Warnings: violence (it's just a slap. Nothing intense)
We would also like to thank our reviewers MarciaChapter2 and Iris7124! Y'all really know how to make us smile! We would also like to thank everyone the new follows/favorites. We are so glad everyone is enjoying the story! -A and K
May 1st
By the beginning of May, the contracts had been negotiated and signed and recording was underway. They had discussed releasing singles and an EP, but Kurt insisted upon making a whole album.
"Call me old school, but I want it to be personal," he had said after the band had argued for an hour. "I have a lot of songs written and we've even performed some." He had leaned back on his chair and become uncharacteristically serious. "I know they need to be perfected, but that's what we are here for. I'm not against releasing some singles, but I want to make this legit."
So that's what they started to do. That wasn't Kurt's only requirement, however.
"You have to hang out with me," Kurt informed Blaine as he inspected his nails.
"What?"
He looked at Blaine, no trace of joking on his face. "You're my producer, right? So produce. I might need help brainstorming. My genius comes in waves and I need you there when it comes."
They faced off for longer than most of the others in the room felt comfortable with, but Blaine finally relented. He didn't miss the way Kurt winked covertly at him. Damn him.
The flirting had somehow gotten better and worse. It was better in that Kurt wasn't harassing him as much since Blaine was thrusting work at him constantly like a shield. But when he did manage to corner him, it was all Blaine could do to keep it together.
It was one such evening where they had been at it all day, a slight issue with legal causing their recording time to be cut back for the day and then Blaine spent way too long in his office trying to deal with all that. Then he had Kurt texting him all kinds of things like what kind of muffin he was eating to things that were just obscene like his favorite porn. To say Blaine Anderson was tired that afternoon as he locked his office was an understatement. All he wanted to was go home and take a bubble bath and chat with his roommate before falling into his comfy bed and losing consciousness for a year.
My chair is wobbly -Kurt
Blaine growled. He literally growled and ignored the text as he dropped his keys into his pocket and seriously contemplated smoking a cigarette on his walk home.
"Bye Blaine!" Nick called cheerfully as he shuffled by his office.
Blaine made a little noise back and waved half-heartedly. Nick and Jeff had apparently gotten together so he was in a great mood lately. While he was happy for him, sometimes it made Blaine want to throw things.
Are you good at fixing shit? -Kurt
His phone. Another thing he wanted to throw. He punched the elevator button with more force that needed.
Blaaaaaaaaine -Kurt
He would just keep texting. Blaine released a deep exhale as Wes' voice echoed in his head.
"Keep the client happy! I once went out in four feet of snow to get coffee!"
He pulled out his phone.
What -Blaine
Oh! There you are. It's almost like you were IGNORING me -Kurt
Blaine rolled his eyes as he stepped into the elevator.
I would never. I've been busy. Sorry. Did you need me to call someone for you? Like your landlord? -Blaine
Three dots. Then:
I was thinking that maybe you could try to fix it -Kurt
Why? -Blaine
Because we can play handyman. First, we'll get hammered, then I'll nail you. -Kurt *wink emoji *hammer emoji *right point finger emoji *okay finger emoji
Blaine let out a sharp exhale through his nose. Okay, he walked into that one. His brain was fried and he hadn't had his guard up.
Seriously? -Blaine
Come on that's funny! -Kurt
Not joking though -Kurt
You are ridiculous -Blaine
And bored -Kurt
Write a song -Blaine
I need a break. Hang out with me -Kurt
The elevator doors slid open as Blaine strolled out and replied. No way was he going out drinking tonight.
I am busy. Read a book. Go for a walk. Watch the sunset. I've got more. -Blaine
I don't like sunsets… -Kurt
But I'd like to see you go down -Kurt *wink emoji
He laughed and waved goodbye to the security guard at the front. He couldn't help it. The dirty jokes amused him, much as he hated to admit it. He was trying to think of a reply when he someone opened the front door of the building for him.
"Thank you," he said with his nose in his phone.
"Don't mention it."
Blaine froze and turned around.
Kurt Hummel was standing in front of him, the afternoon sun glinting off of the many pins studding his denim vest and the piercings in his ears and nose. A wide grin was spread across his face. He wore that vest a lot. He was wearing it over a t-shirt and dark ripped jeans, his usual attire with his hands tucked into his pockets.
