Like Shooting Stars (4/4)
Click to viewMake It Through The Night
"The usual?"
Blaine looks to the bartender and nods, then turns back to the dance floor, scanning it for the one familiar face he's hoping to finally spot. It's been a few weeks and he's finding it hard to come up with excuses for why he's there. For all he knows, there's no hope that Kurt would be back, there's a good chance that by doing what they've done that night -- by breaking his rules and bringing Kurt home -- Blaine has ruined any chance he had at something more with Kurt.
It had taken Blaine about an hour after he woke up that morning and found Kurt gone, with no note, no explanation, only a rumpled side of the bed, to realize that it wasn't at all what he wanted. He was not the type to have one night stands, and he's since endured a lot of teasing from Sebastian about that.
"Give it up, Anderson," Seb says, coming over to him just as Blaine is reaching for his drink, "boy's not going to show up."
"I fucked up," Blaine's shoulders slump, "I shouldn't have…"
"Stop it," Sebastian pins him with a stern look, "you two had a spark going from that first night on. I'm surprised you managed as long as you did to not jump each other's bones. It was fun, you both went for what you wanted, and no one was forced to do anything."
"But…"
"Blaine, come on, not everything is a fairy tale."
"I just…"
"Though, you never know, this one might be," Sebastian says with a smirk.
Blaine's eyes shoot up from the drops of water condensing on the glass in his hands, and the confusion is clear in his face.
"Your pretty boy is here," Sebastian nods towards the other side of the bar and Blaine freezes when he follows his gaze.
"I'm not drinking, Santana," Kurt growls when she tries to hand him a shot glass with what he's pretty sure is tequila again, "we both know how well that went the last time."
"How was it a bad thing that you got laid?"
"It's not what I do, and you know that, San," Kurt sighs, "I don't…"
"Kurt?" Santana shoots him a curious look when he stops talking and gasps.
"Blaine…" he breathes out, "Blaine is here."
"Again, I do not understand how that's a bad thing," Santana says, "you like him, don't you?"
"And that's exactly why it's a problem, San," Kurt rolls his eyes, "the last thing I need tonight is to watch him with someone else."
"Oh, you've got it bad, Hummel."
Instead of replying, Kurt grabs the shot glass and lets the liquid burn a trail down his throat. It doesn't calm him as much as he would like to, but it gets him to tear his eyes away from the side of the bar where Blaine is perched on a stool. Kurt sees him watching the dance floor and shudders.
He's probably looking for someone new, Kurt thinks bitterly, I wonder…
"Kurt," Santana nudges him, "Go and talk to him."
"Why, San?" he snaps at her, "I'm not going to beg for more."
"What if he wants more?"
"Of course he does," Kurt rolls his eyes again.
"Weren't you the one who left?" Santana glares at Kurt and says, "How do you know that's all he wanted when you were the one sneaking away in the morning?"
Kurt deflates at that because he knows she has a point.
"Would you run away again if there was a next time?" she asks with an unfamiliarly caring tone in her voice.
"No," Kurt shakes his head, eyes fixed on the shiny surface of the bar counter, his fingers fiddling with a coaster, "what's the point in thinking about that, though?"
"Dance with me."
The whisper in Kurt's ear isn't Santana. It's familiar, and it sends a shiver down his spine as the words register. There's a tug on his hand and he gives in, wondering why he's not hearing anything from Santana for a change, when normally she's all keen to heckle.
"Just dance," Blaine leans in to say as quietly as he can to be heard over the music, "No promises, no expectations, Kurt. Well, maybe besides one."
"And what is that one expectation?" Kurt asks, holding his breath for a moment.
"Can I get your number this time?" Blaine's voice is hesitant, "You don't have to, of course, but I would really… I don't… I didn't want you to leave that night."
It's not over tonight / Just give me one more chance to make it right
Kurt stops when they reach an empty spot on the dance floor and looks at Blaine, whose face betrays his nervousness even though he's trying to act confident.
"I'm sorry I left," Kurt admits, "I don't… I wasn't looking for a one night stand then, or ever."
