Woe is to be reasonable in a crowd of hotheads and stubborn mules - barring Ominis, of course. Sebastian had been steadily growing into someone Henry felt tethered to against his will over someone who had once grasped him and said that Henry's battles were also his. Henry wasn't against returning the favor; this entire school year has been returning the favor. Henry had to cut himself a slice of the steak here mentally; he had a lot on his plate already, and helping Sebastian was a personal choice because the boy had been welcoming from day one.
Although the "I like it when my friends owe me" comment had sent off red flags in Henry's mind after the library escapade. But Sebastian had, for the most part, been considerate of Henry's situation. He'd cared far more than any friend Henry had ever had. After they'd run out into danger, they always checked up on one another without fail. Usually, there was a trip to the Room of Requirement and a reading session with Henry's hot chocolate and shoulders pressed together on the couch. Curled up together, listening to each other's breathing or whoever would pick up a book to read aloud(the other no doubt falling asleep beside him). Nothing was romantic about it, but it was comforting to have that anchor after a day of danger that often felt unreal. The companionship that Henry knew he craved and starved himself of. Sebastian had felt like the closest to a support in this whole thing. He didn't know much about Henry's magic(not that Henry did himself either), but he always humored Henry when the taller boy demanded they go to Henry's 'study space.' He always cared . Henry wasn't sure it was that way now. It hadn't been for a few weeks.
Ominis had spent more time with them, and he would angle his head towards Henry after Sebastian would rant about the tome he found in that dusty and unwelcoming place underground. They'd listen, but Ominis was good at distracting Sebastian. The two could get heated. Henry was usually forced to step in and try to reason when it reached that point. Sebastian was drifting further away, and it was Henry's fault no matter what Ominis said.
Since the Scriptorium, Ominis had been… near. Never would Henry say it aloud, but he prefers Ominis' clear-headedness and rationality nowadays, as well as his company. He'd been considerate without demanding anything from Henry except for news on Sebastian's state. It'd been nice. They'd even gone out to the docks near the boathouse a couple of days ago to talk about something other than risks and danger for once. Henry had mentioned it once, and he'd repeat it - he'd come to admire Ominis Gaunt, and his company had been rewarding when he wasn't too wrapped up in posturing.
Henry could wish their other friend was here now, with Sebastian talking himself into a corner of ramblings and using Henry's magic and debts . They'd been down in the Undercroft for a good hour, reviewing what they'd dealt with in the mine, future plans, suggestions, and theories. The dirty robes had been discarded a while ago and tossed onto one of the nearby crates. Henry's wand was in the holder on his hip, and his vest hugged his chest tightly at this point in the evening.
Henry stood there, staring at his friend warily before mentioning, not without a great deal of unease, that he had someone who might help. Sebastian had, at first, eagerly heard him out, asking questions with an open expression and hands grasping Henry's elbows.
However, with every response and Lodgok's name, Sebastian's expression became more unreadable. Henry continued, explaining that he already had an ally(and friend) on the inside willing to help, that they were working to put Ranrok's allegiance down from the inside rather than blunt attacks, and that they were getting closer and closer by the day. This was their chance to get an idea about what had happened and maybe reverse the effects magically( "-with your magic, we could do anything!" ) with safety.
When Henry finally stopped speaking, Sebastian's eyes were downcast, mouth drawn tight. Henry foolishly believed that his friend was considering his words for a moment. It could be hope. He hoped Sebastian would listen to him for a moment and hear that Henry had ways to do this safely(had even thought it out) if only they tried new things.
When Sebastian returned to himself, Henry's heart fell when he spoke with ice.
"A goblin ?" Henry felt increasingly cautious as Sebastian ranted about how stupid Henry was to suggest what he had. Didn't Henry know that a goblin attacked Anne? Didn't Henry know what was at stake? Was Henry even a friend?
"Sebastian- no, of course, I haven't forgotten," Henry amended, wanting to take a step away, but Sebastian still had a grip on Henry's arms, eyes dull, accusing, demanding answers. "Listen, Lodgok's a friend, a good friend. We've been working together for months and are getting closer. Some help would be worth seeing to; it wouldn't hurt to try-."
