A/N: I really should be banned from starting new ideas but I get them, I can't help but to write them! I think I'm going to try and start making myself work on one story at a time after this. Things will be updated, but probably sporadically. I'm going to try my hardest to not get anything else new going with the exception of collaborations I'm working on with other people. :) So, you have a choice when you finish reading this. I can turn it into a chapter story or I can leave it as is and let it stand alone as a one-shot, although there really isn't any romantic stuff in it yet. That would have moved too fast but it does imply Klaine at the end. :) So, up to you guys! Just read it first. This idea popped into my head while reading a different story with a completely different plot and in no way similar to this at all, which I'm still trying to figure out how that happened. So, I had to get it down. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Woe is me because I do not own Glee. But if I did, Kurt doing this would be so pretty! And you'll see how my bad poetry, means I do no own Glee.
"Blaine!" The curly-haired boy looked up in surprise as the door to his room banged open and it was all he could do to keep from being tackled by the wonder twins. He moved swiftly to the side as his friends Jeff Sterling and Nick Duval went crashing to his bed. "Awwww," Jeff pouted as he noticed Blaine standing easily beside the now vacated bed.
His roommate Wes Montgomery rolled his eyes, sighed, and set his history book down on the bed in front of him, folding his arms across his chest.
"Do you boys mind telling Blaine and I why you had to barge into our room in excited nature?" Wes stated in a rather irritated voice.
Jeff and Nick glanced at each other, wide grins spread across their faces. They looked like children in a candy story.
"The McKinley Big Top Circus is in town!" they both shouted together.
Wes rolled his eyes again. "So?"
Jeff's mouth dropped open. "So? Wes, we have to go! Tonight!"
Blaine looked over at Wes, his eyes kind of wide and curious and there was no denying the slight pleading in his expression. Wes frowned. "Don't tell me you really want to go Blaine?"
It was the dapper boy's turn to roll his eyes. "Come on Wes. We just came off a win at Sectionals. We could use a night of fun."
For a moment, the Asian boy just sat there thinking to himself. Jeff, Nick, and Blaine were all staring at him hopefully, begging with their eyes for him to give in. Though chances were, even if he didn't give in, the three of them would just go by themselves anyway.
Another sigh finally broke from Wes' mouth. "Fine," he resigned, throwing his hands up in the air. "Just don't make us look stupid," he added, glaring pointedly at Jeff and Nick.
The blonde boy exchanged a look with his brunette partner in crime and they both mocked offense, placing their hands to their chests and dropping their mouths open. "Us? Make you look stupid? Never! Wes, you need to have more faith in your friends!" Wes rolled his eyes. Damn wonder twins. Sometimes he wondered if they weren't real twins who had been separated at birth. But Jeff and Nick were madly in love with each other, even if they claimed just to be best friends.
Half an hour later, Wes and Blaine found themselves standing with Nick, Jeff, Thad, Trent, and David in front of the entrance to the McKinley Big Top tent. They stared in wonder at the large red and white striped tent. You'd think none of them had ever been to a circus before. Jeff and Nick were jumping up and down excitedly as they joined the queue of families and other kids and teens spilling into the mouth of the tent, taking seats for the show. Wes had bought the tickets and held them for everyone, refusing to let either of the wonder twins get their hands on them, knowing they would surely lose them easily in all their excitement.
They entered the tent and Wes rolled his eyes at the boys. "Honestly, are you two sure you're not five?" The wonder twins frowned at him and both pouted.
The group of Dalton Academy boys made their way to seats in the front row, which after much protesting from the wonder twins, were deemed the only place to sit when you go to a circus as awesome as the McKinley Big Top.
The McKinley Big Top Circus was world famous. The majority of it acts were teenagers who were all high school age. They joined the circus at the age of fourteen or fifteen, but only if they had background training in any of the aspects of a circus life and left when they were seventeen or eighteen. Just like four years of high school. In a way, you could call it high school for gifted kids. There was staff on board that actually did teach the teenagers the things they were expected to learn so the performers got an education. But few of the adults involved with the McKinley Big Top were actual performers.
In a sense, the McKinley Big Top Circus was one of the most unique circuses in the world. Most of the teens that spent their high school careers as performers in McKinley Big Top went on to make household name successes of themselves.
Jeff and Nick were still bouncing excitedly when the lights seemed to dim and a spotlight broke in the center ring. The squealed and jumped so high that Jeff's popcorn flew out of the carton and hit Wes in the face.
