Chapter Text
"My word," Sebastian said as he buttoned up the front of Ciel's shirt, "You seem to have grown."
"Hm?" Ciel followed Sebastian's gaze down to his hands and was surprised to see that his wrists were poking through the cuffs of his shirt. He twisted them over to stare at the veins peeking through his skin and tried not to let a childish grin spread across his face. A growth spurt! He probably just hadn't noticed because it had been a while since he'd worn this particular suit, but he'd definitely grown. Maybe his body was finally starting to recover from his childhood illnesses and torture. Maybe he wasn't doomed to forever be the smallest in the room.
Ciel puffed out his chest and straightened up on the step stool, holding out his arms for his vest. Sebastian paused, then pulled a needle and thread from his pocket.
"Stand still, my Lord," he said calmly.
Ciel stood obediently where he was told as Sebastian went to his cuffs and took them out until they sat on his hands correctly. He then helped Ciel into his trousers, and knelt down to lengthen the cuffs there as well. The vest fitted fine, as did his bowtie, but then Sebastian fussed over the jacket for another few moments to make sure it was perfect.
"There," Sebastian said when the alterations were complete. "I think you've grown a full half centimetre. Maybe one day you'll even be tall enough to reach the top shelf of the kitchen without assistance."
"I've grown far more than just half a centimetre," Ciel snapped. It was maybe a full two centimetres, and Sebastian knew it. Ciel pouted and sat on the sofa, lifting up his feet for his socks.
Sebastian chuckled to himself as he knelt and pulled Ciel's socks on for him. However, when it came to the shoes, that's when he paused and frowned.
"Your boots," he said. "They're slightly too small. Maybe you should wear another pair." He squeezed the sides of Ciel's feet through the shoes, not doing up the buttons at the sides.
Ciel frowned. The shoes felt a little tight, but it wasn't painful or digging in anywhere. "I'm sure it'll be fine for tonight. Besides, I don't have any other shoes that are appropriate."
Sebastian tilted his head to the side in thought. "Perhaps if you were to wear your pinstripe jacket?"
"Certainly not. Lizzie wanted us to match, this is the only suit I can wear. Just do them up, I'll be fine."
Sebastian sighed and shrugged. "Yes, my Lord."
With that, he did the buttons up on Ciel's shoes and helped him to his feet. Ciel took his hat and cane and headed out as Sebastian threw his cloak on his shoulders. Their carriage was waiting and there was no time to dilly dally. As Ciel walked down the flight of stairs and out to the carriage, he thought to himself that although his shoes were a little tight, it was nothing he couldn't deal with.
The weather outside was rather horrible, with harsh rain pelting against the side of the carriage. Ciel hoped the roads would be alright; he didn't want to be trapped away from home for this party. He had work to do, as well as an appointment in London. The thoughts of all his schedules that would be changed if the roads were ruined occupied him the entire ride. By the time they arrived at the party, Ciel was already stressed and feeling the pressure of his shoes on his feet.
"Let’s get this night over with," he muttered as Sebastian opened the carriage door and held out an umbrella for him.
Inside, the manor house had been decorated with lights and there was a fire burning in the entrance hall. Ciel allowed Sebastian to take his cloak and headed into the manor's main hall to meet Lizzie. She was already there with her parents and brother, and immediately ran across the room to Ciel when he arrived.
"Ciel," she trilled happily, grasping his hand to pull him into the room. "I'm so glad you made it. Isn't the weather just awful ?"
"Y- Yes," Ciel agreed. He bowed at his future in-laws and smiled to himself when his aunt had no comment about his appearance. Having Sebastian comb his hair out of his face had been a good idea, after all.
"Ciel, you need to dance with me when the music starts," Lizzy said. "I've been saving my first dance for you."
"Of course I'll dance," Ciel said, ignoring the way Edward was glaring at him across the table. No doubt he'd been hoping Ciel would be late and he'd get to have his first dance with his sister. As Ciel became more aware of the pressure on his feet, he started to agree with Edward. Maybe he should have been a tad late.
Ciel was good at smiling through things, however. He'd gotten used to nodding along with whatever his relatives said, smoothing things over with some polite comments and questions. Then when the music started, Ciel offered his arm to Lizzy to dance.
Ciel wasn't the best at dancing on an average day. He had very little stamina, and felt rather awkward even with all of Sebastian's lessons. Luckily, Lizzy was very much like Sebastian in that she too was able to take the lead with Ciel when needed.
Lizzy's hand in Ciel's acted as a cane for him to lean on, the muscles in her arm already tense and ready to hold him up should he trip. She smiled sweetly, as if she wasn't the one in charge of this dance, and let Ciel try to move them both elegantly around the room. However, even with Lizzy supporting him, it only took a few steps for Ciel to start regretting everything. When Ciel was being forced to move round the room without respite, it became more and more obvious just how painful his feet were in those shoes. It felt like his feet were being squeezed through a juice press! His bones being misaligned with each step he took! If anyone else had been dancing with him, he probably would have crumpled to the floor in a pathetic display. But because it was his fiancée, he smiled through the pain, clutched Lizzy's hand and waist, and prayed for the song to be over.
"W- Would you like supper?" Ciel asked as soon as the music ended.
Lizzy blinked in confusion. "But supper isn't being served yet."
"Oh... Of course not." Ciel laughed. He rocked back and forth on his feet in a vain attempt to find a more comfortable position to stand in. "I forgot to eat before leaving, so my mind's on my stomach."
"Ah, I'll get you a cake before the next dance," Lizzy said immediately, running to the refreshment room before Ciel could protest.
He sighed and leaned against the wall, glaring down at his feet. He silently ordered them to stop hurting , as if that would make any difference. He looked up just in time to catch a glimpse of a figure moving across the doorway, a tall man with pale skin and dark hair. Of course, Sebastian had been spying on him dancing. And if Ciel knew Sebastian (which, unfortunately, he did), he knew that the foul demon had been laughing at Ciel's inability to hide his painful feet.
Well Ciel would tell him off for spying later. But first, he needed to put on a bright smile for Lizzy, who was returning with a small cake and happy expression ready to dance again. Ciel swallowed the cake along with his discomfort and led his fiancée back into the middle of the floor for a night of even more dancing. Dancing that would immediately have him swearing internally and cursing himself for not listening to his smug, know-it-all butler about the damned shoes.
Later that night, on the carriage ride back home, Ciel sat with his feet hovering ever so slightly off the floor to relieve pressure. Luckily, the roads had not been flooded but the ride was still a little uncomfortable. Ciel pretended not to notice the way Sebastian smirked whenever they went over a bump and he had to place his feet on the ground to steady himself. However, when he looked over and their eyes met, Sebastian couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Ciel asked in a voice that was supposed to be threatening but just sounded like a whining puppy.
Sebastian shook his head and gave a calm grin. "I was just thinking about how well you danced tonight, my Lord. Even if the dancing had to come to an end rather early in the night."
Ciel scowled at him, then down at his feet. When he tapped his toes together, his feet ached in pain. Dancing had been a nightmare. He was so lucky that Edward had been there to dance with Lizzy whenevers Ciel needed a break. Now he gave a low sigh and bowed his head.
"Get these off of me."
The demon was on his knees at once, gently undoing the buttons down the side of Ciel's shoes and pulling them off of his feet. When his feet were free, Ciel sighed and sank back into the chair. Dammit, he needed that. Sebastian took both of Ciel's feet in one hand, placing the other on top and gently rubbing them to stimulate bloodflow.
Ciel wiggled his toes in Sebastian's gloves. "Tomorrow, place an order for a pair in a larger size," he said.
"I put in an order before we left the house, my Lord."