8th October, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
"You think she's okay in there?" Sebastian sighs, watching the small girl shift restlessly in her bed through the baby monitor.
They had put both August and Lux to bed for the night a few hours ago but whilst August fell asleep pretty quickly Lux seemed to be struggling a bit. She had managed to get a little sleep - little being the operative word.
"Just give her some time." Vincent says. "I'm sure she'll settle"
Sebastian nods, setting the monitor back onto the bedside table before begging to undress himself so he can change into a more comfortable set of clothes for the evening.
---
Meanwhile, Lux lays in the tiny toddler bed, her back pressed against the soft guardrails that made her feel as though she were trapped in a cage. She was struggling to sleep, partially from the anxiety of being in this prison but also because she's been sleeping a lot during the past two days.
She shifts again in her bed, turning away from the wall to look out over the room instead. Her room. It felt weird hearing the men refer to it as her room. Her real room was back in New York.
Her eyes graze over her surroundings. It was dark but the nightlight that one of the men turned on before they left the room made it bright enough for her to see pretty well. Her eyes wander, her gaze drifting over the arm chair in the corner of the room, across the wardrobe, the chaining table and the curtains which have little red ladybugs decorating them. That's when a small bookshelf on the wall catches her eye. She must of missed it earlier but she wonders how because it seems to be filled up with many colourful books.
And to Lux, it looked kinda magical.
She found herself more than ever wanting to go over and pick up a book simply to cure the aching feeling of boredom which was starting to seep in.
Would she get in trouble? What if she got caught?
Her mind raced with thoughts. So far, she hadn't been abused or punished in any way but there was no saying what they would do if they found her out of her bed during the night. Lux chewed her bottom lip, her gaze fixed on the bookshelf.
The books seemed almost normal in comparison to this nightmare she found herself in.
Just one, she thought. I'll be quick. In and out. They won't even know.
Carefully, she pushed back the soft blanket covering her and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Placing her feet on the floor, she slowly stands up, making her way towards the bookshelf; her heart pounding in her chest.
She reached out, running her fingers along the spines of the books. They were colorful, almost cheerful, and a pang of longing welled in her chest. Her hand paused on oneâThe Tale of Peter Rabbit. She hesitated, then carefully pulled it from the shelf, wincing as the book made a soft scraping sound against its neighbours.
Clutching her prize, Lux tiptoed back to her bed, her ears straining for any sound of movement from the men. The house was still. She slid under the blanket and propped the book open, its colourful illustrations illuminated by the soft light of the nightlight.
It was a book directed towards children but she didn't really care too much. She was proud of her little act of rebellion - even if it was just reading a storybook after lights out.
Her eyes skim over the title page where 'The Tale of Peter Rabbit' was written out in big fancy letters. She had heard of this book before but she hadn't once read it. Even in her childhood, there were never many books around the house for Lux to read so she ended up spending most of her time flicking through the grownup magazines that her mom regularly brought home.
She reads the words slowly, allowing her fingers to trace over the illustrations of the small rabbit. For a moment, Lux forgot her situation. he smiled faintly at Peter Rabbit's antics, the silly way he always found trouble despite trying to avoid it. It was a tiny spark of happiness, a fleeting moment of peace.
But peace was short-lived.
A creak echoed in the hallway. Lux's stomach dropped. Her head snapped up, her eyes darting to the door. She froze, the book still nestled in her lap.
The door opened with a soft click. Sebastian's silhouette appeared, bathed in the glow of the nightlight. He stepped inside, his expression unreadable as he glanced toward the bed.
"Lux?" His voice was soft but carried a weight that made her hold her breath.
She stays still watching the tall man stand in the doorway. Her drops down into her stomach when he takes a few strides towards the bed, crouching down beside her. He tilted his head, his gaze falling on the book resting in her lap. His lips curved into a small, knowing smile, and he reached out, gently brushing his fingers over the cover.
"Peter Rabbit," he murmured. "A classic."
