Chapter 1: info
Chapter Text
This page is for future character intros and story info, but for now, I'll just add the board and playlist...more like an archive since it's extremely long TT
If this isn't your cup of tea, then I have another story that follows the Black Butler manga so check it out if you're interested!
I will not be focusing on romance, if anything treat this as a slow-burn and interpret it however you like but I'll definitely be focusing on friendship, slice of life, and found family themes. Also, this book is definitely for fun so I will probably not have a clear updating schedule. Writer's block is very real c': I don't honestly expect people to read this but I really wanted to post it today for fun.
pinterest board: https://pin.it/3CIj2O0
playlist...archive: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/18WR8W9lPOov3RuE9THKnJ?si=1a3df66f8ad3418f
enjoy!
Chapter 2: prologue
Chapter Text
pitch black dr.martens at the top, shit brown mud covering below. Laces semi-tied before the person just gave up, in a hurry to head somewhere.
Concrete sidewalk from muddy soil after rural gravel roads. Running with a splat of thick mud trailing behind, squishing around the wet earth with every leap. Where to? You knew exactly where.
Charcoal jacket, light wash shorts fastened with a belt, and a thrifted shirt. An earthy scent all around as raindrops so fat it hurt when they made contact with you, fell. Hot foggy breath spilling out from between your lips as you heave. Inhaling and exhaling the frozen air a dozen and more times a minute in a full throb. Pained to breathe.
Occasionally you came close to falling, the slippery mush below having no mercy as it snatched the reins.
Irises darting every which way in code with the path you wished to take. Impatient, you felt, even after you ran a red light, felt the warmth of a fuel-tank vent and a whiff of rusted iron. A red hue lit softly as the world slowed to blaring honks from your side as it passed. You barely miss it.
Deep throaty yells of "WATCH IT YOU STUPID LITTLE GIRL- ARE YA TRYNA GET YERSELF KILLED?!" From the trucker that managed to swerve past. He too was lucky, he didn't hit anything in the end.
Ignoring all this you continue to run, out of breath still. Personal oxygen tank running low and heart palpitating as fast as if it were running what you had.
The rain fell and then rested on your jacket before it fell again from the way your arms swung wildly around trying hard to gain speed even after your max. Passing shops and restaurants, fruit stands and diners with ambient run down neon signs. Hearing the 1950's tunes in the distance was soothing, or would've been had you paid even the slightest attention.
Still don't know where you're headed? 'Course you don't. I haven't even given a slight clue now, have I?
You see you heard from a guy who was walking by that his friend had told him something his uncle heard from a co-worker that the co-worker heard from his boss that his boss heard from his boss after he eavesdropped on his conversation with some guy that told him about information on a boy.
This boy was someone you'd been looking for ever since you first heard of him, which was a few minutes to an hour or so ago.
No clue what in the fuck he was doing there of all places but that didn't matter. You were now tasked to guide him because you knew him well enough to know he'd need you. It seemed he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, the idiot.
You splash through puddles that slightly clean your muddled shoes when you pass them.
The night had only just begun, yet you had a feeling it would last an eternity.
Chapter 3: CHAPTER 1|THE BOY WHO FELL THROUGH SPACE AND TIME
Chapter Text
IT WAS RAINING HARSHLY the day you decided to go out on a walk. The skies above were an iron and anchor grey, rumbling with promise. Your eyes lowered to watch every splash your flapping Converse made.
Occasionally, the black asphalt slick with rain lit up beside you with a howl of the wind as another car zooms by. Nothing echoed in your head for once, all consumed by the anxious swirl of drops. Tonight all you wanted to do was clear your head and breathe in the crisp air.
But the world had other plans in store for you.
You were walking through a random neighborhood when rain drowns your nose, effectively waterboarded through a hole in your umbrella. You shouldn't have been so surprised. After all, a jagged rip also tore through the cap of your shoe and welcomed the rain in, socks squelching with every step. Had your local grams not seen you walking out of your house and forced a black raincoat - poncho thing in your arms, you're certain your hair would look a lot like the dripping bottom of your shorts.
Though with how ridiculously oversized it was, you wonder if you would rather just get drenched.
An empty can blocks your path teetering with the pelting shower. You kick it along with you. If you were being honest, you'd rather enjoy the weather from your bedroom window. Frosty winds blowing against your face, listening to the rustling of the trees. But only if you had the energy. In actuality, you'd be beneath a blanket staring blankly at a wall wondering where it all went wrong and what you did to cause this.
It was like that most days now.
Limbs much too heavy to make it out of bed. The only exceptions been the bathroom and kitchen and even then, there were days you couldn't muster a shower much less eat a stale piece of bread. School no longer a must, but a maybe.
Life as you knew it had been put on hold.
For what? You didn't know. You only knew the ache in your bones and the numbness in your mind. Whenever that was too much, your stomach would act up, as though carrying the weight of more than a few nutrients, and if it was bad enough then you'd find yourself in a white room with the stench of rubbing alcohol and an IV in your arm. A monitor beeping beside you, the world blurring as your body fought the pain to sleep.
The only good part of it all was when they injected your IV with a pain reliever that was just weak enough to keep you on the edge of unconsciousness. There, you tend to float away to another place far from your daily life. It was comfortable and maybe even a little...addicting.
Fog puffs out from between your lips. Drops sprinkle your skin, glistening under dim street lights making both you and the trees sparkle. Pungent petrichor soaking your nostrils and rain leaving an earthy taste on your tongue. A strong gust of wind races through holes in your coat that left you trembling. The umbrella hangs around your wrist when you shove your frozen hands into your pockets.
Tearing your eyes from the perfect circles' droplets created against the sidewalk, the can lies forgotten under your shoe when you find the night blends beneath an all-consuming thrum. The colors of the world blurring together to form the likeness of an oil painting.
This was the kind of weather you found perfect for a walk to clear your mind. You were glad you had ignored the weather warnings blaring past your father's soccer match.
Nearing another set of houses lining both sides of the road ahead, you notice a wonky chain link fence beside you.
Where you expected a property to be sat an expansive forest. Leaves littered the ground, some trees beginning to shed.
It was no wonder, being late September and all. You remember grams saying today was the autumn equinox.
To think so much time has passed...
Just below eye level was a yellow leaf caught between the gapped wiring wiggling around to no avail. Plucking it out, the stem sat caught between your fingertips. It reached its jagged tip. Veins branching out and water cascading down its smooth surface. It reminded you of a sliced star fruit.
Although you've seen these leaves countless times before, you can't help but admire their life as though for the first time.
You guess it had something to do with the way seasons come and go and yet a room with lights off remains unchanged. When the only way to see the world is through your window, the real world becomes endlessly more defined.
It was for this reason that you've always wanted to live in a forest.
A quiet place teeming with vitality everywhere you look. It's only constant, inconsistency. Somewhere far away from humans. The only life around belonging to animals, insects, and trees. It was your dream to live where no one could bother you.
A getaway from the rest of the world, just for you.
Why do they always fence off the best parts of the world? It's only a bunch of trees.
Your steps slow, eyes looking past the fence. Although you found it difficult to make out anything near the street lights, you watch leaves begin to float past the wispy green. Some still sparsely attached above, dancing with the glittering flora shrouding the end. With every passing second, you felt as though the darkness beckoned you over. Fence blurring out. You look behind you, then down the road.
Not a soul in sight.
The trees there sway rhythmically. Wind whistling a tune of freedom. You're sure that if the moon pokes past the storm, you'd find a serene view hidden behind the fence. As though the calm within the storm.
Your fingers sink through the gaps, digging your shoes between and hoisting yourself up and over. You'd made up your mind. You're going to see this peace for yourself.
Letting go, your feet hit the leaves with a splash.
Dusting your hands, mud coats your soles. The air around begins to fog in a welcome haunting.
Walking further into the forest, you gently graze damp bark gazing up at the enormous canopy of green fading into autumn. Droplets pitter-patter against your face. Puddles below plinking full.
Beneath your feet was a pumpkin and rouge ocean, trees lining the area and swishing when the wind howls in your ears. Thunder rumbles from a distance, eyes widening at the sight of strikes tearing the sky open.
When several strikes line the skies and barrel your way, you suck in a breath. Grey clouds part above you but by the time your heart drops - it's too late. Your arms rip out of your coat and shield your head weakly when a bolt of lightning rips through the air and strikes the ground before you in a booming crackle.
Yelling, you fall against a tree.
Sparks register in your ears, street lights nearby going out. Your hood flying off as the wind picks up.
Your hair stands on end, heart hammering in your throat. You'd never seen anything like that before and you had half the mind to realize you never will.
When you finally open your eyes, you find the downpour had grown aggravated and a figure sitting slumped over a tree in front of you. You blink.
A top hat hung limply off his head while a black cape covered most of him, large blue bow fastening it in place and falling daintily over his chest. Sleek navy spat boots reach his calves and are secured via black buttons running up the sides. His shorts poke out from beneath a neatly buttoned navy suit jacket, a white pleated dress shirt beneath, and black tights covering his knees that darkened with the shower above. He was soaked and out cold.
From where you were, you couldn't make out a face, but from what you could see, you didn't need to.
"No. Fucking. Way." You whisper, rubbing your eyes only to find his unconscious figure still there.
A billion thoughts shot through your mind. Who did this? What the fuck? Why here? Why now? Why you?
Why me?
Running up to him, you kneel before him and easily shield him from the rain, then place two fingers just beneath his jawline. They lightly vibrated from his trembling form. His hair was dripping at the tips, brows furrowed and gloves laying in a limp fist. While counting his heart rate you can't help but think you must be dreaming.
I mean, what were the chances?
His eye patch was staring you right in the face after all. Even if he was cosplaying, the big ass sapphire on his thumb would've had to mean he was a hardcore fan, and - let's be real - there was no way.
His heart rate was elevated but you chalked it up to the chilly weather. The clothing beneath his cloak was still pressed and fit to perfection. It only served to confirm he appeared at the same time lightning struck the ground making you wonder whether the storm or the lightning served any special purpose to his sudden appearance. I mean you could've sworn he hadn't been there a minute ago.
Staring at his dripping lashes for a long second, you begin undoing your raincoat, now thankful for the extra room. Now was not the time to uncover the sudden mystery before you.
At least he's dressed in his winter clothing.
Hoisting him up, you use the tree he was currently occupying to stable yourselves and swing his arms over your shoulders, leaning him against your back and tucking your hands beneath his knees.
Real Phantomhive or no, you needed to get this boy out of the rain before any more bolts decided to flash your way. Fortunately, he weighed about as much as a sack of potatoes.
You could hear his erratic breathing in your ear, see it in the puff of fog tickling your cheek, recalling his once sickly nature. He needed to get warm pretty soon. Adjusting your raincoat so that it covers you both, you decide to let him have the hood and force the moth-eaten umbrella onto his back to hang over your shoulder.
His shoes just barely stop from brushing the ground. You hadn't factored in the fact he was about the same height as you.
Walking back the way you came, you stop in your tracks.
How do I get him over the fence...
Staring at the decent height of it, you momentarily wondered if you should break a hole into it before thinking better of it. You'd sooner throw him over than destroy the wire as it was too time-consuming.
Looking down the fence the direction you were previously heading, you notice after the curbside it continued. A gate with a lock sat there making you sigh.
I guess I am breaking out one way or another.
Although breaking and entering was nothing new, it still could've gone smoother without the dead weight.
While traversing the muddy terrain over, you can't help but think about what you're going to do with the boy. I mean, if you were right then this was the Ciel Phantomhive. At least one of them. For convenience's sake, you'd label him as such.
Heir to the Phantomhive family fortune, Queen's watchdog, and head of the Funtom Company. Intelligence second to none and keen foresight. The earl's only real setback was his poor communication skills and personality.
You've got about a million bucks on your back. And it's well known that with great power comes great responsibility.
Usually in this scenario, you'd take him home. But, usually, the person finding him would have the funds to do so. And you? Well...
I don't think I've eaten anything but a pbj for the past week.
Yeah, not the best environment for an earl to grow up in.
If he had to fall your way you only wished the demons or gods at work would have enough sense to make you rich! Ridiculous, really.
Now we're both gonna struggle for food. I mean, can you imagine? Half a pbj for me, half for him?
Your cheeks heat up at the thought. His table once set with multiple options prepared to perfection whittled down to one.
You knew you had to think of some other living situation seeing as your family has always struggled, but not as much as of late what with the amount of people getting laid off without explanation. You'd need to think of another way for now - a rich friend or something -
What friends? I don't know anyone that solid ...
Grumbling a little, you look to the pelting skies for help. A fat drop falls directly into your eye making you hiss.
"FU- ugh, goddammit!"
Squeezing your eyes shut, they begin watering.
So much for that.
When your vision finally clears; you stomp the rest of the way to the gate and bare your teeth at it. Yet another obstacle.
Scanning the area, you pick up a random rock through an awkward squat. You heave Ciel higher up your back and steady yourself. Angling the lock, you smash it until the gate squeals open. It falls to the ground with a splashy shing before you toss the evidence.
You dash back the way you came - Ciel's top hat tossed back and caught by the umbrella.
When you run down two blocks, a rural road, and into some neighborhood's alleyway - your throat is dry and throbbing. You nearly slipped twice on the way no thanks to your flapping shoes.
I need to throw these things out.
Coughing and gasping, you were now hiding from the rain beneath a rusty piece of metal hanging over a rotten wooden fence. Ciel's breathing hadn't improved so when you dry your hand on your shirt and slide it beneath his bangs, your freezing hand is warmed considerably from his temperature alone. You chew on your lip.
I have to get him somewhere warm soon.
Maybe Donald knows what to do? But he's on his shift and you don't wanna bother him.
Rich friends...
Your eyes light up, then darken. A certain blonde came to mind. On one hand, she's rich and well-equipped to take care of Ciel, but on the other hand, you don't want to impose on her.
A grunt fills your right ear making you stiffen. It wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
Pulling out your phone you dial Lottie, rain drumming against the ridged metal above, and wait for her to pick up. When an airy voice replaced the dull ringing, you feel yourself smile awkwardly.
"Hi, long time no see. How's your vacation? Great! Hey, can I ask you a question?" You bombard her, trying to skim the small talk.
"Uhm, sure? Isn't it late over-" She tries to speak but you're already talking.
"It's a funny story, really, I went on a walk and found some homeless boy my age and realized he was my childhood friend! He doesn't have anywhere to go and I can't bring him home right now. Would it be ok if I stayed with him at your place while you guys are gone?" You ramble through the phone.
You feel a little bad that you not only interrupted her vacation, you weren't letting her get even one word in but you were in a rush.
"Ok, sure!" Lottie replies quickly and full of chipper. You realize now why Kyle was always so worried about her.
"Hu..er...I mean, thanks!" You say and push Ciel higher.
"Of course! I'll just call my nana and tell her we have guests." She mentions before hanging up.
Not even five minutes pass before she calls you and tells you everything is set.
"Wow! Thanks so much, Lottie!"
She hums, "'course! I need to go now, talk to you later (Y/n)!" And hangs up.
You blink, staring at your phone. That was much easier than you thought it'd be.
All that overthinking when all you had to do was simply ask for help...
Well, I guess I had to get lucky somewhere. Thanks, Lottie. I owe you!
Now with a destination in mind, you make sure Ciel is situated well on your back and push through your aching arms to Lottie's place. Stepping back into the roaring winds and heavy rain towards a bus stop with a Phantomhive in tow, you're reminded of how only moments ago you'd been trying to shift your perspective on life to find it worth living.
Now, you had not one, but two reasons. All because you wanted a change of pace, crawled out of your cave for once, and were nearly hit by lightning.
Yes, all you wanted was to get the walk done and over with on your 'get-positive-vibes' chart. Instead you got thundering rain with a chance of Phantomhive.
A smile stretches sorely on your face.
"Not exactly how I thought my Friday would go, but I'll take it."
The earl stirs a little making you jump. He's groaning as though in pain, mumbling gibberish. Turning a little, his pale complexion floods your view forcing you back to reality. His lips are quivering lightly and you're almost certain that his dream wasn't full of books and tea.
Although this was a little exciting at first... for Ciel, it'd be a newfound hell. You could only imagine what it'd be like to find yourself in a brand new, unfamiliar world. Centuries and realities away from home.
Thinking about it that way left a bad taste in your mouth.
Moving a hand from his back knee, you comb your fingers through his bangs and mutter out a soft, "..shh..." His nose scrunches, hands bunched in your coat and clutching your throat with his arms, "It's ok. You're..safe now..." you offer weakly, sputtering through the pressure.
When you stroke his hair, his grip around your neck progressively gets looser. Gasping for air once he finally begins to relax, you stop just before a bus sign and notice his nose was still scrunched, lips pursed.
The bus lights arrive a moment later, revealing his distressed face before slowing to a stop in front of you. Gasoline fumes fill your lungs, the transparent doors parting. Stepping inside, you make your way to the back seats catching the exhaust smoking up just beneath the window view. Setting Ciel down, you take a seat just as the bus begins to move.
His slate grey hair shines like starlight under the fluorescent lights, head propped up against the window. You move his head onto your shoulder and pat him gently.
You could already tell this was going to be a bumpy ride.
Chapter Text
WATER DRIPS LAZILY DOWN the verdant foliage climbing up the sandy brick. You imagine the coverage must be thick for such a steady pace.
The property was expansive, two stories high, and large windows lined the walls rivaling both yards. You're shielded from the shower once you pass the archway and find even the short porch up held thick slippery steps. If you hadn't known any better, you'd think two families and their servants stayed here. The biggest place you'd seen yet since the houses your parents took you to clean when there was no babysitter. The door was singular but mighty, towering over you both when you go to make yourself known.
A jingle rings in the air alongside your fogged breath. As grateful as you were, you couldn't shake the parasitic feeling germinating within. Pity when you're reminded of the jelly stain on the hem of your shirt.
There are thuds before the lock turns sideways. A warm smile on her wrinkled face, one hand on the knob and the other holding Lottie's little brothers' hand. He's holding a stuffed giraffe staring blankly at you before his gaze moves over your shoulder.
Your feet shift.
"You're here! Quickly, come inside before you catch a chill!" A voice gentle but brittle. She lets go of both in favor of turning just behind the door. Holding two tan towels, she ushers you inside with a gentle hand on Ciel's back.
The door clicks behind you, hands still tucked under his knees when you clumsily squeeze out of your wet shoes. By now your arms were numb but you had yet to notice. Nana helps you shrug both the umbrella and raincoat off, minding the snoozing earl on your back, and sets his top hat to the side. You note the lamp on the side table lighting up the otherwise dark house.
A warm, fluffy towel wraps around you two, subconsciously snuggling into it.
It smelled like a flower meadow.
"Are we doing charity?" A young voice asks.
You pause your sniffing to stare at the boy. He stares back at you, chubby giraffe in hand and wearing light wash overalls. Beneath them was a pink knit sweater you recognized as Lottie's cropped one. His outfit was pretty normal for what he's used to appearing in.
He'd taken one look at you two and figured it all out. Impressive.
Your lip twitches, biting your tongue as though to hold back a laugh.
"Now, now, Milk. They're our guests! Remember what Lottie and I told you?" Lottie's nana has her hand on her hip, the other holding up the only light source.
Milk hides his giraffe behind his back while looking down. "My friends are coming over to stay while I'm gone. Play nice and I'll bring you back a toy?" He's peeking up at Nana now, head titled.
"These are the friends." She turns to you with a smile.
Milk looks too, blinking for a moment until a smile crosses his lips.
"Welcome!" He cheers.
Your eyes lower while you return the gesture. This little rascal. But, you couldn't blame him as you'd just as quickly behave if it meant you'd gain a new set of parents.
"Thanks for having us." You say.
Lottie's nana waves you off with a 'no need!' and apologizes for how dark the house was. "After that flash of lightning, all the lights went out with it. I hear it wasn't just us, but the entire neighborhood!"
"You see, there was no news of a thunderstorm today." She says as you follow her down a hall. Her short curls bounce along with her, Milk's blonde ones doing a similar jig beside her making you grin.
Nana had been nearly no taller than you, hair silvering and hunched with age. You didn't know much about her as you never visited, only that she was sprinkled in nearly every childhood story of Lottie's, easily overtaking Kyle. She was famous for her hospitality and warmth, always ready with a warm pie or bed in times of need. You're certain Lottie shared this particular trait after today. Aside from that, you hear she was a Betty back in her day. This much clear whenever you look at both siblings and their mother.
With Lottie's parents busy with professor duties, someone had to watch the house and the kids from time to time. Who better than an expert? Even so, from what you could tell, Lottie's parents made time for their kids.
A trait your own didn't share.
"I see your friend here has had a rough time." Nana begins out of nowhere. "Pardon my asking, but what is his name dear?"
You nearly halt your steps up the stairway when you look up at her. She's still maneuvering through the maze-like layout with ease.
Although you never told them to keep it a secret, you wonder just how much Lottie told her nana.
Gulping, you continue with a nod.
"Oh, um, Ciel. Sorry, I forgot to introduce you two." You laugh lightly, adjusting your hold on him, "But yeah. It's been a long day so he's really tired. I think he might've fallen asleep in the rain though so I'm a little worried..." You trail off, peeking at Nana.
She pauses just a little away from the staircase to turn back to you. Her pale brows furrow, free hand reaching past your shoulder.
"Oh dear, that's no good." You feel your eye twitch when her gentle hand passes you. Sucking in a breath, you turn to watch her press a palm to Ciel's forehead and cheeks. "He is a little warm. Good thing you told me, we're nearly there now darling." She offers a reassuring smile.
You offer one in return.
And nearly there you were. It was just a little away when you guys stopped before a door.
"Here we are." She says, blue eyes watching you marvel at the room with warmth.
When Nana opened it a fire was already crackling off to the side, ornate walls lined with paintings and a mirror. Two beds lay on the left, the wall in front of the door showcasing a window to the front of the house, rain coating the glass. The room was sufficiently bright for a few spread-out candles and a fireplace. Some plants sat at the foot of the farthest bed, books and knickknacks accenting the room. A rug by the beds and fireplace. There was even a chessboard for Ciel's planning and amusement if he so chose.
You're sure that when Ciel wakes up, he'll easily mistake your era for his. You, however, came from the trenches so you found the decor quite satisfying if you say so yourself. Still, it all blurred into the background once you laid eyes on the record player. It sat pretty atop an accent table beside the bed with plants you now proclaimed as yours.
If there was anything you couldn't live without, it was music. Had Ciel not been asleep on your back, you'd have dashed straight to the crate full of records just beneath the table and rummaged through them. And although you were all about fairness, you think that even if Ciel were awake to choose his bed, he'd be just as pleased to find the shelves full of books beside his.
It's perfect!
"Make yourself at home, I'll get you some medicine for Ciel here." She says.
Whipping around, nearly toppling from Ciel's weight, you nod enthusiastically.
"Alright, thank you so much, ma'am!"
Chuckling, she turns to leave with the lamp in hand, "Just call me Nana."
She's gone now but you find Milk standing in the doorway, watching you. Offering a smile, he takes a moment and returns it.
Although you met the kid less than a handful of times, you found him rather sweet around Lottie but a little blunt otherwise. A trait both he and Ciel share, so you feel as though they might just get along. Waving him over, you speak, "Come in. I don't mind."
At this, he walks over to you just as you begin setting Ciel down. Your back and arms scream stiff. Grunting, you flop onto the bed with him face first. The mattress was, unsurprisingly, cloud-like. You'd roll around in it if you were alone. Alas, you settle for a sigh of bliss.
"I know. I live here!" Milk states.
Letting out a raspberry, you look up from your slouched position to find him hugging his giraffe with a small smile.
"That, you do."
Once your back stops aching so much, you get back up to free Ciel of his damp cloak and rest him against the bed. You reach over to his eye patch, hesitating.
When he wakes up, he would undoubtedly panic, call his demon, or demand to know where he was. Maybe all of the above. Either way, you weren't excited to deal with it and you're sure that no matter what you do, it won't stop his suspicions of you, but, you feel as though leaving the eye patch on him might offer you some trust. Even if just a little.
And God knows you'll need it if you come to find his demon came with him.
"What a dumb pirate." Milk pipes up, eyes on Ciel.
You can't help it when you turn to him in a daze. Before you can ask what he was talking about, he continues.
"He's dumb for sailing a ship he couldn't sail and crashing so now he's homeless." He explains reaching over to him while you held in a laugh.
"How do you know it was because he was sailing a ship?" You humor, smile on your lips.
"Because he's a pirate."
You raise a brow when he looks at you making him sigh.
"Don't you see his eye patch? Only pirates wear those dummy!" He points at said patch, eyes narrowed. He has a hand on his hip where the giraffe hangs inside his bent elbow.
Bursting out in a fit of laughter, you watch Milk pout. Crossing his arms, his curls bounce indignantly when he turns away.
"Are you really Lottie's friend? You're so dumb!"
Letting out a few more laughs, you swipe away a tear through nods.
"No, no. You're right." You chuckle, "You're pretty smart, y'know."
Hearing this, his ear perks up. Milk smiles with his nose raised high when he says, "Yeah, I am!"
At the same time, Nana arrives with some medicine and a glass of water, along with two folded pieces of clothing. You assume they are nightgowns from the color and design poking through. She sets the tray down on the shared bedside table, nightgowns on the quilted comforter.
"When he wakes up be sure to let me know. I'll be back with warm tea and cookies." She says, hands on Milk's shoulders as she begins to scoot out. "The closet is in through those doors there," she points to the right of the fireplace, "and the bathroom is just next door. I've already drawn a bath for you. We'll be right down the hall if you need us."
Nana waits for your response which comes in the form of a hum.
"Ok. Thank you so much! I'll let you know." You give her a genuine smile, "We really appreciate it."
With this, Nana smiles and makes her exit with Milk who wanted to stay a little longer because 'a real pirate! I have so many questions-' instead ushered out.
You giggle as the door shuts and his whining continues down the hall.
Sighing, you fall against the foot of Ciel's bed. Although you were grateful, you weren't great at interacting with others. Especially strangers. And even though you're good at lying, that didn't make it any less nerve-racking. Luckily, you managed.
I hope I sounded normal.. .
Not even a second later, you shoot back up. Ciel was still in his full gear and although he was dry, he probably wasn't comfortable. Seeing as he was coming down with a cold, the least you could do was make sure he was beneath the blanket.
You make quick work of his coat, boots, and rings, only pausing at the sight of the folded nightgowns. For a moment, you wonder if you should change him into one. He would be more comfortable if you had. The only problem with that is, well, he's a guy - not to mention asleep.
Although you felt as though you could find a way around it, you decide to keep him in his clothes. That way, you could spare each other the extra work and humiliation.
They're dry enough. If he wants to change then he should wake up !
You undo his bow at least. After neatly putting away his costly apparel in a drawer beside him, you pull the covers up to his neck and ensure no air pockets could fill with the chill in the air.
Once that's done, you step away and fold your hands behind your back.
Rain rushes outside in a hushed thrum. Fire crackles behind you while candles beside him reflect an orange glow against his face. The furrow permeating his brow finally settles, eyes lowering to a steady snooze. He seemed so...peaceful. An odd thing, considering what you have seen of him in your manga and anime. Chest puffing with every breath he took in. Seeing him, so real and breathing, right in front of you - you almost pinch yourself but settle with poking his cheek. Soft. You could even feel him.
Strange. Really weird. He's literally in the manga I brought here.
You grab it, opening it to a panel where he could clearly be seen. Side-by-side, it was uncanny. Grey hair falling ethereally, lashes just as accentuated. Even down to the way his face appears asleep. Every slope and angle - perfect. Untouched by the ugliness of reality. It was the only thing that confirmed he wasn't from here.
It was funny. Even now, in a bedroom far from anything you owned, the only thing you could keep staring at was him.
It seemed more likely for you to win the lottery than to meet a fictional character, after all. You couldn't fathom how he had gotten here. If he were the real deal. Why he'd appeared out of nowhere.
None of it made sense to you, not in the slightest.
Still...
You think that if someone had to traverse worlds, it should've been you. That way, he wouldn't have to suffer in the real world as much and you could finally get far away from everything and everyone you knew.
Grey strands shift to cover his nose bridge, face falling to the side you stood. Ciel's lip quivers for only a moment, yet long enough to knock some sense in you. Just because his brows were no longer furrowed did it mean his dreams were now sweet.
Your lips contort as though having eaten something sour. Glaring at the wick flickering flames.
You'd been thinking selfishly.
He'd struggle no matter where he was. Just like I probably would've, too.
You reach a finger to pin his bangs behind an ear but fall short when he turns away in his sleep. Staring at his back you nearly let out a chuckle. It was as though he sensed your idiocy even in his sleep.
Fair.
Although it was tempting, standing around staring at him as though he'd disappear if you looked away, your feet were cold and so were your damp shorts. So, you pick up the girlier nightgown lest you offend him further, and decide to leave him alone in favor of a warm bath.
You take one more glance at him and remember to unbutton his vest and shirt. If he was showing signs of illness, then he could have an asthma attack at any moment. The chance was small but not so small you could leave his collar intact carefree.
Right, I should also alert Nana that Ciel's allergic to cats.
With that in mind, you reach over to undo the vest. When you do, you notice a heaviness on the inside. Quirking a brow at this, you turn the heavy flap over and uncover a black hilt poking out from his inner pocket. Your eyes widen.
"Oh shit..." You breathe.
It was his pistol.
Your mind races for the best way to handle it, ultimately deciding to gently pull it out. As though it were a dirty rag. When a flash of his body count stains your mind, you think it hadn't been too far off the truth.
Once it's out, he stirs a little. You freeze.
Ciel tussles slightly where you pray he doesn't wake up, before settling down. Sucking in a breath, you hold the handle, making doubly sure your finger is far from the trigger, and scan the area. There's a side table beside an armchair. You dash over and shove it inside.
Now that it's out of your hands, you let out a sigh of relief. That had been too close for comfort.
The last time you held the weight of a weapon, you were six with a flashy gun settled atop your palms. Your uncle had always carried then. When he heard you figured out he had it stashed away somewhere, he decided to show you. Your parents weren't around when he placed it in your hands. Looking back, you hope it was for the impact it had left on you now rather than his irresponsibility but you knew better than to give him so much credit.
That day you learned its true weight wasn't in your hands, but just how easy it was to wield.
How easy it'd be to use.
Icy fingers seemed to trace your spine, a hole in your stomach when a chill passes by. You had hoped you would never need to wield such a thing.
