Sebastian was amazing, no doubt about it. He was smart in his own unique way—a kind of brilliance that didn't fit into conventional boxes. But as much as I admired him, I couldn't deny it: he was also a terrible influence on me.
Laziness.
It clung to him like a second skin, and sometimes, I wondered if it was contagious.
It was a normal Saturday for me—or as normal as it could get. I had just finished my homework, a small victory in itself. The report I'd put off yesterday, thanks to sheer exhaustion, was finally coming together. Last night, I'd been too tired to muster the strength to drag myself out of bed and over to my desk. Today, though, I was determined to be productive. My pen scratched against the paper, the sound loud and steady in the quiet room.
"Coffee?" Shira's voice came from the doorway. I glanced up briefly and nodded, my focus still on the words flowing from pen to paper.
"Please," I muttered, not bothering to look up as her heels clacked away down the hall. I sighed softly. Thank the divines for Shira. Coffee sounded like exactly what I needed—maybe more than one cup.
To be fair, I wasn't a coffee addict. I didn't drink it daily or rely on it to function, but I indulged occasionally. Usually, it was when Sebastian and I went out together. That thought made me pause mid-sentence, my pen hovering over the page.
Speaking of Sebastian…
I frowned, glancing at my phone on the corner of my desk. He hadn't replied to my text yet. An hour ago, I'd invited him over, but the message was still marked as delivered. No reply.
Was he busy? That didn't sound like him. Sebastian wasn't the type to fill up his day with responsibilities; he preferred to lounge around, stretching his time into endless hours of nothingness. And yet, I knew he was never far from his phone. He practically lived with it in his hand, always scrolling, texting, or playing some mindless game. So why hadn't he answered?
Before I could spiral further, Shira returned, her heels muffled now on the carpet as she stepped into the room. She set a steaming cup of coffee down in front of me, and I startled, blinking up at her.
"Here," she said, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "You looked like you were in deep thought."
I exhaled shakily, trying to cover up my lapse in awareness. "Thank you. You startled me."
"You're welcome," she replied smoothly, tilting her head as she studied me. "What's on your mind?"
"...Nothing much," I lied, my voice quieter than I intended. "Just tired, I guess."
Her eyes narrowed, sharp and knowing. Somehow, she always saw straight through me. "You need to rest," she said simply, her tone leaving no room for argument.
That.
Maybe she was right. Maybe I did need to rest. I glanced at the coffee she'd brought me, wondering if it would be enough to keep me from dozing off right here and now. I lifted the cup and took a slow sip, letting the warmth spread through me.
"Maybe," I admitted, my throat dry as I spoke.
Shira just sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "I'll get Sebastian," she said suddenly, catching me off guard.
I blinked at her, confused. "What?"
But she was already walking out of the room, her heels clicking with purpose. She didn't stop to explain, leaving me staring after her with more questions than answers.
What did she mean by "getting Sebastian"? Huh?
Before I could dwell on it further, my phone buzzed on the desk. I set down my cup and grabbed it, unlocking the screen to find a message waiting for me.
[I'm omw there btw :p]
Sebastian. Of course. I bit my lip, trying to stifle the smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. He always had this way of making me smile, even when I didn't want to. He let me do what I wanted—always had. It was infuriating and endearing all at once.
***
"Look who's working really hard," a familiar voice drawled, pulling me from my focus.
I looked up, my pen pausing mid-word, and saw Sebastian leaning casually in the doorway. He wasn't wearing his usual jacket tonight. Instead, he had on a snug brown turtleneck, which, if I was being honest, caught me off guard. Sebastian without his jacket was as rare as a sunny day in winter. Did he really walk all the way here wearing only that?
I glanced quickly at the window. The sky outside looked heavy, overcast with a dull gray hue that threatened rain. But the sun could still appear any time, the weather is usually like that. Yet there he stood, jacketless, as if that fact didn't bother him. But the Sebastian I knew was never the type to be careless about his comfort—especially not in weather like this. My brow furrowed.
He… kind of looked haphazard as well, did he rush coming here?
"Did Shira message you or something to come by?" I teased, tilting my head as he sauntered toward my desk, his steps unhurried, purposeful. He leaned against the edge, his sharp gaze flicking briefly over my work.
I suddenly felt self-conscious. It wasn't my best attempt. The report sprawled across my desk was a mess of overwrought paragraphs, half-finished thoughts, and chicken-scratch handwriting. My hand was cramping, my brain felt fried, and I had the sinking realization that I'd probably have to rewrite the entire thing.
Sebastian tilted his head, his lips curving into a faint, unreadable smile. "No," he said simply, his voice carrying that low, amused tone that always made me feel like I was missing the punchline to some private joke. "You texted me to come by. So I replied."
His words caught me off guard. I blinked, staring at him as his eyes crinkled slightly at the corners—the way they did when he found something particularly amusing. Somehow, that look suited him. Too well, maybe.