" It wouldn't hurt? Henry, you can't be serious right now! You're falling right into their trap, and when they do, I won't be coming to rescue you!" Something struck Henry then because this was not the Sebastian he'd spent months getting to know. "Are you saying you don't think we can't handle this? I thought you were my friend and that you would help me! Stupid-!"
"Sebastian! I would never do anything to put you or Anne in danger, you know that, but I think if we can get more information about the curse, then we can reverse it, with or without my magic." Henry was worried about bringing the possibility of his magic into this, but Sebastian was working himself up. "Blindly grasping for any damnable relic, spell, or ritual will only cause pain. The price for those things is high."
"What would you know about it ?" Sallow hissed, his face close to his. "You were born in a town of muggles. Just because you're special doesn't mean you know everything about witchcraft and magic. You're not a hero; stop acting like it!" Henry felt his expression twist distastefully at the remark, clearly aimed at forcing him to back down.
Don't say it, don't rise to the bait, cool the situation. His rationale was trying to take over, but the hurt was swirling around his chest. After all that he'd done for Sebastian, despite what he was already dealing with. His hackles started to rise, and sweat was bunching his dress shirt.
"You've—you wouldn't have—are you serious right now?" His words fumbled over each other, and he spoke the echoing truth in the moment's pain. "You wouldn't have gotten this far without me, and I'm sorry that my help got you to this point ," Henry bit back. "I knew I should've just left you alone."
Sebastian's cheeks went red, and he snarled, nostrils flaring, "Bullshit! I know you're lying; you stuck with me because you were lonely. A lonely boy who couldn't make friends and became a people pleaser who couldn't handle supporting his friends instead of putting them in danger. Why should you get any say in how we save my sister?" The vitriol spat out Sebastian's mouth in seconds, sticking to Henry like a second skin. There was a brief moment when Sebastian's face went slack- remorse, maybe? - but it was quickly covered by the coiled serpent that hissed. Henry's arms started to hurt because of how tightly Sebastian had held them.
The fight drained from Henry in a moment, and his shoulders fell into themselves. Because that was true, wasn't it? He was lonely. He did crave companionship. He was pathetic and a coward. It was his fault Sebastian had been encouraged this far. It was his fault that people were dying. Henry and his pitiful, whimpering isolation with an ability that felt more like a punishment in his hands. Undeserving in any right, he would've been better off staying at his father's farm and ensuring his siblings surpassed him in school to be the best they could be.
Undeserving? No, I dare say I'm afraid I have to disagree. He jerked when a voice whispered in the recesses of his consciousness. The shadows in the corners of the room shifted. Eyes snapping around the room, the world slowed as words were fed into his thoughts, interjecting and taking over. Your pain is not imprisonment, child. It is what reminds you of what this world finds important. What is important, child? He pulled back slightly as if he could escape this insanity.
But the question lingered in his mind as the world stilled.
Disentangling himself from Sebastian's iron grip and clenching fingers, Henry opened and closed his mouth before sternly continuing. He would try one last time, and then he'd leave. "You're not listening to me." His voice was near pleading. "There's another way to go about this. You're going to get us all in danger down this path; I think there's another way. Just listen-." A finger jabbed his chest, and the smell of burnt coffee filled his nose as a vengeful serpent stared him down. Sebastian was daring him to say something, wasn't he? Daring Henry to oppose him verbally. His jaw was tight, soft cheeks taut.
He will lash out.
A powder keg about to explode.
Peace, child.
"No! You don't understand! Why would I listen to someone so- !"
Maybe…
Maybe it was the comment about debts.
Maybe it was the Trials and their weight.
Maybe it was the constant threat to his life.
Maybe it was being different in an already world of difference.
Maybe it was the barbed comments about his worth in helping Anne, about his intentions.
Maybe it was the Cruciatus Curse in a dark room next to bones and a trembling friend.
