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It isn’t often that Ciel finds himself alone with his servants without Sebastian as a buffer, but with the demon incapacitated, he finds himself there now. He sits at the table, picking at a poorly-prepared breakfast and watching Mey-Rin and Bard titter around the room. Finny had been banished from the dining room for the time being after breaking a stack of plates. The only sound is Bard’s humming and the sound of Mey-Rin sweeping up shards of porcelain.
Ciel clears his throat.
Bard ceases his humming and turns to look at him. Mey-Rin gives pause to her duties.
“I’d like to ask you two for advice.”
Bard frowns. “...Us? What would you do that for?”
“It’s about Sebastian.”
At that, Mey-Rin makes a sympathetic face. It makes Ciel squirm. He’s not sure if the pity is directed at himself or at the absent Sebastian.
Since the incident on the Campania, from which they had returned nine days ago, Sebastian has been in his room, dutifully resting. Or not so dutifully-- Ciel had caught him sneaking out to tidy the manor twice before he’d given in and ordered the butler to not leave the room until Ciel had deemed him to be fit to work once again.
And he was not-- the wound on his chest was still healing. Ciel had gone to see his butler the previous evening, feeling out of place and stiff in the butler’s room. He’d made a show of inspecting the wound and deciding it was not time for Sebastian to come out, much to the demon’s irritation.
“What is it?” Mey-Rin asks. “Does he need something?”
Ciel frowns at her eagerness. Her fascination with Sebastian has always made an irrational bit of jealousy spring up in him. He tamps it down and shakes his head once. “No.”
“Well, what is it, young master?” Bard presses, leaning on the chair beside Ciel’s. Mey-Rin steps closer as well, curious.
“...I would like to help him in his recovery.”
“Some medicine?” Mey-Rin asks.
“I was thinking,” Ciel shifts in his chair, suddenly embarrassed. “...Morale-wise.”
Mey-Rin hums. “I see…”
It was true that the butler had been sullen since being put on bedrest. The few times the others had tried to visit him, they’d left trembling, frightened of his wrath. Even when Ciel visited him each night, he was low in spirits, unhappy at being unable to attend to his master. It was off-putting. Ciel did not like it one bit, and so he’d decided something must be done.
Bard strokes his chin idly. He hasn’t shaved, and Ciel can see where there are little blindish hairs sticking from his skin. “Perapas you should give him something.”
Ciel frowns. “Like what?”
“A card, or a gift,” Mey-Rin volunteers.
“No, he wouldn’t enjoy that.”
“He might, if it were from you, my lord.”
Ciel shakes his head.
“Then perhaps you should try and cook him something.”
That marks Ciel scrunch his nose, glaring at Bard for the suggestion.
“Or entertain him,” Mey-Rin muses. “I’m sure he’s mighty bored there in his room, he has to be.”
Ciel’s ears pinken. “No. Something else.”
The trip falls silent, thinking it over. And then Bard pipes up, “Well, I reckon the best way to show Sebastian you care is to help him with his duties.”
“...What do you mean?”
“Well, his job is very important to him. He takes it very seriously. He might appreciate you trying to help.”
Ciel thinks it over. He can’t very well do most of the tasks that Sebastian took care of, but he could at least offer a bit of help. God knows the manor was already falling apart in his absence; Ciel trying his hand couldn’t hurt. And as much as he hates to admit it, Bard had a point.
“That might work.” He nods once, mind made up. “I will ask him tonight. Thank you both.”
Bard sticks a finger up. “I have a suggestion, my lord.”
Ciel narrows his eyes at the man. Bard isn’t exactly the type of person whose advice he would trust, though he has been helpful so far. He humors him half-heartedly. “What is it.”
“Well,” The cook gestures. Ciel had no idea what the gesture is meant to mean. “You very well can’t do housework in your fancy clothes.”
“Oh, yes,” Mey-Rin agrees, nodding eagerly. “You’ll need to change.”
“Change? Into what? I don’t have anything that suits housework in my wardrobe.”
Mey-Rin pushes her glasses up her nose. It exposes her eyes a little clearer, clear enough that Ciel can see a foreboding kind of twinkle in her eye. He shifts, under her sudden intensity feeling like he’s been doused in cold water. “I have just the thing, young master.”
