FIC: Willful Blindness (M&M Verse)
Title: Willful Blindness
Characters/Pairing: Will, Kurt/Mike, Artie/Tina, Finn/Rachel (background), a few others in the background
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~3200
Summary: Five times Will should have realized that Mike and Kurt are dating, but didn't, and one time he can't ignore it.
Notes: Oblivious!Will. I tend to read him as pretty clueless in order to get past some of the problems I have with the character. I mean no offense to Will fans. Also, let's pretend that there are no new Glee members coming for the next year, just so I don't have to make them up. :)
Written for nakotaco. <3 This story takes places in the same universe as this one, but all you need to know is that Mike and Kurt are in a well established relationship, but they are not publicly out. The song in part 2 is Santana's “Smooth.”
Bonus present for all the amazing reviewers of "Mike and the Mechanics." ILU, BBs!
1:
As Will heads from lunch in the faculty lounge to work on lesson plans and Glee arrangements in his office during his free period, he makes a pit-stop in the closest men's room. Although the bell has sounded for the next period, the bathroom is not as empty as he'd expected.
Standing before him, whispering back and forth in harsh tones, are a clearly distressed Kurt Hummel and a bleeding Mike Chang. Kurt is trying to dab a wet paper towel at Mike's nose, but the taller boy keeps leaning backward to avoid it.
“Kurt? Mike? What happened?” Will asks, hurrying toward them.
The pair fall silent and exchange a long, meaningful glance.
“I'm fine, Mr. Schue,” Mike answers eventually, attempting a less than convincing smile. “Just a nose bleed. It'll stop in a minute or two.”
The obvious bruise forming beneath his eye makes a liar out of him.
Kurt rolls his eyes and folds his arms across his chest with a huff.
“Guys, if something happened, if someone hit you, you have to tell me,” Will insists.
Mike shakes his head. “It was just a football some guys were tossing around in the cafeteria during lunch.”
Will looks to Kurt for confirmation.
“His statement is...accurate,” Kurt confirms reluctantly.
“Come on, guys. I can see you're not telling me something.”
They look at one another again, Mike's eyes pleading, but Kurt shakes his head and nods in Will's direction.
Mike sighs in annoyance. “Some guy was trying to hit Kurt in the back of the head while he wasn't paying attention.”
“And instead of, oh, I don't know, calling out for me to duck like a normal person,” Kurt interrupts with a pretty vicious glare, “this idiot decides to use his face to deflect it.”
Mike's shoulders straighten and he glares right back.
“Thank you, Kurt. I think I've got the picture,” Will interjects, hoping to defuse the tension.
It warms his heart the way his Glee kids have come together to take care of one another. He doesn't know Mike as well as some of the others, mostly because he's quiet and doesn't demand the attention that his peers do. But this defense of Kurt is one more indication of what a good kid he is.
He does, however, sympathize with Kurt's obvious frustration. He's proven time and again how strong he is, so it's understandable that he bristles when someone treats him like he can't take care of himself.
“Kurt,” Will begins in his most facilitative teacher voice, “I think you could be a little more grateful to Mike for trying to help you out. And Mike,” he adds, lightening his tone to a tease, “try to be a little more careful. We wouldn't want to lose our dance star this close to Sectionals.”
He's not at all prepared for the stricken look that crosses Kurt's face. The glare that follows it is somewhat more familiar. Will holds up his hands before Kurt can say anything.
“Kurt, I'll take it from here. Why don't you head on to class?”
“What? No!” Kurt balks. “I'm not leaving my...”
“You're out of class without a permission slip and I don't have any with me,” Will reasons. “I don't want you to get in trouble for skipping. So, move along and tell your teacher to see me after class.”
Kurt ignores this and turns back to Mike.
“I'm fine, Kurt,” Mike says, his voice gentle and reassuring. “You have a Chem test tomorrow, so you shouldn't miss the review.”
“Screw Chemistry, Mike,” Kurt returns angrily, and Will is surprised at how easily the usually meek boy waves off Kurt's ire.
“I'll let Mr. Schue take me to the nurse if you promise to leave it alone,” Mike offers.
Kurt stares at him for a long moment before throwing up his hands with an exasperated “Fine!” and turning on heel to storm out.
