December 29th – part 2

Klaine calendar word: Reasonable

I'm not entirely happy with this chapter, but it's about time to wrap up last year's Advent calendar :p


Senator Hummel had left the house to run errands after informing them he'd probably be gone for a few hours. Blaine still felt awkward and wrong in his skin being in Kurt's room, though. If he could know for certain that Cooper was off the phone, he would have gone home. But he knew from experience that those phone calls between father and son could take some time, as they were both stubborn and intent on reasoning with the other. As far as Blaine's considered the topic, their father is probably the most unreasonable guy on this planet, but he loves Cooper for still trying to make the man see the non-bigoted light.

Fortunately, Kurt must have an exquisite Blainedar, and had offered they watch a movie in the living room, "where the better TV is", before Blaine could say anything. Kurt had also offered Blaine veto-rights, although Blaine wasn't all that surprised to learn that they had a lot of shared favourites. Blaine had felt like something sad for his current mood, hoping it would kick him out of his funk, and had suggested Rent. He doesn't particularly enjoy being moody like this around people, but the alternative will not improve his mood at all. And he knows he can't stomach anything comedic or romantic right now. So Rent it was, and Kurt had easily agreed.

Blaine's tears fall before Roger finishes singing "One Song, Glory".

Kurt doesn't say anything, but shuffles carefully so he can rest a hand on Blaine's shoulder blade. It's warm and comforting, and his thumb is rubbing soothing circles. Blaine cries silently. He cries for the mom he doesn't have and the father he has, he cries for missed opportunities and wasted chances, he cries for the limbo his life has become, and he cries from exhaustion.

It feels therapeutic.

He's somehow sunk a little down in the couch by the time they sing "Will I?", and the couch is dipping him a tad closer to Kurt. Kurt, who has stretched his arm out to rest along the back of the couch, his fingers scratching at the nape of Blaine's hair. Blaine bends his head a little forward at the touch, baring his neck, and his skin is sizzling with electricity under Kurt's pads.

When Angel and Collins emerge up from the subway, Kurt lets out a soft whine, and Blaine looks up at him with wet, questioning eyes.

"I just really love this song," Kurt murmurs softly, sounding apologetic.

"It's an amazing song," Blaine whispers hoarsely, and awkwardly dries his tears.

"Do you want something to drink?" Kurt asks hoarsely when the song is over.

"Maybe some water, but I can get it," Blaine offers.

"No, no, please sit. I'll cover you," Kurt smiles impishly at him, and Blaine blushes.

He returns with two cold bottles of water and a pack of paper towels.

"To La Vie Bohème," Blaine sings and clinks their bottle necks together.

"I can't believe I used to sing that in front of my dad when I was a kid. That is a very naughty song," Kurt giggles.

"Mucho masturbation didn't clue you in on that?"

"I'm an innocent boy," Kurt replies, chewing his lower lip and looking at Blaine through his eyelashes. It gives Blaine goosebumps and shivers.

"Are you, now?" Blaine manages to murmur.

Kurt smiles, but doesn't say anything, and adjusts in his seat to watch Mimi and Roger share their first kiss.

"My friends and I sang this together when my brother died," Kurt whispers soon after. Blaine decides to be bold and takes Kurt's hand in his. Kurt laces their fingers together.

During Angel's funeral, they are both crying silently, hands clutched together.

When the movie is over, they're both silent for a long moment.

"Feeling better?" Kurt eventually asks softly.

"Yeah," Blaine exhales. "Thank you."

They sit in comfortable silence, just sharing glances in between their own thoughts. Blaine considers leaning in to get that first kiss from Kurt, but a bigger part of him wants to make it special – or at least he wants it to happen when his face doesn't look like it does when he's been crying.

Kurt's phone rings before he can make up his mind, and Kurt disappears to answer it in private. Blaine takes the opportunity to dry the last tears and blow his nose loudly with the paper towels Kurt provided earlier. This has been cathartic.

"It was my dad," Kurt explains as he returns. "Carole and he should be here in 15 minutes, he called to check if we needed anything from the store. He's terrible at writing shopping lists," Kurt chuckles. "He also told me to inform you that he had invited your brother over for dinner too."

"That's really nice of the Senator," Blaine says with gratitude in his voice.

"No big deal, from what I understand Cooper eats here at least once a week. I think maybe they have adopted him, empty nest-syndrome, you know," Kurt laughs.

