FIC: Forget that Twilight Nonsense

[ladydreamer]

Series: Kinn and Clan
Title: Forget that Twilight Nonsense
Pair: Kurt/Finn :D
Warnings: violence
Word Count: 7584
Summary: AU post S1 Sectionals. Carole and Burt never got together.
Finn is a hereditary werewolf, and he wonders if one of his classmates is the same. That has to be why he’s so drawn to him, right?
AN: Parts One and Two go together. Part Two includes sexual assault. The third post moves to the future and is mpreg.



Kurt Hummel was something else. Finn had realized that the moment he’d set sight on him… but totally not in a gay way. He’d looked at the slim build that hid so much strength, the penetrating stare with eyes that sometimes flickered from an unearthly blue to something darker both in hue and intensity, the way his smile hid his teeth, and Finn had been sure, just absolutely sure.

Kurt was a werewolf like Finn was.

Finn helped him, sometimes. Kept an eye on him. Sometimes not. After all, Kurt seemed to heal fast enough, and he should be able to handle normal school boys. Finn had learned he was Clan when he’d hit puberty, and his mom explained that he had to be careful not to bite anyone, not even by accident or self-defense, around the full moon. It was something he’d inherited from his father, but he could give the gift someone else who wasn’t worthy, if he got sloppy.

So, the safest sex would be no sex at all. Finn wasn’t sure if he could give that to Quinn, but he was afraid that he might. He was always on the edge of danger with her. Even kissing Rachel seemed risky, but at least with her, he could control himself a little.

But there was something about Kurt that made it seem like he wouldn’t have to be quite so safe. There was a hint of danger in Kurt’s eyes, sometimes. A bit of aloofness that made him seem not quite a part of the world.

Finn had tried to hint, a few times, that they might have something in common, but he always pulled back. The way Kurt looked at him made him nervous. Totally in a gay way. In that he knew Kurt was gay, and he knew from Rachel before they’d broken up (though he wasn’t sure when they’d exactly started dating) that Kurt liked him. He should’ve known. Kurt twisted his fingers and looked up at him with those big, big eyes.

I honestly love you.

His eyes were almost like the sky that day. It frightened Finn, when Kurt looked at him like that. All layers, Peter Pan hat, and yearning.

Over and over, Finn reassured himself that he totally wasn’t gay. He just wanted to hang out with Kurt because they were both Clan, and that would mean they had things they could share. They could practice sparring together, and no one would hurt Kurt again. That big lug from the hockey team Karofsky had started to really rip into Kurt once he joined the Cheerios. You’d think that Coach Sylvester would offer him some protection, but not so much.

Maybe as a consequence of her neglect, Kurt wore his Cheerios uniform to school less often than the others did. He’d wear it on game days, or when there were pep rallies, but other days, it was layers upon layers.

“There’s gonna be a skinstorm. Better bundle up to protect your virginity,” Santana jeered as she walked out of the choir room with Brittany, giggling.

Kurt rolled his eyes and tilted his head to the side as he texted someone on his phone, his tongue sliding up and down his teeth, as though he enjoyed the feel of them. Finn was standing with the guys, having a conversation with Puck, but drifted away to follow Kurt.

His scent had changed in the past few days, and Finn found himself drawn to his friend more than ever. Kurt appeared to be growing, or maturing, maybe. Maybe that’s why he didn’t fight back. He might not have hit puberty yet. Maybe he hadn’t gotten his strength, or learned to control The Change.

Out in the hall, Finn caught himself before a growl left his throat. Karofsky stalked down the path that Kurt had taken, and Finn went after him. He had to keep himself in check. There were days when he wanted to rip out Karofsky’s throat, and while satisfying in the moment, Finn had never killed anyone with his gift, and he hoped never to be that guy.

Finn’s ears rang as he heard the sound of lockers clanging. He hurried down the hall to see Karofsky pinning Kurt against them and saying something in a low, husky voice. Then he leaned over and smelled his neck.

Finn’s vision sharpened, and he knew if he wasn’t careful, he’d wolf out right then and there, attack Karofsky, and maybe hurt Kurt in the process. In the moment he took calming himself, he realized that Karofsky was drawn to Kurt’s scent as well. His keen vision caught the sight of Karofsky’s nails growing into claws, puncturing the locker above Kurt’s head.

He stepped forward, but just then, Kurt disappeared.

Disappeared.

Finn stood there, blinking. Karofsky was doing the same, looking around for where Kurt had disappeared to. Finn caught sight of him first in the doorway much further down the hall.

That was impossible. Not even a wolf could move that fast. Could they? Maybe Kurt was just faster, or he’d known longer a lot longer… but that didn’t make sense. He could’ve pushed all the bullies off him, if that was the case. Anyway, he just looked so fragile.

