A/N: Inspired by the last scene of the "The Untilted Rachel Berry Project" Promo combined with overwhelming need to free Kurt.

I tried to adjust to Glee timeline but their leaps are confusing enough. Sorry for the mistakes.

Thank you, BrighidsForge for putting up with my questionable grammar.

I intended to make it sweet but you know how's Kurtbastian. They never listen, so...
I still hope you'll like it.

Glee's not mine.

Warning for Sebastian acting a little bit creepy.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER I

"Falling Into the Unknown"

The first time Sebastian saw Kurt in New York City was the day after he realized studying at NYU was a lot different than in high school. Even if said high school was Dalton Academy, which held high expectations of its students. He was tired and frustrated because his expectations differed from reality. There was proportionally much more studying and less fucking. He was in the mood for grumping so he decided to treat himself with his favorite coffee.

Sebastian was surprised to find himself hidden in a corner of a café, clad in a comfortable, warm grey coat and a beanie, just observing. He was aware that Kurt was a citizen of New York, a highly praised student of NYADA, similarly highly regarded intern and engaged to the one and only Blaine Anderson (aka Prince Charming), and he subconsciously awaited the moment they'd meet again. The gay scene was only this big. Even in New York City. So when that moment came, he was astonished he didn't do a single thing, but watch.

Although he would never affirm it, he actually visualized their meeting. Where could they possibly meet, what would he say, what would Kurt do… how would he look like? And right then, he was itching to come and make fun of the corniness of the circumstances of their reunion. He would say something along these lines:

"Hadn't taken you for a cross-dresser, Princess! Wearing boy clothes, for once."

And then Kurt would turn his way and answer:

"So you do live in a coffee shop, after all." Referring to their surroundings. Because of course they'd meet again in a freaking café!

Sebastian sighed and stepped into the cold January evening, leaving the warm harbor of a café and Kurt Hummel behind.

Days passed and turned into weeks that turned into months and Sebastian got to know the countertenor's schedule. Even if Sebastian hadn't yet approached Kurt or made his existence known- God only knows why not- he observed the pale young man from a distance in his favorite corner. The green-eyed man would sit quietly, sipping on his flavored coffee for few minutes and then walk out of the coffee shop with a sigh. And he learned a lot about Kurt during these past few months.

Sebastian found Kurt sitting by his table every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Sebastian came to the conclusion that this place was Kurt's asylum, his secret place he ran to whenever he felt like he needed space and time to think. Because Sebastian had never found Kurt accompanied by his friends or even Blaine. And as the weeks passed, the time Kurt spent sketching furiously while seated in a leather armchair seemed to lengthen.

Also, Sebastian could recognize how not only Kurt's time spent in the comfortable interior of the cafe changed, but also Kurt himself had changed. January seemed to be a cheerful month in his life. He was radiating warmth. His clothing was colorful and flossy, his hand working on his sketches effortlessly and confidently. Sebastian had no trouble spotting his lips softly turning into a smile. It seemed subconscious and that said a lot about how happy Kurt felt. As the time flew, the end of February brought frustration into every move Kurt made. He was easily irritated and his features were guarded. At first Sebastian thought mockingly that Kurt was in need of a good fuck, but beneath his anger, sat aggravation. What for? He had no idea, but it disturbed Kurt enough to tear up some of the projects he had worked on for days.

The biggest change Sebastian picked up on was when the alabaster-skinned youth abandoned the coffee shop for a while. There were 2 or 3 weeks in which Sebastian didn't see Kurt sitting in his comfortable armchair, legs crossed, hands sketching enthusiastically. But when he finally returned, Sebastian was struck by the difference he saw in Kurt. And he couldn't even tell what was it exactly. Kurt hadn't changed much from the outside. He looked the same to Sebastian. Maybe there was a little bit more muscle visible and less layers of clothing but that was smooth enough for Sebastian not to notice at first glance. Kurt radiated confidence. He was proud, he was strong and comfortable in his own skin. Sebastian wasn't the only one who could feel it. There was a number of both men and women of all ages looking at him hungrily, lusting.

May was approaching when this confidence seemed to be slowly disappearing. There were times when Kurt just sat there smiling, being happy and content. But the next day he would turn his lips into one thin line from chewing on them and frown. It looked like Kurt was having a hard time deciding if he liked to be happy or grumpy and sad. There was no pattern.

