Kurt and Blaine took some part of the house for themselves to clean in their own way. Blaine's cot was in his room now. So they needn't have to worry about who should use the bed. Besides, Kurt started to despise sleeping in bed. They decided not to start another rival by decoration changes in the hall and other common places they would be sharing. Their decorations were their admiration in the comfort of their rooms. Their plans were taking day after day.
Kurt started to take a tally and census on the things they had and things they had to buy. They sat and worked on their schedules to buy the things necessary. They couldn't even talk one word without ending up in an argument.
"Kurt! Stop being so uptight. This is not just your apartment. I am staying here too. And not every design decision you make is nice. No offence, but looking that your dressing sense, I am starting to question."
Kurt was offended again. Blaine tried hard not to yell at Kurt. He was usually cool but Kurt was getting on his nerves and he was worse to handle than babysitting an annoying baby.
"You are jealous that I am unique, aren't you? Well, I will let you pick some."
Kurt turned to the other side, crossing his arms and his eyebrows cocked up in disgust. Blaine respected his privacy, but he needed to tell him.
"Maybe you should keep an eye on your nerves, young boy. I am not telling you this because of the way you are behaving towards me. I am giving you tips to survive in this crazy city. Anyways, I am tired today. I am going to my bed. Good Night."
Kurt was so ashamed of himself that he shooed away Blaine. He couldn't help but be mean to him. He couldn't trust him still and he was feeling different to stay with Blaine. He didn't want to be vulnerable with his emotions. It was his defensive mechanism to keep his heart safe from breaking again. Kurt's heart soothed as he was hearing Blaine sing again.
They didn't want to start making food and they decided to rely on take-outs and hotels, though separately. That was the starting week for them as two complete strangers becoming roommates.
The following week went relatively fast and easy for them. Pretending to be living in the same apartment as family members or roommates or maybe love interests was surprisingly becoming easy. They didn't get to see each other often. Kurt would be working on his laptop or stitching something in a portable sew machine or measuring with an inch tape. Kurt would take the duty of cleaning the house often. Blaine would be scribbling and throwing papers which would mostly fall outside the bin, tuning his guitar, writing music sheets, or tuning his fine voice. Blaine would be listening to some songs too because he couldn't be relying on original songs.
Blaine and Kurt went together shopping just two times: mostly to show Kurt around the city for the basic places. An argument followed them everywhere and they decided to go individual shopping after two times. Blaine and Kurt kept informing each other about their moves and buys except for their personal needs.
Kurt would notice the same woman staring at him every day. He would feel weird about this woman, the man, and the child with them. One day, when Kurt go down the stairs for another episode of purchase, he was looking for the woman who would be staring at him usually. He was relieved that he was threatened by her looks that day and on the other hand, he was scared that he would be facing those eyes from behind, scaring him. He heard the second pair of legs walking behind him. There is no way it was a man because of the crystal clear sound of the heels tapping.
Kurt's heartbeat shot up to a race and he started pacing his walk forward without looking backside. He was wishing not to trip and break his perfect chin and jaws. The heels sounded more aggressive, mostly at a fast pace and Kurt held his chest, running further. The running continued till he was pulled back into an alleyway.
"I don't have money. Please don't kill me," Kurt pleaded. He had freaked out the woman and the woman shove her hand on his mouth lest he should nibble it. Kurt's tears fell instantaneously and he muffled and whimpered.
"Shh, shh. Don't cry. I am not going to kidnap or rob you."
The woman released her hand from his mouth and started to pt his shoulder. Kurt was still in the fright mode, holding his linen shirt. "Why don't we grab something to drink and talk?" The woman's offer was warm but Kurt couldn't trust this stranger. This was one of the scariest moments of his life. The woman pulls Kurt's wrist forcibly and dragged him across the street to the nearby Starbucks. The woman made Kurt sit down and asked him for his order.
Their orders came to their table as the woman finished attending a call. Kurt bit his lips and kept his hands entangled. Kurt didn't have the habit of accepting things from strangers but the woman kept pushing him. Besides, he didn't there were any tranquillizers slipped into it. Kurt slowly unzipped his pale pink sealed lips and put the upper lip on the cup. It wasn't so scalding and that was good.
