The Masquerade

Author: GleekShip

Spoilers: Season 4

Summary: The opportunity from Vogue leads Kurt to a party for opportunity, but finds the chance for love. However, after a brief departure, Kurt's love is left to find Kurt with only a single clue.

Pairings: Kurt/Adam

The Masquerade

As promised, Isabelle was waiting for them by the staircase that led down into the party. Before Kurt looks to Rachel, he is distracted by the large size of the room and how many decorations had been managed to be put up. The room is dark enough to keep the mysterious tone, but bright enough to be able to see people across the room. Kurt gulps before turning to Rachel completely, not stopping their pace.

"Do you remember rule one?" Kurt asks quickly.

"Don't hog the mic if there's a karaoke platform." Rachel answers quickly and confidently.

Kurt chuckles. "Well that, and we are to not stand by the food or drink table the entire night."

"But Kurt." Rachel whines half-heartedly as if she's already agreed to this, which she has. "I don't know anyone here. I'm more likely to have a good time if food is nearby."

"No way." Kurt shakes his head before switching to a softer tone. "Now I know that the break-up wasn't that long ago for you and Finn, but tonight is just about gaining some social skills. I'm not asking you to jump into bed, but maybe talking to a few guys and taking numbers. Who knows? You may bag a rich one."

Rachel chuckles before nodding. "Fine. I promise that I'll . . . move around and talk to some people."

"Thank you."

"And you do the same." Rachel stresses. "Don't go hiding in a corner or in some random hallway to get out of this. It's because I know you." She states quickly when Kurt goes to interrupt. "You're excited about this, but you'll easily find yourself worming out of this the moment you have to interact with someone."

"Fine." Kurt easily agrees before locking his jaw. "I guess this rule applies to both of us then."

"I guess it does." Rachel gives him an accomplished smirk before looking to address Isabelle as they approach the ecstatic woman. "Miss Wright. So nice meeting you without a guard at your side."

"A pleasure, Rachel." Isabelle responds warmly as she pulls Rachel in for a light hug. "And hopefully we can have another number sooner rather than later."

"I'd love that." Rachel's eager response makes Isabelle's light laughter fill the air.

"And, Kurt." Isabelle looks to Kurt and looks nothing below impressed. "You have got to be the best looking fresh piece of meat on this side of the country. Truly stunning and hot. Ooh." Isabelle jumps and her hand goes to her stomach. "I feel myself vibrating and gyrating from your-"

"Okay." Kurt laughs and quickly cuts her off. "I think you've had too much to drink."

"Just a couple martini's." Isabelle shrugs it off quickly before reaching down for his hand. "Come on. It's time to get on the dance floor and shake that sashaying a-" She stops with a giggle. "Lets just go dance."

Kurt raises a wary eyebrow before she's dragging him towards the staircase, a too happy Rachel following them as she gives an unamused Kurt air kisses. As they descend the staircase, Kurt finds himself looking out upon the hundreds of mysterious people in the group, suddenly nervous that he has to be a good model for Vogue instead of becoming plastered and ignoring the stunned silence that will be very reassuring to him. He feels slightly better knowing that he has Rachel, but it still feels like facing the whole world alone. Suddenly, being back home in his safe loft or back in Lima didn't seem so bad.

"Now where to go." Isabelle wonders aloud as they reach the bottom of the elegant staircase, her eyes darting to the people that had watched the handsome man escort two gorgeous woman into the room. "We're not going to go with the ones that are watching. They're just here looking for a quick fling and none of us really want that. Kurt? What's your type?"

"I'm fine." Kurt replies quickly. "I'm not really here to date or-"

"Why do you think we throw these events?" Isabelle laughs as she grips his hand and leads him into the crowd of people that would rather stand instead of dance on the dance floor. "This is like a meet and greet. You throw yourself at everyone that you can without seeming too desperate or pathetic, but you reel yourself in and continue on. If you play your cards right, you'll have a few people begging for something from you and that's how we sign contracts in this town. Now your job is to get us some new clients, but do not-" She suddenly spins on Kurt and is quickly in front of him, too close for his own personal taste. "Leave Vogue. With a look like you, Kurt, you're bound to get offers to model or prostitute yourself out. Don't do it. Just stick with being the pimp for Vogue and not the lamb."

