Sebastian held his breath as the matron began unrolling the bandages— and was pleasantly surprised. The damage was extensive, but it wasn't near as gruesome as he'd been imagining.
Nurse Blainey got up to retrieve some ointments from her office, allowing Sebastian to take a closer look. The curse energy that had sizzled across his skin had left channels that branched across the expanse of his arms like rivers spreading across a map. The web-like pattern reminded him a bit of lightning crackling across the sky. There was something rather intriguing about them Sebastian couldn't help but take pride in. His very own battle scars.
Not to mention— Darling was always making eyes at Professor Sharp and his mangled face, perhaps she'd find these appealing too. But when Sebastian looked up, he found her staring at the marks with wide sparklingly glassy eyes.
"I'm so sorry Sebastian," she said in a small remorseful squeak. "Do they still hurt?"
He couldn't help but chuckle. "Not at all," he said, flexing his fingers as he came to sit next to her. "I think they make me look rather dashing— dare I say rugged?"
Sebastian felt a wave of contented relief wash over him as he watched a smile bloom on Darling's face— but then she burst into unrestrained laughter.
Sebastian raised his eyebrows, "What's funny?" he asked, not sure if he felt more hurt or indignant
"Rugged," she choked, wiping a tear from her eye. "Seb— Sebastian you get out of breath going up stairs—"
Sebastian felt his brows knit together and his lip stick out as he watched her double over, clutching at her ribs. "I'll have you know I carried you all the way up the Bell Tower," he said, giving her a pointed poke to the side. "Quite gallantly if I do say so myself."
Darling only laughed harder, but Sebastian could feel his sulky expression giving way to a smile. After all the tears and stubborn denial of the last week, it was wonderful to hear the sound of her laughter— even if it was at his expense. So Sebastian wrapped his scarred arms around her so she couldn't escape and gave her another little tickle. Her giggles rang out like music, her rosy cheeks flushing with warmth as she squirmed in his hands.
