Some New York and Kurt&Burt loving. Good Burt advices! How we love that.
It was supposed to be two chapters, but the first one (with the conversation with Kurt and his father) was just too short, so I put two chapters together to make it longer!
-XX-
Kurt couldn't believe this place; his future restaurant looked splendid. They put a lot of effort into this and it paid off. When Santana came to their loft and said that she found the perfect place, two months ago, Kurt couldn't believe her. The rent was laughable because no one was in there for a while now so the place needed a good clean up, but it was perfect. His dream was coming true; but he knew that a place as competitive as New York, it won't be easy every day.
Santana found this place for Kurt, to help him overcome the sadness that was looming over him and because she wanted him happy; but in return, Kurt wanted her to be his partner. He couldn't do this alone and he desperately wanted to share this adventure with his best friend, even though he knew, deep down, that Santana Lopez could have a better offer in some glamorous hotel or restaurant somewhere, but it surprised Kurt when she accepted his offer to start a no named restaurant. It was so thrilling; Kurt couldn't believe he was there in his life. He decided to not go back to culinary school, because as Santana would say ''your dream is shapin' up. You're going to be where your little wannabe classmates would want to be after three useless years of learning how to cut a tomato and there're not even going to own a restaurant anyways. You're way ahead of 'em.'' And she was right, but his motives for not wanting to go back were also because he wasn't happy there; he never was. He wanted to build a career right now. ''And look at me, Sweet Cheeks. Well known chef at 26; did I go to sit in a class? No. And here I am.'' She had said.
It was now November and the restaurant was almost finished. Kurt insisted that they did all by themselves, of the exception of some constructions they needed to build and shape the restaurant. Kurt had a wonderful taste and knew what he wanted. But the painting, the deco and everything in between were in their hands. Santana suspected that Kurt wanted to do all the extra work instead of hiring someone to do it for the sake of thinking about something else but him. He was busy for two months, so the times to really think about him and the past summer were really few, if none existent. Santana didn't comment on it; it wasn't her place to tell.
''I think we did a hell of a good job,'' Puck said as he twirled around to see the work he and the others did over the last two months. Rachel, Finn and Puck helped them, happy with the fact that Kurt seemed to move on and looked finally happy to begin his career.
''Kurt, I am so happy for you!'' Rachel squealed. ''I'm sure it's going to be one of the most, if not the most popular restaurant in all of New York.'' She said with determination in her big brown eyes and Kurt knew that she meant it; it was the same determination he saw in her when she was going to go to NYADA and said that she was going to be the most talented girl there and will have a Broadway career very soon; she was soon going to be on Funny Girl, so when Rachel Berry knew something, it was going to happen, one way or another.
''Thanks for believing in me, guys,'' he said sincerely.
''And he got one hell of a good partner.'' Santana said, crossing her arms over her chest.
''Anytime, Kurt,'' Puck said. ''As long as we have free food.''
Kurt looked fondly at his friends when they were all gathering around a table in the empty soon to be open restaurant. They will serve French food, but with a twist. People often think that French cuisine is snobby and luxurious, but Kurt wanted to show people that it can be good, tasty, classy, but affordable with a quaint ambiance to the place. And as he looked around, he saw his future.
The walls were a warm yellow color that really invites you in. Kurt really wanted French influence on the decoration. There was a big portrait on a wall of a French countryside landscape that really was breathtaking. Being in Soho, there were a lot of artists, very talented but struggling artists that would die to get recognition if one of their portraits is found in a restaurant. Santana put a little of her charm, celebrity and money for John Paleki to paint a portrait grandeur nature in less than two months and he did a great job.
The lights were dim to get a warm and intimate ambiance. It was a restaurant mostly for romantic dinner, a meeting with co-workers and even a place for the students to hang out as the prices are really affordable and a college was near and Kurt planned to hire singers to sing on the weekend to make the ambiance more festive and enjoyable.
The building already had a staircase to lead to a big platform upstairs and Kurt didn't want to get rid of it; it makes the place more rustic. The walls near the stairs were the original bricks to get a rusty look and classy at the same time. It had that charm that will pull you in on the first sniff of French food or the soft music playing in the backroom. Kurt was sure of it. It had to be a success.
They delivered pizzas, talking about their future, with the restaurant and the career of Rachel that was slowly taking off. Kurt said goodbyes to his friends, promising to call Rachel tomorrow and saying that he would see Santana later at the loft, because right now, he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts and admired the work of art all around him. The only thing that was missing, except the foods, was the name of the restaurant. He still didn't know it. He wanted to wait until everything was perfect and they were ready to open.
