On the 23rd day of the month of November,

In the year of two thousand ten,

The people of Lima Heights suddenly encountered a deadly threat to their very existence.

And this terrifying enemy surfaced; as such enemies often do, in the seemingly most innocent and unlikely of places.

Hummel Tire and Lube

-o-o-o-

"Kiddo, would you bring me the wrench set when you're done with it?" Burt's voice echoed around the shop and Kurt almost jumped at the sound of it. He was lying under Mrs. Roberts' car, trying to find the source of it's rattling. He'd lowered the possibilities down to the tail pipe. He was fairly certain something was shoved in it. Seeing as Mrs. Roberts had three boys, all under the age of five, it seemed like a pretty good theory.

A moment, and a good tug later, and he had the culprit. It was an action figure of some superhero Kurt didn't recognize.

Kurt crawled out from under the car to present his findings to Mrs. Roberts and he finally got a good look at the superhero. He was wearing neon green and had a strange orange cape.

What had happened to Superman? And for the love of Gucci, who had designed this costume?

"Kurt?"

He dropped the action figure and spun around, his hand flying to his heart in surprise. Blaine was standing behind him with wide, startled eyes.

He was wearing the standard coveralls-but he had them folded down and tied around his waist. He had a faded grease stained t-shirt on and it stretched wonderfully over his well defined chest. His hair was gel free-as it always was when he was in the shop-and hanging about his face haphazardly.

He was breathtaking.

Gaga, why did Kurt have to blush so easily? He could already feel his entire face turning fire engine red. "Hi, Blaine." God, he sounded breathless. Kurt swallowed before continuing. "What did you need?"

"Umm, the wrenches." Blaine blinked and seemed to come back to himself. "Burt needed the wrenches. He didn't think you heard him earlier." Kurt nodded his head and pointed to the large red tool box behind Blaine. Blaine followed his finger and turned to the box.

"They're in the bottom drawer." Blaine bent at the waist to get the tools in question and Kurt felt his mouth go dry.

Dear Prada, Blaine had a nice ass. It wasn't the first time (and definitely not the last time) that Kurt noticed it, but the coveralls seemed to make it even nicer.

Or maybe it just reminded him of how much he wanted to take them off.

And Grilled Cheesus, that made him sound like such a perv. He wasn't, really, it was just, Blaine. His best friend and co-worker just did something to Kurt. He made him warm and breathless and happy and occasionally a blithering idiot.

Blaine straightened back up, the wrenches in his hand. "Was that the problem?" He asked, indicating the gaudily dressed superhero on the floor. Kurt blinked twice before nodding his head and scooping the action figure back up.

"Yeah, it was shoved in the tail pipe. " Blaine raised an eyebrow and Kurt just shrugged. "Don't ask me. You'd be surprised what I've found in cars." They walked towards the front of the shop to see Burt talking to a customer. Mrs. Roberts was sitting in a chair at the front of the desk, a worried look on her face. She caught sight of Kurt and stood immediately.

"Is it beyond repair?"

"Oh no ma'am." Blaine said quickly, flashing her an earnest smile. "Nothing is beyond repair for these two."

Kurt blushed and handed the action figure over. "This was the source of your problems."

"Blaine, there you are!" Kurt froze up at the voice, and it didn't escape his notice that Blaine did as well.

Kurt kind of hated Sebastian Smythe because of that. He couldn't understand how someone could ever look at Blaine, at how incredible, beautiful, funny, and just perfect as he was, and hurt him. Kurt was pretty sure Sebastian had, and did though.

That was more than enough to warrant the boy's painful demise, at least in Kurt's eyes, except for one annoying fact.

Blaine was dating Sebastian. He wouldn't break up with him, and he wouldn't defend himself. He took Sebastian as the jerk he was, and bore the bruises the boy gave him silently. What's worse, whenever Kurt asked about it, Blaine would make up an excuse.

Kurt really wanted to kill Sebastian sometimes.

"Sebastian!" Blaine turned towards his boyfriend and plastered on a fake smile. Kurt might have gotten a little pleasure at the fact that Blaine had to pretend to be happy to see Sebastian. "What are you doing here?"

Sebastian stopped in front of them, his meercat smirk firmly in place. He was wearing his typical navy suit and tie. Ralph Lauren, unless Kurt was mistaken.

He tried not to scowl.

"I just came to escort you on our date tonight. Kurt, I didn't recognize you, you're almost clean for once."

"Pleasure to see you too, Sebastian," Kurt scoffed.

"Seb," Blaine's voice was pleading, and Kurt stood a little taller. He had a few inches on the Dentist assistant, he might as well use it.

"What, Blaine? Kurt and I are just having a civil conversation." He turned his gaze back on Kurt, and he had to look up. A fact Kurt took great pleasure in. "How is business? We keep having more and more patients at the office. They're all so eager for my assistance."

"I'm sure the fact that you reek of Craig's list has been a great assistance to you." He paused before continuing, relishing the frown on Sebastian's face. "I'm surprised you could find your way over here. I would have figured the sight of grease would be too much for your stomach."

