A/N- Sorry for the delay! I'm a bit off my unofficial schedule as I've been out of town, but this one's a douzy again to make up for it. All your lovely reviews have been brightening my days of late. I'm glad if I can return the favour for anyone with a bit of Flirt. Onwards!
"Hello?" Flint shut the front door behind him and dropped his bag down on the entry floor.
"In the kitchen." He pushed back his jacket and tucked his hands into his pockets, strolling back towards the chatter of voices.
"Did you want some breakfast Flint?" Flint leaned over his mother's shoulder, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"French toast? Yes please. Morning D." Danielle waved sleepily from the breakfast bar. "Where's Vanessa?"
"Dad's gone to pick her up from school. They should be back in about forty five minutes." She slipped two pieces of bread from the frying pan onto a plate and passed it to Flint as he took the stool next to his sister. "Are you going to be skiing or snowboarding this week?"
"Um, can I take my trick skis and my regular downhills? If I want to snowboard, I'll rent."
Leslie nodded, dipping more bread into the bowl of egg batter. It hit the pan with a sizzle.
"Okay, well, grab them from the garage, and put them in the front hall after you've eaten. Your suitcase is up on your bed too. Don't worry about laundry, just pack what you need and we can wash it at the cabin."
"Kay." Flint replied, through a mouthful of bread and maple syrup. Leslie frowned, pointing at him with a reproving glance.
"I hope you don't eat like that in public. You'll never find a nice boy if you eat like we raised you in a barn."
"Hey, Kurt never complains about my manners. In fact my pasta art makes him laugh!" Flint replied with a swallow and a grin.
"You did that in public? You are such a nerd!" Danielle rolled her eyes at her older brother.
Leslie listened to her two youngest children natter at each other for a moment while she slid finished slices of toast into the oven to stay warm.
"So, Flint..." Her actions were calm and casual, but she shot her son an appraising look. "Kurt? Is that the boy mentioned you went out on a date with?"
Danielle laughed as Flint's expressive face ground to a halt.
"Uh..."
"He's your booooyfriend." Danielle supplied, poking at Flint's arm. His eyes darted away from his mother's as he slapped his sister's hands back.
"How would you know?"
"Jeff told me so when he was visiting Allie."
"Danielle, leave your brother alone. And if you're done your breakfast, go on upstairs and pack. We need to be ready to leave for the airport in a couple hours."
Flint ran the back of his fork over his plate, collecting the last of the syrup. Leslie tucked the mixing bowl into the dishwasher and rinsed her hands under the faucet.
"Is everything alright?" Flint looked up at his mom's words, licking the syrup off the fork. He shrugged. Leslie rounded the counter and sat in the vacated seat.
She was quiet for a few minutes. Flint had always been shy about these things. The last thing she wanted was to make him uncomfortable. So she waited, until a small smile crept across his face. She reached out and fondly stroked her son's cheek.
"Have you found a nice boy?" Flint turned to her and nodded.
"Mom. He's great." Leslie cocked her head slightly. She'd never seen him like this. It was worrying and a lovely sight at the same time.
"So it is this Kurt boy?"
Flint pushed his fork over the plate so the tines scraped slightly.
"Yeah. We get along really well, and he's a really amazing guy."
"Are you too dating then? Boyfriends?"
"Mom..." Flint scrunched up his face, unable to contain his embarrassment any more. Leslie just laughed.
"Fine, fine. Go on and get packed." She took his plate and fork from her and pressed his shoulder to get him off the stool. "And don't forget to pack an extra pair off gloves."
"It was one time I lost mine! Once! And it was ten years ago." Flint complained, rolling his eyes as he headed for the stairs.
The clink of the dish as she put his plate in the sink was so familiar to Leslie in the air of the warm kitchen.
They were growing and changing and becoming their own people, Danielle, Flint and Vanessa.
Her son was apparently in his first real relationship. She just hoped this Kurt boy would be careful with him.
She hoped that she and Paul had taught Flint the right things.
She hoped that it was supposed to be this scary to see your kids grow up sometimes.
"I'm home!"
"Hey Kurt. There's some lunch if you're hungry." Burt called out.
"I'll be down in a minute. I'm just going to take my bag up to my room." Kurt slipped off his shoes and climbed up the stairs to his room, lifting his garment bag and suitcase onto the bed.
"Hey, you're back." Kurt looked up to see Finn leaning heavily on his door frame, rubbing his eye. He had clearly just gotten out of bed.
