Klaine Princess Diaries part 3
On Friday, two weeks after Grandmother hopped the pond to ruin Blaine’s life, he went back to Dalton to see the Warblers. He was tired of New Directions’ thinly veiled contempt, and Kurt was clearly about to snap and tell them all how he felt about their treatment of his boyfriend, so Blaine decided to take the easy way out and visit the guys who always seemed to like him.
He owed his sanity - and maybe his life - to Wes and David. They’d both graduated and gone to opposite coasts, Wes to Stanford and David to Yale. They emailed regularly, but he didn’t expect to see them until the Warbler reunion. But the rest of the Warblers were waiting at Dalton, and he was exhausted - glee practice and McKinley and Grandmother’s lessons and Kurt’s lessons… and Finn, in particular, kept pushing at him: snide comments, holier-than-thou attitude, arguing with every suggestion Blaine made. The rest of them were lesser versions of the same, and over the weeks since school started, Kurt was growing steadily colder to the group he used to call his dysfunctional almost-family. It hurt Blaine to watch, but a part of him was just so glad Kurt chose him.
So he skipped glee practice, his last period of the day, and headed for Dalton.
.
It was like coming home. Walking through the doors and down the halls felt wonderful. He’d always been safe at Dalton. Always liked. He smiled, trailed his fingers on the walls, and felt a thousand pounds lifting off his shoulders.
The Warblers should be practicing in their room, so Blaine took the long way around, just to give himself extra time at his second-favorite place in the world. (The first was Kurt’s room. Even his own bedroom didn’t feel as much like home as Kurt’s.)
From down the hall, he could hear them singing Billy Joel’s ‘Uptown Girl.’ He tilted his head, focusing on the lead voice - it was Nick, sounding strong and sure and happy. Blaine grinned, finally at the Warblers’ room, and leaned against the doorway to watch.
There were a few new Warblers, but he knew all the rest of them, and he clapped as the song finished.
“Blaine!” Jeff hollered, hurrying over, leading the charge. Only the three new kids didn’t greet him; one seemed unbearably young and shy, one was laughing and cheering, and the third was taller than Blaine, and probably Kurt if not Finn, and his eyes roved up and down Blaine’s body.
“So you’re Blaine,” he said, finally sauntering over with a smirk. “The legend doesn’t do you justice.”
Blaine smiled. “Good to be back,” he said. “Nick, that was awesome!”
“Thanks!” Nick replied. “How’s your new school?”
So Blaine lost himself in catching up. He’d seen most of them at some point over the summer, but drama always happened. Thad and Jeff called Wes and David, Trent called Jon, and Warren called Brock so that they had a mini-reunion right there.
It was the happiest Blaine had been since Grandmother dropped her bomb. After two hours passed and Blaine had to go, he still didn’t want to leave yet.
“Feel free to drop in anytime,” Thad told him; Corey and Zach, the other two-thirds of the council, nodded.
“If you’d like to transfer back,” Jeff added, “feel free to do that, too. And bring Kurt!”
Blaine laughed. “I’ll talk to him about it,” he said. At the door, he waved, not ready to go - but Kurt was waiting to hear from him. And then, after Kurt’s family dinner, they were going out for a movie and ice-cream.
So he said goodbye one final time and headed out.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Sebastian, the tall new kid, offered, falling into step with him. “I’d love to pick your brain, Warbler to Warbler.”
“Alright,” Blaine said. “What would you like to know?”
Sebastian smiled at him. “How did you get all the solos? So far, I haven’t sung lead on anything.”
Blaine chuckled. “You’ve been with the Warblers for, what, a month and a half? I was with them for over a year before I had my first solo.” He shrugged. “If you’re a senior, you’ll get something before the year is out. Are you?”
“A senior? No. I’m a junior. I spent a year abroad,” Sebastian explained, “and not all the credits transferred with me or I would be, though.”
“Well, see?” Blaine clapped him on the shoulder before holding the door for him. “Next year, you’ll start getting solos, unless your voice is exactly what they need for a competition.”
