Together, We are the Oceans (Part 3)
Media: Fic
Title: Together, We are the Oceans (Part 3/14)
Author: Aelora
Rating: PG (Eventual R)
Summary: In which they meet their cruise director, Steve, and Blaine embarrasses Kurt.
Spoilers: For Blaine and the Warblers, basically.
Disclaimer: I have no claim to Kurt and Blaine, which is sad. And also rhymes. All similarities to persons or events are purely coincidental (okay, so maybe art is imitating life here, but names have been changed to protect the semi-innocent). This is homage to Celebrity Cruise Lines. Seriously.
A/N: Special thanks to my beta, dolimir_k.
Part One
Part Two
“Maybe you could sleep sitting up?” Kurt offers helpfully.
He and Finn are in their room, staring at the two tiny twin beds. Even Kurt, with his recent growth spurt, isn’t entirely certain that his toes won’t be hanging off the end of the mattress. But Finn… poor Finn. If his stepbrother were to lie down on the floor, he’d be about the width of the room itself. The bed is about a foot shorter than that. They continue to stare at it, as if somehow that will make it stretch itself to fit Finn, but it just sits there being tiny.
Shrugging his shoulders in defeat, Kurt carries his bags over to his bed on the other side of the room closest to the tiny porthole and the desk, and carefully sets them on it. It’s been over forty-five minutes since they boarded, and he still has the unending urge to pinch himself that this place is even real.
At the end of the gangplank onto the boat, there had been another security line to go through, though not as bad as all of the others. Here they just had to look into a little red little and swipe their passcards. Once through the line, they entered the main foyer on the third deck where a beautiful grand staircase stretched up through the center of the room, surrounded by two-story high Christmas trees, dangling lighted snowflakes, and potted poinsettias on every marble step. Dozens of crew members, decked out in their uniforms, lined either side of the entrance, welcoming them aboard and wishing them a “Merry Christmas”, and Kurt had been certain he’d never said “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas to you, too” in his life. And he ignored a few of them-Blaine had actually taken the time to speak to each and every crew member who spoke to him.
Sometimes he is certain Blaine isn’t a real human being.
They had been serving free champagne and mimosas and orange juice, and no one seemed to notice (or maybe seemed to care) when Holden, Jared and Kendrick all helped themselves to the champagne. Wes’d had Mr. Price engaged in conversation, so he hadn’t seen them, and it had been lucky for his fellow Warblers that it had actually been his dad who’d caught them. His dad who’d stood in front of them, arms crossed over his chest, staring them down with just a look until they’d set their half-drank glasses down and murmured their apologies.
And then Burt had said as if to lighten the mood, “If I have to drink the OJ, so do you.”
Kurt had been so wrapped up in the sights and sounds and overwhelming feel of the ship around him that he’d lost track of Blaine. He had turned to find Finn behind him, waving his passcard in his face, gripping the plastic card so tightly (as if afraid to drop it) that his knuckles were white.
“Wanna go find our room?”
And here they are. And while it is, admittedly, a bit tiny and claustrophobic inducing, Kurt knows he won’t be spending much time in here. He can also admit that the amenities are impressive, including two robes for their use, a silver water carafe and matching ice bucket with tongs already filled, a flat screen TV, fully stocked mini-fridge and, much to Kurt’s delight, every imaginable, and yet often forgotten convenience including cotton balls and q-tips. In fact, it was the bathroom that pleased him the most with its over-sized mirror and enough cabinets and drawers to neatly put away every toiletry he’d brought along with him.
By the time Kurt has emptied his bags, Finn is still trying to find a way to fit on his bed. He lies down in various uncomfortable looking positions, and sighs a lot. Finally, he just lays there on his back, his legs dangling over the foot of the bed, and reaches for the remote. Kurt ignores him as he begins flipping through the menu, too busy fixing his hair in the mirror, and occasionally glancing through the Warblers schedule, to care what his stepbrother is up to.
“Wow. They have some good movies on here! “The Social Network”, “Inception”-“
“Because you’re here to watch movies, Finn. Yes, that’s the reason to be on a cruise.”
“Well, you know, at night maybe. It’s not like…” Finn trails off.
Finally satisfied with his hair, Kurt slips the schedule into his pocket, straightens his tie and turns to find his stepbrother staring wide-eyed at the TV screen. “Finn, what--?” Kurt looks at the screen, and feels his own eyes widen as well. Huh. That’s unexpected.
Finn had obviously been scrolling through the genres of movies. At the bottom of the list was Gay - Male-Male. Sighing in annoyance, Kurt reaches over and snatches the remote from his stepbrother’s hand, turning the TV off. “Really, Finn?”
“Dude, I didn’t put it there!”
“Obviously, but you didn’t exactly ignore, either. Did you? You could have just scrolled back up and continued with your perusing, but no, you wanted me to see it.”
“Kurt, that’s not what-“
“Whatever, Finn.” He moves past the bed to head for the door.
Behind him, Finn stands. “Dude, what’s your problem? You’re acting like I was all ‘Hey, Kurt look! I bet you’d like this stuff!’”
“I’m sure it’s what you were thinking,” Kurt mutters.
“That’s totally not-why would you even-what the hell, dude?”
Kurt doesn’t know why they’re arguing; he doesn’t know why he accused Finn or feels so angry. He thinks it might have to do with the fact that it’s the first time they’ve really been around each other since the wedding, and Kurt suddenly feels the need to be on the defensive. It’s unfair to Finn because he hasn’t done anything to deserve it, but Kurt knows there’s something here, in this room, that he hasn’t experienced in his last few weeks at Dalton. Or maybe, he just hasn’t let himself. Dalton isn’t the Utopia he originally imagined but not once has he found himself worrying that someone might say something to hurt him.
Not once.
“Kurt-“
“Look, Finn, I’m sorry,” Kurt says without looking at him. “Can we just not, okay?”
There’s a light knock at the door, and Kurt feels relief flood him because he knows the sound of Blaine’s familiar tap so well. He turns away from his stepbrother and pulls the door open and his friend is smiling at him, eyes all gold and green and perfect. And Kurt really wishes that this time it could make him feel better, but it really doesn’t.
“Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” He glances back at Finn who is just standing there frowning at him. “Tell my dad I’ll try to find him for dinner.” And then he hurries into the hall and closes the door before Finn can respond.
And Blaine knows him far better than he sometimes realizes. “What’s going on?” He lays his hand against Kurt’s back as they make their way down the hall. “You’re tense.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it.” It takes a few moments of them walking in silence for Kurt to realize he had snapped his words. “I’m sorry. I just meant can we talk about it later?”
Blaine gives him a gentle smile and nod. “Sure.” And just like that the topic is dropped.
