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Where are they?
Dammit, this is taking too long.
Are they even coming?
Ciel coughed as a boot slammed into his stomach, winding him. He struggled to catch his breath.
Cole had sliced his shirt open down the front, exposing pale skin. Two students held his arms, keeping him from moving.
The Prefects should've been here by now.
Cole trailed his pointed scissors down Ciel's chest, a silent threat. His lips curled up at the corners. He was enjoying himself.
“Now, then! Time to take some photographs! The kind that make you wanna die from shame!"
Cole giggled to himself and made a gesture. One of the students holding him covered his mouth and pulled his shirt off. Another tugged his shoes off, holding his legs still. Ciel struggled against them.
Cole stopped them when he saw the brand on Ciel's side, running a perfect nail over the marred skin.
"What's this, now...? A slave brand?"
His eyes lit up at the possibility. The shame roiled in Ciel's gut, like he'd swallowed a snake. He twisted and fought against his attackers, getting more desperate as he felt eyes on the mark. Cole purred his next words.
"Oh, that's going to make this so much more fun..."
His scissors teased at Ciel's waistband, and Ciel squirmed, squeezing his eyes shut. This was not how this was supposed to go. He was never meant to be in danger, the Prefects should've-
He bit back a cry as Cole pulled off his shorts, leaving him just in boxers. Cole laughed to himself, touching the exposed, pale skin, pushing his hands up Ciel's thin thighs.
"You're so skinny, kid. The boys are gonna love you when I'm done."
Ciel closed his eyes again. He would not cry; he wouldn't give Cole the satisfaction. But as the two bigger students behind him started touching, pinching, he wanted to kick and scream and cry for them to stop. They pushed his legs open, holding him still as Cole played around with the camera. It was only a matter of time before they would decide that the boxers were coming off, too. Ciel willed Sebastian to come, just wanting someone to come and save him.
He was choking back screams after only a few minutes, as Cole teased, and the students holding him touched him all over. They left hickeys for the pictures, biting and sucking on his neck and shoulders. Ciel was trying so hard to keep from crying. The focus on his brand was making it all so much worse, the shame burning hot in his stomach.
Finally, finally, they came. Greenhill burst in, Bluewer and Violet behind him, taking in the scene and then punching the boys holding him. Ciel scrambled back, as Cole gaped and started spitting out excuses. Ciel couldn't hear it, couldn't hear anything over the rush of blood in his ears. He didn't want to cry. He couldn’t break down like this.
Bluewer was crouched down in front of him, talking calmly, trying to get through to him. Ciel cowered away. Greenhill, having knocked out both students in the attack and restrained Cole, came over and gently draped his jacket over Ciel's trembling shoulders. Ciel flinched, but was grateful for the covering. He tugged it down to cover his brand.
Bluewer sat with him as Cole and the others were escorted out, and Violet brought over Ciel’s clothes before leaving as well. Ciel was too out of it to do much of anything. He closed his eyes, willing any pathetic noises to stay in his throat.
"You'll have to accept help eventually, you know." Bluewer said softly. "We want to help. What happened wasn't right, and we're all on your side."
Ciel couldn't talk. Not now. He wanted his bed. His bed, in his room, in his manor, alone. Only Sebastian. He wanted Sebastian, dammit. Where the hell was he??
The words caught in his throat, awful and thick. All he could muster came out as a whimper, and he winced at how pathetic he sounded.
Bluewer sighed softly. "I'm sorry we let this happen. I knew Cole wore a mask, but I had no idea he'd do something like this... None of us worked it out in time, and you paid the price. Please, at least let me help you get dressed."
Ciel detested being dressed by anyone besides Sebastian. What he detested even more, however, was being so naked and vulnerable where he didn't feel safe. He gave a small nod.
Bluewer helped him carefully, respecting every time Ciel pushed him back or flinched away. He was no trained butler, but it was comforting to be covered up again, and Bluewer had been particularly careful not to startle Ciel any further.
Once dressed, Ciel sat a bit more comfortably, starting to calm down. Bluewer stayed by his side silently, offering silent comfort.
Sebastian - or 'Mister Michaelis', as the school knew him - burst through the door. Ciel swore he saw a hint of concern in his eyes for a moment, just for a moment.
Bluewer took that as his sign to leave, bowing his head to Sebastian before closing the door behind him.
Sebastian kneeled by Ciel’s shaken form.
"Ciel, I heard-"
Ciel felt anger burning in his chest. Betrayal.
"Where the hell were you?!" His voice broke. "You're supposed to protect me! How could you let that happen?!"
Sebastian let him yell, gently checking him over for injuries, brows furrowing at the sight of fresh hickeys. Ciel pushed him off, raising his voice again.
"You left me! You left me!! You fucking..." The words broke down into pathetic little sobs. "Why'd you let him..."
Sebastian's expression flickered to concern again.
"Young master, cease your yelling. You'll make yourself sick. I didn't leave you, I followed the plan-"
"You let him, you fucking let him..." Ciel sobbed, pushing away any attempt Sebastian made to get closer.
"That was not part of the plan." He spat, shaking. The anger was a thin veil for the impending breakdown. He was already struggling to breathe.
Sebastian paused, watching quietly.
"Young master. The plan was to make yourself vulnerable, and to expose Maurice Cole to the Prefects. Any interference on my part would've disrupted the plan."
Ciel was gasping for air, on the edge.
"No! No, no, no... H-He was gonna let them-" He trembled as a coughing fit wracked his poor body. "He saw my brand... He was going to humiliate me... Sebastian, you left me...!" He cried desperately.
"I did nothing of the sort. Now, let me look at you."
"Sebastian, you never let that happen again." He snapped, voice suddenly firm and sure, his eye dark.
"No one gets to touch me like that. No one. I don't care who, or why. You do not let that happen. That's an order, Sebastian."
Sebastian's eyes pulsed red, and he nodded, lowering his head in a bow.
"Yes, my lord."
Sebastian managed to coax Ciel closer, holding him gently in his arms as he checked Ciel for injuries. He brushed his fingers against the hickeys, and Ciel pushed his hand away.
"Apologies, my lord. I'm only checking the damage. These should fade within a week."
Ciel pressed into Sebastian, still shaking.
"I don't want people to see them..."
"Then we'll cover them up. You will heal, young master."
Ciel sniffled, pulling his cut shirt tightly closed.
"I want to go home..."
Sebastian paused his gentle stroking of Ciel's hair.
"We haven't completed the mission yet."
"I know..." He snapped weakly, no bite behind it. "I know, I just... I'm sick of this... The food, the dorms, the shared bathrooms... I haven't been able to relax since we arrived here... I just want to go home..."
Since it wasn't an order, Sebastian guessed that Ciel only wanted to complain. He gently brushed Ciel's hair back, checking for any more bruises. Ciel squeezed his eyes shut and turned away.
"Young master. We're getting close. I'm sure soon enough, we will go home. You need only hold it together for a small while longer."
Ciel huffed softly, but ceased his complaining.
“Fine… But I want a lot of cake when we’re back.”
Sebastian smiled softly.
“Of course, my lord.”