Okay, this is really just a short fluffly inbetweener, but I felt it was needed after the previous chapter, and I needed some serious relationship development. :)
Chapter 5: Waking Up
When Sebastian woke up the next day the first thing he thought was: Please let it have been a nightmare. However, when he felt a pair of strong arms wrapped around himself he almost had a panic attack. Jerking up and turning around at the same time, he almost fell out of the bed. The only things that stopped him from crashing to the ground were Hunter's arms tightening around him instinctively.
He looked down into his roommates face and found all his worst fears confirmed there. The look of pure sorrow on Hunter's face was almost too much for Sebastian to handle. He could feel himself breaking down again, and this time there was no chance of hiding in the bathroom and trying to shut out the world. Hunter must have seen something in his face because the next instant he had Sebastian cradled against his chest, murmuring soothing words into his ear.
'Sshh, hey, it's alright. Nobody's ever going to hurt you again, I'll make sure of it. Just relax, we'll figure something out.'
And being held there against his best friend's chest, listening to everything Hunter was saying, did seem to have a calming effect on Sebastian. He felt himself release tensed muscles, moving to fit perfectly in those strong arms. But as he let go he could feel the tears starting to well up. It wasn't long before he was a sobbing mess, and Hunter became the only thing holding him up, holding him together.
Sebastian didn't know how long he spent weeping into Hunter's chest, but it took a while before his tears finally dried. After wiping his face for the last time he carefully looked up into those beautiful eyes that he had always admired. He opened his mouth to ask something, anything, but he couldn't get a word out. He just looked up and willed his roommate to understand.
Of course he did. 'It's all going to be alright. This is never going to happen again, I don't care if I have to spend my every waking moment with you, nobody is ever going to do that to you again.'
Sebastian just nodded, unable to convey his gratitude any other way. He leaned his face into Hunter's shoulder and sighed.
'You still tired?' Sebastian nodded again. He didn't trust his voice to work yet, after all that crying.
'Okay, just go back to sleep then. I'll be right here if you need me.'
With that Sebastian lay back down, snuggled his back into Hunter's chest, and drifted back off to sleep.
Hunter realised that he probably wasn't going anywhere soon as he felt Sebastian fall asleep in his arms, so, once he was sure Sebastian was fast asleep, he sent Nick a quick text that they could come over if they were extremely quiet and careful about it.
Not two seconds later he and Jeff were tiptoeing into the room. They gave a slight start when they saw Hunter wrapped around Sebastian like that, but remembered just in time to keep it quiet.
'What the hell?' Nick was clearly confused with the entire situation.
Hunter gave them a quick run-down of what happened after they left the night before and how Sebastian apparently trusted him enough to actually touch him.
'I know it probably sounds weird, but can you blame him for wanting some actual, heart-felt human contact right now? He's probably scared shitless, and if me holding him while he sleeps helps him be a little less scared then I'm willing to spend the rest of my life like this. What those monsters did to him makes my stomach turn, but right now he needs me more than I need to find them.'
He saw the other two exchange glances before turning back to face him.
'I think we all agree on that, but how do we make sure he's going to be alright? He trusts you, yeah, but you can't be with him twenty-four/seven. He's got to go to his own classes and stuff as well. What if he can't handle anyone else coming near him?'
Hunter frowned at Nick, trying to find an answer to all those problems that hadn't occurred to him yet. 'It's only Saturday today, we'll see how it goes tomorrow and take it from there.'
Jeff had been staring at Sebastian's face most of the time, probably trying to be ready in case he woke up, but at that he spoke up. 'Okay, but let him know we're here for him too right? He needs to know he has some friends to support him.'
'Of course, never crossed my mind to do otherwise.'
'Right. Well, we'll be going then, let you get some rest, because honestly you look like crap Hunt.' He got to his feet, pulling Nick up with him. 'See you later Hunt.'
'See you soon guys.'
After making sure Sebastian was still sound asleep, Hunter lay his head down on the pillow and slowly drifted off to sleep as well.
AN: We'll be going back to angst after this, but I really needed this after the monster of 'Presents'. Drop me a review with your thoughts. :)