Sensorium by Othercat (Teen and Up)

[p-zeitgeist.livejournal.com]

Fandom: KUROSHITSUJI
Pairing: none
Length: 1172 words
Author on LJ: othercat
Author Website: OtherCat at AO3
Why this must be read:

In the early days of their contract, Sebastian finds that he needs to teach Ciel to live inside his body as well as his mind; in the process, he may learn something about his own motives.

This story is about a relationship, but it's also about Sebastian as an artist, something canon tells us is a central element of Sebastian's nature, but that's rarely explored (or explored so directly) in fic. Here we see his mind at work, selecting flavor or color, texture or scent to set before Ciel with the analytic intelligence of an artist selecting pigment and medium. Sebastian thinks he's teaching Ciel to live in his body; in fact, he's teaching him that his senses as a precision instrument, that the riot of sensory detail they provide him are a tool with which to understand the world.

Aspects of this story have been mildly Jossed by the most recent installments of the manga, but the contradictions are trivial and easily explained away. And they're dwarfed by the ways in which this backstory feels utterly right, for both the Ciel we meet in canon and for his teacher.

Since it can be hard to access AO3 just at the moment, I'm giving you two links for "Sensorium," one to AO3 and one to ff.net. That way you won't have to miss it just because the archive's giving you a 502 error -- and really, you don't want to miss this one.

Sensorium (at ff.net)
Sensorium (at AO3)