Even If You Never Love Me, Chapter 3
Author: SoBlonde1202 Rating: M
Genres: Angst, Romance, Drama
Warnings: Milder cussing
Spoilers: Up through Special Education
Disclaimer: I don't own Glee.
Author's Notes: This is my original plot, guys! No prompts required! Big deal for me...
Summary: Kurt didn't immediately fall in love with Blaine. They're just friends, best friends, whose sexualities happen to be compatible. Or, so Kurt thought.
Word Count: 2,478
Chapter 1 Chapter 2
Blaine wakes up to the scent of omelettes. It's not a very pleasant scent, warm egg, but then he hears Kurt's voice and it's the best wake-up ever.
"Egg whites only, Dad. Don't let me catch you sneaking yolk in there."
"It's a sad day when a man tries to sneak yolk past his son," Burt complains.
"Well, you can put whatever you want in your coffee as consolation."
"Even egg yolk?"
"That's disgusting, Dad."
"Yeah, well, you see what you have me stoop to? Hey, look who's up!" Burt greets as Blaine stumbles into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from his eyes.
"Good morning, Sweetheart," Carole smiles. "It looks like you beat Finn up, so you're free from dish duty. Did you sleep well?"
Blaine thinks back on his sleeping arrangement and remembers Kurt. Warm. On top of him. Blaine's eyes go wide.
"Or, perhaps you're still a little bit asleep still?" Carole guesses.
Blaine's eyes rise to meet Kurts' and a blush covers his face.
Kurt bites his lip, "Listen, Blaine, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't know how tired I was and just sort of fell asleep on you... literally. I hope it didn't make you feel uncomfortable."
Blaine is seriously losing the battle with his blush, "It's fine. It's not like you're heavy or anything."
"Why, Blaine Anderson, I do believe that's the first time a man has ever complimented my figure."
Shit. Blaine panics. They finally understand his true feelings and now Kurt is calling him out.
Except, they're laughing and Kurt's asking what Blaine wants in his omelette. Damn, Blaine really does need to wake up.
Oh, yeah, omelette. "Cheese and mushroom, please," Blaine requests after surveying the ingredients on the counter.
"You better tell him if you want yolks in there," Burt advises. "He removes them by default."
"I'm sure I'll like whatever Kurt makes me." Too obvious?
Kurt preens, "For that, you get yolks."
Footsteps thud heavily down the stairs.
"Hey, it's Dish Boy," Burt announces.
Finn attempts to walk into the kitchen. I write 'attempt,' because Finn also chooses this moment to rub not one, but both his eyes, and without the aid of his vision, he actually walks into the doorway. No one mentions anything, and Finn seems unphased. Instead of saying something along the lines of, "Ow," he just responds to Burt, "All right, as long as no one's making turkey bacon again. Bacon's awesome, but the grease is nasty."
"Omelettes," Kurt informs his step-brother.
"Awesome!" Finn perks right up, "I'm gonna' put in pepperoni and that cheese they use on pizza!"
Kurt cooks as efficiently as he makes beds, so Blaine doesn't have time to feel awkward about standing in another family's kitchen (he's pretty distracted by how adorable Kurt is over a stove) before it's time to eat.
"So, what movie were you guys watching last night?" Finn gives Blaine a significant look. Ah. This is Finn's super covert way of asking if Blaine told Kurt the truth yet. It's actually not that poorly played.
Blaine gives his head a tiny shake.
"When Harry Met Sally." It's Carole who answers.
Kurt immediately looks horrified. "I thought the volume was low enough!"
"Oh, you didn't keep me up, Honey. I saw the DVD menu when I came down this morning. It looks like you both tuckered out before the film ended."
"Wait," Finn interjects, "isn't that the movie about the friends who secretly like each other but take, like, a million years to get together?" He rolls his eyes at his step-brother's entertainment choice, but Kurt doesn't notice.
"I refuse to spoil it for you, Finn. I still have hope you'll watch it one of these days," Kurt replies.
Finn figures he'll just watch the live version.
When breakfast ends, the family peeks outside to see it's stopped snowing. Possibly temporarily, they stress to Blaine.
"If it stays clear for the next hour, I'll help you put chains on your tires so you can safely get yourself home," Burt offers.
"Oh, chains don't go on BMWs." Blaine speaks before he thinks, and boy does he sound prissy. Isn't he special, owning a vehicle as expensive as this house, and telling the mechanic about cars. Blaine could smack himself.
