kurtbastian ballet!au 🩰🤍🩷
(yes, kurt does go en pointe in this au and dances the role of the sugarplum fairy, because in my universe the sugarplum fairy is a unisex role. and also bc it’s my au and i can do what i want 💕)
“Front in, side in, back in…”
Sebastian’s right foot, covered in a black sock and ballet slipper, brushed off the floor; he raised it into the air with pointed toes before bringing it back down into a tendu and into fifth position. His right arm was at his side in second position.
His movement was precise and automatic. Perfected muscle memory from years of doing ballet since the age of four and training at the most prestigious ballet school in Ohio, and then later in France, was evident.
Perhaps all of the pressure put on Sebastian’s body because of his intensive training, to the strain of the shoulders and wrists caused by lifting and catching whichever dance partner he may have at the time, and from the achilles tendinitis due working day and night to get the beautiful turns that he is now known for, were all worth it just for this simple movement where he was relying entirely on his body rather than his mind that was currently preoccupied.
The Nutcracker season started a couple of weeks ago; auditions were held and speculations of who would get which part before the reveal were talked about. Even though the general public would consider the Nutcracker season to be in November and December, for ballet dancers it all starts in September, maybe even August. And it was on this September morning that Sebastian figured this may be the most irritating Nutcracker season he ever had.
All because of the man standing on the other side of the barre, across from Sebastian, who was doing a poor attempt to make it seem as if he wasn't trying to ignore the presence of someone— him.
Holding his chin up higher than what was required and turning his head faster than necessary to avoid eye contact? If only Hummel could find it within himself to quit his dramatics for once, because Sebastian wasn’t exactly thrilled either. Why make things even more insufferable?
Sebastian bent his knees.
On Friday, Sebastian had found out he would be dancing the Pas De Deux for The Nutcracker with Kurt Hummel. Yes, they would be dancing thee Pas De Deux of the Sugarplum Fairy and the Cavalier.
As Sebastian brought legs back up, he couldn’t help but recall the first time he did partner with Hummel for the Nutcracker. Sebastian was eight and Kurt was nine; it was actually the first time they’d ever interacted, despite dancing at the same school in Ohio for a few years then.
During rehearsal for the party scene, something had happened at the last minute, and Sebastian was left without a partner for the dance sequence the children had to perform. The first thought was to just cut Sebastian out, which is something that the instructor, Mrs. Cole, who was a strict and lithe woman, absolutely refused to let happen. Everything, down to the choreography and visuals, would be thrown off, Mrs. Cole had firmly stated.
Kurt wasn’t even supposed to be in it, but he was the moment Mrs. Cole’s raging eyes landed on him. She declared that Hummel would be dancing with Sebastian as the role of a girl, with no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Opening night was in a few weeks, and, Sebastian reluctantly admitted, Hummel was a fast learner, even then.
Maybe Sebastian should’ve kept his mouth shut, but the whole thing was just too funny for him. He couldn’t help himself, really. He still can’t!
After Hummel stood next to him and, with one look at his flushing face, Sebastian, being the smart ass that he’s always been, muttered to Hummel that when he finally gets taller and looks less girly, then he could play a boy next time.
What happened next was the creation of their infamous feud. Mrs. Cole was going over a set of instructions when Kurt interrupted her after he loudly told Sebastian to shut up. It was a feeble attempt on Hummel’s part to even try and defend himself; he stumbled over his words, and the waterworks started to swell in his eyes when Mrs. Cole scolded him in front of everyone.
It took everything Sebastian had to not fall into a fit of laughter as he watched Hummel be escorted out of the studio to await his father, who would be picking him up early.
Ever since then the two of them have pretty much despised each other.
“Back in, side in, front in…”
Sebastian hit the dégagés from the back, side, and front. As he was doing so, he took a moment to glance at Kurt, and for a second he caught his eye.
No words were spoken between them, and no gestures were made, but their shared history allowed a few things to speak for itself.
They don’t have to like one another, and probably never will, but they do have to tolerate each other.
Sebastian drew his right leg back in from his front dégagé, and in one swift movement he did a full rotation.
This was not Ohio anymore. This was New York, where they are now dancing at the top school in the state and even the country. And the roles of the Sugarplum Fairy and the Cavalier were given to the top principal dancers of the company.
Who just happened to be Kurt Hummel and Sebastian Smythe.
Sebastian bent his knees from fifth position and then straightened to stand on relevé.
High expectations were put on them. They weren’t just meant to go onto that stage in December and show everyone exactly why they were given their roles with a top tier performance, but they had to carry on the maturity, grace, and best behavior associated with the world of ballet.
Sebastian turned towards the barre to face the other side, his left foot now in front. He knew that despite whatever dramatics Hummel was putting on now, the same thought was going through his head.
Rehearsal started today, a few hours after this class; these roles would be a huge step in their careers, and they couldn’t afford to lose them.
Sebastian got off from relevé and gave a breath as he gently extended his left arm out, his head following the movement, and brought it down to first. Sebastian looked up, his chin was held high and his head was turned towards the left.
Although, as Sebastian was holding his position, he pondered about how convincing he could make it look if he “accidentally” dropped Hummel during a fish lift that would no doubt be in their routine.
(this is just a little piece of the nutcracker kurtbas fic that i was thinking of writing. and honestly i may just make it a christmas fic too)
