Looking for a Happy Ending - Part 4C
Title: Looking for a Happy Ending
Author: firefly_ca
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Blaine, with eventual appearances from pretty much everyone
Rating: NC-17 for disturbing themes, scenes, etc.
Word Count: Part four is 18K. Um, new record?
Spoilers: All of S2
Summary: AU. Blaine Anderson hasn't been Blaine Anderson for 8 years. He doesn't remember much about his old family and his life before he moved in with the man he calls his father. Together they move from town to town, always drifting before Blaine can get too familiar with his surroundings. Then one day they end up in Lima, Ohio, and Blaine finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew.
Blaine isn't sure what happens after he falls asleep outside of Kurt's car. At least, he thinks that's what happened. He honestly has no memories in between closing his eyes to the sounds of Johnny Cash and flailing awake in Kurt's bed seemingly minutes later.
"Where am I?" He mumbles, because he recognises some of the stuff in the room as belonging to Kurt, but this is not Kurt's room which is in a basement except it isn't anymore and, oh yeah, Kurt moved didn't he?
"Oh, sorry," says a voice, also familiar. "My bad."
Blaine gets his bearings just in time to see Kurt's dad backing his way out the door, looking bewildered and slightly panicky. Kurt is sitting in front of a mirror doing some sort of weird skin ritual to his face. Blaine feels like there is a death metal concert happening inside his head, his skull pounding so hard it might be vibrating. He lets out another whimpering groan as the room starts to spin.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Kurt is saying, rushing over to from his chair to help Blaine sit properly and stick a garbage can under his nose. This was a wise move, Blaine decides as his stomach heaves violently and he begins to retch up whatever food made its way into his stomach the night before.
"Oh my god, Blaine," Kurt says, making a face but not pulling away from where he is sitting, gently rubbing Blaine's back. "It smells like you walked into a distillery and drank it. There are better ways to cope with your problems. Next time just talk to me first, okay? Let me help you."
"You helped last night," Blaine mutters, gasping in air as soon as he has the chance. Kurt just rubs his back again and moves the trash can away, pausing a moment to grab a box of Kleenex so Blaine can wipe his mouth.
There's a knock at the door and Carole is there, entering somewhat cautiously.
"Sorry to interrupt," she says. "But Burt mentioned Blaine was up here and that he...wasn't feeling well. I wanted to see what I could do to help."
"Blaine got pretty upset last night," Kurt starts, but before he can go any further, Blaine grabs at his arm and mutters,
"Please don't say anything. Please Kurt, I can't - I've never told anyone else. No one else knows and I don't want..."
"It's okay Blaine," Kurt hushes, pushing Blaine's hair off his forehead. "Carole just wants to make sure you're feeling okay. If I don't tell them about the party I'm sure Finn will, but the stuff in the car is just between us, alright? No one needs to know everything right away."
Carole's forehead is creased in concern as she walks over to the curtains and draws them shut, mercifully cutting the glare in the room by half.
"You still look pretty rough sweetheart," She says. "I'm going to get a cold compress for your head, and some pain killers. Kurt? Your father is just outside. He said he wanted to speak with you."
Carole wasn't kidding when she said Burt was "just outside." No sooner had Kurt left the room when Blaine heard Burt's voice saying,
"What happened to just friends, Kurt? Since when do 'just friends' sneak into my son's bedroom late at night and crawl into bed with him?"
"You're overreacting, Dad," Kurt says tersely. "I understand it's a little unexpected to see Blaine here, but one look in that room should be enough to tell you that none of the scenarios going through your head right now are even the slightest bit plausible."
"Kurt," Burt says, and his voice is very strained. "There is a drunk boy sleeping in your bed. Why do you have a drunk boy in your bed? You weren't even out last night!"
"He was out," Comes a third, sleepy voice. "I called him to come to the party. Well, not to the party at Rachel's, but to the second party everyone went to after. Blaine needed a ride."
"A ride?" Burt repeats. "Is my son running a drive-a-drunk taxi service now and no one told me about it? And why didn't you just take him home?"
"Don't be mad, Burt," Finn says. "I have an extra toothbrush from the dentist we can give him, and we didn't know what else to do. We got to the second party and he was scaring the crap out of everyone. He's been acting super weird at school the last few days and last night he was drunk and crying and saying all these awful things."
"What are you talking about?"
"He was talking about his shitty life and his mean dad hating him and how he hates himself too, because he's gay," Finn says, and Blaine winces a little, because it's not the pleasantest thing to hear his breakdown coming from the painfully matter-of-fact Finn. "He started talking about killing himself and we all thought it was dangerous to let him go off alone. Kurt's the best friend Blaine has. If I was feeling that bad about my life, I'd want my best friend to be there with me, so I called Kurt."
"He was talking about suicide?" Burt asks, and his tone more concerned than angry.
"I don't know if he actually meant it," Kurt admits. "But he's really hurting right now, I'm not just going to send him away. You raised me better than that."
"Think he'll be okay?" Burt asks.
