The year was 1969. Kurt Hummel was working in a café that neighbored a library, and was just around the corner from a bus stop. Because of that, there were always plenty of customers to tend to. People who came from the library to study and from a long bus trip often stopped in for a cup of coffee, and sometimes a hot meal. On Thursdays, however, business slowed down. That was the day that every supermarket offered their best sales, every restaurant gave their best specials, every department store marked lower and lower. Kurt still couldn't figure it out, really. Nevertheless, he was glad for these days. It gave him a chance to relax and think about everything that's been happening over a cup of coffee.

On particularly warm Thursday in May, Kurt had just served one of the few regulars that still popped in for a piece of cheesecake on the slower days. He gave him a pleasant smile as he refilled their drinks, telling them to enjoy, and then the bell attached to the door jingled.

Walking in was a man in army greens. His hat was in his hands, wringing the bill of it anxiously. He was short, shorter than Kurt anyway, and he had a mass of dark curls on top of his head. He sat himself down in a booth and sighed. After Kurt finished with his customers, he made his way over to the man, who was looking at a menu and drumming his fingers against the table.

"Hello! Welcome to Hudmel's! My name is Kurt, and I'll be serving you today," Kurt said smoothly, with practiced ease. "Can I take your order, or do you need a moment to look?"

The man looked up at Kurt and smiled shyly. "Hi, I'm Blaine," he responded. He paused for a moment. "I...I'll have a cup of coffee, but only if you'll sit down and talk with me for a while."

Kurt felt his cheeks turn pink. "Of course, sir. Anything. Are you sure that's all? Meals for departing soldiers are free of charge."

"I'm not particularly hungry. Nervous stomach, you know? I'd be happy to split something with you if you're hungry, but I'll be fine with my coffee."

Kurt smiled and nodded, telling Blaine he'd be back with his order. Was it just him, or did Blaine seem...flirty, almost? No, he was just kidding himself. There was no was Blaine could ever be...like him. He pushed the thoughts away from his head and poured coffee into a mug, grabbing a container or sugar and a tiny pitcher of cream before heading back to Blaine's table. He was greeted with a warm smile.

"Hello again," Blaine said. He graciously took the coffee when Kurt set it on the table. He took a huge whiff of it and sighed. "If there's one thing I'm going to miss, it'll be this. Good quality coffee. My brother told me that it all tastes like muddy water and not much else." Kurt smiled at him, huffing out a small tiny laugh. "So, Kurt. Tell me about yourself? I haven't much of anyone to talk to. My parents are anti-war and they, well, they stopped talking to me, and my brother...My brother's out on the field, too."

Kurt kept his composure, kept his warm smile, and began to talk about himself. Though worried about Blaine, he didn't let it show. He told Blaine about his family, how his dad married the mother of one of his friends at school, which was kind of weird at first. He didn't mention the crush he used to have on that friend, who was now his step-brother.He talked about how his new step-mom had always wanted to open a café like this one, and she finally got to do so. He was working here to get money for college, but mostly because it was his family and he felt that is was his responsibility. Not that working there was bad, it was actually a lot of fun, but sometimes he wished he could go out with his friends more and have the kind of fun that can't happen in the confined space of the café. He wanted to be involved in the arts. Performing, specifically.He loved to sing, and he wanted to go to New York more than anything. Blaine's eyes stayed locked on him the entire time, a content look on his face. Breaking eye contact only every so often to take a long drink of coffee, he listened. He was fascinated with Kurt.

Finally, Kurt finished talking. "And what about you?" He asked Blaine. "It's your turn, now. How old are you? You look a little young to be leaving for the war."

"I just turned eighteen two days ago," Blaine replied. "I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon. Um, Kurt? Is there any other place we could go? I'm a little nervous and moving always helps. We could walk somewhere and talk more."

"I'm off in about an hour," Kurt said. "Until then, you can wait here, go check out the library, or come help me do dishes in the back."

"The librarians look at me weirdly, so I think I'll come help you. Is that all right?"

Kurt nodded and pulled Blaine up by the wrist after he finished the last of his coffee. Blaine slipped his fingers through Kurt's, and Kurt's cheeks turned pink again. He forced himself to think thoughts ofHe's just being friendly. Stop thinking of him that way, Hummel.

The time they spent washing dishes was mostly quiet, but not in a way that was awkward. Kurt washed, Blaine dried. Kurt washed, Blaine dried. Kurt washed, splashed a bit of water on Blaine, laughed, Blaine dried. Before they knew it, it was time for Kurt to clock out. He told Carole he would be leaving and grabbed his jacket on the way out.

"So where are we headed?" Blaine asked. The inevitable nervousness had settled in his body, and Kurt could see it in his honey-colored eyes. Kurt hesitantly took his hand again and squeezed it.

