Fic: Imperfect Chapter 2/?
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Chapter 2
“Right this way, Master Hummel,” Will said, showing Kurt back into the castle. Kurt had been given a week to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his parents, a week that Finn was never given. It made Kurt wonder if the king liked him more than he liked Kurt’s step-brother and he wondered whether or not that was a good thing. “You’ll be staying with the rest of the king’s special guests, in the South Wing. Access to the entire wing is restricted and you’ll be asked not to leave unless accompanied until your time with us is over. If you ever want that to be the case, please sign this paper and leave it with the guards.” Will handed Kurt a single sheet of paper, but kept walking. “Your governess’ name is Holly Holliday-”
“Seriously?” Kurt interrupted, wanting to chuckle but not quite sure if he was allowed.
“Yes,” Will laughed. “I know, strange name, but she’s a good teacher and she knows all your school subjects like the back of her hand. You’ll be meeting her after breakfast in the study, which is…” Will showed Kurt past a couple of guards and into a broad hallway, turning left and opening a door. Keeping his voice low, Will showed Kurt a sunny room with a high ceiling and several young people studying, “Right here. Feel free to read any of the books.”
A few of the students looked up and one, a boy about Kurt’s age with dark, curly hair, gave Kurt a welcoming smile. Will waved goodbye to them and then showed Kurt across the hall. The room held a very long table, which was surrounded by chairs and the table setting was more elegant than Kurt had ever seen. “This is the dining room. You’ll find Finn here more often than not,” he laughed. “The kitchen is through here and although you’ll have a chef, you may prepare whatever you like, and request ingredients here.” Will pointed to a pad of paper attached to one of the cabinet doors and Kurt looked around, again stunned by the amenities.
“Is this just for us?” he asked, certain something had to be amiss. All of the rooms he’d seen during his previous visit to the palace (besides the king’s rooms) had been fit only for servants. These were fancy enough to please the Queen herself.
Will shrugged. “Sometimes the king gets it into his head to eat with you, though it doesn’t happen very often. Maybe a few times a year. Mostly it’s just a gaggle of young adults, eating well.”
“Oh god,” Kurt groaned, “I’m going to get fat!”
Will laughed and clapped Kurt on the shoulder, a gesture he wasn’t quite used to receiving from anyone but his father, but found he liked anyway. “That’s why there’s a gym!” Will cried, showing Kurt back to the main hallway and into another room, which was covered in exercise equipment.
“Let me guess,” Kurt said wryly, one eyebrow raised, “use this whenever I’d like.”
Will smiled and pointed at Kurt. “Exactly!” He pushed past Kurt back into the hallway and toward the foot of a huge set of stairs. “Now, I’m not allowed up, nor is anyone but you lot and the king, which means you’re collectively in charge of keeping everything tidy. Is that satisfactory to you?”
Kurt had always had to clean up his own messes before, so he nodded. Looking at the stairs with a little trepidation, Kurt asked, “Should I just…?”
“Go on ahead,” Will nodded. “A boy named Noah, you’ll know him when you see him, agreed to show you around the upstairs, since Finn’s indisposed at the moment. I’ll be available to you once a week when I meet with everyone to discuss logistics, but if you have anything you’d like to talk about before Saturday, just ask one of the guards outside the wing to let me know. Alright?”
Kurt nodded and shook the man’s hand, saying a sincere, “Thank you,” before taking a deep breath and taking the staircase one step at a time.
This floor was a little dimmer than the one below, and it appeared to be all one giant room, except for a row of three doors at one end of the wing. There were windows all around, but they were curtained off with heavy velour drapes for the most part, and little sections of the room were curtained to themselves as well. If Kurt was looking for privacy, he guessed he wouldn’t find it here.
He didn’t notice anyone at first, but then he saw a pair of bare feet dangling off the end of a couch, swinging a little like the owner was bored. Kurt cleared his throat, glad when the owner of the feet sat up, one heavily-muscled arm pulling him upright using the back of the couch. “New guy!” the young man cried with what Kurt could only describe as a shit-eating grin beneath a handsome set of eyes and the most ridiculous haircut Kurt had ever seen. “Thought you’d never get here, dude.”
Still fascinated by the guy’s hair, which was one short, wide stripe of dark hair from forehead to nape, Kurt mumbled an off-hand, “Sorry,” before shaking himself to attention and meeting the man’s eyes. “You’re Noah?”
The guy shrugged and stood up, telling Kurt, “Everyone calls me Puck, unless I say otherwise, alright?” Puck was wearing long, baggy pants with no socks and a tight v-neck shirt that emphasized the way he flexed his muscles, obviously to show that he was top-dog here. Kurt wasn’t going to argue the point on his first day, so he nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Puck. I’m Kurt Hummel.”
