#even tho he was upset you just know Ed was like 👀

[stedesimp]

Stede in ep. 6: WALK.

Me asf:

[starpunchsoup]

I'd Do Absolutely Anything For You - Chapter Six

(aka the ‘Kurt has EDS-verse.’)

Summary: Kurt Hummel has ehlers-danlos syndrome, a genetic condition that makes his joints very flexible, but also incredibly prone to dislocating. Blaine, upon realizing how chronic Kurt’s condition is, learns how to help put Kurt physically back together, while Kurt has to navigate putting himself mentally back together. (Set in modern-ish time. Yay technology and science, boo covid.)

Chapter Six: Mostly Group Chat Shenanigans

Read under the cut below, or read the full story on AO3!

The week between Christmas and New Year’s was always strange; but for Kurt especially, it was his least favorite time of the year. He was more tired than usual, reclusive even. Kurt spent most of the week wrapped up in the maroon electric blanket Blaine insisted on giving him for Christmas, watching hours and hours of Say Yes To The Dress on his phone. Blaine and his parents had flown to Los Angeles to spend time with his brother, so Kurt was assuming that Blaine was about as miserable as he was. Kurt didn’t know much about Blaine’s brother, other than they weren’t very close.

Kurt closes his eyes as he tries to swallow his own bitter feelings. It’s unfair of you to be mad at Blaine for having a strained relationship with his brother. You can’t be upset that he is unhappy visiting family, simply because you are unhappy that you cannot visit your own. Kurt reminds himself.

Kurt hears a gentle knock at his door, and Kurt pauses his show. “Come in.”

Carole slowly opens the door and makes her way inside Kurt’s bedroom. “Hey, Kurt. How are you feeling?” She asks, closing the door behind her and walking over to sit next to Kurt on his bed.

“Physically? I’m actually doing sort of okay. Emotionally? Not super phenomenal, but we’re getting through it, I suppose.�� Kurt says with a shrug.

“Yeah, that’s about what I thought you’d say.” Carole says with a sad smile, and she gently brushes away a few hairs on Kurt’s forehead. “It doesn’t go away, but it gets easier over time.”

“I know. And it has, in some ways. Anniversaries just suck.” Kurt winces dramatically, earning a small chuckle from Carole.

“Yeah. Yeah they do.” Carole spaces out for half a second, and Kurt decides not to snap her out of it. He knows that faraway look, he’s had that look on his face since he was eight. “Well. I just wanted to double check. Everyone is cold and sad, so I’m making some potato soup for dinner if you’re hungry. I bought the good bread for dipping.”

“You’re my hero.” Kurt smiles, reaching out to grab Carole’s hand. “Thank you.”

Carole squeezes Kurt’s hand before she lets go. “Anytime.” She stands up, and quietly leaves Kurt’s bedroom.

***

On day four of Kurt’s grief-fueled shutdown, Santana has had enough.

From: Lima Heights Adjacent

(2:56 P.M.)

>ok losers. who’s volunteering to throw a nye party. princess hummel is having a meltdown and if i dont see his lil smiley face in the next four days, i am actually going to fistfight god.

From: Ryan Seacrest Tramp Stamp

(3:01 P.M.)

>Fighting God is not possible, nor is it smart. You couldn’t even fight Zizes, The Big Man would crush you.

>Also, that sounds like so much fun! I can’t host though, any volunteers?

From: We make culture 💖

(3:03 P.M.)

>Santana. You are aware as to why Kurt is upset, right?

Kurt rolls his eyes, but smiles at Mercedes’s protectiveness.

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(3:05 P.M.)

>i’m all good cedes. a party sounds fun! i don’t think i can host tho, pretty sure carole has to work early on NYD

From: Tina Cohen Queen

(3:06 P.M.)

>i can host!! my parents are partying with one of my mom’s college friends in columbus, so bc it’s so far she said they’d be spending the night there. party at the cohen-chang residence!!!

From: RIP My Faggy Lamp </3

(3:07 P.M.)

>wow santana. it’s sweet you care about kurt so much 👀

From: Lima Heights Adjacent

(3:09 P.M.)

>shut it manboobs. puck, u got booze?

From: Puckasaurus

(3:15 P.M.)

>with this much time i could get us a distillery. shld i bring anything…special?

From: Lima Heights Adjacent

(3:18 P.M.)

>tbh those cupcakes you made our sophomore year were good as fuck. if u wanna make some…more potent ones, i think thats ok 👀

From: Ryan Seacrest Tramp Stamp

(3:20 P.M.)

>Oh no.

From: Puckasaurus

(3:20 P.M.)

>SAY LESS

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(3:21 P.M.)

>tana. i hope you know what you’ve done

From: RIP My Faggy Lamp </3

(3:23 P.M.)

>this is puck in his element. reeling puck back in is mine. i���ll make sure he doesnt go too overboard

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(3:24 P.M.)

>oh ya you were so good at reeling puck in that one time that he broke your PS4 by knocking it off the shelf when you dared him to do a backflip off of ur bed

From: Twinkle Toes

(3:25 P.M.)

>Yikes! Do not envy that.

From: Samothy

(3:27 P.M.)

>lmfaoooooo that lowkey was funny as hell. also, count me in for this party. i know it’s just bc we’re on winter break but. i miss u guys

From: We make culture 💖

(3:29 P.M.)

>if anyone throws up i’m not babysitting. miss jones wants a night off from being the responsible one

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(3:31 P.M.)

