Blaine hardly waits a week before discussing it with his parents. It's the very following Friday. Mrs Anderson has just finished cooking and is setting the table for dinner, while Senator Anderson sits in an armchair reading a newspaper. Blaine, curled up in the armchair opposite, sets aside the book he's reading and clears his throat.

"So I was thinking we could have a press conference or something so I can tell everyone I'm gay," he begins confidently.

Senator Anderson gives a tired sigh but says nothing as he turns the page of his paper. From the dining table, Mrs Anderson pauses in putting down a fork to watch the two men across from her.

"You know I want to get married, right?" says Blaine. "Not right now of course, but some day. I think I'd really like to take part in that particular tradition."

Blaine's word choice finally prompts a response from his father.

"Are you even going to vote for me?" snaps Senator Anderson suddenly, setting aside his paper.

"No," says Blaine defiantly, without missing a beat.

"And why not?" asks Senator Anderson, raising his eyebrows at his son.

"Well, for one, I'm fairly certain I have no obligation to vote for you, seeing as we live in a democracy and I have the freedom to vote for whoever I want," says Blaine, not even caring about how much of a smartass he must sound like. "But I guess it's mainly because you don't believe that my rights should be equal to that of a straight citizen, and you're therefore denying me the freedom that you delude yourself into believing that I have in this country."

"Dammit, Blaine," says Senator Anderson. "I wouldn't expect you to understand politics."

"Then why is my vote so important?" Blaine counters.

"Blaine," says Senator Anderson tersely. "There is much more to freedom than being able to get married, and believe it or not there are more issues on the table than marriage equality. Quite frankly, you're being rather selfish"

"You know, maybe I am, but tell me this," says Blaine. "If someone was running for president, and as part of their campaign they said they didn't care that you couldn't marry mum, and that they'd even actively work to ensure that you would continue to not be able to marry her, would you honestly still vote for them?"

Just like Blaine had intended, the words are met with silence. Senator Anderson can say nothing, instead settling for keeping his head held high in what he hopes is a dignified silence.

"That's what I thought," Blaine spits out.

He stands up, grabbing his wallet and phone off the coffee table.

"Where are you going?" Senator Anderson calls out when he realises that Blaine is heading for the door.

"Out," says Blaine coldly. He looks at his mum, who's watching nervously from the kitchen table, and his voice softens. "Sorry, Mum. I won't be around for dinner."

Before either of his parents can say anything, he leaves, closing the door behind him and hoping that no one follows him out. They don't.

Blaine knows exactly what he wants to do, but he's not so sure exactly where. What makes things easier, though, is his decision that subtlety is no longer a priority, and is in fact anything but. So when Blaine gets into a cab at the main road and the driver asks him where to, Blaine, despite the double take of recognition that the driver gives him, says with confidence, "Take me to the best gay club in the area," - he flashes his licence at the driver - "that'll take under 21s, that is."

The driver's eyes light up as they read Blaine's name on his licence. If he had had any uncertainty as to Blaine's identity before, it's well and truly gone now.

"Of course, Mr Anderson," says the driver, a wry smile spreading across his lips.

Blaine tucks his licence back into his pocket, smiling to himself. His cab driver seems like just the type of person who'd be willing to talk to the press for a little extra cash, and that's certainly okay with Blaine...

Technically speaking, for Blaine's plan to work he doesn't necessarily have to even enter Scandals, the club where he's dropped off. But perhaps, seeing as he's put in this much effort, he may as well ensure his plan does definitely work - or perhaps just because he really wants to go in now that he's standing outside a gay club for the first time. He's dressed well enough, after all, in dark jeans and a button-up shirt, and the line isn't too long.

Once he gets to the front of the line, the bouncer does a double take at his I.D. Pursing his lips, he looks Blaine up and down with narrowed eyes. He reaches out and yanks Blaine's wrist forward. He holds Blaine's gaze, Blaine staring right back, until he eventually presses an Under 21 stamp to Blaine's wrist.

"Enjoy your night," says the bouncer gruffly, stepping aside to let Blaine past.

"I will," Blaine assures him, "Even more so if you promise to not keep quiet."

Blaine brushes past the bouncer, slipping a $20 note into the bouncer's hand. The bouncer nods, curt but understanding, and Blaine disappears into the club, heading straight for the dance floor and allowing the press of bodies and the thrum of music to engulf him.

Three hours later and Blaine is tipsy. Despite the Under 21 stamp on his wrist, Blaine's dancing had attracted the attention of more than one of the older nightclub-goers, who had offered to buy him a drink at the bar. He had accepted drinks from two, and let far more grind up against him as they danced, but he knows that this isn't what he really wants.

