Shit. Puck was supposed to pick the topic. He bit his lip, unsure of what to ask. There were so many things they could talk about, but the question he really wanted to ask was ‘When did you realize you were gay?’ It was something he’d been struggling with for awhile. Maybe talking to someone who had gone through a similar experience would help Puck. He was too afraid to ask the question though and instead said,
“Uh…tell me some more about yourself. I really don’t know much about ya, Blaine. Other than the fact that you go to Dalton, wear bowties, are friends with Sam, can sing your ass off, and are gay.” He was about to add and a good kisser too but decided not to. Admitting that would confuse everything and then he’d have to say things he wasn’t sure he was ready to talk about.
Not expecting to be asked so much about himself–Blaine blinked a few times as he toed off his shoes and swung his legs up onto the couch underneath him. By the time he settled in–he was curled up into the corner and letting his head rest along the crease. The room was still a little spinny and having something steady to rest it against helped with the dizziness. Unexpected or not, nevertheless, he smiled wide and blushed but shrugged easily and thought over how he was going to answer. “I’m more friends with Kurt but Sam’s a nice guy and I’m glad I met him. I only didn’t want to leave him passing out where he’d end up in trouble in the morning if his parents found out. Thank you for saying I can sing. That means alot,” and by the soft way he stated his gratitude there was a humbleness that said he wasn’t being the slightest bit facetious about honestly being thankful that someone liked the way he sang. “Um–so what else,” he glanced at the ceiling making an ‘uhh’ noise. “I like comic books. There’s that. I don’t drink very often but I’m starting to think you all may think I do seeing as how both times I’ve hung out with all of you together–I’ve gotten drunk,” he grinned jokingly but where was the lie? God, he hoped he didn’t look like some deviant alcoholic After School Special case. Did he?
“I ride horses. Polo–actually.” It was all surface talk but that’s what people getting to know one another did–yeah? He wasn’t going to dig deeper than that seeing as how he already had one ‘that shouldn’t have happened’ moment with the other boy. Laughing as he rocked his head against the sofa–Blaine lifted his hands with his fingers curled up lightly in a gesture of peace and friendship.
“And–nope–still not going to run back to The Warblers and dish dirt on you guys. Which I’ve been asked twice tonight. How about you? I know next to nothing about you. Other than you seem like a nice guy, you like football and you reluctantly joined New Directions which judging by how you are with them? I don’t think it was that reluctant and you honestly like being there.” He left out the other things Kurt told him. Because they weren’t all that polite to share for reasons he’d rather just let his thoughts skim past and skip over entirely.
There was that new blush as Remy soaked in the sight of that perfect rear and frankly, that new blush only made Blaine that more desirable. Sebastian was right, there was something holy attractive about that prim and proper look that Remy could already feel himself wanting to have a “taste” of. His eyes met Blaine’s and Remy’s smirk didn’t falter as the other stuttered and seemed to have a little trouble wrapping his head around the words he’d just said. Which- to be fair to Remy, he’d totally warned Blaine about. “And knowing Sebastian as well as I do, he’s utterly aware and already proud of himself for blowing your mind even while he’s not here. No doubt he just got a burst of self-confidence with no real understanding of why.” Remy quipped lightly. Two bright eyes followed the other as Blaine walked a few steps before walking back the way he went. Remy even held up his hands in “Hey, what did I do” look as the other shot him that scathing look. The pink haired artist did, however, lean forward to watch the boys perky ass walk away with a tilt of his head. “God I would eat that thing out for hours.” Remy muttered before pushing off the chair and wandering himself back towards the main loft to find his art work.
“If hope you don’t mind me saying but you’re really good,” Blaine’s voice quietly filled the room in a soft, polite whisper. Twenty minutes or more had passed before sight nor sound of him could be seen or heard other than a faint rustling around in the bathroom and water going through the pipes. Now, he was standing there with a pillow shoved against his side and a blanket draped over his arm. Wet curls hung down near one eye, almost touching his lashes. Thankfully, they were long enough not to point straight to the heavens anymore. Well. When the gel wasn’t holding them back. Bare feet jutting out from a pair of Sebastian’s old Dalton sweatpants–because they were one of the only things that relatively fit him and Sebastian never cared when he borrowed them or the matching t-shirt he was wearing because he’d long outgrown them but for some reason Blaine was sure of and would never mention always kept them around. An appreciative gaze moved back and forth over Remy’s work and he squeezed the pillow tighter to his chest subconsciously as he looked the artwork over repeatedly. “I’m regretting I had to cancel our meeting for you to teach me now. I probably would have gotten a better grade. Friendship drama. The root of all things distracting,” he hummed and gave Remy an apologetic smile. “Anyway, I hope I’m not bugging you.” Blaine jutted a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the living room. “I can let you get back to work if you want?”