Lux tightened her grip on the book, half expecting him to snatch it away. But he didn't. Instead, he sat down on the floor beside the bed, his posture relaxed.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his tone gentle.
She hesitated before giving a small nod. "Too much nap." she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sebastian chuckled softly. "Yeah, that happens sometimes." He glanced at the book again, his expression softening. "You like it so far?"
"It's... nice"
Was this a trap? A trick to get her to admit she'd been disobedient?
Sebastian leaned back on his hands, his gaze drifting toward the bookshelf. "You know, I used to read that to my little sister when she had trouble sleeping," he said, his voice carrying a tinge of nostalgia. "She loved the part where Peter hides under the flower pot. Said it was brave, even though he was scared."
"You have a little sister?" Lux asks quietly, mentally slapping herself for letting curiosity get the better of her.
"I do baby" Sebastian's smile deepened as he looked at Lux, a flicker of warmth in his eyes. "She's all grown up now, though. Lives halfway across the country with her own family. But when we were kids, she was my shadowâalways getting into trouble, just like Peter Rabbit."
She nods slowly, glancing back down at the book.
After a moment, Sebastian reached out, gently closing the book and setting it on the nightstand. "Tell you what," he said, his voice light. "If you can't sleep, I'll read it to you. Just like I did for my sister."
"I can read it myself," Lux muttered, though her resolve was weakening.
"I know you can sweetheart" Sebastian said with a small smile. "But sometimes, it's nice to let someone else take over. Helps you relax."
She stays silent for a few seconds. Apart from 'circle-time' in elementary school, she's never had anyone willingly read to her.
"Okay." She says quietly.
She watches as the man picks up the book again, flipping to where she left off. He angled the book towards her as he read so that she could see the illustrations. This was muscle memory for him at this point since August was always so fussy about being able to see the pictures and listen to the story.
His voice is steady and smooth as he reads, even putting in effort to put emphasis on certain words and change up his tone for all the different characters, just as if he was reading to a very young child.
Lux finds herself leaning back into her pillow as she listens to him read, her eyelids growing heavier with each word. For a moment, she allowed herself to let go, to feel something other than fear and defiance.
She fights to stay wake and hold onto the thin thread of resistance she's been clinging onto all day but right now she's so warm and comfortable, she can't help it.
I'll rest my eyes. Just for a minuet.
Her fingers relaxed their grip on the blanket, her breathing slowing as her body melted into the soft mattress. And just like that, she's out like a light.
"Goodnight, Luxie. Sweet dreams."
He sat there for a moment longer, his expression soft as he watched her peaceful face. For the first time since they'd brought her here, she looked truly at ease, no furrowed brow or defiant glare marring her features. Gently, he closed the book and set it back on the nightstand, careful not to disturb her.
He stands up, tucking the blanket around her, ensuring that she's warm and comfortable. A small smile tugs at his lips. Taking one last glance at her, he leaves the room.
Outside, Vincent was waiting in the hallway, leaning casually against the wall. He raised an eyebrow as Sebastian stepped out and closed the door behind him. "She asleep?"
Sebastian nodded. "Out like a light."
Vincent grinned. "Told you she'd settle."
Sebastian huffed a quiet laugh, running a hand through his hair. "She's tougher than she looks, I'll give her that."
Vincent chuckles, taking his husband's hand as they walk back down the hall to their own room.
"She's got spirit, that's for sure. But it's not just defianceâit's survival instinct. You can't blame her for that." Vincent says, tossing his shirt onto a nearby chair before beginning to change into a soft, long-sleeve tee and sweatpants.
Sebastian sits down on the big king sized bed, leaning against the headboard and waiting for Vincent to join him.
Vincent plops down onto the bed next to him. It was only around 10:49pm. Evening TV it was. He grabs the remote, flipping to some random channel which was playing some movie that they definitely couldn't watch with any of the little ones around.
And that's how they spent their evening, relaxing in the company of each other with some well deserved 'alone time'.