“You do?”

Kurt pursed his lips, trying to work out how best to tell Blaine at least a small portion of what he felt. Slowly, he nodded.

“Blaine, I... I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character. My father, Burt, is amazing at being able to tell what kind of person someone is just by talking to them for a short amount of time. I’ve lived with him for so long I guess it rubbed off on me. You spend a lot of time with your father when your mother passes away and you have no friends.”

“I’m so sorry,” Blaine murmured, his eyes locking with Kurt’s.

Kurt smiled faintly, “It doesn’t really bother me that I didn’t really have any friends. I’ve got Tina now, and I like to think we’re...sort of...y’know” Kurt trailed off, looking down.

Blaine froze; all thoughts of Kurt’s lonely childhood completely banished from his mind. Kurt wanted to be his friend? Kurt who he’d barely known for a few hours, yet Blaine still had a silly little crush on? Blaine who would probably be dead in less than a month?

Thoughts flitted through Blaine’s brain; his train of thought quickly winding its way to wonder what might happen if Kurt reciprocated his feelings. Which was a completely ridiculous thing to think about, or so Blaine had been repeatedly telling himself since he first saw the blue-eyed boy.

Blaine closed his eyes, smiling faintly at the idea of finally having a friend. He’d only have Kurt for a short while, but he figured that anything was better than no time at all. At least he could die having had romantic feelings towards someone, even if they weren’t reciprocated. It was nice to have the feeling of something other than misery coursing through his veins.

Kurt gazed at Blaine, who seemed to be lost in his own thoughts. He let out a barely audible sigh as Blaine’s beautiful hazel eyes flickered closed, those long lashes resting against the top of his cheeks.

Blaine was gorgeous. In all of Kurt’s time in the Capitol, which, granted, was only a few years, he’d never met anyone as incredible as Blaine, both in looks and personality. Kurt was concerned with how certain the boy was that he was going to die, but at the same time he knew he would do the same. It must be easier to face the Games this way, Kurt decided, consoling yourself with the fact that you didn’t have long, rather than having to think about people you’d be leaving behind.

Kurt shuddered at the thought of leaving Burt. Sure, his father would still have Carole and Finn, Kurt’s step-mother and brother, but Kurt already knew what his father had gone through losing his first wife, Kurt’s mother.

Surely losing a child couldn’t be any easier.

Kurt glanced at Blaine’s face; sighing sadly at the way the soft, yet still present, creases lined his forehead, something tragic to behold on someone so young. Kurt couldn’t help but wonder what Blaine had gone through.

The thought of a world without Blaine filled Kurt with some weird emotion he couldn’t quite place. He hadn’t known Blaine for long, but he felt like there was something there; it was almost tangible. His chest seemed to ache at the prospect of Blaine dying in the arena, of being subjected to the trials of the Games.

Kurt wasn’t usually impulsive, and he honestly had no clue what was rushing through his mind as he leaned slightly closer to Blaine, hands still loosely clutching at the hem of Blaine’s shirt. He realised with a slight blush that Blaine was still wearing nothing other than his shirt and underwear, but his main focus was the sombre thought that Blaine wasn’t going to be in his company for very much longer. Kurt was sick of living by rules, sick of being confined to what the Capitol told him he was and was not permitted to do with the Tributes. Hell, if word of what he was about to do made it to public knowledge, he’d happily enter the Games Arena as penance. It wouldn’t be punishment, merely Kurt being able to spend more time with Blaine before what Blaine considered to be his inevitable death.

Kurt was scared of what he was about to do. Terrified, even. He never did this kind of thing. Hell, Blaine would probably slap him away, glare at him, run out of the room. He didn’t care anymore. Taking a deep breath, Kurt leant forward.

The feeling of a soft pair of lips on his own caused Blaine to gasp, eyes flying open. Kurt was... kissing him? His stomach seemed to swoop, and his brain felt like it had turned to mush. Kurt stepped back abruptly, hand flying to his mouth, and Blaine’s heart sunk in his chest. It was over so soon?

“I’m so sorry Blaine, I-”

Blaine placed a finger over Kurt’s lips, his mouth twitching upwards at the corners.

“Kurt. Why did you kiss me?” Blaine’s eyes were alight, but he couldn’t help the feeling that maybe he’d imagined it. Maybe Kurt had overbalanced and landed on his face?
Kurt flushed a deep red, taking a deep breath to steady his nerves.

“Blaine, I’m... well, I’m... you’re very attractive!” He burst out, crimson cheeks flaming, averting Blaine’s gaze.
Blaine felt giddy. Kurt thought he was attractive? He was attracted to Blaine? He didn’t find him repulsive or a waste of time like so many others had? Blaine felt light-headed at the thought. He beamed at Kurt, taking a steadying breath.

“Well, you’re not so bad yourself.”

Kurt flushed scarlet, eyes ducking to the ground as he muttered something.

“What was that?” Blaine asked, tilting Kurt’s head up gently with his index finger.

“I said thank you, but not really.”

Blaine’s eyes searched Kurt’s, “How can you not see yourself as how beautiful you are? You’re gorgeous Kurt, hell, do you know how hard it’s been to contain myself these last few hours since I first met you? God…”

Kurt’s blush did nothing if not deepen, and Blaine paled upon the realisation of what he’d just said.

