Work Text:
The sound of running water echoed in the empty kitchen. Steam rolled up out of the sink basin and into Sebastian’s eyes as he washed his hands in the scalding hot water, allowing the intense heat on his human-like skin to distract from the exasperation he felt.
Another day performing the jobs of an entire manor's worth of staff wore on him. He could handle it physically of course, but he was sometimes stressed simply by the stupidity of human beings. They were so predictable, and yet somehow managed to surprise him with their ability to create disasters. If he turned his back for even a moment, who knows what kind of danger the young master could be in.
He'd almost been burned when Bardroy set a small section of the garden on fire earlier that afternoon. Sebastian had been cleaning on the other side of the manor when he sensed the Earl's fear. If it had taken him even a second longer to dart through the halls and descend from the third story window to grab him, he could have been seriously hurt.
How ironic it would be if the protectors Sebastian had gone to such lengths to acquire for the young master ended up being the ones to harm him.
Sebastian sighed. At least he could enjoy the silence while he cooked supper, now that he'd dismissed everyone. Thousands of years old, and Sebastian was hiding in the kitchen like a long-suffering housewife trying to get away from her husband and children.
He heard movement from down the hall, his senses always alert to any signs of life inside the mansion. It wasn't the servants– he could still hear them in the west wing arguing about which corner the grandfather clock looked best in– and the young master was scribbling away at his desk upstairs. The footsteps he heard were heavy, and he knew who it was before the door opened.
“Mr. Agni,” Sebastian said in greeting without looking over his shoulder.
“Mr. Sebastian, hello,” Agni said, as genial as ever.
“Has Prince Soma risen from his afternoon nap?” Sebastian asked as he moved to the center kitchen island with a large pot of potatoes, even though he already knew the answer. He set the cast iron pot down and reached for the vegetable peeler.
“Please, allow me,” Agni said with a smile, taking the blade from his hand. He set to work, looking pleased as punch to have something to do. “Master Soma was quite exhausted after all the excitement this afternoon, so he is still sleeping soundly. Though I suspect he will be very hungry when he wakes.”
Sebastian eyed the other man for a moment, watching the way his hands worked so efficiently and the way his eyes creased with joy when he spoke of his master. Such genuine pleasure in service.
Sebastian had been reluctant at first to believe a human could be truly surrendered to a cause other than his own needs. In his millennia of existence, he'd only known humans to be selfish creatures with very few exceptions, and Agni was certainly one of them.
Sebastian observed the way Agni’s bandaged right hand moved, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Though he was only human, Sebastian had no doubt about the strange power that radiated from him.
He could feel it, even from across the kitchen as he moved to the stove to stir the bechamel sauce. It was like the cloying heat of a fire, or the sting of acid. Agni's blessing, born of love and devotion, seemed to physically hurt Sebastian the same way a true believer’s sign of the cross might burn him like touching a too-hot pan.
“Forgive me for asking, but are you alright?” Agni asked after the silence had stretched on for some time.
“Whatever do you mean?” Sebastian asked, tossing his best human smile over his shoulder.
Agni moved on to dicing the raw potatoes, cutting them into perfect cubes. “You seem tired,” he said plainly.
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. Rarely did a human comment on his down moods. Rarely was a human able to tell in the first place. Sebastian glanced at him.
“Please excuse me,” Agni said. He was blushing slightly, a lovely flush of blood tinging his rich complexion a soft rose color. “I didn't mean to imply anything. You perform your duties perfectly, as always, of course. I only mean that you seem a bit down.”
Sebastian hesitated, wondering if it was wise to admit any weakness. But this was Agni, a man as close to Sebastian’s peer it was possible to be.
“I am a bit worn today,” he conceded, turning back to his task.
A beat of silence passed, and then suddenly Sebastian sensed Agni moving behind him. The taller man wiped his hands on a rag and stood by Sebastian's shoulder, smiling gently. This close, he could feel the energy radiating from him more keenly.
“I can only imagine how tired you must be,” Agni said kindly. “I understand. I can admit to you that caring for a master is no easy task, and you have an entire estate on top of that.”
Sebastian wondered why Agni was going to these lengths to try to comfort him, when he clearly didn't need it. He saw the other man blush deeper out of the corner of his eye.
“Please don't think I'm complaining. Serving the prince is the honor of my life, of course. The reason for my being.”
Sebastian almost chuckled. “I have no doubts about your devotion, Mr. Agni.”
There was a silence between them, filled only by the sound of sizzling when Sebastian threw a handful of herbs into the hot butter that melted and fizzled in the pan.
“If there's anything I can do to help, you only need to ask,” Agni said.
“You’re doing more than enough, considering you're a guest here.”
“...Still,” Agni started. He fiddled with the long lock of white hair tucked behind his ear. “I could do more.”
Without warning, Agni's right palm smoothed over the hard line of Sebastian’s shoulders. “You are very tense,” he said softly.
