“Do I have to say fabulous? It’s kinda gay.”

Kurt gave Santana a shove.

“Rachel. Please.”

“Kurt, you look sensational. I promise.”

“Yes. Yes I do. Thanks.”

Santana prodded him.

“Not that you care or anything.”

“Ew, no. Shut up.”

He glanced around the corner again, ignoring the group of boys except Blaine. Santana rolled her eyes at him.

“Now, I don’t want to suggest anything too crazy… but have you thought about going in?”

“We are in.”

“But maybe somewhere they can see us? I know it’s been a while since I’ve dealt with boys, but unless there have been some big changes in the last couple of years, I think making some actual contact would be a good start.”

“She’s right, Kurt. We can’t leave him waiting there, poor thing. Besides, his friends are kind of cute.”

Santana wrinkled her nose. Kurt swallowed.

“Fine. One more minute, and we make our entrance.”

Blaine was struggling to keep everyone patient.

“I’m telling you; they’re going to be here!”

“I thought you had his number? Why can’t you just-”

He wasn’t going to call him until later, just as they were walking away from each other, and he was going to tell him about the hot guy he’d just met in a club, and maybe how he’d made out with him a lot, and how much he wanted to see him again, and it was going to be completely dorky in a cute kind of way and then Kurt would laugh and… Blaine hadn’t thought much further than that, because every time he remembered Kurt’s laugh his head went fuzzy, but it was going to be perfect.

“No. They’ll be here any second.”

The Warblers weren’t very good at clubbing. Their expensive education didn’t include any lessons on how to be cool, or how to dance, or how to talk to girls. They had ended up, as usual, sitting at a table in the corner, bobbing their heads in perfect time as they sipped their beer. They’d lost Sebastian a while ago, and nobody minded. They’d only invited him to be polite, and if he wanted to disappear with some stranger then they weren’t going to argue.

Blaine’s knee was twitching. He’d only had a couple of drinks, but his chest felt warm and his head was spinning slightly. He knew it was just nerves rather than alcohol. Even he wasn’t that much of a lightweight. He stood up as three people walked (or, more accurately, strutted) onto the dance floor, hands linked and hips swaying, and everything suddenly became crystal clear. The other guys’ mouths fell open as they stared at the girls, one petite brunette in a dark green dress, a Hispanic girl in impossibly tiny shorts and a red shirt that accentuated her flat stomach and impressive cleavage.
They’d had minimal contact with any girls all through school, and these two weren’t exactly easing them into the experience.

Blaine stared helplessly at the boy in between them. He’d transformed since that afternoon. He was wearing tight, really tight, white jeans tucked into long black boots that hugged his calves and a dark blue shirt, short sleeves straining around his biceps as he lifted the shorter girl up in time with the music. The shirt was fitted to show off every curve in his torso. He was wearing a scarf, white with a black print, tied to one side and tucked neatly under the collar. It seemed to point down, leading Blaine towards the pale, smooth skin behind the fabric. He pictured the chest, the collarbones, even the ribcage under that material, all perfect, all hidden. It was torture just looking at him. Blaine tried to will his own mouth to close, but he’d lost all control over his expression.

Kurt pulled Santana close and whispered in her ear, still not having looked at Blaine and the others.

“Is he looking?”

She glanced past Kurt to see Blaine, awestruck, in dark jeans and a snug violet polo shirt (and – was that… a bowtie?), swallowing as he tried to take in the sight in front of him.

“He can’t seem to stop. See for yourself.”

She twirled him around and gave him a nudge in Blaine’s direction. He spun a little more than he’d meant to, and the boys’ respective groups of spectators looked on in amusement as they collided. Blaine caught Kurt with his good hand and they could barely stay upright with the force of the crash, but Blaine’s grip was firm and Kurt’s body was pressed right against his and there was no way he was letting him fall. Kurt spoke loudly to make up for the noise, but Blaine would have heard him anyway.

“Hi.”

“You came.”

“I guess so.” He chose not to mention the fact that he’d actually been around the corner spying on them for ten minutes. “How’s the hand?”

Blaine grinned.

“Much better, thanks to you.”

Kurt’s hands made their way from Blaine’s chest up to his shoulders. He gave a small shrug and a big smile.

“It’s been said that my fingers can do magical things.”

Blaine raised an eyebrow. He didn’t know whether to be overwhelmed or turned on or a little scared. He heard a cough behind him. They glanced past each other to see their friends waiting expectantly.

“We should probably, uh-”

Kurt nodded.

“Way ahead of you.”

