Shall I Stay?
When rich, Mafia-connected Sebastian Smythe falls for lonely waiter Kurt Hummel, the lines between love, hate and danger blur more than ever before as Sebastian realises what lengths he would go to Kurt to save Kurt's life…and his own. Kurtbastian endgame!
So this story was prompted by 'carpediem91' and I thought it was such a good idea and quite different to anything I've ever written. I wanted to expand my horizons. So, unlike most of my stories, this does have the potential to become quite dark. I will warn for any triggers, but we should be okay with that!
So thank you again 'carpediem91' for the amazing prompt and I hope you all enjoy this little Prologue introduction to my new story, Shall I Stay?
Disclaimer: Glee and its characters belong to Ryan Murphy. I am simply borrowing them to enhance my writing skills and to have fun!
Chapter 1- An Observation
Sebastian Smythe smoothed down his Armani suit as he stepped into The Spotlight Diner, his bodyguard in tow.
Honestly, he wasn't sure why he was there.
In theory, it was simply another way to flaunt his wealth around New York. It certainly would not have been the first time that Sebastian had showed up in a random location, just so that he could see the envious looks on people's faces once they saw him in his very best attire. The tie was a little too thin for his taste, but Emilia thought that it had looked handsome on him, so he trusted her opinion.
Emilia had been Sebastian's…babysitter slash godmother slash…something for as long as he could remember. He trusted her opinion more than anybody else's.
Being Mafia-protected did have its perks, but it also came with a certain inherent distrust of anybody whom Sebastian did not know or know of.
Or so he thought.
As he took his seat in the middle of the diner, he clicked his fingers arrogantly to summon a waiter or waitress (Preferably a hot male waiter so that Sebastian could do a little ogling before he splashed his cash on the most expensive item on the menu in this godforsaken dive of a diner) before he heard slow footsteps coming towards him.
"Hello, welcome to the Spotlight Diner. I'm Kurt and I'll be your waiter this afternoon. If you would like to request a performance, choose from the selections under my name of the songs I prefer to sing. If not, what food may I get you?"
Although Kurt was as polite as anybody Sebastian had ever known, his tone was bored and Sebastian hadn't looked up, but he could sense the bitterness in his voice. Before Sebastian could respond, Kurt was speaking again.
"Oh, and if you ever think about clicking your fingers to summon me ever again, I will not hesitate to cut your balls off."
His bodyguard, Rex, stood up threateningly, defending Sebastian from the supposed audacity of his waiter.
"Rex, go and make yourself scarce for the moment. Buy yourself something." Sebastian flicked a twenty dollar bill at him and gestured rudely for him to leave. Rex's stoic face did not express any emotion as he exited the diner.
Sebastian finally looked at Kurt's face and his breath hitched slightly.
He was looking up at the most angelic man to ever grace the Earth with his presence. His hair was perfectly coiffed and there was not a single strand out of its designated position. Kurt's skin was pale and flawless, to a point where it was just wholly unacceptable and unfair to anybody who tried to make their skin unblemished. There was literally not a single dent to Kurt's complexion.
"Well, if you're just going to stare, I suggest capturing this image in a photograph. It is permanent unless destroyed and it will not waste my time."
A sharp tongue too, Sebastian noted.
"Sit down for a moment, Kurt," Sebastian offered and Kurt frowned.
"I have other customers to be serving."
"I assure you that my tip shall my more than generous. Please, sit down."
Kurt tilted his head in confusion and his eyes flashed to the other side of the room. Narrowing them slightly, he blinked before sliding into the booth across from Sebastian.
"I'm Sebastian Smythe, pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Kurt was surprised by the politeness and nodded. "Kurt Hummel and I would say likewise, but you're simply the most uncouth customer I have ever dealt with. It's clear that you have money and, while that is most pleasant for you, I'm still a human being, not a slave or an inferior being."
Sebastian held up his hands. "I am truly sorry for my erroneous behaviour. I hope you'll forgive me."
Kurt nodded briefly before continuing. "I assume that you wished to discuss a song choice that was not on the sheet. I have a vast repertoire. Chances are that I will know it."
Sebastian shook his head. "I was not going to discuss music with you. Unless you wish to sing something."
Suddenly, Sebastian had an overwhelming desire to hear Kurt Hummel sing. He knew that the sound would make him burn the rest of his extensive music collection simply because he wished to only hear Kurt sing for the rest of his life.
Kurt paused in thought. "Is this a request? Because I can only take breaks to sing if a formal request has been placed, given that no other employee is currently performing. Duets sometimes happen, but rarely."
Sebastian grinned. "I, Sebastian Smythe, formally request that you, Kurt Hummel, perform a song of your choice and will be given the receipt of a highly exponential tip upon completion."
Kurt rolled his eyes and smirked. "As you wish, Master Smythe." He bowed mockingly and whistled over to Santana.
"Santana! Number Seven," Kurt called across the room and Santana jumped on the piano. Her fingers melded gracefully with the keys as the opening chords started.
Kurt placed his pen down on the table in front of Sebastian and took a deep breath as he began to sing.
