Stuck in Kuroshitsuji

Chapter 18: In the Arms of the Devil

Third person POV

The days following Lady Elizabeth's visit were uneventful for the manor. However, for a certain southern maid, her free time was clouded by Shakespeare. Whenever Aviva had free time, she would grab A Midsummer Night's Dream and go to the room where Ciel has his violin and dance lessons. It was a lovely room and it had great lighting.

One night Aviva couldn't sleep. So she grabbed the play, a blanket, and left her room. But she stopped and quickly went back to her room. She pulled out a paper and a pencil.

Hey Mey-rin! If I'm not in bed when you wake up, I'll be the room where Ciel practices violin. ~Aviva♡

She wouldn't want to worry everyone again. She quietly made her way to the room but didn't realize she left one door wide open. She moved a blue, tall back chair to the window and sat down. She read in the moonlight until she fell asleep. It wasn't too long after that Sebastian, while making his nightly rounds, noticed the door to the room wide open. He quietly made his way in and found Aviva asleep, having dropped her book. He walked up to her and knelt down.

"You certainly do like sneaking away to read, don't you Aviva?" He said, very quietly as to not wake her, brushing away some hair from her face. Very carefully, he picked her up and left the room. In the hall, she woke up.

"Hm?" She said barely awake. He looked down at her and smiled. "Oh hi, Sebastian!" She said smiling brightly, her eyes not even fully open.

"Hello, Miss Aviva. You seem happy to see me." He said smiling.

"I'm always happy to see you, Sebastian! But, I see it's bedtime now, Mister Michaelis." She said, very sleepy.

"Indeed it is." He said gently. He quietly went into her room, put her in bed, and tucked her in.

"Thank..you...Sebast...." And like that she fell back asleep.

"You are welcome...Aviva." He said. He put his hand on for head for a moment then left.

Aviva POV

I woke up, for some reason in a really good mood. I looked at the time and it was almost our regular wake up time. Did something happen last night? I think something did. Oh well! I decided to just get up and get ready. I brushed out my hair and decided to wear it down. Once I finished I went to go wake Mey-rin up. I walked to her bed and knelt down.

"Mey-rin?" I said softly. "Mey-rin." I said gently, put my hand on her bed. She woke up and put her head up, she was squinting.

"I'm gonna go get started for the day." I said quietly. She nodded and I walked out. I was in the hall going to get supplies and I looked outside. The windows were absolutely filthy. I would definitely start there.

I went and grabbed my supplies and a ladder. I usually need a ladder because you know....am smol. I had a small bucket of water and cleaner and a rag. I started at the window closest to me and decided would go down the hall cleaning all the windows. I set up the ladder and climbed up it. Thank god I could reach the top of the windows. It was still a bit dark but I saw the sun peaking out. I got lost in thought watching the sunrise. The sound of Mey-rin breaking something snapped me out of my thoughts. I started cleaning and made my way down. I didn't realize how long it was taking me, but at my last window apparently it was going to be lunchtime soon.

"Hello, Miss Aviva." I heard below me.

"Oh, hi Sebastian!" I said looking down at the demon butler.

"Once you are finished with the windows, please join me in the kitchen." He said before walking off.

"Sure thing!" I said before going back to the window. I didn't realize some of the water had spilled onto the steps of the ladder. I stepped up to go back to cleaning and my foot slipped. "Ah!" I briefly cried. All that went through my mind while falling was every curse word I knew. Fuck this was going to hurt!

But I never landed on the ground. I was in the arms of a certain butler with inhuman speed. I froze and was definitely blushing. Why do I always end up being in his arms? I mean...I'm not complaining.

"We certainly seem to be making a habit of this, Miss Faye. This is twice now today." He said smirking at me.

"T-twice?" I asked, confused.

"I found you asleep last night in the young master's music room. I carried you back to your bed. We spoke briefly on the way. Do you not remember?" He asked, still holding me. Why hasn't he put me down yet? Again, not complaining! Just wondering. I shook my head in response. He looked up at the window then back at me. "Well, I suppose that's enough window cleaning for now. I wanted you to assist me with the young master's lunch." He said before putting me on my feet. "Shall we?" He said. I nodded. He climbed up the ladder and collected my supplies for me. He took the ladder and we started walking.

"Thank you." I said quietly.

"You are welcome." He said looking down at me. We stopped the put the ladder and cleaning supplies away. We made our way to the kitchen to make Ciel's lunch. I rolled up my sleeves and washed my hands. We were making some sort of soup. I love soup.

Sebastian mainly had me cutting things. Vegetables, herbs, and whatnot. He was at the stove. I'm not sure where Bard is, but I'm Sebastian's sous chef for today.

"May I ask you a question, Miss Aviva?" He asked, not looking up from the stove.

"Of course!" I said, stopping cutting a carrot. I'm too scared to do anything at the same time as cutting. I'm usually good with knives, but I will have the occasional slip. I was trying to cut a stick of margarine once and ended up cutting my leg.

"How did you know the young master would enjoy your grilled cheese sandwich?" He asked. I smiled.

"Something I've learned in my life is that children have a hard time turning down grilled cheese." I told him.

"I see...You know the young master would protest to you calling him a child." He said.

"I do. However, no matter what he has been through or how mature he is...he is still a child. And he deserves to be a child at times. No matter how briefly." I said before going back to cutting. I brought everything Sebastian asked me to cut up to him. He thanked me and put everything in the pot.

"What should I do now?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Please, sit down." He told me.

"You don't want me to go back to cleaning? Or do anything to help you?" I asked, tilting my head.

"Not yet. I just prefer the company." He said looking down at me. I smiled and moved to the counter next to him. I jumped up and sat on the counter. He said "the company." He would never ask that of Bard or Mey-rin or Finny. Does he mean...my company?