinching away.
He immediately frowned. "Sorry, Alois."
"It's all right," he answered, still wincing tenderly. "Just took me off guard,
is all. I do need to remember that you're not the stuffed kitten we all treat
you like." The red head made a face. Stuffed kitten indeed.
"You treat him like a stuffed kitten?" Raine snorted as Rinny came in with more
tea as per Alois's request. "That makes little sense. He seems such a manly…
dangerous reaper."
Without a second between, Grell bristled. "What a rude thing to say to a lady!"
he seethed. "Bah! Manly!" Alois turned on his new "friend" within a moment.
"Apologize!" he snapped, taking Grell's hand. "Grell is a wonderful lady—an
actress of the highest caliber!" He had an adorably determined expression on
his face.
That was it, Grell had found himself a son who knew him perfectly.
Raine stood, and bowed deeply. "I apologize, Sebastian's darling. I said
something very rude and offended you." But his eyes, still looking up at the
red head even though he bowed almost half over, were not apologetic at all.
They threatened him, and Grell was quickly losing patience.
"What is it you want, demon?" the reaper snapped at last. He'd been dying to
ask him that since he'd arrived. "You've been here since Sunday, eating the
young master's food, borrowing Alois's clothes, and trying all of our nerves."
He ignored the fact that Alois's nerves were hardly tried, but he knew for
certain that Rinny's were.
Rinny also didn't like the demon at all. She had very good instincts, for a
human, and had at first glance, been admittedly glaring.
Raine didn't look fazed. "There it is." Grell glared at him in suspicion,
dropping his hand from Alois's hair to his shoulder and squeezing. Alois winced
again, this time in pain, but Grell couldn't draw his hand away.
"There is what?" he asked through gritted teeth. Raine smiled, the expression
mangled and unpleasant.
"That nastytemper of yours," he answered sweetly. "I know quite a bit about
you… Jack the Ripper." Alois blinked, his eyes slowly sliding from Raine to
Grell in shock. So Alois hadn't known, he realized with a slight grimace.
"Violent, angry… bloody. Red quite suits you, Sebastian's darling."
"What is this about?" Grell asked softly, but even a complete moron could tell
the anger boiling underneath the calm. "You make red sound like a dirty word,
try to expose me for my exploits. Just whatis your purpose. Are you even really
a younger brother to Sebastian?"
"Oh, I am younger brother to Sebastian," he said, his voice flat and irritated.
He'd dropped the sugary act and now stood without that energetic air of
innocence in a rather self-assured stance that seemed provocative with one hip
jutted out. "And I'll be frank, I do hate him. You see, Sebastian's darling,
one can take only so much of living in the shadow of Sebastian. You can't
believe the darkness that shadow will make you walk."
Grell curled his lips over his teeth in an angry sort of smile. "Is that so?
Perhaps you should deal with that ego problem. May haps it's not Sebastian's
shadow so much as your own lack of talent." Raine's face turned a blotchy red.
"You think you're so special, just because you're Sebastian's lover," he spat,
half-circling them. "May hapshe only wants you for your body?"
"Au contraire," Grell answered calmly, chuckling quietly. Raine had just blown
that card. "We haven't even slept together. So there goes that theory. Raine,
Seriel… whatever you're called. Get to the point. I want you out of my master's
home as soon as possible."
The blonde glared at him openly. "Here's the thing, then," he said shortly. "I
want you to help me."
Grell laughed. "Whatever you want, I won't be helping." The corners of Raine's
mouth turned up at the ends in a sickly sort of smile.
"You don't need to be alive to help," he growled through his teeth, the smile
still in place, making him look like a disgusting thing, a horrible monster.
"As a matter of fact," he added, his eyes widening in an odd way that made him
look like a wild animal. "You needn't be alive at all!"
The blonde's hand was outreached, obviously controlling something, and from his
palm, thin, wispy-like tendrils of black smoke shot out toward Grell. He
reached into his pocket, reaching into the dimension where he'd kept his
scythe. He pulled it out and it whirled to life, slashing through the smoke,
which dissipated.
"Really?" he snapped scathingly. "That's all you've got? Throwing the last of
your withered-up, fed-on souls at me? Pathetic. Forget I'm a death god? Dealing
with souls are my specialty." Raine's eyes darkened further.
"You bastard," he roared, lunging forward and sending Grell through the window.
The reaper couldn't deny, he was incredibly annoyed. Ciel wouldn't be happy;
his office window had just been shattered… again. Damn. "You bastard! I'm so
sick of being second best, all the time, by your precious Sebby, and now by
you!"
Grell felt adrenaline surge through him, that same high he'd gotten time and
time again at the sight of blood. This time, it was his own, made from a cut on
his arm. It was small, made by a piece of glass when he'd gone through the
glass, but the blood welled and he smiled, his self control slipping.
"Jack the Ripper indeed," he whispered, a inane smile splitting his face wide
open in such a way that he knew he looked… almost like an angler fish. "You
know what, Raine? I do love the color red." Then he thought of something and
smiled. When Raine looked at him almost in fear, he pulled it out of himself
because he thought it just fitting. "Just let me tell you a little
something—the colour red makes me swoon. I just lovered for my hair, clothes
and lipstick."
Raine's eyes widened, like he had a good idea of what Grell was doing, but
Grell continued, undisturbed.
"That's why I adore making over ugly women with the red of their blood. The
more glamourous the woman, the more alluring she becomes, just like a
beautiful, poisonous flower… right? And I'll bet a fine stud like you fitted up
in rose colors will be the absolute best!" His grin was accompanied by a leer
now as he went, speaking ravenously. "I'll cut you open deep, splatter you with
all the many shades of crimson… and mess you up most glamourously… Raine
darling!" He cackled as he landed on his feet in the middle of the garden,
followed shortly by the demon who looked like he was going to have an epileptic
fit.
"Why did you…" he growled, his voice tight.
Grell laughed loudly, the sound ringing off the trees. "Are you happy, little
demon? I've told you the same thing I told him, word for word! I do have an
excellent memory, when it comes to him. Feel special—I've given you what you
want, right? I've told you the exactthing I told my Sebby dear, you are treated
equally! Now… die happily, coloured in blood red!"
He jumped, the death scythe roaring as it swung through the air, cutting deep
into the blonde's shoulders. He cackled again as red emerged, dripping and
warm, colouring his scythe so prettily. "You're a loon!" Raine cried, forcing
the scythe back, clutching at his shoulder, but Grell attacked again, cutting
into his stomach and he screamed, finally loosing it. His eyes blazed amber and
he struck back.
Strike and strike again, they battled. Grell grew weary, but the adrenaline
kept him up, kept him on his guard. Their war dragged on, a battle of wits and
fire and pain and blood. Grell was covered in it, both his own and Seriel's. It
shocked him little that they could fight so ferociously.
When Raine's energy drained, he panted and Grell stood silently, his body
sending warning alarms through him that he was close to empty, but he remained
strong and kept his composure. He would show the boy who was boss until his
end. He was, however, shocked when he felt the boy gather up his energies,
every last wisp of his hateful existence and he bellowed, sending it out in the
direction of Grell.
However, in his exhaustion, at near death, his aim was off and had Grell not
ducked, the blast almost hitting his head. As he stood straight again, he
looked at the demon as he fell to his knees, a sickly grin on his face. The
blood drained from Grell's face and he turned around just in time to hear a
very loud, high-pitched scream as the energy slammed into the entire wall of
the office, shattering the remains of the glass still on the pane, surely
sucking the life of anything up there.
With a vicious, uncontrolled scream let loose from his own throat, Grell saw
red and for the first time, he hated the colour. Within the span of a few
seconds he'd thrusted his death scythe into the demons stomach again and tore
up, cleanly cutting the top half of his body in two, and launched himself up to
Ciel's office.
His heart stopped, his body froze, and his mind was wiped blank. The red faded
from his eyes, replaced by tears. He stepped down into the room, the crunch of
broken glass far too loud to him now. He walked across the room and fell to his
knees the same way his attacker had, but instead of grinning, he sobbed.
A mutilated, broken body was all that remained, torn by shards, some of which
still imbedded in his skin. Blue eyes looked toward the ceiling, glazed and
empty. No life resided in their depths now and while so deep before, they
seemed so shallow. His clothes were torn and it looked like his arm was broken.
"No." He barely recognized the sound of his own voice. "No," he moaned, those
bitter tears still stinging his eyes as they trailed down his face, splashing
onto Alois's body. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know how to breathe.
Breathe.
Grell knew what to do. Frenzied, he pulled every shard from Alois's face.
Quickly, he told himself. The quicker you are, the more likely it is it will
work.When he was finished, looking down at dozens of little cuts, he made
himself concentrate instead of cry. It was all he could think of. He liked to
think of himself as lucid, but at the moment, it simply wasn't the case. It was
all he could do and he was going to do it. He couldn't think of the
consequences—he just had to have Alois back. Ciel will never forgive me.
It didn't matter. He gathered his strength and summoned the very essenceof what
he was inside of him. He concentrated it into a very thin, barely visible
smoke, building in his chest. He leaned down, opening Alois's mouth with one
hand, and gently pressed their lips together, sealing Alois's mouth with his
own as he forced his essence of being through the blonde's body.
It had to work. It had to.
Don't flame just because you hate me. I'm curious, though… can any of you tell
what Grell is doing? ^.^
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 28: Chapter 28
===============================================================================
SEVERAL IMPORTANT NOTES!
Yes, I cut the Raine POV chapter. I have a couple reasons for this—one, he's an
OC and he's not difficult to understand, so we don't need in his head. All the
chapter would have done would be give an outsider's view of Grell and Alois,
which isn't necessary. It also would have added two extra chapters—the chapter
in question, and a Sebastian chapter to follow it and I simply didn't want to
dream up some random things for Sebastian to be doing in hell that had nothing
to do with the story.
Don't worry about the lunch with Will and Ronald I skipped. It was more to
point out that yes, they still exist, and to hint that they're coming back into
the story soon for bigger parts because, YES, the shinigami arc is going to
come next, and with it, the end of the story. () Don't worry, I haven't
forgotten anything. We have loose ends to tie up, with Eric and his part in
Grell and Sebastian's relationship, as well as William's mystery lover who's
not such of a mystery since I sort of pointed out earlier that the pairing was
going to happen.
Sebastian didn't consider it a good sign that the minute they walked onto
Phantomhive property they heard a scream. Not just any scream, either, no
damsel in distress scream, but a wild, violent roar of anguish, and anger. It
was animalistic, almost like a wild beast, and it scared Sebastian. It sounded
like it was near the house.
Ciel, of course, paid no heed and continued inside, stopping only for Sebastian
to open the door.
"Have Mey-Rin's granddaughter make tea," he said as they went upstairs. "And
find out whether Grell has regulated all of her typical chores to her. I trust
him, but he doesn't know all of the monthly chores you do while he's attending
to me."
"Of course, my lord," he said, bowing as they reached the floor his office was
on. "I will do so immediately." That howl still replayed in his mind and
tormented him. What had it been? Unfortunately, he and his master found out in
a rather sickly way. The smaller boy opened the door and they stood in shock.
If it hadn't been for the mess, lack of window, and the fact that the love of
his life appeared to be crying, Sebastian would have been concerned that Grell
was cheating on him. As it was, he knew something was very, very wrong.
"Grell?" Ciel choked out, his voice uneven. The papers he'd brought back that
he'd been riffling through fluttered to the ground as Grell looked up. His face
was a mess, awash with blood and tears. He was pale, verypale, and he was
trembling. Sebastian moved forward, to pull him into his arms, trying not to
look at the bloodied body on the ground, when Grell spoke.