The Celebrity Theater seats one thousand and looks like one of those old opera houses with two levels, side balconies, heavily draped in burgundy with plush burgundy seats, each with their own tiny glass table for cocktails. The ceiling above is a giant dome of dark blue stained glass filled with stars and tucked unobtrusively among the black ceiling and lighting fixtures. The stage itself is slightly rounded, with a hidden area in the far back for the musicians, and tall enough for two-story sets. Wes, David and Thad were on the stage when Blaine and Kurt had arrived, running through some of their arrangements while the rest of the Warblers looked on from the audience. A tall, smiling man in a light grey suit had been standing off to the side, watching quietly as he took a few notes on a sheaf of paper.
The man they come to find out is their cruise director, Steve. He never gives them his last name-he’s just Steve. “If you see me around the ship, remember to come up and say ‘Hi, Steve!’” he tells them with a big smile as he makes his way around to shake the hand of each and every Warbler.
Kurt decides he likes Steve, which he supposes is the point of a cruise director.
Steve is full of energy. Steve is exceedingly happy. Steve already seems to know each and every one of their names. Kurt actually finds himself getting a little exhausted as he listens to Steve tell them how everything operates on the ship with regards to the entertainment-but they don’t have to worry about too much of it because they are invited guests, and not really part of the entertainment crew who have to abide by very strict rules. Jeff ends up asking the question they’re all thinking-what kind of rules? And Steve goes on at length as to how the hired entertainment eats with the crew, aren’t allowed in the formal dining room unless invited by guests to sit at their table, and cannot avail themselves of any of the public areas such as the pools, lounges, etc.
“Remind me not to get a job on a cruise ship,” Galen remarks behind Kurt. Flint quickly agrees.
Of course, they have their own itinerary they have to abide by. They are each given a shiny brass nametag that they are expected to wear at all times while in their uniforms; Kurt can’t help but smile at the simple rush of pleasure he feels at seeing “Kurt” written in fancy script letter across the oval pin. He begins attaching it to his lapel when Blaine reaches over to help him. Kurt flushes at the assistance, and then offers to help Blaine with his, which his friend accepts. And maybe Kurt takes a little longer than necessary to lean in and fasten it on, but after all, it’s important to make certain it is centered and straight. Once in place, he brushes his thumb over “Blaine” just to assure there are no smudges left behind. He can’t even bring himself to meet Blaine’s gaze as he pulls away and returns his attention to Steve.
They have two formal performances in the main theater-the night after Christmas, and the night before New Year’s Eve. On the other nights, they are expected to perform for one hour in various areas around the ship: the grand foyer, the Rendez-Vous Lounge, the Cova Café, Ocean Cafe Bar, and the pool deck. On New Year’s Eve they are also invited to join the festivities on the pool deck with the ship’s band, Sipra, and the Celebrity Millennium’s very own singers and dancers.
Kurt finds himself back to being exhausted.
“Other than that, the rest of the time is yours to do as you wish,” Steve tells them, clapping his hands together. “Again, I want to thank you all for being here-we’re really looking forward to seeing you perform! Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to get things ready for the drill. You guys can continue to use this space for the next twenty minutes, but we’ll need it for drill purposes after. Have fun, guys! And remember if you see me, say hi!”
They’re all silent as Steve exits the theater, and then Braden turns to Blaine, looks him up and down and says, “Man, you’re totally the Warbler cruise director!”
Everyone laughs, and whole-heartedly agrees, and Kurt finds it adorable because for once, it’s Blaine who appears to be blushing, shaking his head and sighing as if the Warblers are children he is stuck having to put up with. Kurt kind of wishes he’d stop finding more reasons to fall in love with his friend.
Meanwhile, Wes seems lost without his gavel. Now that Steve has left, the Warblers are losing focus, and as much as Wes tries to get their attention, he just can’t. Kurt watches and feels a little sorry for him when Wes finally grabs Blaine and leans in to whisper to him.
“Hey guys,” Blaine calls out. “Give Wes a moment, okay?”
And like that, there’s silence. Kurt can’t help but arch a brow, even though it’s not the first time he’s seen it happen.
Kendrick leans near Kurt and whispers, “For his next trick, Blaine’s gonna walk on water.”
It’s kind of funny, and kind of not. Kurt realizes this is what a leader looks like, and he can’t help but find himself imaging what New Directions would look like with Blaine there. Would he be able to exert the same influence? Or would he be swept up into the chaos the same as everyone? Kurt thinks about what he knows of Blaine, and what he’s seen of his friend outside of Dalton’s sway. For some reason, he thinks Blaine would love the loss of control, the lack of predictability. If someone were to ask him what is the one thing about Blaine that strikes him most-beyond being the most beautiful and amazing boy he knows-Kurt would say it’s the restlessness that seems so visible beneath the veneer of calm. Blaine seems to need an outlet; that much is undeniably visible every time he performs.
“I want everyone here at seven am tomorrow for practice,” Wes continues talking above the groans, “And again tomorrow afternoon at two. Seriously, guys. We don’t have much time to practice in this space, so we need to take advantage of every opportunity. We’re at sea all day tomorrow, so you’ll have plenty of time for swimming and whatever else. I want us prepared for both our performances around the ship tomorrow night, and our big holiday performance the following night. Okay, I think we all need to get ready for the drill. Remember-seven am sharp!”
“What drill are they talking about?” Kurt hears Jeff as Nick as they begin walking out.
Nick is rolling his eyes as he asks, “Did you like not read the signs all over your room? Listen to the announcement over the intercom? Pay any attention to anything ever? Are you even on the same planet as the rest of us?...”
Smiling, Kurt waits as Blaine joins him and they make their way out of the theater. “I think we all have the same muster station,” Blaine says. “Aft cinema or something.”
“Muster station,” Kurt says and laughs. “It sounds like we’re in the Navy. Best innuendo ever.”
Blaine quirks an eyebrow at this, and they both dissolve into giggles.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The drill was decidedly anticlimactic. Kurt thought they might at least get to see the lifeboats up close, but it turns out they were simply ushered into their muster stations where they were to go in case of an emergency. Then the crew gave them a lesson on how to put their lifejackets on, and Steve the cruise director detailed over the intercom how guests were expected to behave while on board. It was also explained that departure time had been extended by forty-five minutes as they were waiting for last minute passengers who had missed a connecting flight. The drill was ridiculously long because after all of that everything they had just heard was reiterated in Spanish and French. Before long, every Warbler had their phone out, getting in last minutes texts before they were in International waters. Kurt took the chance to send a few quick holiday wishes off to Mercedes, Tina, Brittany and Quinn before turning his phone off before he forgot. He really didn’t want to hand his dad a ridiculous phone bill of roaming charges on top of the tuition at Dalton.
