His Perfect Partner (19/?)
Title: His Perfect Partner (19/?)
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 3.17 is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2590
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: As the Results Show continues, Blaine sings and Kurt dances. The night is intense for everyone.
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 many chapters. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
Tom sent them to commercial while the audience groaned its frustration and Kim pinched the hell out of Kurt’s hand.
“I hate when he does that, the sadistic bastard,” she said without dropping her show smile. Kurt was tempted to argue that it was just how the show worked, but he thought Tom probably enjoyed torturing them a little too much.
“Three more minutes and we’ll know,” he said instead, turning his smile on Blaine and Bitsy when they walked over.
“It’s us,” Blaine said, crowding up next to them. “I know it is.”
“You don’t know that,” Kurt said. “Weird things happen on this show sometimes.”
“But not this time.” Blaine went to run a hand through his hair before he remembered that it was slicked down. “It’s ok, though. It’ll be fine.”
“It will,” Bitsy said. “You did a good job with a difficult dance. People will appreciate it.”
“And if they don’t, they’re philistines,” Kim said loyally. She looped an arm over Bitsy’s shoulders so that the four of them were in a loose circle.
“It may just be for the drama of it all. You know, all this ‘not necessarily in the bottom two’ stuff.” Kurt reached out surreptitiously and squeezed Blaine’s hand. “Your army of teenaged girls will come through for you.”
“And now I’m going to have nightmares about hordes of girls breaking into my place and absconding with me tonight. Thanks for that distraction,” Blaine said, his smile brightening a bit.
“I’ll protect you,” Kurt said, winking surreptitiously at Blaine to make him laugh.
“Ok, you two, let’s save the cheese-fest for after the show, shall we? Precious as it is, we have to go back on national tv in about thirty seconds,” Kim said. She squeezed Bitsy one more time and then leaned across their little circle to kiss Blaine’s cheek. “No worries, ok champ? Everything will work out.”
Kurt hugged Bitsy and Blaine, and then walked back with Kim to their pool of light. Tom quickly recapped what had happened, indicating that he’d be announcing the couple safe for the week. The pause this time felt twice as long, and Kurt could feel Kim shifting from foot to foot in anticipation.
When Tom finally called their names, Kurt closed his eyes in relief and distress. He looked up to see Blaine and Bitsy standing in deep red shadows, resignation on their faces. It felt worse than the times he’d been the one standing there.
Due to an unfortunate twist of fate - or evil machinations by the producers - Blaine was due to sing ten minutes later. As soon as they went back to commercial, Kurt and Blaine tore offstage to the closest backstage dressing room, where Sam and his crew were ready to get them into costume. Once they were changed, Mercedes was waiting in the doorway to fuss with their hair while the makeup people did touch-ups. They were ready with two minutes to spare, and no time to process what had just happened. Blaine was in danger of going home, and this could literally be his swan song. Before he stepped on stage to get set, Blaine turned to Kurt, his eyes wide and wet.
“Don’t you dare, Blaine Anderson. This isn’t the last anything. This isn’t goodbye,” Kurt said fiercely. “Go out there and sing your heart out, and let me dance for you.”
“Ok,” Blaine said, grabbing onto Kurt’s hands for a minute to steady himself. “Thank you. You are…so much.”
“You too.” Kurt smiled at him, willing away tears. “Go sing me a song. Make it beautiful.”
One last caress - Kurt’s hand on Blaine’s cheek - and it was time to go. Blaine went out on stage, and Kurt headed down the steps to meet Lacey at the edge of the audience. Across the ballroom, Mark and Chelsie were waiting for their cue.
The moment Blaine started singing, with just a few voices from his band to back him up, Kurt was profoundly grateful that Mark and Chelsie were the ones dancing to the first verse. As Blaine sang, “I walked across an empty land,” Mark carried Chelsie onto the floor, letting her slide down and away from him. They transcribed circles away from one another, ending with beautiful one-footed turns, their free legs bent and lifted behind them. Then they turned back to one another, reaching out but still backing away, their turns and leaps keeping them from reconnecting. They leapt offstage, Mark following Chelsie, just in time for Kurt and Lacey to take their turn.
Kurt and Lacey began with an intensive partnering sequence that flew across the floor, Kurt providing the base while Lacey spun and jumped. Finally, she slowed, and Kurt cradled her close before she pushed past him, a series of ponches and quick leaps punched out of her. Kurt watched her go, and then followed with his own leaps, faster and higher, punctuated by a beautifully controlled single pirouette. He sank to the floor, one hand still reaching for the sky, as Lacey did the same across from him.