Half an hour later, it would have been impossible to tell that they’d started off as separate groups. Rachel was dancing with Nick, twirling in his arms and whispering in his ear as he smiled in a daze, stroking her hair and contemplating sliding his hand from her waist to her ass. Santana waggled a finger at him and he thought better of it.

The other guys finally got the guidance they so badly needed. Jeff made a misguided attempt at kissing Santana, but she groaned in exasperation and decided to take them all under her wing. She spotted straight girls they had a chance with, talked to them about ‘the hottie at the bar who told me he thought you were cute’, and told them how to behave properly. Soon enough she and Trent were the only ones who hadn’t been paired off and they spent the rest of the evening dancing, joking, and admiring her work.

No matter how much action any of the guys were getting, their gaze would always drift back to Kurt and Blaine. Despite the throbbing bass and heaving dance floor, they stayed together, Blaine holding Kurt’s waist while Kurt’s arms were draped over his shoulders. Occasionally they would break apart for a spin, but every time they pulled together again.

“You look really good.”

“Thanks. I figured the first time you see me out of uniform, I should make sure I looked decent. Not that I made an effort.”

Blaine grinned.

“Oh, of course not. Me neither.”

“It shows.”

Blaine gasped in mock distress.

“What? Please don’t tell me you don’t like bowties, or this is never going to-”

Kurt pulled Blaine towards him, so close their noses were almost touching. They both wanted their smiles to cool down, maybe making it slightly less obvious how much fun they were having, but they were way past nonchalance now.

“I think I just liked you better shirtless.”

Blaine’s grin widened.

“Mmm. I guess you’ll have to hope it’s hot on Monday.”

Kurt leaned forward until Blaine could feel his breath on his ear, sending a shiver down his spine.

“Are you really going to make me wait until Monday?”

Blaine hoped Kurt hadn’t noticed him gulp, but from the way Kurt’s body was trembling as he giggled lightly in his ear, he realised it had probably been more obvious than he would have liked.

“I guess you don’t have to- um- no?”

Kurt leaned his hips forward, but drew his shoulders back so he could look into Blaine’s eyes. They were still shining, no matter how dark the club was. He moved his arms, stroking Blaine’s biceps before cupping his face with both hands. He felt Blaine’s hands grip onto the small of his back, locking them together. The cool skin on his cheeks stopped Blaine feeling flustered and embarrassed and nervous, calming him completely. He didn’t have to think about what he was going to do next or how far anything might go or what would happen when they both left Ohio. All he had to do, all he was capable of doing was staring straight back into the blue eyes that were inches from his own.

Kurt gave them both a second to enjoy the closeness, the way their bodies were slotted together, still swaying ever so slightly in time, holding onto each other as if separation would be unbearable. He smiled at Blaine, who gulped again. He didn’t laugh at him this time.

“It’s okay.”

“What is?”

“Everything.”

Blaine smiled back, and Kurt leaned in, pressing their lips together.

Everything slowed down. There were no tongues shoved down throats, no obscene groans; they couldn’t even hear the music anymore. It faded to a dull thrumming as all they could hear were their heartbeats pounding in their ears. They felt their pulses quicken and their chests tightening, filling with warmth that spread through their bodies as their minds clouded over. They’d both had enough to drink to feel the room spin, but as they let themselves be enveloped by each other, everything outside their bubble was black. Instead of the usual imbalance and dizziness, they felt as if they were floating, their bodies radiating heat as they tried to step closer even though they were as tightly tangled together as possible. Kurt felt things he’d never even considered before; Blaine’s nose nudging his cheek, his hand flat and warm against his back, steadying him, anchoring him. He stroked Blaine’s cheek with his thumb before moving his hand back to run his fingers through his hair. As they kept kissing, they both started to smile, blissfully unaware of their friends watching them.

Santana and Trent howled in encouragement, running to the bar for a celebratory tequila shot. Rachel sighed happily and nuzzled against Nick’s chest. He would have been jealous of the boys for getting more action than him, had it not been for how nice her hair smelled. The other Warblers pointed Kurt and Blaine out to their respective dance partners, each claiming to have helped make it happen, but they all regretted it when the girls were too busy swooning over the adorable gay guys to pay them any more attention. Kurt and Blaine were oblivious to all of them, completely lost in each other.

When they finally pulled apart, they were both grinning.

“That was-”

“Mmhmm-”

They kissed again, establishing a stronger rhythm, and Kurt’s hand slid down Blaine’s back just as Blaine started kissing his neck. He did his best not to melt on the spot despite being bombarded by both the mouth humming into his skin and the soft curve under his fingertips. He was just gasping into Blaine’s ear when they heard “spin me!” and Rachel crashed into them.

