#and the mental image of S/O softly murmuring thank yous as she kissing Grey in the lifeboats

[blackbutler-readerinsertsandjunk]

Charles Gray and Edward protect his s/o when she's stuck in the Campania!

let's hear it for the gents!!! <3

Not only is it his duty to protect all the other citizens on board, it’s doubly his duty to protect the love of his life. Everything else is quickly tossed to the side; his irritation toward Ciel, his big-brother-instincts-in-overdrive for Lizzie, all of it. Things have gotten serious, so it’s time for him to get serious. He focuses instantly on keeping everyone that he can out of harm’s way, up to and including a firm, “Get behind me, (Name), and stay behind me!” Assuming that his S/O doesn’t know her own way around a sword, and even if she does, he wants to keep her safe at any cost. He’s a knight, for God’s sake. His hands might be shaking a bit as he cuts down any threat which gets too close, but he’s still swinging away. He’s never been in a situation like this before, this life and death, and it shows. He doesn’t stop, though, only pausing so he can round to slash away one of the creatures that’s tried to grab at his darling. Of course, he does end up with a few wounds for his trouble. For all that he thinks he was just doing the decent thing… he’s also deeply grateful that (Name) gently patches him up on the way home. He doesn’t mind a scar or two; what’s more noble than being hurt in the name of protecting someone you love?

Ah, so his time to shine for his beloved and keep her safe has finally come!! It’s like a bit of high-energy theater. All things being equal, taking everything into account, even someone as dramatic and ready to fight as Charles Grey tries very hard to keep his S/O out of danger. He signed up for a line of work that requires him to carry a sword, or at least he was trained heavily for it from a young age; neither of those things are true for her. So he makes sure to hold her at arm’s length from his duties. That regrettably means she probably has never seen him in action until now. Funnily enough, her presence actually helps make him stronger — to hell with superstitions, he has no time to be afraid of these walking corpses when his hesitation could mean (Name) being hurt or worse. Down they all go, indiscriminately, heads chopped off with extreme prejudice for daring to exist past death! … And, likely with some big moment where he sweeps her out of biting distance just in time. There will definitely be some grateful, relieved kissing in the lifeboats later.