It took three more days for Kurt to nurse Sebastian back to health. It was only two more days until prom and Kurt decided to take a shot and ask Sebastian to go as his date.
After all, it was the small things in life that made people happy and maybe that was what Sebastian needed right now; to focus on the most trivial of things and try to find a way back to his life.
And today was a good day to start.
"I'm so bored if being in bed. I wanna go out", Sebastian protested hoping that today Kurt would finally stop being a grandma and agree to let him go outside again.
"You're lucky as it seems…because I'm also fucking bored of being at home and I have the perfect place we can go to."
"Where's that?", Sebastian asked skeptically.
"Surprise!"
Sebastian rolled his eyes. Of course he had to do that, it was his trademark.
"I hope this isn't one of your goofy ideas again, Princess", Sebastian continued as he watched Kurt drive and he tried to figure out just where the hell he was heading to.
Kurt drove a few miles out of town into the countryside. And although Sebastian wanted to complain, he felt quiet curious. They turned away from the highway and came to a big gate. It was open and Kurt drove through as if it was his own place.
Welcome to the Clark Farm
"Seriously, Kurt?", Sebastian said when he read the big sign.
"Just shut up for once", Kurt laughed "I came here every holiday when I was younger. We are close friends with the family."
"And what exactly are we gonna do here? Milk a cow?"
"Keep your sarcasm to yourself and no- I have no intention to milk a cow."
"I bet you don't. You don't look like the type who grabs bovine boobs and squeezes at them for endless hours…you don't even want to squeeze human boobs."
"…Says the man who is oh so very straight himself…"
Kurt stopped next to the stables.
"Come on then", he said as he got off the car.
Sebastian followed reluctantly.
An elderly man waved over to them and Kurt walked towards him.
"Hey son, how are you doing? I haven't seen you in ages!"
The man hugged Kurt fondly. They seemed to be very close.
"Hey Bob, I know, I've been busy. This is Sebastian, we're friends at school."
Sebastian stepped forward shyly and shook the man's hand.
"Well, here's everything you asked for, Kurt. I got them ready for you."
They followed the man into the stables where two big horses were chaired and waiting for their riders.
Oh no, Sebastian whispered to himself as he watched both animals with big, frightened eyes.
"Thank you, Bob. I'll take it from here. Don't let me keep you busy."
"Feel at home, kids. I'll be collecting the eggs if you need me."
With that the man stepped outside leaving the two boys alone.
"Kurt, you gotta be nuts if you think I'm climbing on one of these things-"
Kurt saw Sebastian's nervous look.
"Relax", he said "they behave. And besides I'm by your side. Trust me."
"No way!"
"Have you never been on a horse? Like not even for a walk?", Kurt asked.
Sebastian shook his head.
"For a picture?"
Again he shook his head.
"Ok then. I'll tell you what. We take just one horse and you can sit with me and I'll do the guiding."
Sebastian thought of a way to get out of this, but Kurt insisted.
"Come on, Seb. You don't know what you're missing out on."
Reluctantly Sebastian agreed.
"But slow! If you let the damn thing speed up, I'll kill you, so help me God."
"Yes, yes, I promise", Kurt said as he picked the black horse and guided it outside "come on, you chicken!"
Sebastian opened his mouth, intending to reply to that, but really he was fucking scared, so what could he say in his defense?
"I'm no chicken, these things just happen to be dirty!"
"Oh, who's the Princess now", Kurt teased "and stop calling them things, they've got names."
Kurt pulled Sebastian next to the horse. The animal turned its head back and sniffed at Sebastian's hands. Instinctively the boy pulled back, shielding himself behind Kurt.
"No way I'm getting on this!"
"Come here, it's just a horse. Give me your hand."
Kurt took Sebastian's hand in his own and guided it towards the horse, placing his palm on the furry neck and stroked gently.
Sebastian wanted to pull back again, but the horse remained still and the fur felt soft under his skin.
"See? He just needs to know you. He's a good boy, aren't you Chestnut?"
Sebastian carefully stepped closer and ran his hand through the horse's mane.
It became pretty obvious to Kurt, that Sebastian hadn't had a lot of contact with animals in his life.
"Ok, let's get on then. You'll sit in the front, I'll sit behind you and guide."
Sebastian looked nervous, but curious at the same time.
"Why do you get to be behind me?"
