A Balance of Harmonies: Not-Quite Secrets

[frogs_of_war]

Over the last two weeks I’ve had my picture taken several times. Holding the camera didn’t help because my husband’s phone has a fancy camera. The only good thing is that after losing weight, I’m no longer a whale. Now I’m a hippo.


Title: Not-quite Secrets
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter thirty-seven of gobs
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: a silly request, a race, an unusual kiss, not-quite secrets, a call, news, a long sigh, compliments, craft time, more not-quite secrets, running, temporary tattoos, and hope
Length: about 2,700 words
Summary: Kurt is taken into confidence. Peregrine hears some news. And Emil basks in familial love.

Master list


Kurt, Olivia at his side, turned to Hunter. “Do you want to come with us?”

Hunter looked at his feet. JJ snarled, “Playgrounds are for little kids.”

“Then I,” said Kurt, “am a little kid. Olivia, will you push me on the swing?”

Olivia giggled. “I’m not strong enough. Willow will have to help.”

But Willow and Liam were off by themselves and Kurt didn’t want to disturb them. He looked at Hunter. “I guess you will have to help her.”

Hunter bit his lips.

“Go,” said Peregrine, “or you’ll have to clean up after dinner.”

“Are you going to?” asked JJ.

“No.” Peregrine held up his phone. “I’m going to find my friends.”

JJ got up. “I’m going with you.”

Hunter looked torn. Peregrine pointed at the playground. “Race ya.”

And he took off. The boys followed. Olivia tried, but she just couldn’t keep up. Kurt lifted her and sprinted. Peregrine was really fit. Kurt closed the distance, but never overtook him.

The boys stopped by Peregrine, breathing hard. Olivia got down and tugged on Hunter’s sleeve. “Let’s swing.”

He glanced at Peregrine, who nodded, and then followed her over.

Peregrine stood on his toes, looking like he wanted a kiss. Kurt obliged. JJ made gagging sounds. Peregrine grabbed Kurt’s head and held the kiss. Then gently let Kurt go with a sigh.

Now when was the last time Peregrine had kissed Kurt in public? Not that Kurt minded, of course. But still this wasn’t normal Peregrine. “Something up?”

Peregrine shrugged. “I’m going to find out.”

And then he walked away, leaving JJ to catch up.

Hunter watched them go, but didn’t stop pumping. Kurt walked over to the swing. None were big enough to hold him. He rested his hands on the bar at the top.

“You’re tall.” Hunter’s eyes were on him. When the swing allowed it.

“True,” Kurt said, “but I used to be really small. I was tiny in grade school. Everyone was taller than me.”

Hunter grinned. “Maybe I’ll get tall.”

“Who knows? I’m a lot taller than my parents.”

Hunter looked down and shrank in on himself. “I don’t know how tall my parents are.”

“Neither do I,” said Olivia. “I don’t even remember what they look like. Willow lived with her mom for years, but her mother hit her sometimes.”

She frowned. “Did Peregrine tell you about us?”

Hunter looked from Olivia to Kurt and back. Kurt stepped a few feet forward and turned to get a better look at the kids. “I don’t think he did.”

“Well, Willow and I, we used to be boys.”

And adorable Olivia didn’t seem to care if anyone else heard. But Hunter skidded his feet across the ground until his swing stopped. “Boys?”

“Kind of. Everyone thought we were boys because we looked like boys on the outside.”

Hunter turned to Kurt. Kurt nodded.

Olivia slowed down her swing. “They used to make me were pants. I don’t like pants. They chaff.”

“You like skirts?”

“Skirts and ruffles and dresses and flowers and scarves and stuff.”

“I like flowers.”

“So do I,” said Kurt.

Olivia nodded. “Everyone does. Why shouldn’t I? One lady cut my hair.”

She pulled off her scarf and ran her fingers through her short hair.

Hunter reached out his hand and then quickly pulled it back. Olivia grabbed his wrist and set his hand on her head. “She shaved it all off.”

Hunter touched the dark curls. “Why?”

Olivia shrugged. “She thought it would make me a boy.”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “That’s stupid.”

Olivia nodded. “Daddy thinks so too. My doctor gives me,” she reached behind her shoulder and tugged at the neckline of her tie dyed t-shirt, “patches so I won’t become a man.”

She turned to show off her little patch.

“Did they…?” Hunter made a chopping motion with his hand and pressed his knees together.

Olivia laughed, loud and happy. “No, of course not.”

“But…”

“No. That wouldn’t come off for years and years. Willow likes hers. I might like mine too. I don’t know yet. But what I really want,” her eyes got dreamy, “are breasts. Nice curvy ones.” She mimed them with her hands. “Willow doesn’t have those, but I want some. When I grow up.”

And her smile glowed. She tugged on Kurt’s hand. “Put me on top of the monkey bars.”

Kurt did. She was sure a special kid.

--

Peregrine called Zan again. This time the phone was answered. “What?”

“I’m standing here, looking at a parking lot, just off the road, with a whole big park behind me.”

