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the-letter-horror-lover · 1 year

Text

night.

Chapter 4

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

He'd only been in bed all of half an hour, sleep alluding him as usual, when his door swung open and hit the wall with a crash. Half-heartedly, he wondered if the nuisance would leave if he pretended to be asleep, but dismissed the idea. If he pretended to be asleep the brat would probably just sit on him or something.

“Go away, Alois. I'm tired,” the lump under the covers sluggishly snapped.

“Nuh-uh! It's Wednesday!” the blond announced, back to his exuberant self, bounding over to the bed and tugging on the quilt. He dodged the leg aimed at his stomach without even a blink, face-splitting grin not faltering, and finally succeeded in tearing the sheets from Ciel's death grip.

Ciel's temper only worsened when Alois lacked the decency to spontaneously combust beneath his one-eyed glare.

“Come ooon. If you don't come out now, Grey'll just come in and annoy you out anyway, and you know how you hate it when he comes in your room,” Alois reasoned, holding the sought-after sheets and dancing away from Ciel's outstretched hand.

Ciel frowned.

“...He touches my stuff,” he agreed, remembering the last time that damnable psychiatrist had had the gall to come into his room. It was ages until Ciel was satisfied that his models were germ-free.

Not to mention the imbecile had called them toys. They were not toys, they were collectables, dammit!

“Exactly!” Alois thought he'd won the weekly debate until Ciel just shrugged and flipped over, burying his face in the pillow. Annoyance surged up, he was this close to pouting.

“Ciiiel, I have candy~”

If Ciel had been a dog, his ears would have shot up.

Suspiciously, he looked over his shoulder at the newcomer in the doorway, brows furrowing.

“If it's that home-made stuff you tried to fob me off with last time, Soma, I swear to whatever God you believe in...” he trailed off when the purple-haired man opened his palm, a handful of wrapped sweets revealing themselves.

Five minutes later, Ciel was dressed and closing his bedroom door behind him, chewing a mouthful of toffee. Everyone else was already in the leisure room, all the chairs being arranged in a semi-circle in the centre. Both his self-proclaimed best friends flanked him, bickering between themselves about just who would be sitting next to Ciel, neither noticing when he meandered over to a waving Freckles, settling into his usual armchair beside her.

“Mornin', Smile,” she greeted with a bright one of her own. When he only frowned at the stupid nickname, she snickered, snatching one of the wrappers and playing with it.

“Whew, full house today,” Grey began, his ever-present grin plastered across his face. Phipps sat silently beside him, scribbling something onto the clipboard in his lap, looking forever-bored.

“So, let's start with the regular. Go round the circle and tell me how you're feelin', don't be afraid to express yourselves, guys.” No matter what the man said, it always sounded so sarcastic. God, Ciel hated even being in the same room as him. Conversations with Grey never failed to bring up the unhealthy urge to punch a baby in the face.

Peter was the unfortunate sitting directly next to Grey, and snorted, “I'm feelin' like I always feel when you make us do this; like this shit is stupid.”

Grey leaned forward in his chair, resting his elbows on his knees and adopting a look of intense fascination at Peter's words, “Uh-huh. Yes, I'm feeling a lot of pent-up aggression here. Did you get that, Phipps? Make sure to get it word-for-word, we've made a big break through here.”

Peter just rolled his eyes at the obvious mocking, folding his arms across his chest and glancing away from the source of annoyance.

“Alright, Wendy, what about you?” Grey turned to the small girl sat beside Peter, who instantly looked flustered, and shrugged, muttering something about feeling fine. Peter flared up instantly, his temper not good at the best of times, and barked, “Stop makin' her feel uncomfortable!”

Grey just laughed.

Soma was next, and just cheerily responded with a Great!, and Ciel almost smirked as he expertly gave Grey nothing to work with.

Eventually Grey got bored of that, luckily before he got to Beast who would have given as good as she got, and then they'd all have to put up with Dagger rushing to defend his sister's honour for the next hour, which got old quick.

Ciel was pretty sure Phipps was just doodling at this point.

“Alright! Enough of that. Today's key word is self-control.”

Everyone laughed at that, even Ciel couldn't help snickering a little. Grey's amused gaze was upon Alois as he said it.

“Now I know we've discussed this many times before, but because of a certain someone, the higher ups are making me sit through it again. Thank you for that, Trancy. Anything you'd like to say?”

Alois' grin turned feral.

“You talking about what happened with that whore? Pfft, that had nothing to do with lack of self-control. I did exactly as I meant to do.”

It would have been alright if the patients had been the only ones laughing at that. They were insane, right? Things like that amuse them. However, an appalled Sebastian thought as he watched the session from the other side of the room, what the hell was Grey doing, cracking up just as much as Alois? Even Phipps let out a chortle at the boy's words. They... It was like they were encouraging the blond's actions.

Sebastian's gaze caught with Ciel's, and the same disgust that Sebastian felt at the psychiatrists was reflected in the eye that met his. He was almost relieved, but with that relief came yet more confusion. Because yet again, this patient was appearing as more sane than yet another member of staff.

Ciel had disappeared into his room at some point during the session when Sebastian wasn't looking, and his faint hope of maybe catching a game was dashed yet again. A part of him was annoyed that he'd allowed the kid to get under his skin so easily, so quickly, but he was mostly annoyed that he hadn't had his rematch yet.

“Sebastian, there's someone I'd like you to meet,” Tanaka said, pulling Sebastian away from his work and out into the hall. There waited a man. Or a woman. It was impossible to tell beneath the dozens of layers of black. Shaggy gray hair hung across the man's face, hiding his eyes from view. An impossibly wide grin stretched across their face, showing all their teeth and giving the impression more of a vicious snarl than a smile.

“This is one of my fellow Chairmen, his name is-”

“Call me Undertaker,” the man, no woman could have a voice that deep, cut in, a hand appearing from the depths of his overly-large sleeves to grasp Sebastian's in a firm shake.

Undertaker? These people weren't even trying anymore, were they?

“As I'm forced to travel often, if you ever need anything, feel free to go to Undertaker. He resides here year round, and his door is always open-”

“Only if you pay the toll, of course,” yet again cutting across Tanaka, the man laughed, arguably the most unhinged laughter Sebastian had heard to that day.

Tanaka chortled himself.

“Ah, of course. Our Undertaker here does insist you share a joke before you can enter the office. Ah well, just make him laugh and he'll help you with anything.”

A joke toll.

...a joke toll.

Sebastian made a promise to himself as he walked back to the ward to never need Undertaker's help.

“You should just switch with Ash permanently. He's such a bore to play with these days,” Ciel stated in way of greeting as Sebastian crossed into the dimly-lit leisure room, toying with a white pawn.

Not long after his introduction with Undertaker, Sebastian had been summoned to Angela's office and told he'd be covering for Ash again that night. If he hadn't been pleased at the prospect of finally getting his rematch, he would have been annoyed that she was only just telling him this after he'd already worked most of his regular shift. It was with only two hours sleep that he went back to the ward that night, but something told him that he wouldn't be feeling particularly exhausted for the time being.

“That's because you've had an actual challenge now. Naturally other opponents will be dull in comparison,” Sebastian replied with a smirk, sinking thankfully into the waiting armchair.

“Can you really call yourself a challenge when you've yet to win a single game?” Ciel replaced the pawn and gestured for Sebastian to make his first move. Sebastian didn't deem him with a response, too busy going over different strategies in his head. Ciel could almost see the cogs turning.

It wouldn't be for several hours that a word other than checkmate would be spoken, and unfortunately for Sebastian, it was only Ciel's voice that spoke out. Knowing that the sun would be rising soon and that Angela would be coming to dismiss him, Sebastian's fervour for the game was replaced with the curiosity that had been building for over a week now.

Though he was a master of most things, alas he was beginning to question his chess playing abilities, Sebastian was particularly good at talking. It came with the charm he possessed, and made it easy for him to get answers from people who didn't want to give them, without them even knowing they'd done so. At least until it was too late.

“I met the other Chairman today,” Sebastian said, still moving the pieces in response to Ciel, but not really paying mind to the board any more.

Ciel hummed, snatching yet another fallen pawn from the board, “Undertaker?”

“Yes... I trust that's not his real name?”

“I wouldn't put it past him to have had it legally changed,” the boy said, shaking his head as he thought of the cloaked man, “Have you met the other one yet?”

Sebastian blinked. Now that he thought of it, there had been mention that there was more than two Chairmen of St. Victoria's.

“No, can't say I have. What's his name?”

Ciel just shrugged, wriggling in the chair to get more comfortable. Sitting all night was a real pain.

“Can't say I know. No one does, actually, not even Soma. It's one of those mysteries, but I got bored of trying to solve it a long time ago.”

Ah. A lead-in.

“Oh? So... exactly how long have you been here?”

Sebastian saw Ciel tense at the question, and scolded himself for not being subtle enough. Still, there was only so many ways of broaching the subject, and Ciel had handed him one on a silver platter. No doubt the boy would be careful not to do it again now that he'd already slipped up once.

Forcefully relaxing, Ciel answered after only a brief hesitation, “Must be... five years now, I think.” Seeing Sebastian open his mouth, no doubt to ask another question, Ciel continued, “I meant to ask; do you know if anyone has been taken to The Room today?”

Sebastian knew perfectly well that Ciel was trying to change the subject, and not very subtly either. Luckily for him, his companion had simply handed him yet another opportunity.

“I'm not too sure. I was out of the room at the time, meeting Undertaker as it were, but Agni told me there was an incident with Peter. I didn't see him the rest of the day... but while we're on the subject; what exactly is The Room?”

For a second, nothing but pure surprise was on Ciel's face, before a strange expression replaced it, half-way between a scowl and a smirk, as though his face wasn't sure what expression it wanted to show, and all Ciel said was, “It's your move.”

They played for another hour, another three victories for Ciel, before Sebastian's usually expansive patience fled him. He took hold of his King and lay it on its side across the chequered board, raising his eyes to meet Ciel's single questioning one, and threw caution to the wind.

“Why are you here?”

Ciel didn't look surprised at the question, but he did look confused. The confusion didn't last long, and then it was replaced by laughter. Not the types of laughs Sebastian had seen from him so far; the derisive snickers and half-smirks, not cruel but usually at other's expense. No, this was genuine, almost childish laughter. Unbridled and unrestrained.

Ciel was laughing at him.

“W-Why? You're asking me why?!” Gasping for breath, clutching his stomach as barks of laughter still spilled past his lips, “Because I'm mad!

Sebastian waited for the boy to regain his composure, until only the faintest whisper of a chuckle was escaping him, to argue, “You're the sanest person I've met here. Look, I know what madness is. I've seen it! And you've not mad. Half the staff are, but you aren't-”

Another bark of laughter cut him off, “Don't you think you're being rather presumptuous? We've met two, three times? You're making the mistake of letting your guard down around me, Sebastian. In a place like this, that mistake can get you killed. You saw what happened to Ms. Hannah, didn't you?”

Ciel paused, and Sebastian looked ready to argue with him, but he raised a hand to stop any words that were forthcoming.

“I understand what you mean about the staff. Believe me, more than half of them a certifiable. Now, you. You are a sane man. For now, anyway. So it's only natural that a sane man, in an insane place, will look for sanity. But you're making a mistake in looking for it in me.”

The beeping of the system as a key-card was swiped alerted them both to Angela's approach.

Ciel rose from his seat and rounded the table, pausing by Sebastian's side. Leaning down, watching the doorway with a wary eye, he murmured, “Letting your guard down around me could get you killed, Sebastian. Don't let it happen again.” Without glancing back to see the effect his words were having on the dark-haired man, Ciel strode from the room. However, he paused in the doorway and glanced back with a smirk.

“Oh, by the way... Alois mentioned something about liking your eyes. You might want to watch that.”

Chapter 5

Chapter Text

Chapter Five

After that night, Sebastian tried to force thoughts of Ciel from his mind. It was infuriating him. He understood his interest towards the boy before; Sebastian had never been beaten. It was only natural that he'd want to one-up the first person to do so. He tried to convince himself that it was still just that. That want for victory over the smug little-

But was it? It wasn't thoughts of getting games out of him any more. When he thought of Ciel Phantomhive, Sebastian thought of sanity. He'd been so sure of himself, so sure that he was right in thinking that Ciel was misplaced in the Institute. But would a mad person proclaim themselves mad? From Sebastian's experience, albeit that was restricted to T.V and books mostly, insane people never thought of themselves as such. That was part of the madness, after all, the surety that it was everyone else who was wrong, that they were the ones right.

Then again, Claude's words came back to him. That they're all there for a reason, that they'd try to trick him. He'd dismissed the warning simply because it came from a man he borderline-loathed, but did it ring true?

But if that was how it was, surely Ciel would have gone along with Sebastian's insistences of his sanity. Played on them, used them to manipulate Sebastian. That's certainly what Sebastian would have done in his position.

It made no sense.

Maybe... Maybe it was another game.

There was only one thing Sebastian could be completely sure of when it came to Ciel Phantomhive, and that was that he liked to play games. And he seemed very fond of making Sebastian his competitor.

Was this another game?

And was Sebastian losing?

“All right, come on!” Will barked at the group, passing his key-card over the electronic panel. The door to the ward opened, and the patients followed behind Will out of the ward. As today was Saturday, the patients were allotted a few hours in the gardens, a weekly treat. Something about the natural environment being soothing or whatever. Either way, how much damage could they do with grass?

Sebastian stood off to the side as they all filed out, waiting for the lingerers. Alois was tapping his foot impatiently on the floor, checking his imaginary watch, as an only-just conscious Ciel shuffled out of his room. Out of all the garden trips Sebastian had been at the Institute for, Ciel had never shown, but it seemed Alois' urging had done the miracle of pulling him out of bed during sunlight hours. Not for the first time, a niggling voice in the back of Sebastian's mind wondered just what the relationship between the two of them was. That voice was quickly dismissed, however, when Sebastian remembered it was none of his concern.

Ciel didn't look at him as he passed with the blond, and if Sebastian was a less observant man, he'd have thought it was out of indifference to him completely. Sebastian was an observant man, though, and he didn't miss that it was with a carefully constructed nonchalance that he was blanked. Since the night Sebastian had broached the subject with Ciel, there had been no more switches to the night shift, and on the rare occasions Ciel was hounded out of his room, no words passed between them.

All the more suspicious, surely. If Ciel really wasn't hiding anything then why the sudden silent treatment?

Or was this just another twist in the game Sebastian was being snaked in to?

Ciel had disappeared.

No, Sebastian hadn't been watching him. No more than he had any of the other patients. Of course he had to keep an eye on the boy; it would be unprofessional to not do so. It wasn't like he was keeping more of a watch on Ciel than the other patients, not at all. In fact, if he'd been properly watching him, he'd probably know where the brat had vanished to.

So he was simply doing his job when he left Will to monitor the rest of the patients and went in search of Ciel. For all he knew, the boy could be jumping the fence right that very minute. He was just being professional.

...Unfortunately, he had no professional excuses for hiding in a bush when he did find Ciel, and realised the blue-haired boy was talking to someone.

“...said that she wanted to meet him! Something about wanting to know the genes or whatever,” Finnian exclaimed with a disbelieving laugh, yanking a weed from the dirt and tossing it in the growing pile behind him.

Ciel just shook his head, “A bit late in the game for that kind of feedback, Susan.”

Finny laughed, “That's what I said! Not like she could do anything about it if she didn't like him, right? Anyway, speaking of babies, Lynette popped out another one-”

“But she already had an entire litter,” Ciel protested.

“Tell me about it. She should give one of them to the gay couple, since Gaby backed out-”

“You're going to have to backtrack, you've lost me.”

“Oh, right, that was last season...”

...Were they talking about some soap opera? Surely not.

“Oh! And Carlos can see again now!”

“How the hell is that possible? He was blind for five years!”

Sebastian's opinion of Ciel's tastes went down a notch or ten.

However, awful television choices aside, Sebastian had at least one question answered. Since the idea of Ciel merely playing a game with him had been planted, Sebastian had begun to wonder if maybe Ciel only acted that way around him, spoke so lucidly and more importantly, acted so rationally. If it was just a game, he probably didn't act that way around other people. What would be the need, when they weren't players? But now Sebastian knew. It was no act. Ciel acted just as sane with other people as he did with him.

One question answered, a dozen more raised. That seemed to be the pattern at St. Victoria's.

Now that Sebastian knew Ciel wasn't merely acting, his curiosity over just why the boy was in the Institution in the first place was stronger. And if Ciel wasn't going to tell him, Sebastian was just going to have to find out himself.

Unfortunately, what seemed simple enough in one's mind generally ended up more complicated in reality. If Ciel wasn't going to tell him, there were two alternatives; find out from someone else who knew, or read Ciel's file.

Neither were appealing prospects.

If Sebastian started asking around, chances were high that word would get back to Ciel, which Sebastian didn't much fancy. It was bad enough that the kid had gotten under his skin without giving him the satisfaction of knowing it. Besides, it would raise the question of just why he wanted to know. Sure, he could just act like he was taking his job very seriously, but people might begin to draw their own theories about his curiosity.

Either way, it would lead to a very uncomfortable Sebastian.

If Sebastian read the file, the premise would be the issue. Actually reading the file, not a problem. Getting his hands on said file, big problem. He knew for a fact that all patient files were in Claude's office. If he could somehow get in there when no-one else was, read the file and get out without anyone noticing his absence...

The night shift. If Angela asked him to cover for Ash on a Tuesday night, then when the Wednesday therapy group was going on, Sebastian could sneak into Claude's office and read the file without having to rush.

