A/N: Hello readers, old and new. Two updates in a row, you say? Well, I felt like I owed it to you after what you probably felt when you saw chapter four.
Warning: this chapter is mainly dialogue.
Hope you enjoy!
Stepping through the front door of Hummel Tire and Lube feels like entering another world. The sounds of outside are muffled or entirely silenced by the grinding of tools, the smell is overwhelmingly car, and the cement floor of the workspace is stained every so often with oil or car grease. The black splotches almost make the floor look like a chessboard.
The lobby where customers sit to wait for assistance, however, is meticulously spotless. Cushiony white chairs line the wall, a variety of muscle car posters lining the drywall overhead. Jeff spots a Ferrari and a Mustang, but the rest of the vehicles are foreign to him. There's also a small mini-fridge set beside the service counter, filled with what Jeff assumes to be drinks for waiting customers. It's cozy, despite all the noise.
He turns to see Nick glancing around in awe, David admiring the car posters, and Wes looking around, probably for someone he can ask about Kurt so they can get out of there as soon as possible. Killjoy.
"Calm down, Wes. I can feel your anxiety all the way over here," he calls out teasingly.
"Shut up," is the forthcoming retort from the eldest Warbler present.
They stand around for another five minutes, caught up in this new world (seeing as none of them have ever needed to visit a mechanic before), before someone approaches them.
An older man, wearing worn overalls and a Buckeyes cap, walks toward them, closing in on them with every second. It's in that moment, watching what may be the owner walking toward them, that Jeff realizes he has no idea what he's going to say about his reasoning for being here. Should he just ask for Kurt outright? Maybe make up a problem with his car and see if they send Kurt out to check it?
Before he can settle his mind on an option, it's already too late.
"Hello boys," the man says, smiling genially. "The name's Burt. How can I help?"
"I'm Nick," Nick introduces with an outstretched arm. Burt shakes it and Nick looks significantly at the others, silently communicating that he is not the one doing all the talking around here.
"Alright, Nick."
"I'm Jeff," Jeff adds before he can over-think it.
"Hello, Jeff."
"David, sir," David greets as he steps forward from beside his place at Wes' side.
"Nice to meet you, David."
When a few seconds pass and Wes makes no move at all, David introduces him by saying, "And that guy back there is Wes. Please excuse him. He can be a little shy."
"Understandable. Hello, Wes." Wes gives a little waves, determined to not be impolite despite how uncomfortable he is with this situation.
"Now then," Burt continues, "with the introductions being over, I'll ask again: what can I do to help you boys?"
"We were actually looking for Kurt," Jeff answers honestly.
"Oh?" Burt lifts his cap and rubs the back of his head for a second before replacing it. "How do you boys know my son?"
"You're Kurt's dad?" Nick inquires breathlessly. Of course the first person they find would be Kurt's dad. He can already feel Wes' 'I told you so' triumphant smirk boring silently into the back of his head.
"I am," Burt responds. "What of it?"
"Nothing, sir," David interjects before things can become tense. "We're just a little surprised is all."
"I see that," Burt observes, a hint of suspicion coloring his words. "What do you want with my son? You can't be friends of his since I've never heard of you. If you're looking for trouble, I'll have you know I have connections with the local police and a shotgun registered in my name."
"No, sir, not looking for trouble at all," David rushes to reassure. He subtly shakes his head at Nick and Jeff, instructing them to stop talking before they make things worse.
"We're friends of Blaine," Wes pipes in from his position just behind the others. He steps forward and looks Burt right in the eye saying, "He says wonderful things of your son and we were a bit curious." He tilts his head in Niff's direction and adds, "This was their harebrained scheme to meet Kurt."
Burt nods in recognition at Blaine's name, smiling a bit at Jeff and Nick's bashful faces. He has a feeling they don't look like that often. "I do know of Blaine. Kurt speaks well of him too."
"Thank you for understanding," Wes says politely. "We're sorry for bothering you. We'll just be going now. I'm sure you have plenty of work to do around here."
"But we didn't even meet Kurt," Jeff splutters, breaking the unspoken vow of silence placed upon him.
"He's not here anyway," Burt confides. "He's out of town on a shopping trip with his gal pals."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
Jeff visibly slumps and Nick wraps an arm around his shoulders comfortingly. Out of them all, Jeff was the most excited about meeting Kurt and now apparently all of their planning had been for naught. Even Wes feels a bit of pity for his fellow Warbler despite being completely against this exposition from the beginning.
"Could you tell us about him, maybe?" Nick asks, in hopes that at least hearing about Kurt from a reliable source will make Jeff feel a little better about their failed objective.
"I'd love to talk about how wonderful my son is, what parent doesn't?" Burt jokes. "But I've got work to do boys. So if you wanna stay, you're gonna have to work."
Jeff's entire face lights up at the prospect of hearing stories about Kurt and sharing embarrassing ones about Blaine in return. He looks at Nick with hopeful eyes, pleading with his friend (and his ride) to stay. It can't be that hard to help Burt with the cars.
Nick sighs resignedly. He should have just left it alone. But no, he had to go and be a good friend. "That sounds great, Burt."
"Yes!" Jeff pumps his hand in the air, to the amusement of everyone around him.
"Unfortunately, we have to get back to Dalton," Wes comments. A tiny crease forms in his brow and his eyes show a tinge of regret. Apparently Wes isn't as incurious as he makes himself out to be. "David and I have Warbler business that needs tending to."
"Our Glee club," David adds when Burt simply looks at them blankly.
