“Stop scratching,” Vex hissed to Ciel as they passed through the double doors to the Elder Chambers’ corridor. Ciel was fidgeting beside him like a bag of flea-ridden kittens.

“I can’t help it,” Ciel replied, his voice a slight whine.

“What’s wrong with you anyway?” Vex asked. He had noticed circles of red, swollen skin across Ciel’s body in the bathroom. It wasn’t Vex’s fault that he had caught a glimpse of Ciel showering in one of the nearby mirrors.

The nearly steamed up reflection had captured Ciel from behind, his dark skin and dipped in waist. Of course the other man’s ass had been predictably flat Vex concluded, but still his eyes had been drawn down only to see that ridiculous limp blue tail of Ciel’s.

For once, the tail hadn’t been wrapped around Ciel’s leg like some thumb-sucking toddler, but rather it had been twitching and undulating in the flow of water, almost like it was dancing.

“Human and aquatic demon is a complex physiological mix,” Ciel replied, his voice tight and quiet. When Vex glanced to the other man he could see that Ciel looked as if he were embarrassed. “It’s difficult to maintain the correct dermal balance when exposed to air all the time.”

“Right,” Vex replied, not really sure what he could say to that. “Can’t you get some medication for it?”

“It’s…”Ciel swallowed, “it’s quite expensive. I have some oils that help.”

“Maybe I could,” Vex began, not quite sure where he was going with this when a door in front of them swung open violently, tendrils of black smoke unfurling from inside the room as if hoping to grab them. Ciel yelped, stepping backwards in fear but Vex knew exactly what this was.

Vex took a steeling breath before steering Ciel further towards the door. “It’s fine,” he whispered in Ciel’s ear, the tips of which he now noticed were slightly pointed and blue. “It just means he’s growing impatient.”

“Father,” Vex stated as he entered the room, the door slamming shut behind them.

Solomon Dubois was a tall, broad shouldered man with salt and pepper hair and tanned skin. He was always found wearing a suit, impeccably tailored and embroidered with the family crest.

He carried a cane, atop of which sat the preserved bones of a harpy’s hand, clawed fingers gnarled so when you used the device, your own digits would intertwine in a mockery of an embrace.

Solomon’s face was handsome but haughty, clean shaven with a singular jagged scar across his temple. His eyes were completely black, no glow or illumination, just shadowed recesses that were now fixed singularly on Vex.

“Son,”

Vex felt Ciel shiver beside him as Solomon’s eerily low voice vibrated through the room.

“Where is Elder Tomiko?” Vex asked, glancing around the otherwise empty office. Half of the creatures in the relief of Dante’s Inferno seemed to be attempting to flee and Charon was comically paddling at double the speed away from Solomon.

“Her presence was unnecessary,” Solomon replied. “This is a family matter.” At that, he inclined his head, near foot-long blood red horns angling to the side as Solomon regarded Ciel.

Vex tried not to roll his eyes as he realised that Ciel had half hidden behind him, it was pretty pathetic.

“Stop that,” Vex whispered irritably as he stepped to one side to reveal a terrified looking Ciel. Almost immediately Vex felt a little guilty, after all not everybody was used to the presence of Solomon Dubois.

“This is him?” Solomon asked, moving around the desk and taking a few large steps towards them.

“Yes,” Vex replied tightly.

“And why did this one get pregnant?” Solomon asked curiously, but Vex could already see the cogs whirring in his father’s dark mind. “Surely you are adult enough to know how to prevent such mistakes?”

“Of course,” Vex nodded, “This was just…a slip up.” He flashed a warning glare at Ciel, reminding him not to speak. Although judging by Ciel’s expression it was probably unnecessary.

The younger man seemed frozen to the spot, his scaled tail hugging his upper thigh so tightly as to resemble some sort of obscene garter. Unfortunately the immature behaviour was also noticed by Solomon, whose black lips curled back in distaste.

“Did you,” Vex swallowed, “did you receive my request?”

Solomon turned to him. The other man’s tail, as thick as an adult’s wrist, was swishing dangerously on the Persian rug. “You mean where you asked permission for the child to be born?”

Vex winced as he heard Ciel let out a strangled noise beside him.

“Yes,” Vex nodded. “I…I sent the family signet ring with it.”

“I know,” Solomon replied icily. “You would waste your one favour on this?”

Vex tried to ignore Ciel’s scared and questioning eyes. It was a tradition with the generations of Dubois, that each heir would get one opportunity for a favour, one request.

Vex had always been so independent from his family that he had never figured he would bother using the ring, let alone whilst he was still at the academy and for the benefit of some scrawny stranger.

“The…the child won’t have any claim to the Dubois name,” Vex continued, feeling less sure of himself under his father’s stare. “And Ciel will sign a non-disclosure contract –“

“Of course he will!” Solomon snapped.

“I wouldn’t exactly be the first in the family to accidentally knock someone up,” Vex bit back, thinking of his cousins and their numerous scandals, even Solomon had his fair share of dirty little secrets and bastard spawn out there.

“Silence!” Solomon boomed, the walls of the office vibrating with his fury. Beside Vex, Ciel began to shake so violently that Vex feared the other man might hurt himself. Instinctively he took a step in front of Ciel, shielding him from the brunt of Solomon’s wrath.

“I don’t mean to be insolent,” Vex continued. “I’m just saying, this won’t besmirch the family name, you know that. Just…just let me have some fun this year then when I graduate I’ll apprentice under you, you know that, it’s your plan Father.”

“And what about this thing?” Solomon asked, raising a long, spindling finger tipped with a crimson claw in Ciel’s direction.

“He won’t be a concern,” Vex replied vehemently willing Solomon to believe him. “You’ve got nothing to worry about Father, just leave this situation to me okay?”

“To you?” Solomon raised a thin eyebrow.

“Yes,” Vex insisted. “Trust me with my own mistakes, please.”

“This,” Solomon drew back, the threatening shadows plastered across the walls finally receding, “this is your one favour my son.”

“I understand,” Vex nodded, breathing heavily as he bowed, stepping back and placing his hand on Ciel’s back to force the other demon to do the same.

He could feel the notches of Ciel’s spine through the silk shirt. The younger man was still shaking, his tail strangling his thigh like a malnourished snake.

Vex grabbed hold of Ciel’s skinny wrist a moment later, recognising the opportunity to leave before Solomon could change his mind. He tugged Ciel out back into the corridor, the other man’s limbs seemingly confused as Ciel nearly tripped twice, relying on Vex to steady him.  

 Finally, they burst out into the walled garden, the afternoon sun was bright in the sky and the fragrances of rosemary and sage wafted on the breeze.

“Are you okay?” Vex asked cautiously as Ciel collapsed down onto the flagstones, shuffling to seat himself up against a raised herb bed.

“I –I…that was your father?” Ciel asked, looking up helplessly at Vex.

“Yeah,” Vex smiled grimly. “Childhood was a blast.”