**mild violence**
October 16th, 2022 - Los Angeles, California
Lux sat on the kitchen counter as Vincent stood in front of her, the palms of her hands faced up in his larger hand whilst he replaced the bloody bandaids with fresh clean ones.
"Hold still, baby" Vincent murmured, his tone calm as he carefully peeled away the hold bandaid from her palm.
Lux flinched, her fingers twitching slightly at the burning sensation. It was the morning after her escape attempt and the scrapes on her palms and knees were still pretty sensitive. Additionally, she was developing a very colourful bruise along her left side from when she fell out of the tree.
Vincent let out a soft sigh, his eyes focused on the scrapes. "I know it stings, but we have to keep these clean, okay? We don't want them getting infected." His voice was low and steady, almost hypnotic, as if he were trying to coax her into calming down.
Lux didn't respond. She gazed off to the side, avoiding his eyes. It was a new day, 'a fresh start' as Sebastian had told her earlier but Lux still felt the same anger and frustration mingling beneath her skin from yesterday. Yet here she was, sitting still as Vincent changed the plasters on her palms and knees.
"You were pretty brave climbing out of that window Luxie," Vincent said after a moment, his tone light but measured. "Not many people would attempt that."
Her eyes darted to his face, searching for any hint of sarcasm. But there wasn't any - just quiet sincerity.
"You drove me to it." Lux mumbles, watching as Vincent dabs a cotton pad with some antiseptic liquid on her palms.
Vincent paused for a moment before reaching over to a new pack of bandaids. There was no anger, no frustration in his movements - just a steady patience that made Lux shift uncomfortably on the counter.
"I know you feel like that," he said softly, returning to his task. "And I don't blame you for being upset, baby. I just wish you'd talk to us about how you're feeling instead of hurting yourself trying to get away."
"I wasn't trying to hurt myself," Lux muttered, her voice defensive. "I just wanted to leave."
"I know." Vincent's voice was calm as he pressed a clean plaster to her palm. "But climbing out a window, falling out of a tree...those things could have ended worse than a few scrapes. We were so scared, Luxie. We just want you to be safe."
Lux stays silent, her palms burning as she tries to find a retort. She hated the way his voice carried no blame, only concern. It made her anger feel small and misplaced, which only made her frustration grow.
"Safe?" She echoed bitterly. "More like trapped."
Vincent let out a sigh, his hands still working as he took in the expression on her face. "No, sweetheart. I mean safe. I know it doesn't feel that way right now, but that's what we're trying to do - keep you safe and give you a place to heal."
Lux blinked, her jaw tightening. "You don't understand," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper. "You don't get how it feels."
Vincent placed the last bandaid on her other hand and leaned back slightly, giving her some space while still staying close enough to make her feel his presence. "You're right. I don't know exactly how you feel, Luxie. But I'd like to understand. Will you tell me?"
Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms over her chest, wincing as her bruised side protested. "You just want me to talk so you can tell me I'm wrong."
"No, sweetheart," Vincent said, his voice soft but firm. "I want you to talk so I can help. I want to know what's going on inside that clever little head of yours. Even if it's hard to hear, even if it hurts me. You matter to me, baby. So so much."
His words hung in the air between them, their sincerity sinking in despite Lux's attempts to resist.
"You're just saying that," she whispered. "You and daddy. You act all nice, but you're just trying to control me."
Vincent's brow furrowed, but his expression stayed gentle. "Control you? No, baby. We're trying to take care of you. Keep you safe. That's not the same as control."
Lux scowled, her fists clenching as she glared down at the plastered scrapes on her hands. "Feels the same."
Vincent frowns slightly, reaching his hand out and brushing a few strands of stray hair out of her face. He didn't want to push her, but he also couldn't let her stay lost in her anger. "I get why it feels like that," he said gently. "When everything's new and scary, when it feels like you've lost control of your whole world, it's easy to think we're just here to boss you around. But we're not, Luxie."
Her glare didn't waver. "Then what are you here for?" she asked, her tone sharp but trembling.
"To make sure you know you're not alone. To help you carry all those big, heavy feelings so they don't crush you. And to show you that you're worth every bit of love and care we can give, even when you don't feel like you are."
Lux blinked, her lips parting slightly, but she said nothing. The weight of his words hung between them, and Vincent didn't rush to fill the silence. Instead, he reached for her hand again, this time not to patch her up but to simply hold it. His thumb brushed over the edge of the plaster, a grounding, gentle gesture.
