The Nerd and the Skank (12/?)
Media: Fic
Title: The Nerd and the Skank
Author: ravenpan & azicrow
Rating: PG13
Pairings: Klaine is Endgame
Warnings (if any): Skank!Kurt, Nerd!Blaine (Chapter 10: sexual assault)
Word Count: 3217 (this chapter)
Summary: Burt Hummel never saw Karofsky mock Kurt with a limp wrist. The truth never came out, and shortly after the wedding, Kurt decided he had to do something drastic if he was going to make it out of High School alive. He joined the Skanks to hide under the radar and left Glee Club. Life continued at McKinley and now it's the beginning of a new school year... and one Blaine Anderson is getting under his skin.
Author's Note: This is very much inspired by (and has bits of dialogue occasionally from) You Da One-verse by kendrawcandraw on tumb1r.
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
*12*
Blaine wasn't at school on Monday and the news of Karofsky's expulsion spread like wildfire. The story began growing more and more dramatic, particularly when Jacob Ben-Israel tried to do an exposé on it towards the end of the day.
Kurt all but attacked Jacob, shoving him into the lockers, with his forearm pinning him there across his chest, as he threatened him within an inch of his life. "... Short version. Don't do it, or I will END you."
Quinn leaned against the wall waiting for Kurt to catch up. "Rachel's been looking like she wants to interrogate you, " she informed him as they started walking.
"It's none of her business," Kurt said through teeth that were almost permanently clenched at this point.
She raised a brow. "Do you think that's stopped her before? When you were being bullied, who was the one you think was trying to mastermind an intervention?" she asked as they stepped outside.
"Doesn't matter, I've steered clear of them, and they've respected that - I see no reason for that to change now," Kurt lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth to punctuate the thought.
"Fine, but if she starts stalking the stands? I'm leaving."
"I guess it's my responsibility to get rid of her if she does. Though it's starting to get chilly, anyway."
"Well, added to the fact that they've got Sectionals coming up, they might not want one of their singers out of the game," she remarked, declining to mention how she knew where they were up to in competition.
Kurt shot her a sharp glance, raising his eyebrow, but not asking the obvious question. "Not like that, just make her not want to bother us again. Nicely. Sort of."
"You don't know Rachel very well, do you?" she replied, blowing out a smoke ring before she saw the girl walking towards them. "Have fun." She turned on her heel and headed off to the parking lot.
"Kurt!" Rachel called.
Kurt's eyes widened slightly and he spun on his heel, taking off in the opposite direction. If he was lucky, he'd lose Rachel in time to get to his car and go home.
“Kurt! Kurt!" She called, picking up speed, her steps coming quicker as she chased him.
Kurt thanked his longer legs as he raced around a few cars, trying to get to, and into, his own car before Rachel caught him.
She broke into a run, chasing after the him... and then his retreating car, before even her energy levels fell and the car sped away.
*
That night had Finn knocking on his bedroom door.
"I'm not here," Kurt said, flicking the page in his magazine, laying on his stomach on his bed. He'd changed into more comfortable clothing... well, comfortable to him, now wearing a pair of skinny-jeans and a knee-length sweater to ward off the chill.
"I've got milk?" came the voice on the other side.
Kurt looked up. “Warm?”
"Yeah. Come on, dude."
Kurt sighed, getting up off the bed and unlocking his door, opening it before going back to his bed and sitting down, turning the page in his magazine. He wasn't really reading it, or even looking at the fashion portrayed. He was just focusing on not thinking, as he'd been since....
Finn smiled. "Hi," he said, walking in with the tray. "I got cookies but I think they're the heart healthy ones you got Burt,” he added, setting it down.
Kurt set his magazine aside and stood to pull over a chair so that Finn wouldn't spill everything all over his bed. "Nothing wrong with heart-healthy cookies."
"They don't taste as nice as the chocolate ones," he complained, before sitting and taking a sip. "How're you doing?" he asked, watching him.
