See you and me Have a better time than most can dream Have it better than the best So we can pull on through Whatever tears at us Whatever holds us down And if nothing can be done We’ll make the best of what’s around
“You’re being way too fucking deep for this early hour.” Sebastian murmured under his yawn as he brushed his eyelids. “And I still think it was worth it. Probably.” He chuckled. He didn’t exactly feel like explaining thereasoning behind his late excessive drinking. Admitting Blaine was still in his mind seemed too ridiculous to bear. Blaine probably hadn’t event thought of him on the last three years. Sebastian scrunched his nose back at him when he was teased, then let his lips curl at Blaine’s answer. “We live like champions, rockstar.” He pointed out as he watched Blaine get up before forcing himself to do the same, hoisting himself on the armchairs so he could get to his feet, then accepting Blaine’s hand mid-way. He let it go a tad too quickly afterwards, as though suddenly realizing that was probably the first time they touched hands since they’d first met. As he looked at Blaine, amusement in his bright eyes, and the smile on his lips, he suddenly licked over his own, trying to shake off the will to kiss him. It felt weird, a ghost sensation on them, as though they were trying to recall something. But Blaine had been clear that nothing had happened between them, so they couldn’t have kissed, could they? “Sure, killer. Whatever you say.” Blaine’s evasive remarks were something Sebastian was more than used to, as he was used to ignore the way they chipped away at something in him. Not that he had a lot of expectation even if Blaine DID agree to let Sebastian introduce him to his sheets. He’d known Blaine had had his doubts once, and even wondered if he wasn’t bisexual after all, but that he knew of, it hadn’t gone anywhere. Still, he didn’t let any of that sour that rare morning they were sharing. Instead, letting himself take in the image of a sleepy bed messed Blaine, and smirking as he pretended not to see the other’s reaction to picturing their sex. “You coming?” He asked, roughly, as he passed through the other boy, stretching his arms and letting his shirt ride up, making his way to the kitchen. “I don’t really know where is anything here, so we’re gonna have to search.” He warned over his shoulder.
Blaine curled empty fingers towards his palm after Sebastian’s quickly disappeared. The absence of a palm shouldn’t be something you felt this much. Should it? Somehow? The air hitting his skin shifted from warm and comforting to cold and chasing after filling the void by any means possible. If balling itself into a fist was the best it could do? Then he’d take that. And shove both inside his pockets unaware of the thoughts that his answer put in Sebastian’s mind. How could he understand? Not only because Sebastian was keeping it internalized. But he had no idea the depth of the reasons why. Instead? “Yeah, I’m coming.” Blaine followed along clueless to anything but the small sense of awkwardness that waking up the way they had must have put there. Because what else could it be? Sebastian already gave no signs that he remembered kissing him in the cab the night before. Blaine wasn’t going to bring up the subject. They’d waited years for that moment. Because as oblivious as Blaine knew he could be when it came to matters about himself and what someone else might be feeling towards him? He knew Sebastian was waiting just as badly. Why ruin the perfect day that this morning was turning out to be by explaining to Sebastian that he drunkenly shared and forgot their first kiss? He turned follow as Sebastian’s spine arched in a feline stretch. The pale strip of skin above his waistband drew Blaine’s attention and he felt his chest tighten. It was his turn to feel the phantom press of the other against him during their cab ride. Breath on his cheek that smelled of whiskey barrels and cheap bar mints. The way it felt to let himself feel with someone who he always kept at an arm’s length for both of their good and then–when it wasn’t necessary–by a habit that was built on years of needing to. Thankfully–just as he felt like he was drowning–Sebastian pulled him to the surface. He blinked out of his fog as they walked into the kitchen, lips twisted into a taunting grin. His voice caught up from the scratch he had to clear. “Wait. How do you not know where anything is? Please tell me you know where the coffee’s at? Some mugs, too? Though if we’re really desperate? I guess I can make a pot and we can grab some straws and share it like the desperate coffee fiends we are?” See? Cat Got Your Tongue pause over! Just keep talking and avoid another one. Should be simple. Yeah?
The more she thought about it the more Mr. Shue reminded her of Mr. Matthew’s from that silly tv show she’d never admit to watching. The lesson ALWAYS related to something someone in the group – or multiple – was dealing with. And it wasn’t ironic – typically. It was typically a good thing though since they got to deal with things through something they were passionate about.
