Here's Where It All Comes Out...

andwakesimagination:

There didn’t seem to be much time for celebrating, after first place was announced, aside from the initial twenty seconds of cheering from everyone else while Kurt slunk around the stage to be as far from the vampire judge as possible. Within minutes, Rachel and Finn were dashing away—Rachel chatting animatedly about bridesmaids dresses—Artie was wheeling the trophy to the choir room, Quinn had disappeared to who-knows-where, and Blaine found himself being pulled away by a very persistent Kurt, away from the bustle of congratulating parents and the inevitable post-competition melt-down from some of the younger participants. “Where are we going?” he asked, as Kurt led him away from the auditorium down the hallway.

“I need to talk to you,” Kurt told him in a hushed voice, his grip on Blaine’s hand tightening.  

“Okay,” Blaine agreed, and didn’t push for details. Instead, he allowed Kurt to drag him along, through the empty hallways, far from the noise of the auditorium. When they heard footsteps from around the corner, Kurt’s grip tightened once again, until Quinn appeared, smiling brightly in a Cheerio’s uniform. Blaine grinned at her—he’d never seen her in her outfit before—and swung his and Kurt’s hands cheerily. “Hey Fabray. Lookin’ good,” he called out, and she beamed at him. 

“Thanks boys!” 

Kurt smiled tightly at her words, but continued on his path regardless, so Blaine didn’t have time to respond to her “Catch you later” before they were turning the corner, and Kurt was pulling him into the abandoned astronomy classroom. Kurt leaned against the door to shut it and crossed his arms over his chest, staring at his feet, as Blaine moved to pull aside the blind and let some light in. 

“Okay babe, what’s up?” Blaine asked, strolling back to the door and running his hands down Kurt’s arms soothingly. Kurt glanced up at him, gnawing at his bottom lip. 

“I’m going to go see Karofsky in the hospital,” he whispered, shuffling his feet, as if it was some sort of dark secret. 

Blaine frowned, and moved his hands up to Kurt’s shoulders, squeezing gently. “Do you want me to come with you?” He understood why Kurt needed to do this, of course—knew from the way Kurt had been closed off and unwilling to eat all week, from his tear-stained eyes and long minutes of staring at his phone helplessly when he thought no one was looking—but the idea of Kurt heading into any sort of situation where he felt uncomfortable still made Blaine cringe.

Kurt laughed dryly, no humor present, and replied, “I do. I do want you to come with me. But I also know that it isn’t a good idea.”

“No, it probably isn’t,” Blaine agreed, thinking back to that first confrontation, that near fight the night of the benefit. “I could wait in the car though, if you wanted.” 

Kurt tilted his head to one side and considered the offer. “I’d like that.” He smiled shyly, and Blaine opened his arms, letting Kurt fall into him. They stood there, beneath the sway of abandoned model planets, simply holding each other, until Kurt pulled back to press a chaste kiss to Blaine’s lips. “Thank you. I’m not sure if I could do this…without…someone. Not because I’m scared of David or anything but…but it’s hard.”

That’s why Blaine needed to be there. It’s always hard, things like this, and there’s no shame in needing another person to share it with, a person to wait in the car ready to wipe away tears for when the guilt comes, the feeling of panic, the anxiety. Blaine knew, he could remember.

“I’m here,” Blaine whispered, tugging Kurt closer and wrapping him tight in his arms. “I’m always here.”

If this was a simple situation, he would wish that Kurt could simply walk away from it all. But this isn’t a simple situation, and of course Kurt would have to do this, and Blaine would have to let him do this because there’s no way he could stop him and because Blaine understood. He understood what Karofsky went through, probably better than Kurt himself could, and he knew that sometimes the best thing that can happen is to have Kurt Hummel come in to your life. He knew from experience.

“Thank you,” Kurt whispered, burying his face in Blaine’s neck and shivering. “Thank you so much.”

“Anytime,” Blaine murmured back. “I’m here. I promise.” Kurt might have to go save one more person, but Blaine will always be waiting when he gets back.

(via fallingdowntherabbbithole)