“What the hell?” Karofsky made as though he were going to chase after Kurt, but Kurt disappeared again. Shaking his head, Karofsky sniffed the air, and turned to look at Finn. “What’s your problem, Hudson?”

“Lay off him!” Finn stormed forward and shoved Karofsky’s shoulder.

“Give me a break.” Karofsky shoved him back, then walked away.

Finn squeezed his fists into tight balls. A bit of blood dripped down, and he breathed in deeply to calm himself. Karofsky hadn’t figured him out. But Finn had this dude figured out for sure. He smelled Kurt, and he wanted him. Like that. He could be dangerous.

***

Finn hated himself. He sat in the waiting room with the other Glee clubbers, his head in his hands. He’d known that Karofsky was after Kurt. He’d known how dangerous that douchebag could be. And he’d been so riled up that week about his teammates calling him gay that he’d yelled at Kurt for no reason during Glee, told him his dance moves were “faggy,” and alienated himself from half the club.

And oh yeah, because he wasn’t paying enough attention, Karofsky and Azimio had beaten the living shit out of Kurt in the hallways. Finn blamed himself. He could have heard it happening, if he’d been listening for Kurt. He could’ve gotten the other guys to protect Kurt this week. He could’ve talked to Kurt about not wearing his Gaga/Mozart costume around the hallways or been by his side when he had to walk from the bathroom to the auditorium.

None of that had happened.

“Kurt!” Tina burst into tears and ran forward to give Kurt a hug as he limped forward. Mercedes and Rachel crowded him as well.

His face was covered with bruises, and his arm was in a cast. He looked a lot better than he had before, sprawled out bleeding on the floor, but it wasn’t a nice sight to see.

Kurt’s father put his hand on his shoulder, and after assuring his friends that he was okay, Kurt left with him, promising to be back to school on Monday.

Monday came.

Oh, Kurt’s wrist was still wrapped up, and he had a bit of a bruise around one crystal blue eye, but otherwise, he was completely restored. He’d told the others that it had been worse than it looked, and he’d iced his bruises over the weekend. He was even wearing a little makeup, as though to cover them up. But no makeup was that good, and he seemed to be wearing the cast for appearances. Finn was shocked. Kurt’s healing powers were absolutely crazy. How did that even happen?

Finn couldn’t’ve done the same in a week. His friend was a mystery. Did his pack have some secrets that he and his mom didn’t know about?

“Hey, uh.” Finn toed the ground and let out a breath.

Kurt looked down at him. He’d been standing on a chair, looking out the window. “Yeah?”

“I wanted to…” Finn stopped when he realized the others had gotten quiet.

Kurt shot them a sharp glance, and they at least pretended to be preoccupied with something else.

“I wanted to apologize.”

Kurt leaned on the windowsill and tilted his head to the side. “I thought you were different. I thought you weren’t like the rest of them.”

“I am! And I’m not! I mean-”

“You are.” Kurt shrugged, then stepped down from the chair and looked up at him. “Or that would never have been on the tip of your tongue to say in the first place. I’m sorry if I make you uncomfortable. But I’m not a predator. I don’t stalk you, and I don’t watch you undress. I’d never force you to do anything you didn’t want to do, and I have never really tried to manipulate you into doing something you didn’t want. Besides mentioning being gay as a possibility, and that was a long time ago and no one is so weak-willed that I can compel them just by suggesting something. So I’m not sure what I did to deserve that. Except like you. I promise not to do it again.”

“Kurt!” Finn ignored the others who had dropped pretense of butting out of this. He grabbed Kurt’s shoulder, and Kurt went cold. Ice cold. Finn pulled his hand back and shivered. He stared as Kurt turned back to look at him.

“What?”

“Come… I don’t know. Come have coffee with me. I want to fix this. I didn’t mean it like that-”

“Yes, you did.”

Finn licked his lips and then grinned a little. “You know, I kind of like how you don’t let me off the hook for stuff.”

Kurt rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

Finn toed the ground again.

“Okay, okay. You can get me coffee.”

***

It had started with coffee. Gentle joking, friendship rebuilding. Then there were more runs for coffee, and Finn was calling Kurt for advice or just to chat like he used to, back before his relationship with Quinn had exploded. Coffee and talks turned into dinner and longer talks, turned into an almost weird sleepover with Kurt’s dad peeking his head down into the basement every half hour, turned into them spending almost every lunch together.

Puck started joking that they were dating. Finn told him to mind his own damn business, and if he was afraid of the gay, he should probably get out of show choir.