"Well, then the BMW doesn't get to drive in the snow," Kurt counters, leaving no room for argument. "My SUV is already winter-ready. I'll drive you home and I can bring you back from Dalton next weekend when the weather clears to pick up your car."
"Whoa, Kurt," Burt protests, "I don't know if I want you out on the road that late when the snow could return any minute."
"I'll be fine, Dad. I know how to drive in the snow, I put the chains on myself, and my car is practically a tank. It'll be much safer than letting Blaine drive his Beemer into a snow bank." Let it never be said that Kurt Hummel is a pushover.
Burt still looks uncertain, but Kurt has yet to run out of ammo, so he just keeps on shooting, "You were perfectly fine letting Blaine drive in that weather. You've said yourself I'm a better driver in the snow than even you. If you're so concerned about it getting dark, I'm sure the Andersons will be just as accommodating as you were last night. I can tell when the weather is turning, and there are towns to pull into all along the highway-"
"All right," Burt holds up his hands in surrender. "If the weather stays clear for the next hour and the forecast is favorable, you can go. But, Blaine, I want updates every fifteen minutes. Do you have my number? Hand me your phone."
Like son, like father.
Blaine complies, the small movement of his hand from the coffee table to Burt the most participation he's had in the plans for his day. It's fine, though. He wouldn't be so in love with Kurt if he had an aversion to following.
He needs to stop having these thoughts around Kurt, or something might slip.
As Burt returns his phone, he gives Blaine a stern look, "And you're sure your parents are okay with him staying over? I don't want him driving if it gets dark."
Wait, Kurt is staying over? When did this happen? Well, considering his parents will more likely be in Eastern Japan than his house tonight, he nods easily, "They won't have a problem with it."
Is Kurt really staying over? Can he get some clarification here?
"Don't worry, it won't be necessary," Kurt seems to think he's reassuring, but he's really not. "Snow driving may be slow, but it certainly won't take until nightfall."
"It took me almost four hours to get here yesterday," Blaine says, mostly to boost his own hope. The drive usually isn't much over an hour.
Finn comes rushing down the stairs like a five-year-old on Christmas morning, dressed in snow gear. His smile is big enough to show all his teeth, "Snow, Guys! This is awesome!"
Blaine's not sure how Finn seems to have just caught onto the weather. He's also not sure when Finn left to get changed, but that's been happening a lot lately; he gets so wrapped up in whatever Kurt is doing, he sort of forgets the rest of the world exists.
He even almost misses what Finn says next. Almost, but not quite.
"We can make forts and have snowball fights and build snowmen. You can use your scarves to dress them up, Kurt, and-"
"We will not be using my scarves on snowmen. And if one snowball hits me, I will burn every one of your ridiculous puffy vests." Kurt quirks his eyebrow in the perfect Threatening Diva expression, then softens, "Aside from that, I'm in if Blaine's in."
Blaine frowns, "I didn't even bring a jacket."
Kurt tisks and waves his hand dismissively, "I've got plenty of winter-wear. It's got to last the whole season, after all." Kurt's already leading Blaine upstairs, so he misses the way Blaine looks like he's won the lottery.
Kurt is offering Blaine his clothes AGAIN. If Blaine is lucky enough, maybe he'll even let him wear them home and keep them for a few days so he can wash them. Maybe if he sneaks a look in the laundry room, he can find out what detergent the Hummels use, so Kurt's clothing won't even lose its smell. Then, Blaine can use that detergent on his own clothes-
"Dude," Finn interrupts him from his thoughts, "I think he expects you to follow."
Yep, Blaine's just standing in the middle of the living room, grinning like a bafoon. Can he really not maintain control of himself at all around Kurt? Or, even around where Kurt has recently been? Come on!
He races upstairs, making up time, and arrives just in time to watch an outfit fly through the air and land gracefully upon the bed.
"Oh, there you are," Kurt greets. "I decided to loan you some clothing from last year since I was slightly shorter then, and even though Finn won't be throwing dirty clumps of snow at me... Blaine, are you all right?"
"What?" Great, what's he done now?
"Are you uncomfortable being here? I know I sometimes get uncomfortable staying in other people's homes for longer than expected. We can leave now, if you'd like. I'm sure I can convince my dad."
Blaine patiently waits for Kurt to finish before answering, "No, I like it here, actually. It's comfortable."