The chorus began, Blaine imploring them to “talk about it somewhere only we know,” and Kurt and Lacey began to come closer as they headed back toward the stage. Finally they met just below Blaine, their hands pressed together between them. Mark and Chelsie joined them on the floor for the next chorus as more voices made the sound swell, Blaine’s voice still soaring above them.
The two couples moved across the floor, ebbing and flowing with the music. Mark and Kurt twirled their partners away from themselves, catching the other girl as she came toward them. Chelsie was a tiny little thing, and Kurt had no trouble lifting her high overhead, her arms and upper torso arching back. He spun twice as he brought her to the ground, sending her off to Mark. Lacey came back to him, but they dodged one another, growing farther and farther apart as the music began to slow.
Kurt looked up, past Lacey, and the world, the show, came crashing back into his awareness. Blaine was staring straight at him as he sang the final line, and in his voice Kurt heard both anxiety and hope. The music ended, and with it the dance; the audience was standing and cheering before Kurt could catch his breath.
Kurt ducked away as quickly as he could, retreating backstage while Tom walked over to Blaine to chat before going to commercial. It always took Kurt a few minutes to come back to himself after performances like that, and this one was worse than most. He was still standing in the wings when Blaine reappeared, and they stared at each other for a minute before Blaine walked into Kurt’s arms.
They clung to one another, and Kurt was sure that the raw, anxious feeling in his chest was mirrored in Blaine’s.
“I have to go back on stage,” Blaine said eventually. “To see what happens next.”
“I know.” Kurt held him tighter for a moment before letting him go. “I want to say that everything will be fine, but I don’t know that for sure. I believe it, though.”
“I’m not sure how this got to matter so much, but god, it does.”
“It has a way of doing that,” Kurt agreed, though he wasn’t entirely certain that they were speaking only of the show. “Go. They’re calling for you. I’m going to find Kim. We’ll be crossing all available fingers.”
“Ok.” Blaine smiled a little, in a tight, teary way that made Kurt want to hold him until all the bad things went away. “See you on the other side.”
“Absolutely.”
Kurt made himself walk away, winding his way back up to the Celebraquarium, where Kim was waiting. He stood on the balcony between her and Lacey, both women holding his hands as Tom began the final elimination of the night.
As much as he loved Brit, he knew she’d be fine if she and Joe were the ones to go tonight. Blaine, on the other hand, had so much that he wanted to prove, so much talent left to explore. It couldn’t be his time to go yet.
Tom and the judges were talking, dragging things out, but Kurt couldn’t seem to make sense of their words. He watched Blaine, practically breathing with him as the final minutes of the show counted down. Blaine wasn’t ready to go, and Kurt wasn’t ready to let him. Not now, not yet, he thought to himself. Let me keep him here a little while longer.
The tight squeeze to his right hand was Kurt’s first indication that something had happened. He turned to look at Kim, who was grinning fit to burst.
“They’re safe, Kurt. Blaine’s safe,” she said. He looked back at Blaine, who was sagging with relief against Bitsy’s shoulder. Kurt couldn’t blame him.
All the couples made their way down to the floor to say goodbye to Joe and Brit as the show finally ended. Kim dragged Kurt around the circle until they were right behind Blaine and Bitsy, and she pulled all of them into a hug.
“Well thank god that all worked out,” Kim announced as she stepped back, and Bitsy giggled. “I mean, Brit and Joe are lovely people, but no way they deserved to stay over you two.”
“Thanks, Kim.” Blaine was smiling again, his real smile. Kurt shuffled closer to him, bumping their shoulders together and grinning at him. They both stepped away from the crowd so they could continue their conversation.
“Are you up for another week of this?” Kurt asked.
“Absolutely. Elizabeth says I get to learn the party dance.”
“Samba? I think you’ll be good at that.”
“I hope so,” Blaine said, and Kurt could tell that the evening’s anxiety was still weighing on him.
“Hey, you’re good. You know that, right? Everyone has a rough week during the season. It’s almost inevitable. And you survived yours, so it’s ok.” Kurt squeezed Blaine’s shoulder, not wanting to be more demonstrative while they were in the middle of the crowded ballroom.
“Yeah, ok. I’m fine, really. Tonight was just…a lot.” Blaine rubbed one hand across his face. “Listen, I know Artie’s hosting an after-party tonight at some Italian place, but I don’t think I’m up for it.”
