The Indignity of Mortality (Sebasclaude)

5. Sebastian

I walked back inside the manor to find a change of clothes, and organise my hair so that it fell in front of my injured eye, hoping I could keep it concealed from Ciel long enough for it to heal.
I returned just in time to hear the end of the meeting of the two Earls. It had been quite satisfying, making Faustus vomit, watching him lie gagging and panting on the ground, but it was probably not worth Ciel's scorn if he found out. Earl Trancy left to find Claude, and I slipped in to clear up the cutlery, plates, and the biscuits no one had eaten. I was just about to leave, to see Earl Trancy and his damned butler off, when Ciel interrupted me. "Sebastian, come here," Ciel ordered, and I knew from his tone it wasn't a question. Surely he couldn't have noticed already? I walked over to Ciel, who stood up on his toes, and brushed my fringe out the way. His eye briefly widened, before he sighed, and resumed a sitting position, a look of disappointment on his face. "You need to learn to pick and choose your battles. I won't ask for details. Make sure it heals properly, see to the fact that the servants don't find out, and don't start another unnecessary fight like that again, or I'll be forced to have you in the room with me so I know you won't do anything foolish - which will be degrading for both of us. That is all, please continue with what you were doing." I got down on bended knee, feeling guilty and slightly embarrassed, as Ciel got up.
"Yes, of course, my Lord, you have my sincerest apologies for my-"
"Just see to your eye, it's unseemly." I smiled, and nodded, knowing this was Ciel's way of caring, before silently collecting the last plate, and leaving to the kitchen.

An hour later, Ciel called me up to his study, smiling at the patch over my eye. "I suppose we're in the same boat now," he remarked, a slight smirk on his face. Until my eye healed I knew I would never hear the end of this...
"I suppose we are." Ciel let a small pile of papers drop down onto the desk, and slid them towards me. "I have compiled some initial thoughts about the case, which I advise you read. As much as I am loathed to return to the abode of that madman, a visit to the Undertaker would most likely be invaluable, as I would imagine he'll give us more detail than is on the report. I've left observing the sites where the bodies were found to Earl Trancy, and I can only hope he delivers." I picked up the small pile of papers, and flicked through them, as Ciel explained his notes and I made the occasional contribution. By the time we were finished, I needed to prepare dinner, and Ciel looked ready to fall asleep at his desk.
"After your evening duties are performed, please conduct your own investigations and rule out as many possibilities as you can at the current. I don't want to waste time investigating dead leads. Next Wednesday, Earl Trancy will be returning so we can discuss our findings. I also don't want a large dinner. That is all," Ciel rattled off, and I bowed.
"As you wish, my Lord. Have a good evening."

November 27th, Monday, just outside London, around nine am

The countryside blurred past outside the window, transitioning to the urban lands of London, as the horses' hooves clacked against the road and the coach rattled and clanked in the mildly concerning way they always did. It was an early start, and Ciel was half asleep: coat pulled around himself, his back in the corner, and his head rested against the wall, not to mention I could tell he wanted to put his feet up on the seats and doze. The carriage lurched, presumably hitting a pothole, and Ciel jerked awake, his eye wide, as his hat fell the ground, and he let out a squeak then landed on on the floor of the carriage.
"What the bloody hell is that driver doing?" Ciel muttered, as I helped steady him.
"What would Lady Midford say if she saw you using that language over a mere pothole, my Lord?" Ciel's blue eye narrowed at me, and he pursed his lips.
"That's awfully rich coming from you. Your language yesterday was most unbefitting of a butler such as yourself," Ciel grumbled, sitting back on his seat, considerably more awake. I smiled, as Ciel folded his arms and pulled his signature scowl. Even a cold-blooded, black-hearted creature of hell such as myself had to admit that Ciel's "terrifying scowl" was more appealing than anything else - Ciel took himself ever so seriously.