v: warbler days au – Page 3 – pianokeysandbowties back up

none of my business but..??

Shit. This wasn’t how the evening was supposed to go. Kurt looked up at Blaine from where he was sat on the floor and felt an embarrassed blush rise on his cheeks. This didn’t look bizarre at all… “Um..” His eyes flickered between his roommate and the still burning feather between his fingers- Kurt blew out that flame first, followed by the candle.

Thank god he wasn’t doing anything actually important…

“I’m- it’s nothing! Really just something to um…” Nope, no excuses come to mind. An odd smelling candle sure, but using it to burn things, the straw sitting beside him waiting to be added to the flame, the little white notebook open with instructions, not so much. “I got nothing.” His shoulders dropped and he sighed. Kurt started to pick up his supplies, nerves just concealed while he pulls out the drawer under his bed, moves the folded blanket sitting on top to reveal the rest of his various herbs and candles and rocks, and puts away what can be used later.

Obviously he walked in at the wrong time. Granted, when you live in a dorm full of boys walking in at the wrong time usually meant a much more embarrassing situation. Not that it ever happened to him. –It didn’t.– But this wasn’t so much as an ‘embarrassing’ situation than it was a hellishly awkward one. Blaine was curious to say the absolute least. He couldn’t stop glancing from Kurt to the various items. Or smelling the strange scent in the air.

All this time Blaine thought Kurt was into weird incense. Or was trying to make his own oils to wear. Nothing that ever stood out enough to hold his attention. By now, he was used to the faint scent lingering now and then. It wasn’t unpleasant. He liked it. Just never would have connected the dots in the way that he was now.

Kurt’s reaction made Blaine’s heart sink. The last thing he wanted was for Kurt to be embarrassed of who he was. Or what he found interesting. Lifting a hand–he motioned for him to stop. “You don’t have to quit. I can go. I–What were-? Sorry–. None of my business.”

kicking up dust.

Kurt was only slightly nervous at the way that Blaine laughed at his babbling; worried a little that maybe the other wouldn’t like it, but with the other moving their hands and pulling him against his side, he knew that he shouldn’t be. He tried not to shiver or tremble, even though he felt like an electric current ran through him as he was pressed against Blaine like that. He felt safe, warm, content, and for some reason it only made him keep babbling, to keep from getting too far into that feeling. He didn’t want to freak Blaine out or anything, after all. He wanted him to like him.

“Really?” His voice seemed to squeak faintly as Blaine stopped them and said he would love to sing with Kurt. His heart leapt in his chest and he was sure that the grin on his face couldn’t possibly get any larger. “I… I’m so glad, that’s amazing, and whenever you want or are free, it would be so great,” He babbled out again. He continued to follow Blaine’s lead, not questioning anything at all. However, when Blaine pulled out that key, his eyebrow did raise a bit.

“Oh, so you’re not like Nick and Jeff, with the stealing things?” He couldn’t help the light tease that left his lips, knowing full well that those two were huge trouble makers, and he was pretty sure he’d overheard them talking about hiding Wes’ gavel earlier. “Oh…” He gasped out softly then at seeing the stairs, but grinning and taking Blaine’s hand again. “It’s so amazing in here…” he stated softly, glancing at the other and flushing a bit again.

Blaine steepled his fingertips against his chest with a drop of his jaw and quick scoff of dramaticized hurt. “Me? A thief? Never. But I can’t say I haven’t shared some benefits of Jeff and Nick’s habitual sticky fingers. Mainly pranking other Warblers. So maybe I’m a thief-by-association, I guess?” Turning his smile towards the steps they climbed after making sure Kurt was okay with following–Blaine’s hand trailed up the long length of a wooden banister that’d seen better polishing days to a landing never letting go of Kurt’s hand. Unaware of the eyes on him–he glanced around the dimly lit room.