Looking back at Ciel, your lips purse. To wield it the same way he had to...
Maybe there was a reason he came here after all.
With that thought floating in your mind, your hands ball up. Your eyes are determined now.
I'll make sure he never has to.
If this was the world's way to give you both a real break for once, you only hope it would be enough.
Notes:
will probably update every 2 weeks hopefully! At least until ch.4
Chapter 5: CHAPTER 3|A STRIKE OF LIGHTNING
Chapter Text
A HOLE FILLS THE pit of his stomach, breathing ragged, eyes wide, and pupils shaking. The sudden storm soaked his hair, drops slipping past his bangs and down his jaw. The eyes of a million stare him down from somewhere above the same way they had in his nightmares, and although the ceilings are high, he felt the walls closing in.
There he was.
There he was.
Heaving, his form trembles incredibly, only pausing when he clenched a ringed fist.
But so was he.
The earl's shoulders slow . In the face of his worst fears, he merely lowers his eyes and thins his lips. His fist falls limp as though letting go. Letting go.
And yet, a boiling fire ignites his veins.
This was not the end.
His eyes shoot open. Gasping, he gulps mouthfuls of air with a handful of ruffled fabric. Skin dewy when he noticed the roof was missing his royal blue canopy.
This hadn't been the first time he had awoken in an unfamiliar place. When he reaches for his gun, head whipping once to find his captor, and turns up empty, he wavers.
There you were, fire crackling beside you. The sparse light reveals you on an armchair, feet on the edge, and knees against the armrest with a book in your lap. Your hair up and dressed in a pink silk nightgown, gaze focused on the book before you. Steam wafts out from your cup of tea, pot set on a small flame. A plate full of cookies right beside it. Just behind you lay a window slick with rain. Pitter-patter fills the background.
Right as you drag the corner of a page between your fingers, you notice him in your peripherals. Setting the book down, you smile, "You're finally up!"
From both your casual disposition and the ornate look of the room, Ciel can only assume you were of noble birth. A quick scan of the room when he notices you two were alone. That would make things easier. Sliding his hand once more into his vest, he turns up empty making his lips purse. He didn't have his gun.
You stand when you see him reach into his vest.
"Oh, sorry. I had a feeling you'd do that, so I put your gun away." A blue eye narrows your way. "I didn't wanna take it away, but I also didn't want it pointed at me. If you don't, I can give it back -" You take a step towards the drawer, opening it as his gaze ricochets off the walls and shelves.
Ciel shoves you, swiping the teapot from the flame. You fall back into the armchair.
"Hey!" You're met with the spout of the piping hot teapot. Your eyes widen. You'd never been threatened with tea, but if Todoroki taught you anything, it's that boiling water hurts.
"Who are you? Why am I here." His words are forceful and stern. Still, you can't help but notice his accent.
Your throat bobs, eyes narrowed up at him. You were doing everything in your power not to look down and give way to the gun in your hand. Ciel's one visible eye a thundering ocean ready to rip you apart.
"I don't know why you're here, only that I found you in a fenced-off forest-" You start, digging into the chair when he moves the pot closer. In all honesty, you found the situation a little funny, but you knew that if you laughed, you'd be dead.
"Name."
Squinting at him, "(Y/n) (L/n)." He searches your gaze for any sign of hesitation. You sigh, "I can explain everything if you'd just take a damn seat and let me."
"How do I know you are telling the truth?"
"You don't." His brow twitches, "But if you'd like, I can give you back your gun. In good conscience."
Ciel's watch moves down to the grip you had on his pistol. Glaring at you for a long, silenced moment, he slowly lowers the teapot until it clacks against the serving cart. You chew on the inside of your bottom lip.
He extends his hand. Neither of you break eye contact when you place the gun in it. A finger slides a breath above the trigger where he simply lowers the weapon.
Figures.
"You wanna know why you woke up here, right?"
He nods.
"I found you passed out in a forest and brought you to a friend's place, ok? It's raining out so I didn't want you to get sick." You explain, shifting beneath his grim gaze.
"Why was I unconscious."
"I don't know."
He scoffs. "So you just happened to be nearby, just as I happened to be unconscious in an unknown forest?"
You nod, "yeah, actually. Only reason I was there was 'cause I jumped the fence." You claim. Although you spoke the truth, you left out a lot of information. Seeing as he was already having a hard time believing you, you didn't wish to add fuel to the fire.
The air is thick with tension. Ciel is holding unblinking focused eye contact with you. Regarding you with his nose turned up. Suppose you spoke the truth, he found your tone of speech strange, but even stranger still was the unlikelyhood of a noble going out in a storm and jumping a fence to a forest. Only for you to conveniently find him there and bring him home? Even if you had been trying to help, it made no sense for Sebastian to have left him stranded in a forest. He had to at least be nearby. Still, what was he doing outside? Or even prior to this? He couldn't remember a thing, only a sense of urgency to head back to wherever he was before.
No matter how he saw it, there was something clearly wrong here. He could feel it, and his intuition has never failed him. At least, something is not being said.
The silence is all-encompassing.
You don't make any sort of expression. Being stared down in search of a lie was a bit of a specialty of yours. You'd say that 100% of the time, your casual or honest facade worked. Against a fellow liar, though?
His lips press in a slight frown.
Of course, you were planning on telling him - but when he was more willing to listen. As he is now, lifting his gun and pointing it directly your way, you guess he wasn't.
The sigh that escapes you was inevitable.
This is why you didn't want to give him back the gun. But you also wanted him to trust you. Two shitty endings for two shitty decisions.
Great. I hope if he fires the damn thing that he'd at least do it outside - far away from Lottie's place.
"You are not revealing everything." Ciel's eye is lined perfectly with the sight, even with an eye patch protecting the other. "Were you seriously planning on not answering me properly?" His posture is flawless. As expected of a capable shot.
Strangely, you're not afraid. You were more concerned that he'd damage Lottie's property and get you both kicked out than if he were to shoot you.
"Well, when you point both piping hot tea and a gun at me, strangely enough, I feel a little less inclined to tell you everything." You smile, covert irritation etched into every word.
"If you wish for me to stop," his voice is low and even, "all you must do is tell me the truth." He hisses.
When the muzzle is only centimeters from your face, the smile on your face drops. Icy air swirls around you two regardless of the fireplace.
"I. Am." You insist. "But if you must know-" you stand abruptly, his gun following suit, stepping back when you step forward, "the additional truth is that you're neither in the 19th century nor are you in your world."
The grip he has on his hand pistol falters, eye narrowed at you. "What?"
"That's not all." You continue forcing him back with steady steps.
"Step back." Ciel is starting to believe you may just be insane and have a death wish with the way you're disregarding the fact he was holding a gun to your head.
"In this world, you don't even exist. You're fictional. A few lines on a piece of paper, and yet, thunder strikes right before my eyes and you appear out of thin air." You're not holding back anymore, set on delivering the truth he so valued. After all, who needs a gun to kill when you have words? "Do you even know what the year is? Because I can assure you it's not 1889. Take one look outside and that much will be clear."
"If you don't step back, I will be forced to-" You've cornered him now, back to a wall. Even through a stoic gaze could you see the way doubt flickered through his eyes at your revelations.
"I don't care." You declare, glaring back now.
Clicking his tongue, he straightens his stance, nose scrunched when he says, "You're insane."
Something in your mind snaps. Eyes burning with rage when you grip his gun and shove the muzzle between your eyes. Ciel grunts at the force.
"So shoot me!" You yell, eyes blazing and teeth grit.
Silence fills the room where only the ongoing fire and your breathing could be heard. The humming storm outside stirs back through the air, thundering and howling.
His mouth is slightly agape, sweat rolling down his temples. Breathing unevenly and dark circles staining his glazed-over eyes. He still hadn't taken his medicine.
Realizing this, you drop the muzzle and walk away from the standoff to grab the medicine. When you present it to him it only fuels the confusion coursing through his mind. Just a moment ago you were yelling crazy things and now you're trying to poison him?
"It's medicine." You notice his apprehension, "I forgot to tell you since you were too busy pointing a gun at me but I'm pretty sure you're coming down with something."
An unamused look crosses his features. Rolling your eyes, you set the tray of medicine down to go pick up the bottle of NyQuil. Presenting it to him, he scrutinizes you before taking it from you. He'd never seen such a colorful or clean medicine design. Even the material of the paper was smooth beneath his fingers, the bottle shiny.
"Cold and flu..?" He read the label with a wary eye.
"It'll make you drowsy though so you can take it after the questions if you'd like."
Flickering back at you, he lowers the gun, clearly perplexed. You feel a little bad, understanding how this was all overwhelming. If you woke up assuming you'd been kidnapped as per usual only to find a girl screaming at you obscenity after obscenity with no real proof but her word, you're sure you'd have lots to think about too. Though, you'd likely just run away.
But this NyQuil might just be pretty decent proof. As a business owner, I'm sure he's familiar with the market and aesthetics of packaging so this would be pretty strange.
Seeing the gun dangling in his hand, you pray it doesn't go off or else you'll really be homeless for a time.
Opening his mouth to say something, you both pause when you hear footsteps nearing. There were only two people that could be, and with the way Ciel begins to raise his gun again, your eyes widen before rushing his way. Before he could do anything more, Nana knocks on the door. Just as she begins opening it, you run up to hug him. Ciel is very clearly lost and stiff when you say, "Oh my god, I'm so glad you finally woke up!"
"What?! What are you-" he's struggling in your grip where you hold his hand carrying the pistol. Snatching it successfully, you toss it somewhere behind him. It falls in a basket.
"You probably don't remember me, but we were friends when we were just 6! Remember?" Your eyes are pleading, whispering, "Play along!"
You can see his nose scrunch. Nana is standing at the door, a look of shock on her face. Your words from earlier echo in his mind. Ciel glances at you and thinks for a moment deciding there wasn't enough to go off on.
"I haven't the faintest idea who you are!"
You glare at him, a mocking glimmer in his eye. Two liars, but only one winner. Little did he know just how good at lying you could get.
"No..." You breathe, lip quivering when you say, "Could it be? Amnesia?!" Gasping, Ciel watches as you turn from him to look at the old lady, "Nana, nana, I think he's got amnesia!"
She gasps, pity in her eyes, "Oh no, how?!"
"Maybe something happened to him!" You turn back to him and place a hand on his cheek, twisting his head this way and that in search of a wound. Of course, you both knew no such thing existed, "I found him passed out in the rain, cold and alone with nothing to his name! I heard he was recently homeless but I didn't believe it until now! Oh, Nana, do you think he was hurt out there?!" You wail, grinning out of her sight when he glares at you and begins shoving you once more. His hair was frazzled from your rough actions.
"Do you mean..!!" Nana's hand raises a little tremble to it and her eyes wide.
Nodding enthusiastically, "Yes, exactly! Exactly what you're thinking!" You have no clue what she's thinking so you focus on trying to squeeze a few tears out, sliding down Ciel's stone-like frame dramatically. He stares at you with wide eyes, hands away from you so as not to catch the crazy.
"Oh!" She covers her mouth, shuddering, before declaring she'll take care of them and going up to Ciel. She holds him by the arms, his eye wide and shoulders stiff, and tells him, "You're ok now sweetie. I'll be right back!"
Successfully buying your act, she dashes out for whatever reason. Once the door clicks, you let go of him. Standing with a sigh, you dust your clothing and run a hand through your hair. You hadn't planned on revealing the fake situation to Nana, but you were left with no choice.
"Now you see the situation?"
His eye is wide, looking at you like you're insane and so is everyone else.
"Yes. This manor lacks sanity-" he digs through the basket. Once the gun is back in his hand, he tries to leave but you begrudgingly pull his arm back. He yanks himself away and flashes the gun your way with a glare, "Stay back! I've had enough of you and your antics. You'd be wise to let me go."
You raise your hands. To think, you almost thought that at least he didn't shove the gun in your face again. But nope.
"Look, I don't like this any more than you do but you need to face the facts. You're not in your world anymore - you're lost. I found you in a forest and I'd like to help you get back to wherever you're from, but -"
"I will be just fine on my own. I don't need nor want your help, much less that of those here. I would be better off asking a patient at an asylum -" he gathers his things, gun still on you, and tugs his shoes on without even tying them.
"Hey! You can talk shit about me as much as you'd like, but don't talk about the people here like that! They took your sorry ass in when they don't even know who you are either!"
"Well, I never asked for help!" You flinch. A piercing silence. Ciel clicks his tongue and glares. "I don't have to listen to you or anyone here for that matter. I am done listening. Sebastian!" He calls.
A breeze passes by.
Sighing, he calls once more, coat and buttons hanging messily on him. "Sebastian, stop fooling around and come here!"
Your arms are crossed at this point, an unimpressed look crossing your features. "And I'm the crazy one?"
Hearing this, he's positively fuming at you when he screams, "SEBASTIAN COME HERE NOW! THIS IS AN ORDER!"
If you two had been outside, you're certain a tumbleweed would pass by.
"Look, I've already told you that you're in another world and that I didn't see your demon butler with you at the site I found you."
"You even know about the contract.." he's mumbling to himself.
Ciel had tucked his gun away, coat draped over his arm, and buttons to his vest in all the wrong holes. His hair hung, biting his lip in frustration. The NyQuil lay forgotten by his feet.
I guess Sebastian might not be here after all.
"I told you the truth-" you start, everything so far involuntarily becoming your evidence.
"Show me."
He's placing his rings on his fingers when he finally looks up, flames burning in his gaze. You flinch at the intensity.
In that moment, a flash of the manga you were just reading comes to mind. One thing about this Ciel Phantomhive was that nothing ended until he declared it did. A stubbornness or will so strong that he could get whatever needed to be, done regardless of any obstacles. To give up was not something he knew how to do.
It was a quality you admired. A quality you despised.
He shrugs his coat on.
"Show me where I was found."
You close your mouth, lips thinning, but nod. After shrugging a coat you found on, you buttoned it well and spoke once more.
"Are you sure you wanna go right now? There's a storm out." A last-ditch effort to exit.
Ciel opens the door, clothing wonky and laces now tied loosely. He turns his darkened gaze to you.
"I need to see this for myself."
"...alright."
Running down the stairs holding his wrist and passing Nana by yelling, "I forgot to grab something, I'll be right back Nana!" You grab the raincoat and umbrella before she can further protest.
On your way over, Ciel stares wildly at the surroundings. Lights, billboards, moving pictures, screen ads, houses lined similarly, contraptions he's never seen, colored film, and photography. Rarely a painting or horse-shit-filled street in sight. Even with trash on them, they still sparkled in his eyes. No carriages and certainly no horses. Only the self-moving iron carriages he'd seen before on the streets of London.
At some point, you passed a restaurant, white lights and music playing in the air forcing him to stop. When he turned every way, you asked him what he was doing. You knew it was bad when he said, "looking for the orchestra." The entire way his eyes squinted at times. Everywhere he went there was more light than what he was used to.
He stumbled at some point, overwhelmed. You stopped to help him, asking if he was alright. But he ignores you, eye narrowed at the sidewalk and head throbbing. You decide to take him under a shaded bus stop, the wind carrying the rain your way regardless.
Taking a break, you decide to fix his clothing while he's lost in thought. When you glance up at him while rebuttoning his coat, you frown. You couldn't even begin to imagine what was going through his mind, and just how fast it was. It was why you had been reluctant to take him out so early.
Everything is so different from what he knows. I feel like we should just head back...
When you finish retying his cape, his hand covers yours. Looking up, he looks tired, cheeks flushed with fever. He shakes his head as though having read your mind and removes your hand.
You analyze him for a moment while he just stares back at you. Tugging the hood of your raincoat over his head, you sigh, "..ok."
You continue until you find the fence, gate flailing in the wind in a haunting squeal. You make sure to hide both your faces and guide him to where he was lying unconscious against a tree.
Thunder strikes in the distance, making you flinch as the events from earlier flash in the same instance.
Frail sticks and autumn leaves crunch beneath your weight soon turning to mush as you tread through the bending trees. After tonight, you'd be surprised if any of them weren't bald.
Your legs are wet once more, the nightgown doing little to cover you from the rain. If you had time then you would've worn pants. Unfortunately, the earl beside you was on a mission and twice as stubborn as you.
The wind forces your steps, as though moving upwind. Your hand slaps against some bark and you point.
He follows the direction to find a normal tree. A strike of lightning illuminated it for a second.
Ciel is staring at the spot, regarding it for a long moment. There's nothing remarkable about the area. It was just some forest. The ground and bark were a little charred. As though lightning struck the areas. If so, could he have appeared once thunder stuck as you said? Is that what you meant by it was as though out of nowhere? Thoughts speed through his mind as he stands stock still. How had he gotten here? Were you telling the truth? Where was Sebastian?
After everything he saw on the way, he was beginning to realize the probability of what you told him was high.
But even if that was the case, what did it mean? Why did he come here? Did it have something to do with the lightning? Or something before.
What had he been doing before?
His eye shuts, clutching his head when static fills his ears. Your hand goes to his back making it stop. Ciel tries to remember again but gets a headache once more that only stops when he focuses on something else.
"Hey, are you ok?"
Something was preventing him from accessing his memories. And from what he could tell, it felt like a big enough gap from the present. Seething, he tries again to no avail. A strike of searing pain stabs his brain making him hiss.
"What's wrong?!" You yell but it only makes it worse.
Swatting you away, he glares at you, "Shut up! I'm trying to think!"
You're taken aback by this but just shake it off.
"Jeez, ok."
The heavens rush throughout the air. His warm breath fell back against him from the mask he wore. He can't remember what happened before this, but there was something there. A vague mixture of fear, rage, and confusion.
All things he despised.
By now you're trembling from the whipping, rainy winds and rubbing your arms. You, too, could think of a few things you despised. The storm had grown aggravated when you left and it didn't show any signs of stopping. Unlike your pal here, you weren't dressed warmly and all he'd done so far was stare blankly, eerily silent. He was the queen's watchdog, after all so you assume he's trying to piece together the puzzle before him but there wasn't much to go off on.
Still, you hope he finds something. That way you wouldn't have frozen to death for no reason at all.
"I don't want to rush you, but we should get going." You yell over howling winds. "Remember that lighting struck the same time you came so I feel like we're in danger no matter where we go in this storm."
He's still ignoring you making you sigh. You understood he was overwhelmed and upset, but you felt as though the temperatures would be bad for his already worsening health. At this rate, even you would get sick.
That's it, we need to get out of here. We can always come back tomorrow or some other day.
As you move to pull him away, he approaches the ground near the tree. Grazing the wet leaves with a gloved hand, he presses against them until he's unearthing a black cane, a skull for a handle. Along with it the book you had been reading just before.
He holds it between his index finger and thumb, the ring flashing in the moonlight. On the cover he stood, butler and servants in tow. His eyes widen.
What the hell?
"Hey, that's mine!" You run up beside him just as he stands.
Wasn't I just reading this one?
With this, all your claims seem to click in his brain. Reality dawned on him like a bag of bricks.
He hands you the drenched book which you both stare at. The spine of the book where the volume would show is white. When you flip through the pages, your eyes widen.
"It's all blank...it wasn't like this before - why-" a thought crosses your mind.
You stare at him, (e/c) eyes reflecting his blue one. As though the answer dawned on both of your minds.
It's because of...
"You."
"Me."
You both gulp, storm rumbling in the background. He was reminded of the book in your hands when he woke up.
"What were you reading before?"
Stiffening, you recall, "this. I'm pretty sure it was this-"
You know for a fact that you left this in the room on the floor before you even gave Ciel back his gun.
"What did it have in it? What happened in the book?!" He's leaning into you, forcing you to take a step back.
Clutching the skull, he dug the cane into the terrain. Raindrops battered his swollen cheek you only just noticed.
"I..it..." You're trying to remember, the scenes, the moments, but just as they form a puzzle in your mind, each piece drifts away into white. You're looking back and forth at the bow of his neatly tied cape, as though searching your mind for answers. Only, they'd been washed away by the rain.
He's clutching your arms, shaking you.
"Hey, answer me!" Your gaze blanks making his jaw tense. The same thing that had happened to him was happening to you, "what were you reading?!"
"I...I don't.." you gulp, gaze hardening when you finally look back into his frantic eyes, "I don't know."
Hearing this, his eye widens. The storm rips through your ears, barely able to hear each other other than through yells. His hands fall limp. Not even a moment later, there's a fury in his gaze making you narrow your own.
"How do you not know?! It was only a moment ago that you were -"
"I don't know damn it!" You scream, "It's like it all erased from my mind just now! Probably for a reason!" You back away, hair flailing wildly in the wind the same way his was. You could see in his eye that he was thinking similarly.
"Why would-?!" He starts, even now trying to will reality away.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe it has something to do with the fact that you appeared out of nowhere and don't even remember what you were doing before this!"
"How do you-"
"It's obvious! Why else would you be so desperate to know what the hell I was reading?!"
This shuts him up. He's pursing his lips, fists clenched. None of it made sense. Why him? Why here? Why now?
Why right as he-
..he? He what?
Watching him lose his composure was unlike reading about it. You pitied all those caught in the crossfire before you.
Yet, you understood why. Even you didn't understand and found this all confusing. You want to comfort him, but how do you comfort an emotionally unavailable guy who just traveled through space and time? If anything you were questioning everything the same way he was.
You wanted answers too. But right now, you could acknowledge there wasn't any and if you had to brainstorm, doing it in an active thunderstorm wasn't the best idea. You just learned that the hard way.
Still, seeing him grip his hair, mind racing - you wanted to do something.
Like being there and helping him understand things, for starters.
Sighing, you hesitantly walk toward him. Before you touch him, you call out to him, "Hey, I know this is all really confusing and alarming, but-" Before you could even finish, he roars and lifts his cane.
Your eyes widen, flinching when you hear a ringing whack. Waiting for pain to register, nothing comes so you take a peek. His shoulders are heaving, back turned to you, and holding the cane in a low grip. The tree before him is steadily leaning forwards, your eyes widening.
The bark where his cane had slammed into had caved in. When he notices the tree is falling, it's too late.
His eye widens, cane launched into the air when you tackle him.
His hair flies forwards, watching as the leaves and branches sway similarly. Noticing your feet are near the crossfire, with quick reflexes, he drags you by the collar nearly forcing a mouthful of dirt and leaves.
The tree collapses behind you, a gust of wind flowing through your light clothing making you shiver.
His eye widens, you gasping for air.
That was too close of a call but it wasn't what concerned you.
Turning back, you stare at the fallen tree. A siren wails in the distance. Turning to the source, flashes of light tore through the fog heading your way.
There's no way we're getting away with a slap on the wrist now.
Holding yourself up, you cough and look around wildly for any witnesses nearby. Ciel just stayed in the same position, propped on his elbows, staring blankly. Unable to process everything happening.
They'll be here any second, we need to get away!
Down the street, lights begin to turn on by the windows.
"Shit." You mumble, getting up and pulling Ciel along with you. "Hey, we need to get out of here, ok?"
Ciel's bangs obscure his gaze, baring his teeth with a tense jaw. He's lost in thought when he absentmindedly nods. Your lips are thin but you focus on dusting him off and holding his hand, covering him up to not be seen.
You drift through foliage and take cover by a few trees, rubbing your eyes as rain spatters all around the air. The path to the gate was a straight shot, if you run fast enough, it wouldn't matter if the neighborhood began its investigation.
With that, you make a run for it, people with bobbing flashlights yelling at you to stop. Clicking your tongue, you run the opposite way, no time to wait for the bus anymore, now deciding to loop around the neighborhood to another bus stop.
Ciel is silent behind you, but easily follows your every move. Meshing with shadows and mixing into several paths seamlessly.
The life he had before this echoes in his mind, doused in flames and flooded away by this one.
Everything he worked towards. All his goals, his life, summed up in a few lines.
Gone with a strike of lightning.
You make your way back to Lottie's place. This time, completely silent.
Chapter Text
WHEN DID I decide love was something to fear? The curtains rustle, the fireplace snuffed out with wood as charred as your thoughts rung. You're staring out the window turned on your side with your back to Ciel.
When you had arrived the mood wasn't any less sour. It felt as though any mention now of the situation would be both inconsiderate and met with hostility. Still, you convinced him to take some medicine and change out of his damp clothing. Only persuading him to sleep by suggesting time could move differently between your worlds. For all you knew, his world could be on pause. He went to bed and you don't even know if he's asleep, but after tonight...
With how loud and animated he was prior, you find it strange how quiet he lay now without mention.
It's understandable, of course, yet you hope things improve for him soon.
I guess that's half up to me...
You make a mental note to look into cross-dimensional instances online. Maybe someone else had a problem with obtaining a fictional character after a bad thunderstorm. If you had to guess, there was sure to be at least one incident that slightly resembled yours. And, well, there were few talents you possessed but researching information, especially strange things, was a specialty.
Your gaze moves to the still record player, thoughts on the 5 missed phone calls waiting behind you. In the morning, you'd have to answer to your parents' wrath, but that hadn't concerned you. Only what that meant for the situation that was probably going on because of it. You could almost hear their screaming.
Taking a deep breath, you move your covers up just in time to cover your sigh.
Maybe it was when you were born to them that it began. There has never been an instance you could recall where they weren't competing head-to-head on whose skull was emptier. After much consideration, you've found it's a tie.
Always obsessed with each other, claiming they wouldn't look back with their necks twisted. Claiming they'd die for each other, for you, and just as soon as trouble arrives you catch the cloud of dust they left behind. To think it took you as long as 6 to realize you couldn't trust them.
All the same, you often found yourself filling the mediator role for the two. Even if it was to wedge yourself between them when it got physical, at least they would be okay. You almost want to say that, at least, they had the decency to separate.
If only it were so easy. If only it were that simple.
If only it had been enough.
Separate only when the fights were so bad that the neighbors might, horrifically enough, find out. And so they take turns running away - but no matter what - they always come crawling back together. In private, they always tell you the same secrets. Through all the delusions and shitty claims, things you wonder if you should even know, only one constant whisper is most horrifying of all.
The claim that, no matter what, despite it all, they really do love each other dearly.
You gulp.
No matter how you viewed it, it never truly aligned with your concept of love. One you had come to create with all their failures of showcasing it. To think that they could, after all that, still, say something like that...
Maybe they were soulmates.
You almost laugh, but remember Ciel is still behind you.
Pathetic. Ridiculous.
Yet, comedic.
At times you wonder, who was the biggest clown of all?
There's a clack behind you, flinching you out of your thoughts.
So he had yet to sleep. You'd be more surprised if he had.
You don't turn as he doesn't seem to move from his bed and you wanted to give him some space.
Well, as much space a shared room could offer, anyway.
He's probably still wondering what happened and why. He did seem in a rush...
Yesterday you barely believed in ghosts. Today, there lay a cross-dimensional one right behind you. Safe to say you understood a thing or two on how he was feeling. There were already a few theories on your mind as it was, but you wait until tomorrow to say anything. The only thing he should focus on now is rest so he could wake up healthy and figure out a way home.
Yet, you feel as though you might help him more if you have data and a few hypotheses prepared so, to shove aside your own worries from home, you busy your mind planning all night until morning arrives.
🌧️🕓 ☔
By the time morning came there was a light drizzle in the air and you had slept for a total of two blinks and three sighs before Milk came barging in screaming, "WAKE UP! WE'RE EATING PANCAKES! I CAN'T START WITHOUT YOU DUMMIES!" Before slamming the door closed.
Your soul nearly jumped out of your body but instead settled on slamming you against the nightstand. Holding your head and writhing in pain, you began plotting ways to steal the pancakes off Milk's plate.
As if it wasn't already bad you got no sleep, you also received one more brat to add to your part-time single parenting chores, and Milk made sure you had more headaches to occupy your mind this morning - quite literally. Brat.
No sleep was nothing new, of course. You were never good at getting comfortable in others' homes. Except for Donald's.
When you sit up, the blanket falling limply off your shoulder and mind blanking to ease the pain, you feel Ciel's gaze before you see it.
From the looks of it, neither was he.
All raccoon-eyed and glares. Had someone taken a look at you two, they'd think you were mirror images.
"..how's your sleep?" You ask groggily.
There's a wry smile on your face when he scoffs.
"Wonderful." He deadpans, sitting up. "I could say the same about yours."
"Mine?" You chuckle and wrap the blanket around you when you go to stand, "my sleep was simply superb."
Walking over to the closet you notice a few pieces of clothing inside you assume Nana added while you were out on your nightly adventure. On top of a few folded pieces, you notice a note expressing permission from Lottie to search and seize her closet to your liking. You nearly shed a tear. What an angel.
With Ciel in tow, you could only guess what to do with his outfits - or lack thereof.
Grabbing a striped long-sleeve, brown fingerless gloves, and baggy jeans for yourself, you toss them onto the armchair beside you just as Ciel makes his way over to you. Turning to him, you pipe up, "Hey, what do you feel like wearing?"
When he stares blankly at you, you sigh and move aside only to watch him stare inside. Narrowing his eye, he finally sifts through the clothes with his stupid pistol.
"Where is my clothing?"
"Gone." You deadpan. His eye twitches making you hold the blanket closer, a sudden chill in the air, "if they're not in there then Nana's probably washing them."
When he asks you what you expect him to wear, you just nod towards the closet.
Squinting your way, "You suggest I wear.." he holds up some jeans with the barrel of his gun, "this?"
There were plenty of clothes in there but clearly none suitable for an earl. Still, you nod.
"This is a joke, right? You don't seriously expect me to believe the nobles of this household, no matter how lacking, wear this?"
At first, you snicker, but when there is clear irritation in his eye, you stop. He's being serious. Who was going to tell the poor earl the only people still using or even holding those titles were royal families? Worse, that casual clothes exist and the only thing resembling his clothes even a little were Lottie's tops?
Clearing your throat, you hold a hand out in defense of the clothes, "These are perfectly good clothes that probably cost more than your whole outfit!" A blatant lie.
"These rags?!" Ciel yells, disbelief written all over his face.
You could only imagine the horror coursing through his mind. To think, what looked to be working-class clothing rivaling the cost of his tailored apparel. Surely the world was going to shit.
"Yes, actually. In fact, you see this right here?" You grab the jeans and shove them in his face, "This denim is pure cotton. I'm talking 100%."
Ciel is still eyeing you like you're an idiot but one who could kill him at any moment, but you're not the one with a gun in hand. I mean, seriously, what were you going to do? Strangle him with some jeans?
