So hey there followers and friends!
I want to say a massive thank you to each one of you. If you're reading this that means you've been notified of a new story update which means you follow me and I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me.
It sounds soppy and sad, but whatever. I really appreciate you sticking with me and if I could hug every single one of you and buy you a cup of coffee, I would. But as I can't do that, have another story! :)
So, this story is a little different then any of my other stories. Namely because this is a Kurtbastian Fic. Not a Klaine one. Blaine is involved in the story, yes. But not romantically. He and Kurt are just friends.
Now before any of you come to a conclusion on whether you're going to read this or not, remember that my Sebastian isn't Glee's Sebastian. Mines a nice Sebastian who has a heart of gold, even if it is misguided and hard at showing it.
If you decide to give this story a shot then Thank you so much! If not, I'll see you next Klaine story! I'm not going to stop writing Klaine, never! But I always said I'd write a Kurtbastian Fic and I was ready for a change.
Thank you
- Less Than Three -
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee
One conversation. That's all it took for the last 15 years to come crashing down around Sebastian. One conversation that made him book a flight to New York and all because of him. Kurt. He'd screwed up their friendship in Dalton and he'd been punishing himself for it ever since. Now he needed to fix it. He at least needed to try. Kurt was his forever, he knew that now. Kurtbastian.
Personal Time: At Least Tomorrow.
- Tuesday 21st January 2016 -
Kurt Hummel ran an agency. It wasn't just any agency, it was now THE agency. Nearly every celebrity or up-and-comer had an agent and most of those agents were from the Rise to Fame agency.
He had no idea how he'd ended up running the company before he turned 28, but that's what he was doing now. Rachel and Santana were all involved with agents from his agency, even some high class A-Lister's. It wasn't where he thought he'd be when he was nearly thirty, but he never thought he'd run an agency.
He wasn't even sure how he'd made it this far, but he was in charge of over 300 agents. If each agent had around 3-6 clients, that added up to a large amount of paperwork and a lot of big names he was in charge of. Every available job, audition or live show went through his desk. It was a lot of work, but he enjoyed it.
Kurt mostly dealt with paper work but was known to work with the occasional client. It was very rare for Kurt to have his own client, but the Father of some spoilt teenage brat had insisted that Kurt be his daughters agent. For the sake of an easy life he'd agreed to a meeting. The meeting had lasted less than 15 minutes.
Those 15 minutes had been the most stressful 15 minutes of his entire life. The girl was spoilt and talentless, her Father a big shot nobody. He'd told them he was sorry, but he couldn't be her agent and all hell had broken loose. There had been threats of prison, law suits and lawyers. It was all a waste though, Kurt knew they had no case.
That didn't stop it being stressful and Starbucks and Times Square was always his cure. Kurt was sitting at the red tables in the centre of Times Square. His Caramel Macchiatto sat atop the table as he crossed his legs and looked around at the lights and the people.
This had to be his favourite place in the city. Sitting in the centre of Times Square and simply looking. You could always find him here after a stressful day of agents and paperwork. He'd be here. Sat here taking in the city, the people, the lights. It always allowed him to relax.
Yes he could relax at home, fortunately he had a place to himself after forcing the girls to find their own, he hadn't meant LA or London, but there you go. It was different here. He was at peace and able to relax, but he wasn't alone. And sometimes loneliness got to him more than stress did.
Turning the vibrating phone off in his pocket, he smiled at the sky and was content to sit here until the wind was too cold, or he got too hungry or it got too dark. Whichever came first, he didn't really care.
"Well, well, well" came a voice he recognised. A voice he recognised but would chose time and time again to forget. "Hummel, made it to New York at last I see" the man scoffed from behind, snickering as he gracefully took the seat opposite him.
Tall, dark brown hair, a patented smirk and looked like a meerkat. Sebastian Smythe. Of course. He'd never be able to forget that man if he tried. No matter where he was, Sebastian would haunt him forever.
"Smythe" Kurt said evenly. Inwardly sighing and mentally adding another reason to his list 'high school asshole turns up.' "And to what do I owe the displeasure?" He asked trying to avoid his gaze without seeming rude.
