#┈ ┊ with a mask of grins ┈ CIEL.

[almondmilkcleanser]

SMUT PROMPT ↷ "you're my nasty girl, aren't you?"

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♤;SYNOPSIS ↷ the time of keeping up appearances were nearing a close. sebastian was at his limits with you, and now it was time for you to practice your methods of deceit.

♤;ABOUT WHO? ↷ sebastian michaelis x fem!reader

♤;CONTENT WARNING ↷ minors DNI.

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♤;VIP GUESTS TO THE MEAL ↷@preciousamethyst @two-pounds-of-crab-legs @crow-like-shiny-things @chrollohearttags @muvaginger @justaproudslytherpuff @sugusdoll @kookie-vuitton @maegiri-blog @starstarbinks @flxxrence @urbunniebaby @nocturessa

Sebastian couldn’t help himself anymore. How could you do this to him? Walking around the manor without a care in the world. Your cheery disposition inherently masking what he knew underneath. The core of your very being. Like an apple freshly bitten into, its juices coating your hand down to your forearm. He wanted to, no, needed to have a bite of you again.

And you knew this. You tortured him on purpose. You felt like he didn’t fuck you hard enough, he didn't make you cum and lose your fucking mind like he normally did after a long day catering to the brat. And so now, you would punish him. By fucking your own self silly.

Leaving your door slightly cracked on purpose, your bedroom light would peer through the crack just enough to reveal yourself selfishly massaging your clit and squeezing your breasts to the thoughts of Sebastian on top of you, pounding away at you, moaning in your ear and filling Your begging pussy with his seed.

Night after night you would perform, and night after night you could feel a presence outside of your door, looking in. Observing. Waiting to strike. And in the day, when you knew you’d be stationed near him, you would purposely dab your neck with your essence. It drove him fucking insane. The second you would pass by him, he would clear his throat, adjust his shirt collar, and go the opposite way.

Eventually he'll break. But until eventually comes, the mouse will play.

Ciel was keeping everyone busy around the manor till the evening sun landed across the horizon, and today was no different. From the little bit of information you were able to gather from maid gossip, someone important was coming. Family maybe? Or the queen? You couldn't really figure it out. Nor did you really care. Between Mei Rin, Mr. Tanaka, Finny and Baldroy... did the manor really need more company?

You carried the laundry down the hall, humming a cheerful tune to yourself. You saw neither Ciel or Sebastian today which was a silent relief for you. Not only did you manage to squeeze in a morning orgasm, you could take your time in the laundry, possibly all day if you were smart about it. Nobody ventured that far to the laundry room. If you were stationed there nobody would expect to see you again till supper. Which was perfectly fine for you. At the least, you wouldn't feel embarassed about skipping out on wearing bloomers.

You dropped the large basket to your feet and readied the water to begin cleaning the linen. The room was already steamy, leaving you no choice but to toss your apron and hike up your dress.

You cinched one side and pulled it just below your garter, giving your maid outfit a dramatic transition from conservative to sultry in seconds. Your boots clicked across the moistened cobblestone, gathering inventory of what you need to bring tot he center of the room. The steam was getting to you second by second, so much that you needed to fix your hair out of your face and off your neck.

"My word." you sighed, fanning yourself. "Was it always this hot in here?" Your eyes scanned the room for the source until-

"No bloody wonder. Someone has the boiler turnt incredibly high." With a suck of your teeth and a stomp of your feet, you gripped the boiler handle and pulled it down to a more comfortable setting. You grinned in accomplishment as you cleaned your hands of the handle's dust and grime.

Returning back to your designated station, you looked around for any disturbances. Everything seemed to be normal for the most part. Well... As normal as a Phantomhive mansion has been since you've been there.

You rolled up your sleeves, bent over the washing station and got to work. You finished the linens and the whites with zest, silently satisfied with your efforts this morning. Maybe I should pleasure myself more. My productivity is to the roof! 

You wiped your forehead free of sweat. Your back and arms were starting to tense up, but you didn't want to stop. Because if you finished early, you could sneak to the kitchen and find a spare bowl of sweets Baldroy made excess of and hideaway until it was suppertime.  With that idea in mind, you reached down and poured in an odorless powder that's known for lightening the whites. 

You stood for a moment, turned your back to the clothes, and stretched your arms high into the air. The only noises around you were the sounds of water splashing in the neighboring basins, the chirping birds outside and the occasional neigh of the Master's horses. You couldn't wait to take your break right after-

"Huh?! Oh no. No no no no!" Your eyes bulged out of your head the second you turned around. The lightening powder was actually red! All of Ciel's finest whites were now stained a blood red.

"Such a disappointing sight, isn't it?" even with a bemused smirk on his face, his hardened eyes remained focused on you. With Ciel's clothes clutched in your trembling hands, you turned around with a flustered yet annoyed glare.

"Why did you do this! I'm going to get into so much trouble with the Master!" 

"Trouble?" that tickled him. "The only trouble you should worry about is your attire." what? "The Phantomhive workers, especially the women, don't parade around here like mistresses of the night." Sebastian began to walk forward, his steady pace quickened, leaving you little opportunity to move to the side. Before you knew it, he was inches away from you. You could see the embers in his eyes flickering a lustful gleam underneath his everyday calm yet cold demeanor.

"Its such a shame, considering I Trained You. Do you not remember those days? Or better yet-" Sebastian pinned you at the edge of the wash basin, your upper back bending over the edge of the basin until your torso was nearly hovering over the scalding hot red water.

"Don't you remember those nights? How I would spend hours on hours teaching you the ways of the Phantomhive? Just for you to-" his hand snaked up the slit of your dress. With that same gloved finger, he traced your inner thigh upwards, his breath hitching the higher and higher it went. For someone as slim as Sebastian, he was strong. He was firm. He was.

"Just as I thought." he surmised. He pushed the fabric of your dress to the side, exposing your cunt for anyone to see if they strolled inside of the washroom. "Over all the washing detergent and imported bleach, I know your scent anywhere." without announcement, he outlined the slit of your plump lips. As he did so, he looked back up at you, a playful raise of an eyebrow on his face. You were wet, you knew this, and to feel him analyzing the viscosity with his finger made you squirm underneath him.

"Aren't you going to stop me?"

"Why would I?" his face softened. Was he disappointed?

"Its no fun chasing a mouse that just lays there to be eaten." again with his riddles.

"Well," you took a breath, feeling his fingers slip inside of you with no further movement. The pressure made you flinch, but you adjusted to his length with a moan. "What if i'm tired of playing and just want to be consumed?"

He enjoyed your form of wordplay. "Consumed you say?" he pushed further in. "And what makes you think I'm so hungry for you?" he leaned down to your neck, sending kisses up and down your neck as he pushed further inside of you. He groaned in your ear. He missed how wet you would get for him. Silently being taunted wasn't enough anymore. He needed to feel you.

"Its not like a Phantomhive to leave their guests unsatisfied, remember?" the fanged smile on his face got wider and wider as he heard your question. 

"My my, Y/N, I must say." he pushed the clothes out of your hand, turned you around, and lifted your dress over your hips to expose your rear to him. "As a butler of the Phantomhive manor, I'm impressed. But as your lover, I'm Devilishly ravished." he spread your lips open, admiring the sticky stream of fluids connecting your lips together. With his tongue extended wide, he flicked his tongue back and forth on your clit, purposely making more noise than normal as he suckled and slurped on your throbbing button. You gripped on the edge of the basin, nipples hardening underneath your blouse as he continued on.

His licks were sloppy, hungry, meaningful, and wanting. He had to wait so long for you. To taste you. To hear your voice cry his name. To see you as a bashful mess underneath you. He couldn't wait any longer! He used two fingers and stuffed you just how you likeed it, pumping in and out as he latched onto your clit. Your pussy made squishing and sloshing noises that indicated you were more than ready for entry, but Sebastian never let up. He kissed your pussy, sucked your clit, and swallowed every drop of your essence down his throat with zest. 

Deciding to up the ante, he motioned his crooked fingers up and down inside of you, making your pussy slosh your fluids over his face and down your legs. Your cries became uncontrollable, hips bucking back and forth as his pace continued on at a consistent pace. One final buck, and his mission was accomplished. You squirted all over his hand, sending streams of fluid down both of your thighs and down his wrist. 

He kissed one of your buttcheeks, giving it a firm slap and grab. "You're still as alluring as ever." he unleashed his beast out of his trousers, rubbing it to full mast. He rubbed the precum over the tip of hs dick and pushed you forward once more. 

"I'm going to enjoy you now." reaching to the front, he roughly pulled your blouse, ripping the fabric to expose your beautiful breasts, he grabbed a cup full as he pushed inside of you. His jaw clenched, brows furrrowing as he familiarized himself with his own personal paradise.

"How can you be so tight?" he groaned. You knew the obvious answer, but his dick felt too good for logic to take its course. He squeezed your breasts again and began to pump. At first, his pacing was even, careful, calculated and slow. But after a few moans and a grip of his wrist, he knew it was time.

"How does the lady want it?" he growled, pushing further and further inside of you. Your pussy clenched onto him, making him clear his throat to restrain from letting out another moan. The mix between your warmth, your wetness, and your cries made it hard for him to focus. His eyes wanted to roll back so badly, but he kept his composure.

"How you give it best, Sebastian." You moaned lowly. By then he began to slam his hips into you. His hot dick thrashed back and forth inside of you, reclaiming your walls as his wonderland. He reached his same hand that gripped your breasts up to your neck, arching you back to his chest.

"Open." he demanded. You opened your mouth just enough for him to stick his tongue inside, roughly kissing you as he continued to drill inside of you. With your lips still together, you moaned in his mouth and bit his lip. With a smile, he let you bite as hard as you could before letting the kiss go. And in return, he pried his fangs and bit onto your neck, prying down just enough so he wouldn't draw blood but enough to have goosepimples scatter across your body.

The sounds of his hips slamming into your ass and your animalistic moans became the melody of the washroom. You tilted your headback so he had a firm grip of your neck as his dick playfully grazed your gspot. 

"I'm close, Sebastian~" you cried out, arms buckling from the pressure. The sensation was building in your pelvic area. You were about to orgasm again. With a smile, he quickly pulled out and repositioned himself so that you were facing him and your legs were wrapped around his waist.

"Wrap your arms around my neck." he hoisted you up to slide you down the length of his engorged member. With little to no effort, he bounced you up and down, drilling into you like he was going away for even longer this time. 

"Sebastian! Shit!" 

"Say it again." he bounced you up and down harder, making you feel all of him.

"Sebastian!" your breasts pressed against his chest as he took full control. Your face twisted and contorted at the rapid waves of pleasure overcoming your body. You whined, you moaned, you cursed, and you screamed, but you never wanted him to stop. You missed his dick just too much.

"Again." he brought you up, all the way up, so that only the tip of his dick was inside of you. And, in an instant, he dropped you back down. Lather, rinse, repeat, you were on a seesaw of lust you just didn't want to get off of.

"Dammit! Sebastian! Yes!" you cried out, whimpers escaping your perfect lips. "Yes. God, yes!"

Sebastian chuckled, pushing you down one final time before his seed shot inside of you. As he slid you up, he held you in midair, purposely allowing his seed to drip out of you and onto his polished shoes.

"You and I can both agree that there was no God here, correct?" he playfully winked at you, planting his lips on yours. He hoisted you up bridal style and smiled back down at you.

"Lets get you cleaned up." as you looked up at him, his warm smile was overshadowed by his burning demonic glare.

"I haven't even shown you what I wanted to do to you for teasing me so much the other night."

END

[xxstraymoonchildxx]

This Couple is Unusual

Prev./Next (WiP)

Chapter 6 This couple, beneath the mask

tw: violence, blood, and a bit of nastiness

In the dead of the night, the smell of rain lingered in the air; a layer of mist crawling over the ground and slipping through the cracks of the shabby houses of Whitechapel. 

He shivered in his modest set of clothes, thoughtfully picked to avoid drawing attention from any unfortunate soul stumbling around the alley. Ciel tried to keep himself warm by wrapping his arms around his torso while he leaned against the wall behind him. His butler was more fortunate being dressed in a black coat and white gloves. Ciel looked around the corner, blue eye fixated on a wooden door at the blind alley. It was the only entrance to the room belonging to the future victim. No one could get inside without them noticing.  

“Does this person really live in this room?” Ciel asked for the ninth time, wishing for the perpetrator to arrive before he caught a cold in this unforsaken weather.

Sebastian refrained from rolling his eyes, giving him the same answer “Yes, my Lord, she does.” The tabby cat, which silently approached him on soft paws, was far more appealing compared to the monologue of his master. The ravenette gently picked the feline up. A round face with large eyes, soft paws, the gentle swiping of its tail… His pets at home weren’t these charming, alien creatures that were domesticated by some demons. So adorable, so perfect.

“Are you even listening to me?” Ciel broke his butler’s reminiscence with a loud hiss and a short argument ensued, reminding Sebastian of the one earlier this day, or what he liked to call it: throwing a tantrum. 

Silence fell over them when Sebastian let go of the feline.

Ciel stared at the house across from him, unaware of two sets of eyes hiding in the shadows.

“Ahhhh!”

The bloodcurdling outcry of a woman cut through the night like the blade of a sword.

“How is that even possible?!” Ciel called out, sprinting around the corner towards the scream. With Sebastian right behind him, he pushed the wooden door, smashing it against the wall. 

Sebastian quickly covered his face, feeling his master trembling underneath, and moved them backward into the open. 

But it was too late. Ciel saw it all. His head felt like it was burning as all color left his face.

Shredded flesh and fabric were scattered across the room, drenched in the blood that was spreading out across the floor, crawling toward the door.

Ciel threw up.

Sebastian moved himself and Ciel backward. Amidst the sea of red, a shadow emerged. 

“This was a bit over the top, don't you agree, Jack the Ripper?” Sebastian chuckled “Or should I say…”

Its steps smacked against the floor when it entered the moonlight outside, revealing the person behind it all.

“...Grell Sutcliff.”

He stared at them with empty eyes, red splatters dotting his face, hair, and suit. 

“Oh, that wasn't me,” they said, adorning an innocent face. “I heard a scream, so I went inside and-”

"Oho? How would you have done that? We've been here the entire time, watching the only route." 

Grell said nothing, looking pitiful with strands of hair clinging onto their face when it started to rain; like an attempt to erase the evidence of their sin.

“You can stop pretending to be innocent with the state you're in. If this isn't enough, you faked your whole persona, right? I must admit, I've never met someone of your ilk.”

Grell’s mouth split into a wide, inhuman grin, baring their shark-like teeth. 

“That so? I sure hope you never met someone like me ❤”

Grell put off their costume as they spoke. 

“I am the greatest actress this world has ever had the joy to witness. So don’t stop there. Flattery must be served in large quantities❤,” Grell flipped her long cherry-red hair and winked. “Albeit you’re one to talk ‘Sebastian���” 

Sebastian chuckled, “That’s the name my master gave me - for now.”

“Oh, a faithful dog yet such a handsome stud - A man after my own heart! So, Sebby-darling, let me re-introduce myself,” Grell swooned, cheeks flushed “I’m the butler of the Burnett Household: Grell Sutcliffe, at your service ❤!”

She blew him a kiss. Sebastian cringed. 

“Now I can finally show you my true colors! Little ol’ me never expected a demon posing as a butler, so, of course, I was shocked at first, y’know?”

“I return the sentiment. Aren’t you supposed to be a neutral party between gods and humans, Grim Reaper? So why would you break the natural order of things?”

“Oh, don’t be such a sourpuss, darling. You could say I fell head over heels for a certain woman. And as they say, all is fair in love and war~”

“That woman is,” Sebastian started, but before he could reveal anything, footsteps were clattering closer until they rose from behind the shadows. 

“There is no need to hear him out,” a familiar voice said coldly “You already knew, didn’t you?”

Ciel, finally breaking out of the initial shock, moved Sebastian’s hand away from his eyes. It hurt seeing her step out. “Madam Red.”

“I was careless,” she said with a bitter smile on her red-colored lips “I never dreamt of having someone by your side who could see through Grell’s disguise.”

“Madam was on the list of suspects, naturally, but had the perfect alibi. The further we investigated, the clearer it became that no human being could be the killer. You included. But your grim reaper accomplice over there…If he can enter Mary Jane’s room without being seen, I assume he can instantly transport himself lengthy distances without trouble. Who would pay any heed to a butler disappearing from a noble’s party, even for a couple of minutes?”

Ciel explained calmly. It helped ground him to reveal his deductions.

“There were more connections that linked you to the murders - the victims being prostitutes and their wombs being missing aside: All victims went to the Royal London Hospital, your workplace, to undergo surgery. The order in which you killed the victims corresponds with the order they went under the knife. Mary Jane was the last person on your appointment list. So we lied in wait in hope of you running into us. Even if it turned out to be futile.”

Madam Red let out a disappointed sigh “How tragic. My lovely nephew. The son of my beloved sister. I wish you hadn’t insisted on taking on that case so that we could play chess again. However…” 

She clenched her fist, determination dwelling inside her chest.

“I won’t hold back even if it’s you, Grell!” 

A roaring noise followed her call.

Within the blink of an eye, Sebastian rushed forward, blocking the chainsaw directed at his ward with his hands, pushing Grell backward. 

“What the hell is this thing?!” Ciel shouted, hiding behind his butler.

“This is the grim reaper tool to capture souls. Although I’ve never encountered something like this before, it’s said to be able to slice through everything. How troublesome, even for someone like me,” Sebastian explained, yet despite his words he felt a wave of excitement.

“A normal scythe is way too old-fashioned for someone as amazing as me. Had this beauty custom-made. I’m a bit out of shape, so how about we do some vigorous exercise together? Just the two of us ❤”

Sebastian narrowed his eyes “Stop putting it in such a revolting way.”

Grell sighed with contentment, laying a hand over her chest with flushed cheeks, “My, how stoic you are - so irresistible! Let me paint you even more beautiful just how I did with those ugly women; with the red of your blood when I tear you up inside~”

Sebastian clicked his tongue, pulling off his coat. “A grim reaper should quietly harvest the souls of the dying. A butler should follow his master like a shadow. Your vulgarity violates the aesthetic of both,” 

“You wound me,” Grell mocked “I’m still a butler of death~”

The demon draped his coat over Ciel’s head and glared at Grell when he turned back around. 

“And I’m still a Hell of a Butler.”

Ciel pulled off his eye patch, revealing a purple eye with a white sigil imprinted like a tattoo:

“In my own name and in the name of the Queen I order you: put an end to this farce.”

Sebastian’s eyes lit up against the darkness, his eyes a sparkling shade of fuchsia. Grinning with sharp teeth with which he pulled his glove off with practiced ease, he gave the only proper answer a butler should.

 

“Yes, my Lord.”

The roaring of the chainsaw disturbed the pitter-patter of rain yet somehow there was no one brave enough to investigate. 

From a narrow rooftop, you watched the scene unfold with growing distress. You clung to Satan under the umbrella, observing the fake butlers playing a disturbing game of tag. Sebastian must've underestimated his opponent, barely avoiding being shredded into tiny pieces. The chainsaw cut through the brick walls like they were butter. 

How was he supposed to protect his charge from the danger right before him? The knife in Madam Red’s hand glistened in the spare light, ready to come at him any moment. 

Your fears were confirmed when the chainsaw nearly cut off the entirety of Sebastian’s left arm, having him retreat further away from the child, resuming the deathly dance.

Perhaps…

…you should get involved.

Manga-heavy chapter this time😊 Hope I did it justice. I'm not sure when I'll be able to write this month because my new job requires me to learn many new things (some in my free time, I wanna do good at work to keep it). Mild spoiler but I definitely plan on disrespecting Sebastian 😋 Critic is appreciated.

