Chapter Text
Sebastian rolled out his bed to check his email after a restless night. He paused as the email announced he got out-bidded. He groaned as he looked down, trying to compose himself. This was the ninth one he tried to get. He closed the email.
He almost dropped eleven hundred dollars on the bear. He had the money, that wasn’t the issue, but he was outbid by twenty dollars. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep: he was going to try to do what he could to fix what he messed up...
Sebastian hid some tears as he began to get up for the day, trying to distract himself from the disappointment he felt. He began to make a basic breakfast, scrambled eggs and pancakes as he heard shuffling from their shared room.
“Guten Morgen,” Klavier greets, kissing Sebastian’s cheek, “What are you making?”
“Eggs and pancakes.”
“Did something happen, Mausi?” Klavier’s voice was filled with concern.
“Ah, it’s kind of stupid. I got out-bidded on a rare stuffed animal...” Sebastian’s shoulders fell as he tried to concentrate on the food. "Again."
“I never assumed you’d like stuffed animals,” Klavier muttered. “I’m surprised your vader let you keep any.”
“He only let me keep that nutcracker bear in the windowsill,” Sebastian sighed. “It’s a collectible. They’re rarer than the one I’m looking for.”
He pointed the spatula at the brown bear. It was adorned in a small nutcracker suit, made with fine curly fur. The beady black eyes gave it a timeless look, and had a small snout. It had aged it a bit, but just needed a nice cleaning from its age. Sebastian did wonder if he should get a professional cleaning on it for any excess dust.
“The Nutcracker?” Klavier picked up the plush, looking at the details of the bear. “He’s quite lovely.”
Sebastian flipped the pancake. “That bear is from the Meadows Ballet Company. They only made one for each troupe member as a Christmas present when I was a child. Each dancer got a Nutcracker and a Clara bear.”
“Shouldn’t there be an even amount, then?”
“Technically, but one of the troupe members was buried with the Nutcracker bear when he died while his wife kept the Clara bear. Two others are missing,” Sebastian explained.
“Oh, that’s a shame. Have you thought of selling yours?”
“No, I’m actually looking for the other Clara bear.” Sebastian tried to hold his tongue. “The eleventh is the last in existence and I haven’t found it. The others have homes.”
“Oh, that’s interesting. So nine Nutcrackers and twelve Claras?”
“Technically eleven. My mother’s Clara...it’s gone. I promised I’d keep them as a pair, so I’ve been looking for years.” Sebastian looks down as Klavier flips the pancake for him.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Mausi.” Klavier pouted. “Do you know what happened to it? Perhaps we can go to your vader’s house-”
“No, that’s not necessary,” Sebastian muttered. “It’s my fault.”
“Oh, too many times in the washing machine?” Klavier asked. “If it is still there, I know a freundin that can fix it. Frau Cykes’s friend...oh what was her name?”
Sebastian moved to the side as Klavier began to cook the rest of the meal. Klavier rubbed Sebastian’s head to sooth him.
“Thank you, but…”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, but if I don’t tell you, I have a feeling I’m going to be dragged to my father’s house.” Sebastian looked away, taking a deep breath.
“If you’re sure. I promise, we don’t have to go.” Klavier assured as Sebastian’s eyes filled with tears.
“It’s alright. It’s about time I told someone.”
*
As a young child, Sebastian was told he was too good for other children and often was isolated from everyone, usually only having the company of his parents. He was normally exposed to books that were far above his reading level and he didn’t have any other stimulation to keep him entertained.
For toys, he only had the two teddy bears because his mother gave to him. The Nutcracker and Clara. However, once his father found out they were collectibles, Pops made it clear if he saw Sebastian play with the “precious merchandise,” he would be punished.
Sebastian tried not to play with them and behave, but it was always so tempting. They were soft and cuddly, and without the lack of toys, he was bored during the day.
Though, he would play with them in the night, going on adventures with them to a magical land. Something to ignore the outside world. Years later, Sebastian was able to understand he used the stuffed animals as escapism as his parents fought, screaming at each other in the hours of the morning.
Clara and the Nutcracker always watched over Sebastian while he slept. He always had them next to his nightstand, knowing it would be far too dangerous to snuggle with them, in fear of his father waking him up and seeing him cuddling the animals.
One night, he messed up. It was weeks after his mother’s disappearance, and Sebastian hid away as he coped with the loss of his mum. His pops made it clear she left to start over and wanted nothing to do with her son because he was a whiny, useless brat and to not bother looking for her.
He had dozed off with Clara tight in his arms and woken up to the screaming of his father, asking how he could destroy the quality of the bear. Sebastian had never really fought with his father, but when his father tried to yank the bear out of his arms, Sebastian refused to let go.
“Why the hell would you want this damned thing? Don’t you want to get rid of every memory of your shitty mother?!” Blaise growled as he pulled the stuffed animal away, Sebastian’s small body failing to grip the bear tightly enough.
“It’s Clara! She’s my friend!” Sebastian’s eyes teared up, “Don’t take her away.”
