Dave didn't like the tie.
It was red and it stood out from his black blazer and vest and off-white undershirt and Dave really, really just didn't like it. It should've matched the rest of his suit, but Tana insisted on him wearing something red besides the corsage because she wanted to make sure everyone thought they were a couple.
He didn't even know what he was obsessing over it. Except that it felt wrong. Everything about tonight felt wrong. He was going to prom with Santana instead of Blaine. Blaine was going to prom with Kurt instead of him. Everything was wrong and it was just easier to blame the stupid red tie than it was to think about why he wasn't taking Blaine in the first place.
Dave had gotten a few texts from his boyfriend over the course of his prepping for prom. Santana had cut out of school after lunch and broken Blaine out from his final period to get him back to Lima with plenty of time to spare, but after a couple of responses, Dave began to realize this was more for her sake than Blaine's. Apparently she was using him to help her get into her dress, an activity that had Dave and Blaine discussing at length whether or not seeing Santana's breasts was considered cheating. Dave figured if he wasn't going to chew him out for making out with the Latina, he wasn't going to care about a flash of boob, but Blaine still apologized.
The right guard shut him up with a pointed I love you, you idiot.
But the texting had stopped now because they would be here any minute. Dave was having trouble breathing. He didn't know how to handle this. What if Blaine and Kurt danced? Would he get jealous? Would he make a scene and out himself without even meaning to? What if Kurt's talk about 'letting Blaine go' was just a cover?
He trusted Blaine with his life. It was his heart that he still had trouble with. It was a worthiness thing, and a self-image thing. His boyfriend was all kinds of compassionate and loving where Dave still felt like he was nothing but a ball of hate sometimes. He was impulsive and inconsiderate. Not to mention he just had moments where he realized he was over half a foot taller than the Warbler, and that he was bulky and overweight.
He couldn't help but think Kurt would just fit Blaine better. At least he was willing to be Blaine's date.
Dave wasn't even half way done hating himself when he heard some commotion downstairs - the squeal of his mother and a masculine laugh that he could've identified through twenty layers of stone and steel.
Darting to the bathroom, he patted on a small amount of the cologne Blaine liked (the only reason he knew this was because when he ran out and had decided not to bother with more, his boyfriend made it a point to go out and get it for him under the pretense that it was 'more for him, anyway') and swiped his brush through his hair.
He grabbed his blazer and folded it over his forearm, sliding his hands in his pockets as he made quick work of the stairs. His mom wasn't there, though he heard shuffling in the kitchen β probably her grabbing the corsages out of the fridge β but even if she had been, he wouldn't have wanted to stop the broad smile on his face.
Dave's eyes were solely for Blaine in that moment. God, the suit fit him perfectly. It was classic and handsome, just like Blaine and every thought or doubt Dave was having before just disappeared. They'd come back later, but he couldn't care less. No now.
"Hey," the taller boy murmured, voice taking on a sort of dreamy quality. He couldn't even begin to notice the dirty look he was getting from Santana that very clearly said I'm here, too. Dave took a few lazy steps forward, trying not to seem as entranced as he really was and utterly failing. "You look β you look incredible, baby."
If Dave was entranced, Blaine's jaw had fallen completely off and his tongue had rolled out onto the floor. He'd seen his boyfriend dressed up before, but this was different. This was very different. From the perfect fit of his vest to how the white dress shirt tugged around his shoulders, it was as if this outfit had been custom made to drive Blaine insane.
"Me?" he replied, head drifting to the side. He couldn't help but smile at him - this rushed little ghost of a smile that was replaced by that same look of awe that Dave wore. "You're even more gorgeous than usual."
Santana huffed behind them.
Neither Blaine nor Dave noticed her, though. The larger of the two took the other's hand, a little quirk of a smile at the corner of his mouth. He leaned down and pressed a solid kiss to Blaine's lips only to hear a feminine cough off to his side, one that was most certainly not Santana.
"Put your jacket on, David," Monica murmured, arching a brow. "You're going to wrinkle it. And I'm afraid you might kill poor Blaine before you even get to prom." Living off teasing both boys mercilessly, she tapped the plastic containers in her hands and jerked her chin toward the Warbler as she set the boxes down on an end table nearby, carrying one of them over to Santana and beginning to help her with the wrist corsage. "Help him, won't you? You know how he is."
Dave rolled his eyes, holding the fabric of his coat between his hands before holding it out, turning around when Blaine took it from him. "Yeah, yeah. I'm helpless, I get it." He looked back at his boyfriend with a smile and moved his arms back toward him.