They finally broke apart, trying to get their breath back. They caught Rachel before she twirled into the wall, and she was giggling to herself.

“He spun me… Look at his hair…”

Kurt glanced at Blaine, who was on the verge of laughter, and at Nick, who simply looked confused.

“Yes, sweetie, his hair is lovely. Are you okay?”

Rachel closed her eyes and leaned into Kurt, stroking his chest.

“I’m wonderful, Kurt. And you’re wonderful. And Blaine’s wonderful.” Nick seemed a little hurt not to have been given a mention, until she opened her eyes and mumbled “and so is he. Hair. Mmm.”

She began to slide down against Kurt’s body, so he hoisted her up, balancing her haphazardly on his hip. Blaine helped get her on her feet. Kurt smiled at him.

“I think I’d better get her home.”

“No!” Santana marched up, lifting Rachel up and throwing her over her shoulder. “I’ve got this! You boys get back to business.” Rachel looked down at Kurt, confused and distressed.

“Kurt, who’s carrying me? Where am I going? I want to stay with you!”

Kurt glanced from Rachel to Blaine, who was smiling, dizzy from kissing but also hugely entertained by the tiniest drunk he’d ever seen. Kurt shrugged apologetically.

“I don’t really want to let them go without me. Tana can be a little… It might get weird. She’s either gonna punch her on hit on her and either way it’ll make work really uncomfortable and-”

Blaine kissed him again, more briefly, and Kurt automatically tried to follow him when he inched away. They were further apart, but their hands were linked clumsily together.

“It’s fine. I wouldn’t be surprised if the whole world fell apart without you.”

Kurt knew he should have been rolling his eyes at the cheesiness, but instead he tightened his grip on Blaine’s hand. He smiled and turned to go after the girls, dragging Blaine out with him. The other guys followed, giving up on girls for the night and deciding to reach for the more attainable goal of food. Blaine barely felt the cool air hit his skin as he watched Kurt get into a cab with the girls. Rachel took some coaxing, threatening to make a run for it back to Nick, the new love of her life, but Santana carried her to the taxi. She struggled until she was passed over to Kurt, who shushed her calmly, well-practised in the art of looking after her after a few drinks. He lowered her into the cab and kissed her hair, and she nuzzled up to him, smiling and sleepy. Blaine smiled as Kurt nursed her as carefully and expertly as he did his hand earlier. Part of him wanted Kurt to look back and smile at him one more time, but he clearly had enough on his hands.

He took a deep breath and turned to go back to the others as they went on a hunt for pizza or fries or whatever they could get their hands on, only to be confronted by Sebastian. He lost his balance, startled by how close he was, but Sebastian grabbed his wrist to stop him falling. He gave a shout of pain as his bad hand was squeezed and pulled up, and he pushed Seb away. It hadn’t hurt all night, but now that Kurt was gone he couldn’t ignore the sting.

“Oh my God, Blaine, are you really so drunk that you can’t even stand up? I’m trying to help you-”

“I don’t want your help. What are you going to tell me this time? Let me guess; Kurt’s a murderer, or he’s got some hideous disease, or he’s a spy? Yeah, that’d be cool; he’s working for the government to make out with construction workers so he can infiltrate Andy’s company? I’m all ears, Sebastian!”

“Blaine, I just-”

“Just what? What?”

Blaine didn’t notice Kurt looking at him as the cab drove past. There was still too much alcohol in his system to let him react when Sebastian kissed him.

Everything happened too quickly. Sebastian’s hands, Kurt’s face falling, Santana shouting obscenities from the window as they drove away, and they were gone before Blaine could push Seb off.

“What are you doing?”

“Come on, Blaine, you can’t have been serious about the shop boy. Listen. You know this game you’ve been trying to play all year? I’m better at it than you. You’ve made your point with the little porcelain doll over there, but you can stop playing around now.”

He tried to kiss him again, but Blaine ducked out of the way, leaving Seb kissing empty air. He spun around, straightening his shirt.

“Are you deaf? I’m. Not. Interested. I was kissing that guy because I like him. And I don’t like you. I thought I’d finally got away from you when we graduated, then you show up at work with us, and now this? You can play whatever games you want; I’m sure you’re great at them. Leave me out of it.”

Blaine followed the sound of the guys’ laughter to an all-night diner down the block. Sebastian scowled as he watched him leave.