Polaroids

Slow and Steady

Chapter 7

Slow and Steady

Everything was a blinding white, it only took a minute for his eyes to adjust. It took another minute for him to realize he was in a hospital room. He blinked a few times to wake himself. He tried readjusting himself but he's arm felt stiff and he let out a loud whine which caught the person sitting next to him.

"Hey, hey! Just relax, do you need anything? I can get the nurse." Ciel was quick to recognize him.

"Sebastian...what's going on?" Ciel looked down, his arm in a sling.

"You fractured your arm...you got out of surgery not too long ago."

"I fractured..." Ciel seemed confused.

"Do you remember falling off the ladder of the treehouse?" Ciel thought, all his mind could go back to was that kiss.

He flushed and looked away. "Yeah... Yeah, I remember." He wondered how much it meant. Was there any meaning to it? He would feel kind of foolish if he was the only one. If it was a mistake.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have distracted you..."

Or maybe it wasn't.

"It's not your fault, not at all." Ciel curled the sheets into his fingers. "You kissed me."

"You kissed back." It was obvious now.

Ciel was red. "Yeah, I did." It was silent again. Ciel's eyes glued to the sheets. He had a tiny smile on his face and butterflies in his stomach.

"Ciel.." Sebastian straightened in his seat and took a slow breath. Ciel looked up at him, the butterflies increasing. "It seems silly to say now, or ask for that matter but, if it wasn't obvious, I like you. A lot. Hanging out with you is a lot of fun. We like the same stuff and get along well. I hadn't realized how lonely I was until I started hanging out with you." Sebastian chuckled, "If this is a stupid question tell me, but...do you feel the same about me? Do you like me too?"

Ciel pushed some hair behind his ear, looking down at the sheets again, a smile still ever-present. He looked back up at Sebastian, opening his mouth to finally tell him.

The door came open in the very moment, perfect timing. "Oh thank goodness you're awake, are you okay? How do you feel?" Rachel Phantomhive was the ever overbearing momma bear. She came to the other side of the bed and sat in the chair. She had left a little bit ago to make a phone call, been there since Ciel had gotten out of surgery.

Both boys had red faces. Ciel turned to his mother and cleared his throat. "I'm fine mom. Just a little sore. How long will I be staying here?"

"It might be a little bit before we can go home. You're fine now. They just want to go over how you are supposed to do things with a cast on. How long it'll take to heal and check-up's and all that."

"Well, can I eat something?"

"There's a vending machine by the lift. What would you like?"

"Maybe some pretzels. Just a snack. is fine." Rachel nodded, once again taking leave. Ciel let out a sigh. Long day.

"You're gonna be here a while I brought some—"

Ciel interrupted him with his lips. Leaning up at far as he could, not wanting to rest his arm on anything and put pressure on it. The kiss lasted all of two seconds but it truly felt like a lifetime. "Yes, it is a stupid question." Sebastian looked at him and had to laugh.

"Silly me."

-/-/-/-/-/-/-

Sebastian seemed to be more protective now. They had left the hospital the next day. He was set up in bed, he had snacks, he had water and his phone in case he needed anything. Sebastian hadn't left his side and kept him company. His mother had gone shopping for things he might need and groceries. Ciel was glad Sebastian was there. Hanging out as if Ciel didn't get hurt and going on as normal. They sat together on Ciel's bed. Everything was comfortable, between them was nearly two inches of space. Ciel seemed more than normal, full of life and just having fun/ talking to Sebastian.