A Balance of Harmonies: Showing Off
Nov. 24th, 2011 08:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
frogs_of_warToday the floral department went from gold, yellow, orange, dark red with a tiny sprinkling of red, white, and green, to red, white, and green with a small section of the last of the Thanksgiving stuff. Tomorrow, I toss the mums and by Sunday, all the centerpieces. It’s officially Christmas time.
Title: Showing off
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter forty-seven of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: waking up, coffee, plans, compliments, walking up, dragons, cleaning, questions, a guest, lady and chariot, more questions, a request, a decision, eating out, memories, emotion, dancing.
Length: about 3,000 words
Summary: Peregrine does what he can for the boy who will let him. Kurt wants to show off his men. Emil says how he feels.
Master list
Kurt reached for his beeping phone. Was it morning all ready? He carefully disentangled himself from Emil. Emil rolled into Kurt’s spot and Kurt tucked the covers around him. Noise of brewing coffee came from the kitchen. Kurt pulled his pants on. Peregrine must have brought them in after Kurt fell asleep, but he hadn’t brought in Kurt’s shirt, which was explained when Kurt walked into the kitchen. Peregrine was wearing it.
Kurt stopped to kiss him before heading for the coffee pot. He needed his morning dose of caffeine. He made a sweet, creamy mug from himself and a mug of black for Peregrine and took them to the table. Peregrine looked up from his sketch book and grinned.
Kurt sat down and took a long drink. “So what are you doing today?”
Peregrine shrugged. “I need to clean up the apartment. If I don’t, Emil will and he’ll hate it. But I need to see my boys today, so I’m going to ride over this morning and see what I can do before work.”
“So how are the boys doing? Do you suppose Hunter might like to come to Keith’s tomorrow night?” He knew he shouldn’t invite someone to someone else’s house, but this little boy needed a home. Kurt would do all he could to see that that happened.
“I’ll call Keith this afternoon. I’m sure he’ll think that is a good idea. I’ll tell him we’ll pick up Hunter.”
Kurt nodded.
Peregrine stood up. “I’ve got to get started if I’m going to get anything done.”
Kurt tugged on his shirt as Peregrine walked by. “You look good in my shirt.”
Peregrine kissed Kurt. “Emil looks better in it. But then, he looks better in everything. He’d be sexy in an inner tube.”
Kurt gasped at the image. “All that skin, yes.”
Peregrine kissed him again. “I love you.”
Kurt let Peregrine get ready for the day. He should get ready himself. And if he still had enough time, he’d wake Emil up for a few minutes. Kurt didn’t want Emil to wake up to an empty house.
--
Emil woke and stretched before looking at Peregrine’s alarm clock. He’d need to get up and dressed. The phone people would be here in less than an hour. A note sat on the dresser, saying pretty much what Kurt had said to Emil before Kurt had left for work, only with fewer kisses and caresses. The cute little dragon made up for those deficiencies.
On the refrigerator was another drawing of a dragon with ‘I love you’ in a talk balloon. A third dragon, drawn on the mirror, reminded Emil that Kurt would be home for lunch.
Today’s forecast was bright.
--
Peregrine helped Kit clean up the classroom. Kit was very interested in Ivory and promised to let other church members know Ivory was coming, so ze would feel comfortable. Peregrine didn’t give away all Ivory’s secrets, of course. He knew what to keep his mouth shut about.
Hunter popped up at Peregrine’s elbow. “Andre says Emil’s dad wants me to go to Olivia’s appointment with her. Should I?”
Peregrine handed Hunter a pile of books from a table and walked over to the bookshelf with a stack of his own. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know. But he’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Peregrine slid his books onto the shelf then took the top two books off Hunter’s pile. “You can still say no.”
“Can I?”
“Keith is a good man. He wants you to be happy.” Peregrine took the last of Hunter’s books and arranged them on the shelf. “His children who have been in therapy: Liam, Willow, and Olivia, are happier than the ones that haven’t.”