Oh, before I forget: If I were to write a sequel for the Campania Arc (I do have a base idea and a title), who would you rather see on Satan and MC's side? Solomon or Simeon?

[sad-boys-anonymous]

Day 8: Panic Attacks

Fandom: Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler (see, theres some variety in here)

Character: "Ciel" Phantomhive

Implied ship: Ciel & Soma (platonic)

Content warnings: reference to implied (canon compliant) CSA, whumpee is a minor

There was something in Ciel’s chest, a creature thrashing about, desperate to escape. He could feel its claws digging into his lungs, stealing every breath he tried to take. The more he gasped for air, the more the creature lashed out.

He saw their faces too, above him, their black masks twisting their faces into a caricature. Their twisted grins beamed down at him, spouting senseless chatter amongst themselves. A new voice drifted to the forefront, cutting through the deafening buzz in Ciel’s ears. 

“…” 

“…Ciel, can you hear me?” 

“Ciel, what is wrong? Are you okay?” 

Ciel was pulled forward, arms wrapping tight around him. Ciel cried out as he prepared himself for the ensuing pain, but nothing came. This touch was warm, not hot. His head rested against silky fabric. 

The smell of cinnamon rushed into his nose, cutting a line through the fog in his head. No…those people hadn’t smelled of cinnamon. Ciel forced his eyes open. 

He was on his knees, his bare legs leeching the pleasant chill of the tile. Soma was crouched in front of him, his eyes wide in distress as his mouth moved erratically, saying something Ciel couldn’t decipher. 

“Soma…” Ciel croaked, “Stop speaking so loudly.” 

“Ciel!” Soma cried, squeezing him against his chest. He could feel Soma’s heartbeat, the panicked thudding massaging against his forehead. “I was so worried, you just began hyperventilating and then-” 

The smell of cinnamon was intoxicating as Ciel let himself sink forward, eyes slipping shut once again. Any other time, Ciel would have already swatted away Soma and scolded him for causing a scene, but he didn’t have the energy. It certainly wasn’t because Ciel was comfortable, nestled in the arms of the annoying prince. 

[dookie-system]

Solace

(Media: Black Butler)

In his dream, he had once again been brought to the moment that continues to haunt him. Lustful men and women with masks glare upon his minuscule body.

His arms and legs are pinned down on a tall rectangular platform, as he is displayed and observed by the masked individuals. His crying and harsh breathing were heard throughout the room, that even the children within the cages heard and weeped for him. As his shirt is lifted up, he smells a heavy sensation of iron as a raging heat grew closer towards his lower back. All of a sudden the frightened boy was stricken with an abnormal pain on the right side of his waist. A mark had been placed on him.

As he was branded, his frail voice cried out in sheer agony and pain, longing for the gentle solace of his mother, no longer present. The masked people giggled all around the fallen Angel as its torture continued. The hands gripping his wrists and ankles were replaced with chains and shackles straightening his entire body on the platform like a patient in an operation room. The men who had pinned him down had proceeded to strip their clothes and reveal their filthy bodies to the poor boy. One of the men proceeded to climb onto the high platform where he was pinned and slowly slithered towards his face, grinning a horrifying smile. A knife was clutched in the hands of another man. The events that would occur would go on for hours upon end.

As he continued to bare the pain of his circumstances, he looked towards one of the cages, noticing the absence of his younger twin brother. They killed him, he had thought. He is no more. A statue looking upon the vileness from above caught the attention of the poor boy. I am alone. There is not a place in the world I can receive solace from this cruelty. I can no longer understand the meaning of comfort. The very idea already seems distant. He eyed the statue and was enraged by its gentle smile. “Dear god…why are you smiling?” The young Ciel quietly wept as the statue’s eyes, though gentle, showed no mercy for his grief.

꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂꧁꧂

Before finally crying out in his dream, he awoke screaming, pale faced. His whole body tricked with sweat from the top of his forehead to the bottom of his back. Though his hands shivered like they were in a blizzard. His continuous gasping for air and his frightened wails awoke his startled wife. She jolted straight up from the commotion beside her.

The 25 year old Earl Ciel Phantomhive was helpless before his beloved wife Janaki Mudaliar Vennila Sethupati. Distraught by the situation, she had never seen her husband behave in such a way. His calm and gentle personality was all she had known for the first five years of their marriage. If this had been a frequent occurrence in her absence, he clearly did a spectacular job at preventing her from discovering. But on this night, behind his dull and composed face, Janaki finally saw the crying child bottled up within the poor boy that was her lover.

She tried to hold his hand for a while to soothe him. That was until finding out that her actions worsened his anxious behavior with even the slightest touch. As she quickly tried to reach for his jittering hands, her hurried clasping caused him to slightly crawl away in fear, not glancing up once. What other option was there besides physical comfort?? Perhaps physical correction. With a second attempt, distressed for her dear husband, Janaki slapped the neck of her husband. And to no one’s surprise, he began to scream and pant more. Sweat and tears streamed down Janaki’s face as she tried to reassure him verbally. Her words, however, were drowned out by his cries for solace. Solace…of course!

Realizing her final option, she gently placed her soft hands on Ciel’s trembling shoulder. She suddenly noticed a quick response within her husband as his harsh pants and yells rapidly softened to timid breathes. With her last resource, she used her gentle voice to soothe him.

Lavender’s blue, dilly, dilly, lavender’s green,
When you are king, dilly, dilly, I shall be queen;
Call up your men, dilly, dilly, set them to work,
Some to the plough, dilly, dilly, some to the cart;
Some to make hay dilly, dilly, some the thresh corn;
Whilst you and I, dilly, dilly, keep ourselves warm.

A small grin emerged from Janaki’s lips as she recited the last lines of the ballad. Ciel’s breathing became silent. At last he looked up from his dozens of sheets and found himself in the lonesome bedchambers of the Phantomhive manor. His horrified wife looked upon his eyes with fear and confusion, as they were drowning in streams of tears before her as he sunk into guilt and despair.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to, I didn’t…I’m sorry….,” the helpless lord murmured to his wife under a congested voice. He continued to sniffle, trying to hold back the sea of tears and mucus. “I didn’t want you to know,” he spoke with a hoarse voice. “I feared you would...” Janaki’s face now wet and salty, bared pitiful and sincere eyes that yearned to give solace.

“Oh Ciel,” she quietly shouted, banging her fists onto a pillow sitting between them. “I don’t know what to say. I’m at a loss for words. In our five years of marriage, you have kept this from me. What am I to you? Do you fear my knowledge, my comfort, my kindness? What is it that am I not giving?” She looked towards her lap, lost in nostalgia. “When you conveyed your vows,…you swore you would keep no secrets from me. And I believed you…”

“NO, IT’S NOT LIKE THAT,” Ciel blurted out. “My dearest, please have merc-“ “I AM NOT LEAVING YOU!!” Janaki yelled back. The red veins in her eyes brightened as she glared furiously at her husband. But no amount of rage could bring her to hate him. Not a single ounce of hatred boiled within her for the deception and lies kept by the man she devoted her existence for.

When he asked for solidarity, she complied, thinking that outside the racing heart she never heard, he was a busy Earl with matters to attend to. When he suddenly left the bedchambers to call upon the butler Sebastian, she was fast asleep, as he practically skipped with light bounces off the marble floor. When she asked all those times if he was alright as she noticed his hand shaking and his breathing quicken, he would simply nod, smile, and reply “My fairest dove, you need not worry for this foolish Lord.”

And lord almighty, it all boiled down to this. Janaki’s voice cracked as she spoke. “I just…you promised….I could have…I could have been there...” Before she could finish the sentence, she too sunk into a ball of sobs and wails as she wiped away her fresh tears with her wrists.

He couldn’t take it anymore. His promise had been broken all those five years ago. He clasped her hands, now shaking just as his had, and cradled it back and forth until he brought her cold fingers to his dry cheek. He looked at his beloved, the woman he fell in love with, the selfless maid who loved everyone, the lonely princess who, in addition, needed solace.

“I will never keep anything from you…again.” His deep blue eyes shimmered under the moonlight as the stared back at his lover’s caramels’. He leaned foreword and kissed her pouting lips, striking a look of shock on her face as he leaned back. He was so foolish. But that didn’t matter. He was in pain all this time. Had she have known sooner, how much easier it would have been. She slowly wrapped her arms around her husband and rubber her face against his. “And I shall never let you suffer in silence. I am your wife. If something like…this…happens once more, call for my name and I shall appear by your side. My love for you extends beyond the stars.” Ciel sighed and gently whispered, “the very same on my end.” “Now come.” She pulled him closer. “Now you may find solace within me. Sleep well and dream fair dreams. You are never alone. I remain at your side…always.”

☾☾☾☾THE END!☽☽☽☽

Note: I hope you enjoyed this composition! I wanted to make Ciel the main focus of this and kind of convey how his trauma could have potentially affected him in the future. In the movie Book of The Atlantic, in a flashback scene we see Ciel wake up from a nightmare, screaming. Based off this information I felt like due to his trauma and his response to it over the years, it is possible for him to experience panic attacks and anxiety stemmed from his paranoia. As someone who also experiences panic attacks and has anxiety, I tried my best to convey these emotions through this character. I’ve never described panic attacks through writing so this can be regarded as my first attempt at doing so. I would very much like advice if it is not to your expectations if you are someone who struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. I hope the fic was to your liking and I wish you a good night :D!

[lefleurettee]

"Francis, darling, how you find the new sword I gave you on your birthday? You are so skilled. I hope you will protect your brother... and stop a little his wild ideas".

oh, she’d wished so much for her dear mother to be able to witness for herself the magnified name of their family brought to victory on the last fencing competition. even training session would have been enough for the teen. yet she knew work kept her busy, most of the time. and she could have used the time to watch Frances defeating a mannequin or a living adversary in many other, more important ways. yet, delighted by her signs of progress, her noble mother kept on supporting the youngest Phantomhive.

‘  Ah, it’s wonderful. As light as a toothpick, truly.  ’   she joyfully answered, a bright smile peeking from her usually firm expression; concentrated, as always, especially when training. 

while it was her oldest sibling’s birthright to dictate his future role as heir of the family and next servant of their Majesty the Queen, she wouldn’t have been any less prepared. she must have considered herself lucky, then, to be educated in such arts. so that she would have assured Vincent endless protection and security. the idea sounded appealing.  ‘  You should not worry, mother, of course I will. He won’t be anything to worry about when I’m by his side. You’ll see for yourself, all of you... I won’t let him or anyone else down.  ’

[manias-wordcount]

Despite the Differences (Sebastian Michaelis, Claude Faustus)

Kinktober 2022 Day Thirty: Overstimulation

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚? ⇒ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙟𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙧?

To you, they always looked so different but felt so similar.

 Something in the look of their eyes. Something in the way that they moved about the room. The way they talked. The way they conducted themselves. Their manners- everything. One had a clear way of going about things while the other went a separate way. Yet they did the job right. With different expressions. Different looks about them. Different methods. Yet so, so similar. 

 For a while, you supposed it was just their training as butlers. You’ve been around many throughout your entire time. You were of noble blood- it was only natural considering your upbringing. But when you finally stopped to think about it, you realized that you’d never been around butlers this young looking before you met Sebastian and Claude. And then again, you’ve never gotten stares this intense from men. And for the longest time, you wove stories in your head about why their eyes might linger on your form as long as they do.

 You’re the only girl in your direct family line and could still be considered young despite your status as the oldest. Yet at eighteen, you were hardly seen as the child that your cousins and siblings still are. You imagined the stares you received from your butlers were because you were unmarried despite the long list of suitors that line up every day in your sitting room. You imagined the loaded words they delivered to you were because of your naturally spoiled nature. They also did keep their words clipped with a promise of punishment if you continued to test them. A promise you thought they would never keep. 

 But it never occurred to you, that one day you could push them both too far. Between the two men, they seemed to have an abundance of tolerance. Sebastian treated your cousin Ciel with such care and patience and Claude handled your other cousin, Alois, with so much precision. You thought that nothing you could ever do or say would ever cause their mask to crumble. It just never occurred to you that you’d be the one to cause them both to snap. Because they were so different, even if they felt the same. But were quick to learn that their difference are not what mattered. And that what you did is not what mattered either.

 Because a man is a man is a man. And when a man says he’ll keep his word to you. When men say they’ll keep their word to you. No, when men say one day, they’ll fuck the disobedience out of you- you know you should listen. But you didn’t.

 And that’s how you ended up here.

 “Oh…! Oh~”

 Your voice takes a new form. A form you’ve never heard it take before. It’s light and it’s airy and it’s uncontrolled by your thoughts. Rather, it comes out in response to their hands and their gazes. Their words and their attention. Something that feels so different from what you know. Something that feels so similar to what you’ve witnessed.

Though you suppose it’s a reaction only natural for you to have now that there has been a man sitting behind you, his legs on either side of yours as he undresses you while a different man sits and settles in front of you, his hand disappearing between your thighs for what feels like hours.

 “You know,” Sebastian begins softly, his velvety voice going directly into your ear as he purrs at you from behind. His hands are if anything, careful as he takes the bottom of your nightgown and holds it up to expose your delicate skin. It’s bunched up in his glove-covered fists, clearly ruining the ironing job that one of them did earlier this day. But when you turn your head to try to spare the best glance you can at Sebastian’s face, the grin upon his lips tells you that he couldn’t care less about his now ruined work. As long as he’s awarded the opportunity to ruin you. “I always found you to be the most tolerable of my charges.”

 There’s a weapon in his voice. One that’s sharp and pointed at your throat. One that gets you to whimper and whine as he forces your legs to open wider to allow his partner to continue his onslaught on the most precious part of your body. A feeling in your lower stomach sits there, building pressure. It’s a feeling you know they want you to feel. A feeling they refused to explain no matter how many times you begged and pleaded with them. No, instead Sebastian would just chuckle, and let his hands run over your soft mounds before playing with your pebbled nipples. No, instead Claude just sneers, moving his thumb to rub against the sensitive button settle between your shaking legs. Again, and again, again.

 “You always were agreeable.” Claude agrees while clicking his tongue. Unlike Sebastian, you can see this devil as he tortures you. The expressions he makes. The way he expressions he takes from you. But to see, it’s not enough for him to get his message across. And so the disappointment in his voice becomes obvious. It surrounds you much like the heat of this room. Much like the musty scent that grows and grows and grows the longer they take their time with you. Much like their touch and all the feelings that it brings. The conflict and the frustration. The hate and the desire. “Until you’re not.”

 There’s no running as Claude continues to bury two of his fingers into your entrance. He pulls them out just to push them in again, moving at a rough, rough pace as his eyes never leave yours behind his glasses. Watching you moan and cry out as you’re forced to feel this confusing and delicious feeling to you over and over again. And there’s no running from Sebastian either as he keeps you trapped between his body while his hands glide and grope across your body. Reminding you that this was all your doing. Reminding you to take your punishment like a good girl. Even if your mind is far too gone to even recall what brought you to this situation in the first place.

  Growing up, you thought of Sebastian as the nice one. And Claude was the cold one. But now, you can’t help but think that they’re equally as cruel as Sebastian allows him to do this. Because it’s your slick wetness that casts a glaze over Claude’s gloves, shining in the light as he touches you in a way no man has ever done before. And it’s Sebastian’s hands that expose this intimate part of your body to both of their eyes, showing them your body as it reacts to these new feelings in a way that no man has ever seen before. 

In a way, no one has ever seen or done before.

 But a man is a man is a man. And these men made a promise to you. A promise to drive you to the edge and make you feel things you’ve never felt before because of your behavior. Under their watchful eyes. Because of their practiced touches. And you should have listened. You should have listened. Because despite their difference…

 They always did feel the same.

[the-letter-horror-lover]

Kuroshitsuji: Book of One Shots

AssassinOrTemplar

Summary:

A collection of short stories involving you and all your favourite Black butler characters.

I sincerely hope you enjoy~

Chapter 1: To Summon a Demon (Ciel x Demon¡Reader)

Chapter Text

Someone. Anyone. Help me!

The empty scream was all that was required to wake you from a decade long slumber; it was a common occurrence to slumber on for years after a feeding as you chose to dine only on souls of a superlative quality – and they were quite a rarity.

Darkness – your darkness – emerges from the ground like a living, breathing creature, prepared to devour all who are idiotic enough to interfere with the finalization of your summoning. Inky shadows writhe across the blood stained floor and walls, reaching out with grasping fingers and silencing those who cower underneath masks and velvet robes.

Tortured eyes watch from beneath overgrown bangs as blood dances mid-air, porcelain masks shatter, and lives become non-existent.

And then, the creature – you.

A demon.

His demon.

It was a female, from what he could derive in his current state; she was little more than a wisp of a creature with diminutive limbs, though it was terrifyingly clear that bulk was unnecessary, as she seemed many times stronger than her human prey. Bipedal with an elongated muzzle which consisted of inch long teeth, each one serrated like a carving knife. Truly this was a creature conjured from the deepest pits of the Underworld.

Stooped and drenched in blood, you incline your head towards the incarcerated child in a graceful, near elegant manner. There resides a trauma deep within those azure eyes which sends a delightful thrill coursing through your bloodstream – forming a contract isn’t any fun if the signatory shows no fear.

With a predatory grin, you stalk towards the cage. “You have summoned me here.”

The child shifts further away to a safer distance.

That’s right. Cower you pathetic little brat.

“That can never be changed,” you continue, every step, every word, slow and deliberate, “and nothing sacrificed can ever be regained.”

You squeeze yourself through the metal bars keeping him contained and claw your away across the ground, eyes dilated and dancing with a maddening hunger. It was an over exaggeration but you were the epitome of fear – it would be an embarrassment to your very reputation were you to suddenly begin playing nice.

“Now...choose.”

The scent of desperation was absolutely mouth-watering. Surely no one would begrudge you a taste? Just a lick?

Yanking the child forward by the wrist, you relish the sight of fear contorting his features before you drag your tongue up his cheek at an agonisingly slow pace. Oh, yes. Purely delicious.

The child recoils and aggressively wipes the saliva from his skin using his sleeve. “Stop playing games.”

You fight the desire to laugh in his face. “Oh, feisty, aren’t we?”

It was adorable when these humans attempted to intimidate a demon with false bravado. They seemed convinced that their pathetic excuse for lives were somehow untouchable...but you were more than happy to rectify such arrogant optimism if given the opportunity.

“Demon,” the child begins, expression growing harder, “I want to form a contract with you!”

You lick the blood from your claws and smirk. “So you have chosen to stray from the light and traverse the path towards Hell. Very well. I will happily oblige.” Your claws take possession of his face, piercing the flesh enough to draw blood. “Let us engrave the contract on each of our bodies. The more conspicuous the location, the more power you will control. Now where-”

“I don’t care where!” He interjects and slaps your hand away. “I just want power strong enough to never lose anyone again!”

“Such greed for one of such a small stature.”

Perhaps this kid wasn’t as bad as you thought.

“Alright then, we shall use the part in which reflects this entirely hopeless world: that freakishly large eye of yours."

A scream is wrenched from the back of his throat as your hand shoots out and collides with his right eye. High-pitched and raw. The type of scream only a young child could conceive. You observe him with great intensity, deriving pleasure from the little boys agony; the eyes wide with horror, mouth rigid and open, chalky face gaunt and immobile, and fists clenched with blanched knuckles and nails biting into the dirtied skin of his palms.

Blood cascades from the freshly branded eye and stains the ground, letting you know the contract had been completed. You relinquish your hold on him and cup his chin.

“Now you have obtained the power of a demon. You shall never have to bow down to anyone ever again.” You rise to your full, intimidating height. “You may be as proud as a King. And as loud as a beast. Release your inner desires and fulfil your wildest dreams.”

