"I have to find Blaine."
And with that, Kurt ran. He made his way blindly through the hallway, tears already streaming down his pale cheeks. He'd never felt so low. He was going to be suspended. And for something he hadn't even done, no less. Sure, he'd thought about rigging the election – and God, why had he admitted to that much? – but he would have never actually done it. When it came to acting on something that he knew to be morally wrong, he was a coward.
By now, he'd arrived at his locker to find Blaine waiting for him. Without waiting for an invitation, he threw himself at his boyfriend, praying all the while that Blaine would catch him. He needn't have worried – Blaine would always be there to hold him up when he was down. Blaine slipped one arm around Kurt's waist. Another remained firmly planted on Kurt's shoulder in a steady show of support. Silently, he guided Kurt into the nearest empty classroom. The minute they were inside, Kurt collapsed, taking Blaine with him.
"Shh . . ." Blaine whispered, daring to stroke Kurt's hair in what he hoped would be taken as a soothing gesture.
"I didn't do it," Kurt sobbed, practically overcome by the sobs wracking his body. "I didn't do it."
"Do what, baby?" Blaine asked.
"Figgins thinks I cheated to win the election," Kurt admitted. "But I didn't. I thought about it, but I couldn't have actually gone through with it."
"I know, Kurt, I know," Blaine replied, understanding that what Kurt needed to hear at that moment was assurance that he was good.
If anything, though, Blaine's statement seemed to make Kurt cry harder. "You're perfect, Blaine," he choked out. "How can you continue to hang around me when I'm leaving after this year? You deserve someone who can commit . . ."
Ordinarily, whenever Kurt began putting himself down, Blaine took offense. It felt as though Kurt were insulting his intelligence in having supposedly "chosen" Kurt. Now, though, he knew that it was merely Kurt's insecurities speaking in a moment of crisis. As such, he could allow Kurt a single deprecating statement. Only one, though.
He held Kurt closer, rubbing his arms and back, and planting light kisses all over his face in an attempt to wipe away his tears, however adorable they might have looked.
"I'm not going to leave you, Kurt," Blaine informed him in between feather-light touches. "I love you."
The violent trembling that Kurt had been experiencing gradually lessened. Carefully, he pulled away to observe Blaine. "I'm sorry. I'm being silly, aren't I?" he asked, smiling ruefully.
"No, Kurt. You're right to be worried, I won't deny that. But you are silly to think that this is going to make me leave you. We'll get through it, together."
"What would I do without you?" Kurt sighed, leaning against Blaine so that their foreheads were touching. "Thank you for putting up with my drama for this long. Think you can handle sticking around a little longer?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Blaine. "Now," he began, rising to his feet and holding out a hand for Kurt to take. "What do you say we go out there with our heads held high and show everyone that this isn't going to bring us down?"
Taking Blaine's hand, Kurt allowed himself to be hauled to his feet. "I'd like that," he replied shyly.
Smiling tenderly at his remarkable boyfriend, Blaine connected their lips briefly for a chaste kiss, meant to convey his support as much as anything. "I believe in you," he whispered softly. "We will find a way to fix this, I promise."
So saying, they strode out into the hallway with their hands clasped, ready to take on the world.