“I am starving!” Holden groans as the passengers are finally informed that the drill is over.
There are collective agreements from the group that it is definitely time to grab something to eat.
“You coming?” Blaine asks as Kurt is scanning the crowd.
“Yeah, I just-“ He finally spots his dad, Carole and Finn, and takes a step in their direction. “I’m just going to ask my family if they’ve eaten yet. Be right there,” he tells Blaine before pushing his way through the throng of people to reach his dad’s side.
“Hey, kid,” his dad greets with a smile. “Was wondering if we were gonna see you tonight or not.”
“Sorry. The Warblers had a meeting. Have you guys eaten yet?”
“We were just waiting on you, honey,” Carole tells him, and beside her, Finn grumbles.
“Tell me about it. I’m starving and they won’t let me eat! I was gonna order room service and they told me I had to wait.” Finn looks as if maybe everything is okay between them, or at least he is pretending it is. He says to Kurt, “Did you know we get room service like everything else? Anything we want, whenever we want, and no charge? Dude, burgers at three am! This place is like Disneyland or something.”
Kurt smiles relieved that things seem all right between him and his stepbrother, and follows his family out of the cinema. Most of the Warblers are up ahead, moving ahead of them up the staircase toward deck ten where the Ocean Café is located. Blaine notices him as he’s about to round the banister and makes a motion that he’ll see him up there. Kurt nods, knowing he should probably hang out with his family for the time being. After all, it is Christmas Eve, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
“Will you be singing a lot?” Carole asks him as they make their way up the stairs.
“Every night for at least a few songs. Wes wants to begin rehearsals in the morning.”
“Dude, sorry you don’t get to enjoy the cruise.”
“It’s kind of why we’re here, Finn. Besides, it’s not like we’re doing it twenty-four seven.”
“Just the same,” Burt says, looking over at Kurt. “I’d like to spend some time together as a family tomorrow. It is Christmas, ya know?”
“I know, Dad. I promise.”
When they enter the Ocean Café, a few of the Warblers are gathered just inside the entrance where Holden is on his knees, fake weeping. His brother, Brett, is patting him on the shoulder while around them David, Flint, Kendrick and Byron look on in wonder. All of the others seem to have already gotten in line for food. Kurt scans for Blaine who he sees standing near the line having a conversation with Wes.
Finn asks the question they’re all wondering, “What’s up?”
Holden waves a hand toward the buffet. “Have you ever seen anything so amazing? It’s like never-ending. It just keeps going and going and going…”
Burt snorts and pushes his way past the Warblers, commenting to Carole as to how Celebrity will regret the day they invited eighteen growing teenage boys on a cruise.
“Dude, Holden has a point,” Finn says to Kurt. “I actually, like, can’t see the end of the buffet.”
Kurt lays a hand on his shoulder. “So, what are you standing here waiting for?”
Finn flashes him a big smile and hurries off.
“Come on, big guy,” David says, reaching down to help Holden off the floor. “Let’s go eat.”
Kurt hangs back in an effort not to get trampled. By the time he makes his way over to the line, Blaine has finished his conversation with Wes and seems to be waiting for him. Ever the gentleman, he hands Kurt a tray and set of utensils wrapped in a cloth napkin.
“I already scoped the place,” his friend informs him. “The salad bar is around the corner. They also have a nice selection of pasta salads and anti-pasta, in case you want to switch things up.”
Kurt knows he’s being teased and shoulder bumps his friend as he says, “At least I won’t have a paunch in ten years from eating too much fried food.”
Blaine laughs. “Paunch or no paunch, you’ll love me still.”
Kurt can’t help but feel his face flame at how close that statement is to the truth.
“So I thought maybe after we eat, we could go up to deck eleven and watch as the ship leaves harbor,” Blaine suggests, leaning against the counter as Kurt stops to fill a plate of salad. “It’s kind of cool to see something this big turn itself around on a dime.”
“Sure,” Kurt says with a shrug, pleased at how nonchalant he sounds about the whole thing. He motions with the tongs he is holding toward the greenery around him. “Salad?”
“No, thanks.”
“Paunch,” Kurt reminds him with a grin.
“More of me to love.” Blaine winks.
Kurt sets his bowl on his tray and turns away from Blaine, thinking how he couldn’t possibly survive loving more of him.
The Warblers and Kurt’s family have somehow ended up congregated together in the back of the restaurant, taking up no fewer than six tables and running off pretty much everyone else. Kurt and Blaine slide into a table for two that is right next to the table shared by Burt, Carole, and Finn. Kurt stares down at the floor beneath them where a giant window is under his feet, looking straight into the water of the harbor. Blaine leans over, looking into it with him.
“Isn’t that the coolest thing ever?” Finn asks them both as he snaps a picture with his phone. “Though, it’d be a little cooler if there were something more there than, you know, just water.”
Kurt and Blaine exchange an amused glance.
The next thirty minutes are a study in the Dalton boys outside of the Academy. Meals in the dining hall at Dalton are relatively pleasant affairs with quiet conversations contained from table to table, and polite table manners observed by all. Kurt is surprised to see that Blaine had not been kidding; outside of Dalton all of the Warblers (minus maybe Wes and possibly Galen) seem to shed the trappings of prep school students and revert to simple teenage boys. Ties are loosened, jackets are shed, food is tossed and voices are raised. In fact, twice Burt has to call out a warning to the boys to get them to simmer down.
And seeing this first hand suddenly makes Blaine’s transformation outside of the school not quite as startling to Kurt. It’s at once relieving and troubling to him. On the one hand, Kurt is pleased that it isn’t just some inexplicable trait of Blaine’s to transform between two people. On the other, Kurt is beginning to wonder if he isn’t destined to develop the same trait; that maybe he’s already lost himself at Dalton.
And at what point does the Dalton persona refuse to be shed?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It’s windy but warm as Kurt and Blaine make their way on to deck eleven, which simply wraps all the way around the ship, from aft to bow, filled with lounges that the crew is currently tying to the railing for the night, and long stretches of empty deck. There aren’t as many passengers up here as Kurt expected to see-from what he overheard, most of the Warblers were planning to watch “Christmas Vacation” in the cinema. He’s thankful for the reprieve; for getting to see Blaine every day now, they rarely spend much of that time alone. Between dorm mates and roommates and classmates and Warblers, Kurt can count on ten fingers the amount of time he and Blaine have spent together alone in the last week.
Blaine is walking silently beside him, jacket off and hooked with one finger over his shoulder, his other hand in the pocket of his pants pocket. Kurt bites his lip as he watches him out of the corner of his eye. It’s not the first time he’s thought Blaine looks like someone who just walked right out of an old black and white movie with his slicked-back hair and movie star looks. Sometimes, Kurt wants to pinch himself that they ever met; that this boy sang to him (a moment that still fuels his dreams), that he now gets to see him daily, and that Blaine has become so much of an extension of himself, a part of himself that Kurt hadn’t ever realized had been missing from his life.
