His Perfect Partner (9/?)
Title: His Perfect Partner (9/?)
Rating: R
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None, but assume that anything through 3.14 is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2090
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: Kurt practices avoidance, gets some dance therapy, and finally has an important talk with Blaine.
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. Other familiar Glee faces, some actual DWTS pros, and a couple of OCs appear to round out the cast of characters. I'll be posting twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. I have a master glee post here, or follow my bff's tumblr for updates and some fun multi-media extras that will go along with most chapters. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
For the next two days, Kurt avoided Blaine. He wasn’t proud of it, but it seemed like the only solution at the moment. He’d woken Tuesday morning in his clothes from the night before, a little hung-over but remarkably clear-headed. He’d promised himself some time alone this season, without boys to complicate things, and Blaine being gay didn’t change that. Sure, Blaine being cute and around and pretty damn flirtatious made his self-imposed break a little harder to maintain, but Kurt had self-control. He could handle this, even if it required rehearsing at a studio across town and ducking out on a few cast member bonding sessions.
Kim had very patiently let Kurt drag her through their mambo choreography over and over until it was nearly perfect and he couldn’t avoid talking to her any longer. And then she’d had dinner brought in on Wednesday night so that they could have a little privacy while Kurt spilled his guts, talking for hours about his past and his future, his hopes and his fears. She listened, she teased, and she offered advice, and Kurt was once again grateful that he’d landed her as a partner.
Thursday morning, feeling a little more confident and settled, Kurt got to the main studio on set two hours before Kim was due to meet him. He’d been neglecting his own technique while he’d been working on hers, and he needed some time in the studio to get fully back to himself.
He started with rumba, needing to feel the give and take that it required even when he wasn’t dancing with a partner. Out and in, across and back down he went, feeling his hips roll in their sockets, his arms glide like water across space and air. He closed his eyes and let himself follow the music, moving with it as it flowed through the room and his body.
Ten minutes on, loose and centered, Kurt switched to waltz, which required more thought and control but always seemed to help him think. He started with a slow one, carefully calibrating his stops and turns with the lilting rhythm. He gave it all his focus, letting his brain quiet as images cascaded behind his still-shut lids. This was his time for contemplation, his moving meditation. He was so in the moment that he barely noticed when someone slipped into his arms and began to move with him.
The song came to an end, another one starting. Kurt opened his eyes and looked down to find Tina smiling up at him. She did this from time to time, showing up at the perfect moment and letting him dance out whatever was bothering him. She knew when to be quiet, knew when to be the brush he painted with as he led her around the floor. He smiled at her and swept her into the faster waltz now playing, knowing she would keep up.
They spun, and Kurt’s mind spun just as fast, trying to settle a million questions about attraction and proximity and affection and stability in the course of a single song. His thoughts settled on one image - his father looking at Carole as he talked about love being true. Kurt wanted that, someday, the kind of love that made his smile brighter and his life more balanced. He looked back down at Tina, thinking about the way she and Mike fit so well and were such a great team. He hoped he could do that, could have that. One day, when the moment was right, he told himself he would.
One more song, one more turn around the floor, and Kurt felt certain that he was right to wait. Blaine was nothing but a beautiful distraction, not someone who had any interest in loving Kurt the way he wanted to be loved, publicly and fully. They could be friends, perhaps, even flirt a little when the moment warranted it, but nothing more. Kurt was done with gorgeous boys who couldn’t find it in themselves to be honest in public.
Kurt drew himself and Tina to a stop as the music wound down. She was still smiling at him, waiting for him to talk first.
“Thanks, T,” Kurt said, bending to kiss her cheek. “I needed that.”
“Anytime. You looked like you could use a dance buddy.”
“I did,” he confirmed.
“So how about a dance for me, now?”
“Of course. Quickstep?” Kurt asked, knowing her favorite routine of theirs. When she nodded, he walked over to the sound system to cue up the proper song. It was, as the name suggested, a fast one, light and lively and fun. It required precise footwork and impeccable timing, which was what they both loved about it. As the music began, Kurt returned to Tina, offering her a dramatic bow before taking her in his arms. A measure passed, and then they were off, flying across the floor.
They came to a halt three minutes later, flushed and laughing. It took Kurt a moment to realize they had an audience of one.
