Picture of Love

by David Horne

  "Get him to bed, you two have had a busy day."

  Sebastian did as Claude suggested, Tony was luckily not very heavy. Sebastian did pop his head in the kitchen to say good night to Irene who was busy making what looked like lunch for the next day. She smiled at Sebastian but her smile brightened when she saw her son in Sebastian's arms.

  "Good night." She said softly, smile turning fond.

  Sebastian carried Tony up the stairs, once they were in Tony's room Sebastian gently lowered Tony onto the bed. Tony blinked his eyes open when he felt Sebastian taking off his shoes and socks. Tony helped Sebastian remove his pants by lifting his hips.

  Some more shuffling and they were both under the sheets and in each other's embrace. Tony looked at Sebastian and smiled at him.

  "Thank you for coming with me." Tony whispered. Sebastian leaned forward and kissed Tony deeply. Tony moaned softly, hands clutched Sebastian's back.

  The kiss ended gently, both men rearranging themselves so that Tony was resting on Sebastian. They fell asleep soon after.

  The next day it was time to head back as both Sebastian and Tony had projects, papers, and paintings to finish. Irene handed a plastic bag to Tony who grinned like a child handed candy.

  In the car, Tony explained that when he visited his parents every second Saturday his mom would always give him home-cooked meals, they didn't last a week with Tony and Brandon but they were loved.

  The rest of the Sunday was spent catching up on their work, Carly had popped in to hear how it all went and what happened. She wasn't very happy when she was finally told about what happened to her brother and that it was now possibly happening to someone as sweet as Tony.

  She calmed down when Sebastian told her the plan, she seemed to agree that it was best to actually get evidence of what Justin was doing rather than just accusing him.

  That night when he was in his own room, alone in the bed, Sebastian opened his phone and texted Tony that he missed sleeping next to him. Tony replied almost instantly with a sad emoji and a heart followed by a selfie of Tony in bed, a pout on his lips with a caption claiming that he missed Sebastian more.

  Sebastian saved the photo and sent one back for good measure. He smiled when Tony sent a barrage of heart ad kissy faces.

  The smile followed him all the way into sleep. The bed was cold but his heart was warm.

  Chapter Ten

  In the next two weeks, Tony went full steam on his painting, giving it his all, Professor Hunter was amazed at the detail and asked about it only to titter with laughter when Tony imitated a tomato.

  Sebastian and Tony slowly started to be seen together, in lesser populated areas of campus but soon they were spotted holding hands and Tony leaning on Sebastian's shoulder as they walked to a nearby coffee shop.

  The two were sure that Justin had either heard of or seen them by now and was baiting him by going more public.

  They were sitting in one of the grassy areas. Tony dozing on Sebastian's folded leg. A few people who Tony was friendly with slowly made their way closer. Seeing this Sebastian gently woke Tony up. Tony blinked and looked at where Sebastian was pointing. Sitting up slowly, rubbing the beginnings of sleep forming at the corners of his eyes.

  "Yes?" he asked still a little groggy.

  "What are you doing here with him? Tony, haven't you heard of what he's done? He's a bad person." The girl standing in front of the rest. The group leader most likely.

  Tony huffed and crossed his arms, he leaned back into Sebastian as if to prove a point. Sebastian wrapped an arm around Tony's waist, the book he had been reading, pushed to the side after a bookmark was placed between the pages.

  "So, you've heard he's a bad person. Have you seen him doing anything bad? You all hail him as some sort of monster in society but I've gotten to know the real Sebastian. Can you say the same?" Tony asked, his lips twisting in a sneer.

  "You are all such mindless sheep." Tony groused and stood up, Sebastian did the same, and they got their things and started to walk away. Tony ignored their calls for him to think about what he was doing.

  "Stupid, they are all so stupid." Tony groaned, he held Sebastian's hand tighter, his thumb making soothing back and forth over the back of Sebastian's hand.

  Sebastian just nodded. He was somewhat upset by how everyone just blindly followed the rumors but knew he could have tried to fight them and he hadn't. Sebastian dropped Tony off at his next class. Tony kissed Sebastian good-bye.