“I know, dude,” Puck laughed, stepping forward to throw his arm around Kurt’s shoulder and give him a one-armed hug. “You’re Finn’s little brother, right? Man, I can’t imagine still being here when and if my sister gets picked. Eugh,” he shivered.
“Finn’s my stepbrother,” Kurt explained, “and why should it matter?”
Puck pointed out toward the open space saying, “Dude, just look at the living situation. The king doesn’t like doors up here, unless you’re taking a shit. Could you imagine if I had to see my sister walking around naked all the time? Nah, it’s a good thing she’s only, like nine. I’ll be long gone by the time the old perv wants her.”
Kurt stifled a laugh and asked, “You call the king that?”
“Not to his face,” Puck chuckled, steering Kurt by the shoulders for a tour of the curtained-off areas. Pointing to the first one on the right, Puck explained, “This is Santana and Brittany’s bunk. Don’t go in there if you value your family jewels. Seriously.”
“Won’t be a problem,” Kurt nodded.
“Tina and Mike sleep there,” Puck continued and Kurt wondered why a boy and a girl would be paired off.
“Are they…?” he tried to ask, not really finding the words he wanted to use.
Puck smirked and hugged Kurt’s shoulders a little tighter, a gesture Kurt wasn’t sure he was supposed to appreciate, “Like, all the fucking time, man. Don’t worry, the king doesn’t care if we get it on with each other, as long as we’re ready and willing when he calls.”
Getting a little squeamish at the thought of his “duties,” Kurt asked, “How often? I mean, how often does he call for you?”
“Most of us? Maybe once every month or two,” Puck shrugged, pulling Kurt toward the next area. “I mean, he’s got the virgins almost every day, anyway. I think he just likes knowing we’re here.”
Kurt nodded, sort of hating the fact that he wasn’t one of the virgins anymore.
The next curtain was sort of a baby-pink color with a huge yellow star quilted onto it. Puck dropped his voice to a whisper and said, “This is Rachel’s bed. She’s kinda psycho and obsessed with your brother. The king promised to fund the musical she’s working on. Whatever you do, don’t let her rope you into listening to it. It’s god-awful.”
“Noted,” Kurt smiled, noticing that the boy showing him around really was quite handsome, despite his ridiculous haircut. It was no wonder the king had chosen him.
They passed one open-curtained, empty bed and came to a second, where Puck declared, “This is you. Your stuff can go in that dresser back there,” he pointed to the furniture, “and you can decorate it however you want. Drop your bag and I’ll finish showing you around.”
Kurt nodded and did as he was told, grateful that the bed looked nice and very clean, though the interior design definitely needed some work. Plus, the curtains were hideous. Plaid? Seriously? Kurt wondered how to go about requesting something more fitting. Dark blue velvet, maybe. Ooh, with a matching comforter for the bed and dove-gray throw-pillows. So many good ideas!
“I put you right next to Finn,” Puck pointed to the closed-off area beside them surrounded with bright-red curtains that Kurt thought he should have recognized, “I figured you’d be … I don’t know … more comfortable, or whatever. Plus, he’s pretty quiet and half the time he’s in with Quinn, anyway.”
“The other half of the time?” Kurt asked, noticing the area across the way that Puck had pointed to. The light blue curtains were open to reveal a lavish four-poster bed in white wood, with a flower-patterned comforter covering the deep mattress just-so.
“Sam’s in there with her,” the guy replied with a little sigh, like he wished it was him and Kurt didn’t mean to do it, but he snorted with amusement that one girl could have three boys wrapped around her little finger. “Don’t look at me like that, bro,” Puck said, chuckling a little. “She’s awesome. You play things right and you’ll see.”
“I don’t…” Kurt said, trying to figure out how to explain his situation without provoking Puck into hitting him. “I mean, I’m sure she’s lovely, but I ... Girls and I ... I mean, I don't..."
“Hey, no big,” Puck assured him, sliding his arm around Kurt’s shoulders and whispering in his ear, “You’ll be fine, babe.”
Kurt shivered and felt his cheeks heat up, thinking it was much better receiving this kind of attention from someone about his age, rather than someone more than twice it.
“Okay, so Sam, Quinn, Mercedes,” Puck pointed down the line of beds on the other side of the wing, skipping two that were obviously empty, “with me and Blaine in that one on the end.”
“You and … Blaine?” Kurt asked, thinking that sounded an awful lot like a boy’s name.
“Yeah,” Puck nodded. “For now. Don’t worry, he knows he can’t tie me down. I’m a sex-shark, baby. Gotta keep moving. Though, it’s been just me and him for awhile since the girls started rejecting me when I got Quinn pregnant.” Kurt was suddenly concerned that the attraction he’d held for the guy was irresponsible at best, and is must have shown on his face, because Puck cried, “Don’t look at me like that! It was an accident. Could’ve happened to anyone.”
