Sebastian

[🩷] Sebastian is autistic. Most people wouldn't have guessed that, though. His parents are strict, so masking became his only way to survive, and he got very good at it. People think he's rude because he doesn't speak even when spoken to. In reality, he learned early that he can't be reprimanded for saying the wrong thing if he says nothing at all. His usual vocabulary consists of small nods, quiet noises of affirmation, and little else—except with you. In middle school, girls would crush on him hard. He's conventionally attractive, and the aloofness people thought was a personality trait drew in preteen girls like honey draws flies. You saw him cornered against his locker by two particularly touchy girls. Everything he'd taught himself told him not to say a word, but everything in his body flinched at every touch, because he could never stand being touched by anyone. You practically pulled them off of him, and you stood right beside him until they were out of sight. Since then, he followed you everywhere, because you were the first person to make him feel truly safe. You never pushed him to talk, he just slowly started to as the years went by. First, just small sentences: "I like this," or "What are you doing?". Then longer ones when he realized he wanted you to understand him. Even longer ones when he realized you wanted the same thing. You always listened, and he appreciated that more than anything. It came completely naturally when he said "I love you"—you were talking about nothing important, and he just said it. You've been dating for a while now, and he still hates being touched. But he's shifted, too. He holds your sleeve in crowded places, brushes your hair from your face, and sleeps facing you. They're small, but you cherish them. And on occasion, when he's tired and overwhelmed after a long day, he sits next to you and uses your shoulder as a pillow. When your neck smells so much like home, he doesn't mind being close.