Remarkability (2/3)
Title: Remarkability (2/3)
Author: Aelora
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: For 2.16
Word count: 4,758
Summary: Kurt is the remarkable boy that Blaine has been looking for forever.
A/N: A very special thank you to my betas, whenidance, and wordplay (who can whip out multiple Little Women references like nobodies business!!). I hope you all enjoy my little peek into what I imagine Blaine and Kurt’s first real day as boyfriends might have been like. (Please, RM, just give them their own series!)
Remarkable:
1. notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary: a remarkable change.
2. worthy of notice or attention.
Part One
When Blaine wakes up the next morning his face is pressed against his cell phone. Uncomfortably, at that. He lifts his head up from the pillow, looking down at where his cell phone laid, the battery almost dead, the indicator reading that the last call had ended around 4:14 am. He wonders if his cheek had pressed the end button at some point. He smiles at the length of the call-eight hours and fourteen minutes. That’s a record. Okay, so he’d only been awake for around six hours of that, but still. He wishes he could remember if he’d fallen asleep first or Kurt had.
The call itself had been no different than their usual late night phone chats-except that it totally had been different. They’d discussed classes, the new issue of Vogue that came out that day, what songs they thought New Directions might do at Regionals, compared homework to see who deserved the most sympathy that evening. Then they’d grown quiet, actually attempting to work on their homework, though more often than not, Blaine found himself distracted by the little things-the soft sound of Kurt’s breath coming through the phone, the music he could hear playing in the background (a variety of Broadway love songs that made Blaine alternately smile and blush), Kurt’s occasional humming that distracted Blaine so much he actually had to stop studying in those moments and just listen.
During one of those such moments, Blaine found himself simply blurting, “I miss you,” and if those weren’t the most ridiculous words he’d ever uttered, considering he’d just seen Kurt a few hours earlier, then he didn’t know what were. He felt his face flush and he slapped his hand over his eyes and silently called himself an idiot on repeat.
“I miss you, too,” came a very soft, almost whispered reply.
Blaine’s hand had flopped to the bed beside him at Kurt’s words. He’d been fairly certain his heart was about to beat itself right out of his chest, and he was literally so close to shouting with joy that he had to grab his pillow and shove it against his mouth.
And then, okay, yeah, maybe he had screamed into it just a little bit.
“Blaine?” Kurt had asked quietly, almost timidly. “Are you… still there?”
Blaine had to pull the pillow away from his mouth, sputtering slightly because he’d somehow wriggled a feather loose that was stuck to his tongue. He’d been gladly Kurt wasn’t there to see his antics. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here. I just-“ He waved a hand, realized Kurt couldn’t see it, and said, “I’m acting like a twelve year old girl, I think. I don’t know. But yeah.”
Kurt had giggled. “Why? What did you do?”
Honesty had always worked for him so far so… “I may or may not have just screamed into my pillow.” Blaine was pretty certain his face was about five shades of red by that point.
Kurt laughed outright this time, and Blaine had been fairly certain that’s exactly what some people thought angels sounded like. “It’s okay,” Kurt assured him before admitting, “I’ve done that like five times since I got home. I didn’t want my dad to hear me.”
They were both laughing then, close to hysterics actually, and Blaine was positive he’d never felt this happy ever in his life. He never wanted that feeling to go away. Ever.
Except, that was then, and this is now, and the giddiness he’d felt the night before, just hearing Kurt’s voice over the phone, has been replaced with nervousness, uncertainty… hell, outright terror. He’d texted Kurt earlier that morning, asking if he’d wanted to meet up at the Lima Bean, and had only received a short text in return: Can’t. Meet you at school. And every warning bell that existed in the entirety of civilization had gone off in Blaine’s head. He’d tried telling himself not to panic yet, to text Kurt again to see if everything is all right, to not worry because nothing had seemed wrong on the phone the night before. And maybe those assurances wouldn’t work if it wasn’t even twenty-four hours since he’d kissed the boy of his dreams, and they’d barely spent any time together, and they hadn’t talked at all and-
Deep breaths, Blaine Anderson.
He stopped at the Lima Bean for two medium drips before making his way to Dalton, where he parked and sat, sipping at his coffee, staring at the clock on his display as the minutes ticked by. On a normal day, he would have made his way inside, maybe sent a text to Kurt that he’d see him at lunch, and gone about his school day.
But this isn’t a normal day, so he continues to sit there as the time for first period draws near, and he finally sees the familiar Navigator pulling in through the gates. Blaine is actually so terrified that Kurt’s going to tell him yesterday was all a big mistake that he’s having a little trouble breathing, gives up on trying to hold on to his own coffee after spilling most of it over his hand, and clamors out of his car, stumbling a little as he simultaneously tries to slip his bag over his shoulder, hold on to Kurt’s coffee cup and press the button to lock his car.
He hopes he looks normal as he watches Kurt exit the Navigator, but then, he’s still having trouble breathing at a steady rate as Kurt notices him standing there and starts toward him. Blaine tries really hard not to stare, but is more than certain he isn’t succeeding. Kurt just has this poise and grace about him, like the world just stops as he moves through it, and only Kurt can make Dalton uniform somehow look elegant. He finds himself wanting to tell Kurt this, and so many other things, but when the boy reaches him, they just both kind of stand there awkwardly and silent.
Kurt is gripping the strap of his messenger bag so tightly there are indentations over the strap from his fingernails. The behavior just sends more warning bells off in Blaine’s head, and yet, he finds that all he wants to do is reach out and pull those hands free, soothing them between his own until Kurt relaxes.
“Blaine,” oh god, here it comes, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to meet up with you this morning! I had a flat, and my dad was giving me this entire lecture about watching what’s in the road while I was trying to change it and he was just standing there, and I had to go back in and shower and change all over again and I-“
Okay, so maybe interrupting Kurt in mid-explanation is kind of rude, but the moment Blaine realizes Kurt isn’t going to tell him everything had been a mistake, he finds he can’t hold back anymore and just leans in and kisses him. And oh god, it’s everything he remembers from yesterday, only Kurt’s mouth tastes like toothpaste, and his lips are so, so soft, and maybe a little chilled and all Blaine can think about is making them warmer. When Kurt sighs and just seems to melt against him, Blaine mentally curses the coffee cup in his hand because he really just wants to wrap his arms around the boy, and there’s all of this stupid stuff in the way!
