:3 :3 :3

The Warblers got over their loss much more quickly than Kurt would have anticipated. They were a lot more subdued than usual and a bit somber for a few days before throwing themselves into practicing for the countless gigs at nursing homes and local GAP stores Wes had organized for them the minute they had come back to Dalton after Regionals. Nobody was particularly bummed over them not winning for too long and it was difficult to stay sad when everyone around Kurt was back to their usual cheerful demeanor. Within less than two weeks the usual hectic had them back and before he knew it, Kurt was buried up to his neck in homework and studying for the upcoming exams.

That alone would have been enough to have Kurt stressed out. But on top of that Tina and Mercedes kept gushing to him about going to New York for Nationals every time they could actually make time to talk. It made it a lot harder for Kurt to get over the fact that the Warblers had lost Regionals than it was for his friends. He was stressed and frustrated and panicking in face of Dalton's high expectations. Exams at McKinley had never been a problem for Kurt be he was well aware of the academic differences between his new and his old school. He knew he was smart and working hard and that it probably wouldn't be that much more difficult for him in the end. But the pressure was there and it was slowly cracking Kurt's already worn-down patience.

It was on the morning of their history exam, the same day that the New Directions were flying to New York for Nationals, that it eventually became too much. Kurt felt it creeping up on him but decided to ignore it. Surely nothing would happen if he didn't want it to happen? If he was set enough on suppressing his instincts there was no way they'd slip from his control. He was almost an adult now, there were no more excuses for hiding under tables and hissing at people he knew only had his best interest at heart.

So it came that Kurt ended up on the top of his wardrobe, at the same time bizarrely prepared for this to happen and caught completely by surprise. He didn't even notice that he was rocking back and forth, his knees pulled up to his chest and his nails clawing at his shins through his slacks, his teeth worrying his bottom lip until it was raw and starting to bleed in places, till Blaine came out of the bathroom and stopped dead in the doorway.

"Kurt?" Kurt hadn't even known that a one-syllable word could hold so much worry and concern. "What are you doing up there? Is everything okay?"

Kurt tried to give a dignified answer, he really did, but all that would come out was a high-pitched whimper that made him dig his nails even deeper into his skin in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. The whole situation was like watching a really awful horror movie; he was aware of what was happening but he couldn't do anything to get any semblance of control over it. Only that he wasn't merely sitting in the audience, he was also the main character. It was surreal, watching yourself behave like a pathetic mess but helpless to do anything about it. He felt so ashamed, but even that emotion wasn't enough to cut through the fog of fearpanicinstinct in his head.

Contrary to what Kurt had expected Blaine's reaction to be, the sound almost seemed to calm him down. There was a second when Kurt could almost see the understanding lighting up his eyes, followed by a neutral, smooth expression settling over his face like a mask, erasing every trace of fear or concern. His posture relaxed visibly and before Kurt knew it, Blaine had dropped his bag and sunk down onto Kurt's bed, just far enough away to not make his hysterical, instinct-driven body go into defensive mode but close enough not to give the still rational parts of his brain the impression he wanted to get away from him or abandon him in that moment. For a minute he just sat there, motionless, staring up at Kurt with those huge amber eyes, blinking slowly as if he was afraid the sound of his fluttering eyelashes would scare Kurt into jumping down from the wardrobe if he did it any faster. They both held their breaths, unsure of what the other would do next.

Even the rational part of Kurt mourning his state in the back of his mind, the one that was very well aware that Blaine had been taught by the school's hybrid aid for quite some time now, hadn't expected him to smile up at him gently, the very tips of his fingers starting to move over the fabric of the sheets he was sitting on, a soft imitation of the noise Kurt's tail made when it swished behind him. As if he were hypnotized, Kurt's eyes were glued to the movement, his gaze only leaving the movement of Blaine's fingers to lock on his warm smile and sparkling eyes. Kurt's ears twitched in time with the sound, first rapid then slower and slower, unconsciously matching Blaine's slow breathing that echoed through the room, so clear for him to hear, and the deliberate circles Blaine was still drawing on his high-thread-count sheets. It took him an embarrassingly long time to notice that his tail had started curling and uncurling around his legs in the same tempo, his hands now kneading his shins like a cat might do to a pillow instead of clawing at them. Kurt could already feel his mind clearing up a bit, though it was still too fuzzy and slow to slide into another panic over the distance between his feet and the floor, which was probably for the better.

"Better?" Blaine asked, his voice warm and smooth and reassuring and no different from the one he used to calm down anyone else. That little piece of information somehow made it through to Kurt's hazy mind, calming him down more effectively than even the soothing sound of fingertips rhythmically sliding over fabric. He nodded, the movement sluggish and slightly uncontrolled but all his.

"Do you think you can talk about it yet?" Kurt shook his head, eyes resigned. "It's okay, no need to worry. Would you mind if I came closer?" Again, Kurt shook his head, more decisively this time. Still smiling, Blaine slowly rose off the bed, stepping carefully over to the wardrobe. Kurt's tail gave an irritated twitch when he came to stand almost directly underneath him. Hazel locked on glasz and a slight trace of a scent, something fruity and spicy and distinctly home and safe, wafted up to his nose, clearing his head for a glorious moment. It was gone with his next exhale and Kurt whimpered pathetically when he felt his mind slip back into panicky fog and numbness.

"Shh, don't worry, we'll get you there," Blaine said, seemingly reading his mind. Hesitating just for a second, his hand came up to his Dalton tie, his head tilted slightly as he looked up at Kurt and twisted his fingers around the silky fabric. "Do you think it would help if you had something that smelled like me? Would the tie do?" Kurt just watched him for a minute, trying to force his body to cooperate with his rational human mind, until he managed a somewhat jerky nod, the beginning of a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. Smiling even broader, Blaine slowly loosened the knot, his eyes not breaking contact even as he pulled the tie over his head. "Catch or reach?" he asked, the glimmer in his eyes almost playful. Kurt felt a grin tug at his lips, taking over his face for a second. Still unable to form comprehensible words outside of his safe corner of his mind, he made a grabbing motion up into the air, feeling a bit triumphant that at least his limbs would cooperate now.