Sebastian smirked, a truly devious smirk, as the plan came together, choosing to ignore the flash of Grell's always-present camera.

You know that feeling when you want someone to fall down a flight of stairs and they just bloody won't? Yeah, that was Sebastian's current mind-set.

He watched with crushing disappointment as Ash reached the floor with no broken bones, not even a cracked skull. He briefly considered taking the matter into his own hands and inviting him into his room via Will's door, but derailed the train of thought. Too messy.

A week had passed since Sebastian's resolution to get his hands on Ciel's file, and no summons to Angela's office had been forthcoming. Figures. He supposed he could wait until the chance offered itself, but at the rate things were going, that could take forever. It was as though, now that Sebastian wanted to be put on the night shift more, the chance was being taken away from him.

“Sebastian? Coming down to dinner?” Agni asked, meeting him at the bottom of the stairs. He seemed in particularly high spirits, and Sebastian wondered what inadvertently-complimentary thing Soma had professed about him.

The two went down to the dining hall. It was a good thing that Agni was in such a good mood, really, considering Sebastian had decided to resort to option B.

“Agni, I've been wondering... How much do you know about Ciel Phantomhive?”

He'd tried to think of a subtler way to ask, but it was hardly as though Ciel generally came up in their conversations. Any mention of the boy would seem odd, so Sebastian reasoned he may as well be direct.

To his confusion, Agni didn't look at all perplexed at the mention of the one-eyed patient, he almost looked amused, “I thought you seemed to be quite taken with him.”

If Sebastian had been a cartoon, his jaw would have been scraping the grotty floor.

“...what?” he responded intelligently.

Agni just gave a conspiratorial smile. Sebastian half expected him to wink.

...No.

Just no.

There was no way that Agni seriously thought-

“It's not like that!” Sebastian snapped, looking around shiftily to make sure no-one was overhearing. Agni blinked, looking around himself too, before smiling again as though he'd gotten in on a good joke.

“Ah. I get you. Of course it's not,” he said placatingly, almost patronizingly.

Sebastian was very glad he wasn't a cartoon as the steam would have been shooting from his ears at this point.

“This is nothing like your little obsession with Soma! I'm simply curious, Agni, in a completely platonic way!” Sebastian insisted, only getting more and more riled up as Agni just nodded soothingly again, obviously humouring him.

“To answer your question, I don't actually know much about Ciel. He's Soma's friend, but even Soma doesn't know too much about him. The only solid fact I know is that he was brought here when he was eleven, by Dr. Faustus himself, I'm told. Saying that, I didn't work here then, so this is all hearsay. Ronald isn't necessarily the best source of information, considering his source is the receptionist he sees off and on. Maybe if you ask Ronald directly, he'll be able to tell you more?”

Sebastian would be damned if he'd ask Ronald about the matter. If Agni had drew the conclusion that Sebastian's interest lay beyond simple curiosity, he could only imagine the reception his questions would receive from the teasing Orderly.

No, mere rumours and hearsay would not sate Sebastian's curiosity. He was going to have to take the bull by the horns. He was going to have to sneak into Claude Faustus' office.

Grell came back to the world of the living gently, which naturally caused him to panic.

Usually, he was awoken by a strong hand throwing him bodily back into his own room. Masochist he was, he rather enjoyed waking that way. Nothing better than knowing you're in the arms of a strong, handsome man, even if those arms are tossing you like a Frisbee. But not today. Today, he awoke naturally, at the sound of an alarm clock, and the feel of Sebastian beside him.

Oh god, had he smothered him in his sleep accidentally?

“Sebby?”

Cracking an eye open, Grell chanced a look at the man beside him.

He was awake, crimson eyes meeting Grell's.

“Yes?” Sebastian replied.

“...Is something the matter?” Grell was getting worried now. Why wasn't Sebastian tearing him from his bed with passion disguised as annoyance?

“...Actually... I'm feeling a little sick.”

In Sebastian's defense, he wasn't to know that those words would induce World War III at St. Victoria's Asylum, courtesy of Grell Sutcliffe. Unfortunately, Will didn't share that sentiment, and still held a grudge over being awoken to frantic cries of the bubonic plague has seized my darling Sebby! at half six in the morning.

An hour later, the entire staff was under the impression that Sebastian was bedridden with a mixture of plague, hepatitis and polio, and Ash had been and gone from his room, excusing Sebastian from work for the day.

Just as planned. If Sebastian had been an advocate of the maniacal laugh, he would have enjoyed a good one right as Ash hurried from the room with a medical mask covering his mouth and nose.

Sebastian gave it an hour and a half before ghosting from his room, positive that the staff were all going about their work by now, particularly the psychiatrists. As it was Wednesday, the group session would be going on in the ward, and Sebastian knew for a fact that Claude was making his rounds with individual patients, so his office would be completely empty.

Claude's office was as you would expect after meeting the man; completely void of personality. It was like he'd watched a few episodes of Frasier and pieced together what he thought a psychiatrist's office should look like. There were no pictures of family or friends, no personal touches to the desk like ornaments or a Troll doll, even the books on the shelves that framed the room were so mundanely obligatory. Freud and Young were the main offenders, flanked by books on personality disorders bigger than your head. The type that could be used as a murder weapon. The colour scheme was suicide-inducing too; dull browns and blacks, the only variation being the fascinating variety of browns Claude had so expertly used. An obnoxiously large desk in front of a high-backed chair that just cried for a cat-stroking Bond villain, with a single filing cabinet breaking the army of bookcases.

Sebastian pressed the heavy oak door shut as quietly as possible, wincing at the dull click as the lock clicked in to place. Luckily, Claude's office door wasn't part of the key-pass system, so there would be no trace of Sebastian's stealthy visit on the system.

Sebastian only realised that he was staking this entire mission on the idea that the filing cabinet wouldn't be locked, and his non-existent respect for Claude became even more imaginary as he discovered it wasn't locked.

How the hell had Claude even gotten his job?

It didn't take long to find Ciel's folder; it was the thinnest one.

Slipping it out of the cabinet, Sebastian sat back on his heels, opening the file. There was only a few sheets of paper inside. One was a simple details sheet; Ciel Phantomhive, currently sixteen, son of Vincent and Rachel Phantomhive (deceased), current guardian Angelina Durless. On a separate sheet, random facts like allergies, asthma and the such were detailed, and a list of visits to the Infirmary. Attached to that sheet was a single photo, an obviously younger Ciel, ragged and weary looking, bandages wrapped around the left of his face, visible eye avoiding the camera. The final sheet of paper was handwritten. There was only a paragraph on it.

Patient D18, Ciel Phantomhive. Severely unstable, volatile and delusional. Denies all responsibility of The Fire. Refuses to associate with other patients, will not take part in discussion groups, vehemently rejects medication to the point of having to be restrained. High-risk patient. Rehabilitation, indefinite.

Sebastian read the words again and again, but it was the last two words that caught his attention.

Rehabilitation?

Sebastian knew perfectly well that some places like St. Victoria's centred around getting the patients back into normal society, on helping them gain a sense of stability, to help them shape a normal life. But Sebastian also knew that St. Victoria's was not one of those places. It wasn't a stop along the path, it was the end of the road. Once you entered St. Victoria's, you didn't leave again.

Sebastian didn't have long to ponder on that, however, as voices suddenly sounded out from the corridor, heavy footfalls coming towards the door.

So Sebastian did the only thing he could think of; he jammed Ciel's folder back into the cabinet, kicked the drawer in, and jumped into Claude's coat closet.

Oh, in the name of all things cliché...

“It's enough already! He's been gone for ages!” Sebastian peered through the crack in the door, reaffirming his suspicion that that was Joker's voice he'd heard. The usual playful grin was absent, the friendly air the man always held about him completely dissipated. His hair, albeit never neat, was even messier than usual, a tell-tale sign that he'd been running his hands through it restlessly.

“Calm yourself,” Angela snapped, pale eyes narrowed at the frustrated man. Claude stood silently behind her, leaning back on his desk, watching the patient with veiled eyes.

“No, I will not be calm! What do you think you're playing at?!” Joker exploded, veritably baring his teeth at the woman. She visibly bristled, Sebastian could almost see her haunches rise.

“I am doing my job, boy. Little Peter misbehaved, so he must be appropriately reprimanded-”

“And it's been over a week! Even if he was in the wrong, he's atoned for it!”

That was apparently the straw that broke the camel's back for Angela, who raised herself up as tall as she could go, much taller than Sebastian had thought her, towering over Joker.

“That is not for you to judge! I am the judge here! I will decide if he has atoned!” she shrieked in his face, and Sebastian's respect for Joker rose as he didn't even flinch, just looked at her like she was dirt on his shoe.

“And if your opinion of atoning is more than he can handle?” Joker had gone dangerously quiet now, the living epitome of the calm before the storm.

And Angela's anger disappeared, the usual relaxed smile returning to her lips, “That is none of your concern. We are no-where near being done with little Peter yet.”

The storm erupted, and Joker lunged for her, all snarling teeth and blazing eyes, hand going straight for her throat. Angela didn't move, didn't flinch away from the livid teen about to completely destroy her.

She had no need to.

His fingers brushed her neck, and Joker was flung to the floor, the impact knocking all the air from his lungs. Claude stood over him, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, not a hair out of place. He looked down at the wheezing Joker, and the emotionless mask cracked for a second, just a second, long enough for Sebastian to see the faintest flicker of amusement in those amber eyes.

Hatred rose in the watching Sebastian, a searing flame, burning like acid, and he almost darted out of the closet. Not to protect Joker, he wasn't nearly a decent enough man to take it upon himself to needlessly defend others, but to knock that smug look of sinister glee from the bespectacled man.

The office door burst open, slamming into the bookshelf behind it and knocking hardbacks to the floor with a thump. The triplets appeared beside Claude, two of them taking one of Joker's arms each and wrenching them behind his back until he let out a sharp cry of pain, the remaining one accepting a syringe from Claude. Joker struggled violently as the triplet not restraining him neared, kicking out his legs and trying to pull free from their vice-like grip.

“Do you really think you'll get away with all this?! Fuck! And you say we're mad!” Joker screamed as the syringe came closer to his neck.

The words ceased abruptly as soon as the needle broke skin, and Joker slumped in their arms. He wasn't unconscious, Sebastian could see that. His eyes remained open, but they dulled, a glassy sheen to them. It almost looked like he was peacefully daydreaming, but his ruffled hair and rumpled clothes were evidence to the struggle that had taken place only seconds before.

Sebastian watched, his mind blank, as the triplets dragged Joker silently from the room, Angela following behind. Claude flicked imaginary lint from his jacket and turned to follow, only to freeze in his steps.

You know that feeling when you're sort-of asleep, but you feel like you're falling? Like the world has suddenly been pulled out from beneath your feet?

That was the feeling Sebastian got when Claude frowned down at the ajar drawer of the filing cabinet.

Claude knelt down and pulled the drawer fully open. He looked down, eyes intent, taking in everything, every placement. Sebastian scarcely breathed, waiting for the moment Claude would pull Ciel's file out of the drawer and know. Know who and what and when, know why more than Sebastian knew why at that moment.

Today, though... today seemed to be Sebastian's lucky day. Claude either didn't see anything amiss or pretended not to, simply slamming the drawer shut and stalking from the room.

It wouldn't be for another half an hour that Sebastian finally felt it was safe to leave the closet and return to his room.

Chapter 6

Chapter Text

Chapter Six

It was too quiet.

He usually loved the silence, but there was something wrong in the air, something that pulled Ciel from his thankfully dreamless sleep. The usual cacophony of raucous laughter and voices, his usual alarm clock, was not there.

With a knot forming in his stomach, Ciel threw back the sheets and dragged himself out of bed. Apprehension grew as he neared his bedroom door, quietly pulling it open and glancing out.

Beast was the first one he saw. Proud and fierce Beast, with her face in her hands and sobs racking her body. Her curly hair was a matted mess, her clothes obviously having been threw on in a hurry. No sound escaped her though, there was still enough of her usual self about that she kept the screams locked away.

Wendy was curled up against her side, tear-stained face in the larger but not older woman's lap. Her deceptively small body was trembling violently, and Ciel watched her right hand clench and unclench, as though constantly forgetting that the hand she always held when things got bad was no longer in her reach.

Dagger knelt before them, and although Ciel had always thought him brash and irritating, respect grew for the boy, man, as he restrained his own tears expertly. He petted Wendy's hair soothingly with one hand, gripping his beloved sister's knee with the other, and whispered lies of comfort, not convincing them or himself.

Neither three of them noticed Ciel in his doorway, too absorbed in their grief, but Freckles, standing off to the side and staring at nothing, glanced up to meet his gaze. She wasn't crying, there were no signs that she had either. Her eyes weren't red, her cheeks weren't blotchy, she wasn't a sniffling mess. Perhaps it would have been better if she had been crying, because that sheer blankness she had on her face then sent a chill down Ciel's spine. He was so used to the warm smiles she gave him, the dirty laughs that made her blush when she realised they were coming from her, and the bright eyes. The stark absence of any emotion was not Freckles.

The girl abandoned her post and came towards him, fisting her sweatshirt, wetting her dry lips.

“Hey, Smile,” she croaked, and Ciel wondered if maybe he'd been wrong, that she had cried, cried so much the tears simply dried up.

“Hello, Freckles,” he replied obligingly. He wasn't sure what to do. What was the protocol for these situations? People generally hugged at these times, but they both knew he wasn't capable of offering her that sort of comfort, and she would never ask it from him. He considered asking her into his room, not sure why, was that what people did? Offer privacy? But she had her own room for that if it was what she wanted.

Ciel shifted from foot to foot restlessly, waiting for Freckles to offer some sort of explanation for what was going on. He knew that much, the rule was to never ask, if something was amiss you'd be told. Unspoken and unwritten, but a rule none-the-less. Freckles didn't say anything though, just stood before him uncertainly, and so Ciel bit the bullet.

Reaching out, he gingerly took one of her hands in his. He may not be able to embrace the girl, but he could bring himself to do this much.

She blinked down at her hand clasped in his, looking for all the world like she'd just been shook awake, then laced their fingers together. And then the smile was back, not the usual beaming grin, it was unsteady and ready to break at any minute, but still a smile.

She took a deep breath, exhaling loudly, and began, “Joker went to see Angela.”

Ciel didn't need to hear any more, honestly didn't need more than just Joker's name to know what happened, but felt that Freckles needed to tell him. She'd understand herself what was going on only if she spoke the words.

“It was only last night... we can't know for sure, I guess... Hell, he could come burstin' through the door any second now and laugh at us gettin' all worked up over nothin'...”

She trailed off, eyes turning towards the ward door hopefully, as though Joker was simply waiting outside for his cue. Ciel tightened his hold on her hand, drawing her attention back from the hopeless scenario, and waited for her to continue.

“...Y'heard 'bout Peter, right?”

Ciel nodded. The night after Sebastian had mentioned to him about Peter, Freckles herself had told him anyway. Peter had always had such a short temper, and was dangerously possessive of Wendy. An awfully bad mix, especially with Wendy's meek nature always causing Peter to think some terrible slight had been committed against her every time she looked a little down. Usually they managed to keep him from doing anything more than shouting, but Dagger and Jumbo had been on the other side of the room, and Joker had been in a session with Claude. Of course Grey provoked him, as always, and Peter hadn't even managed to draw blood with his attack, but no-one cared about that. Alls that mattered was the nuts-and-bolts of the situation; a psychiatrist talking to a patient, the patient attacked, end of.

Ciel frowned.

“That... was a while back.”

Freckles finally looked back to Ciel's face, “A month ago. Peter's been gone a whole month, Smile.”

Ciel felt like he'd been doused in cold water. Surely that couldn't be right. He would have noticed, definitely would have noticed if someone had been in The Room that long.

He must have exchanged all of two words with Peter since the small man had arrived at St. Victoria's, and they'd probably only have been his being warned to keep away from Wendy or something equally pointless, yet Ciel suddenly felt the urge to be sick.

“We've all been tryin' to find out when they'd be bringin' him back, but no one would tell us nothin'. Joker got really annoyed last night and just got outta his chair and said he was goin' to get Peter. And he said it in that way he does, y'know?”

Ciel did know. Joker spent so much time living up to his namesake that people forgot how serious the man could be when he had to. When the situation called for it, however, Joker stood up and took care of whatever he had to take care of. Ciel could just picture him, usual grin replaced by a stern frown, threading his fingers through his wild orange hair, informing everyone I'm going to go fetch Peter, back in five, in the same way you'd say the sky is blue or Bard's cooking sucked.

“So 'course we all believed him... but...”

“...He hasn't come back,” Ciel finished for her as she seemed visibly incapable of saying the words, clutching his hand so tight it hurt. Freckles nodded jerkily, taking a shaky breath, willing away the tightness in her throat and the burning behind her eyes.

She couldn't cry, she just couldn't. Not when Beast was breaking, and Wendy was broken, and Dagger was being so much stronger than them all. And, oh god, she'd have to tell Jumbo when he finally woke up and that would be too damn much to take.

Ciel watched as the girl before him, one of the few people he could truly consider a friend, held herself together with nothing but the fracturing determination to not cry.

And all he could do was squeeze her hand a little tighter.

He'd gone back in to his room, couldn't help but feel he was intruding upon their grief.

Ciel liked Joker.

Well, as much as Ciel generally liked people, anyway.

Joker was loud and his teasing was annoying, he always stole Ciel's favourite chair and gave him stupid nicknames like Smile that caught on with everyone from patients to staff, yet...