Kurt took the warm milk, holding the mug in both hands as he took a small sip, closing his eyes and letting the warmth settle. "Fine." It was his standard answer.
"You don't need to do that," he replied. "I won't tell anyone."
"It isn't entirely my story to tell. But for my part, I feel guilty and angry and responsible for something truly horrific," he whispered into the milk, taking another sip and staring at the carpet. "Remembering doesn't help," he muttered.
"I kinda meant how you're feeling now Karofsky's out of the school," he replied quietly. "I didn't know how bad he was."
Kurt tugged at the pink strands in his bangs before pushing his hand through his hair, settling it back into place. "Ultimately? Relief," he said succinctly, sipping at the milk again and reaching for a cookie to nibble at. "Too little, too late; but I'm relieved." He looked up at Finn. "Why are you asking?"
He shrugged. "I just... I was kinda worried. You know, I feel like I should've been there for you... and I wasn't," he replied, running his thumb over the rim of the mug.
"That was last year. You weren't my brother yet," Kurt shook his head a wry quirk to his lips. "You're forgiven.”
He nodded. "So have you uhh... talked to Blaine recently? I didn't even know you two knew each other."
"We're not friends," Kurt said quickly.
"But Rachel said... but you helped him."
"I'm a Skank, that doesn't mean I'm not still a decent person," Kurt huffed, looking away.
"No, I know, I just thought that he liked you. I mean, he was asking about you all the time recently; he's gay and you're gay so I … oh wait I did the stereotype thing again, didn't I?" he replied with a grimace, looking a little confused.
"You did, but I know you didn't mean anything about i-" Kurt cut himself off and looked at Finn curiously. "He was asking about me?"
He shrugged, "Yeah, I showed him that video of us at Regionals the first year. He's a nice guy. I mean, he was a bit quiet at first and we kinda didn't get along but, after a while he was pretty cool. You know he has the highest score on Halo right?"
Kurt laughed, shaking his head. "Why would I know that?" He smiled slightly. "Are you trying to talk a boy up to me, Finn Hudson?" Kurt accused with a raise of his eyebrow.
He shrugged. "Aren't I allowed to do that? Be your wingman? I've just never seen you with one. I figured it must be lonely."
Kurt leaned over to his bed stand and pulled out a small bag of chocolate-chip-cheesecake cookies and opened them up, offering the bag to Finn.
"Oh, awesome!" he replied with a grin taking the bag. "I guess I did alright?"
"You did alright," he replied with a quiet half-laugh. "I appreciate that you care."
"Course I do, you're my brother." He replied, munching happily. "Oh yeah, if you do hear from Blaine let me know, or better yet Rachel, she's freaking out. The glee club's pretty worried but he's not answering his phone; and when we go over, his brother - You know the famous one? - He or Blaine's mom just say that he doesn't wanna see anybody. Hey, did you know his mom was like this tiny filipino woman?" he asked "I mean TINY. No wonder he's so little."
"I think the word is ‘filipina’, and everyone's tiny compared to you. No, I didn't know that - and if you can possibly convince everyone to leave him the hell alone right now, that'd be great," Kurt said seriously.
"Yeah but she was like... down here," he replied making a vague motion at the bottom of his ribs. He shook his head. "They're just worried about him, and we're his friends, you know?"
"I know. But, please trust me, he needs some time to sort himself out. You keep at him, next thing you know he'll quit Glee and join the Skanks," he said, taking one of the yummier cookies and nibbling at it.
He snorted. "Dude, nah. I can't see it. He's got a pocket protector."
Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Maybe he'll just switch schools. My point is, leave him be. Get him a card or something if you must, but leave him the fuck alone. He's stupidly loyal, I doubt he'll leave you in the lurch for the competition."
"I thought you weren't friends?"
"I owe him."
"What did he do?" he asked.
"You can't tell ANYONE."
"I won't, I swear," he replied, holding his hands up.
