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Chapter 6: Transitions
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Summer was blissfully free of Blaine for the most part. He showed up occasionally on Kurt's door but true to Carole's word, none of them let him in. Finn was the most adamant about it of all of them now and Kurt didn't go near the door when someone said it was Blaine. They pushed him back every time when he tried to come in or talk to Kurt.
Kurt was busy with both jobs and packing up what he thought he should bring to New York. He was going to leave quite a few outfits here, saying they didn't fit his image for New York but he'd wear them while he was back in Lima. So he wore those outfits more often or in some combination while he was there over the summer.
Sebastian came over more often now that he wasn't in school as well. He invited Kurt over to his parents' house but they had a few and were summering in upstate New York so they never met. It wasn't exactly close, it was another hour away for Kurt, which is why he had never invited him there during the school year. He didn't want to make Kurt drive an extra hour if they were able to meet up somewhere in between. Now they each had to drive 3 hours to see each other. Sebastian just crashed at Kurt's more often.
Even though they had the empty house away from prying eyes, it was never really a vacation for either of them while they stayed there. So mid-July, Sebastian sprung a vacation on Kurt who was probably going to hit him one of these days for his impulses. He managed to get off from both jobs and they headed North for the week, a week of time along the shores of a large lake in a fairly bustling city, much cooler than the stifling heat of summer in Ohio. It had events they could go out to and privacy in the apartment he rented and spa service down the street. They walked everywhere and just had fun.
Kurt had turned 18 at the end of June and if they stayed at a hotel he would have needed to be the one to show his ID. Sebastian didn't turn 18 until August, a week after Kurt left for New York. They didn't need anyone prying into their business. They were only about a month apart in age, still, Kurt was cagey about legalities.
Sebastian winced as he reminded Kurt that he'd slept with men a lot older than Kurt and it was never a problem. Kurt had stared at him and he held up his hands in peace. "If it helps, you look younger than I do?"
"Or you just look old for your age." Kurt teased, not wanting to fight.
"There's that." Sebastian laughed and they bantered lightly anyway.
It was a fun week away from everything. There were a few minor arguments, like when Sebastian insisted on paying for everything, saying it was his idea, he was taking money away from Kurt already since he had to take time off from work last minute, it was his treat, he had more money than he knew what to do with, and to just let him. Kurt had caved eventually but he didn't let Sebastian forget it, that he was still willing to pay his fair share of everything they did every time there was a bill that popped up. Sebastian just waved him off every time and dropped his credit card onto the bill and handed it right back.
Sebastian wanted to help Kurt relax, yes, but he was also incredibly selfish, he wanted all of Kurt's attention on him for once and that week he got it. They went to an open-mic night and Sebastian signed Kurt up without asking him or telling him and when Kurt got called to the stage he was very red and embarrassed.
"I haven't prepared anything. My, boyfriend, signed me up without telling me." Kurt told the audience unsure how they'd react to the word but not someone who backed away from the truth. He still stayed up there and thought quickly on his feet. He turned to the band and spoke with them quickly and they laughed and they agreed to his plan.
Sebastian knew that Kurt had a dry wit and a biting humor but he didn't know Kurt was just so funny and was able to drop the jokes at just the right time with the right timing and speed leading up to it. I Could Be in Love With Someone Like You. It was comedy meets song and it was perfect for this crowd. It wasn't a declaration of love, whatsoever and Sebastian was only slightly disappointed that Kurt didn't choose this venue to share his feelings. Sebastian had already good as told him how he felt through song.
Maybe Kurt wasn't feeling the same way... Sebastian wasn't sure he was willing to say his feelings yet either though he now knew what the word was. Maybe Kurt was just seeing where this was going, passing time before he went to New York and starting his new life out there.
Sebastian wouldn't let that happen. He had found Kurt and he wasn't going to lose him now.
He would just have to man up and tell Kurt how he felt and make sure he knew that he wasn't going to let this end here. That he was serious about coming out this year and coming out permanently next year.
The last night they were there, Sebastian was planning on taking Kurt out to a nice restaurant but he hadn't made plans yet and he walked in to find candles lit around the apartment and Kurt cooking something that smelled absolutely delicious.
"What's the occasion?" Sebastian hadn't known when Kurt could have gone out to gather this stuff.
