Ch. 96
"Duval…" His attorney, Caesar Fontaine, addressed David and tossed the requested file down onto the table between them. Still no reply from his client. David hadn't spoken a word to him since he'd been locked up, wouldn't give him the details of what happened and had merely slipped him a note requesting the file he just slid across the table…and it was a thick one. "It's all there, every last detail. I doubt Sterling took a shit over the past 26 years that's not detailed in that file. My guy is very, very thorough. Wanna tell me what you're up to now? You're accused of attempted murder, Duval. They're saying you tried to run that kid down with your car and kill him. In the process you nearly killed your own daughter. They have multiple witnesses, Duval, including a kid who was in your car when it went down. He's rattling off statements so fast it would make an auctioneer's head spin, so you need to talk to me. Now I think it's time you come out of this funk and tell me what the fuck is going on, don't you?! We're goin' on two months of silence here."
David Duval merely paused his quick perusal of the file he was just given and slowly raised his head to look his attorney in the eye. He still said nothing at all, but the look he gave Caesar shook him to his core. Speaking or not, David Duval was a powerful man…a very powerful man…and Caesar didn't want to piss him off.
"Listen, David, we're friends, you and me. We go way back, ya know? I don't wanna see you go away for this, so you gotta talk to me, tell me what happened and we gotta figure out some way to get you outta here. If you don't talk to me, man, I can't help you! I don't know what the deal is, but this silent treatment isn't helping you in the least.
David looked at the officer who stood just outside the door and nodded to him. He got to his feet, made eye contact with Caesar and nodded to him as well. His countenance grim, he shuffled toward the door, the file in his hands. The officer took the file, flipped through it to assess the contents, then handed it back and held the door open for David to exit. With a last look back, David shuffled through the door, the chain between his legs making it difficult to stride as he always did.
Back in his cell, David started at page one with the marriage certificate of one Caroline Mary Durban and Samuel Michael Sterling. Married in October, a wedding photo was also enclosed showing beautiful fall foliage in the background. Less than a year later, Jeffrey Samuel Sterling was born. The next page was a copy of Jeff's birth certificate. The following pages were so detailed even David rolled his eyes. Caesar was right. If Jeff sneezed between birth and present day, it was probably listed in the file somewhere. He'd make a note to find out who Caesar's private detective was and use him in the future. The guy didn't miss a thing.
Over the following days and weeks, David Duval would read and re-read about every last detail in the life of his son's husband, and what he would find would alter everything David thought he knew.
"Blaine! Wh-what are you doing here?" Jeff stuttered out, surprised to see his friend. "Nick's home today, I…I'm fine. I don't uh…"
"I'm here because I want to talk, is that a bad thing? I mean, you totally blew me off last week, and I'm not sure why, but I'm here to find out," Blaine said, casting a look back at the bedroom door, but not seeing Nick. "And you will talk to me, Jeff. Nick's worried about you and apparently, holy cow, imagine this, you're not talking to him about what's wrong." Blaine knew he should reign in the sarcasm, but he was more than a little miffed about the previous week and finding out Jeff had flat out lied to him. Jeff cast a wary glance at the door as well and Blaine suddenly knew what he needed to do to have Jeff open up. He needed Nick to leave.
"Blaine…I um…I'm ok, really. You don't need to waste your time here with me."
"Waste-" Blaine said, eyes narrowed. "Waste my time with you? Is that what you think? That I find spending time with my best friend a waste of time? Is that what you feel about hanging out with me?"
"What? No! I…God," Jeff huffed, knowing he was making a mess of things. He pinched the bridge of his nose and scrunched his eyes shut. He sat back up against the headboard of the bed as if nothing was wrong when he heard Nick heading back into the room.
"Babe, listen, I got a call from Kyle and I need to run downstairs to go over some stuff. That ok?" Nick asked, sticking his head in the bedroom from out in the hallway. He was looking at Blaine instead of Jeff, still a bit miffed, as well, about being lied to by his husband. "Can you hang for a few, B?"
"Yeah, I can hang out here. Go do what you need to do, man," Blaine said, giving Jeff a self-satisfied grin. Jeff's eyelids fell shut again and he huffed out a breath knowing he was trapped. He'd have to talk…no excuses now.
"Cool. Thanks…I'll pick up something for lunch afterwards and be right back, ok?"
"Sure…thanks," Jeff mumbled.
When they heard the elevator doors close, Blaine turned to Jeff and raised his eyebrows.
"Ok, speak," He demanded.
"I don't know what you want me to say, Blaine. I think it's pretty self-explanatory why I don't wanna be out in public, at least until I heal. I don't want people asking me how this happened, because I don't want to have to tell 'em," Jeff said, mumbling more.
"Ok, I get that…but what are the odds that you're rolling down a New York City street and a stranger is going to stop you and ask how you broke your leg and / or your arm? You've holed yourself up in here for almost 7 weeks now, Jeff. I don't know about Nick, but damn, man…if it were me, I'd be going insane. You've gotta get out of the apartment and get some fresh air or something. Ok, it's alright, don't come to the party, even though I would really love to see you there, but…you gotta get out and about, man." Blaine was calm and straightforward, but Jeff seemed unfazed.
"I'm not comfortable going out yet, B. I'm just not, and I'm not keeping Nick from going out. He can go if he wants to. In fact, I flat out asked him to go and even gave him some costume suggestions. I just don't want to go out yet…until I heal all the way and I'm stronger."
"I think there's more to this," Blaine pressed on. "I see the wariness in your eyes and I don't think it's because someone might ask you about your casts. What's eating at you? Please talk to me, Jeff. I can't help you through anything if I don't know what the problem is, you know? What good am I if you won't even talk to—"
"I'm fucking terrified to go outside, Blaine, Jesus Christ!" Jeff said, finally blowing up. Nick had been on his case about it. Blaine and Kurt had both been stopping by, calling him on the phone and on his case about getting out. Joseph had stopped up a couple of times and assured him he would be there if Jeff wanted to get out. Even his mom had called a few times a week asking him what he was up to and gave him grief for sitting at home. The only person he'd had contact with who hadn't basically berated him for wanting to be home and not out in public had been Hunter, God love him. He understood that Jeff wasn't comfortable with it and he left it at that. End of story. He hated revealing his true feelings on the matter, but, well, the cat was out of the bag now, wasn't it?