“I know, me too. But relevant is probably the SAFEST one.” Kelsey let out a light giggle as she picked at her food a little more nibbling on a forkful every now and then. They didn’t need to get started on that topic. They BOTH knew where that would go – probably. Somethings were better left unsaid or at least implied. Especially when you could understand the implication without it being mentioned.
“Can only hope.” The nearly sarcastic statement came from the teens lips without any thought before she spoke. That was the way she USUALLY approached things but she’d been watching herself a bit to THINK first. Sometimes her words got her into trouble so it was a habit she was trying to break but somethings people really didn’t think much when having a conversation. A smile crept across Kelsey’s face at the offer. “You bet!”
“Perfect,” Blaine grinned as he climbed out of the bench while munching on one last piece of a carrot from his half eaten salad. The rest of it was left as a place to toss his fork and napkin after he dabbed his mouth just in case. “I just want us to sing together as a group this week,” he swallowed down some more water and quickly tossed his garbage in a nearby can.
“After all the fighting each other and the drama it’s brought along?” Not that he should be one to talk. There were several Battle Royals that he was a part of. BUT! They were getting a bit old and Sectionals wasn’t going to wait for any more of their internal bickering. It’d just deliver the trophy to the Warblers while they fell apart at the seams because only half of them were working together. There was a time for competition among them and then there was a time to look at the bigger picture and pull together. That time was about two weeks ago.
“I think we need to remember why we’re all here and love this group so much. So? Today? I’m serious. If anyone starts to even think about stirring the pot? You and I are going to take over and sing something so appealing to all their inner sappy selves–they don’t stand a chance against joining in.” Blaine flashed her a devious, scheming grin and took the corner towards the corridor that lead to the auditorium. “If you don’t mind me putting you on the spot?”
Elliott just stood there until Blaine went, before pulling the shirt shut around him and glancing at the door. He hadn’t meant to come across as angry or harsh, he’d just panicked. A lot. Long fingers began to button up his shirt, stopping half way up before Elliott hesitantly walked across to the kitchen. – with his stomach covered he didn’t feel so bad, thighs, crotch and chest on show like this he could handle – it was just the stomach he held issues with.
He stopped in the doorway, looking somewhere between embarrassed and nervous – almost sheepish in the way he held onto the door frame and essentially peaked around it. “I – I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…” He gestured quickly away from his mouth. “Run my mouth,” he’d just been uncomfortable. It was one thing for other people to see him like that, that was bad enough, but for it to be Blaine?! For some reason that just made it worse for Elliott.
Once he was inside the kitchen–Blaine gave a such an apologetic look at the wall that you could swear he was able to see right through it and offer that apology to Elliott on top of the ones he stammered out. Before bolting away to give the man some time to recover. He was doing a shoddy job at doing the same. His attempt to get some water ended up with him knocking several freshly washed dishes into the sink where they clanged loudly but–thankfully–didn’t break. Wincing at his mistake–he quickly grabbed them back out and nabbed a glass with a hard look of determination glared at the poor cup. “Great way to make him feel embarrassed when that was exactly what you were trying not to do, Blaine,” he mumbled to himself using the water coming from the faucet he shoved on to cover his voice.
Blaine turned slightly and aimed a careful glance over his shoulder back to Elliott. Again–eye contact only. Honestly, Elliott had nothing to be uncomfortable about. His body was beyond amazing and it didn’t take seeing him in nothing but his underwear to notice that. But he understood first hand what doubting yourself–in spite of what everyone around you said–felt like. And he wouldn’t wish that one anyone. Especially not Elliott who deserved nothing but to feel good about the person he was. Inside and out. “You’re fine. Please don’t apologize. I didn’t mean to make that weird. I’m really sorry, Elliott.”
