A/N: Sorry for the long month-wait (college prep, high school's end, life got in the way again)! But I'm SO grateful for all the support for this story so here's Ch.22!
Chapter 22:: His Midnight Prince
So comfortable here, so warm. A tender breathing affected his eyebrows, an absolutely gentle snore escaping those slightly parted lips. As he felt the sunrays warm them both, he felt content and safe under his boyfriend's thick sheets, feeling a sense of protectiveness and security over him and his lover right beside him—it felt like they were now alone in the universe, just the two of them. Arms wrapped shieldingly around him, supportive yet firm. And Blaine wished so desperately to see how Kurt looked like right now, to see him in slumber and peace. It reminded him that his surgery was now in just 3 days and if it works, approximately one month from that day, he would be able to see again.
His hyperactive senses kicked in when he lazily ran his fingers through his lover's bedhair, admiring how natural they felt without any product or coiffing, touching him so carefully while not waking him. He'd just confessed his darkest secret to him yesterday and he realized finally then—Kurt had broken all his walls down. And he never walked away for one second. He was always there: supporting him, comforting him, loving him.
What did I do to deserve this angel?
While he continued recalling yesterday's events, amidst the chaos and arguing, Kurt reassured him that he deserves a second chance at life, at romance and at everything. His heart pained when he remembered hearing how wrecked Kurt's voice was when he'd still refused to let him past his walls. He rested a hand over his delicate cheek, Blaine biting his own lip as he tried frantically to make a photograph in his mind of how Kurt truly looked like. He knew he'd never come close and that he can most probably get to see next month but it was still worth a shot.
Memories of how they both went out camping right outside his Long island beach house all those months ago hit him. It was the very night he first got to feel Kurt's face—
"Mmm," Kurt hummed abruptly, alarming him and Blaine's heart froze when Kurt shuffled closer, now obviously awake. "Morning, babe."
"Hey," he whispered, smiling at him.
"You always look handsome," Kurt dreamily babbled, chuckling when Blaine's eyebrows soared. "You okay?"
Now that was a legitimate question.
"Yeah," he nodded. "With you, I am."
Kurt beamed. "C'mon, let's head down for breakfast. So, we can drive to Dalton afterwards!"
Blaine allowed himself to be led by Kurt—after all, he was completely lost geographic-wise in Kurt's own home—and as they trekked downstairs, still in their pyjamas, they both laughed when an excited Carole rushed over to give them a huge hug. When she asked Kurt to help her make breakfast for everyone, Kurt chose to take over the task altogether, shooing his stepmother off to go wake Finn and Burt, failing to notice how Blaine grinned there. They were alone now.
Kurt began to work the kitchen, cracking a few eggs while tasking Blaine with simply whisking butter, milk and cream in a bowl. The countertenor faltered when he heard Blaine hum and sing some lyrics to Paul McCartney's Silly Love Songs.
Blaine suddenly noticed how quiet Kurt was, "What?"
"N-nothing," he stumbled. "Just still not used to you singing."
"Ya'know," Blaine began stirring again, Kurt realizing how domestic they were now. He'd be lying if he said he didn't look forward to living with Blaine at their penthouse once they fly back. "I could play the piano and guitar too. I once tried drums but they were too loud for me."
Stupid sexy, cocky bastard. "Guessing I'll have to wait till you can see so you can play again."
"I could try right now actually. I just haven't played since...ya'know—"
Kurt's heart ached. "Fine, when we go home, you're playing."
They both don't miss how their own minds short-circuited at how Kurt called Blaine's penthouse their home.
"Hey Blaine...you're happy, right?" He noted how Blaine looked awestruck then.
"Why wouldn't I be? You're here, I'm spending Thanksgiving weekend with your family, I've fallen so madly in love with you. And after all the shit I've been through, there you are...you're always there. To support me. So yes, I'm very happy."
"That's great," Kurt breathed. "I just...after everything's that's happened yesterday, I just wanna make sure—"
"Come here," Blaine beckoned with a hand.
It was then that both ignored their jobs: Kurt forgetting the eggs still sizzling in the pan and Blaine abandoning his stirring bowl mix.
Kurt sighed heavily when Blaine gathered him for a tight hug. "I'm glad that I told you everything yesterday so don't feel concerned for me, okay? I'm in a much better place now. I love you."
He melted. As usual. "I love you too." He kissed him deeply, moaning when Blaine immediately reciprocated and Kurt suddenly jumped.
"What's wrong?"
