"It's a dog's job to get excited and run as soon as you throw a bone at it, right?"

(Ciel to Sebastian in the Kuroshitsuji Manga chapter 86)

Chapter 2: Dog

Sebastian absolutely detested dogs.

They were so easily manipulated, doing everything they were ordered to do while happily wagging their tails.

They were striving to please, rarely leaving their master's side. He had never been able to understand people who'd rather surround themselves with dogs than with friends, acquaintances or even decidedly smarter animals, which would be almost every other animal, really.

Yes, there was no doubt that Sebastian hated dogs from the bottom of his heart. Furthermore, he abhorred to be compared to one of these vile creatures. He had to admit that there seemed to be certain resemblances at first glance. He shadowed his little master's steps, protected him when danger arose and followed his every order, no matter how ridiculous or insignificant it was.

To everyone that didn't know his true self Sebastian certainly seemed to make one fine guard dog. And regarding some of his traits and actions their assumptions may have been accurate. Though, they didn't know half of it.

He may be obedient, but he enjoyed finding loopholes in his master's orders. It wasn't that he was trying to break their contract in any way by disrespecting his orders, but how dull would it be to simply do as he was told?

No, Sebastian liked to think that he was more like a cat than a dog, cunning, devious and unrestrained. Everything was a game to him and this one was by far the most entertaining one he'd played since decades. The fact that his current contractor was a master at the games he played made it even more interesting. They were constantly challenging and trying to outwit each other, and Sebastian loved every second of it. He enjoyed playing with his food, seasoning it in despair and hate, and even though they both knew how this deadly match would end, it wouldn't cross their minds to submit.

The only thing that was even worse than being compared to a dog was when his normally strong and awe-inspiringly independent master showed resemblances to one of these bloody things himself.

Ciel wasn't cut out to resemble something as unrefined as a dog and yet he did just that, as he was the Queen's Watchdog…

:::::

They were once again travelling through the run-down and deserted streets of London in search of a certain criminal that needed to be apprehended. And everything that had been necessary to make them run around the city chasing tails was one silly little envelope delivered the morning of the same day.

Sebastian was not enjoying the outcome of this day at all. It was bad enough that they were already far behind schedule for his little master's studies, but to watch Ciel taking orders like a commoner and carrying them out without a second thought made Sebastian's eyes flash red in displeasure.

If it wasn't for the contract and his master's tendency to get himself kidnapped or endanger his life otherwise, Sebastian would have rejected the idea of fulfilling someone else's orders, even though the order hadn't been issued to him personally and he was just tagging along to ensure his master's safety.

And what orders it were…

Catching criminals, protecting innocent people or even saving some poor sap from his own idiocy…

Sebastian couldn't care less about the amount of people that died in the crossfire. He'd prefer to watch the world burn and crumble around him, instead of preventing it.

But there was nothing he could do about it. It was, after all, a fact that his master had sworn his loyalty to the Queen. And even though Sebastian hated to see Ciel being ordered around, he couldn't but respect his infallible striving to honor his family's name.

Another thing soothing Sebastian's mind was the knowledge that Ciel didn't care about the murdered or wronged people in their cases any more than his butler did, and if he did he was at least strong enough to keep it a secret from the world. Nothing was more repulsive than someone presenting their weakness for the whole world to see without even an ounce of shame.

Sebastian grinned as he watched his little master walking ahead of him. Yes, he'd really found himself an exceptional soul.

"Sebastian!" his master's voice broke through his reverie. "Remove that creepy smile of yours and try to keep up. I want to get this person before there's another murder."

"Of course, my Lord." Sebastian said and quickened his steps to catch up with Ciel. "If I may be so bold as to ask, but how do you intend to apprehend the murderer?"

Ciel looked back at him with a smirk, before continuing on his way. "That's what you are here for, isn't it? What good does it do to have a demon for a butler if you can't make use of them?"

They rounded another corner and Ciel looked around. There were several old and abandoned buildings, stones blackened by the years, and his frown deepened for a moment. "Run the facts by me again, Sebastian. What exactly are we looking for?"

"The man we are searching for is suspected of murder in at least seven cases." Sebastian began as he stopped next to his master. "He doesn't seem to have a preference regarding the gender or age of his victims, but they were all exceptionally outstanding members of the higher society. I suspect that this is one of the reasons why your presence was so vehemently requested. The only thing that links the victims is the way in which they were killed."

"They drowned." Ciel mumbled with a nod.