"I was really sick a few weeks ago. Like.... Delirious. I was going to try and get over it in my car so I didn't bring it in the house and get Dad sick. He took me home and took care of me," he said, looking into the nearly finished mug of milk, it was cooling to room temperature by now. "So yeah. I owe him."
"How long were you planning on sitting in the car?" he asked as he drained his glass.
"Until I got better. Didn't make it to the car, though, like I said."
"Yeah, but that can take, like, days or a week. You were gonna just sleep in your car for a week?"
"I couldn't risk Dad getting sick, Finn! If my fever was so high I wasn't fully aware of what I was doing, it might have..." Kurt closed his eyes tightly. "He can't get that kind of sick. It's dangerous."
"Dude why didn't you just stay at Quinn's then?" he asked, confused.
"Finn. I was delirious. You think I didn't think about that later? It was just after lunch, and she had an exam - that's all I could focus on."
Finn nodded. "Alright. Still, that was pretty nice of him."
"Yeah. Hence the owing. Can we stop talking about Anderson now?"
He looked at him, surprised. "Alright," he replied, before stealing another cookie and standing. "So, we good?"
"Yeah, we're good. Though, for the record, I wouldn't mind being left alone, either."
"Yeah... well, that's the difference between brothers and friends, you're kinda stuck with me." he replied heading to the door.
"I wasn't talking about you, you great oaf." Kurt smiled. "You, I don't mind."
“Cool!” Finn’s face lit up. “Alright, I'm off. Gotta plan a tournament with Puck."
"Get outta here." Kurt waved him off, smiling at his dorky brother. How he'd ever had a crush on him was a mystery. "Shoo."
*
Kurt figured once he explained to his brother that Blaine needed left alone, that his brother would somehow work Finn Magic and manage to convince everyone else in New Directions it wasn't their business.
Unfortunately, this WAS New Directions, and the concept of anything NOT being their business was impossible for them to understand.
Brittany and Santana cornered Kurt on Tuesday. "Hey lady lips, we wanna know if you've heard from your little boyrfriend."
Brittany looked at him with a soft frown. "He didn't tutor me yesterday. We were going to work on an intervention plan for Lord Tubbington's overeating, too."
Unfortunately they were inside, so Kurt didn't have a ready stream of smoke to blow at Santana. And she still frightened him a little. And it was Brittany which put them at an unfair advantage.
Still.
"Brittany, just feed him only a quarter cup of food twice a day, and hide the bag; that'll keep him from overeating. Satan, I don't have a boyfriend, so clearly you've lost your mind." Kurt tried to push past them to freedom.
"Don't play dumb with me, You know I'm talking about our boy Anderson. Berry says you two have been hanging out so we just want to know what's up."
"She's insane, you're actually believing something she said?" Kurt raised an eyebrow as Santana's hand pushed his shoulder back against the wall. He picked her pinky up and made a show of removing the unwanted contact. "I don't even have Blanderson's phone number, we can't stand each other."
"Right, you don't give a crap when anyone else is bullied in this school but he gets picked on and you actually come out of your Skank cave," she remarked, crossing her arms.
"Karofsky wasn't a normal bully," Kurt lifted his chin. "Now, if you excuse me, I have places to be."
Santana rolled her eyes stepping back and letting Brittany take her hand.
"I just wanted to make sure he was okay,” the blonde could be heard saying sadly as Kurt walked away. "That he had enough bowties. You know he can't survive without them."
Kurt paused at Brittany's words and glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you sent him one, just... don't try to see him," he said softly.
*
That night, Sam came up to knock on Kurt’s door and speak to him. The following day Mercedes took him aside. Thursday, even Puck (being pulled by Lauren) asked him... after stealing a few of his cigarettes. Friday, he managed to avoid the new irish kid and some girl called Candy... or Sugar? Kurt wasn't sure. When did Glee club get this popular? Saturday, Artie came by the shop, and by that point even Burt was asking what they were all coming to Kurt to find out about.
