"He tried hard to help me, you know, he put me at ease..."

In the day leading up to their date, Kurt didn't see Blaine. He wasn't at the boat when he passed it. Just the cosy shell of their life, bobbing a little in the caramel coloured water. Their schedules clashing in a manner that resulted in Blaine coming while Kurt was going, and vice versa.

Kurt was still concerned about Blaine's abrupt departure on Monday night. He hadn't so much left Kurt's cottage as taken flight, and the conceivable reasons as to why he'd done so played on his mind. Of course, it was possible that Blaine really had needed to leave in a hurry, but the minuscule chance that Kurt had been the cause was enough to fill him with doubt. The fact that Blaine had still wanted to keep their date was a small consolation, but he couldn't help his self-consciousness.

Then there was the possibility that Blaine had left because he hadn't wanted to talk to Kurt about the intricacies of his life on the boat, and what had led to it. It still left Kurt a little bruised though, given that he'd bravely confided the story of his father's death, and his mournfully failed aspirations. He hardly had a more personal story to tell, and it certainly wasn't something he brought up lightly. Blaine wasn't obliged to reciprocate by disclosing his own life story… but he could have just politely declined. Told Kurt he wasn't ready or willing to talk about it.

Kurt was happy to wait. If he was going to know Blaine for any stretch of time (god, please let him know him for years and years and years) then of course he'd wait. As long as Blaine needed.

On Tuesday afternoon, strolling by the boat just in case Blaine was there, he did cross paths with Tina. The sun was still high in the sky, casting long shadows, so crisp they might have been solid. She was slumped against one of the supports of the jetty, a mug at her elbow and a thin, tattered (loved?) paperback clasped open in the fingers of her right hand. She glanced up slowly at the sounds of his approach, probably just to give a civil, perfunctory greeting to whoever it was that was passing. He saw the progression of recognition bloom in her eyes, and a smile grace her lips, training his path towards her.

"Hello, you." She said warmly, standing and brushing her hand on her hip, a simple lilac dress hanging serenely on her frame.

To Kurt's surprise, she reached her arms out and pulled him into an embrace, encircling his shoulders firmly as her novel flapped open next to his ear. He hugged her back, not out of habit so much as convention, smelling the marshmallow musk of her old book, and warm cinnamon on her breath that must have derived from her tea. They parted, and Kurt smiled tentatively down at her.

"You look relaxed." He said.

"Mm." Tina stretched, her shoulders bare, though adorned with intricate curlicue patterns of mauve, so dark it almost appeared black, "They only needed three of us on the farm today, and it was my turn to sit it out. I'm basking." She purred, "All day."

"Fair enough." Kurt laughed, "Is that…" He pointed to her decorated tan skin, "Is that henna?"

Tina craned her neck, squinting at the tattoos, "Yep. Do you like it?"

"It's gorgeous." Kurt gasped, "Did Brittany do it?"

"Uh huh. Blaine kept bugging me to let him try, but… well, let's just say his hearts in the right place, but the tattoo probably wouldn't be."

Kurt smiled to himself. He wouldn't presume to have Blaine figured out, but from what he'd learnt of him, and his alarming fervour in regards to the relatively dull process of bread making, that seemed perfectly in character.

"I've never had it done." Kurt explained sheepishly.

Tina continued, "I have a few smaller permanent tattoos, but there's something about covering yourself in something pretty and temporary that's just kind of… nice, I suppose. It's fun." She trailed her right hand over her left shoulder distractedly.

Kurt nodded. He wasn't sure he quite understood the appeal, but supposed it wasn't entirely dissimilar to the elaborate way he pampered his skin, or the special attention he paid to his hair. A little slice of decadent control. And he really couldn't deny how beautiful it looked on Tina's exotic tones.

"So, you have a date tomorrow." Tina smiled wolfishly, nudging his arm with her elbow.

"Yeah." Kurt looked at his feet, futilely attempting to hide his own shy grin.

"Blaine wouldn't stop talking about it last night."

"Really?" Kurt looked up, sounding far more eager than he'd intended.

"Uh huh. He's pretty sweet on you." She sighed happily, "It's very cute."

Kurt laughed breathily, blushing to the tips of his ears.

"I don't think I've ever seen him like this." She went on, "It'd probably be unbearable if it wasn't so adorable."

"Are you sure you should be telling me this?" Kurt asked, internally rejoicing at the fact that, no, apparently he hadn't upset Blaine.

