Chapter 9: I see fields of green
School was complicated when it was nearing finals. Ivy League students, in their majority, sheltered at home and prepared to either sink swim. Kurt was a natural perfectionist. As finals neared you'd find him either studying under books in a library or in his room. Blaine was his most constant companion, and to Blaine's annoyance so was Chandler. The exuberant youth seemed undeterred in his advances with Kurt, so much, that he welcomed Blaine's presence and allowed for a friendship to blossom. No one could tell him the friendship was one-sided. Blaine on the other hand was untroubled with finals. He knew the material already, his homework was being done by desk agents, and were he to fail classes, nothing would stop a prodigious hacker from interfering with grading. Blaine's mission was proceeding spectacularly. He had maintained his closeness to Kurt, planted a bug on Puck and Mike's watches, and even had some sort of surveillance on the Bird's View Agent Coulson. His attachment to Kurt seemed waned, and he was in full control of his emotional state. Of course, he could never foresee what was coming.
One fine morning a few days before finals, he and Kurt were studying in the library, and suddenly a young man sat himself across from Kurt. Somehow, his smirk was something that irked Blaine to no end.
"Hi Gorgeous." the guy said staring at Kurt, who finally noticed the presence of someone else at their table.
"Uhm, Hello," Kurt said back a little unsure. "Do I know you?"
"Not yet, but hopefully soon enough you will," the guy said his smirk turning into a smile, "My name is Brody."
"Kurt," and then motioning towards the other side of the table, which the guy was pointedly ignoring, "This is my friend Blaine."
"Pleasure." Brody said not looking away from Kurt.
"Do you need something Brody?" Blaine asked, unable to keep ice from his tone.
"Actually, I just need Kurt to agree to go on a date with me this Friday." He said.
For some reason, Kurt blushed, and then in a very flirty way answered "Aren't you a little cocky?"
"Very, but that isn't the point," Brody said, and leaning back on his chair, "See, I was just minding my business when I saw you across this library and honestly I knew this," his hands keep making a pointing motion between both guys, "Was going to be pretty spectacular."
"I didn't get that memo." Kurt said, flirting back. "But in any case, I am already seeing someone."
"Is it serious?"
"I-I…"
"Has this guy asked you to be your boyfriend?"
"No."
"Then so far, I have a chance now don't I?"
"I guess you do." Kurt said, smiling. "You said something about Friday?"
"Yes, Friday at 7. Meet me at the corner of Lexington and Park. I'll be wearing the gorgeous Armani suit," Brody said standing up, "Hope to see you Friday, Kurt."
With that, Brody stood up and walked away. Blaine, as it turns out, was fuming, because yet again, there was someone to sidetrack him from Kurt.
"Oh my god," Kurt said, still smiling, "Can you believe that?"
"Not really, the guy was an ass." Blaine said looking down at what he was writing.
"I kind of found him interesting."
"I thought you were dating Chandler?"
"I am, but Chandler and I haven't actually talked about being serious, so far it's just very much casual."
"Still, I doubt he would like knowing some other guy was propositioning you."
"Propositioning?" Kurt asked amused and confused, "Brody just asked me out."
"Come on Kurt! That guy has one thing on his mind and it is not eating off a plate with you!" Blaine said a tad bit harshly.
"What is it with you?!" Kurt said just as harshly. "First, Chandler is going out of his way to be friendly with you and make sure you don't feel excluded, and you treat him like garbage," Blaine was about to protest, "Don't even try and deny it! You may fool him, but you surely don't fool me. And now, this cool, gorgeous guy is asking me out, and you degrade it by saying I'm just a piece of ass he'd like to tap or something!"
"Kurt, I didn't mean it like that!"
"Then how Blaine?! Because ever since we had the talk about me ignoring you it seems you are intent on monopolizing me!" Kurt said a little angrily.
"Kurt, I-I…"
"Don't make excuses!"
"I'm sorry. I just worry about you, and that guy… he just rubbed me the wrong way."
"I'm not going to date him."
"What?"
