Sometime before the first live show, one of the producers take Blaine and Sam to an office where a public relations agent is waiting.
"Don't worry, you two did nothing wrong," She smiles comfortingly and introduces herself as Amy. "We thought you'd be more comfortable doing this together, and there are some questions that apply to both of you."
They go through things they can't do, things they have to know, things they don't have to know, but would help if they did. It's a little boring to Sam, honestly, but he knows he has to listen because he doesn't want to be that one contestant that screws up. And getting an official Twitter account is pretty cool. When it seems like they're finally done, Amy clears her throat and peers at them with a considering gaze.
"Now, just one last thing." She laces her fingers together and leans closer towards them. "We've caught some clips of you two from our cameras that raised some eyebrows about the nature of your relationship. So I'm going to have to ask: are you two together? Like, together?"
"Yes," Sam replies firmly, without hesitation, sitting up straighter and reaching to hold Blaine's hand. "We are."
"Is that going to be a problem?" Blaine frowns.
"No, not really," Amy soothes them before giving a wry grin. "It's just, this is the Fox Network, you know? This isn't something they would like to be out there, as much publicity it's going to bring. Couples usually compete together, so a gay couple going against each other in a singing competition is even more unusual."
"So you're saying you want us to hide it?" Sam doesn't exactly like the idea, but honestly, their friends and family know, and they're the ones that matter the most. But he doesn't want to end up looking like he's ashamed or anything, and people might think they're deliberately hiding for the wrong reasons, and he knows Blaine feels the same.
"We're asking you not to just throw it out without reason." Amy says carefully. "And to consider avoiding coming out while you're on the show."
"But if someone asks, we can say yes." Blaine says rather than asks. "We're not going to lie about this."
"No, I suppose you aren't." Amy smiles at them. "If, and only if, someone asks, then fine, we'll allow that. The network won't be happy about it, though."
"The network is behind the times," Blaine rolls his eyes. "What year is it, 2007?"
"Please, as if anyone would think you aren't together," Tina says after they tell her about the meeting. "No one's questioned your relationship in years. Like, can you honestly remember the last time someone didn't automatically assume you two were a couple? Because I can't."
Rehearsals are tough, Sam thinks. There's so much to do in what feels like so little time that sometimes Blaine and Kelly have to remind him to calm down and breathe. But the X-Factor stage is intimidating even when empty, and Sam can't possibly imagine it full like it would be on the live performance. It's definitely a big step up from the small bars he's played at before.
Blaine is right in his element, of course. He was always meant to perform, there was no question about it. He takes Kelly's criticism very well, isn't afraid to talk about the bits and pieces of a performance with her. When Sam asks him about it, Blaine just shrugs.
"Kelly's nice. Like, way nicer than most of the directors and producers I've met in New York."
There's no theme this week, but song choice is crucial because one of each four will be sent home by their own mentor no matter what. And while Sam isn't exactly gunning for winning the whole thing, he still doesn't want to be cut off after the first week. So he decides to give his guitar a rest for now, because he doesn't want to be too predictable. He knows enough about televised singing competitions to know that predictable easily works against your favor.
They do some shoots, photo stills and video, for either the website or their intro clips. Being in the top 16 is a big deal, he guesses, but top 12 is even better. The oldest of the Boys, a 24 year old from Chicago, has been staring holes at Blaine's back whenever they were in the same room. Blaine is either oblivious to the blatant competitive stare, or is opting to just ignore the guy. The other guy, a 19 year old college student from North Dakota, is friendly, and Sam doesn't mind inviting him to hang around with Blaine and him.
BlaineDAnderson: first live performance on #XFactor2017 tonight. so nervous!
COOPER_A: BlaineDAnderson GOOD LUCK BLAINEY, REMEMBER MY TEACHINGS
SamEvans3: BlaineDAnderson omg dude ikr there's so many people….
To Sam's dismay, the Boys group is first to perform. Mario calls out the result of the popularity poll they have going online, and apparently he and Blaine are leading it. That's good, and very encouraging.
