Knocking felt completely redundant seeing as how as soon as he pulled up to the house–Blaine sent Sebastian a text letting him know he was outside. The drive wasn’t too far. They lived close to one another and he left quickly considering no one was home to say goodbye to. Even a pitstop at Starbucks didn’t tack too much time on. He didn’t want to show up empty handed. So? Sebastian’s favorite coffee–considering it was what he ordered every time they were in a coffee place together–and something for himself would do. Oh! A bag with two brownies inside hung against the cup in his left hand.
Plus, it helped him not feet as guilty for the reason he was here if he made it a ‘stop and hang out’ sort of deal. Rather than a ‘stop and help the Warblers with a play list to possibly beat your own Glee Club if you pick just the right songs and they blow the socks off the judges’ kind. God, Sebastian better make good on his promise. Or he was going to feel awful trying to explain this away to Kurt and a dozen betrayed friends who would never forgive him. Hazel eyes looked up as the door swung open and Sebastian appeared. “Hello, Sebastian.” Blaine smiled after a brief pause where all he did was feel the temperature on his cheeks kick up a notch. Why’d that happen every single time when he first saw him? It was frustratingly embarrassing. “I didn’t know what else to bring so? I brought–um–,” he lifted the cups up, “caffeine and chocolate.”
Shit. This wasn’t how the evening was supposed to go. Kurt looked up at Blaine from where he was sat on the floor and felt an embarrassed blush rise on his cheeks. This didn’t look bizarre at all… “Um..” His eyes flickered between his roommate and the still burning feather between his fingers- Kurt blew out that flame first, followed by the candle.
Thank god he wasn’t doing anything actually important…
“I’m- it’s nothing! Really just something to um…” Nope, no excuses come to mind. An odd smelling candle sure, but using it to burn things, the straw sitting beside him waiting to be added to the flame, the little white notebook open with instructions, not so much. “I got nothing.” His shoulders dropped and he sighed. Kurt started to pick up his supplies, nerves just concealed while he pulls out the drawer under his bed, moves the folded blanket sitting on top to reveal the rest of his various herbs and candles and rocks, and puts away what can be used later.
Oh it looked very bizarre. That was for certain. The look of stunned, awkward ‘what did I just walk in on?’ on Blaine’s face said it all. He was trying to piece together the scene and make some sort of sense of it. Bewilderedly looking from object to object as Kurt scrambled to blow out the candle–he paused to give the panicked boy a flick of a glance. Seriously? What did he just walk in on?
Was he practicing voodoo or witchcraft or something?
“Something to—what exactly,” he palmed the look away seeing Kurt deflate and quickly feeling sorry for his initial reaction causing him to feel so self-conscious. Okay, this was weird but he didn’t need to look like he caught Kurt doing anything bad. Because this wasn’t bad, was it? “Yeah. I got nothing either. Sorry. I just didn’t expect– Wow! That’s a lot of stuff.” Wherever he was going with this, the display that Kurt pulled the blanket away to reveal kind of zapped that thought. Inching closer–Blaine rested his hand on Kurt’s shoulder to get his attention. “So–that’s what that weird smell was,” he gave him a nervous little laugh trying to get the point across to not be so embarrassed. He just had questions is all. But would keep them to himself until Kurt didn’t want to go hide under a rock.
“Oh, I definitely did. Pretty guys have always been my weakness.” He laughed properly, keeping that warm smile when he was finished afterwards. “I’ve missed him too, and you of course – even Rachel a little, and she called me almost every night.” He’d skyped and called them all regularly, but it just wasn’t the same as being here with them in person.
“Sing? Singing solves everything in life.” Elliott suggested rather jokingly, before backtracking with a surprised look on his face. He had encouraged them to stay together, but he wasn’t sure marriage was the way forwards, it just seemed a little fast for them, especially when they were so young.
“I think she mentioned going through,” his chin lifted so he could make air quotes with a few twitches of his fingers, “Elliott Withdrawals so often that it should be a term in a medical dictionary by now.” Both wrists were pressed against the table and he shrugged, fingers fanning out over the surface. “I’m serious. There was even a phase where she sighed and pouted every time your name came up.” Laughing as his head shook–Blaine sat back and stretched his legs out underneath the table. Rachel ‘just missed her Elliot, okay!’ and he’d be hard pressed to say the rest of them didn’t. Because they all did.
Elliott brought a zen with him that they all lacked on various levels. Seeing him again felt good. Like that peaceful calm that he brought returned to their otherwise crazy–at most times–lives. “Singing is a good idea. But I was thinking of, you know, a day trip to Coney Island or–aren’t you from Jersey? What’s–,” he stopped mid-conversation seeing Elliott’s surprised look. A confused pout jutted out his bottom lip and he looked down at his shirt wondering if he had something on it or his face or… “Um–what? You look confused–?”