" It's very civilized of you to get me a drink but may I know who you are? You know, I- I just-"
" You must be Irish in some way."
"Yeah, I am Bri'ish."
"Good for him."
Kurt remained silent, drowning in his own thought. Who was "him"?
"I don't understand what you are talking about."
The woman's lips curved upward in a warm gesture," I am Blaine's ex-wife."
Kurt opened his mouth to ask something but he slammed it close. One part of him hated to get involved in knowing about somebody he barely knew. The other just pushed him to know about his roommate.
"Ex?"
"Yeah, didn't he tell you?"
Kurt nodded negatively, chewing his lips and licking the drink on his lips. He almost spat his mouth's content into the cup.
"He must be speaking about that in near future. I guess I broke the glass."
The woman was smiling goofily like a serial killer. The whole shop was a total mirror play, twisting and expanding around him like an illusion.
" I guess he is finally happy now."
The woman didn't sound like she was jealous. She was genuinely happy.
"I don't know what you are talking about."
" I guess you and Blaine are living in the same apartment now."
"We are staying, so yes in a way." Kurt didn't know if she took this answer as they were friends or something else. He had seen this woman with a man and a kid.
"So the man and the kid?"
"Who?"
"The man and the kid. You were spending time with them in the park."
"I am seeing someone again. So, I am moving on."
The woman's phone buzzed before Kurt could raise another question. She swiftly got up and shove her money onto the tray for pay. " I am happy for you and him. He is a good guy. Convey my wishes to him."
The woman's shout was ringing in Kurt's ear. He wasn't annoyed, he wasn't really. A myriad of senseless questions aroused in his mind. He felt like he was stranded on the streets: so lost and thoughtless. He shouldn't be bothered about some random woman, kidnapping him, buying him a drink, and telling him that his barely familiar roommate was a divorcee. And did that woman think they were living as boyfriends?
His legs carried him to the apartment on their own, taking the strain from his mind and allowing it to spend on useless thoughts. Was Blaine a divorcee really? What could be the reason? Did he try to murder her? Was he involved in domestic violence? That woman didn't seem to be jealous or cursing kind. And if he had a wife, how was she assuming about them being boyfriends?
Blaine wasn't in the apartment and Kurt found the apartment to be in haunting silence. He opened his laptop to apply for the extended visa, now that it was confirmed that New York would have him for another 2- 3 months. Kurt wasn't sure if he could ask for money from his dad. He was angry and that was the only thing nailed to Kurt's brain. He wanted to e-mail his college in London about his stay and the alternative ways for him to attend if it was possible. It had been almost a year and Kurt proved himself to be one of the finest students in the whole of London. He was kind of reminding people about Cruella with his fashion design.
Blaine had almost no time to think about the apartment or his roommate. He would take some responsibility for the apartment and he would talk a few friendly words with Kurt who seemed too busy with his work or shooting snarky comments. Though Blaine hated his British rudeness in a way, in the beginning, it was starting to seem a fresh air among all the craziness from the singing show. Blaine knew how to make tea and that was the only recipe he knew in cooking.
Blaine was busy with his work again when his phone chimed. He hoped it wasn't from Kurt asking for some shopping choices. Blaine almost felt enough for Kurt to be doing this alone in this alone city. It wasn't Kurt on the phone. The message was from his dad.
Blaine's heart started to thump almost hearing the heartbeat over his singing. He scrolled the chats over and over again to confirm if it was true. He wanted it to disappear and look like nothing happen, but he couldn't. He tried to put his mind back into the work again. It was taking him time. He grabbed a sundae before he returned, pushing the phone and his worries out of his mind for some time.
He couldn't do it at one point. Two more times had had to go and he was having an off for the next five days. He walked and ran in irregular intervals after his rehearsals. His mind was invaded by the message that he forgot his way to the apartment. He was in a critical situation where lies should be involved. Just then, his phone gave a real long chime.
The phone screen flash-lit with the caller id. He didn't expect his roomie to call him as he was supposed to be at the apartment. Blaine rolled his eyes, hoping that Kurt wouldn't bother him with another silly thing on top of the huge monster he was about to face.