"What do you mean you're terrified to go outside? Are you afraid you might fall or roll away or what?" Blaine asked, confused.
"Blaine…." Jeff trailed off, running his fingers through his platinum blonde locks in frustration. "David Duval may be locked up, but it doesn't matter, really. He was also in Chicago when all that shit happened to my mom's car in Ohio. He was in Chicago when all that shit happened with my job, with my bank account, with my apartment. He has people working for him, Blaine…very bad people with very 'long arms' who do what he says at the drop of a hat, without question. I don't even know what he looks like, do you know that? I've never seen the man! I could come face to face with him outside this building and never know it's him! He hates me, wants me dead, enough so that he'll risk doing the deed himself and being sent away to prison. What in the ever loving HELL should make me think that every moment out of this apartment doesn't put a massive target on my back? Why in the world wouldn't he just finish the fucking JOB, Blaine? The second I step outside, my heartrate goes insane, I can't breathe, I shake like a Parkinson's patient and I feel like I'm going to pass out. Even going from the front door to the car on the curb is a nightmare. I'm scared, Blaine, absolutely terrified and I don't think it's right for everyone to be giving me shit about it, ok!?" Jeff bellowed, trembling and clearly upset.
Blaine sat motionless, unsure how to reply to the tirade his friend had just unleased. Instead, he thought about what Jeff had said and really let it sink in. The more he thought about it the more it made sense…and the worse he felt about harassing Jeff to get out and go somewhere.
"Ok, I get that. It's completely understandable, really. I don't blame you one bit…but…why wouldn't you just tell Nick that? He's in misery wondering why you're holing up in here, thinking you're just upset that someone might ask you about your casts."
"Well, that's part of it. Why in the hell would I want to go out, especially to a party where people all know what happened to me? I'm not stupid, Blaine. I know everyone wants to know why Nick's not at the bar. I know you all had to explain to them that he's babysitting his invalid husband. I know this, and I don't feel like putting up with their pitying looks or speculating on what a fuck up I must be if my husband's father can't stand me enough that he wants to KILL ME. I mean, it's not as if he just slapped me across the face and asked me to leave. He hit me with a fucking car, and left me for dead in an alley, Blaine. I think he meant business. I don't want to rehash that, I don't want to tell the story, and I don't want to see everyone's face as they try to figure out why. I don't even know why!"
"You should tell Nick that—"
"I have! I've told him a million times, but I don't want to tell him I'm afraid. How pathetic is that, Blaine? I'm a grown man who's afraid to go outside. He's already avoiding me!"
"He's avoiding you? How so?" Blaine asked, brows drawn down in question.
"He's…he won't…he hasn't um…" Jeff struggled to get out what he was trying to say, fidgeting where he sat and wringing his fingers together.
"Hey…it's me, Jeff. Just spit it out, ok?"
"He won't touch me. Won't come near me…practically sleeps on the other side of the bed when he actually decides to sleep in here. He's been sleeping on the couch half the time. I know I'm broken and pathetic and a coward, but…he's my husband…and he won't even…it's been seven weeks, Blaine. Seven long weeks of absolutely nothing, and I don't know about YOU, but you know I'm right handed, and I can't seem to get up a decent rhythm with my left hand to save my fucking life and that's IF he leaves me alone for a damn second, which he won't, and I feel like—"
"OK! Alright, man, point made! Jesus…" Blaine blushed, dropping his gaze to the bedspread for a drawn out minute or two. Tentatively he reached for the drawstring on Jeff's pants. "Ok, here's what we're gonna do. I haven't forgotten what does it for you, Jeffie. Drop trou, let's get this done before Nick gets back and relieve you of some of that pent up—"
"Are you insane!? NO!" Jeff yelled, horrified, jerking away as much as he was able, his eyes wide. Blaine just doubled over on his side of the bed, laughing, grasping his own sides and heaving in air.
"Oh my God, your face…" Blaine wailed, laughing until he had tears streaming down his own face, then fell over on the bed again. When he was able to stop laughing at Jeff's expression he spoke somewhat seriously after a long sigh. "I'm not joking around about your 'issues' man, just trying to lighten the mood a little bit, because you're seriously bumming me out…and you're bumming you out, clearly to the point that you can't see the forest for the trees, Jeff."
"What forest and what trees? What is WRONG with you? Have you lost your mind?" Jeff huffed, still blushing madly with his eyes bugging out. "You're a nutcase, Blaine!"
"With me? What is wrong with ME? Seriously? Jeff, you know I love you like my own brother, I do. I have for a long, long time, and next to Nick, I doubt there's anyone who knows you better than I do. So I feel like I'm justified in saying 'what the fuck is wrong with YOU, Jeffie', because seriously, have you said anything to Nick about wanting him that way?" Blaine asked, his face skeptical.
"I…he doesn't want to, obviously…I guess." Jeff's face was resigned and sad and Blaine wanted to roll his eyes but refrained.
"Can you honestly say that if you were to look into Nick's eyes and say 'I want you…' that he'd ignore that? Have you asked him, at all, for what you need? Because I'd bet a paycheck you've been suffering in silence and so has he, neither one of you saying anything to the other for fear of …..whatever…I don't even know. For God's sake, Jeff, just TELL him what you need!"
"What if he doesn't want me that way anymore? What if these things…" Jeff motioned, waving his arm around and raising his leg as much as possible, "what if they turn him off completely and…and…I dunno, Blaine. I just feel ridiculous with 'em and I want 'em gone. Maybe he'll want me again, then."
"I think, honestly, that if you really think about it, you'll understand what's going on, Jeff. Don't you think Nick feels badly about what happened? Don't you think the guilt is eating him alive because it was his father who did this? Don't you think he's blaming himself? Then asking you to be intimate…he'll see that as being selfish when you clearly might not be up for it…and you might be sending the wrong signals by NOT telling him it's what YOU want. I bet he's afraid you'll be uncomfortable and he doesn't want to bring it up. He doesn't want you to turn him down, or worse, give in to something he thinks you're not ready for just to appease him. He'll wait for you to bring it up, Jeff. I don't even have to think twice about it, I'm sure of it. When he gets back, talk to him about it, will you? Please? Not just about needing some sort of physical release but about being afraid to go out."
