Folded Fondant ~ Sebastian

Zhou's and Strawberries *Part 23*

A/N: A teeny, tiny cutscene that cuts into part 23. One can almost say there is some overlap. And I mean really tiny, like just shy of 900 words tiny. You can blame Lia for that. Sebastian also mentions something here about Blake...that scene is coming. There was a double bonus scene for this chapter, but I had to cut it out since it would infringe on the rating. Sorry about that, it was really just for character development anyway... I hope you enjoy it!

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"...I believe you have a bounty on your head." Her voice sliding dangerously low. A husky murmur that promised so, so much. Fear should have been my main reaction. But all I could think about was how to make her sound like this again. I had a few ideas, all that were too advanced at the current stage of our relationship.

As if that wasn't enough, I watched her hips sway from side to side as her laugh sent a pleasant electric shock down my back. Teasing Pint Size was worth every second of whatever she had planned. So long as I got to hear that.

Her laugh drifted around the corner and I found my feet carrying me to it. Almost as if an invisible string had been wrapped around my legs and they obeyed every tug her peals pulled.

It was Lei's hand that stayed me. Bringing me back to the control of my faculties. But the longing ache in my chest could not be swayed.

"May I ask what that was all about?" She asked curiously.

"That was me getting a warning, and a sign that I should be very, very afraid." I tried to look after her, but Lia was already gone down another aisle.

Lei looped her arm with mine, similar to earlier, and walked us back near the registers. Knowing all I knew now, putting any kind of distance between Lia and myself gave me anxiety. I worried something would happen to her. I worried I wouldn't be there to save her if it did. And I was terrified one of those would lead to me never seeing her again.

I've had a week to process what she told me about her mother. A lousy week filled with disgust and panic. Because I knew Bathilda Romanov. Or more importantly, was familiar with what she was capable of. Thanks to a mutual acquaintance she wasn't aware we had. And no. Lia was not that link. That was enough to fill my gut with fear and serious fucking concern.

My plan to have her move in was a blessing far beyond my knowledge of what the fuck we were dealing with here. I was glad for my impulsive reaction to offer up my spare bed for the simple trade of seeing her eat a real meal every day.

"I am sorry, Lei. I didn't mean to hurt you by implying Lia had turned me down." Guilt started to build in my chest. "Lia and I, we have a playful friendship. I was only teasing her and I'm sorry if it hurt you in the process." It had been a stupid thing to do. I hadn't been thinking, I simply saw Lia daring me to make the wrong move and I snatched up the moment. But seeing Lei's disappointment and hearing the disapproval in Lia's voice, I knew I had made a mistake.

"I can see that. Don't worry so much. It was disappointing to hear, but there's hope yet." She looked me over. "I can tell you care about her. No man would let a strange woman into their home and fuss over her if he didn't. One question, what are your intentions for Lia?" She looked at me calculating.

I answered truthfully. "I want to help her find her way."

"And if that way is to you?" Lei asked with the thinnest veil of curiosity. But I knew better. She wanted to know if I was going to break Lia's heart. If I only wanted to use her. Something this woman wouldn't let me live through if I even attempted it. I didn't need hours with her to pick up on how much she loved the girl currently living in my spare room. I also didn't need hours to find the answer — thanks a lot Blake.

"I'll help her find it," I answered. There was no mistaking my meaning and Lei's face brightened with satisfaction. Lia had been right, this one held onto the hope to see her self-appointed adopted child married off and safe in the capable hands of someone who cared for her. And I had just tipped the can of kerosene into the fire, bolstering the flame Lei had lit.

I'm not going to complain or shy away from what I had started. I meant what I said. My goal was to help Lia find her way. If that way happened to be in my direction, I wouldn't shy away from that either...

"What are you two whispering about?" Lia looked at us suspiciously. Her hand was gripping two pints of ice cream. Her green eyes bouncing between us as if she could extract the conversation word for word by sheer force. I held out the basket to her so she could drop the pints in and free her hands from the cold.

"Walkways and paths, Pints." I couldn't help it, grinning was a common occurrence around her. That was her superpower, making a scowling Sebastian smile. "Find everything that you need?" She put her goodies into the basket.

"Yes," She answered slowly. Still unsure. Still so very suspicious. Yes, I would help her find her way. And if fortune smiled down on me one last time, I'd be at the end of that path.