Tina could only smirk at Blaine’s reaction to her messing up his hair but he totally deserved it in her opinion. Grabbing her phone, she quickly recorded what he was doing then saved it to her phone. She was sure Sam would get a kick out of the video later. “Yeah, yeah whatever. You’re also buying us coffee from the Lima Bean from now until we leave, among other things.” Oh she was sure that she could think of some other things for him to do despite him ‘technically winning’. “Come on, we have a lot to get ready and not a lot of time to do it in.” Hopefully her parents would agree and let her go with Blaine. Though, her best friend was one of the New Directions that they actually liked so she kept her fingers crossed that that would work in their favor. She made sure that she had her bag then linked her arm with his once her phone was safely stored in her bag where he wouldn’t be able to get to it.
Blaine was oblivious to what his ‘best girl friend’–her name should be traitor for filming that!–was doing with her phone. He’d swung back to stare inside his locker at the mirror he had stuck to the inside. Wisps of hair continued to taunt him in their unruliness and refusal to cooperate! Hazel eyes were so close to being crossed that they qualified for the word as he gave his hair one final attempt at being fixed and–deflated in utter defeat. “Fine! I’ll buy coffee,” he laughed and gripped his locker and swung it shut. Tina’s arm received a small pat when the air of betrayal that lingered around them finally sank in. Blaine paused–a puzzled expression drifted curiously to Tina, her bag, her arm that was through his. Then not knowing any real reason why he suddenly stopped–he blinked out of it and tossed the notion to the side chalking it up a serious need for caffeine. “Want to take my car? We can leave yours here and come back for it later? After we go see a vampire introduce some quality cinematic viewing. Hey, wait. Maybe you two know each other? I mean–vampire to vampire–,” he teased with a crinkled nose and wry, cheeky grin.
“If you do, I’ll probably kick your ass,” he muttered softly pulling away enough to grasp one of his hands. And pressed a soft kiss there, squeezing gently, and keeping Blaine close. The speedster was proud of him, he really, really was. Blaine was such a good person, too good for him. He didn’t want the other to feel guilty, but after losing so many people that he cared about. Perhaps he was a bit paranoid. But could anyone fault him? Feeling the other next to him, his breath on his skin, it was reassuring, and it had calmed the speedster down. Although he sort of refused to let him go right now. While he might be promising that, Barry knew better, something always happens. But he’ll push that out of his mind for the time being. “I’m glad you’re okay, but right now you totally owe me some time,” he managed a chuckle. “No escape.”
Blaine laughed lightly at the threat. “I give you full permission if it happens again. I promise I–,” he fell silent when Barry took his hand caused his breath to hitch. There was such warmth in Barry’s touch. Trembling fingers quickly curled down trying to get as much physical contact as possible so he could savor the sensation. Watching Barry’s lips close in? The kiss pressed there? Having his nerves tingle was unavoidable. There was nothing that could stop that reaction–ever–in Blaine’s book. No near-terrible situations or guilt or lingering anxiety could taint that feeling. His attention was still honed in on the spot where the ghost of Barry’s lips haunted his skin when the speedster spoke. Dazed eyes focused when he heard a faint chuckle and Blaine’s whole expression showed how affected he was by such a tiny gesture. A slow nod later–Blaine’s body shifted and he crawled over to sit on Barry’s lap facing him with his knees bent towards the back of the sofa and his arms wrapped loosely around a long neck. “I’ll give you all the time in the world.” Being the tallest was a rare treat and he grinned teasingly putting all his efforts into trying to lighten the mood. “Now who is in a no escape situation? You’re stuck, Mister Allen. Until I say so.”
Kurt took the attempt at a smile a good sign, even if it did end in talking more on that specific topic. It took him a moment to process though that he did, all in all, seem to be ok. The aching was reduced thanks to Blaine’s glovebox, and it could have been worse from the start. That was a laugh- he was stumbling around, possibly concussed and in shock, but it really.. Reality was heavy. In this case, reality was that he could have been beaten near to death and wasn’t. Thank god whatever specific thing he did wasn’t bad enough to warrant that. It was probably saved for people who owed the guy money, he figures.
“Considering what you’re doing for me, I don’t mind the drive.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know.” Kurt shrugged. He wasn’t a stranger to fights but he didn’t make a habit of getting in them or pissing off guys who had goons to send. Not that he knew of anyway. For all of Kurt’s reputation, real or fake, this was all new to him.
