During the first weekend after Kurt returned to school, his aunt had to go out of town to take care of some distant family matters—Everett thought that she had said that Kurt's great uncle's health was declining—so Keegan had, of course, taken the young boy in for the short time that she said she would be away. Keegan, who had given his word that he wouldn't let Kurt in on the fact that a family member had fallen ill, did his best to keep Kurt's mind off the fact that his aunt was gone for just a little while, distracting him by letting him pick the movies they watched, and having his kitchen destroyed as Kurt splattered the walls with cake batter, and getting his ear talked off as he asked Kurt how he was doing in school. Everett didn't understand why Kurt couldn't know about the woe in his family, as his own parents hadn't ever tried to hide any misfortunes from him, but he certainly didn't mind watching Keegan look out for Kurt like he was a piece of fragile glass. If Kurt wanted a castle, Keegan would have built it for him with his bare hands.
That morning, Everett had been left in the living room with Kurt as Keegan busied himself upstairs, and although both of them were quiet because Kurt was staring at the TV, which showed a movie with a lot of kissing and singing and dancing, and Everett just had no idea what he could say to the boy who he felt spoke a different language, Everett didn't mind being down here with Kurt. The two of them sat side by side on the couch, Kurt curled into a small ball on his side, bundled up in a fuzzy blanket, while Everett lounged with his legs spread wide and his arms lying limply over the arm of the couch. Even though Kurt often made him feel fat and awkward, and even though Kurt was the most beautiful thing Everett had ever seen, Kurt was still very demure and humble, with an aura of kindness around him that could be detected as soon as Everett looked into those big, sparkling eyes. While he could have easily been bitter because he let his looks go to his head, and expected everyone to be at his beck and call, Kurt was actually very sweet, to the point that Everett wondered if he knew how to be mean.
Just as Keegan said, there was an innocence about him that Everett felt needed to be sheltered from the big, bad world. With his childlike naivety, it was like Kurt had no clue how absolutely stunning he was, which Everett thought was a nice change from the arrogant men he used to hang around. And because of that, Kurt was more than willing to sit with the likes of Everett, an idea that both flattered him and horrified him. All Everett could do was hope that, one day, someone like him wouldn't hurt Kurt. At the sound of Keegan's heavy footsteps clomping down the stairs, Everett was pulled out of his head and back into reality, his head turning in the same direction that Kurt's did. Kurt gave Keegan such a pretty smile, like he was absolutely happy to see Keegan standing at the bottom of the stairs. Everett remembered that he used to look at the little boy who had helped him at the orphanage like that.
Keegan sorted through the things he had in his hands, what looked like a few coats, as well as his wallet. "Alright, baby doll, come here. Let's get you in your coat." Lifting his head, he nodded for Kurt, who popped off the couch so quickly that Everett didn't even see him move. Kurt scurried over to Keegan's side, holding his arms out so Keegan could wrap him up in his white coat. "You want to go somewhere today?"
"Where are we going?" Kurt asked, moving aside so Keegan could walk over to Everett and hand him his coat, certain that Everett didn't want Keegan to dress him.
Silently boosting himself to his feet, Everett yanked on his black coat, the one purchase that Everett had let Keegan splurge on him. Everett and Kurt went about slipping into their winter shoes—Kurt's a pair of white boots with fuzz on the inside that spilled out onto the top of the boot, while Everett wore a pair of clunking, black boots that dragged his feet down like bricks every time he went to take a step. After he sorted through his wallet and stuck it into his back pocket, Keegan wrapped his arm around Kurt, drawing him over to the door while Everett followed closely behind. "I thought we could take Everett up to the lake today."
Even though Everett didn't know what was so exciting about a lake, Kurt squealed very noisily and bounced in place, "Really? I've only been there a few times during the winter because Maman always said I got the chills so easily! It must be so cold!" Wrapping his arms around himself, Kurt shivered at the thought of dipping his toes into the icy water. He whirled around to Everett and tossed his arms up, "The lake was my favorite place to go when I was a child! My maman took me up there nearly every day when I visited her. And then I showed it to Keegan! And now he'll show you!" Without giving Everett a chance to reply, Kurt spun back around and flung the door open, letting in a cold breeze that made Everett's teeth chatter. He scuttled down the steps, slipping every few seconds on a patch of ice. "Hurry, Keegan!"
"Kurt, wait!" Keegan grabbed the hats and gloves that had been sitting on a peg of the coatrack, and he ran out after Kurt, nearly losing his balance and falling on his butt. "Your aunt will kill me if I let you catch another cold!" When he caught up to Kurt, he snatched him around his waist and pulled him back to his side, forcing him into a white beanie that he frowned at because it messed up his hair, and then fitting his pink hands into a pair of mittens. After he finished dressing Kurt, he opened the back door to the car and nudged him inside, and then he jogged back up to the house, where Everett still waited in the warmth. "At least you're easier to take out in the snow." He grumbled, making Everett laugh as he stuck a hat onto his red hair, then grabbed his hands and tucked them into gloves. Before he let Everett walk through the door, he looked over at the couch, where Everett's notebook was still laying. "Why don't you bring your notebook, honey? I thought you'd like the lake because there are flowers everywhere."
