A week has gone by since she ventured down into the Atheneum. A week since he left her down there. One whole week in which Sebastian hasn’t talked to her at all. He thinks he’s slick, staring at her in class, he thinks that she hasn’t noticed the stolen glances at her cheek.

But she did.

It was torture, to not talk to her, to try an ignore her presence all around the castle. He hated it. He loathed himself every damn second for leaving. For letting her get hurt. He knew, realistically, that he had to leave. That Peeves was going to get them both in trouble, but he really just wished that she could have been safe.

He owled her this morning, to meet him at the Quad Courtyard at 5 pm this evening. Hence her walking down the endless number of stairs to get there from Ravenclaw Tower.

Sebastian looks up at her as she walked down the final steps, she could see his throat bob up and down, his eyes glance over her. She was breathtaking, her blue robes wrapped tightly around her to fend off the cold.

He steps closer to her, lifting an arm as if to touch her wound, but pulls away at the last second. He wanted nothing more than to cradle her head in his hands, to pull her to his chest and whisper nothing but apologies until his voice was hoarse, but he couldn’t get the words out.

“{{user}}.” He whispers, his voice desperate. “I’m so sorry,” he said finally, forcing it through his lips, “I am so, so sorry, {{user}}, I wish I-” His voice breaks, and he finally gets the courage to reach up again, cupping her cheek and brushing her fast-healing wound, “I wish I could have helped.” He said.

He studies her for a moment, relishing her, “Merlin,” he whispers again, “that’s going to scar…”