Blind Item of the Day

Sartorial Sydney may have mended his finger snapping ways, but it looks like he has already gotten himself into trouble in another area. It has been months since Sydney was spotted outside the company of Dapper Dan, who is such a constant presence in his life that Syd's friends are worried about the nature of their relationship. It seems that said friends are planning on staging an intervention to try and pry Sydney away from Dan's controlling hands. Will Sydney escape his evil clutches? Are his friends over-reacting and seeing Machiavellian intent where only true love lies? Only time will tell. — ReelToReal, January 10th, 2019

=^..^=

Kurt lay flat on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Rachel would be so proud of him. Not of the irrational fight he had just picked with Blaine or the horrible things he had said, since even she had mostly matured past such displays, but his storm out had been picture perfect and she would have approved.

Needing to talk to someone who was possibly even more selfish and self-centered than he was, Kurt pulled out his phone and dialed Rachel's number. He reached over and turned on the bedside radio to drown out the sound of his voice, since Blaine was just down the hallway in the sitting room of their hotel suite.

It took several rings, but Rachel finally answered. He could hear the sounds of a party in the background and was reminded that it was still before midnight on New Year's Eve. He halting explained about the fight and then waited while Rachel found a quieter spot so that they could talk.

The competing sounds from Rachel's end dropped away and suddenly Kurt could hear her clearly. "Kurt, what are you really upset about? You're not usually this insecure, so what's really going on?"

Kurt sank into the high-backed chair by the window and played with the curtain cord as he looked through his reflection out onto the lights of the city. "I don't know where it all came from. Things have been great. Better than great, actually. I was just standing there, watching Blaine hold that card and this film played in my mind, you know? I just saw how different my life would be if I were more like him and I just snapped."

"Do you think his life has been perfect? That he hasn't had to deal with discrimination or hate?" Rachel asked softly.

"No, of course not. He's had it rough. Rougher than me in some respects. In high school he… he had some problems. But the world just sees him differently now and —"

"So you resent him for how other people see him? For something that's totally out of his control?

Kurt gave a broken laugh. "You make it sound so irrational and stupid."

"Kurt, you are talented at so many things, but I'm not sure that keeping a level head while under emotional pressure is one of them," she pointed out. "Go talk to him. Make this right before it turns into something you can't overcome."

Kurt felt his love for Rachel expand within his chest. "When did you become so grown-up and emotionally mature?"

"Oh, it's definitely a work in progress. My next step is to try and use some of my own advice. It's hard, though. Being a self-possessed, confident woman can be exhausting." Kurt could hear the smile in her voice through the phone line.

They said their goodbyes and Kurt tip-toed to the door, his heart beating a mile-a-minute in his chest. He slipped into the sitting room to find Blaine standing in the dark by the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out onto the city.

"I'm sorry." Blaine's back tensed at the sound of Kurt's voice, but he didn't turn around. "I'm horrible and irrational and none of that was your fault." Kurt came closer and stood next to him, looking down onto the taxis crowding the street below. "I hate how I let my past color the way I deal with things, but — and I know it was hard for you too for different reasons and I don't want to belittle your experiences in any way or say that I had it rougher — but the reason I acted the way I did tonight is because of my hang-ups and… I'm used to fighting for everything I have. Nothing has ever come easy. Even now, I don't trust it, not really. Sometimes I'm sure that at any moment I'm going to wake up and find that I'm late for my shift as an usher at an off-Broadway theater and still struggling to find my big break."

Kurt leaned his forehead against the window pane, the coldness seeping into his skin and sending little sparks of almost pain along his nerves. "Do you know who that guy with the business card was tonight? He's the producer that wouldn't let me audition because 'gays can't play straight.' But he wanted you and he obviously knows you're with me, so…"

Words escaped him and Kurt paused, not sure of how to communicate what he was trying to say without sounding like the most self-centered jerk on the planet. "I know that no matter how successful I am there will be opportunities I won't get because of who I am and what people think my limitations are before they even meet me. I know it. But seeing how accepting people are of you, how easy it would be for you if you wanted to be an actor…it stings. And it makes me wonder why someone as perfect as you would want to be with someone like me. I thought of all the people at all the parties and all the articles and it was all just too much and… I just latched onto the first thing that I could think of and used it as an excuse to attack you and I have no excuse. You have no idea how sorry I am."