"Under the glow of the very bright lights," Kurt sang in a high, clear voice. Sebastian was already amazed at just a few words and wanted to see how Kurt would go about the rest of the song. Sebastian didn't know it, but merely appreciated the sound of Kurt's voice.
Kurt walked up to the stage and stood slightly to downstage left as the lyrics poured from his heart and soul. "I turn my face towards the warm night sky. And I am not afraid of a thousand eyes when they're above five hundred smiles."
He took the microphone in his hands and smirked at Sebastian's dropped jaw as the key change took its effect. "Oh, I used to think…"
Santana smiled as she provided the backing vocals. "Oh he used to think…"
Kurt looked back at her and then up at the top of the wall opposite. Sebastian noticed how focused he was and figured that he was thinking hard about what the song meant to him. Sebastian respected that a lot. "What wouldn't I give for a moment like this…"
"This moment, this gift!" Kurt's melodic voice soared through the air as the customers all watched him, in awe of his talent.
"Oh! Now look at me and this opportunity that's standing right in front of me. One thing I know it's only part luck and so…I'm putting on my best show!"
Kurt's voice climbed higher and higher and Sebastian grew more fond of it by the second. He was glad that he had sent Rex away because Sebastian was experiencing a rare moment of vulnerability and silent appreciation for Kurt Hummel's voice.
"Under the spotlight, I'm starting my life! Big dreams becoming real tonight. So look at me and this opportunity! You're witnessing my moment, you see!"
Santana's piano playing dwindled down to necessary chords as she let Kurt's voice do all of the work. It sounded impressively capable and Sebastian wondered how this boy wasn't on Broadway already.
"Now I find myself here and it's time." Kurt sang and Sebastian felt a moment of empathy for Kurt's emotions. Kurt seemed to be communicating how he was working a singer waiter in a diner rather than living his dream and he wanted something bigger. Sebastian could relate. Well, not to the singing waiter part, definitely not!
"Because this is real and it's a goldmine!" Kurt's voice reached new heights that Sebastian thought could only be done by the professionals. He was star struck.
"I'm not afraid to fly! When it's above five hundred smiles…" Kurt smiled at Sebastian. "Oh, I used to think. What I wouldn't give for a moment like this. This moment, this gift!"
Kurt repeated the chorus, his angelic melody floating above air, hitting notes Sebastian couldn't even dream of getting close to, even having warmed up. Kurt hadn't seemed to warm up at all.
"My big opportunity. I won't waste it. I guarantee it."
The applause sounded, enthusiastic regulars cheering for their waiter. As Kurt and Santana descended from the stage, Sebastian ceased his clapping. He had to show some composure and act as though he had not fallen apart at Kurt's song.
Kurt took his seat again. "How was that?"
"Exceptional. You're supremely talented."
"Why, thank you. That is one of my better songs," Kurt blushed. Sebastian decided that Kurt Hummel blushing was the cutest fucking thing ever.
"I have a feeling that you could sing anything you desired."
Kurt pursed his lips. "Can I get you some food?"
"You just performed, Kurt. Take a break. Or an…interval or whatever they probably call it here."
"Intermission," Kurt corrected with a smirk.
"Alright then. Take your well-deserved intermission," Sebastian grinned back.
Kurt sighed and looked at Santana, who reported his break to Gunther, smirking at him.
Sebastian pulled out his fat wad of cash and counted out some notes. He extracted some from the clump and handed them to Kurt. "Two thousand for a job well done."
Kurt's mouth fell open. "This is…certainly the biggest tip I've ever taken."
Sebastian absolutely refused to let a dirty joke fall from his lips at that comment. "It's yours, Kurt. You earned that up there. I was captivated."
"Thank you, Mr. Smythe."
"Sebastian," Sebastian corrected wryly. "Mr. Smythe is my father."
"Sebastian then. Wow, you must be really rich to give two thousand dollars to a singing waiter."
"I am quite wealthy, yes. We get profits from gold."
Kurt narrowed his eyes. "Okay, I'll buy that for now. But, sometime soon, I am going to request a full explanation from you."
"Fine. Why are you working here?"
"It's a job, I needed the money to pay for my tuition at NYADA."
"Makes sense. If you weren't performing professionally, I was about to complain. And possibly blow up Broadway, who knows?"
"You could just buy it," Kurt joked and elicited a genuine chuckle from Sebastian, a sound that even the rich boy hadn't heard come from himself in a way that meant something in a long while. "
"Perhaps I could. Most of my fortune is my father's. I inherit it all, but not quite yet. Maybe then I'll buy Broadway."
"You do that."
Sebastian got up to leave, giving Kurt another hundred dollar bill. "For wasting your time. I may see you again, Kurt Hummel."
May was definitely an understatement. Sebastian Smythe was definitely going to see Kurt Hummel again. He had a strange feeling that Kurt was going to become a part of his life regularly.
The strange thing was that Sebastian found himself not minding that one little bit.
Author's Note: Kurt sings 'Opportunity' by Sia/Quvenzhane Wallis from the 2014 movie version of Annie