COFFEE had evolved from a disgustingly bitter distaste to an acquired necessity after Finn had began teaching on his own. The EARLY mornings and long nights required him to find some sort of fuel, and apparently, drinking FOUR RED BULLS a day wasn’t great for your health. Coffee was a little bit better…and it was somewhat CHEAPER too. You know, when you decided to make it at home or school and not buy the overpriced drinks at Lima Bean. However, Finn was running late and still had a million things to do before the first bell, so a coffee pit stop was in order for this morning.
He was half awake from his lack of caffeine, so he barely paid attention to who was next to him in the shop. He was pretty sure his eyelids were DROOPING when he heard a familiar voice say his name, blinking quickly and glancing down at the boy he hadn’t seen in years. Not since his break up with Kurt, really.
“ BLAINE ? ” he greeted as he instantly perked up, a warm grin spreading across his lips as he took his coffee in one hand and pulled the boy into an embrace in the other. “What’re you doing here, man?! It’s been FOREVER !”
“Everyone’s still kind of here, there, and everywhere, you know. I’m working at MCKINLEY though,” he informed with a soft smile as he grabbed a couple of sugar packets, flicking them a couple of times to get the sugar to settle before he ripped the top off and poured it into his coffee. “What about YOU though? What’re you doing around here?”
Blaine was nervous to get back into the swing of things on the Lima end of Ohio. Sticking to Westerville seemed to be the better plan. Safer. More comfortable. Since his horrible attempt at becoming someone new, different and maybe a bit less old Blaine which was once a new Blaine and just Blaine ended up with his best friend not recognizing him. After that? His visits trickled down to pretty much nothing. Unless Burt Hummel or Sam were involved.
UNTIL.The same person that helped Dave through his darkness helped him. She encouraged him to stand on the foundation of the life he built for himself two hours from Lima as the means of walking proudly back to a place that once meant so much to him. More importantly. To the people who were still there. Which was why he was here. To try. Like he promised.
“Finn! Hey! Yeah! It has been. It’s so good to see you again!” That’s why being face-to-face with Finn, of all people, made Blaine’s heart race. His eyes filled with adoration, apprehension and so much joy aching to burst free that his arms both slipped around Finn’s back and he hugged him so tight he might not ever let him go. Thankfully, Finn took care of that.
“I heard the rumor you were. How is it going? I’m sure you’re a great teacher. I thought I’d drop by. See how things are going with you and Sam?” His gaze darted up. “Me? I’m.. Things are a lot different.” Here came his pride, straightening his back and making his voice lift in a light quip of joy. “I work for Dalton. Crazy, huh,” he pursed his lips in a ‘Can you believe it’ smirk. “I’m the Director of the Warblers. Started this summer.” A playful grin twisted into place and he feigned a hint of regret. “Um. Should I have kept that a secret until after I visited McKinley..?”
The Lima Bean was packed since school was out for two days. The rest of the Warblers who straggled behind after dropping Trent off for the weekend already claimed two tables near the windows. Laughs and shouts of joy echoed from their table. Blaine was the only one stuck at the counter. He quietly drummed his fingers on the bleach-water faded wood for a good five minutes making sure to keep enough space for the person who had yet to claim the coffee that’d been sitting there the entire time of his wait. Then it dawned on him when he saw the name written on the side of the cup. Finn.
Kurt’s brother? How’d he miss the ceiling tall boy not two people away with his nose in his phone, mouth pressed tight in concentration as he tapped out a message? Only meeting him twice before this, it still boggled Blaine’s sober mind at how Kurt and he were family. Sure, it was through marriage, but the contrast of personalities was beyond crazy to compare. They seemed to have a great relationship though. One that Blaine wished he could have with his brother. Too far apart in age, you know? Plus it was hard for Cooper to make time to visit anymore. Blaine got that but watching the two of them made him wish they had that sort of relationship regardless if it was possible or not.
Finn still hadn’t picked up his drink by the time Blaine heard his own named called and quickly retrieved his and Finn’s. “Hey. I think this is yours,” his smile was warm and open as he approached and held the cup out. “It’s nice to see you again, Finn. Where’s everyone else?”
pianokeysandbowties 