Grinning back, Blaine bounced a bit on his toes before finally tossing the slim piece of fabric up, his aim not the best but close enough that Kurt couldn't possibly risk falling down from his perch as he caught it. With a soft whine - he refused to call it a mew, even though that was pretty much what it sounded like - Kurt let himself fall back against the wall, his posture much less rigid as he pressed the tie to his nose, inhaling deeply. A purr rumbled in his chest, quiet at first but growing louder with every breath he took, his tail loosely curling around his legs as a content hum disrupted the soothing sound for a second. Closing his eyes tightly, Kurt buried his nose even deeper into the fabric, soaking up the scent as a grin spread on his face. Blaine was softly humming a tune Kurt didn't bother to concentrate on enough to recognize it. They stayed like that for a while, Kurt taking his time, letting Blaine's smell and the sound of his voice chase away the irrational panic, basking in both until the fog in his head had lifted and he was sure he'd succeed this time if he tried to form words again.

"Blaine?" The humming stopped and a soft, questioning noise drifted up to him. Kurt did his best to make himself say it, he really did. The words were right there, his body no longer stopping him from getting them out. His pride still did, though. Luckily, Blaine knew him well enough to figure as much and somehow manage to not make it too humiliating for either of them.

"Should I help you come down?" He stepped back from where he'd been leaning against the wardrobe to give Kurt some privacy as he came back to himself, turning to resume eye contact. Kurt stared at a scratch in the wood right next to his hand as his fingers drummed out an erratic rhythm. He nodded quickly, just once. "Okay. Like last time?" Another brief nod. "Where would you like to get down? Left? Right? I don't think the front would be a good idea." They both eyed the adornments on top of the heavy wood with skeptic eyes for a moment before Kurt motioned to the right, his fingers resuming their quick pattern as soon as he was sure Blaine had gotten the hint. Blaine slowly made his way over, his posture relaxed as he waited for Kurt to gather his courage. "Whenever you're ready," he said softly, the same old adoring look on his face he always got when he stared too long at Kurt. Only that Kurt didn't think that look would ever get old, at least not to him.

"You'll catch me?" His voice wavered a lot more than he had meant it to.

"I'll catch you."

"Always?"

"Always."

And then Kurt was crawling to the edge, eyes tightly closed as he swung his legs over it and pushed until he was falling and there wasn't even time to feel fear before his hands grasped onto broad shoulders and strong hands steadied him at his waist.

They fell into a kiss just as effortlessly. Time didn't seem a concept worth bothering with as Kurt sucked Blaine's top lip into his mouth and sank his teeth into it a little more roughly than he usually would, a pleased, almost triumphant noise interrupting his deafening purrs as Blaine went along pliantly, melting into Kurt's hold. Reluctantly, he pulled away as much as Kurt would let him as it became obvious that neither of them was particularly willing to stop and the situation got more, well, heated.

"No, come back," Kurt growled, the hand at the small of Blaine's back pulling them flush together again until their quite obvious erections dug into the hard planes of more-than-willing flesh, finally getting the friction they desired. The other one broke through the gel to bury itself in the soft, fuzzy curls at the nape of Blaine's neck he never seemed to be able to gel into submission.

"Kurt, the exam," Blaine gasped, trying and failing to keep from rutting against the thigh Kurt had sneakily pressed between his legs. "We can't."

"Do you really think," Kurt whispered against the sensitive skin right behind Blaine's ear as he pressed lingering kisses to every patch of skin he could reach, occasionally sucking until he was sure to leave a red mark, fading quickly enough not to turn attention on him in class but certainly lasting long enough for Kurt to thoroughly enjoy his handiwork "that it's a wise decision, medically, to remind me of exams?"

Blaine tried to roll his eyes at him but only managed a groan as Kurt pressed his thigh even higher up. "I think," he gasped, desperately trying not to let the way Kurt sucked mark after mark into the soft skin of his neck get to him, "that it would be wise to talk about what just happened. Medically, of course."

With a heavy sigh and one last, mostly playful lick to the patch of skin he'd just abused, Kurt pulled back enough for Blaine to catch his breath again, his hands still pressing their bodies together and playing with Blaine's hair. "If you insist. I'll have you know, though, I'd much rather be kissing you right now."

"I know, darling. Believe me, I know," Blaine chuckled, pressing a soft kiss to Kurt's pouting lip before disentangling himself from their embrace and pulling Kurt over to his bed so they could sit down facing each other. "So... Exam stress?"

Kurt heaved another sigh, nervously playing with the hem of his shirt, so very unlike him. Unnecessary fiddling with the hems and seams of clothes was a sin Blaine was sure would get him a night on the couch on a normal day in the future Hummel-Anderson household. Not that they'd definitely agreed on that certain hyphenation of their names. Though Blaine would defend its natural, right ring until the day they were to sign the marriage certificate.

After what seemed to be an eternity but in reality was probably no more than a minute, Kurt finally let go of the fabric and looked right into Blaine's eyes. "Yes, exam stress. And frustration. And panic." His voice was tight and trembled with each confessed word, as if each and every one of them were physically painful to get out. Knowing how much Kurt valued his pride and dignity, so often the only thing to get him through a day at McKinley with his head still held high, that probably wasn't all that far from the truth.

"Okay. I understand the exam stress. Do you want to elaborate on frustration and panic?" Carefully, Blaine let his hand come to rest on Kurt's thigh. When Kurt didn't flinch or pull away, he let his thumb rub soothing circles into the muscle.

