Intruder

2009

"He's amazing." Blaine continued despite Kurts certainty that he hadn't asked for anymore details on Sebastian Smyte. "He moved here from France about a month ago. I was so lucky to have met him."

"Mhm." Kurt forced a painful smile and nodded once as if he didn't feel like throwing the phone across the room. "Why did he move from France?"

"Sheer luck, really! He'd applied to come next year but I guess there was extra space at Dalton so they insisted he come earlier." Blaine beamed with so much happiness that Kurt almost wanted to be happy for him. And he would, had it been anyone else.

He didn't trust Sebastian, though, and he knew enough about him to fear for his intentions towards Blaine. Blaine wasn't was free-willing as Sebastian was, and Kurt didn't doubt Sebastian would have any no trouble pressuring Blaine into bed with him. He didn't deserve that. Neither of them deserved the other.

"He looks familiar." Kurt mused almost sourly.

"Oh, really?" Blaine asked glancing over his shoulder as he heard the Warblers being called to stage.

"Yes. He reminds me of a boy I once knew. Couldn't keep it in his pants. Sleazy and a bully, and he almost blinded my best friend one time. And he was about as loyal as a jack rabbit." Kurt continued.

"Oh... well, Sebastian isn't anything like that. He's such a nice guy." Blaine glanced over his shoulder again. "So sorry, Kurt, it was really nice meeting you but I really have to go. I'll text you, we can meet up and talk some time."

"Alright, sounds good." Kurt tried to laugh as if he wasn't screaming inside. "Good luck! Break a leg out there!"

"Thanks!" Blaine called as he ran towards stage.

"Preferably Sebastian's leg." Kurt grumbled to himself before returning to his green room.

'You have nothing to worry about Kurt, Sebastian and I are just friends.' Just friends my ass. Ten minutes without me and you fell right into his trap. Kurt was very confident that his sour mood transferred onto his face.

When Kurt and the rest of the New Directions went to sit in the audience, Kurt found it almost impossible not to look for Blaine in the shadows behind the curtains. He could imagine him standing straight and imagining he wasn't nervous as he played at his never changing uniform. He was a little bitter about learning about his new boyfriend but still felt a spark of hope. Blaine knew him now. They'd met, he had his number.

He considered the idea that it might not be the right thing to do, but he had a chance to break them up. Sebastian is no good for him. I'm doing him a favour.

He shook his head and tried to concentrate. He needed to think about breathing if he didn't want to suffocate.

When the Warblers walked onto the stage, Kurt was fairly certain his heart had stopped beating and might not start again. Their first song, as Kurt could have easily assumed, was a solo by Blaine with the Warblers swaying behind him. But the second song was a duet. It started with Blaine but Kurt had to watch in silent agony as Sebastian came out and started to sing with him. They danced around each other with an easy comfort that made Kurt sick to watch. And he felt he was overheating. He needed air.

But he also couldn't move his body to get out.

I'm going to die, he thought as he felt his body molded to the seat and unable to pull his eyes away from the two on stage, This is how I die.

"Kurt!" Finn whispered while pulling Kurts arm when Kurt finally focused.

"I can't do this." Kurt mumbled as Finn dragged into the back to prepare for their performance.

"Yes you can." Finn determined as they reached backstage. "Cause I believe in you and the entire glee club needs you, so I don't know what's going on with you but we really need you to focus."

I'm going to fail. How am I supposed to go out and sing when I can't breathe? We are going to lose because of me, Kurt thought as tears started streaming down his face. He wanted to convince himself the tears came from losing the competition for a second time because he choked, but he knew the truth was Blaine. All of Kurts fears and anxieties seemed to manifest themselves within the past twenty minutes and he wasn't sure he could continue.

"Kurt, what's wrong?" Shue asked noticing Kurt crying in the back. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, I just..." He tried to pretend he wasn't upset or crying but his body refused to cooperate.

"Shue, we can't go out there with Kurt like this." Puck complained.

"Hey, buddy, what's wrong?" Sam asked putting a hand on Kurts shoulder.

"He looks pale, can someone go get a nurse or a medic?" Shue asked.

"Hey, what's going on?" Kurt was sure his heart had completely stopped when he heard Blaine's voice. "Kurt?"

"You guys know each other?" Sam asked but his voice was muffled behind the Warblers as they left the stage and gathered to see what was wrong with the boy hyperventilating against the back wall.

"Yeah, we met a few minutes ago." Blaine answered, cutting in front of the small crowd and putting a hand just under Kurts chin to better examine his face. "He looks paler now."

Blaines touch was the medicine he needed, though, to calm him down. The feeling of his skin on his own. His voice, his proximity.

"I'm sorry." He breathed. Kurt didn't say this as an apology to Blaine, the warblers, or the New Directions for his anxiety attack, but to Blaine for not prioritizing their meeting, for taking him for granted, and for ever even considering he could live without him. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't even worry." Blaine cooed stepping closer to Kurt but not as close as he would have liked.

"Are you feeling better now?" Sam wondered, "Or are you still freaking out?"

Blaine gave him a look that Kurt read easily as really? Before glancing back at Kurt.

"Are you nervous?" Blaine wondered. His hand remained on Kurts face and it was the only thing to keep him calm.

