The following day Kurt had breakfast in the dining room again and waited for Sam to seat him.
"How did it go last night?" Sam asked casually as he poured apple juice into a champagne glass.
"Very good," Kurt said trying to keep his timer out of view. "Do you know where this is?" he asked pulling out the slip of paper he'd gotten last night.
Sam put down his notepad on the table and read the address. "Yeah, it's maybe a half-hour from here. Can't get there walking since the only road that passes there goes through the mountains. You're going to need a car unless you've got yourself a driver."
"Thanks," Kurt said taking the slip of paper from Sam's hand.
Kurt went back to his breakfast and an hour later he was at the front desk requesting a car so he could be taken to the nearest auto dealership.
All the cars in the dealer were of the latest model. One in particular caught Kurt's eye. A sleek, gray convertible for two. The salesman attending him led him to it and let Kurt inside it. Kurt had taken driving lessons during school when for a short time he considered being a delivery man. As he got comfortable in the car he asked how much it cost.
"Fifty-nine years."
"Fifty-nine years," Kurt repeated placing his hands on the steering wheel.
"Plus tax," the salesman added.
Kurt looked up at the man before turning back to the front of the car. It was really nice, but fifty-nine years? Plus tax he reminded himself. He let out a deep sigh, finally giving in. He needed a car to get around New Greenich he couldn't walk everywhere and there were no buses here.
He held out his wrist to the salesman who placed a Time Holder on top of it. A moment later he removed it before smiling, "The price includes delivery."
"Delivery?" Kurt asked confused.
"For wherever you're going to display it," the salesman replied.
"Display it?" he asked before scoffing. "Hell, I'm going to drive it."
"Very well then, I'll go get your keys," the salesman said before going inside and coming back later with a pair of keys.
Kurt turned on the engine before driving away from the dealer. It took him a while to get a hold of driving, but thankfully the streets of New Greenich weren't too packed. He drove around the city for a while before going back to Piacci Uomo. He picked another black sleek suit, adding a skinny black tie to the white sleeved shirt underneath. He finished the look with a pair of black leather dressing shoes.
He didn't think of himself lucky, he thought to himself as he got dressed back in his hotel that afternoon. He knew he'd met Jesse for a reason. Or else why would Jesse have given him his time? This was fate, he realized. He needed to make a change. Meeting Mr. Anderson was just another sign that he was heading in the right direction.
He wasn't sure at what time the party would start, so he left at six in the afternoon. The car came with a installed GPS which helped him find the place. He seemed to be the only one on the road that night so he drove exceeding the speed limit with the ocean on his right.
He pulled up to an enormous mansion, probably bigger than the casino he'd been in last night. Mr. Anderson was definitely loaded. He pulled up to the round driveway which was full of cars. A valet took his car after he stepped out. He glanced around at the people that were arriving as well, thankful he wasn't late or anything.
Mr. Anderson's mansion was made entirely of white marble and crystal. At least, he was sure the chandeliers hanging above were crystal. The next thing he noticed was the amount of guards. There were two at the front door, and when he stepped into grand foyer with a double staircase the first person he saw was Blaine. He was wearing a burgundy suit, with black dressing shoes and a black satin bow tie. As he walked up to him, Kurt wondered if Blaine wore bow ties with everything.
Kurt smiled at him and the two other women standing next to him. He then noticed Mr. Anderson standing on the right.
"Kurt Hummel," Mr. Anderson said smiling, "allow me to introduce my mother in law, Clara." He nodded at a woman with short brown hair in a gold dress. The woman in the middle had long dark curly hair and was wearing a white gown. "My wife, Michelle, and my son, Blaine. I believe you two have already met."
Blaine's eyebrows went up and Kurt could tell he was trying hard not to smile.
"Nice to meet you all," Kurt said glancing at the two women before looking back at Blaine.
They looked at one another until Mr. Anderson spoke again and Blaine looked away. "I'll come find you later for our game."
"I look forward to it." With one last glance at Blaine, Kurt walked past the foyer towards the ballroom.
The place was full of people, women in elegant dresses and the men in their best suits. He wasn't exactly sure of what to do next so he picked up a flute full of champagne and walked around with it.
