Jan. 26, 2012, 3:16 p.m.
Seems Like Forever Ago: Opening Up
E - Words: 2,176 - Last Updated: Jan 26, 2012 Story: Complete - Chapters: 16/16 - Created: Oct 31, 2011 - Updated: Jan 26, 2012 1,579 0 0 0 0
Blaine drank his coffee serenely, sighing contentedly because this lazy day was a rare gift. Kurt was wearing loose pajama bottoms that hung low on his waist. Blaine eyes glided over Kurt's pale, muscular form, and followed a light spattered trail of hair down his bellybutton until it disappeared under his pants. Blaine noticed a faint scar placed on his left rib cage.
"Where'd you get that scar?" Blaine chanced.
Kurt looked up at Blaine, hesitant. He had bags under his eyes, and his messy hair was falling freely on his forehead.
"It's nothing," Kurt muttered, looking away from Blaine.
Kurt stared into his cereal bowl, scarfing it down impossibly fast, and then pouring himself some more. Blaine could tell he was anxious for everyone's arrival.
"It's from high school, a knife fight with bullies," Rachel intruded nosily, from her place lounging in the recliner, watching the news.
"I won, that's all that matters," Kurt shrugged, stuffing his mouth once more.
Blaine drank deeply, closing his eyes and enjoying the scalding liquid in his esophagus, mulling over this new information. He cleared his throat.
"You know, I got beat up in my freshmen year in high school after a school dance. Real bad. My collarbone got fractured and it hasn't been right ever since," Blaine shared.
Kurt looked up, appalled. Blaine saw something dark flash across his features.
"That's why I transferred to safe Dalton. I'm still not sure it was a wise choice."
Kurt pushed his bowl away from him, looking sick to his stomach. "If I knew you then, I would have killed them," Kurt's voice was seething with rage.
Blaine knew Kurt wasn't lying to extent. Although this side of Kurt put him on edge, Blaine saw it as a sign that Kurt cared for him.
Blaine got up to rinse his mug in the sink, and made his way to Kurt, rubbing his shoulders soothingly.
"I'm fine now baby," Blaine reassured.
Kurt froze remembering that the only other time he used that endearment was last night during his moment of vulnerability.
Kurt stood up to wash his bowl in the sink. "They better get here soon, I'm tired of waiting," he dodged.
As if on cue, there was a musical knock on the door.
Rachel stumbled out of her chair, unlocked the door and threw it open, only to be swept up into the arms of a tall man. Blaine could tell that the intimate hug said a lot of things, above all that they used to be lovers.
Kurt walked over to them, grinning and said, "Finn."
With a dopey, lopsided smile, Finn enveloped Kurt in his arms. "It's so nice to see you, man."
Kurt and Rachel greeted the rest of the people crowding their doorway. The group slowly made their way in, glancing around them curiously.
"Come in, come in, let me show you around," Rachel insisted.
"Well hello there, who is this?" a female with long gorgeous black hair drawled, indicating Blaine. Her hands were laced with a beautiful blonde.
Blaine stepped forward to introduce himself. "Hi, I'm Blaine Anderson." He smiled warmly.
"Santana. And this is my girlfriend, Brittany," Santana shook his hand. "So, I've got a really important question to ask; are you sleeping with Kurt or Rachel?"
Blaine blushed. "Erm, neither," he stammered.
"Well, in that case I'd like to offer you a once in a lifetime chance to join me and Brittany in the bedroom before we have to go back to Ohio," she batted her eyelashes seductively.
Blaine could immediately see why Santana and Kurt were close. He face colored more. "I-uh. Honored. But I'd have to decline," he rejected politely. "I'm gay, you see."
"Ohhh," realization dawned on Santana's face. She turned to Kurt who was talking animatedly with someone Blaine recognized as Mercedes from a photo in Kurt's bedroom. "Kurt, do I have the decency to ask why the hell you aren't getting all up on this?"
Kurt stopped midsentence and smirked. "I'm working on it."
Santana shook her head delicately. "You're lacking, my dear. He looks like a keeper." Her eyes roved over Blaine, and he couldn't help but feel exposed.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "Oh, come off it Kurt, you can be honest. You guys go on dates all the time, and don't even pretend you weren't loud that first night you met."
