If You Were

by LeBelle

The - if everything was dramatically different and Kurt/Sebastian met as adults collection of shorts.

8. Still an Ass

AN: Need I say anything about this title? Lol.

–

8

–

(Still an Ass)

"Well, this is it kid, your dorm room." Burt said as they walked up to the last room in the hallway. "Any idea who your roommate is?"

"No, it was still unassigned when they gave me the address." Kurt gave a small shrug, this was college, it didn't matter, right? It couldn't be that bad.

They walked in and the room was still empty and they set about unloading the car and then unpacking. Kurt thought about waiting for his roommate to arrive to discuss sides but it was already pretty late and decisions had to be made. So Kurt chose his preferred side and they set about making it as homey as possible but it was easy to tell that there would still be things left to purchase throughout the months. Kurt surveyed their work though and he smiled in pleasure and went over to hug his dad.

"I already had the best roommate." He said against his dad's chest and Burt made a sound that sounded like a sniffle being held back. Kurt smiled a little, glad that his own tears were held at bay. He didn't need his new hallmates to know just how soft he was at this point.

The door opened, a tall slim male walked in, clearly around Kurt's age, he threw his bag onto the empty bed and then walked back out again. He had headphones in and didn't even spare them a look before he went on his way again.

"Um... ok." Kurt said in a bit of daze, where was he going? Did he need help unpacking? What was his name? Did he not care that he had a roommate or anything about said roommate?

Burt squeezed Kurt's shoulder. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Yeah, all right." Kurt sighed and followed his dad back down the hall, greeting people as they went. Glad they hadn't distracted him on the way in, he needed to get set up first so he could relax and talk to the others afterward without feeling guilty or have it pressing down on him. Across the country, Finn and his mom were doing the same thing. Along with most of his friends from high school not to mention the millions across the planet who were also settling in to their new lives and environments.

Maybe his roommate had the right idea, far easier to move again at the end of the year if all you had was a duffel bag. It was certainly easier on the wallet to rely on the things provided and without the excess or individuality, especially if you didn't care or lucked out.

Dinner out was bittersweet and had been difficult to find a place that didn't require reservations and wasn't overly busy with a two hour waitlist. They ended up settling for a fast food restaurant with a promise of trying something more local the next time Burt was out to visit.

"You can stay the night, you know." Kurt had made this pitch before.

"I know but there's no hotel rooms and it's discouraged to spend the night in your room. The drive back isn't that long, now that I don't have the trailer."

Kurt gave up the argument, his dad was as stubborn as him and there was nothing he could do in this case to sway him. "I'm going to really miss you."

"It's not like we won't talk on the phone." Burt pointed out.

"I know but it won't be the same thing." Kurt countered. "I'm also unable to come see you at will. I have to wait for you to pick me up." Another thing they highly discouraged was having a car the first year. It would be the first time Kurt didn't have access to his car in years and it was sitting wrong for him. He hadn't gone far when he had the car, just to school, work, the mall and back, but the idea of having it was nice, knowing he could just get in and leave if he needed to or go somewhere outside the public transportation range.

He was feeling a little like a caged bird and he didn't know why. Everything he would need would be on campus or within walking distance or he could take the bus. He could also make friends with people who did have cars here. It wasn't the end of the world to not have his car, just made his breathing a little more difficult.

"I'm not that far away." Burt reassured Kurt with one more hug, pulling him in tight and holding him and this time it was obvious his actions were more for Burt than Kurt. Kurt didn't mind, he hugged his father just as strongly, also needing it.

The future was as exciting as it was terrifying.

Kurt said goodbye to his father on the steps, begrudgingly letting him go and wanting him to leave earlier than later if he was going to make the trip back home. He didn't want his dad on the road too late at night and it would already be a long trek.

He opened his dorm room and did a double take. The place was completely transformed from how it had been earlier. His stuff was mostly untouched, perhaps a little movement to allow his roommate to get his stuff in. Gone was the bed that was provided for them and in it's place was an extra long double bed and it was made along with anything the guy could need, including a folding desk that was currently at standing height and it doubled as a drafting table.

Dark blues and blond wood was the color scheme on his side of the room somewhat at odds with the softer palate of greens and whites on Kurt's. He'd made his a serene getaway from the stress of the world whereas his roommate had embraced the cooler, darker more intense side. If they'd mixed the colors and tones it would actually be quite gorgeous.

Finn had just grabbed the first comforter he could that was somewhat neutral and he'd ended up with a dark gray set and refused to add any color despite Kurt's prompting. He supposed it was just for a few years and eventually Finn would be influenced by others. Or he would keep with it, Finn was pretty simple in his tastes and ironically had bulked at Kurt's Dior Grey color scheme when they'd first lived together. He supposed it had been more layers of white than grey in Finn's mind.

Kurt looked back into the hallway but didn't see his roommate and their room was still barren of the other male's presence. He started to gently poke around, not opening anything but kind of curious as to what was brought over. The table itself had been a technological wonder and obviously custom made. The bed looked pristine and the count number on the sheets had to be astronomical. It looked so incredibly comfortable.

He'd brought things to make his own bed more comfortable but it would be nowhere near this bed's level. He was pretty sure the guy would have had a bigger bed if the space had allowed it. He made sure he didn't touch anything but was floored when he saw the state of the art fridge and freezer combo with a matching microwave. He wondered if his roommate would share but he wouldn't be the one to ask, he'd wait to be offered some of the space. Despite everything, it all remained on his side of the room. There was even a lounging chair that looked like it had enough space for two people.

Kurt's imagination went a little wild thinking about the things two bodies could do in a chair like that. He shook his head, his roommate was stupidly attractive from what he'd seen of him but it didn't mean he was gay. Even if he was, he was Kurt's roommate and those were not thoughts he should be entertaining. Besides, he was probably already in a relationship.

He did not see his roommate the rest of the night. He didn't see him until Monday morning when he came in with all kinds of dark marks on his exposed skin of his neck and shoulder as he stripped the haphazardly worn tee and why was he wearing a tie with that? Although to be fair, he wasn't actually wearing it, just had it draped over his other shoulder. He had neon yellow and pink wrist bands on one wrist and glitter in his hair that hadn't stayed there. Kurt made a face, as much as he loved glitter and sparkles, it was incredibly difficult to get rid of.

"See something you like princess?" The voice oozed sexiness, somewhat scratchy from what was clearly a lack of sleep, Kurt just didn't know for how long.

"Just trying to determine what the clamoring beast is that woke me, I'm still not certain it's human. It certainly can't be my roommate because I don't have one."

"Ooh, watch it or you'll sound like a jealous girlfriend who wants her boo at home more."

Kurt flopped onto his back and closed his eyes again, whatever attraction he'd held before had gone quickly with the words coming out of his mouth. "I always thought that the girl in those stories just wanted to be invited out with her boyfriend, not tie him down to the bed." There was silence and he turned his head to see the disaster lift a brow in his direction. "What?" Kurt asked with exasperation, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep if he knew eyes were on him.

"That's pretty kinky imagery." He received a cocky smile, lips turned up on half his face.

Kurt shrugged and closed his eyes again and turned so his back was on the rude roommate. He heard a laugh before the guy was out the door again, hopefully to use the common showers and get rid of most of what he'd brought in on his body and the stench Kurt could now smell.

Kurt groaned and brought his pillow over his face. He was in for a rough year.

–

He didn't see much of his roommate for the first month and he was thankful for that. Sometimes he would be just about to enter when he heard weird noises and he'd quickly learned what those were. He would turn and go back to the library or hang out in one of his friends' rooms until he thought it was safe to go back. Sometimes his roommate would fall into the room with one of his conquests for the night, regardless of the fact that he was either sleeping or studying at his own desk.

Another thing he learned quickly was that his roommate was most definitely gay. Also that his name was Sebastian. He hadn't learned that from his roommate though, or at least not from his own lips. Nor was he the intended target to hear the groan of pleasure. Kurt sometimes left, other times he would put on his noise canceling headphones or crank the music up and studiously ignore what was happening. Sometimes he could even pretend to sleep. Sometimes he would catch movement out of the corner of his eye and had to stop himself from enjoying the free show.

