TDE - Chapter Twelve
A/N: There is an MA version of this chapter at Scarves & Coffee for those of you over 18.
May 2015
Rachel snapped the lock on her bright pink suitcase and rolled it next to the pile of luggage by the door on her very own hotel-quality luggage cart. Surveying the assembled personal effects, she consulted a list on a sheet of "Rachel Berry, Superstar" stationery.
"Humidifier. Check. Electric foot spa. Check. Portable hood dryer. Check. Manicure set -"
Kurt looked up from from his perch on a stool in the kitchen, where he was working the New York Times Magazine puzzle in pen. "Rachel, you're going on an out of town tour … on a bus," he called "You can't take all that."
"This is all necessary professional equipment to maximize my performance," Rachel insisted. "But I'm going to need some help bringing it downstairs … Blaine, could you take the cart down in the elevator and wait downstairs for the cab? Call me when it gets here?"
Blaine nodded agreeably before opening the door, backing the cart out carefully and maneuvering it down the hall. Rachel called her thanks out the door and shut it, turning to Kurt. "Now that he's gone, I was hoping we could talk about Blaine before I go?"
Startled and guilty, Kurt looked up from his crossword puzzle over his glasses. "Blaine? Why do you want to talk about him with me?" He felt beads of sweat start to stand out on his forehead. If Rachel knew already, that would be a relief in a way, but he wasn't prepared for this conversation quite yet. Rachel hopped up on a stool and set her enormous slouch bag up on the counter. She started rummaging in it while Kurt laid down his pen and waited nervously for her to continue.
"You're already Blaine's second emergency contact at his school. But I had these drawn up in case he needs any medical treatment while I'm away." She pulled a packet of papers out of her purse, and started rifling through them. "Just show those at the pediatrician's or the emergency room if anything comes up," she started, laying a stapled-together set of notarized papers on top of Kurt's puzzle. "I also signed a paper that authorizes you to discuss his schoolwork with his teachers. There's a conference with his guidance counselor next week, and I couldn't get it moved up. I'd appreciate it if you went instead. And he'll need a back-to-school physical this summer before I'm back. His pediatrician's number and our insurance card are here."
Kurt froze as Rachel slid paper after paper across the counter at him.
"And I hope you'll enforce his curfew and other rules around here." Kurt looked away, rubbing his hand over his forehead. Rachel studied him anxiously. "Kurt? You got all that? I'm counting on you to take care of Blaine while I'm away."
"I - I don't know about being responsible for him like that, Rachel. You really should have asked me about this before setting all this legal stuff up. I'm - - Blaine's friend, not - - not his big brother. "
"Kurt, that's just not true! Blaine thinks the world of you, and as far as I'm concerned, you're family!" Rachel insisted, patting his knee dismissively. "There's nobody I'd trust more with Blaine. I'm sorry about dumping all this on you at the last minute … I guess I just assumed you'd be okay with it since you've always helped with Blaine before."
Kurt rubbed his forehead wearily. "Rachel, picking him up at school a few times when he was sick, or helping him with his homework sometimes is one thing. Taking him to the pediatrician or going to his parent-teacher conferences is something else. I don't know if I should be doing this. Can't all this wait until you get back?"
Rachel shook her head adamantly. "No, I'm going to be gone all summer and I need somebody here to handle it. Look, I know it seems overwhelming, but it won't be that bad. Blaine has a job at the Starlight Diner this summer, that'll keep him busy most of the time once school's out. And he's really settled down lately, he hasn't acted out for months. I don't think he'll give you any trouble."
Kurt silently took the papers and nodded numbly, thumbing through them. "Okay, Rachel. I'll - - I'll make sure that he's okay while you're gone."
"You're amazing - the most unselfish, wonderful best gay a girl ever had!" Her phone beeped and she looked at it briefly. "Blaine says the cab's down there. Well, I'm off," she said. "When I get my Tony, I'll be sure to mention you in my acceptance speech. Bye 'Big Brother'." She planted a sticky kiss on his cheek and skipped out the door.
The next evening, Kurt smiled as Blaine approached the couch with a tray of healthy snacks and drinks. He admired the view as Blaine bent over to set the food down on the coffee table. Blaine had an impeccable ass, really. As edible-looking as any of the snacks Blaine was fussing with. Kurt tilted his head, mouth watering, and admired its pronounced curve in the tight, vermillion pants that no other human being could have carried off, or would probably even try to. Blaine sat down on the couch next to him and offered him a fruit and cheese plate.
