Alois stood motionless, waiting for a response. His hands were balled into fists at his side, body tense with anticipation and rage. Ciel must have really thought little of him if he wasn’t even going to admit that what they’d just shared was a kiss. Waves of anger were coursing through Alois’s body as he stared the younger boy down. Just who did he think he was? And why on earth was he taking so bloody long to answer such a simple question? Why couldn’t he just spit out the probable insult like he always did and get it over with?
The taller boy’s eyes narrowed dangerously as Ciel’s silence continued. The bluenette seemed to be contemplating something. Which petty insult was best suited to the situation, perhaps? It seemed that everything the blonde did resulted in contempt so long as Ciel Phantomhive was involved. He was sure that this was no exception. But if that were the case, Alois couldn’t come up with a reason as to why it might take so long to throw a harsh comeback at him. After what seemed like hours of waiting for the bluenette to speak and not getting any results, Alois was ready to strike. He opened his mouth, started to say something, and froze.
Slender arms snaked their way around the blonde’s waist, replenishing the warmth that had been lost when the younger boy let go earlier. What happened next sent the strangest sensation through the blonde’s body. Ciel leaned up, pressing his lips to the older boy’s in a second kiss. This wasn’t even on the list of things he thought Ciel might be contemplating.
Aqua colored eyes grew wide with shock. What was once an even, steady breath caught in his throat, and Alois swore he felt his heart skip a beat before it suddenly started to flutter in his chest. This was so odd, and yet he didn’t really mind the sudden onslaught of emotion. The fact that Ciel’s lips were pressed to his once again was more than enough to distract him from his pounding heart, though it didn’t help to remind him he needed to breathe. The older boy’s arms slipped around the bluenette’s neck almost immediately, as though it were a reflex. His lips pressed back against Ciel’s, moving with gentle purpose. Alois may not have expected this outcome, nor the pounding in his chest. Perhaps his lungs could have used a bit more oxygen than what they were currently being given as well, but he didn’t care. All he knew was that this was happening and he was going to take in every last minute of it while it lasted.
The sensation was strange. Ciel’s body leaned into the boy’s, and released itself from it’s usual stiffness like it did when his mother used to disabuse his young mind of whatever nightmares popped up in his head. Though similar, it was different. This time, he wasn’t releasing his aloof and guarded nature to his parents (which, granted, he didn’t have at the time), but to Alois Trancy. If anything, this boy was a menace. An enemy looking to crush him for whatever reason. They established that they hated each other, but every time they were near, Alois always tried to break the distance between them or tease him in a way that Ciel sometimes thought playful. Could it be, that this ‘hatred’ he held for him was just petty arguing? What if this boy wasn’t who Sebastian said he was? What if–
No. Why was this even on his mind?
Why was he doing this?
He didn’t know how long the embrace lasted, or how long their lips moved together, but he decided it was way too long. Ciel’s body tensed up quickly, his nose wrinkling in disgust at what happened and he released his arms from around the blonde’s to push him away. His mind was like a speed train. He was internally cursing himself, with an expression to match. It was as if everything that happened before their kiss dissipated, as if Ciel transformed back into his normal, cold-hearted self.
He couldn’t face Alois. It was too embarrassing. But, like the bluenette always did, pulled it off as being disgusted with the situation. Obviously, he had a lot on his mind. His fingers were twitching, and his teeth were biting hard on his lip. “You got your gift. You should go,” Ciel said harshly, his tone icy enough to replace the warm feeling he had in his body just moments before. It wasn’t fair that someone like Alois could bother and confuse him like this. He kept his head on straight far too long to be swayed by the nothingness of a kiss.
Even though he was in the privacy of an enormous mansion, he couldn’t help but wonder if anyone saw the events that played out in the room. Sebastian, however busy, was somehow always lurking, always knowing. The other ditsy servants roamed around the mansion often enough - what if they saw? Or heard? Would they say anything? Ciel couldn’t decide if it was better they did or if they didn’t. A deep, frustrated sigh passed his lips. He wasn’t being as rude or as cold as he could be, since his words (though harshly spoken) were not as demanding as they could have been. What did Alois think?
Was it his imagination, or did Ciel lean in slightly as Alois pulled away? No, it had to have been his imagination. Ciel never even wanted the blonde around, why would he try to prolong any type of physical contact with him? Then again, he had been returning the older boy’s affection only a moment ago.. Alois shook his head, convincing himself he was being irrational.
A sudden lack of warmth around his waist alerted him that the bluenette had released his hold on the blonde. It was a bit of a disappointment. He hadn’t realized how pleasant it felt until Ciel let go. Alois let his own arms fall from around the other’s neck, hoping the lack of contact would have the same affect on Ciel as it did him. Now that his attention had returned to the situation at hand, the older boy was taking notice of the bluenette’s flustered appearance. His cheeks were flushed crimson, eyes a bit wider than usual as though he was in a state of minor shock. How odd to see the young earl in such a state.
Alois couldn’t help but smirk as the younger attempted to answer his question. This was priceless. Or at least it was until he made a snide comment. The mischievous smirk on the blonde’s face turned into a frown.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
At the lack of touch - lack of heat - Ciel wanted to speak up. Voice what he wanted… but he didn’t know what he wanted. Did he want Alois to come closer, or push him farther away? The kiss, though he didn’t like that he felt this way, was nice and it was a new sensation he never thought he’d feel after a month with those retched people. Why then, was he so okay with this? Was he really? So many questions. So many questions that couldn’t be answered and it was driving him up a wall. Could it be possible that Alois was confused as well? No. That smirk told him enough - at least, it did until it faded away. What he said got to him. That was good. It meant he still had control over this, he still was the superior one despite his flustered cheeks and his racing thoughts. What did he want? Why?
