Kurt hesitated by the doorway, glancing from Blaine to the only other occupant in the room. The student, Kurt recognized him as one of Coach Bieste's assistants, acknowledged him with a nod before returning his attention to the weight machine before him.

"You've been spending a lot of time in here," Kurt commented quietly. Blaine spared a quick glance over his shoulder before aiming a series of punches at the bag.

Kurt watched Blaine continue to focus on the punching bag, listening as the other boy's breathing grew more ragged and his punches intensified. Kurt took a few tentative steps into the room when Blaine paused, taking a deep breath and shifting his stance.

"I'm sorry," Kurt injected.

Blaine swung around, dropping his hands and asking breathlessly, "Why?" Kurt shrugged and took a couple more steps.

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have too," Blaine let out on a sigh, shaking his head.

"I should have," Kurt countered. "I know Finn's been treating you badly. I should have said something a while ago." Blaine turned his gaze away, his fingers clenching and flexing. Kurt closed the distance between them, wanting to kiss away the tension in the other boy but not knowing if that was what Blaine wanted. So, instead, he waited for Blaine to look back up.

"I just," Blaine started, sparing a glance at Kurt and letting out a huff. "I spent so long not being heard," he continued quietly, "and I don't want to go back to that."

Kurt offered an understanding smile, knowing the deeper meaning. I don't want to go back to being ignored, to feeling worthless.

"And Sebastian," Blaine spat out, his fingers clenched again. "He keeps inviting me to fancy restaurants and making innuendos." Blaine's eyes, holding such anger a moment ago, now turned sad. "Why won't he listen when I tell him I'm not interested?"

"That's his problem," Kurt stated firmly. "You love me," he affirmed.

"I do." Blaine's lips quirked into a small smile.

"And I love you," Kurt supplied sincerely as he reached for the other boy, running fingers along Blaine's to ease the tension there.

"Thank God for that," Blaine teased.

"You can just call me 'Kurt'," Kurt snarked back. Blaine chuckled, dropping his head. Kurt let out a laugh before sobering. "You going to be okay?" Blaine glanced back at the still swaying punching bag and squeezed Kurt's fingers.

"I think I need a few more minutes."

"Okay." Kurt offered a smile. "I'll be in the choir room." Blaine nodded and Kurt let go of the other boy's hands. Kurt spared a last glance back, seeing Blaine take a deep breath and crouch into his stance.

...

"Kurt!" Finn called out as he ran up to his stepbrother. Kurt hastened down the hall, not wanting Blaine to hear Finn in case it only fueled his anger further.

"Shouldn't you be practicing Sam's body roll?" Kurt shot viciously at the taller teenager, effectively halting Finn's movement.

"What did I do now?"

Kurt rolled his eyes at Finn's obliviousness. He grabbed the other boy's arm and pulled him down the hallway, ignoring Finn's protests.

"I just wanted to see if Blaine was okay."

"So now you're concerned?" Kurt rounded on Finn, glaring at him.

"What the hell, dude?"

"Don't call me 'dude,' and to answer your question, Blaine's not okay." Finn had the decency to look concerned, but it only increased Kurt's annoyance. Kurt narrowed his eyes at his stepbrother. "Why have you been shooting down all his ideas in glee club, cutting him off all the time?"

Finn opened his mouth, but remained silent. He glanced down the hall before looking back at Kurt's intense stare.

"I don't know," he finally let out.

"I'm pretty sure you do," Kurt countered.

"I don't," Finn refuted weakly.

"Really?" Kurt pushed. "Because you had no problem with him hanging out with us over the summer, playing video games for hours on end or watching whatever game had you glued to the television."

Finn was quiet after that, looking upset, and Kurt sighed.

"Can you just be nice?" Kurt winced at the pleading he heard in his tone. "You know he came here for me, and it's been hard for him. He loves to sing and dance. It makes him happy. Don't take that away from him."

Finn took a moment to reply, "Maybe I should go talk to him. Is he still here?"

"I don't think that's a good idea," Kurt replied, his voice stern again.

"I should fix this. Where is he?"

"Finn, not now."

"Sectionals is this week. We don't have time for this." When Kurt glared at him again, Finn hurried to clarify, "We don't have time for my screw-ups."

