Rating: M
Characters: Nick, Sebastian, Blaine, Kurt
Summary: On his way home, Nick encounters a homeless boy that he soon befriends and vows to help save. But there are things in Sebastian's past that make him wonder if he even can be saved. Warnings inside. Nickbastian. Background Klaine.
Warnings: Talk of self-harm, prostitution, homelessness, drug and physical/sexual abuse. Depictions of the above. Swearing. Sexual references. Warnings will be tailored to chapters for the rest of the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters and the title is from the song by To Be Juliet's Secret.
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BREAKING AT THE SEAMS – CHAPTER 1:
Nick Duval shivered as he strolled down the street back towards his apartment building. Winter was setting in before autumn was even half over and he could barely dismiss the bodies congregating around drums housing fires to warm by. Usually he'd spare a couple of dollars on them but college had left him broke and without time to work. He buried his hands further into his pockets and sniffed as he turned the corner onto his street.
Nick wondered idly why all those people were out on the streets. He wondered about their past, their history, their stories. He hoped they had somewhere safe to go and that they would be alright. He wished there was more he could do than simply hope.
Nick was shocked out of his reverie by a crash, a groan and a cough. He peered into the alley beside his apartment building, biting his lip as he felt anxiety rush through him. Alleys are evil – you're gonna die. Turn around NOW.
He could see a shadow moving, a flash of pale skin and more coughing before a face appeared from behind a dumpster. Nick heard a zipper zipping before a tall, thin figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Hey baby, you looking for some fun?" the figure asked. He sounded young and Nick felt a pang of sadness for him as he shook his head.
"No thanks, I'm fine… Are you, though? You don't look good…" The boy had stepped into the light and Nick could see he was in fact pale with light brown hair hanging in his faded green eyes. His eyes were ringed with red and there were tear tracks on his face but Nick was loathe to say anything.
"I'm fine baby, and I can make you feel a whole lot finer." He had a smug smile but his face was clouded by fading bruises and dirt. The silence that had fallen between them was broken by the boy coughing, almost doubling over before he leaned against the wall of the alley. "Fuck. There goes another possibility."
"Possibility?" Nick asked. Why are you talking to him?! Go inside and do your homework!
The boy had slipped down the wall to the ground and he peered up at Nick like he was an idiot. "The possibility of another job. Would you screw someone if they were coughing all over you?"
"I-I s'pose not…" Nick glanced up and down the street before he bit the bullet. "How about you come inside for a while? I might have something that'll help with the cough, if you want."
"What? You aren't afraid I'll rob you blind the minute you turn your back?"
"Of course not," Nick said immediately before shying away a little. "Well, maybe a bit but I'll trust you."
The boy turned his gaze away and sighed before he pushed himself to his feet. "Fine. Who am I to refuse such hospitality?" He wore a wry smile as he approached Nick but the smile turned to a smirk when he reached forward a grabbed Nick's junk. "Besides, there might be something in it for you after all."
Nick turned a deep shade of red and stepped away. "Uh, I'm Nick by the way. Nick Duval." He held out his hand.
"I'm Sebastian. Just Sebastian," he answered as he shook Nick's hand. "Which way he headed, Nick?"
"Just here," Nick said as he darted up the stairs into his building. "Live here with my friend Blaine, but he's at a friend's in Bushwick for the night."
Sebastian nodded, peering around as they walked down the hallway to the elevator. They got in and rode up to the third floor before Nick led the way to the apartment. It was dark inside but Blaine had left the radiator on – which Nick had yelled at him for doing many a time – so it was warm. Nick tugged off his jacket as he flicked on some lights before turning back to find Sebastian kneeling beside the radiator.
"Can I get you anything? Water? Cough syrup? A shower?"
"A shower'd be great, actually," Sebastian said as he straightened up again.
