Chapter 37 – Thanksgiving – Part III
"Hurry up, guys. I'm starving," Burt said. "And since I don't think either of us wants to cook I suggest we go out and find a nice diner."
"Perfection can't be rushed," Genius replied with his face just inches from Kurt's as he applied eyeshadow on Kurt's closed lids with a brush. He dropped his voice to a murmur just for Kurt to hear. "You don't mind me coming along with you and your dad, do you?"
"It's all right," Kurt said with a smile. "I love my dad and we've always been good just the two of us, but I don't trust myself at the moment and I think your presence helps me keep sane and not attack my dad for stupid reasons again."
It took Genius half an hour to turn Kurt into a neatly coiffed and highlighted version of himself and yet another half hour to dress him in a long-sleeved light pink shirt, blue camouflage pants and a purple neckerchief with skulls and crossbones.
In the meantime Burt set up the litter box and a basket for Oreo and prepared a bowl with cat's food that was very much appreciated.
"I'm ready to go," Burt announced.
"We're good, too," Kurt replied.
"Aren't you going to change?" Genius looked displeased with Burt. "I thought this was just your travel attire."
"No, this is my usual look," Burt opened his arms.
"No. No way. This will not do," Genius said. "At least put on a decent shirt, and no, flannel doesn't count."
Burt exchanged a look with his son, but Kurt just shrugged. "You heard the man, Dad."
Instantly Kurt and Genius took charge of Burt's suitcase and muttered incomprehensible insults about the content.
"He didn't even bring dress shoes?" Genius complained while shaking his head. "He wants to go out in Adidas sneakers? Is he for real?"
"I'm afraid he is," Kurt replied.
"Unacceptable," Genius dismissed the very idea with a wave of his hand.
They settled on the pair of Brahma work boots that Burt had brought with him and which Genius declared as New York proof, "because oil resistant and slip resistant boots with steal toes send a strong message: No kind of street junk can mess with me."
They made Burt wear a blue button-down over black jeans and one of Kurt's ties that Genius tied in a trinity knot.
"Look at me, Kurt, all fancy and stuff, eh?" Burt said proudly as he stood in front of the mirror.
"You look really good, Dad," Kurt smiled warmly.
When they grabbed their coats and scarves, Genius noticed that Burt hadn't brought a scarf. "Straight men," he tsked. "They think they're invincible." He took one of Kurt's scarves and arranged it in a knot around Burt's neck. Burt let it happen, amused by all the fuss, although he was now wearing a bright red scarf with a row of cocks on it. "Cocks?" Burt raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Really?"
"Got a problem with male chicken?" Kurt fake bristled and pushed everyone out of the door. "If we happen to hit a gay bar you'll be the life of the party, Dad."
There was a little dispute over where to go, the choices being staying in the neighborhood or going into the city. Finally they agreed on taking the subway into Manhattan.
Stepping out of the underground they immediately got caught in an incredible wind between the high buildings. First, Genius and Kurt cried out in dismay and then they whooped in a fit of hilarious laughter as they were trying to save their perfectly styled hair.
"It's not funny!" Kurt shouted at his father, who laughed at their expense. But Kurt was giggling, too.
"You're a bitch, New York!" Genius called out, laughing.
They sought refuge in a diner and sat down in a booth with red cheeks and giddy smiles. Kurt and Genius shared a bench and Burt sat opposite of them.
"Your hair spray is amazing, G," Kurt said, as their hair-do was hardly disturbed by the storm.
"This place is packed," Burt observed. "Does nobody eat at home anymore?"
"I suppose there're no familys living in Manhattan," Genius said. "Mostly singles going out with friends or on dates."
"Like them," Kurt nodded slightly to his left, hardly hiding a grin, and Genius and Burt followed his gaze to a young straight couple kissing at a table right in the middle of the room.
"Shameless," Genius pursed his lips in disapprovement.
"Come on, they're harmless," Burt commented.
"That's French kissing in public," Genius argued, pointing at the couple. "You call that harmless? Then I think you have voyeuristic leanings."
"It's rather that we're used to see my brother and Rachel exchange saliva during dinner," Kurt remarked casually while studying the drinks menu.