His face contains his signature stony look, but there's a clear glare in his eye. Speaking in a slow and steady breath that enunciated every word, "I am an earl-"
"Yeah but here you're just homeless and lost, so - " you shrug.
Most people would know not to piss off someone who is holding a gun, but clearly, you're not most people. In fact, you weren't all too concerned about it at this point. If anything, you were thinking about how he still didn't have an exact grasp of the situation he was in. Maybe that was harsh, but the sooner he figured that out, the easier things would be for him.
"I'll pick out a few options for you," you toss a few pieces out while he stays silent.
Picking aside a few outfits for him, your mind races. Ciel was scowling in the corner with his jaw clenched, a little red in the face you chalked up to anger.
Thoughts on your household, Lottie's, and even Ciel and his situation.
With three options to pick from, it's not hard to see he finds your choices...uninspired to say the least.
"I know it's not what you're used to, but it's all we've got." You think for a moment, "But, if you insist, you could always wear what you came in, too."
Even actively pushing aside your place, Ciel suddenly coming here made the future you once thought to be bleak and unimaginative suddenly improbable and mysterious. If nothing else, you understood him so well because you found yourself looking into the future as often as he did.
Ciel looks down, lips pursed, "...is this all there is?" A question one would find aimed at the clothing, but somehow, you feel as though that wasn't all there was to it.
Unbeknownst to you, your minds took on a similar shape.
Suddenly thrown into the unknown when the future was once certain. Planned and strategic now a sudden flurry of actions and chaos, no plan or prediction in sight. Blank as a fresh canvas.
As though you both fell from a fixed position, futures certain, now facing a landscape unknown with nothing but the clothes on your back.
You finally replied, "..for now..."
It's all you can say.
☁️🔫☔
After fighting him a while longer and convincing him that not even the few tops Lottie had could go with anything you had to work with, Ciel ultimately decided on a very casual look. Plain dark shorts, a basic white t-shirt, flannel over top, some socks, and a pair of black shoes you managed to fit on him.
All in all, he looked strange.
If it wasn't already bad that it all fit pretty baggy on him, at least in a fashionable way, it was weird to see him in casual clothing. The only time you'd seen him in anything remotely the same was when he dressed as a poor newspaper boy during the book of circus. It didn't help there was a big ass bandage on his cheek.
He's staring at himself in the mirror beside his bed. A clear look of disgust tarnished his features.
You had to hold in a laugh.
From here, you could see the gun tucked into his waistband. Clearing the laugh in your throat, you fixed his shirt to cover it making him take a step back.
Now staring at you through a lowered eye, you cover your mouth in an attempt to hide the smile breaking through.
"It...it definitely looks." You say.
Ciel gives you a side-eye.
You're wondering if he's even trying to hide his irritation at this point as he speaks flatly, "You don't say?"
Staring at each other for a while longer while you try your hardest not to laugh, you're putting away the rest and grabbing your outfit as a distraction when you notice him bringing both sides together and begin buttoning up the flannel.
"...what are you doing?"
"What does it look like?" You just stare making him huff, "I'm buttoning it up, what else?"
"Yeah, but why." You say and go to undo the button he just fastened.
Ciel swats your hands away with a glare. "This outfit is already a disaster, I don't intend to look worse." He claims but little does he know he was making it worse.
"Well, that's gonna have the opposite effect." You warn but he simply continues.
"And why should I listen to you?"
"Because it's going to look even worse-"
"This outfit is unsophisticated at best and messy at worst, how could it get any worse?" He snaps only going faster. If he was trying to button it neatly, you think he shouldn't take another look in the mirror or else he's gonna be disappointed. As if his usually groomed hair sticking out in a few places wasn't already bad enough.
"Just watch." You cross your arms, "I'm trying to warn you but if anyone sees you with that shirt buttoned up, especially in this outfit, you're gonna be made fun of."
His blue eye finally meets yours, thin brows furrowed.
"Why?!"
"Because..!" You start, but how are you gonna tell him it'll give him away by making him look like a nerd? You don't really care either way, but you knew for a fact that he would. Sighing, "because..it looks stupid." You settle.
Ciel had paused, flannel buttoned midway when you stopped grinning like an idiot to instead look away. Noticing this, his eye narrows.
Hearing him click his tongue, you watch as he unbuttons the whole thing.
Covering your mouth, you can't help but stare. Noticing this, he loses patience and just drops the flannel, "what now?!"
"Huh?" You realize you were being too obvious, "Oh, sorry. I'm just surprised..."
He's glaring at you through a malicious, twitching half-smile, "That's it. I'm going to kill you -" Just as he pulls out his gun, you laugh and pull the blanket up as a shield.
"At least wait until after breakfast!"
Ciel decides he's past the point of hiding his irritation seeing as he has a glare reserved just for you. But when his stomach grumbles, a blush on his cheeks, he decides to heed your proposal after all. Offering to help him undo the rest, he ignores you and does so himself. Still, you fix his bedhead.
Staring at his reflection once again, you think you're finally used to it.
At least, you will be. Eventually.
"Not bad, honestly." You offer.
From the repulsed look on his face, you don't think he's any more convinced than before.
"As if." He sighs, fingers to his temple as though he has a headache, and just walks to the door, " but it will have to do." Like he had a choice.
"Ok, my lord. Like damn." You were trying your best here but he was being unappreciative. You guess it's just the fate of the generous guardian to always end up with ungrateful brats.
Walking down the hall, you guys pass both Lottie's and Milk's rooms, or so you assume as they're the only two that are decorated.
Lottie's door is on the left and decorated with polaroids in the form of a heart and other cute accents. Milk's was a smidge further to the right of the hall and embellished with arts and crafts. Googly eyes on a paper plate cut in half with individual rectangular pieces sticking out, all painted yellow to look like the sun. Some rainbows and clouds fashioned similarly.
Ciel notes this and squints, "what is that? Paper..?"
"Paper plates." You scoff with a shake of your head.
"Paper plates?" His eye narrows further looking between you and the all-seeing sun, "That flimsy thing is a plate?"
"Yup. For a bundle of those the price is a steal." You say, crossing your arms. You, personally, preferred the animal versions. They were much more fun to eat from.
Ciel watches your laid-back attitude at this revelation. As though it were routine. Going so far as to even be familiar with their pricing. Dreadful, really.
"Is the economy so bad that even peasants can't afford more than a piece of paper to eat from?"
You sigh through your nose. Who was gonna tell him? You always ask, but it's always gonna be you. Solemnly, you nod.
He continues walking, arms crossed. When he sighs, you almost want to say it was in relief. "Then it's no wonder this low quality clothing is so highly priced."
He knew his tailored clothing could never be on the same level as your jeans.
"Well the economy may be bad but jeans are timeless, and you're past your expiration date." You shrug, snickering beside him when he turns to glare.
"So is poverty."
"True." You say, looking ahead, "but those plates are mainly used for parties and other things anyways. People don't usually use them for daily use."
Except, of course, for your family when the dishes would pile up when you're gone and you couldn't clean up after them.
"I would hope not."
"Duh. But it's funny you say that, now that I think about it. Aren't...aren't you part of that timeless poverty now, too?" He stiffens, watching you tilt your head as though completely unaware, sneering.
Ciel is scarlet.
He's seething, rage clear on his features, "How dare a mere peasant like you speak to me in that manner?"
You can't help the laugh you let out. Nearing the railing at the end of the hall to a view that overlooked the enormity of the living room. He didn't know the half of it.
Though it wasn't your intention to insult or anger him. Honest. You just found it way too tempting not to tease him after all those backhanded comments. Although you were aware he was mainly stating facts and they weren't aimed at you in any way, you found his wording to be as awful as you've read and felt the need to defend those who he seemed to be referring to.
You and your deeply ingrained need to help always got you in trouble. If anything, you should be helping him instead of teasing him.
"No, you're right. Poverty is timeless and at an all time high."
Ciel's eye is still piercing you, fists balled up at his sides.
Your smile eases, brows furrowing, "Ok, ok. I'm sorry, alright? But you haven't been the nicest either-" you've calmed down now but his hair nearly stands on end. It reminds you of a cat.
"When have I -" he starts, baring his teeth.
"You started it!"
"How?!"
"Since this morning, you-!" Now that you think about it, he was just stating facts and annoying you with his arrogance and way of being.
"Never mind, it was just your attitude." You admit. His eye narrows, "but whatever. That doesn't give me the right to be annoying so I'm sorry for teasing you." You sigh, acknowledging once more that it wasn't really his intention. He was just born that way.
But was all that really necessary?
You can't help but think, grunting and averting your gaze. Since he came he's been riding on his high horse and you honestly didn't care too much, but whenever he brings others into it, you can't help but open your mouth.
But, it wasn't that awful either. You just took it personally. Still, you think he's being really arrogant.
Well he was an Earl up until yesterday.
It seemed you both were being childish.
Ciel observes the way you appear as though a scolded child. Funny enough, it was your own self to have done the scolding. Though he did find your comments both abrasive and insulting, you hadn't exactly lied.
One could argue you were doing the same as he was. But not him.
He scoffs, how absurd. You two couldn't be more different in both eras and personalities if you tried.
Walking ahead, all he says is, "At this rate we won't even make it in time for breakfast."
It was a terrifying thought. Your first decent meal; gone because of a little squabble. So, you catch up to him just as he makes his way to the staircase. "Wait up!" Before you walk downstairs, you notice around the corner, against the wall to Lottie's room was a cat tower.
"Oh yeah. That reminds me; there's a cat here so watch your 6."
"What-" Ciel looks at you and notices you were staring at something.
When you point, he turns to find the tall cat house where it would reside.
"There's a cat?!" He's suddenly looking around.
"Don't worry. I told Nana about your allergy." You mention nonchalantly, making your way downstairs.
"How do you-" he stops himself, remembering the book. Clicking his tongue, you're halfway down when he catches up to you and pulls your shoulder, "Why haven't you mentioned this earlier?!"
"Because I took care of it!" You start, muttering, "..and I forgot."
When Ciel clutches your shoulder and it actually kinda hurts, you gulp. "You," He's seething, almost trembling when he takes a deep breath. This whole time you were going out of your way, flapping your gums to irritate him when you could be saying something actually useful.
His bangs shield his eyes, making you gulp. "Is there anything else you haven't told me?" When he smiles coldly, you shrink. "Or do you need help remembering?" His free hand rests on his concealed pistol.
Shaking your head slowly, he lets go and turns away. "Good."
You follow closely behind, eyeing him from the corner of your eye. You help someone out and this is how they treat you. It's crazy, you're surrounded by rude brats everywhere you turn.
He meets your gaze sharply making you avert it once more.
Making your way downstairs, through the archway into the kitchen, and through the kitchen into the dining room, you're proven just that once more.
"You look stupid." Milk says, staring at Ciel with syrup on his cheek.
A bold claim for someone wearing a shirt full of ruffles, shorts peeking out underneath, mismatched stockings, and a tutu up to his chest. And he's sat at the head of the table. The little rat.
Ciel simply turns to glare at you, clenching a fist, "I know."
"Hey, I tried my best!" You yell out at Milk, taking a seat just as Ciel looks around the table. You pat the chair beside you. He makes eye contact with the chair and then you, and ignores you in favor of sitting as far from you as he physically can. Aka a chair beside the one in front of you.
You're staring at him with a straight face that he returns. And who exactly was gonna fill that seat? Casper?
"If it weren't for me, you would've looked worse."
Nana walks in and places a plate of fresh pancakes and a platter of sliced fruit on the table. Milk immediately goes to heap his already messy plate with fruit and stuffs his face. Squinting at this, you decide to take a rain check on your revenge.
"It appears as though no matter what I wore it would look bad as long as I trusted your counsel." Ciel looks around for a moment, probably wondering who was to serve him. You roll your eyes and fill your plate to your liking, feeling his gaze. Meeting it, you turn your head and take up the syrup, afterward smiling mischievously. If he hadn't pointed the gun at you and been so ungrateful, maybe you would have felt so noble as to help him out.
"And buttoning it would look any better?"
"Probably." He finally took the hint but not before giving you another glare. Begrudgingly, he served himself.
You had to hand it to him, both his placement and presentation looked nice and elegant. Even going so far as to lay a napkin on his lap. Stacking pancakes and grabbing fruit had never looked so graceful. Still, his syrup usage was amateur at best. You snicker. Ciel catches you and gives you a weird look but just holds his utensils.
"Please. If anything you'd look like a nerd! You already act the part, no need to look it too!"
"Hah?!" He slams his fists on the table, forgetting his etiquette. Sebastian would be disappointed. Luckily Milk couldn't give less of a shit and you managed to pick your plate off before it could rumble and spill with the rest of the table.
"Ugh, whatever, do you really think-" you glance at Milk who's gobbling up his blueberry pancakes without a care in the world and continue in a strained whisper, "that you could trust this kid's opinion anyways?!"
Ciel's eyes are lowered at you in irritation but he still has the generosity to look at Milk. This seems to calm him down as he says, "..this is ridiculous..."
"Embarrassed much?" You mutter, stuffing a forkful of pancakes in your mouth.
"You -" Ciel is holding his knife rather tightly while looking at you and if looks could kill you'd be dead.
Just then, Nana walks in with a pitcher of milk and orange juice. Immediately, you all compose yourselves. Even Milk, straightening up and holding his utensils correctly.
"Milk slow down or you'll get a tummy ache dear." Unfortunately for him, his face and plate are a mess. Going around the table, she gives you all a warm smile. "Would you like milk or juice dear?"
You feel a warmth in you at Nana's mere presence. You nearly tear up, was everyone here an angel?
"'Kay nana!" Milk screeches from beside you, chewed pancake and fruit falling on your cheek. You take that back. I mean, what happened to his composure? He really just gave up that easily?
You feel a gaze and frown in annoyance. When you turn, Ciel is looking your way, smirking maliciously.
"Milk, please." You say, a coldness to your face now. She does just that and moves on to Ciel, "Thanks, Nana."
Once everyone's glass is filled, Nana takes a seat in front of you and beside Ciel. You take this moment of peace to look around.
A ceramic vase full of white roses, Ciel's favorite, sat as the centerpiece. You notice him appreciating them from the corner of your eye.
Your seat was a strategic move. Behind Ciel and Nana was a wall of rounded windows that reached the ceiling letting in lots of natural light. The morning sun shone in both a blinding and warm way. Whenever possible you sat by a window to look out at the scenery. You've always loved nature as something about it made you feel free. With the gorgeous landscaping around the property, you just had to get a front-seat view.
Even if you had sat beside Ciel, you could've stared at the wall lined with family portraits behind you that could date back to Ciel's era. Entrance corners with decorated corner shelves. The wooden table and chairs are a hazelnut brown with the table set charmingly.
All in all, it was incredibly nice. Somewhere you can imagine Ciel to be comfortable while you sat more like a blemish and a little out of place.
Placing a few pancakes and fruit on her plate, she looked over to Ciel who was cutting into his pancakes all fancy and refined-like.
"My, you have such nice manners! Milk here could learn a thing or two from you, dear." She chuckles softly but Milk jerks, a little blush on his cheeks and glaring at Ciel.
He looks over, a feigned smile on his face that gives you chills. "You're too kind, Nana, but thank you. The meal is delicious." He makes sure to stare at you when he finishes as if to mock you.
Little did he know that you trained for this very moment. You're holding both fork and knife perfectly, cutting away with precision. Nana notices this, "I see you two are both well versed in manners, I'm almost embarrassed."
You're holding your nose high now, riding your high horse. Ciel is looking pathetic from up here. He just shakes his head, sneering. As though you were getting carried away over nothing.
Damn him.
"No, no, Nana. Our manners are good, but not as good as yours." You insisted and you were being sincere. She had impeccable manners, so much so you're certain if Sebastian was here, he would be impressed.
While this invisible rivalry only you two could see was going on, Milk was watching you two. After this interaction, he decides it's Ciel he should be watching closely, trying to copy his every move with his utensils, down to his breathing. So focused his tongue is sticking out. At this point, you take notice and frown. The poor boy. Nana was never that serious.
Ciel agrees, adding, "Truthfully, we could learn a lot from you." He cuts another piece and mutters, "Some more than others.."
The bastard knows not to look your way lest he hopes to get hurt. He may have a gun but you have your fists and, by now, they're itching for a pirate's cheek.
"Oh, you two! You're making me blush." Nana laughs making you both smile. You found Nana to have a warm laugh and think that if warmth and comfort were a person, it'd be Nana.
"Hey, look Nana! I can do it too!" Milk suddenly says.
You all turn to find him holding the fork wonky but the knife in an acceptable way. It wasn't very good, but for a beginner, you find it cute.
"How wonderful Milk. If you keep that up, soon, you'll be just as good as Ciel here!" She pipes up making you blow a raspberry and Milk light up.
He's practically vibrating in his seat with joy, blonde curls trembling and mouth pulled into a big grin.
Ciel on the other hand...
While Nana is still turned, Ciel is looking at Milk with a narrowed eye, face twisted into a grimace. No sooner had she turned back did he drop it and plaster his faux smile back on. You guess that's all his skills amounted to in the end.
"Where did you two learn your manners?" Nana suddenly says.
"Oh..just..around..." you stuff a few blueberries in your mouth, averting your gaze. I mean how were you supposed to explain it was through highly regarding the arrogance incarnate beside her? That you read through the Green Witch arc and even before to help you learn table manners? Just thinking about it makes your cheeks warm. Embarrassing, but you were young.
You knew if Ciel found out, he would never let you live it down and you refused to give him such an advantage.
He notices your silence but simply picks at a strawberry. "Etiquette is a staple for nobles." He starts making your eyes widen. He's going to expose you both.
You try to signal him to stop by kicking him, but his knees are out of reach. You needed him sat near you for this exact reason.
"It is only natural I, too, learned..." A blueberry rolls against his plate, looking up he's looking at you through furrowed brows. You narrow your eyes at him and motion to zip his mouth.
It takes him only a moment to realize why. But if you want something done right, you must do it yourself, so you pick up a sliced banana and toss it at him while Nana is distracted. He narrowly dodges with his eye wide which he then uses to glare at you.
"Oops! Sorry about that," you stand up and make your way around Milk, "after all that talk about manners, I must've gotten nervous. I'll take care of it." You laugh sheepishly, tissue in hand.
Nana covers her mouth, still chewing, "Oh, no, dear. I'll take care of it!" But you simply wave your hand and smile.
"It's alright, I've got it!"
You're on the floor beside Ciel with Nana's eyes still on you which he takes as his cue to distract her. Taking a fat strawberry, he throws it past Nana and against Milk's cup making it a breath away from falling, "Milk, if you leave your cup on the edge like that, it will spill."
"But it's not on the edge-" Just as both he and Nana turn, it begins to fall making them both lunge for it with a gasp.
Of course causing chaos is Ciel's form of distraction. You should've known better.
Although you were grateful, you almost feel bad for Milk. It was only the first day but the two of you were already ganging up to bully him. All accidents, you swear, but you can't say the same for Ciel.
"You're supposed to be homeless with amnesia, remember?! Who ever heard of a homeless noble!" You whisper yell, "Act the part!"
Picking up the banana with a napkin, you catch his near-silent click of the tongue.
"Milk, try to be more careful dear! You could have hurt yourself."
Walking away from him, you gesture that you have your eyes on him. Ciel simply scowls.
"Sorry Nana." Milk replies sadly, "I didn't know, but I'll be more careful!"
By now his plate is clear of blueberry pancakes and now just contains a portion of fruit Nana served him. You ruffle his hair as you take a seat, "I'm sure it was just an accident but it's admirable you're taking responsibility. And it's pretty impressive you finished your food well, Milk. Good job!" You smile.
There's a pink tint on his cheeks and a grin replaces his frown, eyes sparkling, "Duh! I always finish my food!" He's beaming but pauses, "..except for vegetables. It's kinda hard to eat those."
You hum, "That's alright. We all have things we can't do or find trouble doing," You turn to Ciel, who was watching impassively, "Right, Ciel?"
Milk stares at him with bright eyes even Ciel can't possibly turn away from. At least not in front of Nana. "...right.." he speaks through grinding teeth, lips twitching as he suddenly finds it hard to keep up his smile.
You return it. Had this been a show, a hostile spark would connect your eyes.
After the battle of who could impress Nana most was over, you talked amongst yourselves until Nana spoke in question once more.
"So what were you two planning to get up to today?"
This was your chance. With the predicament you two were in you thought that maybe by showing Ciel the world and having him help with brainstorming or research, you could both figure out a way to get him back home - or at least figure out why or how he came to be here.
"Actually, Nana, Lottie told me about a library you have here. Seeing as Ciel here doesn't have much of a memory," you glance at him just as he finishes up his food, looking at you with a brow raised, "I was thinking we could go there after breakfast and take a look at a few books. He always loved them so I was hoping it could jog his memory. Would that be possible?"
You see, as a veteran liar, the key is always to mix the truth with a bunch of lies. Speaking in half-truths and feigning necessary emotions were vital in having your way and concealing the truth.
Nana looks at Ciel who is clearly lost on your plan, "Is that so?" He sees your smile and gets irritated. In his eyes, you smiled way too much. Even so, he clears his throat and looks melancholy.
"Although I do not remember much from anything past yesterday, I noticed the shelves of books beside my bed today and was immediately drawn to them." He averts his gaze, eyes glazed over and a soft smile on his features. You nearly applaud him. Someone give this boy an Oscar.
"The Lost Ways, Plant Families, The New Plant Parent, How To Kill A Mockingbird, 20th Century Fashion History, On The Genealogy of Morals, Utilitarianism-" he began reciting a few books you had noticed last night on the shelves beside his bed. Now you know what he was doing all night.
Nodding along, you add in, "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Barney Says, "Please and Thank You."
"Yes, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Barney Sa-" he sighs wistfully before doing a double take your way. You're just sitting there nodding with a serious and sad face only to add in, "And Barney's Halloween Party." Ciel squints at you but continues "Er, sure. But also Green-"
"Hey, I put that there! Did you read it?" Milk pipes up with a smile.
"I was going to!" You pipe up. At first, you only remembered it because it sounded silly, but you've been curious since last night. Which reminds you of a certain Angelina Ballerina book you saw, "Oh, and-"
"Anyways," Ciel interjects, brow twitching, "I've just been very curious. Could other books help me remember who I am?"
When he looks at you all annoyed like, you remember what the point in all that was. You just give him an apologetic smile.
"Of course you can. You must have been an avid reader before to recall with such clarity those dusty old books! I'm impressed." She smiles and finishes up her meal. "In fact," she looks around, "it seems like everyone has finished. Why don't you two run along now? It's just down the hall, Milk can show you the way."
"Yay!" Milk hops out of his seat and runs up to you, tugging on your shoulder, "C'mon, let's go!"
"Thank you," Ciel says, a smile on his face. His fork and knife are angled, napkin coming off his lap and away as he goes to stand.
"But what about the dishes?" You ask, Milk pulling on your hand and telling you to hurry.
Nana stands and collects the plates. You stand to help her collect them before she stops you, "You are our guests! I'll have you do no such thing. Besides, this much is a breeze."
You frown a little, now being pushed out of the dining room by both Milk and Nana. Meanwhile, Ciel just stands by the archway impatiently, waiting for you and only smiling when he sees Nana.
"Are you sure?" You already felt a nuisance as it is so you told yourself you'd at least help out.
Nana puts a hand on your shoulder, a gentle smile your way as though to ease your concern, "Of course."
You're watching Nana from the archway, not budging.
"C'mon, (Y/n). Nana can do it all by herself, so let's go to the library." Milk looks up at you, blue eyes suddenly sparkling, "pretty please?"
Seeing this nearly has you leave, "but..." you look back making Milk whine even more. Hearing this, you smile, "You guys can go ahead." You decide, "I'll be there after I help-"
"Don't you know it's rude to refuse your host so often." Ciel pipes up. Turning to him, he's staring at you with arms crossed. You're still hesitant so he sighs exasperatedly and continues, "Are your manners far more lacking than I first thought? You're not needed here, so let's go to the library already."
You flinch at his wording. He isn't wrong, but you can't help the guilt you feel. Hearing Ciel say that, though, makes you think you might be even more of a nuisance if you were to stay.
"Besides, how else am I supposed to know why it is you wanted to go there so badly?" He finishes and takes a few steps ahead. Pausing, he turns your way, waiting for you.
Milk runs up to him excitedly.
Turning to Nana blissfully humming as she washes the dishes, she notices and gives you a smile. Looking back at Ciel, you meet his gaze, suddenly piercing and perceptive. Any more of this and he'll see right through you.
Grumbling, you nod.
You cross the kitchen threshold, "Fine. You're right. Let's go." And run up to them.
"I always am." He says as you match his pace.
Walking just down the hall to the left of the kitchen, you pass walls lined with paintings and shelves full of trophies and certificates.
Stopping just in front of a glass door with glass paneling on the side, you see tall bookcases. Shelves lined with all kinds even before Milk opens it.
"Yeah right."
Making your way inside, you found yourself marveling at the sight. Ciel simply looked around as though it were nothing new. You almost scoff. Oh, to be rich.
He'd come to find himself more appreciative of this sight in time.
Milk runs off behind the bookshelves to your right yelling, "I'm gonna read over here!"
"So why are we here?" He asks, following you leisurely as you run down the center of the library and to a cushioned seat in front of the windows lining every wall of the library. Tossing yourself onto the bundle of pillows on top, you hug one and roll on your side to face Ciel. He stares at you saying, "To think you were so reluctant to come only to be the first running inside and making yourself at home." He scoffs, a mocking smirk your way.
You just hum with a sarcastic smile, "At least I tried to help, Mr. Earl only in name."
His smirk falls flat. "Why are we here?" Ciel is, once again, all glares.
Turning on your back, you shut your eyes and yawn, your lack of sleep was getting to you, "We're here to try to find out how you got here."
Notes:
☆°○A/N•°☆
Just wanted to drop by and say I will be publishing a new Black Butler(or Ciel) x Reader story very soon where you go into the story. It will follow the manga and I'm really excited to start the project!
Let me know if you're enjoying this story so far! I really enjoy writing for PPP and am grateful to those of you who read it! Next update will hopefully be in 2 weeks again!
For those of you who read my BNHA book...I'm so sorry 😭 I have chapters on hold in desperate need of editing but once I get things settled, I will continue that story too! Look forward to more updates as I'm trying to get back into the groove of things C:
Chapter Text
“More evil gets done in the name of righteousness than any other way.”
ﾟ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
AFTER YOUR GRAND DECLARATION and Ciel's skeptic cynicism, you divide the tasks into who researches online and who does so in books. You take the computer, of course. Last thing you needed was for him to figure out how to break such a costly item. Even if you sold everything you had, you reckoned you'd come up with 50 cents at best. And you were no Newton or Einstein, but you figured it wouldn't cover even a 10th of the costs.
You had set up in a nook of the library with the only computer around. Dark and dreary with the only light around coming from the lamp on your desk. Bookcases towered all around you, surrounding you from every angle, a rug at your feet. Just around the corner were two red living chairs, a small table between them where Ciel decided to go. Probably for privacy's sake. Stacks of books littered both areas and your desk.
You're reading up on articles and physicist notes and theories on interdimensional travel while Ciel takes a look at other things. Even if you don't find a way back on the first try, he could at least read up on the modern world and advancements. Milk was laughing like a maniac somewhere in a corner while pages turned and your mouse chirped.
Everything you saw as you scrolled through articles and videos were theories you already knew about. Nothing stands out, all obviously theoretical, but that's exactly why you decide, "Maybe we should think about how you got here. Like, I was thinking of telling you earlier when you were yelling in my ear, but-"
"So it was pointless after all." Ciel chimes in, not even looking up from his book.
Your eyes narrow when you look his way. He's got his nose in a book, t-shirt still looking strange on him even now. Blonde curls bounce from behind the bookcases behind Ciel, but you don't notice.
"What's the point in traveling to the future and through dimensions when a device to lead me back home has yet to exist?" His eye is narrowed, flipping through pages of a history book just around the book-shelved corner you were in.
Hearing this makes you grumble. So maybe there's been some slack, but it's not like there would be flying cars or teleporter devices so soon after so much happening over time. For all anyone knew, they could all be in the making!
But that wasn't really what had you feeling all upset.
It was the fact that he was being so cynical, as though prepared to be disappointed.
You take a second, but finally respond with, "Well it may not exist yet but we can't lose hope."
You nearly miss the deadpan he was giving you from around the corner as his eyepatch faces you.
"Instead of unfathomable advancements, I come to a time with paper plates and even more hazards," he eyes your computer like an old man on Facebook news, "that are harder to deal with. But, at least, there is some knowledge and a few books at your fingertips." He scoffs.
You knew you should've kept your mouth shut on modern dangers and technology being both good and bad. If anything, you just needed to use it right! But, it wasn't always so simple. Coming from a certain position and a simpler time, technology-wise, it was obvious his first thought would be about the underworld and how much simpler things could become for them.
Ciel walks over to you with a book in hand. By now you could hear Milk scraggling something on a piece of paper from across the library but mute it out.
"At least our medicine is way better than the Victorian era..." you mumble.
"What?" There's a warning in his voice but you just shake your head and glare lightly at your screen.
With a 'that's what I thought' face, he points at something in the book. You turn your glare on him now but still feel gracious(curious) enough to look. Something about England not owning a third of the world anymore.
"Is this true?"
"Fuck if I know," you start, pulling up another tab beside your interdimensional theory articles, "but let me look it up."
Scrolling down, Ciel can't help but gawk even now at the device.
"I still can't believe all the world's knowledge is at your fingertips. So simply attained..." There's a clear edge to his voice. Probably thinking evil thoughts as usual but you understand he can't help it. He was just born into it.
Pressing enter, you smile, "It's normal to me but hey, even education is offered to the poor now. Like us." He glares, "I think it's a great thing how accessible knowledge has become, mostly."
"Speak for yourself." Ciel is standing with his arms crossed, book on your desk, "Once I figure out how to get back to my world, we can both forget this ever happened." His tone is as brutal as his apathetic face but you just roll your eyes.
You click on the wiki where you two see the wars and invasions over the years by Britain and gape. Ciel wasn't, but you were. Clearly, his nonchalance as he reached over to scroll the same way he saw you do spoke volumes.
When you squint, Ciel finally notices the look of judgment you are giving him and ignores you again.
"I was already aware of most of these, but not the ones after my time..." noticing the amount of green highlighted indicating wins, he smirks.
If you weren't gaping before, you were now. I mean, look at this little bastard! A true Englishman through and through. The gall.