Thankfully Chicago and North Dakota go before him, which leaves Blaine last to sing. Chicago's not bad, the guy definitely has a great voice. But Simon tells him he's pitchy the entire performance, and Sharon could do without the dance moves he had incorporated. Adam is carefully neutral, and Kelly says something about his rehearsal being better than that. North Dakota's hands have been shaking while waiting for his turn, but once he grips the microphone all his confidence is back and he sings notably better than Chicago. The judges clearly agree on that, too, giving him encouraging praise and making him smile widely. (Sam swears the audience coos.)
Then it's Sam's turn, and before commercial break ends Blaine gives him a firm hug that single-handedly gives Sam all the energy he needs. Kelly introduces him as "one of the sweetest boys she's ever met" and he gets ready to sing I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz. It's a more mellow song than the ones he's sung before and despite it being a perfect song to do a guitar accompaniment with, he sticks with his decision to leave it to just him and the mic on stage. He and Kelly had made some rearranging to the song to allow it to showcase his vocals more while sticking true to the original. All in all, Sam thinks he does really well, if the loud cheering and clapping from everyone is to go by. He chances a look over at Blaine to see him up on his feet and beaming at him.
"That was a really, really nice performance," Sharon tells him. "Very nice."
"I liked it a lot." Adam says. "Good job, really good job."
"Sam, I thought was rather brilliant." Simon says next. "You made a smart choice there, well done."
Kelly is smiling wide, of course. "Sammy, Sammy, Sammy, you did great. That was even better than we practiced. America's gonna fall in love with you."
crossfactors
help i've fallen and i can't get up
#sam evans #x factor 2017
3 notes
elainerrrrrr: oh no oh noooooo stop it self it's only the first week u cant afford faves yet #XFactor2017 #SamEvans
roger_rogers: if kelly doesn't keep sam i'll have lost all faith in her #XFactor2017 #SamEvans
"I can't believe you're gonna make me follow that," Blaine playfully slaps his arm during commercial break.
"Oh, as if you're not gonna sweep them off their feet." Sam snorts, grinning down at his boyfriend. "I'm just glad you're doing a slow song or else I would be afraid of you making me look boring in comparison."
"As if you'd ever look boring."
With one last hug, Blaine is ushered to the stage while Kelly introduces him, "the boy who sings like a dream." (Sam bites back a laugh, because he clearly remembers certain Warblers from high school saying the same thing.) Keane's Somewhere Only We Know has always been one of Blaine's favorite songs, even before he sang it Kurt, so Sam's not surprised that it's what he decided to sing. Blaine starts off in acapella for the first verse before introducing the orchestra and band once the chorus hits. And god, he sings it beautifully, and he's just not saying that because he's biased.
"The thing about you, Blaine," Simon starts, "is that from the first audition, we knew you were going to go far. And you keep proving it every time you sing. Right now, the other contestants better watch out for you."
"That was beautiful, darling." Sharon smiles. "I might have something in my eye, and it's all your fault, young man."
lilileanne: damnnnn #BlaineAnderson #XFactor2017
hayleyc_: #BlaineAnderson is so cute omg he looks like a such sweetie #XFactor2017
nightwinner: hayleyc_ he n sam both i s2g
captainAmen reblogged tripletony
tripletony:
sorry for the xfactor spam guys bUT BLAINE AND SAM ASLKFGHGFKASD
#did anyone else notice how they'd look at each other after their performances #like omg proud boyfriends much? #gOD
#i normally dont even ship show contestants but
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santana_lo: blaineling samchameleon oi hobbit, trouty, you guys better get tix for me n brit b4 u get axed
mottamotta: blaineling samchameleon AYYY ME TOO
blaineling: santana_lo mottamotta talk 2 tina too many of you guys from nd & warblers want one
tinacc: blaineling u know i even got a request from coach sue
blaineling: tinacc oh dear god no
samchameleon: blaineling tinacc omg lol
Sebastian Smythe to Blaine Anderson
Your Warbler fanboys are thinking of going to watch the same show together. All of them. Maybe even in uniform.
Like. Comment. About an hour ago.
Blaine Anderson ….are you kidding
Jeff Sterling seb what the hell way to ruin the surprise
Blaine Anderson oh my god guys please don't
Blaine Anderson at least not in uniform
Sebastian Smythe what's wrong, killer? embarrassed?
