Met with the sound of traffic below, Blaine was instantly thrown into his day upon wakening. That was one thing about New York he could go without.

Blaine scrubbed at his eyes, focusing on a messy head of brunette hair once they opened. Now that was something he was fine with waking up to. Blaine brushed again the sheets, moving forward to push aside strands of that brunette hair with his nose, nuzzling in close to gently kiss whatever skin his lips could find.

“Mm, good morning,” Blaine mumbled, his eyelashes fanning against a bare back.

“Nothing could be as good as last night.”

Blaine let out a puff of air as he was pressed onto his back and straddled. So he had been the late riser this time around. He felt the corner of his own eyes crinkle while they took in ones he preferred much over his own. Deep green and sparkling with unpredictability.

“Unless, you wanted to challenge that sentiment.”

“You know I have to leave soon, Sebastian,” he reminded, closing his hands closing around the ones pressed flat against his chest.

“You always do,” Sebastian mumbled, leaning down to draw out each kiss. “Not that I mind,” he added. “But it could be nice to switch it up a bit.”

“Don't you have a workshop you need to be getting to?” Blaine noted, linking his fingers through Sebastian's.

“Shit.”

Of course. He forgot. Blaine softly smiled, smoothing his thumbs against the backs of Sebastian's hands. Really, what would Sebastian do without him?

 “Well, I'm sure my director would find my absence completely understandable if I told him it was because I was being coached by the Blaine Anderson on ways to expand my vocal register.”

Blaine snorted, rolling his eyes at the statement. “Of course. Expanding your vocal register.”

“Among other things,” Sebastian mumbled, spreading his thighs apart and leaning down to more comfortably rest against Blaine.

“Sebastian, I really should be going,” Blaine reiterated, telling himself more than Sebastian.

“You don't have to,” he said, his voice the softest Blaine had ever heard it.

“But I should.”

“But you don't have to,” Sebastian echoed, his tone tensing along with his form. He sighed, swinging himself off of Blaine and onto the side of the bed. “But you will. And that's fine. Thanks for the great night, anyway.”

“It really was. Great.” Blaine smiled, a bit sad. His eyes ran down the Sebastian's form, completely turned away from him. “You're great, Sebastian.”

“Mm, so I've been told.” He shrugged. “You're not bad yourself.”

An unwanted silence fell over them, Blaine hating the way Sebastian could slip so easily into the person he presented to outside world. Sometimes he never wanted to leave Sebastian's bedroom if it meant Sebastian would be willing to be nearly stripped bare and soften.

“If I could stay—”

“No. You have to go. I get it. I'm fine.”

Blaine watched his hands draw into himself, clasped within his lap. Blaine drew his lip into his mouth, biting it. He swung his legs off the other side of the bed. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Of course, babe. Always.”

Blaine had only taken one step forward, but Sebastian's last word was already playing with his thoughts. He had gotten too far in, holding on tight to the ends of two kites, always letting one get too free until he would have to rush to draw in the line. He battled with himself, knowing that priorities changed far too much. His mind was reeling, struggling with which thread to focus on drawing near first. The one that was older and more worn or a newer line that felt stronger but held less experience handling.

Blaine knelt back onto the mattress, drawing in close to Sebastian. His mouth worked on his throat and arms curled over Sebastian's. His hands closed over larger ones and he smiled into each kiss against Sebastian's skin.

“Blaine.”

He could feel Sebastian's weight falling into him, letting go. Giving in, Sebastian faced him, meeting Blaine's mouth instantly. Blaine grabbed at Sebastian's neck, grinning into a sudden breath.

“Blaine,” Sebastian murmured into Blaines lips, his eyes carefully checking over Blaine's. “You need to go off to Ohio.”

“My flight doesn't leave until ten. I think I have some time to spare,” Blaine spoke through a smile. “Ohio can wait.”

“Well. Then what are we waiting for?”

It was worth it to see Sebastian light up like Blaine had never seen before. To get to see Sebastian be chosen. To evoke that response. Blaine was wrapped up in drawing Sebastian's line closer and closer still, but that didn't stop him from feeling a more warn thread scratch against the back of his eyes each time he closed them, begging to be chosen instead.

-

Blaine couldn't even feel the embarrassment he should sprinting through the crowd, his head turning from terminal to terminal. Rushed and panicked, they all looked the same. He checked his phone. The plane had taken off. But there was another flight. Blaine fought back tears, really hoping he could get on this next one. But now he would have to call Kurt and let him know he would be coming into Ohio four hours later than they had agreed on.

“Blaine,” Kurt's voice breathed out, sounding younger. Excited.

“Hey,” Blaine managed to say through a fake smile.

“I was just prepping for lunch. Everything should be done right in time if I start now. Are you boarding?”