"Watch it, Ciel. The colonizer in you is showing." Your eyes are narrowed at him, so when he looks he notices your real, true concern.
His face is as slack as ever glaring even more. The more you scroll, the worse it gets. How can these people be so arrogant? They're probably as close to the devil as you'll get. Though royals and those with authority are always on something else.
"Is that where you get your greed from? Like, is it a British thing or a noble thing? I mean, this is just ridiculous." You're staring at a line that says about 90% of countries have been invaded by them. Reading further you smile when you see countries gaining independence from Britain.
Ciel reaches beside you to the book.
"I won't claim I am not greedy, or where it stems other than a humans inherent greed," his eye is shut when he slams it closed, hand pressed onto the cover just as you notice the title, when he finally looks at you, "but what I do know is it wouldn't be the only atomic faux pas done by a country, don't you think?"
With him staring into your soul, you stay staring even as your eyes begin to dry up for a blink. The book read WORLD HISTORY and you guess he got to the page with the world's first deployed atomic bomb.
You sigh through your nose and decide to break it. Ciel watches as you get up to stretch and let out a sigh of relief when your shoulders and back relax. If he expected some big backlash of you fighting for the nobility or good of your country, he was wrong.
When you finally speak, he's standing with his arms crossed again, the storm in his blue eye now swirling in curiosity.
"Honestly, I don't think this place is any better and you won't catch me running to their defense either, but that's beside the point. Don't you think it's a little appalling that they couldn't contain their greed and realize people weren't jumping to go to battle or be ruled under them? Everywhere is the same one way or another. All about unjustly gaining control and using violence as their means to. Parading it around as justice of some form."
You take a seat, leaning against the backrest of your chair, legs crossed to its side. Some might say that was harsh, but from all you've seen, experienced, and all you're parents had gone through...it was the pure, ugly truth.
"What I think is irrelevant." His eye closes just as you recall his previous position as the Queen's Guard Dog.
"C'mon," you start, unable to hide the mischievous grin beginning to spread on your face, "no one's here to scold you for any possible lèse-majesté you could commit."
Hearing yourself, you feel like a typical bully or bad influence trying to coerce the obedient kid to say something to suggest otherwise and find it a little funny. To think, you of all people in that position. Oh, how the tables have turned. Though you do feel a little bad in case you were making him uncomfortable, your curiosity about his thoughts temporarily outweighed it.
So long as he didn't signal too much reluctance, you would sit and wait eagerly.
Ciel just stares at you, lips pursed.
"That's..." he starts, brows nearly creased. Why did it even matter anyway? It's not like he couldn't speak ill of the Queen because he was incapable or didn't want to, but because he didn't care all that much. Though, if it will get you off his ass then it could prove worthwhile. "If you're asking my opinion on the attainment and loss of rule over a third of the world, I would say it was arrogant, naive, and ambitious to believe anyone would sit quietly and be taken over without ever baring their teeth."
Though that was what his job was partly for. Assuring there were no disturbances to polite society or the queen, and keeping the underworld under control was his whole thing. It didn't matter all that much to him otherwise. After all, if you aren't careful you will get bit.
"I can agree with that." You're digging through your pockets when you nod, looking away thoughtfully. "I read most gained independence."
He's staring at you blankly, as though trying to gather his thoughts while you unearth and toss a yo-yo around. "If you don't placate the masses then it's only natural they would act out. Anyone under control wishes to break free... Even a dog knows better than to remain kicked in over seeking out better means if just for the sake of loyalty." Ciel continues, watching your flailing movements with calm interest wondering where you got such a thing from, "Justice, it seems, is a sham no matter what world or country you go. It's just as you say, an advantage for those in power. No one gives a damn about anyone else and if you're careless, you're sure to lose."
"You either rob or are robbed. Steal, or are stolen from." You finish, making him look up. "Those are the two types of people in this world, right?"
You offer a smile but it doesn't reach your eyes. Ciel notes this and the way you directly quoted his words. He doesn't know if he should be annoyed or flattered, but either way, he wouldn't feel anything positive about it anyway. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he was fictional in this world. A mere character...his lips purse.
How much did you know about him? Surely not everything...?
The thought nearly has him grinding his teeth to dust. Something rotten swirling within him, and he felt the need to escape your gaze. Too knowing. He hated it.
Gawking a while longer, probably wondering about how much you knew about him anyway, he steps towards you and reaches into your hand.
"So you know that much." Snatching the yo-yo, he examines it for a second before you get up and help him out.
"Know?" You inadvertently let out a raspberry, slipping his middle finger into the knot, "I've lived that way my entire life," you tug your pockets so the lining hangs out, "remember?"
He eyes their emptiness before he meets your light gaze. Even through a wry smile, he understood you weren't trying to hide your feelings on the matter.
"Then let's not pretend one is greater than the other when we clearly don't display a great deal of patriotism."
"Yeah, but, for people's sakes, I wouldn't want anywhere to fall into ruin either. Er, get any worse anyway." You say, thinking you weren't against the world, just those who purposely give it a hard time.
"Not caring for those in power is not the same as not caring about people in general," Ciel says, calm and gazing at the yo-yo in his hand.
You pause your fiddling with it, staring at him for a moment, and smile, "Then that's fine by me. Though I doubt that was ever the case." You gesture the right way to hold it, throwing the phantom yo-yo and he copies, "You'll never catch me fighting for a bunch of soulless asswipes whose morals lie with money."
He lets out a near-silent raspberry making you look up. Ciel's eye is still on the yo-yo but you notice his wry smile and feel yourself do the same.
When he finally throws the damn thing, it goes crooked and starts spinning out at the bottom. You laugh while he struggles to roll it up.
"Here, like this," he hands you the toy, extending the string and angling your thumb at the bottom so it's taut against it so when you let go, it rolls up neatly in one swoop.
"How is that possible?" He asks while you hand it back, "I did it exactly as you did, and yet-!"
Before he could grumble, you let him hold it again and stop him from throwing it, "Look, you're holding it wrong. See how the string is underneath? It should be on top."
You make him flip the yo-yo and reinsert his finger so the string is rolled over top, towards his finger, "pull your arm back well, yeah, now try it."
Following your directions through wrinkled brows, he throws it too hard making him yell and stumble back when it jumps to his face.
"Oh, shit-"
"You liar-!"
You barely catch it before it could hit his face. Peeking, there's a glare even when he notices you saved his other eye from requiring an eye patch.
"What was that?!" He yells, staring at you incredulously.
"Not that hard you-!" You yell back and roll it up. If you weren't so kind, you'd have responded with your skills instead.
"You said pull your arm back-" he's baring his teeth but you just sigh. Of course, he can't own up to his bad skills.
"Not like you're throwing a ball for a stupid cricket match dumbass!"
"Hah?!" He seethes, "I know what a bandalore is!"
"Wha-?!" you sputter, nose crinkling in disgust, "A what?!"
"That toy you idiot!"
When you stare at him in astonished disgust at his version's name for a yoyo, he just gets angry.
"Just call it a yoyo like a normal person! That name is-"
He glares at you but you just shake your head. "I could've gone my whole life without knowing it had such a stupid name."
"Yo-yo sounds like a far more ridiculous name to me!"
Sighing, you hold it out for him, "Here, try it one more time. This time, don't throw it so hard."
"Why should I?!"
"Just do it!" You insist, but when he refuses, you know only one thing can convince him so you pull up another tab, "or what, you scared? That you'll lose?" His ear perks up, but it's not enough. You sigh and turn back to your screen, you'd have to bring out the big guns. Clearing your throat, you begin reciting one of his many famous quotes, "Even if I'm made to stand on the edge of despair in a hellish place... I won't give up. I'll grab the spider's thread if it'll help me crawl up out of there-" at this point, his eye is wide. Turning to him, you laugh, "What was that about a spider's thread?"
Ciel's face is red when he glares and snatches it from your hand.
"Give me that!" And positions it perfectly. You fake a whistle as you have no clue how to, and cheer him on. This only serves to make him focus and drown you out. You take the moment to pull out your phone and frame him for a picture.
"Give it your best shot!" And stick your tongue out making him click his.
"Be quiet, I'm trying to warm up!" He claims and, after getting his best angle, he lets it roll smoothly off his hand with a flick of the wrist.
When it rolls back up and he catches it successfully, his eye is wide, a small smile of pride on his face before he remembers you're watching and quickly erases it. But when he looks your way there's a smug smile on your face, a picture already saved that he's unaware of. Though he does stare at the strange way you held up your rectangular device.
"Good job!" You give him a thumbs up, putting the phone away before he realizes you caught him on camera.
Clearing his throat, he continues playing with the yo-yo with a haughty look in his eye, "that was hardly a challenge..."
"You were singing a different tune earlier..." You say, and hand him the book.
He takes it and walks away with his eye closed. The yoyo still rolling in hand, "I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Not the faintest, huh?" You snicker.
Ciel flinches, yo-yo jumping onto his head making him grunt.
Swift thumps ring to your left where Ciel was so you turn. But Ciel was standing stock still. Arms up and yo-yo forgotten in hand with a look of confusion. At his chest a flurry of blonde curls with small arms around his waist.
Milk was hugging Ciel with knit brows.
"STOP!" Milk yells.
You raise a brow to which Ciel grits his teeth, eye screaming for help.
"What do you-" you start but Milk interrupts, blue eyes blazing, "stop fighting!"
Now you and Ciel were really lost. Fighting? You? With Ciel? That's reserved for friendship level 2. You guys weren't even at 1.
When he finally lets go of Ciel, there's a crumpled drawing and crayons in his hands which he thrusts into the air.
"We can't fight! We're friends!" Milk declares, presenting the drawing to Ciel first while you walk over.
Whatever it was he saw it didn't make him any less lost than before. Now that you're standing by them, Ciel hands you the drawing with his usual frown.
Milk is huffing from between you two, "Lottie's friends have to be my friends too! So you guys need to make up because I don't want you to be even more awkward!"
Meaning you were already awkward? You narrow your eyes at him and then look to Ciel who had a similar look on his face.
The drawing features three sausages dressed to the nines. The shortest of which is in-between and holding the hands of a smiling sausage and a grumpy sausage. Books all around with pancakes and a ghost with a gun that shoots out berries flying around. Curiously enough, it aimed at Milk's, milk.
From the colors and clothing - neatly colored might I add - you can tell who is who. Ciel the grumpy sausage and you the smiling one.
I look fake even in this drawing. I should fix my smile...
Squishing your lip a bit, you hand the drawing back to Milk who is waiting patiently.
"Your art is really good Milk!" And you mean it, the lines were neat and so was the coloring, "but we weren't fighting."
"Were too!" He puffs a cheek and points behind him, "I heard you guys from all the way over there."
"I told you we were being too loud." Ciel simply says, arms crossed.
You just stare through a deadpan to find his gaze averted. He never said anything of the sort, "Well we weren't fighting, just disagreeing with each other's opinions. But we're over it now, right Ciel?"
Milk's squinting is turned to Ciel now. The bluenette turns to stare at the younger boy with pursed lips. He's clearly never dealt with children with how stiff he was around Milk. Though, if you ask him, Lizzy, Sullivan, Doll, Soma, and you count.
"Right, (Y/n)."
Humming with obvious skepticism, Milk decides to let you off the hook this time. With narrowed eyes, he backs away.
"Okay...if you say so." He takes the drawing with him. Before he's out of sight, you call, "If you wanna play or hang out, just say so! We'll just do some research first."
Ciel stiffens, glaring at you while shaking his head until Milk turns.
"Ok!" He beams and scurries off behind the bookcases. You smile and go back to the desk to continue your research.
"What was that?!" Ciel whispers, following close behind you.
"He's probably lonely without anyone to play with around today and you don't even have to come with me if you really don't want to. Plus he made us that drawing and called us his friend." You scroll through your article. "I don't know about you, but I cherish my friends and would like to make them happy."
"So what? I am not playing with a child!"
He's glaring at you while you sigh. Clearly, he's never had friends. At least not any he purposely made himself. But you were the one to make plans, so you didn't mind if he didn't come. You understood he liked his personal space and all as you did too, but..
"C'mon, don't you ever remember being lonely as a child and wishing you had someone to play with?" You say, gaze lowering as the memories of sitting alone in your room not so long ago resurface. Asking everyone in your class on the first day to be friends. Running around and standing alone wondering why no one wanted to be your friend, "..I do."
Ciel is silent beside you. He recalls a boy gazing out a window from above, watching his brother run around with his cousin. Sniffling, a smile formed when they laughed before a coldness settled in his heart. Surrounded by toys and games he had only himself to play with. Books became his best friend. Wishing, one day, even he could play outside with them. Even he would have more than books to accompany him.
That all he loved, he would no longer love alone.
There's an emptiness to his gaze when he says, "...fine. But not for long as I'm busy."
"With what?"
He has a poker face when he holds up your Black Butler manga. You just laugh awkwardly.
🌫️🪀🌧️
It's been a few hours now of you guys focused on your individual research that was fruitless. Seeing formulas and hearing a ton of science jargon was making you feel twice as dumb as you felt. With your eyes blurring from the lack of sleep every now and then. Not to mention the other side of your brain that wasn't theorizing and making sense of it all was thinking about what to do with Ciel and if he was comfortable.
Getting snarky remarks from the Earl only served to further halve your sanity so you just gave Ciel a few lessons on the modern world and helped him with getting up to date with the times and world. As you had, you both found that not much has changed. Only advancements had and humans, well, you both knew those never really change, do they?
Nana was being a gracious hostess and pouring tea for you two from a tea cart a maid had prepared when you finally decided it was time to theorize instead.
"So you finally admit defeat?" He says, thanking Nana for the tea and adding a few sugar cubes. Ciel, rather you, had pulled up an armchair beside the computer so you could chat.
Your phone rings as Nana hands you your cup, "yeah right." You sigh, picking up absentmindedly, "Thanks Nana," she smiles, "hello?"
Ciel hands you the little sugar tongs, holding the phone against your shoulder and ear when "WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!" Your eyes are wide, dropping the tongs on the desk as you scramble to move the phone away lest you go deaf. It falls by your feet.
Mid-sip, Ciel stares at you scrambling around as someone's loud voice comes out of your device he now knows as a phone. Wondering who could be screaming like a maniac.
Falling to your knees, you pick up the phone and run past Nana and Ciel, round the corner to the entrance of the library.
"-OURS" You pull away and lower the volume after a string of explicatives are thrown around you pull away again and only pull back when you think the coast is clear, "-ERE ARE YOU?!"
You grumble silently, "Sorry, I'm at a friend's house. You know Lottie..?"
"No, who is that?! They let you stay and didn't tell-"
But you had talked to them about Lottie's family before and they had even met her once.
"No, I came out of nowhere and it was night. Since you guys were out and it was late, they didn't call you. And I forgot to tell them to-"
After some squabbling, you explain that your phone died, and maybe if they weren't busy drunk or out partying then they would have noticed you leave the house. Of course, leaving out the fact that you snuck out after they confirmed you were sleeping.
You keep your voice low the whole time, just outside the library now and sitting on the floor beside the glass shelves full of certificates and trophies, back to the library doors. You'd sooner die than fight with your parents in front of anyone, so when they ask you to do just that, you refuse.
"No! Look, I'll send you a picture or ask Lottie's nana to say something!" You plead and freeze when you hear a voice behind you."
Would you like me to call Nana?"
Ciel was standing there, arms crossed, and looking down at you.
༘⋆
Notes:
I'm so sorry I took so long! I don't have access to internet rn so it's harder to post through phone, but here it is!
Chapter 8: CHAPTER 6|THINKING, THE DISEASE
Chapter Text
“I swear to you that to think too much is a disease, a real, actual disease.”
ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
THERE'S MORE SHOUTING FROM your phone but seeing him there stops you from responding. Why was he standing there? To be nosy? You guess it's because he was wary of you and for all he knew, plotting to kill him or something.
Turning away, you lean your forehead against your knees as warmth spreads across your cheeks. Sighing, you just shake your head weakly, grinding your forehead into your jeans.
So much for not getting caught.
You make your way back inside with him, get Nana to quickly say hi before running back outside and declaring that was enough proof. It works, of course, as there were only a few real concerns they had to call you.
"I'm so tired. Do you have any idea what people will think of me? Because of what you did?! Everyday it's the same thing with you and your father. And because of you, he was calling me crazy-"
Here she goes.
You inadvertently sigh. The line goes quiet, making you stiffen. Oh no.
"Are you laughing?! Of course you're on his side! You stu-" she stops, another voice in the background, clears her throat and, "hi!" like a switch.
You could almost see her sickly sweet smile when she continues to speak - listening to her laugh lightly with whoever was there, but all you feel is a bit of relief at the fact. "Yes, have a good day!" And hear something close, "just wait until I see you, I'll-" she's back at it again and you almost make the same mistake at hearing her grating voice. Didn't she say she was tired?
They always have the energy to scream...
By now your arm definitely was. Setting your hand down so the phone lies limply in it. A sigh escapes your lips, eyes drooping. All at once, the hours of missed sleep wear you down.
You're staring blankly at the wall with only one thought on your mind while your phone lightly shrills with her yells.
I'm tired...
There's a heaviness in your chest, as though maybe your ribs might cave in and pierce your heart. It's a welcomed thought. At least, one you didn't really mind.
Everyday, it was this same routine. Coming home from work, exhausted or stressed, and nitpicking at everything you do. To each other. When you try to help them, or mediate, they just fill your ears with complaints, swat you away, or tell you their life stories for the millionth time.
You know them - read them so well they didn't even need to open their mouths for you to know what, or why. Go-to responses tailored to each. And they don't always admit it, but you already know they regret everything about you and each other. Yet, if you so much as suggest they leave...that starts a whole other thing. As though there were no way out.
Everything you think to do for them - it wasn't enough. Unrealistic.
Suddenly you're the cause of all their problems, their biggest regret, but don't worry, they don't always say so directly. And if you don't do a thing, you're ungrateful and uncaring.
Just thinking about it...
Curling up, you lean your cheek against your knees and sigh through your nose. Your eyes are so heavy, world blurring out so much you almost don't hear the way the yells finally die down, but once you do, push it so it rests inbetween.
Humming, "Yeah. I'm still here. No, I'm sorry I left without telling you. I shouldn't - yes. I know. Yeah, he's an asshole and it's my fa- no, I under-"
She sighs, "I only say all these things because I care about you." You pause, "You know that, right?"
"..." For some odd reason, you suddenly notice a little stain on the wall. You stare at it blankly. There's no expression on your face when you finally say, "..I know."
After a little more suffering, she finally hangs up. No mention of how long you'd stay or if you were fine. Just, "and remember to clean up, we're also running out of dishes."
"But I did it all yester-"
She sighs exasperatedly, "you know how tired I am, your father is disrespecting me, you selfishly ran off and made me look bad, and you still say that?"
You just agree and hang up.
All that screaming had to come from their humiliation of being seen as bad parents, but you didn't have the energy to care, only to reassure them.
Striding back in, phone in one hand and massaging your temples with the other, you pass Ciel just as he speaks, "What was that about?"
Hearing him, much less seeing him after that, was strange. Like going from the real world to a faux one. I guess he really is here, not just a figment of your imagination. And at his words, you can't help but think,
Just another day.
"Nothing." You say bluntly.
Tossing yourself back into your chair, Ciel's eye closes, leg crossed over the other, and takes another sip elegantly, "didn't sound like nothing..."
Your eyes narrow. He just sips his tea.
With your mother still fresh on your mind, you decide to ingrain his alien appearance into your mind.
Studying his neat blueish grey hair, black eye-patch, and proper demeanor. He feels your gaze, meeting his tired blue with your tired (e/c). The flannel and plain t-shirt he wore were a little loose, shorts peeking out. It didn't fit his aesthetic at all. It's all because he came to someone like you instead of someone like Lottie. When he glares as though having read your mind on his appearance, you just look away.
She was still poking through your mind.
Snatching your cup from the desk, you chug the liquid down while Ciel watches through a squinted eye, lips pursed in distaste just as you finish with an exasperated sigh and slam the cup down. What happened to class?
"Okay, okay. Stop getting distracted! Let's get back on track." You start, clicking through the computer fiercely as Nana walks over to pour you more tea with a smile.
Ciel is just holding his tea and saucer with a poker face.
At first, you just chalk it up to his usual demeanor but then a red cylinder smacks your shoulder. Turning, you find the yoyo in his hand, lightly jerking his head towards Nana who was making her way around the corner, and Milk, who was around that corner.
Glancing their way, you sigh and turn back to the computer.
"I just really wanna get to the bottom of my books mystery. Is that so wrong?"
He stills for a moment, eyeing you when you turn and places the yoyo to the side.
There's no hesitation when he speaks, "Of course not, even I am curious. After all, a blank volume? Appearing with a strike of lightning?" He crosses his arms, "We have next to no clues which makes it all the more... intriguing."
Nana appears from behind the shelves with a plate in hand.
"Then we can both agree his appearance could have something to do with the lightning and blank book?"
He meets your gaze and nods. You stare at him from the corner of your eye. Nana places the plate between you two and goes back to Milk. It's filled with macaroons. The computer is forgotten and you're turning your chair so that it faces him.
"Isn't it strange how only the cover stayed? And that this all happened in a fenced-off forest?"
"Stranger still the loss of memory..." He looks down, "I have a feeling it has to do with the contents in the blank book."
"Yeah," you nod, picking up a macaroon, "me too."
"Honestly something that still bothers me is the way that tree fell. It feels like a bad omen." You add.
"That's only because you like nature. It's only natural it would fall over so simply after lightning had struck it." When you raise a brow, wondering how he knew that, he just stares at you with a deadpan, "With all your gawking at the windows during breakfast, I took a wild guess."
You chuckle awkwardly, "Well, true. I just really hate to see nature get destroyed.." you sigh.
"If anything the...strange feelings he had, as though forgetting something of great importance, or the fact he hadn't even his demon butler at his side stood out to me more..."
"That's true. You'd think that he'd come after he called so many times..." You snicker making Ciel glare at you, pink on his cheeks.
His fists ball up, sapphire ring twinkling under the lights, "That damn dog. If he were going to make a contract of loyalty and wanted his soul so bad then he should do his part and earn it-!"
Nana reached over to pour him some more tea making him freeze, your eyes narrowed when you motioned for him to tone it down, "y..yeah. That talking dog was weird-" you attempt to save face but it only serves to make him look at you like you were an idiot. You were beginning to think the same.
Still, Ciel straightens up, clears his throat, and thanks her.
"Oh, don't stop talking for my sake." She smiles, beginning to make her way to the other side behind some bookcases so she can hang with Milk, "I'll be over here!"
"Okay, thanks, Nana." You smile just as she waves you off and disappears behind the shelves.
Just as soon as she does, you meet Ciel's gaze and whisper, "Let's tone it down a bit." He just sips his tea, averting his gaze but not before saying, "Did the talking dog suggest that, too?" You flinch, your face flushing red.
Clearing your throat, you catch the smug smile he hides behind his cup and glare. Opening up your small notebook you distract yourself by reading through your notes you stayed up all night to make, "Did your research yield anything? Because mine told me what I already know."
"No, and I doubt we will find anything in books." He says which you nod to.
"I didn't think there was much or anything to begin with. But that might just be because we weren't looking hard enough..." You sigh, clicking on the end of your pencil until lead appears. Crossing some stuff out and adding to your notes, Ciel watches your pencil move while he bites into a chocolate macaroon, chewing until it's gone so he can speak.
"What I don't understand is why they would fence off that area to begin with." He says, finishing the rest of his treat in another few bites.
From what little he saw, it was only a forest. Yet lights and an alarm went off the moment the tree collapsed. "Perhaps there was some sort of mechanism set to track any disturbances?" He wonders, deep in thought as his gaze drifts to your lined paper. Your arm covers whatever it was you were busy noting down, leaning your cheek against your free hand.
Looking at you scribble away, focused, he doesn't think you would know what that place was aside from the fact you two had been trespassing. Though, now that he thinks about it, you never claimed why you were there to begin with.
For all he knew, you could've somehow brought him here. Even if your story stayed true, the beginning remains unconfirmed. Everyone here could have him fooled-
"Nana, are all pirates British? Or is it just Ciel?" Milk's voice travels from across the library, concealed by the bookcases behind Ciel.
His eye narrows. Maybe not.
"Kyle told me they were extinct but Ciel is over there..." He gasps suddenly, sorrow in his voice when he says, "Oh no - does that mean Ciel doesn't have any friends?!"
Ciel flinches. You guys couldn't see Milk, but you could vividly imagine the way he'd have his hands pressed against his blonde curls, brows creased.
You let out a raspberry, Ciel glaring at you.
"He's right, but that's not why." You whisper, laughing lightly while he grinds his teeth.
"That makes two of us." He says, blue eye narrowed.
Now it's your turn to freeze, slowly turning to him. Were you that easy to clock? Seeing this, he nearly scoffs but settles for a haughty look in his eye.
You just stick your tongue out.
"I take it you are done with whatever it was you were doing?"
You nod, "Yeah, but I'll have you know that we're currently sitting in one of my friend's houses, so." You shrug, closing your notebook.
"Then I'll have you know I, too, have friends." He waves you off muttering, "No matter how forcibly attached..."
Stacking a few books piled at your desk, you straighten them with a few taps against the wood, "Well I was listening to what you were saying, and I've been wondering the same thing." Though half the time you were biting back a 'give me a second!' but you didn't wanna seem rude.
Ciel is sitting straight, posture perfect, even the way he holds his tea while he drinks is nice despite his t-shirt and casual look. A stark difference from your slouched position, so you make an effort to sit straight. It doesn't last very long though.
"Why were- er, she in that forest that night?" He opens his eye, cup pressed against the saucer.
You feel as though his gaze is particularly sharp now...but you don't really want to tell him exactly why. "I- she was taking a walk and thought the forest looked nice, so she jumped the fence."
Up to this point, the only way you guys have managed to exchange words has been through scathing remarks and complying gazes. It doesn't help that both stress and lack of sleep are high, so when you guys finally do crack - it comes as no surprise.
There's something swirling in his lowered eye when he places his tea against his lap. Something that grinds your gears as often as you see it in the eyes of others you know. Your teeth grit when he confirms it.
"I doubt she loves nature so much she'd jump a fence for the sake of wandering through it -"
"Well, maybe she does. How would you know?" Your voice is even.
It's a stare-off now, all squinting in silence other than Nana and Milk somewhere far in the background. (E/c) meeting blue as though sparking.
"Then you don't think she would know anything, do you?"
Is he suggesting..?
"Know anything? Know what?" You're burning holes into his gaze, but he doesn't even flinch.
"Oh, I don't know," he starts, placing the cup aside, picking up the blank black butler manga other than the cover, "something about how this happened?" It wasn't much of a question.
"And if I say no?"
He scoffs, "I'd say you were protecting her."
"Your proof?"
"Yours?"
Something bubbles up inside of you, but you don't notice. Not even when you draw in a steady breath and slowly say, "Are you calling me a liar?"
Ciel just stares at you stoically. No movement to indicate otherwise as his lips stay shut.
You want to say you understood, concealing the truth with half-truths, but your life was none of his business. None of anyone's business. You don't know what's more infuriating, that gaze of his or the confidence in his claims. And instead of understanding, you feel your hands curl until your knuckles turn white. Jaw tight until your chair scrapes the floor when you stand abruptly, snatching the book from his hands as you tower over him.
"Then what does that make you?"
It comes out before you could think better of it.
Somewhere on the other side of the library, Nana and Milk hear the commotion with her inquiring on whether or not you two were fighting, but Milk was wiser.
"No Nana. They're just disagreeing with each other's opinions!" He laughs, finding his nana silly. Milk remembers when he was that silly. It was only a few minutes to an hour ago now.
Nana just laughs, convinced. Smiling as she reads her own book finding it sweet how there is still youth eager to talk so seriously about books. It was as though you guys were in your own little book club that doubled as a debate club.
Meanwhile, you two were just about ready to wring each other's necks.
Ciel doesn't make any move, only gazing up at you through his lashes. "Although I'm unaware of what you know about me, much less what you assume you do - don't act as if you know anything in reality-"
"Then you shouldn't either." You bite back.
Clutching your book, you feel your heart racing. Burning at his suggestion to purposefully put him in this position. He didn't know a thing about you. Couldn't claim you wouldn't do something like go out in a thunderstorm on a walk when he wouldn't have known.
But what you think you knew about him? At no point did you pretend to know anything in reality about him even with your extensive manga knowledge. Why? Because, at the end of the day, all you knew was what little you saw in those pages. Whatever was cleverly shown.
The only thing you knew now is how preposterous the idea of purposely ruining his life and giving him a hard time, was.
Out of everyone, right now, he was the only person you would never purposely harm.
It's only when he finally tilts his head up to stare at you head-on that your eyes grow in a realization.
Both of you had been on edge around one another until it came to judging each other. Taking turns jabbing at each other's weak points and acting like a bunch of know-it-alls. Reading each other perfectly one moment, then becoming illiterate the next.
And now?
You had been glaring at him, towering over him, trying to assert yourself in, in anger?
A raised hand flashes through your mind. Haunting words that lose their meaning as time goes on. The look in their eyes and the sting that follows. A sock on the floor - a sock on the floor.
Sucking in a breath, you step back until you're away from his personal space. Hair shields your expression, sighing into the silence.
No matter who, no matter where, no matter how - you never got angry at anyone. Not really.
At least, not enough to show it to them.
No...no ..
No.
Even if we just met, even if he doesn't care, I don't want to hurt him... and if I go on ... I'll be just like them -
You place the book down, "No, sorry." You start, unable to meet his gaze now, "I get that you can't understand why I would jump the fence just for that, but I really did just go to see the area, you see-" you cut yourself off.
What were you thinking? Getting upset over nothing? Always making something out of nothing.
He was only being rightfully suspicious. With his life before...
Why were you like this? This is why all you had was a void to show for yourself.
You finally pull yourself together enough to meet his eye, a strained smile on your lips, "It was raining and the leaves looked nice. Floating in the water, the woods with all those trees...looked so.." your words fade out, pink dusting your cheeks when he says nothing, watching.
It's all you could say. How else would you explain it? The numbing blank inside? The lack of life in every aspect of your world?
Yours was an eternally stagnant landscape which could only be escaped with something just as constant...
With his stoic gaze and casual outfit, even if he was sitting up straight or sipping his tea before perfectly, and speaking in his British accent, you can't help but feel he looks so out of place.
Just like you were as you talked about yourself or got upset with him in any way. Out of place.