'Comfortable' doesn't sound like a rich person's way of referring to inferior homes, does it? God, Blaine can be such an unintentionally pompous ass sometimes. He just meant this place feels like a family lives here, but he can't just say that, because that would essentially be screaming that a family doesn't live at his place, and that would be unloading his problems on someone who doesn't deserve them, and hasn't he done that enough already?
Crap, where were they?
Kurt gently squeezes Blaine's shoulder, "I'm glad you're comfortable here. You're always welcome." Kurt releases Blaine (too soon) and turns to the bed, pointing at two thick sweaters, "So, red or blue? I'm guessing blue would look better on you. I only bought the red one because Finn said it was my color. I probably wore it every month that winter." Kurt chuckles privately to himself.
"I think I'll go with the red one," Blaine decides without forming a reason to go against Kurt's advice that doesn't have to do with imagining Kurt in it that often. He opens his mouth and lets one fall out, "Red looks warmer than blue. You know, fire versus ice." He should have relied upon a shrug.
Kurt just smiles, "That's one way to look at fashion." He hands Blaine the red sweater, a black pair of snow pants, and two wool socks knotted together. "You can change in the bathroom again. I still need to pick out my outfit."
Blaine smirks, wondering how long that will take.
"Oh, don't give me that look! I promise to keep it under five minutes; I know we're on a schedule."
Blaine changes in the same room he changed in last night. His sweater and jeans lay as folded evidence on the counter. He should take those clothes and put them in Kurt's car, make sure they go home with him, but if he leaves them behind, there's a chance they'll get washed with Kurt's laundry.
It's the rudest thing he's ever done as a guest, but he leaves his clothes behind.
Kurt meets him in the hall in a stunning ensemble of bright white and deep blue. He stands like he knows he looks amazing, but that's really how he always stands. "Do you think Finn waited for us, or do you think he's aimed and waiting for us potential snowball victims?"
"I think he's making snow angels," Blaine answers honestly.
Kurt smiles fondly at the idea. "Coats are in the closet by the door. I'll let you wear my new down on because it's warmer and I don't want to tempt fate with your health after yesterday."
With all that caring, the jacket feels like a big hug.
Kurt tops both outfits off with ear muffs and caps, and they brave the outdoors.
It turns out, Kurt was right. The second the front door shuts, Blaine is pelted with a snowball to the chest.
Kurt gasps, "Blaine! Are you all right?"
Blaine looks down at the bits of ice clinging to his coat and laughs. Two seconds in and he's already having a blast. "Yeah!"
Kurt turns to scowl at his step-brother, who's hidden poorly behind the mailbox. Unable to bring out the righteous fury for Blaine's sake, he does so for his own, "Do you have any idea how close you came to hitting me?"
"Relax! I'm a quarterback; I could have hit Blaine's nose if I'd wanted to."
"Please don't prove that theory," Blaine requests.
Finn takes pity on his target, instead showing off by hitting Blaine in the exact spot his last shot landed.
Blaine laughs again. He grabs a clump of snow, takes a running start, and aims at Finn. It soars over his shoulder.
Finn smile good-naturedly at the attempt.
Blaine bows his head and would blush if the cold hadn't already colors his cheeks. "I've never done this before."
Finn just shrugs, "Maybe we should stick to snowmen."
Blaine feels like he's missed an opportunity to do something fun his childhood never provided, but it was his fault he failed so quickly, so he can't complain. Maybe the snowmen will be fun.
"You start with a snowball, like this," Finn demonstrates, "and you roll it around in the snow, making it bigger. I'll do the bottom ball, because it's the biggest and I've been doing this pretty much my whole life. You can do the middle part. Hey, Kurt, want to do the head?"
"Already on it," Kurt scoops up snow that seems to no longer offend him and joins the fun.
Blaine's lack of practice means his ends up being the head, but at least he gets to participate, and Finn assures him the head is the most important part. The awkward lump on the top just gives the snowman character.
"He needs a face!" Kurt announces before rushing inside for supplies.
Blaine watches him go.
As the door swings shut, Finn changes the mood dramatically, "Do you think you're going to tell him? It's a long drive."
"And a longer walk."
"Why are you so sure he's going to react badly?"
"How did you react when you found out he was in love with you?"
Finn doesn't say much after that.
**This chapter isn't really my best friend. I don't like how it ends, I'm disappointed in how little the story progresses, and I'm not sure if the character development I sacrificed plot for even comes through. Or, was necessary... For that, the next chapter will be up significantly sooner than planned.**
Chapter 4