I can't actually type right now because I'm freaking out because OH MY GOD WE'RE NEARLY AT 550 reviews and my mind = blown.
I'm so grateful for every single one of you who has reviewed, I love you all so much. Thank you. Please keep the reviews coming, they're just amazing and you're all amazing.
Unfortunately, there won't be an update tomorrow. I'm going on a charity expedition to do relief work in Africa this summer, but unfortunately it costs £3,500 to go, so I'm playing basketball for 24 hours to raise funds this weekend. Can't wait ;)
ALSO, for those who have seen the Michael episode, what did you think about the outcome of the NYADA storyline? Happy or unhappy? Let me know! I won't put a spoiler here, so leave me a review with your thoughts.
Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy this :)
Chapter twenty six
Blaine frowned as he scanned the empty apartment. Kurt hadn't mentioned going out, but he shrugged it off. Kurt was perfectly entitled to leave the apartment without telling him. It wasn't that he was possessive or jealous; he was just concerned. He knew that he had to keep his boyfriend at arm's length, as Kurt liked it, but that didn't stop him worrying.
Blaine flopped down on the couch, unsure of what to do with himself without Kurt around. Rachel had finally been able to move into the dorm room, which left him completely alone. The apartment had never felt bigger.
In this moment, Blaine got a glimpse of what life would be like if he and Kurt ever split up. Previously, he'd had no doubt that his life would be empty without his boyfriend but now it was clearer than ever. Realisation hit him like a ton of bricks. He couldn't live without Kurt.
Blaine curled his legs up so that he was sitting cross-legged. So where did this leave him? Well, he reasoned, Kurt was stuck with him.
It was a few moments later when he got the call. The phone rang and Blaine snatched it up, his mind going immediately to Kurt.
"Hello?" He answered, falling back onto the sofa.
"Hey," replied a crackling voice that was distinctly Kurt's, though it sounded strained and hoarse.
"Hi, love, what's up? Where are you?" Blaine asked.
"That's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about," Kurt told him. He cleared his throat, trying to gain as much voice as he could, "I'm in trouble."
Blaine sat bolt upright in alarm. "What happened? And what's up with your voice?"
"I got into a fight," Kurt admitted. "There were some homophobes in the coffee shop downtown and…I couldn't just sit there and let them call me those words, Blaine, I couldn't."
"I know, I know," Blaine soothed. While he could never condone Kurt fighting, at least he had a just cause. "Are you OK?"
"Sort of," Kurt murmured. "I got a little bit arrested."
Blaine froze. "I'm sorry, what?" Quickly coming to his senses, he continued, "Arrested? What were you thinking, Kurt?"
"I was thinking that I couldn't let some creep walk all over me!" Kurt retorted, heatedly. Her let out a sigh, regaining control. "I'm sorry," he murmured, "the fight was outside, someone called the police," Kurt explained, "I'm at the station right now. They're not going to charge me, but could you come pick me up?"
"Of course," Blaine said, already pulling on his shoes. "I'll be there in a few minutes, OK?"
"Thank you," Kurt whispered, "I love you."
"I love you too, Kurt. I'll see you soon," Blaine promised, hanging up the phone.
Blaine pulled up outside the police station, cutting the engine and jumping out. He practically sprinted into the building, coming to a halt in front of the reception desk. "I'm here to collect Kurt Hummel," he told the receptionist, panting slightly.
The man nodded, fingers flying across the keyboard. "Just down the corridor," he told Blaine, "room 201. He'll be waiting for you; he's free to go."
"Great, thank you," Blaine shot him a winning smile before disappearing down the corridor, headed straight for the room he'd been pointed to. He turned the handle on the door, behind which Kurt was talking to a police officer, wrapping up the case.
Kurt looked up and smiled at him before turning back to the policeman. "Is that everything, officer?" He asked.
"I think so. We'll be in touch with you soon, this may well go to court and we'll need a statement from you," the police officer told him.
"That's absolutely fine," Kurt said, smiling.
"You're free to go," the man replied, shaking Kurt's hand over the table and gesturing towards the door.
"Thank you, officer," he said, making his way around the table and towards Blaine. He took in Kurt's appearance as he approached him. His boyfriend – who had lately been looking so put together – was ruffled. His hair was out of place, clothes wrinkled. Blaine winced slightly at the black eye Kurt was sporting and a few scattered bruises along his jaw that crept down his neck. Kurt got to him and smiled weakly at his boyfriend.
Blaine put a hand on the small of his back, leading Kurt out of the room. When they were out in the corridor, Kurt let out a sigh of relief, sagging against his boyfriend. "I'm so glad you're here," Kurt whispered, closing his arms around Blaine's neck.
