AN:
General disclaimer: I don't own Kurt or Blaine. They belong to Ryan Murphey.
And the song is "I Still Think" and it belongs to Darren Criss.
Enjoy!
I Still Think
How could such a small word cause so much trouble? How could three little letters cause someone so much pain?
Blaine aimed a kick at his desk chair. It rolled a few feet and hit the wall with athud. He continued to pace his room.
After dropping a moody Kurt off at the Hudmel's, having the front door slammed in his face, and being told a few minutes later by a very confused Burt to just call later Blaine had grudgingly driven the 90 minutes home. He'd trudged up the stairs to his room and practically shoved his door off its hinges.
Blaine was never one to lose his cool- he was "Mr. Dapper" after all- but what had happened just a few hours previously really pissed him off.
They walked in silence. It was one of those comfortable ones where nothing needed to be said.
Kurt's left hand was in Blaine's right- his left was holding the soft pretzel he'd somehow talked Kurt into sharing. He sighed in contentment and looked at the boy he loved and smiled a Kurt snuggled into Blaine's side. Blaine angled his head slightly to give Kurt a quick kiss on the cheek making the taller boy blush and grin.
It was a few weeks after Kurt had returned from Nationals and they had decided to just spend the day at the mall. Surprisingly, they- well Kurt- were not doing too much shopping. Mostly just walking and enjoying the fact that for the first time since Kurt's transfer they could spend hours together whenever they wanted.
Though Blaine did learn that there were some things he'd never live down. He had been chattering away about nonsensical things when he was elbowed in the side. He looked to Kurt and saw a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he pointed to a store. Blaine looked in that direction and groaned. He averted his eyes and tried to walk past the GAP as quickly as he could. But Kurt, still holding his hand, pulled him to a stop. His grin grew even wider as he hummed the intro to"When I Get You Alone", giggling as his boyfriend blushed and tugged him away from the store
Once Kurt was done thoroughly embarrassing his boyfriend, they'd made a stop at the mall's Starbuks (C'mon, coffee is their thing! They can't not have it on a date!). They sat in the food court for nearly an hour, chatting idly as they allowed their feet to rest.
Blaine pulled his pocket watch (Honestly, Kurt knew his boyfriend was "dapper" but that was ridiculous! He often teased Blaine about being a "White Rabbit".) and checked the time.
"Hun it's almost four. We should proably head out soon. This way we won't have to fight through to much traffic to get you home."
Kurt smiled and nodded, gathering up their empty cups and disposing of them before joining his boyfriend as they walked towards the wing that led to where Blaine's car was parked. Blaine teasingly offered his arm to Kurt who took it with a blush.
Their perfect day, however, wouldn't last much longer.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the "Kings"- or should I say "Queens" of Gay Hogwarts? I wonder what the little fag fairies are up to today?"
A voice rang out across the nearly empty wing. The remark was met with the laughs and snickers of the speaker's companions.
The couple froze. Blaine could feel Kurt start to shake next to him. He glanced at him out of the corner of his eye. Kurt's face was full of fear. But as he watched, the expression changed- as if Kurt was putting a mask in place.
Kurt drew himself up to full height, his back stiff and straight. He tugged slightly on Blaine's arm and the two kept walking towards the nearest exit.
"Hey! We're talking to you!" one of the boys yelled.
Kurt picked up his pace, Blaine hot on his heels. The group followed, shouting insults and slurs and making lewd jokes.
The pair walked quickly past a rather bored looking security guard who eyed them suspiciously before noticing the small mob pursuing them. He could hear the comments directed toward the young men who had just turned around a corner down a hall hat lead to one of the parking lots.
The couple knew that any minute the gang would round the corner after them. Even if they made it to the parking lot they would still be pursued. And who was to say that, with the lack of witnesses out there, they would stop at just yelling and insults? What if they turned violent? Blaine worried over that thought as they reached the door and heard:
"Excuse me gentlemen, I'd like a word"
"I'm sorry, uh- officer- but we need to catch up with our friends." It was the gang's leader, the disdain evident for the guard who apparently had halted their chase.
"Friends huh? I'm pretty sure friends wouldn't say those things about each other. Furthermore, this is what we call 'disorderly conduct' so I'm going to need to-"
They didn't hear the rest as the door swung shut behind them and they stepped, blinking, into the blinding afternoon sun.
Blaine looked to his left and saw his boyfriend leaning against the wall. He stood next to him, leaning his head against the brick and turning it to face Kurt. To any stranger that may have passed them it would seem as though they were just casually leaning against the side of the building.
But Blaine knew better.
He saw the way the tears that glistened in Kurt's eyes, threatening to spill over.
He saw the way Kurt struggled to maintain a calm façade- refusing to let himself show any emotion.
He saw the way Kurt's shoulders shook with each breath he took in an effort to calm himself.
And he saw the way Kurt's eyes turned a steely blue- a sure sign that he was furious. And the way hurt would occasionally flash in them before being swallowed up again by the anger.
"Wanna go?" he asked, offering his hand. Kurt turned to look at him- the emotionless mask cracking slightly as he nodded and took Blaine's hand.