Mike's shoulders slump as soon as the door closes and he reaches for a paper towel.
“It's a good thing you did, Mike,” Will tells him. “I'm proud of you.”
“No big deal,” Mike mumbles into his chest, wincing as he touches the towel to his face.
“It is a big deal,” Will insists. “And I'm sure Kurt appreciates it deep down. I think you just affronted his dignity a little by stepping in.”
The look Mike gives him is genuinely confused. “Um, okay, Mr. Schue. Do you think we can go to the nurse now? I have to get to English.”
Will pats his shoulder reassuringly. “Sure thing, Mike.”
After he drops off Mike with the nurse, he can't shake the vague feeling of having missed something. But by Glee rehearsal that afternoon, things seem to have resolved themselves between the two boys, who are sitting together laughing when he enters the choir room.
2:
One of Will's favorite things about coaching this particular group of kids is having the opportunity to stumble upon their impromptu jam sessions. They don't happen all that often, but whenever Will is stuck in a faculty meeting or after school conference with disgruntled parents, instead of goofing off until he gets there, the kids show up on time and amuse themselves with whatever song catches their fancy that day.
This particular afternoon, Will is trying to shake off a frustrating meeting with Figgins about replacing the mysteriously blown speakers in the auditorium when Artie's deep voice floats down the hall to him as he rounds the last corner to the choir room. (“My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa/ You're my reason for reason/ The step in my groove”).
At the bridge, Finn and Puck's voices pick up in harmony (“And if you said this life ain't good enough/ I would give my world to lift you up ...”), and Will thinks they may have found a keeper for Regionals. If they can actually get a male-led song past Rachel, that is.
When he reaches the door, the kids have all joined in for the chorus, but he's surprised that he doesn't find the freestyle dance party typical of these sessions. Instead, the group have formed a loose, bopping semi-circle around one dancing pair.
At its center, unsurprisingly, is Mike. Will is a little taken aback, however, to find that Mike is leading a flushed, but broadly grinning Kurt in an enthusiastic cha-cha, complete with cross-body turns, spins, and lifts. As the last notes sound, both boys are flushed and laughing happily.
Will claps enthusiastically as he enters the room, startling Mike and Kurt apart. He smiles at them widely before addressing the group.
“Alright guys, have a seat and let's talk about this great performance you've been working on here,” Will directs.
The group settles, but they are exchanging worried glances that Will doesn't quite understand. Eventually, Finn speaks up.
“We were just messing around, Mr. Schue,” he says. “We've got the sheet music ready to get back to that Elvis song you wanted us to try.”
Will shakes his head. “Forget Elvis. I think we should see what we can do with this one. It's got great energy and fits your vocal range perfectly, Artie. Those harmonies on the bridge were sweet, too.”
Instead of the enthusiastic murmuring that usually breaks out when they start a new song, the room is abuzz with whispered conversation. Will frowns, but continues.
“Mike! Why don't you and Brittany see if you can polish that cha-cha up into a workable dance solo. Then we can adapt some of the basic moves for the group.”
Mike shakes his head vehemently, but won't look him in the eye. Will thought they were breaking through the boy's shyness, but maybe he isn't as comfortable with this style of dancing as his usual free-styling. They'll just have to work on building up his confidence.
The room falls into an uncomfortable silence. It's Rachel, of course, who opens her mouth to break it, but Will is prepared for that one.
“We aren't committing to anything yet, Rachel,” he placates. “I know we haven't done much with primarily male vocals in the past, but if you take a step back, you'll see that you guys have something special here and that Mike and Brittany can give us a real edge with this dance number.”
“That's not what...” Rachel begins, only to be cut off by Kurt.
“Mr. Schue is right,” he says. It's still rare enough to hear that from him that Will takes pleasure in it. Mike, however, looks betrayed.
“Mike and Brittany are the best we have,” he continues, although his voice is oddly strangled, “This is a great song and incorporating formal Latin dance steps will give us a significant advantage.”
“But, Kurt,” Mercedes says, “This song is your...”
“It's fine,” he insists firmly, exchanging a look with Mike, who's still wide-eyed with shock.
“Okay, let's start from the top,” Will directs.