"Maybe not." She shrugged, "I'm just vicariously excited for him. I don't mean to like, scare you off or anything. He's just a kind of passionate guy."

"I got that." Kurt smiled, "Surely… I mean, I can't be the only guy you've ever seen him interested in."

Tina threw her arms up lazily, the pages of her book whispering, "Blaine's sex life is a mystery to me." She sighed, Kurt's blush deepening a little, "He tends to keep that side of himself off the boat, and, well, we're basically nomadic, aren't we? We aren't really ones for tethering ourselves."

Immediately, Kurt's face fell.

"Oh, shit!" Tina shouted, shooting a conciliatory hand to Kurt's shoulder, "No! No, no, no! It's… shit, no. It's not like that Kurt." She stopped, closing her eyes and taking a breath, "This is… I've known Blaine for a few years now, and this is… I just mean, he's never taken to someone like he seems to have taken to you. I don't know if that makes this situation different, but… he's not just going to treat you like a one night stand. I don't… look, he just wouldn't."

"Okay." Kurt said softly.

"God, you're right. I really shouldn't have said anything." She groaned.

"No, it's fine." Kurt said, his stomach hollow.

"We travel, Kurt." Tina said sadly, "It's just what we do, for all our own reasons. That's not to say any one of us couldn't choose to stop if ever we wanted."

"Right."

"I'm not Blaine. Nothing I say means a thing, it's all up to Blaine, but… I totally failed, but what I meant to say was, he really, really seems to like you. A lot. Like, starry-eyed and distracted, likeyou." She laughed, "He burnt our damn dinner last night. How do you burn pasta? and he keeps singing all these stupid little folk songs to himself..." The ache in Kurt's belly subsided a touch, flip-flopping hopefully, "Just… don't let anything I just said change the fact that you… well, whatever you feel for him."

Kurt swallowed and looked at his hands, wringing in front of his stomach, "I really like him." He murmured.

Tina made a soft little noise, and without warning he felt her hands on his shoulders again, roughly pulling him into another hug, crushing his arms between their bodies.

"Oh." She sighed next to his ear, "Oh, I love it."

She pushed him away from her, keeping her hands on him and beaming, "It's going to be fine." She said.

Kurt giggled weakly, "If you insist."

"I do. I know it."

Kurt had no idea if Tina was merely saying that to put Kurt at ease, or if she genuinely meant it, but the pure warmth in her voice was somewhat reassuring. She'd inadvertently fed a seed of doubt that had already planted itself in the back of Kurt's mind, but she was managing to stunt it's abrupt growth a little.

Maybe it would be fine. He'd only just met Blaine after all. He knew he was getting ahead of himself in his interest in him, but apparently Blaine was too. That had to be an encouraging sign. Maybe nothing would come of their relationship, but he didn't want to start it with the feeling that it was doomed before it began. And Tina was right. If it came up, it was something he would just have to talk about with Blaine.

When it came up.

"Thanks." Kurt said quickly and sincerely, stamping that thought.

Tina laughed, "There's nothing to thank me for." She petted his shoulder once more, "I'll leave you on your way then. I'd say see you tomorrow, but Blaine made us promise to, 'stay the hell away, or I'll set fire to your beds.'" She imitated him clumsily, voice gruff.

Kurt snorted, "Wow…"

"Yeah, like I said, he's sweet on you."

"To the point of pyromania?" Kurt asked incredulously.

"Ain't love grand?" Tina said dreamily, not seeming to register Kurt's small intake of breath at the L word, "Anyway, sorry for being so hopelessly tactless."

The way she said it was so earnest and quiet, that Kurt's shoulders relaxed, and he leant in and gave her a small peck on the cheek.

"You really don't have to be." He smiled.

Tina put her fingers to the spot where his lips had been as he turned and walked away.

After a moment she shouted after him, "Okay! I can see why he likes you!"

Kurt chuckled to himself, concluding that the next day when he saw him, he wouldn't bring up Blaine's past. He'd allow himself to ignore all his questions and doubts for just a little while longer. He'd let them both enjoy the moment.

On Wednesday, dressed for their date in a black tank top and skinny grey jeans (not too dressed up) Kurt picked up his shoes at the door and paused, quickly placing them back on the floor and leaving his cottage in bare feet.

When he arrived at the boat, Blaine was nowhere in sight. He stood on the jetty for a moment, spinning slowly in case he'd simply missed him. He turned to the boat.