Sunday arrived, there was a knock on the downstairs door. Tina and Mike stood on the doorstep, hand in hand, waiting for Kurt to answer.
Kurt had two options. Pretend he wasn't home (which wouldn't work with his car in the drive) or go answer the door. Finally, he padded downstairs, dressed in his non-school clothing. Fashionable, and comfortable.
And not what the people on the other side of the door had expected to see him in after so long. "Tina. Mike. Finn's not here."
"That's okay, we wanted to talk to you." Tina said softly. "Can we come in?"
Mike smiled, holding out a tupperware. "Yeah, my mom made chicken salad," he offered.
Tina gave Kurt an apologetic smile and hoped he liked chicken feet, she was sure one day the woman would make chicken feet brownies.
He looked at them uncertainly, feeling vulnerable without the heavy jacket, but he pulled back, letting them inside without a word.
Mike smiled, setting the tub in Kurt's hands as they walked in. "Huh, I don't think I've been to your new house, it's pretty nice," Mike said as they walked into the living room and Tina sat on the arm of the couch.
Kurt sighed, shutting the door and going with them to the living room. He set the tub of salad on the side table, but didn't sit just yet. "We're not friends. I don't have his phone number. No, I haven't talked to him. Yes, it's personal. No, I'm not telling. Just leave him alone and give him space," he said in short order. "Did that answer everything?"
Tina sighed, "That wasn't what we were going to ask," she replied. "He'll call us when he's ready. We just wanted you to let him know we're here if he does talk to you.
"Look, I don't know why you helped him. I'm hoping it's because, Kurt, you still care about people. That you're still the same Kurt who defended me from Karofsky and Azimo. I just... I want you to be nice to him when he comes back. I know you stole his glasses. Blaine, he's... He's not like you, you chose to leave Glee and didn't need it. He needs people. He needs this. He had a really rough time in his old school and joining Glee at McKinley has been amazing for him. I don't want him to lose that.
“I don't know if you remember what he was like when he first came? It was right before you left - we barely managed to get him to audition to sway behind Rachel. Now... well, now he's dancing on tables and Brittany's swinging him around the room. I'd hate to think that Karofsky stole that from him.
“Just... if he does come back, if we manage it. Just be kind to him."
Kurt pressed his lips together so tightly they bled white, his jaw visibly clenching as he bit back the words he wanted to say. It wasn't right, it wasn't okay, and it wasn't fair that they'd assume this. He'd worked HARD so people would assume this, but that they believed, it that TINA of all people bought it? That hurt.
"What's wrong?" She asked watching him.
"I'm not going to pick on your precious Blanderson. If that's all you wanted to tell me, you can go," he said, his voice controlled and tight.
"Kurt, what's upset you? Didn't you take his glasses?" she asked.
"Pranking someone and picking on them are two different things. If you think I'm going to mess with him after-" He stopped himself and lifted his chin defensively. "Just go. Please."
"That wasn't pranking, Kurt. That was bullying. It would've been pranking if he was in on the joke," she said gently as Mike grew a little uncomfortable and started looking around the room. "Look at your actions,” she said. “Just because Karofsky was a lot more damaging, doesn't mean that, what you did? Didn't hurt him."
She sighed and stood up. "I just... I wish you'd come back to us. This person you've turned into? It's not you. If it was, you wouldn't be protecting him from everyone right now."
"I'm protecting him so he can come to terms with what had happened, without having to hide EVERYTHING." Kurt went to the front door and opened it, the ball of the handle banging against the wall. "This conversation is over."
She sighed, watching him, about to speak before shaking her head. "Fine. Just... take care of yourself, Kurt," she replied as she left, heading down the walk.
Mike Chang stopped briefly in front of him, on his way out. "There's always a space for you and Quinn," he said with a soft shrug before running off after Tina.
Kurt shut the door, leaning heavily back against it. The words ‘that was bullying’ bounced around in his brain, and he locked the door before running to his room, shutting himself inside with a quiet sob. “No....”
