Oh my gosh, you guys, today is the six-month anniversary of this episode! I did not plan this at all, but I love that I'm posting this episode today... happy six-month anniversary, Kurt and Blaine! XD
I think you all know what's going to happen in this episode. I hope you enjoy my little extras and insights into what Kurt and Blaine were thinking!
(I do not own Glee or any of the characters, dialogue, or songs from the show. It's all just for fun!)
KURT
Kurt sat at a table, rewriting the same line of his homework over and over, unable to focus but unwilling to just give up. Warbler practice was about to begin. He could tell that Nick, who was sitting beside him at the table, was equally restless.
Everyone turned as the double doors to the room opened and Blaine stepped in. He started the song they had been rehearsing without an introduction, throwing a bunch of papers into the air. Kurt rolled his eyes. For someone so reserved in his everyday life, Blaine was a little crazy when her performed.
Oh yeah
The rest of the Warblers immediately joined in with the background vocals, and Kurt sighed. Since the previous week's lesson in sex appeal, he had been especially irritable. Instead of making him feel energized, the flutter in his chest every time he looked at Blaine had started to annoy him a little. He knew that Blaine hadn't meant to make him feel insecure about his lack of sexual experience and knowledge, but that had been the result of the lesson. Kurt was having a crisis of confidence, and watching Blaine dance around singing yet another solo was not helping.
Oh yeah
So scared of breaking it
That you won't let it bend
And I wrote two hundred letters
I will never send
Blaine grabbed Kurt's arm, and Kurt managed to get a hand on his bag as Blaine pulled him up and into the hallway.
Sometimes these cuts are so much
Deeper then they seem
You'd rather cover up
I'd rather let them be
Kurt skipped along with Blaine, feigning enthusiasm. But once Blaine turned away, he didn't care to keep up the charade. He sat down by the wall, unwilling to join in the dancing. He knew the choreography, and the other boys were never really practicing properly during an informal rehearsal like this one, anyway.
So let me be
And I'll set you free
I am in misery
There ain't nobody
Who can comfort me
Oh yeah
Blaine sat down beside Kurt and playfully leaned his head over onto Kurt's shoulder, and Kurt was reminded of Rachel Berry's party. He wished that he didn't care about Blaine so much, because it made the jealousy even worse.
Why won't you answer me?
Your silence is slowly killing me
Oh yeah
Girl you really got me bad
You really got me bad
Now I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna get you back
You say your faith is shaken
And you may be mistaken
Kurt decided to get up and attempt a little dancing, but he couldn't get into it. He settled for halfheartedly dancing in the crowd. He didn't even sing the whole time. He couldn't bring himself to care enough to exert himself for this casual practice.
You keep me wide awake and
Waiting for the sun
I'm desperate and confused
So far away from you
I'm getting there
Don't care where I have to go
Why do you do what you do to me, yeah
Kurt admitted to himself that he was still impressed whenever he considered the Warblers' vocal talents, but even as the other boys danced and sang with enthusiasm, he didn't share their excitement. He faked it a little in an attempt to be a team player, but he could feel the homesickness for New Directions gnawing gently at his chest for the first time in recent weeks.
Why won't you answer me, answer me yeah
I am in misery
There ain't nobody
Who can comfort me
Oh yeah
Girl you really got me bad
You really got me bad
Now I'm gonna get you back
I'm gonna get you back
"Hey Regionals," Blaine shouted as the song ended, "You've just met our opening number!"
The rest of the Warblers cheered, and Kurt pretended to be excited with them. He started to gather his things to leave, but Blaine approached, cheerful as ever.
"How did you manage to find a Burbury-esque canary cage cover?" Blaine asked with an affectionate smile.
"Canaries don't like cold weather," Kurt informed him, "Especially Pavarotti."
"So what'd you think of the song?" Blaine asked eagerly.
Kurt decided to try Blaine's approach of constant openness. "Can I be really honest with you?" he asked, "Because it comes from a place of caring."
