The One || Sebastian Michaelis x Reader

➙ Chapter Eight

You were down at the docks with your men and women (the ones you hired because no one else would) supervising their work and patrolling the scene. It was beyond the witching hour by a great deal, but this type of business required incognito transactions.

It was weeks ago that you first 'helped' Sebastian and Ciel with the case of the person stealing organs from the hospitals, but no one has been caught thus far. You were guilty when it came to the fact that you cancelled a few meetings because you wanted to devote more time to the orphanage and helping Damien recover, although he wasn't doing well at all, but that would change soon.

You had actually grown close to Ciel over the course of the last month when you did get free time to meet. He was becoming a little brother to you and you wondered occasionally if he thought of your relationship in the same way. Deep down, you hoped he didn't because it would be like betrayal when he found out what you'd done.

A man began approaching you with a cargo box filled of ice and scarves. You placed a gloved hand on top, opened it, and examined the contents.

"Are you positive this is the correct liver?" you questioned, tapping your walking stick on the sidewalk to indicate you were impatient at the moment.

"Yes, just as you asked," the large, bearded man replied sternly.

"Excellent." You closed the lid and he made his way to put the box in your carriage.

"What do you think will happen once you're found out to be the villain of this story?"

You whipped around to face Ruth who stood with her arms crossed. Her face was neutral but you detected the disgust and scrutinizing gaze she always had on these exchanges held once a month that she attended of her own free volition simply to reprimand you.

"Villain? That is what you think of me?" you snapped. "You do not understand what it's like, Ruth. You lived a sheltered life, one of a servant, but still one of constant obliviousness to the outside."

"I've lived much longer than you, (Y/N), and you are far more naive than you think you are," Ruth responded.

"Me? Naive?" You laughed. "If you're so hateful of my side business, then please go home. Take the carriage."

"I will," she huffed.

You rolled your eyes and went back to ordering your employees to organize where each of the organs and equipment were to be placed on either the boats or extra carriages meant to take the organs to families who required them.

"It was you the whole time. How predictable."

You sighed and pivoted to face none other than Sebastian and Ciel. You knew it to be a matter of time before they caught on to your facade, but you despised the expressions of hatred directed toward you. They didn't understand, and that was worse than being arrested or executed.

You put a hand up and snapped your fingers. The workers knew the code and immediately boarded the boats to retreat from the area. Sebastian wouldn't go after them when you would be left with Ciel, so they could at least be free if this went wrong.

"It's not what it appears to be," you said, now alone by the empty lake with the butler and his master.

"Please, explain," Ciel demanded.

You glanced at Sebastian, which proved to be a mistake because he looked angry and hurt under the mask he wore. You didn't know how you easily saw through his own facade, but you understood he thought everything you said was false and for nothing; maybe even that the whole orphanage was just a cover-up.

"Do you know what happens to the organs that expire and aren't used in the hospitals?" you asked rhetorically as you began pacing in front of them. "They get thrown out. How do I know? I work in the industry, obviously, so I know and have access to these organs."

"But you're stealing them!" Ciel shouted.

"Listen," you hushed as you tried to stay calm. "There are families who cannot afford transplants and the organs are going to waste. I take a list of these families, which organs they need, and either perform operations myself or some doctors are in on this and perform the procedures for free or I pay them."

"You're justifying stealing human body parts, (Y/N)," Ciel said harshly. "Even if it's for good, it is still a crime."

"No, it's not," you retorted. "It's recycling."

"She does have a point, my Lord," Sebastian chimed in, the look in his eyes softening to understanding on your behalf.

"I've saved hundreds of lives," you revealed, gripping your stick harder. "There are children younger than you, Ciel, who are dying and need those parts that are going to be thrown out anyway. I've never taken one that wasn't going to be disposed of, I promise."

Ciel was in turmoil with what to do because you were doing good by this, but it was a crime and this case is one by the Queen herself. He couldn't screw this up and make the wrong decision, so he shifted his gaze between you and Sebastian before coming to a decision.

"I'm sorry, but you're under arrest," Ciel said.

"No," you replied. You still had to save Damien with that liver. You had to get back to the orphanage tonight or he wouldn't make it to morning.

"We'll take you by force if necessary."

"How about this," you offered as you came up with a plan, "I know your butler doubles as your guard and so does mine, so how about they battle it out? Winner takes all."

Sebastian and Ciel shared a knowing look and Ciel nodded in agreement. You breathed a sigh of relief and looked toward the sky, then rolled up your sleeve to display something both of them definitely did not expect to see.

Finally, you called, "Claude!"