fic: A Stranger Heart Epilogue
Title: A Stranger Heart
Author: preciousmellow (lj)/andiheardeverything (tumblr)
Artist: killerquinn
Word Count: 31,542
Rating: R
Characters: Kurt/Blaine, Rachel/OMC, OFCs
Warnings: Discussions of homeless, illusions to drugs and alcohol, brief medical situations, OC death
Summary: Living on the streets of New York isn't easy for anyone, but for Blaine, it's all he has, and all he thinks he deserves. Until Kurt comes into his life and sees passed the tattered gloves and worn guitar, and offers him something that Blaine's never had: a chance.
AN: Huge, huge, huge thanks to my beta shandyall. I literally could not have done this without her. She was the best cheerleader and kept me going when I wanted to give up. She's entirely the reason I'm posting this right now. Also a huge thanks to my artist for her amazing work and for everyone on tumblr who cheered for me and kept me going. You guys rock.
-
On their first real date, Blaine takes Kurt to McDonald’s. He’s protests, fights, says that Kurt deserves so much more, deserves caviar, and champagne, and all sorts of things that Blaine can’t afford. But Kurt insists he doesn’t care, grabs Blaine’s hand and practically drags him to the nearest McDonald’s, orders Happy Meals for both of them. Blaine pays and Kurt plops them down near the play area.
He sticks a french-fry in a cup of ketchup, tells Blaine to imagine it’s a candle and they're at a fancy restaurant, and eats his chicken nuggets with a satisfied smile on his face.
-
Kurt convinces Blaine to come home for Christmas. His face is pale and his knees are shaking when they get on the airplane, and he swallows hard and clutches Kurt’s hand when they take off. Kurt knows Blaine wants him to think he’s afraid of flying, but really Kurt knows he’s afraid of meeting his father.
But Burt loves Blaine, loves the easy way he can talk about fashion with Kurt and football with Finn, loves how he makes Kurt smile like he’s never seen before, loves the way Kurt shines with happiness when Blaine is around.
Carole loves Blaine too. How he’s always so polite, folds his napkin in his lap and compliments her cooking at least ten times a meal. How he always helps clean up after and tells her he loves her hair, and her dress really brings out the green in her eyes. Her heart aches at the thought of Blaine alone, out in the world without parents or family who love him, draws him into a hug and promises herself that from now on he’ll always have a family.
-
On New Year’s Eve, Kurt and Rachel bake Blaine a birthday cake, force him to sit and eat at least two slices of it, and when they watch the fireworks on TV later, Kurt whispers in his ear that they’re for him. That the whole world is celebrating his birthday. Blaine smiles and leans against him, and believes.
-
Before they go back to New York, Kurt takes Blaine to the cemetery. The snow crunches under their boots, Blaine’s hand gripping Kurt’s tighter and tighter as they get closer.
“I haven’t been here in years,” Blaine whispers, standing in front of his parents’ grave. Kurt gives Blaine’s hand a squeeze and Blaine leans down, nestles the bouquet of roses against the cool gray stone.
“Do you want to be alone?” Kurt asks, voice quiet, nonjudgmental either way. Blaine shakes his head, holds Kurt’s hand even tighter.
“Can you stay?”
“Of course,” Kurt says, and Blaine rests his head against Kurt’s shoulder. They stand in silence, Kurt rubbing a hand on Blaine’s back, Blaine standing, watching, processing.
“I never really said goodbye to them,” he whispers and Kurt can see a tear sliding down his cheek. Kurt turns his head to press a kiss against his cheek, the tear salty on his lips.
“I think I’ll try and find Cooper,” Blaine says, looking up at Kurt and Kurt nods.
“I think that’s a great idea,” he says, touches another kiss to Blaine’s lips. “But even if you can’t find him, you’ll always have me. I promise.”
“As long as I have you, I’m happy,” Blaine whispers, honesty raw in his voice. He smiles, rests his head back on Kurt’s shoulder, and for the first time Kurt thinks he understands when people say that sometimes home isn’t a place.