"Promise not to judge me?" Kurt's expression showed so much fear and vulnerability that Blaine couldn't even find it in him to be hurt by a question others would likely interpret as a lack of trust. Opening up like this wasn't something Kurt Hummel did and Blaine got that. For all that he was outgoing and charming with everyone, he had put up enough walls of his own to respect how difficult it could be to let someone past them, no matter how well you knew that person or how much you trusted them.

"I promise." His voice had a serious undertone that seemed almost too much for this conversation and his thumb had stilled its movement on Kurt's leg, all his attention focused on what Kurt had to say.

Taking a deep breath but not breaking eye contact, Kurt set to explain. "Frustration because I know that right this moment, Tina and Mercedes are on their way to New York with the New Directions. It's not that I begrudge them their win, I recognize that they were better and that they deserved it. They worked hard for it. It's just... we worked hard for it, too.

And I'm frustrated with myself. For being so jealous of two of my best friends. For asking myself if I could be with them on that journey, if I could still be at McKinley, if only I'd been strong enough to join Glee club like I'd wanted to. If I could be with them on that plane right now instead of letting myself be chased away by Karofsky." Blaine's hold on Kurt's hand tightened but he didn't say anything, didn't interrupt, and Kurt was so immensely grateful for that he could feel the first tears well up in his eyes. "And I'm scared of failure. Dalton is so much harder than what I'm used to from McKinley, there's so much more pressure and expectations. I- I think rationally, I'm aware that I probably won't have a problem with any of it. I've done well so far, I can keep up even if it takes a bit more work than it does for people who didn't transfer in the middle of the year. It's just- being aware of it and being sure of it, having the proof in your hands, is kind of a different kettle of fish." He took another deep breath, trembling in the wake of his little speech. Kurt knew Blaine wouldn't judge him and it did feel good to have all of that off his chest, but he'd still be on edge until he heard what his response would be.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Blaine began, giving Kurt's hand another squeeze and offering him a warm smile. "I know that as much as we promise to be completely honest with each other all the time, getting all your insecurities and doubts out in the open like that isn't easy. And I mean, as much as I feel like I've known you my whole life, like I've been looking for you forever and finally found my missing puzzle piece" - Kurt playfully hit him over the head for the Katy Perry reference in such an earnest moment, but there was a broad smile on his face where he'd anxiously bitten his lip before - "we've only been together, known each other, for such a short time. It's only been a few months, even if it seems so much longer. And I'll openly admit that there are plenty of things you'd have to directly ask me to tell you about because I wouldn't bring them up on my own. Things I'd hesitate to tell you, even though I trust you more than anyone else already. So thank you for letting me in this far." They shared a soft smile, Kurt leaning in to brush his lips over Blaine's in the softest of kisses, so reminiscent of the very first kiss they'd ever shared, so much deeper than a passionate meeting of tongues would have been in that specific moment.

"It was my pleasure," he whispered, giggling a bit as he pulled back and let their gazes lock again.

Blaine had to clear his throat before he could speak up again, tears welling up in his eyes at the pure intimacy of what he shared with Kurt. He was sure it'd be overwhelming no matter his age, but sometimes it felt almost too much to take in for a mere teenage boy still in high school. The past months had taught Blaine why exactly people were so skeptic about soulmates finding each other so young, why others might have given up on such a bond, leading the world to believe that there was no such thing as everlasting love from your teens to your grave.

They had also taught him that there was no way he'd give up on that, no matter how it felt too much at times or how much work it would take or how many bumps in the road there might be. Blaine Anderson might be a hopeless romantic, but Kurt moved him. Moved him as profoundly as music and beautiful spring days and cuddly fall afternoons, as the beauty of a rainbow appearing in the skies after a tremendous storm. Kurt was like all things of beauty in Blaine's life tied together and simultaneously so much more, a tangible miracle right next to him, seeping into his soul and requesting a part of it to settle in. Blaine understood why others might step back from such a connection but if there was one thing he was good at, it was giving himself over to those beautiful things in life that plucked the right string in his soul. And Kurt plucked all of them at once. It was at the same time so ridiculously easy and so terrifyingly difficult to just surrender to this pull.

Looking into Kurt's eyes in that moment, Blaine saw all of those thoughts reflected right back at him and the load felt so much lighter, knowing that they carried it together.

"I understand why you're so frustrated. I get why you're jealous, I get that it feels hard to sit back here in the dorms and slave over exams while they get to be in New York before you. But if I know one thing, Kurt, it's that you'll get there. It might take longer than you'd like, it might be sooner than you think. But you're destined for great things, love, you shine too bright for this little town, for this little state. You're meant to get out of here and show the world what you can be and it doesn't matter if you do so at eighteen or eighty, if you get there immediately or have to work through hundreds of obstacles first.

I can't promise you it will be a smooth ride. I can't promise you that you'll take all your exams in stride or that you'll get into the college you want or get the jobs you'll apply for. I can't promise you that you won't have to work for it, perhaps much harder than you think you can handle, I can't promise you that you won't despair sometimes on your way there.

But I can promise you that I'll be there for you no matter what, that I'll do my best to catch you when you fall, that I'll push you forward when you think you can't go on anymore, that I'll be by your side no matter where we go, where we end up. Because I can see it, when I close my eyes and imagine the future. I can see your potential, you have so much of it, and I know you're going to shine so much brighter than anyone I've ever met. You already do. I wish for you, for both of us, that it'll be as easy as it is in my head when I dream about our future together, but life isn't easy most of the time, we both learned that the hard way, no matter how idealistic we may be.

And I don't care, because whatever life may throw at us, if there is one thing I know it's that you will shine, that you deserve to shine, and that I'll do whatever will be in my power to help you do just that, that I'll be right there by your side."

"Blaine," Kurt breathed, voice thick with tears. They were both crying shamelessly at this point. "That's how you see me? You really believe this much in me?"

"Of course, dummy," Blaine laughed wetly. He didn't bother wiping the tears away, his hands too busy being wrapped up in Kurt's.

