The Mask Drops
You clutched the napkin full of pastries and other various sweets you’d nicked from the kitchens, panting as you climbed the grand staircase to the Hospital Wing. The various portraits hung on the stone walls watched you go curiously, the hour was late and you were breaking house rules sneaking around the corridors on your own.
“Duty calls.” You whispered to yourself, resolutely marching down the dark hallway and tapping the locked door with your wand. “Alohomora.”
With a delicate click the door unlatched and swung open, you slipped inside and closed it quietly behind you, turning and squinting in the near darkness. The beds were empty save for the one furthest from the double doors.
Sebastian was already sitting up against his pillows, waving you closer. “Took you long enough.”
“Oh hush, let’s see you sneak to the kitchens and back unseen.” You sat at the end of his bed, passing him the bundle of goods.
“If I weren’t mortally wounded I could.”
You rolled your eyes to the vaulted ceiling, huffing a laugh. “Ominis told me not to indulge you.”
“I’m sure he did.” Sebastian spoke around the muffin he’d shoved into his mouth. “He won’t snitch though.”
You hummed in agreement, absentmindedly brushing crumbs off Sebastian’s shirt. “How are you feeling?”
“Better. It’s good to know Rookwood didn’t curse me like he did Anne, he was just trying to finish me off.”
You sat in silence, your face set grimly as you watched Sebastian eat. He slowed his chewing, glancing up to you with a sudden sadness. “How did you do it?”
You shifted uncomfortably from your perch on the bed, studying the weave of the green blanket. “We wore him down together. It didn’t take much after…well, after he hexed you.”
“Is there a body?”
You shook your head. “No, he’s nothing but ash now.”
“Hm.” Sebastian nodded, picking a blueberry from his partially eaten scone. “I suppose that’s that then. I should feel relieved, happy even, but all I feel is empty.”
You did a double take, peering into Sebastian’s face, his eyelashes wet with tears. “Oh Sebastian.” You gently scooted forward, opening your arms to him and hugging him firmly.
It scared you, never had you seen him cry or even hint at how broken he actually was inside. You felt his hands gripping the fabric of your robes, the shuddering breaths he took as he tried to control his emotions. Listening to his soft sobs you felt tears of your own well up and slide down your cheeks, remembering what he had told you about his parents’ deaths and how that fueled his desperation to cure Anne.
“What if I can’t do it?” Sebastian’s voice was muffled against your shoulder. “What if I can’t help her? Just like I couldn’t help them.”
You knew whom he spoke of and held him tighter, feeling the dampness from his tears begin to seep through your clothes. “We will do everything we can to stop the curse.”
“I’ll be alone.” He didn’t seem to hear you.
“Sebastian.” You pulled away, taking his face in your hands so that your eyes met. “No matter what happens, you will never be alone.” A fierce conviction stirred in your chest as you looked at each other. “Just don’t lose yourself in the process.”
Sebastian’s brow furrowed, his eyes flicking between yours then fluttering closed as you leaned in and kissed his forehead then his nose. He scrunched his nose and chuckled softly. “I can always count on you to reel me in.”
“And Ominis.”
Sebastian brushed his nose against yours affectionately. “He knows I only really listen to you.”
And then he was kissing you. It was unlike the fleeting embraces you’d previously experienced with him, during your brief courtship. This kiss was tinged with desperation, you tasted the salt of his tears, the soft feeling of his hair as you grasped the back of his head.
“Stay with me a while?” It was a question, unsure, vulnerable, whispered into the corner of your mouth.
You nodded, smiling, a little light-headed as Sebastian scooted to the side, raising the covers and allowing you to slip in next to him. You shuffled about together experimentally, finding it most comfortable laying on your sides with his arm around your torso.
Sebastian’s warm breath tickled your ear as he sighed, you curled closer against him, your hands closing around his that resting atop your stomach.
“You’re very warm.” Sebastian murmured, already sounding like he was on the brink of sleep.
You smiled to yourself, feeling his breathing steady at your back.
It was hour later, just before the break of dawn, you extricated yourself from Sebastian’s embrace, shuffling off the warm covers. You sat a moment beside him, watching as his face frowned in his sleep and he rolled over onto his back, making a noise of displeasure at your movement.
You leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to his temple. “See you at class, Sallow.” Allowing yourself a few more selfish moments to look at him before you tip-toed out of the chamber and hurried back to your dormitory before anyone noticed your absence.