Which is why it's not even past midnight when he's stumbling out onto the footpath in front of the club, drunkenly hailing a cab to get to his next destination. And when he gets to the Hudson-Hummels' place, he feels the best way to get Kurt's attention is by throwing rocks over the fence to Kurt's bedroom window.

"Hey!"

Blaine looks around to find a security guard on the other side of the gate, his gun raised towards Blaine.

"Woah!" says Blaine, raising both hands in surrender. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you or anything. I just really want to see Kurt."

"You're Blaine Anderson, aren't you?" asks the security guard, eyes narrowed and gun still pointing at Blaine as he steps closer.

"Yes, that's me," says Blaine proudly. "One and only. Son of a total asshole. Now, if you'd please let me just talk to Kurt-"

"I can't do tha-"

"Blaine?"

Blaine spins around to look towards the front door. Kurt is stepping out onto the garden path, his body wrapped in a mahogany robe and his forehead creased in confusion.

"Kurt!" Blaine exclaims. "Kurt, it's so good to see you!"

"Sh, you'll wake everyone up," Kurt hisses, before addressing the security guard. "It's okay, Max, he's good."

The guard - Max - seems hesitant, but eventually nods and lowers his gun. Kurt steps forward to open the gate. "And just what are you doing here, Mister?"

"I came to give you the big romantic gesture that you deserve, Kurt," says Blaine enthusiastically, and as soon as Kurt's opened the gate wide enough, Blaine pushes through to wrap Kurt up in a massive hug. "I was trying to do the Romeo and Juliet thing, y'know?"

"Blaine," says Kurt, pushing Blaine away so he's at arm's length. Kurt scrunches up his nose, taking in the smell of Blaine's breath. "Blaine, are you drunk?"

"Maybe," says Blaine with a shrug. "Some guys at the club bought me drinks."

"Guys at the cl- oh no," says Kurt, the colour draining from his face. "Blaine, we need to talk in the morning, alright? But for now I need you to be really quiet so we don't wake anyone up, okay?"

"Okay!" says Blaine in an exaggerated whisper.

They bid Max goodnight before Kurt guides Blaine into the house and into his room. Kurt turns around to close his bedroom door behind him, and when he turns back Blaine has already kicked off his shoes and tucked himself underneath Kurt's covers.

"Blaine," says Kurt, a warning in his voice.

"C'mon, Kurt, I'm tired," Blaine whines, curling himself into a ball.

Kurt sighs, before turning off the light and getting into bed beside Blaine. It certainly isn't the first time Blaine has slept over, after all. Blaine's turned to face Kurt, and so Kurt turns away from him to avoid any awkwardness - they are just meant to be sleeping after all. It's why Kurt closes his eyes and waits for sleep to come.

"Kurt?" Blaine whispers after a while.

"Mm?" Kurt hums back sleepily.

"I really want to be with you."

Kurt rolls over to look at Blaine, There is nothing but sincerity in Blaine's wide eyes despite his slightly inebriated state, and it makes Kurt melt despite the lateness of the hour and how exhausted he is.

"I know, Blaine," says Kurt gently. "I promise we'll talk about it in the morning. But how about we sleep a bit now, okay? Can you do that for me?"

"Of course," says Blaine, his eyes fluttering closed as he nuzzles into his pillow. "I'll do anything for you, Kurt."

And as Blaine drifts off to sleep, Kurt knows in his heart that Blaine's telling the truth.

The first thing Blaine feels the next morning is pain, as he wakes up with a searing headache. The second thing he feels is fear like he's never quite felt it before, as he looks up to see Senator Hummel glaring down at him, dressed in polka dot pyjamas but looking completely terrifying nonetheless.

"Shit."

Blaine scampers to sit up, realising where he is. He reaches blindly for Kurt beside him, but he isn't there.

"Kurt?" Blaine calls out timidly, his gaze still meeting Senator Hummel's, as if scared of what the Senator would do if he looked away.

"Yes?"

Kurt emerges from the adjoining bathroom. He seems unperturbed by Senator Hummel's menacing glare - although perhaps that's because it isn't being directed at him.

"Someone gave me a phone call this morning and thought his son would be with you," Senator Hummel explains in a dangerously slow tone, finally looking away from Blaine to Kurt. "I told him it wasn't possible because you wouldn't do anything like that without asking my permission first, and yet here we are."

"Perhaps you should tell him you were mistaken, then," says Kurt steadily. "Wouldn't want him to get worried about the whereabouts of the son he loves so much, would we?"

