Barry’s own hair was damp, and as a matter of fact so was every last bit of him, despite his having an umbrella. Seeing as he was already running by the time it started pouring, he went on, doubting anything would come to happen in a mere matter of seconds. Immediately after, he took a step he shouldn’t have on a puddle he hadn’t seen and slipped. Had he not had the reflex of rolling to soften the fall, he would have been dealing with a lot worse than a sore ankle. Originally, he had twisted it, but after sitting on the ground for a few minutes, he was already able to stand again and after several blocks, he no longer limped as noticeably. “Uh, no. No, I hope not.” Windows crashing in was not something never to occur in a place like Central City, more often than not, it had nothing to do with the weather– or, more specifically, anticipatable weather. His brow furrowed as he shrugged and shook his head, gesturing that he would be kept from anything if he walked him home. “You caught me on my way home,” he reassured him and when he looked down the street, he nodded towards it in acknowledgement. “Besides, I live right down that way too, so.” And with a soft, friendly smile, he gestured towards the street with his head a second time, inviting Blaine to follow him. “So, uh… How’ve you been? Y’know, besides delighted with this weather.”
Huh! What were the chances? The two of them lived down the street from one another yet managed to meet via hurricane inside a music store that Blaine waved him into. Then just had to wait until another rainstorm to meet again. Weirder things have happened, sure. But they were developing a pattern here. One that made Blaine smile when he realized it. “You know? I’ve heard the saying fair weather friends a lot in my lifetime. God knows I’ve unfortunately made some of those, too.” He cringed at the number of people who–before he’d met the friends he had now–that came in and out of his life when things were going well. Sadly, they didn’t remain when things weren’t so well. Turns out—? “I think I prefer the kind of friends bad weather brings in,” he shrugged and bowed his head in thanks as he swung his hand for Barry to start them off since he was the one with the umbrella. “Besides utter delightment with the never ending rain and bad weather? I’m doing great. Finishing up finals and trying to see what I’m going to fill the break up with. Not sure yet. It’s–uhm–good to see you again. Especially with this.” A thumb pointed up at the umbrella they now both under. “How about you? Apparently not keeping dry.” Teasing Barry with a grin, he gave him a curious look. “For someone with an umbrella? You managed to get awfully wet.”
It was getting tricky to keep things under wraps. Mostly it was the smell; Kurt had a variety of candles, herbs, and grasses under his bed, all for different purposes and combinations that made more.
It’s something that ran in the family, magic. Less secret worlds with wands(much to his younger self’s disappointment) and more rituals to swede the outcome of a certain event. Of course there were some things that came naturally, like moving objects with enough practice into the ability, or healing injuries faster, but everything took devotion. Kurt loved the practice, he did, but since moving into Dalton it was harder.
The smells, the privacy to keep it secret, neither really worked when he had a roommate who he actually got along with. If they disliked each other it would be easier- the lying, avoiding each other. Instead Kurt had to time it carefully and with the knowledge that he wasn’t fooling Blaine at all. Still, he got away with it until the day Blaine was supposed to be gone and busy and he came walking back in early while Kurt was burning a feather over a green candle.
Blaine was full of energy after an impromptu Warblers performance in the center grounds. They were done for the day but someone ended up humming a tune. Humming turned into actual words. Actual words became an actual song and from there? Someone–it was him–goaded yet another out of everyone before Wes had to go and ruin things by reminding the Seniors they had tests in the morning. Not one to run out of a buzz of excitement so quickly–he practically bounced up the stairs back to his and Kurt’s dorm room wondering if Kurt would want to go get coffee. Like Blaine needed it. Probably not but not having Kurt around when they sang anymore? Just–didn’t feel like they were truly at their best.
Or–he wasn’t truly at his best.. Food for thought? A meal that had to wait as he stepped inside the room and—-? Kurt was over a candle, a smoking feather in hand and the room was full of a pungent, earthy smell that wasn’t terrible–oddly appealing even–just strong. “Sorry,” was the first word out of his mouth. He’d felt like he just interrupted something.. He had no idea what–but something. “I..Sorry..” Words, Blaine. Use your words. “Kurt,” he whispered his name as light as the feather in the boy’s fingers. “What are you doing?” Not those words!
