Thank you again for all of your wonderful and kind reviews! I hope you enjoy this next chapter as it will have to tide you over for the next two days or so – I have been forsaking my graduate class to write this and I really need to focus and get some stuff done today and tomorrow. But I promise to have the next part up as soon as I can! My goal is to have this entire thing finished before the Superbowl episode airs – so cross your fingers for me!
Again, thank you so much. I really didn't expect this fic to receive such a warm reaction!
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"Finn, did you threaten to beat up Blaine?" Kurt asks as they exit the bus for lunch at the banana plantation.
"Oh, yeah. But he's totally cool with it. I mean, he gets I'd just be doing it as, like, my duty as your brother."
Kurt waves his hands in the air exasperatedly. "I'm not cool with it!"
"Oh." Finn considers this for a moment, and then glances over his shoulder to where Blaine is following a little bit behind them, engaged in conversation with Braden. "Well, honestly, do you think I could actually hit him? I mean, he's kind of a nice guy, and look at him—I think I'll break him if I look at him wrong!"
Kurt pulls a face. "He's not that small."
"Dude, I think Rachel could take him."
"You are never again allowed to comment on the physical attributes of my boyfriend," Kurt says, and he can't help but smile at saying 'boyfriend'. "Especially when you compare him to Rachel."
Finn grins and rolls his eyes. "Whatever. It's kind of cute. He's like a hobbit or something."
Kurt stops and points in the direction they are headed. "Go. I don't want to talk to you anymore right now."
His stepbrother just laughs at him and continues on ahead. Kurt waits until Blaine catches up to him. Braden gives him a nod before he and Dean follow the group along the tiny dirt path surrounded by palm trees and flowering plumeria. He feels Blaine's fingers brush along the back of his hand, and he smiles at the touch, glancing over at the boy beside him.
On the bus ride to the plantation, James had begun talking a little more about the St. Lucian people. He described them as extremely devoted to religion, with more than ninety-five percent of their population identifying as Catholic. Shortly after his words, Blaine had pulled out his cell phone.
"Roaming charges," Kurt had teased with a whisper.
Blaine had nodded but kept typing on his qwerty keyboard. A few moments later, Blaine had quietly handed his phone over to Kurt, and he read through the displayed page:
St. Lucia
Laws against homosexuality: Male only
Fine: 10 Years in prison
Laws against discrimination: No.
He hadn't realized he was shaking until Blaine had reached out and taken his hand, taking his phone back and slipping it into his pocket, and continuing to hold Kurt's hand. Kurt had barely registered that Blaine's thumb was caressing his palm because all he could think about was going to prison because of who he loved. It made him think of the men on the island—and why only the men, for crying out loud!—who, like him, one day realized they were different but had to hide, had to bury it away, and would never know what it was to be happy.
He'd ended up holding Blaine's hand in a near vice grip until Blaine had leaned over and whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry I can't hold your hand out there, but I promise that when I can, I won't let go."
Kurt had swallowed his tears and nodded, silently promising himself that he would never take something so simple and perfect—holding Blaine's hand—for granted.
That is why little moments like this—Blaine just allowing their hands to touch—continue to make this day the best day of his life, no matter how much the laws of St. Lucia have made it seem like so much less than paradise.
"I'm sorry about Finn and his ridiculousness," Kurt says after a moment as they follow the path and the group ahead of them.
Blaine waves a hand in dismissal. "I thought it was cute."
"He called you a hobbit."
"Wouldn't be the first time I've heard it," Blaine admits. "In fact, he just lost points for lack of originality."
Kurt laughs. "You're amazing. You know that, right?"
"Yep." Blaine flushes suddenly as he tries to pull off an air of arrogance, and then they both laugh and bump shoulders.
Up ahead, the path ends at a canopied deck set with tables, chairs, and a large buffet. As they enter, a man behind a counter offers them some local juice—orange or grapefruit. Kurt takes the grapefruit and Blaine takes the orange, and they make their way over to a table where Finn, Holden, Burt, and Carole are already seated.
"This juice is seriously good," Finn is saying, leaning around his mom to glance back at the counter. "Think they'd let me have seconds?"
"I'm sure they would. Go on and ask," Carole encourages. Finn bounds up and heads over to get more.
"Please help yourselves to the buffet," James tells them as he walks past, informing each table individually.
The boys don't need to be told twice. They jump up in a mad rush for the food, jostling each other out of the way to be the first in line. Blaine, ever the gentleman, steps in front of them and holds out his arm, blocking Jeff, who is first in line, from moving forward. "Carole?" He calls out, waving her forward. "Ladies first."
"Thank you, Blaine." Carole smiles as she steps up to the buffet.
Jeff mutters, "Brown-nose," and then, "Ow!" as Nick slaps him upside the head.
Lunch includes a wide array of local dishes including a fresh salad with a grapefruit based dressing, homemade bread, spicy rice, pasta, yam and taro that are mashed and baked into little flaky squares, barbecue chicken and pork, and rum cake for dessert. Of course, Kurt doesn't try all of it, but he loves the salad, and the rice, yam, and taro are very good as well. Finn and Holden each have three plates full before they are done, and Blaine goes back for two helpings of the rum cake. In fact, if Kurt is not mistaken, he thinks the three servers hovered over the now mostly empty buffet are marveling over the fact that they have run out of food.
"Is this an early sign of alcoholism?" Kurt teases as he watches his boyfriend finish off his second slice of the rum cake.
"If all alcohol comes in the form of cake? Yes."
Kurt files Blaine's love of cake away for the future.
