Glee Fic : Dreaming of You | Kurt/Blaine | PG-13 | Klaine Big Bang fic
<< Part 2
"A guy from the Bureau came before we moved," Blaine started that night. "He told Mom and Dad that it was because of what I did, they wanted to make sure that mentally I was OK. But when he was asking me about Limbo I just... I got this idea that he wasn't just asking me about what I did.
"In the end I think he got fed up of my half answers and so he asked me if there was anyone constant in my Limbo. He was a Picture-Emotion so I had no chance of hiding anything from him, and he just... He made sense, the way he talked about constructs and the way Limbo works. And he said 'even if this boy is real, how will he ever be real to you?' which made more sense than I wanted to admit.
"Up until today, until that moment you walked into the choir room, I honestly believed that even if you were real I'd never get to meet you. And he knew exactly how to do it, how to get me to think that you were unobtainable."
"It makes sense," Kurt said after a while. "I don't blame you."
"I'm sorry, I really am, I shouldn't have given up-"
"Don't." Kurt silenced him with a kiss and they lay for a moment, side by side. "It was the right thing to do."
"Really?"
"Really. Dad was right, I kept thinking about you and dreaming about you and I just..." He stopped and took a breath, trying to get his thoughts into place. "I don't know if I could have dreamt with you every night and never met you."
"Well, now we have both," Blaine grinned. "I-- What are you going to say in school?"
"What?"
"I just started there. Are we going to leap straight in to this relationship?"
"I-" Kurt started but then clamped his mouth shut. He thought for a moment before saying, "I don't think we need to do anything. We can just, y'know, be together. Hang out, sit next to each other in classes, that kind of thing. And at some point they'll notice."
"How soon?" Blaine asked. "I mean, are they-?"
"Finn and Brit, they're Emotions so maybe them first? I can speak to Finn, ask him not to say anything. Brit... well, you'll like her. She's... unique."
"Any Pictures?"
"Tina and Santana. Tina might not say anything, but if Santana gets anything then we could be in for a rocky ride." Kurt felt Blaine's emotions shift around him and he quickly put a soothing hand to his cheek. "Hard exterior, but I'm pretty sure there's a heart in there somewhere. Look, the glee club? We're a kind of family. We pull together when we need to and there isn't a single person in that room who's going to make it hard for us."
"And what about the people outside the room?" Blaine asked, instantly reminding Kurt of the jocks and their letterman jackets.
"That's... something we'll figure out."
~~
The Bureau was a large building on the main street in town, just like it was in every major town across the world. Cities would have several, smaller places would have a shared one. They were independent of government and relatively independent in themselves, but they shared as a hub, connecting everyone around the world.
The lobby was spacious, high walls and ceiling, marble floor, ornate desks and well-used chairs providing a waiting area. Burt motioned for Blaine and Kurt to take seats while he walked up to the desk to check them in.
Kurt stared at the floor plan ahead of them, noting the different departments the Lima Bureau covered, as well as a footnote detailing some of the different services available in Cincinnati. Blaine busied himself by looking through some of the leaflets, detailing signs of emerging Skills, and training courses available to help you manage them.
"What if they lock us up?" Kurt asked quietly.
"What?"
"What if they decide we're freaks, too dangerous to be out there? They could drug us, lock us up, do anything."
"Kurt-"
"What if they can't help us?"
"Kurt-"
"What if this is so new they have no idea what's going on? We could be studied, dissected. They could cut open our brains and-"
"We've not had to do that in years," announced an authoritative voice, making them both jump. "And anyway, as Skills don't develop at an identifiable genetic level, it was a waste of time. Jared Scott, if you would like to come with me?"
"That was quick," Kurt said as he looked from Jared to his dad.
"We've been expecting you," Jared replied, causing the boys to freeze in their tracks. "Not every day two Dreamers walk into your Bureau," he continued, walking towards the security door. "Usually one is a lifetime event. If we'd known you'd be here today we'd have gotten cake. Ice cream. Doughnuts. Instead we have coffee and day-old cookies, but they are homemade, my wife is a genius in the kitchen. We also have a lot of answers I think you two need. Shall we?"
