Candles:
Thanks to having the Warblers album, I have been listening to their re-endention(?) of the songs, mostly Candles. This, along with my endless explorations of all things Glee, have come up with this. My first piece of official Glee fanfiction. I know many are big Klaine fans, and though I am a Klaine fan myself, I'm still curious about what would happen if the kiss hadn't happened in Original Song, if Blaine was still oblivious to Kurt's feelings for him, and what if Wes could pick up on them clearly and offered to help get Blaine's attention but it didn't go as planned...kinda like Kurt/Wes. I like to experiment, and have a lot of free time on my hands now that it's summer and I'm at home from school. So tell me what you think...
Disclaimer:I don't own Glee, nor will I ever. Clear? Good.
Distant. That's the one thing that Wes had immediately picked up on after the 'Warbler GAP Attack' the day before Valentine's Day. Kurt threw himself into his studies and always payed more attention to the song than anything during Warbler practices. Now it was the night of Reginals. Kurt and Blaine would be singing a duet. Kurt was nervous, it seemed. Wes understood, it was the first time he'd had a solo in a competition, Wes had done his research. In otherwords, Wes had gotten in touch with New Directions to ask. He had offered a few words of comfort before going to take his place by David and Nick. Kurt was happy for the support and comfort. Everyone in the Warblers other than Blaine and Kurt started the backup, harmonizing rather well. Wes saw Kurt close his eyes for a second before opening them and stepping out of the grouping, starting in his solo. He was scared, that much could be seen by his shaking hands that he had hid from the crowd behind his back. When Blaine stepped up and continued, Kurt managed to fake a realistic looking smile. He'd practiced. The two had perfect harmony on the chorus, with Blaine's range being lower than Kurt's tone for the chorus. The countertenor finally really smiled when he noticed this and then saw the New Directions group offering their support from the crowd.
"Been black and blue before, there's no need to explain. I am not the jaded kind playback's such a waste." The emotion that Kurt had in that was definately alarming. Blaine didn't catch it, as usual. But Wes did and eyes the countertenor worriedly, as did Finn and Mercedes from the crowd. Finn caught Kurt's eye and mouthed a simple 'I'm sorry' before half smiling. Kurt shook his head and caught up with the performance when he was needed. When the song ended Kurt looked down and stepped out of the spotlight, but Blaine dragged him over and put him right in it. He shot the crowd a small smile before stepping away. Finn showed up at the edge of the stage and pulled him into a hug. Kurt smiled and hugged back. "Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything-"Kurt started, but Finn cut him off. "Because I did nothing."Kurt pulled out of the hug. "Go, you'll get in trouble. But thank you. I needed that."he said, stepping away from his step-brother and back towards the other Warblers. He watched Finn go back to his seat beside Quinn and Mercedes and smiled. Wes patted Kurts shoulder. "You okay, Kurt?"he asked quietly, Kurt nodded and the song started, causing him to nearly laugh. Blaine started the solo and did a good job at rilling the crowd up. Kurt actually enjoyed singing back-up this time, keeping his eyes on Finn and the rest of New Directions. When the song was over he was in a better mood, and happily went to sit between Blaine and Wes in the same place the New Directions had vacaded just moments ago to go to the green room to prepare before performing.
He smiled when Rachel walked on stage, alone. He was slightly confused until the music started and Rachel started singing. "Oh my God, they're doing original songs."he said. He listened to the lyrics and almost laughed. 'So she finally caught on. What happened'he thought. He was the first to start clapping for her and he offered her a bright smile. She waved at him before taking a headset with a mic before joining the rest of New Directions and starting the second song. He smiled, looking under the seats for the props that had to come with this song. he laughed when he found a stack of foam fingers, with the 'loser' sign insead of the 'number 1' sign. He passed them out to the rest of the Warblers and smiled, happily showing support for his friends. He was the one who stood first out of the Warblers to clap at the end of their performance.
