Sebastian gets called in to the Dean's office, on a Friday afternoon, only two hours before he's supposed to leave for his usual weekend with Kurt, and he can more than guess who's to blame.

Sebastian strolls down the quiet hallway, feigning relaxed even though no one's around to see him in an attempt to keep his cool. He looks at the pink slip in his hand with mild disdain, but a slight aftertaste of cold creeping fear.

The Dean.

He's being sent to see the Dean.

It's not that Sebastian is particularly frightened of Dean Carmichael. After all, he's done nothing wrong. But there's still a healthy amount of dread behind being called to his office anyway.

"This is just high school. In the grand scheme of things, it means nothing," he repeats to himself with a calming breath, similar to the words he said when he blew off Jamie and Hunter.

He believed every word he threw at those two crap buckets, but whether high school matters or not, he still doesn't want to be expelled.

Sebastian inhales, ready to repeat those words again, but his internalized slogan becomes a realized groan. Hunter. Why didn't he think of it before? This has Hunter's foul stench all over it.

Sebastian hasn't necessarily been making an effort to play it straighter than usual at school, but he also hasn't really had the time to get into mischief. He's been far less of a presence on campus since he met Kurt. He hasn't pulled any pranks, hasn't blackmailed anyone, and he definitely hasn't been "fraternizing" with students after hours, something which he had been told on several occasions that Dalton Academy frowned upon. He's been maintaining his grades, keeping up his spot on the lacrosse team and in The Warblers, but otherwise he's a ghost at Dalton. He hasn't caused any kind of stir or done anything untoward, so the only explanation for why he's being yanked out of history class on a Friday afternoon and sent to see the Dean is Hunter. Hunter, with the help of Jamie and God knows who else, must have said something.

Intimidation tactic part two.

It would seem that Hunter is getting desperate if he thinks this is going to rattle Sebastian, though why he's trying so hard to keep Sebastian in line is the answer that keeps eluding him. Why does Hunter care so God dammed much what Sebastian does outside of school? What does he have invested in keeping Sebastian under his thumb?

Sebastian approaches the office and waves hello to Belinda, the receptionist - a rail thin woman in her early fifties with pale green eyes, pale pink skin, and pale, frothy blonde hair - sitting at a desk outside the door. She smiles warmly, greeting him with a, "Hello, Sebastian. Long time, no see."

"Shocking, I know," he responds with a wink. He holds up his pink slip. "I'm here to see the Dean."

"Yes, he's expecting you," she says, nodding towards the door. "Go right on in, dear."

Sebastian looks at the door and sighs, the flimsy piece of paper feeling heavy in his hand. He doesn't need this. In two short hours, he would have been out of class, in his car, and on his way to see Kurt. He doesn't need the delay. He doesn't want to be punished when he hasn't done anything wrong, or have a privilege taken away because of Hunter, that little turd-burglar.

Sebastian has to question if Hunter knows that. If he does, he probably planned for it.

Sebastian wonders how much Hunter knows about him and Kurt…and how he gets his information.

Belinda had told Sebastian to walk on in, but he doesn't feel right doing so without knocking. It's a habit his father ingrained in him, never to walk into his office without announcing himself first. His father is a strict man, but Sebastian wasn't ever disciplined for forgetting. But his father has a way about him. Sebastian knows his father loves him, but there's still something kind of intimidating about him, something that makes him difficult to talk to.

Sebastian doesn't like disappointing him, which is another reason he's not too thrilled with this meeting. The last time Sebastian saw his father, to discuss the building Sebastian wanted as his graduation gift, he seemed so proud of Sebastian. Sebastian doesn't feel like fucking that up.

Sebastian gives the door three raps.

"Come in, Sebastian."

Sebastian takes one last look at Belinda smiling sympathetically up at him, then opens the door and walks inside. This feels exactly like going into his dad's office at home – the same wood door, the same wood furniture, the same desk, the same chairs. Sebastian's dad was a Dalton boy once. He probably took his design cues from here after he left, the classic look of success.

"Good afternoon, Sebastian." The man behind the desk rises to greet him, and Sebastian's sense of déjà vu intensifies since Dean Carmichael even sort of reminds Sebastian of his dad – same spattering of white threaded throughout his brown hair, marking him as distinguished since these aging men of business never simply grew old; similar stature, tall and lean, with enviable posture; and critical green eyes peering out from behind the lenses of wire-rimmed glasses, the frames sleek and understated despite their exorbitant price tag. He extends a hand to Sebastian, and Sebastian shakes it.

"Good afternoon, Dean Carmichael."

"Thank you for coming to see me."

Sebastian holds back a smirk. Thank you for coming to see me. Dean Carmichael always says that, as if this were some kind of casual lunch date. Was that pink slip an invitation for coffee and chit-chat? Did Sebastian really have a choice as to whether or not he could go? Because if he did, God knows he wouldn't be there.

