Chapter 38: Coming Home
"I can't even tell you how horrible it was. Nightmare bad! She just completely choked." Kurt talked to his laptop screen, Nigel almost with him.
Nigel winced. "So, now what happens?"
"She has to apply all over again." Kurt sighed. "She's devastated. Rachel's always been so sure of her talent and now she's lost." Kurt grimaced. "There have been so many times in Glee when she made me nuts, so freaking annoying with her 'I'm a star' attitude. I used to sit in the choir room and visualize wrapping my hands around her throat and squeezing the voice right out of her."
Nigel laughed and Kurt had to smile. "But, I never would have wished this on her. It's just too truly awful."
Nigel felt bad for Rachel but he was more interested in how Kurt's audition had gone. "Kurt, you didn't tell me. Which song did you decide to audition with?" Kurt's expression did a complete 180, from sad to ecstatic instantaneously. "Oh, Nigel I wish you could have been there. I almost did the Phantom song, I had the cape and the mask on, and then Tibideaux said she heard that song a lot…" Kurt's eyes shone right through the screen. "I did The Boy from Oz!"
"And? What did she say?"
"She said." Kurt's grin was blinding. "That Hugh Jackman would have been as impressed, as she was!"
"Kurt, that's amazing! God, I'm so proud of you!"
Kurt tried not to get ahead of himself. "I'm not in yet, Nigel."
"Doesn't matter, I'm proud of you whether you get into NYADA or not."
Kurt's eyes smiled, and he touched the screen, because he couldn't touch Nigel. "Ah, still perfect." He sent a totally over-the-top lascivious leer into the computer. "And if you were here I could show you just how much I appreciate that."
Nigel laughed. "Miss you babe."
Kurt sighed. "Yeah, me too." Kurt's image tilted for a second as his laptop shifted when he reached for his mug on the night stand. "So, how's Boston's newest financial genius?"
"You mean, how's Sovereign Bank's newest lowly financial analyst?" Nigel sipped from his own mug. "Everyone is very nice. But so far, it's been all meetings, introductions, reading the bank's 'corporate philosophy' and institutional history. It's been almost two weeks, Kurt, and they haven't let me actually do anything yet. If I have to read one more manual, ughh!"
Kurt watched Nigel on his screen, sympathy in his eyes. "So tell them. Go in tomorrow, and tell, what's your supervisor's name? Randy, right? Tell Randy you need something to do."
"Yeah, I guess. Yeah, okay." Nigel smiled at Kurt. "Hey, did you get my tux?"
"No." Kurt looked away from the screen, and then back at Nigel. "I've been thinking; you don't really have to come in for this."
"I've been gone two weeks and you've already replaced me?" Nigel was joking but Kurt could hear an undercurrent of worry.
"Don't be ridiculous! I'm trying to spare you from an evening of possible terminal boredom. High school proms are tacky at best, that's a given, but this one could be worse than most. You remember Brittany, right?"
Nigel nodded. "The blonde cheerleader? Santana's girlfriend."
"Yeah, she's Student Council President. She chose the theme for Prom." Kurt paused, and shuddered, his sense of style obviously offended by Brittany's choice. "Dinosaurs! It's going to look like a remake of The Flintstones." Kurt sniffed disdainfully. "We should be wearing animal skins not tuxes. Oh, and the best part? Since they didn't have hair products back in the stone-age, Brittany's banned all hair products from the Prom. Blaine is freaking out!"
"They didn't have tuxedos back then either, or shoes, for that matter."
"I know, right? Well, it's Britt so…" Kurt shrugged. "… you don't really expect logic. Blaine hasn't left his bedroom without hair gel since grade school. He's threatening to boycott the dance. This could be a disaster, you sure you want to come?"
Nigel laughed. "Well, you make it sound so appealing. How can I resist?" He looked directly at the screen, eyes suddenly intense. "I can't wait till July. I need to see you, Kurt."
Kurt nodded as they stared at each other across the miles. "Okay."
Kurt stretched against the sheets, and turned his head to read the digital numbers on his night stand. 7:00 AM, Kurt groaned and rolled over. Way too early! Why was he even awake? He sat bolt upright, smile so wide it nearly broke his face. Saturday, Prom, Nigel! He was picking up Nigel at the airport this morning! He bounced out of bed, the lyrics to "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma running through his mind. He danced into his ensuite, and turned the shower on.