"Yes, they were all found along the riverside of the Thames. But that's not all." Sebastian continued, leading his master further into the darkened streets. "When they were found there were no external injuries. The Scotland Yard found neither rope burns nor other marks that suggested that they had been forced to jump into the water. The only thing that links the victims together is the mark their murderer leaves on them."

"A mark?"

"More like his signature, I would presume." Sebastian said with a tilt of his head. "In the front pockets of every victim's clothes they found one single white rose with a note attached to it."

"That doesn't make any sense." Ciel grumbled. "Why would he leave a note behind? He should have known that the water would make it unreadable."

"And that would have been the case if he hadn't used some kind of wax to seal the inscription. As it is, the note was remarkably well preserved. Not that it does the Scotland Yard any good."

"What do you mean?" Ciel asked with the lift of an eyebrow.

"Even though the note is readable, the Yard wasn't able to identify the meaning behind the words, yet."

"Did you take a look at them?" Turning another corner, the stale smell of water met Ciel's nose and made him pick up his pace. They were almost at the river's shore where three of the victims had been found. They weren't likely to find anything important, since it had been almost a week since the last victim was found. However, as of yet, they had nothing else to go on but the crime scene itself.

Sebastian suppressed a smirk at his master's impatience.

"I've taken the liberty to make copies of the notes. But if the young master wishes, I could recite them to him right now. What butler would I be if I couldn't remember even the simplest of words?"

The boy grumbled at the demon's trademark words.

"Well, get on with it then."

"Right away, master." Sebastian said with one hand placed over where his heart should be. Did demons even have hearts? Ciel shook his head, dismissing the stray thought and concentrating on his butler's next words.

[…Where once was noise, now there is nothing but silence.

What once was whole is broken now.

Submerged in the depths of their sins,

They won't utter a single sound.

Never again lies will sprout from the lips of the corrupted and vain,

For their outer beauty so rarely reflects the true horror inside.

And their souls, seasoned in despair and deceit,

Are destined to be mine for eternity…]

"Sounds like something you would say." Ciel said with a glance in Sebastian's direction. The words were met with an amused smile from his butler's side.

"Indeed, it does."

"With the way he talks about their souls, as if he sees them as meals, do you consider it possible that there's another demon in this city but you?"

"I would say that this explanation seems the most plausible. And not to be rude, Young Master, but I was never the only demon walking these lands. Considering the state of this country and the people inhabiting it, it would be downright naïve to think that there aren't other demons out there, just waiting for their chance to feast."

"Are you implying that this country is swarming with demons?"

Sebastian hummed with a thoughtful look.

"This country or every other country… your whole world is based on lies and deceit. There's really nowhere a demon can go without being presented the equivalent to a five-star-menu."

"Are you able to feel if there's another demon nearby?" Ciel asked impatiently and turned around to meet Sebastian's eyes. They were standing next to an old warehouse, their destination no more than fifty feet away.

"Depending on whether the demons are actively trying to conceal themselves, I am able to make them out over a distance of approximately ten miles. And yes, there are several demons nearby. Three, me included."

Sebastian had to suppress the smirk that threatened to stretch across his face at Ciel's shocked expression. However, there wasn't much time for him to enjoy his master's astonishment, as it almost immediately turned into anger. With three steps Ciel was stood in front of Sebastian, grabbing onto his jacket and pulling him down to his height.

"So you knew there was a demon killing these people and you didn't even think about mentioning it to me?!" The snarled accusation was followed by another harsh tug on the butler's suit and Sebastian furrowed his eyebrows when he saw the cloth crinkle under his master's assault.

"With all due respect, Young Master, but until recently there was no reason to assume that these murders were linked to any of the demons I can make out in the direct vicinity."

"No reason to-" Ciel gaped at his butler, before regaining his composure and taking a step back, staring up at him with suppressed fury. "People were murdered here, Sebastian!"

"Exactly, my Lord." Sebastian replied, smoothing out the wrinkles in his suit. "And I'd like to remind you that in all our time together, and since you've begun working as the Queen's Watchdog, the majority of the crimes we were told to solve were committed by humans. In this aspect humanity is far worse than most of us demons could ever be."

Ciel's face had adapted a calmer expression and a shudder of excitement worked through Sebastian's body at the intensity with which these unbelievably blue eyes were staring at him- calculating, curious and cunning.

