April 3, 2012, 1:42 p.m.
Delayed Regret: Chapter 5
T - Words: 2,763 - Last Updated: Apr 03, 2012 Story: Closed - Chapters: 16/? - Created: Jan 29, 2012 - Updated: Apr 03, 2012 1,295 0 2 0 0
This one is awkward to write! I can't decide whether I want to start with Kurt or Burt's 3pov… hm… See, Kurt I've done so many times, but works better with this, so… I'll re-read last chapter and see… Eh. I'll do Kurt. But this shall be VERY Burt-y, so let's get it on.
Also, I'm writing the ENTIRE THING to "Party Like Your Single" by Stephen Jerzak who… yeah. My obsession is a problem… but whatever.
Oh, no. I lied… I LOVE "Superman" by Joe Brooks. I'll do both…
Burt Hummel stepped into the room, footfalls heavy on the wooden floor. It was taking near all of his will power to not stomp into his son's bedroom. At the sound of his entrance, the blonde kid's –Burt didn't know his name, and he didn't care- head whipped up from where it had previously been attached to his son's face. The boy's blue eyes were instantly filled with fear when he caught sight of him, and he moved away from Kurt with difficulty, their legs entangled together. Burt set his jaw.
"Son, I think it'd be best if you left," he said, watching as Kurt's apparent new boyfriend gulped, snatched up his jacket from where it had been discarded to the floor, and slipped past him. There. That was satisfying. A small smirk pulled on Burt's face, but it fell the second he looked back to Kurt, who was glaring at him from his spot on the bed. He sighed. "So is this how it is now?" he asked, and Kurt arched an eyebrow, the annoyance playing on his face.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, surprisingly keeping his tone under control. Kurt was currently a lot of things, but he would always respect his father and his limits. At least Burt had gotten something right…
"The whole 'you and this guy' thing. I haven't seen Blaine in awhile… so… is this how it is now?" Burt asked, trying to see through Kurt's skull and into his brain. He didn't like what he had been seeing in him lately. He just seemed so… lusty. And, okay, maybe Burt had grown a little too attached to Blaine when he and Kurt were together, but the mechanic was seriously worried about him. He hadn't looked good the last time he saw the kid… Kurt bit his lip.
"His name is Sam, and… I don't know. I guess…" he answered, and it was practically music to Burt's ears. He wouldn't lie; he didn't like his son's current boyfriend. Maybe it was just his not wanting to believe that Kurt would make such bad choices, but he blamed him –Sam, apparently- for the entirety of the past couple months. He was nice enough and rightfully afraid of him, which Burt found important, but he just… irked him. He didn't seem to treat Kurt right. Not like Blaine did, anyway… sure, the little hobbit had his mess-ups, and Burt wanted to shoot his head off a couple times before he and Kurt had got together, but other than that, he had been good. Sam didn't seem to know how to have any kind of date other than a hot night in. No. Not in the Hummel household.
So naturally, Burt was all over this "I guess…" of his son's.
He sat on the edge of the bed, leaning up against the wall while Kurt turned and sat cross-legged in the center. "Hmm… And what does that mean?" he questioned, trying to keep the hope out of his voice. Kurt frowned and pressed his lips together, scratching at the back of his ear as he thought. He flopped back on his comforter, letting out a groan of frustration.
"I don't know! It's just… I'm wondering if it was worth it," he said, and it took every bit of Burt's concentration to keep quiet as Kurt continued, wanting to tell him, 'No. No it wasn't,' a little bit more badly than he could put into words. "Sam's great, and he's an amazing kisser- okay, no. Never mind, I'm not going there with you, but I do like being with him." Burt waited for the big 'but'.
"Yes?" he goaded, and Kurt leaned up on his forearms, meeting his eyes.
"It's just that I'm starting to think that Sam's only worth having as a Jack Twist. Blaine was better to have around in most ways. I know it sounds horrible, but I wish things could go back to the way they were a couple weeks ago when Blaine didn't know," he finished, and Burt suddenly wished Kurt was eight again and he could stick him in a time out. Because it didn't just "sound horrible". It was unacceptable. He gritted his teeth, trying to speak without snapping.
