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Chapter Text

Dread. The uneasy feeling one gets when awaiting something with intense apprehension, and in severe cases, a paralyzing fear. Like an icy touch, it can shoot up the nerves and cause one to shiver like a madman in the middle of even the hottest summers.

     Within the bowels of a dense forest, nestled in the tangled halls of a manor, resided the dutiful Sebastian Michaelis polishing silverware. His gloved hands moved skillfully, holding a cloth and wiping a spoon which had a particularly stubborn stain of food, refusing to get cleaned. However, the ever persistent butler wouldn’t let that small obstacle deter him, continuing to rub away the stain until the spoon caught the light of the sun’s rays through the window, reflecting them in a spectacular beam. The corners of his mouth curved into a satisfied grin, placing the piece of silverware into its designated drawer, fitting in perfectly with the stacks of spoons already in there.

     Alas, no matter how much dishware he polished, or how many chores he completed around the manor, nothing could distract him from the ever present sense of dread gnawing at his core. He took a break from his monotonous actions to just stare out one of the windows in the kitchen, his sharp gaze scanning the wide expanse of trees that decorated the forest bordering the garden. He pressed his palms against the windowsill as he leaned forward, excusing his actions as checking for any possible threats, when in reality it all stemmed from an immeasurable amount of anxiety creeping up his veins and rooting deep in his mind. 

     In the perfectly tended garden he could see Finny frolicking about in the grass, taking a break from his gardening activities. This caused Sebastian to sigh, rubbing his temples with gloved fingers and closing his eyes. He didn’t know whether to just leave the boy alone or go out and set him straight, but since the garden seemed in good shape, he begrudgingly decided against interrupting Finny’s boyish activities.

     Sebastian pushed himself away from the windowsill, walking out of the kitchen and towards the library. His wandering was mostly aimless, deciding that he would just complete random chores he saw unfinished around the manor. He straightened his posture and kept his focus on the sounds he could hear in the normally dull manor. The soft clacking of his shoes against the hard floor, the soft whistling of the breeze outside, the quiet rustling of papers from Ciel’s study.

     He inhaled sharply, breathing out a deep sigh as he entered the quiet library, the room completely empty. He paced throughout the bookshelves and did some dusting, the duster gliding lazily over the rows of assorted books as his mind drifted more and more into the realm of his thoughts. He was pulled back into reality when a book that was haphazardly placed on the shelf fell at his feet, a small cloud of dust escaping its pages, yellow with age.

     Puzzled and mildly annoyed at his carelessness, Sebastian bent down and picked up the book, examining its contents and cover curiously. On the cover in big golden letters read “Ravens” with a picture of a raven etched into the black cover in the same gold color. He scoffed, rolling his eyes and opening up the book to peruse its contents despite his initial uninterested reaction. 

     “Ravens oftentimes form symbiotic relationships with wolves in the wild, the ravens providing guidance to the wolves and in return getting a share of the wolves’s hunt.” He read aloud, acting as if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard in all his years of living. He let out a soft chuckle, trying to be as quiet as possible in the already silent room as he read over the passage once more. 

     “Ridiculous.” He snapped the book shut and placed it back on the shelf, finishing up his work in the library fairly quickly. Once he was done, he stood in the very center of the room to observe what he had completed, his blood red eyes scanning every nook and cranny of the space. Everything was spotless, from the countless amount of books lining the shelves to every surface void of any dust, perfection at its finest.

     “Finally.” He murmured, before his mind once again began to swirl with countless anxiety riddled thoughts. He tensed up immediately at the sudden wave of uncertainty, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. His senses being bombarded was a feeling he was used to, the gentle hold of his worries oftentimes accompanying him throughout his day to day life. However, what he was feeling at that moment was incredibly different from his usual bouts, but instead was the very same dread from before. 

     He stifled a groan of sheer annoyance at the unwelcome reminder of his unnecessary feelings, instead letting out an exasperated sigh. These thoughts brought on yet another aimless walk around the manor, this time keeping tabs on everyone there and what they were accomplishing. Bard was in the kitchen as usual, however for once he seemed to be behaving himself and keeping his distance from explosives. Mey-Rin was busy dusting one of the many guest rooms, her glasses practically sliding off her face before she pushed them back hurriedly.

     Nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. He thought to himself, straightening his posture as he continued on his lengthy walk. He looked to the side at the paintings of former lords and ladies of the manor, his eyes narrowing in concentration. A long lineage of powerful nobles, he couldn’t afford to let down his job in caring for both the young master and the wellbeing of the manor. Not for himself, not for anyone, and certainly not for his unreasonable anxieties.