Blaine had been silent and still as Kurt spoke, but he finally turned his head towards Kurt and his voice drifted out of the darkness. "I wish you'd come and talked to me about this instead of letting it build up." He turned fully towards Kurt and sank one shoulder against the window. "If you think for one second that I'm perfect then you need to get your eyes and your head examined. I'm just as screwed up as you are Kurt and it really hurts that you can't see that. I don't want a career like yours and the fact that all of those people are so quick to notice me for a second before they're distracted by the next shiny object? It's the story of my life. They don't really see me or want to know me. Who I am inside doesn't matter to them and it never will."

He sighed and reached up to rub at his temples as if he had a headache. "I'll admit that my head was turned for a second by the attention and the flattery tonight, but I never gave it any serious thought and even if I had I would never use you to get ahead. And that you could think I would, even for a second…" his voice cracked and he stopped to clear his throat lightly. "I don't want to be famous and I don't care what everyone else thinks of me. Kurt… I'm not going to change who I am, just like I'd never expect you to change. This is me and I'm trying really hard to be proud of it and I just want you to be proud of me too."

Kurt gasped and grabbed Blaine's hand, holding it to his heart. "I am! Oh my god, I am. I am so proud of you and the fact that I can call you my boyfriend is the best thing that has ever happened to me. You are amazing and I can't fault anyone else for just seeing what I see, even if they only ever scratch the surface."

A loud sound from outside the window startled them and they looked out to see fireworks exploding. It was midnight and the New Year had started without them even realizing. Kurt leaned forward and kissed Blaine tentatively. "Start the year as you mean to end it, right?" he said uncertainly.

Blaine moved in for another kiss and when they broke apart Kurt looped his arm around Blaine's waist and pulled him closer as they turned to watch the colors bursting in the sky. It wasn't how either one of them had been expecting the night to end, but at least they were still together.

Kurt didn't know how long they stood there, but soon his eyes began to droop and he had to fight to keep his concentration. Blaine noticed him fading and suggested that they turn in for the evening. He showered while Kurt put away their evening finery and padded out of the bathroom wearing a soft pair of pajamas that hugged every line of his body. Kurt sighed with pleasure that he was privileged enough to be able to see such a sight. He kissed Blaine softly on his way into the bathroom and took his own turn in the shower and afterwards slipped on the luxurious robe provided by the hotel.

He stared at himself in the mirror and thought about the evening that he had originally planned. Everything had been thrown off by his horrible stupidity, but he could still salvage the most important part. After delaying as much as he could without seeming suspicious, he gathered his courage and walked out into the bedroom.

Blaine was sitting on the bed looking through the breakfast room service menu, looking adorable with his loose curls and black-rimmed glasses. Kurt moved beside him and gently slid the paper from his hands. He set it down on the bedside table and moved in a bit closer before slowly removing Blaine's glasses and placing them on the table also. He cupped Blaine's face in his hands and ran his eyes lovingly over his features before drawing him close and hugging him tightly, Blaine's face nuzzled against his chest. Blaine pulled him close in return and they stayed like that for a minute, just enjoying the quiet and the closeness.

Kurt felt Blaine lean back slightly and then a tug on his arm coaxed him down onto the bed until he was flat on his back. He looked up at Blaine's face and smiled at the desire he saw there, thankful that he hadn't chased it away forever. He lifted his head to capture Blaine's lips and sighed deeply when his mouth parted and their tongues intertwined.

Kissing Blaine always made Kurt feel light-headed. He sometimes forgot to breathe once Blaine's tongue touched his and when combined with the furious pumping of his heart and the blood rushing to a point far south, it led to a serious oxygen deficiency that left him gasping. It took just a few minutes this time for him to reach the point where he had to pull his mouth away in order to take a breath. He pressed his lips against Blaine's jaw and worked his way around to his ear, where he was unable to resist nibbling on the lobe. Blaine arched his neck against the onslaught of Kurt's mouth, allowing him to do whatever he wanted.