Kurt suspected this was going in a perverted direction. He cut Sebastian off before he let something utterly stupid out if his dirty mouth.
"Shut up and get on the damn horse aleready!"
Kurt stepped to Sebastian's left and showed him how to hold to the saddle. He placed a small wooden chair next to him so that Sebastian could climb up easier.
He was rather clumsy but managed to sit correctly, looking desperately to something to hold on to as soon as he was sitting.
"What now?", Sebastian started. "Oh crap- Kurt!", he yelped as the horse began to walk.
Kurt had to supress some laughter. He took the reins and stopped Chestnut.
"Get the fuck up here!"
"Relax, Seb…"
Kurt guided Sebastian's feet into the stirrups and then hopped on easily, sitting behind the other boy.
He passed his hands alongside Sebastian's waist, kind of embracing him and took the reins.
"Hold on to the mane. Not that you really need to, but it gives you a feeling of balance and safety. I'll do the guiding, but I'll need you to set the speed, alright?"
"I-I'm not s-sure I can…"
"Relax, Seb. It's easy. Just press your heels against Chestnut's sides."
Sebastian carefully did as Kurt said. The horse strated to walk. Sebastian's hands gripped at the horse's mane so strongly, he feared to hurt it.
Kurt felt the body in front of him tense up. He took the reins in his left hand and put his right hand on Sebastian's shoulder.
"Easy, Seb. Relax…I've got you."
Sebastian breathed in deeply. The tension released a bit.
"Really, Princess, I thought you were more the ballet-type of guy."
Kurt smiled to himself. Sebastian's responses were so predictable.
"Mock me all you want. I actually am a ballet-kind of guy. But I'm also a horse riding- kind of guy. A singing and dancing- kind and guy and the kind of guy that likes a bit more speed!"
With that Kurt pressed at the horse's sides making it shift from walking to trotting.
"Hey!", Sebastian yelped.
Kurt laughed as Sebastian tensed up again.
"Let go yourself. Just feel the rhythm."
Kurt guided the horse along the countryside, where the ground was more or less even.
Sebastian's first instinct to grapple onto the horse slowly gave in. As he started to loosen up, he felt his body connecting with the pace of the animal. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. He felt Kurt's arms around his waist, holding him gently.
Kurt whistled and the horse slowed down back to walking.
"Hey, why'd you stop?", Sebastian protested.
"Here, take the reins", Kurt said as he transferred them from his hands to Sebastian's.
He showed him how to hold them correctly.
"Ok, you guide now", Kurt said. He placed his own hands on Sebadtian's sides.
"Turn left", he instructed.
Instinctively the boy pulled the left rein to the side. The horse complied.
"Good job. Now turn to the right."
Sebastian was a quick learner, although a bit clumsy.
"Now, Seb, horses are a king's sport. The primary thing is to sit eleganlty and move softly. Straighten your back and stick out your chest."
Kurt tapped on the boy's back to adjust it to the correct position.
"Lift your chin, look straight ahead."
Sebastian did as he was told.
"Good, now set the speed you want."
Sebastian pressed with his heels and sent the horse into trot. He tensed up at first but relaxed after a while. He was liking this more than he had expected. He guided Chestnut along the outlined path, surprised at how easy it became. He started to turn his attention to their sorroundings, beautiful trees, sheep grazing randomly here and there and birds flying across the grey, cloudy sky.
Kurt whistled one more time, making the horse fall back to walking. He took back the reins and Sebastian grabbed the mane again.
"Now let me show you what this really is about!", Kurt said excitedly.
"Hold on tightly, Ok? Remember to stay relaxed. I'm holding you all the time."
Kurt pressed at the horse's sides and it proceeded to gallop right away.
This movement was absolutely different. Not only faster, but also more rhythmical. Sebastian felt his stomach bouncing up and down with each stride.
"Doing alright there?", Kurt called from behind.
Sebastian nodded and he felt the horse speeding up more and more. He was gripping Chestnut's mane tightly.
Kurt did as he had done earlier and collected the reins in his left hand and sorrounded Sebastian's waist with his right.
"Let go and stretch out your arms, I got you!", Kurt called.
Slowly Sebastian let go the mane and opened his arms as if they were wings. The cold air hit his face, the wind whistling in his ears. His hips moved in unison with the horse's back and he felt Kurt's arm around him, safely holding him.
