You tossed and turned in your sleep, head throbbing. You mumbled a few inaudible words, troubling in your sleep.

"Y/n! I'm waiting for you!"

You gasped a breath, sitting up from your slumber, images of your nightmare still haunted you. You took in heavy breaths as you wiped your face, clearing your vision. Just as you dangled your legs to the side of the bed, you heard a knock on your door that brought more ache to your head. You ruffled your hair, muttering nonsense.

"Yes, I heard you the first time!" You shouted at the door, pushing yourself off the bed. Just as you expected, Sebastian came into the room. "Good morning, Y/n. Did you sleep well last night?"

Looking at him with tired eyes, "I don't know how to answer that," you replied. Sebastian walked over to you, a tray of tea set in his hands. "I hope you don't mind if I come in. I brought you some tea."

"It's... fine." You sighed, recalling your argument from last night. You saw him put down the tray on a table as you opened the curtains to your window. Sebastian handed you a cup of tea as you took a seat next to the window, smiling at the sweet scent of tea leaves. You saw Sebastian walking over you, "Look, about last night—"

Before he could say any other word, you cut him off, "I'm sorry..." You apologised sheepishly. Sebastian raised his brows at your sudden words. "What?" You looked away from him, hiding your blush, which he smirked at.

"I said I'm sorry!... for, you know... last night." You mumbled, "I know I'm always... Shouting but this one... It just bothers me." You finished, Sebastian let out a chuckle, sitting beside me. He took my hand, pressing it softly to his lips.

"You needn't apologize for that, Y/n. I knew I shouldn't have pushed you to it. So it's me who should be apologizing." You looked up at him and he used his smile to cheer you up, brushing his thumb to my cheek as you leaned to his touch. You felt yourself smiling, your heart warmed by his sweet words you didn't realize you loved hearing it. "Thank you."

  >>>

"It's a perfect day for a circus." Sebastian smiled at Ciel as he climbed into the carriage. "Circuses are held in tents. The weather is irrelevant." Ciel simply replied. You sighed, looking at the carriage, thinking about the challenge you'd be facing.

As you wandered off your mind, Sebastian clapped his hands, catching the attention of the other servants. "Bard, Meyrin, Finny! The three of us will be staying in town for a while." He announced, which the trio replied together with a cheer. You said your goodbyes, parting as you got in the carriage, Sebastian following behind you, sitting next to you across Ciel

As the carriage started to move on, Ciel opened a letter that looked like it was from the Queen. Ciel talked to Sebastian about the case as you didn't bother enough to listen. You heaved a breath, resting your chin on your palm as you leaned to the window, watching the town as it went by.

>>>

You stepped up, gawking at the colourful tents and such. The energy of the circus sent chills down your spine. You rubbed your arm, shaking off the thought. Your eyes moved to Ciel as he walked past you, scanning the area, "So this is it," Ciel remarked.

The three of you walked past the circus entrance, welcomed by the greeters. You watched as the children inside running here and there, happy smiles on their faces. Cotton candies sold at every corner, some people were already entering the main tent which you guessed where you would be heading to.

You tried to keep a straight face, blocking your dark thoughts that were hammering on the back of your head like woodpeckers. Sebastian was one to notice your nervousness as he decided to spoke up, "Relax, Kitten. I'm here by your side." he grabbed your hand, giving it a gentle pressure. You looked at him, seeing him smile made you put up a weak smile of yours.

You came into the main circus tent. You had to say, the circus tent was well designed. Blue curtains as the front door, green lights were illuminating the interior, and circus stars were cheering the customers. Despite all of that, according to the case Ciel mentioned, this circus was the main suspect of a suspicious child kidnapping.

You sat in your assigned seats far in the back but close enough to see the performance. There was a big chandelier hanging above the centre of the ring, which made you questioned how did they hang that up there.

"It's quite elaborate," Sebastian said as he took Ciel's hat, sitting next to you. Ciel shrugged off his words, "Yes... but no more so than any other circus." He replied.

"Are you enjoying this, kitten?" Sebastian asked, lowering his head to you. You scanned the whole arena before slumping your shoulders, "Not quite."

The lights turned off, signalling that the show started. The headlights shined the ringmaster who was standing right in the middle of the circus ring. "Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls." The ringmaster welcomed. He held a few colourful orbs in between his fingers as he bowed to the crowd.

"Welcome to Noah's Ark Circus!" He did a simple juggle but failed it deliberately as he earned a few cheers and laughter from the audience. "My name is Joker. Pleased to meet you." The ringmaster named 'Joker' smiled. You scanned his appearance, tied up orange hair with a yellow bow tie on his neck. He wore a white shirt along with a black and white vest after it. He had a purple jacket hung to his back and his left hand was a prosthesis. At least that was what you heard Ciel said.

"Tonight, you'll see performances to stun and amaze you!" Joker exclaimed as the other circus stars sped to the centre, moving alongside him. Two on each of his sides, and two more right above him hanging from the trapeze.

You could say you weren't interested furthermore, but either way, you had to witness the act ahead of you. "And now, with a great bronze from out fire breathing Jumbo, the show of century begins!" Joker shouted as a big, athletic-looking guy came out and did a fire breathing performance. As the five of them scattered off to their stations, the show began.