"Fuck, the eggs are burnt!" The sizzling has indeed gone too loud during their passionate liplock but Blaine determinedly caught his boyfriend's waist before Kurt could bolt, pulling him back to him. "Blaine, what the—"
"Shut up," he growled, crashing his lips against his intensely, sighing hungrily.
"Damn it, Blaine!" Kurt pulled back, both aroused and horrified, swerving for the pan now.
Blaine broke into a fit of laughter, Kurt was indeed a perfectionist in the kitchen. He then fearfully backed away when he knew that Kurt was gonna kill him for that.
Breakfast was an interesting time: Kurt still giving Blaine the cold shoulder while the Hudmel household continued to tell stories of both Finn and Kurt's childhoods, only making Kurt more frustrated. By the time, they bid them a safe journey as Kurt drove Blaine to Dalton, Kurt had learned to calm down and he began babbling about how he really wants to see Blaine in his old uniform one day. Sensing his desperate yet comical pleas, the author found himself bombarded by images of Kurt discarding his Dalton tie, shoving him down to a couch, shredding his shirt, buttons flying everywhere—Fuck, being blind and left to my dirty imagination is not a good combo.
The novelist then decided to imagine a more PG version: imagining himself meeting Kurt in Dalton for the first time, watching him descend the grand staircase with most probably another one of his apparent fashionable ensemble, finding himself choking as this angel neared him asking for directions, the faint tune of Teenage Dream in the background—
The car abruptly slowed and turned right: Blaine knew that they were here now. He wondered what he wanted to do here in Dalton but he figured that showing Kurt his roots and the place where he felt most home was worth it. It saddened him a little since courtesy of his bitter attitude recently, he failed to keep in touch with any of his buddies after all these years. Except Nick and Jeff.
Kurt held his hand as they parked and walked up to the entrance, Blaine chuckling as Kurt kept on mumbling how fancy the campus was. The secretary was the only one who could now admire the grandiose building, its proud stature, its perfectly-maintained state...
As Blaine verbally helped him into the main lobby, a female receptionist gasped when she recognized the former Warbler, scrambling for an autograph. Kurt simply smiled from behind, proud that Blaine was able to realize that there are indeed people out there who adore him.
Just as the receptionist took a distasteful selfie with the writer, the trio turned towards a sudden, loud voice elsewhere. "BLAINE?!"
Kurt watched as an Asian-looking man, dressed smartly in his beige cardigan, thick-framed glasses, pants and oxfords, approached them, shooing the fangirling receptionist away as he stared at the blind man before him. "Blaine, wh-what are you doing here?"
He faltered at that awfully-familiar voice, "Wes?! Is that you? Holy—"
He gasped when he felt two strong, eager arms envelope him in a tight hug. "Man, I haven't seen you in ages! Why haven't you replied to any of my messages and calls?"
They pulled back, "I, uh, I've been busy and going through tough times." Kurt's heart wrenched as he saw the man—Wes, right?—pull him in for another deep hug.
"You should've called," he exclaimed. "So, is it true? I've read some tabloids that you're blind now?"
"Guilty," he pointed to his faint blue eyes, Wes deflating at how Blaine has changed. "I-I'm sorry stopped keeping in contact—things have been pretty rough." He frowned. "So why are you here at Dalton? I do recall you graduating—"
"Well, if you called, you'd have known that I came back here as one of the English teachers here and I also supervise the glee club too." Kurt froze when Wes turned his gaze at him. "Who's this fellow?"
"Oh, this is Kurt Hummel, my boyfriend." Kurt reached out with a firm handshake, half-stunned that Blaine just confidently introduced him like that and half-nervous as he'd never seen this Wes guy before.
"I'm Wes Montgomery, I used to be among Blaine's close friends and we used to be in the Warblers together." His bright smile made him shiver. "Boyfriend, huh?"
"That's me," god he felt so awkward. "Blaine just wanted to visit Dalton for old time's sake. We live together back in New York and we came back here for the holidays."
"Ah, well I was just correcting some of my students' papers so why don't you guys follow me." He waved them over, Kurt never letting Blaine's hand go as they trek across the elegant hallways, now quiet as all the students were home for Thanksgiving. "Ya'know, my English students will die if you stay till Monday because many of them are fans of yours actually!"
He blushed, "I'll try another time. I have important errands to run back in the city."
Nodding in understanding, it wasn't until Wes led them back to his classroom, a ton of papers was on his desk beside a used coffee mug, Kurt looked up at the blackboard and realized that Wes' students were studying Shakespeare now.
