AN: Part of the Kadam Week 2023 prompt 1: Kadam playing with sidewalk chalk like they're kids again
Adam could see that Kurt was uncomfortable. But he found it difficult understanding if the problem was the orphanage, the children themselves or whatever he had been asked to do by said children.
Adam had noted that as long as it revolved dressing up, playing roles or having tea parties, Kurt was in his element. Though to be fair he was mostly playing with the girls.
Adam couldn't stop himself from smiling while looking how good Kurt was, how charmed all the girls were with him.
There had been a couple of curious boys who joined in the fun, but mostly Kurt kept interacting with girls.
When it came to the games outside however, Kurt seemed to stay in a corner, hidden in the shadows. Adam didn't know if it was Kurt being shy or if something else was at play, and he had no idea how to ask about it without prying or feeling like he was forcing Kurt to share something he didn't want Adam to know.
After all this idea of using their volunteers hours at the orphanage in Adam's neighborhood had been Adam's. Kurt had simply joined in because none of their other friends were able to have free time when it was needed.
Kurt had said he was happy to come along and help as well, but after almost a month, Adam was worrying both for the kids and for Kurt.
He was also unsure on what to reply when the group of boys that had taken a shine to hear Kurt's stories during reading time asked why Kurt never joined in their games.
It was yet another saturday afternoon when the kids were neatly divided between what Adam had started to think as the inside and outside crews when the matron unintentionally brought back the perfect solution. Three buckets of coloured sidewalk chalks.
It was an instant hit with everyone. And Adam could see the excited look shine in Kurt's eyes.
High spirits, excitement and children obviously couldn't make for quiet time. Which of course sparked animosity between the factions during the week. So when Adam and Kurt returned the following week they had quite the feud to handle. In a way Adam could see why his little outside rascals wanted the chalks to mark themselves and their territory, but there was no way he could openly support only few of the children.
Kurt however had a solution and instead of taking anyone side he picked up the chalks himself and lead the procession outside when it was story time.
Once there he commandeered the corner of the garden that was closer to the door and had the smoothest pavement. As soon as he started telling this week's story, Kurt began to draw the map of the kingdom and the outline of the different location the hero traveled through.
By the time he had finished the story and it was outside time all the kids were mesmerized. And so was Adam.
Kurt once again demonstrated he was still in full control of the situation when he started to distributed the chalks to anyone who wanted to help colouring the drawing he made.
Adam wasn't at all surprised in seeing all the kids wanted in into the action. Not feeling like intruding Adam tried to stay back and let Kurt shine, only for his plans to be derailed by his wonderful boyfriend coming at him with chalks in one hand and a mockingly serious expression on his face demanding of Adam to take part in the operation crafting their kingdom, or suffer the penalty for not being a proper citizen.
Discovering that the penalty was giving up his share of the cookies Kurt had baked for them was all the incentive Adam needed to get down and help the efforts.
And if by pure chance Adam managed to get assigned to fill in a tree and he sneaked in the drawing of a carved hearth with his and Kurt's initials in it. Well Adam was pretty confident he could convince the few older girls sighing dreamily at the gesture to not reveal his secret masterpiece.
If not with his own charm, at least with bribing their silence with baked goods.