The waitress – a nice woman in her forties – brought them the menus. "I'm sorry for your table neighbors," she said in a low voice. "I hope you don't mind their public show of affection. I can call them to order, if you do."
"No, it's fine," Burt said, taking a menu.
"As long as no one minds us," Genius replied, draping one arm over Kurt's shoulders. Kurt looked up, surprised.
"Of course not," the waitress smiled. "You're a very lovely couple."
"We're not a couple," Kurt said quickly.
The waitress turned to Burt. "Young love is wonderful, isn't it? Back in my days I wouldn't have dared to so much as peck my boyfriend in public."
"Times are changing," Burt replied. "For better or worse."
The waitress chuckled and asked for their drink orders before she left again.
"See, no ones cares that you're gay," Burt said, tucking a finger in his collar to loosen his tie.
"It's only words," Genius huffed. "If it was us kissing, they'd be spitting out their lobster."
"I don't think so. Not with this crowd," Burt disagreed.
"There's lobster on the menu?" Kurt took a closer look into the menu.
"Want to bet?" Genius challenged Burt.
"The winner gets to decide the next stop on our fun day," Burt replied, confident of victory.
"Deal," Genius reached over the table to shake hands on it.
"Good luck on convincing him to help you out," Burt nodded at Kurt. "Because I won't do it."
"They don't have lobster here," Kurt murmured, somewhat disappointed.
Genius snatched Kurt's menu away and put it down. "Kiss me," he demanded.
"Excuse me?" Kurt raised a brow.
"If a stupid straight couple can kiss in the middle of a restaurant, we can do the same."
"We haven't even ordered," Kurt said, looking at his friend as if he had gone mad. "I don't want to be kicked out before I had something to eat."
"If they don't accept us here, I don't want to eat their food."
Kurt let out a resignated sigh. "Do you have to make a statement out of everything?"
"Yes," Genius replied simply, but determinedly.
"I don't want to," Kurt dropped his voice. "It's embarrassing."
"Need I mention that you still owe me for that assault in the cab?"
Kurt blushed. "That doesn't count. I was drunk. I mean, slightly drunk." He shot his father a look.
"Don't forget drugged," Genius added, and at Burt's stunned face he said, "Kurt usually only kisses me when he's had an aphrodisiac."
"He's talking nonsense," Kurt chuckled nervously.
"I can elaborate," Genius offered. "It's actually quite the story."
"Would you shut up already?" Kurt growled.
"Make me," Genius gave a smug smile.
Kurt rolled his eyes skyward.
"See, we were in a cab heading to my place and Kurt was so overwhelmed with desire for me that-"
Kurt grabbed Genius' face and placed a big fat kiss on him.
Genius slipped a hand on Kurt's neck and they both closed their eyes. Kurt didn't remember much of making out with his friend in the cab, but now that they were mouth on mouth again he recognized the hard lips on his own and the smell of musky after shave. Genius opened his mouth and grazed his teeth over Kurt's lips, urging him to deepen the kiss, but Kurt resisted for a moment longer, too aware of not just the whole restaurant but also his father watching.
However, he knew that Genius wouldn't drop the topic if he didn't do this properly, so he took a deep calming breath through his nose and finally relaxed into the kiss. He wrapped his arms loosely around Genius' shoulders, as he worked his mouth against his friend's. Another thing he recalled was that Genius was a hell of a good kisser. When the self-proclaimed fashion revolutionist began to slowly massage Kurt's tongue with his own, Kurt melted into the kiss, asking for more by making little humming sounds. The man's grip on him was strong and demanding and Kurt eagerly succumbed to the touch, in an unforeseen need of more.
It was only when he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat that Kurt jolted back to reality. He drew back so fast that he almost slipped off the bench and blinked around in a daze.
"Have you decided yet?" asked the waitress standing next to their table.
"Well, the appetizer's excellent so far," Genius remarked with a wink at Kurt who now blushed furiously and hid his face behind the menu.
Burt had his elbows on the table and grinned into his folded hands. "I'll have the turkey mince, please. What would Thanksgiving be without some turkey?"
"Good choice, sir," the waitress scribbled it down with a grin of her own.
