"I'm sure it's fine."

"No, I really shouldn't be doing this."

"Stop it, I trust you."

"Yeah… thanks and all, but I wouldn't get my hopes up."

"Well if you start panicking now, it's just going to be worse."

"Sorry, but I started panicking a long time ago. Why didn't you get Rachel to do this or something?"

"Blaine, no offence to Rachel, but I don't want her touching my face with anything. Even if it's 'child safe.'"

"Kurt I'm sorry. I'm getting a mirror. You need to see this."

Blaine walked from where he perched on the bed and grabbed a hand mirror from Kurt's dressing table. He clutched it to his chest, brow knitted.

"OK… brace yourself. Think less Headless Horseman and more Casper."

Kurt sighed, "Blaine, just show me!"

Blaine span the mirror and Kurt took it from him, peering at his paint smeared face with narrow eyes.

Finn and Kurt were hosting a Halloween party for their New Directions and Dalton friends and Blaine had come around early to help Kurt with his makeup. The two of them had decided to synchronise their costumes, Blaine dressing as Ichabod Crane and Kurt as The Headless Horseman. Blaine was immediately apprehensive when Kurt requested he paint his face for him, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. Now as he watched him peruse his handy work, Blaine was almost certain Kurt was regretting his decision to put his faith in him.

Blaine chewed his lip, "I'm so sorry Kurt. I won't be offended if you wash it off."

Kurt put the mirror down and looked up at Blaine's anxious face, shaking his head, "Hang on…"

He rose, grabbing Blaine's hand and pulling him over to his full length mirror. They stood next to each other examining their intricate ensembles. Kurt was all thick, high, black Doc Martens, shredded cheesecloth and leather, his hair spiked and eye makeup in dark kohl. Blaine had a high white collar, slim black suit and cravat, with pointed shoes and hair left wavy and un-gelled. He looked at the reflection of Kurt's face, streaky and white and imprecise.

"Are you going to take it off?" he asked.

Kurt paused. Part of him really wanted to. Blaine had somehow managed to make more of a dreadful mess than he'd thought possible… nevertheless, he had tried his best. Kurt had forced him into it. And he just looked so sweet and hopeful right now…

"I dunno," Kurt smiled kindly, "I think you made me look pretty fabulous." He nudged Blaine with his shoulder and laughed. "We make a fierce couple."

"We do, don't we?" he looked Kurt up and down, "I honestly didn't think it was possible for the undead to be sexy."

It wasn't until the words were out of his mouth that Blaine realised what he'd said. His horror showed on his face as all the blood rushed from his head, "I mean… not sexy… wait… um… you always look sexy… but… I… I mean, I don't…"

Kurt somehow kept his composure, though his heart was in his mouth and his brain was shrieking, "Thanks. I can't seem to help it." He said smoothly, "You look pretty dashing yourself Mr Crane. 'Undertaker Chic' suits you."

"Thank you…" Blaine, marginally calmer now, tugged on one of his curls, "Do you think I should do something with my hair?"

Kurt looked up at his uncharacteristically unkempt mop, "No, it looks great. You should leave it like that more often."

Blaine's eyes lit up, "You think?"

"Yeah, it's cute."

"Cute?"

"Um…" Kurt coughed and gave his speech centre a swift kick which just missed the mark, "I kind of want to run my hands through it." He cursed inwardly.

Blaine grinned in surprise, "I wouldn't complain."

Kurt's mind was flailing. He couldn't seem to stop babbling, "Just think how much you'd save on hair gel."

Blaine laughed, "Well in that case… maybe I'll tone the product down a bit."

As they turned back to their doppelgangers they seemed to only just notice that their hands were still clasped together at their sides. They both relinquished their hold at the same time, Blaine looking at his shoes, mouth twisting with a sly grin as Kurt blessed his decorated face for masking the blush that was threatening to drown him.

"We should probably go help Finn and Rachel in the kitchen."

Kurt nodded emphatically, "Yeah, good point… I'm just going to fine tune my makeup. See you down there."

Once Blaine had left Kurt sank onto his bed and exhaled swiftly.

That golden Halloween, embarrassed and thrilled, Kurt's mind was racing and his heart was singing.

Blaine's heart was slowly learning.