stolenscarlet.

“As long as you need.  I mean I’ve got some obligations while I’m in town but I’ve got no plans tonight and we can meet up again if you want- and you have my number anyway so..”

As Blaine rounds back to the brief mention of his father, Barry almost winces.  He was used to the looks, the apologies that came with the story.  “My uh, my mom was murdered when I was young, and he was arrested for it but it wasn’t him.  No one believes the kid after they’re around for something like that though because of the shock.”  He says with a shrug.  “He’s out now, but..Yeah that was a big part of it.  Besides being a nerd I was also the kid with the crazy dad so school was horrible back home, and the only one who believed me was my foster sister, Iris, and then I actually fought the bullies a few times and got in trouble for it and my foster dad’s relatives in Ohio offered to help out.”  He was rambling- offering more answers than were asked for but given the circumstance Barry actually felt that it was okay.  The more context Blaine had the easier it would be to understand, he hoped.  Still, he stops himself with a simple, “So um.. Yeah.”

Blaine went slack jawed at the answer–his gaze softening until he corrected at least one of the dumbstruck reactions by palming his hand over his mouth and then propping his jaw shut up with the heel of his hand.  Barry was never the one to want any sort of pity for anything.  He knew that.  But it was hard to not want to reach out and tell him he was sorry.  Apologizing for the death of someone another person loves always felt so canned to Blaine.  Giving him that wasn’t what he wanted to do.  Cover his hand?  Tell him that he wished he never went through that nightmare?  Yeah.  He just wasn’t sure that was wanted.  Or if they were there yet.  Years ago?  It would have happened in an instant. Time and distance apart?  Why should it matter? Why should it feel so awkward?  No idea.  It just did.  “I’m glad you had someone who believed you.  I would have to,” he muttered not wanting to interrupt the conversation but he felt like he had to say something.

“I wish I would’ve known this then.  I wouldn’t have let you think about those things alone,” he meant every word.  “You knew a lot about what went on in my head.  Some of the things you said make a little more sense now..or how you acted when you thought no one was looking. We were close, right?  I mean.  For you, too?”  Blaine missed the man sitting next to him often. It’s not like he said goodbye to Ohio and forgot everyone there.  Especially not someone like..him. “We could start over.  A little bit?  Get to know one another the way we are now?  If you want..”