mindcracklove | Firework - Secret Santa gift for Tac

I'm terribly sorry that this is late, I couldn't quite finish last night due to a bad headache. But, I hope that this will still be enjoyable for everyone.

This fic is based on Katy Perry's song Firework (mainly because in the music video there was two guys kissing :3c )

This gift is for Tac (tackytacs here on MCL), and it is some nice SMS shipping for her. Enjoy everybody!

All around the castle, men and women of the realm were all chatting amiably and sharing drinks with loud, drunken laughter. Kurt, despite himself, found himself trying to locate the quietest corner of the activity that still managed to have a small group of people so it didn’t seem like he was a complete loner. Who am I kidding, Kurt told himself. I’m doing nothing but avoiding the loud music and people here, what more could I do to prove that I’m a loner at these huge kingdom-wide parties? He’d explored most of the castle by this point, at one point unintentionally wandering into the sleeping quarters, which he found empty much to his relief.

Kurt finally settled for a complete absence of others in his hiding spot, venturing out onto a secluded balcony that was high above the festivities in the front of the castle and inside the main room just inside the grandiose oaken doors that led into the castle.

“Trying to get away from the clamor?” a voice said from just behind him, and Kurt nearly jumped out of his skin and off the balcony, but managed to catch himself and not make too large of a visible reaction to the new appearance. He turned quickly but tried to appear calm, and he saw a well-dressed woman with long bright red curls flowing over her shoulders.

“Uh, yeah… Is it that obvious?” Kurt asked sheepishly. The woman smiled kindly and looked out at the crowds below them before she replied.

“Well, I’ve been walking around talking to the other guests and I’ve seen you moving from place to place without saying a word to anyone. No more obvious to anyone than another silent partygoer in a crowd of people.” The two stood in silence for a moment longer, looking down at the hubbub below them before Kurt broke the silence, surprising himself that he’d been the one to initiate a conversation with a stranger, but she had a sort of calming feel about her that kept him from freezing up.

“I’m sorry for not introducing myself. I’m Kurt, what might yours be?”

“Aureylian, but you can call me Aurey,” she replied, and Kurt nodded, tucking the name away in his mind. “Kurt isn’t a common name around here, is it sir? Because if I didn’t know any better, I might assume you to be th-” Her words were sharply and abruptly cut off by a huge explosion above them, making both of them jump in alarm and an exclamatory roar erupt from the large crowd below.

“What the heck was that!?” Aureylian shouted, rubbing her ears. Kurt could barely hear her, and he looked down at the crowds below as another loud blast shook the balcony, and Kurt fell back as a flash of color lit up the night sky not far from where he was.

“Sire, madam!” a voice called out to them from the entrance to the balcony. “The towers have been evacuated, please come with me!” Kurt and Aurey glanced at each other and followed the servant off the balcony and down a long set of spiral stairs as more explosions shook the tower every so often.

“Are we under attack?” Kurt asked once he could finally hear easily again, and the servant shook his head.

“No, it’s just fireworks, sire. Remember that prince Etho brought some along from his homeland? They discussed it during the meeting as well as when you greeted them in the main hall this afternoon.”

“Er, of course… Silly me. It must’ve slipped my mind,” Kurt said, more to himself than to Aurey and the servant escorting them.

“Slipped his mind, more like completely blocked out by his eyes being set on someone else,” the servant whispered to Aurey, who giggled quietly before requesting his name. “My name’s Beef, miss... “

“Aureylian, but call me Aurey,” she said, supplying the name for him, which he nodded gratefully for. “Who exactly might you mean he had his eyes on, sir?”

“I’m not 100% sure, but I think it was the prince from the neighboring kingdom by the name of Zisteau,” Beef whispered to Aurey, but this time, Kurt overheard him.

“Zisteau!? What about Zisteau!?” Kurt asked, whirling around to face Aurey and Beef, who both recoiled slightly at the sudden outburst, then once again at a physical bursting above them reminding them to keep moving.

“Nothing, milord. Just telling miss Aureylian here about some of the guests,” Beef told him, trying to look innocent as he said it, winking at Aurey with a smile when Kurt turned his back.

After a few minutes more, the trio made their way out of the tall stairwell and out into a deserted hallway. Kurt led them toward the main hall, and on the way, they eventually found more people, but with an abrupt turn of the final corner, they went from a scattered group of four or five near them to practically body to body with their neighbor as they waded their way to the front door of the castle.

“Ah, there you are, Kurt!” a loud voice called out as they neared the door, and a crowd of people seemed to be restrained from nearing a certain area of the castle courtyard near the door. The three ran to the person addressing them, and Kurt’s face nearly looked like it was aflame as it took on such a powerful red color.

