AN:Sorry for the long wait for this chapter. I got sick and could have used that time to write, but that required too much thinking. I read and sleep for two days straight and am I feeling better now and finished this chapter last night. So here we go! Let me know what you think, I love hearing from you all. :)
Kurt was waiting for Cooper to come up and tell him he was ready, he checked the time on his phone, Cooper always ran a little late. Then he looked up to see Blaine puttering around the living room like he was lost in his own apartment. Blaine never said anything about Kurt going away with Cooper, but he didn't have to. Kurt knew Blaine well enough to see that it bothered him.
He walked up to Blaine who was rearranging the magazines on their coffee table. "Blaine. Sweetie?"
Blaine looked up lifting his eyebrows.
"You've rearranged those two times already."
Blaine stood up straight and sighed. "Sorry."
Kurt furrowed his brow and walked up to him wrapping his arms around Blaine's shoulders. "Why are you sorry?"
"I know I always get weird when you and Cooper…"
"It's just a business trip." Kurt said. "Nothing more."
"I know that. I do."
Kurt pressed his lips softly against Blaine's neck near his ear. "You don't have to worry."
"I know."
He kissed further down Blaine's neck and smiled when Blaine unconsciously tilted his head to give Kurt better access. "It's all just for looks." Kurt whispered against his skin.
"I-I know."
Kurt dragged his lips down Blaine's neck making goosebumps raise on Blaine's skin. "I love you Blaine."
"I love you."
Kurt lifted his face to kiss Blaine's lips. "I only love you." His lips brushed against Blaine's.
Blaine smiled into the kiss. "I know."
Kurt pulled back and leaned his forehead against Blaine's, "Then don't worry."
Blaine nodded.
Blaine never got jealous when Kurt spent time with Cooper here in New York, even if it was just the two of them, but there was something about them taking trips together that always seemed to fray Blaine's nerves. Kurt knew that Blaine trusted him so he had a hard time understanding where the unease came from, but he'd do everything he could to make Blaine feel better before he left.
Kurt pressed in to kiss him again when their front door banged open. Cooper never did anything quietly.
"Hey Kurt! You ready to go?"
It was moments like this that he regretted that Cooper had a key.
Kurt sighed and pulled back from Blaine a little, smiling at him and keeping eye contact as he did. "Yeah I'm ready." Kurt answered while still gazing at Blaine.
"I'm fine." Blaine smiled back at him. "Go, I know you like to get to airports early."
"I'll be back in a few days."
"Be sure to catch us on TV!" Cooper said not picking up on the heavy feeling in the room. "I'm sure E! or Extra or something will be covering it."
Blaine smiled at his brother. "Of course I will." He walked away from Kurt to give Cooper a hug. "I've said it before, but congratulations Cooper. I know the movie is going to be a hit."
Cooper messed with Blaine's hair and grinned. "Don't worry Squirt, I'll remember to mention you in my Oscar acceptance speech."
Kurt watched them happily as Blaine seemed to relax and roll his eyes at his brother. "You better."
Then with one more kiss to Blaine's cheek he and Cooper were out the door. Blaine would have gone with them to the airport, but he had classes on Friday afternoon he needed to get too.
The movie premiere they were going to was a big deal, plus Cooper had done a smaller indie film between filming and post-production of the blockbuster so from that film and the buzz around his big premiere people were already starting to recognize him. This meant that he and Kurt had to really sell the fact that they were Lifemates. Cooper said it was a plus because all they had to do was get spotted together here and there and people would know about it. Though Kurt was worried that being under such scrutiny would end up being a bad thing for their secret.
Everything ran smoothly until they got off the plane at LAX where several reporters were waiting to snap pictures of them. Cooper reached down and took Kurt's hand, Kurt kept his head down as the paparazzi flashed their cameras and Cooper gave them an award winning smile.
They got to the hotel and Kurt was already exhausted, this was going to be a long weekend. Kurt flopped back on the big comfy bed. "Ugh. It's just going to get worse from here on out isn't it? People taking your picture all the time, stopping you on the street."
"One can only hope!" Cooper said excitedly laying down next to Kurt. "I mean you want to be a Broadway star right? So get use to it."
"You're right." Kurt nodded and then he sat up a little leaning on his elbows. "Wait, Cooper why is there only one bed in this room?"