Joker was kind. When he'd first met Ciel, he'd given him the brightest smile Ciel had ever seen and invited Ciel to come sit with him and his friends. Ciel had, of course, vehemently refused, and with a poisonous glare to boot, but from that day on, Joker was not deterred and continued to invite the anti-social boy to join the rest of them.

Joker was generous. In a place like St. Victoria's, it was everyone for themselves, or so Ciel liked to think. Joker did not share that sentiment, though. Whenever he got his hands on something, be it an insignificant think like a pen or something interesting like a book, he shared it with everyone else. And, the time he'd managed to sneak some sweets from Ronald's pocket and saw Ciel's eye reluctantly drawn to them, without a seconds hesitation, he gave every last one to the boy.

Joker was protective. Despite the dog-eat-dog mentality of the Institute, Joker had taken each and every one of his fellow patients under his wing. Joker wasn't that much older than everyone else, and no doubt he had his fair share of problems- he was there after all. Yet, whenever someone came back weary and tired from a treatment, in pain in every sense of the word, Joker was the first one at their sides, supporting them and taking them to their rooms. Ciel remembered after one particularly vile treatment of Claude's, when he'd become so sick that he couldn't even breathe, Joker had sat at his bedside, not touching never touching, and told him stupid stories about some Piper's son until he'd finally been able to draw breath without it hurting.

...Suddenly Ciel found his room stifling, the solitude that he always sought smothering, and strode out of the door again. It had been an hour or two since he'd spoken with Freckles, and Jumbo had finally arisen. Joker's usual group were sat around him, trying to explain to the still half-asleep man what was happening, and Ciel steered clear of them.

He made his way over to his usual armchair, pulling his feet up under him. Jumbo let out a wordless yell and jumped to his feet, sending the coffee table in front of him over on it's side, and Dagger implored for him to sit down and try to be calm.

It was just as smothering out here. He wanted to go outside. It felt like someone had his windpipe in their fist, tightening their hold as the seconds crawled on. He clenched his eye shut and counted slowly back from one hundred, keeping his breaths slow and steady. The last thing he needed was for that annoyance to start up again.

“Care for some company?” an only vaguely familiar voice enquired politely. Opening his eye again, he saw Drocell standing before him.

A sense of unease washed over Ciel.

Obviously taking Ciel's silence as consent, Drocell pulled over a chair and sat down. A scraping from his other side announced the arrival of Drocell's shadow, Snake.

Ciel glanced between the two in suspicion, the smothered feeling growing into sheer claustrophobia. They had him cornered, and he damn well didn't like it.

“What do you want?” Ciel demanded, uncurling his feet from beneath him and settling them on the floor.

Snake and Drocell shared a look before Snake turned back to Ciel.

“We are in trouble.” His voice was so quiet, even sitting only inches apart, Ciel had to strain to hear him. The white-haired man looked over to the group of people in the middle of the room, and there was visible pain on his usually blank face. Drocell rested a hand on his knee, the most comfort he could offer when others were present.

“Let's not beat around the bush; we have a request of you, Ciel.”

Ciel's eye narrowed, lips pressing together in a tight line.

“And what exactly would that be?” he responded, tone making it perfectly clear that any answer wasn't remotely welcome.

Snake hadn't looked away from the others, and didn't seem prone to, so Drocell took over.

“Something has changed. Snake and I have been discussing it for a while now, how different things have seemed, but this... For Peter to have been gone so long, I reason he must have been killed.”

He said it in a detached way, but fear spiked in those striking violet eyes.

“And now they have taken Joker. We do not want Joker to die, not when there is a simple way to prevent it from happening. Deny it if you choose, but you don't want Joker to die either. He is a friend to all of us, and he has been a very good friend to you, even if you weren't responsive to his attempts-”

“Get to the point,” Ciel snapped, uncomfortable with where the conversation was leading.

“Your room is the only one that is always open,” Snake stated, finally tearing his gaze from his friends and looking imploringly at Ciel.

Ciel frowned.

“Yes. And?”

“Your patience is running thin, so I shall just come out with it; your door is always open and we have noticed that you appear to have some sort of relationship with the new Orderly. We want you to get him to open the ward door for you and to get Joker back. Once Joker is back inside the ward, no-one will be able to say anything, for it would arouse suspicion on their actions, and namely, raise the question of where Peter is.”

“Simple,” Snake ended, and if Ciel didn't know better, he'd have sworn the white-haired man was almost smirking.

Ciel looked from one to the other, mind racing. The two watched, trying to see what effects their words had on the boy. Just as Ciel opened his mouth to reply, however, an excited shout interrupted him.

“Ciel! Is your room on fire? You've actually come out!” Soma exclaimed with a vibrant grin, bounding over, unaware of the sombre atmosphere in the room. Drocell and Snake had managed to disappear in the split-second Ciel had been distracted by Soma, and when he glanced around, they weren't in the room.

Surely his eyes were deceiving him. As he lived and breathed, Ciel Phantomhive was in the leisure room in the sunlight hours, without having been dragged from his room by Alois or tempted through the door by a candy-toting Soma.

Sebastian crossed into the ward, sliding his key-card back into his pocket. No sooner had he stepped into the room than Ciel's head snapped up, their eyes meeting. If the past few days had been any indication, Sebastian expected Ciel to look away, pretend he hadn't seem him, pointedly ignore him. Instead, he rose from the armchair and began over to Sebastian.

“Play with me,” was the first thing Ciel said to him after days of being blanked, no hello's or how are you's. Not even a comment on the weather. He didn't wait for Sebastian to answer, just strode back over to his chair.

The board had already been set up.

Sebastian, irked at the boy's surety that he would immediately follow when told like a dog, walked the other way, straightening tables and chairs, sharing words with the other patients. He purposefully avoided looking over to Ciel, though could feel the burn of the other's eye on him.

The patients seemed awfully quiet today.

Sebastian didn't have to think hard to know why. Joker's absence was almost painful in its obviousness.

“...I trust you've been well,” a begrudging voice bit out. Ciel's arms were folded across his chest, legs crossed, and he didn't look amused.

So he did have some manners.

Sebastian granted him a smile.

“I can't complain.”

“I heard you were ill yesterday,” Ciel replied, purposefully glancing from Sebastian to the empty chair in front of him in a not-so-subtle hint.

“Oh, just a touch of influenza. Nothing to worry about.” Sebastian didn't sit, rather enjoying the mounting annoyance in the boy's face and his not at all successful attempts to mask it.

At least until Ciel smirked. Warning bells rang.

“Glad to hear it. If you were too ill, there'd be no chance of you getting all the way down there.”

Don't take the bait, don't take the bait, don't take the fucking ba-

“Down where?”

Hook, line and sinker.

Ciel gestured to the chair across from him, arching a fine brow, the smirk positively dripping smugness now.

“I find it's rude to be seated when speaking to someone standing.”

Sebastian was about to suggest he could stand up too, but curiosity got the better of him, so he relented and sat.

“Down where?” he repeated. Ciel moved his white Knight.

“Your move.”

Funny how Sebastian had been so eager for games of chess with the boy. Now a game was the last thing he wanted, but the only thing Ciel was offering. Loathe to do so, Sebastian thoughtlessly shoved one of his Pawns two spaces, “Down where?”

Ciel simply hummed, moving another piece.

This continued for several minutes, possibly the longest minutes Sebastian had ever lived, and he was getting dangerously close to simply throwing the board aside and grabbing Ciel by the shirt, shaking the answer from him.

The worst thing was that he knew he was playing right into the brat's hands.

Just as he was about to demand down where for the umpteenth time, Ciel leaned over the chessboard, a finger beckoning Sebastian to do the same, and murmured so quietly it was as though he was wary of even himself hearing the words, “Do you still want to know what The Room is?”

Of course, Sebastian had jumped at the chance.

Of course, Ciel hadn't told him a damn thing.

“Next time you're on the Night Shift,” was all he had said before disappearing into his room. Sebastian had considered following him in there, but Agni had caught his gaze, and that knowing look in his eye had mortified Sebastian enough to be glad he wasn't near the apparent object of 'affection'.

As the most cliché of chances would have it, Sebastian didn't have to wait long for said chance, as he was summoned to Angela's office only four days later. Figures he couldn't have had that luck when he'd wanted to read Ciel's folder.

Perhaps it all worked out for the best, though. If he hadn't have been in Claude's office that day, he wouldn't have seen what transpired between Joker and the staff. Joker, who had yet to return to the ward.

As usual, Ciel was already waiting in the dimly-lit room. This time, however, there was no chessboard waiting. Over his usual clothes, Ciel had a thick jacket wrapped around him.

Unease flooded Sebastian, and he paused in the doorway of the leisure room. Rather than any usual greetings, Sebastian stated, “You're not just going to tell me what The Room is, are you?”

Ciel smirked, the smirk that Sebastian was beginning to associate with his pride taking a severe beating.

“We could banter for a while, but I'd rather not waste time. It's already been four days too long. I'll just get to the point.”

Ciel rose from his chair, zipping the jacket closed and burying his hands in the pockets.

“I need you to open the door for me. Once you do, I'll take you down to The Room. Joker is there... what's left of him anyway. We're going to get Joker and bring him back here. We get Joker back; you not only find out what The Room is, you get to see it first-hand. It's a win-win scenario. What do you say?”

Ciel looked up at Sebastian, standing at his side, expectant.

“I'll be fired,” was the first thing that came to Sebastian's mind.

Well, the third.

The first was that, damn, the brat made the single most idiotic request Sebastian had ever heard sound reasonable.

The second was that he was really tempted.

Ciel snorted, “Nonsense. Listen, Sebastian. They do things in that room, things that cannot get out to people with the power to stop it. I'm not entirely sure even the Chairman know what goes on in that room. I won't lie- the use of your key will be registered on the system on every door we go through. They will know exactly who it is who freed Joker. However... have you ever noticed? There is not a single camera in the entire Institute.”

Ciel gestured to the room they were in, and Sebastian followed the unspoken command, glancing around the walls, every corner, for a little red light or a shiny lens.

That couldn't be right. There had to be cameras. Safety, protocol, it was just the rules! How else did they monitor the patients when the Orderlies weren't about?

“Think, Sebastian! Why do you think that is?” Ciel was growing fervent now, the need for Sebastian to understand desperate.

Sebastian thought back on what Ciel had said moments before, that they were doing things that couldn't get back to people with power to stop it, and understood.

“No cameras mean no evidence to whatever it is they're doing,” Sebastian muttered, more to himself than to Ciel. Ciel still heard, though, and sighed. In relief, presumably.

“Exactly. I knew there was more to your head than hair products. Now, what do you say? Will you open the door for me, Sebastian?”

Even though the question was simple and Ciel didn't meant the words in any double-way, Sebastian hesitated, the simple question knocking him blind for a minute. If he opened that door for Ciel, he was taking a side. Even though he believed with every fibre of his being that Ciel was sane, he couldn't get past the fact that the side he was taking was that of an institutionalized person. The second he opened that door, Ciel could do anything. He could run, escape, find something sharp and attack Sebastian, hurt himself, hurt other people, anything.

If he opened that door, what else was he opening the door to? To open that door, Sebastian would have to place complete trust in the one-eyed boy staring up at him, trust that he'd never placed in anyone else before. Trust that he couldn't merely give for that night then take back once they'd retrieved Joker, if that was sincerely what was going to happen and wasn't an elaborate trap by the boy. That trust would rest with Ciel the rest of Sebastian's life.

Sebastian jolted when he felt something wrap around his wrist, and glanced down. A strip of cloth, torn from the hem of Ciel's shirt, was knotted around his wrist, the other end tied around Ciel's own thin wrist, binding them together.

Ciel glanced back up at Sebastian when he was satisfied at the tightness of their bindings, and frowned, “This comes off the second we're back here. I do not like being tied up... I won't attempt to run, Sebastian.”

Had his thoughts been so clearly plastered across his face?

Ciel fell silence once he'd said his piece, and Sebastian could have sworn there was a slight trembling in his bound hand, his face paler than it's usual white.

With the voice in the back of his mind shouting, screaming, that he was going to regret this, this was a mistake, he was playing right into the mad boy's hands, Sebastian pulled his key-card from his pocket and pressed it over the electronic panel.

The ward door swung open soundlessly, and Ciel, leading Sebastian by their joined wrists, stepped out of the ward.

Ciel Phantomhive was no hero.

Even as a child, he'd held no affection for the masked men, clad in spandex, with capes whipping behind them in the imaginary wind. That was more Lizzie's cup of tea. He could never fathom why they did the things they did, saved the whiny damsels and beat the two-dimensional 'villains', yet never taking their masks off to receive the glory of their actions. What was the sense in risking ones life and getting nothing in return?

Ciel liked Joker. Ciel, although resolutely ignoring the inner-voice that said this, wanted no harm to come to Joker. Ciel was going to save Joker from The Room.

Ciel's reasons for doing this was most certainly not for playing the hero.

When Drocell and Snake had cornered him and implored Ciel to rescue Joker, every part of Ciel, even the part that didn't want Joker to be hurt, was saying no, none of my concern, everyone for themselves. But then they'd said something that fascinated him.

“We've noticed you appear to have some sort of relationship with the new Orderly.”

They played chess, occasionally they spoke of things other than chess, and Ciel would admit that Sebastian's company didn't make him want to drill a pencil into his ear just for some peace and quiet like other peoples did.

Did that constitute a relationship?

Irrelevant. What fascinated Ciel was that Drocell and Snake seemed under the opinion that Ciel could get Sebastian to open the ward door for him.

They had not been wrong.

While Ciel fully intended to retrieve Joker from The Room and bring him back to the ward, that wasn't the reason he'd opted to perform the rescue mission. Ciel was doing this simply to see just how much power he had over Sebastian.

After all, if Ciel could get Sebastian to open one door, given time, what was to stop him from opening any door?

St. Victoria's Institution was a far more complex building than Sebastian had ever imagined.

They'd been walking for what must have been at least several hours now, neither saying a single word. There had been endless corridors, steep stairs, and they'd reached a point in the building where the air had that dirty and damp smell that reminded Sebastian of the Underground Tube stations in London.

Were they underground?

Sebastian almost asked Ciel, but stopped himself. He wasn't sure if it was because Ciel was focusing on getting them to wherever it was they needed to go, or if it had something to do with the now quite violent shakes racking Ciel's body, but the boy had fallen completely silent. Sometimes he didn't even seem like he was breathing.

Sebastian was a little disappointed to be honest. What with all the sinister build-up over the past few weeks, he'd been expecting a more horror-movie style place to unfold before them. Although the dilapidated state of the building would probably earn a few screams from real-estaters, there was nothing truly fear-inspiring before them. No rats scuttled past, no moss grew on the walls, no shadows without a source followed their progress into the lower levels of St. Victoria's.

“...I think we're here,” Ciel finally spoke up, and even though they both knew there was no way someone could hear them, he whispered. They'd finally reached the bottom of the longest staircase yet, and it opened up to a single corridor. Unlike its predecessors, the corridor was immaculate. No dust, no grime, not even a cobweb.

It was a well-used hall.

At the end of the hall was a single iron door. An industrial grey, without a plaque or any indication to what it led to. Not that anyone who reached it needed a plaque to know.

Sebastian nodded, and waited for the boy to move, but he didn't. He was still trembling, and he stared towards the door with a glassy eye, face eerily blank.

“...Ciel?” Sebastian reached out a hand towards him, and Ciel came back to himself, side-stepping the outstretched hand without a blink, pulling Sebastian towards the door.

Sebastian didn't question it, too busy focusing on the mix of building apprehension and excitement. He didn't need to be asked to pull out his key-card again, and he passed it over the panel on the wall with a fumbling haste.

The panel beeped.

“Ready?” Ciel breathed, unbound hand resting on the iron door.

“Yes,” Sebastian responded without a hairsbreadth hesitation.

Ciel threw the door open.

Mirrors.

Floor, ceiling, walls, every last speck of The Room was one huge mirror. Every way he turned, Sebastian's own bewildered face stared back at him. There were no torture devices, no suspicious dark stains, nothing but mirrors.

Well, almost nothing but mirrors.

In the far corner of the room, so huddled over on himself that Sebastian had missed him on first inspection, was Joker. The curled-up ball shuddered, choked sobs tearing from not visible lips, heart-breaking in every way, more so when you knew who they were coming from.

Ciel, who had froze the second the door open and clenched his eye shut, shook himself back and darted over to Joker, dragging Sebastian along the mirrored floor. The blue-haired boy drew to a halt a few feet from Joker, and knelt down, watching his fellow patient intently.

They were close enough now that they could decipher words in the sobs.

“W-Won't ever ag-gain- don't hurt me... p-please... just kill me already...”

More than Joker, however, Sebastian couldn't tear his eyes from Ciel.

Ciel's stony face softened impossibly, and Sebastian had presumed that the default frown was as close to neutral as he could be. Gingerly, as though second-thinking the action every inch he took, Ciel extended his free hand towards the shuddering boy before him. He crouched down further, making himself as small as possible, as least intimidating as possible, and softly spoke, “Joker. It's alright. I'm taking you back.”

And Joker slowly uncurled from the fetal position he'd been in, lifting his tear-stained face warily, just enough to see who was speaking to him, and his eyes widened. With a watery hiccup, he exclaimed, “Smile!” and threw himself into Ciel, burying his face in Ciel's chest and crying like a child.

Bile rose in Sebastian's throat, “Fucking hell.”

