On the Road again

He sat back once he had his mug ready, taking a long drink. He licked his lips after swallowing. Yes, he was most likely addicted to coffee, but he accepted that about himself. It was how everyone survived law school anyways. Sebastian focused back on Blaine. “It is a lot,” he agreed. His brow furrowed at Blaine’s next words. Go back to Lima? Still? He looked away from Blaine and out their window, taking another drink so that he wouldn’t have to answer for a moment. “I had hoped we’d skip over that,” he admitted. 

“But if that’s what you need to do, then I’ll be there to support you.” Even if he knew Kurt was going to unleash hell. Sebastian could only imagine what this would do to Blaine to go and face everyone and own up to changing his mind. He set aside his mug and used his free hand to tilt Blaine’s chin up for a kiss. “Honestly, this doesn’t surprise me. You were always proper,” he said warmly, dropping his hand to reach for a piece of fruit. “Does this mean we’re skipping past Chicago?”

In an ideal world, Blaine would agree with Sebastian and skip Lima and facing up to reality, but it wasn’t, and if he ever wanted contact with his family and friends again, he knew he had to be honest with them. Besides, he didn’t want to feel like he had to hide what he had with Sebastian, they were happy, and he could see them being happy together for a long time, and that wasn’t something that deserved to be hidden, Sebastian deserved better than that from him. “I know, but it’s the right thing to do,” he told him fondly.

He smirked at the prospect of breakfast in bed. “Alright, just don’t put any clothes on,” he called. Sebastian hefted up the tray, careful not to spill anything as he walked back to the bed. He laid it out at the foot of the bed before going to slip back under the covers with Blaine. His hand reached out to run over Blaine’s side as he leaned in to steal a kiss. “I’m not used to serving others,” he chuckled darkly, nipping Blaine’s bottom lip before pulling back. He went for the coffee first, as usual. 

“So, what are you thinking for plans?” he asked. “I’m thinking we continue on to Chicago. Then we can fly from Chicago back to LA to pack up the loft. Then fly back to Chicago to get the car and drive the rest of the way to New York.” Of course, that sounded complicated. He was hoping Blaine had a better solution to moving them both cross country. Then there was dealing with Kurt. 

“Hmm, well maybe we’ll have to get you used to it then,” Blaine grinned, humming quietly into the kiss. When Sebastian pulled back, Blaine propped himself up slightly, turning his body at an angle so that he could face Sebastian properly, reaching out and helping himself to a small blueberry muffin on the side of the tray. He smiled as Sebastian immediately went to for the coffee first, so predictable and yet comforting in the same way. He liked that.

Sebastian pressed in closer to the warmth against his chest, tightening his arms around Blaine. He pressed a kiss to the other man’s shoulder. “Mm, I’m easily going to get used to waking up like this,” he mused, resting his forehead to the back of Blaine’s head. Last night had felt like a dream, but waking up like this proved that it had all been real. Blaine had really chosen him. Blaine really loved him. 

He glared when he heard a knock at their suite door. ‘Room service,’ a voice called. Sebastian sighed and reluctantly got out of the bed. “Coming,” he called, grabbing his discarded boxers off the floor to pull on again. He went to the door and unlocked the bolt so the bell hop could roll in the breakfast trays. It took him a minute to find his jeans and his wallet so he could tip the guy to get the hell out of his room. “Put the Do Not Disturb sign on the knob on your way out,” he said. 

“Breakfast, Anderson,” he called, uncovering the trays. “See, this is why we don’t accept complimentary. It’s always better to order for yourself in advanced.”

Blaine hummed quietly as he rolled over to nuzzled into Sebastian’s warm body, he was still reeling from last night, but he definitely didn’t regret the decision, not in the slightest. “Hm, well you better,” he smiled, still not ready to open his eyes just yet. Everything still felt like a dream, and he wanted to keep that feeling for as long as possible. He sighed when Sebastian left the comfort of the bed, he stretched out a little, letting out a small yawn. 

Sebastian had to stop from smiling just so he could kiss Blaine. He breathed in and felt calm for the first time in a while. “I love you too,” he promised. “We’ve got the rest of our lives to be together.” He leaned down to catch Blaine’s lips for another kiss, inhaling against his cheek. This was really happening. Blaine had really chosen him. His plan worked! 

“I swear, I’m going to make you the happiest man on earth, Blaine,” he said as he pulled back. “You were always too good for Kurt. But you don’t have to stand in the shadows with me. You can have everything you ever wanted.”

