Duran laughed. “It definitely doesn’t feel good. I’m pretty sure I’ve knocked myself out a couple of times, then I started building up my muscle. Makes gripping the pole easier.” He was definitely starting to feel more at ease, and none of the awkwardness he felt earlier lingered. Duran felt it was actually a lot easier to talk to Blaine about more things now that the initial ‘hi’ was out of the way. And the thought of teaching him how to pole dance was actually more appealing than he’d thought, though he wasn’t going to push for it.
“I’m too in love with Dalton,” he continued. “Plus, between you and me, there’s more eye candy here.” Duran had always entertained the idea of going to a public school, but he’d seen what some of those guys looked like, and he really wasn’t interested. There was something more appealing about a well dressed guy, even if he personally preferred to dress more casually.
Now it was his turn to blush. Looking down at himself, Duran absently tugged at his blazer, trying to adjust it. “You think so?” He asked. Looking back up at Blaine, he wore a bright grin. “You know, it looked great on you too.”
Blaine laughed quietly as he imagined what the situation look like knocked out on someone’s floor after falling off a pole. Explain that to the EMTs when they showed up and try not to let it get back to his father, hm? It was an amusing thought and one he might take Duran up on if he ever could shake the fact that he’d be asking a guy to teach him out to pole dance. It was a stupidly embarrassing reason to shy away from the offer so he kept a smile because he didn’t have to force one–he was truly happy and enjoying his new company.
Because of that? He decided to chide himself once he was alone for being such an idiot to find what was just a hobby–Duran wasn’t on it for dollar bills for crying out loud–as embarrassing. Perking up with a twinkle in his eye when Duran proclaimed his love for Dalton–Blaine nodded and had to stop himself from blurting out how much he did too. A wistful sigh parted his lips, his smile faltered for a second as a bubble of homesick filled his belly but he dove headfirst into the conversation quick enough to hope it wasn’t that noticeable.
“Yes I think so,” he tucked his chin towards his collar at the compliment. “Ah–? Thanks,” a lopsided wide smile lingered when he lifted his head just enough to meet Duran’s gaze. “It’ll be missed. It is missed. I figure trade in the tie for the bowtie,” he tapped the blue and gray fabric bowed perfectly at his collar. “Sort of makes me miss it a little less and besides? At least I get a few more varieties of color to mix in? There’s that?”
Finally at Blaine’s house, he turns off the GPS app on his phone. The nine p.m full moon is beaming light down through his windows as he looks at the steps he’ll be walking up soon.
Feet wont un-glue themselves from the floor of his car as slender fingers stay gripped to the wheel. iPod is playing on the speakers at an almost mute volume, songs that usually give him confidence. But he’s afraid, afraid of what he’s made of himself still. Sebastian created the illusion of a monster. Even though Blaine had made it clear that he accepted Sebastian’s apology, he still felt horrible. Finally taking a deep breath, he grabbed the coffee from the cup holder && got out the drivers seat.
Blaine had mentioned the door was unlocked, so Sebastian wearily opened it up to find turned off lights&&made his way down the hallwaytowards Blaine’s room. A sliver of light was glowing from the bottom of the door, contrasting with the rest of the house. Pressing a light knock to his door, he waited for a response. Silence. Furrowing an eyebrow, he slowly cracks it open to find Blaine passed out on his bed. Sebastian smiles the slightest, not a smirk, just a smile. Blaine looked fast asleep, peaceful && delicate. He’d never seen Blaine asleep before, && even though he felt semi creepy he couldn’t keep from staring at him for a moment. He was so god damn handsome. It sucked to think that the reason he had that eye patch on was because of Sebastian himself.
Tiptoeing fully into the room, he sets the coffee down on his nightstand that sat next to Blaine’s sleepy head && takes a spot at the edge of the bed as quietly as he can. Sebastian didn’t want to wake him, he must be tired from all of what he’s been through lately. Eyes scanned around the bedroom, observing it innocently. Spotting a picture of Kurt && him on Blaine’s desk, Sebastian stares at it for a moment. He looks so happy next to Kurt. Why did Sebastian do any of this? This was just a couple that wanted nothing but love, yet he kept finding new ways to try && corrupt it. Self-ashamed, he frowns a little, pressing down on his bottom lip with the top one in regret. He knew what he needed to do, he needed to break down those stone walls he hid behind for once && for all.
Staying awake became increasingly difficult the more the painkillers kicked into overdrive. As out of the blue as it was–it ended up with him inviting Sebastian over and then remembering he was about thirty minutes away from passing back out from the haze they put him into he’d just woken up from before their ‘talk’. His request for coffee was a means of combatting that drowsiness but he deeply underestimated their strength versus his tolerance. He battled it for about ten minutes–head bobbing and jerking back up from where he sat back against his headboard. Then he was laying down and there was an idea of getting out of bed and walking around the house that crossed his mind. Before the pillow started to feel too good against his cheek–that thought was a good one. Better than almost falling asleep sitting up?
