A/N: Ok, this chapter came out of my head in two chunks, and it took me forever to work out that I had written in in reverse order (I blame lack of sleep), so with judicious editing I fixed that (I think)
I was a little surprised myself to be honest at what happens in this chapter (well, not a lot HAPPENS persay, but you get my drift)
The next couple of chapters are in my head, but they are a bot like movies playing with dodgy sound. I can't quite make out all the dialogue, so hopefully I can get some time soon to just switch my brain off, start typing and see what comes out at the end of it all!
Usual Disclaimers: I claim no ownership of Glee or it's relatives (Joy, hope, Mild Euphoria etc) or any of RIB's wonderfulness
After Blaine insisted on a Pepe Le Pew marathon while the boys ate lunch there were a few hours to kill before Kurt and Blaine were expected to turn up to Brittany's house to meet Rachel and Mercedes. Kurt decided they needed to pop down to the mall to pick up some supplies.
(Q-tips, cuticle softener, emery boards, a few more eye-shadows in colours not already overrepresented, the essentials)
Kurt drove and although the mall was obviously busy, they managed to find a parking spot not too far from the main entrance. Only minutes after entering the mall both boys were toting baskets which Kurt seemed hell-bent on filling in record time.
Blaine was always amazed at how Kurt was able to both be ruthlessly efficient while shopping, and yet at the same time still be able to spend an entire day 'bargain hunting' if the opportunity arose.
They chatted about various nothings as they walked the aisles: colour palettes that suited their various friends; how to wean Rachel away from her dependency on printed knitwear; whether various members of the Harry Potter cast were 'hot dorks' or 'dorky studs'.
It was just after they split up to find the last few items on Kurt's list (which were, of course at opposite ends of the mall) that it happened.
Blaine had been gone about five minutes when Kurt saw the hulking figure of Azimio, trailed by two of his fellow 'Puckheads'. Without pausing for thought Kurt froze and then walked through the automatic doors of the nearest shop. He kept his eyes on the three bullies, and moved further into the store.
With his attention fixed on the larger figures he was paying little or no attention to where HE was walking, and so it came as a shock to him when he ran into another person so forcefully that they both rebounded off each other and fell to the floor.
Turning to apologise Kurt's breath caught in his throat as he looked into the eyes of Dave Karofsky.
Dave looked at Kurt, and at the purchases which now lay scattered across the floor of the aisle. He saw the colour draining from Kurt's face and suddenly felt the need to speak.
"You OK Humm...I mean, Kurt?" he asked gruffly. "I didn't push you you know, I mean I ..."
"It's OK David, "Kurt sighed breathlessly, "I was just spooked by your friends."
He gave Dave a look which tried to convey reassurance.
"I know you have changed, are trying to change David, and it was entirely MY fault."
Dave was picking up Kurt's things and placing them carefully back into his basket.
"I'm not sure Azimio and I are friends anymore, "he mumbled.
"I'm sorry Dave, "Kurt gave him a gentle touch on the wrist.
"He knows that I am hiding something from him, "Dave sighed, "and he's getting all bent out of shape that I won't spill my guts to him."
Dave looked to where the three boys outside had sat on one of the bench seats and were making crude comments about various girls that walked past them.
"I don't think I have any friends anymore, "he whispered almost to himself.
Kurt's eyes glistened with sadness as he saw the pain in Dave's face.
"I'm sorry Dave, "he said simply, "remember, if you need someone to talk to, Blaine or I will always be willing to be there for you."
Dave smiled slightly, then frowned at himself and looked to the floor.
"I don't know how you can be so forgiving Kurt, "he mumbled again, "I made your life such a..."
"I have forgiven you Dave, "Kurt stopped him continuing his self flagellation, "It's time for you to forgive yourself."
Dave's grin was an almost perfect example of the word 'irony'.
"That's going to take some time, "he huffed, "I just wish ...I don't know..." his voice trailed away as he saw Azimio notice him and begin to move closer.
"Damn, they're coming, Kurt if you duck down maybe they won't – I mean I will lead..."
"Just act as if I'm not here Dave, "Kurt said, thinking on his feet, finally, "it will be ok, just pretend I'm not even here, please!"
Dave shrugged as he turned to the opening doors and greeted his three 'friends'.
The next few minutes were agony for him, as he made small talk with Azimio and the others, all the while painfully conscious of Kurt's presence just behind the display he was leaning against. Finally the three hockey players decided to go get some shakes and left the store. Dave turned to the pale and now shaking boy who had not moved from the spot he had been standing in for the five minutes Dave had been talking to the others.
"How did you do that Kurt?"He asked in puzzlement, "Phillips was looking right AT you and it was like his eyes just got PUSHED across you without registering."
