Chapter 15: Deflection

‘How was it, then?,’ Blaine asked later that afternoon.

He came around Kurt's office to take him out to coffee after work. His appearance elicited curious looks from Kurt's co-workers and a deep blush – that almost covered up his pride of being Blaine's boyfriend – from Kurt himself. After all, it was the first time he ever had a guy pick him up from work. A few pairs of eyes scanned Blaine from head to toe with interest, and Kurt could see a couple of his female colleagues were disappointed when the gorgeous guy approached him.

‘It was- strange,’ Kurt answered plainly.

‘Meaning?’

Kurt shrugged uncomfortably. He wasn't sure talking to Blaine about his shitty high school experience was a good idea, especially in public, where a transition to any of the alters would be more problematic than at home.

‘Meaning that I felt like I was guest-starring in an episode of In Treatment or something.’

Blaine knitted his brows. His boyfriend was uneasy, clearly keeping something from him, and his therapist had something to do with that.

‘Wait. She analysed you?’

‘Sorta, yeah.’

The reply made Blaine sure Kurt was holding something back. Knowing it could cost him losing control – like he almost had when Kurt told him about his mother – he decided he was willing to risk it.

‘What did she want you to tell her about that made you so- uncomfortable?’

Kurt winced, for once hating how in tune they were with each other, how well Blaine had already gotten to know him.

‘Just some- stuff from back in high school,’ he mumbled, tracing his fingers nervously around the brim of his coffee cup.

There was the tiniest tremor in Kurt's voice, but it didn't slip Blaine's notice. Kurt wasn't the only one who had gone to school in Ohio, after all.

‘Stuff from back in high school?,’ he asked softly. ‘Do you mean like- bullying?’

Kurt fixed his eyes firmly on his cup, dreading that if he lifted them, Blaine would see the tears welling up in them. Crying in Dr. Peterson's office was different than breaking into ugly sobs in the middle of the crowded Starbucks right next to his office.

‘Yes,’ he choked out eventually.

A brush of Blaine's fingers on the back of his hand made him look up.

‘You can talk to me about this, you know?,’ Blaine said quietly. ‘I know I tend to freak out and transition when he topics get serious, but I want you to know that you can tell me things. I feel guilty I'm the only one with issues here.’

The corners of Kurt's lips fluttered up. Thinking back to his junior year in high school was still hard, but the knowledge Blaine was willing to listen and risk a visit from one of his alters to make sure Kurt was getting the support he needed was comforting.

‘Don't worry, we both have issues, you're not that special,’ he teased as light-heartedly as he could.

‘But Dr. Peterson didn't tell you we shouldn't be together?,’ Blaine asked, voicing the question that had been bothering him since the day before.

Kurt smiled, catching Blaine's hand that was still covering his with its fingers.

‘No. She seems quite happy about this, actually,’ he said smugly. ‘She's on our side.’

***

‘Will you stay for dinner?,’ Kurt asked, as they reached the door to his apartment. ‘I'm not cooking tonight, but I assure you, Rachel's cooking is quite eatable, too.’

Blaine chuckled.

‘I wish I could, but I have some stuff to go over before my next gig, plus, I'm not sure Rachel wants me around very often.’

Kurt nodded with understanding. He still hated saying goodbye so soon.

‘She just needs to get used to having to share me,' he said in an attempt to lighten the mood. ‘I'll call you, okay?’

‘Sure.’

Kurt leant in to collect his goodbye kiss, to which Blaine responded eagerly. The door behind them clunk, catching their attention and causing them to break apart.

‘Guys?,’ Rachel said, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. ‘I hate to interrupt you this kind of a sweet moment, but- Kurt, um- I guess you should come in.’

For a second Kurt thought he could strangle Rachel for that. But then another figure appeared behind her, familiar, beloved and clearly concerned.

And he was certain he was capable of strangling her.

‘Dad! What are you doing here?,’ Kurt asked, uneasiness sweeping over him.

He had mentioned his boyfriend to Burt, without any details or word of mental disorders. There was no need to burden his father or give him reasons to worry, when there was no way of knowing if the relationship would last. But clearly, his best friend didn't share the opinion.

‘Rachel invited me,’ Burt said, eyeing Blaine cautiously. ‘Aren't you gonna introduce me?’

‘Yes, I am, of course,’ Kurt mumbled. ‘Dad, this is my boyfriend, Blaine Anderson. Blaine, this is my Dad, Burt Hummel.’

