Once upon a time there was a typical American boy who happened to bump into another typical American boy. And he bumped into him. And bumped into him. So they decided theyd better sit down and talk this over before they had an accident.

They became good friends. They found they had a lot of interests in common: radio, television, trains, and when one boy found the other boy attractive, desirable, irresistible, he did what any boy would do. He asked him to marry him.

They had a typical wedding, went on a typical honeymoon in a typical suite... except it so happens that one boy is a witch.

This is their story.

*~*~*~*~*

Blaine was strolling down the New York City sidewalk, enjoying the everyday bustle. It was one of the things he loved about New York, one of the reasons he always came back. Here, he was just one of many people, unable to be differentiated from the crowd. He loved it, craved it, especially after remembering that a click of his tongue could bring the world to its knees. Sometimes, it was nice to feel insignificant.

Hed recently decided to settle down for a while, quit his constant traveling. Blaine wanted to do something more with his life; he just wasnt sure what. Music had always been something that hed loved. It was so interesting to see how it changed forms dependent on location and culture and time. It was a constant in all walks of life that he reveled in. If he were to name something as his home without having rehearsed a cover story, he would only be able to say music. It was what he lived and breathed no matter where he was.

That didnt mean he wanted it as a career, though. He didnt want the fame that often came with success in the business. It made simple slips a very big deal and inconspicuous escapes difficult. Hed known more than one person thatd made that mistake. He needed something quieter and something worthwhile. Blaine had lived too long without a purpose to his life, going from place to place with no direction and every desire filled too easily.

The soft chime of his cell phone drifted into his awareness and the next moment he had it in his hand.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Blaine, where in the world are you?” Something about that phrase struck him funny and he smiled a little. Yes, where in the world indeed.

“Why ever would you need to know that?” he asked cheekily. He looked in the window of a shop he was passing, noticing the tacky souvenirs that tourists bought. Was he technically a tourist here? He didnt feel like one.

“Because I would like to think that you would at least call on your parents anniversary.”

“Perhaps it would seem like more of an occasion if I didnt know that Dad wasnt even going to call you on your anniversary.” Maybe he could start out as a college student. He was pretty sure he could still pass for that age. Blaine Anderson, business major looking to make it big in the world but secretly only doing so for his conservative parents approval, because they didnt support his sexuality. He trashed the idea as soon as he thought of it. It didnt feel right. Plus, he really didnt feel like going to school again.

“Thats hardly the point, Blaine. I never see you anymore, what with all of your traveling. You just cant stay put long enough--”

“Long enough for you to find me?” Blaine questioned absentmindedly. Teacher? It was plausible. They were cut and moved often enough that it wouldnt be too conspicuous to disappear when the time came. He could teach kids and maybe make a difference without being a permanent fixture in anyones life. Mr. Anderson. Mr. A. He could get used to it. Blaine continued talking without much thought to what he was saying. “I think Im going to be in New York for a while.”

“New York City?”

Blaine looked around for the first time, really looked. He saw the bright lights of the stores he was walking buy, the people rushing by of all different types but all in a hurry. (Well, except for that couple over there who were quite obviously bickering about something or other and had taken the time to stop in the middle of the sidewalk.) The traffic moved slowly and haltingly, and a taxi nearly hit a pedestrian who apparently couldnt wait a second longer to cross the street. The streets and sidewalk were dirty with chewed gum and litter and who knew what else. The air smelt of pollution and hard work.

Blaine couldnt hold back a grin.

“The one and only.”

*~*~*~*~*

Kurt was running late. Very, very late.

He had a callback for a major role in an Off-Broadway production, his first in a while. He was hopeful, but hed still had trouble sleeping the night before and hed made sure to get up extra early and leave enough time for a coffee stop. Of course, it would only make sense that the universe decided today would be the day that he spilled coffee and had to double back to change his shirt. Kurt checked his watch again, noting that he could still get there on time if he continued his brisk pace. He hoped it wouldnt affect his voice, making it slightly breathier, but there wasnt much he could do about--

And of course he would run into someone today, too. It wasnt even just a small bump or a brush of arms in passing; it was a full-frontal collision, one that simply couldnt be ignored... especially once Kurt saw the man whom hed bumped into.

The man was incredibly attractive with lightly gelled curls framing his face and a disarming smile distracting Kurt from the rest of the world. In addition, he was dressed well – casual chic – and seemed free of the stress of many New Yorkers. A phone was in his hand near his ear, as if hed just finished or was just about to make a call. He caught Kurt off guard because he seemed to scream tourist in some ways yet his apparent natural ease in the city seemed to make it unlikely.

“Im so sorry,” Kurt began. “I wasnt paying attention.”

“Neither was I, clearly.” The stranger replied, seemingly amused by the situation. His eyes were kind of enchanting and his smile was rather mesmerizing and Kurt had to force himself to look away. Audition.

“Right. I have to get going – Im actually running late,” he added without much thought. He started walking away again, cursing the time wasted and shouting out a “Bye!” over his shoulder.

There was something about him that made Kurt wish to have met him at a coffee shop when they had time to sit down and talk or at a club when they had time to... well, to do something else. Even if Kurt had had time to talk right now, there would have been no reason for them to do anything other than continue on with their lives, no reason to be anything other than strangers. It was sort of a shame. Kurt didnt know if the man was gay anyway, but he wished that hed had the opportunity to meet him under different circumstances. He supposed, though, that wasnt any less true of other cute guys he saw.

Either way, he had an audition to get to now and only so much time to get there. He checked his watch again to see how much time hed lost... and then abruptly stopped and stared at the time. He pulled out his phone next, sure his watch must be broken, but his phone read the exact same time. Now, Kurt was sure that the last time hed checked his watch (just before hed run into that guy) it had read a few minutes after 11:20. He was even more sure that when hed left his apartment the second time his phone had read 11:14.

So how was it only 11:09?

*~*~*~*~*

Blaine watched the other man power walk away from him, eyes drifting down a bit. The guy was good-looking. Blaine might have even been forward enough to ask him out for coffee had he stuck around a bit longer. Unfortunately, like everyone else around him, hed been in a hurry to get to his destination.

On a whim, Blaine clicked his tongue to set back the time just a bit. It wasnt a big deal, might not even make a difference, but it seemed like a nice thing to do. Hed consider it his gift to everyone in the city right now, not just that man, who all seemed like they could do with an extra few minutes to breathe. It wasnt as though Blaine wouldnt be using magic to get himself settled in the city anyway, taking something from someone somewhere. It wasnt anything close to repentance, but it was the least he could do.

As the other man disappeared in the crowd, Blaine turned to continue his stroll, detailing the new identity that he hoped to hold for quite a while.