Fic: Hot Mikado, PG-13 (2/?)
Media: Fic
Type: Multi-Part
Title: Hot Mikado
Author: lola_mejor
Betas: sparklegemstone and jennacorinth- thanks guys!
Word Count: ~5,800 (this chapter, total ~11,000 so far)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Pairings: Klaine
Spoilers: Only up to what has aired... and probably not even that much
Disclaimer: Kurt, Blaine, Rachel, Harmony, Gavroche and whomever else from Lima, Ohio don’t exist, nor did I create them. Which seems like it poses an existential question, but is actually just me saying I’ve borrowed them from the people who did create them.
Summary: Kurt has been approached by the Gerber baby and his doppelganger to help them put on a community production of Hot Mikado. There’s just one problem…
-----
A/N: So this is more or less AU following Christmas. Not cos I’m doing anything crazy, just because this is a possible thing that could have happened to Kurt etc in Season 3, but obviously isn’t because the official writers are writing another plotline which, for starters, has Blaine looking like a cross between a pirate and Magnum PI. I will make reference to canon moments if I feel it fits with my story, but I’m not going all out…
Go back to the beginning - Chapter 1 - or read on J
----
CHAPTER 2
----
Kurt and Blaine didn’t discuss the rights or wrongs of Kurt’s tentative plans any further that night, or for the next couple of days. School carried on as normal. Glee went on as normal. Coffees at the Lima Bean went on as normal.
All that time, however, Kurt’s mind was whirring, going over it all in his head. He replayed his discussion with Blaine too many times to count and kept coming back to two things: Blaine thought he should meet with Harmony and Gavroche; and Blaine was with him. One hundred percent.
These thoughts gave him the courage, four days after their discussion, to text Harmony during an afternoon class and suggest they meet for coffee that afternoon. She responded scarily quickly that she and Gavroche would see him at the Lima Bean, but said she made no promises because Kurt would be auditioning with a group of talented people. Kurt smiled at that - if she’d welcomed him with open arms he would have been suspicious. Instead, she’d already suggested that he might not be good enough. It was the kind of challenge he was hungry to meet; that he needed to meet.
“It’s on,” Kurt breathed excitedly into Blaine’s ear, having raced straight to his locker to catch Blaine before their last classes for the day.
Blaine had to suppress a shiver, his mind conjuring up any number of fantasies at Kurt’s comment. He swallowed and cleared his throat. “What is?” He asked, suspecting Kurt was referring to Harmony but unwilling to presume.
Kurt bounced up and down a little bit on the spot. “You know,” he squeaked, looking around them furtively before stage-whispering: “Hot Mikado…”
Blaine’s eyes widened and he too looked around them to see who was there. “What, like you got a part?”
“No of course not - yet,” Kurt rolled his eyes briefly, “As if I would get a part without an audition and as IF I would audition - or do anything - without talking to you!” Kurt paused, noticing Blaine’s relieved smile. “I texted Harmony - and she wants to meet after school, at the Lima Bean. She said ‘no promises’…”
Blaine frowned slightly, “Ummm… ok?”
Kurt just grinned, “It means she’s threatened by me - it was Gavroche who asked me along anyway, not her. She’s trying to say that I might not be good enough… but I’m good enough. I’m more than good enough.”
Kurt’s eyes were boring into Blaine with determination. Blaine smiled in response, and squeezed Kurt’s arm. “Yeah you are - you’ll show her.”
“We’ll show her,” Kurt said. “You’re coming with me right?”
Blaine nodded distractedly as the warning bell rang and turned in to his locker to switch books before his next class. “Yeah of course. I just, ah, I might be late; I have to run to the drugstore straight after that number we’re doing in the pool for Mr Schue and Ms Pillsbury - I need to pick something up for my mom.”
“Is she ok?” Kurt’s head appeared quickly around the side of the locker door.
“Yeah, yeah,” Blaine nodded quickly. “Some wacky new designer vitamin supplement that one of her tennis friends recommended. Meant to make her look younger and thinner and all that - it will probably just give her bad breath and make my dad bluster at the exorbitant cost when he sees it,” he rolled his eyes and laughed. “Needless to say, not every drugstore stocks such breakthough medication.”
Kurt smiled politely, silently filing the information away so that he could investigate what the supplement might be later. “Oh well good - that shouldn’t take too long right?”