He snorts. Blaine was about as threatening as a puppy, and they already proved that Kurt didn’t stand a chance. That’s a cute idea. At least Blaine’s heart was in the right place, but he couldn’t honestly think that would work out well… “Sure, and then we can stitch each other’s wounds. Great bonding exercise..” A sigh. “I know you mean well, Blaine, but there’s nothing we can do about this.” he says with a little shake of his head. He could go into hiding at night, stay in like a normal person. Not only boring but at this point it would be like backing down. And, even if he did, who’s to say that it would help? Stay in for a while, go out again and they try to prove a point by jumping him again when he goes out. Maybe they’ll get him on his way home, or to the store? Who knows. At this point he’s running out of places that feel safe alone- and he is, usually, alone. When he’s not he’s with the skanks, or at night he’s hopefully got someone’s tongue down his throat. Either way it doesn’t help when any of those people would turn tail and leave him there. In fairness, he’d probably do the same, but the point still stood.
Blaine frowns at the snort trying not to get offended that his offer drew that kind of a reaction. That was so not fair. Sure, Kurt was right but he would go down fighting for Kurt to be rid of these guys. No one deserved to go through life constantly looking over their shoulder and afraid. Because..like it or not? He knew Kurt was more than just tired of their antics. Accuse him of being scared? He’d never do that. But who wouldn’t be after ending up in an alleyway the way Blaine found him? “Kurt,” he shook his head and scooted a bit closer but not close enough to be touching him much at all. But he wanted to get his point across and so he slid down against the pillows until they were eye level to one another. “There has to be something we can do because I can see what this is doing to you,” he whispered it softly and without accusation or even letting how deeply he was worried so. It was a concern that showed in his eyes and could be heard in his tone, yes. Restraint kept it from being so much that he’d make Kurt feel like he had to pull away because someone actually worried about him. Blaine didn’t want to lose his chance of being there for him and offering him that place he could feel safe when he needed it. “If you can’t avoid them and don’t think they’re going to get bored or back down, then.. Something’s gotta give. How many are there?”
Things were at a HIGH in Hunter’s life. He was still captain of the Warblers, && dealt with little to no disagreements on the matter. Instead of betraying his orders, Blaine was showing him how to trust. Teaching by example, that not everybody is going to turn on you for their own gain. It was strange, starting to believe in some kind of hope that not everyone has ulterior motives. As a matter of fact, in their time together, a bond was forming. Even stranger. It was a kind of friendship Hunter wasn’t sure he was ready to reciprocate. Yet as time went by, he found himself with Blaine more &&more each day. Instead of dreading his presence as he anticipated, Hunter was starting to enjoy it. He relied on it, actually. Not many good people stuck around when it came to the young man. So that only made it that much worse when the ball dropped. He’d been suspicious for weeks. Not specifically of his new friend, but of those who surrounded them. The team he relied on was plotting against him, for their new leader — BLAINE ANDERSON. Hunter’s fists were clenched to the point of going while, && his teeth gritted from the bad taste this left in his mouth. Being sly && deceiving was his SPECIALTY. How could they possibly think he wouldn’t figure it out? How could Blaine parade around as a team member, a good man, a FRIEND? Nothing was more sickening than a villain who plays the innocent. “Blaine!” His voice boomed as he entered the room, being sure to have each door closed before approaching the other. He’d requested a meeting, but he had no intention of making small talk. “I knew it. I KNEW you were going to betray my trust! You’ve been planning this all along, && I’m just the fool who tried to be hopeful! I should of never let you PURSUED me into thinking people can be GOOD. Nobody is pure of heart, Blaine! Especially not YOU.” He was getting in Blaine’s face, making a point to be threatening. With a scoff he pushed the ex captain back, as if he wasn’t the one who got so close in the first place. “It’s over! They want to overthrow me for your sick need to take away the only thing I have left!? I’ll show them how WEAK you really are. I’ll show them that I will NOT be pushed around or erased!”
Hunter becoming a friend was something Blaine didn’t quite ever see happening. Yet as the weeks went by after his return to Dalton and their very tension filled beginning? That’s what Hunter Clarington was becoming. Blaine liked the fact that Hunter didn’t push him to reveal too much about his personal life and the reasons why he returned. Unlike some of the other well meaning boys who wanted to do what any friend would and tried to be there for him by offering him understanding–and the questions that came with it. Hunter seemed to sense that Blaine didn’t want to talk about it and avoided the topic. Seeing Hunter starting to open up to and trust him meant so much because he didn’t have to be a mind reader to see Hunter didn’t put faith in just anyone. You had to earn it. Blaine thought he was doing a pretty good job at doing so. In the beginning? His efforts were for the simple fact that he didn’t want to cause a rift in the Warblers by having two people they looked up to go to war. Now? Blaine looked forward to seeing the layers beneath Hunter’s facade as the other boy revealed them one at a time.