"Kurt, I think you'd have to go farther back than that," he told him, desperately wanting not only to tear the head off of his son but also his own. Gosh, he had seen how Kurt was ruining his relationship and Blaine, but he hadn't said anything. If ever anything was to bite him in the butt… Kurt gave him a confused look that spoke volumes about how oblivious he had been to everyone but himself and Sam the past couple months.
"What are you talking about?" he asked. Burt allotted himself a "disappointed parent" sigh, and tried to find words… how do you tell this to someone who should have known?
"Kurt, I'm pretty sure he knew a long time before he- what, was it? Did he walk in on you guys?" he asked, and Kurt nodded, looking a little alarmed. "Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure he noticed that you weren't giving him your full attention anymore," he explained, trying to put it in the gentlest way possible and figuring he had succeeded. Especially when "Duh, he obviously knew the entire time" was on the tip of his tongue. Kurt looked shocked, and it was another slap to the face for Burt, who hadn't realized just how out of it a person could be.
"What?" Kurt asked, voice higher than usual. Burt lifted his baseball cap and ran a hand over his head. He shifted the hat back on and looked at Kurt carefully, not sure what to tell him. Fortunately, the kid was filling in the blanks for himself. "That's not possible. He couldn't have known… I was careful. He never saw…" he trailed off, and Burt could practically see the gears turning in his head. "Oh, gosh, he knew…"
"Yup," Mr. Hummel said, giving his son a pat on the shoulder and taking his leave.
Looking at Blaine was starting to make Jeff feel itchy. Every time he looked at him, the blonde couldn't help but start squirming in his seat, despite the constant nudges to the side from Nick. It just made him all restless, and weird, and… Anxious! That was the word! Blaine made him feel anxious, and Jeff really didn't like it. He just wanted to be able to touch his forehead and make it magically better, but he couldn't. Blaine didn't seem to be fixable, and it was seriously messing with Jeff's head. He had to do something…
He finally reached his limit after sharing a lab table with the shorter boy in Physics. The whole thing had been entirely too stressful for him, so –naturally- his eyes had been trained on the clock the whole class period. The second it ended, Jeff grabbed Nick by the arm and pulled him out into the hall. "Nick~y," he whined, shifting from foot to foot with books underarm, "You have to fix it!" Jeff noticed the heads turning to stare at him, but Nick hadn't even batted an eyelash.
"Fix what?" he asked, and Jeff let out the most obnoxious groan he could muster. How could Nick not know what he was talking about? Were they not sitting right next to each other at the same table with Blaine just two seconds ago? Did he not see that stupid look on Blaine's face? What the heck? People compared him to a puppy all the time, but Jeff hadn't gotten it until right that second. It looked like a wittle doggie that someone had just kicked with cleats.
"Fix Blaine!" he yelped, exasperated and unable to keep still. He couldn't take this anymore. Nick's face contorted into one of confusion, but before he could presumably ask him more questions, Jeff spotted Blaine walking out of the Physics room a little behind everyone else.
He left Nick in favor of snaking and arm around Blaine's shoulders and dragging him down the hall. "Hey, buddy! Do you wanna go to me and Nicky's dorm? SURE you do! Let's go," he said a little forcefully, grabbing Nick's wrist and pulling him along. He carted the two of them through the school, up the stairs, and to the dorms before pushing them both on his bed. "So?" he asked expectantly, waiting for them both to do their thing.
Nick shook his head a little bit, hair fluttering against his forehead. "What?" Jeff couldn't resist a facepalm. He crossed his arms and shot a pointed look at Blaine. What was his three not getting about this? Suddenly, thankfully, wonderfully, a look of comprehension washed over Nick's face. Jeff grinned, happy to have someone finally understand the good deed he was trying to pull here, and plopped down with the two of them on the bed. Nick scratched the back of his head. "Um… It doesn't exactly work like that, Six…" he trailed of awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Blaine looked hopelessly lost. He threw his hands up in the air. "What is going on?" he questioned, flopping onto his back and threading his fingers through his unusually ungelled hair. Jeff could feel his heart lifting as Nick bit his lip; he watched the shorter boy's face intently, waiting. He was gonna fix it… he had to fix. It.