There wasn't exactly a door on which to knock, so he tentatively called, "Blaine?"

He heard muffled scrambling inside, followed by, "Oh! Hang on!"

A second later, Blaine appeared in the doorway, dressed in nothing but a pair of green gym shorts.

Kurt swallowed. Blaine was definitely shirtless.

It took a second for him to realise that his gaze was sort of stuck on the short, dark hairs that covered Blaine's chest, but once that dawned on him, he dragged his eyes to Blaine's smiling face.

He cleared his throat, "I didn't realise that when you said, 'don't dress up,' you actually meant 'clothing optional.'"

Blaine laughed, turning his palms up, "I said it was a surprise. You're surprised, aren't you?"

"That's one of the feelings I'm having." Kurt said, dazedly, "I'm getting the sense this date isn't going to involve a whole lot in the way of coffee and chit chat."

Blaine waved a hand dismissively, "We've already done tea and chit chat. I like to shake it up."

"Consider me shaken." Kurt murmured.

"I thought we could take a swim." Blaine gestured to the river.

Kurt raised an eyebrow, "What with all the bathers I'm wearing."

"Underwear?" Blaine offered matter-of-factly.

Kurt choked, "This is our first date, Blaine. I'd like to save some surprises for later."

He blushed instantly, only realising the insinuations behind his comment after he uttered it.

Blaine's eyes widened briefly, "Um right…" He shook his head as if to clear it, "I'll lend you something to wear."

"But…" Kurt exhaled expansively, "The water looks so filthy."

Blaine furrowed his brow, "You're kidding me. You've been here for three years and you've never been swimming?"

"Do I look like the, 'recreational exercise in less than hygienic waterways,' type?"

"I'm not sure what that looks like..." Blaine said ponderously.

"That looks like me!" Kurt cried, poking himself in the chest for emphasis.

"Really?" Blaine smirked, "Because to me you look like the kind of guy who's willing to try something new."

Kurt snorted, "Are you sure that's not just what you want to see?"

"I think I can see enough of it to work with." Blaine pointedly stared at Kurt's bare feet.

Kurt shuffled a little, "When in Rome…" He said weakly.

Blaine smiled warmly, "When in Rome, jump in the river when the gypsy asks nicely?"

Kurt threw his head back and groaned. He was running out of excuses, and… maybe it wouldn't be so bad. He definitely wasn't getting bored of the sight of Blaine's bare torso any time soon.

Blaine chuckled, "Come here." He gestured.

Kurt padded up to where Blaine still stood on the boat, taking his proffered hand and stepping on board.

"Care for a tour?" Blaine asked.

"Sure." Kurt was extremely curious to finally see the inside of what was ostensibly Blaine's home.

"After you." Blaine bowed a little, making Kurt laugh briefly as he ducked his head and entered the cabin.

He had to stoop a little, Blaine slipping in after him, very close behind in the cramped space.

"This is our living room." He said, his voice loud in Kurt's ear, indicating soft benches built into either side of the cabin, and scattered with cushions and throw rugs.

"Our kitchen." Just past the benches, a small two burner stove, a few cupboards and a stretch of counter top, built snugly into the rear of the cabin.

Blaine put his hands on Kurt's shoulders, turning him and swivelling with him until they were facing the front of the boat. His chest brushed Kurt's bicep briefly, warm and a little bit tickly from the sparse curls of hair.

Blaine pointed over his shoulder, leaving his hand on it when it fell, "That's our bedroom."

There was a narrow, curtained bunk on either side of the boat, four beds in total, clearly able to be sectioned off from the rest of the cabin by a thick curtain that was fastened at the wall.

"Which one's yours?" Kurt asked.

"Bottom left."

Kurt peered into it, "Very neat." He said.

"Would you believe me if I told you I don't only make it when I'm expecting visitors?"

"Not anymore."

"Damn." Blaine smirked, "Anyway, through that door is our bathroom." The only part of the room that was properly partitioned, set a little distance from the beds, draws lining the walls in the space between.

"You have a shower?" Kurt asked incredulously.

"No." Blaine said, "We've been allowed to shower in the labourers quarters at the farm since we've been here, but we usually use a portable shower… thing. We hang it from a tree and fill it with warm water from the stove, and we have a sort of screen that we can put up for privacy."

Kurt gasped, "Even in winter?"