“You thought I was attractive as soon as you saw me?”

Blaine chuckled, “Of course I did. I got a bit worried when I saw how much of a wonderful person you really are. I know it hasn’t been long Kurt, I know it’s ridiculous, and that I’ll probably be dead soon-”

“Don’t say that,” Kurt interjected, eyes wide and teary.

“Regardless, I know this is a really foolish thing to say but... IthinkI’mfallingforyou.”

“Sorry, I missed that,” Kurt admitted, eyes still awash with concern.

“I think… I think I’m falling for, uh… you.”

There. He’d said it. No longer was Blaine the reserved, meek, self-conscious boy from District 12. He felt so liberated at his admittance, yet still a little worried at what Kurt would have to say.

He didn’t have much of a chance to think about that, however, as Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine’s neck, pulling him in for a much more intense kiss.

Blaine’s eyes fluttered shut, giving himself over completely to the feeling of Kurt enveloping him in his embrace. It had been so long since anyone had made such a gesture towards him, other than Santana, but Blaine figured those were as much for her as they were for him.
Kurt’s tongue darted softly across Blaine’s lower lip, and Blaine opened his mouth slightly to allow Kurt in. Well this was… definitely new.

Blaine had never been kissed. He’d often wondered what it was like, wondered if he’d ever get to have the experience or if he was destined to be alone forever. That wasn’t the case anymore, however ‘forever’ didn’t seem to be a very long time to Blaine anymore. A few weeks at most.

Blaine pulled away hurriedly, regretting it as soon as he saw the look on Kurt’s face.

“I’m sorry Kurt, I just… I don’t know how to feel, knowing that whatever this,” he gestured between them, “is, it’s not going to last much longer. I’m going to die soon, Kurt, and I really, really like you, but I don’t want to think of you being sad when that cannon goes off. When my name is screened in the sky. When my body is hauled off, taken God-knows-where. The thought of you upset drives me insane. You’re too good a person to be put through any of that.”

Kurt stared at Blaine, mouth slightly agape as tears rolled down his cheeks.

“You really don’t have much belief in yourself, do you?”
Blaine sighed, rubbing at his eyes, “It’s hard to when I know I’m some runty kid from District 12. I have no skills, I don’t know how the hell I’m going to defend myself. I won’t last.”

Kurt pulled Blaine in for a hug, “Blaine, I really like you, let’s just see what happens. At the moment, I think we need each other.”

Blaine tried to be reluctant as he wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist, instead breathing in the welcoming scent of jasmine. Kurt chuckled as Blaine almost purred when Kurt ran his fingers gently through Blaine’s short curls, resting his hands so that they cupped the back of Blaine’s neck.

“Kurt, I just…” Kurt placed a finger softly to Blaine’s lips, effectively silencing the boy. He glanced to his wrist quickly, studying the time.

“Shoot, you’ve got to be ready to head down to the parade soon. Let’s get you dressed.”

Blaine chuckled, “Yeah, I don’t think a black shirt and boxer briefs would be the best outfit for the tribute parade.”

“Blaine, it’s not black, it’s obsidian. Darker than black.”

Blaine fought to hide a smile, rather unsuccessfully, “Okay, an obsidian shirt and boxer briefs then.”

Kurt giggled, “I’d rather see you in them than the male tribute from District 2.”

Blaine snorted at that, knowing that when he saw the tribute he wouldn’t be able to help but envision him as thus.

“I can’t wait to see how much everyone loves this suit, Kurt. It’s incredible. You’re amazing.”

Being brave, or acting on impulse, Blaine wasn’t too sure; he leant in and pressed a quick kiss to Kurt’s lips, taking the other boy by surprise.

“This feels nice,” Kurt hummed, tilting his head and deepening the kiss, before remembering that he was, first and foremost, Blaine’s stylist. He pulled back, biting down on his lip as he eyed Blaine.

“We should stop making out and actually get you ready to take the Capitol by storm,” Kurt muttered, turning away to pull Blaine’s suit pants from the bag.

He undid the zipper and button, holding them out for Blaine to step into. Blaine’s hands came to rest on Kurt’s shoulders, maintaining his balance as he slipped the pants on, tucking in his shirt before fumbling with the zip and button.

“Oh Blaine, they fit you perfectly,” Kurt breathed, especially pleased with the way the material seemed to fall in all the right ways.

Blaine beamed at Kurt, “See, you’re amazing!” He exclaimed, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet.
“Can I put the jacket on now?” Blaine whined, eyeing the crisp looking suit jacket with sheer desire written all over his face.

“I guess that would be okay,” Kurt said simply, trying to fight the broad grin that was now plastered to his face, “And then I guess it’s time to meet up with Santana and Tina and get to the parade preparation.”

“Where we’re going to kick ass!” Blaine crowed, his spirits significantly lifted in comparison to how he’d been feeling less than ten hours ago.

Kurt smiled at Blaine’s energy. Maybe if he had this much passion in the Arena, he could survive. Kurt could only hope.

He turned to Blaine, eyes alight, “Let’s hope so.”