"Mercedes, you were right." Kurt said over tacos during their lunch break.
"I'm right a lot, about what this time." Mercedes asked with a smirk.
"Blaine." Kurt flushed bright red. "I like him."
"Holy hell, he admits it!" Her smirk morphed into a bright smile. "Now how'd you come to this conclusion, mister?"
"He came over to borrow sugar last night, and I ended up inviting him for dinner." Kurt explained. "After he stayed and sang pop songs with Mary for almost two hours before I sent her to bed."
"Did he stay after that?" Mercedes asked.
"We had another cup of coffee and talked for another half hour, but we both go in at eight, so not really." Kurt shrugged.
"He's got a mommy shift too?" Mercedes asked.
"That's the part you get stuck on?" Kurt rolled his eyes. "He works eight to six four days a week. Those are the bank hours, so they figured it was easier that way. And my eight to four shift is not a 'mommy shift'. I don't know why you call it that."
"All the moms take that shift. All the moms and you." Mercedes pointed out. "Anyway. So he stays for dinner and entertains the munchkin? That still doesn't tell me how you realized your undying love."
"It's not 'undying love'." Kurt glared. "It's a crush."
"Either way, spill" She ordered.
"He was just being goofy and doing some harmless friendly flirting. It worked on me." Kurt sighed. "How do I stop feeling like this? I'm showing him around the neighborhood tomorrow and I don't know what to do."
"Take him around then bring him home and fuck him." Mercedes answered and took a sip of her drink. "You already said Mary's out till four, you got enough time."
Kurt looked at her, completely flabbergasted. "What the fuck? No way in hell am I doing that!"
"Oh, I forgot." She shook her head. "You're effectively a virgin."
"I beg to differ." Kurt glared.
"You've had sex twice." She raised her eyebrows at him. "Have you forgotten that you tell me everything? I even know about that rash you got last month from jerking off too much. I had to go get you that cream 'cause you couldn't with Mary attached to your hip." All of Kurt's blood was officially residing in his cheeks. "Yeah, exactly. You can hide nothing from your hag."
"Does that make me your GBF?" Kurt asked to diffuse the situation.
"Of course it does." She pated his arm lightly. "We've got five minutes, we better go."
"I don't wanna." Kurt complained.
"C'mon, baby." She took his arm and led him to the trashcan so they could get rid of their wrappers and go. "I promise not to give you so many files."
"Thank you, 'Cedes." Kurt felt like nuzzling her, and he didn't like nuzzling. Instead he settled for hugging her.
It was September by the time Kurt managed to get a job that didn't involving him wearing a terrible orange uniform and getting people greasy food. He was more than embarrassed by how much his father had to contribute for them to keep the house they were renting. However, Mary loved having her own room for the first time, and Kurt didn't want to take that from her. The fact that he was enjoying having a house as well certainly added to his decision to keep quiet about fatherly contributions.
He had managed to get a paid intern position, and on his first day he met Mercedes. He was in the lobby waiting for the person they were sending down to pick up him and the two others they'd hired. He was the first one and there so he sat in one of the slightly uncomfortable looking, but highly chic chairs.
"You look right." She was suddenly in front of him, and then sitting next to him. "You here for the internship too?"
"Yeah." Kurt nodded. He'd had to put on his most fashionable outfit that day, and while a few years ago it wouldn't have been a problem, it had taken him over an hour to stop ripping his closet apart. Six years of being a dad had taken a toll on his wardrobe. He'd had a panic attack and wanted to burn every piece of clothing he owned. The last thing he'd bought for himself was a new pair of black dress pants from the dollar store because his other pair had ripped and he didn't have time to sew it before he had to go to work. After he'd managed to calm himself down he'd dropped Mary off with Quinn for a few hours and hunted through thrift stores and pawn shops until he had managed to assemble a week's worth of outfits he could wear until he got his first paycheck and could add a few more.
"Thought so." She looked him over appraisingly. "You're style could use a little work, but I kinda like it anyway." Kurt fought the urge to look down at his clothes, the fashionista pride he'd all but lost flaring up stronger than when he'd gotten the job to begin with. "I'm Mercedes."