Then suddenly it was time to prep for Regionals, and everyone was anxious. Jesse St. Douchebag was featuring in practically every song with Rachel, but he transferred suddenly back to Vocal Adrenaline and staged a takeover of their auditorium to do a Queen song. None of them understood what had happened, or why he’d come in the first place. That was a long way to go to tear down a minor rival. Maybe for the first time, Rachel was justifiably wrapped up in drama. Jesse had dumped and humiliated her. Still, that left them with one lead gone and another spending every practice in tears.

“We’ve worked on so many awesome songs this year. I think we should spread the wealth,” Finn suggested, taking the floor and scanning over the club. “Do some duets that no one would expect-”

“Which would be you and Rachel, right?” Mercedes sighed.

“Something Journey, probably,” Santana added.

“No, I was thinking you and Rachel, Mercedes.” Finn grinned as Mercedes perked up and Rachel wiped her eyes. “Diva off, on stage. But maybe as the second song. I thought we could end with, um…. ‘Happy Ending.’”

“Oh! Mika!” Kurt clapped his hands together. “That would be amazing!”

“Yeah, with Santana, Brittany, and Quinn on the background parts-”

“Background,” Santana grumbled, swiveling her head.

Kurt turned around to her. “You don’t understand. These choral vocals frame the song. We could pretty much start with you three, maybe Tina too, as the only ones on the stage, and then the leads enter, and everyone else to get a bigger, richer sound for the final chorus.”

“Yeah, totally.” Finn shrugged with his hands on his hips. “We don’t have the numbers the other groups do, but we could, like, fake it.”

Mr. Schue clapped his hand on Finn’s shoulder. “I think that would be a great solo for you, Finn. Let’s get to work.”

“Oh, um.” Finn looked at him. “It’s not a solo. Or if it is, it shouldn’t be me. I can’t hit those notes, Mr. Schue. They’re totally too high. I was hoping to share the verses with Kurt, but if it’s a solo, it should be his.”

Kurt’s brows raised high. “Oh.”

“None of us guys have the same range,” Finn muttered. “And uh, other groups use a boy and a girl, but that’s not that impressive, right? They’re taking a really surprisingly awesome part of the song and making it… what’s the word?”

“Mundane,” Kurt supplied. “Well, getting me a solo or even a duet is a great way to make me like you.”

“Aw, you do already. I know because you make sure I eat veggies at lunch.”

“Jerk.” Kurt laughed, lowered his eyes for a second, then up again through his lashes.

Dark, sparkling embers underneath midnight blue.

That afternoon was probably Finn’s favorite practice to date, the two of them working out the vocals to lead the song, while Mercedes and Rachel excitedly worked together on which song they’d like to do for their duet.

***

Kurt was a bundle of nerves before the competition. Finn wasn’t nervous, but he was on edge. Kurt’s scent was driving him crazier than ever. He watched him there, sitting on a bench, drinking his lunch as he tended to do (like he wasn’t skinny enough as it was), and licking his lips every so often and swallowing as he looked around. He was even paler than usual, milky white. Like some fine porcelain piece on his mother’s bookshelf.

Finn’s heart pounded rapidly as he watched him. The other guys had stopped commenting on their friendship by now. It just was. Kurt and Finn hung out together. Despite all reason, Finn the jock and Kurt the school queen were almost best friends. Finn was glad for that, but…

Kurt’s head turned, and he looked straight at Finn. At his chest. Then his eyes rose to his face.

“Come sit with me? I’m… I’m a little…” Kurt brew air out his lips and his shoulder sagged forward.

Finn grabbed Kurt’s shoulder and rubbed them vigorously. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “You’re gonna be awesome.”

Finn had, over the course of the weeks before Regionals, conceded more and more of the song to Kurt. Now the girls had their choral part, Finn backed Kurt up on the lower register he wasn’t confident in, and Kurt was pretty much the lead. That was fine with Finn. He had the lead on the first song with Rachel, at least in part of it. They’d given a verse to Santana and Puck, but Finn was more than satisfied with his part. If only because Kurt lit right up like a light when he let go and let his voice soar.

“Thanks.” Kurt wiggled his shoulders to loosen them up a bit. He turned toward Finn, about to say something.

There was a strange scent on his breath. Not unpleasant. A bit tangy. A bit metallic. What was in that thermos of his? Kurt was always on some weird diet. Finn assumed it had to do with being on the Cheerios, but he didn’t need to lose weight. All he ever ate was whatever he mixed up in that thermos, though sometimes he’d get a small bowl of soup or nibble on Finn’s pastry when they went out. Finn was always joking that Kurt was a cheap date.

A fleck of red lingered on the corner of his mouth. Finn reached over to wipe it away. Then, as Kurt’s eyes bulged, Finn licked it off his finger.

Blood?!

Finn frowned. He had to be wrong. But he would know the taste of blood. He and his mother always ate their meat very rare. Finn leaned forward, almost as though he wanted another taste.