As Blaine unlocked his car, he said, “Thank you for the escort. It was nice to meet you, Sebastian.”
“You, too, Blaine,” Sebastian practically purred, giving Blaine a once-over again.
Blaine almost said something about being in a very happy, monogamous relationship, but he figured the Warblers would take care of that for him.
At the stop sign to exit Dalton’s parking lot, he texted Kurt, On the way home. Looking forward to tonight!
You just want to see Tom Hardy all sweaty like a beast, Kurt sent back. Blaine laughed and replied with only, ;).
.
“You know,” Blaine said as he stole some of Kurt’s cheesecake swirl, “I’ve been boxing for two years.”
“Ooh, do tell,” Kurt said, resting his chin on his hands and fluttering his eyelashes at Blaine.
Blaine chuckled, offering Kurt some of his cookies and cream. Kurt licked his spoon, eyes meeting Blaine’s the entire time. Blaine blushed, his whole body feeling warm, and he looked down at the table.
“I… after the dance,” Blaine said, stirring his spoon around aimlessly in the bowl. Kurt smiled at him gently when he glanced up. “I was a wreck,” Blaine confessed. “I was angry, hurt, and confused. Mostly angry. So after I healed enough, Dad signed me up for boxing.” He shrugged. “I’ll never be the best, but if anyone tries something, I’ll at least be able to take him down with me.”
Kurt placed his hand on the table, palm up. Blaine smiled, reaching for him. “If you ask your grandmother,” he suggested, “I’m sure she’d have her minions give you more training.”
Blaine nodded, considering it. Grandmother kept mentioning Joseph and how he watched over Blaine. The best of all her men, she called him. Well, the best and Head of Security - he’d probably know a few dirty tricks he could teach Blaine.
“I’ll ask her tomorrow,” he promised, and turned the discussion to if Brendan or Tommy was better.
.
It wasn’t until Blaine was driving Kurt home that he asked, “How was glee?”
Kurt shrugged delicately, fiddling with the radio. “You really should set it up so your phone can play music through your car.”
At the next redlight, Blaine turned and placed his hand under Kurt’s chin, gently turning Kurt’s head to face him. “Kurt. Please.”
The light changed, but no one was behind him so he stayed right where he was, looking directly into Kurt’s eyes.
After a long moment, Kurt sighed. “Schue gave me his disappointed face again. Finn started in on you for skipping, and I was just… I’m so tired, Blaine. Tired of my friends treating you like the enemy, like trash.”
Someone coming up behind them honked, so Blaine hurriedly drove through the intersection, pulling into the first well-lit parking lot he saw. He put the car into park and turned in his seat to face Kurt full-on.
“What happened?” he asked.
Kurt stared down at his hands, wringing them. “I’ve been keeping my temper for over a month,” he said. “You wanted to deal with it on your own, so I tried to ignore it. But we get enough ire and apathy from outside glee, Blaine. We don’t need it from inside, too.”
“I thought the bullying was better?” Blaine interjected. “You said that Lauren’s little group -”
Kurt shook his head. “Slushies and locker slams are obvious, impossible to hide, and easy to stop, given the proper motivation. But there are so many other ways to get a point across. We know that best of all.”
Blaine sighed. Yes, he did know - judging eyes, harsh looks, ostracization. Voting a boy who never campaigned as prom queen didn’t leave marks except on his psyche.
“Can we go to your house?” Kurt asked. “Please. I need… I don’t want to go home right now. I’ll tell you the rest, I promise, but I need to be in your arms while I do.”
“Okay,” Blaine said.
They silently listened to music and held hands for the rest of the drive.
.
Dad didn’t say anything when they got in and immediately went upstairs. Blaine and Kurt cuddled on the bed, arms around each other, and Blaine murmured, “What happened, Kurt?”
Kurt sighed, head on Blaine’s chest. “Why did I transfer back?” he asked. “I missed them all so much, but… right now, I just can’t remember why.”
“You love them,” Blaine said. “They’re your family.”
“No,” Kurt whispered, raising his head to give Blaine a sad smile. “My family is you and Dad. And maybe Carole, unless she picks sides.”