Blaine nodded, and Kurt tried not to sound too superior. "Been there, done that," he analyzed.
Blaine's face fell slightly, and Kurt decided to elaborate quickly before Blaine thought it was meant as an insult to his talent. "Look, you're amazing, Blaine. Your solos are breathtaking... they're also numerous."
He turned to walk away down the hall, and Blaine followed him. "Kurt, the council decides who gets the solos," Blaine reminded him, and Kurt rolled his eyes, grateful that his back was turned to the other boy.
"Do I detect a little jealousy?" Blaine asked.
"Oh, you detect a lot of jealousy," Kurt admitted, surprised at how calm he felt admitting it. He looked at the other boy and reminded himself that Blaine really was his friend. He didn't want to hurt the other boy's feelings, but he was at the end of his patience with the way things were going with the Warblers. "Look, Blaine," he tried to clarify, "sometimes I don't feel like we're the Warblers. I feel like we're Blaine and the Pips."
Blaine looked blindsided. Kurt felt a twinge of guilt for his choice of words, but it was the truth as he saw it. He smiled halfheartedly at the dark-haired boy, and walked away without another word.
KURT
Kurt sat at his vanity, whistling happily. He had returned home the night before, despite the long drive, just to get away. He had hoped that a night in his bed at home would cheer him up. To his relief, it had. To an extent. He still wanted more opportunities to audition for a solo, but he didn't feel as much personal angst about Blaine.
He filed down one of his fingernails mindlessly, whistling back-and-forth with Pavarotti. After a few exchanges, the bird did not respond to one of Kurt's whistles, and he glanced over at the yellow bird.
He was lying at the bottom of the cage.
"Pavarotti?" Kurt tried to elicit a response from the bird. A sinking feeling settled into his chest.
The bird was completely still. Kurt jumped up and sat down on the edge of his bed to lean over and look into the cage. "Pavarotti?" he asked again.
Kurt felt tears in his eyes as he realized the bird was dead. He fell back onto his bed
The bird's sudden death pushed him over the emotional edge, and let himself cry out all of the stress and jealousy and hurt feelings of the past week. He felt strange crying about the death of a bird, but he couldn't stop. When the Warblers had first presented him with Pavarotti, he had been terribly resistant to being in charge of the little bird. But over time, he had learned that the warbler actually cheered him up when he was having a bad day. He had grown attached to his first pet, and he felt overwhelmed at his sudden death.
His phone vibrated, and he got up to walk over and grab it from its position on his vanity table. It was a text message from Blaine.
Hope your night at home was relaxing! See you at Warbler practice this afternoon!
Kurt didn't bother to respond. Instead, he tossed the phone onto his bed and walked over to his closet to find an appropriately mournful outfit for the occasion.
BLAINE
"Warblers, Warblers! I am merely suggesting that instead of wearing blue ties with red piping, we wear jackets with red ties and blue piping for the competition," Blaine argued. The Warblers were unhappy with his opinion on changing their traditional look for the competition.
"This is a kangaroo court!" Trent shouted, and the others seemed to agree. Blaine, usually unaffected by the strong sense of tradition held by the Warblers, felt horribly frustrated at their lack of openness to any kind of change.
They were all mildly startled when the doors to the room creaked opened and Kurt strode into the room. He was dressed all in black. Blaine frowned. The uniform rules at Dalton were strict; Blaine hadn't seen Kurt in regular clothes on campus since the day they met.
Kurt's facial expression and body language, along with his dark clothing, made Blaine's heart clench with concern. "Kurt, what's wrong?" he asked. Everyone else in the room had fallen silent.
"It's Pavarotti. Pavarotti is dead," Kurt announced wearily. Blaine felt a rush of sadness. He felt sad for the little bird, but mostly for Kurt, who looked devastated. "I suspect a stroke," Kurt diagnosed.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry," Blaine consoled.
"I know it's really stupid to be upset about a bird," Kurt said, "but he inspired me with his optimism. And his love of song. He was my friend."
