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Chapter 10

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AN: How weird would it have been if they cast Grant Gustin as Blaine Anderson and Darren Criss as Sebastian Smythe? It was just a weird thought that popped into my head watching some videos the other day. The wonders of casting. It could have gone very well though. ;D

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The first week Kurt stayed at Dalton was mainly uneventful. That first night, Kurt had slipped into the bathroom and downed a sleeping pill and looked at himself in the mirror. Begging for things to go ok, for him not to make an utter fool of himself. He was uneasy and he finished dressing and getting ready for bed in the privacy of the bathroom.

He'd never slept over with boys before. He didn't count Finn or Puck in that. They were Finn and Puck and even then, until recently, they'd never slept in the same bed. Puck and Finn had couched him in his bed for pretty much every night for the first month and then slowly started giving him more space. They ignored the fact that Kurt had wrapped himself in his own arms and tight, even as their arms surrounded him too.

Both the boys had to go to class or he was sure Puck would have kept his arm around Kurt's shoulders the entire time. Finn was a bit better about giving him space but totally blind to Kurt's reactions when he did hug Kurt at first.

He had gotten better, they'd given him space and Kurt told himself firmly that he could do this. This was nothing, they were three boys that he liked and respected and what's more, they liked and respected him. And somehow, he thought for sure it was David's doing, they were all absent from the room while Kurt got ready. Not a single one of them walked into the room while he was in the bathroom, not even to grab something and go.

Kurt breathed a little easier though he knew he'd be out to the world shortly. They could do anything to him and he'd barely register any of it, if he did that much. It would be a lot of effort to wake him up, not that they'd try. His trust had been squashed but it had been by boys who had never liked him, had never really had it to begin with. He wouldn't start out distrusting these boys too.

With a deep breath in that he let out slowly, he started counting backward from 100. He repeated the breaths as he focused on the numbers, more than just counting and rattling them off in his head, he imagined seeing them in front of him, ticking down.

He only remembered getting to 83.

–

David held up a finger when Sebastian was about to speak. Blaine got up to his feet. "No." David said sternly and Blaine sat back down. They both looked at each other and David shook his head at intercepting and interpreting their look. "No."

"But David!" Blaine whined.

"It's his first night here. We've been crowding him all day anyway. You're not going back to the room on your own. Neither of you are." He speared Sebastian with that look who only held up his hands in peace, having now settled into his seat and actually trying to get some studying done.

"David-." Blaine tried again but Sebastian added to the look David was giving him.

"Sit down, Blaine, you've heard the man." Sebastian gave his support and David chuckled. None of them could really remember their first nights in a strange room with strange boys. They'd all been here long enough that it was difficult to sympathize. They'd been surrounded by boys all the time, barely having a moment to themselves throughout their entire lives. That wasn't to say though that there weren't boys in Dalton who hadn't been new to these halls before, just that these three hadn't experienced that.

David's watch beeped and Blaine bolted up to his feet while Sebastian got to his slower. Blaine shoved his books into his bag while David carefully put his away, his next class on top in descending order. Sebastian only bothered with making sure they all fit neatly in, not caring which book was where.

Blaine bounced on his toes, waiting for them, not patient in the least. "He's probably asleep." David reminded Blaine dryly. "You're not to wake him."

"Yeah, yeah, ok." Blaine waved it off.

"Don't be a creep." Sebastian made a face at Blaine's excitement.

"Oh please, you know you can't wait to see him in his bed too."

"What did I say about sounding like a creep?"

"Nothing, you told me not to be a creep, nothing about sounding like one."

"Don't do that either." Sebastian argued back. "If he isn't asleep, you're only going to wig him out."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." Blaine waved off far too exaggerated to be believed as really understanding to what Sebastian and David were getting at. "Hurry up."

"Yeah, 'cause the three of us entering the room at the same time isn't going to be weird or anything either." David muttered under his breath.

"Hey, this was your condition." Sebastian pointed out. "We're just listening to your commands, oh great one in charge."

"Now, that was just assigned to me by his father, I wasn't the one who asked for it." David was grinning though. "But you know, he saw what was naturally there in front of him, my ability to lead and be reasonable."

Sebastian chuckled. "Keep telling yourself that, David." Sebastian turned to Blaine. "And you, stop getting your panties in a bunch!"

Finally, their books were all put away and ready to leave the room. "Well, go on." David released Blaine who sprinted from the study hall toward their dorm room. He vibrated with energy and expectation just outside the door, practically wavering on his feet wanting to go in but holding back until they got there.

David lifted a brow as they strolled down the hall, and looked to Sebastian. "Why aren't you acting like that?"

"I like to save my energy for when it's appreciated." Sebastian answered. "At this time at night while he's in a new place, not going to appreciate it."

