After their post-dinner game last night, Kurt had warned Blaine about the gravity of Black Friday in the house— mostly just for Kurt and Carole. Hed invited Blaine to come along, suggesting also that he could sleep a few more hours then get up with Burt and see his tire shop. Blaine had told Kurt hed see how he felt in the morning, knowing he would spend most of his night packing.

When Kurt found Blaine in the center of the mattress, deeply wrapped in blankets and looking too at peace, Kurt knew he wouldnt be tagging along. Kurt couldnt even wake him up, it was one in the morning for Christs sake, and didnt he hear Blaine shuffling around an hour or two ago? Hes probably exhausted. Quietly, Kurt wrote a quick note and tapped it to the bathroom mirror, where he figured Blaine would see it. Then, he set his old high school alarm for eight, even though he knows Blaine rises naturally around six, and silently slipped out of the room.

When Blaine woke up in the morning, at six, he panicked, hoping Kurt wasnt waiting for him. He hurried down the stairs to only find Burt, just getting start on brewing his coffee.

"They already left," Burt announced. "Kurt said he didnt want to wake you. Coffee?"

Blaine shook his head in declination. "Thank you, though." Silence passed, Blaine watching Burts back and considering his next question. "Uhm, did Kurt mention anything about me maybe going to your tire shop today?"

"Oh, yeah, he said you might be interested. So, you play football and you fix cars?" Burt whistled low, "Im impressed."

Blaine shrugged modestly, "Ive only ever fixed one car, just multiple times. Its old, it has a lot of...problems."

"What do ya got?"

"A, uh, 59 Mercedes Benz." Burt whistled again and Blaine felt the tips of his ears turning pink. "Its actually my brothers. My dad got it for him when he turned 16 and the three of us spent the summer, and many times after that, fixing it up."

"Alright, Ill you tag along, but I cant promise many Mercedes Benzs it Lima, Ohio. Sorry, kid." Blaine smiled, then nodded, then shrugged. "Well, whatre you waiting for? Eat, shower, the car leaves at nine, whether youre in it or not." Again, Blaine nodded, before hurrying upstairs to get dressed.

Stepping on the cool bathroom tile, Blaine noticed a note stuck to the mirror. In Kurts fancy writing, it said:

Morning B!

Sorry I didnt wake you, looked like you needed the rest.

But, youre up now and if it isnt 9, then dad hasnt left yet

and Im sure he wouldnt mind you going with him. If you do,

bring all of your stuff, so I can pick you up from the shop.

Then we can swing by the Lima a Bean for our date

Blaine paused on the word date. What did Kurt mean? Were they going on a date? But, then Blaine remembered going to the park the other day and meeting Quinn and Puck. It was technically a date, but not the kind Blaine was thinking of.

and be on our merry way back to New York.

-Kurt

He took down the note and put it on the bed, so it wouldnt get ruined from the steam when he showered. Then, he proceed to get ready for the day, dressing in a pair of jeans and a shirt that he didnt particularly care for in case Burt didnt have extra coveralls for him.

Of course Burt did, though. They were the ones Kurt wore when he came to help back in high school. Still, the long pants pooled at Blaines ankles and he had to constantly combat the long sleeves to keep them from falling past the tips of his fingers for the first hour and half of work. But, by 11:30 Blaine had had it, unzipping the top half of the coveralls, letting the torso of them hang around his waist, and subjecting his white shirt to the grease and grime of the old clunker Burt trusted him with.

At noon, when Kurt showed up to get Blaine, hed found only his feet peeking out from under a familiar car. He nudged them and Blaine rolled out on his creeper. Kurt nearly choked at the sight of him. His hair was a loose mess, curls dangling in his eyes. He had grease prints on his shirt and a smear of oil across his forehead like baby Simba. One hand held an oil filter wrench, the other a screw driver. He was smirking around the flashlight in his mouth.