Sebastian nodded as if impressed by his remark, well that would be a first. Nobody ever impressed Sebastian, especially not someone like Kurt Hummel. "Well Hummel, I saw your ridiculously high hair from across town and thought I'd say hi."
Kurt nodded, of course. That's exactly what had happened he thought with a subtle roll of his eyes. Looking at the man he once knew, he couldn't push back his hatred and resentment, but he had to wonder what he was really doing here. How did Sebastian even know he was here?
Now that he thought about it, what was Sebastian doing here? Last time he'd spoken to Blaine he'd said he was filming with a guy called Smythe, man that had been a bad day. "What are you even doing here Sebastian? Shouldn't you be shooting that TV Show in LA with Blaine" he asked after swallowing his mouthful.
Blaine was one of the first up-and-comers he'd worked with. He'd been his agent before he'd worked his way up the ladder. Blaine was a New Yorker born and bread and he was determined to make it to Hollywood. They'd become quite close since he'd met him, they even ended up living together for a short while before Blaine moved to LA for a TV show.
That reminded him, he needed to send Blaine that audition tape that came by his desk yesterday and he needed to confirm his ticket for the premiere of Santana's movie. Man he still had so much to do he thought sighing, wondering if he'd remember them tomorrow.
"Aren't you supposed to be filming with Blaine in LA right now?" He continued before realising he shouldn't know that. Sebastian wasn't a part of his label, it just so happened that they had Blaine in common. Sebastian was starring at him weirdly and once again Kurt sighed. Sebastian was going to think he was keeping tabs on him. Great.
Through narrowed eyes Sebastian seemed to think through his reply. He had no idea what he was going to say, but he could see he changed his mind last minute."Filming with Blaine?" Sebastian asked in his usual cocky tone, his eyebrows raised. "2 questions" he continued sitting forward in his seat and Kurt braced himself.
"1. How do you know I'm an actor who's been filming in LA. "And 2. How do you know Blaine Anderson" he asked raising an eyebrow, "and not the way I know Blaine Anderson I hoped" he winked making Kurt want to vomit. Too much information. Way too much information considering their history.
Same old Sebastian he thought, studying him for a moment. Did he deserve an answer? Did he really deserve his polite conversation? Sebastian was looking at him, impatiently waiting for an answer Kurt was unsure he wanted to give. Was Sebastian worthy of an answer? After everything this man had put him through at Dalton, did he deserve a second chance?
Maybe he didn't and maybe most people wouldn't have given him anything. But nearly 10 years had past since their graduation. 13 years since the moment that had changed Kurt's view on the world, 10 years since Sebastian had been a dick to him.
People change. When he was 18 he wanted the world to know his name, not anymore. 10 years later and he'll do anything he can to keep himself out of the public eye. No one will ever know Kurt Hummel's name, that's for sure. And 10 years ago, he wanted everyone to know his name. He'd changed. So maybe Sebastian had too.
Kurt nodded more or less to himself as he thought through the things in his head. Now that he thought about it, he couldn't understand the whole fame thing anymore. Rachel and Santana wanted to be famous. Even Blaine. They all wanted people to know their names and talk about them daily.
Maybe once upon a time he thought he wanted the same thing, but having random people know everything about your life? Have cameras follow you around 24/7. Who would want that? He most definitely didn't. If his friends did then that was their choice and he'd support them 110%. That life just wasn't for him. He was more than happy to wear an expensive suit and work behind the scenes of everyone else's success.
That's how he'd found himself interning at this little, small name agency in New York way back when. He had no idea how, 8 years later he was running the biggest agency in New York, but. Those had been the cards he'd been dealt. However you looked at it, he chose to put it down to hard work and perseverance, and maybe a little luck, maybe.
But at least this way he got all the perks of being famous, expensive hotel suites, any premiere ticket he wanted. Free concert tickets and celebrity party invites. He got all of that without being stalked by cameras and hounded by fan mail. It was the perfect set up.