If it has to stay just like this, forever, Kurt thinks he’s okay with that. He loves Blaine-that much he is certain-and as much as he longs to tell him, he fears the repercussions. He doesn’t want to lose Blaine from his life, and his track record isn’t exactly stellar when it comes to establishing the reciprocated feelings of others. He just can’t read Blaine when it comes to the two of them, and he doesn’t want to take the chance that he might be reading something more into it out of sheer force of will. After all, he’s seen firsthand that Blaine is nice to everyone. He listens to every person who talks to him, he empathizes in ways Kurt has trouble understanding. It’s entirely possible that Blaine is simply being a friend to him.
And Kurt almost has himself convinced that it’s enough.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Blaine comments, and Kurt just realizes that his friend has been looking at him for the last few moments.
“I could accuse you of the same.”
Blaine smiles. “Touché.”
Of a seemingly like mind, they both pause at the railing overlooking the pools, and Kurt leans against it, glancing down where crew are stretching netting over the two pools and four hot tubs. “For some reason, I expected bigger pools,” he remarks.
“Me, too,” Blaine agrees. “Though I think there’s one in the day spa as well, though it’s technically indoors.”
“I am totally going to beg my dad for a facial. I was looking over their list of treatments, and after dealing with the dry weather back home, my skin is crying out for a little pampering.”
Blaine is leaning on the railing beside him now, really close, and Kurt tries not to be nervous over the scrutiny as he feels his friend’s gaze moving over him. “I think you’re skin is perfect.”
Kurt doesn’t know what to say to that, and luckily he doesn’t have to worry about it because Blaine is pulling back just as quickly as he said it, already wandering off. “Come on!” He calls back. “I want a good spot on the bow.”
This is exactly why Kurt is cautious about saying anything.
Pulling away from the railing, he catches up to Blaine and they continue on toward the bow in silence. Again, there aren’t many people around: a couple curled up on one of the lounge chairs, four little boys chasing each other around the bow pretending to be superheroes-Kurt laughs when one announces “I’m Wonder Woman!”-a group of adults toward the back holding beers and laughing among themselves. Blaine tosses his jacket on to one of the empty lounge chairs and walks toward the railing at the very front of the bow. It’s not like it is in movies-it isn’t just a railing and then open to the ocean. Apparently there is too great a danger of suicides or something because there is a full metal wall built up around it. Still, Blaine stands there examining the odd structure for a moment, and Kurt hugs himself as he watches because the wind is picking up and while it’s not cold, it’s cutting through the thin material of his uniform.
“What are you doing?” Kurt calls out as Blaine grabs hold of one of the metal bars and hauls himself upwards to peer over the wall.
And it hits Kurt, just as his friend throws his arms out wide, and he immediately begins shaking his head. “Blaine, don’t-Blaine, I swear I will run away in mortification-Blaine!”
“I’m King of the world! Woohoo!”
Kurt is caught between disbelief, horror and laughter as Blaine stands on a piece of metal plating at the bow of the ship, boosting him up a few inches over the solid wall so he can hold his hands in the air and mimic Leo’s famous line from “Titanic”. Kurt really does want to run away in mortification, but Blaine just looks so… adorable, and is obviously having such a good time humiliating both himself and his friend that all Kurt can really do is laugh. He can feel his cheeks flushing from the dozen or so other people who are on the bow with them as they watch and smile at Blaine’s antics, and he wishes his friend would just climb back down and stop being so…
Adorable.
Blaine twists slightly, looking down at Kurt and holding out his hand to him. “C’mere.”
“No.” Kurt shakes his head resolutely. “I absolutely will not allow you to embarrass me further.”
“Come up here or I am going to think of something really and truly humiliating to do in front of your dad.”
Kurt pulls a face. “You don’t play fair, do you?”
Blaine just smiles, and wriggles his fingers in invitation.
Sighing, Kurt steps forward, slipping his hand into Blaine’s and allowing himself to be pulled up on the metal plate with him. Blaine leans back slightly so that Kurt can slide in front of him, and oh, Kurt hadn’t expected to have Blaine’s arm slipping around his waist to hold him. Their hands are still clasped, and Blaine’s fingers are moving slowly over his palm. They’ve held hands before-often, in fact-but there’s something different this time, Kurt can feel it. Maybe it’s the freedom of the ship and the open sea before them. Maybe it’s the fact that none of the people around them seem to care. Kurt feels Blaine lean his chin on his shoulder, and there’s just the sound of the engines churning somewhere far beneath them, and the ship breaking through the waves as it slowly moves out of port.
Blaine’s arm tightens slightly around Kurt’s waist, and really, he should have been prepared for it and not surprised in the least when Blaine begins singing softly into his ear:
“Come Josephine in my flying machine
And it’s up she goes, up she goes”
Kurt is thankful for Blaine’s hold on him because he is laughing so hard, he can’t help it. “You are certifiable, you know that? Also, you’re like 13 years too late!”
“Sing with me, Kurt.” Blaine hums the tune.
“I am not singing that. I am not shouting about being King of the world. And no, you don’t get to draw me naked on a couch, either.”
“You’re really no fun,” Blaine says with a laugh.
“I may deign to sing My Heart Will Go On, if you behave.” Kurt pauses, and then adds, “You’re not allowed to die, though.” He ignores the fact that his voice catches at the end, and he hopes Blaine didn’t notice.
“Wouldn’t think of it,” Blaine replies. “Besides, where we’re going is severely lacking in ice bergs.”
Kurt elbows him hard in the stomach.
“Oof.” Blaine’s arm around him tightens a little, and they both fall into silence.
The lights of Puerto Rico surround them as the ship continues to slowly slip out of the harbor toward the open sea. Blaine hasn’t released Kurt’s hand, his thumb still stroking over his palm, his chin still resting on his shoulder. Kurt can feel his heart beating against his back. He finds himself not wanting to breathe for fear of ruining this moment, ending it. So he closes his eyes, forcing himself to relax in Blaine’s embrace, and there’s the wind and the ocean and the engines, Blaine’s heartbeat and the sound of his breathing against Kurt’s ear, and Kurt can’t help but think I never thought it could be like this.
He feels Blaine shift slightly behind him, fingers locking with Kurt’s, and he almost swears Blaine’s lips brush his ear as he whispers, “Merry Christmas Eve, Kurt.”
Kurt smiles. “Merry Christmas Eve, Blaine.”
Part Four coming soon...