  ***

  Every second Saturday they went back to Tony's parents' house for dinner and sleepover. It was on one of these nights, with Tony snuggled up to Sebastian while they lounged on the couch.

  Claude came in and sat on a couch, looking at them with a serious look on his face.

  "Here." Claude handed a small black square object with wires and a roll a tape. "The wire, I want you to wear it every day you leave your door.

  " There’s one more thing." Claude sighed and looked at Sebastian, Tony stiffened at the serious look on his dad's face.

  "Sebastian, I know who your father is." That small sentence made Sebastian go ridged. Claude leaned forward and patted Sebastian's thigh.

  "Your dad is my boss but he doesn't know that you're involved, I thought it best to talk to you before anything else. If you don't want me to tell him, I won't, but Sebastian, you’ll have to face him someday." Sebastian looked at Claude, a blank look on his face.

  Slowly Sebastian relaxed and sank back into the couch, he held Tony closer. He kept eye contact as he nodded slowly.

  "But not today, or tomorrow or even next week." Sebastian looked down at Tony who was looking up at him, concern in his eyes. The rest of the night remained relaxed, Claude told Sebastian and Tony that he had installed a remote tracker on Tony's phone, just in case.

  Tony worked hard on his painting, making his last finishing touches, making sure it was perfect. Sebastian had tried for a long while to get Tony to tell him what he was painting but Tony remained stubborn, insisting on that it remains a surprise.

  With just a few days left, Tony took a risk, he was getting frustrated by nothing happening with Justin. He wanted Justin to slip up and threaten him again, he needed Justin to do so. Before he left the classroom, he checked to see if the wire was still working. His dad made someone monitoring the wire when it was activated at all times.

  Walking past the same hallway, Tony wasn't as surprised when he was yanked, he still yelped when he was yanked. Hiss when his back met the wall. He groaned when he was pushed even harder against the wall than last time, causing his head to bump hard as well.

  His mind spun, it seemed that Justin and his goon saw that he was hurt and not paying attention. When his mind cleared up Tony groaned and frowned at where he imagined Justin to be waiting.

  "Was that really necessary?" Tony snarled, he winced when his neck was pressed on harder.

  "You haven't been listening to my warning Tony." Tony hissed at the mocking tone Justin used to say his name. Tony huffed, he arched his back, hoping the wire wasn't dislodged, he had after all, not planned on being handled this roughly.

  "I don't even know who you are. Why would I believe someone who just claimed to start the Sebastian rumors? I asked Sebastian about it. I know who started them. For all I know, you could be someone wanting to make some stupid name for themselves by saying it was them." Tony taunted, hoping that Justin would slip up.

  The taunting seemed to work as his face was once again held in a claw grip. Nails digging into his cheeks.

  "I started them. I was the one who made Sebastian regret not saying yes to me. I started small with little rumors. I knew that people tear the rumors apart, make them worse by putting speculations and so on. It worked but only slightly, they didn't go big enough. So, I planted more rumors, at parties, gathering and even whispered in a few ears. Soon Sebastian was the campus pariah. I was going to approach him again, give him one more chance but then you came along." Justin hissed 'you' with so much venom tha
t Tony couldn't help flinching

  "You came in and suddenly Sebastian who never once looked at anyone was making goo-goo eyes at the campus sunshine. Now, I warned you. I warned you pretty good. I told you to stay away from Sebastian or I’ll do the same to you. You didn't listen. Now I have to teach you a lesson. I’ll make your life a living hell. I am going to start so many rumors about you." Tony shook, in anger but Justin didn't need to know that.

  "Is little Tony scared? How about I give you one more chance? Stay away from Sebastian or I’ll tell all of the campus that you're a whore on the side, that you crave sex and will blow anyone for a quick buck. I’ll make these rumors so horrible it will pale in comparison to what I did to Sebastian. He'll want nothing to do with you when I am finished with you. So, for one last time Tony, and I'll even speak slowly so I know you get it. Stay. Away. From. Sebastian." Tony's head was pushed to the side and his throat pushed harshly back into the wall before he was released. Tony slid to the floor, shaking when his body started to complain.