Burt leans back in his chair, stretching slightly, and smiling over at Carole. "That was pretty good. And, I'm guessing it was all pretty healthy, too."
"As long as you don't have two pieces of rum cake," Kurt points out.
"Think I could use a walk," his dad says. His gaze settles on Kurt's boyfriend. "Blaine? Why don't you join me?"
Kurt feels his stomach drop out from under him. Of course Blaine nods in agreement with a pleasant smile, and they both stand and make their way out of the enclosed space, following the path they had taken to get there. Kurt starts to get up but Carole reaches out for his arm and gently tugs him back into his seat.
"Relax, honey. It's just a talk."
"Yeah, and firearms weren't allowed on this trip," Finn offers helpfully. Or rather, not so much.
"Finn," Carole says in warning. She doesn't seem to find the comment any funnier than Kurt does.
Kurt fidgets anxiously in his chair and glances out beyond the deck, searching past the pastel painted restrooms and gift shop, but sees no sign of his dad and Blaine. What are they talking about? He wants to know. He thinks he should be allowed to know. His dad should have warned him he was going to do this. What if he says something to scare Blaine off? To make Blaine think that his relationship with Kurt isn't worth whatever threats he receives from Kurt's dad?
Kurt takes a breath. No. Calm down. His dad wouldn't do that to him, and neither would Blaine. They're just… talking. About whatever it is a mechanic from Lima, Ohio, and his gay son's boyfriend talk about.
Oh, he feels sick.
"So," Jeff says, appearing at their table with an excited smile. "We're all placing bets as to who the new lead soloist will be when Mr. Hummel kills Blaine. You want in?"
"You boys are horrible," Carole says as she shakes her head, but she's smiling.
"I'm totally in," Holden replies. "How much? And my money's on Kurt."
Okay, that's kind of nice of him to say but, "Guys!" Kurt says in exasperation. "Really? A little compassion, please?"
Kendrick comes over and pats Kurt on the shoulder consolingly. "You're right, Kurt. I mean, we all really like Blaine. So I think we should all take this moment to make a promise to Kurt that we'll raise whatever money it takes to erect a proper memorial back at Dalton in Blaine's honor."
Kurt's never actually hit anybody before, but Kendrick is smaller than him, and he finds himself considering it for the moment.
Apparently, Kendrick senses this from the way Kurt tenses up, and he leans over to tell him, "You know I'm totally joking, right? The Warblers wouldn't be the same without Blaine. And I figure since we still have to win Regionals, the universe wouldn't be quite so cruel as to take Blaine from us now. So your dad isn't trying to kill him. He might be beating him up a little,but as long as he doesn't hit him in the throat or anything…"
Kurt decides Kendrick has the weirdest logic in the entire world. Also, he isn't helping.
"Everyone with my group!" James calls out. "Back to the bus. Time to get you to the ship."
Now Kurt starts panicking a little more because it's time to leave and he still hasn't seen a single sign of Blaine and his dad. He follows Carole down the path, gaze scanning the entire area. Carole glances over and gives him a supportive smile, which kind of helps actually because he's sure she and his dad discussed Blaine. If she doesn't feel there is any reason to worry, then maybe there isn't. Still, he just wants to reassure himself.
It's not even so much that this is his first boyfriend or that it's Blaine or anything like that. This is new for both Kurt and his dad, and Kurt is having enough trouble coming to terms with the idea that everything he's ever wanted is finally there in front of him. If he really thinks about it, he's fairly certain his dad is having his own trouble coming to terms on his own side of things. More than just Kurt dating, or even that Kurt is dating a boy, there's the fact that there is someone new in Kurt' life. They just added two people to their lives with Carole and Finn and now there's Blaine, who's important to Kurt—so unbelievably, undeniably important—and Kurt doesn't doubt that his dad can see that.
As they step out of the copse of palm trees into the clearing that is used as a parking lot, Kurt finally sees his dad and Blaine standing near the bus. Blaine is saying something, and Burt actually laughs and reaches out to place his hand on Blaine's shoulder. Kurt stops and just watches as his dad says something, and Blaine nods and smiles, and then Burt pats his shoulder once before letting go. They both glance over towards the group and Kurt starts forward once more, making a beeline straight to his boyfriend who greets him with a smile as he approaches.
"Everything okay?" he whispers as everyone else begins to climb into the bus. "I'm so sorry he ambushed you like that!"
Blaine shrugs, and glances over Kurt's shoulder toward the bus. "It's fine, Kurt. Your dad's… a good person."
Immediately Kurt thinks of Blaine's dad, and he wants to say something comforting but he can't think of anything. So he tries to lighten the mood instead. "The guys were taking bets on the next soloist when my dad killed you."
It works. Blaine laughs. "Oh? Who was winning?"
"Actually, it sounds like I was." He turns and they both make their way up in to the bus.
"They may be obnoxious," Blaine says, loud enough to be heard by the others on the bus as he follows Kurt down the aisle toward their seats. "But they know a good vocalist when they hear one."
"Hence why we're eager to replace you," Flint calls out.
As Blaine turns to glare at the boy, Kurt can't help but lean over and remark, "Yeah, so you may be cute, but you totally walked into that one."
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Once Kurt makes it through security back at the ship, Blaine takes his hand, and they follow the rest of the group to the elevators. They still have a few hours before they need to get back into their uniforms for their two short performances that evening, so they all decide to meet up on the pool deck.
As they step into the elevator, Blaine tugs Kurt close, grinning as he teases, "Sure you're up for being out at the pool again? You might get some sun."
Kurt slaps his shoulder, rolling his eyes. "Baby steps. I'm in shorts. Be grateful."