The honk of a horn startles them both apart, and Blaine turns, ready to face some angry school official only to find David leaning out the window of his Audi, grinning at both of them. “It’s about time you two crazy kids got your shit together! But just remember, the duet is not an excuse for you to make out. We’ve got a competition to win!”
This is one of those moments when one really wishes the ground would just open up and swallow them whole. David gives them a wink and drives off as Blaine tries to imagine what rehearsal is going to be like that afternoon with thirteen other Davids all sitting there, giving them knowing looks and teasing. It’s like being back in middle school or something.
Taking a deep breath, Blaine glances over at Kurt who is staring down at the asphalt, cheeks a rosy red. He looks so positively adorable that Blaine momentarily forgets what it is he was going to say. Oh, yeah.
“I got you coffee.” He thrusts the cup toward him, and then admits a little guiltily, “Ummm, it’s probably not very warm anymore.”
Kurt lifts his head and Blaine finds himself blinking against the radiance of the smile directed at him. Something warm and fluttery coils in his stomach at the sight, and he can do little more than return it, standing there like an idiot, smiling at the beautiful boy before him who slowly reaches out to wrap his fingers around the cardboard cup. Only, his fingers lay against Blaine’s, and they both kind of freeze like that, holding the cup between them, smiling at each other. Blaine’s not entirely certain he has the willpower to let go.
And then Kurt is stepping toward him, bending his head just a little to press his lips to Blaine’s. “Thank you,” Kurt whispers, and Blaine can’t think but to breathe into the mouth against his, hand clutching the cup they’re both still holding until it threatens to collapse.
Kurt pulls away, along with the coffee cup, laughing lightly. “Come on,” he says. “We’re going to be late for class.”
Honestly, Blaine is considering skipping school and taking Kurt with him, but that wouldn’t be the best way to spend his first day with his boyfriend.
Wait. Who said anything about a boyfriend?
Oh god! Is Kurt really his boyfriend now??
Kurt’s already about ten feet ahead of him, and Blaine has to jog to catch up to him. When he does, he finds himself reaching out on impulse to slip his arm through the one Kurt is holding the coffee cup with. He stares ahead but can feel Kurt looking over at him, and the arm next to his seems to tremble just a little. Blaine squeezes it gently, leaning forward to pull open the door as they reach it.
Without mentioning it, Blaine walks Kurt to his class, because that’s what boyfriends do, right? And Blaine wants more than anything in the world to get this right, to make Kurt happy, to give Kurt the romance that he craves, and when they reach the doorway to the classroom, he’s pretty certain he’s got this thing down if the smile Kurt is currently aiming at him is any indication.
“See you at lunch?” Blaine asks, and he wonders why his voice sounds all weird to his own ears, though it could be because he is still kind of clinging to Kurt’s arm, and they’re standing so close, and he can smell Kurt’s cologne, and he just wants to lean up and-
No. Can’t do that. Not here.
“Yeah.” Kurt’s voice is a little breathless, a little like his. “I’m-“ Kurt stops whatever it is he was about to say, and then rolls his eyes. “Longest morning ever, I think.”
Blaine laughs, knowing exactly what he means. “Yeah.” His fingers flex against Kurt’s arm for a moment before he lets go and steps back. “But, lunch. See you. Then.”
He’s pretty certain Kurt is laughing at him, though it’s totally in that Oh god you’re such a dork but I’m too giddy to care kind of way, which Blaine it totally okay with. And he knows Kurt is probably going to laugh at him in another few seconds as he pulls out his phone and quickly types:
I know this is backwards but, I mean, we’re boyfriends now, right??
And he barely has time to slip it back into his pocket before he feels it buzzing with a reply.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
****************************
They’re supposed to be eating lunch. It would be the responsible, healthy thing to do. After all, they are growing teenage boys (at least, Blaine fervently hopes he’s still growing) and they need their nourishment, and honestly, he loves food so any excuse for it…
Only, just before his last period had ended, Blaine had found himself pulling out his phone and sending a quick text to Kurt when his teacher had his back turned:
Not hungry. Want to meet in the library? ~B
See you there. ~K
Blaine wasn’t entirely certain what he meant to do when they met in the library as he sent the text. Just that he didn’t want to share Kurt at the moment, and sitting in the dining hall with the other Warblers would have meant sharing Kurt. His intentions had been mostly noble; he’d thought maybe they could quietly discuss what had changed between them or maybe just study together.
Currently, though, Kurt has him pressed up against the book shelf in the far corner of the back row of the library, one hand beneath Blaine’s jacket, pressed warm against his side, the other tangled in his hair, angling Blaine’s head to the side as his tongue slides up along the curve behind his ear. Blaine’s knees are barely supporting him at the moment, so he’s very thankful for the courtesy Kurt is showing him by pressing his own body against him close enough to hold him up.
Also? Having Kurt Hummel as his boyfriend has to be the best thing in the history of ever.
Thinking that, Blaine slides his hands up to the back of Kurt’s head, slipping his fingers into the soft strands of hair and tugging gently. “My turn,” he whispers, turning his head slightly to press a kiss to Kurt’s temple.
“Mmmm,” Kurt mumbles against his ear. “Not done.”
Blaine huffs. “I like kissing you too, you know.” Oh crap. Is he really whining about this?
“In a minute,” Kurt whispers into his ear, teeth grazing over the shell before his mouth drops against Blaine’s neck and-Oh. Oh, he’s pretty sure that’s going to leave a mark and at the moment, he’s completely beyond caring.
Unfortunately, the sound of approaching heels against the granite floor ends Blaine’s newly discovered love of all things Kurt can do to his neck, and Kurt’s jumping away from him as they both attempt to straighten their clothing and then look extremely interested in the books before them. Blaine grabs the first book his hand lands on, pulling it from the shelf and flipping it open as Mrs. Tennison appears at the end of the row.