  It was after a few deep breaths to calm down that Tony registered a wet feeling at the back of his head. Slowly getting to his feet, Tony made his way to the exit of the hallway but felt sick when he took two steps, he leaned against the wall and with some effort got his phone out.

  "Tony?" Sebastian sounded awake. Tony was happy about that.

  "Need help, my head hurts… I feel sick." Tony knew his speech was a bit slurred but his head hurt too much to really think clearly.

  "Where are you?" Sebastian sounded frantic, Tony could hear in the background that Sebastian was searching for something, it jingled.

  "Hallway, when you and Carly found me… I'm tired." Tony sank down to sit on the floor, leaning against it.

  "Tony, stay awake, you stay awake okay? Think about your painting and how much you have been working on it. Think about how I’ll react when I see it. Please don't fall asleep." Sebastian sounded frantic but also slightly far way.

  "I'm gonna take a nap" Tony mumbled like Sebastian hadn't just told him to stay awake.

  Sebastian called Tony's name hysterically, desperate for Tony to hear him but Tony had slid further down and was slowly starting to lose consciousness.

  Sebastian, on the other hand, cursed when he couldn't hear anything. The call disconnected and Sebastian called the only person he knew the number of.

  His dad.

  The phone rang twice before his dad answered, sounding a bit annoyed.

  "Yes, Sebastian?"

  "I need help, please for all that's good in this world, for once just please help me." The frantic tone of Sebastian's voice must have been enough to get Sebastian's dad to listen to him.

  "What's wrong?" He was serious now.

  "My friend was attacked on campus. I know where they are but I need help." Sebastian had gotten into his car and placed his phone onto his lap, on speakerphone. He pushed the speed limit. He parked his car haphazardly, not really caring that he parked like an ass. His dad knew where to send help to so all Sebastian had to do is get to Tony.

  He found the hallway easy enough, the light switch was just inside the hallway. After he blinked his eyes, allowing them to adjust he gasped when he saw Tony slumped on the floor. A blood smear just a few feet away from him. Sebastian ran to Tony and gently shook him to get him to wake up but nothing happened besides a small whine from Tony.

  In the distance Sebastian heard a siren, he didn't really care that much, his focus solely on getting Tony to wake up. Sebastian gently lifted Tony's head onto his lap so his head was a bit more level. It was in doing so that Sebastian found the source of blood.

  "Shit."

  Just then Sebastian heard running footsteps.

  "Come on Tony, wake up damn it." Sebastian shook Tony again. He didn't even notice when his dad, Claude, two other policemen, and paramedics came rushing into the hallway.

  "Sebastian! Tony!" Claude yelled, surprising Sebastian's dad when the man rushed forward and kneeled before the two younger men. He was even more surprised when he saw his normally cold and collected son looking as panicked as he did.

  Irwin Wright was a hard man to get to know, he was cold himself, something both his children inherited. When the rumors started about Sebastian, he was doubtful if they were true but soon, they started to become too much. Sebastian did try to explain but Irwin didn't buy into the story. The rumors continued and Sebastian stopped trying to end them. Sebastian became even colder toward Irwin, moving out of the house and into the pool house. Their relationship had been strained before that when Sebastian didn't want to follow Irwin's footsteps into law but rather music.

  Seeing his son, still so young hurriedly explaining Claude that Tony had called him ad had enough energy to tell him where he was.

  Both Claude, Tony and the paramedics got into the ambulance and Irwin offered to take Sebastian to the hospital but Sebastian didn't even look his way, just said he had his own car and he would get there himself.

  They both got to the hospital roughly at the same time. Claude was waiting for them, he led them into Tony's room. Sebastian walked right up to the chair next to Tony's bed and sat down, he had Tony's hand in his before the two men could blink.

  "Can someone please tell me what is going on?" Irwin almost growled out. Claude gave Sebastian one look, Sebastian just side-eyed him before he nodded his consent.

