Sebastian POV

Sorry for the long delay. It really couldn't be helped. I hope this chapter makes up for it, though. I'm skipping over the actual cooking part – for one I'm a terrible cook, but secondly I think some other details are more important … anyway, enjoy.

Many thanks to my Beta KioshiUshima.

Chapter 22

"Worried?"

Burt's voice is calm and neutral, but the look he gives Sebastian speaks volumes. He is irritated, that's for sure, maybe not as much as Sebastian, but still, his annoyance is plainly obvious. Interestingly enough, it has nothing to do with Sebastian's reaction, which is also hard to miss given his clenched fists and the prominent scowl he's been wearing since the moment the elder succubus has entered the house. No, if anything Kurt's dad seems to be surprised by it, intrigued even … which doesn't really come as a surprise.

Granted, Sebastian doesn't know much about his roommate's life before he came to Dalton, just bits and pieces Kurt told him the night he got accidently scratched by Blaine and the vampire came to his rescue, but Sebastian got the gist of it. Unlike Dalton, McKinley doesn't have a no-bullying policy, and being openly gay and a member of the resident glee club apparently didn't work into Kurt's favor.

'Fucking humans and their narrow-mindedness,' Sebastian fumes inwardly, wondering, not for the first time, why Kurt's fellow glee club members didn't do anything to protect him from being pushed around and harassed, physically as well as emotionally, on practically a daily basis. And why didn't the teachers do anything either? Were they just blind or did they simply not care? No wonder Kurt eventually snapped and took matters into his own, inexperienced hands, or rather used his mouth – his utterly enticing mouth – to punish his tormentor.

One thing is for sure; if the vampire had been in his place, he wouldn't have stopped. He would have sucked the jock dry, not feeling even the slightest sense of guilt for killing the guy in the process.

But that's the difference between him and Kurt. Sure, Sebastian is not the type to exact revenge indiscriminately, but he has absolutely no problem setting people straight, with everything he has in his arsenal, and that certainly includes his sharp fangs. Granted, Kurt's tongue is just as quick as his, maybe even quicker, but he abhors violence … which totally makes sense.

After all, succubi are known to be lovers, not fighters.

Literally.

Sure, succubi are certainly able to kill their victims, easily, without breaking a sweat, but if they do, at least their victims will die happy, with a smile on their faces. And that's something that son of a bitch certainly didn't deserve, not after what he put Kurt through. He deserved pain, not pleasure.

So, maybe all things considered, Kurt was right and it's a good thing he stopped in time. After all, there is a good chance the human remembers something; bits and pieces, here and there. Constantly wondering if it was just a dream, or if he'd actually gotten a taste of the most delicious set of lips before passing out …

It's the perfect punishment, having the jock long for a second chance, knowing perfectly well that he wouldn't get it, no matter how much he wants it. Unlike Sebastian, who has the privilege to taste Kurt over and over again; and not just his lips, but other body parts as well … now, and for a long time coming. Well, that is, unless he does something to mess up their little arrangement, which is certainly not on his agenda.

"I'm sure Kurt can take care of himself." Sebastian shrugs, smirking.

"Undoubtedly," Burt chuckles, adding, "And just for the record. If there is someone besides Kurt who can throw you out, it's me, not Eli. He is just a guest in this house, like you, bound to the same set of rules."

"Good to know," Sebastian remarks, trying his best to sound respectful, but clearly failing miserably. What a shocker!

"So, don't give me a reason." Burt warns, glaring at him like only a father would. A father, who truly cares about his son.

"Got it." Sebastian acknowledges with a somber expression.

Burt only nods in response. Obviously, he isn't the type to drag things out unnecessarily, which suits Sebastian just fine. Without another word Kurt's father pushes a cutting board towards Sebastian and hands him a potato peeler.

"Come on, let's get to work."

Sebastian hums in agreement, accepting the tools without complaint. Sure, he has no talent or interest in cooking, but he knows how to do simple things like peeling a potato.

