Burt Hummel was uncomfortable because Burt Hummel was not used to standing for this long. But what choice did he have?
He stood toward the back of the crowd, watching as a pale boy was led offstage, having just been bought by one of those no-good people who always resold humans after he had tamed them. He sighed. He hated those people and he absolutely refused to do business with them. The servants he always saw at Sebastian's or Jesse's house always seemed broken and sad, and Burt had no doubt that at least a few of them had come from human ranches like the one that boy had just been sold to. Hopefully, he could stop that from happening to another boy. But Burt couldn't decide. He looked to his left where his second bond, Carole, was standing.
"What should I do?"
It was a very open-ended question, and Burt knew it, but he also knew that Carole would know what he was talking about. What should he do about the occation that would going to happen in about a week's time? What should he do about Kurt? Carole looked up at him, smiling softly. "You know, if we're here to get Kurt's 18th Birthday present, we might want to buy something..." she joked teasingly.
Burt sighed. He knew. He knew he had to get a human for Kurt's 18th birthday. Kurt had been pestering him about the idea of it for the past year, and hadn't stop talking about what exactly he wanted for the past month.
"McQueen's nice and all, Dad, but I want a boy! Please! Don't get me wrong, I love the scarves and the jackets, but I want a boy! It can't just be any boy though! He has to have a beautiful voice like me. And...and he can't be paler than me. Maybe he could be a little on the tan side? Oh, and no blonds. I want a boy with dark hair. But most of all, he has to be near my age, near my height, and he has to have an amazing voice. Please make sure he has a great voice Dad!"
…and…
"Come on dad! Finn has Rachel, or well had her before he changed her but really he got her at sixteen, and you got Karofsky a boy for his sixteenth birthday though I don't know why, but come on! I'm turning 18! I'll stop aging soon, and this birthday is a big one! You know it! Please! If I had a boy you wouldn't have to worry as much about me, and I wouldn't have to worry as much either because he'd protect me so make sure he's at least a little bit strong especially because he'd have to deal with Karofsky. Seriously – that guy creeps me out. And I know, I know, that he's the best warrior in your army but he just creeps me out! C'mon…"
….also…
"Daaaaaaaad! I know you think I've been annoying you nonstop for the past couple of weeks, because I have been, but if you got me a boy, I'd stop, or at least not do it as much! He'd keep me company and talk to me and be my friend! You know I need friends, Dad. And don't tell me to go be with Finn and Karofsky again. I need someone who'll take and interest in me and be my friend because we both know I need a friend…"
And so on.
"Maybe next year..." Burt muttered to both himself and Carole as he because to turn away from the stage and towards the back exit. He froze though, as he saw a boy get roughly pushed onstage. It took at moment for the boy to regain his balance and stand still, but once he did, Burt started to smile. "Actually, maybe we should wait for a little while longer." This was just too perfect. Just as he was about to leave this happened. His breath almost caught in his throat as he looked at the boy that had just come onstage. He was tan, and he had dark, curly hair. 5'8"? Kurt was 5'10". And he was 17. Oh, this was too good to be true. The best part of it was that he had found the boy here. Just like he thought he would. He knew he couldn't just get any boy for Kurt. No, the boy he got for his son would have to have a little bit of independence. Burt knew very well that he bought one of the lifeless robots that were sold at other places, more luxurious places, that whomever he bought would be walked – no, trampled – upon by Kurt. Just the thought made Burt smile. Yes, he loved his son's fierce streak, but yes, it meant that Burt would have to be pickier about his selection.
"He says his hobbies are singing..."
Burt looked at Carole with a small, hopeful smile. "What do you think? He could very well be the one we've been looking for. Physically he seems to fit the bill, and it says he likes to sing…"
She smiled back at Burt. "We know he likes to sing, but what about his voice? Just because he likes to sing doesn't mean he can."
"You may begin."
But thought as people started screaming around him. People were bidding a lot of money for this boy, and Burt knew why. He was fit – somewhat muscular, but not overly so, and Burt had a feeling that many men, like Kurt might be, were attracted to someone with the boy's attributes. He turned to Carole, and raised and eyebrow. "Shall we?"
"We shall."
Burt let the screaming go on for about thirty seconds, hearing the expensive prices being called out, and then spoke up. "Excuse me!" The crowd fell silent as they looked at the Clan leader in shock. People like Burt never bought from places like this, and even when they did, they usually sent someone else to make the bid. This made it easy to capture everyone's attention, and capture everyone's attention, he did. Even the auctioneer's eyes, who usually let the bidding go on until it the room was silent and no more prices were being called out, were on Burt, as well as Blaine's. The boy looked...scared? Happy? Nervous? A bit of all three? Hopefully he was more excited or curious than anything else. Burt had high hopes for this boy, and would be severely disappointed if the boy turned out to have a horrible voice. He turned slowly to the boy and spoke directly to him, something that was never done. "You said you liked to sing. Would you sing for me?"
"Sir-"
Burt turned to face the auctioneer. "I wasn't talking to you." He growled. Then, he turned back to face Blaine again. "Would you please sing a song for me?"
Silence. Then…
"Um...s-sure. What would you like me to sing, Sir?" Blaine stuttered. "Or...should I just start singing anything that comes into my head? I know a few songs."
"Anything you want, boy...just sing for me."
As Blaine opened his mouth to sing, Burt thought of how good this could be for Kurt. A boy to call his own and be friend's with. This boy's future relied on whether he could actually sing. When Blaine started to sing, Burt was sure that a bought friendship between Kurt and the boy…Blaine?...might actually work.
"You think that people would have had enough of silly love songs
But I look around me and I see it isn't so...oh no..."
"100,000 kisos," Burt called out. Not many people raised their eyebrows. Though the most that had been bid so far was 50,000 kisos and not many people he could bid much higher, everyone knew of the power and the wealth in the clans. Everyone also knew just how much all the clans liked showing it off too. There was no way anyone was going to top Burt's offer, and he knew it. After a moment, the auctioneer regained his voice.
"Um...anyone else? No? Going...going...gone...sold to Burt Hummel!"
The sound of a ringing bell that signaled a sell sounded, and then Blaine was dragged off the stage to make way for the next piece of meat that would be sold atop its wooden surface.
