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“...Ciel?”
Turning to look behind him, his eyes widened at the sight of his younger twin clutching at his shirt, tears rolling down his flushed cheeks. While he had been standing in front of their parent’s portrait, he hadn’t even heard him approaching. Soft sniffles filled the empty hall, Sirius’ small hands trembling.
It hurt his heart to see his brother like this—teary and upset. What happened this time?
Swallowing, Ciel stepped towards Sirius, reaching out a hand to brush away a few of the tears staining his pale face. When it was just them, he got to see a side of his brother the others never did.
Would anyone else ever see him like this?
Something in his heart lurched.
With a small smile, he offered his handkerchief, wiping at Sirius’ face despite the boy’s protests.
Those hands pushed at him, trying to get him away, but he wouldn’t be stopped so easily. Not until he knew what made his baby brother cry! While yes, Sirius was the more sensitive of the two, it wasn’t like he cried all the time. Sure, he was a scaredy-cat, and sure he was nervous around their parent’s friends, and sure—Ciel stopped there, brow twitching.
Okay, so maybe Sirius was just a bit of a cry baby.
Not that he would ever say that out loud to him, though. Never!
“What’s got you all upset?” Ciel’s voice wavered a bit at the end, his confidence quickly dying out when his brother burst out into a new wave of tears. It was apparent his initial attempt of calming him was a total failure. Waving his hands frantically, he elected to just wrap his arms around him, pulling him close and secure.
Surely this would work—!
When all went quiet, he let out a sigh of relief internally, nose burying itself into the younger’s hair.
It was so soft!
If there was anything Ciel was jealous of when it came to Sirius, it was how soft and fluffy he kept his hair. He wanted to pet it…
Fingers twitching, he was ready to take the leap and bury them in the soft locks, until he felt his neck grow damp. Letting out a confused noise, he turned his head just enough that he could get a look at Sirius’ face.
He was looking right at him.
Ah.
The silence was deafening.
“...Sebastian bullied me.”
Blinking, Ciel took a moment to process the words.
Sebastian was bullying him?
Oh!
Of course, it was never his intention to laugh at his brother and belittle his feelings—especially when it came to things that scared him—but this was something he always found so silly. It seemed that Sirius always misinterpreted their dog’s playful antics as something negative.
It’s only natural that Sebastian would sniff out the person in the manor who gave him the least amount of attention. He is a lovebug after all!
“He just wants you to pet him. I promise, if you’re real, real gentle with him and give him kisses, he’ll stop biting at you.”
“B—but I’m allergic! I can’t kiss him!”
“Oh, don’t be so difficult, Sirius. One little kiss won’t hurt, like this!”
Leaning forward, his brother pulled away in a panic with a soft squeak.
Ciel had pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, grinning in delight.
Success!
“Now you’re being mean to me!”
“Who, me? Never.”
Sirius had grown impatient, separating himself entirely as he fumed a few steps away, arms crossed over his chest. He really did act like such a baby sometimes. But hey, at least he had finally stopped crying—even if it meant he was mad at him now.
With a smile, Ciel looked back up to the portrait. He’d keep his brother safe. Always.
No matter what.