Kurt was checking his tenth text from Unique, who was telling him that a man who held his hand was at the maturity level of a high school student, but a man who hooked his arm around his waist had serious intentions, when a knock on his door made him jerk his head up. He checked the time and saw that it was ten minutes before Blaine said he would be over, and even though he was a little embarrassed because his hair still wasnt up in a coif, he was flattered that Blaine made the effort to not only be on time, but be early.

He hurried away from his mirror and went to the door, pulling it open. Blaine, dressed in a black button up that was tucked into a pair of black slacks, was leaning in the doorway, a picture of nonchalance. Kurts eyes widened slightly at the sight of him, and he felt the wind blow out of him. In the past few days that he hadnt been going into work, hed almost forgotten how handsome and dark Blaine really was. Blaine held out a bouquet of red roses, another sight that made Kurt open and close his mouth like a speechless fish. "Hi, Kurt." Blaine muttered, peeling off of the wall and taking a step toward Kurt. Kurt breathed in the strong cologne that he always sprayed himself with. "Im sorry that Im early. I didnt check the time until I got up here."

"Youre fine." Kurt waved that off, simply glad to see Blaine. Taking the bouquet from Blaine, Kurt held it up to his nose and took a whiff. "Mm... these are beautiful. Ive always favored red roses. Thank you." Automatically winding his arms around Blaine, Kurt reveled in the feeling of his large, vital body. "If youll just give me a minute, Ill finish doing my hair. Please, make yourself at home." Kurt led Blaine back into his apartment, which Blaine finally took the time to investigate, his eyes sweeping over the room. Kurt went into the kitchen and gathered a vase from under his sink, and he filled it with water. Placing the flowers in it, he set those in the window and took a moment to look at them.

When he turned back around, he almost ran into Pavarotti, who hed let roam around for a few hours, while Kurt lounged on the couch and read one of his books. "Oh! Youre getting hungry, arent you, Pavarotti?"

"Pavarotti, huh?" Blaine said from the living room, the sound of his voice making Kurt jump. Kurt would never get used to having him here. After Kurt picked his bird up, he offered Blaine a winning smile. "Its just the name Id expect you to give him."

"And what kind of name is that?" Kurt carried his bird back into the living room.

"A powerful and eccentric name, of course. Nothing less than the name of a worldly and talented musician."

Kurts smile widened, "You listen to Pavarottis music? I thought that I was one of few."

"You are." Blaine agreed, "But Im one of the few, too." Leaning forward, Blaine suddenly captured Kurts moving form in his arms, and he drew him back. He slowly swayed them from side to side, "Maybe Ill have to take you dancing one night, and we can listen to Pavarotti."

Kurt started to close his eyes, his body melting into Blaines chest, as Blaines hands slid down his shoulders and wrapped around his thin arms. Blaines breath sank into his ear, making him shiver at the warm, moist puffs. But they fluttered open once more when Pavarotti chirped. He carefully untangled himself from Blaines grip, "That would be lovely." As he turned, he knew that his face was the color of the roses, and the carefree smile on Blaines lips made it that much darker. Before he could say another word, Pavarotti twittered again, coming up with a short, airy song that Blaine chuckled at.

He scratched the top of the yellow birds head, "Do you remember me, Pavarotti? Im the man that you nipped at."

Kurt gasped, "He did? Oh, Blaine, he didnt mean it. Hes never bitten anyone. Hes always been that way with anyone he doesnt know."

Blaine shook his head, "Dont worry about it, Kurt. No harm was done. I think he was cross with me because I was with you. Hes protective over you, as well he should be." He flicked his golden eyes up to Kurts face, "Why dont I feed him? Maybe I can reason with him through food."

Kurt laughed, cautiously handing the bird over to Blaine. Pavarotti hesitantly hopped onto Blaines palm, and he lowered his head, sniffing around his hand to see if he had any seeds. "Food is his undoing. His heart is in his stomach."

"Hes a bird that understands my daily plight." Taking the bird into Kurts bedroom, Blaine remained unaware of Kurts unblinking gaze on his back. After Blaine put Pavarotti in his cage, he glanced back at Kurt, who shook himself out of his trance. Blaine smiled again, a look that took away Kurts ability to think. "You look beautiful, by the way. I like your hair when it falls over your forehead."

Kurt reached up to his head, feeling his hair, which didnt have any product in it yet. "Oh... thank you." He said unsurely, heading into his bedroom and resuming his position in front of the mirror. From the corner of his eye, he saw Blaine fiddling with the bag of birdseed. "This is the way I used to wear my hair during my early years of high school. And then I figured out how to use hair products. Putting my hair up makes my face look so much thinner."

Kurts eyes flickered to the side when Blaine appeared behind him in the mirror. He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching Kurt toy with the brown strands. Feeling self-conscious, Kurt started to open his mouth when Blaine spoke up very quietly, "I think that youre lovely no matter how you wear your hair."

Kurt shook his head at the outrageous slew of compliments coming out of Blaines mouth. "You dont... have a filter, do you? Or boundaries. You know, my dad used to watch my mom get ready. Hed sit behind her, and watch her with these lovelorn eyes, as if there were nothing more beautiful than her."

"I have boundaries with people I dont know." Blaine rectified, "But, if I like someone, I keep them close to me."

Kurt swallowed at his choice of words, knowing that hed said them with purpose. If he were to fall in love with this man, and Blaine with him, itd be very difficult for Kurt to ever be alone again. Working the cream into his hair, Kurt styled it precisely and neatly, and then turned to Blaine, revealing the finished product. "Do I look okay?"

During their shopping spree, Kurt and Unique had pieced together an outfit that included a gray, baggy sweater that buttoned up, and hung halfway down his thighs, over a pair of black skinny jeans. Under the sweater, hed donned a black tank top, the material frayed at the edges, and cut into various shapes. A pair of tan, buckled boots covered his feet. Wound around his long neck was a silky, black scarf, the ends of which trailed down his back. Blaine shamelessly raked his eyes over Kurts body, drinking him in like a thirsty man. "Gorgeous." He breathed through his teeth, slowly raising his eyes to Kurts face. "But you didnt need to ask me that, did you?"

Kurt overlooked his last remark, figuring that he would simply have to get used to Blaines bluntness. Even Unique didnt speak so freely with him. Picking up his wallet and phone, Kurt stuck them into his back pocket, and drifted over to Pavarottis cage. "Be good, little one. Ill be home in a few hours. Dont wait up for me."

When Kurt spun around, he found that Blaine had stood up, a fond smile on his lips. "How did you get him?"

Taking Blaines offered hand, Kurt started to tell the story that he bragged about to all of his friends, but stopped himself when Blaine shrugged out of his jacket and laid it over Kurts shoulders. "Its a little chilly." He hummed in Kurts ear.