His roommate was still stupidly hot.

He was also not stupid. They traded barbs whenever they were in the same room without another guy trying to distract Sebastian and occupy his mouth.

His roommate was also a complete slob. He would get up in the morning and leave the room a complete wreck from the night before, often leaving men behind too. Kurt didn't dare touch it and always knew where his valuables were and kept most on himself when they had guests. It was not something he felt like he had to worry about with Sebastian himself. When he came back the place would be spotless and after a few days he realized why, Sebastian was loaded and had a cleaning service.

Kurt was not messy, the complete opposite of that in fact, yet he didn't tell anyone that they were doing their jobs too well and didn't have to clean his side. Sebastian could clearly afford it and likely paid by the hour. He was doing his best to help support the economy by using Sebastian's money to clean their entire dorm and he'd earned it after suffering through Sebastian's proclivities.

Winter hit and things slowed down somewhat on that front.

There were still guys and parties but they were less frequently and Sebastian actually hung around and worked on his homework.

Kurt had no idea what his major was. The books on his side of the room when placed away neatly were a wide array and not one related to the next. Maybe he was still finding himself and what he was interested in. Kurt himself was double majoring in business and fashion with minors in English and French. He had a heavy enough load that he wasn't in a hurry to take on more but he and his dad had an agreement, Kurt could have a free ride the first semester but the second semester he was going to have to chip in financially once he got his feet wet in the college scene.

Kurt took the max number of credits he could take the first semester and had regretted it in some ways. College classes were a lot harder than he had it in high school and had struggled at first, even tempted to drop one of his courses. He knew he couldn't do that and still graduate on time.

He had to take at least the recommended class load the second semester. He was going to try to do a full boat again along with work so when his classes got even harder he could cut back on the number of credits he was taking and still finish on time.

His dad tried to encourage him to enjoy his time more but he wasn't going to school to just have fun. He could do that throughout his twenties and thirties, he wasn't worried. Finn was living it up, had joined a frat even and was just having a blast and going to school part time and working part time. He was already planning to be attending OSU for at least 5 years.

Kurt had different plans. He wanted to get his fingers into the places that took time to scale the ladder but had to be in it from a very young age to even attempt to achieve greatness. Age was a very big factor in success in his chosen field. Once success was reached, it was a little easier to hang onto but not a given. He would have to keep changing, stay current and innovative and yet still his own distinct voice.

He already had it all planned out, even the transition from front runner to behind the scenes string puller. He just had to get there, get started.

Sebastian was studying when Kurt walked in that Thursday a week into their second semester. Max credits, the particular classes he was in and work was killing him. He was just exhausted. "Dickweed." Kurt greeted, not quite able to drop his polite behavior even if his greeting was an insult, he still felt the need to acknowledge Sebastian's presence outloud.

"Princess." Sebastian slotted over his shoulder before going back to what he was working on. Kurt dropped bonelessly onto his bed and curled around his pillow and closed his eyes. He hoped a few minutes laying there like that would reenergize him. He didn't want to actually nap though.

He got a crumpled up piece of paper in his face a few moments later and he grumbled as he batted it away. What seemed like minutes later another one landed on his face. He crushed the paper ball into his hand, more determined than ever to actually fall asleep for a little while. "Hey, princess, you've got homework, you can't just sleep."

"Correction, I have a few projects due soon, not homework." Although he did have to study too. "Also, I can do whatever I want."

"Yeah, ok, if that's true then why don't you come out with us tonight? I think you need a good dick to help loosen you up, you're clenched too tight."

Kurt turned over in his bed to look at Sebastian, needing to see his face and gauge how he was supposed to react to those words. Sebastian was still working away at whatever he had been doing. He didn't even glance over at Kurt when he obviously heard Kurt shifting. "Is that a genuine invitation?"

Sebastian's head did turn then and he looked amused. "You don't know how good you're at the flirting."

Kurt flung the balled up paper that had bounced off of his face earlier and onto his bed. He missed his target wide, having never been a sports person. "I knew it." Kurt curled back around his pillow and fought down the yawn. "Never serious, you."

"Wow, you already sound drunk. I was serious, I think you should come out, one drink will have you stripping." Sebastian's voice sounded somewhat teasing and Kurt didn't know how to feel about that either.

"No thanks, I know your friends." Kurt mumbled, sleep was looking better and better every minute.

"That's exactly why you should come out. One of them might take pity on you."

"Fuck off Sebastian. You don't know anything about me, you're just making assumptions that I'm gay."

"Pretty sure you couldn't state it any louder what your preferences are with those posters." He gestured toward the posters next to Kurt's bed, Kurt didn't have to see him do it and knew exactly what he was referencing. The Liza Minelli poster next to Coco Chanel and Marc Jacobs and Alexander McQueen were on full display to help encourage and inspire him.

"I'm a fashion major."

"Exactly." Sebastian's tone was blasé.

"They're fashion icons." Kurt corrected.

"And queer icons for a certain part of queer community."

Kurt rolled his eyes. "You're gay Sebastian. I have far too much proof of that."

Sebastian put down his pen and turned toward Kurt, the pause in conversation had Kurt turning toward him again and opening his eyes. "For someone who flaunts it so much, you're being pretty cagey in admitting it. What gives?"

"Nothing you need to worry about." Kurt had never exactly hidden that truth before, but for some reason he just wanted to argue his point with Sebastian even though Sebastian was right. In this case, it didn't matter about being right, just the argument.

This was the most they'd talked since they moved in together.

"Words like that-" Sebastian's eyes narrowed at Kurt but when Kurt didn't volunteer anything he shrugged and turned back to his work. "I've been calling you the wrong P word, I think. Prude may be far more appropriate. Perhaps Pretentious or Prissy. Even Pauper may be a better fit."

Kurt huffed and turned away from Sebastian again. "Protective or Patient, maybe."

"There were other words that would have strengthen your position." Sebastian muttered.

"Like what?" Kurt asked, unwillingly being drawn back into the conversation.

Sebastian sounded less interested in the conversation now though and it took him a beat to reply to Kurt. "Poised." Kurt reflected on that for a moment, that was even better than Polished, which he'd been kicking around saying out loud. He shouldn't have waited because Sebastian opened his mouth again. "Poised, you know, like the lack of bladder control sponge."

"Har... har..." Kurt worked on ignoring his roommate once again with that latest insult. Why did he ever even entertain that notion that Sebastian was more than a sex-driven jerk? He put in his ear buds and closed his eyes.

Kurt was rudely jostled awake, having no idea how long he'd been asleep but only knowing he wouldn't be getting any sleep again anytime soon after he nearly face planted onto the ground after a seven foot drop. A few hands kept him from landing ungracefully, but it had been those hands that had woken him and caused the near fall. He should have sprung for the bars to keep him in but he'd never had a problem with rolling off in his life.

He started a croaky squeak when hands started stripping him but he was redressed nearly just as suddenly and was manhandled out of the dorm room. He was still somewhere between hyper awake and still asleep. He was a lot easier to physically manipulate in this state. He was moving more and more into the land of the awake though with every step.

"Where are you taking me?"

"I told you, you were coming out with us tonight." Sebastian dropped an arm around his shoulders but he wasn't looking at Kurt. He was already sizing up the swimmer who'd joined their crew for the night. "I haven't met you." Sebastian said to the guy, his eyes roaming over the body appreciatively and Kurt had to admit the physique was good but the face was nicer.

"Yeah, Jonah suggested coming out tonight with the crew." He looked at Kurt in mild curiosity before his eyes returned to Sebastian in a flirty way, he looked hungry for Sebastian in return. "Said there were a few guys I would hate missing out on meeting."

Kurt rolled his eyes, they were all just a bunch of hormonal jocks who couldn't think about anything other than getting off with the next attractive thing that moved. If girls had allowed this behavior from the start, there wouldn't be any discoveries other than how to continue getting pleasure and far, far more people in the world. Or at least until a disease wiped out a good portion of the population that had no defenses for it or anywhere to go since houses wouldn't exist and they'd all be living in caves or in trees. Hell, they'd probably all be eaten alive by better adapted predators, they would have been no better than rabbits.