With a flick of the wrist, the cage imprisoning him collapses, granting him a freedom you doubt he’s had in a very long time. You offer a hand. “Come now, young Master. What is your name?”

The trepidation is erased from his features as he accepts your proffered hand and lifts himself to his feet. You tighten your grip on him as he stumbles.

“My name...,” he begins slowly, almost hesitant, “is Ciel. Ciel Phantomhive. Next in line for Head of the House of Phantomhive.”

“Oh, is that right?”

You couldn’t help but laugh at that. Humans were such an awful bunch of liars – and everyone called you a monster. But his name mattered little anyway. As long as the brat honoured the contract and you were rewarded with his soul, then he could call himself anything he liked.

“In that case,” your lips twitch in amusement as a swirl of shadows envelops you, “I must also take a more appropriate form as a servant in one of that position.”

The shadows dissipate and a soft sigh falls from the lips of your new human form. You roll your shoulders and neck, loosening the muscles. These human bodies were always such a pain to break in, but with every new contract comes unpleasant requirements.

Feeling a tad more relaxed, you place a hand over your heart and bow. “I am at your service, my tiny Lord.”

The young child’s reaction....was not what you were expecting. Was your new appearance really so baffling to comprehend? Oh dear, you didn’t accidentally give yourself an additional limb that had no place on a human body, did you? A quick glance reveals the perfect amount of appendages. So what was the problem?

You had to ask, “Is this form not to your liking?”

When he hesitates your eyes narrow.

“Does this lack of response stem from the fact that I am a female?”

“What? No, I—”

“Because I have heard such bias is considered sexist and quite common amongst humans.”

“No!” He shouted, appearing rather flustered by your accusation. “That form is fine.”

You eye him suspiciously for a few seconds more before smiling. “Wonderful. Then let us get down to business.” A table and two chairs materialise from a mist of darkness. “We must now discuss the details of the contract.”

An undignified ‘huh?’ was the response given.

Children. How annoying.

You take him by the shoulders and force him into one of the chairs. “You wished for power strong enough so that you would never lose anyone ever again, and that is fine. However, we must go into more detail with that request.”

“More detail?”

“No being will ever enter a contract of eternal work with no concrete goal. Trades and deals only work because both sides have something to gain; no one willingly enters a contract from which they only stand to lose from.”

Ciel stiffens upon feeling nails dig into his shoulders. You smile at him in a way which could be friendly or threatening. “You understand, yes?”

The fear is once again wiped from his face and replaced by indignation. “Don’t touch me."

Normally you would have been highly offended by such rudeness – especially from a child of all things – but this time you simply couldn’t be upset no matter how hard you tried. Why? Simply put, it was because he was absolutely adorable. That jutted lower lip mixed with such raw hatred...lovely.

This child was every demons dream.

Cupping his cheeks – and ignoring his protests in the process – you lean in close, fighting the urge to take another lick of his porcelain skin. You grin.

“We are going to have a lot of fun together, my young lord.”

Chapter 2: A Kitten's Greed (Sebastian X Neko¡Reader)

Chapter Text

Dedicated to my dear friend ScreechingLife

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another sneeze.

That’s the fifth one in twelve minutes.

Sebastian placed a slice of Gateau au chocolat in front of the young Earl with narrowed eyes. “Are you coming down with a cold, Master?” He removed an embroidered handkerchief from his breast pocket and proceeded to wipe the snot currently escaping the teenagers’ reddened nose.

Shock flittered across Ciel’s face before anger – caused by embarrassment, no less – contorted his features. He slapped the butler’s hand away with a scowl. “Don’t be ridiculous; I don’t get sick and I certainly don’t need you to clean my nose. I’m not an invalid.”

Amusement danced in a pair of crimson orbs. “Did I overstep my boundaries? My apologies, Master. In the future, I shall stand aside whilst you spread your mucus over every surface.”

Ciel’s eyes narrowed faintly as they peered over the top of the paperwork in his hand. “Don’t get cheeky.”

Sebastian simply smiled and stood off to the side as Ciel set down the paperwork and took a bite of his cake. But then the young Earl’s face became rigid. His nose twitched, azure eyes turning watery. Sebastian glanced at him with furrowed brows, the top half of his body angling away slightly as the young Earl sneezed, mucus and cake crumbs splattering across the desk.

An awkward silence settled over the room as the pair stared at one another.

“Just walk away,” Ciel eventually grumbled, dark lines covering his face.

Sebastian didn’t need to be told twice.

“As you wish, my Lord.”

The demon butler departed and smiled once alone in the hallway. There was no mystery as to why his young master was currently suffering: you had returned. He removed his pocket watch to check the time. Ah, right on schedule; your punctuality was impeccable.

Sebastian made his way to the kitchen, locking the door behind him after ensuring none of the other members of staff were lurking. “Now...where are you hiding?” He murmured, crimson orbs doing an acute sweep of the area.

And there you were, hiding; your long, lustrous tail swayed in a way that was most enticing – it was enough to have the butler’s cheeks turn a lovely shade of pink.

Sebastian stalked forward and peeled open the pantry door even more to find you stooped behind a few hefty bags of flour, a slice of crustless bread in your possession. Your head shoots up, startled, causing an amused smile to spread across Sebastian’s face.

“Must we go through this rigmarole every day? If you desire something to eat, you need only ask.”

Removing your fangs from the slice of bread, you leave the pantry and straighten up. “You criticise despite knowing I’ll never change – perhaps instead of trying to reform me, you simply plan ahead and greet me with something tasty that I can sink my fangs into.”

One dark brow arches. “You wound me, my Lady; all this time I was led to believe that I was the tasty morsel in which you cared to sink your fangs into.”

A soft noise of amusement slips from your lips and you smile. “You are, but despite how delicious you may be, a lady still requires an entrée before digging into the main course.”

The butler shakes his head in a manner which insinuates you were a troublesome child. “A proper lady knows not to be so greedy.”

Your ears perk at the slight disapproval woven into those words. It would appear that he was in one of his ‘moods’ again; they occurred typically after a particularly strenuous day of dealing with the young Earl of Phantomhive - however, he knew better than to take his bitter exasperation out on you.

Cupping his chin, you offer a pout which could be taken as an act of condescension, “Our tongue has clearly tasted sour grapes today, hasn’t it?” Your hand retracts and you turn your back on him. “If you’re not going to fawn over me today then there’s really no point in staying.”

Unexpectedly, the demon chuckles, a low and husky sound which causes goosebumps to rise on your skin. An arm slithers around your waist and the firm line of Sebastian’s body suddenly presses against your back. “Stubborn and greedy,” he purrs, the damp heat of his breath tickling your ear, “what an entitled kitten we are.”

The gentle caress of gloved fingers does not go unnoticed and you find yourself mewling, already close to melting in his embrace.

“I suppose I only have myself to blame,” he sighs, though the corners of his mouth quirk upwards into a faint smirk. “After all, I have spoiled you.”

A pleasurable shiver shoots down the length of your spine upon feeling the moist flick of a tongue across your cheek. “You love spoiling me,” you force out, the words a mere whisper. Damn this creature. Everything about him was so intoxicating – and the bastard knew it.

He turns you around in the circle of his arms and cups your chin, the pad of his thumb smoothing over your bottom lip. “How could I not? When I first saw you, you were far too irresistible to ignore – those large and frightened eyes, those perfectly pointed ears raised in alarm, that irresistibly coloured tail bristled and damaged.” He smiled, the tip of his finger slipping past your lips and grazing your tongue. “So frail. So dependent. I couldn’t just leave you out in the cold.”

In the back of your mind, you couldn’t help but wonder whether or not the amount of delight he received from your previous incompetency should concern you, but you came to realise after months of being treated like an invalid, that he rather enjoyed having you rely on him...or more that he loved to dote on you. Bathing, feeding, even dressing – whatever it was you needed, he gave.

Your fingers curl into the lapels of his tail coat, “Will you continue to spoil me, Sebastian? No one treats me as good as you do.”

Crimson orbs flash and a set of fangs reveal themselves when he smiles. “I find it rather unnecessary to ask such a question.” He takes your hand in his and his lips sweep upwards from your knuckles to the exposed skin of your neck, “To hold out my hand and save you from the darkness is what I’m here for after all.” He meets your eye and smirks. “And I’m not particularly fond of the idea of someone else trying to lead my kitten astray, especially after it took me so long to tame her.”

You scoff and angle your head away from him in a stubborn manner. “Tame? You flatter yourself, darling; no man can tame me.”

The sound of his laughter occupied the kitchen, and if the sound wasn’t so delicious, you probably would have slapped him. Or at least tried to.

“Is that so?”

He smiled and something flashed within his eyes. Next thing you knew, you were sandwiched between the wall and hard line of Sebastian’s body, his face hovering dangerously close to your own.

“S-Sebastian!” You gasp, breathless, crimson slowly devouring your body as both hands are suddenly pinned to the wall above.

His voice lowers to a deep and seductive purr, “Clearly I’m going to have to try even harder this time.”

Chapter 3: Fear Won't Last (Agni x Reader) (Modern AU)

Chapter Text

Social Anxiety Disorder • SAD • Social Phobia •

--------------------------------------------------

Meaning:

A chronic mental health condition in which social interaction causes irrational anxiety.

------------------------------------------------

The first encounter had been a mere accident.

Cersei Lannister's permanent conniving smirk remained frozen on the television screen whilst you lolloped about in the kitchenette, preparing a hot drink and something sweet to sink your teeth into.

The thunderstorm that had been impertinent enough to negate yesterday's promising forecast had finally begun to settle down, now leaving only the comforting pattering of raindrops against the windows in its place. Not that you minded the more miserable side of the weather – it was actually the perfect atmosphere for a relaxing day at home crammed with television and fatty foods.

During the short journey back to the couch, you can't help but steal an innocently curious glance outside the window, or more specifically, into the apartment directly across the street. You hadn't meant to be a nosey Nellie, but it was a lovely apartment – so much nicer than your own. Expensive furniture, immaculate, exquisite artwork...truly an interior worthy of admiration.

A flash of exotic olive skin captured your attention.

And that's when you saw him.

The man with the silver eyes.

He must have only moved in recently for you were fairly certain that apartment previously belonged to a middle-aged fellow morally opposed to showering.

But this man...

As though sensing someone gawking, the man abruptly paused mid push up and angled his head towards the window. He caught your eye and held your unwavering stare.

Now a normal person would have hastily turned away by now after getting caught, but you were unable to move. Fear kept you firmly rooted to the floorboards, unwilling to relinquish its possessive grasp. Those piercing orbs of molten gold tore open your chest and invaded your soul; even though being wrapped up in a pair of fluffy pyjamas, you had never felt so naked and exposed.

Then he smiled, and the chains that bound you were broken.

With a frightened squeak, you rushed towards the window and yanked the curtains shut, keeping you safe from the world's prying eyes.

At least for the time being.

********************

The second encounter occurred a few days later.

Wrapped in nothing but a towel and free of burdens, you danced jovially around the lounge, belting out lyrics in time with the Hamilton soundtrack currently blaring in the background – for those twenty minutes, you were Alexander Hamilton.

You prance across the rug, gaining momentum, and leap onto the couch cushions. You dip and sway, bounce and wiggle, all for an imaginary audience.

Or so you thought...

Turns out there sat one highly invested onlooker across the street; sultry lips had curled upwards into an amused smile when first catching sight of you attempting to perform a pirouette, only to lose your balance and flop haphazardly onto the couch with a giggle. His smile morphed into a grin when you finally looked over, (colour) eyes blinking owlishly.

How long had he been watching?!

Nearly choking on your own humiliation, you scramble off the couch and fumble towards the window with the intent of closing the curtains. But once touching the heavy fabric, you find yourself pausing, and instead redirect your undivided attention to the silver-eyed stranger.

Why was he smiling? Rarely anyone even glanced in your direction, let alone smile – and without a single trace of mockery!

The man raised a hand and waved.

You would have reciprocated had you not been more inclined to admire the defined, deliciously toned muscles decorating his shoulder and arm. When he lowered his arm, those muscles moved and rippled under satin looking skin.

You find your gaze automatically drawn to him despite the fear currently worming its way into your heart. There was something hypnotic about this individual. Something that went beyond the perfectly sculpted torso he so proudly left on display for all the neighbours to ogle. He must have been working out again if those flushed cheeks and glistening bare chest were anything to go by. You try not to come off as a pervert by allowing your eyes to freely roam his body, but it was difficult to ignore the tantalising sight of a V-line peaking out over the dipping waistband of black sweatpants.

After a highly thorough visual examination, your eyes finally settle on his face, just in time to catch his eyes finishing their own perusal.

And then you shut the curtains.

******************

The third meeting...

You had been confronted by rhythmic rap upon the front door one evening, which was extremely peculiar – for the past three years residing in the same apartment, not one person had come to visit, which is what your heart desired. To be quite honest, you doubted many people were actually aware of your existence.

The walls appeared to be closing in with each hesitant step taken towards the door, the air decreasing until only shallow sips of breath were attainable.

Silver eyes were the first thing to greet you.

His smile was warm and genuine; he had come to visit in hopes of striking up a conversation, apparently intent on getting to know you better. But your fear would not allow that. He was too close. Far too close. Your personal space was being invaded and you didn't much care for it.

A large male hand slammed against the wooden surface of the door when you went to slam it in his face, only serving to create additional stress for your person, but this exotic stranger failed to take notice of how distraught you were becoming. Instead he introduced himself – Agni was his name – and asked for an invitation inside – though that was an invitation which you hastily declined. More force was applied to the door on your end but it had little to no impact.

My, my, the man was persistent.

Most women would probably find such a trait to be endearing, but for you it was nothing short of an inconvenience.

It was obvious the look of distress upon your face went unnoticed as Agni continued speaking, hoping to obtain as much information from you as possible; what your name was, what you did for a living, if you were currently involved with someone, what your hobbies were, how you spend your evenings, if you'd like to grab a drink sometime?

But all you could do was choke out breathless strings of nonsensical stammers and incomprehensible syllables, feeling beads of perspiration poise delicately upon your hairline. The familiar sting of tears is the cue your bottom lip needed in order to begin quivering.

Crying before a stranger...how humiliating.

Agni seems taken aback by the reaction to his persistence and his hand slips from the door, granting you the opportunity to swiftly throw the door closed, locking it for good measure.

You have just enough time to shout an apology before hearing him disappear down the hallway.

****************

Agni raises his glass to the window with a smile warm enough to melt butter.

Your own glass is raised.

Were anyone to cast an inquisitive glance in your direction, they'd no doubt come to the conclusion that you had fallen victim to insanity. But they would be wrong. For if they looked hard enough, they would eventually see that, despite there being no one else in the apartment, you were in no way alone.

Agni presses an open notebook firmly against the window of his apartment. You look beautiful is scrawled across the pages in letters large enough for you to read from your current position.

Interaction of this sort had been occurring on a daily basis for the past two weeks. You still couldn't understand why the man was so relentless in his pursuit of your affections, but the amount of effort he put into creating some type of relationship with you was incredibly flattering. No one had ever gone through so much trouble solely for you, so when he offered an invitation to dinner, you had to accept.

Of course, it wasn't what anyone would call a typical dinner; you'd much rather be by his side, feeling the soft, hot touch of his hand across a dinner table, losing yourself in the intoxicating scent of men's cologne, rather than being tucked away in your apartment having to fantasize. But you weren't ready to take such a humungous step, and somehow, Agni understood and accepted such a fact.

With your own notebook ready and waiting by your hand, you flip to a fresh page. You're going to make me blush again. You hold it up for him to read.

There was that gorgeous smile again.

If that happens, it means I'm doing a good job!

As if on cue, heat clawed its way onto your cheeks, leaving you to momentarily wonder if Agni could see the effect he had on you from where he sat.

You give a shake of your head. So cocky!

I believe the word you're looking for is ‘confident'.

Hmm...no. No, cocky was definitely the right word. I could have been rude and used the word ‘arrogant' instead.

His hand shoots upwards and clutches at his chest. You know where to strike so it hurts!

A soft laugh slips from your lips and you rest your elbows atop the table, taking a few seconds to admire him. There was a new beauty to his face every time you saw him. In the beginning it was mostly physical attributes, such as the unique colour of his eyes, or the perfectly sculpted physique which he allowed you to ogle as much as your heart desired. But lately, you could notice the things not everyone could; there was always a glimmer within his eyes whenever the pair of you conversed, or a smile which always threatened to split his face in half the moment your eyes connected, or the way he'd continuously steal glances into your apartment when he believed you weren't paying close enough attention. They were only little things, but they were what mattered most.

Agni wiggles his notebook against the glass to earn your attention. You're staring.

You smile softly. Is that a bad thing?

No. As long as you don't mind being stared at in return?

If you're the one doing the staring, then I don't mind.

He sets his notebook aside and places both hands against the glass, which compels you to do the same. It was crazy. You both were close enough to see one another's entire life, yet it felt as though there was so much more than a narrow street separating you – keeping you from being together.

Guilt had your hands falling from the glass and towards the notebook.

You needed to know.

Why are you doing this?

Even from here, it was easy to spot the confusion contorting such handsome features. He picks up his own notebook. Doing what?

Wasting time on a lost cause.

I don't understand.

Agni...surely you can't be happy with this arrangement? I'm not, and I'm the one that's keeping us divided! How can you be so willing to accept this situation?

Agni brings the marker to his lips and reads your words over and over again. You watch him with bated breath, fearing his response.

He begins to write, holding up his answer a minute later. I know what it's like to be consumed by fear. Every day is a struggle. A battle no one else can see. But fear is never permanent. It goes away. And until that happens, I will be here, waiting to help you take the next step.

Something clicks inside of you after reading those words.

You find yourself writing a response before your brain even has a chance to comprehend it. You press it against the window.

I'm ready to take the next step...♡

[thatgirlonstage]

@reijys tyty this was very sweet to write. I like it when Lizzy and Sebastian gang up on Ciel lol

———

“I can really pick any of them?” Lizzy made a slow pirouette as she took in the displays, eyes dancing. “You’re very sure you won’t mind?”

“It’s nothing,” Ciel said, attempting to burrow into his collar to disguise his pinking cheeks. “I want you to— like every part of your outfit.” He finished the sentence on a mutter, but he did finish it. Lizzy beamed at him.

“I believe what my lord is attempting to say,” Sebastian volunteered from the corner, “is that he knows how excited you are for Lady Maribel’s ball, and he insisted multiple times that we ensure that excitement was protected.”

“Shut up, Sebastian.”

Lizzy leaned in and, before Ciel could move out of the way, pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you,” she said. “I mean it.”

“Perhaps my lady would like to start with these?” Sebastian held out a pair of white lace-up ankle boots, with blue and pink flowers handstitched along the sides, and a slim, elegant, three-inch heel.

“You do so have exquisite taste,” Lizzy said, taking the shoes. She grinned at him. “Now, make sure my fiancé doesn’t run off while I’m trying them on, won’t you?”

Sebastian ignored Ciel’s splutter to give Lizzy a bow, not bothering to mask his amusement. “With pleasure, my lady.”

I need to write something gentle. Someone send me soft prompts

[undertaker1827]

Hey! Are you taking requests? If so can you do a hc based on episode: 20 where Sebastian is captured by Angela (but instead of ciel, Sebastian is actually serving the reader who's a lady of high nobility) and when the reader notices sebastian absence immediately tries to save him and later help him w his wounds, like I know Sebastian might not need any help but I'm curious what his reaction might be to someone being genuinely worried about him and willing to"protect him"?

Yes I am, and I have to be honest and say I haven’t watched the anime for a while, but here goes and hope you enjoy!

