Labouchere (L’amour de ma vie)
The two laid there in silence, their breathing the only audible sound in the now warm room. Their hands remained linked and tight as the light-haired boy drifted off to a peaceful sleep. In his fantasy, this was their home and they did this nightly with the same feeling in his tight and excited chest. His dreams were fluffy, while reality mirrored what it could. Upstairs, the other blond held tightly onto her covers, trying to remember the last time Ciel spent the night with her on holiday. She feigned sleep and remained too cold.
♚ ♚ ♚ ♚ ♚
“Paris is best place to buy silk.” Alois chirped, having pulled out a catalog. He now sprawled across the bed with naught more than a blanket covering his icy skin, scanning the pages with the dog himself smiling every time he mentioned a location. “I find most of my favorite pieces, however, in Vienna. Very colorful, but the fabrics can be tackier than those in London, so sometimes I’ll have them tailored there…”
They’d been awake for possibly an hour, possibly two, but the sun only began to rise a spell ago. Alois had deemed it safe to talk and joke, assuming it would be early enough for the two to be “working.” If working included jesting over fabrics, so it was.
“Perhaps we’ll go there, then. One day.” Ciel replied, his back up against the pillow by the headboard, blankets draped over his body. He watched his lover dream of the different places and things he wanted. He loved seeing him so excited and hopeful for the future. It made Ciel wish he had more hope.
After a few moments, there was a knock at the door.
“Young master?” A familiar voice questioned. Ciel granted him entry, ordering him to shut and lock the door behind him. “Ah, I see you two have woken up just fine. I was simply going to wake you up if you hadn’t already. Mr. Trancy, Claude is preparing breakfast and will be in to dress you shortly.”
Ciel had already begun getting up, knowing that he was going to be asked to stand to be dressed. Sebastian smiled at this, unfolding the clothes tucked under his arm.
Alois stood as well, grumbling as he did so. His fingers gripped the edge of the magazine, flipping it closed with a slapping sound. Flipping his long bangs out of his eyes, he walked over to a chair nearby where Claude had placed a blue silk robe for him during the night. He slid it off its hanger and onto his thin arms, concealing his angular figure.
“Good morning, Sebastian.” Alois mumbled, a tiny amused smile on his lips. Sebastian’s presence, after the truth had been revealed to him, was merely a sign of Ciel’s difference. Sebastian. he knew, would kill Alois if he needed to. Yet, he hadn’t yet and they’d developed a sort of understanding. In the way Ciel used Sebastian and simultaneously loved him, Alois loved and used Claude. Another master, another power complex. It amused them both.
Ciel, now dressed, walked to the blond young man, kissing his cheek softly- he rarely did this. Usually, Ciel acted very cold towards him, except after they spent the night together. Those nights made him clingy and needy, which Alois loved.
“Come join us once you’re dressed.” He said, walking back towards the door, being held open by Sebastian. “We’ll wait for you.”
-
As soon as Ciel stepped foot into the dining room, Elizabeth was standing beside the table, arms crossed and a pout on her face.
“Elizabeth, is something the matter?” He asked almost cautiously, stepping closer to her.
Sniffling, she avoided eye contact with him. “You never came to bed last night.. I didn’t even get a goodnight kiss.”
“My apologies,” He said, gently planting a kiss on her forehead. “I was planning with Trancy all night. We both fell asleep while talking.”
Accepting this answer, and the kiss, Elizabeth cheerfully grabbed her fiance’s hand, leading him to the beautifully set table.
The blond waited on his butler to enter the room, walking around in his robe and looking out the window. It was a beautiful morning, soft aqua skies and a light dusting of snow brightening the atmosphere. He brought up a silk sleeve to his mouth, concealing his genuine smile. It was that moment when his Claude entered the room to dress him.
He made his way down the stairwell, the air tense as he got closer and closer to the dining room. Something was off. As he entered to meet his hosts for breakfast, he could immediately tell what. His love had been focused on his food, perhaps making small talk but not enough to please his fiancee who still had all her food on her delicate plate. She seemed to have tried to talk out her concern but made no progress, judging by her obvious discomfort. The man said nothing as he allowed Claude to pull out his chair for him.
“Good morning!” He chimed, trying to brighten the mood.
“Oh, good morning, Mr. Trancy!” Elizabeth sang, smiling sweetly at him from her seat. “I was just telling Ciel the strangest thing from last night!”
Alois suddenly caught a glimpse of Ciel’s face, staring down at his plate of food with a look in his eyes that seemed worrisome. His cheeks were a light pink, though Elizabeth hadn’t seemed to notice.
“I think there may be a ghost in this mansion.. You know, a spirit?” She whispered excitedly, giggling. “Don’t they moan and groan while they roam around old buildings? I could have sworn I heard that last night.”
Alois’ face cast downward at his own plate, concealing the smirk that graced his lips. He picked up his fork and began to poke at his eggs, trying to regain composure.
“That is really creepy…” He commented, creating a surprised and concerned expression. Elizabeth was an unfortunate level of gullible and Alois was a unfortunately high level of trickster. “A-actually, I think I heard it too, while making travel plans to buy your gifts.” He trailed, voice low enough to simulate the fear of which he felt none. “Remember that, Ciel?”
Ciel snapped his head towards Alois, his eyes wide. After a moment he cleared his throat, eyes locked on the plate again.
“Mm, yes, well.. Perhaps I heard something..”
Lizzie stood from the table, an adorably determined expression on her face. “We should investigate!” She chimed, a giggle following her statement.
Alois’ excitement obvious on his face, he stood as well and locked eyes with the lady.
“Yes, yes! We should investigate!” He chirped, putting his hands down on either side of his plate. “Claude! Plan with the lady!” He ordered, laughing as well and settling himself back into his chair. “I’ll finish off this deliscious spread.” He added with a delightful wink.
Giggling excitedly, Lizzie leapt from the table and grabbed hold of Claude’s arm, pulling him off into another room. She continued blabbering about ghosts and plans, until they gradually faded away.
“…You’re a bloody idiot.” Ciel growled lowly, stabbing his breakfast with a fork. Now that she had gone, his cheeks glowed bright red.
Once they’d disappeared, Alois’ grin of false excitement faded into one of mischief - toying with his lover was like a hobby by now. He picked up his fork and began to slice open the yolk of his egg, looking up at Ciel out of the corner of his eye.
“Perhaps. But I got her to leave, did I not?” He purred, taking off a chunk of egg and popping it into his petty mouth.
A glare cast over Ciel’s face, but he avoided looking at the petty blond boy he had only recently kissed.
“Yes, you did.” He spoke lowly, as if still nervous she would be somewhere near. “And you were also sure to make her stay on high alert until she finds the source of that /‘noise’/ she heard last night.”
Alois, unperturbed, brought his cup of morning tea to his lips and gazed up at the blue boy. He ate slowly, letting the silence pass uncomfortably. When he put down his fork, it made a small echo within the room.
“We can make a game of it.” He offered. “Not to mention, we still have your dog.” He put special emphasis on the word, looking back at the stoic butler still in the space.
Ciel, unamused as usual, placed his hands in his lap to hide the fists he was making. This wasn't a game to him. None of it was.
"You understand we'll be punished if we're found out, yet you still want to make a game of it?" He asked, almost in disbelief. "I don't like it anymore than you do, but our lives are at risk for simply..being together. Or have you blocked that from your mind as well?"