“You should have heard him, Seb. He just killed the song. I can't believe that Mr. Schuester never gives him a competition solo. So much talent just going to waste over there.” Blaine curled his lip in disgust, picking at a french fry.

“Who's Mr. Schubert?” Sebastian said idly, cutting into his steak.

“It's Mr. Schuester, and he's the director of the glee club at Kurt's school,” Blaine frowned across the table at his boyfriend. “I've talked about him before, lots of times.”

“Oh, right, of course,” Sebastian said, sitting upright. “I'm sorry, you now have my undivided attention.” He shot a confident, dazzling smile at Blaine.

Blaine's frown softened but didn't disappear completely. He took a bite of his hamburger thoughtfully.

“Like I was saying,” he said after taking a sip of water, “It's just appalling how Kurt gets overlooked sometimes. He's... he's incredible. His voice is so unique, and he has this positive energy...” Blaine trailed off in response to the odd look Sebastian was giving him. “What?”

“You talk about Kurt a lot,” Sebastian said roughly. “It sounds like you two have been spending a lot of time together lately.”

“You almost sound jealous,” Blaine said, raising an eyebrow. “You know you have nothing to worry about. I'm committed to this relationship one hundred percent. I've never given you any reason not to trust me. Kurt's gone through some rough times lately and I'm glad I could be there for him. That's all.”

Sebastian stabbed his steak savagely. Some quote about protesting too much sprang to mind, but he didn't say it out loud. “That's right, you texted me a while back about some problems he was having with a jock... a forced kiss? Has that gotten better for him?”

“Yeah, actually,” Blaine said, perking up. “I felt really bad at first, because my advice to confront Karofsky seemed to backfire with that hate-kiss. But right after that, all the bullying stopped. Kurt doesn't even get slushied anymore. I'm glad I could help him.” The corner of Blaine's mouth turned up in a contemplative smile as he dragged another french fry through the pool of ketchup on his plate.

“All the same, perhaps it's time you stopped being quite so involved in Kurt's life? He's a big boy, and I'm sure he can handle the jocks and divas by himself.” Sebastian took a bite of his steak, squinting a little at Blaine in an effort to ascertain his reaction to the challenge.

“He's my best friend, Seb,” Blaine said softly.

“And you're my boyfriend. He doesn't need to get too attached,” Sebastian said flatly.

“That wouldn't be a problem if I could just tell him I have a boyfriend,” Blaine said, a sudden heat arising in his words. “Kurt would never interfere in our relationship if he knew about it.”

“Blaine, we've discussed this ad nauseum. Our private lives are our business, and I will not have us as the subject of idle gossip around school.”

“Kurt doesn't even go to Dalton,” Blaine protested. “I'm the only guy he even knows who goes there.”

“It's too big of a risk,” Sebastian snapped. He clenched and unclenched his jaw, before modulating his tone and continuing. “Nothing has changed. You have everything at that school, Blaine. I won't have my reputation dragging yours down. I care about you too much to see that happen.”

“Maybe mine could drag yours up?” Blaine said hopefully, winking nervously.

“It doesn't work that way, Blaine.” Sebastian composed himself, taking Blaine's hand across the table and speaking softly. “I'm eternally grateful to you for the positive change you've been in my life. You showed me what it means to love and be loved. Nothing about my prior life appeals to me anymore. But nobody will believe I've changed, and I refuse for my past mistakes to reflect badly on you.”

Blaine smiled softly, tears springing to his eyes. “Oh, Seb. Just when I think I have you figured out...”

Sebastian lifted Blaine's hand to his lips, brushing a kiss across his knuckles.

* * * * *

Sebastian sat down at his usual table in the Lima Bean, pulling his phone from his pocket to check his messages. He had last checked only ten minutes prior, so he was surprised to see a string of several texts in a row from Blaine. His eyes grew wide as he scrolled through the story. As he was reading the most recent text, another message, this one from Kurt, flashed on his screen.