Masterlist

-

You noticed Sebastian was missing very quickly, as he was literally always by your side

To say your heart leapt into your throat would be an understatement, but you hid it well, being a lady of nobility you knew how to keep a political mask and a straight face

Internally you were somewhat less calm, but you still didn’t panic, you simply went through a list of possibilities and whittle them down until you only had a few options for where exactly Sebastian could be and what may have happened to him

Once you got through that, you went over the same process to work out how you planned to find out where he was and then get to him

In the end, you decided your only choice was to openly leave then be hasty as you went about tracking down where your butler had gotten to, before somebody caught you and sent you back to the room you had been asked to wait in

You could tell there was something wrong with him - it was just a sort of connection your had, likely due to the glowing contract sign sealed into your skin - and it seemed serious to you, so once you had a vague idea planned out of the direction in which you would go looking for him, you took off

It went wrong fairly quickly despite your best efforts

A man dressed all in white who put you in the mind of some sort of guard discovered you attempting to break into the third room along the second pristine white corridor you ran into, quickly grabbing your arm and pulling your back harshly

You dug your heels in and tried to twist out of his hold, leaving him dragging you along as you attempted to escape

That was when you yelled for Sebastian, hoping he would arrive and be able to save you

You never needed to doubt him as it turned out; your rescue was swift and deadly efficient

That said, as soon as he scoops you up into his arms to escape from that horrible building, your own fear builds up in your chest once again

Your demon’s clothing is ripped and torn, shirt hanging in crimson tatters from his bloody shoulders

His chest too is laced with deep, vicious lacerations that make you want to cringe, and though you do your best not to show your knee jerk reaction, of course he notices your sudden change in emotion from the relieved state you had been in just moments prior

“My apologies, my lady,” he tells you formally, “I should never have allowed you to see me in this state. I will clean myself immediately on return to the manor-”

“That’s not what I’m concerned about!”

You can’t help but interrupt him at this point, utterly horrified that he thinks you’re concerned about his appearance rather than his well being

“My lady…” he murmurs, eyebrows raising slightly in shock

He’s trying to work out what exactly he has done to earn your anger, why you would be displeased with his successful rescue of you

It isn’t until you’re almost back to the manor (only a few minutes really, given Sebastian’s supernatural speed) that you finally speak again

“It’s you I worry about; I could care less about your appearance when you’ve been injured so badly”

The demon’s shock returns tenfold, though it quickly gives way to a devious smirk and a glint in his amber eyes

“My lady,” he coos in an entirely different tone to the one he had been using just moments prior, “Do not tell me now that you’ve become so attached to me that you’re worrying about me beyond how you should concern yourself with a servant?”

The words are teasing, accompanied with a playful hum that your feel reverberate through his chest and into your side from how he is still carrying you bridal style

A little heat rises to your cheeks and you glance away, but the playful grin he gives you lets you know that he knows he’s gotten to you

You say nothing more for the remainder of the journey back to your townhouse, but you prevent him from going anywhere as soon as he closes the front door behind you

“Sebastian, please be honest with me. Are you alright?” You speak seriously, yet still that little smirk is just a hint at the corner of his lips

“Always, my lady,” he replies softly, “do not concern yourself with me.”

He could say that a thousand times over, you decide then, but it would still not induce you to do as he says

“At least let me help with your injuries,” you offer at length, unable to think of much else your could do

Your words startle a surprised, delighted, chuckle from him

His eyes light up as he considers the implications

You, a mortal, and his contractor no less, are more worried about his superficial damage as a practically invincible demon than you are about your own considerably more important and longer lasting damage from being effectively held captive? That’s simply too good

“That won’t be necessary my lady, though I truly appreciate the gesture”

He fails to keep the amusement from his voice

“I apologise to have to ask this of you, but please take a seat in the drawing room until I return to take care of you after what has been something of a stressful day. I shall only be a few moments.”

His tone leaves no room for argument so you do as he says, and the butler who returns to you in less than five minutes is just as pristine and perfect as the one you had left the house with earlier that day

He can still sense your surprise even if you attempt to mask it, and he just gives a knowing smile before setting to work on his duties as an exemplar butler once more

[toysoldiers-rwby]

[CS] 10. Learning Pains

Cutting Strings

Characters: Penny Polendina, Aurora Glade, Winter Schnee, May Marigold Word Count: 5.5k

Everything crumbles under a weak foundation.

Read on Ao3

PREV - NEXT  

Faunus Oddities: 1  

Penny looked down at Aro, watching her carefully. She breathed in, and in, and in. So deep Penny thought she was part Aquarian mammal. On the exhale she pressed her hand firmly, but gently to avoid waking her up, on Aro’s exposed cleavage, as close to the center of her lungs as possible-  

“Wha…”  

Penny locked her joints. She could feel several hydrolic system stiffen, making her jerk anyway. Thankfully Aro was exhausted from yesterday’s combat class. Her scared ears twitch and she cuddled her pillow, hair splayed out without any horns to cradle it in.  

Winter and May looked mildly amused but mostly confused. Winter cleared her voice, speaking in a normal volume this time. “What, pray tell, are you doing Ms. Polendina?” Winter asked, her voice faux professional. Her cool mask soften by slight tilt of her lips and raised brow. Though she did still held her hands behind her back.  

“I’m trying to figure out if Aro purrs,” Penny answered.  

“Can’t feel it even though you laying on her?” Winter asked, her voice perfectly leveled. May grabbed her shoulder biting a finger to refrain from laughing. She did snort when Penny stuck her tongue out at her.  

“My sense of touch is… not sensitive.” Penny answered carefully. It was a wonder her father got it working at all. Penny settled back on Aro again, careful not to knock her leg off of the couch. Penny had missed her chance to gather data and had to wait. Again Aro took a deep breath that went on far too long. Long enough for May to comfortably lean against the back of the couch and for Winter to hover next to her.  

On the exhale Penny placed her hand back on Aro’s cleavage. Luckily organic beings had remarkably even breathing when they sleep, so it was easy for Penny to keep an even pressure-  

"I definitely heard something," May mubmled, understandably skeptical. “But she’s a goat Faunus.”  

“Feel it!” Penny grabbed her hand and dragged it to Aro’s chest. She tried to pull it out but Penny adjusted her grip and strength.  

“This is so inappropriate!” May hissed, blood quickly rising to her cheeks. “You fell asleep on her again! It’s alright if you- well not touch but- but!” Penny pouted and let go. May barely stopped herself from flying backwards.  

“You said it was bad to touch strangers without asking.”  

“This is, it’s different- Winter!?” May’s voice took on an odd strangled and restricted tone as she failed to stop from yelling. Winter had placed a hand on Aro’s chest and another delicately around her neck. Penny was a little worried about how much blood seemed to be in May’s face but she was also enthralled at the pressure Winter needed to maintain around Aro’s neck. “What are you doing?!”  

“Trying to listen and feel, Marigold.” Winter answered. She leaned in and closed her eyes, ear directed at Aro. Finally on the next exhale there was that soft sound again. Winter nearly jumped. Instead she pressed just a little more on the hand on Aro’s chest until the noise drifted off. “Aurora purrs.”  

“I told you!”  

"She does not! She’s a goat." May yelled back.  

“I didn’t peg you as a racist.”  

Winter jerked back while Penny and May screamed. Thankfully the deaf women didn’t wake up startled. Instead she roused gently from all the movement. Penny made an odd noise. Perhaps a yelp as she was suddenly shifted and held. Aro had clasp a hand on her should to leverage herself into a sitting position while her other one was on Penny’s waist to make sure she didn’t fall off. The metal women went from nestled atop Aro to in her lap.  

Penny stilled trying to calm her processors. Her father was able to upgrade a few drivers to better accommodate all the physical sensations but the artificial skin wasn’t meant to be artificial, but rather synthetic, in combination with organic analysis and inputs. Too much all at once caused her Aura to glitch her systems, a flood warmth and power to hardware that didn’t need it. Such as the one that simulated dopamine and serotonin.  

From the kitchen Xanthic and Ciel grinned and sneered. Xanthic looked at May and Winter, signing something. Penny’s sign language has gotten better but she didn’t feel accomplished when the only sign she recognized was ‘forget’.  

“Did ya’ll forget my house is bugged?” May whispered to Winter. The Specialist groaned into a hand. Aro snapped her fingers, getting their attention and signing at them with a frown. May cleared her throat and translated. “What… are you all doing?”  

“These idiots,” May pointed at Winter and Penny. “Was trying to find out… if you purred.” May said.  

Aro nodded. Though in understanding or confirmation was unsure. She paused to wake up a little more. She stretched her back and arms high above her head. Penny watch, her shoulders and arms flexed. She could see the muscles in her neck and shoulder jerk. From Penny’s place on her lap she could feel several joints pop back in place.  

Lazily reaching for May’s hand she pressed it firm on her bralette covered chest, fingers splayed wide. May let out a strangled noise body tense and blood rushing to her head. Her posture relaxed a little when a deep and loud rumble vibrated from Aro’s entire torso.  

Penny tensed. Nearly feeling her Aura surged to several systems. Particularly her visual analysis, which was for some reason searching out May’s reaction, and her incomplete sensation of touch.  

May took her hand back, signing back to Aurora. “Okay, okay. The goat can purr.” Aro gave a tired and crooked grin, ears wiggling slowly and lethargically. Penny allowed her leader to slide her onto the couch.  

“Shall I get ready now or make breakfast first?” Xanthic translated this time.  

“Get ready now.” May said, her signs stressing ‘now’. Aurora laughed, grabbing the baggy shirt from the armrest and walking up the stairs. Penny noted how May’s eyes traveled Aurora’s form, lingering where the shirt barely covered her bare thighs and boy shorts. Winter’s gaze was similar to Penny’s brushing across her neck and chest.  

Once out of sight, May practically collapsed over the couch. She had a hand over her chest. Her heart must be beating hard, trying to spread her blood across her body instead of just pooling at her cheeks, ears and neck.  

“I’m dead. This had to be a dream.”  

“I don’t think the dead can dream,” Penny said a little slowly. Her commentary was usually interpreted as ‘snark’ rather than facts. But Winter and Ciel laughed so Penny didn’t mind too much.  

“Considering how tame that was it’d consider it a nightmare.” Xanthic called from the kitchen. “You’ve been crushing on her for what? Five years and not even fucking in your dreams?”  

“I don’t know it definitely had that softcore porn vibe until you interrupted,” Ciel said, her dry tone-  

“Wait, what?!” Penny asked. She felt her circuits nearly frying. Her general knowledge included basic sex education. Basic. Between human men and women. For analytical reasons she was able to recognize signs arousal and simulation but her processors struggled to directly link her own actions to intercourse.  

It was easier when she remembered how flush May was. With new context her processes suddenly rewrote May’s lingering gaze as ‘hungry’ and Winter’s hands on Aurora changed to possessive. Then dominating.  

“Oh.” Penn took a deep breath, trying to cool down her power unit. Her temperature was slowly increasing to dangerous limits. Luckily Winter handed her a glass of water and she gulped it down. Penny will have to do more research… Perhaps she’ll request Aro to make her one of those backdoor Scrolls.  

Morning classes was a little difficult to focus on. As students of the Accelerated Program their schedule was altered to focus on their strengths and smooth out any weaknesses. Team APCX was smart, as a team their academic scores passed most fourth years so they focused heavily on combat training, Grimm studies, and military vehicles and other equipment.  

Physical Conditioning was in their morning routine. While the other students try their best to regulate their behavior around Aurora and Xanthic, they prefer to completely avoid them locker rooms. They were too intimidated by the pair, even if their civilian lifestyle meant their bodies weren’t as tone.  

Those brave enough to share the same row of lockers as Team APCX were also controlled enough not to stare. Unlike Penny who took far too long to change. Her eyes constantly wandered to Aurora.  

“Soo,” This time Aro held Penny’s stare. She crossed her arms under her sports bra, “Any other Faunus related curiosities I can satisfy?”  

“I think I’m legally obligated to stop you two from fucking,” Xanthic said in her usual dead drawl, “It’d be unfair to May.”  

“Blatantly ignore the actual law in front of your Officer teammate,” Ciel scowled. She then looked at Penny and Aro. No matter how hard Penny tried to focus her gaze on the floor her peripherals kept her alert to any movement. “Serious request, no more softcore porn.”  

“You two should fuck if that’s where your mind goes. They were being completely appropriate,” Aro laughed. Her voice was loud and ringing in the locker rooms. Penny was vaguely aware of clothes shuffling and metal clacking against metal as lockers closed. “Hold on, I got another Faunus secret to show off.” Aro pushed off her locker and walked towards the more populated area in nothing but her sports bra and boyshorts.  

Ciel and Xanthic sneered as there were some shocked noises. A gasp of surprised and louder slamming lockers. A few of the shyer students hurried out of the locker rooms.  

“Hey Neon.”  

“Good morning Aro! How badly did you piss off General Ironwood to get Conditioning in the morning.”  

“As bad as you, it seems.” Aro laughed. “Can I brow your nunchakus?”  

“Of course- Oh! Are you gonna show them your freckles!!”  

“… It was a surprise.”  

Neon Katt came around the corner, dragging Aro behind her. Unlike Team APCX she was partially change for a military work out.  

“Fun fact! A lot of nocturnal Faunus,” Neon stressed, eyes on Aro who only rolled her glowing ones in return. “And some other types have a secondary coloring only visible under UV and neon lights!” She cracked her nunchakus, a bright purple light imitating out, then held them to Aro’s skin. Under the violent glow bright blue and pinks dotted her cheeks and down her neck. Further down there were intricate… patterns across her chest…  

Penny had to focus really hard on the scientific mysterious to keep her hands from wandering. It was easier to put them in nonsexual context when Neon shined the glowing nunchakus on her torso. Her pattering was large sports that grew into large planes. It wasn’t as intricate or bright.  

“Wow, that sure is interesting to my cybernetic eyes,” Xanthic drawled. Neon and Penny giggled as the hacker finished dressing for class. "I’ll wait outside and stall if you idiot take too long with the anatomy lesson."  

“You seriously need to get laid,” Neon taunted. She slipped her shirt completely on and following her out. “I’m sure Ivori would-”  

“I’m like 20… Wait I think 21. Find someone older.”  

Their chatter slowly faded among the crowd. Ciel held her Scroll to her locker, and was satisfied when it clicked closed. She left and Penny focused on changing, trying to keep her eyes forward even as her partner waited patiently.  

“No more Faunus questions…” Aurora’s teasing tone drifted off. She closed her eyes briefly, ears shifting around out of habit as she focused her senses through her aids. Penny paused, waiting for her to continue and was a little startled when her hand was suddenly on her abdomen. Her processors struggled with the input. The area wasn’t as vulnerable as organic ones but it wasn’t a common area to be touched. Perhaps May had a point about inappropriate touching and asking permission.  

Aro to lean in and splay her hand wide across her artificial skin. The pressure she applied gradually increasing, glowing eyes watching her hands. Her artificial skin didn’t give as much as organic ones…  

“Penny, there is no one in the else in the room.” Aurora whispered. The tone was tense. Her power unit slowly leveled its output, the simulators mimicking serotonin gradually stopping. For a moment. Aro’s hand brushed a completely flat surface.  

Organics had belly buttons.  

“How much of you is metal? Is… is this why I never see you eat anything solid?”  

“That’s…” Penny struggled to answer. Aro lifted her hand off her and took a step back. Her head and brows tilted with worry. There were so many protocols it choked her from saying what she wanted. “That’s classified.” Penny said. Pain flickered across Aro’s features before Focus could hid it. Penny never saw her ears pointed so low and she never wanted to see it that way again. Aro sared at her for a few moments before nodded and leaving the room quietly.  

Penny took a breath and rested her head against the cool metal locker. She stopped all thought that wished for the impossible, such as the simulations that weighed Winter and Aro’s reactions. Penny knew May would be furious. The Happy Huntresses would steal Elm’s rocket launcher and shoot it at General Ironwood.  

Penny slapped her cheeks and focused.  

Her next test was the Vytal Festival a few months away. Perhaps if she does well Ironwood would feel safe and confident enough tell Winter…  

Neon and Aro was already on the track, stretching. This time Harriet was able to join them, adjusting settings to randomly create hard-light obstacles or even rotate the individual tracks backwards or forwards.  

Ciel and Xanthic were doing more general body conditioning with Flint and Ivori. As Accelerated students they were privileged to the more advance training equipment but also had higher expectations. She could see Xanthic eye the panel their instructor was using to set up the usual suicides run and weights. Ciel elbowed her partner, a warning glare to not hack the technology.  

A loud explosion signaled the start of the speedster’s race, plus Aro. For once the mechanic was leading right from the start. Harriet seemed to struggle to catch up, her semblance needing a warm up to reach top speeds.  

For those with well-conditioned bodies and above average strength, Atlas Academy decided to focus on strength and Aura. Penny and Kobalt went through their usual warm ups at their own pace. Penny did it to blend in at first, but found that it helped her Aura and power unit prioritize and optimized her systems.  

Her conditioning consisted of maintaining high Aura concentrations to bolster their physical bodies and further increase their offensive and defensive capabilities. Kobalt was skeptical of Penny at first. But after the first day of taking metal fist to her sides with little damage to her Aura levels he looked at her as a challenger. The rest of team FNKI and APCX were worried. That expression slowly stopped after the first few days but sometimes Ivori or Ciel would stare a little long. Aro adjusted much slower.  

“Aah, fuck!” Her face slammed right into a hard-light barrier and she stumbled back. Neon laughed, passing her and taking second. The mechanic didn’t get up right away, instead looking at Penny with guilty eyes.  

Penny looked away first and focused on her Aura before each impact from the robot’s fist. She tried to ignore the several blast that rang out from the track. After defensive conditioning, Penny’s next exercise was continuous Aura control. She’ll push a heavy block of metal, only unlocking the gears that bolt it down when her Aura level was at the threshold. Below and it would lock. If it was below for too long the block would slowly reset and push Penny back to the starting point.  

By the time their hour and half Conditioning class was done both Teams were exhausted.  

“I hate it when Harriet joins,” Neon mumbled as they walked into the lockers. “All we do is run!”  

“My legs are on fire…” Aro mumbled. This time Aro wandered directly into the showers, not bothering with her clothes or even closing the stall as she stood under the cool stream. It hissed angrily at her augments, cloud of steam quickly filling the showers.  

Penny stared at her for a moment. Normally she would gather her clothes and slipped into another stall, opening her own vents and letting the cold water chill her systems. But Aurora really pushed her prosthetic this time. She was able to overtake Harriet twice. She even in regular sparing it would overheat. While not on literal fire, the temperature could be dangerous.  

“Would you like some assistance in removing your prosthetics?” She asked.  

“No softcore porn!” Xanthic said. Some students chuckled softly, too exhausted to be shy. Neon let out a whistle.  

Aro didn’t reply or respond.  

Penny looked closer. She didn’t see the blue glow of her eyes through the steam. She tried to calm the protocols that instantly went to the worse scenario. Her tired Aura seemed to awaken again, energy suddenly flooding her system. It ramped up, as Penny took a step for closer observation. She barely saw any glow from all of Aurora’s cybernetics and augments. She definitely could hear it humming loudly over the shower- Aro’s body suddenly buckled. Penny watched as all power in her legs flickering off.  

“Aurora!” Penny lunged forward, catching her. Her footing slid across wet tiles and she slammed with unfamiliar weight pressed on her. Penny took a sharp breath. The metal prosthetic really was at a dangerous temperature, even for her. She quickly adjusted to make sure her artificial skin didn’t melt. “Aurora!” Penny laid a hand across her forehead and pulled her hand back. The horns around her head was the same dangerous temperature, even when it was directly under the cold spray.  

“Move!” Xanthic shoved Neon and a few random students aside. In the hacker’s hands was Aro’s Scroll and red flashing warnings. “Agh! That idiot overheated- Neon! Get some medics!”  

“R-Right away!” Neon was out of the room, a rainbow trail lingering behind her.  

