Blaines head feels too crowded and aching, skin stretched too tightly over muscle and bones. He blinks his eyes open, and the familiar ceiling of his bedroom greets him, shadows dimming the room around him. Hes wearing almost all of his clothes and theres a blanket over him as well, the heat practically stifling him, and when he groggily lifts his head to look around the room, he can feel the beginning of a headache behind his eyes.

Crying has always made his head hurt.

Blaine pushes the covers away, the cool air hitting his skin. His hand meets his cardigan, rumpled on the bed, and its only then that he remembers why he woke up. He could hear the insistent buzzing of his phone even through his blessedly blank dreams, and he pulls the device from his pocket, squinting his eyes against the screens harsh light. He has three missed calls, all from Nathan, and one new text message, that one from Nathan as well.

Nathan:
I just wanted to make sure you got home alright.

Blaine throws his phone away and rubs his hands tiredly over his face. Nathan cares more about his well-being now that theyre broken up than he ever did when they were still together. Hes not being fair, he knows hes not – Nathan was very patient and kind during their conversation this morning, and Blaine knows logically that neither one of them was actually very happy in their relationship - but he was just dumped by his boyfriend. He has earned the right to be unfair for a day or two.

A moment later he sighs, picks up his phone again and texts Nathan back, letting him know that hes fine. Sometimes he really hates that his parents raised him to be so polite and considerate.

Eventually he gets up, slowly changes into more comfortable clothes and makes his bed, placing everything in its place. His phone buzzes again - another text from Nathan, just the word okay and nothing more - and Blaine leaves it on his nightstand when he leaves the room.

The magazines he gave to Kurt are still on the couch. Theres a sheet of paper on the sofa table, full of notes and small sketches, and Blaine glances at it when he walks past. The handwriting is neat and tiny, the letters written with curves and swirls the American school system doesnt teach; but its the sketches that catch Blaines attention. Detailed and intricate drawings of different outfits are criss-crossed between and around the words, the shadowing and measurements in them looking incredibly accurate, even though Blaine can tell that theyre meant to be just rough ideas, sketched as quickly as possible.

Hes not an expert on fashion, but he knows enough to notice talent when he sees it.

Kurt is sitting on the fire escape again, looking at the city around him with his forehead creased, the wind ruffling his perfect hair. He startles from his thoughts when Blaine sits down on the window ledge.

"Hi," Blaine says, giving him a small smile.

"Hi," Kurt replies. He searches Blaines face for a moment, eyebrows lowering into a concerned line. "How are you feeling?"

Blaine shrugs. "Not as likely to break down in tears as I was earlier." He crosses his arms over his stomach, pulling his sleeves over his hands. "Im sorry you had to witness that."

Kurt immediately shakes his head. "No, its-" He reaches out his hand and touches Blaines arm, a brief warm contact that somehow still makes Blaine shiver. "Its alright. Im sorry you had to go through something like that."

Blaine shrugs again and scratches his arm under the sleeve. "I guess break-ups arent something that happen in Kingleysia?" he ventures, looking away. Its late afternoon by now, the sun low in the sky, and judging by the loud rumble of the cars below most people are probably on their way home from work. He should check a few things for work as well - he has several sessions tomorrow and still needs to do some planning for them - but right now he just wants to sit here, on this chilly fire escape with Kurt.

Somehow Kurt makes him feel steadier.

"No, we dont- We dont break up," Kurt is saying, his voice careful. "We find our true love and then we stay together, unless something..." He swallows, obviously not comfortable saying the words out loud. Blaine doesnt blame him, not when Kurt told him earlier that his father lost his true love while Kurt himself lost his mother. "True love is for life. Thats what we believe in," he goes on after a moment. "We dont even court other people, or at least its not that common. We just wait for our true love."

Blaine hums in understanding, picking at some lint on his shirt. "Well, as you can probably tell, it doesnt work the same way in here." He looks at the sky and frowns. "Right now Im not even sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing."

"Was he mean to you?" Kurt asks suddenly, searching Blaines face again. "When he... broke up with you."

"Who, Nathan?" After Kurt nods, Blaine straightens his back and shrugs again. He cant seem to do anything but shrug his shoulders today. "No, not at all. He was actually really nice about it; explained everything from his point of view and wanted to make sure I would be alright and that there were no hard feelings." Blaine snorts and shakes his head, pushing his hand in his hair. "He was a lot nicer than some other people have been in similar situations, to be honest. He even apologized for not doing it earlier."