"Yes, I am. I see you're taking advantage of the break to put yourself in your usual sleep coma."
Finn grinned lazily.
"It's only 11:30. I'm up early by my standards." Kurt smiled a little.
"Good for you."
"You have any plans for the week yet?" Flint ambled into the room, his long limbs stretching out awkwardly in Kurt's desk chair.
"Not really. Probably hang out with the girls. And Blaine."
"Yeah...are you and Blaine..." Finn shrugged a bit, but Kurt shook his head.
"Friends Finn. Two gay guys can be friends you know."
"Yeah, I just thought you liked him, like..."
"Finn, isn't it a bit early in the morning for you to be trying to understand my love life?"
"Hey, you're the one who's always trying to get me to have lady chats with you. I"m just showing an interest." Finn stood up and started back towards the hallway.
Kurt paused for a minute, before deciding to open up a little to his step brother.
"It's not Blaine." Finn stalled at the door, looking confused.
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"I mean, Blaine's not my boyfriend."
"Okay. I know." Finn held up his hands in protest.
"No, Finn, I mean Blaine isn't, but I do have a boyfriend." Finn's eyebrows shot up. His mouth twisted into a smile that made Kurt feel something strangely comforting. They'd come a far way in the past two years. It was proof enough that he was even telling Finn about this.
"That's...that's cool Kurt. He's a good guy?"
Kurt nodded firmly.
"Well, you should bring him around sometime."
"He's in Canada right now, but maybe at some point."
"Okay, well, I'm gonna go have breakfast."
"Lunch."
"Whatever." Finn paused again. "Hey, does Burt know? About your boyfriend?"
Kurt shook his head.
"No, not yet."
"Okay. I won't say anything... so you know." Finn's pause broke and he clambered down the stairs, leaving Kurt to unpack his bags.
Burt slid out from under Kurt's car, wiping his forehead with his sleeve.
"Here." Kurt grabbed a rag from the tool bench and passed it down. It was Sunday afternoon, so the rest of the shop was closed, but the two of them were in to give the Nav a spring tune up.
"Thanks. So uh, how's school going? You guys have your next competition coming up right?"
"Yeah." Kurt climbed onto the work stool as his dad wiped off his hands and leaned against the car. "Regionals is in three weeks. Solo auditions are coming up next week though."
"You going to try out?" Kurt nodded.
"Of course. I doubt I'll get anything, but might as well."
Burt frowned, nudging his son's knee with his hand.
"Hey. You've got a great chance kid. You're a Hummel. Hummels don't give up."
Kurt grinned a bit.
"I know dad. It's just tough competition. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to fight for it."
"Good to hear. So, how about...friends and stuff. How's Blaine and those other guys you keep mentioning?" Kurt crossed his leg, grabbing his ankle.
"Blaine's fine. We're going to hang out this week. Maybe have a sleep over with him and Cedes and Rachel at some point, if that's okay. The other boys are good. A bunch of them are going away with their families for the week."
Burt nodded.
"Let me know when you want to have them over."
Kurt was about to suggest Tuesday night, when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He pulled it out, sliding it open. Flint. He couldn't help the smile that slipped over his lips, not even noticing Burt's eyes observing him carefully.
"Kurt! Hi! I'm up in Alberta. I hope home is good. I'll send you an email tonight if I can stay awake after dinner. Moose you! (Canada pun!)" Kurt rolled his eyes. Flint made the worst jokes. He almost felt guilty when he laughed them. Almost. Well, not really.
"You get a message?" Kurt looked up at the sound of his voice.
"Yeah, um. Just one of my friends from Dalton. He's in Canada with his family, skiiing or something."
Burt crossed his arms and watched Kurt carefully.
"Do I know him?"
Kurt was fidgeting. His fingers were drumming on his ankle. And Burt knew he needed to be patient. This usually meant that he wanted to tell him something. Mostly. Eventually.
At least they were in the garage. It was private and quiet on a weekend, but it was also kind of an important place for Burt and his son. They'd had a good number of "important talks" in the garage. Burt usually felt like it made him a bit more comfortable, like he was on his home turf at least. And to be honest, he felt like he responded better to the unusual demands of parenting a boy like Kurt when he felt more comfortable.
"He's...a Warbler. You've probably seen him. Flint. Seen Flint."
"Flint...yeah, tall guy. I think you've mentioned him a few times." Kurt's eyes were shifting across the floor. Burt drew his eyebrows together.