“Don’t!” Penny quickly stopped Xanthic from reaching out with her bare hands. “It’s too hot.” The hacker’s solution was to slip off her shirt, taking the extra time to thoroughly soak it in the water before wrapping it around the cybernetic legs.  

Penny felt around Aro’s skull for that hidden button for her aids. She ignored several warnings about temperature or how all her senses felt numb. She struggled to trace the cybernetics to a familiar spot she’d seen Aro press down on before. She didn’t flinch at the hot steam blowing in her face when she finally found the manual release.  

Everything was oddly numb but focused. Her own senses narrowed down to the single stall and Aro’s breathing. Every so often Xanthic’s voice would pierce the fog but Penny moved without conscious thought. Her hands felt around Aro’s thighs without order. Pressing on the manual release when she barely felt the seam.  

She murmured an apology, automatic and flat as Xanthic scrambled away from the steam. Penny released the other prosthetic and the hacker kicked the metal into another stall and turned the cold water on it. Penny was about to carry Aurora out but Xanthic stopped her.  

“Penny!” It took a few yells of her name for her to focus. Xanthic’s expression was nearly grounding. It was too conflicted, too concern to calm Penny down but it was enough to get her to listen. “Her… both of our augments are deeper than they look.” The hacker confessed.  

Penny braced the women against her own chest. It slowly turned into a hug. She faught the instinct to hold her tighter. She could barely differentiate Aro’s breathing from the spray of water. She knew a tight grip would only do more harm so Penny focused on what she could feel. Aro’s steady heartbeat against her own Aura wild chest.  

That grounded Penny. Xanthic pressed a well-hidden button at the base of Aro’s neck. After holding it down for three seconds, several slits along her skull but mostly her neck opened and vented out more steam.  

Aurora let out a low groan that rolled and vibrated through her chest. Physically Penny relaxed. She adjusted her hold on Aro to angle her better under the cold water. Internally she felt ready to combust herself. Fear driving her systems so hard they temporarily malfunctioned and now her processors were trying to fix corrupted or missing data. Penny dropped her head onto Aro’s shoulder. Her skin was much cooler now but still a dangerous 106 degrees.  

The last conscious thing Penny remembers is watching the medics lay a soaking wet yet still feverish Aurora Glade onto a stretcher and pushing her away. Harriet gave Penny a look that barely held any guilt. “Team APCX will be notified when she wakes up.”  

Her high cognitive functions didn’t return until lunch. She remembered a few hours after Aro feinted, Xanthic was called to assist in something regarding Aro’s technology. As Xanthic’s primary supervisor Ciel was forced to follow. Penny took notes throughout her classes with no real attention to what the instructors were saying. True to routine her body automatically wandered to the mess hall but Penny stopped. Without her teammates she had no reason to enter and pretend to be organic.  

“Salutation Penn!” May’s voice called out. Penny turned around to see the Huntress approaching her. She found herself burying her face into her shoulder, the pressure somewhat relieving the Aura building behind her eyes.  

“Hey, hey,” May gently whispered to her. Her hands rubbed up and down Penny’s back attempting to calm her down. “Aurora will be okay. She survived the journey from Menagerie to Atlas and several White Fang assassination attempts. She won’t die from her own augments.”  

Penny buried her face deeper into May’s shoulder and nodded. She knew it was an unreasonable feeling but her protocols, processors, no line of code knew how to rationalize the fear and worry. Instead the same thoughts looped as if it would answer herself. What if her overheating cybernetics caused permanent neural damage? What could she have done to prevent possible said damage? How much metal Aro had hidden under the surface? Then Xanthic’s suspicions of experimentation-  

Her thoughts clouded her analysis and kept spiraling until May pulled her into an unfamiliar area of the Academy. The dorms. APCX was one of the few teams that didn’t live together or on campus. Xanthic’s home was slowly becoming their usual base of operations but everyone also had their own places to retreat too.  

In the elevator May pushed the button for one of the highest floors. When it stopped she popped the ceiling open. “By the Brothers,” She chuckled, “Winter was right, they still haven’t fixed this yet.”  

“Where are we going?” Penny asked.  

“It’s a surprise!” May said as if it was a suitable answer. She easily jumped through the hatch and offered Penny a hand. The metal women tried smiled and a pretended to accept her help. The elevator shaft looked a little unkempt, with a large panel missing in between floors. Before them was an open crawl space dust and cobwebs caused May to hesitate long enough for lock on the elevator cable to open and it slowly lowered.  

“Ah, fuck!” May jumped into it and Penny followed after. Luckily the pair didn’t trip on each other. They barely had enough room to walk normally and getting tangled or pressed against each other would be uncomfortable for May. The Huntress pulled out her Scroll, illuminating the crawl space for herself.  

“Ugh. I remember this place being a lot bigger.” May muttered. Due to the thin space she occasionally bumped into her. Penny grabbed her hand and held onto it. It was a numb feeling and she wasn’t sure why she did it until May squeezed back and flashed her a small smile. Whatever locked Penny’s systems at minimum finally lifted enough to at least try and recuperate May’s efforts.  

“Can I get hints to where we are going?”  

“Depending on what you ask.” May answered.  

“Is it a restricted area?”  

May laughed, “Of course! Those make the best hideouts.”  

“Is it… surveillance?”  

May’s grin turned a little wicked for a moment, “Nope.”  

“Does Xanthic know about it?”  

May winked, “I’m the better spymaster.”  

Before Penny could ask any more question they reached the end of the crawl space. May carefully pushed the wall, trying to slide it up out of it slits. It took four tries but it eventually popped out and she slide it aside. She had forgotten it was in the middle of the day. Her internal clock had told her lunch would be finishing soon and she should be making her way to Military Machinery Operations class. She deleted the internal reminder and adjusted the aperture in her eyes to filter less light in.  

May stepped out onto a hidden platform, shadowed by another overhanging piece. The view was unobstructed by other buildings. While it wasn’t at the very edge of Atlas, it was tall enough to get a view of Mantle below and the white snow of Solitas that stretched around for miles.  

“Welcome to the… uh…” May’s boisterous voice quickly lost steam. Her cheeks flaring pink again.  

“I believe Robyn called it the Dove’s Nest-”  

“Winter!” Penny gasped and ran out. She stopped short of throwing herself onto the Specialist. Winter gave her a tired smile and relaxed into the misting white fur of her summon. This time an Alpha Manticore. It lounged on its side, completely at peace with being used as bedding for two. “Aro…” Her Faunus was curled at Winter’s side, eyes closed and those soft sleeping purrs rumbling from her.  

“Woah, slow, Penn.” May said quickly grabbing her shoulder. Penny didn’t even notice she was running again. She slipped her hand back into Penny’s and they walked closer. Aro was in a hospital gown, back completely bare but lower body covered in her boyshorts. Penny didn’t get a good look at her earlier, with all the steam and water obscuring her vision. Right now Aurora looked a little flush, skin a little damn… like she was recovering.  

“Is she doing better?” Penny asked.  

“Ideally,” Winter said with a frustrated sigh. “The hospital was making her… restless. So I took her here.” May let go of Penny’s hand and laid across the Manticore’s back and wings to reach Aro. She pressed a hand to seemly clammy skin. Winter glanced back at Penny who didn’t take another step. She smiled gently, completely free of the image she needed to maintain on military grounds. It reached her eyes. It didn’t have a literal glow like Aro’s but it did seem to light up, “My summons are completely under my control. Perfectly harmless unless I wish otherwise.”  

Penny couldn’t help the skeptical twitch of her nose. The Specialist always sent constant waves of white Beowolves at her during training. Winter laughed at it, soft and light. The sound and sight of May with Aro melted Penny’s guard enough to approach the usually dangerous beast. Her self-improvement codes told her skin contacted optimized her ability to performed under emotional stress. She mildly wondered if the Manticore would fulfill that odd requirement.  

Penny slowly reached out. At first the Alpha Manticore didn’t feel like anything. Just a cool pressure against her hand. Then slowly her processors adjusted, focusing on the tingling cool against her skin. Still very faint. “It’s… soft and cold. Oh!”  

The Manticore took a deep breath, pushing firmly against Penny’s hand and letting out a growling exhale. Aro jumped a little startled. She immediately calmed seeing May’s face and barely looked around to see Penny or Winter. A happy but high pitched purr came from Aro as she learned back into May’s hand.  

“Morning, doll.”  

May didn’t answer but smiled, a light blush dusting her cheeks. With her eyes close and no aids communication was limited to sign and writing. May grabbed Aro’s other hand, fingers tracing words onto her palm.  

“I feel… hot. Dizzy. Headache.” Aro’s words slowly started to slur. May jumped over the Manticore, settling next to Aro. The mechanic immediately curled up to her chest. “I’m okay. Tell Penny I’m okay.”  

“She knows,” May murmured, writing the words onto her skin.  

Penny walked around, taking Aro’s previous spot next to Winter. Once against the cool furs Penny nearly drifted into sleep mode. Her Aura was pushed during training and her simulations and processers kept burning an excessive amount of energy as well as-  

“Penny,” Winter gently called out. Her hand slipped into hers and gave a tight squeeze. The pressure paused the spiraling line of through. “Are… are you alright? Xanthic and Ciel informed me that we you a little… despondent. After the accident.”  

Penny looked at May and Aurora. Her eyes kept wandering end of her form and the abrupt end at the nubs instead of the usual prosthetics. She frowned and looked back up at Winter, “I was so scared…” She did everything right and it might have not been enough. It wasn’t a problem she could fix. “I couldn’t-”  

“You did well and prevented any permanent damage.” Winter quickly interrupted. “Xanthic and Dr. Pietro are drafting upgrades. The problem was a faulty part from my father’s company.” She practically hissed out. The Manticore let out another growling exhale along with several other frustrated twitches. Particularly its tail, which hit May and Aro. The two grumbled, voice a little scratchy with sleep.  

Penny giggled watching the pair try to adjust into the Manticore again. This time Aro was more awake and restless. She’d whine and wiggle, elbowing May several times. With a tired groan May propped herself up and pet Aro’s hair slowly lulling the deaf women back to sleep. Winter and Penny giggled. The Manticore responded with slight jerks.  

“If you wake her up again I swear…” May scowled at her. Aro grumbled and complained, a bunch of slurred noises and not any real words. She did manage to nuzzle May’s hand, pulling it off her hair and pressing a kiss her wrist. All fight immediately left May. It looked as if her flight instincts kick instead. Though she didn’t move with Aro curling against her.  

“Sleep, doll.” Aro murmured, pulling May back down.  

Penny settled back into the soft furs of the summon. Slowly sleep mode turned power consuming functions. Combat analysis and Floating Array was set to standby. Those thoughts that kept her alert, ready to respond slowly faded. She watched the sky, content to listen to Winter’s giggle and May’s soft groans.  

“You should have kissed her back.”  

“Shut up. It’s not that easy.”  

“Oh?” Penny glanced at May who seemed to fidget under both their gazes. Kissing seemed like one of the easiest actions a Huntress could do. “It takes at least 2 muscles to kiss someone. 23 or 34 for more rigorous types.” May let out a panic noise, a little strangled as she was forced to restrain herself or wake Aro.  

“I-I’m not. There’s a time and place and heavily drugged and sedated isn’t it!”  

“Five more years won’t be the right time either.” Winter said. She settled on her side, half propped up to talk with May. Idly her thumb continued to brush the back of Penny’s hand though her grip slipped into a comfortable position and strength. “If you’re that much of a prude ask her out first.”  

“Oh that’s rich coming from a Schnee.”  

“I’m deaf but I can feel you idiots talking.” Aro loudly grumbled. “Go the fuck to sleep.” May grumbled and complained, up until Aro suddenly propped herself up. She pushed May’s back firmly against the Manticore and hovered over her for a few seconds. “Fucking. Sleep, Marigold.” Then she practically collapsed onto her chest. May dropped an arm across her eyes, face a vibrant red. Winter hid another giggle behind her hand and completely relaxed against her summon.  

Penny closed her eyes. Her low Aura levels and safe environment triggered Sleep mode, primary systems entering a low performance state and easing cognitive thought to the bottom of the power list. Power to her sensors was cut, limiting Penny to just her sense of touch and hearing. She couldn’t feel the soft Manticore fur or the cold it gave off, instead she barely registered Winter’s hand in hers. The soft purrs from Aro was temporarily hidden by May’s deep breaths, a little shaky from how hard her heart was beating. Sometimes she heard Winter and May but couldn’t truly process what they were saying.  

Oblivious relations: 4. Useless Lesbian: May Marigold. Penny Polendina.  

Error: System corrupted. Invalid analysis detected.

[ta0ken]

attachment – act i scene ii (3/??)

Just saying, the ages of Ciel and those around his ages (still figuring out the love interests) will most likely be raised since I'm not here to promote odd things (no, seriously). So, just a small note: Ciel's age is either 14-16, around those ages, but who knows, maybe I'll include Elizabeth as a love interest. Depends.

CHAPTER 2

YOU STOOD IN THE CORNER, staying quiet as the other three just rummaged around the room, looking for tea. You were zoning out a little when you had gone to your corner, so you weren't really sure what the others were saying. You instantly diverted your gaze, straining your ears for any sound. Ah, wait... you sweat-drop, I think...that the Earl and his butler is coming. You glance over at the door, awaiting the two to enter.

And once you did, you could hear the faint voice of Sebastian saying, "Sometimes, getting away from the mansion can be a good change of pace. Those four aren't accompanying us, so we should be able to enjoy some peace and quiet."

"Peace and quiet, huh?" Ciel's voice repeats the last part, his footsteps faintly approaching the door you were looking at.

I...somewhat feel bad for them. You only peek your head out of the corner, hearing the door click open. You only greet them by waving and went back to your corner.

"Grief! Just where have they hidden the tea in this house?"

"It's nowhere to be seen!"

"There's no way it would be in there!"

You didn't know why the Chinese man was looking into the pot for tea, but you chose to not say anything about it. Grell was looking through... something, you couldn't see very well, and Madam Red was looking through a shelf.

"Madam Red! Lau!" Ciel exclaims with shock, "Why are you here?"

"My, you're early!" she glances at him with a smile, turning away from what she was looking at.

Lau's lips slowly stretch into a smile as he says, "Since you have come, it must mean..."

"The Queen's Guard Dog is on the move, correct?" Madam Red finishes.

'Queen's Guard Dog'? you tilted your head, leaning your head against the wall with a raised brow. Huh, didn't know that they had titles for people who work under the Queen, you muse, glancing at the young boy. You rest your head on your knees, tearing your gaze away as you let out a small sigh. You were about to take a nap due to boredom, but you instantly jolt at the sound of your name being called.

"[Name]! Grell! Go help Sebastian," says Madam Red without sparing a glance at the two of you. Your eyes take in the rapid blinking from her, and you move to stand up.

The other butler ushers you, pushing you towards the direction Sebastian was heading to already. You scrunch your face, silently protesting and holding back a sigh as you follow the Phantomhive butler in the kitchen.

You bow your head to the black-haired butler, slowly slinking away to help provide the tea. You eye him from the corner of your eye, warily watching him as he prepares the pastries at great speed. Already, you had finished prepping the tea, so it was just ready to be served but you were more focused on Grell almost cutting their finger.

"[Name], do you mind serving the others the tea?" Sebastian requests you, giving you a small smile (it always seemed to be permanent on his face...). "I'm sure Madam Red and Lau would want to drink as they were looking for it a while ago."

You nod your head, grabbing the tray and walked away, ducking your head. You served the tea, mumbling, "Today's tea is..." A slap on the back made you straighten up, startled.

"Say it with more confidence!" Madam Red exclaims in exasperation, "Louder!"

Your face faltered for a split second out of irritation, but it instantly lifted. "Today's tea," you state in a much louder voice, "is Jackson's 'Earl Grey'." Bowing slightly, you resumed talking in your usual voice, "...The others will be here shortly."

This is exhausting... you sigh inwardly.

It didn't take long for the others to settle down and have the pastries, sandwiches, and all that be served.

"Yesterday, at White Chapel, another prostitute was murdered," Ciel states, taking a sip of his tea as he sits down in front of you all. "It wasn't just your average murder; it was bizarrely vicious... No, you could actually call it 'supernatural'."

"The victim this time, a Miss Mary Nichols, was cut down by a special kind of blade that sliced her up completely, unhindered by any resistance," informs Sebastian, standing beside the Earl.

You sweat-dropped from your spot behind Madam Red, thinking, is this really something people should be conversing about with just tea...? This seems more of something suitable after the tea. You heard Ciel talking about the killer's name 'Jack the Ripper', and you refrain from sighing. What a unique name.

As the young Earl continues to explain his reasoning for hurrying to London and the current situation that was happening, a small smirk started to form on Lau's face. You narrow your eyes at the man, before looking away, expression remaining neutral.

"Do you have the guts to visit the crime scene?" the same man asks, putting down his teacup.

With narrowed eyes, Ciel asks, "What do you mean by that?"

"The darkness and the scent of evil that now seep through that place will call out to those of the same breed and eat into them." Lau stands up, beginning to walk towards the blue-haired boy, "If you set foot in that place, it's possible that you will be engulfed by the madness. Are you prepared for that," he holds the boy's cheek, "Earl Phantomhive?"

"I came here to avenge her distress." Ciel's eyes darken, "Don't ask unnecessary questions."

"That's excellent," praises Lau. "Those are good eyes."

You raise a brow at the man's unusuality, deciding to not question him. An odd man that is.

✧✧✧

Apparently, Scotland Yard didn't want the Earl to take the case as they (more like Sir Arthur Randall) didn't really provide him much info, nonetheless, give him a glimpse of the corpse. You give the detectives a fleeting glance before looking away, walking towards the group that began to leave.

"What are you going to do?" inquires Madam Red, eyes attentively looking at the young boy.

"Asking him would be the best option," he answers.

Lau's face twitches. "Earl, you can't mean..." the man trails off, speaking as though he knew what the boy was referring to.

"It's just as you suspect."

And when you all arrived at the place, your eyes trailed to the Chinese man, expecting him to know where you were all taken to. If he doesn't know where we are, I'm going to...

"So, where are we?"

"YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON A MINUTE AGO!"

You slump in exasperation, your glasses sliding off the bridge of your nose, humans are tiring... You wearily glance at the Earl and his butler, already knowing that they at least knew where you all were.

"This is the undertaking establishment of one of the young master's acquaintances," Sebastian finally explains, opening the door to the 'fine' establishment.

You all walk inside, glancing around the dark, dreary place.

"Are you here, Undertaker?"

"I thought you would arrive sooner or later," a voice giggles.

You turn your head towards the sound, blinking at the sight of a coffin's lid sliding open. Your jaw slackens in shock, everyone else (minus the Earl and Sebastian) gawking, terrified at the sight of the man inside the coffin.

"Have you finally decided to get into your own, special casket?" he asks, his voice entirely made of amusement and wicked curiosity. Getting out of the coffin, Ciel responds with:

"As if anyone would come to do that. Today, we're—"

"You don't have to say it," Undertaker says, cutting him off by covering the Earl's mouth with his fingers. "I understand completely." Your eyes dart to the man's nails, they're long. Reeeally long...

"That particular guest is in an unfit state to be seen by those from the world of light. I made her all pretty, you know?" a grin forms onto Undertaker's face.

"I want to hear more about that," the Phantomhive Earl states uncaringly.

"I see. So, being an undertaker is just your cover," Lau hums with a smile. "How much is your information?"

You lean back, startled by the speed of the Undertaker when he's in the Chinese man's face within seconds. You could practically see blue lines forming on everyone's faces, exasperated and scared of the silver-haired man. It was further revealed what his motives were: the 'finest laughs'.