“Uh-huh,” Kurt nodded, sure of no such thing, but thinking it was best not to say so. Looking around, Kurt asked, “Are the beds empty because their occupants are sharing or …?”
“Mostly,” Puck replied, leading Kurt toward the area on the far end of the room, the one he said belonged to him and Blaine. “Though we have had a few leave recently. Jesse and Matt both fulfilled their contracts and decided to leave, reap the rewards or whatever. Sunshine got a better offer from her vocal coach. And Artie…” Puck sighed. “Artie had an accident. His legs wouldn’t work anymore, and the Old Perv didn’t like it, so he bought out the kid’s contract. Sent him home.”
“Were you and he…?” Kurt asked, wondering what was going on when Puck showed him through the dark-blue curtains and into a little pseudo-room that was decorated as only two teenaged boys could decorate - covered haphazardly in sketches and little scraps of paintings from periodicals and such.
“Nah, man,” Puck replied, falling back onto the bed and propping himself up on his elbows with a sad smile. “Artie was my friend, my bro. And damn, that kid could dance. It’s just sad.”
Kurt nodded, wondering what would happen if he took a seat on the bed - if that would seem more forward than Kurt was willing to be. He wasn’t about to start something with anyone until he understood the dynamics and the politics of the situation more readily. His old school, Dalton, was rife with politics and backstabbing, something which Kurt wanted to avoid here as much as he did there.
“It’s cool, dude,” Puck insisted, nodding to the bed next to him. “I figured we could just take a load off, talk a little, you know, until lunch time. Man, I’m starving.”
“What do you do all day?” Kurt asked, taking the seat provided, making sure to keep himself a good distance away from the boy.
Puck told Kurt about how he’d finished his schooling, but decided he didn’t have anything better to do than stick around here until the king got sick of him. He talked about spending his days in the gym and the music room, writing songs and learning new instruments one at a time. “I’ve got guitar, trumpet, and piano down,” he explained, nodding to the guitar sitting beside his dresser. “Of course, my mom made me take the piano lessons ever since I was a kid.”
Kurt smiled, “I play, too. Never missed a lesson until I decided to go into fashion and not music.”
“Fashion?” Puck asked with a little snort that Kurt couldn’t help but feel a little offended by. “Like clothes and shit?”
“Yes,” Kurt replied dryly. “Clothes … and shit.”
“Whatever you want, babe,” Puck chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m hoping to have enough songs written before I leave to put on a traveling show, you know? Get people to pay to come see me play? Blaine might come with. We’ll see.”
“You don’t sound too hopeful,” Kurt observed, pushing off his shoes with his toes and getting a little more comfortable. “Is it just a physical relationship?”
Puck fell back flat with a big sigh, saying, “I don’t know, dude. Recently... Like, sometimes we get along great and we make awesome music together and other times he’s all pissy and talking about going to University and getting some smart-person’s degree in money-moving, which would be awesome for him, but it would suck for me, getting left behind like that.”
Nodding, Kurt said, “University and degrees and money-moving aren’t really your thing, are they, Puck?”
Looking up at the ceiling, Puck shook his head back and forth before letting out a short laugh and meeting Kurt’s eyes. “Guess that’s why I’m still here.”
**88**
At lunch, Kurt met everyone else. Of course, he already knew Finn, who looked better than the last time Kurt had seen him, and he'd known Santana from school. Rachel seemed crazy, Tina and Mercedes were exceptionally nice, Brittany was the blonde girl that had been at Santana's side during Kurt's visit with the king the week before, Mike and Sam seemed fine, and Quinn had a beautiful, but fake smile. And then there was Blaine.
Blaine was cute. Blaine smiled at Kurt much more than he needed to. Blaine's eyes followed Kurt like the boy wasn't even aware he was doing it, despite Puck at his side, arm resting casually on the back of Blaine's chair. Kurt recognized the gesture as one of possessiveness and he meant to respect that, but then they started talking about designers and music and Blaine knew just so much, it was impossible not to fall for him a little bit.
"Hey, Kurt," Finn stopped him after the meal, pulling Kurt into the empty study. "This is bad, man."
"What?" Kurt asked with a disbelieving scoff. "What's bad? Can't take having me around?"
"It's not that," Finn shook his head, "and I know why you couldn't refuse the king's offer. No, it's this thing you have with Blaine. Knock it off."
"Look, I'm perfectly aware he's taken or whatever happens in this place. I'm not going to upset that," Kurt explained, wondering how little Finn thought of his motives and intentions.
"Good," Finn sighed in relief, "because I was worried there for a minute. You should try and stay on Puck's good side. I mean, when he's angry he... Well, just be polite. I know you can do that well."
Kurt laughed, remembering the etiquette lessons he and Finn had attended together before their parents' wedding. Kurt had always bested Finn in matters of manners, much to Hudson's dismay.