"You wont get cold?" Kurt slipped his hands into the bulky sleeves, his arms not stretching far enough down for his fingers to appear on the other side. Blaine shook his head, so Kurt softly thanked him, and then said, "Pavarotti was a gift from my dad. He was a birthday present when I turned eighteen. When my dad adopted him from the shelter, he was just a baby... no bigger than a cotton ball, and just a pile of fluff. Hes been with me for... lets see... goodness, four years now. Were inseparable. Hes my best friend... my spoiled, little prince. Do you have any pets, Blaine?"

Blaine shook his head, "No... uh, Im just not home enough to give enough of my attention to a pet. Most of my work involves... intensive research at the scene. It takes long hours of my day."

"You mean, you go to the crime scene directly? Isnt that dangerous?"

Blaine haphazardly shrugged, "Not if you do it the right way." Opening the door for Kurt, Blaine took an unsteady breath, his face becoming grim. "Lets not talk about my work right now. It can bog any conversation down." He placed his hand on Kurts waist and nudged him into an elevator. "I want to talk about you." Sliding over to Kurts side after he pushed a button, Blaine flicked a pair of inquisitive eyes over his reddened face. Kurt felt Blaines thumb scrape over the shell of his ear, as his other hand touched Kurts hip. "Tell me... what you wanted to be when you were little."

Kurt huffed out a chuckle, "Way to be generic, Blaine. While were at it, my favorite color is gold, and, no, I dont like the snow. I thought that journalists were supposed to ask the pressing questions."

"Are you mocking me?" Blaine almost sounded offended, and the look on his face made Kurt burst out laughing. "You are! All this time, you were fooling me! Youre actually mean!" Kurt helplessly squealed as Blaine coiled his arms around his waist, drawing their bodies flush together as if they were magnetized toward each other. He fit perfectly against Blaines body, his chest pressing into Blaines, and his arms winding around his neck. Once he had a good grip on Kurt, Blaine stopped moving around, and held completely still. Kurt laid his cheek on Blaines shoulder, his batting eyes settling on the exposed part of Blaines throat. "Im being serious, Kurt. No child ever wants to become a journalist. What did you want to do?"

Kurt pressed his face into the fabric of Blaines shirt, his fingers curling into the creased material. "No... I did. I knew that I wanted to be a fashion journalist. Its always been what Ive wanted. From a young age, Ive had a knack for fashion. Expressing myself through clothing is what makes me happiest. And... I like to write. Those words that I cant express in person... all of the things I wanted to say to the people who... who hurt me during high school... I could write them down later, and remind myself that I was the stronger person when I realized that I pitied them." Clinging tighter to Blaine, Kurt whispered into the side of his neck, "Blaine... what did you want to be? When you were just a child."

Blaine turned his head when the elevator doors slid open. Kurt heard the gasps of the people who had caught them in their close embrace, and could only let Blaine haul him out, unable to meet their shocked faces. Blaine held him for several more seconds, and then drew away, rubbing his hand up and down Kurts back. Kurt peeked up at his solemn face, his eyes warm and inviting. Blaine was more relaxed now than Kurt had ever seen him. "I guess I never thought about what I wanted when I was a kid. Growing up, I didnt have much of a say in what I was supposed to do. I dont mind what I do... Theres nothing that makes me happier than helping people. But sometimes I just... I want to stop, Kurt. Im thirty four years old... I shouldnt be living alone in an apartment. I want to be married, and have a child, and a nice home. But... its not possible. I dont know if it ever will be."

Although Kurt had assumed that there was more to Blaine than what he let out on the surface, and had just had all of his postulations fed to him from a silver spoon, Kurt decided to not make an example of them because he knew that Blaine would only pull away. Resting his hands on Blaines shoulders, Kurt murmured, "Could I take your woes away for the night?" Blaine shifted off of Kurt, his hazel eyes searching Kurts smiling face.

The grave look on his face finally broke, "Id really like that, Kurt. Come on. I dont want to miss the sunset." Wrapping his arm around Kurts waist, Blaine guided him out of the apartment complex and into the brisk breeze, the scenery around them washed a brilliant pink as the sun made its descent. Before they went too far, Blaine stopped again, the glimmer replenished in his eye, "Youre easy to talk to, Kurt."

Kurts chest compressed at the peaceful expression on Blaines face, his curls blowing back, and his skin tinted gold. "Im here for you, Blaine. Always." He giggled when Blaine picked up his steps, dragging him down the sidewalk by the tips of his fingers. At this time of night, this side of New York was an abandoned ship, sinking into the empty blackness of the night. Kurt had chosen this apartment for that reason, knowing that he would never sleep if, outside of his window, people shouted and car horns blared.

To Kurts surprise, Blaine veered off down a pebbly sidewalk, which was laid under a canopy of rustling trees. This was close to the route that Kurt took to work every morning, but instead of spilling out into the city, this trail led to a secluded park, which could become very crowded during the weekends. Kurt had only been to it twice, when hed needed some fresh air and some time to himself, and had sat on a bench, gazing straight ahead of him, at nothing. Those two instances had occurred after some of his former classmates had called him, making a point to brag about how much more successful theyd been, than a journalist from a small magazine. After all, he hadnt even made it to the New York Times, which was the only news anyone actually bothered themselves with.

When they came up to a shattered part of the concrete, Blaine lifted him up and set him down on the other side. Kurt returned his hand to Blaines, "The park? What are we doing here? I didnt think that you knew about the park."

"Of course I do." Slowing his steps down, Blaine brought Kurt to a stop just before they reached the fountain, which held a large statue of someone important plunked in the middle of it, water spewing from his open mouth. "Its the only place that a crime journalist can get some peace. Dont roll your eyes, but... I put something together for the two of us. Come here." Kurt didnt have to be told twice, dawdling after Blaine as he drew him around to the other side of the statue.

A wide grin creased Kurts mouth at the sight of a blue blanket that had been spread across the marbled linoleum. On top of it sat another pile of flowers-this one an assortment of blue, round lilacs, and the teardrop shaped petals of honeysuckle. Beside of the flowers was a yellow basket, the lid snapped shut. Kurt held a hand up to his mouth, taking a moment to capture the scene in his head. The wispy wind whispered love words in his ears, making his heart constrict much more violently as it seemed to push him toward Blaine. The trees blanketed their forms, hiding them away from the rest of the world, in this hushed bubble that Kurt didnt want to pop. And then Kurt dared a glance at the gorgeous man who had taken him here, and Kurt realized that none of the scenery mattered. Blaine could have taken him to a swamp, and the feelings swirling around inside of him would have been the same.

Something warm pooled in his lower belly as their eyes met. Like static coming into contact with someones hand, the air between them crackled, making Kurts insides buzz. He wasnt aware that either of them had walked forward, until Blaines powerful arms hooked around him. Kurt sighed at the contact, his head falling back. Nothing had felt more right than being trapped against Blaines broad chest. Wrapping his arms around Blaines center, Kurt shut his eyes, feeling Blaine slowly lower them to the ground. Kurt somehow ended up curled in the opening between Blaines legs, his head lolling on his chest. Kurt hummed as Blaine scraped his fingertips over his small jaw, and down the slope of his neck. "How did you know that I all but melt for the traditional kind of romance?"