"Blaine—"
"No, Jeff, really. This is important. You need to speak with him about it, tell him how you feel, make sure he's in the loop, because I'd bet he knows these things already and he doesn't want to upset you by bringing them up. Promise me, Jeff, right here, right now, that you'll talk to him as soon as he gets back?"
"I'll talk to him."
"When he gets back. Not later on tonight, not tomorrow or next week. I want your word, Jeff. Leaving this to 'sort itself out' is the worst thing you can do and I hate seeing you two like this." Blaine was adamant about it, not wanting this to go on any longer between his friends. He should have known it was a lack of communication. Between his friends and his boyfriend, they seemed to have cornered the market on it. "If you don't say something, I will. How embarrassing will that be, Jeffrey?" Blaine admonished, his face as serious as Jeff had ever seen it.
"I-I'll talk to him…I will."
"And just so we're clear, if you don't want to come to the party on Friday, it's totally ok. I get it, I do, and Kurt will understand as well. He misses you something fierce, but he'll understand. But you have to talk to Nick about everything that's bothering you, ok? He'll be ok with it…he loves you, no matter what."
"I know. I know he does, and I love him, too. Nothing can change that, not this, not anything his father does. He's mine now, and his father can go to hell."
"There's the spunky roommate I know and love!" Blaine grinned, leaning in to hug him. Jeff just shook his head and smiled, then rolled his eyes at his best friend.
"The fuck is wrong with you try'na get in my draw's, B? You trippin'?" Jeff laughed slugging him on the arm.
"Made you smile, didn't I?"
"You always make me smile, B. Always."
They stayed in Jeff's bedroom for another hour or so, talking, catching up. Blaine continued to tell Jeff that communication was the key to everything, even though he knew he and Kurt weren't always the best at it either. Blaine felt good just being able to sit down and talk to Jeff again…he'd missed it when Jeff moved out of the apartment.
"And listen, Jeff, I'm thinking about…I might um…need your help with something…soon. But you'd have to go outside and shop with me, and I don't wanna make you uptight if you're not up for it, ok? It's just um…I think it's time to start looking for…something…for Kurt. I think I might want to check out rings, man, ya know?" Blaine said, blushing a bit. Why he blushed, he was unsure. It wasn't any secret he was head over heels in love with the man.
"Yeah? You want me to go with you? To pick something out?" Jeff asked, smiling wildly and clearly buzzing inside with the secret Blaine shared.
"I do, I mean, you know his taste and you're better with all the fashion and accessory stuff than I am. I don't want to pick something he'd hate and then, knowing Kurt, he wouldn't want to hurt my feelings so he wouldn't say anything…he'd just wear it and hate it."
"Kurt would never hate something you picked out for him, Blaine. Because it was from you, he'd adore it," Jeff said, his head tilted just a bit to the side giving Blaine a look.
"Do you know the Kurt Hummel I'm talking about? Insanely fashion conscious, diva, accessory king…ringing a bell?" Blaine smirked.
"I know the one…and I'll go with you, B. I can't wait. When do you wanna do this?"
"Soon…as soon as you're comfortable going out. I don't wanna wait any longer. Doesn't mean we have to get married in a week," he said, giving Jeff a wink, "but I want him to know that I said forever and I meant it. I want him to know that I can't live without him," Blaine said softly.
"Awwww….my boy's so in love with his Kurtie…it's adorable, really," Jeff grinned.
"I might be able to take you with two casts on, so shut your pie hole, Sterling," Blaine said, looking down his nose at Jeff.
"You might try, but that won't ever happen, B. And it's Sterling-Duval…don't you forget it."
"I won't forget…"
"And listen, Blaine, while we're on the subject of favors….I have a big one. I need you to go somewhere with me, too, and I really don't want Nick to know, ok? It's…it's something I have to do, for me, and I know he wouldn't approve, so I'm asking you to keep it to yourself and go with me. I want to go see David Duval. I need to speak with him. I need to confront him on my terms while he's still in a place that's safe for me to be there. It's a drive upstate but it's…important. Will you go with me?"
Blaine had never seen Jeff more serious than he was at that moment, so he swallowed the "are you fucking kidding me?!" that dangled in his throat, screaming to get out. Clearly Jeff was serious, and as his best friend, he knew it wasn't going to be possible to talk Jeff out of it. He wouldn't even try. If this is what Jeff thought he needed to move forward, then Blaine would do this for him…be there with him. With a harsh swallow, knowing what he was walking into, he nodded his head.
"Yeah…Yeah, I'll go with you, man. I don't like it, I don't think it's the safest thing to do, but I know it's something you need to do to move on and I'll be there if you want me to be. Just say when."
"When I get these off…when I can walk again, I'll arrange it. And thank you. Please don't say anything to Nick…and if you think Kurt's gonna freak, then please don't mention it to him either. I don't need anyone in my face about my decision. And when it comes down to it, it IS my decision."
"I'll weigh it out, Jeff. We'll do this, don't worry."
They talked a bit longer, discussing Kurt's new intern, Carter, who Blaine wasn't sure he wanted alive, let alone working with Kurt. He'd heard about "Carter this" and "Carter that" so often he was ready to snap. Apparently Carter Covington was the world's best intern ever, and Blaine was sick to death of hearing his name. +
Carter's so sweet, he brought me my coffee this morning…it's almost like he knew I hadn't had time to stop for one….
I actually let Carter pick the fabric for that one, I'm glad you like it, too…..
Awww, that's so sweet. I'd love to have lunch, Blaine, but I already grabbed something with Carter….
Blaine was sure he'd have to see an optometrist soon from the frequency of rolling his eyes.
It wasn't long before they heard Nick come in the door and his yell of "lunch, bitches!" rolling through the penthouse. Blaine snickered and shook his head, but Jeff looked pale and uptight all of a sudden.
"Jeff, just tell him."
"I can't, Blaine!" He said, looking manic. "What if he doesn't—"
"Don't think I won't—"
"I can't right now, but I will. Don't—" Jeff began, but Nick strode into the room then and gave them both a huge grin.
"You guys hungry? I brought subs. You need my help, babe?"
"Jeff actually does need your help, Nick…" Blaine said, giving Jeff the raised eyebrows. Jeff shot a glare at him that didn't go unnoticed by Nick.
"What? You need help with something? Did I do something?" he added when Jeff was silent, ready to slug Blaine, who was moving off the other side of the bed. Distance was key at this point.