He can't help noticing the flatness that creeps into the vocals or that Mike and Brittany's moves aren't as bright and crisp as they usually are. Will laments his inability to capture the joy and freedom these kids have when they let themselves go and just have fun. He knows that if he could, there is no way they would ever lose to Vocal Adrenaline again.
3:
Will is just finishing up an early (by several weeks) Christmas dinner with his parents at one of the few “nice” restaurants Lima has to offer. He can't quite contain his surprise when he almost literally runs into four of his Glee kids at the front door.
Kurt is talking to the hostess while Tina, Artie, and Mike chat together by the door.
“Mr. Schue!” Artie exclaims in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“My parents are in town, so I brought them out for dinner,” Will replies. “What about you guys? I don't remember having such swanky hang out spots when I was your age.”
“We're celebrating!” Tina says, smiling at a wide-eyed Mike.
It's always funny when students are stunned to see their teachers outside of school.
“What are you celebrating?” he asks.
“Surviving midterms,” Kurt says loudly as he walks up behind them, coming to a stop at Mike's left. He gives Tina a quelling look.
Artie smirks. “Oh yeah,” he says. “It feels like it's been exactly six months since we started 'studying for midterms.'”
Mike's elbow bumps into Artie's chair. Artie redirects his smirk at him.
“I'm glad to hear you survived,” Will comments. Then he turns a sly grin to Tina and Artie. “But are you two sure that you don't mind these guys crashing your date?”
Tina gives him a blank look and he can't help wondering if he's made a false assumption. He was pretty sure that they had been dating since last year. They aren't as prone to public displays as Finn and Rachel, but they still hold hands an awful lot. But what if they are just really affectionate friends? Like Brittany and Santana. He's about to say something when Artie chimes in.
“It's all good, Mr. Schue,” he says, still smirking in Mike and Kurt's direction. “We're scoping out the scene to help out our romantically challenged friends here.”
Tina snorts, while Kurt glares and Mike ducks his head in embarrassment.
Will places a comforting hand on the taller boy's shoulder. “Don't worry about it, Mike. You're young. There are plenty of girls out there, just you wait.”
Mike's voice is noticeably dry when he replies, “Thanks, Mr. Schue.”
He must be spending an awful lot of time with Kurt to have picked up that tone.
The hostess comes over to tell the kids that their table is ready.
“Well, congratulations, guys,” Will says before turning to leave. “Enjoy your celebration.”
“Thanks, Mr. Schue,” Kurt says with a sweet smile he can't quite recall seeing before. He smiles back widely.
4:
Will is in his office trying to finalize arrangements for the Glee Club's trip to Regionals. They have managed to escape the financial constraints that weighed them down last year thanks to the generous support of self-appointed Glee Club Booster Judy Fabray. In addition to the wheelchair accessible bus, they have enough funds for hotel rooms the night before the competition in Bloomington, Indiana, in order to avoid having to leave Lima at 2 am to make check-in.
He looks up at the knock on his door to find Puck lingering in the entryway.
“Come on in,” he instructs. “What can I do for you, Puck?”
“Thanks, Mr. Schue. I wanted to talk to you about our room assignments for Regionals,” Puck says.
Will frowns. “Is there a problem? I thought you and Mike got along pretty well.”
“Huh? Oh yeah, Chang's fine,” Puck says dismissively. “I just...well, I was wondering if you could switch it so that Finn and I could share.”
“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Will asks.
He knows that the former best friends have been getting along much better this year. Finn has told him this directly and he has seen it in how they interact during rehearsal. But he's not quite sure whether leaving them alone together in a hotel room is a wise decision.
“I think it'd be good, you know, for us,” Puck continues. He sounds sincere, which isn't particularly common when he's involved.
Will gives him a considering look. Puck's smile (not a smirk!) is hopeful and Finn has mentioned several times that he misses having his best friend around.
“Alright, Puck,” he agrees. “I'll make the switch. You don't think Mike and Kurt would have a problem with sharing, do you?”
Puck snorts. “Nope. I think they'll be fine with it.”
Will nods. “Thanks, Puck. I'll see you this afternoon.”
“Cool,” he shoots back as he's leaving.