Blaine started intentionally with a drowsy tone. " Hello, Kurt. What is your problem now?"
"Blaine, Could please come to the location I have sent you?"
Blaine rolled his eyes hoping it was not another shopping point. "Fiiine."
--
The location was near to him so it got soon as possible. It wasn't a shopping centre to Blaine's surprise. It wasn't crowded to get convinced as a shopping point. It was deserted, cold, and dirty. Blaine checked again if we were meant to come to the alleyway. It wasn't a trick.
His eyes squinted to every possible area of light when some living figure was moved. Blaine was startled and decided not to answer that until a voice came from behind the trash can. Blaine tiptoed and knelt down, swaying his hand in the dark hair. A soft hand clenched Blaine's wrist and Blaine grunted and pull away from the grip. Blaine has felt the very skin in some other part of the body but he was sure he knew that touch. He raised his eyebrows and kept wide eyes to focus on the hand and its owner. " Who are you?"
A faint, dizzy voice aroused from the ground. "Kurt."
Blaine gasped in shock. He was annoyed with his roomie and even disliked him to some extent. He never thought of his roomie lying in an alleyway in this barely familiar city. Blaine squatted and sat on his heels. Kurt dragged himself to move forward a little. That was the first time Blaine noticed the colour of Kurt's eyeballs. He was sure they would be changing according to the great refraction. All Blaine could see was the greenish-brown marbles with strokes of yellow. It was truly an artwork, perched on his alabaster skin. Blaine's heartbeat raised to hit the gong.
"Oh my God! What happened?" Blaine pulled his bottle out to let Kurt sip some water. Kurt was relieved to let some water wet his parched throat. His heart was pounding like crazy as if he was on a fast-running treadmill. Blaine rubbed his shoulder assuring that he was safe now.
"What happened?"
Blaine looked around Kurt. Bags, mostly shopping bags were scattered around him. Some content was spilt out of the bags. Kurt was tearing up a little, maybe out of panic.
" Were you mugged?"
" Mugged?" Kurt asked softly.
" Yeah mugged. I mean robbed."
Kurt nodded, the panic still conquering his face. Blaine opened his mouth, gasped aloud, and helped Kurt to get on his feet. He was checking every Kurt's exposed parts possible and checked on his clothes too. " Are you hurt? Do I need to take you to the hospital? Do you know what did you lose?"
Kurt took some time to process the questions and Blaine gave him the time to. Kurt checked the bags, his pockets, and everything possible. Kurt's panic was replaced by worry, anger, and sadness.
Kurt took a long breath and sighed. " Cash and my neck chain."
Blaine knew that couldn't get any worse. He was inexplicably furious with the city for such an honourable hospitability to a foreigner. Blaine's fist went hard but Kurt didn't notice. He instantly chilled down and focussed on helping his roomie. Blaine pulled the bags from Kurt's hands and let him walk without burden. Kurt walked slowly, limped once in six steps and Blaine kept up with his speed. They came to a more lighted place to check on Kurt's well-being.
" Just some bruises and the impact of the fall."
"Do you remember them? The robbers?" Kurt tried to recall their faces but he was interrupted by the stings on his bruised area. " Don't stress up. We'll walk to the apartment. And make you rest."
Kurt's head was till dropped down. " That chain was so special to me. It was from my significant somebody?" Blaine thought of his girlfriend or his boyfriend because of his attires and interests. He didn't have to be stereotypical but Blaine concluded he was taken.
"Alright." Blaine patted again on his shoulder. "We'll walk you to the apartment and we can file a complaint tomorrow. Police works may take longer. You need rest." Kurt thought for a moment and agreed with a nod. Blaine bought some takeaways for them. It could be selfish on Blaine's part but he was planning on another pact.
Kurt lost something that he shouldn't have lost. The cash was for a less pathetic stay in the unknown city. The other thing was more important than the cash for him: A silver ring clinging on a tightrope of a silver chain.
He wasn't regretting it because it was silver. He was regretting it because it was from someone so dear to his heart. Kurt was not ready to answer any of Blaine's questions. He plugged his earphones and played a random song which turned out to be the song that was playing in the background when he gave the ring.
