Comforting Darkness

Chapter 14: The Tutor, On a Mission

Summer in England can be a tricky season; humidity makes heat during day stronger and light rains in the afternoon turn to heavier ones and chilly nights. That kind of weather in July made work harder for the staff of the Phantomhive manor, since in the morning they were sweaty all the time with their clothes annoyingly sticking on their bodies, whereas in the afternoon and evening the cold and rain drilled their bones. Nevertheless, the Phantomhive servants continued their work, only in a much slower pace than usual, something that really irritated the perfectionist butler, but soon even he realized it was beyond the weak humans; the weather affected them greatly and nothing could be done about it.

On such a day, Selina was in the kitchen helping Bard prepare a light dinner for Ciel, since the boy was busy in his office, but also did not have great appetite due to weather. The chef seemed as if he wanted to say something, while waiting for the bacon to get fried, and was glancing over Selina's place, who was pouring some dressing over the salad and then tossed it. She could see how impatient and curious Bard looked, but she felt too hot and tired already to ignore the man.

"Okay, spill it out."

"What?" Bard asked feigning innocence, but received a not so friendly glance from the woman that made him reconsider. "All right... I wanna ask... after master got back from school... Did ya have a fight with Sebastian? I mean a really big fight."

Selina slowly put down the small saucepan and the spoon, leaned on her hands on the counter and looked at the chef. "Where did that come from? Why did you think something like that and actually, why would we fight?"

"Well... I ain't blind... you look weird when Sebastian is around..."

Selina kept staring at him stating that was not enough explanation and asked for more details.

The chef sighed and scratched the back of his head. "All right!! It's not only me, ya know. Mey-Rin also agrees with me and Snake said he had been observin' ya two lately... ya both seem too formal to each other, not like how ya were in the beginning but more like two colleagues in a perfect professional relationship."

Selina was nodding as soon as she heard the names of the other two servants. "I was so certain... You three have made up stories in your minds... again! Mr. Michaelis and I are as we always were, two colleagues striving for a perfect professional relationship, nothing more nothing less. And there was never something more between us, as much as you three would like to imagine stuff like that."

Bard seemed not very convinced and that made Selina growl to him in anger. "I'm sorry but it's hard to believe. When ya first came here ya were polite and stuff but ya always teased each other, but now ya don't do that. Yer interactions are clearly about work and ya both look uncomfortable with that."

Selina raised her eyebrows. "Really? In what way?"

"Well, Snake says ya always look on guard when Sebastian's around ya and yer body stiffens if he comes closer, while ya try to hide the blush on yer cheeks. Sebastian, on the other hand, is as he always was, but Snake has caught sight of him looking at ya when yer back is to him and the look in his eyes is not what ya would call professional..." Bard said meaningfully.

Selina was looking at the man speechless. Yes, indeed she was always cautious when Sebastian was around her, because although he had actually promised to stop playing tricks on her, the last thing he said that night really bothered her. What did he mean by saying he never plays games that he does not enjoy to the fullest? Was he enjoying touching and... kissing her? She really could not believe it. Sebastian might have a human form with flesh and bones but that was just a... suit he was wearing; he was still a demon, a non-human creature anymore and there was no way he would suddenly start have human desires and cravings. And, of course, that made his words even more enigmatic and confusing for Selina.