"Did you know Amazon would deliver anything anywhere for you?" Kurt teased, not answering. "Why don't you go wash up? I'm almost done and I'll switch with you in a few."
They were halfway through dinner, making small talk when Kurt breathed in deeply and put his fork down, took Sebastian's hand and looked him in the eye. "I have something I need to say."
This was worrying Sebastian a little but surely Kurt wouldn't be holding his hand if it was something bad, right? "I'm listening."
Kurt swallowed hard and pulled up his courage. "I love you."
Sebastian's face broke into a huge grin. "Why was that so hard? I love you too. I was planning on tell you that tonight over dinner. I've been wanting to say it for ages but I was a little afraid that I'd scare you away."
"I'm afraid to scare you away." Kurt admitted. "I'm also a little scared that we'll get into this deep and it will blow up in my face."
"That's always the risk with any relationship." Sebastian laughed. "Listen to me, as if I'm the expert in this." He shook his head. "All I know is that you're the only person I've ever felt this way for and the only one I've ever wanted to tell."
"And you're not a romantic." Kurt wiped at his eyes. "I'm in this, Sebastian, I really am."
"Me too." Sebastian leaned across the table and kissed Kurt. "I'm in this as far as you can possibly get in."
Kurt sniffed and nodded. "Ok then."
"Shall we celebrate our shared love admissions?" Sebastian asked standing and pulling Kurt from his seat.
"Aren't we doing that already?" Kurt asked in confusion and then saw Sebastian's wicked smile. "Oh, don't you ever think of anything else?"
"Not when you're in my vicinity." Yet he turned on some music and spun Kurt into a slow dance, not taking it to the bedroom quite yet. Sebastian sang to Kurt Around the World by Calum Scott, the music was on low and they couldn't hear the words of the song that was actually playing, just the melody, and Sebastian fit the words to the melody playing, not caring if it fit perfectly or not. They danced in each other's arms and the dance slowed down further and further before Sebastian's mouth was on Kurt's and his hands were undoing buttons and Kurt's mouth had met his instantly and his hands were doing the same with Sebastian's clothing.
They made love by candle light with their shadows on the wall. It was so incredibly beautiful and memorable and meaningful for the two men. It was something both would recall whenever they were feeling vulnerable or lonely or sad.
The rest of the summer was magical and went by too fast and Sebastian had to say goodbye to Kurt in Lima since there was just enough room for Burt, Kurt and all his stuff. They had a going away party for Rachel and Kurt the night before. Finn was staying in Lima for the first couple of months, trying to figure out what he wanted to do even though he was married to Rachel. He wanted her to have a little of that college Freshman feeling.
Sebastian shook his head at Finn's decision. "If we were married, I wouldn't let you get a second of peace." He told Kurt while they ate lunch. It was an all day BBQ party outside.
Kurt laughed. "You wouldn't let me get any peace? As if you're giving me any of that as is."
"For good reason. You're far too desirable to the men out there, I want to make sure you know who you belong to."
"I'm not the one who has a book full of names." Kurt wasn't upset or accusatory, just pointing out the facts.
"Which is exactly why I need to remind you. You don't have the history I've had, knowing that with you is something unique and special. You are about to embark in your first bout of relative freedom with several men who will fling themselves at you. You haven't weeded through them like I have."
"Does this mean that you're giving me permission to do so? So I know exactly what I have with you?"
"Absolutely not. I don't share." Sebastian's face was set in stone at the idea.
Kurt laughed. "I don't need a harem of men to know that what I have with you is precious and perfect. I'm not going to go to New York and start sleeping around." He didn't realize just how much other men desired him, Sebastian realized. Someone out there would make sure they told him directly, unlike all the boys around here. He made sure Kurt knew that he thought Kurt was desirable and told him directly too. He still didn't believe Sebastian that anyone else would think so. He still didn't know why Sebastian would have chosen him.
He's had two highly attractive boyfriends and he didn't see the connection was himself, that he was so hot and a great personality and person drawing all these attractive people to him. He just thought boys were horny and they didn't care as much about looks. Sebastian hated to burst that bubble that gay guys cared far more about looks than straight guys who also were interested in girls based on first looks then the rest of it.
Blaine had been invited over to Rachel's despite protests from several of those in attendance. He kept his distance while Sebastian was there but he kept glowering too in their direction. He was sending them yet another look.