Ciel tried to think of the right words. Why he was holding back for Alois of all people, he didn’t know. The reason all this happened was because it was the blonde earl’s birthday tomorrow. This was his present - an odd choice, maybe to purposely confuse the bluenette. Even though Alois succeeded if that was his intention, he didn’t want to admit it. Or show it. The hands that were at his sides clenched in discomfort as he stared back at Alois’s blue eyes. They didn’t tell him anything - they didn’t tell him what he wanted to know. It bothered him. It all bothered him. From the warm feeling in his chest to the anger bubbling inside him.
This was Alois’s birthday present, was it not? Was the birthday present to make Ciel squirm, or the kiss itself? He didn’t know. Maybe he could turn the tables on the earl Trancy - maybe he could still win this silent battle. Ciel’s eyes narrowed then, not out of malice but out of determination. It was painless, a simple kiss. Not a show of affection unless he thought it one, and it wasn’t. It couldn’t be. Ciel lost the ability to do that after his innocence was stripped from him. Just maybe, this would throw Alois off and make him squirm.
Ciel leaned in. He lifted his fragile arms and slipped them around the boy’s waist. To keep him there - so he couldn’t run. Yes, that’s what it was. His hold was loose, but his fists were still tightly clenched. Soft lips pressed against his own once more, and his entire body wanted to shiver. But no - he couldn’t. He didn’t. That wasn’t what this was about - he wouldn’t let it be about that. He wanted Alois to squirm, and this was just the right thing to do: Surprise him with his own trick.
Alois hadn’t expected Ciel to kiss back. Naturally, he was shocked when he felt the younger’s arms slip around his waist. At first he thought perhaps this was part of some kind of plan to get him away, but then he felt Ciel push into the kiss. The unfamiliar sensation of butterflies in his stomach was beginning to come about. Was this really happening? His eyes fluttered open for a brief moment, sneaking a glance at the young earl. Alois was surprised to see that the boy’s eyes were closed and.. was he blushing? A small smile tugged at the older boy’s lips as he let his eyes fall shut once more. He had to admit he was enjoying this very much.
The kiss continued for a short while, slowly intensifying as the seconds passed by. Alois was curious as to how experienced the bluenette was when it came to this sort of thing, so he allowed his lips to part ever so slightly, simply to judge the boy’s reaction. After what seemed like quite a while, Alois pulled away, nipping lightly at Ciel’s lower lip in the process.
“So, Phantomhive, was that your first real kiss?”
This was going against something he believed in - or he thought he believed in. Rest assured, Ciel would not admit anything about this gesture was good, though it felt like something he’s never felt before. Given, he’s never kissed Elizabeth like this. It would be a complete mess and it would crush his name into the dirt if she or anyone found out about their little kiss. Ciel trusted that Alois wouldn’t let that happen, since in the end it would hurt him as well. But as far as embarrassing himself went, he would agree that this was the worst thing he’s ever done. But somehow–
He didn’t mind it.
Ciel tried to ignore the feeling in his chest. His heart, beating way too fast for comfort, felt like it was about to burst. He tried to ignore a lot of things– emotion, feeling, his thoughts… they were all screaming at him different things. The warmth from Alois was almost comforting when they were so close. But why? He was just nervous before. He was still nervous. His breath was only steady because he forced it to be. He was angry. Yes, angry. Angry at Alois for challenging him like this. Angry at the feelings that corresponded from it. It was all so damn pointless.
When Alois started to pull away, Ciel moved himself closer for just a moment - just enough to hold that warm feeling for a second more. When they finally parted, Ciel’s blush considerably darkened. Not only had the blonde gotten a kiss from him, but he enjoyed the kiss too! His eyes widened at Alois, at the realization that he was given his first real kiss. “Um..” What could he say? “I..” he looked away from Alois, and released his arms from around the boy. “It’s not a kiss if it comes from you.”
Alois smirked, his confident gaze locking with Ciel’s uncharacteristically nervous one. The blonde leaned into the younger earl, arms slipping loosely around the boy’s neck as he did so. Their bodies were almost touching at this point.
“Alright, I’ll show you,” he purred, lips brushing softly against Ciel’s in a kiss much more gentle than the first they’d shared.
Anger bubbled inside him as the boy laced his arms around his neck. His eyes lowered and he found himself nearly glaring at the other. Ciel knew what this was all about - this entire gesture. It was to prove something. He refused to go down with out a fight.. or go down at all.
Their lips finally touched, and Ciel stood still for a moment. Contemplating his next move. He knew Alois wouldn’t call this a kiss, since he wasn’t doing much more than receiving it. No, he had to return it, right? Ciel hesitantly lifted his arms around the blonde’s middle, his eye slipping closed as he pressed his own lips against the earl’s. Red tinted his cheeks as he pressed on, and his breath slowly became steadier.
“Sure you could, Phantomhive. Don’t be silly.” The blonde moved in closer, placing his hands softly on the boy’s shoulders.
Ciel tensed under Alois’s touch, his visible eye widening at the blonde. The closeness was beginning to unnerve him, which lead to the realization of what the boy wanted. The bluenette’s jaw clenched. Was this another test? To see if he could perform such acts? Ridiculous.
“Telling you wouldn’t be quite the same as showing you. You want to know what it is, right?” Alois took a step toward Ciel, wondering how the boy could be quite so naive.
“If you show me, then I can’t give you it as a present tomorrow,” he stated, and stayed in place. “What do you want?”