"I just did." Blaine mumbled, stretching over Kurts limp body so he could pry the top of the basket off. "Pick what youd like. I made plenty. Do you like cinnamon doughnuts? I think that theyre delicious."

Kurt peeled open one eye, "You know how to cook? And make doughnuts? Im impressed."

Blaine chuckled gruffly, "No... I made just a few things. I can cook very little. My specialty is toast and jelly." Picking up a sugary, speckled doughnut, Blaine held it up to Kurts mouth and watched him lazily bite into the round treat. Sprinkles of white dust clung to his lips, which he ran his tongue over. Beneath him, Blaine groaned lowly, his eyes trained on the tip of Kurts tongue.

Kurt giggled up at Blaine, his body shaking within Blaines grasp. "If youre this good to me through the whole date, I will kiss you." Greedily reaching for another doughnut, Kurt popped it into his mouth, making one of his cheeks swell. "And if I can have five more of these, Ill give you two kisses."

Suddenly, Blaine lay back on the blanket, staring up at the colorful, streaky sun. Kurt scooted closer to him, tucking his legs beneath him, as he held a powdery doughnut above Blaines mouth. Blaine took the doughnut from his hand, his eyes drifting shut as Kurt dusted the crumbs from his mouth with his fingertips. Kurts stomach, which was twisting around like a rung-out rag, felt full, and Kurt no longer found himself focused on the food. He draped his upper half across Blaines chest, counting the beats of his heart. "Blaine?" Kurt squeaked, still running his fingers over Blaines sweetened mouth. Blaine made an acknowledging noise, so Kurt continued in a faint whisper, "What is it that you want out of dating me?"

Blaine cracked open his eyes, one of his hands sliding up the small of Kurts back. "I dont know, Kurt." He said honestly. "The way that I feel for you... Ive never felt this way for anyone else. I like being near you. Youre so beautiful and kind and soft." He curved his hand around one of Kurts pointy hips. "Tell me what you want."

"I want to be with you." The words slipped out of Kurt before he could stop them, and the next thing he felt was Blaines mouth pressing over his. Whimpering, Kurt curled his fingers in Blaines shirt, his lips instantly parting. Blaine poked his tongue against Kurts small rows of teeth, and then slid it in farther. The tip of it brushed Kurts, and it became a battle for dominance, their teeth clacking and lips sucking as both of them desperately tried to get as close to each other as humanly possible. When the need for air became too much, Kurt pulled away with a sharp gasp, his lips trembling and burning as Blaine suckled and nibbled on his jaw. "Oh... Blaine."

"Its too much for me." Blaine hissed, his arms urgently gathering Kurt up, and hooking around his bottom. He hauled Kurt closer to him, sealing their bodies together. "I have to have you. Ever since I met you, I couldnt stand to part from you. Please... let me claim you. Please, Kurt. It pains me to feel you leave my arms."

Kurt wasnt sure if he would have changed his mind had his head been clearer, but all he could moan was some form of agreement. When his eyelids lifted, he discovered that the sun had completely retreated, leaving the new couple to grope for each other with only slivers of the moonlight creeping through the trees. As he pushed slightly away from his new boyfriend, Kurt made a soft sound of uncertainty, and murmured, "Do you... w-want to sleep w-with me again? My b-bed has enough room for both of us." Kurt had hardly finished his thought, when Blaine kissed him as a response, an urgent, firm kiss that sent Kurt reeling for some grip on reality. Blaine yanked away from him a second later, his lips reddened and thick, but then Kurt was pulling him back, tugging on his curls and rubbing his mouth across Blaines, trying to make him understand the aching feelings that Kurt had thought were once unrequited. Kurts head was spinning with the insistence that his boyfriend kissed him with, as if he was trying to make Kurt see the same thing that they had both hidden away for weeks.

Within the hour, Kurt slunk back into the lobby of his apartment complex, the clock on the wall ticking towards nine. By New Yorks standards, the night had just begun, but because Kurts dad had insisted that he pick a quiet apartment where most of its aging residents retired to bed in the late hours of the evenings, the woman at the front desk gave Kurt a suspicious stare. In the past four years that hed spent here, the only man hed ever snuck in this late had been Unique, when one of his boyfriends broke it off over the phone, and Unique had called him, sobbing and begging for Kurts company and some ice cream.

Blushing furiously under her assuming eyes and slightly arched brow, Kurt dragged Blaine into an elevator, where a burble of laughter finally snorted out of him. Kurt glared up at him, knowing exactly what Blaine was stupidly smirking about. "You look adorable with your cheeks pink like that."

Kurts blush deepened, and he crossed his arms snugly over his chest, "You only look so arrogant because you know that youre the first man that Im bringing home." Blaine didnt bother to deny that, both of his brows rising as Kurt huffed. "Ive lived here for four years, Blaine. Everybody knows me. They know that I dont bring men home. Theyll think... Theyll think that were having..." Kurt couldnt bring himself to say the word, his eyes reluctantly exploring Blaines large, demanding body. Even though he was a few inches taller than him, Kurt would always feel smaller than Blaine.

Blaine finished for him, "Theyll think that were having... sex. But isnt that what well be doing, Kurt? Isnt that why you asked me to stay the night?"

Kurt covered his face with his hand, his cheeks so hot that he could feel his palm burning. "I-I dont know, Blaine. I... Ive never... Blaine, I-Im a virgin. You would be my first. When you kissed me, I was caught up in the moment. Id never... been kissed like that."

"Or at all." Blaine muttered, his face falling and his eyes washing away all of their humor. Putting his hands on Kurts shoulders, he said seriously, "Kurt, look at me. Its clear that youre not ready to have sex. This is your first relationship... it just started forty minutes ago. I want you to be comfortable the first time that we have sex. And dont look at me with those sad eyes. I dont need to have sex with you, Kurt. I would like to... but, more than anything else, I want you to feel safe and secure with me. If Im being honest with you, its been about seven years since Ive had sex. I was in a relationship for a month with this guy." Blaines lips pressed into a thin line, "To put it simply, he started to resent me for things that I couldnt control. He ended it... Its not like I wasnt expecting it. I could see the hurt in his eyes. Within two weeks, hed found someone else. And I took the blame for the distance between us. Kurt, its not easy to be in a relationship with me."

An unpleasantly sour emotion pinched Kurts stomach, a feeling he recognized as nothing other than jealousy. Shuffling closer to Blaine, Kurt screwed up his face, "Did you love him, Blaine?"

"My ex-boyfriend?" Blaine seemed surprised by the question. "No... not at all. The only place we even somewhat got along was in the bedroom. He had a superiority complex. He was the youngest of five siblings. When he got a taste of freedom in adulthood, he started to entertain. He would host these extravagant, expensive parties. Me... Im a private person to a fault. I could do without any sort of company. I would leave while he was busy with the guests, and when I returned, we would get into fights because he claimed that he looked less important than his guests, without a boyfriend on his arm."