“Emil?”
“No.” Peregrine got down on his knees to rearrange the books on a lower shelf, then he looked over at Hunter. “Emil is scared all the time. Keith doesn’t want you scared. He wants you to hold you head up high and never need to cut yourself again.”
He turned back to the shelf. “But if you don’t want to go today, he won’t give up on you. He’ll try again later.”
“What if I never want to go?”
“Why would you never want to go?”
“What if the person asks me things I never want to answer?”
“Then don’t. If you go with Olivia today, you can get to know the doctor before you get asked any questions.” At least Peregrine hoped so. “If you don’t like that one, Keith can find you another. Each of his kids has a different therapist.”
Brandon ran into the room. “Hunter, you have a guest. It’s a girl.”
Hunter took Peregrine’s hand and they walked out to the courtyard. Olivia stood in the middle of it, swaying gently back and forth, her ankle-length dress with its thick petticoats, swished about. She was wearing Willows wig, so her dark hair fell in cascading ringlets halfway down her white skirt, meeting the purple wisteria pattern that rose in waves from the hem. Her shoes were white patent leather, her white hat bedecked with wisteria, and her smile like the sun.
This must be a new dress because Peregrine hadn’t seen it before and she showed off every new acquisition.
She was the center of attention and obviously enjoyed every second of it. The boys didn’t even pretend not to gawk.
Olivia spotted Peregrine and ran up to him. He thought she was going to through herself in his arms, but instead she stopped a few feet away and turned to Hunter. “Hello. Do you like my new dress? I got it special for today because you’re coming with me. I didn’t wear it to school and if I take it off before dinner, Willow says I can wear it dancing tomorrow. Will you come dancing with us? Daddy and Casey and Willow and Liam and Peregrine, Emil, and Kurt will be there.” She turned to Peregrine. “You are coming, right?”
Peregrine nodded. Hunter was getting the ‘deer in the headlights’ look. Keith stepped out into the courtyard and nodded to Peregrine. Peregrine nodded back and walked Hunter over.
Olivia look Peregrine’s other hand. “Hunter is coming over tomorrow.”
“Is he?” Keith wore his indulgent smile.
Peregrine gently squeezed Hunter’s hand. “Kurt offered to pick him up if he wants to come.”
“Let’s let him decide after the appointment is over. He might have had too much of a dose of us already.”
“No,” said Hunter quickly. “I want to come.”
Andre called Hunter into his office and Keith followed then inside. They were probably telling Hunter he didn’t have to go if he didn’t want to, but that they both thought it was best.
Olivia didn’t waste any time scrabbling up Peregrine to sit on his arm. He was her chariot and she, his lady. Kit grinned from a window. Peregrine took Olivia in to meet him. If she’d liked Sunday school before, she might like his church. Kit would know if the church normally had a Sunday school. Meeting other trans kids her age might be a good experience for her.
--
Kurt walked into his office and pulled out his phone. Peregrine had sent him a text, during the meeting, that he was going to go straight back to the apartment to clean and so he’d fend for himself when it came to dinner, which Kurt took to mean that he wasn’t planning on eating at all. Peregrine also said that Keith was fine with them taking Olivia to church with them.
Did that mean Olivia was spending Saturday night with them? Or was someone bringing her by on Sunday morning? And if they were going to start adding Emil’s family to their Sunday morning routine, was Emil going to feel even more left out?
Kurt dialed Emil and got him on the third ring. “I love you.”
Emil laughed. “What a nice thing to say.”
“I have a request.”
“Anything for you.” Emil’s words only had the edge of teasing. Was something still wrong? And was Kurt making whatever it was worse? He hoped not.
“I really want to taste your enchiladas, but I wonder if they could wait a few days.”
“Not too long because the fresh salsa starts looking ugly. Why?”
“I was hoping we could have something we could eat outside. We can Shanghai Peregrine and all eat in the park. It’s been a long time since the three of us did anything together.”