"Kiddo, is there something I should know about?"
"I..." Kurt looked down at his hands, trying to gather his words together into some semblance of the English language. His hands flew to his knees, knitting together in a false show of control.
"Dad. I have a boyfriend."
Oh.
Kurt's eyes were wide and he was biting his lips closed like he wanted to prevent any other words from slipping out.
"And that...boyfriend. It's this..." Burt was reeling a little at the news. He knew it was going to happen. At some point. He knew that his son being gay was more than just an abstract concept. But he'd hoped he'd have a while before he'd have to deal with it. A year maybe. Or ten.
"Flint."
Kurt looked at him cautiously, like he was about to keel over at any moment. And Burt smiled, and reached forward to pat his knee.
"Kurt, its okay. I'm okay. This is all-"
"Okay?" Kurt tried and Burt laughed a bit. His son looked a little less terrified. Still a bit mortified, and a little...red in the face, but generally better.
"So is this a new development?"
"It's been a month." Kurt said steadily. Burt nodded.
"What's he like?" His careful eyebrow rose, Kurt's eyes narrowing slightly at his father.
"Really? You actually want to know? You aren't going to threaten his life or lock me in the house til I'm thirty?"
"Do I need to?"
"No, of course not! Flint's great dad. He's...what kind of things do you want to know? I don't want to weird you out by gushing over a guy." Kurt admitted, sounding the slightest bit bitter.
Burt pushed off the hood of the car and wandered over to the mini fridge under the work bench. He grabbed two diet sodas, passing one to Kurt, who clutched it in his hands.
"Kurt, we both know that I flounder a bit over this. But your happiness is the most important thing to me. You know that?"
Kurt nodded, flicking his index finger over the tab of the pop can.
"You tell me whatever you want Kurt."
"He's...amazing. He's from Mansfield and he's got two sisters. He told me that he liked me, and then I asked him out around Valentines Day. And he wears weird socks and likes vintage shopping, and he goes to a nursing home and plays piano for his grandmother, who has Alzheimers."
Burt's eyebrows had risen at the rush of information Kurt had let out.
"Okay. He sounds like a decent guy." Burt fixed Kurt with a bit of a stern look. "You two are being...careful, right?"
Kurt's eyes widened almost comically and his face flushed bright red.
"Dad!"
"Hey. I'm your father, and I have to say what's in your best interest. Now you and this boy..."
"No. No dad." Kurt looked deeply alarmed none the less.
"Kurt-"
"No! We aren't even...just no, okay." Kurt panicked a little. "We aren't...doing that dad."
"Fine. You aren't. But if you do... You will be careful won't you?"
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"Yes. I know the whole...protection spiel."
Burt smiled a little at his son.
"Kurt. It's more than that."
"Please Dad. I know for a fact that neither of us want to have this conversation."
"Yeah, well we're going to kid, if it kills us. Look, protection is important, yeah, and your health and all that stuff, and you can get that from the clinic. You should. But it's more than that."
Burt shifted a bit, putting his hand on Kurt's shoulder and prompting him to look up.
"You gotta be careful with you. You're a great kid, and I am so proud of you, and you should be too. You're worth standing up for what you want. Or don't want. And I know that you like him. And from the sounds of it he's a good guy, but...you're both teenage boys. And at some point, one of you is going to be ready for more, and one or both of you is going to feel pressure or say something to get the other to agree to do something. So you gotta be careful. About you. About this." Burt pushed his finger gently to his son's chest. "Cause in the heat of the moment, neither of you are gonna be thinking about it, but its a part of you that's really at risk in all this. And not a lot of people are as careful with that as they are with...other parts."
"I know."
"I just...I never want to see you hurting kid." Kurt let himself lean into his dad's shoulder a little. "But hey-"
Burt wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders and squeezed him tightly.
"It's cool that you've got a good guy. And thanks. For telling me. I want to know what's going on in your life Kurt."
"I wanted to for a while now." Kurt admitted. "I just wasn't sure how to bring it up." Burt gave him another squeeze and stood up straight, dusting his hands off on his coveralls.
"Well, I'm glad you did. And now that I know that, I think we should head back to the house. I've got a rifle to clean."
"Dad!" Kurt hopped off the stool and followed his dad, grabbing their coats of the railing. Burt clapped his back lightly and gave his shoulder a squeeze.