"Nothing," Nick said slowly, twisting to lean over Blaine and meet his eyes, thrilling Jeff. Blaine had lately been relatively hard to explain… He had his usual happy moments, and it wasn't like he was a walking state of complete depression, but at the same time, he never had his usual happy moments, and he was a walking state of complete depression. Whatever. Jeff wasn't good with voicing his emotions past happy, sad, mad… But he had noticed that Blaine seemed to be acting okay without really being so. It was calculated.
For example, just now in Physics, they had been working, and Blaine had been laughing, but… Okay, not that Jeff was a creeper, but he had always somewhat noticed the way Blaine would practically snicker into a giggle. Today he had been laughing like Nick did, like he had forgotten how and was copying him… and it had been weird.
Also, he was kind of skimping out at Warbler's practice. He was all smiles between notes and lyrics, but the second he started singing, it was over. He stopped trying to look and act happy when his moving mouth could hide the lack of a smile. It was the same when he was talking, too…
And Jeff didn't like it.
At all.
He watched carefully as Nick hovered above Blaine's face, and he could practically see the conversation passing through their eyes. Eventually, some kind of realization flickered onto Nick's face, and his three pulled away, turning himself and leaning against the headboard as he moved to face Blaine on the bed. "Blaine… why is this break up- err," Nick paused, pondering something, "Sorry, this potential break up so upsetting to you?" he asked, but Jeff could tell he already knew the answer. Blaine pulled his hair through loose fingers.
"Really? Right now? I'm supposed to be in Civics, and I've missed two weeks of prep for a closed paper cause of my transfer. I haven't even begun reading theCongressional War Powers article, let alone synthesizing it…" he trailed off, and Jeff wanted to smack him a bit. Yes, now! If not now, then when? When Jeff honestly couldn't take looking at his mopey face anymore because it upset him so much? Oh wait, they were already there! Jeff bounced up and down impatiently, arms crossed over his blazer.
"Stop being evasive, and answer the question!" he snapped, and Blaine looked at him with wide eyes. Jeff watched as he threw Nick a helpless look, but he wasn't concerned. He knew his Nickpea would hold his ground, keeping his eye on him as he rested his head back against the wall, closed his eyes, and breathed through his nose.
"Blaine, whatever's going on, it seems like you need to let it out a bit. Even I've noticed how you seem… off." Jeff felt his heart swell a little. Yes! This is what he had been hoping for! He tried to stifle a smile as he followed Nick's lead.
"Yeah, and you laugh funny!" he added, earning him a pair of strange looks. Whatever, they were getting places. Finally, they were going to get places. Blaine had been so upset, and now they were going to fix him. Jeff knew he had relatively high expectations, but that didn't stop him from wanting to see his Blaine-a-bee happy again more badly than he could even describe. It was hurting him to see Blaine so hurt… And, yeah, he'd admit it. He just wanted to kiss Blaine's face all over until he felt better. He was touchy-feely like that…
Blaine sat up and looked down at the floor, hands clasped in his lap. "Well… I don't know…" he said awkwardly, a faint blush heating up his cheeks, and even Jeff could see that he was embarrassed about whatever he was thinking. Nick put a hand on the youngest Warbler's knee, and Jeff grew somewhat alarmed when Blaine let out a shaky gasp, a shudder visibly running up his spine at the contact. Suddenly, his nose was growing pink and his eyes were all teary, and maybe it made him gay, but Jeff couldn't help but cry with him. "I don't know," Blaine said again, and Jeff joined Nick in enveloping him in the greatest hug of all time.