"There's a pier a few blocks down. It's a good place to think."

Blaine nodded and followed Kurt, their fingers never unlocking. "In the meantime," Kurt said, "Tell me a little about you?"

Now it was Blaine's turn, and he took advantage of it. He told Kurt about his family; his parents who were anti-war and practically disowned him because he was drafted and didn't opt for conscientious objector status. His brother, who volunteered to fight and has been gone since the war started. He still got letters every now and then, but they were growing fewer and fewer as time passed. He talked about what he really wanted to do with his life. He wanted to be a teacher. English, he thought, high school level.

By the time they reached the pier, the sun was beginning to set. Kurt walked him to the open edge and they sat down, letting their legs dangle above the water.

It was silent between the two of them for a moment. Their fingers lay intertwined between them, and Kurt scooted closer so their sides were pressed together. Blaine was the first to speak up.

"Listen, Kurt," he started. "I know you probably have a girlfriend, but I...I don't have anyone to write to. I want to write to you, if that's okay. I haven't really connected with someone like I've connected to you since...well, I've never felt this before. Is that...is that okay?"

Kurt sucked in a quick breath, his head spinning. "I don't have a girlfriend," he said quickly. He took a deep breath, feeling his already pink cheeks turn a deeper shade of red. "I'm gay." Bracing himself for the worst, he shook his hand off of Blaine's and folded it with his free hand in his lap. Blaine looked at him for a moment with an unreadable expression on his face. Kurt shivered.

"It's okay, I am too," Blaine whispered. "Why'd you stop holding my hand?"

Kurt let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in, tentatively taking Blaine's hand again. A smile lit up Blaine's face very slowly. "So is that a yes, then? You'll write to me?"

Kurt smiled back, soft as ever. "Only if you walk me home so I can get you my address."

The walk back to Kurt's house was a short one, and it was no wonder that Kurt often went to the pier to think because it was so close by. The streetlights had just flickered on the suburban streets of Kurt's neighborhood, meaning Kurt should already be inside, but he couldn't bear to go inside without looking at Blaine for a few more moments. He was mesmerized by the way his dark curls barely fell over his eyes, and his heart wrenched at knowing they'd have to be cut shorter soon. He was so young, but he was already developing smile lines around the corners of his mouths, one of which barely hiding a single dimple that only showed when Blaine was smiling hugely, as he was in that moment. God, Kurt shouldn't be thinking this about someone he just met today. He shouldn't want to close the distance between them and kiss those impossible plump and soft-looking lips.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked, pulling Kurt from his thoughts. Kurt startled but quickly recovered, giving Blaine a hum of acknowledgement. "Can I kiss you goodnight?" Kurt stood stunned, frozen for a moment. Blaine took a step toward him, closing the distance between them a bit more. He began to lean forward. "Tell me to stop, Kurt. Tell me to stop and I will," he breathed. After a moment where Kurt said nothing, Blaine sealed their lips together gently.

Kurt inhaled sharply through his nose as Blaine's hands drifted up and settled on his shoulders. Kurt tilted his head slightly to deepen the kiss and placed his hands on Blaine's hips. The first kiss didn't last very long. Blaine was the one to break it, and when he did Kurt let out a breath that he didn't know he'd been holding in. A quick moment of silence passed before Kurt kissed Blaine once more, this time more insistent. The hard press of Blaine's lips against his own made Kurt whimper softly and wrap his arms tighter round Blaine's hips, pulling him close. He felt himself floating up and away, and it was only when Blaine pulled away again that he felt himself fall back down slowly.

Staring at Kurt's lips and nuzzling his cheek, Blaine whispered, "Come see me off tomorrow morning. The bus stop by your shop. Please be there? It would mean...It would mean so much to me."

Kurt nodded. "Of course," he said, pressing a fleeting kiss to the corner of Blaine's mouth. "Of course I'll be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world. What time?"

Blaine smiled, his dimple threatening to show. "Eight in the morning?" Kurt smiled back before replying.

"Sounds perfect," he said. Blaine's smile grew into a shining beam, dimple and all. He kissed Kurt again, lingering close to Kurt's lips even after they separated. Kurt could feel Blaine's warm breath mix on him, and he shivered as goosebumps rose on his arms. "This may sound weird, but I could just stand here forever. Kissing you."

Blaine laughed quietly. "As much as I'm not against that at all, I think you might want to get in. It's getting dark. I'm actually staying with a friend not too far from here, so going back won't be too scary. It's a good part of town," he replied. Kurt nodded and leaned in for one more kiss, long and soft, all melting and warm and smooth.

"Sleep well, soldier," Kurt said quietly after he broke the kiss. He quickly stepped up to his door and turned around one last time, waving goodbye to Blaine before heading inside.