"Arielle?" Sebastian asked, "Are you okay?"
Arielle sat there and pondered Sebastian's question as she wrapped up his shoulder and winced, "Doesn't that hurt? I can't believe you got hurt."
"Ari..." Sebastian stopped her, touching her hand, "Talk to me."
"I am talking to you Seb," She sighed, "Are you in pain?"
"My shoulder is fine Ari, are you okay?" He asked once more as she finished up the wrap and put the kit back.
She sat with her back faced him a little longer, "How are we going to get rid of the guilt and death in this house Sebastian? You took lives out there and are we supposed to walk along the halls as if nothing happened?"
"Arielle, any lives that were took tonight deserved it." Sebastian reassured her, "If I hadn't done what I did, you would've been killed. To me, everyone that was lost tonight was done for the right reason. I'd rather lose them than lose you. The guys will have it cleaned up and you won't even notice."
"Maybe they should've gotten me." Arielle muttered.
Despite her voice being soft and quiet that was enough for Sebastian to stand and make it way over to Arielle and lifting her chin with a low, deep voice he asked Arielle to recite what she had said.
"Sebastian I cannot wrap my head around the fact that in anyway, shape, or form the lives of multiple men would've been worth any life one just my own." Arielle sighed, looking him dead in the eyes only to be met with hurt.
Sebastian watched as his lover spoke of her life as if it was meaningless and something she could throw away easily to please a couple more lives on this Earth.
It was times like this that Arielle's heart of gold brought pain to Sebastian.
"How could you let words like that out of your mouth Arielle? What about us? What about me?" Sebastian grunted before standing up and making his way to the bed with his hands in his hair.
Arielle followed as she watched Sebastian change from his pants to a pair of sweatpants.
Despite lacking a shirt, Arielle's eyes stayed at Sebastian's face.
He was getting frustrated, she could tell.
"Sebastian, there are men out there in our hallway that died!" Arielle groaned, "It's not always about us! Those men can't return to their families! There are kids who will not have fathers who return and woman who will wait until they can't anymore for someone who can't come back!"
She continued to follow as Sebastian made his way to his side of the bed and sat with his back facing her, "You will always be worth more to me than any of those fuckers out there Ari, whether you like that or not remember that."
"Sebastian those men—"
"Arielle, can you see it from my eyes for once? For once be selfish as think about us!" Sebastian yelled, raising his voice. "If I had to come in here today and find you were gone... how?"
"Seb—"
"No Arielle." Sebastian mumbled, "How—how could I walk in here today and find your body like that? I can live every night with the burden of those men as I do for the others. But tell me how I am supposed to live at night knowing that I couldn't even keep the one thing that makes me get up in the morning every damn day safe?"
Arielle watched as his back slump down as his hands held his face.
"Arielle, you are single-handedly the only person in this world that I feel so strongly for and if I lost that I don't even know what I would do. If I ever lost you, I don't even know what I would do."
Sebastian looked up only to find Arielle in front of him with tears falling down her cheeks , "I'm just me though Seb... how can I be worth more than any other man let alone multiple."
"In my eyes, you are the most valuable thing out there." Sebastian mumbled, "That will never change my love, don't hold onto that guilt."
Arielle quietly sobbed as she pulled Sebastian closer, "I'm sorry for not considering your point of view Sebastian... that was stupid of me."
Instead of responded, Sebastian just pulled her closer.
She was his home.
He was going to do whatever he could to protect her.
It was a promise he made to himself a long time ago.
Sebastian had known how sensitive Arielle was with the whole death situation. He knew that it was going to affect her and he avoided it as much as he could until he couldn't anymore.
If he had blatantly said it was for her safety, her guilt would never end. He knew it.
***
"Sebastian I swear to god if there ever lies a dead body in this house I'm going to kill you myself." Arielle muttered, watching as Jaxon drove off.
"Arielle, never shoot to kill outside this house let alone in it." He chuckled, "Plus, I know that you live by your words and I would very much like to be alive sweetie."
Slowly, he leaned in for a kiss with nothing but the light of the stars and the light coming off of the inside of the house illuminating the dark night.
The two were in front of their front door, as Arielle was sitting outside waiting for Sebastian to get home that day only to find him talking to Jaxon about a man that had lost his life earlier last night.
"I'm not joking." She replied, pulling away, "A life isn't a joke and even though I know you know that, I still feel the need to remind you that just because we were blessed to live a healthy life with no limitations and disabilities doesn't mean we can take it away from someone else without a second thought."
"I know, I know Ari." Sebastian muttered, pulling her closer, "I have men to do my dirty work and every single one of those men deserve what comes to them trust me. I've inflicted pain but never enough to kill. Your little voice in the back of my head always reminds me."
Arielle rolled her eyes, "It better. Your work stays out of this household regardless. I'm not trained to clean that stuff and I never want to even lay my eyes on it."
"Okay, okay!" He chuckled, "Can I have a kiss now?"
Arielle smiled and gave in and after a long, breathless kiss she pulled away.
"Hey why'd you stop?" He groaned, realizing that he had already had her pressed against the wall.
"Because at this rate if I didn't, your not gonna get that dinner of yours." Arielle smiled, "I made your favorite."
"After dinner dessert then," Sebastian winked before laughing and opening the front door for Arielle, "Thank you for the meal love."
***
Sebastian quickly flipped Arielle into the bed as he continued to pull her closer as he pulled the blanket over them.
Arielle laughed before snuggling closer to the giant man that held her, "Look at me, I look like a complete mess right now."
Sebastian chuckled before placing a kiss on her forehead, "But you're my mess."
Arielle rolled her eyes, attempting to let her mind drift from the situation outside their bedroom door, "You're so cringy Seb, if I didn't put up with you who would."
"I wouldn't know because I don't want anyone else smartass." He smiled, "My world begins and ends with you Arielle."
***
Oooohhhhh!
How did you guys like that chapter?
It contains a flash black scene which is the entire scene that is written in italics.
Honestly, definitely one of my favorite chapters to write so far!
Did you guys enjoy chapter?
It's been a while since I have updated and I've missed this!
Anyways, with that being said I was wondering if you could all go check out my book '12:00 A.M.'
It's a great read and I don't wanna spoil too much! Please go check it out since it won't disappoint!
As of right now, that book is what I've been spending a lot of my time on so you can expect closer to daily updates from that book!
With that being said, please vote, comment, share, and follow for more!
-Anne
***
Updated: 4•20•20