Hey, welcome back to tumblr. I would be super happy if you could write something really fluffy, maybe Sebastian finds out how cuddling works and he keeps cuddling Ciel or something the like. That would be cool. Anyway have a nice day.
Hey there! Thank you for the ask! It just so happens that I loooove writing fluff so I’m very excited to work on this for you!
Quarter past nine. The grandfather clock in the hallway ticked away relentlessly, echoing in the endless caverns of the demon’s mind as he made his way towards his young master’s bedroom. The soft click of Sebastian’s heels against the hallway kept in perfect time with the ticking of the clock. One would not be able to tell one from the other as the demon walked amongst the paintings, moving as if he were a ghost. As if he were one of the dead painted in the extravagant portraits. The candelabra flickered, casting shadows on the walls. Tendrils of darkness threatened to swallow the entire hallway whole with every step the demon took.
His knuckles tapped lightly on his master’s door. He promptly waited three seconds before opening the door, knowing that it was above his master to verbally invite the demon into his room.
“Good evening, My Lord,” Sebastian greeted evenly without looking at his master yet. It was incredibly hard to gauge what mood the young earl would be in, but after a verbal response, Sebastian would have a good enough idea and be able to act accordingly. “It’s time to get you ready for sleep.”
“Do you feel temperature, Sebastian?” The young lord asked, and finally the demon looked at him. Sebastian’s expression remained neutral despite how internally intrigued he felt.
“My Lord?” Sebastian asked, slightly raising an eyebrow as he set the candelabra down on Ciel’s bedside table.
“Temperature.” Ciel repeated in an icy tone. “Do you feel it?” The earl sat in his chair, partially facing out the window, and partially facing the demon.
“Yes and no, Young Master,” Sebastian answered and in minimal strides, closed the space between himself and his master. He knelt down in front of Ciel’s chair and carefully unbuckled his shoes. “I can feel it if I decide to, but I do not actively notice nor am I affected by it. Why do you ask?” His curiosity was piqued. It was an unusual topic for his young lord.
“Are you quite cold, My Lord?” Sebastian asked, lifting his chin to look at his master as he began undressing his many layers. “I can light the fireplace, if you wish.”
“Yes, that would be nice.” Ciel nodded, but his voice seemed distant. He stood up from the chair to allow Sebastian access to undress him properly. His skin was not subjected to the cold air long, as a nightshirt was immediately pulled over his head. The demon disappeared to Ciel’s wardrobe for a moment, seemingly looking for something not part of his regular nighttime attire. When Sebastian returned, it was with thick wool socks. Ciel crinkled his nose. “I don’t typically sleep with socks. Those look itchy.”
Sebastian chuckled lightly and knelt down once again. He lifted one slender calf and smiled a bit as he felt two hands grip his shoulders for support while he slipped the sock onto Ciel’s foot and up snuggly to his calf. Though the displeased look on his master’s face, he didn’t protest the warm socks and allowed Sebastian to put on the second one.
“They May be itchy, Young Master, but they will keep your feet warm. I’ll fetch you an extra blanket, as well.” Sebastian offered, then picked the earl up in his arms and carried him to his bed. With a delicate touch that was so unnatural to him, he laid his master down and pulled the sheets up to his chest. There was a look on Ciel’s face, as if he had something to say but he did not. Sebastian would not press the matter. “If I may,” He said quietly, then untied the eyepatch from behind Ciel’s head and laid it down on his bedside table. “Allow me to fetch your blanket and start a fire for you.”
Sebastian excused himself from his master’s room, feeling a bit perplexed as to his young lord’s mood. It wasn’t a sour mood, but he didn’t seem happy, either. Ciel rarely seemed happy, but there were nights that he at least seemed at peace. His current mood was quite different, though, almost nervous and the demon couldn’t place why. From a spare linens closet, he grabbed a thick blanket and made his way back towards Ciel’s room. Half past nine. The grandfather clock continued its ticking.