Dave beamed, shrugging his shoulders. “Yeah, but I figured I’d save you the trip to the car anyways. Besides, I’m sure you could make it up to me some how,” he pointed out. He enjoyed the hug for a moment, before looking back ask Blaine attempted to get his attention. He was about to say something, when he felt the lips on his cheek. Smiling stupidly, Dave leaned in, giving Blaine a quick kiss back. He then nodded, showing the other that he did indeed understand what he was saying. “Yeah, i’ll see you soon, don’t worry,” he assured. “I’ll probably just put them in the living room, I figure that’s probably the best place to put it right now,” he shrugged.
Dave didn’t want to waste any of his time with Blaine. Eagerly, he jogged to the car and didn’t hesitate to roughly grab his things so that he could be even quicker to getting back to Blaine and into the house to start their time together. After dropping his things off in the living room, making sure to not just toss it anywhere, he quickly found the kitchen. Leaning against the frame of the entrance to the kitchen, Dave smiled, watching from afar. It was so nice being around Blaine, such a breath of fresh air. He stared back at Blaine for a while, just admiring him. How he had gotten to be this man’s boyfriend, he wasn’t entirely sure. “You can greet me with a stare, which by the way was not creepy, any time you want to. As for getting me anything, I’d love some water if I could?” he chuckled. “Though besides that, I’d rather just relax and spend some time with my boyfriend, if you know what I mean.”
Blaine was just as full of curious wonderment about how the two of them got to this point. He didn’t set out for this and had fully convinced himself that he wasn’t going to try for a very long time. Then Dave happened and he just felt so–he blinked out of his train of thought yet again having gone off trying to weigh the pros and cons of telling Dave what he was thinking verses wondering if it would be too much. Or if he even needed to or should. “W-Water–yeah–yeah sure.” Glasses were sort of necessary for water–right? “I’d like that. Want to find something to watch?” Two were grabbed from the cabinet without Blaine missing a beat in smiling a dopey, honest-to-goodness smile back at Dave as he filled them with ice and water from the fridge.
“Come on,” one was offered to Dave. With a now free hand? Blaine curled his fingers around Dave’s palm and lead him back to the living room. “I hope Lord Tubbington’s mafia connections didn’t follow you here. We don’t need the mob interrupting some quality couch time,” he grinned teasingly. “In the mood for anything in particular? Or should we just see what’s on? I’m totally fine with just quiet, too. You’re the one that’s been in the car all this time so you get to pick.” After a sip of the water–Blaine sat his glass on the coffee table and took a seat realizing he’d never let go of Dave’s hand this entire time. Nor did he make any attempt to do so once he noticed either. Instead, he squeezed gently and lightly tugged for Dave to join him. “I’ve missed you, you know?” His voice was soft but his eyes were warm. “Thanks for coming..even if you had to brave traffic and mobster cats..”
Barry had honestly just written his number there on the few times he had managed to get intoxicated (thank you Caitlin and science), and was lonely. Yeah, yeah, it wasn’t his best idea, or smartest move. But he just wanted to have a little bit of fun, to unwind, and relax. Even ‘heroes’ needed that every once in a while, right? “Hi– um, no this is Barry I just kinda figured you might be a prank caller or something,” he lightly chuckled, amused at someone else’s ramblings for once. “It’s not really my thing, but I figured, why not? Might as well give it a shot.” There’s a bit of a pause between there. “— Why? Are you interested? I mean, if you’re not that’s fine. ”
Blaine had no idea what reaction he was expecting from the guy on the other end of the line. There was a chance he did it on purpose but there was an off hand chance that someone was playing a dirty prank, too. How long was the number there? Maybe he was just beating a dead horse here but he had to give the guy a heads up. A heads up that went in the extreme direction of the first option. Common sense or not? What he just heard was–weirdly–not what he was expecting. An eyebrow jerked up, his lips hung open and he stared at his reflection in the dingy glass like seeing his stunned expression would confirm Barry’s question. “I–uh–you–oh! Oh! Uhm–.” Why were his hands suddenly shaking? Why did the room feel hot and stuffy all the sudden? And why the HELL did he drop the phone in the sink?! Barry could hear a quick scrambling before a panicked voice. “Wait–Are you serious?” No! This stuff really didn’t happen? Did it?
