I'm baaaacckkkkk~! (Nobody was waiting? I'm hurt. *SOB*)
So, midterms are really kicking my ss and I wanted to leave this until it ended... But I couldn't resist.
I went evil, I put ALL my midterm stress into trouble in Klaineland. *mwahahahahaha*
And I might be too late on this but... Dance with Somebody was amazing. Just... RIB could have given Kurt more justice. He wasn't the offender! :(
Anyway, longest chapter yet. (But still a tad short) Hope you guys enjoy!
Disclaimer: ...Don't remind me of my sorrows. I Don't own.
The next few days passed in a flurry for Blaine. He had started dating Kurt, and that just didn't go well past his brother. Shane spent lots of days trying to talk to him about Kurt, but Blaine had politely declined each time, saying that it was his relationship and that he was the older and responsible one. Shane had eventually gotten tired of it, and left Blaine alone.
As in not speaking to him.
And somehow, Wes and David were with Shane.
Which eliminated Reed from the question as well.
He really liked that he was dating Kurt. He honestly did. Having to deal with the majority of his friends missing, however, was not something that he had anticipated. And the hate-a-thon between his boyfriend and brother was nothing but more intense now, and it sort of scared Blaine to be in between.
When he voiced his concern during one practice session, however, Kurt only waved it off.
"He'll come around when he wants to." Kurt said airily, buried in the piles of sheet music. "Until then, I stay true to the laws of physics. He gives me an action, I give an equal and opposite reaction." The joke made Blaine snort, and Kurt looked over affectionately.
"Since when did you study physics?" Blaine said, dusting his robes as he stood up. Kurt's eyes melted into a lovely stare as he pulled Blaine in to cuddle.
"Excuse me, you're talking to the person who finished their N.E.W.T studies in every" a kiss on the forehead. "single" a peck on the cheek. "subject." And Kurt kissed him full on the lips, and Blaine forgot everything that they had been discussing. The kisses with Kurt were amazing, and it always felt like the first time. They broke off for air soon enough, still staring at each other lovingly.
"You know, if all of our practices go like this, all we're going to be able to do on that stage at Christmas will be to make googly-eyes at each other, you know?" Blaine mused, and Kurt let out a mirthful peal of laughter.
Kurt gave Blaine another quick peck on the cheek before answering. "Don't worry, nobody will beat us up for that. They just might pay for the show, though." Blaine smiled half-heartedly at Kurt's joke. This was another weird thing. Kurt talked about bullying often, usually just as a passing remark or a joke. The thing was that it hit home really close for Blaine. He hadn't found his diary yet, and that made him just the more anxious. He really didn't want people finding out the specifics of his tormented days, and didn't need the pity party. He was here to forget that, and it didn't matter anymore. And he certainly wasn't telling Kurt anytime soon.
"Blaine, honey?" Kurt called, and the sweet nickname made Blaine melt.
"Hmm?" Blaine hummed, too comfortable in Kurt's arms.
"We'd better practice." Blaine groaned, for he didn't want to move from where he was, and Kurt just chuckled. "Oh, come on. Let's get it right, and make out for the rest." Blaine perked up instantly at that, and Kurt giggled at Blaine's enthusiasm as they walked over to the piano.
"You know we don't have a Christmas song yet, but I've got this other song that I wanted to try… it's really good so let's just consider it harmonizing exercise. And we can try impromptu performances anytime, you know?" Kurt asked, blabbering slightly and making Blaine smile fondly.
"I'm in. let me hear it out." Blaine answered, and Kurt smiled before placing his hands on the keys and playing out the first bars.
We wrote a prelude
To our own fairy tale
And bought a parachute
At a church rummage sale
And with a mean sewing machine
And miles of thread
We sewed the day above L.A.
In navy and red
We wound a race track
Through your mom's kitchen chairs
And fought the shadows back
Down your dark basement stairs
I lit a match, then let it catch
To light up the room
And then you yelled as we beheld
An old maroon hot air balloon
I'll be out of my mind
And you'll be out of ideas
Pretty soon
So let's spend
The afternoon in a cold hot air balloon
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the treetops over town
I can't wait
To kiss the ground
Wherever we touch back down
La la la laa laaaa
La la la la
La la laa laaaa
We drank the Great Lakes
Like cold lemonade
And both got stomach aches
Sprawled out in the shade
So bored to death you held your breath
And I tried not to yawn
You made my frown turn upside down
And now my worries are gone
I'll be out of my mind
And you'll be out of ideas
Pretty soon
So let's spend
The afternoon in a cold hot air balloon
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the treetops over town
I can't wait
To kiss the ground
Wherever we touch back down
I'll be out of my mind
And you'll be out of ideas
Pretty soon
So let's spend
The afternoon in a cold hot air balloon
Leave your jacket behind
Lean out and touch the treetops over town
I can't wait
To kiss the ground
Wherever we touch back down
Kurt's beautiful voice rang around in the room as the upbeat song ended. Blaine bounded over and caught his boyfriend in a hug, who laughed at his enthusiasm but responded just as happily. Cuddling with his boyfriend was Blaine's favorite part of the relationship. Aside from the kisses, and Kurt knew that.