He didn't linger, but fell into step with Blaine who could only laugh deliriously.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I told you I was bored. The question should be what the hell are we doing. I've got a few ideas—"
"No. No, no." Blaine held up a hand. "I have had a very long day where I had to argue with people and my computer crashed…" He shook his head. "I'm very tired and I don't feel like going out to a bar or a club. I just want to go home and become one with my couch."
"I never said we have to go out to a bar," Kurt sassed, offended. "You said you would hang out with me and help me write my songs."
Blaine made a frustrated noise and threw his head back. "Are you listening? I am done with work for the day. I am exhausted and I don't need—"
"You're hungry, aren't you?" Kurt interrupted. "Let's go get you some food?"
Food did sound good.
"Where?" Blaine asked suspiciously.
Kurt bumped shoulders with Blaine and jerked his head to the right indicating that direction. "Come with me. Do you like Thai? No, that's bad for you." He knocked the cigarette Blaine was trying to light out of his mouth to the ground.
Blaine glared at Kurt, but put them away. "I could eat Thai. Where are we going?"
Kurt flashed him a knee-weakening smile. "I know what else you can eat—"
"No. If I can't smoke, you can't hit on me."
"Jesus. Fine. Maybe you will be less cranky after you eat."
Blaine was less cranky after he ate. Kurt had taken him to a tiny unassuming place that smelled incredible as they walked in. They ordered and found a seat, awkwardly chitchatting until the food arrived. Blaine basically inhaled his, not realizing just how hungry he had gotten. He looked up as he was debating licking his plate to find Kurt staring at him over his cup.
"What?" He would die if he had food on his face. He began scrubbing at his chin with a paper napkin.
"Nothing." Kurt shook his head, the corner of his mouth twitching up. "I like your bow tie. It matches your jacket."
"Oh. Thanks." Blaine smiled. "I like bow ties."
"I gathered that," Kurt observed. "You make them look good."
Blaine ducked his head. He would not give Kurt the satisfaction of seeing him blush. "I um, I like your pins. On your vest. I meant to tell you that before, but I forgot."
Kurt grinned as he chewed on his straw. "Thank you. I have spent a lot of time collecting them."
"What's that one?" Blaine pointed at the blue, pink, and purple unicorn pin.
"A unicorn in the bisexual colors. A weird bisexual friend of mine I went to high school with gave it to me. She has a thing with unicorns…" He shook his head. "It's a long story. What's the deal with the bow ties?"
"I just like them," Blaine shrugged. How was it they were having a halfway normal conversation and Kurt wasn't being crude? This was actually nice.
They got up and dumped their trash. Blaine was about to bid Kurt farewell when the pink-haired man grabbed his work bag from him and joined their arms like they were about to start skipping down a yellow brick road.
"I love this shop over here. Let's go!" He tugged Blaine along who resigned himself to just going along with whatever Kurt wanted. He fully expected to be taken to a sex shop or something else just as shocking when they instead entered a skincare boutique.
The workers greeted Kurt like an old friend and he waved before drifting over to a table of little bottles. Blaine looked at him curiously and he shrugged.
"What?"
"What is this place?"
Kurt picked up one of the little bottles before answering. "It's where I get my skincare. You don't think this happens without a lot of work, do you?" He pointed to his face and then unstoppered the bottle before sniffing its contents. He hummed appreciatively. "That smells lovely."
Blaine watched him sniff different bottles for several minutes. "What are we doing here?"
Kurt sighed and put the current bottle down. "I told you. I want you to help me with my music. You can't help me if you don't know me. Do you think I take everyone here?" He smiled a little sadly. "I just want to show you who I am."
Blaine finally relaxed a little. Maybe this was actually Kurt. The real Kurt under the hard, prickly surface. What he said made sense. If he truly wanted to write songs from a personal place, Blaine would have to understand that person to help him. Maybe he wasn't all lewd jokes and sexual innuendo.
"This one smells like a guy I once gave a blow job to in a Wendy's."
Okay, so maybe that was still a part of him.
He was offering Blaine a sniff. He politely refused.
Kurt shrugged and picked up another. He smelled it with eyes closed and a smile on his face. "Ooh, yes. This is the one." He put a small drop on his neck and rubbed it in. Then he stretched out his long neck and beckoned Blaine with a jerk of his chin.