"I didn't say it was pleasant." Blaine laughed, "And I don't think you want to hear the logistics of dealing with an on board toilet."

Kurt wrinkled his nose, "You're right, I really don't."

"Okay, that's kind of it. What do you think?"

"I think you must be extraordinarily patient to share this with three other people." Kurt deadpanned.

"I'm mostly just pretty relaxed about the whole situation." Kurt felt him shrug behind him, "I did put myself in it, after all. I'd have to have a pretty good argument to justify whining about it."

"That's a far more rational outlook than I'd have if I were seeing it from your point of view."

"Be thankful you'll never have to." Blaine sighed, bringing forth traces of the myriad questions Kurt had vowed to postpone, "Now, let me find you something to wear."

"Oh, yeah." Kurt said grimly, "That."

"Yeah, that." Blaine repeated, squeezing past Kurt in an action that resulted in the two of them being chest to chest for all of a second. Kurt held his breath, back rigid, willing himself to keep his hands by his side when all he really wanted to do was reach out and touch.

Blaine opened one of the draws next to the bunks, bending down and pushing clothes aside, balling them up indiscriminately, eventually pulling out a pair of navy shorts, identical in all but colour to the ones he was already wearing.

"Here you go." He held them out to Kurt, shuffling past him again and pushing him into the 'bedroom.' He fiddled with the tie on the curtain until it fell across the boat, hiding Kurt from view.

Kurt stood still for a moment, taking a breath and clearing images of olive skin from his mind, before peeling his jeans off, folding them, placing them on Blaine's bed, and tugging the shorts on. They were kind of tight and showed off a whole lot more thigh than Kurt made a habit of baring. He toyed with the hem of his tank top, ultimately deciding he'd rather keep it on.

He pulled the curtain back across, revealing Blaine reclining on one of the boats benches, with a couple of towels in his lap. He sat up at the sight of Kurt, his eyebrows flying up just long enough for Kurt to notice.

Blaine coughed, "I'm a bit shorter than you, aren't I?"

Kurt scowled, "You planned this."

Blaine shook his head slowly, "I wish I had."

"Stop looking at my legs!"

"I'm not!" Blaine lied, his gaze shooting upwards, "Are you keeping the top on?"

"Yes, I am." Kurt huffed.

"Okay, okay." Blaine controlled his grin, nudging his head towards the door, "Let's go." He said softly.

He followed Blaine out onto the deck of the boat, over to the prow, where he unclipped a little gate in the railing surrounding the vessel.

Kurt looked down at the barely rippling water, "How hard would it be to convince you I don't know how to swim?"

"Very."

"I've forgotten." Kurt murmured.

"No you haven't." Blaine laughed.

Kurt groaned again, "You go first."

Blaine shrugged, "As long as you come in after."

"I will. But if I feel anything moving in there, I'm out."

"Deal." Blaine smile cheekily, skipping forward and launching himself off the boat, contacting with a splash and disappearing under the surface for a couple of seconds.

Kurt watched nervously as his head re-emerged, treading water and shaking his sodden curls, blinking water from his eyes as it trickled down his face and off his lashes.

He beamed up at Kurt, "Come on!"

"Ugh." Kurt moaned, holding his breath, pinching his nose, and clumsily hopping off the boat, squeezing his eyes shut as he fell.

He felt the river swallow him, cold, not freezing. There was that bizarre moment of acclimatisation as the air in his ears was replaced with liquid, deadening all sounds and amplifying the feeling of being momentarily confined within himself. He trashed inelegantly downward until he felt the chilled sting of air again, blowing a spray from his lips and swiping a hand across his eyes before opening them to see where he'd ended up.

Blaine was bobbing in the water about a metre in front of him, smiling eagerly as Kurt got the used to the act of staying afloat. He was certain he couldn't reach the bottom without submerging himself, and was perfectly content with that fact if it meant he wasn't about to discover something unknown and unpleasant with his toes.

Blaine splashed a small amount of water in his direction, "See, it's not that bad."

"Oh god, don't do that." Kurt cried, "I'm trying really hard not to get any of this in my mouth."

"Sorry." Blaine said lightly.

He reached out and grasped one of Kurt's hands, swimming further from the shore and dragging him awkwardly behind him.

"Not too deep!" Kurt shouted.

"You'll be fine." Blaine soothed, releasing him and ducking under the surface and out of sight, as their movements muddied the water.