“Mr. Hummel. Mr. Anderson. Finding everything you need?”
“Yes, Mrs. Tennison,” they respond in unison before glancing at one another with a smile.
She nods once and turns, heading back toward the front of the library.
Kurt’s giggling as Blaine glances over at him. “What?”
“I was waiting for her to remark on your new-found love of Little Women.”
Blaine blinks and glances at the pages before him. “Oh, god, look - it's the scene where Beth dies. That’s not a mood killer or anything!"
And Kurt is covering his mouth with both hands to contain his peals of laughter as Blaine tosses the book over his shoulder and swoops in to claim his turn.
**************************
Rehearsal wouldn’t be so bad if the other Warblers weren’t present, and Blaine didn’t have to sing a duet with Kurt. As it is, every time Kurt starts singing, Blaine kind of loses track of everything-the room, the music, the lyrics… On the fifth time that he’s just standing there, staring at the perfection that is his boyfriend with the haunting, lilting voice, Wes actually throws his gavel at him.
Okay, so it was in no way actually aimed in his direction, but still. When Wes throws his gavel, Blaine knows he’s in trouble.
“Two days,” Wes points out, shaking an elegant finger in Blaine’s direction. “Two days until Regionals, and we have yet to actually hear the two of you singing this song together because someone continues to miss his cue, and then forgets the words.”
Blaine drops his gaze, thinking how very interesting his shoes have become.
“Honestly, Blaine, if we’d known this was going to happen,” and Blaine knows that Thad’s ‘this’ is referring to his inattention to all things not Kurt, “we may not have been so quick to vote in favor.”
“There’s still the kazoo idea,” David offers helpfully.
Jeff raises his hand. “Umm, I don’t know how to play the kazoo.”
Someone throws a pencil at him.
Blaine’s still staring at his shoes when Kurt moves up beside him, and he feels Kurt’s hand slip into his own, their fingers twining together.
“First Pavarotti’s death, and now you are trying to get me kicked out of the Warblers,” Kurt whispers.
Blaine looks up quickly, only to find Kurt smiling at him, eyes twinkling with the sunlight pouring in through the windows. “Sorry. I just… wish they weren’t here.” He nods toward the others.
Kurt looks confused for a moment. “You’ve never had trouble singing in front of them before…”
“I-“ Blaine shrugs before quietly admitting, “I’m not in the mood to share you right now.”
“Oh.” Kurt sighs, and his fingers tighten around Blaine’s. “Have I told you today how amazing you are?”
Blaine thinks. “There was that moment in the library…”
Laughing softly, Kurt pulls their clasped hands up between them, and presses them to his own chest, holding Blaine’s hand there securely. “Ignore them. I really want to sing with you, Blaine…. “
There’s something about Kurt’s request that wends its way around Blaine’s heart, and just clutches at it with a vice grip that threatens to never let go.
And when they sing together, their voices echoing through the room, Blaine notices out of the corner of his eye the smiles of those watching them.
***********************
Being at the Lima Bean together is different now. They forgo their usual table in the center of the coffee shop for a corner booth in the back where they sit on the same bench, Kurt with one leg tucked beneath him so he can face Blaine and Blaine leaning straight back against the wall but with his body angled away from the window, toward Kurt-hands wrapped around their cups of coffee. They’ve already gone through two muffins, a plate of biscotti, and a shared croissant on the realization that they both skipped lunch. Blaine listens as Kurt talks, sharing little anecdotes from his classes that day, tentatively asking if Blaine felt his voice was strong enough during their rehearsal of “Candles” earlier (and Blaine spends five minutes assuring him of how perfect it truly was), and then he’s mimicking David and his ridiculous calls for playing the kazoo, which he seems seriously attached to suddenly.
While Kurt talks, Blaine continues to watch him, smiling when Kurt says something funny, and offering his input when asked, but mostly just enjoying every little animated moment of the boy before him. He stares at his lips entirely too long, but thinks it’s probably expected because, honestly, it’s difficult not to remember their make out session in the library through lunch, and he can’t help but wonder if maybe there’s something wrong with him since all he wants to do is press his boyfriend down against the bench and spend the next few hours (years) with his tongue down his throat. Does that make him defective in some way? Oh god! What if he’s supposed to just want romance the way Kurt does? What if he’s… what if he’s a sex fiend? Or a nymphomaniac or something!?
“Blaine?”
He blinks and brings his head around a little to find Kurt watching him, brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m not… boring you, am I?”
“What? God, no!” Blaine reaches out for Kurt’s hands, squeezing them reassuringly between his own. “No, never. I was just… thinking.”
“Oh.” Kurt looks worried, and that’s the last thing that Blaine could ever want.
He leans in closer to Kurt, happy now that he can at least be touching him, hands still clasped between them. He’s wanted to touch Kurt since they sat down, to lean in and press a kiss to his lips, but he’s always thought PDA should only go so far, and well, this is also Lima, Ohio. So he just continues to hold Kurt’s hands between his, gazing up into the glasz eyes that still seem to be watching him somewhat warily.
“What were you saying?” he prompts, putting his own worries about himself to the side in favor of removing the concern from Kurt’s gaze.
Kurt hesitates for a moment before asking, “I wanted to know if you thought I should call and tell Mercedes about my solo? Or keep it as a surprise?”
Blaine smiles. “Well, speaking as if I were Mercedes, I would want to be surprised-to be sitting there in the audience as the lights come up and there you are! Center stage, your lone, beautiful voice rising up into the rafters.”
Kurt’s giggling now, and giving a fond push to Blaine’s shoulder. There, that’s better, Blaine thinks.
“Not to mention, you’re kind of our secret weapon,” Blaine whispers with a conspiratorial wink. “So I’d like to keep it on the down low.”
“Oh, please.” Kurt rolls his eyes. “I’m no secret weapon.”