Lau was the first one to try and make the Undertaker laugh—a fail. Then, came Madam Red (you were not looking forward to it), which was... quite vulgar, in your opinion—another fail. Your face a held a grimace as you handed the lady a mask that had a big red 'X' on it, thinking to yourself, if he laughed at your 'top-secret' gossip, I'd be concerned for his own sense of humour.

"Well then, the only one left is the Earl! Last time, I lost, but I won't this time," pointing a finger at the boy, Undertaker grins, slightly drooling.

Ciel's face pales as he scowls, muttering a curse under his breath.

When all hope was lost, Sebastian decided to step up and volunteer. When he told you all to go outside, you were positive that you were the first to walk out of the place. Though you had some doubts that quickly diminished at the sound of Undertaker's laughter blasting to the point the sign fell off. You back up, blinking, only to slightly jump when the door opened, revealing Sebastian with his signature smile.

You took a seat down on one of the coffins, shaking your head when offered tea.

"Recently, I've been seeing something every so often, 'customers' who a little missing," Undertaker grins, calming down with a few chuckles leaving his lips.

"A little missing?" parroted Sebastian.

"Yes, a little missing," the other replies, holding up a fake body of a human. Deciding to elaborate a little more, he lowers his voice, "Like a uterus."

Your fingers twitch, eyes squinting.

"It was a pretty harsh splatter, but her uterus alone was precisely cut out."

Sebastian raises a brow, saying, "While it may not have been a largely populated street, would it not be difficult for an amateur to perform such a precise task there in the pitch black?"

The silver-haired man turns his head towards the former, smiling widely, "You're quite a sharp one, Mr. Butler. I thought the exact same thing." He approaches the Earl, wrapping an arm around his shoulder as he explains, "First, to cut the prey's neck, then to cut here," motioning to lower abdomen (where the uterus would be), "and steal what's important."

You inquisitively take a glance at Madam Red, wondering what was going through her head. Hm... you look up at the ceiling, bored with what was going on, I wonder if she'll get caught or not, I'm only here to do my job.

✧✧✧

You were currently squished between Lau and Sebastian, an uncomfortable expression washing over your face as you could feel yourself bumping into the Phantomhive butler with each rock that Grell accidentally rides over. You rub at the gloves that you wore out of slight nervousness, a bead of sweat dripping down the side of your face.

At first, it was just nothing but a few minutes of you all looking at each other, staring before moving onto a different object or person; in other words, it was just awkward silence. Then, the Earl had broken it, stating:

"That narrowed it down quite a bit."

"Firstly," Sebastian starts, holding his chin, "it is an individual quite expert in medical dissection. Also, someone of that sort who has no alibi for that night and, from the fact that they took the organs with them, someone involved with some manner of ritual, sect, or even black magic."

Madam Red twitches, raising a brow in suspicion. "Just how does that narrow it down?" she inquires, leaning forward, "Dissections are something that any doctor—even I—can do. Summer is almost at an end, too. In one more week, when the season ends, all the nobles will return home with the personal doctors they brought with them."

"Well then," the butler interjects, "we should just investigate until that time."

You give him a look from the corner of your eye, narrowing. Is that possible? Well... you glance out the window to your right, if you're superhuman, it would be easy.

"What?"

"It is only natural for a butler of the Phantomhives to be able to do that."

Actually... it isn't natural, but continue on, you sweat-drop with the others, crossing your arms as you lean back in the seat. You felt like you were going to have whiplash at the sight of the butler exiting the carriage through the door, despite it being a moving carriage. Peeking outside of the small window, you mutter, "...He's gone."

You directed your gaze towards the Earl with an inquisitive stare, trying to understand what he was trying to do. A peculiar kid... I might have to go through... you sigh inwardly, sitting back in your original position, well, we'll see.

And when you saw the Phantomhive butler at the place you were all heading back towards, you stared, aghast. Whatever the man was, he definitely wasn't human; your nose slightly crinkles at the foul smell before you resume to being the same person you were. Your gaze averts at the sound of him retelling the information that he gathered for persons of suspicion, though you already knew that it was narrowed down to at least two.

(Honestly, everything was just a jumble to you because you weren't understanding a single thing that was happening).

✧✧✧

"Aleister Chamber, one of the Druitt Viscount family. He received his degree in medicine at university, but has undertaken no work," Sebastian states, pushing up his glasses. "He seems to have held many parties at his home. However, behind the scenes, he invites those to whom he is especially close to secret parties."

You adjust the small ribbon tied around your neck, loosening it a little for breathing room as Madam Red continues to speak:

"There is a rumour going around that he is involved with black magic."

That checks out with his description... you thought, remembering the small list that you were given (secretly, of course) as you looked at the others—no, you weren't looking at Ciel; it was embarrassing.

"It has been said that ritualistic events go on at these secret parties," Lau adds on, "and prostitutes are made into living sacrifices."

You quietly cough into your fist, sweat-dropping at the fact that the Earl had to dress up as a girl due to...certain circumstances (it was apparent that the Viscount was a womanizer). Your current 'mission' was to be the informant or something along those lines as it was hard to do most things when he was in his current state—you didn't know why you were helping, you just know that Madam Red actually wanted to go to the party (from what you've seen).

Hey, if you're good at your job, you gotta do what you gotta do—and dealing out information is your job apparently, though it was more of information gathering... At least you got something to do.

You walk around the place, trying to figure out where the hell the Viscount would be, and to your surprise (not really), he was interacting with a woman. However, you could hear a familiar voice piercing through the air, causing you to look over with slight curiosity; it quickly diminished into horror once you realized who the person was. That's... Lady Elizabeth, I believe—and Ciel's fiancee... you sweat-drop, directing your gaze to the young boy and his butler. They appeared to realize that she was at the part as well.

A small sigh left your lips, your hand reaching to rub the temples of your head, exasperated with the events that were going on. Squeezing your eyes shut, you reluctantly open them and exhaled slowly through your nose, and made your way towards the two.

"[Name]?" Ciel mutters, turning his head to you, "You're supposed to find the Viscount, what in the world are you doing here?"

You lean to his ear, cupping your hand as you whisper:

"...The Viscount isn't that far, you can see him mingling with the other women in the party." Straightening up, you glance at the butler, "And...if I were you... I'd deal with that fiancee of yours." You crane your head to where you last saw Elizabeth, muttering, "She's practically looking at you with adoration..."

"On the topic of Lady Elizabeth," Sebastian chimes in with a smile, "do you mind doing the two of us a favour? Could you...distract her for a few moments? Young Mas—Mistress and I will deal with Viscount Druitt, but she's going to be an obstacle in our plans."

You merely nod your head, not wanting to make any more conversations with the two. You mosey on your way, approaching the young girl nonchalantly, closing your eyes. Now, how do I want to do this... you hum, thinking of numerous scenarios that ran through your head, trying to pick out which one was the most optimal and efficient way to distract her.

The sound of instruments being played echoed within your head, giving you a small idea of what to do. Your eyes shift over to the duo, seeing them dance their way towards the Viscount and you chose to do the same with Elizabeth.

You 'accidentally' bump into the blonde girl, apologizing as you try to accommodate her for forgiveness, only to be forgiven within the first few seconds. Well, I don't think that's how most people would forgive but whatever works, I suppose... you then offer a dance with her, outstretching your hand, and to your surprise, she accepts.

The ideal plan would be somehow managing to dance the opposite direction the Phantomhive duo were heading as you were sure that the girl you were dancing with was trying to chase them down (for reasons you didn't really care about).

"Hm? Mister, have I seen you around before?" she inquires, looking up to you with scrunched brows, her lips tilted to indicate that she was trying to remember you.

"...You must have taken me for someone else," you say whilst smiling at her, almost akin to how the butler would smile; always close-eyed and fake. You discreetly take a glance over at the two to check up on them, seeing that they were already with the Viscount, Sebastian leaving the two.

"Ah, where'd she go?" Elizabeth's voice breaks through your thoughts, making you blink rapidly.

"Pardon?" you ask, sweating.

"There was a girl that had a really cute dress!" she pouts, frowning as she glances around the place, "I wanted to tell her, but... she ran away..." At that, you sweat-dropped, rightfully so, too... The 'she' she was referring to was her fiancee, but you wouldn't tell her that.

"Oh! There!" her exclamation catches your attention, and she runs away from you in an instant. Oh, wait—

Clearly, you and the Earl didn't expect her to just...run out of your arms like that, especially considering it was a dance but thankfully, you (or rather, Ciel) has Sebastian to distract her.

It caught everyone's attention.

"I would like to display a little magic to all the ladies and gentlemen here assembled," he states, but the one thing you were really questioning is how no one recognized him (he was just wearing a mask and no one has red eyes but him). "The gentlemen over there," he directs his gaze to you, "may I request for your assistance?"

You point at yourself for affirmation, blinking slowly. He nods, and you simply nod, walking to the man. You can see him glance over at the Earl and the Viscount from the corner of his eye as he moves to block it from the others' vision, a smile washing over his face.

"Once I have entered, please lock it up securely with the chain," he requests (it was more of an order), and then takes out a sword, adding on, "Then, please skewer the wardrobe."

Everyone mutters, finding the magic show a little odd.

"Let this proceed splendidly. There are no tricks or traps. Please bear witness to this rare magic," Sebastian smiles, closing the door on himself. Once it was fully shut, you proceeded to do what he instructed, securing the wardrobe with the chain. Then, you held up the sword he had handed you, looking at it inquisitively.

"..." You silently jab the top of the wardrobe with the sword, shocking everyone. After that, you begin to repeat the same process with the other swords, bowing when you were done as the chain breaks and the door opens to reveal that Sebastian was safe and sound.

"Amazing! It's a miracle!"

"Bravo!"

Madam Red approaches both of you, clapping her hands as she praises the butler. Your face held a small grimace, but that quickly went away when you felt gazes on you. Lau was the next to approach you two, also clapping.

"Really, for a moment there, I thought he might have done you in," he says, amused.

Sebastian merely smiles. "That did smart somewhat. I did not anticipate him coming immediately from above. Had it not been me, that would have been fatal."

"So, what kind of trick was it?" Lau asks, turning to you with a grin.

You shrug.

"You don't know after you stabbed him that much?" Madam Red says in exasperation, facing the butler.

He turns around, smiling.

"I told you, didn't I? There are no tricks or traps."

It was the next day with everyone at the same place the Earl and his butler had been staying in. However, when you thought everything was over, the newspaper clearly stated otherwise:

"Jack the Ripper strikes again," Lau states, reading the headline.

You disinterestedly look away.

"So, it wasn't the Viscount?" Madam Red inquires, peeking over his shoulder.

You can see a glimpse of Ciel trembling with anger and the fact that the case wasn't solved; not one bit. For a second, you can see Sebastian staring at Madam Red with a neutral expression, but the narrowed eyes tell a different story.

You hum.

Let's see how this plays out.

𝘰𝘩, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥—𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴.

[graveyard-ripper]

delxsive​:

       that raspy voice resounds within the embalmer’s chest, echoing against the ivory’s eardrum ( though there is no sound more soothing to the scholar than her lover’s voice. ) it is the chuckle that wakens her, the rattling of her lover’s sternum with amusement ; dark hues flutter open,  a genuine consciousness finally emerging from the hazy fog. she had been talking, she knows it, can almost hear the sound of her own voice reverberating in her ears… though the doctor won’t ever admit it. ❝ hm ? ❞ she murmurs softly, craning her neck to peer into bright blue irises.  a yawn soon follows, though ivory can not mask the subtle grin quirking the corners of pale features in the knowledge that her counterpart had permitted such an adoring embrace. ❝ hi babe. ❞ she hums softly, burying her features into the crook of the older woman’s neck. ❝ hm … i need a shower. ❞

     ❝ good morning, ❞ is all misty says in return. if she were slightly more awake, she would invert their position – putting ivory onto her back and alleviating the numbness that’s since settled in her right side. but thin clouds still overcast ciel eyes, so she allows the cheeky girl her moment. only a moment. ❝ mm, ❞ the embalmer hums in acknowledgement, ❝ so do i. you can take your shower first. i need a cigarette. ❞ with an effortful groan, she pushes herself ( and her partner ) upright and leans back against the headboard. thin fingers reach for the vape that sits on her nightstand, tucking it between her lips and taking a interim drag off its coil. then she begins to work through her braid – unfurling long waves of raven-colored hair over a thin tank top. 

[daquanfromthetrap]

Sebastian Michaelis x Reader Ch. 5

Sebastian stared at you, expecting an elaboration of the very vague answer you had just gave him. However, you wouldn’t give him the satisfaction and left it at just that. An abomination. You thought to yourself, brushing passed a suspecting Sebastian. He huffed at your silence, seeming to accept the answer you had just given him. For now. There’s no reason he should know father’s and mine’s secrets. How can we know that they are trustworthy? He is a demon after all, and his master’s primary goal is still unknown. I cannot risk Father’s safety.

“Come now, milady. The young master must be waiting for us at the inn by now.” Sebastian sighed still unsatisfied with your answer. What a strange woman. I must say, it does intrigue me even more. I still don’t sense a threat from her but I would like to know who exactly she is.

You and Sebastian continued your walk back to the inn in an awkward silence. The tension between you was heavy but neither of you dare spoke. You could feel Sebastian’s red eyes watching you from behind. You were glad to look up and see the familiar entrance of the inn with the young lord impatiently tapping his foot outside, waiting for the two of you to get back. You chuckled at the sight. In this moment, Ciel Phantomhive did not look like a brooding Earl of a large estate and the Queen’s Watchdog. He looked like a regular boy, impatiently waiting for something. It truly was a sight to behold, that was until a velvety voice cut the silence. 

“My, my, Young Master, did we have you waiting for long?” Sebastian stifled a laugh, obviously enjoying the look of irritation plastered on the boy’s face.

Ciel huffed, “What took you two so damn long?! I was waiting here for hours!!”

You bowed your head, trying to mask your amusement in the young lord’s tantrum. “Apologies, my Lord. There was a bit of a mix up at the market.”

Although still quite obviously irritated, Ciel softened his voice a bit in response to your apology. “Well, don’t let it happen again. I hate to be left waiting.” He then turned to Sebastian, “And what took you so long?!” 

Sebastian smiled, placing his hand on his heart to feign innocence, “Why I was only worried about how Lady (Y/N) was getting along in her investigation.” You furrowed your brow, looking at Sebastian in the corner of your eyes to see where exactly he was going to take this. “It’s a good thing I came too. A strange man had her in a dark alleyway all by herself. I had to run him off before anything escalated.” He finished off his story, shooting you a look. 

You rolled your eyes, turning to the questioned look of the earl. “Now, now, Sebastian, everything was going on well before you came along. That boy thought he was saving me from a rude shopkeeper. He actually would’ve been great to question but somebody’s butler decided to butt in.” You added a fake sweetness to your tone and shot back the same fake smile Sebastian had plastered on his face. 

Ciel looked between the two of you with a raised brow before sighing in defeat, “Well, did either of you at least find anything interesting?” 

Sebastian and you shared a look before shaking your head in unison.

Ciel groaned at the lack of information from his “parents”. “Ugh, well lucky for us, I found something rather interesting. Some children I found playing in the streets were talking about somebody they call ‘Granny’.”You and Sebastian nodded as you listened to Ciel continue on. “Apparently this ‘Granny’ will visit children each night, asking them about the kinds of treats they love and if their parents give them those treats. Granny will then come back the next night with your favorite treats and offer you a chance to get more treats in her cottage. As many treats as you would like. If they decline the offer, they are given their treats and told to go back to bed.”

“And what happens if they accept?” You questioned.

Ciel shrugged. “According to the children, Granny takes you away to her cottage and you could eat all the sweets and treats you’d ever like.” 

“Well that doesn’t sound suspicious at all.” you say sarcastically.

“Hmmm. It seems like a trick question. Why, if you say ‘no’ you get rewarded with a treat. But If you say ‘yes’, you are still rewarded but with a significant amount more than if you were to answer ‘no’.” Sebastian thought aloud, stroking his chin.

You nodded in agreement. “Why would you want just one treat when you can have as much as you’d like? Of course, children will lie a bit to get what they want. Especially if they don’t know the consequences then and there.”

“And who wouldn’t trust a grandmotherly old woman?” Ciel added. “Yes, this ‘Granny’ may be who we are looking for after all.” 

-----------------time skip to night fall--------------------------------------------------

Exhausted from the day out, you were glad to be able to wash the day away and slip into your night gown. You heard a knock at the door. You smirked, knowing exactly who could be knocking on your door at this hour. 

“Enter.” you answered, mindlessly brushing your wet hair, turning to speak to your visitor. “You know Sebastian, you shouldn-” you cut yourself off, surprised to see who stood in front of you. Instead of the man you were expecting it to be, it was the man you had met earlier in the market place. Henry. You remembered. 

It seemed that he was just as surprised to see you as you were to see him. A blush crept up on his cheeks as he was trying to find the words to speak to you. You broke the silence first. 

Time to play up the charm. What a bother, I just wanted to go straight to bed. Maybe irritate Sebastian a bit if he came for a visit. You thought to yourself. “Why, Henry!! It’s marvelous to see you again! And so soon!” You gave him a warm smile. “But if you don��t mind my asking, what exactly are you doing here?” 

Henry laughed a bit in response, obviously still at a lost for words. “Well me mum and dad run this inn, you see. I come in from time to time and offer my assistance. I was actually told to bring more linens to this room but I had no idea you were in here (Y/N).” He said with a boyish grin. He looked around the room a bit, “By the way, where’s that big scary husband of yours? He didn’t leave you all alone here did he?” 

Shit. It wouldn’t look right if Sebastian and I had separate rooms as a married couple. “Oh, I’m actually not too sure. I do believe he might still be putting our son to bed. To be honest, I thought you were him when you knocked.” you chuckled. 

Henry raised a brow, a playful grin playing at his lips. “Well, it wouldn’t be good for business if I were to leave a guest lonely and unsatisfied, now would it?” He was saying as he made his way to the bed and placed the fresh linens on it, while taking a seat himself. He really emphasized the words “lonely and unsatisfied”, making a point to stare into your eyes.

You laughed. Cheeky bastard. “I can assure you there is no need for that Henry. I do thank you for your hospitality, however, my husband should be returning very soon. I don’t know how he would react with a strange man in the room alone with me... sitting on the bed.” You shot him a playful smirk, amused at his shamelessness. 

Henry held his chest, feigning an injury to his heart, “Strange man?! Is that anyway to speak to your host and savior from earlier? I just wanted to make sure our guests are well taken care of.” 

You rolled your eyes in response. This man is quite amusing and charming. He must be very popular with women. You could say he has a ‘demon’s tongue’ by the way he can so easily charm you. You thought to yourself a bit before looking back up at Henry. “Actually, there is something you can help me out with if you don’t mind.” 

Henry sat up, eagerly waiting for your request. Wow he’s characteristically similar to a dog. Before you could even ask him about any strange happenings that he may know of, you heard a familiar voice slice through the air. “What can he help you with, that I can’t already do for you?” 

You and Henry both turned to see Sebastian, standing at the door, glaring at Henry. Henry shot up from the bed, making a point to pick up the fresh linens and set them on the bed again. You wanted to laugh at the scene unfolding before you, but you decided it was in everyone’s best interest (especially Henry’s) that you didn’t. “Now, now Sebastian, that’s no way to speak to our host. It was purely by luck that we ran into each other again. Isn’t it wonderful?” Your last sentence was meant to add fuel to the fire. You liked this game. Sebastian was definitely an interesting game piece.

Sebastian looked at you with that devilish glow in his eyes before turning back to Henry with his signature fake smile. “Ah yes Harry isn’t it? (Y/N) told me all about that fiasco you saved her from earlier today. I must express my gratitude to you for assisting my darling wife.” Ugh why am I feeling this way again? He’s nothing but a human pest. Sebastian questioned himself. It must be this girl, casting some type of spell. Sebastian concluded that you were a sorceress of some sort, since that was the only thing that could make any sense to him. After all, he only had feelings of incredible hostility towards Henry when he was with you.

