That's An Order

His Butler, Late

Ciel had been waiting for Sebastian for going on three minutes. The only reason he knew the exact elapsed time was because he started to count the swings of the clock pendulum out of sheer boredom. One more minute and I'm not going to be so polite about this indecency, Ciel thought while fiddling with the end of his nightshirt. Sebastian had been arriving late for the past few days. It had only started with slight tardiness, but over time it grew into outright lateness. Ciel Carefully counted out another minute. "SEBASTIAN! BRING ME MY TEA AT THIS MINUTE!" He yelled as loudly as he could. Without delay, Sebastian pushed the all too familiar tea cart through the wide double doors of Ciel's room. "My apologies, Young Master." Sebastian said with slight bow.

Ciel didn't bother to ask him why he was so profoundly late. His stomach was on the brink of growling and his mouth desired to be soaked in the fragrant taste of Earl Grey tea. Sebastian stood beefore him trickling the tea into Ciel's cup. His face looked slightly distraught and his clothes were rustled. Ciel noticed that his butler seemed to be avoiding eye contact. "Sebastian, is there any reason that I can't expect you to carry about your regular household duties? It's nearly half past eight o'clock and I've yet to be dressed; or fed for that matter." Sebastian's violet eyes flashed as Ciel spoke, but he did not utter a reply. Ciel lifted his tea from the tray and pushed it away from him. "You are dismissed for the day Sebastian. I can take care of myself for now and you can go help Finnian construct the gazebo. I'm hopefull that your full witt will be about you by tomorrow." It was unlike Ciel to have mercy on his wildly abled Butler, but it seemed he was only getting in the way with his current demeanor.

His Master, Selfish

Sebastian rested his head on his hands. It had been a month since Ciel had been deviously turned into a demon. He thought that the unnerving circumstances would sprout a change in Ciel's behaviour, but the only change was for the worse. Being bound by contract seemed to be more like chains with Ciel. Sebastian mindlessly fingered the soft pink paw pads of one of the many cats he kept in secret. He questioned how much longer he could take being under the command of such a selfish child. Nevertheless, a deal was a deal, and Sebastian had to abide by the contract he and Ciel had. He lifted himself from the ground and sauntered toward the massive mansion. Upon entering the house he noticed Ciel passing by with Bard. His clothes were sloppy and his shoes were miss-buttoned. Silly child can't even dress properly without my aid, Sebastian thought to himself. He allowed himself a slight chuckle and followed Ciel down the corridor. "Young Master, if you would allow me, I think it'd be wise if I better prepared your clothing before you attend to business with Lady Elizabeth." Ciel turned to look at him, then allowed Sebastian to escort him to his room.

As Sebastian pulled Ciel's shirt over his head, he noticed his master being overly still. He was thinking. Sebastian paused as he felt a small hand being passed through his hair. He refrained from moving or lifting his head. "I know you've been melancholy. I won't pretend to not know why, but I don't understand it." Ciel said while slipping a hand under Sebastian's chin and lifting his head upward. As Sebastian looked into the deep cerulean eyes of his master, he tried to figure out what this was all about. "I won't make the same dimwitted mistake as Alouis in thinking that you actually care for my well-being at all; However, I can't help but notice that you seem to be expecting something from me. Due to recent actions I know that it can no longer be my soul. I may be a demon, but I am still the head of the Phantomhive family, and as that position defines; I must account for all of my employees. If you've something pressing enough to keep you from going about your daily tasks, then it is only my job to make sure the problem is resolved so you can continue with yours. So, what is the matter?" Ciel said with a sigh. Sebastian could feel his face heating up under Ciel's hands, but he wasn't angry. Was he...embarrassed? Sebastian tried to gather his thoughts as he opened his mouth to speak, but not a single word passed his lips. He could feel his throat trying to close. "I...apologise, Young Lord. I will not allow myself to slip up on my tasks again." He said after much hesitation. He quickly shuffled on the rest of Ciel's clothes and dashed out of the room. He pressed his back against the wall and tried to gather an even breath. What was happening to him? Ciel's sympathy caught him completely off guard, and he wasn't sure how to react.