"I thought I'd wait to see how he was doing sober before I decided," Kurt says. "He told me some...other things too, after I took him out of the party. It was all very private, but it scared the shit out of me, Dad. I just - I need another chance to talk to him, when he's feeling better. I need to make sure he's going to be okay."
Carole pops back into the room then, her mouth a thin line of displeasure.
"Okay, sweetie," she says, sliding a hand behind Blaine's shoulders and helping him upright, just like Kurt had. She hands him a couple of pills and the biggest glass of water he's ever seen. "I want you to take these and drink this whole glass of water, alright?"
He notices she's brought a fresh garbage pail in with her and she smiles when she sees what he's looking at.
"Small sips," she says. "And you should be fine. There's no point in taking any unnecessary chances though."
Blaine drinks the water slowly and things do get a little iffy at one point, but Carole takes the glass from him and tells him to take a few deep breaths and he manages to finish the rest of it without any more trouble. Carole helps him lie back down and settles a cool cloth over his eyes.
"Lie quiet for now," she instructs. "I'll be back soon with some more water and to see how you're doing."
The room is silent after she leaves. Blaine can faintly hear the sound of voices coming from another part of the house but can't make out what they are saying. Slowly he closes his eyes and drifts back into merciful sleep.
***
The next time Blaine wakes up he's fairly certain that he's at least sober, but he still feels pretty awful. The bed is dipping down as someone lies down next to him and rests a hand on his shoulder.
"Feeling any better?" Kurt's voice asks him softly.
Blaine grunts noncommittally.
"I hope that was a yes," Kurt says mischievously. "Because I thought I'd see if you were up for a little late breakfast. Anything you're in the mood for? Eggs and bacon, maybe? Hash browns?"
Blaine moans louder and his stomach pitches.
"If he threw up on you right now, you'd deserve it," Blaine hears Burt say from the foot of the bed.
"What?" Kurt demands. "Greasy foods help hangovers. I know. I asked the people on Yahoo Answers what I could do to help."
Blaine smiles a little as he pulls the cloth off his face and tries not to wince at the light.
"Geez kid," Burt comments, looking at him worriedly. "It's still that bad? You really did a lot of damage last night. Kurt should have taken you to get your stomach pumped instead of bringing you back here."
"I feel better now," Blaine protests, a little weakly. He glances at the alarm clock. It's one in the afternoon.
"Shit," he says, trying to get to his feet. "I need to go home."
"Wait!" Kurt says, reaching out to keep him put. He sounds a little scared. "You're not in good enough shape to go anywhere yet. Just call and let him know you're okay."
"He doesn't care if I'm okay," Blaine says, because he figures Burt knows about the volatile side of his relationship with his father by now. "Besides, my phone died last night."
"You know, phones did exist before someone invented the iPhone," Burt comments dryly, although he still looks a little worried. "Do you want me to give him a call for you?"
Blaine shakes his head. Tom is going to be livid no matter when Blaine speaks to him. He may as well delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Burt is still looking at him with the same intense, worried stare. It makes Blaine nervous.
"Sorry about all the trouble I caused this morning," he says, sitting up and glancing down at his hands.
"Blaine," Burt is blunt and to the point. "Finn and Kurt were telling me what you were saying at the party last night. And Kurt still hasn't told me what you two talked about afterward, but he was pretty shook up about it, and much as I would like to be wrong, based on everything else that I've heard I've got a pretty good idea what I'm not being told. Are all the things you were saying about your home life true?"
Blaine nods because he's pretty sure Burt will be able to see through a lie anyhow. If he admits to just enough, maybe he won't have to tell them everything. Burt is silent for a moment, apparently lost in thought about something. It's making Blaine tense. He has no idea what is going to happen next, but Kurt reaches over and grabs onto his hand, and that helps.
Burt makes an angry noise.
"Right," he says. "We're going to report your dad to CPS."
"What?" Blaine says, alarmed. "No! You can't do that, please don't do that. There are things - it's complicated but they won't let me stay with him. They'll put me in foster care or something and I can't do that, I can't."
Blaine feels like he's trapped in a nightmare, because maybe Tom is right and maybe there is no way for things to get better for him. Kurt's family are the most trustworthy people he knows, and they actually think what they're suggesting would be an improvement. Kurt starts telling Blaine to calm down, that "everything will be okay," and "just trust us," but Blaine looks Burt squarely in the eye.
"If you talk to CPS or the cops or anyone, we'll be gone before they get here. I'll let my dad know and we'll just leave. I won't let anyone force me into the system. I can't live like that."
Suddenly Burt nods to himself, like he's just come to a decision.
"I was talking to Carole about this at lunch," he says. "We're both in agreement that you shouldn't be going back there, and Kurt seemed to think you might react this way about CPS. Even if you won't report your father, it's not safe or right for you to live with him. We'd like you to stay with us instead."
"What?" The room is suddenly spinning again. Blaine can't get his bearings. "Just like that?"
"You're 16, right?" Burt says, like it's the simplest thing in the world. "Legally you're allowed to be on your own, but you're still too young to fend for yourself, and you're just a kid. You need a family. Right now you're not getting what you need and this seems like the best solution for everyone."
