Peacekeepers

Chapter 10: Mending

Ominis still wasn't able to move much, only able to sit up propped by pillows while Sebastian and Diane laid on either side of him. Sebastian's arm rested across his waist possessively, and Diane was leaning against his shoulder, reading softly from one of the books Anne had fetched from their house.

His wound was healing slowly- far slower than Diane's, though hers was taking time as well. Her skin wasn't as red and angry anymore, but it was still tender to the touch, making her flinch away gently when her waist was touched.

"Can... I ask something? Sebastian said quietly.

Diane stopped reading, looking up in concern. He had been so quiet since she'd woken up, and clinging to them at all times. "Of course." She said softly.

"Next time we fight... I don't want either of you to leave my side. No matter what." He said in a strained voice.

Ominis let out a soft sound of concern, reaching over to run his hand through Sebastian's hair soothingly. "Sebastian... it's okay now-"

"But it almost wasn't." Sebastian said in a shaking voice, looking up to Ominis with wide eyes from against his chest. "It almost wasn't. I can't do that again."

Diane had a feeling he was traumatized by the sight of them both like that, and understandably so. She was admittedly clinging to Ominis as well, the image of him impaled on that shard of wood making her shiver as it flashed through her mind.

"I will." She said softly, looking down to Sebastian. "And I'm sorry I left you alone like that." She said softly to him.

Sebastian let out a small noise and nodded against Ominis, his grip around his waist tightening.

Ominis let out a soft sound of worry, his hand still running through Sebastian's hair. "It would mean a lot to you if we stuck with you, huh? Even if it meant we were at a disadvantage in the battle?"

Sebastian nodded slowly, closing his eyes in pain.

"Alright." Ominis sighed softly. Letting his touch roam lower to gently brush one of Sebastian's cheeks lovingly. "We'll stick together for each battle. As much as we can. But I hope this doesn't mean you blame yourself for what happened." Ominis said warily.

"I should have protected you." Sebastian muttered.

"Sebastian!" Diane sat up in frustration. "I was the one that decided to run off! Not you!"

"I should have gone with you-" he insisted.

"I told you to stay! You can't feel guilty about something like this. This isn't your fault, if anything it's Kyle's fault!"

Sebastian remained silent, his face still resting against Ominis' chest and his eyes dark.

"Sallow, get up here." Ominis said firmly.

Sebastian looked up at him in surprise at the sudden serious tone, shocked when Ominis' hand in his hair gripped him and tugged gently to get him to sit up.

"What, why?" He said even as he scooted back to sit up, confused why Ominis wanted him to-

He let out a sound of surprise when Ominis pulled him into a hot and hard kiss, pouring emotion into the touch enough that it made Sebastian's toes curl as his hands flex as he resisted grabbing Ominis while he was wounded.

When Ominis finally let him come up for air, Sebastian panted for breath and looked to him in surprise, a flush coloring his cheeks.

"Stop being so damn hard on yourself all the time!" Ominis said fiercely. "You can't always be perfect, so don't expect yourself to be! You want to protect us, I know you do, but things like this are going to happen with our roles. If you really want to help us, then protect us by supporting us."