"What?" Kurt looked shocked.
Rachel laughed. "I may have been drunk, but you guys are quite the moaners."
Blaine wanted to melt through the floor. He was never comfortable discussing his intimate sex life, especially in front of strangers.
"We're just friends," Kurt stated, his tone unreadable. Blaine's heart twinged at his words.
Santana circled Blaine, eyeing him like he was her prey. Blaine glanced nervously around at everyone, and Finn walked up, shaking his hand stoically. Blaine could tell this gesture was symbolic of his protectiveness of Kurt.
Kurt strolled over, dragging Mercedes with him and smacked Blaine's ass. He jumped in surprise.
"This is, Mercedes. My non-vulgar best friend," Kurt introduced. She hugged Blaine.
"Are you a magical hobbit," Brittany interjected.
"Huh? Me?" Blaine asked, completely dumbfounded. Meeting Kurt's friends was a lot more overwhelming that he thought it would be. He should have known better.
Brittany nodded urgently. "You are short and hairy, and I can tell you have magical powers," Brittany continued. "I can see you gave some to Kurt, there is a light in him."
Blaine laughed nervously, not knowing what to say. Artie rolled his wheelchair up to Blaine, and clapped him on the elbow.
"Don't worry about it, she just says stuff like that," he whispered, winking amiably at Blaine.
However, Santana gave Kurt a knowing glance. Even though Brittany was ditzy and didn't know the most basic of facts, she sometimes had shining moments of wisdom. What she lacked intellectually she made up for seeing the truth right through people. This made Kurt feel extremely uncomfortable. Was he really that obvious about his connection to Blaine only minutes after seeing his friends?
They spent the day sightseeing. Quinn and Tina had sparkles in their eyes because the last time they were in New York was when they lost at Nationals junior year.
Puck, Karofsky and Kurt kept thinking of creative ways to pull pranks on Finn. His reactions and lumbering stature made it really easy. Blaine just watched them fondly, happy to see Kurt in his element. On the other hand, it made Blaine miss the few friends he had in high school and what he left behind.
Later that night, they decided to go to a liquor store and drink in the apartment to save money. Plus, they were exhausted from the day's travels.
Kurt leaned against the countertop, content in everyone's company. He sipped his beer, smiling slightly as he watched Blaine and Mike chat animatedly about who knows what.
Meanwhile, Artie and Puck were having an intense game of chess, and the girls danced to music in the middle of the living room. Finn was clapping, completely drunk off his ass, sitting on the couch squished up against the wall.
"Having fun?"
Kurt was startled at Karfosky suddenly being at his side. Kurt grinned and raised his beer to clink it against his.
"How's life in Lima, what are you up to these days," Kurt asked conversationally.
"Oh, work mostly. I weld. It's pretty manly you know," Karofsky winked.
Kurt chuckled. "I can see some scars," he acknowledged his darkened forearms.
"All in a day's work," Karofsky said. "What happened to your hand, it's all bandaged up?"
"Got mad. Punched a door. No big deal," Kurt waved it off. "How's Seth?"
Karofsky frowned. "We broke up a few months ago."
"Oh, no I'm really sorry." Kurt patted him on the shoulder. "What happened?"
Karofsky shrugged. "We didn't really click, I suppose. I think he was cheating on me, but I'm not really sure about that." Karofsky paused. "I also think he could tell I never loved him as much as I loved you."
"Dave..," Kurt warned.
Karofsky set his beer on the table, leaned into Kurt, lowering his voice. "No, I mean it, Kurt. You were the one who got away."
Kurt shifted uncomfortably. "You know why that is."
Karofsky sighed. "Is that Blaine guy your boyfriend? You can be straight with me."
Kurt dragged a hand through his hair. "I… don't know if he is or not," Kurt admitted truthfully. "We hang out, go out and stuff." Kurt shrugged.
"So you guys fucking or what?" Karofsky sounded jealous.
"No," Kurt said sourly. "The first night we met we fooled around, but nothing since."
"Then why are you letting him stick around," Karofsky demanded. "That doesn't sound like you. I can't even count how many dudes you've hooked up with and tossed aside."