Blaine knew how much Kurt loved his friends. He felt a surge of pain for the other boy, and he wanted to rush over and hug him. But, knowing Kurt's hesitancy regarding physical contact and the fact that they were in a room full of people, Blaine chose to stay where he was.
"Now, I know today we need to practice doo-wopping behind Blaine while he sings every solo in the medley of Pink songs," Kurt said, a slight amount of bitterness in his voice, "but I'd like to sing a song for Pavarotti today."
Everyone could tell that it wasn't a question. Kurt provided a cassette tape. As the music began, Blaine sat down.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
Kurt was standing near the open doors, hands clasped gently in front of him. The song was beautiful, and Blaine knew that Kurt had probably spent a significant amount of time thinking of a song that he wanted to sing to honor the little yellow bird. Blaine knew that it was appropriate to feel sad, but he couldn't figure out why there was a suddenly an intense tightness in his chest.
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
As Blaine listened to Kurt's voice, he thought about what Kurt had said to him after practice the previous day, and what he had alluded to before starting this performance. He felt an abrupt desire to sing backup for Kurt for once. His heart pounded as he added his voice to the music on the cassette. The other Warblers joined in as Kurt continued to sing.
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blaine's thoughts shifted from Kurt's sadness to Kurt as a person. He thought about the first time he had turned and seen Kurt's face on the staircase. As Kurt walked around the council table, dressed in his regular clothes as he had been that day, Blaine thought about how he had felt at that moment. Before he had known Kurt, before he had known the compassionate, moral young man who sang so emotionally in front of Blaine now, the first thing he had noticed about Kurt was his expressive blue eyes. His heart ached at the sadness in Kurt's eyes now.
Blaine blinked a few times and shifted on the couch. He and Kurt had become dear friends since that day. He loved having the other boy around. He loved the Kurt's dramatics, his voice, and his style. He loved their coffee dates.
Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blaine thought his moment of clarity a few weeks prior regarding his sexuality had been intense, but it was nothing like this. He felt warmth spread through his entire body as he looked at Kurt and actually saw him. He felt a flood of the most extreme affection he had ever experienced.
He had not ever allowed himself to consider it, but deep down he had known it all along.
He loved Kurt. Not just as a friend, but as something more.
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
The song ended, and Blaine felt like he was seeing everything for the first time as he looked at Kurt from across the room.
"Thank you," Kurt said quietly, tears still in his eyes.
"Thank you, Kurt," Wes said kindly. "Warblers, we will reconvene tomorrow."
Blaine felt light, as if a weight he didn't know he had been carrying around had floated away with his denial about his feelings for Kurt. An immeasurable number of images flashed through his mind; some of the past, a few of the present, and many of potential futures involving Kurt. He closed his eyes for a moment, soaking in the deluge of emotion.
He felt the couch move slightly, and he opened his eyes to find Kurt sitting next to him. Blaine's heart fluttered wildly.
"Hey," he breathed.
"Hey," Kurt repeated sadly.
Blaine looked at every detail on Kurt's face, soaking it all in. He reached up and wiped the tears from Kurt's face, feeling his stomach flip as he did so. Kurt just looked devastated.
"I'm really sorry, Kurt," Blaine said softly.
"Me too," Kurt muttered.
Blaine scooted over so that he was shoulder-to-shoulder with the other boy, and he pulled Kurt into a gentle hug. He expected Kurt to resist, but Kurt surprised him by leaning completely into the embrace. Blaine heard him start to cry.
"It's okay, Kurt," he soothed. He felt tears in his own eyes – the result of the emotional overload he was feeling from his epiphany about Kurt – but he did not allow them to fall. He rubbed Kurt's back as he held the other boy for a moment and let him release his sorrow. "It's going to be okay."
KURT
The next day, the Warblers' after-school meeting had only one purpose: to finalize their set list for Regionals. Kurt was trying hard not to fall asleep. He didn't have the energy to give any input. Mostly, he was preoccupied thinking about Pavarotti's death and feeling annoyed that some of his homesickness for McKinley had resurfaced. As he started paying attention again, the Warblers were talking about one of Blaine's potential numbers.