“So that’s what it’s supposed to look like,” Blaine said from the doorway. He took a few steps into the room. “Elizabeth keeps trying to describe the end result of the quickstep, but so far mine hasn’t looked anything like that.”
“It gets easier,” Tina said, once she realized Kurt wasn’t going to reply. “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it in plenty of time for Monday’s show.”
“I hope so,” Blaine said, his eyes on Kurt, who was busying himself with pulling water from his dance bag. Tina took the hint and headed for the door, running her hand across Kurt’s back as she passed.
“You’ll be great,” Tina said as she walked by Blaine. She glanced back at Kurt. “You both will. See you!”
Kurt listened to her footsteps recede down the hall before standing up to face Blaine again.
“Hi,” Blaine said.
“Hello.” Kurt sipped his water and waited.
“So I, um, yeah,” Blaine began, stumbling over his words. “The other day. I feel like I should explain myself.”
“You don’t have to worry about me saying anything. Or Kim either, I’m sure.” Kurt turned away to stretch at the barre, watching Blaine in the mirror. “I don’t out people, Blaine.”
“I’m not concerned about that, actually.”
“No?” Kurt said, and he imagined that Blaine could hear the slight judgment in his tone.
“Listen.” Blaine sighed and ran a hand through his hair, which Kurt was beginning to realize was his go-to nervous gesture. “It’s complicated. I know that’s what everyone says, but for me it really has been. My family is…not the easiest, so I’ve always kept a kind of low profile. And when I began to hit it big, people working with me thought it might be best if things stayed that way. I went along with it, because it just seemed simpler. Even if I were straight, I wouldn’t talk about my private life in public.”
“I’d say that I understand, but I don’t, not really. I can’t, because hiding who I am hasn’t exactly been an option for me.” He stood up fully from his stretch, propping one hand on his hip and catching Blaine’s eye in the mirror. “I’ve been with guys who tried to convince me otherwise, but let’s just say that didn’t work out too well.”
“I’m sorry,” Blaine said, and Kurt wasn’t entirely certain which thing he was apologizing for.
“It’s ok. It’s just somewhat unexpected, I guess. I’m usually in the know about this sort of thing, even if the general public isn’t.” Kurt turned to face Blaine again, leaning on his elbows against the barre.
“Like I said, I’m pretty private. I keep to my close friends, and I’m busy touring all the time. There’s not much opportunity for scandal.”
“Pity,” Kurt said with a wry smile. “The tabloids would certainly love it.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not my thing.” Blaine wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“So no dramatic love triangles or children out of wedlock for you?” Kurt joked.
“No, thanks. I’ll stick with albums and stories about my music career.”
“How boring and professional of you.”
They shared a smile as Blaine stepped up next to Kurt, holding the barre with both hands.
“I don’t mean to hide, you know? Or really even want to. But once it got started, and everyone just assumed they knew who I was, I didn’t know when or how to correct them,” Blaine said.
“It becomes a bigger deal when you don’t lead with it,” Kurt agreed.
“Exactly. So now my life is boiled down to a dramatic press release, and that just feels so inauthentic - “
“Like the life of a pop star is filled with authenticity?” Kurt teased.
“Oh, shut up. You know what I mean.” Blaine shifted next to him. “Besides, you know the second question would be ‘so who are you dating?’ And I don’t exactly have an answer to that.”
“No?” Kurt was getting all sorts of interesting information today.
“No time. And I’m not really into casual hook-ups.”
“Are you sure you’re allowed to be a musician? Don’t they take your membership card away for that?”
“You’d think. Maybe that’s what’s holding me back.” Blaine grinned. “I just need to have a few orgies, and I’ll become the modern day equivalent of the Stones.”
“I’ll be sure to alert the press.”
“Oh, god, please don’t. My fans are already bad enough.”
“You totally have a room in your house filled with weird stuffed animals and macaroni sculptures of your face, don’t you?” Kurt asked, smirking.
“You’re horrible,” Blaine said. “And no, I don’t. I make my manager deal with all that. I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s for.”
“Poor guy. I hope you pay him well. Though maybe you shouldn’t, considering he’s probably one of the geniuses behind you being in the closet.”
“Ouch. You don’t pull your punches, do you?”
“Sorry,” Kurt said, putting his hand over Blaine’s briefly. “That was probably out of line. I just feel pretty strongly about it.”
