It’s been three hours, and Santana can’t stop crying.

It’s an avalanche of plaster and pipes and brick as Cooper’s arms fasten around Santana, pull her away, out of the bakery, and everyone’s screaming and Santana’s fighting and yelling and desperate and no-

The ambulances arrived a few minutes after the bakery collapsed; somebody from the school must have called them. The police arrived soon after, and began to tape off the area, and that’s when Santana lost it all over again.

“No!” she shrieks, breaking away from Cooper, sprinting towards the scene. “There’s still people in there-"

“-Santana,” says Blaine from behind her, and she can hear him running up behind her, voice too sympathetic, too small, and Santana pretends that she doesn’t hear him.

“You have to search the rubble,” she begs, bites the inside of her lip. “Please.”

The policeman watches her for a moment. “M’am, all you’re going to find in that rubble is bodies.”

Santana lurches forward, shoving the policeman aside, breaking through the tape and dropping to her knees in the middle of the clutter.

“Santana?” comes a half-quiet, tired voice from beside her. She looks at Cooper, looks back at the ground.

“I wanted to say sorry.”

“Why?”

She hears Cooper gulp. “If I’d kept a tighter grip on Sebastian-”

“-don’t,” she interrupts, “don’t you dare blame yourself for this.”

Santana’s trying to lift the pieces by herself, and it’s working, hands growing bloodier and sorer with every passing second but she doesn’t care about her hands; she needs to find Brittany. She needs to find Brittany.

Warm hands enclose around one of her wrists, snap her to a stop, and her shoulders drop. “Santana-” Blaine cuts himself off, tugging her wrist towards his body, lets her fall like a cut-strings puppet.

Santana breathes in, wet and loud and pathetic, and lets out a sob.

It’s been three hours, and Santana can’t stop crying.

*

Even though Kurt insisted that he was fine, he felt great, he felt super, both Blaine and Cooper made the paramedics check him out, and the paramedics insisted that he go to the ER.

So, here Blaine is, sitting next to Kurt’s hospital bed, watching him sleep, rubbing his still-pale hand in some attempt to at least keep that part of him warm.

Burt and Finn had arrived first, Finn glaring at Blaine for a solid five minutes before Burt excused himself to go get some coffee, glancing a warning at Finn, an apology at Blaine.

A moment passes.

“He really likes you, you know.”

Blaine smiles too-hard. “I really like him too.”

Finn squints. “Why did you break up with him, then?”

Blaine shrugs unconvincingly. “We both weren’t ready for a relationship.”

Finn huffs, looks at Blaine. “Really?”

“Really.” Blaine swallows.

“So you’re not some douchebag out to break my brother’s heart?”

Blaine shakes his head, and Finn smiles.

A moment passes before Blaine holds up a glowing hand, looks over to Finn. “Ever heard of Spiderman 2?”

“Yeah,” Finn says slowly, cautiously, stares at Blaine’s hand. “What about it?”

“That one scene at the end where that giant ball thing is consuming, like, the entire town?”

Blaine watches Finn inhale carefully, still staring at his hand like it’s going to explode. “Yeah?”

A small fireball bursts into the middle of Blaine’s hand, no bigger than a tennis ball. Finn screams and falls back off his chair.

“Well,” says a high, angel-lilting voice from beside him, “you certainly made him scream louder than Rachel ever did.”

Blaine grins, turns to see Kurt, cheeks slightly rosy, hair an unkempt mess, dimples scrunched up in a laugh-smile, and his heart swells.

“You’re awake,” Blaine says softly, and Kurt’s smile grows.

“And you,” he replies, “are a superhero.”

Blaine laughs, nods. “Guilty as charged.”

“Wait, wait,” Finn interrupts, “a superhero?”

A moment passes.

“Go on, Mister Fahrenheit,” Kurt says.

Blaine glances to Kurt, looks at Finn, huffs out a small breath through his nose.

“Well, it all started when I almost died…”

*

By the time Burt gets back, Blaine’s only told half the story, and it’s incredibly amusing to watch Finn’s interpretation being told back to Burt.

“Blaine?”

Blaine turns towards the door, and his heart leaps up to his throat. “Hey, Coop.”

Cooper pauses. “I need to talk to you.”

Blaine sighs as Kurt gives a slight-worried look, rises from his seat, follows Cooper out the door. They keep walking until they reach a small café near the room, and they both take a seat near the wall.

A moment passes.

“So,” Blaine starts, “what did you want to talk to me about?”

Cooper bites his lip. “You deserve an explanation.”

“For what?”

“For me being a dick.”

“Oh,” Blaine says, less surprised than he expected. “Yeah, I do.”

“Blaine,” Cooper starts, “I moved to New York for a law degree, you know that, right?”

Blaine nods. “You hated it, because you wanted to continue studying science.”

“I loved Science, and I kept experimenting with things, and well – long story short, I kind of blew up my school’s lab, and…”

“And it made you a superhero?”

Cooper hesitates. “No, it just got me kicked out of college.”

Blaine sighs. “Continue?”

