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“I know,” Sebastian mutters, looking at his feet, his face half obscured by the rim of his hat. He takes a deep breath, and quickly whispers as he exhales “I need to make sure that he won’t go after anyone I may care for in the future.” He looks up, glancing at Ty, then returning his eyes to Cy. Sebastian tips his chin up, quietly stating, “I want to be certain that if I have people in my life, whom I’ve come to care about…, people I love, they will be safe from him. That I can protect them.”
Cy looks like his skin is barely containing his frustration. The muscles of his forearms are tensing as if fighting the urge to pull Sebastian to his chest and hold him safely there. His jaw is clenched tight as if he’s biting back on something big.
This is the first time Ty has seen Cyril acting so out of character. It is both unnerving and weirdly comforting.
Now he knows.
Lending his strength can only take Sebastian thus far…the rest of the distance he must cross alone. The heartbreaking part is, that Sebastian knows it, yet Cyril is the one refusing to accept it.
In the end, Cy takes the tiniest step closer and mutters to Sebastian, looking down at him, “Be careful. I’ll be here. I’ll be waiting. You’re not alone. You never have to be alone again. Whatever happens after tonight, we’ll figure it out. Together.”
Sebastian takes a deep breath, lingering for another moment. It seems he is about to change his mind and lean into the safety of Cy’s arms.
He doesn’t. Instead, Sebastian takes a step back and walks away from them at a brisk pace.
* * *
Sebastian’s mutilatedcorpse is discovered on the shooting range in the morning. Tayida remembers his body vividly – completely disfigured by multiple rounds of bullets that had torn through him with brutal force. Sebastian’s face is almost gone, and the soft tuffs of honey-blond hair hanging on scraps of the skin of his scalp are drenched in blood.
It's a goddamn execution. An act of violence so brazen, it’s shocking even in the context of the environment they’re in – a war-torn state. A shameless betrayal from within committed by one of their own.
Cyril is broken to pieces over his senseless death, going hysterical with grief for days. The memory of whatever had been blooming between them would torture him for months to come.
Their effortless connection, the blossoming chemistry between them was undeniable. A fragile feeling that had turned Sebastian around and given him hope and a new perspective.
Possibly, something just as unexpected had happened with Cyril.
Ty’s notoriously celibate friend, who has consistently avoided getting involved with anyone intimately, had dropped his defenses completely only to have his entire world shattered in the span of days.
Is that what love is supposed to be? Endless episodes of deprivation, a tiny glimpse of joy, swiftly followed by moments filled with an overpowering sense of loss and hopelessness?
Naturally, Tayida is investigated. In fact, he is a prime suspect. He is immediately detained and questioned for hours.
Now Black cares.
Harris Kelly definitely cares.
He is present at all times, silently observing the interrogation.
What Tayida has going for him is his choice to volunteer in the infirmary on the night of the murder. This isn’t his regular night to use his free time helping out, but he figures if Sebastian needs to talk to Cyril after he confronts Harris Kelly, he should give them some privacy. There are multiple witness testimonies that can confirm his whereabouts for hours. Security feed at the camp removes all suspicion from him.
Thomas is gone. The Rangemaster who can make or break his case has not been seen since their last drill on base, days before Sebastian's murder.
Cyril stands by him the whole time. Giving a detailed account of their whereabouts during their mission. Everything he testifies about can be verified. The only information he withholds is Sebastian’s private admissions. It is plain to see that this is a setup. That Tayida is the scapegoat Harris Kelly has been waiting for.
Cyril vows to take that bastard down, and Ty is ready to face hell by his side if it means Sebastian will rest in peace. After hearing his story, he deserves this much.
The only considerate thing to do is to put his own happiness on hold and keep his declaration of love for Rian private. He wants to tell Cyril about it, but this hardly seems like the right time. If anything, he feels selfish even considering it. Even if the death of Sebastian is yet another testament to how fickle fate is – what if speaking his truth now could mean a world of difference for both him and Rian? What if reaching out right now, could affect their entire future together?
There are countless draft emails saved to his account, professing his love. Unsent messages, deleted comments, multiple texts never actually actioned – all revealing his feelings.
I can’t breathe without you.
I can’t live another day without you.
I can’t live without knowing that you love me too.
He can’t simply call Rian out of the blue and blurt out some weird speech about how long he has been in love with him, without talking to Cyril first. His friend is hurting. He needs him, now more than ever.