     It was at that moment that his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by his name being called from Ciel’s office by none other than the young earl himself. He silently appreciated the distraction and made his way upstairs, his footsteps deliberately quiet, as if he wanted every move he made to be undetected. He approached the doors of the room and opened them slowly, peering inside the spacious room before laying his eyes on Ciel. But instead of at his desk as usual, the boy was standing in front of the window, looking outside with an incredibly puzzled expression.

     “You summoned me?” Sebastian inquired as he stepped into the room, the door shutting behind him with a quiet thud. However, Ciel’s response consisted only of pointing out the window he was so entranced by, no words escaping his mouth. Sebastian, confused, walked over and stood beside the young lord, peering outside to see what all the fuss was about. 

     Finny was still running around in the field outside, this time chasing after a rabbit that had trespassed onto the manor grounds. Sebastian, still incredibly confused at why Ciel would be so distraught by his servant chasing a rabbit, started looking around the outside scenery. He eventually spotted the presumed source of the sudden interest in the outside: the skies above. The clouds that were just moments ago a tranquil white now merged into a dark gray vortex right above the manor, low rumbles of thunder shaking the ground.

     “Is this the work of a demon?” Ciel asked in bewilderment, holding onto his desk to keep himself from being thrown off his own feet. Sebastian responded with a distracted shake of his head, somehow remaining perfectly still despite how aggressive the shaking was. Books fell from their shelves, Sebastian wincing as he realized he would have to reorganize the entire library after they figured out what was going on.

     Then, as quickly as it had started, the violent shaking ceased. Sebastian quickly exited the room, sprinting outside to see the vortex of clouds himself. Once he left the manor, he was almost blown off his feet by fierce winds that had kicked up, putting a hand in front of his face so that he could squint through the storm. He pushed through the chaos, keeping his feet planted as he made his way to the field where Finny was previously playing, the boy having retreated inside once the storm had begun. He looked up at the cloudy vortex, furious winds whipping his face while he attempted to find the source of the sudden chaos.

     Suddenly, a beacon of blinding light blazed down from the eye of the vortex, connecting with the ground right in front of Sebastian and sending him flying a few feet. He landed on his back with a thud, quickly scrambling up, his eyes wide with alarm. To catch him by surprise was one thing, but to knock him off balance was something else entirely, something he blamed on his distracted mind. 

     Damn it! He thought, whipping his head directly at the center of the vortex, his regularly aloof expression contorted with pure anger. However, he was caught entirely off guard when he saw a woman descending from the vortex, enveloped in glorious sunlight. The wind began to subside the closer she got to the ground, both of these factors helping Sebastian pick out her features. 

     She had short dark brown hair that was styled into neat curls, an azure blue hat with a peculiar orange and gray feather nestled atop her head. Her cheeks were a rosy red, and her lips a deep crimson, contrasting against her cerulean eyes. She was wearing a simple dark sapphire dress with a deep red bow tie, and held herself with such grace that Sebastian felt he couldn’t get close to her even if he wanted. The most peculiar thing about her however, was the fact that she seemed to be floating down with an umbrella in her hand.

     She was beautiful.

     The dread that was once prescient in Sebastian’s subconscious progressively chipped away the closer she got to the ground, and once she finally landed, the weight that clouded his mind had entirely dissipated. The storm that was brewing above had also ceased entirely, leaving in its wake a sickeningly sunny day and the mysterious woman who was now standing in the yard. Sebastian was flabbergasted by the series of events, standing there with messy hair and a muddy coat from his tumble. Ciel had grown impatient waiting for his butler to return and now made his way outside, standing next to a bedraggled Sebastian.

     “What the deuce is going on over here?” The boy asked, looking over at his butler then looking at the mysterious woman who had emerged from the vortex. Sebastian barely acknowledged Ciel’s presence, staring intensely at the woman who was now walking towards them. Although he was sure he had never seen anyone like her in all his years of life, he couldn’t help the fact that he felt like the two were at the very least acquaintances at one point in their lifetimes.

     At the same time, he just couldn’t shake how she appeared to float with every step she took closer to where he was standing. She stopped at a normal distance away from him, her eyes gleaming with such wonderful joy that he couldn’t look away. His heart thundered from within his chest the more he studied her, a faint curiosity turned into something else entirely. This newfound feeling quickly rooted itself where the dread had been once before, and shot through his nerves. He could’ve sworn that the ends of his extremities began to burn, however that was more likely than not the doing of his own mind. He pushed these thoughts to the back of his subconscious, refusing to engage with them any further than he had to. 

     “Who are you?” He inquired, straightening himself up despite how rough his appearance seemed. The woman’s expression flickered from one of collected poise to one of uncertainty, her eyes narrowing for a quick second as she studied Sebastian. His heart once again began to pick up speed, however he didn’t let it show on his face, instead just standing up straighter than before. But as quickly as it had arrived, the hesitancy present in her face disappeared, replaced with her usual elegance. She looked from the butler she was studying moments before to the boy next to him, closing her umbrella and holding it as if it were a cane. 