Blaise’s intimidating posture didn’t budge as he turned around, “Come with me, Boy.”
Sebastian’s small figure shook in place, then followed his father to the garage. Perhaps if he listened, he could coax his father to give back the beloved bear?
He waited for his father to place the bear on the table. Sebastian tilted his head when his father ignited what he now knew was a blowtorch.
“Let me make one thing clear. If I see you ever snuggling up to a collectible like that again,” Blaise pulled the blowtorch, pointing at the bear. “Your precious nutcracker will end up like the ballerina.”
With that, Blaise lit the blowtorch, a glint of amusement in his eyes. Sebastian screamed, wailing as he ran up to the stuffed animal, which was now in flames. Blaise gripped his son’s arm far too tightly as Sebastian tried to struggle away. He could still save her! He was so close to Clara, and he swore he could hear her pleas for help.
Not even moments later, Clara was nothing but ashes. Sebastian, through choked tears, gripped Pop’s arm as he extinguished the rest of the flames that got on the concrete floor and table.
“Clara,” Sebastian muttered, looking down, “You said she was precious...priceless…”
“Now that you have tainted it, her value went down,” Blaise grumbled. “I didn’t want to keep her around if it couldn’t sell.”
*
“Oh, liebling.” Klavier’s face dropped as he wrapped Sebastian in a hug, “You did nothing wrong. Come on, let’s go to the couch so you can let it out.”
Sebastian hadn’t realized he was full on sobbing as Klavier picked him up and placed both of them on the couch. Klavier held Sebastian close as Vongole sniffed the sobbing man and gave him licks. Sebastian did chuckle a bit as he pet her.
“Thank you,” Sebastian muttered as Klavier played with his hair.
“I know it is a touchy subject, but I am curious,” Klavier muttered. “How did you get away with keeping the nutcracker safe?”
Sebastian just sobbed harder. Klavier bit his lip, looking away. That was not a good question...
“I blamed it on the dog,” Sebastian sobbed, then looked away. “I’d rather not talk about what happened to him.”
Klavier just nodded and rubbed Sebastian’s back, calming down the smaller man. “Well, breakfast is ruined. While you were talking, I accidentally burned the eggs. Want to go to a cafe?”
“That would be appreciated.”
*
Sebastian didn’t drink too much coffee, but an occasional trip to a cafe was nice. Klavier...was a different story. Klavier’s triple shot soy vanilla latte light on foam with a squirt of caramel and light sugar must be a regular since the barista didn’t even blink when he asked for one.
Sebastian ordered a black coffee with room.
“You can order something else,” Klavier offered as Sebastian shook his head.
“Thank you, but I do just like black coffee.”
“Let’s get some food too. Whatever he wants.” Klavier’s persona shone as he leaned in with that beautiful smile of his. Klavier pointed at the croissant. “I think that has my name on it. Danke. How about you, liebling?”
“Uh, that muffin,” Sebastian pointed at a strawberry matcha muffin.
The barista bagged up the snacks as she handed Sebastian the coffee, half and half already added in. She scribbled something on Klavier’s cup as she handed the iced drink to him. They exited the cafe, walking back to the apartment.
Klavier paused as he looked at the writing. He chuckled, then sipped his drink.
“Oh, her number.” Klavier rolled his eyes. “And they say romance isn’t dead.”
“Would you have preferred her being upfront?” Sebastian asked.
“I would have preferred if she kept that to herself,” Klavier scoffed. “This happens way too much.”
“Seems you still got it.” Sebastian smiled a bit. “I know since the band disbanded you didn’t feel wanted anymore.”
“Mm, but that was before I started dating you, liebling.” Klavier smiled, kissing Sebastian’s cheek. Sebastian turned bright red as Klavier laughed. “Now it’s nothing but a nuisance.”
The two walked in the cold, close to each other as they got back to the warm apartment. Vongole greeted the couple as Sebastian put his drink and pastry to the side, offering her pets and ruffles as she rolled on the ground.
“Aww, there she is.” Sebastian pet her. “Did we need to do anything today?”
“Nein, nein,” Klavier muttered. “Let’s relax. Unless you need to get out?”
“No, not right now,” Sebastian mumbled, sitting on the couch. “I just want to be held.”
“I can certainly do that.” Klavier sipped his drink. “Come, liebling. Let’s put on a movie and finish breakfast."
Sebastian followed Klavier to the couch, Vongole hopping on Sebastian’s lap as Klavier wrapped his arm around the smaller man and put on a movie for background noise. Sebastian ate slowly as Klavier watched him, making sure he wasn’t going to break down again. Sebastian has cheered up a bit since he recalled that horrible incident, but Klavier can’t help but wonder if he can pull some strings to really help him out.
After all, how hard could it be? With the right connections, Klavier could get anything.
Klavier grabs his phone, writing a sentence on his social platform.
‘Guten tag, mein fans! I’m looking for a rare stuffed animal. It’s a Meadows Ballet Company Clara teddy bear…’