"This is not a question you should ask my Daddy."
"I'll decide what questions to ask, little Seb." Turning back to me, his father pins me with his cold stare and asks, "Well?"
My mind reels. What kind of parent asks this at a first meeting? But the way Sebastian is biting his lip, wide-eyed and tense, makes something inside me shift.
"I don't believe Sebastian is capable of killing someone," I say.
The tension sharpens instantly.
"This isn't about what you believe. I didn't ask you if youthinkhe could do it. I asked: What would you do if my Sebastian kills someone?"
Fair. His father is a tough guy who demands strict sticking to the exact question.
I take a moment to think about it. It's still hard to imagine it, so I try to suspend my beliefs. I look over at Sebastian again. One look at his uncertain expression, the way he's biting his lip, is all it takes to be hit with a frightening realization.
I would do anything for this boy. I want him to be mine. And if he's mine, that would include protecting him from everything and everyone.
"I would help him hide the body and not leave a trace behind," I answer firmly.
Sebastian's eyes widen, then curve into a slow, hungry smile.
Nathaniel hums, unimpressed or maybe intrigued. "What if it's an innocent person?"
"I would never kill an innocent!" Sebastian explodes.
My head continues to spin. How the hell did we get to debating murder?
"I don't believe he'd ever kill an innocent," I say carefully. "But if he did? I'd spank the shit out of him and make damn sure it never happened again. Then I'd still cover for him. My boy isn't going to prison."
The words spill out easily, and I know I mean them. It's probably not a good idea to speak about spanking your partner in front of their father, but fuck this, he's starting to piss me off.
"Interesting." Nathaniel murmurs, sipping his wine.
Then his eyes narrow. "How much darkness can you take before running away screaming?"
His question stuns me.
"I'm- I'm not sure I understand what you mean."
"Daaad," Sebastian whines, but I pat his hand. I can handle this.
I think.
"I don't like explaining myself, but for you I'll make an exception," Nathaniel begins. "The question says it all. We all have darkness inside. How much can you take from Sebastian before you break and run?"
It's a loaded question. A dangerous one.
I have a feeling there's so much more here that I don't know. But regardless of that, I know without a doubt that no darkness can ever send me screaming away from my boy.
"No amount of darkness would make me run. Not from him."
"You're confident," Nathaniel says.
"Because I know who I am. And I know what Sebastian means to me."
"Your relationship is moving fast."
"It is," I admit. "But it's right for us."