The covers pulled up to his chest weren’t helping win the chilly room much favor on where he’d rather be. Out light a light seconds later. Down for the count. One arm draped over his middle and the other cupping the back of his head between his hair and the pillowcase. Donezo. Sebastian coming into the house and shutting the door downstairs made Blaine shift closer to the land of the living. Eyelids fluttered but then evened out again once there was silence. A rustle on the bed shortly after woke him up for real. He laid there motionless trying not to give up the fact that he was awake just long enough that it took him to look through a veil of black eyelashes up to Sebastian who was staring at the picture of Kurt and him on his nightstand.
One of several around the room that happened to be right there. He wondered what was going on in his thoughts behind the thoughtful, stoic mask that Sebastian wore. Did he think he was a goofball for having pictures of someone he saw practically every day littering his room? That was okay. He could. It would only embarrass Blaine a little if he said something about it. “Hey,” he whispered in a voice scratchy from sleep when he decided to clue Sebastian in that he was awake. “Are you okay?” He hoped that by coming here Sebastian walked into something better than he would have if he went home. Not just a different house filled with another problem that would weigh him down.
He was still clearly flustered, and she couldn’t tell if it was because she was asking the hard-hitting questions or because he was unsure of the answers he was giving. She hoped it was the former, because if he was unsure and he was still going to NYADA, then it could turn out horribly. “You know, you’re kind of reminding me of Leslie Knope when she’s trying to lie to Ron about sleeping with Ben,” she mused, smiling awkwardly. “If this is really what you want, then I think that’s great, Blaine. NYADA is an amazing school, and I’m sure you’ll do really well.”
“Oh God I do–don’t I? Sorry–just–sorry.” Marley calling him out on how he wasn’t quite making eye contact while stuttering for the proper way to word himself on something he was so–scared–of messing up to the point of freaking himself or worrying that this was going to be a huge disaster–was justified. Pretty much. What was he doing? What was he going to New York City to re-build when he wasn’t sure of the foundation he was building it on? He just had to circle back and tell himself he knew that this was right and everything would work out. If he could just shut out the nagging voice dooming him and his chance before it began. “You know? It is and I hope I do?” Tossing on his best reassuring smile and forcing the excitement that made his toes wiggle in his shoes back out of the clouds that doubt hid it behind–Blaine stepped into pulling her into a hug whispering over her shoulder as he held tight. “And thanks for caring about me enough to question my reasons. I appreciate it.”
He couldn’t believe he’d actually admitted that out loud, and now Blaine was asking about it. Putting everything else on hold for the moment, Duran scratched the back of his head nervously. “I–ah,” he started, grinning sheepishly. “It’s not something I usually talk about, but pole dancing is something I’ve always been into. I think I actually started in, um…middle school? Or when I was thirteen?” He honestly couldn’t remember. Duran felt like he’d been doing it all his life at this point. “I just liked the idea of people doing fun tricks on a pole, and I told myself I’d be one of those people.” The more he talked about it, the more comfortable Duran felt.
“It’s definitely not easy. I still fall off from time to time.” He lowered his hands back to the table, forcing himself to keep them there. “Are you interested in learning at all? I can see you doing it.” The former Warbler had expressed some interest, so Duran didn’t feel embarrassed recommending it. It was a good work out too, he thought.
“Anyway, yeah. No, you’re right. I don’t want to transfer schools just because of the dress code. Dalton is my home.” He smiled. “I get plenty of t-shirt and sweats use at home anyway.”
Was he making him nervous? Was it the questions about the pole dancing? He didn’t see anything wrong with it–to each their own–but he could understand where the rather unexpected yet curiously unique hobby might make the person into it worry about whether or not they’d be scrutinized or judged by someone ignorant enough to think it was their business to do so. Still? Interrupting him would have been rude. Duran seemed to be relaxing some.
Unless he showed that he’d rather not talk about it and went past the line of being shy to uncomfortable? Blaine was going to keep his mouth shut and pay attention. Even lean toward the coffeecup he drug close debating another sip. Or to draw this one out so the conversation would last longer before refills. The mental image of Duran falling on his rear off a pole drew a toothy smile and quiet chuckle.
“That has to hurt when you do. Depending on where you are at the time. My luck?,” he grinned, “I’d be upside down and woosh!” His hand swung up with a pivot of the wrist towards the ceiling then swooped to the ground, “Ouch.” He paused at the offer and went a few shades of pink. “Maybe someday I’ll take you up on the offer. Soon as I get settled in and figure out what the inner workings of the public school system–again. I’m glad you’re staying at Dalton. If I helped in that decision,” he shrugged and sipped his coffee flicking the fingers of his left hand like he tossed away any idea of guilt, “I’m not in the least bit sorry. Sweatshirt it up on the weekends all you want. That blazer looks great on you.”
