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sunmontueRating: NC17/M
Word count: ~5,000
Summary: AU from the start of Season 2. Sebastian Smythe is a new transfer student to the halls of McKinley. Kurt feels assaulted from all sides and has to make a deal with an unlikely ally in order to survive his year at school.
Pairing: Kurt Hummel/Dave Karofsky (male/male slash etc.)
Author's note: Written for a prompt on the Glee Kink Meme. The prompt itself is a page long, so I will include it at the bottom. This is actually my new WIP, not "Into the light" – looks like I'll be working on two at once.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee.
PROLOGUE
A new year.
New beginnings.
He breathes in the smell of the weird citrus scented cleaner that the janitor uses and wrinkles his nose. Okay. So maybe he didn't miss school that much. The hallway is busy, students streaming in and out of classes, pieces of paper clutched in their hands with new locker combinations, class schedules. It's a mixture of chaos, partially organized and there's so many new faces. It feels good to be one higher up on the food chain and he has high hopes for his Junior year.
He jumps when he feels a hand grasp his ass cheek and he turns so fast, trying to see who just had the audacity to touch him. No one is looking at him, no more than the usual glances he receives anyway. He swallows convulsively, wondering if it was just a mistake, an accidental brush, whether he's just being paranoid. That's it. He's being paranoid. He let's out a short huff of breath and spies Mercedes across the hall and up a bit, struggling with her locker combination and an armful of books. He perks up, closes his locker and heads over to her just in time to be slammed against the wall of lockers. Ow ow ow. Sharp stinging pain as a combination lock jabs him in a shoulder blade and he sees the letterman-clad backs disappear down the hallway in echoes of laughter.
He sucks in a deep breath and rolls his eyes. He'd hoped, naively, that people would be more mature in Junior year. Apparently not. He feels slightly disheartened by the fact, because school hasn't even started and he may have already been inappropriately groped and then slammed into a locker. Wonderful start to the year. He takes Mercedes books from her with a smile, deliberately distracting himself from the now throbbing pain in his shoulder. She thanks him gratefully and they head off to homeroom, and he's glad 'H' and 'J' fall together so closely in the alphabet.
He's already studied his class schedule, feels confident about his classes this year, wants this year to be better than the last. It has to be. Things can only improve. He has friends in the Glee Club now, he didn't get tossed into a dumpster this morning, and well…it has to be better. It's like a mantra he repeats in his head. He has Glee, and that got him through last year, and he knows it'll help him get through this year as well if everything turns to custard.
Kurt knows all the boys in the school, except for the freshman, and really, they're below his social radar now that he's a junior. There are a couple of faces he doesn't recognize, some people who have apparently morphed into butterflies over the summer break but on the whole everything feels remarkably the same. He's going to ignore the locker slamming Karofsky gave him earlier and hope that it's an anomaly although he's too cynical to really believe that. He passes by the club sign up sheets and notes that the Glee Club one is still starkly empty. The Cheerio line is out the door, the same as last year, although he suspects Coach Sylvester hires actors to make it look even more popular than it already is.
He hasn't needed to keep his guard up at all over summer, been able to relax and just do what ever he wants. So when Jacob Ben Israel pops up and shoves a microphone in his face, spouting questions that sound remarkably like accusations he fights his first instinct to take the microphone and bob Jacob on the nose with it. Instead he escapes into the nearest boy's bathroom. He locks himself in a stall and pulls out his phone. Sure, it's not the most sanitary of places, but he needs to know what ever it was the Jacob was going on about so he can construct a suitable rebuttal. He navigates to the blog and reads the article, followed by the comments. There are a lot of comments. All of them derogatory. His heart sinks. This year isn't going to be any different at all. It's blatantly clear from all the comments, some of them nasty and clearly aimed at him, that the Glee Club is still the lowest of the low.
He takes a deep steadying breath, determined that no one will see anything less than the cool façade he presents to the world. He will not get depressed or cry, despite how the comments have made him feel. And he hates the anonymity of the internet, how people just seem to let fly with every hateful thought with no idea of the possible consequences. Well. He's better than them. He knows he is. He lets himself out and checks himself in the mirror, and he looks good. He opens the door and as he suspected Jacob is still waiting and he launches into his attack.
