"You know, you never told me how you got into art" Blaine mentions whilst he and Kurt were sharing a strawberry milkshake during Kurt's break. For a change they had opted for one of the booths in the Diner and they were sitting opposite each other, their feet tangled together beneath the table. Kurt pulled his mouth away from his straw and raised an eyebrow at Blaine.

"I know what you're doing" He stated before taking another drink from the straw. Blaine's eyes darted to his lips which were sucking lightly on the plastic before looking back up to see Kurt staring at him from under his eyelashes. He was smirking and looking completely devilish.

"I could say the same about you" Blaine muttered, shifting uncomfortably as his trousers grew a little tighter. Kurt pulled away from the straw and feigned innocense.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" Kurt winked before sinking his mouth back over the straw. Seconds later Blaine felt something crawling up the inside of his leg and he instantly flushed realising it was Kurt's foot. Blaine aimed a kick at Kurt under the table successfully.

"Arsehole" He rolled his eyes as Kurt yelped in pain and started to laugh at him.

It had been a total of 8 days since Kurt had tried to take things further on the sofa of his apartment which made it roughly 2 and a half weeks since the two had met. Blaine was only slightly regretting his decision to take things slowly but only because Kurt was extremely persistant and ridiculously good looking. Whenever the two were alone, which wasn't as often as they each liked due to Kurt working late most nights and Blaine starting work early each morning, Kurt would ask if it was time to explore. Each time Kurt asked it became harder to say no but Blaine was a gentleman and although they both wanted it desperately, he wanted it to be special for their first time together and not to mention he actually wanted them to be officially boyfriends when they did it.

Blaine wasn't sure if he was waiting for Kurt or if Kurt was waiting for him, but either way it had been a while since their first kiss which should have really shown that they were interested in being together. He didn't want to ask and for it to spoil any possible plans Kurt was making to ask him so he chose to stay quiet and enjoy what they already had.

"Hello? Earth calling Blaine...is there anyone home?"

Blaine snapped out of his thoughts to find Kurt grinning at him from across the table. Blaine smiled back and took a hold of Kurt's hand which was lying next to the mostly empty milkshake glass.

"Sorry, I was thinking, what were you saying?"

"I asked if you actually want to know about my art" Kurt repeated, gripping Blaine's hand warmly.

"Of course! Tell me everything you can in the next 5 minutes you have free" Blaine said enthusiastically. He had been curious about Kurt's art from the moment he walked into the Diner with paint splattered clothes. The curiosity only grew when he discovered just how amazing he was at painting. Blaine still couldn't think of the painting of himself without blushing immensely, it was probably the biggest compliment he had ever (kind of) received.

"It's not much of a story...I guess it started when my mum died, I was only 7 and I missed her terribly so I started to draw pictures of her from memory to like, keep her in my memory I guess and I kept them under my bed so no one would find them, everyone thought I was handling it really well you see.

"My Dad found the drawings when I got a new bed and he sat me down and I had to explain how I missed her so much and he told me he missed her a lot too. It was probably the moment in time that brought us so close together. Anyway he then told me how good the drawings were and how I should stick to it and so I did"

Kurt took an intake of breath then which was a little shakey so Blaine placed his other hand on top of their already entwined hands and started to draw soothing patterns into Kurt's skin. Kurt smiled gratefully and carried on with his story.

"When I started high school I was getting bullied pretty much every day, being pushed against lockers, thrown into the bins, having slushies thrown in my face, nothing too terrible but it still wore me down I guess. And then the Big G came about-"

"The Big G?" Blaine asked, confused. Kurt laughed softly then and rolled his eyes a little.

"The Big G is something Rachel and I made up...basically it was when I realised I liked boys and if you think I'm obviously gay now then you should have seen me in high school" Kurt paused to laugh again and Blaine suddenly felt defensive.

"You're perfect" He said sincerely, his eyes slightly narrowed and Kurt's laughter softened until he was just smiling across the table at Blaine.

"High school would have been a lot better if you were there, that's for sure" Kurt mumbled and Blaine leant across the table to press a kiss to Kurt's lips. They stared at each other a little longer before Kurt grinned and broke the mutual silence.

"Anyway, so things got a lot more verbal from the bullies after the Big G but I kept my chin up and didn't let them bring me down too badly, afterall, I'm Kurt Hummel," Kurt paused to wink, "Art was an outlet for me, if something happened at school that really stressed me out or upset me then I'd grab some paint and a blank canvas or piece of paper or anything and I'd just use those emotions in my work.

"So I fell in love with creating art, including acting and singing, but when I applied for NYADA and didn't get accepted I went to NYU for art instead and here I am today with a major in art yet working in a diner"

"Hey, you say that like it's a bad thing" Blaine joked, pouting as Kurt stood up and let go of his hand. He laughed and bent down to kiss Blaine again.