"Blaine…I'll handle it," he said through gritted teeth.
"Uh huh, like you've been handling it?"
"Blaine, don't—"
Blaine walked over to Nick, stood with his back to Jeff and whispered a few things the blonde couldn't hear. Nick's eyes grew wider.
"BLAINE…I said I'd handle it!" Jeff growled, but they both ignored him.
Then Nick's eyes fluttered shut and his breathing hitched for a split second.
"Pretty Boy…" he huffed out, glancing over Blaine's shoulder with a look of longing so sweet Blaine nearly wept. "Babe…please….say that I can?" he begged. Jeff's mouth was all he could see…wet heat, that tongue dragging over his husband's lower lip, then the lip being sucked between Jeff's teeth with uncertainty. Jeff nodded and Nick felt the floor fall out of the bedroom. With heavy eyelids and Herculean strength, he held back a split second. Then he grabbed Blaine by the arms, just under his shoulders, and tugged him in close, giving him a smacking kiss on the cheek. "Fuck…I love you, man. Now get the hell out of our apartment so I can ravage my husband."
The soft squeak that came from Jeff was almost comical, the longing in his eyes and the sudden increase in his breathing enough to make Nick nearly drop to his knees. Blaine turned and gave Jeff a wink, then sauntered to the door.
"I'm taking the food!" He yelled, passing through the kitchen and grabbing the giant bag of subs and chips. How hungry did Nick think they were, anyway?
"Take it all, I don't plan on leaving the bed for hours," Nick said, not even turning to look at him.
By the time Blaine made it to the elevator he'd already heard Jeff moan loudly, a sound that made heat flood his cheeks and caused some serious jabbing at the elevator button.
Jeff lay in bed on his back with Nick laying on his belly between Jeff's legs, both of them dozing off and on. It had been hours since Blaine left the apartment and Jeff was finally able to say he was glad he'd spilled his guts to his best friend. The afternoon with Nick had been beyond fantastic and he couldn't complain about a thing…except maybe having not done it sooner. Nick shifted and Jeff felt his warm breath on his bellybutton, Nick's stubble grazing over Jeff's happy trail as he scooted around between Jeff's legs.
"Comfy, baby?" Jeff smiled, running his fingers through Nick's wavy hair. Nick looked like he'd been through a wind tunnel, but Jeff knew it was because of him…Jeff's hands grasping and fisting and yanking on Nick's locks as he pleasured Jeff with his mouth over and over again.
"I could remain in this very spot for the rest of my days and be happy," Nick mumbled, his eyes still closed but the little grin on his lips giving him away. It was obvious he was awake, because he was talking, but had he not been, he was the picture of relaxation.
"You're welcome to stay there as long as you want, you know."
"Why didn't you tell me, Jeff? We said we were going to communicate better…that we were going to talk about things that were on our minds or bothering us, right?" Nick asked. At Jeff's wide eyed look Nick considered what he'd said. "Ok, don't even say it. You're right, I should have talked to you, too. I just thought…you know…with everything…that you were probably unbelievably overwhelmed and I didn't want to push you."
"Push me how?"
"Jeff, let's be real, ok? We were engaged and then married within a matter of days, then my father ran you down with a car, leaving you battered and broken in the street. You were in a damn coma for a week after that, and then bed ridden for days in the hospital after you'd woken up. When you were finally able to come home…to our home, Baby…the very last thing on my mind was how soon I could get you in the sack, ok? I love you, I truly do, more than anything in my life, ever, but babe…I was afraid, honestly. I didn't know how you'd feel, and I wasn't about to push the issue. I can and will do without sex until you're ready. That was my stance on things."
"Yeah? Well, I've been ready, and wanting you beyond reason, but I didn't think you wanted me….like this. I know these bulky ass casts aren't exactly sexy and they don't scream 'come here and fuck me!' in the least. But…I've missed you…just being close to you. I was just afraid to ask for it."
"I can't have you afraid to talk to me, Jeff. And just as well, I can't assume how you're feeling, and that was wrong of me. I should have brought it up. But I want you to know, Love, that you're so much more than sex to me. You're the smile when I wake up, you're the wink you give me when the elevator doors are closing, you're the food waiting for me when I get home…not because I expect you to cook for me, but because you know very well that I don't expect it…yet you do it anyway…and I know damn well it's because you love me. You're the fingers woven through mine as you hold me while I sleep. You're so much to me, Jeff. Please know that I love you just as much…more even…because of all those little things. The fantastic sex is just the icing on the cake, Babe."
"Fantastic, huh?" Jeff smirked.
"Fantastic…" Nick murmured, suddenly feeling Jeff stir beneath his chin. He grinned, raising his eyes toward Jeff who was blushing madly. "Wanna try that fantastic sex now? You don't have to move a muscle, Pretty Boy…just lay there, look good and let me ride you into the mattress, yeah?"
Jeff may have let out a whimper, but Nick was only watching the way his head bobbed 'yes' as he scooted to his knees and straddled his husband before lunging in a for a deep, wet kiss.
"Hey Kurt, I'm having trouble with the pattern on the jacket you gave me this morning. Can I borrow you for a minute?" Carter said, his grin a little unsure as he stuck his head into Kurt's office.
"Yeah…one sec…" Kurt murmured, trying desperately to get the collar right on his sketch. It was clear that he was distracted and annoyed by it. Carter sauntered in and stood to Kurt's left, a bit behind him, and watched him draw over his shoulder.
"Problems? Anything I can help with?"
"Uh…no, I just can't seem to get this right. The lines are all wrong and I thought if I rounded here a bit…but I tried that and it looked like a school girl's blouse, so no. Absolutely not. It needs….something."
"What if you leave it cut shorter and do some top-stitching here….and run it all the way down to the first button?" Carter suggested. Kurt was silent for a moment, then drew in the suggested changed, his grin wide and happy.
"Oh my God, that's perfect! I've spent all morning in here messing with this and you come in and BAM!"
"That's what I'm here for, Kurt…to lend a hand where you need it….wherever that may be."
"Well, I appreciate it. Now I can move on to—Oh! You needed something? The jacket, ok, let's go give it a look-see, shall we?" Kurt said, rising and following his intern out the door to the younger man's work station. "What's up with it?"