Wincing at the way Blaines last relationship had gone down, Kurt let himself be dragged off of the elevator, too caught up in the conversation to notice that theyd been at his floor for a full minute. "So... how many... have there been? Do you mind me asking that?" Realizing how rude that question probably sounded the moment after it left his mouth, Kurt flinched at his own stupidity, digging around in his pocket for his key.

"No, of course not." Blaine said easily. "Let me think... Well, Ive been in two relationships. My other one lasted for three months, and ended for the same reason. But... there were three other men, and a girl-"

"A girl?"

Blaine waved off his concerns, "Nothing happened between us. She was around before you were even born. I was twelve... Im not even certain if I knew what a relationship was at that point. I was in an awkward time in my life. She came about because my dad had a coworker who had a daughter my age. We ate dinner with our parents. She tried to kiss my cheek at the end of the night. I think I offended her because I made a gross face and whined that she had girl germs. I am completely gay."

Kurt couldnt help but snicker at that, finally jiggling his door open. With the unbreakable conversation between them, and the reassurance that nothing had to happen if Kurt didnt want it to, he walked into his apartment with much more confidence than he had in the lobby. As he slipped out of his shoes, Blaine held him upright and asked, "You never went through the phase where you questioned everything about yourself, including your sexuality?"

"Um..." Kurt tapped his chin, shuffling away from Blaine once he was tilted upright and had stepped out of his shoes. "Not really. During high school, I tried to downplay my sexuality. The bullying came from both girls and boys. But I think everyone knew, since I was much younger, that I was gay. My dad had some trouble understanding. He used to buy me action figures, even though I always said that I wanted a doll because I would have loved to cut her clothes up and make her new outfits. So, instead, I made do with my action figures. My dad would sometimes watch me with this perplexed look, one of his eyebrows lowered, and his lip curled, as I married and divorced my action figures a hundred different times. My mom seemed to accept it much easier. I think she knew when she took me shopping one day, and I gave her advice on which high heels to buy." Sighing, Kurt wrapped his arms around himself, "I really miss my mom. I love Carole... shes good to my dad. But she doesnt understand like my mom did."

Blaine, who had also kicked his shoes off, strode closer to Kurt, who instantly felt a weight lift from his shoulders when Blaines arms slid around him, supporting him. "But your dad came around? He accepted you?"

"Oh, yes." Kurt nodded emphatically, "It was never a matter of my dad having to come to terms with my sexuality. He simply... didnt understand. My dad is a rugged man. He played on his high school football team, and now runs a car shop in our garage. Hes a mans man. Weve never seen eye-to-eye on what we should watch on TV, or what events we should go to on weekends that we can splurge, but my dad and I love each other. I wouldnt want a different dad. Hes been my rock. He was always there for me. Moving away from him was the hardest thing about coming to New York. What about your parents, Blaine? You dont talk about them."

"And theres a reason for that." Blaine grumbled, half bitingly. He turned his head to the side. "When I lived at home, my mom was never around. She was home, but... she wasnt there for me. She quit her job when..." His voice trailed off, as his eyebrows furrowed. He pushed away his last thought. "Shes been unhappy for as long as I can remember. My dad was always a problem for me. Were both hardheaded and temperamental. We used to shout at each other... a lot. He never agreed with my sexuality, but that was the least of his concerns with me. He always had an earful for me about how I was never the son that he wanted. As soon as I was old enough, I left. I havent spoken to them in... seventeen years."

"Seventeen..." Kurt breathed, unable to wrap his head around the idea of not speaking to his dad for more than a week. He looked back up at Blaine, whose face was wiped of any emotion. "Is it this secret of yours that has caused complications between you and your dad?"

"More or less."

"So..." Kurt wrinkled his brows, "this secret... youve had it for at least seventeen years-"

"Since I was two." Blaine corrected.

"Two..." Kurt murmured, becoming even more puzzled as Blaine fed him bits of this thing that he was hiding. "And... you save people with it. But not by choice?"

Blaine shrugged, "Its a choice. But it feels like an obligation, with what I have to give. Any more questions?" Skeptically, Kurt pushed away from Blaine and puckered his bottom lip into a pout. Before he could say anything, Blaine chuckled, "Dont strain yourself."

Kurt narrowed his eyes, "Youre not a member of a secret government agency, are you? Have you been sent here to spy on me? Youre not a robot, are you?" Patting his hands over Blaines chest and arms, Kurt frowned as Blaine plucked his hands off, his body shaking with low laughter.

"What an imaginative mind you have. Are you sure youre not meant for the creative field of writing? You could be the next great, futuristic novelist." The sneer on Kurts face made Blaine lose his humor, and he shook his head. "No, Im not a robot. And I dont work for the government. Im just a crime journalist. I sneeze once a day just like the next guy."

"And what will happen if I find out what this secret is? Will I... spontaneously combust? Will I have to move to another continent and make a new identity for myself?"

Once again, Blaine shook his head, "No. I would defy the laws of physics and save you, anyway that I could. And... if you left the country, I would just follow you. We could make new lives together. I dont know what would happen if you found out. Its never happened before. Ive never let people get close enough to find out. But, I assure you, Kurt, I dont make mistakes when it comes to my secret. Youre not going to find out. Does that intimidate you?"

Kurt slowly smiled, "You dont intimidate me, Blaine." All at once, Blaines dark form clutched him to his chest, his mouth descending onto Kurts. Kurt laughed at the affection, but pushed Blaine away. "No... no. Im not going to kiss you and get in bed with you until I clean myself up. You have to stop being so aggressive when you grab me! You can kiss me gently, Blaine. Should we practice when I get out of the bathroom?"

As Kurt swayed away from him, he knew that Blaines eyes were trained on his round bottom, which his long sweater clung to. To his surprise, Blaine didnt protest as Kurt shut himself in the bathroom. When he was out of Blaines view, Kurt let a wide smile stretch across his swollen mouth. He wasnt sure what it was between them, but the two of them seemed to mold perfectly together, their quick wits and bluntness making conversation easy, and their passionate spirits drawing them together physically like the moon and its gravitation toward the ocean.

He washed his face quicker than he normally would allow himself, not letting his creams settle on his skin before he was on to the next task. After he vigorously brushed his teeth, he slipped out of his clothes and left them in a pile in the corner. He dressed himself in a pair of blue shorts, which hung just below the curve of his bottom, and another white tank top that had shrunk in the drier and didnt quite cover his midriff. Cracking open the door, Kurt peered into his empty living room, and he assumed that Blaine had already gotten into bed. He stuck one foot out the door, and then screeched as something crashed into him from the side, swinging him off of his feet. "Blaine!" He cried, trying to keep his voice down so he didnt wake his neighbors. "I thought we were going to work on being slow when you try to hold me and kiss me."