"Like the car." Kurt nodded. She'd probably heard that a million times over, but Kurt didn't care. He kind of wanted to annoy her.
"But better." She winked. "So you got a name, white boy?"
"That's a bit crass." Kurt informed her. "You might want to watch that." Mercedes didn't look affronted. Instead she just gave him a look that clearly indicated that she was waiting for his answer. "Kurt." He gave in. "Kurt Hummel."
"So your parents liked The Sound of Music as much as mine liked cars." She nodded to herself. "Good to know, cutie." She winked at him and gently touched his knee for a second. "How old are you? You look about my age."
"I'm almost 23." Kurt answered. He inched farther away from her, he didn't like people touching him so casually.
"A little older than me then." Mercedes laughed. "Where'd you graduate from?"
Kurt wondered if she had a list of questions, it kind of felt like the 20 questions game. "NYU."
"I went to FIT." She volunteered. Kurt kind of didn't care. He looked around a bit desperately for the third intern that was supposed to be there. He didn't see anyone. "I visited the NYU campus a few times, it really nice."
"Yeah." Kurt agreed. He honestly hadn't ever paid much attention to the campus. He was always too busy with Mary, School, or Work. Now he was just busy with Mary and Work. Even in his head those words had capital letters.
"There was this big party there a few months back, a graduation party. I was free so I went, I'm sorry I missed you there. I definitely would have noticed you." Mercedes touched his leg again.
Kurt moved it away. "I didn't go." He really didn't like…whatever this girl was doing. It was freaking him out.
"Why not, cutie?" She asked. Thankfully she kept her hands to herself this time.
"Couldn't." Even if Kurt had knew about the party and wanted to go, he wouldn't have left Mary. Or his dad, Burt was in town all around graduation and Kurt had loved having his dad so close.
"Couldn't?" She questioned. Kurt really wanted to get away from her right then. Luck seemed to be on his side. The third intern walked in just as the fierce lady who would be assigning them their job exited the elevator. She made a bee line for Kurt, Mercedes, and Third Intern, stopping about halfway through the lobby to crook her finger in a 'c'mere' motion and turn on her dangerous looking heel to go back the way she'd come. Without a word all three followed.
Kurt was assigned to follow the pregnant secretary he'd be taking over for in a month so he could learn everything he'd have to do for the three months she'd be out. Linda was nice, but pregnancy had made her miserable sometimes. Kurt was instantly reminded of Brittany. By the end of the day he was suggesting all the things that had helped Brittany and even offering to make her the avocado and lime mix that Brittany still sometimes demanded for her skin.
"You have a pregnant sister or something Kurt?" She asked after he'd offered.
Kurt suddenly didn't know what to say. It had been so long since he'd really talked with somebody who didn't know. "No." Kurt answered finally. "I'm a dad."
"You look so young." Linda had laughed. "I thought for sure you were only twenty, I guess I'm wrong. So you're married?"
Kurt was again tongue tied. "I…no. I'm not married." He managed. "I'm twenty two also."
"Oh, I'm sorry." Linda apologized. "I guess I'm just not used to people having children without being married." She leaned in, put a hand to her mouth and stage whispered like it was a secret, "All my friends are married." Then she leaned away again. "You look good for your age kid. Though being so young and a parent probably hasn't been easy on you and your girlfriend."
Kurt decided then that he didn't want to get into the truth anymore. He just smiled and nodded and then asked Linda how to use the copier again.
Three weeks in Mercedes cornered him in the break room. Kurt was actually kind of freaked out by this and instantly thought of the mob. When she opened her mouth Kurt considered begging and whining about not being able to leave Mary alone. But then actual words came out of her mouth and Kurt felt stupid. "Hello, Kurt." She said. "It's nice to see you again."
"Hi." Kurt tried to smile so he could hide the residual freaked out feeling and the stupidity he was fighting. "Mercy right?" He remembered her name, but felt like making her mad. She had scared the living shit out of him. Also, he remembered her inappropriate touching he'd since realizing was 'flirting'.