Blaine Anderson for you, yeah
Santana Lopez likes this
Sam Evans
top 12 w/ Blaine Anderson yeah!
Like. Comment. Share. 45 minutes ago.
Kurt Hummel, Noah "Puck" Puckerman, Brittany S. Pierce, and 25 others like this.
Standing on his corner of the X, across from Blaine, and waiting to find out who was going to be in the Top 12 was nerve wracking. Sam wasn't surprised to hear Kelly save Blaine first, and was actually very relieved. And when she called his name next, the relief doubled. Chicago ended up going home, for which Sam was actually secretly glad of. The looks he kept sending Blaine the past week was getting on his nerves.
There's barely any time to breathe though, because the next day they're told that next week's theme is Rock. It's not a difficult theme, especially since it was such a broad genre.
They manage to meet with Tina, Cooper, and Sam's family over the weekend. Mike's back in New York, but he's promised to try to catch another show as soon as he can. They also manage to squeeze in lunch with ex-Warblers Jeff and Nick, recent UCLA graduates and just two of the Warbers Sam managed to get closer to after high school.
Of course come Monday it's back to work for them.
Get to Know Your X-Factor Top 12
The recent revival of previously cancelledThe X Factor has brought a buzz with their newfound talent. Last Thursday, the Top 12 contestants were decided after each judge (Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne, Adam Levine, and Kelly Rowland) eliminated one act from each of their own categories. Here's a little bit more about them.
…..
Blaine Anderson (22)Westerville, OH. A recent Musical and Performing Arts graduate, Blaine made one hell of an impression during the New York auditions after he sang a Christina Aguilera song and shook the judges' worlds. He came with best friends and fellow Ohio-natives Sam Evans, also in the Top 12, and Tina Cohen-Chang (eliminated in the Four Chair Challenge). Blaine has already garnered much attention from fans with his dapper good looks and dreamy voice. He was part of show choirs Dalton Academy Warblers and previous Nationals winner McKinley High School New Directions during his high school career, the latter with Sam Evans.
When I asked for an interesting fact about him, he says: "Well, I was a member of the (multi-National winner) McKinley Cheerios (a competitive cheerleading squad) during my senior year. Co-captain of the squad, even. It was pretty fun."
Sam Evans (22) Lima, OH. After charming the judges with an Ed Sheeran song and armed with a guitar during his first audition, Sam has been considered as America's New Boy-Next-Door. Recently graduated as a Fine Arts student, he came with previously mentioned Blaine Anderson and Tina Cohen-Chang to audition in New York. With his All-American Boy charm and sweet smile, he's striking the hearts of ladies of all ages across the nation. He was also part of previous National show choir winner McKinley High School New Directions with Blaine Anderson.
When I asked for an interesting fact about him, he says: "I'm actually kind of a big nerd. I love superheroes and comics and stuff like that. In high school, I even joined a Superhero Club with Blaine."
….
tripletony
sam in a superhero club omg that's actually rly cute…. does that mean he's one of us
ALSO CHEERLEADER BLAINE?
#tony talks about xfactor #evanson #what if sam was a football player
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forknight
quick someone ask if sam played football
#dont tell me you dont want to know #you know you do #you know what im gonna ask him myself #evanson
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nightwinner: SamEvans3 any chance that you were a football player just curious
SamEvans3: nightwinner lol yeah, i was quarterback
forknight reblogged captainAmen
captainAmen:
crossfactors:
RED ALERT SAM EVANS WAS A QUARTERBACK IT'S CONFIRMED
#SO WE HAVE CHEERLEADER CAPTAIN BLAINE #AND QUARTERBACK SAM
#ARE YOU GUYS THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING
son we're all thinking what you're thinking and someone better be ficcing this rn
signal boosting bc we need this to be the first fic of this ship
#it's only the first week of live shows and we're already going down this slippery slope #god help us #evanson #xfactor2017
52 notes
BlaineDAnderson: for the skeptics, SamEvans3 and I in highschool pic. twitter com /an35xop89
anderstand reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
forknight reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
forknight liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
darkbelt reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
centimentals reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
centimentals liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
evansonsssss liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
crossfactors
my dash omg lol
#notes just keep coming… #everyone wants a piece of cheerleader/quarterback blam evanson
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rikraktok liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
captainAmen reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
captainAmen liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
deliciousam liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
tripletony reblogged your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
gargler-345 liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
tripletony liked your photo: oh mY GOD THERE'S A PICTURE
"Dude, we have shipper fans."