Puck grinned when Blaine laughed. He was relieved that things appeared to not be so awkward between the two of them. He nodded his head. “Yes, Blaine, I want you to stay. Like I said before, Sam’s gonna need both of us in the morning. I definitely don’t want to deal with Evans hungover on my own. ‘Specially if he throws up in my bed.” He grimaced and made a face before he walked over to his couch and took a seat on it. “So, uh, why don’t ya take a seat next to me on my couch and we can talk. Or watch a movie. I’m still kinda wired and don’t see myself sleeping anytime soon.” He wasn’t about to admit that the reason why he was wired was because of their kiss. If he admitted that, wouldn’t it send mixed signals to Blaine? They’d probably end up having a heart-to-heart conversation and he certainly didn’t need that to happen. He’d had enough of those occur during glee club to last him a lifetime.
“If he throws up? I’m not sure of how much use I’m going to be to you but,” his eyes softened and he let the smile he made sure to give Puck as a means of making him feel better and believe him when he promised he wouldn’t tell anyone widen. “Yeah! Yeah. I’ll stay.. Thank you,” he squeezed his palms together and blew out a breath he’d been half-holding since their mouths parted and he realized what he did. In spite of his laugh–he hadn’t properly breathed since. Hey, realizing you just managed to kiss a straight guy is a good reason to not be able to breathe. –No. Relax. Puck said it was okay–so–stop making it into not okay.– Blaine gave Puck a would-be lighthearted if he could shake away the twinges of guilt out of his twisting stomach
shrug. But? All it seemed to be was Blaine hesitantly agreeing to stay when he was still somewhat unsure if things really were as okay as Puck made them out to be. Would he change his mind once Blaine left and hate him? God, he hoped not. Puck was actually a pretty likeable guy. Worrying about him hating him for this wasn’t something Blaine could help. A worry that was put to ease when he was offered a seat and crossed over to take it. Talk? Puck wanted to talk? He didn’t seem the talking type so this instantly piqued Blaine’s curiosity. Watching his feet–Blaine toed off his shoes not looking up as he asked softly, “What would you like to talk about?”
It’s an interesting sight to watch the other blush up like nothing else. There’s a simple easy shrug at the others words. “I think I have a vague idea of where it came from.” Sebastian had been right after all. Blaine was utterly, drop dead gorgeous. His lips, his dark hair, and if half the things Sebastian had said about the boys ass were true then he was no doubt worthy of such a nickname. You could almost see the shiver that ran though Blaine at the name, like some Pavlovian response to it. Remy dropped his paint smeared rag onto the table between them before finally strolling over towards the boy. “My brother does have a flair for being a little dramatic with his words. And I love him, really, but it’s a true enough statement. Though in this case…” Remy chuckled, his pink braided hair falling to one side. but he held his hands up as the other pressed for more details. “Fine. Fine. Fine. I tried to warn you off but if you insist….” There’s a little trail off as Remy’s mind clearly started to pick at what he wanted to tell Blaine about. “At one point he told me that if the gods created a perfect ass. It would belong to Blaine Anderson.” He pointed out as he took a chance to lean around the boy to clearly drop his eyes to the others ass. “I think he sort of has a point there.” He mused, staring for a few moments longer before walking back to drop down on one of the chairs at the table. “There was a few other elaborate things about licking whipped cream off certain parts of you. Oh. And your face covered in-..” There’s a little wiggled his eyebrows. Remy clearly had no shame just as much as Sebastian did. “And I think he also said something about you being his dream conquest?”
