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When Sebastian first realises that he and Kay are friends, he gets a warm feeling inside him. After all, he can’t remember the last time someone genuinely liked him (and wasn’t just humouring him), let alone someone his own age. Kay is so much fun to be around, even though she can be a bad influence. And when Kay offhandedly mentions her ADHD meds, Sebastian feels even closer to her than ever, because their neurodiversity is another thing they have in common. He grows to love the times he visits Mr. Edgeworth and Kay is just hanging around in his office, or the times when Kay invites him out to the movies or to get milkshakes or to just hang out, which is something utterly alien to Sebastian, but he enjoys himself.
As the weeks turn to months, his mental state improving once his father gets sent to jail and he doesn’t live under the shadow of the man who ridiculed him anymore, Sebastian feels more confident in himself. Like he’s growing to appreciate the real him, not the lie that his father spread. He goes back to Themis to get his qualifications legitimately, and Kay often comes to visit when Sebastian does his homework—although she tends to distract him more than help him. And it’s on one of those occasions, when they both sit at the table in Sebastian’s apartment (living alone is a little scary, especially because he only just turned eighteen, but he appreciates the freedom it grants him), that something big dawns on Sebastian.
He has a crush on Kay Faraday. Heat rushes to his cheeks at the mere thought, and he ducks his head, hoping his hair might shield his face from Kay’s pretty eyes. Oh great, why did he think about Kay’s pretty eyes? Dropping his pen, Sebastian picks up the conducting baton that he always has within arm’s reach and begins to bend it again and again—stimming, to use the term Mr. Edgeworth taught him.
“Are you okay, Seb?” Kay asks. He loves that Kay calls him Seb.
“I, I’m fine,” he says, trying not to give himself away. He hesitates, not wanting to say the wrong word and embarrass himself as he is unfortunately prone to do. “Just… thinking about a lot.”
Kay looks at him, tilting her head. “Well, if you ever wanna talk,” she says, placing her fingers on the back of his gloved hand (Sebastian’s chest flutters), “I’m here for you.”
Sebastian realises that she probably thought he was worrying about his father or his career or something equally serious. Not… this.
Still, he appreciates the support. She’s such a nice person.
“Th-Thank you,” he says, smiling.
Kay beams back, and Sebastian’s crush on her gets even bigger.
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Over the next few days, Sebastian wonders if he should ask Kay on a date. And when he decides that he would love to go on a date with her, his thoughts instead start worrying about how to ask her out. Sebastian has never been on a date in his life. His father once made a ‘joke’ to a friend in Sebastian’s earshot that his son would never get a girlfriend, and that stuck with him for a long time. But he tries not to think about that.
But, to Sebastian’s surprise (and later amusement), he never has to confess his feelings to Kay. Because she beats him to it.
They’re sitting on the couch at Sebastian’s apartment, eating cookies that Kay brought with her (homemade and a little wonky, but they taste delicious), when Kay leans closer, slipping her arm around his shoulders.
“Hey, Seb… I’ve been thinking about something,” Kay says, smiling. “I’ve gotta say I love spending time with you. And… well… would you like to be my boyfriend?” Her smile never falters, but Kay’s face flushes red.
So does Sebastian’s. He did not expect to hear that question. But once he gets over the initial shock, all he can focus on is the sheer happiness spreading through him. Sebastian clenches and unclenches his hands, a stim he often does. And as he looks at his own hands, he gets an idea. Slowly, Sebastian takes Kay’s hand in his own, squeezing.
“I… I’d love that,” he says.
“Awesome!” Kay says, interlocking their fingers and squeezing back. With her free hand, she carefully reaches toward his face, tucking a lock of his hair behind his ear. The intimacy of the touch makes Sebastian’s face burn even hotter. “Seb, can I give you a kiss?”
His stomach squirming, Sebastian stares at her with wide eyes.
“It’s okay if you wanna say no,” Kay says. “This is all pretty sudden, after all.”
“N-No, it’s not that,” he explains, “I want to kiss you. A lot. I just… I’ve never done this before.”
“No need to be embarrassed,” she says. “Just follow my lead.”
And Kay leans closer, giving Sebastian a soft, gentle kiss on his lips. When she pulls away, Kay gives him the prettiest smile he’s ever seen. Fighting a powerful urge to cry (they would be happy tears, but Sebastian really doesn’t like how easily he cries), Sebastian lets out a nervous giggle. As Kay smiles at him, Sebastian copies her, leaning in to kiss her lips.
“W-Was that okay?” he asks when they break the kiss.
“It was fucking perfect, Seb,” Kay says, and she kisses him again.