That afternoon, he posts the revised rooming assignments in the choir room.
Finn gasps when he sees it.
“That's not fair, Mr. Schue,” Finn insists. “Rachel and I don't get to...OW!”
Finn turns to his left to glare at Mike, who seems to have accidentally stepped on his foot.
Will hopes he hasn't really screwed things up with Finn by granting Puck's request. The last thing they need is to replay old dramas when they are finally working together as a team.
“What were you saying, Finn?” he asks, putting as much concern in his voice as he can.
Finn's narrowed eyes travel between Puck, Mike, and Kurt and he sighs. “Nevermind, Mr. Schue.”
Will worries over his decision for most of the rehearsal, but things seem to be just fine between Finn and Puck. They're laughing and joking with one another throughout and Finn even waits for Puck to gather his stuff before they leave.
The last thing he sees as they are heading out the door together is Kurt running to catch up with them to hand Puck an envelope.
5:
They are in the middle of rehearsal when Emma walks into the choir room. The solemn look on her face is enough to put Will on alert. He signals for the band and the kids to stop, the ensuing silence almost deafening.
Emma clears her throat and says, “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to see Kurt and Finn in the hallway for a moment, please.”
The two boys look at each other warily before stepping forward and following her out. Will looks back to the group and directs them to work on their dance steps before following himself.
As he's shutting the choir room door, he hears Emma start talking.
“Kurt, I just got a call from Finn's mom. There's been an accident at your dad's garage.”
“Oh my god,” Kurt exclaims, his body sagging until Finn puts a supportive arm around his waist. “What... is he... oh god!”
“They've taken him to the hospital,” Emma continues calmly. “Ms. Hudson told me his condition is stable and it doesn't look like he needs surgery. I'm going to take you both there now, so go in and grab your things, okay?”
Will moves forward to give Kurt's shoulder a squeeze. “It's going to be alright, Kurt.”
Kurt nods dumbly, but he can't tell if the boy is hearing any of what they say.
When they've gone back inside, Will looks to Emma and asks, “Your car can take four passengers, right?”
“Hmm?” she hums distractedly. “Oh, yes. I can take four.”
“Why don't you take Kurt, Finn, Rachel, and Mercedes over to check on how he's doing,” he suggests. “So the boys will have some moral support. Then you can give me a call and let us know if we should all come by.”
Emma's brow furrows in confusion. Then she gives him a disappointed look, but doesn't say anything else before heading back into the choir room.
Finn and Kurt are already headed back out, with Rachel and Mike hot on their heels.
Emma smiles at them reassuringly. “Come on.”
Once they're gone, Will's eyes dart immediately to Mercedes as he ponders when it was that Mike had taken over her perpetual spot at Kurt's side. He had noticed Quinn and Mercedes becoming increasingly close over the past year. And, when he thought about it, the same could be said of Kurt and Mike.
So maybe what had seemed to be an indivisible friendship had faded into the background in the face of exciting new ones. Ah, the capriciousness of youth!
Still, the obvious concern painted across Mercedes' face gives him comfort that the older friendships are not completely forgotten.
+1:
As the last notes of their final song echo out of existence, Will is overwhelmed with happiness for his amazing kids. They are in New York City and no matter the judges results, New Directions has given it everything they have in their first performance at Nationals.
The crowd is on its feet as the kids begin to break their closing positions. Rachel immediately launches herself into Finn's arms at the same time Tina practically collapses across Artie's lap. He chuckles to himself when Brittany, Santana, Quinn, and Mercedes swarm into a massive group hug, only to be further engulfed by Puck and Matt.
What he doesn't expect to see is Mike grabbing Kurt's arms and pulling him tight to his chest before lowering his head for a long, deep kiss.
A brief, horrible thought about conservative judges and unjustified deductions flits across his mind, but he suppresses it before it even solidifies. He may not have seen it coming, but there is no mistaking the genuine affection on display before him. And that is worth more than any trophy.
As Kurt pulls back, Will can't help but smile at the shocked look that emerges on both their faces. He vows to make sure both boys know that they have his full support, no matter what happens.
But first, he has to see to a few changes in room assignments for the duration of their trip.