They work in silence for a minute or two before Burt breaks it again. "I know I'm not supposed to ask, and you don't need to answer, but I'm curious. Is there a reason why Eli reacted the way he did?"

Sebastian smiles, not the least surprised by the question. Actually, he kinda expected it. "Kurt didn't tell you, did he?"

"Tell me what?"

"What I am." Sebastian clarifies.

"No, he didn't. He takes your set of rules very seriously."

Sebastian snorts, unable to mask his reaction to Burt's flawed statement. "I'm sure he does."

True, Kurt is the kind of person who tries to please everybody. No pun indented. But considering the fact that he is a succubus, a fae mostly ruled by emotions and instinct, it's near impossible for him to subdue his nature and therefore abide by the rules set up by Dalton's administration. At least not all of the time. Sebastian doesn't point that out, though, for obvious reasons. For one, he thinks it's up to Kurt to tell his father that he is in deep trouble with the headmistress, and secondly, well, given the fact that he is just as guilty as Kurt, it's probably not a good idea to bring it up, at all. So instead of explaining his reaction, he settles for answering Burt's question instead.

"You could say my kind and succubi are not exactly known for getting along."

"Which means?" Burt frowns, not backing down one bit.

Naturally.

"I'm a vampire." Sebastian declares, matter-of-factually. Turning his head, he looks straight at Kurt's father and lets his fangs drop, leaving no doubt that he is in fact telling the truth and not kidding.

Fascinatingly, Burt doesn't shy away in fear. He holds his gaze, steady and calm. In this Kurt and his father are pretty much the same. They may not share all of their genetics, or at least not the most important ones, but they do share certain character traits. They are both bold but unbiased, which are rare qualities these days, especially in combination.

"That animosity you just mentioned … am I right to assume it doesn't include my son?"

"Obviously." Sebastian says, rolling his eyes, because duh, would he be here if that was the case? Needless to say, Burt looks anything but impressed by his reaction. Of course, the vampire tries his best to keep his behavior in check and his snide remarks to a minimum. He certainly doesn't want Burt to make good on his earlier threat, but it's not easy. Old habits die hard, and all that. "I guess you could say it's an ethnic thing, going back eons. Like some people still have issues with skin color or certain belief systems. The younger generations are certainly more open-minded, or at least they try to be, but it's harder for our parents and grandparents. They grew up with certain social prejudices."

Burt nods in understanding. Clearly, that concept isn't foreign to him, fae or no fae. He doesn't press the issue further, but that doesn't mean he is done asking questions. "So, does that mean you suck people's blood?"

"Yes."

"Every day?"

"No," Sebastian shakes his head, absentmindedly reaching for the next potato. "We don't need to quench our thirst on a daily basis, just every now and then. In this vampires and succubi are similar. But as you probably know I'm taking suppressants, like Kurt."

It's a lie, of course. Well, not completely. He and Kurt do take their so-called medicine. It's just not working properly, for either one of them.

"So, if I cut myself by accident, you won't be tempted?" Burt pushes, waving the knife in his hand.

"No, of course not. I have excellent control." Sebastian tells him, adding with a smirk, "But let's not put it to a test. It's been a while since I had the chance to taste the real stuff …"

That's a lie too, of course. Well, again, not completely. Sure, it's not been a year or even months, but it's been a few weeks. And try as he might, there is no denying the truth. Sebastian does crave blood, just not in general. He only wants Kurt's. Or rather he wants Kurt. On his back, on his knees, on top of him … he doesn't really care about the specifics. He just wants him, again and again.

"Right," Burt agrees, completely unaware of Sebastian's less than moral thoughts. "Better safe than sorry."

They don't say anything else on the matter. They simply go back to their work peeling and chopping vegetables, chuckling under their breaths, probably for completely different reasons, though.