“It’s actually Henry. And it’s a pleasure to see you again, Steven.” Henry bowed a bit still upholding his duties as our host.

Sebastian gritted his teeth, “Hmph, my name is Sebastian.” 

Henry completely ignored Sebastian’s comment before continuing, “My family runs this inn here, you see. I was told to bring in some fresh linens for our guests and it was just my luck to run into this pretty lady again.” He finished turning to you with a warm smile. 

You returned the smile, eyeing Sebastian in the corner of your eye. You could visibly see him getting increasingly irritated by Henry’s presence in the room.

Ugh the testosterone in this room is quite suffocating. You rolled your eyes at the display of passive aggressive challenging between the man and demon before you. I have to admit that this is quite entertaining, but with Sebastian here, Henry might not be able to speak as freely as he would like to. I have to speak with Henry alone. 

Sebastian glided to you in a few steps, placing his hand on your shoulder. “Well darling, what was it you needed help with? Surely we can stop bothering this man as he has many other guests to attend to.”

You let out a breathy laugh, a mischievous idea to poke fun at Sebastian popping into your head, “Well, actually,  I’m glad that both of you are here now... Why have one, when I can have two at the same time?” you paused looking at the puzzled look on Henry’s face, a deep red blush blooming onto his face, and the glare coming from Sebastian. Sebastian squeezed your shoulder a bit, almost as a warning. You placed your hand on his and squeezed back before swiftly brushing it off your shoulder. 

You innocently elaborated with, “We don’t have many friends and I love having guests. It’s like our own little after dinner party isn’t it?”

Henry cleared his throat, pushing away any thoughts your previous comments may have ignited. “Well, either way, I’ll be happy to assist you again Miss (Y/N). With anything.” Henry winked at you. 

This cheeky brat. What game is Lady (Y/N) playing at by entertaining this fool. Sebastian huffed to himself, his demon eyes having a low glow in irritation. He sighed grinning to himself. He then bent down and scooped you up, carrying you over to the bed, all the while speaking to Henry without looking at him. “Well, Harry, it is getting to be quite late. It’s about time I put (Y/N) to bed. Although...” He paused a bit, gently placing you onto the bed and placing himself at the edge but still leaning over you territorially. He began unbuttoning his shirt and looked back up at Henry who was now standing at the door, “She won’t be getting much sleep tonight...” Sebastian smirked, placing his gloved hand on your thigh. “You can see yourself out, sir.” 

Your eyes widened at Sebastian’s wickedness, turning your head to see Henry’s reaction. His face was red again, but this time he stared at the floor looking disappointed. He cleared his throat, “Goodnight Miss (Y/N). Sleep well.”

“Oh, she will.” Sebastian answered, earning a glare from Henry as he slammed the door shut. 

Poor boy. You thought, noting the look on Henry’s face at Sebastian’s actions and words. He shouldn’t look so disappointed. I am “married” with a “child” after all. You were too busy thinking to yourself to even notice that Sebastian had climbed on top you, placing his hands on either side of your head. You were met by demon eyes, glowing dangerously bright. 

“Jealously is a strange look on you Sebastian.” you said coyly. 

Sebastian laughed, “Jealousy is not a feeling typically known by demons. However...” he leaned down to where his lips brushed against your ear, “I do know what feels good.” 

You raised a brow, “I’m sure you do.”

Placing a hand on Sebastian’s chest, you gently push him off you so you could sit up. This simple gesture seemed to surprise him a bit as you watched his widened eyes return to their usual red color. He sat in front of you, staring at you suspiciously. 

“You should stay in here tonight.” you stated. Sebastian snapped his neck to look at you again with a surprised look that soon turned into a devious smile. 

You laughed at his reaction, bringing your hand up to gently poke the middle of his forehead. This earned yet another bewildered look from the demon in front of you. “I mean, you should stay here tonight because it will look suspicious if we are sleeping in different rooms when we are supposed to be a married couple.” 

Sebastian seemed to think for a bit before nodding in agreement to you. “You are correct. It will look a bit strange if we do not share a room as husband and wife. Especially with that cheeky fellow running around.” 

You nodded. “Well that settles it, you’ll stay in here tonight. Don’t worry about your master, he is in the next room and we can both hear if something happens.” You patted the spot next to you, “Why don’t you try to sleep? Demons use sleep for recreational purpose, don’t they?” 

“Milady, how did you kn-” 

“Ugh never mind that Sebastian. Unlike you, I actually need to sleep.” you cut him off, turning on your side to go to sleep. “Tomorrow, I will try to get any information I can by speaking with Henry... alone.”

“Bu-”

“It would be a great deal of help if you were not present, my dear husband. I don’t need to witness another masculinity match between the two of you.”

Sebastian was a bit taken aback by everything you just said and your casualness about it, but he just laughed, “As you wish, milady.” He answered before climbing over to the spot next to you, laying down on his back. 

You rolled over to face him, “And don’t you try anything funny while I’m asleep. I am a light sleeper and I will not hesitate to break your arms.” you huffed at him before rolling back over to fall asleep. 

Sebastian smiled at the back of your head, his heart thumping and a strange feeling creeping up Into his stomach. Ugh why am I feeling this way? I feel sick. But it’s also a nice feeling... I’ll have to ask the young master about it tomorrow. He sighed to himself before closing his eyes and drifting off into slumber. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey guys!! I know this part is a bit short but hope you enjoy it!! Lemme know if you have any request or suggestions :)

[floweryfreelance]

𝕴𝖓𝖌𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖆 𝕽𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖙𝖚𝖘

CHAPTER FIVE

Table of Contents

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |

This work of fiction is an original collaborative work between tumblr users @theearltrancy and @floweryfreelance. Its original format was in that of a roleplay, and has been edited to be a more cohesive story. This work was created on 11.10.20 and completed on 11.30.20.

Please consider following each author for more fictional works.

-

Morning light poured into the room, illuminating the entirety of the mess they made the night before. Clothing strewn all over the floor, closet door still open, the dent Alois made the night before in the wall now revealing also ripped wallpaper frantically trying to cover the damage. This room was undoubtedly the taller man’s, bleeding disorganization after just one night of his return to it. It was a wonder that he kept anything in his life together, let alone an estate and an alliance with the Queen herself. 

Icy blue eyes fluttered open to witness it, first confirming that his lover was still by his side. Ciel consistently woke up later than he did by mere minutes, but he still enjoyed the time he had with the peace. These were the moments he felt the most peaceful, these secret moments in the early morning that he didn’t need to spend alone. He shifted in bed, stretching his arms over his head, realizing he was still unclothed from the night before. The sight made him smile, reveling in the taste of the memory.

Feeling the movement beside him, Ciel groaned softly, his nose scrunching up as he turned his head towards Alois. It appeared he might be waking up then, but that wasn’t the case. His side felt a breeze as a result of Alois shifting in the bed, and so in a deep sleep he turned over, wrapping his arms around Alois’ arm and buried his face between his shoulder and the pillow. Warm again, he sighed contently, continuing to sleep.

At this point in the morning, it was mostly a waiting game. The Earl, whichever one it was in their respective homes, would wait in his bed until his butler came to wake him. He would carry a warm and damp cloth to wipe his face down, as well as prepared suggestions for both his attire for the day, a memorized breakfast menu, and a list of any duties they had for the day.

The only question now, considering they both resided in the same bed this morning, was which butler would appear first.

Alois smiled at his lover beside him, taking in the structure of the man’s face as he slept peacefully. This scene was perfection to him. While the evenings were consistently foggy, the mornings were normally quite bright and welcoming. The sky opened up, illuminating the softer side of this sin they shared. 

In that moment, there was a soft knock at the door, causing the blonde to look up quickly and pull the sheets up to his collarbones. He prayed silently that it wouldn’t wake Ciel too quickly, and hopefully it wasn’t-

“Good morning, your highness.” The demon greeted cooly, walking into the room with a cloth draped over his hand and a smug look on his cold face. Making amends, perhaps? No, he wouldn’t hope for that - just grin and bear it like every other morning. Claude never said sorry. Alois rolled his eyes, sitting up fully in bed but discreetly placing his other hand on his lover’s shoulder so as to hopefully wake him gently.

    He was dreaming about a party, a grand one at that, a scene in which Ciel Phantomhive would rarely be found taking part. But in this dream, Ciel and his love attended together; they sat together while eating and talking with other guests, hung on one another’s arm, and danced around the room, most of which was Ciel fumbling and trying to keep up with Alois who was a natural at navigating such parties.

But the dream faded away as the sun hit his eyelids, Ciel groaning softly as he was gently shaken awake. He rolled onto his back, letting out a cutely impolite yawn, his fingers wrapping around Alois’ wrist. “Mm, it’s bright..” he whined. But something was off, he could tell Alois was focusing on something else. Had Sebastian already come in?

Ciel turned over to look towards the door, his heart dropping into his stomach as he recognized a butler standing a bit too close to the bed for his own comfort, though it wasn’t his butler. He sat up quickly, using one hand to pull the sheets up to his chest as his other hand quickly covered his contract-stained eye, averting his eyes so as not to make direct eye contact with the demon in the room.

Alois again used his hand to gently comfort the other man, keeping one hand on the other’s shoulder. The butler was a problem, but it was his problem and it would deal with it, especially after years of fighting with the man. He sighed, irritated, reaching out for the towel reluctantly. 

Wiping his face with it, he then wadded it up and tossed it right into Claude’s face. The act of defiance barely phased him, eliciting only a long blink. The blonde huffed as if he were still a young teenager. 

“Would you like to know the options for this morning’s breakfast?” The demon offered, emotionless. 

The blonde pursed his lips, returning the damp hand to the pillow and tossing himself back in bed in reluctance. It was heard to believe this man was an adult when he did things like this. “Not really. I’ll have whatever he does.” He said blankly, pulling the sheets over his head now. “Get out.”

With Alois hiding beneath the covers, it created the illusion of Ciel and Claude being alone in the room together. That was the last thing Ciel wanted; he was often faced with the dilemma of being close in proximity to someone who wanted him dead, but something about Claude made his hair stand on end.

Despite his order from Alois, Claude didn’t immediately act. He stood there a moment longer, his eyes moving from his own master to the vulnerable bluenette sitting up in bed. Still concealing his contract eye, Ciel glared him down, masking the uneasiness he felt in the moment.

“You heard your master.” He spoke harshly, clutching the sheets tightly against his chest. “Get out. Sebastian will come, he’ll be responsible for the both of us.” The command didn’t leave Claude with much to do, but Ciel didn’t really care. He was afraid of this demon, knowing what he knew now.

The faintest sneer crossed Claude’s face, though it quickly returned to the same old emotionless slate. He bowed, folding the cloth over his arm before backing towards the door, eyeing the Phantomhive Earl over his shoulder as he exited. As the door closed shut, Ciel released a breath he hadn’t realized he had been holding, falling back into the pillows.

“Motherfucking scum.” The man grumbled to himself with his lover’s return. He remained hidden in the sheets, pulling them down only slightly to reveal his golden head. His hair was now disheveled, staticy despite the silk sheet, the cotton of the pillowcase betraying him. “I hate him, I hate him..” 

The morning still held the same playful, light atmosphere even though the blonde was in a mood now. Somehow, he felt better knowing that his lover knew not even he approved of the attitude coming from the evil that unfortunately followed him. Without another word spoken, the man childishly reached out to the other smaller man, holding him tightly to his own chest. At least he had someone to ground him.

Ciel returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around him and nuzzling into the crook of the other’s neck, blonde hair tickling his nose. He could hear his heart beating, elevated and frustrated.

“He knows..” Ciel commented, halfheartedly attempting a joke. He sighed softly, his hot breath hitting Alois’ neck. He decided to change the subject. “What will you do today?” The still half-asleep bluenette inquired, lifting his head so as to be understood more clearly. “Will you go home? Or will you stay? The weekend hasn’t ended yet..” He snuck in that little side comment, hoping Alois would stay at least for part of the day, if not another night. There were so many things he wanted them to do together; play chess, walk outside in the garden, even read in silence and just enjoy each other’s presence. He dreaded the thought of him leaving again.

Alois let out a half-hearted snort. Despite the interruption, his love was fairly good at grounding him. If he hadn’t been still feeling such an annoyance, one would think that the butler had never entered the room. It was a skill, a deadly one if used in the right context. Alois relaxed into the embrace, half-smiling at the thought of being wanted. It wasn’t new, but it took him by surprise constantly. 

“I’m not leaving.” He stated, realizing only afterwards how matter-of-fact he sounded. “I mean, I want to stay. Hell, it’s been almost ten years since I saw your home.” He commented, the picture of the garden in his memory crossing by. He wondered if any flowers had been planted in his honor; perhaps there were bluebells now, his favorite flower, planted absentmindedly in an effort to forget. “I plan to stay as long as you’ll let me.” He mused, hand finding its way into the man’s dark blue hair and running it through his fingers. Alois hoped the notion was appreciated, knowing he’d stay forever if fate only allowed.

Ciel eased into Alois’ hand, closing his eyes as his fingers combed gently through his hair. “Then you’ll stay another night,” He remarked, tracing light circles on the blonde’s shoulder with his finger. “Elizabeth likely won’t return for another week, but I have a case I need to take care of after tomorrow.” He sighed, recalling the piles of paperwork on his desk in his study. “So, you’ll stay until then.”

The moment was interrupted yet again with another soft knocking on the door, although it was Sebastian who opened it this time. He smiled at the two young men, presenting himself with a half bow as he stepped into the room. “Good morning,” he cooed, approaching the bed with a hot towel for Ciel, and an additional one for Alois in the off chance he would want another upon seeing the one for the other man. “For breakfast this morning is a full English breakfast, with porridge, bacon and eggs.”

Sitting up now, Ciel wiped his face down with the hot towel, sighing into it as he attempted to fully wake up. “And how is the weather?” He inquired.

“A bit chilly, master, but the sun is shining brightly.” Sebastian replied, taking the towels back.

“I see,” Ciel noted, glancing at the window before turning back towards his butler. “We’ll have breakfast outside in the garden this morning. Ready my coat in case it’s colder than expected, and Mr. Trancy’s traveling coat as well.” By now he was already sitting up, rolling his shoulders as he stretched and pulled on his undergarments that had been discarded on the floor the night before.

Sebastian nodded charmingly, then turning his attention towards the Earl Trancy. “I’ll return my master to his bedroom to prepare him for the morning. Your butler will return here shortly to do the same for you, if it pleases you.” He said, picking his master’s eye patch up from the floor and beginning to fasten it onto his head once again.

Alois sat up as well, taking the towel and actually wiping his face with it, still groggy and irritated. Recognizing he was being addressed, he set the towel down beside him. Letting out a long sigh, he pushed a hand through his hair, moving it from his face. 

“I’ll allow it.” He stated, cold. The rivalry between the two was completely gone by now, Alois unaffected by Sebastian’s presence. He grumbled once again under his breath, crossing the room to put his own undergarments back on and half-heartedly picked up some of his other clothing. Though rudely interrupted, this was still a better morning than any he spent at his own home.

As he was escorted from the room by his butler, Ciel smiled softly over his shoulder at Alois. Something in his smile was reassuring, reminding him that even with that awful demon’s presence, they had a nice day ahead of them; hours and hours to spend with one another, uninterrupted. For the most part.

-

An hour passed, as each of the young men bathed and picked out their attire for the day. Ciel, with the help of his butler who always seemed to have an eye for that sort of thing, chose a dark green ensemble, all velvet with black lace on the ends of his sleeves and coat tails, golden buttons, and a black dress shirt underneath. It wasn’t as formal as he would usually wear out, but seeing as he was staying in today, he felt the outfit was appropriate enough.

He arrived at the table first, just outside the back of the manor in the center large patio of his garden. It was a simple black table with a glass top, and elegant chairs to match. Breakfast was already being set out; steaming bowls of porridge and plates of bacon and eggs, all covered to trap in the heat, accompanied by a lovely tray of sliced fruits and Earl Grey tea. His favorite.

Ciel sat down in the chair Sebastian pulled out for him, scooching in close to the table. He took a deep breath, feeling clean and awake and refreshed, and admittedly quite hungry. But he would wait here, just like this, for lover to arrive, hopefully just as clean and awake and refreshed.

The hour was long, but Alois made it his prerogative not to start an argument this time. Some days were better than others between him and his butler, most of them passing uneventfully. While slightly more difficult in a home away from home, and particularly the home of his ex-rival, most actions went off without a hitch.

     His morning bath went fine, no conversation or lingering needed, and he preferred to do much of it on his own anyway. The Earl chose a maroon ensemble for the day afterwards, gemstones embedded in the buttons and black velvet on both pocket flaps. He spent quite a while in the mirror afterwards, adjusting it to make sure it sat at the exact point in his waist that he wanted it to. The velvet coat was one of his more expensive Parisian items, though being how he was, he didn’t particularly care if he was to go out in it or not. Besides, it would keep him warm enough in the brisk London morning. 

Just as the clock hit 8am, he finally left the room as his butler picked up and sorted the clothing all around the floor. This was one of the better sides of his stolen wealth; he never had to account for his tantrums. As he walked out into the garden with Hannah by his side now, the man even allowed a tinge of excitement to spend the morning with his lover. 

“Quite the classic spread,” he commented, as if he hadn’t been in a dark mood just an hour earlier. Hannah took more joy in her work than the other despite her lower position as a maid, pulling his chair out for him and calmly standing several feet behind him once he was settled.

Seeing as the two Earl’s were now both seated at the table, Sebastian took it upon himself to lean over, removing the covers from their breakfast platters. He hummed a small “Please, enjoy” before returning to stand behind his own master.

Ciel nodded, beginning to stir his porridge. “Indeed,” he agreed, blowing on it before taking a bite. A hot meal like this was perfect for the blustery morning. “The tea is Earl Grey, I hope it’s to your liking.” The commented, looking up at Alois as he took a sip from his own cup. “It’s still my favorite. I like to have a cup every morning with my breakfast.”

The blonde beamed at the meal, closing his eyes to take a big whiff of it all, for this was a special morning. Excited, he lifted his own teacup with an undue amount of care, careful not to spill any of the drink. Although it was a simple pleasure, it was rare that he got to share it with anybody. He blew on the cup before taking a small sip of it, still just barely too hot but he didn’t mind. 

“It’s always been mine as well,” he commented, looking up to meet the other’s eyes. They shared a soft smile, pleased to simply be across from the table from one another. The blonde wanted to soak in every moment they had, for it was never enough.

The two young men continued their breakfast peacefully, unable to remember the last time they both felt this tranquil, especially together. They talked about all sorts of things: Alois’ adventures moving back into his estate, Ciel’s overload of work and desperation for a good long holiday, and even some talk about the places they would go together if they ever had the chance.

Upon finishing their hot breakfast and tea, Alois and Ciel left the cleaning up to their servants, rising from the table and subconsciously making their way deeper into the garden, not wanting their time alone in the cool morning air to end just yet. The strode side by side along a fine gravel path paved between rows of rose bushes and fully grown trees, the leaves of everything beginning to turn yellow and orange with the changing of the seasons. Feeling their hands brush against each other, they linked pinkies, keeping contact with the other without the “dramatics”.

“If it wouldn’t be so bloody suspicious,” Ciel began, a faint pout on his face as he inspected his rose bushes. “I’d keep you here forever in that room. Even with Lizzie here.” Of course such a thing would never be possible, but daydreaming about it would be harmless.