>so valid kween 💖

From: Rachel Barbra Brice ⭐

(4:02 P.M.)

>Hey! When did I stop being the responsible one? :(

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(4:04 P.M.)

>since the last time u got drunk and made out w my boyfriend and then tried to steal him away from me bc he’s hot and talented

>yes i’m gonna die mad about that

From: Twinkle Toes:

(4:04 P.M.)

>As you should. It was funny at first, but it got really weird, really fast. Yikes.

From: Don’t Call Me Arthur

(4:04 P.M.)

>mike ur so correct king. shit was whack yo

From: Brittany Not Spears

(4:05 P.M.)

>idk i thought it was kinda hot

From: Rachel Barbra Brice ⭐

(4:07 P.M.)

>He wasn’t your boyfriend yet! :(

From: Blainey Babey <3

(4:11 P.M.)

>i’m gone for a family thing for TWO HOURS and yall blow up my phone like this. wtf i hate it here

>also the kiss w rachel wasnt bad by any means but being kiss-ambushed while waiting for coffee is not high on my list of favorite experiences

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(4:13 P.M.)

>when are u getting back from family obligations hot stuff

>AKA can you join us for new years shenanigans

>AKA do i have to fight rachel off w a stick during this party as well

>at least we’re actually dating now so i can throw a tantrum if i need to 😈

From: Blainey Babey <3

(4:15 P.M.)

>ma says my flight should land about 2ish on nye. so i can make it, but i’m gonna be jetlagged to shit lmao

From: RIP My Faggy Lamp </3

(4:18 P.M.)

>...you guys do remember that she’s not exactly single right now either, right

>i may have to fight gelmet off with a stick to get him off my girl smh

From: Rachel Barbra Brice ⭐

(4:22 P.M.)

>You wouldn’t be upset if I still wanted to duet with Blaine though, right?

To: The Brady Bunches Of Oats

(4:22 P.M.)

>are you asking for my permission or your boyfriends

From: Don’t Call Me Arthur

(4:23 P.M.)

>yes yes everyone wants to kiss blaine. can yall take the familial issues out of the living room

>i hate it when mom + dad fight

***

The day before Tina’s New Years Eve party, Kurt tells himself that he absolutely cannot avoid asking his dad about it any longer. After a few seconds of deep breathing outside Burt and Carole’s room, Kurt knocks on the door.

“What’s up?” Kurt hears his dad call from inside the room, which was code for ‘come in.’

Kurt opens the door and steps into the room. Kurt’s dad is laying on his bed, reading a book - which was pretty normal whenever he wasn’t at work.

“Hey! I just wanted to talk to you about New Year’s.” Kurt says outright, knowing that beating around the bush is rarely a smart tactic with his dad.

Burt glances up from his book to look at Kurt, and he sets the book down on the bed next to him. “Okay, what’s the plan for New Years?”

“Tina offered to host a New Year’s Eve party. I said I couldn’t host because Carole works early on the first of the year, but Tina’s parents are visiting some friends in Columbus over the winter break.” Kurt takes in another deep breath. “Normally glee club get togethers are no big deal, but I wanted your explicit permission for this. With Tina’s parents gone, and Puck having a few days to plan…things are probably going to get a bit out of hand. Given what happened at Rachel’s party last year, I figured being 100% transparent was important. Especially because I know for a fact that this is going to be more of an ordeal than the last party I went to.”

Burt raises an eyebrow, then shrugs. “Okay.”

Kurt blinks. Then blinks again. His eyebrows furrow together as he tries to figure out if he heard his father right. “Okay?”

“Listen, Kurt. You’ve had a hell of a year. A hell of a life, at that. I’m so proud of you, you know that? If you want one night off from being Superman, I can’t say I blame ya.” Kurt isn’t used to his dad being so lenient. While they’ve always had a good and honest relationship, after Kurt’s mom died, he became very protective of the only piece of her he had left.

“Dad, are you serious?” Kurt said, still absolutely puzzled.

“I mean, there are a few rules I’d like to set down before you go, but I trust you kid.” Burt stated nonchalantly.

Kurt smiles a little bit, sitting down at the foot of the bed. “Okay, rules like what?”

Kurt’s dad matches his smile. “Well for starters, I am driving you guys there and home. I don’t want anybody having access to their keys and doing something stupid, yeah?” Kurt nods in agreement. “So, I will drive you and Blaine and Finn in the evening, I’m assuming that you all will be spending the night, and then you can text me in the morning for me to come get you guys.”

“Yeah, that’s reasonable enough.” Kurt agrees, gesturing for his father to continue.

“And I want you to give that whole glee club my number, okay? If anything goes wrong at all, you call me, and we’ll deal with it. It’s not a call I want to get, but I’d rather you kids be safe. Carole has to be up early on the first, but I don’t - so no hesitations, okay?” Kurt nods again. “And all I ask is that you use your judgment. You’re a smart kid, I hope that won’t go away anytime soon. Take care of yourself. That’s all I want.” Burt leans forward and gives his son’s shoulder a quick squeeze, then leans back against the headboard of the bed. “I think that’s all I have to say.”

“That’s…surprisingly reasonable, actually. And yes, I will text everyone your number and double check that everyone has it saved before anything happens. Thank you, dad. You’re the best.” Kurt says excitedly.

“I have the mug to prove it.” Burt says with a small chuckle, picking his book back up.