The door they had escaped through led to a different parking lot than the one Blaine had parked in so they had a long walk around the building to the car- this one filled with an uncomfortable silence. Blaine had the urge to touch or say or dosomething to make Kurt feel better. But he knew that it wouldn't help.
The drive back to Lima was still awkward and silence. Blaine left his hand on the center console as he drove incase Kurt wanted to hold it- but he never did.
As soon as they go to Kurt's the boy was out of the car and storming up to the front door with Blaine rushing to catch up.
"Kurt!" he called as he reached the door. Kurt had already unlocked it and was slipping inside. He was about to follow when the door slammed shut with a BANG- leaving a stunned Blaine on the porch.
Struck by a sudden burst of inspiration, Blaine grabbed a notebook and a pen and set to work, brushing aside various papers and books on his desk.
...and now, how, we like to say...
…the world will roll their eyes…
…I like playing for love…
…together we've made some mistakes…
…I've got reason to believe…
An hour or so later he got up from his work and stretched. He was amazed out how quickly the words had flowed from him. He reviewed the lyrics and made occasional edits while trying to imagine a melody in his head. He hummed a few possibilities as he rummaged in a drawer for a notebook of staff paper.
Just as the words had flowed so easily before, the music poured from his mind to the paper.
It was another hour and a half before his little project was done to his satisfaction.
He rubbed at his eyes and glanced to the LED display of his alarm clock. It was just after midnight- certainly later than Blaine had ever intended to stay up tonight. And yet he didn't feel tired. Slowly a plan began to for in his head.
He gathered the now scattered pages of music, putting them in the correct order and then putting them into a folder. He put his guitar- which he had been practicing the new song on- back in its case. He shrugged on a light jacket and put his keys and wallet in his jeans pocket before grabbing the music and instrument and leaving his room, creeping down the stairs and out of his house.
He loaded the case into the backseat of his car before hopping in the front seat and turning the key in the ignition. Thankfully, the car started without much noise and he back out of his driveway, heading for the highway that would take him to Lima.
An hour and a half later, Blaine was pulling into the driveway. He stepped out of his car and observed the house. All of the lights were out so everyone was probably sleeping (not surprising since its was about 3 o'clock in the morning).
He knew that calling Kurt's phone was out- the boy left the volume on high every night for his alarms. If he got a call it was likely to wake the other inhabitants of the home as well.
So what to do? he mused. Perhaps it was the exhaustion speaking but he suddenly thought that scouring the ground for small pebbles and lobbing them at Kurt'swindow was a good idea.
He tiptoed around the house, using his iPod to light the ground at his feet, until he was under Kurt's second floor window. He bent down and began to grab thing and toss them against the glass. Ting. Pebble. Ting. Pebble. Ting.Pebble. THUD! Pinecone…
Blaine held his breath. He heard a light thud come from above. A few seconds later a light flicked on and the sheer curtains were pulled from the window. He was met with Kurt's half-sleepy half-furious (a truly frightening combination) face.
The haze ofsleep in Kurt's eyes cleared as soon as he saw his boyfriend below.
He stared down at Blaine for a minute before mouthing "I'm going down" and disappearing.
Blaine jogged back to the front of the house and climbed into the back of his car to free his guitar from its case. He shut the door and walked back up the walk to meet Kurt- who had just appeared outside- on the porch.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, not sure if he was mad or not at being woken at the ungodly hour.
"Uhm- I had to talk to you." Blaine offered in explanation.
"And you thought that waking me up in the dead of night was a good idea?" Kurt fumed.
"Please Kurt? Just hear me out?" Blaine pleaded.
Kurt eyed him suspicious as Blaine began to strum. He opened his mouth to protest but then Blaine began to sing.
My life is a series of actors
Changing places
Except there's no backstage
And there's no place for me
But it's okay though
The jokes on the television
Made me laugh
Remind me that it's okay
Not to have a backstage
Or a place to hide
Well I've got dinner on my plate
Got my paycheck yesterday
How great? How cool?
I've got places I've got friends
I've got Joey, Ross, and Chandler, then
There's you
And now, how, we like to say that we're in love
Doesn't it seem like that should be enough
But, the world will roll their eyes but I still think
Well I still think that we're in love
Oh shoes and Jackets
Purses and tennis rackets
Make their way as they please
In those SUVs to the country club
Blain rolled his eyes as he sang this. While his parents were wealthy and he had grown up being dragged to the clubs with them, he had never really cared for them. Most of the people he came to know there were snobs and looked down upon those who had less money than they.
I don't play much
But I do enjoy having the ball in my court
And once more
I like playing for love
At this Blaine put on a cheesy grin and nudged Kurt's shoulder with his, the taller boy smiling at his boyfriend's antics.
But I've got arms and you've got legs
Together we've made some mistakes
But hey! We're doing well!
And I've got reason to believe
In the power of you and me
To break this spell
And now, how, we like to say that we're in love
Doesn't it seem like that should be enough
But the world will roll their eyes but I still think
Well I still think that we're in love
Blaine stopped singing and his strumming faded and Kurt thought it was the end of the song until:
One more question:
How is this one big lesson?
