Kurt paused at the first page, running his fingers around the two figures in the photograph taken over thirty years previously. “You're so beautiful,” he murmured, curling himself further into Blaine's side.

Blaine pressed a kiss into Kurt's hair, holding him a little tighter. “So are you, handsome. Shall we get started?”

Kurt nodded, turning the page. There were two photographs on the background of notepaper, separated by a round, silver key which Blaine ran his fingers across. “We really shouldn't have kept this,” he murmured. “But I guess it's not doing any harm inside a scrapbook.”

“Hey, excuse me?” Blaine called out breathlessly, dumping all three large suitcases outside the door of apartment number eighteen and turning to Kurt, just struggling to the top of the stairs with the rest of the bags.

The petite red-haired girl turned, taking in the sight before her with a smile. “You guys just moving in?” she asked.

Blaine nodded, swiping an arm across his forehead and trying to catch his breath. “I'm Blaine, this is my boyfriend Kurt,” he said, shaking the girl's hand.

“Good to meet you both, I'm Penny,” she introduced herself with a warm smile. “Apartment twenty-three.”

“I was wondering if you could take our picture?” Blaine asked, producing a camera from his back pocket.

“We're moving in together for the first time,” Kurt supplied.

“Sure thing,” Penny said, taking the camera and backing up against the bannister opposite their front door, glancing up and around her to check for the best source of light. “Fuck this shitty lighting,” she muttered. Catching Kurt's look of surprise, a faint blush rose in her cheeks. “Sorry. Photography student. Okay, so, if you guys stand together, arms around each other. Just like that, yeah. Now if each of you lean away slightly, I can get the number in between you.”

Kurt and Blaine did as directed, both knowing they'd love how this picture would come out.

“Alright, now, look at the camera and just smile or whatever feels natural,” Penny said, focused entirely on the screen.

Both boys stole a quick glance at the other, before pulling the most ridiculous shocked and excited faces that they could muster. Luckily, Penny managed to take the picture before bursting out laughing. “That's gonna come out great,” she managed to get out in between giggles before raising the camera again. “Alright, now how about a kiss?”

Without hesitation, Kurt leaned forward, pressing himself against Blaine from shoulder to hip. Blaine looped an arm around his boyfriend's shoulders and crushed his lips to Kurt's, a tease and promise of what was to come. Penny took the picture and Kurt slowly pulled away, suddenly hot and restless.

Penny fanned herself and swooned good-naturedly as she handed the camera back to Blaine. “I'll be in my bunk. Catch you in a couple days, right?” she joked with one eyebrow raised, fishing her keys out of her pocket.

Blaine huffed a laugh. “Thanks for this,” he said, pocketing the camera.

“Don't mention it, you guys look hot together,” she replied matter-of-factly, and Kurt blushed as she turned away with a final knowing look.

“We do look hot together,” Blaine breathed into Kurt's ear, running his tongue along the outer shell. Kurt shivered as he inhaled deeply, running his fingers up into Blaine's unruly curls.

“If we don't get these bags inside in the next ten seconds, I'm going to be forced to throw you against this door and get completely dirty,” Kurt said in a low voice, suppressing a laugh as Blaine's eyes widened and he began fumbling for the keys. “Here, let me. I want you to be surprised.”

Having been living in New York for a year already, Kurt had found their new apartment before returning home for the summer and had kept it secret from Blaine, not even telling him where in New York it was located. It was a tiny fifth-floor walk-up, but it was light and airy, and one of the only ones he'd found with a view of something other than a brick wall or a sinister-looking neighbor. Furthermore, the rent wasn't ridiculously steep and Jonathan, the landlord, was totally on board with any changes they wanted to make to the interior (which, with Kurt's taste, felt like a blessing sent from Heaven). Taking bags and suitcases from his boyfriend and unceremoniously tossing them inside the door, he could still hardly believe his luck that someone else hadn't already snapped it up.

“That's the last,” Blaine said, straightening up. Kurt stepped back out into the hallway, covering Blaine's eyes with his hands and guiding him inside the apartment. Kicking the door closed behind them, he took a deep breath, basking in the fact that this would be the home he'd be sharing with his boyfriend for the next three years. Until returning to Lima for Blaine's graduation, Kurt had almost forgotten how good it felt to be able to see him anytime he wanted; to be able to reach out and know that there was a hand there waiting. Having Blaine near always made Kurt stand a little straighter, hold his head a little higher—and now, he had that. For good.

