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"I think I'm like, three inches shorter after that." "It's probably for the better, honestly," Kurt teased, holding open the exit gate to the Matterhorn as his stepbrother lumbered off of the ride behind him. Finn rolled his eyes at that, holding his back as he followed Kurt away from the queue.
It was already mid day and the two had managed to make more progress than they had the previous day after deciding to separate from their more slow-paced inclined parents, who last they checked were still making their way through New Orleans Square shops. Thankfully, the four of them had two more days of their spontaneous "family bonding" Disney holiday vacation left, and the crowded park kept them from wearing out too fast by hitting them with longer lines, much to Finn's dismay.
As the two moved away from the ride, Kurt pulled out his park map from his back pocket, unfolding it as Finn fell into step beside him. "Well, if we keep going right around the mountain, we will be back in Tomorrowland," he said, glancing up in said direction. "We can do that and try to see if Buzz Lightyear is working again, or we can go back the way we came and do the smaller Fantasyland rides while we're here."
Finn's hands were in his pockets as Kurt turned to look at him for his opinion, and gave Kurt a small shrug. "I really don't mind either way. I just kind of need a break after that and Big Thunder back to back." Kurt nodded, and refolded the map. "Can we get something to eat first?" Finn added, his head already turned to face one of the many food stalls along the path ahead of them.
"I hope you're aware that it's not actually turkey."
"What else would it be? Besides, I keep smelling it and it smells really good."
Fifteen minutes later, Finn was already picking at the bone of his undetermined meat leg. Kurt sipped at his diet coke beside him, people watching as throngs of families and tourists alike strode past them. Honestly, he was surprised at how many screaming children he'd seen these last two days, but he supposed most children wouldn't be content in the holiday crowds no matter where they were. From his pocket, a quick text tone went off, and Kurt tore his eyes away from the guests to slip out his phone, glancing at the text illuminating his screen. He made a face, upset to see it was only Rachel, and quickly locked and slid the phone back in place.
He noticed Finn's gaze on him, and sighed. "Next time you break up with someone, please key them in that they can't go through me to get top secret intel on your whereabouts. Especially since Rachel is so keen to pad it with wanting to ask how I am with no real care for the answer."
Finn noticeably flinched, looking away again. "Sorry. I wish she would stop," he said, his voice sullen. "It's hard enough to deal with it already. Her hanging around and trying to apologize is just making it worse."
Kurt nodded in agreement, only able to imagine what both of his friends were going through. There were many moments where Kurt wished he had something more to say than "it'll get better", but his advice seemed almost useless and obvious, and his lack of experience in the matter of relationships contributed to that feeling. He wished he could hold his tongue, but he knew that at least repeated assurance was better than no comment at all with Finn.
"Things will die down," he said after a moment, considering his words carefully despite having used this script before. "I know it's hard to believe, given both your own current emotions as well as Rachel's persistence, but I do think-- and hope-- this will get better for you both." Kurt kept eye contact with Finn's face despite his friend's dropped head, but eventually smiled when Finn turned to look at him, and gave him a small, shy smile in return.
"I should probably just start paying you to be my therapist, dude," Finn replied, wrapping up what was left of the turkey leg. "You're good at making you feel better. Sorry you're kind of in the middle of it."
Kurt waved it off, sitting up straight as he prepared himself for the continued trek through the park. "Legally I can't charge you, but I won't decline tips." Finn let out a short laugh beside him, which never failed to stir the lingering butterflies in his stomach. Kurt swallowed, shaking his head at himself before he stood up, offering a hand to his stepbrother. With his non-Turkey hand, Finn grabbed it, and Kurt leaned away dramatically to pull the other from the bench.
"We should go on the teacups" Kurt said, which earned him a look of horror from Finn. He sustained a laugh, adding, "Not right now, or even today. But I feel like it's a staple, and I wonder how fast we could actually get it going."
"I think Puck said he wanted to do that with me too," Finn groaned, walking towards a nearby trashcan. "I mean, it sounds fun, but I know I'd throw up after. I almost died on Star Tours."
"In your defense, the 3D made us all want to vomit."
As Finn dumped his trash, Kurt turned towards the carousel, taking a moment to enjoy the music and atmosphere as he debated where the two of them could start. Finn walked up beside him, brushing his hands onto his jeans.
