Blaine stood there, speechless, Kurt’s husband? James took in Blaine’s expression and promptly said, “We should speak inside”

Blaine nodded and they made themselves into the Hummel-Walker household. The living room was beautifully decorated; a modern and sleek look, Kurt had obviously been the one to create the aesthetically pleasing view in from of Blaine’s eyes.

There were pictures around the room on the various tables and shelves. Some of Kurt and James, childhood photos- but the one that stood out the most was the moderately sized wedding photo hanging above the fireplace. Yes, James was Kurt’s husband.

James watched Blaine take a seat gingerly on the plush black couch, shifting nervously. James confidently sat adjacent to him; he looked the curly haired man up and down- analyzing the infamous stranger in front of him. So this was the man his husband so seldom spoke of? Though, from the brief description Kurt had given him, he could recognize him. Blaine sat with a bitter look on his face but hid it well as James began to question him.

“So- Blaine, right? What brings you to New York?” he asked.

Blaine stared at him for a moment, many thoughts flooding his mind. He would have to lie, how could he tell James that he came to New York to find Kurt again?

Blaine swallowed his fear and spoke, “I’m a musician, started in Los Angeles about five years ago, and so I decided to try New York, different atmosphere, you know?”

James nodded, considering this for a moment before speaking again,
,
“And what brings you to my house?”

Blaine noticed the slight callousness in his voice and answered politely,

“Well I knew that Kurt was in New York, I called up some friends and thought I’d come visit him.”

At least that wasn’t a lie, though he did leave out the part where Kurt takes him back after they fight and then they live happily ever after. That’s not going to work out as well as planned.

“Did you and Kurt lose contact- from what he’s told me about your time together you seemed really close..?” Blaine stayed silent, aware that what was just asked was rhetorical. James continued, “I’m surprised that you weren’t invited to the wedding,” James inquired while folding his hands over his crossed legs, a smile playing on his lips at Blaine’s discomfort.

The question hurt Blaine, what exactly did Kurt tell him about them? Dalton? McKinley? Every early morning arriving at each others houses with coffee, every evening spent memorizing each other, every day they spent, singing, kissing, and fighting, all of Blaine’s precious memories and so many more? Had he told him about their breakups, their coffee antics, the drunken nights, about California?

“I guess we just both needed to follow our own dreams by ourselves. We were close but-” Blaine drew a short breath, “- that was years ago and now; I just want to be friends again.”

James seemed satisfied with this answer. He didn’t want to hurt Blaine- that much- but just scare him off a little. Kurt was his now, Blaine had had his chance.

Blaine turned to face him, it was his turn to question James, but the opening and closing of the front door stopped him.

“James, you got something in the mail from-” Kurt stopped himself mid-sentence just before taking in the scene directly in front of him. Blaine Anderson, sitting in his living room across from his husband. Kurt’s eyes widened, his husband and Blaine, together…

Blaine saw Kurt enter the room, his heart- along with his jaw- dropped at once. Kurt looked just as amazing as he did five years ago. Tall, slim, hair perfectly coiffed, and dressed fabulously as always.

There was something different about him though, Kurt used to walk with such confidence, such power, that you couldn’t stop yourself from staring. Now he took slow, counted steps, similar to how you would approach a feeble animal.

Kurt stared back at Blaine. He was as short as before yet skinnier, his black curls were no longer gelled down, and his hazel eyes now a deep brown. Blaine looked good, better than he’d expected. Kurt always thought that if they had ever saw each other again that Blaine would look as broken and distressed as the day they had parted ways, but Kurt’s not aware of the dapper fa�ade Blaine can conform to when needed.

Kurt tore his eyes away from Blaine, turned to his husband, and spoke softly,

“James, you got a package from your boss, maybe you should go see what it is.”

James hesitated, but saw the expression on his husband’s face. He reluctantly sighed, grabbed his keys, and left the house; the slam of the door echoing throughout the now silent home.