"I'm sorry," he forced, his voice thick and hoarse. "I'm so sorry, Ciel! He
would have died! I did—I couldn't think about it… I just did what… I had to
save him." He stopped speaking, sobbing harshly. "I didn't think about it, I
just did it!"
"What do you mean?" the young master croaked. Grell sobbed harder and Ciel
gulped, taken aback, asking instead, "What happened?"
"The boy," he cried. "The demon!" His entire body shook, sinewy limbs rattling
against the wood floor
"Seriel," Sebastian said bitterly. "Seriel. He killed Alois." Grell's tears
came faster and he was glad he'd come home early. Grell never would have been
able to handle this on his own. "Grell, talk to me. What did he do,
specifically? Did he hurt you at all?" He kneeled down next to him, enveloping
the red head in his arms.
"He came a week ago, acting all friendly. I never liked him, not for a moment,
and today he said something… insulted red…" His voice grew from hoarse to weak
to simply empty. "He told me that he hated being in your shadow. And I made him
so angry… I told him the same thing I told you when we met, and told him he
could die happily because I treated him equally to you. We fought, and I was so
tired… he was almost finished, but he gathered his energies, and threw them at
me. They would have hit me in the head, had I not ducked." He stopped talking,
silent tears streaming down his cheeks now.
"And it hit the office instead, where Alois was," Ciel finished for him, his
voice a mere whisper. He, too, had knelt down, and now cradled Alois's head in
his lap. "Oh, Alois…" But Ciel couldn't cry, Sebastian understood that. Crying
was a veryhuman thing, and his time in hell had hardened him against it. As
Lucifer explained earlier, when they'd announced they were returning, their
feelings of love had already developed within them and would not fade. The
emotions they had been exposed to were now theirs, to keep, but control of
their demons granted control of their emotions.
Grell collapsed on into himself, curling into a ball in Sebastian's arms. He
rubbed his back, trying to think of what to say. In the end, there really
wasn't anything tosay. Alois was dead, Grell in distress. He pieced together
now that the horrible scream they'd heard upon entering the grounds was Grell,
likely when he'd realized what had happened to Alois.
He looked over at the blonde's corpse, then at his young master who was still
stroking bloodied silk hair. The look on Ciel's face was some mixture of shock
and sadness, so deep it rocked him to the core. Sebastian knew that he'd still
been getting on solid ground with Alois and that their relationship wasn't as
strong as his own with Grell, but Alois still meant a lot to Ciel. They were
practically the same in background, horrible childhoods, demon butlers, no
family to speak of. As Ciel had put it once… "I don't know what we have now. We
don't talk about it, but I have this feeling that given time, maybe lots of
time… he could be to me what Grell is to you."
Now, it would never be.
"Where is the body?" Sebastian asked Grell softly, taking his face in his long,
pale hands and forcing the red head to look at him. With his thumb, he wiped
away a spot of blood under his left eye. Grell looked over toward the window,
nodding in the direction of the garden. "Did the energy blast shatter the
window?" Grell shook his head and Sebastian raised an eyebrow, feeling
irritation seep from within him. If Seriel had done what he thought he had…
"He threw me through it, actually," he answered in a quiet voice. "That was
okay, I wasn't hurt. He was angry with me and ran into me…" He trailed off,
like he wasn't sure how to finish. "I'm sorry, Sebastian. I never should have
allowed him into the house. I didn't even know who he was, but he said he was
your brother."
Sebastian shushed him, dropping a sweet kiss onto his forehead. "It is quite
all right, love. Tis fine. My dear pet." He kissed the top of his head. "You
could not have known. He has been watching us for months, you know. He would
have found a way to hurt you."
"He was smiling, when he realized that even though he'd missed me, he would hit
Alois," he whispered. "That little bastard was happy he was killing my son." He
looked up at Sebastian with wide, desperate green eyes. "We had another son,
Sebastian! Another little boy who needed love, so much. They would have been
our perfect little children, and Raine killed him."
"He must have realized that if he couldn't kill you, Alois was the next best
thing." Sebastian found it was difficult to speak. The thought of Grell being
killed, even in theory, pained him. Surprisingly, the thought of Alois's own
death pained him as well. The boy really wasn't that bad—he was almost fond of
the little blonde child. He brought energy to the mansion, made Ciel laugh. How
long had it been since he'd laughed, before Alois had come? There would be no
laughter afterwards.
He blanched at the thought of Ciel at the funeral. There would be no tender
kisses, no red dress. Ciel would stand silently while a hole grew inside of
him, the same one Alois had been trying to fill. Sebastian hadn't been to many
funerals with the young master, but the ones he did attend weren't so special.
Ciel would put on a game face and move on. Normally, even if he had been sad,
he would be able to focus it into a small point. He had always been good at
controlling his emotions, even before he was turned.
It wouldn't be the case this time. This was Ciel's last chance at happiness,
and it would ruin him because it was gone now. Ciel had replaced his eye patch
now that they'd returned to earth, and his visible eye had a hollow look in it.
A blue, empty pool.
And then Alois gasped.
Grell didn't look shocked at all, only sad, but both Sebastian and Ciel jumped
when Alois's eyes shot open. He sat up quickly, gasping for air, clutching at
his throat.
"Don't try and gulp that much air in," the red head murmured from his spot
against Sebastian's chest. "You don't need that much. Our lung capacity isn't
that great." Alois did as Grell instructed and Ciel leaned forward, his hands
outstretched, trying to figure out what to do. The blonde struggled to get his
breathing in order, and when he did, he looked back at Ciel and his two parents
with wide, ringed blue eyes a tad lighter than Ciel's.
"Those eyes," the demon whispered, his lower lip trembling. "He's… a reaper?"
Grell nodded, wiping away another silent tear. "Yes. Naturally born reapers all
have green eyes, but he was turned, so the color won't change." Ciel looked at
his red-haired parent figure, who looked away, into Sebastian's chest, with
shame. "I had to do something," he whispered. "I had to save him, for you and
me." His voice was thick, like he was waiting for something horrible to happen,
like… he was waiting for his "little lord" to tell him that he would never be
forgiven.
Instead, Ciel rocketed forward, wailing into Grell's chest. He wasn't crying,
but it was a sort of hysteria as close to crying as he could get. He was trying
to say something, but Grell was obviously having a hard time understanding just
what it was he was blubbering.
"Grell," Sebastian murmured into his hair. "He is thanking you, love." Grell
looked up at him with those impossibly wide eyes, tears still glittering on his
lashes. Next to him, Alois laid his head on Grell's shoulder, ringed sapphire
eyes watching his lover as he spluttered out all sorts of praise. When he fell
silent, Alois took Ciel aside, at least three feet away from the others, and
kissed him as passionately as the elder two were able to bear, which was a
relief, to be frank. Grell started crying again, but this time the tears were
accompanied by laugher—very loud laugher, that rang through the office.
Grell leaned up, kissing Sebastian hard, taking him by surprise. It might have
been the fiercest kiss he'd ever received, and he'd gotten a lot of kisses—it
was harsh and desperate, tinged with the darker side of every emotion known to
man. Love and happiness and so on and so forth, every single one. Grell pressed
himself against Sebastian's body, molding them together, hungrily taking
everything Sebastian had to offer.
"You're never to leave me again," he ordered into Sebastian's mouth. "Tonight,
you will take me as a proper mate, so you don't have to leave me." Sebastian's
eyes popped and he blinked at Grell in surprise, but Grell wasn't paying any
attention. He'd buried his face into Sebastian's neck, leaving small kisses to
his throat. "You. Will. Never. Leave." To any other, Grell would have sounded
maniac, insane. Possessive. To Sebastian, it was a beautiful sound, and he
wasn't against the idea Grell presented at all. This was his beautiful Grell,
his gorgeous little reaper.
He stroked Grell's hair, letting the normally silky strands, threaded with
dried blood, slip through his fingers again and again.
"You saved my life," Alois observed, Ciel still in his arms, burying his face
in the blonde's chest very similarly to the way their parents were sitting.
"Grell-mother, you saved me."
Grell wiped his eyes, nodding, giving Alois a small smile over his shoulder. "I
promised we'd be here for you forever, didn't I? Are you mad at me, child?"
Alois shook his head. "You're not mad at me for taking your future?" Grell
sounded urgent now, as if he had to make sure that under no circumstances would
he be hated for this. "You don't hate me for entering you into a life you
didn't ask for?"
Alois smiled and shook his head again. "No. I'm not mad at all," he sang
softly, stroking cerulean hair. "Ciel is my future, after all." The earl
trembled in the blonde's arms, but Sebastian had a feeling he was happy now.
Could he cry, they would be tears of happiness rather than tears of anguish. He
smiled. It was about time.
"I love you," Grell forced out, his voice still a bit rough. "I really do. I
swear I do. I love all of you." He nuzzled Sebastian's throat with his nose.
"You know that, right?" Slowly, they all answered in the affirmative.
"We love you, too," Ciel murmured. Alois nodded, kissing Ciel's forehead
repeatedly. Sebastian murmured the same thing into his ear, then repeated it
and kissed him again. "I'm glad neither of you were…" He seemed to have trouble
making the words come out.
"I assure you, we are both exceedingly happy neither of you were killed,"
Sebastian said instead, covering both of them. He leaned down, cradling Grell
closer. "Exceedingly happy," he repeated, breathing softly into red hair. Then
he pulled back and smiled at him. "And you, my pet, will need to take a bath
before I take you as a mate, yes?"
Grell's eyes, the most beautiful color he'd ever seen, glittered with tears,
adding to the collection in his eyelashes. "Yes," he agreed, kissing Sebastian
before he pulled away. Slowly, like his mind was still spinning and he was
trying not to fall, he made his way to the door. "I love you, Sebastian." He
was looking over his shoulder at the demon, the warmest of smiles turning his
lips upward.
Sebastian smiled back as he took two vulnerable, shaken children into his arms,
silently accepting his new son. "I love you, too, Grell."
A little sappy, but we need fluff in here. Yes, you heard me right. Smut in
next chapter!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 29: Chapter 29
===============================================================================
It took me a while before I reached the point where I figured I should probably
write, and it still didn't go well even then… That's why it's a little late.
I've decided to put less pressure on myself to write because it was burning me
out, and this is the lemon, so I think it's worth the wait.
Pale hands fumbled with the buttons of a silk robe the shade of his hair, which
was pinned up in a messy bun. Underneath it, he wore almost nothing—a pair of
black cotton shorts with a red butterfly close to the hem of his left leg. He
couldn't decide what to do make-up-wise— he knew Sebastian liked him without
it, but he wanted everythingto be perfect. This was it. He was going to give
himself to Sebastian, to declare a lifetime together. The mating was important!
It had to be exactly right.
Grell sighed, blowing a lock of his hair out of his eyes. He looked at himself
in the mirror again. Hethought he was pretty, but would Sebastian agree? He'd
said so many lovely things to the redhead. Could any of them be true?
Sebastian, Will, Ronald, they'd all said lovely things to him. Biased, the lot
of them. He'd heard enough ugly things in his life to shadow the sweet things
his friends and lover had said.
His hair was nice, he could admit. He loved his hair, much more than any normal
person. He liked his eyes, too—they were so much greenerthan everyone else's.
Sometimes he wondered if he were really human-born, but though they weren't
talking to him, the two reapers who had raised him were definitely his parents.