"Kurt..."

"You know why Blaine's here, Dad," Kurt reminds his father.

"Yes, and I also know he doesn't need to be sleeping in your bed after what looks like a drunken night out," Senator Hummel counters, his voice rising.

"You don't even know where I slept," Kurt tries. "How do you know I wasn't on the floor the whole night?"

"Nice try, kid. I think we both know you wouldn't voluntarily sleep on the floor," says Senator Hummel dryly. "Just make sure you two are ready for when Blaine's dad comes by. You think I'm hard to deal with, just wait till you hear what he has to say."

With a final narrowed-eyed glance at Blaine, Senator Hummel is gone, pulling the bedroom door closed and leaving Blaine to flop back onto the pillow.

"Why did I think drinking was a good idea?" he moans, rubbing his forehead.

"Sorry," says Kurt sheepishly. He digs around in his bedside table to find a packet of aspirin which he gives to Blaine, who gratefully takes two. "I guess I should have made you drink some water or something. The whole taking-care-of-drunk-people thing isn't exactly my forte."

"I wasn't drunk," says Blaine. "I mean, these two guys bought me a drink each but that was it, I swear."

"You know you shouldn't have taken them, right?" says Kurt quietly.

"What?" says Blaine, confused. "Oh, crap. I thought it would be okay because we're not exactly going out yet and-"

"No, not that," says Kurt, kneeling beside Blaine on the bed. "You can't just let people buy you drinks, Blaine. They know who you are."

"I don't care, Kurt," says Blaine, sitting up despite the throbbing of his head. "Fuck this. If my parents won't let me do this maturely then this is how I'm doing it. I'm out. I don't care who knows anymore."

"Blaine, that's great, but, the media," says Kurt. "You're still under the drinking age. If you weren't careful-"

"Forget about that, Kurt," Blaine cuts in, shifting forward to kneel in front of Kurt. "This means I'm out. And I know, okay, maybe it isn't the perfect way for this to happen, but it's happened. And now that it has, I'd really like to go out with you. That is, of course, if you still want to go out with me?"

"Blaine," says Kurt softly. "That was never - of course, yes."

They gaze into each other's eyes for a moment, both of them seeing the pure happiness there at finally no longer having a reason to hold back. And for the first time, Blaine presses his lips to Kurt's, softly, easing him into it, until Kurt cups Blaine's face in his hand and deepens the kiss, taking control in a way that makes Blaine feel safe and secure.

"I've got you," says Kurt when he pulls away, eyes still closed as he presses his forehead to Blaine's. "I promise, Blaine. Everything - all of this - we'll get through it all together."

Blaine barely has time to hum contentedly in reply before there's a knock at the door. It shatters the moment. In an instant, Blaine and Kurt spring apart, Kurt moving to stand beside the bed. Senator Anderson enters the room, looking angrier than Blaine has ever seen him, hands balled up into fists and cheeks coloured red. Behind him, Senator Hummel looks like an arbiter sent to keep the peace despite the furrowing of his own eyebrows.

"Well at least you're alright," says Senator Anderson coldly, looking from Blaine to Kurt and back again. "Come on, let's go."

Blaine looks towards Kurt, who gives a nudge of his head, urging Blaine to comply with his father. Silently, Blaine slides off the bed and walks towards the doorway.

"I know you liberals don't generally care about these kinds of things, but perhaps you should reconsider letting your son get away with so much in your own house," sneers Senator Anderson, turning to Senator Hummel.

"Oh, and you think I'm happy about this?" Senator Hummel shoots back. "I walk in and find my eighteen-year-old son in bed with a hung-over boy who isn't even his boyfriend. That doesn't exactly fit my definition of a perfect Saturday morning. At least I'm not the one driving my son to go out and get blind drunk in the first place. Maybe if he didn't, he wouldn't need to be sneaking into our house in the dead of the night."

Senator Anderson stares across at Senator Hummel, nostrils flaring. Senator Hummel simply stares back, eyebrows raised in challenge.

"You're going to regret this," is all Senator Anderson says, before turning on his heel and making his way down the hall. Blaine takes this as his cue to follow.

"I'm so sorry," says Blaine as he passes Senator Hummel.

"I know," says Senator Hummel. "Just make sure you take care of yourself, alright kid?"

Blaine nods. He turns back to give a final wave to Kurt. Kurt waves back, a reassuring smile on his lips that makes Blaine feel slightly better about what's to come. Because they've got each other in this whole mess. And somehow, Blaine thinks that'll be enough to get them through it.