He pauses, listening to the hum of the city around him for a moment. He wonders what Kurt sees when he looks at New York - does he see beauty or chaos, familiarity or endless strangeness. Connections or loneliness.

"I guess I shouldve seen it coming when we started spending more time apart than together and not really talking at all," Blaine adds after a moment, "but I just..."

"You just wanted to stay hopeful?" Kurt offers. Hes listening to everything Blaine says carefully, expression blank but attentive, and its... comforting. Blaine is more used to talking about his issues and troubles with his other friends who can all offer a bit too much commentary, which isnt exactly something he wants to hear right now.

"Maybe," Blaine answers. "Or maybe I just desperately tried to pretend that it was working, that Nathan and I could last. Hes a nice guy and we had some things in common, so I thought I could make it work."

"But he didnt love you," Kurt says when Blaine doesnt continue. "And you said you didnt love him either, not really. Im- Im not trying to be rude or anything, but I just dont understand why you were even together in the first place if you didnt love each other?"

He stares at Blaine with his eyes wide open and confused, and Blaine suddenly wishes he could have the same faith in love as Kurt does. Could trust that all those things people say in their wedding vows or when theyre wrapped around each other in the small hours of the morning are true.

He looks away, feeling his heart clench in his chest. "Its complicated."

"But how-"

Blaine shakes his head abruptly, turning back to look at Kurt and running his hand through his hair. "No, thats not- to be honest, its not that complicated at all. Its just something that happens sometimes. I dont have the same security you obviously have with true love, so I just... I have to try." He wraps his arms more tightly around his stomach. "Even with people I dont necessarily love."

Kurt bites his lip, and then he reaches out again, his hand hovering near Blaines knee for a moment, nervous and unsure, until he slowly pulls his hand back, as if he decides that this is not the right moment to touch Blaine. Blaine can feel the loss of Kurts touch like a sudden twinge in his heart, like the air is suddenly colder around them, even though it makes no sense.

"That sounds lonely," Kurt points out after a moment. His voice is quiet and sad, and Blaine cant meet his eyes.

If someone asked Blaine if he was lonely, he would smile and shake his head, deny everything with amused words and carefree gestures. He has his parents, present and caring after years of miscommunication; he has Cooper, the brother who calls him twice a month and tries to persuade him to be an extra in his newest movie; he has Tina and Mike and Sam and other friends, people he could call in the middle of the night if needed to, confidants he would never take for granted; he has the people at his work, the baristas at his regular coffee shop, the neighbors he sometimes sees in the hallway or in the elevator when hes leaving for work.

He has people in his life, both close friends and distant acquaintances. Hes not lonely.

But theres still that ache in his heart whenever he sees Tina and Mike together, or whenever he watches his parents moving around each other with the ease brought about by decades of marriage. Its still there, pushing and pulling at his heart, forcing him to make stupid decisions and to hide his true emotions. He hopes for it so desperately, but has been disappointed too many times to voice that hope out loud.

"Its life," he replies eventually, shrugging his shoulders. Its my life goes unsaid.

Kurt frowns, wringing his hands. Blaine only now notices that hes holding his brooch in his other hand, fingers clasped tightly around the small golden bird.

"Still no connection?" he asks carefully.

Kurt opens his hand and looks down at the brooch. "Its been cold ever since I talked to my dad." He strokes his thumb over the brooch, as if hes smoothing down the birds metallic feathers. "This place is fascinating and I like being here, dont get me wrong, but some things in here are just so confusing that I wish I could..." He sighs in frustration, blinking his eyes as if hes trying not to cry. "I wish I could talk to Rachel and she would explain everything to me. Or that my dad was here and he would help me make sense of my-" He hesitates and then pushes on. "Of my emotions."

On an impulse Blaine leans closer and slowly places his hand over Kurts, the cold brooch left between their hands. Kurt startles and looks up, meeting Blaines eyes.

"I know things must be really confusing to you," Blaine starts softy, "especially things that are about love and relationships and things like that, because obviously those things are, or at least they can be," he acquiesces, "completely different from what youre used to." He squeezes Kurts hand. "And I know you must miss your dad and everyone else, but... Were friends, arent we?"

Kurt nods, still staring into Blaines eyes.

"So if you ever need to talk or are confused about something," Blaine goes on, "you can talk to me. Im sorry if Im a bit distant or careless with my words sometimes, but I want you to remember that you can talk to me. About anything you want. Okay?"