Carter took his time explaining what he was struggling with, all the while leaning over the large work table in the middle of the floor outside Kurt's office. It was big enough to lay out multiple patterns to cut, as well as the fabric, and they had several pieces covering the table being worked on at the same time.
Naomi watched them from her desk, leaning ever so slightly to see around her computer monitor, unsure as to what she could and should say as she watched Carter sidle up too close to Kurt and get a little too cozy. Kurt was pleasant as he took a step to the side to give himself some room, but Carter wouldn't be deterred and followed him around the table, pointing out hems here, seams there. Kurt made notes on the pattern and small adjustments, clipping this and basting that as he went, all the while, keeping his feet moving as Carter leaned in a bit too close for Naomi's comfort, always leaving his hand resting on the small of Kurt's back. More than once she saw Kurt's posture stiffen when Carter touched him, but she'd been paying attention. Kurt wasn't one to be overly touchy-feely, and he often tensed up when someone touched him or hugged him unexpectedly. She couldn't tell if Kurt was annoyed or oblivious to Carter's over-attention, but when Carter caught her watching he gave her a wink and a quick raise of his eyebrow as Kurt leaned over the table to grab some pins and Carter leaned back to check out Kurt's ass, then make an unacceptable gesture as he grinned at Naomi.
No. Nope, this was not going to work out, and she wouldn't let this little slimy bastard cause issues if she could help it. Kurt might be too nice to flat out say something, but she wasn't. She watched Carter lean in again, too close to Kurt, and slip his hand up onto Kurt's shoulder, squeezing a bit as he smiled and pointed to something on the table. Kurt's face was passive, but his posture was tense from the touch. Naomi took a deep breath and bit her lip, wondering how to nip it in the bud without causing a scene.
Kurt closed himself in David's office for a meeting an hour later and Naomi found herself in the break room, filling her coffee cup, when Carter came strolling in from the opposite doorway.
"I'm gonna cut to the chase here, Carter. You're new around here, so I'm gonna go easy on you, but the way you act around Kurt is totally inappropriate. He's a nice guy, and maybe he won't tell you, but you come on too strongly, especially to a man who's in a committed relationship. He lives with Blaine, ok? They're totally in love and the cutest couple you've ever seen and I'll be damned if I'm going to stand back and watch you wreak havoc with their relationship because you want something that's not up for grabs. Back off."
Carter raised his eyebrows and batted his eyelashes as if he had no clue what she was going on about.
"Moi?" he asked, still with the eyelashes. She wanted to punch him.
"Yes, you. Your gestures and facial…things….whatever you wanna call it, are totally out of line. If David sees you, you'll be out on your ass," she said sternly. "Not to mention it's totally unprofessional and Kurt wouldn't leave what he has for someone like you. Don't make me say something, Carter. Just let it go, do your job like the rest of us and find someone else to ogle."
Carter stepped up in her space with a haughty smirk.
"No, YOU listen to me, bitch. If Kurt's not into it, he'll say something. If he wants to be left alone, he'll tell me. Make no mistake, he's been quite receptive to my charms, and it's not for you or anyone else to monitor and protect his 'living arrangements', because from what I gather, that's mostly all it is. Don't push me," he sneered, picking up the coffee pot.
"You don't scare me, Carter. I know what you're up to."
"You should worry about you a little more, and less about me…and Kurt. I did a little digging around before I started here, and I know things about every one of you that you wouldn't want your precious boss to know. Tough times paying tuition in college, Naomi? A little hard up for money? Tsk, tsk…I hope you were safe…" Carter ground out, then poured the scalding hot coffee into his mug, jerking his hand and splashing it over Naomi's hand and arm. "Back off!" he growled.
At Naomi's screech, he set the pot down and sauntered out the door of the break room as another co-worker entered from the opposite side, seeing the mess and Naomi's reddened skin.
"Oh my God, what happened?" The girl asked, grabbing Naomi and yanking her toward the sink to run cold water on her arm.
"The pot must have slipped…" she answered, shaking and tentative, eyeing Carter as he sat down at his desk as if nothing had happened.
"Kurt, I swear to God, if you make these pants any tighter, I won't be able to breathe. And Lord help the poor soul standing beside me if I sneeze!"
"Stop whining…you're a swashbuckling pirate, Blaine, and your pants should be painted on!" Kurt said, wielding his needle and thread.
"Painted on, yes. Sewn on…I didn't think you were serious when you suggested that. You killed my pants, Kurt. They're dead. Like…doornail dead. How am I going to get these off?"
"Oh God, Blaine, the whining!" Kurt grumbled, a few straight pins stuck in his mouth. "How do I shut you up?"
Blaine looked down at Kurt from where he stood on the raised platform in the middle of the loft's floor. It was round, multi-leveled and about 3 feet in diameter on each raised circle. Kurt had told him to bring his pants and meet him after work. He'd been working on Blaine's poofy 'blouse' all week in his spare time and he wanted to put the finishing touches on the pants before the party. His vest and bandana were already done, as was his sash that would double as a belt—not that the skin tight pants were going anywhere.
"Kurt?" He said softly, a little playfully.
"Mmhmm?" Kurt replied, pins still in his mouth and his needle weaving in and out.
"Kurt…..hey." Blaine said, bending a bit to run his fingers softly through Kurt's hair. "Nobody here but you and me. I can think of a few things we could do to um…shut me up."
Kurt finally stopped sewing and looked up from what he was doing to see Blaine grinning down at him. It was true…Kurt's face was at just the perfect level for some fun as Blaine stood on the platform for his fitting. He removed the pins, then licked his lips and grinned at Blaine, a blush sneaking into his cheeks.
"Blaine Anderson…are you attempting to proposition me for a sex act in the middle of my place of employment?" Kurt teased, batting his eyelashes.
"I might be…I mean, you're just where you need to be…on your knees," Blaine grinned back, slipping his hands into Kurt's hair again and scratching lightly. "And I feel like the last time we actually fooled around at all was ages ago. You've been working too hard and staying too late because by the time you get home, I'm leaving for the bar. When I finally get home you're sleeping and I don't want to wake you. Little Blaine has missed you, Kurt."
Kurt snorted, but still bit his lip and reached up to slowly play with the leather laces at Blaine's crotch.
