A/N: Thanks to cold kagome and ashwita ashok for reviewing the last chapter. :):)
Sorry for the long-ish wait. In my defense, this chapter is slightly longer? :)
Warning: Disturbing themes relating to stalking.
Kurt had, as promised to himself, called Blaine the very next morning. Apologized and mumbled out some lie; either that he was sick or his phone had broken. Everything had passed by in such a blur that he wasn't sure which excuse he had given.
But, whatever had happened, it appeared that Blaine had believed him, much to Kurt's relief. Although Kurt could not dispel the sense of unease and awkwardness whenever he talked to him. Blaine seemed steadfastly oblivious to Kurt's sudden shyness. A small miracle that Kurt was extremely grateful for. Maybe one day things will get back to normal for me.
A couple of days after his surprisingly successful conversation with Blaine, Kurt walked over to his locker.
His hair was wet from washing it in the restroom sink, after yet another Slushie shower in the middle of the day. Slushies were the jock's only weapon of choice for the past few weeks, since he had recently been leaving at the end of the day with the rest of the Glee club members and there had been little opportunity for the bullies to corner him in the janitors closet as usual.
They took out their frustration on the other submissive males at the school. Kurt sympathetically noticed their miserable faces and rope burns. But, sympathy was as far as it went. Better them than me.
He knew thinking that was selfish, but he didn't care. He had an out from the worst of the bullying, now it was someone else's turn. There was nothing he could do to help them, any more than he could help himself before.
His only fear was that the jocks would find some way to retaliate against him, for managing to evade them. Just don't think about it. You'll be fine.
Brushing aside his thoughts, he entered the code and opened his locker. He reached in to grab his hairspray, in the vain hope that he could salvage his messy hair. Then, he noticed a small pink envelope laying innocently on the bottom of his locker.
Kurt stared at it in confusion for a moment. What...
Hairspray forgotten, he cautiously picked it up. Just someone pulling a prank. There's probably something really gross in here. I should throw it away.
He stared at it indecisively for a moment, throw it away, throw it away. But, curiosity grew stronger than his common sense. Before tearing it open he gave it an experimental sniff, if it smelled like something gross then he would put it in the trash, he decided.
It didn't, it smelled almost smelled like roses. Not bad at all. His heartbeat sped up in his chest. What is this?
His decision made for him, he tore it open, biting his lip nervously, not sure what he was expecting.
It contained a slip of crisp ivory paper. He pulled it out, reading it swiftly.
Roses are red
Violets are blue
And no one
Is as beautiful as you
A few crushed rose petals dotted the page, lending their fresh scent.
Kurt blinked, a love letter? He had not been expecting that
A warm blush stole over his cheeks as he smiled in pleasant surprise to himself. The concept of someone finding him, of all people, attractive and even beautiful, was foreign to say the least. What this anonymous stranger saw in him, he had no idea. Kurt knew that his appearance was unusual, and he tried to look his best. But, beautiful? No way.
He picked the envelope back up, about to put the paper back in, when something slipped out of the envelope, spilling out onto the bottom of his locker.
An icy hand clenched over his heart, his former warm feelings now eclipsed by dread when he saw what it was.
Photos of him, all photos of him. Grainy, like they were taken with a cell phone camera. In class, looking attentively at the teacher. Walking home, bag slung over his shoulder. In the school hallway. All were taken from far away, as though the person taking them was struggling not to be seen.
Kurt picked up another one, unlike the others this one wasn't taken from far away. It was a close-up of his face. His eyes were closed, his face relaxed and peaceful, asleep. The flash from the almost loving shot of the camera, gave his pale skin a delicate and ethereal glow. Blood was caked on his temple. Not asleep, knocked out.
He remembered this, it had happened a few months ago. One of the bullies had gotten overenthusiastic when beating him up, making him pass out when they hadn't intended to. He had later woken up, stuffed in the janitor's closet, disoriented and aching.
Apparently this person, whoever they were, had snuck in and taken a picture of him. A memento.
Kurt shivered, creepy, and put the photo back, picking up another one.
This one looked like it was taken through a crack in a door. He was sitting in one of the choir room chairs, looking down at his phone and smiling. Kurt paled significantly as he realized what it was. It hadn't been my imagination, there had been someone looking at me. God, for how long?
Kurt looked at the last photo, and his heart jumped into his throat, beating erratically. This time it wasn't a photo of him. It was of the outside of his house. This person knows where I live.
He quelled a rising whimper and looked around frantically. A couple of people passing by, a few at their lockers. None of them appeared to be paying attention to him, but maybe it just seemed that way. It could be anyone, he could be anywhere, he could be looking at him right now.
