For Leo. Thanks to the amazing afterdalton for betaing. 3
Chapter 2
Blaine Anderson #PlainerzRock . 5 hours
Kick off for our Rise Tour tonight. Already wearing stageclothes! SanFran u ready for some rock?
Kurt H #KEHdancing . 4 hours
First night dancing in a sold out stadium, hope I don't actually break a leg. #RiseTour #CA
Klainer #Klainerz . 53 minutes
No Klainerz pics in months T_T. WE WANT KLAINERZ! If we get nothing from the concert I'll turn stalker.
The last few chords of the e-guitar ring loudly through the arena and Blaine and the background vocalists harmonize for the final performance of the night while Kurt dances around them. It's a choreo with a overall little movement other than his gyrating hips and lots of bending while walking, but by the end of it Kurt is still heaving out deep breaths. By the last note, Kurt has slid with his knees on the floor, bent backward with his shoulder blades touching the tip of Blaine's shoes looking upward at him. Then the stadium erupts in deafening applause and chants of people demanding more.
This is it. The final song for the night is out and Kurt can just lie there, look up at the blue and white lights overhead and let the cheers and screams wash over him. It's a heady feeling, like all the applause is just for him alone so he indulges in it for a little while. The nervousness Kurt had felt since they opened the entrance for the fans is quickly beginning to dissolve. It had crawled in the pits of his stomach, wetted his forehead and neck and dried his throat before he was up and even dancing had done little to shake it. The truth is, Kurt doesn't really know how he well he performed tonight which happens whenever he's in the heat of a performance and gets lost in the feeling of dancing rather than accuracy. That's why he can only hope that he hasn't messed up too badly. The choreo for the four songs in which he gets to dance has gone over in his blood, muscle, and, as Brittany would phrase it, his dancing bones after a month of daily rehearsals. In two of the songs he dances with girls, the other two he dances with Blaine. In rehearsals it was hardly ever Blaine Kurt danced with, so Mike had to substitute, which had not helped their synchronisation. It hadn't helped their 'friendship' either since they rarely exchanged more than the mandatory polite words the few times they crossed paths.
There is little of the best buds left they had decided to be that night in the bar, but that is probably for the better. With all the work they had to put in the preparations of the tour, they also had a good excuse to avoid one another. They actually attempted to talk about issues, well Kurt did, over the phone. Just a curt call about the evening at the bar, with Blaine intending to dispose of this topic, basically a conversation never to be finished, was the extent of it. Kurt supposes it's easier not to develop feelings, when the person you thought you had chemistry with always has excuses to not be where you are.
Band rehearsals and meetings, Kurt understands, but one time Blaine desperately needed to skype with his grandmother once arriving in San Francisco, while everyone else went to celebrate in a bar. It's rather telling when a guy would rather chat with his grandmother than to go out with a group you are a part of. It stings a little, but it's in the area where Kurt always says his ego is located rather than his heart. And really, Kurt can't feel more than that. He barely knows Blaine better than the fans still screaming the band's name after the last tune has long rung out.
Kurt slowly lifts his back from the ground before he sees and takes the hand offered to him. It's Tina, who beams at him in a way he knows he must mirror, because his cheeks have already started aching in this new, good way. He can only try to grasp what it feels like to have his new friends beside him, squeezing his hands as if to say that this is their moment, their applause and they all anchor each other to this reality. Kurt can still hear the chants in the ringing of his ears even after the crowds are long gone and the only sounds surrounding him are the murmur of the people packing up instruments and dismantling the extension of the stage. The band and the other dancers are backstage, changing their clothes or already celebrating, but Kurt does not feel ready to leave the stage yet, because that would mean really turning this night into a memory. He sits at the edge of the stage once the workers are finished and looks in awe out into the stadium that had been filled with thousands of fans until an hour ago. He knows that at some point, there will be a stadium full of people coming for him, chanting his name. He cannot wait for that day.
Mellany! #melllovesphenomenon . 1 day
THE BACKGROUNDSINGERS! Fuck tell me the names I need to fangirl! #
KtotheB #PhenGurl . 1 day
KEHdancing , PlainerzRock YOU WERE THE BEST. YOURE DANCING WAS SO HOT! #KuBlaine
Missmaboys #Phenomenonizer . 1 day
What happened to Bladrian? I miss them! Their name sounded like baldrian. They were a calming drug guys! #bladiran
Klainer #Klainerz . 1 day
#Phenomenonizer UNFOLLOWED. EW, ew, ew, how could you? #lolBladrian #lolAdrian #Klainerz
Klainer #Klainerz . 1 day
I swear they are fucking. God, their heart eyes omfg. If I stalk them I'd deliver some evidence but I just know! #KlainerzIsOn
HomooSapia #HomooSapia . 1 day
Was I the only one who felt like 'klainerz' dancing was totally off? No chemistry at all. Totally stiff. Come on #PlainerzRock, get better dancers!
"So, has the initial excitement about touring worn off?" Mercedes asks him over the phone while Kurt searches his bags for the lotion he knows must be in there. Her voice sounds quiet and a bit disturbed through the phone. "I cannot imagine you still liking to sleep in a bus with three other people, who all don't know how to handle one Kurt Hummel."
They really don't but it is not like he knows how to handle their quirks either and that is okay. There's messy Tina, singing and breaking stuff while dancing Mike, and Feng-Shui and cat loving Brittany, he has to share the bus with. For now,touring with the dancers is pleasant, if only mastered with a lot of patience and an excessive amount of lint-rollers. Kurt could spend a whole roller on the shirt he finds tucked under his pillow after Brittany's cat, Lord Tubbington, napped on it. Then again it's Tina's shirt, as he finds out seconds later, so her messiness is at least good for something. For now Kurt hasn't had much chances to talk to the occupants of the other buses, mainly the other vocalists Noah, Quinn, and Elliott, or Sam, the man working on the technic. However, he cannot fathom them sharing a bus with a cat and someone who puts their socks on other people's pillows for now apparent reason.