(( ONWARD!))
Title: The Nerd and the Skank
Author: ravenpan & azicrow
Rating: PG13
Pairings: Klaine is Endgame
Warnings (if any): Skank!Kurt, Nerd!Blaine (Chapter 10: sexual assault)
Word Count: 3217 (this chapter)
Summary: Burt Hummel never saw Karofsky mock Kurt with a limp wrist. The truth never came out, and shortly after the wedding, Kurt decided he had to do something drastic if he was going to make it out of High School alive. He joined the Skanks to hide under the radar and left Glee Club. Life continued at McKinley and now it's the beginning of a new school year... and one Blaine Anderson is getting under his skin.
Author's Note: This is very much inspired by (and has bits of dialogue occasionally from) You Da One-verse by kendrawcandraw on tumb1r.
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11
*12*
Blaine wasn't at school on Monday and the news of Karofsky's expulsion spread like wildfire. The story began growing more and more dramatic, particularly when Jacob Ben-Israel tried to do an exposé on it towards the end of the day.
Kurt all but attacked Jacob, shoving him into the lockers, with his forearm pinning him there across his chest, as he threatened him within an inch of his life. "... Short version. Don't do it, or I will END you."
Quinn leaned against the wall waiting for Kurt to catch up. "Rachel's been looking like she wants to interrogate you, " she informed him as they started walking.
"It's none of her business," Kurt said through teeth that were almost permanently clenched at this point.
She raised a brow. "Do you think that's stopped her before? When you were being bullied, who was the one you think was trying to mastermind an intervention?" she asked as they stepped outside.
"Doesn't matter, I've steered clear of them, and they've respected that - I see no reason for that to change now," Kurt lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth to punctuate the thought.
"Fine, but if she starts stalking the stands? I'm leaving."
"I guess it's my responsibility to get rid of her if she does. Though it's starting to get chilly, anyway."
"Well, added to the fact that they've got Sectionals coming up, they might not want one of their singers out of the game," she remarked, declining to mention how she knew where they were up to in competition.
Kurt shot her a sharp glance, raising his eyebrow, but not asking the obvious question. "Not like that, just make her not want to bother us again. Nicely. Sort of."
"You don't know Rachel very well, do you?" she replied, blowing out a smoke ring before she saw the girl walking towards them. "Have fun." She turned on her heel and headed off to the parking lot.
"Kurt!" Rachel called.
Kurt's eyes widened slightly and he spun on his heel, taking off in the opposite direction. If he was lucky, he'd lose Rachel in time to get to his car and go home.
“Kurt! Kurt!" She called, picking up speed, her steps coming quicker as she chased him.
Kurt thanked his longer legs as he raced around a few cars, trying to get to, and into, his own car before Rachel caught him.
She broke into a run, chasing after the him... and then his retreating car, before even her energy levels fell and the car sped away.
*
That night had Finn knocking on his bedroom door.
"I'm not here," Kurt said, flicking the page in his magazine, laying on his stomach on his bed. He'd changed into more comfortable clothing... well, comfortable to him, now wearing a pair of skinny-jeans and a knee-length sweater to ward off the chill.
"I've got milk?" came the voice on the other side.
Kurt looked up. “Warm?”
"Yeah. Come on, dude."
Kurt sighed, getting up off the bed and unlocking his door, opening it before going back to his bed and sitting down, turning the page in his magazine. He wasn't really reading it, or even looking at the fashion portrayed. He was just focusing on not thinking, as he'd been since....
Finn smiled. "Hi," he said, walking in with the tray. "I got cookies but I think they're the heart healthy ones you got Burt,” he added, setting it down.
Kurt set his magazine aside and stood to pull over a chair so that Finn wouldn't spill everything all over his bed. "Nothing wrong with heart-healthy cookies."
"They don't taste as nice as the chocolate ones," he complained, before sitting and taking a sip. "How're you doing?" he asked, watching him.