"Well-spoken." David agreed. "Blaine's going to scare him with all that energy."

"He's just happy Kurt's here, under the same roof with us. I would be lying if I also didn't feel that way." David felt that way too but not to the extent of the other two. "He's going to be fine, give him some credit."

"Really?" David arched that brow higher as they watched him continue to shift from one foot to the other. "You think he's going to be able to control himself from launching himself at Kurt with far too much delight and energy?"

"Yeah, maybe, I don't know." Sebastian laughed, secretly hoping that if Blaine couldn't, then he could get in that mix trying to move Blaine back. Maybe Kurt would even cling to him in an effort to get away from Blaine's obnoxious puppy energy. Although there were a few things puppies got away with that nothing else could. There was something to be said about puppies.

It was all very anti-climatic as Kurt was sound asleep when they came in. They tried to be quiet but they had a hard time being completely so, but it didn't matter, Kurt didn't even flinch.

Sebastian, despite his warnings not to be a creep had the best view in the house. The moon's light shone through the windows behind him to cast onto Kurt's peacefully slumbering face. Sebastian smiled as he watched the deep even breaths go in and out, wishing he could be in that bed to feel it too. The smile remained on his face as he first felt his lids close and then felt the warmth of the sun on him.

Kurt was not in his bed when Sebastian woke, late for his first class. He didn't remember his dream, just the memory of being surrounded by the sea.

–

Blaine practically bounced on Kurt's bed when he noticed him awake. Thankfully David was awake and already up and dressed, intending to go to breakfast and meet up with Wes and get in a little bit of gossip. He liked Kurt, but not having to go out and wait for him in the early morning cold anymore was fantastic.

He caught Blaine by the arm before Blaine could launch himself at Kurt with the first signs of movement. "Honestly!" He hissed at his friend and roommate. "Do you not remember what we've learned about Kurt?"

Blaine faltered, tears pricking at his eyes and he looked away from everyone in the room. "Damn it, sorry, I keep forgetting. He's just... such a big personality, it's hard to imagine him as anything else."

David gave Blaine's arm a little shake. "He just needs a moment to get up. You can invite him to breakfast and then attach yourself at his hip then. In the meantime, just let him be able to breathe. None of us want to deal with the fall out if Kurt asks to be reassigned, right?"

"He couldn't!" Blaine was appalled at the notion and David really didn't want it for himself either.

"Just breathe. Don't you remember how Sebastian taught you to approach guys you wanted? Is this how you do it?" Blaine scowled but shook his head. "There you go, stop being over the top, you're going to freak him out by being too much too soon. Don't come on so hard."

"It's hard, because we're also friends and this is how I behave with my friends." Which was true enough, Blaine had started many of those dog-piles and piggy-back rides throughout the years.

"You have time, he's here for a long haul." The better part of two years, actually. "Maybe... maybe distract yourself with pursuing someone else in the meantime? It'll give Kurt some space. You know Sebastian does."

"You're right, you're right, of course." Blaine sighed.

Kurt stretched and rolled out of bed and after he stood up he froze, looking at the two boys who were watching him. They tried to look away in time but were caught. "Oh... uh... right." He rubbed at his arm, feeling the cool bamboo fabric under his fingers. Before he put it on his body he had made sure it wasn't some sort of polyester blend. He would have made his own pajamas that matched perfectly with better material but it was high quality. It all was, and it was sustainable.

There were different materials for different seasons and while the uniform itself didn't change into shorts or T-shirts, they did have a sweater and sweater vest you could opt for to improve warmth if needed. They had a linen blend for the jackets in the summer too.

They provided everything at the utmost quality and understood the male body and seasonal changes, right down to his undershirt and underwear. Everyone here was the same from bottom up when it came to clothing. It was up to the individual to find a way to stand out outside of that, within reason.

So far, Kurt thought he was doing too good of a job doing that. The boys constantly watching him were a pretty good indicator of that. He had forgotten for a moment where he was and it hadn't phased him, but it all crashed back in now.

"Want to get some breakfast?" Blaine asked him and Kurt smiled broadly at him in thanks for the save.

"That sounds wonderful, just let me get changed." He paused, wondering if that had been an invite and he turned his head to look at Blaine.

"I'm not going anywhere without you." Blaine teased, warm white smile answering Kurt's inquisitive look.

Kurt nodded, grabbed his uniform and scurried to get ready.

David glanced at Blaine. "Are you going to wake Sebastian up?"

"Nope, and neither are you." Blaine said firmly.

"He's going to be mad." David was grinning though, it was rare to pull one over on Sebastian.

Blaine just said. "Yeah, he is."

Kurt came out of the bathroom and the three of them headed to breakfast. David squeezed Kurt's elbow then headed for Wes and Thad. They had a morning briefing and they picked the smallest table. Blaine capitalized on it and guided Kurt with a hand on his back to another small table that was really only meant for two.

