Fic: Skin Has Gotten Thicker (But It Burns the Same) 3/?
Media: Fic
Title: Skin Has Gotten Thicker (But It Burns the Same)
Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing.
Rating: PG-13, but the rating will probably go up in future chapters.
Spoilers: Everything from 2x06 "Never Been Kissed" onward.
Warnings: Badboy!Blaine, so there's a bit of violence and some swearing. There's also the situation with Karofsky, which comes with its own set of warnings.
Word Count: 1,267
Summary: Kurt Hummel is so used to dealing with his problems by himself, he's forgotten how to let someone help him. Good thing Blaine Anderson is as stubborn as he is.
Part 1
Part 2
"His name is David Karofsky."
Blaine is quiet and still, watching Kurt pace around the room from where he's seated in a chair. And, surprisingly, that is what gives him the strength to keep going -to say everything that's on his mind and weighing heavily on his heart.
"He's been harassing me for long, I hardly remember us ever having a civilized conversation." And they did. Once. A long, long time ago when they were younger and Karofsky's smiles held some speck of honesty. "But lately things have gotten worse. So much worse. I try not to let it get to me -really I do- but one day I just snapped and confronted him about it." He stops in front of Blaine, rubbing at his eyes to try keeping the tears back and whispers, "And then he k-kissed me."
Blaine's hands clench over his knees, but otherwise he continues to say nothing.
Kurt takes a deep breath. "Then this morning, I was in the shower room and he was there. I don't know what he was planning on doing to me but I was terrified and-..."
There's a clatter and Blaine is suddenly there, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Shit. That's awful, Kurt," he says against his neck. And it's so matter of fact, condensing all the fear and anger he's been battling with into so few words, Kurt can't help chuckling a little.
"You are the king of understatements," he murmurs against a curly mess of hair.
"It's a gift." Blaine's lips curl into a smile, brushing against his throat. It makes Kurt shiver. Then, more seriously, he adds, "But thanks for telling me."
He nods before pulling away, blinking to keep from crying. "It means a lot that you took the time to just listen. My friends-..." Pausing, he struggles to explain it. "Maybe I'm the one at fault for not telling them anything, but it's like they can't see what's going on and it feels like I have to face the entire world alone and-..."
Blaine surprises him when he suddenly reaches up, wrapping an arm around Kurt's neck and pulling him close, their foreheads touching. "I'm here for you, Kurt," he says softly.
And it really is the cheesiest thing he's ever heard, but Kurt's heart feels lighter than its ever been. And he thanks whatever good deed he's done in his life to be blessed with Blaine Anderson.
By lunchtime, all of McKinley High knows about the new transfer student and his association with Kurt Hummel. Fortunately, no one has actually done anything to either of them yet, but Kurt knows it's only a matter of time.
But when he tries to warn Blaine about it, he just receives a smirk for his troubles -which really isn't reassuring at all.
Kurt reluctantly leads the way to the cafeteria, glancing around to make sure that Karofsky and the other football players are no where in the vicinity. But, despite his best intentions, another boy suddenly bumps shoulders with Blaine as they pass each other and Kurt ends up flinching.
"Would you relax?" Blaine smiles crookedly, looking strangely endearing. "You're making me nervous." Kurt glares at him, about to open his mouth to make a biting reply, but the breath stutters out of his lungs when Blaine catches his hand and raises it to his lips. "Seriously. Everything is going to be fine."
"If you really believe that, I want you to put it in writing. And then, when something terrible does happen, I'm going to wave it in your face and say, 'I told you so'."
Blaine attempts an innocent expression. "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I was distracted by how delicious your lips look."
A girl shoots them a cold stare over her shoulder, even as Kurt tries very hard not to acknowledge her or how Blaine laughs when he turns crimson. Thankfully, they manage to grab their lunch trays and reach the table where Mercedes, Rachel, and Finn are seated without fuss. Or, at least until Rachel notices them and she leaps up, pointing her finger accusingly into their faces. "Kurt! So the rumors are true!"
"What are you talking about?" Kurt asks. To Blaine, he mouths, Ignore her. She's crazy.
They manage to squeeze in beside Mercedes, but Rachel doesn't seem to get the hint. Although Finn does try to reach out to stop her, she slips past him and storms over to shove a neatly stapled handful of papers under Kurt's nose. "Look at this," she hisses, as if Blaine -who is sitting right next to him- can't hear her. "Jacob Israel posted on his blog about the new transfer student, Blaine Anderson."