Finding their feet again, Kurt and Blaine walked towards the door, closely followed by Burt.
The meeting room was cosy, bright walls and lounge chairs and a coffee table filled with magazines and kid's toys. There were no bars on the windows, no lock on the door as far as they could see, but still Blaine could sense Kurt's apprehension rolling off him in waves.
So could Jared apparently.
"Let me be clear on a few things," he began. "You are not under arrest, you are not in any trouble. There will be no detention, no experiments, no restrictions. You are not going to be studied or analysed or have anything done to you without your consent. You are free to leave at any time and we will not chase after you or your families, OK?"
Kurt managed a nod and the tension lessened a little.
"First things first. You are both Dreamers, but you already knew that," Jared said, looking at Blaine. "And you know a bit about the history?"
"They died out," Blaine said. "Or went into hiding."
"Hiding, mostly," Jared said. "When the Skill developed it... unnerved a lot of people. Limbo is us at our most vulnerable and the idea that someone could push their way in? The major governments agreed that it was a Skill that could be abused unless managed properly. They'd put programs in place when then Projector Skill manifested, so preparations were made for the Dreamers.
"Except people were a little less willing to accept someone who could just 'break into' their minds seemingly at will."
"They were persecuted," Kurt said quietly. "I'll be persecuted. I'm gay and a Dreamer and it's like there's a target painted on my back."
"Things are changing, Kurt," Jared said. "I remember a time when no one would have said they were gay for fear of reprisal. And while yes, it still happens, you're a lot safer now than you were fifty years ago. And Dreamers are heading in the same direction."
"How?" Kurt asked. "I mean, fifty years ago we knew there were gay people about. But no one knows about Dreamers."
"Right now Dreamers account for one in about every ten thousand people in the States. For some reason Australia has a higher rate, about one in every four thousand, but personally I think that's because they have stronger links with their indigenous heritage. And the numbers are only increasing.
"There are plans in place for people like you, and I'm certain that within your lifetime you will see a change in the world as we know it."
"But what about until then?" Blaine asked.
"We have special training courses, run here at the Bureau, for Dreamers like you. There are more like you than you'd think, you are very much not alone. I'd like you both to come, learn how to manage this Skill," Jared said. "We'll teach you how to avoid entering others' Limbos, and how to better protect your own." He looked at Kurt pointedly. "Although you could maybe skip that one."
"What? Why?" Kurt asked, sitting up a little straighter in his seat.
"Ever since your dad made that call to the Bureau we suspected we were dealing with Dreamers. So we've been keeping an eye on you, on both of you. Nothing invasive, I promise, but we needed to make sure that you were safe and not crashing around Limbos."
"You had a Dreamer keep an eye on them," Burt said. It was the first time he'd spoken since they'd arrived and his voice was firm, challenging.
"Yes," Jared admitted without hint of remorse. "We needed to be in place in case they ended up in the wrong place, or shaped Limbo into something they couldn't control."
"Wait, what?" Kurt asked.
"But Kurt? He kept us out," Jared continued. "The last night you two had together before Blaine moved up from Georgia? We couldn't get near them. He pushed us back, and we had two highly trained Dreamers on you guys."
"I did what?"
"You're strong, Kurt. High Skill level strong. Bureau level, if you want it."
"I..." Kurt started. The emotions washing over him were palpable and Blaine's hand reached out instinctively for Kurt's.
"Look, I know there's a lot to take in and I get this is a big deal. There really is no rush on this. Get your head around it, talk to your parents, Blaine," Jared added with a knowing look, "and we'll be here when you're ready. The Cincinnati Bureau have sent down their on-staff Dreamer for this, his name's William, lovely kid, and he'll be happy to answer any questions you have, day or night."
Jared passed over small business cards which just had William printed in small letters above a cell phone number. "I'm going to let you guys have a moment, I'll grab us some coffees and we can maybe talk some more?"
"Straight black," Burt ordered. "And thanks."
"No problem," Jared said as he left, closing the door to behind him.
"You OK?" Burt asked his son, who was still staring at the business card in his hand.
"I know my Skill."
"And then some apparently."
"I just... I didn't expect this."
"You OK? You wanna go? 'cause we can, Jared's on the level about that."
