Dark New World || Sebastian Sallow

Always

Lena opened her tired eyes and looked to Sebastian, who was in a deep sleep beside her.

Sometimes in the morning, she forgot all the bad, and for a few moments... Everything felt normal. She appreciated those times, until she remembered all that's happened. Then it hurt, really bad.

She stepped onto the cold floor, feeling weaker. She felt the fatigue bounce around in her skull.

'What a great way to start the day.' She thinks to herself.

She grabbed her wand and made her way down the stairs, turning the corner to meet the dead fireplace. Chilly.

"Incendio." She whispered, and the fire lit up quickly.

After a few moments of watching the fire flicker up against the cold air, she heard the creak of the floorboards, and down came Sebastian.

"What are you doing down here love? It's cold." He asks, running his fingers over his tired eyes.

He always woke up as soon as she left the bed.

Lena inspected him intently, appreciating his figure before glancing back to the fire.

"I'm starting the fire, so it isn't cold anymore." She says.

Sebastian sighed and grabbed the blanket off the couch arm before walking over to her. He took a seat behind her and wrapped both of them up in the blanket, placing light kisses on her neck before he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Thank you." She whispers gently, leaning back into Sebastian's embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against hers.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the moment. For a few seconds, she forgot about everything else and just enjoyed the feeling of being held.

But it didn't last of course, just like the first few moments of the morning, reality came crashing back again. She remembered the events of the past few days, the pain, the lies and the heartbreak. She felt a lump form in her throat and tears prick at the corners of her eyes.

Sebastian sensed her distress and tightened his grip around her. "It's okay," he whispered. "I'm here for you."

Lena nodded, unable to speak. She felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. They sat there in silence for a while, wrapped up in each other's arms. The fire crackled and popped, casting flickering shadows on the walls. Lena felt herself relax, the tension in her body easing.

Finally, Sebastian spoke. "What do you need from me today?" he asked.

Lena thought for a moment. "I don't know," she says. "I don't really know what I need or want, everything just feels so weird and empty."

"That's okay," Sebastian says. "We can just stay here for awhile, and do whatever it is you want."

Lena turned slightly, facing his gentle gaze. The freckles across his cheeks made her feel that familiar feeling of warmth that grew in her chest, and she realized that throughout all the bad, Sebastian was always there. No matter what, even when she pushed him away, he had her.

She wondered if her parents would've liked him, what it would be like if they were together here with them.

"I love you, I'm sorry I've been so distant." She whispered.

"Don't be," he says softly. "You've gone through a lot lately, and I'm here to support you through it."

Lena leaned in and kissed Sebastian, feeling the warmth of his lips against hers. She felt a spark of passion ignite within her, and she knew then what she needed from him.