Sebastian's deep sigh brought him back to the now, staring at him in confusion. Right, Kurt had almost forgotten he was even here. Shaking his head Kurt quickly apologised before remembering they were in the midst of a conversation and he had a decision to make.
"Oh, sorry. Umm, do you know the Rise to Fame Agency?" He asked staring at his coffee cup. For some reason he couldn't fathom, he actually cared what Sebastian thought about his current career choice. Even after everything. What was wrong with him?
Sebastian narrowed his eyes but answered the question anyway. "Well yeah" he answered as if it was a stupid question, Kurt had to smile at that. "I mean who doesn't, everyone wants them to be their agent. Anyone who's anyone has an agent from there" he said bitterly.
"Bad experience?" He asked treading lightly, he can't recall ever having the name 'Sebastian Smythe' cross his desk. If it had, he would sure of hell remembered. But maybe this was way back when, back when he himself was just an agent.
Sebastian made a sound of resentment in his throat and it made him laugh, on the inside of course, he wasn't that mean. "You could call it that" Sebastian scoffed. "This loser left his card at one of my shows and I called and I call-" he started, but then remembered who he was talking too.
Coughing, Sebastian wiped at his forehead before subtly trying to move on from the subject. Clearly he was still worried about how people viewed him, still trying to come across hard and careless. Emotionless and rock solid as always, and that's not a good thing and what was worse? That he still cared.
"Yeah, what about them he asked" Sebastian grumbled, playing with his cup and avoiding his gaze at all costs. Kurt would like to say his attitude surprised him, but it never did. He was being more forward than he was used too, but he was still hiding behind that wall. This boy had definitely changed since High school, Kurt just wasn't sure how to define that change yet.
But he could worry about that later. Right now he had to tell Sebastian that the agency he felt so bitter about, was actually now being run by him. Well, maybe he didn't need to know that yet, "I work there" he answered simply. Hoping that would be it.
However, with Sebastian he should of known it would take a lot more than hope. "You're an agent?" He asked with so much disbelief in his tone it was actually a little offensive and very, very insulting.
"Not exactly" he answered both honestly and bitterly as he avoided Sebastian's gaze. He didn't want to tell him, especially if he was so bitter towards the company. But he wasn't going to lie to him either. What would Sebastian think of him then?
And you still care he cried internally watching the man who was still playing with his cup and not looking at him. Sebastian may have stumbled upon him accidentally today, but what if it had something to do with chance. He didn't really believe in fate and luck and stuff like that, he knows you've got to make your own luck in this town.
But a 15 year old Kurt Hummel had been heartbroken the day Sebastian had pushed him away and left him without a second glance. They might not have been anything, but there was something between them and a vulnerable 15 year old Kurt believed that one day they'd get their chance.
Their chance at what, he could only imagine his 15 year old self had wanted with someone as rude and arrogant as Sebastian. But still, even now.
Now his 27 year old self wasn't even sure he wanted a chance with Sebastian, not at anything. Most definitely not the romantic chance he wanted as a kid, but he was willing to try and be polite if Sebastian was willing. He owed it to himself, if not to Sebastian.
Sebastian slammed his hands on the red table and stared at him, his eyes full of judgment and his mouth set in annoyance. "Seriously Hummel? Are you gonna get to the point or am I gonna have to push it out of you?" He asked, not exactly nastily, but it wasn't nice. "Still as ridiculous and slow as ever" he complained, sitting back in his seat with a groan.
That one comment took him back to a time thirteen years earlier. Back to that day in Warbler Hall. That day when the two of them had been locked in an embrace, alone. Kurt had thought, no he'd known something was going to happen between them.
They'd been skirting around for weeks and he knew Sebastian wanted it too and now they had their chance. He'd been so happy in that single moment, everything had seemed so perfect. But when the football team came in looking for Sebastian, everything changed.
Sebastian pushed him away and started throwing gay sneers at him, making jibes and throwing insults. The football team had laughed and Sebastian with them, all before walking out without a second glance in his direction. Everything had changed after that. Everything.