  Claude took Irwin outside, told him everything he had been told and what they had been up to. When all was said and done Irwin was barely containing his anger. Not at his son, but at this Justin Davis kid.

  "Did someone check to see if the wire was working and recorded?" Irwin saw Claude nod, his attention back to the two men in the room. Sebastian was gently brushing away some hair from Tony's face.

  The look on Sebastian's face made Irwin's heart melt a little bit. Selene did tell him that Sebastian had gotten himself a boyfriend and that he was the sweetest thing she had ever seen.

  Right now, the only sweet thing he saw was his son.

  Sebastian stayed the night, Tony woke up a few times, mumbled happily when he saw Sebastian, turned to face Sebastian only to fall back into a light slumber.

  When Claude and Irwin came back the next morning, they had listened to the recording. It was enough to get Justin in a lot of trouble, at least one hefty fine or a few years in jail depending on what the judge thought.

  Tony, who was still a little mellow from his concussion, smiled all the same, happy that what he went through was worth it. Sebastian did chastise him for being so reckless.

  The plan was set.

  When Tony was given a clean bill of health, only having to come back to remove the stitches at the back of his head in two weeks.

  Tony finished his painting in time for the exhibition. Sebastian ad Tony continued on with their public outings.

  The night of the exhibition came, everyone dressed to the nines, not black-tie fully but fancy cocktail dresses and fancy suits without the ties. The gym was beautifully decorated, the lighting highlighting the artworks and the food tables on each corner of the gym.

  Sebastian was busy going through all the artworks with Tony, one by one to see them all. Tony's work was far into the gym so it would be a while they got to it but Sebastian enjoyed Tony gushing over everyone's work, their style and techniques.

  Then along came Justin. He was dressed in his expensive suit, a drink in hand, sneer on his face.

  "So, is it true?" He asked loud enough to get the attention of those around them.

  "Is what true?" Sebastian asked, arm around Tony's waist.

  "Well, it's just that I heard that you cheated on your English exams. I also heard that you didn't really paint your painting. Are you stealing someone else's work?" Justin had a pretty convincing shocked look on his face. He opened his mouth when neither Sebastian nor Tony moved to defend Tony from the allegations.

  But no sound got past his lips as suddenly his own voice played back through the speakers. Justin blinked in shock as h
is own words spoken to Tony in secret, well not secret apparently.

  When the recording ended Tony smirked.

  "Did you honestly expect me to roll over and just allow you to do that to me? Did you honestly expect me to allow you to continue to get away with what you did to Sebastian?" Tony shook his head, a small wince appearing on his face, his head still smarted a bit when he moved it too much.

  "The fact that you and whatever goon you had with you assaulted my son is more than enough cause for me to arrest you for aggravated assault." A voice came behind Justin causing him to jump. He looked around to see two elderly gentlemen and two police officers, one with cuffs in his hands.

  "Justin Davis, you are under arrest for aggravated assault and extortion." The police officer that wasn't handcuffing a squirming Justin read his rights.

  Sebastian looked around him, people were looking between him, Tony and Justin. He could practically see the wheels turning in their heads, he could also see the moment everything clicked.

  Tugging on Tony's hand, he guided them deeper into the exhibition, using the fiasco to slip away, people were making their way to where Justin was busy screaming about how they had no right to record him.

  Tony soon took over, seeming to lead Sebastian to somewhere.

  That somewhere turned out to be Tony's painting.

  Sebastian's jaw dropped when he saw that he, himself was the subject of Tony's painting. It was very flattering and Sebastian knew from where it was. How Tony managed to get all the details into a painting when he had no reference pictures to use made Sebastian's heart flutter as he realized that Tony must have watched him, looked at him while they were studying.

  "It was my plan to get you here and confess to you when you were still avoiding me but well, I guess I should thank Justin for threatening me. It did lead me right into your arms. Thanks for catching me this time though." Tony joked, getting a snort and smirk from Sebastian.

  There was a moment of silence where Sebastian looked at Tony, his hands cupped his face, bringing their faces closer. The kiss that followed was soft, gentle. Tony's heartbeat rocketed, the kiss feeling different from the rest.