Dangling uselessly from Joker's body, a completely skeletal right arm. Dried blood still remained on the glistening ivory bones, chunks of flesh hanging by a thread, and the crook of his elbow marked the spot where whatever had burned away the flesh ended. The tear was jagged, the bone jutting out of the bloodied stump.

The blood smeared across Ciel's jacket, and he looked away with disgust. Not disgust at Joker, though, and although he didn't wrap his arms around the wearied and injured man, he didn't push him away either.

Sebastian knelt beside Ciel, untying their wrists. He noticed with interest that the second his wrist was unbound, Ciel's trembles subsided. Although a useless bandage, Sebastian still wrapped it around the stump of Joker's arm, resisting the urge to flinch away when his fingers brushed the smooth and exposed bone.

Joker jolted when Sebastian started tying the bandage, eyes darting to Sebastian's face, and he dragged himself away, left hand wrapping around Ciel's wrist and pulling him away too. Ciel gently, far more gently than Sebastian could have ever expected him to be, removed Joker's hand.

“It's alright. He won't hurt you. He's here to help.”

And Joker immediately ceased trying to escape the Orderly.

“He's going to pick you up, Joker. Don't panic, and don't knock that arm,” Ciel announced, looking to Sebastian. Sebastian complied without question, hooking an arm beneath Joker's knees and another behind his back, hefting him up and against his chest. Ciel moved the mutilated arm so that it was resting unharmed against Joker's stomach.

And then they strode from The Room, the iron door swinging shut behind them.

Chapter 7

Chapter Text

Chapter Seven

The walk back to the ward was indescribable. Tense couldn't begin to cover it.

Ciel once again led the way, his usual aloof composure returning the larger the distance between them and The Room grew. Sebastian kept having to readjust Joker in his arms, the not-small man continually struggling and trying to reach out to Ciel's back, throwing Sebastian distrustful glances. Sometimes it was like Joker didn't even recognise him, and Ciel kept having to explain that Sebastian was helping him before Joker would quieten again.

Eventually the injured man fell into a fitful slumber, and they could quicken their pace.

They were more than half-way back when Ciel sighed, “Go ahead.”

A part of Sebastian was disturbed that the boy could read him so well after so little time. A bigger part was just relieved to be able to ask what he was certain was an unwelcome question.

“Have you ever been in The Room?”

Of course, he was rather proud to admit that he was learning, at least a little, to be able to read Ciel too. The way the already little amount of colour in Ciel's face drained away, the way his fingers clenched into fists, the hesitation as he carefully thought his answer out, Sebastian spotted them all.

“...I was. Once, a long time ago,” the one-eyed boy eventually answered after much deliberation.

“What did you do?”

To that, Ciel gave a derisive snort.

“I don't even remember. I don't remember why they put me in there, how long I was there, or even what they did to me. All I can remember was that it was Dr. Faustus who came and got me out. It was the only time I was glad to see the creepy son-of-a-bitch.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ciel frowned. Between Alois and Freckles, he was picking up a right dirty mouth.

Sebastian snickered, somehow pleased that his companion shared the same sentiment about the bespectacled man. Humour left him quickly as he contemplated his next question.

“Why... mirrors? It certainly wasn't what I was expecting.”

Ciel glanced back at him, eyebrows raised.

“Really? What exactly were you expecting?”

“I'm not sure, to be honest. Spiked coffins, stretching racks, thumbscrews, that kind of thing.”

“Don't be silly. They keep those in the basement.”

Smirking like that, it was hard to tell whether Ciel was joking or not. The boy certainly did seem to have an odd sense of humour.

“Think of it this way, Sebastian. When you look in the mirror, what do you see?”

“Is this a trick question?”

“Yes, but answer it anyway.”

“Alright. I see my reflection.”

Ciel nodded, “And how long do you usually look in the mirror?”

“Usually just in passing, I suppose.”

“So you only look long enough to check your hair, then.”

Again with the hair cracks. Just because Sebastian actually brushed his hair, unlike a certain someone.

“I suppose so.”

“Next time you look in the mirror, Sebastian, I suggest you look a little longer. The longer you're forced to look at yourself, the more you begin to see... and you don't always like what you see,” Ciel finished, his voice trailing off into silence. He looked thoughtful, and Sebastian held his tongue against any other questions. It was rare enough the boy answered any to begin with, so he decided to not push his luck. If he had to take a guess, Sebastian figured that Ciel was thinking about what he saw when he looked at himself, and he didn't look pleased.

Sebastian slept on a bed of nails the next few days.

He'd let a patient out of the ward.

He'd gone behind his superiors backs and taken another patient out of his punishment.

The use of his keycard was registered on every last door they'd gone through, and there had been many.

Yet, regardless of his worries, nothing happened.

#black butler fanfiction

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ahshesgone · 7 years

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let them sleep

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mono-dot-jpeg · 3 years

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i. shun & y. soma dating hcs

a/n; are there any other food wars writers and can i PLEASE be friends with them 😔😔 the food wars x reader tag is so dry unless im posting :pepeHands:

anyways i hope you enjoy this! i went ham bc i love soma and shun so goddamn much

yukihira soma

he's a little shit, a playful motherfucker

(if he confessed first) he will not let you live that down

(if you confessed first) he's salty about it bc he wants to be the "big brave man" and wanted to sweep you off your feet and not the other way around

you are a main victim to his disgusting creations

but you're also the first one to taste the heavenly creations

it's like a lose win - win win situation here.

unfortunately you have the loss but it's okay bc he makes it up to you

BE COMPETITIVE WITH HIM, HE LOVES THAT

he loves a snarky s/o, i can imagine

he likes someone that he wants to cook for but also wants to compete against

even if you lose to him, he finds the competition to be a good way to spend time with you

he also loves how angry you get if you lose sometimes

food is his love language, that and words of affirmation (no you can't change my mind about it)

like, yall you've seen how fucking excited he gets when his dad encourages him jsjdjsjsj

he certainly doesn't mind physical touch but words seem to get to him more despite how he can't read a room but it's okay we love him

i like to think he does get jealous but depends on the situation

like if there's some person he doesn't know trying to flirt, he's straight up wrapping his arms around you and dragging you away

he doesn't mind if people he knows interacts with you (in fact it's usually a bit between you and megumi, you often fluster her)

but when it's a stranger, it's on sight

he becomes a clingy bitch when he’s jealous pls give him attention

he gets excited talking about you to others, it's so cute :((

OH AND WHEN HE CALLS HIS DAD AND TELLS HIM ABOUT YOU, HE REALLY FUCKING LOVES YOU

his dad probably listening with a proud smile on his face as soma rambles about you

idk y but there would be those really funny moments, like you know the spongebob scene where mr krabs sells off spongebob for 62 cents?

yeah soma is mr krabs in that scene while he gets challenged to a shokugeki and puts you as reward

don’t worry though, he doesn’t do it (not often at least)

even when he does, he’s winning that damn shokugeki

once he wins, he looks up at you with that smug grin on his fucking face

but we all know he fought with his all and he would do it again if it meant that he could stay with you forever :]

ibusaki shun

he’s a really chill boyfie

and we love him for that

(if he confessed first) he feels rly proud of himself that he got out of his shell and picked up the courage to talk to you

(if you confessed first) he’s pretty surprised that you did it first but he’s sort of happy that you did (though he would’ve still liked to confess first)

just like soma, you’re the first to get his creations

he doesn’t really look for anyone’s approval (mostly looks for critique than approval)

but when it comes to you, he just really wants to see you happy bc of his food

in public, it seems like shun doesn’t care for you often

but all his friends and you, all know how caring he is

he’s not open about it, he’s very quiet and subtle about it

he’s very observant, and he uses that to watch over you and take care of you

oh you said you were thirsty? he has a water bottle for you

oh you’re cold? boom, take his hoodie

oh you’re tired? he’s quietly offering you to sleep on his shoulder

in public, he’s not a pda person

but indoors, he shows his affections much more.

he just wants to make sure you know that he loves you :((

shun’s love language is gift giving, honestly i can see him making a playlist that reminds him of you

he really wants to just give you gifts and he’s all like “you deserve the world and i wish i could give you it” im skdjskjffkgj pls he’s so cute

no one can really tell if he gets jealous or not, except you

he’s a little possessive but that’s only bc he’s insecure

when you don’t give him enough attention, he’s like that small chicken with a small knife, *no talk im angy*

it’s okay though, you give him the attention he wants in the end

shun rambles to isshiki about you, no i do not take criticism

isshiki teasess him about it at first but he finds it really endearing when he notices how happy shun is when he talks about you

also he loves rambling to you !! pls he gets really happy when you ask him about something he likes to do

LIKE LET THIS BOY SPEAK MORE PLEASE- I LOVE HIM

i hc that he’s always quiet bc he’s more of a listener friend than a speaker friend but like bc of that no one really talks to him about the things he wants to talk about :(((

he would also fight for you with his entire life :]

#food wars #food wars anime #Food Wars: Shokugeki no Souma #food wars fanfic #food wars x reader #ibusaki shun #Shun Ibusaki #ibusaki shun x reader #Shokugeki no Soma #soma yukihira #soma x reader #im sobbing #shokugeki no soma x reader #yukihira soma x reader #anime #anime fanfiction #anime fluff #food wars headcanons

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kassandras-one-braincell · 2 years

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Dumblr won't send my asks through again ffs why do you hate me so much you dumb shit site 😩😩 anyway I'm back cause I've been thinking about the gals being soft like you know you're just doing something normal idk talking to someone or making food or smth and they look at you in that one way with so much love and a little smile and they're thinking (or maybe even saying outloud) thing like "how did I get so lucky" and stuff. Like you're in the hall during a feast and just eating and having fun with the drengr and Eivor has that absolutely lovestruck expression and everyone who sees it is like "yeah she's down bad". Or when you were in your Chambers with the jarlskona and you fall asleep and Soma just looks at you with adoration a caresses your face with her finger. Kassandra sees you playing around with some children and laughing and smiling with them all of you having fun and she just stands there against a wall with the most genuine smile on her face, her heart beating a little faster and her love is literally radiating off her cause her body can't possibly contain all of it before she goes to join your little group. Dani sees you just jamming out to some songs on the radio, you don't see her, you have no idea she's standing in the doorway. And you're just ha in a blast, singing a little with the song, dancing around a bit, unknowingly giving her a private concert. And she's just looking at you with a a smile, laughing just a tiny bit in the most endearing way and she can't help but think "yeah she's the absolute best I'm going to marry her someday" and she suddenly surprises you by joining in and then you're singing and dancing together. In conclusion I need a buff, nice woman to be soft with me and be lovey dovey, who doesn't. 🦅

((I got your other ask, if it was just the one, that was a little ahem spicy but it was midnight and I just got back from 12 hours in London so a bitch was tired))

Don't you just love love?? The idea of being enamoured by the person you love doing something normal is so sweet. I want to see the lovey-dovey looks and ;lhhgfdhjghkjdfhl yes pls good soup bestie

#long ask #wingman anon strikes again with the gold

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chichirichick · 3 years

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SoMa Week Day 4: Apologize

I did it!!!! Day 4 is up and running! And just a warning (that any fandom person probably already knows), obviously an apology between Soul and Maka doesn't go easily... Check it out on ff.net, ao3, or after the cut!

Maka had spent their morning classes as storm clouds on the horizon- grey and black with impending doom, threatening thunder and lightning just from the look of them. Soul was working double-time to maintain the cool guy exterior but internally, it was a bit of a shit-show. Nothing-- repeat, nothing-- fruitful had come from his analysis of breakfast which was when he first noticed the potential monsoon coming his way as Maka spent more time stirring her cereal than eating it.

Did I leave my towel on the floor again?

Nope.

Was it my turn to empty the dishwasher?

He checked Maka's annoyance-inducing chore chart and found it was not.

Did I somehow sleepwalk last night and go on some tirade that now means I can never be forgiven?

Welp, anything at this point was a possibility since no matter how much Soul searched his mind, there was no answer to the category-5 that was Maka Albarn today.

So, our master of strategy, the man-- boy no longer fit here, or at least he hoped so-- who always tried to balance his meister's ability to jump headfirst into any problem without a lick of thought first, planned to hide.

Technically, it had worked too. Maybe a little too well as Soul then started to have rainclouds of his own to pull around. I miss her. Yes, he was such a pathetic sap that an afternoon without Ms. Sunshine herself to bust through his own grumpiness left him sore. Heart sore. Soul sore. Since now it felt like if they weren't wrapped together, if her soul wasn't pieced in perfect with his, something was missing. What a pathetic sap.

That was definitely the resounding conclusion in his head especially after the two of them passed the evening in separate spaces. With the sun down and both his body and soul tired, Soul's mind kept him awake, preoccupied with creating the perfect apology. All the years with her were an absolute help in the construction of such a thing since he had to be exceptionally sorry for the myriad of idiot things he'd done over their time together. One might even go so far as to say that he was actually talented at their creation, since, thankfully, there had yet to be a moment where one had not won him Maka's forgiveness.

Who knows, though, today could be the day!

Soul pressed a painful groan into his pillow as he began the chore of suffocating in the fabric and making a detailed plea for her forgiveness.

It was then that this door opened without an announcement or a knock.

He rolled over, trying not to gulp for air even though his lungs were screaming for it since Maka was standing in the doorway, arms crossed tightly against her chest.

"Hey?" That wasn't meant to be a question but between his voice cracking and the panic, his octave had wavered enough to make it one.

"I'm sorry!" It was just as much an accusation as an apology.

Soul stared wide-eyed.

"I know you've been avoiding me all day-"

Soul raised his eyebrows and managed a "wha-?"

"All morning you were just doing that stare-and-think, so I know you were upset and I just couldn't- I still can't figure out what I did, and I don't know what else to say other than I'm sorry even though I know that doesn't make it any better!" The words were scrambling for supremacy, all of them almost blurring together at the end as a few tears ran loose down her cheeks.

He sat up the rest of the way, watching as his movement made her flinch, made her consider running, but that didn't discourage the rest. Soul stood, ready to sprint if she did, but Maka simply teetered foot to foot in her discomfort. Once he was close enough, he reached for her, getting a handle on one of her elbows to keep her in place. "Whaddya think you did?"

"I don't know," she pressed back.

"If you think you did somethin' wrong you prolly have a guess." His other hand grasped her other arm, getting her to fumble a step closer. "Don't think you'd apologize unless you think you actually did somethin'."

She huffed. "I-" There was that sway again and her eyes trailed away to the floor. "I've been ignoring you."

Soul sighed. "You think so?"

"I know so," Maka warbled tearfully. "I just- I-" She pulled one elbow out of his grasp so she could use her hand to clear away the tears, breaking her hard stance just as her resolve started to falter. "Soul, I don't know how to tell you, and I'm sorry."

"Though we always knew how to talk to each other." Soul couldn't stop the stutter of his own voice, but even without a second breath he continued, "Friends- partners do that."

With each one of those monikers, her wavelength pulsed.

"You don't think we're that?" he offered shakily.

"We are, but-" Another desperate fractured cry sparked between them.

Soul tightened his grip on her. "There ain't a but, Maka. I'm your friend. I'm your partner. If there's something else, it ain't a but." He heaved another sigh, his fingers trembling as he weakly shook their connection. "I thought you were mad at me, but that ain't it, huh? There's somethin'... somethin' wrong. Maybe has been for a lil' while. Makes me scared that there's somethin' else. So don't tell me there's a but, Maka, please."

She felt the fear explode from him, the tightly positioned mask slipping and letting that inky darkness that he always held at bay leak between them. "I'm sorry," she murmured again as she searched his face.

"Please, stop sayin' that," he pleaded back as another sickly wave of fear lapped between them.

"No, I'm sorry, I forgot…" Maka let her voice drift off as her hand lifted with a purpose, pressing firmly to his chest. The echo was clear, that moment that she'd promised in her heart to be braver, to make sure she never let him get hurt for her sake again. This time, she could look him in the eyes; this time she could make him a better promise. "There is a but- and it was only because I was afraid, except I can't let my fear hurt you. Which means…" She swallowed all of it- the terror, any bit of pride- and jumped like she always did. "I'm your friend, I'm your partner, but I'm also not going to ignore that I have feelings beyond that. I… was avoiding you because I was avoiding them. Looking at you, being with you, just makes me want more and I'm terrified that you don't want the same thing or that it hurts you. I can't really decide which would be worse."

While Soul's eyebrows were furrowed in thought, his soul was playing out a completely different song. "Then I gotta apologize."

For all her courage, Maka couldn't utter another word, just staring at his searching eyes and trying to decipher why his internal melody sounded so beautiful at that moment.

"'Cause I thought I was makin' it pretty obvious." His lean was slow, easing forward until their foreheads touched. It wasn't the first time they'd been this close, but it was the first time that his hands drifted cautiously towards her back, tipping her into him in a closeness that wasn't necessarily for comfort. "Friend, partner, and if there's more than that, it ain't a but. It's an and."

"Friend, partner, and…" The tilt of her chin came achingly slow, but the reward made their weeks, months, years of waiting worth it. After all, their first kiss definitely wasn't something to apologize for.

#soulxmakaweek #SoMaweek2021 #Soul Eater #SoMa

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moonofiron · 3 years

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Ok so wearing your SO's t-shirt/sweatshirt and all is cute but the idea of an anime character in their SO's clothes just hits different? Like, it's another level of hot'n'wholesome?!

PS: This is a multi-fandom list of head canons. SFW. (Kinda)

Naruto

Temari snuggled in Shikamaru's jonin jacket with a cup of coffee in her hand. She's waiting for him to come back from an errand.

Hinata in Naruto's bright orange jacket as she bakes something for him and the kids? It's just the first thing she found when she woke up and wore it without a second thought.