"He isn't my type Blaine, but he was nice, and I'm going to dinner and maybe he and I could be friends." Kurt said looking at the notebook in front of him. "I actually hoped to talk to Chandler about being exclusive."
"Really?"
"I like Chandler a lot, and maybe he could be the one for me."
"Yeah, I guess…" Blaine said carefully letting his brain go in places he's much rather not have to deal with.
"I'm tired. I'm going to my room and getting some sleep."
"I'm sorry for how I acted."
"You're forgiven. See you tomorrow."
Blaine would never understand what followed. First he was watching Kurt walk away, and the next thing he knows another guy is sitting at his table looking at him the way Brody looked at Kurt.
"Hi Tiger," the man said, his appearance a little more refined than Brody's, "Had a fight with your boy?"
"He is just my friend." Blaine said looking at the guy suspiciously.
"Well, in that case, I am Sebastian Smythe."
"Blaine Anderson."
"I feel, Blaine, that soon you will be mine."
Blaine actually groaned out loud at this, and wondered why his life was so damned complicated some days.
The next few days for Blaine proved how grateful he was for the guys doing his school work in this mission. Between making sure Kurt was fine and still his confidante, dodging Sebastian, and keeping Brody away as subtly as possible was exhausting him. Sebastian was like an animal in heat. Persistent and always horny. He always appeared wherever Blaine was, no matter what he was doing, ignored the term 'personal space' and Blaine was constantly blushing at the things whispered into his ear. Kurt found it amazing that someone liked him. Brody and Sebastian were good friends, and so Kurt tolerated him. He and Sebastian were very confrontational. Chandler it seemed had a nice talk with Kurt because Brody went on his date but Kurt made sure that he knew it would be the only one. Soon, Kurt and Chandler were officially boyfriends.
Kurt aced all his finals. He was very proud of his work, and his great GPA. The last week of finals was also the last week of events and parties they attended. Blaine had also done particularly well in his classes, and was happy that for his next semester he would not be taking any more Italian classes. That was just too dull for someone who already knows the language.
As Christmas was fast approaching, Blaine was invited to yet again come with Kurt to Washington to celebrate the Holiday, which he accepted, and Chandler was joining them as well. This break proved a little less eventful. Blaine's handlers were happy with his work so the mission was undeterred. The White House was professionally decorated and pretty much looked like Santa's workshop. On Christmas Eve all the Secret Service agents were wearing elf hats to contrast Burt's Santa Claus one. He managed to get Kurt a scarf he wanted, Burt and Carole tickets to a show, and Mike a DVD set. Christmas was a small family gathering, just Kurt and Chandler, Blaine, Finn, Carole and Burt, and the surrounding agents who joined them in dessert. For New Years Burt and Carole had an event to attend, but the boys decided to go to a club downtown and celebrate it there. Kurt and Chandler shared a sweet kiss at midnight, while Blaine looked on feeling very much out of place. He could have never expected what happened next.
"Well, lookie here! It's Kurt Hummel!" said a man, obviously drunk, to the amusement of his friends, and in a mock bow, "Your Highness!"
The friends laughed and smiled, all the while was turning around to leave, but the guy wouldn't have that, "Wait, princess, don't go just yet, we haven't talked about your little toy here!" the man said pointing at Chandler, who blushed and looked to the ground.
"Thomas, leave the fags alone!" another guy said.
Blaine did not like that at all. He was not happy with what was going on, and more so because Puck and Mike were a little away and probably couldn't hear what was going on. Even Finn wasn't in sight nor was his agent.
"But I wanna make sure the fairy understands that this," he said pointing to Kurt and Chandler, "is not cool!"
Kurt tensed at that, and moved in front of Chandler, who seemed to shrink a little more after each word. "Just leave us alone." Kurt said, trying to take a step back.
That was when it all went to hell. First the guy tried grabbing at Kurt's arm. When he did, and harshly at that, Blaine lunged forward and pushed him off. In his drunkness the guy fell, and his friend, punched Blaine in his stomach. Blaine literally karate chopped the side of his neck and the guy dropped, then the one who had called them fags minutes ago was moving through people trying to get at them. Blaine assessed, and Blaine found that he needed to get Kurt the fuck out of there. He grabbed Kurt's hand and pulled him away, not even looking back to see what happened with Chandler. Blaine started making his way through the club to find a back entrance, but all he did was find himself in a back hallway that led to the bathrooms.