Kurt expected Sebastian to drop his arm and move closer to the swimmer but he didn't. He kept his arm firmly around Kurt's shoulders, as if refusing to let Kurt bolt back to the dorms. He had so much to do and sleep was a really high priority right then. Sebastian would have been right about that too.

Sebastian didn't let go of Kurt but he also didn't stop flirting with the swimmer. "Where the hell are we going?" Kurt hadn't dressed himself, he had he would have worn warmer shoes and maybe have grabbed a jacket.

"Relax Princess, just across campus, the Upsilon Omicrons are having a war. Iota Pi Omega Theta is throwing the party of the year trying to do Xi Psi Phi who is also throwing the party of the year across the street from them. It usually coalesces into one giant party."

"What is with those names? Those can't be real frats."

"They're not." The swimmer explained and Sebastian chuckled, both in on whatever joke this was. "Though they both want to be. Except there are too many symbols to get a charter going."

"Think about the symbols." Sebastian helpfully pointed out.

Kurt did and thought about what they looked like and what they'd look like together and why they'd be laughing about it. "Oh... ew. That's sick."

"That's awesome." Another boy said with clear intention in his tone for what he was planning to do soon. "We shouldn't have brought him, Seb, he's going to be a buzz kill. This is supposed to be free flowing."

"I think he'll catch on and go along with it when it's all around him." Sebastian finally looked at him. "He doesn't want to be a P word all his life."

"Penis?" One of Sebastian's less than brilliant friends asked blankly.

"No, that's what he's going to want." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "We just have to break him in."

Kurt struggled to get out from under Sebastian's arm. How dare they think they could just drag him to this party and he'd just put out? This was ridiculous and he didn't want any part of it. This was just as bad as any frat's worst stories and rumors. "Your houses belong along frat row. I'm going home and will view my own gender far worse than I ever have and it was a pretty low bar. Now I'm going to have to add more qualifiers to it." He couldn't be such an oddity among his own community, could he? He just didn't belong anywhere then, perhaps he should have just stuck with the girls and be their token gay in Miami. That hadn't sounded great then and it still didn't sound wonderful.

"Chill Kurt." Sebastian rolled his eyes. "We're almost there. Stay for a drink or two. I promise, no one is going to impinge on your honor if you don't want them to. We're not monsters." Even his reassurance was biting.

Kurt's judgment of Sebastian was still out on that front. He'd already had a sub-par opinion of him but he was nowhere near 'monster' territory. "Whatever."

"You'll have fun if you just relax a little." Sebastian pushed him into one of the houses and Kurt couldn't just turn away and go back out as the rest of the crew came in after them and blocked the door. There would be no going out that way until they all moved further in. Maybe he could find a way out on the other side of the house? Though that would mean going deeper into the pits of hell.

Except it didn't appear that way when Kurt spent a moment to look around. There were different stations set up around the extremely large main floor. It was an open floor plan with a few areas separated by double doors which were currently open. It was decorated. None of the boys' get togethers that Kurt had attended had a single decoration much less this tastefully. It was set up for a party and it was carefully crafted to look like it too.

"Ok." Kurt sighed and took the cup that was thrust into his hand. "I'll stay for a few drinks." He risked a sip, remembering all the terrible beer he'd been surrounded with in Ohio and how he'd been pressured into a few drinks then too.

This was definitely not beer and despite the strong alcoholic sting, it was kind of sweet and tasty as well. He took another sip and he knew it was definitely liquor of some sort but he didn't know what it was. He was pretty sure it wasn't a mixed drink.

He took a third sip and a hand covered his cup. "Drink it slowly and pace yourself, you just got here." Kurt glared at Sebastian and set the glass down, how could he be so dumb? Sebastian could have laced it just then or whoever had handed him the cup could have. From then on he would have to make his own drinks and cover them with his own hand.

Sebastian rolled his eyes, picked the cup up and downed the whole thing. "So much for pacing yourself."

"I'm not a virgin." Sebastian countered and looked over Kurt once. "In any way."

Kurt shook his head. "Again, Sebastian, you have no idea about my history." He headed toward the bar and went to make himself another drink, hoping to recreate that and when he took a sip of the liquid he mixed he winced as it was definitely not that. Still, he kept it in hand to remind himself to go slow any time he attempted to drink out of the cup in his hand. He also thought Sebastian was going to follow him and follow up on that remark but when Kurt turned, he didn't see Sebastian anywhere.

He sighed and looked around. There had be someone of similar interests here or who also got dragged to this party against their will. He would just have to network. He was good at that actually.

An hour slipped by and he only found a new breed of douche.

He passed by an open door when he heard a familiar name. "Honestly Sebastian, why'd you bring him here?" It was an exasperated voice that he'd gotten to know pretty well, Logan was a pretty regular 'guest' in their dorm. They were friends with benefits and hooked up if neither had better prospects for the night.

"He's my roommate. I thought it would be funny." Sebastian shrugged, none of them had noticed Kurt eavesdropping. "So far it kind of has been."

Kurt should have known it was just a joke. He'd already come to that conclusion earlier in the night and hadn't been about to play into it. He started questioning himself when they'd dragged him out of bed and to the party but it was all too clear even without this conversation. They'd abandoned him almost instantly, not finding him interesting enough to spend any time with.

"If you find his lameness funny, he hasn't even gotten drunk and embarrassed himself."

Kurt found this his opportunity to slip out of the house and he was nearly on the homestretch when a new group of guys swelled around him and basically, unknowingly brought him with their surge and into the other house. Kurt was about to start bitching about how he didn't know so many gay guys existed for them all to be assholes who didn't look outside their own butts, but his words stopped in his throat. This house was similarly laid out like the one before, including tasteful decorations adding to the party atmosphere and different stations but this one was far more classy. Kurt felt himself relaxing, this was more his scene, even if the other house was what he had always known growing up.

A group of guys beckoned him over to play games with them and enfolded him onto their team easily.

As the night progressed he found this group of guys far more like him in attitude and interests and outlook. They chatted and played games and drank and when he found himself in a room with a boy and they were kissing and undressing each other with a clear end goal in mind, he didn't bulk. He wanted it too and was going to enjoy it. When a third asked if they could join, Kurt invited him in warmly. It was fantastic and Kurt hadn't been lying when he told Sebastian he had no idea about Kurt's history.

He was a more sensitive soul but he was still a guy and nothing was wrong or broken with him. He was just a bit more selective and tonight he knew he wasn't going to hook up with either of these guys again and was unlikely to see them. They ran in different circles but if they did, it would be cool and chill.

They exchanged numbers but Kurt didn't think he'd hear from them.

He went back to the party and played more games and drank better drinks and he might have been drunk off his ass by the time he got into his dorm room but at least he wasn't tracking in glitter or paint. He somehow climbed up his ladder and into the bunk'd bed and passed out cheerfully and content.

Sebastian came back hours later and loudly and noisily scoffed at Kurt already in bed, not thinking anything eventful happened. Kurt still wearing his clothes should have been a major contradiction to that assessment but what was not normal for Kurt was very normal for Sebastian and so it slipped his notice. It would have only encouraged him if he had caught on.

He didn't need any more encouragement. For some reason he started to take notice in Kurt as more than his roommate, he started viewing Kurt as a project. He kept trying to push Kurt into awkward situations outside of his comfort and was he trying to embarrass Kurt? He wasn't succeeding, Kurt always managed to gracefully skirt whatever Sebastian was planning by either facing it head on or bowing out with a polite murmur.

He didn't succeed in whatever it was he trying to get out of Kurt. Somehow in the end though it was Kurt who was surprised. He was surprised by the fact that he was now spending most of his nights with his roommate out and about town. He still went to his own things but his spare moments were eaten up by his obnoxious jerk of a roommate.

A month into this behavior he'd come to the realization and froze in the middle of beer pong. How the hell had he been convinced to play beer pong? He didn't like beer and hadn't had to touch it since he was actually doing fairly well while his partner had taken three for the team. Sebastian was turning him into a jock? Ew.