"Demons are predators." He continued when Ciel didn't try to interrupt his explanation. "We enjoy the hunt and aren't bound by your trivial conventions. However, we never kill more than we need to survive and if a demon falls prey to gluttony, he'll be executed. You humans however…" Here he wrinkled his nose in distaste. "There should be no reason for you to kill each other. Still, there are wars, people who kill for a handful of money, and even some who kill just for fun… didn't you ever wonder how demons can live among humans without being detected? It is because, if you ignore a demon's power and immortality, you humans are pretty much like us."

Ciel scoffed and averted his gaze from Sebastian's glowing eyes. He didn't want to admit it, but his butler was probably right. There were people out there who were far worse than any demon could ever be. The brand on his back burned with a phantom pain that he could never completely erase, and he had to suppress the urge to reach back and claw at the marred skin.

"So if it is a demon we are searching for, how are we supposed to lure him out of his hiding place?" Ciel questioned in an attempt to disperse his haunting memories. "I assume that it won't be a problem for you to take care of everything once we find them?"

"Not at all, Young Master." Placing his right hand above his heart, Sebastian inclined his head. The smile on his lips didn't waver for one second as his smoldering eyes found Ciel's, sending a shiver down the boy's spine that couldn't be entirely attributed to the cold December air. Several seconds passed, but Ciel couldn't seem to find the strength to look away. There was something hypnotic in the way Sebastian's eyes reflected the light around them. Ciel's heart stuttered in his chest when he watched a lone snowflake catching on his demon butler's long lashes.

"Young Master?" Sebastian's deep voice resounded in the air around them. Ciel felt his heartbeat pick up speed when his butler made another step in his direction, bringing them even closer together. The ever-present smirk on the demon's lips was gone, replaced by an expression Ciel couldn't quite decipher. There was a fire in those eyes that warmed Ciel from the inside. The blood rushed in his ears and he was certain that Sebastian could hear the way his heart hammered away in his chest, the rapid rhythm only faltering when the demon made another step forward. Soon, there was barely any distance left between them.

"There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Young Master." Sebastian proclaimed, lifting one hand to swipe a strand of Ciel's hair out of his face. "You only have to say the words."

With that he stepped back, leaving Ciel standing there wide-eyed and slightly out of breath. His cheeks were reddened and he needed another moment to compose himself.

"Sebastian…"

The demon's name was bittersweet on Ciel's tongue. There were so many questions swirling through his mind, but another cold draft reminded him of where they currently were. It also brought his mission to the forefront of his mind. Straightening his back, Ciel shouldered past his butler and made his way in the direction of the riverbank.

"Sebastian." he said without turning around. He knew that the demon butler was following his every step. The water below was almost black, ice swirling beneath the surface as the snow continued to fall around them. "I order you to find the demon responsible for these deaths."

Out of the corner of his eye Ciel saw Sebastian kneeling down beside him. "Yes, My Lord."

There was something calming about this routine and Ciel was glad about the normalcy and predictability of his butler's actions.

However, before any of them could make another move, a deep voice broke through the silence of the winter evening.

"How about I save you the tedious task of searching for me?"

Ciel swirled around in surprise and his eyes widened when they fell on the man that stood barely ten feet away from them. No, no man… but a demon. Almost unconsciously, Sebastian stepped in front of his master, shielding him from the other demon's hungry gaze. Standing behind his butler, Ciel was able to take a closer look at the newcomer. Even though he was a demon just like Sebastian, the both of them couldn't have been more different. Whereas Sebastian almost always excluded an air of calm and superiority, the demon standing across from them practically screamed danger. He was like a wild animal, his eyes never once losing their demonic gleam and never wavering from Ciel.

Even his appearance was in stark contrast to Sebastian's impeccable style.

His clothes were tattered, the once white shirt and beige colored pants hanging loosely from his frame. He was approximately the same height as Sebastian, but more muscular and built. Long, unkempt green hair fanned an angular face that would have been beautiful with its high cheekbones and full, but still masculine lips, if it wasn't for its untamed ferocity.

"Nickar." Sebastian finally said, his voice nothing more than a low growl. The other demon grinned at the recognition.

"No need to be so hostile, Sebastian." The last word was spoken with a strange mixture of amusement and condescendence, and not for the first time Ciel wondered what Sebastian's true name might be. "And I would prefer it if you could call me Nick, as long as we're on earth. Humans are incredibly resentful and it seems my name is not as easily forgotten as I thought. Especially after they published this horrid book about demonology, the Dictionnaire Infernal. Out of all the lies and misconceptions they could have written down, trust them to at least get my name right. Do you know how tiring it is to walk the earth when everyone wants to kill you as soon as they hear your full name?"

