Day 1: Just the Two of Us
On the day Kurt and Blaine moved into their new apartment in New York, it rained. It never really poured or stormed, but a light, steady shower fell all day – the kind that is just enough to make things messy.
Kurt's practical side hated the rain. It snarled up the already disastrous Manhattan traffic. Sidewalks became splash zones, and Kurt learned the hard way to walk as close to the buildings as possible. Unexpected rain meant quick wardrobe changes, as boots were a must in order to spare the hem of his pants. Don't even get him started on what it did to his hair. Walking down a busy New York street with an umbrella should be an official Olympic sport, in his opinion.
Moving in the rain was a whole other level of misery. It was impossible to keep their boxes and belongings dry as they were loaded into their car and the moving van. The movers tracked wet footprints everywhere. Worst of all, every one of Kurt's hats were packed, so he'd been forced to wear a baseball hat that Blaine gave him. (Blaine was under strict instructions that any attempt to take a photo of Kurt in that monstrosity would result in Blaine spending their first night in the new place on the couch, alone.)
After a long, tiring day fraught with all of the misadventures that often befall a move, they were finally done. Yes, there was lots of unpacking still to do, but they'd unboxed enough of the essentials to eat some takeout, shower, and go to bed. As Kurt waited for Blaine to finish up in the bathroom, he looked around their new bedroom. Upon returning to New York after the wedding, they immediately decided to find a new place. The loft wasn't practical for them anymore, and it some unpleasant memories they were ready to leave behind. Blaine confessed one night that he felt like it was a constant reminder of failure – both his and theirs together. Kurt understood, feeling that way to some extent himself, but he told Blaine to think of it as an experiment from which they had learned what not to do. Now they knew better.
Still, a change of scene was more than welcomed.
Their new home was smaller, but in a nicer neighborhood (Burt was happy to have them out of Bushwick, for sure). It had amazing amenities such as doors and actual separate rooms. Most of all, it was something they picked out together, and that made a world of difference.
The steady rain continued, pattering on the glass in a strangely consistent beat. The romantic side of Kurt loved the rain. When he was little, he loved cuddling under a blanket with his stuffed animals or drinking hot cocoa with his dad when it was dreary outside. In high school, he found that cuddling with Blaine under a blanket when it rained was even better.
Blaine emerged from the bathroom, flicking off the light and padding over to the bed. He was humming a tune Kurt vaguely recognized but couldn't quite place as he joined Kurt under the covers. "What's that song?" he asked.
"Oh, it's 'Just the Two of Us'- you know, that old Grover Washington/Bill Withers song. The movers had it playing in their van as we were loading things, and I must have gotten it stuck in my head."
Kurt nodded, recalling the song. "I thought it sounded familiar. My dad used to have a soft rock channel playing at his shop, and they would play it on there."
A comfortable silence fell between them as they slid into each other's arms for the night. The tapping of the rain against the windowpanes reminded Kurt of the lyrics to the song. He began to sing softly into the darkness.
I hear the crystal raindrops fall
On the window down the hall
And it becomes the morning dew
Blaine chimed in, taking the next lines and pulling Kurt a little closer.
Darling, when the morning comes
And I see the morning sun
I want to be the one with you
Years of singing duets made it second nature to harmonize on the chorus without missing a beat.
Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us
Of course, they both went high for the echoing "Just the two of us," giggling at their silliness.
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I.
They exchanged a single, slow kiss, too exhausted from the day for much else, and then drifted off to sleep. It was a new beginning for them both, and there were certain to be challenges ahead, but they knew that together, they could make it – just the two of them.
A/N: Greetings! Welcome to my offerings for the 2020 Klaine Valentine's Challenge. I looked back and realized that this is the fifth year in a row that I am participating! (To be honest, I didn't even realize I'd been writing fanfiction that long. How the time flies!) This chapter features the song "Just the Two of Us" by Grover Washington, Jr., featuring Bill Withers. Enjoy!