"I dont agree to deals I cant keep." Blaine threw Kurt onto the bed, and Kurt widened his eyes at Blaine, who had taken off his shirt. His chest and arms were more muscular than Kurt had originally thought them, after feeling them through his clothes. There wasnt an inch of extra skin on him, all of it taut over thick biceps and abs. Kurt squeezed his eyes shut when Blaine toppled on top of him, rolling across the bed with him as they fought for power. Blaines skin was so hot, searing him through his thin tank top, which Blaine pushed his hand up, his fingers tweaking Kurts pointed nipple. It was all a blur, his vision not keeping up with his hearing or his touch. Everything was Blaines mouth, and Kurt forgot about his secret.

Later that night, Kurt rested on Blaines chest, their bodies slick with sweat, and Kurts back rising and dropping as he breathed softly. He was sound asleep, his mouth slightly damp against Blaines nipple, hair fanned over his neck. Kurt had shed his tank top sometime during their frantic kissing, and it had landed on the other side of the room, and his shorts were slipping down one pale butt cheek, but the blankets smothered him. Blaine had stuck his hand beneath the covers, his fingers tracing patterns into Kurts white skin, when a buzzing noise made Kurts eyes blink open.

He stretched his floppy limbs, coming to as Blaine shifted beneath him, rolling slightly to the side so he could open his phone. Kurt, yawning, squinted at the bright screen that pierced through the wall of black that surrounded him. "Blaine, what is it?"

Blaine didnt respond for several seconds, and then he scooted away from Kurt, depositing his wriggling body onto the mattress. "I have to go, baby. Something... came up. I have to-"

Kurt rubbed his eyes, lazily accepting Blaines swift kiss, "Your secret?"

"Yeah. My secret." Blaine squeezed his hand, and lowered it to the pillow, which Kurt hugged to himself. As he dragged the blankets higher on Kurts back, he pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder. "Go back to sleep."

"Will you be back?"

"I dont know. Go to sleep." Blaine kissed him once more, and when Kurt gathered the energy to peel open one eye, his boyfriend was already gone, not a trace of him left behind.

Slowly pushing himself up, Kurt unwound himself from the thick, tangled blankets. He hissed as the cold air settled onto his sensitive skin, which had been sucked, and nibbled, and burned by Blaines cracked lips and scratchy cheeks. Blaine had been merciless with his kisses, pressing Kurt into the mattress, and not letting up until Kurt was squeaking, his breaths short and sharp. Rolling onto his side, Kurt checked the time on the clock, and saw that it was nearly seven, a few hours before he normally arose on a weekend.

Because he knew he couldnt make himself fall back asleep, he stumbled from the bed and adjusted his shorts. His breath filtered through his teeth, his lips slightly parted as he staggered from his bedroom. He flipped on the lamp, and then walked into his kitchen, where he prepared a cup of coffee for himself. As the machine churned the coffee grounds and water together, Kurt bent over the counter and rested his head in his hands. "What am I doing?" He whispered, an unsure smile wavering at his lips. He shook his head at his own insecurities. "I dont know this man."

When his coffee machine beeped, Kurt poured the drink into a mug, and stirred a few teaspoons of milk in. He carried his drink into the living room, where he sank into the couch and pulled a throw blanket over his lap. Reaching for his TV remote, Kurt distracted himself from his whirling thoughts by flicking through the channels. He was partially relieved that Blaine had departed so abruptly, so that they wouldnt have to face this in the morning. But then he reminded himself that Blaine was his boyfriend now. Despite that, everything had happened so quickly last night that Kurt didnt mind having a few hours to himself, to recalculate his future plans, now that Blaine was a part of them.

From the brief snaps he got of the shows, he found nothing of interest, and thought about shutting off the TV and trying to force himself back to sleep, or to take a soothing bubble bath, when his eyes widened on an image that appeared in the corner of the screen, next to a reporter. He paused his thumb on the button, staring at the news, which he had never bothered to watch. He gaped at the screen, which showed a crowd of people that had gathered in front of a hotel. He briefly listened in to the woman with the microphone, "Early this morning, we had a close call at a hotel in New York City. An armed man became a threat in the lobby. The unnamed man in the mask was once again a hero after he restrained the criminal and handed him over to the police."

The camera flashed away from the woman, and a shaky clip, taken from a phone, popped up. It was taken from within the crowd, which was buzzing and shuffling around each other for a view of the hotel. The phone lifted above the heads in front of it, showing a video of a dark man, camouflaged in a black suit, dragging a struggling man behind him. The crowd started mumbling words that blended together, making a sound like that of a swarm of bees. The man promptly ignored them, and shoved the criminal toward a police officer. As the officer cuffed him, the man turned away, waving off the microphones that were shoved at him. He didnt speak to anyone, and walked into the darkness, avoiding the streetlights.

Suddenly, the video ended, and the camera returned to what was happening live. An interviewer was standing with one of the pedestrians who had been watching the action take place. The interviewer, a blond woman in a smart outfit, cleared her throat, "And what do you take of this masked hero?"

The other girl seemed out of breath, as if she had been one of the people shouting at the man as he exited the building, "Well... he is just that, a hero. Some people are calling him a super man."

"A super man?" The interviewer confirmed, her brows shooting up. She turned back to the camera. "The police have no lead on this masked mans name. He refuses to answer any questions. We dont know when hell make his next appearance."

Kurt rewound the channel until it reached the video of the man, and he paused it, finding the dark haired man with his back turned. "The man in the mask..." he whispered, feeling a jolt inside of him, as if some part of him recognized this man. "That isnt possible. New York is getting to my head." All at once, his doorknob shook as someone tried to get inside. Whipping around, Kurt held up the remote, as if he was going to throw it, when his boyfriends dark figure slipped through the door. He instantly relaxed, his eyes becoming concerned as he noticed how Blaine was slumping his shoulders, his heavy head lowered as he scratched the top of it. "Blaine, whats wrong?"

Blaine, surprised, looked up at him, "Kurt... what are you doing out of bed? Are you okay?"

Kurt nodded, holding up his arms. "Yes... I just couldnt sleep. Come here. All of the crime in New York makes me want to hold onto you tighter. Where did you go? You werent gone for long."

Blaine crossed the room and lowered beside of Kurt, who snuggled into his chest, sighing as his strong arms trapped him. "I just... had to take care of something." As Blaine ran his fingers through Kurts hair, his voice trailed off. Tilting his chin up, Kurt peered at him upside down. Even though he could only see part of his mouth, he noted that the corner of it was turned down.

Blaine was staring at the TV, so Kurt murmured, "Have you heard about this? This man saved all of the people in that hotel. Isnt that admirable, Blaine? Hes a hero."

"Hes something like that." Blaine said darkly, and flicked the TV off. Before Kurt could question what had him in a cranky mood, he slunk away from him and set Kurt against the pillows on the couch. "Can I take a shower over here, babe?"

