Twisted Hearts

Chapter 12: “Who we used to be”

There was a softness in Gabriel’s tone that reminded Sebastian of the past. It felt like years since he’d seen the warmth, the care that always shone in the other man’s eyes when he truly cared about something, or someone. It was one of the reasons Sebastian couldn’t help but fall in love with the boy who was his best friend. It was who Gabriel was that took his breath away, the heart and determination he had.

But the thought of who they were, quickly made him see who they become. Gabriel wasn’t that boy anymore. His eyes were hard, determined but filled with a cold. Somehow Sebastian could see that Gabriel was pushing everyone away. Not just him, and he could also feel it that he was the one to blame.

Slowly licking his lower lip, his grip on the coffee mug tightened. He hadn’t taken a sip since Gabriel had left him to change. He glanced around the kitchen, seeing no hint that a person lived there. It was a beautiful house, but it lacked the warmth that made it something more.

Just like Gabriel…

Leaning back, Sebastian let a groan out, his head tilting to the ceiling. His hand wiped at his face, “What the f*ck did I do to us baby?” He though bitterly; turning to the stairs as Gabriel walked down. Gabriel sat down opposite him, Sebastian glanced down at the mug in his hands, swirling the coffee a little.

He blew out a sigh, “My last year at the boarding school, and the day before graduation. We had our parents come to wish us good luck; I had been voted the best so I got to see my father in private as a reward. That day; my dad came up to me and said he was proud, proud I’d finally become the man he’d always wanted me to be. He had a special treat for me that night.” A bitter laugh burst through Sebastian as he could see the night play out before his eyes. He shifted his gaze away from the mug, to Gabriel.

The man was listing attentively. It caused a slight smile to twitch up his lips at Gabriel’s concentrated face. He still made the same expression. His eyes narrowed lips pressed and tight and as Sebastian thought, his ears stood a little straighter, touching the edged of his curly hair.

“My special surprise turned out to be a girl, my dad wanted me to sleep with her so I could approve I was a real man. I said no, told the poor girl I was gay and she wasted no time running to my father. He was furious with me, yelling how he’d sent me to the military school so I could stop acting like a little bitch.” He shook his head, anger bubbling all over again. The scars had never healed, the once on his back had, but emotionally, it all felt like it had just happened yesterday.

“Did he beat you?” Gabriel stuttered softly; his voice thick with emotion.

Sebastian shook his head, trying to clear the memory. “No, why would he? He had always been a coward.” He muttered, his voice hard, cold, “He had the commander order me whipped as a punishment.”

“Why did you never have him arrested? Sebastian what he did to you was abuse. All of them should be punished, I’ve handled cases like these. Of course the statute of limitation must have expired on your case because you’re no longer a minor, but you were still abused, worse, because of your sexuality…” Sebastian cut Gabriel off before he could continue; the look on his face was replaced by one of pure amusement as he had watched Gabriel.

“He was still my father Gabriel, and besides if I said anything he’d”—Sebastian paused at his words, realizing what he was about to say. He glanced at Gabriel, his heart beat had rose slightly. –“Never mind, we should leave so we can scour the place before we have the meeting.”

There was a notable hesitation in Gabriel, “Yes sure, we should leave.”

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Gabriel leaned by his car, watching Sebastian cross the road to the small Café they were going to meet Alexander. He noted everything about the other man as he moved, Sebastian had the solid grace of a predator slowly stalking his prey, and it always unnerved Gabriel how he moved. Even when they were younger, Sebastian was a real catch with the girls. Which meant that Gabriel was hated because he always managed to have Sebastian at his back and call, and that was before they knew anything of the depth of their emotions for each other.

He tucked his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and blew out a soft breath. Hid phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out.

Dad

He glanced at the screen, swallowing thickly as he turned off his phone and leaned back against the car. Sebastian was crossing the distance to meet up with him again.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, leaning besides Gabriel, their shoulders brushed and Gabriel stilled, tempted to draw back but he stopped himself.

A frown twisted Gabriel’s features, how does he know something is wrong?

“How did you?”—Gabriel shook his head—“Never mind, it’s nothing…serious. Just fighting with my dad,” He muttered, his voice dropping low. Sebastian playfully pushed him by the shoulder, causing Gabriel to look back at him. A smile had lit up his features.

You really are beautiful.

The though came and went in the blink of an eye, leaving only a deep feeling of dread as Gabriel looked away. Back at the small Café and resisted the urge to groan. “Want to talk about it?”

Gabriel, shut his eyes, “No, not really.” He groaned, tilting his head back. He didn’t want to make Sebastian into his confidant, the less the man knew about him, the less access he had into his life.

“It helps when you talk it out, trust me.” There was a kindness in Sebastian’s voice that made him hesitant to refuse the offer. He did need to talk about it. And given he was trying to stay away from his dad and brother; Gabriel really didn’t have anyone else in his life. Over the years he had accumulated a lot of enemies, but no friends. He wasn’t even close to his family, not as close as he used to be.

What could I possibly lose? He thought, defeated.

“My stepmother hates me,” He muttered, opening his eyes andad turning to Sebastian. “She and my stepsister, at least it used to be that way. Alice doesn’t hate me at all, but Gwen has been trying to get rid of me for years. Yesterday was the final push she needed to drive me away, and now I’m just trying to stay away from her and my dad.”

“Do you want to stay away though?” Sebastian asked his voice soft, calm.

Gabriel glanced back at him, his heart beating slightly frantic, “What?”

Sebastian shook his head slightly, pushing off the car as he toward over Gabriel, too close to be deemed appropriate, but Gabriel made no sign of protest.“ I’m curious. Do you want to leave your family Gabriel?”

He shook his head, a sheen of confusion adding to the one he felt, “What do you mean?” He frowned slightly, ‘”It’s what’s best for everyone, without me there my dad won’t have to stress about me fighting with Gwen.” When he placed it like that, it made absolute sense to him.

“Are you sure that’s the reason, or you just don’t want to be close to anyone, why are you distancing yourself from the people around you Gabe?”

I’m distancing myself? The thought felt absurd, if anything his current position showed he wasn’t.

“I’m not distancing myself from anyone; I should be distancing myself from you.” He shook his head, the memory of the kiss coming back strong, vivid. But this time it brought anger instead of passion, or...love. He could see it happening all over again, him letting Sebastian get too close, getting hurt.

“You know what? Forget I said anything. Let’s get this done with already.” He pushed himself off the car and brushed past Sebastian, walking to the Café.

Running away like a coward? A voice taunted, Gabriel silently shook his head, he wasn’t running away, this time he was going to do the smart thing. He wouldn’t be swayed by his feelings or his heart. He thought with his brain. He wasn’t the little boy he had been back then.

He pushed the café door open, causing the bell above his head to ring. The sound was amsll. But to him it felt like the ringing of hells bells. From the back of the café, two men dressed in suits walked out, whispering silently between each other as they saw him. The first moved towards him, he could feel Sebatsian appear from behind him, causing the bells to ring once again.

This time the sound felt stronger, and Gabriel realized with a new sense of danger, that he had just walked into a new type of hell.

“Are you Gabriel Hastings?” He dared not flinch as the man pushed back his suit jacket, revealing his gun.

“Yes I am,” He nodded towards Sebastian, “He’s with me,”

“Okay, Mr. De La Rosa will see you now.”