He frowned at the thought. He hadn't spoken to his parents in nearly two
hundred and thirty years. He chuckled darkly. They'd no problem with his
extravagant nature, but the minute it came out that he was gayer than William
(which was difficult to do if you really knew him, and hisparents liked himjust
fine) and he started calling himself a woman, he was kicked out. Mathilde and
Greyson were highly judgmental and prejudiced—in Mathilde's words exactly, they
"couldn't stand having a flaming poofer for a son".
Mathilde Thornson was as nasty as her last name suggested, but pretty. Her
teeth, while sharp, were slightly more rounded than her son's, but she had the
same wild red hair, though it was a shade darker. Her eyes were more yellow
than green, however. Greyson Thornson actually reminded Grell of a much more
boring version of William. He was good looking, of course, with slicked back
dark hair and green eyes almost as green as Grell's, but his nature was less
"prim and proper" and more "cold bastard".
Then Grell, some twisted mixture of the two. His first name was the name he was
born with seeing as he simply liked it, but the last time Mathilde had called
him 'a Satanist, perverted bastard child', he'd changed his last name with a
little help from Will, who had friends in high places. He felt Sutcliff suited
him more, anyway.
Sebastian had reacted very poorly to finding out about Grell's less-than-
pleasant home life. He'd immediately begun seething and it didn't take a genius
to figure out he was thinking very violent thoughts. Grell had to admit—that
made him smile, just a bit. Sometimes, when Sebastian was very distant, he
would doubt Sebastian really cared for him—or at least, the Grell of before.
He knew that the demon did, really. The Grell of before had annoyed him, but as
he was often told, Sebastian looked back on him now with a sort of fondness.
Sebastian cared for Grell, be it the Grell of the 1880s, or the Grell of the
2000s. The redhead would always, always love him that way, too.
He took a deep breath and pushed open the door, peering into their bedroom.
Sebastian sat there, his back facing the bathroom door, but he twitched when
the door opened. Grell waited for him to turn around with anxiety coursing
through him. Would Sebastian really think him good enough? He put himself next
to Sebastian, and he felt… well, certainly not plain, but not half as
attractive. Sebastian was so beautiful, and while he had his moments, he
sometimes doubted his own beauty.
He sounded ridiculous, even to himself. He was the one who was always going on
about how lovely he was, and now he was here doubting himself. It was… unlike
him. He made a face, trying to smooth it out immediately in case Sebastian
turned around to see it. He had separated his life into two parts—before
Sebastian, and after Sebastian—and he found himself thinking that the after-
Sebastian Grell wasn't really like himself, and that the before-Sebastian Grell
was the real thing. It worried him, and he knew full well it worried his demon.
Then Sebastian turned around and his smile melted away any doubt Grell had that
he was heartbreakingly gorgeous because it surely couldn't just be him that was
making Sebastian smile at him like he was the sun. Grell couldn't move; he just
stood there in awe of the beautiful expression on his devil's face.
"Are you going to stand there and stare," Sebastian chuckled, reaching a hand
out to him. "Or are you going to come over here and let me hold you?"
Grell happily went to him, tripping himself into Sebastian's arms. Normally, he
would have been embarrassed for doing so in front of him, but he knew that at
the moment, Sebastian wouldn't give a damn if he were coordinated or not.
"Gorgeous little minx," Sebastian murmured into his neck, his arms wound
tightly around Grell's slim waist. The redhead felt a shudder go through him
and his cheeks darkened slightly to a fetching shade of pink. "I suppose you
picked that outfit specifically to drive me to the edge on sight?"
"I might have had an ulterior motive," he giggled, a little high from the
reality of the situation. It was happening; he wasn't dreaming. He never
thought he would see the day, to be honest. Sebastian hummed into his throat,
laying a kiss there, feather-light and warm. Was this really happening?
"You are denying reality, pet," Sebastian murmured. "Come back, Grell. Pull
yourself back down." Grell laughed, the sound as open as it ever had been. His
Sebby, of course he knew how Grell was feeling.
Grell opened his mouth to say something, but he shut it again and giggled.
Sebastian was right. He needed to pull himself back down to earth. He leaned
down, cupping Sebastian's face and leaving kisses up and down his nose before
finally pressing his lips to the demon's slightly before pulling back
triumphantly. "Any urge to kill me?"
Sebastian chuckled throatily, shaking his head. "None. No odd obsession with
your heart, either, pet." Grell buried his nose into Sebastian's clean, silken
hair.
"I missed that," he breathed. "You've no idea how much I missed that. Me, the
reaper of death!" He laughed again, but the sound was soft as he realized how
serious the situation was. Not bad, not sad, but serious. "I swore when Will
and I broke up that I would be no one's pet, because that's what he treated me
like. To think that one day I'd be here, missing the way you'd call me your
property!"
"A proper pet," Sebastian said with a nod of the head and a smile. "Perhaps you
just needed to the right master." In a flash, Grell was flat on his back,
pressed into the bed, strands of long red hair spread around him in disarray,
pulled from its bun. He pulled the glasses from his face, tossing them gently
to the nightstand. Sebastian was close enough that he could see him, and that
was all he needed to see.
Sebastian took his lips again, slender hands trailing down Grell's body. Those
fingers explored every dip in peach-colored skin, ever crevice, including the
parts of him that made him shudder. A finger traced a little line down the
reaper's thigh before going up again and hooking into the top of his shorts.
"Is there anything you would like me to do before we begin this?"
Grell, a hand tangled in Sebastian's hair, dragged himself down again to earth,
forcing himself to think instead of ride out the feelings. "I want…" He trailed
off, knowing he wanted something. He glanced over while he thought and caught
sight of his glasses. With an 'aha', he reached over excitedly and shoved them
back onto his face. "I want to see you," he said clearly, looking up at
Sebastian from under auburn lashes. "I want to see all of you."
Sebastian smirked and leaned back. "There is much I can do for you, and as for
that particular request, I happily say I may oblige." He pulled the tie from
his neck—still in his uniform—and undid the top button on his button down. "So
lovely, Grell." Grell blushed, wondering how Sebastian could strip so
nonchalantly and still find time to tell him sweet things.
When the shirt, vest, and jacket came off, Grell couldn't help but trail his
fingers over Sebastian's subtle abdominal muscles, shivering as he felt
firsthand how taut they were. So gorgeous. With another smirk, Sebastian undid
the button on his slacks and nodded downward at Grell's hand.
"You want me to…" Grell trailed off, his face blazing. Sebastian leaned down,
putting a hand on Grell's while he left trails of kisses all over the red
head's face, leading that pale hand toward the prominent bulge where the zipper
was.
"You are the one who wanted to see allof me, love," he whispered against
Grell's cheek, breathing onto his ear. "I assume you will mind little if you
have to do a little work for it." Grell had to remind himself to breathe. With
trembling fingers he did as he was told, bringing a hand up and biting onto the
knuckle of his middle finger to stifle a soft moan as he practically felt the
demon up unintentionally. "What, love, does that not please you?"
"Oh," he groaned, and bit down harder of his knuckle.
"Or…" Sebastian said with a chuckle, that hot breath still coming against his
ear. "Does that please you more than you want to admit to me?" Grell groaned
again and bit so hard that his teeth tore through his skin slightly. "Why not
show me how much you like my body's reaction to you, love? Or are you…" He
leaned down and licked a very slow line up Grell's neck. "Shy?"
Grell's hand fell away from his mouth and he moaned, his own body tensing and
coiling. He looked down for a split second to affirm that yes, he, too, was
very hard. He had to do something, and he couldn't say that he didn't want to,
so he leaned up, capturing Sebastian's lips again as he slid his hand into
Sebastian's slacks. The demon seemed like he was expecting that exact move, but
it of course didn't stop how good it felt when Grell, breathing heavily and
blushing prettily, wrapped his hand around Sebastian's length, freeing it from
its prison.
Sebastian helped him remove the pants Grell's free hand was dealing with,
sliding his slacks down and kicking them off. Grell had been convinced that no
one could look sexy while doing that, but somehow Sebastian pulled it off and
Grell decided that he was in heaven. Grell squeezed slightly, sliding his hand
up and Sebastian smiled, his gaze heating. Still, he pulled away, giving Grell
a very good look at the toned body that was presented to him. Of course,
Sebastian's length was, well, rather lengthy and thick to boot—there was no
denying that sex with Sebastian would be sex with a god.
Or maybe he was the god and Sebastian was just the good looking demon who'd
managed to squirm his way into his heart, but either way, one of them was
definitely divine. He could feel it between them, an energy that could only be
created by someone—or someones—very much out of this world.
Sebastian came back to him when he gestured for him to return desperately,
wrapping his arms around Sebastian. "Lube, love?" Grell nodded. He was a brave
man—he'd faced more dangers than he'd ever thought he could, but dry
penetration? Not his thing. He liked becoming one without feeling like someone
was trying to shove a log up his backside. He knew the mating would hurt—there
was no way around that. After all, how would having a demon's fangs plunge into
his vulnerable neck not hurt? Still, he didn't have a problem with that. He was
just going to avoid a little pain if he could.
Grell watched, almost fascinated, as Sebastian grabbed the bottle from his own
night stand, slicking three of his fingers. They glistened with the jelly-like
substance and Sebastian wiggled them. "Are you sure about this, pet?"
Grell nodded. "Never been more sure," he said as he slid off the little black
shorts. Sebastian, he was sure, was the type to go for a quick preparation, but
Sebastian just sat there for a minute and looked at his body, up and down
enough to make Grell blush, and smiled.
"You know, your little lapses in ego really have no meaning," he murmured at
last as he leaned down to kiss Grell again. "You are too beautiful to be real,
love." His hand slid down to trace the rim of his entrance with one slick
finger.
Grell lost himself in the sensation as Sebastian prepared him, finger by
finger, scissoring them, doing unimaginable things with them. Those naughty,
naughty fingers. Grell was beginning to feel a little lightheaded from the
arousal (and of course, a little pathetic that he was so hardjust from some
kisses and a finger or three up his ass), and justly so when Sebastian, with a
very smug smirk, pushed his middle finger against a little bundle of nerves
that made Grell's eye pop in surprise and a moan slip past his lips.
"You sadistic bastard," Grell gasped and Sebastian laughed, the rough laugh of
a man caught up in lust.
"A demon," he murmured haughtily while pressing kisses to the spot just under
Grell's ear. "Is never sadistic. It is simply in our nature to be as… demonic
as one can." Grell groaned as the demon sucked on that sensitive patch of skin.
"Are you ready for me, love?"
Grell nodded and Sebastian didn't waste any time in positioning himself
appropriately, like Grell thought he would. He watched, his head hazed with
pleasure, as Sebastian pushed his domed head past the tight ring of muscle,
which contracted, accompanied by a very pleased hiss from the red head.
"I'm no virgin, Sebby," he quipped with as much of his patented Grell ego as he
could. "You won't break me, you beautiful, sadistic thing, you." He grinned at
him cheekily, but Sebastian just smiled with a raised eyebrow and slammed all
nine or so inches into Grell's supple body, making the reaper scream, his voice
going hoarse in one go as his back arched like a bow.
"Mmm…" Sebastian hummed, pulling out and thrusting in again while Grell gasped
sharply at the sensory overload. "Yes, that is what I thought."
Grell slowly felt his own sanity slipping from him. The feeling of Sebastian,
deep within his own body as he'd wanted for damn near a hundred thirty years,
was overwhelming and as he got closer and closer to release, Sebastian grew
warmer and warmer, a fire in his arms. He didn't release one sound, however—not
one, until the very moment the both came.
