A Blackbird's Wings
Chapter 3: Introducing the Blackbird
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Thank you for all the reviews I got and Thanks to the followers of this story:
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You all are the Best! (Especially Andrea, of course :D)
This chapter is a little longer (For you, Coral9605!). What am I saying; it's twice as long as the normal ones. xD Also - Sebastian-hating! Yei!
Love to Friedi! (Kisses!)
Sorry for typos.
Hugs,
Josy
The Train is intimidating. It's big and silver and loud and really, really not inviting. And I definitely don't want to ever enter it. But here I am, sitting alone on a velvet-covered seat in the back and trying not to cry.
They didn't come to say goodbye. Not even Dad. Or Celine for that matter. Not that I expected my mother to come, but ... Dad? Celine? This whole thing is so not my fault! It's not like I actually infected the Prince or something, so... But I don't think that'd change anything. When she has set her mind on something, there's nobody able to change it. When she has this particular boyfriend, I told her from the beginning that he was gay, but she didn't want to hear it.
We know how that turned out.
The train comes to an abrupt halt. The doors open and three boys step in. When the train starts driving again, they turn around, searching for something. Then their eyes find mine.
I try a little smile and stand up to introduce myself.
"HI, I'm Kurt Hummel." One of them, a tall, blond one with a bieber-cut and dark-blue Wings, smiles at me brightly.
"Hi!" He shakes my outstretched hand "I'm Sam Evans, nice to meet you." I have to grin at that sentence. So polite.
"Nice to meet you too." I turn to the other two boys "And you, of course -?"
"Elliot Gilbert, Hi. And this is Seb-"
"Sebastian Smythe, thanks, I can do this on my own." The very tall guy with the strange eyecolor has a very disturbing voice, I realize. But his red Wings look very classy, I must say.
"H-hi, nice to meet you, Sebastian."
"Can't say I feel the same, but okay. Just don't bother me and let me win the Prince, okay?"
Um.
My eyebrows nearly hit the hairline. What the hell is this guy thinking? It's my Place in the Palace next to the royal family with a crown on my head! And as an extra Blaine's hand in mine. Yupp, that's right.
"I think it will be his choice, Sebastian. The Prince is very intelligent, I'm sure he'll know who's bad" I nod in his direction "and who's good news." He smirks.
"I bet he will. Bad guys are sexy, you know?" Sam and Elliot giggle.
"Of course. But only if they have a heart. Yours is hidden by a chipmunkface and horseteeth." Sebastian's eyes widen visibly and he sucks in a sharp breath.
"Don't you dare insult me, Hummel. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."
"Oh I think I actually do. I'm not the careful small-town-boy you think I am."
"Ooooh, little melodramatic virgin, aren't you? Maybe a good fuck will loosen you up?"
"Sebastian! That's enough, come on." Sam sends him a disapproving glance and pulls me to the seats. I can't even say something in this moment. Elliot follows close up and Sebastian snorts and takes a seat more in the front. I smile at the two boys next to me.
"Thanks. I'm glad you're not like... that." Elliot grins widely, showing some really pretty, pearly teeth.
"Well, I'm not into assaulting people before hitting on them, are you?" He looks at Sam quizzically.
"Hell, no! I know, you said, you are no careful small-town-boy, Kurt, but I actually am!" I giggle. But then my smile falters, when the train stops again. I shrink deeper into my seat when the doors open. This time there's only a single boy coming in.
I gasp.
The boy is incredibly gorgeous. His hair is dyed blond; he has big eyes, a gentle face and light-green Wings with white tips. His skin is glowing in a pale, but beautiful tone and his lips... that smile is lighting up the whole room. He takes a shy step forward.
"H-hi?" Elliot stands up and pulls him to sit with us, consciously saving him from Sebastian.
"Hi, I'm Elliot" he says, with a little wave of his hand, after folding his own black Wings behind his back, neatly. Sam grins a little.
"I'm Sam. Nice to meet you." The boy is looking at me expectantly. I clear my throat.
"Oh, um, sorry, I'm Kurt. I'm a little intimidated by your beauty, I'm sorry if I'm talking rubbish." The blond boy blushes.