Blaine’s mouth falls open a little. “Are you kidding me? When those lights come up Saturday afternoon, every single member of New Directions is going to be expecting to see Blaine Anderson and the Pips performing,” Kurt starts laughing, “And just when they’re certain I am going to bust out into my rather epic and soulful rendition of “Midnight Train to Georgia”-,” Kurt’s hands pulls away from Blaine’s now as he leans into the back of the bench, arms curling around his stomach with his laughter, “-What? It is epic! And soulful! But just as they’re certain Blaine Anderson is going to bebop his way onto center stage, bam! Kurt Elizabeth Hummel bursts out into the highly emotional, and completely unexpected 'Candles' by Hey Monday, and everyone is left in tears. Mainly because they know they just lost the competition.”
Kurt is sort of flopped against the back of the bench, one arm over his stomach, cheeks red from laughter, and an almost too-bright smile on his face. “You’re insane, you know that, right?”
Blaine smiles and shrugs. “It’s only the truth.”
“You’re never going to let me live down referring to you as Gladys Knight, are you?”
“Probably not.”
And then Kurt is sitting up, and leaning in to Blaine, and he pauses just in time-or far too early, in Blaine’s opinion-and they’re only inches away from each other. Blaine can feel Kurt’s soft breaths with each exhale wafting over his skin; see the barely-visible freckles smattered across Kurt’s nose highlighted by the sunlight coming in through the window behind Blaine. All he wants in the world at that moment is to kiss Kurt, and he hates that he shouldn’t. He hates that it would be better to wait, and more than anything, he hates that he can see Kurt thinking the exact same thing, and there’s so much regret and longing in Kurt’s eyes that Blaine is certain are mirrored in his own.
Kurt’s hand comes up and briefly, but oh so perfectly, flutters against Blaine’s neck in the lightest of touches. It’s both not enough and just right, and they inhale at once, taking everything they can from this quiet, almost-perfect moment together. Even though they’re not speaking, Blaine’s somehow certain their thoughts are the same.
Sighing, Kurt leans to the side, resting his head against the wall as he watches Blaine through his lashes. “I know it’s silly, but just like yesterday? I find myself not wanting to go home.” He reaches a hand out and Blaine takes it.
“I know. I feel the same.” Blaine looks down at the hand he’s holding, and he touches it with his other hand, caressing softly with his fingertips. He offers, “Tomorrow after school, we could always go back to my place?” Lifting his head, he looks over at Kurt hopefully.
“Friday is family dinner nights,” Kurt tells him. “But,” his fingers tighten around Blaine’s hand, “I could for a few hours. It’s something.”
Blaine nods, trying to mask his disappointment. He finds himself asking, “Have you told your dad yet? I mean, about us?”
Kurt shakes his head. “No. I kind of want to just enjoy this right now, you know? I’m afraid the moment I tell him he’s going to want to have more talks and stuff. I think he delights in scarring me for life.” Kurt pulls a face.
Smiling, Blaine says, “That’s kind of what parents are meant to do, I think.”
“I suppose. Maybe I’ll bring it up tomorrow night, with Carole and Finn there. Just casually drop it into the conversation: Carole, could you please-Blaine and I are dating-pass the pepper?”
Blaine laughs, completely able to picture the moment. It’s something only Kurt could pull off.
“What?” Kurt affects a rather indignant expression. “It would totally work. Also, if my dad did try to bring up conversations better not had at the dinner table, I’d have Finn on my side to get him to stop. One mention of Brokeback Mountain’s tent scene and my sweet, but totally ignorant stepbrother would be in tears. Hmmm. I’m actually kind of looking forward to this conversation now that I think about it.”
Blaine’s laughing harder as he imagines the scene unfolding, and he can’t stop himself from leaning his head against the wall next to Kurt’s and reaching out to touch his cheek. He doesn’t really care in that moment who’s watching. “Everything about you is amazing to me, Kurt.” He realizes belatedly that he has a little trouble getting the words out, throat closing up much the way it had tried the day before with his confession.
Kurt’s cheeks flush slightly, but he’s smiling, eyes bright. “Amazing is my word for you,” Kurt tells him, reaching up to take Blaine’s hand in his, tangling their fingers together and laying their hands between them. “You have to come up with something else.”
Thinking this over for a moment, Blaine smiles and says, “Out of all of the words in the English language, I honestly don’t think there’s one that can equal to your description.”
And Kurt rolls his eyes so far back that Blaine’s almost afraid they’re going to get stuck there, and then Kurt lets out an indelicate snort. “Wow, Blaine. I think that was too romantic even for me. Like, there’s so much sap in here, I suddenly need waders.”
“Well, you’re the one who took amazing from me.”
“Give thesaurus dot com a try, dummy.”
“You’re so not my boyfriend anymore.”
“Whatever. You’ve been looking for me forever, remember?”
*************************
It’s a quarter to six when they finally leave the Lima Bean, and Blaine holds Kurt’s hand as they walk to his SUV. Like the day before, Blaine is reluctant to let go, and Kurt lingers, taking his time slipping his bag into the front passenger seat before turning back to Blaine and leaning against the Navigator. He reaches up for Blaine’s tie, tugging Blaine toward him until their hips and chests are pressed together, just slightly obscured from observation by the open door.
“Kurt,” Blaine whispers in a slight warning, even as his hands drop to settle against Kurt’s hips.
“Hush. I don’t care. It’s funny how much I really don’t care now that I have you.”
“Lima hasn’t changed, Kurt. The world hasn’t changed.”
Kurt smiles, fingers playing with Blaine’s tie. “Mine has.”
Blaine finds himself returning Kurt’s smile, comforting warmth winding its way through him at the words. Now that Kurt’s said it, Blaine can’t help but think how right he is; Blaine’s world has changed as well, like the things that mattered before, the things that hurt, the things that made him question himself and his place in this world-none of that can touch him now because he has Kurt.
They have each other.
It’s the most awe-inspiring thought he’s ever experienced, and Blaine very much wants to discuss it but then Kurt’s pulling on his tie again, pulling him close until their lips are touching, and suddenly the only thing that exists in Blaine’s world is Kurt Hummel.
