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 3: Where/How the Hell did you learn how to do THAT?
When the weather alert announced that there would be a wave of really bad time that was to happen soon Adam kept looking at the sky often.
The smell of snow was in the air and the clouds kept moving faster. He wasn't sure it would be today, but he guessed there wouldn't be anything lost if it wasn't, he'd have to find another reason to spend time with Kurt.
"Kurt, I was just thinking about you, say how's your day looking?"
Kurt looked up smiling "Well definitively better now that you're here, you had something in mind?"
Adam grinned playing a little with the notebook he had in had "If you've nothing else you must do, how about we stop for a cuppa in one of the best cafes I know in my neighbourhood?"
Kurt nodded "Sounds great I just have history of theatre 101 with Mr Helmert, I'll see you in an hour?"
Adam returned the nod with a bright smile, his eyes crinkling with happiness in seeing the light blush on Kurt's pale skin at his next words. "It's a date I'll come pick you up when you're done."
They both parted and went to their classes and as promised by the Kurt was walking out of the classroom Adam was there waiting for him.
By the time they reached the cafe a dust like snow was falling down and Adam kept looking up to the sky every once in a while, Kurt noticed that and asked worried "there's something wrong?"
Adam still had a small worried frown on his face unconsciously offering Kurt his hand "Well it seems like it's going to get worse soon we can rush through our order and then seek refuge, get their takeaway and hope it'll stay warm enough by the time we reach my place, or take a rain check on the cafe and directly go for shelter..."
Kurt looked worried between Adam's serious face and the grey sky above, he then took Adam's hand and squeezed it with a smile "You've been in New York longer, I'll trust your judgement on what's safer, you certainly have more experience than me on how the weather takes a turn here..."
Adam squeezed back and nodded in the vague direction of his place "Better get home fast, I promise you a rain check on this cafe darling, I'd rather be safely tucked in before the wind picks up and there're ten inches of snow on the pavement making walking harder than it has to be."
Kurt hummed and kept up the fast pace. By the time they reached the inside of Adam's building, what had been a gentle breeze with fluffy small specks of snow falling, had become a flurry or large snowflakes and a good couple of inches had already managed to settle on everything.
Adam looked at Kurt, both of them having snow starting to melt on their coat and shoes. He was a little thorn because he had hoped to check on an older couple on the third floor before they would be irremediably snowbound.
And either it must have been clear on his face or Kurt had started to learn him well enough to read him quite correctly as he offered "If there're people you need to check on because of the storm, I'm not in such a bad state that we can't stop on our way up."
Adam smiled grateful, never releasing Kurt's hand as he tugged the younger man with him, he knocked at the door of the old couple on the first floor to check that they were all set and ready for what was to be a rather long stay as far as Adam's predictions seemed to indicate.
He waited for Mrs Miller to answer the door "Oh Adam dearie I'm so glad to know you're not out in this horrible horrible weather"
Adam smiled gently and nodded "Yes all safe and sound inside, I was just checking if you were all set or if you needed something"
Mr Miller came at the door as well with a plate filled with assorted cookies "Adam so kind of you to check on us, we're all set, and Kenneth from the fifth floor did the tour of the building checking on the kids of the third floor. I hope you don't mind we told them that if they need help they can knock at your door... Off you go now, time to get home and change boys, no need to get a cold on our behalf, and take those with you... Those are new recipes, I want to know which one works best"
Then he turned toward Kurt with a gentle smile pointing the plate between the two of them "You'll take care of this one right? and You'll let me know what you think of those cookies before leaving right? Some days I fear Adam is just being too kind and amuse an old man like me, and too polite to say they are rubbish."
Mr Miller looked so hopeful while saying that, that Kurt found himself nodding and smiling back.
Adam grinned and accepted the plate then lead Kurt up to his own apartment. Once inside he took both their coat and gestured for Kurt to make himself at home "Well welcome to my humble abode and our safe refuge against the storm, I can offer you a hot shower if you need to get warm, or I can just get you some dry clothes so you can get out of the wet one. Bathroom is the second door on the left "
Kurt raised an eyebrow and said teasingly "And here I thought you were going to offer me a blanket to share a blanket together."