Even though it was tempting to just sit and paint, which he hadn't done in so long because he'd been trying to keep himself alive by spending all of his time on getting food, he shrugged a shoulder, "I don't have any paint or a brush right now. All of my paint dried out and the bristles on my brush got crushed in my bag."
Keegan didn't give him any sympathy that he'd lost any means of being able to paint, which was one of the few things he got any enjoyment out of, and he simply brushed by him and went over to the couch, picking up the book that was wrinkled and crinkled from being used so much. "I'll buy you a new brush and paint, then." He said, going back to Everett's side and putting his hand at his waist.
As he took him out the door, Everett tried to speak louder than the wind, which was still whipping the words right out of his mouth even though the worst of it should have been broken up by the tall buildings around them. "I can't let you do that, Keegan."
Keegan didn't reply to him until he had boosted Everett into the passenger seat and had climbed in on the driver's side, turning on the grinding engine before he muttered, "I wasn't asking for your permission. I'm telling you that I'm going to stop at the store on the way over to the lake and buy you anything you want. I needed to pick up some food, anyway. Kurt back there is such a big eater that he's going to munch me out of house and home over these next few days."
Kurt, who had been gazing out the window as Keegan rolled out of the driveway and pulled onto the street, turned around, revealing a scrunched face, "I am not a big eater!" He cried, crossing his arms, and his frown deepened when Keegan retorted with only a chuckle.
Rolling his eyes at Keegan, Everett crossed his own arms over his chest, leaning against the frosty window that made his skin feel like ice even through his thick coat. "At least let me pay you back if you buy me anything—"
"You're not going to give me anything when I buy you something." Keegan said shortly, and then he flicked his eyes up to the mirror, watching as Kurt played with the buttons on his coat, obviously bored with the car ride when they'd only left the house three minutes ago. "Okay, cutie pie, what do you want me to pick up? Are you hungry for anything?"
"I want a cupcake."
"I meant for when I make dinner tonight." Shaking his head, Keegan turned back to the road, flipping on his signal as he veered the car to the left, down a road that led to some convenience stores and gas stations. "I'm making salad, so what sounds good with that? Do you want spaghetti? You know I can make you a good plate of spaghetti. I'll even sing the soundtrack of Lady and the Tramp while you eat."
Kurt nodded his head a few times, and then looked back down at the buttons on his coat, which made Keegan smile before he glanced back at the road again. He slowed down in front of one of the larger stores that would have a bigger selection of things to pick from, and after he parked the car, he turned to Everett and said, "Can you stay in the car with him?" When he got a quick dip of Everett's chin, Keegan twisted around and patted Kurt's knee, "I'll be back in a minute, sweetheart. Everett's going to stay here with you. I'll pick up a cupcake from the bakery, okay?" Leaning between the two front seats, Keegan pressed his lips to Kurt's cheek, a noisy, wet kiss that he rubbed back and forth across his skin, making Kurt giggle with delight.
He let go of Kurt, and then he moved closer to Everett and pressed a much quicker kiss to his cheek. Smiling as Keegan threw himself out of the car and hurried into the store before he got frostbite, Everett leaned back in his seat, twiddling his thumbs for a minute before he heard Kurt's soft voice, almost so quiet that it sounded like a whisper. "Everett?"
Furrowing his brows, Everett turned around in his seat, looking at Kurt's slightly confused face. "Yeah?" He muttered, pursing his lips at the way Kurt was looking at him, like he'd just seen a ghost. "Kurt, what's wrong? Is everything okay?" Reaching back for Kurt, he placed a hand on his knee and gently rubbed.
Kurt looked down at his lap, his voice even quieter this time because it was directed at his legs, "Do you love Keegan?"
Everett's eyes instantly widened, and he turned back around, his eyes finding a sticker on the store's glass wall that said they were having a discount. When he finally processed the question, he glimpsed back at Kurt again, and he said with just as quiet of a voice, "Well… I—Kurt… it's—" Taking a deep breath, Everett restarted his jumbled sentence, "Kurt… it's more complicated… than I can just answer. It's not… It's not like the movies you watch, honey."
"Love isn't complicated." Kurt murmured, pulling his knees up to his chest and wrapping his arms around them.
Everett frowned at Kurt, wondering how he could explain this to Kurt without ruining his hopes and dreams of one day having that perfect love. "It… It is, Kurt. And… you'll understand that one day. Love doesn't just… happen in two hours, like the movies say it does. It takes time… and effort… and patience. A lot of patience. And forgiveness, of course."
"But do you love Keegan?" Kurt was persistent, just as Keegan said he was, and it was his stubbornness that made Everett give up with a heavy exhale. He realized he wasn't going to get out of this without giving Kurt a firm answer.
"I… I guess I do. But… I love him in the way you love him, Kurt. I don't love him like the love you see in your movies. Okay?" Patting Kurt's thigh a few times, Everett turned around again, sinking into his chair.
He heard Kurt release a sigh, followed by his feet sliding off the seat and landing on the floor, "I think that Keegan loves you differently than how you love him, then." At that, Everett stiffened his entire body, wondering if Kurt knew something that he didn't. Kurt had been Keegan's best friend for as long as they could remember, so he had to know what every expression and every wave of his hand meant. Everett suddenly felt left out of a conversation that was happening right behind his back.