Blaine watched in wonderment–hazel eyes drawn to one thing in particular–as Remy drew nearer. He was unable to mask his fascination with the pink braid that was such a stark contrast to the polished and perfect natural hair his twin brother meticulously sported ever since they’d first met. The look was so not anywhere close to Sebastian’s style that it was as strange as it was familiar thanks the face he was glancing towards when he wasn’t watching his hair. The passive way he spoke in that voice in such a melodic tone made Blaine bite into his bottom lip and wonder if he’d just asked a question he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know the answer to seeing as how it was being hinted at that what Blaine suspected verses what he was about to hear? Might be even more blown out of proportion than he expected in a way that was all Sebastian Smythe and–that was a wholly uniquely extreme version of the phrase. Of course, it started with a statement about his ass. They were close now. Enough Blaine could smell paint–his breath hitched and he stood perfectly still as the other–you’ve got to be kidding–leaned to blatantly look at his rear. Heat exploded over his skin again in a whole new blaze, wide eyes stared at the floor in disbelief that shouldn’t even be disbelief considering. His lungs only began working once Remy sauntered off. Blaine tilted his chin to meet Remy’s stare–growing redder with each word–until his mouth hung open and he stuttered. “I–uh–okay..” He managed some half-laugh that was more breathless than not and rolled his eyes trying to chuckle the last part off but fell a dollar short. “And that’s why your brother is the epitome of ‘I can’t believe you just said that’. I–um–probably never should have asked. Yet again. Sebastian manages to blow my mind and he isn’t even in the room.” Another weak chortle and shake of his head occurred before Blaine turned to grab the blankets out of a linen closet and realized he was walking in the opposite direction. After shooting Remy a ‘don’t you dare laugh’ stare–he quickly went to grab them and a pillow he always used trying to catch his breath for real on the way.
Kurt held still, eyes downcast as Blaine finished cleaning his face. He didn’t reply, only gave a soft hum of recognition. After tonight he’ll be staying out of trouble for a good little while, Kurt thinks. No more sore spots indeed. He wonders if he’ll honestly stay at home for more than a day or two. Bad decisions in the name of entertainment, it was practically his specialty.
“Yeah.” he cleared his throat, sitting back and settling in his seat. The aching was improved greatly. Kurt sank back into his head, so to speak. Less memories to put together into one quick and painful few minutes, more regret for putting himself in a position that leaves him relying on a stranger. Incredible. He didn’t think far enough ahead to consider later or morning though – not quite clear yet after all? – he apparently had Blaine for that.
Unsure of what to say for the better part of thirty minutes–Blaine let them both set there and relax. Though he was sure neither one of them really were. How relaxed could Kurt be after having obviously met the business end of a set of sets of fists and now sitting in the car with a virtual stranger? Or–him–after picking up a beaten up boy he barely knew and deciding to take him all the way to Westerville knowing that he’d gotten into mystery trouble and nothing else?
Yeah–neither one of them were going to completely relax but he hoped Kurt could try.. Out of both of them? He needed it more. It wasn’t until they were within a short distance from the town of Westerville itself and moving into the hills outside the city where gate after gate cut off sight of the houses settled back on long, twisting pathways that Blaine finally spoke up with a side glance over to his company. “So..can I ask? What happened to you? You don’t have to tell me but–um. How bad of trouble did you get into?”
Elliott was exhausted.
He’d got back from his yoga retreat late last night after what had, admittedly, been a rather long trip: he’d only intended to be gone for a week or two, but it just got out of hand and the instructor had been really distracting. But now he was back in New York, and sat writing a email to his mother in the local café.
He had to admit, he’d really missed it here. Sure, he’d left in part to get away from all the drama, but he’d found himself missing everyone even more than he expected. It had been a crying shame really, but he was hoping to catch up with them all in person again soon now that he was back in the city.
He looked up from his laptop and reached for his drink, pausing as he saw who had just walked in. “Hey, Blaine!” He smiled, waving at the other from across the room.
Getting a chance to take a break and not race the clock on getting things done in the day felt good. Now that school was out for break–having an entire day to himself was heaven on Earth.
Blaine idly played with the strap of a reusable grocery bag slung over his shoulder and made his way into the cafe’ for coffee with the highest amount of caffeine and sugar he could find. No medium drip today. He had weeks to work off the calories! After spotting an empty table and bolting towards it before it was gone–Blaine paused midway swearing he heard his name.
Curious, wide eyes followed the sound and searched for the source only to see a face he wasn’t expecting to come across. Elliott? A bright, toothy grin met the rocker’s greeting and Blaine kept his thumb tucked under the strap of his bag but the rest of his fingers fanned out in a wave. “Elliott?! Long time no see,” forgoing the path to his table–he maneuvered between the tables to Elliott’s instead. “Welcome back! How long have you been in the city? How was your retreat? I was starting to think you went for the yoga but ended up joining a cult or something.”
