cooper.

“You can’t think like that, Squirt, you’re not going to let anyone down,” Cooper told him, his voice was a little firmer than usual, mostly because he hated Blaine being so hard on himself. That wasn’t his kid brother, and he didn’t want him ending up on some sort of downward spiral. He turned his head to the side when Blaine dropped down into the vacant seat next to him. He let out a sigh, turning his body a little more so that he was facing him directly, and placed his hands on Blaine’s shoulders as he forced him to look at him. “I’m more worried about tonight, if I’m being honest, B,” his voice was a little softer now, tipping his head a little so that he could meet Blaine’s eyes, like he was trying to find something in them, something that Blaine wasn’t saying aloud.

“You sure this is just about the competition?” he asked, his question lingering in the air as he removed a hand to let Blaine pick up his cup to take a sip of his drink. He could smell his own drink, but that could wait a few more minutes, he just wanted answers right now. “You know you can talk to me Squirt, about anything,”

Cooper settling in close with his hands on his shoulders caught Blaine’s attention more than just the sound of his voice as they spoke and Blaine did his best to make his own steady and not so lost.  The warmth seeping into his skin from Cooper’s palms was much more comforting than sitting at a table, close to someone but still feeling alone.  Hearing that Cooper was worried pushed Blaine’s bottom lip up against the other in an apologetic pout of a frown.  He met Cooper’s gaze only after his brother chased his down a couple times as Blaine tried to dart his to more neutral territory before Cooper ended up locking his attention into his bright blue stare.

The question hit him square in the chest.  He wasn’t fully prepared to answer something he came downstairs to try to shake off.  “I…  I know I can.  I promise.  It’s not that I don’t think I can talk to you, Coop.”  Raising a hand to cover the top of the one Cooper left behind on his shoulder, Blaine gave his hand a squeeze and his expression softened.  “It’s not that.  I’m just,” he frowned hating that he was still trying to find excuses or skirt around the question even when Cooper was clearly concerned.  Caving in, Blaine deflated and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.  “I just feel like this is the only thing I can control right now.  Everything else, in my life and head, is just so chaotic.  This is the one thing that shouldn’t be but I can’t focus enough for it not to start slipping into that same mess and it feels like it is..”