“True.”
Kurt really wanted to look at Emil to see if he was smiling. Too bad Peregrine’s text and therefore Kurt’s idea hadn’t happened earlier. Emil had seemed pretty happy when Kurt had come home for lunch.
“I wish my work day was over and I was right there beside you.”
“I wish you were here too.”
Emil’s voice was so sultry, Kurt’s hand was on the door before he remembered he still had two hours of work left. “I’ll be home early if I can.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Kurt closed his phone and took a few deep breaths. Maybe tonight with them in public, he could show Emil that he enjoyed Emil dressed and talking. The problem was that with a slow blink and a sexy smile from Emil, Kurt tended to forget what he was about.
--
Emil tucked the completed enchiladas into the fridge. At least Kurt called before he’d started to cook them. They would be just as good tomorrow or even Sunday. What to make for dinner tonight? And where did they keep their picnic blanket?
Emil searched the walk-in linen closet, the laundry room, and the closet in the Kurt’s office before he found it. Why had Peregrine put it there?
Sandwiches were easy enough to make. Emil stacked them in the fridge by the milk, bagged up some vegetables, and put a few of Peregrine’s water bottle in the freezer to chill. Did Peregrine have a sketch book with him? He’d want one if he was inspired while they ate.
The front door opened and Kurt walked in. Emil turned to him. “It isn’t that late already?”
Kurt shook his head. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.”
He opened his arms and Emil stepped between them. “I know the feeling.”
Their kiss was long and deep, but it didn’t end with hands under Emil’s shirt, so something must be wrong. But when he stepped back, Kurt was smiling. “I was just wondering what I wanted more.”
Emil took another step back. “What are your options?”
Kurt took Emil’s hand in his and whirled him close in a dance move. “I can’t decide if I want to walk around with you until dinner, showing off to the world what a beautiful man I love, or if I want to keep you to myself and worship you for a few hours.”
Emil relaxed in Kurt’s embrace. “Why not both?”
“You,” said Kurt, “are a very smart man. I’ll set a timer. An hour for us, then an hour to show you off, then we’ll go get Peregrine.”
And the way Kurt said it made Emil feel that each of these things were equally important to him.
--
Peregrine closed the door to the bedroom. Only the kitchen and the bathroom left to clean. Everything else was more immaculate than when they’d rented the place. He’d be done before his men fell asleep and maybe they’d be awake enough to invite him to join them, which he would whether they asked or not.
The front door opened.
“Surprise,” said Kurt. “We’ve come to drag you off to dinner.”
Emil, who stood behind Kurt, looked happy except for his eyes. Did that something wrong have to do with Peregrine?
“Where? I still have work to do.”
“We’ve got it with us.” Kurt lifted the bag on his shoulder.
“So you brought it to me? We’re eating here?”
“No,” said Kurt.
Emil pressed his lips together. Kurt put a hand on his back. “If we eat here, not only will we make a mess that you’ll have to clean, but I can’t guarantee that I won’t do my best to distracting you from finishing up.”
Peregrine smiled. “Tempting, but I see a problem with that. I didn’t bring any lube.”
Kurt grinned back. “Neither did I. On purpose.”
“He wants to show us off,” said Emil.
“Great idea.” Peregrine put his hand on Emil’s back. “I want to show you off too.”
Emil smiled. Peregrine shooed them outside. The sooner they got started, the sooner he’d get back to cleaning, and the sooner finished, the sooner he’d be home tonight, sleeping with his men.
--
Kurt lay on the grass with Emil leaning against his chest and Peregrine a few feet away busy with a sketch. “So is Olivia going to stay at our place tomorrow?”
Emil turned to him.
“Should she?” asked Peregrine. “I assumed Willow and Liam would visit Zan and Autumn. They could bring her by.”
“But if we are also swinging by to pick up your other new friend… Logistics-wise, it would be easier if she spent the night.”
