A/N- As I said in chapter eight, here is another post for today. This one is for HPJellicleCat, who requested: exquisite suave wink cuddle strength comfort ocean curiosity voice fingers letters scent smile mixed tape trophy luminous sacred celestial thankful joy. This one was interesting, I never really expected to get a challenge with a word like celestial... Just fyi, I love smart words like that, so brownie points to anyone who can give me a challenge with words like that. Enjoy, and leave challenges! And see the author's note at the end of chapter 8 if you haven't already, I really wanna get started on that and I need some options to work from.
And a note to my dear Semper Fi Sweatshirt: Where's mah hello kitty challenge? Don't makes me bite yous.
"Oh my Gaga, this fabric is exquisite!" Kurt ran his hand across the Burberry sweater, letting the ocean blue cashmere slide through his fingers. "It would look so good on you. This is your color, you know."
Blaine mumbled something about preferring red, but dropped the comment as soon as Kurt took the sweater off the rack and held it up to Blaine's chest. The sudden contact with this boy gave him a celestial bliss, and colors suddenly didn't matter. But the pressure of Kurt's hand against his chest was gone as soon as it began, and Kurt hung the sweater over his arm. "You'll have to try that on later."
He nodded, letting Kurt throw another sweater across his arm and lead him through the store. When he had told Kurt he needed help finding new clothes, the countertenor had immediately jumped on the opportunity to give Blaine a makeover. So, wanting to please his friend, Blaine flew them out to New York City for a weekend shopping trip.
That was starting to seem like less and less of a good idea though. He had officially been in Bloomingdale's for an hour and a half, but it didn't look like the torture would end any time soon. That is, until Kurt couldn't possibly hold another piece of clothing.
"Blaine?" He looked up from one of the many price tags on a pair of jeans he was being forced to carry and met Kurt's eyes. "Can you try these on soon? They're getting heavy."
Blaine laughed. "We could've stopped at any time, you know."
"I know, I just got a little... carried away." Kurt gave him an apologetic smile and started walking towards the back of the men's department. He politely asked to have a room opened for the two of them, and one of the workers led them to a large fitting room. Kurt let out a sigh of relief and dumped all of the clothes on the back of a chair.
"This is gonna take forever," Blaine said, looking at the mounting pile in front of him. "Better get started." Kurt nodded and turned to leave, but Blaine grabbed him by the wrist with gentle strength. "You don't have to go."
Kurt raised an eyebrow, and Blaine tried to cover up his mistake. "I mean, it'll go faster if I don't have to leave the room to show you an outfit."
Kurt was a bit suspicious, but soon caved in. "True," he said as he moved the clothes from the chair, plopping himself down in their place. He gave his sacred hair a quick fix in the mirror, continuing, "Alright, let's get started then. How about..." He stared at the clothes next to him on a small bench, pondering what to choose. "This," he said, holding up a jacket made of supple brown leather, "and this." He held in the other hand a pair of dark wash straight leg jeans. Blaine took off his jacket and threw the new one on over his gray shirt. Then, thankful that Kurt wasn't paying attention, he slipped off his tattered jeans and pulled the dark ones over his black boxer shorts.
When Kurt's distracted eyes finally turned back to Blaine, he was pleasantly surprised. "Well, don't you look suave," he said with a wink. Blaine's face turned bright red, and all of the songs off his "I'm in love" mix tape (yes, he made mix tapes for whatever mood he was in) began to play in his head. He had a feeling of extreme comfort now, and easily began shedding off layers of clothing for Kurt.
The next outfit was a beige pullover and navy pants. Blaine took the clothes and quickly put them on, not noticing the sly glances Kurt would occasionally give him. Kurt thought his friend looked amazing, and the luminous smile Blaine gave him only added to the effect. Blaine looked like a prized trophy, something you just want to waste your day staring at.
"What is it?" Blaine asked in a worried voice. "Does it look bad?"
"What?" Kurt hadn't realized he was beginning to stare a little too long. "Oh, no it looks great! I just... wanted to see where these pants sit on your hips." Kurt let out a small sigh of relief, hoping Blaine would believe the lie.
Thankfully, he did. Blaine shrugged and lifted his arms up in the air. "Do whatever you have to do."
Oh my Gaga, did he just give me permission to lift up his shirt? Kurt tried to remain calm as he approached Blaine with curiosity. Trying to hide the goofy grin on his face, Kurt put his hands on Blaine's hips and slowly moved them up his torso, pulling the sweater up with them.
The touch sent joy coursing through Blaine's body. He wanted to say something, anything, but he was afraid the letters dancing across his tongue would refuse to form coherent words. Blaine just let Kurt look him over, run his pale fingers across the waistband of his pants. The scent of Kurt's hair, strawberries, filled his nostrils, and he barely noticed when Kurt started talking again. "Turn for me?"
Blaine nodded in reply and spun a full circle, letting Kurt see him from every angle. "Yeah, these look great on you." He turned to walk back to his seat, but Blaine grabbed him by the hand. He didn't want that scent to leave him any time soon.
"Come here a minute." He pulled Kurt closer, this time putting his hands on Kurt's hips. "I wanted to thank you for coming with me this weekend."
Kurt laughed nervously. "Hey, it's the Big Apple. With you. Wouldn't miss it for the world." Kurt knew they were so close, he could just move forward an inch and kiss Blaine. But... he didn't know why he stopped himself, but he turned away from Blaine and went back to his seat. Even if he wanted nothing more than to cuddle with Blaine in the middle of Bloomingdale's, maybe even get his first real kiss, he didn't think now was the time. After all, Blaine was only thanking him. That doesn't equal a kiss.
"Come on, we gotta get through this pile before the store closes." He sat back down and began picking a new outfit, trying to find something good for Blaine to wear on a date someday.