"Um- Thank you?" Sam and Elliot snort.
"You know, Kurt, you're really honest. I couldn't find the courage to say something like that." Sam laughs. I blush and hurry to say:
"Sorry again, I didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable. Let's get back to the normal way of introducing people - Hi, I'm Kurt, what's your name?" He grins.
"Hi, I'm Jeffrey. Jeff, if you prefer. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." In the front seats, Sebastian snorts. Jeff frowns.
"Oh, that's Sebastian. Just ignore him, he's an ass." Elliot grins at Jeff's confused face.
"You know, this is, in reality, a competition. Some of us are set on winning, others aren't. Or at least not completely." He explains "We can try to make this time with the Prince happy for all of us, or we can kill each other. I think it's obvious what option we prefer, hu?"
When I catch a glimpse of Sebastian's eyes between the back of the front-seats, I'm suddenly not so sure about that.
"Are you okay, mr? You look so-"
"No, no, I'm sorry, I just zoned off there for a moment." The stylist smiles and gets back to dying my hair-tips blue.
"Not all of you are as relaxed as they seem, you know? The one over there, mr Kiehl, is very anxious. He drives his stylist crazy." I giggle. It's nice to know that the stylist I got is open for gossip. Although she is dying my hair right now and I should really hate her, I think I already like her more than my mother. I also have to admit that it doesn't look as bad as I expected it to look. Combined with my blue Wings it really makes my eyes shine.
Carole, the stylist, giggles a little when she catches my critical looks.
"It will look great, mr Hummel, trust me."
"Of course, I believe I will like it, I'm just not sure if the Prince will like it." Her grin falters a little.
"Um... Mr Hummel?"
"Yes?"
"How would you know what Prince Blaine likes or not?" I gulp.
Ooops.
"Carole?" She nods.
"Can you keep a secret?"
"Um... yes?"
"Okay... You know, I actually ... already met him. And he didn't look so extravagant." She squeals and I jump in surprise.
"Hush, Carole! This is not something I want the world to know."
"Sorry." She blushes "It's just... now I know why-" she breaks herself off with a little cough and turns away to the tray ext to the big mirror I'm sitting in front of.
"Carole?"
"Hm?"
"What did you want to say?" She sighs.
"I was going to say 'Now I know why he did it'"
"Did what?" She looks as if she's fighting the urge to blurt out whatever it is that's on her mind. Then she sighs again.
"Mr Hummel, this is not something you are supposed to know. But I think it wouldn't be bad, if you, you know, knew."
Okay? What is she trying to say here?
"Mr... There has been a personal request for one of the selected people this time."
Oh.
"Is that legal?" She snorts.
"Oh yes it is. It's always that way. The Prince has set his eye on someone and nobody knew why it was him."
"And you know who?" What a lucky person. It really isn't fair.
She smirks a little.
"Of course. Everyone involved in the Selection, besides the candidates, of course, knows."
Okay. Hm. This is strange.
"And... may I know who it is, Blaine prefers?" Her smile widens and she looks strangely proud of something.
"As if it wasn't obvious - It's you."
Oh. Well, that's totally fair.
I'm still walking on air when my personal maid comes to get me for dinner. She introduced herself as Rachel earlier, and I think I quite like her. Although her style is beyond awful she's snarky an a nice way and her voice is, even in speaking, very melodious, which is always a good sign. And her Wings sparkle in some kind of violet that goes perfectly with her skin tone.
"What am I going to wear, Rachel? Is there something, Carole picked for me?" I ask, when she tells me that we'll talk to the Prince for the first time, before dinner. She grins.
"You are just like Carole described you, if I may say so." I have to grin at that. Did I mention that Carole likes gossip?
"You may." She nods and opens the closet in the back of my room, which is exquisitely decorated, by the way. The closet door reveals a huge amount of suits, sweatshirts, pants, accessories and other things I can't even put a name on.
I gasp.
Holy shit, this is heaven.
"Oh my God. This is... I'm going to war some of these clothes?" She giggles.
"Of course, mr Hummel."
"Kurt. Please call me Kurt." Someone who touches my clothes has to know my first name. Her eyes widen.