Give me a kiss to build a dream on,
And my imagination will thrive upon that kiss.
Sweetheart, I ask no more than this:
A kiss to build a dream on.
It was all coming back to him. That day, when their graduation clothes were fresh, they were young and merry. The cold metal sliding on his ring finger like butter and the gentle smile of promise were all lost the next moment and that day of the robbery.
Give me a kiss before you leave me,
And my imagination will feed my hungry heart.
Leave me one thing before we part,
A kiss to build a dream on.
That strong, long kiss that they shared before Kurt lost him to the tragedy was still a fresh memory in his heart. He never got over that. His imagination has always fed his heart with fanfiction about their future. He couldn't take the fodder anymore. It would be fanfiction and will never be a canon.
When I'm alone with my fancies, I'll be with you,
Weaving romances, making believe they're true.
Give me your lips for just a moment,
And my imagination will make that moment live.
Give me what you alone can give,
A kiss to build a dream on!
Kurt sobbed silently under his breath. He didn't want to startle the person escorting his body. He had always cursed himself for asking for that ice- cream. He couldn't have lost him if he wouldn't have asked.
Tears fell on the street like raindrops.
--
Blaine helped Kurt first-aid his wounds. Kurt was glad on the other hand that his face wasn't bruised and his skincare routine wasn't wasted. They quietly ate their take-aways. Kurt was annoying Blaine with his weird faces, at least to Blaine. It was the first dinner they ate together as roommates and It wasn't actually pleasant. None of them gobbled their food. Blaine did eat some. He was thinking about the message and all his energy utilized was replenished by eating the take-away on its auto-pilot mode. How could he get someone for this job? Would they be compatible and fit to believe the fake drama?
Blaine lost his appetite on watching Kurt fiddling with his food. He gathered the courage to ask Kurt.
" Eat it, Kurt. It's getting cold."
Kurt pushed the food slightly and got up. Blaine tapped the table gently driving Kurt's attention. " I know it was difficult for you. It would be so hard in your case. But our agreement says we are friends per see. So considering that, you can talk to me about your worries and thoughts. Maybe as a friend, I can..."
Kurt was a conservative person and it was not an understatement. He didn't wear his heart on his sleeve and he was not easy to read to. But when he showed his emotions, they were fluorescent. Blaine had to push him more to open his mouth and spill the pearl.
"Nothing. I was...thinking about the money and the chain. I know that chain cannot be replaced but that was the money I had. I lost a huge sum."
"We'll file a complaint tomorrow, I swear."
Kurt's palm faced Blaine gesturing to let him continue. " I am grateful to you. But, I don't know when my things would return. I can't wait till that. I have to buy things for the next round. Dad and I are on harsh terms."
Blaine's eyelids flutter in pity. Why should this city let this pale Irish boy suffer?
Blaine's mind worked on its dark side now. He hadn't blackmailed or bargained with anyone in a long time. That was Blaine's criminal mind speaking.
"If you let me I can help you." Kurt's eyes widened up to fit 2 seals. The pupils in his cerulean blue eyeballs expanded in delight and surprise.
"Yeah," Blaine said, rubbing the back of his neck, "But on one condition..."
Kurt's face changed dramatically, not to frown, but to neutral. He raised one of his eyebrows, waiting to sign the deal already. Blaine swallowed a lump, squinting at Kurt and judging his decision if it was right.
" I...I -want y-you t-t-to to come as my..."
Kurt's pupils were dilated that they would extend beyond his eyelids. Blaine took a deep breath.
"My boyfriend," he whispered. Kurt's face changed even more rapidly as if he was offended by Blaine, stealing his virginity or his first kiss.
--
Author's note:
Oh my God! I can't believe I am back in updating. Sorry for a very late update. It's a long story in my life. My med school life is driving me crazy. And lost my motivation and was slightly depressed. For those who found my story in my hiatus, thank you so much for jamming in. So, from here, I will be updating a chapter a week.
The song used is "A kiss to build a dream on" by Louis Armstrong. Do share your thoughts with your reviews. It can make my day.
