A/N: In draft #1, Kurt broke up with Blaine at Satire after Exes and Ohs, then set Blaine an ultimatum to get his stuff out of the apartment. He invited friends from NYADA, Vogue and Satire to a housewarming party. The most jarring difference here is the lack of Alice, Steph, Alex and Brody...who were not in draft #1 at all.
Kurt's hostility towards Georgio can be explained as he originally flirted heavily with Sebastian at Satire (and not with Sam).
A long, slightly convoluted chapter of mixed emotions, surprise songs and finally, Kurtbastian...with (hopefully) a few hilarious bits in between!
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to charge you for this," the landlady said as she inspected the lock of Kurt's apartment. "If you give someone a key without adding them to the lease, it's basically like losing it. Our insurance doesn't cover loss."
"I understand," Kurt said. "That's okay." He wouldn't be making that mistake again. He watched with a grim satisfaction as she picked her tools and started taking apart the lock to replace the cylinder.
As was to be expected, Blaine had not cleared out his things, nor left his key like Kurt had asked. It was a small mercy that he wasn't home when Kurt and Sebastian came to check. Kurt had forewarned his friends - his new friends from New York- that if they wanted to come to his housewarming party, they might be called upon to help Blaine move out, and now he sent messages out calling in the troops.
They had spent the afternoon packing Blaine's things. Kurt had already called a local shelter that they were free to collect anything that was left by Saturday morning. If Blaine didn't pick it up, it would be gone.
He wanted none of it. He might be able to sell or pawn some items, but that meant spending time on it, and he just wanted to be done. If any of his friends wanted something, they were welcome to it, but most of Blaine's things were... acquired taste. Sebastian had made a game out of picking the worst items and making fun of them, and it helped.
Still, Kurt wasn't feeling very festive just yet. It was still his life they were picking apart. Hopefully that would change when everyone got there.
"Alright. If you sign here, you get a new set of keys." The landlady looked from Kurt to Sebastian, clearly unsure if she should offer them both a new key.
"Just me for now," Kurt said, offering Sebastian a bashful look. He wouldn't mind if Sebastian had a key, but he doubted his friend needed the responsibility of being on the lease.
Sebastian stood slightly awkwardly when the landlady offered Kurt his new keys. His brain kept repeating Kurt's words in his head "Just me for now...for now...for now." Did that mean he might get a key one day?
He didn't get long to ponder that thought though as the landlady was quickly leaving and Kurt was turning to him.
"So," Sebastian said slightly forced, still trying to ignore the tirade of questions swimming around his head. "What's first, boss?"
Kurt looked around. "Wait for the others, I guess." He checked his phone. A few messages from Danny, Marc and Terry, that they were on their way. The same from his friends from NYADA. Kurt had secretly hoped Georgio couldn't make it, but he had accepted as well. However, the more people that came, the sooner he'd get Blaine's things and the excess furniture out of his place.
His place. It wasn't much, but it would be his. He still missed the loft, but he wouldn't have been able to afford it on his own. When Rachel and Santana moved out, he had to give it up.
The doorbell rang, and Kurt opened it. Their Satire colleagues grinned at him from behind two crates of beer. Terry was also holding a paper bag that looked suspiciously like it held at least 4 bottles of something stronger. With everything Kurt and Sebastian had already brought, that would make for a lively party later on.
"He didn't show up yet, right?" Terry asked.
Kurt shook his head. "Not yet. He might. But he won't get far." He jingled his new keys in his hand. "Come in, come in."
As he was about to close the door, he could hear his other friends coming up the stairs.
Sebastian greeted their colleagues warmly and helped relieve them of their burdens. The bottles in Terry's bag jingled loudly as Sebastian took the bag off him. He looked inside and saw a bottle each of Vodka, Gin, Whiskey and Tequila.
"Terrance, are you trying to give everyone alcohol poisoning?" Sebastian joked as he set the bottles down on the kitchen side.
"Hey, it's not a party without hard liquor and I think our boy Kurt may need it." They both glanced over at Kurt, who was greeting the NYADA boys and some others that Sebastian assumed were from Vogue.