Cooper rolled his eyes. "Because my agent had it booked. What am I suppose to say, 'Hey make sure to get Kurt and I separate beds because we're only pretending to be together."
Kurt sighed. "Right sorry. Of course."
Cooper hopped up. "Okay we have dinner and drinks with a few people from the movie this evening and the premiere tomorrow and then just some time out and about in the city of Angels on Sunday being all lovey-dovey and proving to the Lifemate Registry that they did right when they parried us.
"Of course none of the out and about has to do with you wanting to be mugged for autographs."
Cooper gasped and placed a hand over his heart. "Never." He then winked and grabbed his hanging luggage and going off to the bathroom to shower and change. It had taken a stern talking to from Kurt to get Cooper to stop changing in front of him. It wasn't a sexual thing for Cooper he was just very open with his body, but given their history and Kurt's relationship with Blaine he didn't think it was appropriate.
"Hey Kurt!" Cooper called from the bathroom. "Bring me a pair of underwear I forgot to grab a new pair from my bag."
Kurt groaned. This was going to be a long weekend.
Blaine had school that afternoon so he didn't have much time to think about his brother's big weekend in Hollywood. He had set his phone to pick up alters using Cooper's name though, so when he got home that evening his phone pinged with online mentions of Cooper Anderson. Blaine pulled up the first article, some pictures posted on E! Online.
Up and coming movie heart throb spotted at the LAX airport with his Lifemate of over a year Kurt Hummel.
The article went on to talk about the movie premiere and Cooper's indie film that released over the holidays. Blaine looked at the picture for a long time, Cooper smiling confidently at the camera and Kurt wearing a pair of dark sunglasses as he looked at the ground. Their hands were clasped together. Blaine sighed. It wasn't that he didn't trust them; Blaine understood that nothing was going on between them, it just hurt a little that Cooper could be seen out with Kurt while Blaine had to hide his feelings.
He exited out of the article and heated up some leftovers and started on his homework. It didn't do any good to dwell on things he couldn't change.
As promised the next evening Blaine plopped down on the living room couch with a bowl of popcorn and turned on the TV, flipping through the entertainment channels looking for something about the movie premiere. He stopped when he heard one of the reporters mention the name of Cooper's movie. And then there he was, Cooper standing on the red carpet with a dazzling smile and charming the reporter interviewing him.
Blaine smiled, he was so proud of his brother.
"And who have you brought with you this evening?" The reporter asked as she batted her eyes at Cooper.
Cooper looked behind his shoulder and smiled like he was looking at someone just out of the camera's line of view. "My Lifemate Kurt of course." He turned back to the interviewer. "I couldn't be happier to have the love of my life here on one of the biggest days of my career."
Blaine's heart clenched a little. Cooper looked so sincere when he said those words. He knew it was just an act so why did it hurt so much to hear? After that the interview wrapped up and they program cut to a scene from earlier in the evening when Cooper and Kurt had first arrived.
Kurt looked stunning in a finely tailored tuxedo of dark navy, it may have been Cooper's evening but Kurt wasn't about to give up the chance to wear something incredible.
"And proving that the Lifemate Lottery hit another jackpot Cooper Anderson arrives with his gorgeous husband Kurt Anderson-Hummel." The reporter chirped, the image stayed on Cooper and Kurt as they held hands and posed for the cameras. Then Cooper tugged Kurt forward until they were standing chest to chest and Cooper started to kiss him.
Blaine was up on his feet in an instant. Cooper kept kissing Kurt, long and passionately practically dipping him right there on the red carpet. When they broke apart Cooper was ginning and Kurt was flushed red up to his ears.
"Great to see a young couple so in love." The reporter said, but Blaine couldn't take anymore he grabbed the remote control and flipped the TV off.
He stood in the middle of the silent room for a moment catching his breath before he slowly sank back down to the couch. It was just an act. It was just an act. Blaine covered his face with his hands picturing Kurt's face stunned and blushing. God, Blaine wanted to be the only one that made him look like that. It's just an act, they're both actors.
He rubbed his hands down his face and then leaned back on the couch. It didn't help that Blaine had plenty of other memories of the two of them kissing when they were still trying in vain to make things work between them. Then unbidden the memory of Kurt swearing and crying out behind the closed door of his and Cooper's old shared room filled Blaine's mind. Yeah, it also didn't help that the man he was in love had to pretend to be in love with his incredibly charming brother, and they'd had sex before.
