I have returned from the dead to update this collection because I remembered it exists ! So have a little drabble about Kurt being a spectacular wingman.


"Can I talk to you?"
That was probably Nick's least favorite phrase. It implied that something complicated was about to be sprung on you, something that you needed preparation for, whether it be good or bad. It was usually bad. So he hung back after the Warblers meeting let out so that Kurt could talk to him. "Kurt, you're really nice, but I've only known you a couple weeks and I really don't want to-"
"It's about Jeff."
Nick stopped, feeling something cold creep into his chest. "What?" It came out small, and he felt exposed. Kurt hadn't even said anything yet and Nick felt like his heart was laid out for the boy to see.
"I might be crossing a line, but... what's going on between you two?" Kurt had one of those searching looks that was equal parts caring and suspicious. Nick resented it.
"That is crossing a line. What's going on is that we're friends. Why is that so hard for everyone to understand?"
Kurt didn't seem put off by Nick's snap retort, even pressing further. "So other people think it too?"
"Think what?" He crossed his arms. He knew exactly what.
"That you and Jeff are more than friends."
"Yeah, best friends."
Kurt raised his eyebrows, clearly seeing through him. "That's not what I meant and you know it."
Nick didn't know what it was, but something about Kurt, maybe just the way he approached asking him, made him suddenly say the things he'd never said aloud. "We're not more than friends. But I want to be. I've wanted to be since I met him when we were kids, and I didn't even realize until this year that you're not supposed to feel that way about your best friend."
Kurt softened, but he didn't let up. "You have to tell him."
"I can't. You have no idea." Nick's defenses were down with the admission of his secret, but he still deflected Kurt's persistence. He already knew he should tell him. That's what made it so hard.
"I do. Look at me and Blaine." Kurt's laugh was quick and humorless. "I like him. But he just treats me like a friend. It gets more unbearable everyday, and I've only known him for a month. You've known Jeff for years. No one should have to live with what this feels like for that long."
Nick looked away, uncrossing his arms and letting out a sigh. "I don't mean I can't like I don't want to. I want to tell him. It's that everytime I try to say it, nothing comes out."
"What are you scared of? It's obvious that he likes you. In the time I've been here, I've never seen him leave your side." Kurt's point didn't reassure him.
"How do I know if that means he likes me, or is just my close friend? That's the part I've been trying to figure out." Nick shook his head helplessly.
"The worst that can happen is he's not interested and you keep being friends."
Nick only stared at him. "You say that like it wouldn't completely crush my soul."
"Oh my god, you're as dramatic as Blaine." Kurt rolled his eyes, and before Nick could defend himself, Kurt spoke again. "I know it would be tough to get rejected. But wouldn't you rather know? What if you never say anything and he ends up with someone else, and you miss your chance? To me, that's a lot more soul crushing." He picked up his bag and walked to the door, leaving Nick silent. "Take a chance, Nick. It seems like Jeff is worth it."
He left then, and Nick rolled over Kurt's words in his head. In that moment he knew two things. One, he had to tell Jeff how he felt. And two, that Kurt kid was going to give everyone a run for their money.


"And then Wes was like, 'Jeff, grafitti of any kind is against school policy' and I told him it's actually really artistic if you look at it the right way."
Nick was only half listening, his thoughts preoccupied with what Kurt had said. He kept trying to picture Jeff with someone else. What would that be like? Would it really hurt? Could he get over it? "Nick? Hello?"
He snapped out of it, seeing Jeff wave a hand in front of his eyes, his face expectant. "Sorry, what?"
"I said, what if I spray painted it in Wes's dorm instead?"
"Depends, do you have a death wish?"
Jeff hummed his consideration. "Not today, particularly."
"Then I'd say no, restrain yourself."
Jeff laughed, sighing. "My creativity is always stifled."
Kurt's words echoed in Nick's head. Take a chance. Take a chance. "I have to tell you something." Not really the graceful segway he'd planned, but it definitely got Jeff's attention.
"I wasn't really going to spray paint the walls, you know I wouldn't risk getting kicked out-"
"Oh my God, Jeff." Nick said, standing up from his desk chair. "Forget about the stupid grafitti."
Jeff blinked, and the dorm room seemed dead silent. Jeff could definitely hear his racing heart, right? "Okay."
Now that he was here, he didn't know what to do. He stared stupidly at his friend, his whole body buzzing with emotions he didn't know he had. "I like you." Jeff said nothing, but Nick couldn't stop now. "I like you, and I have for a really long time. Everyday, I realize it more and more. And at this point, I can't do it anymore."
Jeff's voice was quiet and small. "Do what?"
"Keep it in. I can't keep hiding it. It's- God, it's the most terrible feeling." His eyes welled up, a mixture of frustration and pent up sadness, but he didn't let tears spill over. "So I'm saying it now. Jeff, I like you. And I- I just wanted you to know." He trailed off, and all he could think about was how this wasn't how it happened in the movies.
Jeff was quiet for a few more seconds that stretched on for years, before he stood up and crossed his arms. "You just wanted me to know?"
Nick watched him warily, nodding. "Yeah."
"Well now that I know, what are you gonna do?" Jeff's smile was slowly returning, and Nick's seemingly flatlining heart rate picked up again.
"I don't..." He trailed off, his laugh just an audible flutter of nerves.
"You could kiss me." Jeff's smile said he wanted him to. Nick's heart said it wanted him to. But his brain had other ideas.
"I couldn't."
"You could." Jeff took Nick's hands, and maybe it was the touch that made Nick push his doubts below the surface and do it. He held Jeff's hands tight and kissed him, fast and a little off center, but it still felt like nothing else he'd ever experienced. So different than kissing that girl from Country Day. So much better, even unpracticed and adrenaline fueled like this.
Jeff kissed back like he knew what he was doing, and he probably did. It was over too soon, and Nick was just a breathless smile, the only thing anchoring him being Jeff's firm grip on his hands. "Oh." Again, he was unable to say how he felt, but this time Jeff looked like he knew. It looked like he was feeling the same way.
"Oh." Jeff repeated, his with the teasing lilt to it he always had. This time, Jeff kissed him, and somehow it was completely different than the first, but made him smile just the same.
"If I had known what kissing you felt like, I wouldn't have waited so long."
Jeff grinned, his eyes searching Nick's face. "What did it feel like?"
Nick laughed, ducking his head. "In spite of the risk of inflating your ego... it felt like I really don't want to kiss anyone else but you."
Jeff laughed, wrapping him up into a hug that, even though held new meanings, was just as comfortable and familiar and Jeff as it always was. He hugged back, sighing softly in content. "What are we gonna tell the Warblers?"
"Something tells me Kurt will take care of that for us."