Prompt: "I'll take care of you"

[NC-17, hints of mild, loving D/s dynamics (or is it?)]

The first time Kurt noticed it, it was near the end of Blaine's freshman year at NYU. There were finals approaching, which Blaine was determined to ace, and a showcase soon afterwards where he was going to play two of his own songs. Kurt was certain with Blaine's talent and his hard work all year long he would breeze right through it. But there was stress anyway: long study sessions and nights spent over the piano perfecting the songs, quiet enough not to wake up the neighbors.

Kurt could see it building in Blaine's frame and his demeanor – the anxiety, the untold worry he wouldn't be good enough. The perfectionism, developed through the years under Mr. Anderson's critical eye, still reared its ugly head every now and then, Kurt knew. The only thing he could do was take care of Blaine until the stressful period passed, making sure he slept enough and ate at all, and didn't beat himself up over every tiny thing he perceived as failure.

It was the night before Blaine's first final of the session, and Kurt had convinced him to go to bed early and get some rest instead of revising yet again. When he left his sewing room and entered the bedroom himself, it was well after three, and Blaine was peacefully asleep, hugging Kurt's pillow to his face the way he always did until Kurt was there to hold instead.

Kurt smiled and slipped under covers, trying his best not to disturb Blaine, but as usual, it was no use. No matter how how deeply asleep or exhausted, Blaine always knew when Kurt joined him in bed, and cuddled to him immediately. Tonight was no exception.

They hadn't had any kind of sex in two weeks; there was never time, and Blaine had been tense and focused on other things so completely he probably didn't even realize it was the longest they'd gone without since they moved in together. Kurt understood, of course – there were things more important than his libido. But he couldn't help it when Blaine rolled into his arms now, naked and sleep-warm, an eternal temptation – it was impossible not to react to that delicious round ass right in Kurt's lap, wiggling a little as Blaine settled into a more comfortable position. Kurt jerked his hips forward on instinct, a moment of friction for his rapidly hardening cock, and then cursed himself silently when he felt his boyfriend stir awake. Blaine needed the sleep, dammit.

Well, it was too late now – he was definitely awake, his ass pressing against Kurt's body in maddening little circles, his arms stretching up above his head on the pillow so that Blaine's whole body was a long tight string of taut muscles. It was an invitation, and Kurt had no intention of refusing; not when Blaine was hard and hot under his hand, his breathing quickening already from the simple touch. Kurt kissed the nape of Blaine's neck, his flexed bicep, pressed his cock urgently against the cleft of Blaine's ass – once, twice, again.

God, he wanted him so much.

He pulled away and rolled Blaine onto his back, moving in to kiss him as soon as his lips were within reach. They'd barely even done this in the last few weeks, except for the hello and goodnight kisses, and occasional pecks in passing. Kissing slow and deep like this, with Blaine's mouth warm and soft against his, opening to let him in immediately – oh, how he'd missed that. He let himself get lost in it for a moment, in the sensual, blood-igniting pleasure that still set the butterflies in his stomach aflutter even after a year back together.

In his enchantment, it took Kurt a moment to notice that something was different.

It wasn't the first time Blaine woke up when Kurt came to bed, and sex ensued – far from it; they both loved the luxury of slow, barely-awake lovemaking, and whether at night before Kurt fell asleep or in the morning, when Blaine decided to wake him up, it happened at least once a week. But tonight Blaine's body under him lacked the sleepy bonelessness that made it so easy to slip into him, all relaxed and opening beautifully to Kurt's touch. Tonight, Blaine was thrumming with tension, coiled tightly in every muscle of his stretched up form. And, Kurt realized with a start, he was silent.

Blaine was never silent – he was one of the most vocal lovers Kurt had ever been with, always moaning and sighing, begging for more and chanting Kurt's name, sometimes swearing. From the first touch, Blaine was loud. But not tonight. Tonight his mouth was half open and panting softly when Kurt moved his hips experimentally, but not a sound escaped him. That alone was enough to snap Kurt into attention, make him observe quietly, gather facts. Blaine needed something from him – it was his job to recognize what it was and give it to him.

Blaine opened his eyes, black in the barely illuminated darkness of the bedroom, and looked straight at him – without a word, just a steady, wide-eyed stare, pleading – for what? And then–

His arms.

Blaine's arms were still up on the pillow over his head, and now that Kurt paid attention, he realized – they were crossed neatly at the wrist, palms up, left over right, in the exact position they'd been since Blaine woke up and put them there. His muscles were taut, his shoulders tensed to hold his wrists perfectly still, and Kurt had a sudden flashback to a conversation they'd had two summers ago, when they'd first negotiated the rules of their budding sexual relationship. Blaine had revealed his fantasies then, the things he wanted to try, sexually, and submission was among them. And they'd done it sometimes, but it was always just informal play, a teasing, planned in advance and usually involving some kind of light bondage and toys.

This felt different – deeper, more instinctual. Raw.

Kurt had to make sure, but he had a feeling he knew what it was that Blaine needed right now, what he was asking for in his self-imposed silence. It made so much sense, considering how stressed and anxious he'd been lately, and how hard a time he always had asking for help with anything. This was new, but if Kurt was right, it was exactly that – a plea for help; and Kurt would give it to him in an instant. He just had to be sure.