"But my dad," Blaine begins, and Kurt interrupts.
"Your dad needs help, Blaine," he says. "I understand that you love him and you don't want to abandon him, but the way things are right now isn't helping the problem. It sounds it's only making everything worse. Maybe losing you could be what finally convinces him that he needs to change. A good father protects his kids, he doesn't hurt them."
Blaine sits completely still in the bed, blinking rapidly as he tries to hold back tears.
"You don't know me," is what he finally says. "Other people have tried to be my family before you and it hasn't worked. I'm not saying you aren't serious about what you're offering, but Tom - my dad - is the only person who can deal with me. No one else has been able to stick it out."
"I don't know you, you're right," Burt says. He points to Kurt. "But that kid right there? I know him, and I trust him. He says you are more than worth the risk, and I believe what he tells me. You're not a lost cause, Blaine. You're a kid who's had a very hard life and who deserves a better one."
"I can't just leave him," Blaine says, and he can't, right? Blaine has always stayed with Tom because no one else ever wanted him. Hearing Kurt's family tell him the opposite is as confusing as hearing someone speaking to him in ancient Sumerian.
"This doesn't have to be your life anymore, Blaine," Kurt says. "You deserve more than this."
"I..." Blaine has no idea what he should say, what decision he should be making. Finally he says, "Can I think about it first? Can I let you know later, in a couple days maybe?"
"It's a lot for you to take in," Burt says. "I get that. You take the time you need. But if you decide to say no, don't think that you can never take us up on it further down the road. The offer is always on the table, okay?"
Blaine nods, and Kurt starts herding him out of the bed and slowly leading him to the kitchen, muttering about getting some food and a few more glasses of water into him. He starts to let himself wonder what it would be like if this place ever became his home.
***
He doesn't leave Kurt's house until almost seven o'clock that evening. They spend a lot of time catching up, even though not much has really happened to either of them in the short time Blaine stopped talking to him. The few things he told Kurt the night before about the sex hasn't really come up again at all, aside from a few moments when Kurt will interrupt whatever it is they're talking about to say things like, "None of it was your fault. You know that, right?"
They don't talk much about what they both said about their feelings for each other either, but Blaine guesses that maybe they're letting on more about that than they'd like, when Finn walks past them at one point and finally rolls his eyes, saying,
"You two sure blush a whole lot for people who aren't doing anything even a little fun."
Still, it's a pretty good afternoon, and even though Blaine's more hung over than he's been in a very long time, it's easily one of the best days he can ever remember having. He knows he's said he needs some time to think about the offer that's been extended to him, and Blaine will think about it before he answers, but he pretty certain he's going to say yes.
Tom has always said that legally he doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to keeping Blaine. It's the reason he's always been so careful to make sure Blaine stays out of the spotlight. If they were caught it would mean nothing but trouble for both of them, but now Tom seems to care so little for him, Blaine honestly wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't be glad to see him go, and now that foster care isn't Blaine's only option, there doesn't seem to be any downside to leaving.
"Promise you'll call me tonight when you're back home," Kurt says, as he walks outside with Blaine onto the front porch.
"I promise," Blaine says, rolling his eyes a little, because at this point it really does seem like Kurt is worrying about nothing. It doesn't matter how angry Tom is when he gets back, knowing that this will be one of the last times he ever has to deal with him.
"Kurt?" He says, he feels a little nervous, but he's been thinking about this a lot today, and everything has been going so well, it would seem stupid not to try. "Thank you again. For everything you've done for me. I never thought any of this could ever get better for me. I can't begin to explain how much it means."
"I just want you to be happy and safe, Blaine," Kurt says. "It's not right that you've been forced to live the way you have been."
Blaine pulls him in for a hug and it's such a foreign thing to be the one initiating contact that Blaine almost doesn't know how to go about it. Kurt doesn't hesitate though and hugs him back, hard, easing away any of the awkwardness Blaine is feeling. Kurt is starting to pull away when Blaine stops him, keeping them close together.
"Um," he says. "Sorry. I just..."
He trails off and puts a hand on Kurt's face, which has gone a little red, but Blaine's pretty sure not in a bad way.
"Can I?" He asks uncertainly, not really sure how people go about these sorts of things, but figuring Kurt probably doesn't know that much either, so he really has nothing to lose. Kurt nods his head just a fraction and Blaine leans in, their lips brushing against each other.
It's amazing, and Blaine has to take back what he had thought seconds earlier about Kurt not knowing what he was doing, because Kurt? Is an amazing kisser. He's not too forceful or too passive, he buries his hands in Blaine's hair in a way that is the most amazing thing Blaine has ever felt. He doesn't feel sick or used or dirty. He's just happy.
When they finally pull away, Kurt is beaming too.
"If you do that in front of my dad he's going to make you stay in Finn's room," He says, a little breathlessly. Blaine just smiles at him.
"I always wanted to know what it would feel like to do that for real," he says.
