Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Warblers – it’s been a long time coming but it has arrived now: The day we all dreaded.” Hunter sighs deeply. “We’ve come a long way. We faced obstacles and we overcame them together, hand in hand, as brothers. We –“

“Oh cut to the point, Hunter”, Sebastian snarls and gets up. “What Hunter so elaborately tries to say is: This is our last regular Warbler-meeting of this group as we are. Next week we’ll have a few practices for our graduation-number which we’ll be performing but today will be the last time we can freestyle.”

“Of course we never really freestyled”, Hunter interrupts. “But, yes, today we chose to give everyone a chance to sing whatever comes to their minds. The rest will just sit back, harmonize and enjoy. Nick, Jeff – you wanted to start?”

Nick nods and they both get up. Nick sits down at the grand piano while Sebastian sits down next to Blaine on one of the big couches.

“Hey everyone. So, as you know, Jeff and me are one of the Seniors that will be leaving Dalton and we wanted to thank all of you, even the newbies, for the time we got to spend with you. You all surely made everything better.”

Jeff who is standing next to him nods. “Yes, especially our Senior year – you made it very special. We found…”, he looks at Nick, “well, we found things we didn’t expect. So, since it’s one of the most beautiful farewell-songs we know, we want to sing ‘Hey Jude’. Thank you, guys.”

The first notes of the Beatles’ classic waft through the room and Sebastian feels Blaine cuddling closer to his side.

“I didn’t know Nick could play the piano so well…”, he whispers in Blaine’s ear. Without looking up, Blaine just nods.

“Yeah, his Mom taught him when he was younger. She died of cancer when he was 12 and didn’t play for years after that. I think it was only about the time when I came here for the first time and used to hole myself up in the music room that he started again. He kept playing my second hand when my arm was still broken. Though, it was more to coax me out of my shell, I think, than for him – but I like to think that it gave him back his music, too.”

He laughs quietly.

Sebastian kisses the top of Blaine’s curls and snakes his arm around him. It’s still a mystery to him how anyone could dare to hurt this amazing boy, this kind person who only wants to help people and who – with all the misery and tragedy life has thrown at him – still finds happiness and luck in his darkest hours.

Blaine rarely talks about what happened after the Sadie Hawkins Dance at his old school, never told him who the bullies were who put him in the hospital. Maybe because if Sebastian knew, he would take everything he has – his wit, his father’s name, even his fists – to find and destroy them.

Sebastian looks down. Here Blaine is, so happy that his pain caused something good for Nick, someone who has become a really close friend and an ally. He squeezes Blaine’s body with his arm and whispers an “I love you” into Blaine’s ear. It seems to tickle him since Blaine squirms and giggles but then, his hand rests on Sebastian’s and he whispers “Love you, too” back.

It’s so honest and natural, it makes the letter in his jacket burn into his ribs. He needs to tell Blaine that he’s come to a decision. He wanted to tell him the morning after prom but Blaine caught him off guard with the ‘Meet my parents’-thing. Then after they came back from dinner but Blaine had been so excited and relieved, he didn’t want to ruin the mood. And then, there was school and Lacrosse practice for their big game this weekend and they barely had a minute for themselves.

And if he’s being honest… he kind of avoided the subject because he can already see how it’s going. How Blaine’s eyes will be filled with tears, how he’ll nod and then hug Sebastian, holding on for dear life. Yeah, not something he really wants to see.

He breathes out. Nick and Jeff have obviously finished already, and Blaine pulls him up to get to their song. Yet, it wouldn’t be a Blaine Anderson-performance without a little speech, so Blaine stands center stage while Sebastian leans back against the piano:

“Guys, I don’t have to tell you how much you all mean to me. This year has been…”, he chuckles, “a whirlwind of emotions for me. I don’t think I thanked you enough for letting me come back here when I was so… broken. When I… needed you. You were there. No questions asked. And in the process of repairing myself”, he glances at Sebastian, “I found something I never expected, something so special, something I couldn’t see coming.”

He looks back at the others.

“A long time ago I said Dalton is my home, it’s where I belong. What I really meant is: You are my home and where I belong. Music sounds better with you. I can’t imagine being without you next year. But Sebastian says that it would be weird if I graduated and still went back to my old school all the time, so I’ll probably only see you all again like this next year when I’m coming home from California to celebrate your next Nationals win.”

