Kurt is fairly certain he's in Hell.

There is no other word to describe it.

Standing next to Blaine while the skanky Sebastian eyefucks the hell out of his boyfriend, Kurt really really just wants to disappear. Forever, preferably.

Blaine shoots Sebastian a confused look but turns his attention on the other two boys. "Wes and David?" He says, shock lacing his words. A smile slowly spreads over his face. "Fuck, I haven't seen you guys in like, forever!"

The Asian boy lets out a relieved laugh and pulls Blaine into a tight hug. "A year, Blaine! What happened to you, man? Dalton misses you," he says, still in disbelief.

"Shut up, Wes," Blaine punches his shoulder before wrapping the other—David, Kurt guesses—in a hug as well. Kurt steps out of the way, but Blaine barely glances at him as he starts talking to the private school boys excitedly.

They must be friends. Old friends, from Dalton? He remembers the pictures in Blaine's room and Kurt knows of the school. He'd looked into going over the summer, but the tuition was too steep for his dad. The anti-bullying policy wasn't worth that much. He wraps his arms around his stomach and tries not to be jealous.

He just really doesn't get why Blaine would give that up. If Kurt had been there instead of McKinley, he could have been…

"And this—" Kurt jerks to attention when Blaine suddenly grabs his arm and pulls him flush against his body. Two of the three boys grin at him like crazy, though Sebastian eyes him with contempt, but Blaine practically bounces next to him. "This is my boyfriend, Kurt! Kurt, this is Wes and David. We used to go to school together, like, awhile ago."

"Hi," Kurt smiles, unable to resist the bubble of happiness rising through his chest. Blaine wants him; wants others to know. Like these boys. "It's nice to meet you guys, you clearly mean a lot to Blaine."

"We were best friends at Dalton before he ditched us." David put in, mock-glaring at Blaine. Kurt feels his hand tighten on his waist and knows there's a story about why he left.

A smirk flashes across Sebastian's face. "Yeah, can't imagine the dean enjoyed walking in on you fucking another guy in his office, huh?"

Silence falls after that sentence and Kurt's ears burn. He knows Blaine had a lot of sexual partners before him, but he doesn't exactly want to hear all about them. Doubly so after Karofsky. Wes and David give Sebastian disgusted looks.

"And who the fuck are you?" Blaine says rudely. His hand is tight and possessive around Kurt's waist. Kurt tries not to snort as Sebastian's smirk falters.

"Sebastian Smythe," he says. "Remember?"

Blaine screws up his face. "No?"

Next to him, David catches Kurt's eyes and snickers.

Now annoyed, Sebastian crosses his arms. "From Scandals," he grits out.

Blaine stares at him for a few seconds then glances at Kurt. "Wait, that night I got shit-faced? You're the dick that doesn't know the word 'no,' aren't you?"

Sebastian's face flushes even darker and Kurt sighs. This is his life.

"Okay, how about we all just sit down? We can get more coffee or something and just…get to know each other," Kurt finally says into the tense silence. These—well, two of them—are Blaine's friends and he deserves a chance to meet them again. Kurt can handle a douchebag. He can.

After all, he has Blaine behind him.

The boys look at him with various uneasy expressions, but Blaine snorts and pushes his way through them and stalks off to a table in the back. Wes quickly follows, David behind him, but not before David gives Sebastian a hard punch to the shoulder.

"Don't fuck this up, Seb." David growls with a glare as he walks off. "We lost him once, it's not happening again." Sebastian mutters something but Kurt ignores it in favor of joining his boyfriend. With the awful boy behind him, Kurt sighs internally. He'll need so much patience for this.

How did this day go from being perfect to such a train wreck?

It is as awkward as Kurt expected and then some.

No one has spoken more than a few halting sentences complimenting Blaine's voice and Kurt busies himself with sipping his second mocha of the day purely so he doesn't have to talk. Blaine's arm is still tight around his waist and he won't stop glaring at Sebastian, who seems to be getting more and more annoyed at Kurt for some stupid reason. Wes and David look like they want to disappear and Kurt's not too far behind them.

"So, Blaine," Wes says almost desperately, "What've you been doing the last year and a half?"

"Clearly not the twink here," Sebastian mutters and Kurt fights to keep his serene smile in place and to not let his hands claw that dickwad's face off his skull.

He does enjoy the brief flash of pain Sebastian forgets to mask when David kicks him under the table. Sue him.

Blaine sighs. "You mean where'd I go after Dalton?" he asks, resigned. Kurt tries not to seem too interested in Blaine's answer. He's never asked about Blaine's history; figuring that it was Blaine's business and he'd tell Kurt when he wanted Kurt to know.

He's always been curious, though, especially with the rumors.