At some point, Dave had fallen asleep at his desk. So maybe he shouldn’t have actually put off his project until the last minute, but that was his true nature. Technically, he had plenty of time in the morning to get the thing down, he wasn’t actually sure why he was really panicking over the project. Maybe it was because he was home alone, and didn’t have his parents yelling at him to get it done. He woke up with a start, back aching and body stiff. Shaking his head, he got up and walked to his bed, eyes drooping once more. He crawled into his bed, and without much trouble, fell asleep once more.
It was the loud crashing noise that woke him up again. Eyes wide, he looked around the room, now suddenly wide away. His eyes trained on the now gaping hole in his window and gasped. “Shit,“ he hissed, getting up to see what came through his window. There, on the floor, was a rather large piece of the sidewalk. Not a rock, a piece of the sidewalk. He immediately looked out of his window and caught sight of a stunned Blaine Anderson. Turning, he moved quickly out of his room and down the stairs to the outside. “What the hell, Anderson? What was that for?!” he growled.
Oh for—! This was happening. There was no magic rewind button to push. Not when he saw who was standing in the window two seconds later. “Oh dear God,” the words were muffled against slim fingers still pressed to his lips as his stomach crashed through the soles of his shoes and embedded itself in the ground. Blaine stood there waiting for the inevitable moment where the disappearing figure of Dave Karofsky would appear in the doorway of the house he just vandalized. All he knew was he didn’t want to–the door swung open–and that dreadful thought he had came right out the second he stared at the face of the man growling at him. “I don’t want to go to prison. Please don’t send me to jail.”
A wobbly step towards him ended with him putting his hands out trying to soothe Dave’s anger by flinching his fingers. Like the motions could magically erase it. “I’ll pay for the damage and I–this was a colossal mistake.” The whole night was. This just happened to be the biggest one. Or was the last glass of whiskey the real villain? Yeah that was probably it. Pleading, round hazel eyes begged even harder than the tone of his vaguely slurred voice. “Just..tell me how much it is and,” one finger pointed towards the window but the rest on the opposite hand remained skyward, “I’ll cover it?” Using the same hand, he wiped his mouth and smiled but the attempt was paper thin. Sort of like a window when pitted against a chunk of sidewalk.
“My pleasure. I haven’t cooked for anyone in a while.” he smiled warmly at the other, eyes following his movements. “Don’t worry about it. You worried me, but like I said I needed an excuse to see you anyway. I’m glad it didn’t come at the price of you hiding from the light all day.”
A lot of food indeed that he didn’t need to take part in. Kurt was still wondering if he needed to diet at all if his body didn’t need human food to function- in that case, do demons get fat at all? Does eating too many souls cause weight-gain or is it human food just like before? Ridiculous questions that he’s positive he’s already asked, knowing himself. Still, he had every intention on indulging this morning.
The more pressing matter at hand was wondering if he should sit Blaine down and explain things to him now or another time. Would it ruin their day?
“As if I’m passing on waffles.” Kurt turned to grab a plate and two waffles himself, continuing the somewhat awkward – perhaps just not entirely familiar? – talk as he poured syrup on them. “Would I completely kill the mood if I said we needed to talk? I’m guessing you have questions about my..Situation. We don’t have to do this today though.” He quickly added.
Blaine couldn’t stop himself from smiling when he heard that Kurt was looking for an excuse to see him. It might be some sort of masochistic thing to feel but there was a glimmer of hope that started in the bedroom and hearing that? Only made it spark to life a little brighter than before. It wasn’t a good idea to feel it, he knew that. Trying to convince himself that he needed to let that hope go because he wasn’t sure what he’d do if it was snuffed out over and over ever since this whole insane return started was so, so hard. But one look at Kurt from the corners of his eyes? And the memory of what life was like without him? He just couldn’t let not feel that way. When did he become the person to buy into the ‘false hope is better than no hope’ mentality?
