“Thank you for coming, Santana.” Blaine offered the girl a warm, welcoming smile as they stood inside the grand foyer of Dalton Academy. In the post class hours, the entrance itself was quiet. Most of the students were in their extracurriculars, having dinner, or off in their dorms leaving him as the sole person standing in the massive room waiting for the Cheerio to arrive. He’d sent her a text asking to speak about Kurt. Thankful he had a means of contacting her aside from asking Kurt. A+ for being sober enough at the beginning of Rachel’s party to exchange numbers before both of them took a two person ticket to Drunk Town.
Their plan to meet up came a lot sooner than the weekend. Just a few hours later and she was here. In Westerville. To Blaine’s surprise but not really. “I meant it when I said you didn’t have to drive all the way to Dalton. I could’ve met you in Lima when we took Trent back for the weekend but thank you for coming. How about coffee? We could get some and then go talk?”
Barely past the time McKinley let out, Rachel’s phone began to ring. Blaine waited to hear her voice before perking up and greeting the brunette diva. “Hello, Rachel? It’s Blaine. I know this is probably pretty embarrassing to bring up but I wanted to check in on you.” Blaine cringed inwardly as he leaned his shoulder against a beam with a giant Lima Bean logo plastered directly in the center. “Word travels pretty fast.” No mention of how the messy events reached the attention of the Warblers so quickly. They had their ways.
“Rumor has it you suffered a rather traumatic experience at your assembly? Something about a chain reaction lesson-the-hard-way to never drink before performing. For the sake of not wanting to go into too much detail, I’ll leave it there. But! I wanted to check and see if you were alright. I know food might be the last thing on your mind but I thought I’d invite you to meet me at the Lima Bean for tea? My treat. I think you deserve it after today..”
❝ Oh no, she still has a slight VENDETTA over him for cracking eggs on her head last year. Long story short, they dated for a while when he attended McKinley — for some reason or another — and he ended up betraying her by breaking her heart. It wasn’t pretty. So, my answer would have to be no. But, on the topic of coffee, we’ll have to see. Rachel and Mercedes are friends with Kurt, so they can’t POSSIBLY judge me, lest they be labelled h y p o c r i t e s, and they wouldn’t dare. Their massive diva egos would SHUDDER at the thought of being ‘ unjustifiably accused ’.
❞
“You know, word travels fast from one show choir circle to the other but I never heard the story of how Jesse Saint James cracked eggs on Rachel Berry’s head. That’s pretty brutal even for competition standards. Some people. Coffee! Right! If this is an acceptance of the invitation then I’d be honored. Rachel and Mercedes will just have to smoulder in silence if they find out and disapprove. I’m willing to leave any and all talk of the Warblers and New Directions on the Not To Be Discussed List regardless. Besides. There has to be more to learn about Quinn Fabray that’s much more interesting. What coffee you drink is good for starters. Yeah? You can tell me on the walk.”
You can do this. You can do this.
The mantra was in his head the entire walk towards where he was told Kurt disappeared to after classes were over. Blaine was a jittery mess of nervous excitement and determination that he felt dancing through his limbs. Electrical currents of a pull and need he never felt so deeply before. They all met inside his chest and sped up his pulse into a thundering thump, thump, thump echoing in his eardrums. Need seeped into his bones carried him closer and closer towards the entrance. Blaine swore he didn’t need his eyes open to find the way. It ran so deep that he could close his eyes and the draw would lead him right to Kurt.
His entire world changed in a matter of minutes.
Thanks to his voice and love and tears shed for such a simple little creature that meant the world to him. The two of them could’ve been the only two people inside the room as Blaine’s awareness of feelings he’d caught himself feeling, thoughts that crept in and were quickly brushed away for not wanting to ruin what they had until he convinced himself he was oblivious to them refused to be brushed under the rug again.
What started out as the briefest of pauses just out of sight so he could roll his eyes closed, thunk his head off the wall, take two gulps of air and shake off the last of his nerves so Kurt wouldn’t see ended with..
The first taste of Kurt’s lips still coated his. A tingle Kurt’s hand left behind was a ghost haunting his skin. Just like that.. Blaine Anderson’s first kiss, a truth he never confessed to Kurt that day on the steps at McKinley because Kurt needed his support and for him to listen–and then the detail just didn’t seem to mix with what he was trying to be for Kurt so mentioning fell to the wayside, belonged to someone who he shared an equally bashful laugh with.
The person who made falling feel like floating so high he’d never come down.
That laugh, that was a hint. Tucking down into his arm until Kurt spoke? The first real display of true shyness Kurt was allowed to see. ‘I thought we were..’
Blaine was up and out of his chair. Their lips crashed together this time. When he feathered a touch across Kurt’s cheekbones, he was gone. All his air rushed out in a sigh through his nose and his tongue grazed over Kurt’s bottom lip. His insides went up, went down and he tasted what it felt like to know that at last, he FINALLY let himself come home.So much for learning to fly, why not just throw yourself off the cliff and spread your wings? It wasn’t so scary to do when you knew someone was doing the same thing.