He finished the game and sought out his roommate to let him know he was leaving before he was convinced to play something like King's Cup. The game itself was fun but he didn't want to ever drink whatever was in the center of the table.

Sebastian was in the middle of a pile of men, thankfully all with their clothes on but far too many to figure out which foot belonged to whom much less who's hands were on what body part. "I'm heading back." He wasn't even sure where he was, they'd gotten into a car and drove here.

Sebastian didn't say anything, didn't even seem to hear Kurt.

"I said I'm going back." Kurt was doing fine in this place but he'd kind of woken up to what he was doing. He didn't even know how he'd gotten to this point. This was not his scene, he was doing quite well in his own scene. He'd been flirting with a cute boy in his French Lit class and had been invited to the French movie nights and a French theme party one of his classmates was throwing. He also had other interests, one happened to include French food, but it was more cuisine focused than French.

He had friends in his business classes too and was getting closer with one of the cute guys in there. He'd ended up seeing one of the guys he'd hooked up with at that first party at one of their mixers and found out he was a year older and also a business major. Their exchange of numbers was convenient as they started texting after that mixer.

"'Kay, bye Bas."

"Mm-bye." Sebastian waved him off and Kurt rolled his eyes before walking away. He looked at the clock on his phone and waffled on whether or not to text his one time hookup to see if he'd pick him up. He pulled up the GPS on his phone instead to determine whether or not that was a ridiculous ask.

His eyes widened at the location and he grinned. Oh it was just too perfect and he slid back to his contacts list and called one of his workmates. She answered on the second ring. "Kurt?"

"Hey, my roommate dragged me out to a party tonight and I'm just not feeling it anymore, any chance I can come over?"

"Uh... of course, I've been trying to get you over here for weeks." She laughed. "Need the address?"

"You already sent it to me along with anything else my contact card may need or ask for." He teased her. "It's how I realized I was so close."

"Well, like I said, I waned to get you over here. Are you sure you don't want to stay? I could come to you?"

"No, you'd probably love it in one way but hate it in others. It's pretty heavy in catering to a specific orientation that you don't fit."

"Oh, ok." She was only mildly disappointed, too happy to be truly disappointed because Kurt was coming over. "How long do you think you'll be?"

Kurt switched to walking and adjusted for his own pace and familiarity with the roads. "Twenty minutes?"

"Sounds perfect, my humble abode will be ready for you."

"Thank you for this."

"Anytime." They hung up and Kurt made sure he had everything he came with, except his roommate, and was satisfied that he wasn't forgetting anything. He headed out onto the street and tried to pull his phone out and look at it as minimally as possible. He didn't know the area and how likely it would be for someone to try and steal it from his hand.

He didn't get very far before a body was arming up his arm as they kept pace. It was a fairly quiet street and there was no need for someone to stand so close, especially as they obviously had a longer stride than him. He raised a brow when he looked up to Sebastian. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure you don't get mugged or lost, princess. Where are you even going? Do you know?"

"One of my friends lives near here."

"Oh." Sebastian's shoulders drooped. "Is that why you're leaving?"

"No, I just realized I've been wasting a lot of my time going to things like that." He wasn't opposed to parties, just ones that had more of a point than drunken groping. He kind of missed girls too, actually.

"Hmm." Sebastian's sound was lacking his usual personality, lacking any personality, truthfully. He didn't expand on it, just kept walking beside Kurt.

Kurt wondered if Sebastian was familiar with this neighborhood. "Aren't you going back to the party now that you know that I'm not going to end up in some ditch?"

"No, I want to see what you're leaving a perfectly good party for." Sebastian had his hands in his jacket pockets and looked very nonchalant. It felt less that way than appearances suggested but Kurt wondered if he was reaching.

"I told you, a friend lives here, I'm going to go see her." Kurt watched Sebastian a little more closely, wondering if he could find any other tells and what they might mean.

"Ah... a female friend, gotcha." Sebastian didn't break off though, he just kept pace.

"Why are you missing your party?" Kurt finally asked. "It's obvious that's where you want to be."

"Where I want to be is seeing what you find more interesting. You're obviously mistaken and I want to experience it so I can state so with absolute certainty based on experience and then rub it in your face."

"I never asked you to come experience this and I never said you'd like it better. It's just where I want to be." Kurt decided to forget any possibility that there was a human beneath this skin suit, he was obviously just a sex robot with a toilet for a mouth and so could only speak shit.

"Yeah, but I want to see it through your eyes."

"You're stupid rich and stupid hot and probably fairly smart. Why are you wasting your time with such slog?"

"So you admit we're entering slog?"

"I'm talking about where we just came from. Don't your tastes run more sophisticated?"

"Sophisticated is boring and so annoyingly slow." Sebastian rolled his eyes and shrugged, giving it a resounding shut of a door and barricaded it.

"Not always."

"It is." Sebastian insisted and more locks found their way onto that door. "You may think it's fun and fancy and flowery language but in the end, it's all insults and one upmanship and it's tiring. People like that, they're genuine and simple and easy." He hooked his thumb over his shoulder toward the party they left. "It's better."

"It hadn't been in my history. Dumb equaled ignorant and cruel for no reason other than it's what they thought they should be doing. Simple was the way they handled it, and it was so easy for them to get off."

Another brow lift from Sebastian. "Trying to figure out the correct way to take the latter."

Kurt ignored Sebastian and continued on. "It's tiring too, being around people like them but not them but the ones who share a lot of the same attributes except for that all important one that sets them apart, what set me apart."

"So maybe a middle road?" Sebastian's eyes flickered over Kurt.

"What?" Kurt stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, once again glad there wasn't the usual throng of people. "What are you getting at?"

Sebastian shrugged and looked away, feigning more interest in the brick wall next to them. "Not much."

Kurt waited a beat, just looking at Sebastian's face, waiting and then he slowly looked away and started walking again. "Right. Whatever, go back to your sleazy friends, Sebastian. Obviously all you want are easy lays and they're more than happy to be that for you."

"I think it's time I tried something different." Kurt turned his head toward Sebastian but didn't stop walking this time, not wanting to interrupt Sebastian from saying whatever it was that he wanted to say. Nothing more was forthcoming.

Kurt sighed in annoyance. "Ok, you need to cut out the cryptic and just say it."

"I think we should hook up." Sebastian stated bluntly and Kurt stumbled I shock.

"What?" Kurt wheezed.

"You and I, together."

"Why do you say that? We're roommates and you barely tolerate me. Is this another one of your poor jokes?"

"I've never joked about you being poor or using that against you."

Kurt spun toward Sebastian, crossing his arms as he did so. "Are you serious? I'm not poor."

"Yeah, so then you can't find any of my jokes personally offensive." Sebastian spread his hands wide with his palms facing Kurt, slightly in defense but also slightly to prove he was harmless. Kurt was not going be fooled by the wolf in sheep's clothing act.

"Sebastian, get real." Kurt shook his head but didn't continue his walk this time. "You are not interested in me, you've never been interested in me."

"Sure I have."

"You haven't shown it."

"I brought you along to all my parties." Sebastian smiled in an attempt to be charming but Kurt wasn't buying it.

"Since when have you known you liked me?"

"Since the day you started flirting with me." Sebastian said cheekily. Kurt tapped his foot in frustration and stared Sebastian down. Sebastian sighed. "What now?"

"When have I ever flirted with you?"

"You do it all the time. It's so sexy the way you do it."

"Bas-."

"And Bas, that got my attention today, you'd never called me that before this party and damn if it didn't trigger something more in me." Sebastian reached out to touch Kurt but Kurt took a quick step back and teetered on the curb but refused to let Sebastian steady him.

"Seriously, calling you Bas turned you on? What makes you think I return any of these sentiments?"

"You called me hot."

"I called you stupid hot." Kurt clarified.

"I'm not stupid." Sebastian corrected.

"No, you're not stupid." Kurt conceded quickly, he called a spade a space and Sebastian wasn't stupid. "I just meant that it is ridiculous how hot you are, it's unfair."