Sebastian only hummed in response. He was curious and wary to see what Agni would do. Humans were so unpredictable, sometimes– part of him was on alert, his body instinctively sensing Agni's opposing energy and preparing to fight back if necessary.
Agni's strong fingers pressed into the muscle of Sebastian's shoulder through the layers of his uniform. The black inky essence of the demon’s being recoiled from the surface of his human facade, burned by the invisible holy light that radiated from Agni's hand.
“Tell me to stop, if you want,” Agni's deep voice rumbled next to Sebastian's ear. “I've been told I have healing hands. I do this for the prince, sometimes.”
Sebastian turned the flame down on the stove and let his head relax forward as Agni kneaded the knotted muscles of his neck with both his hands. Everywhere the right one touched him tingled and burned pleasantly, like St. Jacob's Oil on the skin. Agni was humming something soothing, as if Sebastian were a tired child laying down for a nap.
This was not a behavior Sebastian expected from Agni. How strange.
Sebastian said nothing as the massage continued, simply allowing Agni to work the flesh and enjoying the painful buzzing sensation. Then, he felt Agni's fingers toying with the tie of his apron at the back of his neck.
Carefully, the other butler pulled the end of the bow and allowed the string to come free. The fabric fell forward, and Agni hesitated a moment, allowing Sebastian time to protest before he moved to untie the string around his waist. He removed the apron and hung it up by the stove.
“Do you do this for your master as well?” Sebastian asked, finally looking back at Agni. He blushed again, and Sebastian wondered if he'd ever seen a human look so imposing and so delicate at the same time.
“Sometimes,” Agni admitted quietly. “I live to serve.”
“And the prince has no qualms with you ‘serving’ other men?”
“...My master has granted you the use of me, in gratitude for your hospitality.”
Sebastian finally turned to face him, crowded up against the stove. Agni seemed completely unafraid to be close to him, which was strange considering most normal humans could barely look him in the eye without flinching in fear. Sebastian was careful not to touch the hot pan behind him, if only to avoid distracting Agni from their bizarre interplay.
“Use of you, hm?”
Agni looked down at him through his long white lashes. He practically fluttered them. Sebastian huffed out a laugh.
“Dinner must be served at half past seven,” Sebastian stated. His gloved fingers went to the buttons of his waistcoat.
“The cooking will be quick, between the two of us,” Agni countered. “You are very capable. I've never seen supper touch the table even a second late since I've been here.” Agni leaned in close to him, his hands ghosting over Sebastian's where he slowly undid the finicky fastenings, one at a time.
“I have high standards,” Sebastian whispered, breathing through the burn of Agni’s right hand where it hovered so closely to his contract mark. The dark tendrils of Sebastian’s energy writhed in discomfort.
“I know.” Agni's breath ghosted over Sebastian's lips. He normally recoiled at the scent of any human other than his master– his contract holder– but somehow Agni smelled sweet to him. Like hot blood and spices.
A primal, seductive scent.
Agni’s eyes flicked down to the place where Sebastian’s waistcoat parted. His gaze was dark– dark in a way Sebastian didn’t recognize. For a split second he wondered, despite the absurdity of the thought, if he should be afraid.
“Let me help you relax,” Agni said kindly. “How often do you get to rest?”
“Almost never,” Sebastian said, a sardonic smile curling his lips. Agni pushed his waistcoat off his shoulders, and hung it with the apron.
“Everyone deserves rest,” Agni continued. He touched the tie at Sebastian’s throat.
“The door is unlocked,” Sebastian said.
“You would be able to hear if anyone was coming,” Agni said, as if it were obvious. Then Sebastian’s neck was exposed as his tie came undone, and then the buttons at his collarbone popped open.
“I can’t imagine why you believe that.”
“There are many things in this life I do not understand,” Agni said. His bandaged hand scraped Sebastian’s skin where he continued down his torso. It sent a shiver through him, and Sebastian sucked his teeth. His mouth felt dry with want– this human vessel had so many strange desires.
“This is highly irregular,” Sebastian whispered.
“We are highly irregular men,” Agni argued.
The cloying sting of Agni’s hand teased him. Sebastian was finished with this back-and-forth. With a huff he untucked his shirtsleeves and pulled them off, folding and placing them on a clean area of the countertop. He undid the fly of his trousers and pushed them down far enough to reveal his cock, hard and aching, to the cool cellar air of the kitchen.
Agni stared at him, half-stunned and half-hungry.
“Well? Relax me.”
Agni pressed close to him, looking Sebastian dead in the eyes as he wrapped the fingers of his left hand around Sebastian’s member. His thumb swiped at the slit, then massaged the ridge of his cockhead.
Sebastian let out a slow breath. “The other one.”
Agni pumped his fist slowly over Sebastian’s shaft. “Pardon?”
“Your other hand. I want the other one.”
Agni pulled away, hesitating. He glanced at the bandage that wrapped his right hand to the wrist.
“You don’t have to unwrap it.”