“I hope so. Obviously, he’s made his point clear. Now he can back off,” Blaine burrowed his brows and didn’t quite realize how angry he was at the idea this idiot who hurt Kurt as bad as he did for a reason Kurt wasn’t even sure of. Until he heard the sound of his own voice. Yes, they may be near strangers. But Blaine had his own reasons for disliking people who resorted to beating the hell out of someone. They ran personal and deep and not so far in the past that it didn’t draw those memories to the surface if he thought too long about it. He quieted down for what was left of the ride and let the radio play overtop of the sound of tires against asphalt and the hum of his engine.
The road twisted into the hills of Westerville where the houses further and further apart. Long driveways dotted with hedges and solar lights that disappeared behind trees. High gates and cobblestone entry ways. Blaine turned onto a circular driveway through one of the last sets. His house–a white and gray Victorian that was meticulously kept up for appearance’s sake–was dark except one porch light
. He parked in front of the door and shut the car off, verifying there was no one home with a bend past Kurt before and smiled. “We made it. Come on. I’ll show you around and you can get comfortable,” he smiled gently and climbed out of the car, his keys jingling as he rooted out the one he needed.
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.”
Jeff beamed brightly at Blaine’s words as he nodded “Quite right, the more the better” He admitted as he turned around and stared at his friend and stuck his tongue out at him “You snooze, you lose Nicky poo” He winked as he sat next to Blaine. He’d heard Nick grumble about maybe limiting Jeff’s candy intake or perhaps pushing the blonde out of the booth which Jeff pouted at that last grumble.
Ignoring the Brunette’s sour words he smiled “So Blaine, where are you from? What do you do for fun? Do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend? Do you play sports? Do you enjoy school? what are you good at? What brought you to Dalton?” He blurted the questions out in quick succession he was nosy and he had waited patiently to get to the pizza place to ask the new kids the questions with his friends around he was sure they were all eager and he wanted to know more about this new roommate.
The sudden onslaught of questions made Blaine’s fingertips vice grip the edge of the table. Especially the last one considering why he was here. He was still wearing some of the worst of the ‘reason’ why on the outside. And a whole lot of it on the inside. Thus the quiet. He smiled awkwardly and looked at each of their expectant faces and felt his rise in temperature. “I’m from Westerville. My parents don’t live very far away. We’re up in the hills.” AKA? The very well off edge of town. “I–uhm. Sing and play some instruments or play polo and go sailing for fun,” it was getting harder not to start stumbling for words considering he was nearing the last question.
“I enjoyed school. I’m really looking forward to enjoying it again.” He darted his gaze to Nick and Jeff in particular because he felt the most connection to them for some reason. “I’m good at History and English and I think I don’t do half bad in Science. No I don’t have a girlfriend. Or a boyfriend,” he added the last in so fast at such a low volume it was easy to see how jittery he was getting, “and–I’m here because–because things didn’t work out at my old school anymore.” What kind of reason was that? The truth. A very watered down version. He was too busy drawing in a deep breath after rambling so much that he didn’t think to elaborate any further.
Being like this with Blaine, it was something he was comfortable with. In fact, he had never actually felt more comfortable than when he and Blaine were curled up on a couch together, just like this. Dave barely paid attention to the Tv, instead choosing to take in the moment and enjoy Blaine’s body against his. When Blaine didn’t answer immediately he felt his stomach dropping. Had he said something that was wrong to say? Did he make Blaine uncomfortable? He had been trying hard with that aspect. He only brought up the past when the situation needed it. Then he heard the remote hit the group, the thing that made his heart drop even more. Dave tried to find something in Blaine’s eyes, something that would explain if he was upset or not by the comment. Then he heard it, the thank you. Dave relaxed, nodding. “You’re more than welcome.”
Dave immediately started feeling all the tension that had been quickly building up inside of him quickly release. This was the best way of seeing Blaine happy. He leaned into the embrace a large smile crossing his lips. “You’re the amazing one, Blaine Anderson. I owe my amazingness to you,” he paused, fully leaning into the kiss. He smiled stupidly as he turned the corner kiss into a full kiss. After a few moments, he took a deep breath and pulled back a bit. He looked around the room, trying to find courage, before looking back to Blaine. He slowly let out his breath, trying to find the right words. “You know, I never thought that I would be dating you. When I first met you, honestly, I couldn’t stand your happy go lucky attitude, and how happily out you were, and that you were dating Kurt. But then I met you at Scandals, and I think all of that changed that moment. I love spending time with you, being able to see you and do this, or just enjoy simple moments, like I dunno, getting a coffee at the Lima Bean together. But I was wondering,” he paused, forcing himself to calm down. “I was wondering if maybe you wanted to move in together? I found an apartment closer to Dalton, but still near my school, and I figured it’d be easier to see you more often, but last night all I could think about was how much I would love to be able to see you all the time, and be able to roll over and have you be the first thing I saw in the morning. So I was wondering if you would move in with me.”