Then looking down at Kurt, Finn smiled and asked, "Dude, have you gotten taller?"
"Yes, Finn," Kurt replied dryly, but with an amused smile. "You don't have to look so surprised." Finn laughed and showed Kurt out to the courtyard, where the girls were playing badminton and the boys were wrestling in the dirt, Blaine included. Kurt politely joined the girls, thank you very much, striking up an easy conversation with Mercedes as they played.
**88**
Things seemed fairly normal to Kurt, even when the wrestlers all retired together to the floor above to clean up. Afterward the king's companions went about their day, some returning to their studies and some to other pursuits, and Kurt finally met the much-discussed Holly Holliday.
"Good afternoon, Master Hummel!" Holly cried, taking his hand and shaking it vigorously. "It's great to meet you! Tell me, what did you study at your old school?"
"Everything," Kurt replied, "though I'm most fond of languages and art."
"Languages and art," Holly replied, smiling over her shoulder at Blaine and Rachel, who were sitting together at a long table, working. "I think I can build around that. Now, Will has told me about your end-goal here, and I've taken the past week to draw up a lesson plan of sorts. Would you like to go over it now?"
"I'd love to," Kurt beamed, never having had such personalized attention from a teacher before, even at the high-tuition Dalton Academy. It felt amazing.
**88**
Kurt was sort of surprised that his whole first day went by without any word from the king, but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful. As he lay in his bed that night, listening to the small sounds the others made, Kurt wondered if he would get used to being here. Everyone else in the South Wing seemed content and not ... traumatized or whatever Kurt thought he might find. He didn't feel close enough yet to any of his peers to ask them what it was like, being with the king while sober. He definitely didn't want to ask Finn. There were some things one should not know about his stepbrother.
Kurt wondered, too, if his dad was worried about him. Kurt could have said no. He could have turned down the king's offer and went on with his life. He could have held onto at least some of his youth, staying at home for another two years. He could still leave the palace and go home, but the lure of his promised reward was just too great for Kurt to even think about backing out until he knew, for sure, that he couldn't do this.
Maybe it wouldn't be all bad, either. Kurt could hear Mike and Tina making love quietly and earlier in the evening, he'd seen Santana and Brittany wrapped around each other like neither wanted to remember where she ended and the other began. If Kurt could find something like that here, even if Blaine was apparently off-limits, that might make everything else worth it.
Unable to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time, Kurt was awake when he heard someone pad across the large room toward the bathing pool that Kurt had been hoping to use, at least the first time, before everyone else woke up so he could retain at least a little privacy. A body splashed quietly into the always-warm water and Kurt heard what sounded like a soft, sobbing sigh. Maybe everything wasn't what it seemed?
Before Kurt could decide whether or not it was his responsibility to go ask what was wrong, another set of footsteps pounded across the ground, heavy, angry almost. A voice, Kurt thought it sounded like Puck's, hissed, "Where have you been?"
"I was with him," a second voice replied softly, and Kurt was pretty sure it was Blaine.
"Bullshit," Puck hissed, the water splashing noisily, like he'd hit it, or maybe he'd hit Blaine. Was that what Finn was trying to warn Kurt about earlier? "I know for a fact you weren't with him. You weren't taking the new kid for a spin either, so where were you?"
"Nowhere!" Blaine cried before lowering his voice and adding, "Working. I was working, Noah."
"Then why can't you look me in the eye?" Puck sneered. "Why did you jump in the tub right away? Where did you fucking go?"
After a few beats, the water splashed again and Blaine whispered angrily, "You're being paranoid, Noah, and you know it! You have no right to accuse me of anything, do you? I'm not yours."
"No, you're the king's," Puck replied, another splash following his words. "If you weren't up here and you weren't with him, we're all fucked, Blaine. Look, man, you're my boy, my best friend, okay? I don't want you getting into any shit you can't get back out of." After Blaine grunted a little in response, Puck sneered angry again, "Go sleep somewhere else, babe. I can't look at you anymore tonight."
After Puck padded away, Kurt could have sworn he heard a sharp, wracking breath from the pool, almost like Blaine was crying. Kurt's heart hurt for him and once again Kurt debated peeking out and offering some help, but again he was preempted by someone else.
After a patter of light footsteps and a cooing voice Kurt couldn't make out, Blaine left the water and followed the other footsteps past Kurt's bed. Ah, it must have been Rachel, if their destination and the rattling of her sequined curtains were enough to go by.
Kurt didn't fall asleep until almost sunrise.
I decided to post a little early, since I'm going to be busy tomorrow. So, how are you liking the 'verse so far? Kurt's interaction with Puck and the others? Thanks for reading and commenting!