Blaine laughs and pulls him a little closer so that their sides are pressed together. When the elevator reaches deck five and they step out, Kurt feels a hand on his shoulder and turns to find his dad behind him.
"Hey, kid, why don't you stop by our room before you head up to the pool?"
Kurt's gaze moves to Blaine who squeezes his hand and gives him a smile. "I'll meet you up there," he says, before pulling away and following Holden down the hall. Kurt hates that they already have to part, but he looks back at his dad and nods. "Yeah, I'll be there in a few."
He's quiet as he and Finn return to their room. Finn changes into his swim trunks in the bathroom while Kurt digs around in the closet for the umbrella he had tossed in there the other day. When Finn comes out, he tosses his clothes haphazardly on his bed, and looks over at his stepbrother who is still fiddling with the umbrella, dreading the coming talk with his dad.
"I'm sure it's gonna be okay," Finn says, obviously realizing why Kurt's so quiet. "I mean, Blaine survived it, right? And your dad loves you so I wouldn't worry too much."
"Thanks, Finn."
Finn shrugs. "Well, I'm gonna stop by and get my mom and head up to the pool. Good luck!"
Good luck. The words sound like a death knell.
Kurt continues to stall, fixing his hair in the mirror—adding hairspray, fixing it again, and adding more hairspray—and liberally and slowly applying sunblock to his face, neck, and the fraction of his legs showing between his shorts and boots. Then he picks up the room a little, throwing Finn's dirty clothing into one of the laundry bags and arranging their collection of Celebrity Today's by date on the desk. He finally realizes he has nothing left to do.
He grabs his messenger bag and the umbrella and heads out of the room, making his way down the corridor to where his parents' room is located. He knocks and it's only moments before his dad is pulling the door open and inviting him in.
"Finn and Carole already headed up to the pool," his dad says, moving to sit on the bed.
Kurt nods in acknowledgment, shifting from one foot to the other as he clings to the strap of his messenger bag.
His dad pats the mattress. "Sit down, Kurt."
Even as Kurt moves to take a seat on the bed beside his dad, he begins explaining, "Dad, I know I should have told you but it just kind of happened last night. One moment I'm all angry at Blaine because of a misunderstanding the next thing I know he's telling me he feels the same way I do, and it was the most amazing moment of my life. And I really meant to tell you but—"
"Slow down." His dad sets his hand on Kurt's shoulder and gives it a slight squeeze. "I don't care about that. It's not as if you were trying to hide it from me or anything. You made it pretty clear at breakfast this morning that you weren't just…friends anymore."
Kurt drops his gaze to his lap. "We were holding hands," he says softly. "We walked through the ship, just holding hands. I didn't want to let go."
"Yeah, well… remember when I said a few months back that you'd have to go it alone until you found someone as open and brave as you? Guess you found him, huh?"
Smiling a little, Kurt nods. "Yeah. I have." He worries his lower lip for a moment, considering just how honest with his dad he wants to be, and finally finds himself admitting, "I…I love him."
He's waiting to hear his dad say he's too young to know what love is, or that this is his first boyfriend so slow down, or they haven't even been dating for a day so how does he know what he's feeling, but Burt says none of these things. He just nods and continues to watch Kurt, as if waiting to see if he wants to say anything else. It gives him the courage to open up.
"He makes me feel… special. Like when he looks at me, he's thinking there's no one in the world like me. He always seems to say the right things. And he knows when I'm upset or when I just want to be left alone. Today," Kurt smiles as he says, "was one of the happiest days of my life."
"D'ya think I haven't noticed how you've been since you met him?" His dad asks. "I admit I was starting to get a little annoyed hearing Blaine this and Blaine that for the last couple of months." Kurt flushes, not having realized he's been that bad. "Gotta admit, I was kind of expectin' him to be some incredibly obnoxious punk kid from the way you went on about him like he's the greatest thing since sliced bread."
Kurt looks up at his dad worriedly. Oh no, is that what he thinks about Blaine?
"But he seems like a good kid." Burt shrugs. "Good head on his shoulders. Mature for his age, which I guess makes sense with what you've said about his parents." He pauses, rubbing at his chin thoughtfully. "Seems to think the world of you."
Kurt's fairly certain his heart just stopped. "Did… did he say that?"
His dad nods. "More or less. Seemed sincere enough. Could barely get him to stop talking once he started in on how talented you are."
Kurt's smiling like an idiot and he knows it.
"Guess what I want to say, kid, is I like Blaine, and I'm happy for you."
It hadn't occurred to Kurt until that moment that he'd been holding his breath, waiting to find out what his dad's opinion would be. He loves Blaine, and even if his dad had been against their relationship for whatever reason, he would have fought to make it work. It would have been difficult because his dad is pretty much everything in the world to him, and he couldn't even imagine putting distance between them. It scared him, the idea of losing one person he loves to hold on to the other.
"Thanks, Dad." He moves to hug him when he realizes the way his dad is looking at him means there's something else he wants to say. Kurt straightens his posture and meets his dad's gaze. "You're happy for me, but…?"
"But, I'm worried about you."
Kurt frowns. "Blaine isn't going to hurt—"
"It's not about Blaine. I honestly don't think he's capable of purposely hurting you. I could be wrong but he just doesn't seem the type so far." Burt sighs, pausing as if he isn't quite certain how to broach the discussion. "Everything you've had to deal with these last few years—the slushies, fighting to sing the songs you want to sing, to be allowed to be the person you are, the shoving, the… threats—" His dad breaks off, hand curling into a fist over his lap and Kurt reaches his hand out to take it, to force his dad to relax.