"I know," Burt smiled. "Especially since the turkey mince is a healthy alternative to beef mince, because it's lower in fat, calories and cholesterol."
Kurt arched his brows at his father. "I'm impressed." He closed the menu. "The same for me, please."
"I'll have the baked sweet potatoes with easy chilli and soured cream," Genius ordered and gave the menu back. "And for dessert I'll split a cheese cake with my honeyboo."
"How very sweet," the waitress smiled. "Everything's coming right up."
"Honeyboo? Seriously?" Kurt deadpanned at Genius after the waitress was gone.
Burt continued grinning at Genius' shenanigans. "Looks like I've won," Burt said to Genius, opening his arms and gesturing around. "No one cares."
"The waitress is only nice, because she has to," Genius grumbled.
"Nope," Burt disagreed. "She really thinks you guys are adorable."
Skeptically, Genius looked over to the straight couple that had been kissing before, checking for their reaction. They were looking over at them, too, both smiling and the man even gave them a thumbs-up. Genius grinned back, taken aback by the friendly response.
"Mm, not bad for a straight diner," he muttered.
"Told ya," Burt said, but he was more relieved of the acceptance of their audience than he let on. He wouldn't have been fond of any homophobic slurs directed at them, not with the state Kurt was in.
"I'm sorry you had to sit through that, Dad," Kurt said, still blushing and his eyes glued on the table. "But that's what you get for encouraging Genius with such nonsense."
Burt laughed. "I didn't mind. Although I have to say I'm not keen on a repetition. Not one that I have to witness, anyway."
"Understandable," Genius replied with a haughty grin. "We're just too hot to watch. But say, just out of curiosity, do you enjoy watching two women kissing? Is that still hot for straight men?"
"Don't answer that, Dad," Kurt pleaded and glared at his friend. "I'd appreciate it if you stopped using my father as a guinea pig for psychological experiments."
"My discomfort rather stems from the fact that it's never great to be the third party at the table when two are so engrossed with one another, especially when one of them is my son," Burt explained kindly. "I'm sure you wouldn't want to sit next to Carole and me making out," he chuckled.
"God, no," Kurt let out a puff of breath.
Burt raised his beer to clink glasses with the boys. "To a great night."
Kurt and Genius raised their sparkling ciders and smiled at one another.
"You definitely learned the fine tuning of French kissing in Paris," Kurt remarked with a smile, relaxing when he realized that his father wasn't grossed out or uncomfortable upon seeing them kiss.
Genius got a little coquettish, batting his eyes with a flirty smile. "If you already liked that I can gladly teach you another thing or two I learned in Paris," Genius offered. "Anytime."
Kurt swatted his napkin at him. "Stop it, silly."
Kurt wasn't going to admit it, but he found that he liked making out with his friend. It wasn't like kissing Blaine, though. It would never be like kissing Blaine with anyone. It kind of scared him that he was able to lose himself in a daze and enjoy the kiss of another man that he didn't have romantic feelings for. He didn't want to become someone who threw himself around. Genius was someone Kurt admired for his talent and who had become a friend; a friend who was an annoyance most of the time, but surprisingly also someone whom he could trust to have his back. Kurt tried to figure out if he could imagine to become friends with benefits with Genius. This idea hadn't worked out with Blaine, because he was too much in love with Blaine to be having just meaningless sex.
"So," Burt said, squinting his eyes at them. "Are you guys really just friends or what?"
"Of course we're just friends with benefits," Kurt blurted out in an indignantly tone, not realizing that his mouth had spit out what he'd been thinking.
"We're what?" Genius asked with big eyes.
"Just friends!" Kurt quickly corrected. "I meant to say we're just friends, no benefits whatsoever. God!" Kurt dropped his head on the table and draped an arm around his face.
"I'm sorry I asked," Burt laughed, reaching out and squeezing Kurt's arm.
"I'm not," Genius pursed his lips. "My door is wide open, Kurt. You just have to say the word."
"Oh, shut up, G," Kurt gave him a dirty look. "And I'm not going to kiss you again to make you shut up, so just shut up."
The waitress returned with their dinner and everything looked and smelled delicious.
