Day 20: Qualification
New Yorkers quickly learn to expect the unexpected, but every now and then, something can catch even the most adaptable New Yorker by surprise.
Kurt and Blaine were leaving Bryant Park after their annual Christmas skating date (during which Blaine always insisted on sneaking up behind Kurt and calling out, "Package for Kurt Hummel!"). The crowd was bustling, and as a horde of excited kids ran past, they literally bumped into someone.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't…Kurt?" the gentleman said in a distinctive British accent.
Blaine looked between Kurt and the other man, but before he could ask the stranger's identity, Kurt blurted out, "Oh, my god! Adam!" The two exchanged a brief one-armed hug and the usual "Hi, how are yous." Kurt quickly recovered and made the necessary introductions.
"Adam, this is Blaine, my husband," he began, taking Blaine's gloved hand in his own. "Blaine, this is…"
"Adam," Blaine finished, extending his right hand to shake Adam's. Firmly. He may never have seen or met the man before, but the name and the accent told him whom he was meeting.
So, this was Adam. The man Kurt had dated after he and Blaine broke up. The British student with the blonde hair and the ridiculous yet apparently charming version of "Baby Got Back" that caught Kurt's eyes and held his affections for some time. He was attractive enough, Blaine guessed begrudgingly, and the accent certainly helped his case. He could see why Kurt had decided to date him.
Kurt and Adam had a short conversation, during which Adam mentioned his recent engagement and they exchanged basic details about what each was doing now. Adam then said he was running late to meet his fiancé, the three wished each other happy holidays, and he was off.
Kurt slipped his arm through Blaine's as they made their way up Fifth Avenue. "You're quiet," he observed. Blaine shrugged. "Oh, Blaine," Kurt admonished, tugging him closer. You can't be jealous, can you?"
"No. No, not jealous, exactly," Blaine argued, trailing off. "I just…"
"You just…?" Kurt prompted.
"I guess I have to wonder. I mean, he's handsome, he seemed charming enough, and he has the whole British accent thing that you love so much," Blaine explained. "It makes sense that you would have wanted to be with a guy like him."
Kurt bit his lip in sympathy. After all these years, Blaine could still get self-conscious from time to time. "Well, all of those were reasons I started dating him – he was handsome, and charming, and had the most adorable accent," Kurt repeated. "However, he was missing one major qualification that was a complete and irrevocable deal breaker."
They had stopped walking and Kurt pulled Blaine aside. "What was that?" Blaine asked.
Kurt smiled knowingly, reaching up to straighten Blaine's scarf around his neck and resting his hands on the lapels of his navy pea coat. "He wasn't you," he murmured, earning a fond smile in return. "When all was said and done, that was the one point I couldn't compromise on."
Blaine blushed faintly. "Lucky me," he whispered.
"Lucky us," Kurt corrected, kissing him on the cheek.