He shuddered at imagining Blaine as a teenager here, now knowing that beyond his ironed Dalton uniform, under his gelled hair, beneath that mesmerizing smile and voice lies probably an insecure boy, hurt and misguided as he worried about what his parents would think once he came out. Blaine has been so lost since his Dalton days and even before that—Blaine had admitted he'd been bullied in his previous high school before he transferred to Dalton—and it emboldened Kurt to make sure that Blaine now feels safe and protected. He survived after his share of bullying and Kurt desperately wants to protect his lover.
"Where are all the other Warblers now?" Blaine inquired curiously. "I know Nick and Jeff are in New York too."
"They're all over the place, last I heard." Wes struggled to rearrange his desk. "Oh my gosh, just had a genius idea: we should have a Warblers reunion!"
Kurt watched as Blaine beamed at the idea—it'd be the perfect way to help rebuild Blaine's confidence with his old buddies—and as they discussed that the best time everyone else should be free would be before or around Christmas, Kurt realized that by that time, Blaine should be able to regain most of his eyesight. The trio eventually advanced out and continued conversing across Dalton's campus: Blaine excited about the potential reunion and returning to meet Wes' students by then, Wes chiming that it'll be great for Blaine to get back on his feet after the author briefly told him about his tragic downward spiral and Kurt begging Wes for details on how Blaine was as a teenager.
Throughout their journey, Blaine stopped to sign a few autographs from the other staff and even a janitor approached him gleefully. Little did Kurt know that Blaine was increasingly grateful that Kurt brought him back to Ohio for Thanksgiving. As Wes excused himself to use the restroom, Kurt pulled his boyfriend away a little for some privacy.
"Ok, when we go back to New York, you have to put on your old Dalton uniform—"
"No," he groaned. "Besides, I told you it's buried somewhere, I don't know where it is—"
"Oh please, judging from everything I've heard and seen today, Dalton was probably the best time of your life so why would you just toss your uniform aside into oblivion—"
"Dalton wasn't the highlight of my life," he shook his head defiantly, blindly gathering Kurt's hands in his, embracing his warmth as he leaned his forehead against his. Before Kurt could scoff, he continued. "Being with you is. And if you don't mind, I'd like to kiss you now."
Kurt parted his lips as if to gasp but Blaine cut him off, kissing him in the hallway he used to use between classes, making him forget everything, showing Kurt that he was eternally grateful for his presence here. Showing him that he's moved on from the pain, darkness and heartache.
An electric shiver runs through Kurt's features all the way down to his toes, momentarily stunned while instinctively arching his head forward into the warm pillow of Blaine's palm over his cheek. He dies when Blaine soothingly lands his eager lips against his, both cherishing how sweet-loving and not sloppy-wet their kiss was then, already forgetting they were kissing in the middle of a Dalton hallway. Blaine abruptly realized that this was the first time he'd kissed someone in his high school and he moans deeply into the liplock, welcoming Kurt in and smiling when Kurt cups both his cheeks in return.
"Okay, Kurt, how about I show you where the Warblers' practice room—oh God, ewww!" The foreign voice of Wes pulled them apart, laughing giddily. "Get a room, guys."
While the trio travelled towards said room, Kurt can't get those words out of his head: Dalton wasn't the highlight of my life. Being with you is. He peers down at how their hands interlocked together, Blaine still conversing with Wes about some Gap Attack and so Kurt gives a little squeeze, non-verbally letting the novelist know that he wasn't going anywhere.
Blaine promised Wes that he'd make it an effort to keep in touch with him and he'd laughed when Wes ran and gave him a tight hug that rivalled that of an anaconda when Blaine revealed that he was getting surgery on Monday. Wes, unfortunately, had to stay to continue finishing paperwork and as they drove back home, the much-appreciated silence in the car was broken.
"How do you do it?" The author questioned, turning blindly in his seat to where he believed Kurt was.
The secretary frowned, "Do what?"
He cleared his throat, "H-how is it that ever since I've been with you these past few months, you've managed to make me reconnect with my old pals whom I've never contacted in years? How did you make me come out of my shell? How did you break my walls down? How did you...make me move on from the past?"
Whoa, major questions thrown at you, Hummel! Kurt gulped, his eyes trained on the highway ahead though his mind was set elsewhere now.
"Well," he began slowly, turning into an exit ahead. "I just know that...everyone deserves a second chance. And Blaine, after everything you've been through, you deserve this."
"I was such a mess. And I just let the fame and fortune get to me, I guess, but...I never was happy, ya'know?" He paused, missing how Kurt was struggling to keep his composure now. "I thought I would never have what we have now, and thank god, you showed up. I mean, Santana was always there to help me too but when you arrived, you helped me turn my life around. And I love you so much for that."