"I know you're mad at us," he continued softly. "And that's okay. You don't have to like me, or trust me, or even believe me right now. But I'm going to keep showing up for you anyway. Because that's what father's do, sweetheart. They stay."
Vincent's heart ached seeing the look on Lux's face, full of anger, fear, vulnerability and about a million other emotions too. He could tell how overwhelmed and upset she was and as much as he wanted to make her understand, he couldn't. Lux would have to realise that they weren't trying to hurt or prison her in her own time.
Lux tugged her hand from his grasp, not harshly, but as if she needed space to process. Her legs swung slightly from the counter as she looked down, avoiding his gaze.
"How about we go and join August in the playroom, hm?" He suggests, hoping that having some quiet playtime with her brother might ease some of the emotions going through her head. "I think he's got all the play-dough out."
Lux didn't respond immediately, her mind swirling with the tangled mess of emotions that seemed to pull her in every direction. She wanted to scream, to run again, to escape it all.
Vincent's expression softened, a slight sigh escaping him as he took a step back, giving her the space she seemed to need. "I don't expect you to forget, sweetheart. But I do hope that, over time, you'll be able to trust that we're not going anywhere."
Lux bit her lip, her thoughts a blur.
"C'mon, sweet girl" Vincent murmurs, lifting her down off the counter. "Let's go see what August's up to. He's gonna be so happy to have a sweet little play-mate."
He gently holds Lux's hand, tugging her in the direction of the playroom. He makes sure not to squeeze too tightly, knowing her palms are still sensitive and irritated.
When they reached the playroom, August was on one of the chairs in front of the little table, surrounded by multicoloured clumps of play-dough, his small hands already busy shaping them into festive shapes.
He looked up when he heard their footsteps. "Sissy!" His face lit up with excitement. "M'making spooky ghosts n' bats!"
Lux glances over at his little creations. They were poorly made and not really spooky at all but you could tell that the boy had put a lot of care and effort into making them. He waved one of his play-dough ghosts in her direction.
"Look at those Auggi!" Vincent says, a grin on his face. "You're just like a little sculpturist" He chuckles.
Lux glanced at August's play-dough creations with a mix of annoyance and irritation, her eyes narrowing as she fought the urge to feel something -anything- other than her simmering anger. The ghosts and bats, though clumsy and poorly formed, were an emphasis of August's childlike innocence, his attempt to create something fun. But to Lux, it only highlighted the difference between her and the boy who was meant to be her 'brother'.
She wanted to shout at them both. Scream that this wasn't fair. That she didn't belong here in this strange, suffocating house. But she kept it inside, pressing her lips together in a thin line.
Vincent smiled softly, encouraging August's efforts, but Lux felt the ache of that smile digging at her chest.
August's excited voice broke her from her thoughts. "C'mon, sissy! Play wif me!" he said eagerly, holding up another play-dough ghost.
"I'm not in the mood," Lux muttered, her gaze dropping to the floor. She couldn't even look at him now without feeling the weight of all the things she didn't say. She was angry at him, angry that he could so easily accept this life, angry that he could be happy here.
Vincent's smile faltered slightly at Lux's refusal. "Come on, sweetheart. It'll be fun." He encourages, his hand gently rubbing up and down on her back. She was so small.
"Please sissy?" August asks, his voice small and hopeful.
Lux sighs, stepping awake from Vincents comforting touch. Playing is the last thing she wants to do right now but she can tell that Vincent is not going to let her go without having some sort of 'bonding' moment with August.
With anger and frustration still seething inside of her, she slowly takes a few steps over to the playroom table, pulling out the chair next to August and taking a seat.
August beamed up at her as she sat down next to him, eager as ever for his sister to join in on the fun he was having. He reaches for some the pot of orange play-dough, popping the lid off with his thumbs and picking the colourful lump of dough out before splitting it in half and handing some to Lux.
"Now we can make pumpkins!" He says excitedly, rolling the dough between his palms.
Lux stared at the small lump of orange play-dough in her hand, her fingers curling around it. Her mind was still swirling with conflicting emotions but she could see Vincent stood in the doorway, an encouraging smile on his face.
Everything about this situation felt so wrong. She didn't want to be here, she didn't want to play with August, and she sure as hell didn't want to sit around pretending that any of this was okay. But here she was, just like Vincent had wanted, sitting at the table, her hands sluggishly kneading the dough.
"Right," Vincent begins, satisfied now that August and Lux are situated comfortably together. "I'm just going to get washed and dressed for the day, okay? Daddy will be here in a few minuets."
