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Temperatures hit a record high in the middle of July and Sebastian hasn’t stopped hearing about it. By the time the house had risen, the sun was already baking everything in its path. Mey-Rin’s glasses were fogging up with the humidity, Baldroy was refusing to use the oven… And Ciel? Ciel was whining.
Of course, Sebastian knew that the young master was still a boy, but it was hard to forget in moments like this. He was always so good at acting older than his age, and then something like this would draw out the real twelve-year-old he’d buried inside himself. The young master had forgone his usual suits and hats for a light linen shirt and trousers in an attempt to stay cool, but breathable clothes could only do so much. His hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat, and his cheeks were rosy.
Unfortunately, the manor was currently hotter than the outdoors. Once the young master realized this, he sent the servants to work inside and dragged Sebastian outside to the garden to set up a blanket for Ciel in the shade.
“It’s too hot , Sebastian,”
“Yes, master, so you’ve said,” Sebastian drawled, just barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes.
“I can’t even look at you. How are you not burning alive?” Ciel leaned back against the tree he was sitting underneath and pulled at his collar. Sebastian raised an eyebrow.
“You know good and well why the temperature might affect the two of us differently. Besides, it wouldn’t do for a Phantomhive butler to look anything less than put together” Sebastian said, defending his usual three-piece suit.
“I feel as though I have heat stroke. Do I have heat stroke?” Ciel fanned himself with one hand.
“ No , you do not have heat stroke.” Sebastian sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
Once he finished setting Ciel up with his parasol, he bowed and made his way back to the manor. It was about tea time, and although it was too hot to bake cakes or boil tea, he still had an idea of what to make to satisfy the boy's sweet tooth.
Sebastian sent the other servants outside to keep them out of his way and got to work. Having this wing of the manor to himself meant that he wouldn't have to listen to any of the humans complain about the oven being used briefly. It was not as though he'd have it on very long besides to just blanche the pistachios and toast the almonds.
He slid a couple of layers off, leaving his jacket and vest folded over one of the chairs, and rolled his sleeves up. It wouldn't do for him to get his clothes messy. After chopping the almonds and crushing the pistachios to make a paste, he began the ice cream-making process. A cold treat with a cold tea would be perfect for the climate, and might even get his master to quit his whining for a moment.
When the snack was finished, he plated it on a floral tray befitting of the warm weather and made his way to the garden. Sebastian spied Ciel before Ciel spied Sebastian. He was resting under the tree still, shirt slightly more unbuttoned than it was when Sebastian left and a book in his hands. Sebastian cleared his throat, drawing the young master’s attention to himself, and stepped further into the garden.
“I have returned, young master.”
“Obviously.” Ciel rolled his eye and flopped his book down onto his chest to devote his attention fully to his butler. Sebastian hears the young master’s heart rate pick up, likely in anticipation. The young master swallows hard.
“Today for your tea I have prepared for you a refreshing serving of pistachio almond ice cream alongside a chilled glass of cordial. I believe a cooler treat will give some respite from the heat” He bent forward to place the tray in front of the boy. When Ciel did not immediately reach for anything from the tray, Sebastian picked up the bowl of ice cream and handed it to Ciel himself. It was then that he remembered his jacket and vest sitting in the kitchen.
Figuring that it would not be a problem if he forwent his jacket for now, he unfolded the napkin on the tray and tucked it into the collar of Ciel’s shirt. Ciel looked back at him, wide-eyed, gaze jumping between Sebastian’s face and his forearms. The flush on his face no longer had the scent of heat exhaustion; the racing pulse suddenly made sense. A smirk crawled its way across Sebastian’s face allowing only a hint of his pointed incisors.
“Are you feeling quite alright, young master?” He tilted his head curiously, all for show, of course. The bowl of ice cream in Ciel’s cupped hands had begun melting in the heat, slowly pooling until a droplet made its way off the ceramic and dripped down the side of Ciel’s thumb. Sebastian adjusted Ciel’s grip on the bowl so that it was held in one hand and brought the boy’s free hand up to his mouth. “It appears that your ice cream is melting, young master”
Ciel gasped as Sebastian’s tongue slowly licked the ice cream from the boy’s hand. The flush on his face had only gotten fiercer in the time Sebastian since Sebastian brought out his food. Sebastian pressed his tongue against the pad of Ciel’s thumb, letting it rest there for a moment before Ciel finally gained his bearings and tugged his hand away, his face screwed up in a scowl.
“That will be all.” He groused, hastily shoving a spoonful of ice cream in his mouth.
“Of course, Young Master.” Sebastian grinned, a knowing look in his eye. “Please do let me know if there is anything further I can do for you.”