Sebastian heard the words, though he was on the verge of sleep. It felt nice. Almost out of it, but still conscious. He was peaceful now, as Blaine accepted him on his arm, and amazingly it FIT. He never thought they would, but they did. His forehead rested against Blaine’s throat his nose lightly nudging his collarbones as the car started juggling. His breath coming out warm against Blaine’s skin. He felt better than he had in weeks. He didn’t quite mind where they were going, as long as it was a long trip. He wasn’t nauseous. He didn’t get nauseous since his second time getting hammered. And that was a long time ago. For long minutes he stayed silent. Wavering between sleep and consciousness, enjoying Blaine’s warmth, softness, the way it felt to be in his arm. Something Sebastian dreaded with every other person. It crawled his skin to be INTIMATE with people. But right then, drunk with Blaine, it didn’t. At all. It felt good. He could stay in that cab forever. Eventually though, he did speak, as he adjusted himself from how the movement had bumped him, comfortably set by Blaine’s side. ‘Would’I hav’… a chance, if I didn’?? ‘ He asked quietly. And despite his struggle with the words, they were serious. His green eyes opening to look up at Blaine. Eyebrows set.
Blaine cradled the slender body against him as the cab drove towards his apartment. Thinking better ten minutes into Sebastian’s drifting in and out–Blaine had the driver change course towards Sebastian’s instead. If he was going to be hellishly hung over? The last thing he’d need was to sit in traffic the next day when Blaine drove him back. Passing out in your own bed is far better anyway. The cabbie didn’t care. More money. In the meantime–Blaine lets Sebastian doze or rustle and stops fighting the urge to cup the back of his head or twist a strand of hair between his fingers as they move through traffic. One particular bump brought Blaine back from where his thoughts were stuck in a place they shouldn’t be. Apparently, Sebastian was rustled enough that he tuned back in. Blaine’s hand dropped to grip the handle until his skin color bled out from holding it so tight. A soft sigh parted his lips. He couldn’t help the saddened expression that shoved his eyebrows together until he was aware enough to turn it into nothing but a warm, thoughtful smile and gentle, concerned gaze. Sebastian managed to pick up right where they left off. There’d be no chance of escaping having to answer. Not with those eyes hinging on his reply. Blaine licked his lips, smiled again, and peeled his fingers off the cheap plastic they clutched to push some of Sebastian’s bangs from his eyes. “You always had a chance. You lost it for a good while but it didn’t stay gone, okay? You’re more important than high school mistakes and regrets. Got it? You need to start giving you more credit. You’re not that easy to let go either. Try to remember that in the morning, hm? Might not have the nerve to tell you when you’re sober.”
Jeff had dragged Blaine down the hallway with the boys once they had all agreed upon pizza to shut the blonde up. His hand was in Blaine’s pulling him towards the stairs and down to the parking lot. He had wished he’d had his car, but his parents had told him after this semester they would bring the car up if he’d maintained the grades and he had so far been doing that as well as keeping up with his extra curriculars that he had par took in on the campus.
Once they had gotten into the car he had made sure that Blaine rode with him and told him about what the campus had to offer and which teachers were more strict with the Dalton standards and which weren’t telling him about how the groups of boys here worked versus what he’d heard of public school cliques he wanted to make sure that Blaine was well informed and even offered him a spot at the Warbler table at meal times so he didn’t feel so alone. He beamed proudly when he’d told Blaine he was now his friend as they had parked the car at the pizza place.
Once out of the car he’d smiled “So what kind of toppings do you like on your Pizza?” he asked his friend Nick by his side just above what Jeff could hear muttering “Your hogging the new kid time let us get some words in” the rest of the boys with them laughing.
Blaine had fears about Dalton living up to the hype that Cooper swore to him was ‘honest to goodness truth, Squirt!’. His brother made Dalton into what sounded way too good to be real. No place could be as accepting as Cooper promised but he was seeing it happen and was still in disbelief. Believing what his brother said wasn’t the issue. Blaine didn’t say the true reasons why but they ate at him over the past two weeks. From the minute–once he was out of the hospital–that his parents brought up the idea of pulling him out of school, Cooper was the one to push them to ‘do what should have been done months ago’.
What Blaine didn’t understand that if his parents knew Dalton was as great as Coop said? Why wasn’t he here sooner? Before he ended up going through so much that Jeff and the others being so kind to him like Cooper swore they’d be? Felt not only like hopeful relief–because it did–but also too amazing to be real. Blaine sat in the car with his fingers laced together still feeling the ghost Jeff’s hand in his. Jeff had no idea how much the connection–one that people only did when they felt familiar and comfortable around someone–meant to him. He couldn’t have but it meant everything. The rest of the conversation was nodded at or given a broad, grateful smile for. Especially a seat at the Warbler table.
