How They Died (Black Butler Backstories)

He Foresaw the Future

The person that originally sparked this idea apparently no longer has a Wattpad account, so I can't dedicate this to them. But, if they ever come back, I hope they'll find this somehow since they liked this series of one-shots so much. Now, carry on, and enjoy my intense love for the twins' daddy. 

...

Everyone knows who Vincent Phantomhive is. That is to say, most people have heard the name once or twice in their lives. In fact, the only person that doesn't know who Vincent Phantomhive is would be Vincent Phantomhive himself. Strung into a life of endless tedium, day in and day out, doing exactly what was expected of him all whilst wearing a smile that made one inquire about his true motives. Hollow eyes and a toothy grin. Sound familiar? Perhaps it is comparable to the masked eyes and smirk of one certain undertaker. 

In any case, Vincent had a certain knack for things. It can't be considered premonition or anything of that sort. He just, well, he could sense the way the world worked. He could get a good read on people and figure out their next move. It was a blessing and a curse. Blessing, because Diedrich was simply the easiest to read. Curse, because he felt a dark shadow everywhere he went.

"This 'request' of yours, is that an order?" Diedrich huffed and rested his cheek on his hand. 

"Hm, well," Vincent glanced down at the child currently clinging to him. "More like a 'favor' I'd say." 

Diedrich scoffed, moving his hand to shake off the idea. "I can't imagine you dying earlier than me." 

Vincent smiled, in that unnerving way of his, "You never know." 

"Father, are you going to die?" the young one looked up with tear-filled eyes. Vincent pat his head lightly. 

"Everyone dies eventually, my darling boy, but it's the choices we make after the loss that truly impact us."

"Don't you mean the choices we make before we die?" Diedrich raised an eyebrow. 

"No, in this case, I'm quite certain the choices my children make after I die will have much more weight than when I was alive," Vincent sighed. 

"Stop talking as if you're going to die," Diedrich frowned. 

"The future isn't certa-" 

"Shut up, damn you!" Diedrich slammed his hand down on the table. "The world can barely keep itself together with you in it, if you were to die everything would go to Hell!" 

Vincent snickered. "To Hell, indeed," he glanced down at his child. 

"Stop talking in godforsaken riddles. Rely on people once in a while!"

"I am," Vincent's smile never left his face. "I just asked you for a favor, didn't I?" 

"Father, I don't want you to die," the boy hugged Vincent close. 

"It's unsettling to see you with a child in your lap," Diedrich admitted, calming himself down. 

"Why is that?" 

"Because you haven't loved a single thing in your entire pathetic life," Diedrich crossed his arms. 

"Is that so?" Vincent thought about it for a moment. Of course, Diedrich had known him for quite some time and Vincent's self, as aforementioned, was the one thing he couldn't understand. "Love is a wonderful thing," he spoke fondly, "but it can bring forth horrific disaster. Perhaps the reason you believe I have never loved is because I've been avoiding such a disaster. I've been subconsciously avoiding attachment to this world, wondering briefly if the next will be more entertaining."