"I'd like to say my thanks before we start feasting," Burt said. Immediately Kurt and Genius put their silverware back on the table.
"You guys really do this? Saying thanks and all?" Genius asked intrigued and curiously.
"We do," Burt confirmed and put his hands on the table, palms up. Kurt put his right hand into his father's and held out his left for Genius to take. He could tell that Genius wanted to refuse and make a joke about it, but then thought better of it and slowly reached out to hold both Burt's and Kurt's hands.
"I'm going to start if you don't mind," Burt said and after the boys gave him a nod, he continued. "I'm grateful for my health. Ever since my heart attack that's been number one on my list."
Kurt gave an appreciative nod.
"I'm very grateful to have such wonderful people in my life. My wife, her son Finn, and most of all, you, Kurt. I love you and although I miss you around every day I'm proud of what you're doing here in New York. I know it's hard sometimes to follow one's dreams, but I'm sure you'll make it in the end." He squeezed Kurt's hand tight with tears glistening in his eyes. "I'm thankful for every day that I have you in my life and I don't ever want to become estranged to you, no matter what crazy outfits you wear or how much make-up you put on or whom you choose as a partner."
They shared a long glance filled with so much heartfelt devotion that Kurt felt guilty for ever doubting his father's intentions and questioning their relationship. He was so glad that his father had come to reconnect and strengthen the bond between them.
"I'm sorry that I didn't come home, Dad," Kurt said with a thick voice. "It's my fault that you're here and Carole and Finn are back home by themselves. We're one family now and I should have come back to Lima to celebrate Thanksgiving with all of you."
"Don't worry about it," Burt gave him a warm smile. "I meant it when I said I wanted to spend time with you, Kurt. You know how it is when Finn and I are in a room together, talking sports and cars, and Carole and you discuss the latest Project Runway episodes or whatever. Let them have their moment and we have ours. Including our new friend. Thanks for joining us, Emmett. I hope we don't make you want to puke with our sentimentalities."
"It's rather fascinating to witness such soap opera in real life," Genius replied, genuinely intrigued. "Kurt, when you said you and your dad had a great bond I never imagined this."
"This what?" Kurt chuckled nervously.
"I mean like holding hands in a restaurant and telling each other they're the moon and the stars for them. Thanksgiving or no thanksgiving, that's not normal."
"Well, it took us a while to be able to speak openly to one another," Burt admitted. "And I don't care what people may think about us, this is our new normal."
"I'm not saying it's wrong or creepy or anything," Genius replied. "I'm just saying other families aren't like that."
"Anyway, I'm not finished saying my thanks and we should hurry before our food turns cold," Kurt said eagerly, gripping his father's and friend's hands tighter. "I'm grateful for all that I have achieved so far in New York. I may not have gotten into NYADA, but sometimes life stirs us in another direction. I guess I'm used to things never working out the way I want them to, but I'm beginning to understand that sometimes it's for the best. I just have to turn lemons into lemonade, right? I love my job at Vogue, I'm blessed to have a godmother like Isabelle and I wouldn't have applied to Fashion Hero if Andrew hadn't told me about it, so at least I owe him thanks for that."
Burt frowned, apparently he didn't agree that Andrew deserved thanks for anything.
"I love the challenges of the show," Kurt went on, "and no matter how my part in the show will turn out in the end, I'm thankful that I met you, Emmett. I don't know how it happened, but somehow we became friends and I'm proud of that."
"Wow," Genius said with a baffled smile. "Heavy stuff. Can't you guys just say you're grateful for the decent meal and that the forecast hasn't announced snow yet? Gosh, I'm grateful that I've met you, too, Kurt. You're a very entertaining friend and who would have thought we'd get along so well? I'm proud of myself that I've made it so far on my own and make no mistake, honeyboo, but I'm going to win the show! I wouldn't mind you to come in second, though. And I suck at saying my thanks, so can we just start eating now?"
"You're aware I'm going to kick you the next time you call me honeyboo, right?" Kurt murmured with a grin, letting go of the other's hands and taking his silverware.
"Can't wait for it," Genius joked back with a mischiveous gleam in his eyes.