But before he could ask Kurt why he thought that, the glass doors slid open again, and Keegan walked out with a plastic bag hanging from one hand. He used his other to open the car door, sliding inside and brushing off some of the snow before he closed it behind himself. Kurt instantly scooted to the edge of his seat, searching through what Keegan had bought. "Okay, okay. Hold on a second." Digging through the bag, Keegan pulled out two cupcakes that had been wrapped in paper. He picked up a pink one with white icing and sprinkles, but took a lick off the top before he handed it to Kurt. "There you go, baby doll." Grabbing the other one, a chocolate cupcake with strawberry icing, he held it out to Everett, "I got one for you, too. I was hoping you'd like it."
As Kurt happily nibbled pieces off of his cherry cupcake, Everett took his own and cautiously licked the icing. "It's really good, Keegan. Are you sure you don't want a bite?"
"Nah. I got myself a cookie and ate it while I was looking for your paint supplies." He fished other items from the bag, showing Everett three bottles of paint and a flat brush. "I wasn't sure what kind of paint or brushes you used. If you want me to go back in—"
"No… these are great." He scooped up the bottles and brush, setting them on his lap, then kicked the bag to the floor so they could grab it later. "Thank you… Keegan. This was really nice of you."
Keegan kept a smile on his lips as he pulled out of the parking lot and turned into the road again, one of his hands leaving the steering wheel when they got to a long stretch of road and grabbing for Everett's. The rest of the ride was spent in silence, except for the smacking of lips as Kurt and Everett finished off their cupcakes. Even though Keegan said he didn't want any of the cupcake, Everett left a few bites for him, and he playfully held it up to his mouth when he stopped at a light. Keegan bit down on the cupcake, his lips closing around the tips of Everett's fingers, and he chewed as he continued down the road.
About twenty minutes later, the road started emptying out because the buildings had cut off a few miles back, and all they passed was snowy fields. Everett figured they must have been getting close because Kurt had squished his nose to the window, hopefully watching for this amazing lake both Keegan and Kurt seemed to love visiting. They turned down another road, and after a few more minutes of driving, the blacktop broke off, giving way to a narrow, gravel road. Keegan pulled off the slippery gravel and parked on a thin patch of snow, letting go of Everett's hand so he could grab his own gloves and hat, which he'd left in the car when he'd gone into the store. He climbed out of his seat, then reached down for Kurt's door and let the jumping boy out. As Kurt ran around like a madman, Keegan came around to Everett's side of the car, opening his door and holding his hand out.
Everett automatically took it, staying by his side as they walked toward the woods, which didn't look very thick. Kurt suddenly darted off in front of them, but Keegan called after him, "Kurt, stay where I can see you!" Kurt slowed down his quick steps, but he was still too fast for Keegan and Everett to try to catch up. Slipping his hand out of Everett's, he placed it on his waist, "The lake is about five minutes away. This area is so private that hardly anyone else knows about it… so there was never a direct path made to the water. I kind of like going through the woods, anyway. It's peaceful and quiet back here."
"Mm." was all Everett said, reaching up for Keegan's arm and laying his tight grip on it as he tried not to stumble over roots and branches. "So… how did Kurt find out about it?"
Keegan shrugged a shoulder, helping Everett over a fallen log that Kurt made a beeline around. "All I know is that his mom used to take him up here. I don't know how she found it. Elizabeth was always fond of places like this. When she realized how much she loved it here, she brought her sister out here and they set up a swing for Kurt… made it a good place for him to be. He brought me here about a week after we met… he was only eight years old. He was so excited to have a friend that he wanted me to know everything. He showed me all of his toys and all of his books and told me all of his secrets. You won't believe it, but Kurt told me that he was once in love."
Noticing that Keegan lowered his voice as if he didn't want Kurt to hear that last remark, Everett flicked his eyes up to his pale face, "In love? As a child?"
"I guess he had a childhood sweetheart. After a while, he stopped talking about him. It's been years since he's mentioned him. I know he hasn't forgotten… Kurt never forgets people he loves… but I think he blocked it out because it was painful to let go." Looking down at Everett's face, he met his worried eyes, "He told me his name was Blaine… he said that he was the most wonderful person he'd ever met… that he loved him with all his heart. And then… one day they just couldn't see each other anymore. And soon after that… his mom died… and Kurt came to France with his dad."
"That's why he was so determined." Everett didn't realize he'd spoken aloud, but at the arched brows that Keegan gave him, he waved those words off, "He just… he talked to me in the car… while you were in the store. He kept saying that love wasn't complicated… and I didn't understand why he acted so hurt when I said that it really was. I mean… I know that he loves romance movies… but I didn't know that he would feel so strongly about romance unless he'd been through it." Keegan silently nodded at that, his free hand shoving into his coat pocket when it got cold, even though it was protected by thick padding, and Everett filled the silence with a quiet mumble, "Keeg… why can't Kurt know about his great uncle? Why are you being so secretive with him?"