August hums in acknowledgment, too busy with the task of making a play-dough pumpkin to properly recognise the mans statement.
Vincent smiles softly, watching the look of pure concentration on the boy's face. He shifts his attention back over to Lux who's still mindlessly kneading the dough in her hand. "You'll be okay here with Auggi, hm?"
Lux gave the faintest shrug, her fingers still working the play-dough in slow, absent motions.
Vincent nodded, realising that was the best answer he was going to get out of her. With one final glance, he turns around, leaving the two littles alone in the playroom. He heads up the stairs, walking down to the end of the hallway and into the room he shares with his husband.
Sebastian glanced up when Vincent entered the room, his dark hair damp from a recent shower and water droplets clinging to his broad shoulders. He had nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist as he stood in front of their closet, picking out clothes for the day ahead. "Hey babe" he greeted softly, a small smile curving his lips. He pulled a simple shirt from the closet and laid it out on the bed.
"Hey," Vincent replied, cracking his knuckles. His shoulders sagged slightly as he leaned back against the doorframe, letting out a soft sigh.
Sebastian turned, to face the man a chuckle escaping his lips. "Rough morning?"
Vincent let out a dry laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. "You could say that. Lux is...well, she's Lux. Still mad at the world, and unfortunately, we're the closest targets."
Sebastian stepped closer to Vincent, his towel swaying with each movement, and placed his hands gently on Vincent's shoulders. "Of course she's mad. Her whole world's been turned upside down, and she doesn't know how to make sense of it yet."
Vincent tilted his head slightly, allowing Sebastian to work some of the tension out of his shoulders with firm, soothing strokes. "I know, I know," he muttered. "I just wish she'd give us something - some sign that she's willing to meet us halfway."
Sebastian smiled softly, pulling Vincent into a loose embrace. "Halfway for her right now is just sitting with August and not bolting again. And honestly, I'll take it."
Vincent manages to huff out a laugh, resting his forehead against Sebastian's. "You always know how to spin things, don't you?"
Sebastian smirked. ""It's not spinning; it's perspective, babe. Every little win counts."
Vincent hums in agreement, nodding his head as he pulls away from Sebastian and walks over to their closet, grabbing a navy blue shirt and a pair of jeans.
"You know, I was think we should go somewhere this Christmas - assuming the Lux has settled a bit more." Sebastian says, walking back over to the bed where his clothes are laid out. He drops the towel, putting on a fresh pair of boxers.
"Oh yeah?" Vincent asks, pulling his top off.
Sebastian nodded as he began to pull on his own shirt. "Yeah, I've been thinking about it for a while. Maybe one of our cabins up north or something? Somewhere quiet. Just us, no distractions. I think Lux could use something like that. Plus, August loves the snow and we don't get any down here."
Vincent chuckles, running a hand through his hair. "That'd be nice." He agrees."Only if she's settled down more though."
Sebastian nods again as he finishes pulling up his pants. "A change of scenery might be nice. A fresh start, some time away from everything."
"Mhm" Vincent hums in agreement.
The men owned multiple cabins up north and often brought August up there for long cozy weekends or little vacations. The idea of having some much needed 'family-time' with just the 4 of them with no judgement or intrusion from the outside world was definitely very appealing.
"Just think about how magical it would be for them." Sebastian continues. "Especially with all the excitement of Santa coming."
Vincent chuckles, the memories of last Christmas and dealing with a very over-excited August resurfacing.
The young boy had been beside himself, practically vibrating with excitement at the thought of Santa visiting. He had barely slept the night before, his wide eyes darting between the stockings and the tree. Vincent smiled at the thought - there was something about the magic of childhood that had always tugged at his heart. He hoped Lux would be able to experience that too.
"I think that might be a good idea." He says, finally fully dressed. He walks over to Sebastian who's adjusting his collar in the mirror.
Sebastian glanced over at Vincent, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Yeah? You think she might enjoy that?"
Vincent nods, opening his mouth to speak again but he's quickly interrupted by a very loud and shrill cry. A cry belonging to August.
*5 MINUETS EARLIER - THE PLAYROOM*
Lux sat silently at the small playroom table, her fingers still rolling the play-dough between her hands in slow, deliberate motions. It stung and burned whenever she pressed to firmly due to the bandaid covered cuts on her hands but she didn't care. Sometimes, the physical pain was easier to deal with than the emotional pain.