"I doubt that your name was the main reason for their urge to kill you…" Sebastian murmured with an annoyed expression. Behind him, Ciel's lips twitched at the butler's exasperation. It was always amusing to watch someone else rile the demon up. However, there was something he was missing. He was sure that he'd read the book that the other demon had mentioned in an attempt to find out more about Sebastian. Furthermore, he faintly remembered there being something about a demon named Nickar… a water demon, luring unsuspecting people to their deaths.

However, his appearance differed slightly from the things Ciel had read about. The boy's eyes wandered slowly down the demon's body until they lingered on his legs and feet. Human legs and feet…

"Yeah, I know." Nickar's voice pulled him from his thoughts and when Ciel looked back up into his face, there was a smirk similar to the one Sebastian always seemed to display. "I've gotten rid of the fishtail they seem to associate with me. It was getting a little uncomfortable and its practicality left a lot to be desired."

"So you're the one that has been killing all these people?" Ciel asked and walked forward until he was standing next to his butler, ignoring his warning gaze. "Not really the best way to stay inconspicuous, if that's what you were going for."

"No, that's certainly right." There was amusement in the demon's voice as he answered. "But I've been careful for centuries now and look where it's gotten me. In the past I was feared, all demons were, whereas now I'm barely more than a shadow in people's minds. A monster right out of tales to keep children from walking into deep waters. I've craved some form of entertainment for a while now, just something to spice things up a little."

With apprehension Ciel watched the demon take some steps towards the water's edge. There was something fishy about this whole situation, pun intended.

"Imagine my surprise when rumors reached my ears that a demon of the highest rank was walking the earth, contracted to a human child."

Out of the corner of his eye Ciel glanced at Sebastian, never once looking completely away from the water demon in front of them. "I thought there was nothing unusual about demons living amongst humans? Why would you be interested in Sebastian making a contract?"

"I'm not." Nick said with a snicker. "Demons make countless of contracts over the years, there's nothing new or special about it. However, once in a while there is a soul sweeter than any soul a demon could ever wish to obtain. Oftentimes, it's impossible for a demon to get a hold of it, much less bind it in a contract. Sometimes the soul is already bound to heaven and even if it is not, it would need exceptional circumstances to convince the human to forsake their faith in God and call upon the devil. However, look at you…"

From Ciel's left a growl resonated through the dark, sending a shiver through his body, even though he couldn't say for certain whether it was from excitement or fright. Nickar's smile turned into a grin at the sound.

"So you've noticed…" he continued, his eyes turning red for a second before regaining their usual green color. "It took some time and preparation, but once I knew what I was looking for it was easy. I left some clues, making it so that only someone with knowledge about demons would realize the true meaning behind the words I'd written. After that, all I needed to do was to wait. I knew sooner or later you would come for me."

"What are you talking about?" Ciel interrupted impatiently. "Do you want to tell me that you've murdered all these innocent people just to lure us here?"

"Oh, they were far from innocent." Nickar replied with a snort. "Not that it matters to me, but I didn't want to make it too hard for your police force to connect the murders. I knew that they would be forced to consult you once they were unable to find any more clues. The infamous Watchdog… shadowed by his black butler."

"And now that we're here?" Ciel asked warily. "What do you intend to do?"

There was a beat of silence, no one moving a muscle, before Nickar leered at the boy, exposing a row of sharp teeth. "Why, I will steal you right away from your precious Sebastian."

Ciel's heartbeat staggered in his chest and before he could issue an order, Sebastian was lunging at Nickar, bridging the distance between them faster than Ciel's exposed eye could follow. He expected to hear the sound of tearing cloth and flesh, the splash of blood on the ground and a coppery smell wafting through the air. What Ciel didn't expect was for Sebastian's hands to slip right through Nickar's body without even leaving a scratch.

For a second the other demon's body seemed to flicker in front of them, his grin widening menacingly, and in the next moment there was a soft swoosh and his entire form liquefied, merging with the dark water of the river underneath him.

Sebastian stopped right in front of the shore line, casting his eyes around furiously and with just a hint of frustration. There was nothing that indicated where the other demon had vanished to. No ripples in the water or a brief flash of color. He'd completely become one with the almost black water of the river.

"Young Master, maybe we should-" Sebastian's words cut off when he turned back around and laid eyes on his precious master. Ciel followed the direction of his butler's stare and let out a gasp of surprise once he saw the thin tendrils of water twining like snakes around his ankles. In the time it took them both to move, the water had already begun to climb up Ciel's legs. With a furious shake the boy tried to get rid of the liquid that was now almost encircling his waist.