He frowned as he read the text from Kurt abruptly canceling their tutoring session, which had been set to begin in fifteen minutes. Something was off about it, both the stilted language and the late notice of the cancellation. It was clear now that Blaine was right to be concerned. Sebastian hit the green button and held the phone to his ear.

“...Bas?” Kurt answered, his voice broken.

“Kurt, what's wrong?” Sebastian said evenly.

“I'm fine, I just can't come over.”

“Don't bullshit a bullshitter.” Sebastian snorted. “I mean... Kurt, I don't mean to be so blunt, but you can't fool me. This isn't like you. You don't have to tell me what's going on just yet, but where are you? Can I come to you?” Sebastian coaxed his voice into a velvet, soothing purr. A plan was formulating in his mind, but he had to see Kurt immediately if it was going to work.

“Bas, I can't, I...” Kurt fell silent, then a muffled sobbing was heard in the background.

“I'll be at your door in forty-five minutes,” Sebastian said, sliding a finger over the screen to end the call without waiting for a response.

Kurt opened his door forty-four minutes later, just ahead of Sebastian's knock. “Come up to my room, but be quiet about it. If anyone finds out about this, I will end you, preppy boy.”

Sebastian's eyes flew open at the casual threat, from Kurt of all people. He hadn't known the boy all that long, but he had never known him to be inclined to violence. He spoke softly. “Kitten has claws, I see. Okay then, lead the way.”

Kurt led Sebastian up to his room and shut the door carefully. Arms wrapped around himself, he turned to face the other boy, who had settled into Kurt's desk chair.

Kurt walked to the bed and sat down. He positioned himself close enough to Sebastian to touch, but didn't, sitting at an angle that allowed him to easily avoid the other boy's eyes. “I'm sorry I canceled our session,” he started slowly.

“Ce n'est pas grave,” Sebastian replied.

“But it's not fair to you. We have to keep up our tutoring sessions on a regular basis. How else will you ever learn French?” Kurt lifted his head to meet Sebastian's gaze with a teasing shine in his slightly red and puffy eyes.

“Je voulais vous voir. Now stop flirting and tell me what happened, Princess.”

Kurt huffed and turned red. “Why do you always have to make everything into a fucking joke, Sebastian?”

Sebastian frowned at the rebuke and reached out to rub Kurt's arm softly. “I'm sorry. I guess I do that, sometimes. I did want to see you, though. And I need to know what could have happened to bring so much sorrow to such a beautiful face.” He lifted his hand from Kurt's arm to caress his jawline, hooking a gentle finger under his chin to bring Kurt's eyes up to meet his own.

“Stop it. I mean it, I've had enough of your jokes,” Kurt said warily.

Sebastian's voice came out in a hushed whisper. “No joke,” he said. Sebastian move the finger he had curled under Kurt's chin up to stroke his cheek.

“Bas...” Kurt looked at him with wondering eyes, seeing him anew. There was also a moment of hesitation, a hint of fear in the blue orbs that were still showing tell-tale signs of tears.

Sebastian slid his hand to the back of Kurt's neck, tugging gently to close the gap between them. Their lips pressed together in a moment of pure warmth, one set firm and confident, the other soft and yielding. As Sebastian worked his mouth against Kurt's, deepening the kiss, the other boy sucked in his breath and melted into his touch, a shudder moving through him and gradually settling.

Sebastian pulled away slowly, pressing light kisses to Kurt's eyelids, cheeks and forehead. “My timing sucks. I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself,” he breathed.

“That's okay,” Kurt giggled nervously, “you, um, shouldn't try?”

Sebastian paused to absorb the words before chuckling. “Noted. Now, about what was bothering you...”

Kurt drew in his breath sharply, wetting his lips. “It doesn't seem as bad as it did a moment ago...” he said, “...but there's this guy at school who just won't leave me alone. Today, though,” Kurt pressed his eyes closed at the memory. “...today was different.”