After a moment, Burt seems a little more in control of his emotion. "All of that, I need you to understand, is going to be nothing compared to what you and Blaine are going to have to face when people realize you're together. It's going to get ugly, Kurt. And I'm so glad you're at Dalton, so grateful to see those boys today accepting and supporting the two of you—but the rest of Ohio ain't like that, Kurt, and I gotta admit, I'm scared for the both of you."
Kurt looks away, the happiness he's been feeling falling away almost instantaneously.. He hasn't even thought about what will happen when they're back in Ohio; he's been too focused on here and now and the thrill of Blaine returning his feelings. He wonders if his dad knows about the laws on St. Lucia, and finds himself growing fearful of the laws on the other islands. How fair is it that he and Blaine aren't allowed to walk around these beautiful islands holding hands? That he's actually afraid to show his boyfriend affection for fear of the horrible things that could happen to them?
"You're one of the strongest people I've ever known, Kurt," his dad continues. "Mentally and emotionally. But against people like that Karofsky kid? There's only so much you can do. And there are others like him out there, Kurt. However hateful and ignorant it is, they won't want to see you and Blaine holding hands or going on dates together or being happy. And some of them may want to hurt you for it.
"You're outspoken, Kurt, and you're not afraid to show who you are, and I love every bit of that in you but those traits scare some people. And Blaine? That kid's even tinier than you, and I suspect his manners and bizarre need to be everyone's friend is part of his means of defense. But most bullies don't respond well to that. They'll see it as him thinkin' he's better than them. And the two of you, walkin' down the street, holdin' hands? They're not gonna like it, Kurt, and they're not gonna accept it."
Kurt lets the anger and frustration take over. He jumps up from the bed and moves around the small space, wishing he could just hit something. "So, what? Now that I finally have the chance to hold the hand of the boy I love, you're telling me I'm not supposed to?"
"I didn't say that," his dad replies. "I'd never say that. But I want you to be fully aware of what you've gotta deal with. I know right now all that you can think about is finally having what all of the other kids and your friends have, but it ain't that simple and you know it. What matters to me are your safety and your happiness."
Kurt crosses his arms over his chest, refusing to meet his dad's gaze. No matter what he says he's trying to tell him, it still sounds like he and Blaine aren't allowed to let anyone know that they're a couple. It hurts, and it makes him angry, and it's horrible but for the briefest of seconds, he wonders if it's even worth it at this point.
Then he hates himself for even thinking that.
"Everything you're saying makes me think you are completely against my relationship with Blaine—or any guy for that matter." Kurt knows he sounds sullen. He doesn't care.
His dad sighs. "C'mere and sit down."
Kurt stares at the bed for a moment before sighing loudly and moving over to drop down once more beside his dad.
"Look at me."
Kurt does.
"I would never take this chance away from you," Burt says quietly, intently. "Any idiot could see how happy you've been today; how happy you both seem to be. But I know you—the moment something happens to interrupt that happiness, you'll take it on like some cross you have to bear. And I don't doubt Blaine reacts the same." He reaches out and places his hand on Kurt's shoulder. "But I need you to promise me that the two of you won't try to be martyrs for gay teens everywhere. I told Blaine this today, and now I'm telling you. Whatever you may feel, the two of you do not have to go through this alone. If something happens, you tell me, you tell Carole, Finn—the point is we're here. We're here for you, and we're for Blaine, and we want to support you and keep you safe. Just promise me you'll always be honest with me, and come to me if there's ever a problem."
Whatever it is Kurt had been expecting, it isn't this. He gazes at his dad in silence for a long moment, unable to speak. His throat hurts and his eyes burn, and when his dad offers him an encouraging smile, he lets his tears fall. "I promise, Dad."
Burt nods and pulls him in to a hug. Kurt closes his eyes and just clings to the most amazing man he knows. He should be scared right now, with all of the warnings his dad has forced him to consider about what could be waiting for him and Blaine, but oddly, it's comfort he's feeling. Yes, he knows he's strong, and yes, he believes that he and Blaine can face pretty much anything together, but it's nice to know they don't have to. To know that there are some people out there in the world looking out for them, loving them and supporting them their right to love each other.
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When Kurt and his dad reach the pool deck, they find most of the Warblers crowded around one of the four hot tubs. A few of the others are sitting in the lounges under the covered area surrounding deck ten, talking to Carole. Kurt follows his dad over to find an empty lounge where he deposits his bag, considers the umbrella for a moment, and then decides he can forego it for at least a short while and makes his way over to the hot tub. Blaine is sitting on the edge of it, legs only dangling in the warm water, and he scoots over as Kurt approaches to make room. Kurt sits sidewise on the outside of the hot tub, and when he sets his hand down, Blaine quickly covers it with his own.
"How'd it go?" he asks softly.
Kurt just shrugs, not really wanting to talk about it. He's so torn between being reassured by what his dad said to him and being terrified of what could happen that he isn't quite certain what he's feeling at the moment.
"Do you want to go somewhere and talk about it?"
Blaine's gentle concern has the greatest calming effect ever. It's enough to get Kurt to offer him a smile as he shakes his head. "Not right now, no."