"I think you forgot a really important detail in that moving speech of yours, though, mister." Kurt moved closer until it almost became painful to look into each other's eyes, a soft smile on his face.

"Oh?"

"Mh. You forgot the part where you're shining just as brightly, just in a different way. Just because my dreams are a little more out there doesn't mean yours aren't as important. I want to be there for you and hold you and encourage you when you break down and cry over the overwhelming pile of books you'll have to read for your studies or a patient you can't help or your father's likely disapproval, just as much as you'll help me climb down furniture and rock me back and forth until I'll calm down again when my cat instincts get to me over an audition or a deadline. Don't you dare forget that this relationship isn't all about me and my as of yet not even settled-on goals. This is about us and I can promise you that I'll be just as proud of you saving someone's life or making it better as you'll be of me when I'm on a stage, whether it's to wow a captivated audience with my vocal abilities and my dance moves or my unbeatable sense of fashion."

"Kurt Hummel, I don't think you're being told that even close to often enough, but you're kind of really amazing," Blaine choked out, his hands pulling out of Kurt's grip to cup his face, his thumbs lovingly caressing over the high cheekbones wet with tears.

"I know," Kurt whispered back. "My kind of really amazing boyfriend makes sure to tell me all the time if I forget." Their lips met in a messy kiss that tasted more of salt than each other, tongues licking into mouths, desperate to find the familiar taste underneath. They kissed until there was nothing but them, tongues tangling and only pulling away enough to start nibbling and pulling and sucking at lips when the taste of tears had turned into KurtandBlaine, the kiss slowing down until it came to a stop and they were just breathing against each other.

"We have to get up," Blaine moaned, crossing the barely mentionable distance between them to brush his lips against Kurt's in a whisper of a kiss that was too short for either of their tastes. "We'll be late for the exam."

Kurt let out an unwilling whimper, the hands cupping Blaine's neck and jaw respectively falling down to his waist to pull him closer for a second, longer kiss. "I don't want to," he whined, burying his face in the junction between Blaine's neck and shoulder. "I guess it's good that we got up early for a bit last-minute learning."

"I know, darling, I don't want to either," Blaine cooed, his hand gently petting over the short hairs at the nape of Kurt's neck, careful not to mess them up too much even though Kurt would probably have to completely redo his hair later, anyway. "And I don't know about you, but I think I learned plenty of things this morning. Just not about Charlemagne." Chuckling, Kurt pulled out of their embrace. "Dork," he breathed against Blaine's lips as he pressed a last, soft kiss there as he stood up, a huge grin on his face. Blaine watched with a fond smile of his own as he strode over to the mirror and started fixing his hair.

"Oh," Kurt's voice shook him out of his contemplation of Kurt's divine ass - when had his eyes wandered down there? "and you might want to fix that too before we leave." His eyes locked on Blaine's hair, a playful glint in his eyes as his tail flicked idly in front of his legs. Immediately, Blaine's reveries of what sinful things he might do to that ass one day were interrupted as his hand shot up and indeed found that most of the curls had broken free from the gel where Kurt's hands had been earlier, leaving his head a mess of a half-gelled afro.

"God, I hate you," he groaned, shooting a dirty glare at Kurt when he only got an impish grin in return. Grumbling to himself, he got up from the bed and hurried over to the bathroom, trying to slow his pace so he wouldn't appear desperate but only partly succeeding.

"Love you too, honey!" he heard Kurt's carefree laughter ring after him. If he decided that having to fix his hair for the second time that morning was well worth it to have made Kurt laugh like that, well, no one said he had to let him know, right?

It was only a week later when Kurt and Blaine met up with Tina and Mercedes in the Lima Bean. The last day of school was behind them and Blaine enjoyed how loose and happy Kurt was now that the pressure had finally lifted and he'd passed all his tests and exams with grades to match Blaine's and David's. He didn't even seem to remember being upset about his friends going to New York for Nationals while he was still stuck in Ohio, just genuinely happy to finally be face to face with his two best girl friends again after they hadn't seen each other in person for way too long due to all the stress and hectic.

"Hey lover-boys," Mercedes chuckled as she slid into her seat opposite them, startling Blaine from where he'd started losing himself in Kurt's eyes and smile and had almost forgotten about his rapidly cooling coffee. "I see you're still going strong." Blaine just rolled his eyes at her before offering her a bright smile and throwing a sugar pack at her.

"Oh sweet, you remembered how I drink my coffee, white boy," she laughed, ripping it open nonchalantly and dropping its content unceremoniously into her coffee cup. Conspicuously, she leaned over the table to stage-whisper to Kurt. "You can keep that one around, sweetie."

"Thanks," Kurt chuckled, bumping a pouting Blaine with his shoulder. "I guess I'd have returned him without the Mercedes Jones seal of approval."

"Oh please," Tina snorted, setting her own cup down and shooing Mercedes over so she could sit more comfortably. "He'd still have mine and your dad's. Isn't that worth something?"

"I think it's worth a lot." Blaine beamed at her and they linked pinkies over the table for a second.

"You two are disgustingly sweet," Mercedes said, visibly biting back a grin. "Try not to give us cavities."

"Yeah, it's not like you and Kurt have been pinky-holding the entire time we were in H&M the last time we were shopping together," Tina huffed, rolling her eyes. She looked almost frighteningly like Blaine in that moment. "Seriously, I need my shopping wing man. Please don't abandon me next time."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Blaine put his hand over hers, all serious for a second before he chuckled at himself and ruined the facade. "But don't you think you're exaggerating a bit? They're not that bad when they're together."

"Actually, they are," Tina insisted.

"Yeah, I'll admit it. You're just too busy making heart eyes visible from space at my boy whenever it's just the three of us to notice," Mercedes jumped in, giggling when Kurt just gave her a grin and a 'fabulous five', as they called it.

"Do not," Blaine pouted, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back into his seat.

"Do too," the remaining occupants of the table chorused back at him. For a moment, it was completely silent before they all burst into laughter.