Kurt doesn't even spare the papers a passing glance. Partially because it's not fair to Blaine to do so, but also because they're covered in so much pink highlighter it makes his eyes burn. "Jacob Israel is an incurable gossipmonger, Rachel, and the 'news' he blogs about isn't even accurate. Ever."
"But it is true that you've been expelled from two other schools before coming to McKinley, isn't it?" Rachel asks, ignoring him to address Blaine instead.
Hazel eyes -that had been so warm moments before- turn icy. "And if it is?"
"What did you do?"
Kurt feels physically ill at the way his friends give Blaine their suddenly undivided attention, morbid curiosity getting the better of them.
But what's even worse is Blaine's grin, malicious and so unlike the ones Kurt has seen until now. "Well, since you asked nicely," he starts, voice deceptively pleasant. "I was kicked out of my old schools because I nearly beat a guy to death at one, and broke the arm of a teacher at the other."
No one speaks. No one even moves until Blaine scoffs and gets up to leave. Kurt quickly leaps up after him, grabbing his bag before glaring back at Rachel -who looks appropriately stunned.
"Blaine. Blaine! Wait-..." Blaine doesn't stop -doesn't even slow down- until they leave the building. When they reach the parking lot, he pauses at last, but makes no move to turn around.
"It's best if you keep your distance, Kurt. After all, I'm dangerous."
"You're not." Kurt thinks about the hands that gently held him while he nearly fell apart. "Blaine, you're not dangerous."
He turns around then, and it takes all of Kurt's willpower just to remain standing. The eyes that stare back at him are cold and hard, just like Karofsky's had been in the shower room. His face is so unreadable that when he takes a step forward, Kurt trembles. "You have no idea how easily I could hurt you," he whispers and places his hand against his cheek.
Both of them are shaking. Kurt is still very afraid, but he knows that Blaine would never intentionally hurt him. "If you did, you would have done it already," he replies softly.
Just like that, the hardness crumbles and Blaine looks like a boy just as lost as he is. "Kurt."
"I know it's none of my business," he says. He holds out his arms. "But if you want to talk about it or if you need me, I'm here."
Blaine stares at his chest, brows furrowed. He's silent for so long, Kurt is sure that he's going to decline the offer, but then he looks up with eyes painfully hopeful. "I promise I'll tell you, Kurt. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but someday."
Kurt nods as Blaine steps into his arms.
"It's a promise."
Title: Skin Has Gotten Thicker (But It Burns the Same)
Disclaimer: Sadly, I own nothing.
Rating: PG-13, but the rating will probably go up in future chapters.
Spoilers: Everything from 2x06 "Never Been Kissed" onward.
Warnings: Badboy!Blaine, so there's a bit of violence and some swearing. There's also the situation with Karofsky, which comes with its own set of warnings.
Word Count: 1,267
Summary: Kurt Hummel is so used to dealing with his problems by himself, he's forgotten how to let someone help him. Good thing Blaine Anderson is as stubborn as he is.
Part 1
Part 2
"His name is David Karofsky."
Blaine is quiet and still, watching Kurt pace around the room from where he's seated in a chair. And, surprisingly, that is what gives him the strength to keep going -to say everything that's on his mind and weighing heavily on his heart.
"He's been harassing me for long, I hardly remember us ever having a civilized conversation." And they did. Once. A long, long time ago when they were younger and Karofsky's smiles held some speck of honesty. "But lately things have gotten worse. So much worse. I try not to let it get to me -really I do- but one day I just snapped and confronted him about it." He stops in front of Blaine, rubbing at his eyes to try keeping the tears back and whispers, "And then he k-kissed me."
Blaine's hands clench over his knees, but otherwise he continues to say nothing.
Kurt takes a deep breath. "Then this morning, I was in the shower room and he was there. I don't know what he was planning on doing to me but I was terrified and-..."
There's a clatter and Blaine is suddenly there, enveloping him in a tight hug. "Shit. That's awful, Kurt," he says against his neck. And it's so matter of fact, condensing all the fear and anger he's been battling with into so few words, Kurt can't help chuckling a little.
"You are the king of understatements," he murmurs against a curly mess of hair.
"It's a gift." Blaine's lips curl into a smile, brushing against his throat. It makes Kurt shiver. Then, more seriously, he adds, "But thanks for telling me."
He nods before pulling away, blinking to keep from crying. "It means a lot that you took the time to just listen. My friends-..." Pausing, he struggles to explain it. "Maybe I'm the one at fault for not telling them anything, but it's like they can't see what's going on and it feels like I have to face the entire world alone and-..."
Blaine surprises him when he suddenly reaches up, wrapping an arm around Kurt's neck and pulling him close, their foreheads touching. "I'm here for you, Kurt," he says softly.