"I love you too." He beamed before biting his lip. "So uh, Wes said that your signature song...was Teenage Dream, huh?"
Blaine immediately groaned back into his seat, he knew what Kurt was thinking. "Kurt, don't. Please don't make me—"
Kurt bellowed in laughter, "Hey, since I've done so much for you, the least you could do in return is sing that song. Please, I need to hear you sing it—"
"You really want that?" He swallowed, he hasn't sung in ages—well, except that time when Kurt caught me singing in the shower yesterday but you know what I mean—and he sighed, acknowledging silently that Kurt was making him reconnect with his past again: his past love for singing. When Kurt agreed immediately, he ran a hand through his unruly curls. "Fine, the moment we land back in New York, I'll serenade you with that song, okay? Happy now?"
He heard Kurt babble a little bit too fast afterwards and he frowned. "Wait, what did you say?"
Kurt sighed, embarrassed a little. "You need to find your Dalton uniform too."
"What?! You want me to sing in my old uniform?"
"Hey, it'll just be you and me in our home, okay?" Kurt subtly recognized that Blaine was growing a little insecure now. "I'll kick Santana out just so we can be alone. Is that alright?"
The author heaved a sigh, raising his hands in mock-surrender. "Alright! But only if I have dinner with you Sunday night, okay?"
"Deal," he nodded, smiling ear to ear, knowing that they were flying back tomorrow which was Saturday.
"Alright, Sunday it is, Hummel."
"Counting on it, Anderson."
Kurt's infectious giggles were practically heaven to the author's ears. There's a reason why Blaine wanted it to all happen Sunday night and it's because his surgery was the following day on Monday and he figured that he'd have one final dinner with his love before then.
It would be their last dinner at the Hudmel household and Blaine was savouring every moment of it. It really reminded him of how his family used to be so close centuries ago and he felt grateful for being accepted here. A grandiose meal of stuffed chicken, salads and omelettes later and while Carole begins gathering the dirty dishes, she asks Kurt to help her with them in the kitchen while Finn tries to wash the pans as well. It left Burt and Blaine at the table and Blaine guiltily felt useless again, not being able to gentlemanly help.
"Dad," Kurt warned when he realized that his dad wanted to take advantage of his alone time with Blaine now.
"Don't worry, I won't threaten him with my bat. I just need to tell him something important, kid."
Kurt did a motion of 'I'm watching you' at his dad and Burt rolled his eyes, Blaine still admiring how Kurt always wanted to protect him. As Finn, Kurt and Carole remained busy in the kitchen, Burt leaned forward against the table, looking at Blaine who blindly/awkwardly slightly smiled.
"You would've loved Kurt's mom," Burt started, Blaine frowning at the foreign topic. "She was such a lovely woman who always wanted to protect Kurt back in the days and Kurt still loves her dearly which was why he took it harshly when he lost her in the car accident when he was just little. She and Kurt had always wanted to visit London one day but..." He faltered, Blaine's heart aching as he imagined a young Kurt now. "He grew sad and lonely into high school though he made close friends at the glee club there."
"I was in glee club too," he muttered.
"Yeah, but that got him even more bullied but despite all the crap he's through, he persevered and while you may not see it, when my son first arrived here with you earlier, I've never seen him so happy in such a long time. Look, what I'm trying to say is...I need you to be there for him. He may seem confident sometimes but he's still hurting and I need you to support him. Promise me that you won't hurt him."
"I promise," he nodded. "I love him so much."
"Good," Burt beamed, "Welcome to the family, Blaine."
"My dad didn't scare you off, did he?" Kurt worriedly asked as they cuddled in bed, the room already in darkness.
"No, he's just grateful that I make you happy." He protectively wrapped an arm over his lover, kissing his bare neck. "Ready to fly back to New York, Night Sky?"
But it wasn't a flight to New York Blaine was now thinking about, after what Burt revealed about London, he couldn't help but gather ideas.
"I think the better question is...are you?" He shuffled closer to caress the tired man's stubble. "I mean, with your surgery and all—"
"Hey," he blindly cupped his lover's cheeks, Kurt staring into him. "Don't worry about me, okay? It's gonna be okay...everything's gonna be okay."
He was answered with a sudden kiss on his forehead because sometimes, words just aren't necessary.
A/N: Hope that makes up for the long wait! New York and Blaine's freaking surgery are officially next chapter (sorry for constantly delaying the surgery again, please don't hate me but I promise it's all in Ch.23)! Let me know what you think!