"Uh huh." Kurt accepted Blaines soft kiss, "Why dont you have some breakfast, too? Im going to give Unique a call, and start some pancakes." Blaine hummed an agreement, and then left Kurt plopped on the couch, watching him go. Kurt would never understand Blaines rapid mood swings.

Puffing out a small breath, Kurt searched for his phone, which had fallen from his pocket the night before when Blaine had snatched him up. He raised his brows at the five missed calls he had from Unique, and the one that he had from his dad. Calling Unique back-because he was sure that if he made Unique wait another minute, he might implode-Kurt held the phone up to his ear and wandered into the kitchen. Two rings later, Uniques voice blared like a siren, "Kurt, I was starting to get worried! What happened last night?"

"Im sorry, Unique." Kurt opened his fridge and pulled out a jug of milk. "I... I... We-" He shook his head at how ineloquent he was being, for someone who was paid to use his words. "I just... forgot myself last night. It was all happening very quickly."

Unique hesitated before responding, "What do you mean? What was happening quickly? Are you okay?"

"Yes! Yes, Im fine. Of course." Kurt said very quickly, opening his pantry door and digging through it for his box of pancake batter. "I was very safe with Blaine. I didnt get a chance to call you, thats all." Putting down the box, Kurt moved away from the counter when he realized something. "Um... U-Unique, can you give me a second? I have to-" He lowered the phone as he dawdled back out of the kitchen, hearing Blaines movements from inside the bathroom. He hesitantly approached the door and tapped one knuckle against it, "B-Blaine? You dont have any other clothes here, do you? Would you like me to wash the ones that you were wearing?"

"Would you?" To Kurts alarm, the door sprang open again, and Blaine appeared on the other side, with only a towel wound around his waist. Kurt immediately flickered his eyes up to Blaines face, heat consuming his face and spreading down his neck like a fire. Blaine held out a bunch of clothes, which Kurt tucked under his arm. "Thank you, Kurt."

Kurt found himself staring like an idiot, until Blaine arched one brow, making Kurt jolt out of his trance. "Oh... u-um... my extra toothbrushes are in this cabinet. If youre going to shave, I have razors and cream in here."

Blaine looked at him with a strange expression, "You shave, Kurt?"

"N-Not my face. I dont grow facial hair. But... I keep..." He gestured awkwardly to his groin and legs. "I keep everything else smooth." His face brightened when Blaine grinned at him, "D-Dont smile! Im done speaking with you. I wont even tell you how to run the shower. I hope the water goes cold for you."

Kurt stamped away from him, grumbling to himself, when Blaine chuckled, "I wont mind the cold shower... not after you admitted that." Spinning around, Kurt opened his mouth and started to unleash a mouthful to Blaine, but the door was already shut.

Groaning, Kurt returned to the kitchen, and brought the phone back up to his ear after he deposited the laundry into the washer, which was kept at the far corner of the room, "Are you still there, Unique?"

"What was that?" Unique instantly asked. "Were you talking to Blaine? He spent the night at your apartment, didnt he? Thats why you didnt call. Did you have sex with him?"

"No." Kurt said lowly, his spine crawling with the awareness that Blaine could overhear him. "We kissed. He didnt even... touch me. I went to sleep. Hes in the shower now. Im making our breakfast."

"You didnt-?" Unique scoffed. "Kurt, you had a man in your bed and you didnt even let him put his hand down your pants? Did you talk about it with him... you know, set the boundaries before you got into bed? Do you think youll get there one day with him? Or was this the only time?"

"I-I dont know." Kurt whipped the pancake batter so quickly that a chunk of it flew out and landed on his thumb. "I dont know what he wants. H-He asked me to be his boyfriend last night. Were together now, but... I dont know where were at... physically. It shouldnt be this hard, I know. Im an adult. These things come easily for you... but... oh, I dont know. I just... dont have the experience that he does. Unique, hes twelve years older than me. Hes had sex before. What if I just look like... a baby penguin to him?"

"Okay, calm down." Unique said, laughing lightly. "Take deep breaths. When you look in the mirror, tell yourself that youre the cutest baby penguin anyone has ever seen. Kurt, honey, you cant come to me for advice. Blaine is your boyfriend. You two are going to have sex differently than how my boyfriend and I do. And remind yourself that you just started your relationship yesterday. Kurt, you have time to figure this out. If Blaine is a good guy, hell want to sit down and talk to you about your concerns. Dont worry so much. Usually, these things come naturally. Just go with what feels right. But... damn... thirty four. I didnt put him a day over twenty five. He looks great for his age."

Kurt glared at his phone, wishing that Unique could see him, "Unique, hes thirty four, not fifty four."

"Hes twelve years older than you." Unique pointed out. "Thirty four... fifty four... He probably got his first erection before you were even born. I wish you well, when you introduce him to your dad. Ive met Burt. We both know hes going to freak out when he figures out how old Blaine is... and how quickly you got together with him."

"Youre not helping." Kurt growled. "My dad called this morning. Im going to have to talk to him after I get off the phone with you. He probably sensed the disturbance that is Blaine and wants to check up on me."

Unique laughed aloud at that, "If your dad cant make it up to New York to meet him, I wouldnt put it over Burt to hire an assassin and send him after Blaine. Listen, hon, Ive got to get going. My babes parents are driving in for the weekend. When Burt brings that gun for Blaine, Ill ask him to shoot me, too."

Smiling, Kurt patted the pancake batter into a flat circle on the sizzling skillet, "I love you, Unique."

"I know you do." Unique blew a kiss into the phone. "I got you your man, after all. It couldnt be anything but the outfit that I picked out that won him over. Or he could just have a thing for baby penguins. If he does, I would have him checked out." Both of them snickered, and then Unique said gently, "I love you, baby penguin. Ill see you on Monday?"

"Ill be there." Kurt clicked the call off and set the phone aside, using both of his hands to slide the wobbly pancake onto a plate. Turning away from the stove, Kurt called, "Blaine! Are you hungry?"

"Im starved." Blaine brushed through the bathroom door, which released flumes of steam. He was clad in a pair of loose boxers. Going over to Kurt, he kissed his waiting mouth and muttered, "Whose boxers are these? You dont wear boxers."

"Oh... those are my stepbrothers. I keep forgetting to get those back to him when we see each other. When I was packing, they must have gotten sorted in by mistake." Kurt pointed behind him at the pantry, "The syrup is in there. Theres strawberry and maple."

Blaine took the syrups from the pantry, "Let me finish up this pancake. I want you to have that one. Eat it before it gets cold-" The last letter didnt come out of Blaines mouth before both of their heads turned at the sound of vibrating. Kurt frowned at the realization that Blaines phone was going off. As Blaine left the room, Kurt turned back to the pancakes, flipping this one with less precision than the last and tearing a large portion off of it. He heard Blaine shuffling around behind him, yanking his clothes from the washer that Kurt had been waiting to fill with a full load before starting.

Kurt made an annoyed sound, because hed been hoping to get Blaine to himself for a few hours, so that they could talk about things that they hadnt gotten the chance to work out before they became a couple. "Blaine-"

Shrugging into his shirt, Blaine returned to Kurts side, "I-" He shook his head. "Im sorry. Ill be back in a few minutes."

