TERMINALLY ILL - Vincent Phantomhive x READER

It was around midnight when you woke up with cold sweat. You sat up and leaned against the wall. You were at the Phantomhive house, and your childhood friend was the new head of the house – Vincent Phantomhive.

His family took you in when you had lost your parents a long time ago. You were both at the age to marry and his parents were planning on getting you two wedded. However, you had caught ill and had to postpone it. It has been a few days since you have felt alive.

Breathing hard, you started to cough. You covered your mouth to not wake up anyone at the mansion. Your cough became more violent, and when you looked at your hand, you were not surprised to see that it was tainted with blood. You took a handkerchief stained with old blood that was by your bedside table, and wiped your hands with it.

You looked up at the ceiling with tears in your eyes, “Ah..is this how I will die?”

A knock came, “Lady _____? I heard you coughing, are you alright?” asked an old man’s voice.

You looked at the door but didn’t reply. After a while he said, “Excuse me.”

The door slowly opened and behind it was Tanaka, the butler of the Phantomhive house, holding a candle stand lit with three candles.

He looked at you and bowed, “Are you alright? You look incredibly pale. I have called upon a doctor, he will be here at the crack of dawn,” he said.

You smiled at Tanaka and whispered, “You needn’t do that, Tanaka. You already know the result better than anyone..”

“My lady…” he whispered. “May I at least get you a glass of water? Your voice sounds strained.”

You signalled him to come over to where you were, and he walked over to you immediately,

“I only have but one request before dawn breaks,” you said.

He placed the candle stand by your bedside table, “What is it, my lady?”

You leaned over to your drawer and opened it. There, in your hand was a letter you had written before you slept. You looked at it with nothing but sorrow, you tried not to cry, but the tears rapidly trickled down your cheeks and onto the envelope.

Looking up at the glum Tanaka, you wiped your tears and frowned at him, “Why do you look so sad?”

“Seeing the lady in pain makes my heart ache,” he responded.

“I will put your heart at ease in a little bit, Tanaka,” you said with a half-smile.

Handing him the sealed envelope, “This will be my final request Tanaka—when I fall asleep please give this to Vincent.”

After a moment, he took the envelope and with his right hand, he placed it over his heart and bowed, “Most certainly.”

You smiled and lied back down. With your eyes closed, you said, “Thank you for all you’ve done for me Tanaka.”

“It has been a pleasure serving you, my lady,” he said. “Won’t you talk to the young master one last time before leaving?”

You chuckled softly, “He’ll send me to my grave far sooner if I utter a word to him.”

“Is that so?” asked a deep voice.

You opened your eyes and saw Vincent wearing a black, silk bathrobe leaning against the door frame.

“Young master, I thought you had fallen asleep.”

He walked over to Tanaka and held his shoulder. Tanaka looked at him, “Understood,” and left.

Tanaka and Vincent had a bond that was so strong and unbreakable by anyone. They didn’t need words to communicate, just by looking at each other’s faces was enough.

He sat down on the bed beside you, “Were you planning on leaving without saying anything to me?” he asked.

You sat up, but he told you to stay where you were. “Don’t push yourself anymore than you already have,” he whispered. “Why didn’t you tell me anything?”

“Everyone saw it coming, my dear Vince,” you held his warm hand and smiled. “I have been ill for far too long. No doctor can fix what is already damaged in me.”

He had his head slightly down and his eyes were fixed on you, “Do my parents know?”

“Everyone,” you repeated from your last sentence.

“Why am I the only one that doesn’t know then?” he whispered.

“You did know,” you whispered back. “But you refused to believe it, am I right?”

He hugged you. You could feel your nightgown getting wet with his tears. You put your hand on his head and stroked his hair, “Letting your fiancé see you cry-- where is your pride, Vincent Phantomhive?”

“It disappears every time I’m with you,” he replied with a mumbled voice.

“Will you stay here with me until I fall asleep?” you asked him quietly.

He looked up at you and sadly smiled, “I’ll stay here until I die.”

“Come up here,” you said telling him to lie next to you.

He took off his slippers and did what you told him to. He had his right arm under your neck and the other one was on your waist.

“Vincent..” you whispered restlessly. “I have one request for you, will you do it?”

He embraced you tightly, “I’ll do anything for you.”

You looked up at him, “Forget about me.”

His eyes widened, “Why?”

“Marry someone else and lead a happy life without me.”

He nuzzled your cheek, “I can’t do that without you, _____.”

“I will not rest peacefully it you refuse to do it. It is my final request.”

He looked at you with grim eyes, “I will never forget you.”

You covered your mouth and coughed lightly, you looked at it and very little blood came out. Vincent looked at it too, “See?” you whispered. “I’m running out of time. Promise me, Vincent.”

His face showed a pained expression. You lightly kissed him on the lips, “Goodnight, my love. Let us meet again next time.”

You slowly closed your eyes as your vision blurred.

Vincent kissed your forehead, “Sleep tight, darling..” he whispered.

All night, until dawn cracked, Vincent was there slightly sobbing beside you, hugging your corpse.



~
A week later…


Vincent was back to normal, as his eyes became dry from crying too much. He was looking out his window behind his desk when Tanaka knocked and came inside. He was pushing a silver cart that had tea and a German chocolate cake.

“Is that Earl Grey?” asked Vincent.

“Yes,” Tanaka replied as he poured his young master tea.

Vincent walked over to him and took a sip of the tea.

“Oh yes, the young lady has left something for you,” Tanaka said as he placed the cake on his desk.

Vincent stood still with the tea midway down to the saucer, “_____?”

He nodded. Tanaka took the envelope out of his pocket and gave it to him, “Please read it, it was her last request.”

Vincent put the tea back onto the saucer and took the letter, “Please leave me alone for now, Tanaka.”

“Understood.”

Vincent flipped the envelope over and ripped the side slowly to open it. It was a one page letter with the words,


“To my favourite Phantomhive,


I ask that you find yourself leading a happy life. Please, if you ever find yourself constantly thinking about me, I ask that you put your hand over a burning candle. Haha, just kidding. But in all seriousness, I hope that I won’t hinder you in finding a new woman in your life. Start a family and make me happy.

I will always love you.

Take care,

//////////// Phantomhive”


He dropped to his knees, and looked up. Tears trickled down his cheeks and down to the letter.