Black Clover

Charlotte sleeping soundly with Yami's torn cape resting on her chest. She's tired from a long day of work and training so Yami just lets her be.

Gintama

Tsukiyo wrapped in Gintoki's kimono from the waist down in the morning after a slow, lovely, and intimate night with him. He wants to take it back but he lets her be when he sees how peacefully she sleeps.

Gintoki in Hijikata's Shinsengumi jacket. He couldn't find his kimono and just grabbed Hijikata's jacket because he wanted to run and get the latest JUMP issue before they ran out of copies.

Otae in Kondo's Kimono as she makes morning tea for herself and him. He's probably in the washroom, fkn pooping or something.

Noragami

Hiyori in Yato's blue jacket. He gave it to her just because he felt like it. She wears it because it smells so nice.

Bishamonten in Yato's white scarf. She's fingering it and thinking about the first time Yato kissed her. She looks at Yato breathing and snoring peacefully next to her.

Hakuoki

Chizuru in Hijikata's kimono. She's fingering a flower petal and smiling to herself as she waits for Hijikata to come out of the bath.

Jujutsu Kaisen

Gojo in Geto's kimono when he sleeps. Gojo deadass steals Geto's kimonos and hairbands and Geto looses his shit (but also smiles to himself) every time.

Dorohedoro

Noi in Shin's mask as she plays Red Dead Redemption or Gran Tourismo. She just wears it because she likes having something of his near him.

Nikaido in Caiman's blue hoodie as she cooks gyoza for him. He's gone to buy, idk, pizza because he doesn't know there's gyoza being made?

Shokugemi no Soma

Erina in Yukihira's apron as she whips up something quick for herself in the wee hours. Yes, she stole it.

Bleach

Orihime in nothing but Grimmjows black and white jacket. She's lying down on the sofa, looking forward to him coming back and just ruining her.

Rukia in Renji's black kimono. It's too big for her and Renji can't stop laughing in that absolutely sexy gutteral chuckle.

The only anime couple this is looking a bit bleak for is Ino and Sai. I am sorry, I am WHEEZING rn.

I am sure I am forgetting some very important pairings but this is from the top of my head. I can't stop thinking about it. It's so intimate. 😭 I believe it's also because all anime characters never change their clothes and so to imagine them in their SO's clothes just hits different.

#naruto #black clover #gintama #shokugeki no soma #jujutsu kaisen #dorohedoro #hakuoki #noragami #head canon #headcannons #fanfica

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jeonggukieandcream · 4 years

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Save Me and Hold Me Tight

Request: Kuroshitsuji AU where Ciel and Alois work their shit out but Claude is still dead, and Ciel and Sebastian kinda take Alois in and train him in tough love to be a more civilised person, and after a while he ends up being good friends with everyone - @flupetyflupflupp

Word count: 2, 487.

They find him broken and bleeding underneath a large oak tree, its branches spindly; its leaves brown and dying. It was a sorrowful scene, but one in which change could be made for the better.

Ciel and Sebastian are here presented with a choice as they take in the grisly scene:

Leave Alois to die, or save him.

They have seconds to make a decision before Alois' heart gives out, the blood loss from the extent of his injuries too great, and the decision is made for them.

Blood spilled out from Alois' physical wounds; used though Ciel was to seeing violence, for often was he the one ordering for it to be carried out, Ciel gasped at the sight.

It was not the wounds which Alois had obtained which so disgusted Ciel, but the fact that this was a broken contract; a treacherous demon.

In that moment did Ciel know how truly lucky he was to have such a devoted demon, and a noise of shock and, dare he think it, pain ripped from Ciel's throat, though quickly did he attempt to disguise it as a cough.

“I know, Young Master.” Venomous rage dripped from Sebastian's every word, though his facial expression and body language was carefully schooled into one of indifference.

“We must help him, Sebastian.”

“Young Master?”

“That's an order, do you hear me? We will take him in. Heal him. Show him a different way. He's not so separated from me, after all.” Ciel's voice shook with barely suppressed anger and sadness, for himself and for Alois, but he swallowed the bitter taste down and used it for power, motivation.

“Young Master, he may be too far gone. So impressionable an age, so unseemly a demon...”

“We have to try.” Resignation. Determination. Sorrow. Rage.

Red eyes flashed fuchsia. “Yes, my lord.”

With as much tenderness as he usually displayed towards Ciel did Sebastian cradle Alois' abused, broken and battered body in his arms. He didn't hug Alois to his chest, though. That is a privilege only for his Young Master.

Soma and Agni were Sebastian's first thought; Alois would need constant supervision and a gentler touch while he was physically healing.

Upon hearing the very basics of what had happened to this boy – on a strictly need to know basis, of course - one who had so many similarities to Ciel that he was a literal parallel, the two men agreed.

Soma would be the more eager of the two, wanting to make friends with Alois and spend more time with Ciel, whereas Agni would be mentally preparing himself, for he would know that a rough time was ahead for all of them; but most especially for this young boy.

Upon hearing even the smallest of details about the entire situation, everyone, even the household staff, wouldn't be able to stop themselves from comparing Ciel to Alois, and this makes everyone determined to help Alois as best as they can.

There is nothing happy about this.

The solemn air which was in the Phantomhive Manor seemed to grow exponentially as the reality of the matter settled into the fine layer of dust which covered the lesser used rooms.

People's attentions were directed elsewhere; particularly the kitchen staff, whom were kept far away from Alois' chambers – they would be easy targets and the last thing Sebastian wanted to tend to was more wounds.

His Young Master had enough of those, thank you very much.

For the first week or so, Sebastian keeps Alois well sedated.

It's for his own good; he's so injured that the slightest movement could rip open his stitches.

No Doctor from the nearest town is called, despite Agni's vehement and frequent advice.

Sebastian is quite proficient, and so he undertakes the task himself. He is, after all, simply one hell of a butler.

His wounds are so severe that it takes Alois weeks to heal to such a point that Sebastian feels that it is safe to keep Alois awake; this is where tenderness is replaced by tough love and everyone feels its effect within an hour of the teenager first waking up.

Firstly, Alois has two fears: the dark and being left alone.

These two fears are discovered at precisely the same time as a weary Agni bids Alois a good night and tries to remove the candelabra from the bedside table on his way out of the door.

Alois jumped upright, almost tearing his stitches and setting fire to his bed, as the candelabra wobbled when his hand closed around Agni's slender wrist.

“No! Don't leave me! You – you can't!”

“Oh, heavens,” Agni would go into full on Mother Hen mode as he put the candelabra back on the bedside table and sits gingerly on the edge of the bed. “Why ever not?”

“I'm scared.” A quiet, ashamed mumble.

A resigned sigh from the doorway. “I'll stay with him. Can't have him waking the household. You may leave, Agni.”

Ciel starts to camp out in Alois' room from that first night of consciousness onwards and within a week, Sebastian moved Ciel's bed and immediate possessions into Alois' room.

The two bicker and physically fight like no one's business, but Agni and Sebastian do a very good job at not only separating the two when it's required, but also dispelling any tensions before they really begin.

At night time, the fighting stops as the two teenagers fall back on mutual understanding; they're not so different.

Once, Sebastian and Agni walked in on Alois throwing Ciel off the balcony, and then jumping down after Ciel, pummelling him with punches after punches.

Somehow did Ciel manage to roll their lithe bodies so that he was on top of Alois, and they traded punches.

Hearing the scuffles from the next room over did Agni and Sebastian rush into the foyer, barely exchanging a glance with each other before they rushed over to separate the two teenagers; naturally, Sebastian scooped Ciel up and cradled him protectively to his chest, and Agni grabbed Alois by his upper arms and pulled him away from the scene.

“I say! What an unseemly display!”

Ciel huffed. “It was nothing. A misunderstanding.”

Sebastian's concerned, “are you quite well, Young Master?” was drowned out by Alois' indignant cry of, “you're all just like him! My Claude... My heart was trapped in his deceptive spider's web but I only desired him...”

Rage turned to sorrow, and the pain in his voice rippled uncomfortably throughout the room.

A click resounded in Sebastian and Agni's minds as they both realised that now could the true healing process commence.

Ciel shivered, clung to Sebastian's frame. Sebastian gripped him tightly – hold on to me – and the demon shot Agni A Look; this meant that each butler would take their charges and physically separate them for the duration of the day.

Agni, having to take care of Soma and Alois, left the two young teenagers while he cooked a curry for dinner – Soma, eager to get to know Alois, tried desperately to crack through Alois' facade, to break through the anger and reach the corrupted core of the sadistic but deeply hurting boy.

Something occurred throughout the day for both teenagers, for come night time, did Ciel end up climbing into Alois' bed after an hour of listening to Alois tossing and turning.

“Move over.” Ciel huffed, and though Alois initially stiffened up and refused to move, Ciel only moved to the other side of the bed and clambered in, taking Alois' agreement in his total apathy – Ciel knew that Alois didn't really want to say no, it was self preservation which made him rude and cold, and so in Alois' silence was consent.

Come morning, when Sebastian rapped upon the door with the second knuckle of his gloved index finger, Agni hovering behind him – both were braced for war, even at this early hour when the sun still hadn't quite risen above the horizon – they found the two teenagers in bed together, facing one another.

Alois' blonde hair spilled over the pillow like a halo, Ciel's raven locks mingled and joined with the blonde, so closely were they laying together, and it was like a physical representation of Yin and Yang.

To Agni, anyway.

To Sebastian, it looked like a devil (raven locks) and an angel (blonde hair); he found irony in this, for though his Young Master's hair was dark, he was decidedly more angelic than the boy with the blonde hair.

He was probably biased, though.

Another breakthrough was made this day, for any time after that, if one of them had a nightmare, then the other would climb into their bed.

They didn't hug, they didn't do anything more than simply share a bed, and sometimes would sentences fall from their lips, hushed confessions spoken into the darkness which enveloped them, and it was almost like therapy on their weary souls.

Sometimes, Sebastian would come in too; shadows writhing on the walls, between pieces of furniture, and he would stand just inside the doorway; carmine eyes flashing fuchsia as he listens to the two teenagers talking.

Both of them knew that the demon was there, as silently had Sebastian and Ciel taken Alois under their firm guidance.

It was hard. Sometimes, Sebastian would answer their whispered confessions with logical statements to dispel their sorrows, many of which were shared.

Sometimes, he would dip his chin so that the shadows in the room enunciated his aristocratic cheekbones, a devilish smirk on his face as he just listened with his arms crossed behind his back.

Sometimes... oh, sometimes, the space where his heart should be would clench in awe and almost sadness at how much grief, pain, rage and sorrow which these two souls – both so young, so young, and yet so tired, bore on their shoulders.

Over the weeks and months, everyone in the Phantomhive Manor had to establish a new system of communications.

Alois was short tempered and rough of manners. He was demanding, callous, sadistic and he behaved atrociously.

Even by Soma's standards, Alois was just rude.

Often times, after Alois snapped or yelled at someone, Sebastian's spine would straighten as he drew himself up to his full height, displeasure flashing across his face before his expression schooled into its usual calm indifference.

“Would you like to try again with a different tone, young Trancy?”

“No.” A petulant whine. Crossed arms and a pout.

“Very well.” Sebastian would leave it at that, cold and uncaring, and Alois, so desperate for approval and affection, would immediately stammer out the same words in a gentler tone, or he would try to reword everything in a wholly different tone; it depended on what he had said and the context in which it was spoken.

One time, Mey-Rin served Alois eggs for breakfast and Alois flung the plate on the floor.

Or, he tried to.

Sebastian caught the plate, set it back on the table so that nothing was disturbed – he had been so fast that the plate hadn't even gone over the edge of the table before he had caught it – and in the same movement scooped Alois up unceremoniously and without all the usual reverence which he displayed towards his Young Master,

Alois was sent to his room for the rest of the day.

By three in the afternoon, Ciel had huffed, flung his pen down, and gone to his shared bedroom with the blonde teenager.

Hours passed and none knew of what transpired in that room.

But when it was dinner time and Alois shuffled out of the bedroom with Ciel eyeing him pointedly, Alois offered a quiet, timid yet genuine apology to Mey-Rin and everyone else.

He knew he was forgiven when, in a clipped British accent did Sebastian say, “That is acceptable. You may join us for dinner if the Young Master is agreeable.”

Ciel was.

Almost six months after Alois joined the Phantomhive Manor did he meet Lizzie, and he was cooed over, hugged, cuddled and even kissed once on the cheek!

She had heard beforehand what had happened to him – she knew as much as Soma and Agni did, which is to say, they knew enough to know that he needed help, even if they didn't exactly know why.

She would definitely be the one to help Alois the most, treating him with all the kindness that she naturally carried within her – kindnesses which Ciel often shunned.

I feel like Alois would end up telling Ciel to treat Lizzie with more kindness and Ciel would scoff and remind Alois of how he treats everyone.

They would both promise to just try to be nicer to everyone and to themselves.

At every meeting, Lizzie was her usual exuberant self, Ciel his usual apathetic self, Sebastian his usual attentive self. Soma and Agni were off in London doing who knew what, and the household staff were all attending to their never ending duties with explicitly stated instructions spoken twice so that they knew that Sebastian was being completely serious when he said to not get into any trouble.

So. Recovery was slow. It was painful for everyone, but most especially for Ciel and for Alois; two teenage boys who had been through such similar horrific things.

If Alois had been given a demon like Sebastian, then he would have found a place to call his own, a home.

But instead he had been very nearly killed by his demon, the one being who was supposed to keep him safe.

Nothing was easy in their lives and nothing ever would be easy, but they took it an hour at a time if they had to, and a day at a time when it seemed to be going well.

Alois' sadism would be mellowed out, Ciel's anger soothed with a like minded companion, and Sebastian would find himself not wholly wanting to complete the contract, for he found that he rather liked what he had with this contracted soul.

It was bittersweet that something that grew into beauty came from so much pain, but it's a cruel fact of life that the most deserving of souls are fated to suffer the harshest hands.

#alois trancy #alois trancy au #kuroshitsuji #kuroshitsuji imagine #kuroshitsuji au #black butler #black butler imagine #black butler au

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lolo314 · 4 years

Text

Soma Week Day 1: Dare

@soulxmakaweek

I love these idiots so I figured I’d try my hand at this whole Soma week thing, lol.

Title: The Dare. (so creative).

Notes: It’s a college au so the drinking is totally legal.

Summary: Drunk idiot makes bad decisions.

A03: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23988775

Also sending love to @friday1221 for making an awesome art for this fic.<3

Maka didn’t expect her day to end like this, her lips on Soul’s in an urgent kiss.

When she woke up that morning, it was like any other Saturday. Soul slept way past noon with the excuse of it being a weekend, Maka made breakfast and worked on her assignments for the next week before their paths crossed for what was her lunch and his breakfast.

“Blackstar says to take a cab. Apparently we’ll be too drunk to drive after. “he said in between large bites. Their friend had been harassing them about a small get-together he had planned since Monday, ensuring them they’d have a great time. Maka had been hesitant, knowing the aftermath of Blackstar’s idea of fun, but reluctantly agreed, promising herself she wouldn’t wake up the next day with a hangover.

“I’ll drive us. I’m not planning to drink anyways.” she already felt tired thinking about taming a drunk Soul.

“That’s… How about I drive us for once?” she scuffed, carrying her empty place to the sink.

“I’m not paying a ticket for drunk driving.” He opened his mouth but she cut him off with her hand.

“Its fine, Soul. I don’t mind.” She smiled before sitting herself on the couch, picking up a

book to get lost in until it was time to get ready. They didn’t talk much after that. She could tell something was on his mind as he moved about the apartment, but he didn’t seem ready to share it.

The low rumbling of the engine was the only sound breaking the silence of the car ride to Blackstar’s and Tsubaki’s apartment.

“Hey, Maka. “he was fidgeting with a lose string of his T-Shirt, his gaze on the passing view.

“I hope you don’t drink because you hate the taste of alcohol and not because you have to deal with me when I’m drunk.” When he turned to look at her she could tell he had thought about this a lot. That’s what he’s been thinking about all day?

“It’s fine, Soul. Don’t worry about it.” She was smiling, but he didn’t seem convinced.

“Don’t ruin your fun on my account. It’s a Saturday night. Live a little. “she considered him for a few minutes, running her options through her head. She didn’t want to ruin his night by making him worry about her having fun, but it was hard to shake the feeling that it would be messy if they both let loose.

“So you want me to not think about you? You’re weird.” He laughed, looking relieved the atmosphere had shifted into something brighter.

“Okay then. I’ll try to relax.” He exhaled, before smiling widely.

“You know it’s ridiculous that we need to have a conversation about you letting loose at a party, right?”

“What can I say? I’m just that special.” They both laughed as the approached their friend’s house, both oblivious to what awaited them.

”Let’s play truth or dare!” Backstar’s voice stood out among all the chattering. He and Liz were drunk by hour two of the small party, only half aware of what was happening.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Tsubaki pulled a half empty cup of beer from Blackstar’s hand.

“Last time we played you ended up crying…” Maka could clearly remember the memory Tsubaki was referencing. Soul and Liz had ended up dumping him in a bathtub full of water to sober him up, and maybe get a laugh out of it.

“Huh?” his face twisted in confusion.

“Don’t you remember? When you asked if it was true that I am single?” fear masked his features.

“You’re not?” he seemed ready to cry.

“Star..We’ve been dating for two years. Honestly, how much did you drink?” his face lit up.

