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Keeping their secret had been relatively easy when they were at school. They had some of the same classes, ran in the same circles, and had a handful of mutual friends. To the outside eye, they just looked like another couple of friends.
What everyone didn’t know was when the two of them were alone, away from the public eye, they were a lot closer than anyone else would assume. At first it had been eye contact that had lasted a few seconds too long to be excused away as nothing, then a brush of their hands that seemed charged with a bit of electricity. A few private moments later and they’d shared their first kiss together.
Even though they were an unlikely couple, their relationship made sense to them. They were both still in the closet, afraid to come out to their family and friends in case of any backlash.
Blaine already knew his father was a known homophobe from the way he talked; slurs were part of his everyday road rage vernacular and anytime they even interacted with someone remotely flamboyant, Blaine saw the way his father subtly recoiled with disgust afterwards. He’d heard his father murmur the words “fucking queer” under his breath too many times that he’d lost count.
Dave, on the other hand, wasn’t quite so certain about his parents’ opinion but he was still just as afraid. He knew how cruel the kids at school could be and him being on one of the winningest high school football teams in Ohio meant he was expected to keep a certain type of image at school. His reputation mattered to him more than anything.
It was difficult for them to sneak around since no one knew about them, but they managed to sneak a kiss here and there. Still, they had reached a point in their relationship where they wanted to do more than just kiss.
Blaine and Dave were up in Blaine’s room, it was a fairly normal occurrence. Blaine’s parents knew they were friends and since they were in some of the same classes, it wasn’t unusual for them to do homework together. On days like this, however, the homework would usually get forgotten and they’d be distracted by each other.
Blaine was laying on his stomach across the bed while Dave was sitting against the headboard. They were actually attempting to get some homework out of the way, so they could enjoy each other in good conscience, when his phone buzzed.
Won’t be home until midnight, use your card to order dinner. -Dad.
Blaine smiled to himself, texting his father back before leaving his homework forgotten as he sat up to sit next to Dave. “So,” he bit on his lip, reaching for the book in Dave’s hand to set it aside. “My dad won’t be back until after midnight tonight…”
“Oh really?” Dave asked as he set his notebook and pencil aside and shifted where he sat so he was facing his friend a little better, leaning into his personal bubble. “Gee, that leaves us with only a few hours together… we better get to studying …” He took the initiative with that, closing the space between them to plant a hard kiss to Blaine’s lips.
Blaine hummed happily against Dave’s lips as he placed a gentle hand on his cheek, a small fire igniting inside of him just as it did every single time their lips touched. “I’d prefer just studying you ,” Blaine mumbled against the other’s lips as he shifted on the bed as well, carefully moving so that he was straddling Dave’s lap. Cupping Dave’s face with both hands now as he deepened their kiss.
Dave let out a surprised noise into Blaine’s lips as they escalated further. He loved the way Blaine’s hands felt-- his skin was so soft and his touch was like electricity-- and the weight from Blaine straddling him was definitely wanted.
Blaine was always slow and careful with his movements; they were both fairly new to this and he wanted Dave but he never wanted to pressure him. He always made sure his actions had purpose and there was always time for Dave to say no if he was uncomfortable.
“M-maybe we could take things a little further than usual,” Dave suggested when he pulled away from their kissing for a breather. His lips were a shade redder than before and his pupils had gone so wide that the iris in his eye was barely visible. His hands were already running up and down Blaine’s sides, fingers sneaking under the fabric of his shirt to touch the bare skin of Blaine’s torso.
Blaine’s entire body shivered at Dave’s touch, his soft fingertips leaving a trail of goosebumps. He was one hundred percent ready to take it to the next level with Dave-- even more so than just physically. He’d been madly in love with Dave for a while now and he wanted to just tell him, but he was afraid of the aftermath and what that would mean. He didn’t want to scare Dave away-- what they had was better than having nothing at all. “I’ll go as far as you want, handsome.” Blaine’s voice was low as he pressed his lips to Dave’s cheek, trailing soft, slow kisses down the other’s jawline.
Although there was a slight anxiousness to Dave’s movements since this was brand-new territory for them, he was eager to explore it with Blaine. Though neither of them had come around to actually define their relationship-- being in the closet put a wrinkle in their overall progress-- their feelings for each other were still quite strong.
Dave started by pushing up at Blaine's shirt, urging him to pull back so he could take it off. Once Blaine had reared back to do so, Dave took the opportunity to take off his own shirt so they were both topless. He was going to make the most of such a rare opportunity.
