Bryn heard him but in his panicked state he mistook the worry for anger and it only made him more upset. Maybe Sebastian would choke him to death for being too annoying. Maybe he would do it right now because Bryn couldn't calm down, or even slow his breathing. His lips trembled softly as he looked up at Sebastian, glassy-eyed and unsteady. "Please… please, I don't wanna die."
Sebastian's eyes widened.
"Do you think that's what's going to happen? You think I'm going to… kill you?" Sebastian asked in a calm and gentle way. "That's not going to happen. And I'm not letting anyone else touch you." He slowly let go of Bryn's shoulders, sitting down on the steps next to Bryn.
Bryn laughed scornfully, hugging his knees to his chest. "That's what always h-happens. You… you kick too hard or you p-push the wrong way and you… you forget we're breakable and then… then we d-d-die!" There were tears falling down his face, slow at first and then in heavy torrents that had him choking for breath. "Or worse… you decide we're too b-boring and take us apart for… for fun."
"Bryn…" Sebastian didn't know what to say. Bryn was acting more and more human, and it conflicted with everything Sebastian had been told about demons.
When had Bryn started to cry, the servant who had opened the door quietly left the room. When they returned, Sebastian's father followed behind.
"Son, I'm so sorry your demon is broken. I'll get you a ne-"
"That's enough father!" Sebastian shouted, cutting his father off. "I don't want a new demon! And it isn't broken!" Sebastian protectively put an arm around Bryn, glaring at his father.
Bryn trembled at the yelling, burying his face in Sebastian's neck with a soft whimper. Sebastian was mad and when humans got mad they tended to use the demons around them as punching bags. It was best to be as submissive as possible, to let Sebastian do whatever he wanted and pray he would calm down. "… sorry, 'm really sorry. I'll be good, please, just don't… don't hurt me sir. I'll be good."
Sebastian continued to glare at his father as he held Bryn. Finally, still shocked by his son's behavior, simply walked out of the room.
"I'm not gonna hurt you Bryn," he muttered, putting his other arm around the demon as well.
"I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."
"You already d-did," Bryn sniffed, hands pressed gingerly against Sebastian's chest. He didn't know if he wanted to push him away and scream or stay wrapped up in his arms forever. He settled on muffling a sob in Sebastian's neck and weakly grasping at his shirt. "You're a human, I can't t-t-trust you."
Sebastian stayed silent, because he knew what Bryn said was true. He had already hurt Bryn, and he sure as hell wouldn't trust himself if he was in Bryn's place. He couldn't really apologize either. Instead, he just held Bryn in the embrace and listened to what Bryn had to say.
Bryn seemed emboldened by the silence, but he didn't pull his face out of Sebastian's neck. It was easier to speak if he pretended he was being held by someone he knew. Someone he liked and trusted and felt safe around. "It's like you forgot we were p-people. I'm not just… just some pet or some p-possession, I have a soul and a m-mind and a… a life. And you just st-steamrolled all of it so you could buy me as a fucking t-t-toy!"
Sebastian looked at the ground. Everything Bryn was saying conflicted with what Sebastian had been taught his entire life; he was confused, and guilty, and ashamed.
"Bry-" He didn't finish Bryn's name- Bryn was right. Sebastian had no right to know Bryn's name, and the knot of emotions in his stomach clenched when he thought of how he learned Bryn's name.
"I-" He cut himself off, knowing he would end up saying something stupid. Instead, he simply held Bryn tighter, still careful not to hurt Bryn more than he already had.
Bryn tried to speak again, but it was cut off by a pained whimper. He shoved his face into the crook of Sebastian's neck, muffling the sobs that wracked his body, and when he finally stopped crying he was totally drained. He sagged bonelessly in Sebastian's arms, no energy left to do anything but take quavering little breaths and shake.
Sebastian, when Bryn stopped crying, stood and gently picked Bryn up bridal style, resting Bryn's head on Sebastian's chest. He struggled for a moment, but brushed this aside and started to carry Bryn up the stairs. He needed to get Bryn to the in house doctor, now. The way Bryn's head was resting on Sebastian, Bryn would be able to hear Sebastian's heartbeat.
Bryn's breath hitched quietly when he was picked up, the only outward sign that he was aware of what was happening. His limbs felt like they were being weighed down and his head was all fuzzy like it had been packed full of cotton balls. He did his best to lean into Sebastian, comforted by his warmth and the steady pulsing of his heart.