Staring down at his hands Kurt laughed, he should've known. Sebastian would never deserve a second chance, never. It wasn't fate or luck or anything nice that had allowed Sebastian to stumble upon his favourite place that was unfortunate timing and the universe trying to get back at him for something.
He was a fool to think he'd changed, to give him a second chance. Even with something as small as a polite, civil conversation. Sebastian would never be worth it. Even if there had always been a part of him that wanted to give Sebastian a second chance, would give him a hundred chances if that's what it took. Sebastian wouldn't be worthy of any of them.
Sebastian was 'that boy' for Kurt. Always had been. You know when you talk to your friends and you gossip about boys. Sebastian had been that boy for Kurt, always had been, even after he'd left him in Warbler's hall. Sebastian was that one person that he'd hoped, one day, the two would get their chance.
That one person he knew, whether it worked out or not, that they would at least try. Even 13 years later, he'd still hoped that one day, they'd get their chance. Still hoped that one day they'd try. Not consciously of course, he was trying to move on and get over him, but deep down, hidden below everything else was still what he'd felt for that boy 13 years earlier.
There was something between the two of them that he couldn't understand, some connection that he couldn't shake, that he didn't want to shake. It meant something to him, whether he wanted it to or not, it always would. Sebastian would always mean everything to him, no matter what happened between them.
And he hated it because Sebastian wasn't worth it. Not once had he proved to Kurt that he was worth his love, hell even his time. Looking at the man a younger version of himself had once loved, he had to laugh. What had his 15 year old self been thinking?
It seemed to take Sebastian a few moment to realise what he'd said and to catch up to what he'd done. "Oh god, Kurt I didn't mean that. Honest I didn't!"
Kurt had to laugh, at least the boy had a conscious he thought glaring at Sebastian as he picked up his coffee. "It was nice seeing you again Sebastian" he responded cooly, standing "have a nice life."
Without a second glance at the boy that had once upon a time meant more to him than most, he walked away. Standing as tall as he possibly could, and trying to ignore the words Sebastian was calling after him. Sebastian had ruined the last few years of his teens. He wasn't going to allow him to ruin the last few years of his twenties too.
Throwing his satchel over his shoulder and rearranging it's strap he took a deep breath and headed back home. Back to his apartment where he was already planning on running a bath, drinking a whole bottle of wine before probably drunk dialling Rachel.
How perfect he thought with an irritated sigh as he turned onto 5th avenue and headed towards Central Park. At least tomorrow this would all just be a hazy memory and he could go on pretending.
"Kurt!" Sebastian called, "Kurt! Come on Hummel! I didn't mean it" he called, "honest I didn't mean it!" Sighing, he fell back into his seat realising that Kurt wasn't going to turn around.
Running his hand through his hair, Sebastian just wanted to hit something. He knew he'd ruin this, he knew it. He'd told himself over and over that coming to find Kurt wouldn't be easy. He told himself time and time again that he would ruin it and that's exactly what he'd done.
As soon as he'd heard Blaine talk about Kurt Hummel during the filming of the series last week, he just knew he had to do something and he had to do something now.
Back at Dalton, after the incident he'd never apologised or tried to fix it. All he did was ignore and torture him. Kurt avoided his path at all costs and Sebastian couldn't blame him. He'd treated Kurt so badly, it was no surprise the man hated him now, he deserved it.
He had tried, once. After graduation, after they were done with that school he'd searched for Kurt. He'd wanted to mend the bridge that he'd torn down because he was too worried about his image and his ego. He'd searched for Kurt, to try and fix the only relationship, friendship or otherwise that he really cared about. He looked, only to find he'd already left.
Kurt had been so desperate to get out of that school, he'd left his own graduation early. And it was all his fault. He'd been the reason Kurt had left and he'd never forgive himself for that. He never had the opportunity to apologise, and he had no one to blame for that but himself.
As soon as he'd found out where Kurt was hiding from Blaine, after a bottle of tequila and a night on the town, he knew he had to take this opportunity. He'd spoken to the directors and told them he needed to take some personal time. It hadn't gone down well, but he was the co-star of the show and he needed this time.
