Yes, My Lady- Sebastian Michaelis x Fem! Reader

... Vulnerable?

Sebastian POV:

   Since the incident with Howard, I haven't been able to catch a single moment alone with Y/n. Every chance I got to try and speak to her, some excuse would come up and she'd run off once again. This had gone on for a bit over a week, and I truly began to question myself. Had I done something wrong? Was seeing me like that really that traumatizing? Those same questions ran through my head at a mile a minute as I prepared My Queen's breakfast.

   I knocked on her door with the breakfast tray off to my side. As expected, no answer. "Y/n, I've brought your breakfast." I said in a soft tone, in case she was still sound asleep. 'Did she even inform me of when she retired?' I wondered as once again, she didn't answer.  "Y/n, are you even there?" I spoke again, my voice a bit louder this time.

   She didn't answer for the third time, so I took it up on myself and opened her bedroom door. "My dear, I truly don't appreciate you avoiding me-" I looked up to see her bed empty but made expertly. 'She isn't even here?' I sighed and left her room, dropping off the cart off in the main kitchen of the boat. I looked around the boat for Y/n. There are only so many places she could've gone. 'It's as if the easiest thing about my job is losing my masters.' I sighed to myself.

   The RMS Lucania is expected to reach the port of Bengal in two days. Y/n wouldn't and doesn't have anyway to get off of the boat. 'Where are you and why are you avoiding me?'  I wondered as I continued searching.

|----|

   After what felt like almost and hour of searching, I found her in the ballroom of the boat speaking to Duke Gares and his wife. I stood behind her and crossed my arms, looking down at her. The Duke and Duchess kept their expressions still, but Y/n sensed me. I could tell when I saw her shoulders tense and stiffen.

Your POV:

   I kept a soft smile on my face as I spoke with Francoeurs and Marie. We had grown closer over the course of the trip. I felt a brooding presence behind me and froze in place. "My Queen, may I speak with you?" Sebastian rested his hand on my shoulder as I slowly turned to him. "Privately?" Sebastian's already secretly menacing smile widening further.

   "O-of course." I smiled back at him, though scared for my life. Sebastian led me off to the side of the ballroom away from other guests. I stood in front of a pillar and looked up at Sebastian, waiting for him to speak. Sebastian sighed, ran a hand through his hair and leaned towered over me, his arm against the pillar behind me.

   "You've been avoiding me for over a week. Explain." Sebastian ordered. Another new side of Sebastian. I felt the heat rush to my cheeks as I tried to answer, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "Well, I... um..." My voice trailed off as my face grew warmer from embarrassment and I looked down at my hands, fiddling with my fingers. "You what? My Queen, you and I both know I don't have the best patience so I insist you explain before I make you myself." Sebastian interrupted, lifting my face back up to face him.

   "Will you promise not to joke me?" I asked, lowering Sebastian's hand away from my face. "Yes. Just tell me what I did that caused you to avoid me like this." For once Sebastian looked... vulnerable? Am I imagining this? No, this is real... Sebastian doesn't joke like that. "I was... I was scared, alright? Seeing how easily you were able to hurt Howie like that... it just..." I trailed off again, hating how pathetic I sounded. Never in my life have I ever been this pathetic. Not since the fire that killed my parents. Since that day, I promised myself I would never be like that again.

   "I hated how scared it made me. I didn't want to face you like that." My hands clenched into fists. "Y/n, my dear. You should never feel that way. I have been your butler since you were but an adolescent child. In case you haven't been able to tell, I don't care about how you feel about yourself. Especially if you find whatever reason to hate yourself. As your butler and friend- if you still consider me as such- I expect you to tell me about what's going on instead of avoiding me like a disease." I was frozen silent.

   Sebastian's blunt sentence was both expected and not. "Am I clear?" Sebastian spoke up again. I nodded quickly, still slightly in shock as my heart beated 100 miles a minute. Sebastian then stood up straight and recomposed himself and I felt a wide smile tugging at the edges of my lips. "Thank you for that, Sebastian. And I'm truly, truly sorry for avoiding you like that." Sebastian turned to me once again, his genuine smile returning. "Have you been drinking, Y/n?" Sebastian asked, inspecting my face.

   I flinched from how close Sebastian was and covered my face with my hands. "No, what makes you think that?" I answered, my gaze flickering from Sebastian's inspectful gaze to the floor. "The hue of your face is more of a red compared to your normal skin tone. The term 'flushed' would suffice." Sebastian explained before standing up and shrugging it off. "I probably just need some fresh air, is all." I waved dismissively headed to the stairs of the ballroom for fresh air.

   I opened the door, covering my face as the strong, salty winds blew in my face. I covered my mouth as I walked to the side of the boat, breathing deeply as to not throw up. "Perhaps the fresh air wasn't all that needed." Sebastian chuckled. I nodded in agreement, my hand still over my mouth. Sebastian took my hand and held me by the waist as he slowly led me to my bedroom.

   After washing up and changing into more comforting clothes, Sebastian tucked me into bed. "Sweet dreams, Y/n." Sebastian stood up, headed towards my door with a candlestick. "Sebastian?" I called out before he left. He turned back to me, the genuine smile still stuck on his face like glue. "Can you stay with me until I fall asleep?" I asked, the question bringing forth nostalgia of my first night with Sebastian.

   "As you wish, my dear." Sebastian smiled, setting the candlestick down and sitting on the side of your bed. "You are truly the best. I don't know what I'd do without you." I muttered sleepily as I turned over.

Author POV:

   Sebastian felt a familiar feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had felt this a few times before when he was around you, but never acknowledged it. As a demon who has lived for centuries and seen the world evolve never thought he of all people would feel this feeling again. What was wrong with him? Why won't his smile go away? Why did you make him feel this way? Was there anyway to stop? If so, he was going to find it.

   Your words only heightened those feelings. Sebastian may have an ego, a big one at that, but never had someone called him 'the best'. Or at least... not in a very, very, very long time. Sebastian's gaze lingered on you as you slept. You looked so deadly innocent as you slept, and it made Sebastian feel an abundance of things. At peace, confused, and overall, happy with where he was.

   As you drifted deeper into your own dream world, Sebastian stood up from his chair, returning it to it's original spot. Sebastian picked up the candlestick and walked to your door, his steps and movements quiet. Sebastian turned back to you as you turned over in your sleep once again, that smile of his still on his face. "Goodnight, Y/n." Sebastian said to you in a soft, quiet tone before closing your door, returning to his own quarters.

(1371 words)