Kurt swallows roughly. "Okay," he whispers.

Blaine gives him a small smile, squeezing his hand one more time before letting go. Kurt averts his gaze, a faint blush coloring his cheeks, and for a quick, fleeting moment Blaine wonders what it would be like to keep holding on to Kurts hand, to fit their hands together and not let go. But the thought comes and goes - he just broke up with his boyfriend, so its understandable that his brain works in mysterious ways.

Kurt lets out a sudden bark of laugh and shakes his head. "I think I was supposed to be making you feel better after your break-up, not the other way around," he points out, arching his eyebrows at Blaine.

Blaine grins, scrunching up his nose. "You know, I actually do feel better already?" When Kurt looks at him in confusion, Blaine just shrugs, again. "I mean, it still hurts, obviously; breaking up is never fun - but I... I feel kind of okay. For now, at least. I think."

Kurts mouth spreads slowly into a wide smile. "Im glad."

Blaine smiles back at him, and there it is again, this quiet moment between them, just like in the kitchen this morning before Nathan knocked on his door. Its... comfortable. Natural. As if theres a silent understanding between them, despite all the differences.

Blaine huffs out a laugh and pushes himself up from the window ledge, Kurts eyes following him. "Well, I think you said something about being here for an adventure, right?" he says abruptly, dusting off his jeans.

"Yes?" Kurt replies slowly.

"Then Im going to give you an adventure," Blaine promises and extends his hand to Kurt. "I have work tomorrow, and I was thinking that you could come with me? If youd like to, I mean."

Kurt pushes his brooch in his pocket and takes Blaines hand with a shy smile. "Id love to."

---

"I spend so much time complaining to you about my cape and tunic, and now youre making me wear them again? Were you even listening to me?"

Blaine looks over as Kurt shrugs the coat hes wearing over his clothes more tightly around his shoulders. The coat covers his tunic and most of his cape, but his thick boots are still visible and the end of his cape keeps flapping in the wind beneath the coats hem. He honestly looks like someone coming home from a Halloween party. They had to leave Kurts sword at Blaines apartment because Blaine didnt think his boss and co-workers would appreciate someone bringing an actual weapon to the community center, but Kurt insisted on wearing his brooch, still pressing his hand over it every now and then, as if to feel its temperature.

Blaine has never actually seen him without it, now that he thinks of it.

"Sorry," he says sheepishly. "If you feel too uncomfortable you dont have to come with me, or I can just-"

"Blaine," Kurt interrupts him firmly and rolls his eyes, "Im just teasing you. Now, can you tell me what Im supposed to do at your work? And what youre going to do?"

Blaine adjusts his guitar case in his hand. Hes a bit nervous about today, even if his bosses had said it was okay for him to bring a friend to help him with his sessions. He knows that Kurt will be just fine - he has already adapted miraculously quickly to other new situations, so a few music therapy sessions with small kids shouldnt be anything too difficult.

But Blaine can never know exactly how a session will go beforehand, or in what mood his clients will be, and he just... He wants today to go well. He wants to give Kurt an adventure of sorts, to show him something he probably hasnt seen before. A music therapy session probably wouldnt be considered an adventure by most people, but he remembers what Kurt told him about his dads adventure, about building houses and fixing broken wagons, and it does come close to that. Blaine has planned his whole sessions around Kurts presence, making the songs about princes and adventures and fairytale lands, and he wants it to be... magical. For everyone involved.

"Well, like I said earlier," he starts, "Im a music therapist. So I help people with music," he adds, choosing to use the most basic explanation in case Kingleysia doesnt have therapists or therapy.

"Heal their illnesses with the power of song?" Kurt jokes and nudges Blaines shoulder.

Blaine ducks his head and laughs. "Something like that. Except its more like I help them deal with their problems or issues with music. Like, for example, the first session I have today is a group session with small kids who all have some sort of a learning disability - they have problems reading or writing or focusing in school or anything like that - and making music together really helps them to open up or feel better." He can feel his own smile turning fond. "Its amazing, how even playing or singing a simple song can help them so much."

Kurt slows his steps, staring at Blaine with a small smile of his own, his eyes soft. "You really like your job, dont you?"

"I do," Blaine replies, nodding. Its the one thing in his life he has always been sure of. "I like music, and I like helping people. It fits me, I think."