"Mercedes." She corrected kindly. "Though if you want to shorten my name I'm not opposed to 'Cedes."
"Okay." Kurt nodded. She was blocking the door.
"Do you want to get drinks with me and Henrietta after work today?" She asked. "She's the other intern, I don't know if you met her yet."
"I can't." Kurt said in his kindest voice. He had to pick up Mary from Mrs. Jenkins early that day actually. She had a doctor's appointment and could only watch her for an hour after school.
"Why not?" She asked.
"I have plans." Kurt answered.
She raised her eyebrows at him and stared for a bit. Then she sighed and shook her head. She finally moved away from the door and went to sit at the table, a few seats away and on the other side of the table Kurt was happy to notice. "You're the mystery man around here."
"What?" Kurt felt himself pulling a face and forced his features into a neutral expression.
"I mean that nobody knows anything about you. Linda is too hormonal and scary for anyone to ask and most barely care." Mercedes answered.
"Then why do you?" Kurt heard himself ask.
"Because," She shrugged. "Despite the enigma around you, you kind of seem cool. I'd like to be friends with you."
"Oh." Kurt was sort of stunned.
"Also, you're kind of hot. If 'friends' turns to more, I wouldn't say no." She ruined it.
Kurt was stunned, for a different reason this time. He'd always been out of the closet, even when he hadn't known what that meant. He was the kid without a closet. How the hell did this girl not know that? Kurt hadn't thought he'd ever been mistaken for straight before, not even when that had been the goal.
"I'm gay." Kurt said with wide eyes.
Mercedes just shrugged again. "Figured, but you can't assume things these days. I had to try. I've decided to assume everyone's bi until I'm told different." She gave him a brilliant smile. "So, you want a hag?"
Kurt had a feeling he was getting one regardless of his answer.
"Dad, I'm grateful you're paying for the flight, but I really can't stay that long. I told Linda today that I had a wedding to go to and she was alright with that. I can miss Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, but I have to be in on Thursday. There's a show coming up and I might not be close to it, but the whole building gets crazy. I can't be off too long. Besides, who the hell gets married on a Wednesday, what is that?" Kurt sighed into his phone.
"I always thought that Puck kid was weird." Burt agreed. "Well do what you can, I already sent you the credit card number, just book a good flight. If you want Mary can go back a different day."
"I'm not sending her alone." Kurt shook his head.
"You're sending her alone to California and that's a much longer flight. Think of it as a trail run. Listen, kid, I can take care of my grandbaby for a few days. Send her back on Saturday or something." Burt reasoned. Kurt really couldn't come up with a counter argument for that.
"Alright, but try not to let her eat anything too fattening, or red."
"You're really uptight about that, kid. She's just allergic to red dye, a little watermelon isn't gonna kill her."
"Dad." Kurt whined.
"Alright." Burt sighed. "Go schedule the flight, Carole's calling me. I'll talk to you later."
There was knock on the door
"I'm being summoned too. Bye, Dad."
Kurt got off the couch and went to the door. He peered through the peep hole and saw the top of a curly head. "Blaine." Kurt ignored the way the movement of the door pulled the scent of Blaine's cologne into the house and right up his nose.
"Hi." He smiled sheepishly. "Um…do you by chance know how to bake?"
"What did you do?" Kurt asked suddenly weary. He knew he'd smelt some type of burning before.
"I kind of managed to massacre my cookies. They really didn't stand a chance. Poor martyrs." Blaine's sheepish smile stayed firmly on his face.
"Okay. Bring me the recipe." Kurt shook his head. Blaine nodded and went to retrieve it. Kurt left his door unlocked and went to sit at the kitchen island.
Blaine entered with a light knock on the already opening door. "Here it is. Cinnamon cookies." He held out a black blob of burnt. "This is actually the least burnt one. I don't really know how it happened. I only put them in for 20 minutes."
Kurt looked over the recipe. "Well, that's probably five minutes too much, but they shouldn't have burned like that. What else did you do?" Blaine took the recipe from him and explained.