Kurt started to answer, but his knees began to buckle before he could explain. The strain of holding such a strong illusion for so long, under such scrutiny had almost been more than he could take.
Without a word Dave Karofsky had taken the refilled basket of cosmetics from Kurt's arm with one hand while his other arm slid around the smaller boy's waist, holding him up.
Together they hurriedly made their way out of the store and across to the very same bench that Azimio and his 'goons' had been ogling girls from a few minutes before.
"Kurt? KURT? Do you need to lie down? Do you need me to call someone? "Dave was almost beside himself with worry.
"I'll be ok, "Kurt said shaking slightly, "just a bit of a strain trying to ..." His voice trailed away as he realised what he had just done, and who he had done it in front of.
Dave wasn't the world's fastest thinker, but he was far from the stupid jock persona that was all he let most people see.
"Kurt, "he said forcefully, but gently, "I don't need to know how or even what you just did, so long as you promise me that you are going to be ok..."
Kurt nodded his head gratefully.
"...and I won't be revealing any of your secrets, OK?" He tried to convey his sincerity to the smaller boy with his eyes. "You have been keeping MY secrets for so long, despite everything that should have made you feel free to use them against me. I will NEVER betray you Kurt, you got that?"
Kurt nodded again, and as he looked up to Karofsky's face he spotted Blaine coming towards them.
"Your hobbit just turned the corner didn't he?"Dave grinned slightly.
Kurt raised an eyebrow and looked confused, even as a blush began to rise up his neck.
"You always get this sort of goofy, dreamy look when you see him, "Dave explained, "not that I've been watching or stalking you or anything creepy!" Dave seemed a little embarrassed himself now. "It's just pretty damn obvious, even to a Neanderthal like me."
Blaine hurried over to them, his shoulders rising a little in concern, but his face remaining calm.
"Are you ...?"
"I'm fine Blaine!" Kurt smiled at him, "David was just helping me after I got a little light-headed, that's all."
"What?"
"I was, um, avoiding the gaze of Azimio and a couple of the hockey thugs and it took a bit more out of me than I was prepared for."
Blaine drew a sharp breath as he realised what Kurt had NOT said.
"I'll be going now guys,"Dave stood and nodded at the pair, "and remember Kurt, I saw nothing, I remember nothing, I will say nothing, I've got YOUR back this time, OK?"
"OK, thanks David, "Kurt smiled at him. Blaine decided to trust his boyfriend (and plan on getting a full explanation later) and smiled at the former bully too. Dave nodded at the pair uncomfortably and left.
"What did he see Kurt? "Blaine asked calmly.
"It's more what he saw Azimio and the others NOT seeing, if you get my drift."
"Ah."
"He said it was none of his concern, and that my secrets were as safe with him as his have been with me, so ...I believe him Blaine, I just ...KNOW that in this, he is telling the truth."
"Then I won't worry about it anymore, "Blaine smiled and sighed with relief.
Kurt looked slightly surprised, as if he had been expecting an argument.
"Kurt, "Blaine looked into his eyes, "I love you. I trust you. I've also had ...feelings about stuff too. Sometimes I just...KNOW stuff. I think maybe we're discovering another 'gift' from these rings."
"Let's go to Las Vegas and get into a high-stakes poker tournament Blaine! "Kurt grinned, feeling better already, "no-one could ever bluff us, we could clean up!"
"I think we'd better do that in the OTHER sense of the words Kurt, "Blaine chuckled, we need to be at Brittany's in under an hour remember."
Rachel, Mercedes and Brittany greeted the two boys at the door as they carried their baskets of supplies up the path to the Pierce residence. Blaine grinned as Brittany pounced on Kurt, squeezing him in a tight embrace and even stealing a quick kiss. He remembered how shocked he had been when he found out about his boyfriend's 'ex' and their 'torrid' five day 'romance', but now he had really come to care for the ditzy blonde, and he knew she regarded Kurt with genuine affection too. (Plus he was in total agreement with her on one other point. Kurt Hummel was the best kisser in the WORLD!)
Rachel drew Blaine into a swift embrace, but refrained (thankfully) from planting any more kisses on him than she had already. Mercedes looked at him and at Kurt seriously, before cracking one of her trademarked HUGE grins and cuddling both of them. Rachel and Mercedes swiftly relieved the boys of their cosmetics hoard and hurried upstairs to Brittany's ENORMOUS en suite bathroom. Brittany stayed behind to lock the front door behind them.
"So your Mom and Dad aren't due back till after midnight you were saying Bit Bit? Kurt asked her as he took the keys from her and showed her how to manage a dead-bolt.