"It sure sounds like it." Kurt blinks his eyes, as if hes suddenly realizing something. "Hold on. You said kids." He stops completely, staring at Blaine in horror. "Blaine, I dont even know if Im good with kids," he says, his voice raising higher and his words coming faster. "Im the youngest in my family and Ive never really been around children, not at all actually, and I have no idea what to do or how to be with them. What if Im not a kid person at all?"

Blaine huffs out a small laugh. "Youll be fine, dont worry. Theyre not going to bite."

"This is not funny!" Kurt whines, his hands starting to move restlessly. "Why do you even want me to come with you?"

"Because theyre kids, Kurt," Blaine explains. "They love fairytales and princes and princesses, and, to be honest, to anyone in this world you look like you came straight from a fairytale." He pauses, searching Kurts face. "Or... Is that the problem? Do you feel like Im making you be something youre not?"

"No, thats fine!" Kurt waves his hand in the air and straightens his back for a moment. "I am a prince, and after going through your bookshelf during the weekend, I can definitely see how they might think Im from a fairytale. Its just..."

He hesitates, biting his lip. Blaine is suddenly struck with how adorable Kurt looks, how adorable he is in general with his attention to details and his drive to do anything he can to learn new things. He remembers seeing Kurt reading those old books from Blaines shelves while Blaine himself was planning his sessions or making dinner for them during the last few days, and back then he couldnt help but wonder what Kurt thought about the childrens books Blaine has kept from his childhood.

If they made him feel like home, or even more like a stranger.

"I just dont know how to act around kids," Kurt finishes miserably, keeping his voice down low as a few passers-by walk past them on the street.

"Just be yourself," Blaine suggests, taking Kurts hand and pulling him along with a reassuring smile. Theyll be late if they stand here any longer. "Talk to them about Kingleysia, tell them all the things youve told me. Trust me, theyll adore you. Youre much better than any fairytale theyve ever encountered before." He pauses, a sudden bashful feeling heating the back of his neck. "Because youre real."

Kurt looks down, his cheeks tinged pink and a small, shy smile tugging at his lips. "Fine. If you say so."

Blaine can feel the heat move from his neck to his own cheeks, but he keeps walking, Kurt following him with a sudden spring in his step.

Once they reach the community center Kurt seems to forget his nerves for a while as he looks around, taking in all the different rooms they pass by and the people milling about, from gray-haired old people to toddlers and babies and everything in between. They walk past a wall thats covered in drawings and paintings, bright and bold colors exploding from the white wall, and Blaine can see Kurts mouth turn into an excited smile.

Blaine greets a few of his co-workers and then leads them into a large room that already has cushions placed in a circle on the floor and different small musical instruments in baskets next to the far wall. He points out the coat rack for Kurt and quickly makes sure everything is in order after the previous session.

"Alright," Blaine says as he places his guitar case on the floor next to the bigger cushion he usually sits on. "We still have a few minutes before the session starts and the first kids start coming in. Do you have any questions?"

Kurt walks around the room, smiling at the posters on the walls and running his fingers over the instruments. He stops in front of the window, peering out of it into the bright sunlight. "Not that I can think of." He turns to look at Blaine and gestures at the room. "This is a lovely room. Very calm and relaxing."

Blaine smiles. "Thats the point." He crouches down and opens his guitar case. "The kids can be a bit shy at first since theyve never met you before, but they should warm up eventually. Ive worked with them for a long time, and theyre all great kids."

Theres a quick knock on the door, and Blaine looks up. Susan, his boss, peeks her head into the room.

"Hey there," she greets with a smile and a wave. "I just wanted to meet this friend of yours before you start."

"Of course." Blaine stands back up, dusting off his pants, and nods at Kurt. "Susan, this is Kurt, the friend I told you about." He notices that the word ‘friend is starting to roll much more easily and naturally from his mouth by now. "Kurt, this is my boss, Susan."

Susan looks Kurt up and down and gives a low, appreciative whistle. "Wow, those clothes are amazing. The kids are gonna love you."

Kurt straightens his back again, adjusting his sleeves. "Oh, thank you!" He gives a quick smile. "I hope its okay that Im coming to Blaines work like this...?"

"Sure, sure!" Susan brushes his words away with her hand, leaning against the door frame and crossing her arms over her chest. "I trust Anderson here, so if he says youre good, youre good."

Blaine ducks his head. "You give me way too much credit, Susan."