“Apparently.”
“My last boyfriend was a massive closet case,” Kurt said bluntly. “I may still have a few negative feelings about the whole subject.”
“You may?” Blaine asked.
“Fine. I definitely do, but for good reason. Maybe someday you can buy me a drink or five, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Deal.” Blaine grinned again, but then his smile faltered. “So are we ok?”
“We’re fine, Blaine.” Kurt stood up, pacing away from the barre. “We weren’t ever not fine. Are you always this overly cautious?”
“I don’t like upsetting people if I can help it. And I’d like to think we’re friends.” His voice was so hopeful that Kurt nodded. “Great. That’s good. Because this dancing thing is kind of terrifying, and I can use all the friends I can get.”
“Don’t you dare use me to try to win this thing, Anderson.”
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t, I -“
“Blaine, I was kidding.” Kurt reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Right. Of course.” Blaine smiled bashfully. It was more adorable than should be allowed. That was the only excuse Kurt had for what came out of his mouth next.
“I can help you, if you need it. I mean, much as I’m loath to admit it, Bitsy’s a good teacher, but sometimes it helps to learn from another guy.”
“Really? That would be amazing.”
“Sure.” Kurt shrugged. “Just so long as it doesn’t conflict with my rehearsal schedule.”
“Thank you!” Blaine pulled Kurt into an abrupt hug.
“You’re welcome,” Kurt said shakily once Blaine had released him.
“So I should probably go. Elizabeth will be looking for me. But maybe we could get together tomorrow after rehearsal? I’ll even buy you dinner after!”
Kurt barely had a chance to agree before Blaine was heading for the door. He turned back once he got there, smiling that warm, melting smile Kurt could feel all the way to his toes.
“Bring something nice to change into. I know this great restaurant we have to try.”
And then he was gone, and Kurt was left with a silent studio and a million questions running through his head. Kim would be there within a half hour, and Kurt figured he’d spend the entire time trying to sort through what had just happened, and whether or not he’d just been asked out on a date by the cutest, most ridiculous guy he’d ever met.
Rating: R
Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, with appearances by Burt/Carole, Tina/Mike, Mercedes/Sam, Brittany/Santana, Rachel/Finn
Spoilers: None, but assume that anything through 3.14 is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2090
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: Kurt practices avoidance, gets some dance therapy, and finally has an important talk with Blaine.
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. Other familiar Glee faces, some actual DWTS pros, and a couple of OCs appear to round out the cast of characters. I'll be posting twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. I have a master glee post here, or follow my bff's tumblr for updates and some fun multi-media extras that will go along with most chapters. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
For the next two days, Kurt avoided Blaine. He wasn’t proud of it, but it seemed like the only solution at the moment. He’d woken Tuesday morning in his clothes from the night before, a little hung-over but remarkably clear-headed. He’d promised himself some time alone this season, without boys to complicate things, and Blaine being gay didn’t change that. Sure, Blaine being cute and around and pretty damn flirtatious made his self-imposed break a little harder to maintain, but Kurt had self-control. He could handle this, even if it required rehearsing at a studio across town and ducking out on a few cast member bonding sessions.
Kim had very patiently let Kurt drag her through their mambo choreography over and over until it was nearly perfect and he couldn’t avoid talking to her any longer. And then she’d had dinner brought in on Wednesday night so that they could have a little privacy while Kurt spilled his guts, talking for hours about his past and his future, his hopes and his fears. She listened, she teased, and she offered advice, and Kurt was once again grateful that he’d landed her as a partner.
Thursday morning, feeling a little more confident and settled, Kurt got to the main studio on set two hours before Kim was due to meet him. He’d been neglecting his own technique while he’d been working on hers, and he needed some time in the studio to get fully back to himself.
He started with rumba, needing to feel the give and take that it required even when he wasn’t dancing with a partner. Out and in, across and back down he went, feeling his hips roll in their sockets, his arms glide like water across space and air. He closed his eyes and let himself follow the music, moving with it as it flowed through the room and his body.
Ten minutes on, loose and centered, Kurt switched to waltz, which required more thought and control but always seemed to help him think. He started with a slow one, carefully calibrating his stops and turns with the lilting rhythm. He gave it all his focus, letting his brain quiet as images cascaded behind his still-shut lids. This was his time for contemplation, his moving meditation. He was so in the moment that he barely noticed when someone slipped into his arms and began to move with him.