"Yes, you do," Nick said quietly in Blaine's, and consequently his own, ear. Jeff frowned as the initial excitement of having Blaine happy again dissolved in the situation. In fact, he was starting to feel a bit nauseous. Did he really want to know what twisted things were going down in Blaine's brain? It could be considered selfish, but Jeff realized he actually didn't…
However, there was Nick, arms squished between Blaine's back and his own chest and listening to the words falling out of Blaine's mouth that Jeff just couldn't quite understand. If he could do it, then so could he.
Nick fell away a bit, so Jeff back up too, keeping his eyes trained on the two boys before him. Blaine took a gulp of air with a good bit of difficulty, and struggled to speak. "I-I jus' don't under-erstand why he'd pick h-himand not- not- not-," he choked, unable to finish, and Nick just rubbed his arm.
"I know," he said quietly, but that only seemed to make Blaine cry harder. Jeff hated that. Didn't Nick understand that the point of this was to make Blaine happy, not depress him further?
"Nickpea…" Jeff said quietly, Blaine's shaking shoulders making the entire bed quiver. Three gave him a sad look over their younger friend's head.
"It's okay, Jelffaba," Nick said, equally quietly, and Jeff was once again amazed by how comforting he could be. Jeff practically melted into his voice whenever he was upset. It was like a warm hug.
Positive to being best friends with Nick: He was great at making you feel better when you were down.
Negative to being best friends with Nick: He was a workaholic and went to bed early.
Blaine kept gagging on his words, and it terrified Jeff. He just kept patting the sobbing boy until he finally managed to work out a sentence. "An-nd I don' know wh-y everyone 's bein' s-so nice whe-en even he doesn' care-care," he hiccupped, and suddenly, Blaine was honestly wracking with sobs. Jeff wasn't sure what to do with himself, but Nick seemed to know, so he just sat aside, watching as Blaine cried, and Nick struggled to make him stop and feel okay again, and he realized something.
He couldn't fix Blaine like this.
Negative to having campaigners at your house: Chopsticks on the piano over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and OVER!
Other negative: They keep touching your tabs on your office computer!
Positive: Entertaining Monday nights… and pizza…
Comments
Well, all the good stories are being updated today! I have a newfound love of Burt Hummel. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely adored him for so long and still wish he was my father, but now I have another reason to love him. He doesn't even know Sam's name! In your face! Also, he is so worried for Blaine, and after his comment last night ("Who's gonna tell Blaine? You gotta let me do it!") I can really see just how much he cares for Blaine! It seems as if because Blaine's father isn't necessarily okay with him being gay, that Burt is trying to show him just as much love as he really deserves! "...the little hobbit had his mess-ups..." This line is adorable! I mean, yeah, it's talking about how Burt knew Blaine wasn't perfect, and there were a few things that Burt got ad at him for, but still...! No, Kurt! No, it wasn't worth it! IT WASN'T WORTH IT! SAM'S NOT WORTH HURTING BLAINE LIKE THAT! Oh, and I would totally be with Burt in sticking Kurt in time out. I would have absolutely no problem doing that. I love that Burt knows that Blaine had realized what was going on with Kurt and Sam. Then, when Kurt realizes that Blaine actually knew...... al'dfgn'oaig'a! This Kurt is starting to grow on me. Right now, I don't think I will be sending any more death threats his way, and I hope I won't need to in future chapters. Yay for the little Niff moments!
Um, I love Burt. Like... sometimes more than my own father. Like, don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but I think... I might trade him in for a Burt if the should ever arise. I just... I freaking love him. He's so caring, it hurts. *Dies* I like... I have to marry a Burt Hummel. I mean... I don't want BURT HUMMEL as my spouse, as we have nothing in common, but you know what I mean. My ideal husband must be Burt-like in the caring department.Hahaha... Oh Blaine...FOR THE RECORD, YOU HAVE NO REASON TO FEAR ANYMORE! I've ammended may things with the chapter I just wrote... Should put it up tomorrow, as I don't post on Sundays. Um, I made this vow that I wouldn't mix my Niffs with my Klaines... um, yeah. Niff is gonna have to be a thing.