They ran across the field, no longer following the outlined path, but going randomly cross country. Sebastian felt like he was flying. It was the most amazing sensation he had ever experienced and it was a pity that Kurt was not able to see just how brightly he was smiling right now.
"Faster!", he called out.
Kurt granted the other boy's wish. He could hear Sebastian laughing out loud whenerver they made a new move, like going uphill or downhill. Kurt spotted a small ditch and turned towards it. Sebastian gripped the mane again. They came closer and closer and a few feet before the ditch the horse jumped across the water in one large stride.
Now that really felt like flying! And althoguh the movement was a bit rough, Kurt heard Sebastian laugh out in surprise. He had taken his hand from Sebastian's waist up to his chest, to better hold him. And he could feel the boy's heart beating endlessly fast as they kept running.
The moment was absolutely perfect and if he could, Kurt would've stopped time right there. He wanted this to last forever, in that beautiful place, the whistling wind, the feeling of absolute freedom on the horse's back and with a happy, smily Sebastian in his arms. He closed his eyes and made sure to engrave this moment into his memory, so he could revive the feeling when it was over.
Sebastian was gasping for air, he had laughed and hold his breath so much, that the cold wind had made his throat dry and his loungs greedy for air. It seemed like the horse was also going breathless, so they slowed down, until they were walking again. Kurt let go Sebastian's chest and transferred the reins to him once again.
"Wow…ok, your turn to guide us back now", Kurt said, regaining his breath.
"Ok", he replied excitedly.
Kurt showed Sebastian again how to hold the reins. The boy's hands were freezing. Kurt rummaged through his pockets and found his woolen gloves.
"Come, put these on, Seb."
Kurt pulled the gloves on Sebastian's hands and he did not protest.
"Alright, now you can ride us back to the stables."
He let Sebastian guide and impulse, praising him for how quickly he had learned.
Sebastian blushed a little, but it was OK, Kurt wasn't seeing. They were both quiet on the way back. They really had gone very far and what had seemed a brief moment had actually been two hours.
They arrived at the stables and Kurt jumped off first. He held out his hand for Sebastian and helped him off as well. They guided Chestnut inside and Kurt showed Sebastian how to remove the equipment from the horse. Much to his surprise, Sebastian wanted to know everything and asked Kurt the names and functions of each of the things he was taking off the horse. And Kurt was happy to tell. When they were done, he carried the saddle and bridle to a nearby room and retrieved a few carrots.
He stepped inside the stables again and found Sebastian hugging Chestnut. His arms were wrapped around the horse's neck and his face was pressed against the mane, eyes closed and lips soflty smiling. Kurt remained still, he didn't dare disturb that moment. All he could do was smile to himself and fall one little bit deeper in love with Sebastian.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The day outside had worn both boys off. They were hungry and tired and Kurt suggested to go get some burgers for dinner.
They were sitting at the diner, Kurt had ordered a small sized burger and Sebastian had gone for no less than two cheese burgers.
"Really, I don't know how you're this skinny with everything you gulp down!", Kurt said "you're so damn lucky!"
Sebastian shrugged.
"Don't know…it's always been this way.", he said as he unwrapped his second burger "want half of this one?", he offered.
"Thanks, but I can't allow me such luxury. I feel guilty enough about the first one", Kurt replied bitterly "otherwise I won't fit into my suit for prom…"
Sebastian raised his eyebrows. He had totally forgotten about prom. In fact he had forgotten about everything outside the walls of his new home. Maybe it was because he wished he never had to face anything outside of them again. This shelter that Kurt had brought him into gave him peace and safety that he feared would vanish if he stepped outside into the world again.
"…Which reminds me…", Kurt continued "there's something I wanted to ask you."
Sebastian picked at his french fries and nodded.
"I…I wanted to ask you if you…if you would be my date for- for prom night…"
Sebastian was speechless. He swallowed and looked at Kurt in surprise.
"Me?", he asked shyly.
Kurt nodded.
"Yes, you…I mean, only if you want. I haven't even asked if you want to go to prom in the first place, I'm sorry –"
Sebastian fidgeted and looked down to his plate.
"I'm sorry, Seb. Don't worry. I understand if you don't wanna go. It's OK."
"No", Sebastian said quickly "I- I do want to go, it's just that…I don't have anything to- to wear…"
His pale cheeks flushed and Kurt sighed in relief. For a moment he feared he had made a mistake.