"You know, I think Blaine's version of the song is actually better than the original," Thad assessed.
"But it's not in his natural key, so–" David attempted to argue.
"How dare you?" Thad shot back. Kurt hoped that Blaine was enjoying this, because Kurt certainly wasn't.
As if Blaine could read his mind, the dark-haired young man spoke up, his tone sharp. "Enough!" he said, "I'm tired of this."
"I agree. I think we should just let you pick the song that you want to sing," Thad announced. Kurt could feel his mind beginning to wander again.
"No," Blaine corrected quickly, "I'm tired of the Warblers being all about me."
That woke Kurt up. He looked at Blaine, surprised, as the other boy continued.
"David, please make sure everything I'm about to say goes down in the official minutes," Blaine demanded. He leaned forward. "We are going to lose at Regionals."
The room erupted in disagreement. Kurt couldn't take his eyes off Blaine.
"I am incredibly grateful for the belief you've all given me as a junior member to lead you all in these wonderful songs this year," Blaine spoke above the others, "But, from what Kurt has told me about New Directions, I just know I can't beat them on my own."
Kurt was confused at his friend's sudden change of opinion. Suddenly, Blaine was directly reinforcing Kurt's point that he got most of the solos for their competitions, perhaps at the expense of the group's other strong singers.
"Which is why," Blaine continued, "I propose that we rearrange our eleven o'clock number... and turn it into a duet." As the other Warblers again voiced their disapproval, Blaine tried to elaborate. "To showcase other talent in this group!" he cried, clearly frustrated.
"Why don't we just play it on kazoos?" David scoffed, and Kurt rolled his eyes at the overly-dramatic comeback.
"Point of order! Point of order!" Blaine stood up to demand everyone's attention. The others quieted down and looked at him.
"Now, we all lost one of our own this week," Blaine said, "Pavarotti's voice was silenced by death and I don't want to silence anyone else's voices in this group. I think Pavarotti would roll over in his tiny, tiny little grave."
"The placement of which has yet to be determined," Kurt added quickly.
"Alright, a vote," Wes said, and Kurt thought he was probably trying to avoid any more outbursts. "Who's in favor of Warbler Blaine's proposal for a dual lead at Regionals?"
To Kurt's surprise, most of the boys in the room raised their hands. He shook his head at the discrepancy between their flair for overly-dramatic statements and their logical decisions.
"Oh, put my name on that audition list," He leaned forward to look at Wes.
"No," Blaine said sharply. "No auditions." Kurt looked up at him, confused. All of this was very strange.
"I want to sing the duet with Kurt," Blaine said firmly, looking down at him with kind eyes.
Kurt felt the atmosphere of the room change. Abruptly, the rest of the Warblers were silent and attentive. Kurt felt a rush of self-consciousness. "That's ridiculous," he scolded, "I mean, there're so many great voices." He felt flustered. "I mean, everyone deserves a shot at that honor."
"All in favor of Kurt being my duet partner at Regionals?" Blaine asked confidently.
Everyone in the room agreed. Kurt felt numb.
"Decided," Wes announced.
"Congratulations, Kurt," Thad confirmed, and some of the Warblers standing around him patted his back and arms approvingly while everyone applauded.
Kurt felt a surge of excitement as he considered the sudden change of events. He was going to sing a solo at Regionals. He looked at Blaine, who had masterminded the whole thing. Blaine looked happy, but Kurt saw another emotion in his eyes too. He wanted to ask Blaine about it, but by the time Kurt escaped the mass of boys who stopped by to congratulate him on their way out, Blaine was gone.
BLAINE
As soon as Blaine caught sight of Kurt, sitting at a table working intently on something with his hands, his heart lurched into overdrive. He stopped for a moment to glance at himself in a mirror on the wall. His tie was straight. His hair was properly styled. He took a deep breath and continued down the hall and into the room with Kurt.