Blaine guided Dave's jacket on without much trouble. The only hitch in their plan was the fact that a set of wide shoulders was in his face and distraction didn't lend itself to efficient work. When the fabric settled perfectly on his back, Blaine's hands ran over said shoulders, thumbs brushing over the blazer in an attempt to look like he was helping smooth it out and not feeling up his man. Which was the truth of the matter.
Leaning forward, he rested his cheek against Dave's shoulder for a moment, shutting his eyes and taking in a deep breath. Even if he wasn't going with him to prom, they would still be there. They'd still be in the same room, dancing and having fun, and they could sneak away as easily as anything, especially considering who Dave's actual date was.
He pulled back not long after, grinning to himself. "I got you something," he said, cheeks pressing up into his eyes as he ran one hand down the length of his arm to give Dave's hand a squeeze before hurrying off.
Dave cleared his throat, still recovering from the sensation of his boyfriend's hands on him. He could tell by the look on Santana's face that Blaine hadn't fooled her, but he honestly couldn't care at the point. Whenever Blaine did something like that, it reminded him that the boy wasattracted to him, and he'd be damned before he stopped coveting the feeling.
While Blaine was away, Dave went over to the end table, taking out the red carnation that matched Santana's and pinning it on himself carefully. Then he went to the one under it. It was stupid, really. It wasn't even a corsage, it was a short-stemmed rose that had been trimmed even more to be able to fit in a pocket.
When he turned around, spinning the flower between his fingers, he saw Blaine had returned, carrying his own flower, one that matched the corsage pinned to his suit. "Huh," Dave murmured under his breath, cheeks twitching a little. "Figures you'd one-up me."
Blaine's eyes fell to the rose in Dave's hands, and his cheeks very nearly turned the color of the carnation in the clear box he carried. "I... wouldn't consider it one-upping you, but," he chuckled, shaking his head and taking another step forward, "I just wanted you to have something. It's refreshing to know that I'm not alone in my sentimentality."
Dave shot a look to his mother, who was already on the move. She ushered Santana into the kitchen, receiving no argument from the girl for once. No one he knew ever said noto going into the kitchen with his mom. It meant baked goods.
His free hand went out to unbutton Blaine's jacket, sliding the rose into the inner lining, eyes never leaving the other boy's. "I love you," he whispered, not out of a desire to keep it secret, but because he couldn't help his voice's soft tone. "I know- I know we're not... going together but... you're still my date. I'm- I'm yours."
And, just like that, Blaine's eyes were wet. He couldn't help it. The gentle way Dave treated him most of the time tugged at his heartstrings like nothing else, but his anxiety about the night coupled with his overwhelming desire to be going to prom with the boy standing in front of him was tearing his emotions every which way. He was so nervous, and now he felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest.
"I know. I love you, too," he replied simply, blinking back at the stinging behind his eyes. They fell after that, looking to the lapel of his coat that covered the small rose. He stared at his for a moment before opening the box. It was his turn to slip the flower beneath Dave's jacket. He did so without a hitch, though his hands lingered on his chest after, palms barely pressing into the fabric of his shirt as his fingers gave a little tap. His voice softened after a cautious lick of his lips. "I'm sorry for the... less-than-masculine flower. Kurt insisted we go with pink to accent the dark green in his kilt."
Dave's brows furrowed in confusion. "Wait heβ" Shaking his head, he chuckled. "...Yeah, I'm not even going to ask. And don't worry about it. I don't care." With that, he cupped Blaine's jaw with both hands, pressing their lips together. It was gentle and slow and made his breathing hitch, but he needed it, even if it was making his eyes burn. Even if it made his heart twist in his chest. He wanted so badly to be brave.
Blaine's hands slipped up from where they were settled on Dave's chest to rest on the curves of his neck, thumbs brushing over the skin as he returned the kiss. It was so easy to be calm here, with Dave so close, where the scent of his cologne and the warmth of his body were the only things that really mattered. They were at home. Home, where it was safe and secure and they could be together without Dave worrying about anyone's reaction, without caring what anyone would think. It was perfect like this.
"I'm glad you like the flower," Blaine murmured against his lips, pulling back just enough to look up into his face. "I hope it doesn't end up just poking at you the whole night."
"Don't plan on holding Santana that close," Dave replied with a little slip of a smile, leaning in to kiss him again before pulling back. "Might end up being yourfault later, though, but I'll forgive you."
