Nailed Shut

Chapter 3

Blaine knocks lightly on the door, seeing as it is about eight in the evening on a Sunday. Kurt is standing on the top step next to him, smiling reassuringly at him. The door to the Hummel household opens inward to reveal a balding man dressed in a plaid shirt and overalls. Blaine hears Kurt’s tiny gasp beside him but smiles carefully at the man.

His father is looking totally worn down. His eyes are puffy and red, dark circles beneath them indicating he haven’t been sleeping well. Kurt can hear the TV playing from the living room.

“Hello.” Burt Hummel says to Blaine, eyeing him from the bottom of his black sneakers up to the mop of dark curls on his head. “Can I help you?”

 “Good evening, sir. I am sorry to bother you this late on a Sunday, but I would like to talk to you.” Burt says nothing, so Blaine continues. “My name is Blaine Anderson, I go to Dalton Academy over in Westerville. I have some things to tell you, but I have a feeling you won’t believe me. Yesterday I wouldn’t have believed me either, but now-“ Blaine starts to ramble, slightly panicking.

“Are you a friend of K-“ Burt begins, but stops and looks at his feet briefly before looking back at Blaine. “Are you a friend of my son’s?”

Kurt’s heart aches and he lets out a broken sob. Blaine looks in his direction briefly but turns his head back to Burt. “Well-“ he begins but Burt steps aside and holds his arm out, indicating that Blaine should come inside. Blaine steps into the house and follows Burt to the living room, Kurt right behind him.

Burt sits down in an armchair, turning the TV off. Blaine sits down on one side of the couch, unconsciously leaving room for Kurt beside him. Kurt takes the space and looks around the room. It looks exactly like Kurt had remembered it. Not that he had actually remembered it until this very moment.

“So, Blaine. You knew my son?” Burt asks and clasps his hands together in his lap. Kurt winces at his father’s use of the past tense.

“Unfortunately I didn’t, sir.” Blaine answers and Burt narrows his eyes at him. “This is probably going to sound completely insane to you, but I beg you to please let me explain.”

“Go on.”

“About a week ago I started noticing odd things happening. Yesterday I had a really powerful experience and I went to see my grandmother this morning. She has been able to see and talk to my grandfather for twenty-five years, since he died. She told me that ghosts are real and that I, like her, have the gift to see them. I have never thought about ghosts or spirits at all until yesterday.” Blaine explains, Burt still just looking skeptically at him. “And when I came back to Dalton I heard singing coming from my room, it was a Beatles song, if I’m correct.” Blaine looks over at Kurt and Kurt nods and whispers “I Want to hold your Hand.”. Blaine looks at Burt who has stiffened slightly in his seat. Blaine repeats the song title and Burt’s lips form a tight line. “I found a boy in my room, singing and crying.”

Burt takes a deep breath and Blaine is afraid to continue. “Who was it?” Burt asks, taking another deep breath.

“He told me his name is Kurt Hummel.”

Burt’s face falls and he rubs at one of his eyes with his fist. He says nothing.

“I talked to Kurt and he told me what happened to him. We are both confused as to why he came to Dalton, so I offered to take him to see you.”

“Why should I believe you?” Burt asks roughly and looks a bit angry now.

“Like I said, yesterday I wouldn’t have either. I have no reason to lie to you, sir. But Kurt told me something on the way here that he thinks will convince you that I’m telling the truth.”

“Is he- he’s here?” Burt asks brokenly, sounding completely wrecked.

“He is, right here next to me. And he wants me to tell you this thing he remembers.” Burt’s eyes flicker briefly to the empty space beside Blaine and then he looks him deep in the eyes. Burt nods so Blaine continues. “He remembers the day his mother died. You were waiting for the people to come get her body and he told you that she would always be with you. That his mommy wasn’t left in that shell that you found on the bed, she was sitting on a cloud swinging her legs and looking down over you.”

Burt leans forward, head in his hands, starting to sob loudly. “We never told anyone about that.” he says between his erratic breaths. Kurt moves to sit on the floor in front of him.