Joker introduced the stars starting from the trapeze artists, Peter and Wendy, the knife thrower, Dagger, the man who they said was able to talk to snakes, Snake, the tightrope actor, Doll, and lastly, the tamer, Beast, with a tiger right beside her.

"Their acts are fairly standard," Ciel noted. You crossed your arms, putting one leg over another. "Yes... and they don't seem to be forcing children to perform." Sebastian continued Ciel's words. "If they didn't intend to the children to perform, could it be a coincidence that the disappearance was along the circus's route?" Ciel queried, which made you wondered, "That might be true. But we'll see about that."

"We'd love some audience participation for this act... Are there any volunteers?" Joker asked the audience.

"No children in the final act, either. This was a waste of time." Ciel sighed, managing his temple. Sebastian suddenly stood up, beside you. He looked straight down to the circle as other peoples eyes averted to him since he caught their attention. Yet, you didn't even know what were his intentions.

"What are you doing?" You asked. You followed his gaze down the seats. In the rings stood no one other than Joker and Beast... And Betty the tiger. You closed your eyes, seething between your greeted teeth as realization hit your head. Of course, Sebastian was interested in the tiger, who you assumed he took as a simple cat.

"What is it? Did you—" Ciel remarked. He thought that Sebastian's up to something for the case but apparently, he was not, you were one to notice that.

"The gentleman in the tailcoat sure looks eager!" Joker spotted Sebastian as he pointed his cane at him. Sebastian was soon put under a spotlight as you scooted away, avoiding the light. Joker told Sebastian to come down the stage. Everyone was clapping their hands whilst Ciel was just sitting there, all confused.

"Oh please don't anything stupid," You whispered, tugging Sebastian's coat. Sadly, he ignored you and started to walk down the stage. You bent your body over, resting your elbows to your lap, massaging your temple.

"You're such an idiot, Sebastian," You whispered silently as if he was listening to you. Ciel was certain that Sebastian was trying to make a contact with the circus stars, perhaps to find anything regarding the kidnapping.

As Sebastian reached the inner ring, Joker welcomed him with a pleasant smile. "Now, if you'll just lie down here—" Joker shut his mouth shut as Sebastian walked right past him. His smile dropped as he looked rather dumbfounded.

Sebastian squatted right in front of the tiger as he held its head in his hands, staring into its eyes. "Ah, what lovely round eyes you have!" Sebastian said, charmed by the big feline. The audience gasped at his unbelievable action. Ciel was not expecting that for sure, his jaw hanged a bit as he looked like his soul just left his body, "Tigers are still cats!!" He said.

"Well, that's just Sebastian. Give him a lion, I bet he would let it gobble him alive." You shrugged, crossing your arms on your chest.

Sebastian kept praising the tiger until it moved forward, taking Sebastian's face in its mouth. The audience let out a panicked gasp, while you, actually finding his actions adorable, put up a little smile. How the audience thought it would harm him brought a small chuckle to you.

"Betty, let him go!" Beast roared as she whipped her tiger. But before it could reach the animal, Sebastian caught it swiftly in his hand. He turned back to her, gripping the whip. "She hasn't done anything wrong," Sebastian said calmly. He put up a little smile, returning the whip to the owner. "I was overcome by her charm that I behave rudely, that's all." He looked to Beast and Joker.

"And... indiscriminate isn't enough to train her properly." He continued, glancing at Beast, though she took it as a mockery. With that happened, Betty bit Sebastian, Again, but from the back.

"Betty! Spit him out!"

"Goodness, aren't you a tomboy, my dear?"

  >>>

The show finally ended. The audience witnessed the act Sebastian put out were still talking about it, you noticed it since some of their eyes were on you as you reached the exit.

"I didn't tell you to go that far," Ciel exclaimed, looking up at Sebastian over his shoulder. "My apologize, but cats are such beautiful creatures." Sebastian tweeted happily, charmed by the feline he encountered. Ciel suddenly sneezed, "Stay far back! You know I'm allergic." He demanded as he walked away leaving you and Sebastian alone.

Your mind wandered off back to the performance, caused you to let out a small giggle, one which Sebastian was too close to notice. He grinned, looking over to you. "Are you laughing at me because of that, kitten?"

"No. I was laughing because everyone thought you could die." You cracked up. Sebastian felt the weight inside him lifted at your laughter, figuring it was so clouded when you arrived here the first time and that was nothing him so much. At least you were slightly entertained, he thought. He opened his mouth, wanting to say a word until another voice beat him to it.

"Oh, there you are. You there, in the tailcoat!" It was Joker. He ran down to Sebastian as both of you turned to him. "I'm sorry about what happened, sir." Joker apologized as he stopped in front of you, bowing his head.

"We have a doctor. Maybe it's better if he takes a look at you, I reckon. Please, come on back." Joker pleaded, gesturing behind him. Sebastian nodded in approval as Joker sighed in relief. You looked over your shoulder, seeing Ciel giving you a signal to follow the ringmaster to see if you could find anything. 

"Very well, but if you don't mind, she'd be coming with me." Sebastian glanced at me. You flinched at his mention of you as Joker caught your eyes. You curved your lips slightly into a smile. "Sure, no problem!" Joker turned around and led the way.