Sebastian growled and slid his arm around Kurt's shoulders in a show of possession. "I'm looking forward to the day that your ex is out of our lives for good."
"Unfortunately I don't see that happening. Blaine could kill someone and Rachel will still invite him over." Kurt rubbed the back of his neck, Sebastian's fingers came up to help him out, he turned his head to let Sebastian have better access and closed his eyes at the pleasure. "He's already been talking about NYADA auditions and Rachel invited him to stay with us while he was in New York for them."
"Why is he coming to New York? Carmen goes to different states to watch people at their schools."
"I guess he wanted to audition at NYADA and explore the campus at the same time." Kurt shrugged. "It'll be fine."
"It'll be fine because you'll be staying with me at my hotel or my friend's house while he's in town."
"I thought you were staying with us when you were visiting?" Kurt looked at him peculiarly.
"Not during that visit." Sebastian said darkly.
There was a stage set up in the backyard, of course there was. But there were also lawn games and drinks. Kurt and Sebastian stuck with Lemonade and the likes but Blaine was drinking as were many of the other guests. Rachel and Kurt's parents were there as well as a few other adults of the children who would be leaving that week. A few drinks and games later after lunch, Blaine made his way up to the stage.
"Kurt, this one is for you." A collective groan went out through the crowd and Sebastian's arm went around Kurt's hips. Blaine started to sing Everything Means Nothing If I Can't Have You.
Kurt restrained Sebastian from making a scene. In fact, he didn't make it through more than a few of those bars before he was pulling Sebastian with him into the house and heading toward the kitchen. Kurt pushed Sebastian into a chair. "Stay here."
"You're not going anywhere." Sebastian tugged Kurt onto his lap. "I just can't believe that guy."
"Still disappointed you didn't add him to your long list of conquests?" Kurt was beginning to wonder if those two had slept together if Blaine would have let up easier or if he'd transferred his obsession onto Sebastian. Kurt had been his only boyfriend.
Sebastian snorted. "With him, he'd have tried to make it a threesome and if we said no, he would keep pushing." He held up a finger. "We are not having a threesome."
"I wouldn't want to anyway with him." The sex with Blaine had been fine, they were both new to it and they both had tried to talk through things as they went, making sure both were comfortable. It had been nice but not great, not that he'd expected their first time to be. It was only Kurt's second time when he slept with Sebastian but it had been amazing, but Sebastian had a lot more experience in making someone feel good. He wasn't even going to begin to compare the two. They were two totally different relationships.
"I'm not sure how he's managed to manipulate people, his behavior is so obvious and disturbing." Sebastian shook his head.
"That's because I didn't follow along with his plan and I've broken free of his power. He doesn't know how to behave and I'm sure if I were to date him again he'd go back to his suave act." Kurt ran fingers along his neck again, pressing into areas that were tense. "I just wish he'd give up and stop embarrassing all of us."
Sebastian nodded his agreement and laid his chin on Kurt's shoulder, he was already a lot calmer now. They figured the song was either over by now or Blaine had gotten the hint. They headed back toward the party but Sebastian pulled him to a stop and purposefully mused up Kurt's hair and clothes before doing the same to his own.
He trapped Kurt against the wall and kissed him deeply before he could really start protesting and put action behind the look too. His hands slid under the layers of Kurt's shirts, even in August to spread across the soft flesh of his waist and sides. He groaned. "Maybe we shouldn't go back to the party just yet." Sebastian said shortly before Mercedes walked in and spotted them.
"Boys, get your pale asses back to the party, this is for you Kurt and it's rude if you hide in here with your beau." She had gotten used to Sebastian finally.
Kurt skipped over to her and linked arms with her and pulled her out, leaving Sebastian to deal with his problem on his own. "'Cedes, this party is for all of us, you're leaving too."
"But not yet." Mercedes argued, she wasn't going the college route, she'd gotten a label to sign her and she needed to work on her record and release it under the tutelage of her manager in LA.
"I'm sure Rachel's doing a good job covering for me. She loves the spotlight and she probably forgot it was a joint send off." She and Kurt could have easily have driven out to New York together but she was taking the train and Burt would drive the car back to Lima on his own. Another reason Sebastian thought he should go with them, trade off with Burt on the way back.
