The tiniest bit of light peeked through the curtains, reflecting on the angelic features of the boy that was peacefully sleeping in Kurt´s bed. The other boy contemplated him silently, not daring to wake him up. It had been Sebastian´s first uneventful night of sleep, no nightmares, no panic attacks, no fever.
Careful not to wake his roommate, Kurt slid out of bed and adjusted the blanket around Sebastian.
"I´ll be right back", he whispered and tiptoed all the way down to the kitchen.
Kurt took out a tray and prepared some fruit and yogurt, a healthy breakfast for Sebastian. He put on the kettle and scrolled through his phone as he waited for the water to boil. Carole had sent a message asking how they were doing and for Kurt to call her when he had a few minutes to spare.
Kurt took the opportunity and dialed Carole´s number.
"Hi Kurt, I see you got my message! How is everything going over there?"
"Good. We´re doing good."
Kurt knew he didn´t sound very convincing.
"How´s Sebastian feeling?"
Burt had broke the news to Carole and explained her the situation. She was obviously concerned, about both of the boys.
"Well, some days are better than others, but he´s a lot better", Kurt explained.
"What about his injuries?"
"Almost healed. I think the psychological issue will take a little longer, though…"
"That´s normal. It´s to be expected after what he went through… alright honey, I just wanted to make sure things were under control. You know you can tell me anything and I will get home right away if you need any help."
"I know, thank you…But don´t worry. We´re fine…Although there´s something I…I ´m not sure how to approach to", Kurt stated "I…he…he was…Oh, God, it´s hard to say it out loud…His father-he had someone else abuse him…sexually."
A brief moment of silence followed.
"Oh my goodness", Carole´s voice was barely above a whisper.
"I know…"
"Kurt, this is worse than I imagined. I-I don´t know…I don´t think this is something that can be handled easily, honey."
"What-what do you mean?"
"Kurt, these kinds of traumas require a specialist. Maybe it´s best for him to get professional help."
"You mean a shrink?!"
"I don´t know, sweetheart…but there are institutions where they can help him, where he can get the treatment he needs."
Kurt didn´t like any of it, the statement just sounded wrong. Everything about it seemed foul.
"You mean drugs?! To drug him until he can´t even remember his own name? So that instead of coping with the things that happened he gets drugged to the point of numbness so he can forget them?! Is that really what you´re suggesting?"
"Kurt, darling, please don´t get me wrong. I know you want to help. Look, we´ll figure this out when we get home. OK? We´ll figure it out together. I promise."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kurt knew that his stepmother meant well, but she didn´t know Sebastian. She hadn´t seen him, hadn´t talked to him or taken care of him. If she had, she wouldn´t honestly believe that this boy belonged in such a place.
He finished preparing breakfast and carried it upstairs. He sat the tray down on the nightstand next to the bed. His momentary anger subsided when he saw Sebastian´s green eyes opening. He was the most beautiful when he was still sleepy.
"Good morning, Seb."
"Hi", Sebastian mumbled, rubbing his eyes.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yeah", he said "Is that…for me?"
"Yep. You like breakfast in bed?", Kurt asked, setting the tray on Sebastian´s lap.
"I…guess I do"
No one had ever woken him up with such a sweet surprise. Sebastian wondered if breakfast in bed wasn´t something so unusual. Maybe that was what people did.
He started with the fruit slices, then he had some of the scrambled eggs and even managed to devour the bowl of cereal.
"What about you?", he asked, suddenly realizing that Kurt had only brought a milkshake for himself.
"Diet"
"Seriously Princess, if you wanna make a fat pig of me, at least join me so I´m not the only one around."
"Like any of what you ate stayed on you…it washes right through! You´re so damn lucky!"
Kurt picked up the empty plates and cups and brought everything down t the kitchen. He returned upstairs, he opened the curtains and looked outside.
"Sebastian!", he yelped in excitement "the lake! It´s frozen!"
Sebastian eyed the other boy suspiciously.
"Sooo?"
"So get dressed, we´re going ice skating!"
Kurt´s face was shining brighter than a Christmas tree and Sebastian felt quite silly about himself, because he, once again, felt like he couldn´t catch up with so many things.
"I never-", he said, but Kurt shook his head.
"There´s always a first time", he said sweetly.
Kurt´s enthusiasm was so contagious that Sebastian found himself following him.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The freezing air outside was merciless on their faces, making their cheeks bright pink. It was a short walk to the lake. Everything around was covered in thick snow, decorating the houses and trees beautifully. The lake was indeed completely frozen. It was early and the two boys were clearly the only souls around. They sat down on a bench and Kurt handed Sebastian one of the two pairs of skates he carried and showed him how to put them on.