The hoarse cry Sebastian let go then was the most beautiful thing Grell had
ever heard. Even better—it was his name, shouted to the ceiling in such a
rapturous voice that he felt his heart warming. His glasses, which he'd
forgotten to remove again, slid down his nose and Sebastian fell forward,
trapping the red head underneath his sweaty body.
Just for that one moment, the entire world went right again. Sebastian kissed
him and murmured, "Almost finished."
Grell nodded and bared his throat, shuddering one last time before two
elongated fangs pierced the ivory column. He wasn't sure, but he was of the
impression that he screamed the minute Sebastian's canines were imbedded inside
of him, thrusting wave after wave of wonderful, horrible ice threaded through
him, ties that bound him to Sebastian until he died.
Though the ice hurt and froze him, he clung tighter to his Sebastian. He swore
to himself through chattering teeth that he would never let go.
Yes? No? Was that horrible? Did I fail? I hope not, because that was an entire
chapter dedicated to smut! ROFL! I hope you enjoyed this, because it may be the
only one of its kind for the rest of the story, which is one arc away from
over. Don't worry, though—I have plenty of other very smutty stories and
eventually, I will write more Sebby/Grell. BTW, as to me writing more of
anything, I suggest you visit my page because you might find information you
like in my profile regarding my up and coming leave of absence. (:
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 30: Chapter 30
===============================================================================
The past couple days were my birthday, the last day of school, and various
other things, so I've been a bit busy (cough*playing Tomb Raider
Anniversary*cough), but this is up now(: LOL
By the way, did I do that badly? I'm sorry. Should I go back and edit? I didn't
want it to be crazy explicit because that's not what this story is about, but
now I'm a little worried it sucked.
"Master Sebastian!"
The demon groaned, burying his nose in soft red hair. His body was sated, but
he still didn't want to let go. "Please go away, Rinny," he called back. He
heard a huff and Grell turned in his arms, grumbling something unintelligible.
"Master Sebastian! I have to ask that you wake right now!" She sounded
desperate but still Sebastian ignored her, brushing Grell's hair away and
laying kisses up and down the side of the red head's face.
"Hey, I toldyou to wait downstairs! I'm gettingthem up, Mr. Spears!" Rinny
objected as footsteps approached. Sebastian sighed. He should have known this
was coming.
"Grell Sutcliff," William's ominous voice said. "You are in trouble."
Grell groaned in his arms, forcing himself into a sitting position. "Why am I
in trouble, Will?" he asked, rubbing sleep from his eyes. Sebastian grew less
interested in what Spears had to say, and more in Grell's body as the blanket
fell away to reveal his pale chest. He smiled, admiring the reaper's barely
defined pectoral muscles as he stretched, then his abdominals as he leaned over
to give Sebastian a kiss.
"It appears you have a reaper to register, which should have been done
immediately. I suppose you were busy last night?" he said snidely through the
door. The red head winced and Sebastian couldn't help but chuckle. "Or one-
track minded."
"He is already up, Spears," Sebastian said with a roll of his eyes. "Will he
get in trouble for turning Alois?" The thought had just occurred to him, that
making the reincarnate a reaper might have consequences.
Will answered with a negative at the same time as his subordinate shook his
head. "No. The only repercussions Grell will have to face is to train the new
kid—whom I assume is the earl Trancy?"
"Yes," Grell answered. "It was Alois."
After a short silence, Will spoke again, just a tad more hesitant, as Grell
pulled a vest on. "May I ask why?" It was obvious what he was talking about.
Grell walked over with an unreadable expression and opened the door.
"He nearly died," Grell told him curtly. Will winced, though whether it was
from seeing Sebastian laying still naked in bed or from his answer, the demon
couldn't tell. He nodded at Sebastian in greeting, who returned the nod fairly
amiably. "He pretty much wasdead. I saved him."
Will nodded. "And the mother strikes again." But he had a smile on his face and
the teasing words relaxed Grell somewhat. "I don't blame you. Were it you
dying, I would likely have released you the mortal coil in a similar fashion."
He winked, and Grell laughed. Sebastian couldn't help but smile at their
exchange—it was nice knowing that Grell had someone to go to. The demon was
certainly the jealous sort, but not when it came to friendships. Will was no
threat to him, only an important part of Grell's life, and he was glad that
Grell had him.
Grell, fully dressed, walked over and slid onto the bed, giving Sebastian
another kiss. "I should be home at the normal time," he murmured against his
lover's lips, who smiled in turn and nodded. "Since I don't have to do my own
work now." He grinned smugly and Will scowled.
"As if we're not understaffed enough," he snorted. Sebastian cocked his head in
confusion until the unspoken question was answered by the redhead
inconspicuously palming him through the sheets.
"When a reaper gets turned, his sire, for lack of a better word, spends the
next month teaching him everything there is to know about our kind. Instead of
going to school, like reaper-born fledglings, he learns directly," Grell
explained. "So, really, the office is down one reaper for a month, and then
they get two. It's a good deal… but you know how Will is." He grinned at the
brunette, who rolled his eyes.
"Yes, yes," Will said sarcastically. "Make fun of the already stressed William.
I see how it is."
Grell laughed at him and Sebastian snickered. He didn't like laughing at
Will—god knows he didn't need the reaper hating him again—but he had to admit,
William had loosened up a bit since the eighteen hundreds and he was a lot
easier to have fun with. Making fun of him was just a perk of a potential
friendship that would make Grell happy.
"Dear William," Grell giggled and Sebastian noted that since being claimed—his
eyes roved over the mark that had gone from a puncture to a small web-like
design that was still in the process of forming—Grell seemed to be more secure
in himself, his dark emotions more calm. He was starting to act like the old
Grell again with a thoughtful tenderness he'd picked up in the past century.
"You don't need meto make fun of you. You have Undertaker for that—in bed to
boot! Not may can say they've made fun of you with their cock up your ass!"
Despite Grell's vulgar language, Sebastian got the feeling that William's
furious blush that spanned his entire face and part of his neck in one go was
more about the mention of the much older reaper.
"Undertaker?" Sebastian repeated and the redhead looked over at him with a
mischievous grin on his face, his green eyes alit with the drama of the
scandal.
"Ooh, yes," Grell purred, running a hand down his chest. "Just think of what we
did last night—" His hand slipped into the sheets and curled around Sebastian's
partial erection. "—and add just about every kink you can think of!" Sebastian
thought about it and for some reason, it sounded rather interesting as opposed
to disgusting. "And there you have Will and Undertaker-dear's relationship!" He
giggled a bit more. "Will confessed to it when you were gone!"
"If you want kinky, pet, I am more than positive we can do kinky," Sebastian
chuckled back and Grell blushed lightly but refused to be shown up.
"Perhaps a little later, eh, love?" He smiled and kissed Sebastian again. "I
really have to go, but later…" He trailed off and pulled away, but his
expression held more promise than Sebastian had expected.
"Laterwe have the meeting with the elders that you have to bring him and your
"sons" to," William interrupted, getting over his embarrassment and pushing his
glasses up his nose. "To set up specific conditions for your living
arrangements and such."
Sebastian nodded at the same time Grell groaned. "Ugh, an hour long meeting
with the ten hottest men in the dimension!"
Sebastian raised an eyebrow and Grell blushed a pretty shade of pink. "You,
Will, and the eight council members." Apparently, they were good looking, which
Sebastian hadn't been aware of. He frowned; he suddenly didn't like Grell
calling other men good looking. When he realized what he'd just thought, he
sighed. Damn human emotions, mixing with his nature and bringing out the darker
side of love. Damn jealousy.
Grell saw the look in his eyes and grinned. "No worries, love. You're still my
favorite, Sebby dear." With a wink, he sashayed out of the room, leaving a
dumbstruck Sebastian in his wake. Was he really that easy to read?
Will watched Grell go with a sigh, shaking his head. "That man is honestly
remarkable," he snorted and Sebastian nodded in full agreement. "By the way,
thank you."
Sebastian looked over at him in confusion. "For what, dare I ask?"
Will's smile was small. "For taking care of him. This is the most lively he's
been in a long time, and It's relieving to see him so much like himself. He's
changed, but in a good way. His… disorder has settled. It's a relief to know
he's recovering."
Sebastian smiled back, the expression a little weird considering how honest it
was. While he thought on that, William took his leave, and Sebastian wasted an
hour or so more in bed before he finally forced himself up at the urging of the
maid.
"Master Sebastian, the young master demands that you get "your fat ass out of
bed now before he does something about it personally". Direct quote."
With a flat expression, he opened the door, immaculately dressed. Rinny grinned
at him, her large brown eyes filled with mirth.
"He's such a charming one, isn't he?" she giggled and Sebastian rolled his
eyes. He had to admit, he liked this maid much more than the last one. He
thought for a moment on the disaster that was Mey-Rin, and shuddered. She was
brilliant when it came to manor defense, but as a maid, she was horrible. He
hoped to never experience a repeat of any of her little stunts.
He made his way to Ciel's room as quickly, opening the door with one hand and
taking the tea Rinny held with the other. She gave an affronted little noise,
but he ignored her and walked in with the jacked tea, sniffing it
inconspicuously.
"I have had Darjeeling tea prepared for you this morning, my lord, with a side
of scones," he lied, greeting the boy laying naked with the exception of the
light blue comforter covering the lower half of his body, thank god. "I
apologize for being late, though it seems you were sufficiently occupied with
your own thoughts…?"
Ciel nodded, blushing lightly as he snapped out of his daze. "Yes, well. I
would be occupied now if Grell hadn't stolen Alois." He continued to pout and
Sebastian rolled his eyes at the boy good-naturedly. "Oh, don't give me that
look. Just sod off, won't you?"
Sebastian ignored him, still smiling pleasantly. "May I speak to you about
something, my lord?"
Ciel sighed, sitting upright with a slight wince for reasons Sebastian would
prefer not to think about. "What is that, Sebastian?" The raven didn't speak
for a few moments, trying to think about how to approach the topic without
making the earl angry, which was easy enough to do, especially when it was in
pain. "Speak up, Sebastian. I almost get the impression you're not talking at
all." Sebastian sighed. Yes, therewas his young master. He'd almost missed the
sarcasm, cuing some heavy sarcasm of his own.
"I need your opinion on something," Sebastian said carefully. Ciel narrowed his
eyes at him in suspicion. "All right, fine. I would like to give you my opinion
on something."
"Just what is that?" he asked, sipping his tea.
"I think you should… I think you should stay home tonight," he sighed. Ciel
raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, because as the social butterfly I am, I had plans," he snorted, taking
another sip from the lovely Chinese-imported china that had been brought over
with Lau however many years ago. Sebastian had been surprised to find them
amidst the rest of the china, most of which old but bought after their time, or
new. The set was gorgeous, used only once or twice.
"There is a meeting tonight with the reaper council," he explained. "And I do
not think you can benefit from attending." Ciel set the cup down, looking up at
him in open confusion.
"Why is that?" he asked.
Sebastian sighed. "Undertaker will be there, for one, as well as Alois.
Frankly, it matters little to me if the Undertaker and William have a
relationship, he will still flirt with you and you know it. Alois will react to
that, which will leave the council with a negative reaction, and if they do
anything to Alois or you, Grell will react badly, which will likely get him
into trouble." That was pretty much the entire situation which could easily
become a nightmare if he allowed himself to sleep.
Ciel winced, nodding. "Fine. I suppose that makes sense. Is Grell going to come
and get you when it's time?" He nodded.