     “My name is Mary Poppins, and I believe I’ve been summoned.”

Chapter Text

“Summoned? Summoned by whom?” Sebastian asked, regaining control over his senses and resorting to hostility. He instinctively took a defensive stance, brow furrowed as he glared down at Mary, ready to defend his master against anyone who could do him harm. Ciel tentatively stepped forward despite his butler’s wishes, looking up at Mary, who was finding great amusement in Sebastian’s uncharacteristically jumpy nature. 

     “By the boy to your left, just this morning actually.” She grinned playfully, already toying with the confrontational butler. Sebastian scoffed in disbelief at the response, looking back at Ciel who appeared equally unconvinced. He slowly stood up straight once again, attempting to intimidate Mary into giving them a response that he could deem believable. However, she didn’t seem intimidated in the slightest by his attempts, in fact, it had quite the opposite effect. The ends of her lips curved upwards in an entertained grin, staring at him with the same intensity he was using towards her. This sudden change in dynamics caused Sebastian to break their impromptu staring contest, casting his gaze to his feet momentarily, taking a step back.

     “If you two are done with your little game, I would like it if Ms. Poppins could meet with me in my study. Sebastian, escort her to the room.” Ciel ordered, giving the two a suspicious glare once more before disappearing inside. Once he was out

of earshot, Mary let out a sigh, stretching her arms over her head as a faint smile played on her lips. 

     “So what are you supposed to be, an overdressed guard dog?” She asked Sebastian, small giggles being heard from what was assumed to be her umbrella before she tapped it with the palm of her hand, silencing it. Sebastian scoffed at her insult, looking at her and acting as if she was the scum of the Earth. 

     “I should have you know that I don’t appreciate you, or your little…toys, here either.” He said with a forced smile, waving a hand towards the umbrella at her side. In response, she simply grinned once more, spinning her umbrella in her hand before holding it still at her hip. Sebastian absolutely despised the attitude she was showing him, restraining himself from just killing her there and then. But then why was his heart beating so fast? He quickly ruled the cause as anger, doing everything he could not to snap at that very moment. 

     “Ah excellent! It seems we’re at an agreement then.” She said, and with a whisk of her hand she began to walk towards the manor. Sebastian grumbled under his breath and begrudgingly caught up with her, walking a few paces ahead so he could escort her to the proper room. He refused to make any small talk along the way, convinced that if he heard one more word out of her mouth he would beat her unconscious. 

     With every step the pair took the longer the halls seemed to Sebastian, who just wanted Mary out and on her way back to whatever blasted place she crawled out from. Once again, the paintings on the wall caught his attention as they neared the study, the stoic gazes of the subjects feeling as if they were drilling into the side of his head. Mary noticed how he seemed to stand up straighter when they passed by the paintings, taking a chance to have a look herself. Her gaze trailed lazily over the portraits, gathering just basic details and the physical features of the previous manor residents. 

     “This manor’s decorated as plainly as your personality.” She commented seemingly at random, turning gaze from the paintings to Sebastian, watching him out of the corner of her eye. 

     As soon as he heard the quip, Sebastian swiftly turned around and lunged at her, attempting to strangle her. He wouldn’t usually deal with annoyances with such brute force, however something about her just made him seem to forget his formal façade. Mary was taken off guard by the sudden attack, eyes growing wide with alarm for a quick second before narrowing into a look of determination. She managed to push his arms away from her neck, but she couldn’t combat against the weight of his body crashing against her, the two tumbling to the ground. 

     “How’s that for plain, you angel scum.” Sebastian spat, bringing his fist up as he readied another blow. Mary responded by jabbing her hand out and grabbing the front of his shirt, taking him off guard and shoving him off of her. However, Sebastian refused to let go, causing the two to awkwardly flop to the side. Mary took the moment to take control of the situation, the hand she was holding his shirt with balled into an unyielding fist and her eyes blazing with fury.

     “My opinion on you has changed quite significantly, demon. Instead of plain, I now think of you as a judgemental stuck up fiend, I believe it’s much more fitting.” She said, breathing heavily with her eyes locked on Sebastian’s. Before he could retort, she landed a punch on his left eye, quickly recoiling her fist as she prepared another blow. 

     “I leave you two alone for seven minutes and this is what happens?” The two quickly halted in the middle of their altercation, turning their heads to see a confused and quite frankly annoyed Ciel at his desk. Turns out that the two had thrown each other to the ground right in front of his study, the doorway wide open. They quickly got up and off the ground as if nothing had happened, although Sebastian was still muttering curses under his breath. 