Kurt jumped up and hurried over to where the others were lining up to go on stage. He stashed the thermos in his messenger bag and kept his eyes forward.

Finn couldn’t make sense of that. He was mostly carnivorous, especially around the full moon, but if he drank blood straight up, he would probably go wild. Or puke. Did Kurt have some way of controlling himself? Did he get cravings for it that other wolves didn’t?

They poured onto the stage to open with “Don’t Stop Believing.” Kurt called it ironic to start with such an optimistic song and end with “Happy Ending.” Finn didn’t know what that meant, but Mr. Schue and Rachel seemed to think it was a good thing. Maybe because they sounded really good on the songs.

Finn found his gaze drifting to Kurt, even when he was supposed to be focusing on Rachel. He was relieved when they stepped back to do background dancing for Rachel and Mercedes’ belt-a-thon, but that was over too soon, and the girls were up, singing their harmony, sweetly and sadly.

“This is the way you left me, I’m not pretending…”

Then Kurt stepped forward, his clear countertenor ringing out over the crowd who had quieted while the girls sang.

“Wake up in the morning, stumble on my life. Can’t get no love without sacrifice. If anything should happen, I guess I wish you well. A little bit of heaven, but a little bit of hell.”

“This is the hardest story that I have ever told,” Finn joined in. “No hope, or love, or glory happy endings gone forever more!”

“And I feel as if I’m wastin’! And I’ve wasted every day!” Kurt sang back.

At the end of the second chorus, everyone joined in, created a louder and louder sound, as they danced together. Kurt’s eyes practically flashed with excitement. He was like this weird ethereal creature, and it was totally awesome.

They ended the song to a standing ovation, and Finn pulled Kurt over to bow with him. He bounced in place and waved excitedly at his dad. Whatever happened, Finn was happy about their performance. It was truly theirs, and no one else’s.

***

Even though they’d gotten second place at Regionals, that still meant that Principal Figgins had to keep his bargain. They’d placed. Glee was secure, for another year at least.

They weren’t practicing for anything in particular, but they still met after lunch and on Thursdays after school to practice for the next year, and Finn still spent time with Kurt after school. He was hoping Kurt would come out to him about what he was, but Kurt never said anything about what had been in his thermos. He was just much more careful about drinking from it in front of Finn. This meant that sometimes he went for a long time without eating anything, and that worried Finn.

Late in April, Finn decided he was going to have to push the issue. His mom had told him never to tell anyone, and except when he thought he’d gotten Quinn pregnant (lucky on that one), they’d never considered letting anyone else in on it. It was a little dangerous. Their kind were dwindling, and his family had always made sure the Finn knew telling anyone was a risk. But Kurt seemed to be growing up more every day, and Karofsky seemed to sense that. The situation could explode any day.

Finn sat down on the bleachers with Kurt, who was sipping on a cherry slushy with some vigor. He must’ve been very hungry. It was lunchtime, but there was no thermos or actual food in sight. It was really cute, actually, with his lips all red from the dye.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.”

Kurt bit his lip and looked up at Finn. He had started brushing his hair back a different way, and it just changed his look entirely. Finn didn’t know what to think about his little friend. He bumped Kurt’s shoulder, and Kurt grinned, red lips spread wide.

“What is it?” Kurt’s long fingers wrapped around the styrofoam cup. “Are… Are you getting back together with Rachel?”

“What? No.” Finn frowned. “No, this is about us.”

“Us? Oh. Well, Rachel said… Never mind what she said. What about us?” Kurt took another suck of his drink.

“I think we both know… I mean, I don’t want you to feel awkward about this, but we’re both…” Finn shrugged. “We’re both different, you know? And that’s okay.”

Kurt blinked. He looked at Finn’s chest, like he could see how fast his heart was beating, and then his eyes pierced right through Finn’s almost violently. Finn scooted back a little from the intensity of his gaze. It felt sometimes like Kurt could read his mind.

“You’re gay?”

“What? No!” Finn sputtered.

“Then how are we both different?” Kurt laughed. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Can you vague this up for me?”

“Huh?” Finn shook his head. “No, I mean. Not the gay thing. That’s… that’s cool. You’re cool. But it’s about how… I mean, you’re totally fast.”

Kurt’s eyes sharpened again.

“And, like, strong. Way stronger than you look. Your eyes change color. And sometimes you talk like, you know. You’re from somewhere else. You don’t eat like normal people, and you prefer the nighttime. You can even hear what people are saying on the other side of the room.” Finn touched Kurt’s shoulder. “I know what you are.”

“Say it,” Kurt murmured. “Say it out loud.”

“Werewolf,” Finn said with a smile.

Kurt’s brows knit together deeply. “What?”

“Or Lycan. Whatever your family calls it. Or…” Finn leaned in. “Were you bitten?”