He turns his hand palm side up and their fingers intertwine. Kurt glances at the group around them, but the other Warblers aren't paying the couple any attention, too busy arguing over song ideas for Regionals. Apparently, Kendrick thinks they really need to do Raise Your Glass, and Flint is all for Party in the USA, but Holden and Dean want to sing Baby Got Back. Kurt can't help but be amused because Finn is listening to it all with wide-eyed wonder, as if he might somehow be gleaning important information to take back to New Directions. Little does he know that Wes and David, both of whom are remaining quiet throughout the discussion, probably already have their minds made up, and more than likely none of the suggestions being passionately argued for are even in the running. Blaine seems as amused by it as he is until Flint makes a comment that Blaine's vocals would be all wrong for Baby Got Back, and then Blaine dives right into the conversation, arguing his own abilities to carry that song.
Kurt's a little horrified over his boyfriend's insistence and allows his mind to wander elsewhere, instead of dwelling on the fact that his boyfriend has terrible taste in music. Namely to the fact that he's sitting next to his boyfriend, who is wearing nothing more than swim trunks, and oh, he'd still been so focused on his discussion with his dad that he hadn't really noticed. Now it hits him—he's sitting there next to his barely-dressed boyfriend, and they're holding hands, and if he wants to, he can just reach out and touch Blaine. He could offer to put more sun block on him, or just lean his head on his bare shoulder, or…
Realizing his breath has become a little shallow, Kurt forces himself to look away and collect himself. After all, it's not like he's actually going to do it. He hasn't even found the courage to kiss Blaine yet, let alone just randomly reach out and begin pawing at him. Of course, that thought just draws his gaze back to Blaine and he finds himself imagining pawing at him, sliding his hands over his shoulders and down his chest, finding out if Blaine is ticklish—and no, he didn't just stare at the line of dark hair extending from Blaine's belly button beneath his swim trunks.
"Something wrong, Kurt?"
He looks up to find Blaine watching him with concern, and that's when he realizes he's squeezing Blaine's hand really tight. He eases up a little but instead of thanking him, Blaine tugs on his hand, wanting him to move closer. Kurt takes a breath and does so, scooting closer so that their shoulders and thighs are touching. His heart is racing just a little bit.
Blaine slides their still linked hands over on to Kurt's lap, resting them there so that he is half embracing Kurt, and he leans in to whisper into his ear, "I'd like to think my boyfriend would want to sit closer to me."
Kurt's face flames at the words and the deep tone of Blaine's voice. Is this what flirting as a couple is like? What is he supposed to say? Does he have to say anything? It's still so difficult to process. He has someone who wants to be near him, who wants to touch him, who flirts with him and whispers in his ear and… well, there's also the fact that Blaine is really nice to look at.
When Kurt doesn't respond, Blaine returns to the conversation with the others—none of whom have made a single inappropriate comment or teased them—and Kurt tries to take the time to calm his racing heart. He can't help but lift his gaze to look around, wondering what people are thinking. He catches a few eyes cast in their direction, older people mostly, but they quickly look away when they realize he sees them. No one has said anything. There aren't any scowls or slurs. He lets out a breath and inches a little closer to the boy beside him, and then he just rests his head on Blaine's shoulder.
Blaine squeezes his hand in response.
It's perfect. He listens to the hum of the hot tub and the bubbling water, the boys teasing each other about who could pull off Pink and who would be absolutely horrible (they've all decided Blaine has to sing Pink, whether the council wants it or not), and the Latin music coming through the speakers around the deck. It's warm, and Blaine feels solid and comfortable beside him, so Kurt closes his eyes and tries to forget about the things that are bothering him. He wants to remember this moment—file it away for those times his dad warned him about.
"Can I get you anything?" Blaine says quietly against his hair after a while. "I'm in the mood for some fries."
"You just ate like two hours ago."
"I'm a teenage boy. I need food."
"At least you didn't refer to yourself as a growing teenage boy."
There's a beat, then, "A crack like that is just enough to get you tossed in the hot tub, Hummel."
"Do it and die. Not kidding. This sweater is Logen Dager. I would so kill you."
Blaine laughs and Kurt loves the feel of his body shaking beneath his cheek. "No, but seriously, do you want anything? Fruit? Something to drink?"
Realizing he is going to have to give up his comfortable spot, Kurt sits up with a sigh and nods. He finds himself touching Blaine's arm, just running his free hand down the length of it, smiling when goose pimples appear over the skin beneath his fingers. He hears Blaine's breath hitch slightly, and Kurt can't help but love that he is able to do such a thing to him.
"Now I don't know if I can get up," Blaine mutters.
Kurt feels his cheeks warm with his blush, and really? He could do that to Blaine just by touching him? The realization is both wonderful and terrifying. He pulls away slightly, releasing Blaine's hand. "Water," he says, not looking at his boyfriend. "Water is fine."
Blaine seems to understand because he doesn't ask him what is wrong. He sits there a moment longer before swinging his legs out of the water and over the side of the hot tub, jumping down to the deck. Before walking away, he places his hands on Kurt's thighs, forcing him to look up as Blaine leans in close.
"I'll be right back," he says with a smile.
Kurt feels the urge to kiss him suddenly, but then Blaine is pulling away and moving across the deck toward the outside bar and buffet. A few seconds later, Kendrick and Finn bound after him.
I almost kissed him, Kurt thinks. If Blaine hadn't left when he did, Kurt knows he would have kissed him. Then and there, in front of everyone, and that isn't how he'd pictured it in his head. Still, there had been something in the moment, something about how close he'd been standing, his hands on Kurt's legs, and the quiet time just sitting together that they'd shared. It hadn't been a desperate urge; more like something that simply fit. A perfect moment in time when he'd felt the need to express his affection to Blaine.