Maybe it was the aftershocks that made his muscles lock up now and again. His left shoulder would jerk, and he'd bite back cries of pain in class, embarrassingly. His fingers would sometimes twitch and refuse to hold his quill, spasming. His eyes cracked open in the darkness of the night, his body too tight, and his lungs flat. The tracking eyes from Professors Sharp and Garlik. The hiding. Laying and holding himself until his knuckles went white and sweat clung his clothes to him at night in the Room of Requirement because where were his friends? The longing for his mum and her soothing hands and her intelligent words.
Peace.
Maybe it was the allure of the Astronomy tower at night or the hunting knives at poacher camps. The profound, blanketing depths of the lake. The poison of the spiders. The selfishness of it.
Peace.
Maybe there was no stopping it once his shoulder jerked when Sebastian came near again, furious. Henry could've sworn he flinched back, stepping away as he tried to breathe.
There was no peace in the harsh sting of betrayal when the serpent's fangs sunk into him, poisoning his mind.
"- ignorant!"
A heavy THWACK cracked throughout the entire room.
Henry felt like this was all going too fast. Yet his head was blissfully empty when a tangible and anchoring sting burned his hand.
Blinking, he looked from Sebastian's drawn expression, a hand pressed against his cheek, to the single split of his index knuckle. The ache across his fist and Henry tried to distance himself from his own emotions. Sebastian stared him down as he straightened himself, expression gone cold.
"You hit me." Henry opened his mouth to apologize, justify, or make a point. It would never be known because the next thing he knew, two hands were on his shoulders and shoving him back. Back ramming into the pensive, Henry nearly snarled but a hand snatched the front of his shirt and his jaw suddenly ached when his head snapped to the side.
The next few minutes were a blur.
It was ugly, looking back on it.
Stone dug into his back, shoving and striking, causing a trip and stumble. The weight on him, getting it off of him. No wands were needed, they weren't even considered. This was too personal.
And maybe a tiny part of Henry wanted to be beaten into the ground for once. He wanted to taste his own blood from something other than a stranger who wanted his life. It reminded him that he wasn't infallible with 'ancient magic', he was just as beatable as any other fool. His life is threatened every day and yet he's never felt as close to a person as now, as close to normal. At the end of the day, he was glad that Sebastian was the one to get a good few punches on him over some poacher or ashwinder.
What an awful thing to think.
An echo of entry spread across the room. In the midst of 'protect yourself' blurring the lines of reason, it was only reflex that Henry saw an opening in Sebastian's moment of frozen distraction to pin him.
Henry had Sebastian up against a pillar, exhausted. His forearm was across Sebastian's neck, and Sebastian had a thumb in his left shoulder, where he'd been directly hit with the curse in the Scriptorium. Though a sharp pain was already spreading, his wavering finger threatened to press down deeper. Belatedly, Henry recognized Ominis' voice somewhere to his right. When did he get here? When did they start fighting?
"If you ever-" Henry sucked in a deep breath as his shoulder acted up. He pushed on, "Ever accuse me of being 'ignorant' or betraying you or Anne or Ominis again, I will never speak to you for as long as you take in air to breathe, Sebastian Sallow." This felt like such a leap from Henry's placating goal moments earlier. And, terrifyingly, it felt good to knock some sense(hopefully) into that Slytherin's rampant and maniac skull. "Stop running into ideas that will get us killed, for fucks sake! I cannot afford to be killed until I take care of Rookwood and Ranrok!" The last part slipped out, but it was God's honest truth. But while he had everyone's attention. "And stop shoving us away because we disagree with you! You will get yourself killed, and Anne won't care if she's cured or not because her goddamn twin will be dead for it!" He shoved Sebastian against the pillar again to emphasize his point, ignoring his grunts of pain.
Sebastian didn't say anything, almost dismissive in his stare, but Henry didn't budge. His teeth were creaking together and his shoulder was incapable of being ignored.
"What happened?" Ominis demanded sharply. Henry realized that he, too, had a hold on the arm, pinning Sebastian as though Henry were the devil. Maybe he was.
Sebastian's hand released Henry's shoulder, and he gritted, "Fine." Henry removed his arm from Sebastian's neck, nodding and stepping back. "But you-."
