Blaine was touching more in public than he usually did, but Kurt didn't want to call him out on it in case it stopped, besides, Kurt was kind of preening under the attention. It felt so nice to be appreciated, especially in the way Blaine appreciated him. His voice was amazing and Kurt didn't doubt that even if he wasn't always appreciated the way he felt he should be. His taste in fashion was impeccable, and THAT was loudly appreciated by the girls any time one of them had a wardrobe crisis. He'd known immediately that Sam had dyed his hair, and he'd eventually gotten the truthfully dirty blond boy to admit it.
But Kurt had always had issues believing somebody would find him attractive. Blaine was, for this final point of Kurt's self esteem, so amazing. As Blaine hooked their ankles together at breakfast and made Kurt's heart flutter, he decided too take a metaphorical deep breath and bury the warm feelings Blaine inspired in him. In their place he'd flood a reservoirs worth of appreciation for the way Blaine finally convinced him he could be sexy and attractive. Blaine was leaving the next day, and he hadn't said anything about continuing their relationship after he left. It was best to let the hope die, it had been a foolish hope to begin with. Blaine was the first out guy Kurt had ever met (besides the Misters Berry) and it wasn't due to fall for him. Kurt would just have to wait, like he'd always planned, for New York to meet that man who would be 'the one'.
Kurt took a literal deep breath. Yeah, that's what he'd do. It was a good plan. Even if it made his heart hurt a little.
When the sound of Kurt's car coming to a halt in the driveway met their ears, Burt jumped up from his seat. His face was more worried than it had been before and just a bit angry. He'd been steaming too long and he was boiling. Immediately Carole jumped off the couch and grabbed his arm. Before he could figure out what she was going to do and steel himself against it, Carole pulled him away from the living room, through the kitchen, and shoved him in the garage.
"Carole!" He protested with a gruff yell.
"No," Carole narrowed her eyes at him, trying, probably in vain, to channel Kurt. "You're too angry to talk to him right now, you'll just yell at him. Remember what you told me when Finn and I moved in? Kurt doesn't respond well to yelling, he just snaps right back and everyone leaves angry." Burt deflated a little. "So calm down before you try this. Besides, I don't think you should talk to Blaine yet. Find out what's happening from Kurt first before you go attacking that boy."
Burt grumbled but Carole knew he wouldn't do anything. "Why don't you go for a walk or something, honey?"
Burt took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Alright, I'll be back later." Carole followed him into the house to make sure all he did was grab his coat.
Before they got out of the car Blaine risked giving Kurt a soft kiss. It would, potentially, be their last. He couldn't help himself. Kurt didn't protest, just pressed his lips back more firmly and then pulled back much too soon for Blaine's tastes. "We should go inside."
Finn was waiting with his door open for them to come home. After a quick call to Rachel he'd discovered the Blaine and Kurt thing was 'complicated' and he should talk to Kurt. Since Finn was kind of bad at these things, a prime example being the Quinn/Puck thing, Finn decided to take her advice and talk to Kurt first. THEN he'd yell at Blaine.
Kurt literally twirled into his bedroom, unaware that Finn's door was open and he could see him, and made Blaine laugh. "I'll talk to you in a few, I have to check my facebook, Mercedes said she has a bunch of pictures from last night," Kurt said and Finn saw Blaine nod outside his door.
"Alright, I'll be in my room." Blaine ran a hand down Kurt's arm and Finn narrowed his eyes. How had he not seen this?
Finn waited 'till he heard Blaine's door close before he pounced. Kurt didn't take intruders well so he actually knocked instead of bursting in like he would at college. Kurt opened the door looking level with Finn's chest like he was expecting someone shorter. The way he had to crane his head up to see Finn felt kind of good, like he was being intimidating. Intimidating was good for this conversation.
"Can I come in a minute. I have to talk to you a minute," Finn said as sternly and seriously as he could manage.
Kurt raised an eyebrow but stepped aside anyway. Finn walked in and turned around, however, by the time he was facing Kurt again, Kurt's expression had turned to amusement. "Is this about Rachel?" Kurt asked with a little smile on his face.
Finn blinked, thrown off. "Um, no..."
Kurt's questioning expression was back. "Okay then. What IS it about?"
Finn swallowed and steeled himself. "Are you doing something with Blaine?"
Kurt's whole face shut down. Finn didn't know faces could do that. "What is it to you if we are or aren't?" Kurt snapped. Which, Finn knew, actually meant yes. If it wasn't true Kurt wouldn't get upset. Kurt always got prickly when he was hiding something. Like when he was hiding his feelings for Finn and got all prickly with Rachel about it. Finn knew Kurt had stopped liking him when he and Rachel became friends. It was kind of nice to not have your future step-brother in love with you.
"So you are?" Finn asked, just to be sure. Kurt practically growled at him. Yup. True. "Kurt!"
"Finn, get out of my room, you have no right to say anything to me about this." Kurt's voice was doing that angry growly thing. It was one of the few times Finn could hear his voice and think, without a question, that he didn't sound like a girl.
"But Kurt, just... Blaine's all experienced with stuff like this. I don't want him to hurt you. You're my brother, I'm supposed to make sure you're alright." Finn sighed. "I haven't been doing a good job either. I rbought home the guy who's taking advantage of you."
Kurt rolled his eyes. "Okay, Finn. Two things. One, Blaine's not taking advantage of me in anyway. We both know what we're doing. You don't need to worry and you actually don't have any right to really. This is my life and, despite our familial status, that doesn't mean you can dictate that. Two, thank you for caring. You do an alright job helping. It's flattering that you want to protect me, you just don't need to."
"But,"
"No buts Finn. I'm fine, Blaine's fine. Don't worry about it." Kurt cut him off before he could even try speaking.
"Are you sure? Like, you're 100 percent positive you're alright and I don't need to kick Blaine's ass?" That's was older brothers were supposed to do.
"Finn, I told you, I'm perfectly fine. PLEASE don't hurt Blaine. If you hurt him, you'll hurt me, okay? Like how if somebody hurts Rachel it hurts you."
At the mention of Rachel's name Finn couldn't stop the smile that lit his face. He was still so HAPPY about what happened. He'd have to call her later to work out times to come home for the weekend, but that was okay. They would work it out. "I'd kick their asses if they touched her." Finn nodded. He hadn't done very well protecting her from bullies last year, but now he could. He just need her to tell him if anything bad happened.
"Exactly. So don't hurt Blaine." Kurt nodded once. "Now, I was kind of busy, do you think you could go back to your room or something."
Finn nodded and went to the door, but before he left he turned to ask one more question. "So, all those times you guys went to coffee and stuff, those were dates right?"
Kurt opened his mouth and then closed it again. He let out a breath. "Yes, they were."
Everything clicked for Finn then. He still needed to yell at Blaine, but not for taking advantage of Kurt anymore. Now he just needed to yell at him for not saying they were dating. Finn could deal with that. Blaine was a good guy after all. Actually Finn felt a bit bad for thinking Blaine could do that.
He still needed to yell at him though.
AN: I feel generaous, so two chapters in a row! (I'm also getting really close to my deadline. So, cross your fingers, I should finish this within the week.)