Blaine smiled softly up at Sebastian, gently sliding a hand around to cup Sebastian’s cheek. He’d just made what was probably the biggest decision of his life, and yet he couldn’t stop smiling, an unfamiliar warmth seeping through him. “You’ve already got me, Bas,” he assured him, the pad of his thumb brushing lightly over Sebastian’s cheek, “You don’t need to buy my love, you’ve already got it,”

Sebastian happily slipped his arms around Blaine’s waist when he stepped forward, leaning his head down to touch their noses together. He was in shock at Blaine’s words. This was a greater high than sex or drugs, or both at the same time, had ever given him. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment at the kiss before opening up again to stare into bright hazel. “I know I couldn’t face losing you,” he murmured. He ducked his head down and rested his chin on Blaine’s shoulder as he hugged him tight. 

After a moment, he pulled back and searched Blaine’s eyes. “I need you to be sure,” he said. “If you do this with me, there’s no going back, Blaine.“ The old Sebastian would’ve just taken Blaine to the nearest flat surface to fuck him for making this choice. But this was something bigger. “I don’t want you to regret this in a month, or a week.”

Blaine could feel his heart pounding against his chest, his breathing coming out quicker than usual as Sebastian closed the distance between them. His eyes met Sebastian’s, and he knew that the other was right, this had to be a decision that he went into with his eyes open. He was aware of the consequences, aware of the shame that it could bring his family for going to all of this effort, only to cancel at the last minute to basically elope with his best friend. He could already see the hurt on Kurt’s face, but what was the alternative? He couldn’t face any of this without Sebastian, and being with him the last few days had only confirmed that.

Sebastian stepped out of the restaurant and turned in the direction their hostess had guided them. Yeah, this looked like the same way they had come in the cab. A comfortable silence fell for a moment. He looked over when Blaine broke it, a smile forming. “It’s not so bad,” he agreed. It would be so much better in a city with more to see, of course. His Adam’s apple bobbed when Blaine spoke again not long later. Hope surged in his chest, adding to his confidence. He paused on the sidewalk with Blaine. 

“It would leave us with an apartment in LA that had to be packed, and an apartment in New York to be found,” he nodded. “We could go back to LA and pack things up together to move to the east coast.” He let go of one of Blaine’s hands, bringing it up to hold Blaine’s cheek. “It’d be better than it was before when we were just roommates. We have the rest of the summer to do whatever the hell we want. Then in the fall when I’m back in school, you could audition for Broadway shows or play in coffee shops.” He paused and blew out a breath, dropping his hand back down to hold Blaine’s. “It would be the beginning of the rest of our life together, Blaine.”

Blaine held his breath as Sebastian answered him, he made everything sound so perfect, such an idealised way of life, and Blaine wanted it so bad. He nodded slowly, a small smiled creeping across his face, waiting patiently for him to finish talking, before taking a step closer to him, reaching up to wrap his arms around Sebastian’s neck, gently tugging him down so that the tips of their noses were lightly touching. “I...I don’t want to go to Lima,” he whispered, his heart pounding against his chest, he hadn’t said the words aloud before, he hadn’t even thought it through properly, but he knew it was what he wanted, he didn’t think he’d ever wanted anything more.

“But we both already knew that,” he grinned. It was nice sitting down like this for dinner. They’d eaten together before, but never with the explicit word date put on it. Blaine had (almost) always been dating Kurt. But for a first date, Sebastian couldn’t have hoped for better. By the end of their dinner, the bottle of wine was emptied and the candle melted down. Sebastian finished off the last bite of his tiramisu before licking his lips. “I’m sending my compliments back to the chef,” he nodded. When the waiter came back with their check, Sebastian quickly snatched up the black folder. He tucked enough cash inside to cover everything and tip. 

“Now, are you still up for that walk?” he asked as he stood, popping a mint into his mouth. This was strange for him, not wanting to just speed back to the hotel for a quick fuck. Well, of course he did still want Blaine, but he liked the thought of just getting to walk together. Dear God, dating Blaine Anderson was going to turn him into a complete sap. He took Blaine’s hand once he stood, leading the way out of the restaurant. 

Blaine reached out for the small black folder, but Sebastian beat him to it, he rolled his eyes playfully, thinking of ways that he could pay for Sebastian sometime, though he other made that virtually impossible. He thanked their waiter, and stood up, smiling as Sebastian reached down to take his hand, he was definitely seeing a much softer side of Sebastian tonight, and he liked it, he liked it a lot. “Of course,” he nodded, happily following Sebastian out of the restaurant and out into the street. 