Whatever he was going to say was cut off when Henry choked off a heavy breath. A sharp feeling lancing through his shoulder and he was staggering back. It was lightning was attacking him again, tearing the cells apart, had to be. The aftershocks always came moments after stress, like they refused Henry a moment to collect himself. They always felt faster than the spell itself, a whiplash and slow collection of agony. He trembled as he gritted his teeth, shame washing over his cheeks and down his neck as he forced his eyes away from Sebastian and towards Ominis.
"We just," he breathed, "had a misunderstanding, that's all."
"I can smell the blood, Henry DeWitt." Oh, last name, he's fucked. Henry leaned against the pillar opposite Sebastian, holding his shoulder under where the curse struck him the hardest. It was soothing him more than helping him. "Now what happened, you idiots?" Ominis grasped Henry's uninjured shoulder as he asked, as this was not to be dismissed. He would get answers if the way he continually shifted his attention between them and the exit were telling. Henry felt some sort of vindication when Ominis pinned Sebastian with a harsh stare(one only Ominis Gaunt could be capable of) as he stood by Henry's side. But it was washed away by shame. There weren't supposed to be sides here, but then why did it constantly feel like Sebastian was questioning whether Henry was truly on his?
A hateful voice hissed in his ears and slithered around his mind, you're destroying their friendship.
The two boys stood across from each other, leaning against their respective pillars. Sebastian's glower was empty at this point, and Henry didn't want to look at it anymore. He had said his piece loudly and with as much conviction as he could muster when he had Sebastian by the collar. His shoulder jerked against his will, and he huffed, trembling under the weight of the discomfort and stiffness, but he finally gave Ominis answers. People-pleaser indeed.
He explained the cause of the argument, what led up to it, and, shamefully, how Henry had thrown the first punch.
The air stilled as Ominis considered this, and Henry smelt stale coffee as a voice whispered in his ears on both sides. His own? Another?
Stubborn Sebastian Sallow, stubborn serpent of vengeance, you know not who you fight against, as the ones who fight you are not in this room nor in your company nor near sprawling with pain. The ones who aid you are the ones who carry the weight of your lashing pains and muster the strength to stand in your furious haze and tell you, 'No, you will be your own downfall.' Henry shook his head, the voice grew in his ears. Pain, our counter causes pain, we can fix it, we can fix it, together, child- he gripped his shoulder, this time to elicit pain.
A hand on his face had him jerking away, eyes shooting wide open to milky ones.
"Henry? You've not said anything for the last minute." Henry sucked in a breath and looked around. This was too much. The shadows flickered, and he couldn't shut off the connection in his everything. Ancient magic. Was it attacking him? Punishing him? Was it alive? Of course, it was; all magic was alive, but it was an extension of the world, and he was the conduit. Did that mean it had consciousness? Was it possible? The voice was gone. He felt no more.
"I-" he lowered his voice, swallowing, "I heard a voice." Ominis' thin eyebrows drew together.
"As in… a snake's? Someone else is here? Just now?"
"I don't know, I think- I don't know." The last bit was spoken with such exhausted resignation, he had to take a deep breath. What has happened to them?
"We're going into the Room of Requirement," Ominis commanded, "all of us. It's late, and Henry has enough wiggenweld brewed to fix this." He waved between them both.
Across from him, Sebastian was still, eyes intense and expression shuttered. Never before had Sebastian Sallow been so still. But he nodded in agreement, something dark but not evil in his eyes. Tormented, perhaps. There was still hope. Henry prayed this to be true.
Henry agreed to his demands and shuffled forward, grasping Ominis' sleeve as they all took leave. Ominis walked between the two, leading the way to the 'study spot.' However, when Henry staggered, too tired to feel embarrassed, Sebastian offered him an arm when he asked to take a moment as his shoulder and arm were aching devilishly.
His mouth opened, expression reproachful, but Henry took his arm and allowed his weight to be accepted a little. They followed Ominis up the stairwell, and something in Henry settled, leaning onto the shorter boy, who bore his weight without complaint. Warmth spread behind Henry's eyes, but he said nothing. His body burned to be away from Sebastian, and he ignored it as the notion made his heart ache.