"Because you want me."

"Because it's a sad discrepancy between you and the general public."

"Because you don't find other guys as hot as me." Sebastian's ribbing unnerved him, he hadn't really viewed Sebastian in that way, had he? "You want to get with me and feel my heat against you. Lay claim on me." Sebastian's large hand curled around Kurt's elbow, drawing him forward and into that heat.

"No." Kurt pulled away and started walking faster toward his destination. "This is ridiculous. You're playing a trick on me again and I don't find it funny." He had never found it funny.

"I'm serious, Kurt." Sebastian laid his hand around Kurt's arm again, trying to stall him. "I think we'd be fire together."

"I'm not stupid hot or super smart or incredibly rich. I don't fit into any of your worlds." He was Sebastian's roommate, that was all. "We don't have anything in common."

"We have our attraction to each other and our biting wit." Sebastian pulled Kurt closer. "Biting is something we can share. It'll be enough."

Kurt snorted, it would definitely not be enough but he was being lured in by those mesmerizing green eyes. It really was unfair how ridiculously gorgeous this guy was and how he knew it and used it so easily to his advantage. Kurt couldn't fault him for it, he knew how to use it and why shun something that would move you up in the world? It wouldn't last forever.

Everything in Kurt was sending up red flags and alarm bells were going off. This was going to end in disaster, this had to be an elaborate ruse. "You kept pushing me toward other guys."

"Yeah because if I was your first, I would only end up hurting you."

"You think I'm still a virgin." Kurt threw that back at him, it had been a running gag for him and his friends over the last week.

"I know you're not on pretty good authority."

"Virginity scared you?" Kurt's voice was softer, it was a moot point but he was curious.

"Somewhat, but that's not what changed my mind about wanting you." Sebastian's hands moved to Kurt's waist.

"So you didn't want me before."

"I did but I told myself you were my roommate and that needlessly complicated things." Sebastian shrugged. "I was going to suggest a finals week romp and then never have to see you again."

"Very attractive." Kurt mocked. "Then what changed?"

"Say my name again." Sebastian's thumbs rubbed circles into his waist.

"S-"

"No, the shortened version." Sebastian interrupted.

"Bas?"

"Yeah, so delicious." Sebastian's mouth moved closer to Kurt's but before he could claim it, Kurt moved his head back.

"I'm not going to have sex with you tonight."

Sebastian nodded. "That's fine." He attempted once more to kiss Kurt but Kurt kept control of the moment, much to Sebastian's surprise, used to being able to hypnotize people with just his eyes locking onto theirs.

"You're going to date me properly."

Sebastian dropped his hands from around Kurt's hips, Kurt could practically see a record being scratched and the echoing screech in Sebastian's ears. Kurt called it, this was all just a fools errand. "Date? I don't date." Sebastian frowned at him as if he were asking for the impossible.

"Then forget anything else. I'm no one's secret." What was Kurt doing? He had three guys lined up who were actually pleasant to be around and liked him back. He knew they liked him and would treat him well.

"I wasn't going to-" Sebastian didn't finish that sentence because there was no way to finish it honestly as he obviously hadn't thought through anything. This was all a whim for him.

"Mmm-hmm." Kurt nodded and took another step away. "Right. Honestly, what do you do with guys? Just hook up and move on? You've never been out to eat with one? Never took one to your house on Mars?"

Sebastian's eyes flickered with desire for a moment before reality sank back in again. "I mean... yeah, I guess I've done those things, sort of. We would mainly go as a group and then pair up. I don't even know what that would really look like."

"I guess I'll have to teach you." Kurt sighed internally, he was definitely an idiot for choosing to go along with this over the better options he had available. He looked over Sebastian who was fighting back whatever dirty comment that sprang to mind at Kurt's words. Sebastian would be something he wouldn't want to miss out on. He could give Sebastian a go and if it didn't work out then at least he had something hot to picture on his death bed.

"Great, let's get going then." Sebastian gestured toward the street and Kurt lifted a brow, not moving at all. "What?"

"I'm going to my friend's house. You're going back to your party."

"You sure?" Sebastian seemed slightly fazed by the declaration. Kurt nodded. "Ok, fine, I guess." He still hesitated though.

"Did you want to walk me to the door?" Kurt asked, giving voice to what Sebastian was obviously struggling with.

"Sure." Kurt shook his head at the easy answer, Sebastian took it as an invitation rather than the prompt it was. It was actually kind of sweet so Kurt didn't protest the act or purposeful communication error.

They walked side by side, not touching as they walked down the road. Kurt had his arms wrapped around himself and Sebastian had his hands buried in his pockets. Kurt would glance over at Sebastian once in awhile who would either be looking down at his feet or ahead at the road. When he wasn't looking he swore he could see Sebastian looking at him via the corner of his eye but it wouldn't last long and he'd be looking away the next minute. He was obviously deep in his own thoughts.

"Well, this is me." Kurt announced when they reached a gate in front of a small walkway and stairs up to a rowhouse. Sebastian glanced at it and the remainder of the street. He gave the tiniest nod to himself.

"Well, goodnight. I'll see you..."

"Probably tomorrow." Kurt answered the unasked question. "I'll probably be spending the night."

"Right, of course." Sebastian shifted a little from foot to foot and Kurt had never seen him so unsure of himself. Sebastian seemed to have come to that realization too because his hand was now on Kurt's face and his mouth was covering Kurt's. He pressed in and Kurt backed up to the gate's pillar and he resisted for the smallest of moments, having not expected it but Sebastian's mouth was warm and skillful on his and he started to respond. His fingers curled into the shirt warmed by Sebastian's arms and planks and tugged Sebastian even closer.

They were interrupted by his friend opening the door and calling out to them. "So... tomorrow." Kurt was a bit breathless. Sebastian only smiled and walked away, leaving Kurt to deal with the inquisition.

–

Dating Sebastian was not any easier than living with him. If he thought a label would change things, he was sadly mistaken. Yet, he wouldn't give up the title of being Sebastian's boyfriend for anything short of a catastrophe. The good far outweighed the bad and Sebastian was kind of learning.

Their first date ended up being an eye opener. Sebastian took him to his private yacht and there was a ton of food already laid out for them. He didn't tell Kurt that he was planning on having a bunch of guests later that weekend, nor that Kurt was going to be stranded on the yacht for the entire weekend. Thankfully, Kurt didn't have plans that weekend.

Sebastian had looked at the food and frowned. "I'm really hungry for a pizza. Geoff, go get us pizza from that place I like."

"Sir, if I do, the yacht will be out of reach of the helicopter by the time I get back." Sebastian sighed heavily and dropped back against the lounger he was sitting in, looking too good in white shorts and an open white shirt. Somehow he'd convinced Kurt to get on the jet and now Kurt was rethinking it. Maybe he could go with Geoff and then split off and go home when they got to NYC. He didn't belong on something like this, this wasn't his lifestyle. Sebastian was far more at home here. Kurt would fry and have to spend all his time inside.

Sebastian clicked his fingers, looking over Kurt who hadn't dressed appropriately for a yacht trip. He wouldn't have known what to wear anyway if he'd known about it. An umbrella was moved to cover Kurt in shade. "NYC is pretty far." Kurt concluded with Geoff.

"Fine, then the place in Cabo is fine." Sebastian shrugged and laid his head back against the pillow on his lounger. His eyes closed and he soaked up the sun. Sebastian had been surprising Kurt with random makeout sessions since he agreed to date him. He hadn't touched Kurt at all on this 'date'.

"Cabo?" Kurt had no idea where they were and of course Sebastian knew a good pizza place in Cabo.

"What? It's a lot closer." Sebastian shrugged it off and Geoff was already moving, calculating the timing of all of it.

"Couldn't you be happy with frozen pizza?" Kurt asked, a little dazed by this weird behavior. He'd always known Sebastian was rich but this was far more than he'd expected. Sebastian didn't typically act like a rich asshole, just an asshole.

Sebastian lowered his shades so Kurt would see his expression clearly. "Pizza comes frozen?"

