A/N A little more New Directions in this chapter, along with some Warblers! Oh, and more Coffee!
…
Best Laid Plans
Kurt lead Stephanie out to his Navigator and into the backseat. He grabbed four bags of blood from the hidden fridge. He handed two to the younger girl, along with a straw. He watched as she punctured the first bag with the straw and began drinking the blood through it. He had never met an immortal who didn't have fangs before. He knew about the endentates, of course. They were the result of the first batch of nanos the scientists in Atlantis had tested.
Unfortunately, that batch had been flawed. One third of the patients who received the first batch died. Another third went insane, and the final third came out fine, but never developed the fangs they needed to feed. Kurt drank his two bags of blood as quickly as he could, then disposed of them back in the fridge, along with Stephanie's two bags and straw.
"Feeling a little better?" He asked her.
She nodded her dyed black head. "I'm sorry."
"What for?" He asked, confused.
"Well, I'm supposed to be helping you work out your problem regarding your lifemate, not finding one of my own."
Kurt laughed. "Oh, Stephanie, you don't have to apologize! Artie is a great guy!"
She blushed. "He seemed really nice. And it's not like I can claim him any time soon, anyway. We'd have to wait until he is older and can move somewhere no one knows him before I could turn him."
Kurt was confused, and then he understood. The nanos would repair the damage to the baritone's spine. He'd be able to walk again. He wouldn't be able to explain that away easily. It was such a shame that Stephanie couldn't turn him now. He knew that the younger boy had been in hip hop dance competitions before his accident.
He reached out and squeezed the girl's hand. "Things will work out. I'm happy that he'll have you in his life."
She smiled and squeezed back. "Thanks. Since there's not much I can do about my lifemate situation right now, let's focus on yours. I still think you should just call him and ask him out."
Kurt shook his head. "I thought about that, but if it turns out he isn't my lifemate, I don't want to lead him on. I need a way to get together with him without it seeming like a date."
They left the Navigator and headed back inside the school before the end of lunch. They were tossing ideas back and forth on how to approach Blaine when Stephanie stiffened. Kurt's shields were firmly in place today, so he didn't pick up on the malevolent thought, but Stephanie heard it crystal clear.
He's doing it again! Flaunting himself in those tight jeans! Making me feel these things I don't want to feel! He's such a tease! He's doing it deliberately! It's all his fault! I need to teach him a lesson!
Stephanie reached out and pulled the auburn haired immortal out of the way just as Karofsky was about to slam him into the lockers. She glared at the large jock, instinctively reaching for the mortal's mind.
Leave! Go home and forget about Kurt for today. Think about why you are feeling the way you feel.
She pushed the compulsion into the boy's mind, and then pulled Kurt down the hallway towards a bathroom. After making certain they were alone, she turned back to Kurt. "That jock has it out for you! He wants to hurt you bad!"
Kurt frowned. "I figured as much. He hasn't come to terms with his sexuality, and is blaming me because of it."
She nodded. "I put a compulsion in his mind to go home and forget about you for today, and to think about why he feels the way he does, but I'm not sure how well it will work."
"Thanks."
"No problem." She looked thoughtful for a moment. "Actually, this is perfect! We can use this as an excuse for you to meet with Blaine! Call him and tell him you felt threatened today, and need to talk about it! Ask him to meet you for coffee this weekend!"
Kurt smiled. "That's brilliant!"
They discussed the plan for a few more minutes before they had to head to class. As they reached her Spanish class, Kurt stopped her outside the door.
"Hey, before I forget, I was going to ask you if you wanted to join Glee club? We have practice after school today. All you have to do is show up and sing something. Everyone pretty much gets in. Can you sing?"
She laughed. "I love to sing. Sure, I'll see you there. I even have a song in mind."
"Great! See you later!" He kissed her cheek and took off for his next class. He pulled out his phone and composed a text while he waited for class to start.
…
Blaine had just finished lunch and was leaving the dining hall when his phone chimed an incoming text. He pulled it out to check, not recognizing the number. Curious, he opened it.
Hey, It's Kurt, remember me? The spy? Having a bad day. Could use someone to talk to. Can we meet for coffee tomorrow?-K
Blaine smiled. He was relieved the pale boy had called. He really wanted to help, even if it only meant offering a sympathetic ear. He typed out a quick reply.
Coffee sounds good. Meet you at the Lima Been at 10?-B
He saved Kurt's number to his contacts even as the confirmation came in from the other boy. Blaine's smile lasted the rest of the day, and through Warblers practice. Wes and David noticed his good mood, and he told them about Kurt's text. They congratulated him and patted him on the back, which kind of annoyed him.