"Smell me."
"No."
"But I have to make sure it works with my body chemistry!" Kurt pouted and leaned closer to Blaine who leaned away. "Come on! What if it smells weird on me and I'm getting with a guy and he smells me and I stink and he runs away! Do you want to be the reason I stink, Blaine? Can you live with that on your conscience? How will you—"
"Oh for the love of god," Blaine grumbled and jerked Kurt's arm so he was just right in front of him. "I will smell you if you will shut up!"
"Thanks," Kurt said as he bit his lip into a smile. He presented his neck again and Blaine eased his face over to sniff. He hadn't been this close to Kurt since the night they had danced at the bar and he couldn't help but feel like this was a trap. Blaine inched closer and closer, keeping his eyes trained on Kurt distrustfully, but Kurt just stood there patiently and let him smell. And did he smell. Blaine had no idea what the scent was, but it was a little spicy and a little musky and one hundred percent heavenly. He wanted to bury his nose in Kurt's neck, just smelling him. He wouldn't, of course, but he wanted to. Blaine drew back before he was tempted too much.
"Well?" Kurt asked, his eyes locked on Blaine's.
Blaine cleared his throat and took a healthy step back. "You were right."
Kurt smiled.
"It stinks."
The smile fell. "You are an ass."
Blaine laughed at his wounded expression. "I'm sorry. You don't stink. It smells very nice. You're sure to score with that." Blaine gave him a lame thumbs up which made Kurt snort.
"Since you were mean to me, you have to try some."
"No. I'm fine with stinking."
Kurt started shuffling through the bottles until he found one in particular. "Smell this."
Blaine started backing away slowly. "That's fine. I don't need—"
Kurt pouted again and Blaine heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Let me smell it first. If I don't like it then it's not… Oh wow, that's nice."
Kurt was practically hopping up and down. "Right? May I put it on you?"
Blaine nodded and bent his neck to the side. Kurt stepped forward and very gently dripped a little on Blaine's neck. He could feel it slide down his neck and then Kurt's face was only inches away from his. Blaine saw the freckles sprinkled across Kurt's nose and the way his eyelashes fanned over his cheeks as he reached up to rub the drop in with his thumb. Tingles swirled throughout Blaine's body at the warmth of Kurt's touch. He was starting to have trouble breathing when Kurt finally looked up into his eyes. Blaine was frozen in place.
"May I smell?"
All Blaine could do was nod and then Kurt's nose was being pressed into his neck. The tingles turned into full blown electric currents as Kurt's warm breath heated his sensitive skin. Oh, then he was laughing softly…
"What?"
"You smell delicious," Kurt replied. Blaine could feel the vibrations of his voice on his skin. "I kind of want to lick you."
The sound that came from his throat was half a whine and half a grunt at the thought. But then he remembered that he was in the middle of a store with his talent that he was definitely not supposed to be doing this with and jerked away. Kurt slowly opened his eyes, an unreadable expression on his face. He stoppered it up.
"I'm buying this for you." He grabbed the other one and marched up to the front where the register was.
"Now what?"
They were standing outside the store, Kurt with a little bag of his purchased items and Blaine carrying his work satchel.
Blaine looked up from his watch. "Oh. We are still shopping? Did you have another errand?"
"Blaine, Blaine. Did you ever just stroll through the mall with your friends? We are window shopping." He had linked their arms again and was pulling him along while eyeing the shops appreciatively.
"Yeah, I didn't really have a lot of friends. Still don't."
"I'm your friend," Kurt said as he paused to examine what looked like a corset in one store. "The guys are your friends."
His clients being his 'friends' was like the time his mom sat him down on his bed in middle school and said that even if he didn't have friends at school, she would always be his friend. It was kind of pathetic. Friends, like boyfriends, didn't tend to work out for him.
"So you've know some of the guys since high school right?" Blaine asked in an effort to steer the conversation away from him. He was already having trouble focusing on anything that wasn't Kurt's body touching his. Plus, he still smelled so good thanks to the first store.
"Tina and Puck yes. We were in Glee club together if you can wrap your head around that. Elliott and Dani I met while at NYADA. We were actually in another band that didn't work out, so I asked them to form this one."
