His Perfect Partner (41/42?)
Title: His Perfect Partner (41/42?)
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG-13 this chapter)
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None, but assume that anything through Season Three is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2811
Summary: After five disappointing seasons on the show, professional dancer Kurt Hummel finally has his chance at ballroom glory. With actress and fan favorite Kim Schrodinger as his partner, Kurt vows to channel all his focus into winning that mirrorball trophy - distractions, including men, be damned. Enter Blaine Anderson, a gorgeous, confusing pop star who may turn out to be the biggest distraction of them all.
In This Chapter: The six finalists have survived the final performance show, and now Blaine and Santana are up to something.
Author's Note: This is a Dancing with the Stars/Glee crossover AU, in which Kurt grew up dancing and became a professional on the show in his mid-twenties, and Blaine is a pop star with a very private private life. I have a master glee post here, or follow me on tumblr! Once I'm done with the main story, I'll welcome prompts and the like. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
Three hours after the performance show ended, the studio was empty of crew and fans and press. The only people left in the building were the six finalists, who were clustered around the remnants of a celebratory cheesecake in the middle of one of the practice rooms.
Kurt had made the mistake of eating two pieces by himself and was stretched out on his back with his head in Blaine’s lap, feeling drowsy and overly full. Blaine was propped against a pillar, one hand in Kurt’s hair and the other draped loosely over Bitsy’s shoulders. Kim, who was sitting across from them, kept grinning and snapping pictures which they’d made her swear wouldn’t find their way to any form of social media. Next to her, Santana had given up on utensils and was suggestively nibbling cheesecake off her fingers, while Maks made inappropriate comments and dodged the elbow she kept aiming at his midsection. It was the most relaxed any of them had been for at least a week.
“So,” Blaine said, loud enough to be get Santana and Maks’ attention. “Last show tomorrow night.”
“Yep,” Santana agreed. She sounded too casual. Kurt looked up in time to see the grins she and Blaine exchanged.
“What are you two up to?” Kim asked, sounding more excited than suspicious. Kurt still hadn’t managed to teach her that Santana’s ideas were inherently suspect.
“Just a little something,” Blaine demurred, but Santana waved him off.
“We’re going out with a bang, bitches. And you’re all going to help,” she announced. “Wee tiny Blainers and I want our chance to perform, and we figure you should all be in on it. So we’ve been working on a mash-up. We’d have liked it to be all three of the finalists, but since Kimmy here sounds like a cat being thrown off a building when she sings, that’s out. You’ll all just have to dance while we sound pretty.”
“Brit and Mike already figured out choreography and taught the group sections to the other pros,” Blaine said. Kurt couldn’t decide whether the planning time they’d put into this idea made it better or worse.
“Wait…you want me to learn something new by tomorrow?” Kim asked, finally sounding appropriately concerned.
“Well, Brit said a rumba would work, so we thought you could mostly use your rumba choreography from a few weeks ago?” Blaine said, though it sounded more like a question. He blinked a few times, his eyes wide and beseeching as he looked between Kim and Kurt.
“Remind me to never again leave you two alone in the same room,” Kurt said as he sat up. He stared down both Santana and Blaine; Santana laughed at him, and Blaine kept blinking until Kurt gave up and leaned over for a kiss. Then he looked at Kim. “It’ll work if you want to do it. We just need the music, some practice space, and an hour or two.”
“Well, hell. Why not?” Kim grinned when Blaine cheered at her response. Kurt just rolled his eyes and got up so he could pull Kim to her feet.
“Ok, then. No more cheesecake, people. Apparently we have work to do,” Kurt said.
“Brits’ll meet you in the little practice room to fill you in,” Santana told them, clearly thrilled to be getting her way. “Mike’s bringing the rest of the crew to the big practice space to rehearse with Maks and Elizabeth in a few, and Blainers and I will meet all of you on stage at 11.”
Santana marched out of the room, obviously expecting Blaine to follow her. The rest of them took their time getting up and gathering their stuff. Kim was still bounding around excitedly, which made Kurt smile. He started toward her, planning to corral her toward their practice room, but Blaine caught his elbow before he could get very far.
“Hey,” Blaine said, his hand sliding down Kurt’s arm to link their fingers together. “Thanks for playing along. Sorry I didn’t tell you, but Santana…”
“But Santana,” Kurt confirmed, reaching out with his free hand to cup Blaine’s cheek. “It’s ok. I don’t really mind. One more chance to dance with Kim, while you sing for us?”