Despite himself, Kurt grins fondly as he puts the shirt on Tina's bed. "It could be worse."
"But?"
"But what?"
Mercedes sighs overly loud into the speaker, which is accompanied with a screeching sound that makes Kurt flinch. "Come on, gimme all the gossip. Who sings badly in the shower? Who farts in public? Who picks up things that fell to the floor and eats them?"
While he can actually answer most of those questions, Kurt decides not to tell. It's an unspoken code of honor not to rat out his new friends, who in turn better not blurt out that Kurt has the impressive skill of burping the musical scale and feels comfortable enough around them to proudly present it. Or that he is the one who believes in the sanctity of the 'Three Second Rule', but he thinks she already knows that.
"Ew, Mercedes, what kind of gossip-" Kurt starts but trails off when he hears strange noises coming from the other end of the line.
It sounds like cut off sentences interspersed with the sound of sharp static and he holds the phone away from his ear because it's beginning to hurt. That at least gives him the opportunity to find out that the cause of the disruption, is the weak reception in the area they have parked in.
"Sorry, I can't hear a thing you're saying." He tells her, hoping she can hear him better than he does her. "Just keep on talking while I'll try to fix this."
Theoretically, there should be an easy solution, seeing as he had just spent a minute talking to her and while there had been minor issues, it had worked well enough. Practically, no amount of jumping up and down, holding the phone up like Simba, or actually crouching down on the floor, turns out to help. Instead, the rustling occurs less frequently, yet never subsiding long enough to understand more than her constant 'hellos' and 'Kurts'.
"Fuck." Kurt says loud enough to make Brittany, who lies on her top-bunk bed a few feet away, cover Lord Tubbington's ears. When he notices, he waves his phone at her and explains, "Sorry, it's just the phone won't work."
Brittany grimaces sympathetically, before her face suddenly lights up. "Kurt, wait. I heard the closer you get to the yellow shed - the small one that's close to the supermarket - the better the reception. It's from a save source, right Lord Tubbington?"
The cat meows in return and Kurt is pretty sure that Brittany implied the cat told her about the shed, which does nothing to reassure him of the truthfulness. It's worth a shot though, because between rehearsals, the next performance, and bonding with his new friends, there is not too much time left to talk to his best friend. Kurt's lips form a thank you and he waves goodbye to Brit, before he is headed out of the large bus. The Californian summer heat engulfs him immediately. In the distance he can hear people talk and laugh, and someone playing the drums. The secluded area they have parked in, feels much more comfortable than he had expected it to. He knows that he could go over to whomever is playing and be included, and he can't remember the last time he felt like that. Maybe in Glee club all those years ago, always sitting beside Mercedes and Finn, but knowing he could choose to sit between any of his other friends. All the hassle with Blaine, the quirks of his bus mates and the bad reception feel trivial weighed against the happiness he has finally found.
"Cedes?" Kurt asks, shielding his hands against the sun. He spots the market and the shed in the distance, dreading to walk that far without sunblock on, but prepared to take the risk.
"Yes? -Urt, we -ld -up?"
He squeezes his forehead in frustration but then steps out of the bus's shadow and toward the shed. Halfway there, he notices that it feels further away than it looked, but at least he understands more of what Mercedes is saying over the loud static noises.
"Hello? Can you hear me better now? Hello?" she says agitatedly. "I swear I will fly out to California just to throw your phone into the ocean. Or I will just finally hang up. I told myself I would hang up and yet here I am, still talking to myself because I am that good a friend. Hummel, if you hear me right now, know that you can never make up for that. I am in the park, people hear me talk nonsense into the phone. It's not that crazy for New York but it's a little too crazy for me. I'm literally repeating this for the hundredth time, and now this lady is looking at me very pityingly. I am talking on the phone lady, I actually am."
Kurt laughs out loud, imagining her sitting on a bench in Central Park while people swerve right in order not to pass by her closely and her screaming at a woman. He wished she could be here, melting in the heat with him.
"I can hear you better now." He says quickly, so she does not actually hang up. "It's still bad enough that I can pretend not to have heard you say that I owe you, though."
"Finally," Mercedes screams. "Oh and yes boy, you owe me one."
"Hey, I am probably getting a sunburn for you by walking to the shed with the rumored magic reception, cut me some slack."
The heat of the ground has long penetrated his thin shoe sole. It feels like he is walking on coals, while his head is ready to boil over and spill over to cook on the sand. At least now that Kurt is close to the little shed, Mercedes' voice is received without the annoying background sounds, so while he is left hobbling the last steps to it and looks ridiculous, she will be the one appearing sane. They are even now.
"I will only cut you some slack if you put out with some good old gossip."
Kurt falters in his step, guessing where this would go and hoping he can divert before it takes a turn for worse. "Uhm, alright here it goes. Mike sings while cooking and let's just say he is much better at dancing, and I found one of Tina's shoes hanging above our door-"
Mercedes stops him. "Kurt!"
"Yes?"
"We both know you are avoiding what I obviously want to know." He mentally sees her raise one eyebrow. "And I will now take the opportunity from you to delay this any further from you, by stating that I want to know if you've talked to Blaine."
There's no use in saying he doesn't want to talk about it, he knows her too well to think he actually stands a chance. Mercedes Jones has been his friends for ten years now and they tell each other everything, no matter how embarrassing or sad. It's how he knows that she has two moles beside her left nipple and how she knows that it has been over a year that Kurt has had sex. There are exceptions of course and they would never press if they felt like the other wasn't ready to talk but there are very few. It's because, in moments like this, when he feels like he is pressured to talk, he always notices that he needs to get it off his chest.
"Sadly not much to tell on that part," Kurt admits. "After the concert we were the only ones not drinking and when we ran into each other, he said 'Good dancing tonight' and I said 'Uhuh. Good singing' and then we nodded for far too long and turned around to talk to others."