"We're just getting coffee! It's not a date! He just wants someone to talk to about the trouble he's having at school."
Wes smiled. "He's reaching out to you, Blaine. He needs a friend. And maybe friendship will turn into something deeper. Either way, though, I think you both need each other. Especially if he makes you smile like that."
The dark haired Warbler smiled again. Maybe Wes was right.
…
Back at McKinley, Kurt waited for Stephanie outside the choir room before Glee, smiling when he saw her approaching with Mercedes and Artie. The three of them were laughing about something. He couldn't help notice the way the younger boy was looking at the new girl. Kurt smiled.
"Hey! Come on, Mr. Schue will be here any minute!" He took her hand and lead her into the room. "So, what were the three of you laughing about?"
She giggled. "Artie was telling me about when you guys first started New Directions and there were just five of you to begin with. He was singing Sit Down, You're Rocking the Boat. It sounded funny. I wish I had seen it!"
Kurt laughed just as Mr. Schue entered. He jumped to his feet. "Oh, Mr. Schue! This is my cousin, Stephanie. I think you met her earlier in Spanish class. She'd like to audition for New Directions!"
The sweater vest clad teacher smiled. "Yes, Stephanie, it's good to see you. Do you have a song ready?"
Stephanie nodded and walked to the band to give them her song selection. When she turned back around, Rachel, Tina, Mercedes, and Artie all smiled encouragingly at her. The music began, and she took a deep breath, smiling brightly.
Listen baby, ain't no mountain high,
Ain't no valley low, ain't no river wide enough baby
If you need me call me, no matter where you are,
No matter how far; don't worry baby
Just call my name; I'll be there in a hurry
You don't have to worry,
She began to dance around the room as she sang, pulling Kurt out of his seat and twirling him around. Brittany and Mike joined them, laughing and dancing.
Oh baby there ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
Remember the day I set you free
I told you you could always count on me darling
From that day on, I made a vow,
I'll be there when you want me,
Some way, some how
Oh baby there ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
She smiled and casually slipped into Artie's lap, making him laugh as she sang.
Oh no darling
No wind, no rain
Or winters cold can stop me baby, no no baby
'Cause you are my goal
If you're ever in trouble;
I'll be there on the double
Just send for me, oh baby, ha
My love is alive
Way down in my heart
Although we are miles apart
If you ever need a helping hand,
I'll be there on the double
Just as fast as I can
Don't you know that there
The rest of the group joined in, singing and dancing.
Ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough
To keep me from getting to you babe
Don'tcha know that there
Ain't no mountain high enough,
Ain't no valley low enough,
Ain't no river wide enough
Ain't mountain high enough
Ain't no valley low enough
When the song ended, they all cheered and welcomed her to New Directions. Those who hadn't already met her introduced themselves. She recognized the Mohawked boy from her first class that day. He was the one who had thought she was hot and wanted to 'tap' her. After he'd been introduced, Kurt had warned her about the self proclaimed sex shark. She just laughed. They both knew there was only one boy in the room that interested her. Once they settled down, she sat between Kurt and Artie.
…
Saturday, Kurt arrived at the Lima Bean early, accompanied by Stephanie. She would observe from across the coffee shop. She had assured him that the moment she saw Blaine, she'd know if the darker boy was his lifemate or not, without having to read him at all.
"How?" He asked curiously.
She shrugged. "Lucien seems to think I can actually hear the nanos communicating. The sound changes when lifemates are close together. Think of it as picking up radio stations."
"But Blaine doesn't have nanos for you to hear."
She just shrugged again. "I don't really understand it myself. It's kind of like your nanos recognize him and know that at some point in the future some of them will be part of him, too. That sounds corny, doesn't it?"
Kurt laughed. "Just a little. But it makes me wonder if that is why the nanos don't shy away from the wound when an immortal is turning their lifemate. I mean they stay away from the area when you try to draw them out with a syringe, or when you are wounded, they don't just flow out with the blood, but they are present when you turn your lifemate."
"Actually, they do sometimes flow out with the blood. Victor's lifemate Elvi was turned accidentally when she was in a van that crashed. There was an immortal in the van who was seriously injured, and some of his blood ended up in Elvi."
Kurt was surprised. "Really? I didn't know that."
They talked for a few more minutes before the girl went to sit on the other side of the room, pretending to read one of Kurt's Vogue magazines. Kurt went up to the counter to get a refill on his grande non fat mocha, and ordered a medium drip for Blaine. He received his order just as Blaine arrived.
