Chrysanthemums

Chapter 21

Blaine couldn't help feeling jealous. One of Kurt's tattoos, that wasn't covering scars, was two names written in small cursive font. He knew it was someone's first and last name. Probably a former flame. Or present flame.

They were getting coffee when he couldn't help but bring it up. "Are you seeing anyone?"

Kurt chuckled. "No. Why do you ask?"

"Just..."

"Just what?"

"Your tattoo. The name," he said. "I just figured..."

He laughed. "Oh, no. I'm not the kind to get the name of someone I'm probably going to break up with inked on me forever." He took off his jacket, showing him his arm.

"Elizabeth... Fim?" he tried to read, confused. "Fin?"

"Elizabeth," he pointed to the name, "is my mother, who died when I was eight, and Finn is my stepbrother, who died before he could even start college."

Blaine frowned, running a finger over the tattoo. "I'm sorry you had to deal with all that."

"It was rough, but hey, at least I was lucky enough to know them while they were alive."

"Are there meanings behind these others ones too?" he asked curiously. He traced the flower on Kurt's wrist.

"Well, the chrysanthemums are mainly to cover up the scars. They represent optimism and a long life, so I thought they'd balance it out."

"They're very pretty."

He smiled. "I have a few others you can't see. Pretty much all of them have meeting."

Blaine saw an red inked marking on Kurt's shoulder. "What's that?"

"Hm?"

He reached out to point it out, but the minute he touched it, Kurt jumped, covering it with his hand. "Ow!"

Blaine immediately retracted his hand. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry, I didn't think it was new."

Kurt rolled his shoulder gently, shaking his head. "It's not a tattoo. It's a scar."

"God, I'm so sorry, Kurt."

"It's alright. My shoulder's just really sensitive. I didn't think you could actually see that, but I do have a tattoo on my shoulder." He turned so Blaine could see the back of his shoulder.

There were more of the horrible, small red scars that Blaine had thought were tattoos. In the middle of them, and on top of a few, was a blue butterfly.

"Did you get that before or after you got those scars?" Blaine couldn't help but ask.

Kurt turned back to him, gently rubbing his shoulder. "After. It was hands down the most painful tattoo I've ever gotten."

"Why'd you do it?"

"I wanted it. There isn't really a deep meaning, it just makes it look... Better. My friend Elliot has a matching one on his wrist."

"I never really thought of you as a matching-tattoo guy."

"I'm not, really." He pulled his jacket back on. "But it was special circumstances. By 'circumstances' I mean liquor and sharing of tragic backstories."

He chuckled. "How'd you get those scars, if you don't mind me asking?"

"I..." He paused. "I'll tell you another day. I don't really want to think about it right now."

Blaine nodded. "I don't really have many scars, besides, you know..." He motioned to his arm. "It's... You-know-who was more into bruising than anything else. I also don't scar easily."

Kurt nodded as well, and they sat together in silence. Not awkward silence, but contented silence.