Ironically, probably the one thing Sebastian learned the most from Demetrius is how to use words to hurt people/keep them away from himself.
They donāt really have healthy discussions anymore. They have periods of tenseĀ ācivilityā until the ticking time bomb explodes into another fight and the cycle resets itself again and again. And thoseĀ ācivilā periods are full of passive aggressive and increasingly cold and venomous jabs aimed at each other. Poking at the holes theyāve memorized in each otherās armor. Neither willing to bow down andĀ āplay niceā even when trying to give the impression of getting along.Ā
That two heart event with Maru is the kind of shit that Sebastian lives with on a near daily basis, and heās learned how to turn it right back on him. He sees through Demetriusās bullshit bc he isnāt blinded by parental love like Maru may very well be.
He sees his stepdad for exactly who he is. And as the only father heās ever known, itās inevitable that heād take from his environment what he could.Ā
Where Robinās temper is like fire, quick and burning bright when itās lit, Sebastian took to Demetriusās ICEĀ instead. Not completely; his own temper can ignite as his last defense against someone getting too close or the need for a physical altercation arises, and he most definitely gets in screaming matches the most easily with Demetrius, but heās otherwise almost chillingly calm when verbally cutting someone down. Complete with a glare thatās as cold as winter itself. With words that can drip with his stepdadās poison if and when he needs them to.
Sebastian has more in common with him, or even just more he can tribute to Demetriusās influence, than heād ever care to admit.