"Why don't you take a seat," the Dean says. "There's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"What is it, sir?" Sebastian grimaces when he calls the Dean sir. He had never really given any thought to calling the Dean, or anyone, sir before. It was a title, nothing more. Just a common way of showing respect.

But having Kurt as his Master, his Dom, his one and only, Sebastian doesn't like throwing that title around.

He doesn't like using it for anyone else. Not everyone deserves it.

"I don't want to beat around the bush," the Dean starts. "You're an intelligent, rational young man, and I would like to treat you as one, so I'm just going to come out and say what I have to say."

"Okay," Sebastian says.

"It's been brought to my attention that you may be hurting yourself. Or that someone else may be hurting you."

Sebastian absorbs this revelation slowly. He kind of suspected that was what this meeting would be about, but he somehow wasn't prepared to hear that sentence come from the mouth of Dean Carmichael.

"May I ask why you think this?" Sebastian asks.

"Several of your classmates have reported seeing marks on your back and legs, specifically ones that they describe as burns and bruises."

Sebastian nods, wondering how much wiggle room he has here to get some information. "Would you mind my asking who told you this?"

"I'm not at liberty to reveal my sources," the Dean says, utterly nonplussed, "but if you are involved in something, or with someone, that is hurting you, then I need to know about it as soon as possible."

Sebastian is tempted to roll his eyes, but regardless of what he has or has not done, he's really not in a position to defy the Dean.

He wants to make it to Kurt's house on time.

Sebastian can't remember the last time he was called to the Dean's office or why, but honestly, Sebastian only has himself to blame for this one. He did tell Hunter to do whatever it was he was going to do, and he obviously did it. Sebastian loathes Hunter. He likes to poke fun at Hunter's intelligence behind his back, but he knows that Hunter's not an idiot. This attempt is stupid, but it's less lame than trying to get him back together with Jamie, something Hunter probably knew from the get-go had no chance of actually succeeding, so it can't be the only thing in his arsenal.

His attacks must get progressively worse from here. This has to be some kind of warning.

Still, Sebastian can't find a reason to worry. He knows in the end that he's virtually untouchable, but he doesn't like being fucked with.

And above all, he won't let Hunter fuck with Kurt.

"Look…" Sebastian sighs, hating the position he's in, hating Hunter with a burning passion for putting him in this situation. "I'm eighteen-years-old, which means that I'm a legal adult. And what I do with my body or who I see is my business."

"Yes," the Dean agrees, "but you are a full time resident here at Dalton. Your parents pay us to educate you, but we also assume the responsibility of looking after your health and ensuring your safety."

"While I'm at Dalton," Sebastian says. "But the marks that these students claim they've seen…" Sebastian pauses for a breath to calm his suddenly racing heart. He can't afford to get riled up over this. "I promise you that if they do exist, they didn't happen on school grounds. Otherwise, I swear, I would have come to you. So you have nothing to worry about."

"Then, just for my own peace of mind, could you enlighten me as to the source of these marks?"

Sebastian swallows. "If it's all the same to you, I'd rather not."

"Sebastian" - The Dean sits up straighter, but it doesn't give him much leverage as he and Sebastian are close to the same height - "you're not just any student here at Dalton. You have been with us for the past three-and-a-half years, and you attended our preparatory school before that. I would like to think that makes us a part of your family. So as a concerned family member, please, tell me why I have nothing to worry about?"

Sebastian thinks about the Dean's question, considers the implications of giving him an honest answer. It would be the easiest thing for him to do. He's not above lying to Dean Carmichael to protect himself and Kurt, but it would be nice if he didn't have to.

"You can't make me tell you."

The Dean raises a brow at Sebastian's polite but firm tone. "You're right," he agrees. "I can't. "

Score one point for me, Sebastian thinks, feeling the tiniest bit relieved. The Dean agreed, which is something, but he hasn't dismissed Sebastian yet, and that puts them at somewhat of a stalemate. The next move is Sebastian's, and the Dean is not going to let him leave until he makes it.

"Alright," Sebastian says, eager to move the conversation along and get the hell out of there. "I'm not going to pussyfoot around because I don't want to insult your intelligence."

"I appreciate that," the Dean says, looking triumphant.

"So I'm going to be honest," Sebastian continues, the confidence in his voice wavering. "Uncomfortably…honest."

The Dean's eyes open wide. "Alright. Go ahead."

"I have…a boyfriend," Sebastian says, for lack of a more accurate, less scandalous term than Dominant. "An older boyfriend. And he has…particular tastes. Tastes that I share." Sebastian watches as the Dean's face goes from curious, to concerned, to blank. "We have a consensual relationship," Sebastian hurries to fill in, "and that extends to any hypothetical marks."