The quiet sounds of August happily chatting to himself filled the air, but her mind was elsewhere - clouded with thoughts of anger, frustration and confusion. She couldn't stop thinking about how much she hated this place, hated how they treated her like she was still a child. And yet, here she was; sitting at a tiny table, pretending to play, while her body screamed to run.
"Look!" August's high pitch voice broke through her thoughts as he proudly presented his half-made pumpkin to her. His eyes gleamed with excitement, oblivious to the storm inside her.
"Nice," Lux muttered flatly, her gaze flicking over the misshapen orange lump of play-dough. She wasn't sure if August was too naive to see it or if he just didn't care, but she could feel the weight of his gaze on her, expecting her to join in the fun.
She lets out a long shaky breath, glancing back down at her own lump of orange play-dough and silently beginning to shape it into something resembling a pumpkin. Her mind continued to race with thoughts - thoughts similar to yesterday's.
Even though Sebastian had reassured her countless times that she wasn't here simply for August's entertainment, right now, more than ever, now it felt like she was.
The minuets seemed to stretch by endlessly as Lux was consumed in a world of her own thoughts and tightness in her chest only worsened with every flicker of August's bright eyes. She felt like she was only here to be a playmate for August when the men couldn't be bothered to entertain him themselves.
Her fingers moved mechanically, no real intention behind her actions, as she reluctantly moulded her lump of orange dough into a rough pumpkin. She feels her breathing pick up.
She wasn't even sure if she hated them anymore, or if she simply hated the life they had imposed on her. The world outside this house felt like a distant memory, something unreachable and untouchable.
August, however, was still blissfully unaware of her inner turmoil. His small hands worked diligently, his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth as he focused on rolling his dough into a perfect ball, then flattening it out to create another shape.
Lux's thoughts continue to spiral. The idea of continuing to pretend, to keep playing along like she was a child again, felt suffocating. She could feel the anger rising in her again, but this time, it was different and she could feel it begin to consume her.
Her hand twitched by her side as she tried to compress her emotions. But it wasn't working. Her mind was a blur and all of her conflicting emotions merged into one big message shouting 'Get out!' at her over and over again.
The pumpkin shaped ball of dough falls from her hands, landing on the floor with and soft thud and with both hands free, she reaches over towards August who's still sitting peacefully on the chair, blissfully unaware of what's about to happen.
Before she can stop herself, a huge amount of Lux's anger comes crashing out onto the poor boy and with a hard shove, Lux pushes him off the chair.
August tumbles to the floor with a startled cry, his small body hitting the carpet with a soft thud. Lux's breath is shallow, her heart hammering in her chest. For a brief moment, the world is silent, save for the rapid beating of her own pulse.
August's face contorts in confusion and hurt, and his eyes well up with tears but that sight only annoys the small girl more and she feels herself stand up from her own chair. Swiftly, without even thinking about, her foot lurches forward and she kicks the boy in the side of the his stomach. Hard.
The boy is winded for a few moments, trying to catch his breath after the shock of being kicked so hard. It was bringing up nasty memories from a life he wanted to forget. Finally, manages to take a breath, his face contorting even more as he lets out a loud wail.
Lux's chest tightens as she watches him. The anger she felt earlier hasn't dissipated; instead, it flares anew, this time more chaotic. She clenches her fists at her sides. Her mind is so much of a blur that she doesn't feel the fast paced footsteps coming towards the playroom.
Vincent's voice cuts through the air, calm but firm, as he enters the playroom just in time to witness the aftermath. "Lux! What the hell do you think you're doing?" His eyes dart between her trembling figure and the sobbing August on the floor, clutching his stomach, his face streaked with tears.
Lux freezes, her body rigid with guilt, anger, and a deep sense of helplessness. Her breath is shallow, her chest tight as she stares at August, her stomach churning with regret that doesn't seem to outweigh the raging fire inside her. She doesn't answer. Instead, she simply watches August, feeling a sick knot twist in her gut as his cries echo in the room.
Sebastian pushes past Vincent, immediately rushing over to his little boy. He kneels down beside August, pulling him into his arms just as he did with Lux when she got hurt the other day.
Vincent stands frozen in the doorway, his chest tight and his mind racing. He never thought that she'd loose control like this - if he did, he'd of never left her alone with the boy. His eyes flicker to her, holding back his anger and frustration towards the young, and replacing it with a heavy disappointment. "Lux, what happened? Why would you do that?"
Lux's heart pounds in her chest, her fists still clenched by her sides. She knows what she did was wrong. She sees the pain in August's eyes, but it doesn't stop the rage that she's been holding back for so long from resurfacing in the worst way.
