Glee Fic: "Five Times" (2/2)
PART ONE
~1. Kurt Hummel
Mike finds Kurt in the April Rhodes auditorium, alone as he dances on an empty stage under a single spotlight. He's going over the choreography for tomorrow, lost in his own world as he moves. For a while, Mike simply watches, admiring Kurt's movements. He can see Kurt mouthing along to the music in his head, a bright smile on his face as he does so.
Kurt looks up, then, breaking Mike out of his reverie, and his smile becomes directed at Mike. Mike feels an odd swooping sensation in his stomach. "Thanks for meeting me here," Kurt says, heading toward him.
"Sure thing." Mike shrugs his backpack off his shoulder and tosses it in an empty chair, then hops up onto the stage to join Kurt.
"Where's Tina?" Kurt asks.
"She has a really big geometry test first thing in the morning, and couldn't get the time off," Mike explains. "She says she's really sorry."
Kurt waves a hand. "That's fine. It's not her I'm worried about anyway. I just…" he trails off, momentarily. "I really need to get this choreography right."
"You looked fine to me," Mike says, truthfully. "What's the problem?"
Kurt looks at him, an odd vulnerability visible on his face.
"It's the first time any of us have both sung and danced lead for New Directions," he says, finally. "The singing I'm fine with, but the dancing… well. First there's you, the best dancer in Glee club. Then there's Tina, who's always been good, but now she's great, because she's been learning from you ever since you two got together. And then…" He pauses, then gives a crooked smile. "There's me. Me and my 'super distracting' sashay."
Mike returns the smile. "To be fair, though, you've gotten better about that. A lot better. I barely even notice it now."
Kurt laughs a little. "Well, fine. But I'm still worried about measuring up to the two of you."
"You'll be fine," Mike says encouragingly. "Like I said, you've basically got it down. All that's left now is to review it together." He holds out a hand. "C'mon, let's have our own private session of Booty Camp."
There's a bit of an awkward silence before Kurt says, "Can we not call it that? It gives me the creeps every time Mr. Schue says it."
Mike rubs the back of his neck and nods reluctantly. "Yeah, it's weird."
He holds out his hand again, smiling. "Let's do this, Kurt. I'll sing Tina's parts."
Kurt smiles. "Lead the way."
There's no accompaniment, but the club has gone over the music enough that it's almost second nature at this point, and the rhythm of their feet on the floor keeps them in time. Kurt moves effortlessly, twirling and jumping in all the right places, and even spelling out "I before E except after C" in sign language; Mike wonders where he learned how to do that. Mike also notes, appreciatively, that while Kurt still puts his own quirks into each move, he also does so in a much less distracting manner than in the past. It's distinctive, but not overdone.
"Okay, let's hold for a second," he says out loud, and Kurt stops his spinning. "We haven't practiced the jump yet."
"Yes, it's probably better to talk through it first," Kurt agrees, only slightly out of breath.
Mike deliberately does not note Kurt's flushed complexion and pleased little grin. "So… um," he starts, very eloquently. "You're … you'll be up on the top step there, at the back of the group."
Kurt's actually on the second step from the top, and he looks down before stepping up to the top one. "You think it's better from here?"
"Yeah, gives you more of a head start," Mike says, as he assumes his position in front of the bottom step. "Then you'll run down to the second step, put your hands on my back and jump."
"Seems easy enough," Kurt acknowledges. "Let's do it."
Mike almost doesn't hear him, because his brain has just now processed that he's bending over in front of Kurt oh my god. He's desperate to keep things professional and so doesn't say anything, but he still can't help thinking that it's an incredibly awkward position to be in, even if it's only for a split second.
Get over yourself, Mike, he chides himself in his head. You've got sectionals to win.
"Alright, let's start from 'sing a simple melody," he says, voice only wavering a little, and he and Kurt get back into the position they'd stopped in.
"1, 2, 3, you and me!"
Mike crosses his arms and bends down, and he feels Kurt's hands land on his back before pushing off, and he soars over Mike, seemingly without any effort at all. He even touches his toes to his fingers before bringing his legs back down to land perfectly.
"Sit down, girl, I think I love ya!" Kurt triumphantly proclaims, and Mike has to laugh.
"Okay, that was good. Real good," he says, and Kurt turns around, smiling. "I think we should run the whole number with that in it, just to be sure."
"Should we try the jump by itself one more time, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke?" Kurt asks, running a hand through his damp hair idly.
Mike quirks a smile. "I doubt it was, but sure. Start from the same point, yeah?"
Kurt nods and skips back up to the top step. "We might actually win this, Mike," he says lightly as he goes, and the words fill Mike with pride.