“For you,” Blaine said quietly, stepping closer. “Always for you.”
“Love you,” Kurt murmured back, because there was no other response. He leaned in to take the kiss Blaine was offering.
Blaine hummed his contentment as he gathered Kurt close, his lips pressing soft and full against Kurt’s. Kurt responded in kind, letting the day’s excitement drain away into comfort and warmth and drowsy arousal. At least until Kim’s arms being flung around the both of them ruined the moment.
“Aw, I love you both too!” she said, hopping up and down a little with her arms around them. They looked at one another, Kurt incredulous and Blaine bemused, and then turned to look at her as she continued hugging them.
“Uh, Kim?” Kurt began, unsure quite how to express just how annoying she was being. “You know I love you, but…”
“But not in the exchanging bodily fluids way,” Kim replied, grinning. “I remember, yes. But I hope in the ‘let’s go dance and I’ll make out with my boyfriend later’ sort of way!”
“Oh my god,” Kurt said, dropping his forehead onto Blaine’s shoulder, which was shaking slightly from Blaine’s laughter. Kurt only looked up when he felt Kim let them go and move away. “Where did they find her?”
“Dunno,” Blaine said, still chuckling. “In the Slightly Insane but Otherwise Endearing Celebrities catalog?”
“Something like that,” Kurt said, rolling his eyes. He sighed and then pulled Blaine in for one more kiss. “See you in a few hours?”
“Of course. Go dance. Oh, and Kurt?”
Kurt had turned away to gather his things, but he looked up when Blaine called his name.
“Yeah?” Kurt replied.
“I love you too,” Blaine said, his smile warm and intimate, before making his way toward the door.
Strangely enough, though it took Kurt twenty minutes to calm Kim down enough to focus on proper rumba technique, Kurt didn’t end up minding all that much. He only had to think of Blaine to make it all worthwhile.
***
Kurt woke late the next morning, still exhausted from the adrenaline of the night’s show combined with the impromptu rehearsal that had lasted until well after midnight. He and Blaine had fallen into bed together, content to cuddle and kiss until they both drifted off. Blaine had woken first, though; Kurt was alone in his bed and could hear quiet singing drifting in through the open bedroom door. The comfortable domesticity of the moment brought a smile to his face, momentarily keeping his nerves at bay.
The day was going to be a long and stressful one, but Kurt knew focusing on their last-minute performance would help. Having Blaine with him would help, as it always did. And his parents were meeting them at the studio for a casual lunch, which would keep Kurt’s mind otherwise occupied for at least half an hour. Somehow, he would survive the day, and in a few hours they would all know who had won.
“Freaking out already?” Blaine was standing in the doorway when Kurt looked up, smiling sympathetically at him.
“Maybe a little,” Kurt admitted, getting up so he could snuggle into Blaine for a hug. “You?”
“I was up before you, wasn’t I?” Blaine replied.
“And we both know that doesn’t happen unless you’re thinking too hard.” Kurt stepped back and took Blaine’s hand, heading them toward the kitchen and the promise of coffee.
“It’s just…this is the best- and worst-case scenario, don’t you think? That we’re both in the finals. It would be easier for one of us to be cheering the other on, in some ways,” Blaine said as he got down mugs.
“A little competition is healthy, though,” Kurt said.
“This is not a little competition. This is your job,” Blaine said, making a face. “I mean, it’s my job too, at the moment, but still.”
“Don’t you go all noble on me now, Blaine. I know you want this as much as I do,” Kurt said.
“But not as much as I want you,” Blaine said, in that overly-earnest and perfect way of his.
“It’s not that sort of competition, honey,” Kurt said, putting down his coffee spoon so he could frame Blaine’s face with both hands. “You’ve got me. The only question is whether you also get a hideously tacky trophy too.”
“A tacky trophy you want,” Blaine pointed out, running his hands up to circle Kurt’s wrists.
“You’re allowed to want it too,” Kurt said quietly, holding Blaine’s gaze for a moment before leaning in to kiss him.
“I know. I do,” Blaine said. “Promise it won’t come between us?”
“Never.” Kurt smiled. Then he held up his still-empty mug. “But coffee, on the other hand. That might come between us.”