Kurt sighed irritably. "I know. I just really like him. I dunno…," Kurt trailed off.
Karofsky placed his hand on top of Kurt's.
"Why didn't you ever give me a chance? We've been friends a long time, so you've clearly forgiven me for my mistakes."
Kurt pulled his hand away. "I understand that you were scared in high school, but I just couldn't, Dave. Before you bravely came out, you bullied me. That never goes away. I'm incapable of love anyway, so you deserve more than that."
Karofsky shook his head, frustrated that Kurt wasn't getting his point. "I would have settled for just one night with you. I still would."
Kurt rubbed his forehead, taking another swig of his beer. "That wouldn't be right."
"What do you even mean by that?" Karofsky was getting angry. "You've had meaningless sex with countless guys, and you can't even do that with me?"
Kurt turned away toward the freezer to grab some ice. "I have feelings, you know."
"Well you sure don't act like it!" He slammed his fist against the counter.
A silence rang around the room.
Blaine rushed to Kurt's side. "What's going on?"
Kurt avoided his gaze, "Nothing just-"
"Karofsky and I are going to take a walk," Finn cut in. Kurt looked up at him, and they exchanged nods. Although Finn was drunk, he knew exactly what was going on, and he needed to diffuse the situation. "I need to sober up a bit anyway."
"I'll come with you man," Puck chimed. "You're tagging along with us too Sam, Chang."
Karofsky slumped in Finn's grasp, defeated. "I'm sorry, Kurt."
"I know," Kurt said quietly.
They left. After a moment of deliberation, Mercedes chased after them to be with her boyfriend. She was the most sober, and had a better sense of direction more than any of them, so Kurt knew they'd get home safely.
"C'mon." Blaine slipped placed a hand on Kurt's lower back, directing him toward the bedroom.
"Karofsky's a stupid face," Rachel slurred. Her head was in Quinn's lap, her hair being toyed with. "We're gonna watch a movie, ok Kurt?" Tina was already curled asleep on the floor in a sleeping bag, and Santana and Brittany were tangled up in armchair, kissing languorously.
"Goodnight ladies," Blaine said.
Once Kurt's maimed door was closed behind them, Kurt made his way to the bathroom to change without a word. Blaine stripped into his boxers and waited on the bed for Kurt to come back.
"Should I have to start worrying about this Karofsky guy giving you trouble," Blaine called, not being able to keep it in much longer.
Kurt walked out of the bathroom, wiping a wet washcloth across his face. He sat down at his vanity, starting to moisturize.
"No, he's just quick-tempered sometimes," Kurt assured. "Plus, he was just jealous of you."
"Jealous of me? Why?"
"I think he still has feelings for me or something after all this time, I never really expected him to," Kurt said.
Blaine couldn't help but feel annoyed. "Well we're just friends, apparently. You can go be with him if you want."
Kurt had heard Blaine say anything so petulant. "I don't want to be with him, Blaine."
Blaine crossed his arms stubbornly. "Well why is that?"
"Because he was the one who bullied me in high school, I could never be anything more than just his friend," Kurt explained calmly.
"Oh."
Kurt felt a rush in his throat, his feelings pushing him to say something he didn't want to. It gnawed at him until it came out in a rush. "And plus, I like having you around, you make me happy. I don't want to mess that up."
Kurt could hardly believe he said it. Apparently neither did Blaine because he remained quiet. Kurt got nervous so he turned around to take it back, feeling foolish, when he saw the look on Blaine's face.
His eyes were shining and his smile was slight but full of pure affection.
"Thank you for saying that, Kurt." He got up and put a finger under Kurt's chin, kissing him softly.
Kurt's face burned ever so slightly. It was something he was not accustomed to; being embarrassed. "Oh, it's nothing-"
"Kurt, I want you to make love to me."
"I- what?" Kurt wasn't expecting this sudden change of events.
"I'm ready."
Kurt's mouth dropped open as Blaine leaned back onto Kurt's mattress, splaying his legs and stretching out. He pursed his lips and quirked a brow. Kurt was practically salivating.
"Now," Blaine demanded.
Kurt had never rushed with so much haste in his life.