Before We Meet

Chapter 14

As the days inched closer to the launch of the tour, Kurt felt completely swept up in the whirlwind of preparations. Luckily, after his breakdown with Rachel, all of the pent up doom he had been feeling was released. He felt calm. He felt like he could handle this. He just couldn't think about it too much.

So, he let himself get caught up in the preparations for the tour, namely the launch party Blaine's manager was hosting.

In an attempt to make nice with Kurt, Michael allowed Kurt the freedom to plan most of the details. Kurt was able to secure the event space at a local Italian restaurant. He was able to order a tasteful banner. He was able to create a low-key but still impressive playlist to play softly in the background. These were the easy parts. What he was currently struggling with was the guest list.

"Blaine, will you look at this list and tell me if it looks okay?" Kurt asked from his comfy nest he had created with a throw blanket on Blaine's couch.

Blaine walked over and grabbed the list, his eyes scanning it briefly.

"It looks good, babe."

"You didn't even look at it," Kurt sighed.

"That's because I trust your judgment."

Kurt bit his bottom lip and plucked up the courage to ask what he was attempting to passive-aggressively get at by handing Blaine the incomplete list.

"Do you think you want any of your family there?" He asked tentatively.

"Oh," Blaine paused. His eyes widened in surprise. "I.. uh.. I don't know."

Kurt knew this might be a sore subject for Blaine. He remembers the conversation they had about family. Kurt positively lit up talking about his mom, his dad, and even his stepmom and stepbrother. He shared about how he and his dad managed after the death of his mom and how much light came into their lives when Carol and Finn entered. He talked about the tea parties as a kid with Burt and the Friday night dinners with a growing guest list.

Blaine did not light up when he talked about how his parents subtly disapproved of his soul mate mark when he turned 13, specifically the glaringly obvious non-girl name it possessed. He did not light up when he talked about the rivalry between his brother and him growing up. He did not light up when he mentioned he barely kept up with them these days, only calling on holidays, and even then, it was mostly just his family keeping up appearances.

Kurt stood up from his nest and wrapped his arms around his visibly anxious boyfriend.

"Hey," he whispered. "It's okay. You can say no. No one will blame you. This night is about you and your amazing accomplishment of this tour. Whatever you say goes."

Blaine let out a sigh and closed his eyes, mentally debating himself on the pros and cons of inviting his family. On one hand, if he did, he would be the bigger person putting their differences aside. But, they could also turn him down, and the memories of being 13 and rejected still stung. He could not invite them, which would avoid all this, but then they might hear about it and be upset causing even more trouble.

"You can try. I don't know if they will come, but you can definitely try," Blaine resolved. He opened his eyes and looked down at his soul mate, thankful for the calm and peace those blue eyes brought him.

Kurt smiled up at him and squeezed Blaine's waist in his arms a little tighter before getting back to work on the party preparations.

•••

The event room was positively packed. Not willing to risk the potential fallout if the powers that be at the label found out about Kurt, he regretfully kept his distance throughout the night. Blaine, as it turns out, is just as charming to everyone at his record label as he is to Kurt. And more than that, Blaine is quickly charming his way through Kurt's friend list. No one was more enamored than Rachel.

Kurt watched from a safe distance, sipping his lemon water, as Blaine said something that apparently was positively hilarious since everyone looked at him with heart eyes and burst into laughter. Rachel laughed a little longer than necessary and reached out to touch Blaine's arm as she laughed. Kurt swallowed the lump of what he adamantly attempted to deny was jealousy in his throat.

"Careful now," a velvety voice said from behind Kurt, making him jump and spill some of his water. Setting his water down and blotting at his shirt with a napkin, he turned to see who was responsible for this abomination to his homemade shirt.

"Excuse me?" Kurt felt the anger drain from his body as he locked eyes with the newcomer.

"You don't want to kill anyone with those dagger eyes," the man said with a light laugh.

"You're Cooper Anderson," Kurt replied, mentally cringing at himself for the lack of social grace he is exhibiting in front of this gorgeous actor that he had been pseudo in love with through the credit commercials to his most recent blockbuster.

"That I am," Cooper replied, a toothy grin appearing on his face, his hand jutting out at Kurt.

"Kurt Hummel." Kurt's voice was light and airy as he took Cooper's hand.

Immediately Cooper's eyes rose high on his forehead.

"Now, I haven't seen my brother in a long time, but I do clearly remember Blainers gushing about how happy his soul mate Kurt would make him one day." Kurt swears he saw Cooper's eyes twinkle as the corners of his lips turned up in a small smirk.

Kurt blinked as his brain attempted to process everything Cooper just said to him.

