COFFEE had evolved from a disgustingly bitter distaste to an acquired necessity after Finn had began teaching on his own. The EARLY mornings and long nights required him to find some sort of fuel, and apparently, drinking FOUR RED BULLS a day wasn’t great for your health. Coffee was a little bit better…and it was somewhat CHEAPER too. You know, when you decided to make it at home or school and not buy the overpriced drinks at Lima Bean. However, Finn was running late and still had a million things to do before the first bell, so a coffee pit stop was in order for this morning.
He was half awake from his lack of caffeine, so he barely paid attention to who was next to him in the shop. He was pretty sure his eyelids were DROOPING when he heard a familiar voice say his name, blinking quickly and glancing down at the boy he hadn’t seen in years. Not since his break up with Kurt, really.
“ BLAINE ? ” he greeted as he instantly perked up, a warm grin spreading across his lips as he took his coffee in one hand and pulled the boy into an embrace in the other. “What’re you doing here, man?! It’s been FOREVER !”
“Everyone’s still kind of here, there, and everywhere, you know. I’m working at MCKINLEY though,” he informed with a soft smile as he grabbed a couple of sugar packets, flicking them a couple of times to get the sugar to settle before he ripped the top off and poured it into his coffee. “What about YOU though? What’re you doing around here?”
Blaine was nervous to get back into the swing of things on the Lima end of Ohio. Sticking to Westerville seemed to be the better plan. Safer. More comfortable. Since his horrible attempt at becoming someone new, different and maybe a bit less old Blaine which was once a new Blaine and just Blaine ended up with his best friend not recognizing him. After that? His visits trickled down to pretty much nothing. Unless Burt Hummel or Sam were involved.
UNTIL.The same person that helped Dave through his darkness helped him. She encouraged him to stand on the foundation of the life he built for himself two hours from Lima as the means of walking proudly back to a place that once meant so much to him. More importantly. To the people who were still there. Which was why he was here. To try. Like he promised.
“Finn! Hey! Yeah! It has been. It’s so good to see you again!” That’s why being face-to-face with Finn, of all people, made Blaine’s heart race. His eyes filled with adoration, apprehension and so much joy aching to burst free that his arms both slipped around Finn’s back and he hugged him so tight he might not ever let him go. Thankfully, Finn took care of that.
“I heard the rumor you were. How is it going? I’m sure you’re a great teacher. I thought I’d drop by. See how things are going with you and Sam?” His gaze darted up. “Me? I’m.. Things are a lot different.” Here came his pride, straightening his back and making his voice lift in a light quip of joy. “I work for Dalton. Crazy, huh,” he pursed his lips in a ‘Can you believe it’ smirk. “I’m the Director of the Warblers. Started this summer.” A playful grin twisted into place and he feigned a hint of regret. “Um. Should I have kept that a secret until after I visited McKinley..?”
✨ I think your portrayal is on point, but it also intimidates me
// Bb!! Thank you very much! I’m so happy you love my lil bean here! Cause it makes me !!! inside. You know how I feel about your Kurt. He’s my babe! But how can I intimidate you after a year of you seeing my level of dorkiness?! You know how high it is. You crazy. Ily.
She appreciated that he didn’t waste her time with feeble excuses but he sure as hell didn’t look ready to get it together. This one needed a healthy dose of tough love, and she believed in him enough to give it to him herself.
“Aw,” she said, lips gathering into a pout, mocking pity. “The novelty of the big city wearing off? You lonely? Homesick?“
It was tough on kids—she remembered her first months in New York, living off dreams, ramen noodles and weekly calls home. She’d pushed through it, throwing herself so deeply into her work that she couldn’t think about anything else. The sooner he learned to do the same, the better off he’d be.
Probably wrong of him to assume that an apology and a promise to not make excuses was going to get things back on track and let her give the students (all of them) her attention. Didn’t stop his heart from falling to the floor and taking his stomach along with it on the way down when she kept her focus right on him. So much for assuming. Everyone knows what ‘assume’ means in the first place. Right?
