everybody knows it sucks to grow up, and everybody does

[discretion]

Who: Franz (discretion), Blaine (mediumdrip) to be joined by Kurt (showbizpanache
When: 8/23/12, noonish
Where: Frandalus apartment + lunch restaurant
Summary: Catching up after they've been separated by death.
Warnings: Possibly some angst.

[Franz has spent way too long picking out his outfit. It's a warm day, the last hurrah of summer. His stomach is clenched with ice-cold anxiety. He hadn't realized when he made plans that it was Albert's birthday. The anniversary of Franz's first death.

He ought to have something in his sizeable wardrobe to encapsulate everything: his anxiety, his fear, his relief, his sorrow. This ends with neutral grays and whites, mostly, and a green summer scarf to cover up his considerably bruised and scarred neck. It took some assurance to Daedalus that he would be alright, that he wouldn't take any stupid risks and wouldn't be alone a single moment of his little outing.

Adjusting his scarf in the mirror near the door for the fiftieth time, he remembers the strange date he had last year around his time with Daedalus, a huge argument and the breakdown he had after darkness had broken into the underground malls. It feels like a lifetime ago. Technically, now, perhaps it was.

He's cheered up by the sounds of Mr. Muggles yapping in announcement of his visitor, and he answers the door making sure to look perfectly happy and collected for Blaine.]

Hey!

Comments

[showbizpanache]

[He's quiet for a long time. This is not how he was expecting this reunion to go-- But then again, what had he been expecting? It's impossible for friends to casually enjoy one another's company anymore, not here, not in this place. Time never exists without something heavy and ugly hanging above it.]

Can you come sit, Franz? On my other side.

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine shifts a little closer when Kurt invites Franz to sit with them, stretching out his arm a bit so that if Franz does his hand will be closer to the blond. It also puts him closer to Kurt, almost as if he's trying to protect him from the emotions they are both experiencing.]

[discretion]

[Franz sort of glares at Kurt for a moment, but after a short time moves to sit next to Kurt. He's holding so much tension it's palpable, like he's diverting a lot of attention just to staying still and making himself rather small. He fiddles a little with a loose string at the end of his scarf. His eyes are narrowed - he doesn't mean Kurt or Blaine's gaze.]

What.

[showbizpanache]

[Kurt flinches at the tone, but doesn't say anything. He just reaches out to take Franz's hand, and his other hand grabs Blaine's as well.

He already lost one of them so easily, and maybe it was because he wasn't holding on enough. Either of them could slip away at any second. Maybe if he holds on he'll go with them.]

[mediumdrip]

Kurt's not the only one lying, is he? [Blaine asks really quietly. He squeezes Kurt's hand very lightly.]

[discretion]

I haven't told a single lie. I do think what happened is funny. I think it's a lot of things, but I don't lie like that. Not like that.

[Franz takes a deep breath. He doesn't want to take Kurt's hand, instead, combing it through his fair hair.]

I can't do what you two do. I don't sing. I'm not interested in my messy life being the center of attention. What difference does it make? Something horrible happened. I'm lucky to have survived it in any way, shape or form. I'm lucky to be back. Anything else is... private.

[showbizpanache]

[Kurt swallows a lump in his throat. He draws back his hand, closing it, and lingers just a second longer before getting to his feet.]

All right. That's fine. I, um-- I'm going to head home, all right? I'm pretty tired. I'll see you later, Blaine.

And Franz? I'm so happy you're okay.

[mediumdrip]

[Blaine gets up after him and shakes his head.] Let me go with you. [He says softly and the looks over at Franz.]

I'm sorry that we pried, Franz. You know we're both here if you need to talk about anything. We love you.