Characters/Pairing: Will, Kurt/Mike, Artie/Tina, Finn/Rachel (background), a few others in the background
Rating: PG
Word Count: ~3200
Summary: Five times Will should have realized that Mike and Kurt are dating, but didn't, and one time he can't ignore it.
Notes: Oblivious!Will. I tend to read him as pretty clueless in order to get past some of the problems I have with the character. I mean no offense to Will fans. Also, let's pretend that there are no new Glee members coming for the next year, just so I don't have to make them up. :)
Written for nakotaco. <3 This story takes places in the same universe as this one, but all you need to know is that Mike and Kurt are in a well established relationship, but they are not publicly out. The song in part 2 is Santana's “Smooth.”
Bonus present for all the amazing reviewers of "Mike and the Mechanics." ILU, BBs!
1:
As Will heads from lunch in the faculty lounge to work on lesson plans and Glee arrangements in his office during his free period, he makes a pit-stop in the closest men's room. Although the bell has sounded for the next period, the bathroom is not as empty as he'd expected.
Standing before him, whispering back and forth in harsh tones, are a clearly distressed Kurt Hummel and a bleeding Mike Chang. Kurt is trying to dab a wet paper towel at Mike's nose, but the taller boy keeps leaning backward to avoid it.
“Kurt? Mike? What happened?” Will asks, hurrying toward them.
The pair fall silent and exchange a long, meaningful glance.
“I'm fine, Mr. Schue,” Mike answers eventually, attempting a less than convincing smile. “Just a nose bleed. It'll stop in a minute or two.”
The obvious bruise forming beneath his eye makes a liar out of him.
Kurt rolls his eyes and folds his arms across his chest with a huff.
“Guys, if something happened, if someone hit you, you have to tell me,” Will insists.
Mike shakes his head. “It was just a football some guys were tossing around in the cafeteria during lunch.”
Will looks to Kurt for confirmation.
“His statement is...accurate,” Kurt confirms reluctantly.
“Come on, guys. I can see you're not telling me something.”
They look at one another again, Mike's eyes pleading, but Kurt shakes his head and nods in Will's direction.
Mike sighs in annoyance. “Some guy was trying to hit Kurt in the back of the head while he wasn't paying attention.”
“And instead of, oh, I don't know, calling out for me to duck like a normal person,” Kurt interrupts with a pretty vicious glare, “this idiot decides to use his face to deflect it.”
Mike's shoulders straighten and he glares right back.
“Thank you, Kurt. I think I've got the picture,” Will interjects, hoping to defuse the tension.
It warms his heart the way his Glee kids have come together to take care of one another. He doesn't know Mike as well as some of the others, mostly because he's quiet and doesn't demand the attention that his peers do. But this defense of Kurt is one more indication of what a good kid he is.
He does, however, sympathize with Kurt's obvious frustration. He's proven time and again how strong he is, so it's understandable that he bristles when someone treats him like he can't take care of himself.
“Kurt,” Will begins in his most facilitative teacher voice, “I think you could be a little more grateful to Mike for trying to help you out. And Mike,” he adds, lightening his tone to a tease, “try to be a little more careful. We wouldn't want to lose our dance star this close to Sectionals.”
He's not at all prepared for the stricken look that crosses Kurt's face. The glare that follows it is somewhat more familiar. Will holds up his hands before Kurt can say anything.
“Kurt, I'll take it from here. Why don't you head on to class?”
“What? No!” Kurt balks. “I'm not leaving my...”
“You're out of class without a permission slip and I don't have any with me,” Will reasons. “I don't want you to get in trouble for skipping. So, move along and tell your teacher to see me after class.”
Kurt ignores this and turns back to Mike.
“I'm fine, Kurt,” Mike says, his voice gentle and reassuring. “You have a Chem test tomorrow, so you shouldn't miss the review.”
“Screw Chemistry, Mike,” Kurt returns angrily, and Will is surprised at how easily the usually meek boy waves off Kurt's ire.
“I'll let Mr. Schue take me to the nurse if you promise to leave it alone,” Mike offers.
Kurt stares at him for a long moment before throwing up his hands with an exasperated “Fine!” and turning on heel to storm out.