------
The uniform is far too big on him. The sleeves are long and hand off his wrists no matter how much he tries to push them up or allows Mey-Rin to attempt to pin them. (After the fourth time being stuck by the pins, he’d waved her off and accepted his fate.) The hems dragged around his feet, and the waist sagged slightly around his middle.
Still, he made due, trekking down the stairs to the servants’ quarters. The others were still hard at work, or whatever their version of hard at work was, which Ciel doubted was much. He found himself alone in the corridor as he stepped up to the demon’s door.
Here, he hesitated. Every night since they’d returned home, he’d visited Sebastian here. Yet he found himself feeling out of his depth, as if stepping into the demon’s territory was forbidden, even if it was his own home. Usually, he wouldn’t bother knocking before storming in to check on his demon. Last night, he’d found Sebastian at the desk, writing something in an indecipherable language. The night before, he’d found him laying listlessly on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The sight of it made Ciel squirm with something unfamiliar, almost like sympathy.
He must have hesitated too long, because there’s a soft laugh from inside, muffled by the thick wood of the door. “Come in, my lord.”
Ciel swallows. The doorknob feels heavy under his hand, but he steps into the room with as much false pride as he can muster. Sebastian is sitting on the bed, back straight against the headboard. His eyebrows raise when he sees the boy’s attire.
“My lord, may I ask why you are wearing Mey-Rin’s uniform? And an outdated one, at that.”
Flushing, Ciel shifts on his feet. He’d kept his own shoes, at least. “I,” He starts, clearing his throat. “I wanted to… assist you while you are incapacitated.”
Sebastian sits up further, leaning forward slightly. His eyes skim Ciel’s figure again, and he smiles. “Assist me, my lord?”
“The others-- they said I should help with cleaning, or-”
“Apologies, my lord, but I can’t imagine you being capable of such a thing,” Sebastian interrupts. He’s grinning, but his eyes keep flickering over Ciel’s body, over the way the uniform heaps around him and drips from his hands.
Ciel feels picked apart under the scrutiny. This was a stupid idea. Why would Sebastian want his help? “I will not stand for this attitude,” He grits out. “I’ve changed my mind.” He turns on his heel, hoping Sebastian can’t see the way the tips of his ears are red.
“Just a moment, my lord,” Sebastian says. “If you would, please.”
Ciel grunts and looks back over his shoulder. Sebastian beckons him closer with one hand.
“What is it,” The boy grinds out flatly.
“I have other needs you can assist with.”
That gets Ciel’s attention. He frowns, turning fully to face the demon once again. “What is it?” He repeats, curious this time.
“Come here, my lord.”
Ciel obeys cautiously, stepping towards the demon and peering around the room. There isn’t any particular task which seems to stand out. The room is tidy as ever, not a speck of dust to be seen. It seems that once deprived of his tasks around the rest of the manor, Sebastian had focused his energy on the one room he was allowed to attend to. The doorknob on the inside of the door has turned from a gleaming bronze to silver-- Sebastian had polished it enough to wear away the top layer.
Ciel stops a foot from the demon, eying him cautiously. “What can I… help with?” He asks. He feels silly, staring at his own butler, dressed in an oversized hand-me-down. Sebastian, he realizes now, is wearing only his white shirt, and the first few buttons are undone. Ciel doesn’t think he’s seen the demon so close to relaxed. It’s an odd but welcome sight-- he’s meant to be resting, after all.
“Closer, my lord.”
What could it be? Perhaps there is something wrong with the bed. Ciel steps closer, glancing down at the sheets, the bedframe, finding nothing. He’s about to open his mouth and demand an explanation, but he lets out a yelp instead when two hands find his hips. He’s lifted from the floor and finds himself deposited on Sebastian’s lap, hands gracelessly falling into his own lap, buried in the skirts.
“Why- you!”
“I am in need of a bit of caretaking, my lord,” Sebastian simpers, hands heavy on Ciel’s hips. He tilts his head up to press a kiss to Ciel’s chin. “Kiss it better, my lord.”