Next Chapter
Chapter 2
“Right this way, Master Hummel,” Will said, showing Kurt back into the castle. Kurt had been given a week to put his affairs in order and say goodbye to his parents, a week that Finn was never given. It made Kurt wonder if the king liked him more than he liked Kurt’s step-brother and he wondered whether or not that was a good thing. “You’ll be staying with the rest of the king’s special guests, in the South Wing. Access to the entire wing is restricted and you’ll be asked not to leave unless accompanied until your time with us is over. If you ever want that to be the case, please sign this paper and leave it with the guards.” Will handed Kurt a single sheet of paper, but kept walking. “Your governess’ name is Holly Holliday-”
“Seriously?” Kurt interrupted, wanting to chuckle but not quite sure if he was allowed.
“Yes,” Will laughed. “I know, strange name, but she’s a good teacher and she knows all your school subjects like the back of her hand. You’ll be meeting her after breakfast in the study, which is…” Will showed Kurt past a couple of guards and into a broad hallway, turning left and opening a door. Keeping his voice low, Will showed Kurt a sunny room with a high ceiling and several young people studying, “Right here. Feel free to read any of the books.”
A few of the students looked up and one, a boy about Kurt’s age with dark, curly hair, gave Kurt a welcoming smile. Will waved goodbye to them and then showed Kurt across the hall. The room held a very long table, which was surrounded by chairs and the table setting was more elegant than Kurt had ever seen. “This is the dining room. You’ll find Finn here more often than not,” he laughed. “The kitchen is through here and although you’ll have a chef, you may prepare whatever you like, and request ingredients here.” Will pointed to a pad of paper attached to one of the cabinet doors and Kurt looked around, again stunned by the amenities.
“Is this just for us?” he asked, certain something had to be amiss. All of the rooms he’d seen during his previous visit to the palace (besides the king’s rooms) had been fit only for servants. These were fancy enough to please the Queen herself.
Will shrugged. “Sometimes the king gets it into his head to eat with you, though it doesn’t happen very often. Maybe a few times a year. Mostly it’s just a gaggle of young adults, eating well.”
“Oh god,” Kurt groaned, “I’m going to get fat!”
Will laughed and clapped Kurt on the shoulder, a gesture he wasn’t quite used to receiving from anyone but his father, but found he liked anyway. “That’s why there’s a gym!” Will cried, showing Kurt back to the main hallway and into another room, which was covered in exercise equipment.
“Let me guess,” Kurt said wryly, one eyebrow raised, “use this whenever I’d like.”
Will smiled and pointed at Kurt. “Exactly!” He pushed past Kurt back into the hallway and toward the foot of a huge set of stairs. “Now, I’m not allowed up, nor is anyone but you lot and the king, which means you’re collectively in charge of keeping everything tidy. Is that satisfactory to you?”
Kurt had always had to clean up his own messes before, so he nodded. Looking at the stairs with a little trepidation, Kurt asked, “Should I just…?”
“Go on ahead,” Will nodded. “A boy named Noah, you’ll know him when you see him, agreed to show you around the upstairs, since Finn’s indisposed at the moment. I’ll be available to you once a week when I meet with everyone to discuss logistics, but if you have anything you’d like to talk about before Saturday, just ask one of the guards outside the wing to let me know. Alright?”
Kurt nodded and shook the man’s hand, saying a sincere, “Thank you,” before taking a deep breath and taking the staircase one step at a time.
This floor was a little dimmer than the one below, and it appeared to be all one giant room, except for a row of three doors at one end of the wing. There were windows all around, but they were curtained off with heavy velour drapes for the most part, and little sections of the room were curtained to themselves as well. If Kurt was looking for privacy, he guessed he wouldn’t find it here.
He didn’t notice anyone at first, but then he saw a pair of bare feet dangling off the end of a couch, swinging a little like the owner was bored. Kurt cleared his throat, glad when the owner of the feet sat up, one heavily-muscled arm pulling him upright using the back of the couch. “New guy!” the young man cried with what Kurt could only describe as a shit-eating grin beneath a handsome set of eyes and the most ridiculous haircut Kurt had ever seen. “Thought you’d never get here, dude.”
Still fascinated by the guy’s hair, which was one short, wide stripe of dark hair from forehead to nape, Kurt mumbled an off-hand, “Sorry,” before shaking himself to attention and meeting the man’s eyes. “You’re Noah?”
The guy shrugged and stood up, telling Kurt, “Everyone calls me Puck, unless I say otherwise, alright?” Puck was wearing long, baggy pants with no socks and a tight v-neck shirt that emphasized the way he flexed his muscles, obviously to show that he was top-dog here. Kurt wasn’t going to argue the point on his first day, so he nodded.
“Nice to meet you, Puck. I’m Kurt Hummel.”