On the way back to Dalton, the group was subdued slightly, but still loud. Kurt was sitting in the back of the bus away from the others and watching out the window. Wes took a break from hanging out with the others and headed back to Kurt's side. "Kurt? You alright?"he asked. Kurt looked at him with a weak smile and nodded. "Just thinking, Wes."he said quietly. Wes nodded. "So was the guy that came up on stage at the end of Candles your brother? Finn, right?" Kurt laughed. "Yep, that's him. Came to say that 'he's sorry'"he told Wes with a shrug, effectively confusing the other boy. "I left after finding out that my tormentor, Karofsky was coming back to school. My dad found out he was bullying me real bad a while before his and my Step-mom's wedding, when I was attemping to teach him and Finn to dance. Don't ask how that came about, trust me you do not want to know. and when Karofsky made a crude hand gesture when passing by the choir room and seeing me there, my dad found out and went after him. Finn and me followed. after Karofsky left, my dad asked what had happened. So I told him. Everything. The reason why I was so terrified of Karofsky. He'd kissed me the day after I met Blaine, and Blaine helped me confront him, only to be shoved into a fence, and I push Karofsky away from him before he got hurt. A few days later, he approached me and asked if I had told anyone else..I said that I knew how confusing it was for him at that time, so no I hadn't. He said, and I quote. "Good, because if you do, I'll kill you." and left. When my dad found out he turned to Finn and was like, "Where've you been while all this was going on?" and he turned and walked away. I trasferred to Dalton the day after the wedding. Finn and Mercedes were upset and Puck offered to help protect me, all the guys in Glee did, so I'd stay, but I couldn't let them get hurt over me, and now here I am, wishing I hadn't left because of some bully because I can't spend time with my brother and old friends."Kurt told him, a few tears falling. "And Puck was one of the people who'd always throw me in dumpsters and shlushie me."he muttered. Wes sighed. "I knew you'd been bullied and that you left McKinley because of that but I didn't know it was that bad. I'm sorry."he said. Blaine had stopped and had listened in on the story. "He threatened to kill you? Kurt, why didn't you say something? That's not right. He should've been expelled for that."Blaine said, causing the two to look up. Wes half smiled. "He can be, but your safe here for now, alright Kurt?"Wes said, wiping the stray tears off the pale boy's face before getting up and leading Blaine away, letting Kurt have some time alone.
Kurt watched them go and half smiled, knowing that he had people who cared enough to see him through whatever he decided. He sat back and looked back out the window for a second before hearing his phone go off anf got it out. He saw Finn's number and opened the message. 'Meet us at Breadstix with your friends in 30 minutes, okay? xxFinn' He chuckled and quickly replied with a confermitave. He got up and walked to where David, Wes, Blaine and a few others were sitting, discussing something. He quickly interrupted. "Finn texted and said for us to meet him and the rest of New Directions at Breadstix in half an hour."he said softly. Wes smiled. "I'm sure that can be arranged. If only a few people go. We can't have everyone out after cerfew at Dalton. A few is exceptable."he said. Kurt nodded and went to sit back down, knowing they were having a private conversation.
When Kurt, Blaine, Wes and David arrived at Breadstix, Kurt went to hug his friends only to stop short when he saw Karofsky behind Puck and Finn. "Why's he here? This some sort of a joke or something, or did you finally get some sense knocked through his hard head?"he asked, his expression icy, startling Wes and David. Blaine had a cold glare set on the jock. Finn noticed the look on Blaine's face and sighed. "Listen, Kurt..I brought him here because he's going to make things right or we aren't leaving. I can't stand knowing that he ran my little brother off and got away with it. And right under my nose, too. I didn't make a fool out of myself during Theatricality week last year for nothing. I meant it when I said no one's gonna lay a hand on you."he said, causing looks of confusion to echo through the three boys behind Kurt. "We did Gaga and Kiss music and kinda went all out with dressing up. Until the last day, Finn had been in with the other guys with Kiss, and I had been with the girls who did Gaga. The last day, he dressed up in a Gaga themed outfit made from a red shower cutain and stood up to Karofsky and Azimo. It was akward and shocking but sweet. He's tried his best to keep his promise, but someone,"he tossed a look at Karofsky, "Made sure he didn't get to."he finished. Wes finally caught on. "Oh, so that's Karofsky."he mumbled. Finn saw the look of realization dawn on Wes's face and his eyes