"Kidding! Kidding. Now come on. Carole said she was going to be making an afternoon snack for when we got back, and I am starving."
"It had better be vegetables!" Kurt retorted, tugging the shop door behind them and twisting the key in the lock. The rest of the nav's tune up could wait.
Flint rolled over in bed, his forehead colliding with the edge of his laptop. He'd left it on his bed last night. He'd meant to email Kurt, but after a full day on the slopes, and a late dinner, he had crashed epically, still in his thermals.
With a yawn, he rebooted it, and opened up a window. He clicked quickly to his school email. Where there was an email from Kurt. Flint grinned, shifting up to rest his head on his arm.
"Hello. I just want to tell you that your pun was very awful. And it made me laugh. Which lead to me telling my dad about us. I hope that's okay? It may seem like a weird train of events, but I don't really want to explain it right now. Maybe when you get back. It actually wasn't that bad. Awkward. SO AWKWARD! But not too bad.
It's Monday today, in case you've been having so much fun that you've forgotten the days. I'm planning a super awesome sleepover for tomorrow night. I promised Mercedes one while I was home, but it's kinda exploded. Me and Mercedes is now us, Rachel, Tina, Blaine and get this, Wes...yes. I'm making it my mission to get him to submit to a makeover by the end of the night. Apparently, his parents had to cancel out on their trip and no one's at his house, so he's staying with Blaine for the week. You're okay with Blaine being at the sleepover right? I promised him we'd hang out this week. I think he's kinda lonely. We're all going to sleep on the living room floor...although I won't lie, I may sneak up to my bed, because really, it's my house. If it's too weird for you...I can always say it's just a girls' night, and hang out with him the next day or something. I won't lie to you though. I don't really want to. Blaine's important to me.
But so are you. So really...be honest with me? I'll make it work either way.
On a less angsty note, the Navi got its spring check up! Which means it would be in top shape for a trip. What do you think about a shopping trip to Columbus when you get back? I can't believe we haven't gone yet! Let me know what you think.
I should get to bed, and since I haven't got a message from you, I'm guessing you already are. So I hope you're having a good morning, and send me something back.
Your SH."
Flint smiled at the sign off. He couldn't help it. He clicked reply right away, glancing up as Vanessa passed by his doorway with a half asleep wave.
"Good morning! Thanks for the email. It was nice to wake up to. And my pun was awesome! I'm super clever.
I'm totally okay with the various elements of the message you sent. It's cool that your dad knows. My mom knows too, and I still have to tell my dad, but I just haven't had a chance yet. Are we going to have to do meet the parents dinners soon now? I'm totally pulling what Jeff calls my "Eeep!" face. He says it makes me look like a Scooby Doo character. I always just tell him his hair makes him look like he's from dragonball z. I have no idea if you'll get that reference.
As for Blaine, you totally don't need my permission to hang out with your friends Kurt. I trust you, cause you haven't ever given me a reason not to. That, and I don't believe you can physically lie. It would be like a puppy lying! It just isn't right! Basically what I'm saying really badly is that you should just have fun, You've never had a problem with Jeff and my crazy bromance. And I know you and Blaine have history with what happened at your old school. So I'm not going to go all crazy jealous boyfriend on you. I'm going to be super supportive awesome boyfriend. And maybe remind you that I really really like you? You have to let me use just a little guilting when it comes to past flames. It's my inherent weakness as current boyfriend.
Have I mentioned how awesome it is to use that word for us? Boyfriend? If I haven't, you should know that it totally is. Seriously. Say it. Right now. Feels great doesn't it?
The shopping trip sounds great. I'm looking forward to it already!
I should get up and get dressed. Vanessa and Danny and I are going to rent snowboards for the day and try not to get too badly bruised by falling on our butts.
I'll talk to you soon! Have a fun sleepover, and if you get Wes done up, take pics. Lots and lots of blackmail pics.
Your BOYFRIEND!
F.W."
How had this happened? Kurt sat back on the couch and smiled with just a little disbelief.
His little sleepover plans had blown up, and now he had all six girls from ND, plus Blaine and Wes camped out in his living room. Finn had taken his idea too, and run in the other direction. He and the boys were gong to go paintballing and then crash at Puck's house.
Kurt and the girls had just clambered up and disappeared into the kitchen, where they were periodically releasing peals of laughter.
"Why couldn't I have gone paintballing." Wes groaned, but Blaine just rolled his eyes.