"You boys sing too?" Burt inquires. The boys nod. "Well I'm glad you'll all have at least one thing in common with my boy. Makes building friendships a lot easier."
The four Warblers smile at the implication that Burt has accepted them. He's not nearly as intimidating as he appears at first glance, with his gruff features and tone of voice. Unless he's talking about his shotgun, that is.
Wes and David give their final farewells, leaving Niff behind in the capable hands of Burt Hummel. Hopefully they won't break any of the expensive equipment.
Jeff and Nick follow Burt into his office where he lends them some one-size-fits-all overalls to protect their street clothes during their visit to the garage. He then leads their small group toward the back of the garage, stopping beside a purple sedan sitting a few feet above the ground suspended in the air by one of those machines Jeff has called a 'car elevator' for as long as he can remember. He has no idea what its technical name is.
"What do you boys know about fixing cars?"
Nick and Jeff look at each other blankly.
"Thought so," Burt says after digging through his toolbox to find the right sized socket wrench. "Can you manage to hand me the tools as I ask for them?"
They look at each other again, this time with Nick nodding. His brother taught him how to distinguish basic hand tools when they were younger, so he should be able to handle it.
"Right then. You hand me tools," he says while pointing toward Nick. "And you," he says in Jeff's direction, "tell me more about Blaine. I want to know what type of circle my son is getting into."
The next three hours fly by as the two boys regale Burt with various memories involving their curly-haired friend. Burt seems impressed when they mention Blaine has led the Warblers for nearly three years now. He looks even more impressed when they tell him about the Gap Attack, which surprises Niff a little, to which Burt replies, "The kid's got guts."
By the time they arrive back at Dalton, they don't even realize Burt hadn't told them a single thing about his son until much later in the night.
Kurt just can't bring himself to stop texting Blaine, even though he should be dedicating more of his time and attention to the sales around him. Columbus' mall delivers just as well as their online advertising suggests, if not better. He should be trying on a pair of designer jeans, miraculously both his size and in his price range. Or even admiringly running his fingers across the smooth fabric of a cashmere scarf he could never afford. But no, he's staring at his phone giddily awaiting the next text from Blaine.
Mercedes and Rachel can be heard rustling inside the fitting rooms from where Kurt stands guarding their treasure trove of clothing. Unlike himself, the girls shop unencumbered by other thoughts and take full advantage of every store they venture into.
Kurt's phone beeps and he hurries to read the message that pops up.
Having fun in Columbus?
Kurt smiles at the simple words, his heart fluttering at the sight of them, at the knowledge of being on Blaine's mind.
Yeah, he types, though I'm not shopping half as much as I should be.
Standing here now, smiling as he looks down on the bright screen of his cell phone, brings back the reminder of how far his life has come in only a few short days. Blaine entering his life changes not only his outlook on love, because maybe he can find someone in Ohio after all, but also his outlook on little things, like the way Blaine's smile comes unbidden into his mind when he's having a bad morning and instantly lifts his mood or the way a simple word from Blaine can leave him smiling like a lovesick sap when from anyone else it would be just another word.
Kurt's phone beeps again and he checks to make sure Rachel and Mercedes are still occupied before he checks it. He's not embarrassed or ashamed of his friendship with Blaine, quite the contrary. But it's so fresh and new, him having friends outside of the guys and gals of New Directions, that he's determined to savor the secrecy of it for as long as possible. Once one person knows, they'll all know. Keeping Blaine's existence to himself somehow makes everything feel more intimate, more real.
Why's that?
Because you're distracting me.
I'm sorry. The reply comes seconds later, a smiley face added at the end that makes Kurt laugh.
No you're not.
Sorry not sorry? Along with yet another smiley face.
That I can believe. Kurt hits send just in time to slide his phone away as Mercedes and Rachel exit the confinement of the fitting rooms to ask his opinion on several tops, a few dresses, and six varying pairs of jeans. He gives his honest critique of each, relishing the familiarity of it as well as the time spent with his girls. They really need to do trips like this more often.
After visiting every shop in the mall and two stops in the food court, the trio of shoppers finally feel ready to drop. Kurt instructs the girls to take the purchases to his car out in the lot while he makes a pit stop at the bathroom. There's a long drive ahead of them and he prefers to not worry over his bladder if he can help it.
As he washes his hands after taking care of business his phone begins to ring, the words to "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles filling the otherwise silent room. Kurt dries his hands quickly and fumbles to answer the call before it can go to voicemail.
"Hey, Dad," he answers a little more breathlessly than he would have liked.
"Hey, kiddo. How's the mall?"
"The sales were phenomenal, as advertised. Better than anything I could ever find in Lima."
"I'm happy for you. Didn't spend too much, did you?"
"Of course not. You know I stick to my budget, which is a reasonable one despite what you think."
"I'll never understand paying thirty dollars for a plain white T-shirt."
"It's all about the fit and the fabric. But I won't bore you."
"I appreciate that. Heading home soon?"
"Yeah, we're just about to leave."
"Alright. Drive safe."
"I will."
"I love you."
"Love you too."
"Oh and son?"
"Yeah, Dad?"
"Next time you talk to Blaine, you might wanna tell him to keep his friends on a shorter leash."
Kurt involuntarily tenses with confusion. "What?"
Burt, hearing the befuddlement in his son's voice, just laughs. "Don't worry. He'll understand."
A/N: I wrote the second half of this chapter on my tablet so I apologize if it looks weird. The chapter turned out shorter than I expected it to be, so I added the second scene with Burt/Kurt/Blaine just because.
I just want to say I love Niff and Burt a lot.