The boy across from him wreaked of distaste. Not only was he being cold, but he played nice on top of it. Reminded him of high school. Everyone was fake, friendships weren’t possible, && everyone lied. At least he was use to it. There was no secret in their past. Blaine hated Hunter, && the feeling was mutual. Even though for some time he admired the ex warbler, now he’d deny it to the grave. There was no strength in love && admiration. Unless you were the one being fed it. Hunter knew that he was the more hated of the two. He’d made mistakes && acted in ways most people would deem unforgivable. Even if he’d defend himself, he knew the truth was that he was just a BAD GUY. As his father reminded him daily.
Being in New York was suppose to be his new start. His get away. To be alone, where he could be himself. The outside world treated him unfairly, so he treated the world even worse. It was a defense mechanism, one Hunter hated. There was just no fixing this broken boy. There was too much to damage. Too much to explain, too much to improve on. No time to worry about that now. All he needed right now was his coffee && to GO HOME where the rest of the world didn’t matter. WHY did he have to run into Blaine? “NYADA. Impressive. Good for you. As for me I’m not too structured. I’ve had enough of that to last a lifetime. I’m on the road to making a life. I’m lucky I’ve got plenty of connections.” && there was the cocky undertone everyone knew him for.
Blaine knew he was broadcasting distaste for the man and absolute ‘I’d rather be anywhere else than here.’ and, honestly, it was flat out rude. He’d have chided any one of his friends for doing what he was doing. Given them the Disappointed Blaine Stare and lectured them for a solid ten minutes or more until they realized that treating someone with as much displeasure as he was with Hunter wasn’t okay. He’d have them feel so guilty by the end of it that they’d think about it before they repeated the same mistake and hurt someone they cared about. He’d do all of that in seconds. A knee jerk reaction that anyone who knew him would expect. You know, in a heartbeat. Every time. Unless. Unless? Hunter Clarington was the target and then–he might just keep his mouth shut and give them a pass.
Still. The longer he stood there being the kind of person he never thought he could be? The more he realized just who he was acting like. There was a visible change in Blaine’s posture. Like he, himself, was now the target of his own ‘you know better’ heart-to-heart and his features softened back to their usual openness. A smile he didn’t have to fake tugged the edges of his mouth and he sounded honestly happy for Hunter when he spoke up. “Thanks. I worked hard to get there. I guess that makes two of us then. Here to make a life. It’s a great city for it. Hey–um–can I buy you a coffee? I’m sorry for my mood. It’s been an off day. Let me make it up to you and we can catch up properly at a table. Unless you’re busy. Which I totally get.”
pianokeysandbowties 