Title: Together, We are the Oceans (Part 3/14)
Author: Aelora
Rating: PG (Eventual R)
Summary: In which they meet their cruise director, Steve, and Blaine embarrasses Kurt.
Spoilers: For Blaine and the Warblers, basically.
Disclaimer: I have no claim to Kurt and Blaine, which is sad. And also rhymes. All similarities to persons or events are purely coincidental (okay, so maybe art is imitating life here, but names have been changed to protect the semi-innocent). This is homage to Celebrity Cruise Lines. Seriously.
A/N: Special thanks to my beta, dolimir_k.
Part One
Part Two
“Maybe you could sleep sitting up?” Kurt offers helpfully.
He and Finn are in their room, staring at the two tiny twin beds. Even Kurt, with his recent growth spurt, isn’t entirely certain that his toes won’t be hanging off the end of the mattress. But Finn… poor Finn. If his stepbrother were to lie down on the floor, he’d be about the width of the room itself. The bed is about a foot shorter than that. They continue to stare at it, as if somehow that will make it stretch itself to fit Finn, but it just sits there being tiny.
Shrugging his shoulders in defeat, Kurt carries his bags over to his bed on the other side of the room closest to the tiny porthole and the desk, and carefully sets them on it. It’s been over forty-five minutes since they boarded, and he still has the unending urge to pinch himself that this place is even real.
At the end of the gangplank onto the boat, there had been another security line to go through, though not as bad as all of the others. Here they just had to look into a little red little and swipe their passcards. Once through the line, they entered the main foyer on the third deck where a beautiful grand staircase stretched up through the center of the room, surrounded by two-story high Christmas trees, dangling lighted snowflakes, and potted poinsettias on every marble step. Dozens of crew members, decked out in their uniforms, lined either side of the entrance, welcoming them aboard and wishing them a “Merry Christmas”, and Kurt had been certain he’d never said “Thank you” and “Merry Christmas to you, too” in his life. And he ignored a few of them-Blaine had actually taken the time to speak to each and every crew member who spoke to him.
Sometimes he is certain Blaine isn’t a real human being.
They had been serving free champagne and mimosas and orange juice, and no one seemed to notice (or maybe seemed to care) when Holden, Jared and Kendrick all helped themselves to the champagne. Wes’d had Mr. Price engaged in conversation, so he hadn’t seen them, and it had been lucky for his fellow Warblers that it had actually been his dad who’d caught them. His dad who’d stood in front of them, arms crossed over his chest, staring them down with just a look until they’d set their half-drank glasses down and murmured their apologies.
And then Burt had said as if to lighten the mood, “If I have to drink the OJ, so do you.”
Kurt had been so wrapped up in the sights and sounds and overwhelming feel of the ship around him that he’d lost track of Blaine. He had turned to find Finn behind him, waving his passcard in his face, gripping the plastic card so tightly (as if afraid to drop it) that his knuckles were white.
“Wanna go find our room?”
And here they are. And while it is, admittedly, a bit tiny and claustrophobic inducing, Kurt knows he won’t be spending much time in here. He can also admit that the amenities are impressive, including two robes for their use, a silver water carafe and matching ice bucket with tongs already filled, a flat screen TV, fully stocked mini-fridge and, much to Kurt’s delight, every imaginable, and yet often forgotten convenience including cotton balls and q-tips. In fact, it was the bathroom that pleased him the most with its over-sized mirror and enough cabinets and drawers to neatly put away every toiletry he’d brought along with him.
By the time Kurt has emptied his bags, Finn is still trying to find a way to fit on his bed. He lies down in various uncomfortable looking positions, and sighs a lot. Finally, he just lays there on his back, his legs dangling over the foot of the bed, and reaches for the remote. Kurt ignores him as he begins flipping through the menu, too busy fixing his hair in the mirror, and occasionally glancing through the Warblers schedule, to care what his stepbrother is up to.
“Wow. They have some good movies on here! “The Social Network”, “Inception”-“
“Because you’re here to watch movies, Finn. Yes, that’s the reason to be on a cruise.”
“Well, you know, at night maybe. It’s not like…” Finn trails off.
Finally satisfied with his hair, Kurt slips the schedule into his pocket, straightens his tie and turns to find his stepbrother staring wide-eyed at the TV screen. “Finn, what--?” Kurt looks at the screen, and feels his own eyes widen as well. Huh. That’s unexpected.
Finn had obviously been scrolling through the genres of movies. At the bottom of the list was Gay - Male-Male. Sighing in annoyance, Kurt reaches over and snatches the remote from his stepbrother’s hand, turning the TV off. “Really, Finn?”
“Dude, I didn’t put it there!”
“Obviously, but you didn’t exactly ignore, either. Did you? You could have just scrolled back up and continued with your perusing, but no, you wanted me to see it.”
“Kurt, that’s not what-“
“Whatever, Finn.” He moves past the bed to head for the door.
Behind him, Finn stands. “Dude, what’s your problem? You’re acting like I was all ‘Hey, Kurt look! I bet you’d like this stuff!’”
“I’m sure it’s what you were thinking,” Kurt mutters.
“That’s totally not-why would you even-what the hell, dude?”
Kurt doesn’t know why they’re arguing; he doesn’t know why he accused Finn or feels so angry. He thinks it might have to do with the fact that it’s the first time they’ve really been around each other since the wedding, and Kurt suddenly feels the need to be on the defensive. It’s unfair to Finn because he hasn’t done anything to deserve it, but Kurt knows there’s something here, in this room, that he hasn’t experienced in his last few weeks at Dalton. Or maybe, he just hasn’t let himself. Dalton isn’t the Utopia he originally imagined but not once has he found himself worrying that someone might say something to hurt him.
Not once.
“Kurt-“
“Look, Finn, I’m sorry,” Kurt says without looking at him. “Can we just not, okay?”
There’s a light knock at the door, and Kurt feels relief flood him because he knows the sound of Blaine’s familiar tap so well. He turns away from his stepbrother and pulls the door open and his friend is smiling at him, eyes all gold and green and perfect. And Kurt really wishes that this time it could make him feel better, but it really doesn’t.
“Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” He glances back at Finn who is just standing there frowning at him. “Tell my dad I’ll try to find him for dinner.” And then he hurries into the hall and closes the door before Finn can respond.
And Blaine knows him far better than he sometimes realizes. “What’s going on?” He lays his hand against Kurt’s back as they make their way down the hall. “You’re tense.”
“I don’t really want to talk about it.” It takes a few moments of them walking in silence for Kurt to realize he had snapped his words. “I’m sorry. I just meant can we talk about it later?”
Blaine gives him a gentle smile and nod. “Sure.” And just like that the topic is dropped.