"Come on, you teddy bear. Come to think of it, you're just like a little bear. I think I'll call you Blainey bear. How'd you like it, Blainey bear?" Blaine laughed at Kurt's silliness. How anyone ever got to hate him, he'd never know.
"The twins beat you to the punch like, five years ago. But I prefer you calling it than them. Mainly because whenever they said that, I was doused with some mystery liquid every time." Kurt grinned impossibly at the mention of the twins. Blaine thought it best to leave out that Shane would sometimes join in at that.
"Well, they do that to you, don't they? They call me 'Alice', like, all the time. It's either that or Kurtsie, and I chose Kurtsie over Alice. Honestly." Blaine laughed at the Alice in Wonderland reminder. He was the White Rabbit in the popular joke, because of the giant spectacles he sometimes wore and his pocket watch that he was really fond of.
"Well, I call that a wrap in both gossip and practice, so can't we make out?" Kurt let out an exasperated sigh at Blaine's suggestion, but Blaine knew that Kurt couldn't go against his famous puppy dog eyes, so he put the knowledge to good use.
"You know I can't deny you when you do that eye thing to me." Kurt admitted, chuckling and shoving Blaine's shoulders to land on the couch, and then started peppering his face with tiny kisses that made Blaine turn into a puddle. He really hadn't been so happy in a long time, and he really hoped that his brother came around.
~Kurt POV
Kurt loved his small meet-up times with Blaine. They were just lovely and impossible to describe, and he hadn't felt like this ever since….. shit. That wasn't a good place to go. Kurt grimaced. It was the inevitable past that had happened. And considering all circumstances, he honestly had to tell Blaine.
But he just couldn't.
Not now, anyway. Kurt thought, and made a mental note to somehow tell Blaine about it. In the near future, that is. Sometime when their relationship was too strong to break. Just that sometime.
"You know, Kurt, I've talked to that Quinn girl and she seems nice enough. I really appreciate that I took your advice." Rachel was talking. What was the advice that she's talking about? Everything that had happened prior to him and Blaine dating seemed so distant. Then he remembered. Oh. Finn's new girlfriend. Kurt briefly wondered if he'd have to talk about that as well.
"Erm, that uh, that sounds great. So what is she like?" Kurt stammered out, but Rachel didn't seem to notice his blankness and started on an in-depth analysis of Quinn and her personality. It did sound an awful lot like compliments, and it was weird considering that Rachel Berry never, and he meant never complimented anyone whole-heartedly.
"-and she's wonderful at dancing, apparently she's on the dance team…. Kurt?" Kurt jerked out of his trance, and grinned at Rachel, who glared back playfully. Then she lit up with a dazzling grin.
"Well, for you to pay attention, the only way will be to talk about you!" Rachel exclaimed, and Kurt let out a snort at her enthusiasm. She was so immature sometimes, that and her fashion. "So, what about the duet you're doing at the fest? What song are you doing?
Kurt fidgeted a little, lowering his voice. "Be honest? We haven't chosen a song yet." Rachel let out a dramatic gasp. "They're either too firty or…. I dunno, too little emotion. We are a couple, and I'd just really like to show that in front of the whole school. But he just doesn't seem comfortable." Rachel smiled brightly, and Kurt could almost hear her brain whizzing right next to him. Suddenly, she clapped her hands and reached in her bag for a set of empty music sheets.
"Euphonioso." She murmured, tapping the sheets. Kurt watched curiously as unfamiliar notes began spreading on the parchment. When several pages were full, Rachel handed them to Kurt with a bigger smile than before.
"Use that, I think that's exactly the kind of one that you guys are looking for." Kurt quirked an eyebrow, and glanced at the sheets briefly.
"Rach, these aren't Christmas songs. Hell, they aren't even winter songs." Kurt complained, mentally cursing himself for trusting Rachel's judgment.
"But it's so sweet! And I know for a fact that you'll nail it. And it's not like it's too flirty, or anything. So it's perfect for your-" Rachel blabbered, and Kurt placed a finger on her mouth to stop the talking.
