Absence and the Heart (2/10)
Media: Fanfic
Title: Absence and the Heart (2/10)
Rating: PG
Pairings: Klaine
Other Characters: Wes, Jeff, Nick, and all the other named Warblers (because I'm not ready to let them go yet)
Spoilers: Up to s2e18, with some speculation of that scene in e19
Warnings: Fluff, angst
Word Count: 1,495 approx
Summary: Blaine copes with the first ten days of not having Kurt around every moment of the day; the Warblers cope with Blaine.
Friday
He’s woken - slightly earlier than the extra half-hour he’s given himself - by the sound of a couple of boys singing that obnoxious Rebecca Black song out in the hallways. He’s debating getting out of bed and telling them to shut the hell up when some of the other hall residents solve the problem for him.
Impulsively he reaches for his phone to check his messages. There’s just the one sent by Wes generally reminding everyone that there was Warblers practice that afternoon.
He almost wishes he didn’t have a heart. Almost
I’m never saying goodbye to you…
7.54am From Blaine:
Good morning! Hope things worked out with Rachel.
Have a good day at school.
See you later? I miss you.
When no reply comes after 15 minutes, he gets up to get ready for school. He can wait. Bombarding Kurt with texts first thing in the morning is only going to make him sound clingy. Only halfway out the door does he remember that he needs to pack his Phys Ed clothes. Cursing under his breath he ducks back inside.
He makes it to English Lit five minutes late and slips in while the teacher is in the middle of handing out new books. He glances at the cover - Watership Down - then looks over at Jeff, who shares this class with him, with a curious expression. Jeff only shrugs and winks. Blaine smiles a bit, reminding himself that maybe he can see Kurt tonight or at least over the weekend.
The message comes just before lunch.
11.56am From Kurt:
I think it did.
Sorry for the late reply, was printing t-shirts with the others this morning before school.
We’re doing Gaga for glee later!
So excited!
12.01pm From Blaine:
Sounds fun!
Be sure to have someone record it. Would love to see what you guys do with it.
12.03pm From Kurt:
Btw, can’t meet you tonight.
Friday night family dinner and all… my dad…
12.12pm From Blaine:
Forgot about that.
I understand. The weekend’s ours though right?
12.15pm From Kurt:
Definitely.
Blaine sighs and helps himself to a chicken salad. He’s eating to make sure he has enough energy for Phys Ed later, he tells himself. Nick and Jeff join him for lunch. He thinks they might ask about Kurt, but assumes that the expression on his face tells them what they need to know, because they don’t. Instead, Nick mentions that he’s heard a rumor that the Warblers might be performing somewhere next weekend.
He jogs onto the athletics field after post-lunch Spanish class, ready to burn off some of this tension and pent up energy. The boys are already doing warm-up stretches and he joins in, thinking he can just do some sprinting and call it a day. He’s always been good at sprinting.
Dalton had a no-bullying policy. That didn’t mean some of the boys were above a little baiting. He’d just finished a sprint within a pretty good time, according to the coach, and was walking back to rehydrate before trying again. Next thing he knew, a few other boys were walking beside him and complimenting him on his run
Before he knew it, he was being coaxed into trying the hurdles.
“You’re a good sprinter,” one of the boys said. “And we’ve heard you like jumping on furniture.”
Blaine quirked a brow. Obviously one of the Warblers had been running his mouth about Blaine’s enthusiastic performances. “Sometimes I get a little carried away with a song. I don’t exactly go in there planning to jump on couches and tables.”
“Either way, you can jump and you can sprint. At least give it a try.”
“I don’t know guys, look at me. I’m pretty small. I don’t have the type of long legs you need to clear those things.” Unlike Kurt, he thought. Kurt had legs that went on forever, and whoa, where had that thought come from?
“C’mon Blaine, be a sport. Who knows, you might actually be good at it.”