"Say what you have to say to my face," he says, ending his tirade by staring defiantly into the camera. Of course that's when it happens, almost in slow motion, the wall of red ice flying towards his face and he doesn't even have time to flinch before Azimio Adams is welcoming him back and calling him Lady Face. Well, at least he knows now who that comment belongs to. He wipes the frozen drink from his face, and he knows his white shirt is ruined, but maybe he can dye it black and he turns to Jacob.
"Is there anyway you could cut that bit out?"
Jacob shakes his head and then picks a piece of ice off his shoulder and eats it. Jacob Ben Israel creeps him out.
FTY
Dave had agreed the moment Azimio had nudged him in the side and inclined his head towards Kurt Hummel as their first target of a welcome back slushy. He's come to realize a few things over summer, and he's not happy about them. He's pretty sure he'd still be oblivious to most of it, except… he's not, and it's all Hummel's fault. It had started when he'd seen Hummel at the mall, all he'd noticed was a tight little ass, wearing what he'd thought was a tunic dress or something weird, and then he'd looked up and seen Kurt Hummel's face.
He'd thought, no, he'd hoped it had been a one off, but almost unconsciously he'd started paying attention to the other boys, and had been horrified when he'd started getting hard one night thinking about a faceless male body sucking him off. Before his jerking off thoughts had always been faceless, almost androgynous figures, but now they're definitely male, and sometimes have Kurt Hummel's face, much to his combined horror and disgust. He only lets himself think about it at night, when he's alone in his bed and the rest of the world can't see him. Can't know. However every time he sees Hummel he's reminded of his nights, the fact that he's no longer normal, that he's suddenly… he can't even think the word.
He knows it's wrong, but the first shove into the locker on the first day back had made him feel powerful. In control. As if he could somehow get Hummel back for invading his thoughts and making him realize this uncomfortable truth about himself. One that he still can't acknowledge. The fact that Hummel seems so… unconcerned by everything, like nothing can touch him just drives Dave to prove him wrong. He can touch him, shove him in to lockers and force him to share some of Dave's frustration at the world in general.
FTY
He's heard enough. Mr Shuester complaining like he doesn't get it, doesn't get the whole high school hierarchy system.
"We get it Mr. Shue, everyone still hates us. So what? So we're plankton on the high school food chain. The only difference now is that none of us really care." Lies. Lies. Lies. He knows he looks indifferent though, is getting in a lot of practice already this week in learning to look like he doesn't give a damn.
"Kurt's right. We're a family. They can bring it all they want; nothing's going to break us," Mercedes says, and he feels a little warmth at her support, although he knows from their talks already this week that she feels the same as him.
He zones out, Mr Shue talking about bonding, but then he mentions numbers, the same thing they always seem to struggle with, and his attention snaps back to the room. They need more people. More people than just twelve, so if someone is sick they can still compete regardless. Mr Shue and Rachel start talking about numbers and walls of sound and he starts zoning out again.
"Now, here's the plan, Nationals are in New York this year, and we are going… Now let's go out and show the school how cool it's going to be. How cool we can be. If they're not going to come to us, let's go to them. They say we only sing shows tunes and eighties pop. Let's show them how down we are, let's give them the song of the year. New Directions style."
He doesn't buy it for a minute, and while the others are applauding he tries to at least look enthusiastic, but it's going to take more than a simple song in the quad to draw some new members.
FTY
He hasn't had enough time to acclimatize, but he's already seen his next…target. It's the same boy he saw earlier in the week, and he'd been dressed so tidily he'd known they played for the same team. Now though, the same boy is wearing tight black jeans, a black t-shirt with NEW YORK CITY emblazoned on it, his hair is mussed, sunglasses and fingerless gloves and he looks hot. Definitely his next target.
The group singing are okay, and at least they look like they are having fun. He can get with that. He's all about having fun. He's not really interested in the group and their singing ability though, he's more interested in the little hottie pushing the wheelchair and then dancing on one of the tables without a care in the world. He can't help but admire him, so unconsciously good looking, clearly unaware of how fucking hot he looks right now. The other student's attention is drawn to other group members coming in from different entries to the quad, but his eyes don't move. He needs to find out his name.