"What's that?" he tried to sound casual as he took in the mess on the table, but his voice shook.
"I'm decorating Pavarotti's casket," Kurt answered without looking up.
"Well, finish up," Blaine said, "I have the perfect song for our number and we should practice."
Kurt looked up. "Do tell," he encouraged. Blaine wasn't sure how he was going to be able to sing at all. Every time he looked at Kurt now, he felt like his heart was going to explode out of his chest. He wondered for a moment if Kurt had ever felt this strongly about him.
"Candles by Hey Monday," he suggested.
Kurt looked surprised. "I'm impressed," he said pleasantly. "You're usually so Top 40."
"Well," he explained, hoping to gauge Kurt's feelings with a sliver of honesty, "I just wanted something a little more... emotional." He moved to sit in the chair beside Kurt, avoiding his eyes.
He could tell that Kurt was looking at him, and the silence was deafening. Blaine couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Why did you pick me to sing that song with?" Kurt asked suddenly. Blaine looked up to meet Kurt's curious eyes, and he knew that this was the moment he had been waiting for.
"Kurt," he said, his hands shaking with nervous energy, "there is a moment when you say to yourself 'oh, there you are. I've been looking for you forever'."
Kurt's expression changed. Where there had been only curiosity, now there was anticipation and a hint of nervousness on his face. Blaine shifted in his chair and reached up to place his hand over Kurt's on the table. It was the point of no return.
"Watching you do Blackbird this week," Blaine continued, "That was a moment for me. About you."
Kurt's eyelids fluttered, and Blaine felt encouraged. The look on Kurt's face told Blaine that he didn't need to doubt Kurt's feelings for him. They were still there. Blaine took a deep breath, and said the first thing that came to his mind.
"You move me, Kurt," he admitted. He hoped that the sentiment would convey everything that he felt.
"And this duet would just be an excuse to spend more time with you," he answered Kurt's earlier question.
KURT
Kurt couldn't decide if he wanted to smile or cry or explode, so he opted to just stare at the emotional boy sitting beside him. But for the first time, instead of butterflies in his stomach, he felt a wave of calm and clarity.
The feeling of calm was disrupted slightly as he saw Blaine's eyes flicker to his lips. Kurt's heart felt like it was going to stop completely as Blaine leaned forward to kiss him.
It was gentle and warm, and it felt perfect. Like the fairy tale version of a kiss that he had always imagined in his mind. He reached up to cup Blaine's face in his left hand, breathing in everything about the other boy. He had imagined so many times what it would be like to kiss Blaine, and he was delighted to taste a hint of coffee on Blaine's lips.
When Blaine pulled away, Kurt had to remind himself to breathe.
Blaine looked happier than Kurt had ever seen him, and it made his stomach clench as he realized that he had put that smile on Blaine's face.
Blaine rubbed his face. He looked like he was in shock. "We should... we should practice," he said halfheartedly.
Kurt felt a surge of desire for the other boy. "I thought we were," he quipped.
Blaine looked into his eyes, and it was like looking into a golden mirror. Blaine jumped off his chair to kiss Kurt again.
This time it was different. More physical.
Blaine grabbed the front of Kurt's sweater and pulled him to his feet, and Kurt secured a hand in Blaine's gelled hair to keep Blaine from pulling away. Kurt felt desperate, like he needed to kiss Blaine enough in this moment to make up for all the time he had wanted to kiss him but couldn't.
"Wait," Blaine gasped, releasing Kurt's shirt and pulling away a little. Kurt reluctantly released him, and Blaine tripped over the chair he had previously been sitting in on his way to the door. He reached out for the doorknob and slammed the door closed. A hysterical giggle escaped Kurt's lips, and he bend over slightly to lean on the table. He inhaled deeply, trying to catch his breath.
Blaine took his tie all the way off as he strolled back over to Kurt. He tossed it on the table and walked around behind Kurt to kiss his neck below his ear. Kurt shivered happily and stood up, turning to face Blaine.