Burt blinked as he entered the kitchen. Scrambled eggs, bacon, Kurt singing as he buttered toast. He checked the digital read out on the stove, 8:17. "You're up early?"
Kurt turned. "Good Morning!"
Burt poured himself a cup of coffee and sat at the table. Kurt transferred the bacon and eggs from the warmer to a platter, humming under his breath. "Need any help?"
Kurt put the platter on the table. "Nope, all done." Kurt grabbed two plates, cutlery, and the toast and brought it all to the table. He passed Burt his plate and cutlery, and sat opposite his father.
Burt looked at Kurt as he served himself. His son was … the only word that came to mind was 'sparkling', smile wide, eyes bright. "You're in a good mood?"
Kurt nodded as he started on his eggs. "Yep."
Burt frowned. He should know what was going on here. He spent his weeks in Washington now, so he didn't see Kurt everyday anymore. But they talked throughout the week, and Carole kept him informed. He should know why his son looked as excited as if it was Christmas morning. Kurt looked across the table and smiled at his father, and something clicked. "Nigel, right? Nigel's coming home for your Prom."
Kurt grinned. "I'm picking him up at the airport at 10. We're going to pick up his tux, then we're coming back here, and I'm going to lock him in my room until we have to leave for Prom."
Burt snorted. "Think you'll have to lock him in?"
"Well, no." Kurt's smile became something that Burt had never seen before, secretive and knowing, and something else that Burt couldn't quite interpret. "I won't have to, of course. But I'm pretty sure he'd like it if I did."
Burt thought it prudent to change the subject. "So, no kilt this year?"
"No, I don't like to repeat myself. I thought I'd go more casual this year, just a vest and a top hat."
Burt laughed. "Only you would use casual and top hat in the same sentence."
Kurt paced impatiently, checking the flight information on the Arrivals board every other second. Every time the doors slid open from the baggage collection area, he scanned the arriving passengers with eager eyes. He checked his watch, 10:14. What was taking so long? The doors slid open, Kurt's head snapped up, and then he was flat out running.
Nigel saw Kurt hurtling towards him. He dropped his carry-on bag, and braced himself. Kurt barreled into him, and Nigel felt the impact in his soul. They held each other until someone clearing their throat, and saying 'excuse me', broke them apart. Kurt laughed, grabbed Nigel's bag, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. "Come on. I've got plans."
Nigel couldn't take his eyes off Kurt, literally. He never looked away from his boyfriend's face. Fortunately, he didn't have to, Kurt steered and Nigel just followed, his body moving with Kurt's. Kurt talked but it was just sounds to Nigel, he understood none of it. He drank Kurt in, like he was a fountain in the desert.
"Nigel? Nigel?" Kurt laughed and waved a hand in front of his boyfriend's face. "Earth to Nigel!"
Nigel grabbed Kurt's hand, and kissed it. "Stop yelling. I'm here." Nigel looked around and realized they were in the airport parking lot. Kurt held the car door open waiting for him to get into his Navigator. He touched Kurt's face, his voice low with wonder. "You're here."
Kurt laughed at him. He urged him into the passenger seat, kissed him too quickly, and closed the car door. He slipped into the driver's seat, and fastened his seat belt.
As Kurt started the car, Nigel tried to retrieve his brain cells. "You said something about plans?"
"We're going to pick up your tux, and then like I told my father at breakfast, I'm going to lock you in my room until Prom."
Nigel could tell by the smirk on Kurt's face that he actually had said that to Burt. "Kurt! Please stop saying stuff like that. I want your father to like me." Nigel worried at his bottom lip. "What did he say?"
Kurt laughed. "He said 'I probably wouldn't have to lock you in." Kurt grinned at Nigel. "I think he knows you like me."
Nigel's mind wandered; images of their bodies, their mouths, their hands touching, Kurt's mouth on him, Kurt's cock in him… "Uh, Kurt?"
"Yes?"
"You were just teasing your father, right? About locking me in?"
"I was?" Kurt turned to Nigel, his eyes dark.
Nigel swallowed; his eyes hungry. He sat back in his seat, a smile curving his lips. "Drive!"