Sebastian walked over to Kurt and the group and greeted everyone warmly. Georgio looked pleased to see Sebastian and Sebastian smiled at him. In the light of day, Sebastian mused that maybe the guy wasn't his type after all.
"Straight to work then?" he asked Kurt.
"Yes," Kurt said. "The sooner we get this over with, the better. Maybe we get the furniture first and then just pile the boxes on top so they're not directly on the ground. If the shelter can use that stuff, they'd prefer it dry."
He assigned the pieces to the helpers present, and included himself for the team that took the heaviest item: their three-person couch. They lead the way, carefully manoeuvring it around the corners of the narrow staircase and out into the street. It started to drizzle. So much for keeping the clothes dry. But it couldn't be helped- Kurt was not chickening out now.
"Just put it down here, I got permission from the landlady. If no one wants it, trash will pick it up by Monday." Kurt looked down on the couch with a vengeance. He wanted it gone. He wanted every piece of furniture that they had ever had sex on gone. It was irrational and ridiculous, but he didn't care. The next team would take out his mattress- a new one had been delivered that morning.
The furniture went fast, and the boxes were next. Kurt's heart felt lighter and lighter with every bit of floor that was uncovered, every bit of space that appeared in the overly cluttered place. Kurt recognised it for what it was. It was a cleanse.
He was just back upstairs to take one of the last boxes out, when the group of movers made way for someone new, bearing a bouquet of flowers.
"Sam?" Kurt asked incredulously. Had Blaine actually sent his bff to apologize for him?
At the sounds of the name, Sebastian looked up to see Sam standing in the doorway. He crossed the room to stand next to Kurt protectively.
"Uh..." Sam stammered awkwardly. "I just wanted to come here and apologise...for everything." He shuffled from foot to foot. "I bought you these." He handed them over. "And I came to warn you that Blaine's coming...with an entourage...and they're going to sing to you...a really inappropriate song. And I wanted to come and tell you that I had nothing to do with it."
Kurt accepted the flowers, but froze at Sam's words. Blaine was what?
"I should have known," he said quietly. "I should have known he'd try something! Does he think we're still in high school?!"
Sam flinched, and Kurt shook his head. "I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault."
Kurt hesitated. "It's not...Come What May, is it?"
Kurt wasn't sure his heart could take it if it was.
Sam shook his head, looking down at his shoes.
"You know what? I don't even care," Kurt decided. "He's not coming in anyway. He can do what he wants outside. It's a free country." He looked at Sebastian. "A country in which I am free to call the police and get a restraining order."
Sebastian scowled at the knowledge that Blaine was on his way and was planning some elaborate display. He felt Kurt tense beside him and placed a hand on his friend's shoulder.
"He may have a couple of cronies with him, Kurt, but you've got all of us!" He indicated at everyone around the apartment.
"What's going on?" Terry asked, walking over to them.
"Anderson is on his way with the notion of singing to Kurt."
"He's got another thing coming to him then doesn't he?" Terry said cracking his knuckles. "Don't worry kid, we'll get rid of him."
Kurt nodded. It had all been too easy anyway. Putting Blaine's stuff outside without confrontation...of course that had been too good to be true.
"Thank you for warning me, Sam," Kurt said. "Do you want to come in? We're about to have a little party."
Sam looked at Terry a little apprehensive, but came in anyway. Kurt suspected he wanted to prove that he was on Kurt's side now.
Kurt walked over to the window facing the street. If Blaine arrived, they'd know soon enough.
Despite everyone who was there for him, Kurt suddenly felt...alone. A small voice inside of him whispered: What if they take his side?
It had happened before, with people he had thought were his friends. But that was school, he told himself sternly. This was real life, and his new friends were all adults. Surely they wouldn't...?
Kurt pushed that thought down. Sebastian wouldn't do that to him. He was just going to have to trust in him. But what if Blaine actually swayedhim? That had happened before too.
Kurt noticed Sebastian had followed him.
"I don't want this," he confessed quietly. "Please don't leave me alone with him."
