The Landlord Next Door | A Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) fanfic

04 Smirk Upon Me

Her lips hung apart as Erin blinked. And blinked. And blinked.

Amazement should be a strange thing to feel after someone deemed you his 'dog'. Anger would have been the right emotion to harbour instead. But no, she was amazed. A little incredulous but still, very amazed.

Flipping him off and walking right out of the door immediately would be more sensible thing to do, but she had to do the stupid thing called gawking. Too stunned with amazement and wonder by the man standing before her to make her escape.

In what twisted world was it fair that someone this preposterous could be so appealing to the eyes?

Also, in what twisted world were people who looked barely past twenty think they had the right to make someone else's their dog and think they could get their way?

Apparently and unfortunately, it was the very same world she existed in. And only Ciel fucking Phantomhive could do it because she could see it all on his face.

Yes, that very face before her.

The one that bore a smirk which was treacherously amused – enough to make him look like he could pass for one of the devil's apprentices. But indefinitely more beautiful. His piercing blue eyes that seemed to going straight through her gleamed an unwavering glint of confidence.

He knew he had won. 

"Dog...a freaking dog." Erin raised her head with a forming scowl on her face. "You obviously need a dictionary. How the hell do those tasks define me as a dog? I think you meant your servant." She quirked an eyebrow at him.

She saw the smirk slide off his face like he was taking a brief pause to consider her words. Just as quickly as his smirk disappear, his lips curled again in a way that looked like a silent scoff.

"No, humans are annoying. Besides," his gaze swept over her, one side of his lip shot up in a taunting smirk, "it's been a while since I owned a dog. If I say you're my dog, then you are. Anyway, what's your name again?"

"...Erin. Erin Keighley." Erin answered grudgingly with an incredulous look on her face.

If he was in a bad mood because of something he read on his phone minutes ago, it was obvious she was the one who had lightened it. Except it meant being his object of ridicule.

"Hm. There's no harm in checking whether my new dog can understand and obey my commands properly right?"

Eying him warily, she watched him settle himself onto the arm of the chair he sat on seconds ago, crossing his long legs elegantly as he turned his head to her with a look almost like mischief in his eyes. His lips once again curled into a smirk. It reeked mockery.

"Alright Keighley, this is an order."

Shoulders stiffening, Erin's eyebrows rose sharply. "Huh?"

"Bark."

....

"How is it possible that you know I'm Ciel Phantomhive and not know the meaning of that name?

Do you live under a rock? Be a good dog and educate yourself. This will be your homework and I want it done by tomorrow."

And that was how she ended up spending the previous night googling about that pompous ass instead using her precious time to prepare for her first day of school.

It was not that she doesn't know who or what being that guy meant. Hearing his name did ring a bell. Well, naturally when her friends had mentioned it for god knows how long and how many times. But of course, she wasn't really paying attention most of the time.