It can always get worse ( Sebastian solace x reader)

Chapter VIII - Sentient AI

"Hey, Seb?" you called out hesitantly, your voice cutting through the comfortable silence of the room.

Sebastian looked up from whatever he was doing, his dark eyes meeting yours with a hint of curiosity. "Yeah?" he replied casually, his tone warm and inviting.

You hesitated for a moment, shifting your weight nervously before finally speaking. "Uh... do you have anything to eat? I, uh... haven't really had anything since I got here," you admitted, rubbing the back of your neck awkwardly. Your stomach grumbled softly, almost on cue, betraying your attempt to sound nonchalant.

"Oh... well, let me see." Sebastian paused, rummaging through his bag with furrowed brows, a glimmer of guilt flashing across his face. After a moment, he pulled out a small, slightly crumpled candy bar. "Here, take this. It's not much, and I'm sorry I don't have anything else on me right now," he said, his tone tinged with regret as he handed it to you.

You accepted the candy bar with a small smile, your stomach already grateful for the offering. "Thanks, Seb. I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it." He waved off your gratitude with a faint smile, but the slight crease in his brow remained. He hesitated, then let out a soft sigh. "Although... I do have some bad news."

You tilted your head, a flicker of worry stirring in your chest. "Bad news?"

He nodded, his expression turning serious. "Yeah. As much as I hate to say it, we're going to need to go out and find more food and water soon. This..."—he gestured toward the candy bar—"isn't going to cut it for long. And honestly? I don't want to send you out there alone again. Not after last time."

The concern in his voice was unmistakable, and it struck a chord within you. This wasn't just a passing comment or an attempt at making conversation—Sebastian genuinely didn't want you to face the dangers outside alone. It was in the way his brows furrowed, the subtle tension in his jaw, and the softness in his tone. He cared, and that made the gravity of the situation feel even more real.

You took a breath, the weight of his words settling in your chest. "Well," you said finally, trying to sound more confident than you felt, "we might as well get it over with, right?"

You grabbed your handgun from the table, its weight familiar but heavier somehow with the tension in the air. The ache in your injured arm flared up with each awkward movement as you hoisted yourself into the vent. The cold metal pressed against your palms, and you grimaced, trying to shift as little as possible to avoid jarring your wound.

The vent was cramped and uncomfortably narrow, each movement forcing you to contort your body in unnatural ways. Still, you pressed forward, the dim light filtering through the slats guiding your way. As you made it out of the vent, you paused for a moment to catch your breath and glanced back over your shoulder, just in time to see Sebastian attempting to squeeze himself into the vent behind you.

He struggled, his shoulders scraping against the edges as he tried to wiggle through. A muttered curse escaped his lips as he pushed forward, his face red with effort. You couldn't help it—seeing his usually composed demeanor falter like this was unexpectedly endearing. When his head finally popped into view, his hair slightly mussed from the effort, you bit your lip to suppress a small laugh.

It was... kind of cute, seeing him like that—his normally composed demeanor reduced to an awkward, endearing struggle. You bit your lip, trying to stifle a laugh, but the moment Sebastian's sharp eyes met yours, you knew you'd been caught.