A/N: Song used - Candles by Hey Monday. (I still don't own anything!)
"Hey, boo. What's up?" Mercedes questions as she meets Kurt at his locker the next morning. Her brows are furrowed in concern and Kurt can't blame her, he knows he doesn't look like his usual fabulous self today.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I just didn't sleep very well," he answers absentmindedly yet truthfully. He stayed up all night talking to Blaine, which resulted in missing his skin care regimen and getting little to no sleep. It isn't ideal considering he has a full day of school, then glee, followed by two hours of rehearsals.
"If you're sure... I'll see you at lunch!" Mercedes says as she walks towards her first class, which is in the opposite direction of Kurt's.
While Kurt sits in his seat waiting for the rest of the students to file in and his teacher to show up he texts Blaine.
to Blaine:
I feel like the walking dead. Help.
from Blaine:
I know how you feel, luckily this class ends at 10 and I have a break until 3. I plan on sleeping.
to Blaine:
I'm so jealous, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the day. Class is starting now, I'll text you later.
He pockets his phone and smiles innocently as Miss Grace walks in.
He makes it through school feeling like a zombie, and glee doesn't help in the slightest.
DUETS! is the first thing he notices when he walks into the choir room. It's written on the board in Mr. Schue's messy scrawl and Kurt heaves a sigh, dropping into his seat with less grace than usual. The other members seem more enthusiastic and he isn't surprised. He can imagine the pairs now - Rachel and Finn, Santana and Brittany, Mercedes and Sam, and so on; leaving him without a partner, as usual.
Glee runs the same way as usual and Kurt is grateful that little awareness is needed to keep up with what is going on. Mr. Schue drones on for too long about unimportant things; Rachel sings a solo whilst staring dreamily at Finn, but Kurt is surprised that once she's finished she takes the seat next to him instead of the one she had been sitting in next to Finn.
"So... want to be my partner?"
"What?" he asks dumbly.
"You know, team up! For duets," she clarifies with a huge smile; she has yet to come down from the high that Kurt knows she gets from performing.
"But what about Finn?"
"Please?"
He looks at her skeptically, trying to figure out what her angle is here. He loves Rachel, he does, but he also knows her determination to win everything. Surely, singing with Finn would give her better chances at winning than pairing with Kurt. He feels himself nodding before he's even aware he is doing it; Rachel smiles again, seemingly pleased with herself.
"Great," she says, "We'll meet up tomorrow and sort something out."
Kurt had to pull over twice on his way home from Westerville, almost afraid he would crash if he carried on driving; tiredness getting the better of him. When he finally pulls onto his street he almost cries with relief.
"I ate at rehearsals and I'm going to bed, love you all!" he shouts as he walks into his house and heads straight for the stairs. He's too tired to even shower and he quickly changes and gets into bed.
He blinks up at the ceiling a few times, his body feels out of his control; bones heavy and eyes closing without permission. He tries to fight it, knowing how much his sleeping pattern will be messed up if he sleeps this early and reaches for his phone. He hasn't been on Tumblr much today and he makes a post to apologize.
school and rehearsals with no sleep is the very definition of hell... I'm sorry I haven't been on much today; I'll answer messages and stuff tomorrow. Good night.
He quickly looks over the seven messages he has and decides that they aren't urgent enough that he has to answer them now - answering privately on the Tumblr app is a pain anyway.
Unable to resist reblogging the fabulous pair of Yves Saint Laurent gloves that he just needs, Kurt finally resigns himself to sleep. Not before rolling his eyes at the ask Blaine has published.
Anonymous asked warblerbda:
are you and kurt ok? i haven't seen you talking for a while, we're all worried!
warblerbda answered:
Dear lovely anon, myself and Kurt are just fine, thank you.
The next day Kurt comes home upset and angry. Which results in upset and angry blogging. Luckily, he's saved by the sound of Skype informing him he has an IM.
Blaine [4:45] Hey... what's up?
Kurt [4:46] nothing, why?
Blaine [4:48] I thought I was following a hipster blog or something, with all of the really depressing quotes showing up on my dash...
[4:49] Not to mention you've reblogged gifs of Fred Weasley's death a horrible amount of times.
Kurt [4:51] I'm sorry.
Kurt takes a deep breath, not wanting to snap at Blaine. Honestly, the first thing he thought about after his horrible day was how much he needed Blaine, and that thought alone scared him. Kurt prides himself on being strong and independent... needing Blaine scares him.
Kurt [4:52] I just didn't have a very good day.
Blaine [4:54] Do you want to talk about it?
Kurt [4:53] I wouldn't even know where to begin...
Video call from Blaine Anderson
Kurt accepts the call and even though they've done this a few times he still gets nervous and jittery before talking to Blaine, but today he's more angry than anything else. He has about an hour before anyone is due home and he is happy Blaine can distract him for the time being.
"Just let it all out," Blaine says, his voice coming through before image on his laptop.
Kurt smiles weakly. "Hi."
"What's up?"
Kurt sighs, thinking of where to begin. "Well, it's duets week in glee and I never voluntarily get a partner - no boys want to sing with the gay kid and the girls all have each other, but this time I thought things were going to be different. Rachel asked to partner up with me and I was so happy, Blaine... but now everything's just gone to shit and -" he trails off, not even noticing himself cursing - something he never does, and presses the palms of his hands hard against his eyes.
