Not long after the fiasco in the market, Rolf eventually caught up with Edward once he had calmed down a bit more. There was no use in talking to him while he was upset; he already knew what would happen-he would get yelled at and pushed away if he even tried.
So once the air had diffused a little, Rolf attempted to talk to Edward again. "Not to be impolite, Edward, but it's clear who that man is to Vienne, and if you truly want a chance with her, do you really think that acting out is the best way to establish that chance?" He asked. He knew to Edward he was overstepping, but he kind of didn't care. It was common sense, and he wanted Edward to use it.
Edward scoffed. "And allow him more time with her? Absolutely not."
Rolf sighed, shaking his head. "The more you get on her bad side, the more you lose any chance of being with her." He explained. Part of him already wanted Edward to give up this stupid game of trying to woo Vienne. It felt pointless, and Vienne clearly wasn't interested. But the other part of him just wanted Edward to get his way so he'd shut up already.
"All I'm saying is, perhaps you should apologize to the man she was with-whoever that is. Explain the situation with her family, and maybe he'll understand it better."
Edward glared at Rolf, almost offended that he would suggest something like that; however, he was practically all out of options by now, and perhaps this wouldn't be such a bad idea. Well, it was going to be a bad idea since Edward's idea of it in his mind was much different than Rolf's.
But hey, everything's a good plan when you're stupid.
***
Feeling stressed and frustrated about everything, Sebastian found himself in a nearby bar. It definitely wasn't the best idea to take the edge off of things, and usually he avoided drinking as a whole, but at this point in time there was really no thought in his mind telling him no. He was upset, and that's all he could feel right now.
He entered and took a seat near the bar, listening in to the chatter around him.
He ordered his drink, keeping to himself. His mind was still heavily clouded with anger, and he didn't want something to accidentally go down in here because of it.
Unfortunately for him, a very upsettingly familiar blond sat directly beside him. Sebastian closed his eyes and let out a shaky exhale, hoping to everything that whoever was sitting next to him was not Edward. But the moment he opened his eyes, the fear was confirmed as he was sitting right there next to him.
"What are you doing here?" He questioned, his tone completely flat.
"I fear we may have gotten off on the wrong foot earlier back there." Edward replied. He stuck his hand out towards Sebastian, wanting a handshake. "Edward Carter."
Sebastian glared at Edward's hand, rolling his eyes and taking a drink. "Sebastian Sallow." He muttered reluctantly. Clearly, he was not happy to answer Edward's question or to simply even be in his presence.
Edward immediately picked up on Sebastian's disinterest, which only enraged him more. The fact that Sebastian was already paying him no mind was not at all what he was used to.
Edward leaned in, practically demanding the attention around Sebastian. "I'm willing to have a civil conversation about all of this. It's the mature thing to do, and we both know that we can't avoid it forever." He spoke, keeping his voice down. His tone was odd, almost as if his words were laced with a threat but not quite that. Sebastian couldn't put his finger on it.
And although Sebastian wanted to avoid Edward entirely, he could easily assume that Edward was not going to let up so easily and that if he left, this would not be the last time their paths intentionally crossed.
With reluctance, Sebastian turned to Edward, his face still unpleasant, but he was willing to somewhat comply. "Fine. But I get to say my piece as well and say anything demeaning about Vienne, and this conversation ends." He spoke firmly.
Edward let out a forced chuckle. "I can assure you; I'd never say anything like that about Miss Austen." He replied. But they both knew that was a lie.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "Alright then, Carter, say your piece already." He said, already wanting to be done with the conversation.
"I'd actually like to know more about you. It seems as if you just appeared out of nowhere." Edward spoke. Immediately, Sebastian was suspicious-why would Edward want to know more about him?
Edward quickly realized Sebastian still wasn't set on the conversation at all and seemed to get more stubborn with every question asked. He had to figure out a way to continue the conversation successfully. "I've seen you around Mr. Gaunt's residence quite a few times. Are the two of you friends?" He inquired.
"We are, but I currently live there. Hence why Vienne visits so often." Sebastian said, making sure to emphasize that Vienne was coming to visit him often. Him, not Edward. He wanted nothing more than to just tell off Edward and tell him about his relationship with Vienne, but he knew he couldn't-for the sake of him and Vienne.