Now if only Emil would pout and say he felt left out, Kurt would feel better about this whole thing. He wrapped the arm not propping him up around Emil and slid his hand down Emil’s leg.
“Where would she sleep?” asked Emil. At least he was getting into the conversation.
“We need bunk beds.” Peregrine squinted at his page and then drew furiously.
“Why bunk beds?” Emil shifted his weight. “Why not a single?”
“Bunk beds are more inviting.”
Kurt smiled. “Did you have bunk beds?”
Peregrine looked up with a grin. “How’d you guess? There were too many of us for singles. I shared a bunk bed with Éowen until we were ten and seven, then she switch places with Faramir. He was four and he wiggled all the time which shook the whole bed. I begged for Éowen to come back and so did she. Meri was colicky and cried all night. Our parents finally gave in, but only until I was twelve. Begging didn’t help this time, so I started painting on terracotta pots and sold them to the neighbors. Éowen took orders and helped me with deliveries. I wanted enough money to add a room to the house. I would get one side and Éowen would get the other. But before that happened, I got offered a scholarship and she fell in love, so we escaped in our own ways. She used her money to pay for her wedding and a deposit for their first apartment. I used mine on the plane trips to visit colleges and all the expenses the scholarship didn’t cover.”
Kurt loved how open Peregrine was being. “And we always thought you just found a twenty on the sidewalk whenever you needed money.”
“I did. I didn’t want to spend my money on entertainment. What a waste.”
Kurt rubbed Emil’s arm. “Did you ever sleep in a bunk bed?”
“In foster care. I guess birth parents can get away with a lot more than foster parents. I don’t think I ever saw multi gender rooms for kids out of diapers.”
Kurt twisted his fingers in Emil’s silky hair. “That must make things real hard for kids like Olivia.”
Emil shook his head. “I never thought about that. I guess I was just lucky.”
“I don’t think you were lucky.” Kurt kissed a lock of Emil’s hair. “I know that kids were worse off than you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have had it better. I want to spoil you forever, to make up for lost time.”
Emil smiled and relaxed. He was so beautiful that Kurt wanted to take him right there. But the police wouldn’t take kindly to that kind of thing in a public park. They needed to get home.
Peregrine closed his book and stood up. “I’ll try to be home by ten. Wait up for me.”
“We will. “ Kurt waved goodbye even though Peregrine didn’t look back. Emil slid down beside him. “Why does he only tell you? I’ve lived with him for half a dozen years and I never knew he slept on a bunk bed. I only know he has siblings and that his parents are alive because I looked through his trash.”
Kurt petted Emil’s hair. “Do you ever ask?”
Emil’s shoulders hunched. “He doesn’t want me to ask.”
“Maybe he didn’t and does now.”
Emil turned away. “Sometimes I hate you.”
That would have hurt worse if Kurt thought Emil actually believed it. “I love you.”
“You waltz in and suddenly Peregrine changes. He smiles more and laughs. It hurts.” He clutched a handful of his shirt over his heart. “All he needed was you and he’s suddenly happy.”
Kurt sat up and wrapped his hands around Emil. “I’m sure it wasn’t me. When he had me and not you, I think he was worse off than before.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“The weekend you were gone, he was a mess. And so was I. Of course when I first came back, he was even worse. Loving Peregrine has always taken a great deal of energy, but I was exhausted all the time. He was dying inside and I was dying with him. And then I laid eyes on you and, even before I knew who you were, I wanted you like I’ve never wanted anyone before. I don’t want to live without Peregrine. I know I can, but it was very painful and even with the work I went through to win him again and keep him, he was worth it, but I’m not sure I could ever live without you now that I’ve met you.” He kissed Emil’s hand. “I certainly wouldn’t want to try.”
Emil grinned and rolled to his feet. “Let’s go home.”