We will fix this. This time, it was his own voice in his mind.
Upon entering the room, thankfully after Deek had gone to bed, Ominis told them two to sit on a nearby couch and stay there, or I'll make sure you don't see your wands for a semester.
On the soft cushions, Henry felt the silence swallow him whole.
Sebastian looked towards the ground, eyes determined to remain on the tile, shoulders bent inward.
"I don't forgive you," he didn't move away, and Sebastian didn't look at him. "I'm in... pain. My body aches with aftershocks," he admitted, "but I would do it again if you two were in danger." He felt it pertinent for Sebastian to really know what the consequences of the curse were. What Henry had to continually manage on a constant basis all for Sebastian to dig around in the dark arts for a solution that would certainly come with an irreversible price.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Sebastian wince as he repositioned his shoulders.
His once very young face looked years older. Full cheeks now thin, cheeky grin now sacrificed for tormenting scowls, and freckles mixed with bruising from where Henry had struck him in the cheek. He was hunched over slightly(Henry faintly recalled when his back was on the hard ground and a weight atop him, a stray heel to Sebastian's stomach). Henry's jaw clenched, and he forced himself to look at the damage he caused. He should've never punched Sebastian, yes, but he couldn't bring himself to feel too bad about the outcome.
Hell, he almost felt liberated.
Henry's vest buttons had been torn off in the process at some point, and, hilariously, it helped him breathe better.
"I don't like you now," he continued, ignoring how Sebastian's face shifted slightly, but he finally looked up, making eye contact. Henry's own expression felt lax, calm in a way it hadn't been in a few weeks. Maybe a good scuffle was what they needed. "But I still care about you. I don't like you, but I still... I still love you," he tried to ensure the conviction in his tone, ignoring the shaking in his fingers. "You're my best friend. You and Ominis both."
Sebastian opened his mouth and closed it again when Henry filled one last line while Sebastian was hopefully receptive.
"I don't want you to make me stop loving you, too, but it's your choice." With that, Henry slumped slightly against the couch, breaking eye contact. It was Sebastian's choice because Henry wasn't going to keep chasing him. Yes, Henry badly wanted to keep this friendship, this trust, this companionship, he would be devastated to lose it. But if they continued on this way, one or both of them would get killed unnecessarily and Henry needed to stay alive until he took care of Ranrok and Rookwood. If those two took over, he wouldn't be surprised if they used his family as leverage and there was no way in any circle of hell or heaven Henry would allow it. He was surprised they hadn't targeted Sebastian or Ominis specifically yet, but there was always the possibility as long as they ran free, and Henry would fight for their safety. Maybe kill for it.
In the big picture, he'd only had these two for a minimal period of time, but it felt like lifetimes and already Henry would be in anguish to be cut from it.
He refrained from saying as much.
Ominis returned and handed them two wiggenweld potions each. They both downed them, the wounds beginning to heal and their bodies deceptively clear of blemish. Henry still felt the aftershocks buzz and fritz in his nerves, but he only bit his lip and rode it out, eyes tracing the ceiling. The fake stars comforted him.
"I'll ask what happened in the morning," Ominis told them sternly. "You will give me a detailed retelling of what happened today, but for now, we are all going to bed. I won't force you two into the same bed together, but we're all staying here."
Henry didn't say whether he had the energy to conjure up another bed or if the room would give them another one.
Instead, he dragged his heavy vessel from the couch, starting towards the stairs. "I'm going to sleep in the bed. Join me or don't," he added, his eyes turning between them specifically. "I don't care, but it's going to get colder."
Ominis followed him to the bed, the blue one that had become theirs. There was so much pain in this world, especially for the three of them, and Henry couldn't care less about how terribly improper it was to sleep in the same bed with his two boy best friends when he was a boy. At 15-16, no less.
Henry shrugged the vest off, his shoulders locking up again, stopping him from getting it off fully. He scowled, his fingers twitching. Briefly, he watched Ominis halt his quest to get his shoes and socks off, shifting to help Henry.