“Don’t see why it would,” Blaine nodded, searching for something in the back of his locker before pulling his head out and slamming the metal door shut. Kurt mirrored his action and they headed down the corridor together with the general bustle of students.
They paused briefly at the door of Blaine’s next class, smiling at each other. “See you then, then,” Kurt said, missing the sight of Blaine even before they had parted.
“Yeah,” Blaine said with a smile. “Well, see you at the pool first - then I’ll head straight to the drugstore and find you at the Lima Bean, ‘kay?”
“It’s a date,” Kurt said, eyes twinkling, before turning on his heels and bouncing down the hall.
His next class and the pool proposal extravaganza passed relatively quickly, and before Kurt knew it he had showered, dressed, restyled his hair and was pulling his car out of the parking lot to head into town. He felt nervous but knew it was more excitement than anything else. He probably didn’t need the caffeine in his excitable state but when he arrived at the Lima Bean he ordered his coffee as usual - as well as Blaine’s - and took them to a slightly larger table than they would usually share to wait for the others to arrive.
----
Gavroche arrived first, and Kurt was surprised to see he wasn’t with Harmony. He walked through the door almost hesitantly, looking around like he had arrived at a party where he didn’t know many (if any) of the other guests. Kurt had forgotten how tall he was - the freshman girls who entered the café behind him looked extremely small by comparison as they passed by him, all giggles at his outfit.
Ah yes. His outfit.
Kurt raised an eyebrow as he took in the blue fedora hat, navy long sleeve collared shirt, buttoned all the way to the top, cream trousers that wouldn’t look out of place on a golf course except that they were better fitted, brown boat-shoes that failed to disguise daring lime green socks, and an evergreen puffy jacket that Gavroche was disrobing to place on the coat stand by the door.
“Oh my god this boy needs help,” Kurt murmured to the empty space around him as he returned the overly enthusiastic wave Gavroche was directing at him. “Two shades of green and then blue as well?!”
“I’m so glad I got here first,” Gavroche gushed once he reached the table, not having heard Kurt’s comment, “I just had to see what you’re wearing, and also what coffee you ordered - a person’s coffee order is extremely insightful, you know.”
Kurt smiled, sipping at his coffee as he let Gavroche continue.
“Take mine, for example,” Gavroche went on, “I have a skim decaf mocha latte with caramel - because I’m health conscious and wary of the effects of caffeine on my skin, but I’m also ok with a bit of sugar because everyone needs a natural pep in the afternoon - hence the caramel!”
Kurt smiled, putting his coffee cup down. “So where does the skim fit in all that?” he asked. “A small amount of fat in your diet is essential?”
“Oh yes of course,” Gavroche cut him off. “What you said, I guess, but more that I just don’t like the taste of milk, or creamer, much. But I like the balancing out effect milk has when combined with coffee - so skim is better. So what’s your coffee? Tell me and I’ll analyse it for you!”
Kurt looked at his coffee and was about to open his mouth but was cut off again.
“But there are two coffees here! Did you buy me one?!” Gavroche gaped at Kurt. “That’s really sweet but unless it’s skim I really don’t think I can accept it.”
Kurt wondered whether he’d ever be able to finish a sentence in the presence of someone so… enthusiastic. He gave it a go. “Um no, that’s for Blaine - my boyfriend - he’s meeting us here too.”
“Oh great!” Gavroche absolutely bounced on his chair and started craning his neck around as if Blaine would magically appear. “I wanna see what kind of guy you’re into - does he look like Robert Pattinson?”
Kurt laughed but cut himself off as he saw the intense look on Gavroche’s face.
“Oh you’re being serious?” Kurt stammered out. “Umm… well not really I guess… maybe a bit more like Taylor Lautner if you want to talk Twilight guys? But with kinda curly hair. Definitely the same beautiful smile though,” Kurt paused, closing his eyes and smiling in turn. “Actually, his smile is better than Taylor Lautner’s.”
“Gavroche!” Kurt’s eyes snapped open in time to see Harmony’s dazzling cherry-red smile sit down in what was supposed to be Blaine’s chair. “This doesn’t look like a skim chai latte,” she smiled sympathetically at him, “I thought we talked about this after the confusion last time?” She held up Blaine’s coffee, an eyebrow cocked.