Blaine smiled broadly, "I'm sorry it took me so long."
"It was worth the wait," Kurt giggled. The other boy's lips were red and slightly swollen, and Kurt licked his own lips unconsciously.
"So," Kurt said playfully, "what does this mean?"
Blaine suddenly looked serious, and Kurt raised an eyebrow.
"Kurt," Blaine said, reaching out to grab both of Kurt's hands, "There is nothing in the entire world that would make me happier than if you would agree to be my boyfriend."
Kurt's knees failed him. Fortunately, he managed to fall into his chair. Blaine laughed merrily as he stumbled forward, unable to catch himself because his hands were trapped in Kurt's. Blaine landed with his hands on Kurt's knees, and he leaned forward the extra few inches to brush a kiss against Kurt's lips.
"Is that a yes?" Blaine whispered, and Kurt inhaled the warm scent of his breath.
Kurt couldn't speak, so he hoped that nodding vigorously would get the point across. He closed his eyes for a moment as Blaine released his hands and stood up. He sighed, feeling absolutely content.
"I've never felt as comfortable around anyone as I feel around you," he admitted as he opened his eyes.
The desperate glint had returned to Blaine's eyes. Kurt jumped up, grabbed the front of Blaine's blazer, and pushed him back a few steps until he hit the wall.
"Ouch," Blaine teased, but he grasped at Kurt's shirt and kissed him urgently.
Kurt didn't know how much time passed before they made a silent and mutual decision that they had to stop. Kurt leaned forward and rested his forehead on Blaine's, breathing heavily.
"What're your plans for the afternoon?" He asked.
He felt Blaine's forehead scrunch in confusion. "I don't know," Blaine answered. "Why?"
"Well," Kurt stepped back and surveyed Blaine's disheveled hair and crooked blazer, "I was kind of hoping to grab some coffee with my boyfriend."
BLAINE
"Has anyone ever literally died on stage?" Kurt asked as they prepared to go on stage for their performance at Regionals.
Blaine scrutinized the other boy's expression. "Are you nervous?" he asked, surprised.
"Please don't judge me," Kurt sounded a little hysterical, "This is the first time I've had a solo in front of a competition audience. I have this nightmare that I'm going to forget the lyrics or I'm going to sing and nothing is going to come out."
Blaine felt happiness fill his entire chest as he realized that he was going to get to duet with Kurt in front of everyone in the audience.
"Okay, you can judge me," Kurt said, realizing that he was being overly paranoid.
"I think it's adorable," Blaine admitted with as much affection as he could mange, "I think you're adorable. And the only people that are going to be dying tonight," he squeezed his hands on Kurt's shoulders, "are the people in that audience because you and I are gonna kill this thing."
"Come on, let's go," he whispered in Kurt's ear, and the group walked onto the stage to get in position.
"And now, from Westerville, Ohio... the Dalton Academy Warblers!" the announcer informed the audience that they were up next.
KURT
As the curtain rose and the Warblers began the music of the song, Kurt closed his eyes. He didn't seek out New Directions in the crowd. He wanted to focus on the song, and on Blaine. He took a deep breath, and stepped off the riser to sing.
The power lines went out
And I am all alone
But I don't really care at all
Not answering my phone
Blaine stepped out of the group to sing his part, and Kurt felt a surge of adrenaline as Blaine didn't even look at the audience. He just looked at Kurt.
All the games you played
The promises you made
Couldn't finish what you started
Only darkness still remains
Kurt wondered why he had been nervous about this. Looking at Blaine, he felt like nothing else mattered. The way that Blaine was looking at him destroyed every piece of his anxiety.
Lost sight, couldn't see
When it was you and me
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
They finally turned to face the audience as they sang together. Kurt couldn't help but search the crowd for his friends, and he was immediately concerned when he noticed that Puck looked like he was crying. He looked away, making a mental note to text Mercedes immediately after the performance to inquire about the potential drama.
