Blaine sat in his chair frozen as he saw the retreating figure leave his dressing room. It couldn’t possibly be who he thought it was? After all this time, he would just show up in his life again? He stared back into his mirror and sighed, “Alex, what happened?”
“I was just trying to inform Mr. Hummel on your dietary requirements and he didn’t seem to think they were important.” Alex mumbled out as she fell back onto the couch in the room.
Blaine swirled around to look at her, “Excuse me?”
“I, umm…”
“I can’t believe you did that! You know I don’t care about all that stuff!’ He grabbed his head in his hands and breathed in and out. “He’s going to think I’m a complete ass-shat.”
“Ass-shat? What do you mean, why do you even care if he thinks you’re an ass-shat?” Alex asked him, looking up.
“Well first off, he’s my director; I’d rather be on good terms with him. That’s also Kurt Hummel.” Blaine pointed out.
“Yes, I know his name.”
“No Alex, Kurt. Hummel.”
Alex opened up her eyes as wide as she could and gaped at her client, “Oh! The Kurt Hummel that broke your heart so many years ago; the one you desperately tried to forget but couldn’t; the one that made you extremely lonely for the past five years?”
“Yes Alex, that one.”
“Awkward.”
---------------
Kurt had his back turned towards the cast as he looked around the audience seating area. In just 3 weeks, they would be open to the public and he had to make sure everything was just right. He turned around as he heard everyone go silent, a pair of shoes echoed on the stage as it approached the edge. Kurt opened his mouth and looked down at the cast list in his hand; trying to search for a name he hadn’t seen before, “Well, you must be the new Phantom. Only a minute late, better than Tatum is all I can say.”
The rest of the cast laughed as they remembered the scheduling conflicts that Channing always seemed to have when it involved getting to musical practice on time. But who in their right mind would miss being directed by the famous Chris Colfer.
“Well I would hope so.”
The voice made Kurt stop in his tracks; he looked up and stared into the abyss he once knew as the gorgeous eyes of one lovely Warbler. His face must have given him away because Blaine was smiling that puppy smile of his, the one he knew that Kurt was never able to resist. But he was determined to keep everything professional so he went into business or nothing mode, “Mr. Anderson, have you had any prior Broadway experience?”
What a stupid question, of course he had.
“I think you know the question to that Ku-.”
“The name is Mr. Hummel to the newbie.” Kurt said, looking at his clipboard. He heard the cast snicker and felt his ears turning slightly red. He hadn’t meant to embarrass the poor guy, but if Blaine thought he would try to get Kurt to fall for him again, he’d be sadly mistaken.
“We slept in the same bed for a year; I think we’re past that.” Blaine pointed out.
Everyone gasped and stared at Blaine in shock, no one had spoken to their director like that. Anyone who had tried would instantly get fired. A tall male blond right beside Blaine scoffed at him, “How dare you talk to Kurt that way, you’d better apologize.”
Kurt just laughed, “Woah Connor, everything’s going to be okay. You know how I deal with disrespect.”
“Yes, I suppose you’re right.” Connor smirked at Blaine and stepped back to the side.
“What did you have in mind?” Blaine asked, “Come at me bro.”
“Everyone, you can go to Grant in the corner and practice your vocals. New guy, you can start by getting into your work-out clothes and running a few laps around the theatre.” Kurt explained, setting his clipboard on the seat behind him.
Blaine just gaped at him, “Are you kidding me, how many laps?”
“Until I’m sure you’ve learnt your lesson.” He then winked at Blaine before heading up onto the stage and into the back.
-------------
“How long are you going to make him continue running?” Connor asked, taking a seat next to Kurt on the stage. The vocals had finished about 15 minutes ago, and Blaine was still going strong.
Kurt frowned, “No one has actually done the laps before, so I assumed 5 minutes. But he looks like he’s doing fine to me.”
They continued watching Blaine make his way around the theatre for the 20th time before he stopped in front of Kurt and Connor, frowning at their tangled feet, “Am I finished now?”
“Yes,” Kurt said; his eyes twinkling in the light, “You can start your first scene with Rosy. She’ll lead you through what you need to do.”
Blaine nodded before going over to the lovely redhead who was standing off in the corner by herself. Kurt followed him with his eyes before turning back to Connor, “Don’t look at me like that.”
“So that’s Blaine?” Connor asked him.
Kurt smiled, “Yeah, that’s him.”
