The weeks went by slowly, the heat of summer lingering during September before finally starting to fade towards the end of the month. Blaine continued to speak to Kurt only when necessary, giving him a smile whenever they met at their lockers, though his eyes no longer met Kurt's. For whatever reason, his sub instincts seemed to have kicked in and he often found himself wanting to ask what he had done wrong and how he could fix it, make Blaine happy again, but he's always quick to squash those thoughts down. He had plenty of practice, after all.

He often found himself watching the curious Dom, who was often watching the standoffish sub in return, though he hid it well. Kurt doubted he would have spotted him if he hadn't been staring as hard as he did. They never spoke, never hung out, nothing, so as much as Kurt possibly might want to become friends with Blaine, there was no verbal indication that he still felt the same.

It was the last week of September and things with Blaine were... Not better, not worse; stagnate was the best word he could think of to describe their situation. It probably didn't help that Sam was still hovering over him, fixing Blaine with a steely gaze whenever the two were in the same room. Kurt felt like he was stuck between a rock and a hard place during Glee as Blaine sat to one side of him and Sam on the other. He was surprised there wasn't holes drilled in the side of his head.

That Friday, Sam was antsy, bouncing around Kurt like a hyper puppy more and more frequently as the school day drew to a close. He knew Sam was just nervous about singing to Mercedes for her birthday (the first one they were celebrating together), so he tried not to snap, but he was testing Kurt's patience.

"Sam, I swear, if you don't calm down-"

He held his hands up in surrender, leaning against the locker next to Kurt's, on the opposite side of Blaine's, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just-"

"SAM. I know, okay? Working yourself into a frenzy isn't helping anyone, least of all yourself. Just, you know, breath, okay? She's going to love it." Kurt shuffled his books around as he tried to sort through his stuff, going through his mental list of classes to make sure he has the right things for whatever homework he has tonight.

Once he was organized, he shut his locker and looked up at Sam, offering his arm. "Ready to serenade a certain someone?"

Sam grinned, looping his arm through Kurt's. "But of course! You comin', Blaine?" he threw over his shoulder. Kurt started, not having noticed the other boy.

His brown eyes were trained to a spot just over Kurt's shoulder as he replied, "Sure thing." His locker closed with a resounding bang before he fell into step beside them, standing a respectable distance away as they chatted amicably. They stepped into the choir room and Kurt and Sam immediately broke away to tell Mercedes happy birthday, scooping her up into a tight hug, Sam yelling about them making a Mercedes Sandwich. She giggled, her trapped arms making it difficult to swat at them as they squeezed.

"You two are so silly," she laughed when they released her. She turned to Kurt first, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him. "Thank you," she added as she let him go and turned to Sam, tucking herself against his side. He kissed the top of her head as Mr. Schue came in the room, wishing Mercedes a happy birthday as well and waving Sam forward when he announced that he had a song he wanted to sing.

Everyone settled into their usual seats while Sam set a stool in the middle of the room, an acoustic guitar in his hands. He waved off the band and began playing.

It's late in the evening
She's wondering what clothes to wear

The group began harmonizing as he sang, a few people swaying as they did so. Kurt couldn't help but glance around and saw Santana lean her head against Quinn's, a small smile on her face. Rachel was pressed sitting as close to Puck as she could be without actually crawling into his lap. Tina and Mike were making lovey faces at each other; even though they didn't have each other's initials on their feet, they had chosen to be together for the time being. It was a practice often found in high school, where just having someone to be there sometimes took precedent over waiting for their soulmate.

When he glanced over at Blaine, he found the other boy was squinting at Sam, an unsure look on his face. Kurt watched as Blaine's eyes flicked from Sam to Mercedes to Kurt and back to Sam. His face changed to something considering as Sam finished up his song to thunderous applause from everyone. Blaine clapped slowly, still thoughtful as Sam stepped down and pulled Mercedes to him, kissing her solidly on the mouth.

"Are you okay?" Kurt murmured, leaning close to Blaine, who jumped.

"What? Oh, yeah, no, I'm fine," he replied as they sat back in their seats and Mr. Schue called the group to order and began talking about Sectionals preparation. Kurt listened to him talk for a moment before there was a noise and a note was nudging his arm. He saw that Blaine was still facing forward as his hand lingered at Kurt's elbow, fingers holding the folded piece of paper out to him.

Walk with me after practice?

And there, there was that smile Kurt had missed, smaller than before, but tugging at the corner of his lips none the less. Kurt nodded twice, his own lips twitching as he tried to bite down a smile.

888

"So I believe I owe you an apology," Blaine said. Everyone had left in a mad scramble once they were released from glee and Kurt had waved Sam off when the blond noticed Blaine lingering behind. He had left with an arm wrapped around Mercedes shoulders and a stern look in Blaine's direction. It wasn't until they had stepped out of the building that Blaine had spoken and Kurt hesitated a moment, wondering what he meant.

