Children's Games (a Sebaciel Fanfic)

Part 61

Sebastian sat Ciel in the chair beside the bed and hastily placed new linens and comforter on the bed as the young Lord watched, curled up in the chair, still holding Sebastian's tailcoat as though it were a lifeline. Once the bed was made, Sebastian pulled Ciel into his arms again, depositing him gently on the freshly made bed. He knelt before him and began the ritual of dressing him for bed, as though nothing at all had transpired between them. Ciel sniffled quietly, the occasional tear falling from his cheek, staining the tailcoat he held in his little hands. When Sebastian reached to take it from him, he held it tighter.

"Bocchan, please." He allowed Sebastian to take the coat after a moment of hesitation, and it was deposited in the hamper along with the rest of Ciel's clothes. The young Lord sat in his white shorts, fingering the blue diamond ring on his thumb as Sebastian chose a nightshirt from the bureau and returned to his side, wrapping it around his narrow shoulders. Still silent, Ciel slipped his arms through the sleeves and let Sebastian button it halfway up, keeping his eyes averted. Once he was dressed for bed Sebastian leaned back on his heel, looking over his little Master, blood and tears staining his face. He sighed softly and stood, going to the washroom to retrieve a few cool, wet washcloths and a dry towel. Returning, Sebastian knelt before Ciel once again, poised to wipe the tears from his cheeks; when the young Lord still refused to look at him, he spoke softly. "Let me?" After a moment Ciel nodded and allowed Sebastian to lift his chin with a single gloved finger and press the cool cloth to his cheek. "You've made quite the mess of yourself, kitten." Mismatched eyes finally met Sebastian's, and the hurt in them was evident.

"You just... left me here." Sebastian chuckled quietly and shook his head, carefully stroking his Master's cheek with the washcloth.

"I did no such thing. I took a night off... the one that I won in our wager, as I'm sure you recall." Ciel sniffled quietly again and started to rub his eyes with his fists, but Sebastian batted his hands away, smoothing the cool cloth over his cheeks until he was satisfied that neither blood nor salt tears remained. He offered Ciel a dry cloth and the young Lord dried his face before crawling up towards the center of the bed, trying to figure out which of the pillows was his favorite, since everything had been rearranged. Once he'd adjusted them to his liking, he leaned back against them, looking over at Sebastian expectantly.

"Where's Bitter Rabbit?" Sebastian paused on his way to the washroom and turned back to Ciel. Something about the words made him smile and he just stood there for a moment, looking at him. Ciel sat atop the blankets with his legs crossed before him, hands buried in the length of his nightshirt. The young Earl looked to him and saw what he had been laboring for for nearly a month. That affectionate gaze cast upon him, finally, and he smiled shyly. Sebastian's smile grew and he continued about his dutie; now stained washcloths into the hamper, Bitter Rabbit retrieved from a chair beside the window. The butler approached the bed, offering the rabbit and Ciel quickly enveloped the bunny in his arms, squeezing it tightly, burying his face in its plush softness. Chuckling softly, Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed beside Ciel, lengthy legs crossed at the knee, arm braced behind him as he leaned back.

"Kitten... we need to talk about your most recent game." Ciel shook his head quickly, clutching the rabbit to his chest, chin resting on its head, the rabbit's ears framing his face.

"It won't happen again..." Sebastian slipped a finger under Ciel's chin and forced eye contact but Ciel withdrew, looking down at the bunny in his lap, fingering one of its ears.

"It shouldn't have happened in the first place." Ciel nodded silently, hoping if he agreed then that would be the end of it, but Sebastian continued. "What made you think you could win my favor by throwing yourself at another man?" Ciel shrugged, honestly unable to answer. He started to speak more than once before he managed to get the words out.