“So, I was walking back to my apartment and wondering what the fuck to do with my life when this guy jumps out of nowhere, asks for my valuables and wallet and I’m like ‘fuck you, I’m poor,’ and then he stabs me and takes my stuff anyway,” Cooper huffs, still apparently annoyed at his near-death experience. “Then I’m lying in the middle of some alleyway in New York, bleeding to my death, and this lady appears above me and shoves a needle into my neck, and the only thing I can think is what the fuck, and then I pass out.”

Blaine stares. “And then?” He asks, voice a little too high.

“Sue Sylvester,” Cooper says. “That’s who it was.”

Blaine raises an eyebrow. “She’s the person who-”

“Gave you your powers?”

Blaine shuts his mouth. “Yes.”

“Hey, me too!” Cooper jokes. “I woke up, she told me that I was a freak of nature and sent me on my way.” Cooper pauses, smile fading a little. “The second I heard that you were in hospital, I called and got her to inject you as well; only, she gave you the wrong one.”

“What?”

“Bet you one morning you woke up feeling like a housefire, right?” Cooper grimaces.

Blaine blinks. “Yeah.”

“Yeah, that wasn’t the right one. Sue called me a few days after, and all she told me was that you had to get real angry, real fast.” Cooper looks at the wall, away from Blaine. “From what I can tell, it worked.”

“That call,” Blaine swallows, “you purposely made me angry.”

“In order to save your life,” Cooper adds.

Blaine shakes his head. “Wow.”

“So, now you know.”

Blaine nods, and Cooper nods. They both stand, walk out of the café. The second they leave, Blaine pulls Cooper into a tight hug, head squashing up against his ribcage.

“I missed you, Coop,” Blaine says, plainly, breath brushing against Cooper’s shirt. “A lot.”

“I missed you too, Squirt,” Cooper says, quieter than Blaine’s ever heard him.

*

Six months later

“Blue or green?”

Blaine looks up, half-dazed, blinks at Kurt blankly. “Hmm?”

Kurt huffs. “Which shirt, Blaine?”

Blaine pauses. “Nobody’s going to see it, baby; we’re all wearing the same gown.”

Kurt drops the shirts on Blaine’s bed, slouches his shoulders, turns to face his boyfriend. “But it’s graduation.”

In the six months since the majority of Ohio (and surprisingly, the world) uncovered the not-so-mystery of Blazer’s identity, a lot has changed for the both of them. The amount of ‘professional photographers’ randomly turning up at his crime-fighting escapades went from zero to roughly half the population of Lima within the first week, and although Blaine did thrive from the attention at first, it quickly became less glamorous and more get-the-fuck-out-of-my-face-I’m-covered-in-blood-and-sweat.

The crime rate did rise significantly higher within that first month, but it drooped once the criminals – real or fake – realized that the almighty Blazer could take them out in a matter of seconds, and that their time would imminently be wasted. Now, six months after – as Kurt refers to it – the Sebastian incident 2.0, Lima’s crime department is little more than a ghost.

Blaine ponders for a second. “Blue.”

“Yeah?”

“Mmm, it brings out your eyes,” Blaine adds, smiling. “Even though nobody’s going to see it.”

Kurt grins at him, slides his current shirt off and lays it carefully on Blaine’s bed. Blaine’s eyes widen as Kurt stretches back up, shoulder muscles taught and toned, and presses his lips together in a firm line. Kurt turns to glance at him, eyes alight with something new-familiar, and turns away again, and then Blaine’s behind him, hot-hands running down his smooth sides and waist and Kurt gasps out a tiny breath, leans back into the touch.

“God, Blaine, we have to leave in ten minutes-”

“-I know,” Blaine mutters against his neck, curling his hands around Kurt’s hips, “I know.”

Kurt breathes out, back against Blaine’s, and they both shudder. “You’re always so warm,” Kurt says, gasp-surprised, and Blaine can hear the smile in his voice.

“It’s gettin’ hot in here,” Blaine singsongs into his ear, “so take off-”

“-Blaine,” Kurt warns, laughing, “don’t.”

Blaine grins into his shoulder, presses his lips down in a soft kiss.

“We should go,” he whispers, scandalous-secret-quiet into his skin, lets go of Kurt’s hips and reaches down for his shirt. Sliding it onto his arms, Blaine grabs at his shoulders, lightly directs him towards his mirror and turns to face both of them.

“I really like you,” Blaine says, meeting Kurt’s eyes, beginning to button up his shirt. Kurt smiles, an oh-god-you’re-doing-this-to-me-again smile, looks down at his shoes, as if they’re going to tell him why Blaine is doing this again.

“What on earth do you mean, Blaine Anderson?” Kurt says, voice mock-oblivious.

“I-I think I love you,” Blaine spits out, trying his best to sound nervous, trying his best to not laugh.

“Real smooth, Blaine, just blurt it out.”

“Blaine?” A voice says from the doorway, and Blaine turns slightly to see his mother and father standing there, beaming at him.

“Hi, Mr Anderson, Mrs Anderson,” Kurt says, cheeks flushing red as he speaks.

“As much as you know we adore your company, Kurt, you’re both going to be late if you don’t leave now,” Blaine’s mother says, smiles at them.

