25. Sebastian

25

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian was in the hospital for a week while doctors treated his burned and severed finger. They ended up amputating his pinky back to the first knuckle since cauterizing the original wound the way they did had caused significant tissue damage. Sebastian was just grateful for the painkillers.

And for James, who wouldn't leave his side.

Sebastian had been admitted to a room, and once James was released from the ER, he took up permanent residence in the chair beside Sebastian's bed. Sebastian wished James would go home and get some proper rest, but he was also warmed by his constant presence. He loved that James was there every time he opened his eyes.

At the moment, James was fast asleep, snoring, his head tilting in a way that looked less than comfortable. Sebastian was pretty sure he was drooling.

"You look happy," Dr. Reese said as she entered Sebastian's room.

Sebastian tore his eyes away from James. "I'm feeling a lot better. "

"Good." She gave him a tight smile.

Sebastian had the impression Dr. Reese was displeased with him for purposely cutting off his own finger. He'd explained that it had been part of ritual magic and vital in preventing Moonlight Falls from exploding, but he wasn't entirely sure she believed him.

The secret-binding was completely gone, along with the curse. Eli had visited yesterday and told Sebastian how Eleanor had reported the incident in full to any state official who would listen and several who wouldn't, despite their brush-offs.

"You're free to go home today," Dr. Reese continued. "You'll need to book follow-up appointments to check on your healing progress, and we'd recommend hand therapy, but unless you have any further questions, the nurses have your discharge papers ready to go."

"Thank you so much." Sebastian disentangled himself from the hospital sheets. "I don't have any questions."

The doctor gave him a stern look. "Take care of yourself."

Sebastian planned to.

He quickly pulled on the clean clothes Eli had left for him and shook James awake.

"What's happening?" James jolted, almost knocking his forehead into Sebastian's.

"Whoa there." Sebastian steadied him. "I'm free to go."

James beamed, his smile so bright it was almost blinding, and pulled Sebastian into his lap. "Wonderful."

"Yes, it is. I'm all better, so you can quit worrying so hard."

"I wasn't worrying hard, just a very reasonable amount."

"Okay, if you say so." Sebastian wiped a bit of drool from the corner of James's mouth. "Now, take me home, please."

James tangled a hand in Sebastian's curls and brought their lips together. "That's exactly what I plan to do, sweetheart. But let's make a little detour first. "

After leaving the hospital—Eli and Parker had brought James's truck and some fresh clothes down for him—James drove Sebastian to the burrito place they'd meant to go to what felt like a lifetime ago.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Sebastian couldn't say he remembered the last time he'd been in the truck, driving from Storm House to Parker's. He didn't even remember leaving the Storm House property. The final events of that night had taken on a nightmarish quality in his mind and didn't seem entirely real, but Sebastian didn't mind it feeling like a fever dream. He would rather focus on what came next and how happy he was it was all over than the fight it took to get here.

He was free. Completely, and unlike when he'd first escaped Storm House, his feelings weren't complicated. Sebastian felt light and giddy. He was no longer scared of his future. He wasn't scared to be happy or trying to push away his feelings for James. He was all in for what life had in store for him.

The burrito place was packed when James pulled up so Sebastian opted to stay in the truck while James ordered for them. His social anxiety seemed to be here to stay, and while he was game for going into the restaurant next time, when he wasn't fresh out of the hospital, Sebastian wasn't angry about his reactions like he had been at first. He didn't mind if he did things differently now than he had before.

James returned with a brown paper bag and two sodas. "Think you can hold off eating a bit longer?"

Sebastian looked longingly at the bag. The food smelled amazing. "Potentially."

James started the truck. "I promise it will be worth it."

Sebastian picked up his drink. "Are we going somewhere special?"

"Yeah." He threw Sebastian a sweet smile. "Put on some music. "

Sebastian connected his phone to the truck's Bluetooth. "You need to learn the lyrics to this album, just FYI."

James laughed. "Okay, but don't say I didn't warn you when you hear me sing. It's not going to be pretty."

Sebastian couldn't figure out where they were going at first. He hadn't been past Apple Valley in this direction since high school. By the end of the album, he figured they had to be getting close to the coast.

James pulled onto a dirt road. Sebastian rolled down his window and smelled the fresh salt air.

