Just a warning for violence in this chapter

Chapter 5- A Struggle

Tuesday: 4:10PM

Sebastian bit his lip and impatiently held the phone up to his ear. "Kurt, call me back right now."

Hanging up, the man paced the room, staring at the obnoxiously ticking clock on the wall.

It was 4:10.

Kurt should have been home at 4:00.

"Where are you, Kurt?" Sebastian muttered, staring out of the window wistfully.

Tuesday: 8:30AM

"Okay, so I have combat training class in an hour and then I'm busy all day with voice and movement. Cassie's going to slaughter me if I don't get her techniques correct by today. I haven't been working at them as much as I should."

Sebastian pouted.

"No, that's not…it's not your fault. I haven't been welcoming to her criticisms. I used to think myself a good dancer, but she's stripped down my confidence and will only build it back up again when she thinks I'm ready to earn it."

Sebastian rolled his eyes. "Well, someone sounds like a self-righteous bitch."

"She can be, but she's one of the best. Cassandra July had produced more Broadway dancers in the last few years than any other NYADA professor. But thank you for the support, Bas."

Sebastian smiled, pressing his lips to Kurt's cheek. "Are you sure you have to go? We could…spend the day watching movie-musicals…"

Kurt groaned at the thought of leaving that behind but he knew that he couldn't afford to miss any more of his classes lest he face expulsion. And he had worked inexplicably hard to get into NYADA. He was not going to mess this up. "My tuition has been cleared, thanks to a very generous and handsome benefactor. I don't want to waste such a vast amount of money if I'm not going to attend my classes. They could kick me out and still keep the money you've paid. Have I mentioned that this is not a fair trade at all? You paying my tuition and me just…living in this beautifully decorated house with amazing food and even better company?"

Sebastian pulled Kurt closer to him. "Your company is worth more than college tuition. Which is why I got you something, a little thank you gift for being you." Sebastian quickly opened his bedside table's bottom drawer and pulled out a square box.

Kurt shook his head. "Nope, absolutely not, no outrageously expensive gifts that I don't deserve."

"How about one that you do deserve?" Sebastian smirked. "Just open the box."

Kurt cautiously pulled the lid upwards and saw a beautiful, shimmering gold watch resting in it. It definitely looked very expensive indeed. Instead of pulling it out, Kurt found a note, written in Sebastian's lovely, elegant script.

Kurt,

I realised that, even though we're living together and kissing each other, we never declared ourselves. I want you to be my boyfriend, officially, and I dearly hope you say yes.

Sebastian,

P.S.: Don't think of the watch as an incentive ;)

Kurt looked up, Sebastian's deep blue eyes peering back at him.

"So…?"

"Of course I'll be your boyfriend. You may be excessively rich and snarkier than any living human in the explored universe, but you're also sweet and considerate and beautiful." Kurt set the watch down and roped his arms around Sebastian's neck, kissing him lovingly.

Sebastian's back hit the bed, feeling Kurt stretch across him. He reluctantly tore his lips from the sweetness of Kurt's and sighed. "Kurt? Don't you have class?"

"Why do you want to get rid of me right now?"

Sebastian chuckled. "I sorely want you to stay, but I don't want to be the cause of your death if your dance teacher notices your lateness. We'll have plenty of time to do something. How about I pick you up from school and we'll go for some dinner. I know just the place to take you on our first official date. I'll bring you a change of clothes so you can freshen up in the car."

Kurt kissed him once more. "Of course, that sounds wonderful, Bas. Thank you! Okay, I really have to hurry but I'll see you later, okay? Bye!" Kurt dashed out of the house as one of Sebastian's designated drivers took Kurt to NYADA.

Sebastian sat, his face overtaken by a wide smile that had everything to do with his new, amazing boyfriend.

Tuesday, 3:30PM

Sebastian looked down as his phone buzzed with a text from Kurt.