Blaine was mildly disappointed that Sebastian didn't walk in on the two of them eating on their own, just so he could rub it in. Mostly though it was preferable, since Kurt's attention wasn't pulled and he didn't have to contend with his best friend and roommate. He got to spend a lot of time really listening and talking with Kurt. Kurt didn't say much, he was working on just getting out full sentences at a normal rhythm and so didn't babble on. If he had minced words or skipped some, he might have said far more.

Blaine was a little sad that Kurt wasn't adorably sleepy or bedheaded or anything. He was very well put together for even this early of a morning and hadn't taken as much time as he'd have suspected. Maybe the night routines helped speed up what needed to be done in the morning. Also having everything highly regulated in what products were allowed, might have contributed. Kurt's hair was definitely without the height he'd gotten used to seeing. Had Kurt really used that much hairspray? It could be achieved in different ways, surely?

As for the sleepiness, that could probably be explained away by the fact that he'd actually probably have gotten more sleep. He didn't have to get up, get ready and drive forever away.

Blaine did flag down David who was looking around himself by the time they left the breakfast room. They chatted for a minute and David decided he'd be the one to go check on Sebastian when he didn't show up.

David tried to wake Sebastian but he was out to the world and gave up. He set an alarm, moved it close to Sebastian's ear and left to go to his first class, chuckling to himself, entertained by his own actions.

–

Sebastian woke with a start, startled from his dream and then promptly fell out of the bed. He groaned and glanced around but there were no roommates present. He groggily looked at where his alarm clock usually was but it was moved. He didn't normally fall out of bed but even so, the angle was wrong. He moved and reached out for it, intent on putting it back into place. He was surprised to see the time. He was going to be late if he didn't hussle. He threw his offending alarm clock back on the stand. He didn't usually have to set it, usually David's woke him up and if David's failed, then Blaine's.

He didn't remember setting his own. How'd that happen?

The thoughts and questions would have to wait as it once again reminded him that he was late. He hurried through his routine and sprinted to class, tying his tie as he went in. His blazer was off kilter and he was pretty sure his buttons were mismatched. At least the lower half looked ok.

"Mr. Smythe." The teacher greeted without criticism or punishment and Sebastian nodded and hurried to his seat. Nick sent him an amused look.

Nick told everyone at lunch time how Sebastian had been late. Kurt looked concerned and Blaine looked smug while David was just amused. "I just overslept is all." Sebastian waved them all off, intending, wanting, to do more (or less, depending on how you looked at it) but they were with Kurt and in eyeline of school officials.

"Pretty eventful night last night?" Thad asked knowingly.

"Maybe a bit too tame." Wes lifted a brow questioningly, having seen Sebastian head in with Blaine and David but not knowing if Sebastian left again.

"Just tired." Sebastian countered both of them, his positive temperament lessening as they asked him questions. Wes nodded, catching on but Thad leaned forward.

"Yeah, but why?" Thad wiggled his eyebrows. "What made you so tired Sebastian?"

Sebastian was going to cut into him for his suggestions with Kurt nearby but Kurt spoke first, to Sebastian, concern clear in his eyes and voice. "I didn't keep you awake, did I? I wasn't... talking in my sleep, was I?"

"Oh... no. Do you?" Sebastian's eyes scanned over Kurt's face, wondering if his talking was a little more revealing than the boy usually was apt to share intentionally? "Normally I mean?"

Blaine was looking his way too, as if the answer was the most important thing on the planet. Others were looking his way too, which caused Kurt to flush a little and look away and down toward his food. They all wondered if he would answer when he was silent for a long time.

"Not generally, no, but recently a lot more so, yes. Or at least that's what Finn's told me." He was still talking to his food, but they learned so much more about him with those sentences.

Sebastian and Blaine shared a look, so Kurt would talk about his boyfriend on occasion after-all. Hopes dashed further at that new knowledge. The boyfriend got to sleep with him at night too. Well, until last night that was. What a change the guy was probably going through.

Thad was the one who grinned a bit creepily. "Oh yeah? What do you say in your sleep? Or is more just moans? Maybe Finn's name again and again?"

Kurt's eyes became clouded in confusion for a moment and Sebastian smacked the back of Thad's head. "Shut up jackass." He hissed.

"I- I suppose I've called out to Finn in my sleep once or twice. I guess that's pretty natural." He frowned trying to understand the rest of Thad's words.

"Forget about it." Blaine waved off. "Thad's just an idiot." He smiled broadly then. "Besides, I have news!" Considering they'd all been around him this morning and this was the first they'd heard of it, they weren't really all that worried the news would be actually anything big.