So, can you blame yourself? When the laughs start spilling out and you scrunch up from the number of ridiculous things that have happened in the few hours you've spoken to the Earl. I mean, you were sitting in front of Ciel Phantomhive - at least, one of them.
Ciel's mouth opens, looking at you with concern for his safety, "have you finally lost it?"
When you just keep laughing, his cheeks tint pink, wondering if he did something - or rather nothing to make you laugh again. His ringed fist curls up.
"Why are you laughing?!" He shouts, irked at the possibility.
"M-maybe," you start, trying to calm your laughs but the way his teeth grind and glare your way in that outfit makes it difficult, "I have."
Calming down while he fumes in his seat, you wipe a few tears away, "Sorry, sorry. But for real."
But Ciel glares, ignoring you in favor of a random book he grabs from your stack.
He hears a few steps his way, some shuffling, and then his name. When he turns, his eye widens when he finds you scooting your chair so close, your knees nearly touch. It doesn't help that you're sitting up so straight it looks strange. A serious look in your eyes.
"..what?" He asks warily, scooting back and clutching the book.
"For earlier, when I was being mean..." You grimace a little, but offer your hand, "I'm sorry."
Once again, you apologize to him but he finds it annoys him a little. Was it that painful to apologize? "What's that for." Staring pointedly at your hand as though you have cooties.
"Truce." You say causing him to blink slowly which makes him look like a lizard. You don't understand why until, "Ah!" Your fist stamps against your palm, "You want me to say friends, don't you?"
When he sees the smile and mischievous glint in your eyes, he smacks his hand against yours, "Truce is fine."
"Gee, that's too bad." You sigh but shake it anyway. "Your loss."
"I doubt it."
Scooting back by digging your feet into the rug, you nearly topple over when he says, "But I suppose you couldn't have been the one to have sent me. You're much too lacking in the thinking department."
He sighs, words solemn as though he were disappointed.
You just squint at him. "Anyways, about the alarms and stuff from earlier, like you were saying, I feel like if it were just a forest then they wouldn't need all that security, right? At least they would take a while to notice, but they noticed immediately." You say, pulling up a tab on the computer you had been typing on earlier.
"Yes, I've been contemplating this since last night," his gaze moves to the side, brow creasing when he grazes his lip in thought, "but if the area is heavily guarded with no sure sign of what it's used for, then it's likely something more complex than what meets the eye." You hum just as he turns to you, "what are those places typically for?"
So he has been thinking...
"I don't know," you say, pressing enter.
Ciel pulls his seat closer to catch a glimpse at your screen, "then find out."
"What do you think I'm doing?" You scroll and type a few different things, Ciel staring too.
"But why a fence? It wasn't even that hard to get past.." You mutter. Even for a closed-off property, you'd think it'd have one building but you didn't see any such thing.
"What are fences for."
"To keep people out."
"And why would they want to keep people out?" He deadpans, pointing to a link you were already moving to.
"I know, I know. But I was also thinking about what you said, what's in there...and in a neighborhood to top it off. Honestly, I just assumed it was for construction purposes but the forest was, well, a forest. Too big for that."
The page loads up, both your gazes drawn to every line. It talks about how forests could be fenced off for their protection from humans. The ecosystem is maintained and different species of animals, at times endangered, possibly live there too. Other than that, you just read about how it could be private property or reserved for construction depending on the size of the area.
"Can you hurry it up? Your reading skills are that of a child." He glares while you scroll faster. But it's not fast enough so he tries to take the mouse, but you move away.
"The only reason you're saying that is because all you do is read books! I mean just look at that pale skin-" Ciel seethes, pulling your wrist to try to pry the mouse out with his other hand. He was going to let it go until that last line, luckily he's too weak. You push him away, "Go get some sun and maybe some strength while you're at it."
Slamming a hand against the desk, you freeze as he towers over you, scowling. His navy hair is neatly dangling, blue peeper nearly glowing with ire. When he speaks, it's slow and purposeful, "Need I remind you.." he places a hand on the back of his shorts, "Why you yet breathe?"
You frown, resting your cheek against your fist, "Because I'm still young?"
His brow twitches, "you-"
You offer up the mouse calmly, "I don't think my reading is that bad, but if you're so fast, then you can do all the work."
Ciel eyes it for a moment, bouncing between you and it. When he ultimately takes it and you stand to present your seat to him, he's a little taken aback. It makes you grumble a little. Usually, you were way nicer than this. Maybe you've been bullying him too much...
Reading the full article to completion, you wonder aloud, "You think anyone else had this issue? Teleporting here, I mean."
"Not teleporting so much as falling.." he says, also leaning against his palm as he scrolls through pages of information from your previous research.
"Falling?" Your eyes narrow, "were you falling before you arrived?"
Right as he goes to scroll, his finger twitches at your words, "..I believe..I was..." He rubs his wrists lightly making him pause.
So he was falling and there was something bothering his wrists...
Before you guys could think anything more about it you decide, "You know what? I'm gonna look up if anyone else had this same thing happen."
Holding a hand out which he acknowledges and hands over the mouse. Typing speedily 'a fictional character appearing after a thunderstorm' while Ciel stares in doubt.
"Of course. Because someone will be hoping to know whether a fictional character has suddenly appeared on their doorstep after a thunderstorm -" he scoffs until you smile.
"Found one!"
His eye is as wide as a saucer. "What?!" And just about pushes you aside to see.
You guys read on about a question asking just that, talking about how a young boy appeared before his very eyes after taking a walk back to his bookstore which was closed at the time. After settling him down, he grabs a fictional story from off his shelves he recognized as a comic book and starts crying and shaking all over again. At first, he chalked it up to being a fan until the boy started claiming to be a part of it.
He goes on to say that he didn't believe it at first, but the boys' eagerness and tears, not to mention his incredible strength, were too sorrowful for him not to try. The date checks out too, posted only a few hours ago.
The comments, predictably, were filled with doubt and people telling him to seek help from a professional for the boy.
"Although it is unlikely, try to contact him and set up a meeting." Ciel's arms cross while you do just that.
After hitting send, you two stare at the screen, waiting. A few minutes pass by. Nothing.
"Well he's probably busy with his bookstore.." you say as Ciel stares blankly with his finger tapping. You hold up your phone, "I'll be notified through my phone when he replies, so let's move on for now."
Placing the device on the desk.
"Move on you say...but to what?"
"Well if it turns out to be true, we should plan something, right?" You suggest.
Ciel stares at you for a moment making you think you said something stupid yet again. In reality, he's a little surprised. Usually, he was stuck planning things with only Sebastian for help so to hear someone suggest doing the same...was unusual.
"Or-" you start, feeling a little self-conscious now, but he interrupts, "Yes, that sounds good." Your eyes light up, "then-" but he interrupts again, "However we should wait for confirmation first. It would be unwise to bet all our chips on an unsteady line, instead, we should cover larger areas. A bigger fish is bound to bite."
But if he had let you continue, he would find you would say the same. You just sigh, "I know. I was actually gonna say the same. But more about playing all our cards right and saving a few hands type of metaphor."
When you look up, you find him nodding thoughtfully. There's a creak behind you and, when you turn, Milk was staring at you guys like you were aliens. He mouthes something but it takes you a second to make out.
N-E-R-D-S
Your eyes widen. No..it can't be true...Ciel infected you with his disease?!
That little brat!
You just glare at Milk, fist raised with promise. Milk just laughs. Noticing this, Ciel looks at you and then turns to find Milk stop laughing and hiding behind the shelves.
Suddenly, he feels a little annoyed but he doesn't know why.
"Why is he-"
"Don't worry about it..." you say, glaring in Milk's direction, eyes calculating, "I'll get him back for this. For all of it."
When you chuckle evilly, Ciel decides he no longer cares.
"If that's all...is there anything else you wish to say?"
Turning back to him, you think for a moment. You nod and stand up, gesturing for him to follow. Ciel follows your moves with his eye before complying.
The sun was still up, luckily, but it was 3 pm now. You're walking away from the dim nook you guys had been busting your brains out at, to the cushioned window bench you had first rolled on when you guys came in. Rays shine out, splayed against the pillows and blankets.
Taking a seat, you find it's been warmed by the sun and smile. Ciel stares at you when you pat the seat beside you. It takes him a moment, but he joins you. You don't miss the way his gaze lingers on the cushions, realizing their warmth.
Handing him a cushion, your eyes widen. Ciel raises a brow as you get up to grab the tea cart Nana had left behind and place your snacks and drinks on top. Rolling it just before him, you take a seat again, hand him a macaroon, and eat your own.
"Well..?" He's staring at you, holding up the treat.
"Well," you start, gulping down your bites, "I think we should take a break."
With all the thinking you guys just did, you think it's deserved. Besides that, you two were running on no sleep and no matter how used to it you guys were, you were clearly getting cranky what with a squabble over nothing every now and then. If you didn't stop now, it wouldn't just be your words and feelings that get weaponized but your very lives.
What with your overthinking, your brain was abuzz as always and you needed to just calm down. At times, you really do think that thinking as much as you do, is a disease. One both you and Ciel have been afflicted with. Poor things.
I mean think about it;two youngsters and all they do is think and plan? Instead of just going out and winging it? At that point, were you even truly alive?
Maybe your toxic trait is that you wish you were more spontaneous to the point of being irresponsible. You sigh.
At times like these, you find lazing around in a cozy spot with a good snack solves everything.
"Everyday I find myself thinking even more about a wise man's words," you say, biting into your macaroon while Ciel stares dumbfounded, "I swear to you that to think too much is a disease, a real, actual disease." You say, sighing through your nose.
"Dostoevsky." It's all he says as he stares at you, eye swirling with curiosity, "Simplified, I believe."
You nod through a mouthful, "There's probably a billion different ways it's been said, but the meaning stays true and I wholeheartedly agree."
Ciel can't help but gawk at you, nearly rolling your eyes when he says, "I didn't take you for the kind of person who read those kinds of works..."
"I'm sure." You start, licking your fingers of crumbs, holding back a 'but I never doubted you' for his nerd ways, "I didn't get far anyways because I lost my PDF and I'm too broke to afford actual books."
"PDF..?" He narrows his eye.
"Basically an electronic document."
Although he hums, there's still a weariness in his gaze but you were too lazy to explain it.
"Why don't I seem the type though?"
He's eyeing his macaroon now, "Barney Says 'Please and Thank You', firstly," he doesn't miss the way you flinch, snickering at your idiocy, "and you don't seem the sort who would be concerned with his material."
"Doesn't that lie in the realm of assumption?"
"Yes, which is why I intended to leave it unsaid. After all..." His irises meet yours when he finally takes a bite, "I know only my ignorance about you."
You stare at him for a while, sipping your tea. When you hum, you find a smile forms naturally on your lips, "then I guess we're even."
Ciel finds the macaroon tastes far better at this and simply looks away. Sitting by the warmth of the window with a pretty view, he thinks perhaps things won't be so dreadful if this could keep up. Besides, he'd never been one to say no to lazing around when he got the chance. Much less to a tasty sweet treat and tea. So when his chewing slows, it's with ease, "Fine by me."
If anyone looked at you two now, they'd mistake you guys for a couple of sweet, calm kids sharing a peaceful snack and resembling a cat sunbathing by a window. The sun leaking through caused Ciel to yawn and in return, you.
Rubbing your eyes, you sip your tea, both hands on the cup, "y'know, I was thinking.."
Ciel blinks the sleep from his eyes, leaning back into a pillow, "Nothing good, I presume?"
You just shake your head at his insult, "What if it's something occult?"
Ciel blinks and turns to you.
Somehow, the bags under your eyes are especially standing out to him right now. Maybe that would explain your idiocy.
"I don't care for such things. Besides, that seems a little farfetched."
"But it's possible. I mean, in yo-his world there were supernatural beings, no?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then don't you think we should consider it? I mean it's kinda crazy to hear you don't believe in them when yo- he literally had a demon for a butler." Your eyes narrow. "It'd make more sense for me not to consider them."
"That's different."
"How?"
Ciel opens his mouth, your eyes burning in curiosity when, "Oh, my! Look at the time." Nana exclaims, closing her book and dusting her skirt when she stands. You both look at her and find Milk pop out from behind the shelves, "Lunch hour has finally arrived everyone. Anna should be done preparing the food."
She's smiling brightly, her white hair styled neatly as it bounces when she places her book down.
"Yay!!" Milk cheers, running over to you two just so he can run in place, "C'mon, let's go! Let's go! All your nerd talk made me hungry!"
You and Ciel stare at him through a deadpan, glancing at each other, and then sighing.
"Well, you heard him." You say, standing.
Nana has already made it to the door, Milk waiting eagerly for you two, "I suppose there's no helping it. Let us continue this later."
Ciel stands, making his way to Nana with Milk following behind. You turn to follow suit, but not before noticing the last two macaroons on the plate. Although you didn't want to get full off of snacks...you also didn't wanna waste food so you take the two and run up to Ciel.
You tap on his shoulder so that when he turns to look, you offer him a macaroon. He raises a brow but accepts it. He was a sucker for sweets, after all.
"To figuring out the mystery of all mysteries!" You cheer, holding out your macaroon towards him.
His eye widens a little at your random act of celebration, but just as soon lowers. Staring at your smiling face, he decides with all the help you've given him thus far that he would graciously humor you.
With his usual stoicism, he moves his macaroon towards yours.
"To finding a way back..." he says.
Pressing your macaroons together, you exclaim, "Cheers!"
"...cheers.."
And down the hatch they go.
With Milk barely holding the door for you guys, "Hurry up, you guys are so slow! I'm gonna die of hunger disease if you guys don't!"
So, even through your chewing, you guys make eye contact once more and run up to the poor kid to head for dinner before he starves. Macaroon crumbs on your lips.
_________________________________________
☆°○A/N•°☆
Btw whenever I write "blow a raspberry" just imagine a stifled laugh because that's what I mean....like "pfft" not the whole tongue between lips thing lol. Ig I should just say stifled laugh or smth but I like the sound of blowing a raspberry more!
༘⋆
Chapter 9: New Story Posted!
Chapter Text
Just wanted to quickly come by and say a new Black Butler story by me has been posted! It follows the manga and will be an isekai with a small plot on the side so come check it out if you're interested! I'd really appreciate it if so!
Chapter 10: CHAPTER 7|BABYSITTERS FROM HELL
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
" All the world what you paint of it. "
ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
THE MOON IS HIGH, stars shimmering and trees crooning with the breeze as a day at the Kernell residence comes to an end. Kid-friendly tunes bellow out from an opened window on the second floor at the back of their manor.
There, Milk smiles at the sight by his bedside. A window framing his grand garden basked in moonlight. It might have been his favorite aspect of his room. Always wondering what the window wished to show him. What living painting would be next? Butterflies fill his stomach at the thought of a new day, eager to see it.
Though, for now, he finishes capturing its likeness when his eyes widen. He hurried to place his paints and Nintendo aside to scurry across the room by his desk where he gathered some materials.
School breaks homework of all kinds.
Math, reading, and even history!
Some of it was done, some late, but others were completely empty. Grabbing his pencil case and giraffe, he makes his way outside his room with his arms full. Blonde curls bounce when he slips down the hall, humming through a smile, to the guest room.
He distinctly remembers you saying you and the pirate would play with him later. Since it's been a while since then, he guessed now was the time! He even brought his homework!
Milk thought long and hard about what to do with you two when you said you'd play with him. After seeing you guys do research and talk like nerds, he guessed this would be pretty fun for you two. This way, you could all do something together!
...and he could get out of doing homework.
Feeding two birds with one scone.
He thinks, snickering evilly.
Of course, if you ask him, it's only because he wants you two to have fun...
Unfortunately for Milk, his true intentions seep through his expression. His lips pulled up, brows furrowed and a mischievous glint in his blue eyes.
So, when he knocks on the door saying, "Guys, it's Milk!" And turns the knob, he's grinning ear to ear when he slams the door open, "LET'S -" and is cut short.
Milk's eyes widen.
There, on both your respective beds, were both you and Ciel snoozing peacefully.
Well, almost.
You're shivering, using an opened book for your sheets. Ciel was properly in his so, in reality, he was the only one peacefully snoozing.
Milk's hand drops. Staring at you two through a deadpan. You guys fell asleep?
Making his way in, he goes first to the closest bed. Walking up to it, he inspects the way Ciel slept even with his eye patch on, only further fueling his pirate fantasies.
I mean, of course, a pirate would still sleep with his eye patch on! It only makes sense.
How? You would have to ask Milk.
He smiles until he notices the small stacks of books on both your beds. Stepping over some that littered the floors. Yet more proof you guys were nerds.
For a moment, staring at Ciel, he wonders if he should wake you two. Last time, all he needed to do was slam the door open and shout, but he just tried that and you guys stayed asleep.
Even Kyle woke up when he did that so he guessed you guys had to be really tired not to.
Still, his hand moves to Ciel's shoulder only to freeze, hovering over it. His brows furrow.
What if he turns his pirate buddies against him? For waking him up? He thought maybe he didn't have any, but he remembers Ciel telling him at dinner that he did have friends.
And Kyle once said not to wake a sleeping bear...he didn't know what that meant but, seeing Ciel asleep and remembering his gaze, he felt as though maybe he shouldn't...
Milk's lips purse, slowly backing away with some fright in his eyes.
Tiptoeing to your side, he notices you drooling on your pillow, an opened book all you have for warmth. He giggles at this before deciding you are the safest option to wake up.
So, when he shakes you over and over, saying, "(Y/n), (Y/n), c'mon, wake up!" And all you do is grumble, his lip pulls up.
Glaring now, he places his things down and uses both his hands to shake you, "Wake. Up! I. Want. To. Play!" He heaves between shakes.
Still, all you do is hum a little and turn away.
"Grr..!" Milk can't help but grunt with a frown.
Neither of you were waking up! And he needs to finish his homework! Who's gonna do it now?!
Pouting, he just grabs his things and stomps his way out.
You guys will pay for this!
It's the last thing he thinks when he slams the door and leaves to find Nana.
Meanwhile, you two just continue sleeping.
As soon as lunch was over, you guys had planned to head back to the library, grab some material, and head to your shared room to study and theorize in peace...but...
A grunt rings through the air, eyebrows twitching when your sigh tears through. Pulling the opened book over yourself, a stack of books at the end of your bed wobbles. You're drooling in your sleep, the clock ticking by.
Ciel is turned away from you, comfortable under his sheets as he snoozes. Books litter his bed and the floor similarly, your tossing and turning making his brows furrow even in his sleep. So it comes as no surprise that, when you turn once more, shivering from a lack of blanket, a book by your feet falls to the floor with a thud.
He opens his eyes momentarily, grumbling, but the heaviness in his eyelids is too great and he's dreaming once more.
Although you guys managed to grab material to just read up on the modern world for your lesson to Ciel, you only managed to skim through one book before you were all yawns and snores.
Having a full belly after thinking lots and staying up all night wasn't the best combination for focus. More like the perfect mixture for a food coma.
So it's only natural that even when Milk and Nana came by to play or call you for dinner, nothing could wake you two.
And so, the day passes by just like that.
🌧️🌃☔
Milk has been glaring since you came downstairs for breakfast. Just prior had you been forced to demonstrate how to bathe yourself to Ciel through video and playing pretend. In full pj's(actually the other days outfit), you grabbed a shirt and instructed him how to wash his body and hair, amongst other things.
Luckily he was a fast learner. Whether it was through brain power or embarrassment, all red in the face, you didn't know.
Anyways, you both washed up and headed down for some food, already tired again - being a single mother with five kids and all - when Milk decided to burn holes into your head.
After a while of trying to converse through indigestion as you loathed an audience as you ate, Ciel giving you a side eye at your clear discomfort, you realized it was likely to do with the fact you never played with him.
But neither did Ciel. Why he didn't to Ciel after all he'd done? You didn't know. Though you guess it had to do with his disagreeable attitude intimidating the poor kid.
"Milk, wanna hang out after breakfast? Since we didn't get to yesterday." You smile, hoping on the inside that this would get him to stop staring.
Ciel chokes on his food.
"Really??" Milk practically jumps, eyes sparkling and wide.
When you nod, Milk cheers, "YAY!" and starts stuffing his face. Nana tells him to slow down.
Ciel is sitting beside you today, dressed in a T-shirt and shorts when you hear him grumble. When you look at him he's picking at his food, a clear frown on his face. From here you couldn't make out his other eye, faced with his eye patch. Though from this distance, you didn't have to.
Noticing your staring, Ciel's blue eye lands on you, narrowed behind his messy bangs. Although you tried to teach him to brush his hair, you couldn't as easily teach him to style it. Your skills in that area weren't as good either so you'd have to learn for both your sakes.
"What? He was glaring at me!" You whisper, stuffing yourself with another forkful of bacon and eggs.
"Is that so?" He starts, stabbing his egg as he stares into your soul, "Then allow me to replace him." And narrows his eye.
Grumbling, you return the gesture. It was just one thing after the other with these kids.
Nana and Milk converse in the background. You just try to avoid Ciel's gaze by turning to stare at the wall behind Milk.
"Were we not brainstorming how to further our investigation?" Ciel mutters. When you turn, he's replacing Milk's glare as promised.
"I...told him we would play." You say, sighing and shaking your head, "There was nothing I could do. I gave him my word-"
Ciel just squints as you speak. He didn't know much about you, but something about your words felt off. And that's when he notices you picking at your food. It was just as you had when Milk was staring, and now he was.
"Wasn't there? Or did you just loathe his gaze that much?" He deadpans.
Flinching, you smile nervously, "What...what gave you that idea?" You laugh.
Ciel just stares at you with a straight face. He didn't buy your act.
Damn him and his mind. Usually, no one could read you so easily! You try to keep a straight face, but it was so ridiculous you didn't even want to continue.
If only you'd known. It didn't take a genius to figure this one out.
You sigh exasperatedly and glance away, "ok, yeah. I know, I know, but what do you want me to do?" You weep, clutching your fork, "I hate it when people watch or stare at me when I'm eating!"
"That is why I warned you prior -"
"I know! But I still want to play with him!" You say, looking at Milk who's rushing to clean his plate, "he's probably so bored...maybe even lonely with his family gone."
Ciel follows your gaze and stares at him for a moment.
In his eyes, he wasn't short of any energy, cheerfully chatting with Nana. He seemed fine enough. Though he also knew looks could be deceiving...
"I know you're excited, but try to slow do-" Nana starts, a gentle look in her gaze right before Milk begins shoveling food into his mouth.
It's only when he looks back up, cheeks fuller than the squirrels outside preparing to hibernate, "Huh?" and begins coughing.
Nana gasps while you stand so quick the table rattles, "Drink some juice!" You're handing him your glass which he devours within a moment.
Gasping for breath, everyone but Ciel sighs in relief when Milk laughs, "I wasn't choking silly! I'm preparing for the winter!"
Your and Ciel's eyes narrow, "..what?"
Indeed, Ciel thinks, they were quite deceiving.
"I heard bears and squirrels prepare for the winter by eating lots of food," He starts while Nana watches on in curiosity, "I was thinking, why don't I do that too?"
Ciel watches as you blink like a frog and ultimately fall to your seat, defeated. He stares flatly, a quiet, 'I told you so' written on his face.
"Oh, my..." Nana says, with shock clear in her gaze. "Even so, you shouldn't eat too quickly, dear. Fall has just begun." She smiles.
Milk's eyes widen mouth in an 'o'. Laughing, he says, "Okay Nana."
Ciel merely cuts another piece of egg and bacon as though it were just another day. He believed that if he simply got used to it and ignored them, then maybe he'd retain some of his brain cells.
"Lonely, was it?"
Turning to him, his eye is closed as he calmly eats. Your eyes just narrow, glancing at his torso.
He might've thought he was being slick, but you can easily make out the rectangular bulge beneath his baggy shirt. Unless he ate a book, you knew he was keeping your Kuroshitsuji manga under there.
Even so, you say nothing and keep him under the illusion that you are as stupid as he thought.
"Shut up.." you say and continue eating with a sigh, "Just think of it as getting it over with. The sooner we do, the faster we can get back to brainstorming."
"Getting it over with..." he says, looking at you, "it may be more than this task we get over...would we even have enough brain left to think..?" It's a real concern, by the looks of the equations passing through his analytical gaze.
You just let out a raspberry, "We can only hope."
🌧️ 🐿 ☔
"Math drills, writing, and vocabulary," Ciel's eye narrows as he cards through the packets of work, "...and science..?"
You're staring at Milk with a similar look in your eyes while he sits at the coffee table at your feet. There's a sparkle in his round eyes, chin propped on his hands. A big smile stretching his cheeks.
He hums with glee, "Yeah! And I have history too, if you guys want!"
Ciel is staring at the young boy hoping the irritation in his eye could dull his shine even just a bit before he turns to you, "Play, you said?"
You just redirect his attention back to Milk, "Didn't you say you wanted to play?"
"Yup!" Milk grabs a butterfly-themed pencil case to take out some pencils, "Oh, and since I have to read a book too, you wanna write the report for it?"
"Hah?" You hear Ciel mutter from beside you. When you look, the paper is crumpled in his grip and he's practically shaking.
Looking at the way Milk casually hands you guys some mechanical pencils, you feel as though he's either too dumb - or incredibly sly - to acknowledge Ciel's irritation. When Ciel doesn't take it, Milk simply thrusts it in, "I heard you guys talking like nerds yesterday so I thought homework would be fun to do together!"
Nerds? I think he meant Nerd.
The amount of sparkles in his gaze as he blocks all your guys' attempts to stare him down only makes you all the more competitive. Two can play that game.
"Where's your pencil?" You're asking with a gentle smile, equally as sparkly, that makes him shrink and look away.
"I..I want you guys to have fun! If I do all the work, then how would you guys get to?" Milk's picking at his bear plush while hitting you two with sad dog eyes.
It never worked on you with your last pets, so why would it work now? Ciel must have been of a similar mind as he says, "So the reason you were so insistent that we play, is so you could get out of doing your work?"
For a moment, Ciel and Milk are staring each other down. The look in Ciel's eye was of ire, but in Milk's was that of a hardened warrior off to battle and twice as grave.
"No. It's so we can all have fun together." He spoke so seriously, you're certain he'd have fooled you both had you shared his age, "Nana told me that to make friends, you have to see their interests and play with them."
By now, Milk had placed his bear aside and sat up straight. He was still staring you two down without so much as a blink. The way the sun streamed out the windows and lit up his clear skies for eyes was an impressive feat. Though his eyes were twitching. Even Ciel had taken the time to stare at the kid with a look he reserved for someone he was beginning to take seriously.
From your seat on the couch, you could tell Milk was telling the truth almost entirely.
Almost.
"Then, as your guests, would it not be rude should you miss out on the...fun?" Ciel starts, placing the stacks of homework on the coffee table.
"Don't worry, I don't mind." Milk beams almost angelically. You're wondering if he's beginning to convince himself of his lies.
"I insist." Ciel smiles, "I wouldn't have fun if you were left out, right, (Y/n)?"
When he looks at you with a sparkly smile, you wonder if you're all competing in a fake-off. In such a contest, how could the veteran fake lose?
It's with ease that you match his expression and laugh lightly, "Yeah. How could we have fun if you, the one who worked so hard to figure out and suggest this game, didn't play?"
The glow you two emitted, together, was blinding.
You could see the way Milk began gnawing at his cheek and, maybe it was the lighting, but you could've sworn his skin was glistening under your gaze.
Milk was sure he'd have you two fooled, but instead, you sat there like a bunch of foolishly kind idiots! He hadn't considered you guys were too nice to leave him out. You poor, naive, fools.
What do I do now?! They're gonna make me work with them!
As he sat there for a moment to contemplate his next move, Ciel crossed his arms when the hand holding his pencil, hidden behind his arm, tapped yours.
Turning to him, he's looking at you from the corner of his eye and mouthing, 'Finish him.'
Taking a second to look between Ciel who was determined to get out of this and Milk who was clearly in inner turmoil with his eyes spinning in search of a new lie, you sigh. What's he making you do to this poor kid?
I can tell... this is just the beginning.
You're tapping the end of your pencil into your palm and focusing on the way lead rattles inside. After some thought, you hum and trap the end.
But I won't be dragged into being his underling.
"Your parents are professors, right?" You start, causing Milk to flinch and Ciel to do a double take, "Then you should definitely do this all yourself! We can help when you get stuck, but I think you're smart enough even without it." Milk's ear perks up, peeking from behind his faux smile, "Your parents would be pretty impressed if you showed them all the work you did yourself. So impressed, they might just reward you." And that was all it took to sell it.
By now, the boy was all starry-eyed and agape at the idea. His parents, rewarding him?
"Then they'd take me to the gardens!" He beams all of a sudden.
"Gardens..?" You mutter, but absentmindedly nod, "Maybe they would since you worked so hard."
"Yay!" He cheers and grabs a pencil, "then let's hurry! Ciel, give me the math, I hate that one the most!"
Ciel hands him the packet, "then why are you doing it first?"
"So you can help me first! You look like you like math, so help me." Milk says, writing down his name.
"Look like I like math..?" Ciel casts you a glare.
Laughing, you find yourself agreeing with Milk, all he needs are glasses. "Just for today, and then we can talk about this," You say and flick the rectangular shape at his torso making him flinch.
Now that you've just reminded him of what was at stake if he didn't, he complies far easier, "Fine. But I will not repeat myself..."
And with this, you two instruct Milk on his homework. You took the writing, science, and history tasks while Ciel took the math, vocab, and book report. Though there wasn't much Milk needed help with or done as he grasped most material, only lacked the will to complete it.
The minutes turned to hours and the light slowly faded out from the tall windows. Soon, the sun was high in the sky as afternoon rolled in.
You were all nearly done when a maid came by to tell Nana and Milk that there was a call waiting for them and so excused themselves.
"How much longer of this? We have wasted nearly the entire day doing a 7-year-olds homework." Ciel says, sliding out the manga from under his shirt and sighing in relief. It'd been digging into his stomach.
He could have used this entire time to figure out ways to get home, find clues, or even make it there had it not been for this nonsense. Had it not been for you. I mean, he was an Earl for godsakes and yet here he is, helping some brat with his homework when he had cases to work and a far more important life to lead.
Every second he stayed in this world was another second possibly wasted in his. It was no wonder you dragged him around doing unnecessary tasks when you had never known of the responsibilities he had to bear. The livelihoods that relied on him. Instead, stuck here dealing with two kids who had it easy.