Hey, can we take a rain check on dinner? Think I ate something bad. I'll be home at 4, I promise. Sorry, I'll make it up to you! x

Sebastian smiled understandingly and quickly penned a reply. No problem, the car will be there at 3:30 waiting for you and I'll be here to take care of you when you get home x

Sebastian stared at Kurt's text, not bitterly, but in bemusement. Something was wrong. Kurt rarely ever typed in short, staccato sentences. He loved when sentences flowed, even in jovial messaging with his boyfriend.

Something wasn't right, Sebastian just didn't know that was.

He entered the foyer and saw his father lingering by the door to the living room. "Everything okay, Dad?"

Richard looked up sharply, eyes full of concern. "I wish I could say yes."

"What's happened? Are you okay?"

He sighed. "Juan caught wind of a move on their part. He's not sure what it is, but he knows that it's soon. You can't leave the house, Seb. Not for anything. This is dangerous and until we can gauge their plan, you need to stay safe."

The colour drained from Sebastian's face as he realised what had happened.

"Dad. Kurt left for classes this morning. Is he safe?"

Tuesday: 3:25PM

Kurt stared out of the tinted windows at the people happily living their lives, wondering how he was currently sat in a limo that was simply sent to take him home.

The more he thought about it, the more he considered Smythe Manor home. It wasn't just the place he lived, it was the place where he life was now. Sebastian was there and, despite the familial politics surrounding the whole environment, he felt safe. He felt wanted there and Sebastian made him feel like he deserved everything he was getting. No student loans and a promising future thanks to NYADA. Well, he hoped that was the case. He could see himself making a life with Sebastian and that scared him. It hadn't been long at all and he was already starting to make himself think and dream about the future, which he hadn't done in a while. He had never felt like he had stability. His youth was filled with his ideal future being dashed, thanks to the sudden death of his mother. His adolescence was filled with loneliness and bleak hopes, thanks to the bullying and then Blaine. But now Kurt had something he could depend on, something that was to be trusted. Sebastian.

The car made a sharp left turn and Kurt frowned. He hadn't made the journey much, but even he knew that that was the wrong way. His eyes flickered to the man sitting two seats down from him and then to the partition separating them from the driver.

"Hey, I think you made a wrong turn."

But the car kept moving on its course, ignoring Kurt's protestations.

Anxiety swelled up within him and he pulled out his phone.

The man next to him quickly moved and swatted it out of his hand. "Don't make this harder for yourself."

Kurt blinked, breath coming raggedly. "What's going on?"

The car came to an abrupt halt, throwing Kurt forward sharply. He tried the door hurriedly, but it was locked. Despite his logical reasoning, he kept trying. He always laughed at those people in movies who continuously tried to force locked doors open, but this was happening and he was desperate. He needed to get away from them, but he was no fighter. He hadn't been able to fend off Blaine way back when and all his stage combat classes hadn't quite taught him how to deal with a real attacker…or group, or whatever the hell this was.

The man grabbed him roughly and shoved a bag over his head, obscuring everything. He could barely breathe, he couldn't see or speak. It was tightened around his neck as he was manhandled out of the car. He felt the air on his body, which was restrained by the man holding him. He heard the car doors slam shut and voices mumbling in the distance. Panic swept over Kurt and caused him to writhe in the grasp of his captor, needing a way out of this. He didn't have his phone but he presumed that he was due back at Smythe Manor soon. Sebastian would be worried about him. Sebastian would save him.

Wouldn't he?

Kurt was thrown to the ground harshly, only just finding the time to push his hands in front of him to block his fall. He scrambled to his feet, only to be gripped and shoved. Kurt felt a rope tighten around his hands, restricting his motion.

A foot hit the back of his knees and he dropped to the ground, having the sense not to try and stand up again. He couldn't breathe or see, so he didn't understand what damage they thought he was going to do to them. He wasn't exactly Matt Murdock.

"Kurt Hummel," a soft voice spoke to him. He didn't recognise it, it could have been anyone. In the back of his mind, though, he knew exactly who it was.

Kurt didn't try to speak, knowing that he wouldn't be heard properly.

