Skin On Skin

Chapter 9

Their dining room wasn't really a dining room at all. It was a space at the back of the kitchen where they had managed to wedge a small square table and four non-matching chairs. They all sat squashed in with their cutlery overlapping and their glasses of water and soda touching. This was one of Kurt's favorite rooms in the house. Many wonderful conversations and hilarious stories had been told at this table and it was usually Saturday night when it all took place. It was the one day in their busy schedules where they would all get together, discuss their week, eat and drink, and sometimes play cards or board games before they headed out to a club or a bar. But due to Mercedes' meddling, this Friday night she had managed to get both Kurt and herself out of work to ensure that operation Blaine Anderson happened. It had also been by fluke that Finn was free and was there to join them as well.

"So Blaine," Mercedes started shyly, "where did you get the inspiration for your song Trademark?"

It appeared everyone in the room was relieved that she had finally broken the silence. The usual light and enjoyable ambience they were used to had been missing as no one was quite sure what to say now that they had Blaine Anderson sitting at their table.

Blaine quickly tried to chew the large mouthful of food in his mouth so he could answer her question.

"I didn't. It was written by someone else."

"Oh, well it's still a good song." Blaine flashed her a large smile and Mercedes looked away, her eyes sparkling with just having that one short exchange with her idol.

"So Blaine," Finn began placing his elbows on the table and leaning forward assertively. "Just how many times have you been arrested in the past five months?"

"Finn!" Kurt quipped and he quickly looked at Blaine. "I'm so sorry! You don't have to answer that."

Finn and Blaine fiercely locked gazes, but Blaine shook his head refusing to take the bait and swallowed down another mouthful of food. "It's alright," he told Kurt with a smile. Blaine tilted his head to the side while he thought, "Five times, no six if you include the one in Seattle."

The all looked up in surprise. "You were in Seattle?" Kurt asked.

"Yeah, shh! The paps don't know about it," Blaine said with a wink. "Hunter got arrested for punching a barman and the cops dragged me along too, even though I hadn't done a thing."

"Just a normal Saturday night from the sounds of things then," Finn dropped.

Mercedes and Kurt glared at Finn, and Kurt, his anger mounting, gave a distinct hard kick under the table in his direction.

Finn glared back defiantly, "Only saying what's true."

"I'm so sorry about Finn," Kurt stammered to Blaine, his cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. "He's got this belief that he always has to act like my big brother who needs to protect me."

"There's nothing wrong with that," Blaine acknowledged softly, his eyes glowing warmly. He then turned his head and looked pointedly at Finn, "but I can see how it could get annoying."

Finn's eyes narrowed, "annoying but necessary if we consider the current company in the room."

Kurt quickly leaned forward in his chair and opened his mouth ready to give Finn a round of vicious insults but he stopped short at the feeling of soft fingers coming to rest on the top of his knee under the table. Blaine's hand settled and he gave Kurt's leg a gentle squeeze as he spoke, "Don't worry about it Kurt, I don't mind."

Kurt's face quickly turned to crimson. He didn't need a mirror for him to know, he could feel his cheeks burning. 'It's only a hand, Kurt!' But Blaine's fingers were electric and they were already starting to have a really awkward effect on him, so much so that Kurt was now distracted beyond words.