Disclaimer: Don't own Glee or any of the characters. Lyrics are from Just the Way You Are by Bruno Mars.
AN: Just a thought I had while I was re-watching 'Furt' about how cute it would be for Kurt to turn around and Blaine is just there, singing for him - to him. And then this fic appeared. Pure fluff, nothing especially amazing but I hope you enjoy anyway.
Part I: In Which Kurt Looks Fantastic From Behind And Far Away
"Dude, did you get the number?"
"Finn I'm a girl – and a fierce one at that – so do not call me dude."
A sigh. "Sorry. Mercedes, did you get the number?"
"You bet I did – copied it when he thought I was playing Angry Birds-"
"You shouldn't make birds angry or they'll fly down your chimney and attack you."
"...Britt?"
"It's true. I saw it on TV."
"Can we just ring the miniature gay already? I'm in serious need of some sticks at the 'StiX and the longer we're here-"
"Hush up Santana, it's ringing."
Two hours away in his dorm room at Dalton, Blaine Anderson's math homework was interrupted by the chorus of California Gurls. Swinging away from his desk gratefully he reached into his bag and pulled out his phone. He paused slightly on seeing an unknown number, memories of anonymous hate calls flashing in his mind, before he hesitantly answered it. He'd promised Kurt he would always be there and, who knew, this could be him using a different phone and in dire need of help.
Blaine was aware that this wasn't a totally logical conclusion to jump to but he lifted the phone to his ear anyway: "Hello?"
"Hi Blaine! This is Blaine, right?"
"Uh yeah – yes. Who's this?"
"Mercedes and some of Kurt's other friends from New Directions. You're on loudspeaker – say hi guys!" A loud chorus of greetings filtered into Blaine's ear and he winced slightly at the volume.
"Oh." That was unexpected. "Hey, everyone. Wha-wait has something happened to Kurt? Is it Karofsky? Has-"
"Chill white boy – if anything had happened to Kurt don't you think I would have mentioned it already?" She had a point. Blaine relaxed. "Nah my boy's fine, busy going over something wedding related with Carole."
"Something to do with watches I think," interjected a male voice.
"Swatches, maybe?" Blaine asked, grinning when the male gave an excited whoop in the affirmative. "I'm guessing that's...Finn?"
"Yeah it is, hey bro! Anyway we wanted to ask you something to do with the wedding – something for Kurt, actually. You see, I have this idea..."
As Finn explained the details Blaine's furrowed brow relaxed, his eyes brightened and a soft smile took over his features. It was amazing, what Kurt's soon-to-be stepbrother wanted to do for him and to offer him a part in it...well, there was no way he could turn it down.
"I'm in," he replied with a grin. "But does Kurt – I mean, are you sure he won't mind me being there? I don't want to intrude."
"Don't worry dude, he talks about you like all the- ow! Mercedes? What-" Blaine listened in confused silence as the sound of the phone being moved muffled everyone's voices. When Mercedes finally started talking, he could only hear her – he'd been taken off loudspeaker.
"Don't worry about Kurt, Blaine, he definitely won't mind you being there," she said brightly. "Just don't do anything fancy with your vocals and it'll work – we're sticking close to the original so just go off that, okay? See you Saturday!" The call cut off.
He stared at his phone for a moment before brushing off the abrupt ending and started to load his laptop with an excited smile. He had a song to practice.
That Saturday Blaine slipped quietly into the back of the reception room just as Finn started his speech, just as they'd planned. His eyes were immediately drawn to the table furthest from him in front of the dance floor – the newly wedded couple had their eyes trained on Finn, leaning on each other slightly and Mr Hummel-Hudson had an arm wrapped around his wife. Blaine smiled at the image then let his gaze slide to the left to settle on the slight figure of a boy who was also paying rapt attention to his new stepbrother.
Even from this distance and from behind, Blaine knew that Kurt looked fantastic.
He wondered how that was possible.
He wasn't able to dwell though as the music started up and the New Directions guys went to join Finn on the floor. Blaine glanced over to the girls at their table and saw them still sitting, waiting for their cue – he waved to Mercedes who had turned to check he was there and she grinned before heading onto the floor. Blaine took a deep breath, suddenly nervous, and took a couple steps forward. A few of the guests nearby frowned when they didn't recognise the young man suddenly in their midst but he didn't notice, paying full attention to the music. He was not going to miss his cue.