Heat crept up my neck, and I quickly looked away, clearing my throat. "Oh. Right. Well..." I fumbled for a response, trying to cover the sudden awkwardness. "Let me just finish this, okay? It's almost done." I reached for my pen, determined to salvage at least some of my pride. But before I could even grip it, Sebastian snatched it out of my reach with an infuriating ease, his other hand tugging me to my feet.
"Hey—what the—" I stammered, startled as he guided me firmly toward the door connected to my room. His grip was gentle but unyielding, and before I could process what he was doing, he pushed me toward the edge of my bed.
"Sit," he ordered, his tone softer than the gesture but no less insistent.
I sighed, my body sinking into the mattress as if it had been waiting for this moment all day. Now that I was here, the exhaustion hit me all at once. My limbs felt weighted, my eyelids heavy. I glanced up at him, narrowing my eyes. "So Shira did call you," I muttered, already knowing the answer. "If she hadn't, you wouldn't have come, would you?"
Sebastian hesitated, the question clearly catching him off guard. He rubbed the back of his neck, a rare flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. "Well... I was asleep," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "But if you'd called, I would've come. You know that, right?"
The sincerity in his tone made something in my chest tighten. He wasn't ignoring me. He was just... asleep. I felt a pang of guilt for assuming otherwise.
"Oh," I said, my voice embarrassingly small.
"Yeah," he replied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. "Oh. Next time, try calling, okay? Now, come on." He crouched down suddenly, his hands reaching for my shoes. "Let me help you with these."
"Wait, what are you—" I started, trying to pull my foot away, but Sebastian's hand wrapped firmly around my ankle, holding it in place. His touch was steady, unhurried, as he began loosening the laces.
"Just let me do this," he said softly, his eyes briefly meeting mine.
I froze, the protest dying on my lips. There was something in his voice, a quiet kind of care that I wasn't used to hearing. So I let him. I watched as he slid my shoes off with a gentleness that made my chest ache. When he was done, he placed them neatly by the side of the bed and straightened up.
"Now lie down," he said, crossing his arms as he gave me a pointed look.
"Yes, Mom," I muttered sarcastically, but I obeyed, flopping back onto the mattress with an exaggerated sigh. My arms sprawled out at my sides, and I stared up at the ceiling.
"I'll stay here and make sure you actually sleep," Sebastian said, dragging the chair from the corner of the room and sitting down beside the bed.
I raised an eyebrow at him, stifling a laugh. "You look like a total creep sitting there. Just lie down already." I patted the empty space beside me. "There's plenty of room."
He hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly as if gauging whether I was serious. Finally, with a sigh, he stood and eased himself onto the bed, sitting stiffly at first before relaxing against the pillows.
I turned my head to look at him, studying the way the soft light caught the sharp lines of his face. His black hair was slightly mussed, his expression unreadable as he stared at the ceiling. "Hey," I said, tugging lightly at a strand of his hair, earning a soft hiss from him. "Don't act like a stranger."
Sebastian shot me a mock glare, grabbing my wrist to stop my teasing. "Go to sleep, will you?"
"What about you?" I countered, pouting slightly as I batted my eyelashes at him for dramatic effect. To my surprise, he blinked, visibly flustered. Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed his shoulder and pushed him down so his head hit the pillow beside mine.
"Wha—hey!" he protested, but I only grinned, patting his chest.
"I insist. I interrupted your beauty sleep, so it's only fair I share my bed. Call it compensation."
Sebastian stared at me for a moment, his expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Then, to my surprise, he smirked. "Right. Well, thanks. Your bed's soft, so I guess I'll make use of it."
I laughed, tempted to shove him off just to mess with him. But something stopped me. I found myself caught in the moment—the way his dark hair fanned out against the pillow, the soft light casting shadows across his face, the faint crinkle of his eyes as he smiled.
It was the way he always looked at me, though, that made my breath catch. That quiet, searching gaze I could never quite decipher.
"Seb," I said softly, turning fully to face him.
Sebastian grunted, a low, throaty sound. "Hn?" His eyes were on me—soft, inquisitive, unwavering.
I shifted closer, unable to resist the magnetic pull he seemed to have over me, and let my hand brush against his. His skin was cold, almost startlingly so. My chest tightened for a moment. He always felt like this when he hadn't fed, and I knew exactly why.
"Sebastian…" I whispered, a quiet sigh laced in my voice.
He didn't respond, but his eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of curiosity breaking through his usual calm.
"You're cold again," I said, pulling the duvet from beneath us and draping it over both our bodies. The fabric settled around us like a shield from the world outside.
Sebastian snorted softly, his lips twitching in faint amusement. "I'm a vampire," he said, the words carrying that familiar dry humor of his. But despite his protest, he tugged the duvet up to his chin and, almost absentmindedly, adjusted it around my shoulders.
His hand brushed against my skin as he did so—a fleeting touch that left a trail of warmth in its wake. It must be my face heating up, Sebastian has always been so touchy.
His fingers lingered on my cheek for a moment before sliding upward, threading gently through my hair. The touch was so soft, so deliberate, that I felt my breath hitch. Then, as quickly as it had come, his hand retreated beneath the blanket.