Mike's shoulders slump as soon as the door closes and he reaches for a paper towel.
“It's a good thing you did, Mike,” Will tells him. “I'm proud of you.”
“No big deal,” Mike mumbles into his chest, wincing as he touches the towel to his face.
“It is a big deal,” Will insists. “And I'm sure Kurt appreciates it deep down. I think you just affronted his dignity a little by stepping in.”
The look Mike gives him is genuinely confused. “Um, okay, Mr. Schue. Do you think we can go to the nurse now? I have to get to English.”
Will pats his shoulder reassuringly. “Sure thing, Mike.”
After he drops off Mike with the nurse, he can't shake the vague feeling of having missed something. But by Glee rehearsal that afternoon, things seem to have resolved themselves between the two boys, who are sitting together laughing when he enters the choir room.
2:
One of Will's favorite things about coaching this particular group of kids is having the opportunity to stumble upon their impromptu jam sessions. They don't happen all that often, but whenever Will is stuck in a faculty meeting or after school conference with disgruntled parents, instead of goofing off until he gets there, the kids show up on time and amuse themselves with whatever song catches their fancy that day.
This particular afternoon, Will is trying to shake off a frustrating meeting with Figgins about replacing the mysteriously blown speakers in the auditorium when Artie's deep voice floats down the hall to him as he rounds the last corner to the choir room. (“My muñequita, my Spanish Harlem Mona Lisa/ You're my reason for reason/ The step in my groove”).
At the bridge, Finn and Puck's voices pick up in harmony (“And if you said this life ain't good enough/ I would give my world to lift you up ...”), and Will thinks they may have found a keeper for Regionals. If they can actually get a male-led song past Rachel, that is.
When he reaches the door, the kids have all joined in for the chorus, but he's surprised that he doesn't find the freestyle dance party typical of these sessions. Instead, the group have formed a loose, bopping semi-circle around one dancing pair.
At its center, unsurprisingly, is Mike. Will is a little taken aback, however, to find that Mike is leading a flushed, but broadly grinning Kurt in an enthusiastic cha-cha, complete with cross-body turns, spins, and lifts. As the last notes sound, both boys are flushed and laughing happily.
Will claps enthusiastically as he enters the room, startling Mike and Kurt apart. He smiles at them widely before addressing the group.
“Alright guys, have a seat and let's talk about this great performance you've been working on here,” Will directs.
The group settles, but they are exchanging worried glances that Will doesn't quite understand. Eventually, Finn speaks up.
“We were just messing around, Mr. Schue,” he says. “We've got the sheet music ready to get back to that Elvis song you wanted us to try.”
Will shakes his head. “Forget Elvis. I think we should see what we can do with this one. It's got great energy and fits your vocal range perfectly, Artie. Those harmonies on the bridge were sweet, too.”
Instead of the enthusiastic murmuring that usually breaks out when they start a new song, the room is abuzz with whispered conversation. Will frowns, but continues.
“Mike! Why don't you and Brittany see if you can polish that cha-cha up into a workable dance solo. Then we can adapt some of the basic moves for the group.”
Mike shakes his head vehemently, but won't look him in the eye. Will thought they were breaking through the boy's shyness, but maybe he isn't as comfortable with this style of dancing as his usual free-styling. They'll just have to work on building up his confidence.
The room falls into an uncomfortable silence. It's Rachel, of course, who opens her mouth to break it, but Will is prepared for that one.
“We aren't committing to anything yet, Rachel,” he placates. “I know we haven't done much with primarily male vocals in the past, but if you take a step back, you'll see that you guys have something special here and that Mike and Brittany can give us a real edge with this dance number.”
“That's not what...” Rachel begins, only to be cut off by Kurt.
“Mr. Schue is right,” he says. It's still rare enough to hear that from him that Will takes pleasure in it. Mike, however, looks betrayed.
“Mike and Brittany are the best we have,” he continues, although his voice is oddly strangled, “This is a great song and incorporating formal Latin dance steps will give us a significant advantage.”
“But, Kurt,” Mercedes says, “This song is your...”
“It's fine,” he insists firmly, exchanging a look with Mike, who's still wide-eyed with shock.
“Okay, let's start from the top,” Will directs.