That's when Kurt and Eli make their return, wearing two distinctly different facial expressions. The elder succubus – no surprise there – looks like he is just ready to pop a vein. Kurt, on the other hand, looks pleased.

Sebastian calls that a win.

Dinner is awkward.

The food is great of course. It tastes just as good as it smells. They are having grilled salmon with rosemary potatoes and salad. It's a simple dish. Okay, maybe it's not that simple; Sebastian certainly doesn't have a clue how to make it, even though he watched Kurt pretty much throughout the entire preparation.

But the food is not really the issue here; it's the company, or rather a certain part of it.

Sure, Sebastian doesn't expect Eli to interact with him, but he is a bit surprised that the elder succubus doesn't say anything to anyone. He just sits across from Sebastian, picks at his food and glares. It's fucking weird, and quite frankly rude. Not that the vampire is the poster child of politeness, but still Kurt is his kin and he has been working his sweet ass off in the kitchen for the last hour to provide a great meal.

The vampire is fuming.

There really is no denying the truth. Anger has been simmering underneath his hardened exterior ever since the elder succubus stepped into the house. Not because of who or what Eli is. For one Sebastian doesn't even know the guy, but more importantly it would be preposterous if he'd judged him only by his specie. True, he has been taught to mistrust anyone who isn't a vampire, and for the most part he still abides by those rules, consciously or subconsciously, but that's neither here nor there. He is not his father. He is no racist. He doesn't judge people by their heritage, only by their behavior. And if both go hand in hand … well that's just coincidence, or circumstance, or whatever you wanna call it.

Case in point.

As far as Sebastian is concerned Eli is just an asshole, ruled by whatever knowledge he thinks he has about Sebastian and his family, not caring even one bit how his ill manners might affect Kurt. And that's what irks Sebastian the most. He can easily deal with anger and mistrust directed at him. Years of experiences have taught him how to deal with them. Usually he simply covers his reaction with sarcasm and harsh words, which doesn't always work, sure, but it's certainly better than resorting to violence. Especially here and now, but it's hard to resist. Sebastian wants nothing more than to leap over the table and sink his fangs into the bastard. Not to quench his thirst, but just to prove a point.

Nobody fucks with people he cares about.

Fortunately, both Hummel men act like Eli's antagonistic behavior isn't affecting them. Well, they try their best to ignore him. It's damn near impossible to miss the tension in the air. It's probably harder for Kurt than it is for Burt, who eagerly continues to interrogate Sebastian as soon as they sit down to eat.

"So are you in the Glee club like Kurt?"

"No, I'm not."

"But he could be," Kurt interjects, adding with a smirk. "His voice is decent enough."

"Decent enough?" Sebastian gasps, only half-faking his discontent.

"Well, I only heard it that one time and for all I know it could have been just a fluke." Kurt shrugs, still smirking, that fucking tease. But two can play that game.

"I'm happy to prove you wrong, babe, just tell me where and when."

"It's a date." Kurt says without thinking, blushing beautifully.

Of course, that's when Eli decides to make his contribution to the conversation. Not with words, the coward, just with a sort of gagging noise. It's effective though, immediately drawing both their attention away from each other and towards the elder succubus. If looks could kill, he would be dead, twice over.

Seriously, does the guy have no tact at all?

Thankfully, before either one of them can say anything wrong, Burt pipes up again. "So what do you do when you are not studying?"

'Other than fucking your son …' Sebastian thinks, still staring daggers at the succubus sitting across from him.

The urge to say it out loud, to throw the truth about his and Kurt's relationship right into Eli's face is nearly impossible to curb, but luckily a well-aimed kick at his right shin prevents him from making an utterly foolish mistake. Of course, there is nothing more Sebastian wants right now, than to see the Eli's reaction when he tells him in great detail what he has done with his kin, and what he still intends to do with him (and that list is at least a mile long). But deep down, the vampire knows the (short-lived) gratification wouldn't be worth it.