"I'm very happy with where I am in life, sure I could be in a better paying job but I love this place and I love my apartment and I love the people I've met and I get all of that plus still being able to do art, nothing's holding me back" Kurt grinned and went to move back to the bar to start working again but Blaine grabbed his hand and spun him back around before he could leave.

Blaine understood what Kurt was implying with his words just like he understood that Kurt knew Blaine was avoiding a certain subject when he had asked about the art. Blaine still hadn't given Kurt an answer as to whether he would try out for the position of entertainment at the Diner. He had been thinking about it of course and it seemed almost too perfect to be true, it just terrified him to think what his father would say if he left his job to go off singing. After all the shit his father put him through, he ultimately still had power over Blaine.

Kurt's previous words implied that Blaine definitely did have something holding him back. His job. Every other aspect of Blaine's life was going good and if he were just to shake his job then things would be so much better. Sure, his father probably wouldn't talk to him ever again, but honestly was he even worth it anyway? Blaine's mother had disowned him because he liked men and his father was just an arsehole to him in general. What did Blaine really have to lose by leaving the place that made him so utterly miserable?

"Kurt," Blaine began, trying to find his next words as Kurt looked at him compassionately, "I've thought about it every day since you suggested it, I just need a little bit more time"

Kurt smiled tenderly at him and reached with his free hand to cup Blaine's cheek. Blaine leant into the touch and felt instantly soothed.

"You have one life to be happy in Blaine and if you're living it the way others want and not the way you want then what's the point of it all," Kurt stated rather than questioned, giving Blaine another smile.

"I don't want to push you into anything but I know you well enough by now Blaine, music is where you belong just as art is where I belong, we're creative stars and if we don't have outlets then we burn out"

Blaine felt his eyes stinging a bit with unwelcomed tears because he knew every word of Kurt's was true. He knew he couldn't spend his entire life wasting away in that office but how do you break away from something you've been programmed to do? Blaine had been built up for most of his life to work in the office with his father and it was all he knew. Leaving it, even if it was for something Blaine had dreamt of his entire life, would always be scary.

But maybe it was time to take risks. Maybe it was time to face scary things head on instead of running away to safety every time. Kurt had beaten all of his bullies and had gone to a great college to study the thing he loved most. He came out on top after everybody tried to break him down. Blaine wanted that...he wanted to prove to his father that he couldn't control Blaine anymore, he couldn't bully him a second longer.

"I have to go back to work, I'll phone you later" Kurt said, interrupting his thoughts. Blaine stood and gave Kurt the tightest more sincerest hug he could manage whilst also trying to put as much emotion into it as possible. In the moment that Kurt hugged back, enveloping Blaine with warmth and safety, Blaine had finally made his decision.

---

It was a few days before Blaine told Kurt he would be trying out for the placement at the Diner. He didn't really like keeping it from the other man but he needed more time to make sure his decision wasn't just a random emotional spur of the moment situation. Blaine didn't want to tell Kurt only to let him down in the long run if he decided that it wasn't going to work out. He knew Kurt desperately wanted him to take this opportunity and for completely selfless reasons which made Blaine kind of dizzy with affection.

That's not to say that Kurt wasn't excited about the two of them working together however. Infact when Blaine finally revealed his plans Kurt literally started to squeal with happiness and Rachel ran out of the kitchen where she was preparing dinner to make sure everything was okay.

"I haven't got the job yet" Blaine had laughed, tightening his arms around Kurt's waist as the other man lay back against his chest, their legs stretched out on the sofa. Kurt twisted his neck to look up at Blaine, his eyebrow raised.

"Are you serious? You're like the most talented person I know, B" Kurt grinned, leaning up to press a chaste kiss to his lips.

Nicknames were a new thing in their developing relationship although Blaine hadn't yet found an appropriate one for Kurt other than 'Walking Orgasm' which Kurt had found highly amusing but deemed inappropriate for public use.

"There's no doubt in my mind that you'll get the job,"

"Me neither!" Rachel shouted from the kitchen causing the two boys to roll their eyes at her eavesdropping. Blaine called back a thanks to her.

"I do have to ask though..." Kurt added, his voice timid. Blaine leant forward to press a kiss to the side of his neck.

"What?"

"You're not doing this for me are you? Because if for some crazy reason the job makes you sad I don't want to be the cause of something coming between us you know and-"

Blaine stopped Kurt's ranting by turning his head around by his chin and kissing him deeply. Kurt made a noise of surprise, his hands clutching at Blaine's arm around his stomach before he settled into the kiss. Blaine grinned against Kurt's lips because he couldn't for one second fathom how he managed to get someone so incredible in every way.