“Of course not,” Kurt said sympathetically, trying not to sound disappointed. “There’s always next week.”
“No, that’s not,” Blaine began, stumbling over his words. “Can we go somewhere, just the two of us? I don’t want a crowd, but I don’t think I’m ready to be away from you.”
“Me either,” Kurt murmured, relieved. “We have to get through press first, though. Meet you after?”
Blaine nodded, already backing away to go find Bitsy. Kurt turned around to hunt Kim down and found her deep in conversation with Cedes, who’d come looking for him.
“I saw that,” Cedes said, smiling at him. “You’re ditching me for a boy tonight, aren’t you?”
“Please?”
“Of course, K. You know I’m just teasing. Besides, Kim needs a party buddy now that you’ve abandoned both of us.”
“You know I love you both,” Kurt began, but Cedes cut him off.
“Which is why we’re insisting that you go and have some quality time with your boyfriend. But just in case you think I’ve gone soft, I’m insisting on lunch tomorrow to make up for it. No boys except you.”
“Yes ma’am,” Kurt said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Well, now that that’s settled, can we get this over with?” Kim indicated the ballroom, which was quickly filling with journalists and film crews, with a wave of her hand.
“Absolutely,” Kurt said, and offered her his arm with a flourish.
***
By the time the press line had wrapped up and they’d both showered and changed, two hours had passed. The lot was slowly emptying out as they stood near their cars, trying to decide what to do. They didn’t want to be in public, but they were both starving and didn’t want to cook.
They finally settled on a walk on the beach, somewhere Blaine knew of a great food truck and it wasn’t likely to be crowded after dark. Kurt drove, holding Blaine’s hand in his lap while Blaine sang quietly along to the radio. It had been a hell of a day, and the peace between them was a needed balm.
Blaine ordered them falafel sandwiches from an old man with a beard on a street corner one block up from the beach. They walked slowly down the sidewalk and onto the sand, sauce dripping down their wrists as they bit into their pitas.
“You know,” Kurt said as they wandered, “one of my favorite things about living out here is all the interesting food. I could never have found this kind of thing at home. Every time my dad visits, I make him try something new.”
“How does that go?” Blaine asked. He was licking his fingers, which should have seemed uncouth but was somehow endearing instead.
“He’s a good sport, most of the time. I think mostly he’s just grateful that the cooking lessons stopped when I left home.”
“You were teaching him, I presume?”
“Oh, of course. He was your typical Midwesterner, living for fried foods and starches, before his cardiologist and I got hold of him.”
“And now that you’re not there?”
“Carole and I are in cahoots. And Dad and I had a very serious talk when I was home a few months ago. He knows I only give him a hard time because I want him healthy for as long as possible.”
“It sounds like you have an amazing relationship with both of them,” Blaine said wistfully.
“I do. I’m lucky that way, I know.”
They were quiet for a few minutes, finishing their sandwiches and then rinsing their hands in the ocean. The water was cool, and the air was cooling down as well. Kurt was grateful for the blanket he’d grabbed out of the car, which he wrapped around both of them when they sat down on a low wall a few hundred yards up the beach.
“You don’t talk about your family much,” Kurt remarked, resting his cheek on Blaine’s hair and looking out at the waves.
“There’s not much to talk about, really. I’m not close to my parents, and my brother’s so much older that we’ve only really connected over the last few years.”
“That’s good, though. That you guys are trying.”
“Yeah. And I have Annie, and the guys in the band. They’re insane enough to serve as family most of the time.”
“Right. Like I have Finn and Cedes here, and even Kim now, I guess,” Kurt said, and Blaine laughed.
“I think you’re stuck with Kim, actually. She seems to have adopted you.”
“I don’t honestly mind. She’s great. Grant’s a sweetheart too, and those kids…”
“Adorable,” Blaine agreed. “Do we get to spoil them rotten on Friday?”
“Like there was ever any other plan.” Kurt turned his head to grin at Blaine. When Blaine grinned back, Kurt leaned over to kiss him, chaste and sweet.
“I’m getting cold,” Kurt said when they pulled back.
“Time to head home?” Blaine stood and offered Kurt his hand.
“Yeah,” Kurt said, letting Blaine pull him up. “Are you coming with me?”
“I’d like that,” Blaine said.
Together, they walked back up the beach, ready to put a long and difficult day behind them.
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 3.17 is fair game for inspiration.
