9.

Teya was reading a book about spirits, already feeling a little uneasy all by herself when suddenly the door flew open and Kurt came bolting in. He kicked the door closed and turned around, a big grin plastered on his face. He then lunged and jumped, landing on top of her and pulling her into a tight hug, her book squeezed painfully between their bodies.

“I’m so, so sorry for being such a bitch.” he mumbled into her neck. “Please, please, please don’t be mad at me anymore. I was a pain in the ass and an angry snappy queen and I let it all out on you. I’m so sorry.” he raised his head and looked at her. “You can punch me if you want to. I totally deserve it.” he closed his eyes in expectation, but immediately opened them again remembering something.

He sat up quickly. “Oh wait no. You can punch me tomorrow okay? I just. Not tonight. Or at least not the face. I need that face tonight. I have a date.” he couldn’t stop himself from bouncing up and down on her bed a little at that last confession. He was grinning once again at his confused roommate who moved to sit next to him.

She smiled and took his hand. “It’s fine, Kurt. I forgive you. I can’t be mad at people for very long. Something was obviously bothering you and I’m just glad to see you happy again.”

He reached out again and pulled her into another hug.

“Thank you. You’re the sweetest.” he mumbled.

Teya, suddenly remembering his words from a few seconds ago, pulled back to properly look at him again. “So. Wait. Did you just say you had a date?”

Kurt excitedly nodded in response. His face light up with his nose getting all scrunchy and his eyes shining in the most adorable expression she had ever seen on him.

“With the love of my life, actually.” he added looking down and removing some invisible dust from his pants.

“Wow, that’s amazing.” she answered.

“Yes. It’s a lot to handle, actually.” he sighed. “I mean in a good way. But still.” he got up and moved back to his own bed.

She left him to his thoughts as she picked up her book again.

And a lot it was indeed. Kurt spent the entire day nervously pacing the room or trying on different outfits. All of them looked dashing, as Teya repeatedly confirmed from the other side of the room, which didn’t stop Kurt from changing every 10 minutes.

Sometimes he stopped in his tracks and sat down trying to plan parts of the conversation ahead or panicking over whether Blaine even still saw the things in him that he fell in love with.

A few minutes later he stopped sulking and just decided to take everything as it was and to be happy about it. That led to him checking the time over and over or just sitting on his bed shifting around nervously.

After a long day it was finally 8 o’clock and he found himself buzzing with excitement in front of a small Italian restaurant in midtown. Only seconds after he arrived, a cab pulled up and Blaine jumped out of it smiling brightly. He wore black pants that didn’t cover his ankles, showing off his dandy shoes and a blue shirt with the top two buttons opened and the sleeves rolled up. He was radiant with joy when he stepped in front of Kurt to pull him into a quick hug. That all too familiar smell hitting Kurt and making him melt into the embrace a little.

“I’m so happy we’re doing this.” he whispered into Kurt’s ear and pulled back. “You look amazing.”

Kurt started blushing, looking down on his own skinny jeans and dress shirt combo.

He was still not over how attractive Blaine was with his lightly tanned skin and his hair just a little gelled down. That small watch he was wearing on his wrist making his arms look so masculine and his hands so elegant at the same time. He had no idea how that guy didn’t have men and women lining up to be with him.

Blaine placed his hand on the small of Kurt’s back and led him inside. After exchanging a few words in Italian with the owner, which left Kurt amazed and a little aroused at the same time, they were seated at a table in the back of the restaurant.

As soon as they were seated, Blaine placed his hand on the table with his palm up and waited for Kurt to slide his own into his.

“I know I said it already, but you look absolutely breathtaking.” he said looking directly into Kurt’s eyes and making him feel all warm.

“So do you.” Kurt said. “I have no idea how I landed a date with someone like you when there’s probably lots of people very eager to be on your dance card.” he smiled shyly and looked down, fidgeting with the napkin on his lap.

