Black Butler: Haunting Memories (Private between HaliBug and Bunny~Button).

[HaliBug]

"It wouldn't be the first scar I've gained being in that place," Ciel said quietly. The brand on his back was still healing as well, though there was a bandage over it to prevent him from looking at it in any mirror. The boy wasn't just ready to see what they had done to him back there. While he knew of its presence and had seen it before, the last time had been a disaster. The boy had collapsed into a fit of panic and rage. Almost as if he were suffering from PTSD.

Ciel said nothing when Sebastian bandaged his feet, only frowning slightly as it was done. Picking at his scabs had become quite the habit in the night for him, and if they were bandaged, he wouldn't be able to do so. Sure, there were other wounds on his body that were healing nicely from his kidnapping, but they weren't scabbed as badly as his ankle.

When the bandaging was complete, Ciel ran his hands over the bandages, feeling even more so tempted to pick at the scabs now that he couldn't; ah, human nature was to always wish for something they couldn't have. Ciel was no different.

While running his hands over the bandages, Ciel couldn't stop thinking of the supply run he and Sebastian would go on. For…for….nappies. Ciel hated to even think about it, but he knew if there was a chance at sleeping completely through the night, that nappies were the answer.

[Lovely Thyme]

"Yes, but I don't see how it would help any to have more." Sebastian told his master. He could remember clearly what had happened any time Ciel saw his brand. Despite the young lord not noticing, any time he saw a scar from his abuse, it triggered small panic attacks. The boy would have trouble breathing for a bit, but would sign it off as asthma. The butler was thankful that the child's clothes covered his scars nicely.

While he bandaged Ciel's feet, he thought about their upcoming trip into town for supplies. They weren't just going for nappies, but that was the main reason. The demon knew it might be hard for his master to buy nappies because of his embarrassment and figured that he would have to do it. The worker would simply think he was a butler or a father going to buy nappies for his child so it wouldn't be a big deal.

"Now, young master, I would expect that you know not to attempt to remove these bandages until the wounds are healed and you have no temptation to pick at yourself."

[HaliBug]

Ciel grunted slightly when Sebastian bandaged his feet, it being a bit painful from the freshly picked wounds, though kept his complaints to himself. He wasn't a child who needed to be comforted because of something as trivial as a bandage, and wouldn't appear to be so in front of anyone, especially of those who served him. Yes, Sebastian seemed to know quite a bit about him even without the boy giving him much information, though he still refused to show weakness.

Ciel frowned deeply when his butler spoke. "I'm not a little child that needs to be told not to do something, Sebastian," Ciel said, though he had been thinking about doing this when his butler would leave him by himself. "Besides, I'm the master and I can do as a please. If I want to remove my bandages, I have the privilege of doing so," he added.

While the boy was still a boy, he was beginning to grow quite accustomed to being a master of the household, and did enjoy being able to do whatever he liked. When his parents were alive, he was constantly monitored by either his parents or the servants of the household. It tended to be Tanaka who watched him when his father wasn't around.

Because Ciel was growing into the role of a master, he was beginning to enjoy having time to himself without constantly being monitored, though he knew that Sebastian still kept an eye on him whenever he could. What sort of demon would allow their prey to be susceptible to an attack? Of course Sebastian kept an eye on him.

[Lovely Thyme]

Sebastian knew that Ciel didn't like the bandages around his ankles and feet, but the child needed them to protect his body. Also, picking art himself is a disgusting habit that needed to be stopped before the little lord began doing it unconsciously in public.

"Young master, you will only harm yourself buy removing the bandages." Sebastian told his master. Ciel thought he acted exactly like an adult, but he didn't. The child was still very naive about the world and it showed. Along with that, Ciel still had a child's mind. He was smart, but he was young.

Sebastian would not let Ciel do as he pleased. He was there to assist in his master'sdegree growth, not let the child do as he pleased. The boy could be upset with him all he wanted, but that wouldn't change anything.