"You're kidding. Please tell me you're kidding. I thought you had resolved the tension after that phone talk."
Kurt tugs on a few loose hair strands. "That's what I thought, but this was actually the longest conversation we had in weeks."
"I don't get it. Either he has feelings for you and thinks you don't or he lied to you about having forgotten about everything that happened that night. What else could cause this awkwardness between you?"
Kurt is sure that it's not the former because was rejected by a drunk, and likely horny, Blaine after the kiss, so he can rule attraction out. The second option is what has him puzzled since the morning he woke up, hung-over and sadly with a lot of embarrassing memories and one video of him dancing on the bar counter sent to him by Brittany with a winky smiley. Still in bed, Kurt had called Blaine. It felt like the right thing to do then, if he wanted to save face and maintain an amicable relationship with his boss. Blaine hadn't picked up at the first two tries, probably asleep, judging by the tired sound of his voice when he finally answered at the third.
"I- yeah?" Blaine had asked.
"Blaine, uhm, this is Kurt."
A rustling sound was heard, then the voice came back much clearer and alert. "Kurt, hi."
Kurt's stomach had not settled by then, especially considering that he had to soldier on by himself as Blaine was not saying anything more than that. "Sorry to call so early, I just felt like we should talk about last night."
"Last night." It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes, I had too much to drink and I know I said some embarrassing stuff and I did things I am not proud of now that I am sober and hung-over. What happened in the taxi-"
"Listen," Kurt was interrupted. "You don't need to apologize. Actually, last night is kind of a blur from the moment we made you dance on the bar onward. I just remember drinking and I saw the pictures we took on twitter but other than that it's a total blackout. Anyway, you don't need to apologize, it's not like I remember."
"Oh," Kurt said dumbly, "Oh, right, right."
"So, we good?"
"Totally."
In fact, they were anything but good after Blaine had hastily hung up on him. Kurt should have been perfectly fine with that, grateful even, because that meant he didn't need to explain that the kiss was a one-time slip or that he was sorry. It was an easy way out and since all Kurt felt was simple infatuation for the rock star, getting brushed off should not have been disappointing. That it somehow is disappointing, constantly gets on Kurt's nerves, but mostly he shuns such thoughts. The one person he could not keep this from is currently on the phone with him, coming up with more explanations for their stalemate.
"Or he is embarrassed because he thinks he forgot something important." Mercedes rattles on. "Or he has six boyfriends on his side and is scheming how to squeeze you his tight schedule."
"Or we are both just doomed to forever be awkward around each other, which is really bad because it felt a little off dancing with him yesterday."
Mercedes makes a humming noise."If it makes you feel any better, the fans did not feel like you two were off. There was a small riot on twitter and yes, praise my foresight, most are tagged with Klainerz."
That does not make Kurt feel any better, because it reminds him of the hundreds of new followers he has and the creepy tweets he receives daily. "Most tweets of them are disturbing.I recall some tweets about how our zodiac signs correlate, which I am pretty sure is not even accurate." He says, only then noticing that he is finally a mere feet away from the shed. "One guy always calls us his babies and newlyweds, if that is not creepy, what is?"
She clears her throat, before saying, "May I remind you of the time you read NPH and David Burtka fanfic? How is it any different from your fans and their shipping?"
The blush on his cheeks he can blame on the sun, even knowing that it is likely caused by the reminder of darker times.
"That's different." He says confidently. "Blaine and I not together. In fact we are so very, veeery far from it."
"Oh, but that is something you'd change in a heartbeat if you could."
Kurt gladly takes cover in the small shadow cast by the shed, leaning his back against the warm wood. There is a little truth in what Mercedes says but he cannot even admit that to himself most of the time. While there is undeniable chemistry between them, two substances bursting up in heat when he looks into Blaine's eyes, Kurt is still far from falling for him. The distance they've been keeping recently may be the key for it to remain that way.
"Stop it, there is nothing going on. I am pretty sure I am just kept as a dancer because another audition was just inconvenient."
"Nonsense. You work so hard on your dancing and you know it. They'd be the biggest fools if they fired you over this."
"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that Blaine seems to dislike me ever since that night."
"I am telling you, Blainerz hasn't forgotten that kiss." Mercedes says with conviction. "He is just pretending."
Kurt looks into the covered window of the shed, seeing his reflection. He turns away. "What if he does remember it? Wouldn't that just mean that kissing me was so repulsive that he'd rather pretend it didn't happen than to risk me admitting that I liked it?"
"So you did like it." She screams but quickly stops herself when she reads his mood, noticing his silence. "Sorry. So, what now?"
"I don't know. I just want to get along with him. I could use a good friend who understands."
She must know how he means that, after all she has seen him grow up, seen him be different from the kids in Ohio and she had similar problems, since she was one of the only black kids at school. That night, he had felt like he and Blaine, as different as the rocker seemed, were alike. Too bad that he'd never have the chance to truly find out.
"What if you tried to talk to him once more?" Mercedes suggests. "Just you two, at some place where he cannot have an excuse to run away to."
"And where would tha-"
That is as far as Kurt comes, before he jumps a little in shock as he hears steps from behind him and turns to see none other than Blaine walk around the shed towards him. The sheepish look Blaine wears, makes him look guilty, as if he is not as surprised to see Kurt as he is to see him. Blaine raises his phone to show him and shrugs.
"Kurt? Is it the reception again?"
"No, uhm, sorry." He hurries to answer Mercedes, turning away from Blaine. "I just ran into Blaine and-"
"Blaine? Oh my god, I am hanging up right now. Go solve whatever it is between you, hopefully with some sexy time and then call to tell me. I repeat, call me after - right after. No delay."
"Mercedes!"
She laughs loudly. "Just, I don't know. Tell him I had a...dishwasher emergency or something. You'll think of a better excuse. Bye."