The song came to an end, another one starting. Kurt opened his eyes and looked down to find Tina smiling up at him. She did this from time to time, showing up at the perfect moment and letting him dance out whatever was bothering him. She knew when to be quiet, knew when to be the brush he painted with as he led her around the floor. He smiled at her and swept her into the faster waltz now playing, knowing she would keep up.
They spun, and Kurt’s mind spun just as fast, trying to settle a million questions about attraction and proximity and affection and stability in the course of a single song. His thoughts settled on one image - his father looking at Carole as he talked about love being true. Kurt wanted that, someday, the kind of love that made his smile brighter and his life more balanced. He looked back down at Tina, thinking about the way she and Mike fit so well and were such a great team. He hoped he could do that, could have that. One day, when the moment was right, he told himself he would.
One more song, one more turn around the floor, and Kurt felt certain that he was right to wait. Blaine was nothing but a beautiful distraction, not someone who had any interest in loving Kurt the way he wanted to be loved, publicly and fully. They could be friends, perhaps, even flirt a little when the moment warranted it, but nothing more. Kurt was done with gorgeous boys who couldn’t find it in themselves to be honest in public.
Kurt drew himself and Tina to a stop as the music wound down. She was still smiling at him, waiting for him to talk first.
“Thanks, T,” Kurt said, bending to kiss her cheek. “I needed that.”
“Anytime. You looked like you could use a dance buddy.”
“I did,” he confirmed.
“So how about a dance for me, now?”
“Of course. Quickstep?” Kurt asked, knowing her favorite routine of theirs. When she nodded, he walked over to the sound system to cue up the proper song. It was, as the name suggested, a fast one, light and lively and fun. It required precise footwork and impeccable timing, which was what they both loved about it. As the music began, Kurt returned to Tina, offering her a dramatic bow before taking her in his arms. A measure passed, and then they were off, flying across the floor.
They came to a halt three minutes later, flushed and laughing. It took Kurt a moment to realize they had an audience of one.
“So that’s what it’s supposed to look like,” Blaine said from the doorway. He took a few steps into the room. “Elizabeth keeps trying to describe the end result of the quickstep, but so far mine hasn’t looked anything like that.”
“It gets easier,” Tina said, once she realized Kurt wasn’t going to reply. “I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it in plenty of time for Monday’s show.”
“I hope so,” Blaine said, his eyes on Kurt, who was busying himself with pulling water from his dance bag. Tina took the hint and headed for the door, running her hand across Kurt’s back as she passed.
“You’ll be great,” Tina said as she walked by Blaine. She glanced back at Kurt. “You both will. See you!”
Kurt listened to her footsteps recede down the hall before standing up to face Blaine again.
“Hi,” Blaine said.
“Hello.” Kurt sipped his water and waited.
“So I, um, yeah,” Blaine began, stumbling over his words. “The other day. I feel like I should explain myself.”
“You don’t have to worry about me saying anything. Or Kim either, I’m sure.” Kurt turned away to stretch at the barre, watching Blaine in the mirror. “I don’t out people, Blaine.”
“I’m not concerned about that, actually.”
“No?” Kurt said, and he imagined that Blaine could hear the slight judgment in his tone.
“Listen.” Blaine sighed and ran a hand through his hair, which Kurt was beginning to realize was his go-to nervous gesture. “It’s complicated. I know that’s what everyone says, but for me it really has been. My family is…not the easiest, so I’ve always kept a kind of low profile. And when I began to hit it big, people working with me thought it might be best if things stayed that way. I went along with it, because it just seemed simpler. Even if I were straight, I wouldn’t talk about my private life in public.”
“I’d say that I understand, but I don’t, not really. I can’t, because hiding who I am hasn’t exactly been an option for me.” He stood up fully from his stretch, propping one hand on his hip and catching Blaine’s eye in the mirror. “I’ve been with guys who tried to convince me otherwise, but let’s just say that didn’t work out too well.”
“I’m sorry,” Blaine said, and Kurt wasn’t entirely certain which thing he was apologizing for.
“It’s ok. It’s just somewhat unexpected, I guess. I’m usually in the know about this sort of thing, even if the general public isn’t.” Kurt turned to face Blaine again, leaning on his elbows against the barre.