“And we are,” said Zan, “on some—that’s… that was the turn…. No, maybe we should turn around. Peregrine, I’m going to hang up, I need the GPS.”

Peregrine sighed and closed his phone. He leaned against a sign post. Something was up, but he wasn’t sure what. Zan and Autumn were never this late.

His phone rang. “Where are you?”

“We are getting closer. Maybe a mile away. We got caught up with stuff today.”

Autumn laughed. “That’s an understatement.”

“Just drive, you. I’ll explain. So Peregrine, you knew Diego and Lavender wanted kids?”

Peregrine hummed noncommittally. He hadn’t known for sure that they wanted kids, but he knew that Lavender couldn’t give birth.

“Well they have them now,” said Zan, “a perfectly adorable toddler and a baby due next month.”

“That was quick.”

“Well his mother couldn’t wait for grandkids and got kind of pushy about it, I heard, and Diego lost his temper and told her off.”

“Good for him.”

“I agree. But then she said that if they wanted babies that much, could she help? And Diego said, sure, fine, whatever and took his wife home to comfort her. And six days later his mom calls again with a girl she wants them to meet. They brought home Piper that night, last night. And they’ve only have the clothes in her diaper bag. And they are feeling overwhelmed, so they called us this morning and we came over. Turn left at the next light. We’re almost there. Where do we park?”

Peregrine gave directions and walked out to the road so they wouldn’t miss him.

They found a parking spot next to Kurt’s car and tumbled out, full of energy. Peregrine looked over the pile of white t-shirts. “Did you get something with long sleeves?”

Zan sigh melodramatically. “When have I ever not come through?” She picked up a box and set it in JJ arms. “I assume you’re with us? I’m Zan and that beautiful woman is my Autumn.”

“Your Autumn?”

Autumn grinned. “I am.”

JJ shook his head, but didn’t put the box down. Maybe living with two women would be better for him than living with two men.

--

Emil made room at the tables for all Zan and Autumn’s stuff. They would need one table for supplies and another to do the actual work on. While Zan and JJ went back to the car for a second load, Autumn sorted out sizes. Emil came over the help. Autumn held up a tank top. “I even got shirts for you. I know you like to show off your shoulders.”

Emil rolled his eyes. Autumn laughed.

Dad said, “Save one of those for Casey. He has great looking arms.”

Casey shot him a very pleased glare.

Kurt lumber toward the table like a three headed monster, carrying both kids on his back.

Autumn tugged on Hunter’s long sleeve. “I’ve got a few shirts for you. I don’t know which neckline you prefer.”

She looked at Emil and mouthed. “So tiny and sooo cute.”

Emil was fairly certain Hunter wouldn’t have liked to hear that.

Olivia gave Autumn a hug. Autumn didn’t stint the little girl an ounce of affection and Olivia was only ready to pull away when Zan arrived. Zan twirled her around and kissed her on forehead. Then Olivia seized Peregrine, who was no longer being guarded. Dad sighed, “My little girl. You’ve stole her heart.”

“Daddy!” said Olivia.

Dad smiled and rubbed her head. “What color should I use first?”

“Are you going to do one, too?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Maybe I’ll make one for each of my children.”

“But Daddy, you are supposed to make one for you.”

“Ha,” said Zan. “There are a few rules and that isn’t one of them.”

“Then I can make one for Daddy?”

“Sure.”

“And for Casey and Willow and Peregrine?”

“Only,” said Peregrine, “if I get to make one for you.”

And everyone set to work. Autumn and Zan fit in well as members of the family. Why hadn’t Emil ever introduced them before?

--

Kurt lured the two youngest away from the messy work of clean up. Dyeing the shirts was fun and so were the reveals, but rinsing the shirts until all the extra dye cames out was really tedious and Olivia had already doused her skirts and Hunter had tried his best to help without rolling up his long sleeves.

Best if all three of them were elsewhere.

Olivia scrambled up Kurt’s back. “You’re my horse.”

Hunter looked at them and away. Kurt dropped and did a push up. Olivia sat up on his back. He did another. She laughed and Hunter smile. Kurt did ten pushups then stopped in the air. “Hunter, your turn?”

Hunter shook his head, but when Olivia got down he barely had to be urged on. Kurt did so more push up then hopped to his feet and ran to the playground. He sat Hunter on top of the jungle gym then went back for Olivia. She pouted at him. “That wasn’t fair.”

Kurt got down on one knee and bent low over Olivia’s hand. “My princess, will you ever forgive me.”

“Maybe.”

Kurt grabbed Olivia as he jumped to his feet. She giggled all the way to the jungle gym. She arranged her damp shirts over her legs. “Kurt is so much fun. If you come and live with us, he’ll be your big brother too.”

Hunter stared off into the distance. Olivia frowned and opened her mouth. Kurt patted her knee and shook his head. All this talk of a new home might scare him off.

He rubbed his arm. “I…”

He looked at Olivia, then Kurt and back. “Did Peregrine tell you…”

Olivia shook her head. “He told us you didn’t have a home. Daddy does. He has lots of space. Peregrine talks about you, nice things, when he comes to visit. Daddy wants you to come live with us.”

