Tag: v: the sound of pulling heaven down

kurt.

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.

kurt.

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?”

kurt.

“Good enough.”  He muttered, reaching for the glove box to dig out the pills.  Kurt forced two down his throat.  He shifted in the seat a little to try and get more comfortable, though it wasn’t the easiest feat.

He should really thank Blaine for this.  He realizes that he hasn’t given any indication to who did this to him, and absently wonders why Blaine is helping when for all he knows, Kurt could be being chased by an angry drug dealer.

Kurt was quiet during the drive to the store, thinking of what he should say to Blaine and what he was going to tell his family later.  Finn knew about his sneaking out and probably had several decent guesses as to what he did all the time, but this time he just missed dinner and wasn’t going to be back by morning even.  His parents were as completely in the dark as they could be, and Kurt was going to come stumbling home the next day after sleeping in a near-stranger’s home because he got in trouble with the wrong kind of people. Fantastic.

When Blaine came back Kurt looked into the bag curiously before Blaine took something out and and motioned for him.  “Did you get donuts?”  He asked as he leaned over.  Eating didn’t sound particularly appealing at this point, but it was sort of amusing.

Blaine settled in and watched Kurt as he leaned close. “Sorry..”  His fingers momentarily fumbled with the wipe and almost dropped it but after a quick cinch of his teeth and an apologetically wide smile–Blaine covered the tip of his finger with it and press the edge to Kurt’s nose.

A gentle touch slid up the bridge of it–Blaine was careful with every inch he covered all the way to Kurt’s forehead.  The wipe came away dirty enough that he tossed it into the bag and grabbed another one before letting it hover by Kurt’s cheek next. “Did that hurt?  Does this feel okay?  I just thought–um.”  Nerves had him catching the corner of his bottom lip with his tongue so he could pull it between his teeth and smile around the bite.

There was no intention behind it–other than to get Kurt cleaner and more comfortable. Make sure any cuts on his skin were wiped down so they didn’t get infected or sorer.  Oh.  Donuts. Hazel eyes glanced slowly down at the bag and he pinched his lips together in a small smirk of embarrassment.

“I was sort of in a rush to get back here and..hey..they were right there and I thought you’d be hungry..?  Maybe?  Um–,”  a quiet chuckle lit up his gaze and made the corners of his eyes crinkle, “Yes.  I got donuts.”  Donuts, Blaine?  Really?  He was hurrying–okay?!

kurt.

He couldn’t bring himself to do anything but accept the help. He’s been out here for a while he’s pretty sure, he can walk to the car just fine but when Blaine gave him something to lean on he didn’t protest.  He did however worry about his aches that seemed to be just about everywhere – even if it only felt that way – being pressed on if he actually accepted that help.  It wasn’t far.  He didn’t realize how cold he was until sitting down and at that point it was a miracle he wasn’t shaking in his boots.  A small smile tugged at the corner of Kurt’s lips just briefly when during all of this, he felt bad for his boots being twice as scuffed up as they were before.  Incredible.  Blaine returned with a shirt then, and Kurt hesitated a moment before setting it on his lap and pulling off his own.  He put the t-shirt on quickly to avoid the cold as much as possible.  For his own dignity he’d pretend he didn’t wince at the movement.

All in all his stomach was worst, shoulders and upper back not too happy either but between those and his elbows down he’s not sure.  He’d actually care to figure out later but right now he just knows that those places ache – brick wall, shoulder scraped, didn’t fall–hair pulled, hit the ground, stop thinking, when will he stop kicking already, stop – and generally why.  He pointlessly tried to cover his forearms – makeshift shields doubling as landing gear, and handles for the man – and look at anything other than himself so he looked towards Blaine again.  Another dry swallow before he spoke.  “…You’re soaked too.”

Blaine sat on his haunches beside the car like he was protectively waiting for Kurt to get comfortable.  He was glad that he took the shirt to use fit just wanting to make Kurt feel somewhat better.  Though completely okay was going to be far off by the looks of him. If he could help?  Giving him a shirt and a dry place to sit was the least he could do.  When Kurt pulled his shirt off and revealed the damage to the rest of his body?  His blood ran cold before he quickly averted his gaze to the floorboard of his car trying to give Kurt privacy until he was covered up and hide a flare of perhaps oddly risen anger for a near stranger to have that much hurt inflicted upon them.  Once again he found himself asking who could do something so awful to someone else.

Jarred back at the sound of Kurt’s voice–Blaine jerked his attention up and blinked a couple times.  Right!  He’d dropped his soggy mess of a newspaper once he took hold of Kurt.  But he was already getting drenched before that.  Now?  Squatting in the drizzling rain?  His hair was plastered to his forehead and his clothes were dripping wet.  “Oh.  Oh,” he batted at the air biting the corner of a sheepish grin before he stood up.  “I’ll–uh–one second.”  A delicate pull closed Kurt’s door until it was an inch or so away from begin shut completely–he’d let Kurt do that if he chose.  Blaine hurridely crossed in front of the car to the driver’s side.  “Guess I could warm us both up instead of sitting out there like an idiot,” he embarrassedly laughed after starting up the car and shutting his door.  “I–um.  Do you want to go home?  Or–do you have a place to go? You can come with me and we can put you in better shape before you go home.  But I live a ways away.  Whatever you decide–I just–I want to make sure you’re going to be okay.”

kurt.

