To Borrow A Heart (3/?)
A/N: I might upload two chapters today. Beware.
Previous chapters: 1 2
Blaine couldn’t believe his luck. Not only had he gotten discovered, and not gotten hurt for it, but he’d talked to Kurt. Kurt.
Actually, they’d talked a lot. Hours after their first meeting Blaine had changed into fresh clothes, the towel folded neatly on the edge of the vanity. Kurt had returned after dinner with far too much food for him to eat, but it was delicious and wonderful to eat something warm for a change. That didn’t happen too often.
They’d stayed up late together that night, talking about their lives and learning more about each other. Eventually Blaine must have fallen asleep, because when he woke he was curled up on one of Kurt’s many pillows, Kurt himself some feet away, sleeping peacefully.
He’d apologized profusely for falling asleep, of course, because Blaine had manners, but Kurt hadn’t minded. Blaine thought that perhaps this was what some friends did.
The house felt strangely empty without Kurt in it later that day, when he was in school and Blaine had busied himself by puttering around the house, gathering fibers for a new brush.
Burt returned before Kurt that day, something that rarely happened, and Blaine was content with listening to his footsteps on the bottom floor while he sat on Kurt’s vanity. They’d come to an agreement yesterday, he and Kurt, that perhaps it was best if they didn’t tell Burt about him for now. Blaine couldn’t help but feel somewhat relieved - Burt was big.
He was in his nest when he heard Kurt’s footsteps go to his room, and Blaine quickly made his way there too. Once he saw Kurt, however, it was clear that something was wrong.
God, he looked so sad.
Kurt fell forward onto the bed with a soft, tired exhale, and Blaine quietly made his way over, climbing up beside him - unnoticed until he reached out and touched Kurt’s arm.
“Oh. Hi Blaine.” Kurt tried a smile, but it came out more like a grimace. Blaine had seen him like this before, but only ever from afar.
He kept his hand on Kurt’s arm, trying to comfort him. If only he’d been big so he could hug him. “What’s wrong?”
Kurt huffed. “School. People. This whole town. According to them, I’m what’s wrong.” He didn’t like the sound of that.
“You’re not wrong, I promise. You’re the nicest, most interesting person I’ve ever met.”
That garnered a small laugh out of Kurt, and a fond smile. “I’m the only person you’ve met.”
Blaine grinned. “Still.” He patted Kurt’s arm absently. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“You’d listen?”
“Of course.”
Kurt sighed. “It’s just, everyone keeps shoving me around and calling me names. The ones that don’t actively participate watch and refuse to help. Even the people who are supposed to be my friends.” He sat, looking down at Blaine with a small smile, seemingly a bit better. “They’re not like you. It’s just… hard. To take it every day and pretend it doesn’t hurt.” His head thumped back against the wall, and Blaine felt like fussing over him.
“They shouldn’t do that.”
A grateful smile. “No, they shouldn’t.”
“I wish I could help.”
Kurt looked surprised, before his face changed into something softer. “You do.”
Blaine wasn’t sure what to say to that. They were quiet for a while, simply taking in each other’s company, until Kurt tapped his head with a finger. “Tell me about your day.”
No one had ever asked that of him. It was kind of thrilling, actually. Blaine told him about looking for fibers, about finding a little metal clip under the sofa, about sitting around and watching the birds outside. Kurt laughed loudly when he complained about the neighbourhood cat that would chase them away.
Well past dinner, and after he’d watched Kurt study for a while, they ended up in Kurt’s bed again, looking through one of his many magazines, both gushing over the clothes.
The bed, Blaine came to find, was probably his new favourite place. He’d never really dared to go up in it before, other than to pat at Kurt’s hand or hair. He always kept it so neat, and Blaine didn’t want to mess it up. The few times he had been in it had been quiet and so very careful, and he’d never taken the chance to just sit and take it in.
It smelled even better than the vanity did.
Also, no hair gel.
“This is probably my new favourite place.” Shit. He hadn’t meant to say it out loud.
Kurt looked surprised, but before Blaine could launch into an apology, he giggled.
Giggled.
“That’s- you had a favourite place before?” The tone was light, almost teasing. Blaine shrugged and grinned lopsidedly.
“Kind of. I just really like your vanity, but your bed is even better. Is that weird?”
Kurt laughed again. “Probably. I don’t mind, though.” His smile dimmed slightly, and he yawned. “Blaine?”
He wasn’t sure how to place Kurt’s expression. “Mmm?”
“Would you… stay here? Tonight, I mean.” When Blaine didn’t immediately answer, too surprised to do so, he continued in a rush. “It’s just that I don’t like the idea of you going into a wall, all by yourself, and I slept better last night than I have in ages. It was nice to have someone there. You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.” At that Blaine finally got his tongue back, grinning widely up at Kurt’s currently flustered face.
“Really? I’d really like that, Kurt. With permission this time.”
He was rewarded with a small smile and a tap on the head. “Silly.” Kurt murmured, but his tone was fond.
Blaine himself would be kicking excitedly if it weren’t for the attention. Stay in Kurt’s bed.
Way better than his nest.
He watched as Kurt went through his nightly ritual, and Kurt watched - laughed - as Blaine explored beneath the duvet.
When they finally settled, side by side, Blaine listened to Kurt hum a few bars of some song before burrowing down properly beneath the many blankets. Blaine himself and pushed at a pillow so he was pretty much surrounded by it, covered in a stretch of the duvet.
“I really am glad to have you as a friend, Blaine.”
He sighed. “Me too. I didn’t even think it was possible.” He grinned at what little of Kurt’s face he could see, the majority hidden beneath the covers. “I’m happy it was, though.”
Another infectious yawn. “Same. Good night, Blaine.”
He smiled. “Night, Kurt.”