"Yeah, I know, Dad, but... I have all these questions about what's going on in my head and this William could answer them. I think I wanna talk to him."
"Me too," Blaine said. "If that's OK?"
"You two are calling the shots here," Burt said, "so whatever you want."
"Can we... can we get a minute?" Kurt ventured.
"Sure. I'll be right outside. Focusing on something else," Burt added before leaving.
"You OK?" Kurt asked when they were alone. "You've gone quiet."
"Just... trying to take it all in," Blaine said. "I never thought about other people's Limbos. It's only ever been you."
Kurt smiled and reached out for Blaine's hand. "He said it could happen, not that it would. And you heard him; I'm strong. I'll keep them out."
"If you're that strong you know you probably won't have a secondary Skill, right?"
"Thought did cross my mind."
"You OK with that? I mean, everyone at school-"
"There's always a couple of kids who don't develop until college," Kurt said. "One more way for me to stand out from the crowd won't make a difference. And so long as no one finds out-"
"So we have to lie to them?"
"I... don't think so. I mean, Jared had no problem telling us in front of Dad, and the way he was in the lobby I don't think it's some cloak-and-dagger secret. But I think maybe it's best if we don't? Beyond our families I mean."
"And there was me thinking being gay was the biggest secret I'd have to keep," Blaine said.
"There's more to this, I can tell."
"I just... What if we do end up in someone else's Limbo?"
"We get out, I suppose. Guess that's what William's going to teach us."
"What if someone does find out?" Blaine asked. "I can pass, people at school already know I'm an Emotion-"
"And I'm the freak who doesn't have a Skill," Kurt lied firmly.
Blaine said nothing. Kurt knew that Blaine would be feeling his unease; the fact he wouldn't meet Blaine's eye only confirmed it. But if Kurt could be strong then so could Blaine. He resolved to work on his Emotion skill, extend it to pick up those moods around him. As soon as someone was suspicious about Kurt then he would know about it.
What followed seemed strangely logical. They went to school, they had Skills lessons at the Bureau learning about walls and control. William taught them that if they focused on one thing as they moved into Limbo then that would shape where they ended up. They created Limbos on whims and shaped them around themselves, practicing their Skill and testing their limits.
William then tested their walls, failing every time to break down Kurt's. He had minor successes with Blaine, but every time Kurt tried he got through. In the end he promised, in the security of their shared Limbo, that he wouldn't push, if he felt the wall there then he wouldn't try.
As arranged Blaine's parents came over for dinner that first night. They were confused to begin with, but Kurt, Blaine and Burt were patient and detailed, explaining everything to the best of their ability. The fact that Kurt had been responsible for saving their son's life went a long way to not only proving it was true but also gaining his mom's support for their relationship. (Blaine's dad just pursed his lips, nodded, and said "whatever makes you happy". They took it as a start.)
School carried on, glee carried on. New Directions breezed through Sectionals and Regionals and New York City loomed on the horizon for Nationals.
And in two nights, everything changed.
The first had been normal enough. Friday night was date night, but due to various and unimportant events they had decided to stay at Kurt's, watch a movie, eat popcorn and curl up on the couch together. Slipping into Limbo together was their way of being together in a way that wouldn't have too many embarrassing consequences for anyone else.
They'd been making out for several minutes when Kurt's hand moved to Blaine's waist. His shirt had ridden up a little and so Kurt was rewarded with the feel of soft, smooth and toned skin under his fingertips.
Which made him stop.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"...Kissing you?" Blaine replied, trying to pick up where he left off.
"You know what I mean. Stop it."
"Stop... kissing you?"
"Blaine."
"I don't know-"
"Yes," Kurt said, his hand pressing firmly on Blaine's stomach, "you do."
"No, I..."
"I saw you at practice today, remember? Your shirt rode up a little, the comments about you showing skin... This doesn't feel like what I saw."
"Kurt-"
"I know we can control this, but I thought we agreed not to?"
"It's just that... I can't."
"Can't what?"
"Please..." Blaine whispered.
"Why are you hiding from me?" Kurt asked. "Do you think I won't like your body? Is that it?"
