Barry frowned slightly after he sipped from the eggnog. It was funny how it wasn’t until after it could no longer make an effect on him that he noticed just how much booze they put into that. He had the feeling Grandma Esther must have been a blast at parties– either that or an utter embarrassment, but ‘a blast’ sounded a tad more respectful to her memory. That particularly trivial train of thought was suddenly punctuated by the knocking on the door. After after saved the thermos back into the fridge again, he carried the two mugs to the living room, trotting to the foot of the stairs to make sure no members from the West family had woken up.
“Hey!” he greeted the other at the door, nodding inside and stepping aside right away to let him in. “Merry Christmas, by the way.” Admittedly, he wished they had been able to do that at his new place downtown rather than the house that served as home for close to his entire family, but he knew how much Joe would appreciate waking up on Christmas morning with all his kids under the same roof– not to mention his place had literally no pieces of furniture in it except for a bed, so having a gathering there of any kind would have been close to depressing. “Okay, so, uh– make yourself at home.” He took a seat on the couch himself, leaning back as he crossed his legs. “Eggnog’s right over there. I actually took a sip from the Rudolf one, so you might wanna use the Santa one instead.”
Spending Christmas alone was depressing no matter how much he tried to pretend that it didn’t bother him in the slightest and he was okay to anyone who might’ve called him. Honestly, today just had him feeling like his stomach might be permanently embedded into the soles of his slippers. Nighttime only made things worse. That post-Christmas day quiet that has people falling asleep with blissfully full stomachs underneath piles of blankets with someone as they watch the city twinkle beyond their window. That was what Christmas meant to Blaine just a couple years back. This year? Christmas was just lonely and the quiet was deafening. Until..
Barry opened the door and invited him in. Suddenly, the chilly night with a dusting of snow felt warm and welcoming. His bones didn’t seem as hollow. An unerasable smile greeted the other. Along with the wrapped plate of cookies he carried in. “Merry Christmas, Barry.” Blaine sat the them on the coffee table then pulled his gloves off and stuffed them in his pocket. “Right. Thanks for the warning. Don’t need to go for Rudolph and catch your cooties,” he crinkled his nose pretending to be grossed out before grinning sheepishly and fetching the Santa cup. “Wow. Tell your Grandma I think by the smell alone one glass might land Santa and the elves in the drunk tank. So,” he took a sip and dear God he was right. Swallowing it down, he blew a breath through puckered lips and quickly took another. Much easier to down the second time and…it was really good. “Are you sure you’re actually up at this hour? I know I asked once already but..normal people are usually in bed by now.. How was your Christmas?”
// You’re the absolute best! I love your face! Every time I see you on my dash, it makes me happy. Even if I’m just lurking on your threads! Which happens and I’m totally not ashamed to admit! If I’m amazing? You’re amazing-squared! Thank you so much! We need more things together and talk more. We should fix that! Yeah??
( mssg » blaine | sent ) Hey. ( mssg » blaine | sent ) Failed top secret glee spying missions aside, I guess I’ve definitely endured some better days in high school. ( mssg » blaine | sent ) Thank you. 🙂 ( mssg » blaine | sent ) Your texts are appreciated.
( mssg » kurt | sent ) Don’t be too hard on yourself for failing your undercover mission. You were so close to getting away with it. I promise. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) I think the gesture was rather admirable considering you were brave enough to enter “enemy territory” and walk around like you belonged here. I’m giving you an A+ for your efforts. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) Plus? We got to meet each other? That’s worth being spotted? Maybe? ( mssg » kurt | sent ) I’m glad they are. Hang in there. Your day’s almost over. What are your plans for the evening? Maybe thinking about them will get you through.
There was never a day that went by where Blaine didn’t cherish these moments he had with Barry. The ones where they let go and just fell into a laughter so heartfelt that it made Blaine’s stomach ache by the time they settled down. Whether it be through some subtle–or not so subtle–joke, a stupid show they were enjoying together. Tons of reasons. Like, how awkward either one of them could get. For reasons that Blaine didn’t let himself think about for too long–not in front of Barry at least–because of the implications of what feelings stirring inside were that made him fall into bouts of pink cheeks and tongue-tied words.
