‘THE BAIT’

K urt was going to kill Ari and probably Santana too. When she’d said that Blaine had a type, he hadn’t thought they’d use him as bait. But before he actually sat down next to BLAINE ANDERSON, Kurt excused himself and called Ari from outside the front door. Ari was very apologetic, but stuck in a traffic jam on the 405 which would make him at least half an hour late. In the background, however, Kurt could hear the sounds of a sports bar. So if they weren’t using him as bait, than why else this charade? And if he was bait, what outcome did Ari expect? That Blaine Anderson would take a liking to Kurt and would sign with Gold Standard so he could get with Ari’s assistant? Well, on the off chance that Blaine Anderson could actually like a guy like him, Kurt wouldn’t let himself get pimped out like that. He’d be polite to the star until Ari arrived, but nothing more. Before any of that could happen however, he had to stop blushing like a school girl in the actor’s presence. Because the last thing he needed, was Blaine Anderson finding out that Kurt had a huge crush on him; a crush that had only gotten stronger since yesterday morning, when he’d discovered that they played for the same team.

Back inside, the actor had cleared some space for him on the couch. Under the watchful eyes of the star’s entourage, Kurt sat down in the indicated spot. His hands were shaking, and Kurt wondered if they’d think he was super weird if he sat on them. He decided against it. To make matters worse, his palms were sweaty and when Blaine held out his hand to shake Kurt’s, he had no choice but to wipe them on his pants.

“You look pretty young to be an assistant,” a guy with bottle blond hair was the first to break the silence.

Kurt felt his face flush. What would they think of him if they found out this was only his second day as Ari’s assistant?

“I’m nearly twenty-four,” he said defensively, because he knew that Blaine and his friends weren’t much older.

Blaine whistled through his teeth. “So you are pretty young for your job. Must mean you’re very smart. I feel in good hands already,” he winked at Kurt.

Kurt’s cheeks heated up again. Was Blaine flirting with him? He reminded himself that it wouldn't matter. He was here as a representative of Gold Standard until his boss arrived.

“Just lucky,” he mumbled.

“And modest too. I like you,” Blaine added.

At this point, his face had to look like a tomato.

“Do you want me to tell you something about the agency while we wait for Mr. Gold,” Kurt tried to change the subject. Even though, he’d spent most of his time there in the mail room, he knew plenty about the clients they represented.

“I’d rather just hang for now. We can talk business later,” Blaine said. He opened a mini fridge that stood next to his end of the couch and pulled a bottle of Desperados from it. “Beer?” he asked Kurt, who shook his head.

“I’m driving,” he reminded the actor. Sure, they were encouraged to drink with clients, but what if Ari needed Kurt to drive him home.

As if he’d known Kurt was thinking about him, his company smartphone vibrated in his bag, alerting him to a text from Ari. ‘Still delayed. Keep Anderson company until I get there. Santana’s picking up your car, so just enjoy yourself.’ Kurt wondered how Ari or Santana had known that Blaine would offer him a drink.

“Nick can drive you home later,” Blaine offered up his driver at the same time. “He had a bit too much yesterday and spent the whole morning telling us that he wouldn’t drink today.”

The guy in question pouted. “But I’m feeling better already. I’m sure Kurt wouldn’t mind taking a cab.”

Before Kurt could assure him, that yes he could definitely take a cab, another guy kicked Nick. “You’re right. I’m still a bit hungover. I’d love to drive you home,” he quickly corrected, rubbing his shin.

Kurt wondered what that was all about. Blaine was still smiling at him, and Kurt accepted the offered beer.

“To new friends,” Blaine toasted him, his hazel eyes staring deeply into Kurt’s. Kurt quickly repeated the toast. He wasn’t so sure however, that Blaine was only interested in his friendship.

As if on cue, Blaine’s entourage suddenly made their excuses.

“I, ah, forgot to pick up your laundry,” the guy who had kicked Nick said, while the two young men in suits mumbled something about the stock market. Nick declared that wasn’t feeling so hot all of a sudden and would lie down until Kurt required his service.

Suddenly, Kurt was alone with the actor. Who, if Kurt wasn’t mistaken, was sitting much closer than when Kurt had first sat down.

“So tell me about yourself, Kurt. Where are you from originally? You don’t sound like a native Californian.”

“Why do you wanna know?” Kurt dared to ask. For a second, Blaine’s wide smile disappeared, before he caught himself and replied nonchalantly.

“You seem like a nice and down to earth guy. You know the people you meet in this city, so it’s refreshing to spend some time with someone who doesn’t want anything from me.”

“How do you know I don’t want anything from you?” Kurt challenged the actor. “After all, I’m here because I work for an agency who wants to sign you.”

Blaine shrugged. “If I like what your boss has to say I will, and if I don’t I won’t. You being here, doesn’t change that.”

Kurt’s face was flaming at this point. “Excuse me?” he said, because he couldn’t believe that Blaine had seen through Ari’s plan so quickly.