Sebastian placed his hands on Kurt's shoulders and stood behind him, both of them looking out of the window.
Sebastian really couldn't believe the nerve of Blaine, trying to ambush Kurt like this and thinking that by using his friends as well that they'd be able to manipulate him into giving in and going back to Blaine.
He slid his hands down Kurt's arms and around his frame, wishing it was enough to protect him from what was about to happen.
"I promise, Kurt," he whispered, holding Kurt close. "As long as I'm around, you'll never have to be alone with him again."
"When he starts, and you notice I'm being...blainewashed..." Kurt said, clasping his hands over Sebastian's, holding him in the embrace. "...just...I don't know. Punch me in the face or something." He chuckled mirthlessly. "I really don't want to take him back. But I remember saying that several times in the past and yet...it always happened somehow. It's like when it comes to him, I don't trust myself."
Sebastian squeezed Kurt's hands reassuringly. "I promise I will not let you be sucked back into the Blaine vortex...though I hope it won't come to physical violence." He chuckled.
"Those were the last of the boxes," Nick said, coming up to the window. He looked at the two of them for a moment, the way they were intertwined, and offered Sebastian a smile. "Is there something else you want us to do, Kurt?"
Kurt straightened his back, raised his chin, and let go of Sebastian's hands.
"Yes. Let's get this party started."
He wasn't going to wait for Blaine to arrive. He had planned to have fun with his friends, and nothing was going to stop him.
"Think we can do that!" Sebastian said with a grin.
It didn't take long for the party to get going. The music was cranked up, alcohol was flowing and someone was ordering pizza. Sebastian could tell that Kurt was trying to play the perfect host but his anxiety was getting the better of him.
Sebastian stuck close to Kurt as much as he could and kept him in sight at all times.
The party had been going strong for just over an hour when Sebastian saw Kurt freeze and stare at his phone that was ringing and a very familiar face was displayed on the screen. He instinctively grabbed Kurt's hand for support and squeezed it.
Kurt motioned for someone to turn the music down. He squeezed Sebastian's hand and took the call.
"Hey. Yeah, I'm having a party." Kurt looked at his friends, and a few of them whooped and clinked their beer bottles together. Kurt smiled. He knew they were providing the background noise on purpose.
"No , that's because I had the locks changed." Several of his friends cheered and applauded. "Your stuff's in the alley."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "No, you can't come up. You can say whatever you have to say from down there."
He hung up. "Okay," he announced. "It's showtime."
"Then let's give him a show!" Danny said, and pulled his t-shirt over his head. Nick cheered and followed suit.
Kurt laughed. "Let's not over-do it, guys. He already thinks the worst of me anyway." He gave them a stern look. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but - no one else undresses until I say so."
Two of the windows faced the street, and one of them lead to the fire escape. Kurt looked out and saw Blaine standing down in the street. Together with... Tina, Rachel and Artie? Kurt squinted. The girls were wearing high-heeled dancing shoes and sequin corsets. What were they planning?
"I'm not going out there on the fire escape," Kurt mumbled. "I'm not Julia Roberts." Instead, he took a place at the opened window and crossed his arms. Sebastian joined him, as did Sam. The others squeezed in front of the other window, and a few actually did get out onto the fire escape. No one wanted to miss it.
Sebastian stood next to Kurt and took his hand. Sam hovered awkwardly behind them.
Down on the street Blaine was fuming. How dare Kurt throw his stuff out! Didn't he realise he was just going to have to put it all back again? Blaine certainly wasn't going to do it. Kurt could do it by himself as penance.
"Get in formation!" Blaine snapped at the girls. "Make me look good!"
They were all wearing head pieces that Blaine had borrowed from the state crew at NYADA. It had taken a couple of blow jobs and the promise of a threesome with him and Kurt (which was the least Kurt could do for him after putting him through this and making him sing in the rain.)
Artie pressed the on button for the speaker they'd bought and Blaine counted them in.
"First there is desire...Then...Passion! Then...Suspense! " Rachel said theatrically.
"Jealousy. " Artie added.
"Anger! " Tina hissed.