"Blaine…" Kurt tried.
"Kurt, hold on, I wanna get you out of here!" Blaine said. He looked back out into the club and noticed the guy didn't manage to follow them.
"What about Chandler?"
"Mike and Puck will probably take care of him."
"But-"
"I don't want you near that guy!" Blaine said angrily, "It was enough to see him insult you!"
"I'm used to it."
"You shouldn't have to be. You should be able to go out and not have people treat you like this."
"In a perfect world I guess," Kurt said, and when Blaine was calm, "How are you?"
"What do you mean? I'm fine."
"Your stomach. The guy punched you pretty hard."
"I'm ok, he just knocked the breath out of me a little." Blaine said, and then noticing a hallway opposite where they were, took Kurt's hand and led him there.
This hallway did lead to the back of the club. From there, Blaine and Kurt made their way to the entrance as they called Mike, and then Finn to let them know where they were. Soon enough everyone was walking out, including a slightly shaken Chandler.
A few days later found them back at the University, with Blaine in his room with his surveillance equipment, Sam in class, and Kurt and Chandler in Kurt's room. Blaine was intent on making sure what was going on, but listening to Kurt and Chandler making out was not something he enjoyed at all. As he paid minimum attention to the sounds, and avoided every single dirty text Sebastian sent, he was just reading reports from other agents regarding the background of this mission. That was when he heard something that he just never expected.
"I can't do this Kurt." Chandler's voice echoed through his system.
"Ok, we'll slow down." Kurt said, his voice sounded mischievous.
"No, I mean, this, you and me." Chandler responded, and Blaine thanked they couldn't hear them because he dropped the file he was reading to the ground.
"What? Why? What's wrong?" Kurt asked, and somehow Blaine knew he meant 'What's wrong with me?'
"It's just… Kurt you are in the spotlight a lot, and I don't think I can deal with it. I mean, I've seen myself in gossip magazines and websites, there was the club thing in Washington, and then there's the other thing."
"What other thing?"
"People know you Kurt, they recognize you on the street and either they nice or at least polite or they just aren't."
Blaine knew what Chandler meant. When they ventured off campus mostly, people came up to Kurt, they took pictures and asked for autographs, and videotaped what he was doing, and paparazzi followed, and then there were jackasses who yelled derogatory terms from across the street. And with Burt's campaign so intimately laced with a personal matter, his father's policy's on equality were constantly referred to as the 'fag laws' or the 'kurtie laws' and those same homophones didn't wait to let Kurt know how much they disliked those policies. Kurt didn't leave campus for it to happen too much, but it did happen, and Kurt always just walked away.
"So this is it?" Kurt asked, and Blaine could hear how hurt he was. "You aren't even going to try? You're just going to stop and leave?"
"I'm so sorry! I thought I could handle it." Chandler tried, and Blaine could hear him shuffling, probably trying to leave.
"So you are scared?"
"Yes, Kurt. I don't want to be a target, but I am. Yet, ever since this started between us, it just feels like it's a much bigger target," Chandler said. He didn't even let Kurt talk before he was bolting out the door, "I'm sorry, I have to go!"
Blaine could hear doors opening, so he shut down the surveillance equipment and dropped a hoodie on top of it, and opened the door to his room just as Kurt was standing watching Chandler walk away.
Blaine didn't say anything at first and just observed. Kurt's face was just heartbreaking, he didn't look sad as much as he looked defeated. Blaine really wondered what was going on in Kurt's mind at this moment. For his job, he was required to able to read people, understand situations, and predict all possible human scenarios, but Kurt was different. His scenarios never seemed to fully coincide with Kurt at all. He could predict a lot of things about Kurt, routines, plans, ambitions, even make patterns, but emotionally, it was extremely hard to get a read on Kurt fully. I was hard to guess what went through his mind as things occurred. When it was certain Kurt was going to notice him, and when Kurt's cheeks were lined with silent tears, he figured it was enough.