Why ruin a good thing with complicating it? A chiding he gave himself whenever he got the idea that maybe there was something bigger between them. Something good that was growing into something amazing. Or would if he had the nerve to show it.
This was time something happened. Blaine was on the edge of nearly having to hold his belly until everything changed. The air thickened. His center of gravity went topsy turvy and suddenly was hanging by two strings attached firmly to his entire world and pulled inside a set of green eyes he came to a dead silence staring into. His smile was there, sure. Wobbling but there. He had the same look. Not-strangers suddenly strangers again. And he felt his throat cave and a delightful chill fill his veins at the sight of Barry wetting lips he knew he just got caught staring too long at.
–See me like I’m seeing you. Don’t leave me alone in this.– And when their mouths were so close that he could taste Barry’s breath, nose to nudging back nose? Barry saw him. He knew deep down. No doubts, no fears. Barry sawhim. Toes twitched against the rug–Barry proved it by a press of their mouths together. A palm was fit to a pale cheek, fingers fanned out over skin he’d been aching to touch and feel. Hot and velvet and perfect. Blaine tilted his head, his lips barely parted to let the tip of his tongue taste both of them combined. And the flavor made him shiver. Oh, God. He was falling faster and faster. This time? Sinking was something he welcomed. Nothing else mattered. Not as long as he could stretch this moment out.
Kurt had just got into the cab when he heard the thud and immediately after Blaine grabbing his head. “Goodness! Are you okay, honey?” he asked with concern, then he chuckled softly and leaned his head on top of Blaine’s when he rested it on his shoulder, his lips kissing the aching spot gently. “Yes, that’s just one of the few blessings of the alcohol, it spreads the pain threshold over a thousand.” He giggled and shook his head, then looked right into his eyes as he turned to face him and started talking about what he wanted to do when they got home. Kurt knew for sure that if it had anything to do with sex then his fiancé would need a cold shower soon, since he has a rule against drunken sex and nothing was going to break it. “Aw baby, those are the munchies” he said with relief, then smiled and kissed the tip of his nose. “I’ll make them for you. Chocolate chip and banana, right?” Shortly after, the taxi was already entering in their neighborhood.
Just to be on the safe side, he curled himself up into the corner of the cab to keep his head from introducing itself to anything else on the ride there. Caught up looking into Kurt’s eyes–Blaine’s pinched at their corners as lips curved broadly upwards. Yes. Pancakes. Just pancakes! He knew that stare. Felt the scrutiny of it through his foggy brain and replayed his sales pitch for fluffy breakfast goodness inside his head. Oh! Yeah. He definitely deserved that look. “Sorry, I didn’t mean,” he mumbled between his mouth and Kurt’s chin while getting pecked on the nose. “That sounds delicious,” he hummed careful not to chase after Kurt for another kiss. No amount of being drunk would ever make him cross the line of that rule. Ever. Considering.. Blinking out of that thought–he uncurled from the safety of his spot and with Kurt’s assistance–was out of the car and upstairs with only minimal stumbles, giggles and clutches against his fiance’s side. “I have no idea how you put up with me but I’m glad you do.” Thunk! Down onto the couch he folded like a stack of playing cards with the bottom one being pulled out. “I’m drunk..” Hello Captain Obvious!
( mssg » quinn | sent ) I’m not sure what that was but I’m so not ignoring it. ( mssg » quinn | sent ) I might even keep it for bribing purposes. Kidding! ( mssg » quinn | sent ) Hello, Quinn. How are you? Besides losing the iPhone game against that wretched device??
// You know I love you! I’m always game for whatever ideas we can think up! Let’s do a thing or many things! Send me a message and we can chat about what we want to start! In other words? -grabby hands- GIMME!