Kissing Blaine's lips one last time, he reached to cradle his cheek.

"Do you want the cuffs?" Blaine was shaking his head no, and Kurt frowned, surprised. "Do you want me to hold your hands down?" He guessed, and again, no. Oh. Now this was different.

He didn't understand what it was exactly what Blaine needed, then. But what he didn't need was talking, that part was clear. Kurt would just have to do what he did best, and find his way without the easy crutches of familiar dynamics.

"Okay. So... I'm just going to take care of you, Bee. You don't have to move, or speak, but just in case you need it – your safe word is blue. Nod if you accept that."

A nod, and even in the darkness there was relief in Blaine's eyes, a minute loosening of the tension.

That was all Kurt needed. All senses focused on Blaine's every little reaction, his mind processing all the information, he slid down Blaine's body, nipping and kissing a few chosen spots on the way until he was settled between his parted legs.

He sucked him off, slow and deep, mindful of every quickening of breath, every shudder rolling through Blaine's body. He teased and tasted, swallowed around him, and it was a shock how in control of his body Blaine still was, even with the tension clearly unwinding – his hips did not jerk up into Kurt's eager mouth once, his arms stayed in their position, unmoving. His head was thrown back and he was gasping by the time Kurt pulled off his cock and reached for the lubricant.

It had been too long to go with minimal preparation like they usually did. But this was even better – Kurt had a feeling this was what Blaine needed, to be taken care of, not just quickly fucked and brought to release. So he took his time, making a whole long foreplay out of his fingers until Blaine arched and trembled with a completely different kind of tension, his breath coming fast and shuddery, but still without a sound.

Kurt reached to the bedside drawer, but stopped halfway, his instinct telling him to do something else. He looked into Blaine's eyes, which were on him again, calm and trusting.

"Baby, I'm not going to wear a condom. Please shake your head if you're not okay with this."

Just as he thought, Blaine didn't – he just inhaled sharply, his eyes rolling back and his cock jerking up without being touched. Already he held his body differently – in exactly the same position, but the visibly uncomfortable tension of stress was gone, substituted with the fluid feel of arousal.

They didn't go bareback often – it was still something special, something they only did when they felt particularly intense, and had enough time and space for more than just quick sex. It always made them more desperate, and then more cuddly afterwards, holding onto each other long after they'd cleaned up.

Blaine arched his back when Kurt slid into him in one slow, unbroken thrust, but his hands remained exactly where they were. Apart from his arms, he was loose under Kurt now, with his eyes closed and his neck bared, looking peaceful, ready to just take whatever Kurt would give him. He didn't try to push back into Kurt like he usually did, or find friction for his own cock, and so Kurt took his time, plunging deep and then just rocking his hips when he found the perfect angle. He kissed Blaine's open lips, grazed his teeth down his neck. He sucked a few dark marks into his skin, low enough so that they would be easily covered tomorrow, and Blaine went crazy, silently thrashing beneath him. Kurt alternated between long, slow slides and just circling his hips, watching – always watching, observing every shudder, catching every gasp, every flutter of eyelashes. There was no hurry, now. They would get there at Blaine's pace.

It took a long time, but then Blaine's legs were tight around Kurt's waist, and he was begging with his eyes, dripping with sweat and panting, his whole body trembling. His shoulders had to hurt by now, Kurt thought fleetingly as he reached – finally – to Blaine's leaking cock. It was only now that he allowed himself to slide towards climax, too, to let go of the strict control he had over his own reactions, so focused on Blaine tonight. A few firm, slow strokes of Blaine's cock, several sharper thrusts, and they were both coming. Now, in the silence of the room, Kurt realized that he had been completely quiet tonight, too.

Blaine was trembling, coming down, his face hidden in the crook of Kurt's sweaty neck, but then his shoulders slumped and his arms slid slowly, awkwardly around Kurt's chest instead, and – oh, hey, there you are. Kurt reached to rub at the strained muscles immediately, leaning up on his elbow and looking at Blaine closely, trying to assess his state. He looked peaceful now, sated and sleepy, and Kurt smiled, unable to contain the love overflowing his heart. He stroked Blaine's cheekbone with his thumb and leaned down for another slow kiss before sitting up.

"Love, I'll be right back, I just need to grab a washcloth. Will you be alright?"

"Yeah." Blaine's voice was a croak, but it was there, along with a smile. "Thank you."

There was no time to talk about it until the next evening, after Blaine's final and Kurt's meetings, but Blaine seemed to be doing much better all day than he had in the last few weeks. He even decided to take a break and watch a movie with Kurt instead of studying for a change. They were sipping wine afterwards, Blaine's feet in Kurt's lap, when Kurt asked the question that had been on his mind all day.

"So... about last night–"

Blaine reached for his hand.

"Last night was perfect, Kurt. I don't know how you just knew what I needed when I wasn't sure myself, but... you did, and it was indescribable. I felt like I was falling, and it was like you told me that I can, because you'll catch me. I don't know how to explain it otherwise, I just... thank you."

Kurt squeezed his hand, relieved. "You're very welcome. And in case you ever need that again, don't hesitate to tell me."

Blaine flashed a small, self-conscious smile. "I probably won't exactly tell you. But you'll know."