When Sebastian reached the top of the stairs, he started maneuvering through what can only be called a maze of hallways; there were many turns, and all the walls seem to be the same. Eventually, though, he stopped in front of one door, in particular, kicking it three times with his foot since his hands were busy carrying Bryn. The door was opened by a woman, presumably the doctor, opened the door.
"Ah, young Master Sebastian. I see you've been 'playing' with your new demon?" She asked sweetly.
Bryn flinched at the word 'playing', shoving his face even farther into Sebastian's chest. He already didn't like this lady with her high voice and chemical scented office. He whined and grasped weakly at the collar of Sebastian's shirt to get his attention. It took a long time, but eventually, he managed a quiet "… no."
Sebastian hesitated for a moment after Bryn protested. He didn't want to upset Bryn anymore, but after the injuries Bryn has sustained, Sebastian couldn't afford to listen.
"It's very weak, it's having a hard time breathing and can't really move on its own." The doctor nodded, stepping to the side and motioning for Sebastian go into her office. He stepped in, carrying Bryn to the table inside. He set Bryn down gently, staying by his side as the doctor started to check Bryn over.
Bryn tried to cling onto Sebastian, but his grip was weak and he was set down easily. He squirmed weakly under the doctor's hands, whining and flinching away as best he could. "Please," he whimpered softly, clutching at Sebastian's sleeve and giving him his best kicked puppy look. "Don' like it. Thought you cared."
Sebastian put his hand lightly on Bryn's but did nothing to stop the doctor. The doctor, after having pulled Bryn's shirt off to better examine his torso, finally stepped back.
"There's severe bruising, but it has nothing more serious than a few cracked ribs. I would suggest, however, to keep the roughhousing to a minimum for about six weeks if you want it to heal properly."
"Thank you, Doc." Sebastian sighed in relief that there wasn't anything more serious wrong with Bryn, but he was still concerned.
It, Bryn echoed nastily in his head, whimpering when the doctor took his shirt. His grip on Bryn tightened and the fear and discomfort on his face weren't faked anymore. He was breathing too quickly and curling inwards like he was trying to avoid being seen. He wanted to whine the human's name, but he didn't know it. Instead, he settled on a desperate "Please, no!" and tried to struggle into a sitting position away from the doctor using Sebastian's arm.
The doctor raised an eyebrow but said nothing when Sebastian didn't try to stop Bryn. Sebastian hastily grabbed Bryn's shirt from where the doctor had set it down, handing it to Bryn.
"Bryn, it's over. You can put your shirt back on," he said in a low tone so that only Bryn would hear him. Not wanting Bryn to hurt himself more, Sebastian helped Bryn into a sitting position so Bryn could put his shirt back on.
"… hate you. I hate you so much." Bryn was still shaking as he tugged on his shirt, movements jerky and uncoordinated. He leaned away from Sebastian once he was balanced again, uncomfortable with his touch once more.
Sebastian was miffed. He really was concerned about Bryn's well being, and he was just trying to help. If he had been hurt like Bryn, the doctor would have done the exact same thing to Sebastian. Sebastian gave an exasperated sigh.
"Here," the doctor said, holding out two pill bottles; one white and one orange.
"What are these for?" He asked.
"The orange one is painkillers for the demon; the white one is migraine medicine for you."
Bryn stumbled to his feet, bracing his hands on the examination table when his knees threatened to give out. "I said no," he murmured quietly, knuckles white from the way he was holding the table. He could feel phantom hands all over him, forcing down his hips, resting cold and cruel on his neck, running smoothly down his chest, and he hated it. "I… I don't…"
Sebastian looked to the doctor, motioning to the door with his head. Nodding her head, she left the room quietly. Sebastian turned back to Bryn.
"You don't want to what, Bryn? Get better? Be here?" Sebastian moved closer to Bryn, putting his hand on Bryn's shoulder and speaking in a low tone.
"Be mine?" The last part came out as a whisper, but Bryn would definitely be able to hear it with how close Sebastian was.
Bryn flinched when Sebastian touched him, shrugging off the hand with a panicked little jerk. He scowled defensively up at Sebastian, vulnerability hidden behind a mask of poisonous pride. "I don't like being touched. Especially not by things like you."