“I was never bitten.” The drink dropped from Kurt’s hands, spilling red all over the seats in front of them. He stood abruptly and backed away. “I’m not Lycan.”

Kurt sounded so alarmed that Finn didn’t know what to say. He looked over his friend’s pale skin and the stain of cherry red on his fingers and lips.

“I have to go,” Kurt said suddenly.

“Kurt, it’s okay! I am, too!” Finn stood up and tried to get close to him, but Kurt moved backward so quickly that Finn could barely follow it. He blinked down at him with a frown. “You don’t have to be scared.”

“Not me of you.” Kurt shook his head, and repeated, almost sadly this time: “I’m not Lycan.”

Finn gaped as Kurt jumped down three sets of bleachers and darted off across the lawn.

***

“Too bad you and your boyfriend broke up,” Puck teased. He slammed his locker and leaned against it.

Finn just slumped on the bench. He knew Puck was joking, but it did feel like he’d been dumped. How could he have been wrong about Kurt? He guessed now that Kurt was no wolf at all. Just a kid. With a weird eating disorder and pretty eyes. And he obviously didn’t believe him about the werewolf thing because he didn’t look afraid. He just avoided Finn. It hurt. A lot.

“Dude, I’m kidding.” Puck dropped a hand down on his shoulder. “It’s gonna be fine. Kurt’ll forgive whatever dumbass thing you’ve done now. He’s forgiven me for tossing him in the dumpster all those times.”

Finn couldn’t find any words. He just nodded. Maybe Kurt would stop avoiding him, and they could make up and be best friends again.

The end of the school year came, and they still weren’t talking. He’d tried a few times, but Kurt had blown him off. With such regret in his voice that Finn almost felt like he’d done something really wrong to Kurt.

“I know I’m not being fair, but it’s better this way. I’m sorry, Finn. I really am!”

The summer blew past. He hung out with Puck and Mike, and at some point, again without his knowledge, he was dating Rachel again. Come August, Mercedes threw a pool party and invited everyone, even those who had graduated that year, like Quinn and Matt. Although, technically, Puck should have graduated, but that hadn’t quite happened in the final semester.

They were all sitting around, bronzed from their time out in the sun and listening to a long, sprawling story from Puck about robbing a convenience store, when Finn looked up from the snacks. Something much, much more appetizing had just stepped onto the patio.

Finn bit back a the purr rising in his throat and looked. It was Kurt. God, Kurt. Kurt!

His arms were more developed, his face longer, leaner, and he’d shot up three inches! Finn had sensed that Kurt was getting close to maturing, but he’d not been prepared for it. And he just smelled scrumptious. When they got back to school Karofsky would be all over him. Finn wanted to drag him out back and snack on him right then.

If anything was a boner-killer, that thought was. The thought that he might lose control and hurt Kurt. Finn pulled himself together and got up with the others to say hi, but he couldn’t quite make himself close the distance between them. Kurt wasn’t wearing a bathing suit, but instead had on a pair of long shorts and a tight t-shirt. And some very dark sunglasses. He was as pale as ever. He slipped under the big umbrella and sat down with them.

“I don’t tan,” Kurt joked. “I go up in flames.”

Mercedes laughed and the girls crowded around him. It was like a force field of ladies. Soon Tina was rubbing lotion on his back and they were all giggling and having a good time.

“Dude.” Puck shook his head. “When are you going to admit that you’re in love with Kurt?”

Mike bent over laughing.

“I am not,” Finn whined.

“Dude, it’s cool,” Matt teased. “Look at ‘im! Kurt’s practically one of the girls.”

Finn’s hand whipped around and knocked the wind out of Matt.

“Yeah. Seriously. You know what they say about homophobia.” Puck raised a brow and bobbed his head. “It’s for homos.”

Finn fixed his harsh gaze on Puck.

“Dude, I’m totally kidding.” Puck raised his hands and looked to Matt. “He’s Finn’s gay bff. Lay off him. God knows I want Finn to be my gay bff. Must be nice to have one.”

“You two are so weird. He’s just a guy.” Mike looked over at the girls and Kurt. “A guy who has a lot more game with the girls than we do.”

“He attracts ‘em like flies.” Matt grabbed a handful of Doritos.

“Maybe he has a magic lure. Like one of those stalker guys in that movie Izizes is so crazy about.” Puck narrowed his eyes. “I don’t remember his name. He looks like a hobo who’s a pint low.”

Mike and Matt laughed.

“You mean Twilight.” Finn shrugged when they looked at him. “Rachel made me watch the musical parodies on YouTube.”

Finn’s eyes drifted back over to Kurt. His long, hairless lower legs were so pale. How had he managed to avoid the sun all summer was some sort of miracle.