–The day you lost him. That’s when..–
Enough of that. Any more focus on it and he’s lose this chance for them to just be together. To breathe in this moment of familiarity that was so bittersweet that he craved to hang onto it for as long as he could. That’s what mattered. Not the headache still going away. Not the heartache that might never. His plate of waffles and eggs Kurt made were waiting and he fully planned on eating ever last bite. Until he heard that question and watched his knuckles bleed the color from olive to white as his grip tightened on his fork. Even then? His smile and voice were calm even if his gaze was vaguely weary as it met Kurt’s from where he paused on his way to the table. “No. We can talk,” he whispered softly then coughed to make his voice clearer, stronger. “We can do this today.. It’s okay.” They’d been putting it off long enough, right?
Puck bit his lip when Blaine placed a hand on his shoulder. He wasn’t sure if he liked this but before he could say anything, Blaine patted his shoulder and shoved his hand into his pocket. He was surprised when the other male started walking away. Where the hell was he going this late at night? Yeah, right. Puck was almost positive the minute Blaine was alone with Kurt, he’d tell him what had just happened between the two of them. It was almost like he could read Puck’s mind because right when he was thinking this, Blaine told him he wouldn’t tell anyone about their kiss. He was relieved to hear this. He didn’t have to worry about others finding out and making his life a living hell. “Blaine…you don’t have to go…When Sam wakes up in the morning, he’s going to need both of us.” Yeah, he’d blame Sam for the reason why he wanted the other teen to stay. It wasn’t because a part of him wanted to apologize and get back to kissing Blaine. Nope. That certainly wasn’t the reason. “A-and you don’t have to apologize. I get it. I’m hot. Who doesn’t want a piece of this?” He tried to smile, but it came out as more of a frown. He was trying to make things less awkward between the two of them. He wasn’t sure if what he was saying was having that effect though.
“We can forget that ever happened and–I–yeah..” Blaine was resigned to doing his first walk of shame for only kissing a person and already began walking backwards again now that he put Puck’s mind at ease the best he could by promising that this horrible mistake was going to be kept a secret. How lame. Most people did that when they had a way better story to tell than just kissing someone. But his was going to start out–okay it wouldn’t start out any way, shape or form. Secret remember? At least they had that going for them. Blaine could escape the embarrassment of making a grave error of judgement and Puck could escape being labelled as whatever the cruel kids at his school decided. Not that he deserved it. Or anyone did. Puck was just–they were just–victims of too much liquor and his idiotic mind. He was so hung up on beating himself up, Blaine barely heard him try to stop him. Once it sank in? Giving Puck a curious look stopped him in his tracks. “You want me to stay?” A small grin followed and he crossed his arms in a near protective way across his chest but the twinkle in his eyes began to spark back from where it guttered and died out. Maybe the twisting feeling in his stomach would stop if he laughed–and he did. Light and airy in spite of the persistent lump in his throat. Funny what some willpower and a dose of sarcastic self ego-inflation from Noah Puckerman could do. “Sure. That’s got to be it. Definitely,” he paused to chew on the corner of his bottom lip asking one more time just to make sure. “You really do want me here? You’re sure?”
Jeff had knocked on the door once more and was reaching up to knock on the door again and call out for his two senior friends when the door opened and he almost hit Wes in the face. Pulling his hand away and smiled at the head of the council “Wanna go get pizza, hey also meet Blaine” He gestured behind him towards the new boy that he had ceremoniously dragged out of his room. Turning his head he looked for the new boy only to find him near his dark haired friend Nick
“Hey Blaine!” He called to the boy, “This is Wes, he’s the head council of the Warblers” He told Blaine and smiled “This is Blaine” He told Wes and looked around “Where’s David?” he asked looking for the other head council “I want us all to go get pizza!” he was energetic and excited he had a new friend here and talked about the warblers and of course he was going to get his favorite pizza, and perhaps some candy.
Hearing his name drew his attention away from Nick and towards the boy now standing in the doorway only just missing his nose being taken off by Jeff. “Hello, Wes. My pleasure,” a hand lifted in a small wave but Blaine’s eyes lit up and he smiled politely. This time, the one he gave was larger and more relaxed. The longer he was around the group, the quicker an honest to goodness smile was easier. Rather than one filled with nervous excitement. He wasn’t seeking to shadow Jeff much at all now. A mental note to knock it off combined with the fact that they all seemed like really great guys.