Fingertips mindlessly toyed with the hem of the pillow underneath his head, arm reaching up and back so he could trace the seam of the pillowcase. A lazy night watching movies sprawled out on Kurt’s bed. There wasn’t a better way to spend a weekend. Not a single one he could think of. When Kurt suggested he come over, Blaine was more than happy to accept. Spending time with Kurt outside of Dalton was becoming a habit. One he was enjoying very much.
Sometime during the Elephant Love Medley–he ended up stopping toying with the cotton texture and loosely laced his arm around Kurt’s middle, head resting against the other’s shoulder. A much better resting place than Kurt’s pillow. So? He told him. Even if it interrupted another important scene nearly thirty minutes past him settling in.
Soft silk against his cheek. The warmth of Kurt underneath it. If he wasn’t careful–he was going to fall asleep and it’d be all Kurt’s fault for being so comfy. Talking was a means of keeping himself awake as well as giving Kurt a well-deserved compliment. As far as pillows went? His friend was an A+.
“You’re welcome. Only being honest,” he met Kurt’s gaze when he finally drew his attention from the movie away to get it. Not realizing he’d had it all along. His cheek pressed more firmly down and he just watched him. An endearing smile lingered and he squeezed Kurt softly before relaxing again. Bare toes wiggled back and forth as he took in a breath and let it go in a content, quiet sigh. Kurt’s eyes were so blue and green. Was it okay to try to memorize every hue inside them? You don’t really do that to friends, do you? Didn’t stop him from wanting to..
“Thank you for inviting me over,” he squinted when he found gray, “It beats a quiet house. Or staying at Dalton all weekend. Not that I mind that. But this is much nicer.”
❝ It’s definitely pretty exclusive.” Kurt admitted, somewhat amused by the Warbler’s apparently still going fascination with their resident booth yet also partially glad for the additional distraction as he absentmindedly reached for one of the breadsticks now standing at the edge of their table. “Not that I’m about to let you in on all of our secrets. Even if I guess that would ultimately make up for all that shameless spying up on The Warblers.” Almost feeling guilty about his former actions, he threw Blaine an apologetic smile before allowing the waitress to take up the rest of their order.
“I probably shouldn’t be so surprised,” he continued, his eyes briefly left to linger on the red and blue emblem of Blaine’s Warbler uniform before furthering the conversation. “I mean, you do kind of go to an all private school.” The more they discussed Blaine’s experiences at Dalton, the more envious he got about being forced to deal with McKinley in comparison.
Sure, being a part of his high school glee club made at least some of his dreaded school hours at least somewhat worth while and semi-tolerable, but once those crucial moments of the day inevitably ended, he really preferred to spend its final remaining hours mostly in solitude; occasionally taking on the additional administrative shift at Hummel Tire & Lube and most definitely forever counting down the days until his eventual graduation as he tried not too bother his friends with any of his high school problems.
“I guess I kind of prefer to stay in,” Kurt finally answered a little more quiet, almost too embarrassed to even admit that this was what his life had come to— hiding out in the comforts of his own home and bedroom until high school had finally blown over.
After watching the waitress walk off with their orders–Blaine turned his attention back to Kurt while taking a sip from his straw. He swallowed the drink down and shrugged. “It used to be something my whole family did. We don’t do it that often anymore,” not after Cooper left but he wasn’t going to bring up his brother or lack of a family life once the eldest Anderson left the nest and it was only him and his parents (well..sometimes his parents). The topic really didn’t have any room in the conversation. And it wasn’t important enough to bring up. Not exactly. “I still love it, though, so I sort of took over the boat as mine when it gets warmer.”
Another thoughtful wrinkle appeared between his brows noticing Kurt’s voice drop as he said he prefered solitude and staying home. Blaine knew that look. Knew why it was there. There was a time when he mirrored it when no one was looking. Before Dalton. They both covered it up, too. Just like Kurt, he only had one person who saw how deep that forced seclusion felt. He countered it by trying to exude the energy that it didn’t bother him. No matter how much it did.
Frankly, the efforts were exhausting. Blaine’s end from the loneliness came abruptly and not of his own choosing. Kurt looked beyond the point he was before his violent end at Central Westerville. Blaine wanted to FIX IT. Stop it from happening. See Kurt happy. All of it. His happiness was worth fighting for. In turn, maybe that reflection of himself might be healed from what lingered inside of the flesh and bones version in his quieter moments.
“Well,” he spoke softly and slid one hand across the table to gently touch Kurt’s wrist, bending closer naturally as he squeezed gently. “That’s just not going to do anymore. Look. You’re out with me and I think that’s progress. We should stay out tonight. Onlyif it’s taking a walk. What do you think? Until we find something to do. I’ve got the time if you have it.”
❝ I— It’s nothing, I’m—” Kurt could feel his cheeks heating up visibly as Blaine gently brushed him with his shoulder, his lips quick to mirror the other’s reassuring smiles yet still treading the lively restaurant with somewhat caution as he quietly led them over to the glee club’s usual booth by the corner. No jocks. His heart sank back down to his chest as he quickly skimmed through the rest of their surroundings.