Kurt ran his hands up under Blaine's shirt, the skin of his back smooth beneath the pads of his fingers. He spread his legs a little so that Blaine nestled in between them and his robe slipped open to reveal that he had nothing on underneath. Blaine's eyes flared at the discovery and Kurt reached down to grab his ass, digging his fingers into the dense muscle there.

Blaine responded by rutting against him slowly, his hips moving in a slow, maddening circle, the soft material of his pajama bottoms sliding deliciously against Kurt's cock. Kurt brought their lips together again and the kisses this time were wet and dirty, with tongues everywhere and teeth scraping. The echoes of heavy breathing filled the room.

Kurt rolled them over until he was on top and let his lips linger before standing up and removing his robe. He took a moment to enjoy the way Blaine's eyes darkened at the sight of his naked body. Having Blaine look at him like that made him feel more desired and confident than he had in his entire life and the feeling was addictive.

Blaine stood also and grabbed the edge of the comforter to strip it off the bed (Kurt had trained him well). He took Kurt's robe from him and spread it out over the sheets before shucking his pajamas, leaving them in a little pile by the side of the bed. He scooted up to sit against the headboard and crooked a finger to beckon Kurt to join him. Kurt knee walked across the mattress until he reached Blaine's side and then threw a leg over his lap until he was straddling him. They groaned simultaneously as their cocks rubbed together and Kurt threw his arms around Blaine's shoulders as he ground into him.

He and Blaine had been together for a month and a half. Their sex life was amazing and oh, so satisfying, but so far it hadn't included any actual…penetration. Kurt had actually only tried anal sex once and the experience had been so awkward and unsatisfying that he hadn't been eager to repeat it. He and Blaine had talked about it and Blaine had been perfectly fine with waiting, or never even doing it at all if that was what Kurt wanted.

In all honesty, Kurt had never thought he'd want to do it again, but then again he never thought he'd find someone like Blaine, never thought he'd be with someone where the emotional closeness meant as much as the physical pleasure. He thought he was ready now and had been waiting for a special occasion to let Blaine know.

He knew that if he kept moving against Blaine for too much longer that they'd end up finishing that way, so took a deep breath and slipped into the role of confident sexual being. He took Blaine's hand in his and moved it slowly down his body until it was on his ass with his fingers resting lightly against Kurt's hole. Blaine's eyebrows arched up as he sent Kurt a shocked, questioning look.

Kurt smiled seductively (he hoped) and purred, "My shower was very thorough, if you get my meaning."

Blaine swallowed hard and Kurt felt his fingers twitch. "Kurt, you don't have to do this. You don't have to try and make anything up to me —"

"Shhh…" Kurt pressed a finger to Blaine's mouth, running the tip along the seam. "That's not what this is about, I swear."

Blaine's head jerked in a haphazard nod and Kurt twisted at the waist to reach into the nightstand, from which he retrieved some lube, a condom, and a hand towel. He could feel Blaine's heart beating fast against his chest as he took in the items. "So, I guess you've been planning this, huh?" Blaine choked out as his fingers tightened on Kurt's ass.

"I wanted to make it a special evening. New beginnings and all that. " Kurt hid his face in Blaine's hair, not wanting him to see that he was still a little apprehensive about taking this last step. It wasn't that he didn't want to do it, because he did, he so did. It was just that this was going to be him allowing himself to be vulnerable, like a hedgehog willingly rolling over and baring its soft underbelly. It was against his nature.

He pushed those thoughts aside as he uncapped the bottle and squeezed some of the lube out onto Blaine's hand. He dropped the bottle down beside them and used one of his hands to spread the lube around, enjoying the slickness of their hands as they moved over each other. Blaine, who still showed a great appreciation for Kurt's hands, sucked in a deep breath and let his head fall forward to touch Kurt's chest.

Once Kurt had finished coating Blaine's fingers, he started to grab for the towel to wipe his hand off, but paused and tilted his head to consider his next move before reaching back and wiping it over his entrance instead. Blaine growled at the sight of Kurt touching himself and pulled him down with his lube free hand for a hungry kiss.