"Sebastian!" He cried out and looked with wide eyes at the demon butler. There was a moment, just a second though, when their gazes met, deep blue clashing with burning crimson. In the next second Ciel felt his feet being swept from under him and with a choked cry and flailing limbs he tumbled right into the icy depths of the river.

The world around him came to a halt. Water pressed down all around him, constricting his chest, making it seize up as the freezing liquid entered his mouth. Ciel knew that he shouldn't try to breathe. He knew that it would only make him drown faster and he needed to prolong it as long as possible, or at least as long as it took Sebastian to rescue him from certain death once again. It felt like thousands of tiny pins were pricking his skin and his eyes burned when he tried to look around. There was no light. Nothing that would indicate in which direction he should try to swim in order to reach the surface. Though, he wasn't certain that he would be able to, even if he knew. There was pressure around his legs, just like someone's hands trying to pull him deeper into the water and he was almost certain that it was Nickar's doing.

Ciel didn't know how long he'd been underwater.

Time seemed to flow just as slowly as the water around him, and he was beginning to feel dizzy from lack of oxygen. A thick fog surrounded his mind, making it impossible for him to form a clear thought.

Maybe this was it. Maybe this was something that even Sebastian couldn't rescue him from.

An indescribable pain, that had nothing to do with his severe need for air, seized his chest.

Sebastian…

The thought of losing his soul to a demon other than Sebastian was downright repulsive. Sebastian was the only one entitled to devour every last scrap of Ciel once their contract was completed. Ciel had made his peace with this fact a long time ago. He knew that there was no way out of it. The gates of heaven had been barred the moment he decided to contract a demon and turn his back on God.

The water rippled around him, caressing his skin like a lover.

By now, his chest was in pure agony, his eyes screwed shut against the excruciating pain that pounded through his veins. His head felt like it was about to explode, everything having narrowed down to this single feeling of asphyxiation and Ciel's desperate attempt to keep from inhaling the freezing water.

Therefore, he couldn't hold back the soundless scream as something solid grabbed onto his arm, pulling him back towards where he presumed the surface to be. His last breath left him as bubbles ascended in front of his half-lidded eyes. He didn't think he could be in any more pain than he already was, with his lungs threatening to cave in on themselves, but when his body reacted instinctually and drew its first breath in seemingly forever, as the cold water entered his lungs and set of painful spasms, he just wanted it to be over.

His body seized as it tried to expel the water from his lungs, only managing to make him swallow more of the wretched liquid instead.

The arms around him tightened seconds before they broke the surface, cold, blessed air hitting Ciel's face. Still, it was impossible for him to take a full breath due to the water still blocking his airways.

"Breathe!" Sebastian's urgent voice cut through the boy's rising panic. Shaking his head to indicate that he couldn't, Ciel held onto the demon's soaked clothing. Ciel's face was wet, tears of desperation and agony mixing with the murky water of the river.

The sound of Sebastian growling low in his throat met his ears. The next moment his back made contact with solid ground, the impact enough to throw his body into another painful spasm as he was turned onto his side, forcing the water from his lungs in painful, hacking coughs. It took several more seconds before Ciel could take a full breath and when he did, he couldn't suppress the barely audible sob of relief at the cool air filling his lungs. He clamped a hand over his mouth to smother the sound, unwilling to let his butler see him in this pathetic state.

Then there were gentle hands on his face, guiding it upwards until he was met with Sebastian's glowing red orbs. Ciel's breath hitched at the obvious concern swirling in them.

"Are you alright?" Sebastian asked softly, hands still carefully cradling his master's face. Ciel nodded, not sure if his voice would cooperate right now if he tried to speak. Warm air brushed against his face as Sebastian let out a relieved sigh and Ciel felt an unexpected calmness wash over him when those dexterous fingers started to trace along his cheeks, removing the last vestiges water.

"Where's the demon?" he forced himself to ask and winced at both the pain in his throat and the sound of his own voice which sounded about as wrecked as he currently felt.

"He's taken care of."

Sebastian's cold tone made Ciel shiver.

"It's why it took me so long to pull you out of the water. My most sincere apologies for that, by the way. I assure you that it won't happen again."

"Nevermind…" Ciel replied with a sigh. The lids of his eyes were growing heavier by the second and he closed them for a moment before Sebastian's hands tightened almost painfully against the side of his face, pulling his tired mind back to the surface like he'd done with his body mere minutes ago.

"Young Master, I'm terribly sorry, but I can't let you sleep right now." At the seriousness in his butler's voice and expression Ciel forced himself to focus.

