Kurt and Nick, Friday

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Nick and Kurt have a father-son chat after class, then go for lunch.



Nicholas Gleason paused for a second at the end of literature class. Dilly-dallying at his desk he looked up at Professor Sefton with a nervous grin. Ever since his adoption papers had gone through, he had been a bit cautious around him. For some reason, Nick thought that any word would make the professor take back his offer, sending the warm feelings he had crashing to the ground.

Kurt gave him a quick reassuring smile in return, picking up his things and stepping forward towards the desk. "There was something you wanted to ask, Nick?"

"Yeah, there actually was professor." The boy stepped forward, scratching the back of his head with his free hand not holding a stack of books in his hand. He still wasn't exactly sure how to great Professor Sefton any longer. "I actually wanted to ask you a favor..." The boy held his hands up in front of him, already ready to substantiate his request. "But feel free to say no..."

"It is most unlikely that I will", Kurt said, warmly amused. "I cannot imagine you would ask a favour I would not be willing to grant... so what will it be?"

"Well..." the boy let out a long gasp of a breath that he had been holding in. "My birthday is coming up next month. And every year my dad and I would go to this second-hand book store down the street from my house, and he'd buy the first book he wanted me to read that year. He'd always get such a kick out of it. He'd always give me some kind of speech about how the book related to that year in my life." The boy paused, drawing a figure with his foot on the ground. "And, well, this is the first year he won't be around..."

"...oh, Nick." Kurt looked at him with compassion now. "You would like me to take over the tradition? I would be honoured - though you must know I do not want to replace the man entirely."

"I know that, Professor Sefton." The boy was finally able to look up at him, relief filling his entire center. "But it would do a lot for me if you did go with me." He tried to grin through his nervousness. "As long as you don't pick a book in German..."

He laughed at that. "In English, I promise. Until such time as I teach you my other languages, at least, but for now, yes. Of course I will go with you."

The boy paused again, shuffling his feet as he looked up at Kurt. "Professor, there's one more thing that I have to ask you..."

"Name it", was the instant response, Kurt in no doubt again that he'd agree to whatever it was.

"Every since the day in the medical wing, the same thing has been running through my mind. I didn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth at the time, but recently, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." He swallowed slightly, not one hundred percent positive he wanted to hear the answer to his question. "Why did you decide to adopt me?"

"There is not just one answer to that", Kurt said after a moment, slowly. "One would be that it seemed to be the thing you needed. Another would be that I had already taken you somewhat under my wing, you know, and of course I had come to care for you. The last is that I have always known any children of mine would be adopted, and while you are rather older than I had imagined - ", he grinned wryly, "- you were the one who came into my life, and I wanted to."

The boy squinted slightly. "But are you sure that you wouldn't rather have adopted someone younger? I mean it's clear that you'd make a great dad, and I already come with so much baggage and all..."

"Niki." He stepped forward again and set his hands on the boy's shoulders. "If I had wanted to adopt someone else, younger or not, I would have adopted someone else - and perhaps, sometime in the future, I will. But you will still be my son, as long as you wish to be."

The boy paused, the comfort of the professor's touch and the word 'son' were enough to calm him down a bit. "I know that in theory, but it's hard to accept something good in my life after the past year."

"I know how it can be so", Kurt agreed. "Just know that until you are able to accept it, I will be here. Things will be better for you now, I think."

"I can hope." The boy smiled, but in his heart, he knew that his life was already going so much better. He just hoped that he could keep it up. Or at least that Kevin could keep him supplied with food.

"We can always hope." Kurt squeezed Nick's shoulder briefly, then let go. "Tell me something, Niki. Do you have enough photographs of your parents?"

"They were almost all destroyed in the fire. I rescued two. One of them is upstairs, and the other..." He swallowed hard. "Is with my sister."

"You gave it to her?" Kurt asked gently. "It was a good thing to do. She should have something to remember them by as well."

"I'm happy she has it, regardless of whatever's happened to her." A lump formed in the boy's throat as he pictured his sister standing over him, holding a log and trying to end his life.

"She met the wrong people and was taken in. That is all", Kurt reminded him. "Do not give up hope for her yet."

"I just hope you don't give up on me Professor..."

"Never", was the firm response, and Nick got a one-armed hug then. "My brother and sisters will tell you, I am the most stubborn when it comes to the ones I love. I do not give up while I have a choice."

"I greatly appreciate that." The boy added as he began shuffling his feet forward. "But speaking of your sisters, why do a whole bunch of the guys around the mansion want me to start calling one of them 'Auntie Amanda'?"

"Because she would hate it", Kurt said with a grin. "Most of them would have known her when she was a student here, and they know it would make her feel old. I suggest you ignore them."

"I'll do my best." The boy forced another smile. "Oh, and professor, I'm not sure if I've said this yet, but thank you." Nick's eyes fell to the floor once again. "For everything."

"You are very welcome, Niki." He smiled, nodding towards the door. "Now, what do you say to some lunch?"

"Anything that isn't peanut butter and jelly or Easy Mac is a huge step up for me." The boy had to laugh a little. Even with all the growth he had gone through at the mansion, cooking was not one of them.

"...remind me to teach you a few basic recipes", Kurt said easily. "We cannot have you putting yourself into malnutrition, Lorna would never forgive me."

Comments

[xp_daytripper]

...why do a whole bunch of the guys around the mansion want me to start calling one of them 'Auntie Amanda'?

*dies laughing* Oh, that's just perfect...