Kurt tried to think of Sebastian now. With Blaine so close, touching him, he thought that maybe he could stomach the idea of them together long enough to preform. But maybe not.

"I want to go home." Kurt whimpered too softly for anyone but Blaine to hear. He was saying it to Blaine. His Blaine, who might not even exist anymore.

Why hadn't he gone home yet? Why hadn't he worked harder to fix this situation? If this was a very long dream, why hadn't he woken up yet? What sort of bad dream lasted months? The coma kind, he considered. Yes, that's what the matter was. None of this was real, he decided. He was in a coma. However he got there, and Blaine was sitting by his bed waiting loyally for him to wake up. Blaine was kissing his forehead and his hands, telling him that he was loved and vowing never to leave him, and Kurt swore he would never leave him either. He'd find a way to wake up, even if he had no idea how. He would stay with Blaine as long as he could.

But reality hit him once more that this was probably not a dream. It was too coherent to be a coma, he could remember exactly how they'd all gotten there. He wasn't going to wake up to his beloved fiance. He wasn't going to wake up at all. The idea terrified him.

"Alright. No one would judge you, I'm sure, if you needed to leave. Your health is more important than any competition. But are you sure it's not nerves? Do you have a solo?" Blaine wondered quietly, trying to comfort the boy he thought was a stranger. Kurt nodded, "Oh, wonderful. What song are you singing?"

Blaine took Kurts hands with his free hand and held them while looking into Kurts eyes.

"Dude, you're really good at this." Puck mused and Kurt tried to ignore him.

"Yeah, like an expert." Sam agreed.

"I used to get nervous too." Blaine responded softly, never leaving Kurts eyes.

"It's an original song." Kurt answered quietly as he tried to control himself. He found it impossible to not melt into Blaines eyes.

"Wow... that's really cool." Blaine mused. "Did you write it?" Kurt nodded, "Did you write it for someone?"

Yes, you, Kurt thought. "A friend."

"It must be a special friend." Blaine mused.

"The specialist." Kurt nodded.

"Then just think of that person when you are out there. Picture them in front of you and only sing to them." He suggested. "With all of your heart."

Kurt nodded slowly, watching only Blaine until another voice came echoing through his ears.

"What's going on over here?" Sebastian wondered and Blaine pulled instantly away from Kurt. "Why hasn't New Directions gone out yet?"

"Sebastian." Blaine smiled but now rather than sickness, Kurt felt angry. Angry, not only at himself for leaving Blaine open to such an ass but also at Sebastian for actually believing Kurt would allow something like this to continue. "This is my new friend Kurt that I told you about."

"Oh, hey." Sebastian smiled much more pleasantly at Kurt than Kurt had ever received from him and suddenly he understood why they had never gotten along; both wanted Blaine. "Are you feeling better, buddy?"

"I am, thank you Blaine." Kurt said nodding at both Sam and Puck who excitedly turned to inform Shuester that they would be okay to preform. "I'm sorry that you have to meet me so..."

"That's alright!" Blaine smiled, "It can be difficult and life can get overwhelming and when too many things overlap, sometimes you just need someone to talk to."

"I am glad you are feeling better, Kurt." Sebastian smiled and Kurt wondered exactly how fake his happiness was. Clearly, he'd needed to be more pleasant to please Blaine, but this nice guy routine wouldn't last long. And Blaine... well, Kurt worried, hopefully Blaine wouldn't blind himself.

"Thank you, Sebastian." Kurt couldn't remember if they'd been formally introduced or not but he didn't really care for the minute. Kurt needed to be friendly enough with Sebastian that he wouldn't go into defense mode. Or maybe he needed to be just flirty enough that Sebastian would go crazy and show his true colours while trying to keep Blaine, while keeping Blaine oblivious to exactly what Kurt was doing.

There is a chance for us, Kurt thought, you never pulled away from anyone, maybe Eli C or Sam, in such a way that you didn't want me to see what you were doing. You don't love him like you love me.

With a couple more breaths Kurt was calm enough that New Directions could start. It went very similar to how it had the first time, only now Kurt had his own original song they could end with. And when he sang, he sang with more passion, and love, and anger than he would have ever been able to if he didn't have five extra years of experience. He found Blaine in the crowd, sitting next to Sebastian of course.

Kurt feared that his break down would hurt their chances of winning while Blaine and Sebastian, as much as Kurt hated to admit it, sounded excellent together. But somehow, Kurts passion mixed with the talent of the group, was enough for them to win.

The New Directions were as happy as they had been originally over their victory and this time, without Kurt as his own prize, Blaine didn't seem as content with losing but Kurt felt accomplished.

This didn't make Sebastian or Blaine very happy but Blaine texted Kurt,

Congratulations on New Directions winning! Your song sent chills through me, it was incredible. Well done! ~ Blaine

Thank you so much! I couldn't have done it without your support ~ Kurt

No problem! Glad I could help ~ Blaine

You seemed upset about more than just the show. Did you want to get coffee tomorrow to talk about it? ~Blaine

Maybe about the friend you dedicated that song to?! ~Blaine

Tomorrow would be great! What time? ~ Kurt

10 am? ~ Blaine

I can't wait :) ~ Kurt

I'll see you then! :) ~ Blaine