There was a pause, but then Agni was slowly closing his bandaged fingers over Sebastian’s length.
He hissed and gripped the edge of the stove, his head thrown back. How ridiculous it was to act this way in front of a fellow butler.
“Does that… feel good?” Agni asked, uncertain.
Sebastian nodded silently. It burned like holy fire. He felt it spreading from his cock, up his spine, and down to the contract mark that branded him, its heretical magic twisting and thrashing in his veins against the pure love that radiated out of Agni.
It was agony.
It was amazing.
“Move,” Sebastian bit out. He worried his grip would crack the porcelain of the stovetop.
Agni’s breath shuddered, as if watching Sebastian writhe in pain aroused him. He slid his right hand up and down, testing, watching Sebastian’s reactions. The bandage was rough and chafed his delicate skin, but that only served to heighten the delicious pain that made Sebastian’s spine tighten.
Seemingly assured that Sebastian liked his ministrations, Agni leaned his forehead on Sebastian’s bare shoulder as he increased his pace. Sebastian felt his hot breath over his neck, and the way his brow beaded with sweat.
One hand still gripping the stove, Sebastian thrust his fingers into Agni’s hair, knocking his turban to the floor. Agni gasped, and Sebastian could feel the goosebumps raise across the nape of his neck.
Sebastian had barely touched him, and yet he could smell the potent arousal of his body, and hear the blood rushing just underneath his skin. That was to say nothing of the heat that poured into Sebastian through his right hand.
“Take it off,” Sebastian panted. He hated to ask– to beg– for anything, but his flesh cried out for more, for more burn, more pain.
Agni’s left hand gripped the fabric of Sebastian’s trousers where they hung around his hips. He breathed heavily, stroking a few more times, before pulling away just enough to undo the end of the white bandage.
It unraveled quickly and fell to the floor. Sebastian sucked in a breath, feeling the smoldering power even from a distance. The blessed hand practically glowed.
“Your master told you to do this,” Sebastian accused him. He allowed Agni to press their frames together again even as his body tried to recoil.
“Yes,” Agni breathed, mouthing at Sebastian’s neck. His right hand wrapped around Sebastian’s cock.
Sebastian’s corporeal form spasmed. His hand flew to his mouth to stifle the scream that wanted to escape.
The pain reminded him of hellfire. It was almost nostalgic, in a way. He felt a bit like his vessel wanted to tear itself apart. He felt precum wetting Agni’s hand.
“Close,” Sebastian growled when he regained the ability to control his vocal chords. His fingers tightened in Agni’s hair, doing his best not to kill him, and he was right on the edge—
But then Agni lowered to his knees on the tile floor, his hair a tousled mess and his face red and dewey, and he opened his mouth wide. His hand, his horrible, blessed, holy right hand pumped Sebastian’s shaft at a punishing pace, and Sebastian hoped the illusion of his form wasn’t wavering in front of Agni’s mortal eyes, but he couldn’t hold onto the thought through the onslaught of glorious pain as he spasmed and contracted, and all the energies in his body condensed to a single spot as he exploded.
Just in time, Agni closed his mouth around the tip of Sebastian’s cock, catching all of the seed that spilled out of him. He almost couldn’t look down at the pleased, open expression in Agni’s eyes when he stared up at him like drinking his come was the highlight of his day. His hand stayed gripped tight around Sebastian’s shaft until the last tremors of his orgasm left him, and he was worried when Agni let go there would be a perfect, hand-shaped brand left in the flesh.
Or maybe he was hopeful.
Agni swallowed gratefully, licking the tip clean before he finally let Sebastian go, settling on his haunches and wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
Sebastian fought to get his body under control. Agni smiled at him so sweetly that irrational anger boiled in the black tar of Sebastian’s heart.
Agni opened his mouth to speak, but Sebastian beat him to it.
“Your prince has awoken,” he said through heavy breath. He could sense the shift in Soma’s consciousness and breathing even from the servant’s floors.
Agni blanched. “Dinner isn’t ready.”
“Go,” Sebastian said, waving him off. “Go tend to your master. I will finish dinner.”
“Thank you,” Agni said earnestly. Before he stood, he tried to help Sebastian straighten himself out, tucking him into his trousers. Sebastian sighed and swatted his hands away.
“Go, go now.”
“Yes,” Agni breathed, running his hands through his hair. He found his turban and re-tied it, and then stood to his full height and smoothed his butler’s uniform. “Thank you,” he said again as he rushed out of the kitchen.
“There’s no need,” Sebastian mumbled, donning his shirt and waistcoat.
Sebastian collected himself, intent on fulfilling his duties, and when he lit the match to reignite the stove his fingers only shook a little bit.
………………..
Dinner was served at half past seven on the dot. Soma chatted incessantly with the young master, Agni standing behind him at his right side, as oblivious to the world as ever. But then when Sebastian poured the tea and he caught Agni’s gaze, causing the other butler to blush hot red— he did not miss the way Prince Soma giggled.