Heavy curtains were pulled open in spots with their white liners letting the late afternoon light shine through. Their steps on the dusty wooden floor kicked up specks to float around inside the beams. Tiny wisps danced and twirled from floor to ceiling. The spot must have been used as storage at one point. Chairs covered by heavy white tarps were in the corner. Stacks of old portraits that used to hang downstairs were neatly placed along the wall furthest from them. What the Warblers lucked out on was the old piano from their Common Room was placed inside it too and with careful care–it’d been brought back to tune. Chairs and timeworn couch framed a dark crimson rug in the center. What Blaine loved about this place most–other than the piano? Was where the gentle tug on Kurt’s hand lead him towards.

One of those large windows was actually a set of double doors that lead out onto a balcony. He didn’t really realize when the room faded and Kurt was the only thing he was looking at but when he did, his smile was bright, his face was warmer, his breath hitched like he’d been caught doing something he shouldn’t. “Come with me. I promise you’ll love this the most.” Breaking his too long stare by watching his hand push the door handle down, a crack and whine of old metal against metal echoed as he pushed the door open and nodded at the daylight and the smell of flowers and sunshine rushing in to mix with the old, dusty bookish smell of their hiding spot. “Check it out and if you don’t love Dalton a little bit more? I’ll eat my shoe.”

tina.

^{Noticing that Blaine was looking somewhere else, Tina followed his gaze to a table with a few guys sitting at it. Then she focused on him. “Well, they look like they are fun so it can’t be all bad. Anyways, what instruments do you play?” She looked away from the group because she automatically looked back over there when he pointed. “I play the piano and tap dance. I’m also a part of my school’s glee club so that covers singing and dancing. So it looks like we have some things in common. Though, I also enjoy fashion and making my own clothes as if you couldn’t tell.” She gestured to her outfit of the day that was obviously not something that could be completely put together from shops at the mall besides Hot Topic. She didn’t care what people thought though because it was how she chose to express herself.}

Blaine gave the table of boys a grin and a roll of his eyes at their behavior. Regardless if they were complete dorks–they were his world and that was that. Looking back at Tina as they bumped up in the line–he rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. “I play the guitar, piano and a few others. The piano is my favorite though. Always has been. My brother is more of a guitar kind of guy.” Hearing that she was a member of her school’s glee club piqued his interest and his brows burrowed in his curiosity. “Wait–? You do?” He figured she had to go to McKinley if she lived in this area. Several of Trent’s cousins did and if it weren’t for his family having the means to send him to Dalton–Trent would be there as well. “That’s what we,” his head ticked back indicating the table where his friends were, “are. We go to Dalton Academy in Westerville.” There was a glint of pride in honeyed hazel eyes that ignited as soon as he spoke the name of his school. It only grew in intensity as he continued. “We’re in the Warblers. You go to McKinley–yeah? That’s the,” he thought on the name trying to remember it from the Show Choir blogs. It didn’t take him long. “New Directions, right? Looks like we may be rivals in the future,” he joked with an aloof smile and a hum. “And I like your outfit. You have a serious talent and it’s unique. Sets you apart from everyone else. In a good way.” A peace offering in the form of a truthful compliment. Another step up and they were next in line.

tina.

^{It was nice to meet someone who was actually kind and friendly for once so Tina decided that it would great to let Blaine have his way. “Let’s ruin my dinner then. We all have to do our part to keep chivalry off of that list.” Tina couldn’t help giggling a bit. Tossing out the cup that was practically empty, she grabbed a napkin and wiped off the little coffee that ended up on her. Then she led the way over to the line. “So Blaine, when you aren’t working to keep chivalry alive, what do you like to do?”}

“Thank you for indulging me, Miss Tina.” Blaine paused beside her and glanced over at the table of boys who were giving him quizzical looks and gave them a shrug and raised pair of eyebrows back. Once Tina wiped the pesky coffee splash off her hand–his attention was fully on her and he stepped aside for her to lead. “Doing my part for the chivalry business takes up a lot of my spare time,” he hummed happily, “but when I can step aside from those duties? I–uh. Pretend I can play a few instruments and sing and dance? With those clowns back there mostly,” his thumb jutted over his shoulder towards the boys who busied themselves with anything but staring. Their efforts came late and they were busted anyway. “How about you?”

kurt.