For a moment he's sure he's destroyed the mood, because sadness clouds Kurt's eyes again and he looks like Blaine has been kicking little puppies in front of him, but then a look of determination settles across his features and he pulls Blaine back in for another kiss, shorter this time.
"Call me when you've decided to tell Tom," he says, firmly. "I'll help you pack up your things. We can use the Navigator."
"I will," Blaine promises. At this point, there's no reason for either of them to pretend that he hasn't already made his decision.
***
Blaine knows Tom will be mad when he gets in. After all, Blaine has blatantly disobeyed one of Tom's orders and then effectively severed their only means of communication with each other by not bothering to call after his phone dies. Still, nothing prepares him for what's waiting when he unlocks the door to their rental.
The house is in total disarray; books and articles of clothing are scattered everywhere, and when Blaine looks into the kitchen almost every single piece of dinnerware is lying on the floor in pieces. He hears a door slam from another part of the house and suddenly Tom is there, not saying a word, just staring at Blaine like he'd like to break him in half.
"Dad?" He asks. "It something wrong?"
"You ungrateful little shit," Tom seethes, and suddenly he's grabbing Blaine by the hair and throwing him face first into the wall. "I've given my life to you and this is how you decide to repay me?"
"I'm sorry," Blaine says instantly, because when his dad gets like this, the easiest way to fix things is to start apologizing incessantly and hope that eventually one of them gets through the blinding rage Tom has fallen into. Blaine is yanked back and thrown onto the ground.
"What is wrong with you?" Tom screams, kicking Blaine in the side a little for good measure. "For over 24 hours I've been trying to reach you. 24 hours, Blaine!"
"I'm sorry," Blaine repeats, digging around in his pockets and weakly holding up his phone as proof. "It died and I couldn't charge it again. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"I'm sick of you and your excuses," Tom says. "I swear to god, it's like you're trying to get me in trouble."
"I'm sorry about the phone," Blaine says again, but Tom cuts him off.
"Forget the fucking phone," he says, ripping the phone out of Blaine's hand and throwing it against the wall as hard as he can. It shatters into pieces. "Have you been going to Westerville?"
"What?" Blaine says, because this has come out of nowhere. "Why?"
"Answer the fucking question!" Tom shouts.
"Why do you care about where I go?" Blaine knows it's stupid to keep Tom waiting, but for the life of him he can't figure out why Tom suddenly cares about Blaine's activities when ever since he gave Blaine his name back almost a year and a half ago, he's cared less and less about what Blaine does and with who.
"Did you think I wouldn't find out what you were doing?" Tom asks, picking up the first thing he sets his hand on - a textbook of Blaine's - and throwing it right at Blaine, who barely has time to shelter his head with his arms. "Where you were going? I saw one of the pamphlets for the snobby rich school fall right out of your book bag, Blaine. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
"I'm sorry!" Blaine says, shouting a little to be heard over the tirade. "Yes, I went to Westerville, okay? A friend started going to school there and I went a few times to visit. I didn't know that I was doing something wrong. What's so bad about Westerville?"
"I shouldn't have to fucking tell you to stay away from that town, Blaine," Tom says.
He grabs Blaine by the collar and drags him down the hallway. Blaine tries to stand, but Tom moves too fast to get his feet back under him. He can't breathe and his head has switched back from a dull ache to an angry roar.
The door to his bedroom opens and Tom shoves him inside.
"Start packing," he barks. "We're leaving Ohio."
"What?" Blaine says, his heart lurching. "No. No, I can't leave Ohio."
"Why the hell not?" Tom snaps. "Are you lying to me about Westerville? You sure there's not someone keeping you there?"
Yes, there is someone at Westerville that's keeping me here, Blaine thinks, but he doesn't say it out loud. He has no idea what's gotten into Tom, but he knows something has scared him, and when that happens he doesn't listen to reason, he just runs.
"I'm not ready to leave yet," he tries. "I need time to pack properly, and we can't just break our lease. Where are we going? Do we have a new place to stay? And what about your job?"
"Really Blaine?" Tom scoffs. "This is the crap you're trying to hand me? You're acting like I've never left a job without handing in my notice before."
"I'll need a couple days to pack all our things," Blaine tries again. I need a couple days for you to calm down enough so you'll listen when I tell you I'm going to stay in Lima. I need time to run if you're not going to let me.
He's not prepared for the blow to his face when it comes, and Blaine's head snaps back as the pain flares all over.
"I've had it with your excuses," Tom says, and his voice has suddenly gotten very calm and level. "I've put everything we need in the car. Anything I've forgotten that's worth taking I'll be back for next weekend. The rest of this shit can stay where we've left it. You have 10 minutes, Blaine. I want to see you packed and ready - waiting for me in that car. If you aren't there, I will break your neck."
The scariest thing is Blaine absolutely believes him.
To Masterpost
A/N: Fair warning: This is the last part of the story that follows the plot to season two. This next section only works if I break away from the show at some point and start following the true story I'm basing it on a little more closely and it will likely get very dark. It may take me a little longer to get the next and (likely) final part posted as a result, but bear with me a little bit and I promise it will be up soon.