Sebastian lifted his eyes to meet Blaine’s, feeling his heart beat speed. There was something deeper in the way Blaine looked at him then. And he would have swore that finally Blaine wasn’t just seeing him as a friend or the guy he fucked. It took a lot of control for Sebastian not to lash out at the waiter for his horrible timing. He quieted a sigh as he sat back. Blaine must’ve ordered for him while he was finding a candle for the table. He smiled to himself at that. 

He laid his napkin in his lap before taking a bite of the pasta. It was impressively good. At Blaine’s offer, Sebastian leaned over and took the bite from his fork. He chewed and hummed before swallowing and nodding. “That’s fantastic,” he said, sounding surprised. “Looks like you picked the right place, killer,” he smiled, taking another bite of his own pasta. “Do you want to try mine?” he asked, gathering a bite and holding his fork out for Blaine. 

Blaine’s smile grew in size as Sebastian complimented his choice of restaurant, sure it wasn’t Vegas or anything flash like that, but Blaine had found somewhere equally nice for them to spend their time together, and perhaps this was better for them, giving them an air of intimacy that they obviously needed right now. “I have my moments,” he told him, winking across the table at him as he cut off another piece of chicken, it really had been cooked to perfection. He nodded as Sebastian offered him a taste of his own meal, swallowing the chicken in his mouth before leaning across the table.

“I wanted to be there for you, and you seemed to really want us there,” he remembered. “Plus, I was trying to get you to like me,” he teased, shooting Blaine a wink. The show had been alright, but it had been clear that Blaine was the strongest actor and singer. He had totally carried the show. 

“Just don’t go counting me out,” he grinned. He would do what it took to win Blaine over. “It’ll be nice to be in a state that actually has seasons again,” he mused, brushing his thumb along Blaine’s hand. When Blaine’s tone changed, Sebastian brought the other boy’s hand up to his lips. “Don’t say that like it’s a sure thing,” he murmured. The thought of not seeing Blaine every day seemed impossible to him. They had been together for so long now, and that had just been as roommates. “I’m still holding out that you’ll change your mind.”

“I’d never,” Blaine said, giving Sebastian a soft smile, not anymore anyway. His heart swelled as Sebastian bought his hand to his mouth, and he wanted to drop the subject there and then. He didn’t want to think about not seeing Sebastian again, not when he made him feel like this, feel loved and cared for. It was hard to think about leaving anyone who made him feel like that, and Sebastian was one of the few people who knew him inside out. It was weird to think, but he was already well on his way to making his decision. “Never say never,” he murmured, his eyes locking with Sebastian’s, holding, filled with and intensity and longing that he hadn’t really felt before.

“I think you told me about that. She tried to kiss you sober and you realized you were definitely gay,” he laughed. Who could forget a story like that? “Your chemistry was better saved for West Side Story,” he nodded. 

Points to Sebastian for romance. He squeezed Blaine’s hand. “I’ve still got a few tricks up my sleeve,” he mused, sitting forward with a smile on his lips. If he didn’t have the gaudiness of Vegas, he could settle for a simple candle at their dinner table. “You know, I’m going to miss LA. I liked our little set up in the city, even if the pollution was insane and their Broadway was really just one theater,” he said. “But New York seems like the better fit for us - for me,” he nodded. 

“Yeah well, we both knew where we stood with each other then,” Blaine shrugged, thinking back to West Side Story and smiling fondly, “I still can’t believe you came to that, you barely knew me and yet you were the first to agree,” Sure, Kurt hadn’t liked that Sebastian had shown up, but it had meant so much to Blaine, his brothers at Dalton had rallied together, and in doing so they had bought Sebastian into his life, he didn’t think he’d ever been more grateful for an event in his life before, as he was for that.

“That does come as a surprise,” he admitted. “Were you threatened into it by your father too?” he asked. Sebastian took back his hand so that he could open his menu and start figuring out what he wanted to eat. There was a good variety of choices laid out. The only issue with sitting so far from other people was that he hadn’t gotten the chance to see the food and judge it. So he picked out something simple. “I’m going to get the pasta primavera,” he decided, setting his menu aside. 

