The few months following that one morning when Kurt caved in to Sebastian's advances passed without any other similar incidents, though this is not to say that Sebastian didn't continue attempting to seduce his roommate with suggestive comments and behavior. Kurt felt zero interest in succumbing to the pressure again, instead returning to the normality of feeling nearly constant annoyance towards the pompous asshole.
On a clear, chilly day in March, Kurt made his way through the apartment's door after a particularly exhausting dance class. Keys were flung into a dish on the hallway table and he immediately headed for the kitchen, desperate for something to eat. In his sweaty state the idea of a shower nagged at the forefront of his mind, but a growling stomach overruled the need for immediate hygiene. In the living room sat Sebastian, perched on their couch surrounded by books and papers, furiously typing away on his laptop. He didn't even look up at the sound of someone entering the room. Nothing irked Kurt quite like being ignored, even by a man he didn't particularly enjoy interacting with, so he chose to make his presence known.
"I know for a fact that there's a desk in your room, yet for some reason you insist on spreading out all over the sofa."
Sebastian paused typing and finally looked around.
"Would you prefer that I spread you out on the sofa?" He winked.
Kurt rolled his eyes. He really should have seen that coming. Moving into the kitchen he opened a cupboard and grabbed a granola bar. Before ripping open the packaging and devouring the snack, he used it to point at Sebastian.
"Well, it's good to see proof that you actually do go to school, since it seems like you are always here just to spite me." This wasn't really true, but it was the best he could come up with while suffering a state of intense hunger and fatigue.
After hitting a few more keys, Sebastian closed the laptop and sauntered into the kitchen.
"Actually, I would still be at the library right now, but I wanted to make sure I caught you before you head out for your evening class."
This was highly unusual, because as a general rule they tried to miss each other as often as possible. Intrigued, Kurt continued taking delicate bites of granola bar, bobbing his head up and down a couple of times as a silent indication for the other to go on.
"Although this causes me extreme agony to say and invites you to joyously taunt me," Sebastian began, "I need," he paused to inhale a deep breath and close his eyes before quickly rushing out, "I need to ask you a favor."
Kurt couldn't contain a short laugh, causing him to choke a little on the food in his mouth. He quickly regained his composure, smiling mockingly as he said,
"I'm sorry, but could I please ask you to repeat that?"
"Don't make me say it again, Hummel. Your recent near-death-experience told me that you heard just fine. You have no idea how much I'm suffering here."
Still beaming, Kurt threw up his hands.
"Ok, ok. I know it must be serious and you must be desperate if it's come to this. What do you need?"
Sebastian was clearly in actual physical pain now, fists balled up and eyes screwed shut.
"I need you to accompany me to a dinner party."
That certainly was not what Kurt expected to hear, though he wasn't exactly sure what he had expected. His mouth dropped open slightly, staring at his roommate in utter confusion and shock as he placed the half-eaten granola bar on the counter. Sebastian finally opened his eyes and raised his head, severe discomfort still evident on his face.
"You… what?" Kurt still couldn't register the request.
Sighing, Sebastian began explaining.
"A professor of mine refers one student every year for a summer internship at a major law firm. Right now he's narrowed it down to three and, naturally, being the best, I am among them. He's hosting a dinner for us with himself and his wife. Furthermore, he insists that we each bring a date."
At the word "date" Kurt quirked a skeptical eyebrow.
"So you want to take me to this little gathering and introduce me as your date?"
Sebastian's customary expression of superiority returned.
"In your dreams, Princess. No, I'll make it clear that you are my roommate, but I might fib a little and say we're also friends. Think you can be nice to me for a few hours?"
Ignoring the question, Kurt posed his own.
"And, why me, exactly? Surely you must have a lengthy list of acquaintances that you could ask instead."
"Of course I do, but I don't have the time or energy to groom them for something this important." The look of pain returned. "Look, you're the only person I know who can make polite and interesting conversation with anyone, except with me of course. I also know that you can dress yourself appropriately, assuming you can tone down the gay for one night."
Grinning smugly and cocking his head, Kurt popped a hip and placed a hand upon it.
"Aww, 'Bas, were those compliments you just gave me?"
Sebastian attempted a weak sneer.
"Don't get used to it, sweetheart. I'm desperate, which is not an emotion I'm at all familiar with, and therefore not in my right mind at the moment."
Kurt straightened up and looked quizzically at the man across the kitchen.
"Suppose I say 'yes,'" he started, "what's in it for me? You know full well that I wouldn't willingly do anything for you without proper compensation."
Sebastian moved towards Kurt, reaching out to run a finger down his arm, seductively purring in his ear,
"Oh, I'm sure that I can make it worth your time."
Kurt pushed him off and cast an effortless "bitch, please" face.
"Nice try, but I am not so easily bought. That'd really just be a reward for you, anyway."
"Fine, I'm willing to negotiate. What do you want?"
Back when the question of attending the dinner first came up, Kurt already knew what to ask for.
"You will buy me a new suit for the occasion, complete with shoes and any accessories that I deem necessary, regardless of the price."
Shrugging, Sebastian pursed his lips and nodded.
"Easy enough. We can go shopping at the same time, since I intend to get one myself. And that way I can make sure you keep the flamboyancy in check."