     They entered the room in complete silence, Ciel going back to his desk with an exasperated sigh that sounded beyond his years. Sebastian ran a hand through his hair and fixed his tie, going to stand next to his master while Mary took a seat in front of the desk. They all stayed silent for a bit, Ciel rubbing his temples as if he was a middle aged man as opposed to a prepubescent boy. Mary shot Sebastian a glance along with a cocky smirk, the butler rolling his eyes as he tried to control his anger towards the woman. 

     “So you say you were summoned, however I do not remember summoning anyone of the likes of you.” Ciel started off the conversation, straightening a pen that was on his desk. He looked up at Mary with a questioning eyebrow, but the woman didn’t seem to be surprised by the question, instead her eyes gave away a sense of boredom. 

     “I can see the confusion.” She said, somehow sitting up straighter in the chair than she was before. Where had just a few moments ago been a sarcastic and quite frankly annoying angel instead sat what Sebastian would call the epitome of serenity, if just for a moment. For the second he stole his glance, his heart rate began to pick up in speed once more, and he could feel a familiar warmth rise to his face. He quickly tore away his gaze, looking anywhere in the room except for her as an attempt to clear his racing mind.

     “I work as a nanny. I see you are used to the supernatural,” she motioned towards Sebastian, “so I won’t sugarcoat the fact that I’m not human either.” She explained, Sebastian puffing out his chest with a small amount of pride at his demonic nature being acknowledged. Her admission seemed to change Ciel’s demeanor from that of blanketed hostility to one of genuine curiosity. Mary could’ve sworn that for a moment she saw his aloof expression falter with nervousness before switching right back to the seriousness she now associated the boy with.

     “Go on.” He said, leaning back ever so slightly in his chair.

     “Where I come from, I’m summoned to homes in need of a caregiver. Whether it be by my own accord or by fate itself. It appears that inadvertently, you summoned me.” She explained, both the young lord and his butler seeming skeptical at her reason for appearing in the manor. Mary sighed, knowing that her story would appear too outlandish to believe. Before she could open her mouth to back her claim, she heard Sebastian clear his throat to draw attention, glancing over at her once more before looking straight ahead.

     “I sense her abilities, she, unfortunately, tells the truth.” He said begrudgingly, Ciel looking up at him with a questioning glare before casting his gaze back to Mary. She was pleasantly surprised by Sebastian speaking up in her favor, giving him a small nod of gratitude. The butler caught her gaze and returned her nod, before staring out into space once more. Ciel looked between the two with narrowed eyes before slowly returning his attention to Mary, at a loss for words. 

     “So, you’re another non-human and that’s why you arrived here with a natural disaster entourage?” He asked with a huff, Mary finding his choice of words quite amusing. Sebastian seemed to share Ciel’s sentiment, but twitched slightly at his improper way of speaking, something he would work on at a later time no doubt. 

     “I apologize for how my entrance may have affected your day, however there is no possible way I can return until you’re deemed to be adequately cared for.” She said, and although she seemed to be apologizing, her expression showed that of utmost resolve. 

     “And how long do you suppose that will be?” Ciel asked, not seeming all too worried about the prospect of her staying, just curious how long he would have to deal with her.

     “It could take as long as months.” She responded. After the words had escaped her lips, she heard a sputtering cough from Sebastian, who’s eyes were wide with surprise. Ciel turned to look at his butler with a questioning glare, wondering what had gotten into him to make him break his perfect butler persona. He looked between the two once again, remembering the scuffle they had gotten in just a few moments before. He considered the fact that the two could possibly have some sort of history together, but he quickly disregarded the thought.

     “So be it, then. Sebastian, take Mary to an open guest room and don’t you even think about getting into any childish fistfights.” Ciel ordered, the butler nodding before walking out of the room, Mary in close pursuit. Not wanting a repetition of last time, the pair walked in absolute silence, instead choosing to just observe the setting around them. Once they stopped to appreciate the manor around them, their previous quarrel simmered down enough to make the silence they had appear more comfortable.

     This silence allowed Sebastian to dwell on how he had treated this new guest. He could admit that his actions were juvenile in nature, but he was certain that his skills in protecting and serving the young master were enough. Mary was new, a threat, and someone who actually had the power to stand up to him if things went south. However, he still felt as if he owed her some sort of warning towards what was to come, or at least some small talk to break the inability they had to communicate in anything other than insults.

     “You’ll get used to his demands.” He murmured as they approached Mary’s room, making sure it was one of the finer guest rooms. Mary looked up at him with a mild interest in the sudden communication, however Sebastian didn’t return the look, instead just going over to the door of her new room and unlocking it. 

     “I hope this housing is suited to your tastes.” He added, watching Mary’s expression carefully to see how she would react to the area. Mary noticed how much the butler seemed to care about what other people thought of his workmanship, so she decided to keep her visible expression at a poker face until she could fully evaluate her quarters.