"Yeah and some of the best frozen pizza is only $2 for a 13"." Kurt watched his reaction and saw an eye roll of exasperation.

"Be serious, nobody has dollar bills anymore." He put his sunglasses back on. "You look too warm, Sarah will bring you downstairs and show you a few outfits you can change into." Just like that, Kurt was dismissed.

Kurt held back on telling Sebastian off, he was in a bit too precarious of a situation to get on his bad side. Kurt did his best to chill with Sebastian's rich friends, they were not the same as his buddies at their school, but they were very similar in some ways. There were a lot of judgmental people on board and they liked to drink and hook up. There was at least a mix of genders and orientations, it wasn't only clones of Logan and Jonah.

Sebastian partied just as hard as the rest of them. Kurt found a place among them where he could have fun. He became fast friends with some of the girls and some of the straight guys treated him ok. He got hit on by a couple of gay guys and straight girls but nothing serious and nobody who would turn Kurt's head. Not that the one he was 'here with' was acting that way. In fact, that's probably what contributed to him being treated fairly decently because no one knew he was dating out of his league, he was just the poor kid being tossed a bone. He may currently be wearing their clothes but they didn't know him already and so put it together quickly.

When they got back to the dorm early Monday morning, Kurt was jetlagged and exhausted from the 48 hours straight of drinking, loud music, people and the rocking of the sea. Sebastian said something smart and just rubbed Kurt the wrong way. Sebastian laughed at his anger and attempted to pull him in for a kiss.

"What's your end goal here, Sebastian? This is the first time you've tried to touch me all weekend."

"No it-" Kurt stared him down and he changed tactics. "It's not what you're thinking."

"I'm thinking you didn't want your friends to clue into the fact that we've kissed." Kurt said with absolute conviction in his voice.

"It wasn't that, I didn't want to make you feel like you had no other choice. I wanted you to kiss me of your own volition. I'm not ashamed of people learning we're dating."

Kurt scoffed. "I wouldn't call this dating. We haven't even been on one. I thought this weekend was going to change that."

"Oh... I thought it was a pretty good outing."

"Yeah, outing." Kurt rolled his eyes. "Maybe between roommates or friends, but not a date."

Sebastian's shoulders drooped. "What am I supposed to do?"

"Let me plan the next one." Kurt gave him the benefit of the doubt, he was trying if his words were to be believed. He didn't want to pressure Kurt into anything but something would have been nice, even an indicator or words to let Kurt know what was going on behind the scenes. Nothing of the weekend had been acceptable.

"Deal, but I'll drive." Kurt looked at Sebastian's totally genuine facial features, wondering if he had a car, why hadn't he driven it before? Kurt had suspected Sebastian just got chauffeured everywhere. This was a change in mindset, somewhat. He kind of wanted to take Sebastian volunteering just to see what he'd do, how it was completely different than their previous weekend.

In the end, Kurt just settled for. "Do I get a kiss to seal the deal?" Sebastian's brows both rose in excitement and surprise but he didn't waste the time or opportunity and practically jumped on Kurt. Kurt laughed, looking forward to this next weekend.

–

Oh God, he shouldn't have agreed to this. He nearly groaned when Sebastian pulled up in a black 2001 Sbarro Seb Milllenium Coupe, the only year they made them. The license plate read 'Sebastian'. It wasn't the most expensive car on the market but it was so corny. He wondered how long Sebastian had owned it and if he went by Seb with his friends because of the car.

Sebastian gave a small stucco tap of the horn when Kurt pretended to not notice Sebastian. He didn't want to be associated with him right that moment and continued talking with his friend. He'd seen Kurt waiting and came over. Kurt sighed and gave his friend a quick smile. "That's for me."

"Friend?" They asked.

"Date." Kurt corrected and watched them make a face. "What?"

"Sorry, that was inappropriate of me. I shouldn't have made that face, it just took over unexpectedly."

"Go on, say it." Kurt ignored Sebastian honk once more.

"It's just that I was always told to always go up to the door and knock politely or ring the bell. Honking for my date's attention was something I was told never to do."

"Yeah..." Kurt glanced over his shoulder and Sebastian's face brightened from his annoyed expression and waved Kurt toward him. "I'm starting to see why." Though he smiled back at Sebastian, there was just something about him that was so charming even when he was being super rude. "This is just all new for him."

"Some things don't need to be learned." His friend commented and then looked embarrassed for speaking so honestly again.

"It's ok." Kurt reassured them and squeezed their shoulder. "I get where you're coming from but I also have learned where he's coming from too." Kurt offered them another smile and then wandered off to the car, smile brightening and nearly running to get in. Despite the embarrassment of the car being so obvious and the vanity plate being the least creative, he was excited to see Sebastian and go on this date.

That excitement lasted until they pulled up to the restaurant. Sebastian's face scrunched up in distaste at the modest restaurant Kurt had chosen. "It's a very nice restaurant, I know the owners." Kurt had come here on a rainy day and had kept coming back.

"Fine, I'll give it a chance." Kurt breathed a little easier, he had been worried about bringing Sebastian somewhere so important to him but Sebastian was thawing and starting to appreciate it too, he hoped.

Sebastian pulled into a spot and Kurt gasped. "Bas, this is a handicap spot, you're going to get a fine."

Sebastian waved him off. "It's ok, I'll just pay it."

"Other people will need it." Kurt insisted. "Who don't have the same kind of mobility we have."

"Fine, I'll park somewhere else, geez. Just thought you'd appreciate a spot close to the entrance, princess, especially with those wicked looking boots."

Kurt wanted to say something but he couldn't, he was stuck between being annoyed at Sebastian being so blasé about parking there and touched that Sebastian was thinking about him and his feet. "It's fine, I can walk in these if we have to." He chose style but he also made sure they were comfortable. He'd actually designed them himself, which was another thing he was kind of pleased by, Sebastian thought they were cool. Or that's how he was going to take the word 'wicked'.

Sebastian found a spot that wasn't too far away and they walked to the restaurant in companionable silence, Kurt was glad Sebastian wasn't annoyed too badly by moving to a more reasonable parking spot. Sebastian even slung his arm around Kurt's hips.

Sebastian had barely sat down at Kurt's favorite table when he was making faces again. "What is this? It all sounds so granola." He was looking at the menu.

"It's locally sourced, fresh, organic meals." Kurt pulled the menu from Sebastian's hands before he could make any more faces at the names and the ingredients. "I'll pick something for you." As long as it tasted good, Sebastian would be happy, happier still not knowing what was in it. "Any allergies?"

"Strawberries." Sebastian instead started looking over the wine menu. "Will this even taste ok with that stuff?"

"Yes." Kurt was starting to get annoyed again and already rethinking coming here, he was wrong, he shouldn't have brought Sebastian. If he continued on this way, Kurt may no longer be welcome or feel comfortable coming back. "Please don't talk this way in front of the waiter."

"Ugh, a waiter is going to take our drink order?" Sebastian scowled and Kurt shot him a cutting look which made Sebastian drop the scowl and look a bit abashed. Kurt's words added to that look.

"You drink nasty beer and eat cheap pizza most days of the week. You do not get to diss on my favorite restaurant."

"I didn't know you were such an environmentalist." Sebastian found his snark again after a moment of hesitation, the fighting between them hadn't lessened now that they were 'dating', it was just sliced in between make-out sessions and genuine moments of niceness between the two of them. "While I eat and drink that with the boys, if I go to a restaurant, I expect certain things and a sommelier is one of them."

Kurt's lips pressed together, finding this all a huge mistake and wondering if he could get Sebastian out of here without a scene and to have his apology accepted for leaving so abruptly when he came back next. What did he really even see in Sebastian other than a hot body and pretty face? "I'm sorry not all of us can drive here in a car that daddy bought us and wipe our asses with hundred dollar bills."

"I worked for that car." Sebastian defended, now getting offended himself, but still totally missing the point.

"Really? Where? For how long?" Kurt knew exactly how much that vehicle ran as a base model and knew that the price only went up from there and the base price was astronomical.

"I worked for my grandfather for a month-."

