A/N: Some plot bunnies and an OC introduction in this chapter. I was thinking of splitting it into two, but I wanted to give you guys a taste of Kurtbastian so this chapter is a bit longer. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews, they definitely encourage me to get longer chapters out faster. I know it might seem like there isn't much going on yet, but next chapter is where things will start heating up ;)
By the time Kurt had gotten home, Burt was already back from work and sitting in the living. Some sort of sports game was on the TV, so Kurt said 'hello' and 'yes, school was fine,' before continuing down to his room. His father mentioned that the gathering would start around 7:30 pm, which would give him about two and a half hours; plenty of time for a shower and power nap.
Finally alone, he stripped out of his clothes, and left them in a very "un-Kurt-like" pile on the floor. The cold bathroom tiles on his bare feet made Kurt shiver slightly. He quickly turned the shower on to hot, and mentally thanked his father for their speedy water heater as the bathroom began to fill with steam. After a minute, he stepped under the spray, turning so the water was hitting the back of his head and neck and slid down his back. Immediately, it began to take effect on his tight muscles. Kurt couldn't remember the last time he took the time to take a nice long, hot shower. He felt the tension in his shoulders loosening by the second, the stiffness in his neck seeping away. It was almost as if all the weight he carried on his shoulders and in his head was suddenly being swept down the drain with the dirty water.
Only when the hot water began to run cool did Kurt move to wash his hair and body. He swiftly dried off and wrapped the towel around his waist before returning to his bedroom. Clad only in a pair of black boxers, Kurt climbed into his queen sized bed, sighing in relief at finally being able to rest. He pushed the events of the day out of his head as sleep quietly took him under.
The first thing he became aware of was the warmth of another body in bed with him, one he just so happened to have his arms wrapped around. It was smaller and softer than him, and smelled like strawberries and candy. Brittany.
Next, Kurt felt a gentle, callused hand running through his hair. He didn't even need the scent to recognize the touch of his best friend.
Finally, the sound of voices whispering harshly at each other, reached his ears.
"Jeez Puckerman, watch where you're going!"
"Shut up Satan! He never leaves his clothes on the ground; I'm not used to having to watch where I'm going!"
"You're such a freaking klutz! Do you want to wake him up?!"
"Too late..."
Kurt could see, through his half opened eyes, everyone jump at the sudden sound of his voice.
"Dolphin!" Brittany squealed, snuggling deeper into his embrace and wrapping her arms tightly around his torso.
"Hey Britt Britt!" He said, slowly extracting himself from her grip and moving to sit back up against his headboard. In doing so, Blaine's hand slipped from his hair, reminding Kurt of the boy's presence.
"Hey B. You guys should have woken me up; I didn't mean to sleep very long!"
Blaine smiled gently at him. "Well we were going to, but then Britt said you looked weird after the run, so we thought we'd let you rest a little more. Don't worry, it's only just after 8." Santana and Puck, who were lounging on couch, nodded in agreement.
"Alright, well let me just grab some clothes then. I'll meet you guys upstairs."
Blaine obediently hopped out of the bed and began making his way upstairs with Santana and Puck. Brittany pressed a small kiss to Kurt's cheek before following.
What Blaine had said, brought everything back from the day; namely, Sebastian.
With a groan, Kurt rolled out of the comfort of his bed and shuffled over to his wardrobe. He probably wouldn't be shifting, so he chose a pair of black tailored pants and a black button down with a smokey grey waistcoat over top. He decided to go more relaxed with his hair, styling it so the "bed head" looked purposeful. Finishing the look off with a pair of his vintage black Ben Sherman shoes, Kurt deemed himself presentable and headed upstairs to join everyone else.
"Kurt! There you are! We were wondering when you'd show that pretty face!" Nick and Jeff immediately called out to him as he entered the kitchen. They were leaning against the counter along with Puck who was standing awfully close to a red head named Kelly. She was Jeff's adoptive sister; born to a lone wolf who had abandoned her on their doorstep. Kurt's dad Burt speculates the she-wolf must have known that the Sterlings were wolves as well as good people, possibly scouted the out a few weeks in advance.
The girl had an athletic, but curvy build, and long wavy red hair. Her porcelain skin was just a shade lighter than Kurt's, and just as clear, save for a small smattering of freckles on her nose. Her large, sapphire blue eyes constantly held a glint of mischief identical to her brother's. Kurt didn't have to be straight to admire the she-wolf's looks, and from the look of it, Puck did too.
"Yeah yeah, sorry. I guess I was more exhausted than I thought!" Kurt replied with a chuckle. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and went to go find the others. Passing through the living room, Kurt saw his father in conversation with the rest of the adult pack members. They didn't seem to be talking politics, but Kurt decided to keep walking anyway. Looking for the rest of his friends, he decided to check outside. When he reached the back porch only to discover they weren't there, he took as long sip of his water and leaned forward against the railing to look out over the back yard. Only then did Kurt realize he wasn't alone. Sitting on one of the deck chairs, staring right at him, was Sebastian.
They both remained frozen, neither seeming to know what to do or say next. Finally, Kurt decided to break the awkward ice.
"Look Sebastian, I'm sorry about earlier."
This seemed to be the last thing the other boy expected as he narrowed his eyes and quirked an eyebrow in confusion.
"I-I was just so frustrated and angry and annoyed with you. You know just how to make me upset and you seem to get some sort of sick pleasure from insulting me all the time. I just kind of snapped and I'm sorry," Kurt managed to rush out in one breathe. Multiple emotions slid across Sebastian's face, shock, a little guilt, and what looked a bit like hurt, before it was covered up by his trademark smirk. The boy stood and sauntered over towards Kurt.
"Well Hummel, while I feel immense happiness watching you squirm, don't flatter yourself by thinking I've actually spared a thought on you or what you do."
For some reason, seeing Sebastian back to being his usual, snarky self, made Kurt feel almost... sad. He stared at the other boy for a moment, taking in how he stood in a way which could be construed as confident. He had his arms cross, head tilted slightly, and hip cocked. However, Kurt could see how drawn up his shoulders were, how his fingers clenched on his arms, and how one foot was tapping anxiously. He could also see that, whether Sebastian knew it or not, he kept his chin lowered just enough to not be higher than Kurt's.
In that moment the young Alpha knew for certain, that no matter what he wanted people to think, Sebastian Smythe was a submissive... and Kurt's wolf was very interested.
He stepped into the other boy's space, inhaling his scent; cinnamon and spice.
"Sebastian," he murmured, "You don't have to keep pretending."
"W-What are you talking about Hummel, pretending what?"
Kurt could see the boy was getting a bit uneasy maybe even a bit nervous, but he didn't smell fear. On the contrary, he caught the subtle scent of arousal.
"I know you might be afraid, of people seeing you as anything less than what you want them to, but aren't you tired? Doesn't constantly putting on a persona exhaust you?" By now, Kurt was so close they were practically sharing the same breath. He could see in the boy's green eyes the turmoil going on inside.
Suddenly, it seemed as though he had reached an internal conclusion and, for the first time since that afternoon, Sebastian looked Kurt directly in the eye...