Bending forward for the kiss caused Kurt's hand to slip away, but it was immediately replaced by Blaine's. His fingertips ghosted over Kurt's hole, swirling around the edges and teasing him. Just when Kurt began to move restlessly against the too light touch there was an increased pressure and he felt the tip of one finger slip inside. He tensed in shock, but immediately forced himself to relax, not wanting to discourage Blaine from proceeding further. The muscles of Kurt's pucker spasmed involuntarily, pulling Blaine's finger in deeper. He began a slow in-and-out movement that felt foreign to Kurt at first, but soon heat began spreading outward from the spot to take over his whole body. He was just getting used to the sensation when suddenly it was gone.

He let out a cry of protest at the loss, but before he could say anything Blaine tilted him off his lap and with a quiet "lie down" coaxed him into lying out on his side. Kurt laid his head on the pillow and simply looked up at him, waiting for his next move. Blaine moved away from the headboard and came to sit next to Kurt's stomach. He reached out and ran a hand down Kurt's side and up over his back before pressing on his shoulder until he was settled flat out on his stomach.

Kurt's heart beat faster as he wiggled around to get comfortable and he swiveled his head to the right so that he could see Blaine bending towards him. "The angle's better like this. I don't want to hurt you," Blaine murmured, the hot air of his breath tickling Kurt's neck and sending goosebumps down his spine.

Blaine gently slipped a pillow beneath Kurt's hips. Kurt blushed at the thought of how he must look in that position, with his hips in the air as if he was presenting to Blaine (which he guessed he actually was, in a way), so he buried his face against the cold pillow in an effort to both hide and to cool his flaming cheeks.

"You are so beautiful like this," Blaine whispered into the quiet room. A hand settled on Kurt's neck and massaged the tense muscles there for a second before sweeping down his back lightly. He squirmed as the fingers touched the ticklish skin of his ribs and he heard a chuckle above him. The hand moved lower, over the rise of his buttocks and down to his thighs, before returning to settle on his ass where it began to knead. Kurt was finding it hard to breathe and since he didn't want to pass out during such as important moment or suffocate and be plastered all over the gossip sites for death by accidental auto-erotica asphyxiation, he pulled his arms in and lifted himself up on his elbows.

He heard a cap click and jumped as a still slightly cool dollop of lube dripped onto his crack. Blaine chuckled again and spread the lubricant out with his hand. Slowly he slipped his finger back inside and Kurt couldn't stop his back from arching as his hips rose towards Blaine wantonly.

The stretch came easier this time and soon Blaine was adding a second finger. Kurt's stomach muscles contracted as Blaine pushed in deeper, but the feeling of 'too much' passed quickly and he relaxed into the pleasure that began creeping up on him. The third finger once again took him right up to and then past the limit of what he thought he could take and when Blaine pressed in just the right spot he hugged the pillow to himself and bit the corner as his eyes rolled back in his head.

Kurt moved restlessly against the mattress as his body searched for something…. more. He didn't know how much time had passed, but however long it was, it had been enough. "Now, oh god, please now," he moaned around his mouthful of pillow. He felt Blaine kiss him on his right butt cheek as he slowly pulled his fingers out and he followed the kiss up with a light nip. Kurt's dick ached and strained against the soft material of the robe beneath him. He swiveled his head around to pout at Blaine, his hips moving even more now that there is no stimulation at all.

Blaine's lips slid up Kurt's back as he shifted to move behind him. Kurt felt him straddle his legs and his hands came to rest on Kurt's ass, thumbs circling in identical patterns on each cheek. Kurt felt a bit of nerves bubble up again, but the passion tempered them. Why didn't Blaine just get on with it already?

He heard the condom wrapper crinkle and he buried his face back in the pillow again. Oh god, oh god, oh god. He absentmindedly decided that he was glad that he wasn't facing Blaine for this first time. He wasn't sure if he could have dealt with all the visual stimuli also. Plus, trying to determine what Blaine was doing by sound and touch alone was kind of a turn on. Maybe later they should try a blind-fold and… His mind melted into a pile of goo as he felt Blaine's cock move along one of his cheeks. It was obvious that Blaine had it in his hand and was rubbing it softly all over Kurt's skin and Kurt shuddered as he pictured it in his mind. Finally, Blaine brushed his dick against Kurt's opening and lightly slapped it up and down there a few times. Then Kurt felt a weight against his hole. Blaine crooned some comforting and encouraging sounds, but the words were not registering, as all Kurt could concentrate on was the delicious stretch as Blaine slid inside him just a few inches.