Blaine leant down, pressing his lips to his boyfriend's. "Is everything OK?" He murmured, burying his face in Kurt's neck, mindful of the bruises.
Kurt hummed contentedly, nodding.
"Shall we go?" Blaine asked, pulling away and extending a hand to Kurt. He didn't want Kurt to be here any longer than he had to be and Blaine wasn't too keen to stay either.
His boyfriend nodded, slipping his hand into Blaine's. "I am sorry," Kurt said, "I just…he made me so angry."
"What did he do, babe?" Blaine pressed, leading them out of the station and towards the car.
"Not here," Kurt replied, "can we go somewhere?"
"Of course," his boyfriend agreed.
He pulled up to the park, killing the engine and looking over at Kurt. "Is this OK?"
Kurt nodded. "Sure." Blaine smiled at his boyfriend, opening his door and walking round to Kurt's side and pulling open his door. Kurt beamed up at him. "Thank you."
"My pleasure," Blaine assured him, holding out his hand for Kurt's. It was mid-afternoon and the park was deserted save for the two of them. Blaine led him over to the swings and they sat in silence for a few moments before Blaine spoke up. "What happened, Kurt?"
"I was in a café and these guys…I thought they were just messing around but then they made all these comments and I just got so angry," Kurt explained, leaning his head against the chain of the swings, lost in thought. "I went over to them, confronted them and one of the guys went mental. The barista sent us outside but the guy started on me and I couldn't just…I had to fight back, but he took it too far. He tried to strangle me and for a moment, I thought I was done for."
Blaine froze, locking his fingers around Kurt's. His eyes darted to his boyfriend's long pale neck and could see that it was red and bruised. He would pay extra attention to those when they got home later.
"But someone called the police and these strangers pulled us apart," Kurt continued, "Then I was taken to the station, but I explained what happened and they're not pressing charges because I was provoked and it was an attack of homophobia."
Blaine nodded, relieved. "Well, that's good."
"Yeah, it is. I'm relieved," Kurt said. "And they might be pressing charges against the guy who did it."
"That's brilliant, Kurt!" Blaine replied, smiling encouragingly.
But Kurt's expression was stony. "I just…it made me so angry. I couldn't control it, Blaine. I couldn't control myself and that scares me so much."
"Hey, hey," Blaine leant over, pressing a kiss to Kurt's cheek, "it's OK, Kurt. It's OK."
"It's not OK, Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed. "It's not OK. I'm not OK," his voice dropped to a whisper and he leant against his boyfriend, clinging to his shirt. "I don't know what I'm doing." Suddenly, he pulled away, sitting up straight and fishing in his pocket. "I'm sorry, I'm being stupid." He looked at Blaine. "I'm OK. I'm fine. Man, I need a cigarette," he said, pulling out a packet of cigarettes. He grabbed one, along with a lighter. He lit up, inhaling deeply. He noticed Blaine's disgusted expression and frowned. "What?"
"What's happened to you?" Blaine murmured. Then his voice grew, "I thought this was behind us, behind you. What are you doing? You don't smoke anymore, Kurt. This isn't you."
Kurt looked down at the cigarette before flicking it away and treading on it with the toe of his boot, putting it out with more strength than was needed. He looked across at his boyfriend, eyes pleading. Blaine reached out an arm to wrap around his shoulders and pull him close again, taking in the scared look on Kurt's face that made him look as young as he really was. Sometimes he forgot that they were the same age; Kurt appeared so much older with his strength and determination. But really, he was just as naïve and inexperienced as Blaine.
"I don't know what's happening, Blaine," Kurt told him, voice small, "I'm so scared. I just can't do it; I can't be perfect. I can't even be normal." Tears welled in his eyes but he blinked them away, frustrated with himself for getting so emotional. What was happening to him?
"I'm here, baby," Blaine soothed, holding Kurt close, "I'm here. I'll always be here. It doesn't matter who or what you are, I don't care. I love you and I'm not going anywhere."
Kurt looked up at him, eyes wide. "I don't deserve you."
"I don't care," Blaine repeated. "I deserve to be happy and so do you. As long as you'll have me, I'll be here."
"I love you," Kurt murmured, leaning up to kiss Blaine.
"And I love you," his boyfriend replied, keeping an arm around Kurt's waist to pull him closer still. He was positive that he'd never let go. Kurt inhaled his boyfriends scent, letting it wash over him and comfort him. He was scared that he was losing himself, worried that he was going back to the way he had been and he didn't want to be that person anymore. He wanted to be everything to Blaine.
He clung tighter to Blaine and closed his eyes. This is where he wanted to be, forever.
TBC...
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