"Dad shipped me off to some military school," Blaine shrugged. "Out by Columbus I think? The uniforms were even worse than Dalton's."

David snickers. "Oh man, that Catholic one? You had to go to a Catholic school?"

At Blaine's self-satisfied smirk, Kurt had to bite back a laugh. That could not have lasted long. Blaine and strict rules really don't mix well. He sips his coffee to mask a grin.

"How'd you get kicked out of that one?" Sebastian drawls with a knowing sneer. He raised his eyebrows at Blaine's glare.

Surprisingly, Blaine shifts guiltily in his seat and doesn't look at Kurt. "Kind of the same way," he mumbles. "Only this time my roommate blamed his pot on me too."

"You fucked a boy at a Catholic boarding school?!" Wes hisses, scandalized.

"Look, he was hot, I was horny, neither of us wanted to be there, and it was a way to say 'fuck you' to the batshit-insane nuns there while having fun. It's not a big deal, okay?" Blaine snaps defensively. He takes his arm off of Kurt and crosses them over his chest, sinking moodily into the seat. "It didn't mean anything," he sulks.

Kurt puts an arm out and touches Blaine's shoulder. He doesn't shake it off, but doesn't look at Kurt either. God, it's like babysitting a child sometimes. "Blaine. It's fine. I get it." Kurt says quietly. At Blaine's disbelieving glare, Kurt smiles a little even though it feels like someone is stabbing his heart.

A loud snort interrupts them and Blaine glares across the table again. "Something to say, Sebastian?" Wes asks dryly.

The boy scoffs again and waves at Kurt."Just don't see how the Blaine I've heard about would ever settle down. Let alone with that."

Kurt raises his eyebrows incredulously while Blaine actually growls at his side. "Excuse me?" Kurt sputters.

"You scream 'terrified virgin' and Blaine's been kicked out of school for not being able to keep it in his pants. Do you have any idea what kinds of stories they tell about him at Dalton? And Scandals?"

"No," Kurt says, face red. He doesn't want to hear this, he really doesn't. His breaths come in short bursts. Blaine's face goes white.

"Shut up, Seb, don't—"

"He likes sex. He likes it a lot, and there's no good reason why he'd give it up for you." Again, the sneer. Kurt considers punching him. Blaine taught him well, after all. But he settles for a death stare. "I don't get why he'd pick you when he can have me. All sex, no feelings, plus I don't look like a twelve year old girl in drag pretending to be all grown up with trashy clothes and fake hair dye."

Kurt bristles, ready to say something because he's wearing McQueen, the uncultured swine, when Blaine slams a fist on the table, nearly knocking over the coffee cups. Wes and David exchange glances, but don't interfere. "I'm with him because I love him." Blaine states, voice hard. His hand shakes slightly where it rests on the table. "And because I'm lucky enough that he loves me back." Sebastian looks like he's at a loss for words, but Kurt only has eyes for Blaine.

He's never seen Blaine like this: a mix of fury, disgust, and revulsion. Blaine's hand finds its way to Kurt's shoulder and squeezes. Unconsciously, Kurt relaxes under the touch.

"Kurt makes me better," Blaine continues. "He makes me better and fuck everyone else, he's worth it. You're not." Blaine tugs on Kurt's shoulder until he stands up. "Leave us alone and lose my number," he says, pushing Kurt towards the door. "I'll find you guys on Facebook," he mutters to Wes and David as he and Kurt leave. They're a few feet away from the table when Sebastian finds his voice.

"Let me know when you give up this stupid pretense, slut!" Sebastian taunts. "Scandals misses your wet mouth and tight ass!"

Blaine freezes and Kurt grabs him. "Do not even think about it," Kurt hisses, even as he considers putting Sebastian in his place. Preferably with his fists. "Don't do it. I need you. Here." Blaine glares and Kurt can vaguely hear Wes telling Sebastian off.

"That's all you're good for, you know," Sebastian keeps going, ignoring Wes's admonitions. "A quick fuck-and-run. That's what they all say, anyway!"

Blaine starts shaking in Kurt's grip, eyes dark. "It's not true, it's not; don't believe him for a fucking second!" Kurt whispers desperately. Sebastian is going to die in this store if Kurt can't get Blaine to leave. "Blaine come on, let's go."

"From one rich brat to another, that's all anyone wants from us," Sebastian shakes Wes and David off and gets right up in Blaine's face. The height difference is almost comical, but Kurt's heart is jammed in his throat because this can go wrong in so many ways. Sebastian leans in close. "A pretty face, a credit card, and a willing dick; that's all we are; and you should embrace it, sugar. Don't waste yourself on the Ice Queenie."