The demon approached Ciel’s bedside once again and unfolded the blanket, then laid it out over top of his young master. He tucked the sides in, hoping that it would keep him warmer than his standard bedding did. The fire would take a little bit more time, but nothing that a demon butler couldn’t handle. He knelt down in front of the fireplace and set out to work rearranging the refreshed firewood. Sebastian struck a match and waited for the firewood to become engulfed in warm embers. As he was using the fire poker, evenly distributing the wood within the flames, a quiet voice broke the silence.
“This isn’t what I had in mind.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow and turned around, adjusting his gloves. “What did you have in mind, My Lord?”
“I thought that you...” Ciel trailed off. His cheeks looked a healthy shade of pink, and Sebastian wondered if the warmth of the fire was working so quickly. “Could lay with me.”
Sebastian paused. He looked at his gloved hands. Lay with him? What ever for?
“Of course, Master.” Sebastian answered with a slight nod of his head. A request was as serious as an order when it came to Ciel... Unless the request was for sweets before dinner. Sebastian carefully untied his dress shoes and left them by the door, but kept the rest of his butler uniform on as he approached the bed.
The bed. Of course, Sebastian had one, too. It was just rarely ever used. There was far too much for a demon butler to do and he did not require rest, so it seemed a waste to lay around in it. Yet for some reason, Ciel wanted his company. Sebastian laid down ontop of the blankets, stiff as a board, and folded his gloved hands neatly over his chest.
“What do you think you’re doing, Sebastian?” Ciel snapped with impatience. “Beneath the covers!” His master’s cheeks turned a rosy shade.
“Yes, My Lord.” Sebastian nodded and sat up to rearrange himself beneath the covers. He snapped his fingers next to the candelabra to extinguish the small flames, assuming that the earl no longer needed them with the healthy warmth and light coming from the fireplace.
“Now... Hold still. I’d like to...” Ciel paused again, as if his throat was suddenly too dry to speak. Sebastian began to worry about his master. “I’d like to try something.”
It was unlike Ciel to seem so unsure of himself. It was rare for him to hesitate. Sebastian remained still, looking at the ceiling to give his master privacy for whatever it was he decided to “try”. There was nothing in particular that Sebastian had expected, but he was certainly surprised by Ciel’s movements.
The earl turned beneath the sheets to face the demon and laid his head on Sebastian’s chest. The earl’s face felt warm even through the layers of Sebastian’s clothing. Was he suffering a fever? Before the demon had a chance to ask if Ciel felt well, the earl’s fingers were removing Sebastian’s gloves.
“Stay quiet.” Ciel intructed, then wove his fingers through the demon’s. Sebastian was naturally warm to the touch and was suddenly quite aware of how cold Ciel’s hand was. Instinctively, he rubbed his thumb over the back of the earl’s hand and gave it a light squeeze, engulfing the smaller hand in the warmth of his own. “Very good. Now place your arm around me.”
Ciel’s voice sounded more certain. More sure of himself. Without hesitation, Sebastian obeyed. A long arm wrapped around Ciel’s body and pulled him in closer. Ciel his face in Sebastian’s chest, but the demon could feel how warm it was, and he started to understand.
“This will keep you warm, My Lord? Laying in bed?” Sebastian inquired, tucking the earl’s head beneath his chin as they settled into a more comfortable position. Sebastian hadn’t laid in his own bed in quite a while, but he certainly didn’t remember it being so... Comfortable.
“It is not just laying. It is... Cuddling. And yes, it will keep me warm.” Ciel answered, followed by a short yawn. His mismatched eyes finally closed and he nuzzled his head against Sebastian lightly. “This is what we will do in the winter from now on, demon. Do you understand?”
A small smile tugged at Sebastian’s lips. For as strange as humans were, cuddling did feel quite nice. His eyes also closed. Over the crackling of the fireplace, the demon could hear his master’s breathing slow down. The earl was already drifting off to sleep. “Yes, of course. Sleep well, My Lord.” Sebastian murmured quietly, keeping his voice lower than the fireplace’s crackling. Though the demon did not require sleep, he decided to indulge... Just this once. Just for the winter.
There you have it! I have not written in literal MONTHS so I apologize if I’m rusty, but I really appreciate the ask! Thank you so much for sending me a prompt! Have a great week 💙