"What for?"

"For how I've treated you the past few weeks." When Kurt still looked confused, he explained, "I thought Sam was your Dom and the two of you just hadn't exchanged rings yet. That morning, in the hallway, he, well, he acted like a protective Dom and I was taught it was rude to be friendly towards another Dom's sub if the Dom wasn't amicable. Sam doesn't seem to like me much, so that's why I backed off."

Kurt blinked, leaning against the side of his Navigator. "Oh. Um, no, Sam's just a friend. He's just really protective of me."

"I can tell," Blaine laughed. Kurt wondered what it would be like to touch the little lines fanning out from the corner of his eyes. "But I was sincere in my wish for us to be friends, Kurt. You-" He bit his lip, he's darting to the side as he exhaled through his nose. "You're so quiet and you give off this air that you don't care but I think there's more to you than that. I've seen how you act with Sam and sometimes even Mercedes and I think I would like to have something like that with you, as well." He finally brought his eyes back to Kurt's. "So if it's okay with you, I would like to start over again. Hi, my name is Blaine." He held out his hand, smile only slightly forced.

"Hello, Blaine, my name is Kurt." Once his hand slipped into Blaine's, the last bit of tension melted away.

"Would you like to get some coffee?"

888

'Coffee' turned into two hours of hanging out. Kurt refused to call it a date, even though Blaine had hurried forward to open the door to the Lima Bean. And had paid for his coffee. And pulled Kurt's seat out for him. He was just being a gentleman, that was all. And this was just... Social interaction on a learning level. He was using this as a way to get used to unfamiliar Doms before he moved to a big city.

It was not a date.

He questioned Blaine about his life and managed to avoid most of the ones about his own. He learned about Blaine's older brother Cooper and smiled widely at his groan of dismay when Kurt played the ringtone of Cooper's commercial on his phone. He learned that Blaine's parents, while straight laced, are pretty liberal, though Blaine told him that he's sure his mothers' acceptance of subs probably wouldn't translate as well if one of her own sons had been one. Blaine shared stories of his childhood and about his former school, Dalton Academy. Since it was an all boy's school, there were fewer chances of finding your soulmate, but Blaine told him about two of his friends, a rare switch pair named Nick and Jeff, who seemed to be awesome pranksters, if half of Blaine's stories were true.

In return, Kurt told him a few stories, mostly silly ones involving his dad and Sam. As much as Blaine wanted them to be friends, Kurt wasn't one to open himself up easily to others, having grown more cynical with each passing year.

But he did love to watch Blaine talk. The longer their date (it's not a date it's not a date it's not a date) went on, the more animated he became, using his hands for emphasis and growing louder until they got. Dirty look from an elderly couple seated nearby.

"What about you? Where do you plan on doing after graduation?" Blaine asked, swirling the last bit of coffee around in the bottom of his cup.

Kurt shrugged. "I was thinking about going to New York to study either fashion or musical theater; I'm still undecided. The best school for musical theater is the New York Academy of Dramatic Arts, but they rarely accept subs in their program."

"What about fashion design? Parsons is supposed to be one of the best, if your heart is stuck in New York, and they're an equal school. Your education shouldn't be shuffled off to the side just because you're a sub. Do what you're passionate about and don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough just because of how you were born to be. I may not know you well but I know that you, Kurt Hummel, are going to get all the accolades you deserve, no matter what you pursue."

Kurt sat back, stunned and unaware of when he had leaned so close to Blaine. No one besides Sam and his dad had ever shown so much belief in him before. He tended to be cast off and ignored even by people who had known him his whole life, and yet here was this boy, who he had known a month, that had more faith in his abilities than most.

"I- Thank you, Blaine."

A sweet smile lit up his face and a calloused hand reached over to squeeze his. "It's true, so no thanks are needed." They sat in silence for a minute before Kurt cleared his throat.

"What about you? Where do you plan to go after graduation?"

As Blaine began to excitedly explain about heading off to sunny California, Kurt's thoughts drifted a bit and he was startled to realize that he had told Blaine his fears about NYADA, something he hadn't even told Sam yet, but that had flowed easily from his lips with the slightest prompting from Blaine.

888

October rolled around with freezing winds and the first inner-club competition of the year. As he had done the first year of glee, Mr. Schue put all of their names in a hat and had them draw who their partner would be. Brittany went first and drew Sam, Tina drew Artie, and Blaine... drew Kurt.

They grinned at each other as Blaine sat back down beside him. While they weren't the bestest of friends, they were much more amicable now that Blaine was more comfortable talking to him and Kurt had called off watchdog Sam. They sat next to each other during lunch and had gone out for coffee a couple of times. Each date (not a date!) had led to Kurt slowly opening himself up more. He hadn't revealed the extent of his bullying but did share that it still happened. It had outraged Blaine enough that Kurt was unsure if he should actually tell him more. Either way, he was careful to leave out any names, no matter how much Blaine asked.