Blaine processed all this. He wasn't sure which thread he wanted to pull.
"I wanted to join Glee club once too." Apparently that one.
Kurt looked him up and down. "I can see it. I didn't know you sing."
Blaine looked at his shoes. "Oh, a little. I can play guitar some too. I found I liked being behind the scenes more."
Kurt nodded. "Why didn't you?"
"Hm?"
"Join Glee club?"
Blaine shrugged. How to explain how he had been sent to a public school and then had the shit beat out of him, so he was sent to a private school. Then his father stopped paying his tuition because he had a brand new family to provide for, so he was forced to go back to that same public school. They didn't have a Glee club.
"It just didn't work out," he said instead.
They stopped in front of an antique shop. Kurt slid his hand down Blaine's arm to weave his fingers through Blaine's.
"Want to join our band?"
That surprised a laugh out of Blaine. "I think I like being your producer. But thanks."
Kurt shrugged again. "Suit yourself."
Blaine's heart was galloping away as he held Kurt's hand and they ambled down the street together. He was a little scared at how he could get used to it.
The next day was better. Things seemed brighter as Blaine made his way to the office. They were finally able to record today and Blaine was itching to get to work.
He could now admit he definitely had a crush on Kurt. Previously when all he did was try to get Blaine to sleep with him, it was easy to just put it off as an attraction, but last night… Last night felt like a date. Kurt had been fun and sweet and actually treated him like more than just a booty call. When they parted ways, he even gave Blaine a little hug and didn't offer for him to come home with him or for them to fuck in the alley or something. He was starting to think maybe he wasn't such a fool after all. Blaine whistled as he showed his ID and made his way to the elevator, going down to the recording studio instead of up to his office.
His heart felt like it was doing backflips. He would see Kurt so soon. He had worn the cologne Kurt had bought him. Maybe Kurt had worn his too? Hopefully they could hang out again this evening! He knew of a music store Kurt would love—
He froze. Kurt was already there along with the rest of the band. Everyone was chatting or messing with their instruments, but not Kurt. He had one of the interns backed up against the wall in a way that made it very obvious that they were flirting. He was toying with a necklace the guy had on and speaking to him in low tones. They were both smiling and had that look. Blaine felt it like a stab to the heart. Kurt had been looking at him that way only last night. Last night. Blaine could have kicked himself for letting his hopes get raised again. Great, now he felt tears welling up in his eyes. Some professional he was, allowing himself to be toyed with. He never learned.
He looked up and saw Elliott staring back at him in a pitying way and he wanted to die. At least he had been nice enough to try and warn him.
Blaine pasted on a smile and got situated at his seat in the booth. He would shove everything down for the moment and let it all out tonight while watching some sad movie.
Once he had regained control, Blaine turned on his mic.
"Are we ready to begin?"
His voice startled a few of the people who hadn't realized he had arrived, including Kurt and the intern who bashfully darted off. Hopefully to do his fucking job.
Kurt tried to smile at Blaine, but he immediately looked down at his papers. "Okay, so Sick Individual is first. Let's do a warm up really quick and then try to record."
Everyone took their places with excitement including Kurt, but it didn't please Blaine today as much as it had in previous days.
'Cause I'm a sick individual
And I'm doin' this thing called whatever the
fuck I want, want, want
I'm unusual
Ain't takin' no shit, gonna drink this sip 'till
I'm gone, gone, gone
I'm livin' it up, not giving a what
He needed to remember that he wasn't meant to be with anyone. They would just hurt him. Kurt was who he was. He had never made any promises to Blaine. He was honestly just doing what he wanted, just as he had been from the moment they met. Blaine was the one who came up with a fairytale in his head and pretended like that's how it would go. He shouldn't have expected that much.
The day went by relatively smoothly. Kurt tried to flirt with him a little, but for the most part he remained focused on his work.
They were close to wrapping for the day and Blaine checked his watch. He could leave now, escaping to his apartment and finish work up from there. Nick was sitting in with him and doing a great job. He could handle the rest of the session.
"I'm going to head out," Blaine said in Nick's ear as two other techs discussed settings. The band were taking a break behind the glass, sipping water and tuning their instruments. Kurt was leaning on the drum cage and twirling a drumstick around his fingers, staring Blaine down. He refused to acknowledge him.