“Ok, point taken!” Blaine laughed and turned to grab the coffee pot so he could pour some for both of them.
“My hero,” Kurt said, fluttering his lashes for effect. He took a sip, smiled, and reached out for Blaine’s hand.
***
The morning and afternoon trudged along, filled with small annoyances and tiny pleasures. All the dancers endured a maddening dress rehearsal, which mostly involved being shuffled around and waiting while the producers ran through the myriad ways they could eliminate the final two couples and announce a winner. The run-through of Blaine and Santana’s number was more enjoyable, but it only made Kurt more anxious to just get on with it already.
Finally, he and Kim headed to see Cedes, who squeezed them both tight and whispered that she’d had her whole family voting for them the night before. Cedes got them done up quickly, curling Kim’s hair into romantic waves and using most of a can of hairspray to keep Kurt’s hair from falling down while he danced.
“Gotta look your best for your big win,” Cedes said when they thanked her. Kurt grinned and kissed her cheek before escorting Kim back to their trailers so they could put on their costumes.
Kim appeared ten minutes later in a diaphanous white gown that shimmered when she moved. Kurt made all the appropriate noises about how gorgeous she looked, which he repeated kindly to Bitsy when they met up with her and Blaine backstage. Bitsy was also wearing white, but her skirt was shorter, with tiered ruffles that flared out when she turned. Kurt and Blaine complemented their partners, Kurt in dance-appropriate white pants and sleeveless shirt, while Blaine wore a smart white suit.
Santana appeared next, radiant in a form-fitting gown, more silver than white, with a deep slit up one side. Blaine’s tie matched her dress, which would help them stand out as they sang surrounded by white-clad dancers.
The group huddled together as the rest of the dancers appeared, Brit and Maks tucking in next to Santana while Mike and Tina stood behind Kurt and Kim. Santana launched into a pep talk that sounded more threatening than encouraging, but everyone just grinned back at her. This was the last night they’d get to perform together, and they were all excited.
With only minutes to go before the show opened, the group broke up to make their final preparations. Blaine caught Kurt for a final hug and whispered ‘I love you’ before Blaine and Santana headed into the wings to get their mics. They’d be starting on stage with most of the dancers, while Kurt, Kim, Bitsy, and Maks would enter from the far end of the dance floor.
Kurt fell into step with Bitsy as the four of them made their way down the hall to wait for their cue. She looked up curiously when he offered her his arm, but slipped her arm through his without complaint.
“Yes?” Bitsy said, a bemused smile on her face. Kurt took a deep breath.
“I just wanted to say that you’ve been a worthy competitor, Bits - Elizabeth,” Kurt began. “And you’ve done a wonderful job with Blaine. I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” Bitsy said. “You too - with Kim, I mean. And you can call me Bitsy, I suppose.”
“Really?” Kurt stopped walking so he could look at her.
“Really. I find it kind of endearing, actually. And I wouldn’t know who the hell you were talking about if you started calling me by my actual name.” Her smile widened when she saw his shocked expression. “I have a sense of humor, you know.”
“Apparently,” Kurt replied, smiling back at her once he’d gotten over his initial surprise. It turned out that Bitsy was alright after all. Not that he’d be telling Blaine that. There was only so much ‘I told you so’ gloating that one relationship could stand.
***
The show opened with Tom narrating a long recap of the previous night’s performances as well as extended pre-recorded interviews with the three final couples and their family and friends. Even backstage, Kurt could hear the audience’s laughter when Molly and Jake were on screen talking about why their mommy and their Kurtsie should win. He squeezed Kim’s hand, and she rolled her eyes affectionately in response.
They warmed up while the show went to commercial, wordlessly going through their usual routine one final time. They were both more relaxed than they’d been the night before, which Kurt knew would help them to dance an unforgettable rumba. Kim slid into his arms once they’d run the whole thing through, and he held her tight, his cheek pressed against her hair.
“May I have one last dance?” Kurt whispered.
“Always,” Kim replied, squeezing him once before letting him go. Her hand slipped into his, and she led the way to the edge of the dance floor so they could watch the start of the performance.