Tina bumped his shoulder with her own. “It’s the truth though. It’s one of the better things to come from glee club, even if you did start out as the enemy.” She smirked at her best friend. “Oh yes, if anyone can rival her, it would certainly be you. Though, it wouldn’t be as terrible as it was when she was around.” As far as she and Rachel have come, Tina will never completely forget those first three years they knew each other. “Is that really a surprise though? You look like a cute and harmless puppy while she was like an irritating fly that would never go away.” Tina couldn’t help laughing at the image of Rachel. Seeing the look on Blaine’s face, she squeezed his hand. “You know this whole talking thing goes both ways, right?” She hoped that he would confide in her because she wanted to help him as much as he wanted to help her.
Blaine blinked with his mouth hanging agape at the mere insinuation that he ‘started out as the enemy’, “Tina! I never! Every time I came around you guys–I was totally off the clock. Enemy? I’m offended. He devilishly grinned right after unable to keep up the charade of being completely offended for long. A double take later–he was laughing happily with a slight shake to his head and a drawn out, “You know? I think you should be honest with me on how you really feel about Rachel. Irritating fly?” His nose crinkled with a fresh wave of the giggles before he reached up and cupped both of her cheeks pressing a quick kiss to her forehead before ducking down so they were eye-to-eye. “–I’m keeping the puppy compliment. No take backs on that one.” Back to holding hands and back to settling in beside her–he squeezed her hand back and pursed his lips off to the side. A ghost of his chuckle remained in a gentle smile but he didn’t quite meet her gaze just yet. “Thanks, T. That’s sweet. Soon as I feel like making my problems anyone else’s? I’ll go to you. But I’m okay. I really am. Or I’m getting there,” he stole a peek over at her and his smile grew, “I promise.”
Tina leaned back on her arms and looked up at the rafters and didn’t speak for a few moments. “It’s not that, It’s just…….some habits are hard to break. You know what the club is like, someone has to get talked over and that usually was me.” It was one of the reasons she had gotten upset with Mike because he didn’t listen to her, just talked over her until she backed down. “I do know that Blaine and I’ll do better. If I could thank the glee club for one thing, it would be for meeting you.” She was curious about what the other thing was so she looked at him and waited. The comment about Rachel made her chuckle lightly. “Alright, we can do that and see how it goes.” She wasn’t completely sure that it would go over well but she was willing to take the chance.
“Aww, Tina,” he pouted down at their hands toying with her knuckles by tapping them with the side of his thumb to a beat he made up. “I’m so glad I met you too. You’re amazing. Just remember you have someone who’s listening and we’re good. Thanks for trying. That’s all that matters.” Blaine felt her watching him and looked up grinning until he burst out in a quiet chuckle to echo hers. “Good. Because if there’s anyone who knows how to talk above people to get their attention that runs a close second to Miss Berry? You’re looking at him,” he huffed with a playful roll of his eyes, “I think people sometimes forget how good I am at that. Not that I’ve been trying hard lately.” But that was for his own reasons. Most of which were glaringly obvious since Kurt and he broke up to anyone who knew him. “It’ll work. There’s no other option. Not for my girl. My head’s back in the game and we’re going to do this. Okay?”
“I thought about transferring to McKinley,” Duran admitted. “I heard it’s a little more relaxed over there, and the lack of uniforms is sort of a plus.” Hearing Blaine talk about how happy he was with his new friends made Duran sort of sad – he didn’t have personal connections over here. He wanted to, but he didn’t hold the same love for show choir that everyone else had. Singing really wasn’t his thing, but the dancing he could get behind.
“Well, if you want to know more about me,” he started with a grin, “then you should know I’m super into pole dancing.” It sounded strange, admitting that out loud, but it was a love of Duran’s and he liked to think he was already fairly good at it. “I have a pole at home that I play on a few hours a day.” He didn’t want to hog the conversation either, but he supposed it was fair if they kept going back and forth.
“What else do you want to know?” He asked. “Maybe we can go back and forth, unless you have somewhere else you need to be.”
“You have? I guess those are good reasons for transferring if they’re that important but? I don’t know. Dalton is a place I miss every day. Are you sure you’d want to give it up for jeans and t-shirts,” he shrugged not wanting to come off as some jerkish know-it-all. Or that he regretted his decision–he didn’t—because that wasn’t his intention. Blaine never would have imagined that he’d leave Dalton until they forced him out at graduation. His only reason was Kurt. Kurt alone had the power to change where he wanted to be. To be so important to him that he’d leave home because his home was some where one else. All Kurt.
