Chapter 5

Blaine smiled with a blush as he said goodnight to Kurt at the door to his bedroom, clearly embarrassed and Kurt just waved with a smile, determined to be casual, not giving anything away. As Kurt closed his door behind him and fell back, leaning his weight on the warm wood behind him, closing his eyes for a moment, a sudden knock sounded by his ear. He opened it to find Blaine, shoulders by his ears, sheepish grin gracing his face.

"Sorry you left this here last night," said Blaine, whilst handing him his shirt, a blush creeping his face.

"Oh yeah," Kurt's cheeks tried to match the colour of Blaine's face and succeeded. He almost sunk in on himself as he went to close the door, Blaine holding it open casually.

"I thought we could just have a casual morning around Cairo before our plane to Luxor, is that ok?" Blaine said.

"Oh yeah, sounds nice, no rush in the morning then?"

"No I'll meet you at 9 for breakfast?"

"Yeah sounds good, sleep well," Kurt said, smiling pleasantly.

"Night Kurt," Blaine said smiling then his lips pressed tightly together and he walked away to his own room.

xXx

Breakfast eaten, coffees drunk, Blaine and Kurt found themselves wandering around Cairo with no real plan before their flight mid-afternoon but soon decided to go to the Egyptian museum there, much to Kurt's excitement.

Seeing the red brick building and climbing to the balcony was exciting enough as they looked below to see the pharaoh statues, proud and strong ahead, with smaller statues lining the sides by the pillars. Kurt almost gasped but held it in check as he looked at Blaine, who only laughed.

"I can't believe how excited you are," he said, "I mean I find it adorable but anyone would think it was your honeymoon that had been planned. This seems to be your ideal trip."

"You didn't want to come here?" Kurt asked quietly, not sure how to take the last comment.

"Oh yeah I suppose so, but it was Liam's idea, I would probably have preferred somewhere like Paris or Venice; somewhere more romantic."

"But seeing how it turned out, aren't you glad you're here instead?" Kurt asked kindly. Blaine looked at Kurt sideways from where he was standing next to him and thought about what he was saying. Although he was right, a romantic holiday would have been awkward, he couldn't help but begrudge the fact that he was supposedly enjoying a holiday that Liam had wanted. Blaine only agreed with Kurt as they started to wander the rooms and alcoves of the museum, Kurt gasping and almost running towards certain objects in excitement. Even tourists were starting to look at Kurt with amusement.

"I can't believe this is here!" He exclaimed, as he ran to the famed King Tut sarcophagus. If he was allowed, Kurt would have stroked the gold majestic coffin and he stood with his mouth a silent 'o' of wonder, as Blaine smiled. The gold was so detailed, even to the tip of the feet area, that even Blaine was impressed.

"Imagine spending that much money to ensure you lived on in luxury…" Blaine was saying, as Kurt wandered around the whole coffin, "It seems silly to believe that you can take what you have with you, it's all dust really."

"Wow, you're really joyful this morning," Kurt said sarcastically with a wink, then he returned his gaze to the sarcophagus.

"But don't you think it's silly?"

"No worse than the belief in a god or devil, or a dwarf in the sky actually. All belief is silly when put it next to reason and logic."

"So you don't believe in anything?" Blaine asked.

"No not really, not organised religion anyway but I know it does make a difference to some people and I'm not going to deny that. My friends prayed for my dad when he was seriously ill in hospital and I'll never know if that helped or not, but the thought was there anyway."

"Why was he ill? He is ok now?"

"Oh yeah, he had a heart attack a few years back and was in a coma but a serious healthy diet will keep him well."

Kurt continued to look at the wonders around him, amazed by all the gold masks and jewels and laughing at the Egyptian statues of slaves and Akhenaten who apparently had a pot belly. All the statues Kurt and Blaine saw of him, had little sunken bellies flopped over their cloth covering their nether regions. Kurt couldn't help but giggle.

The statue of the dwarf Seneb and his family was interesting, the couple atop their two children who were only a foot tall and the mummified dog and bodies were amazing to see.

"Why would you mummify a dog?" Blaine asked incredulously.

"If they wanted to take it with them to the afterlife it was mummified or buried with them." Kurt answered as Blaine nodded.

Kurt could never have his fill of this place but there was the necessity of getting back to finish packing and their flight to Luxor later. They left after Kurt seemed to buy the entire gift shop and returned to their hotel.

They finished packing, got their transfer car to Cairo airport and checked in, so as they waited they had a light lunch before they boarded.

"I take it you didn't like Cairo?" Kurt asked after a comfortable silence. Blaine looked up in surprise then smiled.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have been so hateful while I was there, it is amazing I just feel a bit pissy today."

"I get it, you've had a lot to deal with this last week. I'd be pretty pissy too." Kurt smiled kindly.

"I know, I just don't want to be left with my thoughts, I find that I think too much."