And it really is the cheesiest thing he's ever heard, but Kurt's heart feels lighter than its ever been. And he thanks whatever good deed he's done in his life to be blessed with Blaine Anderson.
By lunchtime, all of McKinley High knows about the new transfer student and his association with Kurt Hummel. Fortunately, no one has actually done anything to either of them yet, but Kurt knows it's only a matter of time.
But when he tries to warn Blaine about it, he just receives a smirk for his troubles -which really isn't reassuring at all.
Kurt reluctantly leads the way to the cafeteria, glancing around to make sure that Karofsky and the other football players are no where in the vicinity. But, despite his best intentions, another boy suddenly bumps shoulders with Blaine as they pass each other and Kurt ends up flinching.
"Would you relax?" Blaine smiles crookedly, looking strangely endearing. "You're making me nervous." Kurt glares at him, about to open his mouth to make a biting reply, but the breath stutters out of his lungs when Blaine catches his hand and raises it to his lips. "Seriously. Everything is going to be fine."
"If you really believe that, I want you to put it in writing. And then, when something terrible does happen, I'm going to wave it in your face and say, 'I told you so'."
Blaine attempts an innocent expression. "I'm sorry. Did you say something? I was distracted by how delicious your lips look."
A girl shoots them a cold stare over her shoulder, even as Kurt tries very hard not to acknowledge her or how Blaine laughs when he turns crimson. Thankfully, they manage to grab their lunch trays and reach the table where Mercedes, Rachel, and Finn are seated without fuss. Or, at least until Rachel notices them and she leaps up, pointing her finger accusingly into their faces. "Kurt! So the rumors are true!"
"What are you talking about?" Kurt asks. To Blaine, he mouths, Ignore her. She's crazy.
They manage to squeeze in beside Mercedes, but Rachel doesn't seem to get the hint. Although Finn does try to reach out to stop her, she slips past him and storms over to shove a neatly stapled handful of papers under Kurt's nose. "Look at this," she hisses, as if Blaine -who is sitting right next to him- can't hear her. "Jacob Israel posted on his blog about the new transfer student, Blaine Anderson."
Kurt doesn't even spare the papers a passing glance. Partially because it's not fair to Blaine to do so, but also because they're covered in so much pink highlighter it makes his eyes burn. "Jacob Israel is an incurable gossipmonger, Rachel, and the 'news' he blogs about isn't even accurate. Ever."
"But it is true that you've been expelled from two other schools before coming to McKinley, isn't it?" Rachel asks, ignoring him to address Blaine instead.
Hazel eyes -that had been so warm moments before- turn icy. "And if it is?"
"What did you do?"
Kurt feels physically ill at the way his friends give Blaine their suddenly undivided attention, morbid curiosity getting the better of them.
But what's even worse is Blaine's grin, malicious and so unlike the ones Kurt has seen until now. "Well, since you asked nicely," he starts, voice deceptively pleasant. "I was kicked out of my old schools because I nearly beat a guy to death at one, and broke the arm of a teacher at the other."
No one speaks. No one even moves until Blaine scoffs and gets up to leave. Kurt quickly leaps up after him, grabbing his bag before glaring back at Rachel -who looks appropriately stunned.
"Blaine. Blaine! Wait-..." Blaine doesn't stop -doesn't even slow down- until they leave the building. When they reach the parking lot, he pauses at last, but makes no move to turn around.
"It's best if you keep your distance, Kurt. After all, I'm dangerous."
"You're not." Kurt thinks about the hands that gently held him while he nearly fell apart. "Blaine, you're not dangerous."
He turns around then, and it takes all of Kurt's willpower just to remain standing. The eyes that stare back at him are cold and hard, just like Karofsky's had been in the shower room. His face is so unreadable that when he takes a step forward, Kurt trembles. "You have no idea how easily I could hurt you," he whispers and places his hand against his cheek.
Both of them are shaking. Kurt is still very afraid, but he knows that Blaine would never intentionally hurt him. "If you did, you would have done it already," he replies softly.
Just like that, the hardness crumbles and Blaine looks like a boy just as lost as he is. "Kurt."
"I know it's none of my business," he says. He holds out his arms. "But if you want to talk about it or if you need me, I'm here."
Blaine stares at his chest, brows furrowed. He's silent for so long, Kurt is sure that he's going to decline the offer, but then he looks up with eyes painfully hopeful. "I promise I'll tell you, Kurt. Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but someday."
Kurt nods as Blaine steps into his arms.
"It's a promise."