"Hey, hey, Kurt." Kurt looks up to his laptop to see Blaine and feels a familiar warmth heating his cheeks.
"I'm sorry, I -"
"Stop that," Blaine interrupts. "You never have to be sorry for feeling, Kurt. I told you, I'm here for you. Just tell me what happened."
"Okay. Well, you know I'm running for student president?" At Blaine's nod of confirmation, he continues. "Rachel told me today that she's running too. Not only have I lost my duet partner, I've lost my friend. How could she do that? Go against me like that? She said she needs it for NYADA but so do I! It's not fair and I know she still resents the fact that I got the role of Tony and she's not even in the production because she was busy the week of rehearsals, but it's not fair Blaine."
He takes a well needed breath after his ramblings and tries to ignore the hurt and focus on the anger. It does hurt that his so-called best friend would do this to him, but it also doesn't surprise him; Rachel Berry can be so selfish. He wonders if it's the only reason she asked him to duet with her in the first place, because she felt guilty. The only time he can get a partner and it's out of pity.
"I just feel like I can't take it anymore, I need to get out of this stupid state and go somewhere... somewhere where people will appreciate me."
"People are such idiots, Kurt," Blaine says sharply making Kurt jump at the sudden tone. "Anyone who doesn't appreciate you is an idiot. You're right, it isn't fair, and to be honest she's probably just completely jealous of you. I just - I wish I could be there and actually do something," he finishes quietly.
"Thank you, Blaine," Kurt says. Maybe someone does appreciate me, he thinks.
"You're an amazing person," Blaine says, eyes shining.
"Thank you," Kurt says again, suddenly feeling shy.
It's quiet for a while and Kurt bites his lip against the apology that's struggling to get out.
Blaine is the one who breaks the surprisingly not awkward silence. "Duet with me."
"Duet with you?" he repeats back slowly.
"Yes, duet with me. Come on, I mean, I know it's not exactly glee club here and it's just over Skype - you don't have to, I just thought -" Kurt laughs at Blaine's nervousness, finding it positively endearing and effectively cuts him off.
"I'd love to," he says simply.
Blaine beams through the camera. "Great! So... what song shall we sing?"
"Anything. Apart from Katy Perry."
"Fine," Blaine pouts. "How about Hey Monday? Candles?"
"With no music?"
"We'll pretend. You start."
Kurt humphs but ultimately agrees, he knows the song and he's touched that Blaine would do this for him. Even over Skype, Kurt Hummel would get to duet with someone. Not just anyone, either; dreamy, amazing Blaine.
The power lines went out, and I am all alone
But I don't really care at all, not answering my phone
It suddenly hits him that he's never heard Blaine sing before. He knows he must be good - he did get into NYADA after all, but nothing could prepare him for what he actually hears. Blaine's voice is incredible; a beautiful rich tenor that almost makes Kurt forget to join in and screw up the words.
They laugh and giggle their way through their own rendition of Candles, their voices working really well together.
Although it's probably not appropriate to the song, Kurt is smiling widely by the end of it, his horrible day forgotten - all thanks to Blaine.
"Thank you," he says for what feels like the hundredth time.
"You're very welcome, that was fun," Blaine says, still laughing lightly.
"Not - not just for that, for everything." He tone is more serious now, wanting Blaine to understand how much he appreciates this.
"I know."
"I really don't want to hang up but I should go start dinner."
"You cook, too? A man after my own heart," Blaine says dramatically, bringing his hand to his chest.
"Dork," Kurt tells him. "I'll talk to you later."
It's eleven at night before he can get back online, Burt suggested they watch a move after Friday night dinner and Kurt couldn't protest. Once he's in bed, laptop on his knee, he smiles as he notices Blaine is still online.
Kurt [11:02] Hey, I'm sorry I was so long.
Blaine [11:05] It's okay. How are you feeling?
Kurt [11:06] Better... a lot better, thanks to you.
Blaine [11:08] Good, I'm glad. And less of that you're making me blush.
Kurt [11:10] Maybe I want to make you blush.
Blaine [11:12] Oh really now?
Kurt [11:14] Mhmm! So how was your day, Blaine?
Blaine [11:16] It was fine, actually. How was yours apart from the whole Rachel thing? Have the bullies been leaving you alone?
Kurt [11:18] Jack walked right past me today and I haven't received a slushie at all this week.
Blaine [11:20] You should have never had to put up with that.
Kurt [11:19] Probably not but oh well.
Blaine [11:21] You shouldn't. I meant it when I said you were an amazing person.
Kurt [11:22] Now you're making me blush.
Blaine [11:26] I... I really like you, Kurt.
Kurt [11:27] I like you too, Blaine.
Blaine [11:29] No, I mean, I really like you Kurt. In a way I probably shouldn't considering how far apart we live. I feel like I've been looking for you forever.
Kurt sits with his hands frozen over his keyboard, staring at the screen in shock. Blaine just said he...
Blaine [11:33] Kurt? Please say something...
He can't deal with this, of all the things Blaine could have said to him, Kurt didn't expect that in the least. No one has ever said anything like that to him before, felt like that for him before. It's scary and maybe everything he's ever wanted since he started talking to Blaine but… -
He doesn't even think as he moves the cursor over Sign Out, and for the first time since he logged into Skype to start talking to Blaine, he logs out.