I can do this, he thinks, gazing across the deck to where Blaine and Kendrick look positively ridiculous dwarfed as they are by Finn. His stepbrother and Kendrick are goofing off, fighting to get to the burgers first, while Blaine just looks amused by the both of them. I'm going to kiss him, Kurt thinks as Blaine fills a plate full of fries. Finn snatches the burger that Kendrick just grabbed from off of his plate and moves on in line as Kendrick calls him a few unflattering names. He watches as Blaine and Finn tussle momentarily over who gets to use the ketchup first—Finn ends up holding Blaine aside with one arm stretched out, and Blaine just looks really annoyed. Kurt thinks:
Tonight I am going to kiss my boyfriend.
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There's an odd vibrating undercurrent to the Warblers tonight; Kurt can't help but wonder if it can be attributed to the need to get it right this time, to make it better than last night. He doesn't want to think so much of this new relationship with Blaine to imagine that somehow their happiness with one another is wending its way through the others, but then again, it's totally a possibility. When Blaine gets up there and sings, Kurt can't help but beam the entire time. That's my boyfriend! He wants to shout to everyone. That's my amazing, gorgeous, talented, ridiculously charming boyfriend! Go ahead and be jealous because you should be! When Blaine steps back to allow Nick to take his position for the lead on White Christmas, they smile at one another and Kurt knows he probably looks ridiculous all over again, beaming like an idiot as he stands next to his boyfriend.
The applause at the end of the song is enthusiastic, and as Kendrick starts to take his position for Frosty the Snowman, a girl's voice calls out from one of the tables:
"Sing Baby Its Cold Outside!"
Others call out in agreement.
"Huh. They must have missed the late performance," David remarks as Blaine glances over at Wes in question.
Wes shrugs and motions him forward.
Stepping out in front, Blaine looks back at Kurt, and Kurt gives him a big smile before moving up to stand with him. As the group begins the harmony, Blaine waves his hand toward Kurt to begin.
The song is different this time, better, and Kurt can't imagine how that is, it just is. They weave in and out of the small tables where passengers are gathered. When Blaine catches his hands and pulls him back, the embraces are real, the need is real. Kurt can tell, just by his own tone in his singing that this time, he's only saying no to tease his boyfriend, to flirt with him—he means yes. He totally would rather stay inside with Blaine where it's warm than go out in the snow. He kind of loves seeing Blaine chase after him, though, begging and pleading and really just showing how much he wants him.
Even the audience seems to have fun with it, laughing and encouraging either Blaine's pursuit or Kurt's quick get-away. There are a few people who get up and leave, but Kurt doesn't need to worry about that—not when he is singing a flirtatious duet with his boyfriend on a cruise ship in the middle of the Caribbean, and most of the people around them are having a blast. This is what matters, he thinks as Blaine finally catches him, snatches his hand, and this time, Kurt doesn't fight as he pulls him near and exclaims, "Get over that hold out!"
"Ahh, but it's cold outside!"
The applause is as thunderous as it was for the early show the night before, and a fraction of the crowd is present. Kurt figures it's because most of them have been drinking. He and Blaine smile and take their bows, then step back in line so that Kendrick can sing Frosty the Snowman. Kurt thinks he could get used to singing duets with his boyfriend on a nightly basis, and plans on making certain it happens, even if it's just for the two of them. He wants to sing with Blaine more often.
Once the set is over, the Warblers congregate around the bar for coffee. Mr. Price shows up, looking like he got far too much sun that day, and lays his hands on Blaine and Kurt's shoulders.
"Excellent performance, guys. The passengers are buzzing about you. Ramsey isn't around, and I doubt he'll show up at the Ocean Bar—he's more than likely in the casino. But hopefully word will get back to him."
They both thank him, and the adviser watches them for a moment before saying, "You're both incredibly talented. Hopefully the council means to take advantage of that fact at Regionals."
Blaine shrugs. "That'll be up to them, sir. Whatever is best for the group."
Kurt literally has to close his eyes in order not to roll them at his boyfriend. It's one thing to be humble; it's quite another to be stupid. While winning Regionals might leave Kurt feeling some guilt over taking that away from New Directions, he knows that the two of them would kill the competition if they sang a duet together for it. Something like Somewhere Out There or Come What May or Knew You Were Waiting for Me. As much as he is looking forward to singing another duet in the next few days with Blaine, he can't help but feel like Nobody Wants to be Lonely is all wrong for them.
Their next performance outside on the aft deck at the Ocean Bar goes just as well as the first. Maybe better because these people are even drunker. Half the crowd is made up of twenty-something Canadians who keep tossing back shots and beer and seem to want to get up and dance to every song—Christmas music or no. Wes encourages them to sing Baby It's Cold Outside again, and Kurt swears that during one pass around a table of onlookers, someone grabs his ass. Maybe he imagined it, or maybe it was an accident. Whatever it was, he danced away quickly to get back to the Warblers.
Afterwards, they spend a good half hour shaking hands with passengers and answering questions as they come up to meet the boys. They offer to buy them drinks, and of course Holden and Jared and even Galen are quick to accept—luckily, Mr. Price is standing behind them and promptly reminds them about write-ups.
"Time to head to dinner, guys," their adviser calls out, and they thank everyone again as they make their way through the small crowd and back through the Ocean Café to head down to the dining hall.
When they arrive at their tables for dinner, Kurt's family is already there, waving to them as they approach. At the table, Blaine pulls the chair beside Burt out, and then steps back and waves his hand to Kurt. It's silly and cheesy and horribly romantic, but Kurt can't help but feel a little like he needs to be pinched as he slides into the offered seat. Blaine sits down beside him, already engaged in conversation with his dad, telling him about the two performances, and making incredibly witty and charming comments about the Canadians.