"That's it." Sebastian said with a small smile and before Ciel could protest he was swooped into the demon's arms. "I suggest we return to the townhouse for the moment. We have to get you warmed up again or you might catch a cold. And what kind of butler would I be if I couldn't take care of my master?"

"You already know the answer to that…" Ciel replied lowly and wrapped his arms around Sebastian's neck, resting his forehead against the warm skin of his butler's throat. "I'm tired."

"I know, my Lord." Ciel opened his eyes when their movements suddenly stopped. He couldn't remember when he had closed them again. The fact that he couldn't even bring himself to care was another alarming fact that didn't register in his muddled mind.

In the next second warmth surrounded him and when he let his eyes travel down he realized that he was wrapped up in his butler's tailcoat.

"I'm sorry," Sebastian said and adjusted his grip on Ciel before taking off again, "but this is all I can do until we arrive at the townhouse."

Ciel couldn't say how long they'd been on their way, but the next thing he remembered he was being sat down on something incredibly soft and warm, Sebastian's hands framing his face once more. He couldn't suppress the contended hum at the warmth that his butler exuded, leaning into the touch without a second thought.

"Are we home?" he asked with a barely audible sigh, opening his heavy eyelids to meet his butler's concerned gaze.

"Yes, we are."

"Mmh…" It was so incredibly hard to keep his eyes from falling closed again. Even more so when Sebastian's right hand moved to the back of Ciel's head, carefully carding through the still slightly wet tresses.

"Young Master, we have to get you out of these wet clothes." Sebastian said softly. A low grumble left Ciel's throat when the warm hands vanished to unbutton his shirt. Sebastian chuckled at his master adorableness and made quick work of the remaining clothes, replacing them with his master's nightshirt before carefully tucking him into bed.

"You should rest now, Young Master." Sebastian said with a small smile on his lips. "This has been quite a stressful day. Though, I'm sure that the Queen will be overjoyed to hear of your mission's success. But all in time, my little master. All in time." With a sweep of his hand Sebastian extinguished the burning candles.

"It's still too cold, Sebastian." Ciel complained when his butler was about to leave.

The demon turned back around to regard his master. "Should I prepare a bath?"

Ciel shook his head. "No, it's far too late for something like this and I want to sleep."

"Then what do you want me to do?" Sebastian asked curiously. His eyes widened slightly when Ciel moved over and pointed to the space beside him.

"Get in."

"Young Master, I don't think it would be appropriate-"

"Just get into the damn bed, Sebastian!" Ciel exclaimed with an exasperated huff. "I'm tired and cold and you're the only heat source around. So just get in and shut up. That's an order."

"My, my, what a spoiled master you are…" Sebastian replied with a badly concealed smirk.

Nonetheless, he retraced his steps until he stood in front of his master's bed, looking down at the fragile boy. There was something ephemeral yet fierce in the way Ciel regarded him, his eyes, both of them uncovered now, piercing straight through the dark butler. It stood in stark contrast to the fragility and vulnerability of his human body.

And somehow it intrigued Sebastian.

"What are you waiting for?" Ciel growled lowly. "Get rid of your clothes and lay down. I'm tired of you constantly questioning my orders."

"Of course"

Sebastian slipped off his shoes and pants, folding them meticulously, before he slowly lay down beside his master. There was a moment of silence, nobody moving a single muscle. Sebastian was unable to tell how far he was allowed to go and what Ciel expected of him. However, before he could voice his concern, there was an exasperated sigh from the other end of the bed and Ciel rolled over, burrowing into Sebastian's side.

"Don't get ahead of yourself." he mumbled with his cheek pressed against the demon's chest. "This is only to keep me warm tonight."

"Of course, Young Master." Sebastian whispered with a smile. His arms wrapped around the boy, pulling him even closer. "Just for tonight…"

And while he lay beside his master, watching his breathing even out as he drifted off to sleep, he realized one thing:

Maybe this human boy had had him on a leash all along…

And maybe, just maybe, he could be okay with being his master's very own watchdog, his shadow, his demise.

After all, deep down, even dogs were feral beasts.

Just like him… waiting to feast.

Thank you for reading!

I would appreciate feedback and if there are any mistakes, please feel free to point them out. ;)

Notes:

Dictionnaire Infernal - a book on demonology, written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy and first published in 1818

Nickar - a malevolent water spirit who drowns people, torments fishermen and tips over boats; I took the liberty to alter some facts about his appearance to better include him in the story