"Watch it would you?" Wes spat. He was beginning to wish he'd brought his gavel. Jeff ignored him and Blaine clapped a hand to his mouth to keep from laughing at him.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" came a voice. The wonder twins squealed again. All eyes went to the center ring where a man in a sparkling red tail coat and gleaming black vest and matching pant stood, a headset on his head, capped off with a stunning red sparkling top hat. "Boys and girls, I am your ringmaster, Ringmaster Schue! And I would like to welcome you to the McKinley Big Top Circus!"
The audience erupted into cheers. Wes looked unfazed. In fact, he looked positively bored. He yawned and Blaine frowned at him, shaking his head. David nudged him.
"And now, if you will direct your attention to the right-hand ring, I'd like to start us off with the bareback skills of Rachel Berry!" the ringmaster went on. The spotlight fell on him and illuminated on the right-hand ring, where a particularly petite brunette girl was galloping into view on the back of a horse.
"Bareback riding? What's so impressive about that?" Wes asked, rolling his eyes. Just than, something hit him in the face and the next thing the Asian boy knew, water was dripping down his cheek. He blinked and looked only to find a clown with a weird fro on its head snickering, a squirting flower in his hand. Wes felt his face heat up and it didn't help that both Blaine and David had broken out into laughter.
"Geez Wes, lighten up!" Blaine choked between chuckles. People were ohing and awing at the girl riding bareback who was probably doing some rather impressive looking tricks. Wes fell into a more irritated mood and turned his eyes away from the action.
And that was how the Asian boy stayed.
Blaine found himself thoroughly entertained though. He had a funny interaction with an extremely tall clown who pretended to be clueless. The clown had stuffed football that he kept hiding behind his back or putting in Blaine's lap or even on top of his head and than was acting as though he didn't know where it was.
"You gave it to Blaine!" the wonder twins shouted with giggles.
The clown pointed at Blaine and they squealed louder. Blaine couldn't help but laugh. He held out the stuffed football. The clown nodded, turned his head and pointed. This confused Blaine.
Within seconds, the ringmaster had come over, this being well into the show and many of the acts having gone already. The spotlight hit Blaine and the dapper boy blinked. "Well, hello there, it seems Frankenteen has elected you," the ringmaster said cheerfully. Blaine was confused.
"Sorry? Elected me?"
"Tell me, what's your name son?"
"Um, Blaine." Blaine was still confused and he could feel all eyes on him, including his friends. The wonder twins were dead silent for once.
"Blaine, are you afraid of anything?" That was a peculiar question.
"Um…no?" Blaine said.
"Are you interested in being a brave volunteer? Frankenteen obviously thinks you're perfect!"
Blaine still didn't know where this was going. He could hear Jeff and Nick prodding him to go ahead and do it. So, he figured, what harm could it do?
"Sure," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Excellent!" the ringmaster said. He held a hand out for Blaine and Frankenteen clapped excitedly. Blaine took the hand Ringmaster Schue offered to him. The man led him out into the center ring. "Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Blaine has consented to volunteer for a very brave feat that will mark both the end of our show and the end of the next act." Just than, Frankenteen and a floppy blonde headed clown took Blaine's arms and started leading him off. "While Frankenteen and Trout take Blaine off for preparations, feast your eyes to the sky folks and enjoy the wonders of the Flying Cheerios!"
Spotlights lit up the top of the tent showing a mass of girls and a few guys clad in glimmering red and white body suits. The aerialists. Blaine found his eyes staring up at them even as he was being pulled into a back area where the tall clown seemed to size some sort of outfit up and handed it to him with a helmet.
"You said you were brave right?" Blaine was taken aback. The clown had spoken and the curly-haired boy had forgotten that he didn't need to be in character anymore. He nodded. "Brave enough to allow yourself to be shot out of a cannon with no net?" he asked.
Blaine stared at him. "What? I don't have that kind of training!" he shouted loud. The clown laughed.
"Don't worry dude. My brother's going to catch you." Blaine stared again. "My name's Finn by the way. My real name." He patted Blaine's shoulder. "My brother is an aerialist, their star actually. Put that on and go watch. I promise you won't want to back out." The clown winked and walked off.
Blaine still wasn't sure what was going on. They intended to shoot someone with no training out of a cannon and an aerialist was going to catch him? For a moment, the dapper boy contemplated running after the clown – or Finn as he'd said his name was – and pulling out of it. But than he thought he'd feel guilty and his friends would never let him live it down if he did that.