Kurt rolled his eyes and sighed, a little irritated already at Harmony’s easy superiority. “It doesn’t look like a skim chai latte because it isn’t,” he said. “And it isn’t a skim chai latte because it isn’t for you.” He took the coffee out of her hand and set it down beside his.
Harmony appeared unused to being spoken to in such a manner. She was stunned, her mouth slightly open and rounded as she looked from Gavroche, to Kurt, and back to Gavroche. Kurt thought, with amusement, that she looked exactly like a model from a 1950s commercial for some groundbreaking appliance or another. Slightly too-heavy makeup rendering her face completely smooth with a painted-on effect; cherry-red lipstick perfectly matching a small scarf tied around her neck; a navy coat, perfectly tailored to hug her figure and reveal hints of the outfit below (a fitted red pencil skirt coupled with a cream blouse); and stockinged legs emerging from the skirt to finish daintily in simple but elegant navy pumps that matched her coat. Looking at her disbelieving expression Kurt could almost construct the rest of the retro commercial around her: “New and improved - a machine that washes the dishes FOR you!” the voice over would say, as the Harmony-like model would gape, wide-eyed, into the camera, over-acting for all she was worth.
Apparently, for Harmony, just existing was over-acting.
“But Gavroche, you haven’t ordered the drinks yet?” She laid her hand on his arm and looked into his eyes earnestly. “Are you quite sure you’re alright?” She looked to Kurt, “he can get so confused sometimes. Gavroche, I need to know you’re ok - I am counting on you for our audition number this weekend.”
Kurt wondered if Harmony was messing with Gavroche, or whether she really did treat him like a five-year-old most of the time. He decided it was probably the latter, given how she exuded an aura of superiority and attempted to rise above all those around her.
It irked him. It called back to the first time they had met at the NYADA mixer where she had just rolled over him and Rachel with her talent and her minions all doing as she said. She’d made both of them feel like ants, squashed ants. He’d tried to take the higher road about in the weeks and months that had followed. She was good at Sectionals and he’d told her so, but she’d just responded with the same infuriating air of superiority. And now here she was, treating Gavroche like a puppy, and Kurt could just see she was going to try to control him and look down upon him as well. He decided in that moment he wouldn’t let it happen.
Turning his attention back to the pair sitting with him, Kurt rolled his eyes at Harmony, who was still scolding Gavroche: “I bet Kurt wouldn’t have abandoned his diva in need like that,” Harmony continued. “Look,” she motioned to Blaine’s coffee, “Rachel’s coffee is waiting for her - you could learn a thing or two from Kurt.”
“Whoa, whoa, wow, ok,” Kurt had definitely heard enough. “Firstly, this is not Rachel’s coffee - Rachel’s not coming - this is Blaine’s coffee.”
“His boyfriend!” Gavroche interrupted, gushing.
Kurt paused, confused, as he saw Harmony shoot a glare in Gavroche’s direction, but dismissed it and carried on.
“Secondly, Rachel is not my diva - if anything, I am hers. I don’t run errands or get coffees for anyone unless I want to, got it?” Kurt took a deep breath. “And thirdly,” he sat back in his chair, as if he were assessing both Gavroche and Harmony as job candidates, “I came here to talk about Hot Mikado. If you two want me in on this thing, you better start talking because I haven’t got all afternoon.”
He didn’t know where his last statement had come from, but Kurt felt a rush of adrenaline at his own audacity and confidence. His heart beat fast in his chest and he fought to keep his hand steady as he reached for his coffee, pulling it back to him and sipping at it as nonchalantly as he could manage.
Harmony’s face had frozen in an expression of disbelief during Kurt’s speech, but recovered quickly enough, her features relaxing into a big smile.
“Well, well, we’ve got a live one here don’t we Gavroche,” she said, almost breathless. Her tone had changed and her eyes flashed in a way that put Kurt on guard. “Do order our drinks would you?” She asked, speaking to Gavroche but leaning in closer to Kurt, her elbows on the table.
“You’re not going to be able to walk all over me like you do him,” Kurt warned as Gavroche obediently moved towards the counter. “For starters, I don’t need you. But also? I’m not threatened by your talent - which I recognise and accept is considerable.”
“Well I have been acting since-”
“You were a fetus, yeah yeah tell someone who cares,” Kurt waved her off. “Unless you were singing in the womb I say it doesn’t count.”
“Well actually…” Harmony began, but Kurt cocked an eyebrow at her and she never completed the sentence.