"Blaine!" Kurt cried indignantly, "What are you doing?"

He breathed in sharply as he felt Blaine swim between his legs, hearing him reappear behind him.

He twirled to face him, scowling and tugging at his tank top where it clung strangely, "Okay, don't do that either."

"So many conditions." Blaine chuckled.

"All of them reasonable." Kurt said, finally allowing himself to smile, then giggle at the way Blaine's hair was plastered to his head, "You look like a drowned rat."

"Says the drowned rat." Blaine replied, tilting back and floating with his arms out, as Kurt experimented with paddling his arms and legs in a circle around Blaine.

Blaine looked at him sidelong, "You getting the hang of it?"

Kurt snorted, "I don't think my aquatic skills have progressed at all since I was six."

"You aren't drowning." Blaine stated lazily, "I think that's adequate."

"Are you just going to lie there?" Kurt panted as Blaine closed his eyes.

"Got to work on my tan." Blaine muttered evasively.

"Um…" Kurt peered at one of Blaine's knees, breaching the surface and brown as a walnut shell; infinitely darker than his own pale skin, "Maybe my standards are lower than yours, but I'd say you're there."

Blaine gave a low laugh, "Thanks." He cracked an eye and focussed it on Kurt's expectant face, "I thought you didn't want to do this…"

Kurt made a frustrated noise through his teeth, "I didn't, but now that you've dragged me in here I might as well make the most of it. Now stop teasing me and come and swim, before I sit on your head and drown you."

Blaine floated back upright, smirking, "Is that your unique way of saying you were wrong, and this is fun?"

Kurt put his palms up and directed a sizable wave straight into Blaine's mischievous eyes.

After half an hour of paddling aimlessly and (despite Kurt's earlier disclosures) one frantic water fight, Kurt had started to shiver and he and Blaine slowly swam back to the hull. Blaine ascended the attached rope ladder first while Kurt clung to the bottom rung, feeling unexpectedly thrilled, and a little exhausted. A few drops of water fell on his head, and he looked up to make sure Blaine was on board before dragging himself onto the ladder.

His arms and legs shook a little at the exertion required to keep himself on the unstable ropes, Blaine springing forward as he reached the deck and grasping his left hand to pull him up. His foot caught on the edge of the deck as he stood, tripping with a pained hiss and falling into Blaine.

"Oops!" Blaine cried, catching Kurt by the biceps as Kurt's hands splayed on Blaine's damp chest to steady himself.

"Fuck..." Kurt said, glancing at his foot briefly to make sure he hadn't broken the skin.

"You okay?" Blaine asked, his hands sliding down Kurt's arms a little.

"Yeah, just –" Kurt looked back up, Blaine's face a great deal closer than he remembered it being, and his own fingers perched on Blaine's collarbone. Blaine was staring him directly in the eyes, mouth slightly open as his thumb brushed back and forth on Kurt's elbow.

"Can I have a towel?" Kurt whispered, Blaine's fingers burning his skin.

"Sure." Blaine said huskily, picking one up from where it was draped on the railing, and unfolding it as he turned back to Kurt.

Before Kurt could react, Blaine had reached around Kurt and draped the sun warm towel over his shoulders, keeping a hold of its corners and returning his open gaze to Kurt's face.

"Warming up?" He asked vaguely, voice low.

Not allowing himself time to think, Kurt stepped forward, closing the space between them pressing his lips to Blaine's softly. Blaine inhaled a sharp breath through his nose. He took a second to respond, finally moving his own mouth slowly, tilting his head to the side and leaning up into the kiss. His broad hands moved to Kurt's neck, the towel falling to the deck as Kurt slid his own hands to the small of Blaine's back and tugged him closer, earning a small sigh from Blaine as their bodies met.

Kurt's head was spinning too much to marvel at what he'd just done, simply revelling in the texture of Blaine's skin and hair and lips, and the tiny heart stopping brush of Blaine's tongue against his that didn't even last a second. His eyes were shut, but he could feel the lean muscles of Blaine's back, and knew that Blaine was perched on tip toe as he gently pulled Kurt's face down.

After a minute they parted, their hands remaining on one another, and their faces close. Their breathing heavy.

"I've wanted to do that all day." Blaine swallowed, "You beat me to it."

"I didn't mean to." Kurt said timidly, a slight blush catching up with his actions.

Blaine grinned and tucked a sodden lock of hair behind Kurt's ear, "Don't worry about it."