"You're… Blaine's—"

"Brother, yes," Cooper cut him off to say. "Which means you must be his soul mate."

Kurt was sure his eyes and his mouth were opened unattractively wide at this point, but he couldn't stop staring at Cooper, realizing how bad of a boyfriend he was if he didn't even know Blaine's brother's name before tonight, let alone that his brother was even more famous than him.

"I take it Blaine hasn't talked about me much, huh?" Cooper said with a sad smile still on his face.

"Blaine doesn't talk about his family much, no," Kurt replied, wincing at the harshness of that statement. "But he can't really talk about me either," he said trying to make it better but ultimately making Cooper's sad smile turn into a small frown.

"Ah yes. What is the phrasing the agents like to use… 'Single and Straight' isn't it?" Kurt nodded. "That's a shame. Blaine had it hard enough with our parents attempting to force him back in the closet. I'm sure it's not easy having the entire world do it to him now."

"I'm surprised you came," Kurt blurted out unexpectedly as the realization of Blaine's brother—his family that Blaine had all but given up on—had come to his party.

"Yeah," Cooper said with a sigh. "I know I haven't been the best brother, but I do love Blaine and I feel like I need to do some making up for how I treated him when we were kids."

Cooper looked genuine as he said this, prompting Kurt to open his mouth to words of sympathy or empathy or something to ease the tension when Blaine's voice cut through.

"Coop?" Blaine's voice was quiet but steady as he stood in front of his brother and his boyfriend.

"Hey Blainers," Cooper started, pulling Blaine into a bone-crushing hug. "Congratulations on the big tour!"

Blaine's smile was authentic as he pulled back from the hug. Blaine opened and closed his mouth several times, struggling to get the words he wanted to say out.

"And talking to Kurt here, I hear another congratulations is in order," Cooper continued with a quieter voice this time, subtly tapping on his own wrist.

Blaine winced, expecting something rude to come out next, as he was accustomed to with his parents whenever his soul mate "situation" was brought up.

"I'm really happy for you, little brother. I haven't known anyone as excited about meeting their soul mate as you were, and you deserve some excitement and happiness in your life."

Kurt and Blaine both blushed and looked away.

"Thank you," Blaine said after clearing his throat in an attempt to swallow the lump forming. "And thank you for coming."

"I'm sorry I haven't been around more."

"I forgive you," Blaine said immediately.

Kurt's breathing hitched as he took in the moment between the two brothers. Blaine was so quick to forgive. So quick to love. So quick to accept Cooper back into his life. The qualities that Kurt had been searching for in a soul mate. Unconditional love.

Love.

Kurt was hit with the realization that love was exactly what he felt for Blaine. Of course he loved Blaine. He was his soul mate. He was in love with him. So why hadn't Kurt been telling him when Blaine so obviously craved it. Kurt almost blurted it out then and there, but held his tongue as he remembered where he was.

Soon, Kurt thought to himself.

•••

The rest of the party went smoothly. Kurt continued to keep his distance to avoid any suspicions, but he was much happier to watch Blaine from afar when he was able to see the visible change in happiness that came with the addition of Cooper to the party.

When it was time to wrap up, Blaine took his time thanking every person for coming, for their support, and for making the night before his tour so memorable.

Every. Single. Person.

Kurt politely smiled as each person left until it was just Michael, Cooper, Blaine, and himself. Kurt made his way over to Blaine and with a sigh of relief slid his arms around his waist from behind.

Blaine turned around in Kurt's arms and kissed the top of his head.

"Thank you for such an amazing party," he whispered. "And thank you for convincing me to invite Cooper."

Cooper, who had apparently been listening to the whispers, reached out and touched Blaine's shoulder. Blaine unwrapped himself from Kurt's arms and turned to his brother.

"I have to go, but text me, will you? I want to make it out to a couple of your shows."

Blaine's smile was the biggest Kurt had ever seen it.

"Absolutely," Blaine said, pulling Cooper into another hug before he left.

Cooper pointed at Kurt and winked as he walked out, causing Kurt to blush and Blaine to scoff.

"Make sure you're ready by 8:00 am tomorrow, Blaine," Michael said, also walking toward the door. "Enjoy your night, but remember, you have to be awake early," he added as he slipped out.

Finally, Kurt was left alone with Blaine. He reached his right hand up to cup Blaine's cheek, his left hand wrapping around his waist. Blaine's eyes were practically glowing with happiness over what had transpired over the night.

"I love you," Kurt whispered, his eyes meeting Blaine's. Unshed tears welled up in both pairs.

"I love you so much, Kurt Hummel," Blaine replied immediately, leaning in and kissing Kurt's lips softly. "Let's go home."

Kurt had never heard a better suggestion.