Kurt took the warm milk, holding the mug in both hands as he took a small sip, closing his eyes and letting the warmth settle. "Fine." It was his standard answer.
"You don't need to do that," he replied. "I won't tell anyone."
"It isn't entirely my story to tell. But for my part, I feel guilty and angry and responsible for something truly horrific," he whispered into the milk, taking another sip and staring at the carpet. "Remembering doesn't help," he muttered.
"I kinda meant how you're feeling now Karofsky's out of the school," he replied quietly. "I didn't know how bad he was."
Kurt tugged at the pink strands in his bangs before pushing his hand through his hair, settling it back into place. "Ultimately? Relief," he said succinctly, sipping at the milk again and reaching for a cookie to nibble at. "Too little, too late; but I'm relieved." He looked up at Finn. "Why are you asking?"
He shrugged. "I just... I was kinda worried. You know, I feel like I should've been there for you... and I wasn't," he replied, running his thumb over the rim of the mug.
"That was last year. You weren't my brother yet," Kurt shook his head a wry quirk to his lips. "You're forgiven.”
He nodded. "So have you uhh... talked to Blaine recently? I didn't even know you two knew each other."
"We're not friends," Kurt said quickly.
"But Rachel said... but you helped him."
"I'm a Skank, that doesn't mean I'm not still a decent person," Kurt huffed, looking away.
"No, I know, I just thought that he liked you. I mean, he was asking about you all the time recently; he's gay and you're gay so I … oh wait I did the stereotype thing again, didn't I?" he replied with a grimace, looking a little confused.
"You did, but I know you didn't mean anything about i-" Kurt cut himself off and looked at Finn curiously. "He was asking about me?"
He shrugged, "Yeah, I showed him that video of us at Regionals the first year. He's a nice guy. I mean, he was a bit quiet at first and we kinda didn't get along but, after a while he was pretty cool. You know he has the highest score on Halo right?"
Kurt laughed, shaking his head. "Why would I know that?" He smiled slightly. "Are you trying to talk a boy up to me, Finn Hudson?" Kurt accused with a raise of his eyebrow.
He shrugged. "Aren't I allowed to do that? Be your wingman? I've just never seen you with one. I figured it must be lonely."
Kurt leaned over to his bed stand and pulled out a small bag of chocolate-chip-cheesecake cookies and opened them up, offering the bag to Finn.
"Oh, awesome!" he replied with a grin taking the bag. "I guess I did alright?"
"You did alright," he replied with a quiet half-laugh. "I appreciate that you care."
"Course I do, you're my brother." He replied, munching happily. "Oh yeah, if you do hear from Blaine let me know, or better yet Rachel, she's freaking out. The glee club's pretty worried but he's not answering his phone; and when we go over, his brother - You know the famous one? - He or Blaine's mom just say that he doesn't wanna see anybody. Hey, did you know his mom was like this tiny filipino woman?" he asked "I mean TINY. No wonder he's so little."
"I think the word is ‘filipina’, and everyone's tiny compared to you. No, I didn't know that - and if you can possibly convince everyone to leave him the hell alone right now, that'd be great," Kurt said seriously.
"Yeah but she was like... down here," he replied making a vague motion at the bottom of his ribs. He shook his head. "They're just worried about him, and we're his friends, you know?"
"I know. But, please trust me, he needs some time to sort himself out. You keep at him, next thing you know he'll quit Glee and join the Skanks," he said, taking one of the yummier cookies and nibbling at it.
He snorted. "Dude, nah. I can't see it. He's got a pocket protector."
Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Maybe he'll just switch schools. My point is, leave him be. Get him a card or something if you must, but leave him the fuck alone. He's stupidly loyal, I doubt he'll leave you in the lurch for the competition."
"I thought you weren't friends?"
"I owe him."
"What did he do?" he asked.
"You can't tell ANYONE."
"I won't, I swear," he replied, holding his hands up.