"Okay, maybe I do," Blaine conceded, taking a sip from his medium drip.

"There's no maybe about that, Blaineybear," Tina chuckled, swiftly stealing the cup out of his hand and taking a sip herself, completely ignoring Blaine's protests.

"As fun as riling up my boyfriend is," Kurt started, promptly met with wolf whistles from his friends that had him blushing bright red. "Oh hush, you. Anyway, how was New York? You've been kind of cryptic over the phone."

Mercedes and Tina shared a look before heaving a sigh and relaying the whole ugly story of nights spent last-minute songwriting, 'The Kiss That Missed', Santana's rage fit and the silent flight back. Kurt didn't even bat an eyelid at their way more enthusiastic descriptions of all the wonders of the city.

"Okay, I take back what I said. I'm suddenly really glad I was spared from that," he laughed, leaning a little further into Blaine's space and not caring who might see them. Mercedes and Tina just gave him a long-suffering, tired smile and Blaine pressed a quick kiss to his hair after making sure no one was looking their way.

"We'll get there soon, anyway," he murmured into the soft locks, playfully flicking the ear closest to him. Kurt mock-hissed in reply and batted at his hand.

They stayed and chatted at their table for a little while longer until Tina had to leave to make it home in time for her date with Mike and Mercedes started paying more attention to her phone and whoever she was texting - Tina very subtly mouthed 'Sam' in their direction - than her friends. Kurt and Blaine were about to part ways in the parking lot when Blaine got a text from Nick canceling their movie night because his parents picked him up one day earlier than planned after a surprise visit. Grinning, Blaine practically bounced over to his car and followed Kurt out of the parking lot, knowing that this unexpected and very lucky turn of events would give them at least an hour alone at the Hummel house before Burt would come back from work.

It only got better when they finally pulled into the driveway and all but ran into the house only for Kurt to press Blaine up against the front door the minute they were over the threshold. Once they'd parted to catch their breaths and take things into Kurt's bedroom, Kurt noticed the blinking of the answering machine signaling a new message. It was Burt calling home to tell Kurt that something Blaine had no idea of but that sounded pretty severe had come up and he'd have to work longer that day, he shouldn't wait up and just order take-out if he didn't feel like cooking. They started sharing a grin over the table before the message had even ended and they were in each other's arms the second it did, hardly able to break apart long enough for Kurt to grab Blaine's wrist and practically drag him upstairs.

"God, I missed having time to fool around with you," Kurt murmured into the skin of Blaine's neck as they frantically removed clothes while simultaneously trying to shut the door with their feet and continue kissing, his purrs vibrating against Blaine and making goosebumps rise all over.

"Me too," Blaine choked out somehow, nearly suffocating himself with his tie before it was finally on the floor with the rest of his Dalton uniform. In nothing but his boxers he jumped into Kurt's arms without a warning and they fell back onto the bed, Kurt's tail quickly curling around both their waists to keep from getting crushed under their joined weight.

"Someone's eager today," Kurt chuckled, the sound interrupted by a loud gasp as Blaine bit down on the sensitive spot where his jaw met his neck only to trail hot kisses down and suck at his collarbone.

"I just want you so much," Blaine moaned into Kurt's ear, his hot breath caressing the sensitive skin as he rutted down, their cocks sliding against each other through their underwear. Kurt's ear twitched in response, gently flicking against Blaine's cheek. "Hmm, I wonder what it would do to you if I nibbled right here," he thought aloud, the only warning Kurt got before, not a second later, hot lips closed around the very tip of his sensitive cat ear, sucking gently, the tip of a tongue venturing carefully over the thin skin. Kurt screamed, bucking up so hard he nearly threw Blaine off of him, making the friction between them almost painful but still so good. He could feel Blaine's lips stretching into a smirk against his ear as he kept his ministrations up, obviously rejoicing in the way Kurt writhed and whimpered beneath him, arching into his body and shivering.

"You know," he whispered when he let go of the tip, his breath cool over fur and skin wet with saliva, sending another shiver down Kurt's spine. "I've been thinking about sucking you for weeks now but we never had the time. May I?" His hand left a hot trail over Kurt's chest and quivering stomach muscles, coming to rest right above the waistband of Kurt's underwear, waiting for the verdict. Still not able to catch his breath enough to form words, Kurt just nodded, his eyes almost rolling back into his head when Blaine pulled his boxerbriefs down rather unceremoniously and pressed a kiss to the head. He immediately regretted opening them again and deeming it safe to look down when he caught Blaine licking a drop of his precum from his lips, eyes fluttering shut as if he'd just tasted the most delicious thing nature had to offer. It didn't matter how many times he'd watched Blaine lick his come off his fingers and moan at the taste, the visual never got old and Kurt's cock twitched almost painfully against his stomach.

"Blaine!" he whined, arching his hips and flicking his tail sharply against Blaine's thigh to get his attention back. With an apologetic smile and a low chuckle, Blaine settled down more comfortably between Kurt's legs and licked up the shaft, following the prominent vein with his tongue. Kurt might have felt a little more embarrassed at presenting himself like that with his legs spread wide if he hadn't been too busy losing himself in the pleasure of Blaine's mouth on him. Every new move seemed like paradise, as if it couldn't get any better, and then Blaine sucked the head into his mouth and everything was hottightwetohmygod and Kurt had to bite down hard on his lip and fist his hands so tightly into the sheets his knuckles hurt to keep from coming on the spot. A curious tongue caught under the ridge of the head, eliciting a whimper from Kurt from where he was still biting down on his lip in an attempt to keep from just thrusting his cock into that wonderful, hot mouth and watching Blaine's sinfully red lips stretch around it some more. He was aching with the need to come and he could swear Blaine was able to feel his pulse in the throb of his cock on his tongue.