“I know, dude,” Puck laughed, stepping forward to throw his arm around Kurt’s shoulder and give him a one-armed hug. “You’re Finn’s little brother, right? Man, I can’t imagine still being here when and if my sister gets picked. Eugh,” he shivered.
“Finn’s my stepbrother,” Kurt explained, “and why should it matter?”
Puck pointed out toward the open space saying, “Dude, just look at the living situation. The king doesn’t like doors up here, unless you’re taking a shit. Could you imagine if I had to see my sister walking around naked all the time? Nah, it’s a good thing she’s only, like nine. I’ll be long gone by the time the old perv wants her.”
Kurt stifled a laugh and asked, “You call the king that?”
“Not to his face,” Puck chuckled, steering Kurt by the shoulders for a tour of the curtained-off areas. Pointing to the first one on the right, Puck explained, “This is Santana and Brittany’s bunk. Don’t go in there if you value your family jewels. Seriously.”
“Won’t be a problem,” Kurt nodded.
“Tina and Mike sleep there,” Puck continued and Kurt wondered why a boy and a girl would be paired off.
“Are they…?” he tried to ask, not really finding the words he wanted to use.
Puck smirked and hugged Kurt’s shoulders a little tighter, a gesture Kurt wasn’t sure he was supposed to appreciate, “Like, all the fucking time, man. Don’t worry, the king doesn’t care if we get it on with each other, as long as we’re ready and willing when he calls.”
Getting a little squeamish at the thought of his “duties,” Kurt asked, “How often? I mean, how often does he call for you?”
“Most of us? Maybe once every month or two,” Puck shrugged, pulling Kurt toward the next area. “I mean, he’s got the virgins almost every day, anyway. I think he just likes knowing we’re here.”
Kurt nodded, sort of hating the fact that he wasn’t one of the virgins anymore.
The next curtain was sort of a baby-pink color with a huge yellow star quilted onto it. Puck dropped his voice to a whisper and said, “This is Rachel’s bed. She’s kinda psycho and obsessed with your brother. The king promised to fund the musical she’s working on. Whatever you do, don’t let her rope you into listening to it. It’s god-awful.”
“Noted,” Kurt smiled, noticing that the boy showing him around really was quite handsome, despite his ridiculous haircut. It was no wonder the king had chosen him.
They passed one open-curtained, empty bed and came to a second, where Puck declared, “This is you. Your stuff can go in that dresser back there,” he pointed to the furniture, “and you can decorate it however you want. Drop your bag and I’ll finish showing you around.”
Kurt nodded and did as he was told, grateful that the bed looked nice and very clean, though the interior design definitely needed some work. Plus, the curtains were hideous. Plaid? Seriously? Kurt wondered how to go about requesting something more fitting. Dark blue velvet, maybe. Ooh, with a matching comforter for the bed and dove-gray throw-pillows. So many good ideas!
“I put you right next to Finn,” Puck pointed to the closed-off area beside them surrounded with bright-red curtains that Kurt thought he should have recognized, “I figured you’d be … I don’t know … more comfortable, or whatever. Plus, he’s pretty quiet and half the time he’s in with Quinn, anyway.”
“The other half of the time?” Kurt asked, noticing the area across the way that Puck had pointed to. The light blue curtains were open to reveal a lavish four-poster bed in white wood, with a flower-patterned comforter covering the deep mattress just-so.
“Sam’s in there with her,” the guy replied with a little sigh, like he wished it was him and Kurt didn’t mean to do it, but he snorted with amusement that one girl could have three boys wrapped around her little finger. “Don’t look at me like that, bro,” Puck said, chuckling a little. “She’s awesome. You play things right and you’ll see.”
“I don’t…” Kurt said, trying to figure out how to explain his situation without provoking Puck into hitting him. “I mean, I’m sure she’s lovely, but I ... Girls and I ... I mean, I don't..."
“Hey, no big,” Puck assured him, sliding his arm around Kurt’s shoulders and whispering in his ear, “You’ll be fine, babe.”
Kurt shivered and felt his cheeks heat up, thinking it was much better receiving this kind of attention from someone about his age, rather than someone more than twice it.
“Okay, so Sam, Quinn, Mercedes,” Puck pointed down the line of beds on the other side of the wing, skipping two that were obviously empty, “with me and Blaine in that one on the end.”
“You and … Blaine?” Kurt asked, thinking that sounded an awful lot like a boy’s name.
“Yeah,” Puck nodded. “For now. Don’t worry, he knows he can’t tie me down. I’m a sex-shark, baby. Gotta keep moving. Though, it’s been just me and him for awhile since the girls started rejecting me when I got Quinn pregnant.” Kurt was suddenly concerned that the attraction he’d held for the guy was irresponsible at best, and is must have shown on his face, because Puck cried, “Don’t look at me like that! It was an accident. Could’ve happened to anyone.”