Blaine looks up from his sheet music and stares at his boyfriend. They're at the contestants' house, and fortunately enough they're sharing a room with each other. "What?"
Sam gets up from his bed and sits on Blaine's, handing him his smartphone. "Kitty texted me a hashtag and told me to check it up on Tumblr and yeah, dude, we have fans. I didn't even think we were famous enough for that already."
Blaine is scrolling through the #evanson tag, his eyebrows climbing up at some of the posts. "This is so weird," he laughs lightly, "and going pretty fast. I mean, it's only our second live performance tomorrow yet we already have shippers?"
"Well, at least we know we'll have a bunch of ecstatic fans when we come out, yeah?" Sam grins, wrapping his arms around Blaine from behind. "I guess this was what Tina and Amy meant about us being pretty obvious. I didn't think they'd go this crazy over me being the quarterback and you a Cheerio."
"We were the cliche Power Couple our senior year." Blaine snorts and leans back against Sam's chest. "At least, that's what Kitty said, even if it was unintentional on our part. Can't imagine how they'll react if they find out we were ran for Student Body President and VP together."
"We were pretty awesome that year." The blond grins down at Blaine, giving his cheek a quick peck. "Still are." Sam is about to give another kiss on the cheek, but Blaine easily intercepts it with his own lips. They're content to sit and share little kisses for a few minutes before Sam pulls away, frowning.
Blaine worriedly asks, "What's wrong?"
"It's just… Evanson? Really?"
BlaineDAnderson: #Evanson is gonna get time to get used to... we've been #Blam for years
SamEvans3: #Blam forever!
tripletony
they call themselves blam omg (lies down)
#i hate you two #you're ruining me #evanson #blam #tony talks about xfactor
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crossfactors reblogged forknight
forknight:
petition to tag blaine and sam as #blam evanson
#yes good #respecting their original while keeping with what we're used to
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captainAmen reblogged forknight
forknight:
BUT WAIT HOW DID THEY KNOW ABOUT #EVANSON I'VE ONLY SEEN IT USED ON TUMBLR SO FAR ((SWEATS NERVOUSLY))
OH SHIT?
#abort mission #WHO TOLD THE THING
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tripletony
anonymous asked: i looked up who this blaine and sam guys you keep talking about and i ended up watching the entire xfactor season so far and looking thru their twitters and everything about them and i've fallen for them. this is all your fault.
i'm so sorry anon but welcome to the dark side
#anonymous #tony answers asks #tony talks about xfactor
5 notes
The nerves are back on performance day, and many of the contestants are getting more jittery as show time approaches. Sam himself can't sit still, his leg jackhammering whenever he takes a seat. Blaine sticks with him, quiet, but Sam knows he's pretty nervous too.
Sam is third in line for the night, the first of the boys to perform. He's preceded by a five member girl group who pulls off a Fall Out Boy song that Sam remembers coming out when he was still in high school. He'd briefly considered doing a song by them, too, but after talking to Kelly he sticks to his strengths and goes with Paramore's You Are The Only Exception.
The reception to it is good. There are girls screaming in the audience and Kelly is giving him a thumbs up paired with a wide grin. The only mood-dampener is when Simon advises him to be careful and not fall into the habit of doing the same type of songs every week, a sentiment that Adam agrees with. He hopes he gets through to next week to show them just as much.
Blaine doesn't go up until after seven other acts sings. He's decided to do Christina Aguilera again, this time the song Fighter, rocking the stage with his leather jacket and stylishly messy curls and the microphone stand in his hands. There's probably hundreds of girls swooning at the look, because Sam knows just how hot his boyfriend looks right now, especially with his faux angry singing. He valiantly tries to think of unsexy thoughts throughout the performance.
andervans: slam slam oh hot damn #BlaineAnderson #XFactor2017
forknight
from this point forward Blaine shouldn't be allowed hair gel anymore
#blaine anderson #x factor2017 #baby you gotta let those sex curls fly free #precious puppy turned into sexy beast
113 notes
judgefudge: #SamEvans got even more boring :\ #XFactor2017
sallyshell: judgefudge hey he's pretty good tho
judgefudge: sallyshell yeah pretty good to look at maybe
Dee_lilah: that was a bit too much #BlaineAnderson...