"Lux," he said again, his tone tight with a mix of disappointment and concern, "What happened?" He repeats, almost at a loss for words.
Lux's gaze flickered down to her feet, her throat tightening as the shame began to swell inside her, competing with the anger that still refused to leave her. The guilt and anger gnawed at her insides but it was the feeling of being trapped that she couldn't shake. She was suffocating in this place, in this life they had imposed on her, and it made her lash out without thinking.
Sebastian was gently rocking August in his arms now, his face a mixture of concern and sadness as he whispered soothing words to the boy. But Lux couldn't look at them. She couldn't stand to see the way he was comforting August.
Vincent's voice cut through the haze of her thoughts again. "Luxie, look at me," he said, his tone softer now, though it still held the weight of his disappointment. Although he was still angry, he knew better than to lash out and shout at the girl.
She glances up at him, her eyes filled with tears.
Vincent sighs, stepping forward and grabbing her wrist firmly with his large hand. "C'mon" He mutters, guiding her away from the scene. "You need a time out."
His touch wasn't harsh, but the firmness of it only reminded her of how little control she had in this house. The warmth of his hand against her skin felt suffocating, almost too much, and she jerked her wrist slightly in a small attempt to break free. But he didn't let go.
"No." Lux manages to mumble in resistance.
Vincent's grip tightened, though he kept his touch gentle, just firm enough to show her that resistance wasn't an option. His expression was calm but his eyes were serious, betraying the quiet frustration he was trying to mask. "Lux," he said softly, but firmly. "You know what you did was wrong, and now you need to take a moment to calm down."
Her chest ached with a mix of humiliation and fury. "No," she muttered again, but her voice was weaker this time. The tears she'd been fighting back for so long finally started to sting the back of her eyes.
Vincent's steps remained steady as he tugged the girl into the lounge and over to the corner which was the designated 'time-out' area. "Don't try to argue with me, little girl." He murmurs, sitting her down. "I know that you've been feeling angry and upset about this whole situation but that is no excuse to hurt others."
Lux stays silent, tears slowly begin to roll down her cheeks as she stares at the wall in front of her.
"August looks up to you so so much and you had no reason to betray his trust like that." Vincent says, his voice firm.
Lux's chest tightens as Vincent's words sink in. She shifts uncomfortably on the floor, her arms wrapped around her knees as she huddles in the corner. His words sting, but they also feel like a small, bitter truth that she can't avoid. August had been nothing but kind to her, offering her his creations, his innocent smiles, and she had repaid him with violence. Her stomach churns, the guilt weighing heavier than she ever thought possible.
"You are going to stay here, on the floor, like a good little girl until I tell you otherwise, okay?" Vincent says, phrasing it like a question even though she most definitely didn't have a say in this.
Lux nods her head as she sits in the corner of the room, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Along with her occasional whimpers and sniffles, the quiet ticking of the clock is the only sound filling the space. After a few more seconds, she can hear Vincent's footsteps leave the room as he goes, to what she can only presume is to check up on August and Sebastian, leaving Lux alone.
She continues to sit in the corner of the room, her small body curled up as if the make herself invisible. Tears roll silently down her cheeks - a mix of regret and frustration.
Her mind raced, replaying the moment she pushed August over and kicked him. Why had she done that? She didn't hate him - not really. He was just there, an easy target for all the confusion and rage boiling inside her. But now, the memory of his face, streaked with tears and betrayal, gnawed at her like a parasite.
She sniffled, her breathing uneven as the minuets slowly ticked. As much as she tried to push away the guilt which was growing inside of her, it wouldn't leave. She knew August didn't deserve that. He wasn't the reason she was here - trapped inside this stupid house - yet he was the person she took her anger out on.
The sound of footsteps returned, and she instinctively straightened, her back stiff against the corner as she kept her head bowed. Vincent's towering frame reappeared in the doorway. He takes a few steps in her direction, crouching down.
"Lux that was completely uncalled for." He says sternly.
She glanced at him through her tear-soaked lashes, her face puffy and red. "I know..." Her words were small and shaky as she clutched her knees tighter.
The weight of Vincent's disappointment was unbearable.
Vincent sighed deeply, his eyes softening as he crouched closer, bringing himself to her eye level. "Then why, Lux? Why would you hurt him like that?"
