#gold8

                “Not one that looked like you.” Sebastian teased. He glanced at the label on Kurt’s jeans, wondering silently when he’d started wearing off-brand clothing. “So, where are we going to breakfast?” He himself was dressed, looking as he had last night, the picture of effortless sex appeal, a simple black V-neck, Seven jeans, and black running shoes.

                Kurt slid a button down on over his shirt, and checked himself in the mirror. It was subdued from who he had once been, but some things had to be sacrificed in the name of survival. He bent to pull on his black Doc Martens, the one piece he had been unwilling to part with. “Um, well, do you want to pay for a cab too? We can go to breakfast close to campus, and probably closer to your apartment?”

                In other words, not in this neighborhood. Sebastian understood, “That’s not even a problem. You made last night a cheap night for me.”

                “You paid off the bouncer $50.” Kurt grabbed a bag and draped it over his shoulders, checking for his keys and wandering to the kitchen to grab his phone. He looked at the envelope of money.

                “Like I said, a cheap night.” Sebastian studied Kurt, “Do you want to go by the bank too?”

                Kurt looked over his shoulder, “Yeah.” He bit his lip, “It’s not safe to leave that much money in my apartment. I don’t leave anything worth any money in my apartment. Even my laptop comes to work with me.” He locked the three locks behind him and Sebastian.

                Sebastian didn’t want to pity Kurt, but he did. The situation the brunette had found himself in was unbearable at best. Sebastian wouldn’t have survived five minutes alone and penniless, but Kurt was a fighter. “So, do you work every night?” He asked as they walked. Cabs didn’t come this way unless you called, it was a few blocks away before they’d come upon one.

                “As many nights as I can. I make about 500 a night, after what the club takes for their cut,” Kurt lowered his voice and looked around him, “I send money home to Dad, and put it into savings. I want to get a new apartment, but I want to buy one…” Kurt raised one shoulder, “That way, when it comes down to it, I can quit, and not worry about anything other than utilities. I don’t...” He shuddered, “I don’t want to have to do this if I don’t have to.”

                “How long have you been stripping?” Sebastian saw a man staring at them, and casually draped an arm around Kurt’s shoulders. Kurt didn’t object.

                “About nine months now.” Kurt said, “I could make more money, but I’m afraid to leave Glitter. I’m afraid…”

                “Of Derek.” Sebastian answered for him, “You can’t let him do that to you, Kurt.”

                “I can’t not let him do that to me, Sebastian.” Kurt sighed, “He doesn’t hurt me. He never hurts me.”

                “No still means no, even I follow that rule.” Sebastian hailed a cab, and helped Kurt in. Kurt told the cabbie which bank to go to.

                “I owe him.” Kurt said firmly, with a yawn, “At this point, I can be stripping, or be a prostitute. I’ll take stripping.”

                The rest of the car ride was silent. Sebastian wanted to offer to help Kurt, it ached for him not to throw his money around and promise to make it all better, but he knew that Kurt would say no. He knew pushing his money on Kurt would just make Kurt clam up, back down from him, and that was the last thing Sebastian wanted.

                The stop at the bank had been quick, Kurt depositing the money for the week in his account. He made decent money on weekdays, but Saturday and Sunday always promised a bigger cut. When he was done, they moved on to the diner near Kurt’s campus.

                “I didn’t even know this place existed.” Sebastian said, looking around, “It looks just like—“

                “The Lima Bean.” Kurt finished, “I found this when I moved out here. Rachel and  I went wandering when neither of us were busy. It’s a reminder of him, home away from home.”

                “They serve food here too though?” Sebastian inquired as they stood in line, “I mean, it looks like a coffee shop.”

                “Oh it is, but they make a mean mocha and an equally delicious omelet.” Kurt stepped up to the counter, “Hey Gracie, can I have my usual, and then whatever he wants.”

                “Oh really, I get to eat?” Sebastian teased before ordering an omelet with every kind of meat the store sold. Kurt made several meat jokes that just got an eyebrow raise from Sebastian, but they took their coffees and sat down at a table after Sebastian paid.

                “So, you have class today? What other days?” Sebastian sipped his own drink.

                “I have class Monday through Wednesday, and Friday. Today is History of Fashion, same with Tuesdays. I..didn’t take as many classes this semester, I couldn’t afford it at the time. And I was working full time, didn’t want to overload myself.”

                “So how many years are you looking at for school then? If you’re stretching it out wont it take you longer?”

                Kurt nodded, chewing on the inside of his mouth, “I’m looking at 6 to graduate. I had to retake the classes I failed and that didn’t really help. Now I’m just, doing what I can and trying to make as much money as I can to prepare for the future.”

                “So you really have to go back tonight, huh?” Sebastian sat back as the waitress dropped off their omelets. “Do… you want me to come to make sure everything will be okay?”

                “No.” Kurt answered quickly, “No, I really, really think it will be better if you don’t come back to Glitter, at least not for a while. Derek will be gone after tonight, hopefully. So, I’ll be okay.” Kurt smiled affectionately at Sebastian, “You can put your number in my phone so I can call you if I need anything, if that will make you feel better.”