Chapter 7.
Claude heard Ciel Phantomhive's heated demand, inwardly sighing, though he did not look back over at the boy, concentrating mostly on Sebastian. "I told you what happened to him, Lord Phantomhive," he replied, careful to keep the sharp edge out of his voice, holding Sebastian within his arms carefully. "Did you think that Timber could do what he did with him dressed?"
"Then why not dress him again after you stopped them?" Ciel was embarrassed at seeing Sebastian like this, never mind how often his contracted demon had seen him without his clothes. He looked away, a slight blush on his face; he'd never even seen another person naked before.
"Time was of the essence. Sebastian was no longer conscious and I thought it more important to get him somewhere safe than to take time dressing him again. His clothes are over on the chair against the wall. When he is conscious and healed, they're ready for him..." A flick of his golden eyes told him of the reason, and if Claude were not so concerned about Sebastian, he would most likely be amused. Demons had no seen of modesty, not as Ciel Phantomhive so clearly did, at least in regards to him seeing others without their clothes. Or maybe it was due to his age; teenagers tended to be embarrassed so very easily about trivial things.
Alois, seeing Sebastian stir and moan softly, looked at Ciel, sighing audibly. "We'd best go inform the others that you and they are staying," he whispered, a tiny pout on his lips for how the other was blushing over seeing Sebastian with no clothes on. "Besides, we might wake him if we keep talking in here like this. I'll send Thompson up to prepare rooms for the three of you; Claude was making dinner." There, he paused, before looking at his butler. "When Hannah comes back with the water, she'll have to resume taking care of him so you can finish dinner."
"If that is your wish, your Highness, though Hannah is not the same type of demon as Sebastian and myself," Claude smoothly stated, and it wasn't a lie. Hannah was a flower demon and the appearance she showed was, in fact, her true form, while both Claude and Sebastian kept their true forms hidden away, being of a much stronger demon type than her. Hannah was powerful in her own right; it was just that she was different from them. If Sebastian lost control of himself or his powers returned and went berserk, only another demon of the same caliber could stop him. "If this fever makes him delirious, I am not certain that she could stop him if he were to do something unexpected..."
"And you could?" Ciel interjected, realizing what Claude was telling them. Under normal circumstances, this would not be a concern, but Sebastian had been brutalized, at least in part, and with his fever, he could easily burn the whole estate down. Looking uncomfortable, he chewed on his lower lip for a few moments. "Alois, can't Hannah finish making dinner? I've seen what Sebastian can do when he is himself and right now he is clearly not capable of rational thought, not with a fever. The last thing I'd want is for him to damage your home in this state; Sebastian is my servant and not only would it reflect badly on me, but it would also upset him to learn of what he'd done." Pleading shone in his blue eyes as he looked at the smaller blonde; Claude seemed to be the best choice to take care of Sebastian right now, especially since he had proven himself before to be at least equal to Sebastian in battle if something untoward were to happen.
In addition, Claude also appeared to know what to do in regards to the fever; he'd sent Hannah to get some water for it and told Ciel that medicine would not work on Sebastian because he was a demon. What a human would take would make a demon ill. Surely Alois would see reason in this, Ciel hoped. It might inconvenience him but better a little inconvenience than a destroyed estate.
Scowling for a few moments at Ciel's verbal plea, Alois was about to say no, that he couldn't do without Claude for however long it would take Sebastian to recover, though he stopped when he saw the expression on Ciel's face. Those dark blue eyes were wider, looking softer than he'd ever seen them, and with a fervent hope reflected within. Combined with the flush on the other boy's cheeks, Alois thought for a few moments on how adorable Ciel looked like that, so hopeful and needy.