"They won't leave for a while," Ominis told him quietly. "Especially with how much stress your body and mind seem determined to be under daily. The curse will feed on it." Henry sighed a great big sigh, shoulders unlocking and falling forward. He felt the urge to cry.
"Great," he mumbled bitterly, "just another fuckin'-." He sunk his teeth into his lips to stop himself. He only moved again to take Ominis' robe as he removed it. Henry folded and set it lightly on a nearby trunk. "I'm really sorry you have to deal with us; deal with me, Ominis. You didn't sign up for your 5th year to take care of us." Truly, Henry was ashamed of how much Ominis had dutifully done so much caretaking.
He wanted to cry and had absolutely no right to do so. Henry already had an outburst today when he punched his other best friend and wasn't allowed another one. But the tears weren't listening to him just like everything else and -.
A hand grasped his and he halted, startled.
"On the contrary," Ominis spoke almost mockingly, "every year I spend with Sebastian, I've prepared to babysit him. Having someone who thanks and apologizes to me for such actions is a bit of a breath of fresh air." Henry huffed but smiled and Ominis continued. "Not that either of you needs to apologize. Might I remind you we are friends? You two treat me as much of an equal as anyone I'd hoped. I find this friendship between the three of us to be a gift and I'll not allow you two to throw it all away for pride or self-sabotage, are we understood?" Henry hummed and nodded, settling slightly.
"I hear you, yeah. Still, this whole thing since the Scriptorium, I know it probably causes more pain for you. I want to say that I regret ever entertaining it or asking you to allow something so reckless; it wasn't fair to you." Ominis was quiet for a moment, so Henry busied himself, pulling his legs up to untie his shoes. He didn't want to try bending down.
"Thank you, Henry," Ominis replied evenly. His tone was light, and his expression was calm, if tired. Ominis Gaunt intimately knew sorrow, and Henry was sorry to be a part of it even for a moment. He resolved to try his best to leave Ominis out of it for the future, no matter what anyone else said or who they were. He deserved better.
The whole lot of us deserve better, Henry thought warily, letting his shoes thud to the ground.
He took a sweater that Ominis handed him, a spark of amusement arising when he took note of the green stripe that ran through the center of it and took off his rumpled school shirt to replace it with the soft wool. There was some blood on the white button-up, he'd have to see what to do about that in the morning. Looking down, his lips parted when the article had fallen only just below his hips(only just a little short for his whole torso; lord knows how much abdomen would show if Henry were to lift his arms). Henry realized the sweater was most likely Sebastian's. Henry may have been taller, but Sebastian had broader shoulders, and the sweater wasn't loose, but it wasn't as tight as Ominis' would've been. He closed his eyes for a moment and allowed himself the comfort of pretending all was okay. He tossed his shirt to the ground onto his shoes.
Turning, Henry pulled his legs to his chest and winced when he rested himself against the far left side of the bed, back facing the banister and heart of the room. His shoulder still ached, but much less so. The potion stations bubbled, the loom creaked, and there was an ever-faint sound of birds from the vivariums if he listened hard enough. The sounds distracted his mind blessedly.
Ominis left the space, and Henry instinctively felt disappointed, but he shut it down.
They were all entitled to their own forms of de-stressing after it all. So he closed his eyes and let himself drift as best as possible. He felt eyes on his back, but he refused to turn. He was weary, and the aches in his muscles as the aftershocks finally released their hold on him. Henry dug his cheek into the pillow, tucking his head and chin into his chest to make himself feel safer. The room was quiet and ambient with familiarity, but Henry felt so alone and out of his depth.
So imagine his surprise when the bed shifted, and his eyes flew open to a shock-wave of blonde hair. Ominis was in his night clothes, soft cotton pants and a long-sleeve shirt. He lay facing Henry, somewhere in the center of the bed, the one Henry had grown larger after the first time this had happened(he was embarrassed to say that he'd forgotten Professor Weasley had taught him a spell to arrange the size of objects when the three of them were past being squished). Henry watched him settle fully, eyes wide.