But no... they wanted one last father-son bonding time before Kurt started living his own life fully. They'd have more trips and times together but this was something Burt had been planning since the day Kurt was born.
The party kept going through the night and Sebastian found Kurt after he said he'd see his dad in the morning and sent Carole and him back to their house. The parents all started leaving, even Rachel's. They were going to get to New York first and help move her stuff in, they would receive the packages she shipped ahead of time.
Santana was tapping her foot next to Blaine when Sebastian and Kurt came back to the backyard from the driveway. "He's not leaving." She announced to Kurt, fully annoyed. Blaine was surprisingly not drunk despite drinking all day. Someone had wisely switched his vodka with water so he thought he was getting lit but he was just getting sober.
Kurt shrugged. "It happens."
Sebastian looked over to Santana for an explanation but she looked away and Sebastian knew there was something they weren't telling him. Rachel squealed and jumped onto Blaine and he spun her around. "We have to do so many duets tonight before I leave because you won't have my vocal talents next year!"
"Speaking of that, actually." Blaine held his opposing elbow when Rachel let him go and took a few steps back. It made him look bashful and innocent. "I've decided to go back to Dalton for next year. It would be just too hard to be at McKinley without Kurt there."
Sebastian groaned while Santana chortled. "Payback is a bitch, honey." She whispered in his ear.
"There goes my lead solo spot." Sebastian didn't feel too badly about that though. He wasn't going into that career, as he'd told Kurt, it was just a hobby now and one he mostly used to serenade Kurt with, but only in the privacy of their own quarters. Nobody else needed to hear him sing to Kurt, those were intimate emotions and feelings and led to more intimate acts.
"Maybe they'll give you a duet with him or let you have a solo song yourself, at one of the competitions." Kurt teased and Sebastian glanced over at him, glad that he was not upset about this himself.
Rachel had a meltdown though and the party cleared out for a while, going to their respective areas to wait her out while she yelled at Blaine for making such a poor decision. Sam and Tina looked devastated as well.
"Oh please, Tina, you've been with Mike for years now and there was never a chance with him, he's gay." That bottle though could have easily have landed on her and Blaine could have had his existential crisis with her but she would have been far more hurt about it when he decided he was gay after all. She wouldn't have just used it to write a song. "Sam, I have no idea how you two became friends, he's a narcissistic ass and you went from hating each other to besties? How?"
Sebastian silently applauded Kurt while Santana didn't even hide it. They both blushed and looked away, understanding what Kurt was saying and feeling slightly guilty for it too.
Thankfully it meant that Blaine wasn't in Lima any time Kurt came to visit. There was a small respite at least.
That night, after everything settled back down and people started having fun again and the party went back to full swing, Kurt and Sebastian snuck out and headed to one of the guest bedrooms. They locked the door and sang to each other softly while they undressed each other and made love.
The next day, Sebastian stood with Carole and Finn as they watched the Hummel men drive away. Finn was crying and Sebastian felt moisture on his cheeks as well. He knew he'd be seeing Kurt soon enough but it was an end to what they had here. It was a change.
Sebastian got into his car to drive back home when he spotted a large gift sitting on his passenger seat. He wouldn't ask Kurt how he got in there in the few moments they weren't together this morning. Some mysteries could remain that way. He fingered the wrapping paper, it was done perfectly and it was so gorgeous that it would be hard to bring himself to ruin it by opening it.
He opened it then and there, knowing Kurt may have intended for him to wait and on the very top of the box filled with items was a card. I knew you wouldn't wait. Happy Birthday, my love.
Sebastian almost had a breakdown right then and there but he started pulling things out. The first was a daily calender of Kurt in various poses and states of undress. He put in some important dates that Sebastian noted as he flipped through it with amazement. To replace the magazines, not that with all the technology we have now, you'd still use magazines. Speaking of which, we're video chatting weekly. It was an inscription on the very first page, today's date and it went all the way to next year at this time. It was a very personalized calender.
There was a travel neck pillow, lube, a few other naughty things and a few other useful things for him to use while Kurt was out of sight or on the way to visit Kurt. Sebastian laughed and cried with the discovery of each item. Sebastian text Kurt when he was able to see his screen again. "You ass."
Kurt text back a finger emoji followed by kisses. He continued with,"Self-care only, Sébastien."