They gathered up their blanket and trash, then Kurt lead Emil well out of their way, so they’d go past the penthouse restaurant with the music that could be heard from the street. They danced around the block until the music ended for the night.
Title: Showing off
Series: A Balance of Harmonies (Three)
Status: Chapter forty-seven of
Genre: m/m romance, drama, city life, businessmen
Rating: R
Content: waking up, coffee, plans, compliments, walking up, dragons, cleaning, questions, a guest, lady and chariot, more questions, a request, a decision, eating out, memories, emotion, dancing.
Length: about 3,000 words
Summary: Peregrine does what he can for the boy who will let him. Kurt wants to show off his men. Emil says how he feels.
Master list
Kurt reached for his beeping phone. Was it morning all ready? He carefully disentangled himself from Emil. Emil rolled into Kurt’s spot and Kurt tucked the covers around him. Noise of brewing coffee came from the kitchen. Kurt pulled his pants on. Peregrine must have brought them in after Kurt fell asleep, but he hadn’t brought in Kurt’s shirt, which was explained when Kurt walked into the kitchen. Peregrine was wearing it.
Kurt stopped to kiss him before heading for the coffee pot. He needed his morning dose of caffeine. He made a sweet, creamy mug from himself and a mug of black for Peregrine and took them to the table. Peregrine looked up from his sketch book and grinned.
Kurt sat down and took a long drink. “So what are you doing today?”
Peregrine shrugged. “I need to clean up the apartment. If I don’t, Emil will and he’ll hate it. But I need to see my boys today, so I’m going to ride over this morning and see what I can do before work.”
“So how are the boys doing? Do you suppose Hunter might like to come to Keith’s tomorrow night?” He knew he shouldn’t invite someone to someone else’s house, but this little boy needed a home. Kurt would do all he could to see that that happened.
“I’ll call Keith this afternoon. I’m sure he’ll think that is a good idea. I’ll tell him we’ll pick up Hunter.”
Kurt nodded.
Peregrine stood up. “I’ve got to get started if I’m going to get anything done.”
Kurt tugged on his shirt as Peregrine walked by. “You look good in my shirt.”
Peregrine kissed Kurt. “Emil looks better in it. But then, he looks better in everything. He’d be sexy in an inner tube.”
Kurt gasped at the image. “All that skin, yes.”
Peregrine kissed him again. “I love you.”
Kurt let Peregrine get ready for the day. He should get ready himself. And if he still had enough time, he’d wake Emil up for a few minutes. Kurt didn’t want Emil to wake up to an empty house.
--
Emil woke and stretched before looking at Peregrine’s alarm clock. He’d need to get up and dressed. The phone people would be here in less than an hour. A note sat on the dresser, saying pretty much what Kurt had said to Emil before Kurt had left for work, only with fewer kisses and caresses. The cute little dragon made up for those deficiencies.
On the refrigerator was another drawing of a dragon with ‘I love you’ in a talk balloon. A third dragon, drawn on the mirror, reminded Emil that Kurt would be home for lunch.
Today’s forecast was bright.
--
Peregrine helped Kit clean up the classroom. Kit was very interested in Ivory and promised to let other church members know Ivory was coming, so ze would feel comfortable. Peregrine didn’t give away all Ivory’s secrets, of course. He knew what to keep his mouth shut about.
Hunter popped up at Peregrine’s elbow. “Andre says Emil’s dad wants me to go to Olivia’s appointment with her. Should I?”
Peregrine handed Hunter a pile of books from a table and walked over to the bookshelf with a stack of his own. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know. But he’ll be here in a few minutes.”
Peregrine slid his books onto the shelf then took the top two books off Hunter’s pile. “You can still say no.”
“Can I?”
“Keith is a good man. He wants you to be happy.” Peregrine took the last of Hunter’s books and arranged them on the shelf. “His children who have been in therapy: Liam, Willow, and Olivia, are happier than the ones that haven’t.”
“Emil?”