The two boys stared at each other, waging a silent battle of wills. Finally, Kurt relented. He waved vaguely toward the weight room, taking a deep breath and hoping he was doing the right thing as he watched Finn hurry down the hall.

...

"You're too nice," Kurt whispered against Blaine's ear. Startled, Blaine quickly turned, pulling the towel away from his wet hair. Kurt stepped back, smirk firmly in place.

"What are you doing in here?" Blaine asked, dropping the towel on the bench and reaching into his bag for his sweater. "You hate the locker room."

"I do," Kurt acknowledged. "You're too nice," Kurt repeated.

"What?"

"You forgave Finn. I would have made him suffer a bit. Maybe made him grovel," Kurt said playfully. Blaine looked back up at the other boy, finally returning a smile. "Finn told me," Kurt added. "Everyone's waiting for us in the auditorium."

"I should apologize to Sam," Blaine offered as he tugged his sweater over his head.

"He's fine," Kurt said with a shrug.

"Still, I feel bad," Blaine countered, grabbing a comb and a bottle of gel from his bag. Kurt grabbed Blaine's wrists before he could make his way to the mirrors. Mischief flashed in Kurt's eyes as he invaded Blaine's personal space.

"I love that about you." Blaine's eyes widened as Kurt leaned in, pressing a kiss to Blaine's lips.

"Kurt, we're in the locker room," Blaine pointed out breathlessly when the other boy pulled away.

"No one else is here," Kurt reasoned, leaning back in.

"Kurt," Blaine protested weakly as Kurt kissed his jaw.

"No homophobes coming in." Kurt trailed kisses down Blaine's neck, eliciting a soft moan.

"How do you know?" Blaine whispered roughly when Kurt's lips retreated to his jaw.

"I'm God, remember? I know everything," Kurt teased, looking into Blaine's eyes, a smile tugging at his lips. "And Puck might be outside keeping it that way."

"Really?" Blaine's eyes brightened and Kurt could not stifle his laugh. "You're so naughty," Blaine said, voice low.

"That's to balance out your niceness," Kurt teased, "because-." He was silenced when Blaine, having dropped his gel and comb, cupped Kurt's face and tugged him into a deep kiss. Lips parted simultaneously, tongues slipping against each other. Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine, pressing their bodies together and causing both boys to whimper.

"As happy as I am that you're getting it on, Coach Bieste is coming down the hall," Puck's voice rang out. The boys pulled away quickly, Kurt rolling his eyes at the smirking teenager leaning around the bank of lockers while Blaine hid his face against Kurt's shoulder.

"Thanks, Puck. We'll be out in a minute," Kurt said, halting Blaine's efforts to retrieve his comb and gel. Blaine looked at the other boy questioningly. Kurt smiled, running his fingers slowly through Blaine's still damp curls. Blaine's eyes slid shut, letting out a contented sigh. Kurt leant his forehead against the other boy's.

"We should get back to practice," Blaine said a moment later, eyes blinking open. Kurt raised an eyebrow at him, barely suppressing his grin.

"Do I even need to say it?" Kurt asked. Blaine's perplexed expression elicited an amused huff from Kurt, who gave the other boy an innocent look before whispering, "I thought we were."

Blaine blushed at the memory, ducking his head. Kurt chuckled, pressed a quick kiss to Blaine's cheek, and pulled away. Blaine hastily shoved everything into his bag, smiling to himself at the unused gel, and zipped it closed. Bag in hand, he reached for Kurt just as Coach Bieste came around the corner.

"Hey, boys," she greeted. Glancing at their entwined hands, she offered them a soft smile. "That explains Puck's ridiculous scheme to have Artie outfitted with an electric wheelchair for the next game."

Blaine and Kurt shared an amused look, before Kurt spoke, "Sorry about that."

Coach Bieste waved off the apology, asking, "Shouldn't you be practicing for Sectionals?" The boys both nodded in response. "Off you go then."

"Thanks, coach," Kurt said with a smile, tugging Blaine out of the locker room. Coach Bieste gazed wistfully at their retreating forms, but could not resist smiling at the youthful laughter that echoed behind them before the door closed.