"Almost done." He mumbled around the LED light. Kurt swallowed and nodded. If he didnt keep himself busy, hed certainly do something stupid.

"Ill go move your bags to the car." He called to Blaine, who had already rolled back to work. Blaine mumbled some sort of response, so Kurt figured he would be okay.

When he came back into the shop, Blaine was upright and no longer under a car. He waved Kurt over with the rag he was wiping his hands on.

"Why dont you get this baby running?" Blaine asked, coolly tossing Kurt the keys. He was so worried about dropping the key that he forgot to catch it in the first place. They hit his shoulder dully, then clanked on the ground. It took a few seconds for Kurt to acknowledge it, while Blaine was picking them up in an instant. "Shit, god, Im sorry. I- I thought youd catch them."

Kurt chuckled, "its fine, I thought I would too."

Blaine grinned up at him from where he was kneeling on the floor. "Give it a try?" He asked, holding the key towards Kurt, who smiled graciously and accepted the key. "Dont drop it." Blaine added teasingly. Kurt wanted to hit him and hug him. Climbing into the car, Kurt could picture himself living a life like this. When Blaine leaped over the passenger door to sit next to him, he realized he could definitely live like this. Him and his hot greaser boyfriend. He could hang around the shop all day "helping" as an excuse to stare at his ass in the tight coveralls whenever he was bent over the hood of a car. When the day was over, they would go back to their place and he would insist on showering. But, Kurt would make him fuck him right there against the front door, getting car oil on places of Kurt that Kurt shouldnt want car oil on.

"I promise it wont blow up, if thats what youre scared of. Im no professional, but Im not that bad." Blaine said, leaning into Kurts shoulder. Kurt had forgotten it was Blaine with him, not the star of some weird grease monkey porno. Which hes realizing now is creepy, especially considering his father owns and operates the mechanic shop he is currently in. Blaine reached over, holding the keys around Kurts hand. "I can do it if you wont."

Kurt wasnt listening, he was thinking about the oil on Blaines hand getting on his hand. Getting car oil on places of Kurt that Kurt shouldnt want car oil on. His face. Behind his ear. The nape of his neck. Along his collarbone. Down his chest. On his hipbone. The inside of his thigh.

Kurt shook his head to clear away the obscene image of a head of a curly hair bobbing between his legs. "Its fine, Ive got it." Kurt spoke softly, putting the key into the ignition— Like putting his dick in Blaines mouth. Or his ass— If he didnt stop thinking like that, itd be a long drive home—long and hard.

Seamlessly, the car grunted to life. At the sound, Burt looked up from the hood of the Subaru hed been tinkering with. As he walked over to the boys, he wiped his hands on the front of his coveralls. "You did it!" He smiled proudly down at Blaine. Kurt would be jealous of his dad praising someone else, much like when Finn first entered their lives. But, hed had plenty good years of his fathers pride and he doubted Blaines father did the same for him. "In all of the years Ive seen this car coming in and out of here, that engine has never sound so good."

Blaine blushed and shrugged modestly, "its actually pretty similar to Coops Mercedes."

Burt nodded, clapping Blaine on the shoulder. "Im proud of you, kid." From the precious, soul splitting smile that cracked across Blaines face, Kurt was decidedly not jealous of him. He deserved it; he deserved to be soul splitting happy. Burt turned to his son. "You remember Mr. Schuester?" Kurt nodded, of course he did. "Great, can you go in my office and call him, let him know his car is ready to be picked up?" Blaine flashed his excited grin at Kurt, who winked back and left to make the call.

Once Kurt was gone, Burt leaned on the edge of the car and looked at Blaine. "You did a great job today."

"Thank you, Burt." Using his first name was gradually becoming easier for Blaine.

"Im glad Kurt has someone like you to look out for him."

Blaine shook his head, "Im flattered, but I think you have it backwards."