He can't help noticing the flatness that creeps into the vocals or that Mike and Brittany's moves aren't as bright and crisp as they usually are. Will laments his inability to capture the joy and freedom these kids have when they let themselves go and just have fun. He knows that if he could, there is no way they would ever lose to Vocal Adrenaline again.
3:
Will is just finishing up an early (by several weeks) Christmas dinner with his parents at one of the few “nice” restaurants Lima has to offer. He can't quite contain his surprise when he almost literally runs into four of his Glee kids at the front door.
Kurt is talking to the hostess while Tina, Artie, and Mike chat together by the door.
“Mr. Schue!” Artie exclaims in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“My parents are in town, so I brought them out for dinner,” Will replies. “What about you guys? I don't remember having such swanky hang out spots when I was your age.”
“We're celebrating!” Tina says, smiling at a wide-eyed Mike.
It's always funny when students are stunned to see their teachers outside of school.
“What are you celebrating?” he asks.
“Surviving midterms,” Kurt says loudly as he walks up behind them, coming to a stop at Mike's left. He gives Tina a quelling look.
Artie smirks. “Oh yeah,” he says. “It feels like it's been exactly six months since we started 'studying for midterms.'”
Mike's elbow bumps into Artie's chair. Artie redirects his smirk at him.
“I'm glad to hear you survived,” Will comments. Then he turns a sly grin to Tina and Artie. “But are you two sure that you don't mind these guys crashing your date?”
Tina gives him a blank look and he can't help wondering if he's made a false assumption. He was pretty sure that they had been dating since last year. They aren't as prone to public displays as Finn and Rachel, but they still hold hands an awful lot. But what if they are just really affectionate friends? Like Brittany and Santana. He's about to say something when Artie chimes in.
“It's all good, Mr. Schue,” he says, still smirking in Mike and Kurt's direction. “We're scoping out the scene to help out our romantically challenged friends here.”
Tina snorts, while Kurt glares and Mike ducks his head in embarrassment.
Will places a comforting hand on the taller boy's shoulder. “Don't worry about it, Mike. You're young. There are plenty of girls out there, just you wait.”
Mike's voice is noticeably dry when he replies, “Thanks, Mr. Schue.”
He must be spending an awful lot of time with Kurt to have picked up that tone.
The hostess comes over to tell the kids that their table is ready.
“Well, congratulations, guys,” Will says before turning to leave. “Enjoy your celebration.”
“Thanks, Mr. Schue,” Kurt says with a sweet smile he can't quite recall seeing before. He smiles back widely.
4:
Will is in his office trying to finalize arrangements for the Glee Club's trip to Regionals. They have managed to escape the financial constraints that weighed them down last year thanks to the generous support of self-appointed Glee Club Booster Judy Fabray. In addition to the wheelchair accessible bus, they have enough funds for hotel rooms the night before the competition in Bloomington, Indiana, in order to avoid having to leave Lima at 2 am to make check-in.
He looks up at the knock on his door to find Puck lingering in the entryway.
“Come on in,” he instructs. “What can I do for you, Puck?”
“Thanks, Mr. Schue. I wanted to talk to you about our room assignments for Regionals,” Puck says.
Will frowns. “Is there a problem? I thought you and Mike got along pretty well.”
“Huh? Oh yeah, Chang's fine,” Puck says dismissively. “I just...well, I was wondering if you could switch it so that Finn and I could share.”
“Are you sure that's a good idea?” Will asks.
He knows that the former best friends have been getting along much better this year. Finn has told him this directly and he has seen it in how they interact during rehearsal. But he's not quite sure whether leaving them alone together in a hotel room is a wise decision.
“I think it'd be good, you know, for us,” Puck continues. He sounds sincere, which isn't particularly common when he's involved.
Will gives him a considering look. Puck's smile (not a smirk!) is hopeful and Finn has mentioned several times that he misses having his best friend around.
“Alright, Puck,” he agrees. “I'll make the switch. You don't think Mike and Kurt would have a problem with sharing, do you?”
Puck snorts. “Nope. I think they'll be fine with it.”
Will nods. “Thanks, Puck. I'll see you this afternoon.”
“Cool,” he shoots back as he's leaving.