"I assume so," he answered.
The earl looked up at the ceiling with a sigh. "Rinny and I will stay here,
then, while you go and decide our fates." He sounded petulant, if not a little
tired. "I'm so tired of all the drama. I wish that we could just stop being
sucked into everything and live without having to worry about all the random
things that get in the way."
Sebastian agreed whole-heartedly. "I would not worry. I have a feeling our
problems are much closer to over than you may think, my lord."
Ciel gave him a withering look. "So what, there's still more yet to come of
this soap opera?" Sebastian laughed at Ciel's wording, but nodded.
"Not much, however," he chuckled. "I should think all of us will survive."
Ciel rolled his eyes, but smiled. "I'm so glad you have a feeling I'll live
through this bad episode of Days of Our Lives." Sebastian laughed with him, but
he had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. It was true, his
"feeling" led him to think they would all make it out alive, but the upcoming
conflict seemed off to him. The air around it made it seem not so much his area
of expertise, but he didn't think it would be mortal conflict either… Sebastian
couldn't place the feeling, and deigned not to think of it.
He gave Ciel an unconvincing smile, and begun his work for the day.
God, what is up with me and foreshadowing? This chapter was horrible, but it
was more of a filler if anything, and I was reading Harry Potter fanfiction all
day when I was supposed to be concentrating on this. Instead of writing this
and reading in between here and there, I've been reading and writing in between
here and there. Sigh. Promise that the next chapter won't take so long, nor
will it be so uneventful.
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 31: Chapter 31
===============================================================================
Sorry this is late; I've been trying to calm my Harry/Draco ass down and get
back to working on things that you all want me to write—lol! I found this
chapter kind of funny, not going to lie. Poor William, getting picked on.
Grell figured it probably wasn't a new piece of information, but he liked
talking about himself. He knew the person he was sharing his life story with
didn't really care, and that he was only being examined to make sure he was a
good mentor for Alois, but still. The truth remained that even if he was an
out-of-control hooligan (he hadn't been called that in years, but it didn't
change the fact that he had been called that), he found himselfinteresting, and
he liked sharing that.
"Name," the elder said in a gruff voice. Behind her, the undertaker sat,
giggling to himself the way he always did. Grell always found Undertaker to be
amusing in a way that no one else was. Granted, he was also hot (not that he
had anything on Sebastian, of course), but it was mostly the fact that he was
hilarious that Grell liked.
Happily, the redhead replied. "Grell Sutcliff!" He thought to himself as he did
many times that his name was probably the coolest of the all of the reapers.
Even Undertaker had nothing on Grell.
The elder, who was probably thinking she'd never met a more enthusiastic reaper
in her very longlife, sighed and continued. She looked to be in her mid-
forties, had shoulder length black hair, the color of midnight, and almost
entirely golden yellow eyes. The green ring was so small it was almost
invisible. She was pretty, in a stern, teacherly sort of way. "Age?" Grell
blinked, and blushed at that one.
"Um…" What was the proper protocol for informing the examiner that you didn't
know how old you were? "Four hundred-ish?" He grinned sheepishly and behind
him, William let out a short.
"He's six hundred and thirty-seven," Will answered for him, clucking his tongue
in disapproval. "He turns six hundred and thirty-eight in about four months."
Grell looked up at him in wonder. How was it that William knew his age and
hedidn't? "Grell, just because youdon't pay attention to things like that
doesn't mean I don't." Could he read his mind? "No, you're just pitifully
obvious."
Grell grinned at the insult. He felt like things were finally getting back to
order. "Eye color?" the examiner continued and Grell couldn't help but laugh at
that one. Even Will chuckled a bit. The examiner frowned, coughing slightly.
"It's a routine question. Sometimes mentors are human-born." She sounded
slightly miffed at their amusement.
"Green," Grell answered at last, still giggling in a way that had Undertaker
bent over withlaughter. "And before you ask, my hair color is red!" Next to
him, Alois stifled a giggle himself.
The examiner rolled her eyes, marking a couple things off on her clipboard.
Grell idly wondered what was next. Would she ask what size shoe he wore? "Have
you been in trouble with the council in the last year?"
"Nope." Unless you counted that incident with the mind-wipe, but he didn't
count that as trouble.
"The last fifty?" He shook his head, wincing when she asked the question he
knew was coming. Normally one offense wouldn't make a big deal, but it wasa
rather big mess up on his part… "Have you been reported for misconduct at any
point during your life?"
He sighed. "Yes, about a hundred years ago. The Jack the Ripper incident in the
late eighteen hundreds." Her eyebrows shot up underneath her black bangs.
"That wasyou, wasn't it?" she mused. "Hm. You're rather famous, Mr. Sutcliff."
He blushed, unsure of whether that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Anyway.
Are you living with anyone currently?" He was a little hesitant to answer that.
The situation wasrather complicated.
"Well, my listed residence in the main building…" he said slowly. "Will lives
there as well. But for the past… almost four months?" He looked up at Will, who
nodded. "I've been staying in the human world with two—" He felt a nudge from
his side. "Sorry, three others."
"Where is this residence in the human world?" she asked. "And who are your
roommates?"
"I'm currently staying in the Phantomhive manor," he told her. "About three and
a half miles from London. My roommates…" Was that really the correct term for
them? "… the lord earl Ciel Phantomhive." She blinked at him before writing it
down. "Alois here, and…" She was giving him a suspicious look and he sighed.
"Sebby."
"Who?" she asked, cocking her head in confusion, and he couldn't help but
giggle a bit.
"Sebastian Michaelis," William answered for him, rolling his eyes. "The earl
and Michaelis are demons of the tame variety."
"Right," she said, shutting her mouth smartly while she wrote this down. "You
live together?" She sounded just a tad reproachful and Grell had to resist the
urge to defend himself.
"And sleep together," William muttered, but Grell jabbed him in the rib and
glared up at him through long auburn eyelashes.
"Oh, shush, you, or I'll go talking about your relationship with—" While
Undertaker laughed loudly in the background (though to Grell, the sound was
much more like cackling than laughing, if truth be told), William blushed, his
hand firmly over Grell's mouth, who was laughing as well. Alois giggled to
himself.
"Relationship?" the elder continued, clearing her throat loudly to get their
attention.
At this, Grell really wasn't sure whether answering would be good or not. On
one hand, everyone knew. On the other, flat out admitting it would probably not
make the best impression—willingly in a relationship with a demon, one who had
gotten in their way numerous times!
In the end, he didn't have to say anything, because Alois said it for him.
"Grell-mother is in love with Sebastian!" he chirped excitedly. "Like I'm in
love with Ciel!"
Both William and Grell groaned and the room grew strangely quiet. Grell looked
up through his fingers to see that Undertaker had a peculiar look on his face.
"So you're the possessive one the little earl told me is the reason why we
can't have fun any more." His voice was deadly serious and Alois's head snapped
up. "Yes, you."
"You're the one who was fucking my Ciel!" Alois shrieked, going from amused to
pissed in zero seconds flat.
"So you're dating Sebastian Michaelis?" the elder said desperately in an
attempt to steer the conversation back to the examination they were currently
undertaking. She looked slightly panicked but Undertaker dropped the topic,
calmly tapping a nail against his forehead. Alois quieted as well, his eyes set
in a death glare.
"Yes," Grell answered, rubbing soothing circles into Alois's neck with his
right hand. "We are mated."
She raised her eyebrows again. "May I see the mark?" He nodded, loosening his
tie and pulling on the collar of his shirt. The bites had closed over, but a
delicate webbing almost like a pair of wings around a pentagram similar to
Ciel's remained. She looked at it closely before nodding and pulling back,
writing something down. "And one last thing. Why did you turn Mr. Trancy?" She
had her pencil poised as if awaiting some long explanation, but Grell made it
simple.
"He's like a son to me," he answered, smoothing Alois's hair. "And he nearly
died. I did what I had to in order to save him." He pressed a kiss to Alois's
forehead and smiled.
She nodded, turning to the blonde. "All right. State your name, please."
"Alois, earl of Trancy."
"Age?"
"Sixteen," he answered. "I lived another life as well, long ago. Same name,
same station, by some miracle of fate, though my given name had been Jim
Macken. I died shortly before I turned fifteen."
She nodded, writing everything he'd said down. "Eye color?"
"Blue." He twirled a lock of his golden hair around his index finger while she
wrote. "My appearance hasn't changed at all from my last life to this one," he
said suddenly. "I'm exactly the same." She smiled at him, writing that down as
well.
"Where are you living?" she asked kindly and he answered after a moment of
thought.
"I consider my home the Phantomhive manor, with Ciel. I also have another
residence on the other side of London. The Trancy manor." He shot Undertaker a
glare before adding, "I'm rarely there. I spend all of my time with Ciel." The
elder was practically transcribing what he was saying, but Grell supposed that
was a good thing. He'd rather her write what he said word for word rather than
paraphrase and get something wrong.
"I assume you are in a relationship with him?" Alois nodded.
"We're not mated, but I hope to be." A cheerful little smile turned his lips
upward. "I very much hope to be." She gave him a small, encouraging smile in
return.
"One more thing and you two are done. Alois, do you resent Mr. Sutcliff in any
way, or what he has made you?" Her voice was suddenly very urgent, but Alois
didn't seem to notice. He laughed, loudly, at the question.
"Resent Grell? Of course not!" he giggled. "Silly! And I love what I am! I'd
rather be this than human." He poked himself in the cheek, nodding
enthusiastically.
The elder gave them both a look that seemed very reassuring to Grell and he
grinned back, hoping against hope that the papers would go through and he could
begin mentoring Alois.
"All right," she concluded. "You two are done. Please go wait in the
antechamber while I talk about this with Undertaker."
Alois skipped off, more than happy with the turnout, and William and Grell
followed at a slower pace. "I think everything will be fine," William said
confidently. "She seemed fairly pleased, if not a little surprised, with your
answers, and she appeared taken with Alois. Everything should go over well."
The words calmed Grell's slightly frayed nerves. So many things were going
wrong lately, it was nice that some things seemed to be going right.
"Do me a favor," Grell said as they entered the antechamber, leaving a pale
hand on Will's shoulder. "And do something about your lover." He knew it was
completely out of the blue, but it was something that had been bothering Grell.
"You think your relationship might work, and I respect that, but he seems a
little too eager to bait Alois. Something tells me he's not quite over Ciel."
William snorted, his cheeks pink. Alois listened to them in silence, his happy
skipping turning to pacing. "Trust me, he was never underCiel. He's just kind
of possessive, and for awhile, he considered Ciel his toy. Apparently the earl
is a good lay." He coughed, the pink darkening slightly on his aristocratic
cheekbones.
"He is," Alois butted in snidely. "A verygood lay."
"Anyway," William interrupted with another cough. "He was okay with the earl's
fidelity before because he wasn't committed to anyone. Undertaker is just
miffed because Ciel obviously wasn't satisfied enough with him to stay. He
feels like he's losing his touch."
"And is he?"
William, his slight flush turning to a full on blush that engulfed his face,
childishly grabbed a fistful of Grell's hair and yanked. He yelped and Alois
slapped at his hand with a pout, making him let go.
"If you must know," he snapped. "No!"
Alois and Grell laughed simultaneously, bursting out into little giggles that
filled the small room. William huffed, clearly put out by the laughter. The
more lively reapers quieted when the door opposite them opened, the one next to
the door to the conference room, and Ronald poked his head in.