Blaine was gone for more than four hours. Lounging on the couch with his laptop sitting on top of him, Kurt tapped out the conclusion to his most recent article, which discussed the appropriate attire for a job interview. His fingers typed out the second to last sentence, when his door rattled. He raised a brow at it, knowing just who was standing behind it. "Kurt, please let me in." Letting out an exasperated sigh, Kurt pushed his laptop aside and picked himself up off of the couch. He padded over to the door, unlocking it and then crossing his arms.

Blaine slowly opened the door, and Kurt shook his head at his bedraggled figure, his face smeared in soot and a thin scratch sprawling over his neck, like an intricate vein that had slithered to the surface of his skin. Blaine looked hopeless, his arms slightly outstretched, "Kurt... Im so sorry. I didnt know I would be gone for four hours-"

"Five." Kurt said sharply, his voice breaking. "Blaine, its been longer than four hours. You told me you would be back in a few minutes." He pushed Blaine off when he tried to slide his arms around him. "What makes you think you have the right to hold me, after making me worry sick for nearly five hours? And then you come here... looking like youve been through a fire. You didnt pick up my calls. I thought about coming after you, but you didnt even tell me where you were. I had no way of finding you. How would you feel, were you in my position?"

Blaine took a large step back, his brows lowering, "Kurt, we just talked about this last night! Are you already fighting with me about what I have going on? I warned you that I wasnt easy to date. If you dont want a relationship with me, then you-"

Kurts palm cracked Blaine across the cheek. As soon as he pulled his hand back, tears swelled over the rims of his eyelids. "Are you listening to me? This isnt about your stupid secret! This is about me wanting to know that my boyfriend is safe! You could have answered one of my calls and told me that you were going to take longer than you thought. Its frustrating, but Ill deal with it, because I know that whatever this secret is... its important to you! But I didnt know where you were, or why you were taking so long. I called my dad while you were out. I had to brag about you to him... make everything seem like it was okay. I wasnt even sure if you were going to come back. How dare you accuse me of being irrational about this?" Shaking his head, Kurt placed a trembling hand on Blaines chest, "I think that you should go, Blaine."

Kurt couldnt see the expression on Blaines face, but the raw emotion in his voice surprised him, "Were not going to talk about this?"

"I wanted to talk to you, Blaine. I did... earlier. But you left. Now, I want you to leave-"

"Im not going to leave you in this condition." Blaine said firmly, his hands coming to Kurts shoulders. No matter how much he wanted to reject Blaine, Kurt still felt himself relax under his strong grip. He let out a noisy sob. "Kurt, we have to do something about this. Im not going to leave my boyfriend when hes crying. This is my problem, and I need to fix it-"

"I dont want you to." Kurts voice raised several octaves, a bubble of saliva popping on his salty lips, which his tears had seeped into the cracks of. "I want you to go away-"

"But thats not going to help you-"

"Blaine, just go away!" Kurt wrenched free of Blaines grip and darted past him, wanting to be by myself, to not hear what Blaine had to say. He couldnt have a relationship with a man who could be ripped away from him at any moment, but he was already too far-gone with Blaine to leave him. He just needed some time to himself.

Running past a woman who slammed herself into the wall to avoid colliding with him, Kurt wiped frantically at his leaking eyes. He couldnt seem to control himself, let alone Blaine, and how careful his boyfriend was with himself. He thumped down the stairs, too hysterical to stop and wait for the elevator. He slammed through the door that opened up into the lobby, ignoring the strange looks that people gave him. Without a second thought, Kurt hurried through the sliding doors and onto the sidewalk, not sure of where he was going, or if Blaine was still following him. Suddenly, as Kurt brought himself to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk, his toe snagged on a crack, and he tumbled forward. He had been going too fast to come to such an abrupt halt.

The crash to the ground didnt hurt him, but the sound that pierced through his pounding ears-the squeal of metal contorting around itself-tied sickening knots in his stomach. Crying uncontrollably, Kurt hid his face as a large semi came barreling toward him, driving too fast and unable to swerve. But his eyes flew open as something near him grunted painfully, his face seeking out Blaines, which was twisted up in a look of agony. Suspended in the air by Blaines arms, Kurt stared with bulging eyes at Blaine, who had his back turned toward the semi. The monstrous vehicle had plowed into his back, the driver inside of it slamming on the brake as the front of the semi folded around Blaine.

Finally, the semi settled onto the pavement, the engine exhaling billows of smoke, and the metal creaking as it released its suction on Blaines body. Blowing out heavily, Blaine suddenly fell forward, his arms hooking around Kurt to keep him from hitting the ground. People around them started to scurry over, all of them watching the scene as if something was going to jump out at them and bite them. One of the pedestrians scampered over to Blaine and touched his back, "Are you alright?"

Blaine merely shrugged him off, grunting lowly as he stood. He cradled Kurts small body in his arms, limping away from the growing crowd and returning to the lobby of the hotel, which had become deathly silent. Blaine brought Kurt over to one of the elevators, where Kurt started to make a sound, but quieted himself when he saw the hurt in Blaines eyes. When they arrived at Kurts apartment, Blaine opened the door, stumbling on his way to the couch. He laid Kurt down carefully, and then let himself collapse, landing hard on his knees. Kurt sat up so swiftly that his head throbbed. "Blaine!"

Kurt wasnt sure where he could touch Blaine, so he held his hands just above him, as Blaine breathed through his gritted teeth. "Im okay... Just give me a few seconds." He snapped his eyes shut, focusing all of his attention on something. Right before Kurts eyes, Blaine seemed to gain strength, the red mark of Kurts hand fading away, and the shaking in his back receding. He opened his eyes again, and looked up at Kurt, who was opening and closing his mouth. Kurt felt a pang of alarm when Blaine made a weepy noise, reaching up for Kurt and taking him in his arms. "Kurt, Ive never been more scared than I was just then. I could have lost you, sweetheart. Dont ever endanger yourself again."

Kurts eyes filled with tears, "What happened? Why arent you injured? The semi... It wrapped around you. It should have smashed us both."

Blaine scratched his hand through his untamed curls, holding his tongue while he thought something over. "I dont want to erase your memory. It isnt fair to you." He muttered, making Kurts eyes widen to the size of saucers. Blaine glanced up at Kurt, his expression unidentifiable, "Would it scare you if I told you that I could shatter your cheekbone just by brushing my finger against it?"

Kurts mouth trembled as the words slipped out of it, "I know that you wouldnt hurt me."

"Whether I would or not, I still have the ability to. Doesnt that... perturb you? I could have put my hands on that semi and crushed it into a small ball of metal." Blaine pushed himself onto his knees and laid both of his hands on either side of Kurts hips. Kurt unconsciously shrank away from him, something that Blaine took immediate notice of. "It does frighten you-"

"I just dont understand. I told you, Im not intimidated by you. Why do you... have this...?" Kurt didnt know what to call it. "Why do you have superhuman strength? O-Or the ability to erase my memory?"