Lux sniffled, wiping her face with the sleeve of her shirt. She struggled to find the words, to express her emotions. "I just... I was mad," she finally managed, her voice cracking. "Everything feels... wrong. I hate it here. I hate being treated like this. And Iâ" She choked on her words, her breath hitching as more tears spilled down her cheeks. "I didn't mean to. I just... I couldn't stop."
"Being mad doesn't mean it's okay to hurt someone else, Luxie," he said gently but firmly. "You know that, don't you?"
She nodded hesitantly, her eyes darting toward the floor. "I know," she whispered, her voice so small it barely registered.
"August didn't do anything to deserve that Luxie." Vincent mumbles, reaching out to brush some hair away from her face. "He just wanted to be your friend."
Lux's stomach twisted painfully at his words. Her mind flashes with images of August's face - full of hurt and confusion. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to hurt him."
"I know you're sorry," Vincent replied, his tone even. "But saying sorry isn't enough. You need to show it. When you're ready, you'll need to apologize to August, and you'll need to mean it."
Lux hides her face in her knees, her emotions taking over. She wanted to disappear.
Vincent exhaled softly, his hand gently stroking the side of Lux's head for a moment before he stood back up. "Stay here. We'll talk more when you've calmed down."
Lux didn't respond, her body tense and unmoving as she buried her face deeper into her knees. Vincent watched her for a moment longer, his chest tightening with conflicting emotions. He just hoped that she'd come around. Finally, he left the room, the sound of his footsteps fading down the hall.
---
Sebastian sat on the edge of the bed, cradling the boy gently in his lap. August had finally stopped crying, though his sniffles lingered as he clung tightly to his daddy, his small face pressed against Sebastian's chest.
"You're okay, baby boy," Sebastian whispered soothingly, his hand running in soft circles over the boy's back. "I've got you. Nobody's going to hurt you."
It turned out that Lux hadn't kicked him incredibly hard - just enough to give the boy a big fright. He was more scared and emotionally upset than physically hurt. The small act of violence had brought back memories from before he lived with his daddy and papa. Memories he'd rather forget.
Sebastian's heart ached as he felt the little boy's shivers subside. August wasn't a stranger to fear, his life before Sebastian and Vincent had been anything but kind, but they had worked so hard to give him a safe, loving home. This incident was a painful reminder of how delicate the boy's sense of security still was.
Vincent walked into the room quietly, his face drawn. "How's he doing?" he asked, his voice low. He glanced at August, who peeked at him from the safety of Sebastian's arms before burying his face again.
"He's okay," Sebastian replied, his tone soft but firm. "Shaken, but okay. I think the kick scared him more than it hurt him."
Vincent sighed, running a hand down his face. "Good. I was worried she'd really hurt him."
He crosses the room, taking a seat next to his boys on the bed. He reached his hand out, brushing it softly over August's hair. "Hey, sweetheart," he murmured, keeping his tone soft. "How you feeling?"
August sniffled, peeking out from Sebastian's chest with big, watery eyes. "Why's she so mean, Papa?" he asked, his voice trembling.
Vincent's heart clenched at the question. He exchanged a quick glance with Sebastian before replying, "She's not trying to be mean, buddy. Lux is just feeling a lot of big feelings right now, and she didn't know how to handle them. But that doesn't make what she did okay."
"She doesn't like me," August whispered, fresh tears brimming in his eyes.
Sebastian quickly intervened, cupping the boy's cheek and turning his face toward him. "No, sweetheart. That's not true. Lux likes you, I promise. She's just confused and upset, and sometimes that makes people act in ways they don't mean."
"But she hurt me," August replied, his small voice breaking. "She's jus' like m-my old mama."
Sebastian's heart sank at the mention of his "old mama." He exchanged a tense, knowing look with Vincent, who immediately straightened and shifted closer to August.
"No, baby," Sebastian said gently but firmly, tilting August's chin up so the boy could look into his eyes. "Lux is nothing like her. I promise you that. She's just having a really hard time right now, but she's not bad. She's not like her."
Vincent nodded in agreement. "Sweetheart, Lux did something wrong, and we're going to help her understand that. But we also have to help her figure out how to handle her feelings better so it doesn't happen again. You know we wouldn't let anyone hurt you, right?"
August sniffled, his small hand clutching tightly at Sebastian's shirt as he whispered, "Promise?"
Sebastian pressed a kiss to the boy's forehead. "Promise, baby boy. You're safe here. We'll always make sure of that."
The boy seemed to relax a little at those words, leaning further into Sebastian's chest. He lets his eyes fall shut, enjoying the peacefulness of the moment.