"Okay, Blaine, you're never allowed to bake again. Do you understand?" Blaine nodded sagely. "It was my first attempt really. I've made those canned biscuits before, but mostly I just get take out."
"Is that what you're planning on feeding your nephew?" Kurt asked. Take out had a lot of salt in it, Kurt tried to keep away from it most days. Today he'd pigged out and had tacos, but once or twice a week was his indulgence quotient.
"Sure." Blaine nodded. "The only thing I'm good at cooking is canned soup."
"He's going to be dead by the end of the two weeks." Kurt felt bad for this kid already.
"I can't help it; I went to a boarding school and then moved to a city with a place to eat every two feet. I never had to learn how to cook before." Blaine defended himself. "The one time Mom tried to teach me I set off the fire alarm and she wouldn't let me in the kitchen for three days."
"Okay," Kurt huffed. "How about instead of showing you around tomorrow I teach you how to cook a few simple things? I know you've only eaten my pasta, but I was being lazy that day. I normally get much more elaborate. Also, as a bonus, everything I cook is healthier and cheaper than take out."
"Kurt." Blaine's eyes were huge. "You are seriously the best new friend I've ever had." He threw his arms around Kurt and the smell of him was overwhelming. Kurt felt his insides revolt and melt at the same time. He wanted to stay like that forever, held against Blaine by the mop head's strong arms, but he also wanted to back Blaine into a wall and devour his mouth, then the rest of him.
Damn his libido went crazy around this guy. Pointedly thinking of Brittany and Santana getting it on to kill his awaking hard on, Kurt gently pulled himself away from Blaine. "I'll accept that compliment."
"There will be a lot more. I'm kind of known for them." Blaine winked. "'Specially when the boy is cute."
Kurt looked away so Blaine wouldn't see his face flush. "Good to know." Kurt made himself smile, hoping he didn't look like he was leering.
"Daddy!" Mary screeched from upstairs.
"What?" Kurt yelled, ignoring the rudeness of yelling in favor of the distraction.
"When's dinner? I'm hungry!" Mary answered.
"I thought you were Mary!" Kurt answered. "Six thirty, like always!"
"I wonder if I'd be able to hear you guys from my side?" Blaine wondered aloud.
"Probably." Kurt answered. "'Hungry' up there has quite the set of lungs."
"From you no doubt." Blaine leaned back against the island.
"Or her mother, I don't really know. We both sing." Kurt shrugged. "You want coffee or something?"
"Nah. Coffee gets me too jittery before I go play. It's better if I just chill a little." Blaine answered.
"Water then? Iced tea? I think I might have soda in there somewhere." Kurt said pointing to the fridge.
"Well, if you insist on making me drink something, water's good." Blaine took a seat.
"I'm not forcing you." Kurt assured him and opened a cabinet to get a glass.
"I know. You're just a good host. My family is always on my case about that."
"You were fine the night you moved in." Kurt set a full glass of water in front of Blaine and poured some milk in a mug for himself. He stuck it in the microwave to heat. He hated cold milk.
"Ah, but I was trying. It didn't come naturally trust me." Blaine informed him.
"So when do you go?" He was already dressed like he was going out, a tight black shirt and jeans that hugged his legs very nicely. His hair wasn't in the shellacked helmet he'd seen the few times he'd caught Blaine coming home in his business suit. Instead it was bouncing around his head adorably. He didn't look like he'd just come back from work at all.
"I'm leaving around nine." Blaine shrugged. "I like to get dressed early, if I put on different clothes after my shower I'd never leave the house. I'm kinda lazy that way."
"Oh." Kurt agreed. "I have to start dinner, my daughter will probably eat her computer if I don't."
"Alright. I'll leave you then." Blaine stood.
"Do you want to start cooking lessons early?" Kurt asked before he could stop himself. "I'm just making steak today, nothing fancy."
"Sure." Blaine smiled. "I'd like that."
AN: So chapter ten...I kind of just realized I have no idea how long this is going to be. I just keep thinking of more things...
Anyway, Read and Review please lovelies.