He touched the new tables they just commended from Paris. Kurt didn't want to buy them, thinking it was way too expensive, but Santana went behind his back and bought them and it was very expensive, but like Santana said ''You can't have a French restaurant if you don't have actual frenchie stuff to be more… accurate.'' But it was beautiful though, so Kurt couldn't be mad for long. The tables were a dark wooden brown color with signatures of French poets, authors and even singers and actors engraved into the wood. It wasn't the original signatures, but the artist did a fine job and it was no wonder, aside the tables being shipped across the ocean, that it cost a little fortune.
He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
''It's a good place you have there,'' a deep voice said behind him.
''Dad!'' Kurt said as he turned around and saw his dad, standing there, smiling widely at his son. Kurt ran up to him and hugged him tightly. It's been months since he saw him and Kurt felt a stab of guilt by this realization. ''What are you doing here?'' he asked, wide eyed. Burt took of his cap and rubbed his bald head, looking around the restaurant.
''Your old man was worried about ya, kid,'' he said. He sat heavily on a chair and Kurt hurriedly did the same. He didn't want to cause such trouble for his father; it wasn't what he wanted to do at all and the guilt just ate him alive.
''Dad, I…''
''Don't worry about it,'' Burt said. ''I just want to know if my boy's okay.'' Kurt looked at him in the eye with just a moment of hesitation, before nodding.
''Of course, dad.'' He finally said. ''Why didn't you tell me you were in town? For how long are you planning to stay? Do you have a place to stay?''
'Whoa, kid. Calm down,'' Burt chuckled. ''You worry too much.''
''I just… feel guilty that I basically shut you out of my life for months, now.'' Burt hummed, but didn't agree.
''When you came back, I wanted to see you. Hell, your face was on a gossip magazine that Carole loves to buy.''
''So you know the story.''
''Not by the Medias. I called Finn and he told me everything. He told me to give you space and you didn't want to talk about it. I know you, kid. If I'd show up here, you'd just ignore me. So I waited and Finn told me your progress. I stay for a couple of days at Finn's and Rachel's and wanted to spend some quality time with you. I didn't see you since last Christmas!'' he exclaimed.
''Yeah. The few months had been… chaotic.''
''And I've heard that you live with that master cook, right?''
''She's a chef, dad, and yes.'' He giggled. ''Without her, I wouldn't have this place right now,'' He looked at the ceiling, then the furniture with amazement.
''And how are you?'' Burt asked, putting accent on the 'you' and Kurt seemed to know what he was talking about.
The silence in the restaurant was deafening. Kurt played with his hands, not wanting to look at Burt in the eye.
''I'm fine,'' he said at last with a quivering voice.
''Kurt, don't lie to me.'' Burt said, signing. Kurt turned his head, refusing to acknowledge his father's presence. ''Kurt, look at me,'' he said firmly. ''When you don't want to talk about something, you just ignore me but now, you ain't eight years old.
Kurt looked at his father, his bright eyes too blue, too clear. ''What do you want me to say?'' he said. ''I'm trying to move on, give me a break.'' He stood up and busied himself with a napkin on another table. Burt shook his head and sign, disappointed by his child's antic. ''Blaine used me; you probably know the whole story whether by the medias or by my nosy of a future sister-in-law. He played me and he doesn't deserve my tears. I've moved on, dad.''
''Did you, really?'' Burt said. ''Look.'' He rubbed his bald head and continued. ''I don't know the kid, okay? I don't care if he shits gold and that his father owns some kind of hotel or somethin'. What I know is that he hurt my son, and I think he deserve the silent treatment.'' He stood up and approached his son and put a hand on his shoulder. ''I'm only a mechanic; but I've raised you right. That man may be rich, but he raised his kids poorly.''
''What are you trying to say?'' Kurt said, irritated.
''I've raised you to be the better man.'' He simply said. ''I know you were bitter when you first came in New York because at first, it wasn't what you expected; it was harder to get by. I don't want you to become bitter again because this story has no ending. You'll never have peace, not even if your restaurant is a big success, if you don't sort this out.''
''So, you're saying I should run to Blaine and beg on my knees to be forgiving to something I didn't do?''
''No. But communication is the key. It's not done yet; you just avoid each other. If you say it's done, then… look at him in the eye and tell him.''
''But it's already…''
''No, Kurt. And I know you. You think about it again and again. It's plaguing your every thought. You want a peace of mind? And turn a page of your life? Go see him and talk.''
Kurt stayed silent, looking at his shoes.
