Sebastian paused as he heard a small squeak and turned just in time to see Kadence slip on a puddle of water an nearly tumble into the hot water filled sink. His reaction was fast, his gloved hand shooting out and catching the tiny female in a gentle fist. "Kadence, you're quite the clumsy little thing aren't you?" He said with a slight smirk.

Kadence grumbled softly, her red hair sticking to her face as she tried to pry open the gloved fingers holding her in place. "I am not, you just need to watch where you're splashing." She retorted, sticking her tongue out playfully at the tall butler. She cringed when his crimson eyes narrowed, but then his gaze softened and a deep chuckle rumbled in his throat.

He doesn't know what it is about this tiny creature that amuses him so much, but he cannot deny that even if he cannot love he has quickly grown fond of the bravery she can show. Her determination to wash the dishes is strong, and she's certainly stubborn. Carefully lowering her to her feet, he placed a wet spoon on the counter and looks at her. "Now, use your rag and clean that off."

Kadence took the small scrap of cloth she was given and stared at the dessert covered utensil. "Ew." She groaned out and knelt on the counter, using the damp rag to scrub at the spoon. She didn't dare complain. She was being given a roof over her head, food, and protection from an intimidating yet seemingly kind man. There was something about him though that kept her on edge, though she did her best to ignore it.

While Sebastian scrubbed at a porcelain plate, he had left his gloves on knowing full well he couldn't reveal what he was. Not yet at least. "Do the best you can, and I will be the judge when you think you've got it."

Grunting in acknowledgment, the redhead continued to use her tiny rag to scrub at the thick substance, having to constantly rinse her rag in the bowl of warm water that Sebastian gave her to use so she didn't have to try and get in the sink. She thought that too was kind of him.

He was certainly handsome, for a human. And despite his hesitance to trust her and her own hesitance to fully trust him, she feels like she could have a decent friend with him. A very small smile started to creep onto her lips at that idea. A friend. Something she hasn't had since she left home all those years ago to be on her own.

When she wiped away the last she could see of the dirt, she looked up at Sebastian with a confident smile. "Here! Check this one out and tell me if that's good enough for you." Dropping the rag, Kadence folded her arms over her chest.

Sebastian lifted the spoon, turning it in his fingers and inspecting the silverware closely. Using a finger, he wiped a remaining smudge off and dried it with a towel. A disappointed groan caught his attention and he looked down at the Borrower standing nearby on the counter. "Don't feel discouraged, this was only your first go. If you really want some praise, you did well for someone of such a small size." He spoke calmly, placing the clean spoon off to the side as he then set a butter knife at her feet.

The butler didn't have to say a word, and she went right to work on scrubbing the knife. Kadence was glad it was a butter one, it wasn't sharp. But if she wasn't careful, she still could get cut. The downsides to being tiny.

Something then crossed her mind as she took a glance at the butler. He was still wearing his gloves. Curiously, she stopped scrubbing and sat on her knees. "Why are you still wearing those gloves? Aren't you just dirtying them for no reason?" Kadence asked while her head subconsciously tilted to the side. It was something that always happened when she was curious about something. It was actually more common than she had thought.

The raven-haired butler ceased his own washing and looked at the Borrower through his peripheral vision, not turning his head to face her. "I simply prefer wearing them this way." Sebastian returned to washing the plate that sat in his hands.

"But, why make more work for yourself?"

"Please do not question it. I will tell you when I feel you are ready to know. But if I tell you, I may just have to kill you." Sebastian finally turned his head in the female's direction, smiling innocently down at her. The look on her face, the fear mixed with confusion amused him. It always did.

Kadence audibly gulped and simply shut her mouth, returning to vigorously scrubbing the gunk from the silver knife. His calm exterior and voice made comments like that far more intimidating, especially since he seemed to be able to have no remorse if he were to kill her.

The thought of him killing her brought back what the Earl had previously said about how no one would even know she was gone. While it stung, it was true. There would be no one to mourn her, no one to give her a proper funeral. Only the young Lord and Sebastian would know, and Ciel wouldn't care at all. She could only Sebastian would at least have the decency to bury her, and not throw her out like a piece of garbage. But what if he didn't? What if that was really all she was to him?

She was sort of forced into his care. He could only be acting decently toward her because he has to. Granted, he had saved her from falling into the water that would have scalded her skin, but what if that was just reflex? Her tiny heart ached painfully in her chest, and she wished she could just stop thinking such things. They only brought on trouble.