"Um... As you wish." I smile.
"Thanks, Rachel. Now-" I nod at the closet.
"Oh, yes, um, Carole said you'd be wearing those DocMartens you wear right now and this white sweater and black pants and-" She rummages through a mass of clothes and finally pulls out a vest.
"Ha! This black vest. Is that to your liking?" I grin.
"I am sure of it. But... may I take a look at the accessories here?" She nods, surprised.
"Of course, mr - Kurt. Of course you can."
"Thanks." I pull out a little box and when I open the lid, my heart stops.
This box is the heaven of jewelry. There is a necklace with a little flower, so detailed and fragile that it almost looks real. There is a huge ring, with a heavy-looking Diamond on it, a smaller, silver one with black engravings and, like, a million brooches. Rachel waits patiently until a certain one catches my attention.
It's a black feather on a silver brooch and I smile while taking it out and carefully touching it with my fingertips. There is that bird with those blue-green eggs… What is it called?
Rachel smiles and nods approvingly.
"Do you want to wear it for the talk? It would go with your outfit quite nicely."
"Yes, It think that would be a good idea. When do I have to show up again?" She glances at her watch.
"In about 30 minutes, Kurt. You better hurry up."
I am in the great hall at exactly 6:30pm, which is right on time, but I am the last of us. Everybody else is already pacing the room nervously. Sam and Elliot smile in my Direction and get back to talking to each other heatedly. Whatever they are discussing, it seems to be rather important. I search for Jeff, because he is still the only person besides Sam and Elliot I've talked to, but he's talking to a brown-haired guy who was introduced to us as Nick, and I don't want to interrupt their conversation. So I sit down in an armchair in a corner and try to calm down my disturbingly fast beating heart.
This whole thing is so surreal. My long-term-crush Prince Blaine makes a special request for me. He wants me. He possibly even like me a little bit. He remembered my name from when we were talking on the tree.
Okay, now I'm freaking out - I'm hyperventilating! Someone come and save me, I'm-
"Attention, please!" Suddenly a very old guy, dressed in a tux, comes in. He claps his hands and everybody, including me, stands up to listen to him.
"Good evening, gentlemen. I am pleased to see that all of you are already here. For dinner I have to make some important Announcements. First - Prince Blaine is adressed as 'your Highness' by all of you, except stated otherwise. Second - No matter what he wants, he'll get it. You will not reject him, I repeat, you will not reject him!"
Oh my God. Is that supposed to mean what I think it is?
"Third - The Prince will decide whether or when he wants to see you, so no one forces him to anything. Got it?" Everybody nods.
"Thank you. The Prince will now meet you for the first time-" Um... "And after that meeting, some of you might already leave us."
Uh-oh. Now I'm even more terrified!
"Just enjoy your time with us and the royal family. And now - Prince Blaine!"
Oh my God, this is happening, this is happening, this is happ-
The door opens wide and Blaine comes in. His hazel-green eyes make shine and his curly dark hair makes him look human and adorable. He's wearing a tux too, but a much more fashionable one than the old man. I bow deeply and see the others hurry to do the same. When I am straightened up, Blaine visibly bites back a grin.
"Good evening, gentlemen." God, his voice. "I am pleased to meet you and also kind of terrified so don't feel bad if you do too." The old man nearly falls over, but a little giggle escapes me - I feel like he's only talking to me and that's making me feel lightheaded.
"I'll sit at the table over there and talk to you, one at a time. I'd like to start with Adam Crawford, if that's alright." A tall, blond guy, Adam, I presume, nods happily and goes to sit down with Blaine. Everybody else gets back to talking.
We talk a long time. The next half an hour feels like a week, but finally, after Adam, a sturdy guy named David and Elliot, Blaine glances at his list and calls:
"Kurt Hummel." My legs shake as I make my way to him and sit down.
He smiles.
"Hi, Kurt."
"G-good evening, your highness." His smile falters a little and he whispers:
"Kurt, I already told you, you could call me Blaine. Please just-"
"Of course, I'm sorry."