The caf� is quiet and everyone's staring and Kurt can see how Blaine's hands are clenched in white fists and a brawl in the middle of the Lima Bean would just be the icing on the cake to Blaine getting tossed in prison.

"He respects himself!" Blaine snaps, stepping closer. Somehow, even though he has to tilt his head back to look Sebastian in the eye, he's intimidating. Kurt doesn't get it.

"You mean he's too much of a fucking pansy after the bear cub tried to kiss him, right?"

Kurt's heart just stops because how did he know and more importantly, if he doesn't even have other gay kids on his side in this, what's the fucking point. He presses a hand across his mouth to hold in something when Blaine's face goes red.

"That 'bear cub' has two hundred pounds on him and tried to rape him; what the fuck is wrong with you?!" Blaine yells and the whole caf� goes dead silent. All those eyes turn to them and Kurt just wants to disappear or die, he's really not picky, and he's not certain if he's more furious at Sebastian for being a dick or Blaine for parading out his dirty laundry for half of Lima. It's a close call.

A dark skinned hand rubs his shoulder comfortingly as Wes explodes, ripping into Sebastian with harsh words and promises of demerits or expulsions or something. Kurt's not really listening; everything's just a dull roar.

"Kurt, I think you should go," David whispers in his ear. "I'll get Blaine, just go wait outside, ok?" Kurt nods numbly, but his feet refuse to move. His body is frozen as he watches a tiny Blaine scream at an indifferent Sebastian. David motions to Wes to get Blaine before Blaine decides to actually kill Sebastian.

When Blaine tries to rush forward, Wes grabs him and holds him back, but only barely. Sebastian keeps that fucking smirk on and inspects his nails as Blaine keeps yelling.

"The only reason I'm not kicking your ass is 'cause I can't get sent to juvie right now!" Blaine shouts while Wes struggles to pin his arms to his sides. "But you come near me or Kurt again? You're dead!"

Sebastian scoffs again but Blaine shakes Wes off and turns on his heels and grabs Kurt up in a fierce hug. David lets Kurt go after exchanging a look with Blaine, motioning a phone. Blaine nods and marches himself and Kurt away, ignoring Sebastian's muffled "slut."

But because it's Blaine, he stops before they reach the door and turns around with a glint in his eyes. Kurt's chest freezes in apprehension. Blaine doesn't disappoint.

"Also, you're a shitty kisser, you fucking whore!" Blaine yells across the caf�. "And Kurt's dick is bigger than yours!" The barista stares at him in shock and the customers are a mix of horrified and amused. One girl Kurt thinks is in his history class actually claps though her friend shuts her up quickly. Sebastian's faces goes redder and looks ready to retaliate, but Kurt yanks Blaine outside before this day gets any worse.

Fuck, it's the lunchroom all over again.

When is the shame ever going to fade?

The parking lot is still chilly and Kurt doesn't speak to Blaine as they walk to the car. Unlike last time, Blaine follows silently, letting Kurt sort out his rage and embarrassment in peace. He slides into the passenger seat without a word.

Kurt sits behind the wheel and struggles to get his breathing under control. He's about to drive when he remembers.

"Your guitar."

"Becca will hold it for me," Blaine says, subdued. They're quiet. "Kurt, listen, I—"

"Not now." Kurt interrupts. "Please, just…not now." He's pleading and it sucks, but Blaine nods and looks out the window at the gray sky.

Kurt shifts the car in drive and pulls out.

Why is everything so complicated?

"So, how long before you think I'm allowed back in the Lima Bean?" Blaine asks as he flops back on Kurt's bed.

Kurt shrugs.

"Kurt…"

Sliding off his coat, Kurt turns away and hangs it in his closet. He waits inside for a few extra seconds, taking the time to just breathe and forget the world. Something hits the door with a loud thunk. Kurt pokes his head out with a glare.

"Seriously, Blaine?"

Blaine pouts and Kurt sees one of his feet is now shoeless. "You were ignoring me," he says unhappily.

"I was putting away my coat."

"And ignoring me." Blaine scoots back on the bed and pats the space next to him. "I know that look; get your ass over here so we can talk. Like we promised, remember? No more hiding." He runs his hands over the duvet, fingers trailing the patterns.

His parents are out. Date night. And Finn's at Puck's for video games or something. The whole house is empty and it's perfect for a teenage boy to take advantage of with his boyfriend. They could do…things.

You're just asking for it, you slut! Karofsky screams in his mind.

Kurt folds his arms to hide his pounding heart.

"You just got like, really pale, Kurt. C'mere." Blaine looks at him with worry. "Seriously at least sit down. I wanna talk about Sebastian and all them. And the fact that you haven't slept in like a week."

