Love in the Air
AN: New Chapter! Once again, a huge thank you for the alerts, reviews and favorites!
This is a really long chapter and A LOT happens, so enjoy!
Underlined italics = text message
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, American Airlines, or anything else that looks familiar.
Chapter 7:
Still December 23rd 2018:
"Well this is quaint" Blaine said as he and Kurt walked into the Italian restaurant.
The restaurant was small, and had twinkling lights hanging from the ceiling. Pictures of Italy covered the walls and there was a comforting smell of fresh baked bread that hung in the air.
Kurt was momentarily distracted by Blaine shaking the snowflakes out of his curls, and Kurt was happy to see they had been freed from their gel prison.
"Kurt?" Blaine asked, noticing Kurt's glazed over expression.
"What?" Kurt moved his eyes from Blaine's curls to his face, "Sorry, distracted."
Blaine nodded with a smile, knowing he was the cause of that distraction. Kurt took a deep breath and moved towards the hostess stand, hoping Blaine didn't see him blushing, which of course the pilot did.
"A table for two?" Blaine heard Kurt ask just as his phone beeped. He took his phone out of his pocket and rolled his eyes at Jeff and Santana's message.
Reservation under Anderson-Hummel ;) –J and S 3 xoxo
"Do you have a reservation?" The hostess asked Kurt. Kurt had just opened his mouth to reply when Blaine appeared at his side. "Yes we do, under Anderson-Hummel."
The hostess checked her computer screen, smiling when she saw there was a reservation. "Right this way" she said grabbing two menus.
Kurt looked up at Blaine expecting an explanation. Blaine held up his phone and chuckled when Kurt rolled his eyes. They followed the hostess to their table and Kurt cringed when he took of his jacket and realized that he was still wearing his uniform.
Blaine on the other hand had changed and was in a pair of well-fitting dark jeans with a black polo and dark red cardigan. The fashionista in Kurt silently applauded Blaine's fashion sense. The outfit was simple, but the clothes fit Blaine perfectly and Kurt could only wonder what the body underneath the clothes looked like.
"You look very nice" Kurt commented as he sat down in his chair and self-consciously straightened the black vest over his white shirt, the sleeves of which were rolled to his elbows.
Blaine smiled and glanced down at his outfit, "Thank you, I'm sorry you didn't get a chance to change, I can't stand wearing the uniform for too long."
"You wear it well though."
Blaine blushed and ducked his head at Kurt's comment. "So do you."
"Well I can't help but pull focus" Kurt joked, taking a sip of his water, "Although I doubt Santana would have allowed me to change."
Blaine nodded, looking down at his menu, "They were a little adamant that we leave."
Kurt thought for a second, before his eyes widened in realization, "Oh my god" he said laughing quietly, wondering how he didn't figure it out before.
Blaine looked up from the menu, slightly startled by Kurt's sudden exclamation. "What?" he asked curiously, searching Kurt's bright blue eyes for any hint.
Of course at that moment their waiter came over and took their orders, so Blaine had to wait for her to leave. "Okay, explain please, because I am really confused."
Kurt smiled, "They planned this, Jeff and Santana planned this."
Blaine scrunched his eyebrows, pursing his lips trying to figure out what Kurt meant. Kurt let him think for a moment but Blaine still had the adorable confused expression on his face so Kurt grabbed his free hand and leaned forward to explain what he had figured out.
"Jeff and Santana planned this date as soon as we left for coffee. I'm assuming that Santana figured out the flights were canceled. She and Jeff knew that we would part ways and think that we wouldn't see each other again."
Kurt paused to make sure Blaine was with him, "continue" he said, squeezing Kurt's hand.
"I'm assuming that Jeff pestered you about our date?" Blaine nodded, "Santana did the same, and was very pleased that I liked you" Kurt blushed at the sudden confession of his feelings, "I'm assuming that she texted Jeff once we left the airport and headed towards the hotel."
"Yeah, Jeff begged me to go eat with him and insisted that I only had thirty minutes to get ready"
"Because thirty minutes later Santana and I walked into the lobby"
"-Just as Jeff and I were walking downstairs."
"Exactly" Kurt leaned back in his chair, "See, they had it all planned." Both men were silent for a second, taking the time to collect their thoughts.
"I'm not sure if I should be flattered they did this, or pissed that they just didn't tell us." Kurt laughed, shaking his head.
Blaine nodded in agreement, "I'm going to pick thankful, because I get to go on another date with you." Blaine ran his thumb over Kurt's palm, taking advantage of the time they had together.
Kurt smiled softly in reply; no words were needed for Blaine to know that the sentiment was shared.
Their food arrived shortly and they fell into easy conversation as the food quickly disappeared from their plates.
"I don't want to imply anything by this, but would you like to watch a movie with me in my room?" Blaine asked as he pushed his empty plate away and focused his hazel eyes on Kurt.
Kurt swallowed, pausing for a second. Throughout the whole dinner he had been thinking, he knew that he wanted to tell Blaine, that he needed to tell Blaine. "Yes I'd love to, but first I want to tell you what happened five months ago, you deserve to know." There was a small smile on Kurt's face and hint of worry that Blaine wanted to ease away with the touch of his fingertips.