So, sighing heavily, Blaine put the costume on, and was surprised to find that it fit. He tucked the helmet under his arm and approached the opening to the tent rings, raising his eyes up.
Girls and guys were flying through the air, jumping from one trapeze to another, catching on each other's hands. Blaine watched as a blonde girl pushed off the platform on the swinging bar, swung back and forth a few times for height and precision, than let go, pushing herself to flip through the air and catching the hands of another girl with dark hair who was hanging upside down from a second swinging trapeze. Blaine had never seen a girl play the part of the catcher. But if that wasn't enough, what he saw next was even more impressive.
As another blonde girl, one with shorter hair than the first left the platform on the swinging bar, the first one flipped her legs up to press her feet into the dark haired girls shoulders than let go of her hands. The dark haired girl caught her by the ankles as she dropped. It was at that moment, the blonde who'd just swung from the platform somersaulted off the bar and the first blonde caught her hands so they were now hanging three down!
A boy caught the empty bar and carefully swung it back out. The first blonde threw the second with force and she flew back through the air, twisting slightly and catching easily to the swinging bar and swinging back to the safety of the platform.
This action was followed by the first blonde swinging back up to catch her hands once more to the dark haired girl's and than the dark haired girl throwing her back through the air. She too, caught the bar easily and swung back to safety. The dark haired girl than pulled herself up so that she was merely sitting on the bar.
There was a strike of music and a brighter spotlight shined directly between the two platforms, which were over the center ring. Blaine narrowed his eyes, wondering how this could get anymore amazing.
A long white strip of cloth unraveled out of nowhere in the center of the spotlight and Blaine was surprised to see there was a tall slender boy hanging from it. Even from far away, Blaine was captivated. The boy was wearing tight red leggings and a white form fitting t-shirt. His skin was pale and smooth as milk. His perfectly coifed chestnut hair seemed to shine in the spotlight. But it was nothing compared to the shine of his eyes. They were so piercingly beautiful that Blaine could see them from where he stood. And then he heard the ringmaster's voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I give you, the heart and star of the McKinley Big Top aerial team, Kurt Hummel!"
Kurt.
Blaine instantly thought that was the most beautiful name he had ever heard in his life. His eyes were glued to the boy as he performed death-defying feats on that ribbon cloth. Entangling himself by one ankle and gracefully hanging out. Sticking his legs straight out to the side while clinging to the ribbon by the wraps around his wrists. His feet gracefully pointed, his moves and elegancy like a swan and easily executed. Blaine watched in pure captivation as he performed trick after trick flawlessly.
And then came a frightening moment. Kurt wrapped his body in the cloth and allowed himself to just tumble right down the long length of ribbon until he could gracefully place his feet on the floor. Blaine's heart stopped. A drop like that would kill someone who wasn't professionally trained. And yet he had a feeling that no one else who was would dare try anything like that.
The crowd applauded a bar began to lower from the ceiling, one identical to the trapeze bars. Kurt smiled and waved and blew kisses. And than for a moment, his eyes locked on Blaine's and the two boys just stared. A soft smile graced the pale boy's face as he slid easily onto the bar, which was now rising again to the ceiling.
A hand fell onto his shoulder and Blaine jumped, only to see the tall clown.
"This is it dude. You ready?"
It was than that Blaine noted the cannon. The massive barrel gun was being rolled out into the right-hand ring. Blaine could now see in the distance that Kurt was on the other side of the tent, stretching his legs and swinging down from the bar so that he was hanging upside down just like the dark haired girl had been earlier.
He was going to be shot clear across the tent with no net? Blaine gulped. But he had to do this.
"Come on man," said a voice from his other side and Blaine looked to see the boy who had been playing with the lions and tigers earlier. The Mohawk on the boy's head sent a slight shudder through Blaine's body.
The ringmaster was speaking again. "And now folks, the grand finale of our show. May I have our brave volunteer?" The Mohawk boy and clown gave him a shove and Blaine stumbled out toward the cannon and the ringmaster, helmet still held under his arm.
Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his friends watching with anticipation and was that fear in Wes' eyes. Jeff and Nick just looked excited though.
"Nervous Blaine?" the ringmaster said. And strangely, Blaine found that he wasn't. "Have you ever been shot out of a cannon before?" Blaine shook his head. "Well, first time for everything. Let's just pray it's on its mark tonight."