“Uh-huh,” Kurt nodded, sure of no such thing, but thinking it was best not to say so. Looking around, Kurt asked, “Are the beds empty because their occupants are sharing or …?”
“Mostly,” Puck replied, leading Kurt toward the area on the far end of the room, the one he said belonged to him and Blaine. “Though we have had a few leave recently. Jesse and Matt both fulfilled their contracts and decided to leave, reap the rewards or whatever. Sunshine got a better offer from her vocal coach. And Artie…” Puck sighed. “Artie had an accident. His legs wouldn’t work anymore, and the Old Perv didn’t like it, so he bought out the kid’s contract. Sent him home.”
“Were you and he…?” Kurt asked, wondering what was going on when Puck showed him through the dark-blue curtains and into a little pseudo-room that was decorated as only two teenaged boys could decorate - covered haphazardly in sketches and little scraps of paintings from periodicals and such.
“Nah, man,” Puck replied, falling back onto the bed and propping himself up on his elbows with a sad smile. “Artie was my friend, my bro. And damn, that kid could dance. It’s just sad.”
Kurt nodded, wondering what would happen if he took a seat on the bed - if that would seem more forward than Kurt was willing to be. He wasn’t about to start something with anyone until he understood the dynamics and the politics of the situation more readily. His old school, Dalton, was rife with politics and backstabbing, something which Kurt wanted to avoid here as much as he did there.
“It’s cool, dude,” Puck insisted, nodding to the bed next to him. “I figured we could just take a load off, talk a little, you know, until lunch time. Man, I’m starving.”
“What do you do all day?” Kurt asked, taking the seat provided, making sure to keep himself a good distance away from the boy.
Puck told Kurt about how he’d finished his schooling, but decided he didn’t have anything better to do than stick around here until the king got sick of him. He talked about spending his days in the gym and the music room, writing songs and learning new instruments one at a time. “I’ve got guitar, trumpet, and piano down,” he explained, nodding to the guitar sitting beside his dresser. “Of course, my mom made me take the piano lessons ever since I was a kid.”
Kurt smiled, “I play, too. Never missed a lesson until I decided to go into fashion and not music.”
“Fashion?” Puck asked with a little snort that Kurt couldn’t help but feel a little offended by. “Like clothes and shit?”
“Yes,” Kurt replied dryly. “Clothes … and shit.”
“Whatever you want, babe,” Puck chuckled, shaking his head. “I’m hoping to have enough songs written before I leave to put on a traveling show, you know? Get people to pay to come see me play? Blaine might come with. We’ll see.”
“You don’t sound too hopeful,” Kurt observed, pushing off his shoes with his toes and getting a little more comfortable. “Is it just a physical relationship?”
Puck fell back flat with a big sigh, saying, “I don’t know, dude. Recently... Like, sometimes we get along great and we make awesome music together and other times he’s all pissy and talking about going to University and getting some smart-person’s degree in money-moving, which would be awesome for him, but it would suck for me, getting left behind like that.”
Nodding, Kurt said, “University and degrees and money-moving aren’t really your thing, are they, Puck?”
Looking up at the ceiling, Puck shook his head back and forth before letting out a short laugh and meeting Kurt’s eyes. “Guess that’s why I’m still here.”
**88**
At lunch, Kurt met everyone else. Of course, he already knew Finn, who looked better than the last time Kurt had seen him, and he'd known Santana from school. Rachel seemed crazy, Tina and Mercedes were exceptionally nice, Brittany was the blonde girl that had been at Santana's side during Kurt's visit with the king the week before, Mike and Sam seemed fine, and Quinn had a beautiful, but fake smile. And then there was Blaine.
Blaine was cute. Blaine smiled at Kurt much more than he needed to. Blaine's eyes followed Kurt like the boy wasn't even aware he was doing it, despite Puck at his side, arm resting casually on the back of Blaine's chair. Kurt recognized the gesture as one of possessiveness and he meant to respect that, but then they started talking about designers and music and Blaine knew just so much, it was impossible not to fall for him a little bit.
"Hey, Kurt," Finn stopped him after the meal, pulling Kurt into the empty study. "This is bad, man."
"What?" Kurt asked with a disbelieving scoff. "What's bad? Can't take having me around?"
"It's not that," Finn shook his head, "and I know why you couldn't refuse the king's offer. No, it's this thing you have with Blaine. Knock it off."
"Look, I'm perfectly aware he's taken or whatever happens in this place. I'm not going to upset that," Kurt explained, wondering how little Finn thought of his motives and intentions.
"Good," Finn sighed in relief, "because I was worried there for a minute. You should try and stay on Puck's good side. I mean, when he's angry he... Well, just be polite. I know you can do that well."
Kurt laughed, remembering the etiquette lessons he and Finn had attended together before their parents' wedding. Kurt had always bested Finn in matters of manners, much to Hudson's dismay.