Sebastian sat forward, picking up his glass of wine again. He studied Blaine from where he sat, a smile growing across his lips. “I will be right back,” he said. “Don’t move a muscle.” He stood and set down his glass, smoothing down his shirt before disappearing back towards the front of the restaurant. After a quick talk with the hostess, he was able to get what he needed. Sebastian walked back to the table and took a seat. It was only a moment before the hostess came and set down a candle in the middle of the table, lighting it before leaving them alone once more. “I was sitting here thinking, we need better lighting. And I wanted to see what the candlelight would do to your eyes,” he murmured, “I was right. It makes them shine a little brighter.”

“No, no, nothing like that.” Blaine laughed, shaking his head in response, “You remember Rachel, right? We made out once when we were drunk, next thing I knew we were on a date. She’s a sweet girl, but the spark wasn’t there if you know what I mean,” he chuckled, taking his hand back as he let Sebastian look over the menu. He didn’t want to jinx things too much but he thought things were going well so far, easy and not at all awkward like he thought it might be. 

Sebastian was surprised when Blaine’s story was one of Kurt, not that it happened, but that Blaine was telling it. In truth, that sounded like something that had happened more than once on date night for the couple. But when Blaine looked back to him, he was smiling again. “No pressure at all,” he chuckled. He wasn’t worried about leaving a better impression on Blaine than Kurt. Sebastian took up his glass of wine, swirling it around the glass before taking a sip. 

“My worst date was set up by my father. He was attempting to bridge the gap with the state senator, so I had to go out with the guy’s daughter. Needless to say, the date didn’t go well,” he remembered, setting aside his glass. “She had an incredibly repressed sex drive judging from the way she was ready to jump me after I held her hand. I came out of the closet just to avoid having to go on another date like that,” he laughed. 

Blaine laughed along with Sebastian’s story, shaking his head in amusement as he picked up his glass and took a small sip from it. “That doesn’t sound awkward at all,” he chuckled, lowering his glass, giving Sebastian’s hand a gentle squeeze, “It might come as a surprise, but I went on a date with a girl once,” he told him, smiling fondly at the memory, it wasn’t the worst date in the world, Rachel had been charming and they had a lot in common, there just wasn’t that spark there, no real desire to make a move further than hand holding. 

“I do remember,” he chuckled, impressed that Blaine had thought ahead. It meant something to him that Blaine would put in the effort for their date. When they were lead back to their table, Sebastian was relived that it was in a quieter, more private spot. He didn’t want to put up with a lot of people right now when he could focus on Blaine instead. At Blaine’s insistence, Sebastian took his seat first and thanked their hostess. He looked across the table at Blaine, smiling brightly at him. “I think its perfect,” he said. Though he would have preferred to have a candle on the table for them, some mood lighting. And it would be nice if the place had a sommelier. But he was happy and that was what mattered. 

When their waiter arrived to get their drink orders, Sebastian took the lead. “We’ll take whatever your best bottle of red wine is,” he said, sitting back as the waiter poured water for them. For once, he wasn’t trying to show off how much money he had. He just wanted the best for this date, and for Blaine. ‘Of course, sir,’ the waiter nodded. Once he and Blaine were alone again, Sebastian sat forward and reached across to take one of Blaine’s hands. His thumb brushed along Blaine’s knuckles. “Now I’m curious,” he grinned, “What’s the worst date you’ve been on?”

Blaine smiled as Sebastian was quick to take his hand again, he watched their fingers for a moment, liking just how well they fit together, and how well accustomed he’d become to holding Sebastian like this. It just worked in a way that he’d never have imagined. “The worst date?” Blaine repeated, pursing his lips together in concentration, that was taking him back, as far as dates went, he didn’t really have any horrific experiences, well there was that one time...though he wasn’t sure it was right to bring that up tonight. But Sebastian had asked, and if they were to really give this thing a chance, he had to learn to open up to him more.

“Oh, I’m still having a glass of wine. We’re having Italian after all,” he reasoned. He could remember all those years ago when Blaine had taught him how to get Red Wine out of the piping on his Dalton blazer. Plus, if he was going to be on a real date with Blaine, it’d be better to have something in his system. “Sounds exactly like what I’d expect from a Blaine date,” he said with a teasing smile, squeezing his hand. “That sounds nice,” he added, so Blaine knew he wasn’t making fun of his romantic choices. “Or it would if we weren’t in Des Moines.”