“Did he really say that?”

Olivia nodded.

“Do you think he still does? Now that he’s met us?”

If anything Keith probably wanted them more, now that those names had faces and personalities.

Olivia opened her eyes wide. “Of course. We all love you.”

Hunter chuckled, but not like he was happy. “But if you knew…”

“Knew what?” asked Olivia in her innocence.

Hunter pressed his lips together. He looked at Kurt as if to beg him not to make Hunter say it himself. Kurt tugged on Hunter’s long sleeves that covered his wrists. “Does it have anything to do with your wearing Peregrine’s shirt?”

Hunter opened his eyes wide and then sighed and nodded. Then he drew up his sleeve. Scars covered his arm. Long marks and short ones, straight and curved, crisscrossing each other, like some strange body street map. Kurt hadn’t realized he’s touched them until Hunter flinched.

“Sorry.”

“No,” said Hunter. “It’s ok.”

But the poor kid didn’t look like he was ok. Maybe this was a test, to see if he could really trust them. Olivia ran her hands over the bumps. “Were you born that way?”

Hunter shook his head.

“Did it hurt?”

Hunter nodded.

It hurt but he did it anyway. Kurt wished he knew more about why people cut themselves. Whatever he said would be the wrong thing. But Hunter sat there with soulful eyes. He had to say something. “Does the other one match?”

Hunter pulled up his right sleeve. This one was even worse. He must be left handed. Kurt ran his fingers along Hunter’s skinny arms. “When you grow up are you going to get tattoos?”

Olivia bounced. “Ooh, like Peregrine! Dragons and tigers and fancy birds and rainbows and everything!”

Hunter looked down and then up. “Do you think I could?”

Kurt bent Hunters elbow and stared at his arm. “I see something here already. Princess, will you see if anyone has a pen that works on skin.”

He set her on the ground and she ran for the others.

Hunter watched her until she reached them and then he turned to Kurt. “You don’t mind?”

What was there for him to mind? “You are you. We all come with scars. Some can be seen while others are invisible.”

“Yours?”

“Invisible, for the most part.”

Olivia turned back to them, carrying one of Emil’s bags. Leave it to Emil to always pack what was needed. Kurt looked back at Hunter. Hunter nodded toward Olivia. “Does she have scars too?”

“Yes. But living with Keith has helped her a lot.”

Olivia held up the bag. “Emil brought them. Peregrine says to be careful because the ink doesn’t wash out.”

Kurt set the bag on Hunter’s lap. “What colors do we have?”

Olivia pouted then climbed the steps and bounced. “I want up.”

Her eyes were just above the level of the bars. Plus with those fluffy skirts, even if she could get to the top, she’d have a hard time sliding to the middle. He picked her up and settled her where she’d been before.

She looked over the colors. “What are you going to do first?”

“Hunter? What’s your favorite color?”

“JJ likes blue.”

Was he one of those types who didn’t want to give the wrong answer? “Emil likes blue and Peregrine likes red—”

“Pink,” said Olivia. “Peregrine likes the same color pink I do.” She fluffed up her dark pink skirt.

“Pink then.”

“Willow like blue-green. Liam likes black. I think that’s boring.”

“Well,” said Kurt, “I like green. What if we start with that?”

Hunter pulled out the three greens. One was dark, one was yellowish and the last was emerald. “Which one?”

“Let’s try them out.” Kurt made a mark of each color inside Hunter’s elbow. “Let’s start with the lightest, shall we, and go to dark. You like flowers, right?”

Kurt covered Hurter’s arm elbow to wrist with vines. Then he added leaves and morning glory in many colors, some tightly closed, some in full bloom. He added shading and the grasping curlicues and let some stray onto the back of his hand, twining a vine around his thumb.

“Now, your other arm—”

“This is enough.”

“No,” said Olivia. “You have to have both. And then it’s my turn.”

Hunter sighed, but his eyes smiled. He held out his arm. “On this one…?”

“A dragon. I can already see it.” Kurt pushed Hunter’s sleeve up to his shoulder. The scars continued up. Kurt’s stomach roiled, but he swallowed the queasy feeling down and traced out an Asian dragon twining around Hunter’s arm. He didn’t color all of it in. He didn’t want to use up all of Peregrine’s ink. But between the horns and teeth and beard and arms and wings and scales in big patches and small, Kurt managed to cover most of the scars.

Then he drew a vine bracelet on Olivia’s wrist and filled in the spaces with rosebuds. Her other hand got a pink baby dragon. He was hardly done before she wiggled to get down so she could show her father.

Hunter watched her go. “If I live with them… will I be like her?”

Kurt watched Olivia show off her drawings as if they were trophies. “Like her?”

“So… like she doesn’t have a care in the world.”

“She’s a special girl. But Keith will make sure that you, like Olivia, Willow, and Liam don’t have any cares worth worrying about.”

Hunter nodded. Kurt sure hoped he’d said the right things. But either way, Hunter’s eyes followed Keith to his car.