"You know, with her mother's constant push for the two of us to get married, it's odd that she allows Vienne to see you so often." Edward replied, clearly chipping at something specific here that made Sebastian's eye twitch. Claudine didn't allow Vienne to see Sebastian; Vienne did it on her own accord. By her own choice, like the grown woman she was. "I suppose what I'm trying to say is-don't get too attached." Edward added.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Sebastian asked with harshness behind his tone.
"Well..." Edward paused, wondering if he should actually say what he had planned. He decided to actually go through with it; he was angry enough with Sebastian as it was. "Vienne is going to be my wife, regardless of whatever sort of relationship you think you have with her. I'm not quite sure how the two of you see each other, but that won't last for long. She's been promised to me by her mother, and practically the entire town sees us as courting... She's going to be mine."
Sebastian gritted his teeth, clearly trying to restrain himself from doing something that would probably get him into a lot of trouble. He slammed the money down for the bartender to collect before standing up. He was not going to listen to anything more than Edward had to say. It was disrespectful, and the way he thought of Vienne as nothing but something that was to be owned made him feel physically sick to his stomach.
She was her own woman, capable and bright; she could make her own decisions. Especially when it came to who she chose to love.
But being the stubborn man he was, Edward wasn't about to just let Sebastian go without saying his entire piece. Which... definitely was not the best idea.
"You can't run from the truth forever, Sallow. Just give it up." He said, continuing to try and follow Sebastian out of the bar. "It's only a matter of time before it happens. You can kiss whatever ridiculous affair you have going on with her goodbye because this nonsense is about to end. Vienne will become my wife, whether she likes it or not."
That was it.
That's all it took to make Sebastian snap.
In an instant, he grabbed the collar of Edward's coat with both of his hands, dragging him over to the wall and slamming him there, catching the attention of everyone else in the bar with the calamity.
Edward's eyes widened in shock as he wasn't expecting anything like this to happen. He thought Sebastian was a coward, running away from the truth, but Merlin was he wrong. Sebastian got right up in his face, his expression unforgiving.
"If I hear another word from your mouth about Vienne, you can kiss any of your dreams that you have goodbye." Sebastian hissed, letting the obvious threat linger in the air. It was clear what he meant by that, and Edward could tell. He swallowed hard, his eyes still as wide as ever.
"Vienne is her own woman. Not some property for you to use and abuse, you got that?" Sebastian snapped. "And I will be damned before I ever let you do anything to her. If I were you, I'd shut up and stop talking."
Sebastian's grip tightened on Edward's coat. "Got it?"
Edward nodded his head; the reality that he had pushed things too far with Sebastian was finally settling in. Clearly, he had underestimated just how serious Sebastian was in this situation, but he had just seen just how serious he was.
Finally, Sebastian let go of Edward's coat, letting him drop down. Sebastian left without another word, shooting an apologetic glance to the bartender for the calamity, but he didn't seem to mind.
Edward watched as Sebastian left, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His mind was racing with everything that had just happened, and he was still in shock. The bartender walked out from behind the bar and over to Edward.
"Get up," he demanded, standing over him.
Edward got up a little shaky, looking around at the whole bar that was practically staring at them. It wasn't hard to tell that Edward had just gotten just a taste of what talking like that would get you.
"You should leave." The bartender said, giving Edward a small glare.
Most people on this side of town knew Vienne; she actually took the time to get to know them, unlike the other snobs and rubbish socialites on the other side of the river. She was a kindhearted woman, and they certainly didn't like to hear her being spoken about like she was an object.
Edward quickly realized that he was outnumbered in any way possible. He looked at the door and then back to the bartender. "I'll be taking my leave, then." He said, swallowing hard.
He left without another word, his embarrassment turning into anger. He had continually been humiliated publicly-twice in just that day. As he walked away, he began to realize that Vienne wasn't the issue here; Sebastian was. Sebastian was the thing keeping him away from Vienne, distracting her from what really mattered. Or at least that was the lie he was making up in his head.
And just as he had told Rolf earlier, he was going to find out everything he could about Sebastian now. Whoever he was, Edward wanted him gone.
A/n: Apologies that this chapter was a little short! But I already had a hard enough time writing Edward being a total douche lol. At least Sebastian put him in his place! Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!