Guess who's back, bitches?

I know I haven't updated in a while (like a year I'm so sorry), but no, I'm didn't die. So I'm gonna try and take this story up again. I have a lot planned; I just need to find time to write it out properly to give readers the best possible experience. I might wanna rewrite some parts in the future, but I'll just try to keep the story going for now.

Enjoy! ((o(^∇^)o))

She sat in Ciel's office, not uttering a single word. The red-headed assassin was still trying to process the events that occurred. She felt torn, really. There, before her, sat the very embodiment of all of her fears; Ciel was very much the representation of her past that she wanted to leave behind, but couldn't bring herself to let go of. She was very sure that she could unsheathe her sword and shish-kabob him in that very moment, but she couldn't find the heart to do so. The burning passion that once fueled her with the bloodlust of justice was not present within her when she looked at the Phamtomhive Earl.

Adeline began to question her very existence. Her job was something that she took very seriously, taking out her targets with ease and without remorse. She was no mercenary; the Crimson Rose's only reward was the satisfaction of ridding the world of evil, one person at a time. The girl was good at her profession, actually more than just good. Her talent, fueled by a burning passion, made her one of the best. She was the perfect assassin, a remorseless killer. Was she still that murderer that many feared? What had changed within her to make her feel merciful? Was Ciel truly the evil she swore against?

She could almost feel her golden clock burning in her pocket. The killer was always aware of its presence; it was a physical representation of the oath that transformed her life from a pitiful orphan to a meticulous vigilante. She felt guilty that she seemed to have forgotten about it recently.

The girl was snapped out of her identity crisis when Ciel slammed down a massive pile of papers, dropping it in front of her.

"Sort these. By category, then by client, then alphabetically," he said with his usual neutral expression. "After you can help me sign letters to business partners."

Adeline's silver eyes glanced over the papers. "Nothing I cannot handle," she said, though she wasn't exactly sure.

Tentatively, she began filing away the paperwork. Eventually, she began to get into a sort of rhythm, methodically separating documents with nimble fingers. It had been a while since she had done such a thing; it was an entire lifetime ago when she watched her father in his study, a small lamp on his desk providing the slightest light to read the intricate letters. Though the reason was unknown, she felt oddly warm inside, as if the work brought her back to simpler times.

She let out a hiss in pain as a piece of paper grazed her finger.

"You ought to be more careful," Ciel chided from the other side of the room, not looking up from his own work as he continued to sign documents.

The redhead grimaced as a thin line of blood trailed out of the papercut. She chuckled to herself, realizing the irony of it all -she emerged from a battle relatively unscathed, but filing paperwork was the thing that injured her. Brushing off the flesh wound, she continued her work.

The grandfather clock ticked away on the wall. The oil in the lamp burned away with a steady flame. Hours upon hours have gone unnoticed as Adeline continued her work. Feeling a bit sleepy, she let out a soft yawn. Nevertheless, she continued her daunting task.

"It's getting late. You should go to retire," Ciel said, breaking the silence. "You've assisted me enough today. I shall finish up here."

Looking up from her work, Adeline merely shrugged. "It's alright. I'm almost finished. Just needa sign some papers and you'll be good to go."

The Earl rolled his eyes at her stubborn nature. "I'll have Sebastian fetch us some coffee then. I'd prefer tea, but I believe this warrants something stronger"

The candlelight flickered as it burned away in the lamp, the night dragging on. Though a significant amount of time passed, the redhead hardly felt as if any did. She wondered if the mansion was simply wearing away at her will to fight. Maybe it was teaching her how to fight for what truly matters. The rush of defensive feelings she felt when fighting with Mey-Rin was something different than her usual battle bloodlust. It felt better. More natural. It was as if she felt more connected to the people she was fighting for. She resented the idea that a peculiar form of Stockholm Syndrome had taken a hold of her. As far as she knew, she was in her right mind.

But if you really were out of our mind, you wouldn't know it, she reasoned with herself.

Being with Ciel put her on edge. It wasn't as effortless as it was with Finny, and it definitely wasn't as playful as it was with Alois. She pondered her feelings for the boy. Just looking at Ciel brought her pain. Simply gazing into his familiar features surfaced unimaginable emotions of grief. He reminded her of a life that she could have lived -surrounded by luxury and running business in her own little world.

She didn't even notice Sebastian when he entered the room. He down a tray of the hot beverage, adding the preferred amounts of cream and sugar to Ciel's coffee. Adeline gestured that she preferred her coffee black.

"Will that be all, My Lord?" he asked in a low murmur.

The Phantomhive nodded, and without another word, the butler disappeared down the dark corridor. The pair continued working on filing the young lord's documents, sipping away at their drinks as time flew.

"How did you get over your parents' passing?" Adeline asked suddenly, breaking their silence.

It was a question that she had been meaning to ask since she realized that her childhood friend was orphaned. He appeared to be doing fairly well. As far as she remembered, his parents were kind people of which Ciel must have loved. She figured their death must have severely impacted his life. Longing to understand how he was coping, curiosity got the better of her.

Ciel was taken aback. At first he did not know how to respond, freezing in place before setting down his cup of coffee with a 'thud', the drink sloshing over the rim. The young lord was known for keeping a calm composure; it came with his job description. He was asked about his parents quite often. They had left quite the legacy upon their passing. However, it was different coming from Adeline. She knew what he once was, what he had lost in the fire all those years ago. Outsiders would have pitied him for the loss of his grand estate and his adoring parents. However, he knew that he lost quite a bit more. His childhood friend did as well, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion when her ghostly metallic eyes searched him for remnants of what he once was.