"Relax Wesley. How many boys would really be complaining about being stuck in a room with six girls in their pyjamas."
Wes smiled a little.
"How would you know." Blaine just shot back a smile.
"I get the abstract concept if not the actual appeal."
"Hey hobbit and other other Asian. Get over here." Santana was yelling at them from the kitchen doorway. "If you want any say on pizza toppings you have to help make it."
Blaine pushed Wes up.
"Should I be insulted?" Wes asked, looking fairly confused, but still a little intrigued.
"I think that's their way of welcoming us into the tribe. You go. You know what I like."
"Please don't leave me alone with her." Wes joked, standing up and brushing off his clothes, more out of habit than anything. He didn't exactly need to smooth wrinkles out of a tshirt and flannel sleep pants.
As he moved cautiously towards the racket in the other room, Blaine leaned back against the couch. He had a good spot, and didn't really want to give it up.
"Hey. Still protecting the spot?" Kurt appeared from the kitchen and settled down cross-legged next to Blaine. "Here. We made smoothies." Kurt passed him one of the glasses in his hands.
"Did you actually leave Wes all alone in there? I don't think he's ever been alone with that many girls."
Kurt laughed.
"Santana said she'd keep an eye on him."
"Is that supposed to be encouraging?" Blaine grinned, sipping through the bendy straw Kurt had put in the drink.
"Isn't he supposed to have a girlfriend?" Kurt countered.
"They broke up." Blaine said conspiratorially. " Don't tell anyone, seriously, but Wes is kinda... uninhibited when it comes to girls. In private at least."
Kurt's eyes widened and he stole a glance towards the kitchen, where a deeply pitched squawk emerged from.
"But he's so..."
"Uptight?"
"You said it, but yes!"
"You know what they always say. It's the quiet ones." Kurt laughed loudly, and Blaine joined in with him. "You know, I really want to thank you for inviting me Kurt. It's really awesome to hang out with you."
"I've missed it." Kurt admitted and Blaine nodded.
"By the way, awesome smoothie."
"It's the greek yogurt. It's really good for you too." Blaine observed the glass approvingly.
"Cool."
"Guys! A hand?" The smiled at each other at Wes' plaintive call from the other room.
"Seriously Wes? They're just girls!" Kurt teased as he offered Blaine a hand up and headed back to the kitchen.
"Just girls? Honey, I know you did not just say that!" Blaine couldn't help it. He broke out in laughter again at Mercedes' protest. At least until Santana heard him and shot back a "what are you laughing at chuckles?"
It was strangely less threatening when he saw that she was holding his friend against the floor while Quinn carefully smoothed an organic facial mask over his forehead.
"Blaine? Could you do something please!" Blaine nodded furtively and the girls looked up in disappointment, assuming he was about to stop their teasing assault.
"Of course. Kurt! I'm going to go grab my camera. Help the girls."
"Anderson! So help me, you'd better sleep with one eye open tonight."
He was in line at the lodge to grab some lunch and a hot chocolate when his phone buzzed. Flint grinned at the message from Kurt.
"Flint. You were frighteningly accurate. See attached pic for Wes as swamp monster. And doing his best impression of your cuddle sloth mode with San! She doesn't seem to mind. Totally saw her slip him her number." Flint laughed at the image of a wincing Wes covered in what looked like guac, and pic of him and Kurt's friend curled up on the couch which was actually kinda cute. Hopefully Wes wouldn't burn through her like he did with the other girls. Yeah. Worst kept secret at Dalton. Wes was a total floozy.
His thumbs typed quickly as he responded.
"Nice pics! Hope your friend can handle our friend. Be on the slopes all day, so don't worry if I don't message back or anything. Have a good day!"
At lunch on Thursday, Flint was getting tired of his sister begging off from skiing or going to the lodge for a game of pool in favour of reading her textbooks.
"Come on Nessa! Relax a bit. You already spent the whole morning doing homework."
"Yeah well college is hard. I already spent my actual spring break doing work and now I'm missing classes."
"Then you might as well make it worthwhile! I'll race you down the hill, and if you win, I'm buying hot drinks at the lodge tonight. Deal?"
"Ugh, fine." Vanessa gave in, but Flint could see the reluctant smile on her face. "I'd offer to buy if you win, but there's really no point. We both know you're going to lose. Come on." She pushed off from the table and headed for the door, and Flint followed in her tracks.