It had taken a lot of sway, but they'd agreed. Probably only because they knew he'd leave anyway, permission be dammed. But they'd allowed him a month, that was it. 4 weeks. 28 days.
Fortunately he had a place in the city, otherwise once he'd stepped of the plane at JFK he would've been screwed. He hadn't thought about how he'd find Kurt, didn't even know where to start. But be honest, he hadn't thought anything through. He'd just thought about Kurt.
He'd been in New York since Thursday and he was just about giving up hopes of finding Kurt by himself. He was one day away from ringing Blaine and asking him for all the information he had on the always mysterious Kurt Hummel. Including his home address.
Then walking around Times Square, Starbucks in hand wondering where on earth the annoying and highly frustrating Kurt Hummel was hiding. He'd caught sight of a familiar head of hair heading towards the red tables.
It took him a few moments of watching this well dressed man before he knew it was his Kurt Hummel. The perfectly coiffed hair, the perfectly styled and fitted suit. That ridiculously perfect smile, even from across all these people, he could see it. He knew.
It had taken him another few moments to pull together the courage to actually walk the few stops across the square. Eventually though, he pushed his nerves and vulnerability deep, deep down and allowed his cockiness and his typical asshole exterior to resurface.
He knew he'd make a fool of himself, he'd expected too, he couldn't just be nice to people. Especially people he cared about as much as Kurt Hummel. So as he sat watching Kurt walk away, his perfect ass swaying too and throw in those suit pants that fit oh-so-well, he had no one to blame but himself.
Dropping his head into his hands he sighed, that was his one shot. His one chance to prove to Kurt that he'd changed, that he was worth it. And he'd failed. He'd screwed up big time.
Standing, he threw his cup in the bin and followed in Kurt's direction. He wasn't stalking him, hadn't resulted to that, not yet anyway. He too happened to have to walk down 5th and by the park to make it back to his apartment.
He had no idea when he'd see Kurt again, but at least he knew he could see him again. He knew where Kurt worked now, not that he knew what he did, but at least he had a place to start; Rise to Fame Agency on 48th and 6th.
At least tomorrow was another day.
- Wednesday 22nd January 2016 -
It was half past midnight and Kurt was lying on his sofa, phone in one hand, empty wine glass in the other. Staring blankly at the ceiling as he contented to ramble drunken nonsense into the speaker of his iPhone.
"Rachel he was an asshole to me back at Dalton" he told her answering machine. She hadn't answered and he'g guessed there probably was a time difference in London, but he wasn't really that sure. "I mean, I don't understand what he's doing here" he grumbled.
Looking around his apartment in silence, he saw his cat, Imogene fast asleep on the arm chair but that only made hime mad. "Why he is so intent on ruining my life?" He shouted, looking to his Labrador, McKenzie who woke up at his sudden shout. "Wasn't he content with just breaking my heart" he mumbled more to himself, than to the phone.
"That smarky meerkat made me feel like he wanted me for weeks. All the sneaking around we did," he grumbled his hand flailing in a way he'd appreciate his glass being empty in the morning. "He made me fall for him Rachel, and what did he do" he demanded although he'd never get a reply.
Sitting up in his seat, he put his glass down with a lot of force before a drunk Kurt let his head fall into his hands. "I loved him Rachel" he breathed ever so quietly, almost as if it was his secret. "Then he turned on me" he sighed, a lone tear falling down his cheek, "I'd just gotten over that. I just started to trust guys again and, there he is."
"Sitting opposite me all pretty and perfect, even after all these years. He's still as beautiful and as perfect as he was back then. Even more perfect if that's humanly possible" he laughed, blearily looking at the clock on the wall. "Oh blimey, is that the time" he asked no one in particular.
"Rachel, Rachel" he slurred, staring at the picture of the two of them that hung on his back wall. "Whatever it takes, do not let me get taken under his spell again, you understand?"
"No matter what, no matter what" he unconsciously repeated. "No matter what my 15 year old said to you, I can't. And I'm holding you personally responsible for anything that happens between Sebastian, because I can't.."