"No, it's just-"
"Then I don't understand why you would-"
"Because I don't want to," Blaine said forcefully.
Kurt felt like a wave hit him and he woke, with a start, as he tumbled from the couch to the floor. He managed to pull himself to his feet just as Blaine woke up.
"You pushed me out," Kurt said.
"I didn't mean to," Blaine said. "Please, Kurt-"
"You got angry and you pushed me out and I don't understand why. Is this a body thing? Because I don't want to push you, I won't push you, but for what it's worth I think you're beautiful and I love you and-"
"It's not that," Blaine said. "Well, it is and it's not. I... can we go to your room?"
Kurt looked at the movie still playing on the TV and then up at the clock. They had about twenty minutes before anyone would be home and so he nodded.
In silence they walked up the stairs, Kurt's mind racing with all the possibilities of what might happen. He knew Blaine would be feeling his confusion and worry and so he tried to lace it with as much love as he could muster. Whatever this was, whatever was about to happen, clearly it was an issue for Blaine and he wanted his boyfriend to know that he wasn't going anywhere.
"So..." Blaine started as he shut the door behind him. "Today at practice, when my shirt got caught and lifted... Didn't you wonder why Finn stepped in to stop all the comments and catcalling?"
Kurt sat nervously on the edge of the bed before replying, "I just thought it was him shutting Santana down. She's great but when she gets going some of her comments can be quite cutting."
"He said afterwards that he could feel my... my fear just slamming through the room. I'm pretty sure Brit picked up on it too, I don't know how she couldn't have."
"Fear?"
"It's just... I was attacked, Kurt."
"I know that."
"Yeah."
It took Kurt a second to realise what Blaine was getting at and his mouth formed a small 'o' shape.
"It's not bad, I'm not like Frankenstein's monster or anything, it's just..."
"It's fine," Kurt finished when Blaine couldn't. "I get it. I'm sorry."
"No, I am," Blaine said. He dropped to his knees in front of Kurt and rested his hands on Kurt's legs. "I love you, and I'm not trying to hide, but-"
"It's fine," Kurt assured him, taking Blaine's face in his hands. "Whenever you're ready."
"I don't want you to freak out, that's all. There was some pretty major surgery involved." Blaine couldn't help but feel the well of emotions in response to that and he pulled Kurt down into an awkward hug. "I'm OK, I'm fine. No lasting damage, all good as new. Except for the scars."
"For the record I still think you're beautiful," Kurt muttered into Blaine's shoulder.
"I know," he laughed softly, allowing Kurt to pull back. "And one day."
"Whenever," Kurt replied, kissing Blaine gently. Then he sat up sharply. "You pushed me out."
"What?"
"Limbo. You pushed me out."
"I... Yeah, I did."
"Getting stronger," Kurt grinned.
"Bet I still can't keep you out."
"We can try if you want? See how much stronger you are?"
"Not tonight," Blaine said. "I just... not tonight."
"OK."
The second night was a week later. Blaine wasn't in Limbo on the Friday so Kurt fell asleep as normal. Saturday he was busy at the shop and Blaine had family commitments so he counted down the hours until Saturday night. When Blaine didn't show again. On Sunday morning he texted, texted again, then called. He left a voicemail and only had two minutes to be concerned before his phone rang.
"Blaine, I-"
Only it wasn't Blaine.
Jared and William were already at the house by the time Kurt arrived. He followed Blaine's mom quietly up the stairs, taking in all the information that they had.
On Saturday night Blaine had gone to bed and he'd just not woken up on Sunday. As far as they could tell he wasn't asleep, which meant that for whatever reason he was still in Limbo. William had been unable to get in and so, after trying everything else, their only other option was Kurt.
Kurt hadn't seen someone in Limbo before, but it looked like it had always been described to him. They don't look asleep, they just look like they have their eyes closed. There's no peace, no relaxation, just closed eyes and a still body.
He didn't wait to be invited, he just lay on the bed next to Blaine, closed his eyes, focused-
---and pushed.
~~
The school corridor confused Kurt for a moment and he wondered if this was actually Blaine's Limbo he was in. He followed the noises coming from down the hallway and was led into the locker room.