"Well, you are quite irreplaceable," Blaine boldly flirts, and enjoys the delighted look on Kurt's face.

Kurt licks his lips and swallows audibly.

"I'm gonna start on dinner. Do you want to help?"

"Yeah, sure. I should clean up first, though," Blaine says a bit embarrassed.

Kurt shows him the bathroom, and even picks out two different washcloths for him, one soft and one harsher.

When Blaine returns to the kitchen, Kurt's decked out various ingredients on the kitchen counter, and put on the oven.

"We're having healthy pizza. It's a compromise between my dad and I," Kurt explains. "He gets some melted cheese, but there are lots of veggies and the dough is made on oatmeal. I know it sounds weird, but I promise it's actually delicious," Kurt says. "You just have to ignore your usual expectations to pizza."

"Sounds intriguing," Blaine nods. "What can I do to contribute?"

Kurt sets him on chopping chili pepper-duty, while he throws together a green salad.

"Dad is buying most of the ingredients we need, but we can start with what we already have in the house."

They work diligently in comfortable silence, until they hear the rumble of a car entering the driveway. Then there's a flurry of greetings, shopping bags and winter clothes being removed and hung up.

Soon after, Cooper prances through the door with a box in his hands.

"I hope you can forgive me for being early, Carole, but I missed you!" Cooper flirts mercilessly, and Carole grins at him, giving him a half-hug to not squish the box.

"You're always welcome here. Did you bring dessert again? You're spoiling us," she tuts, and relieves him of the box.

"I hope you all like cheesecake," Cooper beams with glimmering eyes.

"So much for healthy pizza," Blaine snorts under his breath next to Kurt.

"Cheesecake is a dairy product, and it has calcium and important minerals," Kurt whispers eagerly.

"If you say so," Blaine grins amused. He thinks he learned something new and important about Kurt from that sentence alone.

Burt ropes everyone into different tasks to get some progress.

"I promised dinner, so I'll make the pizza. Cooper will help me. Kurt and Blaine, may you set the dining table? And if Carole fixes us all something to drink?"

They all do as instructed, and thanks to Kurt the oven is preheated. Within 35 minutes the dinner is ready, and they all sit down by the table.

"Wow, this tastes amazing, Senator Hummel, I hope you will share the recipe?" Blaine gushes.

"Of course, I'll write it down for you, or maybe you can just take a picture with your phone. If your phone can take pictures? I know not all phones do that."

"Not all phones bought last millennium, no, that's true", Kurt teases.

"Thank you, Senator," Blaine murmurs awkwardly.

"Burt," the Senator says, and Blaine frowns in confusion. "No need to be so formal, drop the Senator-thing, it's just Burt."

"But Senator Hummel!" Blaine objects, and the man raises his eyebrows in a questioning manner that is eerily similar to something Kurt's done earlier. "Mmm… Mister Hummel?"

"No Senator, and no Mister, Blaine. So what you're gonna call me, huh?"

"Your majesty," Blaine blurts out. Kurt spits out what he was drinking, Cooper laughs so hard he kicks Blaine under the table, Carole hides the lower half of her face behind a napkin, and Burt just looks at him with a mix of amusement and confusion.

"Well…" he says. "It would be easier in the Senate if I could dole out royal decrees. Although I guess they don't have senates in a monarchy. Or stupid presidents. You didn't hear me say that," he quickly adds and winks.

"Does this make me a prince?" Kurt asks pleased.

"Sure, kiddo," Burt nods amused.

"Yes!" Kurt hisses out, and Blaine can't help but laugh. God, he's adorable!

"Should we wait with the lovely cake Cooper brought until the pizza has sunk a little?" Carole suggests. "We could have coffee and cake in the couch later?"

They all easily agree.

"Maybe Blaine and Kurt could give us a preview of tomorrow's concert?" Cooper suggests, and Blaine instantly objects. "You should have at least one run-through with some kind of audience," Cooper insists.

"That… Sounds reasonable," Blaine nods, "but won't it spoil tomorrow for you?"

Kurt nods next to him.

"Well, let's show them how it's done," Cooper says, enthusiasm unfaltering. "Do you remember our Duran Duran-moves?"

"Of course," Blaine snorts, and doesn't miss Kurt's curious look.

"Sweet! Now drop the cardigan and let's see what you've got!"