Kurt nodded, drunkenly replayed the words in his head, it made sense. "Personally. Responsible" he insinuated each word with a deep breath. "Everything" he sighed before hanging up and dropping his iPhone to the table.
"That man changed everything" Kurt said to himself as he started stumbling his way up the stairs. "How can that one, stupid meerkat looking man change everything? Even after all these years, huh Immy? How?" He asked his cat who was wasn't even listening.
"Rude" he muttered, tripping on the top step and hitting his head against the wall. Usually it would make Kurt curse, but all it did was make a drunk Kurt laugh as he crawled the remaining distance to his bedroom. "Who put that step there" he wondered allowed as he crawled, "probably stupid Sebastian Smythe that's who" he growled.
"Do anything to trip me up" he said pushing his door too. "Sebastian Smythe, that's such a stupid name" he said offhand, stripping off his undershirt and kicking off his trousers. Climbing into bed, Kurt made himself comfortable underneath the covers as he lay there, staring at the ceiling and simply waited.
A few moments later McKenzie and Imogene climbed the stairs like they did every night after they realised he wouldn't be returning. The two animals settled themselves at the end of bed and Kurt finally felt like he could relax. "Night girlies" he supplied around a yawn, allowing the darkness of sleep to take him under.
As the clock blinked 2:18am Sebastian was lying in bed, staring at an old picture in a wooden frame. It had been taken 13 years ago and neither of the boys in the image had been paying any attention to their surroundings. Two blazer clad boys stood, wrapped in an embrace, smiling at each other as they stood on the National's stage after their first big win.
That moment had been the defining moment for him, having Kurt in his arms, so happy, so genuine. That was when he realised, he was so snarky and nasty to Kurt Hummel, because he was in love with Kurt Hummel.
If only he hadn't been a complete and utter douche bag a few months later and thrown away everything they'd been working towards. It had taken some convincing to get Kurt to meet him in the Hall, he'd always had trust issues. Yet that day, Kurt had trusted him.
Sebastian had felt like the luckiest and happiest boy in the world that day. They'd finally decided that they were going to take a step forward, and they were going to do it together. But of course, no, Sebastian wasn't allowed to be happy.
The football team had come looking for him and it had taken less than a point of a second for him to realise what they were seeing and what he had to do. He'd pushed Kurt away, so harshly Sebastian knew it would bruise, that only made things worse.
That hadn't even been it. He probably could've apologised and made up for that, but no. Sebastian Smythe had to take it one step further. He'd then thrown harsh insults and words his way before, falsely of course, laughing at the look on his face.
The look on Kurt's face had brought tears to his eyes, he just had to leave. Turning his back on Kurt and walking out without a second thought. That was probably one of the hardest moments in his life. That entire situation being the only regret he had.
Smiling at the picture, he hated that no matter where he went, no matter how he tried to get away from Kurt, he would always find his way back in. Somehow, Hummel always found a way. And what was worse was that he hoped Hummel would never stop finding a way back into his life. His life without Kurt seemed pointless.
He wasn't really sure what it meant, but he liked to think it meant something good. Kurt has always meant more to him than anybody he's been with and Sebastian knew he always would. And that bugged him, it always had. Who was he? Who was Kurt Hummel and what the hell made him so god damn special?!
Taking a deep breathe, he allowed himself to smile at the picture for one more minute. One more minute of thinking about what they could've had. Smiling, he could never hate or resent Kurt. No matter Kurt ever said or did, he could never hate him.
A small part of him couldn't help but wonder if maybe Kurt's thought process was similar. Sebastian had to laugh at that, of course it wasn't similar. Kurt had more common sense then that. Why would he have any feelings towards someone like him? Someone that would treat him like dirt?
As soon as that minute was up, Sebastian put the frame back on his bedside table and curled up in bed.
Tomorrow he had to start working on his attitude and his behaviour. Kurt Hummel deserved the world and if he was going to be the one to give it to him, he needed to get his act together, and fast.