Keegan's brows pushed up to his hairline again, "Um… well… Kurt doesn't do well with knowing about sickness… or hurt. He's become really sensitive to things like that after his mom died… and I know that it's been years… but I don't think Kurt's ever… really gotten over it. He loved his mom so much… and he loves in such an extraordinary way. Kurt loves how the people in those movies love."
"Oh." Everett turned his eyes forward when Kurt disappeared from his peripheral vision, and he gasped when he realized that Kurt wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Keegan, where did Kurt go?"
Keegan, who had been staring down at Everett, suddenly whipped around with a horrified look on his face. His eyes quickly scanned the area around them, and when he didn't catch Kurt, he let go of Everett and took a few steps forward. "Kurt!" He yelled, his voice echoing through the open air around them, and he inhaled sharply when, from above him, he heard noisy laughter. Jerking his head up, Keegan exhaled the air that he'd breathed in when he saw Kurt hanging just above him, looking a little like an upside down monkey. "Kurt, you scared me! Come down from there!" He held his arms up, grabbing Kurt's sides when he lowered himself a few inches, and he pulled him from the tree branch. "Don't ever do that again, sweetheart!" Grabbing Kurt up when he was on the ground, he yanked him against his body, holding him so tight that Everett thought he might crush him.
"I didn't mean to startle you." Kurt said to Keegan's coat, which his face was squished to. "I wanted to climb the trees because it's fun!"
"Do something fun where I can see you, Kurt." After making sure that Kurt got the point of his lecture, he let him go again, watching him take off several feet ahead of them. Covering his forehead with his gloved hand, Keegan massaged his temple as best he could, taking a shaky breath, "He'll be the death of me… and I'm not kidding because his aunt will kill me if something bad happens to him."
Everett chuckled at that, remaining quiet as they reached the end of the trees, the morning light shining through the slim number of branches and leaves that shaded them in darkness. Keegan lifted him over one of the last branches, nudging him out to a wide field that was lightly dusted with snow. He had to watch where he placed his feet because flowers that had frosted over dotted the ground, hanging limply over the snow. Tall trees were planted around the edge of the lake, which had a thin layer of ice coating the water. The scene was something out of a movie, and even looked beautiful under a blanket of snow, which Everett usually didn't like because it made his butt cold when he had to sit on the ground in the alleyways. Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke the silence that had filtered through the air, except for the rustling of dead leaves.
A small figure ran by his side, making him jump with alarm, and he watched Kurt fling himself onto a wooden swing that dangled from one of the tree branches by two ropes. He rocked back and forth before the swing slowed down again, and then he planted his feet on the ground, watching Everett and Keegan to see what they might do. "Keegan, push me!" He pleaded, kicking his legs back and forth but getting nowhere.
"Hold on, honey!" Keegan held up one finger, turning to look at Everett, who gave him a weak smile. "Do you want to swing with him? The swing is really roomy." Everett gave in without saying anything, heading over to where Kurt was twisting the swing back and forth in his failed attempts to go up and down. Awkwardly lowering beside of Kurt, Everett grabbed onto the rope, and he watched Keegan walk around behind them. He grabbed higher up on the ropes, pulling them back, and then letting them go. Everett felt his body drift forward, and then push back, and Keegan grabbed the ropes again.
He pushed them once more, hard enough to send them swinging quite a few times before they started to slow down. As soon as they did, Kurt wildly kicked his feet, impatiently waiting for the swing to move again. "One more time, baby." Keegan said, bringing the swing back, then releasing it, and he walked around to the front, smiling at the two of them as they glided back and forth. When the swing slowed, he grabbed the ropes and pulled them forward, stopping them just before the tip of Everett's nose touched his.
Oblivious to what Keegan and Everett were doing because he was too determined to have his own fun, Kurt stood up on the swing, and he attached his body to the trunk of the tree, squirming his way up. Feeling the seat shake from Kurt's movements, Everett sat back so he didn't fall off, and Keegan followed him, leaning as close as he could. He rubbed his nose against Everett's, whispering to him, "Do you want to sit by the lake with me while the monkey up there climbs the trees?"
"Yeah." Everett scooted off of the swing, feeling it bump his thighs as it wobbled. Holding onto Keegan's hand again, Everett trudged through the snow, doing his best to avoid each of the flowers. When they got over there, Everett settled into the driest spot, but still felt his butt become uncomfortably damp. Laying his sketch book on his lap, he flipped to the first blank page, then he picked up his brush. He looked around for only a moment before finding a flower he favored, one that was beside of Keegan, who had crossed his legs and laid his arms over his lap. He looked so relaxed with his eyes closed and lips parted, which made Everett smile.
Opening one of his paint bottles, he dipped his brush inside, then pulled it back out and laid it on the white page. He instantly felt a thrill as he stroked a line down the middle, perfecting every curve and edge. Grinning to himself, he glanced back up at Keegan and the flower, watching him suddenly bend over to unlace his boots. Everett ruffled his brows, wondering what he was doing, and his eyes widened when Keegan peeled off his boots and socks. "Keegan! Put your boots on! Your toes will fall off!"
Keegan gritted his teeth, and without a word of warning, he dunked his feet into the water. Everett gasped and lurched over to him so quickly that he nearly dumped his paint, trying to pull his legs out of the water. The freezing droplets that clung to Keegan's feet stung Everett's hands after they seeped through his gloves, and when he finally ripped Keegan out of the water, he yanked his hands away and waved them like they were on fire. "Are you crazy? My gloves are all wet now!"
