Narrator's POV

An hour later, Astre Phantomhive was sitting at the solarium's breakfast table, his brother sitting across from him.

It was strange to be eating with his brother again after four years of breakfast alone, so he did not know how to fall back into the intimacy they once shared.

It seemed Ciel noticed his stiffness, "Relax, little brother, it is breakfast, not a dinner party."

Astre nodded, beginning to eat from the plate he had been served: buttery, soft scrambled eggs with chives, smoked salmon, scones with clotted cream and jam, and a fruit salad was what breakfast was today.

Cutting off a piece of the salmon and eating it with some eggs when he suddenly began to cough.

Ciel was immediately concerned, standing and rushing to his side, trying to help him unsuccessfully.

Eventually, a small pin bone emerged from Astre's mouth, a string of saliva holding it to his lips.

The undead boy swiped the bone -saliva and all- onto his index finger, telling the servants to get the cooks.

The head chef soon arrived, along with the rest of the cooks.

"You wanted to speak with us, my lord?" The head chef asked

Ciel nodded, "Yes, which one of you prepared the fish?"

"I did, sir." One of the chefs said

"Do you know what this is?" Ciel asked, holding out his finger

The poissonier nodded, "A salmon bone, my lord."

"Yes, what was it doing in my brother's breakfast?" The earl asked

"I must have missed it when I prepared the fish to be smoked, sir, it was a small mistake." The fish chef said

"Small? Do you realize what could've happened if he had not managed to cough it up?" Ciel asked, scowling

The man bit his lip, realizing how the conversation was heading, "I suppose he could have gotten it lodged in his throat."

"Yes, so you understand the severity of this?" The undead boy questioned

"I do, my lord, please forgive me." The poissonier nodded

"What do you think I should do, Astre, should I forgive him?" Ciel asked his twin

Astre was silent for a few seconds before shaking his head, "No, I could have died."

The older brother smiled at his twin before picking up his fork and sticking it in the offending chef's left eye.

The poissonier fell to the ground, trying to pull the fork out of his face, taking eye and all with it.

Ciel kicked him, "Get out of my sight."

The kitchen staff quickly left, dragging the injured member away.

Astre said nothing as this all occurred, knowing his brother had always had a mean streak, so he was not really surprised.

***

After their meal, the twins went to the sitting room.

They did not play chess as the younger brother assumed they would, instead he was escorted to the couch and pushed down.

Ciel got on top of him, kneeling between his legs and cuddling him, "I love you so much, starshine."

"I love you too." Astre replied, not resisting being pinned down

If he had a pound for every time he found himself in this position with his brother, being trapped under him until Ciel was satisfied, he would have the family fortune twice over.

"Tell me everything I missed." Ciel said, "I want to know it all as if I was never away."

The younger brother obeyed, telling him about coming home alone, about everything that happened with Aunt Ann and her reaper, the Noah's Ark Circus, the Murder Mystery, the Campania, going to Weston, and the Emerald Witch.

Ciel listened eagerly, occasionally inputting when their paths had crossed without Astre knowing.

"I saw you on the Campania." Ciel commented during that part of the story, "If you had looked up when you were in the coffin storage room you would have seen me watching you run with Lizzy."

Astre blushed, "That would have saved us a lot of trouble if I had seen you."

"It would have, I would have had Undertaker smuggle you away with us." Ciel agreed, "I would not have been able to watch you walk away if you spoke to me."

When the story caught up with the present, Ciel laid his head in the crook of Astre's neck.

He kissed Astre's neck, asking, "Who do you belong to, Astre?"

"You." The living twin replied immediately, knowing any other answer would anger his brother from past experience

Ciel gently bit his shoulder, leaving an impression of his teeth, "Good."

They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity, but in reality was only about twenty minutes.

"Did you make any friends while I was away? Any love interests?" The older twin asked

The question was innocently asked, but Astre knew better, he knew that any response besides the one Ciel wanted was a death sentence for however was named.

When they were little, Ciel told him that many cultures in the East believed that twins were lovers in previous lives, so that meant that Astre wasn't allowed to have any relationships -romantic or platonic- without his permission or he would be cheating on his soul.

"No one." The younger twin said, "There might be people who claim to be my friend but they aren't mine. I would never be unfaithful to you."

That pleased the older twin very much, practically purring as he nuzzled Astre's neck, "Very good! I'll forgive the romance you had with Lizzy, you only acted as you should by that."

"Thank you for forgiving me." Astre said

"Of course, its the least I can do after you forgave my lapse in judgement!" Ciel smiled, kissing his cheek, "But I'm still going to get rid of those distractions that claim friendship with you."

Astre had guessed that much, Ciel had always been very possessive of him.

***

Seven year old Astre Phantomhive knew he was not supposed to go to the servant's quarters, but he just could not help it.

Not when his new friend was one of the apprentice maids.

Ten year old Nettie was brand new to the household, having been hired two months ago after being orphaned and seeking a job.

The young boy eventually found his friend folding laundry, telling her to come play with him while Ciel was at fencing lessons.

She obeyed, following him back upstairs to the twins' playroom.

For awhile they were happy, playing together for so long the time slipped away from them and the older twin entered the room.

"Who is that?" Ciel asked

"S-She was just leaving!" Astre said

"That does not answer my question, starshine." The older twin tsked

Astre felt tears spring to his eyes, "Please don't be mad, skylight, but she's my friend." 

"So you are cheating on me?" Ciel summarized

The younger boy looked to the floor, "Y-Yes, please forgive me."

The heir pressed a kiss to his twin's forehead, "Of course I will when you ask so prettily."

The same could not be said for the maid, who found herself gutted with a knife Ciel had hidden in the room previously.

"What have you learned, starshine?" Ciel asked, dropping the bloody knife on top of the corpse

"That I cannot have friends without permission or they will suffer for me."

"Why?"

"Because our souls are married so any other attachments is cheating."

"Exactly, now let's go play in our room." Ciel smiled, cupping Astre's smiling face with his bloody hands

Part of the older twin wondered if Astre was making friends just so they could end up like this, after all this was the third time this had happened...