Nick jabbed a finger to the bathroom door. "Just through there. Don't touch the blue towels or the hair gel. I can find you some clean clothes if you want; I think we've got some of Kurt's jeans." Part of Nick knew that was a bad idea but he was a good six inches shorter than Sebastian and Blaine was another three inches shorter than he was.
"Nah, I'll be right." Sebastian flashed a smile before he nodded. "I'll be out in a few minutes."
Nick nodded and waited for the door to close behind Sebastian before he began digging through the kitchen cupboards for the cough syrup. He soon gave up and pulled out his phone to call Blaine and ask him. It rang for a long time before Nick was greeted by two sets of panting breath.
"Nick, what do you want?" Blaine gasped.
"Where's the cough syrup?"
"Why? You don't sound sick."
"Just tell me where it is."
"Are you trying to get high?"
"Just tell me where it is."
"Cupboard above the fridge. You hid it up there so I would quit singing every time I went to get cereal."
"Thank you."
"See ya tomorrow."
"Enjoy the sex," Nick said quickly before he hung up, knowing that would piss Kurt off. He reached into the cupboard above the fridge and found the cough syrup, setting it on the bench top before he set about making twin ham sandwiches.
Just as he was slicing the two sandwiches into halves, the bathroom door opened and Sebastian wandered out with the (red) towel around his neck. He was wearing his dirty, ripped jeans and a loose t-shirt. Nick found himself taken aback by the multiple raised scars and track marks along the insides of his arms but he swallowed the fear and pushed a sandwich towards Sebastian.
"Ham sandwich and cough syrup."
"Thanks," Sebastian murmured as he sat down at the makeshift breakfast bar Blaine had insisted on. Sebastian grabbed a half of his sandwich and began to eat as Nick watched on, realising that he had a homeless drug addict prostitute sitting in his kitchen. Oh dear.
"So where are you from?" Nick asked as he took a bite of his own sandwich.
"Born in Chicago, came here from Ohio," Sebastian answered around a mouthful of sandwich. He swallowed and coughed harshly before he laughed slightly. "Came to New York to find myself."
"Did you?" Nick asked, hoping Sebastian wouldn't notice the nervous glance to his arms.
Sebastian sighed. "I've found the finding yourself and losing yourself are much one in the same."
"How so?"
Sebastian shrugged as he leaned his arms on the bench. "You lose part of yourself when you find yourself – you lose the lost part of you. And when you lose yourself, you find that there's always something more to lose."
Nick nodded sadly. "I can understand that…"
"You ever lost yourself, Nick?" Sebastian asked as he tapped his fingers aimlessly.
"I dunno, maybe." He shrugged. "You?"
"I wouldn't be sitting in a stranger's apartment eating a charity sandwich if I hadn't," Sebastian said with another short laugh. Dark humour seemed to fuel his smile but Nick could see that the smile was only skin deep.
Nick nodded before he glanced around the messy apartment. If only Blaine took as much care of his home as he did his hair. "I suppose I should make up the couch…" Nick said as he stepped back into the living room and began moving things from the couch.
"You don't have to do that."
"You can't go back out in the cold with your cough. You'll get worse."
"I'm sure I'd manage." Nick jumped slightly when he straightened and Sebastian was standing behind him, a hand at his hip. "Besides, I owe you for that delicious sandwich."
Nick felt his breath quicken before he slowly turned around, letting Sebastian capture his lips. The kiss was warm and Nick was surprised when he kissed back, not resisting when Sebastian pulled their bodies flush together.
Sebastian broke the kiss and peered into Nick's brown eyes. "Let me pay you back, Nick," he whispered huskily. Nick shivered with anticipation as Sebastian pushed his hair back behind his hair before he took Sebastian's hand and led him towards his bedroom.
What was life without almost-free sex?
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A/N: I have no idea where this came from or where it's going. I randomly got inspired while watching Law & Order SVU and there were some gifs and a Disney movie involved. It's all a bit of a blur really :p But I hope you like it so far. I'll probably try to work out a bit of a plan before I post again but keep an eye out. Thanks for reading :) –Em xoxo