Archive of Our Own

Out of all the Expendables, I was Sebastian's favorite immediately. 

I had met the guy during my expedition to retrieve the crystal for Urbanshade. He had greeted me with a;

"Psst stranger! Over here!"

Relief at hearing another voice down here with me made me feel less lonely. But I'll be honest, it was his appearance that got me in the first place. Tall with blue eyes, dark hair and sea creatures mixed together with an angler light. Raspy voice that scratched me in all the right places. 

Yeah I guess he was kinda fucked up. Shooting Expendables that bothered him. Threatening to eat them if they didn't hurry along. I was one of the few ones he had met down here. 

Sure he did cause the lockdown and was nicknamed 'the Saboteur' and all—but I wouldn't be lying when I said he was pretty and kind of hot. The way he dragged his tongue across his teeth, or the lidding of his blue eyes.

Or how he slammed the file down during each death of mine. Okay, maybe I died intentionally just to see him. It was the only other breathing soul in ages down here that wasn't an entity trying to kill me or an Expendable that I had bumped into occasionally. Some of the guys were disgusting though. Always trying to hit on me, the only female in their team.

Oh, but Sebastian couldn't handle their flirting. He would growl whenever one would try hitting on me in his shop. And he ended up shooting the guy in the head with his gun.

Pretty fucked up but incredibly attractive nonetheless. 

I had thanked him with a small unsure smile and wave that made him pause in reponse. He'd grumble a 'you're welcome' that managed to make my stomach do flips again.

"You shouldn't just let them hit on you like that. What if I wasn't around to stop them?"

Those words I didn't expect to hear coming from him. I had stopped and turned back. His arms drooped as he's turned away from the vent. Ear fin twitching as I walked back in. He looks down at me, surprised as I suddenly hug him. A grumble that he could shoot me but doesn't. 

I thanked him with a smooch on his cheek on my tippy toes and that's it for him.

Hook, line and sinker.

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I didn't know when Sebastian suddenly started trying, but it was surprising nonetheless. Either he was flirting or he genuinely started liking me.

He'd leave me gifts at the dock. Once a medkit, the second being a speaker with his little sprite talking to me which made me giggle. Painter probably did the animation which was cute.

The few times after that he left me a hand-crank flashlight and two meds. My Sebunny greeted me with a note around a string on his neck. A 'wawa' and I read it. I blushed. Sebastian didn't do subtle. Using my own weakness for my sea bunny to send me something so genuine like a note was a big step for him.

I do a normal run like usual, giddy to get to his shop in one piece. 

My Sea Bunny waddles off into the vent as Seb greets me through it.

"Hey,"

I crawl through and am taken away by the sight in front of me. Sebastian Solace, the most feared thing in the Hadal Blacksite and to Urbanshade, was actually waiting for me to show up and with a bouquet of rotten coral. But the sentiment was still the same to me.

I get up off my knees and hug him immediately. Sebastian huffs playfully.

"You reaaallyy love this huh?" He rasps. He hugs me close to his stomach. 

I nuzzled against him. I lean back some and thank him. "Thanks, I don't remember the last time someone was so romantic to me. You are being romantic, correct?" I tease.

Sebastian huffs. But he smirks with his fangs. His three hands hold onto me and I let him.

"Is there any other way to tell you that I love you?"

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Being an Expendable that got to date the Saboteur meant everything to me. Even if we had to be careful about it, Sebastian definitely couldn't hold himself back now that I was his. 

We'd cuddle, share kisses and even talk mindlessly about some 'future' we both knew we wanted together. 

Sometimes I'm cuddled up to his chest, that fish scent of his that had become comforting to me.

Sure there were times we'd have a small fight together that left him fuming and me teared up over whether we were able to leave together or not. He had been insistent that Urbanshade wouldn't just let him "walk out" alive or risk getting me involved. Those fallouts left me awake at night, hoping we'd be okay.

I had walked past his shop on my next expedition, unable to look him in the eye after the fighting. 

Sebastian had tried reaching me through more gifts, notes that I obviously did get but chose to ignore. Nobody had tried that hard to reach me before, which scared me. 

Again I died to Angler and stood up before Seb could even get one word in as my tears fell. 

I'm busy wiping my eyes, sobbing all the apologies that I could manage. There were so many words that I couldn't get out.

Sebastian hugs me and shakes as he lets me cry.

I grab onto his shirt. Rubbing my face over in his scent. I needed a beacon and Sebastian was my lighthouse. And I wasn't intending on leaving him ever again.

___________________________

"Don't do that again," Sebastian hissed, though there was no venom in it—only a raw, jagged edge of desperation. His grip tightened, his claws snagging slightly on my jumpsuit. "Ignore the gifts, throw the notes away, scream at me if you have to. But don’t look at me like I’m just another monster in these halls. I can’t handle being a stranger to you." His shoulders shake as he holds me in his hands in the shop. 

I couldn't face him in the moment. I shake as I breathe out shakily. "Seb—I'm sorry. So, so sorry. I hated being away from you for so long. I... I just didn't want to lose you."

Sebastian is holding me with desperation. I looked up through my drooping eyes. I'm met with three blue eyes that held so many emotions behind them.

A huff and a heavy sigh leaves him.

His hand tucks my hair behind my ear. I leaned into his touch immediately, cupping my hand around his. I shut my eyes and reopen them.

I watched his eyes—those three piercing points of blue light—soften until the intensity was almost unbearable. "I was just scared," I whispered, my voice cracking. "Scared that if I loved you too much, I’d be the reason they hurt you."

​Sebastian’s grip didn't slacken. He leaned in, his breath ghosting over my skin. "They’ve already done their worst to me, little light. The only thing they have left to take is this." He gestured vaguely between us with a flick of his tail. "So let them try. But don't you dare do their job for them by walking away again."

I leaned in some, pausing some as if he would pull away. My heartbeat fills my ears.

Sebastian shuts his eyes and leans in to kiss me. I grab onto his jacket and kiss him back as passionately. 

His giant hand grabs the back of my head and Sebastian trills into the kiss. Warmth blossoms in my tummy.

He pulls away so I could breathe. I gasp for air as he hugs me tightly. I nuzzle his scarf, inhaling his familiar scent.

"I love you Expendable—Skye." Seb corrects himself as he purrs. 

I smiled and hug his neck back. His giant three hands hold my hips, squeezing them reassuringly. 

"I love you too, Solace."

A content purring leaves my boyfriend's throat and I hold on tightly back, us embracing each other in the shop. Affection swells in my chest, sweet trills coming from my fishy lover in the embrace.

Yeah, but no matter what happened next; we belonged here, together. 

___________________________

I'm sleeping now in Sebastian's arms as he trills. We were both sleeping in the embrace, his shop was closed for now. Although I'm pretty sure even if an Expendable tried entering, he'd shoot them in a heartbeat for being disturbed.

He hums in his throat as he lays curled up on the floor. His long tail curling just right around my smaller frame, perfectly keeping me close. I nuzzled in my sleep, making the giant fish coo to me.

"My Expendable." I hummed at his words.

"My Sebby..." I whispered in reply. He plants an unconscious kiss on my head.

Yeah, I was right at home now. And I was never leaving it.