Once they arrived–Blaine followed, laughing at the ground when he heard Nick’s complaint. Looking back to the blonde–Blaine shrugged and held the door. It was the least he could do. “I love pineapple. Ham. You name it. I mean. It’s pizza. The more stuff on top the better–right?”
Barry was caught between trying to feel impressed that this had worked or to dig a hole, and throw himself in it. Honestly, he didn’t think anyone would call, it had been done as a joke, and maybe, just maybe– he’d been a little sad, and desperate. Jeez, that sounds pathetic, considering you’re suppose to be a hero– pft. At first, he had been worried that he’d might just fumble around with his words once he answered the phone. So far, so good, and hey-! Seems like he’s not the only one, judging from the other’s words, tone, and he’s pretty sure that the phone had fallen. He could feel his cheeks go on full red, clearing his throat a little. “Y-yeah, I mean, yes, I’m serious,” you got this Barry. Oh god, he hoped this wasn’t being done as a prank. And that the other person on the line wasn’t some creeper. It would be just his luck.
–Don’t choke again. You’re going to sound like a weirdo. Or an idiot making a prank that just had it blow up in his face.– Whatever one of the two was worse? Blaine wasn’t sure which. Though he did pull his phone away from his ear long enough to stare at and give the glowing screen a hard blink of disbelief. Hey–it gave him a second to gather his thoughts and untie his tongue from the knots the barely there conversation tied it in. He had half his apology on the ready by the time he opened his mouth to speak. But? Once he answered the poor man? Something else came out. “You don’t sound so sure. I mean. If you are–? I–,” it finally caught up that his means of excusing himself from this call had taken a turn that he wasn’t expecting. Why? Loneliness? Curiosity? Or the fact that when he dialed the number there was a small sliver of–what if? in the back of his mind he quickly pushed off into ‘that is so something I’d never do and I’m NOT doing it now either–just being polite, considerate..nothing else’. Certainly not feeling his stomach do a twirl and a rush of adrenaline make his veins feel cold and burn all at once. Never. “You know where I am.. You have my number. It shouldn’t be too hard for you to find me.” Oh God. Why was he dizzy? It was just company. Company. That’s all.
Kurt was trying to take deep breaths and focus as he babbled on, though he noticed how Blaine had put his hands up, in seemingly a way to catch him, and how the other seemed to be trying to calm him down. That, that was the Blaine he’d fallen for, the one he ached to be in his arms, to be close to him; the Blaine that was soft and soothing, that cared about others, that wanted to be so kind and help people. He felt the butterflies in his stomach again, and he closed his eyes for a moment, listening to that wonderful voice as he calmed and collected himself.
“I…” He took a deep breath again, opening his eyes to look at Blaine shyly, “I was writing that you like watching guys make out… It’s stupid, and I shouldn’t have done it, I’m sorry. I just.. I thought that maybe.. maybe if you saw it and confirmed that it was true, and maybe somehow figured it was me another way… that you might, well..” He shrugged sheepishly and looked down at the floor, “Just… I just um… I really like…” He chewed on his lip and didn’t look back up. He’d said so much that he was scared of already, how could he admit even more?
Blaine felt horrible watching Kurt squirm as bad as he was. Yes, he caught him apparently writing his name and that he liked…? on the wall but Kurt’s reaction to getting caught was so heartbreakingly sweet that it was hard to be mad. Not that Blaine could ever be mad at a face like that. Kurt was just too sweet, too beautiful–. No. No. He didn’t and shouldn’t think that way. They barely knew each other and he’d heard stories as to why Kurt ended up transferring. Their reasons why weren’t too far apart. He just never had the chance to tell him because every time he so much as looked at Kurt or came near him? Kurt seemed like there wasn’t a spot on the floor or the wall or under a rock that he would rather be looking at than Blaine.
All the more reason why Blaine felt drawn to him only to keep a safe enough distance away as a means of not making him feel uncomfortable or vulnerable. Yet. Here they were. In a situation that said Kurt might not be as vulnerable as Blaine thought. Who has the nerve to write–. Hazel eyes blinked rapidly as he felt a rush of crimson blaze over his olive cheeks. –Likes to watch guys making out?– Well. It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t WAY true either. He wasn’t a creep just.. “So.. You’re wondering if I’m gay then? Kurt,” he smiled curtly and tucked his head down so he could rub the back of his neck grinning bashfully but he was so close to chuckling that it was painful to hold back. “That’s a really a lot of work to do when you just could have asked me? For the record? Yes. I am. Um–,” he crinkled his nose and squinted happily, “surprise?”
pianokeysandbowties 