The One || Sebastian Michaelis x Reader

➙ Chapter Six

Sebastian watched as you walked into the orphanage as if done millions of times. He took a second to scan the perimeter of the property and building; it seemed that there was a relatively new playground on the side and the roof appeared to have been replaced recently. He understood then that you really had a hand in fixing up the place and put a substantial amount of money into the orphanage.

He followed you quickly and made it in time to see a hoard of children--most under the age of twelve, but there were some in their teens--rush up to you and berate you with questions and hugs.

The inside of the lobby was painted in pale blue colors but it was beginning to chip and erode away along with the desk that sat with an man behind it and the array of tables and chairs laying around.

"Settle down," you said, laughing and smiling in a way Sebastian had never seen you do before. This time, you were genuinely joyful and happy without being sarcastic or teasing. "Where's Damien?"

The children grew silent and Sebastian had a sneaking suspicion that you knew whatever that meant wasn't good. Your smile turned into a worried frown and you drew your attention to the elderly man that had been writing away at his desk the entire interaction.

"Is he in the back, Mr. Lockwood?" you questioned.

"Yes," he answered shortly and Sebastian guessed he wasn't one for words.

The kids scurried out of your way as you wordlessly went to a door that looked to be able to fall off its hinges. You didn't acknowledge Sebastian, but he assumed he was to follow, so he did.

The room was small, but the interior was a lot more impressive that the lobby of the orphanage. The number of beds were new, but the lone boy, Damien, was hooked up to various period-style machines. He was blonde but his hair had become almost a pale white and he was clearly gaunt and malnourished. It was a haunting sight to see as Damien was nowhere near older than nine, yet he was subjected to such torture.

His eyes opened slowly at the sound of the squeaky door closing and managed a shaky smile at the sight of his favorite person coming to visit.

"(Y/N)," he whispered.

You kneeled next to his bed and put a hand on his forehead, feeling his skin burn your own, almost scorching. Sebastian looked on with interest as he wasn't fully sure what was happening to the child, except it was apparent how sick he was.

"Are you in pain?" you asked in a soft and gentle tone.

Damien merely nodded and began coughing with his hollow cheeks appearing as if they might rip apart at any moment. You reached into your pocket immediately, producing a syringe. You popped off the cap and injected the substance into Damien's arm, praying that it helped reduce some of the immense pain you knew he was feeling throughout his body.

"Thank you," he croaked, his grey eyes closing as he drifted into slumber.

You ran your fingers through his hair and rubbed your thumb over his cheek, then went on to check his vitals. You forgot Sebastian was even with you when you stuffed the empty syringe back in your pocket and continued to fuss over the boy.

People like Damien were the ones you wanted to protect. Society said they cared about ill children, but when one was presented, they turned their backs in fear of being held accountable, but you would never do that. You wanted to be held accountable if anything were to happen because you believed it to be your sworn duty to help them.

"What's wrong with him?" Sebastian question, startling you from your routine.

You faced him. "He needs a liver transplant because he has liver failure and his spleen needs taken out because it's infecting his immune system, making him sicker than he already is."

"Why hasn't it been done yet?"

You grit your teeth and said, "Because the hospitals won't allow me to pay for his treatment since I'm not a legal guardian. I would do the procedure myself, but I would need the new liver first."

"You can do that?" Sebastian inquired next.

"Yes, essentially. I've read tons of medical books and watched the procedures be done. Plus, I have done liver transplants on other children over the years here, including other surgeries," you answers absently as you went to exit the room.

Sebastian trailed behind you once more as you went into another room where the children were playing. You immediately sat down with them, unlike any noble Sebastian had seen before, and began using the toys to make dragon noises and role playing with the kids. Sebastian didn't know what else to do, so he watched and was continuously intrigued by your displays of sentiments. Human nature had never fascinated him so much before.

Out of nowhere, a girl, possibly fourteen, wearing all black and clearly going through her goth phase approached the tall demon.

"Are you (Y/N)'s boyfriend?" she asked in a clipped manner with her arms crossed.

"No," Sebastian answered sweetly--the way he had become accustomed to because the teen acted very similarly to a certain earl he knew.

"Good," the girl said, "because we don't need her going anywhere."

"I'm sure she won't," he assured.

"I know she won't," the teen sassed. "But if you do want to get with her, don't you dare break her heart. She's already done so much for us without asking for anything in return, despite what she's been through." The last part was quiet, as if she wasn't sure she should have said anything.

"What has she been through?" Sebastian wasn't sure he comprehended. Sure, you said something about your parents, but what else could there be to your already complex world?

"Nothing," the girl snapped.

"Piper," you said, appearing next to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. The butler was baffled with the way the girl morphed her attitude and looked up at you innocently. "You're not bothering Mr. Michaelis, are you?"

"Of course I am," Piper answered truthfully.

You laughed--the first sound of its kind that Sebastian had heard bubbling from your throat. It was now that he realized before you came here how tired and exhausted you truly appeared, but in the orphanage, you were a totally different being. He then understood what Piper meant when she said you had been through more than he knew, and that meant there was a lot more to learn about you. But, of course, Sebastian would get to the bottom of it.