"It doesn't have to be," Blaine wraps his arms around Kurt's waist and pulls him closer, "we can just call it a shaky start?"
There's a tone of hesitation in Blaine's voice that Kurt picks up on and responds to by wrapping his arms around Blaine's shoulders, leaning into the hug more.
"I'd like that," he says loudly enough to be heard over the music, "Dance now, talk later?"
Blaine nods and immediately relaxes into the moves and the beat of the music. It's as easy and natural as it was before; they match their rhythm easily to the one of the song, and Kurt sings along with the song until he realizes that he's not the only one.
"So you can sing, I wasn't imagining it." he says to Blaine with a shocked tone, the hazy memory of Blaine whisper-singing into his ear suddenly clear in his mind.
"I guess," Blaine responds with a shrug, "The lyrics to this one fit; I couldn't help it."
"Well, we've got a problem, then," Kurt smirks, and Blaine stares at him with a confused look, "Won't go home without you?"
"Yeah, sorry, that was a little presumptuous of me, I shouldn't have…" Blaine babbles, cheeks turning bright red.
"That's not what I mean," Kurt laughs, "you're cute when you're flustered, though."
"What did you mean, then?"
"Speaking of presumption," Kurt hesitates for a moment, but then continues, "Whose place are we going to go to then, since we were both singing along to that part?"
***
Blaine blushes furiously and ducks his head, leaning his forehead against Kurt's shoulder. Only moments later, he feels Kurt shaking and looks up, yet again confused by what's going on. He's met with the sight of Kurt full-out laughing, and Blaine can't help but join in.
Once they manage to take a break, Blaine lifts a hand to Kurt's cheek and brushes over the soft skin.
"How about we'll see how the evening goes?" he suggests hesitantly, "We don't have to... but…" he takes a shaky breath, "Could I…? I'd really like to kiss you, would that…?"
He doesn't get a chance to finish the question because Kurt leans in and kisses him, at first slowly, like he's trying to remember that night when he was too drunk to properly appreciate the taste of Blaine's lips. Moments later the kiss grows more heated though, and they both forget for a moment that they're on the dance floor in a crowded club.
"Please at least exchange phone numbers this time," Kurt hears Santana's remark through the noise of the blood rushing through his ears, "I don't want to watch you moping for weeks again."
"Better than being dragged here night after night," Blaine registers Sebastian's voice responding to Kurt's friend.
Blaine pulls away to shoot a glare at Seb.
"Like you protested much, getting hit on every night," Blaine says, rolling his eyes.
"Boy's got a point," Sebastian shrugs, "Are you two going to dance, or just make out? I mean, the show is good, but…"
"Shut up, Seb," Blaine's cheeks turn red again, "Dance or a drink?" he asks when he looks back to Kurt.
"Drink," Kurt replies with resignation in his voice, "Santana may have found a new best friend and I think I'll need to be drunk for that."
"I'd rather neither of us was," Blaine frowns, remembering the last time they met, "but you might have a point there."
***
Kurt slides his hand into Blaine's and his eyes search for approval before he tugs on the hand he's holding and pulls Blaine towards the bar.
"Before we get drunk," Blaine says as they make their way out of the crowd, "Can I get your phone number?"
"You're…" Kurt turns to him and sees the fear in Blaine's eyes, "you're still afraid I'll disappear again, aren't you?"
Blaine nods and Kurt is hit with an urge to find a time-machine. Instead, he holds a hand out for Blaine's phone and quickly types his number in, then sends himself a message.
"Now I have yours too," says with a smile.
"Not that I was going to retaliate or anything," Blaine smirks, clearly relieved.
"How about we toast now? To new beginnings," Kurt laces his fingers with Blaine's and pulls him closer, saying, "I'd also really like to continue kissing you, if that's OK?"
Blaine nods and instead of waiting until after the drink, he leans in to whisper into Kurt's ear, suddenly bold and feeling flirty.
"We should kiss to new beginnings instead," he says with a smile and a soft peck on Kurt's cheek.
"I like your thinking," Kurt responds, and they forget everything about their surroundings again as their lips meet.