Instead he gave Kurt's hand a squeeze in a comforting gesture, "Are you sure you want to tell me Kurt? I don't want you to feel like have to for any reason."
Kurt smiled at Blaine, his heart pounding in his chest at the sweet gesture and concern in the pilot's face. But this was something he had to do, Blaine deserved to know why Kurt hesitated and kept his heart guarded, because someday Kurt might let Blaine in, in fact he was staring to think he already had.
"I'm sure"
"I have to say Pilot Barbie, we make a damn good team." Santana said ruffling Jeff's hair. The two were lying side by side on Jeff's hotel bed watching some random TV show and enjoying each other's company. Neither of them wanted to be alone at the moment.
Jeff shook his head, letting his blonde hair fall where it pleased. "That we do, and thanks for hanging out with me Santana."
She bumped shoulders with Jeff, "No problem Goldielocks, besides you aren't so bad. I might actually let you be my friend."
Jeff let out a gasp, to which Santana rolled her eyes, "Why do I get the feeling that it's an honor to be your friend?"
Santana beamed at him, patting his head, "You learn fast."
Jeff shrugged and the two continued to banter as the show played in the background.
Kurt and Blaine left the restaurant, hands intertwined and Kurt took a breath before he began to tell Blaine what only those close to him knew about.
"I had been dating Josh for three years, we meet in college. I fell for him quickly and hard. He was sweet and I had never been treated that way before. I was in love with him, and convinced myself that he loved me too…..turns out he didn't. We had been living together for a year, and, and one of my flights was canceled so….I came home early to surprise him."
Kurt paused and glanced over at Blaine who squeezed his hand and gave him a small smile of encouragement.
"I walked in to the apartment but he wasn't alone. Turns out he had been cheating on me for the past 6 months whenever I was gone for work. He saw me standing there and tried to explain" Kurt spat the word out with disgust, "but there wasn't any explanation needed. I ran out and Santana spent the next month putting me back together."
Blaine waited to make sure Kurt wasn't going to say anything before he stopped walking. They were under a street lamp and the light cast shadows over both their faces as the snowflakes continued to fall. Blaine removed his hand from Kurt's and reached up to cup Kurt's face between his tan hands. "I'm so sorry Kurt; no one deserves that, especially someone as beautiful and kind as you. That Josh guy is a scumbag and he never deserved to have someone like you in the first place."
Kurt gave Blaine a small, sad smile and pressed his cheek into Blaine's hand. Blaine ran his fingers over the smooth edge of Kurt's jaw, "I really, really like you Kurt. And I need you to understand that I would never hurt you."
"I know, that's how I knew that I could tell you. Because you aren't Josh, you aren't like any other guy I've ever been with. Your special Blaine, and ever since earlier today when I saw you for the first time, you make me feel special." Kurt admitted and blushed slightly, loving the feel of Blaine's hands on his face.
"Because you are special Kurt." Blaine reached forward and pulled Kurt to his chest. Kurt relaxed into the embrace and let Blaine hold him. Kurt missed this, being held and taken care of. For so much of his life he had taken care of himself, and the one time he let someone else in it ended disastrously. But now in Blaine's arms, Kurt couldn't think of a place he would rather be.
After what could have been seconds or a few minutes, Blaine released Kurt and reclaimed one of his hands, kissing the pale skin, "Let's go watch a movie shall we? I have a wide selection including Disney movies, RENT, Oceans 11, 12, and 13, Transformers, Star trek" Blaine trailed off.
Kurt smiled, "Well, I haven't seen a Disney movie in a long time"
"Then that needs to be changed, what movie would you like to watch?" Blaine asked.
"I don't know which ones you have" Kurt countered.
Blaine rolled his eyes, "Try me"
Kurt took a deep breath, walking slower, "Lion King"
Blaine gave him a 'are you serious' look, making Kurt laugh. "Lion King it is!"
Blaine started humming the tune of 'I Just can't wait to be King' under his breath as he and Kurt passed under another streetlight. Blaine shook his head trying to shake some snowflakes from his hair. Kurt laughed, and stepped in front of Blaine so he could reach up and brush away the flakes that landed on Blaine's cheek.
As his thumb ran over the smooth skin, something shifted. All Kurt was aware of was Blaine, and the way Blaine was looking at him, and the way Blaine's skin felt under his fingertips. So Kurt did the only thing he could do, and leaned in and pressed his lips to Blaine's. Blaine responded instantly, and wrapped his arms around Kurt's waist, holding him closer so their bodies were flush. Kurt cupped his hand on Blaine's cheek, holding their faces together until they pulled away and let out a shaky breath.
"Wow" Blaine murmured, rubbing his noise against Kurt's.
Kurt leaned back in and they kissed again, and again, under the street lamp as the snow continued to fall.
"Blaine?" Kurt whispered at the other man peppered kisses over his pale jawline, nose, and cheeks tinged with a blush.
"What?" Blaine breathed, and Kurt shivered as the warm breath spread over his cheeks.