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry," Kurt said, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. He was fighting a raging erection, but Blaine seemed oblivious and completely content, flipping through the channels. Giving in to temptation a little, Kurt reached for Blaine, pulling him close and going for a kiss on the lips. But Blaine laughed, and kissed him on the cheek lightly.
"How about 'What Would You Do'?" Blaine asked. Kurt made a face. "Okay, how about 'Modern Family'?" Blaine offered. Kurt sighed in frustration as Blaine kept flipping channels while Kurt tried to distract him with kisses. He supposed this was what he'd asked for. After Kurt had given Blaine a few reprimands about keeping all four of their feet on the floor and all four of their hands above the waist early on, Blaine had become a regular Sandra Dee, dutifully keeping things from getting any more heated than would have been acceptable in a 19th century drawing room.
Kurt knew Blaine was attracted to him. Even during their innocent makeout sessions he could feel Blaine's breath speed up, his skin grow damp with sweat, and his pulse race, along with Kurt's own. And anybody with eyes could see what was happening below the waist for both of them, even right this minute. Sure, he knew Blaine was just following the rules that Kurt himself had set. But … good god, can Blaine's birthday get here already? Before I explode?
Giving up on trying to entice Blaine into another makeout session that would just end in frustration anyway, Kurt took the remote out of Blaine's hand and muted the TV. "How about we talk about Saturday?"
"Okay. What about it?"
"Well. You know. Your birthday. The big 1-7. I'm feeling really generous right now, so it's a good time to let me know what you want. I'm up for anything you want to do," Kurt intoned suggestively.
"I - I do want something special, now that you ask. It's kind of embarrassing, though," Blaine said, blushing adorably and ducking his head.
Thank God and also Jesus. "Don't be embarrassed, honey! You can ask me for anything and I'll make it happen." Say a weekend trip and a stay at a hotel … with a hot tub. Yes, and a king-size bed, and - -
"I want to do something with you we haven't done before, and, well, it's kind of weird. Don't judge me, okay?"
This sounds promising. Kurt cleared his throat, finding it a bit dry suddenly. His voice came out as a croaking whisper, "Tell me, baby." He stroked Blaine's neck softly with a gentle hand. "Go on."
"I want to go to Six Flags Great Adventure."
Kurt stared at him. "- - Six Flags? Really?"
"I know it's kind of idiotic, but ... " Blaine looked down. "I just want to do something silly and fun and … well, I don't know. I used to go to the amusement park in Cedar Point every year with - - with my dads and Rachel on my birthday. I know it's stupid, but I want to do that again. With you. Please?"
Kurt was surprised and a little disappointed at Blaine's choice, but looking at his boyfriend's pleading face, it made sense that Blaine wanted to do something childish, something he remembered fondly from a childhood marked too often by tragedy, to celebrate this important birthday. He couldn't deny him that.
"Sure," he laughed, pulling a thrilled Blaine into his arms and hugging him tight. "We'll get up early and make a whole day of it."
Prom Night
Kurt was getting worried.
He had rationalized that Blaine was just observing Kurt's own rules to the letter, by not even mentioning sex until after his birthday. As much as Kurt wanted to take him someplace adult and consummate the relationship as soon as Blaine was legal, he could see the amusement park was important to him. So Kurt had reigned in his libido and bought the tickets to Six Flags for Blaine's birthday. He gamely went on the Human Slingshot ride, the Drop of Doom and the Devil Dive. He ate Dippin Dots and funnel cake for dinner. He let Blaine try to win him ugly, musty stuffed animals at the shooting range to his little heart's content. Blaine's contented smile as he dozed off in the car on the way home, his sunburnt face against Kurt's shoulder, made it all worthwhile. But Kurt had been vaguely unsettled, and more than a little insulted, by Blaine's choice of birthday activity. He'd really wanted to give Blaine a very different kind of ride for his birthday than the Tilt-a-Whirl at Great Adventure.
Kurt had assumed that once the birthday was out of the way, Blaine would make his big move shortly thereafter … in fact, if there'd been a betting pool, Kurt would've picked the square for 12:01 am on Blaine's birthday for Blaine to at least bring up the subject. But he would have lost that bet. Blaine hadn't mentioned making love at all on his birthday or any day since.