He doesn’t know why he gives in. Maybe it’s because he’s got nothing better to do with himself for the next couple of hours till Warblers practice, and maybe it’s because he’s slightly crazed with missing Kurt. So he walks over to the starting mark and waits for them to set up a low hurdle. It doesn’t look very high, and there have been tables after all…
The pistol fires and he takes off at full speed, building momentum to clear the jump. Idly he wonders what Kurt’s doing. Gaga he’d said and t-shirts. Pity. He wouldn’t mind seeing Kurt in one of those gender ambiguous outfits again, just… not the meat-dress. Somehow he didn’t think the other boy would sit well with raw slabs of meat against his skin.
Somewhere in the middle of that train of thought he mis-times his jump. One leg clears the hurdle. His other foot catches the crossbar and he lands awkwardly, tumbling forward and rolling a couple of feet before coming to a stop.
“Ow.”
He hears footsteps hurrying towards him and looks up into the faces of the coach and a couple of other boys - neither of whom were the ones who’d talked him into this in the first place.
“I’m fine,” he says as they help him to stand. “Just a few scrapes and bruises, I’ll live.” Then he put his weight on his left ankle and yelped. “Ow ow ow! Ok, not so fine.” Pain shoots up into his leg and he leans on the other two boys.
The coach immediately crouches and takes his foot. Blaine winces as the older man gently turns it in his hand to see what and where the damage is. Just perfect, he thinks. Wes is going to kill him. They may not be in competition anymore, but missing two rehearsals in a row is something unheard of, especially for a lead singer.
“You’re lucky, it’s just a twist,” the coach says. “You probably don’t need to see the nurse. Just get a cold compress on and take a pain-killer if it starts to hurt too much.”
Blaine makes it back to his room and hobbles to the shower. When he steps out of the bathroom there’s a knock on his door and he opens it, half expecting it to be Jeff or Nick coming to fetch him for Warblers practice. He’s not expecting Wes though.
“Sit,” the older boy says.
He sits on his bed and waits for him to start talking. Wes grabs the extra pillow from the cupboard and places it at the foot of the bed. Blaine gives a wry smile as he leans back against the headboard and rests his injured foot on it.
“So you heard.”
“I did.” Wes sits with him. “What are you doing, Blaine?”
“Uhh… talking to you?”
“To yourself.” He had no answer to that, so Wes goes on. “You’re acting like Kurt broke up with you.”
Blaine’s head snapped up. “I… what? No!”
Wes only inclines his head. “I was with you in the car, and I just want to say that it’s okay to miss him. We all do. I know you probably have it worse, but hurting yourself because of it… you don’t need to. He wouldn’t want you to.”
“I’m not…”
“Hurdles, Blaine? What would even put that idea into your head? Have you seen you?”
He shrugs. “I thought I’d just try. No harm in trying right?”
“It’s one thing to try. It’s another to be goaded and give in. You’re stronger than to just give in to something you don’t want to do… and don’t say it’s because Kurt’s not here. You were stronger before he got here.”
“Then why do I feel broken?”
“That’s something you need to figure out.” Wes moves to the fridge and starts wrapping ice cubes in a towel. “Because Kurt didn’t break up with you.”
He catches the make-shift icepack Wes tosses to him, and places it on his ankle, letting out a breath when he feels some of the pain alleviate.
“We’ve been booked for a performance,” Wes goes on. “That nun at Regionals. She wants the Warblers to sing at the convent.”
Blaine frowns. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why? Because you’re gay?” Wes shakes his head. “She knows. She doesn’t care. This is about performing as a team Blaine, not your sexuality. Besides, haven’t you always wanted acceptance? She’s offering it to you on a platter.” He moves to the door. “You can invite Kurt.”
He doesn’t say anything.
Wes opens the door and steps out. “We’ll need some songs. Think you can come up with some arrangements? Thad’s all eager.”
He nods. “I’ll see what I can do. Not like I’ll be getting out much anyway.”
The older boy smiles. “Don’t be so dramatic. You’ll be on your feet in a couple of days. Oh and Blaine? Talk to someone.” He leaves.