"Everything okay?" Nick asked as he looked up from his papers.
"Yeah. Definitely. Just have some paperwork I have to do. Can you handle this?"
"Sure, man." Nick held up a palm and Blaine slapped five with him. "Dude, you smell amazing! What do you have on? I want to get some for Jeff."
"You can have mine," Blaine offered quietly. "I don't like it."
"Oh, cool. See you tomorrow!"
He was almost to the street when he got a text.
Where are you going? Was going to see if you wanted to hang out again after we are done here -Kurt
Blaine thought about not responding. Then he thought about telling him to ask the intern out. But here he was, all angry about something that never was his to begin with. Kurt hadn't asked him on a date. He wasn't his boyfriend. Blaine had no right to be mad. He answered and turned his phone on silent so he could go home and drown his sorrows in ice cream and a cigarette before his roommate came home and caught him. He was, in fact, a fool.
I'm busy. See you tomorrow -Blaine
The next morning, Kurt woke up in a foul mood. He blamed it on Santana and her late night/early morning visitor that could win gold if moaning was an Olympic sport, but he knew that wasn't exactly true. Blaine was ignoring him.
Something had been off with him during the recording session. He didn't scream or yell, but Kurt could tell he was upset about something. At first he thought maybe it was work related, but then he wouldn't look at him the whole day or return his smiles. Then he left early and wouldn't text him back, even when Kurt blatantly hit on him. All he got was a short text saying he was busy and then silence. It's not like he really cared. Blaine could be a dick if he wanted to. Kurt thought they had a great time the night they went out, but that what he got for not being pushy. Being tenacious had always gotten him what he wanted.
As he left his apartment in the early morning hours, Kurt sipped the vodka he had poured into a travel mug. He was just a little irritable today so he was trying to take the edge off. Maybe he would stop by the tattoo shop he had resigned from and get a new piercing.
His phone buzzed with a call and he debated leaving it to ring. It could be Blaine and he was annoyed with the man at the moment.
It could be one of his band mates. They sometimes called him at strange hours if they had a great song idea. That he understood. He had been flooded with ideas lately.
He finally decided to answer and hesitated when he saw the name. Dad. He took another pull from his cup and answered.
"Hey. You're up early."
"Hey," Burt Hummel's gruff voice came over the speaker. "Yeah, I had to go in early today. Smith's wife just had a baby."
"Oh. Congrats."
"Yup."
The silence that followed broke Kurt's heart a little. There was a time when he and his dad could chat for hours and the conversation wouldn't be hard to navigate. Things weren't so easy nowadays and it was all his fault.
"I quit my job," Kurt said suddenly.
"Well, I'm sure you had a good reason for that," his dad replied.
"I did. I do. Uh, my band got signed." He held his breath. Burt had not always been the most supportive of The Lima Losers. They had a few fights about that.
"That's… Wow. Good for you. Proud of you."
The words might have warmed him if they didn't seem so hard for him to say. Kurt took another drink.
"Listen, I wanted to call you to ask if you were coming to Ohio next week? Carole misses you and would love to see you."
Oh. Carole missed him. Carole would love to see him. Somehow he doubted that.
"Yeah, I don't think so. I'm busy working on this album."
Burt sighed. "You've known about this for months, Kurt. I can't help but think this album thing is an excuse."
Kurt laughed humorlessly. Another drink. "It's not an excuse. I really did get signed to an actual record label. Not that you care."
"Of course I care—"
"And yeah, I wasn't planning on coming because I don't want to feel like shit for a week. Sorry."
"There's no need to get so hostile, Kurt. I was just asking."
"And I was just answering. No, I won't come and celebrate your morbid little holiday."
The silence rang in Kurt's ears. He took another drink and realized his cup was empty. Damn.
"Have you been drinking?"
Of fucking course he could tell. He was probably slurring his words and he always got more emotional when he drank.
Burt didn't wait for him to answer. Kurt could imagine how ashamed he would be if he could see him now. "It's six AM, Kurt. I'm concerned."
"Well, you don't have to be. I'm fine."
Burt released another deep breath. "I'm disappointed, son. I thought you cared about yourself more than this. Cared about your family." The words were like a slap.
"You know me. The family disappointment."
"Okay. I'm gonna hang up now before we both say things we don't mean. Go sleep it off and call me when you're ready to have a conversation. I love you."