He always knows. Kurt snorts weakly but sits on the edge of his bed, arms wrapped around himself protectively. Shaking his head, Kurt sighs. Jesus, where can he even begin?

"I really did like the song," Kurt finally admits, smiling at Blaine's huge grin. "It was…I really like hearing you sing. It's been awhile."

"That's 'cause Berry hogs the mike in Glee," Blaine says, rolling his eyes. He looks at the giant space between them and Kurt can see his hands itching to reach out and touch, but he doesn't. At least he respects Kurt enough for that. To give him space. Blaine hesitates before speaking again. "I made…I made a lot of mistakes before I met you," he confesses. "Like, a lot."

Kurt inhales sharply. "I know. I'm not judging you for that; it's your life and all." Still, the image of Blaine and some faceless boy is not…pleasant.

Groaning, Blaine starts tugging at his earrings. "I don't know how to convince you that Sebastian's full of shit and you mean something to me!" Blaine looks at Kurt pleadingly. "Like, I know you're scared of sex and all and I don't blame you 'cause anyone would be, but you're scared of me. How am I supposed to fight that?"

It's like being punched in the stomach. Kurt sucks in a breath and holds it, staring at Blaine's pain-filled eyes until he can't stand it and drops his gaze. His eyes start to burn with unshed tears. How does he always know?

"Or do I have it backwards?" Blaine asks, making Kurt look up in confusion.

"What?"

Blaine shrugs and this time he's the one that breaks eye contact. His fingers play with his earrings even faster. "All this time I thought you were running away from me 'cause I thought you thought you weren't good enough, which is fucking stupid, but is it me?" Blaine's voice gets small and fragile and Kurt just listens in shock because what? "Sebastian might be right about that at least." Blaine smiles bitterly. "I am kind of useless at everything but fucking."

Kurt can't listen to this. "Blaine—"

"I always fuck up; why'd I ever think this would be any different?" His expression, all sad and resigned and defeated; makes Kurt feel sick to his stomach. Blaine's been let down by so many people, even his own father, and Kurt knows his self-esteem is kind of shot to hell. He should have done something in the Lima Bean. He should have said something to Sebastian when he saw how the fight was affecting Blaine, but Kurt's too much of a coward. They don't speak, too caught up in their own thoughts and all of Kurt's words get stuck in his throat and Blaine just shakes his head. "I can leave," he whispers and stands up, ready to walk out and Kurt has a feeling this time might be for good which can't happen, it can't; he'd die, so Kurt does what he does best.

Bursts into tears.

He hates it, he really does, he feels so weak like this but Blaine's by his side and wraps him up in strong arms and leather and whispered words of comfort and Kurt's fucking missed him. So he buries his face in Blaine's neck and just lets the tension of the past week out.

"I keep having nightmares," Kurt admits into Blaine's skin after the sobs quiet down. Blaine keeps stroking over his hair and clutches Kurt closer. "About Karofsky. It's so stupid, he can't hurt me and he didn't even really do anything to me anyway, I'm being such a bitch about everything—"

With a growl, Blaine Shoves Kurt off so he can glare at his face. "Don't be stupid; he fucking terrified you. That's all that matters. Just because he didn't succeed at, y'know, everything, doesn't mean he didn't try and that's just as scary. Don't ever say that what he did and how you're feeling is stupid."

"Then don't think you're a fuck-up either," Kurt says with a small smile. "You're so good for me, you make me happy. You're so much better than Sebastian. Just like I'm better than Karofsky." He waits for Blaine's furrowed brows to clear.

"Did you just—"

"I totally Yoda-ed you," Kurt grins broadly, proud of himself for the reference even if there was a hint of truth in his words before. Blaine loves Star Wars. He's not disappointed when Blaine ducks his head sheepishly. Lacing their fingers together, Kurt nudges Blaine with a shoulder. "It was very hot, the way you stood up for me in there," Kurt says, hiding a smile.

Blaine fails at his. "Yeah?"

"Mmmhmm." Kurt leans over, resting his head on Blaine's shoulder and sighing happily. "I missed this."

"Your fault, Hummel. What do you want to do about the dreams? We could talk to Englund."

Kurt groans and hides his face in Blaine's shoulder. "Think I'm gonna have to," he mutters. It is what his dad pays her for, anyway.

"Hey." Blaine shrugs until Kurt sits up, ignoring the disgruntled glare Kurt gives him. "You notice how I didn't leave in an angry huff and you didn't scream at me too much?" Kurt stares at him.

"Um. Yes?"

Blaine grins cheekily. "Think it's a sign, Kurt. We're getting better at this 'talking' thing!"

"Oh my god, you're such a dork," Kurt laughs, shoving at Blaine before tugging him into a brief kiss.

Everything's going to be alright, after all.