But one sunny day, everything Sebastian grew accustomed to have shifted. That day, when the emerald-eyed boy walked in the coffee shop, he found Kurt sitting in a leather armchair, not sketching, but gazing into space. The area that Kurt was looking at was dangerously close to the entrance, and as a result, to Sebastian as he walked into the shop. And to tell the truth, Sebastian was glad; he had had enough of hiding. He actually yearned to relive the feeling he had had whenever Kurt opened his mouth and let his snarky tongue speak, when they were back in Ohio. So he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and headed towards Kurt.

"Hadn't taken you for a cross-dresser, Princess! Wearing boy clothes for once."

Oh god… Sebastian thought. Is it actually happening? Did he just say exactly what he had imagined when playing these little scenes with Kurt? So pathetic, he can't even…

But he didn't get the reaction he had visualized in his mind.

Kurt's eyes cleared, his body visibly went into a defensive mode as he turned his head towards ex-Warbler.

"I'm not a girl…" Kurt hissed hatefully, eyes sending daggers like never before and already reaching for his belongings.

Sebastian stood before Kurt's table dumbstruck, his mind not wrapping around what actually was happening. Sure, they were fighting with each other, always the ones to cross yet another line and spill the vicious words from their mouths, but there had never been a situation where Kurt reacted like this. Sebastian was sure Kurt wouldn't react in such way after not interacting with each other for so long. He thought- at least he hoped- he wasn't the only one who enjoyed their little exchanges.

When Sebastian managed to finally blink and think, he realized Kurt vanished. He spun around just in time to see the hastily retreating Kurt disappear through the door and into the crowd of always hurrying New Yorkers. A few seconds afterward, Sebastian found himself on the street, looking for Kurt. When he finally spotted the slim chestnut haired man heading to the subway, Sebastian started to run, knowing he'd lose him the second he'd get under ground.

"Kurt!" He shouted. "Kurt…! Stop! For Christ's sake, just wait a minute."

Sebastian reached for Kurt, catching his arm and spinning him around. But he wasn't ready for what he has seen.

Kurt was crying. No, he was sobbing. His glasz eyes shining from the gathering tears, white of the eye turning red, flushed wet cheeks and runny nose. He hiccupped and trembled. And Sebastian had no idea what to do.

"Kurt…." He whispered, shock evident in his voice.

"How dare you, Sebastian?! Are you really this cruel? Don't you have more important things to do than to torture me?" the broken boy stuttered.

"What are you talking about? I'm sorry… I'm sorry I called you a girl, but it's…" this time Sebastian felt a sharp pain shooting up his arm, as Kurt pulled away his hand, from the spot he hit him. Hard.

"Stop it!" Kurt shouted, not caring about the looks they were given.

"No… Geez, Kurt, calm down…" Sebastian tried to say, as he held Kurt's hands in his tightly, not letting him slap him anymore. "What happened?"

"Don't make it sound like you already don't know! Don't make me say that. Not to you… Please…!" Suddenly all of Kurt's will and strength disappeared and he trembled, on the verge of a physical collapse. Sebastian, not wanting to let him slide to the ground, held him tight in an awkward embrace, asking himself for the nth time what was really happening.

"You can go after your Blaine, Sebastian… I'm not going to stop you now." Kurt sobbed into his arm, clutching him desperately, like his life depended on it. Emotions- hurt, sorrow and despair - overwhelmed him, making him weak and clingy.

Sebastian hissed a breath into his lungs, suddenly angry with Blaine. What had that gel-headed idiot done to hurt Kurt like this? What did he do, to make Kurt so vulnerable and helpless?

Every time that Sebastian found himself in a situation involving Kurt Hummel, Kurt had proven time and time again how strong a character he was. He was independent, hard-working, driven and full of passion. That made him such a beautiful target for Sebastian's antics. There was hardly a person he considered equal or interesting enough. Sebastian was well aware what an arrogant little shit he was, but he didn't want to change that simply because society thought being nice was good. Stupidity pissed him off and he would never lower his standards. But in that moment, Sebastian found himself caring about what happened to Kurt and how the hell to help him come back to his normal self.

"I don't think your proposition has any appeal to me anymore, Princess." The second his words left his mouth, Sebastian's jaw clenched and he shut his eyes close, because really, Sebastian? Princess?! Now?! And yes, here it came:

"I'm NOT a girl!" Kurt shouted angrily, but as he pulled back from Sebastian, his eyes were filled with misery rather than anger.