Your eyes narrow at where he had kept it, but say nothing.
"We're almost done. He just needs to finish finding two more adjectives for very small and-"
"Puny." He's staring you down, "much like your mind."
"Wha-?!" You're glaring at him at the unwarranted remark, "Why??"
"Why else would you be taking so long if not for the fact your mind matched your task?" He scoffs.
You're grinding your teeth, "he was just tired and I didn't wanna give him the answers! It's not that I couldn't-"
"Lacking," Ciel starts anew, "like your excuse. Is there anything else you are having difficulty figuring out, or should I continue?"
He's staring at you now through a lowered eye. The impatience in his gaze is clear but you can't help the way you're leering at him, nearly laughing at your next thought.
"Stunted." You start, smirking when you finish with, "Like your height."
"What?" Ciel is glowering, cheeks a light pink when he uncrosses his arms, "What did you-"
"Poor." You copy, "like both your attitude and temper."
You're snickering behind a hand while he glares, "You-"
Before he could even finish, yelling cuts through the walls followed by running.
"-RE ALL LIARS!"
At this, you both stop to give each other a look and turn to the door. Not a moment later, Milk comes running in, red in the face and eyes glossy. When you guys make eye contact, you two quickly look away, sweating. Probably not the best to stare at an angry kid.
You wanted to ask what happened to make him look so upset, but Ciel pulls at your pants in a silent shake.
Stomps make their way towards you where Milk appears. He's glaring at the coffee table, nostrils flaring while he flings everything on it to the ground. All the work you guys had done flying in the air along with his blonde curls and the contents of his pencil case which had you grabbing a pillow to shield both Ciel and yourself from some pencils and scissors.
Neither of you utter a word, much less a breath when he grabs the dolled-up teddy bear from before and raises it in the air. You guys watch from behind the pillow when he stops, heaving.
After a moment of silence, Milk looks into the teddy bear's beady eyes as tears gather in his own. By now you've placed the pillow on your lap making Milk glance your way, sniffling. Not a second later, he falls to his knees, hugging it close, and cries loudly.
The carpet soaked up his tears as he wailed into the air. While you frown, worried, and watch the poor kid cry loudly, Ciel is staring as though in pain.
Not 10 minutes ago he was all smiles and determination. One phone call later and he's yelling, throwing a tantrum, and crying? He couldn't fathom what managed to happen within that time frame that upset him to the point of tears.
"Hey, Milk, are you ok?" You walk over to kneel beside him, knowing it's an obvious question.
You notice the way Ciel's brows are bunched together in confusion and wonder if you should just send him elsewhere since he doesn't usually like to deal with these situations.
It's not like he's bad at comforting others... ..but maybe for his sake, I should just ask him to bring water or something...
"No! Mom and dad and Lottie are all liars!" He yells while you rub his back.
"How come?"
"They... they said they wouldn't go!" He starts.
Glancing at Ciel, he's standing, eyes on Milk, and then turns to leave.
You just watch him leave the room through lowered eyes.
No way he just exited the area after seeing Milk cry...right?
Ciel was many things - arrogant, greedy, and blunt as hell... but he was not a completely mean and evil person. Often, he comforted other characters throughout the series so you didn't think he left because of something like that.
No. He probably just had a similar idea and went to grab a drink...
Shaking your head, you focus on Milk and wonder what he was talking about before recalling his talk about gardens.
"To the gardens?"
Nodding, he hiccups and wipes his tears and snot with an arm, glaring at the bear in his arms, "They told me we would go but then I got sick so I couldn't..." The tip of his nose was moistly pink, tears streaming down his round eyes, "I..I really wanted to see the garden..." he squeaks and starts crying all over again, throwing his arms around you to sob into your shirt.
You just stay there, hugging him and petting his fluffy curls.
From what you gathered, his family went on a trip to a place where Milk was going to see some gardens he'd been looking forward to.
So he didn't go because he got sick... sounds a little familiar...
But if he wanted to go so badly, I doubt Lottie and her parents would go without Milk... even if they did, I don't think they'd say so...
You gaze at the young boy in your arms and wonder if he has misunderstood something.
There's movement at the archway and from your seat on the floor, you notice navy hair and white curls. Some whispers, and then Ciel is walking your way with a cup in his hands. You stare at him for a moment as he sets the liquid on the table.
It's milk.
You smile a little and offer him a thumbs up. He just squints at you.
"So they told you they went without you?" You ask Milk, trying to clue Ciel into the current conversation.
"No..but I wanted to go-" His puffy eyes narrow.
If they didn't then why would he..?
Ciel regards the kid for a while, as though he knew the type he was from those words alone. The type being assuming he knows what's best and true and therefore everyone else thinks so too. Childish.
But what more could he expect from a child?
With the way Ciel is staring so stoically, you feel as though he's moments away from scolding Milk who was too busy smothering snot on your shirt to notice.
You're almost sweating when you reiterate, "But they went, right?"
"Is that what they said?" Ciel follows close behind, arms crossed.
Milk barely acknowledges him, pulling his face out of your slimy shirt just enough to look up at the pirate. Your eyes narrow at the line connecting his nose to you.
"Huh?"
"Had they spoken of going without you?" Ciel repeats.
"..no, but-"
"Did you see or hear something that implied they had?"
Milk is wringing his hands, unable to reach Ciel's gaze, "No, but-"
"Do you have any proof?" Ciel's eye is stern and narrowed. It seemed to you he had reached his verdict by now.
"No!" Milk yells, fists full of his shorts.
By now, you had a good idea what Ciel thought of the situation, what with the sternness in his eye and demeanor. In his eyes, Milk was a dumb, somewhat spoiled kid and it showed whenever he spoke this way.
"Then why are you crying?" Ciel finalizes.
For a moment, it feels as though his words ring through Milk's ears. Blue eyes wide like an ocean in shallow waters.
Even you could feel the finality of his argument before it could even begin. That this wasn't the first time Ciel had shut someone's words down before they could begin.
"..because..." Milk starts, looking Ciel in the eye now even through his trembling, "..because I know. I'm not dumb. I know grownups tell lies! But I'm smarter. I even consulted-" a word you recall being on his vocab memorization list, he grabs his bear and shoves it before him like a cross to a vampire, "Lycoris here and he's the smartest plushie I know!"
Ciel scoffs, shaking his head.
Somewhere deep down, both you and Milk knew a storm was a brew. Watching with bated breath. Confirmed it when he looked down at you two with a stormy sea in his eye, gaze narrowed and almost haughty. You could nearly hear the mocking laugh in his next words.
It's an absurdity - nay, blasphemy - that spills out his lips, "Have you ever considered Lycoris is a liar, too?"
You inadvertently gasp. Up to now you were just silently watching the exchange like a drama unfolding before your very eyes.
Milk's eyes nearly fall out of his skull, bulging in shock.
"What?!" His blonde hair stands on end, "No..he would never! I TRUST HIM!"
Turning Lycoris over, Milk looks into his black beady eyes clearly reflecting his solemn blue ones. You're wondering once more if this is the best way to handle this situation after all. Seeing his furrowed brows and watery eyes, you can't help but look back at Ciel with a glare.
"Ciel!" you whisper, trying to gesture for him to stop. But he ignores you, eye never once leaving Milk.
"From what I have heard, all you spoke were of uncertainties and assumptions. If Lycoris is half as sincere and intelligent as you claim then would you not have a concrete reason?" Ciel quips, hand open in question, "Your parents may be liars, but they are not the only ones."
Your eye twitches.
Oh, we're getting kicked out.
"That's impossible!"
"Then where is your proof?" Ciel starts, Milk goes stiff, staring with wide eyes that soon turn to horror at Ciel's next line, "Who was it, exactly, that gifted Lycoris to you again?"
Somehow his words reverberate around the patterned wallpaper before launching into the young blonde's skull. Piercing his mind as though the world had turned upside down, shattered, and began anew again.
Milk slumps horrified.
No..there's no way.. Lycoris couldn't have lied to me, right?
The bear, wearing a lacy bonnet with a flower clip on its ear is fluffy and plush in his grip. He's looking into Lycoris' beady eyes, wishing to trust him completely.. but where was the proof?
If his plushie was given to him by liars, he could be one too. But then, who was telling the truth? Lycoris, Ciel, or Fifi and his parents?
With everything Ciel's said thus far, there was no doubt he was. It all lined up.
All the math is mathing, just like before. Giving Milk insight into a world unknown. The cruel reality of life..that you can't trust anyone..and Ciel is a pirate nerd who could do math.
It had to be true.
Nothing is real..everyone lies.. and pirate nerds are real..
With a gaze misty and blank, Milk is off to another land. That thought all that echoes in his mind.
Lycoris falls out of his hands, landing on the floor by his shorts.
On this day, Milk learned the harsh reality of the world. That there are liars and nothing is real all the same... everything just a reflection of what you make of it..nothing more.
All thanks to Ciel.
You stand, backing into the nearest window as though you could only do more damage to Milk by being near him, though your gaze never leaves him. Your eyes narrow, looking at Ciel from the corner. His blue-grey hair turns your way.
Did...did he just make a kid turn on his plushie ?
Seeing him staring off into space, Ciel decides now is the best time to talk to you while Milk contemplates the realities of the world.
Blinking one eye at a time at the scene, you had half the mind to smack Ciel upside the head for making Milk contemplate the space and time continuum when he couldn't even come up with three adjectives for very small.
"It's autumn." Ciel starts, making his way to your side just as you wind up your fist behind your back. You pause at this, glare replaced with knit brows until realization dawns in your eyes.
"Pfft-" you nearly laugh until Ciel shushes you lest you interrupt the kid seeing stars. You have to walk further away from the scene, laughing behind a hand while Ciel follows, "Nana informed me Mr and Mrs Kernell never actually entered. They simply bought a souvenir for him and left."
You're quietly laughing not even 12 feet from the poor kid while Ciel struggles to hold back his own laughter at this ridiculous situation.
Just what the hell was he doing while being so far from home?
"Are you quite done?" Ciel asks, narrowed gaze on you as you try to suppress a smile. When you nod, he simply looks back to Milk who began coming out of his daze.
༘⋆
Notes:
☆°○A/N•°☆
Hey guys! It's been a long time since I last updated this book so I'm sorry for the long wait! I have another chapter after this and hope to finish it in time to post in a week or two, I'll let you know!
Until then, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter as I had fun writing it! ☺️ I did have this set all those months back but got too busy with other books to finish editing so I'll try to do better! PPP is my comfort book and always really fun to write because even I wonder what shenanigans Ciel and (Y/n) will get up to with Milk lol.
Thank you so much for all the support for this book and I see all your comments and look forward to them! I'm glad you're all enjoying it so far, 'till next time!
Chapter 11: CHAPTER 8|KID FRIENDLY TUNES
Chapter Text
"When all is blue, there's nothing like listening to some kid friendly tunes."
ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
MILK IS BLINKING OUT of his trance. Rubbing his eyes as he stands all wobbly until you run to catch his hand, puffy eyes on you, "How are you feeling?"
He takes a second to answer, eyes misty and glossed over with what seems the silver of stars. From that look alone you had a good idea how.
His blonde curls are frizzy and sticking out in a few places, "like I just saw the world.."
You blink at his words, a certain pirate stoically watching. You're convinced he snorted something other than smarties.
"I doubt it-" Ciel grunts when you elbow him, glaring.
"R..really?" Your smile is so obviously phony that Ciel recoils.
Milk nods, snot dripping from his nostril. Blowing his nose, he's looking up at you with glittering skies for eyes, "Is this how little bunny foo foo felt when she was scolded by the fairy?"
When Ciel lets out a stifled laugh, you drop the tissue in his hand silencing him, and smile, "I'm sure she did."
Just as soon as Milk turns to clean up his mess you feel the familiar burn of a slighted Earl's glare, "I have a gun-"
"So what!" You whisper back, gesturing to the kid as you say, "Look what you've done and created! The poor kid."
"What would you have me do? He's learned now that he was being foolish." His arms crossed. No hint of remorse on his features, "It was only a matter of time before he figured out that much. If anything, he should be thanking me."
"The whole world isn't as pessimistic and cynical as you think, y'know!" You whisper, squinting, "There are...some decent people left." Ciel gives you a look of doubt before simply facing forward.
"Then you don't know the world very well.." His tone is solemn, eye-darkening to the depths of the ocean, but you gesture to Milk being high to which he says, "He's perfectly fine."
"Are you not seeing this too..? Or?" Concern clear in your tone and brow. "It was only yesterday he-!"
Milk turns around forcing you both to stop bickering.
All of a sudden, his fog clears up to stare at Ciel with a serious look in his eyes, "Ciel," he starts, startling you both. He tended to refer to him as pirate so this was very strange indeed, "I need to thank you for.." his eyes narrow, looking down as though pained, "teaching me of the world..and the space math.." Milk puffs his chest, looking Ciel in the eye when he says, "Thank you for teaching me that my parents, Lycoris, Nana, and Fifi(Lottie) are all liars-"
"Ah!" You yell, and when you hastily look around, notice the coast is clear, "No, no. That's not what Ciel meant, right-"
"It's ok (Y/n). I know the truth now... but in a world of liars, you're too nice." He starts, reaching up to hold your shoulder. You stare in confusion, Ciel watching with quiet intrigue. With a condescending look and smile, Milk speaks once more, "You're too naive to know. Grown-ups lie," he chuckles softly, "I was just like you once.."
Once being two minutes ago.
Ciel blows a half-assed raspberry at this. You? Of all people? The mocking sheen cast over his gaze speaks clearly of how he regards you as the fakest here.
You shoot a glare his way, heat staining your cheeks, trying to change the topic as Milk was the only naive and dumb one here. Too young to realize you guys had just played him, "all that thinking and realization must've made you thirsty! Here, Ciel brought you something."
"Here.." Ciel offers the glass that Milk stares blearily at.
Without question he takes a sip, eyes sparkling afterward, and goes for a gulp.
"Oh wow! This milk is really yummy!" The blonde has a big smile, dreary fog from before vanishing from sight.
Seeing how simply he went back to normal, you and Ciel watch blankly while he's busy gulping down.
"Milk with honey." Ciel corrects, crossing his arms, "..I often drank it as a child whenever I was upset."
Smiling a little, Ciel catches what he could only assume was a mockery of him on your face and scowls. Telling you to mind your business as light carnations bloom over his cheeks.
Hearing this, Milk pauses, staring at him. Who'd've thought even pirates would like sweet things? Certainly not Milk.
There's a giddiness to his imaginative eyes as he adds another thing to his pirate list, prepared should Ciel's friends land ashore. He's certain they'd be an uncommon bunch if they were anything like Ciel, who, in many ways, was different from the pirates he's come to know. Lacking both a peg leg and a parrot. Missing his ship, his home. Had his friends heard him, they'd think he was a fake!
Watching you two whisper to each other, Milk realizes there's no way he could be a full-fledged pirate.
"Really?" With a nod of confirmation, he's sure of it now. There's a milk mustache that matches his giggling smile, "It's really good.. and warm.. but, did you know, Ciel?"
Ciel is hesitant, the way the kid holds back his giggles. Even so, he hums wearily.
"You're still a kid." Milk giggles.
His brow twitches while you match Milk's smile. Casting you both a glare full of malice for simply stating the facts. You think it's a good point.
"What about you?" Milk's blues are on you now.
You pause, gaze flickering to just days before. Both Ciel's and Milk's sights set on you.
"What I do when I'm upset..?" You start, staring absently at the carpet. There were only ever two things that managed to pull you from the depths of hell. The swaying trees, rain thrumming against the roof or window. Melodies of all kinds spilling through your headphones.
Your cheeks lift a certain pirate noting the tranquility in this smile.
Walking over to the radio, their eyes watch your every move when you press play.
Kid-friendly tunes thrum through the speakers, Milk's eyes lighting up.
"For one, I listen to music." You start just as Milk runs your way.
He hurriedly replaces his drink with your hand, startling you. Bouncing on his heels, "Yay!! I love dancing!" Though that wasn't your intention. You nod wearily but just as soon as his eyes spark, does he hesitate. "I-I mean, we shouldn't. Let's just read.. and get money..or something."
At first, this chatter confuses you two. Upon further thought, however, you realize Milk was attempting to stand tall. Be the adult he felt he'd become after learning one of the many harsh realities of the world. But what's one, of the trillions of disappointments he's bound to face?
Rather than an adult, Milk had merely graduated from a child who trusts all to one who trusts 9 times out of 10. Attaining the skeptic trait. One you and Ciel may or may not have influenced..
I won't let Ciel or myself mess up this innocent, normal kid any more than we have..!
Milk's twiddling his fingers, peeking at both of you every so often. Ciel doesn't say a thing, only turning to you with a knowing look in his eye as though to say he cared little for this part of the play. It was your turn.
You hum, looking back at the blonde, "There's nothing wrong with growing up, but there's no need for you to rush it. I mean, don't you know what happens when even grown-ups can't have fun?" With a shake of his curls, you lean closer, Milk's pale eyes inching nearer in wonder when you whisper, "They end up like Ciel!"
A paleness, if that were possible, overcomes Milk. A hand to his mouth with a truly bone-chilling look in his eyes.
Ciel gives you a look of promised death when you laugh at the two reactions.
Quickly growing sick of your laughter and red in the face, Ciel's hand sets over his pistol and burns holes your way, even after you've long stopped. Milk shakes you, "Let's go, let's go! I don't want grey hair!" And glances Ciel's way to receive a glare.
With him eager to pull you to the center, your laughs have died down by now when you shamelessly turn back to Ciel with a waiting hand, "Wanna join us?"
Even with your surprisingly real face on, he quickly shakes you off, "I'm fine."
No surprise there but it didn't hurt to ask. Shrugging, "Your loss." Before you're pulled to the dance floor. "If you change your mind, we'll be waiting."
In all honesty, you really didn't wanna dance. Especially before the enemy. The last you tried, you were a child on all fours tossing your head up on repeat in what you called 'the bull'. You didn't need to dance to know you had two left feet. But, for Milk's sake, you push the heat radiating from your cheeks to your ears aside and dance. Nana joined after hearing the music to watch from afar. Warmly clapping along to the beat of your guys' steps.
Milk performs his best moves while you pull yours from the archives. Ciel squints watching you but applauds Milk's ballet skills. So the skirt wasn't for show after all.
You flip Ciel off who pays little mind, all crossed arms and condescending. Watching like you're his personal jester. Better you than him.
However, it's not long before even he was not safe.
"Hey, c'mon!" Milk grabs his hand and pulls him to the living room center, "dance with us!"
Ciel grunts, shaking his head ferociously with a perturbed grit, "N-no! I insist. My dancing is not nearly as..." he squints your way, "complex-"
"Asshole."
"Who cares! C'mon! If even (Y/n) is dancing," He starts, you burning holes into Milk's back when not even stating that you can, "so can you!"
"Hey!"
There's a derisive smile on his face, making no move to correct him. And after everything you've done for them - pestering Ciel and introducing him to Milk who soon after lost faith in his family and plushie..
..maybe it wasn't that bad.
Of course, the one time he makes any phantom of a smile it's at your expense. If you weren't so mature, you might just be offended.
It takes Ciel a second before he realizes he's being stared at by both of you and flushes, clearing his throat.
"No, I-" but he's already hauled to the middle by Milk, "no buts, nuts, or peanuts!" Though Ciel recalls the saying didn't go that way, "just dance!"
Milk resumes dancing around Ciel, you follow his lead and do just the same. The earl just stares for a while, music blasting through the air. All the while two idiots surround him intending to torture. It's then, in the horror of it all that he realizes the longer he stalls, the longer he dragged this out. Gaze downcast and lips tight when he next speaks.
For survival.
"Fine." He sighs.
"Yay!!"
"But there's only one dance I know well." He starts, suddenly turning to you.
You were just about to do a transition between grandpa jig and propeller when you raised a brow.
His eye narrows at your shitty, er, interesting moves but then makes it a point to stare at you.
Does he...want my help.. ?
As though having read your mind, he sighs with clear irritation in his gaze, "Come here, you idiot!"
"Ohh." And you stop your moves to walk over, "this better be good because my moves were really starting to coordinate -"
"Maybe in hell." Ciel deadpans, offering a hand. You're a little puzzled but place your hand in it limply. His brow twitches, "not like- here!"
Ciel holds your hand properly, the other holding your waist when Milk gasps in awe. Your eyes are wide when you realize you're in a waltzing kind of stance. I mean, what are you, 50? The urge to hide fills your veins, almost running away if it weren't for Milk. His blue eye quietly scans yours, narrowing as you stiffen.
There's no way in hell he wants to waltz to this ..!
"Loosen up.."
"I..I don't know how to dance!" Panic and a tightening in your chest invade at the mere thought.
"I could've told you that." He sighs but you just groan, "I'll lead, so just follow."
"But.." you're finding it hard to meet his gaze when he moves close enough so that, even under Milk's awed gaze, he could speak freely, "remember that the sooner we satisfy him, the sooner we can get back to our plans."
There's an almost determined look in Ciel's eye, as sapphire as his ring. Realizing from this close that he must've brushed his hair when he went to the bathroom. Grey strands smoothed and tidied. But, jeez, the mop of bangs over his eye patch wasn't helping his emo allegations. Allegations you put in place, especially perturbed to see he had nice, unblemished skin.
I guess that's true... and if I just deal, then this dance could end quicker too...
While your thoughts move on, he stays silent even when he watches your (e/c) eye explore his features. Rather, Ciel finds the bags beneath your eyes were as deep as he thought. The unkemptness of your hair, and a small transparent circle of sorts sticking over your nose and chin. Was that water? Or did you fancy sticking strange things on your face? Before he could load the will to care at all, you sighed exasperatedly.
Seeing the sour look on your face, as though you'd bitten a lemon, Ciel offers one last line before you relent, "..you can step on my feet."
His head is hanging when you perk up.
Placing your hand on his shoulder, "lead the way." You smile.
Ciel just glares and makes a mental note to kill you after this.
"You guys are finally starting?! Nana, hurry, come record! It's the nerds' first dance!" Milk's giggling, stepping back and forth.
At this, you both glare at the kid and move, "Not if we finish before then." You threaten.
Milk sticks his tongue out. "Ok, ok. Let's dance lots then!"
And you do. Ciel maneuvers your clumsy moves across the limited space as best he can, looking like a prodigy alongside you, while Milk dances not too far, watching with a grin. As though seeing a truly one-of-a-kind sight. He's only ever seen this display of dance engaged by his parents and grandparents, remedying his earlier thoughts that Ciel wasn't a pirate with his own ship and may just be the old man you cracked him up to be.
Meanwhile, you're slowly getting the hang of the pattern Ciel takes, eyes on your feet as you dance forcing an occasional, "eyes up." From him so you guys don't trip. But with the accidental shoe stepping, no matter how light, you can't help but struggle not to. The entire time spent trying not to step on him because you didn't want to hurt him.
Ciel, of course, takes note of this when he turns to face your brows rather than your eyes. His own twitch. No sooner does he step on you so once you flinch, you finally turn to face him.
"Ow! I know that was-" you start, but when he moves for a wide turn, you struggle not to fling into the floor or couch, "wh-what the hell!"
"I thought you wanted to step on me."
"Not literally!"
"Then figuratively?" There's a stoicism to his face and low gaze you know him best by. It only adds to the irritation you feel.
"You're.. so-" Your brows furrow, gripping his shoulder tighter now.
Somehow, he finds your restrained anger preferable. Every other instance before, suffocating to witness. And at least now, you looked him in the eye.
While he's lost in thought, you wait for the perfect moment to step on his feet.
"We're nearly done."
It's all he says, distracting you from your goal when he raises your hand in preparation to spin you. An airy feeling filling your abdomen, ribs shrinking on your heart, lungs - when, out of nowhere, there's a faint smell of,
"Alcohol and ripping shoes. Trembling atop the beat-up work boots he laughs, a few bottles worth in his shirt and breath. There's a weariness in your own, eyes on the rips you stood over. Loud instruments boom through your ears with his every hop until one swipe of his hand in yours has the world blurring, hair floating, and-"
A nausea bubbles up your throat, a frantic rabbit thumping against your rib cage. Roughly pulling back, you both stumble. When you look up, you're faced with a narrowed blue eye.
"Ah.. ow.." you start. But when Milk stops dancing to stare, laughing it off, "my leg cramped, sorry."
Ciel's lips are pursed with the aim to fire your way, but before either of them can question you, "Y'know what? I think it's my turn to show you some moves."
"Wha-" Ciel's complaint is overrun by an eager blonde, much to his recollection of a certain girl. It was as though she were here at this very moment.
"Me too! Me too!" Milk hops with both hands in the air.
"Then let's all dance together."
Your arms cross when his eyes light up, an attempt to escape the burning blue flame that singes the back of your head. Milk's happy hums, dismay to Ciel's ears.
His arms crossed, too. But with a thumping shoe, knuckles white, almost vibrating if his T-shirt was any indicator; you can tell it's for another reason entirely, "This" he begins, leaning close so your forehead and eyes are in line with his, "is the last of it."
Standing there, set with an inescapable flame, your lashes end burning blue with it, you realize it may prove wise to at least utter an apology when you agree.
Just as promised, you show him some of your best moves.
Neither of which, or the following after, captured his attention in a way that mattered. Had you asked Ciel, he'd say he was better off wearing those two eye patches you saved him from. After all, his face was stuck in a permanent grimace.
Milk gets a tummy ache from the amount of mockery he and Ciel engage in. You didn't take to heart what two uncultured kids thought of your complex moves.
Once you all get a good laugh in(minus Ciel who was much too proud to laugh, instead chuckling or scoffing with twitching lips, still sore about your shove), Milk collapses after some water and now naps happily on the couch.
You and Ciel, however, were draped like rags over it. It was no wonder with the amount of entertaining you engaged in to satisfy Milk's cravings. You guys were free from his gaze for a time, but at what cost?
Ciel excuses himself to the bathroom just to escape his presence.
Now that you have some time to think on your own, you feel your smile drop. Your face was sore from the extroverted mask you had to wear. Massaging it through a sigh, you wish you had gone out more often the weeks before Ciel arrived if only for the sake of training your social battery.
Alas, here you are.
"Why am I even complaining...it's my own fault.." you mutter.
At least you were self-aware.
Whatever, now that we can talk I know Ciel's gonna wanna go back to figuring out this mystery. But, now what?
A valid question, you think. You were still committed to helping him figure it out but you don't know what to do next other than continuing your research until, one day, that man replies to you.
What did Ciel usually do in the manga? My memories were so clear on it before he arrived. Probably some sort of nerf so we don't figure things out so easily.
You lean your head back into the cushions, arms crossed and eyes closed in thought. You're humming, trying to recall what the last thing you read in the manga was and what to do.
But doesn't he usually just go and investigate? If we tried that, the cops and owners would be on our ass in a second. Forget figuring out a mystery, we'd be too busy locked up or something to find anything out.
Your brows scrunch at the thought. Arrested? At your young age? After an almost perfect record if you leave out your tardies and tendency to skip school?
You'd never allow it!
What, then? I know he won't stand by and do nothing - he can barely sit still half the time without saying, "about the book." Code for his sudden appearance!
What does he want to do next?!
The memory alone has you sighing exasperatedly. Had it not been for a smooth surface pressing between your brows, you'd never stop thinking about it.
Wait, smooth surface?
You open your eyes to Ciel's blue one just as his voice registers, "If you have the time to waste on a nap, then let us begin our next objective."
Removing the manga, he walks around the couch to face you just as you sit up.
"We need to investigate the area properly."
Your eyes narrow, figures.
"Great. Woulda never thought of that."
If he notices the sarcasm in your tone, he doesn't acknowledge it and continues, "It will pose a challenge after the other night. They will be on high alert."
"Yeah. Even if they didn't see our faces, they saw our builds. That of two obviously young kids." An exasperated sigh escapes you, sinking further and further into the couch so you're near eye level with your floppy, battered shoes.
They were itching to break, held together by tape and your stubborn will alone. Smoothing down the lifting tape, you think about how Ciel only had his own and his current pair of shoes he could wear that'd fit him without triple socking.
He doesn't have anything but the hand-me-downs of Lottie and Kyle too. Wearing a T-shirt and shorts once belonging to Kyle and Lottie's shoes. But how would you get him to go out without receiving something in return?
It takes little thinking, what with your brain completing its search for his usual tasks in the manga. The answer to which leads you to your next idea, "Let's do some undercover scouting."
This pops Ciel's thought bubble, "Undercover..?" There's a hand to his chin, smoothing out the wrinkled fabric that he perceived you to be to calculate its plausibility, "Yes.. that could work. I'm surprised you-" he's almost smirking at your suggestion, one he never considered with the lint lining your pockets and idiocy that you keep company, but stops short.
You're eyeing him up and down, hand to your chin in a way that has him clutching the manga he'd kept close. This hadn't been the first time you'd leered at him, but it was the first time you did so crassly. Replacing the manga with a rather plush throw pillow.
"Yes.. we must.." you insist, blind to this, with an ulterior motive.
That way I can appease him and run some errands.. we won't last with what clothes we have.
With grit teeth and a tremble at your shamelessness, Ciel swings the pillow your way. It hits you square in the face, just as planned, and you grunt. Only now that you're rubbing your irritated eyes and nose does he feel his temper cool, "..I suppose that settles our plans for tomorrow-"
"Tomorrow?" You sputter, sore nose forgotten, "Going to the outside world, touching grass - tomorrow?"
He glares, your tone grating to him apparently, "Yes. Both. Tomorrow."
The hesitation is apparent in your gaze and frown. It's only his third day in the modern world and last you went out, it was clearly overwhelming.
Ciel notices and just closes his eye, crossing his arms saying, "It will be fine. I will be fine." When that doesn't convince you because of his dull tone, he adds, "Besides, if I am to live here, I will have to get accustomed to it. That way I can grasp the situation and come to terms with it. After all, here, all I am is lost and homeless." Finishing with a smirk he expects you to recoil at.
Only, you don't.
You look down, reminded of how you'd indirectly and directly told him that and it was.. a slap to the face.
From now on.. I should tone it down..
Ciel stares at the reflecting gleam in your eyes, averting his gaze before you notice. Why did you have to react that way? It was irritating, but impressive all the same. So you do have shame.
The more you think about it, seeing as the place will be crawling with police, you find yourself incapable of agreeing. "If I'm taking you anywhere, especially a cop-infested area, then you should update yourself on the times at least." Your arms cross, defiance and authority in your tone and stance that makes his teeth grit, "and until I feel as though you're really ready, we won't be going anywhere."