Author: firefly_ca
Pairing,Character(s): Kurt/Blaine, with eventual appearances from pretty much everyone
Rating: NC-17 for disturbing themes, scenes, etc.
Word Count: Part four is 18K. Um, new record?
Spoilers: All of S2
Summary: AU. Blaine Anderson hasn't been Blaine Anderson for 8 years. He doesn't remember much about his old family and his life before he moved in with the man he calls his father. Together they move from town to town, always drifting before Blaine can get too familiar with his surroundings. Then one day they end up in Lima, Ohio, and Blaine finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew.
Blaine isn't sure what happens after he falls asleep outside of Kurt's car. At least, he thinks that's what happened. He honestly has no memories in between closing his eyes to the sounds of Johnny Cash and flailing awake in Kurt's bed seemingly minutes later.
"Where am I?" He mumbles, because he recognises some of the stuff in the room as belonging to Kurt, but this is not Kurt's room which is in a basement except it isn't anymore and, oh yeah, Kurt moved didn't he?
"Oh, sorry," says a voice, also familiar. "My bad."
Blaine gets his bearings just in time to see Kurt's dad backing his way out the door, looking bewildered and slightly panicky. Kurt is sitting in front of a mirror doing some sort of weird skin ritual to his face. Blaine feels like there is a death metal concert happening inside his head, his skull pounding so hard it might be vibrating. He lets out another whimpering groan as the room starts to spin.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Kurt is saying, rushing over to from his chair to help Blaine sit properly and stick a garbage can under his nose. This was a wise move, Blaine decides as his stomach heaves violently and he begins to retch up whatever food made its way into his stomach the night before.
"Oh my god, Blaine," Kurt says, making a face but not pulling away from where he is sitting, gently rubbing Blaine's back. "It smells like you walked into a distillery and drank it. There are better ways to cope with your problems. Next time just talk to me first, okay? Let me help you."
"You helped last night," Blaine mutters, gasping in air as soon as he has the chance. Kurt just rubs his back again and moves the trash can away, pausing a moment to grab a box of Kleenex so Blaine can wipe his mouth.
There's a knock at the door and Carole is there, entering somewhat cautiously.
"Sorry to interrupt," she says. "But Burt mentioned Blaine was up here and that he...wasn't feeling well. I wanted to see what I could do to help."
"Blaine got pretty upset last night," Kurt starts, but before he can go any further, Blaine grabs at his arm and mutters,
"Please don't say anything. Please Kurt, I can't - I've never told anyone else. No one else knows and I don't want..."
"It's okay Blaine," Kurt hushes, pushing Blaine's hair off his forehead. "Carole just wants to make sure you're feeling okay. If I don't tell them about the party I'm sure Finn will, but the stuff in the car is just between us, alright? No one needs to know everything right away."
Carole's forehead is creased in concern as she walks over to the curtains and draws them shut, mercifully cutting the glare in the room by half.
"You still look pretty rough sweetheart," She says. "I'm going to get a cold compress for your head, and some pain killers. Kurt? Your father is just outside. He said he wanted to speak with you."
Carole wasn't kidding when she said Burt was "just outside." No sooner had Kurt left the room when Blaine heard Burt's voice saying,
"What happened to just friends, Kurt? Since when do 'just friends' sneak into my son's bedroom late at night and crawl into bed with him?"
"You're overreacting, Dad," Kurt says tersely. "I understand it's a little unexpected to see Blaine here, but one look in that room should be enough to tell you that none of the scenarios going through your head right now are even the slightest bit plausible."
"Kurt," Burt says, and his voice is very strained. "There is a drunk boy sleeping in your bed. Why do you have a drunk boy in your bed? You weren't even out last night!"
"He was out," Comes a third, sleepy voice. "I called him to come to the party. Well, not to the party at Rachel's, but to the second party everyone went to after. Blaine needed a ride."
"A ride?" Burt repeats. "Is my son running a drive-a-drunk taxi service now and no one told me about it? And why didn't you just take him home?"
"Don't be mad, Burt," Finn says. "I have an extra toothbrush from the dentist we can give him, and we didn't know what else to do. We got to the second party and he was scaring the crap out of everyone. He's been acting super weird at school the last few days and last night he was drunk and crying and saying all these awful things."
"What are you talking about?"
"He was talking about his shitty life and his mean dad hating him and how he hates himself too, because he's gay," Finn says, and Blaine winces a little, because it's not the pleasantest thing to hear his breakdown coming from the painfully matter-of-fact Finn. "He started talking about killing himself and we all thought it was dangerous to let him go off alone. Kurt's the best friend Blaine has. If I was feeling that bad about my life, I'd want my best friend to be there with me, so I called Kurt."
"He was talking about suicide?" Burt asks, and his tone more concerned than angry.
"I don't know if he actually meant it," Kurt admits. "But he's really hurting right now, I'm not just going to send him away. You raised me better than that."
"Think he'll be okay?" Burt asks.
"I thought I'd wait to see how he was doing sober before I decided," Kurt says. "He told me some...other things too, after I took him out of the party. It was all very private, but it scared the shit out of me, Dad. I just - I need another chance to talk to him, when he's feeling better. I need to make sure he's going to be okay."