For a while he stands there, still uselessly holding the phone to his ear long after she hung up, in favor of immediately facing Blaine, who is not stupid enough not to get that they were talking about him. Blaine is not stupid enough to believe such excuses. He can't be.
"Her, her uhm, dishwasher just had an emergency." Kurt hastily tries to correct himself, "I mean, it broke so that was an emergency and she had to hang up to call a mechanic."
Blaine smiles down at the ground, suppressing a laugh. Kurt is stupid, so very stupid.
"That's too bad." Blaine finally says to break the silence. "I just, I came here because there was is no reception anywhere else."
Kurt nods. "Me too."
Just like that the silence is back, loaded with the awkwardness of the last few weeks but with no way to be averted this time. It almost feels like a thick entity weighing Kurt down and with it, his tongue, before it can blurt out more embarrassing excuses why he suddenly hung up when seeing Blaine.
"Kurt, I-" Blaine starts at the same time as Kurt says, "Have y-". That, as always, leads to the polite insisting on the other speaking first. Blaine gives in first.
The wringing of Blaine's hands is the only thing revealing his nervousness, which in turn calms Kurt slightly. His eyes flicker up to Blaine's, which leads to both of them swiftly glancing away like they both intended to make this moment even more awkward than it already was.
"I should head back." Blaine looks to where the busses are parked, rocking on his heels. "It's just that we still have to plan the charity concert and you know how Santana can get when someone's late. It's twice as bad when I'm late. Also I haven't talked to my grandma for some time."
Kurt nods, feeling the knots in his throat wander downward into his stomach. "Yeah, right."
"Alright. We'll see each other at dinner tonight?"
Kurt feels embarrassed enough he'd agree to anything to get Blaine and the awkwardness of this as far away from himself as possible. That's why his initial instinct is to say 'sure' and then wait until Blaine is far enough away before he can leave too. It's already on his lips, before he stops himself as another thought crosses his mind. This, all of this, is not his own fault. He did make their easy relationship awkward first by kissing Blaine, but he had also been the one to call and try to get it off the table. Blaine brushed it off. Blaine hadn't turned up to most dancing rehearsals in order to avoid him. Blaine sat as far away at the table as he could. And now Blaine very likely has listened in to Kurt's private conversation and is the one fleeing.
Kurt feels validated to be angry and to snarl, "You know what? I'll walk with you. There's something I wanted to talk with you about anyway."
In turn, Blaine looks as shocked as Kurt is at his own courage, and eventually nods. The heat of the sun as they step out of the shadow, acts as fertilizer for Kurt's fury, which is why it doesn't take more than a few seconds of silence before he breaks it.
"I suppose you heard me talking on the phone?" Kurt asks and doesn't even try to mask his feelings. He wants Blaine to feel guilty.
"I- yes. Sorry but it was impossible not to."
"Great, just great." Kurt kicks the sand to his feet, happy when the wind carries it against Blaine's jeans. "It's not like you could have come forward when you heard me approach."
Blaine raises his hands. "It wasn't my intention to spy on you or anything, really. I was just too cowardly to come around the shed sooner until I realized it was me you were talking about and I started feeling guilty. I'm sorry."
Blaine does sound sincere and as much as Kurt hates to admit it, that causes him to feel less inclined to resent him. He rolls his eyes at his own easy compliance, but blames it on the quick glance at Blaine's puppy eyes. Damn those eyes.
"What's done is done." Kurt says and trains his gaze on the busses. "It's not like we have any kind of relationship I could ruin further by embarrassing myself."
"Hey, that's not true. We're friends, aren't we?"
Kurt's eyes furrow and he crosses his arms in front of his chest as Blaine's questions circles in his head. The brief moment of peace is immediately crushed.
"Are we, though?" Kurt spits at him, this time not avoiding his eyes but preening when it's Blaine's turn to do so. "Because I can't recall a time you said more than a few words to me since we kissed. And yes, we kissed. Don't dare to pretend again that you forgot. You didn't. It's kind of easy to tell when you can't even look at me, let alone dance with me without stiffening. Do I repulse you that much? Is that it?"
Blaine blushes and his mouth opens and closes. This is all the answer Kurt needs to fasten his pace and leave Blaine trailing behind, while he wishes he could just pack his bags and never return. He has to keep this job though, even if it means touring several months with a man that acts this childish about something as simple as a drunken kiss.
"Kurt, wait." Blaine calls and he seems to gain on him. "Please, I can explain."
Kurt just shakes his head and keeps on walking. He doesn't even stop when Blaine puts a hand on his shoulder from behind, he simply shrugs it off. It's the distress in Blaine's voice, but foremost the admission that follows that finally make him halt.
"I remember the kiss. You're right. Shit, I remember it, ok? Happy?" Kurt turns in time to see Blaine bite down on his lower lip, before shaking his head. "Fuck, I just thought it would be easier not talking about it."
Weirdly, the first thought running through Kurt's mind is 'this is the first time I've heard him curse', but then he is back on track. "So the kiss was that horrible, huh?"
"No!" Blaine says with a conviction that makes Kurt's toes curl momentarily. It only lasts until Blaine goes on. "No, it's just that admitting that I still know about it would have made everything much more complicated."
"This isn't complicated now? Because not talking is pretty damn complicated to me."
"Kurt, you're not making this any easier by getting pissed at everything I say."
Kurt huffs, and yes, rolls his eyes just to showcase how ridiculous he thinks Blaine is being. Clearly, he is not the one who should be blamed for anything.
"I just wanted us to be friends." Blaine pulls at the curls on his forehead. "We were both drunk and I didn't want that one slip of yours to be something that you would always worry about coming between our friendship, so I lied. I fucked up, okay? That night in the bar was really one of the best I ever had and I thought if we could so easily be friends that would make everything on tour equally simple. Kissing and then one of us potentially developing feelings, that just seemed so complicated, but take a look at us now. My plan backfired and now we can't even be friends and it's not like I did anything to try and change that in the past month."