Word Count: 2590
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: As the Results Show continues, Blaine sings and Kurt dances. The night is intense for everyone.
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 many chapters. Thanks to
samzgurl,
wintercreek, and
gypsyangel25 for the beta as well as for general cheer-leading and fun times.
Tom sent them to commercial while the audience groaned its frustration and Kim pinched the hell out of Kurt’s hand.
“I hate when he does that, the sadistic bastard,” she said without dropping her show smile. Kurt was tempted to argue that it was just how the show worked, but he thought Tom probably enjoyed torturing them a little too much.
“Three more minutes and we’ll know,” he said instead, turning his smile on Blaine and Bitsy when they walked over.
“It’s us,” Blaine said, crowding up next to them. “I know it is.”
“You don’t know that,” Kurt said. “Weird things happen on this show sometimes.”
“But not this time.” Blaine went to run a hand through his hair before he remembered that it was slicked down. “It’s ok, though. It’ll be fine.”
“It will,” Bitsy said. “You did a good job with a difficult dance. People will appreciate it.”
“And if they don’t, they’re philistines,” Kim said loyally. She looped an arm over Bitsy’s shoulders so that the four of them were in a loose circle.
“It may just be for the drama of it all. You know, all this ‘not necessarily in the bottom two’ stuff.” Kurt reached out surreptitiously and squeezed Blaine’s hand. “Your army of teenaged girls will come through for you.”
“And now I’m going to have nightmares about hordes of girls breaking into my place and absconding with me tonight. Thanks for that distraction,” Blaine said, his smile brightening a bit.
“I’ll protect you,” Kurt said, winking surreptitiously at Blaine to make him laugh.
“Ok, you two, let’s save the cheese-fest for after the show, shall we? Precious as it is, we have to go back on national tv in about thirty seconds,” Kim said. She squeezed Bitsy one more time and then leaned across their little circle to kiss Blaine’s cheek. “No worries, ok champ? Everything will work out.”
Kurt hugged Bitsy and Blaine, and then walked back with Kim to their pool of light. Tom quickly recapped what had happened, indicating that he’d be announcing the couple safe for the week. The pause this time felt twice as long, and Kurt could feel Kim shifting from foot to foot in anticipation.
When Tom finally called their names, Kurt closed his eyes in relief and distress. He looked up to see Blaine and Bitsy standing in deep red shadows, resignation on their faces. It felt worse than the times he’d been the one standing there.
Due to an unfortunate twist of fate - or evil machinations by the producers - Blaine was due to sing ten minutes later. As soon as they went back to commercial, Kurt and Blaine tore offstage to the closest backstage dressing room, where Sam and his crew were ready to get them into costume. Once they were changed, Mercedes was waiting in the doorway to fuss with their hair while the makeup people did touch-ups. They were ready with two minutes to spare, and no time to process what had just happened. Blaine was in danger of going home, and this could literally be his swan song. Before he stepped on stage to get set, Blaine turned to Kurt, his eyes wide and wet.
“Don’t you dare, Blaine Anderson. This isn’t the last anything. This isn’t goodbye,” Kurt said fiercely. “Go out there and sing your heart out, and let me dance for you.”
“Ok,” Blaine said, grabbing onto Kurt’s hands for a minute to steady himself. “Thank you. You are…so much.”
“You too.” Kurt smiled at him, willing away tears. “Go sing me a song. Make it beautiful.”
One last caress - Kurt’s hand on Blaine’s cheek - and it was time to go. Blaine went out on stage, and Kurt headed down the steps to meet Lacey at the edge of the audience. Across the ballroom, Mark and Chelsie were waiting for their cue.
The moment Blaine started singing, with just a few voices from his band to back him up, Kurt was profoundly grateful that Mark and Chelsie were the ones dancing to the first verse. As Blaine sang, “I walked across an empty land,” Mark carried Chelsie onto the floor, letting her slide down and away from him. They transcribed circles away from one another, ending with beautiful one-footed turns, their free legs bent and lifted behind them. Then they turned back to one another, reaching out but still backing away, their turns and leaps keeping them from reconnecting. They leapt offstage, Mark following Chelsie, just in time for Kurt and Lacey to take their turn.
Kurt and Lacey began with an intensive partnering sequence that flew across the floor, Kurt providing the base while Lacey spun and jumped. Finally, she slowed, and Kurt cradled her close before she pushed past him, a series of ponches and quick leaps punched out of her. Kurt watched her go, and then followed with his own leaps, faster and higher, punctuated by a beautifully controlled single pirouette. He sank to the floor, one hand still reaching for the sky, as Lacey did the same across from him.