"Well…it's true…we are alone here…and I have missed Little Blaine, which, by the way, Blaine, isn't anywhere near accurate and we should rename him because damn, Baby…" Kurt said, nosing at Blaine's bulge with interest, noting how obvious it was that Blaine was quite turned on already. His eyes fell closed as he breathed in slow and long, mouthing at the V created when he pulled the laces loose a bit. The only thing between him and Blaine's length was the cotton of his dark boxer briefs now. "You know you can't wear these with your costume, right? You'll have a panty line."
"Don't care…don't…mmmm, don't stop, please."
"Yeah…mmhmmmm…" Kurt murmured, returning to nosing around Blaine's crotch and slowly tugging on his waistband with his teeth.
"God, Kurt…" Blaine moaned, fisting his hands in Kurt's hair and tugging lightly. "I have missed this…missed you. I don't want us to get too busy to spend time together. Promise we w-w-won't…'kay?"
"Missed you, too. And that's sad since we live in the same space. I'll do better. I won't work so late…" he told Blaine softly as he continued to nuzzle at his length. Kurt inhaled deeply and slid his tongue up the front of Blaine's briefs making him whimper.
"Please…"
"Mmm, yes…let's…." Kurt teased, reaching for Blaine's waistband on the pants. The banging of the door behind them nearly sent Kurt tumbling to the floor.
"Oh Kurt, I didn't know you were still here!" Carter smile widely. "I saw lights on and I thought perhaps someone forgot to turn them off. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the door was also unlocked. Tsk tsk, Kurt, any riff raff from the street could have walked in."
"Already did…" Blaine mumbled, angry as hell. This kid was ruining his life. Kurt had backed away from Blaine like he was on fire. Blaine was just thankful his back was to both the door and Carter as he approached. He quickly untucked his shirt so it hung over the bulge in his pants.
"Did you say something, Blake?"
"Blaine…it's Blaine. And I'm sure, had I been speaking to you, I would have made very sure you heard me," Blaine said, forcing a too bright smile. Kurt shot him an admonishing look and Blaine wanted to spin around and order that little shit to leave. "Did you have any other reason to be here or just stopping by to interrupt Kurt's work?"
"Just making sure the place is secure. I live close by, so I can stop in anytime without problem. I enjoy hanging around when Kurt's here. It's so much easier to learn from him when it's just him and I and nobody else is around to chatter away and ruin the learning experience," Carter grinned widely right in Blaine's face. "Kurt is so very helpful in all things, of course. I'm sure there are countless hands-on things he could teach me."
Kurt just forced a grin and turned back toward his office. He was well aware that Blaine seemed to dislike Carter and yet he wasn't sure why. Carter was more than he could have asked for in an intern. He was smart, quick, had a great eye for color and texture. He was on the ball and often knew what Kurt needed and wanted before he even asked. Granted, this little interruption wasn't great, but Carter couldn't have known he was walking in on them doing….that, right?
"Well, we're all good here. No reason to hang around. Kurt's just doing some last minute fittings on my costume for the party." Blaine was testy and it wasn't a secret. Carter was well aware, he was sure, but Blaine couldn't have cared less if he tried.
"Oh I can't wait! My costume's all ready to go!" Carter beamed and now Blaine was full on grinding his teeth together. Kurt invited this guy? He concentrated really hard on letting his shoulders down out of his ears. This kid made him nuts.
"Carter won't tell me what he's going to wear to the party tomorrow, Blaine. I don't think it's fair that someone is coming to our party and I don't get to know what costume he's wearing," Kurt pouted playfully.
"Hmm, maybe that's a new rule, then. If you don't divulge your costume before-hand you can't show up?" Take that, little boy. Stay home!
"Kurt…how could you do that to me!? You know Halloween's my favorite holiday. I just want to surprise you! Besides, you won't tell me what you're going as, either." Carter pouted with his bottom lip sticking out like a spoiled child. He nearly skipped over from Kurt's office door as Kurt exited and walked back toward Blaine, a scissors and marker in hand. Kurt bent over to collect his pins and as he did, Carter very obviously leaned back and stared hard at Kurt's ass, running his tongue over his teeth, letting his eyes flutter shut and shaking his head minutely. The look on his face clearly said "damn, boy…" and Blaine saw red. Several different shades of red, actually.
Blaine detested him. He was mentally cataloging a to-do list: 1) find dentist for teeth chipped from grinding said teeth 2) locate hit man 3) frontal lobotomy for Kurt, who apparently saw nothing wrong with this little asshole. 4) poison appetizers and make sure only Carter eats them
He was on a roll. But, he didn't doubt Kurt or their love. What he was beginning to doubt, though, was Kurt's ability to decipher bullshit. This kid was too much. He wondered how Carter acted at work, and that thought had him ready to squeeze the guy's head like a zit.
"Honey, are you finished here? You know Nick and Jeff are waiting on us, so we should be going," Blaine smiled as if nothing was amiss.
"Yep, ready to go, but you'll have to let me help you out of those pants until I can finish them with the machine and get a stronger seam sewn in."
"Nothing in this world better than you getting me out of my pants…or maybe just you getting into my pants," Blaine smirked at Carter when Kurt blushed and dropped his eyes to the ground.
"Blaine!" He said, scandalized that Blaine had said such a thing in front of Carter, who he didn't know well at all.
"Oh c'mon, Kurt. Do you honestly think Carter doesn't realize we have a very real and amazing sex life? We live together for goodness sake. We share a bed every night…and sometimes a shower…or bath…or-"
"OK! Blaine…Um….ok," Kurt blushed furiously, nearly fanning himself with the thoughts running through his head now. Carter merely scowled and dropped back from Kurt, shoving his hands in his pockets.
"Well, I'll be on my way. I'll see you both at the party. I'm looking forward to it! Are you sure there's nothing I can bring? I'm happy to show up early and help with the preparations if you need me, Kurt. All you have to do it say the word and I'm yours for the night," Carter grinned. He gave Kurt such an innocent look, a look of longing to help in any capacity to show his loyalty, perhaps, that Blaine nearly gagged up his lunch. Instead he squeezed his fists so tightly he was sure he left crescent shapes in his palms.
"I think I'm good, but I'll call if something comes up and I need you. I've got your number," Kurt smiled.
"Oh, Carter, I've got your number, too," Blaine grumbled under his breath. Kurt shot him a "wtf" look, almost as if he was irritated with him. How could Kurt be so blind… Blaine sighed. He wasn't sure how much longer he could put up with that moron's growing affinity for all things Kurt.