"Hey, Grell," he said, opening the door fully as Alois jumped up to hug him.
"Hey, squirt!" Alois had taken a liking to Ronald almost immediately upon
meeting him during lunch the day of Raine's arrival, and was unreasonably
attached to him. Grell knew that Ronald was something like an elder brother to
Alois, but he still couldn't help but feel like he was being replaced. "Are you
guys talking about Will's little rendezvous with Undertaker?"
Sulking forgotten, Grell howled with laugher while William spluttered denial
left and right. Grell was very proud of himself; when Ronald had arrived at the
reaper academy, Grell had thought him cute, and therefore decided to take him
on as an apprentice of sorts. His official mentor, a lazy man with thick box-
frame glasses, had no problem with Grell teaching Ronald instead of him and let
the red haired reaper do as he pleased. He'd obviously taught Ronald well,
because the boy was a slightly calmer version of himself.
"Sounds like William is doing his job and defending my honor," a happy, snake-
like hiss came from the other door and Undertaker poked his head in as well,
completely hiding the rest of his body. "Good boy. I have a present for you
when we get back to my resssidence later!"
William turned scarlet, doing a fair immitation of a tomato, and Undertaker
ushered them in, hissing happily under his breath.
"Undertaker and I have come to a decision," the elder said calmly, a friendly
look on her face. "Welcome to our ranks, Alois. Grell, consider yourself on
very light probation." He winced; that was what he'd been afraid of. "We'll
have William check in on you every now and again."
"Yes, ma'am," he said sullenly and she laughed.
"Oh, calm down, you," she chided him good-naturedly. "It's nothing major. The
Jack the Ripper incident was a rather big thing, and we think that mentoring
will be a good thing for you—we just want to be safe."
Grell rolled his eyes, but he couldn't be too downtrodden because Alois had
hold of his hand and was jumping up and down excitedly. Grell laughed with him,
finally feeling like he was being freed from the chains that had held him down
for the past century. He cheered with Alois, and enjoyed the long-forgotten
happiness that bubbled within him.
Yay! Lol. I guess I'm kind of happy that we're able to find a balance between
psycho Grell and normal Grell. One more step to completion!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 32: Chapter 32
===============================================================================
Thirty two chapters of this, drowning in my re-found HarryxDraco obsession…
sigh. I overwhelm myself.
The Phantomhive Manor was quiet, the window in the office open and letting in
the faint sound of birds, chirping in the early spring air. A soft tapping was
heard from the desk of the earl—the tapping of a pen on the aged wood. A butler
watched him diligently, pouring the last of the tea into a small cup and
handing it to the lord. The boy took the cup, finishing it off with in a manner
of seconds. Neither spoke, instead listening to the birds and the wind as it
rippled through the trees.
No one spoke about what lay under those trees in the garden in a grave far too
deep to ever be dug up. The body of a mottled blonde lay there, feet from
innocent humans taken in and cared for until their deaths, souls consumed. The
earl had almost demanded the body to be buried with the humans, but one look at
it made his blood boil, made his own face splotch with red anger and at the
last minute, he'd turned away and ordered his butler to bury it 'so deep
Lucifer would have to dig up from Hell to retrieve it'.
Slowly, the wrongs that had hovered beyond their attention for almost half a
year were righted. With a maid, the manor was spotless, meals lavish. The
gardens were paid more attention and were blooming. The business, his precious
Funtom corporation, was blooming as well, spreading its influence world wide.
The lord earl was once again at the forefront of English aristocracy, swimming
in wealth, his empire rising up once again. He'd received no letters from Queen
Elizabeth II, but he was sure that once word reached her about who his family
was (there were multiple gossip columns about his shady past already), he would
again be called to action. For some reason, the young earl didn't mind that as
much as he thought he would.
When he'd woken up that morning, the young earl had almost fooled himself into
thinking that the past century had been nothing more than a bad dream. He'd
woken to sunlight and had yawned. His bedroom was almost an exact replica of
how it had been before they'd left and he had his ring on his thumb as always.
He had also worn a nightgown to bed as he'd used to so long ago and that alone,
the comforting feel of silk against his skin, had made him hope that he would
be waking to the late eighteen hundreds.
He wasn't so disappointed when it turned out it had not, though. In many ways,
the 2000s were better than his time. There were electronics like computers and
mp3 players. There were vacuums and washers and dryers. Sometimes he missed the
simplicity of his childhood, but logically, there was nothing wrong with the
time he resided in now.
He still missed Lau and the Elizabeth from his memories. He missed the dresses
and the old beauty. He almost missed Claude, almost missed the Queen he had
grown up with. All in all, though, his life was settling. He knew that he could
not stay long—though perhaps glamours might extend his stay or even make it
permanent—but he settled in now. This, England and his manor, was his home, and
damned if he'd leave it again. He and his butler would rule again as they
always had, the terrifying face of the London underground.
"Sebastian. I want more tea. Now."
Said butler couldn't help but smile with a 'yes, my lord', leaning over him to
get the tray. Ciel gave him a dirty look, but his foul mood wasn't doing
anything more than making Sebastian feel more at peace. He felt like things
were finally settling back into place—no more tears, no more mood swings, just
calm tranquility. Sebastian welcomed his demanding little lord back with
waiting arms.
He was actually tempted to hug him, or perhaps ruffle his blue-tinted hair, but
he knew that he'd probably get slapped, and he likedenjoying Ciel's presence.
He'd been leaning toward hating him for a century; he didn't exactly mind
having a son instead of a dictator.
"Sebastian," he snapped again. "Don't just standthere. Father figure or not,
you're still my butler." His voice was petulant, like he was angry that his
authority had been diminished. Sebastian could certainly understand that; it
certainly irked him that he, a powerful demon, had been reduced to the personal
butler of a thirteen year old.
"Yes, my lord." But the little lord knew very well he said more like a nickname
instead of a term of respect and he pouted, giving the elder demon glares
promising worlds of pain that Sebastian ignored with a grin.
"Wait—Sebastian!" he called, stopping him at the door. Sebastian looked back at
him with a raised eyebrow and Ciel set his papers down, crossing his arms on
the desk. "When is Grell coming come?" He bit his lip and the butler couldn't
help grinning.
"Around five," he answered promptly. "Then we will be leaving for the meeting
about our living arrangements."
"Which I still don't see why I can't attend," Ciel cut in with a frown. "It's
not like Undertaker will do anything stupid." Sebastian raised an eyebrow and
Ciel gave him a look. "What?"
"You obviously do not know Undertaker, then," he answered incredulously and
Ciel's cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. Sebastian just smiled at him. "My
lord, we shall talk to Grell about it when he returns, but it happens not to be
Undertaker I am worried about, but your little lover. You know how easily he
riles… if he has not already run into Undertaker, he will likely cause a scene,
and do you really want that on the record when the council is deciding whether
Grell and Alois living here is suitable or not?"
The earl sighed, nodding. "You're right. As usual." He bit his lip again,
appearing to be in deep thought. "Whatever. Go get my tea, Sebastian." The
demon bowed and left, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
He met Rinny in the kitchen. As it turned out, she was a fair cook, and while
it was still Sebastian's duty to prepare sweets, Rinny took care of meals
unless there was a guest. All things considered, Sebastian was fond of
Rinny—much more than he had been of her grandmother. He could see very few
similarities between the two, actually. The hair, perhaps, and the eyes, just a
bit. However, she was very sure-footed, not clumsy in the least, and she had a
calm, quiet voice.
"Master Sebastian," she greeted him. "Do you need something I can help you
with?" Even if he had needed something, he certainly wouldn't have asked her
for it at the moment as her hands were dirtied with raw meat and seasoning.
"No, Rinny. Just tea, which I am capable of making for myself," he answered
with a slight smile. He begun to do so, listening to the sound of her preparing
the meat. He almost… missedthe sound of Bard and his flame-thrower, destroying
the kitchen. He would have sworn that he never would when he left the manor
with his lord those years ago, but he did. He almost missed Finny's whining,
almost missed Mey-Rin's messes. He missed the fun normality of that time.
But this time had its good points as well. His chores were easier, driving much
simpler than handling horses that often wanted to go their own ways. He could
do his work without unhelpful interruption now and he had help that actually
did her work right. Those were all pros to the 2000s, but he couldn't help
feeling that something was missing. Humans had become lazy and greedy, so few
doing actual work, real labor. Sebastian had hated humans before, but he found
himself in loathing of them now.
It was quieter, however. Almost boring. Sebastian, who had always detested the
noise, hated to admit it, but he loathed the silence as well.
"This place has changed a lot since I was here as a child," Rinny commented
thoughtfully from behind him. "The noise was deafening, there were always
messes. There was usually someone yelling. But it was just lively then." She
sighed as she placed the meat on a pan to take out to the smoker. "It's very
empty nowadays."
Sebastian nodded. "I was just thinking the same thing myself. You should have
seen it when the young master and I were here." He cracked a smile. "Everyone
was young enough to cause more trouble than you can imagine, and I had to keep
all three of them in line as well as cater to the young lord's every wish… it
was a demanding job." She smiled.
"Sounds like it," she agreed, and took the meat out while he finished up the
tea. When she returned, she washed her hands and accompanied him back upstairs.
"I loved it here when I was a little girl," she said after a few moments of
peaceful silence. "The old paintings, the architecture. I used to sit in the
attic and go through pictures of Lord Vincent and Lady Rachel. A few with the
young master as a boy."
Sebastian nodded. "I acquired those when I was… installed as the head butler
here. Nothing remained from the fire that burned the original mansion, but
several friends and extended family members had photographs and sketches. The
young lord did not want them, but I stowed them away in case he did one day
since he never ordered me to dispose of them. I should tell him they are up
there, he might appreciate them now… if theyarestill up there." He raised a
questioning eyebrow at her.
"They should be," she answered. "The lord Kingsley, who lived here after
Grandmother sold the mansion—she hated to do it, but it was all they had and
she refused to sell anything inthe mansion—he didn't like going upstairs. He
stayed on the main floor for the most part. Said there was a bad aura in the
top floors. Wouldn't go near the young master's office. Went to the library
sometimes. He tried sleeping the young master's old room for a month or two,
but he felt so unsettled that he moved into a first floor bedroom soon enough."
She smiled at the memory.
"That should make the young master happy," Sebastian chuckled. "He always
wondered what his rooms were used for."
"I played in the office sometimes," she offered. "Pretended I was the young
lord's long-lost daughter or something, making arrangements for Funtom
corporation." She laughed. "I have a whole box of Funtom toys I brought with me
that I found in one of the broom closets. You should tell the lord to check the
attic some time. There are lots of things in there lord Kingsley didn't throw
out." He blinked at her in surprise, but she just hummed to herself. "Old tea
sets, furniture, games. Endless games."
"Really?" he murmured. He couldn't imagine the look of shock on the earl's face
when he revealed that bit of information.
"Uh huh. I've always wanted to work here, you know," she said, stretching
slightly. "Like my grandmother. Not necessarily here, though I'd thought that'd
be nice. I just wanted to be a maid, somewhere where I could contribute,
somewhere where I could have a kind lord for an employer and a place to live
out my life. It's not about the servitude for me; it's about the being needed.
Phantomhive mansion was always my home, so I'm glad it was here I wound up,
but…" She trailed off with a wistful grin. "Everyone needs a place to belong,
right?"
He nodded with a peculiar expression. "So you would stay here? With two demons
and two reapers? You would live here with us, perfectly happy?" She grinned and
nodded sheepishly, looking her age for once instead of the twenty-something
year old she normally pulled off.