The Celebrity Theater seats one thousand and looks like one of those old opera houses with two levels, side balconies, heavily draped in burgundy with plush burgundy seats, each with their own tiny glass table for cocktails. The ceiling above is a giant dome of dark blue stained glass filled with stars and tucked unobtrusively among the black ceiling and lighting fixtures. The stage itself is slightly rounded, with a hidden area in the far back for the musicians, and tall enough for two-story sets. Wes, David and Thad were on the stage when Blaine and Kurt had arrived, running through some of their arrangements while the rest of the Warblers looked on from the audience. A tall, smiling man in a light grey suit had been standing off to the side, watching quietly as he took a few notes on a sheaf of paper.
The man they come to find out is their cruise director, Steve. He never gives them his last name-he’s just Steve. “If you see me around the ship, remember to come up and say ‘Hi, Steve!’” he tells them with a big smile as he makes his way around to shake the hand of each and every Warbler.
Kurt decides he likes Steve, which he supposes is the point of a cruise director.
Steve is full of energy. Steve is exceedingly happy. Steve already seems to know each and every one of their names. Kurt actually finds himself getting a little exhausted as he listens to Steve tell them how everything operates on the ship with regards to the entertainment-but they don’t have to worry about too much of it because they are invited guests, and not really part of the entertainment crew who have to abide by very strict rules. Jeff ends up asking the question they’re all thinking-what kind of rules? And Steve goes on at length as to how the hired entertainment eats with the crew, aren’t allowed in the formal dining room unless invited by guests to sit at their table, and cannot avail themselves of any of the public areas such as the pools, lounges, etc.
“Remind me not to get a job on a cruise ship,” Galen remarks behind Kurt. Flint quickly agrees.
Of course, they have their own itinerary they have to abide by. They are each given a shiny brass nametag that they are expected to wear at all times while in their uniforms; Kurt can’t help but smile at the simple rush of pleasure he feels at seeing “Kurt” written in fancy script letter across the oval pin. He begins attaching it to his lapel when Blaine reaches over to help him. Kurt flushes at the assistance, and then offers to help Blaine with his, which his friend accepts. And maybe Kurt takes a little longer than necessary to lean in and fasten it on, but after all, it’s important to make certain it is centered and straight. Once in place, he brushes his thumb over “Blaine” just to assure there are no smudges left behind. He can’t even bring himself to meet Blaine’s gaze as he pulls away and returns his attention to Steve.
They have two formal performances in the main theater-the night after Christmas, and the night before New Year’s Eve. On the other nights, they are expected to perform for one hour in various areas around the ship: the grand foyer, the Rendez-Vous Lounge, the Cova Café, Ocean Cafe Bar, and the pool deck. On New Year’s Eve they are also invited to join the festivities on the pool deck with the ship’s band, Sipra, and the Celebrity Millennium’s very own singers and dancers.
Kurt finds himself back to being exhausted.
“Other than that, the rest of the time is yours to do as you wish,” Steve tells them, clapping his hands together. “Again, I want to thank you all for being here-we’re really looking forward to seeing you perform! Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to get things ready for the drill. You guys can continue to use this space for the next twenty minutes, but we’ll need it for drill purposes after. Have fun, guys! And remember if you see me, say hi!”
They’re all silent as Steve exits the theater, and then Braden turns to Blaine, looks him up and down and says, “Man, you’re totally the Warbler cruise director!”
Everyone laughs, and whole-heartedly agrees, and Kurt finds it adorable because for once, it’s Blaine who appears to be blushing, shaking his head and sighing as if the Warblers are children he is stuck having to put up with. Kurt kind of wishes he’d stop finding more reasons to fall in love with his friend.
Meanwhile, Wes seems lost without his gavel. Now that Steve has left, the Warblers are losing focus, and as much as Wes tries to get their attention, he just can’t. Kurt watches and feels a little sorry for him when Wes finally grabs Blaine and leans in to whisper to him.
“Hey guys,” Blaine calls out. “Give Wes a moment, okay?”
And like that, there’s silence. Kurt can’t help but arch a brow, even though it’s not the first time he’s seen it happen.
Kendrick leans near Kurt and whispers, “For his next trick, Blaine’s gonna walk on water.”
It’s kind of funny, and kind of not. Kurt realizes this is what a leader looks like, and he can’t help but find himself imaging what New Directions would look like with Blaine there. Would he be able to exert the same influence? Or would he be swept up into the chaos the same as everyone? Kurt thinks about what he knows of Blaine, and what he’s seen of his friend outside of Dalton’s sway. For some reason, he thinks Blaine would love the loss of control, the lack of predictability. If someone were to ask him what is the one thing about Blaine that strikes him most-beyond being the most beautiful and amazing boy he knows-Kurt would say it’s the restlessness that seems so visible beneath the veneer of calm. Blaine seems to need an outlet; that much is undeniably visible every time he performs.
“I want everyone here at seven am tomorrow for practice,” Wes continues talking above the groans, “And again tomorrow afternoon at two. Seriously, guys. We don’t have much time to practice in this space, so we need to take advantage of every opportunity. We’re at sea all day tomorrow, so you’ll have plenty of time for swimming and whatever else. I want us prepared for both our performances around the ship tomorrow night, and our big holiday performance the following night. Okay, I think we all need to get ready for the drill. Remember-seven am sharp!”
“What drill are they talking about?” Kurt hears Jeff as Nick as they begin walking out.
Nick is rolling his eyes as he asks, “Did you like not read the signs all over your room? Listen to the announcement over the intercom? Pay any attention to anything ever? Are you even on the same planet as the rest of us?...”
Smiling, Kurt waits as Blaine joins him and they make their way out of the theater. “I think we all have the same muster station,” Blaine says. “Aft cinema or something.”
“Muster station,” Kurt says and laughs. “It sounds like we’re in the Navy. Best innuendo ever.”
Blaine quirks an eyebrow at this, and they both dissolve into giggles.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The drill was decidedly anticlimactic. Kurt thought they might at least get to see the lifeboats up close, but it turns out they were simply ushered into their muster stations where they were to go in case of an emergency. Then the crew gave them a lesson on how to put their lifejackets on, and Steve the cruise director detailed over the intercom how guests were expected to behave while on board. It was also explained that departure time had been extended by forty-five minutes as they were waiting for last minute passengers who had missed a connecting flight. The drill was ridiculously long because after all of that everything they had just heard was reiterated in Spanish and French. Before long, every Warbler had their phone out, getting in last minutes texts before they were in International waters. Kurt took the chance to send a few quick holiday wishes off to Mercedes, Tina, Brittany and Quinn before turning his phone off before he forgot. He really didn’t want to hand his dad a ridiculous phone bill of roaming charges on top of the tuition at Dalton.