"Thats only what he wants you to think." Burt said, watching his son fondly through the observation window of his office. "Just make sure you keep an eye on him. Kurt, he, uh, he loses himself sometimes. You just gotta keep him alive- I mean,"

"I know what you mean. Ill keep him in line." Blaine smiled warmly at Burt.

"Thanks, kid."

"Ill go see if Kurt is ready to head out."

Kurt was a little disappointed that Blaine changed before they left the shop. It was true what Blaine had said, that they were dirty. But, they also hugged his butt in a glorious way, even though they were Kurts and too big for him. Plus, Blaine was wearing Kurts coveralls. Although Kurt has never liked other people wearing his clothes, when it was Blaine, Kurt kind of liked it. Also, what Blaine said was very true, he was dirty. And Kurt liked it. Regardless, Blaine changed and he washed his hands and he rinsed his face in the bathroom. And now, hes back to being clean, little Blaine, asleep in the passenger seat.

The ride was short, as was Blaines nap, but that was all he needed. By the time  Kurt woke him up in the parking lot of a small coffee shop, Blaine felt far more awake. Kurt looked at him, bright blue eyes showing no trace of how early hed woken up, he reached his hand out and smoothed down his unruly curls. "Ready?" He spoke softly and Blaine nodded. "Okay, lets go."

Together, the two made their way from the car, straight into the aroma of coffee beans. The way Kurt would walk so close to Blaine, brushing shoulders with him, made Blaine think he was going to hold his hand again. He wanted him to like crazy, but he never did.

Kurts friends were already inside, seated with their coffees. When the boys entered, the group waved, allowing them to get their coffees first. Kurt got a grande nonfat mocha, while Blaine ordered a medium drip. Then Blaine nervously followed Kurt to the table. He stood off to the side while everyone got up to hug Kurt, then he leaned down to hug a boy in a wheelchair, who introduced himself to Blaine as Artie. Of course Puck and Quinn were there, and they said Brittany and Mike would be there soon.

Blaine was content with simply sitting and drinking and tracing the logo on his white coffee cup. The Lima Bean, hed been here with his Dalton friends a few times. It was Jeff and Nicks favorite. While Blaine had no idea what the happy bunch was chatting about, Blaine liked listening to their laughter and watching Kurt engaged and smiling. Eventually a tall girl with long blonde hair in a bouncy ponytail entered, followed by a guy who was oddly familiar to Blaine.

"Oh, theyre here!" Kurt said, rising from his seat. "Okay, Blaine, this is Brittany and Mike. Brittany, Mike, this is Blaine."  

"Kurts lover." Artie whispered. Quinn and Puck snickered, while Kurt shot him a dirty look and Blaine could feel the color rushing to his cheeks. Brittany hugged him, but Mike just shook his hand. Then he stopped and looked at Blaine, his small eyes in smaller squints.

"Blaine Anderson?"

"Yeah, Mike Chang, right?" The guy nodded, taking his seat.

Kurt looked between the two parts of his life, Mike and Blaine. "Youve met?"

They both nodded and tried to answer, only to talk over each other. "My friend was, uh..." Blaine mumbled. "Tina and I," Mike began.

"I thought Tina mentioned like a Sean or something." Kurt mentioned towards Blaine.

"It was back in high school." He explained.

Mike looked imploringly at Blaine, as did the entire table, "so is she seeing someone now?" Quinn asked, since no one else would.

Blaine nodded, "Uh, yeah, some guy named Sam that her roommate set her up with."

"Good for her." Mike smiled, stirring sugar into his coffee.

"Wait, but Rachel is her roommate." Kurt pondered.

"Holdup, is this Rachel Berry? Short, jewish, sings a lot?" Kurt and Blaine both nodded. "Could this be a Sam Evans?" Blaine shrugged and Kurt brightened at the prospect. "Blonde hair, big mouth, ex boyfriend of you," he pointed to Quinn, "you," then Brittany, "and potentially you," he pointed at Kurt, earning him an amused smirk from Blaine. "Not sure on the details."