I'm beginning to see the light
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
But I think I'll be alright
One day
You will wake up
With nothing but 'you're sorry's
And someday
You will get back
Everything you gave me
Kurt thought about how he had felt the week before. Jealous of Blaine getting all the solos. Homesick for McKinley. Now all he felt was contentment. The solo helped, but it was the affection of the boy beside him that really made him feel that his life was heading in the right direction.
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
I'm beginning to see the light
Blow the candles out
Looks like a solo tonight
But I think I'll be alright
The crowd cheered, and Kurt and Blaine bowed. Blaine rushed over to pull Kurt to the center of the stage for an extra round of applause. Kurt absorbed the attention with a smile, happy to see Mercedes waving at him.
After an appropriate amount of time, Kurt turned and hurried to find his spot for the second song. He was glad it was an upbeat song, because he needed some way to release the adrenaline that was coursing through his veins.
Right, right, turn off the lights
We're gonna lose our minds tonight
What's the dealeo?
I love when it's all too much
5am turn the radio up
Where's the rock and roll?
Kurt had always enjoyed watching Blaine perform, but now he felt a new emotion in addition to the amusement. He felt an intense rush of pride as he watched Blaine entertain the crowd.
Party crasher
Panty snatcher
Call me up if you are gangsta
Don't be fancy
Just get dancy
Why so serious?
So raise your glass if you are wrong
The crowd cheered wildly at the song's upbeat tempo and message, and Kurt felt the kind of energy that he had been used to when he was on New Directions. He saw Rachel jump to her feet.
In all the right ways
All my underdogs
We will never be (never be)
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
Won't you come on (and come on) and
Raise your glass
Just come on (and come on) and
Raise your glass
So if you're too school for cool
And you're treated like a fool
You can choose to let it go
We can always (we can always)
Party on our own
Kurt knew that this was Blaine's favorite part of the song. He got to tease the audience for a moment, jumping in and out of the line.
(So raise your) So raise your glass if you are wrong
In all the right ways
All my underdogs
We will never be (never be)
Anything but loud
And nitty gritty
Dirty little freaks
Won't you come on (and come on) and
Raise your glass for me
Just come on (and come on) and
Raise your glass for me
The crowd cheered for them, and the group bowed before constricting into a large group to celebrate the successful performance. Kurt ran across the stage and into Blaine's embrace.
BLAINE
"I can't believe she punched the Lieutenant Governor's wife like that," Blaine shook his head as he dug a small hole that would serve as Pavarotti's grave. Burt and Carole had agreed that the little bird could be buried in their backyard, so Kurt had created a little marker for the grave.
"I can," Kurt said, holding Pavarotti's small casket. "I told you, she's insane."
"Okay," Blaine said, motioning to the hole. "How's that?"
"It's perfect, thanks." Blaine leaned into Kurt as the other boy kissed him gently on the cheek.
Kurt knelt down and placed Pavarotti's casket in the shallow grave. He sighed and grabbed a fistful of dirt, tossing it on the tiny casket. He used the shovel to cover the small bejeweled box completely.
"Farewell, sweet prince," he said sadly.
"I'm so sorry, Kurt," Blaine stared down at the new grave. "I know this is really upsetting for you. Reminds you of your mom's funeral, doesn't it?"
"The casket was bigger," Kurt said, "but yes."
"It's not just that, though," Kurt admitted, "Honestly, I'm upset that we lost at Regionals."
"The competition season's over," Blaine said, trying to lighten the mood, "but we'll still get to perform. We do nursing home shows all the time." He turned to look at Kurt, "And do you know how many GAPs there are in Ohio? Tons."
"Yeah, I just really, really wanted to win," Kurt admitted.
Blaine had wanted to win too, but he thought about how he felt in the present moment. "You did win," he determined. "So did I. We got each other out of all this. That beats a lousy trophy, don't you think?"
That elicited a smile from Kurt. Blaine held out his hand, and he felt a swell of satisfaction as he felt Kurt's hand slip into his.
They walked in comfortable silence back to Blaine's car. Blaine turned to look at Kurt when they were both settled.
