So, this is the point where I ask you to trust me, and above all - trust Sebastian. He's trustworthy, believe me, I'm writing him. I'd also like to iterate that, as stated in the prompt, Sebastian does not want anything to happen to Kurt, and he will say what needs to be said before things can take a wrong turn. That being said, this chapter is equal amounts of fluff and fluff (or is supposed to be, anyway), so I'd say enjoy - with 3/4 chapters to go things are about to change.
As usual, it is unbeta'd. I will never be ashamed to admit I love feedback, and concrit is always welcomed!

They'd arranged to meet at a small coffee shop just around the corner from Kurt's apartment, and Kurt felt strangely nervous as he sat down at a table close to the door. After all the ways Sebastian had tried to evade him, he wasn't going to be surprised if the guy decided not to show up, and he'd promised himself he wouldn't ever give the guy a second thought should it happen. But he still found himself hoping.

He didn't believe in fate, and after the way his first relationship with Blaine had slowly bled out even the concept of soul mates was up for discussion in his mind. But there was something between Sebastian and him, and the fact that Kurt seemed to be one of very few people who had ever managed to break through Sebastian's first line of defense -if Bing's words were anything to go on- only strengthened him in his conviction. That didn't mean Sebastian felt the same, of course, and from their conversation three days before Kurt wasn't even sure he would be willing to explore it even if he did. It didn't mean Kurt wasn't going to try to convince him, though, and if a coffee date was the only thing Sebastian was willing to give him for now, then a coffee date was what he would work with.

He was just wondering whether he'd get another refill when a movement at the door drew his attention, and his breath hitched in his throat.

Kurt liked to think he knew how to dress people. He even liked to think he had done a pretty stellar job dressing Sebastian for the show. Apparently, though, nobody knew how to dress Sebastian better than Sebastian himself.

At first sight, it wasn't that spectacular - certainly not spectacular enough to stand out in a coffee shop. The pair of dark jeans wasn't particularly tight, and the simple blazer he wore in combination with it hung open to show an even simpler, loose-fitting grey V-neck sweater. The fact that Kurt could see just the tiniest bit of chest hair was barely an excuse for his elevated heartbeat - over the course of last week he'd seen pretty much all of Sebastian's body, had helped him in and out of clothes, had touched that bit of visible chest that was currently making him re-evaluate every argument he'd ever made against chest hair. But there was something about Sebastian now, something about the way he held himself and the combination with the slightly-too-big beanie and the dark-rimmed glasses he was currently sporting that reminded Kurt that the 'connection' he was so convinced they shared wasn't the only reason why he had been so insistent on getting to see Sebastian outside of work.

"So you do own a decent pair of pants," Kurt said, nodding approvingly when Sebastian made it to the table, surprising himself with the steadiness of his voice. Up close it was even more obvious that nothing of what Sebastian was wearing was anything less than the highest quality. As simple as it looked, it was every bit as much designer as Kurt's own outfit, and Kurt had to forcibly keep himself from staring.

Sebastian looked down as if he'd just grabbed the first items of clothing within his reach before leaving and was only really seeing what he was wearing now.

"I wasn't sure what to wear on a not-a-date with one of New York's up-and-coming designers," he said, pretending to look pensive, "I have these really comfy worn-out jeans, but something told me that wasn't a good idea, so I just went with the next best thing."

A mischievous smile took over his face as he glanced back up at Kurt and sat down, resting his foot on his knee as he leaned back and pulled the beanie off his head, looking around the coffee shop casually. Too casually, Kurt thought, and he let his eyes trail over Sebastian's form again, trying to look at him the way a stranger would, without the hopes and expectations Kurt knew were currently clouding his judgement.

Sebastian's first words had been about himself, but they had been dismissive, derogatory almost. His posture was relaxed, but his fingers were tapping against the table, and from the way he kept looking around pointedly he seemed to be well aware of the fact that Kurt was looking at him - but wasn't quite ready to look back.

He dressed up, Kurt realized with a shock. As much as he insisted on this being not-a-date, he actually wants to make a good impression. And he didn't just 'not wear the jeans he was wearing before', he took the time to pick out something and he's nervous about me liking it.

The realization calmed Kurt down, somehow, the knowledge that he wasn't the only one being slighty on edge strangely comforting.

We're even nervous in sync, he thought in amusement, taking in the man in front of him once more, and sitting up a bit straighter. Let the game begin.

.

