They're sitting at their respective desks one night at Dalton in their shared dorm room (Blaine had been staying alone in a double room and graciously offered Kurt the chance to be his roommate) when Kurt finally brings up the subject that has been plaguing his mind for the last two weeks.

"I want to know about sex," he blurts.

Their backs are to each other due to the set up of the room, but he stops hearing the soft scratching of pencil on paper from Blaine's side of the room as soon as the words leave his mouth. Kurt's scared to turn around. He stares resolutely at the books lining the shelf at his eye level.

"You…didn't seem to want to know much about it a few weeks ago," Blaine notes from behind him.

"Yeah, well I…changed my mind," Kurt says simply, still not turning around.

He hears the scrape of a chair against the floor and suddenly Blaine's sitting on Kurt's bed, right next to his desk.

"What changed your mind?"

Kurt swallows audibly and lowers his head, fingernail picking at the edge of the paper in front of him on his desk top.

"Um, my dad gave me these…pamphlets. They explained the basic mechanics of certain – certain activities."

"Okay?" Blaine prompts.

Kurt sighs in turn. "You really want me to just spell it out?"

"If you don't do just that, then I really don't know what you want to know about it."

Oh.

Right.

"I – I-"

"Kurt," Blaine says gently and Kurt finally meets his gaze, "you can tell me anything. You know you can."

With a shaky nod of his head, Kurt takes a deep breath. "Basically, I kind of figured out the mechanics of things before the pamphlets, so I know the basics. And while words on paper are really informative and they really did teach me about, uh, being safe and all that, I still don't…I don't see why it's all that…appealing."

"So…you pretty much want to know what makes it so fun," Blaine tries to understand. "You want to know what makes it such a big deal."

"Yes," Kurt says in relief, glad he doesn't have to put everything into words on his own. "And I don't have anyone else to talk with about it."

"Because you're not friends with anyone else who's gay."

"Pretty much," Kurt nods.

But then he panics.

"But it's not just because – I mean, yeah, that's a big part of it, but you're – I mean we're-"

"Hey, stop." Blaine cuts him off, scooting closer towards him. "We're really good friends. I know what you meant. It's okay."

"I'm sorry," Kurt groans, resting his head heavily in his hands. "I feel like an idiot."

"Well don't. You don't have to feel like an idiot around me. And of course I'll help you."

Kurt lifts his head. "You will?"

"Of course I will," Blaine smiles kindly. He pats the bed next to where he's sitting. "Come here."

Kurt pauses for a split second before finally moving over to climb on the bed, seating himself next to Blaine. He can't help but wonder what's going to be said because really, it's a tall order.

"You should know that I'm no expert. I told you I've never had a boyfriend."

"Have you had…you know?"

"Kurt," Blaine gives an amused little laugh. "If you can't even say the word more than once in one night, we're going to have trouble."

"Have you had sex?" Kurt asks hurriedly.

"No," Blaine answers. "I've never had intercourse. I've messed around though, last year with a guy who ended up transferring right before the school year was over. So I know about some stuff."

"So you know why all this sex stuff is such a big deal."

"Yeah. It's a big deal because it feels freaking fantastic."

"I just…I have a hard time believing that. I don't know why, I just do."

"Well," Blaine says slowly, "your first kiss wasn't exactly a great start. It's understandable."

"I didn't even feel anything."

"Maybe because you didn't like the guy to begin with and you sure as hell weren't expecting him to attack your face."

Kurt gets this weird expression on his face and nods his head. "True."

"A real kiss is…pretty awesome."

"But it's just lips and tongues! I don't understand how movies can make it look so damn appealing!"

Blaine falls silent and that worries Kurt to no end. He looks up at Blaine, who's staring at him, head tilted, a contemplative expression on his face. He opens his mouth to speak but it falls closed again so, naturally, Kurt's more curious than a cat.

"What?" he finally asks.

"…We're really good friends, right?"

Duh.

"I like to think so," Kurt says slowly. "Why?"

"Let's make a deal."

Uh oh.

"What do you mean?" Kurt asks, narrowing his gaze.

"I'll show you."

"…What?"

"I'll show you. What it's all about. Sex, I mean. Kissing and all that."

Kurt's eyes go wide as saucers because, uh, that's not at all how he was expecting this conversation to end; he just wanted a few questions answered.

"What's the deal, then? I know what I'd be getting out of this, but what about you?"

"Huh. Maybe deal was the wrong word. I want to show you what you're missing out on. I want to help you. I remember what I said in the coffee shop that day, you know. I care about you. A lot. And you're probably – no you're definitely my best friend. You…you deserve to know. And honestly I'd rather you find out from me. I'd rather you learn from me than some guy who might use you or break your heart or something terrible like that. But I'm not – I'm not…ready for a relationship. Thing. Right now. I don't-"

"So you're saying you want to stay friends. But you want to make out with me and teach me about sex.

"Like a friends with benefits thing. Yeah. Pretty much."

"Ugh, I hate that term."

"Wha – friends with benefits? Why?"

"It sounds so…sleazy," Kurt says, shivering slightly.

"Okay, well…whatever you want to call it, I don't want – I don't want to hurt you. Sex is – can be – it can stir up a lot of emotions, you know? I don't want either of us to get attached while the other doesn't. I want to show you, I want to help you. But I don't want it to like, screw with our friendship or anything. Because I really do care about you. And I really don't want to mess this up."

Kurt sits very still, silently contemplating all of Blaine's words, turning them over in his head. He's thankful that Blaine's his friend and he's really, really grateful that Blaine's willing to do this for him.

It's kind of the best 'deal' he's ever been offered.

But can he do it?

Can he stay detached? Can he stop himself from falling even harder for Blaine than he already has? Kurt knows he's into Blaine, he knows he likes him more than just as a friend, he's not lying to himself. But he's also trying really hard to not let history repeat itself. Blaine is the first person he's ever really liked that he hasn't come onto, hasn't thrown himself at. He's been respectfully admiring Blaine from a distance.

Because Blaine is sort of amazing.

And he's not willing to ruin their friendship. Blaine's friendship is worth more to him than anyone will ever know.

But as Kurt looks at Blaine, his eyes drifting over his face, taking in his full lips and soft, warm, trusting eyes and smile…

He already knows he's made his decision.

He holds out his hand.

"Deal."

Blaine's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "You're - you're sure?"

Kurt makes a gesture with his head toward his outstretched hand. "I'm sure."

With a grin the size of Texas, Blaine shakes Kurt's hand firmly.

"Deal."

So maybe Kurt's taking advantage a little bit, but he can't help but smile back at all the doors that have just been opened for him.