“I actually got called into a meeting last minute and had to change to a later flight. I'll miss lunch, but I'll only be in about two hours later than we originally planned. I hope that's alright?”

“Oh. Of course! That's alright. That's fine. I'm just… ready to have you here,” Kurt murmured. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too. I should be in town around two alright?”

“Alright. I love you.” The statement hung in the air like a question as if Kurt was unsure of what he would get in reply.

“I love you too, Kurt.”

Blaine heard Kurt sigh on the other end of the line.

“Text me when your flight lands, alright?”

“Alright. Bye.”

“Bye.”

Blaine sat down, leaning his head back against the chair and searching through his mind, wanting to go back to a time with Kurt when even their conflicts felt easy.

-

Blaine felt Kurt leaned his weight against the headboard, pulling Blaine into him by the small of his back. Long, splaying fingers pressed into his back underneath his shirt, each of Kurt's finger pads radiating off heat. Blaine smiled against Kurt's lips before breaking the kiss to grin and then work his way down to Kurt's neck. Blaine's right hand settled on Kurt's hip, shyly playing with his belt as his left drew Kurt closer into him. Blaine had just managed to work the belt off and had his palm resting against Kurt's inner thigh when he felt a gentle pressure on his shoulder.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” Blaine drew out the word, grinning up at Kurt, only for it to falter when he noticed the expression Kurt was wearing.

“Blaine. I'm sorry. But we can't… with the…” Kurt shut his eyes, looking frustrated with himself and his inability to speak. “We should keep our clothes on, at least.”

“But—you said… ‘easier on a bed'—?”

Blaine wasn't upset with Kurt, and he was pretty sure he looked stupid right now, mouth agape in disappointment and thick brows drawn together. He thought he had read Kurt's signals correctly. Kurt had initiated the physical contact. Sure, it was too much too soon. But, if things would go as he hoped, he wanted Kurt for the long hall. And, well, if Kurt was okay with moving right along physically, well, he wasn't that much of a dope to fight him on it.

“I know. I know. I thought I could do this but I'm just not that type of person.” Kurt smiled sadly, almost to himself. “I hope I'm not being a… a tease or anything. I hope you're still interested in me.”

“Kurt, I will always be interested in you. Since the first moment I saw you, I…” Blaine swallowed.

Blaine raked his eyes over the Kurt before him, wanting to mark this memory so it could be filed right next to the first time he had seen Kurt. It would be the perfect contrast to the polished young man he had met at auditions. His hair was askew and his chest rising and falling as he focused on breathing steady, his shirt unbuttoned just enough but also not enough. Blaine bit his lip, meeting Kurt's eyes.

“The first time I saw you, I wanted you just as much as I do now. As I will want you until you're ready for this. And I hope you're still interested in me after I say this, but… I can see myself wanting you in more than just this way. And, I know we don't really know each other that well yet, but I want us to. So, to start, you should know that you respecting yourself? That doesn't ruin me wanting a shot with you.”

“Still. I'm sorry. I wish I could just…” Kurt hid his face in his hands, exhaling sharply. “I'm sorry.”

“Hey, are you not hearing me?” A laugh bubbled out of Blaine's throat as he pulled Kurt's hands down into his own. “This apologizing? You don't have to. Not even to yourself. I don't want to be anything less of a gentleman about this. You deserve that much from me. You deserve that much from anyone.”

“Thank you,” Kurt uttered, a little disbelieving.

“You're welcome.”

-

To see Kurt throwing his head back, laughing and singing made Blaine wondered how long it would last. How much longer would Blaine be able to give Kurt small spurts of happiness? But he pushed it from his mind because right now, in this instant, Kurt was happy. Seemed so, anyway. And when Kurt was happy, the world was right.

“Call me irresponsible. Yes, Im unreliable, but its undeniably true,” Blaine sang against Kurt's ear. “Im irresponsibly mad for you.”

“Mm, it's so nice here. Isn't it nice here?” Kurt whispered. “God, it's so funny. I was dying to get out of this place when I was younger, and now look at me.”

“The pace is certainly more manageable here. A quiet little sanctuary.”

“Our quiet little sanctuary,” Kurt mumbled, sitting onto the couch. Blaine followed soon after, letting Kurt wrap him up. “Two days. Two days of peace and quiet. Then back to the city.”

“We used to love it there,” Blaine reminded softly.

“It has its moments,” Kurt simply said. “I have a meeting with Random House after we go back.”

“That's great,” Blaine replied, it empty. Much in the way Kurt would comment on his work. Disinterested and not entirely understanding but supportive. “And what will be discussed at this meeting?” he asked in a silly voice, nuzzling into Kurt's neck.

“I haven't quite hashed out an ending yet which is making everyone uneasy, including myself.”

“Well, let me know if there's any way I can help, alright?” Blaine offered, closing his eyes and breathing steady.

“Alright.”