Citadel
Sebastian led you upstairs by the hand a flicked on the kitchen light. You stood at the island as he gathered a couple plastic baggies and dishtowels from a drawer. He opened the freezer and started to fill a baggie with ice.
You noticed a slight burning sensation around your wrists. Now in the brighter light of the kitchen, you could see the redness in the skin circling them. You were trying to connect the dots to explain how they got there when you spoke absentmindedly, "Seb?"
He turned his head, pulling a handful of ice out and placing it in the baggie he held in the other. You held up your wrists, with a concerned and inquisitive look.
His eyes got wide, his eyebrows shot up as he moved quickly to you, "Oh, Jesus. I didn't realize I was holding you so tightly." Guilt washed over him. He took your hands, turning them over to examine your wrists. He then kissed your wrists gingerly and gathered you in his arms snuggly. "I'm so sorry, baby."
"I think it was mostly my fault.", you reflected. "I remember twisting and yanking with everything I had before I realized it was you that had me."
"No, it's not your fault, (Y/N). I was trying to wake you and then you freaked out, trying to get away. I thought you might hurt yourself against the wall right next to the bed. I mean, it's concrete." He was still hugging you, rubbing your back. "God dammit. Even when I'm trying to protect you, I'm hurting you.", his voice frustrated while he held your head to his chest with a hand and stroked your hair back and forth with his thumb.
"It's okay, honey.", you wrapped your arms around his middle. "A couple very, very mild friction burns are better than a concussion, right? Besides, they should fade fast."
He sighed, "I suppose." He pulled back to look you over a little, "Anything else?"
You shook your head, "No. I don't think so."
The next morning, you and Sebastian were sitting at the table after breakfast, drinking coffee when Chris came home. He came into the kitchen just as you were getting up to get more coffee.
"Hey, Chris.", you beamed. You stayed where you were next to the table, near Sebastian. You stretched your arms upward over your head, showing your jammie shorts a little and Sebastian licked his lips and gave your outer thigh an affectionate stroke with his hand. The sleeves of his t-shirt that you were wearing fell down to your shoulders as you stretched, exposing your upper arms. When you dropped your arms, you looked over your shoulder at him and smiled lovingly. He winked.
Chris glanced at you as you stretched and he put his keys on their hook, "Morning, hon." He did a double take when something caught his eye. He made his way over to you, his brows furrowed as Sebastian was taking a drink of his coffee, still seated and looking at something on his phone.
You only took a couple steps before Chris made it to you. He gently took your elbow and lifted the sleeve again. His actions confused Sebastian, so he stood to see what Chris was doing. Chris sounded upset when he spoke, "What the fuck is this?"
He exposed faint bruises that resembled a hand on your arm; a hand that had gripped entirely too tight. He looked at Sebastian, angry now, "Did you do this?"
Sebastian caught a glimpse of the bruises as Chris questioned him. Sebastian sighed, his eyebrows pulled together in regret as he quietly said, "Oh, shit."
You were also surprised at Chris's discovery.
Chris mistook Sebastian's words of guilt for hurting you when he never meant to as guilt for being caught intentionally hurting you. Chris took one step closer to Sebastian and punched him in the face.
You shrieked, "Chris!"
Sebastian stumbled into the table, moving it slightly as he fell back on it, his upper body landing against the table top with his elbow propping him up. The force was enough to slide his empty coffee cup and phone to the floor, the cup shattering and the chair opposite where Sebastian was had tipped and slammed to the floor. He felt something wet on his lips and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand; blood. He looked pissed and bewildered, "What the fuck, Chris?!"
You were standing in front of Chris now, your hands on his chest, desperately trying to push him backwards. There was no way you could move him, but he absentmindedly let your movements guide him back a couple steps. Your voice was shrill, "Chris! Stop!"
It was like he didn't even hear or see you though. All he saw was the anger he was feeling toward Sebastian for hurting you as he started to shout, pointing, "I understand the elbow to the face was and accident, but what I just found could be no where near fucking okay!"
Sebastian had stood upright, still looking pissed. He glanced at you. He could see how upset you were already and knew that him retaliating, whether with words or fists, would only upset you more. So, he let his friend get out all the words he was spitting like poison.
Chris went to step around you, "I thought I fucking knew you!"
Before he could move more than a shuffle, you wrapped your arms tightly around his ribs, your cheek against his chest, sobbing. "Chris! Stop!" He paused, hearing you crying now, your voice small and pleading, "Please."
He was clenching his jaw, still staring at Sebastain.
Sebastain was focused intently on only you, his face pained. He really wasn't even sure if Chris would let him come near you right now. So, he stayed. He pressed his lips together hard in restraint, but his want to go to you, to hold you and comfort you was excruciating. And knowing that his actions of trying to keep you safe and accidentally bruising you caused all of this? The guilt was overwhelming. He was starting to tear up.
Chris's arms went around you as he focused his attention on you now. His cheek came to rest on your head while he wrapped his arms around you protectively as Sebastian looked on.
You caught Chris off guard by shoving him hard, making him stumble back a step. You yelled at him, your eyes glistening with tears and your voice thick from crying, "What the fuck has gotten into you?!"
He looked surprised, confused and hurt, "(Y/N), he hurt you!" His thoughts flowed through his mind, right behind his spoken words, 'I have to protect you; I love you.'
"You didn't even give either of us a chance to explain!", you snapped back.
He was getting upset again at you defending someone hurting you, "No matter how that happened,", he gestured an open hand at Sebastian, who still didn't dare get in the middle of this for your sake, but he walked closer to stand behind you. Chris continued, "it's not okay."
You sighed and closed your eyes for a beat to level yourself. You sniffed, your voice calmer but more dominant than his now, "Chris, you do know Seb; he would never hurt me on purpose... And he would never touch me in anger." You stared into his eyes as he only did the same to you. You spoke softly, "Sit down." As he moved to the table behind you, still looking irritated, your gaze went to the floor beside you, your own jaw clenched. You didn't move until you heard him pick up the chair that had been knocked over, in order to sit.
You turned to Sebastian slightly and took his hand, leading him to the narrow space between the island and the rest of the kitchen. You shifted to look into his eyes, your face worried, "You okay, lover?"
He nodded, his face hardened, guilt stealing any other expression from his face. You set to work to get him some ice and a clean cloth to clean his mouth and chin. You took a deep breath and glanced at Chris, disappointed. He was still looking pissed, but looked at the floor when your eyes met his.
As you started to gently wipe Sebastian's face, his hands went to your waist, his eyes roaming over your face lovingly. He blinked long, letting out a very soft sigh.
Chris was watching the exchange. Seeing the two of you share such an intimate, loving moment, he started to consider that maybe he fucked up. But, he would rather fuck up and have you mad at him than not protect you. He had to; he loved you. He told you he would always take care of you.
Once Sebastian's face was free of blood, you gingerly gave his lips a kiss, which he cautiously returned. You rinsed the cloth and squeezed it out, but leaving it in one of the sink basins to be washed later. You put ice in a bag and towel, then touched it lightly to his face as he grunted softly.
"Poor baby,", you looked where you were placing the ice, being as careful as you could, "you've been punched in nearly the same spot twice in less than 12 hours." You gave an empathetic half smile. Chris was confused by your statement. His curiousity was piqued, but he didn't say anything yet.
"It's okay, doll.", Sebastian mumbled.