     The first thing she noticed was the large bed in the center of the room. The sheets were patterned with lovely branched swirls and vine-like shapes, and the material was of the finest silken texture. The bedframe was built from delicately carved oak, smooth to the touch. On the wall behind the bed and a little to the left was a painting of a garden, with all sorts of flowers and vegetation growing within the hedges. On the wall to the right of the bed there was a window which overlooked the manor’s garden, Mary now understanding the subject of the painting in relation to the room. To the right of the window there was also a small desk, already armed with papers and an inkpot.

     “My word, this truly is a marvelous room.” She found herself murmuring despite the promise she had made to herself earlier. Sebastian let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding, relieved that she liked the room he chose. But why did her opinion bother him so much? The unwelcome thought clung to his mind like a fly would to a cow grazing in a field, but he decided to shrug it off, at least until he was alone again. 

     “I’m pleased that you’re satisfied, Miss Poppins.” He responded with his usual emotionless smile that didn’t travel to his eyes, standing by the door. With that and a nod, he swiftly left Mary to grow accustomed to her living area without his presence. It was while he was once again pacing the halls of the manor that he realized what it truly meant by Mary staying until her mission was complete. He let out a quiet groan, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes to process the constant headache he was now going to have to deal with.

Chapter Text

It was late at night, the manor completely silent for the first time since Mary arrived; except for the sound of chirping crickets outside. Adding on to the sounds of nocturnal nature were quiet footsteps from within the ballroom; belonging to none other than Sebastian participating in his nightly pacing.

     The events of that day had truly disturbed him in ways that he couldn’t quite place, especially the effects it had on his psyche. He had uncharacteristically loosened his tie and relaxed his usually impeccable posture, running his fingers through his hair and sighing. It’s not like he was tired, he had stayed up much later than this on previous nights, but instead he was exhausted. Exhausted of all the change that had occurred that day, exhausted of how immature he had acted; and especially exhausted of how he acted whenever she was around. 

     He had always prized his ability to remain calm under pressure, but today had taken a harsh blow to both the reputation he had built of himself; and for himself. The part that bothered him the most wasn’t how he had acted, although he had to agree it was horrendous behavior for a butler, it was how he had felt to cause those actions. Never in his hundreds of years of life had he felt the way he did when he was around Mary, and that unnerved him in ways he couldn’t explain.

     He continued to pace around the ballroom, it being the most spacious room in the manor and his personal favorite for introspective nights such as this one. The soles of his shoes continued to click against the polished tile floor below, but it didn’t distract him much from his endless list of self inquiries that kept him from functioning properly.

     Why am I like this? He thought with a groan, stopping in his tracks and putting a hand over his forehead. At this point he was less tired and more so annoyed, leaning against the wall next to the ballroom’s overlook of the garden. He had long ago dropped his usual well kept demeanor, and instead found himself slouching with an undid tie. He closed his eyes and sighed loudly, absolutely sure that no one could hear him.

     “I see you don’t keep your senseless brooding exclusive to daylight hours.” Sebastian froze at the sudden voice, turning to find the source; although a part of him already knew. His wide eyed gaze fell upon none other than the manor’s brand new guest leaning against the railing of the overlook, her arms crossed over her chest with a small grin on her face. Sebastian quickly stood up straight and fixed his tie, moving to stand at the center of the entranceway so that he could be more visible to Mary.

     “Miss Poppins, I see you’re awake.” He murmured, adjusting his suit collar once more before approaching her. Mary raised an eyebrow at his sudden switch in attitude, but didn’t say anything, instead just watched him awkwardly shuffle in front of her. Although he had only moments before been a mess of his usual formal self, he had seemingly managed to clean himself up quite quickly, minus a few strands of loose hair. She glanced up at his disheveled hair and then at his hastily tidied suit, the look of suspicion never leaving her face.

     “Found it hard to sleep with the constant pacing.” She replied, and although Sebastian was sure it was one of her usual quips he had already grown used to, he thought he could sense some concern in her tone. He ran a hand through his hair, looking off to the side and clearing his throat with a sharp cough, doing anything to avoid her gaze. Once again he felt the familiar flush rising to his face the same way it did earlier that day, and he knew he had to stop their interaction at once.

     “Well you should get used to it.” He said curtly, instinctively brushing nonexistent dust off his already clean suit to try and calm himself. Mary continued to stare at him for a moment longer, studying his behavior with a slow and unconvinced nod. Sebastian felt himself being drawn to her gaze, but fought the feeling with every ounce of strength left in his tired body.