When the group finishes they're pretty much ignored. Huh. So not a popular group then. He'd be risking social suicide joining them, but he's pretty sure the quickest way into that guy's pants is going to be through the club. And he can always drop out of the club later. Although he knows he could show them a thing or too. He narrows his eyes in thought, he'd seen the empty sign up list. Maybe he can wow them with his voice and they'll all fall at his feet in fits of gratitude. He doesn't care about the group as a whole, but the idea of one boy falling to his knees in gratitude makes his body hum with suppressed sexual tension.
Oh yeah, he knows what he wants. Now he just has to get it.
FTY
When he feels a tap on his shoulder he turns around, expecting to see a team mate, or a teacher. The last person he expects is Rachel Berry. Or any member of the Glee Club for that matter, it's not like they're on good speaking terms, and it's only the first week back.
"Karofsky, I have a business proposition for you."
He takes a step back, instantly wary. She seems confident, in control, and not anywhere near intimidated enough. She's talking, a lot, but he's trying to remember, she has to dads, gay guys. Does that make her more adapt at spotting them? He frowns, suddenly worried and looks down to see her holding out two fifty dollar notes. He runs over what he can recall of her ranting, and most of it wasn't important, but…
"Wait. You're…paying me to slushy you?"
"You and Azimio. Together. You'll need three slushies, maybe four to make it look really good."
"You know we do it for free all the time right?"
"I am aware of this fact. However the three of us are your specific targets and there is a specific location. Do you think you can cope with this?"
"I…course. But…"
"Zip! No buts! Just do it, tomorrow, and remember to make sure the new girl is watching."
He blinks and watches her walk away, head held high and he shakes his head.
"That's one crazy bitch…"
FTY
Sebastian familiarizing himself with the layout of the school when he hears it, the starting strains of Billionaire, the voice is smooth, catchy and he moves to stand in the entry way to the choir room to listen. When the tall kid on drums starts and the wheelchair guy starts singing he enters the room. If the song suited the piano he'd be tempted to join in, instead he starts dancing with the Asian guy, simply offering up a backing harmony to the others, although he usually prefers the spotlight. They're all into it, like having a casual jamming session with friends and it's been a while since he's had so much fun, and maybe the group won't be so lame after all.
"That was… that was really cool…" Blonde boy says when it ends and Sebastian nods, agreeing.
"Nice… so you think you can come back and do that in front of everybody?" The guy behind the drums asks, and he gets the impression that maybe this guy is the leader of the group.
"Sure…"
"Definitely," Sebastian offers, although he's going to make sure they won't be able to say no.
FTY
They've been discussing Tina and Mike's new relationship status, something the couple haven't actually confirmed, but which is clearly obvious to anyone with two eyes in their head. He plays a couple of notes on the piano, wishes he could play properly. Mercedes is staring at something on his chest and he glances down quickly.
"So, is that a men's sweater?" Mercedes asks and Kurt holds back a sigh.
"Fashion has no gender."
Her mouth makes a little 'o' of understanding. He's going with understanding rather than confusion, and when Rachel walks in he bites back a groan. Drama drama. He can smell it from here. When the piano lid shuts, almost catching his and Mercedes fingers he exchanges a look and it's heartening to see exactly how he feels mirrored on Mercedes' face.
"Ladies, we have a problem. There is a new student at this school named Sunshine, who is a Fillipino and is shorter than me, which I didn't think was possible and is very unnerving."
"Okay, so I'm going to go now," Mercedes states, and stands to leave, and he feels a little hurt that she's so quick to abandon him to Rachel's level of crazy.
"Wait! And, she has a remarkable voice. I'm just, I'm very worried. You know, not, not for myself, but for my lesser glee clubbers who don't get as many solos."
Kurt can't help share a look with Mercedes again, can't believe that Rachel is so full of herself. He's against violence, but some days he really wants to just slap her silly.
"So, I've paid a hundred dollars to Azimio and Karofsky to brutally slushy us in front of Sunshine's locker, terrifying her, and ensuring she doesn't sign up."