=====
Chapter 3a
So, chapter 2 got too long; had to split it. On the plus side, chapter 3 will be longer :)
Feedback, as always, is welcomed and loved ;)
Title: Absence and the Heart (2/10)
Rating: PG
Pairings: Klaine
Other Characters: Wes, Jeff, Nick, and all the other named Warblers (because I'm not ready to let them go yet)
Spoilers: Up to s2e18, with some speculation of that scene in e19
Warnings: Fluff, angst
Word Count: 1,495 approx
Summary: Blaine copes with the first ten days of not having Kurt around every moment of the day; the Warblers cope with Blaine.
Friday
He’s woken - slightly earlier than the extra half-hour he’s given himself - by the sound of a couple of boys singing that obnoxious Rebecca Black song out in the hallways. He’s debating getting out of bed and telling them to shut the hell up when some of the other hall residents solve the problem for him.
Impulsively he reaches for his phone to check his messages. There’s just the one sent by Wes generally reminding everyone that there was Warblers practice that afternoon.
He almost wishes he didn’t have a heart. Almost
I’m never saying goodbye to you…
7.54am From Blaine:
Good morning! Hope things worked out with Rachel.
Have a good day at school.
See you later? I miss you.
When no reply comes after 15 minutes, he gets up to get ready for school. He can wait. Bombarding Kurt with texts first thing in the morning is only going to make him sound clingy. Only halfway out the door does he remember that he needs to pack his Phys Ed clothes. Cursing under his breath he ducks back inside.
He makes it to English Lit five minutes late and slips in while the teacher is in the middle of handing out new books. He glances at the cover - Watership Down - then looks over at Jeff, who shares this class with him, with a curious expression. Jeff only shrugs and winks. Blaine smiles a bit, reminding himself that maybe he can see Kurt tonight or at least over the weekend.
The message comes just before lunch.
11.56am From Kurt:
I think it did.
Sorry for the late reply, was printing t-shirts with the others this morning before school.
We’re doing Gaga for glee later!
So excited!
12.01pm From Blaine:
Sounds fun!
Be sure to have someone record it. Would love to see what you guys do with it.
12.03pm From Kurt:
Btw, can’t meet you tonight.
Friday night family dinner and all… my dad…
12.12pm From Blaine:
Forgot about that.
I understand. The weekend’s ours though right?
12.15pm From Kurt:
Definitely.
Blaine sighs and helps himself to a chicken salad. He’s eating to make sure he has enough energy for Phys Ed later, he tells himself. Nick and Jeff join him for lunch. He thinks they might ask about Kurt, but assumes that the expression on his face tells them what they need to know, because they don’t. Instead, Nick mentions that he’s heard a rumor that the Warblers might be performing somewhere next weekend.
He jogs onto the athletics field after post-lunch Spanish class, ready to burn off some of this tension and pent up energy. The boys are already doing warm-up stretches and he joins in, thinking he can just do some sprinting and call it a day. He’s always been good at sprinting.
Dalton had a no-bullying policy. That didn’t mean some of the boys were above a little baiting. He’d just finished a sprint within a pretty good time, according to the coach, and was walking back to rehydrate before trying again. Next thing he knew, a few other boys were walking beside him and complimenting him on his run
Before he knew it, he was being coaxed into trying the hurdles.
“You’re a good sprinter,” one of the boys said. “And we’ve heard you like jumping on furniture.”
Blaine quirked a brow. Obviously one of the Warblers had been running his mouth about Blaine’s enthusiastic performances. “Sometimes I get a little carried away with a song. I don’t exactly go in there planning to jump on couches and tables.”
“Either way, you can jump and you can sprint. At least give it a try.”
“I don’t know guys, look at me. I’m pretty small. I don’t have the type of long legs you need to clear those things.” Unlike Kurt, he thought. Kurt had legs that went on forever, and whoa, where had that thought come from?
“C’mon Blaine, be a sport. Who knows, you might actually be good at it.”