"I'm doing this for me," Blaine whispered when he eventually pulled away, "I just wouldn't have even considered doing something for myself if you didn't believe in me"

"I'll always believe in you, you just wait until your audition...I'm making 'Go Blaine' signs"

---

Two evenings later found Blaine sitting nervously on his usual stool whilst Kurt gave him a pep talk. The plan was that three different people were going to try out for the spot of evening entertainment and then the crowd would vote for who they liked most and who they would like to hear each evening. The votes would be measured in the loudest amount of cheering whilst the manager read through each of their names at the end of the evening. Blaine was on last and he wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Kurt was trying to reassure him that being last meant that he was the freshest in the audiences memories and he could close the show with a bang which would win people over.

"Not that you'd need to do that to win people over anyway" He added as he mixed martinis for the two women sat next to Blaine, one of which was eyeing him appreciatively. Kurt didn't fail to notice and had to suppress the urge to squirt washing up liquid into her drink whilst Blaine just rolled his eyes and grinned sheepishly.

The second person performing finished off her three song set and was met to an even better response than the young man who had gone first. The butterflies in Blaine's stomach fluttered obnoxiously as he downed the rest of his drink (vodka and coke, for the nerves) and stood up on shakey legs. Kurt pressed a good luck kiss to his forehead and smiled brightly at him and in all honesty it did make Blaine feel a little better.

He went to stand on stage, picking up the guitar and beginning to check it was in tune mostly so he didn't have to look at the crowd just yet. The guitar was as ready to go as it would ever be and Blaine knew he was stalling for time, his throat feeling tight and his stomach swooping uncomfortably. He couldn't do this, he wasn't good enough, what if he forgot the words or how to play or he died or-

"Hey, Blaine?"

Blaine looked down to the source of the noise and found Kurt standing at the edge of the stage, grinning up at him. He beckoned Blaine to lean forward whilst the Diner carried on as normal, eating and talking amongst themselves. Blaine hadn't noticed Kurt leave his position behind the bar but he was glad because just looking at Kurt's face settled his nerves slightly. He leant forward, expecting Kurt to give him a kiss but was surprised when Kurt put his lips to his ear. The warmth of Kurt's breath mixed with his words caused a shiver to run straight down Blaine's spine.

"I'd like to be your boyfriend...if that's okay with you?"

Blaine pulled back and he was pretty sure his mouth was hanging open in surprise but he couldn't bring himself to care how unattractive it must be. Not when Kurt had just made him feel utterly invincible with his words yet he stood there looking completely unsure as to whether Blaine would say yes or not. As if it was even a question.

"Oh Kurt...that is more than okay with me, in fact it's perfect, you're perfect" Blaine said breathlessly, reaching out a hand and cupping Kurt's cheek, stroking his thumb over the cheekbone. Kurt's eyes lit up brightly, a grin splitting across his features and he rolled his eyes fondly.

"Well, now that's settled...break a leg" Kurt winked, taking Blaine's hand and kissing the palm before walking back to the bar.

Blaine wanted to sit and process exactly what had just happened but he was too busy feeling insanely confident that everything was going to be fine and he didn't want to waste it. He stepped up to the microphone and introduced himself. The majority of the audience turned their attention to him as he started to strum the intro to the first song he would be playing, his heart swollen with happiness and joy as he realised that once again Kurt was right, he was born to play music.

Both of Blaine's first songs went flawlessly and Blaine could feel the adrenaline racing through his veins, making them hum with excitement. Mostly every pair of eyes in the Diner were watching him which would usually have unsettled him but he was too busy looking at Kurt to pay them much attention. Kurt had been focused intently on something on the bar for the first two songs but was now watching Blaine who was feeling high off the exhilaration of performing.

Kurt was smiling so confidently at Blaine, giving him two thumbs up and winking in an over-exaggerated manor which made Blaine laugh brightly. He didn't take his eyes off of Kurt when he plucked at the strings of the guitar, leading into the next song. He knew the song wasn't something you'd hear in a 50's style diner but the manager had told all three acts that they were welcome to play any type of music and Blaine just knew he had to sing this song. It was exactly how he felt about Kurt and he wanted to show him that.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun,

and I say it's all right...

Blaine licked his lips and continued to gaze at Kurt, putting as much emotion into his voice and his face so that Kurt knew the song was for him, that everything was for him now.

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter

Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here

Blaine's life was so miserable before Kurt. He was wasting away in unhappiness and lonliness with no one understanding him until Kurt brought the sunshine back into his life. He gave Blaine a reason to feel things other than sadness and anger. He brought happiness, warmth and safety to a life which was sorely lacking.

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here

For so long Blaine's only reason to smile were his four friends who lived so far away. Between his father hating him, his mother rejecting him and Blaine having nobody in close range to comfort him, he had no reason to smile at all. Until Kurt.