There was a pause and then the line went dead. Kurt had so many emotions tearing through him he didn't know where to start. As luck would have it, he was right outside a convenience store. They would have more vodka.
Thank you for the pain
Thank you for the hate
Thank you for the way that you
Left me scarred
Now there's nothing you can say
To wash it all away
Now because of you
I've got a heart of novocaine
A heart of novocaine
A heart of novocaine
A heart of novocaine
The music cut and Kurt stumbled away from the mic.
"Okay, let's go through it one more time and then we will take a break," Blaine's strained voice filled the little glass box that made Kurt feel like a goldfish. What would Blaine do if he made a fishy face at him? The thought made him giggle.
It was possible he hadn't quite sobered enough for this. The call with his dad had nearly pushed him over the edge.
"Kurt. Did you hear me?"
Oh shit. Blaine was talking to him.
"What?"
Blaine closed his eyes and let out a deep breath. He should never close his eyes. They were too pretty.
"Are you okay? You seem out of it today."
"I can get in it just as quick. Just give me a second and some lube."
Dani gasped behind him and Elliott just slapped his own forehead. Puck chuckled as he adjusted his strings while Tina hissed Kurt's name.
"What is wrong with you?" She asked with a glare.
"Lots."
Blaine rubbed his temples in a Herculean effort not to yell. Maybe he wanted Blaine to yell. Someone should yell at him for how he talked to his dad today. He was a shitty kid.
"Okay. We are going to take five," Blaine said. "Dani, I would like to try the drums coming in a little heavier towards the end. Great. Kurt, can I talk to you?"
"Oooh, looks like I'm in trouble," Kurt sang as he swayed into the next room. The other production team members were talking quietly, but they scurried away when Kurt came in.
Blaine turned towards him in his chair and gestured for him to sit down. He looked tired. Kurt obliged him and scooted up into his personal space.
"You summoned me?"
Blaine was staring at him, his cheek resting on a palm propped up on the sound board. "Do you not want to do this song or something? I thought you had approved it."
"I like the song."
"Do you not like the instrumentals? The key? I know we changed some things up, but I thought we agreed it would be better—"
"Nope." He made a popping sound on the P. "I'm having a blast. Everything is fine."
"Then why are you acting like this?" Blaine asked. He leaned forward and frowned. "Kurt, are you drunk?"
"Of course not," Kurt spat. "I'm not an amateur."
"Then why do your vocals suck today?" Blaine snapped. "You're stumbling around and missing cues! I don't know what's gotten into you today—"
"I know who I'd like to get into me, but you're acting like an uptight bitch."
The slap was loud. It was followed by everyone else gasping and their mouths dropping open. Kurt reeled back from where his head had snapped back. Blaine had caught him right on the cheek. Yup, that was starting to sting now.
"You slapped me!"
The color had drained from Blaine's face. "I… I'm so sorry! Oh my god! I can't believe I did that!"
Kurt rubbed the spot that was reddening quickly no doubt. He was in shock. "I can't believe you just slapped me."
"I can't believe you slapped him," Wes was saying as they sat in his office around half an hour later.
Blaine was sitting in one chair, thoroughly mortified and eyes downcast. He had no idea what the hell had gotten into him. Kurt had been an asshole all day and the recording had suffered. Blaine had wanted to gouge his eyes out. Nick and the others were trying their best, but Blaine was ready to call it a day. He could tell they weren't going to get much better.
Then when he tried to reason with Kurt, he had acted like a complete jerk again. Blaine had just snapped.
"Mr. Hummel. We sincerely apologize on behalf of Montgomery Records. No violence is ever tolerated," David said. Blaine winced. He had never been in trouble like this before. He wished he could just sink into the chair. "We just need to know if you would like to press charges."
Blaine felt sick. He could just hear the disappointment in his mother's voice when he called her from jail.
"I don't want to press charges," Kurt responded. He was worrying the hem of his t-shirt. "I kind of deserved it. And Blaine already apologized."
"Very well," David said as he pulled out a form. "If you would sign this. It just states that we offered to press charges and you refused. We just have to cover our bases."
Kurt signed it. He had been subdued ever since they had been sent to Wes' office and Blaine felt just awful.