“Kurt?” Blaine asks before he can stop himself.

Burt looks up at him, tears sliding down his cheeks. Blaine has never seen a grown man cry, ever. His own father probably has no emotions, Blaine thinks. Kurt’s voice snaps him out of his brief thoughts. “Tell him I will touch his cheek.”

“Um… Sir? Kurt says he will touch your cheek now.”

Burt stiffens, looking out into the empty space in front of him. Blaine watches as Kurt reaches out his hands toward Burt’s face. He seems to hesitate for a moment, but then he rubs the pads of his thumbs below Burt’s eyes. Burt closes his eyes and sighs into the room. Kurt is smiling. Burt opens his eyes again and jerks back suddenly. Kurt moves back a bit on the floor.

“Did- did you just see that?” Burt says and stares openmouthed at Blaine.

“See what, sir?”

“I thought I saw a flash of blue!”

“I did a couple of times too before I could see him fully.”

“You mean you can actually see him, like right now? Not just hear and feel him?” Burt looks back in Kurt’s direction, before returning his eyes to Blaine once again.

“Yes. He’s sitting on the floor in front of you. Did you feel it when he touched you?”

“Yes…” Burt breathes hesitantly.

“That’s good. That means you could perhaps be able to see him with some time and help from my grand-“

“I don’t believe this.” Burt says suddenly and starts to shake his head. “I don’t believe you.”

“I’m very sorry, sir. What do you want me to say?”

“Okay-“ Burt begins, sitting up straighter in the armchair. “Tell me what he is wearing. Only me, him, the police and that guy they caught know that.”

“Okay…” Blaine says and looks at Kurt who nods. “He is wearing a sky-blue shirt, dark slim jeans, white Converse and a silver brooch in the shape of a dove.”

Burt lets out a broken sob. “I- You- You should go. I need to process this.” Burt says and stands up, gesturing to Blaine to walk into the hallway. Blaine does so and looks back at the man and his son’s spirit on the floor.

“Thank you for letting me in, sir. Kurt, are you coming?” Kurt rises and Blaine follows him with his eyes. He passes Blaine and walks through the front door, closing it behind him while Blaine is still standing in the doorway between the living room and the hallway. Blaine looks back at Burt who is gaping at him.

“Did- did he just walk out?” Burt sits down heavily in the chair again with a loud thud.

“Yes, he did. I think he might be upset that he can’t reach you himself.” Blaine looks at the floor.

“Could- could your grandmother really help me?” Burt asks quietly.

“I’m sure she would love to try and help you. But I don’t want to promise you anything. She told me not everybody has the gift. But I can leave you my phone number and we can go see her whenever you want.” Blaine smiles when he looks back up at Kurt’s father.

“That’s very nice of you. Thank you. There’s a notepad and pen in the kitchen.” he says, but doesn’t make an attempt to get out of the armchair.

Blaine walks through the hallway and into the kitchen. He finds the notepad and writes his number down before returning to the front door. “Anytime, sir. I’m sorry for your loss.” he says before exiting the house.

 Kurt watches as Blaine exits his father’s house. He stops on the porch and takes a deep breath before coming to sit in the car. When he closes the door he turns to Kurt, who is crying.

“Hey. Don’t cry.” Blaine whispers and reaches his hand out, but retracts it again.

“He thinks you’re lying.” Kurt mumbles and wipes at his tears.

“No, he is just shocked. I was at first too. But I can see you, so I can’t deny this. His whole world is being turned upside-down in a week.” Blaine says and smiles weakly. They are silent for a while as Kurt attempts to stop crying, and he manages to do so as Blaine utters another sentence. “I left him my phonenumber so he can call me if he wants my grandmother’s help.”

“So he wants to see me, talk to me?” Kurt mumbles.

“I am sure he will. But it might take a while. He just lost his son.”

