Chapter Text
Prologue
On the fortnight following one's 16th birthday, a name was slated to appear on the love line of one’s palm. It would be scrawled in the bearer of said name’s handwriting, and it would be in their favorite color. According to most sources, it didn’t hurt when it appeared. They say it feels pleasant and warm, like holding a cup of hot chocolate after being out in the snow. Specialists really had no idea how this was possible, but everyone could agree that somehow, the name was that of the bearer’s soulmate.
Present day
Kurt stared down at his phone screen. Mr Schue was saying something, but he didn’t have it in him to pay attention, and he also just couldn’t be bothered to care.
“What is it this time?” He thought. “Another riveting boys vs. girls lesson, where I will be forced to endure yet another 80’s rock song? A Rachel pity party because she just HAD to have the solo? Gosh, why not both?”
“Rachel, you get every solo. Maybe you should let Mercedes give it a try this time.” Ah, so it was the latter. Well, he did love some good drama. He shoved his phone back in his pocket and looked over at Rachel, who he figured would either cry or storm out. Kurt figured either would be interesting, although he was not one for others’ suffering. Sometimes it seemed like Rachel deserved it. Suddenly, a shout rang out from the other side of the choir room.
“Oh my god!” Tina looked as if she had just seen a ghost. It wasn’t an exasperated yell, more one of pure shock.
“Tina, are you alright?” Mr. Shue rushed over, clearly concerned.
“I just got my mark!” A wide grin spread across her face as she stared down at her hand. “It’s Mike.” It seemed as if the entire glee club had never seen a mark before, as they all clambered to get a good look at Tina’s hand. There, sure as can be, was “Michael Chang Jr.” messily written in navy blue. Kurt sighed. His mark-day was only 2 days away, and the wait seemed torturous. He would dream about different names appearing, especially those of celebrities.
“Oh Mr. Keanu Reeves, I know you must get this all the time, but I’m Kurt, your soulmate!” Then he would hold out his palm, and Keanu would hold out his, and then take him in his arms, and…
“Kurt? Kurt? Hello?” He snapped back to reality as Mercedes waved her hands in front of his face. “You’ve been really out of it lately, are you ok?”
“Yeah. It’s just that my mark’s supposed to show up really soon and I… I’m kind of nervous.” He breathed. If he were anyone else he would’ve run his fingers through his hair, but he wouldn’t dare ruin the careful styling he had done.
“Oh honey, I’m sure whoever you get will be great. They have to be, if they’re your soulmate. If they’re not, we can be single together. My birthday isn’t for another 5 months, so you at least have that long.”
“Thanks Mercedes, you always know what to say. Sometimes I feel like we should me soulmates.” He smiled. Mercedes let out a laugh that he could tell was forced, but he chose to ignore it. He was usually pretty good at ignoring things, such as the fact that his soulmate would definitely be a man. He hadn’t told anyone, but he figured he’d put it off until the name appeared. He had considered that Taylor could be considered a girl’s name, thus granting him some (brief) plausible deniability, but came to the conclusion that the “Lautner” following it would probably give it away.
•••••••••••••••••••••••
Kurt drifted through his next classes, half awake and half in daydream-land. This school was so easy that it really didn’t matter if he paid full attention anyways. He found himself in his Navigator, although he hardly remembered the journey there. He daydreamed on his ride home, (almost running a red light), he daydreamed while he did his homework, he daydreamed during dinner, and in the shower. The only time he wasn’t daydreaming was when he was actually dreaming.
“Keanu and Taylor, I know I have both of your names and you both have mine, but I cannot choose. I know you’ve fallen head over heels in love for me, but I think we all know that you are meant for each other…” He woke with a start when his dad came into the room saying something about eggs and brunch.
“Something wrong, bud?” Burt sat on the edge of the bed. It seemed like everyone was always asking Kurt if he was okay, or if something was wrong. Was he really that transparent?
“I get my mark today.” He shrugged, acting as if he didn’t feel like he was going to die in the 7 hours he had to wait for it to even begin to appear. It was two weeks after his 16th birthday, and he knew it would start to fade in at the time of his birth. He was born at 4 PM, which meant an entire morning and half an afternoon of just waiting and staring at his hands. It also meant that in 7 hours he’d be out to his dad, whether he liked it or not.
“You know, soulmates are important. You know that your mom and I were real close, and I don’t think I was the same after we lost her. When Carole’s name showed up, I was thrilled that I’d get a second chance. But Kurt, you are still your own person once you’ve found your soulmate. You’re two halves of a whole, and without half it can’t work. Don’t throw yourself around like you don’t matter. You matter, Kurt.” Before he could respond, Burt pulled him into a tight hug. As he pulled away, Kurt looked down at his hands again.
“Don’t be too long kid, I’m ready for breakfast and Finn isn’t waking up anytime soon!” his dad chuckled and exited the room, leaving Kurt dumbstruck.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
3:55 pm
Kurt thought he was going to explode. This was cruel and unusual punishment brought upon by the universe to make his life, specifically, miserable. 5 minutes until he could see who he would be bonded to for the rest of his entire life. 5 minutes before he was out to his dad, and depending on if he wore gloves the next day, the glee club and consequently the rest of his school. He stared at his hands, his mind racing.
“What if they fall off right now? Where would the mark go? What if I literally die at 3:59? What if I don’t get a soulmate? What if my soulmate is a woman? What if my soulmate has a really terrible name like Penis Mann or something? What if…”
3:58 pm
His dad looked at him from across the kitchen.
“Need anything buddy?”
“No, dad, I need these next 2 minutes to be over so I can see who I’m going to fall in love with and then go read vogue to unwind from the terrible stress I’m under.”
He stared.
And stared.
And stared.
3:59 pm
He was beginning to shake. He knew he was getting too worked up, Tina hadn’t even mentioned it until the moment it came through in glee club. Kurt wouldn't have even gone to school that day out of the fear that he’d be driving home when it would show up and he’d miss the big moment. He was really glad that his birthday was on a Sunday.
4:00 pm
A soft heat began to spread beneath his fingers. His eyes widened. A swirling maroon pattern started to emerge from the line. He could make out a few letters, but it was incredibly faint. His heart pounded in his ears.
“B…” he sounded out, “B… L… A…E…”
His hand grew hotter and hotter, almost burning, but not to the point where it hurt. He looked around his kitchen one last time, took a deep breath, and glanced down once more.
“Blaine Devon Anderson.” He whispered, a single tear rolling down his cheek. This was it.