“Okay, quick recap. Once the three of us have had our fill of pizza, we tell your dad that we have something serious to talk about. You tell him about how you’re a werewolf now, and if he doesn’t believe, you can shift to show him you’re telling the truth. If he freaks out, I step in to calm him down. If he doesn’t freak out, I go straight into explaining the rest of our situation. And to help him relax afterwards, we break out the ice-cream!”
“...Bas?”
“Hmm?”
“I think that coke made you hyper.”
Sebastian pouted. “It did not. Caffeine doesn’t energise me so much as it just mellows me out.”
“Okay, so then why have you had to recap the plan five times since we left the pizza place?” Edmund asked with an amused smirk.
Sebastian shrugged. “Nerves? I think I’m more nervous for this than you. And I’m not even sure why.”
“I think the only reason I’m calm right now is because I’m still processing everything your parents told us today. You’re one third elf, so the supernatural has been a part of our lives even before Persephone and Hayden came to town. How crazy is that?”
“Well, it kind of makes me feel better about not noticing the Emporium was a supernatural hot-spot.”
“Huh?”
“I was literally raised in a house where this kind of stuff was just a part of everyday life. My dad used to bring home all kinds of weird stuff and mix potions in the kitchen. Half of the books in my mom’s office are written in old languages and bound with aged leather. Nick was always able to say whether or not it would be raining the next day so we could plan days out around it. Even if my parents tried to distance themselves from the magical world, it was an integral part of their lives and mine.”
“Wow... wait, your dad made potions?”
“He called it special juice. He’d give me some when I had upsetting dreams or when I got sick sometimes. Mom and Nick will sometimes use his old cookbook to make more, but not as often as he did. I think it makes them miss him more.”
Edmund nodded understandingly. They had just pulled up to the house though, so their conversation ended there. Both boys seemed hesitant to get out of the car. It seemed that Edmund’s nerves had finally caught up to him, if the way he was looking at his father’s car was anything to go by. Sebastian took his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Ed turned, smiled at him and squeezed his hand back.
Everything was going to be fine.
They finally got out of the car and headed inside. “Dad? Sebastian and I are here. We brought pizza.”
Garret poked his head out of the kitchen. “Boys! Perfect timing.”
“Indeed. Looks like we made it just in time so you wouldn’t smoke out the kitchen again.” Sebastian laughed.
“I’ll get it right one of these days. Trial and error and all that.” Garret shrugged. “Oh, Happy belated birthday, Sebastian. Did you have a good time?”
“It was defiantly a day to remember. Anything interesting happen at the station?”
“Rudy tried making cranberry flavoured coffee, which was apparently the last straw from Penny to ban him from using the coffee maker.”
“Cranberry flavoured coffee?” Edmund echoed, pulling a face as if he smelt something foul.
Garret nodded with a grin. “Tasted just as horrific as it sounds.”
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From there, the conversation easily flowed between them as they ate dinner. The atmosphere was relaxed and companionable, allowing Ed and Seb to get comfortable until they finished the pizza. The nerves began to resurface, so they glanced at each other for reassurance before Edmund began.
“Dad, I have something, um, important to tell you.”
Garret picked up on the teens’ tenseness, and sat up a bit straighter. “Yes...?”
“I know this is going to sound crazy, I didn’t believe it myself at first, and I’d already had a bunch of weird things happen. It’s all true though, I swear, I’m not messing with you. I’m real- this is real- it's all really complicated and- shit I’m rambling.”
Garret nodded with an amused smile.
“Okay, I’m just going to say it... I’m a werewolf.”
Silence.
“That’s it?”
“What? What do you mean ‘that’s it’? That sounds a bit farfetched, doesn’t it?”
“You said yourself it was going to sound crazy but it’s true.”
“So, you believe me?”
“Of course, I do son. Besides, I already knew.”
“What?! How?!”
“You got very sensitive to sounds and smells over the last month, you eat significantly more, your energy has somehow increased, and you avoid touching your grandmother’s silverware like its mere existence offends you. Add that to ‘wolf’ sightings being called in at the station and your own disappearance on a night which I realised was the full moon, well, I didn’t get to where I am as an officer without some detective skills.” Garret shrugged.
Edmund’s jaw was practically on the floor, and Sebastian couldn’t help chuckling at the sight. Ed gave him a light glare for that, but his face softened quickly as he turned back to his dad.
“You didn’t say anything...?”
“I was waiting for you to come to me. I’ll always support you, Edmund. Human or wolf, straight or gay, red or blue; all that matters is you’re my son, and I love you.”
Ed smiled, tears welling in his eyes. “Thanks dad. I love you too.”
Father and son hugged, and Sebastian thought his heart might explode from the warmth he was feeling as he watched on. “I told you he’d understand.”
Edmund laughed. “Yeah. You’re always right.”
“Damn gay.”
“Isn’t the phrase, damn straight.”
“Neither of us are straight.”
Edmund rolled his eyes but smiled with fond amusement all the same. “Anyway, we still have to talk.”
“There’s more you need to tell me then?” Garret guessed. “What? Is Sebastian a wolf too?”
“If only things were that simple.” Sebastian muttered.
Before Garret could question his comment, Ed launched into explaining the rest of their situation. Knowing his dad accepted him and was taking things in stride helped him get through the conversation rather easily. It was still rather late when they finished talking though, so the three went off to bed once they’d wrapped up their conversation.
As Sebastian and Edmund got changed for the night, Ed paused. “Bas?”
“Yeah?”
“What would you have done, if I kept it a secret from you too?”
Sebastian paused. “I don’t know.”
“Would you have been mad?”
“What? No, I defiantly wouldn’t have been mad. I’m not sure what I would have done but does it really matter? I already know and you’re still my best friend ever. Just a little furrier every now and again.” Sebastian joked, but Edmund didn’t even smile. “This isn’t about that though, is it?”
Edmund sighed and hugged himself. “I... I don’t know what I’d have done if you got upset with me. If you rejected me after finding out.”
Sebastian’s heart clenched painfully, so he stepped forward and put his hands comfortingly on either side of Ed’s face. “I would never reject you. I love you too much for that.”
He knew Edmund would interpret his words as a platonic kind of love, but the meaning behind them was all the same to Seb. He had loved him for a long time and nothing could make him stop. Not even something as earth shattering as this could have made Sebastian question his adoration. Because Edmund was still Edmund.
He was the same boy who’d found him in the woods and helped him home. The same boy who followed Seb around and got into mischief with him as they grew up. The same boy who helped him through mourning his father and eventually healing from the loss. The same boy who drove him everywhere and baked his favourite treats, because he was happy seeing Sebastian happy.
He pulled him into a hug, partially because he wanted to, and partially so that Ed didn’t see the tears welling in his eyes. “It’s you and I, no matter what.”
“No matter what.” Edmund echoed as he hugged him back.
They stayed like that for a moment, and although it felt bittersweet, Sebastian loved it all the same. Because no matter what, he’d always cherish these moments with Edmund. Moments where they could trust and comfort each other. So, he closed his eyes and soaked it all in. Hoping against hope that this feeling would be burned into his memories forever.