"Dad has a big celebration at his work tonight, they found a new comet or apteryx or something and they have to name it at a big party."Brittany sighed, "I wish they did their astronomy in the daytime, I miss them sometimes and it's really tiring staying up all night waiting for them to come home."
"Britt's Dad lectures in Astronomy and Physics at OSU, "Kurt explained, "and her mom works for NASA."
Even Blaine's eyebrows couldn't help him ask for an explanation to that.
"Are you sure you can't stay over Blaine Warbler?"Brittany asked, "My Mom and Dad would love to meet you, because they love stars, and you are the star of the Warblers."
Blaine smiled at Brittany. "Sorry Brittany, but MY mom and dad fly back in at about five am and I just really want to be home to make them breakfast, I haven't seen Dad for almost two weeks and I've missed him."
Kurt smiled at his boyfriend. Blaine's father had not always been the most supportive parent he could have been for his son, but since Kurt had met him (or more to the point, since Mr Anderson had met Burt Hummel) the man seemed to have really turned the corner in their relationship and both he and Blaine had begun to not only mend their bridges, but to find some real connections with each other.
"Oh well, "said Brittany, "at least you can stay for dinner and some makeovering."
Blaine smiled at her creative English.
"Lord Tubbington will be glad to see you too, but don't let him talk you into buying him more cigarettes, I've told him he's not allowed to smoke in the house, it's bad for him and disgusting..."
"HER CAT"Kurt mouthed silently in answer to Blaine's panicked silent query.
"...I love your new rings by the way. Those green stones look just like the flecks in your eyes Blaine, and Kurt's blue stones change colour just like his eyes do, they are so neat!" Brittany smiled at them as she paused in her large foyer. 'I was going to bring up some drinks for everyone. Kurt, can you remember where my kitchen is?"
"This way Bit Bit, "Kurt sighed as he led her to the left, "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised you can see the rings should I?"
Brittany smiled vaguely at the two boys (again) as she took the large pitcher of homemade fruit punch from the fridge and stacked some chilled glasses and an ice-bucket onto a large tray.
"Brittany, "Kurt said gently, "Could you please try hard NOT to mention them in front of Mercedes and Rachel, we don't feel like talking about them, OK?"
"Does this mean you and Blaine got married Kurt? "She asked smiling, "and can I be the first one to babysit your dolphin babies when the stork delivers them? Or do storks deliver dolphin babies? Maybe they get delivered by a penguin? Or a seagull? But that would be silly because seagulls are small and they would never be able to lift a baby. What are those big seagulls called Kurt? The ones from that poem we had in English Lit. in junior year?"
"I need more clues Brit that was almost three years ago now."
"Cole Porter wrote it?"
"Samuel Taylor Coleridge?"
"That's him! Did he write showtunes too?"
"It's called an Albatross Brittany."
"Ok, cool ...um ..." Brittany paused and looked at the tray of drinks. "Why do I have five glasses?"
"Rachel and Mercedes are upstairs Brit,"Kurt seemed used to Brittany's phasing in and out of time.
"Oh cool! "Brittany exclaimed, "we should like, totally do some makeovers!"
"So, no talking about our rings. OK Brit?" Kurt reasserted.
"Oh Lord Tubbington already told me not to talk to anyone about them, "she chattered as they left the kitchen, "He said he needed to talk to you first, before you put them on, but I guess you already did that, so I don't think he'll be mad at me for talking to you about them now. I won't talk to anyone else of course, I'm not totally dumb you know."
Blaine and Kurt took a few seconds to catch up with Brittany's babble, then looked sharply at each other.
"Brittany, "Kurt began slowly, "where exactly IS Lord Tubbington right now?"
"Oh, he's in my backyard talking to the unicorns about the noise from their party last night."
Blaine HAD to blink at that one.
"You have unicorns ...?"Blaine trailed away.
"My mom used to tell me we had Fairies at the bottom of out garden, but I guess they must have moved or something, because the unicorns have been there for years, and Lord Tubbington is always gone for DAYS when he goes to visit the fairies, and if they were at the bottom of our garden I don't think it would take him as long to visit them as it usually does, unless he takes extra time to go visiting bars or that floozy cat down the street. Her owners swear she's a purebred Persian but Santana says you can tell she's totally had work done."
"Let's get these drinks upstairs and then we can go find Lord Tubbington, "Kurt suggested.
"Oh he won't be back till after dinner, he said, "Brittany balanced the drinks tray effortlessly in one hand as she deftly ran up the stairs, "so we have time to do your nails before he grills you Blaine."
She smiled as she turned to the two boys following her, "I have green nail polish somewhere, you would look so cool Blaine Warbler."
She paused as if remembering something.
"Hey, did you give Kurt his phone back yet?"