He smiled at the other boy as he passed him the cup.
"Thanks, Kurt, but you didn't have to buy me coffee."
"It's the least I can do since you drove all the way here." He glanced over at Stephanie, who smiled and gave him the thumbs up. He almost sagged in relief. Blaine was his lifemate. Now he just had to figure out how to get closer to the other boy so that he could convince him that they were meant to be together.
They sat down, and Kurt started talking about how he was worried about Karofsky's attitude towards him. He didn't come right out and say the other boy was a closeted gay, but hinted that he suspected there was something the other boy was hiding and that he was using Kurt as a scapegoat.
As they talked about Dalton and it's zero tolerance policy, Kurt noticed Stephanie studying the other boy, and wondered at the frown on her face. What was she reading from Blaine that had her so troubled? The dark haired boy didn't notice Kurt's distraction. Soon the conversation turned to music. They had similar tastes, though they had argued good naturedly about who was the better over all performer, Katy Perry or Lady Gaga.
They agreed to meet again for coffee on Wednesday, the only day Blaine didn't have an after school activity. After the Dalton boy had left, Stephanie moved over to sit with Kurt.
"You need to transfer to Dalton as soon as you can. There are things in Blaine's past that he needs to tell you about. He wants to help you with your problems because he didn't get the chance to face his own problems."
"What problem?" Kurt asked, dread filling him.
Stephanie shook her head. "He has to tell you. It's the only way he'll be able to deal with what happened and move on so he can be your lifemate."
Kurt nodded. "Okay, but I can't just switch schools without a reason."
Stephanie sighed. "Come on, we're going to have to talk to your dad, and Tricia and Teddy."
…
Dinner that night was interesting. While Stephanie was actually staying with Burt and Kurt, their house wasn't big enough for the others, who were renting a small apartment from Mrs. Wilkersham up the street. The small dining room table that comfortably sat four was a little crowded with six people occupying it.
Kurt had cooked up a storm that afternoon, and every inch of space was occupied with plates and platters of food. He'd made a seafood pasta, salad, homemade breadsticks, a warm corn pudding, and a chocolate souffle for dessert.
As they sat down to eat, Stephanie filled them in on the events of the last couple of days (leaving out the part about Artie being her lifemate, Kurt noticed.) They discussed ways for Kurt to transfer to Dalton.
It wasn't a matter of finance. While Burt Hummel was a humble man who lived frugally, the family was by no means wanting for money. They were part of the Argeneau family, after all. After Elizabeth's death, Kurt had inherited her shares in Argeneau Enterprises, the widely diversified family business with offices on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.
The dilemma was what story he would give his friends at McKinley and at Dalton to explain why he was transferring. He couldn't just introduce his cousin at McKinley then ditch her for another school. Plus he didn't want to hurt the feelings of his friends in New Directions. They had to believe there was a really good reason he was leaving them just before Sectionals and joining their competition.
"You say you've been being bullied a lot this year, and that some of it has escalated?" Teddy asked, using his napkin to reach out and wipe salad dressing from Livy's chin.
Kurt swallowed the bite of corn pudding he'd taken, nodding. They had told them about Karofsky's growing malevolence toward Kurt, and the reason behind it. "Yeah, Rachel was talking to the other girls about it the other day. She doesn't know I know, of course. Anyway, she was trying to get the ones who have boyfriends on the football team to stand up to him after football practice."
"That's good, because I have an idea." The immortal sheriff said, smiling. After listening to the idea, Kurt knew it would work, but wasn't sure he liked it.
"It's a sound idea, but there's just one part I object to. I don't want to out Karofsky. That's not fair to him. If we can do this someway that doesn't reveal his issues, then I'm all for it, otherwise, I'd like to think of something else."
They all agreed, but Burt made one request. "Can we wait until after the wedding?"
It took Kurt a moment to realize what he said. His face light up. "You asked her to marry you?"
Burt grinned. "Yes, and she said yes, and she agreed to let me turn her after the honeymoon."
Kurt jumped up and hugged his dad. "That's great! When is the wedding?"
"Well, I was thinking in two weeks, nothing too fancy. That still gives you a couple of weeks before your Sectionals. I was actually kind of hoping New Directions would sing at the wedding, since both you and Finn are in it."
Kurt beamed. "That's perfect, Dad! You just relax and let me take care of everything! Oh! I have to call Carole and talk to her about the planning!"
They all laughed as he dashed out of the room.