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting

Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear

Blaine could see the tears that had filled up in Kurt's eyes and he wanted to wrap the man up in his arms forever so that nothing would make him cry again. But he knew they were happy tears reacting to the song because Blaine was having the same reaction. He liked to think that he brought his own bout of sunshine to Kurt's life also, even if the sun was already shining there mostly. Blaine liked thinking that he had an impact on something because he had never felt that in his life before, he always just felt like a nuisance. But there Kurt was, crying happily at a song Blaine was singing directly to him about how he brought joy to Blaine's life and he was pretty certain Kurt wouldn't be doing that if he saw Blaine as a nuisance.

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun

It's all right, it's all right.

---

The feeling when Blaine's name was met to the loudest amount of cheers from the Diner was totally ineffable. To know that those people actually enjoyed his performance enough that they wanted him to play every night was just completely crazy to Blaine who had never been praised so greatly before in his life, especially for something like music which was deemed pointless in his house hold whilst growing up. He couldn't help the few tears that escaped his eyes when he shook the hand of the manager who smiled warmly at him and welcomed him to the Diner. Blaine knew that he had to tell his father at some point and that it wouldn't go very well, but until then he was going to enjoy every second of his victory.

Kurt pulled him aside once he had finished talking to Matt, the manager. He instantly threw his arms around Blaine's neck and hugged him tightly, surrounding Blaine with his warmth and comfort.

"That was incredible Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed when he pulled away, keeping his hands on either side of Blaine's neck. Blaine squeezed Kurt's waist affectionately and felt himself blush.

"Thank you...and thank you for encouraging me to do this," Blaine sighed happily before adding shakily, "A-and thank you for wanting to be my boyfriend"

Kurt smiled shyly and leant forward to kiss Blaine's cheek and nuzzle it slightly. Blaine sighed again, feeling weightless with elation.

"So...I have something for you and I think it will reassure you that this is the best thing you've ever done for yourself"

With that, Kurt pulled out a piece of cartridge paper which appeared to have been ripped out of his sketchbook. He handed it to Blaine who raised an eyebrow at Kurt before turning the paper over in his hands and being met once again with a picture of himself that had been created with Kurt's talent.

It was a rough sketch, which Blaine now realised Kurt must have done during his first two songs, of Blaine standing up on stage with the guitar in his hands. It was incredible of course, even for a quick sketch, but what captured Blaine's attention most was the drawn version of his face. He looked so undeniably happy to be up there on the stage and somehow Kurt had managed to capture the atmosphere in his drawing because just by looking at it, Blaine felt the same rush of sanctuary as he did when he was up there playing.

"K-Kurt," Blaine choked out, glancing up at his boyfriend who looked nervous.

"It's not great or anything, it was only quick but I wanted you to see just how much you belong on the stage with a guitar and microphone and I didn't think I'd be able to capture that with a photo-" Blaine cut his babbling off with a kiss, holding the drawing out of the way so that it wouldn't get crushed between them. They kissed deeply for a while and Blaine couldn't find it in him to close his eyes, not when Kurt was so perfect and real and right in front of him, changing his life for the better.

---

The two men left the Diner together that night and they walked down the street hand in hand. Blaine still had a bounce in his step from the evening's events and he could hardly believe that he, Blaine Anderson, was finally going to be working his dream job alongside his dream boyfriend. Everything was perfect and nothing could possibly bring him down from his high.

"You really were amazing tonight, I was so proud to be with you," Kurt smiled shyly after a minute of comfortable silence. Blaine's stomach did a somersault at the word 'proud' because that was all Blaine ever wanted in life, for someone to be proud of him.

"Y-you were?" Blaine asked, his voice thick with emotion as his throat closed up. Kurt nodded and squeezed his hand softly.

"You've made me the happiest person in the world tonight, B" Kurt added, grinning down at Blaine and even under the dark night's sky Blaine could see the blush painting his cheeks. He stopped in the middle of the pavement and tugged at Kurt's hand slightly to make him stop also. He turned to face Blaine looking slightly confused.

"I...-" Blaine stopped and cleared his throat slightly, anticipation flooding his body, "Rach is in Lima today isn't she?"

"Yeah, she said she had a dinner date with her dads but to be honest, I think she's hooking up with Finn again and-"

"I think we should go back to yours"

Blaine searched Kurt's eyes, waiting for him to understand the message he was trying to convey. The evening had been so perfect and now that the two were in an established relationship...Blaine wanted to explore his gorgeous boyfriend and put the cherry on top of a perfect cupcake evening so to speak.

Kurt's eyes were shining brightly in the moonlight and he leant over to kiss Blaine, their lips pressing together delicately.

"Okay" Kurt whispered as he pulled away and rested his forehead against Blaine's. They continued to look at each other for a few more seconds as it sunk in that this was real, they were together and they were going to give themselves to each other. Mutually they pulled away and carried on to Kurt's apartment in silence, the exultant atmosphere speaking enough for them.