Blaine hummed low as the small kisses he gave the edges of Dave’s mouth were turned into a full one that lingered and stole his breath when their lips fit together. In a jerking motion–long fingers came up to curl around his boyfriend’s biceps so he had something to hold onto and stay upright when they pulled away from one another. He’d be lying to himself if he said he didn’t feel a rush of contentment relax the tenseness he felt inside that seemed ever-present. Being with Dave normally melted it away but he knew it was usually there–waiting to come back so the ghost of it was hard to forget. This time? He couldn’t remember what it felt like–much less be waiting for it to seep back in. Not when he was looking at Dave’s lips knowing his were the one to make them glisten. Or–definitely–not when he was considering going back in for seconds.
Dave seemed to need to find his words. The way he acted made Blaine’s head tilt out of curiosity. He was about to offer him a penny for his thoughts when Dave spoke up. What he said made Blaine blush down into his lap. The feeling was mutual. Mostly. Where Dave couldn’t stand him at first sight–Blaine felt sorry for him. Time changes people. Lesson learned by it happening repeatedly until he wondered who was changing faster. Him or the people around him. Good and bad changes. Ones mended and tore apart fences until the map he knew like the back of his hand a year ago was completely different. And all roads led him to somewhere he never planned. It took him months to come to the idea that nothing in the outside world mattered when they were like the way Dave was explaining he found such joy in. Months of trying to forget and trying to let go. Months of failing and cancelled dates. Of piss poor excuses that he knew Dave saw through and knew the real reason why Blaine didn’t have the energy to get out of bed. Let alone try to attempt something CLOSE to resembling a date. Dave stuck by him patiently waiting–and guiding him–to how they are now. Most people would have given up. Not Dave. And Dave thought he was the amazing one? Psh! “Wondering what,” he asked during Dave’s pause. His question was answered by one worded to sweetly that he felt tears building until the shocking finale erased the wonder if he heard Dave right when it was repeated. Yeah, he most certainly did. Blaine couldn’t stop smiling and taking both of Dave’s hands into his to give the man something to hang onto. Poor Dave looked like he was so nervous he might crawl out of his skin. “Dave–I? Move in together? You want to live with me? I mean–you found a place closer to here? How long were you looking? Are you sure?”
“Well, it seems like a little too much of a coincidence for it to be just ‘cause of Spring, so…” If he hadn’t known any better than to make assumptions based on the little Blaine had revealed with what he had said, Barry would have jumped to the conclusion that the universe had perhaps decided they could both use yet another bad weather friend. A conclusion that brought a small, amused smile to his lips, for it sounded like something right out of a poorly scripted, particularly corny Disney movie. There was no denying that he had his fair share of friends that he knew would stay with him through thick and thin, friends who were far more loyal and devoted than he believed he deserved, friends who were more like a family to him than anything else. Nevertheless, and taking into consideration everything that had been going on lately, he most certainly would not have minded one more friend to turn to. Not that he expected to drag Blaine into all the craziness his life had been consisting of those past couple of years, but he definitely looked the type who managed to brighten other people’s day simply by standing in the same room with them. “Sweet, what did you have in mind, like a trip?” He chuckled faintly, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, it’s– I never liked carrying an umbrella around, you know? I feel it’s so impractical, and you’re always gonna end up getting wet anyway, but… I only lasted a couple of blocks before I realized it’s just pouring today.”
“Who knows? Either way. It’s good to see you again. Even if it takes the rain to make us run into each other,” Blaine smiled keeping close enough to stay under the protection of Barry’s umbrella the best he could without completely invading the man’s personal space. Hands in his pockets, a smile was cracked as his chin was tucked towards his collar. “I haven’t thought about leaving the city yet but I’m sure at least a small trip back to Ohio is probably on demand from my parents.” He had to suppress a groan at the thought. Spending time back home would be great for catching up with the few friends he had left there after graduation. But entertaining his parents was a task he didn’t particularly enjoy thinking about. At least he had plenty of time to come up with ways to make school sound far more impressive than it actually was. Okay. He was impressed with NYADA and all it had to offer and fill his days with. At the Anderson household dinner table, however? A normal day at his school just didn’t seem.. Earth to Blaine! Without realizing it, he’d been biting against the inside of his bottom lip and totally zoned out for a moment or two until the rest of what Barry had to say caught up and kicked him in the skull to remind him he had company. Looking back up at Barry’s profile–Blaine grinned and stole a glance at the umbrella overhead. “Well. I guess it’s the idea that counts. Good intentions and all that. So. Um. How about you? Any plans for what’s left of Spring before Summer chases it away?”
pianokeysandbowties 