Like Moths to a Flame // Sebastian Sallow x Male MC [Book One]

Chapter Twenty-Five: Sixteen

"I still think we should have told Anne you were coming," Ominis said as the three of them bounced along in the carriage on their way to Feldcroft. Ominis paid for the carriage, as he was often wont to do, since Sebastian was nearly always lacking in Galleons. In fact, he had used his last remaining ones to buy Anne her birthday gift.

"Spoilsport," Sebastian retorted. "It's my birthday celebration too. I'm allowed to have a little fun."

"Technically it was your birthday two days ago. I'm not sure that counts."

Damien chimed in, "I've always been of the mind that if your birthday falls on a weekday, you get until the weekend to celebrate."

"Yes, exactly!" Sebastian said, turning to face Damien who was sitting beside him in the carriage, their legs touching. Sebastian reached out and gently patted Damien's leg in gratitude. He tried to make it as quiet as possible, very much aware that while Ominis was blind, he was certainly not deaf. Sebastian hadn't yet discussed with Damien how comfortable he was with public displays of affection - not that merely touching him on the leg was a public display of affection. Sebastian let out a quiet sigh, realizing he was probably overthinking it.

"What was that for?" Ominis asked.

"What?" Sebastian blanched as Damien struggled to hold in a laugh.

"Your sigh, Sebastian. What was that for?"

Sebastian scrambled for an excuse. "Just... contemplating life, you know? The existential crisis of being sixteen." 

Ominis rolled his eyes. "Oh yes. I can barely keep up with your wisdom and experience."

"I know. It's a burden being so mature at such a young age."

Ominis and Damien erupted into fits of laughter, their sudden outburst catching the driver off guard. Sebastian heard him quickly suppress a cough, the sound muffled through the thick walls of the carriage.

"Laugh it up all you want," Sebastian said. "You'll see what I mean when you reach my age."

"Speaking of that, when's your birthday, Damien?" Ominis asked.

Sebastian and Damien both answered in unison, "The 13th of December."

Ominis arched his brow. "How did you know Damien's birthday?"

"What? We've talked about it before," Sebastian replied, shrugging. Calm, cool, collected. Friends know each other's birthdays, right? Ominis wouldn't suspect a thing.

Alas, Ominis didn't look entirely convinced. "Hm, well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Just seemed odd that you knew without hesitation."

Sebastian could feel his cheeks warming, a flush creeping up his neck. "I guess I just have a good memory," he muttered, his tone slightly defensive, hoping Ominis wouldn't press the topic any further.

It wasn't necessary, though, for Damien, ever the gentleman, came to Sebastian's rescue, smoothly changing the topic of conversation. "What's in that box, Ominis?" he asked, pointing toward a wooden crate nestled beside him.

"Anne's gift."

"Oh, Anne's gift? I was hoping it was for me," Sebastian said, feigning disappointment with a dramatic sigh.

"No, you get something smaller. Every time you vexed me in the past month, your birthday gift decreased in size."

Sebastian mimed a dagger through his heart. "Ouch, that hurts." He exaggerated his reaction as much as possible, intending to amuse Damien, to get him to laugh. It worked, naturally.

"Looks like you'll be getting a toothpick at this rate," Damien said once he'd steadied his breathing.

"A toothpick? I'll treasure it forever."