Kurt looked around, taking in his new work environment, and shuddered.
Whoever had decorated Santa's Corner had gone all out, and then some. The backdrop looked like Santa's workshop, with Christmas stockings hanging from the roof, big double doors flanked by gingerbread men lit by led lights on a wire and plastic candy canes that towered over Kurt's head. There was a big sleigh filled with fake presents, a red and gold throne for Santa to sit on and a mini piano.
You'd think at that point the decorators would have run out of momentum, but you'd have been wrong. There were also Christmas trees all around Santa's Corner, with so many ornaments hanging in them that you could barely see their boughs anymore.
The perky shopping mall manager handed Kurt his work uniform, and he struggled not to let his horror show.
"My dads found us the PERFECT job for our Christmas break!" Rachel had said. "We get to perform together every day. It's going to be wonderful!"
Kurt looked at the set again and grimaced. He looked at the outfit he'd been given, and winced.
Perfect, my ass! What an attack on the senses! And that's before adding large quantities of loud whiny children…
But it was a job, meaning he'd have money to go Black Friday shopping, so he would just have to grin and bear it.
A few hours later, he was in his elf costume, singing about holly wreaths and mistletoe, and checking out the unexpectedly hot Santa. A replacement, because apparently, the usual Santa was ill.
Kurt wondered how the parents explained this way too young Santa to their children. He didn't even have a beard! What would they say? "Oh, Santa couldn't make it, so he sent his deputy." Or maybe they'd pretend this was Santa's son?
Kurt let his eyes rove over the crowd idly, and realised to his surprise that somebody was looking at him. No, looking him over, slowly, and with an expression that showed he liked what he saw.
It made Kurt smile for real, and sing with more gusto than before. He wasn't looking for a hook-up while he was in Lima for the holidays, but he wouldn't exclude it either, if an occasion presented itself.
"It's Santa's super sleieieieigh!" the trio of elves harmonised, ending the song on a high note, and a few people applauded.
Kurt sneaked another look at the cute curly-haired guy who'd been checking him out just now, and was just in time to see him running away.
Oh, would you look at that ass… I wish he'd hung around a while longer, though.
His smile sagged a little. It had been nice to be someone's centre of attention for a moment. The children only had eyes for Santa, of course. The moms only focussed on their children. And the dads ogled Santana and Rachel, and at best ignored Kurt. At worst, they threw him disgusted looks.
Mr Curly Cutie, though, had looked at Kurt as though he were the most delicious piece of cheesecake he'd ever seen. Santana had grinned and winked at Kurt, and even Rachel had noticed, ramming her elbow in Kurt's ribs and pointing her chin in his admirer's direction. If the guy had stayed until the end of the song, Kurt might have headed his way for a minute and let the girls hold the fort while he talked to him.
Unfortunately, the universe had other plans for him. But hey, maybe Mr Curly Cutie would be back one of these days? A guy could hope, right?
Rachel started The Twelve Gifts of Christmas, and Kurt chimed in on autopilot.
"Too bad about the cute hobbit," Santana murmured in his ear. "Not really your type, I know, but good enough to spend time with over Christmas break."
Rachel threw Santana a glare, and Santana rolled her eyes and started to sing, too.
Kurt was a bit taken aback by the comment about his 'type'. Yes, he had a tendency to crush on guys who were taller than him, and his only boyfriend so far had been blond. But Mr Curly Cutie was EVERYBODY's type, he was pretty sure. Yes, maybe a bit shorter than average, but classically handsome. That jawline! That smile! Those eyes! And he had muscles for days. Kurt could just imagine those thighs clamped around his back as he…
Oops, now Rachel was glaring at HIM. Well. She did have a point. He was at work. He'd keep the fantasies for tonight at bedtime.
Kurt straightened his back, plastered a big smile on his face and sang:
"On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A hammered aluminum nutcracker, and all that other stuff
And a Japanese transistor radio"
K&B
The second day, Mr Curly Cutie was back, but he left after barely a minute.
"Well, he's certainly gay," Santana remarked.
Kurt shot her a puzzled look.
"I winked at him, and that scared him off."
Kurt glared at Santana and swore under his breath.
"Language!" Rachel hissed, never missing a beat when she picked up the song again after admonishing him.
"Ring out these bells
Ring out, ring solstice bells
Ring solstice bells"
Kurt sighed and faced forward again with a fake smile, singing along.
Let's hope Santana hasn't scared off that cutie for good.
She hadn't, thankfully. The next day, Mr Curly Cutie arrived later than usual, towards the end of Kurt's shift, with two adorable little girls in tow, who squealed and clapped their hands when they spotted Santa.