He eventually found the dining room area and walked to the table in the middle. Most of the dishes on the table he'd never heard of or seen before. He walked up to a particular one, made of tiny black balls. He picked up a small spoonful before cautiously bringing it up to his nose. It smelled like the ocean he'd driven by earlier. Best not risk it, he thought as he put down the spoon. He turned his back on the table and was about to leave when someone spoke behind him.
"Having fun, Mr. Hummel?"
Kurt turned around to face Blaine standing on the side of the table with a smile on his face. Kurt nearly smiled back before he glanced back at the guard standing a few inches behind Blaine.
Pressing his lips tightly, he looked down before looking up. "Please, call me Kurt."
Blaine nodded at him, before turning his head to his right, "It's all right, Thad."
The bodyguard, Thad, seemed to hesitate before Blaine turned to face him and nod, then did he leave. Kurt watched him leave the dining room before facing Blaine.
"Do you always have a hired hand standing next to you?" Kurt asked curiously in a small voice.
"No, I usually have two," Blaine responded with a small smile.
Kurt made his way around the table, walking to where Blaine was on the other side. "It doesn't make it very easy to get to know you."
"I think that's the idea."
"Your idea?"
"My father's," Blaine finally responded before looking down.
"I understand," Kurt responded slowly picking up a cookie and putting it back on the tray. "You all have a lot to lose," he said looking around the room.
"So do you." Kurt looked at Blaine who was taking a few steps back, his eyes narrowing in his direction, "What do you do, Kurt?"
"I haven't quite figured that out yet," he answered distractedly as he watched a caterer pass by him.
Blaine faced the table as he said in a bored voice, "Yes, why bother? What's the hurry?"
"Right. Why do today what you can do in a century?" Kurt asked coldly, trying hard not to get angry right then.
Blaine seemed to not notice anything wrong since he took a few steps closer to him. "I know one thing we can do," he said looking up at him. Kurt met his gaze before Blaine glanced to his right. "Dance with me."
Kurt took a step back. "I don't dance."
"It's easy." Blaine said before taking his hand and walking him to the ballroom.
There were six couples dancing slowly to the music coming from the live orchestra. Kurt knew this was one way to attract attention, but then he noticed a female couple dancing a few feet away and relaxed. Maybe they really didn't care in New Greenich if you were gay.
"Place your right hand just below my back shoulder blade," Blaine instructed moving his hand.
Kurt tensed at how close he was to Blaine. It wasn't because Blaine was a man and he found him attractive, he'd been with a man before. Dancing, however, in front a crowd seemed much more intimate to Kurt than anything he'd ever done before. Blaine rested his own left arm on Kurt's right upper arm before taking hold of his left hand.
"And now we dance," Blaine said softly before moving them to the rhythm of the music playing.
Kurt decided he'd rather look into Blaine's eyes than around the room and see if anyone was giving them dirty looks.
They danced in silence for a moment until Blaine asked, "Do you really come from time?"
Kurt wanted to laugh, was it that noticeable? He nodded. "Why would you doubt that?"
Blaine shrugged. "I saw you run. Reminds me of people that come from the ghetto." Kurt finally looked away and instead focused on the way their foot were moving. "Sometimes I envy them," Blaine whispered.
Kurt looked up again and met his gaze. He was getting really tired of the way the rich talked about the poor and the ghetto, as if they had any idea what really went on. He looked away to the other side of the room and saw Mr. Anderson with his wife looking at them.
"You don't know anything."
"Oh, no?" Blaine asked daringly. "The clock is good for no one." When he didn't say anything Blaine continued. "The poor die and the rich don't live. We can all live forever so long as we don't do anything foolish. Doesn't that scare you? That maybe you'll never do anything foolish or courageous or anything worth a damn?"
Kurt looked at Blaine's eyes and saw how sincere he was being. It wasn't his fault, he thought. He stopped dancing and Blaine let go of him. He turned his gaze away from Blaine's eyes to his left where an open door led outside into the night.
"Come with me," he said taking hold of Blaine's wrist and pulling him towards the door.
When they stepped outside he thought one of Blaine's guard would come, but no one followed them. Blaine turned to look back as if he was expecting the same thing. He continued walking reaching some stairs which he saw led towards the ocean. He paused for a moment before pulling Blaine as he walked down the stairs.