“Anyhow,” Kurt forged ahead, wondering exactly how crazy Harmony could be, “I’m not threatened by your long-standing talent,” smiling as Harmony nodded in appreciation, “because we’re not in competition, you and I. If we were? I’d wipe the floor with you.”
Kurt licked his lips, his breathing shallow as the feeling of exhilaration crept up on him. His neck was feeling hot and he knew he was at risk of blushing just out of excitement, but he thought he managed to keep it in check. He knew this wasn’t like him, but he was tired of being like him. If he wanted to be on top, he needed to step up and go toe-to-toe with the likes of Harmony. He smiled at her, exuding confidence. This was definitely more fun than being squashed like and ant.
“Well,” Harmony crossed her arms and looked at Kurt thoughtfully. “We’ll just have to see how this pans out, won’t we. I mean, if you want to audition for Hot Mikado with all of us that’s great, but I know the director quite well and he likes casting talent that he’s worked with before.”
Kurt smiled. “As long as he likes casting talent, I’m sure I’ll be fine.” His phone buzzed in his pocket and he took it out to see a message from Blaine:
Won’t be able to make it - long story involving medicinal herbs
and a hippie pharmacist. Talk later?
Kurt felt his lips purse together for a brief moment and returned the phone to his pocket as if nothing had happened. His confidence wavered ever so slightly - without Blaine as back-up he wasn’t sure he felt quite as in control as he had just a minute ago - but on the other hand, without Blaine as back-up he had their undivided attention and it was all-but guaranteed he’d be running the show. Gavroche approached the table with two drinks in hand, and the eager look on his face caused a sly grin to appear on Kurt’s face. This was going to be easy.
“What are we talking about?” Gavroche handed Harmony her drink and waited with bated breath as she inspected it. She lifted the cup, squinted at the foam at the top, smelt the steam and finally sipped the smallest of sips. Gavroche positively sank with relief as she smiled the smallest of smiles and set the cup down in front of her.
“Oh just about the roles in Hot Mikado,” she said, her eyes holding Kurt’s questioning gaze. “Specifically whether I should try to emulate Paulette Ivory’s performance in the 1995 West End production of the female lead Yum-Yum or whether I should strike out and go for something fresher.”
“I know this is musical theatre and all, but Hot Mikado really has to be one of the lead contenders for weird character names,” Gavroche said without the slightest hint of irony, causing Kurt to giggle. “Does your boyfriend sing too, Kurt?” he asked, ignoring Kurt’s amusement. “I’m sure there would be something for him in the show as well.”
Kurt stopped giggling. He wanted Blaine to be there, but part of him was glad he wasn’t. “Actually, speaking of Blaine he’s not going to make it this afternoon after all - so you could have had the coffee, if you’d wanted it. As to the show, I don’t know if he’ll want to be in it - he is an amazing singer of course…”
“Of course…” Gavroche nodded encouragingly, apparently enthralled by Kurt’s every word.
“Yes…” Kurt reaffirmed, “he is an amazing singer, but he’s already been the lead in one show this year and I think is looking to have a quieter schedule this semester.”
“Oh he’s a senior too?” Harmony asked innocently. “I’m impressed at the workload you’re taking on while keeping up your grades and preparing applications for colleges.”
“College. Singular.” Kurt heard his voice cutting through the room. “I’m going to NYADA.”
Harmony just smiled, infuriating Kurt. He forced himself to calm, realising that she was trying to provoke him; she was testing his boundaries and he was damned if he was going to let her see his fear.
“And no, he’s not a senior. He’s a junior.”
“Oh me too!” Gavroche exclaimed. “Oh I have so much in common with him it’s such a shame you met him first and not me.”
“I-” Kurt stalled. He was not accustomed to the kind of attention Gavroche was giving him. He suspected that Gavroche took a lot of ‘accustoming’ to for most people though, so just smiled at him. “So what part do you have in mind for Hot Mikado Gavroche?” He finally managed to ask.
“Well Gavroche and I usually play leads against each other,” Harmony answered for him, “but there are a couple of roles to choose from this time around.”
“Yes, I am familiar with the show,” Kurt said.
“Oh of course,” Harmony said politely. “So were you thinking of Poo-Tish or Ka-Ka?”