“I can’t believe you gave that up. Maybe I’ll have to go after him myself.” Connor licked his lips in thought.
“You’ll stay away from him if you know what’s good for you. He doesn’t need anyone else to break his heart.”
“Awe, don’t worry babe. You know you’re the only one for me.” Connor said as he kissed Kurt’s cheek. Kurt laughed it off and jumped onto the ground, “Are you going on a coffee run?”
“Yeah I a-.”
“EVERONE! KURT IS GOING ON A COFFEE RUN! GET YOUR ORDER IN!”
------------
Kurt sighed as he crossed the street and walked in the back door to the theatre. He groaned in realization that he had gone through the wrong side door and that he wouldn’t be able to get through the tiny door in front of him that was currently blocked with props, but he wouldn’t be able to get back out the other way.
“Umm hello? Is anyone there?” He called out.
“Kurt?” A voice asked from the other side of the props.
“Oh thank god it’s just you Connor, could you grab this tray of drinks so I can get over?” He asked the faceless person he was hoping was Connor.
“Uh yeah, sure.” The voice replied and grabbed the tray from Kurt who had held it high above his head.
Kurt managed to find a slight crack between the props and the door and he managed to squirm his way through it, slipping on a cord onto the ground and falling face first into the hard stone floor, “Fuck!”
“Language Mr. Hummel.” The voice tutted, he looked up to see Blaine Anderson holding the three trays of drinks he had paid for and brought back.
“Oh shut up; or I’ll make you do laps again.” Kurt hissed as he stood up and grabbed the coffee from an amused Blaine.
“Oh I don’t mind, it’ll give you a chance to appreciate the body you gave up.” Blaine said, looking the other direction.
Kurt’s face flushed as he walked back onto the stage, setting the trays on the piano. Everyone ran over and grabbed their respective drinks before going back to what they were doing. There were still two drinks left, “Who’s the extra for?” Blaine asked him.
“It’s yours.” Kurt said, frowning before grabbing his drink, he took Blaine’s out of the tray and then proceeded to throw the trays away.
“You didn’t have to get me coffee.”
Kurt turned to look at him, “I treat every one of my cast members just like everyone else. You’re no exception.”
Blaine watched him in awe, “And you still remember my coffee order.”
Kurt looked over and scoffed, “Of course I do.”
----------
“Alright guys! Everyone did so well today! I’d like everyone to give an extra set of applause for Mr. Anderson over there, whose first practice went quite smoothly.” Kurt clapped along with the rest of the cast as Blaine just waved at them all sheepishly.
“Thank you guys so much for welcoming me with open arms, it really means a lot to me.” Blaine said; his eyes were tearing up on the sides.
Kurt, who realized when something was getting awkward ushered everyone out of the building, “Mr. Anderson, if you could just stay a few extra minutes; I’d like to have a word with you.”
“Uh, sure.”
The rest of the cast filed out, laughing and joking around with each other. Trying to decide which club to go to tonight, and what outfit they should wear. Kurt waited until absolutely everyone was gone before he spoke, “What you said earlier today was completely inappropriate.”
“Well what you did to my heart five years ago was pretty inappropriate too.” Blaine pointed out, leaning against the piano.
“I guess I deserved that didn’t I?” Kurt asked; Blaine nodded in response. “I’m just hoping that we could put all of that behind us so that you can have a successful stint in a Kurt Hummel show, and I can have a great last ‘Phantom of the Opera’ directing spot.”
Blaine nodded his head, “I guess that would be good for both of us.”
“Thank you.”
“So are you going to the club tonight?” Blaine asked nonchalantly.
Kurt shuffled back and forth on his feet, “I don’t tend to go to the bars with the others really, I tend to go home and wait for Rachel to get home.”
“You still live with Rachel?” Blaine chuckled a bit.
“Yes I do, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t laugh. She’s doing quite well on Broadway as well.” Kurt growled.
Blaine held up his hands in mock defense, “Okay, my guns are down. Just come on Kurt, come to the bar with everyone. If not for me, for everyone in the cast?”
“Well I suppose I could do with a few drinks…”
“Great! I’ll meet you at Club Z in a half an hour!”
“But that doesn’t give me enough time to get ready!”
“Trust me, you look fabulous.” Blaine said, winking before walking away. Kurt had to stop himself from looking at the way Blaine’s hips swayed back and forth. It was going to be a long night.