"You freak," someone was saying. "How the hell are you here?"
"You think you can walk around putting people down?" Blaine's voice carried. "Picking on Kurt because he's different?"
"Not different, a freak of nature. Like you. This is my Limbo, how are you here?"
"I-"
"That's got you scared," the voice continued.
As Kurt rounded the corner he saw one of the many jocks whose life it was to make his hell. He remembered on Friday one of them - this one - "accidentally" knocking him into his locker.
"Want me to leave your boyfriend alone? Fine. I will. Because now I'm going to find out how you got in here and then everyone is going to know who's the real freak of McKinley."
And then, without warning, the scene whited out and Kurt found himself stood in the school corridor again, only this time with Blaine beside him.
"Blaine, what's going on?" Kurt asked.
But Blaine ignored him, and walked down the corridor towards the locker room. Kurt followed, calling after him, but Blaine either couldn't hear him or didn't want to respond.
"Leave Kurt alone," Blaine demanded as he entered the locker room.
"What the hell?" the jock responded.
"Leave him alone or I'm going to make things really unpleasant for you."
Around him Kurt could feel the Limbo ripple as if it were trying to change or shift around him, but nothing was happening. He looked over at Blaine who was clearly noticing it too - and he was worried.
"What the hell are you doing here? How the hell are you here?" the jock challenged. "My Limbo, my constructs, and as if I'd let you in here."
"I- It's not supposed to be like this," Blaine said.
"You're telling me," the jock replied.
"No, I'm stronger than this," Blaine muttered, almost to himself. He seemed to concentrate and Kurt felt the ripple again, but this time it was less than before.
"You freak," the jock said. "How the hell are you here?"
"You think you can walk around putting people down?" Blaine challenged again and Kurt realised that this scene was on a loop.
"Blaine," he interrupted, reaching out and grabbing his arm. He didn't respond. "Blaine, can you hear me?"
"Picking on Kurt because he's different?" Blaine continued without disruption.
"OK, this needs to stop," Kurt said and he concentrated himself. Within seconds it had whited out and they were stood in the corridor again. "Oh no," he muttered as Blaine walked away from him. On instinct he pulled and Blaine stopped short in the hallway. "Blaine?"
"I'm sorry," he said, not turning around. "I didn't mean to..."
"You were in his Limbo?"
"Friday night. I couldn't help thinking about him, I know what William said... and he knows, Kurt. He knows I'm wrong and weird and he's going to find out about me."
"Blaine-"
"I can't. I can't go through this again. I can't be at a school where-"
Kurt pulled harder and Blaine stopped. "You're not. We're going to sort this."
"How?" Blaine asked, his shoulders sagging and his head dropping. Kurt could feel Blaine's emotions bouncing off the walls in this Limbo and he knew how devastated he was.
"Because we are," Kurt said forcefully. "But first you need to sleep."
"No," Blaine said, turning around. "If I sleep I'll wake up and if I wake up he'll find me and get me and-"
"You need to sleep," Kurt said, this time feeling around the edges of Limbo.
"No. Don't make me-"
"I have to."
"You can't."
"Blaine-"
"I don't want you here," Blaine said, "leave me alone. You promised you'd never push against my walls and-"
"I'm sorry," Kurt said. He felt Blaine push against him, stronger than he'd been the first time
they'd tried this, but still not strong enough and Kurt wasn't being caught off guard. Blaine was strong but Kurt was stronger and he pulled at the edges of the Limbo Blaine had trapped himself in. "You have to sleep."
"Please-"
"I'm not going anywhere," he said as he felt Blaine push harder and harder against him.
"If I stay here he can't get me," Blaine pleaded. "They have strong Pictures on the team, they'll find out about you. Please, Kurt, I can't-"
"It's going to be fine," Kurt tried to reassure Blaine, but his panic was filling Limbo and giving
him an edge.
"No," Blaine said sharply, and there it was - the strong push that last week had ejected Kurt from their shared Limbo. But this time Kurt was ready and he pushed back. "I'm doing this for you," Blaine pleaded.
"So am I," Kurt replied and he closed the gap between them, sealing his lips over Blaine's.
