Age of Ciel: Eighteen100Please respect copyright.PENANApb9tRuvy99
“Master,” Sebastian said, making Ciel gaze up from the bedroom window, “trouble sleeping again?”
The butler’s reflection from the window stood by the bedroom door that was closed, and he was holding the familiar candle stick with three wax candles blazing in the darkness.
Ciel turned and brushed his night shirt down a little. “I had a nightmare. This shouldn’t be news to you, Sebastian.”
Sebastian’s smile never left his expression. “Nightmares every night. My, you must have quite the circus going on in that head, don’t you, master?”
“Shut it,” Ciel said then, stepping over to his bed. “Now that you’re here. Read me a bedtime story or something.”
Sebastian stayed by the door until Ciel got under the covers, and he stepped over to the bed to pull them more over his master’s shoulders. “A bedtime story? Are you sure that will soothe that dark mind of yours?”
Ciel just snuggled his face in the pillow. “Well... what else would you suggest?”
He was silent for a moment, and Ciel glanced over at him.
“Master,” he said then, lashes lowering, “why don’t you tell me what dreams you’ve been having? What are they about?”
Ciel immediately turned over and hid his face in the pillow. “No.”
Sebastian blinked, brows drawing together. “Are they really that bad?”
“I said no.”
Sebastian just sighed and closed his eyes. “Very well. I shall not go against your wishes, my lord.”
Ciel remained silent.
Sebastian just parted his lashes and regarded him. “May I ask a question?”
“What?”
“Are you afraid of me?” he said then.
Ciel just scoffed, closing his eyes. “Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“It was merely a question, master.” His voice was gentle.
“Yes,” Ciel said then, parting his eyes briefly, “I would be a great fool if I wasn’t.”
Sebastian was silent for a moment, but he just sat on the bed. “Then why do you seek comfort in me?”
“Are you sitting on my bed?” Ciel demanded sternly.
“I asked a question.”
“So did I,” Ciel retorted, glancing back at him, “you know I do not like it when you do that.”
Sebastian just smiled, lashes lowering as his eyes glowed a bright red. “Master... why do you seek comfort in me? If you’re afraid, that’s a very odd allowance, don’t you think?”
Ciel just gazed up. “I have a covenant with you, do I not? You will grant my wish of revenge in exchange for my soul. I am afraid of you when you kill, because you are going to kill me. I seek comfort in you because you are the only one who knows what happened that night.”
Sebastian’s lashes lowered more. “Master.”
“As long as if I’m not enjoying myself,” Ciel said then, rolling back over and closing his eyes, “I don’t see the problem.”
Sebastian just chuckled.
Ciel opened his eyes again, annoyed. “What?”
“Nothing,” Sebastian said then, clearing his throat.
“It’s clearly something,” Ciel growled.
“It’s just that... oh... well, you’re just very interesting, is all.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“You’re afraid of me,” Sebastian explained, “you seek comfort in me, just ask long as you’re not enjoying yourself? Why does the enjoyment of my presence matter?”
“Why does it not?” Ciel retorted. “You want my soul because it’s so sour.”
“No, master,” Sebastian’s voice lowered, “I want your soul because it’s pure perfection. It’s been sucked deep in black and torn through... but it came out without a scratch. It’s the exact definition of purity. That is why I want your soul.”
“Can we skip this meaningless conversation and just get to the bedtime story?” Ciel said then.
Sebastian just smiled a little. “Are you bitter tonight, my lord?”
“I’m tired.”
“I think it’s something else,” Sebastian stated.
“I don’t care what you think,” Ciel said then, anger simmering through him. “Just help me back to sleep already.”
Sebastian just smiled and brushed his hand along Ciel’s shoulder, bringing down the wrinkles of the blanket. “Very well. Yes, master.”
Ciel’s lashes lowered at the feeling, and he curled more in on himself.
“Are you alright?” Sebastian said then. “Are you cold, my lord?”
Ciel just opened his eyes a little. “I’m fine. Just tell me a story.”
Sebastian watched him a little. “Do you wish comfort from me?”
Ciel wanted to retort with “screw you” or something along the lines of “stop asking me these questions, you nuisance” but he ended up not responding.
“Master,” Sebastian’s voice was soft.
“You’re my butler,” Ciel said then.
“My question, master...” Sebastian stated then.
“You’re my butler,” Ciel said again. “You are the only one I can trust will not betray me. If you’re so smart, catch the hint.”
Sebastian stared down at him for a moment before he smiled. “I understand, master.”
“Now help me to sleep,” Ciel said then, “do your duty as my servant. I’m done with these questions, they’re making me irritated which is frankly, not helping.”
Sebastian just lowered his head to a bow. “Yes, my lord. I shall comfort you.”
Ciel blinked then. “What?’
Sebastian just brushed his hand along his shoulder, starting to gently sing, “London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down. My fair lady.”
Ciel turned then, glaring. “Sebastian, what are you—”
He pressed his finger to Ciel's lips. “Talking isn’t helping you sleep. You need your rest, my lord.”
Ciel glared at him then.
Sebastian just smiled, raising the covers and pulling them more over Ciel:
“London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London Bridge is falling down. My fair lady.”
Despite his irritation, Ciel’s lashes lowered—the first ounce of sleepiness he had all night—and he just parted his lips, breaths slowing as Sebastian soothed the hair away from his face.
“London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down. My fair lady.”
He hummed the tune then, continuing to soothe the hair away from Ciel’s face as Ciel slowly fell asleep, lashes lowering more and more until they finally shut.
Sebastian just smiled and removed his hand from his face.
But he gazed down to Ciel’s right eye—the one slightly covered with hair—and he ran his thumb along his right cheekbone.
Ciel sleepily opened his eyes, regarding Sebastian lazily as the pentagram in his right eye glowed with the soft candlelight.
The mark of their contract.
Sebastian started humming the tune again, knowing it would help Ciel back to sleep at his careless disturbance, but he kept running his thumb under the marked eye.
When Ciel’s lashes shut once more, Sebastian pulled away and stood up, drawing the covers higher until they met Ciel’s chin. “London bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down. London bridge is falling down. My fair lady.”
He stood by the bedside with the candlestick in his hand, eyes glowing a blood red in the darkness as Ciel’s asleep and weakened form lay below him.
“Goodnight, master,” he said then, a smile spreading across his face.
And he blew the candles out.
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