“Hey, no.” Blaine squeezed his hand lightly. “There’s a reason why I don’t date much. Kurt? Look at me.” the other man slowly raised his eyes again.

“I only ever wanted to be with you.”

Kurt almost teared up at that, laughing nervously and looking back with all the adoration he had for Blaine.

“I tried dating, I really did.” he continued. “But no one ever lived up to my standards. And those were set pretty high by a certain blue eyed boy back when I was 17” he winked at Kurt who blushed again and hid his face behind the menu.

The old Italian owner of the restaurant soon wandered over with a small dirty notebook and took their orders.

“I really love this place.” Blaine said. “I found it when my parents came to visit my first Christmas holidays.”

“Oh you didn’t go back to Lima?” Kurt asked surprised. He had stopped going back only a year after he had got there, for different reasons though.

“Yes. I didn’t want to go right back after I had only got there a few months before. I had a really hard time at first, I got homesick a lot.”

“Oh I’m sorry. Kurt answered. I’m sorry I wasn’t there, he thought.

“Yeah so they got here and took me out for dinner to this place. A friend of my dad’s had recommended it. We immediately loved it but I did feel a little stupid. I mean, I was supposed to be the local showing them places. “ He laughed and shrugged. “But it was okay, I guess. I mean the pasta is fantastic, so it was worth it.”

When their meals arrived and they started eating Kurt was able to confirm that. Blaine had fallen silent and it looked like he was thinking something over.

“Oh, just spill it out already” Kurt said and took a sip of wine.

Blaine put down his fork and stared at his plate. “I just have… a couple of questions, you know.” Kurt started panicking.

Questions about what? His ‘condition’? Was he going to question him about his vagina and how it was going to affect their relationship?

He panicked even more, since he didn’t have an answer to any of those questions and probably knew as much about his genitals as Blaine.

His face turned a deep shade of red and he coughed. “Blaine, I.. I really don’t think this is the time and place to discuss these … kinds… of things.” he stammered.

Blaine looked at him dumbstruck until it finally clicked and he blushed himself.

“Oh my god. No. Kurt. That’s not what I meant. Oh god. I’m sorry. I would never. Oh god. I just wanted to ask about what you really did the last few years. You know, since you obviously lied to me the last time I asked you.”

Kurt visibly exhaled and picked up his fork again to continue eating.

“Oh.” he cleared his throat. “Oh well, okay. Go ahead then.”

Blaine, still looking a bit mortified, picked up his glass and took a long sip.

“So when you went back to McKinley, did you quit glee club? I had hoped to see you at the competitions but you were never there. I wasn’t sure if you had fallen ill or if you were hiding…”

“No. I did quit glee, soon after I returned.” Kurt said calmly. “I just didn’t feel like singing anymore and the whole group just kept getting on my nerves.”

Blaine nodded in understanding.

“I was at the competitions though.” Kurt silently admitted. “I went to see you perform.”

Blaine smiled and took his hand again when their plates were removed. “You did? I never saw you.”

“Well, I hated myself for it and I hid in the back of the audience. I don’t even know why I went, something pulled me, I guess.” he squeezed Blaine’s hand and smiled at him. “And I have to admit that I was secretly happy when you guys beat the New Directions at Regionals. But don’t ever tell Rachel that.”

Blaine laughed at that sitting back in his chair looking very relaxed.

“So you still talk to Rachel then?”

Kurt wrinkled his forehead. “No. I don’t, actually. I don’t know why I just said that. Old habit, I guess.” he sighed. “I don’t talk to any of them anymore. But we already stopped being friends in high school. It was entirely my fault though. I just pushed them all away.”

When he looked up again, he caught Blaine staring at him with sad eyes.

He immediately seemed to pull himself out of it. The check came and Kurt snatched it away, which made Blaine giggle.

“I’m paying for dinner, you don’t have a chance, Blaine ex-Warbler Anderson.” he said and pulled out his wallet.