Kurt had a strict policy against skipping school, and it took every ounce of his willpower to not run out the doors right after he saw those pictures. He wasn't even sure why they frightened him so much. After all, maybe this mystery person was just shy and had an unusual way of expressing that he liked Kurt. Logically he knew that could be it, but his instincts screamed otherwise. Run, danger, run.
He spent the rest of the school day jumpy and on edge, as a result. When the day finally ended, he practically ran to his car, closing the door behind him shakily. There was only one person he could talk to about this, and that was Blaine. He had to see him.
He hurriedly sent Blaine a warning text that he was going to be coming over, and that he hoped he didn't mind, because he had to talk to him about something important.
This wasn't something he could deal with alone, no matter what his pride demanded.
Kurt parked in front of the Anderson house. He hadn't ever been invited over to Blaine's home before.
It was a fairly typical upper class suburban two-story home. Whitewashed walls, manicured lawn, everything you'd expect.
Kurt cautiously walked up to the door, praying that they wouldn't have an overenthusiastic Labrador, which would complete the image of the perfect suburban house quite nicely. Kurt found dogs to be too, well, slobbery and hairy for his tastes. Every dog he had ever encountered seemed to sense that and made it their life mission to change his opinion by following him around and drooling on him as much as possible. So far, it hadn't worked.
He rang the doorbell and only waited a moment before the front door was opened by Blaine.
Blaine was dressed casually in loose grey sweatpants and a white t-shirt, feet bare. His hair curly and free of the gel that usually confined it. A pair of black framed glasses perched nonchalantly on his nose.
"Hey, Kurt." Blaine said, smiling widely and sincerely.
"Hi." Kurt replied, with a small blush.
And Kurt definitely wasn't trying not to think about how attractive Blaine looked when he was dressed so casually, and without all that gel in his hair. Nope, not thinking about it at all.
Blaine stepped to the side, an unspoken invitation for Kurt to come in.
Kurt stepped inside the home, but not before allowing himself a nervous glance over his shoulder. He almost expected to see a shadowy figure watching him. But, there was no one. The street deserted, with the sole exception of an overweight grey tabby cat napping on the lawn across the way.
Feeling a tiny ounce of comfort from that, but the uneasy pit in his stomach still not completely gone, he stepped inside.
The inside of the house was just as orderly as the outside. The hardwood floors polished, and everything seemed to be clean and in its proper place. No evidence of any pets, at all. Thank goodness, one stalker is bad enough. Kurt thought to himself dryly.
They stood in a silence that was somewhere between comfortable and uncomfortable, during which Kurt avoided looking at Blaine's toned arms or disheveled hair, lest he start thinking about that dream again.
He then noticed how quiet it was in the house.
"Your parents aren't home?" Kurt questioned.
"No, they're away on business." Blaine said, with a shrug. "They're sort of away on business a lot."
"Oh." Kurt replied, unsure of what to say. "I-I'm sorry?" He tried tentatively.
"Don't be. I'm used to it." Blaine said indifferently, his eyes resolutely avoiding Kurt's. "So, do you want anything to drink?" He offered.
"Some water would be great." Kurt replied, realizing for the first time how raw and parched his throat felt.
As he followed Blaine into the kitchen, Kurt thought about how he hadn't even considered before that Blaine might be a person with his own issues.
Blaine seemed to live a semi-charmed life. He was friendly and popular, had a privileged upbringing, talented, a dominant. Yes, he was gay, but he was able to afford to go to a school where he wasn't bullied for it. He could be himself.
Kurt hadn't resented him for it. But he also hadn't thought that he might have family problems, or any problems at all, currently. A twinge of guilt went through Kurt at the thought. I'm always bothering him with my issues, of which there are numerous.
While Blaine poured him a glass of water, Kurt sat down at the kitchen table.
Blaine gave him a tall glass of water and sat across from him. "What were you wanting to talk to me about? You look a little.. pale." He frowned at Kurt, something almost protective in his gaze.
"Oh – um.." Kurt stuttered. "Its just... things have been tough at school, that's all. I just felt like seeing you."
The lie dropped heavily out of his lips before he could think about it. If words had a taste it would have tasted like pure metal.
"It almost seems silly now." He added for good measure, looking as abashed as he could. Kurt, what are you doing? You need his help, anyone's help, you have an insane stalker! Screamed a voice in his head, admonishing him.
"That's not silly. Besides, I like hanging out with you." Blaine said reassuringly and with a small wink that Kurt couldn't quite decipher.