They enjoyed their meal in silence, each of them eating as if they'd been starving, and Kurt felt like he truly was since he didn't have a proper meal in days. Depression sucked. Only now did he notice how hungry he was.
Happy and content after the meal, Burt grabbed his napkin and wiped his mouth. They ordered cappuccinos to go with the cheese cake that Genius and Kurt shared with two forks.
"So, you and Chandler are texting?" Kurt asked innocently, slowly devouring the beloved dessert. "Have you told him about your online identity yet?"
"No, I want to be in his good graces before I do," Genius confessed.
"You mean you want him to fall in love with you before you tell him you've lied to him about being his online friend from Paris?" Kurt exchanged a look with his father. "Welcome to the dating problems of the twenty-first century, Dad."
"The funny thing is," Genius said, "that Chandler seems to be exactly the same person that he is online."
"Shocking!" Kurt lifted a hand to his mouth in mock-outrage.
"Yeah, he's a bit weird, isn't he?" Genius mused with his fork hanging from his lips.
"Says the guy who loves to wear medieval high collars like a steam punk prince."
"I never said it was a bad thing to be weird," Genius smiled. "In fact I definitely have a thing for weirdos."
"Isn't Chandler the guy that Blaine's currently dating?" Burt interjected, trying to keep up with the conversation.
"Yeah," Genius said, stretching the word. "We need to split them up again."
"No, I'm not helping you with that," Kurt said quickly. "I can't do that to Chandler. Or Blaine. I basically talked them into dating each other."
"Why did you do that anyway?" Genius asked, genuinely curious to know. "You still love that little model guy of yours, don't you?"
Kurt opened his mouth and closed it again, not sure how to answer. He stared down at the cake and randomly picked at it with his fork. "I do," he admitted. "I'm still in love with Blaine. I think I'll never not be in love with Blaine. But I totally messed things up with him. The way I treated him in the last few weeks- He was nothing but kind and understanding and caring towards me and I couldn't handle it. He deserves better than having to deal with me and my moods."
"What if he wants to deal with you and your moods?" Genius asked, pulling the plate away from Kurt to save the remaining cake from being chopped to pieces. "He knows you're having a hard time trusting in the people around you and trusting yourself right now. Hell, he even knows that his cheating might have been the trigger for the downturn of your emotional stability."
"I don't blame him for my problems," Kurt instantly replied in Blaine's defense.
"Yeah, well, apparently he does," Genius said. "He blames himself and all he wants to do is love you and prove to you that he means it and you're punishing him by not allowing him back into your life. Or rather, by allowing him only close enough to make him suffer in his longing for you."
"You make it sound like I'm purposely torturing him," Kurt rejected the very idea. "I don't want to hurt him, that's why I keep him at bay."
"I'm just saying that you should consider that maybe he wants to be hurt by you," Genius shrugged and after a second a grin spread on his face. "Sorry, that came out kinkier than I intended."
"Do you have to be brutally honest about everything?" Kurt let out a sigh. He wasn't offended by Genius' observations. It was rather that it made him think about the way he had mistreated Blaine since the day his ex-boyfriend had shown up in New York. It made him want to call Blaine and apologize for every single time he'd rejected him over the course of the last months.
"I'm all for honesty," Burt said, finishing his cappuccino. "As long as it's not served to hurt the recipient."
"It's okay," Kurt said, pursing his lips. "I'm used to Genius' view of things by now. You're right, G, I haven't really considered Blaine's feelings. I was too caught up in my own fear of disappointment and heartbreak. I guess I haven't allowed Blaine to get too close emotionally, because I already pictured getting hurt again. And by protecting my own heart, I broke his."
"Broken things can be fixed," Burt said, liking the idea of seeing Kurt and Blaine together again. "At least, it's never too late to try."
Kurt gave a weak smile. "All I can do for now is being a friend to Blaine and wish him the best for his relationship with Chandler. I'm not going to barge in and ask him to drop Chandler to give me another chance."
Kurt reached over and readjusted Burt's loosened tie. "So, where should we go next?"
Burt smiled and allowed Kurt to fuss with his tie and collar. "I have just the idea for our next stop."
I'm sorry for the short chapters, but I want to try to update faster and more regularly.
Thank you for reading! :)