Kurt was finding that he really liked spending time with the other boy, surprising though it was. Blaine was funny and charming and such a gentleman; he had never met a Dom like him before. Both Sam and his dad were still very much the epitome of manly Doms, with the football playing and the more aggressive demeanor, and he knew both loved him in their own ways, but Blaine was different. While he loved football, it wasn't a big part of his life. He was sweet and caring and so adorably dorky and so many things that Kurt never thought he would find in a friend.

Because that's what he was. A friend.

"We should talk tonight about what we want to sing," Blaine said as the rest of the people finished pairing off.

"Sure, do you want to go get coffee?" Kurt started to offer, but Blaine was already shaking his head.

"I can't right after school, I have to do something. But what do you say we go to Breadstix tonight? Does that sound all right?"

"That sounds perfect." Kurt smiled, shoving papers into his satchel and stood up to leave. "What time should I-"

"Oh, don't worry; I'll pick you up at six thirty." They walked to the student parking lot, half heartedly tossing around song ideas. Blaine pushed the door open and they're greeted by sheets of icy rain. Kurt let out a groan of despair.

"What? What's wrong?" Blaine asked frantically.

"I forgot an umbrella or a rain jacket. It was so nice this morning." Kurt looked mournfully at his dry clean only shirt and pea coat and then across the parking lot where he had parked. One time too many of hitting his snooze button had forced him to park at the far edge and the rain was coming down so heavily that he was sure he would be soaked through before he reached his car.

There was a series of clicking sounds and a fuwhomp and there was Blaine with a small, collapsible umbrella. "Here, take mine, I didn't park that far away."

"Oh, no, Blaine, I couldn't-" Kurt tried to protest, but the pole was being shoved in his hands and Blaine was gone, speed walking towards his car with a wave over his shoulder. Kurt did nothing to stop his grin, twirling the bright red umbrella between his fingers before stepping outside.

The smile stayed with him through the ride home and up into his room, where he laid out his homework across his bed.

888

Kurt moaned as his fingers broke through the layer of gel, causing it to crack under his hand. The wet, hot mouth never hesitated, sucking and tightening and ohgodrightthere. The grip on his thigh tightened as a litany of curses tumbled from his lips, his hips arching as a moan vibrated down the length of his cock.

A heavy arm slid over his hips, pinning him to the backseat of his car and making him whimper in distress. The hand on his thigh rubbed soothingly, moving up until it cupped his balls, massaging them gently. His jaw dropped and his mouth grew dry as he panted, trying to draw air into his starving lungs.

"Please, oh, fuck, ah, please let me come, Sir," he whined, thrusting shallowly into the hot cavern of his mouth.

Which was suddenly gone, replaced by a sure hand as swollen lips covered his, swallowing his begging cries. A forehead was pressed against his and his eyes fluttered open, locking onto the honey-hazel ones in front of him.

"Come for me, baby," Blaine murmured, hot breath brushing his face as his back arched-

Kurt woke with a jolt, come filling his boxer briefs as his hips arched, seeking friction where there was none. He laid there, chest heaving, for several minutes before shaking out of his stupor and patting his hand around, searching for his phone. A click of the screen revealed that it was already after five thirty and Kurt yelped, scrambling off of his bed and hurrying to the bathroom to shower. He had obviously fallen asleep while doing his homework and was going to have to rush to get ready for his da- his dinner with Blaine.

Blaine.

Who he had just had a wet dream about.

Fuck.

He quickly washed his hair and scrubbed all the evidence of what had happened off of his pelvis. He would just act calm and normal and not at all like he came in his pants like a thirteen year old, Kurt told himself.

It didn't have to be weird or awkward, he thought as he did an abbreviated version of his skin care routine.

One stupid, sexy dream didn't change anything; they were still just friends. He had just come harder than ever before imagining Blaine's mouth and hands on him, that was all.

Kurt let out a growl of frustration as he viciously moved his clothes around in his closet, searching for something to wear. He would not let his stupid brain ruin what was becoming a very good thing in his life.

His phone buzzed from its spot on his vanity and he scrambled to answer it. "Hello?"

"Hey, Kurt, I was just calling to let you know I was on my way," Blaine's voice chirped in his ear.

"Okay, I'll be waiting."

"Are you okay?" Great, his voice must sound weird or something, Blaine sounded really concerned, fuck, this wasn't going the way he wanted.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I was just... Looking for a scarf to wear and the call surprised me. I'll see you soon, okay? I don't want you driving in the rain."

"All right, I'll be there in a few minutes." He still sounded concerned but seemed to accept his excuse.

Kurt hung up and sank to his seat. This wasn't going to work.