"Betrayal!" Blaine shouted
"Where love is for the highest bidder, there can be no trust! " Tina said, moving her arms around dramatically.
"Without trust, there is no love..." Rachel said, looking pained.
"Jealousy...Yes, Jealousy...Will drive you..." The was a dramatic pause.
"MAD! " The four of the screamed into the night. Blaine counted two beats in his head before the music cut in and Artie opened his lungs.
"ROXANNE."
"I can't believe this," Kurt whispered, horrified. This might even be worse than Come What May.
"I told him not to take this song," Sam said. "But he insisted it was the right choice. He's told— I'm sorry, Kurt. He told everyone this elaborate story about how you work with Brody now and that your - that your employer broke his nose when he tried to take you home. I tried telling them that not a word of that is true but Blaine convinced them I am on your side because...you know. My previous job." He took a deep breath. "Rachel's obsessed with giving you a, as she calls it, redemption story line."
Kurt swallowed thickly. "It's not your fault, Sam." With morbid fascination, he kept his eyes on Blaine. He knew what was coming, and yet dreaded it.
"His eyes upon your face-
His hand upon your hand-
His lips caress your skin-
It's moooore than I can stand!"
Blaine was yelling at the top of his lungs, pushing his voice way past his natural range.
"His singing is more than I can stand," Nick said loudly. Tim snickered.
Sebastian stood staring down at the group in the alley in complete shock. He didn't know what to say or do. He could hear Kurt and Sam talking but didn't register the words completely.
"How the fuck did he think this would work?" Sebastian blurted out without thinking. "Not only is the singing awful, but he's basically insulting you at the same time."
Down in the street the group of four were still signing.
"You're free to leave me... "
Yeah right, Sebastian thought, That's the whole reason we're all here, you jackass. Because you're not letting Kurt be free to leave you.
"But just don't deceive me. Please believe me when I say I looo- "
"I think we've all had enough," Georgio said, walking through the apartment carrying a bucket of water and ice. "Time to cool this dickhead off." He tipped the contents of the bucket out the window and over the wailing foursome below.
The singing broke off abruptly. Blaine had caught a mouthful of water and started coughing. Rachel was screaming and fishing ice cubes from her corset. Tina had jumped onto Artie's wheelchair in fright, and he was trying to push her off. It was so absurd, that Kurt couldn't help himself. He started laughing. And once he had started, he couldn't stop. The others were laughing as well, yelling at Blaine to leave.
Someone turned the music inside the apartment back on, and the guys on the fire escape started dancing, giving their best Lady Gaga impressions.
Blaine stared up, only now realizing just how many people had witnessed his humiliation. "You'll regret this, Kurt!" he called up angrily. His eyes nearly popped out of his skull as Danny - still very much shirtless- brought Kurt a drink. Kurt kissed Danny's cheek, and raised the glass in a salute to his ex before downing it in one go. Then he put his arm around Sebastian's middle. He didn't care what Blaine would tell the others about it all. It couldn't get much worse- and if his so-called friends believed those lies, he didn't need them as friends anymore.
"Let's close the windows before the neighbours call the cops on us," he said, and Danny whistled, calling the fire escape dancers back in.
Kurt looked at Sebastian. "I think it's really over now," he said. "I no longer have any doubts that I did the right thing." He had felt nothing but anger and second-hand embarrassment at the display. Whatever hold Blaine once had over him, it was broken.
Sebastian grinned at Kurt and hugged him tight. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that!" he said pulling away slightly. "Now it's time to celebrate!" He led Kurt over to the kitchen and grabbed the bottles of tequila and rum.
"Pick your poison, Hummel."
Sebastian felt so light and happy. He could see the weight that had been lifted from Kurt's shoulders. His friend was smiling, a genuine, happy smile, and it made Sebastian want to kiss him...But he didn't. He didn't wanna push it. He knew Kurt only saw him as a friend and he had accepted that, for now.
"I'll just have a tea," Kurt said, and grinned. "From Long Island."