Blaine ran his thumb along the edge of his jaw, his brows ruffled as he retreated inside of his mind. Kurt was having trouble accepting the fact that his boyfriends body had just stopped a speeding semi. Were this reality, the semi would have pummeled both of them, its tires streaking their organs across the pavement. As of right now, the police would be squinting at the pools of red, trying to identify which parts were Kurts, and which were Blaines. Kurt blinked the thought away. "Ive never done anything superhuman without my mask on. It all happened too quickly, even by my standards." Kurt wasnt sure if Blaine was speaking to him, so he kept his mouth shut. Blaine raised his eyes to Kurts face, "Its not just the strength and the ability to wipe minds. I can move swiftly, and can fly. I can also see through things."

When Blaines eyes briefly flicked down to Kurts body, Kurt insecurely wrapped his arms around his stomach, his legs crossing. "Ive never done it to you. I have too much respect... unless you told me to."

"This isnt natural..." Kurt breathed, his shoulders slumping. "I dont... I cant... There arent others like you, are there?"

"There are a few." Blaine admitted. "Not many. Ive only come across one of them. The process to become like this was natural. Like I said, I became this way when I was two. Im not an extraterrestrial."

"What are you, Blaine?"

"Ive never given myself a name. I dont talk to people about what I am." Blaine slowly stood up and moved beside of Kurt, his arm sliding around his waist. "I became this way because of my dad. Like I said, there are others that have the same powers that I do. Not all of them use their powers to do good. My conversion happened on a night that my dad had me to himself. He had to take me to work because my mom was out of town. We were in an area with bad phone service when one of the tires on his car popped. My dad got out of the car and started to carry me to the nearest building. I dont remember what happened next, but he reminded me of it for years to come. This man... probably in his early fifties by now... approached my dad and threatened his life. My dad told me that I cried when the man pushed him against a wall. My dad... offered me to the man instead. So, the man grabbed my arm and dragged me over to this lake that had been contaminated with kryptonite. It must have been the same place where he was changed."

"Kryptonite..." Kurt hummed, "Thats a lethal substance. It causes cancer, and even instant death. I was taught about it in school, but Ive never seen it."

"Its not easy to find. Most scientists have started to isolate the substance, and take it to laboratories to be experimented on. Luckily, its rare to stumble across." Blaine continued with his story, "Before I knew what was happening, the man had shoved me into the lake. For a few seconds, it all became blurry. And then... there was this pain, unlike anything I had ever felt before. It was as if all of my bones were cracking into tiny pieces. There was this sharp, stabbing pain in all of my limbs. But I remember not being able to scream, because when I opened my mouth, it filled with this awful, rusty water. That man was trying to kill me. But... somehow, I managed to claw my way to the surface. The man was gone... My dad hauled me the rest of the way out. I passed out. When I woke up, I was strapped to a hospital bed. There were needles stuck into my veins. They were drawing blood out of me. I was terrified. I tried to rip off of the hospital bed, and with my new strength, I broke most of the machinery around me... made it tip over and smash to the ground."

"There were these men that tried to calm down. I finally did... at least, when my dad appeared. They kept saying that they had to keep this in secrecy. They couldnt tell anyone about me. I dont remember anything about the hospital after that. The next time I woke up, I was in my own bed. I was more aware of everything... I could hear my parents whispering to each downstairs, and see every crack in my ceiling. I could also sense emotions. I know what youre feeling, anytime that youre around me. I also dont sleep that much... maybe for a few hours every couple of weeks. I do have my limits, but there arent many of them. Feeling that semi crashing into my back... It hurt me, but it was the kind of pain that you would feel if someone punched your arm."

"So... this kryptonite," Kurt murmured. "It mutates in some people, and gives them these powers? But it kills other people?"

Blaine shrugged, "Yes, I think thats it. I dont know what causes the mutations. I know that, for me, its one of my only weaknesses. Long exposure to it can be detrimental for me. The kryptonite affected certain parts of me... but Im still a human. And its the human part of me that the kryptonite would eat away at were I to come into contact with it. To put it simply, my body would, overtime, kill itself. The doctors explained it in further detail, but I dont recall much of what they said."

Kurt lowered his head, "Your dad... He resented you for being this way? But he was the one who caused it."

"My dad was a successful businessman. My family was always in the media. But... when I changed, we had to stay away from the cameras and interviewers because I was still learning to control my powers. If I did something wrong in front of the media, everything would have become chaotic for us. And my dad didnt want the negative attention on the family. I would have been the plaything for any scientist. If I wasnt careful, I could be dangling from hooks and wires right now, letting people examine my body and figure out what happened the day that I was shoved into that lake of kryptonite. Its why I never let myself appear out of the ordinary in public. I save people... but Ive never let anyone see how I do it."

Feeling Blaine wipe a stray tear from his cheek, Kurt shook his head, "How awful, Blaine. I had no idea that you-" he quickly jerked upright. "I wont tell anyone. Unless... you were going to erase my memory. If youre going to, could you not take away... much?"

Blaine rubbed Kurts shoulder, "No... Kurt. Im not going to take away your memory. You can have what Ive told you. If I were going to wipe your memory, I would have done it by now. But, this doesnt..." he gave Kurt a strange look, his lips pressing into a thin line and his eyes narrowing. "Youre not bothered by this. And youre not trying to turn me into the government. Why not?"

"I wouldnt wish a life of being experimented on for anyone, not even my greatest enemy." Kurt said simply. "But especially not you. I care about you, Blaine... very much. And I wouldnt want you to be strapped onto some table as these unfeeling people prodded you and stuck things into you. I want you to be here... with me." Plagued by a moment of curiosity, Kurt tilted his head to the side, "Can you really see through things?"

"Yes." Blaine tugged a corner of his mouth up, his eyes swooping down to Kurts legs. "Blue."

"Huh?" Kurt asked, as Blaines hand softly caressed one of his cheeks. "Whats blue?"

"Your underwear. Theyre blue." Blaine glanced up at Kurts face, a cheeky smile stretched across his mouth, "And they fit you very snugly."

"Blaine!" Covering his groin with one of his hands, Kurt rolled his eyes at himself as he realized that Blaine could see through those, anyway. "I thought you wouldnt do that unless I gave you permission."

The smile grew larger, "I had to give you some kind of proof." Suddenly scooting closer to Kurt, Blaine pushed him down until his back hit the couch. Blaine swung his leg over Kurts hips, sitting on top of him. "In a few seconds, I wont even need to see through your clothes."

Kurts mouth twitched in annoyance, "I cant believe that youre even more arrogant with your powers."

"You wouldnt change a hair on my head."

This time, Kurt smirked, "No, but my dad would. Hes coming up to visit. He wants to meet you." Kurt had never been more pleased with himself than as he watched the smile on Blaines face shrink away.