"Peter Pan looks busy, so maybe Pinnochio?" Kurt asked. "Or whatever was next to it. Snow White, I think? Or--"
"Kurt! Finn!"
Both boys turned around to find Carole waving, walking towards them with Burt by her side. "We were just about to call you two," she said once the two pairs met. "Burt and I were thinking about hopping over into the other park for a little bit. Did you want to join us?"
"Carole found out they serve alcohol over there," Burt added, to which Carole chuckled and hit his arm playfully before wrapping her own arm around his.
Kurt and Finn looked at each other for input. They both shrugged, which meant Kurt would have to make an executive decision. "Maybe in a little bit," he said, looking back at Finn, who nodded. "We were just about to do a few of the rides over here. But I think we'd both like to escape the parade before it starts again today, so before then."
The two parents nodded, both giving a small genuine smile at each of their sons. "Text me, either of you!" Carole said as she and Burt began to walk away again. Once they were lost to the crowd, Finn turned back to Kurt.
"Pinocchio sounds good!" he grinned. Kurt smiled in return, and started to walk in the ride's direction.
Apparently, the park could get even more crowded during the night, much to both Finn and Kurt's annoyance. The first night they had left the park just after sundown, having been exhausted from the travel the day before, and had only awoken when the fireworks shook the windows of their nearby hotel. While quite spectacular from a darkened hotel suite in itself, the family had collectively agreed to stay for the next night's show and witness it from inside the park.
Kurt and Finn, however, had been caught up in California Adventure, and ended up returning to the other park with their current's closing, only to find that the entire of Main Street was filled with visitors staking out for the fireworks that would begin shortly.
Kurt apologized profusely as both he and Finn narrowly dodged strollers and guests who were making an attempt to escape the fray, and tripped only occasionally on both stroller wheels and trolley tracks. Finn grabbed onto the back of Kurt's coat as he made his way out of the circle and the massive crowd.
"I don't think we'll be finding them in there now," Kurt said, both he and Finn still scanning the heads around them.
Finn shook his head. "Should we just find somewhere else? I can't really see the castle anyway, so I just want to be able to see the fireworks and not feel like sardines."
"Agreed," Kurt said, continuing towards the giant wooden entry to Frontierland. "We can get close to the back here. I think they shoot them off behind where the train drops you off in Fantasyland."
It didn't take long for them to walk towards the back of the park, thought Kurt had only just hit 'send' on his text to Carole that they would find them after when a Christmas song flared up in the distance.
"Are they starting?" Finn asked, his question punctuated with an explosion above them, causing both boys to jump. Kurt ushered Finn to the side of the path, and leaned against one of the fences just as another firework was launched into the sky, lighting up the park. Finn leaned beside him as both looked up above the park. Kurt could barely make out the song that was playing, but the eerie echo was soothing, and he found himself quietly humming along.
A soft sigh distracted him a few minutes later, and Kurt turned to see Finn still staring skyward, but his eyes sparkled with more than the lights of fireworks. Kurt's own breath caught in his throat, and he let out a sigh of his own after a moment, which caused Finn to turn to look at him. Even in the dim light, Kurt could tell Finn was tearing up, which Finn clearly realized, the boy turning and wiping his face with his sleeve.
"Don't you get emotional on me, Finn Hudson," Kurt said, leaning his body to rest his head against Finn's shoulder. "If you start, I'll start, and you know how I get." There was a wet laugh beside him, and another shuffle (and a sniff) as Kurt assumed Finn wiped his face again.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize."
Kurt was forced to move as Finn's arm moved to wrap around his shoulder, but was quickly pulled close again, Kurt's side going warm as it pressed against Finn's.
"Thanks, then."
Kurt closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his lips. Fireworks continued to burst above them, and they stood unmoving for a few moments before Kurt felt the boy's head turn, his face pressed into Kurt's hair. Kurt felt his face flush, but his smile remained, moving his arm to wrap around the other's waist. "Love you, big guy," Kurt said softly. The arm around his shoulder tightened as Kurt felt Finn move, letting out a small giggle as he was given a chaste kiss just above his cheek.