"1, 2, 3, you and me!"
Mike crosses his arms and bends down again, and feels Kurt's hands press into his back - but then they suddenly slip, and for a fleeting second Mike distinctly registers that yes, those are Kurt's hands on his ass. Then the momentum Kurt had catches up with him and he crashes into Mike, sending the both of them tumbling to the ground in a heap.
"Oof," Mike says, unhurt, just surprised. He's landed on his back and Kurt is sort of sprawled on top of him, their legs tangled together. He's face to face with Kurt, whose cheeks are bright pink. Kurt pushes himself up on his arms and opens his mouth to speak, and when he does, his voice is very, very high.
"That was an accident," he squeaks, embarrassed.
Mike raises an eyebrow, amused. "I got that," he says, not unkindly.
"Are you okay?" Kurt asks, voice a little lower now, and Mike registers he's taking deep, steadying breaths. "Sorry I haven't moved, I -"
"I'm fine. Are you okay?" Mike asks, watching Kurt breathe with concern.
"No, I'm fine, I - my stomach kind of… made contact with your elbow," Kurt finishes, in-between breaths. "I'm just a little winded."
"Take your time," Mike says, "I'm fine here."
Presently, Kurt's breath steadies, and he tucks his hair behind his ear self-consciously. "Well, we… um… I should probably get up now."
"You don't have to if you don't want to," Mike says easily. "Like I said, I'm fine here."
Kurt cocks his head at him, amused and a little puzzled. "Just how much do you like cuddling?" he asks. "Blaine was all over you the other night and you didn't even care."
"Tina will tell you I am the world's biggest cuddle whore," Mike replies with a grin, and leans up to pull Kurt back down with him. Kurt yelps. "C'mon, we've earned a bit of a break. Let's just rest here a minute."
"In the arms of another boy in a darkened auditorium?" Kurt says dryly, but doesn't resist when one of Mike's arms comes up around him. "People will talk, Mike Chang."
"The people who matter to us won't," Mike replies, easily.
Kurt hums in agreement. He shifts so that he's lying next to Mike, both their backs on the ground, with one of Mike's arms around his shoulders and his hand resting on Mike's stomach. The view as they stare up isn't that exciting - just some stage lights that are turned off at the moment - but it's surprisingly relaxing, just lying there in the empty auditorium. The only sounds are the distant bangs and creaks of the building settling, and the chattering of students filtering in from a long distance away - probably Cheerio practice.
"So," Kurt says at length, into the silence. "Apparently you have a crush on me."
Mike groans and covers his face with his free hand. "You heard me and Blaine talking about that, huh?"
"I did," Kurt says breezily, "but even if I hadn't, I'd know. Tina enjoys talking to me about you."
"She told you?" Mike asks, laughing. "Of course she did."
"Hey," Kurt says, propping himself up on one elbow to look down at Mike. "For what it's worth, I think it's adorable, and very flattering." His cheeks are tinged pink again, as he gazes at Mike. "To be honest… you're the first person besides Blaine who's shown any interest."
Mike raises an eyebrow, and Kurt hurries to add, "Not that that means I am in any way, shape or form unhappy with Blaine, because I'm not. Blaine is amazing, and we're not going anywhere. I'm just saying that, well, it's… it's nice. To have that connection with someone."
"Connection?" Mike asks. "What do you mean?"
"I've kind of crushed on you from afar for a long time," Kurt says in a rush. "You're just… you're always so nice, Mike. You're the first guy in Glee who just decided to be my friend without any hesitation whatsoever. That's a rare thing to find in this town." Kurt laughs before adding, "Nice straight boys - I swear, they're kryptonite to gay men."
"Except we're talking about how I have a crush on you," Mike points out. "I'm pretty sure that means I'm not straight."
Kurt nods and licks his lips, and the odd swooping sensation in Mike's stomach returns. "Tina says you have bisexual tendencies," Kurt says, lowly. "She and Blaine also…" he trails off, looking uncomfortable. "Never mind."
"What?" Mike says, shifting on the ground.
"Um, they might have cornered me after Trigonometry the other day and told me that I had full permission to indulge you in any of those tendencies," Kurt says with a nervous chuckle. "I told them they were crazy, but…"
Suddenly a lot of the things Tina has been saying to Mike lately make more sense. "Oh my god, Tina totally set this up," Mike says. "I bet there's not even a test in geometry tomorrow."
"You know, now that I think about it… you're probably right," Kurt agrees.
They lapse into another silence, this one a bit more uncomfortable than the last. Mike feels the tension in the air - like the two of them are waiting for something. Permission, maybe? Mike isn't sure.