"That's no problem, Seb. We'll figure something out…I really just want you to be sure you want to go…and that you wanna go with me…I won't push it if you say no."
Sebastian shook his head.
"It's alright, Kurt. I do want to go", Sebastian said.
"Ok", Kurt smiled.
"Ok."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Sebastian shifted in his bed. The room was absolutely dark and the house was very quiet. He wanted to sleep, he was endlessly tired, but his mind kept travelling towards prom night.
He had a suit, of course he did. It was just out of reach, hanging in the closet at his former home. Several months earlier he had found the perfect suit at Gucci and he had bought it right away. He still had his credit card back then. Of course, that had been shortly before his dad had found out-
No,no,no, he had to stop his thoughts from going there. He had done so good today, he had to focus on the good things. He had a date after all, a date for prom…and it was Kurt.
The thought helped him to relax and at some point he fell asleep with a smile on his lips.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Something stirred Sebastian awake abruptly. His heart was racing, he was sweating. Had it been a nightmare again?
No, he couldn't remember any dream. And the house was still absolutely quiet. What had woken him up like this?
Sebastian sat up in his bed and looked around. The room seemed less dark, a little moonlight glowed through the curtains revealing the familiar items in the room. There was the couch, the nightstand, the lamp, the closet, the white door-oh God!
"KURT !", Sebastian screamed.
There, right there next to the door stood a dark figure facing him.
Sebastian pulled back, hitting his back against the wall. He pulled the blankets up to his chin to shield himself. The figure didn't move. He covered his face with one arm.
"KUUUURT!"
The door swung open and the light was switched on.
"Sebastian! What is it?"
Kurt hurried over and spotted Sebastian hunched in on himself, shaking like a leaf.
He held him by the arms and shook him.
"Sebastian what happened? Are you hurt?", he asked terrified. The screams had scared the shit out of him.
Sebastian looked up to Kurt. His fingers grapped the sleeves of Kurt's pajamas.
He looked around and foynd the figure had disappeared.
He breathed with difficulty, burrying his head in Kurt's neck.
"Seb, calm down, I'm here", he said and rubbed the boy's back.
"Kurt, there w-as a man…he- he was standing right there-", Sebastian choked out, pointing towards the door.
Kurt looked around and found no signs of anyone. The windows were locked, the door hadn't been forced and the alarm was on all day.
"It was just a dream, Seb, just a bad dream. Look, there's no one here."
Sebastian looked around. He was sure he had seen something. Had it been just a shadow? A trick his mind had played on him? Suddenly he felt really pathetic, like a small child. But he still was frightened.
"You're safe…"
Sebastian nodded. But he couldn't stop shaking.
"Sebastian, are you alright?", Kurt asked softly. This wasn't normal.
"Let me feel you." He put a hand on Sebastian's forehead. No signs of fever. What was wrong?
"Kurt?", Sebastian asked in a small voice "can I- can I stay in your room?"
His cheeks heated up as he said it, but he couldn't stay here alone, he was terrified.
"Of course, Seb", Kurt said and held him close "come."
He picked up Sebastian's pillows and blankets and carried them to his own room, Sebastian following close behind.
"Wait here", he said, inviting Sebastian to sit in his bed. He looked nervously at Kurt.
"I'll be right back."
Sebastian burried his hands under his thighs. He felt cold. Soon Kurt reappeared, dragging the matress from Sebastian's room in. He placed it next to his own bed and arranged it. Sebastian crawled under the covers immediately.
Kurt watched him with worried eyes.
"I'll make some tea, Ok? Stay here."
It seemed an eternity to Sebastian, but he didn't want to be such a baby that couldn't stay alone for five minutes. He felt embarrased.
Kurt came back and handed Sebastian a steaming cup.
"Here, it will help you sleep."
They sat in silence as Sebastian drank his tea. Kurt took an extra blanket from the closet and pulled it over Sebastian's body. The shivering stopped after a while and his eyes began to close.
"Shall we go to sleep?", Kurt asked.
"Mhm"
"If you want we can leave the lamplight on", he offered.
Sebastian nodded, blushing again.
"It's Ok, Seb. Get some sleep. I'm right here if you need me."
They laid down and soon enough Sebastian had drifted off.
"Sweet dreams", Kurt whispered, knowing that tonight he would sleep with one eye open.