Rock night as a whole is deemed a big success. Blaine, the Filipina that had taken Tina's seat, and a married Rock dad from the Over 25's were the powerhouses that stole the show, to no one's real surprise. They're allowed to go meet with their attending friends and family, and in addition to Sam's family, Cooper, Tina, Nick and Jeff, are two others.
"Suprise!" Brittany beams, giving each of them a tight hug. Santana is right behind her, a smirk on her lips.
"Pretty nice show," Santana says while she plants a kiss on their cheeks. "There's probably a bunch of disgustingly love sick girls sighing and swooning at your picture right now, Trouty, and you probably made a half the guys in the audience at the very least bi-curious from your get-up alone, Hobbit."
Tina nods in agreement, "Those pants should be illegal on you."
They make promises to catch up more tomorrow after eliminations, since Santana and Brittany won't be due back home until Sunday. With the performance high starting to cool down, they head back to their room after a quick dinner intent to relax for the rest of the night.
At least, that's what Blaine had planned, only to be grabbed and pushed down on the bed by a surprisingly energized Sam.
"Dude," Sam breathes after a messy kiss, "you don't know how hard I tried to hold back since I saw you dressed up like this."
"Oh?" Blaine grins up at him. "Is it the pants?"
"Definitely the pants," Sam nods seriously. "Didn't you hear Tina earlier? It's illegal for you to be wearing them. So we really need to get them off of you."
captainAmen reblogged crossfactors
redd-x:
my first rpf fhalfjskfks I couldn't resist... (also my interpretations for either of them are likely inaccurate, since other than the clips we've seen of them and the too few interviews, we don't have a completely clear picture of their personalities yet)
Title: Personal Cheerleader
Pairing: Sam Evans/Blaine Anderson
Rating: NC-17
Summary: In support of Sam's position as team quarterback, Blaine decides to join the cheerleading squad. And Sam really likes that uniform...
(AO3 link)
Read more
#THERE IS A GOD #thank u #blam evanson #rpf
69 notes
If the tension during performance night was bad, then elimination night was at least ten times worse. Nobody wanted to go home after making it this far, but truth of the matter was that two of them would be voted off. It's enough to make it hard to stomach breakfast and lunch.
The whole hour of the show is a bit of a blur to Sam, honestly. The only points of real clarity he would be able to remember later are when the twelve of them sing a Queen medley and when he and Blaine (and North Dakota) are announced as safe. In the end, a lady from the Over 25's and one of the groups are sent home.
"That was… nerve-wracking." Blaine sighs later after the show, leaning against him. Sam empathetically agrees, putting an arm around Blaine's shoulders and tucking him close to his side in one easy movement. They're waiting to be let go for the night so they can get dinner with their friends and family before the restaurants close down.
"Well, you're probably gonna have to get used to it." Sam grins down at the shorter man. "You're not going home any time soon, it looks like."
Blaine huffs a laugh, lightly elbowing Sam's side. "You, too, you know."
After being told of next week's theme by Mario, they head to their awaiting party for a little bit of celebration.
"Top ten," Cooper smiles, teeth shining, after they're all seated in an Olive Garden. "Way to go, squirt! I remember it was just yesterday you were following me around the house like a persistent little puppy asking for dancing lessons. You started jumping up on furniture right around then, too."
Jeff chokes on his Pepsi. Blaine throws a napkin at his brother.
From: Kitty Wilde
To: Blaine Anderson, Sam Evans
congratulations on the sex you two apparently had in the mckinley locker room
archiveofourown org /works/1235782
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From: Blaine Anderson
To: Kitty Wilde
Please tell me you didn't send that to anyone else
'
From: Blaine Anderson
To: Kitty Wilde
Kitty…...