“Who cares? Let’s play!” he sat himself on the floor , dragging Tsubaki down with him and gesturing for everyone to follow him. When everyone had taken their seats, the game begun.

“I’ll start!” Liz’s hand shot up and her eyes fell on Kid.

“Truth or Dare?” he weighed his options, considering her past challenges when drunk.

“Truth.” She frowned.

“You’re no fun… Truth it is. Is it true that I’m the best girlfriend you’ve ever had?”

“You’re the only girlfriend I’ve had. I can’t compare. “she pushed herself towards him and flicked his forehead.

“ You’re supposed to say yes!” he only laughed, placing a comforting hand around her shoulders.”

After a few turns, Blackstar turned to Maka.

“Truth or Dare?” Soul’s words flashed in her mind as she weighed her options.

“Dare.” A devious smile spread across his face.

“Now we’re talking! Maka, I dare you to chug that entire cup.” He pointed to the untouched alcohol. Live a little. She took a deep breath and pulled the cup to her lips, taking it all in one swift motion. Cheers erupted around her. She laughed, her head spinning and her throat burning by the sudden intrusion. She glanced at Soul, who was clapping along with everyone else.

After a lot more rounds, during which everyone, particularly Maka, had gotten considerably drunker.

“I dare you to Kiss Soul!” Liz’s words were slightly slurred when she pointed at Maka.

“Naaah. She wot do t. I’v ased bfore.” Blackstar’s head shook dramatically as he spat out broken words. Maka looked at Blackstar, clearly expecting her to take another shot. She looked at Soul, who seemed to agree with their friend.

She could faintly hear a voice in the back of her mind screaming as she crawled toward him. Her body moved on its own and she was too tipsy to stop herself from taking his face in her hands and crashing her lips against his, ignoring any consequences it would have on their relationship. The moment their lips locked, she momentarily forgot about the game. Something felt right and she didn’t want to stop, but her mind finally caught up with her and she pulled way, now facing a completely shocked Soul.

“Damn! That was intense!” Liz was giggling as she clapped and yelled. She moved back to her seat, trying to ignore Soul, whose cheeks were a deep shade of red, his mouth hanging open. She smiled as she took another sip of her drink, only faintly aware that she’d regret everything the next day.

When Maka woke up the next morning her head throbbed. She blinked a few times, trying to adjust her eyes to the light. Memories slowly came back to her. The party, truth or dare, drinking. A lot of drinking, kissing Soul. Wait… What?! Her body shot up, instantly regretting the action. Her vision blurred, her head spun.

“You’re awake?” Soul’s head peeked through the door before he walked in with a tray in his hands. She took her head in her hands, squeezing her eyes shut, trying to remember the details. I kissed Soul… It was for a dare… but I kissed him… and… I liked it? She mentally slapped herself, hard. Don’t be stupid. He’s your best friend.

“I’m guessing you feel like shit… I’ve been there.” He ran a hand through his hair, averting his gaze.

“I, uh, brought you some toast and some water. You’re probably dehydrated… I also brought some aspirin… Take that too...” he stood awkwardly, waiting for her brain to go back to its original place. She avoided his gaze as she took the water in her hands, putting the aspirin in her mouth. She took a deep breath and dared a look at him, soon realizing that was a mistake.

“Shit.” She ran to the bathroom, unloading everything that entered her body in the last 24 hours. Soul run after her, holding her hair back until she was done.

The next few hours had been hell. Her stomach turned, her head felt like it was about to bust and even so, her brain found in impossible to stop replaying the scene in her head. His lips on hers, the taste of his mouth. Shut up!

His presence didn’t help. He had been taking care of her all day, trying to help her get through her hangover as smoothly as possible. She hadn’t spoken any word to him other than a thank you here and there, too ashamed to say anything else.

“Are you feeling any better?” he sat himself on the edge of the couch, as if trying not to disturb anything around her.

“Not really… Seriously... I promised myself I wouldn’t get drunk but…” he smiled apologetically. What is he sorry for?

“I’m sorry… I should’ve probably stopped you before you got completely out of it… It’s just… you looked like you were having fun…” she shook her head.

“Don’t worry about it. It was my fault..” she looked at the cup of water in her hands, trying to find the right words to apologize.

“I’m sorry about this…” she could feel his eyes on her, but she refused to look at him.

“Don’t be. Think of it as payback for making you take care of me when I’m hangover.” He laughed, trying to ease the tension. She looked away, feeling terrible that he saw it that way. She took care of him because she wanted to, not because she felt obligated to do so. She jumped when she felt his hands on her shoulder.

“Hey, Maka Look at me.” She took a deep breath and turned her face, trying to avert her eyes from his lips, focusing on his eyes instead.

“It’s fine. Seriously. “ his hand dropped and he retreated to his seat. An awkward silence engulfed them. She had done it. She had broken the connection. The comfort. Stupid Maka… She desperately tried to think of a way to take things back the way they were.

“How come you’re not hangover? Didn’t you drink?” he shook his head.

“Nah. Didn’t feel like it.” Her heart dropped. He would never admit it, but she could read between the lines. Someone had to take care of you… Not only did you ruin your friendship… you also ruined his night…

“Sorry… Did I give you a hard time last night? I don’t really remember what happened after that drink … after…” her voice trailed off, refusing to name it. He nodded in understanding.

“No… you kind of just fell asleep..” her eyes widened.

“I fell asleep? So… how did I get here?” she wanted to take the words back the moment they left her mouth. She already knew what was coming and it only worsened her guilt.

“I carried you… Uh.. yeah… Do you need more water?” he rose from the seat and practically sprinted to the kitchen, leaving her alone with her thoughts. I’ve done it… I’ve ruined us…

#soulxmakaweek #somaweek2020 #soul eater #soul x maka #soma

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neganandblake · 4 years

Text

I think I liked you better when you didn’t have a knife in your hands, Peaches... Chapter 207 - Worry

When Blake finds herself sold out to the Saviours by her abusive fiancé, she realises that she’s certainly not on her own anymore and finds an unlikely friend in Negan. And Negan does NOT like men who beat their girlfriends, one tiny bit….

Chapter 207 - Worry

[With a broken generator, Blake, Negan and the Saviours know they have a hard winter ahead.]

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

Blake paled, clutching Mia tighter to her hip, as she stood up straight, moving quickly over to where Negan stood.

Their generator was broken and by the looks of it, the rest of their winter was going to be hard. Without power, heat or hot water the survival of the Sanctuary residents was going to be difficult, Blake knew that.

Since Eugene's stark announcement a murmur of voices was already steadily growing around them as lieutenants all shuffled about exchanging anxious look with one another.

She knew that once this got out to the other Saviours, the workers, the families, there was going to be nothing that could stop the ugly rumours and the worrying.

Blake knew she needed to help. Her position of power here at the Sanctuary had to mean something.

"We'll be fine," she said suddenly, in a loud voice, gazing around, not at Negan, but at everyone else standing in the bleak room. "It's gonna be hard, but we'll make it all work."

Everyone fell silent, looking to Blake now, Negan included, staring at her like she was the most precious thing to him, before giving a hard sniff and leaning back on his long legs, addressing the crowd too.

"Peaches here is right," he barked. "This shit is gonna be hard, but we are the Saviours. And we need to keep doin' what we've always done. We man the fuck up, we deal, and we come out the strong motherfuckers we always come out as."

Blake was almost certain she'd heard this speech before, but it of course was enough to sate the murmurs of the crowd all around them

"So, Eugene," Negan uttered again, taking a looming step into the portly man who was still stood before them in his long black coat. "You up for sharing exactly what it is we're lookin' for out there with Simon, Arat an' the boys?"

"I am," replied Eugene with a prompt nod.

"Alright then," said Negan gruffly. "The rest of you I want out there fetchin' supplies, blankets, coats, all of that shit. Oh an' some of you need to start boardin' up soma' those broken windows. Get this place sealed up."

The crowd all shuffled, nodding again at the dark-haired man.

"Well then alright, lets get the fuck to it before we all start freezin' our balls off in here," he commanded, gesturing with his hand for them to go.

And go they did, the rest of the room clearing away before their eyes

Blake remained by Negan's side, peering up at him as the last couple of people filtered out of the room.

"People are gonna get sick," Blake said in a worried voice.

Negan gave a sigh, dragging a hand down his tired-looking face. "I know, Darlin'."

He didn't say anything further and neither did Blake, for right now both adults knew just how all this was going to go down. Winter was harsh and even with Carson here, the likelihood of sickness was bound to rise. And with the Saviours living in such close proximity to one another, something like that was bound to spread quickly.

Mia in Blake's arms gave a whine, as the blonde shushed her gently again, pressing her lips to the tops of the toddler's dusty hair.

"I cowld," the baby girl murmured, turning her face towards Negan and chewing on her little fist.

Negan gave another huff at this, reaching over and smoothing his large hand over Mia's soft hair.

"You an' her need to get somewhere warm, Peaches," he said seriously. "It's gonna be dark before we know it an' I don' wan' the pair of you traipsin' up an' down those stairs after sundown."

"I need to go see the workers first. They're going to be panicking-" began Blake, but Negan cut her off sternly.

"No, Peaches. An' I mean it this time," said Negan standing up straight and glaring down at her, his dark eyes burning with love and concern for her. "You can go see them an' settle their damn nerves tomorrow, but tonight I need you to go back to our room an' stay warm. We clear?"

Blake knew that she would normally have scoffed at Negan's commands, but right now, maybe it was to do with the small life she had growing inside her, but she didn't really feel like arguing.

So much to Negan's obvious surprise, Blake closed her mouth, giving a nod in return and replying.

"Ok. Just for tonight."

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

By the time Negan strolled in through the door to his and Blake's room a few hours later, looking harassed, the temperature had dropped at least four or five degrees.

Normally, Blake suspected that she wouldn't have noticed the slight drop in temperature as darkness fell. But now, she could feel the icy wind that seemed to blast out from beneath the doors, creeping into the bones of, likely, every person in the Sanctuary.

Mia was already tucked up in their king size bed asleep, with an extra fleecy blanket thrown over the covers just in case.

Blake knew that she was lucky. Being with Negan meant that they had an abundance of everything up here. A gas lamp, extra blankets, winter clothes in her and Mia's closet…

Blake knew that she and the toddler would be safe and looked after no matter what, but it was the others at the Sanctuary she was concerned about. Those who worked for points. Those who toiled hard to earn just a small portion of what she had had given to her.

The blonde woman, who was sat on one of Negan's large leather couches, legs tucked up beneath her staring out at the darkened sky though the window, turned to look at the dark-haired man as he entered their room.

"How is everyone?" she asked in a quiet voice, as Negan tossed Lucille down onto the sideboard and glanced over at Mia sleeping soundly in their bed.

"Cold….and pretty goddamn nervous," he sighed, running hand down his exhausted-looking features.

Blake chewed on her lip as Negan moved over and slumped down into the seat beside her on the couch.

"It's only gonna get worse," Blake mused in a quiet tone as Negan looked her way.

He was silent for a long moment, sighing again.

"C'mere," he finally murmured placing an arm around Blake's shoulders and tugging her body close to his.

The blonde cuddled herself into him, tucking her face into Negan's tanned neck.

She didn't want to think about what would happen if a part for the generator wasn't found. Could they survive the winter? Longer even than that?

What would happen if the place eventually became uninhabitable?

There were now hundreds of Saviours. Where would they find a place with heat and power big enough to house them all?

But that wasn't the only thing worrying Blake and she knew it had likely crossed Negan's mind too.

What if the other camps- Alexandria, the Hilltop and the Kingdom, found out about this? It would certainly mean that the Sanctuary's defences would be down and it could be seen as an easy target.

All Blake knew now, was that they all needed to stick together.

They all needed to survive, to stay strong, just like Negan had said.

For if they didn't, Blake knew that this could be the end to the Sanctuary as they knew it.

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

Sorry this was short. Been busy with my new job so struggling to find time to write/upload. Hope you are all still enjoying it.

If you’d like to be tagged or untagged let me know.

#negan #negan the walking dead #twd #The Walking Dead #JDM #Jeffrey Dean Morgan #negan twd #negan oc #negan and blake #negan fic #negan fanfic #negan otp

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comeupkid415 · 4 years

Note

Hey what advice would you give to someone whose about to head to San Francisco for their very first time in terms of tryna make a living out there? any certain spots to check out? Certain spots to avoid?

Wow good questions. Well my best advice I could give is to be aware of your surroundings. For the obvious reasons of safety, but also for opportunity.

I’m not sure what field you are looking to work in, but a good place to start is the resteraunt game. San Francisco is a world class food city, and one of the few places that pay well on top of people tipping well. Even if that’s not the field you’d like to stay working in, it’s a good way to stack some money and focus your free time on your true motive.

There are so many beatiful places to check out. Lands end/procedio. I’m not sure what you are into, art or anything, but there’s endless amounts of inspiration out there. Iv spent days on end staring into the ocean, and sky out there. For a tourist area(at least the sutro baths part) there is plenty of off the beaten path trails to lose yourself on, just be careful of the cliffs. If you want to see street art the city is smashed rn, pretty much every neighborhood has some sort of street art going on. From the carnage of Mission and the tenderloin to the softer wheat pasting of the marina/upper Gilmore. There are also still abandon yards in hunter point and dog patch, although they are quickly disappearing due to redevelopment. Check out the parks, glen park(and canyon), obviously Golden gate Park, see the painted ladies at Alamo Square, party at Delores park, go to Buena Bista park(one of the largest concentrations of different sources of plant/tree fauna in the US) check out fort funston and fort Miley. Go to senator beach, China beach, Baker beach(but not the right end, or at least go cautiously, you’ll see why lmao) go to a freezing bonfire on ocean beach, but bring a jacket or two and a blanket. Go to warm water cove aka tire beach, it may be buffed but it was once a meka for graffiti and punk, and with enough time you can see and feel the history....Don’t worry about seeing Alcatraz, yeah it’s historical and all, but is it really worth $50 to go to prison?

Come to SF with an open mind and open heart. Be real and but not naive. Be strong and smart with your moves.

I’d avoid the more touristy spots, just because there isn’t much there besides expensive shit tshirts and money traps. The wharf is cool and all, but really the only worth seeing are the sea lions, and I’d suggest going later at night. They are more active and there isn’t 800000 people trying to see them....

I love my city, especially late at night. But like I said be aware, there’s always people plottin. Especially where there are lots of tourists. Obviously th TL can be seedy hunters point, parts of the mission, soma.... but don’t be scared. Be confident in your actions....

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the-letter-horror-lover · 2 years

Text

Reader X Black Butler-Loids

CrazyGirl106

Summary:

I've always loved those Heta-Loid stories....and I love Black Butler....lets have them both!

Please, tell me what you think. This is my first story!

Notes:

Warning. Contains Swearing, Sex (Sometimes) And Hot Men!

Chapter 1: Sebastian-Loid

Chapter Text

As you flick through the magazine, bored beyond compare, you come across an advert. Oh my god, its for the new BBLoids! You have been a dedicated fan of Black Butler since you heard of it, and know they have bought out Loids! As you look through the new makes you see some of the main characters. They have Ciel, Grell, Agni, Prince Soma and even Undertaker! But the one that drew your eye the most was the Sebastian-loid. It look impeccable with its pristine black suit, silky black hair and those eyes. So beautiful. And the add said they even changed colour like in the Anime/Manga. You start to smile widely as you think of all the housework you could get done with a Sebby-loid, Never have to clean the dishes or hover the carpet. And you get a hot butler to watch. You quickly look for the price. Oh......Fuck. Who the hell could pay over £2000 pounds for a robot! You sigh and close the magazine, disappointed that your short lived dream had crashed and burned (Like Englands cooking!)

As you stand up and move towards your bedroom, your phone rings. You pick it up, ''Hello?'' You ask, wondering who would have called you out of the blue. ''Hello, this is Dream-R-Us, we have been reviewing your file and have come to the conclusion that you deserve a dream fulfillment. You may choose anything you wish as long as it is in our power to provide it. Oh yes, money is not short in supply by the way.'' You pull the phone away from your ear and look at it like it had started to turned funky colours, ''Ok, Lets say for a second, just a second, I believe you, could you please send me a Sebastian-loid, the ones from the BBMerch mag?'' You ask, very skeptical. ''Of course we can Miss (F/N). It will be there by morn'' The voice stops and you realize they have hung up. ''God Damn prank calls....but...how did they know my name...?'' You ask yourself, by now slightly scared. You shake your head and sigh, tired from a long day. You move to your bedroom and lie down, drifting off into the land of dreams, a certain red eyes butler on your mind.

ZZZZZZZZ (Snore) ZZZZZZZZZZZ

You awake to a loud knock on your front door. You groan and sit up, dragging your butt towards the front door, ''I'm coming, i'm coming!' You shout, coffee still not in your system. You throw open the door, scaring the young man standing there with your bed head, ''What!?!'' You half shout, half grumble. ''D...Delivery F..for Miss.....(Y..y/n)'' The poor young man stutters. You shrug and sign the board, not seeing the giant box behind the young man, ''I'm sorry..'' You look at his name badge, ''Finny, I'm not a morning person'' He smiles so brightly you wince, as it almost burns, ''Its alright miss. I'll bring the package in!'' He says happily. You finally see the giant Box, ''HOLY SHIT! WTF IS THAT?!?!'' You shout. Finny smiles as the sets it down in your front room with ease, ''Its a gift from Dreams-R-us, miss. Have a nice day.'' As he says this, he disappears into thin air, all thats left behind is a note, 'Have fun~'. You rub your eyes and blink rapidly, ''Da Faq?'' you say to yourself. You walk towards the large box and see a logo....it looks like....no......ITS THE BBLOID LOGO! You pull the front of the box open and standing there is a perfect replica of your favorite demon butler.......Claude! Just kidding, its Sebby-Chan! You start to breath heavily, fangirling majorly, but calm down as you start to hum the theme turn of hetalia in your head. You reach into the box and grip the, pulling it out. You flip to the activation page,

'Hello, Congratulations on purchasing our Sebby-Loid! You are now the proud owner of your own Demon butler. To activate your butler, you have a choice of two things. Firstly, you can bake a perfect souffle and place it in front of him. The other (easier) option is placing cat ears on your head and meowing. Yes, we know this is humiliating, but its worth it. Sebby-chan comes with his own set of silverware, a cat plushie and black rose. (also a pair of black leather stripper boots....don't ask). Your Loid will perform any household task and prepare food for you.