"Wha-what?" Blaine stuttered. He could just make out Kurt swinging upside down on the far side of the tent. The ringmaster chuckled.
"You see Blaine, our cannon has been a little sick lately. She's been a spit fire and shooting off aim." Blaine swallowed hard and tried to tell himself this was just for effect. "Still, Kurt never fails," he said and the curly-haired boy found himself glancing toward Kurt. "If the cannon messes up, he'll save you anyway," he added.
Silence fell as a rolling stairway was wheeled out to the front of the cannon. Ringmaster Schue led Blaine around to it and nodded for him to climb to the top, which Blaine did, trying to keep his nerves down.
"You all right up there Blaine?" the ringmaster asked when Blaine was at the top and facing down the barrel of the cannon. He nodded. "Good. Now would be a good time to put that helmet on!"
Blaine could mentally hit himself in the head. He'd almost forgotten about the helmet. He nodded and slipped it on.
"Now Blaine, go ahead and climb feet first into the cannon." Blaine hesitated only a moment but gripped the top of the barrel with his hands and hoisted his feet up so he could slide them in. As he was sitting in the mouth the wheeling stairs were pulled away. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself into the cannon and allowed himself to slide down.
There were a few tense moments of silence and than the ringmaster's voice rang out.
"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, I know you must be frightened for Blaine's safety. He has no prior training or experience and yet, we are shooting him out of a cannon. He's very brave volunteer. I know you must be wondering how is he going to get out of this unscathed? Well, our performers are professionals and they know what they're doing." He paused and Blaine could just imagine the anticipation he was building in the audience. "If I can direct your attention for a moment while the cannon is set for fire, to the other side of the tent. That is Kurt swinging from that bar over there. As I've already said, Kurt is McKinley's current star aerialist. He has never had an accident and never had a trick go wrong. And he never misses. In a moment, our volunteer, Blaine, will be shot out of that cannon. If all goes well, he will be projected across the tent to the other side, where Kurt will hopefully catch him."
Blaine heard the collective gasp of the audience but the only thing he was registering now was the fact that Kurt was going to attempt to catch him. What had the clown said? His brother was going to catch him? So Kurt was the clown's brother?
There wasn't much time to dwell on that thought because a sound that was not unlike the crackling of a lit fuse suddenly met his ears.
"Here we go ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls!" he heard Ringmaster Schue say. Blaine held his breath. He could feel his heart literally beating out of his chest. There was no backing out now. "Count back with me from ten!"
The crowd's voices picked up and Blaine could swear he could hear Nick and Jeff above everyone else. "Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…" Blaine squeezed his eyes shut tight. "Five…four…three…two…" This was it. God please save him. "One!"
That last number rang out and the precise moment Blaine heard a blast and then he felt himself moving up the barrel of the cannon at what felt like light speed! A puff of smoke surrounded him as he caught a glimpse of the crowd and the tent as his body was shot out into the air.
Milliseconds of blurred vision passed by the helmet and the next thing Blaine knew, soft hands had closed themselves firmly around his wrists and he found himself dangling.
Wait…dangling? Blaine craned his head up only to see that Kurt was smiling down at him. "I got you. It's okay," the boy whispered and Blaine felt something flutter in his chest at the sound of his voice. It was like pure music. But most of all, Kurt was even more incredibly beautiful up close. Blaine could now see just how flawless his complexion was. He could see the swirls of green and gray mixed in with the blue of his eyes. He could feel his strong muscles tensing in his arms as he held Blaine firmly by the wrists.
Blaine was so mesmerized by the boy who had caught him that it took him what seemed like a whole minute to realize that crowd had erupted in cheers and applause. He could swear he heard Nick and Jeff cat-calling.
"Damn wonder twins," Blaine muttered. Kurt frowned down at him for a moment.
"Sorry?" he asked. It was only than that Blaine realized he'd spoken around.
"N-nothing," he stammered. "Just my immature friends." Kurt smiled at him.
"Hang tight okay?" Kurt said, giving his head a nod. It was then that Blaine realized a nice big airbag was being set up just beneath them. "You're not used to this so a net probably wouldn't feel too good to land in," Kurt said. Blaine was slightly confused. "So they're setting up an airbag instead. It should be more comfortable." It took Blaine all of the next thirty seconds to realize what he was saying.
"Y-you're going to drop m-me?" he stuttered in surprise. Kurt graced him with a gentle smile.