"Sounds great, Kurt! Bye guys," Carter said excitedly. At the last minute he leaned in to hug Kurt goodbye, which startled him. Kurt relaxed, though, realizing it was just his handsy intern, and also dismissed the brush of Carter's hips against his as just the end of the hug. Blaine, however, didn't miss Carter staring at him over Kurt's shoulder, inhaling the scent of Kurt's hair and his mouth dropping open as he rolled his hips toward Kurt…the wink nearly did him in, though. You little asshole…. "I'll see you tomorrow, Kurt."
"Isn't he fun?" Kurt asked as the door closed. Blaine was already seated on the raised platform slipping the pants off carefully. "Fun" wasn't exactly the word he was playing with on the edge of his tongue, but he refrained from saying so. He mumbled an indistinct "mmmm" and didn't raise his eyes.
"Blaine?"
"Yeah?" Still, watching his pants and not paying much attention to anything around him, Blaine took his time unbuttoning the poofy blouse but nearly ripped the laces loose in his agitation. Blaine's thoughts were swirling.
"Blaine…seriously. Why won't you look at me?"
"Don't be sad, Kurt. Carter's done enough looking for the both of us, and touching and flirting and being generally creepy and disrespectful of OUR relationship. I'm sure you're plenty stocked up on –"
"Oh no you did not. No, Blaine. Just don't even start with that crap. He's a kid, and maybe he has a silly crush, but I can't believe you're going to get pissy with ME over this?"
"Why would I be pissy, Kurt? I mean, just because he gropes you and flirts with you while I'm standing right here and you don't bother to ask him to stop, regardless of how inappropriate it is, since, you know, he's an INTERN here, Kurt. He's working for YOU and you're allowing him to behave inappropriately while I'm sitting RIGHT HERE!" He said sadly. Blaine wasn't in the greatest of moods, and the fact that Kurt didn't seem to catch on as to why he felt that way bothered him. "I can't imagine what he gets away with when I'm NOT here, Jesus…."
"Blaine, for God's sake, you're being unreasonable—"
"Am I, Kurt? Because I seem to recall you actually leaving town when you THOUGHT I was doing something behind your back, when, in fact, it wasn't even ME you heard on the other side of that wall, it was Hunter and Seb…and this is him standing right here, in my face, flirting with you, touching you, hugging you with his hands practically cupping your ass…and you're acting as if it's ok and I'm the crazy one. You wouldn't even speak with me about things when you were upset. I'm telling you, flat out, that I'm not ok with his actions, and you're ignoring it. Now let's really think hard about this, Kurt, before you reply. In fact, YOU think about it. I'll head over to Nick and Jeff's and maybe I'll see you at home later, ok?" Blaine said as he zipped his jeans up and quickly folded his costume, setting it on the work table.
"Blaine—"
"I'll see you later. Just do your thing, Kurt, and let me do mine." With that, Blaine turned and left.
"And he doesn't see it? Are you sure you're not over-reacting, Blaine? I can't see all this shit goin' on and Kurt being that oblivious to it…especially when he knows it's hurting you," Jeff said, uneasy with the sadness in his friend's eyes.
"I don't know what the deal is. Maybe he's flattered by the attention, I don't know. Does that mean I'm not paying enough attention to him or…? I don't even know. I'm just so freaking uptight thinking about that creepy little shit that I can't focus. I haven't slept well for weeks. Between Kurt being sick and sleeping in the other room, and then sleeping with me but coughing all night, and now this crap on my mind….I'm a mess."
"You are, and it's not like you. Why is it bothering you so much? You know Kurt loves you. I can't believe you're doubting that," Nick said.
"I'm not. I'm not doubting Kurt's love for me for a single second. I know he wouldn't cheat on me. It's not Kurt…it's not in him. And I trust him, implicitly, I truly do. But this guy…he's so brazen and he's all up in Kurt's space…and in MY space when I'm around. He has no shame, and I can't get over the fact that Kurt doesn't see it…it's like he WON'T see it! No, I'm not doubting his love, I'm doubting his sanity!" Blaine boomed, standing to pace into the kitchen. "And now I'm helping myself to something in the refrigerator. I hope you don't mind. We were going to grab dinner but I was upset and I left before we could eat. Damn it…"
"Help yourself. Jeff made linguini in a lemon cream sauce that was to die for, it's in the container with the red lid. Probably isn't even cooled off yet. There are still a few soft breadsticks in the oven." Nick grinned. Blaine was almost humorous when he was irritated. His actions were jerky and his face got all blotchy and red. He ground his teeth a lot, and Nick could tell he was wrestling with disliking Carter. Blaine, by his very nature, liked people…truly and deeply liked people, as a whole, and disliking someone so intensely made him almost cartoonish. He felt badly for him, though. What Blaine was describing would make anyone upset. He heard the microwave ding and shot a look to Jeff who was smirking and shaking his head slowly side to side as if his internal monologue was amusing…then it changed drastically to something less amused and more upset.
"Jeff?"
"This is my fault…all of it," he hissed. "If I was there, he wouldn't have an intern and this wouldn't be happening," Jeff said, his face scrunched.
"He doesn't blame you, Jeff, you know he doesn't," Nick told him, as Blaine came strolling back into the living room. He plopped down on the sofa beside Jeff, whose leg was propped up on the coffee table while his arm was propped up on a couple pillows.
"When does that shiz come off, Blondie?" Blaine asked, slurping pasta into his mouth.
"Depends. I go back tomorrow morning. He'll take a look at it and see then. Soon, I hope, but tomorrow is too soon to hope for. Probably another couple weeks. I'm losing my mind."
"Can't lose what you don't have, man— HEY! Ow! Shit, I was kidding!" Blaine yelled as Jeff whacked him in the head.
"Don't sit on my good side if you're gonna insult me, jackass." Jeff rolled his eyes and Blaine rubbed the back of his head.
"You almost made me spill my dinner! I dunno how you made this with one arm, but this is divine, man," Blaine told him, shoveling in another bite. "I didn't realize how hungry I was. Kurt being clueless must be distracting if I don't even realize I'm starving."
"I'm sorry, B. If I was there, this wouldn't be happening."