He stretched his back. When this party was over, he could really use a massage. Maybe, if he played his cards right, he'd find a volunteer. He glanced at Nick and Tim, remembering their heated dancing in the club. Of course it was too early to rush into something new (wasn't it?), but hewas single now, and he made the rules.
"Okay, who's up for karaoke?" he asked loudly, and more than enough people for a good game yelled and held up their hands, so Kurt went to set it up.
By the window, Georgio stood talking to Sam. As Kurt passed them, he overheard Georgio promise Sam that whatever lies Blaine had spread, he and his friends would make sure no one at NYADA would believe them. Kurt already felt guilty for feeling jealous about his dance with Sebastian. Georgio was a decent friend, and Kurt knew Sebastian could do a lot worse.
Sebastian chuckled and nodded, whipping up Kurt's chosen drink.
He felt a gentle tap on his shoulder. He turned round to see Nick told there with a smile on his face, holding out a tumbler of whiskey to him.
"You like him," Nick said with a smile. It was a statement, not a question.
"N-no, I d-don't...he's my best friend, I care about him sure b-but..." Sebastian stammered, feeling caught.
Nick grinned. "Right. Well, in that case," he added airily, "I'm sure you won't mind if Tim and I make a move? Because why settle for one guy when you can have two? And he really is damn fine, don't you think? The way he moves his body...I mean, you've seen him dance in the club, but I've seen him in Ms July's ballet class, he's flexible as hell, it really makes a guy wonder how far-" He stopped, and chuckled.
Sebastian had turned pale, his hand hovering above the drink he'd been mixing.
"Yeah, you like him," Nick stated again, clapping Sebastian on the shoulder. "And I'll tell you something else, too. I think it's mutual."
Sebastian took the whiskey and downed it in one go.
"You think so?" he asked hopefully.
"I do," Nick said smiling. "He gravitated towards you tonight when Anderson showed up and I noticed it in the club the other day when we were dancing with him...if you jumped, I think he'd catch you." Nick chinked his glass against Sebastian's and walked away.
Sebastian looked across the room at Kurt setting up the karaoke machine and sipped his drink. A plan formed in his head.
"Okay, alright, here we go," Kurt said into the karaoke microphone, motioning for everyone to be quiet. "The rules of the game are simple- the one with the most points wins. The machine counts the points, but, here's the catch: distraction of your opponent is allowed."
Kurt waggled his eyebrows.
"So if you wanna..." His hand went to his shirt and he lifted it briefly, flashing some of his six pack, "...heat things up-" Several of his friends cheered, "...or fight dirty..." He pretended dropping the mike by accident, only to catch it right before it hit the floor by bending over and rising very slowly, arching his back, "...go ahead."
He spun the microphone around his wrist like one of his bottles, looking at them all in turn, waiting for someone to take the challenge. Two of his friends, one from Vogue, one from NYADA, eagerly accepted. Kurt handed over the mike; picked up his glass, and walked over to Sebastian.
"So what are you drinking?" he asked conversationally, lifting Sebastian's hand with the glass in it, and smelling it. "Oh my," Kurt commented, his smile fading a little. "Everything alright?"
Sebastian, who was starting to feel the effects of the whiskey, grinned at Kurt as he approached.
"I am terrific!" he said sipping his drink. "You can blame Nick for the whiskey..." he said waving his hand in the direction of his new friend. "Your drink is ready!"
He handed it to him.
"I'm so proud of you Kurt! Standing up to Blaine like that! You're so amazing."
Kurt shook his head and looked at Sebastian fondly. "Thanks. Though it was Georgio who actually threw the ice bucket. I wish that had been me." He looked over at his friends having fun. "In later versions, when we tell people about this, I threw the bucket, ok?" He chinked his glass against Sebastian's.
Sebastian chuckled. "You may not have thrown the ice but you kicked him out and stood up for yourself! But yes...I will tell people whatever version you want them to hear."
Kurt nodded gratefully, then noticed something that made him do a double take. "Uh. Bas...I hope you didn't have high hopes for another dance, because... Georgio seems taken."
The hero of the hour was still by the window...kissing Sam.