Wreck was right.  He wanted to speak, he did, but he wasn’t even sure what to say.  A part of him wanted to just walk away because he was not about to trust a stranger with his well being, and like hell he couldn’t take care of himself, but with the state he’s in, clearly he isn’t as capable as he liked to think.  

–Ambulance.”  He looked at his own feet now.  Kurt did not like the sound of that.  He wasn’t afraid of hospitals exactly, he just felt unease there.  And more importantly, walking into a hospital like this would mean his parents will know what he gets up to.  The fact he’d have to talk to police in that case completely slipped his mind, none the less how badly that would work out(Even if they did listen to the drug using gay kid in Lima, sending police after the guy who did this probably wouldn’t help Kurt’s situation.

He didn’t flinch when Blaine touched him, rather, he only tore his eyes from the concrete and looked at him.  What on Earth was this kid going to do?  Take him home like a lost puppy and tell his parents what?  But Kurt didn’t want to be out here anymore.  He wanted to think that this might help so with a deep breath, he took his hand.  “Okay.”  His voice was rough and fairly quiet, but it was something.

Blaine waited hoping that Kurt would listen and he wouldn’t have to call 911.  

Wouldn’t your first instinct be to call your parents if you were in the shape he was?  Obviously–that didn’t happen so it was easy to deduce Kurt was either on his way home himself.  Or in some sort of shock and avoiding it thinking he could handle it himself.  Probably the second?  Call him crazy but he had an inkling that Kurt probably wouldn’t want his parents seeing him like this.  If that wasn’t the case? He would have gone him instead of wandering around lost and hurting.

God he had to be hurting and it made Blaine’s heart ache.  Who cared if they barely knew each other?  He couldn’t call himself a human being if he found someone tattered and torn up the way Kurt was and not feel horrible.  Anyway.  Kurt was the one that mattered and Blaine was determined to help him on his terms.  Seeing him not flinch gave him hope he might listen. Their eyes met and Blaine’s went round before he snapped a wobbly, encouraging smile on.  Along to where?  He wasn’t sure but getting out of this spitting rain and cleaning him up would be a great start.  Then Kurt’s hand was in his and he nodded to the grungy ‘okay’.  He’d take it and run with it at this point.

One last look and he thought one better.  Coming to stand at Kurt’s side–Blaine gingerly used their joined hands to place Kurt’s arm across his shoulders while he wrapped his arm around Kurt’s waist just above his hips trying to avoid hurting him any further.  “You can lean on me if you need to. I got you.”  A few feet later–Blaine shouldered open the door to his car and helped him inside.  Then scrambled into the back, unzipped a bag and grabbed out the first Dalton t-shirt he saw.  A nudge of his heel closed the back door and he was back at the passenger side not seeming to notice he was still in the rain when he handed Kurt the shirt and smiled. “Pointing out the obvious here but you’re soaked.  Here.  Use this.”

kurt.

The Lima Bean. Of course he wound up there. For some reason he didn’t want to go in. He just wanted to sit down. He reminds himself that inside would be better but he can’t change the path of his shuffle.  There was someone out there. What on earth made him look like he was willing to talk? A moment later he realized it was one of those Dalton boys. The one that wasn’t phased by Kurt and bought him a coffee. Blaine.
Blaine was talking- right. Kurt’s slow walk came to a stop. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He might have wheezed or whined.  What was the question again?  He shook his head before trying to wipe the line of blood from his temple – the first hit once he was cornered–don’t think about it – that kept getting into his eye when he stood like he did now; with most of his weight on his left foot because his right leg hurt worse and the rain diluted the blood to make it run more and faster.  Where did his breath go?  He swallowed dryly and stared at Blaine’s shoes, for once it was easier to look at those than at his face.  He remembered the man’s shoes, decent dress shoes but Kurt had a nicer pair back home and a feeling that the guy wanted to feel extra tough by dressing nice to beat some kid in the rain.  Right, he said that out loud at the time.  That’s why his forearms hurt, the man had a very strong grip and yanked him up from where he was coughing on all fours.

Kurt shook his head again.

“Kurt,” he repeated more insistently this time trying to get the slightly taller boy to tune into him completely.  Blaine cringed when the entirety of Kurt’s current state finally sank in.  He was an utter wreck.  Who could do this to someone else?  Unfortunately, Blaine knew the answer all too well. Ohio seemed to be packed full of cretins that had nothing better to do with their time than break people apart who didn’t fit the bill of the ‘perfect person’ they considered themselves to be. Mostly verbally, mentally but when it got physical?  It was brutal, without remorse, and utterly stomach churning to see the aftermath of.
Hazel eyes flicked up to watch as Kurt tried to wipe some of the blood of his skin and Blaine ached to reach out and help but he wasn’t sure if he should dare attempt to touch him.  Not until he was certain that Kurt would even allow it without swinging at him on autopilot.  Sure, Blaine knew he could take a punch and probably get out of the way.  But riling Kurt up wouldn’t work out okay for either one of them.
“You do need help.  You need it really bad,” Blaine’s voice was pleading for Kurt to listen to him. “Let me, please? Or I am going to call an ambulance.”  A soft touch of his fingertips to the back of Kurt’s hand boldly tried to get Kurt to follow two backwards steps towards the passenger side of his car before it drop down chest high and hovering in the air with his palm facing up, fingers loosely curled towards the sky.  –Take my hand.  Please take my hand and let me help you.–  “We can get out of the rain first.  My car’s right here,”  he thumbed over his shoulder and gently eased his still extended hand closer to Kurt’s waiting to see if he would trust him enough to take it.