AN: As promised, here's chapter 8, the real one, this time. Enjoy!
Chapter 8 - Bow tie and No Socks
I love how music can both influence and enhance what you are feeling. Like, when I'm really nervous, the only thing that can calm me down is the adagio from Mozart's clarinet concerto. I'm often asked about my favourite piece of music, and this particular piece rarely gets a mention - not because I don't love it, but because, being a baroque man on most days, it simply doesn't enter my head. I have many favourites, too many to count, and they are all connected to my state of mind. The Mozart piece is, strangely, the only piece I have ever heard that has the ability to melt away my nerves like butter on a frying pan. Why it's like that, I don't know, and I have long since given up trying to explain it, and just enjoy its calming effect.
- 2BaBumblebee.
"Mozart?" Wes asked, standing in Blaine's doorway, looking at his friend laying carefully on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
"Mhm," Blaine hummed.
"Don't tell me it's your date with this Kurt guy that has you so worked up that you have to listen to Mozart." Wes said mock serious.
"Did you not see him?" Blaine replied, sitting up, "he's perfect! Of course I'm nervous."
"Sure." Wes smiled, "so when is this date? Should I wait up?"
"The date's in ... two hours, and you can if you want to. I don't think it'll be that late."
"Two hours? But you're already ready to go!" Wes exclaimed.
"He's a designer, Wes. I have to be perfectly dressed or he'll notice immediately and never want to see me again."
"You're wearing a bow tie and no socks." Wes commented drily.
"I'm wearing something exactly me! VonTrappChild says the most important thing about style is to own it. I'm owning it!"
He shouldn't have owned it. What did he know about style, anyway, he was a violinist in training for crying out loud. He should have gone with his standard dress shirt and tie combo. This was his one chance to impress one of the most amazing men he had ever been close to, and he was going to blow it. All because he listened to some blogger and went with a bow tie with little music notes on it! Meeting Kurt at the wedding had been like a breath of fresh air. Kurt was nothing like any of the other guys Blaine had ever dated, but there was something drawing about him. Asking him to dance had been nerve wracking, but Blaine was so happy he did it anyway. Seeing someone so poised, so in control, let loose and just laugh and dance had been inspiring and amazing. Actually getting a date with such a man was a dream come true. And here he was, standing outside an Italian restaurant, holding the most cliché of date flowers, and not even wearing socks! He was so going to blow it.
As he was thinking this he felt someone tapping him on the shoulder. Turning around he came face to face with the stunning view that was Kurt Hummel, poised as ever and only the tiniest of flicker in his eyes to betray him being anything but in control.
"Kurt, hi. You came. Great!" Blaine babbled, grabbing Kurt's hand and shaking it somewhat enthusiastically.
"I did, yes," Kurt said, much more calmly. "Nice to see you again. I like your Bow tie."
"You do? Really? I mean, I do, too, of course. It's just, I didn't know if it was quite... Fashionable." Blaine appeared to be in a babbling mood, but at least it seemed to make Kurt smile.
"It's not exactly current trend, but fashion is about more than what the rich and famous are wearing this season." Kurt sent Blaine a bashful wink. This time Blaine managed to hold back his words and just smiled a blushing smile.
"Shall we?" He asked after a beat, gesturing towards the entrance of the restaurant.
"Let's" Kurt replied and allowed Blaine to hold the door for him. They made it all the way to their table before Blaine remembered the red rose in his hands.
"Oh! This is for you" he said, handing Kurt the rose at the same moment as the waiter handed Kurt a menu. Sending the waiter an apologetic smile, Kurt accepted the rose, eyes shining warm and gentle as he sniffed it.
From there the evening continued on with only few awkward incidents (like Blaine accidentally knocking over his glass of water when attempting to pat Kurt's hand in comfort upon learning about Kurt's loss of his parents. He received a gentle, though entirely too sad, smile and a few scowls from the neighbouring table, who had been victims to most of the water cascade, in return for his clumsiness.)
He learned a lot about Kurt in those few hours they shared. He learned that Kurt was, in fact, not a designer, but a journalist, though he had double majored in both design and journalism, and did work for a fashion magazine. - That was about as much as Blaine heard about Kurt's job, uttered in few sentences, and with very little fire behind the words. He learned that Kurt had once been quite passionate about musical theater, though that passion had dwindled and he was now more of a radio listener with incidental forays into classical music. He learned that Kurt favoured biographies as light reading, and that he saw movies as a special treat that should hold some meaning, though TV, and especially reality TV, was fair game at any time. He learned that Kurt was not quite as composed and aloof as he could seem, that emotions were swimming around beneath the controlled surface, ready to be revealed in a particularly broad smile, a glint in the blue grey eyes or in a nervous flutter of fingers.
As the night grew on, gestures became more involved in Kurt's expressions, his face kept less clear of reactions, and his eyes became brighter and more present. Had Blaine not seen Kurt laugh and dance at the wedding he would have been surprised by the passion and presence Kurt displayed by the end of the meal. Something told him he was privileged to get to see that side of Kurt, which only enhanced the attraction already so very present.
The best part of the evening, however, and somewhat bizarrely, was the ending. They had been about to go their separate ways, standing on a staircase leading to the platforms of the subway, when Kurt had turned to him, looking suddenly young, nervous and insecure.
"I had a very lovely time tonight," he said softly, hand twitching as if about to reach for Blaine's.
"Me too." Blaine, not feeling like holding back, reached for Kurt's hand, giving it a little squeeze.
"Do you think, maybe, we could do this again? Some time soon, maybe?" Kurt asked, sounding less in control than ever.
"Definitely! I'd love to," Blaine replied, a bright smile taking over his face.
"Maybe even this Saturday? There's an exhibit opening, that I was thinking about going to see," Kurt offered shyly, "it's on fashion history, so, you know. You don't have to,"
"Do I get a private guide?" Blaine asked teasingly, prompting a bashful smile to spread on Kurt's face.
"Sure,"
"I'll definitely come then!" Blaine smiled, giving Kurt's hand another squeeze. For a few only slightly awkward moments they had been standing there, Blaine one step above Kurt, not staring at the others eyes, and most certainly not the others lips. Then Blaine had taken the executive decision and lent forward to gently peck Kurt's lips. Kurt, not expecting this, gasped, eyes widening in surprise. Then, deliberation showed on his face, followed swiftly by determination as he lent forward to kiss Blaine properly. It was only a brief kiss, fitting the end of a nice first date, followed by shy but happy smiles, silly little waves and the promise of more to come in glittering looks.
AN: Mozart's Clarinet Concerto can be found in many versions on YouTube. The Adagio is the second movement, and one of my all time favourite. Chapter 9 on Friday where we will take a little trip to Ohio. See you then...