'What?' Kurt mouths to Rachel, who just shrugs.

"Go along with it." She mutters as she leans close to Kurt before Isabelle starts moving again.

"And only tell people that you work for Vogue, but not your name." She explains. "You'll be known as K during this time and Rachel can go with R. Keep it simple and mysterious and it'll make for a fun night." She stops randomly again and Kurt accidently bumps into her, leading her to laugh and pat him on the chest with her free hand. "Easy, Kurt. If you're this clumsy on the dance floor then the hotel room just might be your best friend tonight. Just make sure to use protection and to steal the bath soaps."

Kurt snorts and Isabelle smiles wide. "Good. Laugh. You sound delightful . . . so I think you're ready?"

"For?" Kurt's hesitant voice is only heard by Rachel as Isabelle is far too gone in her 'martini's': AKA hard liquor that Kurt's sure she has stashed in her purse somewhere.

"We need to get you . . . a-ha!" She seems to spot something and drags them over to a random guy that's standing alone."

"Hello." She all but shouts at the poor boy."

"H-hello." A British accent responds nervously.

"What's your name?" Isabelle doesn't waste time."

"Um." The boy looks to Kurt and Rachel before returning to Isabelle's gaze. "I'm Ad-"

"A. Go with A." She corrects him. "Now listen, A. My friend K here is nervous." She addresses a half-smiling Kurt, who quickly mouths, 'I'm sorry.' to the boy. "So if you would be a dear, would you dance with him?"

"What?"

"Dance." Isabelle quickly shoves Kurt into the boys body. Both boys groan in unison, but don't get a chance to recover before Isabelle is taking both of their hands and putting them together. "Good. Now you lead with this way. And hips! Hips are-"

"Isabelle." Rachel cuts in and places a hand on the woman's shoulder and starts guiding her away. "Can I suggests something for your winter line. I was thinking about something with leather and-"

"Say no more!" Isabelle gets wide-eyed and latches onto Rachel as they walk away. "I know where I want to go with this."

Kurt glances at A nervously before dropping their hands and stepping back. "Sorry about that. Are you okay?" He asks as he rubs his own chest.

"Fine." A answers. "She's a bit barmy isn't she?"

"Pardon?" Kurt raises an eyebrow.

A chuckles. "Sorry. Erm . . . crazy? She's a bit crazy."

Kurt laughs and nods. "Just a bit. I don't think her drinking is helping that cause, but she's usually very sweet with her crazy."

A smiles before glancing down. "So . . ."

"Oh. Duh." Kurt holds out his hand, letting it hang a few inches between their close bodies. "I'm Ku-" He stops himself and rolls his eyes. "Well I guess I'm K tonight."

"And I'm A." A reaches up to take Kurt's hand. "A pleasure."

"Likewise." Kurt mutters as he finally takes in the boy.

He hadn't noticed with all of the awkwardness before, but the boy has really shiny blue eyes. Also in similar to Kurt, his hair is poofed up with the locks being pushed back. His eyes linger on the strong jawline and the slightly puffed out lips that are so close to him.

"Um." Kurt looks away when he's realized that he's been staring. "I'm just gonna . . . gonna go."

"So you don't want to dance?"

Kurt looks back to the boy with surprised eyes. "Oh. You really . . . you really want too? I just thought that you were here until she left."

"Well I was, but who am I to pass up a dance with someone as funny and charming as you. That is, if I'm not being too formal and you're not opposed to dancing with some stranger during this time since I'll most likely never see you again and wouldn't want to waste a rare if not most opportune moment to have a decent moment in life?" A takes a second to breath, smiling as he watches Kurt's face redden with blush.

"Wow." Kurt nods, visibly impressed. "Anyone that can say that in one go is deserving of a dance, although there are many things that I'm starting to enjoy."

A smiles before glancing to their combined hands between their chest before squeezing Kurt's hand softly. "Good."

Back with another chapter. I'll hopefully have another one up within the week, but I have other chapter to update as well. So let me know what you think!