Susan shrugs. "Nah, just enough." She pushes herself away from the door frame and glances towards the corridor outside the door. "I think the first kids are here already, so have a good session, boys. It was nice to meet you, Kurt," she adds with a wink and then backs away from the doorway.

"You too!" Kurt shouts after her before turning to look at Blaine. "She seems nice," he adds. "You have a lot of nice people in your life."

Blaine gives a lopsided shrug as he bends down to pull his guitar out. "I guess they balance it all out, then," he says absent-mindedly, without giving the sentence a second thought.

He can almost feel Kurts frown although he doesnt see it, his back turned to Kurt and his shoulders freezing once he realizes what he was referring to.

"What do you mean?" Kurt asks.

"Nothing," Blaine replies quickly, standing up again. "Just... Not all the people in my life have been nice. Thats all."

"Mr. Blaine, can we come in already?"

The small voice interrupts their conversation, and Blaine turns away from Kurts worried frown, smiling at the two small boys standing in the doorway. "Yeah, of course, come on in! We have a special guest today, so you can come meet him already."

Just like Blaine predicted, the kids are shy at first, carefully sitting down on their usual cushions and glancing at Kurt when they think hes not looking. Theyre obviously curious, some of them even openly staring at Kurts clothes and a few of the older girls whispering together in excitement. Eventually, as Blaine introduces Kurt to them all and then encourages Kurt to tell them about Kingleysia, the kids start to open up. They ask all sorts of questions from Kurt and tell him excitedly about the things they usually do during their sessions, demanding that they sing this song or that to "Mr. Kurt".

Blaine tries to tie the songs and exercises he had planned for today to princes and magic and to everything Kurt has told him about Kingleysia, encourages the kids to open up about their problems and experiences with the help of some familiar fairytales. It seems to be working, and Blaine even has to calm down the more excited kids once they get the hang of todays theme. The longer the session goes on, the more comfortable everyone seems, and near the end of the session the kids are listening to one of Kurts stories with rapt attention, most of them leaning forward and staring at Kurt with their eyes wide open.

Kurt himself is clearly enjoying the attention and the reactions, his smile wide and genuine. Blaine cant help but think that he looks absolutely beautiful when hes this excited; his eyes are almost sparkling, as if the galaxies Blaine saw on that first rainy night are expanding right before his own eyes.

Soon, too soon, its time for them to sing the traditional closing song, but to the kids joy Blaine has changed the lyrics to something more appropriate to the days theme. Kurt nods his head and claps his hands along at first, but then he seems to memorize the song, both its melody and its lyrics, and during the chorus when Blaine least expects it, he starts to sing as well, his voice unmistakable through the childrens choir.

And Blaine... stops.

He fumbles with his guitar, playing a few chords a bit wrong as he turns to look at Kurt in amazement. Kurts voice is clear and high, breaking through the kids voices but not overpowering them. He doesnt sound like anyone Blaine has ever heard before. They had a countertenor in his a cappella group in college, but that guys voice doesnt come even close to Kurts. Kurts voice is beautiful and alluring, like a magical merman enchanting a seaman, except theres no threat of danger or deceit - hes honest, smiling and singing genuinely from his heart, even though the song is just a silly childrens song.

Blaine finishes the song on autopilot, staring at Kurt instead of the kids around them, and he only snaps out of his daze when he hears the last note fading out and one of the kids clears their throat.

Right. Hes at work, and he needs to tie up this session, needs to say some final words to the kids. Needs to tell them that sure, of course Mr. Kurt can come back again if he has the time, and yes, Ophelia, they can continue with the princes and princesses next week. There are parents waiting outside the door, wanting to exchange a few words with Blaine and ask him if its okay that their daughter or son misses one session in a few weeks because of a family thing, and one of the shyer kids is pulling at his sleeve, whispering how she would like Mr. Blaine to tell Mr. Kurt that his brooch with the pretty golden bird is really pretty - and all the while Kurt is standing there, strong and safe at the back of the room, with his breath-taking voice and small smile.

The room empties out eventually, the last kids waving goodbye to them enthusiastically. Blaine slumps against the wall with a breathless laugh once theyre alone. It was a really good session; better than he even dared to hope for. He still has a few other sessions left later today, some of them not exactly something he could bring Kurt into, but after this one hes pretty sure that itll be okay to leave Kurt in the crafts room for a while and let him cheer up the kids in there.