That made Blaine’s worry ratchet up about three notches. “Kurt, why would she pick sides?”
Kurt wriggled even closer and the words were muffled by Blaine’s shirt when he said, “I told them all exactly how I felt, and then I quit. That made Finn even angrier. He glared at me all through dinner. I figure he told Dad and Carole after we left.”
Blaine’s arms tightened. “You quit glee?” he repeated, horrified. “Kurt, you love glee!”
Kurt shook his head and said, “No, Blaine. I love you. It’s not bringing you joy anymore. You only smile when you’re singing alone with me.” He stretched upward for a soft kiss. “None of them have treated you well, and none of them are interested in doing better. And I can sing anywhere - I don’t need to be in glee to do it.”
“I never wanted to come between you and your friends, Kurt,” Blaine whispered, his hand gently rubbing up and down Kurt’s back.
“I know,” Kurt promised, and he lifted his head to smile at Blaine. “You would’ve never forced me to choose - so I chose you.”
Kurt rolled onto Blaine, straddling him, and leaned in for more kissing. Blaine had a dozen questions - there had to be something else besides how Finn had been treating Blaine for Kurt to quit, even if Kurt loved him - but Kurt was warm and so wonderful, and honestly, he really wanted to show Kurt how much he adored him.
.
It was after eleven by the time Blaine drove Kurt home. He parked in the driveway, turned to Kurt, and asked, “Are you sure? There have been enough dramatic storm-outs that you could still go back.”
Kurt reached over, cupping Blaine’s cheek in his palm. “You’re doing too much, Blaine. You’ve been miserable since Her Majesty arrived. It’s your choice: glee or prince lessons. I’ll follow you.”
“I really don’t want to walk back into that choir room,” Blaine finally admitted. “I keep… I’ve been having dreams about ninth grade. The people you described, the people I met last year - they’re not the people I know now. And I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“Sweetie, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Kurt said, lowering his hand to rest over Blaine’s heart. “They just…” he sighed, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. They’re immature and we have more important things to worry about.” He smiled at Blaine. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. IHOP, then the Hilton.” He leaned in for one more kiss.
“I’ll text you when I get home,” Blaine promised, and then waited for Kurt to enter the house before driving away.
.
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful. Blaine devoured his chocolate chip pancakes while Kurt actually tried some new cherry waffle thing IHOP had. It was exactly what Blaine needed; he felt so much better. It was the best thing he’d had since their last trip to IHOP two weeks ago.
He told Kurt about the Warblers, about Nick singing lead, and the three new boys. “Sebastian, the only new kid not a freshman, asked me how to get solos. He hasn’t had a single one in the entire month and a half he’s been at Dalton.”
“A whole month and a half?” Kurt repeated with a dramatic gasp. “How awful for him.”
Blaine laughed. “I told him he’d probably have to wait till next year. You’re the exception, Kurt. Even I didn’t have solos till I was a junior, my second year at Dalton. He’ll be fine.”
Kurt nodded, pouting into his mug as he realized his coffee was gone.
Blaine snickered at him. “We should head out anyway,” he said, catching their server’s eye. “Grandmother wants to talk about the announcement.”
“Halfway there,” Kurt said. “You ready?”
“No.” Blaine laughed sharply, completely without humor, but he smiled quickly at their server and took the check with a kind thanks.
Kurt dropped a five on the table and they walked to the cashier holding hands.
.
The same two men as always, Mr. Suit and Mr. Leather Jacket, were at the door. Blaine still didn’t know their names, but he liked Grandmother’s assistant, Charlotte. She always had a smile for Blaine, and she’d spent the better part of an hour arguing with Kurt about the best color for the shirt of an outfit he was designing for Blaine.
“You may go in,” Leather Jacket said, the same man who spoke to them on the first day.
“Thank you,” Blaine said. Leather Jacket nodded.
Grandmother waited at the table, writing in a notebook. “Good morning, boys. Have a seat,” she invited, closing the notebook and looking at them with a smile. “We have finally finished our discussion with the American government.”