This was just stupid. Little Miss Perfect was getting yet another thing that she wanted in life. First Broadway, then the sitcom, and now this. A reality show, following her around as she rejoined the Broadway community. The producers had wanted the meeting in the loft, and the roommates to be there, so here they were. Rachel was spewing crap, Kurt was nodding along like he knew what the hell they were talking about. And she was in the corner with Blaine, trying her hardest not to burst into laughter at every thing that Rachel said.
Her legs sprawled across Blaine’s, their faces matching in contempt and disgust. Laughter swallowed before it could escape and ruin everything for Miss Berry. But it was the producer addressing them, that broke into her thoughts first. Her eyes blinking at his words. They were a cute couple. Her eyes met Blaine’s, and for a moment she was dumbstruck at what he said.
“We’re not..” Her words were cut off by his hand, a shake of his head following. The statement that slipped out next, causing her to swallow hard. “If you want the show to go, those two need to be in it. People love cute, romantic couples.” It was that that stuck with her as the producers left, her gaze locked on them as they disappeared. “Well crap.”
Blaine couldn’t take his eyes off the conversation going on in front of where he and Santana sat on the couch. Fingertips flinched against her leg where they hung on as sort of a reality check. Rachel was in the talks for her own reality show within months of returning to New York and letting her intentions to take Broadway by storm were announced on the theatre circuit. “How does she do this,” words breathed out more than once only loud enough for Santana to hear.
And then it happened. They were a cute couple? Holy crap! The producer was looking right at Santana and him? Blaine’s jaw dropped. Problem was? It locked there for a gasp, choke, sputter. How could this guy who was supposed to be so observant of people think that….they were together?!
Kurt looked like he was about to go unconscious. Rachel gawked at Santana like she was wishing the brunette would shut up and GO WITH IT. Blaine thumbed towards the woman sitting beside him. Finally able to talk, he quickly interjected. “She’s–.. We’re not. We’re–I’m–!!” But they were already leaving and Rachel was chasing them out the door. Immediately–his attention jerked to Santana. “We can’t–. I mean? They’re insane. This is insane..”
“Wow? Really?” Elliott laughed, keeping his hand against the others neck, thumb gently rubbing under Blaine’s jawline. There was clearly a large degree of fondness in the action, a sort motherly, loving gesture.
The smile remained on his face as Elliott fell silent, still just watching Blaine for a few moments. How the hell did he get in this position? From best friends angry boyfriend to…whatever this was.
“You know, the others are going to kill us.” Elliott pointed out. Dani would skin him alive, Kurt would stop talking to him – or worse, get all passive aggressive again. Elliott couldn’t help the giggle that escaped his lips though, as he thought to Blaine’s original hostility towards him.
“Turns out you were worried I was like, stealing the wrong boyfriend, huh?” He hadn’t been after Blaine then, hardly new the guy, but…well, it was a odd truth.
“I’m blaming you for the sudden lack of my ability to form any words. Much less connect them from my brain to my tongue. All your fault.” The lengths of Blaine’s fingers kept themselves gently draped around each of Elliott’s wrist.
In spite of his laugh–he fell quiet in a stuttering silence leaving only a curious smile on puffy lips that the bottom was soon prisoner and grabbed between his front teeth. Staring up at the admiring expression Elliott was giving him–Blaine felt his body lull towards the strokes. So much that he rocked forward against the touch and let thick, dark lashes fall to cover his eyes.
He opened them again at the mention of ‘the others’. Thoughts immediately honed in on one person in particular. Imagining what his reaction would be if he found out what just happened. The worst feeling in the world was when he realized he couldn’t figure out what it would be. How awful that someone who you thought you knew inside and out could become a stranger in a matter of one conversation..
Like magic, Elliott pulled him out of that train of thought and made him turn ten shades of crimson. His chin tucked towards his collar. “Yeah. Who would have thought? Definitely not me. That really just happened—didn’t it?”
( mssg » kurt | sent ) Hello, Kurt. I thought I’d check in on you and see how you were doing after our conversation yesterday. I realize you might be in class but I hope you’re feeling better. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) I’m here to talk to either way. My offer hasn’t disappeared overnight and I hope you take me up on it whenever you need or want to.
pianokeysandbowties 