Suddenly, the heat and the wetness were gone and cold air hit him, making him shudder and whine for that divine feeling to come back, eyes fluttering open to see what Blaine was up to and pull him down again by his hair if necessary. There were times to be playful and then there was such a thing as torture. He was not in the least prepared for the sight he was met with.

Blaine was still hovering between his legs, flushed down to his chest, lips swollen and red and slick with saliva, a drop of come clinging to the corner of his mouth. His pupils were so dilated his eyes seemed black and the curls started to escape from their hold. He looked more like the one receiving the blowjob and Kurt squirmed as another wave of arousal hit him at the mental images of other things that would have him look like that. He wasn't ready for half of the things flitting through his mind right then, hell, for the better part of the things he jerked off to when they couldn't make room for 'quality time' in their schedules. But he most certainly couldn't wait until they were both ready to go there.

"Blaine, you better get that mouth back on my cock right this instant," Kurt hissed, ears flat to his head, nails digging into skin where he grabbed Blaine's arms.

"I love how you can just say stuff like that without even batting an eyelid when you're horny," Blaine chuckled, though he lowered himself down again obediently. "I just wanted you to know that you can come whenever. Just tug a little at my hair to warn me, I don't want to choke on it. I mean, that's really not attractive. But this is your first blowjob, I don't expect you to last forever, just thought I'd let you know."

"Shut up and put your mouth to better use, honey, because I really need to come down your throat like yesterday."

Moaning obscenely, Blaine did as he was told and sucked the head of Kurt's cock back into his mouth, experimentally bobbing his head up and down a little, taking in a bit more every time he went down. He still couldn't fit in all that much but Kurt found he couldn't care less when he sucked and moaned, his tongue back to swirling around the head and dipping into the slit. In a fortunate accident all of these things just so happened at the same time as Blaine's hand closed around the rest of Kurt's cock and twisted and before he really registered what was happening, Kurt's fingers dug into Blaine's hair and tugged and then he was arching off the bed, coming into Blaine's mouth with a drawn-out moan that tapered off into a whimper of Blaine's name. Completely spent, he fell back into the pillows, watching in rapt fascination as Blaine swallowed eagerly, looking about three seconds away from coming himself just from having Kurt's hot come run down his throat.

"You love that, don't you? Swallowing my come and sucking my cock?"

"God, Kurt," Blaine groaned in response, his hand already on its way down to quickly jerk himself off. Struck by sudden inspiration, Kurt somehow gathered the energy to sit up and bat it away before it could reach its destination, pulling Blaine's boxers down swiftly and falling back into the pillows once more.

"Kurt?" Blaine asked, an unsure frown on his face, his hand hovering over his achingly hard cock. For a moment, Kurt let himself get distracted by watching a drop of precum roll down the slit and drop down onto the sheets, but he quickly shook himself out of it.

"I- if you'd like to, you could come on me." Kurt swore that Blaine actually stopped breathing for a minute there.

"I- really? Are you sure you want that? What if it makes you feel degraded, I don't want to-"

"Blaine, if we don't try how will you know whether it's something we both like or not? Unless you're uncomfortable with the idea, I'd really love for you to come on me before I get any stickier."

"And it's not going to be sticky if I come all over you?"

"Well, I expect you to lick it off of me, of course. And maybe rub it into my skin a bit? I love it when our scents mix and everything smells of sex."

Voice breaking on a whine, Blaine finally gave in, coming with a shout almost the second his fingers closed around his cock and pumped, whimpering Kurt's name as he forced his eyes open and watched the spurts of thick white substance streak on the flawless planes of Kurt's pale stomach, tremors shaking his body again and again until finally, he was done, mind still present enough to fall to the side and not ruin the picture. He took a few seconds catching his breath but scrambled to hover over Kurt's abdomen once again when he felt him squirming next to him, remembering his duty. Eagerly, he lapped at the droplets of white threatening to run down Kurt's side, his left hand massaging his come into the smooth skin on the other side so no drop would get wasted. It didn't taste quite as good as Kurt's but the act of licking his own release off of Kurt's stomach was still so intimate it made him tremble, the moment only growing on him when Kurt started to purr loudly and giggled occasionally when Blaine would lick and nip at a ticklish spot.

"Okay?" Blaine asked when he was done, falling into the pillows next to Kurt, suddenly back to being exhausted.

"More than okay," Kurt hummed, writhing lazily in the sheets, nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply, basking in the smell of them and sex. "You really get off on that, don't you? Playing with come and having a dick in your mouth?"

Blaine giggled, playfully hitting Kurt over the head. "Crude. But yeah, I guess I'm kind of gold star gay that way, hm? For you, anyway."

"And cheesy on top of that." Kurt sluggishly rolled over to snuggle deeper into Blaine's side. "Pray tell, whatever shall I do with you, Mr. Anderson?"

"Love me and let me suck your dick?" Blaine asked in his best detached, slightly bored tone, acting as if he was engrossed in studying his nails.

"Who's the crude one now," Kurt murmured, meaning to bat at Blaine's chest but only ending up drumming his fingers against his ribs because he just couldn't be bothered with so much movement right now. "But I guess I could live with that arrangement." Blaine's chuckle sounded as sleepy and sated as Kurt felt and it wasn't long until they'd both fallen asleep, the mess they were lying in forgotten for the time being.

They woke up a few hours later, thankful that Burt had indeed had to work overtime at the shop that night. If he'd been home at his usual time he might have stumbled into something he would very much not approve of. With a sigh, Kurt and Blaine decided not to take any more risks and disentangled themselves from the blankets and each other, reluctantly moving over to the bathroom to clean up properly so they wouldn't arouse any more suspicions on Burt's side. If they got distracted by the fact that they were both still very much naked and decided that Burt definitely wouldn't get home before they'd finished their shower together - which quickly devolved into fumbling mutual handjobs under the steady, hot stream of water, leaving them both sated and boneless and giggly - well, that was a different story.

