Chapter 22: The First Time: Unable to Walk

The bedroom door closed, sealing out the light and noise from the living room.

Lucian pinned Sebastian against the door and leaned down to kiss him.

This time, Sebastian did not push him away.

His hands rose to clutch Lucian’s clothes, his knuckles white with the force of his grip, but there was no resistance.

Lucian’s kiss was frantic, like a current that had been dammed for too long and finally found an outlet. He moved from lips to jaw, from jaw to neck, all the way down, accompanied by uncontrollable, ragged breaths.

"Wait a second..." Sebastian’s voice squeezed out of his throat, laced with raspiness.

Lucian paused and lifted his head to look at him.

In the dim bedroom, Sebastian’s eyes were watery, his lips slightly parted, and his chest was heaving violently.

"My back..." his voice dropped even lower. "Be gentle."

"I know."

He swept Sebastian up in a bridal carry and laid him gently on the bed.

As the mattress sank, Sebastian’s brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Lucian leaned down, kissing his forehead, his eyes, the tip of his nose, and continued downward.

His hand slid under Sebastian’s clothes, finding the medical brace. "Tell me if it hurts."

Sebastian didn't answer; he simply reached out to pull the boy down and kissed him again.

...

The process was slow.

Lucian didn't dare use too much force, and Sebastian didn't dare make a sound.

Just outside was the living room, where Sebastian’s mother was still watching TV, her laughter occasionally drifting through. Separated only by a single door, they could hear everything; they had to endure everything.

Sebastian bit his lip, suppressing his voice in his throat, letting only the occasional broken gasp escape.

His fingers gripped the bedsheets until his knuckles were ghastly white. Not daring to exert any force with his waist, he could only allow himself to be handled by Lucian.

Looking at him like that, Lucian felt an overwhelming wave of tenderness and heartache.

He leaned down, kissing the corners of the man's eyes and his tightly bitten lips.

"Don't hold it back," his voice was a mere whisper against the man's ear. "It’s okay even if you make a sound."

Sebastian glared at him.

The look said:

Are you insane?

Lucian was nearly driven to madness with suppressed laughter.

He leaned down, kissing him deeply to swallow all his sounds.

...

By the end of it, Sebastian was shivering all over.

He lay facedown on the bed, his face buried in the pillow, shoulders heaving and his back drenched in sweat. The medical brace around his waist had shifted slightly, leaving a red pressure mark on his skin.

Lucian lay beside him, reaching out to scoop him into his arms.

"You okay?"

Sebastian didn't speak; he just burrowed further into the boy’s embrace.

Lucian leaned down, kissing the top of his head, and pulled the duvet up to cover them both.

"Go to sleep," he said.

Sebastian leaned against his chest, eyes closed, his voice utterly wrecked. "I can't make that three o'clock appointment now."

Lucian nuzzled against his head, holding him close while his hand wandered over the man's hip, nearly laughing out loud. "Still thinking about that? I handled it ages ago. She’s probably found her soulmate by now."

"...It hurts. Stop rubbing."

Hearing this, the man stopped his wandering hands and simply held him with a gentle, supportive touch.

"Is the door locked?"

This was a first for Sebastian in thirty-four years. it was strange, yet... he found himself somewhat addicted to the feeling.

"Counselor, can you just relax for once? You're so tired you can barely keep your eyes open, and you're still worrying about the door!"

Lucian patted his back soothingly. "Go on, sleep. When the time comes, we’ll just say you caught a cold and aren't feeling well."

"Mm."

...

Sebastian was woken by a gentle shaking.

He opened his eyes. Only a single bedside lamp was on in the bedroom. In the dim, golden glow, Lucian’s face was inches away.

"You're awake?" Lucian’s voice was hushed. "We have to go."

Sebastian blinked, his mind not yet fully conscious.

"What?"

"To the hotel," Lucian said. "I told your mom you have a fever and need to go to the hospital. But we're going to a hotel."

Sebastian’s brow furrowed.

"Were we caught?"

"No," Lucian smiled, a grin that looked a bit wicked in the shadows. "I said you have a fever, so they think we're going to the clinic. Don't worry, nobody knows."

Sebastian braced himself against the bed to sit up, but the moment he moved, his entire body froze.

His waist was aching.

His rear was sore.

Everything hurt.

His expression shifted as he gritted his teeth and slowly sat up.

Looking at him, Lucian felt like laughing but also felt a twinge of pity.

He reached out to support him.

"Slowly."

Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed for a few seconds, trying to stand.

He got halfway up before sitting right back down.

Lucian watched him.

Sebastian said nothing, but his face began to burn.

"Can't get up?" Lucian asked.

Sebastian ignored him.

Lucian circled to the front of him, leaned down, and cupped his hands under the man's rear.

"You!!"

"I'm supporting you," Lucian said matter-of-factly. "This way you can stand."

Sebastian’s face burned even hotter.

But it was true—he couldn't get up.

He could only grip Lucian’s shoulders, using the boy’s strength to slowly haul himself up.

The moment he was upright, his brow furrowed in a deep wince.

His gait was excruciatingly awkward.

Suppressing his laughter, Lucian helped him into his down jacket, zipped it up, and then knelt to slide his shoes onto his feet.

"Ready?"

Sebastian gave a nod.

Lucian draped the man's arm over his own shoulder, supporting his waist as they walked out.

The moment the bedroom door opened, Sebastian’s back straightened instantly, and every trace of his disheveled state vanished from his face.

In the living room, Sebastian’s mother and a few relatives were still chatting. Seeing them come out, they stood up immediately.

"Oh dear, how is he? Is the fever bad?"

Before Sebastian could speak, Lucian took the lead with a smile.

"It’s alright, Ma'am. Not serious, just a mild fever. I'm taking him to get checked out and grab some medicine."

His mother looked worried. "Go quickly then. The winter flu is serious this year; you can't be careless."

"Don't worry, Ma'am," Lucian guided Sebastian toward the door. "I'm driving, we'll be quick."

"Drive safely!"

"Will do!"

The door closed.

The stairwell light was still dim.

Sebastian stood at the landing, looking at the stairs leading down, his face turning a shade paler.

Lucian looked at him.

"Can't walk?"

Sebastian said nothing.

He simply gripped the handrail and took one slow step down.

As that step landed, his brow furrowed even tighter.

Lucian followed behind him, watching that awkward gait—watching every step look like a form of torture—and suddenly felt a pang of guilt.

He glanced back.

The door to the fourth floor was still cracked open, and Sebastian’s mother was standing there, watching them go.

Sebastian saw her, too.

He said nothing, merely gritted his teeth and took another step.

Two steps.

Three.

By the time they reached the third-floor landing, sweat was beading on his forehead.

Lucian took a step forward and swept him into his arms.

Sebastian was stunned.

"You!"

"That’s enough," Lucian’s voice sounded near his ear, laced with tenderness. "I'm carrying you down."

Sebastian was held in his arms, his feet dangling.

"Put me down."

"I won't," Lucian said as he continued down. "If you walk any further, you won't be getting out of bed tomorrow."

Sebastian opened his mouth to protest, then swallowed it back. He simply leaned into the boy's chest, allowing himself to be carried as they descended step by step.

The dim, yellow light of the stairwell stretched their shadows long against the walls.

Reaching the first floor, Sebastian spoke, his voice muffled.

"...It hurts like hell."

Lucian looked down at him.

The man was leaning against his chest, face hidden so his expression couldn't be seen. Lucian felt both a twinge of heartache and a urge to laugh.

"Alright, alright," he said. "It's all my fault, okay?"

Sebastian said nothing.

Lucian carried him out of the building and headed toward where the car was parked.