"What about?" Kurt tried to sound casual as he continued eating his blueberry muffin.

"Liam, his job, the wedding or lack of, what I'm going to do when I return. I thought I could use this week to forget, be in complete denial." Blaine looked so small that Kurt could suddenly imagine him as a young child, not being allowed on a rollercoaster that he was really looking forward to going on.

"Well what do you think about Liam? Do you hate him? Regret anything? Need closure?"

"I think I have closure to be honest. I knew we weren't right, he's been distant for months but I put myself into looking for gigs at bars, excited about my music and I didn't really miss him. I hung out with our friends, wrote songs during the day, enjoyed New York. I'd fill him in on my day when he asked and he'd tell me about his court cases and it never occurred to me that we were living separate lives, it just sort of worked for a while."

"Why did you want to marry him?" Kurt asked and Blaine paused for the longest time, so that Kurt suddenly felt he had to touch the newspaper someone had left on the sofa nearby, to anchor himself.

"I guess I loved him, couldn't see a reason to not marry him. He had never done anything wrong, we were in love once so I just assumed married life would just be calm and sensible."

Kurt smiled. "I really hope not, that sounds rather dull."

"I suppose it does really," Blaine said sadly and Kurt felt like an idiot stepping his foot in it again.

"When was your last relationship then?" Blaine looked at Kurt, hoping to turn the conversation onto something or someone else.

"Six months ago, James, an accountant."

"Wow we both seem to have terribly boring exes." Blaine laughed, "An accountant and a lawyer?" Kurt laughed.

"Yeah he was anything but boring in the bedroom department though. I found him in bed with his accountant's assistant and I discovered he was at the bottom of a long list of recent conquests from the office. Don't let anyone kid you that accountancy firms are dull," Kurt laughed without humour and went back to his blueberry muffin.

"Oh god Kurt, that's tough, I'm sorry."

"Oh don't be silly, I've had six months to get over that toad, life is for the living not for wasting my time."

"How long did you date?"

"Or live together and get engaged?" Kurt smirked again, "Three years."

Blaine didn't know what to say, conversation delving into awkward territory and Kurt didn't seem to want to fill the silence straight away.

It was only as they boarded their flight, listened to the air stewardess repeat her instructions in English and demonstrate the exits that Blaine turned to Kurt, words on his lips, that he realised he wanted Kurt to feel good, wanted him to know he was worth so much more.

"You know you're a pretty good fuck too right?" Blaine whispered in Kurt's ear, after several minutes of silence. Kurt looked at Blaine in surprise and laughed so loudly, people looked at them and fun conversation reigned again between them.

xXx

They arrived in Luxor an hour later and got a transfer car to their new hotel at Luxor. They had discussed plans of trips they wanted to take for their last few days, as Kurt had collected information leaflets from Cairo and as soon as they arrived at the new hotel they spoke to the receptionist to book excursions. Once they had unpacked, Kurt making sure his clothes were packed in the wardrobe carefully, they decided to go out for a meal in the local area and the restaurant Puddleducks caught their eyes.

They were welcomed in and food ordered. Their starters of sea bass and spring rolls arrived, Blaine and Kurt agreeing to share between them.

"Mmm, this is gorgeous, try this," Kurt said, as he leant forward with his breaded sea bass, leading to Blaine's mouth and Blaine ate it quickly, accidentally licking Kurt's finger in the process. Kurt smiled.

"How do you do that?" Blaine asked.

"Do what?"

"Make everything seem like you've never done it before."

"Well, I have never eaten in an English restaurant in Egypt before."

"No I mean you're so happy. Like all the time."

Kurt took the implication and smiled sadly at Blaine who was looking at him as if he knew all the answers.

"It will get better Blaine, you will feel happy again."

"Oh god, I know," Blaine said, sitting up feeling stupid, "I didn't mean to turn this into a pity party, I was just thinking out loud I guess."

They continued sharing their meals as their mains and dessert came out. Banoffee cheesecake being a highlight and the drizzled caramel looked to die for as Kurt tentatively licked the sauce and licked his finger. Blaine laughed.

"You're doing it again!"

"What? Oh, don't be silly, I just enjoy my food!"

"Well I think you and that food need to get a room!"

Kurt laughed. "You need to stop being fixated on my mouth," Kurt mocked, Blaine only smirked, his silence speaking volumes. Kurt got up later to go to the toilet and he pointed to the sign of Peter Rabbit at the door and mouthed an 'aww' as Blaine smiled.

Hours of conversation whizzed by as they sat and ate and drank, people soon trickling out and they were the last to remain. Blaine and Kurt had laughed, joked and forgotten terrible boyfriends and past experiences. They were determined to enjoy their holiday and Blaine leant back after he had had his fill of food and felt he could burst and looked at Kurt knowing that he would much rather have this guy's company, with no worries than the guy he had left behind.