"I appreciate the help. I might just sing this to him personally…. But I guess I can't use this at the fest. Maybe at another chance." Rachel beamed at him, and Kurt squirmed uneasily in her intense gaze as he stuffed the parchment in his satchel. Ah, and there it was again.
He could lightly feel Blaine's diary sitting inside. He hadn't looked, but that was just another thing to explain to Blaine. Why did he keep so many secrets?
"Um, Rach. I have to stop by the library to get this book I'm interested in, so go on to the common room without me, okay?" Rachel rolled her eyes at Kurt, but nodded and departed with a goodbye. Kurt headed to the library, wondering if books would free his mind a little.
Unfortunately, fate wasn't in favor of him.
Well, it was actually in favor of nobody.
Because he was confronted with Shane-freaking-Anderson as soon as he entered the library.
"We need to talk, Hummel." Shane said, and Kurt noticed Wes and David lurking around him like a personal set of bodyguards. God, was Shane that much of a coward now?
"Funny, I don't seem to share your view on the said necessity. Now will you excuse me, I need to find a book." Kurt tried to weave around him, and to his surprise, Shane didn't stop him. Kurt stopped in his tracks and turned back towards Shane. Not even turning around to face Kurt, he started speaking.
"I believe that the subject of my brother is –sadly – as much as your business as it is mine. And in this particular subject, even more so. So spare me and not talk, I'm fine but you're not going to be able to control anything that's going to enter Blaine's ears. Have you even told him anything about yourself? Not that I'd know, I'm not talking to him." Shane said quietly, and had it not been a library that required silence and his eyes weren't so sneering at him, it might have even sounded like genuine worry.
Kurt was glaring openly at Shane now. Was he really stooping that low? "In the matter, my only answer will be 'don't tell him about it' as far as concerning that matter goes." Kurt trembled in anger. Shane looked a little mad as well.
"You know that it did happen, no matter how much you're trying to deny it. Are you seriously going to hide that forever? He's bound to find out." Shane snapped, sneering at Kurt as he faced him. Kurt breathed down heavily. He was really having a hard time keeping calm, but he didn't want to get in trouble again.
"Like you care." Kurt spat out. "Be honest with me, Anderson. What brought this on? I'm willing to tell him in due course, when our relationship is stable enough. Your schemes won't break us down." Kurt plastered on a smug grin as he saw Shane's eyes burn at the word 'us'.
Shane took a couple of breaths before answering to Kurt. "I don't want to see you breaking any more hearts. Especially when it's my brother that we're talking abo-"
"Excuse me?" Kurt exclaimed, furious at the term. "Don't talk like I was the first offender, or are you forgetting just what you did-"
"Mister Hummel!"
The librarian's shrill voice jerked Kurt into realization to where he was. He looked around, and saw several sets of haughty eyes staring down at him. Great. So everyone was blaming him for everything that Anderson started…. Again. Kurt shot one last dirty look at him before leaving, stomping the ground in a rage. He was so distracted that he even forgot to hop over one of the trick stairs. He sunk down, letting out an exasperated sigh.
Kurt was stuck here, and he couldn't do anything about it. The thing about these trick stairs were that you couldn't get out on your own. And it wasn't exactly like the rare passerby would be inclined to help him out. So he was stuck.
He had been waiting for quite an amount of time when he heard a tentative voice near him. He snapped his eyes open, not knowing when they'd shut down.
"H-hi… do you, uh, do you need some help?"
And Reed Van Camp, Reed freaking Van Camp was standing in front of him, twitching in all his clumsy glory and looking a bit scared. Kurt bit his lip. Well, he would have the right to be scared, what with all that had happened, but he was standing here now, asking if he needed some help. Gosh, that boy was really too nice for his own good. He'd cooled down from the fight earlier, and wasn't really going to lash out on the tiny boy.
"Uh, yeah. Can you just help me up-?" Kurt reached out a hand, and Reed slowly pulled him up. Right when Kurt stepped out and regained his balance, Reed slipped and fell towards the stairs. Instinctively, Kurt reached out and grabbed him right before his nose could hit the stairs. Reed straightened up, blushing.
"Um, thanks. Sorry for that." Reed muttered quickly, dusting his clothes. Kurt just nodded his head, and turned around to go towards the dungeons when Reed called out from behind him.
"Wait!"
Kurt turned around to see the clumsy boy following him, a concerned expression in his face. Kurt wondered briefly what this was about. Despite being Anderson's boyfriend, Reed didn't really seem to approve of their hate-a-thon, and it was really impossible to imagine Reed confronting him for a reason similar to Sh – he meant Anderson's.