“Ready?”

“Ready.”

Kurt took away his hands, suddenly nervous. What if Blaine didn't like it? Oh, God. What if he hated it? For a long time, Blaine said nothing and Kurt's stomach twisted in knots until he could no longer stand it.

“Please say something,” Kurt whispered shakily.

Blaine turned to face him, his eyes dark and unreadable. Kurt hurried on, “look, I know it's a terrible color but the landlord said that we can repaint and he's gonna replace the carpets in a month or so once we're settled, and I know it's nothing like—“

Almost too fast for him to register, Blaine was kissing him hungrily, hands gripping his hips tightly as he backed Kurt into the wall beside the door. Kurt kissed him back just as roughly, capturing Blaine's lower lip between his teeth and pulling away so slowly that it was agonizing. Fuck, did Blaine love it when Kurt did that, and he felt momentarily light-headed as his blood rushed south. They both breathed hard for a second before Kurt glanced over to the island separating the tiny kitchen from the rest of the living area. Following his line of sight, Blaine dragged him over and then they were both clambering on top of the white Formica surface and kissing hard and fast, Blaine's hips rutting against Kurt's as they both grew harder.

“Fuck, Blaine...” The words dropped from Kurt's mouth like a plea as Blaine reached down between them, fumbling with Kurt's belt.

An age seemed to pass before his jeans were being tugged down and Kurt finally, finally felt Blaine grip his cock and begin to jerk it slowly. Kurt moaned, bringing Blaine down for another kiss as he began to spiral higher. Blaine's mouth slid across Kurt's and his hand began to move faster, each pull ending with a slight twist that he knew drove Kurt crazy.

“Blaine,” Kurt moaned between kisses, reaching across to Blaine's waistband.

The loss of contact as Blaine half-rolled away to rid himself of his jeans was almost painful, but within a few seconds Blaine was on top of him, pulling at the neckline of Kurt's tee to get more access to the skin of his collarbone as he ground his hips into Kurt's and Jesus fucking Christ that was good, Kurt thought, reveling in the feeling of Blaine's cock against his own. He would never, ever get tired of this, the way that Blaine poured so much passion into his touches, the way he moaned Kurt's name like something worthy of reverence, the way that he made Kurt feel like he was going to fall off the side of the world if he didn't hold on tight and—

“Blaine, fuck, don't stop,” he moaned, feeling himself wind closer and closer to the edge, glad he had chosen to wear a ratty old t-shirt for moving day despite his number one rule when it came to—SHUT UP, KURT.

“Kurt, I'm so—“ Blaine started, his breath hitching in his chest. “Fuck, I'm—”

“Me too,” Kurt breathed, grabbing Blaine's hip and rocking them faster, harder. Blaine was sure he would end up with bruises in the shape of fingerprints but he didn't care, he needed Kurt closer. In one smooth motion, he flipped them both onto their side and, for a brief moment, felt grateful that there was just enough room for them both on the island before hooking a leg through Kurt's, grabbing him by the collar and letting his teeth graze the line of Kurt's jaw, grinding faster, harder.

“Blaine, Blaine, fuck...” Kurt's nails dug into Blaine's hip as he came and that was it for Blaine; he thrust once, twice and was gone, trembling and holding onto Kurt like he didn't know how to let go.

Breathing heavily, Blaine collapsed back onto the surface of the island, legs tangled with Kurt's and an arm around his waist.

After a long minute of hazy silence, Kurt spoke. “So... you like the apartment?”

“No,” Blaine laughed, capturing Kurt's mouth in a lazy kiss. “I fucking love it.”

“Good,” said Kurt, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. “I know it's nothing like your house in Westerville, but—“

“Shh,” Blaine cut him short, placing a finger across his lips. “That's why I love it so much. It's ours.”

“Blaine, you know— you know the rules,” Kurt reminded him as his husband's lips found the sweet spot right behind Kurt's ear.

“Hmm, they're stupid rules.”

“We'll never get any fu-further if you carry on like this.”

Pressing one last kiss to the corner of Kurt's mouth, Blaine settled back. “Okay, you win,” he murmured, pausing. “We made some good memories in that apartment, didn't we?”

Kurt nodded, sighing contentedly as he wound his fingertips through the hairs at the nape of Blaine's neck. “Wanna see some more?”