AN: Part of the Kadam Week 2023 prompt 7: We need a break ~ aka it is vacation time
Sequel of That was the Ex? How I wish I had the ground to stand on and judge
Their time with Adam's family and friends had been full of excitement, if Kurt was honest it was also kinda lacking privacy.
Though remaining on the wave of honesty it wasn't that much different than when they went to Lima. The main difference was the number of people constantly around.
There was to say though that beside the first few troublesome days the rest of the excursions up to this point had been full of fun and wonders.
Adam's friends were all good folks, and become truly friendly once they cleared up and saw for themselves that Kurt wasn't like Adam's ex Mark.
The slight issue with that was that between them and Adam's siblings it felt like they were always moving in a pack of five to nine people.
Kurt wasn't really used to having so may people around all the time, but seeing Adam's genuine enjoyment, he couldn't find in himself to complain. Especially not when socializing and spending time together with his friend was the main reason why Adam had returned back in the UK.
In the end Kurt felt like the only reason he was there in the first place had been to confirm how official and serious they were, about their relationship in completing the rite of passage of meeting each other family.
If Adam could put up with the craziness coming from Lima, then Kurt could as well deal with having to share his partner's attentions with other people.
That wasn't the problem. Or better it wasn't the main problem. The main problem Kurt had was the never ending buzzing. Either of energies or talking, some days Kurt wasn't sure.
But those where the ones when he refused to be a burden, waiting till it was finally time to retire before doing something for the headache that had built up through the day.
Kurt was grateful and recognised that all the commotion and enthusiasm was born from the desire to make Kurt feel at home and accepted. After all he could see why most of them would think treat him like one of the group with the same attitude could be interpreted as sending that message.
While he truly appreciated the sentiment, Kurt could candidly admit that Joe's company was the one he favoured the most. Among all of Adam's friends he was the one offering him a quiet place, teaching Kurt new recipes and asking for help with the menial things that all the others were less than willing to take care of like grocery shopping or cleaning.
Kurt could only smile at the perplexed expression when he was the first to volunteer when those chore were mentioned.
For one, Kurt was very grateful for all Joe did for Adam and his friends while growing up. But right from the start Joe looked at Kurt, at how Kurt was while the whole group descended on them that first afternoon at Joe's place. And without having to say a word, Kurt found himself on the fringe of the conversation, with Joe acting as buffer and granting Kurt a polite way to take a breather without having to leave. Or worse become a bother and put Adam in an uncomfortable position.
Adam had been wonderful and instead of constantly asking Kurt if there was something that he could help with about that, he allowed Kurt the space to deal with it on his own. After being constantly crowded, that space had been more than needed, if not a little lonely.
Adam had known things were going to be chaotic once they reached his homeland. Having not returned home in a couple of years, it was to be expected that the celebration would become boisterous.
He knew Kurt was not used to the constant company, and Adam had troubles understanding how or why someone would need or even seek that kind of solitude. He did however understand fully why anyone might need some quiet time.
Having known in advance that his friend were going to come at them in all the possible scenarios. From trying to break them up if Kurt had ended up failing the test Alex ended up doing. Adam wasn't sure yet on the details. On the night it happened, the first one, he had not the courage to ask for the details. Though seeing Kurt plagued with nightmare as result had been heartbreaking.
The upside of that event though was that all his friend had automatically adopted Kurt and took him into the fold. Which meant that everyone attempted to show off while demonstrating they considered Kurt one of them.
Joe was the one exception, not because he had not adopted Kurt as well, but because the way he approached Kurt was completely different. Instead of crowding, rough housing, playing videogames and more or less trying to spend any second breathing the same air and talking, Joe offered himself as shield and buffer, filtering down the level of noise and creating a corner of quiet where Kurt could just sit and help prepare dinner.
Adam had notice even in school how Kurt preferred to have the option to take a step back and breathe. Especially when surrounded by people. Seeing Joe figuring out Kurt so soon had stung. Adam himself had taken months of constant exposure to pick that up.
Having Joe, who was a virtual stranger to Kurt and had no prior knowledge of Kurt's background, observe Kurt for just one afternoon and being able to offer the one thing Adam couldn't, left a bittersweet taste in his mouth.
He wasn't exactly jealous, but as he had confessed already to Kurt, Joe was truly a great man, an attractive one too, but even more important he had a great heart combined with a perceptive mind.
Which was why by the third time they all ended uop together Joe pointed out to Adam how much Kurt needed some time just for the two of them. Adam's first reaction was to deny it, or saying that Kurt would have said something to him and not Joe… If it wasn't for the fact that Joe had quickly pointed out that Kurt would never say or ask anything of the sort. Not when they had already been visiting Kurt's family first.
And that made an awful lot of sense. Enough that Adam wondered if he was being an horrible boyfriend. Before the self pity could even think of settling down on Adam's shoulders, Joe smacked some sense back in him, suggesting a day long excursion visiting the loch, tour on the lake and maybe take one or two of Thomas' horses out for a ride.
The idea had its merits, one of the main reason would be for one showing Kurt something more than shopping venues. No matter how much Kurt actually ended up enjoy the antiques' marked, the London's trip to portobello road and the visits at the fabric shops.
The more Adam thought about it, the more he liked the idea. So after Kurt had went to bed he prepared their backpacks, left a message about coming over with a friend to take the one or two horses for a ride, pending assessing whether Kurt knew how to ride or not.
Adam was thorn, part of hem wanted Kurt to know how to ride and admire his partner enjoying the freedom that only riding could offer. The other part was whispering of how hot it would be having Kurt holding tightly on Adam himself as he leads them on the beach.
In the end Joe had been right, both Adam and Kurt needed a little alone time without interruption.
Adam was grateful he planned their excursion. Kurt's excitement about the legend of Nessie told while on the deck was simply breathtaking. Seeing the same happiness radiating from him when he discovered the rest of the date had been just as sweet.
Though maybe not as sweet as finally taking the first proper taste of Kurt's lips in almost a week despite sharing the same bed every night…