Guardians of Darkness (Supernatural/Black Butler)

Untimely Encounter

His girlfriend has told him that he is too depressed, that he should try having fun for once and live a little. What is the point of fun when people are suffering? he asked himself. What he wanted was to help people in danger, and to follow his natural instinct to protect himself as well.

The first time Sebastian had asked him if he wanted sugar added to his tea, he had refused not because of its taste, but because sugar is his enemy. Once he accepts sugar he is willing to exist on sugar. Under what circumstances would he need something in his life like sugar that is so baseless, used only for the pleasure of humans? What he wanted was a stinging pain that would last a lifetime and beyond.

These are the thoughts that ran through Ciel Phantomhive's mind as he prepared for his daily routine. He sat at his desk sipping his deliciously flavorless tea while Sebastian recited his schedule for the day as is his custom. He adjusted the bow tie around his neck, squirming slightly out of its way. His first order of business would be to compose a letter addressing an accusation by another business of Funtom's use of illegal methods to produce goods. He sighed. There is no legal or fair. Things are as they are. He would briefly explain the process his company used to create their product, assuring that no illegal actions were occurring. Certainly there are no laws about candy making demons in London, anyways.

He began his letter and was soon interrupted by a muffled explosion from the floor below him. He nodded to Sebastian when he left to fix whatever Bardroy may have destroyed in the kitchen. Ciel was twelve years old and ran a rather efficient business selling candy and chasing crime in London. His servants were of the highest caliber, especially his personal butler who was fairly paid for, but when it came to non-emergency situations, they could be about as useful as a leash on a hellhound.

He returned to his work, writing in painstakingly neat letters as usual. He was tempted for a short moment to take a break, close his eyes, and relax his small body against the back of his chair. The action would be so quick and so simple, he could just imagine it. But then, he knew it would also symbolize the surrender of his carefully woven and deliberate lifestyle. He quickly shook the irrational desire away and used it to motivate himself further. His duties would be tended to and they would not be done if he lazed around and abused his power.

A loud thump echoed from a room across from his office. Clumsy girl, he thought, burying himself in another task and drowning out the world around him.

Sebastian returned sooner than Ciel would've expected, abruptly swinging the door open with a mischievous grin on his face.

"Master," he said. "I believe we have company."

***

Deep breaths. Inhale.

Every bone in Dean's body seemed to vibrate, and as he lay on the hardwood floor, he tried counting to ten while he rode through his pain. He slowly drifted back into the world. He was anxious to find out where he was but gave himself a proper amount of time to recover before slowly sitting up.

His first thought: Sammy. He glanced around the room and, sure enough, his brother was lying in a heap on the floor in the corner. He crawled over to his brother to the best of his ability and gave him a firm nudge.

"Hey, Sammy," he whispered. "We're alive. Wake up."

Sam lightly groaned as he opened his eyes. "Dean?" Then his eyes flashed in remembrance of recent events. He looked around the unfamiliar room they had landed in, then to his brother, seeming to have just registered his presence. "Where are we?"

"I'll let you know when I do." Dean paused. Both he and Sam were lucky to have escaped the battle unharmed.

"Hey, did that, uh... whole thing happen to you too?" He asked, gesturing in circles with his hands on the words whole thing as if to convey the size of the thing. "Y'know... while you were falling?"