July 25, 2012, 12:25 a.m.
The Cell of My Heart: Chapter 3
E - Words: 901 - Last Updated: Jul 25, 2012 Story: Complete - Chapters: 24/24 - Created: Jun 02, 2012 - Updated: Apr 13, 2022 1,984 0 0 1 0
Chapter 3
"I had been in a rush. God these stories always start like that don't they? I'm such a cliché." Kurt groaned at the absurdity of the story he seemed about to relay. "Anyway; it's true. Cliché or not, I was in a rush. Dad had made me stop by the garage before work to pick up a spare tire for Finn." he looked up at Blaine, meeting his gaze.
"I was supposed to drop it off after work and help him fit it; Rachel had been curbing the old tire so much it was practically shredded" he laughed without humour. "Anyways, I was rushing to get to school on time. I work at an elementary school on Bryce Street" he offered by way of explanation. "So I remember this truly heinous song had come on the radio; god what was it. Odd..I can't remember. It began with a j I think.. Some male name in the title and running. Wow it's a total blank."
Kurt seemed to have drifted wildly off subject and Blaine coughed slightly in an attempt to refocus him.
"Sorry; I guess it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things.....although as it was THAT song that caused the crash, I'd like to be able to remember my nemesis..."
Blaine smiled slightly, despite himself. Not many people could make light of such a peculiar situation he thought, and yet it all seemed so at odds with rationality that Blaine wondered again, how could you not laugh at the absurdity. He focussed back on Kurt, urging him to continue.
"So I guess I reached down to switch stations and must have glanced down too because all I remember then was this scream of tires and then my side of the car seemed to just.... just...explode." he shrugged as he finished the story, his matter of fact manner startling Blaine back into the reality of the situation.
"So after the car hit you? What then? According to Eddie you were in a coma apparently? Did you wake up today? Did you discharge yourself? Is that why you're here?" the questions flew from his mouth before he had time to check himself and he could see Kurt shrinking in on himself once again.
"Sorry. Sorry. One at a time." he paused. "Ok, Can you remember how you got here first of all? That might be a place to start." Blaine reasoned.
"I don't really remember." He didn't meet Blaine's eyes. "I feel like I was asleep and then I just woke up back here. On the bed. And I could hear the TV going... but it all seemed so familiar and so I, I just thought I'd take a shower. to ...to ....c ... clear my h..h.. head."
Shallow breaths had started to mingle with his words and a delayed panic seemed to have set in as Kurt spoke. His eyes began to tear again and he gasped trying to form any more of an explanation and finding none that was tangible. Blaine rushed again to kneel in front of him, holding his hands and breathing deeply with him.
"Calm down. You're ok. Breath. That's it. Just breathe. Nice deep breaths." his voice seemed to have a calming effect as Kurt's laboured breaths became softer, more steady. Blaine held his gaze, circling his thumb around Kurt's wrist in a gentle rhythm. His warm eyes searching the other mans face. He couldn't explain it. He felt lost in those pale eyes. His hands trembled a little as they held the cold fingers beneath his. For the first time he registered their chill; clammy and icy to the touch.
"You're freezing." he asserted. "You need to get warm. Get under the covers. You're in shock and clearly not fully recovered from this. You need to rest." with almost business like efficiency, Blaine went about delivery and carrying out his ministrations, ignoring Kurt's protests until he eventually succumbed to the nursing.
Once under the covers, Blaine saw he looked even more vulnerable than before. His hair, still wet from the shower, stuck to his forehead in places and stood up randomly in others giving him an endearingly boyish appearance and his hands clutched at the coverlet as if needing some kind of anchor to secure him to this world.
Blaine stroked his hair softly, wondering not for the first time, what the hell he was doing. He wasn't sure of etiquette in these situations; wasn't sure if anyone had written any rules of etiquette on how to handle semi-naked, car accident victims that appear randomly in your flat, but if they had, he was pretty sure that putting them to sleep in your bed, probably wouldn't be on the list of advice. But he couldn't seem to help himself. This man was so clearly lost, so clearly in need of help, that the admittedly soft heart of Blaine was doomed from that first desperate and fierce glance.
"Thank you" Kurt mumbled from beneath the sheet and squirmed down further into the warm cocoon Blaine had made for him. Blaine took one last look at the sleeping stranger. His mouth automatically started to form the words to the song from before. Words that seemed to resonate now.
"Blackbird fly. Into the light of a dark black night"
He flicked the light switch, listening to the soft breaths coming from the blanket. Stealing himself against the task ahead, Blaine leant briefly against the door frame and stepped slightly unsteadily into the hall.