"Weird, isn't it?" she asked, laughing at herself. "I highly doubt I'm going to
find a man at this point in life, and most of my friends… okay, well, all of
them didn't give a damn I was leaving. I'm happy here." She smiled widely.
"It's like living my childhood fantasies. After struggling to keep my
apartment, having no money for food… suddenly having a home, it's great. I love
it here. If you don't want me to leave, I'm not leaving."
He smiled and handed her the tray, opening the door to Ciel's office and waved
her through. She grinned at him and set the tea on the snack trolley she'd
brought with her to tide him over until their early dinner, walking through.
Ciel looked up as they walked in and gave them a smile as well, giving Rinny
his thanks and telling his butler he was lazy. Sebastian laughed with Rinny, in
turn making the young earl giggle as well. It was true, things had changed.
They were in a new millennia, a new world, but not everything had changed for
the worse, he thought as he laughed with his master and his… friend?
Grell walked in with a curious expression and Alois in tow a little while later
and found Rinny and Ciel playing chess while Sebastian sat down, laughing at
their antics as Rinny yelled something about a foul. Grell giggled and sat down
next to Sebastian on the love seat while Alois skipped over to Ciel and pulled
him up only to sit down in his chair and pull Ciel back down on top of him. The
butler wrapped Grell in his arms and they sat there until afternoon turned to
dusk. They had a meeting to go to, but the meeting could wait. For now, they
were just going to enjoy the simplicity of their small family.
So you guys can have it two ways—one more chapter, which should be fairly long
for the length of these chapters, or two normal sized ones. Your choice. (:
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 33: Chapter 33
===============================================================================
! Yes, this is the last chapter. There will be an epilogue, but this is the
last official chapter.
Grell wrung his hands nervously, trembling uncontrollably. He'd been through
scarier situations than this, he knew that subconsciously, but in the forefront
of his mind he could think only that this meeting would determine his future.
His mate was at his side with an arm tucked around his waist. His son—he
refused to call him adopted, or figurative, for Ciel was his, no matter what
the human world called it—was on his other hand, his hand on Grell's arm. Alois
stood behind Ciel, tall enough to be seen easily, with a hand on Grell's arm
above Ciel's and on the earl's shoulder.
Twelve pairs of ringed yellow-green eyes watched them stand, Grell the center
of their family. He still shook in fear, barely able to feel that steady, sure
hand on his hip. Had Grell Sutcliff ever been so insecure? He was sure he was
still the same person—he had the same vivid red hair, the same pale skin, the
same green eyes. He was still the same erratic reaper, yet he quivered here in
fear.
"Grell Sutcliff."
He nodded jerkily as if come from a trance. Surely, they couldn't deny his bond
with Sebastian and force them apart, and make Grell move out. They wouldn't!
Would they? Fear trilled through him in waves.
"State your name, those of your companions, and your relationship with each."
Fairly simple enough, but the request still had Grell's nerves on haywire, as
if they weren't already.
It was several deep breaths later, but eventually he managed to respond. "Grell
Sutcliff," he said in a weak voice and cleared his throat. "… is my name. On my
left is the d-demon, Sebastian Michaelis… my mate. On my right is Ciel
Phantomhive, my non-biological son." He didn't like having to specify, but the
more specific he was, the less suspicious the elders would be that he was
hiding something. "Behind Ciel is Alois Trancy, Ciel's lover and my other non-
biological son." His voice trembled in anxiety and he licked his lips while the
elders wrote what he said down and Sebastian squeezed his arm reassuringly.
Undertaker sat near the back and nodded with a goofy smile, apparently having
gotten over the Alois-Ciel shock. In front, a surly elder with hair a shade of
grey darker than Undertaker's was giving them an unreadable look.
"Please tell us how you met each of your companions, individually." His voice
was emotionless, almost cold. Grell shivered at the sound of it, looking up at
Sebastian for support, who just smiled at him tightly. He would have placed the
entire Phantomhive fortune on the idea that Sebastian was nervous, as well.
"I met Sebastian and Ciel during the Jack the Ripper incident in the late
eighteen hundreds." He winced. "I was acting as a butler for Ciel's aunt and
Sebastian, his butler, was wherever Ciel went. During the social season before
Ciel's thirteenth birthday, the Ciel was put on the case of the Jack the Ripper
murders. Sebastian and I ended up fighting and I sort of fell in love with
him." He blushed, realizing then how stupid he must sound. "He hated me then,
but we met up again back in January and…" He made a vague gesture between them.
"And Mr. Trancy?" the reaper's deep voice intoned.
"He's Ciel's lover, sir. I was introduced to him by Ciel because he comes over
very often. Alois is actually planning to move in officially. He has another
home, the Trancy estate, on the other side of London, that he either plans on
selling or keeping as property."
The elder nodded. "There have been a few disturbances about your relationship
with Mr. Michaelis." It wasn't a question, but he was obviously waiting for a
response.
"Yes, sir." He licked his lips nervously. This was it, the deciding factor—they
of course knew all of the offenses, knew the history, knew the scandal, but
they wanted to hear it from Grell, which meant that as long as he played his
part, he still had a chance.
"Would you like to tell us what they are, for reference?" He blushed again and
nodded quickly. Better now than hold his peace and lose his home. The thought
made him pause a second. He couldn't bare to lose the Phantomhive manor—it was
more of a home to him now than William's apartment had ever been, the people
inside more of a family. They were everything to him and damned if he was going
to give them up.
"Yes, sir. Several of my co-workers greatly dislike the fact that I was in a
relationship with a demon and there were several instances where I was
questioned rather harshly. There was also the time when Erik—Mr. Slingsby, that
is—filed a complaint. Part of my cinematic record was shadowed."
In the back, Mathilde and Greyson Thornson sat with cool eyes, blatantly
pretending the redhead in front of them wasn't their son. Grell had been a
little upset that they had to attend as well, but they so far had said nothing
to ruin their chances and Grell wouldn't say anything to bait them. He would
return the cool expression when their eyes met, and he'd nodded when they had
walked in, but other than that, there was no recognition between the three.
They nodded, at least three of them. "Yes." There were a few whispers and
scratches of pens on paper and Grell looked up at Sebastian, opening his mouth
to whisper something, but the demon shook his head and put a pale, slender
finger to his lips, quieting him.
There was a bit of silence after that which left Grell shifting uncomfortably.
Sebastian was stiff at his side, still squeezing his arm as comfortingly as he
could, but they both knew that their fate was being decided for them and
nothing could take the stress away from that.
"Well, Mr. Sutcliff, I believe we've come to a decision," the surly one
said—Grell had no idea how, personally, since no one had spoken—but the reaper
had a slight smile on his face that gave him the slightest bit of hope. "We've
decided—"
"Stop!"
Grell's entire body felt like it had been dunked in ice water. "Erik?" he
cried, trying to decide if he was horrified or simply shocked. "Erik, what are
you doing here?" He stood with a sneer on his face, his eyes angry and
unfocused. "Have you been drinking?"
"I've come to stop the stupidest decision in the history of our kind," he
growled and Grell blinked in horror.
"Erik, don't," he warned, his voice trembling. "You're wasting your time. What
will be will be." The elders stayed silent and watched as Grell and Erik stared
each other down. Sebastian still stood, watching them with a blank expression,
but his feet had shifted to make it easier to defend Grell if need be, and his
eyes were icy, threatening worlds of pain to him if he hurt the redhead.
"Whatever," he snapped, looking up at the taller reaper in distaste before
turning to the head elder. "Sir, you cannot allow this to happen!" The elder
raised an eyebrow but otherwise said nothing. "It's an abomination. A reaper
and a demon—ridiculous! This will change our future drastically, will
sabotageeverything we've ever worked for!"
"And what is that?" a pretty blonde thing drawled. She really was lovely, all
soft curves and precise features. She had a pointed chin and a pointed nose
with very high cheekbones that made her look more like a faery than a reaper.
Her long platinum hair was in a braid, hanging down to her waist. If Grell
didn't know any better, he would have said she was a model rather than a very,
veryold god of death.
"To destroy theirkind!" Erik cried like it was obvious. "They steal souls,
souls that need to be harvested and documented! They're vile, servant creatures
with no respect for anything! Our very existence are rivalries!"
"That isn't true," the petite one disagreed. "We are at odds, yes, but there is
a reason we attempt to co-exist. One could not live without the other, I'm
afraid." Her eyes were calm pools, like rippled water frozen in time. "I dare
say they make our jobs a bit more interesting to boot," she added with an
impish little grin.
Sebastian's lips twitched upward at her comment, quickly settling into a frown
once more.
"So, what?" Erik cried. "You think this is good? You think this is right?" He
looked completely disgusted and Grell felt anger seethe within him. How dare
the man insult his relationship with Sebastian? He knew nothing about them!
They had the most beautiful love Grell had ever experienced (not that he was a
good dictator of such a thing, but the point was understood), and Erik knew
nothing of it to judge.
"I think it's a good idea," she said, and was backed up soon after by the slim,
elf like man sitting next to her.
"We should be able to co-exist," he agreed serenely. "We have warred for
centuries. It tires one greatly." He had a calm voice and shoulder length brown
hair, framing a slender, pale face that was almost Asian in looks. "I've seen
too much war for my age." Even Grell couldn't help but chuckle through his
nerves at that one with the rest of reapers present. "What? I'm far too young
to be here," he joked, winking at his fellow elders, most of whom rolled their
eyes at him.
"I can't believe this," Erik muttered to himself, his voice high and cracked.
"If you won't do something about this, then I will." Without a warning, he
launched himself at Grell, his eyes wild, his mouth open in a startling screech
that made the redhead want to cover his ears with his hands.
Almost immediately, he was stopped by the elf-man and the faery-girl, as Grell
had taken to calling them in their heads. Their real names were old fashioned,
archaic, and Grell couldn't be bothered with them, but at least his nicknames
would be a little difficult to forget.
"Violence will not be tolerated," faery-girl said in a voice fit to freeze even
the Undertaker. Her expression had gone from carefully carefree to threatening,
her mouth set in a dainty frown, her eyes like stone. "You will not attempt to
harm any of our reapers or guests, or the penalty will be mortality." The words
were calm, but underneath them there was the promise.
"Mortal?" Erik mouthed as if it were a curse and she nodded. "You can't make me
mortal! I'm a reaper—a born-reaper! Not like that bloody human standing behind
Sutcliff!" His voice had risen to a roar and Grell could feel Alois shake, his
entire body pressed against Grell's back. Ciel's small whispers of comfort were
the only sound in the room besides Erik's harsh breathing.
"Stand down, Mr. Slingsby," the elf-man commanded, his voice thrumming with
power and Erik slumped, backing off. "Will you behave?" he asked like he would
to a child and Erik nodded jerkily, his eyes still oddly trained on Grell.
Sebastian was getting antsy, Grell could tell—his jaw was twitching and his
hands had turned to fists.
"Erik, you can bet I'm going to be giving you more work than you've ever
dreamed for this little escapade," William's voice came from the doorway and
when they looked up, they saw him standing there with a carefully constructed
expression of pure nonchalance. "I believe this is where one would say, 'a
hundred points from Gryffindor', would they not?"
Grell couldn't help but snort at that; William's obsession with Harry Potter
still was beyond his understanding. He'd discovered it some ten years ago and
the dork had yet to let it fade. When Grell reminded himself of where he was,
Erik's face had practically boiled, it was such an uncomfortable shade of red.