Blaine glanced at Kurt. “We were having a discussion with the government?” he asked.
“Of course.” Grandmother poured herself and Kurt some tea, and handed the notebook to Charlotte. “You are both citizens of the United States. We couldn’t just steal you. But everything is finalized and you are now both dual citizens of the United States and Genovia.” She gave Kurt a look. “Of course, should the two of you ever decide to part ways, Kurt will need to reapply, if he wishes.” She smiled. “Now, let us discuss the ball.”
“The ball?” Blaine repeated. Kurt grinned, bouncing his in his seat.
“Yes, the ball,” Grandmother said. “A dinner and a ball to announce to the world that Genovia has an heir. You will attend in full regalia.” She smiled directly at him. “Blaine, there are still some things you must learn, of course. But you learn quickly, and you are such a polite boy. The only difficulty seems to be French, but I have seen how hard you try and most of the Genovians you meet at first will speak English. You are coming along splendidly.”
“Thank you,” Blaine said, flushing.
Kurt nudged his arm. Blaine asked, “Grandmother? I’d like another lesson.”
“Oh,” she said. “And what would that be?”
Blaine took a deep breath. “I’ve been boxing for two years. I had instructors the first year, but since then I just attack a bag whenever I need to let loose. That’s been less, since Kurt. I was hoping -” He faltered, but pushed on. “I’d like self-defense lessons, Grandmother. I need them, I think. Nothing major, but something that’ll give me a shot.”
“Hmm.” She studied him for a long moment before saying, “Yes, I believe I know what you mean.” Her gaze shifted to Kurt. “And you, my dear?”
He shrugged. “I suppose it’d be interesting. I do a little ninjutsu for fun.” He smiled at Blaine’s raised eyebrow. Blaine shook his head, grinning - Kurt always was a surprise.
“Very well. We shall continue our discussion of the ball at our next meeting.” She glanced towards the door and called, “Joseph! A moment of your time, please.”
The door opened and Leather Jacket entered. He was about Grandmother’s age and had a medium build, but he moved like a panther. “Yes, Your Majesty?” he said.
“Blaine and Kurt would like lessons on how to protect themselves,” Grandmother said. “Would you asses them and see what you can do?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Sharp, kind eyes turned to Blaine. “Your Highness, Mr. Hummel, this way, please.”
Blaine nodded, standing. He and Kurt followed Joseph to the empty fitness center further in on the same floor. “Show me what you can do,” he told Blaine. “Then tell me what you’d like to do.” Looking at Kurt, he added, “You’re next.”
Blaine stood there for a few seconds, unsure, and then he said, “Okay,” with a quick glance to Kurt.
Joseph watched silently, but Blaine was fighting for Kurt and forgot about Joseph entirely. Since this whole thing started, he’d cried in Kurt’s arms, but he hadn’t let his anger out. He’d forced it down, tried to ignore it - his fury at Dad, at Finn, at Grandmother, at the people who didn’t shove him into lockers but glared at him and muttered insults and pretended he didn’t exist all the same.
By the end, he was panting and his hands hurt, but Joseph nodded approvingly and Kurt stared at him, eyes wide.
“Wow,” Kurt murmured, licking his lips.
Huh, Blaine thought. Interesting.
“Now, Your Highness, tell me what you want,” Joseph said, so Blaine talked about the dance, and what being an out gay prince could mean, and how he didn’t want to be helpless if anything ever happened.
“Very well,” Joseph said. “And you, Mr. Hummel?”
Kurt blinked, shook his head quickly, and looked up at Joseph. “I know a smidge of ninjutsu,” he said. “And I can throw knives.”
Joseph raised an eyebrow. “Show me,” he said.
Blaine watched Kurt go through a series of ninja moves, eyes wide. By the end, he’d never wanted Kurt more in his life. Joseph gave him a smirk and Blaine ducked his head, trying to get his breathing back under control.
Blaine knew that neither of them were masters, and they probably weren’t very good compared to people who did it for a living, but surely anything could be an advantage. And Joseph could teach them a few dirty tricks, just to keep them a little safer.