"It's freezing" Kurt said, because as much as he wanted to stay out in the snow kissing Blaine he was really cold. Blaine laughed and pressed one last kiss to Kurt's lips before stepping back and taking one of Kurt's hands securely in his own. "Then let's go watch the Lion King."
"So Jeff" Santana began, rolling on to her back after her arms started to cramp from lying in the same position.
"Sew, a needle pulling thread!" Jeff began to sing, laughing when Santana smacked him on the back.
"Owwww!" Jeff whined, rolling on to his back as well. "What was that for?"
Santana merely gave him her best 'bitch please' look. "Are you going to set me up with some fine California guy?"
"That depends" Jeff said, grabbing a pillow to rest his head on, "What if he lives in California now but wasn't born there? Would this man still qualify?"
"Do you have someone in mind?" She asked, smiling.
Jeff laughed, "Maybe I do"
Santana rolled over so she was on her side facing Jeff, "Can I see a picture of Nick?"
"Um, sure," Jeff said, as he reached into his pocket and started flipping through the pictures on his phone, "why do you want to see a picture of him?"
"I need to see if I can trust your taste in men." Santana explained as though it were the most obvious thing.
Jeff found the perfect picture but held on to his phone, "So you are judging my taste in men based on the attractiveness of my husband?" Jeff clarified. Santana nodded slowly, "Alright, I guess that's fair, just prepared to be amazed."
Santana took the phone from Jeff and rolled back over on her back and looked at the picture. The photo was taken on a beach and showed Nick dripping in water and smiling at the camera with the biggest grin on his face. "Wow" she said in approval, glancing over at Jeff. "I approve."
Jeff laughed and fixed his gaze back on the ceiling. At this point he had accepted that he wouldn't be flying home to spend Christmas with Nick. The weather had only gotten worse since they landed and there was a large possibility that no flights would be leaving until after the holiday.
Santana continued to scroll through the pictures in Jeff's phone, most of them were of him and Nick, or just Nick although there were also a few of Nick or Jeff with Blaine and some other guys Santana didn't recognized.
"You really love him" Santana said softly.
Jeff turned his head to look at her, "I really do."
"Blaine? Does this scare you?" Kurt asked. He and Blaine were snuggled side by side on Blaine's bed, backs resting against the headboard. The Lion King played in the background but they were only partly paying attention to it.
Blaine shifted slightly so he could look at Kurt, "Well Scar is a little frightening but I wouldn't say that I'm scared of him."
Kurt laughed quietly and nudged Blaine's shoulder, "No I mean this," He held up their hands which were interlocked between them.
"Yes" Blaine admitted truthfully, "but it's a good scared. I'm scared because I don't know when I'll ever get to see you again, and I really want to spend as much time as possible with you Kurt."
Kurt nodded, he felt the exact same about Blaine, but with their jobs and living on different sides of the country, it appeared that everything but the weather was trying to keep them apart.
"I want to spend as much time with you as possible too, but I want to be realistic, could this work? A relationship between us when we live on different sides of the country and have completely different schedules?"
Blaine didn't answer immediately; this was the question that he had been trying to answer all evening. It was clear that both he and Kurt felt the same way, especially after their kiss. "Yes, I think it can work," Blaine turned so he could really look at Kurt, "but we will have to make it work. I only fly three days a week, and I can always arrange for my layover to be in New York and you can do the same with LA. It will be a lot of scheduling and there might be weeks where we don't see each other, but there is always Skype, and phone calls. But I'm willing to put everything I have into making this work Kurt; I want you to know that."
Kurt didn't realize he was crying until Blaine reached up and gently whipped away the tear that was running down his face. "You would really do that for me?" He asked quietly, not trusting his voice.
Blaine looked at Kurt, his blue eyes wide and there was so much fear, but also hope and Blaine's heart broke knowing that some asshole had caused him to not trust anyone, "Of course I would do that for you Kurt. You're special remember? Would you do that for me? Will you try to make this work?"
Kurt smiled and nodded, "Of course I would, yes, yes! Besides, LA can't be that bad right?"
Blaine laughed and the heaviness in the air was gone. "Only as bad as New York" Blaine teased before leaning in to kiss Kurt. The kiss was full of love, and promise. Because they would try to make this work, it was going to be difficult, but it meant they were together.
"Blaine?" Kurt asked once they pulled apart, "will you be my boyfriend?"
Blaine's hazel eyes lit up and the biggest smile spread across his face, "Yes, I'd love to be your boyfriend!"
Kurt nearly burst from happiness and kissed Blaine again before he snuggled back into Blaine's side, his head resting on Blaine's shoulder.
A comfortable silence fell between the two and after a few minutes Kurt's breathing leveled out. Blaine leaned down and kissed his new boyfriend's forehead before resting his head on Kurt's and allowing Kurt's gentle breathing to lull him to sleep.
This was a huge chapter, and they finally got together! There is still a lot to happen so don't worry, this story isn't finished yet. : )
Thoughts? What did you think of the plan? Josh? The little bits of Jeff and Santana? The mention of Nick? The kiss under the streetlamp as the snow fell? Will Blaine and Kurt be able to stay in a relationship? What is going on with the flight situation?
Next chapter it is finally Christmas Eve!