Blaine began to speak, but Kurt cut him off,

“I’ll go make some coffee, just…stay there”

Kurt hurried out of the room and into the kitchen, busying himself with coffee while Blaine sat and picked lint off his jeans, wondering what he was going to say to Kurt.

He poked his head out of the kitchen and asked,
“Do you still drink your coffee with-“

“Two cream, two sugars, yeah.” Blaine finished.
Kurt put them on a tray, brought them out and placed it on the coffee table between them. They both reached for their coffees, avoiding each other’s hands whilst gripping the china mugs. Sitting back, the silence continued until Kurt spoke quietly,

“How have you been?”

How have I been, how have I been? We don’t see each other for five years and that’s what you say? Blaine thinks, but aloud he answers,
“Well. And you?”

He hates this, speaking this formal. They’ve slept together for Pete’s sake! But that was before all this.

“Same here” Kurt replied, taking a tentative sip from his coffee.

They fortuitously glance at each other before quickly looking away, not wanting to make eye contact again. At least they can both feel that feeling, the one where your pulse quickens and you can hear your heart beating in your ears and wonder if the world can too. It’s nice to feel this way after feeling so empty for so long, but it also hurts. Why can’t Kurt feel this was about James anymore?

“Kurt, I know what happened back then was horrible for both of us, but before we were even together, we were best friends and I was wondering if we could try that again, being friends…”

Blaine is so forward; he continues to ramble until Kurt intervenes,

“Blaine why are you here”?

It was out there now, maybe a little harshly but Kurt needed to know.

Blaine sighed and leant forward to put his face in his hands before asking,

“Would you like the truth or what I told James?

“The truth would be nice, we’ve always been honest with each other, I mean besides…”

“Yeah I remember.”

Blaine tells him everything, about the recording contract, Nathan, the proposal, and how he got there. He finishes with telling Kurt how he came to New York to see him, and maybe be with him, but it was too late for that now.

Kurt’s breath hitched at that, during all this time he’s always hoped that Blaine would come to him, tell him exactly what he has now. How he wants him, needs him, he is Blaine’s muse and Blaine is his but…now they can’t be together. They can’t, Kurt wouldn’t do that to James, because he married James, not Blaine.

Kurt did not reply to Blaine, because Blaine knew, he knew his answer. They sat there, revisiting their memories to find a time when their relationship was easy, happy.

“I think we should start over, we’ve always been friends.” Kurt whispered to the empty air.

Blaine looked up at him and gave him one of those blinding smiles,

“Thank you, for listening to me.”

“You know I always have.” Kurt said.

Friends, Blaine thought, this is a good place to start, he’s not going to give up on Kurt now that he’s back in his life. Always have hope and courage, that’s what they’ve taught each other. They drink their now lukewarm coffee and chat about the years they’ve spent apart, neither of them mentioning their partners, only personal achievements.

“I should go.” Blaine whispers sadly as he sees the sun setting outside the window.

“Where are you staying?” Kurt questions.

“I-I don’t know, the Hilton, I think” Blaine replies,

“You should stay here” Kurt offers. (It’s been so long…)

“No, no I couldn’t.” Blaine denies. (I can’t.)

“I insist, we don’t bite.” Kurt laughs nervously.
(Please don’t leave…)

“My manager will call; meetings and stuff” Blaine states. (I can’t see you with him…)

“Don’t be a stranger.” Kurt said while putting on a smile that Blaine sees right through.
(You already are.)

“I’ll stop by.” Blaine promises.
(I’ll always come back to you.)

They make their way to the door opting out of a hug and instead taking a moment to gaze at each other, it’s really been too long. Blaine leaves with a lasting glance and makes his way to his car. When inside, he sits there and sobs silently; he can’t believe he gave Kurt up all those years ago. Kurt collapses behind the closed door, his emotions identical to Blaine’s.