“No.” Peregrine got down on his knees to rearrange the books on a lower shelf, then he looked over at Hunter. “Emil is scared all the time. Keith doesn’t want you scared. He wants you to hold you head up high and never need to cut yourself again.”
He turned back to the shelf. “But if you don’t want to go today, he won’t give up on you. He’ll try again later.”
“What if I never want to go?”
“Why would you never want to go?”
“What if the person asks me things I never want to answer?”
“Then don’t. If you go with Olivia today, you can get to know the doctor before you get asked any questions.” At least Peregrine hoped so. “If you don’t like that one, Keith can find you another. Each of his kids has a different therapist.”
Brandon ran into the room. “Hunter, you have a guest. It’s a girl.”
Hunter took Peregrine’s hand and they walked out to the courtyard. Olivia stood in the middle of it, swaying gently back and forth, her ankle-length dress with its thick petticoats, swished about. She was wearing Willows wig, so her dark hair fell in cascading ringlets halfway down her white skirt, meeting the purple wisteria pattern that rose in waves from the hem. Her shoes were white patent leather, her white hat bedecked with wisteria, and her smile like the sun.
This must be a new dress because Peregrine hadn’t seen it before and she showed off every new acquisition.
She was the center of attention and obviously enjoyed every second of it. The boys didn’t even pretend not to gawk.
Olivia spotted Peregrine and ran up to him. He thought she was going to through herself in his arms, but instead she stopped a few feet away and turned to Hunter. “Hello. Do you like my new dress? I got it special for today because you’re coming with me. I didn’t wear it to school and if I take it off before dinner, Willow says I can wear it dancing tomorrow. Will you come dancing with us? Daddy and Casey and Willow and Liam and Peregrine, Emil, and Kurt will be there.” She turned to Peregrine. “You are coming, right?”
Peregrine nodded. Hunter was getting the ‘deer in the headlights’ look. Keith stepped out into the courtyard and nodded to Peregrine. Peregrine nodded back and walked Hunter over.
Olivia look Peregrine’s other hand. “Hunter is coming over tomorrow.”
“Is he?” Keith wore his indulgent smile.
Peregrine gently squeezed Hunter’s hand. “Kurt offered to pick him up if he wants to come.”
“Let’s let him decide after the appointment is over. He might have had too much of a dose of us already.”
“No,” said Hunter quickly. “I want to come.”
Andre called Hunter into his office and Keith followed then inside. They were probably telling Hunter he didn’t have to go if he didn’t want to, but that they both thought it was best.
Olivia didn’t waste any time scrabbling up Peregrine to sit on his arm. He was her chariot and she, his lady. Kit grinned from a window. Peregrine took Olivia in to meet him. If she’d liked Sunday school before, she might like his church. Kit would know if the church normally had a Sunday school. Meeting other trans kids her age might be a good experience for her.
--
Kurt walked into his office and pulled out his phone. Peregrine had sent him a text, during the meeting, that he was going to go straight back to the apartment to clean and so he’d fend for himself when it came to dinner, which Kurt took to mean that he wasn’t planning on eating at all. Peregrine also said that Keith was fine with them taking Olivia to church with them.
Did that mean Olivia was spending Saturday night with them? Or was someone bringing her by on Sunday morning? And if they were going to start adding Emil’s family to their Sunday morning routine, was Emil going to feel even more left out?
Kurt dialed Emil and got him on the third ring. “I love you.”
Emil laughed. “What a nice thing to say.”
“I have a request.”
“Anything for you.” Emil’s words only had the edge of teasing. Was something still wrong? And was Kurt making whatever it was worse? He hoped not.
“I really want to taste your enchiladas, but I wonder if they could wait a few days.”
“Not too long because the fresh salsa starts looking ugly. Why?”
“I was hoping we could have something we could eat outside. We can Shanghai Peregrine and all eat in the park. It’s been a long time since the three of us did anything together.”
“True.”