Maybe tonight was just shaping up to be a fun night spent sharing pasta with a friend after all; his mood instantly lifted and slowly beginning to unbutton the rest of his winter coat as he intended to make the most of their evening (especially when it came to purposely missing outon a live episode of Project Runway).
“Here’s our table,” Kurt finally smiled, announcing in a sing-song voice before scooting down one side of the booth as he quickly made himself comfortable. Willing himself to relax, he silently observed as Blaine settled himself down on opposite side of him; hardly casting any glance at the familiar restaurant menu before happily ordering drinks and breadsticks with the usual waitress for the both of them.
“So,” he began, curiosity still very much piqued by their earlier texting conversations and definitely eager to find out more about the very handsome yet mysterious Blaine Anderson. “You like sailing.”
Blaine wasn’t sure that look was ‘nothing’. They may be just getting to know one another but in their handful of conversations–it was clear that Kurt was going through a horrible time. The last thing he wanted was to be yet another person who turned a blind eye to what Kurt was going through or felt. He understood the feeling more than he ever wished on anyone.
On the other hand, he didn’t want to push him further than he wanted to open up either. Sometimes getting a break from what’s going on in your head or around you is the biggest thing you need. Carefully watching him for a sign to press further if he needed, Blaine let the heaviness go for now. But he’d be there to help take the load off if Kurt needed it. Tonight. Or any other. For now, he’d just make sure Kurt enjoyed himself.
Following behind his friend–Blaine gently tugged the thick, wool scarf around his neck free and looped it over one forearm while unbuttoning the black peacoat he wore on top of his Dalton uniform. There wasn’t time to change if he wanted to make it here within a reasonable waiting time for Kurt. “Oh! Wow. I feel like I’m on the edge of the New Directions inner circle entering your territory,” he mused setting his coat and scarf on the booth beside him once he settled in.
"Sailing! Yes. My parents own a boat down at the Hoover Sailing Club. We don’t get out on the water as much as we used to but I was thinking of taking lessons again this summer. I mean, it’s a shame for it to sit there,” he smiled at the waitress when their drinks and breadsticks were delivered. “What about you? What do you like to do when you get a chance to get out?”
( mssg » kurt | sent ) I know this is totally out of the blue but there’s no one else I’d rather ask. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) There’s a dinner party this weekend that I’ve been asked to sing at. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) I suggested that I should bring a fellow Warbler or two. They jumped at the chance. I was curious..would you like to accompany me if you’re free?
Hands gripped firmly around the band of his leather designer schoolbag, Kurt anxiously eyed the way leading up to his final destination; teeth sinking down into his bottom lip before deciding to take a deep breath as he started the eerily quiet walk towards the popular restaurant’s main entrance.
He knew he was probably being silly– that Karofsky couldn’t possibly be having a stakeout at Breadstix at his expense just to have another go at him outside of his usual bullying hours; not during the height of the football season. And yet, here he was, terrified and anxious all the same, his heart permanently stuck in his throat yet determined to make it inside as he knew Blaine would be waiting for him; his head held high and keeping strong for the both of them as Blaine had promised him this was no longer going to be a lone battle.
Pushing the doors open, Kurt couldn’t help but feel anything but relieved; a newly bubbling sense of excitement rapidly extinguishing any anxiety still left festering inside of him as he watched his new Warbler friend quickly make his way toward him. “Hi,” he greeted him, his voice almost breathless despite definitely not just having engaged in any form of high level physical activity. "It’s good to see you, too.“ His lips curved up into a gentle smile as he was shortly met with the other’s excitement regarding his earlier promise. If only. “There’s… definitely free breadsticks.”
Blaine’s head tilted when he, finally, took a good look at his new friend. After hearing about his day and how stressful it was, he needed to check to see if Kurt was alright. Since their meeting, that had been his main goal. Every day. To be there to make sure Kurt was okay and knew he had someone on his side that wasn’t a fair weather friend but one who planned on staying for the long haul. Regardless of what that “long haul” would bring? Blaine was going to be there to help pull it along. No if’s, and’s, or but’s.
A quizzitive gaze read back and forth over Kurt’s. After the initial excitement at seeing him again, making sure he was okay was precisely what Blaine did. Kurt’s rather quick breaths caught his attention. The way his dark eyebrows burrowed together and made a crease of concern appear between them hinted that Blaine was wondering why Kurt was so breathless. Did he jog inside? Or was there more to it than that? Was he relieved that Blaine was actually there? If the other had doubts that he would show up, that was the last thing he wanted.
“You, um, weren’t worried that I wouldn’t show up, were you?” He wondered if that was it and the quesion came with a gente curiosity. Meanwhile, he waited for Kurt to lead them to the fabled table–his smile returning as he brushed his shoulder against Kurt’s. “Come on. Anyone would have to be crazy to stand you up,” he tried to get another smile out of the boy by laughing quietly, “And as far as I know? I’m not crazy.”
pianokeysandbowties back up 