Giving it up for anything else? Never. But who was he to judge or try to sway Duran out of the choice that was his to make? Quieting down with an embarrassed bow of his head–Blaine’s face clearly showed a flash of confusion in his expression when Duran mentioned he liked poledancing? Rapid blinks erased his baffled squint. “Sorry. That’s new and unexpected but it does sound pretty fun. Like really fun.”
“I don’t have anywhere to be,” Blaine gently smiled and tapped the paper hand protector on his coffeecup. “What inspired you to start poledancing sounds like a great place to begin.”
She remained silent, her eyes on him as her head bowed slightly in that way she did when she was unsure of something. “So you wanted to go to NYADA to begin with?” she asked, wanting to make sure she understood what was going on. “You don’t really sound so sure, Blaine,” she pointed out. “If you’re doing this for you, so you can get a good education at an amazing school, then that’s great. I’m 100% supportive of that. But if this is for you to somehow get back with Kurt, I don’t think it’s a smart idea.”
“Of course,” Blaine was quick to correct her bringing up both hands to show he didn’t mean to be as rushed or brash as he might come off. “NYADA is the best school–one of them–in the country for someone who wants-,” he tripped and fumbled in his rush to turn their conversation away from the idea he was doing this all for Kurt. So fast that he didn’t finish his opening argument before contradicting himself. “What makes you think this is only–No. I mean no. I started convincing myself that maybe I wouldn’t go there because it would be too awkward. Too weird and it might hurt too much but things are different. Better,” he met her eyes. “A lot better. Who knows what might happen but if I stand a chance at getting–,” his lips rolled between his teeth and he smiled in a fluster, “getting–onto Broadway–NYADA is the place to be.”
( mssg » blaine | sent ) Alright, I’ll pick you up a coffee. Medium drip, right?? ( mssg » blaine | sent ) Thank you for understanding, killer. My dad is such an asshole, especially when hes in his extra raging bastard mood. Spending time with you is much more enjoyable. Especially if its being spent trying to get your trust back. Bc thats important to me. Ill get your coffee & be over in about 20.
( mssg » sebastian | sent ) Thank you so much, Sebastian. Medium drip is perfect. That should be enough to wake me up. 🙂 ( mssg » sebastian | sent ) You don’t have to thank me. you’re welcome. I’ve told you before that you’re are safe here when that happens. I wouldn’t take that back. Not even after this. i’d never be that cruel to y ou. ( mssg » sebastian | sent ) I unlocked the door. My paerrnts aren’t here. Dad had to fly back out and mom’s staying overnight in Cincinnati after dropping him off at the airport. feel free to let yourslef in. Typo city I think. Sorry. Yes. Bring coffee.
With a small growth of his smirk && a slight eyebrow raise, eyes roll playfully as he keeps his coffee gripped in hand. Knees spread apart under the table, leaned back in the chair as if he was right at home as comfortable as could be. ( Of course it wasn’t at all relevant that he always felt at home when around Blaine. That was a story for another time. ) Sebastian licks his lips with the smallest bit of tongue, letting out a snicker at the words he was being told. There had to be a reason Blaine wasn’t moving && it sure as hell wasn’t because his feet were glued to the ground where he stood for several minutes now. ❛ What last guy? I don’t see one. Last time I checked the only guy I have eyes for as of right now is you. Though I do love a good ass no matter what, I prefer a perfect one—- && yours? Definite perfection, Blaine, really. Kind of convinced you’re wearing padding under there. ❜
That smirk! That smirk drove Blaine to stand his ground even more firmly. Toss in the eyebrow raise? Game on. Blaine’s hand hanging at his side curled into a light fist that was shoved into his pocket while the other lifted so he could sip his coffee. An unwavering golden hazel downward stare right into Sebastian’s eyes began to twinkle with a newfound determination to stay put, breathe, and not budge. “Mm. I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention. I figure if you’re lounging here people watching–there must have been one or two.” He eyed the area around them over the top of his cup but didn’t move his head. That way? Once he was done? Sebastian was his focus just as he mentioned he only had eyes for him ‘as of right now’. Thus opening a doorway for Blaine to volley back. “Exactly. As of right now. How am I supposed to–” Damn it! He choked on the closing when he felt the temperature of his face start to rival the heat of the sun. Definite perfection? Padding? He had to blink, had to shake his head to clear out a cobweb or two. “You caught me. That’s what I do. What about you? Is that eyebrow permanently glued to your hairline? Or have you trained it to stay up there?” ––Yes. Please stop that.– What it did to him every single time wasn’t fair. Sebastian knew it. He had to. He was quick enough, smart enough and that just was mean.
pianokeysandbowties back up 