Of course they would. That’s what this school promised his parents and him. Whether it lasted once he really saw the students here for what they were when the place wasn’t being sold on him to attend was another thing. Turns out? The faculty’s promised seemed, more and more by the minute, something that rang true. “As you can see? I think Jeff really wants to go get some pizza. I think besides that and the Warblers? That’s all he’s been able to talk about,” he even grinned jokingly and not a single thought came to mind about the last of the nick and bruises that were fading. He hummed softly, thinking as he bounced his attention from face to face.
–Yeah. This was all going to be much more okay than I first thought.–
It wasn’t like Kurt was fragile, prone to random sickness or mood swings or something. In fact he was rarely sick at all, but right now he felt like the living embodiment of a muddy puddle. He’s positive that later he’ll feel horrible for behaving like this in the first place. Hiding out in the bathroom; how classy. It was probably better than suffering in front of Blaine at least, who was still quite obviously worried though. On one hand, it was very sweet and appreciated, but then Kurt didn’t really know what to tell him. He supposed it’s nice that Blaine caught himself before finishing that sentence too, but the message came across just fine. He was right to avoid the mirror.. Kurt wrapped his arms around himself and leaned his shoulder on the doorframe. He’s not sure if Blaine even believes his half-truth that is the stomach ache excuse, so he simply shrugs a little and let’s him talk. Just what exactly did Blaine think hiding in the bathroom meant though? “What’s that supposed to mean..?” Kurt asked before shaking his head a little and dismissing it. “Whatever- It’ll pass, really. Is passing, I just need to sit down for a little while and eat something simple maybe.” ‘And sleep for a year or so.’
“Just that–yep. Okay. Ignoring it. Moving on,” he lifted his hands waving off the answer to Kurt’s question and dismissing it quickly. Blaine didn’t move to follow him at first, choosing to lean against the doorframe and cross his arms over his chest as he studied the other boy. Kurt’s pallor along was worrying. For someone who was naturally ivory skinned–the hollows of his eyes were dark enough that Blaine kept glancing towards his cheekbones trying to gauge just how bad off he was. Because Kurt wasn’t giving up that information without a certain amount of Blaine catching the hint that he wanted him to stop pestering him about how he was feeling. Probably only made him feel worse. –I just want you to feel better. Seeing you like this makes me.. It just–makes me want to take it away.– Blaine nodded and turned his attention towards his slippers. Better to watch his feet than keep obviously staring when he knew how worried he must look. Or mulling over why he always felt horrible seeing someone under the weather but with Kurt? It was ten times as bad. “I can get you some crackers and ginger ale if that’ll help. Curl up in bed and rest? I’ll be back before you know it.”
“oh yeah, definitely.” another laugh fell past her lips and she reached up, pushing her hair behind her ear. she didn’t mean to get sad, she should have been happy. she was in new york. she was supposed to be happy. but she looked up at him with a sad smileand real tears in her eyes. she laughed and wiped her eye with her knuckle, shaking her head head. “i just – i miss this place. new york – new york is terrifying but a dream all at the same time,” she moved her hand to rest over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze, “but i’m fine. i promise.”
Blaine felt his heart drop when he saw Rachel’s laughter fade. It shattered when he saw tears in her eyes that she was fighting like hell to hold back. Watching her close–he inched forward and tenderly took her hand between both of his. The pads of his thumbs traced tiny circles against her skin as he tucked his chin down and dropped his voice to an encouraging whisper. Suddenly–his missing them so much it hurt just–felt selfish when someone else was going through the same. “This place misses you too, Rachel.” He laughed in a barely there huff. “I miss you every day but just wait! Pretty soon, you’ll be taking that town by storm and all of us will be there to cheer you on. I know it’s hard now but this is your dream and you can so do this. Look,” he shrugged and smiled wider, “You already are and I can’t even begin to tell you how proud of you I am.”
pianokeysandbowties 