~TBC~
Part Three
Author: Aelora
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: For 2.16
Word count: 4,758
Summary: Kurt is the remarkable boy that Blaine has been looking for forever.
A/N: A very special thank you to my betas, whenidance, and wordplay (who can whip out multiple Little Women references like nobodies business!!). I hope you all enjoy my little peek into what I imagine Blaine and Kurt’s first real day as boyfriends might have been like. (Please, RM, just give them their own series!)
Remarkable:
1. notably or conspicuously unusual; extraordinary: a remarkable change.
2. worthy of notice or attention.
Part One
When Blaine wakes up the next morning his face is pressed against his cell phone. Uncomfortably, at that. He lifts his head up from the pillow, looking down at where his cell phone laid, the battery almost dead, the indicator reading that the last call had ended around 4:14 am. He wonders if his cheek had pressed the end button at some point. He smiles at the length of the call-eight hours and fourteen minutes. That’s a record. Okay, so he’d only been awake for around six hours of that, but still. He wishes he could remember if he’d fallen asleep first or Kurt had.
The call itself had been no different than their usual late night phone chats-except that it totally had been different. They’d discussed classes, the new issue of Vogue that came out that day, what songs they thought New Directions might do at Regionals, compared homework to see who deserved the most sympathy that evening. Then they’d grown quiet, actually attempting to work on their homework, though more often than not, Blaine found himself distracted by the little things-the soft sound of Kurt’s breath coming through the phone, the music he could hear playing in the background (a variety of Broadway love songs that made Blaine alternately smile and blush), Kurt’s occasional humming that distracted Blaine so much he actually had to stop studying in those moments and just listen.
During one of those such moments, Blaine found himself simply blurting, “I miss you,” and if those weren’t the most ridiculous words he’d ever uttered, considering he’d just seen Kurt a few hours earlier, then he didn’t know what were. He felt his face flush and he slapped his hand over his eyes and silently called himself an idiot on repeat.
“I miss you, too,” came a very soft, almost whispered reply.
Blaine’s hand had flopped to the bed beside him at Kurt’s words. He’d been fairly certain his heart was about to beat itself right out of his chest, and he was literally so close to shouting with joy that he had to grab his pillow and shove it against his mouth.
And then, okay, yeah, maybe he had screamed into it just a little bit.
“Blaine?” Kurt had asked quietly, almost timidly. “Are you… still there?”
Blaine had to pull the pillow away from his mouth, sputtering slightly because he’d somehow wriggled a feather loose that was stuck to his tongue. He’d been gladly Kurt wasn’t there to see his antics. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m here. I just-“ He waved a hand, realized Kurt couldn’t see it, and said, “I’m acting like a twelve year old girl, I think. I don’t know. But yeah.”
Kurt had giggled. “Why? What did you do?”
Honesty had always worked for him so far so… “I may or may not have just screamed into my pillow.” Blaine was pretty certain his face was about five shades of red by that point.
Kurt laughed outright this time, and Blaine had been fairly certain that’s exactly what some people thought angels sounded like. “It’s okay,” Kurt assured him before admitting, “I’ve done that like five times since I got home. I didn’t want my dad to hear me.”
They were both laughing then, close to hysterics actually, and Blaine was positive he’d never felt this happy ever in his life. He never wanted that feeling to go away. Ever.
Except, that was then, and this is now, and the giddiness he’d felt the night before, just hearing Kurt’s voice over the phone, has been replaced with nervousness, uncertainty… hell, outright terror. He’d texted Kurt earlier that morning, asking if he’d wanted to meet up at the Lima Bean, and had only received a short text in return: Can’t. Meet you at school. And every warning bell that existed in the entirety of civilization had gone off in Blaine’s head. He’d tried telling himself not to panic yet, to text Kurt again to see if everything is all right, to not worry because nothing had seemed wrong on the phone the night before. And maybe those assurances wouldn’t work if it wasn’t even twenty-four hours since he’d kissed the boy of his dreams, and they’d barely spent any time together, and they hadn’t talked at all and-
Deep breaths, Blaine Anderson.
He stopped at the Lima Bean for two medium drips before making his way to Dalton, where he parked and sat, sipping at his coffee, staring at the clock on his display as the minutes ticked by. On a normal day, he would have made his way inside, maybe sent a text to Kurt that he’d see him at lunch, and gone about his school day.
But this isn’t a normal day, so he continues to sit there as the time for first period draws near, and he finally sees the familiar Navigator pulling in through the gates. Blaine is actually so terrified that Kurt’s going to tell him yesterday was all a big mistake that he’s having a little trouble breathing, gives up on trying to hold on to his own coffee after spilling most of it over his hand, and clamors out of his car, stumbling a little as he simultaneously tries to slip his bag over his shoulder, hold on to Kurt’s coffee cup and press the button to lock his car.
He hopes he looks normal as he watches Kurt exit the Navigator, but then, he’s still having trouble breathing at a steady rate as Kurt notices him standing there and starts toward him. Blaine tries really hard not to stare, but is more than certain he isn’t succeeding. Kurt just has this poise and grace about him, like the world just stops as he moves through it, and only Kurt can make Dalton uniform somehow look elegant. He finds himself wanting to tell Kurt this, and so many other things, but when the boy reaches him, they just both kind of stand there awkwardly and silent.
Kurt is gripping the strap of his messenger bag so tightly there are indentations over the strap from his fingernails. The behavior just sends more warning bells off in Blaine’s head, and yet, he finds that all he wants to do is reach out and pull those hands free, soothing them between his own until Kurt relaxes.
“Blaine,” oh god, here it comes, “I’m so sorry I wasn’t able to meet up with you this morning! I had a flat, and my dad was giving me this entire lecture about watching what’s in the road while I was trying to change it and he was just standing there, and I had to go back in and shower and change all over again and I-“
Okay, so maybe interrupting Kurt in mid-explanation is kind of rude, but the moment Blaine realizes Kurt isn’t going to tell him everything had been a mistake, he finds he can’t hold back anymore and just leans in and kisses him. And oh god, it’s everything he remembers from yesterday, only Kurt’s mouth tastes like toothpaste, and his lips are so, so soft, and maybe a little chilled and all Blaine can think about is making them warmer. When Kurt sighs and just seems to melt against him, Blaine mentally curses the coffee cup in his hand because he really just wants to wrap his arms around the boy, and there’s all of this stupid stuff in the way!