They spent almost three hours in the coffee shop, and time became an irrelevant concept as they talked, discussing designers they had worked with and shows they had participated in before the topics drifted away from the strictly professional frame they had in common, celebrity gossip and New York street adventures providing more comic relief than deadlines and overstressed personal assistants had. By the time seven rolled around Kurt suggested off-handedly they move somewhere they could grab a bite, and to his surprise Sebastian seemed happy to comply, and even suggested a place to go.

They decided to go for the full deal - starters, main course, and dessert - and Kurt watched, first in shock, then in apprehension and, finally, with amusement, as Sebastian flirted shamelessly with their waitress. The girl -a little overweight but undoubtedly pretty- seemed young, a college freshman maybe, and by the end of their meal she was so flustered she started blushing if she even so much as looked at their table. When she finally came to bring their check, Kurt pretended not to notice how Sebastian slipped a note with a familiar number between the girl's fingers, but as soon as she had turned around, he shot an amused glared at Sebastian.

"You just really had to do that, didn't you?"

He knew he was supposed to be jealous, but he knew Sebastian's reputation by now, and above all he knew the number the waitress was looking at now wasn't Sebastian's.

"I have fun, she feels appreciated - it's a win-win, really," Sebastian shrugged as he got up and put on his coat, and Kurt followed his example.

"What happens when she actually calls the number though?"

Sebastian glanced at the waitress, seemingly considering the question before he shook his head.

"That one won't. They usually don't, actually. It doesn't take much for them to realize I'm an over the top flirt. So either they're ok with something casual and they flirt back, in which case I won't give them anything. Or they are looking for something with more... strings attached, in which case they won't flirt back since they know that's not what I'm going for. That's the ones who get the number."

"Okay, but what if they do call?" Kurt insisted, not sure if he was appalled or impressed by the amount of thought Sebastian had obviously given the subject.

"If they do... I'll get an angry phone call from my agent saying I should keep my work and private life separate," Sebastian said dryly. "And then she'll thank me for the hook-up."

Kurt stopped mid-movement, frozen between their table and the door.

"That number is from your agent."

Sebastian nodded.

"Who is a woman."

"Well, she is now," Sebastian said, eyes darting up as if he was thinking. "I mean, I guess technically she always was... her. But who cares about semantics, right?"

Kurt shook his head, trying to recapitulate the information.

"So you flirt with gay guys and straight girls, give them a fake number-"

"It's not fake."

"-give them a number that's not yours," Kurt conceded with a sigh, "and when they call it they end up with your female agent. Who is transgender. Smooth, Seb, very smooth indeed."

"Ah, what's life if you can't have a little bit of fun, right?"

Sebastian wiggled his eyebrows and Kurt gave him a playful shove, following him out on the street.

"You're impossible, Sebastian, completely and utterly impossible."

They stood still for a moment once they were outside, and Sebastian rubbed his hands together against the cold, turning towards Kurt.

"So, where to now?"

"Now you're gonna walk me home," Kurt said, linking his arm through Sebastian's and pulling him a little closer as they started walking. Even at this late hour there was still quite a number of people out, and they silently navigated between the late night joggers and sturdy looking business men. There was a scream and then the sound of brakes being slammed close behind them and they simultaneously looked back, but when the expected bang didn't come they simply turned back around and continued walking.

Kurt loved New York. Not all of it, there were some distinct disadvantages connected to living in a city as big as New York was, but overall he loved it, especially now, at night. The never ending buzz of traffic, the thousands of people passing you by -people you'd never seen before and probably would never see again, even if they lived around the corner from you-, the flickering lights of the billboards and the constant smell of gasoline - it all became a little more surreal at night, a little more magical. And walking home with Sebastian, it all seemed right, somehow. Even if it hadn't been a real date - it still had kind of felt like one.

"This wasn't really not-a-date, was it?" Sebastian suddenly said, as if he'd guessed Kurt's train of thought.

He glanced sideways at Kurt, catching his gaze, and Kurt smiled at him before he turned his head back.

"It really wasn't," he agreed, and Sebastian let out an audible sigh.

"They told me you were smart, Hummel, but they never told me you were a manipulative little schemer."

"... says the guy who flirted with some girl right in front of his date and routinely gives out other people's phone numbers," Kurt retorted. "You're a grown man, don't blame me for your completely independent and autonomous decision to have coffee and then dinner with me."

Sebastian grumbled, but Kurt could sense it was in good nature.