"NO, it's not something you should be sorry about. Mr Crawford called me excellence all the time." I giggle when Blaine shudders and I blush. Damn, I already look and sound girly enough!
"I promise you, I won't do that, like, ever." Okay, all the hope is gone. I practically am a girl. This is hell. I'm never going to be in the royal family.
No. Wait. I need to remember why I'm here. I want Blaine, the beautiful man sitting here in front of me, and not the crown. I need to remember that.
He's much too perfect for anything less than Love.
I need to give him that. But we have time.
Relax, Kurt. Get your flirt on!
Blaine, totally oblivious to my inner conflict, grins and rests his chin in his hand to look at me. My skin prickles under his gaze and I'm sure my face is on fire. Then his looks rakes over me and takes in my clothing. When he sees the brooch, his lips curl into a smile.
"Nice brooch."
"Thank you."
"The feather, is it from a -?" I grin and lean a little bit over the table, to get closer to him. He gulps and his gaze drops to what most possibly are my lips.
Interesting.
"It's from a Blackbird, I believe. Someone once told me these birds have eggs in a nice color, I just can't quite remember who it was..." Blaine snorts and leans even closer.
"Don't tell me, you forgot me that easily." I blush and sigh in defeat.
"No, I didn't, unsurprisingly. What did you think?" His smile grows even wider at that.
"Well, I thought you might find it creepy to meet the Prince in a tree."
"Oooh, so you're the Prince now, or what?" His smile falters and his eyes grow sad.
"No, I'm not. At least not for you. Please?"
Oh shit. That didn't turn out right.
"No, of course you aren't, I mean, You are, but not only, I mean - Sorry, I'm babbling." A little giggle escapes him.
"Nice safe."
"Well, I tried." Sigh. The Relief is probably written all over my face, but I don't care at this point.
"So... do you like the others?"
"Well... not all of them." Concern is written over Blaine's face.
"Is there someone bothering you? Did they do something, I-"
"No, no, everything's great, Blaine, Thanks." Wow. That's ... sweet.
"But there is something, isn't it?" Damn.
"Yeah, well, Sebastian said something on the train... but that's nothing for you to worry about." I smile encouragingly to get Blaine out of this ... Protect-mode or whatever it is. "This is a competition, you know? We are bound to kill each other." Blaine's eyes grow wide. Shit!
"Kill each other, what-" ShitShitShitShitShitShitShit!
"NO, I didn't mean it that way, like I said, it's alright. Thank you, though." I blush a little, but at least Blaine seems to relax a little.
"Okay, but..." Blaine hesitantly moves his hand over the table.
Slowly, so slowly his fingers extend. But they don't touch mine.
I take a deep breath.
And then I reach for his hand.
I can see his chest heave as he inhales deeply, when our fingers entwine. He smiles and his eyes illuminate his face.
"... But when someone hurts you, verbally as well as physically, you have to tell me, okay? Please?" Oh this is so sweet. Cotton-candy-sweet.
"Of c-course. Thank you, Blaine."
"You're welcome. I believe I have to talk to the others now, so..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I'll go." I try to stand up, but realize I can't, because Blaine is still holding my hand. He smiles at my confused face and, despite the nervous blush on his cheeks, leans down to press a gentle kiss on my knuckles.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
I hold my breath when he says:
"Thank you for letting me talk to you. And by the way - my name sounds so much better in your voice."
My heart. Is. Standing still. I. Will die.
"M-my Pleasure." He finally lets go of my hand with a shy smile. I exhale. And I inhale. Then I start walking.
On my way back to the corner with the armchair, someone shoves me and I stumble and nearly fall. When I turn to look who did it, I am looking directly into David Karofsky's eyes.
"Be careful with making friends too easy, Hummel. There are always people around who can hurt you more than you were ever hurt before."
Okay.
So only two out of nine guys hate me.
That's a good rate, right?
Yeah! Done! (With the typing, I mean, it's exhausting...)
So - I wanted to say something here: I know that in the summary there is a sentence like "Suicidal Thoughts, rated M for a reason!" and that seems kinda stupid at this point of the story, but it will come into picture. Just wait for it :)
See you next time, review and feel hugged!
Kisses,
Josy