Chapter 13- Kill The Headlights

Summary: Santana wants to get in her car and drive away but Brittany there to tell her why she should stay.

Rating: T

Characters: Brittany Pierce and Santana Lopez

Set: During 3x07 but before the introduction of Lady Music Week

"Santana, wait!" Brittany runs out after her girlfriend. Her heart sinks for Santana when she pulls that face. The one that reveals all of her emotions and, in one fell swoop, makes her want to get as far away from the situation as possible.

Santana stalks towards her car. She loves Brittany more than her own life, but she just can't. Not anymore. She's done dealing with all of the looks and the staring; done with the abuse hurled at Brittany (the abuse she can't stop anymore because nobody is scared of her); done with the taunts; done with that abhorrent ad on the TV; done with…everything.

So she decides to leave.

"Santana!" Brittany's voice echoes in the night and floods through Santana's mind like a calming lullaby. Reluctantly, she turns around. She knows that when she does, Brittany will convince her to stay. Brittany always convinces her to stay.

Brittany sighs as Santana turns to face her. She doesn't particularly like this feeling: having to beg just to get her girlfriend to stay in Lima. Because who knows where Santana would go if Brittany actually let her leave? She knows that it's necessary, though, because Santana is rash sometimes and would regret it if she actually left.

"Don't leave," Brittany breathes. Santana wants to roll her eyes. There's one I haven't heard before.

"Why, Britt? I'm no good to anybody here," Santana replies, more calmly than she intends. It's probably Brittany's soothing influence. It makes her more relaxed in situations where she probably shouldn't be.

"That's not true. You're good to me. You're everything to me, actually. I couldn't bear it if you left! The Troubletones need you. Mercedes is good but she can only sing certain songs. Your voice is needed. Your honesty is needed, San. You are needed."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. You've put up with worse than this. Your abuela—."

"Don't mention her to me, please," Santana begs, because it's all she can do not to break down and sob at the thought of her abuela not loving her anymore.

"You can fight this, Santana. You're not the only one to have to go through it. Kurt and Blaine still get it every single day and it's bad."

Santana sighs. Brittany's right. Kurt and Blaine do get it, probably worse than her, but that's different. They're used to it. Not that that's an excuse, but they're not as world-wearied as she is. They've been hardened by the abuse. Well, Kurt has, she isn't too sure about Blaine.

"They're a lot stronger than I am." It's a feeble excuse, but Brittany is beginning to break down her arguments, so it's really all that she has left.

"That's not true," Brittany says again. "You're strong too, Santana. One of the strongest people I know, actually. You know how I know? Because you're the only person I've ever met who will tell the truth unconditionally. No matter what people think of you, you're always honest. Sure, people may not like to hear it sometimes, but it's better than lying. You've spent so long lying to yourself and, now that you're being honest, you shouldn't hide from that. You're a unicorn, Santana. Embrace who you are. Use it to fight off the haters."

Santana laughs and the moment the sound meets the air, she's done fighting; done making excuses to leave; done with making Brittany worry that one day she might just leave. Because being in Lima with Brittany is better than being anywhere else without her. "You're right, Brittany. You always are. People underestimate you so much. It's their loss. So only I get to see how truly awesome you are."

"I feel the same. You're often dismissed as a cold-hearted bitch and, maybe they're right, but you save all of your warmth for me and that's a privilege."

"I'm not going to run away again," Santana decides. "I'm going to stay. With you. And we're going to be the best lesbian and bisexual girlfriends the world has ever seen. And the world is going to be much a better place. Sure, it'll be filled with hatred and bullying, but I'm not sure that I actually care. We're going to get through anything that life can throw at us. You know why? It's because of you."

"No, Santana," Brittany disagrees.

Santana frowns.

"It's because of you."

Author's Note: Leave some song prompts in a review! xoxo

The song was 'Kill The Headlights' by Nicole Atkins from her debut album Neptune City. Seriously she's the bae.