His heart is allowed a brief moment of mourning until Kurt reigns those emotions in. It's not a real loss, because whatever feelings he had were for the imaginary boyfriend Blaine could have been and not for the man actually standing in front of him. It was just one night, it was just one kiss. It was a nice fantasy but he prefers the reality, and this reality presents him with a great friendship if he only takes the hand offered.
So Kurt reaches out and says, "I think someone with such bad calculation skills could use me as a friend to stop him from further self-sabotaging. So this is just an act of my utter kindness and selflessness. What do you say?"
Blaine looks up, surprised, but doesn't take Kurt's hand. Instead Kurt finds himself engulfed in too warm, sweaty arms and slowly relaxes into the embrace. If hugs are all he will get out of this friendship ever, he still thinks it's a good deal. Even very sweaty ones.
Once they return to the busses, Kurt finds the sunscreen underneath Tina's jeans, applies it and returns to the shed to call Mercedes. The next five minutes are spent listening to her squeals.
Klainer #Klainerz . 10 hours
Blainerz'll pull K close after the last song and kiss him because he cant wait anymore. He'll whisper promises of dirty sex and
Klainer #Klainerz . 10 hours
nowait. B will pretend to show K smt on stage and he will sing him a new song, LOVESONG, and then he'll fuck K hard over the drums. I NEED FICS NOW!
Mintymoo #MooMooMoo . 9 hours
#Klainerz URGH. Just stop! You're giving me so many feels…contemplating writing
Dsluve #Blainerzdominance . 8 hours
Anyone else get dom!Blainerz vibes? Know what that means? #SubK #DomB #NEEDTHISASAP
Mercedes #Mercstar . 32 minutes
At everyone: you won't get any info about Klainerz from me so quit trying.
Mercedes #Mercstar . 28 minutes
& you #RusselTheHussel & #hateblogforsuree better keep your homophobic shit away from them.
There are things Kurt has learned over the course of the three days he had been on tour that likely are life lessons. The first is to never trust people's smiles. The second is to never assume that everyone looks where they are dancing.
All of those lessons form in Kurt's head as he is panting in the dirt, drenched in more sweat than he had prior to this thought his body could produce, and his whole left side hurting where someone has collided with him. His teeth are clenched tightly but it's still possible to press out curse words, very similar to the ones he hears the body next to him hiss. He blinks his eyes open to see Elliott Gilbert slowly sit up, face in a grimace of pain.
"Kurtsy! Elsa!" Brittany calls and Kurt sees her run over. "Oh my god, what happened?"
What happened is this: Kurt woke up in his bunk this morning, well rested and happy because for the first time this tour had the potential to be great again. Blaine and he had sat together at dinner the night before and they had had a quick talk at breakfast, before departing to their different schedules. Phenomenon had a radio interview scheduled for this day and Brit had mentioned a workout plan. The weather had cooled down slightly, the bus smelled clean, Tina had strewn her clothes onto Mike's bed for a change and all was well.
All was well before Brittany had ordered the dancers, the background singers and Sam - God knows why Sam - to the empty field behind the parking lot for 'Brit's Workout Challenge: Barf Edition'. She had said that with the biggest smile, which should have been a warning. Everyone had taken the title as a joke. Here's a hint they shouldn't have.
All the dancers, even Sam, are used to physical exhaustion and workouts, so while the first twenty minutes of jumping-jacks, squats and sprints were challenging, they were manageable for them. The backing vocalists did not fare as well. Noah Puckerman, a man with an atrocious red mohawk, may act like he works on his muscles every day but he was the first to be yelled into submission by Brittany when he tried to give up during the sixth lap around the lot. The only one of the three who had enough stamina to get through the first phase of the challenge was Quinn Fabray, a petite, pink-haired woman with lots of facial piercings. Elliott Gilbert, the man with tattoo arm sleaves, had panted and heaved through it, barely looking alive.
"Why do we have to be here? We're not even dancers, we just stand around and sing. This is bullshit!" Puck had growled at Brittany, who was still smiling happily.
"Because!"
"Because what?"
Brittany clapped into her hands. "Because I say so. Now to round two."
Round two proved difficult even to the dancers and more so for the singers and Kurt's request to have a break to grab water was immediately shut down. Considering the still smoldering heat and the fact that he had likely exuded the whole content of the first bottle of water, the third and hopefully last part of the challenge was an impossible task. Only Brittany was still smiling and singing along to the song she put on through a boombox as she showed them a choreo no one else had the power to mirror.
It was to no one's surprise, least of all Kurt's, that eventually one of them got too exhausted and mixed up which side to jump to. It was just his luck that it had been Elliot dancing beside him and that he is the reason they are currently still trying to breathe through the pain.
"Can you stand?" Tina asks, holding his hand while Mike pulls him onto his feet. "Oh God, do you need a doctor? Should I call an ambulance?"
Kurt shakes his head, which proves to increase the headache forming on his left side. It's Elliott who voices his thoughts. "I think Kurt and I should just go lie down inside for a while."
"Are you sure? You could have a concussion. That happens quicker than you'd think." Quinn says, sounding concerned.
"You could check up on us when you're done?" Kurt offers and already feels better than he allows himself to show, because he fears he will make good on Brit's promise to vomit if he does another lap.
Elliott slings an arm around his shoulder after being helped up. "And we can look out for eachother in the meantime. That also gives us a chance to listen to the interview of the band and report the important parts back to you."
He sounds way too chipper for someone who's supposed to be hurt, Kurt thinks, but no one else looks suspicious. If anything, they look terrified of more training, which picks up Elliott and Kurt are not even halfway to the busses. The boombox wails out the band's song for the umpteenth time, probably drowning out the pained cries of the dancers. Meanwhile, Elliott's arm is still slung over his shoulder, stuck by the heat and sweat but it doesn't really bother Kurt. They haven't had much time to talk, but Elliott is quite handsome, especially with his glasses on and smoothly shaven, and who was Kurt to deny this chance of getting to know him better. Since Blaine is not an option, Elliott may be if Kurt's gaydar is working correctly.