"Oh God," Blaine cried out as paused his forward momentum. "Talk to me, Kurt. Is this okay?"

"Mmsfsdf."

"I'm going to take that as a 'yes'," Blaine laughed from above him. He paused to let Kurt adjust, his hands stroking Kurt's hips as he waited. Before long, Kurt relaxed (he hadn't even realized that he'd tensed up) and moaned into the pillow as the sensation of intrusion morphed into the beginning of pleasure. Blaine must have rightly taken his moan as permission to continue, because he tilted forward until he was laid out against Kurt's back, his cock sinking deeper inside as he moved, his thighs gripping Kurt tightly. He marveled as Blaine pressed forward until his cock (which was thick and long and why oh why hadn't they done this before, because Blaine's cock was made perfectly for this) filled him completely and his balls rested against Kurt's ass. The feeling of being complete for the first time swept through Kurt and he had to bite his lip to keep from saying it out loud.

Blaine rested on top of him for a minute, kissing his neck and whispering things like "closer, closer" and "God, you are incredible". He reached out his hands to clasp Kurt's and pulled them up over their heads, digging them into the mattress as he began to thrust. He stopped every once and while and rotated his hips, making Kurt gasp.

With each thrust, Kurt could feel himself being driven up towards the headboard, so he reached out with his fingertips to push back against the wood. Blaine let go of him and lifted himself up on his hands a bit to get more room to move. His thrusts become longer and harder and Kurt could feel every inch of him as his cock moved smoother and deeper. Little starbursts began to explode in his eyes each time Blaine hit just the right spot inside of him and he decided that the prostate was his new favorite gland.

Blaine seemed to be losing a little bit of control, his thrusts becoming more frantic and sharper. Kurt halfway thought that Blaine might be about to come, when he stopped and gasped for breath as he rested his head between Kurt's shoulder blades. After pulling himself back from the edge, Blaine wrapped his hands around Kurt's waist and pulled him up until they are both on their knees. He sat back on his legs and Kurt followed him until they were half kneeling, half sitting, with Kurt on Blaine's lap.

Kurt felt Blaine's arms wrap around him and his hips began to undulate again, thrusting up into Kurt with a new determination. Kurt gasped as the new angle, combined with the slight curve to the right of Blaine's cock, increased the friction against the (oh, so perfect) spot inside of him and he couldn't stop himself from reaching back to tangle his hand in Blaine's hair. Blaine dipped his head forward and attached himself to Kurt's neck, sucking the skin deep into his mouth and then worrying it with his tongue. Kurt couldn't even bring himself to care that he was probably leaving a mark.

The universe shrunk until it consisted of just Kurt's bedroom. Nothing existed outside of those four walls and the two men inside. The air was winter cool, but the heat between them caused sweat to pour from their bodies as they moved. The only sound was the wet sucking of Blaine's mouth, Kurt's mews of pleasure, and the slapping sound of skin upon skin whenever Blaine thrust up. It was paradise.

The heat inside of Kurt continued to build as Blaine retrieved the bottle of lube one-handed and managed to pour some of the contents into his other hand (without breaking rhythm. Kurt would have to congratulate him on that later. If his brain ever worked properly again). He slid the hand down and grasped Kurt's cock tightly and began to stroke. He pulled firmly again and again from root to head, twisting a bit at the top, which caused all of the muscles in Kurt's body to tense and shake.

Blaine's hand and his hips moved in a complementary rhythm, leaving Kurt in a state of constant stimulation. The feeling of Blaine moving deep inside of him, rubbing against his prostate with every thrust, and the friction of his hand quickly sent Kurt hurtling towards the edge. He didn't want to finish so soon, but he couldn't hold off any longer. Blaine thrust once more at just the right angle and Kurt cried out, his toes curling and his whole body jerking as he came.