“Like I said, I’m pretty private. I keep to my close friends, and I’m busy touring all the time. There’s not much opportunity for scandal.”
“Pity,” Kurt said with a wry smile. “The tabloids would certainly love it.”
“Yeah, that’s definitely not my thing.” Blaine wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“So no dramatic love triangles or children out of wedlock for you?” Kurt joked.
“No, thanks. I’ll stick with albums and stories about my music career.”
“How boring and professional of you.”
They shared a smile as Blaine stepped up next to Kurt, holding the barre with both hands.
“I don’t mean to hide, you know? Or really even want to. But once it got started, and everyone just assumed they knew who I was, I didn’t know when or how to correct them,” Blaine said.
“It becomes a bigger deal when you don’t lead with it,” Kurt agreed.
“Exactly. So now my life is boiled down to a dramatic press release, and that just feels so inauthentic - “
“Like the life of a pop star is filled with authenticity?” Kurt teased.
“Oh, shut up. You know what I mean.” Blaine shifted next to him. “Besides, you know the second question would be ‘so who are you dating?’ And I don’t exactly have an answer to that.”
“No?” Kurt was getting all sorts of interesting information today.
“No time. And I’m not really into casual hook-ups.”
“Are you sure you’re allowed to be a musician? Don’t they take your membership card away for that?”
“You’d think. Maybe that’s what’s holding me back.” Blaine grinned. “I just need to have a few orgies, and I’ll become the modern day equivalent of the Stones.”
“I’ll be sure to alert the press.”
“Oh, god, please don’t. My fans are already bad enough.”
“You totally have a room in your house filled with weird stuffed animals and macaroni sculptures of your face, don’t you?” Kurt asked, smirking.
“You’re horrible,” Blaine said. “And no, I don’t. I make my manager deal with all that. I’m pretty sure that’s what he’s for.”
“Poor guy. I hope you pay him well. Though maybe you shouldn’t, considering he’s probably one of the geniuses behind you being in the closet.”
“Ouch. You don’t pull your punches, do you?”
“Sorry,” Kurt said, putting his hand over Blaine’s briefly. “That was probably out of line. I just feel pretty strongly about it.”
“Apparently.”
“My last boyfriend was a massive closet case,” Kurt said bluntly. “I may still have a few negative feelings about the whole subject.”
“You may?” Blaine asked.
“Fine. I definitely do, but for good reason. Maybe someday you can buy me a drink or five, and I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Deal.” Blaine grinned again, but then his smile faltered. “So are we ok?”
“We’re fine, Blaine.” Kurt stood up, pacing away from the barre. “We weren’t ever not fine. Are you always this overly cautious?”
“I don’t like upsetting people if I can help it. And I’d like to think we’re friends.” His voice was so hopeful that Kurt nodded. “Great. That’s good. Because this dancing thing is kind of terrifying, and I can use all the friends I can get.”
“Don’t you dare use me to try to win this thing, Anderson.”
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t, I -“
“Blaine, I was kidding.” Kurt reached out and rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Right. Of course.” Blaine smiled bashfully. It was more adorable than should be allowed. That was the only excuse Kurt had for what came out of his mouth next.
“I can help you, if you need it. I mean, much as I’m loath to admit it, Bitsy’s a good teacher, but sometimes it helps to learn from another guy.”
“Really? That would be amazing.”
“Sure.” Kurt shrugged. “Just so long as it doesn’t conflict with my rehearsal schedule.”
“Thank you!” Blaine pulled Kurt into an abrupt hug.
“You’re welcome,” Kurt said shakily once Blaine had released him.
“So I should probably go. Elizabeth will be looking for me. But maybe we could get together tomorrow after rehearsal? I’ll even buy you dinner after!”
Kurt barely had a chance to agree before Blaine was heading for the door. He turned back once he got there, smiling that warm, melting smile Kurt could feel all the way to his toes.
“Bring something nice to change into. I know this great restaurant we have to try.”
And then he was gone, and Kurt was left with a silent studio and a million questions running through his head. Kim would be there within a half hour, and Kurt figured he’d spend the entire time trying to sort through what had just happened, and whether or not he’d just been asked out on a date by the cutest, most ridiculous guy he’d ever met.