Sebastian walked quickly to the surveillance room where he saw Nick and Jeff standing in front of a computer screen. When he reached it he saw footage of Kurt in a fancy sport car riding up a giant mansion.
"This was tonight," Nick told him looking down at the screen.
"He's only an hour ahead of us," he said before walking away.
Nick and Jeff began to follow him. "How many of us should go?"
"You two. Might as well bring four more," Sebastian said after an afterthought. "It's only one man."
The stairs led all the way to the beach.
"Look at that. I've never seen anything like it," Kurt said looking at the waves hitting against the rocks to his left. He let out a small laugh before he began to remove his shoes. His suit coat followed next.
"What are you doing?" Blaine asked confused. Kurt didn't say anything as he began to unbutton his shirt. "We don't go in! You're insane."
Kurt only grinned at him before taking off his shirt and letting it fall on the sand. "You have this in your back yard, you never go in, and I'm insane?" He began taking a few steps forward as he worked the button and zipper of his pants. He pulled down his pants along with his boxers and swore he could see Blaine blush in the moonlight. "Well? What are you waiting for?" He asked as he stepped out of them, before running to the ocean.
The water was surprisingly not that cold. Not warm enough to keep his body heated, but not cold enough that his body was freezing. Blaine was still staring at him from where he'd taken off his shirt. "Blaine, come on! What happened to doing something foolish?" he yelled at him.
He watched as an internal fight went inside Blaine's head before he began to remove his coat. Kurt grinned as he watched him remove his clothes before he finally jumped in the water.
"It's cold!" Blaine gasped.
"Just dive in and you'll get used to it," he said before he submerged himself underneath a tide. When he came back he saw Blaine shaking his head. "You do know how to swim right?" Blaine nodded in his direction. "Good," he said playfully before splashing some water in his direction and going deeper into the ocean.
"Hey!" Blaine called out before swimming right behind him.
For a moment the rest of world was forgotten as they swam deeper into the ocean where the tide was low. The only light they had was the one from their timers and the moon. Kurt stopped swimming when he neared a giant rock. Blaine nearly bumped into him. Kurt's heart began to beat faster at the sight of Blaine. Blaine on the other hand was breathing deeply and let the water rock him closer to Kurt. Biting his lower lip Kurt reached out for Blaine, who gasped when their hands touched underneath the water. Their faces were so close now and Kurt could see tiny drops of water stuck on Blaine's eyelashes. Kurt leaned in and their noses touched. He was about to lean in further when Blaine pulled away.
"I don't know you," he breathed out.
"We could change that," Kurt said moving closer again only for Blaine to turn away smiling. "I get it. Out here, all alone with a stranger. You can't be too careful."
Blaine faced him again, with a serious look, "Maybe you can."
Kurt smiled and watched Blaine lean in closer, their lips merely inches apart when they heard someone call out for Blaine. Blaine pulled back immediately and looked towards the mansion.
"Blaine!" they heard a man call again.
Quickly, both swam to the back of the rock, hiding.
"It's Thad," Blaine said sighing. "I have to go back."
"To what?" Kurt asked glancing down at his timer through the clear water. He shook his head, "Yeah, you're right. You should go back."
Blaine gave him a long look as if wanting to say something, but instead swam back to the shore. Kurt followed a minute later, quickly changing, and sneaking a few glances at Blaine. He had been right about Blaine, he was definitely in good shape. He didn't feel bad about looking since he knew Blaine was also looking at him.
"We should go around to the back," Blaine said as they reached the stairs. "You can dry your hair there."
Kurt nodded and followed him. There were a few guests outside, but none paid attention to them as they went to the back of the mansion. It took longer than he thought since the place was so big.
"Here we go," Blaine said stopping in front of a narrow door. "It's the exit door for the servants," Blaine explained as he opened it. This part of the mansion was quiet, although music coming from the ballroom could still be heard. Blaine stopped at the second door and opened it. Inside he saw a dryer like the one back in his suite. He leaned down and dried his air.
"There's gel here," Blaine said relieved as he opened up a cabinet and pulled out a container.
Kurt took it, applied a small amount to his hair before washing his hands. "I'll see you back at the party, Anderson," he added teasingly before leaving the room.