What the hell? This is even crazy for Rachel. He looks at Mercedes again, and she's looking not only annoyed, but horrified. She's paid for them to get slushied? In what Universe is that normal?
"Okay, so this is the part where you're meant to be hugging me and thanking me…"
"That's awful. You're awful," Mercedes interjects, and she's pissed. At least it's not at him this time.
"But solos. I mean it – "
"Look, Rachel, Mercedes and I are about as self involved as they come, but more than anything we want to beat Vocal Adrenaline. And if there's someone at the school that can help us do that, they're in."
He knows he has to step in. Mercedes doesn't have quite the level of self control he does, is far more likely to give in to her impulses and actually slap her, where as he's already doing it, just in the privacy of his own mind.
"You know what? You're right."
Kurt stops. Does a double take. No. That was too easy. Suspiciously easy. He narrows his eyes as Rachel comes to stand between them, her arms reaching up to awkwardly embrace them around their shoulders.
"It's just so like me, to be totally blinded by my concern for the two of you. I'll go and talk to Sunshine now, and let her know how welcome she truly is."
What? Kurt mouths silently to Mercedes and she shrugs, she clearly has no idea either, and he still doesn't believe a word that Rachel has just told them.
FTY
He's never got the attraction of cat fights, and now he supposes he kind of knows why. He gets why they're fighting, Quinn replacing Santana as head Cheerio had been the talk of the locker room. As had Santana's boob job. Until the new coach had scared the living shit out of everyone. It's good. Great even. Everyone is too busy talking about other things to focus on him. Not that they ever really did anyway. It looks like it's going to be an all-out bitch fight until Mr. Shuester breaks them up and like the other football players standing around him he pretends to be disappointed, making a comment about needing to add mud as they walk away.
FTY
Every single click of the minute hand on the clock has been like a death knoll. The death of the Glee Club. At the outset Rachel was convinced that Sunshine would be turning up, and Finn convinced that some guys called Sam and Sebastian would also show. None of them have. Typical.
"Well, hate to break it to you, but it doesn't look like anyone is going to be joining us so I think we should call it a day."
"Well, we said three to five, it's only four fifty-eight."
Despite the protests, he agrees with the others, half who are already standing and moving towards the door. He stands as well, prepared to leave it for the day. They still have some time to find new members.
"Just wait. My buddy Sam's going to try out. He totally idolizes me. And Sebastian as well I suppose."
"Face it Finn. You're no longer the quarterback. You're not the pied-piper anymore, no ones going to follow you around thinking everything you do is cool," Kurt says, and he walking backwards, which is the only reason he bumps into… well. It's either Sam or Sebastian, because no female will ever look this good to him.
"Sorry, I didn't meant to bump in to you…" the new guy states, and he runs fingers up his arms on either side, sending a little shiver of awareness through his body. Hmm. He takes a step backward, unaccustomed to being touched, especially like that. In public. Or even in private.
"That's fine. It was more my fault anyway, walking backwards like that. As you can see, we were just leaving…"
"Am I too late to try out for Glee Club then? I'm Sebastian."
Sebastian. The guy is smiling at him, and he doesn't really register the look, although he's starting to think that maybe he's being flirted with. He doesn't know. He's never been flirted with before. It's kind of flattering. It's then that he registers the grin on Finn's face, the relieved look on Rachel's and Mr Shue's. Mercedes and Artie are both smirking at him and he knows his cheeks have probably pinked up a bit. The rest of the club has already gone, but there's five of them. Definitely enough to listen to an audition.
FTY
"So, can I have the pleasure of your name?"
"Oh. Sorry. I'm Kurt. Kurt Hummel. And to answer your other question it's definitely not too late to try out for Glee Club, is it guys?" he asks, turning to the others, who are all moving to sit and watch. Finn and Artie, he's learnt their names now, come over and wish him luck and he huffs. He doesn't need luck. He's going to blow them out of the water. He had two song choices in mind, one for if Kurt was here, and one for if he wasn't. They're both good songs, but he wants to send a message with this, wants to gauge Kurt's reaction, to know whether he's going to have a chase on his hands or someone who will give in easily. First impression suggests the latter, although he'd kind of been hoping for the former. For him the chase is as much fun as the end result.
