Kurt loved the beach. He loved it so much. Of course, it was his first time to ever see the ocean, but he didn't want to leave. Hawaii was so perfect. It was beautiful and relaxing and the perfect honeymoon destination. Kurt had suggested a trip to Europe, but it was too much of a hassle to get passports, so they settled on Hawaii. He had been skeptical of the ocean at first, because of sharks and tsunamis, but Blaine dragged him in, and he loved it. Of course, he had to use SPF 80 sunscreen, and even with that he managed to get his the top of his ears sunburned.
He and Blaine spent their days on the beach and their nights at the resort. There was a bar and fancy restaurant, so they were in heaven.
But, after eight days of paradise, they were both ready to get back home. Kurt was sunburned and still hadn't adjusted to the time difference, so he was exhausted. Blaine just wanted to be back in their own apartment. They had one last day at the beach, an eight-hour plane ride to Dallas, then a four-hour ride from Dallas to New York. They were really going to be exhausted by then.
"Come on, one more day. Let's enjoy it," Blaine told him. Kurt threw a shirt on, and they went downstairs. He preferred swimming in the resort pools, but he wanted to enjoy the ocean before they had to go. There was a yellow flag up, and Kurt didn't know what that meant, but Blaine assured him it was fine. They stayed up close to the shore, right where the waves were breaking, but Kurt grew bored and actually wanted to get in the water. Blaine said he was tired, so Kurt went out by himself. It felt good to do something besides sit around and get sunburned.
Kurt went out farther then he realized, and he wasn't sure he had the energy to swim back. To make things worse, the waves were higher and stronger the farther he got from the shore. Kurt tried to swim back, but the waves kept breaking above his head, and he got water in his mouth and eyes. He spit it out and tried to keep going, but he didn't seem to be getting anywhere.
"Blaine-" his cry was cut off by another wave. Kurt was a great swimmer, but he'd never had to deal with waves and salt water and being pulled out by the water. He couldn't even see Blaine anymore. He'd taken his contacts out, so everything on the shore was kind of blurry. Kurt panicked and kicked his legs as hard as he could to try to tread water, but he got tired after just a minute or two. He kept crying for Blaine as he thrashed against the waves, but it was useless. No one could hear him, and the water kept throwing him around and dragging him under.
Kurt coughed, and his stomach cramped painfully. He tried to turn his head, but he couldn't move his neck, so he threw up on himself. His chest and throat burned. He was lying on his back, and he was cold and wet.
"He's waking up," he heard a man say. He didn't recognize the voice. "Let's get a towel for him. He got sick." Kurt tried to open his eyes, but they burned, too, like when he accidentally got soap in them in the shower.
"Can I see him?" he heard another person ask. Blaine. It was definitely Blaine. Kurt felt him take his hand and kiss his cheek.
"Blaine," he croaked, his throat raw. His stomach hurt from talking, and he gagged, but managed to not vomit a second time. "Don't leave." He could barely get those words out. Talking had never been so challenging.
"No no, I'm not leaving you. I'm staying right here. You just relax. We're going to the hospital, but you're gonna be okay." Kurt's eyes watered up, and he managed to open them. Blaine stood over him, looking panicked and flustered. "No no, don't cry. You're okay, I promise. You got caught in a rip tide, and the waves pulled you under the water. You've been coughing up a lot of water, so they just want to make sure you're not hurt or dehydrated or anything."
Kurt let go of Blaine's hand, and tugged at whatever was keeping his neck from moving. It was a large brace, and he tried to take it off, but he couldn't figure out how.
"Leave it alone, babe," Blaine told him. "It's okay." Kurt moaned and closed his eyes as he began to get moved. He was strapped to a board, and he could feel everyone at the beach staring at him.
"Blaine," he whined, reaching for his hand. Kurt didn't want to go to this hospital. He wanted to enjoy his last day in Hawaii with his new husband. They put him in an ambulance, and Blaine got in behind him. Kurt started to cry again, even when Blaine got in next to him and stroked his hair.
"Kurt," Blaine said. "You're okay. They'll let you leave the hospital, you just need to get checked out by a doctor first. You almost drowned, honey." Kurt closed his eyes and tried to relax. Blaine continued stroking his hair and talked to him the whole way there. At least Kurt had the assurance that he would never be alone.
Author's Notes:
I think Kurt would be the kind of person who would hate the beach, he would think of sharks and sunburns and jellyfish and just have a bad feeling about it, but once Blaine takes him on their honeymoon Kurt loves it because it's relaxing and beautiful and he never wants to leave so they take their kids on vacation to the beach every summer.