I reached out instinctively, my fingers searching for his. "Is this okay?" I asked, the words barely above a whisper.
Sebastian froze. For a moment, I wondered if I'd overstepped, if I'd pushed too far. But then, his hand shifted beneath mine, and he let out a quiet breath.
"I like it," he mumbled, his voice low and almost shy. His other hand came up to clasp mine, his grip firm yet tender.
I couldn't help but grin, the corners of my mouth tugging upward. "This is pretty gay," I teased, my voice light, playful.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed, and he gave me a look—a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "Are you serious?" he deadpanned, though there was no real heat behind his words.
I burst into laughter, loud and unrestrained, the sound filling the small space between us. "What? It's pretty gay~" I shot back between chuckles, wiping at my eyes as the laughter began to subside.
Sebastian rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that I couldn't quite catch. His lips quirked upward, though, betraying the faintest hint of a smile.
The room fell into a comfortable silence after that, the kind that felt like a warm embrace. My breathing was the only sound, soft and steady. Sebastian, I noticed, had gone completely still.
"You okay?" I asked, breaking the quiet.
He nodded wordlessly, his gaze fixed on my face as if memorizing every detail. Then, after a moment, he murmured, "Can I… hold you?" His voice was so quiet, so tentative, that I almost didn't catch it.
Heat rushed to my face, and I knew I must've turned the color of a ripe tomato because Sebastian looked away, his own cheeks dusted with the faintest hint of pink.
"Yeah," I said, a soft giggle escaping me. "Go on."
His hand left mine and hovered near my waist, hesitant. He tested the waters first, his fingertips brushing against my side. For a moment, I thought he was about to tickle me, but then his arm wrapped fully around my back, pulling me into him with a strength that was both startling and reassuring. I let out a small, surprised squeak as he held me close.
Sometimes, I forgot just how strong he really was. For all his delicate features and languid movements, Sebastian was anything but fragile.
"Woah, lover boy," I teased, laughing softly.
Sebastian huffed, his lips forming a small pout as he buried his face against my neck. I couldn't help but smile at the sight. He really was cute in his own way, even if he'd probably deny it if I ever said it out loud.
I let my hand drift to the back of his head, my fingers threading through his soft, silken hair. He melted into the touch, his grip on the back of my shirt tightening slightly.
He reminded me of a cat sometimes, the way he leaned into affection when it came from me. I still remembered the time we'd been watching a movie at his place. I'd asked if I could play with his hair, and not even ten minutes later, he'd fallen asleep in my lap, looking so utterly at peace.
"That feels nice," Sebastian murmured now, his lips brushing lightly against my neck as he spoke.
I suppressed a shiver, a smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "What a leech," I muttered playfully, earning a quiet chuckle from him.
The silence returned, but it wasn't empty. It was full of warmth, of unspoken words and shared breaths. The stress I'd been carrying all day seemed to melt away, replaced by a strange, comforting calm that only Sebastian could bring.
"What are we?" I asked softly, the question slipping out before I could stop it.
Sebastian nuzzled my neck, his breath cool against my skin. "Anything you want us to be," he murmured.
I rolled my eyes, though my chest tightened at his words. He was such a sap sometimes—who would've thought?
"Yes, but… what do you want us to be?" I pressed gently, my voice barely above a whisper.
Being a mage meant dedicating my life to the divine. It was a path I'd chosen long ago, one that I thought would leave no room for anything else. But now… now, I wasn't so sure.
"Hn," Sebastian sighed, leaning back just enough to meet my eyes. For a moment, I worried I'd pushed too far, but the blissed-out look on his face and the small smile tugging at his lips told me otherwise.
"Why? Do you want a label?" he asked, his laugh soft and teasing.
I flushed. "I—no. I mean, if you think it's too fast, we don't need one," I stammered, my words stumbling over each other.
Sebastian's laughter filled the space between us, rich and warm. It was the most beautiful sound I'd ever heard.
"Then we'll take it slow," he said, his voice steady, reassuring. "You know I'll wait, right? Even if it takes a year… or ten."
My heart thudded loudly in my chest as he leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against mine—a gesture that, for him, was his own version of a kiss. Then, with a quiet sigh, he buried his face against my neck again, his arms holding me close.
"Oh, jeez, you—sap," I said shakily, my cheeks burning so hot I felt like I could fry an egg on them.
Sebastian only laughed, the sound rumbling against my skin.
"Sleep," he murmured, his voice low and drowsy.
Before I could respond, he jabbed a finger into my side, making me squeal in surprise.
"Fine! Fine! I admit defeat! I'll sleep!" I cried, laughing as I tried to squirm away.
Sebastian's arms tightened around me, holding me firmly in place. "Hmn. Night," he mumbled, his voice already heavy with sleep.
I huffed a soft laugh, resting my head against his shoulder. Trust Sebastian to fall asleep right after dropping such a line on me.
This man was impossible.
And yet, I wouldn't have him any other way.