All the lights in the ballroom dimmed, obscuring the movement of dancers and singers up on stage. Then Kurt heard the telltale hiss of the smoke machines, and mist began to billow across the floor. At center stage, a light warmed, revealing Santana just as she began to sing. She looked beautiful and strong standing alone in the spotlight. Kurt thought that there couldn’t be a better song for her in this moment than one that began “I came to win, to fly, to conquer, to thrive.”
The music picked up, the band’s singers providing backup, and the stage lights came up to reveal the pro dancers. They moved in pairs down onto the floor, making room for Blaine to cross the stage and join Santana. They traded rapped and sung lines, growing more animated with one another as they reached the first chorus. Their performance was both fun and powerful, and it made Kurt grin until his face hurt.
Maks and Bitsy took to the floor, partnering beautifully in a sensual rumba. The other dancers kept to the edges as they echoed Maks and Bitsy’s steps. Then they all cleared the floor, and it was Kim and Kurt’s turn.
Kurt poured everything he had into his connection with Kim, wanting everyone watching to see just how much she deserved to be highlighted, to win. Kim was radiant, flowing easily through the steps, granting them weight and import while staying light on her feet. She was an ideal partner, a wonderful person. Kurt was the luckiest dancer he knew.
Kim spun once more into his arms, and he lifted her, cradling her close. Next to them, Maks had lifted Bitsy, balancing her on one shoulder. He nodded to Kurt, and the two of them walked slowly toward the stage as the other dancers moved around them. At the steps, they put Kim and Bitsy down, and the four of them walked up to join Santana and Blaine. They turned to face the audience, all six of them now holding hands, as Santana and Blaine sang one last “I believe I can fly.”
The applause was long and loud, rivaling anything they’d heard the night before. Everyone was on their feet and cheering, including Tom, who joined the six finalists on stage. He gave it a few minutes before he motioned for quiet and held his microphone up. Kim’s grip tightened on Kurt’s hand, and they exchanged a worried glance. This wasn’t how they’d rehearsed this moment in the show.
“Since we have all three final couples gathered on stage right now,” Tom began, causing Kurt’s heart rate to increase, “we’d like to get right to announcing the first result of the evening.”
The three couples glanced at each other and then back at Tom, steeling themselves for what was to come. Apparently, the third place finishers would be announced right now. There was nothing to be done but hear Tom out.
Rating: NC-17 overall (PG-13 this chapter)
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None, but assume that anything through Season Three is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2811
Summary: After five disappointing seasons on the show, professional dancer Kurt Hummel finally has his chance at ballroom glory. With actress and fan favorite Kim Schrodinger as his partner, Kurt vows to channel all his focus into winning that mirrorball trophy - distractions, including men, be damned. Enter Blaine Anderson, a gorgeous, confusing pop star who may turn out to be the biggest distraction of them all.
In This Chapter: The six finalists have survived the final performance show, and now Blaine and Santana are up to something.
Author's Note: This is a Dancing with the Stars/Glee crossover AU, in which Kurt grew up dancing and became a professional on the show in his mid-twenties, and Blaine is a pop star with a very private private life. I have a master glee post here, or follow me on tumblr! Once I'm done with the main story, I'll welcome prompts and the like. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
Three hours after the performance show ended, the studio was empty of crew and fans and press. The only people left in the building were the six finalists, who were clustered around the remnants of a celebratory cheesecake in the middle of one of the practice rooms.
Kurt had made the mistake of eating two pieces by himself and was stretched out on his back with his head in Blaine’s lap, feeling drowsy and overly full. Blaine was propped against a pillar, one hand in Kurt’s hair and the other draped loosely over Bitsy’s shoulders. Kim, who was sitting across from them, kept grinning and snapping pictures which they’d made her swear wouldn’t find their way to any form of social media. Next to her, Santana had given up on utensils and was suggestively nibbling cheesecake off her fingers, while Maks made inappropriate comments and dodged the elbow she kept aiming at his midsection. It was the most relaxed any of them had been for at least a week.
“So,” Blaine said, loud enough to be get Santana and Maks’ attention. “Last show tomorrow night.”
“Yep,” Santana agreed. She sounded too casual. Kurt looked up in time to see the grins she and Blaine exchanged.
“What are you two up to?” Kim asked, sounding more excited than suspicious. Kurt still hadn’t managed to teach her that Santana’s ideas were inherently suspect.
“Just a little something,” Blaine demurred, but Santana waved him off.