He could feel what guts he had left twist when she started to mock him. Deep down past the nerves he felt were sandpapering themselves against their own edges as they became undone, frustration and anger began to simmer. Hot, hotter… The back of his mouth tasted awful.
Blaine swallowed the flavor of adrenaline and bitterness that tone drug out from where it’d been buried deep. His hands swung behind his back and clasped together to keep themselves from fidgeting. “No. Nothing like that. As I said. Excuses. That’s all it’d be. Thank you for asking.”
What did he get himself into?
“I’m not sure about this. I mean. I know I agreed to an Elliott make-over before we went out tonight. You won the bet fair and square,” Blaine palmed over his mouth staring down at the vanity inside their bathroom. Clad in black and grey from head-to-toe (unless you were counting the delicate embellishments of silver added into the mix by Elliott’s careful hands), he was dressed the part and barely recognized himself in the mirror when he passed by it. Not in a wholly bad way. Only. You know.. Wow? Wow was a good word! Definitely.. Wow!
today officially marks one (1) year of writing klaine with the ever so talented @pianokeysandbowties and if it wasn’t for her uh-mazing blaine, my kurt really wouldn’t be here today so !! shoutout to the one and only mrs. porcelain ❀◕ ‿ ◕❀❀◕ ‿ ◕❀❀◕ ‿ ◕❀
// Aww! Sweetie! Returning the shout out to the one and only..er.. Mr. Porcelain? I’m beyond happy we found each other. Happy Friendship/Writing/Going On This Crazy Ride Anniversary right back! Thanks for giving me such an amazing amount of inspiration. I’m so thankful for that and you!
❀◕ ‿ ◕❀❀◕ ‿ ◕❀❀◕ ‿ ◕❀
The Lima Bean was packed since school was out for two days. The rest of the Warblers who straggled behind after dropping Trent off for the weekend already claimed two tables near the windows. Laughs and shouts of joy echoed from their table. Blaine was the only one stuck at the counter. He quietly drummed his fingers on the bleach-water faded wood for a good five minutes making sure to keep enough space for the person who had yet to claim the coffee that’d been sitting there the entire time of his wait. Then it dawned on him when he saw the name written on the side of the cup. Finn.
Kurt’s brother? How’d he miss the ceiling tall boy not two people away with his nose in his phone, mouth pressed tight in concentration as he tapped out a message? Only meeting him twice before this, it still boggled Blaine’s sober mind at how Kurt and he were family. Sure, it was through marriage, but the contrast of personalities was beyond crazy to compare. They seemed to have a great relationship though. One that Blaine wished he could have with his brother. Too far apart in age, you know? Plus it was hard for Cooper to make time to visit anymore. Blaine got that but watching the two of them made him wish they had that sort of relationship regardless if it was possible or not.
Finn still hadn’t picked up his drink by the time Blaine heard his own named called and quickly retrieved his and Finn’s. “Hey. I think this is yours,” his smile was warm and open as he approached and held the cup out. “It’s nice to see you again, Finn. Where’s everyone else?”
Jeff enjoyed the crisp air and the dawning new year. He was looking forward to so much. To the fact that he had a new roommate who was nice and didn’t think he was quite ditzy. He kept himself close to Blaine as the boy spoke he listened to him talk about his wish and the resolutions he spoke about. He smiled gently and whispered “I think, honestly that is a shoe in but it’s a good resolution at least I know you’ll definitely be singing with us.” He told him happy that Blaine was happy.
“My wish or rather hope is that this year will be the start of something new and great adventures” He smiled and wagged his brow at his new friend. “So, for resolution it’s always the same as every year that I’ve been a warbler. I want the warblers to win, so I’m going to try my hardest to help make us great. More than that though I’m going to keep my grades up and make sure that my parents are happy with my work.” He told him “Oh and that I don’t over do it on candy.” He blushed at the last statement as he knew there was still a big box under his bed full of sweets.
Once he finished his thoughts out loud to Blaine he looked back as he heard someone say ‘one minute’ he looked to Blaine ‘you warm?’ he asked quickly not wanting to miss the countdown.