He doesn’t know why he gives in. Maybe it’s because he’s got nothing better to do with himself for the next couple of hours till Warblers practice, and maybe it’s because he’s slightly crazed with missing Kurt. So he walks over to the starting mark and waits for them to set up a low hurdle. It doesn’t look very high, and there have been tables after all…
The pistol fires and he takes off at full speed, building momentum to clear the jump. Idly he wonders what Kurt’s doing. Gaga he’d said and t-shirts. Pity. He wouldn’t mind seeing Kurt in one of those gender ambiguous outfits again, just… not the meat-dress. Somehow he didn’t think the other boy would sit well with raw slabs of meat against his skin.
Somewhere in the middle of that train of thought he mis-times his jump. One leg clears the hurdle. His other foot catches the crossbar and he lands awkwardly, tumbling forward and rolling a couple of feet before coming to a stop.
“Ow.”
He hears footsteps hurrying towards him and looks up into the faces of the coach and a couple of other boys - neither of whom were the ones who’d talked him into this in the first place.
“I’m fine,” he says as they help him to stand. “Just a few scrapes and bruises, I’ll live.” Then he put his weight on his left ankle and yelped. “Ow ow ow! Ok, not so fine.” Pain shoots up into his leg and he leans on the other two boys.
The coach immediately crouches and takes his foot. Blaine winces as the older man gently turns it in his hand to see what and where the damage is. Just perfect, he thinks. Wes is going to kill him. They may not be in competition anymore, but missing two rehearsals in a row is something unheard of, especially for a lead singer.
“You’re lucky, it’s just a twist,” the coach says. “You probably don’t need to see the nurse. Just get a cold compress on and take a pain-killer if it starts to hurt too much.”
Blaine makes it back to his room and hobbles to the shower. When he steps out of the bathroom there’s a knock on his door and he opens it, half expecting it to be Jeff or Nick coming to fetch him for Warblers practice. He’s not expecting Wes though.
“Sit,” the older boy says.
He sits on his bed and waits for him to start talking. Wes grabs the extra pillow from the cupboard and places it at the foot of the bed. Blaine gives a wry smile as he leans back against the headboard and rests his injured foot on it.
“So you heard.”
“I did.” Wes sits with him. “What are you doing, Blaine?”
“Uhh… talking to you?”
“To yourself.” He had no answer to that, so Wes goes on. “You’re acting like Kurt broke up with you.”
Blaine’s head snapped up. “I… what? No!”
Wes only inclines his head. “I was with you in the car, and I just want to say that it’s okay to miss him. We all do. I know you probably have it worse, but hurting yourself because of it… you don’t need to. He wouldn’t want you to.”
“I’m not…”
“Hurdles, Blaine? What would even put that idea into your head? Have you seen you?”
He shrugs. “I thought I’d just try. No harm in trying right?”
“It’s one thing to try. It’s another to be goaded and give in. You’re stronger than to just give in to something you don’t want to do… and don’t say it’s because Kurt’s not here. You were stronger before he got here.”
“Then why do I feel broken?”
“That’s something you need to figure out.” Wes moves to the fridge and starts wrapping ice cubes in a towel. “Because Kurt didn’t break up with you.”
He catches the make-shift icepack Wes tosses to him, and places it on his ankle, letting out a breath when he feels some of the pain alleviate.
“We’ve been booked for a performance,” Wes goes on. “That nun at Regionals. She wants the Warblers to sing at the convent.”
Blaine frowns. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“Why? Because you’re gay?” Wes shakes his head. “She knows. She doesn’t care. This is about performing as a team Blaine, not your sexuality. Besides, haven’t you always wanted acceptance? She’s offering it to you on a platter.” He moves to the door. “You can invite Kurt.”
He doesn’t say anything.
Wes opens the door and steps out. “We’ll need some songs. Think you can come up with some arrangements? Thad’s all eager.”
He nods. “I’ll see what I can do. Not like I’ll be getting out much anyway.”
The older boy smiles. “Don’t be so dramatic. You’ll be on your feet in a couple of days. Oh and Blaine? Talk to someone.” He leaves.
=====
Chapter 3a
So, chapter 2 got too long; had to split it. On the plus side, chapter 3 will be longer :)
Feedback, as always, is welcomed and loved ;)