“We’re going out with a bang, bitches. And you’re all going to help,” she announced. “Wee tiny Blainers and I want our chance to perform, and we figure you should all be in on it. So we’ve been working on a mash-up. We’d have liked it to be all three of the finalists, but since Kimmy here sounds like a cat being thrown off a building when she sings, that’s out. You’ll all just have to dance while we sound pretty.”
“Brit and Mike already figured out choreography and taught the group sections to the other pros,” Blaine said. Kurt couldn’t decide whether the planning time they’d put into this idea made it better or worse.
“Wait…you want me to learn something new by tomorrow?” Kim asked, finally sounding appropriately concerned.
“Well, Brit said a rumba would work, so we thought you could mostly use your rumba choreography from a few weeks ago?” Blaine said, though it sounded more like a question. He blinked a few times, his eyes wide and beseeching as he looked between Kim and Kurt.
“Remind me to never again leave you two alone in the same room,” Kurt said as he sat up. He stared down both Santana and Blaine; Santana laughed at him, and Blaine kept blinking until Kurt gave up and leaned over for a kiss. Then he looked at Kim. “It’ll work if you want to do it. We just need the music, some practice space, and an hour or two.”
“Well, hell. Why not?” Kim grinned when Blaine cheered at her response. Kurt just rolled his eyes and got up so he could pull Kim to her feet.
“Ok, then. No more cheesecake, people. Apparently we have work to do,” Kurt said.
“Brits’ll meet you in the little practice room to fill you in,” Santana told them, clearly thrilled to be getting her way. “Mike’s bringing the rest of the crew to the big practice space to rehearse with Maks and Elizabeth in a few, and Blainers and I will meet all of you on stage at 11.”
Santana marched out of the room, obviously expecting Blaine to follow her. The rest of them took their time getting up and gathering their stuff. Kim was still bounding around excitedly, which made Kurt smile. He started toward her, planning to corral her toward their practice room, but Blaine caught his elbow before he could get very far.
“Hey,” Blaine said, his hand sliding down Kurt’s arm to link their fingers together. “Thanks for playing along. Sorry I didn’t tell you, but Santana…”
“But Santana,” Kurt confirmed, reaching out with his free hand to cup Blaine’s cheek. “It’s ok. I don’t really mind. One more chance to dance with Kim, while you sing for us?”
“For you,” Blaine said quietly, stepping closer. “Always for you.”
“Love you,” Kurt murmured back, because there was no other response. He leaned in to take the kiss Blaine was offering.
Blaine hummed his contentment as he gathered Kurt close, his lips pressing soft and full against Kurt’s. Kurt responded in kind, letting the day’s excitement drain away into comfort and warmth and drowsy arousal. At least until Kim’s arms being flung around the both of them ruined the moment.
“Aw, I love you both too!” she said, hopping up and down a little with her arms around them. They looked at one another, Kurt incredulous and Blaine bemused, and then turned to look at her as she continued hugging them.
“Uh, Kim?” Kurt began, unsure quite how to express just how annoying she was being. “You know I love you, but…”
“But not in the exchanging bodily fluids way,” Kim replied, grinning. “I remember, yes. But I hope in the ‘let’s go dance and I’ll make out with my boyfriend later’ sort of way!”
“Oh my god,” Kurt said, dropping his forehead onto Blaine’s shoulder, which was shaking slightly from Blaine’s laughter. Kurt only looked up when he felt Kim let them go and move away. “Where did they find her?”
“Dunno,” Blaine said, still chuckling. “In the Slightly Insane but Otherwise Endearing Celebrities catalog?”
“Something like that,” Kurt said, rolling his eyes. He sighed and then pulled Blaine in for one more kiss. “See you in a few hours?”
“Of course. Go dance. Oh, and Kurt?”
Kurt had turned away to gather his things, but he looked up when Blaine called his name.
“Yeah?” Kurt replied.
“I love you too,” Blaine said, his smile warm and intimate, before making his way toward the door.
Strangely enough, though it took Kurt twenty minutes to calm Kim down enough to focus on proper rumba technique, Kurt didn’t end up minding all that much. He only had to think of Blaine to make it all worthwhile.