Keegan laughed at Everett, sticking his feet back into his socks, and then stuffing them into his boots. He took his gloves off and held them out to Everett, who stared at them as if he didn't know what they were. "You know, you didn't have to rescue me. Sometimes I like to be thrilled." When Everett didn't take the gloves, Keegan grabbed his hands and forced them into the warm fabric, which was very baggy on his much smaller hands.
"Keegan, the water has ice in it! You could get frostbite!" Stretching his legs out, he held up his thighs, "Here… put your feet under my legs. That should warm them up."
Rolling his eyes, Keegan did as he was told, but he still argued, "They're already in boots. I don't think they'll feel anything through them." He moved closer to Everett, wrapping an arm around him, but Everett drew the arm off of his back and shoved both of Keegan's hands into his coat pocket. "You know, I could have jumped in."
Everett's eyes shot back up to his face, "Don't you dare! I'll be worried sick about your feet for the rest of the night. Don't think I won't have a hot bowl of water prepared for you to put them in. I don't want to fear for your arms… or chest… or head!"
"You just like all of those things because I can hold you like this." He drew his hands back out of Everett's coat, much to his frustration, and wrapped him up tightly, and then he pressed a kiss to his forehead. "And kiss you… like this."
"Hush…" Everett pressed his hand to Keegan's mouth, looking over his shoulder to make sure Kurt wasn't watching. "Do you want to go home so I can warm you up?"
Keegan laughed at some untold joke, "Considering that my socks are soaked now… we probably should. But I'm not climbing all the way up that tree to get Kurt down! Let's leave him up there for a few more minutes and then I'll go get him." Tightening his grip on Everett, Keegan looked down at the page that the sketchbook was opened to, with an unfinished painting staring up at him. Everett also looked back down at it, even though he couldn't concentrate so much on the painting now that he was concerned about Keegan losing his feet.
Picking up his brush, he swished it through the bottle to refresh the paint, and he pressed it to where the line of dried paint had broken off. "Can you turn your head a little?" He asked, glancing up at Keegan's face, and Keegan immediately looked away, thinking that Everett might not want him gaping at an unfinished product. But when he felt Everett's eyes on him again, his mouth fell open. "You're painting me?"
"You and the flower." Everett reached up to his face and pushed on his jaw. "Close your mouth. I don't want to capture Keegan looking shocked."
Keegan frowned at him, "Which Keegan do you want?"
"Certainly not Keegan looking insulted." That made Keegan laugh, and Everett took advantage of the look while it was there, quickly turning back to his sketchbook. When he finished the intricate curves of his face, Everett scribbled in the laugh lines around the area where his eyes would be. "You know, you have very unusual eyes."
The frown was back, "I don't know if that's a compliment or an insult."
Everett laughed that time, "It's a compliment. Smile again." When he got what he wanted, Everett closed one bottle of paint and opened another, scooping up a glob of blue. "I meant that… they're such an extraordinary color. They're beautiful." Turning so he faced Keegan at a better angle, Everett grabbed his face again, tilting it toward the flower. "You're a gorgeous man, Keegan. That's the first thing I noticed about you… and then I noticed how very clumsy you are."
Keegan's cheeks colored pink, "Let's agree to never talk about that again." When Everett's head was down, he snapped out of position and pressed a light kiss to his hair, making Everett startle. Before he could get yelled at for moving, he returned to the pose he was supposed to be in. "So… can you tell me something?"
"It depends." Everett muttered with a tone of wariness. "Keegan asking personal questions… how afraid should I be?"
"No… right now I'm smiling Keegan." He shot back at him, making Everett smirk down at the piece of paper. "Why did you… accept me… when you could have easily turned me away? You didn't have to let me sit with you… and you didn't have to come back to the coffee shop. Why did you?"
Everett inhaled deeply, the fresh air filling his lungs. As cold as it was, Everett had never felt so alive. "I don't really know the answer to that, Keeg." He said quietly, and he jumped when he felt Keegan's fingers brush his chin. "I mean… lots of men have approached me—" When Keegan flinched, he shook his head, "I'm sorry… I didn't mean… You were different than those men, though. I could see it in your eyes… the way you looked at me. You were kind. And… I didn't want to come back. I thought I would hurt you if I did… I thought you'd be freaked out by the fact that I'm…" he let his sentence run off because both of them understood what he was about to say, but then he finished. "But you weren't. Why weren't you, anyway? Keegan, you're a virgin. Isn't it a little intimidating to have these feelings for a prostitute?"
"You're not intimidating, Evie." Keegan said simply, cupping the side of Everett's face in his large hand. "Yes… I agree with you… that I had no idea I would ever be involved with someone with so much… experience. But you're not… like what I would expect out of a… prostitute. You're still a human. You have so much emotion… and you have these eyes that express everything you feel… even though you try to hide it. Evie… you need to understand that I—"
"Keegie!" Kurt shrieked from somewhere behind them, and Keegan glimpsed over his shoulder, raising his brows as Kurt swung himself off of the branch he'd been hanging onto. He plopped to the ground, then ran as fast as he could over to Keegan, jumping onto his back.