     “Surprising you have enough energy to keep arguing.” She said, finally breaking the trained look she had kept on the butler to look over her shoulder at the garden below. Sebastian breathed a silent sigh of relief as the weight was taken off him, but he was still unsure of whether to continue their now awkward conversation or just leave. 

     “Well, Miss Poppins, demons don’t require rest such as a mortal might.” He responded, him too looking out into the garden. The beautiful flowers and practically geometric hedges below were illuminated by the moonlight, giving everything a silvery glow. The dim lighting gave the plants a barely visible semblance of their original hue, but mostly made way for the glow of the moon. 

     The pair found themselves entranced by the raw beauty of the scenery, and for a moment forgot about their previous quarrels. In fact, the silence between them; paired with the tranquil ambiance of nature, was quite relaxing, especially to the previously panicking Sebastian. He retained his impeccable posture, but his demeanor seemed much more relaxed, his once sharp gaze softening the longer he stared at the garden.

     “You know, I’ve always found gardens oddly relaxing.” Mary said, her gaze lingering on the plants while she spoke. Her elbows rested on the railing of the overlook, one of them raised so she could prop her head up. She didn’t appear to be tired despite the time of night the two were out and about, in fact, her sapphire blue eyes seemed to glow in the moonlight with her usual energy. 

     “Really?” Sebastian found himself responding, surprising the both of them with how willing he seemed to continue the conversation. 

     Mary glanced towards him for a moment, as if thinking he was just being sarcastic in his response. However, when she saw that he was being genuine, her gated demeanor softened; looking back towards the garden. 

     “I understand it may sound odd, but the sight has always been one for weary eyes.” She murmured, tilting her head into her hand and humming quietly to herself. In the moonlight she appeared absolutely radiant, something that Sebastian subconsciously took note of. He gave a slow nod of understanding before once again following her gaze towards the garden. 

     For the first time that day he finally felt at peace, both with himself and with her. He found his foggy mind growing increasingly clearer in the moonlight, and felt his posture relax as well. Mary also took note of this change, glancing over at him with a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. He looked down at her and smiled as well, not his usual arrogant smirk or wolfish grin, but a genuine smile.

     “You’re not as bad as I thought, demon.” Mary said after a moment of silence, looking back towards him with a thoughtful expression. He blinked in surprise at the admission, feeling his ears and cheeks grow hot when he met her gaze. This continued for a quick moment until Sebastian broke their “contest”, looking off to the side and clearing his throat. 

     “Well then, it’s best I turn in for the night, I suggest you do as well.” He murmured, looking back at Mary and giving her a curt nod before heading back inside the ballroom. Her expression turned to one of intrigue at his abrupt announcement, watching him retreat back into the manor curiously. 

     How strange, truly the oddest demon I’ve ever encountered. She thought, her gaze trailing after him as he entered the ballroom. His actions were incredibly clumsy and awkward, but there was something endearing about them that she hadn’t caught until now. His cold and stern shield was still there, yes, but through the chinks in his armor she could see the thoughtful soul he refused to admit he was.

Chapter Text

“Has she arrived at the abode?”

     “Yes.”

     “Good.”

     The atmosphere in the temple was completely silent, but not in an eerie way; quite the opposite in fact. The quiet was tranquil rather than suspenseful, only being interrupted by occasional conversation between the two who resided within. Light footsteps clacked against the smooth marble floor as they made their way towards a large table in the center of the room.

     They both sat at opposite ends, completely still other than the occasional wing flutter or slight shift. Eventually, one of the pair decided to speak up, his voice a comforting rumble that pleasantly contrasted the previous silence.

     “Is…it still there?” He asked with a hint of hesitation, leaning his forearms against the table. His skin was so white it seemed to glow, thin tendrils of gold etched into the canvas of his surface running up the length of his arms and creeping up his neck. Dark grey colored robes hung loosely around his sculpted body, adorned with similar golden patterns. On his back were two magnificent white wings, large and full, neatly tucked so they wouldn’t get in the way.

     “Unfortunately.” The other responded, leaning back in his chair with a sigh. His skin took on a much more silvery sheen, a brightness that reflected the natural light around him. He too had vein-like designs on his body, a glowing blue originating around his spine and extending to his forearms and forehead. Instead of two large wings on his back, he had four albeit smaller ones. His robes were an obsidian black, void of any color whatsoever.

     “This could cause issues.” The first added, his brow furrowing in deep thought. The other appeared to share his sentiment, nodding a rough agreement then proceeding to massage his temples. The silence that was once a sign of serenity now held the weight of unspoken words and unmade decisions, one which neither of them dared to break. 

     The one with the black robes stood up abruptly, beginning to pace around the room while still remaining silent. His wings grew puffier, showing his obvious agitation as his footsteps increased in aggressiveness.