Sebastian rushed to apologize, but then Kurt broke down again.

"I'm not a giiiirlllll…. Sebastian. I'm not… I'm not a girl…." Kurt cried. "Blaine doesn't want me anymore… I'm not a girl."

"What are you saying, Kurt?"

"Blaine… Blaine cheated on me. He cheated with a girl, Sebastian! A girl! My ex-girlfriend, my friend, a… a lesbian! What am I supposed to think?!"

Sebastian stood rooted into the ground.

"Wh-what?" He stuttered. Had he heard this right? Blaine slept with a girl?

And Kurt explained, letting go of the things poisoning his heart and making him feel miserable. For the first time since he found out and broke up with Blaine, he let his words float. He hadn't told any of his friends the reason behind his split up with his fiancé. They knew Blaine cheated there was no such thing like 'private' in their tight group of friends. They loved drama and gossip. But they couldn't understand why this time differed so significantly and hurt Kurt so deeply. Besides being cheated on again.

If he felt like dying the first time, then this surely had to be hell. Kurt was brutally stripped of everything he worked so hard on. Suddenly he was in his sophomore year, being thrown into a dumpster, pushed into lockers, made fun of and alone, without his father or friends' support. But this time it felt even worse, because he had fallen to this miserable place from up above. A life he was happy with. He was successful, admired, free and understood. He spread his wings and the moment he actually soared into the sky, he felt a sharp lurch pulling and dragging him down. After he worked so hard on his self-esteem and belief in his success, it was destroyed by a principle.

It was a principle that when you love somebody, you are faithful to them. You are able to do anything just to make sure your love is happy and content. So Kurt felt even more betrayed. He let himself believe somebody could love him romantically. Love him enough to commit to him for a lifetime, despite a rocky past relationship. He let himself think Blaine was in love with him. He let himself believe people can change. Everybody makes mistakes and it's only fair to give them another chance, along with support they need. But look what this led to. Kurt was betrayed by a principle; his morals and view of the world shuddered and started to crumble. He felt like he had nothing left- he knew nothing.

And being cheated on by a gay man with a girl? That was just humiliating.

Kurt found comfort in Sebastian's strong arms and spilled his soul out- all his worries and doubts. And Sebastian couldn't possibly be more surprised by the way his heart responded to the words Kurt was saying. He was hurt that something in Kurt's life could make this strong, handsome countertenor feel so low and think so critically of himself.

"I feel like I've been living a lie, Sebastian. And I'm not even talking about my relationship with Blaine. I mean my whole life. How can I believe in love, in romance, and the good in people, when all I've experienced was… anything but-! I don't know who I am, anymore…" Sebastian heard Kurt saying, as he pulled back and slowly tried to make himself presentable.

Sebastian felt conflicted and unsure of what to do next. He had never been good with words, but there was something in Kurt's voice that made him try to make it better.

"I don't know what you'd like to hear from me," Sebastian answered honestly, concentrating on the tip of his shoes."but don't ever let others define you and your view of things… I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become." He maintained eye contact with Kurt to make sure he fully understood what he wanted to tell him.

To say the least, Kurt was surprised. He didn't even know what actually led to this conversation with his enemy (or was it frenemy?) but Sebastian's thoughtfulness and interest baffled him. It made him want to think twice, before admitting his raw feelings, but Kurt was startled that Sebastian made him feel safe enough to let go. It didn't feel like he wanted to use his vulnerable state to his advantage and blackmail him into something. Actually, the fact that Sebastian was the source of consolation made him feel better and astonished him. Sebastian was acting like a dear, considerate friend. In fact he behaved better, than some of his actual friends had been at times. The mere thought was disturbing, but it didn't make it any less true. And Kurt was thankful, because the words Sebastian tried to inspire him with were working.

Kurt blinked the surprise away and made an effort to smile. Sebastian shifted back into his cocky expression, seeing the change in boy's mood.

"Well, I don't think I can imagine you any less flamboyant and annoying." Sebastian smirked, pulling Kurt up the subway stairs. "Come on. I'm buying you coffee."

"I'm not going anywhere without a promise of a big piece of cheesecake." Kurt threatened half-heartedly.

Sebastian laughed out loud, letting go of the stress that crept up on him when he was trying to not to hurt Kurt anymore than he already was.

"Cheesecake it is, then."

A/N: Hope you liked it? Thanks for your time. Please, leave a review?