"I was really sick a few weeks ago. Like.... Delirious. I was going to try and get over it in my car so I didn't bring it in the house and get Dad sick. He took me home and took care of me," he said, looking into the nearly finished mug of milk, it was cooling to room temperature by now. "So yeah. I owe him."
"How long were you planning on sitting in the car?" he asked as he drained his glass.
"Until I got better. Didn't make it to the car, though, like I said."
"Yeah, but that can take, like, days or a week. You were gonna just sleep in your car for a week?"
"I couldn't risk Dad getting sick, Finn! If my fever was so high I wasn't fully aware of what I was doing, it might have..." Kurt closed his eyes tightly. "He can't get that kind of sick. It's dangerous."
"Dude why didn't you just stay at Quinn's then?" he asked, confused.
"Finn. I was delirious. You think I didn't think about that later? It was just after lunch, and she had an exam - that's all I could focus on."
Finn nodded. "Alright. Still, that was pretty nice of him."
"Yeah. Hence the owing. Can we stop talking about Anderson now?"
He looked at him, surprised. "Alright," he replied, before stealing another cookie and standing. "So, we good?"
"Yeah, we're good. Though, for the record, I wouldn't mind being left alone, either."
"Yeah... well, that's the difference between brothers and friends, you're kinda stuck with me." he replied heading to the door.
"I wasn't talking about you, you great oaf." Kurt smiled. "You, I don't mind."
“Cool!” Finn’s face lit up. “Alright, I'm off. Gotta plan a tournament with Puck."
"Get outta here." Kurt waved him off, smiling at his dorky brother. How he'd ever had a crush on him was a mystery. "Shoo."
*
Kurt figured once he explained to his brother that Blaine needed left alone, that his brother would somehow work Finn Magic and manage to convince everyone else in New Directions it wasn't their business.
Unfortunately, this WAS New Directions, and the concept of anything NOT being their business was impossible for them to understand.
Brittany and Santana cornered Kurt on Tuesday. "Hey lady lips, we wanna know if you've heard from your little boyrfriend."
Brittany looked at him with a soft frown. "He didn't tutor me yesterday. We were going to work on an intervention plan for Lord Tubbington's overeating, too."
Unfortunately they were inside, so Kurt didn't have a ready stream of smoke to blow at Santana. And she still frightened him a little. And it was Brittany which put them at an unfair advantage.
Still.
"Brittany, just feed him only a quarter cup of food twice a day, and hide the bag; that'll keep him from overeating. Satan, I don't have a boyfriend, so clearly you've lost your mind." Kurt tried to push past them to freedom.
"Don't play dumb with me, You know I'm talking about our boy Anderson. Berry says you two have been hanging out so we just want to know what's up."
"She's insane, you're actually believing something she said?" Kurt raised an eyebrow as Santana's hand pushed his shoulder back against the wall. He picked her pinky up and made a show of removing the unwanted contact. "I don't even have Blanderson's phone number, we can't stand each other."
"Right, you don't give a crap when anyone else is bullied in this school but he gets picked on and you actually come out of your Skank cave," she remarked, crossing her arms.
"Karofsky wasn't a normal bully," Kurt lifted his chin. "Now, if you excuse me, I have places to be."
Santana rolled her eyes stepping back and letting Brittany take her hand.
"I just wanted to make sure he was okay,” the blonde could be heard saying sadly as Kurt walked away. "That he had enough bowties. You know he can't survive without them."
Kurt paused at Brittany's words and glanced over his shoulder. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you sent him one, just... don't try to see him," he said softly.
*
That night, Sam came up to knock on Kurt’s door and speak to him. The following day Mercedes took him aside. Thursday, even Puck (being pulled by Lauren) asked him... after stealing a few of his cigarettes. Friday, he managed to avoid the new irish kid and some girl called Candy... or Sugar? Kurt wasn't sure. When did Glee club get this popular? Saturday, Artie came by the shop, and by that point even Burt was asking what they were all coming to Kurt to find out about.