     “What is the matter, Adonijah?” The one with the grey robes asked his obviously stressed college, standing up and stepping forward. Adonijah snapped his gaze towards him, his two pure blue eyes blazing with annoyance and fury. This startled the other, Adonijah’s look sending shivers down his spine and causing his wings to puff up. 

     “Do you not understand, Shemu’el? She’s in danger!” Adonijah yelled, stopping in his tracks to face Shemu’el with his entire body. His blue markings were glowing with a vibrant hue, as if feeding into the pools of blue flame that were his eyes. After a few seconds of this he went back to his agitated muttering, the shimmering glow that once was practically erupting from his markings and eyes quelling to a faint light.

     Shemu’el was still incredibly confused by Adonijah’s sudden outburst, despite the—albeit small—amount of reasoning he was given. Sure he knew that it was there, and he was well aware of the problems that could arise by having the two beings in the same abode, however that was no cause for alarm as of now. Did Adonijah know something he didn't know about it? A likely possibility as Adonijah outranked him by quite a bit.

     “It is not much stronger than her, there is no reason to worry.” Shemu’el attempted to comfort his frustrated comrade, reaching out a hand to put on his tense shoulder. Adonijah stopped in his tracks at the touch, taking a deep breath before fully facing Shemu’el, now displaying an expression of worry.

     “I am aware, however it is not strength that concerns me.” He sighed, shrugging Shemu’el’s hand off of his shoulder, stepping forward once more so he was showing his back to the other. He crossed his arms in front of him and shook his head gravely, grieving over situations that had not yet come to fruition. 

     “Then what is it that has you in such disarray?” Shemu’el inquired, his tone growing less sympathetic as his patience dwindled. He wanted to understand what Adonijah was getting bothered by, however he was being so cryptic with his wording that he was unsure he would ever get a solid answer. He knew that Adonijah didn’t communicate the things that bothered him until it was too late, but in situations like these where one of their colleges could be in possible danger, his attitude was greatly unappreciated.

     Adonijah took another deep breath, exhaling with a sigh and putting his hand to his forehead. Shemu’el waited for his answer, his hands dropping to his sides as silence once again filled the space between them. Seconds felt like the hours leading up to a major battle, filled with uncertainty, and in small amounts, fear. 

     “It’s the Raven.” He finally said, his voice a low murmur but loud enough for Shemu’el to catch. His breath hitched in his throat, stunned by the shocking news he was given. A title he hadn’t heard in years, suddenly showing up where it shouldn’t be. How ironic.

     “That’s not good.” Was all he could say, wings drooping ever so slightly as he processed the sudden information. To be completely honest he had presumed that Adonijah was overreacting, something that he quite often did. However, his reaction to the scenario at hand was anything but an overstatement, in fact, it was a bit underwhelming.

     “We have to get the others, gather a meeting, something—anything!” The panic began to set in. What was once Adonijah’s agitated pacing became Shemu’el’s, the roles reversed between the two as the former watched the latter with a serious expression. He quickly grew annoyed at Shemu’el’s panicking, having much less patience than his now fearful comrade.

     “Control yourself, Shemu’el.” He grumbled, his two sets of wings flapping with unsympathetic anger. He crossed his arms in front of his chest, as if he wasn’t just moments before doing the exact same thing.

     Shemu’el glared at Adonijah’s input, not stopping his actions for a second despite his complaints. His brow furrowed, contemplating the situation over and over again in his mind, thinking of every possibility under the sun. 

     “That damned bird, always interfering with our plans…” He cursed, rubbing his temples and closing his eyes tightly shut. What to do, what to do. Mind continued to churn with ideas of what could happen, each new possibility conceived clouding any form of answer that could arise. However, after about a minute of this pacing and contemplation, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes that were now open displaying a sense of determination. 

     Before Adonijah could comment on the sudden change, he was interrupted by Shemu’el quickly turning to face him. His look, although moments before was filled with uncertainty, was now showing confidence that commanded the respect of his comrade. 

     “Summon the council.” His voice was low, but cut through the space between them as sharp as a knife. He turned towards the exit after his request, beginning to make his voyage outside. But once again, he stopped for a split second, just long enough to say one last line to a now determined Adonijah.

     “Tell them it’s about the Raven and the Wolf.”

Chapter Text

As soon as morning arrived with its brilliant hues, so did trouble with its ugly sneering head. Per usual, Sebastian the ever dutiful butler was already up and starting the day, taking up residence in the drawing room with a feather duster. He passed it gently over the intricate decorations that adorned the space, his other hand placed lightly behind his back. 

     The soft morning sun slowly began to melt through the windows; lazily creeping over the crevices of the room that were in the vicinity of the glass pane. The dull color scheme of the area took on a reddish orange sheen from the light, causing the room to feel much warmer than it usually did. 

