Of Truth and Trust

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Chapter 4

Early Saturday morning Sebastian was up far sooner than normal, for the first time in the entire semester wriggling into his full, buttoned-up uniform. The grin never left his face. “I’m afraid you’re on your own today, Nate,” he called to his roommate, who was still snug in bed, as he finished securing his tie. “I’ve got a date with a very important someone.”

Yawning, Nathanial rolled onto his back to blink at his roommate. The past week had been wary but otherwise normal, though Nathanial spent his studying time with Christopher rather than Sebastian. Normally such a statement from the boy would have just raised worry to his mind, but seeing the other in such formal wear…. //He’s…serious. I’ve never seen him like that.// He sat up, putting on his glasses and smoothing back his hair. “Who are you meeting?” he asked curiously.

“The indomitable Peter Wilmot,” Sebastian declared with a grin, taking a moment more to comb through his hair. He glanced at the clock in the corner. “And he should be here right about….”

The door burst open suddenly, and Sebastian dropped to one knee expectantly as a short figure dashed inside and nearly toppled him. The room broke out in confusion as they rolled across the floor in a sudden, impromptu tickling match, in which Sebastian was quickly declared the winner.

“No fair! No fair!” The boy, no more than eight years old with Sebastian’s same fiery red hair and green eyes, squirmed beneath the elder’s playful assault. “Mom! Mom!”

A woman appeared in the doorway next, clothed in a simple, faded blue dress, her hair—also red—tied back in twists and braids. She smiled down at the wrestling boys and chuckled. “If you’re going to start a fight, you should finish it yourself,” she teased. She suddenly noticed Nathanial in the next bed, and bowed her head in greeting. “I’m sorry if we woke you, dear.”

Nathanial sat up at the first visitor’s abrupt entrance, about to get out of bed, but the appearance of the woman quickly halted him. He hastily adjusted the blanket over his lap and gave a brief bow as well. “Not at all, ma’am,” he said, feeling a bit flushed. //His family? They have to be, with that hair….// “My apologies for not greeting you properly. I would have made myself more presentable if I had known Sebastian was receiving guests today.”

“Oh, it’s quite all right,” the woman said quickly. “We’re the ones intruding, after all.” She turned her attention back to the boys. “Sebastian, aren’t you going to introduce us?”

“Yeah, right.” Sebastian stood and hauled the younger boy after him. “This is my roommate, Nathanial Emerson,” he introduced grandly. “Nate, this is Claire and Peter Wilmot.”

“His boring family,” Peter added, who received a smack upside the head from his brother. “Hey! It’s true!”

Natha smi smiled, somehow…already taken by the energetic child. //I…did not think he would have a family like this….// “Pleased to meet you, Lady Wilmot, sir Peter,” he said with another bow. //I did not expect this. They seem…so different from him. Is he really that different from them, or….// He quickly shook the thoughts away. “I hope you both will be staying for a while; I would like to present myself better than in a nightgown.”

“He called me sir!” Peter piped up excitedly. He made a face at Sebastian. “Did you hear that? I’m a ‘sir’ now.”

“You’re a victim of fiendish tickling, is what you are,” Sebastian shot back, and with a squeal the boy darted out of the room, his elder brother on his heels.

Lady Wilmot laughed quietly beneath her hand as the boys continued their battle in the hall. “Sebastian volunteered to show us the school,” she explained. “If you like, we can come by before we take an early lunch. I’d be honored if one of Sebastian’s friends joined us.”

Nathanial barely kept from flinching at that, but he managed a gracious smile. //I…want to know more about him.// He nodded. “And I am honored by your invitation, and I accept. I shall try to keep from embarrassing your son again with my appearance.” He was a bit surprised, realizing that he was looking forward to the meal.

Lady Wilmot smiled brightly and nodded. “It would be our pleasure. In a while, then.” She left then, joining the boys in the hall—whose battle silenced as soon as she made her appearance. Peter stuck his head into the room once more for a wave before the trio moved off, trailing behind the younger boy’s chattering mixed with Sebastian’s warm laughter.

Once the group was gone, Nathanial climbed from the bed and shut the door. Leaning against the wood a moment, he tried to collect his jumbled thoughts before heading for his wardrobe. //This…will be interesting, but…I want to know. I want to know about him, his family….// He set about getting dressed, straightening his hair as he tried to imagine what the next few hours would be like.