"What is it?" Kurt cringed at the unnecessary force woven into the words. He saw Reed flinch, but he seemed to be building up courage to talk.
"It's just… just a silly thing… don't get offended and just, gah, I'm probably paranoid for asking this but I was just too worried and well, just don't get mad at me for asking this, okay?" Reed babbled, and looked up at Kurt with fearful eyes, and Kurt just had to cave.
"I won't get mad, or whatever. Calm down and ask me whatever you have to." Kurt answered with a smile, and Reed visibly relaxed. He was still a little tense though.
"Good, uh then… here goes nothing but…" Reed took a deep breath, and blurted out.
"What's uh, what's going on between you and Shane?"
Kurt blanched at the question, staring blankly at the small boy in front of him. His look of concern was genuine, and Kurt was more hit with surprise than anything. Seriously, after their messier-than-Finn's-room breakup, how could anyone even think about them getting back together again, let alone talk happily?
"Oh my god, you're upset, aren't you? I'm sorry, I never should have brought it up…. I'm so sorry, please don't get mad at me, please-" Reed began ranting, and Kurt realized that he hadn't vocalized an answer yet. He stopped Reed by placing a hand on his mouth, which made the blonde boy's eyes widen in terror. Kurt quickly removed his hand, plastering a smile on.
"I assure you, nothing's going on between us. You… you know the story, why ask?" Kurt said, a little apologetically since he was really sorry that Reed had gotten into the mess. It was an accomplishment that he was even talking to him, although in a terrified state.
Reed's smile was tentative, a little sadness woven into hesitation. "I… of course I know, I was just worried, he seems too…. Vehement whenever a matter that concerns you comes up." Kurt chuckled darkly, his loathing for the blonde boy's boyfriend growing by the moment. Although he wasn't in a position to blame anyone for hurting Reed's feelings, Anderson wasn't really in a place where he didn't allow exceptions.
"Don't worry, it's probably because he still hates me. You…. He doesn't deserve that kind of worry from you in my opinion, but still…. I guess it's on you, the choice I mean." Kurt smiled softly, and Reed just grimaced, but held his eyes up hopefully all the same.
Kurt was about to say goodbye to the strawberry-blonde boy, but added before he turned around, "Besides, I'll never do something like that, I know how it hurts someone if that kind of thing ever happens." Reed blanched, but Kurt kept on smiling, showing that he wasn't blaming him. Kurt turned and made to leave, but stopped when Reed called out again.
"Kurt, I'm just saying. I'm not mad at you about anything, since it was my fault. And you seem to be forgiving enough…. And I truly believe that you are a wonderful person in heart, so please give him a chance." Kurt didn't need a name to know who Reed was referring to.
"I don't know, Reed." Kurt sighed, thinking. "He did…. Hurt me." Kurt contemplated before putting an end to that sentence, not wanting to admit anything. But he would have to soon enough. He bade goodbye lightly to Reed, and walked back to his dorm.
He met Rachel at the common room, but escaped into the rooms pretty quickly to get out of her attempts at probing why he'd taken so long. It was only when he'd flopped onto his bed that he remembered his argument with Sh – Anderson. And what exactly had it been about.
Kurt sighed and rolled over. He'd tell Blaine in due course. All in due course.
And he'll have to return the diary as well. As soon as I wake up and remember tomorrow morning, he thought. He had a meeting with Blaine tomorrow anyway. Thinking harshly, he lulled into sleep.
~Blaine POV
Blaine sat in the piano stool of the room of requirement, practicing a couple of pieces that he'd chosen. The finalists were Let it snow and Baby it's cold outside, and he was contemplating really hard between the two. The first song was upbeat and just flirty enough that one could sense a small trace if they listened closely, but the latter was fuller of love and fit their ranges better. He wasn't sure what to choose.
Part of that had to do with being flirty in front of the whole school. He really liked his boyfriend, and had never stopped showing public affection to each other, but on a stage, where everyone's attentions were on them…. It was a different case.
And it wasn't like the students were completely accepting. Most of them had no problem with it, but he had received a few glares from passing students. Something told him that it wasn't because of a reason like that, but didn't stop him from getting paranoid.
He was gravely conflicted by the choices, reasons going too far along the way when he heard the door open, signaling Kurt's arrival. He let out a sigh of relief, and Kurt soon wound his hands around Blaine's waist, pecking him lightly on the cheek.
"Hey, honey. Why so tense? Bad day?" Kurt mumbled against the crook of the neck, and Blaine couldn't help but flush again at the use of the affectionate nickname.
"Hardly." Blaine turned his head around to meet Kurt's lips, dragging the kiss slowly. "I was just conflicted about what song I should do." He murmured when they broke off for air, and Kurt just laughed.