"I am so sorry for being such a klutz." Elliott apologizes when they arrive at the first, bus and pass it. "I swear I am usually not that clumsy but Brittany's workout really wiped me out. Are you badly hurt?"
Kurt grins at him, only then realizing how close their heads are and how the color of Elliott's eyes is beautiful up close. He certainly is handsome and he looks at Kurt like he thinks the same of him, even with his hair plastered onto his forehead and dirt on his cheek.
Kurt's voice is breathy when he says, "No, not at all. Are you?"
Elliott winks at him."Thankfully not. Can I tell you a secret?" Kurt nods. "While I am truly, horribly sorry for hurting you, escaping the vomit-course means finally having a chance to talk to you. For that I'm glad."
They come to a halt in front of the door to the dancers' bus. Kurt reluctantly steps out from under Elliott's arm, which really sticks to his skin slightly, and presses the door open before looking back at him. It irks Kurt that he can't read Elliott's facial expression to understand the implication.
"And why is that?"
"Because I think we have a lot in common." Elliott replies and before Kurt can process, he is asked, "Can I come in?"
Kurt's mouth is dry and his tongue sticks to the roof of his mouth so he just nods and takes the steps up into the bus. For a moment he imagines all the things they could do in so much empty space but his thoughts quickly move on to which of his bus mates would be the least bothered by Elliott lying down in their bed and decides for Tina. Her bed is opposite his and this is his retribution for her scattering problem.
Kurt tells him to lie down on her bed and before lying down on his own, facing the vocalist but closing his eyes. He wonders what time it is, if they have already missed the interview or if it hasn't even started and he almost drifts off when Elliott suddenly speaks up.
"I've been the backing vocalist of Phenomenon to a few charity concerts but this is my first tour with them, you know? It still feels like such a privilege to work with someone as talented as Blainerz. He is an incredible lead but I think what's outstanding about him is his stage presence and his persona. People notice that he is genuine and that he loves what he does. It shows whenever he sings."
Now Kurt is fully awake and sits up to see Elliott smirk and cock his pierced eyebrow. Somehow Kurt feels challenged to up Elliot by complimenting Blaine even more, but he refrains.
"I get what you mean, I feel privileged, too. Blaine really is great at what he does."
"You are, too." Elliott says and his face softens. "The fans are already crazy about you, I've seen the tweets and a lot of them are about your hips and ass. I hope it doesn't offend you when I say that I agree with them. You really know how to move and hot dancers are really what gives the band the last kick."
"Thank you."
"If you ever have time you could give me a few dancing lessons and thus prevent further accidents from happening."
That makes Kurt laugh. "I think I could manage to do that, since it's for the greater good."
"You're right, it's just a favor for the rest of the world."
Kurt startles when Elliott stands up and crosses the few feet between their beds to sit down on his, pressed right next to him. His skin is hot where it touches Kurt's and it feels sticky and suddenly unwelcome. It's not like Elliott isn't nice or handsome, but something feels a bit off. Enough for Kurt to get up and be glad to have an excuse available.
"We should turn on the radio," He says and moves to the little radio alarm clock on near Mike's bed. "Just in case the others really want to know more about it."
"We could just tell them we slept through it and actually talk a bit more," Elliott suggests but by then Kurt has already switched on the device and punched in the radio station. Kurt pretends not to hear his sigh when he sits back down on his bed but leaves a few feet between them, which is easy as he has turned the volume up fairly loud.
The tension he has felt vanishes by the second song the station plays, no thanks to it being the Phenomenon song that he is sure Brittany is still torturing the others with. Elliott and Kurt look at each other when Blaine's recorded voice belts out the familiar lyrics that they both mouth along with, before they start laughing uncontrollably. Kurt's arms then lazily mimic the workout choreo while Elliott chimes in a harmony that is not on the recording and the song is over so much quicker than it was when they were outside, training to it.
"That was-" Kurt starts to say but Elliot interrupts him, a finger to his mouth.
"The interview!"
He's right, the radio hostess introduces the band enthusiastically, naming each member and referring to Blainerz as 'the heartthrob of any and everyone'. Both Elliott and he lean forward, listening closely to the interview. The band talks about the kickoff of the tour after the release of the new album 'Splinters' and a charity concert, which Blaine is overly excited about. Its proceeds go to the WWF, which he says he wholeheartedly supports and the hostess, Katy, comments on the tattoo of the panda on his arm. Kurt wonders why he never paid more attention to Blaine's tattoos and decides he will make up for that later. It's mostly stuff he already knows from there on out, like where else they will have concerts, and how lazy Santana's pug Razor is, and what touring is like, so Kurt's thoughts start to drift away. He thinks about Blaine, about how little he knows him and what their friendship will be like. There's always the potential that they won't like each other in a month, but there's also the possibility that someday he will be there, with Mercedes and him on the couch watching trashy horror movies in 2031. Kurt is still thinking about 'what ifs', when his ears pick up the word 'Klainerz' that immediately alerts him and he begins to listen carefully.
"- fans have come up with after you posted a picture on twitter of you and one of your dancers." Katy says and immediately the band begins to laugh. Kurt thinks he hears Nick repeat the sentence 'you will dance every night, Blainerz. Dance every night.' and Blaine tell him to shut up.
When everyone has calmed down, Blaine's amused voice answers, "Yes, it seems the name Klainerz has stuck the most of all the to why there even is this rumor, I can just say that it was a very long night and Kurt and I thought it'd be funny to have a shipper name, seeing as we are dancing very intimately on the tour."