“Now,” Joseph said, “here’s what I suggest.”
masterpost
He owed his sanity - and maybe his life - to Wes and David. They’d both graduated and gone to opposite coasts, Wes to Stanford and David to Yale. They emailed regularly, but he didn’t expect to see them until the Warbler reunion. But the rest of the Warblers were waiting at Dalton, and he was exhausted - glee practice and McKinley and Grandmother’s lessons and Kurt’s lessons… and Finn, in particular, kept pushing at him: snide comments, holier-than-thou attitude, arguing with every suggestion Blaine made. The rest of them were lesser versions of the same, and over the weeks since school started, Kurt was growing steadily colder to the group he used to call his dysfunctional almost-family. It hurt Blaine to watch, but a part of him was just so glad Kurt chose him.
So he skipped glee practice, his last period of the day, and headed for Dalton.
.
It was like coming home. Walking through the doors and down the halls felt wonderful. He’d always been safe at Dalton. Always liked. He smiled, trailed his fingers on the walls, and felt a thousand pounds lifting off his shoulders.
The Warblers should be practicing in their room, so Blaine took the long way around, just to give himself extra time at his second-favorite place in the world. (The first was Kurt’s room. Even his own bedroom didn’t feel as much like home as Kurt’s.)
From down the hall, he could hear them singing Billy Joel’s ‘Uptown Girl.’ He tilted his head, focusing on the lead voice - it was Nick, sounding strong and sure and happy. Blaine grinned, finally at the Warblers’ room, and leaned against the doorway to watch.
There were a few new Warblers, but he knew all the rest of them, and he clapped as the song finished.
“Blaine!” Jeff hollered, hurrying over, leading the charge. Only the three new kids didn’t greet him; one seemed unbearably young and shy, one was laughing and cheering, and the third was taller than Blaine, and probably Kurt if not Finn, and his eyes roved up and down Blaine’s body.
“So you’re Blaine,” he said, finally sauntering over with a smirk. “The legend doesn’t do you justice.”
Blaine smiled. “Good to be back,” he said. “Nick, that was awesome!”
“Thanks!” Nick replied. “How’s your new school?”
So Blaine lost himself in catching up. He’d seen most of them at some point over the summer, but drama always happened. Thad and Jeff called Wes and David, Trent called Jon, and Warren called Brock so that they had a mini-reunion right there.
It was the happiest Blaine had been since Grandmother dropped her bomb. After two hours passed and Blaine had to go, he still didn’t want to leave yet.
“Feel free to drop in anytime,” Thad told him; Corey and Zach, the other two-thirds of the council, nodded.
“If you’d like to transfer back,” Jeff added, “feel free to do that, too. And bring Kurt!”
Blaine laughed. “I’ll talk to him about it,” he said. At the door, he waved, not ready to go - but Kurt was waiting to hear from him. And then, after Kurt’s family dinner, they were going out for a movie and ice-cream.
So he said goodbye one final time and headed out.
“I’ll walk you to your car,” Sebastian, the tall new kid, offered, falling into step with him. “I’d love to pick your brain, Warbler to Warbler.”
“Alright,” Blaine said. “What would you like to know?”
Sebastian smiled at him. “How did you get all the solos? So far, I haven’t sung lead on anything.”
Blaine chuckled. “You’ve been with the Warblers for, what, a month and a half? I was with them for over a year before I had my first solo.” He shrugged. “If you’re a senior, you’ll get something before the year is out. Are you?”
“A senior? No. I’m a junior. I spent a year abroad,” Sebastian explained, “and not all the credits transferred with me or I would be, though.”
“Well, see?” Blaine clapped him on the shoulder before holding the door for him. “Next year, you’ll start getting solos, unless your voice is exactly what they need for a competition.”
As Blaine unlocked his car, he said, “Thank you for the escort. It was nice to meet you, Sebastian.”
“You, too, Blaine,” Sebastian practically purred, giving Blaine a once-over again.
Blaine almost said something about being in a very happy, monogamous relationship, but he figured the Warblers would take care of that for him.