The blond laughed joyfully, having dreamt of that exact thing for years now. He’d attempted to do just that in his second home, failing miserably but not for a lack of trying. Alois swung their hands back and forth as they walked together in the crisp fall morning. The action felt so casual, so everyday, that he could forget their circumstances if only for a moment or two. 

“And forever I’d stay,” he added, smiling to himself as he eyed the red roses and the tall trees. They’d been much smaller last time he was here, having grown enough to likely shade them in the summer, months ahead now. It was freeing to daydream, planning to stick around for as long as the other would allow. He wondered idly what would happen if anyone else knew of them; of course they couldn’t marry, but he’d thought of many ways to run away together. Though, none of them were logical. 

A long academic retreat. A business trip, ending in false tragedy, presumed dead only to secure land in Austria, perhaps America even. A secluded “business partnership…” Alois’ smile grew wide picturing it all. Maybe in some universe, Lizzie would understand, marry for love but not the romantic kind they shared. Oh, one could dream.. 

“Sometimes I just wish it was all so much simpler.” He admitted, reaching out to hold the stem of a rose between his index and middle fingers.

Ciel hummed in response, gazing in admiration at Alois observing the rose. “I wish things were simpler all of the time.” He rolled his eyes, his comment sparking a new train of thoughts. “It all seems so fictional. Demons, curses, forbidden romance and secrecy..” He trailed off, sighing to himself. “Sometimes I wonder if this is all real, or if I’m just stuck in a twenty-one year long dream.”

They wandered further, continuing to take in the natural beauty around them, and occasionally sneaking longing looks at one another. Ciel thought Alois looked like a painting in a museum with the roses and stone statues behind him.

He looked around them nonchalantly, checking to see if there was anyone near them who could be watching. Seeing no one, Ciel tugged on Alois’ sleeve and pulled him just behind a nearby rose bush to the side of the paved pathway, cupping his cheeks and pulling him in for a soft kiss. His pale cheeks quickly turned pink, hoping the sudden action didn’t come off as too needy.

Startled and stumbling slightly, Alois caught his balance just in time to return the kiss. The gesture made him laugh against the other man’s lips, placing his hands around his shoulders to steady himself. Gentler now, he pulled back only to place another kiss on the man’s soft pink lips. He stood back, running a thumb against them, taking in the texture of his skin to memorize it. His eyes were soft, searching for confirmation that the other felt the same in this moment - joyful, light, playful, and completely in love. 

“I’ve heard there are groups,” he mentioned softly, his tone hopeful, “There are other men like us… maybe someday this part of our lives will at least be less fictional.” He paused, brushing a strand of hair behind the other’s ear, distant. “Maybe we’ll even finish these contracts someday, be normal people as best as we can…”

One of Ciel’s more negative traits was his pessimism. As much as he wanted that ‘normal’ life with Alois, he didn’t believe they would ever have it. It was like Alois told him the night before; the two of them were doomed to live in sin, tied to demons who one day would take their souls. There wasn’t a way out of it.

But he refused to let those thoughts spoil this moment. Alois’ breath smelled of Earl Grey tea, and Ciel’s mouth watered a bit. He would pocket this beautiful memory as well, tucking it away to remember when he felt alone; two young men taking a morning walk in a rose garden, sharing kisses just out of sight.

“Perhaps..” Ciel hummed, resting his forehead against the other’s. “Perhaps we will..”

Alois reached down, grabbing both of his lover’s hands in his tightly. Keeping their faces close, the man closed his eyes, a wistful smile resting on his lips. Despite his lover’s pessimism, he wanted to believe in something. 

“We’re not the only ones,” He said quietly, reassuring the other. “Not everything about it is completely unnatural. We may be doomed, but we’re at least not the only ones..” He repeated, thinking about the headlines he’d read in the papers recently. “There’s one thing we can stop worrying about. Maybe someday they’ll change something.”

There was a group of men just like him, right in London. The article that followed was filled with hateful words, as expected, but it was the idea that he clung to. Before then, he had accepted that he would never love a woman, but he always assumed that it was tied to a life of sin. While he never internalized it and lived as if it were normal, it struck him to have confirmation that other people did in fact feel just as he did- purely in love with other men, wholly human and wholly raw, perhaps unnatural but real.

He relaxed slightly as his hands were squeezed in the other’s, and he nodded, trying to muster up even a bit of optimism. “I hope they will.”

Ciel had seen it too, the articles in the papers. There were in fact other men like them, although their existence was met with disgust and hatred from the public and from the churches, calling them abominations and demanding horrible things be done to them. It was difficult for Ciel to focus on anything other than the public’s disgust for men like him, but he admired Alois’ ability to hold onto the fact that they weren’t alone- that they weren’t some strange mistake in the universe that wasn’t supposed to occur in the first place. They weren’t alone, that much was true.

The two young men spent the rest of the day together, just as they planned. They spent much of it sneaking away from their servants for just a bit of private time, looking for any opportunity to sneak a kiss, sit closer together than normal, or intertwine their fingers together. They held a lively conversation over several games of chess, only one of which Alois was able to win. The pair enjoyed an hour or so of light reading, most of which was Ciel actually trying to read while Alois did his best to distract him, and even shared another walk around the property. Lunch was held inside as the weather grew colder, the air smelling of rain once again. Across the table from each other, they talked while sharing glances out the window at the tiny droplets of rain beginning to lightly tap against the large window beside them.

[theunredeemable]

“Hi there! I’m Ruby Rose.” She held out her hand towards Ilia, who stared dumbly at it before remembering her manners.”

“O-oh!” Taking the offered hand and giving what she hoped was an appropriate shake, she smiled at the pirate. “I’m Ilia.”

“Ilia, huh? Pretty name for a pretty girl.” She winked at the other woman, causing the faunus’s scales to turn a bright pink. “Big Puma said you’re looking for a new crew?” Trying to get her blush under control, Ilia gave Ruby a confused look. Ruby just laughed as she signalled for a drink. “That’s what we call Tukson. Just like how he calls me Red. We’re just a big ol’ family here. Aren’t we, big guy?”

Tukson grunted slightly, placing two large glasses in front of the pair, pouring in an amber drink as he shook his head. “Big old family of misfits is what we are.”

“Damn straight.” Ruby beamed in delight at Tukson, taking her glass as soon as it was full and taking a deep swig from it. Placing it back down on the counter, she frowned at the glass and looked at the man with what Ilia could only describe as puppy eyes. He let out a low sigh and refilled the glass, making sure to place a small umbrella in it. Ruby broke out into a huge grin of delight, that the Atlesian spy found incredibly cute.

“I...suppose that makes sense.” Picking up her own drink, she gave it an experimental sniff as she continued. “But yes, I am looking for a new crew. Somewhere I don’t have to hide what I am anymore.”

“Tired of that military life, then? Can’t say I blame you. I’ve heard some scary things about The Nevermore’s captain.” Ilia spluttered in surprise, choking on her drink. Ruby simply smiled as she watched, bemused with the evident shock as she held out a napkin for her.

Taking the offered cloth, Ilia attempted to pat dry where the drink had spilled on her clothes, giving the other woman a curious look. “How did you-”

“Did I know? It’s rather obvious really. Tukson said you want to escape the empire, which means you’re tired of their way of life or running from something. You’ve got that fancy Atlesian accent you only get from certain upper tier schools. You’ve just arrived on station, and the only Atlesian ship to dock today has been The Nevermore . Now, either you’re a very talented stowaway, or you’re a deserter. I’m placing money on deserter.” Ruby counted off each reason on her fingers, a small smile never leaving her face as she looked at Ilia. “Am I right?”

Ilia looked shocked, and briefly considered lying before nodding her head. “You….are correct. Winter Schnee is a better captain than most, especially for a Schnee.” The name near dripped with malice and hatred. Though it was largely an act to help sell her story, the hatred was something long buried within her and all too real. “But it’d be only a matter of time until I was reassigned again, and to someone far less forgiving of faunus crew members.”

Ruby nodded knowingly. “As I said, I can’t blame you for getting tired of being under the empire’s thumb. But if you join my crew, you won’t have to worry about ever being treated like that again. The Sanguine Dream doesn’t tolerate such sentiments. Much like here, we’re a family on my ship.”

Ilia, having just braved another drink of the surprisingly sweet and delightful alcohol, started to choke on it again at the name of the ship. “I-I’m sorry…did you say The Sanguine Dream !? You’re the infamous Crimson Rose?”

Ruby beamed in delight, offering a mock bow from her seat. “One and the same! Fastest ship in the Expanse.”

“You know….you’re the reason The Nevermore has even been assigned to this sector. They’re meant to be hunting you down.”

Ruby raised an eyebrow and that, then shrugged as she finished off her drink. “Well, if that’s true they’re headed in the wrong direction. They just jumped out of the system.” Getting up from her seat, she patted Ilia on the shoulder. “Finish your drink, it’s on me. And when you’re ready, head to docking station 72B. I’ve got some more business aboard the station to finish, but then I’ll take you to your new home.” Ilia nodded in conformation, and Ruby started to head off, calling to the station’s owner once more. “Hey, Big Puma! Get any more of those parts I requested in?”

“Go ask Mell. She got a new shipment in, might be that it includes what you're after.”

“Thanks, I’ll go check out her stall.” Ruby waved Tukson goodbye as she moved away, leaving Ilia alone as she vanished into the crowd. Weaving her way through the mass of people, the pirate captain did a mental checklist of all she had left to do. Recruiting a new crew member hadn’t been on the list, but was quite a pleasant surprise. She smiled briefly at thinking of the faunus, especially on how cute she was. “Hmm...I should probably call ahead.” Slipping in a comlink into her ear, she tapped it and waited for an indication it was on. “Ciel, you there?”

After a few seconds, a beep played in answer to her question, before the voice of her subordinate came in. “Yes Captain, I’m here. Are we almost ready to leave? We’re already behind schedule.”

“Soon, Ciel. Soon.” Ruby chuckled at the exasperated sigh from Ciel. “Just got a few more things to take care of.”

“Ma’am, with all due respect, what’s the point of bringing me along to keep you on schedule, if you never stick to the schedule?”

“Maybe it’s cause I like your company, or maybe it’s so you can loosen up and get to know your fellows better. It’s been five years Ciel, you don’t have to stick to the Empire’s strict time schedule.”

“I know Captain...but it gives me comfort being on schedule when away from the ship.”

Ruby paused midstep, tilting her head in thought, before resuming her path. “I never thought of it like that. I’ll try to do better in the future, but this was a special circumstance. We’re bringing a new family member aboard.”

“I see. What does she look like?”

“Brown hair, gray eyes. Super cute.”

Ciel sighed, and Ruby imagined she was shaking her head on the other side. “Anything else to go on, Captain? Something a little more identifiable?”

“Oh believe me when you see her you’ll agree she’s cute.” Laughing, Ruby paused to briefly examine a weapons stall, humming as she glanced over the various guns there. “Do you think Yang would like a new gun?”

“She already adores the custom one you made for her, now please focus.”

“Right, sorry. What else. Oh, she’s a faunus. Chameleon I think.”

“I’ll keep an eye out. Does she know to come here?”

“Yes, I told her to head to you when she’s ready. I may have forgotten to mention that you were there, so don’t scare her too much.”

“Of course, Captain. I’ll behave. How long until you return?”

“Shouldn’t be too long. I’m just checking in with Mell to see if any of the parts came in. See you soon.” Turning off her comlink, she looked up at the bright neon sign reading ‘Mellon and Berry’s Robotics’, though several letters were unlit due to age. Shaking her head with a smile, she entered into the built in workshop, calling out over the sound of power tools at work. “Still haven’t fixed the sign then, Mell?”

Sparks stopped flying as Mell put down her blow torch, looking at Ruby from behind her welding mask. “I’ll fix it when I need to. You can still find yer way easily enough.” Lifting up the mask to reveal her grease covered face she beamed at Ruby, wheeling her wheel-chair over to the captain. “What brings you to my neck of the woods today then, lass?”

“Big Puma said you might have some things for me.” Ruby smiled brightly at the auburn haired mechanic, bending over to give her a hug before looking at the chair. “Robotics on the fritz again?”

“Nah, Berry thinks she can make more improvements to them so she’s tinkering again. Aren’t ya Berry?”

“They can always be better! I demand the best for my wife!”

Mell gestured in the vague direction of the voice. “I woke up with her trying to tinker with them in the bed, despite the fact that they’re perfectly fine!” She near shouted the last words, but a fond smile never left her face. “Anyway, come over here Red. Let’s see what we got.”

“Good to see you Berry!” Ruby shouted into the adjacent workshop, receiving only a grunt of acknowledgement. Chuckling, she followed Mell over to where several large crates sat waiting.

Mell picked up a data-slate and started swiping through it with a hum. “Now let’s see...Tukson, Ivory, Orchid, Mason, Ah! Ruby.” Tapping on the name, she read through the invoice while nodding to herself. “Hmm, well we got a few of the parts you wanted, but not many. But we did get something else for you.” Tapping the data-slate a few more times, the crate started to float.

Looking at the crate, Ruby smiled at seeing the secondary data-slate lying on top. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Depends on what you think it is.”

“A list of ships that might be carrying the parts I’m after?”

“Then yes, it is what you think it is.”

“Mell, you’re the best!” Quickly glancing through the device, her smile grew wider. “Oh, this is perfect. Ciel will love going through this.” Beaming with delight, Ruby hugged Mell again. The mechanic chuckled lightly, returning the hug.

“Yeah, yeah I know I’m the best. Now go ahead and take your stuff and get out of here.”

Nodding, Ruby put the slate back on top of the crate and started to push it out of the shop. “I’m going, I’m going. See you next time Mell. Take care Berry!”

“Bye Red, good to see you!” Berry cried out, though never left her private workshop, causing Mell and Ruby to laugh.

                        --------------------------------------------------------------

Ilia made her way through the station, weaving through the people in the crowded market as she tried to reach the elevator that would take her to the docking platforms. While she didn’t know what she expected, she didn’t think that a simple neutral station would be so populous. What astounded her the most was seeing people from all corners of the galaxy getting along. She had paused outside one bar where she saw Atlesian soldiers drinking and conversing with those from the Regime, surprise evident on her face. Outside of this station, they’d be mortal enemies, fighting and dying on the whims of people they had never met to protect their territory. Seeing them drink together, laugh together, had given Ilia something to ponder over as she walked.

So distracted by this line of thought was she, that she stopped paying attention to her surroundings and walked straight into a mountain of man. The force of their impact knocked her on her rear. “Oof!” blinking she looked up at the individual who slowly turned to look down at her. Feeling a spark of fear, she looked up at him in turn, eyes wide at the masked face that greeted her. Turning in full, he reached down towards her, arm tattooed and large, and offered her a hand.

“Are you ok, Madam?”

Blinking, Ilia gingerly took the offered hand with a sheepish smile. “Y-yeah. Sorry, I wasn’t paying attention.”

The giant helped her up, almost sending her flying with the strength behind the action as she stumbled to find her footing. “Nonsense, such things happen more often than you think, so there is no need to apologise. Now, is there anything I can do to assist you?”

“U-uh yes, actually. I’m trying to get down to docking station 72B. I’m not really sure which direction I’m meant to be going though?”

The man nodded, tapping the chin of his full face mask as he turned to look about. “Understandable, it is very easy to get turned around in the markets, but you are in luck.” He pointed to an elevator a short distance away. “That over there will transport you directly to Deck B, and from there it is a matter of simply following the signs to the correct station. If you get lost, one of the guards will be more than happy to find your way.”

Ilia nodded and opened her mouth to reply, but another voice cut her off. “Lieutenant! You’re needed at Dandelion’s. Another drunken brawl broke out.”

The lieutenant sighed, shaking his head as he rolled his shoulders. “Sorry madam, duty calls. I hope you find your way.”

“Oh, of course. Thank you, sir.” Ilia watched the man walk away, marvelling at the way the crowd of people parted before him, either out of respect or fear she could not tell. Probably a mix of both, she mused quietly as she went the direction shown to her. Stepping into the elevator, she soon found the button to take her where she needed, and waited as the machine moved. Readjusting the back on her shoulder, her foot tapped impatiently as the hum of machinery filled the air. It took several minutes, but soon the doors reopened before her, revealing that she had traded one busy area for another.

Stepping out onto the deck, she watched as several workers ran about in controlled chaos. Some were simply unloading cargo ships, directing the crates to the various service lifts that would take them through the trading station. Others were in the process of refueling shuttles that would soon be departing. Looking up, she found herself standing on platform 43B. A glance to her left showed the numbers descending, and ascending to the right. Nodding to herself, she took off in the direction she needed, keeping a careful eye on the platform numbers, and the people rushing around her. She didn’t want a repeat incident of running into someone, especially when this time there were fuel canisters and hanger controls that could accidentally be hit.

Twenty minutes later she finally found herself standing at platform 72B. It was far quieter than any of the other platforms she had come across, the red coloured shuttle having already been refuelled. Quickly glancing around, Ilia didn't see any sign of the pirate captain, and made her way towards the ship to wait. As she approached, the rear door to the shuttle hissed open, lowering as a semi-familiar face appeared. The woman walked out of the ship, still looking at her data-slate. "The ship's all ready to leave as soon as you get the cargo aboard and our new crew member arr-" She stopped as she finally looked up, eyes wide in recognition. "Operative Amitola!"

"Operative Soleil!" Both stood there, mouths agape, before pointing at one another and speaking in unison. "What are you doing here!!"

"I work for Captain Rose." Ciel stood a little straighter, pride emanating from her. "Why are you here, Amitola."

"I'm sorry, you're working for The Crimson Rose? All this time?" Ilia looked astounded. "We thought you had died…"

"I almost did… Ruby saved me after I was left behind by the Empire. I couldn't go back after what they did… so I joined her crew. But that still doesn't explain why you're here."

"Ah, I see you two already know each other! That saves on introductions." Both jumped at Ruby's sudden appearance. She smirked at the pair as she pushed the crate out of the service lift she had ridden in. "Ilia here is joining our family, just like I said."

Ciel sighed, shaking her head as she moved to help Ruby load the cargo. "You might have given me more to go on than just descriptions, Captain."

"Probably should have, but it worked out in the end. Come along Ilia!" Shaking her head, the Faunus Operative followed closely behind. "Got all your belongings with you?"

"Yes ma'am. At least, everything I could carry."

"Then make yourself comfortable. Time for us to head home. Oh, and Ciel, I got you a gift." The captain passed the data-slate over to Ciel, who instantly brightened up as she started to work her way through the information and decrypting it's secrets.

"Ah, wonderful. Thank you captain."

"Thank me by finding a good target. We still need a lot of parts for our little project. Now, Ilia. Come help me out in the cockpit." Nodding, Ilia once again followed behind Ruby and took a seat in the co-pilot's chair, helping her new captain go through the process of getting the ship ready for launch.

A short while later, the shuttle flew through the void and away from the station, carrying Ilia to her new home for the coming months.

[k-s-morgan]

Are you planning to end “Those Gentle Slopes” at the end of S2 or will it continue past that? I’m curious. Also I loved the last two chapters so much! Thank you for continuing to update the story! It’s my favorite 💕. I hope you’re doing all right with how insane this year has been!

Hello! Thank you again so much, the comments you left made me grin non-stop)) I plan to continue after S2. I don’t like endless stories, but I do intend to cover several important arcs. Ciel and Sebastian are at a very fascinating point at the end of S2: Sebastian knows he can kill Ciel to end his servitude but he finds himself unable to do it; Ciel knows Sebastian can kill him any moment but doesn’t for whatever reason, and Ciel masks his confusion under the mask of arrogance and confidence. They both pretend nothing changed, which is shown in their silly stubbornness in following the rituals that no longer hold any meaning.  Like Sebastian pretending to make tea and Ciel pretending to drink it. Exploring and resolving it will be amazing, I can’t wait to get to it.