widened. "Kurt, you didn't, did you?"he asked. Kurt nodded once and heard Karofsky scoff. "Can't seem to keep up with the promises can you, eh Hummel?"Karofsky asked, smirking. Kurt walked forward. "I've told you twice Karofsky, go ahead and beat the crap out of me. It's not gonna change who I am. So what, I'm different. It's the best thing about me."he said. Finn watched his brother with a small smile, shaking his head. Wes stepped forward and grabbed Kurt's arm gently, moving him back. "Don't make it any worse on yourself, Kurt. I don't know about these two, but I'll help Finn keep that promise. To get to you, he'll have to go through me. And I may not be a jock, but I know how to fight pretty well."he whispered, Blaine and David hearing and nodding their confromation that they were in with it to. Kurt shook his head. "Alright, guys. I'll stop. Just making a point."Kurt said. Karofsky was watching the group with an icy stare. Blaine gave Finn a thumbs up and a small smile at the plan that he had and stepped back to David's side. Finn got Mike to help Puck out and walked to his brothers side, pulling him into a bear hug. "We miss you, Kurt. Mom's been trying to convince me to let her send packages every two days. It's getting more and more difficult to tell her no, so you'll have to let her take you out on a shopping spree next time you come home. So she can question you."he said with a laugh. Kurt pulled out of the hug. "I'll call her tonight and let her know. Just..make sure that Dad isn't asleep before you hand her the phone cause I'm calling your phone. I don't think that her phone can withstand another call from me with how she acts."he said. Finn ruffled his hair, laughing. "Naturally." Kurt tried to scowl at him but ended up laughing instead as he fixed his hair. "You have to stop doing that."he said, watching as Finn wiped his hand on his tee shirt. "Yeah..okay, no issues. What the hell do you put in your hair?" Kurt glared, "It's all organic, so don't you even start."he said. Wes rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Did you finally realize what you are, Hudson?"Karofsky called out to Finn, causing a flash to go through Kurt's eyes. He shrugged Wes's hand off and side stepped around Finn, walking towards Karofsky. "If you want to insult someone, then insult me, but you do not mess with my brother around me."he snapped, the diva in him showing. Puck looked slightly uncomfortable being so close to Kurt when he was like this. Mercedes laughed, calling Kurt's attention. "Wow, I forgot what a diva you really are with that stuffy uniform of yours on. Just leave it, he can get lost and we can try to figure this out some other way."she said. "And drop that 'bitch, please' look, it doesn't work with me." Kurt smiled weakly, backing away. The other three Warblers watched in shock for a moment before looking at each other with the same look on their faces. "Remind me not to get him mad,"they said at the same time before busting out laughing. Kurt looked back at them with a smile before rolling his eyes.
After Karofsky left, the group settled down slightly, Kurt being himself instead of on guard. Finn sat by his brother while Wes sat on Kurt's other side. Finn watched as the two held an easy conversation about plans for the upcoming spring break, slightly surprised at how at ease Kurt was with him. "All the other Warblers are staying and we were planning on having a bonding night, again-"Wes got cut off by Blaine, who simply said, "In otherwords, we are all going to have like a massive sleepover in the Senior Commons and maybe go out to eat as a group, hopefully not getting kicked out of the place this time." Kurt laughed. "Kicked out? How do you manage that?"he asked. Wes smiled softly. "Have you met Thad and David? Sorry, Dave, but it's true. Together, the group is insane. Last time, Thad decided it best to start busting a move on the table, and he doesn't have very much self restraint on what he does, which is one reason we don't dance often. It's dangerous to with him around."Wes told him. Kurt laughed. "Better than having to Finn-proff the coreography, though."he jokes, causing Finn to look at his brother, fake offence on his face. "Not cool dude! I can dance..just not with a group."he said. Kurt looked at him skepticly. "Without breaking things in the room around you or potentially injuring yourself? I mean I know you can dance in a group to Beyonce's Single Lady's since the whole football team did that. But otherwise, what can you dance to?"he asked. The other three Warblers all started laughing. Kurt glared at them. "I was on the team that game, and we won it thanks to that, thank you very much. You aren't the one who had to teach those Neaderthals to dance. In full pads, I may add."he said coldly, causing them to shut up. Finn looked at him. "How do you do that? I would love to be able to get the others to stop laughing when something like that is said."he said, bewildered. Kurt shrugged.