"Kurt?" he asked softly, "Are you ok?"
Kurt didn't speak, he just shook his head and took a step back, slightly swaying. Blaine immediately took his hand, and put an arm around his waist, and slowly led him into his room. He was grateful Sam liked to spend so much time outside, as this was not something Kurt was likely to share with his roommate.
"I've always hated romance movies a little." Kurt said confusing Blaine for a moment.
"I thought you were an all romance man?"
"I am. But those movies always, always have a happy ending, Either they end up happily ever after together, or the main character might end up alone but with this amazing self-realization and confidence they never had before. Life is so not like that." Kurt said smiling sadly. "My dad's career has made my dating life pretty much inexistent. I don't get to go off into the sunset, or figure out what or who I am."
"Do you want your life to be like a movie?"
"I want love Blaine. I want to find someone who makes me feel loved. Like I'm literally the only person in the world, and there isn't anything else that matter other than us. To feel like two lives are joining. To wake up in the morning and have someone to hold me. I want to feel that ebb and flow of emotions between two people, so intrinsic that it literally makes you feel like you drown in love." Kurt said, with this wistful expression on his face.
"You'll get that Kurt," Blaine said, moving to sit next to him, and putting an arm around his shoulders. "You are going to find this person, and you two will be happy."
"When?" Kurt asked.
"Someday." Blaine responded.
"Thank you Blaine." Kurt said, leaning his head on Blaine's shoulder.
The next few weeks passed by incredibly fast. Before they knew it, it was March and there had been a particularly weird shift in the dynamics of Kurt and Blaine's life. Arguments.
After Chandler and Kurt broke it off, Kurt decided to start hanging out with Brody and Sebastian more often, which eventually led to Kurt and Brody dating a few more times and deciding to get into a casual relationship. Brody dated, a lot, and Kurt, whom had the opportunity as well, didn't. All Blaine could see was Kurt being one of many in Brody's life. But that really wasn't the worst part. The worst part was Sebastian. As Kurt and Brody continued to spend time together, the more time Sebastian insisted on antagonizing Blaine. Blaine's handler was not impressed. His handler was making it clear that although the mission was going as planned, that Blaine could not let Sebastian get in the way. Blaine needed to put Sebastian down a peg.
A few days later, Blaine was in the library on his own while Kurt was on a date with Brody. Blaine was listening in through a bug placed on Kurt's coat, which could be heard through Blaine's Ipod. To everyone else, he was a young man listening to music as he studied. All was interrupted when Sebastian unplugged one of his headphones, and sat down next to him, putting a hand on his thigh.
"Blaine, Blaine," Sebastian said, moving his hand a little higher, "What about we get away for a second in one of those private study rooms? Just you, and me."
"Sebastian," Blaine started, removing the guy's hand from his thigh, "I'd rather endure actual torture."
"One of these days you'll cave," Sebastian said, looping an arm behind Blaine's chair, "I'm pretty much irresistible."
"Please shove a sock down your throat." Blaine said exasperated and starting to pick up his things. Sebastian decided to grab his wrist, "Let me go."
"Come on Blaine, just need an hour of your time, a back room somewhere, and you on your knees with your lips around me, or my cock up your ass." Sebastian said.
Blaine looked up to Sebastian, and yanked his arm away. He figured he could use this chance to get rid of the guy. So he packed his stuff, put his bag on the table and grabbed Sebastian's arm, and pulled him to the nearest door, which was a private tutoring room. The moment the door was closed Blaine pushed Sebastian against a wall, and harshly kissed him. Sebastian was shocked by eager to respond, eventually they break up for air.
"I knew you wanted me." Sebastian said leaning in, prevented by only by Blaine's arm across his chest. "Let's continue."
"No."
"No? Blaine I think you need to remember how this goes. You end up on your hands and knees in front of me." Sebastian said, his smirk even more annoying than before.