Kurt saw Mr Curly Cutie wince at their loudness, and sympathised with him and all the parents waiting in the queue for Santa. Well, if the guy was a parent… He looked too young to have a six-year-old and a toddler, but what did Kurt know, right?
Mr Curly Cutie looked exhausted, but when his eyes found Kurt's, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. Kurt smiled back, a genuine smile this time, and sang a little louder.
Maybe the guy was single? He wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and he wouldn't be checking Kurt out and beaming at him if he were in a relationship, would he? Yep, probably a single parent. Hmm, not ideal, but hardly a deal-breaker. The girls were adorable, and quite well-behaved.
Two carols later, it was their turn to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas, and now, they seemed a little less enthusiastic. The toddler hid behind Mr Curly Cutie's leg, and even the six-year-old made no move to get closer to Santa, in spite of their father's coaxing.
In the end, Mr Curly Cutie sat down on Santa's lap himself, holding the toddler and keeping his arm around the older girl. Now, they chatted with Santa happily enough, and then skipped off as fast as they could, their father in hot pursuit.
Kurt chuckled.
"Focus, Kurt!" Rachel hissed, and Kurt dutifully stopped following the cute trio with his eyes.
Too bad he didn't stay a little longer. We're off duty in twenty minutes. Ah well… Maybe he'll be back tomorrow?
K&B
The next day was full of disasters.
Kurt's car wouldn't start when he wanted to drive to the mall, and he had to ask Finn to bring him. Then, when Finn drove away again, he accidentally drove into a big puddle, splashing icy murky water all over Kurt, which ruined his clothes, soaking through all of his layers. Kurt ran to the mall quickly, shivering, and changed into his elf costume, knowing that he had no other choice than to keep the costume on until he would be home again.
To top things off, Kurt saw hide nor hair of Mr Curly Cutie during his shift, and afterwards, he stood in the cold parking lot, freezing his butt off for ten minutes waiting for Finn, who didn't arrive to pick him up from the mall. When he called him, he got his voice mail. Of course. It was going to be one of those days, clearly.
He decided to call his dad instead, and go back into the mall to warm up. Then his eye fell on the Starbucks sign beckoning him, and he grinned. A mocha was just what he needed right now as a pick-me-up, and maybe a sugary snack.
He stepped inside and let the heat and the delicious smells wash over him, rubbing his hands to get them warm again.
The coffee shop seemed deserted, but Kurt could hear someone humming behind the counter. He followed the sound and was treated to a delectable sight. The barista was bending over to take a tray out of the oven, and in doing so presented a very nice butt.
Yum! And the cookies smell good, too.
Kurt placed his order, and then got a happy surprise when the barista turned around and proved to be none other than Mr Curly Cutie!
Well… Perhaps his luck had turned…
Mr Curly Cutie smiled widely at Kurt, and asked for his name, although there was no-one else about.
Kurt played it coyly, not wanting to seem too eager, but relented when Mr Curly Cutie slayed him with a puppy-eyed pout.
Before Kurt knew it, he'd gotten a free mocha and cookie, plus a date! Oh yes, this day was certainly looking up!
Kurt bit into the cookie and moaned. Oh, this was good! In two bites, the sugary treat was gone, and Kurt chased every stray crumb on his plate.
Nearly an hour later, Kurt and the cute barista, whose name was Blaine, were discussing the latest episode of Hoarders when Kurt's phone rang.
It was Finn, who'd finally remembered he was supposed to pick up Kurt at the mall. "Where are you, dude? I can't see you anywhere on the parking lot."
"Finn, you're over an HOUR late! Why would I still be standing in the parking lot waiting for you? I'm in the Starbucks just opposite the mall. Stay where you are, and I'll be right there!"
"Okay. Sorry, dude, I forgot."
"I figured," Kurt snapped, and hung up on Finn.
He stood up with a sigh, and said to Blaine, "Well, my brother is here, so I have to go, I'm afraid. But this was fun. Could I… maybe get your phone number so that we can meet up again?"
Blaine beamed at him, and quickly swapped phones with Kurt to type in his digits.
Kurt left with a lingering look and a wave, and then hurried to the parking lot to ream out his idiot brother. When he saw Finn's sheepish look, though, he swallowed what he was going to say and just got into the car without any comment. After all, if not for Finn's negligence, he wouldn't have met Blaine, and scored his phone number and a date.
"Sorry…" Finn said again, and then pledged, "I won't forget again."
Kurt huffed. "Just get us home, okay?"
His phone dinged, and Kurt smiled when he saw the message.
From: Blaine
Same time, same place tomorrow?