Naughty Chapter 3

Ciel on the other hand had a very much annoyed expression on his face. London was dirty, he could already smell the death, the filth, the disease, and the worse part was they were probably in the cleanest part of the damn city. Perhaps he should have refused, tea and cake at his was far more dignified than tea and disease here.
What if he caught something?
Putting a hand up to cover his mouth, Ciel gave the monster to his side a stern glare. How dare he bring Ciel here.
Sebastian turned to the boy at his side, raising an eyebrow at him pleasantly, as if asking if his young master had a problem. He found himself amused by the irritated expression on Ciel's face to be quite adorable, especially with the way he covered his mouth.
But…
"Young master, it's rude to cover your mouth. If there is something unpleasant, you must surpass it and not let it affect you," the butler spoke softly, reaching a hand over and covering Ciel's before gently removing it from the boy's mouth.
True, he couldn't deny that there was a foul stench in the air, and one so painfully familiar to the demon, but he hadn't been given a direct order about it, so he left it.
Not let it affect him?
Just what did Sebastian think he was?
Despite his power he was still a child who liked sweets and sleeping in late. As his hand was physically removed from his mouth, Ciel frowned deeply, slapping Sebastian's hand away from his own. "Learn your place" Ciel snapped.
Okay so maybe the contact had flustered him a bit, having Sebastian's hand so close to his mouth wasn't something he was used to. Yes his butler dressed him everyday, but that had somehow seemed a lot more intimate than their usual touches.
Perhaps loving could describe it. Or maybe Ciel was still a bit sleepy, and was just reading in to things a bit too much. Tutting, Ciel quickly turned his head, his hand twitching at his side as the other gripped his cane tighter.
Sebastian couldn't help but smile. Such a cute boy; his reactions were adorable, that angry twitch of the eyebrow. "Yes, my lord," he spoke fluidly in response, his voice like liquid velvet. Of course he would obey his master. And learn his place? It was as the pre-teen's butler and servant. Ruby eyes turned upwards as a man approached them from downstairs, his arms wide open, a sickly thin demeanour and deep shadows beneath his eyes. He was completely clothed and not a single part of his skin was visible apart from his face, and even that was shaded by the shadows and a top hat. "Ciel Phantomhive! Welcome, welcome! Please, come this way!" the man spoke, his voice hoarse and scratchy.
The man sent a shiver down Ciel's spine, this was a man that Ciel refused to be left alone with, murderers sure he could deal with that, but this man screamed something more, almost like Sebastian. Only Ciel had control over Sebastian, which was why this man was clearly more dangerous that Ciel would have liked to have admitted. Giving Sebastian a look that clearly stated if Ciel was left alone he would make the butler regret it, Ciel sighed softly and followed the shadowy man who had beckoned him.
Sebastian merely helped guide his master forward, following close behind him as he sniffed the air. What a curious smell, and one he remembered so well. He'd been fond of it for a brief time- it smelt of death.
Hm.
Perhaps it wasn't so good to have his young master here. But he didn't have any orders regarding the smell, or their reason to be here, so he would take no action. He would not displease Ciel by embarrassing the Phantomhive name. "Step right this way and take a seat, dear Ciel," he man motioned, opening a door and gesturing inside.
Walking in before Sebastian, Ciel looked around the room, quickly noticing that the only exit was the door he had just walked through.
Making sure to sit near the door, in case he had to make a quick exit.
The smell was stronger in this room, and although Ciel didn't know exactly what it was, he knew that it wasn't meant to be there, clearly something was going on that wasn't exactly hidden, just not spoken about. Well Ciel wasn't someone to hide behind other peoples excuses. "Beg my pardon, but what is that awful smell, did your maid forget to take out the rubbish?"
The man seemed to falter in his smile and cheerful demeanour, but instead chuckled, shaking his head. "Yes, that's it… She hasn't been feeling well and seems to be neglecting things recently… It's the trash." Sebastian smiled, ruby eyes narrowing.
Ah, the man was lying. He could tell.
This room didn't smell like trash- it was something more foul yet appealing to him at the same time- a familiar stench.
Sickness.
"Anyway, shall we get to business?" the man asked, smiling awkwardly once more.
"Of course" Ciel muttered in response to the man before him, a quick glance at Sebastian telling him all he needed to know. There was something going on, but Ciel wasn't allowed to say anything. That was what he needed to know. "I don't usually make house calls so this had better be important" If it wasn't than Ciel would stand up and walk out, that was how he managed to keep his business running after all. If he went to all meetings and showed his face wherever possible he would be worth nothing.
The man chuckled lightly, reaching out a filthy handkerchief and wiped his nose quickly. "Ah, it's not terribly important. It is, it is though! Just not so much," the man spoke with a nervous smile. Sebastian narrowed his eyes, silently observing.
Now that he'd been ordered- silently, but it was an order none the less- he would begin his thorough investigation, which would only take a few moments. Within those of the man blubbering, Sebastian had placed a hand on Ciel's shoulder, bending down and giving his master a pleasant smile.
"We shall be leaving then, my Lord?" he spoke softly.