I don't think that there's a quiz,
But if there is I'll be outside;
Playin' in the yard
Swingin' on monkey bars
Exercising my right to this recess
From this lesson
That I tried
As if to emphasize those lines he started jumping and dancing somewhat wildly as he started back into the chorus.
But I've got arms and you've got legs
Together we've made some mistakes
But hey! We're doing well!
Well, I've got reason to believe
In the power of you and me
To break this spell
And now how we like to say that we're in love
Doesn't it seem like that should be enough
But the world will roll their eyes but I still think
Well I still think that we're in love
Well I still think that we're in love, love, love
Well I still think that we're in love
Oh
Blaine whistled the last few notes which trailed away into the once-again-silent night.
They stared at each other for a minute before Kurt broke the silence.
"You wrote that, didn't you?" he asked.
"Yeah… For you actually." came the sheepish reply.
Kurt's eyes widened, taken aback. "Wh-why?"
Blaine shrugged. "I figured you needed to hear those things. But we both know I'm a bit of an inarticulate bumble when I try to talk most of the time. So I did the next best thing. I spoke through music."
Blaine looked to Kurt, hoping that his explanation had made some sort of sense. He had been expecting some amount of confusion though (he really was terrible at explaining his thought process). But he saw nothing of the sort. Instead he saw a smile that lit up the night brighter than the stars or the moon could have. He was his love's beautiful, glasz eyes focused on him with nothing but love.
The next instant Blaine found a pair of arms thrown around his neck in a tight embrace. He felt a pair of lips against his in a sweet but passionate kiss before Kurt pulled away. Kurt leaned so his mouth was next to Blaine's ear.
"Thank you" he whispered. "Thank you so, so much!" He felt Blaine's arms tighten around him in response.
They stayed like that for a few minutes- wrapped in each other and lost to anyone and anything but each other.
Kurt glanced at his watch and cursed at the time, pulling away from his boyfriend.
"Blaine, it's almost 3:45. I think you should come in and try to nap before you drive home."
"Kurt, that isn't necessary. I'm fine! I can drive back now."
"As exhausted as you are? That is not a good idea!" Kurt pressed.
"C'mon Kurt! I'm not even that ti-" The rest of Blaine's sentence was swallowed by a huge yawn. He grinned sheepishly at Kurt who gave him an I-told-you-so smirk.
"Uh-huh. Inside. Now."
Blaine stepped into the house, closing the door behind Kurt and tried to follow him to his room. Kurt paused at the foot of the stairs and turned towards Blaine. He worried his lower lip in thought.
"I think you should take the couch this time." Kurt said apologetically. "I don't think Dad wants to find you in my bed again. Even if you are sober this time."
Blaine nodded and followed Kurt to the living room. He stashed his guitar under the coffee table so no one would trip on it. He kicked off his shoes and placed them with the others by the front closet. When he returned to the living room, Kurt had put extra pillows on the couch and was sitting on an arm. When he saw Blaine he stood and wrapped him in a hug. Blaine lay down and Kurt threw a light blanket over him. He leaned down to capture Blaine's lips in a quick kiss before whispering "Thank you for the song. I love you". He pressed a kiss lightly to Blaine's forehead and climbed the stairs to his room.
He pulled a small piece of stationary from his desk and scribbled a quick note to his dad, alerting him to Blaine's presence. He tip-toed to his dad's room and slipped the note under the door. He returned to his own room a moment later and snuggled under the plush covers of his bed- drifting off to a pleasant sleep.
At 9:30 Burt was awakened by his alarm clock. He crept around his room and got dressed, trying not to wake Carole, and then stumbled down the stairs to put on a pot of coffee. He went to the living room and turned the TV to the morning news. A few minutes later Burt, coffee in hand, went to sit in front of the TV and watch the news until he had to head to the garage.
Unfortunately, recently-awoken Burt was not very observant. He hadn't noticed the stationary under his door. He hadn't noticed the strange shoes by the front door, nor had he seen the guitar under the coffee table. He hadn't seen that the blanket that was usually folded neatly on the back of the couch was half on the floor and half tangled around a sleeping form. He also didn't notice the snoring boy on his couch.
Six hours after going back to sleep, Kurt was rudely awakened by two startled yells coming from the living room. He poked his head out of his door and saw a drowsy Finn do the same out of the corner of his eye. Carole, blinking sleepily, emerged from the master bed room.
"Wazgonon?" Finn asked around a (barely) stifled yawn. Carole shrugged and they turned to Kurt. Before he could say anything, however, a yell rose up the stairs from below:
"KURT! EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I JUST SAT ON YOUR BOYFRIEND!"
AN:
So I hope you've enjoyed. I'm really just glad that you read it!
Please review! I'd love to get feedback of any sort!
I have ideas for other one-shots like this. Once I start writing and uploading them I'm going to want to change the title of this soon-to-be collection. Any suggestions?
Also, if you have any ideas, feel free to suggest other songs/situations. I run out of ideas quickly so I'd love to have ideas that I might be able to write.
So I think that's it…
Thanks again!
~Emily