Carole pops back into the room then, her mouth a thin line of displeasure.
"Okay, sweetie," she says, sliding a hand behind Blaine's shoulders and helping him upright, just like Kurt had. She hands him a couple of pills and the biggest glass of water he's ever seen. "I want you to take these and drink this whole glass of water, alright?"
He notices she's brought a fresh garbage pail in with her and she smiles when she sees what he's looking at.
"Small sips," she says. "And you should be fine. There's no point in taking any unnecessary chances though."
Blaine drinks the water slowly and things do get a little iffy at one point, but Carole takes the glass from him and tells him to take a few deep breaths and he manages to finish the rest of it without any more trouble. Carole helps him lie back down and settles a cool cloth over his eyes.
"Lie quiet for now," she instructs. "I'll be back soon with some more water and to see how you're doing."
The room is silent after she leaves. Blaine can faintly hear the sound of voices coming from another part of the house but can't make out what they are saying. Slowly he closes his eyes and drifts back into merciful sleep.
***
The next time Blaine wakes up he's fairly certain that he's at least sober, but he still feels pretty awful. The bed is dipping down as someone lies down next to him and rests a hand on his shoulder.
"Feeling any better?" Kurt's voice asks him softly.
Blaine grunts noncommittally.
"I hope that was a yes," Kurt says mischievously. "Because I thought I'd see if you were up for a little late breakfast. Anything you're in the mood for? Eggs and bacon, maybe? Hash browns?"
Blaine moans louder and his stomach pitches.
"If he threw up on you right now, you'd deserve it," Blaine hears Burt say from the foot of the bed.
"What?" Kurt demands. "Greasy foods help hangovers. I know. I asked the people on Yahoo Answers what I could do to help."
Blaine smiles a little as he pulls the cloth off his face and tries not to wince at the light.
"Geez kid," Burt comments, looking at him worriedly. "It's still that bad? You really did a lot of damage last night. Kurt should have taken you to get your stomach pumped instead of bringing you back here."
"I feel better now," Blaine protests, a little weakly. He glances at the alarm clock. It's one in the afternoon.
"Shit," he says, trying to get to his feet. "I need to go home."
"Wait!" Kurt says, reaching out to keep him put. He sounds a little scared. "You're not in good enough shape to go anywhere yet. Just call and let him know you're okay."
"He doesn't care if I'm okay," Blaine says, because he figures Burt knows about the volatile side of his relationship with his father by now. "Besides, my phone died last night."
"You know, phones did exist before someone invented the iPhone," Burt comments dryly, although he still looks a little worried. "Do you want me to give him a call for you?"
Blaine shakes his head. Tom is going to be livid no matter when Blaine speaks to him. He may as well delay the inevitable for as long as possible. Burt is still looking at him with the same intense, worried stare. It makes Blaine nervous.
"Sorry about all the trouble I caused this morning," he says, sitting up and glancing down at his hands.
"Blaine," Burt is blunt and to the point. "Finn and Kurt were telling me what you were saying at the party last night. And Kurt still hasn't told me what you two talked about afterward, but he was pretty shook up about it, and much as I would like to be wrong, based on everything else that I've heard I've got a pretty good idea what I'm not being told. Are all the things you were saying about your home life true?"
Blaine nods because he's pretty sure Burt will be able to see through a lie anyhow. If he admits to just enough, maybe he won't have to tell them everything. Burt is silent for a moment, apparently lost in thought about something. It's making Blaine tense. He has no idea what is going to happen next, but Kurt reaches over and grabs onto his hand, and that helps.
Burt makes an angry noise.
"Right," he says. "We're going to report your dad to CPS."
"What?" Blaine says, alarmed. "No! You can't do that, please don't do that. There are things - it's complicated but they won't let me stay with him. They'll put me in foster care or something and I can't do that, I can't."
Blaine feels like he's trapped in a nightmare, because maybe Tom is right and maybe there is no way for things to get better for him. Kurt's family are the most trustworthy people he knows, and they actually think what they're suggesting would be an improvement. Kurt starts telling Blaine to calm down, that "everything will be okay," and "just trust us," but Blaine looks Burt squarely in the eye.
"If you talk to CPS or the cops or anyone, we'll be gone before they get here. I'll let my dad know and we'll just leave. I won't let anyone force me into the system. I can't live like that."
Suddenly Burt nods to himself, like he's just come to a decision.
"I was talking to Carole about this at lunch," he says. "We're both in agreement that you shouldn't be going back there, and Kurt seemed to think you might react this way about CPS. Even if you won't report your father, it's not safe or right for you to live with him. We'd like you to stay with us instead."
"What?" The room is suddenly spinning again. Blaine can't get his bearings. "Just like that?"
"You're 16, right?" Burt says, like it's the simplest thing in the world. "Legally you're allowed to be on your own, but you're still too young to fend for yourself, and you're just a kid. You need a family. Right now you're not getting what you need and this seems like the best solution for everyone."