"That would be the one." Blaine confirmed.

"Damn, chick loves her McKinely boys." Puck said.

"For some ungodly reason." Quinn added.

"Okay, Im going to cut this conversation short, because Im tired of trying to keep up." Brittany bluntly announced. "Also, I have no interest in this girl who gets around even more than Lord Tubbington."

"It was just two guys." Kurt interjected.

"Mike and I have a big announcement." She said. "Were moving to New York."

"Together?" Artie asked.

"What about Santana?" Quinn asked gently.

"Ill be living with her, Quinn, in our beautiful and upscale lesbian apartment, near Kurt and his boyfriend gay Blaine." Blaine raised his eyebrows and Kurt tried to mumble some sense to his friend.

Puck ignored Brittanys comment "Mike, what about college?"

"My parents made me take so many AP classes and summer courses that I was able to graduate early."

"Thats great, Mike!" Quinn congratulated, "why didnt you tell us?"

He shrugged, "I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Although, I dont know what youre going to do in New York. Youre not even allowed to live with my beautiful girlfriend and I and Kurt and Gay Blaine on Gay Street."

"Is that a real street?" Puck asked and Artie nodded.

"Britt, we live on West 34th street."

"Ill be staying with Mercedes, just until I can get a place of my own." Mike explained. "And I already have a job lined to teach a hip hop class for young boys."

"Mike, thats great." Kurt grinned.

"This calls for celebration," Artie announced. "Espresso shots on me!"

And everyone laughed, even Blaine.

On the road again, halfway out of Ohio, Blaine turned to Kurt. "So, you and Sam, huh?" Kurt glared lazy from the passenger seat and swatted Blaines arm

"Oh, shush." He said, cracking a smile when Blaine started laughing.

After awhile, Kurt fell asleep, letting his early morning finally catch up to him. Then it was just Blaine, the road and Betty the GPS.

"Alone at last." Blaine whispered to the small screen.

"Recalculating..." She answered back in her robotic voice, when Blaine missed their turn.

He snorted, "dont tease me, Betty."

It was well into the wee hours of a new day when Blaine made it back to the city. It had taken him four cups of McDonalds coffee, two bathroom stops, and an entire pack of gum, but they were back. Parked at the curb of their small apartment, he gently woke Kurt with a few light squeezes of his shoulder.

He blinked up at Blaine and immediately reached for the keys in his hand. "You want me to drive?" He so was ready to accept the task, even though it was clear how sleepy he still was.

Blaine shook his head, but let Kurt hold on to the keys. "Were home."

Kurt turned to see behind him, and sure enough, there was their crummy building. "You drove all this way?" He sounded tired and proud, but when he turned back to face Blaine he eyes were worried and apologetic. "In one night?"

"Yeah, it wasnt too bad. I had a lot of coffee." Kurt noticed from the surplus of empty cups and the way Blaine seemed to buzz with dull energy. His brain was dead, but his body fidgeted with life.

Kurt frowned up at Blaine. "You shouldnt have done that, Blaine, its dangerous. You couldve fallen asleep with your foot on the gas or gotten highway hypnosis or something."

"But I didnt." Blaine retorted.

"But you couldve. And besides, all of that caffeine is bad for you and it stunts your growth, thats why youre so short."

Blaine rolled his eyes. He just drove Kurt all the way home in one night. He was tired and irritable and proud of himself, but Kurt was not the least bit appreciative and it just made Blaine angrier. "Okay, sure, all of that couldve of happened, but it didnt. I got us here all in one piece, which wasnt easy, so the least you could do is say thank you."

Kurt wanted to shush Blaine, tell him not to wake the whole street, then proceed to yell at him and wake the whole street. But he was only doing this because he was worried about Blaine. They both needed sleep, so he gave into to Blaines whims , "thank you, Blaine."

"Youre welcome."