As it was growing dark, Kurt left the safety of the umbrella and pulled his shirt over his head. Then he jumped into the water to play with the others. Finn felt heavy from all the junk he’d just eaten, so he stayed on the concrete. He realized he hadn’t said anything to Kurt all afternoon, and people would be going home soon.

Taking a deep breath, Finn walked over to the edge of the pool and sat. A moment later, Kurt swam over and gave him a crooked, sort of sad smile.

“Hey. Hear you and Rachel patched things up.” Kurt rested his arms on the edge of the pool and craned his neck back to compensate for Finn’s tallness.

“I think so.” Finn pressed his thumb into the sealant along the edge of the pool. “How’ve you been?”

“Not bad.”

“You look like someone put you up on the rack.”

Kurt laughed. “Yeah, um. I thought I had fibromyalgia or something, but it was just growing pains.”

“What?” Finn leaned back on his palms and laughed heartily. He hadn’t laughed that deeply in a while.

“Finn?” Kurt licked his lips, sucked in his lower lip, then signed. “I just wanted you to know that it’s about me. That’s why I stopped hanging out with you. I don’t want you to feel like there’s anything wrong with you. It’s just safer this way. I promise.”

Kurt’s eyes matched the color of the water before he ducked under it and disappeared.

Finn didn’t know what that meant. But he was beginning to feel like there was something more to Kurt that he just couldn’t put his finger on.

***

It was harder once they were back in school. Finn saw Kurt every day, and Kurt’s clothing had calmed just slightly enough that there were days when he came to school looking like some kind of model. (And of course, days when his clothes confused Finn.) Kurt hadn’t rejoined the Cheerios, so Finn wouldn’t be seeing him at the games, but there was always Glee, and of course, the hallways.

The guys were not letting up on Kurt at all this year. He stood out even more now that he’d grown up a little, and every time Finn turned his head, someone was slamming Kurt into a locker, flinging slurs or slushies at him, or tripping him so he went flying. Karofsky was, unsurprisingly, the worst. His instincts were driving him crazy where Kurt was concerned, and Finn tried to keep an eye on them, but he couldn’t watch every minute.

Kurt started to show the result of all that abuse a few weeks in. You could see it all weighing him down, making his shoulder slump, and he was short-tempered with Mr. Schue. Which was kinda funny, actually, but he’d always been patient with… almost everyone.

Even worse… There were stories all over the news about gay kids killing themselves. Finn had seen his mom watching before her shift at work one night, then he’d googled it and seen… Finn was beginning to get scared.

That was when Kurt’s dad had a heart attack.

Seeing Kurt grieving his father struck Finn in a place he didn’t know he had. He didn’t know Burt very well, but he seemed like a really good guy, maybe a little quiet and gruff. But when Finn was hanging around, he’d always treated him nice and watched games with him. Sometimes he’d come hang out with Kurt’s dad even when Kurt wasn’t there.

Plus, Kurt was just all alone. Their friends in the Glee club just didn’t seem to understand that singing him religious songs wasn’t helping. Kurt practically cringed at all that Jesus talk, and Finn felt bad for bringing it up earlier that week. He didn’t really know what to do either, but he decided that he had to do something. Someone did.

At first, all Finn could do was keep the bullies off Kurt’s back. Even among the ruthless, picking on a kid whose dad was in the hospital seemed a little low. Kurt just looked so tired and overwhelmed. As an alternative, if they decided to harass Kurt despite their little talk, Finn could have torn one of them limb from limb and left their body as a message for others…

But his mom would probably have frowned on that behavior. She was all about responsible wolfing.

Instead, Finn scrounged up some money out of the change jar, bought some of the butternut squash soup that Kurt liked from the cafe by the school, and brought it over to the Hummel house. As he drove up, his heart broke. Kurt was just sitting there on the porch by himself, his arms crossed over his chest as he shivered.

Finn got out, grabbed the bag with the soup and bread, and came up the stairs. Kurt looked up at him, eyes murky and almost lost. Finn grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.

“I can’t… I don’t want to be in here…” Kurt muttered.

“It’s okay,” Finn promised. He didn’t know what he was promising, but he pulled out a bowl and started to dish up the soup.

“I can’t… I can’t eat that.” Kurt stood in the doorway of the kitchen like he was stuck.

“You need to eat something. You didn’t even go to lunch today.”

“I know. I just… I need…”

Finn turned towards the refrigerator. Suddenly Kurt was in front of him, blocking the way.

“Just getting some milk.” Finn held up his hands. “Or soda or something.”

“I’ll get it.”

“I don’t know how you do that. You’re the quickest little dude I’ve ever seen.”

“Not that many like me.” Kurt shrugged and turned around to the refrigerator. He handed Finn a can of soda. “Probably… Probably not any. Not anymore.”

