Title: Drowning in Sunny Skies

Author: Emoryems

Rating: M overall

Spoilers: up to 2.14

Pairing: OMC/Kurt; possible eventual Blaine/Kurt

Warnings: Non-Con, language

Summary: Kurt meets someone at the Lima Bean, thinking he's found the perfect boyfriend. He is sadly mistaken. AU branching off from BIOTA.

A/N: Written for THIS (http .com/glee_angst_meme/7446. html?thread=8639766#t8639766) prompt on the Glee angst meme. I apologise to the OP, whose wonderful prompt I just couldn't seem to stick to. I hope this is adequate.

Let me know what you think? Con-crit is completely welcome, too.

~?~

Kurt trails a finger around the cardboard cup in front of him, feeling the smooth curve of it. As he lifts the drink to his lips and takes a sip, grimacing at how cold it has become, his eyes catch on the other cup still sitting across from him. There is no characteristic spot of wetness around the opening; there is no lifted corner on the snug sleeve. It's just a full cup of coffee.

Setting his drink back down in front of him and clenching his jaw, Kurt pulls his eyes away from the empty spot across from him, and looks out the window. The sun has moved to shine in his eyes, but the blinding brightness is, in this case, a good thing. It helps hide the fading dampness that has been lingering at the edges of his eyes for the past hour.

When they had come in, him and Blaine, he hadn't expected anything other than yet another good time with his friend. He had thought that they were going to laugh about the crazy goings-on at the Berry residence the night before. He thought he was going to get to tease the other boy endlessly about drunken kisses with one Rachel Berry.

He had not expected to be thrown one hell of a curveball.

Now that Kurt's had over an hour to sit and think, he knows that what had gone down could have gone a whole lot better. And, even if he doesn't really want to admit it, he could have handled the situation with a lot more patients.

Any disgruntled anger had dissipated only moments after Blaine had thrown out the last parting snipe and stormed out the door. With the blanket of calm melancholy that had stolen over him came a rush of revelation and regret.

He might not completely understand what it means to like both girls and boys, and he might not agree with how Blaine is going about his experimentation, but he really had messed up.

A year ago Kurt might have bombarded one of his girl friends with a lengthy rant about exactly how wrong Blaine had been, how absurd the whole idea had been. But one of the things Blaine said had hit a nerve.

Was he really becoming a Karofsky? Did his comment (and now, when he thinks back to the words, how they were said) really put him on the same level as the closeted Neanderthal that used to harass him to no end?

Even thinking about the implications of that made him feel sick.

"Hey man, are you using this?" The voice comes from above him, and Kurt blushes as his eyes meet those of a tall man that looks a few years older than him. The man is smiling slightly and indicating the chair that would normally be filled.

"N-no," says Kurt, allowing a closed-lipped smile to grace his features. "Not at all."

The guy nods thankfully and picks the chair up to join a table of college-aged men and women. As he is about to sit he looks over at Kurt and licks his lips before saying, "Thank you."

Nodding again, even though the other man has turned away, Kurt sighs and goes back to staring out the window.

He'll have to apologise. There is no way around it, and he knows that if he doesn't he'll just feel horrible. He can only hope that Blaine will give him a chance to make this right.

Feeling the conviction fill him with some sort of hope, Kurt stands, pulling his bag over his shoulder and picking up both his and Blaine's coffee cups to throw away. As he turns to walk away from the table, however, he is blocked by the same man who had just borrowed the other chair from his table.

He cranes his head back to meet the bright blue-grey eyes and raises a brow. "Hello," he says.

"Hi," the man says back, shifting slightly. "I just," he starts, "I just wanted to ask if you would ever possibly be interested in going out."

Both of his eyebrows have migrated upward now, and Kurt can feel a fluttering in his chest. He's never been asked out before, excepting by Brittany during his trucker phase, and he doesn't quite know how to respond.

The guy seems to have noticed the blush rising on Kurt's face and smirks. "I mean, if you're interested, that is."

Kurt licks his lips. "Um. Yeah, that would be good." He immediately wants to bash his head into the nearest wall for his fumbled attempt at an answer, but not only would that make him look insane, it would mess up his hair.

"Excellent," the guys says, holding up a piece of paper ripped from the corner of a larger, lined piece, "otherwise this would have been slightly disappointing to have to get rid of later."

Kurt laughs lightly, amused. "Glad I could keep you in good spirits."

The piece of paper, which has been folded in half, is still held in front of him. Kurt struggles for a moment, trying to decide if he should turn around and place the coffees back on the table so he can grab it, or if maybe he should stack one on top of the other to free one hand, when the problem is solved for him. The taller man leans forward and tucks the paper into the pocket of his Dalton blazer.

As he leans away, hand trailing just barely over Kurt's lapel, he says, "I'm Ian, by the way."

Chest tight and eyes wide, Kurt breathes out, "Kurt."

"I'll let you go then, Kurt. It was nice to meet you. I hope to hear from you soon." He turns away, back to where his friends are sitting and watching them. Kurt is left, paper sticking from his pocket, and feeling elated.

~?~

When Rachel rushes off amidst an artistic frenzy, Kurt watches her back for a moment. He doesn't know exactly how he feels about what just happened.