"No. That was it. That's what you get." Blaine said, stepping back and moving to leave. But when Sebastian tried to grab at him, Blaine pushed Sebastian against the wall hard, making him yelp, and put his arm against his throat. "Listen to me, I don't want you, in any way or form. So leave me the fuck alone, or you will end up on the ground writhing in pain."
"What the fuck is your problem?!" Sebastian said harshly, the arm against his throat preventing him from yelling.
"You are my problem. Leave me the fuck alone." Blaine said, letting his arm drop and stepping back. After glaring at the other man, he left the room.
Blaine left the library in a hurry, made his way to his room, and waited. He calmed himself down, and then composed an email which he sent to a junk account, which his handler would decode. Minutes later, he was being called, and told to make sure Sebastian does not become suspicious of him, but that otherwise he handled the situation well.
Blaine felt sick. And he didn't know why.
Days later it wasn't Blaine going head to head with Sebastian. It was Blaine arguing with Kurt. They had been having coffee with Brody in between classes and study times, and after an hour or so Brody announced he had to leave.
"Sorry babe, but I have a date tonight, and I need to get ready." Brody said, kissing Kurt goodbye and taking his leave.
"I don't get it." Blaine said after Brody was gone.
"What?" Kurt asked a little confused.
"You are a romantic Kurt. I know it, you know it, and I'm pretty sure Brody knows it, but doesn't give a damn."
"Blaine, I'm ok with the way things are."
"You shouldn't be!"
"Well, I am! I like Brody, I feel good when I'm with him!"
"You feel good being one of his many? Kurt, the guy you like just left to be with someone else! He told you! And you accepted it!"
"We are not serious! I can date if I want to!"
"But you don't! You just hope that one day he'll break up with everyone else!"
"Why are you doing this?!"
"Because you deserve better!"
"Stop!"
"Kurt, come on. You need to break up with Brody. This isn't a healthy relationship."
"Blaine stop!" Kurt yelled, and Blaine finally noticed the tears in his eyes. "Blaine, as much as I wanna hold out and find 'The One,' I can't just wait around alone."
"Kurt…" Blaine tried.
"No," Kurt interrupted, "I am alone Blaine. No one understands what my life is like. Guys think I'm hot, they love, but they never want to date me. No one wants to deal with the baggage of dating me."
"Brody, for what it seems, is dating you." Blaine said bitterly.
"Yes, but he dates other people, so from the outsiders perspective we are friends." Kurt said. "That's probably the reason why he hasn't run away like Chandler."
"Kurt, you don't deserve that. You're settling with him."
"Promise me, promise me I won't be alone if I break up with him."
"You won't be alone. You'll have me."
"Will you date me Blaine? Will you be my 'One'?" Kurt asked, his face tearstained.
Blaine caught himself from answering too fast. He looked to the ground, and then up, and as calmly and nicely as he could, "I don't see you that way Kurt. You're my friend."
"Case and point." Kurt said, standing up and leaving towards his dorm, ignoring the looks.
Blaine stayed sitting, looking at his cup, and hating what he just did. Even when he knew it would never happened, all he had wanted to do was to say 'yes.'
It wasn't until a few days later that Kurt and Blaine managed to talk and apologize. Blaine made sure never to broach the topic again, and Kurt made sure Blaine knew he still regarded him as his best friend. Their relationship continued, and it was soon nearing their spring break. Kurt would go back to DC for a week, and Blaine said he was visiting his brother, when in reality he was following Kurt to DC and working on long range surveillance. As the term was headed into break, Kurt, Blaine and all their friends decided on a karaoke night spring break send off. The group had grown a little since the beginning of the previous semester. Sam was there, Brittany and Santana were there, and recently as told by Blaine, they were now a couple. Rachel, Quinn, Artie, and Joe all came on their own, while Ryder brought a pretty blonde as a date, Marley brought a guy named Jake, and Nick brought a few guys from his choral class: Jeff, Wes, David and Thad, all of whom shared classes with Blaine and Kurt as well. Tina was the last one to arrive, and for some reason while passing by Mike, she blushed, a lot. At one point, even Brody showed up, but no Sebastian which pleased Blaine immensely.