"Moving on," Wes said as Kurt set the pen down. "It states in your contract that if you are under the influence of an illegal substance, we have the right to expel you from our label—"
"I'm not doing drugs," Kurt said quickly. He looked up from David to Wes. "Please don't. I- It won't happen again. I don't want to screw up this chance for the band because I was an idiot." He turned to Blaine. Despite his gut warning him not to, Blaine looked up into Kurt's eyes. They were sincere and a little shiny. He knew then he would forgive Kurt just about anything.
"I'm so sorry, Blaine." His hand twitched like he wanted to reach for Blaine, but he kept his hands to himself. "Bottom line, I had a bad morning and I took it out on you. I was rude and unprofessional and I promise it won't happen again."
Blaine had never seen Kurt like this. Was he afraid? Whatever this look was, Blaine didn't like it.
"I accept your apology. I'm fine with just putting all this past us and moving on."
"Sounds good to me," Kurt agreed.
"All right," Wes agreed. "Mr. Hummel, would you mind excusing us?"
He nodded and glanced at Blaine once more before slipping out the door.
Wes waited until the door had clicked shut before he spoke. "Are you okay?"
"Yes. Wes, I'm so sorry. I definitely overreacted. I shouldn't have hit him."
Wes held up a hand. "Hey, I'm not saying that was right, but legally we are protected and Kurt's not pressing charges. I'm talking about you. Is he sexually harassing you?"
Wes was searching Blaine's face, concern causing him to frown and furrow his brows.
Was he being harassed? Sure, Kurt said crude things all the time, but he never expressly told him to stop. In fact, he had kind of encouraged it a few times. Kurt had never made him feel unsafe or scared. He was drawn to the man.
"He's not. I promise it's fine. Apparently Kurt's not the only one who had a bad morning." Blaine tried for a smile.
Wes considered this and then leaned forward. "Okay. Just know that if you feel unsafe at any moment, we will take care of it. I know this project means a lot to you, but don't forget to protect yourself."
David nodded along solemnly.
"I won't." Blaine was touched that Wes really cared that much. David too.
Blaine left the office feeling a little better. He was thankful that they weren't angry, but he felt so embarrassed about how he acted. Blaine turned the corner and almost ran into Kurt. He had his back to the wall and one booted foot propped up. His arms were crossed across his chest and he was staring at nothing in the distance. When Blaine turned the corner, his face lit up for a second before he gave Blaine a wary smile and ruffled his hair.
"So…"
"I really am sorry, Kurt." Blaine decided to lay it on the line. "I was dealing with… something else and I shouldn't have hit you. I completely understand if you want to work with someone else."
Kurt studied him as he spoke, then raised an eyebrow. "You don't need to apologize. I was way out of line…" He hesitated and licked his lips as if trying to come to a decision. "Blaine—"
"Here he is!" They heard Puck yell. The voices of the other members of the band followed him and they started to come down the hall towards them.
"I'll text you," Kurt said before they surrounded him, demanding to know what happened.
Blaine nodded and took his leave.
He was in his favorite pajamas and catching up on some emails when his phone rang. He pushed his glasses up with a knuckle and sucked in a breath. Kurt was calling him. Oh god. What if he sounded stupid on the phone? Why was Kurt calling him? He said he would text! Should he be talking on the phone with a client at… eight o'clock at night? They didn't exactly have the most conventional relationship. But what if Kurt needed to talk to someone. Wouldn't that be part of his job? He grabbed up the phone and answered before he could second guess himself.
"Hello?"
"Knock, knock."
Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Seriously?" he asked.
"I wish I could hear you, but this door is so thick I can't hear you until you answer."
He must have been covering his mouth with his hand because he sounded muffled.
Blaine rolled his eyes. "Who's there?"
"Interrupting sloth."
"Interrupting sloth who?"
There was silence. Blaine pulled the phone away from his ear. No, they hadn't been disconnected. "Kurt?"
"Sloooooooooth."
Blaine snorted. "Wow. And you said my jokes were dumb."
"But you laughed," Kurt answered. "You like dumb jokes."
"You love my dumb jokes," Blaine replied and flopped back onto the couch. "Admit it."
"Never." There was a smile in Kurt's voice. "I prefer dirty jokes. That one left a bad taste in my mouth."
"Well, I think it was your best one yet."