It was a subtle way of saying that now that he'd been ordered to discover the problem and deal with it, he felt it wise to leave.
The man jumped up from his seat, all but collapsing in front of and onto the young boy.
"Please, we have to make a deal, I just need my merchandise purchased. Money- I need money!" the man spoke quickly, coughing harshly against his hand before reaching up and gripping Ciel's face.
This is where Sebastian drew the line, and he could tell that the boy was uncomfortable.
Yanking the man backwards, he gave his usual falsely cordial smile. "It is impolite to touch the young master with dirty hands," the demon spoke as he pulled out a handkerchief, moving to Ciel and wiping the dirty coloured blood from the boy's cheek gently and carefully, ruby eyes studying closely.
He knew this scent and presence well.
The Black Plague.
Standing up quickly as soon as Sebastian had wiped the filth of off his face, Ciel turned on his heels, stomping out of the room "Consider all of our business cut off, we will never work with you, for wasting my time and for touching me with those filthy hands. You should know your place" And Sebastian should have done his research. It wasn't often Ciel left, surely he would have looked into just what was going on before he made him come all of the way to London. "Let's go Sebastian, we have no more business here"
Instead Ciel needed to get to the nearest clean hotel and wash himself, he felt dirty, having such a man touch him so familiarly, it made him sick to his stomach. Exiting the house quickly, almost at a run with his cane, Ciel could still feel his stomach twisting, the stench outside was strong and he was feeling sensitive.
Perhaps a bit faint.
Ciel knew that this had been a bad idea.
Sebastian merely smiled to his young master and nodded, sparing the man behind him only a small glance before turning and leaving as the man began to beg for business.
He needed money!
And it was for his medicine too?
Oh?
So the man now admitted he was ill?
Following the pre-teen out of the room and house, Sebastian could sense Ciel's discomfort and unease, and in an odd sense, he just knew that the boy wasn't feeling well.
He wasn't surprised. Most humans were nauseated by the smell of disease and death, especially one as strong as here. Everyone had fallen ill in the dark ages, either by directly having the plague or by being constantly surrounded by the stench it gave off. Once he had caught up with Ciel- which was honestly no problem- Sebastian placed his hands on the younger boy's shoulders to steady him. "Shall we return home?"
Pausing at the hand on his shoulder, Ciel took a slow breath before nodding his head, walking down to the horse and carriage, not even waiting for Sebastian to open the door for him, opening it himself and climbing inside, he needed to get away from that smell, it was like it was following him, some kind of mist consuming him.
Sitting in his seat, his hands shaking slightly before he gripped them around his cane, his eyes closing as he sighed. "Never again Sebastian, do all the research before you drag me half away across the bloody country"
With a curt smile, Sebastian entered the carriage, shutting the door behind him as he felt it rock into motion with the crack of a whip. "Yes, my lord," he responded with the smallest bows of the head. Giving a moment's pause, he looked down at the boy's trembling hands. "It's not quite cold here, but perhaps you would like another coat for your trembling," Sebastian offered before pausing, a scent catching his nose.
Slowly, he pressed Ciel to the carriage seat, leaning in slowly so their faces were inches apart before dipping his head, his face near the boy's neck as he smelled softly.
Ah…
That smell was on his master…
It was clinging to him. Darn, what now? Heal him, of course, or catch it before the disease spreads and really takes a hold of the heir.
About to retort that he didn't need a bloody coat, he was fine, and how dare Sebastian suggest he was trembling, Ciel was quickly and efficiently cut short as Sebastian touched him, pushing him into the carriage and leaning over him. What was this comfort that he felt, the calmness as Sebastian got closer to his neck, but at the same time why was his heart racing in his chest, like it was about to break free from the encasing of ribs surrounding it.
Coming to London really was a bad idea, Ciel could feel the illness of the man clinging to him, eating away at his poor immune system, scarring him from the inside. As a sharp jolt of pain entered his chest, Ciel's hand shot out, gripping the front of Sebastian's suit, his eyes squeezed shut as his breath stilled.
Why did it hurt to breath?
There was no way he could have caught something so fast... unless it was a demonic disease. Ciel was weakest against those. "Sebastian" he uttered, his lips trembling before he bit them, his other hand letting his cane fall to the floor, instead gripping his own chest, where the pain was the greatest.
Ruby eyes narrowed and the pleasant smile left his face, lips down turning in displeasure as his suit was grabbed. That look on Ciel's face, the clear pain, the way his other small hand grasped his chest, the way he held his breath… He did not like that look on his young master. He had to get rid of it.
Especially when his name was whispered like that.
Gently brushing Ciel's hand from his suit, the butler removed his jacket and coattails, left in his vest, long sleeved shirt and tie. Gently he wrapped the smaller boy in the too-large coat before gently scooping the boy up with ease and sitting himself down, Ciel in his lap as the carriage began to move. Sure the boy would protest, but he would be warmer this way and able to sleep on the way back home if he desired. Pressing a gloved hand to Ciel's forehead, Sebastian felt for his temperature as he leaned forward, breathing in the scent against the boy's neck. There was no doubt about it. He recognised this smell anywhere.
The Black Death.