The conversation was rather easy-going up until Finn got up and went to get a slushie. He came back and walked towards Kurt, causing the others to watch in silence and Kurt to flinch invoulentarily, causing him to shift closer to Wes. Finn noticed his brother's reaction and looked down at the slushie in his hand for a moment before realization hit. He sat back down beside Kurt. "You honestly think I'd slushie you? Last time I ever even attempted, I couldn't because I knew how picky you are about what you use on your face and you took the slushie and slushied yourself so I wouldn't get pummeled. I wouldn't do that to my brother,"he said, setting the Slushie down in front of Kurt and handing him a straw. Kurt looked at the icy drink in offence before looking back up at his brother. "Do you know how unhealthy those things are? It's pure sugar on ice!"he said, causing everyone to start laughing. Wes shook his head. "Just drink the thing before I slushie you, Hummel."he said jokingly. Kurt looked up at him wide-eyed and immediately picked the slushie up and handed it back to Finn. "I'm not drinking it. But I'm keeping it away from you, Wes. I never thought you'd be one to threaten to slushie someone."he said. Wes watched, shaking his head before checking the time. "Alright, then. We have like twenty minutes until dorm check. We need to go."he said softly. Kurt nodded quietly, watching the three get up before sighing and giving Finn a hug and getting up, giving Mercedes, Rachel and Quinn hugs as he walked around, the others getting a highfive, his energy not really up for giving every one hugs right then. "Bye, you guys. Congrats on the win. Tell Mr. Shue I said hi."he said with a wave, going to follow the others. Finn got up and stopped him though. Kurt told them he'd meet them out at the car and watched the three go out the door before looking at Finn with a confused look on his face. "What's going on? Your never that at-ease with guys. You know that D-dad will freak if he found out."he said, studdering since he still wasn't used to calling Burt dad yet. Kurt shrugged. "They're really good friends. That's all I can say. Ask me again some other time when I've had a chance to figure out myself."he said before leaving. When he got into the car, Wes spoke. "What'd he want?"he asked as he started the car and pulled out to the parking lot. "He just wanted to ask how things were at Dalton."Kurt lied easily. Blaine looked over at him doubtfully but shrugged, not wanting to press the issue. The car fell silent until David turned the radio on to have some sort of noise in the background. Kurt leaned forward and messed with the station until it settled on the one that Mr. Shue had introduced him to. He laughed shakily when he recognised the song. "Really? Don't Stop Believing?"he said, shaking his head. Wes looked back at him in the rearview. "What's wrong with the song?"he asked softly. Kurt shook his head. "Nothing. This song is the one that New Directions performed when Mr. Shue was thinking of leaving to become an accountant last year..there was only six of us back then, Rachel, Tina, Artie, Finn, Mercedes and me. We all sung it at reginials that year. It was fun."he said with a shrug. Blaine looked surprised, but Wes didn't. "You guys were really good when it came to the Journey Medly, by the way."he said, causing Kurt to look up surprised. Wes tossed Kurt his phone. "Go to my videos. It's the second one. I was there,"he said. Kurt went to the video Wes had taken and watched it with a soft smile. "The second one was a mash-up."he murmured when it started playing. He knew that Blaine was watching over his shoulder. When it ended he gave Wes his phone back. "I can't believe you were there."he said. Wes shrugged.
By the next day, things were slightly calmer, and the Warblers had been called to the Senior commons for an emergency meeting. Kurt sighed and got his uniform on quietly as he though about it. After a long talk with Carole on the phone, Kurt hadn't slept well so he was still tired. He grabbed his bag and walked down to the Senior Commons, entering and sitting down automatically. Wes gave him a sympathetic look, knowing that he was tired. He and Blaine had came and crashed in David and Kurt's dorm that night, kind of a way to talk for a while. Kurt appreciated it, but he wished that the guys hadn't done it. They knew exactly wht he'd had trouble sleeping last night. They were there when he woke up from the nightmares. They shouldn't have been kept up because of him. He shook his head to clear the thoughts away because he saw the others throw worried glances and looks that said, 'stop thinking you aren't worth it' at him. He half smiled. Blaine smiled at the countertenor when he sat down beside him. "Feeling any better?"he asked. Kurt nodded. "Safer, if that counts."he said. Wes heard and sighed, motioning for him to come to him. Kurt got up and walked towards Wes, looking slightly guilty. Wes shook his head. "Kurt, we saw how you reacted to him, but that sure wasn't with fear. I mean for you to be able to stand up to someone who threatened to kill you like that and then have to have one of your friends get you out of the Diva act, you wouldn't think that you didn't feel safe there. Just...cheer up a bit so I don't have to get your brother to come all the way out here to give you a pep talk."he said softly. Kurt nodded. "Thanks Wes. But I will say, if you do that, you'll see the full on Diva act. Mercedes isn't around to snap me out of it now, so you wouldn't enjoy it very much."he said before going to take his seat again with a small smile on his face. Wes shook his head as Kurt walked away and smiled, letting