"I.. Me too." Kurt mumbled quietly, ducking his head with a blush. Nothing wrong with liking to see a friend.
Blaine furrowed his brow as though he was deep in thought, both of them quiet for a moment.
Suddenly, Kurt's stomach rumbled loudly, it almost sounded as though it was a lion roaring for a meal.
They both froze, Kurt's face turning beet red and Blaine's merely looking surprised, most likely surprised at the fact that someones stomach could even be that deafeningly loud.
"I-er... Haven't... had any food... for awhile. Sorry." Kurt managed to say with great difficulty, due to his extreme mortification. Should have eaten my lunch at school.
The corners of Blaine's mouth twitched strangely, and he brought a hand up, covering his mouth and coughed rather strangely. It almost sounded like a laugh.
Kurt crossed his arms haughtily. "Are you laughing at me?" He narrowed his eyes and tried to appear as affronted as possible, but suddenly he was giggling too, and he didn't even know why. It's not like it was that funny, but it just all seemed so ridiculous.
Blaine wiped his eyes, still wheezing with the last spent gales of laughter. "How about we order some pizza, then?"
"Oh- but- uh- I don't have much money on me." Kurt said awkwardly, not laughing anymore.
Blaine waved a hand dismissively. "That's fine, I'm paying anyway."
Kurt opened his mouth immediately to protest, but Blaine was somehow already on the phone with the pizza place, as though he had super speed.
Kurt glared at him as soon as he finished ordering. "Fine. But, I'm paying you back."
Blaine rolled his eyes. "It's no big deal, Kurt. Just let me treat you." He said, looking at Kurt, his hazel eyes almost pleading.
He immediately felt the familiar pulling sensation wash over him, the need to obey a Dom's orders, merely from those four little words. Blaine probably didn't even realize he was doing it.
"Alright." Kurt said, almost feeling guilty for protesting. Which was sort of insane, in his own opinion.
Blaine smiled, satisfied at Kurt's acquiescence, and they launched into comfortable chatter about various things, such as Glee club, and the latest fashions in Vogue. They both seemed to be in a silent agreement not to discuss anything such as Kurt's school issues, or why Blaine's parents were rarely home.
As soon as the pizza arrived, with Blaine of course paying the tip, they brought it up to his room to talk.
Kurt sat down on the edge of Blaine's surprisingly large and comfortable bed and bit into a slice of pizza, napkin held carefully underneath it.
Kurt had never gotten what the big fuss was about pizza, it just seemed way too greasy and didn't even taste that great. Hello clogged arteries, nice to meet you. Kurt thought of himself as having a more refined and elegant taste than that.
He took all of that back after his first bite. He didn't know if it was just because he was extremely hungry, but this tasted like greasy heaven personified. He closed his eyes and moaned blissfully around the food in his mouth.
He looked over after a minute and caught Blaine staring at him rather strangely.
Kurt swallowed his mouthful of food and raised an eyebrow questioningly. "What?"
Blaine immediately flushed and averted his eyes, which Kurt thought was odd, to say the least. "Nothing. You just really like that, huh?"
"Oh. Yeah, I guess I was really hungry." Kurt replied.
They finished the rest of their food in a comfortable silence. Kurt yawned drowsily and lay back on the bed. He closed his eyes, feeling safe and serene. Don't fall asleep on his bed, that would be strange.
After an undetermined amount of time had passed, Kurt felt a warm hand stroke through his hair. Kurt felt himself relax even further. That feels nice...
Wait. What?
Kurt opened his eyes and made eye contact with Blaine, staring at him.
Blaine, who was now laying next to Kurt, propped up on one elbow while his other hand was on Kurt's head, looked like a little kid who just got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"Are you... petting my head?" Kurt said slowly, disbelievingly.
Blaine's face turned an even brighter shade of red and he quickly removed his hand as though he had been burned.
"I..Oh my god.. I'm sorry, Kurt. I don't know what..." He stammered nervously.
"I-It's okay. It felt kind of... nice." Kurt mumbled, his face color starting to match Blaine's. What am I saying?
"Really?" Blaine said.
"Yes." Kurt muttered, turning over onto his stomach and hiding his face in the pillow in embarrassment, his inner voice shaking its head.
After a couple of minutes, with only the sound of quiet breathing, he felt Blaine's hand return. Cautiously at first, then more confidently when he didn't shy away.
Blaine's soft hand threaded through his hair. Kurt melted into the bed, feeling more relaxed and safe than he had felt in a long time. Blaine's warm breath blowing onto his neck, laying closely next to Kurt.
And so they stayed