Ciel scoffs, shuffling around in the man’s lap. He makes no effort to get off, but he makes sure to pretend to be annoyed with the situation. Sebastian is warm beneath him. “I’m not a nurse,” He says, wriggling around until he can get comfortable.
Sebastian winces as he takes a knee to the hip in the process. “If I may say so,” He begins, and then it’s Ciel’s turn to wince, because those words never precede anything good, “You look adorable. I’d like to ask Mey-Rin if you can keep it permanently.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Ciel warns.
Sebastian laughs, putting one hand on Ciel’s chin so he can tip the boy’s face up and kiss him. He’s gentle, gentler than usual. Ciel has the distinct impression of being savored, letting Sebastian move his tongue languidly along his lips.
The hand on his hip finds his back, moving up and down his spine. It’s soothing, and Ciel melts a little into him, pulling away to lay against his chest, His cheek presses to one collarbone, wrinkling the open shirt. He observes the room quietly, looking for some source of entertainment for the demon.
“What do you do down here all day? Aside from obsessively dust.”
Sebastian hums, pressing a kiss to the crown of Ciel’s head. “Think about my lord.”
Ciel huffs. “I’m serious, Sebastian. Tell me.”
“I cannot lie,” The demon reminds him. “I sit here and think about what my lord might be doing above me. Studying his paperwork, allowing Tanaka to dress him--” Here, a degree of jealousy takes on his voice, before disappearing once again, “--scolding the servants, demanding they bring him sweets.”
“I did no such thing,” Ciel says. “...I don’t like the sweets they make. I only like the ones you make.”
Sebastian makes a pleased sound beneath him. “I’m honored, my lord.”
Ciel pulls back to glare at the demon.
“I’m being sincere,” Sebastian says, patting his cheek. It’s a patronizing gesture, and Ciel swats at him for it.
The demon only laughs, pulling him in for another kiss. His tongue swipes at the seam of his lips again, but Ciel turns his head away petulantly. He puts one palm over the demon’s mouth. “Beast.”
“My lord has become such a brat without me to guide him,” Sebastian muses, words muffled against Ciel’s skin. His tongue pokes out to lick at his palm, and Ciel grunts and pulls it away, glaring as he wipes it on Sebastian’s shirt.
The hand on Ciel's back curls around his waist, pulling their chests flush. “For a maid, you do a poor job of following guidance.”
Ciel frowns, looking at the demon through his bangs. “Do I really?”
“Oh, yes, my lord.”
“What kind of guidance?” Ciel asks curiously. He hadn’t done any maid duties yet, really. He supposed sitting in Sebastian’s lap and letting himself be kissed was some sort of entertainment for the demon, but he hadn’t done any actual cleaning. He thought Sebastian wasn’t interested in that, but it seemed--
“You are dressed rather lewdly, my lord,” Sebastian says suggestively.
Ciel slumped, ceasing his wondering. Of course that’s what the demon meant. “I am not. This dress covers my whole body-- it’s too big.”
“Which makes it all the more suggestive,” Sebastian says, kissing the boy’s jaw. “I have to wonder what might be underneath…”
Ciel sniffs, rolling his eyes. “You know what’s underneath, you damn demon.”
“And the idea of you serving me is laughable yet so enticing… Perhaps a demonstration is in order.”
“That is not what I put this on for, you lech!”
“Isn’t it?” Sebastian murmurs, biting at his earlobe gently. “Your aim is to serve, is it not?”
“My aim was--” Ciel falters, cheeks flushing in embarrassment. This was a stupid idea-- to think that the demon would need help! “Was to assist in your recovery, but it seems that’s not necessary. I should be on my way.”
Sebastian tightens his hold on the boy’s waist. “It is most certainly necessary, my lord. I have a few suggestions,” He says, grinding his hips up into the boy’s ass.
Rolling his eyes again, Ciel grunts. “You’re deplorable.”
“Thank you, my lord.”
“Utterly insatiable. Disgusting.”
Sebastian grins against his jaw. “Of course.”
“I should have you castrated.”
“If you must.”
Ciel swallows. He shifts in the man’s lap. “...What kind of suggestions?”