That’s why when he heard Hunter’s voice crack like thunder through the room–Blaine jumped off the brown leather couch he was relaxing on. Owlish hazel eyes stared baffled as Hunter stalked towards him ranting like a madman. “W-What,” his voice was a cracked and soft whisper. A stark contrast to Hunters yelling and it did nothing to cut into his tirade so he could get a word in. Blaine’s face twisted into a pained, utterly lost expression as he felt his stomach bottom out and his chest tighten. Hunter was too close for comfort but he wasn’t going to back away either. The wanna-be threatening tower over him only made his feet grow heavier against the hardwood floor until an unexpected shove knocked him back a step or two. And that did it. Patience brought on by having no idea where this was coming from other than Hunter obviously losing his mind snapped like a twig after Blaine recovered from the shove and both hands instinctively wrapped around Hunter’s wrists. His confusion was gone and a mask of keen observation narrowed his eyes as his features flattened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about but I will tell you one thing and I’ll only tell you this once. Don’t ever shove me again. Now. Calm down and tell me where the heck this is coming from because..I am very confused here.” And hurt. And angry. And a whole lot of other things he was doing his best to hold in after being called weak on top of the shove. Was that how Hunter really saw him?
Puck swallowed hard. It was now or never. There was no going back after this moment. Soon Blaine would see him at his most vulnerable. “Uh, well…” His voice trailed off for a moment as he took a deep breath. He wasn’t used to feeling so nervous. Wait, was he sweating? Great. He hoped Blaine couldn’t tell. “I…liked…” He was about to spill the beans when he heard a loud crash coming from his bedroom. “Shit. I think Sam’s up. Uh, let me go check on him. You stay here. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Puck let out a sigh of relief as he walked to his bedroom. He wasn’t a very religious person, but decided that Sam falling out of his bed was a sign from God to not tell Blaine the truth. “’Sup, Sam?” he asked as he walked into his bedroom. “Are you okay?” He cautiously walked over to the blond. Sam looked up at him in confusion. “Dude, it’s okay. You’re with Blaine and me. Lets get you back in bed, okay?” He carefully helped Sam get up and settled back in his bed. “Get some sleep, dude,” he told Sam before he closed the door.
“Uh, sorry about that. Sam fell out of my bed and wasn’t sure where he was. I got him settled back in my bed and he’s hopefully fallen back asleep. Luckily, he didn’t throw up,” he told Blaine as he sat back down next to him on the couch.
Blaine might not have been close enough to see Puck starting to sweat but he could tell he was getting nervous. The stuttering was a huge factor in cluing him in on that much. He might be clueless as to the reason why Puck was suddenly choking on his own words and hesitating, sure. Not seeing that the other boy was acting like he couldn’t find the right words to say? Now that part was impossible.
Trying not to get too self-conscious about it by letting himself think Puck’s sudden tenseness was about what happened earlier when he did everything in his power to reassure him that it wasn’t–Blaine sat patiently waiting and let Puck work through his nerves so–hopefully–he’d talk. Leaning in as Puck began–he practically fell off the couch when he heard the crash coming from Puck’s room. Blaine went to bolt up but the world spun out of control and he flopped back down with a shellshocked nod as Puck went to take care of things. –What was he going to say?–
“Is he okay,” Blaine was back in his corner, knees bent with his arms around them and toes twitching against the ribbing of the couch cushion when Puck returned. “He’s never allowed to drink that much again. ..Ever.” He grew quiet and fiddled with the bottom cuff of his right pants leg. “Um–Puck? What were you going to say before he fell? If you don’t mind me asking.”