Before Blaine could respond, Santana was sauntering out of the kitchen, Monica a few steps behind, rolling her eyes and lingering at the door frame, arms crossed over her chest. "Seems it's time for you boys to get moving," she mused with a little laugh. "Blaine, are you staying over after the dance?"
"If that's okay with you," he said, turning around to look back at her with a smile. He knew it would be okay. He'd just had a certain amount of manners drilled into him from an early age. Monica loved him. More than once, she'd teased that she'd be interested in adopting if him if it didn't make his relationship with Dave awkward. Still, he wanted to cover all of the bases. "If not, Santana said I could stay with her."
When Monica looked to the Latina, she nodded. "True facts, Mrs. K," she replied, lips pursing as she watched Blaine smooth his hands over his suit. "I wouldn't dream of letting our little cupcake drive all the way home that late. Way too dangerous. No me gusta."
Blaine rolled his eyes, and Dave's mom gave a laugh. "I've done it before, Lopez," he grinned, "And don't call me that."
"But you're so sweet."
He rolled them a second time, lips parting in a chuckle. He glanced back at Dave with a smile. "We should probably get going. Finn somehow managed to persuade Puck and Lauren to pick up Kurt, since Santana's car doesn't seat four."
Santana laughed. "Santana's car doesn't seat three, but I'm gonna fit your cute little butt in there somehow."
Monica chuckled again and nodded at Blaine. "Of course, honey. I just wanted to know for sure." She gestured for her son to come over to her. "Alright, let me embarrass you with a kiss."
Dave went over without hesitation. Mostly because he loved his mom, but also because he knew damn well that if he said noshe'd embarrass him way worse. He gave her cheek a peck, and she buttoned his jacket for him. "No later than midnight, David," she murmured affectionately. "Or at least have a very convincing lie thought up. And I'm trusting you not to drink too much of whatever Noah slips into the punch."
He nodded, laughing quietly. "Yeah, I'll be good."
She dismissed him with a wave of her hands. "Alright. Have fun, kids! Leave the gym in one piece."
With that, the three of them started out the door. They all said their goodbyes to Dave's mom and made their way down to the curb where the Latina had parked. Dave wrapped his arm around Blaine's waist as they walked, and gave a perplexed look to the back of Santana's head. "Wait. Doesn't seat three?" the right guard blurted out suddenly. "Ah, fuck, I should have known something was up when you offered to pick up Blaine."
"Saves me from picking out of my favorite gays who gets shotgun," Santana chirped as she hurried around the front of the cherry red convertible, her heels clicking on the cement. Flipping her keys over in her hand, she unlocked the door and slid in as carefully as she could manage.
Blaine looked at Dave, his eyebrows lifting high on his forehead. "I'm sure we've both done more dangerous things in our lifetimes." He paused, looking back to the car only to see Santana staring back at him, waiting for either of them to get a move on. "Or if you're not comfortable with me sitting in your lap, you... could always sit in mine?"
Dave looked at him like he was nuts. "I'd crush you." Shaking his head, Dave rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. I like you on my lap." The corner of his mouth hitched up in a small smirk that fell soon after. "I'm just not into being Santana's porn."
"Too bad, so sad, Pillsbury," an amused voiced called from the driver's seat. "You're my date and I'm using you as I see fit. Also, you two are waytoo lovey to make porn. Call me when you do that whole screwing-Blaine-up-against-the-wall thing, though. I'll vid that."
Dave had never gotten into a car so fast in his entire life. Anything to avoid Blaine catching how red his cheeks were. "I told you never to bring that up," he whispered harshly, grinding his teeth when Tana just laughed.
"I feel like I missed something," Blaine chimed in as he climbed in after Dave, placing himself on the boys thighs carefully before shutting the door. "Something important. Or at least more than a little risque." Turning his head just enough to look back at Dave, he chuckled. It wasn't the most comfortable seat in the house, but he liked being close to him, even if it was just a ride to school. "You know you're my favorite girl ever, right, Santana?"
He heard Dave mutter an oh God at his back.
"I'll fill you in on the way there," she said, shooting the Warbler an indulgent wink as she revved the car's engine. That's when Dave realized this was going to be the longest car ride ever.
A/N: Sorry about this being short. Prom's gonna cover a lot and I have three practicals this week and then the week after is finals and my girlfriend is taking care of her grandmother who's recovering from hip surgery so we're both spread a little thin right now. Hoping to have the next bit up around Thursday, and then there'll be another part after that. Once again, much love to everyone who's reviewing or just reading. Means a ton to us. :3