     The rising sun paired with the peaceful silence of the slumbering manor was however sadly lost on the butler, who instead chose to close the windows. The tips of his fingers lingered on the navy blue curtains, tracing the embroidered patterns of the same color. He felt the smooth texture of the fabric, a low hum rumbling from within his throat as he examined the drapes. 

     One could say that this was his serenity, his own personal sunrise that brought him the peace he needed to continue on with his day. However another could easily argue that he was simply unwilling to break his routine, especially not for something as common and recurring as a sunrise. 

     “So this is the important work you occupy yourself with? Fondling drapes?” 

     He didn’t even have to turn around. The hum turned into a low growl, his eyes narrowing and posture stiffening. Her. His inner monologue became bitter, the anxieties that would once occupy his mind during their encounters replaced completely in favor of this newfound anger. 

     He inhaled sharply before turning to face her, his face barely masking the irritation he truly felt. Mary looked at him with an incredibly smug expression, leaning against the doorframe of the drawing room with her arms crossed. She looked as if she had bested him in a game of wit and now considered herself a higher status than he, despite her rank as the manor’s unplanned guest. 

     “Miss Poppins…I see you’re up early.”  The tender moment they shared the night before was seemingly lost on Sebastian, the butler instantly putting up his defenses with a scowl. How could he have allowed himself to get that close to her, not even knowing if she was friend or foe? And he had the urge to call himself cautious, what a fool he was. 

     His wine red eyes narrowed as Mary walked towards him, his body instinctively tensing and breath hitching. She paused a few feet in front of him, her trained gaze and careful movements unnerved him entirely. Cool, calculated; if she wasn’t an angel he might’ve considered it impressive. He looked down at her, once again attempting—quite pitifully one may add—to intimidate her.

     She simply grinned at his weak endeavor, shooting him one last playful glance before stepping off to the side and towards the window. Sebastian was stunned, to say the least. His intimidation tactics were usually a sure fire solution to any possible problem that could occur, and for her to just brush them off in favor of a frivolous sunrise was practically blasphemy for the orderly butler. 

     Mary however couldn’t care less about Sebastian’s mental turmoil, selectively choosing to pull away the curtains and view the pristine rising of the sun. 

     “Sebastian, close your mouth. We’re not codfish, are we?” She murmured without looking at him, another impish smirk playing on the corner of her mouth. 

     “I do no such thing-” He started, before noticing that she was, much to his dismay, correct in her assumption. It seemed that after his failed attempt at intimidation, his body had betrayed him completely and had formed the startled expression of an improper schoolboy. He quickly shut his mouth at the realization, running a hand through his hair and straightening out his cuffs all while looking at the ground, face red with embarrassment.

     “I thought you would sleep in.” He said, attempting to draw the attention away from his uncharacteristic mishap and instead dwell on the intruder of his routine. Mary rolled her eyes at his once again blossomed confrontational nature, but despite the annoyance; she was still quite entertained. She decided to face him, turning herself away from the sunrise and towards his willowy form. Her motions were exaggerated and flamboyant in nature, obviously in an attempt to irk the already irritated butler. 

     Sebastian took more than a notice of her behavior, actively controlling his breathing to make sure he wouldn’t snap. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, and upon exhaling slowly opened them to reveal a gentle gaze; forced, obviously. The corners of his mouth pulled into a tight and insincere grin, something that he often used when attempting to communicate with people he deemed annoying. 

     “I don’t “sleep in”, darling.” Mary explained, her cool and collected voice contrasting her attitude. Slowly she began to walk up towards him, her sudden cold stare catching him completely off guard. His breath hitched in his throat as she continued to pace towards him, his heart hammering in his chest against his will. He somehow retained the composure he practically fought to achieve in the first place, but not without his face flushing ever so slightly.

     She, of course, took notice of this; momentarily pausing her saunter just to study him once more. She took note of his progressively reddening face, as well as how stifled he seemed just by her teasing.

     He’s so pathetic, how fun. 

     “Well then, Mr. Michaelis,” she paused once more, giving him another look over with an amused grin, “good day to you.” She dipped her head and brushed past him, close enough to make him shudder. But when he turned to see what she was plotting to destroy next, he was surprised to find that she had seemingly vanished into thin air. 

     “Right.” His eyes narrowed and his lips took the shape of a scowl upon remembering her true nature, rolling his eyes and straightening his tailcoat. After all, he wouldn’t be caught dead looking anything less than impossibly perfect. Other than the past few times.

 No, no, those were only due to her presence which I am FULLY aware of now. Therefore, I should have my wits about me next time we encounter one another. 

     At the mere thought of their next altercation he let out a noise that sounded like a disappointed grumble mixed with a low growl, enough to note that the upcoming week would be…fun, to say the least.