“Z-Zisteau, hey. Er, this is Aureylian and Beef. What’s up with the circle of people around the guards down here?” Zisteau shook hands with Beef and kissed Aurey’s hand gently before replying to Kurt’s question, introducing himself personally to each.

“Oh, that’s just a place one of the other royals cleared out for all of us to sit and watch the fireworks. Personally, I see no need for it, but some kings just like their privacy I guess. Won’t you all join us?” Kurt, a complete mess behind his barely held-together calm demeanor, glanced at his companions for help, and Aurey was the first taker.

“Oh, I’d love to, but I must insist that you all join me inside instead. I’m going to be going to the stage soon. I hope you three will enjoy it,” she told them, and looks of confusion passed over all their faces, but Aurey was already walking back inside.

“I guess we may as well go back in and see what she’s talking about,” Zisteau said excitedly and led Kurt and Beef inside once again. They’d barely made it inside when Aurey’s voice rang out loud and clear above the party’s chatter.

“Might all the partygoers and royalty come inside once again in preparation for the next portion of the evening after such a wonderful display moments ago,” she said, and Kurt felt himself being washed away from his companions in a wave of people re-entering the vast hall.

Kurt found himself pressed against the wall of the room once he stopped getting tossed around by the crowds. He felt extremely uncomfortable in such close quarters with tens of hundreds of people in the room with him, but he tried to keep himself from appearing too flustered to those around him. Looking around over the crowd, he attempted to find Zisteau and Beef, but as he managed to boost himself up over the heads of the other attendees of the party, the lights dimmed all across the room, and a single spotlight illuminated the center of the room. Isn’t that the stage? Kurt thought, and his question was answered momentarily when a beautiful singing voice sounded throughout the room, the acoustics of the grand hall reverberating her voice to all ears.

“Do you ever feel like a plastic bag?
Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin?

Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?”

Kurt was captivated with the song, realizing that when Aurey said she was going to the stage soon, she was the one singing. He snapped out of the captivation and realized he needed to find Beef and Zisteau. Despite himself, he wanted to see the other prince quite a bit. It’s not just being friends, is it, Kurt? Beef probably knows already, it’s not like I’ve made it too subtle… The words of the song seemed to fit him at that moment; he sure felt useless. He couldn’t even talk to the other prince without getting flustered, and even if he could, there was no way he’d ever reciprocate his feelings. It wasn’t like a whole lot of men fell in love in either of their kingdoms, although it wasn’t unheard of. But Kurt’s odds certainly weren’t very good.

“Do you ever feel already buried deep six feet under?

Screams but no one seems to hear a thing

Do you know that there's still a chance for you

'Cause there's a spark in you?”

Kurt caught the words sung, and he couldn't help but feel as if the universe was telling him something. Either way, he needed to go find Beef, so he set off into the dark crowd, looking around and quietly calling his friend’s name.

“Kurt?” a voice finally questioned in return to his call. “Kurt, where were you? Zisteau was looking for ya!”

Kurt slapped himself for missing a chance, but his heart soared upon hearing that Zisteau had been looking for him!

“You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July”

“Where'd he go, Beef?” Kurt asked quickly, and Beef smirked happily.

“I knew you were into him,” he said, and Kurt blushed.

“Yeah…. Don't tell anyone though,” he pleaded, and Beef held up his hands to convey him stepping down from the matter.

“Wouldn't dream of it. But he should be up with the other royals, right? Go get him, tiger!” Beef teased, even growling quietly to make Kurt flustered.

“Shut up, Beef!”

“'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y”

Kurt could practically feel the music flow through him, filling him with confidence. Hell, if this was any other event or day, I'm pretty sure I'd have gone insane even thinking about doing this… Kurt told himself, trying to get himself ready to confront Zisteau about his feelings.

Much to his surprise as well as the majority of the audience, another booming sound sounded within the room, and bright reds, oranges, greens, blues, and violets began to light up all over the room high above their heads.

“Father, couldn’t you have timed this differently?” Kurt whispered to himself as he recovered from his mini heart attack, moving towards the center of the room.

“Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe”

Another set of fireworks exploded around the room, and this time one from behind the stage, which Kurt was nearing. He fell to the floor in surprise, knocking the red and blue glasses from the bridge of his nose as he went.

“Dang it…” Kurt muttered, and to his surprise, a hand reached down to him. At least, it looked like a hand.

“You don't have to feel like a wasted space

You're original, cannot be replaced

If you only knew what the future holds

After a hurricane comes a rainbow”

“Hey, you okay?” the man- the voice as clearly a man’s- asked, concern in his tone. Kurt nodded thankfully, but continued to move his hand around on the floor to find his glasses. Had he heard the man’s voice before?