the others chat for a while before calling the meeting to order. Kurt watched the others for a moment before looking at him, David and Thad. "Alright, as you all are aware, four of us were missing for a while after we came back from Reginals. I have someone here, who isn't from our school, who is willing to explain that out for us, though without so many details."he said, Kurt looked up when the doors to the commons opened and Finn and Artie came into the room. Kurt laughed and got up, going to give the two hugs before tossing a look at Wes that said, clearly, "You are so dead later." Kurt looked up at his brother when he noticed that he and Artie both had slushie stains on their clothes, and then slushies in their hands. "Let me guess, the jocks had a free-for-all this morning. I'll be giving them a piece of my mind for this later."he said softly, shrugging his blazer off and handing it to Finn quickly, while he attempted to clean some of the stains with the wet rag handing on Artie's wheelchair. The others watched with sad smiles. Finn shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Sorry to have pulled a few of your members away after the compitition but we had a few things to discuss with Kurt and since the other three were close friends, New Directions decided it wouldn't hurt to let them tag along. We had gotten the person who ran him off at Breadstix and had tried to get him to apologize, but it didn't work very well."Finn started, looking slightly nervous. He glanced at his brother and stopped him from what he was doing. He smiled. "The reason we got slushied is because, after Santana talked with Karofsky about all the gay teen suicides from bullying, he realized that he couldn't stand to have another person taking their lives because of him on his concense..so he came along to apologize."he added softly, motioning to someone else that was outside the room. Kurt tensed when Karofsky walked into the room, the others noticed. Finn stood slightly in front of his brother as Karofsky looked around then at Kurt, slightly unsure of what he was about to say, and the fact that he had to say it in front of so many people. Kurt noticed his unease and shook his head. "You get used to it. Ignore them being here. Now why are you here?"he said, keeping his tone icy. Wes shot him a warning look. "Kurt, I've told you already, stop letting it get to you."he said to the countertenor, who glanced at Wes and nodded. Finn looked confused, but shrugged it off. Karofsky looked away and muttered a simple 'I'm Sorry.' Kurt let his mask break, watching the jock. He nodded. "Fine, if you promise to leave the Glee kids alone then you're forgiven."he sighed, surprising Finn, who chuckled and put his arm around his brother. Karofsky nodded and left, not being seen again. Kurt looked at Finn and half smiled. "You realize that's all it took all along for me to forgive anyone for calling me names or anything, including you. If you would've just said that, then my dad would've been overruled when he kicked you out for it."he whispered, hugging his brother and laughing when he pulled back and saw the new stains on his own shirt. "You get to help clean this mess up later."he said, gaining a few chuckles from the other Warblers. Finn handed him the slushie in his hands, along with a straw. "Just one time, Kurt. You can tourture me for it later."he said after seeing Kurts look of discust. Kurt sighed but took the slushie and straw from his brother. He smiled softly. "Thank you, Finn. I appreciate you doing that."he said softly.
After the little moment following the apology, Finn and Artie sat with Kurt and Blaine, Kurt sipping happily on the slushie every now and then. Finn watched his brother and shook his head before looking at Wes, giving him a discret thumbs up. Kurt was giving Artie a bit of advice on Brittney, having had experiance on that, not that any of the Warblers needed to know that. Artie smiled, automatically talking about what Mr. Shue had said last night on the way back. "No way! You guys are doing Born This Way soon? I have to come see that!"Kurt exclaimed, gaining the attention of the other Warblers. Finn smiled. "Actually, all of you are..but not to watch. We talked Mr. Shue into you guys performing it with us."he said, Kurt jumped up and gave his brother a hug, not really caring when some of the slushie spilled down his shirt. He looked down at the new stain and laughed. "Well, I guess that slushies really hate me.."he muttered before taking his seat and automatically calling Mr. Shue's phone. When he answered, Kurt said thank you many times, causing Mr. Shue to laugh, knowing that Kurt had just been informed. The other Warblers were laughing at his eccentric behaivour by the time that he hung up. He looked around confused before realization dawned on him. "Oh hush, is it wrong to want to spend time with my brother and old friends as well as you guys at the same time? I didn't think so."he said, a bit Diva-ish, causing Wes to groan and shake his head. Kurt smiled innocently before going back to drinking the slushie and talking with Artie and Finn.
By the time the two visitors left, Kurt had been slushied, in a way of welcome back to real life, and was hyper from the slushie he had drank. The others were surprised and put off when they say how different Kurt was around the New Directions as well. Wes was watching the small countertenor as he tried to concentrate on the dance that Finn and Artie had been trying to teach him to their remake of Born This Way but kept messing up since he was so hyper. Wes smiled softly and went to go talk with David and Blaine a bit away, who were also watching Kurt.