He asks Finn to play the drums, telling him with a low whisper that he wants to sing 'For your entertainment' by Adam Lambert, and gets an enthusiastic grin. He starts, and pretty quickly the short white girl is singing along, foot tapping and he holds out a hand, beckoning her to come up and dance with him. She drags the other girl with her, the one he's noted seems to be Kurt's close friend. He lays it on pretty thick, singing to the girls, using his eyes to smolder at them. He hasn't had ten years of drama classes to not know what he's good at.
He's a performer, and he enjoys it, part of his life blood. He's always used it to his advantage, to get what he wants, and now is no exception. For particular lines he looks to Kurt, locking eyes with him, and he's being watched with wide eyes and slightly open mouth. Both good signs and he feels his chance of success increase every time Kurt's tongue darts out to lick his lips.
FTY
Sebastian's tryout had been…enlightening. He had tried talking to Mercedes about it afterwards, but her and Rachel had both been all giggly, a bit too complementary for Finn's liking, which had meant Finn was pissed, which had made for an awkward family dinner, and now the entire Glee Club is pissed at Rachel because of the stunt she pulled on Sunshine.
Hearing Sunshine sing now he can understand why Rachel felt threatened, her voice is amazing, and between Rachel, Sunshine and Sebastian his own chances of a solo are slipping further and further away. However he meant what he said to Rachel. He wants to beat Vocal Adrenaline more than he wants solos. He's competitive, but being part of a team means he sometimes needs to make sacrifices.
Sebastian is sitting in front of him, and he studies the back of his head while he listens to Sunshine belt out a song on par with Rachel. He's a bit confused as to Sebastian's motives. He hadn't believed in the whole gay-dar thing, although now he's starting to doubt it. He's pretty sure Sebastian is gay. The amount of touching he does is almost obscene, and he doesn't know how to deal with it. He's used to people, guys in particular, maintaining a 'safe' distance from him at all times. Sebastian doesn't seem to have any of these hang ups, and he's either gay, or so comfortable with his sexuality he really doesn't give a damn. Or isn't aware Kurt's gay. Surely he isn't that obtuse.
FTY
"I've been sent to ask you a question, or rather determine your knowledge base. I have two gay dads you see, and I feel that Kurt is often sidelined here as the only out gay student at McKinley and ostracized for something he clearly had no hand in. So, did you know?"
"Know what?"
"That Kurt is gay."
He smiles slowly, eyes crinkling and he can't believe her audacity.
"I knew. I know. It's not a secret right? I mean…he's pretty obvious."
"That's what I told him, however he just mentioned in passing that perhaps you were unaware, because unlike some others in our social group you don't seem to have a problem with physical contact with him."
"He hasn't got leprosy," and I'd like to do a lot more to him than just touch.
"Of course not! It's just unusual to have a straight male teenager be so comfortable with their sexuality to be able to touch a gay teenager so friendly and openly…"
"Who said I was straight?" Sebastian replies, eyebrow quirking and smiling before walking away, leaving Rachel with her mouth pursed in a little 'o' of surprise.
FTY
The slam of his body into a nearby locker is starting to get old. He glares after Karofsky, but it was a relatively small shove compared to some of the ones he's received since starting back at school. He's managed to finally talk to Mercedes about Sebastian. How he's pretty sure that he's gay. And flirting with him. He just has no point of reference, nothing to compare it to, but he's pretty sure his skin shouldn't crawl each time Sebastian runs a finger down his arm, or accidentally brushes his hand. He doesn't get it; Sebastian is good looking, friendly and has a beautiful voice. And he creeps him the hell out.
He's about to say as much to Mercedes when he sees Sunshine being escorted off the premises, a guy carrying a Miss Kitty backpack making the whole thing look like a joke, but he knows better, the look on Mr Shue's face confirming it. He sighs. It means they really need Sebastian now, he's there twelve member, he just needs to get over the fact that the guy gives him the heebie-jeebies…
TBC...