Then looking down at Kurt, Finn smiled and asked, "Dude, have you gotten taller?"
"Yes, Finn," Kurt replied dryly, but with an amused smile. "You don't have to look so surprised." Finn laughed and showed Kurt out to the courtyard, where the girls were playing badminton and the boys were wrestling in the dirt, Blaine included. Kurt politely joined the girls, thank you very much, striking up an easy conversation with Mercedes as they played.
**88**
Things seemed fairly normal to Kurt, even when the wrestlers all retired together to the floor above to clean up. Afterward the king's companions went about their day, some returning to their studies and some to other pursuits, and Kurt finally met the much-discussed Holly Holliday.
"Good afternoon, Master Hummel!" Holly cried, taking his hand and shaking it vigorously. "It's great to meet you! Tell me, what did you study at your old school?"
"Everything," Kurt replied, "though I'm most fond of languages and art."
"Languages and art," Holly replied, smiling over her shoulder at Blaine and Rachel, who were sitting together at a long table, working. "I think I can build around that. Now, Will has told me about your end-goal here, and I've taken the past week to draw up a lesson plan of sorts. Would you like to go over it now?"
"I'd love to," Kurt beamed, never having had such personalized attention from a teacher before, even at the high-tuition Dalton Academy. It felt amazing.
**88**
Kurt was sort of surprised that his whole first day went by without any word from the king, but that didn't mean he wasn't grateful. As he lay in his bed that night, listening to the small sounds the others made, Kurt wondered if he would get used to being here. Everyone else in the South Wing seemed content and not ... traumatized or whatever Kurt thought he might find. He didn't feel close enough yet to any of his peers to ask them what it was like, being with the king while sober. He definitely didn't want to ask Finn. There were some things one should not know about his stepbrother.
Kurt wondered, too, if his dad was worried about him. Kurt could have said no. He could have turned down the king's offer and went on with his life. He could have held onto at least some of his youth, staying at home for another two years. He could still leave the palace and go home, but the lure of his promised reward was just too great for Kurt to even think about backing out until he knew, for sure, that he couldn't do this.
Maybe it wouldn't be all bad, either. Kurt could hear Mike and Tina making love quietly and earlier in the evening, he'd seen Santana and Brittany wrapped around each other like neither wanted to remember where she ended and the other began. If Kurt could find something like that here, even if Blaine was apparently off-limits, that might make everything else worth it.
Unable to sleep for more than a few minutes at a time, Kurt was awake when he heard someone pad across the large room toward the bathing pool that Kurt had been hoping to use, at least the first time, before everyone else woke up so he could retain at least a little privacy. A body splashed quietly into the always-warm water and Kurt heard what sounded like a soft, sobbing sigh. Maybe everything wasn't what it seemed?
Before Kurt could decide whether or not it was his responsibility to go ask what was wrong, another set of footsteps pounded across the ground, heavy, angry almost. A voice, Kurt thought it sounded like Puck's, hissed, "Where have you been?"
"I was with him," a second voice replied softly, and Kurt was pretty sure it was Blaine.
"Bullshit," Puck hissed, the water splashing noisily, like he'd hit it, or maybe he'd hit Blaine. Was that what Finn was trying to warn Kurt about earlier? "I know for a fact you weren't with him. You weren't taking the new kid for a spin either, so where were you?"
"Nowhere!" Blaine cried before lowering his voice and adding, "Working. I was working, Noah."
"Then why can't you look me in the eye?" Puck sneered. "Why did you jump in the tub right away? Where did you fucking go?"
After a few beats, the water splashed again and Blaine whispered angrily, "You're being paranoid, Noah, and you know it! You have no right to accuse me of anything, do you? I'm not yours."
"No, you're the king's," Puck replied, another splash following his words. "If you weren't up here and you weren't with him, we're all fucked, Blaine. Look, man, you're my boy, my best friend, okay? I don't want you getting into any shit you can't get back out of." After Blaine grunted a little in response, Puck sneered angry again, "Go sleep somewhere else, babe. I can't look at you anymore tonight."
After Puck padded away, Kurt could have sworn he heard a sharp, wracking breath from the pool, almost like Blaine was crying. Kurt's heart hurt for him and once again Kurt debated peeking out and offering some help, but again he was preempted by someone else.
After a patter of light footsteps and a cooing voice Kurt couldn't make out, Blaine left the water and followed the other footsteps past Kurt's bed. Ah, it must have been Rachel, if their destination and the rattling of her sequined curtains were enough to go by.
Kurt didn't fall asleep until almost sunrise.
I decided to post a little early, since I'm going to be busy tomorrow. So, how are you liking the 'verse so far? Kurt's interaction with Puck and the others? Thanks for reading and commenting!
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