Blaine's breath was shaky as his hands ran down Dave’s bare chest, his heart pounding in his chest. He’d dreamt of this moment since before they even started their little secret relationship. He was completely intoxicated by Dave’s touch, the feeling of their warm skin touching, Dave’s kiss-- all of it had clouded his brain so much that he missed when his phone went off again.
I just need to come home and get something I left in my office-- could you get it for me so I don’t have to come all the way upstairs? It’s the portfolio sitting right in the middle of my desk. Please bring it down when I get there.
“You’re so attractive, D,” Blaine murmured against Dave’s mouth as he kissed him again deeply. His hands were trembling as he grew more aroused with every moment that passed. Craving some kind of friction, he took it upon himself to make the first real move and grind his hips down into Dave’s lap to experiment. The feeling caused a groan to vibrate deep in his throat.
Dave shuddered at the feeling and already he needed his jeans off so he could feel more. His hands had found a place to rest against his back as each of their kisses grew feverish. “Mm, want you,” he mumbled in Blaine’s mouth. He pulled his hand back around towards Blaine’s front and started to undo his jeans.
They were both so immersed in each other that neither one of them heard the front door open and close, nor did they hear the approaching footsteps until they were right outside Blaine’s bedroom door. Since they were supposedly home alone, neither one had thought to lock the door until it was too late.
“Blaine where--” The eldest Anderson, Blaine’s father, had entered the room and stopped in his tracks when he saw his son straddling his friend. “What the hell?!”
The sound of his father’s voice had Blaine jumping away from Dave as if his friend had shocked him. “ Dad! ” Blaine quickly buttoned up his pants as he shook his head. “Wh-what--I thought you weren’t coming home until--”
“I texted you a few minutes ago; what the hell did I just come home to?!” Conrad yelled, roughly grabbing Blaine by the arm and yanking him even further away from the other boy. His angry eyes landed on Dave, who had been searching for his shirt frantically to throw back on. “Get out of my house! Who do you think you are?!”
Blaine stayed quiet as to not anger his father further, his stomach twisting uncomfortably. His was trembling a little with fear as he’d been startled out of their quiet moment into this frantic, loud moment of anger.
Dave panicked, the loud voice startling him as he quickly gathered his things. A big part of him wanted to stay for Blaine’s sake, especially with how angry his father was becoming, but he was also scared for his own sake. “U-uh, Mr. Anderson, I c-can explain…” he stammered, holding his book bag in front of him with his supplies just shoved in there.
“Shut up, you fucking faggot..!” Conrad spat, stepping aside so Dave could leave.
“ Dad.. ” Blaine frowned as his dad shouted the slur at Dave. He looked at his friend with a wrinkled forehead and sad eyes. “I’m… I’m sorry, D,” he said softly. “You… you should go.” He knew the argument that was coming and Dave didn’t need to be there for it.
Dave hesitated, looking between father and son and feeling as though he should stay. Something in his gut told him to stay.
Conrad let go of his son and stormed over to Dave, pulling on him and practically shoving him out the door. “Well?! Do I have to say it again?! Get out of my house and don’t come back!” he yelled, the volume of his voice only increasing that it finally drove Dave for the door.
When Blaine and his dad were left alone, Blaine went to reach for his shirt to put it back on, taking a nervous breath. “D-dad, I’m sorry...I can--”
A swift and brutal hand came across Blaine’s face, effectively shutting him up. “Shut up!” he snarled. Conrad had always been an angry man but he never raised his hand to Blaine before-- not like this.
With Blaine cradling his face with his hand, still stunned, Conrad stood over his son. “Is this what you’ve been doing every time I’ve had to work late or you were over at that guy’s house studying ?! Is this how you repay me for putting a roof over your head, food in your belly? Jesus, Blaine-- how long has this been going on?!”
Blaine was afraid to open his mouth but he was also afraid to stay quiet. He didn’t want to anger his father further but either way he was backed into a corner. With his face stinging with pain as a couple of hot tears trickled down his face. “...I don’t know.” he said honestly, his eyes trained to the floor. “I… I love him and I just wanted to be with him.” His voice was low, shaking as he wanted to cry. “I’m--”
Another smack came without warning, this time even harder than before, sending Blaine tumbling to the floor. Clearly whatever Blaine had to say only made his father angrier, even if he was simply answering the questions asked of him. “Don’t you dare stand here and tell me you’re a… a--” he huffed and all the anger within him bubbled over in the form of a kick into his son’s side. “Do I have to beat the gay out of you?!”