Sunday arrived, there was a knock on the downstairs door. Tina and Mike stood on the doorstep, hand in hand, waiting for Kurt to answer.
Kurt had two options. Pretend he wasn't home (which wouldn't work with his car in the drive) or go answer the door. Finally, he padded downstairs, dressed in his non-school clothing. Fashionable, and comfortable.
And not what the people on the other side of the door had expected to see him in after so long. "Tina. Mike. Finn's not here."
"That's okay, we wanted to talk to you." Tina said softly. "Can we come in?"
Mike smiled, holding out a tupperware. "Yeah, my mom made chicken salad," he offered.
Tina gave Kurt an apologetic smile and hoped he liked chicken feet, she was sure one day the woman would make chicken feet brownies.
He looked at them uncertainly, feeling vulnerable without the heavy jacket, but he pulled back, letting them inside without a word.
Mike smiled, setting the tub in Kurt's hands as they walked in. "Huh, I don't think I've been to your new house, it's pretty nice," Mike said as they walked into the living room and Tina sat on the arm of the couch.
Kurt sighed, shutting the door and going with them to the living room. He set the tub of salad on the side table, but didn't sit just yet. "We're not friends. I don't have his phone number. No, I haven't talked to him. Yes, it's personal. No, I'm not telling. Just leave him alone and give him space," he said in short order. "Did that answer everything?"
Tina sighed, "That wasn't what we were going to ask," she replied. "He'll call us when he's ready. We just wanted you to let him know we're here if he does talk to you.
"Look, I don't know why you helped him. I'm hoping it's because, Kurt, you still care about people. That you're still the same Kurt who defended me from Karofsky and Azimo. I just... I want you to be nice to him when he comes back. I know you stole his glasses. Blaine, he's... He's not like you, you chose to leave Glee and didn't need it. He needs people. He needs this. He had a really rough time in his old school and joining Glee at McKinley has been amazing for him. I don't want him to lose that.
“I don't know if you remember what he was like when he first came? It was right before you left - we barely managed to get him to audition to sway behind Rachel. Now... well, now he's dancing on tables and Brittany's swinging him around the room. I'd hate to think that Karofsky stole that from him.
“Just... if he does come back, if we manage it. Just be kind to him."
Kurt pressed his lips together so tightly they bled white, his jaw visibly clenching as he bit back the words he wanted to say. It wasn't right, it wasn't okay, and it wasn't fair that they'd assume this. He'd worked HARD so people would assume this, but that they believed, it that TINA of all people bought it? That hurt.
"What's wrong?" She asked watching him.
"I'm not going to pick on your precious Blanderson. If that's all you wanted to tell me, you can go," he said, his voice controlled and tight.
"Kurt, what's upset you? Didn't you take his glasses?" she asked.
"Pranking someone and picking on them are two different things. If you think I'm going to mess with him after-" He stopped himself and lifted his chin defensively. "Just go. Please."
"That wasn't pranking, Kurt. That was bullying. It would've been pranking if he was in on the joke," she said gently as Mike grew a little uncomfortable and started looking around the room. "Look at your actions,” she said. “Just because Karofsky was a lot more damaging, doesn't mean that, what you did? Didn't hurt him."
She sighed and stood up. "I just... I wish you'd come back to us. This person you've turned into? It's not you. If it was, you wouldn't be protecting him from everyone right now."
"I'm protecting him so he can come to terms with what had happened, without having to hide EVERYTHING." Kurt went to the front door and opened it, the ball of the handle banging against the wall. "This conversation is over."
She sighed, watching him, about to speak before shaking her head. "Fine. Just... take care of yourself, Kurt," she replied as she left, heading down the walk.
Mike Chang stopped briefly in front of him, on his way out. "There's always a space for you and Quinn," he said with a soft shrug before running off after Tina.
Kurt shut the door, leaning heavily back against it. The words ‘that was bullying’ bounced around in his brain, and he locked the door before running to his room, shutting himself inside with a quiet sob. “No....”
(( ONWARD!))