How are you even real? Kurt wonders as he stares at his boyfriend until Francisco hands him his menu.
Blaine orders escargot as an appetizer—escargot!—and Finn kind of freaks out over the idea of snails. Then Holden, Brett and Jeff all over the escargot as well, and Finn is left questioning each of them as to why, and how, and really? When Blaine orders the filet mignon, and asks for it rare, Kurt panics a little over the idea of his boyfriend being a red-meat eating carnivore until Blaine explains that on a cruise ship, "If you want medium, you order rare, and if you want well-done, you order medium. And well, if you want shoe leather, go ahead and order it well-done."
Kurt isn't entirely certain if he should believe that or not. He orders the lobster ravioli.
When the appetizers arrive, Kurt watches in fascination as Blaine pulls one of the snails out of the little cup of garlic butter and eats it. He's always wanted to try the dish, but never had the opportunity. "What's it like?"
"Umm, garlic and butter," Blaine says with a shrug. "It doesn't really have much of a taste. Here. Try it." He stabs one with his fork and holds it up to Kurt.
"Dude, are you really gonna eat that?" Finn asks from the other side of the table.
Honestly, even if he had never wanted to try it, with the way Blaine is looking at him, offering his food on his fork, and just waiting patiently for Kurt to take it… well, even if it were a rare bite of steak, he'd do it. He leans in and slips his mouth around the fork, and wow, Blaine wasn't kidding about the garlic. Pulling back, he chews, a little more quickly than usual because the texture is odd, and a little like rubber, but it does taste just like he said—garlic and butter.
"Not bad. A little chewy, though. It's also a little rough getting past the fact that it's a snail."
Blaine smiles at him like he's the most perfect person in the entire world for even trying it.
Blaine is also proven right when his steak arrives and it isn't even a little bit red. Kurt can spy just a hint of pink in the very center, but that's it. Even Holden admits, "I learned my lesson the first cruise our parents took Brett and I on. I ordered it medium—could have used it for a hockey puck."
The conversation is relaxed and fun. His dad and Carole end up asking the boys what they liked best about the excursion. Somewhere between their entrees and dessert, Kurt and Blaine have joined hands under the table, just holding on to each other, and occasionally engaging in a thumb war. Kurt doesn't order a dessert, but Blaine insists he at least try a bite of his warm chocolate volcano—and there is no way Kurt can keep a straight face when he says it. He doesn't even care that his parents and the other Warblers are there. The line is meant for teasing.
"I can't believe you offered me a bite of your warm chocolate volcano!"
Blaine actually blushes, and looks completely uncomfortable as Burt sighs heavily and takes a big swallow of his single glass of red wine. Loving Blaine just a little bit more for being at once adorable and embarrassed, Kurt leans in and tells him he would love to try a bite, and Blaine looks like he just might refuse before scooping some on to his spoon and holding it out to Kurt.
He decides then and there that he really likes being fed by his boyfriend.
When dinner ends, they all mill around the two tables between them for a few minutes, talking about the excursion tomorrow and the fact that they need to begin rehearsing their next set of music. Kurt takes Blaine's hand and is rewarded with a smile as Burt and Carole stop beside them to say they are heading back to their stateroom. He hugs them both with one arm, refusing to let go of his boyfriend, and wishes them a goodnight.
"So what now?" Blaine asks, gazing at Kurt in a way that makes his toes curl.
"Um." Kurt glances around. "We could maybe go for a walk? I mean, if you want."
"That sounds great."
Blaine lets go of Kurt's hand then, causing momentary confusion, until he holds his arm out to him. It takes Kurt a moment to realize what he's supposed to do—or maybe he just can't believe it—and finally he slips his own through it, hand curling around Blaine's bicep. His boyfriend's resulting smile is probably the most beautiful thing in the world at that moment as he guides him toward the restaurant exit, where they both stop to accept some offered mints from the maître'd, and continue on toward the stairs and the doors leading outside.
They walk quietly along the deck and Blaine squeezes the arm tucked in his, looking over to give Kurt another smile as he squeezes back. "Had a good day?" he asks after a few minutes.
Kurt nods and smiles. "Mostly, yes. I mean, there were some things…" He trails off and doesn't really want to get into that conversation at the moment, so he makes a joke instead. "Like when I thought my first ever boyfriend was being murdered by my dad."
Blaine laughs. "I admit to being a little nervous at first—I've never actually had someone's dad want to talk to me before. But it was fine. Your dad really loves you, Kurt."
"I know." Kurt reaches up and plucks at Blaine's sleeve on the arm his own is curled around. "I'm not certain what I'd do without him." More bad thoughts. He pushes them aside and smiles as he says, "He likes you, you know. He told me so."
"Well, that's helpful." Blaine glances over at him. "I'm sorry to say you won't be meeting my family any time soon."
Kurt shakes his head. "I don't want to. Except for Jameson; I think I'd like him."
Blaine smiles but doesn't respond.
They stop toward the bow of the ship, and Kurt slips his arm out from Blaine's as they both lean against the railing, shoulders touching. The moon is hidden, and the view beyond the ship is little more than darkness. The lights of another cruise ship can be seen a couple miles away on the horizon. Kurt wonders fancifully if there is someone like him onboard that ship, experiencing love and the feeling of being wanted for the first time.
He glances at the boy beside him and can't help but stare. Blaine's eyes are darker here, without a light to reflect the greens and golds hidden in the amber. He's studied Blaine's eyes a lot since they met. People always carry on about how blue eyes are perfect and most desired, but Kurt's decided that truly isn't the case. He'll take whatever color Blaine's eyes are over any other ever.