They all chuckle and one of the Junior mumbles “No pressure…”.

“Anyways, I just… I love you all a lot.” Blaine’s voice grows thicker. “You are all so wonderful and I…” His voice breaks and Sebastian pushes himself up and walks up to Blaine, throwing his arm around his shoulders.

“What Blaine is trying to say is: You better call, kids, when we’re gone because I don’t want to deal with a cranky boyfriend all the time who just wants to come back here and check on you. Keep him posted.”

The whole room laughs and even Blaine snickers before lightly swatting his arm.

“Okay, the song we brought is one I didn’t chose – so all of the cheesiness is Blaine’s fault - but Blaine is – and I have no clue where he got this idea – convinced I like boybands. So, here goes One Direction’s ‘Perfect’.”

Blaine and Sebastian stand next to each other and Sebastian pushes the play-button on a remote control. The intro starts playing. They might be an Acapella-group but this song is way better with an instrumental in the background. On cue, Sebastian starts singing:

“I might never be your knight in shinin' armor,

I might never be the one you take home to mother,

And I might never be the one who brings you flowers

But I can be the one, be the one tonight.”

Then Blaine jumps in.

“When I first saw you

From across the room

I could tell that you were curious, oh, yeah.

Boy, I hope you're sure

What you're looking for

'Cause I'm not good at making promises.

But if you like causing trouble up in hotel rooms

And if you like having secret little rendezvous

If you like to do the things you know that we shouldn't do

Then baby, I'm perfect –

Baby, I'm perfect for you!”

Watching Blaine perform will always be one of the most amazing sights for Sebastian. When Blaine twirls and jumps on the sofa during the chorus, Sebastian’s heart aches a little because, yes, he’s sad that they were leaving soon, too, of course. Again, the letter in his jacket flashes through his mind. He has to tell Blaine. Tonight. He can’t keep this from him any longer.

“I might never be the hands you put your heart in

Or the arms that hold you any time you want them.

But that don't mean that we can't live here in the moment

'Cause I can be the one you love from time to time.”

“When I first saw you

From across the room

I could tell that you were curious, oh, yeah.

Boy, I hope you're sure

What you're looking for

'Cause I'm not good at making promises.”

Promises. Like when he promised to never hurt Blaine.

Blaine takes over for the chorus and the bridge and Sebastian can’t do anything but stare at his smile. A smile that will fade soon, replaced by lips tightly pressed together. But Sebastian had to make this decision, didn’t he? It was the only way, wasn’t it?

They sing the last part of the song together, so Blaine jumps back down from the couch and sings in his face.

“And if you like midnight driving with the windows down

And if you like going places we can't even pronounce

If you like to do whatever you've been dreaming about

Then baby, you're perfect

Baby, you're perfect

So let's start right now!”

Blaine hugs him tight when they’re finished and the rest of the Warblers erupt into applause. Sebastian feels a lump forming in his throat and his smile is more of a stage-smile than genuine.

He leans down and quietly talks into Blaine’s ear: “Can we go to my room after this is over here?”

Blaine laughs and looks up with a mischievous smirk in his eyes.

“Why, Sebastian, you want to show me how perfect you are?”

Only then does he seem to notice the expression in Sebastian’s eyes.

“Wait, is it serious? Yes. Yes, of course. We can even leave now…?”

Sebastian smiles a pained smile and kisses his cheek. “No! No, it’s fine, let’s stay. It’s a special day today. I just… Blaine, I need to tell you something.”

Blaine nods and smiles encouragingly at Sebastian before taking his hand and leading him back to where they sat before. There, he cuddles back into the exact same position, only now he holds on even tighter to Sebastian’s hands. God, why does this have to be so hard?

Chapter Text

"Blaine, I need to tell you something." It's never good when someone says those words. Sebastian doesn't have to say it, Blaine knows it's about college, if Sebastian chose to go to California with Blaine or move all the way to Paris to study International Law. Blaine can't help the sinking feeling in his stomach that everything might come crumbling down, as tight as he might hold on to his boyfriend's hand on the way to his room.

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