“Oh really. Well I’ll get you back next time then.” Blaine winked at him, which made Kurt struggle to get the right amount of money out.

Blaine laughed and added “Well aren’t you the perfect boyfriend.”

The waiter walked away and Kurt froze in place, staring at the table cloth.

Blaine studied him in confusion until it dawned on him what he just said.

“Oh. I’m sorry. I didn’t want to imply. That you’re… that we’re. I’m sorry.” he stammered.

“It’s okay.” Kurt answered. “I really don’t mind. It means a lot, that you would even consider.. you know..”

“Hey, no.” Blaine reached for him again. “I want to do this properly. This is too precious to me to screw up and I think we’ve had enough of a build up.” he took a deep breath and looked at Kurt. “So Kurt Hummel would you be my boyfriend.”

Kurt took a deep breath trying to calm his nerves “Yes, of course.” he breathed.

 “I’m sorry it took me so long to get that out.”

They left the restaurant and walked up a few blocks on Broadway until they got to 5th.

Blaine suddenly stopped and let go of Kurt’s hand, clapping in excitement. “Oh, Kurt let’s go up the Empire State. It’s still open and nobody is going to be there.”

Kurt frowned. “What about the tourists though?”

“There won’t be any, it’s almost closing time.” he grabbed Kurt’s hand and pulled him along. Sure enough, they got to the platform in a few minutes, walking by the abandoned barriers that were filled with frustrated people waiting during the day.

They stepped outside, the cool air hitting them as they walked to the edge to look down on the lights of the city. Blaine stood behind Kurt, his chin lightly placed on his shoulder.

“I’m so sad we didn’t get to do all these touristy things together when we first got here.” Kurt sighed watching the small cars wind through the streets like blinking gold dust. “I just wish we could’ve been together when we got here, exploring everything.”

Blaine nudged him to turn around.

“Don’t think of it like that, Kurt.” Blaine fell silent again, suddenly grinning to himself.

“What?” Kurt asked not being able to keep himself from smiling back.

“No regrets.” Blaine giggled. “Just…”

“Oh don’t you dare Blaine Anderson. That’s entirely too cheesy, even for you.” they both giggled and Kurt threw his arms around Blaine’s neck.

“We got together in the end, and that’s all that counts.” Blaine said calmly.

Kurt let out a sigh and pulled him closer. “Thanks for finding me” he whispered into Blaine’s ear. Blaine loosened their embrace and cupped Kurt’s cheek with his palm, pressing his warm lips against Kurt’s.

He pulled away and looked at Kurt’s face light by the cities lights. He still had those angry dark shadows under his eyes and Blaine could feel his bones through his shirt. He felt the sudden urge to protect him, to hold him and never let him out of his sight again.

They were interrupted by a guard telling them that the platform was closing for today and that they needed to take the last elevator down.

When they were standing on the streets again, Blaine hailed a taxi for both of them.

“Kurt, I was wondering if you are free next weekend.” he asked when they were seated in the cab.

“Yes, sure. I have my last exam on Thursday, after that my holidays are beginning. “ he answered.

“Here’s the thing. My last exam is on Friday and I was planning on going to the Hamptons for a couple of days.”

Kurt raised his eyebrows at him in surprise. “The Hamptons, really Blaine?”

“A friend of my dad’s has a house there. He rents it out to friends rather cheaply and I got it for 4 days that weekend. I would love to spend that time with you. The beach is in walking distance too.

We could get a tan and eat a lot and just do nothing.” he nudged Kurt with his shoulder. “What do you think?” Blaine secretly hoped to nurture his boyfriend back to his old glowing self, planning to spoil him immensely.

The cab stopped infront of Kurt’s dorms. “I would really, really love that.” he beamed at Blaine and gave him a quick kiss, grinning to himself over the fact that he was allowed to do that now and got out of the taxi.