"What are you staring at? Do I have warm chocolate volcano on my face?"
Kurt laughs both at being caught, and Blaine's extremely inappropriate innuendo. He shakes his head and admits, "I keep trying to put a name to the color of your eyes, and I'm having trouble. Which is stupid because I am amazing with colors. Your eyes just keep thwarting my attempts. Hazel just isn't an appropriate description, you know? It's boring, and your eyes are anything but."
Blaine is smiling at him. "I think I'm a little bit in love with your flirting methods, Kurt."
Kurt flushes because he is flirting, and steps it up a notch as he glances up at Blaine from under his lashes. "So, it's working then?"
"Yeah, totally."
Kurt smiles and they're really so close, just leaning on the railing with their elbows, their arms and shoulders pressed together. He realizes he doesn't want to wait anymore. I'm ready for this, he thinks, just as ready as he was on the pool deck earlier. He takes a breath and continues to watch Blaine, the way Blaine's eyes are now looking at his lips, just lingering there, and it's all of the encouragement that he needs. Biting his lower lip briefly in a last moment of uncertainty, he closes those few inches between them to press their lips together.
There aren't fireworks or stars dancing around his head or any other one of the many clichés he's been led to believe are supposed to occur when you first kiss the person you love. It's better than that, actually, because it's real and it's happening. Blaine is returning his kiss, lips warm and slightly wet against his mouth. They don't fall into each other's arms or pull at each other's hair or even gasp about how much they love each other and how long they've waited for this. They just kiss until it feels right to stop, and then they both pull back and smile at one another.
Kurt realizes he's been holding his breath the entire time. He releases it, and with it feels something uncoil deep within him. For just a moment it makes his chest ache and his eyes burn. There's pain and fear, wonder and joy, and he's completely overwhelmed. He barely feels Blaine's fingers brushing against the back of his hand, a slow and soothing touch.
"You all right?" Blaine asks softly, his fingers now moving over Kurt's wrist.
Kurt nods, still unable to speak. Somehow, at the moment, words are impossible.
Blaine just continues to touch him lightly, steadily, until Kurt finally feels the ache begin to lessen. Little by little, the awfulness of everything that has been constricting his heart for so long is beginning to let go. He breathes, and he looks up at Blaine, and knows he's not afraid anymore.
Seeming to sense this, Blaine says quietly, "I hope that was better than your first kiss."
Kurt's not lying when he replies, "That was my first kiss."
Then Kurt finds himself leaning in again, because Blaine's lips had still tasted like chocolate volcano, and he wants to experience that feeling of having their lips pressed together once more. This time it's easier, not so terrifying. He lets Blaine take control, adding pressure and deepening the kiss just a bit so that their lips become more entwined than pressed. Kurt finds himself relaxing ever so slowly, head angling opposite Blaine's, sighing softly against Blaine's mouth when he feels his fingers brush against his jaw.
He doesn't know how long they just stand there, leaning against the railing, learning the taste and touch and feel of one another. However long it is, he's pretty certain he'd be more than okay with doing this forever. It ends anyway. Blaine presses his forehead against Kurt's, his fingers still sweeping along his jaw, and Kurt keeps his eyes closed, enjoying the moment.
"You okay?" Blaine whispers.
"Perfect," Kurt responds just as quietly and somehow he feels Blaine's smile.
Blaine's hand slips away from his face, and Kurt instantly misses his touch until he feels arms encircle his waist, pulling him closer. He opens his eyes and smiles as Blaine lays his head on Kurt's shoulder. He rests his head against Blaine's, arms sliding around his shoulders, and they just stand there, holding one another. This may be the most perfect moment of my life, Kurt thinks as he stares out at the blackness of the water, occasionally broken by the whitecaps of the waves. He can hear the faint music of the ship's band Sipra playing in Cosmos lounge and the wind whistling through the bars in the railing. The Millennium's engines rumble beneath them as Blaine's fingers sweep gently across his back.
He says what he is most feeling in that moment, "I can't believe this is real."
Blaine's arms tighten around him slightly. "Me neither."
Tonight it's Kurt who walks Blaine back to his stateroom. They can hear the television from a couple of the Warblers' rooms that they pass, but the corridor is empty and quiet. They stop in front of the door and Blaine leans a shoulder against the wall, their fingers still tangled together between them.
"So, Barbados tomorrow. Snorkeling and swimming. You up for it?"
Kurt gives him a coy smile. "Maybe."
"Does this mean I might actually get to see you in swim trunks?"
"Maybe," Kurt says again with a little shrug of his shoulders.
Blaine gives Kurt a sleepy smile that Kurt is pretty certain the most adorable thing he's ever seen. For some reason, he thinks of his dad and Finn's comments about Blaine being smaller than him and the most unexpected feeling of protectiveness surges through him. It makes him step closer and cup Blaine's face, kissing him right there in the corridor. Kissing him with all of the ridiculous happiness he is feeling and the terror and the need and the thankfulness. When he pulls back, Blaine looks a little awestruck.
"What was that for?" he asks, slightly breathless.
Kurt shakes his head. "Just an urge."
Blaine smiles. "You should give into those more often," he says, making Kurt laugh.
They kiss again, brief and chaste this time, and Kurt steps back. "See you tomorrow?"
"Looking forward to it," Blaine responds, giving Kurt's hand a light squeeze before he slides his passcard into the lock and disappears into his room.
Kurt stands there for a long moment, staring at the space Blaine just vacated. A slow smile spreads across his face before he turns and heads down to his stateroom.