[HaliBug]

"I know what will happen and I'll do as I please if I feel the need to," Ciel said. He allowed his fingers to run over the bandages, though knew there was no way he could pick at them now. Not when they haven't scabbed just yet from being picked at in the bath. "Let's go," Ciel said, standing from his bed. "We need to pick up supplies."

Ciel's cheeks flushed red once again when he mentioned the 'supplies'. Every time he said it, he knew the butler saw right through it, knowing exactly what he needed. It was a comfort, knowing he wouldn't need to say that he needed nappies out loud, though it was also embarrassing, due to being as old as he was. Though, he was only ten years old, and it would be acceptable for him to need nappies after what he went through at his age.

Of course Ciel needed to sit back down on his bed so that Sebastian could slide his long socks over the bandages on his feet and put his shoes on them. He frowned deeper at the knee-high socks and heeled shoes covering his wounded feet.

[Lovely Thyme]

Sebastian could barely hold back a chuckle from watching the childish display Ciel put on. The child complained about getting bandaged and wiggled around a bit. Also, he huffed and produced a version of a pout when told he wasn't the boss. His small tantrum only continued when he pretty much glared at his shoes and socks.

"Of course, young master. We shall leave after your breakfast in youroffice. The carriage should be ready for our trip into London by then." the demon said before helping the boy up and walking with him into his private office with the food cart. He had kept all of the lids on the food so they would stay hot.

[HaliBug]

Ciel allowed Sebastian to help him off the bed before he attempted to regain his composure as an adult, standing just a bit farther from Sebastian than he usual did as he walked beside the butler to his office. The boy then sat in his desk chair, leaning back, fighting a yawn. While he was still tired, he would wait until the afternoon to take his now daily nap. He had too many obligations for the day to laze around all day.

While Ciel would usually eat the food he was presented without much of a fuss, this particular time, the boy looked away from the food cart with a slight furrow in his eyebrows. He was still thinking of the nightmares he had been subjected to. While this wasn't common, it had happened over the small period of time he was back in the manor.

Usually when Ciel would reminisce on the subject, he would lose his appetite, his eyes darkening and him retiring to his bed chamber for the rest of the evening - no matter what time it was. This time, Ciel merely attempted to push it to the back of his mind. He needed to go on with his day. He needed to distract himself from his imprisonment. That didn't mean he was willing to use his breakfast as a substitute.

[Lovely Thyme]

Again, Sebastian held back a chuckle when he watched his master. The boy was obviously tired, but he would refuse to sleep in or take a nap until he felt he needed one. The child's objections to being called anything other than an adult were childish also, though Ciel didn't seem to notice.

"Young master, I can put your breakfast away for your lunch if you are not hungry." Sebastian wasn't about to force the boy to eat no matter how much he knew Ciel needed the meal. It would only serve to make the boy even more upset than he clearly already was.

[HaliBug]

"Put it away," Ciel ordered, looking back at the meal before once again looking away from the meal. He refrained from biting his lip, not wanting to appear weak in front of Sebastian. He didn't want to look weak in front of anyone. "I just want to get this day over with."

Ciel's day hadn't had a very good start, and as a result, he was slightly cranky from not getting as much sleep as he usually did. Of course, when he was imprisoned, he would barely sleep as well, mostly in fear of being hurt in some way while he was there, and also as a result of his stomach constantly growling from the lack of food they had given him. Sure, they fed him to keep him alive, but just enough to do just that, and it was force fed to him through a funnel. It made adjusting back to Ciel's regular diet very difficult.

[Lovely Thyme]

Sebastian expected the answer he received. He had immediately noticed his master's poor eating habits. Instead of preparing three large meals a day, the demon had been giving the boy snacks on a daily schedule. Recently, he had started giving Ciel larger breakfast choices, but it wasn't unusual for him to reject it.

"Of course, young master. Would youlike like me to leave the tea pot with you?"