Adam ginned back at the teasing tone and winked playfully "Oh Darling now that I know it is an option you were quite anticipating I 'll make sure to keep in mind and offer it to you at the next possible occasion"
Adam took immense pleasure in seeing the small smile and the blush spreading on Kurt's face. Still for the time being he placed the plate of cookies in the kitchen and collected a set of comfortable yoga pants, a sweatshirt and a hoodie just in case it was needed, to offer Kurt so he could change and not risk getting cold.
Once Kurt took the clothes and went to the bathroom to change, Adam went back to his room and took his time as well to get into as well, after putting everything in their place. Then he proceeded to make a nice cup of tea to warm them up.
As Adam was moving around the apartment to get ready for the storm, candles and matches at hand, windows securely shut, door properly bolted, additional blankets out the closet, the food cabinet stocked and in order. Kurt joined him and sat at the kitchen table looking around "Anything I could help you with?"
Adam offered him a bright smile "Sure, you can tell me if you have preferences and or allergies so I know what to avoid. We don't want to risk needing a visit to the emergency room with this weather"
Kurt nodded in agreement "No known allergies that I could list, so if it happens I'm afraid will be a surprise for the both of us. Hopefully you don't have in here anything I haven't met before"
Adam hummed non committal and offered a plethora of teabags in front of Kurt who looked at all of them confused if not a little awed "Whoa... Is that a British thing or an Adam think of having so many different choices of tea in the house?"
Adam grinned and shrugged before explaining "Tad of column A tad of column B, I like all if them ad each has different properties and characteristics, soo are suitable for different purposes, but there's also the fact that most of our friends have different tastes as well, so the selection usually covers the majority of the preferences..."
Kurt hummed and listening then not really knowing how to pick one with so many to choose from, so he started smelling them one by one, not even thinking about how it could have been looked like. And when he selected one that intrigued him, he finally looked up and noticed Adam resting on the counter watching him with a smile on his face. Adam's expression was seemingly a mixture between pleased satisfaction and curiosity in equal measure.
Kurt felt himself blush, he hadn't even realised he felt so much at home around Adam. That his guard was already so down, in a way it had never been with Blaine, and wasn't that a telling?
He frowned at the thought and Adam picked up the change in Kurt's mood, so he tilted his head and asked softly "Kurt? Something wrong?"
Kurt felt himself freeze, he looked down self conscious. He started feeling nauseous. The thought that the one hookup he had with Blaine, one that in the end hadn't been able to clear up his mind nor his feelings… Not in the certain way this moment, right here and now had. The mere possibility that what happened could cost him Adam, it felt like being punched in the gut, preventing him to breathe.
Kurt started playing with the corner of his chosen teabag, not raising his eyes and slightly curling into himself, unsure of how to say all that was on his mind, or explain what happened.
He tried opening his mouth a couple of time but nothing came out, the kettle whistled.
Adam put two mugs on the table before sitting next to Kurt he put within reach a lemon with a knife, the carton of milk, sugar and honey. He then proceeded to prepare quickly and efficiently his own mug, trying to give Kurt another bit of time.
When Kurt still hadn't started talking, Adam gently stilled the hands torturing the poor teabag and rescued it to prepare Kurt's tea.
Without that distraction to hold him back, Kurt blurted out "I slept with my ex when I went back to Lima,"
He didn't look up to gauge Adam's reaction, in fact, Kurt didn't realise he had closed his eyes. Not until Adam placed the hot mug between Kurt's hands and then he proceeded to gently rest his hands on them, making sure Kurt was holding onto the warm tea.
"And did it help you reach any conclusion?" Adam's voice was soft not at all judgemental, and it made Kurt frown and looking up trying to see, to gauge if it was a trap or if it was a calm before the tempest thing.
Adam's look was of calm concentration, listening intently to Kurt, but apparently not reacting strongly at the news. And that confused Kurt just as much, Blaine would have been furiously attacking him at the thought of what Blaine perceived as cheating when it was Kurt doing it.
Kurt's confusion only seemed to grow so he continued talking shaking his head "No, not really… I mean it was fun but it wasn't like it used to be, but" he stopped himself abruptly wincing. He mentally scolded himself, about probably over sharing and giving way too much information.
Adam had never made it a secret that there were possibilities there should Kurt want them… Adam was waiting patiently, allowing Kurt to go at his own pace, he drank some of his tea, then as Kurt hadn't moved yet to fix his own he removed the teabag from Kurt's mug, pressing it gently so it wouldn't take with it too much tea.