When they eventually managed to get down, pop in a movie and cuddle on the couch they really couldn't find it in themselves to get up again and bother with cooking, so they took Burt's words to heart and ordered pizza. They had just finished their last slice and were about to join in with the voices coming from the TV to serenade each other with Come What May - Kurt might or might not have put that song on his mental wedding playlist - when they heard the key turning in the lock and the front door opening.

"Kurt? We got finished earlier than I'd hoped. Did you have dinner yet?" Burt's voice came from the hallway. Kurt and Blaine only tensed for a second at his unexpected early return, but quickly relaxed against each other again, cuddling into the couch cushions and the blanket on their laps and each other.

"We just finished our pizza. Should I make you something?"At the sound of Kurt's voice Burt peaked his head around the corner, not even batting an eyelid at the fact that Blaine was there as well.

"No, it's fine, I ate with the guys in the garage. Hey Blaine. Weren't you supposed to be watching a movie with one of your Warbler friends?"

"Nick canceled on me right after our coffee date with Mercedes and Tina," Blaine shrugged, doing his best not to look nervous about the fact that he'd just basically told his boyfriend's father that he'd been home alone with said boyfriend for hours. Especially not about actually having put that time to good use.

"Ah," Burt said, trying for the concerned, slightly-angry-parent tone. But Kurt could tell by the amused glint in his eyes and the merest tug of a smile at his lips that he didn't actually mean it. He was almost positive that he just turned around and walked into the kitchen while he kept talking with them just so they wouldn't catch him grinning. "So how did you pass the time while I've been gone?"

They shared a panicked look before Kurt pulled Blaine a little closer and answered for them. "Oh, the usual. Watched awful reality TV, flicked through the latest Vogue together. Reorganized my closet and took a little nap."

"Didn't you reorganize your closet last week?" Kurt could hear the amused chuckle in his father's voice and flinched at his own thoughtlessness. But since when did Burt keep track of when he rearranged his clothes, anyway?

"I wasn't done with the accessories just yet," Kurt responded rather lamely, Blaine shooting him an alarmed, wide-eyed look.

"Sure thing, kiddo. Now, what are you watching there?" Burt strolled back into the living room, trying to look casual but failing to keep the corners of his mouth from twitching up into a brief grin. Kurt rolled his eyes at him and sank deeper into Blaine's side.

"Moulin Rouge."

"Isn't that the one where the singing redhead coughs herself to death and you cry every single time?" Kurt squeezed his eyes shut so he wouldn't snap at anyone directing a smug smile at him.

"Yes, Dad, that's the one."

"Hey, it's okay," Blaine stage whispered into his ear, his warm breath on the sensitive skin comforting and familiar in their content state. "We both know I cry when she dies, too."

"You also cry every time we watch Bambi," Kurt chuckled, nudging Blaine's temple with his head before he let it fall to Blaine's shoulder and focused back on the movie.

"Yeah, well, what human being with a beating heart is cold enough to shoot the mother of a baby deer, Kurt? Or to watch her die with dry eyes?" Kurt could practically feel Blaine pouting against his hair and tried not to laugh at the indignation in his voice.

"Drama queen," he couldn't keep from murmuring, jabbing at that spot just below Blaine's ribs that he knew would make him jump in his seat and squeal.

"Speak for yourself," Blaine huffed, a fond smile on his face as he quickly dodged Kurt's fingers and just pulled him even further into his side. They could hear Burt trying to suppress his chuckles from where he was standing behind them.

"Try not to start a pillow fight while I'm upstairs changing?" he called over his shoulder as he went upstairs, barely missing the pillow Kurt threw after him. His laughter echoed downstairs to them and Kurt cuddled back into Blaine's inviting body with a content hum.

They spent most of the evening in their comfortable bubble of false safety. Burt didn't comment on the fact that they'd been alone and unsupervised in close vicinity to a bed for hours, they just watched movies and laughed together. The bubble only burst when Kurt got up to get them some popcorn and Burt inconspicuously followed behind him to get a beer out of the fridge.

"You two are really intimate with each other these days." Kurt jumped violently from his perch on the table in front of the microwave. He didn't expect this at all, though he probably should have. It was just so out of the blue.

"Um... possibly?" he uttered, eyes focusing back on the popcorn turning around itself, avoiding Burt's gaze at any cost.

"Kurt," Burt heaved a heavy sigh, looking about as enthusiastic about having this conversation with his son as Kurt felt. "I know we both don't really want to talk about this. But there is no way I'm just letting it go like this. You know, I was a teenager once, too. Sure, it's been a while, but I still remember what it was like. And from what I can tell, guys are still guys and still see and treat sex the same way."

"Dad!" Kurt squeaked, one second away from just covering his ears and pretending this never happened. But something in Burt's gaze kept him from doing so, almost petrified him in his seat.

"What I'm saying is, I get that you're all hormonal and that sex is fun. That it's 'cool' to have it. But there's so much more to it, no matter how little people usually focus on that. And I know my son. I know it would hurt you in the end to treat sex casually now. I don't want any details and I'm not going to lock you away in your room, even if I could. I just need to know that you're handling this responsibly, that you're doing this because you really want to and for reasons other than that it's more fun to do it together instead of by yourself."

"Dad, God, please just stop talking," Kurt moaned, hiding his scarlet face behind his hands. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down and get over his embarrassment, Burt's lingering presence at the back of his mind all along. He knew he wouldn't get out of that kitchen before his father didn't have the answers he wanted. "I- Yes, we've been responsible about it. We're not taking this lightly. Okay?"

Burt actually snorted in response. "You'll need to give me a little more, kiddo. You're not getting out of this so easy. Hell, Kurt, a few months ago you told me you were nowhere near ready for that part of your relationship and now you're basically draped over Blaine whenever he's over."

Kurt hadn't thought it possible, but his blush actually deepened. "A lot has happened since then. Just... believe me when I say we really didn't treat this casually? When we started... We never went that far until we felt we were ready and Blaine's good about asking me if I'm fine with each new step we take and I make sure he is, too. We take care of each other. Sex could never be casual to me, not with Blaine. It means too much. It always means so much."