At the stop sign to exit Dalton’s parking lot, he texted Kurt, On the way home. Looking forward to tonight!
You just want to see Tom Hardy all sweaty like a beast, Kurt sent back. Blaine laughed and replied with only, ;).
.
“You know,” Blaine said as he stole some of Kurt’s cheesecake swirl, “I’ve been boxing for two years.”
“Ooh, do tell,” Kurt said, resting his chin on his hands and fluttering his eyelashes at Blaine.
Blaine chuckled, offering Kurt some of his cookies and cream. Kurt licked his spoon, eyes meeting Blaine’s the entire time. Blaine blushed, his whole body feeling warm, and he looked down at the table.
“I… after the dance,” Blaine said, stirring his spoon around aimlessly in the bowl. Kurt smiled at him gently when he glanced up. “I was a wreck,” Blaine confessed. “I was angry, hurt, and confused. Mostly angry. So after I healed enough, Dad signed me up for boxing.” He shrugged. “I’ll never be the best, but if anyone tries something, I’ll at least be able to take him down with me.”
Kurt placed his hand on the table, palm up. Blaine smiled, reaching for him. “If you ask your grandmother,” he suggested, “I’m sure she’d have her minions give you more training.”
Blaine nodded, considering it. Grandmother kept mentioning Joseph and how he watched over Blaine. The best of all her men, she called him. Well, the best and Head of Security - he’d probably know a few dirty tricks he could teach Blaine.
“I’ll ask her tomorrow,” he promised, and turned the discussion to if Brendan or Tommy was better.
.
It wasn’t until Blaine was driving Kurt home that he asked, “How was glee?”
Kurt shrugged delicately, fiddling with the radio. “You really should set it up so your phone can play music through your car.”
At the next redlight, Blaine turned and placed his hand under Kurt’s chin, gently turning Kurt’s head to face him. “Kurt. Please.”
The light changed, but no one was behind him so he stayed right where he was, looking directly into Kurt’s eyes.
After a long moment, Kurt sighed. “Schue gave me his disappointed face again. Finn started in on you for skipping, and I was just… I’m so tired, Blaine. Tired of my friends treating you like the enemy, like trash.”
Someone coming up behind them honked, so Blaine hurriedly drove through the intersection, pulling into the first well-lit parking lot he saw. He put the car into park and turned in his seat to face Kurt full-on.
“What happened?” he asked.
Kurt stared down at his hands, wringing them. “I’ve been keeping my temper for over a month,” he said. “You wanted to deal with it on your own, so I tried to ignore it. But we get enough ire and apathy from outside glee, Blaine. We don’t need it from inside, too.”
“I thought the bullying was better?” Blaine interjected. “You said that Lauren’s little group -”
Kurt shook his head. “Slushies and locker slams are obvious, impossible to hide, and easy to stop, given the proper motivation. But there are so many other ways to get a point across. We know that best of all.”
Blaine sighed. Yes, he did know - judging eyes, harsh looks, ostracization. Voting a boy who never campaigned as prom queen didn’t leave marks except on his psyche.
“Can we go to your house?” Kurt asked. “Please. I need… I don’t want to go home right now. I’ll tell you the rest, I promise, but I need to be in your arms while I do.”
“Okay,” Blaine said.
They silently listened to music and held hands for the rest of the drive.
.
Dad didn’t say anything when they got in and immediately went upstairs. Blaine and Kurt cuddled on the bed, arms around each other, and Blaine murmured, “What happened, Kurt?”
Kurt sighed, head on Blaine’s chest. “Why did I transfer back?” he asked. “I missed them all so much, but… right now, I just can’t remember why.”
“You love them,” Blaine said. “They’re your family.”
“No,” Kurt whispered, raising his head to give Blaine a sad smile. “My family is you and Dad. And maybe Carole, unless she picks sides.”
That made Blaine’s worry ratchet up about three notches. “Kurt, why would she pick sides?”