Kurt cocked his head as he watched them. "I knew my gaydar wasn't off," he mumbled. "Not completely, anyway."
Sebastian looked over at the window and smiled. "Good for them...I always got a hit from Sam too...and my gaydar is off the charts...guess he just wasn't into Anderson." He looked down at Kurt. "Georgio was good for a dance and he's a great guy...but not really someone I see something long term with."
"Good." Kurt let it slip without thinking about it. He was still watching Sam (even though his crush was long since over, there was still something very fascinating about his lips...). When he realised what he'd said, he pedalled back.
"I mean, it's good, if you...don't think it would work, and don't... It's good to follow your instincts. I mean, not everything has to have meaning and I'm not saying you can't have a one night stand, but, just... I'm going to shut up now." Kurt felt his cheeks burning.
God, how was it that he could be confident and sexy around the other guys, but as soon as it was Sebastian, he just turned into a rambling school boy?
Sebastian listened to Kurt's ramblings and, after Nicholas's pep talk, felt a little ray of hope shine through.
The two people currently singing finished their song and Sebastian made up his mind. He downed the last of his drink and made for the microphones. He found the song he wanted and pressed play. His heart rose in his throat as the opening music started.
"Kurt Hummel," he said into the microphone. "I challenge you to a sing-off." He stared Kurt directly into his eyes as he started to sing.
"I've been meaning to tell you, I've got this feeling that won't subside..." He raised his eyebrows at Kurt in a challenge. "I look at you and I fantasise, you're mine tonight. Now I've, got you in my sights..."
A microphone found its way into Kurt's hand and without thinking about it, Kurt raised it to his lips. "...with these hungry eyes...one look at you and I can't disguise I've got...hungry eyes..."
Their friends made way for him and he moved towards Sebastian. Neither of them needed the screen for the lyrics, and they were just looking at each other now. Kurt had been serenaded often enough to know this wasn't some random song. The way Sebastian was looking at him made him shiver. Was this really happening?
"I feel the magic between you and I!"
They finished the chorus and Sebastian gestured to Kurt for the next verse but he shook his head so Sebastian carried on singing.
"I wanna hold you so hear me out..." He held his hand out to Kurt, pleading with his eyes. " I wanna show you what love's all about, darling tonight..."
"Now I've got you in my sights... " Kurt took Sebastian's hand and sang with him to the bridge. He couldn't take his eyes off him. Kurt could see he really meant it. This was not one of their bar shows anymore. And the answer was simple. Yes. Yes, he wanted Sebastian to show him everything he knew about love...God yes, Kurt wanted to be his tonight.
Was it too soon? Probably. Did Kurt care? Not a single bit. His eyes were just as hungry as Sebastian's, and if he wasn't going to hide it anymore, neither was Kurt.
The room had gone quiet. Everyone was watching them sing now, as the chorus repeated over and over again.
Sebastian's whole body felt like it was on fire. To him, there was no one in the room but Kurt. He stepped towards him, dropped Kurt's hand and slid his arm around him, pulling him close.
"I need you to see...this love was meant to be," he sang directly at Kurt and stared down at him as the instrumental part of the song rang out through the speakers.
Kurt let the microphone slip from his hand, and stopped waiting for things to happen to him. He reached for Sebastian's face, and upon seeing nothing but wonder and love in his eyes, kissed his mouth.
Cheers went up around them. Kurt chuckled at that without moving away, breathing out on a laugh against Sebastian's lips before moving in again for another kiss. His hands wound into Sebastian's hair. The music would probably end soon, but he counted on his friends to play something low-key in the background. He wasn't about to stop what he was doing, not for as long as Sebastian wanted him.
Sebastian's heart almost exploded as Kurt kissed him. He dropped his microphone and wrapped both arms around Kurt, sliding his hands up Kurt's back to pull him closer.
Everything was Kurt and he never wanted this moment to end.
Kurt knew they had to break apart eventually, but at least another song passed before they did. Kurt wasn't sure if someone had sung; maybe they had.
