Watc 16
Since the broadcasting of Blaine's latest interview, life has definitely upped itself quite a few notches for the pair.
Just as Kurt had predicted the paparazzi are onto Blaine like detectives onto a new, hot scandal, and they seem to be everywhere he is, all trying to catch the money shot of Blaine and his mysterious other half.
Thankfully, because Kurt is still 'unknown' (for now) there doesn't seem to be any reporters or photographers sniffing around him. But he knows he's on a ticking clock from here on out.
Blaine had apologised initially, saying that he should have talked to Kurt before he said something like that for the whole world to see and hear. He'd moped around like a grumpy puppy until Kurt kissed him quiet and told him not to worry.
The truth is Kurt can't really be angry or worried about it because he was just so infatuated with what Blaine had said and what it means. About him and about them.
He knows what he got himself into and this is just all part of the after-math. With a relationship like theirs, they can't stay hidden forever, they know this and Kurt doesn't think he'd want to keep them a secret forever. He just would have appreciated a little more time to figure things out—but sometimes you don't get a choice in what life has to throw at you.
They're even more careful with where and how they see each other. Even though they only live a few blocks apart now, Blaine has his driver and minder take him to Kurt's whenever the coast is clear. Kurt coming to Blaine's is completely out of the question now as too many reporters already know where Blaine lives and are often spotted lurking around his building. With the news out about Blaine dating somebody, the second they see Kurt, his face will be all over the papers and speculation will begin.
They try to meet in their usual mutual places like Harry's bar and other places of solitary solace but it's becoming too risky. Unfortunately their dates have to suffer, they'd been becoming harder and harder to achieve until eventually they hardly even bother trying anymore.
Phone call and text message conversations seem to be the best way to have any interaction with each other at the moment, which is obviously taking a toll on their more intimate and physical needs as a couple. So, they're only kissing and hugging at this stage— and every now and then rutting against each other when the mood strikes— but it's still something that they can't stand missing out on.
Blaine has a very professional, well equipped team who are loyal and willing to help them in their personal lives. They've grown very accustomed to Kurt and having him around is just like having another member of staff—but also somebody else they have to protect. They can only do so much.
Kurt even feels a little nervous whenever he leaves to go to work—whatever that may be for him that day.
At auditions he eyes everybody carefully who's sitting in the small waiting room with him. He has paranoid thoughts about the casting panel and because of that he messes up some lines. He stumbles over his steps in rehearsals and leaves at the end of his day feeling disappointed and pissed that he couldn't give it his all.
This is not what is supposed to happen.
"Please don't bail on me. I know it's hard but it'll get better, soon. I promise." Blaine pleads through the phone, late one night. His voice is cracking and Kurt sniffles, trying to show some restraint.
"I know. I won't- I can't." Kurt promises down the phone, trying to sound as comforting as possible. Because even though he is the one suffering and sad at the moment—so is Blaine and the thought of disappointing Blaine hurts even more than any of the other crap going on.
Because neither of them asked for any of this, after all. Why should two hearts suffer just for the benefit of the rest of the world?
As an end result, Kurt is at near breaking point— but only when he's alone. When he's with Blaine he feels calm and relaxed and happy, and the idea of their relationship and all the secrets and sneaking around make a whole load of sense.
But when Blaine is off working wherever he's needed on his newest thing and Kurt is busy trying to concentrate on his current audition or rehearsal piece, but just can't because he's too scared of getting caught with Blaine, or worse being distracted wondering when and how he'll see his boyfriend (boyfriend!) again—that's when it all comes to a thundering halt.
The word boyfriend, even unspoken in his own mind space still gives Kurt's tingles. It excites him and reminds him why he's putting himself through all of this. Because he wants a career and a boyfriend, but doesn't want to sacrifice one or the other or have them both moulded into the same category. So he will just have to make do with this current, annoyingly frustrating situation.
It's just so hard.
He Skypes with Tai and that always helps—Tai's words of wisdom should be bottled up and sold on shelves for therapy treatment. But Tai's words can still only do so much; it's his presence that Kurt needs—some kind of solidarity that he can hold on to.
He thinks about picking up the phone and finally telling his dad, but he has reservations. Burt Hummel's only interests are greasy food, mechanics, football and his family—he'll have no idea who Blaine Anderson is which would make the whole thing easier. But, Carole- his wife and Kurt's stepmom is a sucker for chick-flicks and will most definitely know who Blaine is. Also, she's a nurse and nurses can gossip to Space and back once in their staff-lounge. She'll be too excited and too happy for Kurt that she won't ever realize she's let it slip until Fox News arrives at her doorstep. Finn, Kurt's step-brother is a bit of a movie buff and will chew his ear off he ever finds out about it.
So that's the end of that thought.
It's the first week of September and the Vogue office is like a whirlwind of action with everybody prepping for the Fall and Winter lines and fashion shows coming up.
Isabelle is floating around as she always does; dressed to perfection, looking the epitome of calm while she handles everybody's problems as well as her own.
When she gets to Kurt's desk, she takes one look at his pale, hollow face and the full fat coke can on his desk beside a basket of mini chocolate muffins and closes the door behind her before coming to lean on the desk beside him.
"Talk to me, honey. What is it?" She asks, so nicely that Kurt almost cries at the softness of her voice.
And so Kurt does talk to her. He can't help it; it's like a dam breaking. He clings on to her and spills against her shoulder and doesn't miss a thing out from the very beginning to where they're at now.