"Don't even start with that. If it wasn't Carter, it'd be someone else, some other time. I honestly think Kurt's not used to the attention so he doesn't realize when someone's being creepy and out of line."
"How is someone who looks like Kurt not used to flirting and attention? Damn, man, you can't tell me heads don't turn every time he struts down the street, because let's be real, here. Kurt struts, and it's a thing of beauty, especially with 'dat ass," Jeff smirked. Nick and Blaine both looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Oh don't even look at me like you don't know what I'm talking about. Kurt Hummel is fucking fabulous and you damn well know it!" Jeff laughed out loud, his smile wide and contagious. The others snickered with him. He had a point…Kurt was fabulous. Unfortunately, Carter thought so as well.
"He's…he's amazing, yes," Blaine mused, a slight blush across his cheeks. And yeah…'dat ass. "But that freakin' Carter…damn. He infuriates me! Do I ever think Kurt would act on it? Do I think he has a thing for Carter? NO, I don't, but this is bullshit! And…AND! He invited the little shit to our Halloween party. Now I get to be there all night watching him throw himself over Kurt like a cheap shawl. How fun will that be, huh? I don't even wanna have this damn party anymore, I'm so uptight!" Blaine bellowed. He was standing and pacing the floor now, brows drawn together and eyes cast to the ground.
"Listen…I'll be there with you to run interference. All of us will-" Nick began.
"Not all…" Jeff said quietly.
"I meant the band, Pretty Boy, and you can still come with me," Nick smiled. "Anyway, we can steer him away from Kurt every time he heads that way, just say the word."
"No. Kurt's going to have to see it for himself. I won't be there every minute of every day to keep that guy away from him…or any other guy, for that matter. He'll need to see if for himself and until then…well, I'll have to deal with it, I guess. We're adults who both have jobs and lives and we're just out here in this big world together, as well as apart, and we need to trust each other. I know eventually he'll see it, but until then, I reserve the right to have vivid fantasies about the different ways I can pummel Carter Covington."
"Do you think anyone at the office has noticed anything 'off' about him or how he acts?" Jeff asked.
"Nobody has said anything but the first day I met him he was with Naomi and I know her…she likes me and she adores Kurt. She wouldn't stand for it," Blaine said.
"Well, then ask her. Ask how he acts at work. Maybe there, with everyone around and David there, he acts totally normal?" Nick suggested.
"Maybe…we'll see."
"Until then…I think I have a plan to make Kurt see the light. You said the guy's been bringing him little gifts and coffee and shit like that?" Nick grinned.
"Yeah…like…simple little things that Kurt would adore, and I don't know how the dipshit knows that unless he's either talked with Kurt extensively about personal things or…I don't know. Like, the other day, we were talking about perhaps going to Ireland at some point. Kurt's always wanted to go to Europe…see England, France and then Ireland came up. So we were goofing around online, looking up some sites and whatnot. Then the next day, Douchenozzle comes in with a beautiful crystal paperweight with a four leaf clover inside it. It really is stunning and probably cost him a good chunk o' change, but it was just…eerie. Like…how did he know, ya know?"
"That one's easy, man, look at Kurt's Facebook page," Jeff said nonchalantly. He pulled the tablet onto his lap and opened up Kurt's page and there, plain as day, was a photo of an old Irish castle as well as a link to the page they'd been viewing with Kurt's caption, "someday…" above it.
"So…you think that dude's been stalking Kurt's Facebook page? Ok…yeah, weird." Nick said, scrunching up his nose. "Are they even friends on there? Can he see Kurt's page if they're not friends?"
"They're not friends…" Jeff noted, scrolling through Kurt's friends list. "No Carter Covington…so he's just lurking. You didn't accept a friend request did you, Blaine? Kurt tagged you, so he might be watching your page now, too."
"Hell no…why would I add him? You know what….I'm done with this guy. If he wants to stalk my social media, or Kurt's, let's mess with the little twerp then. I'm going to put something on MY page about Kurt and see where that goes. Then we'll know if he's as big a creep as I think he is," Blaine said, plotting.
"Oooh, goody!" Jeff smirked. "I'm in. If we're taking down the creep, count me in for sure! But…you have to shut up now. My show's on and I'm not missing it to talk about that loser. Stay and watch with us?"
"I should probably head home….maybe. I dunno. Maybe not. Maybe I should give Kurt some time to think and not be up in his face. I can head to work from here. What are we watching?"
"Dancing With the Stars, man! Have you not been paying attention to what I like for the last 10 years?" Jeff snarked.
"Dang, ok, calm down." Blaine grinned, settling back into the sofa. The three of them were all seated fairly close together to watch the show and talked over Tom Bergeron as he said the required B.S. before the dancers did their thing.
"So look at that guy, he's up first this time, good, because I want you to watch him. He fancies himself a bass player in a band AND a dancer and we all know I could wipe the floor with him, playing bass AND especially dancing. He's too stiff. They should let me on this show, I'm tellin' ya." Jeff whined.
"Who is it? Anyone I've heard of?" Blaine asked.
"Dunno…" Nick replied, engrossed. "Some dude named Riker….although, if I was into chicks, I'd date that girl…what!? OWWW! The HELL, baby! I said IF. IFFFF I was into girls…damn it!" Nick pouted, his face all scrunched as he rubbed his arm where Jeff had pinched him. "What the ever loving hell, man. It's not like I said I'd date the Riker guy! Shit…"
Blaine just shook his head laughing and watched the show. "He's got nothin' on you, Jeffie. Don't damage your husband, ok?"
When the show was half over, Blaine thought again about going home to talk to Kurt, but in the end, he just went into work and figured they'd talk the following day. He wasn't in any mood to discuss Carter Covington, and he sure didn't want to fight with Kurt anymore that night.
DWTS reference thanks to Robyn. She thinks she's harassing me but really she's urging me on to keep writing when I slack off. Thanks, lady ;)
Thanks to Suzanne, as always, for her keen eye and always giving me something to work with when I falter. And, let's face it, for telling me if something sucks and / or doesn't make sense. LOL And for so many other things that would take me a month to mention...thanks for all of those things :)
I can't even talk about what happened last Friday night. I was a mess...sobbing horribly, especially the last 3 minutes of 2009. Ugh...but I will say I'm ok with where our boys ended up. I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who hasn't watched, so I'll leave it there. As always, thanks for reading and making Crowded House a part of your day :)