They were having a lot of fun. They sang and danced, and enjoyed one last night before most of them went different ways. Kurt (and Blaine) to DC, Santana, Brittany, Sam, Brody, Marley, Jake, Ryder, Nick, Jeff, and Quinn were all going to Daytona Beach, Florida to celebrate Spring Break, and the rest were headed home. They did have some memorable performances. Nick, Jeff, Wes, David, Thad, Blaine and Kurt all did an acoustic version of "Hey Soul Sister," Santana, Quinn and Brittany did a lovely performance of "Say a little prayer for you," Rachel did like 6 solos, Marley and Jake sang a drunken "A Thousand Years," which Ryder joined in at one point, Tina and Kurt did a beautiful rendition of "I have nothing." Soon Artie and Sam departed, and later on Brody said he had to meet someone, while Rachel said it was enough for her vocal chords that night. They were winding down, Kurt was getting ready to pay his bill when they heard a beautiful voice start up.
God broke the mold,
When he made this one I know
She's breathtaking but so much more
She walks in the room, your lungs close
Making you never want to breathe again
Her boyfriend has got so much dough
So much ice his neck and wrist froze
Is he faithful to her? Hell no
But she chose to be with him, shorty
Kurt turned to the stage to find Blaine singing into the mic, eyes closed, swaying lightly. He looked like he belonged. He recognized the song, and knew exactly who it was meant for.
Tell me is the money worth your soul?
Tell me what's the reason that you hold on
When you know that dude has a whole wall of 'em just like you?
And girl you're just way too fine
Gotta be treated as one of a kind
Girl use your mind
Don't be just another dime
Because
I can't take
Seeing you with him
'Cause I know exactly what you'll be,
In his gallery
Just not fair
And it's tearing me apart
You're just another priceless work of art
In his gallery
At this point Blaine's eyes opened, and locked with Kurt's. Even across the room, Kurt knew that as out of place some of the lyrics might be, the message was pretty clear. Blaine was still not happy about Brody, and for the first time, Blaine could see how much it bothered him.
She's so confused
She knows she deserves more
Someone who will love and adore
But his money's hard to ignore
She really doesn't know what to do
Girl it's just a matter of time
Before he finds another more fine
After he's done dulling your shine
You're out the door and he's through with you
Tell me is the money worth your soul?
Tell me what's the reason that you hold on,
When you know that dude has a whole wall of 'em just like you?
And girl you're just way too fine
Gotta be treated as one of a kind
Girl use your mind
Don't be just another dime
I can't take
Seeing you with him
'Cause I know exactly what you'll be
In his gallery
Just not fair
And it's tearing me apart
You're just another priceless work of art
In his gallery
You're a masterpiece
I know that he
Can't appreciate your beauty
Don't let him cheapen you
He don't see you like I do
Beautiful not just for show
Time that someone let you know
Kurt at that moment saw something that he couldn't ignore, he saw Blaine, this great, amazing guy, who clearly wanted what was best for him. This handsome, intelligent, caring man, who had nothing else but care for him. For the first time ever, he finally saw Blaine as more than his R.A, more than his friend.
I can't take
Seeing you with him
'Cause I know exactly what you'll be
In his gallery
Just not fair
And it's tearing me apart
You're just another priceless work of art
I can't take
Seeing you with him
'Cause I know exactly what you'll be
In his gallery
Just not fair
And it's tearing me apart
You're just another priceless work of art
In his gallery
In his gallery
While he knew this couldn't happen, he knew that Blaine didn't feel the same, he understood now why he was also pleased Sebastian stopped hanging around, why he was the slightest bit happy Blaine wasn't dating anyone, or seemed, in some ways, jealous of Chandler, and Brody. He was falling in love with Blaine. And he knew, Blaine wouldn't ever love him back.
AN: Hey guys, I know a lot happened here, and I pushed the story forwards a lot, but I was feeling that it needed to get somewhere. In the next few chapters, a lot of the stuff should start to unravel. Now it's time for you to tell me what you think and let me know if you like where the story is going.
REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW.