Between Friends

Sebastian finished chewing and swallowing his mouthful of food as he rounded the island and leaned his backside against it, facing you and Chris, his arms folded, crossing one ankle over the other and his face hardened, "What's up?" He really couldn't help but feel a little nervous at Chris's tone and he could tell you had suddenly become uneasy.

"(Y/N) lost her job yesterday.", Chris said.

Sebastian's eyebrows raised in surprise and his gaze shot to you, "Wow." You had pressed your lips together, watching his face and waiting for Chris to speak again.

Chris continued and Sebastian's head turned to Chris again at the sound of his voice, but his eyes stayed focused on you for another beat, out of concern and trying to read your face for any signs of distress. His stare flitted back to Chris, "She's been struggling for a few months and has used up everything to try to stay above water, but now that's all gone and so is her job."

Sebastian turned to look at you, jutting his head forward just a tad in disbelief and worry as his eyebrows furrowed. You felt your eyes starting to tear up; you hated making your friends worry and felt the guilt creeping in. 'Just get it out already, Chris!', you silently begged in your head.

When Sebastian saw your eyes getting wet, he went to you immediately and wrapped his arms around you. He squeezed so tight that you thought he might crush you. He rested his chin on your head as he made eye contact with Chris again as he continued, "I told her she should live with us and we could help her out until she finds work again, but I do need to ask you since this is your home too.", Chris finished and tilted his head, waiting for a response.

"Yeah, of course... Of course!", Sebastian squeezed you again, kissing your head, still holding you. "Were you afraid I wasn't gonna be on board with this? Why didn't you tell us sooner?", he said softly against your hair.

"Well, yes--ish. No, not really, but I always freak out over major stuff like this. Business has been slow, couldn't make booth rental, so bye-bye job.", you looked up at Seb, continuing, "The worst part was not wanting to worry you both, hoping things would get better."

"Ah, geez. Just like you to worry about others while you're going through shit. Look, I say you stay as long as you need and I can totally help you out financially, too. We'll take care of you. Don't worry, doll." He glanced at Chris, who nodded in agreement, and then he gave you one more squeeze for good measure before releasing you. "Okay, can we eat now? I can feel myself getting thinner by the second.", he krinkled his nose up, lips pursed together, smacking a hand on his stomach and rubbing it.

Chris laughed, "Yeah, man. Let's go." He turned to walk, but paused and glanced at you, shifting his weight back when he heard you speak.

"Seb?", you asked quietly as Sebastian turned away.

Hearing your voice, he turned back, took a step back to where he had been right next to you, sliding his other foot in playfully to meet it and bent over slghtly to look into your eyes. "Hm?", he smiled softly at you.

"Thank you."

He kissed your temple, "Of course."

You all started for the front door and once there, Sebastian remembered that he left his bag and suitcase there. "Oh, shit. Let me go put these in my room.", he huffed out as he hefted up the big suitcase in one hand and the small duffle bag in the other. He moved swiftly back to the kitchen, out of sight and down the basement stairs where his room was.

"I told you.", Chris smirked at you, putting an arm around your shoulder and squeezing you into his side for a moment and then letting go, putting his hand back in his pocket.

"Told me what?", you looked at him blankly.

"I knew he'd be fine with it."

"Oh. Yeah, I think I knew deep down he would be too. It's just those worry demons always get to me." You gave a crossed eyed face with your tongue hanging out of the side of your mouth, gesturing towards your head with an open hand.

Chris chuckled, "Yeah, I get it."

You heard Sebastian coming back through the house and the slide of his keys against the island as he swiped them up and shoved them in his pocket. "FOOOOOOD!", he shouted, rubbing his palms together in anticipation. "I'll drive, my car's blocking. So, where we going?", he slung an arm around your shoulders, looked down at you and flashed you a smile.

Your face lit up as you opened your mouth, looking at Chris. But you stopped and your expression fell when you rememebered that you no longer had a job and definitely didn't have enough money for your favorite cuisine. Chris titled his head at you and Sebastian frowned and narrowed his eyes, waiting for you to speak.

"Never mind.", you muttered. "I can't afford it."

One side of Chris's mouth pulled up in a slight smile and he cocked and eyebrow, "Sweetheart, you really think we're gonna let you pay?"

"Well, it's just that--"

"Stooop.", he cut you off, tilted his head back and to the side in playful annoyance and Sebastian nodded in agreement.

They both looked at each other knowingly, then, in unison, they said, "Sushi."

Your face lit up with a huge grin and Chris waved an arm, "Come on! Let's go get fish-faced!"

Sebastian threw his head back and you both laughed loudly as Chris chuckled at his own joke.

You all filed out the door and Chris locked it, Sebastian's arm still around you as you walked down the steps, Chris just behind you. Sebastian pulled you closer to him with his arm gently around your neck and said, "You're gonna have to deal with me glued to your side for a bit; I really did miss you."

"I think-- yeah. Yeah, you mentioned that before.", you smirked elbowing him in the side. "A couple of times."

"Well, I did!", he scoffed and released you, opening the passenger door to let you in. "And telling you again and again might help you to understand just how much.", he closed the door after you were safely inside.

Chris let himself into the back seat and clapped his hands on your shoulders from behind your seat and gave them a squeeze as you let out a squeak and tried to get your seatbelt pulled over you. "I'm so excited!", he let out an adorable chuckle, "You're gonna live with us!"

You placed a hand on one of his and smiled over your shoulder, "I know! Me too."

Sebastian had walked around to the driver's side, slid in, shut his door, slipped the key in the ignition and turned it, all in one fluid series of motions. You gave his hand a quick squeeze and flashed him a smile, "I missed you too." He smiled back, his beautiful blue eyes wrinkling up at the corners.

You put your hand back in your lap and Seb shifted into reverse, backed out of the driveway and headed down the street.

You let out a contented sigh. Your boys. You really loved them and now you were going to live with them. You closed your eyes and smiled; feeling more secure already.