Blaine gave Jeff a hopeful, ear to ear sort of smile. One that was sprung not only from his new friend’s answer but also the building anticipation for a new year to start. A fresh out-of-the-gate. Not only for the Warblers but for him, too. One that he wanted to use to put his past (namely the reason for being the new kid among them) behind him. They would sing, they would win. He felt it deep down in his bones. But the most important thing was? He now had the chance to be a part of something bigger and better than he was before. Home was at Dalton now. There was no other place he would even consider being to ring in the New Year than right here, right now.
Hands now stuffed into his pockets, balled up tightly into fists inside the warm wool lining, Blaine bounced on his heels and nodded in spite of the way his breath was coming out in grey puffs of air with each exhale. “Yeah! I am!” His chin rose from where it was tucked into the soft, thick scarf around his neck to stare up at the sky. They should be able to see the fireworks from the park from here. Another reason why the ones who stayed behind during the holidays to rush to the roof.
He could hear Trent howl out that there were thirty seconds left. Like a light switch, the anticipation tripled and the boys began to cluster together. Blaine latched onto Jeff’s wrist in a rush to be part of the group and practically dragged the much taller blond behind him on the way over. Hazel eyes already had their own fireworks going off when ‘Eleven’ was shouted.
“Ten, nine, eight!” Blaine’s voice joined in with the cacophony of the others. “Seven, six, FIVE!”
( mssg » kurt | sent ) Maybe we could talk more often then? ( mssg » kurt | sent ) Especially with the wedding and you coming back to town soon. ( mssg » kurt | sent ) We could make plans, you know? I’m really excited to see you again. ( mssg » kurt | sent )
Do you have anyone to pick you up from the airport?
“Shhh,” Elliott just shushed Blaine with a finger gently against his lips, pairing it with a soft, loving little smile on his face – but it was a way of denial almost. Elliott didn’t always know what Blaine saw in him, especially on days like this when he really was being really rather pathetic, and a hell of a party-pooper.
But he did know he loved Blaine, and for better or for worse, Blaine loved him too.
“Just – hang on a second.” Elliott knelt back on his feet and pulled his now wet flannel off, leaving just the black shirt underneath, which gave him the ability to lean forwards over the tub again, one hand moving to Blaine’s neck. His thumb stroked the others cheek, fondness even in such a simple little action.
“That’s better.” He was much more comfortable like this, and it just felt more natural than leaning all over the place with a half soaked shirt.
“Blaine, baby, I mean what I said. You’re so good for me, and you mean so much to me too. You’re the best boyfriend I could ever ask for.”
Maybe boyfriend. Hopefully boyfriend, or he’d look like a proper idiot right about now.
Blaine’s feet slid against the porcelain as he bent his knees bringing them up as he quieted down. Bubbles that clung in patches against his skin made the faintest crackling noises he heard like thunder in the silence. He didn’t want to ruin this so fast. They were only starting out, after all. But it seemed his mouth was going to get far too ahead of his brain and that might be exactly what he did if he didn’t learn.
A brief nod and he waited. ‘Hanging on’ as Elliott instructed, curious hazel gaze never once leaving his boyfriend as he licked his lips and tasted the both of them on his skin. Elliott coming nearer splashed a wave of warm relief through his chest and helped ease his clenched stomach he hadn’t realized was starting to cramp until now.
Underneath Elliott’s thumb, his cheek shifted up. A hesitant smile freed his lip from the row of front teeth that bit down against it. Baby. Boyfriend. Words that reassured and coaxed him back from the doubt his thoughts were dragging him off to.
“That’s all I want to be,” he confessed while wrapping his fingers around Elliott’s wrist to keep the touch exactly where it lingered. “I’m sorry. I just really don’t want to ruin this.” His head turned and he pressed a kiss to Elliott’s palm before settling his cheek where it moved from.
“Not this time.. Not for any reason. So.. That’s what we are then?”
“…Boyfriends?” You couldn’t blame him for wanting to hear it again. Could you?
pianokeysandbowties 