"That reminds me of that time people said you and Adrian Jesse were a couple. The hashtag Bladrian trended three times last year alone but since then the rumors have died down." The hostess says. "We haven't heard much of you two for the past few months which is a pity. Can you tell us why that is? Are you still friends?"
It's eerily silent for an elongated moment, where no sound but bird chirping is broadcasted. "Adrian is quite busy working on his career." Jeff says. Then Nick chimes in, "Right, and we're busy with our own tour."
The hostess seems to read the mood and steers back."That is true. For all the fans listening, the show is not yet sold out in most cities and if you need more than their incredible songs to convince you think of all the new, pretty dancers."
Santana laughs. "They are very pretty indeed."
"The two new additions are Kurt and Mike, so there's a lot of room for interesting dance partners. That reminds me, Blainerz,the fans think you and this dancer, Kurt, are an item. So are there, or are there not more juicy details for all the Klainerz out there?"
Blaine huffs. "Let's just say that Kurt and I are very close and that it never hurts to believe in some things."
Elliott looks at Kurt, he know because he can see it from the corner of his eye. He also knows that his cheeks are cherry red, but he has yet to decide whether he is just flustered or excited. 'What?' Elliott mouths at him and Kurt just shrugs his shoulder in return.
The hostess laughs and says,"Wow that sounds promising. Any messages for your fans?"
The band members answer by thanking for the support and by hoping they'll see them at their concerts, but it's Blaine's answer that sticks out.
"Never quit believing guys."
Kurt pretends to be in on the joke with Blaine when Elliott asks him outright what this meant, but is glad when he finally gets him to go to his own bus to lie down after a few tense minutes. He wants to be alone to mull over those two simple sentences, said so casually by Blaine and still possessing so much weight. Even after an hour he doesn't come to any reasonable conclusion as to why Blaine would give the fans fuel after completely shutting down any hopes of them being more than friends, but he is really curious as to what Blaine has to offer as an explanation. His phone buzzes with a message from Blaine that says "Meet me at my bus in 10?'
Moi #neverquitbelievingguys . 3 minutes
asjdhksadhjd. MY HEART! They are a couple! BLAINERZ WANTS ME DEAD! #HeyKlainerzIhavethebetterusername
Klainer #Klainerz . 3 minutes
HOLY SHIT! HOLYYY SHIT! I TOLD YOU SO! I TOLD YOU! TREND IT! #neverquitbelieving
Klainer #Klainerz . 2 minutes
#neverquitbelievingguys At least tag me if you want to start this bitchfight. #originalKlainer #ujealousbitch
Meauw #kittycatcatcat . 2 minutes
KLAINERZ RIOT! It is on guys. celebratory fic anyone? Klainerzfics ? #neverquitbelieving
Ruzz #RusselTheHussle . 2 minutes
104.4radio It's in the middle of the day. Kids could listen to this fag talking about having fag sex. Is that even legal?
Klainerzfics #Klainerzfics . 1 minute
GUYS GUYS GUYS. Of course we'll write something. Find our fics here -
/Zfjh1enT232
Kurt does wait for him at the band's bus, even after fifteen minutes have passed. With every additional minute he just gets more frustrated as his head still tries to wrap around the interview and the mystery of Blaine. Minute seventeen is when he starts pacing and biting his nails. Minute nineteen sees his fourth nail saved the mistreatment with the approach of steps and chatter. The four of them are laughing until Jeff points to Kurt and Kurt can enjoy the moment the whole group freezes and looks at Blaine, who shoves his hands in his pockets and ducks his head.
"Good luck, pal." Nick says and pats Blaine on his back hard enough to shove him slightly into Kurt's direction. "Sure you'll need it."
Blaine flips him off, then he walks over to Kurt while the rest stay behind. His teeth are worrying at his lower lip again and his shoulders are slumped and he resembles a kicked puppy, which Kurt tries to not be affected by.
"Hey, Kurt." Blaine luckily does not attempt to pull him into a hug like he usually does with his friends. He just stands there and hold up the key to the bus. "Could we discuss this inside?"
Kurt plasters on a fake smile and nods. In return Blaine gives him a grateful look before he unlocks the door and climbs up first. Kurt follows him in. The inside of the bus is basically the same as the one Kurt shares, which is a surprise. He would have thought the band members granted themselves a bit more luxury but apart from a bit more space between the beds, the interior is kept simple. Blaine sits down cross-legged on the bed opposite a window and then pats the space in front of him. After letting him sweat, Kurt sits.
When Blaine doesn't begin to talk right away, Kurt cocks his head and waits. His nerves flutter the more Blaine plays with his bedspread instead of just telling him what drove him to say such things at the radio station. The silence stretches so long that Kurt finally snaps.
"Are you going to explain soon? That is, if there is an explanation for this?"
Blaine looks up at him and sighs. "You heard the interview I assume?" Kurt rolls his eyes, so Blaine continues, "Then this must seem so weird and random to you."
"Yes, Blaine, which is why I came to hear you make sense of this. Because you are right, this is totally weird and random to me." He rips the bedspread out of Blaine's hands and starts fiddling with it. His voice is calm when he says, "You wanted this to not be complicated. You wanted us to be friends and that is not what you implied when you encouraged those Klainerz not to give up hoping on us. What is it that they should hope for? I doubt it's friendship they want to see according to their twitter messages to me."
"I do want us to be friends, Kurt."
"Then why did you say all this? Do you think everythings a joke? It's not to me."
Blaine causes Kurt to look up when he clears his throat. It's obvious that Blaine doesn't want to talk about it but he cannot let him off the hook. He needs to know if there is the tiniest chance that Blaine realized that he'd like to date him. That's why he waits until Blaine feels forced to tell.
"It's all because of the radio host." Blaine admits.
"What about her?"
Blaine lets the back of his head thud against the wall. "I don't know if you listened to the whole broadcast but she asked me about my ex, which she wasn't supposed to."
"Adrian?" Kurt asks, because he needs clarification.