Kurt narrowed his eyes and looked closely at Harmony. “Well as those roles don’t exist… I’m going to go with neither,” he paused to gauge Harmony’s reaction. He thought he saw a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes, like he’d passed some test. Oh yes, he was worthy alright, and he was more than willing to play.
“I’m not surprised you intend to audition for Yum-Yum,” he continued, “she’s the classic narcissistic but boring romantic leading lady. Betrothed to Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, but actually in love with Nanki-Poo, the Son of the Mikado. It’s almost lazy of you,” Kurt paused, “I mean, it’s a bit easy don’t you think? Surely the role of Katisha, the predatory fiancé of Nanki-Poo would be more of a challenge and, arguably, more fun?”
“Nothing is a challenge for me,” Harmony waved him off, laughing.
“Because you never move outside of your comfort zone?” Kurt raised an eyebrow, hoping his voice was just as irritatingly calm as he intended. “I told you at Sectionals, you were good, but what I didn’t say was that you were boring; predictable. If you want to win next year - or if you want to have a chance, which is debatable if you’re up against New Directions again - then you’re going to need to shake it up. Sorry if the truth hurts,” he added, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
Harmony opened and closed her mouth without making a sound. Gavroche put his hand on her arm and looked at her with concern. This was enough to make her realise she’d displayed a sign of weakness and she quickly redressed herself, plastering that winning smile back on her face.
“Oh I can bring it, don’t you worry,” she said smoothly. “As I said, I’m only a sophomore and it was my first competition as lead. I was a better singer than anyone else out there anyway.”
“Ha!” Kurt barked before he could stop himself. “You’re good Harmony, but never claim to be the best - there is always someone better; and I was definitely better than you. But even that was irrelevant. The difference was that I was part of a team, and as a team we were miles ahead.”
“Oh we could go on about this forever, Kurt,” Harmony faked a yawn. “I guess with your penchant for bravado and faux-insults you’ll be auditioning for Ko-Ko? Seems a bit obvious doesn’t it? Sure you don’t want to ‘step out of your comfort zone’ and audition for Nanki-Poo instead?”
Kurt smiled. “I would prefer to play Ko-Ko, the role has a great comedic quality that isn’t quite the same with Nanki-Poo. And if you play Katisha - then we could take this,” he pointed between the both of them, “onto the stage and decide it then and there. But if you’re not sure that you could handle Katisha…”
“Oh I can handle anything,” Harmony leaned forward in her chair, resting her elbows on the table. “And you’re on - glad to see you realise this is a competition. Everything in this biz is a competition. ”
“Yay!!” Gavroche clapped his hands together. “And I can play Nanki-Poo!”
“That’d be really great, Gavroche,” Kurt’s voice and expression softened as he spoke. “Let’s hope we all kill it at auditions and convince the dry-cleaner guy directing to make it a youth production.”
“He won’t have a choice - he won’t know what’s hit him,” Harmony smiled, even though she was still eyeing Kurt with suspicion. “Saturday, 10am then?”
Kurt stood up and extended his hand, “I believe the website said 9.30am.” He shook Harmony’s hand a little more roughly than was necessary. “I look forward to working with you, Harmony.”
Gavroche scrambled to his feet and offered his hand to Kurt, which Kurt took and shook politely. “I can’t wait to work with you, Kurt,” Gavroche said, “it will be great to have some new talent with us - and I mean talent in every sense of the word.” He winked and Kurt pulled his hand back, unsure of what to say. Gavroche just continued smiling - a smile of genuine excitement. “You’ll have to tell me your favourite foods - I make amazing muffins and would love to make some for you… uh, I mean, for the auditions.” Gavroche stammered and blushed for a second, looking down as Harmony elbowed him sharply, hissing something Kurt couldn’t hear. “I mean, I make muffins for everyone and want to make sure you’re going to like them.”
Kurt picked up his backpack and slung it over his shoulder. “Oh I’m sure as long as they’re not vegan-” he cut himself off, reminded of Rachel momentarily, but dismissed the thought. “As long as they’re not vegan I’m sure I’ll love them.” He smiled and waved at both of them before turning on his heel to head towards the door.
----
Kurt burst through the doors into the cold winter air and squealed with delight, raising his hands up into the air in victory and then skipping across the parking lot towards his car.