“I am starving!” Holden groans as the passengers are finally informed that the drill is over.
There are collective agreements from the group that it is definitely time to grab something to eat.
“You coming?” Blaine asks as Kurt is scanning the crowd.
“Yeah, I just-“ He finally spots his dad, Carole and Finn, and takes a step in their direction. “I’m just going to ask my family if they’ve eaten yet. Be right there,” he tells Blaine before pushing his way through the throng of people to reach his dad’s side.
“Hey, kid,” his dad greets with a smile. “Was wondering if we were gonna see you tonight or not.”
“Sorry. The Warblers had a meeting. Have you guys eaten yet?”
“We were just waiting on you, honey,” Carole tells him, and beside her, Finn grumbles.
“Tell me about it. I’m starving and they won’t let me eat! I was gonna order room service and they told me I had to wait.” Finn looks as if maybe everything is okay between them, or at least he is pretending it is. He says to Kurt, “Did you know we get room service like everything else? Anything we want, whenever we want, and no charge? Dude, burgers at three am! This place is like Disneyland or something.”
Kurt smiles relieved that things seem all right between him and his stepbrother, and follows his family out of the cinema. Most of the Warblers are up ahead, moving ahead of them up the staircase toward deck ten where the Ocean Café is located. Blaine notices him as he’s about to round the banister and makes a motion that he’ll see him up there. Kurt nods, knowing he should probably hang out with his family for the time being. After all, it is Christmas Eve, even if it doesn’t feel like it.
“Will you be singing a lot?” Carole asks him as they make their way up the stairs.
“Every night for at least a few songs. Wes wants to begin rehearsals in the morning.”
“Dude, sorry you don’t get to enjoy the cruise.”
“It’s kind of why we’re here, Finn. Besides, it’s not like we’re doing it twenty-four seven.”
“Just the same,” Burt says, looking over at Kurt. “I’d like to spend some time together as a family tomorrow. It is Christmas, ya know?”
“I know, Dad. I promise.”
When they enter the Ocean Café, a few of the Warblers are gathered just inside the entrance where Holden is on his knees, fake weeping. His brother, Brett, is patting him on the shoulder while around them David, Flint, Kendrick and Byron look on in wonder. All of the others seem to have already gotten in line for food. Kurt scans for Blaine who he sees standing near the line having a conversation with Wes.
Finn asks the question they’re all wondering, “What’s up?”
Holden waves a hand toward the buffet. “Have you ever seen anything so amazing? It’s like never-ending. It just keeps going and going and going…”
Burt snorts and pushes his way past the Warblers, commenting to Carole as to how Celebrity will regret the day they invited eighteen growing teenage boys on a cruise.
“Dude, Holden has a point,” Finn says to Kurt. “I actually, like, can’t see the end of the buffet.”
Kurt lays a hand on his shoulder. “So, what are you standing here waiting for?”
Finn flashes him a big smile and hurries off.
“Come on, big guy,” David says, reaching down to help Holden off the floor. “Let’s go eat.”
Kurt hangs back in an effort not to get trampled. By the time he makes his way over to the line, Blaine has finished his conversation with Wes and seems to be waiting for him. Ever the gentleman, he hands Kurt a tray and set of utensils wrapped in a cloth napkin.
“I already scoped the place,” his friend informs him. “The salad bar is around the corner. They also have a nice selection of pasta salads and anti-pasta, in case you want to switch things up.”
Kurt knows he’s being teased and shoulder bumps his friend as he says, “At least I won’t have a paunch in ten years from eating too much fried food.”
Blaine laughs. “Paunch or no paunch, you’ll love me still.”
Kurt can’t help but feel his face flame at how close that statement is to the truth.
“So I thought maybe after we eat, we could go up to deck eleven and watch as the ship leaves harbor,” Blaine suggests, leaning against the counter as Kurt stops to fill a plate of salad. “It’s kind of cool to see something this big turn itself around on a dime.”
“Sure,” Kurt says with a shrug, pleased at how nonchalant he sounds about the whole thing. He motions with the tongs he is holding toward the greenery around him. “Salad?”
“No, thanks.”
“Paunch,” Kurt reminds him with a grin.
“More of me to love.” Blaine winks.
Kurt sets his bowl on his tray and turns away from Blaine, thinking how he couldn’t possibly survive loving more of him.
The Warblers and Kurt’s family have somehow ended up congregated together in the back of the restaurant, taking up no fewer than six tables and running off pretty much everyone else. Kurt and Blaine slide into a table for two that is right next to the table shared by Burt, Carole, and Finn. Kurt stares down at the floor beneath them where a giant window is under his feet, looking straight into the water of the harbor. Blaine leans over, looking into it with him.
“Isn’t that the coolest thing ever?” Finn asks them both as he snaps a picture with his phone. “Though, it’d be a little cooler if there were something more there than, you know, just water.”
Kurt and Blaine exchange an amused glance.
The next thirty minutes are a study in the Dalton boys outside of the Academy. Meals in the dining hall at Dalton are relatively pleasant affairs with quiet conversations contained from table to table, and polite table manners observed by all. Kurt is surprised to see that Blaine had not been kidding; outside of Dalton all of the Warblers (minus maybe Wes and possibly Galen) seem to shed the trappings of prep school students and revert to simple teenage boys. Ties are loosened, jackets are shed, food is tossed and voices are raised. In fact, twice Burt has to call out a warning to the boys to get them to simmer down.
And seeing this first hand suddenly makes Blaine’s transformation outside of the school not quite as startling to Kurt. It’s at once relieving and troubling to him. On the one hand, Kurt is pleased that it isn’t just some inexplicable trait of Blaine’s to transform between two people. On the other, Kurt is beginning to wonder if he isn’t destined to develop the same trait; that maybe he’s already lost himself at Dalton.
And at what point does the Dalton persona refuse to be shed?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It’s windy but warm as Kurt and Blaine make their way on to deck eleven, which simply wraps all the way around the ship, from aft to bow, filled with lounges that the crew is currently tying to the railing for the night, and long stretches of empty deck. There aren’t as many passengers up here as Kurt expected to see-from what he overheard, most of the Warblers were planning to watch “Christmas Vacation” in the cinema. He’s thankful for the reprieve; for getting to see Blaine every day now, they rarely spend much of that time alone. Between dorm mates and roommates and classmates and Warblers, Kurt can count on ten fingers the amount of time he and Blaine have spent together alone in the last week.
