Page 32 of To Cuddle A Gremlin

“Stop arguing, everyone! Typhon, you focus on what you’re doing. Stop listening in on their baseless argument. Sebastian, you think you’re being helpful? You’re not. And Isadore, stop jumping to conclusions and allow yourself to heal,” Bale ordered. “You’re all children. Fucking hell, no wonder Darius is a recluse.”

Isadore fell back once more and allowed himself to relax under Typhon’s gentle magic. Warmth knitted his bones together. The sensation was odd, but kinda nice. Sebastian held his hand, squeezing and releasing in a nervous tic. His anxiety was understandable. This was beyond his comfort level. But he was still there, right by Isadore’s side.

Isadore woke up in a bedroom not his own. The walls were painted a soft grey, and the bed was comfy. Something was different, but he couldn’t place his finger on why his brain said so. Gentle snores to his right were animalistic. The heavy weight on his stomach was also new. Staring down, he met the golden eyes of a black-and-white cat. The creature smiled at him before launching off and disappearing. Isadore groaned at the sudden pressure, which woke up his bed partner.

“What’s going on?” Sebastian mumbled before opening his eyes wide. “You’re awake. I gotta get someone.”

Isadore smiled dimly before lurching upward as Sebastian fell off the bed in his haste. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m fine. The ground’s soft. I’ll be right back.” Sebastian placed a smacking kiss on Isadore’s cheek and scrambled out of the room. Isadore lay on the bed and stared at the popcorn ceiling, baffled by the seeming shift in Sebastian’s behaviour. He was pleased, but the relief was palpable and still confusing. What caused the change?

A man in his mid-thirties, with long black hair pulled away from his face, stepped into Isadore’s room carrying two mugs of steaming herbs. “Hi, I’m Darius, and you’re in my house. WhatTyphon did to you knocked you on your ass, and he didn’t have a proper recovery spot in his hovel.”

“Right. And Sebastian?” Isadore asked. His mind was still floaty, but the pain in his leg had been muted to something manageable.

“He’s been worried. Typical behaviour for him. Bale told me you had words. So we had a small chat. As old friends do.” Darius sat on the edge of the bed. He passed one mug to Isadore and sipped his own. “He’s terrified.”

“I don’t understand why. Haven’t I proven myself to him? Why can’t he trust me?” Isadore hit the mattress beside him and growled.

Dare waited patiently before speaking. “He hasn’t had the best luck with boyfriends. And when his family began whispering about curses, the words clung to his psyche. You are likely the only person who’s stayed by his side, shouting at him and reminding him his narrative is false. The different angles of his story are at cross-purposes, which caused a lot of anxiety. Just think, he could have dumped your ass with us and abandoned you.”

Isadore wrinkled his nose. The mere idea of Sebastian not showing up wasn’t jiving with the person he knew and cared about. “He’d never. He’s too nice for that.”

“You are worth combating his negativity. You see him as someone worthy of being understood. Do you realize how special that is?” Darius leaned back. “You believe in him so much he’s beginning to see that he’s more than what a few people think. That’s not to say there aren’t going to be setbacks. Cause… whoa, nelly, he’s got a mile of issues. But he’s here. With you.”

“You have shitty bedside talk.” Isadore sipped the fragrant tea and thought about what Darius was trying to say, and it made so much fucking sense. Relationships didn’t stop being work, but the rewards made the effort better for it.

“Never said I was going to be nice. That’s not my thing. Anyway, once Sebastian’s had some time to wake up and get a cookie or something in him, I’ll send him back.” Darius patted his leg gently before standing. “Keep fighting your good fight. Patience is key when dealing with feelings, according to everyone else.”

“I am very familiar with the adage, and I’ve been following it religiously. What is the point of you sharing trite sayings?” Isadore settled against the pillows and blew out the anger.

“Seemed right. Anyway, rest. You can stay here for however long you want. Don’t rush the healing.” Darius sidled out of the door, leaving Isadore alone in the cozy room.

Darius’s parting remarks distracted him from the worry of Sebastian and the dull throb below his knee. To have someone like Darius, both hero and anathema to Granite, give him common platitudes to bolster his ego about his love life, annoyed him. Isadore expected more wisdom or relative experiences, not sayings.

“Isadore?” Sebastian tapped on the door and peered in. His brow was still wrinkled, and a worried look haunted his eyes.

“Don’t stand there and hover. Especially with what you’re hiding. It smells like ginger and deliciousness.” Isadore waggled his fingers, beckoning Sebastian to come closer.

“Bale is an avid baker, and he showed me a few tricks.” Sebastian sidled into the room with a small plate and passed it to Isadore. “I was thinking maybe this is a bad idea.”

“Bale’s cookies? Fuck no, man. They are amazing!” Isadore bit down on the soft baked cookie and moaned. The taste was a combination of flavours he never wanted to end. “And whatever you’re trying to say, I’ll counter it.”

Sebastian sat down near Isadore’s hip. “You don’t even know what’ll come out of my mouth.”

“I don’t have to. I know you, my sweets.” Isadore bussed the sugar-sparkled lips before sitting back and taking his own cookie. “You’re going to tell me you jinxed our date and that’s why my leg is broken. Therefore, you must break us up for fear of something like this happening again.”

“I wasn’t going to say it like that,” Sebastian whined. “You have to see reason.”

“I do, which is why I have an idea. You will go out with Charles a couple of times. He’ll show you that you're not a jinx and that bad luck does not follow you.” Isadore ate another cookie and smiled at Sebastian. Isadore had a momentary concern Charles wouldn’t agree to his plan, but if he explained his thoughts, Charles might jump on board. He wanted to see Isadore and Sebastian succeed.

“You can’t just suggest a person to help me with dating. It’d feel like I’m using them. Like what happens if my bad luck curse happens?” Sebastian flailed, almost falling off the bed. “He has to know?—“

“He’s my best friend, Bas. I tell him most everything about the events in my life. He sympathizes with you. He’s really happy for me. It’s a good thing.” Isadore scooted over on the bed and patted the empty spot for Sebastian. He only hesitated for a brief minute before settling beside Isadore.

“I guess. But Isadore…” Sebastian laced their fingers together and shook his head, unable to continue. Isadore took the hand-holding as a gift and didn’t push. Sebastian was at the end of his tether.

He hadn't said no. He hadn't run out of the room as though his hair were on fire. Isadore accepted that this was the best he could do under the circumstances. It was as Darius said. Sebastian was still here in the house, with Isadore, when he could have left. He was sitting beside Isadore, their hands together.

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