Because this was amazing. Kurt was amazing.

Kurt takes a few slow steps towards him and spreads his arms. "Well...? How did I do?"

Blaine lets out another overwhelmed laugh. "You were incredible! The kids clearly adored you." He starts collecting the instruments from the floor and putting them back in their baskets, Kurt quickly following his example. Blaine feels like he cant stop smiling, like he could take a few dance steps around the room and just float away. "And that story about the first time Rachel used her magic?" he adds. "That was so inspiring. I could see that it really made the kids think."

Kurt bites his lip with a bashful smile as he drops the last maracas in a basket. "Well, you said that they all have problems with learning. I thought a story like that could be fitting." He looks at Blaine, his smile turning soft. "And you were amazing as well. The way you talked to those kids, got them to open up and treated them with respect... Youre really good at your job, Blaine."

Blaine picks up his guitar and puts it back in its case. "Well, this was a really good session. They dont always go that smoothly."

Kurt stops him with a hand on his arm, bending down so he can meet Blaines eyes. "Dont you dare sell yourself short, Blaine Anderson. Those kids clearly adored you as well." He squeezes Blaines arm, playfully scrunching up his nose. "And you dont even have the added bonus of being dressed up like a fairytale prince."

Blaine laughs and stands up, and before he has a chance to question it he leans closer and wraps his arms around Kurts shoulders. "Thank you." He closes his eyes for a moment and leans against Kurts steady body, letting out a slow breath. "I mean it. After everything that happened with Nathan, I- I dont know how this session wouldve gone without you here."

Its true; he is good at keeping his personal life separate from his work, playing the part and not letting anything show, but the kids can be awfully perceptive sometimes. And he would hate it if he accidentally made them feel uncomfortable because he himself isnt at his best.

Kurt hugs him back, stroking his hand down Blaines back. "I should be thanking you," he counters. "This was definitely an adventure." He leans back and looks into Blaines eyes. "Except now Im really confused why you dont sing more often. You have a wonderful voice."

Blaine steps back from the touch and bends down to close his guitar case. He can feel his lips automatically twitching with a small false smile. "Its a long story," he replies awkwardly, the previous bubbling happiness inside of him already replaced by a cold, painful twinge hes too familiar with. "I used to sing all the time, but then I just... stopped."

Kurt crouches down next to him and nudges his shoulder, a gentle movement that still sends shivers down Blaines arm. "Well, personally I think you should start singing more often again," Kurt comments gently. "Itd be a shame to save a voice like that for therapy sessions alone."

Blaine swallows against the sudden lump in his throat. "Ill think about it," he says, keeping his eyes on the guitar case.

Theres a sudden weird feeling in his chest, not at all like the coldness hes gotten used to - but like something warm and alive, spreading slowly through his whole body, driving the cold away and making him feel like he could actually sing outside of work again. He hasnt felt like that in ages, not since...

Not since Connor. Not since that last karaoke party they went to together and everything that happened right after it. Singing at work has been enough for him since then.

Or maybe he has just convinced himself that it is enough.

"Good." Kurt stands up and pushes his cape away from his shoulders. "Honestly though, who wouldve thought I would be so good with kids? Maybe I have some magic as well." He grins at Blaine, eyes twinkling. "Maybe I actually enchanted you all with my fabulous clothes and magical stories."

Blaine blinks his eyes, pushing the old memories away. Tina always says that he hasnt properly dealt with everything that happened back then, but hes not going to start dealing with it right here and now. He looks up at Kurt, remembering what Kurts voice sounded like when he was singing, and smiles.

"You certainly have an enchanting singing voice."

"Oh." Kurt looks surprised, blinking his eyes, a blush spreading over his cheeks. "Thank you. My tutor used to compliment my voice when I was younger, but I had to stop taking singing lessons when I grew up and started to have more time-consuming responsibilities." He shrugs his shoulders. "I can still beat most of the birds I have singing competitions with, so..."

Blaine pushes himself up from the floor and straightens his clothes. "Maybe we should both start singing more often then."

"As duet partners?" Kurt suggests, probably at least half-joking.

The warm feeling spreads through Blaines body again, almost like there are butterflies fluttering their wings in his stomach, making him feel both nervous and sure at the same time. Both scared out of his mind and completely fearless.

"As duet partners," he agrees, too confused by his emotional reaction to say anything else.

The wide smile on Kurts face makes him feel like he said the right thing anyway.