When they finally broke the kiss, Kurt's friends had started cleaning up his place. Shirts were back on, empty bottles, glasses and pizza boxes were being collected. The general consensus seemed to be that the party was winding down. Kurt knew he should probably feel guilty; maybe tell his guests to stay...but it had been a long, emotionally exhausting day, and what he really wanted was what he'd had every night this week: the sole company of his best friend. Well, and maybe a bit more than just his company, too.
"So..." he whispered, still holding Sebastian close, "...is this the whiskey, or...?"
Sebastian kept his hands firmly around Kurt as they broke the kiss, scared that if he let go he'd float away, or that Kurt would disappear. He pressed their foreheads together and looked into Kurt's eyes. "The whiskey may have give me the courage to do something about it...but I've wanted this for so long," he whispered. "Since that first night in the bar...but I didn't wanna push and I wasn't sure if you felt the same...so I waited...but I've wanted this...you since that first moment."
Kurt was blown away. He thought about all the times he'd spent pouring his heart out to Sebastian, telling him about Blaine, that Bas never used in his own favour; all the times they'd been dancing and Sebastian had held him and given him what he needed without pushing him into something he wasn't ready for; and the nights after his break-up when he played Kurt's wingman and encouraged him to go for whomever he wanted, even if it meant that wasn't him.
...and then there was Blaine, who, time and again, used moments in which Kurt was emotionally vulnerable to further his own agenda. The contrast couldn't be greater. Sebastian was already a better boyfriend without actually being his boyfriend, than Blaine had ever been.
"Thank you," Kurt said simply, "for waiting until I was ready."
Sebastian smiled and ran his hands up and down Kurt's back.
"Are you ready?" he asked quietly, the smile slipping from his face. He didn't want to lose the moment, but he had to be sure. "You've been through a lot and today has been emotionally exhausting for everyone...I want everything with you Kurt. I want to give you everything...but only if you're sure."
Kurt didn't need to check if he was sure. He'd lived with Sebastian, worked with him; he already knew what he was like at 4 am, drunk, disappointed, excited - they'd already been through so much.
Seeing Blaine again tonight had given him the last reassurance. There'd be no more "what if" scenarios down that road.
"I am," he replied.
Sebastian closed his eyes and felt his shoulders relax. A grin broke out across his face.
He closed the gap and kissed Kurt again, unable to keep the smile off his face.
There was a gentle cough next to them and Sebastian broke away guiltily. He looked up and saw Nick grinning at them, an 'I told you so' look on his face.
"We err, we're all gonna head out. Danny, Terry and Marc had to get to work and the rest of us are gonna bow out and give you some privacy." He winked. "Great party, you guys!"
"Yeah," Kurt agreed sheepishly, his hand lingering in Sebastian's. "Thanks for all your help." He hesitated. "I hope, uh...you and Tim still want to come by the club sometimes."
Nick grinned. "Of course. You might get bored with just one boyfriend after all..." he joked, giving them a big wink.
Kurt laughed. "You'll be the first to know," he promised, but added, "though I think I'm good here." He squeezed Sebastian's hand.
There wasn't much left to clean up, and it didn't take long until their last guests were gone.
Kurt looked at Sebastian. "So...do you want to stay the night?"
Sebastian lifted Kurt's hand up to his mouth and kissed it softly, suddenly feeling nervous.
"I do, but if you're not ready I don't have to...and even if I do...I want you to know...I'm not expecting anything...we don't have to rush..."
Kurt smiled. He'd never seen Sebastian this shy. It was kind of endearing.
"I think we'll be good if we both promise to speak up when there's something we don't want to do." Of course, he felt a little giddy as well. He didn't exactly have much experience. But he already knew Sebastian was a good and patient teacher...
To lighten the mood, he added: "For example, I'm not into anything involving cronuts."
Sebastian chuckled and a large grin spread across his face. "Cronuts are gross!"
A/N2: ...WAY too much happened in this chapter all at once, and in the end, we decided to give them a more realistic love story, even if it meant drawing it out over at least 30 more chapters (oops). But no duets, no spontaneous Glee-esk surprises or 'serenade-epiphanies'. We hope the final draft was the better for it :)