Kurt snorted, cutting Sebastian off. "Of course, a month." Kurt grumbled to himself and started getting up. "You're such a hard worker, Sebastian, I'm sorry I ever doubted you. A month's work is definitely enough to sustain you for the rest of your life. Let's just continue to take it easy, perhaps back at the dorm?" The derision just dripped off of him. The car that Sebastian bought at full price, probably absolutely brand new would support some people for the rest of their lives. In some countries would probably support several generations. But even here in the US, with properly planning, someone could live comfortably for the remainder of many decades without having to work another day in their life.

"Where the hell are you going?" Sebastian's hand reached out for Kurt's and instead his fingers curled gently around Kurt's wrist.

"Home!" Kurt hissed and yanked his arm away from Sebastian, there was no resistance, Sebastian didn't fight him on his action. It distracted Kurt for a moment, that was a nice change of pace. He'd broken a wrist doing that once.

"Why? I thought were coming here for a nice evening out."

"I thought so too but all you've done is criticize everything."

"You have too." Sebastian pointed out moodily. "My car, my parking, my work experience."

"Oh." Kurt sank back into his seat. "I didn't realize I was doing that." He frowned in thought. "I didn't criticize your car."

"Oh yeah you did." Sebastian shook his head. "I saw your face when I pulled up and how you eyed it before getting in."

Kurt sighed. "I'm sorry Bas, I didn't know you saw that. It's a very nice car. There's nothing wrong with it or you driving it."

"Except that it's me driving it?" Sebastian checked and Kurt shook his head. "Then what?"

"Having your vanity plate be your name and a nod toward the car, that's what I was kind of... appalled by."

Sebastian looked at him in disbelief. "My... vanity plate?"

"Yeah, it's not very creative and I know you could have come up with something a lot better than that."

"Like Dickweed?" Sebastian teased and Kurt gave a genuine burst of laughter.

"Yeah, ok, not so creative there either."

"Oh no, I like it, it's very original and it's a smart play on words. It got me good the first couple of times I heard it."

"Really?" Kurt hadn't thought anything phased him.

"Yeah." Sebastian hesitantly reached out again toward Kurt and when Kurt didn't pull his hand back, Sebastian rested his over Kurt's, his thumb rubbing against Kurt's palm. "I am sorry for being an ass about this place. I'll give it a real chance."

"Ok, that's all I ask. Well that and to be nice to the staff." Kurt settled down, feeling a bit better about all of this again.

Things were going back to status quo up until Liam greeted him with a huge hug and held on tight and perhaps a bit too long. Sebastian's face was priceless when they turned to him and Kurt introduced the two.

"Hmm... did you two fuck?" Sebastian and Kurt gasped in outrage while Liam choked in shock. "So... yes." Sebastian thought he'd answered his own question.

"No." Kurt found his voice and rubbed Liam's shoulder in comfort but Liam was blushing and looking a little embarrassed and a little less comfortable with Kurt so close.

"But you want to." Sebastian eyed Liam a little differently this time. "I mean, Kurt's a prude so I don't know why I thought he'd have actually gotten it on with you."

"Sebastian-."

"Bas." Sebastian corrected, his eyes swinging to Kurt with a little bit of annoyance. "It's what you call me but twice today you've called me by my given name. You haven't done that for quite some time."

"Yeah because Bas implies a little bit of affection toward you and right now I'm not feeling that way."

"Why? Because I was offering to have a threesome if you were open to it?" Kurt rolled his eyes and Liam was having trouble breathing again. That was far more on par for Sebastian and he wasn't offended any more.

"Yeah, ok, let's do it." Kurt watched Sebastian's jaw drop. "Wouldn't be my first, nor the first time with people I've never slept with before."

Sebastian started to scowl now. "Not funny."

"But true." Kurt raised a brow. "What? Backing out of it now?"

"Fine, you called my bluff."

"Have you never had a threesome?" Kurt questioned and Liam whispered that he'd be back and beat a hasty retreat. Kurt ignored him to keep close watch on Sebastian.

"I have had more than three in a bed before." Sebastian defended himself.

"I'm well aware of the orgies." Kurt shook his head. "You left one to chase after me to ask me out. That is kind of surprising, actually."

"Groups are fun and all." Sebastian shrugged but didn't elaborate on it. Kurt narrowed his eyes, why was Sebastian always being so ambiguous?

Liam was back and cleared his throat awkwardly and so Kurt didn't press Sebastian on what he meant by that. "What can I get started for you?" He was pointedly not looking at either of them and Kurt knew he wouldn't be able to come back here again.

"We'll take a bottle." Sebastian pointed to a wine on the list, as if he thought maybe Liam wouldn't be able to understand if he just said the name of it. Kurt was getting a bit riled up again, Liam didn't just work here, his family owned the place. He knew the menu and everything on offer any day of the week in incredible detail, including where they got their produce and products from. Liam's brows rose in surprise and he leaned in to whisper in Sebastian's ear. "Is that a lot?" Sebastian looked genuinely perplexed.

Liam coughed and glanced over at Kurt who shrugged. "Ok, I'll get that bottle."

"How much did he say?" Kurt asked when Liam was gone, snagging the wine list and looking to see what the most expensive bottle was on the list. The prices went up to about $50 but there were a lot on there that didn't have prices at all. Kurt frowned, wondering which Sebastian could have ordered. He hadn't noticed the blank prices before, he thought only really expensive restaurants did that.

"I've already forgotten." Sebastian shrugged and pointed out the wine he chose. "Can you pair anything on the menu with that?"

Kurt looked at it, trying to commit the name to memory so he could look it up later. He also looked at the flavors it boasted and nodded. "Easy." Neither were carded nor expected to be even though he was pretty sure the owners knew about how old he was. If he'd brought a rowdy group of people in, they might have protested. Instead, it was a date and they were chill, even if Sebastian wasn't in a lot of ways for some reason today. Sure, outwardly he was but he was behaving strangely.

Liam came back with their wine and asked about food. Kurt ordered for the two of them and then after a couple of sips, excused himself to the bathroom to figure out exactly what he was drinking. He was floored when he saw the price tag of $800, it was more than his cellphone. He groaned into his hands wondering why Sebastian was being so flaunty the last couple of weeks about his wealth. It's not what had drawn Kurt to him and other than the free cleaning service, had not noticed it as much except for the fact Sebastian did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted with whomever he wanted.

He would have to talk to Sebastian about this when they got back to the dorm and put a curb to this. Sebastian could use his wealth how he saw fit but Kurt didn't need it to stay in a relationship with him. He would make sure Sebastian understood that.

There wasn't much he could do about the extravagant wine order, it was already opened and poured and they'd just have to enjoy it. He'd suggest something far cheaper if they ordered a second bottle, but he doubted they'd provide it since Sebastian drove and they were underage.

He rejoined Sebastian and focused on making tonight enjoyable.

After another awkward conversation that night about Sebastian splashing out his wealth like he had been, they kind returned to a neutral footing. Sebastian still went out with his boys and Kurt hung out with his friends but their dates were a lot more reasonable and fun and they still argued but it became more and more like bickering.

They even acted like a couple around Kurt's friends and did group activities. Sebastian invited Kurt out with him and his buddies and sometimes Kurt said yes and sometimes he said no. He still worked while attending school and tried hard to keep his grades up.

One night he said no and Sebastian tried to distract him instead but Kurt pushed him away but with a kiss to take the sting out of it. They'd gotten intimate but Kurt really had to study, he had a test the next day otherwise he might have given in. "Go hang with your friends."

"I wish they were your friends too." Sebastian said a bit sadly and Kurt wanted to point out that Sebastian was better than them but he didn't want to criticize and he didn't want to be criticized for his friends either. Sebastian had liked his friends and got along well with them. He didn't even know that he hung out with one of Kurt's one time threesome from that party. Still, Kurt wasn't all that friendly with the likes of Logan and Jonah. They didn't like Kurt, liked him less now that Sebastian was off the market and it went both ways.

"Maybe, some day." Kurt said noncommittally, when he first met Sebastian, he hadn't thought they'd get along much less date exclusively. That was something Kurt had made sure to specify pretty early on, that they were not going to date others unless both agreed to it. Sebastian had been pretty relax about agreeing.