"What is it, baby?" Keegan placed his hands on Kurt's when he looped his arms around his neck, and he bent his neck so he could kiss his knuckles.
"There was a hole in that tree so I looked inside! Guess what I found!" Kurt hopped up and down, much to Everett's amusement as he laughed at the excited boy.
"Hm… let me think. What could have my little Kurt so wound up?" Grabbing Kurt's hips, he swung him around onto his lap, but Kurt quickly lifted his butt because he landed on Keegan's wet shins. "Did you find… the tickle monster?" He bowed over Kurt's neck and blew air and spit on his skin, making Kurt scream with giddiness.
"No, Keegie!" Slapping Keegan's head away, Kurt covered his mouth with his hand, then jerked it back again when Keegan licked his palm. "Shh! You'll wake them up!"
Now Keegan was curious. "Wake what up, baby doll? What on earth did you find?" Getting to his feet when Kurt tugged on him, Keegan held his other hand out for Everett, who also stood up. "Leave it to you to find… actual creatures." Trailing after Kurt, Keegan went over to the tree and hesitantly walked over to the hole that Kurt pointed out. He lowered his head into the hole, looking in at a few squirrels who were coiled around each other. Grinning at the small family of fuzzy creatures, he pulled his head out and beckoned Everett over. Everett pushed his brows together, coming to Keegan's side. He had to stand on his toes in order to see, and he quietly laughed at what he saw.
"They're cute, Kurt." Everett said, lowering to the ground again. Going back to Kurt while Keegan followed them, Everett frowned when Keegan reached down for his socks, pulling at the sopping material. "Why don't we go back to the house before Keegan's feet fall off and we all catch colds? I got most of my painting done. I think I can finish the rest from my memory."
"Sure!" Kurt squeaked, raising his arms above his head in a big stretch. He let out a quiet yawn, "I've had a very long day." When they started heading in the direction of the car, he suddenly got a bolt of energy and sped a few feet in front of them. "I'll race you to the car!"
Keegan had no intentions of racing when his feet were throbbing with potential blisters. "Kurt, go straight to the car, honey! No wandering off!" He wasn't sure if Kurt heard all of his rules because he was already off, vanishing into the thinning woods. Sighing very heavily, Keegan slowed down with Everett, who was walking at the speed of a turtle because Keegan winced every time he put a foot down. "I'm realizing now what a bad idea that was."
Everett, although pitying of Keegan's pain, couldn't help but laugh at him. "My hands hurt because I'm the one who had to save you and your stupidity!" Rubbing his hands together, he smiled when Keegan saw his outstretched hands and stole one of them. He took a step closer to Keegan, laying his head on his shoulder. "Keegan?" He whispered, and Keegan made a low sound of acknowledgement. "What were you going to say… you know… before Kurt came over?"
"Hm?" Keegan thought back to that conversation, and although he had intended to get the words out when they were flowing so easily, he choked on them now. "Oh… uh… it was nothing." At the look that Everett gave him, Keegan threw his free arm aside, "I promise… it was nothing, baby. I just… I want you to know… how much I care about you."
Everett raised his brows, not convinced at all that that was what Keegan was going to say, but he snuggled closer, anyway, "I care about you, too." He mumbled, feeling Keegan rest his own head on top of his. "A lot."
They returned to the car a few minutes later, greeted by Kurt, who was already sitting in the backseat. Keegan opened Everett's door for him, and then he climbed in on his own side, turning on the car and blasting the heat. "Did you have fun, baby?" He asked Kurt, who he knew always had the best time when Keegan took him to the lake.
"Yes!" Kurt bounced in his seat, "And it was even more fun with Everett… and the squirrels!"
Keegan grinned, turning the car around and pulling back out onto the gravel road. "How about when we get home, you take a bath… because you look like a snowman right now! And then Evie and I will take our baths… and after we're all cleaned up I'll start dinner. Does that sound good, cutie pie?"
Kurt squeaked out just as cheerful of an answer as his last one, and then he settled into silence for the rest of the ride home. By the time they pulled into the driveway, Kurt's head had fallen against the window, his eyes shut because he was so exhausted after running around and playing. Shutting off the car, Keegan let go of Everett's hand, and he stepped out, stretching out his legs that had started tingling. He went around to Kurt's door, scooping the sleeping boy up and carrying him to the door. Everett had to dig through Keegan's pockets for his key because Keegan had his hands full, and after he fished it out, he unlocked the door and pushed it open. "I'm going to take him upstairs and get a bath filled for him." Keegan said, already heading for the stairs and walking up to the top floor.
Everett waited in the living room, listening to the water running above him, and he collapsed onto the couch when Keegan finally returned. "I don't think he'll be up late tonight." Keegan said with a smirk, "He's absolutely bushed. I'm going to start dinner so I can have a plate ready for him when he comes out."
"Is there anything I can help with?" Everett rose from the couch, watching Keegan take off his shoes and socks, revealing a pair of red feet. "Besides nursing your poor feet back to health?"
"My feet can wait." Keegan chuckled, going into the kitchen, where he set the bag that was full of spaghetti noodles and sauce. "You don't have to help… but if you want to, can you grab a pot from the cupboard?"