He could see Vanessa's bright blue jacket out of the corner of his eye. He tucked down further through the wide curve that opened onto the main slope. He'd have to cut along the emptier edges of the track if he wanted to win. Vanessa was a faster turner, and would be able to travel a more populated and smoother part of the hill.
They were neck and neck when a flash of red caught Flint's attention a few yards ahead of him.
"Shit."
He carved hard to the right to avoid the kid splayed in his way, blocked to his left by a woman coming to help.
Right however, was the edge of the track, and a plastic orange fence was the only guard between him and a stand of trees. Flint tried to grind to a stop, but skidded over a patch of ice. He lost his poles and one of his skis behind him, only to be tugged to a stop when his other ski caught in the fence. It whipped him around with his momentum and his leg smacked against a trunk, but it saved him from hitting the trees straight on.
"Flint! FLINT!" He shook out his head and pushed his goggles back, blinking at the brightness of the sun off the snow. Vanessa must have seen him wipeout, because that was definitely her voice shouting at him. Sitting up, he could see her pop off her skis, digging them upright in the snow, and run clumsily back up the hill to him.
"Flint! Are you okay!"
He tried to move, but one leg was at an uncomfortable angle, still caught in the fence.
"I'm fine Nessa." He called out, but she still crouched down in the snow as soon as she got to him and grabbed his face to check his pupils. Stupid pre-med.
"Did you hit your head?"
"No, just my leg. The one without the ski. Can you release my boot from the one in the fence?"
"Yeah, yeah of course." Vanessa shifted around and popped the boot out of its bindings. Flint groaned as he was able to readjust, and tried to stand up on his own.
"Ow! Son of a-" He gritted his teeth as soon as he put pressure on the leg that had made contact with the trees, and sat back down in the snow, hard.
"Hey, you guys okay?" He and Vanessa both looked up, seeing a ski patrol member standing by the child who had fallen and their parent.
"I'm so sorry!" The woman called out. "He's not supposed to be on this run. I told you you weren't supposed to be on this run Daniel!" She scolded the boy, but was still hugging him tightly.
"It's okay." Flint called back, trying to roll up his pant and see his leg, but Vanessa pushed his hands away.
"You'll only make it worse. And we could use a hand please!" She shouted to the patrolman. "I think my brother's gonna need some help."
"Vanessa, stop being so ridiculous. I'm fine." As the patroller made sure the other family was okay and started towards them, Vanessa just raised an eyebrow and poked at his shin.
"Holy sweet heavenly- OW. What did you do that for!" She just waved off his complaints.
"You need help, now stop being such a boy about it. Hi." Flint crossed his arms, glaring at her as the patroller called out on his radio for the sled.
It was ten and even though he didn't have to be up for anything, Kurt had decided to go to bed. He had hoped to hear from Flint at some point, but his phone and email had been quiet all day. He was probably just busy. And it wasn't like Kurt couldn't go a day without his boyfriend checking in. He just preferred not to.
He had just brushed his teeth when the cool light and buzz of his phone alerted him to a text. Kurt grabbed it off the side table and flopped back onto the bed. It wasn't a usual text, there were no words, just an image. Kurt squinted at his screen.
"What?" It looked like a crude sketch of a sad face on a rough white background and "Don't be mad" in wobbly looking writing that was familiar to Flint's sharp scratch. He had no idea what that was supposed to mean.
Another text popped up, the sender labelled as Flint Wilson. Hopefully this would clear things up.
It did.
"Oh my- What!" Kurt clapped his mouth shut after his disbelieving yelp had already escaped.
"Kurt? Everything okay?" Burt's voice called up from the base of the stairs.
"Yeah! Sorry, no, it's all..." Kurt dropped off and grumbled to himself, staring at the screen. "I can't believe this."
The second text had a picture as well. Of Flint. In a heavy wool shawl neck sweater. With his own real life sad face. And a plaster cast up to the knee of his left foot.
Kurt pushed at the options on his screen sharply, his arm crossing tightly over his chest as he held it up to his ear. It was ringing.
"Hello?" Kurt was relieved to hear Flint's voice was upbeat as usual and not tinged with pain or anything.
"What did you do to yourself!"
A little laugh from the other end riled Kurt up all the more, but Flint didn't seem to be in a rush to explain anything.
"Oh hi. It's nice to hear from you too."
"What happened? Are you okay?"
"Kurt, I'm fine." Flint said evenly, but he knew that back in Ohio, Kurt would be having a little bit of a fit over this.