"As long as you take your own advice." Another kiss emoji was his response. Sebastian laughed through his tears and wiped them away and drove back to his parents' house, they were going to be ok, they really were.
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Kurt 'stumbled' upon an opportunity with Vogue with a fashion editor that he absolutely adored and was in awe of. He had followed her for years and her flight from fashionista to designer to editor to now editor in chief. She was looking for help, it was a poor paying internship but he applied and got it.
Sebastian hadn't the heart to tell Kurt that he was related to Kurt's new boss. Once he heard the name he knew exactly who Kurt was talking about, and he didn't mean as a fashionista or an editor. It was his aunt but he'd only been dimly aware of what she did for a living. It wasn't anything that he was all that excited about.
Kurt said he stumbled upon it, but he'd been tracking her movements for months and had seen the opportunity before she even posted the job. He had his resume in the second she created the opportunity. He'd further impressed her with his designs and style and being from Ohio had just cemented the opportunity.
The fact that he came to work and worked hard every day on time and put in late hours was not missed by her and she quickly started to rely on him more and more for advice and further activities.
Sebastian still didn't tell Kurt even after he was there for a month. He just listened with amusement, getting an outsider's perspective of one of his favorite aunts and Kurt never said anything bad about her. He wasn't sure if he would say anything even if Kurt had said anything negative. It was his opinion and he had a right to it and he'd rather Kurt share everything than hold anything back. If he knew Isabelle was his aunt, he may not share nearly as much. His job with Vogue was a big part of his life right now.
Sebastian came from an important family with connections all over the world and their family had spread into many different realms and all were powerful people in their own rights. He had a lot to live up to but his choice of boyfriend was definitely going to succeed him if he continued on his trajectory.
They talked twice a week on video chat and quick conversations here and there on the phone. It wasn't nearly enough but it was still more than Sebastian had anticipated and they text all the time. In some ways it was more than they had when Kurt lived in Lima. Except, they weren't able to get together on the weekends or swing by when Kurt wasn't working up to Dalton or vice versa. Kurt worked weekends now too. He picked up yet another job with Rachel and Santana at a restaurant that was well known to hire Broadway stars before they became famous. It was definitely Broadway themed.
"When do you sleep?" Sebastian teased as they chatted one night. Kurt was going over his book for one of the plays he had to recite and it was not easy dialogue.
"Sleep?" Kurt was distracted. "You want to go to sleep?"
"No." Sebastian laughed. "I'm just wondering when you get the opportunity to do so between two jobs, school and homework. Not to mention whatever drama Rachel and Santana pull you into each week."
"I catch naps throughout the day. Better rest for you than 8 hours." Kurt answered and he was super honest with that response so Sebastian didn't tease him further.
"That's not exactly healthy."
"I get 8 hours when I can but the rest of the time, I sleep when I can."
"Are you eating?" He had been up the weekend after his birthday and the weekend after that but it was now nearly 3 weeks since he'd last seen Kurt in person, two weeks since he picked up his second job. He was due up there this weekend again.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm eating right now." Kurt had not put a single bite of food to his lips the entire time they chatted, Sebastian could tell.
"Chocolate?"
"No... a sandwich." Kurt glanced at it, he had only a bite out of it, oops.
"I'm taking you out for a proper meal on Saturday, when do you have available?" He was going to make him a proper meal as well on Sunday before he left, and pack it all up so he would have food for the rest of the week until he could return again the following weekend. He could have come every other weekend but coming two weekends and then staying back for two weekends were just how it was working out right now, every 3rd month he would come out for an extra weekend. It may be a bit more or less than 2/3s.
"I'm not scheduled for anything between 2 and 3."
"Kurt..."
"Sebastian."
"You knew I was coming out this weekend."
"I did but I also told you that I would be busy while in school. I told you that I might have plans for the weekends you're going to be around and you said that was fine." Kurt reminded him.
Sebastian groaned, he had said that but after the 'I love you's and Kurt's gift to him and a few other things he'd thought that meant that Kurt would clear his schedule for him and want him to stay the entire time in the apartment during his visits. He should have known that Kurt was going to insist on being independent. "That was the deal we made when I made the executive decision to come out so often." He accepted that as gracefully as he could. He was starting to get jealous of his aunt and a restaurant.