"With my little grease monkey?" Sebastian looped an arm around Blaine's waist, his hand resting over the boys ass. Kurt fumed internally but made no outwards sign of his anger.

If only he could control his blushing as easily.

"Come on, Blaine. We should leave before I start to smell like the inside of an engine as well."

Sebastian was saved from what would have undoubtedly been a very witty comeback by Mrs. Roberts. She laid a hand on Kurt's arm and he forced himself to resume doing business.

No matter how much he really just wanted to punch Sebastian in his smirky little face.

-o-o-o-

Kurt loved working at the shop after hours. It was relaxing, oddly enough. His dad was working on the books, figuring out their budget while he attended to an engine. Burt even let him turn on the radio.

It was currently playing a tune that Kurt couldn't help but feel described his life fairly well.

He sang along with the lyrics absentmindedly while he tightened the nuts.

"In the time of chimpanzees I was a monkey

Butane in my veins so I'm out to cut the junkie

With the plastic eyeballs, spray paint the vegetables

Dog food stalls with the beefcake pantyhose

Kill the headlights and put it in neutral

Stock car flamin' with a loser and the cruise control

Baby's in Reno with the vitamin D

Got a couple of couches sleep on the love seat."

"Kurt?"

Something was decidedly off with his dad's voice. It was worried.

"Yeah dad?"

"Come here."

Kurt walked over to his father, trying not to panic.

Soy un perdedor

I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?

Burt was still bent over the books, turned away from Kurt's view. He stopped beside him, twisting his fingers nervously.

"What is it?"

"It doesn't look good, Kurt." Burt finally looked up, rubbing his hand over his head as he did so. "We're not balanced."

Oh Gucci, this wasn't good. They had to make money soon or-

"We're going to lose the shop."

Soy un perdedor

I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?

"No, dad, there has to be another way." Kurt turned the book towards himself, studying the numbers.

I'm a driver, I'm a winner; things are gonna change, I can feel it.

The numbers were correct. The shop was headed towards bankruptcy.

"How long do we have?"

"Another week, Kiddo."

-o-o-o-

Kurt had to drag his feet into the house that night. He was exhausted, mentally and physically, and now he was worried. They needed the shop, it was their primary source of income. The stress also wasn't good for Burt, he didn't need it with the heart attack. The doctor had warned them that any additional stress could trigger another attack.

"Dude, you alright?" Kurt lifted his head from where he was laying on his bed to stare at Finn.

"No, 'dude.' I'm not alright." If his tone was a little more bitter than usual, well, it wasn't his fault.

"Any way I can help?" Finn was standing in the doorway, wary of actually entering the room. Kurt motioned for him to come in.

"You heard what dad said about the shop, right?"

"Yeah."

Kurt blinked. "That's why I'm not alright."

Finn sat on the edge of the bed, a package in his hand. "Oh, well, if that's it, then don't worry."

It amazed Kurt sometimes, just how much he did not understand Finn. "Finn, yes, we need to worry about that. With out the shop, we have no money. No money means no food, clothing, house, video games or shopping."

"Dude, I know that. Don't worry about it."

"Why shouldn't I worry?"

Finn shrugged like the answer was obvious. "Because it'll work out. Everything always works out. You'll see." He stood back up, grinning like all their problems had just gotten solved. "Oh, by the way, Mercedes sent this for you." He set the package down next to Kurt. "See you later."

Kurt didn't watch him leave. He was already ripping into his package. He hadn't seen Mercedes since summer started-nearly a month ago. She was in California looking at potential colleges for next year.

Kurt was only a little jealous.

Inside the large box were two things, a plant and a letter. The plant looked like something from Mario, the piranaha plants. It was green and had what looked like a mouth. He'd never seen anything even remotely like it.

He quickly reached for the note.

Hey, boo!

So I totally saw Neil Patrick Harris the other day. Santana doesn't think it was him, but it was Kurt. All I have to say is OH MY GOD. KURT HE IS GORGEOUS! Like wow. I can't believe he's gay! You would have died!

The colleges are really nice out here, but the people here don't eat. I'm serious, boo, they don't even know what totts are.

Santana's doing good and we've managed to keep Brittany from any real trouble. She wanted to see the dolphins and she wanted to tell you that she misses her favorite dolphin :).

Now, about the plant. I know how much you love strange plants, and this one caught my eye. We were walking down a strip mall when this plant seller caught my attention. I looked at his flowers but there wasn't anything good. Then, the eclipse happened (did you see it in Ohio?) and this plant was sitting there when the sun came back out.

I have no idea what it is, but I thought you'd like it.

Miss you lots and lots and lots and lots and LOTS!

Cedes

Kurt looked back at the plant. It was certainly interesting. Maybe he would take it down to the shop tomorrow and keep an eye on it. He could see what type of sun light it liked that way.

Now he just needed to think of a name for it.