Burt's frown had softened considerably over the course of Kurt's little speech, a smile spreading on his face. "Okay."

"Okay? Just like that? After you basically stalked me into the kitchen to interrogate me?"

"Oh, don't exaggerate so much all the time," Burt laughed. "I just needed to hear you say it and see your face when you did. If I'd ever doubted Blaine's intentions - or yours, for that matter - he certainly wouldn't be cuddling pillows on my couch right now. You exchange meaningful looks over passing the salt at dinner, Kurt, I didn't really expect you to say that you were just fooling around for the hell of it." His expression grew more serious again. "I just want to make sure that you always know that you matter, kiddo. No matter what you two decide to try in the future or if you ever get with someone else - just remember that whatever you do with your body also touches your heart and I'm just as concerned about you protecting that as I'm about you keeping safe."

"Thanks, Dad," Kurt murmured, his throat tight with unshed tears. "You're kind of an amazing dad, do you know that?"

"I'm not going to complain if you want to tell me more often," Burt chuckled, taking a sip from his bottle. "I think the popcorn grew cold." Kurt just rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm still surprised you didn't just tell me to wait until I'm sixty."

"I'd have gone for thirty, but I'm afraid I'm a little late for that, too." Kurt shot his father a glare.

"Not funny, Dad."

"Honestly, though. I can't deny I would have liked for you to wait a bit longer. You're still my baby boy, to me. But then again, I've seen what an amazing man you're growing to be. What an amazing person you already are. I see so much of your mother in you and sometimes I wonder what I even had to do with bringing someone like you in this world. I guess no parent likes to think about their child having sex. And it would probably be pretty futile to try to stop you now, right? As long as I can be sure that you're not rushing into things because of your cat instincts, I still remember how your mother would get sometimes, especially when we were still teenagers-"

"Ugh, Dad, gross!" Kurt shrieked as soon as it really registered what his father was saying, this time actually putting his fingers over his ears to drown out the sound of his voice. "I really didn't need to know that. And I promise that it's not like that. Whatever happens between Blaine and me isn't caused by my more... cattish episodes."

"Glad to know," Burt chuckled, returning his attention to his beer. "So, any plans for the summer?"

Grateful that he'd finally changed the topic, Kurt hopped down from the table and got out a bowl to put the by now really cold popcorn in. "Not anything specific so far. We'll do something with our Warbler friends whenever they are here and not in some ridiculously expensive beach resort or country house somewhere. And Tina and Mercedes will also spend the majority of their summers in Lima, so we'll most likely do stuff together a lot of the time. And Cooper invited us to L.A. for a bit but we haven't decided yet when we'd like to go."

"Cooper? Should I know who that is?"

"Oh, right, I didn't think I told you about him. At least not much. He's Blaine's older brother. I really only met him once but although he's a bit... special in some regards he seems to be a really okay guy. And he works as an actor in L.A., so maybe I'd even be able to learn a few things from him and get a better look into the business while I'm there."

Burt frowned at him. "I'd like to talk to that Cooper guy for a bit before I let you live with him for any span of time. I don't care if he's Blaine's brother, I'm not letting you scamper off to some stranger."

"Okay, Dad. I'm sure Blaine will gladly give you his number and you can talk to him on the phone. Or maybe he'll come back to Lima for a bit before we go there."

"Sure. Does Blaine have any plans?"

"He's auditioning for a job at Six Flags again. He performed there last year and they really loved him, so he thinks he'll be able to get in again."

"And what are you going to do in the meantime? Just relax and hang out with your friends until you can go to L.A. with Blaine?"

"Mostly. I thought about redecorating my room, sewing a few clothes to pimp up my fall and winter wardrobe, dabble a bit in writing. I have this one idea about a royal musical that won't stop bugging me. And I wondered if maybe you could need a little help in the shop?"

"Sure thing, kiddo. Just say the word and I'll see where I can fit you in." They grinned at each other.

"And what are your plans, apart from work, threatening Cooper, and our famous Hummel summer barbecues?"

"Well, there's something I've been meaning to tell you for a while now, actually," Burt started after a moment of silence, shifting, uncharacteristically awkward, in his chair.

"Oh?" Kurt asked, trying to sound nonchalant and not like he was dying from curiosity any second now.

"Yeah. I- I've kind of been seeing someone, too. For a weeks now."

"Oh, Dad! Who?" Kurt squealed, doing his best to keep from bouncing up and down on his toes in excitement and failing miserably. He almost upset the popcorn bowl next to him.

"I- well, I met her during that New Year's Eve party you practically forced me to go to. Her name's Carole," Burt said, a dreamy smile on his face as he said the name, one that Kurt had never seen before, though it reminded him of the soft, loving smiles he'd give his mother.

"Ah, look who's smitten now," Kurt chuckled, busying himself with the popcorn and offering his father an amused smile.

"Oh shut it, you. You're one to talk. If I had a penny for every sappy look you two lovebirds exchange I could close down the shop and take a bath in my money by now."

In a very mature move, Kurt stuck his tongue out at him. Burt rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"So," Kurt said after a short moment of silence. "Will I meet the mysterious Carole at one of our famous Hummel barbecues, then?"

"You bet you will, son." Burt grinned and made to walk out of the kitchen. "Shouldn't leave your boyfriend lonely on the couch for too long, kiddo," he called over his shoulder. Kurt threw popcorn at him, though it kind of lost its effect when Burt just caught it and stuffed it into his mouth. "Thanks, kiddo."

Kurt was just about to walk through the living room door to throw himself on the couch and on top of Blaine when Burt's last comment made him freeze on the spot.

"Just one last thing: If you two ever defile my couch in my absence, I hope you're aware I'll expect you to buy a new one."

Blaine would have to sneak up for all of their sleepovers from now on, then...