***
Kurt woke late the next morning, still exhausted from the adrenaline of the night’s show combined with the impromptu rehearsal that had lasted until well after midnight. He and Blaine had fallen into bed together, content to cuddle and kiss until they both drifted off. Blaine had woken first, though; Kurt was alone in his bed and could hear quiet singing drifting in through the open bedroom door. The comfortable domesticity of the moment brought a smile to his face, momentarily keeping his nerves at bay.
The day was going to be a long and stressful one, but Kurt knew focusing on their last-minute performance would help. Having Blaine with him would help, as it always did. And his parents were meeting them at the studio for a casual lunch, which would keep Kurt’s mind otherwise occupied for at least half an hour. Somehow, he would survive the day, and in a few hours they would all know who had won.
“Freaking out already?” Blaine was standing in the doorway when Kurt looked up, smiling sympathetically at him.
“Maybe a little,” Kurt admitted, getting up so he could snuggle into Blaine for a hug. “You?”
“I was up before you, wasn’t I?” Blaine replied.
“And we both know that doesn’t happen unless you’re thinking too hard.” Kurt stepped back and took Blaine’s hand, heading them toward the kitchen and the promise of coffee.
“It’s just…this is the best- and worst-case scenario, don’t you think? That we’re both in the finals. It would be easier for one of us to be cheering the other on, in some ways,” Blaine said as he got down mugs.
“A little competition is healthy, though,” Kurt said.
“This is not a little competition. This is your job,” Blaine said, making a face. “I mean, it’s my job too, at the moment, but still.”
“Don’t you go all noble on me now, Blaine. I know you want this as much as I do,” Kurt said.
“But not as much as I want you,” Blaine said, in that overly-earnest and perfect way of his.
“It’s not that sort of competition, honey,” Kurt said, putting down his coffee spoon so he could frame Blaine’s face with both hands. “You’ve got me. The only question is whether you also get a hideously tacky trophy too.”
“A tacky trophy you want,” Blaine pointed out, running his hands up to circle Kurt’s wrists.
“You’re allowed to want it too,” Kurt said quietly, holding Blaine’s gaze for a moment before leaning in to kiss him.
“I know. I do,” Blaine said. “Promise it won’t come between us?”
“Never.” Kurt smiled. Then he held up his still-empty mug. “But coffee, on the other hand. That might come between us.”
“Ok, point taken!” Blaine laughed and turned to grab the coffee pot so he could pour some for both of them.
“My hero,” Kurt said, fluttering his lashes for effect. He took a sip, smiled, and reached out for Blaine’s hand.
***
The morning and afternoon trudged along, filled with small annoyances and tiny pleasures. All the dancers endured a maddening dress rehearsal, which mostly involved being shuffled around and waiting while the producers ran through the myriad ways they could eliminate the final two couples and announce a winner. The run-through of Blaine and Santana’s number was more enjoyable, but it only made Kurt more anxious to just get on with it already.
Finally, he and Kim headed to see Cedes, who squeezed them both tight and whispered that she’d had her whole family voting for them the night before. Cedes got them done up quickly, curling Kim’s hair into romantic waves and using most of a can of hairspray to keep Kurt’s hair from falling down while he danced.
“Gotta look your best for your big win,” Cedes said when they thanked her. Kurt grinned and kissed her cheek before escorting Kim back to their trailers so they could put on their costumes.
Kim appeared ten minutes later in a diaphanous white gown that shimmered when she moved. Kurt made all the appropriate noises about how gorgeous she looked, which he repeated kindly to Bitsy when they met up with her and Blaine backstage. Bitsy was also wearing white, but her skirt was shorter, with tiered ruffles that flared out when she turned. Kurt and Blaine complemented their partners, Kurt in dance-appropriate white pants and sleeveless shirt, while Blaine wore a smart white suit.
Santana appeared next, radiant in a form-fitting gown, more silver than white, with a deep slit up one side. Blaine’s tie matched her dress, which would help them stand out as they sang surrounded by white-clad dancers.
The group huddled together as the rest of the dancers appeared, Brit and Maks tucking in next to Santana while Mike and Tina stood behind Kurt and Kim. Santana launched into a pep talk that sounded more threatening than encouraging, but everyone just grinned back at her. This was the last night they’d get to perform together, and they were all excited.
With only minutes to go before the show opened, the group broke up to make their final preparations. Blaine caught Kurt for a final hug and whispered ‘I love you’ before Blaine and Santana headed into the wings to get their mics. They’d be starting on stage with most of the dancers, while Kurt, Kim, Bitsy, and Maks would enter from the far end of the dance floor.