"No, fine doesn't require a cast."
"It was just an accident when I was on the hill. Tried a double back flip off a mogul." Flint teased. But he regretted it right away when he heard the little pull in the other boy's voice.
"That's not funny! You could have killed yourself! Did Sonny Bono teach you nothing!"
"Kurt, I'm kidding. I wasn't doing flips or playing football or juggling or anything. I just had a little kid wipe out in front of me and I had to swerve so I didn't hurt him. Except I swerved into a tree. With my leg."
"Flint..." He remembered Kurt telling him about his dad being in hospital, and how he had to look after him. Kurt was pretty good at caring for people. But he was also really good at worrying, and Flint didn't want him to.
"Hey, I'm fine Kurt. I got a sled ride down the hill behind the patrol snowmobile. And the nurse at the hospital gave me a lollipop for being brave."
A little sigh was enough for him to know that his soft humour had soothed Kurt a little.
"Can you walk at all?"
Flint looked down at his foot sadly. He wiggled his bare toes and winced at the pain.
"I'm on crutches for a while. In the cast for six to eight weeks."
"Six to eight...but regionals is in-" The drop in Kurt's tone meant that he had figured out what Flint had himself two hours ago as he was being wheeled from the hospital.
"Three weeks. I know."
"Oh, Wes is going to murder you." Kurt groaned. "You won't be able to do the choreography with a cast on."
"Yeah. I already thought about that. I'm going to be sending him an email in a bit. And I'll need you to defend me when we get back. I can't even run away and I'll only be able to fend him off with my crutches for so long."
"But you were looking forward to regionals! Maybe we can change some of the choreography around..."
"Kurt, it's okay. I want to be out there on stage, but our best chance for me to be there with you guys at nationals is to hang back for this one."
"Babe..." Flint smiled at the soft, sympathetic intonation in Kurt's voice. It kinda made his stomach swirl, even miles away from him.
"Hey, at least this way I can break out that sparkly bristol board sign I've been planning for when you get the solo."
Kurt laughed, but he shook his head.
"I don't have a solo Flint. Tryouts aren't even til we get back, and my chances are slim to nil."
"You're chances are great. Just like you. Your voice is amazing Kurt. If you pick the right song, I guarantee you'll get a spot for regionals." Kurt smiled.
"You're biased."
"Maybe. But you're still amazing."
"When are you getting back?" Kurt asked, a little embarrassed at Flint's praise, even though he was alone in his room.
"Plans are the same. We'll be back tomorrow night. Are you free on the weekend?"
Kurt stretched out a bit on his bed, yawning.
"Yeah, no major plans as of yet. I think dinner with the family on Sunday night this week before I head back to Dalton."
"Cool. Dyou wanna hang out then?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Of course I do. Why don't you call me on Saturday and we'll see how you're feeling with the leg."
Flint rolled his eyes.
"Kurt, I'm fine. Really."
He smiled a bit at the huff that came across the line.
"Whatever. I'm going to bed now."
"Come on, don't be angry." Flint protested, listening to what was probably the rustle of Kurt's sheets. The soft thump was likely Kurt's head finding its place on the pillow. He slouched down a bit in his own chair, hugging one of the throw pillows to his chest, and glancing around to make sure he had some privacy.
"I've missed you." Flint murmured, picking at the pleating on the cushion.
"That's not fair." Kurt groaned slightly. "I'm trying to be upset with you."
"Did..." Flint paused, too unsure of himself to ask what he wanted. He heard Kurt shift in his bed, and opened his mouth to try again.
"Of course I miss you." Kurt whispered into the phone. "Don't be stupid."
"Okay."
"And...just get home safe okay? Nothing else broken?"
"I'll do my best."
"Okay...I guess I should get some sleep. You should too."
"Yes nurse."
"G'night."
"Night sweetheart." He revelled for a moment in the happy hum that Kurt gave at his words, before carefully closing his phone and placing it on the end table.
"You two are just adorable." Flint looked over his shoulder to see Vanessa leaning in the dark doorway of the kitchen.
"Leave me alone Ness." He groaned, anticipating the teasing onslaught that was about to come. But instead the room was silent, except for the slight creak of the floor as Vanessa shifted her weight.
"I was going to make tea. Would you like some?"
Flint looked at her in surprise, but let his eyebrows drop when he saw the quiet smile on her face.
"Yeah. That'd be great. Thanks."