“We could walk back to the hotel after, if you wanted,” he mused. When their cabbie pulled up to the restaurant, Sebastian figured it was less than a mile walk back. Sebastian paid the cabbie before climbing out and holding the door open for Blaine. Once Blaine joined him on the curb, Sebastian put his hand on the small of Blaine’s back so they could walk into the restaurant together. He held open the next door they came across. When they stepped into the restaurant, he was glad it wasn’t a pizza parlor. It was - quaint. It would work for the night. “Did you have to place a reservation?” he wondered, doubting as much when the place didn’t look packed. 

“Like I said, I know it’s incredibly cliche, but it’s never failed me yet,” Blaine chuckled, like most guys, he had his own moves, but they were tried and tested, and he didn’t see the point in fixing something that wasn’t broken, that and he was supposed to be getting married, so he probably wouldn’t have to worry about anything like that for a while now. “I’d like that,” Blaine smiled, nodding his head slightly, “We’ve spent so long in cars the last few days, it’ll be nice to just get out there and stretch our legs,” Plus he thought there was something more intimate about walking together hand in hand, than there would be in the back of a taxi, where they were likely to get handsy with each other, if the last few nights had proven anything.

“Thanks,” he said warmly. “That’s alright, just don’t hold me not getting to shower against me,” he said, raising a playful brow at him. As Blaine took out his phone to turn off, Sebastian did the same before sticking it in his front pocket. “No distractions,” he agreed with a nod. Sebastian smiled to himself as Blaine took his hand, following him out of their room and the hotel. “A typical date with Sebastian Smythe?” he repeated, blowing out a breath. “You’ve kind of already been on one,” he chuckled. “Our night in Vegas was pretty typical. Dinner then a show before hitting up a club and then capping off the night.” 

Sebastian flagged down one of the cabs outside the hotel and stepped forward to get the door for Blaine, holding it open. “But tonight, we’ll leave out the getting wasted part,” he assured Blaine. Sebastian slipped into the car after Blaine, letting him tell the cabbie where they were headed. He took his hand again, not really giving a fuck if the cabbie cared. “I don’t know that there’s a ‘typical’ date with me though.” Mainly because he didn’t do more than three dates with a guy. “What about a typical Blaine Anderson date? Hm?” he asked, turning the tables. 

Blaine nodded as he thought back to their first night in Vegas, smiling fondly at the memory. It had been a great night, one that he was sure would stick in his memory for a long time to come. “What was a typical date?” he asked, tilting his head to the side, “You definitely don’t do things by halves,” Though it did make him wonder why he rarely saw Sebastian with the same guy more than twice. Blaine would love to be with a guy like that, not willing to go the extra mile, with Kurt it was always Blaine putting himself out there.

Sebastian watched Blaine disappear into the bathroom, tempted to sneak in and join him once he heard the shower turn on. But he had a feeling that tonight was a test. Once he started thinking of tonight like that, he went to his bag and rolled himself a joint to smoke some of out on the balcony. It helped get rid of the tension in his body and the anxiety in his mind. There was nothing to be nervous about. He was sure that Blaine belonged with him, had been sure of that fact for some time now. He was so confident that he didn’t even bother thinking of another possibility. 

Going back inside, Sebastian started to dress. He went for a button-up shirt and a cardigan, even putting on his glasses instead of wearing contacts. The mirror just inside the room helped him style his hair with minimal gel, just enough for it to stay in place. He had to spit out his mouthwash over the balcony, which was amusing if unsanitary. Finally once he was dressed and ready to go, he sat down with a book as he waited for Blaine. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed before Blaine emerged from the bathroom, nor did he care when Blaine came out looking like that. “Woah,” he breathed, standing up and setting aside the book. “You look great,” he said as a smile bloomed across his face. He walked over and leaned down to give Blaine a kiss, pulling back after a moment so he wouldn’t get out of hand. “I’m ready when you are.”

Blaine blushed at the compliment, glancing away briefly before looking back at Sebastian with a smile, tilting his head so that he could meet Sebastian’s lips with his own, secretly impressed that Sebastian didn’t let the kiss linger too long. “You look pretty great too, sorry if I hogged the bathroom,” he said after a moment, feeling a little awkward, he hadn’t even asked Sebastian if he’d wanted to use it, but Sebastian always seemed to look great no matter what. “Come on, let’s go,” he said happily, slipping his wallet into his jacket pocket, “No distractions tonight,” he told Sebastian as he left his phone turned off on the side. He had to give this thing between them a chance, and he couldn’t do that if Kurt decided to call again.