Kurt nods. Because he understands completely. When his mother died it had taken his father a long time to even be able to go back to work. And they had known for months that she was going to die. This, Kurt’s death, was sudden. Kurt tries to imagine how Burt feels, his son being killed because of who he was. Because of hate. Kurt can’t even begin to imagine it, though.

“Hey.” Blaine waves his hand in front of Kurt’s face. Kurt has been staring out the windshield for quite a while. “Kurt, you still with me?” Kurt turns his head slowly to look at Blaine. “You ready to go back to Dalton?” He nods, so Blaine starts the car and drives away from Burt’s house. Blaine can see Kurt out of the corner of his eye, turning his whole body to look back at it as they drive off. 

The first half of the car-ride is silent, with Kurt trying to think things through and Blaine giving him space to do so. The other half however, is filled with conversation. And it all starts with a simple request from Kurt.

“Tell me about your family.”

“Why?” Blaine looks with surprise at Kurt.

“Why not?” Kurt giggles, and Blaine thinks that it’s the cutest thing he has ever heard. “I’m curious, we have been silent for too long and I need a distraction from my own situation. Also…” Kurt blushes and looks at his knees. “I like listening to your voice.”

“Oh, well then. I’ll tell you anything you want to know.” Blaine smiles and gives Kurt a go-on-ask-look.

“Tell me everything.” Kurt smiles back.

“That is going to take some time.” Blaine chuckles, looking back at the road.

“Well, as it seems, I have eternity now. Quite convenient, don’t you think?”

Blaine is silent for a moment as Kurt watches Blaine’s face fall, from happy to sad. Blaine wonders why his heart aches so badly when Kurt says things like that. “Okay, so… Well… I have parents-“ Blaine begins.

“I saw the picture behind your tree.” Kurt says, smiling slightly.

“Ah, yes. My father Wyland is a successful businessman. He never smiles, ever, as you could probably guess from the picture. My mother Monica is a lawyer. She smiles sometimes, when she forgets that she shouldn’t.”

“Why shouldn’t she?” Kurt asks cautiously.

“Because I ruined our family. My father loathes me. Not that he was particularly fond of me before, either.”

“Before what?”

“Before I came out as being gay.”

“You’re gay too?” Kurt looks genuinely surprised, so Blaine has to laugh.

“Yes, yes I am.” Blaine smiles momentarily, but remembers what he was talking about. “Apparently being gay is not okay with my father. He didn’t kick me out or anything, but he sent me here. To Dalton, far away from their family.”

“Where do they live?”

“California.” Blaine shrugs. “I don’t mind. I like it here.”

“Me too.” Kurt says airily. “Oh!” he exclaims and turns his whole body toward Blaine. “That little girl from the picture by your bed, she’s your little sister, isn’t she?”

“She is.” Blaine smiles softly now, his shoulders relaxing again after talking about his father.

“How old is she? What’s her name?” Kurt squeaks.

Blaine chuckles. “I take it you like kids?” When Kurt only nods enthusiastically Blaine continues. “She is four years old. Her name is Aimee.” Kurt just continues to look at Blaine, smiling so much that his eyes crinkle at the corners. Blaine chuckles again. “You want me to tell you more about her?” Another nod from Kurt. “Alright. When she was born my parents were absolutely positive se was going to be a boy. So when she came out my father apparently said “It has a butt on both sides!” because he was so shocked that she was in fact a she.” Kurt laughs at Blaine’s story and urges him to continue. “Even though I’m thirteen years older than her, we are really close. I was the only one who could make her fall asleep when she was a baby and I taught her how to walk and talk. I try to call her at least once a week, sometimes more, just to ask what her day was like. She usually falls asleep before we end the call though, because she always asks me to sing for her. Which I do, and she falls asleep almost instantly. I hear her snoring softly and it’s the most adorable thing ever.”

The smile and the look on Blaine’s face when he talks about Aimee is enough to make Kurt’s eyes fill with tears. Blaine continues to tell Kurt about his sister and Kurt talks some about his stepbrother Finn as well.