Though Blaine had been fully legal for over a week, Kurt still had some holdover reservation about being the one to move their relationship forward sexually. Blaine had to instigate the change for Kurt to feel okay about it, given their age difference. It might be silly, but he felt like it would be wrong, even now, to influence Blaine at all toward sex. So he waited, not-so-patiently, for Blaine to make the first move. And things were moving at a glacier's pace in that department.
Kurt really hoped that Blaine was ready for more after several wonderful, but sexually frustrating, months of dating. That he was just saving the big moment for prom night, like he'd implied after his prom proposal. But Blaine hadn't mentioned it all night.
It was still a wonderful night; the prom was lovely, a special event that he actually enjoyed and didn't just endure for Blaine's sake. He and Blaine were the best-dressed people there, bar none, in their fabulous designer tuxedos borrowed from the Vogue vault that he had tailored to perfection himself. He got on well with Blaine's new performing arts friends. Best of all, he slow danced all night with his boyfriend the way he never had a chance to when he went to high school. He and Blaine even sang a duet together, bringing the house down with "American Boy." It felt great to share such a milestone event with his cutie. And to throw caution to the wind and flaunt their relationship publicly for once.
But the night was over now, and ... there was no clichéd limo waiting to take them to a fancy after-prom hotel. They just took the subway home and walked the few blocks from the subway station to their apartment. Nothing whatsoever had been said about consummating their relationship. Or even a quick hand job, to take the edge off. He'd take anything at this point.
As the door to the loft swung open, Kurt gasped. The entire loft was alight with dozens of flickering candles, and soft, romantic music was playing. There was a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket with two flutes beside it on the kitchen table. The privacy curtains around the bed were drawn back, and a path of white flower petals led up to it.
"How - - how - -"
"A friend of mine," Blaine said lightly. "He set it all up according to my detailed instructions while we were out, and I texted him when we were ten minutes away to light everything and put the music on for me." He shut the door and took Kurt's coat.
"Sebastian?"
Blaine shrugged and nodded, playing with Kurt's tie.
Kurt looked around, impressed. "I never thought I'd thank that arrogant bestie of yours for anything, but … I will have to thank him for this. It looks amazing."
"You look amazing," Blaine whispered. "Kurt … I …" The boy looked down shyly, fumbling with Kurt's lapels. "I love you."
"I love you too," Kurt said, turning Blaine's chin up for a kiss.
"Let me show you how much?" Blaine asked, finally. "I've been so good, like you told me to, I waited all this time to even bring it up like you wanted. But … can we …?"
Kurt kissed Blaine on the hand and nodded, his eyes growing misty.
"I was expecting a hotel room," Kurt couldn't resist teasing. He let Blaine unbutton his shirt for him. "And knowing you, a show choir singing backup in the corner."
"I didn't want it to be someplace else. I wanted it here, where we live together and fell in love," Blaine admitted. He paused in the middle of unfastening Kurt's cuff links and looked up anxiously. "But if you want to go someplace else for our first time -"
Kurt stopped him with a kiss. "No. It's perfect, you're right. I love it." He kissed him again. "I love you."
At six in the morning, Kurt stirred and blinked awake in the rosy dawning light. He was achy and sore in the best way; they had made love over and over again, exploring each other and loving each other until they were exhausted. He stretched lazily, looking down at Blaine curled against his shoulder, gently stroking Kurt's chest with his knuckles. "Hey," he whispered. "What woke you up?" He planted a kiss on the top of Blaine's head.
Blaine's eyes were dazed and blinking. "I never even went to sleep."
Kurt sat up at that. "Oh, no ... Blaine … wasn't it good for you last night? Did I do something wrong and not realize?"
"Silly." Blaine murmured, rubbing his face against Kurt's shoulder like a sleepy kitten. "I'm still awake because I'm so happy. I want to keep feeling you next to me and remembering everything." He yawned and stretched his toned, olive-skinned arms above his head before dropping them around Kurt. "I just feel so safe. Happy. Safer and happier than I've felt since I was five years old." He pressed a soft kiss to Kurt's bare collarbone and snuggled up. Kurt felt such relief and tenderness that he had to breathe deeply before he could speak.
"You can go to sleep, honey. Hopefully, I'll make you feel safe and happy every day. I want to."
Blaine smiled drowsily, eyelids dropping. "Hold me while I fall asleep?"
Kurt pulled him close and cuddled him until his breathing evened out, treasuring this moment of pure joy and watching its source sleeping peacefully beside him.