It's probably fortunate, then, that his phone buzzes right at that moment. Mike shifts around a bit to dig it out of his pocket, and his eyes widen as he reads a text from Tina.
If you two aren't making out right now, Blaine and I are going to be very disappointed.
Just as he finishes reading it, another one pops up.
Alternatively, if you two are making out and not taking pictures, Blaine and I are going to be very disappointed.
Mike finishes the text in disbelief and looks at Kurt, who's also checking his phone. "Did Tina text you too?" Mike asks.
Kurt looks very confused. "No, but Blaine just sent me a picture of a cartoon character holding two stick figures together and shouting, 'Now kiss' at them."
Mike laughs and tosses his phone aside. "That's good enough for me." He shifts so that he's more directly underneath Kurt, and reaches his arms up to loop them around the other boy's shoulders. "Come on then," Mike says, loftily. "Indulge my bisexual tendencies, Kurt."
Kurt rolls his eyes dramatically, but he's smiling. "Oh, if I must."
Kurt leans down, and Mike closes his eyes and sits up a bit to meet him halfway. There's a brief moment of hesitation, as they both pause with their lips just barely separated, before Kurt takes the final step and closes the distance.
The kiss is slow, tender; Mike just has time to think about how Blaine was not kidding and Kurt is an excellent kisser until Kurt moves forward a bit, pushing a little harder to deepen the kiss. Mike moves with Kurt, settling back until he's lying fully on the ground and Kurt is looming over him, holding himself up over Mike. Mike's arms tighten around Kurt's body and he feels Kurt grin before he nips Mike's bottom lip with his teeth.
"Saucy," Mike says, and Kurt chuckles before going back in for another kiss. This time Mike is the one to deepen the kiss, and as his tongue brushes Kurt's bottom lip he feels a jolt run through him. Mike brings a hand up to cup Kurt's face, feeling a bit of stubble on Kurt's cheek as the other boy shifts against him. Kurt kisses hungrily, like he never wants to stop, or like he never even could, and it leaves Mike dizzy with lust. Judging by the way Kurt pants for air when they finally separate again, Mike's not the only one affected.
"Oh my god," Kurt says, breathlessly, dropping his head forward; Mike takes this as a cue to move downward, kissing Kurt's neck. He hears Kurt's breath hitch and another jolt runs down Mike's spine. Kurt's panting heavily, making soft little mews and then outright moaning as Mike begins nipping at his neck. Mike thinks it's pretty much the hottest thing ever.
"Wow," Mike says, as he pulls back to look Kurt in the eyes, taking in the way Kurt's pupils are blown wide and his cheeks are flushed. "I am definitely bisexual."
Kurt laughs, still breathless. "Glad to hear it," he says. "And this has only confirmed my rampant homosexuality, so thank you for that."
"Anytime," Mike says easily, and Kurt laughs again. "Should we go back to kissing? I think we should go back to kissing."
"Just let me move - my arms are killing me," Kurt says, and he lowers himself down so that he's lying directly on top of Mike, not having to support himself. Kurt blinks as his body shifts against Mike's, realizing something.
"You're hard," he says, voice deepened with arousal, and Mike's body thrums, because he did not know that Kurt could sound like that.
"Well, so are you," Mike says, before realizing that it's pretty much the stupidest retort ever. Fortunately, Kurt just laughs.
"Acute observation, Mike," he replies, grinning. "Now, you were saying about going back to kissing?"
Mike's about to say yes, and then he suddenly realizes something. "Absolutely, for sure, we should definitely do that, but first let me -" he shuffles underneath Kurt, hand scrabbling frantically before he locates his tossed-aside phone. "One second."
"What are you doing?" Kurt asks, amused, as Mike turns the phone on and shuffles through its options.
"Just something for Tina," Mike says, and holds the phone at arm's length. "Smile, Kurt!"
Mike goes back in for another quick kiss and Kurt kisses back, mostly on instinct, as the phone's camera flashes.
"Really, Mike?" Kurt asks dryly when he pulls back, but there's mirth in his eyes as Mike types out a quick caption.
"Hey, she wanted a look," Mike shrugs, pressing 'send'. "She's not the only one I sent it to, though."
"What do you-" Kurt starts, and then his own phone buzzes again. Kurt fishes it out of his pocket and stares at the screen, before bursting out into high peals of laughter.
GET IT, KURT!!! the screen is flashing, followed by about twenty smilies and a cartoon icon of something that Mike is pretty sure is a penis.
"Blaine's not subtle, is he?" Mike asks.
Kurt smiles at him; open, happy, bright. "Not at all," he says, and leans in for another kiss.