Kurt really wanted to look at Emil to see if he was smiling. Too bad Peregrine’s text and therefore Kurt’s idea hadn’t happened earlier. Emil had seemed pretty happy when Kurt had come home for lunch.
“I wish my work day was over and I was right there beside you.”
“I wish you were here too.”
Emil’s voice was so sultry, Kurt’s hand was on the door before he remembered he still had two hours of work left. “I’ll be home early if I can.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
Kurt closed his phone and took a few deep breaths. Maybe tonight with them in public, he could show Emil that he enjoyed Emil dressed and talking. The problem was that with a slow blink and a sexy smile from Emil, Kurt tended to forget what he was about.
--
Emil tucked the completed enchiladas into the fridge. At least Kurt called before he’d started to cook them. They would be just as good tomorrow or even Sunday. What to make for dinner tonight? And where did they keep their picnic blanket?
Emil searched the walk-in linen closet, the laundry room, and the closet in the Kurt’s office before he found it. Why had Peregrine put it there?
Sandwiches were easy enough to make. Emil stacked them in the fridge by the milk, bagged up some vegetables, and put a few of Peregrine’s water bottle in the freezer to chill. Did Peregrine have a sketch book with him? He’d want one if he was inspired while they ate.
The front door opened and Kurt walked in. Emil turned to him. “It isn’t that late already?”
Kurt shook his head. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.”
He opened his arms and Emil stepped between them. “I know the feeling.”
Their kiss was long and deep, but it didn’t end with hands under Emil’s shirt, so something must be wrong. But when he stepped back, Kurt was smiling. “I was just wondering what I wanted more.”
Emil took another step back. “What are your options?”
Kurt took Emil’s hand in his and whirled him close in a dance move. “I can’t decide if I want to walk around with you until dinner, showing off to the world what a beautiful man I love, or if I want to keep you to myself and worship you for a few hours.”
Emil relaxed in Kurt’s embrace. “Why not both?”
“You,” said Kurt, “are a very smart man. I’ll set a timer. An hour for us, then an hour to show you off, then we’ll go get Peregrine.”
And the way Kurt said it made Emil feel that each of these things were equally important to him.
--
Peregrine closed the door to the bedroom. Only the kitchen and the bathroom left to clean. Everything else was more immaculate than when they’d rented the place. He’d be done before his men fell asleep and maybe they’d be awake enough to invite him to join them, which he would whether they asked or not.
The front door opened.
“Surprise,” said Kurt. “We’ve come to drag you off to dinner.”
Emil, who stood behind Kurt, looked happy except for his eyes. Did that something wrong have to do with Peregrine?
“Where? I still have work to do.”
“We’ve got it with us.” Kurt lifted the bag on his shoulder.
“So you brought it to me? We’re eating here?”
“No,” said Kurt.
Emil pressed his lips together. Kurt put a hand on his back. “If we eat here, not only will we make a mess that you’ll have to clean, but I can’t guarantee that I won’t do my best to distracting you from finishing up.”
Peregrine smiled. “Tempting, but I see a problem with that. I didn’t bring any lube.”
Kurt grinned back. “Neither did I. On purpose.”
“He wants to show us off,” said Emil.
“Great idea.” Peregrine put his hand on Emil’s back. “I want to show you off too.”
Emil smiled. Peregrine shooed them outside. The sooner they got started, the sooner he’d get back to cleaning, and the sooner finished, the sooner he’d be home tonight, sleeping with his men.
--
Kurt lay on the grass with Emil leaning against his chest and Peregrine a few feet away busy with a sketch. “So is Olivia going to stay at our place tomorrow?”
Emil turned to him.
“Should she?” asked Peregrine. “I assumed Willow and Liam would visit Zan and Autumn. They could bring her by.”
“But if we are also swinging by to pick up your other new friend… Logistics-wise, it would be easier if she spent the night.”