"Well then, I've learned my lesson - I'm never going for coffee with you again."

It was an opening, and Kurt only hesitated for a split second.

"You could go on a date with me instead," he suggested lightheartedly, inwardly praying he wasn't pushing his luck. "A planned one, I mean."

Sebastian didn't immediately reply, although Kurt took the fact that he hadn't unhooked their arms and that they were still walking as a good sign. But when he looked aside, he could see Sebastian's jaw clench, his eyes darting everywhere.

"I told you I don't date," Sebastian said, almost reluctantly.

"Hate to break it to you," Kurt whispered conspiratorially, moving in a bit closer, "but you kinda just did."

It was enough to make Sebastian chuckle, and it broke some of the tension that had been building up between them.

"You're really something, Hummel," Sebastian finally said, still grinning, "but trust me, you don't want to date me."

"Firstly, I am perfectly capable of figuring out what I want by myself, thank you very much," Kurt said, giving Sebastian a little shove with his hip. "And secondly, I can't think of any reason why not."

Sebastian raised his eyebrows in amusement.

"You seem to be forgetting that I have a reputation for being the biggest flirt this side of the Atlantic."

"I can hardly feel threatened when you give out fake phone numbers," Kurt retorted. "Especially to straight girls."

"I snore and I'm a blanket hog."

"I have earplugs and I dare you to try and take away my blanket. Next."

"I really have no decent clothes, I just borrowed these from a friend."

"I'll take you out shopping and use you as my personal Ken doll." Kurt looked aside, pulling Sebastian's arm. "Come on, Sebastian, give me something to work with here, you're making this way too easy!"

They stopped, and Sebastian turned towards Kurt, his face almost unreadable as he scanned Kurt's, obviously searching for something but not finding it. He looked away, opened his mouth and then closed it again, as if he wanted to say something but changed his mind, or simply didn't dare to say it after all.

"You're really not going to let this go, are you?" he finally asked, almost exasperating.

"No," Kurt said simply. He'd come too far by now, taken too much of a risk to still be able to go back. It was all or nothing. "Not unless you give me a good reason. And seeing as all you've been doing so far is make excuses and laugh it off instead of making it easy on yourself and just tell me you don't wánt to date me, I'm calling it now and saying you're too much of a wuss to go for what you want."

"Oh... playing the macho card, are we?" Sebastian asked, pseudo-impressed, his eyes sparkling despite the serious look still on his face.

"I'll play any card I want," Kurt said, surprising both Sebastian and himself as he stepped forward, fisting his hands in Sebastian's sweater. He stood staring at his fumbling hands for a moment, fingers playing with the fabric, before he looked up. "I'm not gonna ask you again, Sebastian. Tell me I'm imagining things, tell me we have no spark or connection or whatever it is that makes two people realize they share something special. Tell me you don't want me and I promise I'll let it go and never mention it again. I'm not asking for white picket fences and 2.5 kids, you know, just... give me a shot. Seriously, what's the worst that can happen?"

He gave Sebastian a tentative smile, his stomach jolting when he saw it returned. Sebastian didn't say anything, however, clasping his hands in front of his face, elbows wide, as he sighed and let out a shaky laugh. He stayed like that for a couple of seconds before moving his hands back up, running them back and forth through his hair while his eyes darted around. When he finally looked back at Kurt, both hands linked together on top of his head, it was with an incredulous look on his face, as if he couldn't quite believe where he was or what he was doing.

"Fuck you, Kurt Hummel," he said, dropping his arms. "Fuck you."

His lips came down hard against Kurt's as he raised his hands to cup Kurt's face, and Kurt moved to stand on his toes, pulling Sebastian closer as he returned the pressure. He opened his mouth slightly, tongue flicking out to taste Sebastian's lips but finding his tongue instead, and he playfully took it between his teeth, gently biting down.

"Uh-uh."

Sebastian pushed him back, slowly shaking his head, a finger pressed against Kurt's lips.

"I don't know who you think you're dealing with, but I'm no côte à l'os - you don't get to bite me, alright?"

Kurt rolled his eyes, but nodded nonetheless.

"Ten seconds into this relationship and you're already making demands," he grumbled, "I'm having second thoughts."

"Twenty seconds into this relationship and you're already whining," Sebastian shot back. "I'm not so sure you're the one pulling the short straw here."

Kurt lifted his fists, letting them fall back against Sebastian's chest in protest.

"I am. Now shut up and kiss me."