Chapter Text
It’s the end of school. I’m able to escape the classroom, but Allen chases after me. I look around, and sure enough Seb is waiting in the parking lot. I shove past security and run for him, and I manage to make it to him seconds before Allen. I stumble into the car, and he pushes off the door to move between me and Allen. “I warned you once. You don’t get another warning.”
Allen doesn’t hesitate. He tries to duck around Sebastian: his fatal mistake.
Sebastian grabs his arm in an iron grip and steps forward, yanking him away from me. “I said no. Don’t make me say it again.”
Allen makes another fatal mistake: he punches Sebastian hard enough to knock him to the ground and dives past him, grabs my hand, and tries to run.
I take a deep breath and shut my eyes, and I make the best and worst decision of my interactions with him: I scream as loudly as I can for my brother. “ Flavio! ”
My voice is high-pitched and carries. Flavio hits the ground just past the doors, leaps to his feet, and comes running. I fight Allen’s grip, but as I guessed he’s stronger than I am. Everyone is, especially when I’m this tired.
Sebastian coughs several times and shoves his nose back into place, then his jaw. Flavio slides past him and slams his fist right into Allen’s perfect teeth, which drives him back and sprays us all with blood.
I breathe and manage to yank my hand free. I drop at Seb’s side. “Sebastian.”
“I’m fine, I’m fine,” he brushes off my concern. He sits up and shakes his head; blood goes flying in every direction. He just wipes it on his sleeve like it’s not there. “I’m fine.”
“Repeating it doesn’t make it true. You’re bleeding.”
“I’m fine,” he says.
He gets back to his feet, and I follow. “Hey. Seb. It’s okay to not be okay.”
He sighs and gives me an exasperated look. “I know.”
I reach out and take his hand. “It doesn’t matter if you know. You can’t honestly tell me you’re okay after that.”
He rolls his eyes. “I’ve had worse from our family, okay? I’m not phased.”
Flavio stiffens, which tells me he heard. I sigh. “So have I. That doesn’t make it okay.”
Sebastian’s eyes widen and he goes very, very still. “What?”
“I’ve told you this before, Seb. You keep telling me that doesn’t make it okay. That applies for you, too, y’know.”
He blinks a few times. “Worse than—”
“Him?” I finish with a glance towards Allen. Seb nods. “Oh, yeah. Much worse.”
He shivers. I tighten my grip on his hand. “You can’t honestly tell me you’re okay.”
“It’s not that bad,” he mutters. “Nothing’s broken. I’m fine.”
“Seb.”
He sighs. “I’ll be fine. That better?”
“Yes.”
“Whatever,” he mutters.
Flavio shoves Allen. “I told you to fuck off. I warned you.”
Allen crosses his arms. “You can’t tell me he really cares one way or another.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Seb stiffens again, but I beat him to the punch. I step forward and open my eyes. “Stop saying that. One, you punched my brothers and ruined any chance you had. Two, I never had any interest. I just don’t care enough to tell you off, unless you actually touch me. Lutz is far better than you and I trust him more. Yes, I do care. It takes a hell of a lot to push me to the point I’ll say anything, and once I reach that point you’re fucking screwed. Like Flavee said, sexual harassment is sexual harassment no matter how you look at it. Fuck off. Take me seriously for once and leave me and my family the hell alone. I’m done staying quiet while you say that shit. Stop it.”
I stomp one foot down. “I’m done. Take me seriously or suffer the goddamn consequences. Seb is a lawyer and Flavee’s friend is a cop and you’re so dead.”
Flavio glances back and smiles. “Well, don’t give the punchline away, dear.”
“What?” Allen asks stupidly.
“I don’t think he’s smart enough to put two and two together,” I point out.
Flavio laughs. “Probably not. Point remains.”
Andrés’ dad pulls into the parking lot, quickly spots the fight, and drives right up behind Allen. He gets out of the car, and Seb gestures. “This your friend, Flavee?”
Flavio glances over Allen’s shoulder. “Yep. Ciao, Señor Carriedo.”
“Hola, Flavio,” he returns.
Flavio gestures to Allen. “Dickwad American.”
“This is Lucca,” he adds, gesturing to me. “Fratellino.”
“I see,” the Spaniard acknowledges.
I lift a hand in greeting. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
He laughs. “Good things, I hope.”
“Mostly. Apparently you’re intimidating when you’re mad.”
He laughs again, a friendly laugh. “Right. So I’ve heard.”
Cuffs click on Allen’s resistant wrists. Andrés’ dad stuffs him in the back seat and slams the door. “Well met. Have a nice day.”
He gets in and drives off. I laugh a little. “‘ Have a nice day ’? Really?”
Flavio turns to us and shrugs. “He’s like that. That’s pretty normal.”
Flavio moves up and hugs Seb. “He’s right, you know. Just because you’ve had worse doesn’t make it okay. Practice what you preach. I love you.”
He runs off towards Andrés and his car. I turn back to Seb. “I don’t really wanna go home. Is it okay if I just go with you?”
“Why?”
I sigh. “I wasn’t joking about them being worse than him. They still are.”
He gestures. “Get in.”
No other questions. No ‘ how are they worse? ’. He really has dealt with them before.
I drop in the passenger seat and relax into the leather of the Porsche. He gets in the driver’s seat. I shut my eyes. “I love you.”
“Yeah, I know,” he agrees. “I love you, too, fratellino.”