Warning: Loid may develop feelings after living with new 'master' .Also, if this occurs, Sebby-Loid is very possessive and.....rough.'

You blush at the last word. You smile and run upstairs to fetch your neko ears from your last cosplay outfit. You instantly dismissed the thought of cooking a souffle as you can[t cook for shit. You plop the ears that match your hair colour onto your head, securing them into place before hopping down the stairs. As you stand in front of the loid, you blush, ''Why must i do this?'' You mumble, but before you can talk yourself out of it you let out a sound, ''Meow''

As you are pushed onto the sofa behind you by the weight of a male as he hugs you, cooing sweet things about kittens and how soft your ears are, you decide you should have bought a souffle. ''ok, get off you big lug!'' you shout, becoming uncomfortable as you were only wearing shorts and a baggy t-shirt. The man gets off you slowly, ''I'm so very sorry mistress, its just you looked so cute'' responded the deep, silky voice of the handsome specimen in front of you. You look the loid up and down, blushing as you can clearly see the muscles outlined by his well made blazer and tightish trousers. He just smirks, ''Want me to turn around my lady?'' He asks, slightly teasingly. ''No! er....could you please......make breakfast? ''You ask, still not completely sure on how to react. He gives on of those fake ass, closed eye smiles and replies, ''Of course My lady'' he simply walks into your kitchen and starts cooking. you shrug and smile, 'This is gonna be fun' you think, but little did you know, Your loid was thinking the same thing.

XXXXXX Time skip brought to you by Grells FABULOUSNESS! XXXXXX

Three weeks. Three long, tiring weeks. No, not because you had to do anything, just because it was that damn hard resisting the urge to jump Sebastians bones! You sigh as he carries on rubbing your shoulders, as this had become a daily even after you complained about being sore from working all day. He smirks as he thinks some very unsavory thoughts about you. Yes, he was finding it just as hard not to pounce on you. You think for a moment they ask, ''Sebby, what do you think of me?'' he seems quite shocked by your question, ''Well, my lady, you are a amazing mistress'' he says in a slightly cautious voice. ''No, what do you think of me as a person? Honestly, Sebby'' You ask. ''Well my lady.'' He walks round to sit next to you, ''You are the most exquisite creature i have seen, inside and out. You sould is pure, yet has a underlying layer of beautiful sin- delicious. I have wanted you since the first moment i laid eyes on you, your face flushed and the ears on your head sticking out at an angle. i felt so proud knowing i had caused that look and, my lady, if i had my way, you would ONLY wear the ears'' he says, his eyes flashing that demonic red. You are breathless, your face red with embarrassment and excitement.

He smiles, a real smile, but with a hint of sadness, ''I'm sorry my lady, but i love you. I apologize again if the feelings are not recuperate.'' he stands and tries to walk away, only to be pulled back by you. You pull him forward and press your lips to his, showing how much you needed him, wanted him. He smirks and kisses back, biting quite hard on your bottom lip, drawing blood. You gasp and he takes the chance to explore your mouth, moaning into the kiss. He pulls back with a sinful smirk, your face flushed and your eyes lidded, ''I think we should find those ears'' he whispers into your ear, nibbling slightly. ''Come along, kitten. time for bed'' he picks you up and walks towards your stairs, ''Its not even 12 yet, far too early to sleep!'' you protest. ''Now, my lady. Whoever said anything about sleeping?'' He purred. Lets just say that you were the one truly purring that night.

Dream fulfillment: SUCCESS!

Chapter 2: Ciel-Loid

Chapter Text

As you sit surrounded by friends, all laughing and smiling, your (parent) brings out a cake, ''Happy birthday, (y/n)!'' your friends shout. You smile, but your eyes keep drifting to the large box in the corner of the room, wrapped in dark blue and black paper. Your (parent) laughs slightly, ''Cut the cake first, sweetie, then we can open your presents'' You smile happily at them and quickly dice up the cake, serving it to your friends. After everyone has eaten the cake, you sit down as people hand you present after present, You received a new manga, a beautiful new bark blue bag, and a.....wait. Whats the hell is this? Its....a manual? You read the cover. OH MY LORD (S)!! its for a BBLoid! You look at your (parent). They nod and point to the giant box. You run over to it and rip the paper off, the thoughts running through your head, 'Oh, what if its Sebastian?! or undertaker!!?? Oh please be him....my favorite.....' Just as you pulled the lid of the box off your dreams come true, 'Ciel'. You glop your (parent), ''Thank you, thank you, thank you!'' you shout, so happy. They just laugh and say that you should turn it on when everyone had left, as you don't want to scare him. You agree and carry on partying with your friends, laughing and smiling, but your eyes keep drifting to that box...

XXXXXX Brought to you by overeating on cake! XXXXXXXX

As you wave off the last of your guests, you quickly move back into your house, a gift from your family when you moved out. Its not the biggest or fanciest, but you love it. You move towards the box and grab the manual,

Greetings! We would like to thank you for owning our new BBLoid of Ciel Phantomhive! Now, to activate Ciel, you have a choice of two things, You can firstly get a letter form the queen (hey, we never said waking them up would be easy!) or, thankfully, you can simply say, ''Good morning young lord'' in a british accent. Ciel comes with his own eye patch, cain and phantomhive ring.

Warning! Ciel is use to having his own way, he is NOT a servant loid, he is a companion. Do not ask him to do anything below his station. Also, he, as well as all Loids, are able to develop feelings for the person they live/interact with.

You smile as you clear your throat, ''Good morning young lord''. You expect him to awaken and greet you with a 'Morni-' snore. Thats all you got, a snore and a grumble. You clear your throat again, ''Good morning young lord'' You say, between clenched teeth. Another snore, ''WAKE YOU YOU LAZY SOD!'' You shout. He jolts and falls out the box, ''Bloody hell. Who the hell woke me up like that?!'' he demands. he looks up at you, with your eyes sparkling in amusement and your lips and he blushes. You laugh quietly and stick your hand out, ''want help?'' you ask. He accepts and you pull him up, smiling, ''My names (y/n), and you're gonna live here from now on.'' He blushes and nods, quite out of character for the Ciel you know from anime/manga. You shrug and ask, ''wanna play chess?'' He gives a small smile, ''I have never been beaten.'' he warns, ''Losing will be a new experience for you then'' you tease, grabbing the old wooden chess board you had in the cupboard.

XXXXXXXtime skip brought to you by Prussia's awesomness! XXXXXXX

You had lost! Beaten by Ciel Phantomhive. Well, we all knew you would be, but you didn't expect this....

''A prize?!?! we NEVER spoke about a prize!'' You shout. he just shrugs, ''If you win, you get a prize. Those are the fundamental rules. '' you sigh, ''alright, what do you want?'' he just smirks and walks over to you. You look around in a what-you-looking-at way. He stands in front of you and leans down, pressing his lips to yours. You gasp and he licks your bottom lip teasingly, placing his hands on your shoulders. He moves away and smirks, ''Thats my prize'' You sit there, your mouth hanging open, your eyes wide and a WTF look on your face. You shake your head slightly and smirked, ''Wanna play again?''

Best.....Birthday...EVER!!!

Chapter 3: Undertaker-Loid

Chapter Text

You let out a loud laugh as you read over the letter, ''Dear Miss (Y/n), You have been chosen from our extensive list of candidates to participate in the testing of the new Reaper line of BBLoids. You may keep your BBLoid, we only wish to know if it has any bugs to it. You shall either receive Grell-loid, Undertaker-loid (UT-loid) or William T.loid. Before use, please read the manual and thank you for accepting the terms of this agreement. Have a pleasant, Miss Crazy, CEO of BBLoids manufacturer''

You shake your head in disbelief, even though the box containing your Reaper was standing right in front of you. You are giddy, wanting to know which of the Reapers you got. You giggle under your breath as you pull the lid off the box, exposing the long silver hair and black top hat of the one and only Undertaker! You quickly grab the manual and flip to the pages on waking him up,

'Hello~! now, to awaken your UT-Loid, you have the choice of two routes. Firstly, you can put a dead body in front of him and tell him to make it look beautiful (WE DO NOT CONDONE MURDER!) , the second option (the one we recommend), is to simply tell the loid a funny or corny joke. Undertaker-Loid comes with his own pink bookmark, an odd tea set and his own top hat. Warning: This loid can develop and almost stalkerish relationship with the owner, but his intentions are pure.....we think.....GOOD LUCK :D'

You think for a moment before coming up with the perfect joke! ''Why is there a gate around cemetery's?'' You ask. You wait a moment, ''Cause people are Dying to get in!'' You finish, only to be followed by the sound of loud shouts of laughter, ''Oh that was amazing!'' UT-Loid shouts. You laugh along with him. As you both calm down, you smile, ''Hello, Undertaker, My name is (Y/N), its nice to meet you.'' You stick your hand out and he shakes it up and down quite fast, making your entire arm move, ''It's a pleasure to meet you! Got anymore Jokes?'' He asks, his large grin plastered on his face, ''You and i are going to get along swimmingly'' you grin.

XXXXXXXX Time skip, brought to you by Flavio's Fabulousness! XXXXXXXX

As you both sit around a coffin shaped table that Undertaker had somehow acquired, drinking tea from his amazing tea set, you think upon the last two weeks, how fast it had gone, a blur of Jokes, smiles and on your part, love. Yes, you had fallen head over tailcoat for the insanely handsome Loid, From the tip of his odd hat to the bottom of his silver hair. You let out a short laugh at one of his jokes, but your mind still wanders, And Undertaker notices, ''(Y/n)? Are you with us?'' he asks, still smiling, ''Of course i am, Undertaker, I was just thinking....'' you mumble off. Undertakers face takes a curios tone, ''What about? '' he asks. You simply blush and shake your head, ''Never you mind, Undertaker'' You tease. He smiles and laughs slightly, ''Hey, Dearie, wanna play a riddle game?'' he asks. Now, this is quite odd, as Undertaker usually only likes jokes, but at the same time, it intrigues you. ''Alright, but whats the prize?'' He simple shows you his signature smile. ''If you can answer this riddle, you'll get a prize. If you cant, I get a prize'' he says cheerfully. ''Ok, My first is foremost legally, My second circles outwardly, My third leads all in victory, My fourth twice ends a nominee, My whole is this gate's only key. What am I?'' He asks, smiling. You look bewildered as you think, ''I have no idea. You win'' You sigh. He smirks, a quite frightening sigh, as he stands and leans over you, down to your ear, ''The answer is love'' He whispers, He leans down and kisses your neck, making you gasp, ''Oh, Dearie, this isn't my prize.'' He says in a husky voice. He picks you up, his hat falling off as he stands back up, giving you a perfect view of his amazing, bright eyes. He smirks as he see's how you react to them, your mouth parting slightly and your breath quickening. He starts to walk towards your bedroom and just as you reach your door he presses his lips to yours.

XXXXXXX Time skip, brought to you by the Sexiness known as Undertaker! XXXXXXXXXXX

''Hello, this is BBLoid manufactures, how may i help you?''

''Hi, This is (Y/N), You sent me a Loid to test, and i just wanted to tell ya, he has No faults what so ever.'' You say, your voice still husky and slightly breathless. Undertakers deep laugh can be heard from behind you, ''But, Love, I think I need more testing'' Well, you didn't get out of bed that day.....or the next.

Chapter 4: Grell-Loid

Chapter Text

As you sit on the sofa, sipping the warm chocolate drink happily, wearing the red and green stripped pj's you loved, you think of tomorrow, how you get to have the whole day to yourself as you live quite a while away from your other family. Even though you didn't really believe in Santa anymore, you still wanted to go to bed early, as it had been a long day and you were tired and, well better safe then sorry if Santa rocked up. So you finish your drink, stand from your soft seat and turn the lights off, walking to your bedroom and cocooning yourself in your quilt, drifting off into the land of sugarplum fairy's and hot reapers.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX Time skip, brought to you by Santa! XXXXXXXXXXXX

As you awaken so does the little child inside your head. You jump out of bed and dash out your room, hoping to see something under the tree. As you enter your front room, you see everything the same as it was.....except, why the hell was there a giant box wrapped in red and gold paper standing against the wall? Your eyes widen and you basically teleport over to it you were so fast, grabbing the tag hanging off it. In the most beautiful, elegant writing you had ever seen, inscribed the words, ''Merry Christmas (Y/N). Its amazing what believing can do. xxx From Santa''

You blink twice and a giant smile spreads over your lips as you rip the paper off the box, sighing slightly as you have to rip such a nice colored paper, but the emotion is swiftly chased away as you see the logo of BBLoids. You gasp and jump slightly, surprised and ecstatic that you now own a Loid from your favorite show. But which character? The cute yet crazy ass Alois? Maybe the rational and calming William T.Spears, as long as its not that annoying Demon, Sebastian, you were fine. But it would be even better if it was the Amazing, red head known as Grell.

As you crack the box open, the red hair of the Fabulous reaper spills out. You take the manual, ''Hi, to turn it on, Tell him Bassy-Chan is naked or touch his Death Scythe (WARNING: this could result in injury.or death). Oh, also, He has a tendency to...obsess over someone. Good luck! ''

You laugh slightly over the last comment, not believing he could be that obsessive. You take a deep breath and take five steps back before saying, ''Oh my, Bassy's Naked!'' Quite loudly, not concerned that the neighbors would mind. You are quickly tackled into a death grip hug by the Red headed Reaper, ''Hello there~ Now, what did you say about my Bassy being Naked?'' A voice asked in a very low tone, causing shivers to run up and down your spine, ''Er...s..sorry, but that was the only way to w...wake you up'' You stutter, your face flushed and your heart beat increasing. He sighs, slightly disappointed, but after looking at you, with your disheveled hair and red face, he decided that you could be almost a cute as Bassy (If not more so). ''Oh well, I guess you aren't so bad'' He whispers. You push him off, pouting, ''This is gonna be a ....interesting Christmas'' you mumble.

XXXXXXX Time skip brought to you by Craziness, Call 666 666 for your Crazy pills today! XXXXXX

Boxing Day! One hole day is all it took for you to fall for the odd red head. Well, you always had a crush on him in the Anime, so its not surprising. It would be a match made in Heaven! if he only stopped talking about Bassy!!!! You sigh as you hear him nattering on about Bassy's 'beautiful' red eyes, his fabulous black hair and amazing blah, blah, blah. Blah blah blah-blah- blah blah! You groan and reach over, grabbing his shirt, cutting him off by pressing your lips to his. ''Shut up about Bassy!'' you shout after pulling back. His face is bright red and is that.....blood under his nose? His face breaks out into a huge smile, making you frown slightly, ''Oh, i'm so glad my plan worked'' Grell murmurs, pulling you close and kissing you roughly. He had been doing it on purpose to annoy you! Smart ass.....little.......all thoughts dispersed at this point as he bites and nibbles your neck. He He, you didn't leave the house til the next year! ;)

Chapter 5: William-Loid

Chapter Text

The box taunted you from the corner, demanding to be opened. It was a gift you had been given about two weeks ago and you know it must be one of those loids that everyone seems to be raving about. You've honestly never gotten into the loid fad that seems to be all the rage in the media and in the hallways on your high school (Roll with it). You let out a frustrated sigh as you stand and go over to the box, opening it wirth great reluctance. Oh! It seems that your parents had gotten something right. It's the newest and most updated version of the William-Loid! You take the small note thats placed on the impeccably dressed mans' chest. It seem's to be some type of instructions.

Hello, Valued Black Butloid owner.

You are now in possession of one of our latest and greatest loids, the Reaper William. T. Spears. Now, he is a very active loid, a loid who is very useful for sorting through paperwork or helping with the completion of homework. It's also a very good conversationalist for those with *Cough* Higher intellect. Now, your William-Loid comes with the following equiptment:

*A Black note book ((No, it's not the Death Note))

*A hedge trimmer

*His own glasses(Plus a spare pair)

*LIMITED EDITION ITEM! A small William Plush!

To awaken your loid, there is one of two things you must do. You may shout that Grell has touched a soul on the not to die list or you could

take his hedge trimmers ((WE DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS AS IT WILL PROBABLY END WITH TEARS. AND NOT HIS!))

We at the Black Butloid Company wish you and your loid a happy future.

You look over the list of things he comes with. You also decide, since you didn't really wish to be hurt, you shall go with the Grell option. You clear your throat and say in your loudest vice, "NO GRELL, HE'S NOT ON THE TO-DIE LIST!" Your loids eyes instantly open and scan the room, his amazing, almost glowing green eyes landing on you. "I assume you are my new "He clears his throat" Boss" He says with a slight hint of disdain. You simply nod you head and motion to the pile of work on your desk, "William, i need your assistance with this...hell. " A small smile graces his lips. "Of course, boss. " He stands, his large form towering over you as he walks to your desk and starts to work diligently. Your only thoughts being "This is kinda awesome" Oh how you would regret that...