That afternoon, he posts the revised rooming assignments in the choir room.
Finn gasps when he sees it.
“That's not fair, Mr. Schue,” Finn insists. “Rachel and I don't get to...OW!”
Finn turns to his left to glare at Mike, who seems to have accidentally stepped on his foot.
Will hopes he hasn't really screwed things up with Finn by granting Puck's request. The last thing they need is to replay old dramas when they are finally working together as a team.
“What were you saying, Finn?” he asks, putting as much concern in his voice as he can.
Finn's narrowed eyes travel between Puck, Mike, and Kurt and he sighs. “Nevermind, Mr. Schue.”
Will worries over his decision for most of the rehearsal, but things seem to be just fine between Finn and Puck. They're laughing and joking with one another throughout and Finn even waits for Puck to gather his stuff before they leave.
The last thing he sees as they are heading out the door together is Kurt running to catch up with them to hand Puck an envelope.
5:
They are in the middle of rehearsal when Emma walks into the choir room. The solemn look on her face is enough to put Will on alert. He signals for the band and the kids to stop, the ensuing silence almost deafening.
Emma clears her throat and says, “Sorry to interrupt, but I need to see Kurt and Finn in the hallway for a moment, please.”
The two boys look at each other warily before stepping forward and following her out. Will looks back to the group and directs them to work on their dance steps before following himself.
As he's shutting the choir room door, he hears Emma start talking.
“Kurt, I just got a call from Finn's mom. There's been an accident at your dad's garage.”
“Oh my god,” Kurt exclaims, his body sagging until Finn puts a supportive arm around his waist. “What... is he... oh god!”
“They've taken him to the hospital,” Emma continues calmly. “Ms. Hudson told me his condition is stable and it doesn't look like he needs surgery. I'm going to take you both there now, so go in and grab your things, okay?”
Will moves forward to give Kurt's shoulder a squeeze. “It's going to be alright, Kurt.”
Kurt nods dumbly, but he can't tell if the boy is hearing any of what they say.
When they've gone back inside, Will looks to Emma and asks, “Your car can take four passengers, right?”
“Hmm?” she hums distractedly. “Oh, yes. I can take four.”
“Why don't you take Kurt, Finn, Rachel, and Mercedes over to check on how he's doing,” he suggests. “So the boys will have some moral support. Then you can give me a call and let us know if we should all come by.”
Emma's brow furrows in confusion. Then she gives him a disappointed look, but doesn't say anything else before heading back into the choir room.
Finn and Kurt are already headed back out, with Rachel and Mike hot on their heels.
Emma smiles at them reassuringly. “Come on.”
Once they're gone, Will's eyes dart immediately to Mercedes as he ponders when it was that Mike had taken over her perpetual spot at Kurt's side. He had noticed Quinn and Mercedes becoming increasingly close over the past year. And, when he thought about it, the same could be said of Kurt and Mike.
So maybe what had seemed to be an indivisible friendship had faded into the background in the face of exciting new ones. Ah, the capriciousness of youth!
Still, the obvious concern painted across Mercedes' face gives him comfort that the older friendships are not completely forgotten.
+1:
As the last notes of their final song echo out of existence, Will is overwhelmed with happiness for his amazing kids. They are in New York City and no matter the judges results, New Directions has given it everything they have in their first performance at Nationals.
The crowd is on its feet as the kids begin to break their closing positions. Rachel immediately launches herself into Finn's arms at the same time Tina practically collapses across Artie's lap. He chuckles to himself when Brittany, Santana, Quinn, and Mercedes swarm into a massive group hug, only to be further engulfed by Puck and Matt.
What he doesn't expect to see is Mike grabbing Kurt's arms and pulling him tight to his chest before lowering his head for a long, deep kiss.
A brief, horrible thought about conservative judges and unjustified deductions flits across his mind, but he suppresses it before it even solidifies. He may not have seen it coming, but there is no mistaking the genuine affection on display before him. And that is worth more than any trophy.
As Kurt pulls back, Will can't help but smile at the shocked look that emerges on both their faces. He vows to make sure both boys know that they have his full support, no matter what happens.
But first, he has to see to a few changes in room assignments for the duration of their trip.