Blaine let out a long breath. He was being ridiculous, he knew how Kurt felt about him, how they felt about each other. He didn't have to let the world know. He didn't have to make a big production of their love, because what they had was special and strong and Blaine just needed to get over his petty jealousy of Cooper.
He glanced at his phone on the lamp stand nearby. He wanted to text or call Kurt, but he'd be in the theater by now. Blaine really just needed to let it go.
Kurt smiled for the cameras and held Cooper's hand going through the evening like planned. The movie was actually really good, a big action packed hit that Kurt wouldn't usually be draw to and even though Cooper wasn't the lead he did a great job with his role. While Kurt ended up mostly enjoying the evening he still had a bone to pick with Cooper as soon as they were alone.
The limo ride back to the hotel was busy, Cooper's manager and agent were there talking about the premiere and prepping him for some interview he had tomorrow. It was like Kurt wasn't even there, which was fine because Kurt wasn't in the mood for all of this right now.
Once they got up to their room and it was just the two of them Kurt spun on his heels to face Cooper.
"What the hell Cooper!"
Cooper looked at him confused. "What?"
"That kiss, was it really necessary?"
Cooper continued to look perplexedfor a moment before he broke into a smile."Oh come on Kurt we've suppose to still be in the honeymoon stage. That kiss was golden, the press ate it up."
"Cooper you can't just kiss me like that. We aren't together."
"I... I know..." Cooper said honestly surprised the Kurt was upset. "It wasn't for real."
Kurt just rolled his eyes, sitting down on the bed and took out his phone. "You might not have meant anything by it, but it was still a kiss, and..." He looked back up at Cooper. "What if Blaine was watching?"
"He knows it's an act."
"Cooper, you just don't get it do you? How do you think it makes him feel to see us do things in public that Blaine and I can't? I mean we can't even hold hands anymore now that there is a chance someone might recognize me as Cooper Anderson's Lifemate."
Cooper sat down next to him. "Oh." He glanced over at Kurt's phone. "Did Blaine call?"
Kurt shook his head, "No."
"I'm sorry Kurt, sometimes I get what I think is a good idea and I just go for it, I didn't mean to make you or Blaine upset. I didn't think. And it's not like I can just stop being famous."
"Of course not, that's not what I'm saying." Kurt sighed. "I'm going to call Blaine."
Cooper got up from the bed and nodded towards the bathroom, "I'm going to shower, give you a minute."
Kurt smiled as a thank you, his phone to his ear and already ringing.
"Hello." Blaine's voice chimed from the other end.
Kurt sighed at hearing his voice. "I miss you."
There was a pause and then Blaine laughed. "We saw each other yesterday morning."
"I still miss you. I wish you were here"
"I miss you too."
"Did you... did you see any red carpet coverage this evening?"
"I saw Cooper lay one on you if that's what you're asking."
Kurt bit his lip trying to read how Blaine was feeling form his voice.
"Every young woman in America, and many of the men, wants to know Kurt." Blaine said his voice taking on a newscaster type of quality. "Is Cooper Anderson a good kisser?"
Kurt smiled. "Shut up."
"On a scale of 1 to 10?"
"You are an 11 and he doesn't even count." Kurt said with a smile. "I feel dumb saying this, but you know all of that is just an act, right?"
Blaine sighed on the other end. "I have to remind myself, but yes, I know. I guess it bothers me because of the history you two have…"
Kurt's heart felt heavy. "Blaine, I thought we'd talked about that. Anything that happened between Cooper and I didn't mean anything, I never had the kind of feeling for him I had for you from the very start."
"Kurt, it's okay, I get it. I just have to deal with some of my own insecurities sometimes. It isn't your problem."
Kurt rubbed his head, he could tell by Blaine's tone that he didn't want to talk about this anymore, and Kurt didn't want to drag it through the mud either he just wish he knew what to do to help. "I wish I could walk hand in hand down the street with the person that I love." Kurt said softly.
Blaine was quiet for a moment and when he spoke again his voice sounded lighter. "I love you Kurt and I know you love me. As long as we have each other, that's enough."
Kurt smiled and bit his lip, his heart fluttering. It really didn't matter what the world saw he was Blaine's and Blaine was his. For as long as fate would allow it.