Sebastian’s eyes widen and lips part just a little as Blaine gets back on his iPad. This. Cannot. Be. Happening! What? He was just gonna go back to doing something else rather than fueling Sebastian to snark on!? This totally sucked now… Sebastian slanted his brows in disappointment for the situation and laid down on the couch. Scooting closer to Blaine, he lays his head on his lap and reaches a hand up to touch his face and pester him. But this time his pestering was in a loving manner. ❝ Wait… You’re gonna read again? But—– ❞ Yes, Sebastian had a hard time handling when people shut down his drama and snark filled show to ignore him or do something else even though deep down he knew he deserved it. But why would Blaine do that? Sebastian is obviously much more entertaining than Darth Vader sucking the dick of some other Star Wars dude. And was he even really that mean? It would be hard to tell now that the damage was already done? Sometimes Sebastian could be a total dick without even realizing it. Some might call it his special talent. But now he was staring to feel bad…
❝ Why..? ❞ his voice came out soft now. Silently begging for forgiveness with his eyes.
Like clockwork. The mere threat of Sebastian going ignored for more than–say–two minutes brought the Attitude Check he well deserved. Blaine only stares at the glowing screen instead of paying any mind to the cushions shifting around as Sebastian inched closer. He even manages to start humming softly as he scrolls down the street with the tip of his finger. Eyelashes bat wildly at the touches to his face expecting it to be pawing and demanding at first. Then Sebastian proves that at least his touches would be soft even if his words are shifting to a bit on the harsh side. He can’t help sighing and reaching out one hand to rub against Sebastian’s chest using just the edges of his fingers. “Yes. I think I am, Sebastian.” My! My!! How quickly the tone changes with the idea that he wasn’t going to get a rise out of Blaine anymore. Or at least one that doesn’t come with a wall of silence from the person he was trying to annoy. Not much fun in that. He shouldn’t have looked down! A pair of pleading eyes waited to meet his when the ‘why’ drew his attention. Not that he was reading anyway. The entire idea of going back to reading was just a prop. But Sebastian didn’t need to know that. Blaine lifts his hand from where he was caressing Sebastian just above his heart and pushes some of his boyfriend’s hair back away from his face. Pursing his lips–he watches him closely trying to see if this was real. Or just an act. “Because you’re being a brat and I’m not going to keep pushing you into being an even bigger one. So? Reading is the easiest way to avoid that.”
Things like this never happened on the West Coast, at least he never saw anything like it. Patrick always loved singing, and his parents made sure to train him how to read music at a young age, but it was always underappreciated by that society. He could feel somewhat of a connection with the random crowds hustling past him, and even more so with the young man sitting next to him.
Patrick smiled as the stranger rolled into the last bars of the song, making the musicality of his instrument look all too easy. Their voices complimented each other well, and he couldn’t be more satisfied with their little impromptu performance. As the tune dissipated, and several people clapped, Patrick noticed that a few were recording on their phones. The clip was sure to end up on social media later. He shrugged it off, and turned to face this mystery man. “You, sir, are very talented. Excellent song choice.” He smiled charmingly and offered his hand. “Patrick Murray. Pleasure to sing with you.”
Blaine couldn’t stop himself from belting out the notes with a never ending smile as Patrick sang with him. The sheer joy of having a duet partner that wasn’t a bar full of drunk tourists and locals sloshing the words around–albeit so carefree and happy that their smiles just like the people around them today were contagious and their enjoyment was his life’s blood even if theirs had an alcohol level well over 1.0–made the singer bounce a little more joyfully on the bench. His slight frame jarred as he hit the keys like they were as easy as breathing. He plays this song on request almost nightly. Never once has it gotten old.
When they were done–Blaine offered their audience a shy, appreciative bow of his head that let him hide behind some curls that fell to dangle near his left eye and lifted his hand to twitch his fingers in a wave. Once they started milling away–those brightly shining eyes underneath long, thick lashes darted right towards Patrick. His face was flushed, his grin so big it pinched his eyelids together at their corners. “I–ah–,” his nose scrunched like he was in excited, happy bewilderment. Not only for the man suddenly joining him but for the compliments he dished out, “Thanks! You were pretty great yourself.”
Blaine returned Patrick’s smile and slid his hand into the other man’s giving it a light squeeze and gentle shake, “Blaine Anderson. And trust me? The pleasure was all mine. Your voice is amazing.” There was nothing but honesty in Blaine’s tone. None of it was a polite lip service type reply to a compliment someone might feel they had to giveback. Just honest truth.
pianokeysandbowties 