Adam saw the conflict on Kurt's face and decided to throw him a safe line, see if it would help the younger man "So what made you think about that?"
Kurt looked up in total dismay at seeing Adam so calm, before his blush made a return thinking back at what exactly had prompted the thought and without even thinking about it he mumbled "The tea..."
Now Adam looked confused, watching between Kurt and the mug, and then to Kurt again. Asking perplexed "I thought you and Blaine used to have coffee together?"
Kurt nodded and then blushed even deeper, trying to hide his embarrassment finally took a sip of the warm liquid, only to moan softly at the unexpectedly wonderful flavour, strong enough to have that much needed kick, rich and smooth.
Adam chuckled good natured grinning with a sardonic "That good hmm?"
There was teasing a teasing note in his tone, and maybe it was because Kurt's mind was in the gutter at the moment, but damn if it didn't sound like something else was being said… Kurt was a little breathless when he answered with a simple "Yeah"
Adam's grin grew bigger and he winked playfully "And I have so much more I can show you if you want me to."
The double entree in the words made Kurt blush more, to the point he wondered if he'd burst into flames, but then sobered up and tried to explain what he meant "You didn't laugh about how I chose which tea to have..."
Adam was still smiling when he tilted slightly his head and asked "Why would I laugh? I do check a blend's scent when I can. With enough experience it can be a really good way to guess its flavour, and figure out what would be good with it. Though I confess I am curious about what gave you the inspiration to do that... Most of our friends went with either the most attractive teabag design or a name they found intriguing the first time they faced the choice."
Kurt felt a little more relaxed and said softly "I tend to cook or bake when I'm stressed, I've been doing it since my mom passed, and even before then she was teaching me to cook like her nana, by smell"
Adam hummed softly in appreciation and nodded his understanding "That makes sense indeed, it's how I was taught to cook as well, and how my family's recipes had been passed on."
Kurt's smile turned a little sheepish "I don't usually do that in front of people, even with Carole, my stepmom, it took almost a year and a half before I did it in front of her..."
At that Adam's look passed from the soft smile of complicity to one or marvelled awe, his smile became a goofy grin. The way he was being looked at made Kurt feel like he was precious and cherished, and that he had just given Adam the sweetest gift ever, the reverence was clear in the whispered "And yet you did it here with me..."
Kurt felt grateful tears burning at the corner of his eyes. Because in the way Adam said it, was perfectly clear that he got exactly what kind of big deal it was. What it meant that Kurt felt so at ease with Adam, that he could do something of that sort in such a short time together... Adam got all that without needing Kurt to try to articulate it into words.
Kurt felt the emotions slowly closing his throat and he whispered a soft "I'm sorry I did it"
Adam frowned suddenly worried "You're sorry you're at ease with me?"
Kurt immediately shook his head "No, not that, never that. I mean, Blaine, I'm sorry I..."
Adam nodded still smiling softly then taking Kurt's hand "Ok I have only one question for you on that subject ok? And it's more because I care for you and your health than anything else, were you safe?"
Kurt nodded readily "Yeah, I just, after he cheated I didn't feel safe, and hmm well I went to the free clinic after I came back here in New York. 'Cause, hmm I wasn't sure and I thought it was better one useless check than taking such risk."
Adam smiled relieved and nodded approvingly "Good, I'm glad you thought of taking care of yourself."
Kurt still looked confused though and bit his lower lip unsure of how to ask what was on his mind, Adam had barely to gently prompt him with a soft spoken "You know you can ask me anything, I won't promise that I will always answer, but I'll do my best to be honest with you"
Kurt nodded smiling unsure "It's just… I don't get it... Blaine would have flipped at the thought of cheating... and I, I am not, I've never cheated before I can promise you I "
Adam interrupted him with a single finger in front of Kurt's lips "Kurt you didn't cheat on me, back when that happened we hadn't defined where we stand. And to be honest I'm more interested in focusing on the fact you are so at ease with me, that you didn't feel the need to constantly check what you were doing. No offence meant but I'm perfectly ok with you leaving your ex in the past and enjoy having you here with me in the present… "
Kurt nodded smiling, then on impulse, he leaned forward and kissed Adam's fingertip and whispered against the skin "I'd love that"
Adam grinned and claimed the offered kiss with his lips instead, allowing the tip of his tongue to trace Kurt's lips happily content with the slow exploration but ready to move forward should Kurt chose he'd wanted more.