"But my dad," Blaine begins, and Kurt interrupts.
"Your dad needs help, Blaine," he says. "I understand that you love him and you don't want to abandon him, but the way things are right now isn't helping the problem. It sounds it's only making everything worse. Maybe losing you could be what finally convinces him that he needs to change. A good father protects his kids, he doesn't hurt them."
Blaine sits completely still in the bed, blinking rapidly as he tries to hold back tears.
"You don't know me," is what he finally says. "Other people have tried to be my family before you and it hasn't worked. I'm not saying you aren't serious about what you're offering, but Tom - my dad - is the only person who can deal with me. No one else has been able to stick it out."
"I don't know you, you're right," Burt says. He points to Kurt. "But that kid right there? I know him, and I trust him. He says you are more than worth the risk, and I believe what he tells me. You're not a lost cause, Blaine. You're a kid who's had a very hard life and who deserves a better one."
"I can't just leave him," Blaine says, and he can't, right? Blaine has always stayed with Tom because no one else ever wanted him. Hearing Kurt's family tell him the opposite is as confusing as hearing someone speaking to him in ancient Sumerian.
"This doesn't have to be your life anymore, Blaine," Kurt says. "You deserve more than this."
"I..." Blaine has no idea what he should say, what decision he should be making. Finally he says, "Can I think about it first? Can I let you know later, in a couple days maybe?"
"It's a lot for you to take in," Burt says. "I get that. You take the time you need. But if you decide to say no, don't think that you can never take us up on it further down the road. The offer is always on the table, okay?"
Blaine nods, and Kurt starts herding him out of the bed and slowly leading him to the kitchen, muttering about getting some food and a few more glasses of water into him. He starts to let himself wonder what it would be like if this place ever became his home.
***
He doesn't leave Kurt's house until almost seven o'clock that evening. They spend a lot of time catching up, even though not much has really happened to either of them in the short time Blaine stopped talking to him. The few things he told Kurt the night before about the sex hasn't really come up again at all, aside from a few moments when Kurt will interrupt whatever it is they're talking about to say things like, "None of it was your fault. You know that, right?"
They don't talk much about what they both said about their feelings for each other either, but Blaine guesses that maybe they're letting on more about that than they'd like, when Finn walks past them at one point and finally rolls his eyes, saying,
"You two sure blush a whole lot for people who aren't doing anything even a little fun."
Still, it's a pretty good afternoon, and even though Blaine's more hung over than he's been in a very long time, it's easily one of the best days he can ever remember having. He knows he's said he needs some time to think about the offer that's been extended to him, and Blaine will think about it before he answers, but he pretty certain he's going to say yes.
Tom has always said that legally he doesn't have a leg to stand on when it comes to keeping Blaine. It's the reason he's always been so careful to make sure Blaine stays out of the spotlight. If they were caught it would mean nothing but trouble for both of them, but now Tom seems to care so little for him, Blaine honestly wouldn't be surprised if he wouldn't be glad to see him go, and now that foster care isn't Blaine's only option, there doesn't seem to be any downside to leaving.
"Promise you'll call me tonight when you're back home," Kurt says, as he walks outside with Blaine onto the front porch.
"I promise," Blaine says, rolling his eyes a little, because at this point it really does seem like Kurt is worrying about nothing. It doesn't matter how angry Tom is when he gets back, knowing that this will be one of the last times he ever has to deal with him.
"Kurt?" He says, he feels a little nervous, but he's been thinking about this a lot today, and everything has been going so well, it would seem stupid not to try. "Thank you again. For everything you've done for me. I never thought any of this could ever get better for me. I can't begin to explain how much it means."
"I just want you to be happy and safe, Blaine," Kurt says. "It's not right that you've been forced to live the way you have been."
Blaine pulls him in for a hug and it's such a foreign thing to be the one initiating contact that Blaine almost doesn't know how to go about it. Kurt doesn't hesitate though and hugs him back, hard, easing away any of the awkwardness Blaine is feeling. Kurt is starting to pull away when Blaine stops him, keeping them close together.
"Um," he says. "Sorry. I just..."
He trails off and puts a hand on Kurt's face, which has gone a little red, but Blaine's pretty sure not in a bad way.
"Can I?" He asks uncertainly, not really sure how people go about these sorts of things, but figuring Kurt probably doesn't know that much either, so he really has nothing to lose. Kurt nods his head just a fraction and Blaine leans in, their lips brushing against each other.
It's amazing, and Blaine has to take back what he had thought seconds earlier about Kurt not knowing what he was doing, because Kurt? Is an amazing kisser. He's not too forceful or too passive, he buries his hands in Blaine's hair in a way that is the most amazing thing Blaine has ever felt. He doesn't feel sick or used or dirty. He's just happy.
When they finally pull away, Kurt is beaming too.
"If you do that in front of my dad he's going to make you stay in Finn's room," He says, a little breathlessly. Blaine just smiles at him.
"I always wanted to know what it would feel like to do that for real," he says.
