The Best Man in North America
A/N:Ā SoĀ I actually wrote four drabbles for the Klaine Book Project, and of course only ended up submitting one. Ā This is one of the others - a missing scene from "Big Brother" -Ā with anĀ amazing drawing by my artist, dreamingpartone,Ā included at the bottom. Ā Please check out her tumblr.
Itās Saturday and Kurt is lying on his stomach on Blaineās bed, feet in the air and chin perched on his fists.Ā He watches Blaine across the room, shuffling through his closet.
āAre you happy now,ā Kurt asks, āthat Cooper's gone?ā
Blaine pauses, clutching the sleeve of a sweater.Ā āYes.Ā No.Ā I⦠we were good in the end.Ā But Iām glad to be done with everyone fawning over him.ā
Kurt winces, remembering his own behavior, remembering best-looking man in North America.Ā āIt would have passed, eventually.Ā Theyād have seen that heās a narcissist, seen that heās not half as good as you.ā
āAnd you?ā Blaine says, too careful, pulling a grey sweater off its hanger and pretending to examine it.Ā āDid you see that?ā
Kurt rises from the bed, coming up behind Blaine, twining his arms around Blaineās waist and pressing a kiss to the warm skin of his neck.Ā āI didnāt need to.Ā Iāve always known it in my heart.Ā Iām sorry,ā he says, āif I got caught up in his fame and charm.ā
Blaine chuckles, leaning his head back against Kurtās shoulder.Ā āI suppose I can forgive you.Ā He does put on quite a show.ā
āYourās is better,ā Kurt offers.Ā āPeople love him for his gimmicks, but you⦠you only ever deliver yourself.Ā Your passion is genuine, and itās infectious.Ā Itās the first thing about you I fell in love with.āĀ He pauses, considering.Ā āWell, maybe after your eyes.Ā And the way that you saw me.Ā And the way you took my handā¦ā
Blaine turns in his arms, the sweater forgotten, crushed mercilessly between their bodies.Ā āThank you,ā he says, so full of sincerity it makes Kurtās heart swell.Ā He tips forward, leans up, and their lips brush sweetly.Ā āIāve just⦠Iāve always felt so dwarfed by him.Ā Iāve fought so hard all my life to be seen as something more than his shadow, and then at some point I realized he wasnāt as flawless as Iād been telling myself all my life, and I just⦠I love him, but sometimes I hate the way he makes me feel.ā
āYou finally told him that,ā Kurt says, and itās not a question.
Kurt nods.Ā āIām glad.Ā And as strange as it is, Iām grateful to him.Ā I know it hasnāt been easy for you, but if he had a hand in making you the person you are today, Blaineā¦ā
āYeah,ā Blaine says, nodding, understanding.Ā āMe too.Ā Plus, you know, if I actually decide to tell someone weāre related, he makes a great storyā¦ā
Kurt smiles, then steps back, looks between them and grimaces.Ā āYou canāt actually wear that now,ā he says, plucking the offending garment from Blaineās hand, ānot until Iāve ironed it.ā
āKurt,ā Blaine says. Ā āI can iron it myself.ā
Kurt regards him dubiously, but eventually concedes.Ā āBut you wonāt need it for a while.Ā Iāve got just the thing for our date night tonight, and then for school on Monday I was thinking we could coordinate; you can wear that green sweater you have and then this bowtie I made for you the other day, only I left it at home, and then Tuesdayā¦ā
Blaine has turned away to carefully re-hang the vest, placing it on the hook on his door, so Kurt misses his soft, amused smile.