Isabelle tuts and hums, she gasps and arches an eyebrow, winks and smiles and overall offers a soothing pat of her hand over Kurt's back and shoulders. She doesn't once interrupt him or give any kind of expression of judgement.
Kurt loves her all the more.
"You started all of this" He whines, pointing at her. He's half teasing and half genuinely serious. Isabelle pouts and then smiles apologetically at him.
When he's finally composed, feeling weightless with relief washing over him, Isabelle un-wraps her arms from him and takes a bite out of a muffin before offering it to Kurt. "Let me ask you something and answer it honestly." She says.
Kurt takes the offered muffin and finishes it in just two mouthfuls. He's nod at her, cheeks full, eyes wide with anticipation.
She tilts her head to the side, her eyes are so soft and expressive and her voice is gentle. "Are you happy?"
Kurt's shoulders sag with relief.
It's not what he expected her to ask and he finds that he can answer it easily with no qualms or hesitation. "Yes." It comes out almost as a sigh.
Isabelle smiles brightly and she jabs at his knee jovially. "Good. Well you just gotta keep your chin up and keep on going. As long as you're happy and it's what you both want then screw the rest of the world. Don't let them get you down. What will happen will happen." She says, and with each word she speaks Kurt feels a little bit lighter and brighter, like the small simmering flame inside of him has just been renewed and he's glowing hot and full again.
Not only does Isabelle offer Kurt some amazing, life affirming advice that gets him back on his feet again, but she goes and does one better by offering he and Blaine the use of her Lodge in Lake Tahoe that she shares with her husband.
"I don't think we'll need it until the holidays so make the most of it, honey." She says with a wink and a smile while pressing a spare iron key into Kurt's hand.
They choose to make use of Isabelle's offer in mid-October time.
Blaine doesn't have anything important scheduled and all of Kurt's current shows are over so Isabelle sends him off telling him not to worry about anything but his relationship.
"Fashion can wait. Love can not!"She shrieks and Kurt bolts out of his chair to put a hand over her grinning mouth.
They arrive at the airport separately and Kurt follows the instructions he's been given until he's on the tarmac and Blaine's manager greets him with a warm smile and walks him over to a small aircraft.
His team have managed to get them booked on a private jet and when Kurt boards the plane to find an excited, smiley Blaine all reservations he may have had about this whole thing ebb away.
A car with blacked out windows picks them up from the airport when they land and delivers them all the way to the lodge undetected. The driver is staying in a hotel nearby just in case he is needed.
The lodge is situated just a few feet away from the lake with a wood and stone built-up veranda that has steps leading right down to the waters edge. Tall trees of all types surround the lodge, some still with their green leaves and some beginning to fade for Autumn. The grass is long and soft beneath their feet and if they should return during a colder month they can imagine how gorgeous the ground would look under a glossy film of white snow.
Kurt breathes in, long and slow and feels all of his worries begin to dissipate as he exhales. After their driver has made sure there is nobody around and has unlocked the front door and placed their bags inside, Blaine exits the car and comes to stand behind Kurt with arms wrapped around his middle and his chin hooked over Kurt's shoulder. He kisses the pad of Kurt's shoulder covered by a thick-knit gray sweater and whispers out towards the water "thanks for holding in there with me."
Kurt smiles and hums and sways in Blaine's hold. He could say the same to Blaine too.
Once safely inside after the door has been locked and the curtains drawn and the fire begins to crackle away with the slow burning kindling, they finally realize that they're alone.
Just them. No worries, no fears. No reason to hold back.
They have a week to themselves in a gorgeous, secluded lodge and they won't waste a moment of it. Their luggage still sitting untouched by the door can wait.
"C'mere, you" Blaine drawls, grinning and opening his arms out as Kurt crashes into them. He tackles Blaine down onto the couch in front of the log fire and keeps him there.
Blaine eyes are scorching like whiskey flames, as he blinks up at Kurt, drinking him in, behind long, dark lashes. Kurt could get lost forever in those eyes.
Well, for a week at least.
Four days later, Kurt is situated comfortably under a mound of blankets on a lounger out on the veranda. It's surprisingly not too cold for the time of year and the sun is just beginning to set over the lake, casting a beautiful glowing reflection over the water.
There is a bottle of wine cooling in an ice bucket on the table and Blaine is grilling chicken breasts and vegetables (which Kurt had pre chopped and seasoned) on the outdoor stone-grill to make skewers with for dinner.
Kurt thinks that life couldn't get any better than what it is now. The veranda is mostly covered by a waterproof stretch of material which is fixed to the roof of the lodge and stands out over the veranda on poles. It can be moved around in order to catch some rays of sunshine but it's comforting to know that it's there's for privacy.
They've hardly seen anybody else around which makes them happy that they've chosen this time of year to come.
Blaine is just serving up the skewers on to plates and Kurt is now sitting at the table pouring their wine into glasses when his phone buzzes and skitters across the table.
"Ignore it" Blaine grins but Kurt knows he's teasing. He looks over at the screen and squints.
When he picks up the phone and examines the number flashing up, Blaine puts his tongs down on the cooling rack, his eyebrows knitting together in concern. "Who is it?"
"It's a New York number" Kurt answers, glancing up at him. He tugs his bottom lip between his teeth. "I-I think it's that theater, the one I had an audition with a month ago. I just thought they'd decided to go in another direction because I'd never heard—"
Blaine leans down and rests a hand on Kurt's shoulder, "the one on Broadway? Kurt, answer it!" He exclaims a little giddily.
And so Kurt does. And then everything changes.