He was elated, and it was a particular brand of elation that he didn’t think he’d experienced before. It was happiness and freedom but also control. He felt, for once in his life, that he was in control of his own destiny - no one was in his way. Not that he’d really had people actively trying to hold him back (well, not mostly); no it wasn’t that. It was more that what with Rachel, the other glee clubbers, and even Blaine, he hadn’t once before felt like he had something that was really his. And this was all his, and all the more exciting that no-one else from Glee club was involved.
He was free to really unleash all his ambition with Harmony and Gavroche. He loved the clean slate he had with them - he wasn’t a shy freshman or sophomore meeting them and working with them for the first time - hell no. To them he was, from the start, someone to be reckoned with. A talent that could not be squashed, intimidated or shoved to the side. He was in control, and he loved it.
“Yes!” he exclaimed to the empty parking lot, punching his fist into the air with continued celebration. He rounded the large SUV parked next to his car, and his already palpable grin widened. He bounced into Blaine’s waiting arms.
“Hey!” Blaine laughed as Kurt launched into him, spinning them both around on the spot. “I take it it went well?” He asked when they’d stopped spinning and Kurt was just panting slightly.
“I’m going to kill this thing and Harmony isn’t going to know what hit her,” Kurt breathed, still bouncing. “She already doesn’t know what’s hit her. You should have seen her face when I suggested she wouldn’t be good enough to play in one of the roles!”
Blaine raised his eyebrow. “Given what you’ve told me, I can imagine.”
“Absolutely,” Kurt nodded quickly, “and it just led her to exactly where I wanted her to be.”
Blaine stepped back slightly and look at Kurt quizzically. “And where is that exactly?”
“Opposite me of course,” Kurt grinned. “I’m the first to admit to her talent, right? And since I want to play opposite her, and since I want to play the role of the Lord High Executioner, not the boring sappy romantic, I needed to make sure she wants to play Katisha. I’m doing her a favour actually - it’s a much more interesting role than the one she was going to go for - and she’ll be very good at it. She’d steal the show if I weren’t in it - but I am in it!”
He was breathless and his eyes a little wild. “Oh my god Blaine you have no idea what it feels like to suddenly be the one that people look to and think ‘wow, that guy is impressive’ - or actually,” Kurt giggled, “you probably do! Now I know why you loved the Warblers so much - just having the power and belief of those around you, but also I guess how they are kinda intimidated by your talent… I’m just so glad I get to do this because it’s like it always should have been - no one throwing me into lockers, no one telling me I can’t be the best. I am the best, dammit!”
Blaine looked at Kurt without saying anything, just blinking, and it occurred to Kurt that Blaine didn’t exactly look as if he was happy.
“Are you ok? Did everything go ok at the drugstore?” asked Kurt, leaning in to clasp Blaine’s forearm. The heady rush of excitement hadn’t completely taken over his sensibilities, but it was still difficult to concentrate on waiting for Blaine to respond instead of continuing to gush about Hot Mikado.
“Uh… yeah, I mean no,” Blaine shook his head. “I mean, there was nothing at the drugstore - I kinda wanted to let you do this by yourself, since you wanted to be independent from Rachel… I wanted you to be independent from me too - not that you depend on me or are in my shadow or anything!”
“Oh I think I’ve just proved that that’s not the case at all!” Kurt laughed. “I’m not the shy boy you first met on that staircase at Dalton, too afraid to be himself…”
Blaine bit his lip, looking a mixture of worried and exasperated. “It seems you’re not afraid of being someone, anyway,” he said slowly, “and it sure sounds like you’ve got Harmony well under control.”
“Oh yeah, it’s going to be really fun,” Kurt ignored the tone of Blaine’s voice. “And like I said it’s so liberating being able to just shine as me,” he said, breathless at the thought again. “And it’s fine that you didn’t come - I mean I understand and appreciate what you were trying to do. Actually, I think Gavroche was secretly pleased.”
Blaine raised his eyebrows and smiled, the warmth returning to his voice. “Oh was he now?” he teased. “Should I be worried about competition for your affection then?”
“No of course not,” Kurt pushed Blaine playfully, “I like my men much more handsome and curly-haired.” He looked at Blaine fondly, almost leaning in to kiss him. Instead, he took out his keys and clicked on the central locking for his car. “Come on, let’s go check out YouTube to get inspiration for my audition! I think I want to do a number from the actual show for this audition - given my experience with West Side Story and the singular lack of appreciation I got from the directors’ panel, it’s probably safer - although it should not be necessary.” He huffed a little with the remembered experience, but waved it away. “Anyway, I’m thinking of singing I’ve Got a Little List - I'm sure there will be heaps of recordings of it online."
