AN: this is part of a personal challenge/project filling all the prompts of past Kadam weeks, and posting one every day from March 28 to May 8th, 7 prompts per year 5 previous rounds (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 last two managed by vcg73) the first week of May 2-8 will present to you the offering for the Kadam Week 2021 you can search for more on tumblr
This is the offering to Kadam Week 2015 prompt 6: The Great Outdoors
This was the first summer he and Adam were living together, the second one since they got become boyfriends.
During the first one, there had not been a reason for the subject to be raised, Kurt was too worried about playing catching up, trying to lower the impact that joining the school on the second semester had on his possible graduation date…
Adam too was super busy. The transition summer between graduating and the beginning of his masters. It included actually searching for a place that could be suitable for the both of them, within their budget, at a reasonable distance between the theatre district where they hoped to land a job, the school, and not too far from their current day jobs.
And that it would be available by the time both their leases were up.
But this summer things were different. It was the fifth year in a row that it happened, it was making Kurt feeling a little mopey...
It was a stupid thing, and it was not like he was still a kid, but it was also one of the few traditions that he and his dad had kept alive and had resisted the death of his mom...
At least one weekend within the whole summer, in which they would pack up the car and go camping.
It was one of the few moments when Burt had a connection with Kurt, and well going alone wasn't exactly the same...
Technically they hadn't gone since Carole and Finn became part of their family...
Kurt had been too jealous of the buddy relationship Finn managed to build so effortlessly with his dad. It had hurt and made him irrationally jealous at least in the beginning…
It hadn't help that by the time the first summer as family came around Blaine had already entered the picture, and he had already started getting a little too buddy buddy with his dad, talking sport and settling himself comfortably as yet another contender of Burt's attention...
Puck and Sam had been both like the stray boys that were unofficially adopted, given the amount of time they all came to the house, to play with Finn or watch football together...
So technically it was already the fourth summer where he skipped...
On some days he wondered if maybe he was being too childish...
For certain he had no clue how to explain his melancholic mood to Adam who was being a sweetheart.
It was on the eve of the sixth weekend of summer that Adam circled Kurt with his arm and started placing small kisses on Kurt's neck
"Love, care to tell me what is clouding your mind every weekend since summer started? I tried to give you space, and usually if we manage to do something you are fine, but come to the end of the week you assume this melancholic air and I'm sorry I don't get what's wrong, and I wish I could help"
Kurt turned in the embrace and kissed Adam slowly, taking the time to lick his lips and taste the remaining of their evening herbal tea.
Kurt sighed softly and took Adam's hand in his, leading them both to the couch before sitting and patting the space next to him
"It's…" Kurt exhaled slowly searching for the right words.
Adam sat facing him and rested his free hand on Kurt's cheek caressing it gently with his thumb. "Take your time love, I'm here and there's nothing you can say that would make me think less of you."
Kurt smiled a little grateful smile and after taking another deep breath he said with a small voice "It's sort of stupid... I miss not being able to go to the camping trip we used to do with my dad each summer..."
Adam tilted his head listening, his expression of surprise clear on his face,Kurt blushed at that.
Seeing the blush Adam blinked before smiling gently "Sorry love, I confess it's not something I was expecting, I'm not your dad but if you want we could organise a camping trip for one of the coming weekends"
Kurt chuckled leaning on Adam's hand then he shook his head, "No, aside the fact that I checked and trying to go on a camping trip in this season in this state is pure madness, the cost for such trip is nowhere near as cheap as it was camping in Ohio. And it's not even a matter of destination or personal choices. Not that I don't wish for us to have the chance of taking a vacation together, but to be honest it's better if we save that money for rent instead."
Adam pressed his lips as his shoulder slouched down, he leaned forward to rest his own forehead against Kurt's, seeking as much as offering comfort "I'm sorry we can't really afford vacations yet..."
Kurt smiled seeing the sincere regret on his boyfriend's face "Well it's not like we had chosen the most secure and stable career, and at some point childhood traditions are supposed to be left behind."
Adam shook his head disagreeing "Maybe some, but I don't see why we cannot make this tradition our own, if you want, especially if the mere thought of leaving it behind can make you this sad."
He licked his lips trying to say things right and a little nervous "I confess I was never that interested in camping despite my older brother being a boy scout, he tried his hardest so did my dad, so if we actually end up doing something of the sort could you please dun tell on me? Pretty please? I don't really want to hear the amount of teasing that will generate for sure…"
That as Adam hoped provoked Kurt's laughter and landed him sealing the deal with a kiss.
Knowing now what was on Kurt mind it was easier for Adam to actually search and plan for a solution.