The honk of a horn startles them both apart, and Blaine turns, ready to face some angry school official only to find David leaning out the window of his Audi, grinning at both of them. “It’s about time you two crazy kids got your shit together! But just remember, the duet is not an excuse for you to make out. We’ve got a competition to win!”
This is one of those moments when one really wishes the ground would just open up and swallow them whole. David gives them a wink and drives off as Blaine tries to imagine what rehearsal is going to be like that afternoon with thirteen other Davids all sitting there, giving them knowing looks and teasing. It’s like being back in middle school or something.
Taking a deep breath, Blaine glances over at Kurt who is staring down at the asphalt, cheeks a rosy red. He looks so positively adorable that Blaine momentarily forgets what it is he was going to say. Oh, yeah.
“I got you coffee.” He thrusts the cup toward him, and then admits a little guiltily, “Ummm, it’s probably not very warm anymore.”
Kurt lifts his head and Blaine finds himself blinking against the radiance of the smile directed at him. Something warm and fluttery coils in his stomach at the sight, and he can do little more than return it, standing there like an idiot, smiling at the beautiful boy before him who slowly reaches out to wrap his fingers around the cardboard cup. Only, his fingers lay against Blaine’s, and they both kind of freeze like that, holding the cup between them, smiling at each other. Blaine’s not entirely certain he has the willpower to let go.
And then Kurt is stepping toward him, bending his head just a little to press his lips to Blaine’s. “Thank you,” Kurt whispers, and Blaine can’t think but to breathe into the mouth against his, hand clutching the cup they’re both still holding until it threatens to collapse.
Kurt pulls away, along with the coffee cup, laughing lightly. “Come on,” he says. “We’re going to be late for class.”
Honestly, Blaine is considering skipping school and taking Kurt with him, but that wouldn’t be the best way to spend his first day with his boyfriend.
Wait. Who said anything about a boyfriend?
Oh god! Is Kurt really his boyfriend now??
Kurt’s already about ten feet ahead of him, and Blaine has to jog to catch up to him. When he does, he finds himself reaching out on impulse to slip his arm through the one Kurt is holding the coffee cup with. He stares ahead but can feel Kurt looking over at him, and the arm next to his seems to tremble just a little. Blaine squeezes it gently, leaning forward to pull open the door as they reach it.
Without mentioning it, Blaine walks Kurt to his class, because that’s what boyfriends do, right? And Blaine wants more than anything in the world to get this right, to make Kurt happy, to give Kurt the romance that he craves, and when they reach the doorway to the classroom, he’s pretty certain he’s got this thing down if the smile Kurt is currently aiming at him is any indication.
“See you at lunch?” Blaine asks, and he wonders why his voice sounds all weird to his own ears, though it could be because he is still kind of clinging to Kurt’s arm, and they’re standing so close, and he can smell Kurt’s cologne, and he just wants to lean up and-
No. Can’t do that. Not here.
“Yeah.” Kurt’s voice is a little breathless, a little like his. “I’m-“ Kurt stops whatever it is he was about to say, and then rolls his eyes. “Longest morning ever, I think.”
Blaine laughs, knowing exactly what he means. “Yeah.” His fingers flex against Kurt’s arm for a moment before he lets go and steps back. “But, lunch. See you. Then.”
He’s pretty certain Kurt is laughing at him, though it’s totally in that Oh god you’re such a dork but I’m too giddy to care kind of way, which Blaine it totally okay with. And he knows Kurt is probably going to laugh at him in another few seconds as he pulls out his phone and quickly types:
I know this is backwards but, I mean, we’re boyfriends now, right??
And he barely has time to slip it back into his pocket before he feels it buzzing with a reply.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D
****************************
They’re supposed to be eating lunch. It would be the responsible, healthy thing to do. After all, they are growing teenage boys (at least, Blaine fervently hopes he’s still growing) and they need their nourishment, and honestly, he loves food so any excuse for it…
Only, just before his last period had ended, Blaine had found himself pulling out his phone and sending a quick text to Kurt when his teacher had his back turned:
Not hungry. Want to meet in the library? ~B
See you there. ~K
Blaine wasn’t entirely certain what he meant to do when they met in the library as he sent the text. Just that he didn’t want to share Kurt at the moment, and sitting in the dining hall with the other Warblers would have meant sharing Kurt. His intentions had been mostly noble; he’d thought maybe they could quietly discuss what had changed between them or maybe just study together.
Currently, though, Kurt has him pressed up against the book shelf in the far corner of the back row of the library, one hand beneath Blaine’s jacket, pressed warm against his side, the other tangled in his hair, angling Blaine’s head to the side as his tongue slides up along the curve behind his ear. Blaine’s knees are barely supporting him at the moment, so he’s very thankful for the courtesy Kurt is showing him by pressing his own body against him close enough to hold him up.
Also? Having Kurt Hummel as his boyfriend has to be the best thing in the history of ever.
Thinking that, Blaine slides his hands up to the back of Kurt’s head, slipping his fingers into the soft strands of hair and tugging gently. “My turn,” he whispers, turning his head slightly to press a kiss to Kurt’s temple.
“Mmmm,” Kurt mumbles against his ear. “Not done.”
Blaine huffs. “I like kissing you too, you know.” Oh crap. Is he really whining about this?
“In a minute,” Kurt whispers into his ear, teeth grazing over the shell before his mouth drops against Blaine’s neck and-Oh. Oh, he’s pretty sure that’s going to leave a mark and at the moment, he’s completely beyond caring.
Unfortunately, the sound of approaching heels against the granite floor ends Blaine’s newly discovered love of all things Kurt can do to his neck, and Kurt’s jumping away from him as they both attempt to straighten their clothing and then look extremely interested in the books before them. Blaine grabs the first book his hand lands on, pulling it from the shelf and flipping it open as Mrs. Tennison appears at the end of the row.