"Sleep," Ominis told him, "we'll deal with it in the morning." For once, he didn't bring up the idea of confiding in one of the professors about all of Henry's 'tasks'("No, Henry Professor Fig doesn't count, he is quite essentially encouraging these dangers"). Henry nodded faintly.
"Can I-?" He paused, really considering his question. Ominis waited patiently.
Being with Ominis after the day felt… like peace (Peace, child). It felt like a slowly moving ocean cooling his burns after facing the raging fire of anguish in the world. It felt like waves lapping over his mind and knocking him back right when he tilted too far back to the edge of the crusty sand and its jabbing glass. It was soothing, peace, and patience—all of what Henry needed right now. He wouldn't mind having it every day if only he could keep it safe from the dangers that attached to him. He could fight harder to come back if it waited for him(What is important, child?). Henry dropped his eyes to the crossing patterns of the blanket.
Fuck.
Henry swallowed.
"Can I hold your hand, please?" Ominis blinked and offered his thin fingers readily before Henry could apologize or assure him that he could deny the foolish request. Henry grasped the pale hand, not intimately, but comfortingly. Pale contrast to the small tan Henry was getting from being in the sun so much. The one point of contact was just enough to keep him tethered and just far enough to keep all that was and could be overwhelming at bay.
"Sleep."
Henry closed his eyes as instructed, some hair falling over his forehead. He dozed for a while, his other hand fisted tightly into the blankets he'd yet to pull up(Henry did not want to be under the blankets, some nights they made him feel caged).
But it was only until the bed shifted again, slightly for a long pause, and then another relenting weight settled on Ominis' other side, that Henry felt the rest of his muscles unwind. His eye cracked open, and he made contact with Sebastian, who was sitting up against the pillows. Henry had to tilt his up just slightly to release the strain on his neck from keeping Sebastian's eyes.
They watched one another, anguish and torment. Wary and lost.
Peace, child, it is rare to find.
"I'm-... we can talk about your way tomorrow," Sebastian murmured. His voice held a physical weight on the room. "I'll put the tome back into the Scriptorium and discard the lead I've found." He sounded pained just by saying it all, heavy. "I'll hear you out." Henry blinked, slow and exhausted.
He hadn't and wouldn't expect an apology. But this admission, these words that tasted like truth being released and cemented into the air, was preferred. Not all good amends start with an apology. Maybe one day he'd feel sorry for it all, but Henry knew he wouldn't ever be sorry for seeking out any option for Anne. But perhaps, Henry hoped, he was sorry for causing the ones who had bound themselves to his aid and his soul, the pain that he did. Henry wanted him to be sorry for hurting them because then there was hope for something better and room for reason.
He was certainly sorry for encouraging it in any way - directly or indirectly. Sebastian and Ominis may never know the true extent of Henry's deep-rooted and deserved remorse and guilt.
Sebastian must've taken his silence for dismissal because he turned his head slightly.
"I understand if you want me to leave or-."
"Sebastian," Henry murmured.
The brunette turned his head again to look down at Henry, awaiting, patient perhaps for once in his life. Henry nodded his head to the pillow Sebastian was leaning against.
"Lay down. Ominis said we'd talk about this in the morning, my friend." Henry stared at Sebastian until he relented and shifted downwards, trying not to awaken Ominis. Henry's hand was warm, and Ominis' was cold. The contrast still caused condensation but also relief. Henry was still glad they'd managed to hold onto each other even in sleep.
The pillows shifted, and Sebastian's arm slid under both of them. Henry let his head rest against his once more. Henry released a breath, letting it briefly drain him of his pains in this everlasting speck in time. He slowly pushed his hair back from his face for the last time that night and closed his eyes.
A few tears fell from that point, and when he fell asleep, but the bed shifted slightly, a shaky hand brushed them away. Henry didn't open his eyes. Neither of them said anything. But he let Sebastian comfort him in his way, and he let himself be soothed. It was an aching release of tension between them.
As Sebastian finally settled fully into the space that Henry and Ominis had created(growing from duo to trio), the small interaction was, quite possibly, the reason they were able to sleep.