A little disappointed, happy, more than slightly righteous. Most of all he just wants to sit down and talk things over with Blaine.

The other boy has been avoiding him at school, only answering his texts with single words, if at all. The distance is has put between them is painful, and he wants his best friend back.

"So you heard that, huh?"

Kurt jerks his gaze upward, taking in the defensive posture of Blaine's shoulders and the cold, shuttered look in his eyes. This is going to be more difficult than he thought.

"Go ahead, say it. You were right."

Kurt bites his lip and shakes his head. "I was wrong."

Blaine's eyebrows go up and he says, "I know."

Feeling a pang of hurt in his chest, Kurt indicates the chair across from him. "Can we talk?"

Blaine hesitates, eyeing the door like he's going to leave.

Kurt's stomach clenches in anxiety, and he knows, as Blaine looks down at him again, that it must be reflecting in his eyes. The harshness in the other boy's eyes relinquishes exponentially, and he sets his coffee on the table and takes a seat.

"I need to apologise," Kurt says immediately, looking into Blaine's eyes. "I was out of line, and as much as I would like to blame high emotion on what I said, I can't."

Blaine says nothing, just continuing to stare expectantly.

Licking his lips and threading his hands together, Kurt braces himself internally. "When you said-" Kurt cuts off, clearing his throat. "When you said what you did – about how I was acting. How I was like Karofsky." His eyes have dropped to the table.

"Kurt," Blaine starts to say, and his voice is softer now.

Kurt doesn't give him time to continue, knowing that if he does he'll never get through what he wants (needs) to say. "It's. It made me angry, at first, and then it made me think. I've had all of these things thrown at me, all of these horrible words and actions, and they are based in prejudice." Kurt pauses, his eyes glancing up quickly to Blaine's face and away again. "It scares me that I might be the person behind that."

Kurt smiles at Blaine, sadness in his features. "I should have supported you. Tried to help you. Instead I acted just like all of the people who have been making my life hell forever."

Blaine leans across the table and takes one of Kurt's hands in his own. "Hey – no." He gives Kurt's fingers a squeeze. "Yeah, you said some stuff that hurt me. You said some things that were rash, but you are nothing like them."

Kurt looks into the brown eyes of his friend, searching. He finds reassurance and forgiveness. He doesn't know if he should get it this easy, but it fills him with relief any way.

"I just hope you know that I'm sorry. And that I'll try my best to do better with supporting you, no matter what."

Blaine smiles at him then, giving his hand one last squeeze before pulling away. "Do you want to do something tonight? We can catch up over a movie."

Kurt shakes his head. "I can't, not tonight."

Blaine gives him a questioning look. "Oh?"

A blush starts to make its way onto Kurt's face, leaving a path of warmth in its wake. "Yeah. I have a date."

The blatant surprise that comes over Blaine's face is almost insulting. "Really? That's – wow, that's unexpected. Who is he?"

"His name is Ian."

"And?" Blaine prompts.

"He asked me out a few days ago. Here, actually – he was here with some friends and borrowed the extra chair from my table." Kurt sips at his coffee. "We're going to Breadstix tonight."

"Well," Blaine says, "I hope you have a good time, then."

When they grab their coffee cups and head for the door, Kurt gives himself a little shake. He must have imagined the disappointed look behind Blaine's smile.

~?~

When he walks in the front door three minutes before his curfew, Kurt has a smile plastered on his face. His cheeks are bright and rosy, eyes glassy, and lips tinged more deeply than usual.

He just had the best first date imaginable.

~?~

Kurt is out shopping with Mercedes on a Saturday afternoon when he can't hold it in any longer.

"I've got a boyfriend," he blurts out as his friend is walking out of a changing room, tugging at the bottom edge of a potential shirt.

Freezing in place, Mercedes just looks at Kurt for a few seconds before letting out an ear-splitting squeal and launching herself at him. She grabs both of his hands in hers and bounces up and down in excitement, causing Kurt to smile and laugh with her.

"He finally asked?" Mercedes pulls him into a hug, and Kurt only barely manages to refrain from complaining about her wrinkling his shirt. It's Dior.

It takes a moment for the words to sink in, and when they do Kurt feels slightly disappointed, but not anywhere near as bad as he could have. It seems that dating Ian is a balm to the wounds of his unrequited crush.

"No, no, Mercedes," he says, pulling away to arm-length. "Not Blaine."

"Oh," she says. "Okay boy, you had better spill."

Mercedes is giving him a firm look, one that says he has broken the tell-all rule of best-friendship, and has propped one hand on her hip. The pose serves to accentuate the cut of the shirt, and Kurt steps back to get a better look.

"His name is Ian." Kurt twirls a finger to tell Mercedes to spin so he can get a look from all angles. "We met at the Lima Bean."

"How does it look?"

"Great. Just like I said it would."

"Yeah, yeah. Gloat all you want."

Kurt smiles. "I will, thank you." Taking one last look, Kurt nods authoritatively. "Definitely a keeper. Next."

Walking back to the changing room and shutting the door, Mercedes' voice floats over the top. "So who is he? Is he hot?"