The kiss distracted Blaine long enough that Kurt was able to pull the final ties on Limbo for Blaine and he slowly drifted into sleep.
And Kurt woke.
~~
The story that Blaine trapped himself in a painful Limbo was enough to placate his parents who were just relieved that he was finally sleeping and would wake naturally when he was ready. Jared, however, eyed Kurt with suspicion as he sensed not everything was as Kurt said. Without any evidence, and not wanting to cause a scene, he left with William, promising to return tomorrow to speak to Blaine.
Kurt knew that he'd have his own conversation in due course.
For now he played the dutiful boyfriend, staying by Blaine's side as he slept. Laptop on knee, Kurt opened a browser and logged into Facebook, grateful that Finn was never one for complicated or difficult-to-guess passwords. The jock he'd seen in the Limbo was on Finn's friends list and several shared groups for the team, so it was easy to find him. Usual posed picture in his uniform for the profile picture, next to the slightly arrogant name of Jason "the crusher" Greggson.
"Thank god for people's incessant need to chronicle their day," Kurt said as he found a wall filled with almost half hourly updates.
Getting coffee!
Hanging with my girls which was attached to a photo of what looked like half the cheerleading squad.
Best dinner ever!
Keeping the tab open Kurt kept himself entertained, browsing fashion websites and catching up on trashy celebrity gossip until the one update he'd been waiting on came.
Time for sleep. See you all in school tomorrow!
Closing the laptop Kurt settled on the bed, closed his eyes, and concentrated.
~~
"First one now the other?" Jason exclaimed as he rounded the lockers. "What is it with you freaks?"
"I don't understand," Kurt replied calmly.
"First your boyfriend, now you in my Limbo? What gives? Do all gays have some secret Skill?"
"If you feel I should be punished," Kurt managed to say, trying to keep his reaction calm.
"...What?"
"Do you want to hurt me? Is that what you want?"
"I want you out of my head, that's what I want."
"I don't understand," Kurt managed to repeat. "I thought you were going to... Isn't that why I'm here?"
Under his skin Kurt felt like there were millions of colonies of fire ants, prickling at him and making him want to scream and claw away at them. But if they were to be safe then he needed to do this. Jason wasn't stupid (despite what stereotypes may hold about football players) and if he suspected that there was something up with Blaine then he would poke and prod until he found out what. And from what Kurt saw in Blaine's mind he couldn't handle that right now.
"Isn't it?" Kurt asked when Jason didn't reply.
"Why are you here?" Jason asked.
"Because you brought me here," Kurt replied, doing his best to look confused.
"No I don't."
"Then why am I here?"
"You're the one in my Limbo. What? I made you? Constructed you? Why would I-- I don't want you here."
So Kurt pushed and he wrapped the Limbo around him. Still here, but Jason couldn't see him.
"I... what?" Jason stammered, trying to process what was going on. "So I can what? Make you come and go at will? Bring you back?"
Kurt pushed again and stood once more by the lockers. "Do you want to hurt me?" he asked.
"This is too weird," Jason sighed.
"Locker slams not enough anymore? You want to do something else? Something permanent?"
"Look, Kurt-" Jason seemed to falter as he tried to make sense of it all in his head. "It's just a few shoves-"
"Today. But this is more than that, isn't it?" Kurt asked, gesturing the locker room. "Why else would you trap me here? What? Going to beat me up? Toss me in the dumpster?"
"No, I-"
"Just get it over with, whatever you're thinking," Kurt said carefully. "Whatever stupid thought is going through your head, whatever idea is sitting there... Just do it."
That seemed to register with Jason and Kurt felt Limbo rock around them. "I'm not that kind of guy, no way. Only way I'm gonna knock someone around or do damage is on the field and I'm always in the rules. Got a clean sheet too."
"I don't understand-"
"It's the team, it's just... Look, I'm sorry."
This was more than Kurt bargained for and so his hesitation was real. "What?"
"I don't wanna be that guy, OK? My dad was that guy, in and out of jail all the time. I'm not him. I don't wanna be him."
"But you-"
"No," Jason said, but this time more to himself.
Kurt felt Limbo ripple around him and realised that Jason was moving it, or coming out of it.