“Mr. Hummel. Mr. Anderson. Finding everything you need?”
“Yes, Mrs. Tennison,” they respond in unison before glancing at one another with a smile.
She nods once and turns, heading back toward the front of the library.
Kurt’s giggling as Blaine glances over at him. “What?”
“I was waiting for her to remark on your new-found love of Little Women.”
Blaine blinks and glances at the pages before him. “Oh, god, look - it's the scene where Beth dies. That’s not a mood killer or anything!"
And Kurt is covering his mouth with both hands to contain his peals of laughter as Blaine tosses the book over his shoulder and swoops in to claim his turn.
**************************
Rehearsal wouldn’t be so bad if the other Warblers weren’t present, and Blaine didn’t have to sing a duet with Kurt. As it is, every time Kurt starts singing, Blaine kind of loses track of everything-the room, the music, the lyrics… On the fifth time that he’s just standing there, staring at the perfection that is his boyfriend with the haunting, lilting voice, Wes actually throws his gavel at him.
Okay, so it was in no way actually aimed in his direction, but still. When Wes throws his gavel, Blaine knows he’s in trouble.
“Two days,” Wes points out, shaking an elegant finger in Blaine’s direction. “Two days until Regionals, and we have yet to actually hear the two of you singing this song together because someone continues to miss his cue, and then forgets the words.”
Blaine drops his gaze, thinking how very interesting his shoes have become.
“Honestly, Blaine, if we’d known this was going to happen,” and Blaine knows that Thad’s ‘this’ is referring to his inattention to all things not Kurt, “we may not have been so quick to vote in favor.”
“There’s still the kazoo idea,” David offers helpfully.
Jeff raises his hand. “Umm, I don’t know how to play the kazoo.”
Someone throws a pencil at him.
Blaine’s still staring at his shoes when Kurt moves up beside him, and he feels Kurt’s hand slip into his own, their fingers twining together.
“First Pavarotti’s death, and now you are trying to get me kicked out of the Warblers,” Kurt whispers.
Blaine looks up quickly, only to find Kurt smiling at him, eyes twinkling with the sunlight pouring in through the windows. “Sorry. I just… wish they weren’t here.” He nods toward the others.
Kurt looks confused for a moment. “You’ve never had trouble singing in front of them before…”
“I-“ Blaine shrugs before quietly admitting, “I’m not in the mood to share you right now.”
“Oh.” Kurt sighs, and his fingers tighten around Blaine’s. “Have I told you today how amazing you are?”
Blaine thinks. “There was that moment in the library…”
Laughing softly, Kurt pulls their clasped hands up between them, and presses them to his own chest, holding Blaine’s hand there securely. “Ignore them. I really want to sing with you, Blaine…. “
There’s something about Kurt’s request that wends its way around Blaine’s heart, and just clutches at it with a vice grip that threatens to never let go.
And when they sing together, their voices echoing through the room, Blaine notices out of the corner of his eye the smiles of those watching them.
***********************
Being at the Lima Bean together is different now. They forgo their usual table in the center of the coffee shop for a corner booth in the back where they sit on the same bench, Kurt with one leg tucked beneath him so he can face Blaine and Blaine leaning straight back against the wall but with his body angled away from the window, toward Kurt-hands wrapped around their cups of coffee. They’ve already gone through two muffins, a plate of biscotti, and a shared croissant on the realization that they both skipped lunch. Blaine listens as Kurt talks, sharing little anecdotes from his classes that day, tentatively asking if Blaine felt his voice was strong enough during their rehearsal of “Candles” earlier (and Blaine spends five minutes assuring him of how perfect it truly was), and then he’s mimicking David and his ridiculous calls for playing the kazoo, which he seems seriously attached to suddenly.
While Kurt talks, Blaine continues to watch him, smiling when Kurt says something funny, and offering his input when asked, but mostly just enjoying every little animated moment of the boy before him. He stares at his lips entirely too long, but thinks it’s probably expected because, honestly, it’s difficult not to remember their make out session in the library through lunch, and he can’t help but wonder if maybe there’s something wrong with him since all he wants to do is press his boyfriend down against the bench and spend the next few hours (years) with his tongue down his throat. Does that make him defective in some way? Oh god! What if he’s supposed to just want romance the way Kurt does? What if he’s… what if he’s a sex fiend? Or a nymphomaniac or something!?
“Blaine?”
He blinks and brings his head around a little to find Kurt watching him, brow furrowed with concern.
“I’m not… boring you, am I?”
“What? God, no!” Blaine reaches out for Kurt’s hands, squeezing them reassuringly between his own. “No, never. I was just… thinking.”
“Oh.” Kurt looks worried, and that’s the last thing that Blaine could ever want.
He leans in closer to Kurt, happy now that he can at least be touching him, hands still clasped between them. He’s wanted to touch Kurt since they sat down, to lean in and press a kiss to his lips, but he’s always thought PDA should only go so far, and well, this is also Lima, Ohio. So he just continues to hold Kurt’s hands between his, gazing up into the glasz eyes that still seem to be watching him somewhat warily.
“What were you saying?” he prompts, putting his own worries about himself to the side in favor of removing the concern from Kurt’s gaze.
Kurt hesitates for a moment before asking, “I wanted to know if you thought I should call and tell Mercedes about my solo? Or keep it as a surprise?”
Blaine smiles. “Well, speaking as if I were Mercedes, I would want to be surprised-to be sitting there in the audience as the lights come up and there you are! Center stage, your lone, beautiful voice rising up into the rafters.”
Kurt’s giggling now, and giving a fond push to Blaine’s shoulder. There, that’s better, Blaine thinks.
“Not to mention, you’re kind of our secret weapon,” Blaine whispers with a conspiratorial wink. “So I’d like to keep it on the down low.”
“Oh, please.” Kurt rolls his eyes. “I’m no secret weapon.”