Kurt wriggled even closer and the words were muffled by Blaine’s shirt when he said, “I told them all exactly how I felt, and then I quit. That made Finn even angrier. He glared at me all through dinner. I figure he told Dad and Carole after we left.”
Blaine’s arms tightened. “You quit glee?” he repeated, horrified. “Kurt, you love glee!”
Kurt shook his head and said, “No, Blaine. I love you. It’s not bringing you joy anymore. You only smile when you’re singing alone with me.” He stretched upward for a soft kiss. “None of them have treated you well, and none of them are interested in doing better. And I can sing anywhere - I don’t need to be in glee to do it.”
“I never wanted to come between you and your friends, Kurt,” Blaine whispered, his hand gently rubbing up and down Kurt’s back.
“I know,” Kurt promised, and he lifted his head to smile at Blaine. “You would’ve never forced me to choose - so I chose you.”
Kurt rolled onto Blaine, straddling him, and leaned in for more kissing. Blaine had a dozen questions - there had to be something else besides how Finn had been treating Blaine for Kurt to quit, even if Kurt loved him - but Kurt was warm and so wonderful, and honestly, he really wanted to show Kurt how much he adored him.
.
It was after eleven by the time Blaine drove Kurt home. He parked in the driveway, turned to Kurt, and asked, “Are you sure? There have been enough dramatic storm-outs that you could still go back.”
Kurt reached over, cupping Blaine’s cheek in his palm. “You’re doing too much, Blaine. You’ve been miserable since Her Majesty arrived. It’s your choice: glee or prince lessons. I’ll follow you.”
“I really don’t want to walk back into that choir room,” Blaine finally admitted. “I keep… I’ve been having dreams about ninth grade. The people you described, the people I met last year - they’re not the people I know now. And I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“Sweetie, you didn’t do anything wrong,” Kurt said, lowering his hand to rest over Blaine’s heart. “They just…” he sighed, shaking his head. “It doesn’t matter. They’re immature and we have more important things to worry about.” He smiled at Blaine. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning. IHOP, then the Hilton.” He leaned in for one more kiss.
“I’ll text you when I get home,” Blaine promised, and then waited for Kurt to enter the house before driving away.
.
Saturday dawned bright and beautiful. Blaine devoured his chocolate chip pancakes while Kurt actually tried some new cherry waffle thing IHOP had. It was exactly what Blaine needed; he felt so much better. It was the best thing he’d had since their last trip to IHOP two weeks ago.
He told Kurt about the Warblers, about Nick singing lead, and the three new boys. “Sebastian, the only new kid not a freshman, asked me how to get solos. He hasn’t had a single one in the entire month and a half he’s been at Dalton.”
“A whole month and a half?” Kurt repeated with a dramatic gasp. “How awful for him.”
Blaine laughed. “I told him he’d probably have to wait till next year. You’re the exception, Kurt. Even I didn’t have solos till I was a junior, my second year at Dalton. He’ll be fine.”
Kurt nodded, pouting into his mug as he realized his coffee was gone.
Blaine snickered at him. “We should head out anyway,” he said, catching their server’s eye. “Grandmother wants to talk about the announcement.”
“Halfway there,” Kurt said. “You ready?”
“No.” Blaine laughed sharply, completely without humor, but he smiled quickly at their server and took the check with a kind thanks.
Kurt dropped a five on the table and they walked to the cashier holding hands.
.
The same two men as always, Mr. Suit and Mr. Leather Jacket, were at the door. Blaine still didn’t know their names, but he liked Grandmother’s assistant, Charlotte. She always had a smile for Blaine, and she’d spent the better part of an hour arguing with Kurt about the best color for the shirt of an outfit he was designing for Blaine.
“You may go in,” Leather Jacket said, the same man who spoke to them on the first day.
“Thank you,” Blaine said. Leather Jacket nodded.
Grandmother waited at the table, writing in a notebook. “Good morning, boys. Have a seat,” she invited, closing the notebook and looking at them with a smile. “We have finally finished our discussion with the American government.”
Blaine glanced at Kurt. “We were having a discussion with the government?” he asked.