“Here, you might be needing these,” the man said, chuckling quietly. It was funny how Kurt felt like the fireworks’ explosions sounded miles away when he was distracted with his clumsy mistake.

“Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow

And when it's time you'll know”

A blur of color flashed in front of his eyes in the semi-darkness, and Kurt could vaguely recognize the red and blue lenses within a white rim.

“Ah, my glasses! Thank you so much!” Kurt told his savior, who laughed once more. Kurt, despite his attempts to grab at the blurry shape, missed, his hand moving out to either side each time he tried.

“Need a hand there?” the man asked, and Kurt, face flushed with embarrassment, nodded thankfully. I wish that I wouldn’t need help like this, but clearly I’m a mess without glasses… The man began to move Kurt’s glasses closer and closer to his nose, gently moving the earpiece of his glasses over his ears, moving a bit of Kurt’s light brown hair out of the way. “There you go!” he exclaimed, stepping back slightly and offering his hand once again to Kurt, who was still on the floor from his search.

“Thank you once again, si- Zisteau!” Kurt nearly yelled in surprise when his eyes focused on the prince who had been aiding him just moments before, hidden by his blurry vision and the partial darkness.

“You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July”

“Hey, all better now?” Zisteau asked, pulling on Kurt’s partially extended hand and returning him to his feet. Kurt mutely nodded his assent, a blush painting his cheeks that he desperately hoped was hidden by the lighting. “Umm, everything okay? You seem a bit… hot and bothered?” Kurt froze up, but he took a deep breath, steeling himself to say his part.

“'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y”

“I- Z, umm…” Kurt started, floundering about and failing at getting his words across.

“Uh, yeah?” Zisteau asked, cocking his head to the side. “Did you hit your head when you feel there, man?” Kurt inwardly cursed his social shortcomings. He needed to say his part, but how could he when his words were utterly failing him? Oh gosh… THis is the worst idea I’ve had… ever. But, I guess I might as well go all or nothing since I’ve gotten myself in this deep.

“Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe”

Kurt leaned forward and took Zisteau’s face in his hands, much to both of their surprise, and despite Kurt being only an inch or two shorter, he felt like Zisteau was the size of a mountain that he could never scale. Here goes.

“Kurt, wha-” Zisteau began to question, but Kurt’s lips silenced him, slowly and tenderly slid together as Kurt led the two in the kiss. It was a gentle, tentative kiss, but to Kurt, it was like his heart exploded in his chest. He’d only ever dreamed of doing something like this before now, and here he was.

A burst of fireworks suddenly broke him from the trance of the man in front of him, and he jolted backwards, visibly shaken by the fireworks and breathing heavily. Zisteau looked the same way, but not quite as flustered by the noise.

“Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

It's always been inside of you, you, you

And now it's time to let it through-ough-ough”

“Umm... “ Kurt muttered, looking at the ground. “That’s, uh, well, I wanted to tell you how I felt, but I couldn’t say it, so I, well… ya know… I’m sorry.” Zisteau looked at him like he was insane, which he very well was, and Kurt’s soaring heart fell for the rocks, hope fading with each moment.

Suddenly, Zisteau burst out with laughter, shocking Kurt thoroughly. Why is he laughing?

“You’re really stupid sometimes for someone who likes smart stuff,” he said.

“I’m… very confused,” was the only thing Kurt could muster to explain what was going on in his head with how Zisteau was acting.

“What I’m saying is…” Zisteau faded his words as he leaned closer to Kurt, drawing him closer and wrapping his arms around the thinner torso of the brunette. “That I’m glad you did what you did.”

“'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

As you shoot across the sky-y-y”

“R-really!?” Kurt exclaimed, his eyes widening like saucers, his glasses reflecting the bursts of color going off behind Zisteau.

“Hell yeah, Kurt! You’re an amazing guy, and I’ll be looking forward to seeing you later tonight when there’s a couple less people around…” Kurt blushed again at Zisteau’s words, evoking a laugh from Zisteau, then Kurt shortly after.

“Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colours burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe”

Kurt glanced up at the stage, which was close enough to see each of the musicians and singers individually. Aurey caught his eye, and with a slight look at who he was with, smiled and gave him a thumbs up, followed by a heart made with both her hands.

“Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon

Boom, boom, boom

Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon”

The final verse of the song played out, and a long burst of fireworks went off, and the crowd started cheering and applauding loudly, but Kurt and Zisteau didn’t hear it. They were too busy looking at the bright colors filling each other’s eyes, but Zisteau giggled slightly at the sight of the fireworks lighting up the glasses he saw Kurt’s through.