Something that Kurt definitively wanted... He opened his mouth welcoming Adam, teasingly licking his tongue asking for more. Adam was more than willing to oblige the request, he raised his hand to play with Kurt's hair, enjoying how that simple touch made Kurt melt into the kiss with a satisfied sigh.
When they emerged both smiling and breathless from the kiss, their foreheads touching, Adam continued grinning "Well it wasn't how I had envisioned to reach the subject, but the one conversation I wanted to have with you sooner than later, was discussing where do you see us going?"
Kurt looked shocked at being asked, "I- I'd like for us to be together, like boyfriends and not seeing anyone else, if you want that too...?"
Adam took Kurt's face in both his hands and looked straight into Kurt's eyes "Love, have I've ever said or done anything that made you think I didn't hope and wish for us to be in an exclusive relationship? Because I do want that."
Kurt looked down and shook his head, Adam's hand never leaving his skin "No, no it's just... You never said anything on what you want not as clearly as right now, and I don't understand... There have been times I wondered if I was reading too much into things and you were just very friendly and maybe a little flirty."
Adam chuckles softly and runs his thumb across Kurt's lips "Oh Darling, you're precious and I'm not meaning this in a condescending way, but I can assure you the Apples are having a betting pool on when we'd get official, because I haven't been subtle at all…"
Kurt blushed wondering just how many times he was capable of doing so in front of this man, Adam continued in a more serious tone "When we met, you had just joined and begun attending classes in one of the most competitive schools New York had to offer. You had to balance work, and school, and taking care of yourself, and your place."
Kurt nodded accepting the fair assessment of his situation, Adam continued calmly "And since then, I noticed that every time your friends from high school were mentioned… It seemed to me you were following other people wishes rather than your own, am I wrong?"
Kurt still looked taken aback blinking and trying to processing what Adam was saying "Well no, but they are not that bad... I"
Adam continued interrupting "I don't want to be yet another person in your life, you have to please just for me to stick around."
Adam nudged Kurt's leg with his own "Did I wish for more? Yes. Was I going to pressure you to decide? No. But I was going to try my best to be around as much as possible. To let you know I am very interested in you. And hopefully be more than just your friend, though I promise you I'm a grown man I could have taken the rejection and still stayed friends..."
Kurt smiled gratefully, then in an attempt to lighten the mood, noticing the snow starting to accumulate on the window shelf, he asked "So how long does it take? To be as good as you at telling when the weather is going to get so bad here in New York?"
Adam blushed at that chuckling embarrassed "I don't really know, my grandpa taught me since I was a kid to look at the sky and see how the clouds move and be aware of when the time would turn for the worse..."
Kurt blinked recalling that Adam had been often looked to the sky in the past few days, and they had been a lot around each other at the same time... "Wait... but. If you know how to do that, why did you invite me here? Did you know it was going to get that bad?"
Adam grinned sheepishly "Well can you blame me for trying to take advantage of the situation and have a very reasonable external factor to invite you to stay over at mine without pressuring you to accept it?"
Kurt chuckled shaking his head "If you put it that way I can see how it was all part of your master plan to stay around as much as possible. But what if we were going to be closer to my place?"
Adam reached to the back of his head touching it as he licked his lips in a nervous manner "You see it's all about taking the opportunities presented, or if needed actually creating them… Sort of how we managed to spend time together in between classes even if we were both rather busy right?"
Kurt nodded understanding and seeing what Adam was saying, but he got very surprised when Adam continued "And to be honest it wouldn't have happened. I sort of made sure to always suggest we'd go to places where my apartment would still be closer. Because I'm sorry but not even the chance of sleeping in your bed, with you in my arms was enough to make bearable the thought of being snowbound for at least a few days with your Ohio's friends."
Adam looked a little stricken at the admission and a little worried as well, to the point that Kurt couldn't, and really didn't feel like, resisting the temptation of laughing freely "Yeah they can be a bit much, but they usually have their hearts in the right place."
Then after seeing the lights flickering due to the blizzard outside, Kurt asked with a cheekily smirk "Well clearly you had plans for us, care to share them with me?"
Adam started his presentation with a kiss.