He followed the hallway all the way to the end and found himself next to the dining room. He was just done adjusting his suit when he nearly bumped into Mr. Anderson.
He looked preoccupied. "Have you seen my son?"
Kurt stared at him. "I have," he said slowly, "He's with his guards."
Mr. Anderson didn't seem convinced. He didn't know how, but Blaine stepped into the hallway across from him, with both his guards following. "Right behind you," Kurt added and Mr. Anderson turned around to face his son.
From where Kurt was standing he could see Blaine had rushed at fixing his hair, not applying enough gel as he had before that his curls were starting to show.
"Thank God," he heard Mr. Anderson mutter before letting out a sigh of relief. He then faced him, "Now, how about that game?"
Kurt blanked out for a moment before remembering. Blaine gave him a smile when his father turned around. Kurt smiled back as he walked in front of Mr. Anderson stepping out into the foyer. Just then the front doors burst open and four men dressed in black entered.
Kurt panicked, noticing the same reaction in the other guests. When he turned around he saw three men dressed in black, holding guns come from the same direction Blaine had come from. Everyone made way for them and Kurt was momentarily reminded of minute men. Why would there be minute men in New Greenich? He noticed the tallest one, with sandy blonde hair staring at him and he didn't like the way he was being looked at.
"It's all right, everyone," Mr. Anderson said trying to calm down his guests. "What's this about?"
"I'm sorry to have to break up the party, Mr. Anderson," the tall man said before looking at Kurt, "I just need a word with your friend."
Oh no, Kurt thought as Mr. Anderson turned to face him. "My friend?" Mr. Anderson asked looking at him in disbelief. "Very well," he finally said nodding at the men and stepping back.
Another tall man with white blonde hair and a medium-height man with brown hair walked over to him, before grabbing him by both arms. They began pulling him to the right set of stairs, before he turned around and met Blaine's gaze. Blaine looked shocked, but remained where he was standing.
Kurt stayed quiet as they got to the top of the stairs; he heard Mr. Anderson say something to his guests before coming up the stairs.
"May we borrow a room?" the one who Kurt figured was in charge asked as two other men holding guns stood by his side.
"Yes, my study is right here," Mr. Anderson said opening the first door on his right.
"Thank you," the man replied before Kurt was pulled in by the other two men who were holding him.
Before the door closed Kurt met Mr. Anderson's cold gaze.
Inside the study room, Kurt was seated behind the desk quite forcefully even though he wasn't fighting back. The man with the blondest hair placed his right arm on the desk and pulled up his sleeve. He looked down at his timer, before letting go and taking a few steps back.
The two men with guns were standing a few feet away from Kurt. On either side of him were the other two who had dragged him in. The other man stood in front of the desk studying a portrait before facing him. As pulled up a chair for himself, Kurt shook his arm before pulling down his sleeve. He had no idea what was going on, but he had nothing to hide. At least, not really. He remained seated on the big chair and watched the man in front of him sit down.
He took a deep breath before speaking, "I'm Timekeeper Sebastian Smythe."
Kurt wanted to say he hadn't asked, but instead began to untie his tie. "I'm Kurt Hummel," he said with with a quick smile.
Sebastian nodded. "I know." He remained quiet for a long moment waiting for Kurt to say something. "What are you doing in this zone?"
Kurt shrugged. "It's not illegal, is it? To change time zones?"
"No, it's not illegal," Sebastian said shaking his head lightly. "It's just rare." They stared at one another before Sebastian finally got down to business. "Where did you get that?"
"I won it," Kurt answered calmly. "Gambling."
"All of it?" Sebastian questioned.
Kurt knew he could lie and say yes, but that just wasn't him.
"No," he admitted. "A man named Jesse St. James gave me over a century." Sebastian didn't say anything, but continued staring at him. "He said he didn't need it anymore. He timed himself out."
"Jesse St. James was worth thousands of years. He could practically live forever. You expect me to believe that he was immortal and he wanted to die?"
"I don't expect you to believe it. But it's the truth," Kurt answered seriously. "It was a gift, I'm not a thief!" So this is why they'd come looking for him. They thought he'd killed Jesse and took his time. "But hey, if you guys are looking for some stolen time, maybe you should arrest everyone here."