The one things that the Apples were really good at was taking care of their own.
So when Adam put out a feeler about if someone had camping gear, or at least sleeping bags that he and Kurt could borrow for a weekend the reactions he got varied from helpful to teasing.
Paul and JJ both actually had some gear they didn't need at the moment and were more than willing to lend it to Kurt and Adam.
Gwen had been, as Adam had expected, the one calling him out, she had tried to take Adam out on a camping trip since freshman year, him suddenly interested in that had her more than ready to roast his ass and give him shit as she laughed her own butt off...
Once she managed to stop laughing long enough for Adam to explain how things were, she promised her help... Of course in exchange for pictures of the pg13 moments...
Matt had asked first if Adam was ok or if he had hit his head somewhere, second question was if he had smoked or drunk something strange he never saw before...
When to all questions Adam gave a negative answer and a barely there snort Matt asked if things with Kurt were all ok...
Because clearly trying to get to camping, when literally everyone but Kurt, had heard at least one version of the no thanks I'm not that much of an outdoor boy answer from Adam…
Well the possible cases were two, either Adam was irremediably whipped, or Kurt was holding back and this was Adam's attempt to get out of the doghouse.
That day Kurt actually returned home to see Adam's blush at Matt's insinuations but couldn't get the reasons behind it.
Maya instead had been a sweetheart, she asked if they needed help searching for a location where to go that would stay within their planned budget.
Adam smiled thanked her but didn't share his intentions. It wasn't until Erika asked him directly what he was planning that he fessed up with his idea.
They might not have the budget for a proper getaway, even a camping trip, which to be honest Adam was quite grateful to avoid, but he could still try to make something special for Kur,t even if it was just something as silly as the plan brewing in his mind...
And it was just going to cost him a call to the Super of their building, asking the permission for one night...
It took Adam two more weeks to have everything ready.
By the time friday evening came around Kurt's nostalgia seems to kick in and Adam surprised him with what seemed like a picnic basket, blankets and flashlights.
Kurt chuckled at the image Adam was presenting with his blanket tied around his neck like a cape "Hellu luv, what's all this? Shall I expect to have dinner alone while you fly off into the night and being the superhero I know you to be?"
Adam grinned at him and offer his hand "I'm going to take you into the greatest outdoor for an adventure if you feel up to it?"
Kurt raised an eyebrow half confused half intrigued "At night and with blankets as cape?"
Adam nodded and hummed waving his flashlight "Yup... So we're going?"
Chuckling once more and trusting his boyfriend Kurt simply nodded.
Adam's smile grew larger, he threw the light blanket around Kurt's shoulders in a proper cape like style, then he gave the flashlight to Kurt. He picked up the picnic basket, hen tugged Kurt with him, until they reached the fire escape and climbed their way up to the roof.
Where waiting for them, were air mattress with a blanket on them. The swing had a gazebo like structure in front of it and both had a clear cover that made the whole resemble a tent.
In front of the makeshift tent, there was a small portable fireplace ready to be lit, with a bag of marshmallows sitting next to it.
Blinking and turning to Adam Kurt asked softly "what..?"
Adam shrugged "I cannot take you on a real camping trip, but I can offer you a slice of legal New York greater outdoors…"
Kurt chuckled and hugged Adam tightly before offering a peck on his cheek "You're being adorable you know that? Lemme guess you first checked if set up a tent in central park was feasible without getting arrested?"
Adam blushed "I'm not going to confirm or deny anything of the sort"
Kurt's laughed erupted as soon as the words left Adam's mouth "which totally means yes… Hmmm do I see smore's filling?"
Adam looked confused and asked perplexed "smores?"
Kurt pulled Adam toward the mini fire pit, noticing that there was everything they needed he lit the fire. He prepared two marshmallows on the sticks and after roasting them properly he offered one to Adam grinning "smore's filling"
They chuckled and cuddled together sharing Kurt's blanket. As they eat their dinner in front of the fire Kurt smiled brightly "So urban camping?"
Adam looked down sheepishly offering a small shrug "Better than nothing?"
Kurt leaned forward for a kiss then looked around feeling his heart swell "It's perfect, Thank you"
Adam then worried his lower lip and looked up at Kurt hopefully "Any chance then we might sleep in our bed tonight?"
Kurt snorted and shook his head "None at all, not after you went through all this trouble for giving me a camping night, unless we got improvised rain, we're soo staying here till sunrise… But I'm willing to share the same air mattress and make you see the stars…"
Adam smiled goofily "You already do that, every time we are together…"
Kurt snuggled closer watching the fire crackle in front of them and said softly "I love you too you sap."