When they arrive at Dalton it’s been dark for long and Kurt is amazed by the gorgeous lighting of the school grounds, that he hasn’t taken his time to notice before. They walk through the halls not speaking. When they start walking down the corridor with the dorm rooms, Kurt suddenly stops. Blaine turns around to look at him. “What’s wrong?”

“I should go sleep in the library.” Kurt says, taking a step backwards.

“Why?” Blaine takes a step forward.

“Well, I’ve already stayed in your room without prior permission once.”

“It’s fine Kurt. You can sleep in my room, if you want. I won’t make you, though.”

Kurt thinks that it would be wonderful to get to fall asleep while watching Blaine breathe. So he starts walking again. Blaine grins and says “I’ll take that as a yes. You’ll stay in my room?”. Kurt nods and blushes all the way to the collar of his bloody shirt. When they enter Blaine’s room Kurt sits down in the armchair at once.

Blaine removes his shoes and sits on the edge of the bed. He meets Kurt’s eyes and they look gray in the dim light. Kurt blinks fast a couple of times and then rises from the armchair. Blaine just looks at him, waiting to see what he’s doing. Kurt sits down beside Blaine on the bed, leaving just an inch or so between their thighs. The bed doesn’t dip at all where Kurt is sitting, the way it does where Blaine is.

“Blaine, I need to tell you something.” When Blaine nods, Kurt continues. “Right now, you are the only person I have in the world.”

Blaine is silent for a minute, letting Kurt’s statement sink in. “And I’ll do my best to help you, for as long as you want me to.” Blaine responds, smiling into Kurt’s gorgeous eyes.

“Thank you.” Kurt breathes and flops back onto the bed, legs still dangling over the edge.

Blaine follows with a small thud. Once again there is no dip in the mattress where Kurt is, and Blaine can’t help himself as he looks at where Kurt’s head is resting on, and slightly into, his comforter. Their hands are just a fraction of space apart and Blaine’s index finger twitches once. Kurt suddenly moves, resting his head in his hand, facing Blaine. “Is it okay if I try something?” Kurt whispers, leaning even closer to Blaine. Blaine nods dumbly, not caring what Kurt wants to do. Those eyes and that voice is all he can concentrate on right now, and also the rapid beating of his own heart against his ribcage. Kurt reaches out his left hand toward Blaine’s face and Blaine sucks in a quick breath. Kurt grabs a stray dark curl, and tucks it behind Blaine’s ear, smiling to himself when he’s done. Blaine blows his breath out of his nose slowly. Kurt lies back down on his back, his hand close to Blaine’s again. “That curl has been bothering me for like ten minutes.” he chuckles, and Blaine does the same. Something tickles Blaine’s hand, so he raises his head to look at it.

Kurt’s hand is hovering above Blaine’s, his fingertips brushing his knuckles gently. The touch is so soft that Blaine thinks he might be imagining it at first, but looking up at Kurt’s face he sees him smiling. Blaine smiles too and puts his head down, focusing his eyes on the ceiling where Kurt is looking. He turns his hand over and Kurt’s fingertips brush his palm and the insides of his fingers. The feathery touch moves between Blaine’s fingers and just as he is about to look down and see their interlaced fingers his phone starts buzzing in his pocket. He takes it out and looks at the screen, but it is an unknown number. “This is Blaine.”

“Um… Hello Blaine. It’s Burt.”

“Mr. Hummel!” Blaine exclaims, both due to his surprise and the fact that he wants Kurt to know who he is talking to. “Did you already decide about meeting my grandmother?” Kurt sits up beside Blaine.

“No. As in, I’ve not decided yet. I wanted to check that you got back to your school safely.”

“I did, sir. Thank you.”

“And also… I was thinking…”

Burt is silent for such a long time that Blaine assumes he isn’t going to finish the sentence. “You were thinking about what, sir?”

“Well, since you know Kurt now, I thought that you might… On Tuesday… Um… Do you want to attend Kurt’s funeral?”