Hesitating with the door still open, Kurt seemed to be thinking over his choice. Then he took a breath and pulled out a little bag with red fluid. Finn gaped at it. Kurt poured it into a mug and put it in the microwave.

“You’re right. I haven’t eaten all day. Stupid.” He shook his head and sniffed. “Dangerous.”

“Dude, what is that?”

Kurt stopped the microwave and stirred the contents of the mug with a spoon. He pulled it out, covered with dark red stuff, and sucked on it. Finn’s heart started to pound, and Kurt looked at his chest. He turned away.

“You don’t know? I thought you would, for what you are.”

“I can smell it.” Finn rubbed his hand over his mouth. “I’ve smelled it on you before. I just don’t understand.”

“There’s more of my kind in the media than in real life these days. And much fewer gay people in the media than real life. I always thought that was funny.” Kurt slumped over the counter and Finn moved to support him. Kurt moved away, and took a deep drink from the mug.

“Why…” Finn dropped a spoon in the soup, then looked at the table. Kurt might not eat the bread. He had to ask. He had to hear it. “Why do you drink blood?”

Kurt sat down at the table and drew one leg up. “If he dies, I can’t stay here. I have to find someplace safe.”

“How old are you?”

Kurt frowned at him. “I’m sixteen. You know that.”

“Yeah, but how long have you been sixteen?” Finn wiped his sweaty palms on the back of his pants.

“Since May,” Kurt deadpanned.

Finn shook his head. “Okay. Okay. Um.” He opened the soda and sat at the table. “You’re a vampire.”

“You’re a Lycan.” Kurt licked his lips slowly. “Are there a lot of you around here? Is there a pack? I guess I should have asked you back in April, but I didn’t want to get into that. I didn’t want to think your family would hunt me down.”

“My mom doesn’t even know how to shoot a gun.” Finn sipped his soda. “Finish your meal. It’s been all day. Do you need another?”

“I dunno. I feel sick.” Kurt looked at his mug and took another drink. His tongue peeked out as he licked his lips again.

“I didn’t even know vampires were real. My mom never mentioned it.”

“There was a war. Centuries back. My mom told my dad about it when I was too little to know. She did tell me to stay away from wolves, though.” Kurt shrugged. “The Kinn. We were evil in those days. Our people warred. We got the upper hand and enslaved your kind. Then yours rose up and hunted us all down. I don’t know that there are many of us left.”

Kurt grabbed the bowl and took a taste of the soup. “She might not have heard of us, if her family wasn’t actively hunting us.”

“I don’t think they were doing much of anything.” Finn grabbed a piece of bread. “My grandma was a kindergarden teacher. My grandpa was in the service. So was my dad.”

“I remember.” Kurt leaned on his hand. “My dad isn’t.”

“In the service?” Finn said around a mouthful.

“Kinn.” Kurt tilted his head to the side. “He wasn’t in the service because he blew out his knee in community college football.”

Finn scratched his head. “Okay, I don’t understand.”

“I guess not. My mother was Kinn.” Kurt licked the squash off the spoon. “Don’t believe that Twilight nonsense. I was born this way.”

Kurt turned his head and smiled unnaturally wide. His canines elongated. Sharp, deadly predator’s teeth.

Finn felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. “So… your kind captured mine and made them work. And we ethically cleansed yours?”

“Give or take,” Kurt said around his teeth. He pulled them back and went over to the refrigerator. “And the term’s ethnic cleansing.”

Finn braced himself to see more blood, but Kurt pulled out a bottle of water and knocked it back. “Whatever. Sounds like we’re all monsters.”

“No one’s a monster. Or…” Kurt shrugged and leaned against the refrigerator. “Or everyone is. Humans aren’t angels for damn sure. And I’m told angels are kind of dicks.”

Finn grinned. Then frowned. Was Kurt joking about that?

“If you’re a vampire and not a wolf, then why do you sme-” Finn stopped himself and stared at the table.

“What?”

Finn shook his head.

“I’m kind of glad you didn’t know about any of this history. I was afraid you’d me. Or worse. That you wouldn’t and yours would kill you for being around me.” Kurt’s lower lip wobbled and he wiped his eyes again.

Finn stood and went over to wrap his arms around Kurt. “It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.”

Kurt nodded. His chin rose, and he inhaled slowly. Finn closed his eyes and did the same. Kurt still smelled so delicious.

“I wonder why is Karofsky so attracted to you if you’re not a wolf? I thought his instincts were making him act like a jerk.”

“What instincts?” Kurt raised a brow.

“Mating instincts.”

The look of horror on Kurt’s face caused Finn to pull back a little. “Sorry. But the way he looks at you. I know he can smell you.”

“He’s Lycan, too?”