"We're going to the beach," Sebastian said in awe, like he'd never been there before. It had been so long this might as well have been his first time.

The ocean came into view and Sebastian drank in the sight. The sea breeze ruffled his curls, and he was tempted to stick his head out the window.

James pulled over in a turn-out and backed up so the rear of the truck faced the ocean. "It'd be better if I had some blankets." He jumped out and opened the tailgate.

Sebastian followed with the food and James's drink. He'd already finished his.

James arranged a drop cloth he must use at work sites in the truck bed and patted it invitingly. "Hop on up."

Sebastian did so. "This is perfect."

"Yeah, it is." James leaned in for a kiss before sitting next to Sebastian.

They reheated the food with a quick spell and ate, watching the waves and birds pecking around in the sand. The air was so fresh. Sebastian had no idea how much he'd missed the sea. He'd never been a huge beach person, even in San Diego, but being here at this moment felt so right. Nothing said freedom like looking out at the vast expanse of water.

Sebastian dug into his food. "This might be the best meal I've ever tasted. "

"I have to agree. Though everything feels so good right now that I think I'd have said that even if I was eating dirt."

Sebastian swatted James's shoulder. "That is not the visual I wanted."

"Sorry." James swiped a bit of salsa from the corner of Sebastian's mouth. "Let's never talk about being underground or in the earth ever again."

"Deal." Sebastian took another bite of his chili relleno burrito, swinging his legs back and forth off the edge of the truck bed. "Unless we're talking about gardening. Then dirt and being in the earth will play a pretty important role."

James laughed. "I can't wait to talk about gardening."

"That's what I like to hear."

They finished their food and walked along the sand. It was cold but not too windy. Sebastian's hand was sore and he felt a bit off-balance when he looked at it all bandaged up, but it didn't wipe the smile from his face. The afternoon was perfect, and nothing could change that.

They returned to Moonlight Falls that evening. While it had been lovely to get out and see the ocean, Sebastian was happy to be home.

That made for a first, and Sebastian could have laughed at himself, but it really did feel good to be in Moonlight Falls. There was a calming undercurrent to the area he swore he hadn't noticed before. Perhaps it was the magic that all the die-hard Moonlighters swore by, and Sebastian had never noticed it with all the strong negative emotions the town had always triggered in him. Or maybe it felt good because he was coming home with James to a place where he had friends and was beginning to belong .

He hadn't forgotten the angry mob, but now wasn't the time to dwell on those particular people.

"Is Eli home?" Sebastian asked as they got out of the truck.

"I think he's at Parker's." James led the way into the house. "Maybe we can go see everyone tomorrow?"

"Sounds good to me." Sebastian wasn't in the mood for anything with the group tonight. He needed to figure out how much James had told everyone and if they'd have questions for him. He wouldn't mind answering them, but he didn't want to get sucked too deep into memories of that night at Storm House.

"Hey." James brushed back Sebastian's bangs. "What's going on in there?" He tapped Sebastian's forehead.

"Just thinking about telling everyone all the gory details." He tried to make light, but it didn't seem like James bought it.

"I've told them everything they need to know. Gory details spared. They know you saved all our lives and that you were brave as fuck."

Sebastian repressed a smile. "You would tell them that."

"It's the truth." James's gaze turned thoughtful. "If you ever want to talk about what you went through or what we went through, all you have to do is let me know."

"Same goes for you." Sebastian flexed his bandaged hand. "It was a lot. Dealing with the curse and everything surrounding it is going to have lingering effects on all of us. I'm prepared to deal with it, look into some trauma therapy or whatever, but I'm not prepared to be stuck in the past. I don't want to dwell on it. I want to move on."

"I'm right there with you." James's hand found its way to the small of Sebastian's back. "On that note, how does an early night and a fresh start in the morning sound?"

"Like heaven."

They stripped, had a much-needed shower, and crawled into James's bed. Sebastian snuggled up to James, his head on James's firm chest .

"Thank you for standing by me," Sebastian whispered.

"Of course, sweetheart. I'll always be here for you."

"And I'll always be here for you, James." Sebastian smiled into James's skin, his familiar smell soothing. They had each other, and that was all that truly mattered.