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When Sebastian and his family returned a little over an hour later Peter was riding on his brother’s back, looking for all the world like a contented child with a carnival present. He was still blabbering on same as when they’d left, and Sebastian’s smile had not waned, nor had their mother’s. //It’ll be interesting with Nathanial with us,// Sebastian thought idly as he knocked on the door to their room and let himself in. //I don’t usually introduce Mother and Peter like this.// “Hey, Nate. You ready for a meal?”

“We’re going to get soup,” Peter informed him.

Nathanial rose from his chair, abandoning the book he’d been reading with a smile. //He looks…completely different.// “Sounds wonderful,” he admitted. Approaching Sebastian’s mother, he offered a more formal bow and offered his hand. “Please allow me a more appropriate welcome, Lady Wilmot.” He shook her hand, then turned to do the same with the younger boy. “Young sir, you must be great indeed to have won such a chariot.”

Peter giggled excitedly. “Hear that? He talks funny, but he called me ‘sir’ again.”

“Peter,” his mother admonished gently. “That’s no way to greet a gentleman.” Though in fact she looked a little flustered at the attention, and wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “Thank you, Nathanial, for your courtesy. It’s more than these sons of mine deserve.” She sent them both a look, and each offered an innocent smile in return.

“Well then, let’s be off,” Sebastian suggested, flashing Nathanial a grin as he stepped back to lead the way outside once more. “I know just the place—Louie’s, just down the way.” When his mother made a disconcerted face he laughed to cut off her protests. “And I’ll treat everyone; that’s my word.”

“You do not need to pay for me,” Nathanial immediately spoke up. “In fact, I’m the imposition here—I would be happy to treat you all.” His eyes darted briefly to Sebastian’s, wondering at the reaction of the other boy. //I saw her look. You know I can afford this, so please….//

Sebastian laughed again. “And give you the honor of treating my own mother? I don’t think so, Nate.” He slapped the boy playfully on the shoulder, and action mirrored by his brother. “And I haven’t had the chance to treat you this year, so I’ll gladly take the opportunity now.” He shifted Peter’s weight and led them out of the dorm; he caught Nathanial’s gaze for a moment. //No offense, but not this time. Not with this.// He tilted his head up as they started across campus. “Anyway,” he began anew, “Nathanial is quite good with classic literature. He’s been helping me with my studies.”

“That’s wonderful,” Lady Wilmot said with a smile. “He has my thanks.”

Nathanial ducked his head, feeling just a touch of shame at that—he and Sebastian hadn’t done their studying together since…what happened with Christopher. “It’s…nothing, ma’am,” he murmured, quickly trying to regain his brighter attitude. He didn’t want to spoil this time.

The lunch went better than he thought it would. Peter was excitable but obviously in awe of his older brother, and Nathanial couldn’t help but grow fond of the child. Lady Wilmot was quiet, polite, and kind…everything he thought a mother should be. So unlike his own….

After the meal they went for a stroll around the campus. Nathanial found himself between Sebastian and his mother, feeling more relaxed than he had in some time as he watched Peter run happily ahead of them. “He’s really wonderful,” he commented softly. “Makes me wish that I had a sibling.”

“He’s a terror,” Sebastian contradicted around a grin. “A horrible little plague.” He tossed his hair slightly. “And I love the little bastard.”

His mother glanced at him sharply, but he pretended like he didn’t notice. //It’s not as if Peter doesn’t already know, Mother. He’s smarter than that.// “You can borrow him sometime,” he continued on. “I’m sure Peter wouldn’t mind. You’d be a good influence on him.”

Nathanial easily felt the tension that passed between the two, but he chose to ignore it. “Well, he is obviously very well loved,” he replied instead, glancing up at the boy’s mother. “That is all that is important.” //More important than…. Sebastian, maybe we have more in common than I thought.// “As for borrowing, he would still be in our room, Sebastian, and doubtless he would prefer your company than that of one who ‘talks funny.’” He smiled lightly.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Sebastian chuckled. “He does, after all, enjoy classical literature, the origin of funny talking.” He winked, then turned his gaze ahead once more to where the boy was bending over a small puddle, doubtlessly looking for frogs. “Don’t get your clothes dirty!” he called, when they came close enough tugging him upright by the collar.

“No fair,” Peter whined, making a face. He wriggled free and suddenly grabbed Nathanial’s hand, pulling him along. “I like Nathan better than you, anyway. We’re gong to look for toads.”