"Any other free hours?"
"My shifts at the restaurant end at 10 all three nights. I work all day Saturday from 8am to 10pm with the hour lunch I told you. We can go to a club or something Saturday night afterward. I don't have a morning shift on Sunday, just the evening."
"Ok... I can work with that." Sebastian grinned on his end of the line. Kurt had early mornings free. "Does that mean you won't be seeing me off to the airport?"
"At this point, I think you know the way to the airport better than anyone else." Kurt responded dryly and Sebastian would have felt hurt had he not known their parting and time apart was just as sad and hard on Kurt. He just wasn't going to bend anymore when someone else decided to do something that was cross-plans when he'd already made his own plans clear, first. There were going to be exceptions, sure, but Sebastian was a big boy. Sebastian wouldn't have liked being coddled anyway. He didn't mind that Kurt wasn't going to see him all the way to the airport. Their goodbyes were more important inside the apartment anyway. They always had been.
"Why doesn't your apartment have any walls again?"
"Because it was basically a restaurant first." There was a cramped bathroom with a shower (originally just a single person bathroom with a toilet and sink but to make it liveable they had to somehow fit a shower in there and did). An amazing kitchen that opened up to the rest of the loft. It had been one of those no-hide kitchens, you could see what the chefs were doing as they did it. The rest of the space was large and open. There had been once upon a time an office but they used that as storage because it wouldn't have been fair to any of them to have one person with a bedroom while the rest had to use the rest of the space. Besides it would have been a really very tiny bedroom. They'd put up curtains that weren't sound proof nor even really all that light proof, it just gave an illusion of privacy. They weren't super thick so the natural light could still reach all of them in their 'rooms'. Even the thickest curtains wouldn't block out all the sounds.
"I could buy your loft and have contractors come in and install walls or something."
"No."
Well that was the end of that conversation path. "Do you have a club picked out?"
"Yeah, actually. There's this really neat one I've been hearing about. I won't spoil the surprise but wear something better than your typical rugby shirt to go out." Kurt paused. "Better yet, let me pick something up."
"Honestly, I have nice clothes that you've never seen. Don't waste your money on me, I won't disappoint you. But how much 'better' are you talking about? Something flashy?"
"I know that's not you." Kurt teased and Sebastian wasn't but for the right club, he was willing to fit in. He made a sound and then looked things over again. "Oh hey, you're going to be here in a few months just in time for the All-White Party."
"That sounds wrong."
"It's not the Alt-Right Party." Kurt rolled his eyes. "No, everyone only wears white to these parties. If you're still wearing just white by the end of the party, you've done something wrong. It'll be fun."
Sebastian smirked but didn't tell him that he'd attended plenty of those in France. He always enjoyed them and he was excited to see Kurt experience one himself. "I'll be there."
"Great, I just finished getting us tickets."
"How many did you get?"
"Four. Santana and Rachel want to go too."
"When is Finn moving out there?" Sebastian switched subjects.
"In a few months. He said he'd be out here by Christmas." Kurt didn't sound overly enthused. "It's going to be a lot of people in such a small space."
"It's a huge loft."
"But when it comes down to it, it's tiny. We made 3 decent sized bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. We don't even have space for an office area or anything like that. If you're not in your room, you're in each other's space. No separation." And as Sebastian had pointed out, not much privacy in their bedrooms either.
"Santana paying rent yet?"
"Hey now, I contribute in my own ways." Santana's voice was heard even through the curtain and across the room.
"Point." Sebastian concurred with Kurt. Finn being there was going to be even tighter space and when Sebastian came around it was even tighter, much less any of their other friends.
"How's school?" Kurt asked, not wanting to dwell in his drama today.
"It's been... rough. Blaine's back to being lead Warbler and they've all been hanging off of him except Nick and Jeff and Blaine's been trying very hard to get the two of them over onto his side. But Nick and Jeff see through him now and aren't falling for it anymore. Blaine has basically iced me out otherwise. I'm thinking of quitting."
"Don't do that!" Kurt protested. "You enjoy singing and you aren't planning on doing much with it once you graduate, enjoy it while you can, in any way you can. I had to take backseat with Rachel and Blaine for 4 years and look at me now! If you put in your time, you get rewards."