“Of course.” Grandmother poured herself and Kurt some tea, and handed the notebook to Charlotte. “You are both citizens of the United States. We couldn’t just steal you. But everything is finalized and you are now both dual citizens of the United States and Genovia.” She gave Kurt a look. “Of course, should the two of you ever decide to part ways, Kurt will need to reapply, if he wishes.” She smiled. “Now, let us discuss the ball.”
“The ball?” Blaine repeated. Kurt grinned, bouncing his in his seat.
“Yes, the ball,” Grandmother said. “A dinner and a ball to announce to the world that Genovia has an heir. You will attend in full regalia.” She smiled directly at him. “Blaine, there are still some things you must learn, of course. But you learn quickly, and you are such a polite boy. The only difficulty seems to be French, but I have seen how hard you try and most of the Genovians you meet at first will speak English. You are coming along splendidly.”
“Thank you,” Blaine said, flushing.
Kurt nudged his arm. Blaine asked, “Grandmother? I’d like another lesson.”
“Oh,” she said. “And what would that be?”
Blaine took a deep breath. “I’ve been boxing for two years. I had instructors the first year, but since then I just attack a bag whenever I need to let loose. That’s been less, since Kurt. I was hoping -” He faltered, but pushed on. “I’d like self-defense lessons, Grandmother. I need them, I think. Nothing major, but something that’ll give me a shot.”
“Hmm.” She studied him for a long moment before saying, “Yes, I believe I know what you mean.” Her gaze shifted to Kurt. “And you, my dear?”
He shrugged. “I suppose it’d be interesting. I do a little ninjutsu for fun.” He smiled at Blaine’s raised eyebrow. Blaine shook his head, grinning - Kurt always was a surprise.
“Very well. We shall continue our discussion of the ball at our next meeting.” She glanced towards the door and called, “Joseph! A moment of your time, please.”
The door opened and Leather Jacket entered. He was about Grandmother’s age and had a medium build, but he moved like a panther. “Yes, Your Majesty?” he said.
“Blaine and Kurt would like lessons on how to protect themselves,” Grandmother said. “Would you asses them and see what you can do?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.” Sharp, kind eyes turned to Blaine. “Your Highness, Mr. Hummel, this way, please.”
Blaine nodded, standing. He and Kurt followed Joseph to the empty fitness center further in on the same floor. “Show me what you can do,” he told Blaine. “Then tell me what you’d like to do.” Looking at Kurt, he added, “You’re next.”
Blaine stood there for a few seconds, unsure, and then he said, “Okay,” with a quick glance to Kurt.
Joseph watched silently, but Blaine was fighting for Kurt and forgot about Joseph entirely. Since this whole thing started, he’d cried in Kurt’s arms, but he hadn’t let his anger out. He’d forced it down, tried to ignore it - his fury at Dad, at Finn, at Grandmother, at the people who didn’t shove him into lockers but glared at him and muttered insults and pretended he didn’t exist all the same.
By the end, he was panting and his hands hurt, but Joseph nodded approvingly and Kurt stared at him, eyes wide.
“Wow,” Kurt murmured, licking his lips.
Huh, Blaine thought. Interesting.
“Now, Your Highness, tell me what you want,” Joseph said, so Blaine talked about the dance, and what being an out gay prince could mean, and how he didn’t want to be helpless if anything ever happened.
“Very well,” Joseph said. “And you, Mr. Hummel?”
Kurt blinked, shook his head quickly, and looked up at Joseph. “I know a smidge of ninjutsu,” he said. “And I can throw knives.”
Joseph raised an eyebrow. “Show me,” he said.
Blaine watched Kurt go through a series of ninja moves, eyes wide. By the end, he’d never wanted Kurt more in his life. Joseph gave him a smirk and Blaine ducked his head, trying to get his breathing back under control.
Blaine knew that neither of them were masters, and they probably weren’t very good compared to people who did it for a living, but surely anything could be an advantage. And Joseph could teach them a few dirty tricks, just to keep them a little safer.
“Now,” Joseph said, “here’s what I suggest.”
masterpost