Kurt couldn’t help but giggle a little at the way Blaine’s eyebrows went down, feeling his heart leap and do flips at the way it made the other boy look so cute, so handsome, so… God, he was going to have to control himself or he was going to melt into a puddle at this point, and he couldn’t do that. As soon as Blaine’s hand reached for him, he returned the favor, slipping his hand gracefully into the other’s. It felt perfect, and Kurt held back a tiny whimper at just how right it felt, like his hand belonged in Blaine’s, that he belonged there, following after him.

“An impromptu performance sounds perfect,” He stated, then turned red and quickly babbled, “I mean, for an excuse of course. Not that it’s going to be a performance or anything, obviously and that’s not what I meant at all. I mean, not that I would mind but that sounds dirty and I really didn’t mean it that way and just…” He stopped and cleared his throat and quickly added, “Maybe one day we can sing together, right? I mean, I would like that, if you would, but… yes, one class missed won’t be bad at all.”

Blaine felt his breath catch–hazel eyes brightly twinkling as they were drawn towards the sight of pale skin contrasting the more olive of his own. He stared–only for a moment–then blinked rapidly to knock himself back to the present rather than stay frozen in time when such a simple gesture made everything else come to a stop. “G-Great.! Glad you agree on the excuse!” Only a handful of seconds that left him with an awestruck, blank expression that quickly morphed into a cheeky grin and quiet laugh. Whatever that was–Blaine kept hold of Kurt’s hand even as he shifted around and it meant he had to tuck his arm over Kurt’s and hold the other boy’s against his side. He wasn’t going to let it go for anything. Not even Kurt babbling to try and get out what was on his mind. Especially not then.

Their shoulders touched as he swerved them around a corner towards a long hallway with a set of double doors at the end but came to a pleasantly surprised stop. Kurt wanted to sing with him? Of course the answer was–. “Yes. Yes, I’d love that. Whenever and wherever you want,” his thumb made a circle against the side of Kurt’s hand and he had to remind himself where they were going. A shake of his head and a bashful smile to the ceiling later–they were on their way. “Promise not to judge me too hard for what I’m about to do,” with his free hand–he dug out a small keyring from his bag and stopped by the doors. “This was given to me by Wes. No, I didn’t steal it.” He fully planned on taking Kurt’s hand again but had to let it go to hold the handle and quickly unlock the door to reveal a dusty set of stairs. “I’m not sure how on limits this place is but no one’s chased us out yet so–.” Taking Kurt’s hand back–Blaine lead him inside and let the door close behind them checking to see if Kurt was okay to follow with a questioning ‘you okay with this’ blink.

take my hand.

Kurt was sure that he was as red as a tomato by now, and he was hoping that Blaine wouldn’t point it out, because he was sure it was noticeable. He felt his shoulders relax though, at the soothing sound of Blaine telling him that it was okay, and to breathe. Just those words, the way Blaine said them, knowing that it was okay for now at least, it helped Kurt to relax. Relax for a moment at least, before suddenly Blaine was speaking again, and that strong, warm hand was on his shoulder.

“Oh,” He managed out breathlessly, a soft smile crossing his face as he ducked his own head, his heart leaping in his chest and feeling like it was doing flips at hearing the confirmation that Blaine was indeed gay too. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment to gather his thoughts, the fact that Blaine was so close, smelled so good, was so kind, it was all feeling like just a dream right now. “I… Y-yea,” He nodded his head quickly, chuckling and ducking his head again, “A nicer place would be a lot better, lead the way?”

Kurt getting any cuter was surely impossible. Or that’s what Blaine thought. The fidgeting and stuttered words? How he struggled to breathe when Blaine didn’t think of himself as anyone who anyone should have to put themselves through that much of nerve wracking anxiety over Adorable was the only word that would fit the description. Kurt was flat out adorable worrying so much about nothing that deserved to be worried about. And it just kept going proving to Blaine that he was wrong. Kurt managed what seemed like an unreachable level of cute. In leaps and bounds.