Burt has greeted him with nothing but kindness, even though he probably doesn't deserve it, and there is no way Sebastian wants to repay that favor by doing or saying something crass. But more importantly, he doesn't want to embarrass Kurt. Sure, obviously his roommate is finally starting to come to terms with his natural urges – the desperate need to suck his cock a few hours ago certainly points in that direction – but the vampire knows that Kurt is not ready for his dad to know about his sexual awakening, especially not in detail.

Taking a deep breath, Sebastian breaks eye contact with Eli and turns his head to smile gratefully at Kurt. Sure, his shin still smarts a little from the kick, but he is still glad. Without it, he probably wouldn't have been able to get a grip on himself and answer Burt's latest question.

"I play lacrosse."

"Lacrosse? That's rather unusual." Burt hums, taking another bite of his salmon.

"It's not, Dad." Kurt argues, rather hotly. "Just because you are obsessed with football, and rarely ever watch any other sport, besides baseball perhaps, doesn't mean there aren't a lot of other sports Americans like to engage in. Like synchronized swimming for example …"

"That's not a sport!" Sebastian and Burt exclaim at the same time.

"Of course you agree on that." Kurt snorts. "I'd like to see you try it."

They spend the rest of the meal talking about sports, which is rather surprising. Sebastian is well aware that Kurt's interests lay elsewhere – music, fashion, cooking – but curiously enough his roommate can easily hold the conversation. True, Kurt has been to some of his games, but he has never shown any signs that he was truly interested in lacrosse, probably only going with Jeff to appease him. The vampire knows from experience how persuading the nymph can be.

But what's really blowing Sebastian's mind is the fact that Kurt had a successful, yet short-lived career as kicker at his old school. Needless to say, he is more than a little impressed. Turned on might be a better description.

"Anyone up for desert?" Kurt asks, gathering up the empty plates. "There is pie."

"I could certainly eat something more." Burt perks up, looking rather ravenous even though he just had a full meal. Humans and their strange metabolism.

"Of course you do." Kurt remarks drolly, rolling his eyes. "How about you, Eli?"

The elder succubus looks up in surprise. Of course, he is taken aback. No one has been addressing him ever since he stepped into the house and demanded to speak with Kurt in private, and for good reason. He wasn't, and still isn't exactly good company.

"No, thank you, I'm full." Eli declines in a civil manner, adding as an afterthought, "Actually, I think I'm going to take my leave."

"Why?" Kurt demands, eyes narrowed.

"Well, with the unexpected guest, I think I should go and find myself a hotel room."

For a moment it seems like Kurt wants to argue with Eli, pointing out that the house is big enough for all them, but he doesn't. Instead he simply shrugs, and says, "If you say so. Dinner will be at twelve tomorrow."

Eli simply nods in response, looking not the least bit excited to come back. It's hard to tell if the elder succubus is offended by Kurt's cold behavior or not, but who cares? Certainly not Sebastian. As far as he is concerned, good riddance to him!

Without any further delay Eli gets on his feet. He thanks Burt for the invitation, and tells Kurt that the food was great, but it sounds all stilted, like a line his mother had taught him to say whenever he gets an invitation. A few moments later he is gone, taking the tension with him.

Well most of it.

Together they clean the rest of the dining room table in no time. Burt puts the dirty dishes into the washer while Sebastian helps Kurt with the pie. They relocate into the living room this time, Kurt and Sebastian taking a seat on the couch while Burt flops into his favorite armchair. It's easy to tell the chair is his, going by the prominent dent. No way, Kurt could have been responsible for that.

Sebastian smirks when Burt turns on the TV. Of course the sport channel is put on by default. Next to him Kurt groans. "My remote, my choice, you know the rules, son. You can watch whatever you like in your own room. But maybe you want to show Sebastian the guest room first?"

The look Burt spares his son is beyond daring, almost like he is expecting Kurt's reply before he says anything.

"About that …"

Thoughts?