The chorus began, Blaine imploring them to “talk about it somewhere only we know,” and Kurt and Lacey began to come closer as they headed back toward the stage. Finally they met just below Blaine, their hands pressed together between them. Mark and Chelsie joined them on the floor for the next chorus as more voices made the sound swell, Blaine’s voice still soaring above them.
The two couples moved across the floor, ebbing and flowing with the music. Mark and Kurt twirled their partners away from themselves, catching the other girl as she came toward them. Chelsie was a tiny little thing, and Kurt had no trouble lifting her high overhead, her arms and upper torso arching back. He spun twice as he brought her to the ground, sending her off to Mark. Lacey came back to him, but they dodged one another, growing farther and farther apart as the music began to slow.
Kurt looked up, past Lacey, and the world, the show, came crashing back into his awareness. Blaine was staring straight at him as he sang the final line, and in his voice Kurt heard both anxiety and hope. The music ended, and with it the dance; the audience was standing and cheering before Kurt could catch his breath.
Kurt ducked away as quickly as he could, retreating backstage while Tom walked over to Blaine to chat before going to commercial. It always took Kurt a few minutes to come back to himself after performances like that, and this one was worse than most. He was still standing in the wings when Blaine reappeared, and they stared at each other for a minute before Blaine walked into Kurt’s arms.
They clung to one another, and Kurt was sure that the raw, anxious feeling in his chest was mirrored in Blaine’s.
“I have to go back on stage,” Blaine said eventually. “To see what happens next.”
“I know.” Kurt held him tighter for a moment before letting him go. “I want to say that everything will be fine, but I don’t know that for sure. I believe it, though.”
“I’m not sure how this got to matter so much, but god, it does.”
“It has a way of doing that,” Kurt agreed, though he wasn’t entirely certain that they were speaking only of the show. “Go. They’re calling for you. I’m going to find Kim. We’ll be crossing all available fingers.”
“Ok.” Blaine smiled a little, in a tight, teary way that made Kurt want to hold him until all the bad things went away. “See you on the other side.”
“Absolutely.”
Kurt made himself walk away, winding his way back up to the Celebraquarium, where Kim was waiting. He stood on the balcony between her and Lacey, both women holding his hands as Tom began the final elimination of the night.
As much as he loved Brit, he knew she’d be fine if she and Joe were the ones to go tonight. Blaine, on the other hand, had so much that he wanted to prove, so much talent left to explore. It couldn’t be his time to go yet.
Tom and the judges were talking, dragging things out, but Kurt couldn’t seem to make sense of their words. He watched Blaine, practically breathing with him as the final minutes of the show counted down. Blaine wasn’t ready to go, and Kurt wasn’t ready to let him. Not now, not yet, he thought to himself. Let me keep him here a little while longer.
The tight squeeze to his right hand was Kurt’s first indication that something had happened. He turned to look at Kim, who was grinning fit to burst.
“They’re safe, Kurt. Blaine’s safe,” she said. He looked back at Blaine, who was sagging with relief against Bitsy’s shoulder. Kurt couldn’t blame him.
All the couples made their way down to the floor to say goodbye to Joe and Brit as the show finally ended. Kim dragged Kurt around the circle until they were right behind Blaine and Bitsy, and she pulled all of them into a hug.
“Well thank god that all worked out,” Kim announced as she stepped back, and Bitsy giggled. “I mean, Brit and Joe are lovely people, but no way they deserved to stay over you two.”
“Thanks, Kim.” Blaine was smiling again, his real smile. Kurt shuffled closer to him, bumping their shoulders together and grinning at him. They both stepped away from the crowd so they could continue their conversation.
“Are you up for another week of this?” Kurt asked.
“Absolutely. Elizabeth says I get to learn the party dance.”
“Samba? I think you’ll be good at that.”
“I hope so,” Blaine said, and Kurt could tell that the evening’s anxiety was still weighing on him.
“Hey, you’re good. You know that, right? Everyone has a rough week during the season. It’s almost inevitable. And you survived yours, so it’s ok.” Kurt squeezed Blaine’s shoulder, not wanting to be more demonstrative while they were in the middle of the crowded ballroom.
“Yeah, ok. I’m fine, really. Tonight was just…a lot.” Blaine rubbed one hand across his face. “Listen, I know Artie’s hosting an after-party tonight at some Italian place, but I don’t think I’m up for it.”