Sometimes it’s a person.
Author: preciousmellow (lj)/andiheardeverything (tumblr)
Artist: killerquinn
Word Count: 31,542
Rating: R
Characters: Kurt/Blaine, Rachel/OMC, OFCs
Warnings: Discussions of homeless, illusions to drugs and alcohol, brief medical situations, OC death
Summary: Living on the streets of New York isn't easy for anyone, but for Blaine, it's all he has, and all he thinks he deserves. Until Kurt comes into his life and sees passed the tattered gloves and worn guitar, and offers him something that Blaine's never had: a chance.
AN: Huge, huge, huge thanks to my beta shandyall. I literally could not have done this without her. She was the best cheerleader and kept me going when I wanted to give up. She's entirely the reason I'm posting this right now. Also a huge thanks to my artist for her amazing work and for everyone on tumblr who cheered for me and kept me going. You guys rock.
-
On their first real date, Blaine takes Kurt to McDonald’s. He’s protests, fights, says that Kurt deserves so much more, deserves caviar, and champagne, and all sorts of things that Blaine can’t afford. But Kurt insists he doesn’t care, grabs Blaine’s hand and practically drags him to the nearest McDonald’s, orders Happy Meals for both of them. Blaine pays and Kurt plops them down near the play area.
He sticks a french-fry in a cup of ketchup, tells Blaine to imagine it’s a candle and they're at a fancy restaurant, and eats his chicken nuggets with a satisfied smile on his face.
-
Kurt convinces Blaine to come home for Christmas. His face is pale and his knees are shaking when they get on the airplane, and he swallows hard and clutches Kurt’s hand when they take off. Kurt knows Blaine wants him to think he’s afraid of flying, but really Kurt knows he’s afraid of meeting his father.
But Burt loves Blaine, loves the easy way he can talk about fashion with Kurt and football with Finn, loves how he makes Kurt smile like he’s never seen before, loves the way Kurt shines with happiness when Blaine is around.
Carole loves Blaine too. How he’s always so polite, folds his napkin in his lap and compliments her cooking at least ten times a meal. How he always helps clean up after and tells her he loves her hair, and her dress really brings out the green in her eyes. Her heart aches at the thought of Blaine alone, out in the world without parents or family who love him, draws him into a hug and promises herself that from now on he’ll always have a family.
-
On New Year’s Eve, Kurt and Rachel bake Blaine a birthday cake, force him to sit and eat at least two slices of it, and when they watch the fireworks on TV later, Kurt whispers in his ear that they’re for him. That the whole world is celebrating his birthday. Blaine smiles and leans against him, and believes.
-
Before they go back to New York, Kurt takes Blaine to the cemetery. The snow crunches under their boots, Blaine’s hand gripping Kurt’s tighter and tighter as they get closer.
“I haven’t been here in years,” Blaine whispers, standing in front of his parents’ grave. Kurt gives Blaine’s hand a squeeze and Blaine leans down, nestles the bouquet of roses against the cool gray stone.
“Do you want to be alone?” Kurt asks, voice quiet, nonjudgmental either way. Blaine shakes his head, holds Kurt’s hand even tighter.
“Can you stay?”
“Of course,” Kurt says, and Blaine rests his head against Kurt’s shoulder. They stand in silence, Kurt rubbing a hand on Blaine’s back, Blaine standing, watching, processing.
“I never really said goodbye to them,” he whispers and Kurt can see a tear sliding down his cheek. Kurt turns his head to press a kiss against his cheek, the tear salty on his lips.
“I think I’ll try and find Cooper,” Blaine says, looking up at Kurt and Kurt nods.
“I think that’s a great idea,” he says, touches another kiss to Blaine’s lips. “But even if you can’t find him, you’ll always have me. I promise.”
“As long as I have you, I’m happy,” Blaine whispers, honesty raw in his voice. He smiles, rests his head back on Kurt’s shoulder, and for the first time Kurt thinks he understands when people say that sometimes home isn’t a place.
Sometimes it’s a person.