Everett opened the cupboard and picked out one of the bigger pots he knew was used for things like spaghetti, even though he'd never been good at cooking it. The noodles either got stuck on the bottom of the pot and he had to scrape them off piece by piece, or he just burned them like he did everything else. "Should I fill it with water?"
"Yeah… please." Keegan unpackaged the noodles, then went through his pantry for a few spices. It wasn't until a minute later that he realized what Everett had really asked, and he gave him a look like he'd just grown horns. "You can't… cook, can you?"
The question made Everett bust into a fit of laughter, "I hate cooking! I've never been good at it." Bringing the filled pot to the stove, Everett guessed which burner to turn on and what heat to put it on, and when he obviously got it wrong, Keegan flipped another switch to medium heat.
"And yet you can do something as complicated as painting." Keegan grumbled, and Everett playfully swatted his arm.
"Painting isn't complicated." He argued, holding his hand out for the pinch of salt Keegan had between his fingers, and he dropped it into the pot, a step that he did remember about making spaghetti.
Keegan started to bicker back to him, but just as he opened his mouth, Kurt appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, a pink nightgown draped over his pale skin. "Hey, sleepy head…" Keegan said softly as Kurt rubbed both of his eyes with his tiny fists, "let me finish this up so you can eat… then you can go to bed."
"Okay." Kurt peeped, the word interrupted by another yawn, and then he padded away. Everett watched him until he was out of his line of sight, but a tap to his shoulder made him turn back to Keegan, who was holding out the noodles.
"Can you break those in half and stick them in the pot?" Keegan said, emptying the can of sauce into another bowl, then adding a few spices to it. "Thank you for being so willing to have Kurt stay with us. It means a lot to me that you two get along."
Everett shook his head, cracking the sticks in half, "It's not my place to say who you can have over. But… of course I don't mind him being here. He's so sweet, Keegan. How could I be mad at him?" That obviously comforted Keegan because a small smile curved his lips, then he set aside the spoon he'd been using to stir the sauce.
Turning away from the stove, Keegan called to the living room, "Kurt, honey, the spaghetti is almost ready! Give me a minute to make your plate." He went over to another cupboard and pulled down three plates, then came back to the stove and started spooning a few limp noodles onto one. After he smothered those in sauce, he carried the plate out of the room, and Everett heard soft mumbling before Keegan pushed back through the door. "Do you want to eat or bathe first?"
"Your feet should probably soak in warm water soon." Everett advised, turning back to the stove so he could make his plate. "Maybe you should take a bath before I do."
Keegan looked down at his feet, then back up at Everett with a sheepish grin, "That's probably best. I'll only be a few minutes." As Everett started on his plate, Keegan hurried out of the room, putting as little pressure as he could on the bottoms of his feet. Everett smiled after him, just finishing his plate when he heard the water turn on. He didn't even get out of the room when Keegan came tramping down the stairs, and they both met each other in the living room. He pushed his mouth to the side of his face as he considered the worried look on Keegan's face, setting his plate aside. "I-I ran out of hot water… I mean, the tub is hot right now… but the water in the spout is cold now. I figured that you… you would want the hot bath."
Everett raised his brows, unused to men offering him better things than what they were getting. "Um… a-are you sure you don't want it? Your feet need to be in hot water or else you might get blisters… or…" When Keegan shook his head, willing to risk his feet, Everett felt something like guilt, and then anxiousness, pass through his twisting stomach. Aware that Kurt's eyes were watching them like a tennis match, Everett took a few steps forward, getting so close to Keegan that he could hear his whisper, "I-I could take the cold bath… I don't mind. I'm used to it—"
"I won't have you taking a cold bath." That was what Everett expected Keegan to say, which was exactly why he'd gotten closer to him.
"Do you want to… bathe together, then? I-I don't see any other option… but I—" Keegan nodded his head, much to Everett's surprise, and he grabbed his arm and pulled him up the stairs.
"We need to get in before the water turns cold." Keegan said, bringing Everett into the bathroom and shutting the door behind them. Everett swallowed thickly, just as he had the first day he'd been trapped in Keegan's room with him. He felt those same nerves that he had on that day. Even though Everett had wanted to suggest that they bathe in their underwear, Keegan stripped of everything so quickly that Everett couldn't have made a sound before it was too late. Everett suddenly felt himself being pulled toward the naked man, and he gasped as Keegan unzipped him from his coat. After that was off, the rest of his clothes came off easily, with just a few tugs and yanks.
Everett had stood face to face with naked men before, but it'd never been like this. Unable to make his huge eyes narrow, Everett numbly followed Keegan to the tub, and he watched him swing his legs in and sit back against the wall. He held his arms up for Everett, helping him shuffle his way in and sit down between Keegan's legs. Keegan's legs felt so powerful as they wrapped around him, his thighs straining with muscles that tried to envelope Everett's much thicker thighs. Keegan's arms wrapped around his waist, drawing him farther back into him, which made Keegan's cock rub against his lower back. Everett shuddered at the feeling of his cock sliding between his butt cheeks. At the unintentional movement, Keegan pressed one hand to Everett's shoulder, gently stroking, "Okay?" He muttered.