Sebastian nodded and darted in for another kiss before he headed out to join his braying friends. Kurt put his headphones on, trying to drown them out, he could still hear them on the far side of the hallway.

He didn't know what time it was when he heard the door slam open and then closed again. He jerked awake, groaning at the kink in his neck. He'd fallen asleep on his books and was pretty out of it when Sebastian's mouth landed on his in greeting. Sebastian was super drunk as it barely made contact with Kurt's, he got more of Kurt's cheek than his mouth and his tongue slid against skin rather than into his mouth. It was kind of funny and gross at the same time and Kurt discretely wiped his face off even as Sebastian went over to crash onto his chair. His buddies landed on Sebastian's bed and they continued to drink and laugh loudly and make inappropriate jokes, including fart sounds.

Kurt closed his eyes briefly before deciding he'd had it for the night. He wasn't going to get any more studying done and he would probably not get much sleep. He thumbed the screen of his phone, wondering if it was too late to see if he could crash at a friend's on campus. They kept better sleeping hours. It was too late but he had a few that would let him no matter what time it was. He even had a key to a couple off campus. They'd taken pity on him.

"What are you studying?" Jonah popped over to his desk, nearly scaring him out of his skin.

"Nothing." Kurt started to close his laptop but Jonah was trying to pull it over toward him to look. "I'm just going to put it away."

"No, no, I want to see what kept you from being Sebastian's nanny tonight." Jonah laughed and Logan chortled across the room, finding it hilarious. Sebastian was half asleep in his chair and only managed a half-hearted chuckle, not really hearing or getting it.

"I'm not his nanny." Kurt rolled his eyes. "I don't tell him what to do or not to do." Kurt tugged the laptop toward him and managed to close it. He was pretty sure everything was saved.

"Ok, fine, a wet blanket then. He's far less fun when you're around and when you're not he's not as fun as he used to be."

Sebastian mumbled something but he was curled up in his chair now and mostly passed out now. "Whatever, I'm heading out. You guys can have fun here and I won't be putting a damper on it."

"Open it back up, I want to see what was more important than my buddy." Jonah ripped it out of Kurt's hands but he was far too drunk to realize his own strength and pulled far too hard and it went flying. Kurt attempted to catch it, even skidding along the floor on his stomach but he wasn't an athlete and he was widely off from where it landed. Rather, where it crashed and shattered.

Sebastian jerked awake at the noise and looked around in confusion. Kurt tried really hard not to break down sobbing or give away just how upset he was about this new situation. Jonah for his part did look a bit shell-shocked at the utter destruction of his laptop.

Kurt didn't know what to do at first. "Gee, calm down, it's just a laptop. Your parents can buy you a new one." Logan waved it off and cracked open another beer and tossed a closed one to Jonah who caught it and opened it in a bit of a daze still. Foam got all over their floor. Kurt couldn't think about that right now.

His dad had saved up over his last year of high school to be able to afford it and it had been a surprise gift. He had already saved Kurt's whole life to help send him to school. The laptop had truly been unexpected. Kurt knew his dad thought his major was BS and wanted him to do something more grounded in reality, which is why he was doubling in business and had seen the logic in that too, so was actually interested in those classes.

He had so many papers on this computer, only a few were saved to the cloud and a few were in emails he'd sent to his professors to get their opinion on topics and his first draft. A few others to friends for their advice/edits. He swallowed hard and gathered up the pieces and set them back on his desk to deal with later. Right now, he just had to get out of here. He didn't trust his voice, already tears were clogging up his throat and threatening to spill.

He just grabbed his phone and his overnight bag which he hadn't had to use for awhile and shoved his feet into shoes. He didn't look at them as he was nearly blind now and reached for the door.
"Kurt?" Sebastian asked in confusion and Kurt was so glad he didn't call him princess just then.

Kurt sent a wave toward him and headed out into the hallway and was nearly at the front door when Sebastian cursed, having run into something in his effort to chase after him while absolutely smashed.

"Kurt!" Sebastian's hands found their way to Kurt's shoulders and turned him back around. "Look- Jonah's sorry and Logan's a tool-."

"Stop." Kurt tried to pull away but this time Sebastian wasn't letting him go as easily. "Let me go."

"Why are you always running away from me?" Sebastian pulled him closer. "I don't do the chasing."

"But you're still the predator." Kurt muttered. He certainly felt like a prey that had been mostly devoured and then left to rot and be pecked at by vultures.

"I'm not." Sebastian wrapped his arms around Kurt. "I don't want you to leave anymore." Sebastian pressed his face into Kurt's hair. "I shouldn't have brought them back with me."

"No, you shouldn't have." Kurt had a test which Sebastian was far too aware of but thankfully he was seeing the error in his actions.

"I won't bring them over anymore." Sebastian vowed. "And I shouldn't have gotten as drunk as I have."

"Will you even remember this tomorrow?"

"I sobered up pretty quickly when I heard the three of you and saw that debris on the ground." Sebastian explained. "I'll remember."

Kurt decided to believe him. "Ok."

"Come back in, I'll send them home." Sebastian tried to entice but Kurt was feeling too wobbly to do so with them anywhere in his vicinity right now.

"I'm going to go." Kurt said and gently pulled himself away and this time Sebastian let him. Kurt reached up and cradled Sebastian's face in his hand. "But I'll be back tomorrow."

Sebastian nodded and pressed his forehead against Kurt's. "I'll make some changes."

"I don't want to change you." Kurt shook his head, forehead rubbing against Sebastian's. "I like you how you are."

"I know, but change is inevitable and while you're not asking it of me, I know what I need to change and I want to. I'm accepting influence." He smiled at Kurt with a teasing hint to it.

"Did you get that from your psych 101 book?" Kurt teased back.

"Psych102, actually." Sebastian's smile was genuine and large and they both knew they were ok. "Are you sure I can't lure you back into our dorm?"

"I'm sure." Kurt pressed a kiss to Sebastian's mouth. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Kurt crashed at a friend's off campus. He had a standing invitation to the couch and he took them up on the invitation. He didn't stay long, having pulled the blankets and pillow cases from the closet. He put them all back where they belonged, the pillowcases in the washer, ready for the next load. He went to classes and prayed that he passed his test and started to seriously think about what to do about his whole semester thus far of work.

He let himself into the dorm, knowing Sebastian had class for another two hours. He looked at the pristine dorm room, knowing that the service had been through already and it didn't smell like beer. He always loved when he first walked in and things were just in their places, neat and tidy. Then he nearly had a panic attack when the pieces of his laptop were gone. He calmed down after a frantic search in the trash can and along his own belongings. He hadn't noticed the new laptop sitting shiny and pretty on top of his desk with a bow and next to it an external hard-drive that was sitting on a letter.

He pulled the letter out and quickly scanned it and then read it a little slower.

Princess, he really had to tell Sebastian to cut that out. He had let it go on far too long even though he had protested the name at one point. As expected, Sebastian just used it more often and more pointedly, and that was after they'd been dating for awhile.

Princess,

I know it will never be able to take the importance that your original one held. I hope that I was able to extract all the information off of your old hard-drive. I stored the information I could find onto both the external hard-drive and the laptop with 4x the memory of your old one and a much faster processing speed. You could stream three movies and play five interactive, interconnected games at the same time with this one.

With love,

Bas

Kurt stared at that final sign off. Sebastian had never said that word before. He thought it was too early to even start thinking that way. Now that it was out there though, Kurt was realizing that he'd been feeling that way too. Somehow he had fallen in love with the inconsiderate, rich asshole. But as this new laptop had shown, he wasn't completely without a heart; and Kurt wouldn't change a thing about him.

He hugged the letter to his chest and thought about how to surprise Sebastian in return and be ready by the time he got back from his classes. Then Kurt shook his head, wondering why he was thinking so hard. In some ways Sebastian was incredibly simple and he knew exactly what Sebastian would appreciate the most and it would cost very little and would include Kurt's favorite word when it came to Sebastian.