“It’s obvious that ‘your boss’ sent you because he thought I might ‘like you.’ What I’m curious about however, is how did he know? How did he know to send me a guy like you. Though I have to say that if he wanted me to believe the assistant part, he should have hired someone a little older. You are at least eighteen right?” Blaine asked, now only inches away. He leaned even closer and whispered into Kurt’s ear. “You can tell your boss, I don’t pay for sex and I don’t let others pay for it either.”

Kurt froze for a moment before he pushed himself off the couch and put some distance between Blaine and him.

“You think I’m a, I’m a prostitute,” he stammered and hid his face behind his hands. He’d been humiliated plenty of times in his life, but he’d never been this embarrassed before.

“Have you ever thought about going into acting. You’re really good,” Blaine commented dryly. “But you can stop it now. Call your boss and tell him he can drive up now. I’ll make sure he still pays you.”

Kurt couldn’t believe this was happening. He was wearing a three thousand dollar suit and not his tightest pair of skinny jeans he could only wear without underwear. His eyes blazing, he squared his shoulders and fixed the actor with a haughty expression.

“I don’t know what company you normally keep, but I’m not a hooker. I’m Ari Gold’s assistant. I will admit however, that you are probably right about the reason why he wanted me to be part of this meeting. He knows you’re gay and apparently you have a type. I’m also pretty sure, that he didn’t send me here to seduce you because he fired all his previous assistants for sleeping with clients.” Alright, he was fifty per cent sure that Ari didn’t expect him to seduce Blaine Anderson.

At least, the actor looked properly chastised. “You really work for the agency?” Kurt nodded. “So if I were the type to accept prostitutes as gifts and had come on to you, you would have…?” 

“Probably have slapped you,” Kurt finished for him.

Blaine laughed. “Well, then I’m glad I’m not into rent boys. Please sit back down.”

Kurt checked his phone. No news from Ari. Until his boss showed up, Kurt had to stay. So he sat back down, but with plenty of space between him and the actor.

“Are you at least gay or did I get that wrong as well?” Blaine asked. “According to my friends, I have shitty gaydar.”

Kurt laughed. “Your friends should meet mine. But yes I’m gay. That’s actually why I got my job. My boss thinks it’s less likely that his clients sleep with his assistants if he has gay assistants.”

“That’s only because there are barely any out gay actors. Otherwise, I’m sure you’d get lots of offers daily,” Blaine winked.

Kurt blushed and looked away. Blaine frowned.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be hitting on you. I’m sure you have a boyfriend,” he said while he busied himself with opening another beer.

Kurt was honestly confused. He didn’t know whether he wanted Blaine to stop flirting with him or to continue. But even if he let Blaine continue, what would he stand to gain from it? The actor was still in the closet and Kurt refused to date anyone who wasn’t out. And wasn’t it pretty presumptuous anyway to assume that Blaine wanted to date him. The actor was probably just looking for his next one night stand, and he wouldn’t find that with Kurt. In the end, he decided to just tell the truth and see how it played out until Ari arrived.

“I don’t.”

Blaine looked surprised. “How come?”

Kurt shrugged. “Guess I haven’t met the right guy yet.”

It was the truth. All the guys he’d met over the years had only been interested in one thing and when Kurt had refused to ‘put out’ after the third date, he’d been called a prude, frigid or worse, a cock tease. He’d had high hopes when he’d move from Ohio to California, but unfortunately college guys were the same everywhere. Nowadays, he was married to his job and even Santana had stopped trying to set him up. Not thinking about his relationship status had made his life much easier, though it was a lonely life.

“I’m sure you will,” Blaine smiled at him. “In fact, do you want to have dinner this Friday? I now this cosy little restaurant in West Hollywood that’s super discreet.”

Kurt looked up in surprise. He hadn’t expected that Blaine would ask him out so directly. With the way Blaine was looking at him, Kurt actually felt a bit bad for telling him no. The devil on his shoulder was also yelling at him that he was an idiot for saying no to a date with Blaine Anderson.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea,” he settled on.

“I see,” Blaine replied. “Would your answer have been different if I was out?”

Kurt made sure his voice was steady before he answered. “No.” But he was pretty sure Blaine could tell he was lying.

“It’s okay. I understand. I think if I were in your position, I wouldn’t want to date a closet case either,” Blaine said and got off the couch. “I, ah, have to check something in the kitchen real quick.”

While Blaine was gone, Kurt made a decision. He pulled a business card from his wallet and scribbled his private number onto the back. He couldn’t give Blaine what he was looking for, but he could offer to be a friend, someone Blaine could talk to, someone who understood even though Blaine’s situation was different than his own had been because Kurt wasn’t famous.

When the actor returned, Kurt handed him the card. “I’m not looking for a relationship right now, but I could use another friend in the city,” he said, making it sound like Blaine would be doing him a favor.

Blaine’s thousand watt smile returned. “Well, I’d love to be your friend, Kurt Hummel.”

The intercom buzzed. Ari had arrived and with him Santana to pick up Kurt’s car. He took it as his cue to leave. They didn’t need him to sell Gold Standard to Blaine. After all, the whole strategy had been Santana’s idea.

While Ari drove up the hill, Blaine raised his bottle to another toast. This time, Kurt meant it when he repeated ‘to new friendship’.