"Yes, Adrian," Blaine snarls. "We dated for a year and we just recently broke up. Or, to be accurate, he broke up with me because I had introduced him to enough people he could use for his own success, so he didn't need me any longer. Now he's dating the boss of another record label and works on his own album. Nice, huh? He left me for someone twice his age and told me he never loved me anyway. Basically he dated me to become famous and now that he has better options I was no longer that useful."
In lack of anything else to say, Kurt squeezes his hand. "I'm sorry, Blaine."
"That little rat rode my coattail to success and when she asked me about him I just didn't know what to say. It was so stupid but I wanted him to hear that I had moved on as well." Blaine explains, looking at Kurt pleadingly. "You were right, my plans suck and I'm sorry I used you to try and make him jealous."
Kurt closes his eyes. There were times when he had been in similar situations, people using him and then dropping him and the need to prove to them that it didn't hurt even if it did. The circumstances may be different but he understands why Blaine did it and he can't say he feels angry any longer.
"Technically, you didn't say we were a couple," Kurt states with a grin. "Also, technically, I am all for making assholes jealous, even if the revenge plan involves using me. And it's not like it isn't flattering to be desired by the heartthrob of the nation."
Blaine looks at him questioningly before his frown disappears and he winks. "Damn right." He gives Kurt's hands a squeeze. "But I am still sorry."
"No need to be," Kurt says. "Our fans will thank you for it. I am honestly a little scared to log into my twitter account."
"Oh, there's a riot alright. I checked while I was riding the cab and I couldn't scroll down through all of it because there were tons. The Klainerz are already planning our wedding. I think I saw a manip of us in matching black suits. We looked very dapper."
Kurt imagines it and laughs. "You know that nothing will convince them now that we're just friends? Every time they see us talk they will say that we are confessing our affection, or, god beware, talking about having kids."
Blaine pokes into Kurt's side."Little Grant and his sister Leo?"
"No, Blaine, we talked about this." Kurt slaps off his hand. "We only want one child. What will the fans think about us bickering so early in our relationship?"
He waits for Blaine to continue joking about this, but when there is no reply Kurt looks over to see him deep in thought. There is a chance that this is part of an act and Kurt wants to say that they had this discussion several times, when Blaine suddenly sits up and grabs him by the shoulders.
"Kurt!" Blaine screams at him, brightly smiling.
"Blaine?"
"The people will never be convinced that all we are is friends, right?"
Kurt frowns. "Yes, I believe that is what I already stated a few seconds ago."
"And are you offended by that accusation?"
He thinks he knows where this is heading, even if that thought would be ridiculous. That doesn't stop Kurt's heart from speeding up.
"No? I mean, I am single so it's not like rumors could do much harm. All it is, is the fans interpreting things into our actions that are baseless-"
"Exactly." Blaine bounces a little in the bed, causing Kurt to do the same. "The Klainerz will think of us as a couple even if we are not acting like one at all. So what if we gave them a bit more to fangirl about?"
"Where is this headed, Blaine?"
"Well, our tour is not sold out yet, because this album has received a lot of bad critique so we could use some publicity. Simultaneously, I could make my ex jealous with both success and a new potential boyfriend and all it would take is a few vague words and getting photographed together here and there. You said it yourself, the Klainerz think talking means we're in love but what if we could convince others that the rumor may be true?"
While this is exactly what Kurt has imagined Blaine would say, it still feels like his blood is clotting as everything comes to a stasis. He is not sure if he can trust his ears, or trust his brain to understand what Blaine is offering but Blaine is still going on.
"More people would notice you and your incredible dancing as well and maybe the band will have to fight them to keep you. I think it's a win-win. If more people came to see the show, we could pay the staff more and all we two have to do to achieve this, is be friends in public. Just talking or drinking together or a bit of whispering here and there. What do you say?"
Even if it is just dancing in a public club or saying how great they get along when a reporter ask them, it will feel like they are deceiving the fans. Then again they won't ever outright lie to the fans and people assume either way. Kurt stares at Blaine, who looks so hopeful and convinced of his own idea and Kurt is the one who promised to veto every bad plan, which this definitely is, but he cannot bring himself to this time.
"Come on, I think Adrian and the Bladrian fans need a little competition from the much better ship Klainerz, don't you think? We won't even have to kiss or hold hands or anything other than just having fun together. And it will be fun, I promise."
Kurt knows it will be, because it means spending time with Blaine. They could end up falling for each other like people do in rom . That doesn't happen in real life. At least he thinks it won't happen to Blaine, which points to him being alone in this if he falls. Kurt wants to say no. He really does.
"As your advisor, I declare this plan as ludicrous." Kurt watches as Blaine's whole body deflates. "Which is why I don't know why I'm agreeing to it."
"Really?" Blaine asks and before Kurt can answer he is already tackled onto the bed.
What's the harm in pretending, if lying in each other's arms on Blaine's bed is already included in their friendship? There won't be much acting needed to convince people that there is more going on between them, Kurt thinks.
KlainerzFics
Shot through the Heart
Summary: When Blainerz gets to the hotel after the radio interview, Kurt wants to know if he meant what he said. Blainerz isn't good at talking so he shows Kurt with his tongue, all alone in his bus, all alone in his bed.
Rating: M
Warnings: Bondage, Dirty Talk.
There were three knocks to the door. Rapid. Urgent. Angry. Blainerz knew that no one could misinterpret the slip-up he had done at the interview and that it would affect his whole life, but that didn't bother him. It was Kurt whose life would take a 180 degree turn. The paps would be lurking for them at every corner from now on and every normalcy Kurt may have had would be history. That is what he wanted to apologize for as soon as the door opened, but instead he saw Kurt's angry face, his sexy, incredibly distracting scowl and the words slipped from Blainerz' mind. With no words to express, all his lips were good for was kissing Kurt, and kissing Kurt he did, Blainerz' tongue writing letters against his.
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