''Or maybe you want to avoid him because in the end, you don't really want it to be over.'' Burt concluded softly and the look Kurt gave him, surprised and shocked, was everything he needed to know and his flight was, after all, not a bad idea at all.
-X-
Time passed, and both boys tried to forget. Of course, they didn't want to, but they were both scared; scared of being rejected, scared of being humiliated by the other young man. Either way, both of them tried to work as hard as possible to just focus on the job at hand and forget about anything else; it numbed the pain and loneliness.
Christmas went and left, and Blaine, through the festivities he did with his mom, Giorgio and his brothers, he did enjoy himself; at a certain level. It was now February, the month of love, and Blaine couldn't help but being nostalgic. On several occasions, he found himself thinking ''Fuck that, I'm going to win him back.'' Then pack his things and leave, but on the other hand, a surreal force always held him back. He was scared, he was a coward and Kurt was slowly breaking free from his grasp. He hurt him badly and he needed to let him go.
Soon after Giorgio's confessions back in November, Blaine found himself with a job. His father hated to see him moping around the house all day or just walked mindlessly through Florence, so he hired him as a helper. Julian couldn't believe that it was his first time working, because he never had to. Blaine couldn't wait the table because his Italian was terrible, but he cleaned up the table, gave his most charming smile to the patrons to earn extra money, and helped in the kitchen. He wasn't as good as Kurt at cooking, nor Cooper, but his brother showed him the basic and it was by the hand of cooking that he really bonded with his big brother. As for Julian, he was so charismatic that it wasn't hard to love him and feel at ease with him. He worked in the restaurant as soon as he turned 16 a couple of nights a week and go to school during the day. What Blaine loved the most was the fact that he wasn't really known here, or if he was, people were respectful. But everyone knew who he was as a newcomer; the son of Giorgio Valente, the owner of a very popular Italian restaurant and the regular patrons were curious to know more about him.
He was reluctant to work at first, but he found himself enjoying it. He watched the atmosphere of a busy restaurant, how it works in a kitchen, his dad running it like it was as easy as breathing and him joking with the patrons. He seemed to enjoy his job, his life. And Blaine was also facing the embarrassment of Giorgio parading him around the restaurant to meet people, but Blaine let him, knowing that he never had the chance to do it with him, while Julian and Cooper snickered behind his back.
''Blaine!'' Giorgio said to him one afternoon as Blaine cleaned up another table, humming under his breath. ''I want to run some errands. I want you to come with me,'' he said as he headed for the door. It wasn't a busy afternoon as it was a Monday. Other waitresses and waiters took care of the tables in their elegant black uniforms with a black apron. It was classy and very Italian looking. He nodded and joined his father to go on the market where all the fruits, fishes and vegetables of the restaurant came from.
''Look at that salmon!'' Giorgio exclaimed once they've reached the market, which wasn't so far from the restaurant. ''That's a good looking fish,'' he said and Blaine couldn't help but chuckled. ''What?'' Giorgio asked with a small smile.
''Nothing,'' he said. ''You just… K-no, it's nothing. What do you want to buy?'' he asked instead, but Giorgio pressed the question.
''Blaine?'' Blaine signed and reached a fruit stand where he could see strawberries, blueberries and blackberries; at the view of the black juicy fruit, his eyes watered.
''You just love what you do. You talk about food with so much passion, it reminds me of Kurt.'' He shrugged and let out a shaky breath. ''When he talked about it, he was like in another world.'' He took a blackberry in his hand and so many memories flooded his mind; him and Kurt doing a picnic and arguing about the best fruit. It was silly at the time, but as he glanced at the plum fruit in his hand, it held so much meaning.
Giorgio was silent as he filled a bag full of strawberries and paid the man behind the stand.
''Because food is delicious and it has so many significations for many people and food is comfort. There's nothing better than warm milk to feel better at night or a good old tiramisu to put a smile on your face. That boy of yours isn't stupid; he loves good things.'' He said with a warm smile. ''And as a loving father, I must say that you're an idiot.''
''Why am I an idiot?'' he asked, a little bit offended.
''Because you let him go. At your place, I'd be in New York a long while ago.''
''It's not that simple, Giorgio,'' he murmured as his father paid another man to fill a bag full of fresh shrimps.
''Everything is simple, if you put your mind on it.'' He declared. Blaine stayed silent as Giorgio paid for some vegetables and they made their way back to the restaurant, but this time, they walked to a different direction. As Blaine asked why, Giorgio only answered that he liked walking when he does some errands; it allowed him to relax before going back to a busy restaurant and they walked on a beautiful and historical bridge, called Ponte Vecchio.