Sebastian almost laughed but instead smiled. "Oh, I see. You're talking about injustice." He got up from his seat. "I am a Timekeeper, I don't concern myself with justice. I only concern myself with what I can measure. Seconds, minutes, hours. I keep time and that time is in the wrong hands," he finished as he walked over and stood next to him. "Nick, Jeff."
"That time will be held," Nick said taking out a Time Holder, while Jeff put his right arm back on top of the desk, "along with you."
"We'll leave you two hours for booking and processing," Jeff said a few moments later and let go of him.
Kurt couldn't help, but glance down at the two hours in his hand. Just like the time he had was gone. He looked up to see the three men begin to head out. "Why are you investigating his suicide? There's mass murder in the ghetto everyday," Kurt said speaking to Sebastian.
Nick and Jeff continued walking and opened the door before stepping out. Sebastian however turned around to face him.
"That is fascinating," he said slowly taking a few steps towards him. "I heard a woman talk like that. It was over twenty years ago. You're probably too young to remember your mother."
Kurt looked at him shocked. What did Sebastian mean by that? And how did he know his mother?
Sebastian turned his back on him as he began walking towards the door. "We'll arrange safe transport, this is New Greenwich after all."
When he looked out the door he saw Mr. Anderson and Blaine standing there. He opened his mouth, but closed it when he saw the look Blaine gave him. He was about to walk away when Mr. Anderson pulled him back, "Blaine, do as I say and go with the guards."
Blaine rolled his eyes. "Oh, for God's sake, father! There's an army in this house. If we can't stop one man from killing us," Blaine turned to meet Kurt's eyes, "we should kill ourselves."
He pulled his arm from his father's grip and walked away. Everyone seemed too stunned to say or do anything. Kurt eyed the two men standing next to him, knowing it was now or never. He reached for the man on his left, taking hold of the gun and hitting the man in the face before quickly punching the other on the throat. He pointed the gun at Mr. Anderson and Timekeeper Smythe as he ran past them. He made out Blaine's suit descending the stairs on the left side as he ran down the ones on the right. A guard ran up to him and Kurt kicked him in the stomach. He didn't bother to watch the man fall down as he jumped over the banister and landed on a desk underneath.
Another guard jumped at him and Kurt pushed him away, hitting him slightly with the gun in his hand. The other guests in the house screamed and began to flee. Blaine reached the bottom of the stairs before looking at Kurt and gasping. Kurt reached out for him, pulling Blaine's back against his chest, wrapping an arm around his throat and pressing the gun to his head.
Blaine cried out in pain as Kurt pulled him in the direction of the dining room.
"Stop him!" he heard Mr. Anderson yell from afar.
Kurt raised his gun at the people pressed against the walls as he continued moving past the dining room straight into the kitchen. He pushed Blaine in front of him. "Move," he yelled bumping into chefs and waiters. "Get out of the way!" he yelled at a woman as they reached a back door.
He locked it on his way out and grabbed Blaine. They exited through a side door out into the open air. He saw his car a few feet away with a guard standing nearby. When the guard saw him he raised his own gun. "Put it down or I blow his head off," Kurt ordered pointing his own gun at Blaine.
The guard hesitated before surrendering and putting down the gun. Kurt let go of Blaine to punch the guard before picking up the other gun. "Thanks."
He pushed Blaine into the car, before he got on and turned on the engine. He pressed the gas pedal before driving quickly out to the front of the mansion. Just as he was pulling out of the driveway and into the street he heard sirens behind him. As he drove out into the street he nearly missed crashing into another car.
"Jesus!" Blaine yelled, holding on the door, as Kurt swerved the car to the left.
"Jesus isn't going to save you now," Kurt said loudly as he entered a highway.
This was not how he'd planned for his night to end, but then again you couldn't always get what you wanted.
I unfortunately had to cut it in the middle of the action, but I didn't want this chapter to get too long. On the other hand I am spoiling you all by how fast I'm updating this so I think in return you should all review? Yes? Or not, I'm happy with you all just reading this. Blaine's suit in this chapter is supposed to be the one Darren wore for this year's Trevor Live Project. Kurt's suit is the one Chris wore during the Primetime Emmy Awards for this year. I don't know why that is important, but yeah. So, review please?
JD Bloom