“Of course not,” Kurt said sympathetically, trying not to sound disappointed. “There’s always next week.”
“No, that’s not,” Blaine began, stumbling over his words. “Can we go somewhere, just the two of us? I don’t want a crowd, but I don’t think I’m ready to be away from you.”
“Me either,” Kurt murmured, relieved. “We have to get through press first, though. Meet you after?”
Blaine nodded, already backing away to go find Bitsy. Kurt turned around to hunt Kim down and found her deep in conversation with Cedes, who’d come looking for him.
“I saw that,” Cedes said, smiling at him. “You’re ditching me for a boy tonight, aren’t you?”
“Please?”
“Of course, K. You know I’m just teasing. Besides, Kim needs a party buddy now that you’ve abandoned both of us.”
“You know I love you both,” Kurt began, but Cedes cut him off.
“Which is why we’re insisting that you go and have some quality time with your boyfriend. But just in case you think I’ve gone soft, I’m insisting on lunch tomorrow to make up for it. No boys except you.”
“Yes ma’am,” Kurt said, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
“Well, now that that’s settled, can we get this over with?” Kim indicated the ballroom, which was quickly filling with journalists and film crews, with a wave of her hand.
“Absolutely,” Kurt said, and offered her his arm with a flourish.
***
By the time the press line had wrapped up and they’d both showered and changed, two hours had passed. The lot was slowly emptying out as they stood near their cars, trying to decide what to do. They didn’t want to be in public, but they were both starving and didn’t want to cook.
They finally settled on a walk on the beach, somewhere Blaine knew of a great food truck and it wasn’t likely to be crowded after dark. Kurt drove, holding Blaine’s hand in his lap while Blaine sang quietly along to the radio. It had been a hell of a day, and the peace between them was a needed balm.
Blaine ordered them falafel sandwiches from an old man with a beard on a street corner one block up from the beach. They walked slowly down the sidewalk and onto the sand, sauce dripping down their wrists as they bit into their pitas.
“You know,” Kurt said as they wandered, “one of my favorite things about living out here is all the interesting food. I could never have found this kind of thing at home. Every time my dad visits, I make him try something new.”
“How does that go?” Blaine asked. He was licking his fingers, which should have seemed uncouth but was somehow endearing instead.
“He’s a good sport, most of the time. I think mostly he’s just grateful that the cooking lessons stopped when I left home.”
“You were teaching him, I presume?”
“Oh, of course. He was your typical Midwesterner, living for fried foods and starches, before his cardiologist and I got hold of him.”
“And now that you’re not there?”
“Carole and I are in cahoots. And Dad and I had a very serious talk when I was home a few months ago. He knows I only give him a hard time because I want him healthy for as long as possible.”
“It sounds like you have an amazing relationship with both of them,” Blaine said wistfully.
“I do. I’m lucky that way, I know.”
They were quiet for a few minutes, finishing their sandwiches and then rinsing their hands in the ocean. The water was cool, and the air was cooling down as well. Kurt was grateful for the blanket he’d grabbed out of the car, which he wrapped around both of them when they sat down on a low wall a few hundred yards up the beach.
“You don’t talk about your family much,” Kurt remarked, resting his cheek on Blaine’s hair and looking out at the waves.
“There’s not much to talk about, really. I’m not close to my parents, and my brother’s so much older that we’ve only really connected over the last few years.”
“That’s good, though. That you guys are trying.”
“Yeah. And I have Annie, and the guys in the band. They’re insane enough to serve as family most of the time.”
“Right. Like I have Finn and Cedes here, and even Kim now, I guess,” Kurt said, and Blaine laughed.
“I think you’re stuck with Kim, actually. She seems to have adopted you.”
“I don’t honestly mind. She’s great. Grant’s a sweetheart too, and those kids…”
“Adorable,” Blaine agreed. “Do we get to spoil them rotten on Friday?”
“Like there was ever any other plan.” Kurt turned his head to grin at Blaine. When Blaine grinned back, Kurt leaned over to kiss him, chaste and sweet.
“I’m getting cold,” Kurt said when they pulled back.
“Time to head home?” Blaine stood and offered Kurt his hand.
“Yeah,” Kurt said, letting Blaine pull him up. “Are you coming with me?”
“I’d like that,” Blaine said.
Together, they walked back up the beach, ready to put a long and difficult day behind them.