Near the bridge, there was a school; it looked like a middle school and Blaine signed and began to talk. ''My family never believes in me,'' he said. Giorgio didn't look at him, but listened. ''My fa- Charles always encourage my siblings in their schooling and projects, but never me. I always wondered why; I guess now, it makes sense,'' he said bitterly. ''That's why I was wild and rebellious; I wanted to embarrassed him as much as I could and I never thought I was good enough to go to school… my brothers are now finishing their studies and they are going to work for dad. I was supposed, too.''
''But do you want to?'' Giorgio asked as they stopped walking and just looked at the school. They could hear children screaming and laughing in the distance.
''If you had asked me last summer, then yes. I always thought it was what I was supposed to do; do a job, and that's it. But Kurt showed me something else.''
''What did he show you?'' his father asked, genuinely interested by the boy who changed his son so much in a good way in such little time.
''Passion. Drive to succeed. And he was the first one to believe in me and see that I can go to college and that I can do a job that I really want to do. But…'' he signed and shrugged. ''I was supposed to go to New York with him. It was the plan. I didn't want to go back to Miami with the family. I wanted to figure something out for my future with him by my side.''
''It's never too late. I told you; you're an idiot for letting him go!'' He nudged him playfully and Blaine smiled a little- just a little- to show his recognisance to have, finally the dad he always wanted- compassionate, understanding and supportive.
He didn't respond and they were soon in the restaurant.
-X-
It was a couple of days later when Blaine saw the change in him, saw the drive to fight for what is truly his. He was sprawled on the couch in the living room. Maggie and Giorgio were out on a romantic date to sparkle the old flame, as they liked to call it, but they were doing it for months, now, so Blaine thought their flame sparkled alright. If the sounds coming from his mother's bedroom at night were any indication, the flame might as well be an explosion. Blaine grimaced at the thought; it was just gross to imagine your mother and father having sex.
He switched channels mindlessly until something, or someone, caught his eye. On screen, Santana Lopez was doing her cooking show. Blaine smiled sadly, seeing her now ex-friend doing what she loved; it wasn't the first time he was seeing her doing her thing on TV, but he was surprised to see her continuing her show after everything that happened. He knew that she quit, but what was her new job? Where was she, now? She clearly been busy preparing the new season of her show, but it was a new décor from last season. It wasn't the kitchen of her loft in Switzerland or the prestigious kitchens of Casablanca's where she was used to do her show every year for the pleasure of people who liked to cook. Her show was diffused in North America, which is Canada, the USA and Mexico, as well as Europe and a few countries in Asia and some islands in South America, such as Cuba or Republican Dominican.
She was smiling brightly at the camera and had a beautiful and as always, too tight dress.
''Now that I showed you how to do my delicious New Yorker cheesecake with my home made red fruits coulis because as I told you before, I am in New York now and this is a classic from this city so I can't pass the opportunity to show you what this city has to offer and like I said earlier on the show, I have a special guest who will show you the technique and how to master Chou à la Crème, which is a French classic- a cream puff- and he's also my dearest friend and the future south after chef in New York,'' she said, winking at the camera and Blaine forgot how to breath. Kurt walked in the kitchen, behind the counter and his eyes were bright, so proud to be there and to show to people what he could do. It's been seven months since he saw him and he was as beautiful as before, even more so with his cheeks tainted a soft blush to show his embarrassment by Santana's description of him. He looked happy, zen-like demeanor and at his place. Blaine only had eyes for Kurt. He muted every word, every joke they made while baking or even the commercial break didn't register with him. He saw him baking Chou à la crème, though. The same way he showed him to do it last summer and he was sure, at the end of the episode where they'll taste the dessert, it was going to taste just as heavenly as it did all those months, seasons ago because it was made by Kurt.
When the episode ended, he stayed there in silent and it felt like hours, but it was only a few minutes before Blaine made up his mind. There was no way that he was going to stay here and trying to move on; it was impossible and he simply didn't want to. He just grabbed a duffel bag, put some clothes in it and some belongings and reserve a ticket plane. He didn't care if it was in first class, like he was used to, (hell, even in Private jet as Charles owned one) he went for economic. A flight for New York, the last one of the day, was at 6pm. If things go well, he will be there around 7pm, because of the time difference, and hopefully, he won't be too jet lagged.
It was booked, it was done, he was going. Writing a note to his parents, he was gone. And ironically, the day he decided to win back Kurt's heart, it was the fourteenth of February.