So he woke.
~~
It had taken a lot of coaxing and promises that it was OK for Blaine to come with Kurt to school on Monday. He looked terrified, as if any minute now Jason would come barrelling down the corridor with his teammates, yelling accusations of being freaks at them both.
Finn agreed to stay with them, run interference if need be and that seemed to calm Blaine down a little, but as soon as they rounded the corner and saw Jason waiting by their locker bank, Kurt didn't need to be an Emotion to know what Blaine was feeling.
"It's OK," Finn said. "He's... wow. He's sorry."
"What?" Blaine asked. "No, you're reading him wrong."
"Hey," Jason called out, interrupting them. "Look, I'm not causing hassle," he continued, holding up his hands in surrender. "I just wanna say... I'm sorry, OK? And I know it's not much and I know it probably don't mean anything to you guys, but I am. And it stops now, OK? You have my word. Me and the guys, we'll back off, and the ones who don't we'll keep in line. With a bit of help if that's cool?" he added, looking up at Finn.
"Yeah, sure, been trying to do that for months."
"Yeah, I know, and I'm sorry I've not been supportive It's just... I never thought much about it, you know? Everyone gets a few shoves and that, I didn't think it meant anything."
"So what changed?" Kurt asked.
"Let's just say I had an interesting weekend," Jason replied in what would have been a cryptic manner. "And I'm not going to turn out like my old man."
"Right," Blaine said. "So that's it? No more...?"
"No more," Jason affirmed. "You have my word. Not that it won't mean much to you, but Finn'll back me on this."
"He means it," Finn said. "And I'm not just saying that as his teammate."
"Friggin' Emotions," Jason scoffed. "But I do mean it. And I am sorry."
And with that he turned and walked away.
"I don't get it," Blaine said. "Friday night he was-"
"It doesn't matter," Kurt cut him off, mindful of the fact the hallway was filling up. "He doesn't know anything."
Blaine opened his mouth to retort, then he sensed it. "What did you do?"
"Later," Kurt smiled. "Come on."
"Mr Scott?"
Jared looked up across the class and found the raised hand before responding. "Yes?"
Kurt looked round as Sugar pushed back her chair and got to her feet. "Oh god, she's about to make a speech," he whispered. Beside him Blaine tried not to giggle and schooled his expression, keeping his eyes forward and on the desk at the front. "We should have warned Jared," Kurt added as he turned back around.
"You know how you said we've not always had these Skills," Sugar started, "and we had Skills in the past that died out."
"Yes?" Jared replied patiently. His eyes flicked to Kurt and Blaine for a second and they would swear for the rest of their lives that there was a hint of a smile there.
"Could one of them come back?" Sugar asked.
"What makes you say that...?"
"Sugar. Sugar Motta," she grinned. "See my daddy works with a lot of VIPs, that's Very Important People," she helpfully explained, "many of who are big in government. And he said that they were talking about an old Skill?"
"Which one?" Jared asked.
By now Blaine and Kurt were all but frozen in their seats.
"Dreaming?" Sugar didn't sound too sure about it and she looked at Jared for confirmation.
"I think you mean Dreamers," he corrected, motioning she should take a seat. "Yes, there are old Skills. And who knows if they'll come back? The whole point of our Skills is to aid us in our lives and so if people develop those Skills then it's because they were meant to.
"And once upon a time Dreamers had the most in-demand Skill of all. They were able to help those trapped in their own minds, find people who were lost even to the Pictures. Give them a thought to focus on and they'll find you the person you want, even if it's locked inside your own mind.
"I think there's still the occasional mention of them in some dusty old textbooks, but you'll find references in places you never quite expected."
"Like where?" Kurt asked, trying to sound curious rather than desperate.
"Well, how do you think Prince Charming knew Sleeping Beauty was in that castle, surrounded by all those thorns? He knew the person he was destined for was out there because he'd dreamt with her. He'd used his Skill to find all the information he needed to find her and save her."
"I don't remember reading that version," Puck scoffed.
"That would require you reading," came the cat-call response.
Under the desk Blaine's hand found Kurt's, and for the rest of their Skills lesson that's where it remained.
This was just the start.
~fin~