Blaine is walking silently beside him, jacket off and hooked with one finger over his shoulder, his other hand in the pocket of his pants pocket. Kurt bites his lip as he watches him out of the corner of his eye. It’s not the first time he’s thought Blaine looks like someone who just walked right out of an old black and white movie with his slicked-back hair and movie star looks. Sometimes, Kurt wants to pinch himself that they ever met; that this boy sang to him (a moment that still fuels his dreams), that he now gets to see him daily, and that Blaine has become so much of an extension of himself, a part of himself that Kurt hadn’t ever realized had been missing from his life.
If it has to stay just like this, forever, Kurt thinks he’s okay with that. He loves Blaine-that much he is certain-and as much as he longs to tell him, he fears the repercussions. He doesn’t want to lose Blaine from his life, and his track record isn’t exactly stellar when it comes to establishing the reciprocated feelings of others. He just can’t read Blaine when it comes to the two of them, and he doesn’t want to take the chance that he might be reading something more into it out of sheer force of will. After all, he’s seen firsthand that Blaine is nice to everyone. He listens to every person who talks to him, he empathizes in ways Kurt has trouble understanding. It’s entirely possible that Blaine is simply being a friend to him.
And Kurt almost has himself convinced that it’s enough.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Blaine comments, and Kurt just realizes that his friend has been looking at him for the last few moments.
“I could accuse you of the same.”
Blaine smiles. “Touché.”
Of a seemingly like mind, they both pause at the railing overlooking the pools, and Kurt leans against it, glancing down where crew are stretching netting over the two pools and four hot tubs. “For some reason, I expected bigger pools,” he remarks.
“Me, too,” Blaine agrees. “Though I think there’s one in the day spa as well, though it’s technically indoors.”
“I am totally going to beg my dad for a facial. I was looking over their list of treatments, and after dealing with the dry weather back home, my skin is crying out for a little pampering.”
Blaine is leaning on the railing beside him now, really close, and Kurt tries not to be nervous over the scrutiny as he feels his friend’s gaze moving over him. “I think you’re skin is perfect.”
Kurt doesn’t know what to say to that, and luckily he doesn’t have to worry about it because Blaine is pulling back just as quickly as he said it, already wandering off. “Come on!” He calls back. “I want a good spot on the bow.”
This is exactly why Kurt is cautious about saying anything.
Pulling away from the railing, he catches up to Blaine and they continue on toward the bow in silence. Again, there aren’t many people around: a couple curled up on one of the lounge chairs, four little boys chasing each other around the bow pretending to be superheroes-Kurt laughs when one announces “I’m Wonder Woman!”-a group of adults toward the back holding beers and laughing among themselves. Blaine tosses his jacket on to one of the empty lounge chairs and walks toward the railing at the very front of the bow. It’s not like it is in movies-it isn’t just a railing and then open to the ocean. Apparently there is too great a danger of suicides or something because there is a full metal wall built up around it. Still, Blaine stands there examining the odd structure for a moment, and Kurt hugs himself as he watches because the wind is picking up and while it’s not cold, it’s cutting through the thin material of his uniform.
“What are you doing?” Kurt calls out as Blaine grabs hold of one of the metal bars and hauls himself upwards to peer over the wall.
And it hits Kurt, just as his friend throws his arms out wide, and he immediately begins shaking his head. “Blaine, don’t-Blaine, I swear I will run away in mortification-Blaine!”
“I’m King of the world! Woohoo!”
Kurt is caught between disbelief, horror and laughter as Blaine stands on a piece of metal plating at the bow of the ship, boosting him up a few inches over the solid wall so he can hold his hands in the air and mimic Leo’s famous line from “Titanic”. Kurt really does want to run away in mortification, but Blaine just looks so… adorable, and is obviously having such a good time humiliating both himself and his friend that all Kurt can really do is laugh. He can feel his cheeks flushing from the dozen or so other people who are on the bow with them as they watch and smile at Blaine’s antics, and he wishes his friend would just climb back down and stop being so…
Adorable.
Blaine twists slightly, looking down at Kurt and holding out his hand to him. “C’mere.”
“No.” Kurt shakes his head resolutely. “I absolutely will not allow you to embarrass me further.”
“Come up here or I am going to think of something really and truly humiliating to do in front of your dad.”
Kurt pulls a face. “You don’t play fair, do you?”
Blaine just smiles, and wriggles his fingers in invitation.
Sighing, Kurt steps forward, slipping his hand into Blaine’s and allowing himself to be pulled up on the metal plate with him. Blaine leans back slightly so that Kurt can slide in front of him, and oh, Kurt hadn’t expected to have Blaine’s arm slipping around his waist to hold him. Their hands are still clasped, and Blaine’s fingers are moving slowly over his palm. They’ve held hands before-often, in fact-but there’s something different this time, Kurt can feel it. Maybe it’s the freedom of the ship and the open sea before them. Maybe it’s the fact that none of the people around them seem to care. Kurt feels Blaine lean his chin on his shoulder, and there’s just the sound of the engines churning somewhere far beneath them, and the ship breaking through the waves as it slowly moves out of port.
Blaine’s arm tightens slightly around Kurt’s waist, and really, he should have been prepared for it and not surprised in the least when Blaine begins singing softly into his ear:
“Come Josephine in my flying machine
And it’s up she goes, up she goes”
Kurt is thankful for Blaine’s hold on him because he is laughing so hard, he can’t help it. “You are certifiable, you know that? Also, you’re like 13 years too late!”
“Sing with me, Kurt.” Blaine hums the tune.
“I am not singing that. I am not shouting about being King of the world. And no, you don’t get to draw me naked on a couch, either.”
“You’re really no fun,” Blaine says with a laugh.
“I may deign to sing My Heart Will Go On, if you behave.” Kurt pauses, and then adds, “You’re not allowed to die, though.” He ignores the fact that his voice catches at the end, and he hopes Blaine didn’t notice.
“Wouldn’t think of it,” Blaine replies. “Besides, where we’re going is severely lacking in ice bergs.”
Kurt elbows him hard in the stomach.
“Oof.” Blaine’s arm around him tightens a little, and they both fall into silence.
The lights of Puerto Rico surround them as the ship continues to slowly slip out of the harbor toward the open sea. Blaine hasn’t released Kurt’s hand, his thumb still stroking over his palm, his chin still resting on his shoulder. Kurt can feel his heart beating against his back. He finds himself not wanting to breathe for fear of ruining this moment, ending it. So he closes his eyes, forcing himself to relax in Blaine’s embrace, and there’s the wind and the ocean and the engines, Blaine’s heartbeat and the sound of his breathing against Kurt’s ear, and Kurt can’t help but think I never thought it could be like this.
He feels Blaine shift slightly behind him, fingers locking with Kurt’s, and he almost swears Blaine’s lips brush his ear as he whispers, “Merry Christmas Eve, Kurt.”
Kurt smiles. “Merry Christmas Eve, Blaine.”
Part Four coming soon...