Your words are final, much to Ciel's vexation. Even so, he takes a moment to calculate all sorts of things in that smart head of his, glaring all the while.
Once he has his answer, he grunts, "Give me a week. No, a few days!"
Humming, "..if you fail-"
"I won't."
Peeking from your closed gaze, you find the piercing focus of his blue eye a laser through your retina. Although you knew him best as one to keep his word, one way or another, after he found a goal - you remain unmoved.
It only took you one look at his dizzy, distant gaze that night for you to understand the weight placed upon his shoulders anew. Replacing Atlas himself.
You didn't want to see him in such a desperate state again. Not willingly.
When you make no further move or comment, his accommodating mask slips to the floor to shatter in two.
"I will find a way back. With or without you."
The bubbling crinkle of ire in his eye speaks for itself. But you merely match it with a narrow, tight-lipped gaze.
They were bold words for someone who didn't even know the way there, you think with a deadpan, but, if he's that determined, then, "..fine. We'll do it your way for now... but after that-"
"We will do it yours." Ciel's gaze is steady.
Analyzing it carefully, you nod. Even though you can't shake the feeling that it wasn't a good idea.
It's now your arms drop, deflating entirely back into the couch with a sigh. Your job for the day was finally done. Too often had you thought, "too much."
"The plan?"
"Everything." You rub your brow, staring ahead blankly with the wish to play video games or eat some spicy chips. Your drug of choice.
Ciel stares at your position on the seat with calm. You meet it when he doesn't stop staring. As though something was on his mind. You jerk your head in question.
The words are on the tip of his tongue when his lips part, recalling your reaction when dancing, but ultimately shuts them to shake his head.
You raise a brow but say nothing. Wondering aloud what you'd eat for dinner.
Ciel, on the other hand, doesn't say anything. Thinking, at the end of the day, it was neither his business nor relevant to his goal. So he tosses it into the bin, brushes it underneath a rug. Just as the rest of the things that will only get in his way.
༘⋆
Chapter 12: CHAPTER 9|ROCKET KICKS!
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
"The only thing I know is that I know nothing."
ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
WHEN CIEL FIRST AGREED TO the plan of infiltration, he hadn't realized what it meant when you kept glancing his way until now. Standing beneath the sweltering skies of the desert he was so cursed to have inhabited, cicadas chirping where they couldn't be seen, he nearly forgot that in this world, autumn had long since arrived.
Worsened by the fact you wore a graphic hoodie and waved him off with a, "oh, c'mon! It's pretty breezy!" and "Had you come before the equinox, you'd probably be dead on the side of the road by now."
To which he shot you a horrified look. What kind of hell had you been living in? And why should he have to face it, too?
Despite this, you monitor his flushed cheeks and ice cream skin dripping under the temperatures. It's not as though you were completely unphased. But come autumn or summer, you'd always be found in a good long sleeve. It was the most comfortable to hide your shell of a body. Cocooned away from the prying eyes of the rest of the world.
Besides this, you were far more accustomed to the high temperatures. Something foreign to a boy familiar with rain and snow.
"It's only like, 97. Before it would get up to the 100's." You say, leaving out the fact that your phone reads 103°, "Don't worry though. We're at the last of September so maybe it'll cool soon."
Maybe?
As though that made it any better. Ciel can only heave, gritting when you mutter, "I can't afford an ambulance, maybe I should get him an inhaler.."
His heaving is nearly drowned by the noisy bugs until he clicks his tongue. Shooting you a glare, he straightens up as best he can in this heat. You smile painfully. This only irritates him further.
"Are we .. going.. or what..?!"
It was hard to take his ire seriously through all the heaving. Still, you lead him down the right path. You suggest slowing down to catch his breath but are turned down at every chance. Insisting he was fine and there's no time to delay. So you offer as much of the sparse shade as you can.
"With all that huff and puff, you look ready to blow some piggies' house down."
"Be grateful.. I won't.."
"Easy old man," You say, watching the streetcorner come into view.
Swinging a bag Nana lent you around, you think back to the last few days of rigorous training you had put Ciel through to prepare him for this moment.
"You had pictures, right?" You asked him one day, walking over to the screen displayed as a painting. Ciel nodded then, sat on the center couch with Milk per your orders, "These are like moving pictures with color."
Milk was a little confused at first, but after further contemplation realized his ship likely wasn't equipped with a TV. "They're fun pictures! Trust me, you're gonna love them!" He beams up at Ciel.
You grab the remote and plopped yourself on his free side. Once it flicked to life, you both took great joy at the width his eye took. Slack expression to one of shock. Grinning, you cross your arms with your nose held high, "cool, huh?"
At this, Ciel's gaping came to a standstill. He does his best to retain his original expression. "I-I've seen the like before.. though I suppose it is different.." the closest thing he's seen is the glowing map below Sullivan's manor.
You chuckle and flick through some channels, inquiring about his interests until you stumbled on something up his alley. "Remember, this is strictly for training. Not to be used any other way as it's a highly specialized device that lets you see through portals around the world." You're staring into his sapphire eye hard, gulping for good measure when you finish with, "Be careful."
He doesn't flinch at all your lies. Scoffing and snatching the remote. Smug when he says, "I've managed much worse. I can handle it."
Your serious expression never fades until Ciel returns it. Nodding in silent agreement. Like two warriors off to battle.
It's thereafter you snicker. Watching Milk sweat beside the boy at such a realization was amusing enough to the two of you, that you occasionally teased him in such a way. Eventually asking Nana what she was doing when she went to use the TV, "Don't you know it's not safe Nana?!" From behind a plushie, Lycoris notably, and holding a wand as his weapon. Blonde brows furrowed.
I mean it wasn't a complete lie. It was for training him about the real world but not as profound a device you made it out to be. It's just what you did when your brain and mouth grew tired of explaining or answering his focused thoughts. He definitely did his homework. It didn't take Ciel 5 minutes to know you were lying through your teeth. It's then your attentions were placed on Milk whose eyes bulged at the revelation.
What came after the haunting smile Ciel gave the poor kid was what you could only presume was his tactic for revenge.
You'd been walking into the living room at the time, watching it all unfold until the TV suddenly flicks on. Milk yells at Nana, horrified, only to be told it wasn't her.
"Wha-what?! The..then who?!" Until realization hits. The government.
Milk wails then. It was a sight Ciel, remote in hand and hidden behind a wall, found amusing. His crossed arms and smug face told you all you needed to know.
You expected nothing less from such a capable Earl. It was something you rather appreciate actually. The quick thinking, at times the teasing. Unfortunately, his constant day and night pestering had gotten to you which is when the TV came in handy.
When you were both(you) bored, or overworked, you interrupted his focus to show him some board games since he enjoyed them. Video games would come some other time. This way forcing a break on him so you can both destress. Half the time, it actually worked. Even if it meant rigorous hours of playing chess when you kept forgetting all the rules for each piece.
Safe to say he won every round and rather smugly at that. But not without eventually complaining about how he lacked any challenge to keep him entertained for long.
Que the TV.
It was a few days of this and catching him up with the world through tech and books. His studying was often done in silence while you hovered nearby so when he had a question you could answer with ease.
By the 5th day, he had sufficient knowledge of the world to warrant a stroll around it. TV, it turns out, can be a pretty good teacher. Offering visual pointers so he can familiarize himself with modern living. Taking notes when you put on a show or movie featuring the era. It helps that Ciel was intelligent to begin with. Asking plenty of questions during the films you patiently and eagerly answered. Watching the cogs in his mind turn in real time was your newfound favored pastime. Wondering if it was all curiosity or his plans for the future.
He had done all he could to prepare for today and so had you. Unfortunately, you overlooked a small detail.
The sweltering heats of your state.
Never any snow and not much rain or cold. A stark difference from the cold, rainy days inhabiting England.
The way over was bearable at first, thanks to his light outfit aside from his oversized shoes. Curious gawking at the world at day. Busy roads and scantily dressed passersby. Roads full of vehicles he'd never seen. Stores bright and bustling, and yet, for all the commotion around he also finds the modern world crowded. Devices and streetlights too towering and ugly. Cars loud and honking. Trash littering the streets half the time.
Ciel's eye an ocean of wonder soon evaporating from the sun beating his skin overhead. Only now was he grateful for the sunscreen you forced, and helped, him slather all over himself. Rubbing out the streakiness on his face.
Your hand wiggles around in your pocket until you catch a glimpse of your screen. No sign of the one notification you need.
"What are you doing?"
Your eyes shoot up to his. "Seeing if our friend texted." Shoving the device further into your baggy jeans.
Ciel raises an eyebrow until realization dawns in his eye, "no answer."
Your head shakes, "but we're nearly there..!"
Your attempt at positivity met with knit brows, "I don't recall coming through this area the other-"
"I know a shortcut."
From your peripherals, you can see he's staring but choose to ignore it as the endless concrete turns left to a steady road facing a small building named, "Killer Cheapskate". Beside it, another building read, "Rocket Kicks!" In big red letters.
Wearing a hoodie over a graphic tee, taped-up Converse, and some shorts with a small rip at the hem, you felt right at home walking in. Ciel in his shorts and T-shirt should've felt as chameleon as you had, but his squinting spoke otherwise.
"Why have we traveled all this way?"
"It's a shortcut." You pull a hand out of a pocket to spam the crosswalk button. Cars racing back and forth before you two.
Ciel glares from your peripherals which you meet with a deadpan.
"This was not our deal." He seethes lowly. There's a stick in his hand, a replacement for his cane you offered, pointed just beneath your chin. Accusatory. But you insist he lay down his arms.
"I know. But we're still going. I just needed to run a few errands-"
"We already set out late. Are we to lose daylight as well?"
"I get it but just look at your shoes!"
His feet freeze, following your gaze to the quadruple socking suffocating his feet. Staring at his flip-flopping moves for shoes. "If we get caught, how do you plan on running?!" Your arms are crossed. He'd done this plenty of times before, no way he thought those things were good enough.
Ciel's cheeks dust, "..fine." And shuffles his feet along, but not without a few snarled remarks your way.
You don't even bother to roll your eyes, just grateful he agreed. "Thanks. Let's do this quickly so we can head out."
He says nothing more.
The moment the door jingles, you're hit with the frosty kisses of the AC faires and the scent of new shoes. Ciel breathes an audible sigh of relief, nearly shoving past you until you're both greeted by the cashier.
"Welcome to Rocket Kicks where the deals rock and the kicks fly!" The smile plastered over her face is enough to tell you both, glancing at each other, to spare her the mirrored squints. "Is there anything I can help you with today?!"
Waving your hands quickly, you have a painful smile of your own while Ciel ducks behind you into some aisles, "Oh, no thank you!"
And with a faux laugh you echo back, you also duck into the aisles fist first. As soon as you find that brat-
He's stopped before some Converse. Doing a double take at your shoes and then these.
"Is this what those are supposed to be?"
Ciel points out the pristine Converse all stitched and intact. Glancing over your sole and cap held together by Milk's duck duct tape alone, and an array of scribbles littering the worn black canvas.
It seemed even the heat spell he was currently recovering from couldn't stop his curious, pretentious brain from being an ass.
"You can't really be talking right now." You point back at his own, "At least mine fit me."
Ciel flinches. Clearing his throat, his eye is narrow now, "...hardly."
You exchange a look.
"Rather than shaming my shoes, shouldn't you be searching for some?"
"That depends, are you equipped with sufficient funds?" He walks past the sneakers, glancing around at the strange selection of shoes lining the shelves and propped over vibrant boxes. Some he'd found at the Kernell residence. Ciel picks up a chunky sneaker and examines it with a curious fascination.
You watch his quiet investigations with gusto, "Don't worry about it and pick something you like."
At this, his ear twitches and he stares from the corner of his eye.
"Is that so?"
"Yep!" You beam.
Ciel stares for a while before placing the sneaker down and moving forward. Blue-grey hair swaying this way and that as he walks briskly through the store. As though in search of something. You found it a little odd but dutifully followed close behind him, mesmerized by the small black string of his eye patch you faced. The bow was crooked and loosely done, moving with his every turn.
You were surprised it's yet to slip, so make a mental note to retie it once he stops moving when he does exactly that. You nearly bump into him when Ciel turns back your way with an unusual spark in his cerulean eye—smirking as he points up at something.
Following his finger, you see a familiar check-marked logo sneaker, "I want this one."
You blink once. Twice.
Turn back to the Nike Air Jordans sitting boldly atop a display with the price beside it.
$180
You gape so hard you have to slap a hand over your mouth. $180?! Is that even legal??!
It shouldn't be!
Jumping up, you snatch the damn thing and look at it from all angles, "is this thing made of silver and gold? It's gotta be. How else could this be legal?" There's genuine concern in your brow and tone as you search for a valid reason this shoe was worth more than your life.
Ciel watches smugly, crossing his arms when he says, "'Don't worry, pick something you'd like', was it?"
You pause and turn to find him snickering. Squinting hard, "you little.."
He scoffs, seizing the shoe from your hands "That will teach you to lie to me."
Ciel is still smirking when he goes to place the shoe back, much to your annoyance. Glaring his back down in hopes his 100% cotton shirt lit from your ire alone.
You weren't going to let this slide.
Stalking up to him, he's already reaching to place it atop when you snatch the shoe from his hand and take its twin. Ciel's eye fills with confusion, then alarm as he watches you march up to the counter.
He's stumbling your way, "Wait..!" nearly falling over cursing his stupidly large shoes.
But you slam the shoes on the counter, much to the cashier's dismay, and stare determinedly at her when you say, "I'll take these."
"No," Ciel catches himself on the counter, grabbing the shoes while glaring at you, "We won't."
"I insist."
"I would hate to impose on you this way," he starts with a twitching smile, " when you cannot possibly afford -"
"Oh yeah?" You undo the bag, blindly grab a medium stack of bills, and slam them on the counter.
Ciel's teeth gnash.
"So, you are taking these..?" The lady asks hesitantly.
"Yes."
"No."
At the conflicting blend of your voices, the poor lady looks even more lost. "Um..?"
"Why are you stopping me?" You ignore her, staring hard into Ciel's eye.
"Why are you being an idiot?" He leers.
"You wanted these-"
"As I said," he crosses his arms and shuts his eye, "I would hate to-"
"Cold feet?" You watch his crudely done modesty through dull eyes.
It's only now he snaps his eye open and glowers, "As if."
"Then I'll take them-"
"I don't want them damn it!" He tugs them away, "Are you so daft you can't see I was only-!"
"Making a point?" At your penetrating gaze, Ciel's lips purse. Taking your money from the counter without breaking eye contact, "I don't lie."
Ciel holds your gaze until you walk off. Noting something in it he couldn't quite place.
He stares at your drifting figure stuffing the purse anew, reminded of only days before when you haphazardly stood toe to toe with he who held a pistol to your head. Speaking exactly this. Wondering if it was a habit of yours. That reckless nature in proving a point. Or was it this point precisely you were willing to throw anything aside?
And why?
You're walking away, thinking, it was a bluff, of course. You never had enough money to buy those damned shoes even if you sold one of your likely unhealthy organs. But he didn't need to know that. The jokes on him, you snicker, this was payback.
Brown eyes stare at the two of you through slits. Were all kids this dramatic these days? Cindy almost wondered aloud as she watched the scene unfold and Ciel observe you.
All she knew was that she wasn't paid enough for this shit.
"I take it you won't be buying these today?" Her customer service is plastered back into her face and tone.
Ciel's already removed the sneakers when he glances once at Cindy, "No, thank you." And walks off to place them where he found them much to Cindy's gratitude.
You're staring between some much more sensibly priced sneakers and boots for Ciel when you hear him come up behind you.
"Hey, what size are you?"
From what you can see, the sneakers were way more casual but the boots might last longer. You imagined you two would be walking long distances often if you were to uncover the mystery of his appearance, but they also had to be comfortable in the high heat that inhabited your area. That's without taking into account the weight and wedge. Ciel liked height right?
You pick up one of each and weigh them in your grip.
"Yup, the boot is heavier.. that'll cause fatigue.." you mutter, inspecting them side by side on a shelf. With a hand to your chin, you're squinting their way as though interrogating them with your gaze when you realize Ciel's been silent this whole time.
"Hey, did you hear me?" But when you turn find a reflective look in his eye.
"Huh?" At your questioning gaze, "..er, it's -" he snaps out of it finally but is stopped by your hand.
"Forget it." You start, staring at his feet. He shifts, brows knit, "I bet you use some weird metric system in the Victorian era and that's not gonna slide here." He flinches, grumbling a little when you analyze his feet, and hum, "You look about my size. There's a measurement thingy behind you, step on the footprint so we can see."
"I would assume traveling a century and country may do so." Ciel snarks, lining his foot with the different colored outlines until he settles over one.
"I knew it!" You run to line your foot beside his, Ciel stumbling at your proximity, "I'm slightly bigger than you but this means you can borrow some of my shoes!" You cheer, turning to be face to face with him and smile.
From here your shoulders nearly touch. Where he finds your attitude flimsy, you notice the looseness of his eye patch again.
Ciel's full eye narrows, a little flustered when he stumbles away from you.
"Yes, and what of it?" His arms cross, shifting away. The minor behavior doesn't escape your notice.
Oops, too close and pressed his buttons..
"I'm not trying to diss you, dummy." You try to disarm him by stepping back yourself offering back his personal space.
Although Ciel doesn't know what that word means, there were plenty of words and phrases you'd thus used without explanation where he either uses his context clues to decipher or simply asks. Yet right now, he finds he doesn't care at all.
"Are we to find these damned shoes or what?" At his pestering, you sigh and nod.
"Know what you're looking for?"
"..." Ciel's squinting at you quietly, "..shoes..?"
You exchange blank looks.
Right, Sebastian and Nina were his stylists..
"You've never picked out your clothes, much less your shoes, have you?" It was a rhetorical question. One you both knew you had an answer to.
"Shouldn't you?!" He snaps, lightly blushing. "You are the one insisting!"
You resist the urge to slap a hand over his shoulder and settle for a sparing smile, "Don't worry. It happens to the best of us."
"..Are you trying to anger me?"
"No. Not at all." This time you mean your words, picking up the sneaker and boot from before, "no shame in ignorance, especially if you're willing to learn." Though from the look on his face, you can tell he can't agree with the first half. Ignorance was not a thing he was fond of holding. "I think you pick shoes for occasion, comfort, and interest. Here, look." You hold them up, "these could be good."
He's staring between the two before clicking his tongue. "Are these the only options?"
"There's more but I was thinking either a boot," you lift it, "or a sneaker" and raise the other, "These're good for walking long distances 'cause I imagine we'll be out often in search of answers to the mystery."
Ciel pauses. Impatience from before cotton candy in a river. So you were thinking long-term. Serious when you spoke of helping him.
He supposed he should feel lucky. Only an idiot like you would waste their time helping with such a bizarre notion. To have stumbled upon someone willing to help with such a ludicrous situation..
How fortunate for him, and foolish of you.
"I see.." Ciel turns to the bench beside him. It sat against a large mirror where he briefly made eye contact with you and takes a seat.
Your brows furrow until he slips off the borrowed shoes, legs and arms crossed when he looks up through his lashes, "..I should try them on, should I not?"
(E/c) meets blue widely. You'd gawk longer if it weren't for his tendency to get embarrassed and regret being decent. So instead, you nod eagerly.
After getting down to loosen the laces and help him into them, you watch as he stands and walks around with each.
"How do they feel?"
Ciel takes a few steps, then presses back and forth testing the cushion, "secure. Wide. Cushioned.. are all the shoes of this era produced this way?"
You're sat on the bench, an arm on either side, and waving your extended legs while he walks back and forth, "If you mean mass-produced or any of those adjectives, it depends? There's different kinds but I'm surprised you think they're wide."
"Compared to the ones I possess, these are much wider."
You hum. Interesting. "So Victorian people like or had skinny feet.."
Ciel gives you a strange look at this conclusion when he finally stops.
"The black ones," he decides, "they're much more comfortable."
"Ok. Then let's look for a few different pairs to try."
With this, you guys scour the side of the store with legally priced sneakers before Ciel settles on a pair of Vans Sk8's.
Cindy is ringing you up when "I feel like I'm forgetting something.." you're looking at your wallet and thinking there wasn't as much change as you thought.
"Nothing important I presume." He doesn't blink when he says this. You take the bag, squinting.
As you two make your way out, the speakers overhead play a peculiar but familiar blend of instruments and vocals stopping him in his tracks. "What is that playing in the distance?"
You raise a brow, but at the mention of music pause. "Earlier alternative music, now rock. Any decent store will have some." Ciel takes in these answers, searching for the source, "There's always good music next door too. Metal, some older tunes. All really good."
"Alternative? Rock?" Ciel looks to you now. What strange names, were these the genres of the modern world? And, wait, "Metal?"
"Some of the best."
Ciel's squinting now. It sounded like the worst.
I guess these genres didn't exist during his time. I do know they're pretty recent, but I wonder just how many have come out since. A century is a long time..
The closest you imagine he got to any of these genres was during the Blue Cult Arc. You recall finding even the technology Sullivan created for the arc absurd, ranging from earpieces, microphones, and speakers for that mess. Though most of it was rather probable, it wasn't all together. You guess a genius could, theoretically, have done so but even the concept was modern. Leave that to Sebastian.
It would take a genius and a demon to make the improbable, probable.
Regardless, you found it was certainly Yana's most camp and outlandish in terms of theme and technology for the era, but then, it's fictional fun.
"It certainly sounds...unique.." He stared, nose scrunched as though a cat analyzing a new scent. You found this pretty amusing. "From where does it play?"
"Speakers overhead." You point them out.
"Speakers ..?" Now equipped with answers, you walk back until the door pushes open for him.
"Didn't-" You burst with a sudden thought just as Ciel walks past you.
❝ Don't act as if you know anything in reality. ❞
You stop yourself short. It wasn't long since you told him you'd be more discreet with your knowledge of him in favor of his. A fair sentiment, what with your unintended breach of his privacy simply having read the series. One you wished to uphold.
Ciel notices your abrupt silence and comes to a stop. The door swings lightly behind you while you stare at the ground and shake your head. Despite this, the look on your face spoke otherwise to him. Blue eye doing a scan over your shifting (e/c) to your chewing on your lip.
Didn't?
"Yes.." with this data, and your tendency not to be modest in your speech, he gathers the answer, "I do possess some knowledge on the matter." Had the look on your face betrayed what you were thinking? Offering a sheepish smile, he just sighs. "Just as ..er.. the Phantom Five, the music is strange. Rock.. perhaps that is the genre Sebastian had in mind.."
"Strange?" You raise a brow, "I'd say what your little Shakespearean group was doing was funnier."
"Shakes-?!" His cheeks flush.
Seeing his cheeks tint over bashfully, you can't help but snicker, "Thought you were slick, didn't you?" Thinking for a second, "Well maybe not for you old timers. All play this and operas that."
He's gritting red now, "To begin with, that ridiculous display was chosen by Sebastian-!"
"On your orders."
"-Milk's nursery rhymes were already odd. Stranger still, this alternative rock! How many more genres have come to since?!"
The last thing Ciel expects to see at his words is your grin. He backs up, significantly when you sigh wistfully and look up, "Don't worry, I'll teach you. There's a whole world of music waiting for you.."
"If it's anything like this, perhaps it can wait," Ciel says, flopping away. You stare at the shoes that look fit for a clown on him and block his path.
"You think this is strange?" He raises a brow when you hand him the bag, "Wait till you hear the thrift stores'."
"I dread to hear it." He says dryly just as you point back to the shoe store.
"You should switch shoes before we go."
Glancing once at his stupidly oversized feet, he obediently follows you back inside. Ciel sits on a bench by the door removing his socks down to one pair before sliding his shiny new Vans on. You stuff the two sizes too big ones back in the box and watch him take a few hesitant steps, then bolder ones to the exit.
There's a glimmer in his eye, impressed by the comfort of modern shoes. Angling his foot around as he studies the foreign design. The wonder on Ciel's face at some simple shoes makes you smile.
"They look good."
Ciel straightens up, ".. they're not bad."
Cindy watches the exchange from afar. Finding the two of you chatting by the exit youthful, charming, and irritating. Oh to be young. Being reminded of her age, that only of a college sophomore, she decides she's had enough and wants you two gone.
You sense this from across the store like the empath you are and decide to shuffle Ciel out. Making your way next door.
༘⋆
Notes:
☆°○A/N•°☆
I'm not gonna lie, I wrote this chapter and the next before Hiraeth chaps so they're not the best quality but I've decided instead of a longer wait that I'd simply post them anyway and come back later to edit them someday. For now, I'll do better next time and hope you enjoyed! In 3 days time I will update another chapter.
No matter how stormy the times ahead may seem, please remember that after the rain, there is a rainbow awaiting steps only you can bring. So live and fight for another day. Live despite. In spite. With the ways of the world now, I know just how difficult that will be in the coming days, months, and years. Know I am proud of every step you take to a future only you can bring to fruition.
Best wishes <3
Chapter 13: CHAPTER 10|KILLER CHEAPSKATE
Chapter Text
"To know the price of everything, but the value of nothing."
ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ⛈ ﾟ ⛆ ﾟ
NOW THAT CIEL FINALLY HAD some shoes that stuck to his feet, you could tell from his steps and smug aura that he was in a lighter mood. His flushed face was also back to its normal amount of pink in comparison. Boy did that AC work wonders.
You're walking in after him, bending closer to his ear with a smug smile, muttering, "Feeling chilled out now?"
Ciel's eye widens, stumbling forward at your clumsy closeness when he glares through a pink tint, "Shut up." And hides behind a clothing rack.
Killer Cheapskate had a fair amount of people hovering about for a weekday. Unlike Rocket Kicks! no workers were willing to greet you. All too busy ringing others up, much to your relief. Metal strums pleasantly through overhead speakers as Ciel makes his way through the racks labeled 'Men'. Muttering under his breath, "It certainly sounds as piercing as metal..." The cringe on his face spoke of nails against a chalkboard.
It takes all your self-control not to redirect him to the 'Boys' area you were well aware only equipped enough for 10 and under.
You're hot on his heels, following from the other side of the racks when you lean close enough so he can hear without disturbing the other customers, "Running errands isn't so bad with AC, is it?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself." The top of his head and a bit of his eye you can see, starts, "We've yet to acquire any information. I am merely.. putting up with this. Be grateful for this.. AC."
He stops abruptly when he realizes you're following him to the end of the long racks, "Yeah, yeah." You sigh, carding through the racks he stopped at curiously, "I'm super grateful or whatever but since that's so important, try to hurry up, yeah?"
Ciel stops moving. When you turn, you find him pivoting between the hangers so you can see he was giving you a deadpan.
Your gaze narrows but just as soon move to that space where he can see, and stick your tongue out in the most derogatory way you can.
He clicks his tongue and continues browsing the clothing.
While he does, you dig through your bag and count the cash in your wallet from inside as discreetly as you can. Mouthing what the unknowing passerby may think is curses and incoherent madness but in reality, dreaded math equations floating through your head at how much you had left and estimating how much you can spend and get by.
Ciel pulls a piece from the rack that seemed pretty well intact for secondhand when he looks at the possessed stare you're giving what looked to be the floors from where he stood.
He almost looks pained when he realizes it's your wallet that has you possessed.
"What am I working with, exactly?"
You finish up the last of your mutterings and gulp. Ducking so you can look through the top of the hangers again and into his disgruntled blue eye, "...$56.34"
His eye narrows through the space under the steel rod, "is that not around as much as my shoes?"
The concern in his monotone and the way he reaches to place the piece of clothing back on the rack are enough to get you shaking your head fiercely.
"But-"
Spreading two fat sections of clothing open, you pop your head between them so you're looking up at him and he's looking down at you. Blue eye wide at your method of crossing the boundary between you two.
"No." You insist, a fire burning in your (e/c) eyes that has Ciel clutching the hanger.
"This in and of itself is 11.50. How do you suppose we can afford any other piece?" His eye is narrowed down at you now.
Meanwhile, you're struggling to cross the sections as the bag Nana lent you kept getting stuck on the hangers and nearly making its contents spill, "well, we'll find a way!"
"Can you.. is that allowed?" He glanced at the cashiers too busy working or chatting to notice you making your way through the racks.
"No." Your voice is just as determined, "a cheat, you could say. But if they can do 11.50, I can play dirty too!"
Ciel looks unamused. More so when he watches you tug on the bag while squashed between tightly packed clothing.
"How?"
At this, you stop for a moment. A moment you took to look up at him and he to the wig beginning to stick out of your bag.
"..is that?" He hesitates to ask.
"A wig for our infiltration of course." Your response is so nonchalant, Ciel felt like the idiot for even being taken aback.
Sighing, he says nothing more and watches you stare at him while you ponder.
Humming, "y'know what? This is what I was forgetting earlier."
"The wig?"
"Wha- no!" You finally unstick the damn bag and turn to find Ciel offering you a reluctant hand out of your position from the racks. You gratefully take it and even smile when you say, "That I planned it so it'd fall on a Monday!"
Ciel is staring at you the way he always does. Blankly. You think it's because he still doesn't get it, which is part of it, but he's also just distracted by your frizzy, ruffled hair and the goddamn wig that's peeking out of a loose-knit in your bag when you hop out.
"Yes. Monday. Of course." His eye narrows.
You roll your eyes and sigh exasperatedly. Before he can let go, you tighten your grip on his hand and smooth over your hair, "this way, c'mon!"
Leaving him no time to prepare for your sudden moves, "Ah!"
You run to the other side of the store towards the back where you spot a yellow sign and beam, quickly turning back to him, "Look, look! All the yellow, more golden than the sun! It's half off and $5 an item!"
There's a sparkle in your eyes Ciel hasn't recalled ever seeing until now. His sights widen; you're this excited over cheaper items. He didn't know whether to laugh, scoff, or be astounded. Just how bad is the economy?
Never in his life had he had to worry about such things. To see it firsthand through your beaming smile as bright as the sunny yellow discount tags...
..he found strange.
When you're at the racks, you stop just before the men's section and finally release his hand.
"I'll look over there," pointing just down the section before this one, "you look here. If you find anything you like let me know!" You say, and turn to face him.
Ciel's staring at you. You blink. Snap your fingers before his eyes, "Hey, you ok?"
His eye flutters, "..yes. You'll look there, correct?"
You raise a brow but nod anyway.
He clears his throat, "then get to it. We haven't all day." And rushes past you.