"How else do you think you'll get down?" he asked. Blaine realized he was right. There were no other means for him to get down from hanging by the wrists high in the air. "I'm Kurt," the boy said than, still smiling at him.
Blaine couldn't help but smile back. "Blaine," he said.
"It's nice to meet you Blaine. Thank you for being so brave." Blaine flushed deeply an action he didn't miss was replicated by Kurt. God his cheeks looked so damn perfect broken in pink color. "Here we go. I'll see you backstage."
Blaine had just enough time to wonder what he meant when he suddenly felt Kurt's hands release him and than he was falling. Falling down, down, down…until he plummeted into the softness of the airbag that had been waiting for him.
"Audience, big round of applause for our brave volunteer!" the ringmaster called. More cheers rang out as Blaine found the Mohawk guy helping him out of the airbag. His eyes rose up in time to see Kurt pull himself up on the bar. He caught another one that was swung out toward him and Blaine watched as he gracefully swung to the platform where that dark haired girl was now standing. Both of them than began making their way down a ladder.
Blaine felt himself being pulled along and he couldn't help but grin at his friends as he passed. Of course they would lead him back to the back area. His clothes were still there.
"And that's a wrap for the McKinley Big Top Circus! Thank you all for coming out and have a pleasant night!" the ringmaster called.
Blaine was just pulling off the helmet and gathering his clothes to change when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around to see Kurt standing there, smiling at him. Blaine couldn't help but smile back.
"Congratulations," Kurt said.
"For what?" Blaine asked a little bit puzzled. Kurt smiled wider.
"For being so brave. You're the first volunteer who actually went through with it!" Blaine found himself staring at him in shock for a moment.
"I…what?"
Kurt sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Every show, my brother picks someone out who he thinks might have guts. And every show, they all claim they do until the find out what it is they're doing. No one is crazy enough to get into a cannon without circus training or experience. Most of them care more for their physical well being than their reputations with their friends." Blaine bit his lip.
"Actually, I was thinking that the wonder twins wouldn't shut up about it and annoy the hell out of me, not that my friend would tease me. They're always saying I'm too polite to try anything with a real risk, after I ran away from my problems. So, I thought I'd prove them wrong." Kurt frowned.
"Ran away from your problems?"
Blaine sighed. "I go to Dalton Academy. It's a zero tolerance no-bullying policy boys' private school. We're all treated equally there. I transferred after being beat up pretty bad because of my sexuality," he said, voice not even wavering. "But I'm still proud to be me."
Kurt furrowed his brow for a moment. "I'm gay too," he said softly. Blaine could hardly believe his luck. "And even though our circus is a family, I still get bullied just like you did," he went on.
"I'm sorry Kurt." The other boy graced him with a soft smile. "Hey," Blaine suddenly asked. "If I'm the first volunteer to go through with it, how have you been performing the stunt?"
Kurt turned his head and nodded to the longhaired blonde Blaine recognized from the aerial act.
"Brittany usually plays my cannon ball. She's a daft in the head but very brave," he said, smiling fondly at the girl. It was than that Blaine realized he was being surrounded by a bunch of the performers.
"So, human cannonball," the dark haired girl from the aerial act said. "We have a proposition for you in honor of you being the first seriously brave volunteer."
For a moment, Blaine just looked at her. Why would they have a proposition? His eyes went back to Kurt who smiled at him and reached out to grab a hold of his hand. Blaine felt sparks travel up his arm at the feel of Kurt's soft hand in his.
"Proposition?" he asked. The kids around him looked at each other and it was the tall clown – Finn, Blaine reminded himself – that answered.
"We…want to invite you to join McKinley Big Top."
Well, that certainly hadn't been expected and it sent Blaine's mind reeling. He liked Dalton. He liked his friends. But if he said no and turned around and walked out of there to go back to his life, he might never see Kurt again. And even though he had only just met the beautiful boy that night, he was already feeling that he couldn't bare the thought of not having him in his life. This should have been a tough decision, but within a few moments and the locking of his eyes with Kurt's, Blaine had made up his mind.
"I'd love to."
A/N: So there it is guys! This is where you come in! Let me know in your lovely reviews. Should I leave it as a one-shot? Or would you like it to branch into a chapter story with Blaine joining the McKinley Big Top Circus and him and Kurt falling in love as they travel the world performing for audiences everywhere? I promise there will be much adventure and I can change the category to Romance/Adventure than. :) Reviews make me smile! Let me know what you think!