Blaine’s mouth falls open a little. “Are you kidding me? When those lights come up Saturday afternoon, every single member of New Directions is going to be expecting to see Blaine Anderson and the Pips performing,” Kurt starts laughing, “And just when they’re certain I am going to bust out into my rather epic and soulful rendition of “Midnight Train to Georgia”-,” Kurt’s hands pulls away from Blaine’s now as he leans into the back of the bench, arms curling around his stomach with his laughter, “-What? It is epic! And soulful! But just as they’re certain Blaine Anderson is going to bebop his way onto center stage, bam! Kurt Elizabeth Hummel bursts out into the highly emotional, and completely unexpected 'Candles' by Hey Monday, and everyone is left in tears. Mainly because they know they just lost the competition.”
Kurt is sort of flopped against the back of the bench, one arm over his stomach, cheeks red from laughter, and an almost too-bright smile on his face. “You’re insane, you know that, right?”
Blaine smiles and shrugs. “It’s only the truth.”
“You’re never going to let me live down referring to you as Gladys Knight, are you?”
“Probably not.”
And then Kurt is sitting up, and leaning in to Blaine, and he pauses just in time-or far too early, in Blaine’s opinion-and they’re only inches away from each other. Blaine can feel Kurt’s soft breaths with each exhale wafting over his skin; see the barely-visible freckles smattered across Kurt’s nose highlighted by the sunlight coming in through the window behind Blaine. All he wants in the world at that moment is to kiss Kurt, and he hates that he shouldn’t. He hates that it would be better to wait, and more than anything, he hates that he can see Kurt thinking the exact same thing, and there’s so much regret and longing in Kurt’s eyes that Blaine is certain are mirrored in his own.
Kurt’s hand comes up and briefly, but oh so perfectly, flutters against Blaine’s neck in the lightest of touches. It’s both not enough and just right, and they inhale at once, taking everything they can from this quiet, almost-perfect moment together. Even though they’re not speaking, Blaine’s somehow certain their thoughts are the same.
Sighing, Kurt leans to the side, resting his head against the wall as he watches Blaine through his lashes. “I know it’s silly, but just like yesterday? I find myself not wanting to go home.” He reaches a hand out and Blaine takes it.
“I know. I feel the same.” Blaine looks down at the hand he’s holding, and he touches it with his other hand, caressing softly with his fingertips. He offers, “Tomorrow after school, we could always go back to my place?” Lifting his head, he looks over at Kurt hopefully.
“Friday is family dinner nights,” Kurt tells him. “But,” his fingers tighten around Blaine’s hand, “I could for a few hours. It’s something.”
Blaine nods, trying to mask his disappointment. He finds himself asking, “Have you told your dad yet? I mean, about us?”
Kurt shakes his head. “No. I kind of want to just enjoy this right now, you know? I’m afraid the moment I tell him he’s going to want to have more talks and stuff. I think he delights in scarring me for life.” Kurt pulls a face.
Smiling, Blaine says, “That’s kind of what parents are meant to do, I think.”
“I suppose. Maybe I’ll bring it up tomorrow night, with Carole and Finn there. Just casually drop it into the conversation: Carole, could you please-Blaine and I are dating-pass the pepper?”
Blaine laughs, completely able to picture the moment. It’s something only Kurt could pull off.
“What?” Kurt affects a rather indignant expression. “It would totally work. Also, if my dad did try to bring up conversations better not had at the dinner table, I’d have Finn on my side to get him to stop. One mention of Brokeback Mountain’s tent scene and my sweet, but totally ignorant stepbrother would be in tears. Hmmm. I’m actually kind of looking forward to this conversation now that I think about it.”
Blaine’s laughing harder as he imagines the scene unfolding, and he can’t stop himself from leaning his head against the wall next to Kurt’s and reaching out to touch his cheek. He doesn’t really care in that moment who’s watching. “Everything about you is amazing to me, Kurt.” He realizes belatedly that he has a little trouble getting the words out, throat closing up much the way it had tried the day before with his confession.
Kurt’s cheeks flush slightly, but he’s smiling, eyes bright. “Amazing is my word for you,” Kurt tells him, reaching up to take Blaine’s hand in his, tangling their fingers together and laying their hands between them. “You have to come up with something else.”
Thinking this over for a moment, Blaine smiles and says, “Out of all of the words in the English language, I honestly don’t think there’s one that can equal to your description.”
And Kurt rolls his eyes so far back that Blaine’s almost afraid they’re going to get stuck there, and then Kurt lets out an indelicate snort. “Wow, Blaine. I think that was too romantic even for me. Like, there’s so much sap in here, I suddenly need waders.”
“Well, you’re the one who took amazing from me.”
“Give thesaurus dot com a try, dummy.”
“You’re so not my boyfriend anymore.”
“Whatever. You’ve been looking for me forever, remember?”
*************************
It’s a quarter to six when they finally leave the Lima Bean, and Blaine holds Kurt’s hand as they walk to his SUV. Like the day before, Blaine is reluctant to let go, and Kurt lingers, taking his time slipping his bag into the front passenger seat before turning back to Blaine and leaning against the Navigator. He reaches up for Blaine’s tie, tugging Blaine toward him until their hips and chests are pressed together, just slightly obscured from observation by the open door.
“Kurt,” Blaine whispers in a slight warning, even as his hands drop to settle against Kurt’s hips.
“Hush. I don’t care. It’s funny how much I really don’t care now that I have you.”
“Lima hasn’t changed, Kurt. The world hasn’t changed.”
Kurt smiles, fingers playing with Blaine’s tie. “Mine has.”
Blaine finds himself returning Kurt’s smile, comforting warmth winding its way through him at the words. Now that Kurt’s said it, Blaine can’t help but think how right he is; Blaine’s world has changed as well, like the things that mattered before, the things that hurt, the things that made him question himself and his place in this world-none of that can touch him now because he has Kurt.
They have each other.
It’s the most awe-inspiring thought he’s ever experienced, and Blaine very much wants to discuss it but then Kurt’s pulling on his tie again, pulling him close until their lips are touching, and suddenly the only thing that exists in Blaine’s world is Kurt Hummel.
~TBC~
Part Three