"The Smythe family pet. Take off the bag, I want to see his face."

Someone did as they were told and Kurt's eyes flooded with light and he squinted. The man who spoke, the boss, came into focus and Kurt tried to concentrate on his breathing. He had no reason to recognise the man, only by name. Lentari.

"Why am I here?"

"Such a pretty face. No wonder the kid keeps you around. But you walked into the wrong family, kid. This isn't personal."

"It sure feels personal," Kurt spat before he could stop himself.

"Where's the phone?" Lentari snapped as one of the others tossed it to him. "Good. Time to do your part, Hummel."

Lentari dialled a number and pressed the phone to his ear, lips curving into a wicked smirk.

Smythe Manor

Sebastian grasped the phone quickly. "Hello? Kurt?"

A short breath came through the speaker before a loud scream overwhelmed him. "SEBASTIAN. Please help me!"

Sebastian felt tears spring to his eyes and he shook his head. "Kurt!"

"Kurt's a little pre-occupied at the moment, Sebastian."

Sebastian's lip quivered as rage flooded through his veins, filling his body with heat. "Don't fucking touch him, Lentari!"

"This is retaliation, Smythe! Your father thinks that he can get away with hurting what's mine, I'm going to do the same to him."

"Wait, what are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb, Sebastian. Your father is the reason I had to bury my daughter before her life had even properly started. Twelve years old is no age to die!"

"My dad killed Lucy?"

"Oh, so you didn't know. Well, that's not important. An eye for an eye, you know. No hard feelings."

"Wait! Please, I'll do anything, just stop hurting Kurt! What can I do?"

"One hundred and fifty grand, Smythe. Wired into my account in the next seven minutes or your little boyfriend dies."

Lentari hung up, leaving Sebastian with one thing left to do. He couldn't let anything happen to Kurt. He couldn't live with himself if he did.

Tuesday: 4:10PM

Sebastian stared at his broken boyfriend on the floor, cuts and scrapes peppered all over his face and arms. The car drove off, tyres screeching harshly as Lentari left without so much as a parting shot. Sebastian didn't care because Kurt was safe. "You're okay. Let's get you inside, okay?"

Kurt tugged on Sebastian's hands, shaking his head. "I can't do this, Bas."

"Are you having trouble walking? I'll go and get Rex, just wait there."

"No, Bas, it's not that. I can't keep living like this. Either in fear of being kidnapped or it actually happening and you having to break the bank just to keep me alive. It's not what I ever pictured."

Sebastian knew exactly what he was saying, but he couldn't accept the words that were entering his brain. "Do you want to leave?"

Kurt took a moment, wincing as he reflexively licked his lips. "No. No, I don't. But I think I need to. You said I was going to be safe here. I started to feel like I had a place where I didn't have to live in a constant state of fear."

The words hit Sebastian like a punch to the gut. He knew that he had fucked up, badly, and that he didn't have a leg to stand on here. "I know I failed you, Kurt. Believe me, nothing hurts me more than knowing that I'm the reason that you're hurting. I can't just not have you in my life."

Kurt sighed, letting the tears drip down his face. "Please don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Please. I don't want to be without you, but if it's going to keep me safe, then it's what I need."

"I understand," Sebastian spoke tightly. "As long as you're happy."

Kurt's hand reached up to Sebastian's face, caressing it gently. "I can't thank you enough for everything. I'm just sorry this happened."

"I'm sorry. Do you—do you need a ride home?"

"I'll call Adam. Thank you, though."

Sebastian bit his lip. "Kurt, I know that this isn't going to happen, but if you need anything I'm always here for you. You know that, right?"

"Yeah, Bas. I know. I'll see you."

And Sebastian just watched him walk away, powerless to the situation. He couldn't ask Kurt to return, he had no right to do that. He also had no idea how he was supposed to withstand the heavy load of missing him.

One day at a time, he figured.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! And no, this isn't the end for Kurt and Sebastian, just to put your minds at ease.