Laughing when Kurt laughed–his eyebrows twitched together and he didn’t realize he was pouting in adoration. Until his teeth pinched his bottom lip and gave him a warning. Puppy dog eyeing someone who was barely able to think probably would only make it worse. “Okay,” he spoke barely above a whisper but it was enough for Kurt to hear the empty room. “Great! Come on. Let’s get out of here.” A slender hand reached for Kurt to take as Blaine began to step backwards. “Last class of the day. I’ll use the impromptu Warblers practice excuse if anyone asks on the way. You can say you’re coming to sing with me,” he grinned all conspiratory like. “Not that I am a huge advocate of playing hookie but..one class won’t hurt. Right?”

just breathe.

Kurt felt his heart sink into his stomach at the way Blaine seemed to turn red like that. Well, this wasn’t going well at all, he thought to himself, and it was only going to end up with another failed crush and a broken heart for him. Why had he thought to do this? Why had he used the tiny bit of courage in this way? He felt like banging his head against the wall for being so stupid, so idiotic, so– Wait, Blaine was still talking, he had to focus.

“I… yes?” He managed out slowly, chewing on his bottom lip and scuffing his shoe on the floor a bit. He watched Blaine duck his head and could only feel more scared at the response he was going to get. He couldn’t help the way he turned red himself, scarlett clear to the tips of his ears. “I just… I couldn’t just… ask…” He mumbled out, “I can’t… I don’t know… you are?” He lifted his head up then, eyes wide at hearing that, flushing more if possible.

Blaine tried–and failed–not to show in his expression how pitiful poor Kurt seemed and how he made his heart practically bleed for him with how mortified he was acting. No one should feel that ashamed. Even if they were just caught redhanded graffiting a ‘somewhat harmless’ saying on the bathroom wall by the very person they were writing it about. Acting as guilty as Kurt was sort of negated any frustration or anger that anyone with a conscience or beating heart could possibly feel. “It’s okay. I mean it. Breathe, Kurt. Breathe.”

A softened expression watched Kurt let what he said sink in and looked at him with a wide-eyed expression that Blaine lifted a hand to palm at his mouth to hide his smile at. “Yes. I am,” he confirmed with a nod and swung his hand out to gently clasp Kurt’s shoulder, bowing his head looking up Kurt’s eyes and get his point across. “I am.” He laughed then–eyes twinkling even though they stayed pinched at their corners. “I–ah. As much as having this conversation is something I want to do? We are in the bathroom? Do you want to come take a walk? Somewhere with prettier scenery,” he tried joking to lighten Kurt’s mood and put him more at ease. “I mean–your mural’s great but I know a place.”

duran.

“Oh, well, if that’s the case,” Duran said, giving Blaine a lopsided smirk, “Then how about we go out to dinner and dessert sometime soon?” He’d already gotten the yes, now they just needed to actually plan it. “I’d love your number as well. I’ll also give you mine.”

“Here. Send yourself a text and I’ll have it,” Blaine dug his phone from his pocket and typed in the password before handing it over. His hand was shaking and he didn’t notice it until the phone trembled against his fingertips. Great. Only mild embarrassment! A tad! Nothing overly humiliating?! “How about this weekend? If you’ll be around. I’m not sure if you go home to visit or not. But if you don’t? I’m doing absolutely nothing tomorrow?”

duran.

“I think that’s a deal I could agree to,” Duran said, unable to stop grinning. “I could, in theory, give you a call later on with a restaurant picked out.” He wanted to make a good impression on his fellow student, so to Duran, location meant everything.

Blaine felt his cheeks getting hotter and inwardly begged for them to stop. It was just a theoretical situation. Dinner. Not a date–right? The word wasn’t specifically used. Dinner and dessert. Nothing to blush over. Yet. Here he was growing increasingly redder by the minute. “I’d even give you my number so we can plan it out better. You know–if you want it for real instead of in theory. Totally up to you. Since we’re only tossing ‘hypothetical ideas’ around.”

duran.

“So, hypothetically, if I were to ask you out to dinner, would you say yes?”

“Those hypothetical questions. They’re a lot easier to answer sometimes. Aren’t they? Well, Duran. I would say hypothetically, of course, if you pick the place? I think I would happily agree to come along.. As long as I was allowed to buy us coffee and dessert after..”