"Oh no," Kurt scoffed, "first off, you get absolutely no say in what I wear. Secondly, judging by the rest of your wardrobe, and I use that word lightly, I highly doubt that I would find anything remotely stylish in an establishment where you might shop."
Sebastian's face turned to mock pity as he turned to walk away.
"Whatever you say. I guess some people can't appreciate Armani or Oscar de la Renta."
Kurt immediately shot out a hand to grab the other man's shoulder. Sebastian turned around, signature smirk out in full force.
"Are you serious? Because I swear, Smythe, if you tease me with fashion and don't deliver, so help me Gaga I will…"
Before the rest of the sentence was finished, Sebastian's body sagged in a way that Kurt recognized as genuine vulnerability. The look did not suit him in the slightest.
"Yes, I am serious. Kurt," he spoke in an uncommonly earnest voice, "this dinner means a lot to me. I want that internship every bit as much as you have ever wanted anything in your life. So please, if you help me with this I'll give you whatever you ask for."
Unnerved by this stripped down display of emotion, Kurt smiled and tried to get the normal Sebastian back as quickly as he knew how.
"So that means you're willing to quit trying to get into my pants?"
This tactic worked like a charm. In a moment Sebastian was leaning in close once more with a sly grin,
"I have no interest in getting into your pants. My aim is to get you out of them."
For the second time during this conversation, Kurt failed to suppress a dramatic eye roll.
"Good to have you back. Never scare me like that again. Now, when are we going shopping?"
If Sebastian experienced any nervousness before dinner the following Saturday night, he never showed it. Earlier in the week the pair hit the streets to shop, coming home with a snappy suit each, plus new shoes, shirts, ties and carefully selected cufflinks. Now they were dressed and sitting in a taxi, on the way to a restaurant that Kurt had never heard of. Apparently it was supposed to be absurdly fancy. Not that he cared— any time he put in to this little charade was entirely on Sebastian's dime. He supposed that he should probably feel a little apprehension, but oddly enough he couldn't conjure up an iota of anxiety. These weren't his peers; in fact he probably wouldn't see them again after tonight, and it was true that he could make conversation with just about anyone. If they inquired after details about his own life, he would answer honestly, trusting that the worst he might suffer from these undoubtedly upper-class folks would be forced politeness.
As they rode along, Sebastian took a few minutes to brief him on the professor and two classmates; nothing more than their names and basic backgrounds, but still good information to possess going in to the evening. It wasn't more than 15 minutes before they arrived at the restaurant. The maitre d' led them to a large table towards the back of the room where an older looking man and woman sat with two 20-somethings. Kurt assumed this meant that they were waiting for one last pair to arrive. As they approached, the professor smiled broadly, stood and extended his hand.
"Ah, Sebastian! So glad you could join us." The two shook hands before Professor Stanley turned to Kurt to perform the same gesture. "And who is this you brought with you tonight?"
"This is Kurt Hummel. We live together," Sebastian answered.
The professor's face fell almost imperceptibly, but not before Kurt caught it. "Here we go," he thought.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Stanley. Sebastian always speaks very highly of you." He pasted on a gracious expression. Hopefully manners and charm might get the roommates out of here unscathed tonight.
The trio took their seats, where Kurt was introduced to Mrs. Stanley and the other two guests, Sandra (a student) and her boyfriend, Michael. Less than 10 seconds after they finished the last couple appeared, Amanda (the other student) and her boyfriend, Joe, setting off the introductory process all over again. It vaguely registered in Kurt's mind that he and Sebastian were the only non-couple present, but he didn't consider this beyond the one fleeting realization. A waiter came for their drink orders and silence reigned for a minute or two as everyone perused the menu. A different waiter brought their beverages and scribbled down their entrée selections before disappearing. Finally, there was nothing left to do but begin what Kurt hoped wouldn't be an hour or so of terribly stilted conversation.
Professor Stanley spoke first.
"As you all know, you're here because I'm considering you for the summer internship. However, tonight is not a night for talking business. Your three companions probably don't want us to bore them with legal talk." He chuckled, as though he just cracked a hilarious joke. "No, this evening is meant to be nothing more than a pleasant meal shared between friends. I look forward to getting to know you all a little better."
Kurt resisted raising an eyebrow. He would voluntarily bet his scarf collection that every minute of this get-together was intended as a test. Though he might not know much about being a lawyer, he knew it involved a lot of schmoosing. Given a guess, he would surmise that the purpose of this dinner was to evaluate the student's abilities in making confident first impressions and in kissing ass.
The Stanley's moved methodically around the table, asking each pair in turn about themselves. Sandra and Michael met two months prior through a friend of a friend. He was a fresh graduate from Yale who recently moved to New York for a job as an assistant art historian at the Museum of Modern Art. Kurt was moderately impressed by this, and felt slightly less intimidated by not being the only person at the table with an interest in anything remotely connected to the arts. Amanda and Joe were both New York natives whose families were long-time friends, though the two didn't start dating until college. Joe was studying at the New York University School of Medicine, and Kurt marveled at how a law and a medical student ever found time in their schedules to talk to each other, let alone form a relationship. It probably helped that the two knew each other since childhood.
Inescapably, the conversation came around to the final two and Kurt steeled himself for whatever their company would throw at them. Mrs. Stanley started them off.
"So, how long have you boys been together?"