"Let me help you then. Only fair since you got all the way to the finalists." Kurt said, leaning against the table to look at the sheets Blaine had. Kurt thought for a moment, and answered simply, "I think the second song will be better."
"You mean, Baby it's cold outside?"
"That's the one." Kurt sat on the corner of the table, playing with Blaine's curls. Blaine was having an internal debate. Should he tell him?
"Um, look, Kurt. I was just wondering about how they'll react…" Blaine trailed off carefully. Kurt just looked confused?
"What do you mean? It's sort of obvious that we're gonna nail it. And the crowd will only react accordingly." Kurt said lightly, but Blaine shook his head.
"No Kurt, I'm not talking about that. I, well, won't some people be disturbed by two gay guys flirting on stage?" Blaine asked carefully, and Kurt's eyebrows shot up his forehead. Blaine felt a little nervous, but this was an important issue for him. Kurt waited for a moment, then sighed at his boyfriend.
"I'm not really sure, but I was never one to care about it. Why should it matter? I always sang flirtatiously with Puck in the annual contests, and nobody beat me up for that." Blaine winced at the casual remark again. There it was, the attitude treating bullying like it was nothing important.
"Would you stop that?"
"Stop what?" Kurt looked confused and slightly irritated at Blaine's sudden complaint.
"You know…. That. Talking so casually about that stuff."
"What stuff?" Kurt looked confused. Blaine let out an exasperated sigh.
"The part about people beating the living hell out of other people, that's what I mean, Kurt!"
"What are you talking about? I don't understand. What brought this on?" Kurt just looked purely confused from Blaine's outburst, but Blaine was too nerve-wracked to notice his boyfriend's discomfort.
"Do you even care?" Blaine screamed at Kurt unconsciously, and he only noticed his mistake when Kurt stepped back, looking apprehensive. "God, I'm sorry, Kurt. I shouldn't have-"
"It wouldn't have really hurt you to just explain…." Kurt whispered silently, brokenly. Blaine was suddenly heartbroken. Why was Kurt getting hurt so easily over an argument as simple as that? Was it just the fact that Blaine had yelled at him, too absorbed in his own insecurities that he didn't even care to explain? Maybe it wasn't so simple…. God, he'd messed up.
"I, I'm really sorry. It was just…. It's a touchy subject for me." Kurt eyed him carefully, and suddenly Blaine was crushed by the force of a strong hug applied on him.
"Then talk to me, don't just… god. It's painful for me to get angry on you, to hurt you, but my defensive side just flares up as a reflex whenever I'm attacked…. And I just don't cope with someone screaming at me either. Traumatic, really." Kurt whispered as he held Blaine tight, as if he was scared that he would run away. Blaine buried his head in Kurt's shoulder as he cooed sweet endearments into his ears.
"I love you." Kurt murmured. "No matter what happens, I'm always going to be there for you unless you don't want me around. And you should trust me on that, don't keep secrets…." Kurt buried his face in Blaine's hair, muffling his voice. Blaine could feel his own eyes watering.
"I, I know…." Blaine's voice cracked as he blurted out. "But just give me some time, time before I could tell you…. I'm not sure if I could cope with it just right now." He could hear Kurt humming in the affirmative, and cuddled farther into his boyfriend's slender yet firm hands.
Kurt stroked his back softly, more relaxing than anything. "So, why'd you ask me if I wanted to do that song if you were so worried that people won't be so accepting about it?" Blaine groaned silently, not wanting to bring the subject up again. Kurt let out an amused giggle and Blaine sighed before lifting his head from Kurt's robes.
"I just…. Well, I know how you're about all the public affection thingy, and that you're really fond of it. I expected you to want to sing a flirtatious song, you know, to declare our relationship or something." Kurt pulled Blaine up by his shoulders at that, and the hazel-eyed boy was soon looking into the glasz eyes of his boyfriend. They had an amused look, but the seriousness wasn't really something he could ignore.
"Listen to me, Blaine. Don't sacrifice your thoughts just because you think I'm not going to like it. My priority in every kind of choice is your consent. I don't want to make you uncomfortable in any case, okay?" Blaine could hear the solemn, serious tone, and nodded frantically. With a satisfied smile, Kurt pulled him up to cuddle again.
It looked as if nothing could ever go wrong.
So, the Christmas song will be Let it Snow, the Klainey-Klainish-Klaine song.
Next up- Klaine sings. Blaine finds out something that makes him lash out at Kurt. Kurt's just apologetic...
And we're going to learn a little more about Kurt&Shane's history. And what exactly happened. Stay tuned...