That was the easy part, though. Walking on them was the real issue, Sebastian found out. It was difficult to get balanced and he had to support himself on Kurt´s shoulders not to fall.
Kurt led him slowly to the icy surface and once Sebastian had balanced himself on his skates, he let go of Kurt´s shoulder, managing to stand on his own.
Kurt smiled at him encouragingly and Sebastian smiled back.
"Ehm, how-I mean, now what-"
Sebastian had no idea how to move on these things.
"Just watch me", Kurt said.
He skated away and made a few rather elegant rounds, showing Sebastian the basic moves. Kurt made it look so easy. He stopped next to Sebastian and took his hand.
"Come, we´ll do it together. That´s how my dad taught me when I was younger."
Sebastian held Kurt´s hand tightly, almost painfully, he was clearly afraid to slip. Kurt moved slowly and Sebastian mimicked his moves. He was a bit clumsy, but being a good observer, he caught up quite well. Kurt started to move a bit faster, he felt his hand being squeezed harder.
"Relax, you´re doing a great job. It´s like dancing…"
Sebastian breathed in deeply and thought of dancing. He was a good dancer after all. They moved faster then and before they noticed, they had made two full rounds, drawing a big circle on the ice.
"I´m letting go of your hand now, OK?", Kurt said "You just keep doing the same moves. Ready?"
"Oh, ehm, yes, I´m ready", Sebastian replied, not completely sure.
Anyway he let go of Kurt´s hand. His body automatically moved on, his skates sliding across the ice for a few meters.
"Just don´t look down to your-"
But before Kurt had finished delivering that advice, Sebastian had lost his balance and his knees and hands hit the ground. Kurt rushed over and kneeled down.
"Oow", Sebastian whined.
"It´s OK, you´re alright", Kurt confirmed after searching the boy for injuries. He rubbed Sebastian´s knees and applied a soft kiss to each of his gloved palms.
"I wanna try again", Sebastian said, holding out his hands for Kurt to help him up.
They made a few steps holding hands before Sebastian was ready to let go again. This time he remembered to look straight ahead and much to his surprise it became a lot easier that way. Of course he wasn´t as quick and elegant as Kurt, but he had soon figured out the basics and he loved it. He was reminded of the day when he had been on the horse´s back, feeling like he was flying. He smiled brightly and now finally he understood the look on Kurt´s face earlier that morning. This was pure bliss.
The other boy skated a few feet ahead of him, then he turned around and skated backwards, maintaining eye contact with Sebastian. He smiled at him and Sebastian did so, too. And he was probably so foolishly distracted by Kurt, that he suddenly found himself hitting the ground once again, this time landing on his butt. Kurt skated over, concerned. But Sebastian just laughed as he sat on the ice.
"My ass is freezing!", he said, holding his hands up to Kurt once again.
They both couldn´t stop laughing as they made their way back to the house. Sebastian let Kurt get ahead a few steps, then he crouched down and formed a snowball. He aimed at Kurt´s back, but it ended up hitting his ass.
"Hey!", Kurt snapped, turning around in surprise "You-!"
He hurried to make a snowball of his own and tossed it at Sebastian, hitting his shoulder.
"How dare you, Princess!", Sebastian hissed and quickly gathered enough snow in his hands to form an even larger ball. The same did Kurt. It was a split second sooner that Sebastian had finished his and hit Kurt´s head, leaving his hair full of snowflakes. The fight continued until they were both out of breath, sitting down in the snow.
"Hey, let´s make a snowman!", Sebastian said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
And so they began to form a big ball of snow and a smaller one to put on top as head. It was really Sebastian who made most part of the work. Kurt was pretty much exhausted from all the previous action and Sebastian was still so full of energy, he could have gone all day.
It was these moments that Kurt found himself contemplating the other boy in utter adoration. He was so full of life, so bright and so easy to love. Kurt watched him collecting stones that he used for the snowman´s eyes and sticks that he used as arms. He even asked Kurt to get a carrot to make the nose.
This infinitely sweet boy who had never had anybody to take him outside, anybody to show him the world, to play with him and laugh with him… he had missed out on so many things. Kurt didn´t mind, though. He would gladly spend all day with him, helping him catch up with these things, these trivial moments that for some reason made the most special of days.
He couldn´t picture Sebastian locked up in an institution, in those awful white prisons. He couldn´t imagine putting him on drugs. Sebastian was too special of a soul to be put through those things. They would break him. . He didn´t need any of that. All he needed was love.