“Frogs,” his brother corrected.

“Toads. I don’t like frogs anymore.” He began to drag Nathanial toward the next puddle.

Nathanial tried to protest, but…the boy was too adorable. He followed to the small pool but was careful not to get too close. //Toads indeed.// He glanced back, just to see the expressions on the others’ faces.

Sebastian couldn’t help but grin; he knew this trick. “You’re s too too naïve, Nate.”

Peter giggled, and when Nathanial looked sufficiently distracted he pounced, capturing the boy around the neck so they tumbled to the ground in a heap. “I caught a toad!” he announced happily, amidst Sebastian’s laughter and his mother’s startled, embarrassed admonishments. “I got a toad—a great big funny toad!”

Startled, Nathanial found himself half covered in mud when they landed in the puddle. He sputtered and tried to pull away, his first thought for his stained clothing, but….

Peter was still laughing, was holding his neck almost tight enough to choke. And he found himself chuckling as well. “Oh you think so?” he challenged, turning around. Remembering his roommate’s actions from earlier, he began to tickle the younger boy’s sides. “Well this funny toad fights back!”

“H-hey! No fair, no fair!” Peter twisted and tried to crawl away, but he was laughing too hard, and could only managed to grab at Sebastian’s ankles in his attempt to escape. “No fai~r!”

Sebastian stared down at the pair, ignoring his mother’s increasingly cross protests and the few students around that were watching in dull surprise. His eyes thinned slightly, and he was quiet a moment more before dropping down to join them. “To the rescue!” he cheered, attacking his roommate’s neck and sides.

“Ah! No, no wait—” Laughing and gasping, Nathanial tried to squirm away from the stronger hands. //I—I can’t believe this. I shouldn’t be doing this…with him…but….// Peter turned around to aid his brother, and Nathanial found it too difficult to reason anymore. Nearly choking, he fell onto his back, trying without success to protect his stomach and sides as he felt damp water creeping through his clothes. “Stop! Ah—stop stop! ‘Bastian—”

Lady Wilmot let them continue on a moment longer before finally reaching down, scooping Peter into her arms. “That’s quite enough,” she scolded gently, wiping his face clean with the cuff of her sleeve. The boy squirmed but couldn’t escape. “Sebastian, you’re both going to catch a cold like that.”

Sebastian at last relinquished his prey, falling back on his hands with a laugh. “I know, I know.” He hadn’t realized that such a small puddle could cause so much damage, and when he saw the state of his roommate he laughed even harder. “How priceless!” he jeered. “At last I see you with a bit of mud on your face.” He flicked some of the puddle water at Nathanial gleefully.

Turning his head, Nathanial needed another moment to get his breath back. “Indeed,” he gasped, trying to brush the filth from his clothing. //No good. What a state….// He could feel eyes on him as the other students watched their antics, and flushing he rose to his feet. //I can not believe…I let it go this far, but….// Nathanial faced Lady Wilmot with an embarrassed smile. “Forgive me, Lady, for it seems I’ve made a mess of your sons and another poor impression of myself.”

The Lady blinked, for a moment baffled, then could only chuckle good-naturedly. “Dear, there’s no need to apologize,” she said gently. “My boys are quite capable of making their own messes.” She licked her thumb to help clean Peter’s face, but paused when she realized what she was doing, where she was. With an embarrassed smile of her own she instead unearthed a handkerchief. “I’m just worried you’ll all catch cold—you boys should probably get back to your dorm.” Again she paused, and in a softer voice asked, “Nathanial, would you mind terribly taking Peter to the nearest washroom? He can take care of himself, I just need to talk to Sebastian for a moment.” The boy in question sat up a little taller at her words but didn’t comment.

Glancing at his roommate briefly, Nathanial carefully nodded. “I would not mind at all.” He offered a smile to the boy. “If you would come with me, young sir, we can get tidied up so as not to shame your mother and brother.”

“Right! Uh…I mean…I would be delighted.” Peter blushed and clasped Nathanial’s hand. “Thank you.” He paused to make a face at his brother.

“Take good care of him,” Sebastian teased back, shooing them off. He stood, catching Nathanial’s eye a moment before turning back to his mother. “There’s a little courtyard over this way,” he said to her, his voice unusually calm and quiet as he led the way. “We can talk there….”


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((Just a little note, there will be some NC-17 scenes later. Promise!))