*************************************Time skip brought to you by my magic************************************************

FOUR MOTHER RUSSIAN WEEKS! Thats how long it took for you to snap. He had been so...diligent but now, he wants you to work two, if not THREE times harder then he! You had tried, damn it you tried, but have you seen how much that snarky, handsome bastard works!? You groan and place your head against your desk, rubbing your temples a bit. You are so tired, you don't even realise that a certain Loid had approached you from behind. You jump slightly as a hand is placed on your shoulder. "(Y/N), I think it would be beneficial if you slept. You aren't working hard enough due to it." He says, only a small hint of compassion leaking into his words. You nod your head and stand, going and changing into your pj's. A pair of shorts/Trousers and a t-shirt. 'Brainy is sexy' Written across your breast. This caught a certain beloved loids eyes. Yes, over the last few weeks, you had fallen for the brainy (Yet someone too much so) Loid. You lie down and close you eyes, knowing that will wouldn't disturb you. "Did you know, a whales tongue equals the weight of a elephant?" Williams voice says in your dark room. You frown slightly, "Thats interesting..." You say lamely. Then, in the darkness, much to your embarrassment and amusement, the words "Girl, shall we figure out the torque of your mass on my rod?" You make a loud sputtering noise and turn you bedside lamp on to see a red faced and flustered Will sitting there, looking at you with wide eyes. "What?" You ask, still gasping for breath. "W-Well, i figured you thought smart was s-sexy..so i tried to be smart." He says, turning his head away. You chuckle and sit up, going over to him and sitting yourself in his lap, "Did you ever think, Brainy, the reason i like smart is because YOU are sexy?~" He sits there shocked before kissing you deeply, mumbling the loving words against your lips. "I-I suppose I love you..." You respond with a very sweet and elegant. "I love you too, slave driver~" You tease him.

Lets just say....he now knows the Mass of you on his rod ;)

Chapter 6: Pluto-Loid

Chapter Text

Ok, So to put it easily...you were very lonely. You lived in a large house all by your lonesome, as your parents had passed away a while back, leaving you everything a girl could ask for! Except true friends....

As you're sitting on you large sofa, some soft music playing around the room, you flick through a magazine. You suddenly stop at a certain page, looking at the advertisement. It was for a new type of Loid, A Pluto loid! It seem's he's a companion and guard of some sorts. You smile softly and call the number, ordering one to be delivered the next day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next morning, you are awoken by a banging on your front door. You groan an roll out of bed, slumping down the stairs to the front door. You throw it open, scaring the delivery boy with your birds next of hair and your eyes ringed by dark circles. ''Yes, mortal?'' You say in a creepy voice to disturb the poor lad. He visibly shudders and shoves a large box into the door way. By the time you'd moved it into the house, he'd gone, the smell of burnt rubber and slight urine left behind. You chuckle slightly and push the box to the living room. As you open it, you gasp, smiling widely. Inside lays a slightly curled up Pluto, on his side, like a little doggy. You blush slightly, as he;s only clothed in a pair of bone covered boxers. You reach in and open the instructions.

'Greetings, From Black ButlerLoid Base! Thank you for buying our new Plutoloid, he's a very loving companion and will make a good friend. To awaken him, you have a choice of two options. Firstly, scratch his head and say good boy, or you can set London on fire....We recommend not to set London on Fire, for arsine is a crime and crimes are bad! Now, the New and amazing Pluto comes with a collar (For HIS USE...Kinky bastards), a bag of bones shaped cookies (Thanks to Undertaker) and a change of cloths. We hope you enjoy your new companion loid, Pluto...and please, PLEASE......D-Don't set London on fire. ''

You shake your head at this, chuckling. You hand reaches out slowly, lightly setting on his head. You scratch lightly, prepared to jump back if needed, ''G-Good boy! '' You exclaim, a smile of questionable realness on your lips. The Dog like demons eyes shoot open and his tongue lops out. He launches himself out of the box and onto you, lapping at your face, clad only in a pair of bone patterned boxers. You face bursts into colour as you shout, eyes wide, ''D-Down PLUTO!''. He obeys with a small whimper, moving off you to sit next to your sprawled out body, an almost smug smirk on his lips. Damn dog! You slowly rise yourself, drying slobber on your cheeks. He pouts subtlety as you wipe away the offending slobber, his scent on you weaker. For little did you know, Pluto had already marked you as his own. His (y/n). I'm so sorry dear, good luck.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-Time skip brought to you by Author on her knee's, begging for forgiveness-XXXXXXXXXXXX

14 DATES, 3 LUNCHES AND 7 NUMBERS RUINED LATER, and you start to realise, Pluto doesn't like other men. Or at least, other men around YOU. You're sitting on your sofa, Pluto, clad only in his boxers once more, laying across you, so much so, you can almost hear a voice going 'Paint me like one of your French Girls'. You sigh as Pluto nuzzles into your under breast, mumbling some words that you'd taught him. He leans back, vivid eyes scanning your face...it's time! He leans back, drawing your attention.' (y/n),....I....Love....you. ' He finishes this gruff, deep voiced confession by leaning in and sloppily kissing your cheek. You giggle, rolling your eyes playfully. 'I love you too, boy!' You say, as a sister would say to a brother...or an owner to a pet...He growls, low and angry, hearing the type of love in your voice, the non romantic kind. He jumps on top you, growling in your face.''NO! I. Love. You!' He leans down, slamming your lips together in a rough, hard kiss. Your eyes widen and you return the kiss, your heart hammering. D-Damn...He smirks, like a man obsessed, a man in love...and he is . He's in love with you, His mate....His (y/n).

Lets just say, you learnt that Doggy style is the BEST style that night ;D

Chapter 7: Finny-Loid

Notes:

WHAT HAVE I DONE!? *Hides under Bed*

Chapter Text

You groan as you see your loved rose plant wilt under your hands. Damn it! The one thing you absolutely lack is the green thumb you crave to make your garden flourish. You look over to the single, alive plant in your large garden. A large, beautiful cherry tree. Your grandma planted it the day she married your grandfather. It's stood there through wind, sleet and shine. It's beautiful and has entwined it's roots around your heart. But you knew that...without help, it wouldn't survive the winter. You look down with tears in your eyes, standing and going back into the house. You grab the latest gardening magazine, flopping onto the sofa and flipping to the adds page. You scan the page then freeze, jolting up. There...a-a....Finny-Loid! For only....jeez! It's so cheep! But...it says there may be a little faulty..oh well! You quickly call the number, asking if he;s still free. They reply enthusiastically, saying it;s faulty because it doesn't have the same strength. It seems that the people who have Finny-Loids have him for the brute force....how shallow! You demand that it comes by the end of the day, much to their happiness. You give your address and they say it'll be delivered in an hour. You flop back down, smiling happily. You'd always been a fan of Black Butler, but never had the money or reason to buy a loid. Now...''AHhhh"' You scream softly, rolling on the sofa, back and forth, giggling.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX-Time skip brought to you by Author giving two updates!- XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

A knock at your door draws you from your thoughts about an hour later. You smile softly, hiding your excitement as you go to the door, the money held in your hand. A box is shoved at you, the money snatched, a hurried sound of doors slamming and an engine revving. Cheeky Bastards! You drag the box in, laying it down on the front room carpet. You slowly open it, gasping at the seemingly sleeping Finny-Loid inside. You softly sweet the golden hair from his head, eyes wide and cheeks red...Wow....

''Dear Loid owner, We would like to offer you two ways to awaken out new, limited edition, not overpowered Finny. You can either read him the entire book of his name sake ((This takes a LONG TIME!)) Or, you can kiss his cheek, causing him to blush and most probably hug you tightly. We recommend this option, as it's less time consuming ((And more cute!~)). Finny comes with his own set of red hair clips, his own garden gloves and a limited edition small bird plush! We hope you're pleased with your Gardening Friend and helper!''.

Your smile is bright as you lean down, slowly pressing your lips to the flesh like cheek of the sleeping Gardener. His eyes open slowly, showing a bright, vibrant pair of eyes, focused on you, his cheeks staining a light pink, the pink of young love. His lips quirk into a shy smile and his voice mumbles, ''H-Hello, M-Miss! I-I'm Finny!''. He slowly sits up, his hands coming to take yours. ''T-Thank you for purchasing me! I-I hope I can help you with your Garden!'', You can't help the deep stain of red that overtakes your cheeks as you smile brightly, pulling him out to the garden, a frown over taking your features as he looks around the sad, almost dead garden, ''I-I think I need your help, Finny....'' You mumble, looking down shyly. He quickly leans over, his lips brushing your cheek, ''I'd love to help such a pretty miss! '' He quickly dons his gardening gloves and gets to work...and you feel your heart thump in your chest.

XXXXXxxxx-Time skip brought to you by a terrible, dirty finishing line for this Cinnamon roll!-xxxxxXXXXXX

It was the midst of spring, you and Finny sitting beneath a blooming cherry tree, the cherries hanging ripe and heavy, ready to be eaten. Your garden is bursting with life, butterfly's fluttering from flower to flower, bee's pollinating and you....snuggled into Finny's side. Slowly, you'd drawn closer and closer, so close that you're basically a couple...basically. Yet the words had never been said, Kisses never exchanged...But today is different. It's been near three months since he came and...you love him. So much, your eyes can't help but be drawn to him, simply to catch that secret smile, those bright eyes, that little dimple that only appears when you speak...''Finny...I-I....I love you'' ...You say softly, your voice carrying around the garden, the butterflies and Bee's wings seeming to beat in time to your heart. Finny looks down to you, smiling sweetly, leaning down to kiss you lightly, lips brushing against yours with respect and sweetness, ''I love you, (y/n)....I love you...''He spoke softly, voice filled with love, his innocent eyes slowly darkening as he deepens the kiss, his hands cupping your cheeks to draw you closer. You respond in kind, your hands tangling in the front of his shirt. He slowly picks you up, the picnic long forgotten. You slowly draw back, Finny smirking as he reached up, grabbing a small due of ripe cherry's, biting the stem between his teeth, ''I may not be able to tie the stem with my tongue, but I sure as hell can take your cherry~ ''This sweet young man whispers, his voice husky and deep, the sound sending vibrations through you.

That night, he did take your cherry, and he proved, he can do a damn lot with his tongue!

Chapter 8: Snake-Loid

Notes:

SMUT! MUCH SMUT!

Chapter Text

Your hands following the snakes movements, slowly moving from one hand to another. You smile softly as your light green snake, Aptly named Winchester for it's almost shot gun nature and love for pies. And by love for pies, I mean, those fresh pies you put on the side from the shop? Yeah, he eats them then curls himself in the tin. And he'll never share his pie, for it's his pie, not your pie. Well, moving on. You place him down into his always open enclosure, trusting him to not escape or to run away, as you'd raised Winchester from a small worm sized snake, you're more of a mother than his biological one. You sigh softly as he runs his flickering tongue over your hand in a kiss like gesture. You move to sit on your large, sprawling sofa, reclining back and closing your eyes, a small chuckle vibrating from your chest as your feel your snake slither up your body, settling on your chest, curling up and sleeping. He has the mentality of a puppy. You lift the magazine you were going to read above your head, glancing through it with mild interest, trying not to disturb Winchester. You suddenly gasps, causing your snake to jump and look at you with wide, snake slit eyes. There, on the page, is a promotion for the new Snake-Loid! If you're able to text at a certain time, you'd be the first to receive one. You look at the time and frown deeply. You had to text 666-666-666 at exactly 13 minutes past 2 in the morning. Damn, that an obscure time! But you swear, you'll be awake tonight to text that number. You even key in the number and a short message. You sit, watching the tv, phone in hand...and....you....fall....asleep!

XXXxxxxXXXXX-Time Skip Brought to you By Being a Snakes Adopted Mama!-XXXXXxxxxxXXXXX

You jolt awake, eyes wide. You'd just had a nightmare, almost Alice in Wonderland style. Very odd....You glance to the wall and let out a small cry. Shit! It's half past Two! You grab your phone and look at the text message that hadn't....wait...i-it was sent? You frown, your brain still sleep addled. You glance to the small snake beside you. He almost smiles proudly. H-He'd...Pressed the send Button!? You scoop him up , kissing the top of his head, ''I love you, Winchester!'' You exclaim, giggling as his soft tongue flicks at your cheek. You place him down, not expecting to win that competition but still happy that your dear friend was able to save your dreams. Ok, that sounds a little exaggerated but in all honesty, you love Snake from Black Butler.

Before you can even think of anything else, a knock sounds at the door...wow, did they really get here THAT fast?! You almost fly to the door, throwing it open....a box on your front step. A large, human sized box, wrapped in a lovely golden wrapping paper, fitting to the Christmas feeling within your chest. You can't help the gasp that escapes you as you drag the box into the front room decorated in muted greens and soft browns. As you get it to your very festive, warm front room, you quickly shed the paper, not one to save such niceties for Christmas. Opening the box, your given the sight of a half naked, pale torso, your eyes running over the Companion inside. You grab the instruction manual, almost vibrating with excitement. The message inside is as follows:

Happy Festive Seasons to you, The Winner of our Prize Lotto!

Congratulations! You've won our new, limited edition Snake-Loid! He comes with an array of skills, Including Understanding snakes, the care of snakes, the love of snakes and the ability to act like, you guessed it, a SNAKE! Please note, if you don't like snakes....well...you chose the wrong Loid! To awaken your companion of a scaled kind, either have a snake sit upon his chest, make the sound of a snake or wear something snake skin. We do not recommend this last option unless you wish to start a war. Warning! Our Snake-Loid is one of the first to Experience a new update! It's the Lover V.1.0.1. With this update, that WILL be given to all current Loids (Eventually) and future ones, you shall be able to copulate with your Loid. Though many of our Loid lean towards the perverted side, No Does mean No. Our Loids know this. From all of us here at Black Butler Loid, Have a happy Christmas and may all your nights be....Merry and Joyful~

Your cheeks now resemble the red baubles you have hanging from your tree. You quickly close the manual, intent on having your Loid sleep while you contemplate this new....revelation, only to glance and find that Snakes eyes are...well...staring intently, not unlike a snakes do. And there, perched upon his chest....is the little traitor bastard who's not getting and gourmet mice, WINCHESTER! He slithers off Snakes chest and, with a flicker of his tongue, slithers to his enclosure and curls up under a hallow bark, not planning to return. As you are silently cursing your once best friend, the man still in the box stands slowly , ''I'm tired, I'll leave you two be.....'' A rough voice escapes from Snake, ''I hope to see some small ones soon, ''The same voice says, ''I must say...your snake is....interesting. ''A more elegant, refined tone escapes from Snake. He'd been translating Winchesters last hiss....well....WAIT! LITTLE ONES.

XXXXXX I'M BACK BITCHES! AND I BROUGHT SMUT! XXXXXXXXXX

Snakes are interesting creatures. They seek warmth when they're cold....which probably explains the almost naked pressed to your back, the arms around your waist and the face nuzzling into the back of your neck. This had been occurring for nigh on ....oh, five weeks. After the first few times, which brought with them the puppy eyes and the dejected looks, you let him do as he wishes. But this....state of Dress...or should I say Undress is new. Lightly biting your lip, you wriggle slightly, ''Snake..''You two had gotten close....and have shared a few kisses...some 'accidentally' others happened when you have that bright smile on your lips as you play with Winchester, the kisses partly fuelled by love and partly jealously. Snake groans, opening his eyes slowly, ''...Mmmm...''He moans, pressing his hips against your arse, now letting you feel his arousal pressed against you. A gasp escapes you, eyes widening, ''S-Snake!'' You gasp, feeling your own arousal spike, his hands moving from around your waist to your night dress's hem, slipping his hands under, ''Say....Yesss~''He hiss's softly, peppering kisses on your neck and shoulder. I shiver runs up your spine and the word escapes you, ''Yes..'' is your breathless reply. He wastes no time, his hands Snaking their way between your legs, parting your thighs to feel how wet you are, how ready you are. Snake lets out a rough chuckle, the type of sound that belongs in porn or in a really erotic chocolate advert. You reach back, feeling the waist band of his boxers and teasingly pulling them down slightly just to let them fall back into place. After a few moments of this teasing, Snake can't take it anymore. He rolls you over, showing down his boxers and he has you sitting on his lap, him sitting against your headboard. He looks up at you, eyes almost glowing as he rocks against you, ''I need you...'' A faint red dusts his cheeks as his confession escapes him, ''I love you...'' Your heart melts within your chest as you cup his cheek, a soft moan escaping him as he leans into you, ''I love you too, Snake...I love you so much...''You quickly remove your night dress, his hands moving to cup your breasts, fingers gently playing with your nipples as you lean up, moving him and yourself til you're able to sink down onto him, your head tilting back as you whimper, Snake stretching you. He starts to buck his hips, rocking up into you with each subtle move you make, one hand on your ass, the other on your breast. His starts to move faster, your own breath coming out in pants and whimpers as he pushes you to your climax, falling over the edge with you, feeling him fill you as he bites into your shoulder, a clear hickey and bite mark there, his sharper than normal teeth stinging but not making you cry, the sensation actually prolonging your climax. As you both come down from your highs, your head on his chest, his arms around your waist, you hear a soft hiss and Snake chuckles weakly, ''G-Guess Winchester will be seeing some Little Ones soon, my Lovely..''With a final kiss to your brow, you drift to sleep, happy, content and ...well...Fucking Satisfied.

#black butler fanfiction

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