"I'm proud of you," he admitted.
"What?" Kurt turned to look at him, perplexed.
Blaine shrugged shyly.
Kurt beamed at him.
Blaine started the car and turned left out of the driveway. "Uh..." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Kurt turn and look at him, "Wrong way."
"Nope," Blaine said vaguely.
Kurt knew immediately that something was going on. "You tell me what is going on, right now," he demanded.
Blaine fluttered his eyelashes innocently and remained silent. Kurt interrogated him the entire way to their destination, but Blaine did not say a word.
"What the hell is this, Blaine Anderson?" Kurt squealed as they pulled into the parking lot at William McKinley High School. Blaine tried unsuccessfully not to laugh at the slightly hysterical tone of Kurt's voice.
Blaine parked and jumped out of the car. Kurt crossed his arms over his chest and stayed in his seat. Blaine walked around to open his door.
"Let's go," Blaine said playfully.
"No," Kurt closed his eyes.
Blaine reached across Kurt's lap and unbuckled his seatbelt. Kurt kept his eyes closed, but he uncrossed his arms to allow the seatbelt to retract. Blaine took the opportunity to grab one of Kurt's hands and drag him out of the car. Kurt, unprepared for the movement, nearly fell to the ground, but Blaine managed to keep him mostly upright.
"Now close your eyes," Blaine instructed once Kurt was out of the car.
"You're kidding, right?" Kurt said, raising an eyebrow.
Blaine put one hand on his hip and just stared at Kurt for a moment. Kurt rolled his eyes before closing them.
"Absolutely no peeking," Blaine said sternly. He knew Kurt wasn't going to look. Despite his pretend resistance, Kurt loved attention. And he was clearly intrigued.
KURT
Kurt closed his eyes, feeling both anxious and excited. He smiled as he felt Blaine's lips touch his for a brief kiss as the other boy grasped his hand. "Okay," Blaine said, and he pulled Kurt away from the car. They walked in silence – Kurt was concentrating, straining to hear any hint of what was going on, and Blaine was only giving occasional directions to keep Kurt from falling.
Finally, they reached their destination, and Kurt could people breathing and shushing each other. He knew where they were.
"Okay," Blaine said excitedly, "open your eyes."
Kurt took a deep breath, and opened his eyes just a little.
"Surprise!" The volume of the exclamation startled him, and he was glad to feel Blaine's arm wrap around his waist to hold him up.
They were in the choir room. The members of New Directions were there, as well as Mr. Schu and Kurt's father.
"What is this?" Kurt squeaked, delighted.
Burt stepped forward, and Blaine released Kurt so his father could engulf him in a tight hug.
"Congratulations, kid," he said. "Your first solo in front of an audience. One day those people are going to be glad they got to witness it, mark my words."
Kurt felt tears in his eyes as his father released him. He couldn't speak.
"We miss you, Kurt," Rachel said, skipping forward to kiss him on the cheek. "But just because you don't go to school here doesn't mean we can't be proud of you." She stood up straight. "This was my idea, by the–"
"Thanks, Rachel," Blaine interrupted gently.
Rachel straightened her jacket. Kurt laughed.
As everyone started to talk at once, Kurt turned around to look at Blaine, who was standing quietly by the piano watching the rest of the group. He walked over to the other boy and threw his arms around his neck for a hug. As the rest of the room awwwww'd at the sweet gesture, Kurt felt Blaine's arms tighten around his waist. He buried his face in Blaine's neck.
"I still want the trophy," he murmured so only Blaine could hear, and he felt Blaine's chest vibrating with silent laughter.
BOYFRIENDS! I can't even describe the amount of flailing I did when I first saw this episode. Oh my gosh.
I hope this has been kind of obvious so far, but I try to write the little scenes as if you were watching it on the show. So that's why sometimes they end like this one – I imagine that shot of Kurt hugging Blaine as the final shot of the episode, so to speak.
Thank you so much for reading! Up next... Night of Neglect!