Everett sharply nodded his chin, "Y-Yeah… I'm fine." His eyes followed Keegan's feet, which slowly lowered to the water, and he heard him hiss at the discomfort. "Um… would it help if I rubbed them?" Without waiting for an answer, Everett leaned forward, grabbing both of Keegan's burning feet. He ran his fingers up and down the very long feet, feeling Keegan's hand come to his back and stroke small circles. Hearing something snap, Everett lifted back up, and he startled when a pair of gooey hands ran through his hair.
With the leftover shampoo, Keegan soaped up his blond curls, and then he rinsed both of them by leaning back into the bathwater. He skipped cleaning their faces because their skin was already so dried out, but he did pick up a moisturizer and rub it into Everett's cheeks and chin. He did the same with his own face, quietly admitting that he also stole this from Kurt. Everett would have laughed, had he not been so aware of Keegan's naked muscles pressing to his skin. Closing his eyes when Keegan squirted the body soap into his palms, Everett felt his light hands run over his shoulders, down the front of his chest, and over his thighs. Keegan came back up and paused at Everett's sex, then grabbed it after a moment of hesitation. Everett shamefully released a noisy moan.
Keegan didn't say a word about it, like the gentleman he always was, but he squeezed it tighter, his hand curling into a fist. He dragged it up and down Everett's cock, bumping his sac every time he came down, and Everett couldn't help the spasm that shook his entire body. "Keeg…" Everett whispered, his hands flinging back for something to hold onto, and he found his shoulders.
"Evie…" Keegan grunted, pumping at a much quicker pace. The water splashed whenever his hand came down on it. If Everett hadn't been experienced, he wouldn't have felt Keegan's cock harden under his butt, jabbing between his cheeks. "Evie… y-you are so stunning when you make faces like that."
Everett was too focused on pushing into Keegan's hand to be embarrassed by the words that he was hearing from the backs of his ears. The sound that he could make out easiest was the groan that Keegan exhaled. Twisting around in Keegan's arms, Everett wrapped his arms around his neck, lowering his face to his, but not quite touching their lips. "Keegan…" Pressing his lips to Keegan's face, Everett kissed damp spots everywhere that he could find skin, feeling Keegan thumb his slit, before he pressed on a vein that bulged out at the side of his cock. "Oh, Keegan!"
Grabbing Keegan's slippery curls, Everett bounced up and down, fucking himself on Keegan's slick palm. Keegan's other hand grabbed Everett's jiggling butt, pulling him closer to his shaking body. With a few more strokes of Keegan's hand, Everett found himself coming so hard that he saw white for a second. His mouth fell open as he released all over Keegan's hand and abdomen, spurts of come that never seemed to stop, and were soon joined by Keegan's spray that hit his own brown stomach, painting it white.
When they both came down from their highs, Everett took a deep, shaky breath, and he quietly chuckled, releasing his tight grip on Keegan's shoulders. He took one look at the marks in Keegan's shoulders and winced with guilt. "Oh… I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Keegan laughed, pulling Everett closer again and kissing the tip of his nose. "Believe me, I do not feel damaged right now." Wiggling his foot, Keegan brought his leg up and kicked Everett's bottom, but from the awkward position he was in, all Everett could feel was the scrape of his toenails. "My foot even feels a little better now."
"Does it?" Everett smiled, looking back at the foot, which was slightly paler. "My fingers are good at curing hurt feet."
Keegan tossed his head back with a loud snort, "And the rest of you is good at curing—" The glare on Everett's face told him that he would die if he finished his sentence. Giving Everett an innocent smile, he kissed his forehead, then went to stand when he started to feel icky after sitting under a pile of come. "Come on, let's get dressed and have something to eat."
Everett quickly covered his ears with his hands, "Oh, please don't say that word and then mention eating!"
"What?" Keegan was sincerely clueless as he stared at Everett's disgusted face, but then he let out a chuckle when he caught on, "Come? I don't mind those words being in the same sentence. Yours is more delicious than any spaghetti I've ever had."
"Keegan!" Everett screamed, splashing water into his face. Briskly climbing out of the tub, Everett tried his best to storm away, but he suddenly slipped on a puddle of water that dripped off of him, and he almost fell onto his butt had it not been for Keegan's hands coming to his waist. Realizing that he simply wasn't good at being angry, Everett burst into such a violent laughter that he didn't know if he was crying because his cheeks hurt or because he'd just completely mortified himself while he was naked. As Keegan laughed with him, he told himself that it didn't matter which, because it was all Keegan's fault in the first place. Everett refused to take any of the blame.
When Keegan got out of the bath, he reached for the towels and unceremoniously covered Everett with one, which made him glare at him from under the makeshift hood he had. He waited for Keegan to dry and dress him, and then they headed for the door. As if he couldn't resist, Keegan ruined the silence with a low mutter, "Come on, baby… I'm really hungry."
"Shut up!" Everett screeched at him, which probably provoked him even more, so Everett was left to hope that Keegan had the decency to not say things like that in front of Kurt. But, of course, Kurt had fallen asleep, so Everett was left to his own demise that he felt he might have partially brought onto himself. But he certainly would not be taking any of the blame.