With another hoarse yell, he broke free and charged at Grell, who pushed his
sons far behind him and put himself on the defensive.
He barely felt Erik's hand graze his throat before the blonde reaper let out a
choked scream and crumpled to the ground, thrashing wildly. The red haired
reaper couldn't help but let out a yelp of shock as Erik seemed to visibly
shrink before him. He looked up at Grell with bewildered, shocked… solid green
eyes, not a ring to be seen. As a matter of fact, they were really more brown
than green, and Erik, with a pained, frustrated scream, ripped his glasses off
of his face and threw them across the room, barely missing faery-girl, who had
stepped forward to detain him.
"Human," he hissed. "I'm human!"
Grell tried to summon pity for him, but he couldn't. Erik had clearly lost his
mind, thinking that trying to force the council that their relationship was
wrong would work, and Grell felt physically tired from the animosity and anger
that had been directed at him since square one.
"Yes," he said after a moment of silence. "You are." He stepped back, allowing
faery-girl to restrain him and force him from the room. With a sigh, Grell
pulled his own glasses off and they fell to hang over his chest on their chain
while he rubbed at his own eyes.
"Mr. Sutcliff, your paperwork has been approved," the head elder said gently,
giving him another small smile that Grell returned.
"Thank you," he said gratefully, ignoring his parents as they stiffly turned
and left the room with little fanfare besides a slammed door. Sebastian gave
them dirty looks as they exited, but Grell could hardly care less.
Sebastian was at his side in a moment, leaning down to kiss him lightly. "I
love you," he murmured and Grell heard William make a faint gagging sound (who
had been standing by the door with a sulky expression because he was, once
again, down yet another reaper), but he didn't care about that either. He
kissed Sebastian again with a faint grin and pulled his children in for a group
hug that had Ciel making a face and Alois giggling.
"I love you, too," he announced before turning his smile on his family. "I love
you all."
I do realize that my re-found HP obsession has gotten a little out of hand, but
I though it made for a funny little twist there(: Anyway, enjoy the finale?
Wait for the epilogue, which will have a bit of sexiness in it, I promise!
Kandakicksass
===============================================================================
Chapter 34: Epilogue
===============================================================================
I know some of you really want a sequel, but I'm sorry to say there will not be
one. This story really has run its course, and I'm happy with it. I might have
one about Alois and Ciel and how their lives go, much later, because I've
worked on almost nothing else since this story began. I'm glad you all liked
it, and keep an eye out for more Kuro fics from me—maybe not right away, but I
promise, they will come! I write a lot, so just visit my page every now and
again(:
Grell Sutcliff was at his wit's end. His sons were driving him daffy, and he
was pretty sure that they'd scarred him blind several times in the last twenty-
four hours. They had decided to fix up the manor—in other words, spend two
years and quite the pretty penny on buying old furniture and antiques to fill
the place and restore it to it's seventeenth century glory. They had finally
finished two days ago and Grell was thrilled—hard work done, now all they had
to do was enjoy it. Unfortunately, Ciel and Alois were enjoying it toomuch.
The two had made the decision to sanctify each restored room in a rather
amorous way, which Grell had decided to overlook. They were happy, he reasoned
carefully, making sure not to shout at the two as he caught them on the dining
room table (which he would have Sebastian clean later; his lover had a far
stronger stomach than he), so he let it pass.
However, when he discovered the two in the bed he shared with his mate, he had
lost it. That was the final straw, he decided. He could deal with the shower
sex, the office sex, the library sex—god forbid the pantry and kitchen sex—but
his room? That was crossing a line.
"Oh, for the love of all that's red—Alois Trancy!" he snapped, delivering a
sharp kick to the blonde lump in his bed. "Ciel Phantomhive!" He leaned over
and swatted the earl over the head, giving the two a glare that would make
Sebastian afraid. "Get your bloody bodies out of my bed or I'll castrate the
both of you!"
That got their attention. Ciel bolted upright immediately, his face going from
pink to red in two seconds flat. "Sorry, mum," he said dully. "I just—Alois
wanted to—"
The blonde, who was in the process of sitting up as well, snorted at his lover.
"That's bull, your youngest son is a kinky bastard," he deadpanned and Grell
couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alois, love, you're the one who went with 'the kinky bastard's' idea, so I
don't want to hear it from you," the redhead scolded with a surprisingly
serious frown. "Out, both of you. And we already did laundry… damn." He heard
Alois giggle on his way to the door, and the redhead looked up with a scowl.
"You think it's funny now, but just wait. I will get you back," he threatened,
one finger raised at the two. Ciel went from chuckling silently to blinking
before zipping out of the room.
"May I ask why our youngest son just fled past me down the hall with his lover
in the nude?"
Grell looked up at the smirking demon in the doorway, leaning casually in the
doorway with his arms crossed and one eyebrow arched in the way he knewGrell
couldn't resist. Grell pouted at him, forcing himself to return his gaze to the
bed to keep from pouncing on his delectable mate.
"That little ponce," he began, his voice sulky. "… had sex in our bed. Our
bed!" To his surprise, Sebastian laughed, making it rather hard for Grell to
remain angry. "You think this is funny? Why does everyone think it's funny?
It's notfunny. Our bed!" He forced himself to fume over it. "It's bad enough I
found that porn on his computer, but Ciel has obviously gone off the deep end!"
"You found porn on his computer?" Sebastian asked with raised eyebrows and
Grell nodded fiercely.
"Lots of it! Gay porn, of all different types! I even saw some from
that—that—Kuroshitsuji!" he hissed, his voice a mere whisper of horror.
"You mean that musical that you forced me to take you to so I could see the
great offensive dancing reapers?" Sebastian inquired curiously and Grell
nodded. "And the problem with that is…?"
"There's an anime, too! There were porn videos of it! Digitally remastered
OVAsmy ass!" He put his hands on his hips, appearing thoroughly scandalized.
"And now we have to rewash the sheets." He proceeded to yank the crimson sheets
(the color of which Sebastian had no say) off of the bed with a frown, balling
them up before tossing them to his mate. "Can you go wash those again, Sebby
dear?"
He chuckled as Grell made faces at the bed, spraying air freshener around the
curtains, muttering to himself about flaming homos, which really made little to
no sense seeing how much gayer than his sons Grell really was. "I will wash
them, and you will meet me in Ciel's chambers afterwards because he and Alois
made quite the mess last night, and I will not be cleaning it by myself."
Grell grimaced and began to complain loudly. "I don't wantto!" But Sebastian
had already left the room, leaving him alone with his air freshener and red
furniture, none of which cared in the least whether he didn't want to clean up
his sons' spunk from their room.
Pouting in a way reminiscent of Alois only five minutes before, he stomped out
of the room. There really was nothing left to do, even if he'd liketo buy a new
mattress, he knew very well Sebastian wouldn't go for the idea, and Ciel would
just laugh at him.
Grell sighed before smiling at his room. It looked so alive, so lived in. Even
his room in William's apartment wasn't so much like home as this manor was. His
life was setting, the puzzle pieces fitting together. He washappy.
Five minutes later, he found himself spraying air freshener in Ciel's chambers.
Sebastian had given up on making him help with anything substantial and had
given him the job of freshener since he refused to go near any of the items
infected with teenage demon and reaper cum.
"Do you want to get back at them?" Sebastian asked after a few silent minutes
of cleaning and Grell looked up as he finished tying his hair a ponytail to
avoid… dirtyingit.
"How do you plan on doing that?" he asked innocently, but his gaze wandered to
the freshly changed bed with a small grin. I wasn't more than a second later
when he was thrown onto it, laughing loudly with a ravenous demon on top of
him. He had to admit, Sebastian was a kinky bastard… just like their little
master. The first sexual encounter after their mating had been at dinner, with
both of their sons, when Sebastian had jerked him off under the table. Yes,
Sebastian was kinky and sadistic, and—oh, god, he thought as Sebastian nipped
at his neck playfully—talented. Grell fucking lovedSebastian, for all those
reasons and more.
"Do you still think I would look better covered in red, pet?" he asked
curiously as he licked a line from Grell's suddenly bare nipple to his navel,
making him arch up unwillingly. Grell shuddered at the nickname; Sebastian
hadn't called him pet in what seemed like forever.
"I'm not—nng—sure at the moment," he admitted and felt like he was betraying
the beautiful color, but it just wasn't the time to talk ethics with himself.
No one could remain a sexy crimson goddess all the time—there were times when
one really had to let loose.
He grabbed Sebastian's face, pulling him up into a searing kiss. His lips would
bruise, but that was okay, too—he would take bruises from Sebastian, bruises
and broken bones for him without question. When Sebastian manages to free his
lips, he leaves a line of kisses down his neck as he unbuttoned Grell's casual
jeans, pulling them off without a second thought. He rarely dressed down, but
it waslaundry day, and there was nothing more comfortable for an entire day of
cleaning.
Somehow, Grell didn't mind his housekeeper life. He was happy, doing his job
and taking care of his family. At the moment, though, the laundry was the last
thing on his mind. Rinny could take care of it later, but the feeling of
Sebastian's erection against his was much more important.
Grell felt like they hadn't shagged in weeks when in reality, they'd gone at it
like bunnies only the night before. That was okay, too, though. Mate, he
murmured. He wasn't sure if it was a thought or a spoken word, but it was there
and he knew that Sebastian was on the same page as him, especially when he
undid the button on his own slacks, impeccable as always.
Elation filled him as their bodies molded into one, filled, dominated—
"Grell," Sebastian groaned into his neck. "My pet, my love, my slave…" A gasp
wrenched itself from his throat, almost choking him as Sebastian moved inside
of him—so full, heavy, whole!— and his thoughts, muddled, tried to come
together just enough to let him speak.
"Only you," he moaned, burying his face in Sebastian's neck before following
his love. "My sun, my god, my master!" His words made Sebastian's hips thrust
sharper, driving into him, wrenching breath from the demon the way he tore
gasps from his lover.
"You little minx," Sebastian said sourly, managing to compose himself enough to
tease. "You think you can say things like that and get away with it?" A pale
hand came around his erection, squeezing the base. Tightly.
"Sebby," he whined, knowing it was unattractive, but he knew that at that
point, Sebastian wouldn't give a damn if he whined or not. He was proven right
when Sebastian released him only to slide his thumb over the slit of his
flushed cock, making him whimper. Damn Sebastian, reducing him to a moaning,
whimpering mess. He didn't appreciate it, but then, he thought as Sebastian
marked up his neck again, he might learn to deal with it.
It didn't take too long after that for their touches to become desperate,
fiery, purposeful—to bring each other to a glorious climax, as always. They
succeeded as always, shattering together in la petite mort. Grell wouldn't
lie—he learned French just to be able to say that without feeling stupid.
"You two are so fucking immature!"
Grell and Sebastian looked back at the doorway to find their blonde son
standing their with his hands on his hips, a frown on his lips. He looked as
scandalized as his "mother" had earlier before clucking his tongue in
disapproval. Grell couldn't help but giggle as Ciel peeked his head into the
room only to make a face.
"Really?" he complained. "Parent sex—nasty!"
"You think child sex is any better?" the redhead shot back, but the words
didn't have the effect he wanted as he was too busy laughing to be angry. Alois
rolled his eyes, trying not to smile, and steered Ciel away.
"You got us back, all right," he called over his shoulder as they left, and
their parents chuckled together, sharing one last kiss before they got off the
bed and began to clean once more.
There, cute epilogue. Yes, it's short. It's an epilogue. I hope you enjoyed it,
though!
Kandakicksass
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