"..'kay." Your eyes are suspicious of him but make your move to your strategic positioning.
After hoarding a few styles, you two move into the changing room.
"Must I put these on-" Ciel's nose is scrunched, whining like a child who can afford to. So you remind him to begin acting like one who couldn't.
"Yes. You must. Just try it on, I even brought some shorts just for the bottoms so hurry up!"
You ended up pushing him into the room while he held a scowl of disgust.
He comes out stiff the first time, shorts and a T-shirt fitting him well.
You hum, making him turn his stiff posture this way and that to make sure it fits well, "yeah, this could work. I'm glad the shorts I brought were thin enough -"
Ciel takes the end of his shirt and shoves his finger into a hole there while giving you a deadpan.
"..ok, well beggars can't be choosers-" Shivers crawl up your spine. You were starting to understand and sound like your parents.
"I found better quality clothing than this." And slams the door shut.
In his second outfit, he wore pants that were a joint pick and another t-shirt.
"Something looks off.." you're squinting at him, "..I just can't quite.. place my finger on it.."
"Is it, perhaps, the idea of pants in this ridiculous heat and poor excuse of autumn-"
"Oh! It's because I feel like I've never seen you in pants."
Ciel's brow twitches. "Never?"
"No, I'm sure I have, just not used to it." At his stare, you sigh and turn him so he's facing the mirror in the dressing room, "Look it's not that bad. Everyone needs a good pair of pants, especially since winter is coming."
Ciel's staring back at his reflection, lifting the shirt lightly to adjust his pants, "Is winter coming?" He's looking at you through the mirror.
You suck in your lips, "...we can only hope."
"I see.." just as Ciel begins to rip off his pants you yell you're kidding.
In the third outfit, he was still in those pants but with a belt and a long sleeve. You wondered if he ever wore a belt, as it's loose and hanging from the loops.
"Remind me once again-"
"Yes, it'll probably be cold by the time you can wear this."
From your position behind him, you find Ciel discerning his clothing with what looks like a mark of decency. I think. It only took you instructing him how to make the belt look more flattering.
For the fourth, he comes out in shorts and a button-up. A lowered eye too. Plus with every outfit, his hair got progressively worse. Littered with flyaways and friction. It was beginning to bother you.
"This is it?" Following your movements of reaching over to him and then pausing.
"Is it alright if I touch you for a second?"
Ciel halts at this, staring through his lashes with a question on his lips, "..yes."
You use this time of gawking at you to help tuck in one side to see what it'd look like tucked vs untucked. Fixing his hair, straightening out the clothing and wonky buttons. He's for sure lacking practice. The entire time Ciel only removes his eyes from your actions once you point out the mirror.
"I think this would look good with that vest back at Lottie's." You say, watching his eye scan the clothing on himself, "A taste of home."
Ciel looks up again to catch the small smile you give him through the mirror.
"..home.." there's a distance to his eye now.
For a moment, he sees it. The blue vest over the white button-up. Shorts fit well, though not nearly as those tailored by Nina. All that's missing is a coat pressed to perfection.
The manor in those misty woods. A stone's throw away from London, Phantomhive Earldom. Where his idiot servants do everything they can to protect him. Where Lizzy and his aunt were. Where Sebastian waits.
Walking through the halls, cane echoing as he attends to the task at hand. Surrounded by luxuries and never wanting. Buying this entire store no mere fantasy but his reality. Able to have silence and comfortably read with a warm cup of tea. Finding as the days drift by, comforted only in that moment.. and haunted by the rest.
Always awaiting a case from the Queen to further his goals. Building his toy empire.
Doing it all alone.
Home.
That cold, empty place.
"Ciel?"
The fog that drifted over his eye begins to disperse.
From the breath of phantoms crawling his neck, to the stuffy breezes of the thrift store. What you called alternative and rock tunes bellowing over speakers. In the mirror, he finds clothing that doesn't fit as well as his, and you watching him.
He clears his throat, "Yes. This can work.." it's only now he finds back there, he speaks less than he's been forced to here. Because who if not his servants is there to speak?
You stay silent for a second. The distance in that moment.. was there a manor hidden in the woods of his iris, you wonder. Watching him regain himself, busy with his collar, your eyes lower.
Right. He had a place to return, one you were determined to help him track down.
I'm sure he must miss that place..
"..Are you ok? You've been spacing out all day."
I'll make sure he gets there. No matter what.
When he meets your eyes in the mirror, a light concern he could see through the cracks, he finds he almost does slip, but just as easily presses his lips into a distant line. The cold breath of home singed with the blistering sun that never sets.
"I'm fine, simply not used to the heat here.."
".. alright. If you need anything though, just let me know." You say, walking out just as he follows your moves, "I won't stop our deal so don't worry about asking for help."
Offering Ciel a smile, he takes a moment to stare at you, then nods.
".. I will keep that in mind."
You nod, "then this one's a no?"
He hesitates, looking back into the mirror to imagine himself once more in the vest. It was a step above the last three. Adjusting his cuffs, Ciel sees the vision you put in mind and feels this might be the closest to class and decorum he'd find.
"I.." he starts before his eyes flick from his stance and clothing to your grinning over his shoulder. When had you gotten back inside?!
"'I' what?" You tease to which his blue-grey hair stands on end, blush tinting his cheeks.
Scowling, Ciel throws you out through hot cheeks and continues to the last outfit.
The fifth is his favorite of all the shorts with a hoodie.
When he slams the door open, there's a severe look in his sparking blue eye. Safe to say, he didn't care for it.
"I mean this one's just a classic. Good to have with both pants and shorts." You start fists on your hips and smiling.
"Classic?" Ciel snorts, "I know neither not nor why this contraption was made, but it is both inconvenient and unflattering!"
"Well it's almost as classic as jeans so let's get that right."
"I don't care!" Ciel just about shouts, and a few shoppers glance your way.
"But doesn't it just make you feel safe?" You hum, snuggling into your own.
"Nuuhh!" Ciel's voice comes muffled followed by a bunch of shoe squeaking and noise.
Turning to him, your brow twitches.
More shoppers have turned to look at all the racket you two have been making. The racket being; Ciel's wrestling with the hoodie to take it off, muffled expletives as he teeters back and forth idiotically. You offer them a sheepish apology and run up to help the idiot take it off.
"Here. Just.. hold.. still..!" You tug, wondering how the hell he nearly strangled himself in it.
With one thrust up, Ciel is freed and you guys fall back into the dressing room. He's heaving, sitting on the ground against the seat under the mirror. You're flat on your back, head sticking out the dressing room and legs on either side of his. A few shoppers stare.
"I.. am not.." Ciel heaves, leaning back into the seat, "taking that.. thing, with me!"
He's watching you stare blankly at the roof of Killer Cheapskate questioning your life choices, with resolution.
You crane your neck up to stare at him, propping yourself on your elbows.
"Why?"
"It just tried to kill me!"
"No. You did that yourself."
Ciel's brow twitches, "I'm not taking it, (Y/n)."
You let out a long breath through your nose and sit up.
"Fine."
Once you two are standing again, you get another warning from the employees and decide now would be a good time to leave.
Sorting through the clothing, you both decided on keep piles and definite no, death trap, toss it into the fire, piles. The former Ciel's addition.
"These six?"
Ciel's aged by now. All hunchback and droopy eyes as he carries half the pile, nodding.
"Ok, then it's decided."
With $84.50 less than when you arrived, you had gotten Ciel a total of 7 items. 2 bottoms, 3 tops, 1 belt, and 1 pair of shoes.
You calculate the damages to your wallet.
"What are the damages." Ciel has figured this constipated look on your face by now equated to such things. Staring at your fox wallet, really coin purse, with a narrowed eye.
Muttering softly, before zipping up the jangle of coins and few bills to put away. A single tear slips out of your eye, smiling his way, "$22.34"
Ciel almost looks physically pained. Almost. After all, where he's from, you're not doing too bad. But then, this is not the 19th century.
"You haven't any means of procuring more?"
You shake your head.
"Are you an idiot?" He deadpans for the second time today.
You do a double take, "huh?" Proving his point.
"Why would you spend so much if you are aware I won't be here long-" Ciel starts, stopping just before the other end of Rocket Kicks!
"Because you need it! You can't wear Kyle's hand-me-downs forever-"
"It won't be forever."
Ciel's staring hard through his silvery lashes. Blue-grey hair styled as you tried today, though it wasn't as hard since it was still fresh and well cared for by Sebastian before his arrival.
Hearing such things stutters your breath. Unsure why. As though your heart fell into your stomach. It was nothing you didn't know.. perhaps this build-up was irritation.
You hold his gaze as long as you can but ultimately, look away, "Look, to you it may be a waste, but to me, it isn't." You stuff the wig well into the bag as a distraction, "it's my money. I get to decide whether or not something is a waste and how I want to use it."
From your low view, all you can see is the comfortability of his new shoes. How they'd already offered him some relief compared to the triple socking and heeled ones from his era. Something he'd need either here or there. Even now, you note the glances he gave them when you were paying. The wonder in his eye alone was worth the money you'd always saved to rot for a rainy day.
Maybe money was hard to come by, and maybe it wasn't gonna be easy. This wasn't gonna be easy. But you also knew it wasn't impossible, and at any point, he could opt out.
No matter what challenges presented themselves, you were determined to face them. Together.
Alone.
Like always.
I can do this.
You look back to Ciel now who was observing you quietly. There's a determination in your gaze when you shove the bag full of clothing in your fist against his chest. Almost glaring when he nearly steps back, surprised.
Ciel bores into your strong eyes and determined frown. An almost contradicting expression, he thought. Filing yet another note of yours away as he regards you for a moment longer, then, softly, takes the bag against his heart from your hands.
As soon as it's out of your grip, your eyes ease and you smile.
"Maybe not forever, but for now." You say, buttoning the bag closed, "I hope you liked your clothing. They cost a pretty penny y'know." You chuckle.
Ciel's cheek tints, averting his gaze, "And if I don't?"
You shrug, "we can always get more."
Walking forward, Ciel follows along regarding you. He was never one to believe the frivolities of those with decent nature or soft-spoken words. Though the creaseless gaze you give without a mask is unmistakable. Such things, he found, only come from idiots without a clue of the world. But in the short week he'd spent beside you, found no such evidence.
"Can we?" There's suspicion in his eye when he says, "You said money is not easy to come by."
Maybe I've yet to find it. A thought he couldn't help but have. The dirt you stored for when it thunders.
"Just 'cause it ain't easy doesn't mean it can't be done."
He's watching the side of your face, nonchalant and at ease. Curious. "..I suppose that's true enough."
"Don't need to," you said, tapping away at your mini tv-phone, noting the Fahrenheit symbol, "we've got brains and brawns."
At your chuckling actions, you meet his perplexed face with a smirk, "You and me of course. Though I have both, I'll let you hold the other title."
"Brawns?" Ciel doesn't hide his doubt, "the only brawny aspect of you is your gall to speak with vulgarity and dress just as offensively."
"What the?!" You glare and stop at a curb suddenly. Ciel doesn't even turn, but you can see the corner of a smirk on his stupid face. He should make it sport the way he talks to you. You bet he'd never be called weak again.
"Of course, an old man with old traditions would say something so outdated and manlike!" You huff, catching up to him.
"For your sake, I won't mention your brains comment," Ciel says just as you meet his gaze.
"You keep calling me dumb like you have proof." You narrow.
"Incidentally, I do." Ciel starts, though you hear the rest with the slurp of a nerd pushing up his glasses, "We use the same 'weird metric system' as you."
"Really?" There's some suspicion in your gaze, he notes. He tells you about the shoe sizing system and points out the Fahrenheit symbol, "What you are using here are imperial units. Understandably, you were ignorant of this fact," muttering, "Considering how dull you are-"
"Asshole."
Ciel's nose scrunches at your vulgar insult. More proof of his earlier statement. "And you call yourself a lady?"
"Are you really telling me ladies never said asshole or something?"
His lips purse, "No. My late aunt.. she too was at times.. a free speaker.." Ciel trails off, eye narrowed as he recalls all the times Sebastian covered his ears, "Be that as it may, it was also she who always told Lizzy ladies shouldn't curse-"
"Well fuck."
He blinks in surprise but just as quickly regains himself. If Ciel were honest, he didn't care all that much, only found it foreign. After a week and some around you, he's found himself in the beginnings of finding it routine. A drastic change from the temperaments once around him. They lay on the opposite spectrum save for Doll and Sullivan. But even Sullivan learned duly how one of her standings should conduct herself...
Regardless, if he hadn't seen you in that nightgown when he first awoke, he wouldn't know what to think.
Meanwhile, your mind drifts to Lizzy. Just thinking about it, the poor girl. Forced into a marriage built on lies and instructed on how to live her life for it. And she couldn't even say fuck? It was the tragedy of the century. It was fortunate she cared at all for these rats but a curse all the same. Yet another amazing girl they tried to force at a man's beck and call. But you know Lizzy is stronger than that.
Humming, you shrug, "Well you're gonna have to get used to it. No one gives a damn in the modern world most of the time."
"So I see."
Brushing off his lack of practice with ladies who curse, "But that's pretty interesting. It makes sense we use British inventions when that's where these colonizers migrated from." Ciel watches your face twist from the side in silence. He didn't know much but with the context of your words and his limited knowledge of the country, he had an idea as to why you'd react so.
You two had stopped walking, standing by another curb. One just outside the stores under the sun who, last Ciel peeked, was 105°. He could feel it burning the back of his neck when he goes to cover himself with the bag of clothes.
"97, you said?" Ciel starts. You flinch, his eye that of a tempered wrath.
"I- I guess it got hotter!" You force a laugh, averting your gaze.
"If that's the case, why are we standing by the side of the road?!"
"Can you not see the red light?" You point out, "There's also cars to run us over."
"Surely there are other means of traveling!"
"I only have 22 leftover." As you exchanged lessons of currency, you knew he was aware of how much that does in this economy. "Unless you have cash, we're gonna keep walking."
Ciel clicks his tongue. He still can't believe how little you've managed with 106 as you spent quite a bit. But he found the amount strange.. 106.. it's then he recalls those shoes. You only had around 128 in cash..
"I'll take these."
Then how..?
Ciel's eye widens. Turning to your humming without care, swinging Nana's bag around until you feel his growing glare.
"Liar." He grits.
You stare into the sharpened edge of his gaze, not once asking why.
Ciel speaks through tight lips, "You never had enough, did you?"
Your mouth opens a bit, staring at each other for a while. A long silent while. Then, lit warmly by the devilish sun, a mischievous smile spreads over your face. "You just realized?" Your lilting tune turns to laughs.
Ciel's face flushes. "You..!"
"You lied to me first about wanting them. Don't like the taste of your own medicine, do you?" You hum. He freezes. "You started it." There's a calm arrogance when you say, "I just finished it."
Ciel's shaking, the bag of clothing quivering in his fist. The absolute nerve! After all your truth this and no liar that speeches - it was no wonder, he thought, right again! You were no idiot. Just as the other snakes he's encountered, you deceived him even after you claimed you wouldn't-
"You started it."
And a hypocrite to boot! He expected it, but just as soon found the swirling pit inside fill further. Despite it, despite the clear lies, he couldn't help but find a sense of awe in it. For a good moment, Ciel truly believed you may just be the idiot without a clue.
You're watching the scrunch in his reddened nose, and grinding teeth turn to that of a frown. You had an idea of what he was thinking, the liars in us all. But felt it was an unfair evaluation.
"Hey, don't get it twisted." You start, turning back from him to the road, "I don't lie. I was more than ready to buy up those shoes even if I had to go get extra from my untouchable savings, but I felt it was only then you would take any mind to my words."
"That does not negate your lies." He hisses, drooping with the bag of clothing. The magic of the AC was beginning to fade.
"True, but that was only teasing. I had every intention and means of fulfilling that request, so I like to consider it true." At his struggles, you take a side of the bag so you can shoulder the burden, "You can't tell me you've never done the same."
"..." It's now he decides to be truthful. When you glance his way, he's taking note of your help.
"And does that make you unworthy of trust? No." You say, "You see, two can play dirty and you underestimated me." You smile, "Serves you right."
By now, Ciel doesn't know to be angry or impressed. Though he'd decided on anger, can he even say he was betrayed? When it was he who lies first?
All he knew now was that he wasn't the only one willing to play dirty.
Just as he begins suspecting you for not bringing him to the forest as well and arguing with you about that and the heat, you suddenly hear a honk.
At first, you don't pay it any mind over your squabbling until it comes again. When you two turn, you find a hand waving from the window of a car waiting for the light to turn. Inside was an outstretched older man. Where Ciel's narrow and he stiffens, your eyes brighten and run up to the rolled-down window.
"Donald!"
༘⋆
Chapter 14: CHAPTER 11|JANKY RIDE
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
CATCHING DONALD BY THE STOPLIGHTS was a stroke of luck you were all but doubtful of after the scorching heat of the sun melting your skin and the grate of Ciel's voice.
He's got a hand on the steering wheel, rock softly bellowing through. You lean into the opening window with a big smile despite the reek of pine and smoke. From behind Ciel watches through a narrow blue and upturned nose, stumbling along with your eager movements as he holds the other side of the bag.
"Don!"
"(Y/n)! What're ya doin' round here?" The man asks, grey gaze glancing over to the bag between Ciel and you, "Cheapskates?"
When you nod, he hums, eyes narrowing briefly, "Who's the kid?" Reminded of the reason he noticed you to begin with, "He botherin' yu?" His gravelly voice lowers, hairy hand by his mouth when he leans closer, eyes shifting threateningly Ciel's way. "He trouble?"
When Donald's gaze reaches the boy, Ciel only returns it with an equally distrustful glare.
"Nah," you wave your free hand, "he'd say I am."
Seeing the ease in your (e/c) gaze when you turn back to the scowling boy, chuckling as though his irritation amuses you, Donald's greying brows unfurl, though his shifting eyes barely let up, "..Aa'right, if ya say so. You jus' give the word and I'll have 'im spoutin manners till kingdom come."
At the same time, Ciel pulls at the bag, tugging you over. "(Y/n), who is this?" He murmurs the moment you've stumbled a step back. Refusing to take his eye off Donald all the while.
"He's-" When you look back at the old man, his eyes are warm, and he smiles oddly your way. It takes you a moment before you connect his gaze to Ciel.
You flush then, hands curling with something reluctant. Furrowed with something you stubbornly shake off to look into his blue-grey eyes.
"Hey Don, can we get a ride? It's fuckin' scorching out here!"
Ciel looks at you incredulously. Had you not just heard what he thought was a clear plea of explanation?
"I was jus' bout to offer you's one." He reached over just as you take a step back, door flicking open, "hop in."
Before you can make a single move to, there's a pull at your shoulder. Turning to find Ciel's shifting eye gleaning over Donald before flicking back your way.
"(Y/n), who is this man?"
"Donald."
Ciel makes his favorite face your way, irritation, "I mean, what is your relation?"
"If you're asking how we met, he found me on the side of the road, once."
Ciel's wide-eyed and twitching, sputtering, "he what?" But is cut short by your attempts to head inside, instead pulled back to face his eye full of wariness, "Perhaps talking to random, strange men on the side of the road is not the best idea!"
"I know it sounds weird but trust me, Don's a good guy." You offer him a confident thumbs up. Ciel just looks at you like you've lost your last braincell so you drop it, "You want to get out of this heat and make it to the forest on time, right?"
He hesitates then. You don't give him much more time to agree when you go to head back. Ciel's about to stop you for a third time when Donald speaks up.
"Hey, you!" Donald's eyes shift over your shoulder, shooting Ciel's way.
"Me?" Ciel points a hesitant finger his own way, eye wide with shock and confusion.
"Yeah you!" Donald starts, "How's you go by?" when Ciel is silent, too dumbfounded to answer, the man reiterates, "what's yer name?"
"Uhh.." When his eye shifts your way, as though asking, you're forced out of your observation.
"Right," you take a side of the bag into your other hand, waving Ciel closer, "I forgot to introduce you two." To Ciel's questioning eye, you nod him a go-ahead.
"Er, I am Ciel Phantomhive. Earl- that is, a friend," he strains the word, offering a twitching smile your way. You snicker, "of (Y/n)'s."
"That right?" It doesn't take a genius to figure Donald's all but suspicious, but with the light turning green he was only 3 cars from a honk fest. "(Y/n), hop in! And, Earl, was it?"
"Yes sir!" You yip, dropping the bag, Ciel sagging with its weight, a complaint on the tip of his seething tongue as you step up and swing the door shut.
"Earl?" Ciel glances quickly from between Donald's suspicion to your smile screaming to correct him, "no-no." He starts quick, "It was, - it's Ciel."
"Whatever," Donald grunts, jerking his head back, "get in. Got places to be I reckon?"
Donald's truck with its faded, chipped paint and heights are enough to deter Ciel, even without the usual steps he was accustomed to to aid him, Ciel wasn't all too eager to get inside. Especially with a man he'd only just met. How was it you two were even aquatinted.. father..? No..
With the way the honks begin blaring all around him, Ciel's torn from his thoughts.
"C'mon, we've got a mystery to solve, remember? Let's go!" Your yell seems suitable enough as he scrambles inside, door slamming behind him in a start.
The moment it clicks, Donald's revved up the engine, and Ciel's all wails when this iron carriage begins it's trek forwards. You're laughing at the way he clutches the headboard and the seat, as though any turn or movement would catapult him out the door or, worse, through the expansive window before him. Forcing the busy streets and reckless drivers into his view in yet another daunting twist of fate.
"(Y-Y/n)!" He begins, unsure if he should glare or suffocate the anxious swirl building inside, "this is safe?!"
You almost couldn't hear the question past the blame of his preconceived death.
"Yes. I've been in here plenty of times, it's perfectly safe." You offer, reaching over to the radio to turn it up until you feel Ciel's gaze, flicking from the circular knob to you.
"What are you doing?"
"Turning up the radio."
"Radi.. this thing can play music?" He mutters the last part, Donald shifting his eyes over you two every now and then. He recalled the torturous dances you and Milk had encircled him with.
"Yep. So, rock? Or your favorite, metal?" Your sly smile is returned with a snarl.
"Before any a that," Donald flicks from the road to your disappointed eyes when he lightly pushes your hand away, "both a you's get on those darn seatbelts!"
You tsk at him and go to pull it over until you note the loss in Ciel's eye, before he can even ask. When you let go of your belt and it slithers with a smack to Donald's arm, he almost scolds you a second time before he watches as you reach over Ciel, stiff as a board at your proximity, and pull it over him. Buckling him in as he watches with curious confusion.
"Seatbelts. Pretty handy if you feel like surviving this death trap-"
"Hey!" Donald calls now.
You huff, and give him a side eye that Donald returns, "now watch your mouth there missy. Ol' Delilah here's as safe as they come-"
"So he says.." you mutter Ciel's way who then stiffens for another reason entirely.
"You'll scare the lad!"
"Maybe he should be scared."
"I-I am not, by any means, scared!"
Ciel shrinks when you both look at him through narrowed eyes. Were you certain this man was not your father? Ciel wasn't so certain, sharing in the same look now.
His cheeks flush when you and Donald dismiss him, shaking your heads. He could almost hear it, and then, he does.
"Kids, am I right?" You chuckle, arms crossed.
Ciel is seething. "You-"
But he has little time before Donald's at another stop, brows furrowed, "I said seatbelt!" And pushes you back into the seat to shove the thing on.
All you can do at this is let out a strangled noise of outrage, discontent, or humiliation, neither you nor Ciel knew. Tsk'ing harder now and clutching your arms when Ciel, witnessing this all, realizes,
"Kids, was it?" He scoffs. Smirking slyly your way, only growing when a deep hue invades your cheeks.
You hiss, "screw you." Turning up the radio now. Your god given right after being put through such a horrid ordeal as being scolded right before the enemy.
"Cranky?" He starts, emboldened by your humiliation, "perhaps your seatbelt is a tad tight. Shall I ask Donald here to give you a hand in adjusting it again for you?"
"You-!" You sputter, pointy finger up to his cocky face until you grit, swallow your anger, and instead curl it into a fist, muttering, "you didn't even know what a seatbelt was five seconds ago!" You start, glancing back over your shoulder to assure Donald wasn't eavesdropping, "I suggest you be quiet."
Donald's lowered gaze is on the roads ahead, and though he couldn't hear your whispering over the radio you had taken the time to turn up further, he can tell by the snickering alone from the other kid that you were getting clowned. And what happens when you get clowned by your perception of another? Grit teeth and curled fists. So he found it curious, from his peripherals, Donald can see the fist you hold up to the kid who remained unthreatened, thinking, Threats.
A right reserved for the likes of him and your family.
His grey shifts briefly your way, turning forward again, lip pulled up while you glare out the window in a slouch. Earl, rather, Ciel's smirk has since faded, studying your profile in an almost arrogant way before ultimately turning away. It seemed in the thick of it, he forgot any fears he seemed to have of Delilah.
Just who was this kid by your side? Donald was interested, but then, it sinks lazily into a pile of things he often wonders and never attempts to discover.
Flicking on the country ranch tunes he taps his finger over the steering wheel to.
"Donald." You call lightly. Clear objection in your eyes at his choice.
"My car, my rules."
You simply sigh and slouch further into your seat.
This life is a prison. You can't help but dramatically think, sandwiched between a grumpy old man and a tasteless one who decided his honky tonk music was preferable to your attempted mischief Ciel's way.
Meanwhile Ciel is studying the rundown sights with cinched brow. Just where had he been forced into? To think, the modern world with all its conveniences, barely poses an architectural threat to his era. With every bump in the road and rumble of the buzzing truck, Ciel detached himself more and more from the door, wandering eye to the floors until he's scoot so far, his shoulder brushes yours. Leaping away to find you raising a brow at him despite your qualms with him.
He lifts the bag from between you two to between himself and the door, "nothing.."
You're quick to pick this and his wary eye up, "I know I joked about it earlier," Ciel turns back to you, sitting up and looking him in the eye, "but it really is safe. Just-", you glance Donald's way, leaning into his side to whisper, "a shit ride is all."
Ciel studies the smile you offer him. You hoped it was as reassuring as you intended, but you haven't practiced any smile outside your customer service in a while. There's a frown on him, but really he's just as monotone as ever.
"Everything is rumbling.." he starts, doubtful.
"It does that. Bad wheel alignment or tire issues. Probably both."
His eye narrows, "even when it slows?"
"Brake problems and the tires again." You smirk, careful Donald can't hear past his singing, "Seems Ol' Delilah here needs a new hip."
"And the.. discoloration? This-" Ciel's nose scrunches at the burnt orange he'd been digging the sole of his shoe into mindlessly.
"Donald's been meaning to paint over the oxidation.. and, like I said," you brush the area with your own shoe, right up against Ciel's, "Delilah's old. There's bound to be some rust here and there."
When you look back up at him you find him staring at you as impassive as always, but your shoulders touch. Talk about cooties, it's then you nudge his shoe with yours.
Ciel would Tsk if he weren't too busy deciding his analysis of your likely lies to him was more important. Attempting to convince him this iron machine wasn't to bring him death by explaining all its issues instead.. he wondered if he should be comforted. But then, the knowledge he's received.. was. And since he neither knew what a brake, much less operable car was, for now, he would take it.
He stops grinding into the rust and settles down a slight.
"I can see that." Ciel says.
You note his shoulders are much more relaxed now, "don't worry. Most people's cars actually work. At least, better than Donald's.."
"Why would I worry about others?" It's rhetorical but you shrug anyways.
"I'm sure you've noticed the main mode of transportation."
Ciel follows the nod you give to the busy streets ahead. He hums, of course he has. It's hard to miss such an active sight, whether it be the night he arrived or earlier into the day. He didn't know if being within the vehicle or outside walking alongside them, was worse.
Before he can say anything more a gruff voice pipes up.
"So, where you's headin' anyway?"
You both turn to him and find a prickly brow raised.
"Uh," you start, glancing in time to meet Ciel's cautious eye and back to the curious man, "well, we were thinking about how we wanted to go.. y'know.." Donald glances at your hesitant eyes, smiling despite it, "break back into the forest somewhat near my place? We've got some questions that need answering!"
You say, flicking between Ciel's incredulous eye to Donald's raised brow. Feeling a pull at your shoulder and finding Ciel leaning threateningly into you.
"What are you..!" He seethes between grit teeth.
Before you can offer him more than a wry smile,
"The forest yonder yer place?"
You nod, "Cuz, y'know.. we've always been curious what goes on! A sort of spy kids adventure, really!" You laugh. Ciel can only shrivel beside you, practically bruising your shoulder by now.
Donald hums. Grey eyes glancing once over you two, and the pained smiles you both wore, thinking, "an adventure, aye?"
Your head moves at light speeds.
"Well I'll be hot dogged!" He smiles, turning back to the road, "sounds like an adventure I can't miss! 'Course I'll help y'all there safe!"
Ciel stiffens beside you, but your face lights up when you both say, "Really!?"
With the squint in his eye, it manifests more as a question on Ciel's end. You elbow him lightly.
"Well it's like my mama always told me; what's the point of bein young 'n spry if ya never venture out on a trip or two?"
Ciel's grumbling beside you, rubbing his side while you nod along, "wiser words were never spoken. Your mama's sharp."
Donald chuckles. "That she was."
༘⋆
Notes:
☆°○A/N•°☆
Hey guys! Pretty short this time but wanted to put something out and say that I've decided to make a Tumblr to give you a heads up as to if/when an update will be posted. And just to establish a form of communication with you all 😊 I'm lmoonmeadowsl on there too.
Mai (Guest) on Chapter 2 Wed 21 Aug 2024 09:05PM UTC
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Mai (Guest) on Chapter 2 Wed 21 Aug 2024 09:08PM UTC
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taevoire on Chapter 5 Tue 07 Nov 2023 09:33AM UTC
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Moon Blue (Guest) on Chapter 10 Sun 11 Aug 2024 02:28AM UTC
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AwIvy on Chapter 11 Tue 24 Jun 2025 10:26PM UTC
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AwIvy on Chapter 13 Thu 29 May 2025 03:04PM UTC
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moonmeadows on Chapter 13 Sun 01 Jun 2025 06:58AM UTC
Last Edited Sun 01 Jun 2025 07:06AM UTC
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AwIvy on Chapter 13 Sun 01 Jun 2025 01:10PM UTC
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AwIvy on Chapter 14 Mon 08 Sep 2025 11:09PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 09 Sep 2025 12:49AM UTC
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