"Nick, Jeff and I are thinking about starting our own team. We've got a few newer members who may be interested and a few others who never joined the Warblers because of the song choices and the vetting process." Sebastian admitted.
"Blaine would absolutely hate that. Go ahead, do that." Santana barged into the bedroom and Kurt yelped.
"What if I was naked?" He yelled at her.
"Please honey, it wouldn't be anything I haven't already seen." Santana teased her eyes sliding over him. "Although I haven't seen you naked."
"Only a few people have." Sebastian intoned from his end of the line. "Santana, please go away, I only get so much time with my boyfriend."
"I only get so much time with my boy too." Santana commented back.
"Yes, but he comes home nightly to you."
"But I'm not always here at night when he comes back." She sassed, but she didn't contradict Sebastian's claim that Kurt came home nightly, meaning he didn't sleep anywhere else. She had no interest in sowing a discord between these two. "Or I'm already asleep."
"Both are choices that you've made and I never would." Sebastian countered.
"Well you don't get to make those choices yet, I do. You never know, he might kick you out after a couple of nights, you get on people's nerves."
"What are you doing out there, anyway, Santana? I thought you were going to cheerleading school or something."
"Eh, that wasn't for me." Santana shrugged. "I got a commercial though."
"And all the Tampax she'll ever need."
"Yeast kits, actually." She laughed. "I've been selling them for cheap since I have a lifetime supply that I'll never need or use." She'd strolled into town the week after his last visit. "It's how I've been paying for our food."
"That you've gotten from the cheapest grocery store in the state." Kurt added and snatched his phone back. "Go away, Santana."
"Love you too, elf ears." She tapped him on the nose. "See you later, Meerkat." Then she swung back out the 'door'.
They chatted for a little longer but then Kurt was yawning and Sebastian encouraged him to sleep. "I still have a few pages to read. I haven't even practiced."
"Sleep, Kurt, you'll be fresher in the morning."
Kurt dreamt his script all night long and called out in his sleep. He found that he wasn't alone in his bed in the morning as Santana's small body was wrapped around his and his head was cushioned against her chest. She had stroked his hair throughout the night.
She definitely did earn her keep in different ways. Rachel slept the whole night through without once waking up or noticing.
"What happened?" She asked softly, already planning on reporting back to Sebastian.
"The script is quite dark." Kurt answered and shook himself of the vestiges of the fear and sleep created images. "I've never been a fan of horror or violence or real life situations."
Santana picked up the pages and skimmed through them quickly. She frowned. "Is this appropriate to assign you? This is about chasing down the gay kid and beating him to death."
"Since we're all mostly gay kids in class, I don't know, maybe? I have the part of one of the prejudiced jocks." Santana scowled at the highlighted part. "Not one of, the lead." She shook her head and waved around the book. "Are you sure you can't get a different part? Or do a different play?"
"No, it's fine." Kurt took it from her. "It's nice not being the victim in this story. I don't want to be cast in that role again."
Her face softened. "With Karofsky, you mean?"
"And Blaine, just in a different way."
She nodded, able to understand that. "You were never viewed as the victim though, Kurt, you've always been so strong and independent and it's why it took us so long to realize something was wrong. You never presented like a victim, you never asked for help. You fought back, always."
"I was still the victim, and not asking for help – that's classic domestic abuse behavior." Kurt shook his head. "I thought I was being brave and strong but if I really was, I would have asked for help. Truly strong people know they can't do it alone. Then with Blaine, man, I was really blind there." He paused. "I'm not being blind with Sebastian, am I?"
"No, he genuinely loves and cares about you. He's always wanted to protect and strength you, be there for you, have others there for you. Blaine wanted everything you had for himself, including all of you. Sebastian wants to give you everything, wants to be everything for you. Yes he's a selfish prick who gets uber jealous of others vying for your time but he overcomes it and wants you to choose for yourself once he knows you have all the pieces."
Kurt nodded, that's what he thought and felt as well. "I really love that asshole."
"Being literal there?" Santana teased and Kurt paused, blushed and gave a small shrug, he hadn't meant that but he wouldn't deny the truth either. He now meant both. Santana laughed and mused up his hair some more. "Know when to say enough when it comes to this script. I don't know if I'll be here tonight to help soothe any more nightmares."
"I won't read it so close to bedtime." Kurt promised.