Kurt’s phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket to see a message from Rachel:
Where did you run off to today? Blaine said you had a thing but wouldn’t
tell me what - said I should ask you?
Kurt sighed and clicked his tongue before firing off a quick answer.
Nothing mysterious - just an appointment. You were great in that number
today, btw. See you tomorrow xx
“What is it?” Blaine asked. “Everything ok?”
“Hm? Oh yeah just Rachel.”
“Oh right, she asked what you were doing this afternoon… I didn’t really know what to say.”
“I gathered that,” Kurt showed Blaine the message. “We’re going to have to figure out a cover story or something so you don’t raise her suspicions so much.”
“A cover story?” Blaine asked quietly, “I’m not going to lie to her Kurt. And you have to realise you can’t keep this from your friends forever.”
“I don’t want you to lie to her, of course,” Kurt tsked, “and I know she’ll have to find out eventually… but… god I don’t know - I don’t want to worry about her or anyone else right now. You should have seen me in there Blaine, I owned those two… I passed all Harmony’s stupid tests where she was trying to trip me up - she’s clearly intimidated by me. And Gavroche is just eating out of my hands. For once in my life I’m the guy people look to.
“Rachel knowing would ruin that. So if she asks you what I’m doing, couldn’t you be a bit more vague and not actually directly make what I’m doing sound suspicious or sneaky?”
“Well, you gotta admit it is kinda sneaky,” Blaine said, looking at his feet. “You’re lying to Rachel by omission. Have you forgotten how hurt she is going to be when she finds out about this? And I’m not sure having people intimidated by you is a good thing - I’ve never wanted anyone to be intimidated by me.”
Kurt slumped a little. “I thought you said you were with me,” he sighed, pouting. “One hundred percent, you said.” He paused, sucking in a breath, wondering briefly if Blaine had a point. He thought back to his meeting with Gavroche and Harmony. The dynamic was different than with his Glee club friends, but maybe it needed to be different for him to shine. Glee club was all well and good but he wasn’t shining there. Not really. Not like Blaine had with the Warblers…
Kurt looked at Blaine accusingly. “And don’t act like people aren’t intimidated by you - the Warblers loved you but they were sure as hell intimidated by your talent. And even Finn admitted straight out that he was intimidated by you - so intimidated by you he was a royal jackass to you! It’s ok for people to be intimidated by you but not by me?” Kurt was working himself up into a lather. “I’m not doing anything wrong here, I’m just trying to have my time in the sun - I’m trying to make it happen, for me. It’s time for me to have the limelight..”
“Of course I’m with you, Kurt,” Blaine shook his head and looked across into the distance. “I want every bit of success and happiness for you - and I want you to have people look to you and respect you for your talent and everything you bring to the table. You’re amazing - you’ve always shone, you don’t need to do anything to shine.” He bit his lip, choosing his words carefully in an attempt to break through the bravado that seemed to have gone to Kurt’s head. “I just… I don’t want you to get hurt and if you hurt Rachel, then you’ll be hurt too.”
Kurt sighed and pulled the door to his car open with more force than was necessary. He knew Rachel wouldn’t be happy when she found out what he was doing, but he had no option - he needed to take charge and if anyone was going to understand that it was going to be her. She would be fine. He would be fine - if only people would stop holding me back, he thought.
“I was really, really excited like five minutes ago,” he got in the car, started it, and lowered the window to look at Blaine. “I really want to share this with you, and I’d love you to come over to my place to help me prepare for my audition… but I don’t want to talk about Rachel. Rachel’s a big girl, she’ll be fine - in my place she’d probably do the same thing, so I’m not going to feel bad about this; and I will tell her… eventually”
Blaine was looking at Kurt like he didn’t know him. “Kurt, this isn’t you…” he started, but Kurt cut him off.
“Maybe it is, Blaine,” he put the car in reverse and started moving out of his carspace. “Maybe this is who I need to be to get what I want.”
He put the car into drive and moved out of the parking lot, leaving Blaine standing by himself watching the warm exhaust cloud drift slowly in the air.
----
--> Chapter 3!
A/N: Umm… please don’t hate me for how I’m portraying Kurt? I have a plan. Really.