Now if only Emil would pout and say he felt left out, Kurt would feel better about this whole thing. He wrapped the arm not propping him up around Emil and slid his hand down Emil’s leg.
“Where would she sleep?” asked Emil. At least he was getting into the conversation.
“We need bunk beds.” Peregrine squinted at his page and then drew furiously.
“Why bunk beds?” Emil shifted his weight. “Why not a single?”
“Bunk beds are more inviting.”
Kurt smiled. “Did you have bunk beds?”
Peregrine looked up with a grin. “How’d you guess? There were too many of us for singles. I shared a bunk bed with Éowen until we were ten and seven, then she switch places with Faramir. He was four and he wiggled all the time which shook the whole bed. I begged for Éowen to come back and so did she. Meri was colicky and cried all night. Our parents finally gave in, but only until I was twelve. Begging didn’t help this time, so I started painting on terracotta pots and sold them to the neighbors. Éowen took orders and helped me with deliveries. I wanted enough money to add a room to the house. I would get one side and Éowen would get the other. But before that happened, I got offered a scholarship and she fell in love, so we escaped in our own ways. She used her money to pay for her wedding and a deposit for their first apartment. I used mine on the plane trips to visit colleges and all the expenses the scholarship didn’t cover.”
Kurt loved how open Peregrine was being. “And we always thought you just found a twenty on the sidewalk whenever you needed money.”
“I did. I didn’t want to spend my money on entertainment. What a waste.”
Kurt rubbed Emil’s arm. “Did you ever sleep in a bunk bed?”
“In foster care. I guess birth parents can get away with a lot more than foster parents. I don’t think I ever saw multi gender rooms for kids out of diapers.”
Kurt twisted his fingers in Emil’s silky hair. “That must make things real hard for kids like Olivia.”
Emil shook his head. “I never thought about that. I guess I was just lucky.”
“I don’t think you were lucky.” Kurt kissed a lock of Emil’s hair. “I know that kids were worse off than you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have had it better. I want to spoil you forever, to make up for lost time.”
Emil smiled and relaxed. He was so beautiful that Kurt wanted to take him right there. But the police wouldn’t take kindly to that kind of thing in a public park. They needed to get home.
Peregrine closed his book and stood up. “I’ll try to be home by ten. Wait up for me.”
“We will. “ Kurt waved goodbye even though Peregrine didn’t look back. Emil slid down beside him. “Why does he only tell you? I’ve lived with him for half a dozen years and I never knew he slept on a bunk bed. I only know he has siblings and that his parents are alive because I looked through his trash.”
Kurt petted Emil’s hair. “Do you ever ask?”
Emil’s shoulders hunched. “He doesn’t want me to ask.”
“Maybe he didn’t and does now.”
Emil turned away. “Sometimes I hate you.”
That would have hurt worse if Kurt thought Emil actually believed it. “I love you.”
“You waltz in and suddenly Peregrine changes. He smiles more and laughs. It hurts.” He clutched a handful of his shirt over his heart. “All he needed was you and he’s suddenly happy.”
Kurt sat up and wrapped his hands around Emil. “I’m sure it wasn’t me. When he had me and not you, I think he was worse off than before.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“The weekend you were gone, he was a mess. And so was I. Of course when I first came back, he was even worse. Loving Peregrine has always taken a great deal of energy, but I was exhausted all the time. He was dying inside and I was dying with him. And then I laid eyes on you and, even before I knew who you were, I wanted you like I’ve never wanted anyone before. I don’t want to live without Peregrine. I know I can, but it was very painful and even with the work I went through to win him again and keep him, he was worth it, but I’m not sure I could ever live without you now that I’ve met you.” He kissed Emil’s hand. “I certainly wouldn’t want to try.”
Emil grinned and rolled to his feet. “Let’s go home.”
They gathered up their blanket and trash, then Kurt lead Emil well out of their way, so they’d go past the penthouse restaurant with the music that could be heard from the street. They danced around the block until the music ended for the night.