Blaine curled up into the fetal position, crying as his father took his frustrations out on him. He couldn’t believe this was happening to him. He knew his father was a mean old homophobe who would kick him out if he found out Blaine was queer. But he never dreamed he would physically hurt him like this.
The rest of the night was a blur as Conrad told Blaine he had better be gone by the time he got home that night.
Battered and bruised from his father’s hand, Blaine packed a bag for himself, crying as he left his house. He felt as broken on the inside as he looked on the outside. His face was bruised, his eye was black and swollen. He could feel the bruise forming in his ribs as he walked away from his home-- his father’s home. He no longer had a home there anymore. He was certain that his rib might be cracked. His nose was bloody and he had scratches on his face from his dad’s rings.
Blaine walked and walked and walked until he was standing in front of the only place that he felt safe. Going up to the door, he knocked and prayed that Dave opened the door and not his father.
The door swung open and thankfully, it was Dave who was standing on the other side. He took one look at Blaine and his face fell and he stepped forward to usher Blaine into his home. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out; they both knew what happened-- knew who did this to him.
Once Blaine was inside, Dave gingerly led them over to sit on the couch. “I’ll, uh-- I’ll get you some ice for your face… a-and a first aid kit,” he said as he left Blaine’s side to get the aforementioned things.
As Blaine sat on the couch, he kept his eyes glued to the floor. He felt completely drained and unlike himself. He didn’t know how to feel or react. His entire world had just come crashing down onto him just because he wanted to kiss the boy he loved. “I’m really sorry, D,” he whispered with a careful voice once Dave had come back. He didn’t know if they were alone or not and he wanted to be quiet.
“Shh, don’t apologize--” Dave had brought back an ice pack wrapped in a kitchen towel, and carefully held it against Blaine’s swollen eye. “Here, hold this here and I’ll help put some bandages on… My, uh, dad will be home later b-but I’ll ask him if you can stay here with us. We don’t have to say why your dad…” He swallowed thickly then, feeling incredibly guilty.
Blaine frowned, shaking his head as he pulled his gaze from the floor to look at Dave. “I don’t have to stay here-- I don’t want to get you in trouble,” he said with a sad, worried look on his face. “I just… didn’t know where else to go.” He cast his eyes down again, unable to look at Dave as he said the next statement. “He...he kicked me out and I-” He was interrupted by the lump forming in his throat as tears began to fill his eyes again. He was alone. Homeless and alone. “I didn’t know where else to go…”d
"Are you kidding? You're in this mess because of me. Or, at least, half because of me. I'm not letting you go back there," Dave had been looking at Blaine's face, mostly his injuries. Each bruise and cut looked worse than the last and he internally chastised himself for not staying like his gut had told him. "I'll say whatever I need to say to get my dad to let you stay here," he said definitively, going through the items in the first aid kit to properly treat Blaine's wounds.
“You… don’t have to tell him you were with me. I don’t want you being outed just because I was," Blaine said, hissing a little when Dave gently touched his face to help clean him up. Tears were still sporadically trickling down his cheeks as he sat very still. “I’m…” He didn’t even know what to say; he felt like he was dreaming.
Dave gently dabbed away Blaine’s tears as they fell, sighing softly as he contemplated actually coming out-- at least to his dad. If his dad reacted similarly to Blaine’s, then they would be both out on their own without anyone else to lean against. In a way, staying in the closet could potentially protect Blaine. “Maybe my dad won’t ask any questions; maybe I’ll just tell him your dad did this to you and he’ll at least let you stay for the next few days until we figure things out.”
“I just don’t want you to get in trouble...” Blaine said as he shifted uncomfortably, hissing at the pain in his side from where his dad had kicked him. “I care about you a-and…” his voice shook a little. “I’m just scared…”
Immediately noticing the way that Blaine recoiled and cradled his side, Dave became even more so worried. “Did he hurt you there, too?” he asked, motioning for permission to take a look. Once given access, Dave very carefully lifted his friend’s shirt and couldn’t help but to gasp at the sight of the large, angry bruise marring his side. “Blaine, you-- that… that looks really bad; what if you need to go to the doctor?”
Blaine frowned as he looked at Dave, shaking his head as he scooted a little closer to Dave. “N-no...no doctor, they’ll call my dad. I don’t…” He sighed, wiping carefully at his wet and bruised face.