The Dean folds his hands on his desk, fingers locked together tight. He taps the edge of his blotter with the knuckle of his pinkie finger as he calculates his next move. "I see," he says. "You know, far be it for me to criticize the nature of your relationship, but I would think that, being a Dalton student, you might pursue a different caliber of gentleman."

"Actually, Dean Carmichael" - Sebastian glances down at his lap, at the starched cuff of his white dress shirt covering his wrist, concealing some impressive rope burns, and chuckles at the irony – "he happens to be a Dalton alum."

Dean Carmichael huffs. "I find that hard to believe." His eyebrows lift, as if he's had a thought, but it disappears just as quickly without Sebastian noticing the change.

"Well, believe it or not, it's the truth." Sebastian shrugs. "I don't have a reason to lie to you about that, sir."

"I see." The Dean pulls off his glasses and rubs his eyes in a display of minor frustration. "Well, as much as I would like to discourage you from continuing a relationship that causes you bodily injury, there's really nothing I can do to stop you. You're right. You're a legal adult, and regardless of a few blights with regard to your behavior over the last few years, you are an exceptional pupil. Dalton has been fortunate to count you among her students."

Sebastian smiles humbly. In all his time at Dalton Academy, no one has ever said that to him.

"Thank you, sir. That means a lot coming from you."

"So I will have to defer to your judgement…for now. But if this relationship interferes with your health or your studies, I might find a need to intervene."

"Understood, sir." Sebastian bites the corner of his lip. He's not comfortable revealing too much about his private life to the Dalton Academy Dean of Students, but he wants this matter put to rest. "But so you know, I have been seeing this man since the beginning of the school year, and neither you nor my teachers have heard about it until now. If I were you, I might consider the source of your information."

The Dean nods. "Fair enough." He tears a sheet from a notepad on his desk, a memo that had apparently been written out and signed before Sebastian arrived. "Give this to your professor when you return to class. You may go."

"Thank you, sir." Sebastian takes the note from the Dean's hand and rises from his seat. He takes a moment to shake the Dean's hand, but he feels like bolting for the door. That was literally the most uncomfortable meeting of his life, including the time about three years ago when his father decided they needed to have the talk. Little did his dad know that Sebastian had been having sex for over a year prior to that discussion, but Sebastian didn't have the power to stop him.

Sebastian heads for the door, having to consciously focus on not breaking into a run. Behind him, Sebastian hears the Dean shuffling about his desk and assumes he's going back to whatever it is he does during the school day, until he hears the man clear his throat.

Then he knows something else is coming.

"Mr. Smythe?"

Sebastian stops in his tracks, a mere foot from the door.

Damn.

"Yes, sir?"

"Would you indulge me one more time and answer a final question for me?"

Sebastian doesn't want to stop. He's so close to freedom. But if this clears things up enough that he doesn't get sent here again, then it'll be worth the inconvenience of a few more minutes.

"Absolutely. What is it, sir?"

"Why would you enter in to such a relationship?" Dean Carmichael asks. "More importantly, why would you continue it?"

Sebastian has an answer. Lately, it's become the easiest question in the world to answer. He's said it to himself dozens of times, said it to the mirror as he gets dressed, going over in his head the occasion which he'll be able to say it to Kurt for the first time. But he hasn't ever said it out loud where someone else can hear. Now might be a good time to test it out, to see if it's convincing to someone other than him.

"Honestly, sir?"

"Of course, Mr. Smythe."

"Because" – A smile slips on to Sebastian's lips before he's aware of it, his usual poker face completely gone. God, he can't believe he's about to say this, especially not to the Dean – "I love him."

The Dean hmphs, but it's such a non-committal sound that Sebastian doesn't know if he accepts that as an answer…or if he's disappointed.

Sebastian doesn't care. He's simply curious.

"Very well, Mr. Smythe," the Dean says. He doesn't appear too happy about the way this conversation has ended, but with Sebastian being a legal adult who doesn't appear to be in any danger, certainly not in the way it was made out to him, there's very little he can do. "You may return to class. Thank you for your time."

"Thank you, Dean Carmichael," Sebastian says, rushing out the door and breathing a sigh of relief that he got out of this unscathed. In reality, the Dean didn't have to be as lenient as he was. Dalton's policy that allows students to anonymously report a fellow student who might be in danger from themselves or others actually gives Dean Carmichael a fair amount of legal authority. Sebastian was holding hard to the fact that his being a legal adult was his ace in the hole, his immunity, but the Dean could have called in Sebastian's parents.

He could have brought in the police.

Fucking Hunter, and his fucking interfering into Sebastian's life. This is only Hunter's second attempt to screw with him, but Sebastian has already had enough. One way or another, Sebastian is going to have to find a way of dealing with him.