The young earl let out a sigh. A few years ago, he might have cast her out of his manor, shouting at her in offence. Time had made him less fierce; he had learned to keep his composure.

A moment of awkward silence passed. Adeline's eyes met his, unwavering and expectant of an answer to her question.

"I am my father's son," replied the Phantomhive boy hesitantly. "At a young age, I was taught to be strong, and strong I had to be. It was rather inevitable -one cannot hold onto one's parents forever. Though I'd have preferred it not to have been so soon."

He turned to go back to his paperwork, disliking the subject of the conversation. The mask he wore was a brave one. Perhaps it might have succeeded if the girl hadn't detected the familiar bitter rage in his tone.

"Menteur…" she breathed out, barely audible.

He whirled around to find her passed out over sheets of completed paperwork.

He chuckled softly. "It has been years, and, yet, you know me so well. You always have."

Adeline awoke to aching joints. She sat up, a piece of paper stuck to the side of her face, seemingly held by drool. Stretching a bit, she stood up and adjusted her disheveled maid's uniform. Groaning, she realized that it was midday, the sunshine's rays peaking through the window. She sighed in relief when she felt Excalibur attached to her belt in its sheath and her watch in her pocket. They always seemed to be a means of assurance to her.

Sebastian entered the study, carrying a plate of breakfast pastries.

"Ah, so you are awake. That is good. The young master is waiting for you," he informed Adeline. "If you would follow me…"

Adeline's eyes widened as she trailed him down the hallway.

"Is he angry with me?" she asked, vaguely remembering what she had asked Ciel the night before.

"He did not appear to be, Miss Rosemary," he replied, shaking his head. "Why do you ask?"

"I accidentally slept in. I didn't mean to. I lost track of the time," she explained, knowing that he would not be satisfied without an answer.

The butler raised an eyebrow, not completely believing her.

"Here. Take this to the earl," he said, handing her the breakfast tray.

Entering the drawing room, Adeline felt that something wasn't quite right. The atmosphere in the room felt strange and she began to feel rather uncomfortable, like a calm before a storm.

"Thank you for bringing the maid, Sebastian," Ciel said. "You may leave now."

The butler exited the room, closing the door behind him. The two were left in almost uncomfortable silence.

"Your meal," she said, lifting the lid off of the platter.

"Master," Ciel said in a cold tone.

"I'm sorry, what?" she asked in confusion.

"You are to call me 'Master'. You are my maid, after all," he replied harshly.

"But-"

"That's enough," he said, cutting Adeline off. "You are only to speak when spoken to. Am I clear?"

He meant to come off as stern, but he seemed more desperate to Adeline. That night he realized that he was getting too close to the girl. She was getting in the way of his goals. She was making him feel too much. Though it was not affection, there was still something and it frightened him, as until then, he had felt little but vengeance and pride.

"No," Adeline replied with strength. "You are absolutely not clear. You are never clear to me, Ciel."

"Damn it all! Why must you feel so difficult?" he shouted, losing his beloved composure quite quickly. That was the thing. One can only hold in one's emotions for so long before it overflows.

"Me? Difficult? If you simply died the night I tried to kill you, I would never be stuck here!"

"But you are not stuck," Ciel countered. "You may come and go as you please, seeing as you have your weapon. I thought you were smart enough to realize that by now. Apparently I was mistaken."

Adeline had not lied when she stated that she was trapped in the Phantomhive Manor. She was stuck, but in a different way. The Crimson Rose had been confined by her own emotions, hating that she was limited by them, but deeply craving more. It was refreshing to be in the Manor, the people made her realize more about herself; it was simply too tempting to give up.

Silver eyes hardening, Adeline was brought back to reality when she felt something wet touch her gloved hand. It was custard. Ciel must have flung his pastry platter in the argument. She didn't even notice.

"Clean that up, Maid," Ciel ordered.

"No."

"I said, 'Clean that up'," he repeated. "I've had enough of this."

"No," she said once more, patience growing weary.

"You must."

His ocean eye pleaded with her. Ciel just wanted her to give in, tired of the facade he was felt he was trying to play with her. She reminded him of his past, what he had lost. The years since had made him stronger, learning that what is truly lost may never be returned. He knew that he would never get that life back. It was rather foolish of him to think that he could have a sliver of it through his childhood friend.

"But I shall not."

"Just obey me and clean up the damn mess, Addy!"

That was all it took for her to snap. In a flash, she had dove over the table that separated them. It took a fraction of a second to unsheath her blade. Muscle memory guided her to effortlessly pin Ciel against the wall, holding Excalibur to his neck.

"Don't you dare say that name," she whispered, blinking away tears as her face was mere inches from his. "Adeline Rosemary never took orders from Ciel Phantomhive like a slave. They were the best of friends."

Ciel looked up at her fearlessly. "And what am I to you now?" he replied boldly. "For I cannot possibly comprehend who you are to me. Are you my killer? My long lost friend? My servant?"

Her grip on Excalibur loosened.

"I-I don't know."

"Menteur" = liar/you lie (French)

Sorry if this chapter was a bit boring. I wanted it to be a bridge chapter to bigger events and further develop character.

More reviews/follows = more incentive to update

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