After the news of Blaine’s (and Cooper’s) superpowers, his being gay was probably the least shocking thing his parents would have had to accept to date.

Blaine nods. “We’ll be right down, mama,” he says, and his father smiles at him, and they both leave.

Glancing at his alarm clock, Blaine drags his eyes back over to meet Kurt’s reflection. Smoothing his hair for the third time that morning, he huffs, straightens his back.

You can do this, he tries to say with his eyes, his smile, his soul.

“I love you, Kurt Hummel.”

*

The actual ceremony passes quicker than anyone expected, and before they know it, Blaine, Kurt and Santana (who looks happier than anyone expected) are pacing around the school, watching the lockers open and close in a flurry, watching students in lower grades – both social and educational – stress about their lives, and not missing a second of it.

They reach the gates, and all is quiet before Santana speaks.

“It’s been exactly six months,” she says, somehow smaller than Blaine expected her to sound.

The fact that Blaine was a superhero had shocked Ohio, and so had the news that Sebastian was also of that description, but nothing had shattered all of them as much as Brittany’s death. Santana wouldn’t leave her room for weeks afterward, and even though she refused to speak to Blaine about it, rumour had it she’d been walking around Lima Heights Adjacent in the early hours of the morning, looking for any form of love she could find.

Blaine doesn’t respond, doesn’t know how.

“You’ve been so strong,” Kurt says quietly, smiling gently at her in the soft glow of the afternoon sun. “I wouldn’t be able to do half the things you’ve had to.”

Santana smiles, tiny, and nods at him, takes a breath. “Since we probably aren’t going to stay in contact, I just wanted to say thank you, to both of you.” She pauses. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you two putting up with my crap.”

“Hey, no,” Blaine interrupts, finally finding his voice, stepping towards Kurt and Santana. “It’s – we’re not putting up with you, okay? We love you to bits, San.”

“Yeah,” Kurt adds, “and what’s this thing about not keeping in contact? Bitch, you’re not leaving me alone with him.”

“Fine, Hummel.” Blaine puts his hands up, mock-scandalized. “No more portable space heater boyfriend for you.”

Santana giggles, and Blaine feels his heart swell.

“I should really get going, though,” she says, “my train leaves in half an hour.”

“Okay,” Blaine says, winks at Kurt. They both hug her from each side, squeezing as tight as they can, not letting go until she shakes them off, gives them both a tight hug of their own.

“I’ll see you around,” she smile-says, and then she’s gone.

Cooper appears a second later, arm uncomfortably tight around Blaine’s neck, and Kurt cackles. “Hey, Cooper,” he says, grinning.

“Kurt!” Cooper says, blatantly ignoring Blaine’s protest to let him go, “What a surprise to see you here!”

Blaine stops struggling, and Cooper unsubtly loosens his chokehold. Blaine straightens up, breathes deep, glares at his brother.

“Hey, no need for formalities,” Cooper says, grinning at Blaine. “I just had a proposal to make.”

Blaine doesn’t respond, but his glare does soften.

“I have a spare apartment in New York,” Cooper says, pauses. “That would be 100% free to any relatives of mine, if they were willing to take me up on the offer.”

Kurt gapes, eyes widening in shock. “Are you serious?”

Cooper nods. “There is an old couple next door, though, so you boys might have to keep the noise down.”

“Cooper!” Blaine says, batting him on the arm. Cooper smiles, bats him back, and Blaine winces.

“Do you want it or not?” Cooper says.

“Ohmygodyes,” Kurt says quickly, bouncing on the balls of his feet. “Please, yes.”

Cooper grins, nods his acquiesce. “It’s all yours.”

Kurt squeals, hugs Cooper tightly.

“I’ll see you two Monday, okay?” Cooper says once Kurt lets go, and then he’s gone too.

A moment passes.

“Come on, Blazer,” Kurt says, soft-smiling, taking his hand. “Let’s make a supersonic man out of you.”

Blaine cracks up, grinning, follows Kurt into the twilight.

*

One week later

It takes a second for Santana to fully process what’s happened; there’s a girl on the floor of the diner, and Santana’s covered in coffee, and-

“Oh my god, I am so sorry,” the girl’s saying to Santana, sponging the wetness off her front as best she can, lines of adorable worry on her face.

Santana grabs her wrist, smiles at the girl. “I’m fine, I promise.”

“Phew, that’s good to know.” The girl smiles in relief, lets her hand drop. Holds it back up a second later. “I’m Dani.”

Santana grins.

“Santana,” she says, “Santana Lopez.”

Dani shakes her hand, lets it drop again. “You work here, right?”

Santana nods, lets her hand drop. “Daily and shamelessly.”

Dani laughs lightly, prettily, and Santana feels her heart beat faster. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around, then.”

“You will,” Santana replies. Dani nods, politely bids her farewell, walks away.

Oh my god, she’s so pretty.

By the time Santana finishes dropping off her current order, she can already feel her heart swelling, is already resisting the urge to dance her eyes around the diner to search for Dani, can feel her mind waking up again.

For the first time in six months, she feels happy.

~fin