Kurt shows up at the bakery the next day and when he opens the door, he can hear Cooper scream.

“No, no, no, this is hideous, Tom!”

“It’s Tim,” Tim’s bored tone already sounds familiar to Kurt.

“You cannot wear a mask with such a grungy logo on it. We’re professionals! Mr. Hummel could arrive any minute, and you’re trying to wear that?”

“I, for once, think it’s great that Tim wants to express his individuality,” Blaine’s voice cuts through, “After all, we value our staff, don’t we Coop?”

Kurt doesn’t trust Cooper to say anything kind, so he opens the door to the bakery and the bell rings. As expected, the group of people is aware of Kurt’s arrival.

Apart from Blaine, Cooper and Tim, four other people are looking at Kurt. Kurt feels his heart sink slightly. Five people? Shit, he knew this was a small company, but he’s making five people do all of this? Won’t they overwork themselves?

Kurt reminds himself that Blaine and his staff have deliberated on this. They’ve agreed.

“Good morning everyone,” Kurt says cheerfully, pushing away his doubt. He needs to trust them. Well, he can’t trust Cooper, but he certainly trusts Blaine, who greets him with a warm and wide smile. Kurt holds up a box. “I bought donuts as a thank you gift!”

“Okay, yeah, I like him,” one woman whispers to Tim. Or at least, she thinks she’s whispering. Kurt can hear her clearly. To his utter surprise, Tim actually shows any kind of emotion on his face and he nods.

“Mr. Hummel, you are so gracious!” Cooper says loudly.

“It’s common decency,” Kurt says back, hoping that Cooper picks up on that decency, but Cooper immediately takes one of the biggest donuts out of the box without giving others the chance and Kurt has to suppress a sigh. How can this selfish man be the brother of Blaine?

Assuming Blaine is kind, of course.

Kurt doesn’t actually know him.

But Blaine does shake his head disapprovingly, and he tells Cooper to share. Then he turns to Kurt.

“Mr. Hummel, may I introduce our hard-working staff.”

Blaine gives every member of the team the time to introduce themselves. Tim just gives him a cold nod. Sinéad is aware of Kurt’s work, and she’s starstruck like Cooper, although she isn’t obnoxious about it like Cooper. Josefien is shy and the mask makes it hard to hear her quiet voice. Kamelah is the exact opposite. Faarax is very clear about the fact that he’s here for the extra pay.

Cooper’s about to open his mouth again, and no one wants that, so Kurt quickly cuts in to introduce himself and he mentions some of the things he’s planned and for who. Sinéad is proud to say she knows about his work. Cooper’s smile also grows when Kurt lists all the influencers and celebrities he’s worked with.

“Who’s behind this one?” Faarax asks.

Kurt smiles.