Kurt just chuckled in a low register that made Blaine shift in his seat. "Listen, I wanted to call you to explain myself. I figured I owed you that."
"Kurt, you don't have to—"
"No. I do." There was a noise on the other end of the call that sounded like Kurt was moving around. Blaine wondered where he was. "So, I was tired because my roommate is a whore and kept me up all night. Then I talked to my dad and we had a fight."
"Wow, I'm sorry—"
"I was pissed at everyone so I went and got drunk."
"Oh, Kurt…"
"And I was still kind of tipsy when I came in. Which was an absolute prick move and very unprofessional. And I'm sorry."
Blaine fingered his curls and stared up at the ceiling. He was trying to think of a way to word what he wanted to say without being a jerk when something squeaked and groaned on Kurt's end. "What is that?"
"It's my bed. I like for everyone around me to know I'm getting laid." He chuckled again and Blaine forced himself to think about something other than Kurt's bed.
"Okay, I'm going to ask you this and I don't want you to take it the wrong way."
"I don't think there's a wrong way to take dick."
"Kurt, I'm serious."
"Blaine, I'm serious too."
"Do you think you might have a drinking problem?"
"Do you have a smoking problem?" Kurt snapped.
"This isn't about me." Blaine didn't let Kurt's tone bother him. He had expected him to get defensive.
"I don't have a problem. I just drink a little here and there. Like your cigarettes."
"It just seems like it's a big reaction to go to work drunk because you had a fight with your dad…" Blaine felt like he was missing something.
"There's something else," Kurt continued. He huffed. "I hate talking about shit like this, so I'm going to say it once and we are never going to talk about this again. The anniversary of my step brother's death is next week and my dad and step mother are doing a thing… It's why I fought with him this morning. He wants me to go and I told him I couldn't. It didn't go over well."
"Oh my god! Kurt! I am so sorry!" Blaine had sat up, now feeling like an absolute asshole. He slapped a man right before the anniversary of his brother's death. He was trash. "I had no idea! Do you need some time to go to Ohio? They live in Ohio right?"
"No. God, no. I don't want to go. It's too much. That's why my dad was pissed. I just told you that because I wanted you to understand I wasn't in the best frame of mind… And I guess I have kind of made an ass of myself. So… Yeah. Yup. That's it."
"Kurt…"
"No. Do not use that kicked puppy voice. Seriously. Can we please talk about something that isn't feelings? I feel gross."
Blaine smiled. "That was very brave."
"Stoooop," Kurt whined and Blaine could hear his bed protest in the background. "I hate talking about feelings. What are you wearing?"
"It's too late. You've shown me you are more than just a slut. I see you, Kurt Hummel."
"Okay, I'm calling Mr. Thompson tomorrow and telling him I want to press charges since you called me a slut."
Blaine giggled and slid back into his comfortable spot on the couch. He glanced at the clock and noted his roommate would be home in about an hour. Then he would have an excuse to get off the phone. Except he didn't want to. He was having too much fun.
"You won't. You would miss me too much." Blaine's heart slammed against his rib cage. Had he not learned his lesson? What the hell was he doing? He was flirting! But it was as if his heart had unplugged the connection between his brain and his mouth and ran away with it.
Kurt did that breathy little chuckle that was driving him crazy. "You got me. I would definitely miss you. Or maybe it's just your ass I would miss."
"We both know it's my jokes."
"Send me a nude in just your glasses and I'll think about laughing at your ridiculous jokes."
Blaine shook his head. "I'm really glad you told me about your brother."
He could feel Kurt cringe and roll his eyes. "Ugh. Why?" Blaine just sat quietly until Kurt sighed deeply and shifted on his creaky bed. "But I'm guess I'm glad too," he mumbled darkly. "Now, show me your dick?"
"I don't sleep with clients, Kurt."
"It's not technically sex if you send me a pic and I get off to it. I would call it a grey area."
"Goodnight, Kurt."
"Goodnight. I hope you have a wet dream about me."
Blaine hung up and decided to go on to bed. For the first time in he didn't know how long, he decided to stretch across the bed and take up the whole thing. Why should he only sleep on one side? It was his bed now. There was no one to make himself small for.
*songs used:
-Sick Individual and Heart of Novocaine by Halestorm
We do not own songs used*