The kidnapping of Grell Sutcliffe

Chapter 6

After Sebastian had eventually cooked dinner, having had a constant battle trying to get Bard out of the kitchen with his flamethrower, he set up the table and called on both Ciel and Grell, who had retired back to the library, to sit down to eat.

Grell winced slightly as he sat down to the right of Ciel, who sat at the head of the large table. Feeling generous that evening, Ciel had agreed to have the servants dine at the table as well, much to their excitement, which was practically radiating off them as they bounced in their seats.

Mey-rin and Finny cheered when Sebastian entered the dining room with a plate full of the well-cooked meat and set it down. Whilst dishing up, Sebastian had to scold Finny and Bard for trying to nick more meat off the plater than their share, and Grell sat silently, smiling at the antics the servants got up to.

Ciel also stayed silent, quietly confused as to why Grell was actually acting polite. Grell caught his eye and turned to face the teen. Ciel, expecting to be insulted or shouted at, got a nice surprise.

"Thank you for letting me stay, Ciel" The red reaper said quietly.

Ciel, concealing his surprise, gave him a polite smile.

"You're welcom-"

Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock.

Sebastian, who hadn't finished dishing up yet, straightened, about to walk towards the door before Grell stood up.

"I'll go. Keep dishing up, Sebas-chan." He said, walking into the entrance hall and towards the large double doors.

With a wince of pain, Grell swung one of the heavy doors open, his eyes widening as he saw who was behind it.

"W-Will?"

William. T. Spears pushed his glasses up his nose, looking absolutely livid. "Grell-" He spoke low and threatening, putting Grell in a slight state of panic. He was going to get hurt. Again.

"Grell what the hell are you doing here?! Where have you been?!" William almost shouted, slowly advancing on Grell with his scythe in his hand. Grell backed away, looking petrified.

"I-I-I-"

"I know what you've been doing. You've been hiding out here for a whole year. You've been fawning over that disgusting demon. What has he done to you?" Will demanded.

"I assure you, I haven't done anything to him." Sebastian said behind Grell, making him jump.

William narrowed his eyes, "You kidnapped him, demon." He spat as Sebastian shook his head.

"I didn't. But someone else did. And you didn't even try and look for him!"

William shook his head, raising his scythe. "I don't believe you, filthy demon." He growled, his scythe suddenly wooshing forward, slicing up the front of Grell's shirt and bandages, making them fall away to reveal his numerous wounds and scars.

The black haired reaper grew angrier, rushing towards Sebastian, who had stepped in front of Grell as protection. Somehow, William managed to get Sebastian cornered against a wall.

"I'm going to rip your heart out, demon, like I should have the day I met you-"

Sebastian's eyes flashed the demonic pink as William rushed forward, only to see a flash of red as Grell threw himself in front of Sebastian, his arms out wide to protect the demon.

"Do not hurt him, William." He growled, the first time he'd ever used the reaper's full name. "You will not touch a hair on his head because he helped me. He saved my life when you reapers didn't even try and look for me. I was kidnapped, it's true, but not by Sebastian. I was tortured for a year and no one came to save me. Sebastian wanted to, but Ciel stopped him. I would suggest you leave, William, now. Or so help me I will rip your stomach out and make you eat it because you'll have to kill me to get to Sebastian."

Both reaper and demon were stunned to silence. No one had seen Grell be so...so protective before.

Without talking, William straightened up, lowering his scythe. He nodded once, before exiting the Phantomhive Manor.

No one spoke, Ciel and the servants had pooled at the dining room doorway to watch and all were equally speechless.

Eventually, Sebastian moved from the wall, and around the face Grell, who was staring into space, obviously very lost in thought. "Grell?"

The reaper sighed slightly and hung his head for a moment, before lifting it to look at Sebastian. "Yes?" He muttered, keeping his voice low as he was aware that the entire manor residents were eagerly watching from the doorway.

"Do you mean what you said? That you'd let yourself get killed to save me?"

Grell nodded slightly, "You saved me, Sebas-chan, I owe you my life."

"You were the one who saved yourself, Grell. I only patched you up."

"I can see that you would have saved me if you could. And I would have died if you didn't 'patch me up'..." He sighed, looking towards the manor doors, "I suppose I'll have to ask the kid if I can stay a bit longer...until I find a house to myself, that is..."

Ciel nervously walked forward, clearing his throat to make both creatures turn to look at him. "Grell, seeing what you just did, seeing how passionate you were about protecting my butler, I have realized that you are a very important soldier. If you wish, you can come and live at the Phantomhive Manor as a guard, once you recover from your injuries, of course."

Grell stared at him with wide eyes, "You...You'll let me live here?"

Ciel nodded, "If you don't distract Sebastian from his work, yes."

The reaper glanced at Sebastian, who smiled and nodded.

"Then I'd be happy to accept that offer...on one condition..."

Ciel raised an eyebrow, "What would that be?"

"I don't have to call you Master."

Ciel smirked, nodding, "Very well. Welcome to the family."

The servants immediately rushed the reaper, hugging him tightly and cheering. Grell smiled, the first proper smile since he came back, until he winced as Finny squeezed his wounds. Sebastian stepped in and pulled the three back.

"Come on. Get back to the table, or you can eat in your quarters."

Grell swore he only saw a smoke outline of the three servants as they sprinted into the dining room.

Ciel chuckled at the commotion and followed the three back to the table. When they were alone, Sebastian turned to Grell, reaching for his hands.

"I want to thank you for protecting me back there, Grell. I never knew you felt that way-"

Grell nodded, "Of course I do, Sebastian." He said quietly.

Sebastian smiled, "That's good."

"Why?" Grell frowned.

"Because, in these last couple of days, my views of you have changed a lot and...I feel that, if our rules were reversed, I would die to save you."