With an anxious sigh, Dave considered their options. “Me getting in trouble is the least of my worries right now. Y-you’re hurt-- really badly-- and I… I’m scared for you and I want to keep you safe. I didn’t know your dad could hurt you like this.”
“I just want you to be safe, too.” Blaine argued, wincing a little again as he placed his hand on Dave’s arm. “I didn’t know he could either...or that he would.” He sniffled, shaking his head. “ You make me feel safe. I just need to be with you-- even if just for a little while. Even if I have to leave before your dad gets home…” he looked up at Dave with his sad, golden eyes. “Whatever it takes to keep you safe. Just in case. Both of our worlds don’t need to be turned upside-down tonight.”
Dave gently grasped Blaine’s arm, wanting to have him right by his side so he could continue keeping him safe. “I don’t want you to leave; I’ll get my dad to let you stay,” he pleaded. He felt like he could bear turning his world upside-down if it meant Blaine would be by his side and away from harm’s way. “Just, please, try to rest. I’ll go get you something for the pain, okay?”
“D-David, wait…” Blaine reached for Dave’s hand to keep him on the couch. He gazed at him with adoration and gratitude. Even on the worst night of his life, Dave was there making him feel okay and safe. “Th-thank you for being here. I’m sorry I pulled you into this mess… I just…” he paused, leaning their foreheads together as he closed his eyes to let the feeling of their closeness heal his insides for just a brief moment. “I love you so much and I want to be with you,” he confessed, being the first to admit that this was more than them just being friends who fool around.
With a shuddering breath, Dave found himself a little speechless with Blaine’s sudden confession. It took him a moment before words finally came out of his mouth. “I… I want to be with you, too. You know that I do. This just-- Tonight has been really crazy,” he said, choosing his words carefully. He placed his hand over Blaine’s and waited until his eyes were open again so they were both staring at each other. The same adoration and gratitude that Blaine had in his eyes were reflected back to him in Dave’s eyes. “You know how I feel about you, Blaine. I like you so much b-but…” His words trailed off then, and he became very quiet.
But. That but felt like another blow right to Blaine’s stomach, leaving a giant hole the burned of rejection. He felt his entire body go cold despite that burn and he pulled his hand away from Dave’s. He could feel the tears stinging his aching eyes. “N-no, no you don’t have to…” he shook his head. “You don’t-- just… it’s okay,” he said with a small, fake smile as he sat up a little straighter.
Dave wanted to sit there and tell Blaine that he loved him; his feelings were definitely strong enough to be defined by those words but this was the first real relationship he ever had and he was still in the closet. It didn’t feel right to say those words because of their circumstances; Dave wasn’t like Blaine. “I, uh-- I’ll go and get you some painkillers, okay?”
He went back into the kitchen to rummage through the cabinet, looking for some pain relievers and he knew his dad kept some lidocaine patches for his back somewhere that could probably help with the pain in Blaine’s side. While he was searching, he didn’t hear the way the garage door opened nor the side entrance opening to Paul Karofsky coming home.
“Hey, son, what’re you looking for?” Paul asked, and his voice finally got Dave’s attention. The younger son turned away from the cabinet to face his father, painkillers and lidocaine patches in his hand. “Did you… did you get hurt?”
Dave stammered, unsure of how to break the news of his sort-of boyfriend in the next room. “Uh, no, I didn’t. Um, actually, Dad… I wanted to talk to you about something…”
As Blaine sat on the Karofsky’s couch, he felt like more of a burden and more mortified than ever. He never should’ve come to Dave’s house and he definitely shouldn’t have picked now to confess his feelings. Taking a deep shaking breath, Blaine held his side in pain. That’s when he heard voices coming from the kitchen. Paul must’ve just gotten home. The thought of facing another dad, of causing more grief for Dave-- it was too much. With his heart racing in his chest, his chest starting to heave with heavy breaths, Blaine grabbed his bag and hurriedly slipped out the front door.
“David, I’m sure whatever it is, we can figure it out together…” Paul tried to reason with his son as he noticed how distressed he was as they made their way out to the living room together.
Dave suddenly became alarmed at the fact that the living room was empty, running over to the hallway in search of Blaine.
Paul walked over to the couch, noticing the half-melted ice pack and the open first aid kit just sitting there. “David, what’s going on?”
Coming back into the living room with Blaine nowhere to be found, Dave felt at a loss of what to do. He opened the front door and rushed out to the sidewalk but as he looked up and down the street, Blaine wasn't anywhere in sight.