"He lives in Lima, goes to school here. And very."

"He doesn't go to McKinley, does he?" Mercedes' voice is muffled, obviously blocked by material.

Shaking his head and examining his nails, Kurt replies, "Oh, no. He's a second year student at the college."

"What?" Mercedes' voice is suddenly closer as she opens the door, new shirt in place. "The college? Isn't he a little old?"

Kurt cocks his head, examining the shirt as he replies, "No, not really. He's only twenty, and I'm over the age of consent."

Mercedes raises her brows at him.

Kurt, realizing what he's said, shakes his head. "Oh. I didn't mean it like that, Mercedes."

"Sure you didn't," she says, teasing. "What do you think?" She twirls slowly, arms out of the way.

"Not bad, but the last one was better." Kurt looks again. "Although, it would go wonderfully with those skinny jeans from last week."

"You think?" Mercedes looks in the mirror, considering. "Are you happy with him?"

Smile taking his lips, Kurt meets Mercedes' eyes in the mirror. "Yeah. He's good to me."

Nodding with authority, Mercedes says, "Good. Otherwise I'd have to cut a bitch."

~?~

The way Ian showers him with affection makes him feel good. Every time the other boy takes his hand and holds it in his own connects them in a way that Kurt has never experienced before. When Ian's arms wrap around him he gets warm; it feels like he's wrapped in a comforting blanket.

Little things, like when Ian drops his chin down to rest on Kurt's shoulder, as he is apt to do, leaves a grin on Kurt's face for hours.

Kurt is coming to realize how much he enjoys physical affection. How much he loves being able to connect with someone in that way. And Ian is always touching him, holding him, making him feel adored.

Kurt sighs in happiness, cuddling into Ian's side as they sit in front of the TV. When he feels a shift of movement, he looks up and meets Ian's eyes.

"Comfy?"

Nodding, Kurt says, "Yeah. You make a good pillow."

Ian laughs and tightens the arm he has wrapped around Kurt's shoulders. "What, do I have too much padding?"

Giggling, Kurt pokes his boyfriend in the side. "Nope. Just the right amount."

~?~

Kurt is sitting in the Lima Bean with Blaine, a hot coffee in hand as he watches his friend devour a cookie.

"I have no idea how you can eat so much and not weigh a ton." Kurt can't decide if he is staring in awe or in jealousy. He likes his figure, and he likes his clear skin, but he has to work for it. Unlike Blaine. The lucky bastard.

Blaine looks up, amusement in his eyes. "Good genes, I guess."

"Hmm. You and Ian both." Kurt smiles at the thought of his boyfriend. His iboyfriend/i. It's such and strange and wonderful thought.

Blaine stops eating, wiping his lips on a napkin. "How's that going?"

Kurt can't keep the grin from his face. "It's amazing. He's amazing."

"That's great, Kurt," Blaine says, beaming at him. Kurt can't help but notice how it doesn't quite reach his eyes, not the way his smiles usually do.

"Are you interested in anyone?" Kurt takes a sip of his coffee.

Blaine shakes his head dismissively. "No. I'm focusing on my studies and the Warblers right now."

Kurt doesn't know what to think of that, and he wonders if that is Blaine's way of saying he should be, too. But Blaine is his best friend, and he has supported Kurt since the beginning with Ian. With being happy. So Kurt decides to ignore the undercurrents of the conversation.

"What are you doing tonight?"

Blaine shrugs, and Kurt's eyes are caught on the movement of his Dalton blazer over his shoulders. "Nothing, really. Why? Did you want to do something?"

Kurt gives Blaine an apologetic look. "Oh, no. I'm going to Ian's tonight. He promised to watch The Sound of Music with me."

Kurt regrets the loss of time with Blaine, but Ian is so amazing to be around that he just can't seem to pull away.

"Oh," says Blaine, going back to his cookie. "Well then. I hope you have a good time."

"Thanks."

~?~

When Kurt gets home he goes straight to his room, shutting the door behind him.

He doesn't know what to do.

There are hand-shaped red marks emblazoned on his skin where Ian had held too tight, a line of hickies down his neck, and a patch of stubble-burn on his jaw.

He looks a mess; he's not much better on the inside.

It feels so good when he's with Ian, and he always has a wonderful time. Except tonight.

Usually when they go out to a movie or to dinner at Breadstix, he and Ian talk and laugh and have a good time. But tonight had been different. Ian had been different.

Kurt likes making out with his boyfriend – that isn't a problem – but Ian had wanted more than kissing and groping, and Kurt doesn't think he's ready.

He does want to have sex. Eventually. But he wants it to be special; with someone special who thinks he is special, too. He likes Ian, and he thinks that maybe in a couple of months they could be that for each other, but right now it's too new.

Maybe it makes him frigid, or a bad boyfriend, but he wants romance. He wants candlelight dinners and rose petals and slow dancing.

He'd thought that was what Ian wanted, too. Until tonight, when his hands had been hard on Kurt's arms and hips, lips pressing with urgency against Kurt's. Hips grinding down in a way that made Kurt gasp with pleasure, and then push him away.

He isn't ready.