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
He winced a little on realising Finn hadn't made the song masculine and was still singing 'girl' – he was pretty sure Kurt would rant at him about that when the sentiment behind the gesture wore off. Blaine watched the group from his place halfway between the door and the dance floor, waiting patiently. Originally Finn had suggested Blaine start his part at this point but Blaine advised he read the lyrics again. Finn's end of the line had gone silent for a moment before he quickly moved Blaine's cue to the next verse which he was far more comfortable with.
Blaine didn't want his first meeting with Kurt's family to end up with him bloody and beaten for singing:
Her lips, her lips I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh she hates but I think it's so sexy
Yeah. Kinda gave a bad impression: "I'm only here because I want to seduce your son." Not cool – especially when he knew that Kurt's dad owned a shotgun (Kurt had mentioned it in passing but for some reason it had stuck with him) and also totally not his intention at all. Not in the slightest. Even if, as Blaine took a few more steps forward, he could see Kurt's hair shining under the lights and looking so goddamn soft that he got an irrational urge to run his fingers through it.
She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day
He took another breath, rolled his shoulders quickly and smiled as Finn gestured towards him, causing Kurt and the couple next to him to turn around. Kurt's eyes widened in shock and Blaine grinned, half-dancing and half-walking towards him as he began to sing, the New Directions backing him perfectly.
Oh you know, you know, you know I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for then just stay the same
So don't even bother asking if you look okay
You know I'll say
By this point he'd made it to the table and promptly pulled Kurt up onto the floor, hearing the boy laugh as Blaine handed him over to Finn so the brothers could share a very awkward dance. A quick tap on his back brought his attention to Mercedes and he bowed slightly, offering his hand then twirling her under his arm.
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
He could see over Mercedes' shoulder that the bride and groom were dancing happily together and he couldn't help but smile at seeing them so absorbed in one another, so obviously in love. He also noticed that Finn was dancing with a girl – Rachel his mind supplied helpfully – but Kurt was nowhere to be seen. A hand on his shoulder was his answer and Blaine turned to see Kurt holding out his other hand expectantly, a smile on his lips. Blaine smiled in return, pressed their hands together and entwined their fingers, sliding his other hand to rest high on the boy's back and pulling him slightly closer than typical for 'just friends'.
Blaine didn't think about that, he would overanalyse it later. Right now he just danced slowly with a beautiful boy and enjoyed the happiness shining from his eyes.
The way you are, the way you are
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Kurt ducked his head slightly so his lips hovered near Blaine's ear: "Thank you for coming – for being a part of this."
Blaine held back the urge to shiver when he could feel the words Kurt was saying ghosting across his skin. Instead he just shrugged slightly, his smile turning teasing. "Well I had to get an invitation somehow. This seemed like my only option."
Kurt blushed. "I-I thought about asking but..."
"But what?"
"Well, you do realise I'm gonna have to introduce you to basically the entire Hummel clan now? There's no getting out of it. There'll be a lot of assumptions and questions and possibly innuendos from aunt Catherine, especially if she's been drinking, and...I just didn't want to put you through that. Not when-" Kurt glanced away and bit his lip but Blaine heard the sentence anyway. Not when there's nothing behind the assumptions. Not when we're not actually together.
When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
'Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
Blaine looked at the boy opposite him for a moment before squeezing his hand: "Let them assume." Kurt met his gaze and Blaine quickly lost himself in a sea of hopeful gray-blue-green. He smiled a little then, squeezing their joined hands again before continuing: "Besides I'd love to meet your family. By the sounds of it your aunt is a lot like one of my cousins." Kurt let out a small laugh and then bit his lip again before hesitantly resting his head on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine sighed softly and tilted his head until his cheek was lying gently on soft hair, the strands grazing his skin and tickling his nose with the scent of coconut.
Out of the corner of his eye Blaine could see the bride and groom in the same position, moving in slow circles and holding each other tightly. All of a sudden his mind provided him with images of this, exactly this, but sometime in the future: he and Kurt dancing close together, surrounded by friends, only in the image it was them wearing matching suits and smiles and wedding bands.
Blaine shoved it from his mind with something akin to embarrassment, closing his eyes and just focusing on the feel of Kurt in his arms. Stupid, he thought, I shouldn't even be thinking that. I don't know what's going to happen. It's not as if Kurt even has feelings for me beyond friendship. Stupid.
He didn't know that at that moment, Kurt was imagining the very same thing.
And when you smile
The whole world stops and stares for a while
'Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are
Readers are needed, reviewers are wanted.
Coming soon! Part II: In which Blaine meets the Hummels, and it seems that aunt Catherine has definitely been drinking...