“Yeah. He doesn’t know about you, though. I don’t think he knows about me either. He just wants you. It’s primal.”

“Primal.” Kurt sighed.

Finn hugged Kurt to him again. “I won’t let him hurt you.”

“You don’t exactly understand why Lycans came after us in packs.” Kurt’s eyes flashed. Dark sapphires.

“You’re really fast.”

“That too.” Kurt raised his shoulder a little and slipped away.

Finn bounced on his heels. “Can you turn into a bat?”

“No.” Kurt rolled his eyes. “I’m only sixteen. I don’t know if it’s true, but older vamps can change shape, sometimes. I know they can move faster-”

“Faster?!”

“Jump higher, heal more quickly. They’re stronger.” Kurt sat again and stared at the empty mug. “I don’t know if there are any that old left. I never knew anyone besides my mom. I’m probably the last.”

Finn crossed his arms. His whole family were Lycans, pretty much. Aside from a few marry ins. They were like an army, when you got them all together. Though they were spread out now. He couldn’t imagine being the only one of your kind.

“Older Kinn… They can read your mind. Project thoughts into your brain that you don’t want there. Drive you insane.” Kurt shook his head. “I can pick up on people’s feelings, a little. Sometimes images, if they’re right on the surface.”

“Can you read mine?”

Kurt trailed his finger around the inside of the cup, then sucked on it slowly. “Yes. Your feelings are strong.”

“It’s because I’m Lycan.” Finn crooked his mouth to the side. “We feel everything, and you gotta learn to control it. Rage, hunger… lust.”

Kurt rubbed his hand over the back of his neck.

“Show me your coffin. You should get to sleep.”

Kurt shot him a dirty look, and Finn laughed.

“I don’t sleep in a coffin. You know that. You’ve slept over here before!”

“I’ll be careful with the garlic on the pizza.”

“What is wrong with you?” Kurt got up and walked with him into the living room. He paused for a moment, looking at the recliner. That was his father’s seat.

Finn draped his arm around him and made him keep moving. “Too much garlic puts me off. It’s the strong sense of smell.”

“I have that, too. Probably not as keen as yours.”

“I wonder who has better hearing? And vision.”

“We’d have to test it.” Kurt descended the stairs slowly into the dark basement.

This made a lot more sense, now. Finn narrowed his eyes and let his eyes change so he could see better. Obviously Kurt had better vision; he didn’t even pause as he navigated his dark room.

Finn flipped on a light because he was about to fall on his ass. Kurt closed his eyes. That’s why he needed the sunglasses, to protect his eyes from the bright sun. Sometimes he even wore them in Glee practice. It occurred to Finn that Kurt’s changing eye color could have as much to do with mood as an involuntary reaction to light and now sharply he needed to see.

“Sorry.” Finn went to the closet and pulled out the futon Kurt slept on. “I bet the coffin thing started because no one had blackout curtains back in the day.”

Kurt’s lips curved softly.

“I have a hard time imagining you biting anyone.”

“Ditto.” Kurt kicked off his shoes and sat on one of the little love seats he’d appropriated for his room/studio. “I don’t know if you should be around me, Finn. Someone in your family will have a problem with me. And if not, there will be other Lycans who do. There are Hunters on top of that, and they’d come after either one of us-”

Finn sat beside him and took his hands. “Stop. You don’t have to think about that right now. No one knows.”

Kurt nodded. Finn squeezed his hand. He looked at Kurt’s lips, rosy as always, with a the faint scent of blood lingering on his breath.

“Do you know what I’m thinking?” Finn muttered.

“Um,” Kurt squeaked.

Kurt was absolutely nothing Finn had ever seen in vampire stories. He wasn’t ancient. He wasn’t evil. He wasn’t violent or slick or seductive. Well, maybe a little of the last bit, unintentionally.

Kurt was a kid, like himself. A strange being in a strange human world. With a very human father, and no one else.

Finn pressed his lips against Kurt’s gently, then knelt down and rolled out the futon. “You should get some rest.”

“I don’t sleep during the day. I’m just fair skinned.”

“Yeah, well, you look exhausted.”

Kurt laid down. Then he raised a brow and crossed his arms over his chest, burial style.

“You’re the awesomest vampire.” Finn sat on the sofa and kicked up his heels.

“Are you sticking around?”

“Yeah. I’ll stay ‘till you sleep.” Finn reached down and took Kurt’s hand. Kurt closed his eyes, and Finn looked up at the ceiling. “I’m here. Okay? Don’t worry.”

Finn took in all the sounds around him. The creaking house, a dog outside, and Kurt’s breathing, slowing and deepening. He glanced over with a fondness in his chest, and if Kurt could read the feeling in his sleep, he hoped it made Kurt a just a little happier.