"I've found the best song for our practice today!" Blaine effectively took the attention off of Kurt and onto himself. Sebastian was grateful for Blaine's natural ability to seek out the attention of others and typically achieving it. He saw Kurt relax and try to listen to what Blaine had to say too.

Sebastian's eyes didn't stray from Kurt though, watching him and Kurt's eyes slid to him. He looked startled to see Sebastian looking his way and he looked away quickly but his eyes returned a moment later to see if Sebastian was still looking at him. He was and Kurt's eyes softened in curiosity and Sebastian offered him a tilt to one side of his lips in a half smile. Kurt answered the smile with one of his own and just like that they formed a bond of being able to communicate when their eyes meet.

"What do you think, Kurt?" Blaine wanted this boy's attention more than anyone else's. Sebastian thought uncharitably that Blaine only sought Kurt out because he was new. Kurt was a shiny new toy for him but by that same token, Kurt was a shiny new thing for Sebastian too, for all of them really. Of course they wanted his opinion and be around him, get to know him, especially now that he was actually talking.

"Not much dancing." Kurt answered honestly and Sebastian supposed that was true. It was not a song that really encouraged it. It wasn't impossible but it didn't really have the space in the song and music to do much with the movements.

"Do you have a better idea?" Blaine asked, pouting slightly but his eyes never left Kurt's face.

Kurt thought for a moment and then shook his head. "I haven't put much thought into it. I'll make that a personal homework assignment for the afternoon." He quipped and Sebastian let out a soft smile and was glad his matching sigh was hidden by laughter from the rest of the table.

David glanced at him, looking far too knowing. Sebastian's face hardened, even though David was a friend and knew, he didn't like getting caught out like that. He tried to hide his obvious feelings behind an unconcerned facade.

He could only achieve that if he tried really hard not to look in Kurt's direction or block out his voice when he spoke. It was a losing battle as his thoughts always returned to him, his eyes sought him out and his ears were attuned for the smallest sound from Kurt. Kurt had quickly become something he thought he'd never ever want and now that he knew what the feelings actually felt like, he never wanted to lose it, only expand on them.

Sebastian couldn't be sure where these feelings started, but knew they'd been there in pretty much every interaction he'd had with the boy since he first set eyes on him. He still couldn't believe the crass things he and Blaine had said about Kurt when they first spied him. David was right in every way when he called them out for it. Getting to know Kurt as a person had only fed those feelings of guilt further. He was just glad that Kurt had never heard them talk that way nor would ever know they had. They hadn't talked that way since.

The song that Kurt did finally suggest as they met up for dinner, deciding to eat before practice today, was something that would honestly stretch their abilities to the max. It was a slow song with a lot of room for some really awesome dancing from all of the boys and it wouldn't be weird for them to be the ones dancing to it. There was a really poignant message about being male in it, especially about growing up and the pressure to be certain ways and trying to fight against the norm. The surprisingly nice thing about it was that it didn't just translate into being 'gay' but rather all the different ways someone could go that wasn't viewed as acceptable by society,. Especially the closer family units, friends and others who knew the person, from big things to smaller but all important to the narrators. It was a song sung by a few different voices and there were no gender pronouns within it.

Beyond the message, the dancing could be broken into groups and as a single unit and any combination breaking away and coming together again, over and over again. The singing- oh, it might be just a little too difficult for a high school choir, even with their professional vocal training. It wasn't the pitch or complexity of words or what usually constituted a difficult song to sing or play. No, the difficulty would be keeping themselves in harmony for such long stretches of notes and also be able to layer it when needed to get their point across. It could be the most amazing thing to ever grace the stage or it could be a stock footage of a group trying to go beyond their reach and failing miserably. They could be laughed at at every juncture from competition to eternity.

"I think..." Sebastian spoke carefully and slowly, his arm around Kurt's shoulders and attempting to make his face match what he was trying to say. "That this would be a fantastic song for Nationals. I think we need some time to really perfect it and pull it out when the big guns are absolutely necessary to put us over the top. That will give us a few months to work up to it and work out any kinks rather than Regionals or even Sectionals."

Sebastian was positive they'd make it to Nationals this year, if only so they could do Kurt's song. Kurt's song choice was just too good to pass up and nobody had ever thought about doing it. "Keep thinking up ideas, Kurtie. We always like input, there's so many songs out there that there's no way to know them all." Kurt winced at the cutesying of his name but nodded along to Jeff's suggestion.

Sebastian wasn't such a fan of the name either and it wasn't because he hadn't thought of it. Kurt was definitely in need of a much better nickname that wasn't just a play on his own name. There were more sophisticated nicknames.

Even more sophisticated names than the ones he'd already tried out on Kurt.

They all had personal homework now, just not everyone knew about the others' assignments. Sebastian took his task very seriously.