Blaine hadn't moved since the door opened. The presence of Kurt's Dad caught him off guard, thankfully not enough for him to lose his grip on reality. When Burt spoke, Blaine somehow felt calmer, instead of freaking out. His voice seemed familiar and oddly comforting, and Blaine thought it had to run in the family.

‘Nice to meet you, Mr Hummel,’ he said, extending his hand to shake Burt's.

‘You too, Blaine,' Burt responded, not taking his eyes off of his son's boyfriend for even a second. ‘And call me Burt.’

Once the hands were shaken and introductions ended, an awkward silence fell upon them. Kurt knew he had to have a conversation with his father, preferably in private, but at the same time he hated for Blaine to leave. A glance at Kurt sufficed his boyfriend to know this was his cue, though.

‘I guess I should get going,’ he muttered. ‘It was a pleasure, Burt, Rachel. Call me, Kurt?’

Kurt's answer was a small nod, and Blaine pecked him on the cheek, before starting down the stairs. Kurt suddenly felt his nervousness grow. No matter how awkward the situation was, having Blaine by his side was reassuring.

‘Why don’t we come in?,’ he suggested shakily.

Kurt was the last one to enter and he slid the door close. The apartment felt unusually stuffy for a chilly October evening, so he loosened his tie as he slumped on the sofa. His eyes followed Burt as the older man cautiously approached the armchair opposite.

‘Rachel told you to come to hold an intervention, didn’t she?,’ Kurt asked, going straight to the point, as soon as his friend disappeared in her part of the apartment.

‘She did,’ his father admitted. ‘She was worried about you.’

Kurt rolled his eyes in annoyance.

‘There’s no need. Everything’s fine, Dad.’

Burt eyed him sceptically. Apparently, Rachel had told him enough for him to form an opinion and worry as well.

‘So what about that boyfriend of yours?’

‘What about him?,’ Kurt said. ‘You just met him. His name’s Blaine, he’s a musician and he’s a kind, well-mannered and caring person.’

A sigh escaped Burt’s lips.

‘I believe you when you say that, I really don’t doubt that he is all these things,’ he said. ‘But he’s sick, Kurt.’

There was no denying that piece of information. Kurt cursed Rachel’s big mouth and folded his arms across his chest.

‘And?’

‘And I’m not sure if you can handle this,’ Burt stated openly.

‘Do you even know what kind of a disorder Blaine suffers from?,’ Kurt asked.

‘Rachel mentioned something called DI- something. I don’t really speak that shrinky mumbo-jumbo.’

Kurt took a long breath and reminded himself that his dad meant well. If anyone could understand him, it was his father. He’d at least try to understand.

‘It’s DID, Dad, dissociative identity disorder,’ Kurt said patiently.

‘Rachel said something about alter egos, some kid with a funny name... What was that about?’

‘Well,’ Kurt went on with the explanations. ‘Blaine has other personalities who- take over whenever things get too hard for him. Rachel met one of them when Blaine came over for dinner.’

Burt let the information sink in before asking another question.

‘So that kid- it was an alter ego?’

‘Yes, that was Boo.’ Kurt nodded. The conversation was wearing him out.

‘You said “one of them”,’ his father continued. ‘How many are there?’

Kurt bit his lip, searching his mind for the answer. Nobody had ever told him the exact number of Blaine’s alters, so he had to rely on the information he did have.

‘As far as I know, there are four.’

‘Four,’ Burt repeated, trying to wrap his mind around that. ‘As far as you know? He didn’t tell you?’

‘It’s a difficult subject to discuss, Dad,’ Kurt hastened to explain.

‘Kiddo, you two are a couple, you have a right to know that.’

Kurt rubbed his temples in frustration. His father was right, but he was also quite convinced he wasn’t wrong himself.

‘I know, Dad. He just- He needs time. He’ll tell me everything when he’s ready.’

‘What everything?,’ Burt asked, his concern growing instead of dwindling as the conversation progressed.

‘Everything about what happened to him,’ Kurt said, thinking back to that time they had tried talking about it. He had a theory as to what could have taken place, but that wasn’t something he’d bring up in a discussion with his father just yet.

‘So something happened that made him get that DI- something?’

‘Yes.’

They fell silent for a spell. Kurt felt exhausted as if he’d just ran a marathon, but having this talk behind him was a relief. He only regretted having to go through that and the session with Dr. Peterson in one day.

‘Just tell me one more thing, Kurt,’ Burt said eventually. ‘Is that disorder he has curable?’

‘It’s manageable,’ Kurt replied evasively.

‘That’s not what I’m asking, don’t deflect.’

‘You’re asking if he’s going to be sick indefinitely,’ Kurt stated, resigned. ‘Most likely, yes.’