For a moment he's sure he's destroyed the mood, because sadness clouds Kurt's eyes again and he looks like Blaine has been kicking little puppies in front of him, but then a look of determination settles across his features and he pulls Blaine back in for another kiss, shorter this time.
"Call me when you've decided to tell Tom," he says, firmly. "I'll help you pack up your things. We can use the Navigator."
"I will," Blaine promises. At this point, there's no reason for either of them to pretend that he hasn't already made his decision.
***
Blaine knows Tom will be mad when he gets in. After all, Blaine has blatantly disobeyed one of Tom's orders and then effectively severed their only means of communication with each other by not bothering to call after his phone dies. Still, nothing prepares him for what's waiting when he unlocks the door to their rental.
The house is in total disarray; books and articles of clothing are scattered everywhere, and when Blaine looks into the kitchen almost every single piece of dinnerware is lying on the floor in pieces. He hears a door slam from another part of the house and suddenly Tom is there, not saying a word, just staring at Blaine like he'd like to break him in half.
"Dad?" He asks. "It something wrong?"
"You ungrateful little shit," Tom seethes, and suddenly he's grabbing Blaine by the hair and throwing him face first into the wall. "I've given my life to you and this is how you decide to repay me?"
"I'm sorry," Blaine says instantly, because when his dad gets like this, the easiest way to fix things is to start apologizing incessantly and hope that eventually one of them gets through the blinding rage Tom has fallen into. Blaine is yanked back and thrown onto the ground.
"What is wrong with you?" Tom screams, kicking Blaine in the side a little for good measure. "For over 24 hours I've been trying to reach you. 24 hours, Blaine!"
"I'm sorry," Blaine repeats, digging around in his pockets and weakly holding up his phone as proof. "It died and I couldn't charge it again. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I didn't know."
"I'm sick of you and your excuses," Tom says. "I swear to god, it's like you're trying to get me in trouble."
"I'm sorry about the phone," Blaine says again, but Tom cuts him off.
"Forget the fucking phone," he says, ripping the phone out of Blaine's hand and throwing it against the wall as hard as he can. It shatters into pieces. "Have you been going to Westerville?"
"What?" Blaine says, because this has come out of nowhere. "Why?"
"Answer the fucking question!" Tom shouts.
"Why do you care about where I go?" Blaine knows it's stupid to keep Tom waiting, but for the life of him he can't figure out why Tom suddenly cares about Blaine's activities when ever since he gave Blaine his name back almost a year and a half ago, he's cared less and less about what Blaine does and with who.
"Did you think I wouldn't find out what you were doing?" Tom asks, picking up the first thing he sets his hand on - a textbook of Blaine's - and throwing it right at Blaine, who barely has time to shelter his head with his arms. "Where you were going? I saw one of the pamphlets for the snobby rich school fall right out of your book bag, Blaine. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about."
"I'm sorry!" Blaine says, shouting a little to be heard over the tirade. "Yes, I went to Westerville, okay? A friend started going to school there and I went a few times to visit. I didn't know that I was doing something wrong. What's so bad about Westerville?"
"I shouldn't have to fucking tell you to stay away from that town, Blaine," Tom says.
He grabs Blaine by the collar and drags him down the hallway. Blaine tries to stand, but Tom moves too fast to get his feet back under him. He can't breathe and his head has switched back from a dull ache to an angry roar.
The door to his bedroom opens and Tom shoves him inside.
"Start packing," he barks. "We're leaving Ohio."
"What?" Blaine says, his heart lurching. "No. No, I can't leave Ohio."
"Why the hell not?" Tom snaps. "Are you lying to me about Westerville? You sure there's not someone keeping you there?"
Yes, there is someone at Westerville that's keeping me here, Blaine thinks, but he doesn't say it out loud. He has no idea what's gotten into Tom, but he knows something has scared him, and when that happens he doesn't listen to reason, he just runs.
"I'm not ready to leave yet," he tries. "I need time to pack properly, and we can't just break our lease. Where are we going? Do we have a new place to stay? And what about your job?"
"Really Blaine?" Tom scoffs. "This is the crap you're trying to hand me? You're acting like I've never left a job without handing in my notice before."
"I'll need a couple days to pack all our things," Blaine tries again. I need a couple days for you to calm down enough so you'll listen when I tell you I'm going to stay in Lima. I need time to run if you're not going to let me.
He's not prepared for the blow to his face when it comes, and Blaine's head snaps back as the pain flares all over.
"I've had it with your excuses," Tom says, and his voice has suddenly gotten very calm and level. "I've put everything we need in the car. Anything I've forgotten that's worth taking I'll be back for next weekend. The rest of this shit can stay where we've left it. You have 10 minutes, Blaine. I want to see you packed and ready - waiting for me in that car. If you aren't there, I will break your neck."
The scariest thing is Blaine absolutely believes him.
To Masterpost
A/N: Fair warning: This is the last part of the story that follows the plot to season two. This next section only works if I break away from the show at some point and start following the true story I'm basing it on a little more closely and it will likely get very dark. It may take me a little longer to get the next and (likely) final part posted as a result, but bear with me a little bit and I promise it will be up soon.