Kurt fell into step with Bitsy as the four of them made their way down the hall to wait for their cue. She looked up curiously when he offered her his arm, but slipped her arm through his without complaint.
“Yes?” Bitsy said, a bemused smile on her face. Kurt took a deep breath.
“I just wanted to say that you’ve been a worthy competitor, Bits - Elizabeth,” Kurt began. “And you’ve done a wonderful job with Blaine. I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” Bitsy said. “You too - with Kim, I mean. And you can call me Bitsy, I suppose.”
“Really?” Kurt stopped walking so he could look at her.
“Really. I find it kind of endearing, actually. And I wouldn’t know who the hell you were talking about if you started calling me by my actual name.” Her smile widened when she saw his shocked expression. “I have a sense of humor, you know.”
“Apparently,” Kurt replied, smiling back at her once he’d gotten over his initial surprise. It turned out that Bitsy was alright after all. Not that he’d be telling Blaine that. There was only so much ‘I told you so’ gloating that one relationship could stand.
***
The show opened with Tom narrating a long recap of the previous night’s performances as well as extended pre-recorded interviews with the three final couples and their family and friends. Even backstage, Kurt could hear the audience’s laughter when Molly and Jake were on screen talking about why their mommy and their Kurtsie should win. He squeezed Kim’s hand, and she rolled her eyes affectionately in response.
They warmed up while the show went to commercial, wordlessly going through their usual routine one final time. They were both more relaxed than they’d been the night before, which Kurt knew would help them to dance an unforgettable rumba. Kim slid into his arms once they’d run the whole thing through, and he held her tight, his cheek pressed against her hair.
“May I have one last dance?” Kurt whispered.
“Always,” Kim replied, squeezing him once before letting him go. Her hand slipped into his, and she led the way to the edge of the dance floor so they could watch the start of the performance.
All the lights in the ballroom dimmed, obscuring the movement of dancers and singers up on stage. Then Kurt heard the telltale hiss of the smoke machines, and mist began to billow across the floor. At center stage, a light warmed, revealing Santana just as she began to sing. She looked beautiful and strong standing alone in the spotlight. Kurt thought that there couldn’t be a better song for her in this moment than one that began “I came to win, to fly, to conquer, to thrive.”
The music picked up, the band’s singers providing backup, and the stage lights came up to reveal the pro dancers. They moved in pairs down onto the floor, making room for Blaine to cross the stage and join Santana. They traded rapped and sung lines, growing more animated with one another as they reached the first chorus. Their performance was both fun and powerful, and it made Kurt grin until his face hurt.
Maks and Bitsy took to the floor, partnering beautifully in a sensual rumba. The other dancers kept to the edges as they echoed Maks and Bitsy’s steps. Then they all cleared the floor, and it was Kim and Kurt’s turn.
Kurt poured everything he had into his connection with Kim, wanting everyone watching to see just how much she deserved to be highlighted, to win. Kim was radiant, flowing easily through the steps, granting them weight and import while staying light on her feet. She was an ideal partner, a wonderful person. Kurt was the luckiest dancer he knew.
Kim spun once more into his arms, and he lifted her, cradling her close. Next to them, Maks had lifted Bitsy, balancing her on one shoulder. He nodded to Kurt, and the two of them walked slowly toward the stage as the other dancers moved around them. At the steps, they put Kim and Bitsy down, and the four of them walked up to join Santana and Blaine. They turned to face the audience, all six of them now holding hands, as Santana and Blaine sang one last “I believe I can fly.”
The applause was long and loud, rivaling anything they’d heard the night before. Everyone was on their feet and cheering, including Tom, who joined the six finalists on stage. He gave it a few minutes before he motioned for quiet and held his microphone up. Kim’s grip tightened on Kurt’s hand, and they exchanged a worried glance. This wasn’t how they’d rehearsed this moment in the show.
“Since we have all three final couples gathered on stage right now,” Tom began, causing Kurt’s heart rate to increase, “we’d like to get right to announcing the first result of the evening.”
The three couples glanced at each other and then back at Tom, steeling themselves for what was to come. Apparently, the third place finishers would be announced right now. There was nothing to be done but hear Tom out.