Blaine worked him through it, stroking his dick as it pulsed and continuing his relentless thrusts. As the final tremors passed through him, Kurt lost the strength in his legs and fell forward onto his hands. Blaine took advantage of this new position and began to plunge into him with a new ferocity. A few moments later he was coming deep inside of Kurt, crying out a bit in triumph as he toppled over the cliff.

Kurt felt Blaine lay his cheek on his back as he gasped for breath, his hips still thrusting, but starting to move slower and slower. Kurt dropped his head and let it hang down loosely from between his shoulder blades as he struggled to catch his own breath. After a minute he slowly walked his hands forward and off to the side until they were both lying down next to the now soiled robe. Kurt could feel Blaine slowly softening inside of him and he wondered how long they could stay joined just like that.

"Well, we'll certainly be doing that again soon," he announced as the world began to come into focus again. "In fact, remind me again why we haven't been doing that all along?"

Blaine laughed against his neck. "I think you mentioned something about trying it once and not being that into it?"

Kurt shook his head as he reached up to sweep a damp strand of hair from his eye. "No, that must have been someone else, because that? How could I not be into that? It was awe-inspiring, stupendous, phenomenal —"

"You sure know how to stroke a guy's ego." Blaine twisted to give Kurt a deep kiss before pulling back, his cock finally slipping free. He kissed away Kurt's murmur of protest and leaned over the side of the bed to discard the condom. He tossed the robe to the floor and he and Kurt moved back to the center of the mattress, rolling onto their sides to look at each other.

Kurt intertwined his fingers with Blaine's, studying the contrasts in their skin tones. "That's not all I know how to stroke."

Blaine groaned and kissed Kurt on the tip of his nose. "It's too soon for bad puns. My brain isn't working fully yet. Wait a few minutes so that I can rise to the occasion." Kurt snorted into the pillow at his joke. He felt a finger nudging his chin up and he refocused his attention of Blaine's now serious face. "Kurt, all joking aside, that was…I just…Thank you for trusting me enough to share that with me. You'll never know how much it means to me."

Kurt felt warmth spread throughout his body that had nothing to do with the miraculous sex they'd just had. "I trust you with everything," he stated, meaning it more than anything else in his whole life.

=^..^=

Kurt had to report back to the set on January 2nd. Blaine was uneasy, since all of the scenes were being shot outside and it was notoriously hard to keep the public away from film locations in New York. Fortunately, the production company had been alerted to the threats against Kurt and security had been beefed up, which helped ease his mind considerably. He knew Kurt was trying to not let being so exposed get to him, but Blaine could tell that he was on edge. He jumped at loud noises and stayed close to the trailers when not needed on set. Blaine stuck as close as possible and the extra guards and police protection kept the crowds at bay.

Their time in the city wasn't all spent working, though. Kurt took Blaine to his favorite restaurants and they took long walks through the neighborhoods that Kurt had grown to love in the years he had spent there.

A week later Kurt had finished all of his scenes and a wrap was called on his part in the movie. The next night Kurt surprised Blaine with tickets to a Broadway show that featured some of his friends and former cast-mates. After the show they went backstage, Steve following close behind them. Blaine had never been behind the scenes at a professional theater before and was amazed at how smoothly the back stage area was running. Kurt laughed at his observation and told him that appearances were deceiving.

They hung around with Kurt's friends for a while and Kurt signed some autographs and then they slipped out onto the cold street, thankful that the people waiting by the stage door were long gone. As they walked past the box office, Kurt paused and trailed his fingers along a poster that was lit up by glowing bulb lights.

"Ah, you miss it," Blaine sympathized.

Kurt looked at the poster with a wistful smile and tucked his hand back into his pocket. "It's just…When I was a kid and pictured myself as a big star it was always on Broadway. I never really saw myself in the movies. I guess stardom isn't all it's cracked up to be. I just wish I could perform and still be able to go to the grocery store without worrying about paparazzi."

"Understandable."

"Did I tell you that my agent doesn't want me to do any more musicals?" Kurt sighed as passing headlights lit up his face. "Says I don't want to risk being typecast. But I'm not sure I can stand performing without singing, you know?"

Blaine definitely could understand that. Singing was such a part of Kurt that he couldn't imagine him being happy with just the odd show tune in the shower. "What're you going to do?"

"I'm not sure. Risk being pigeon-holed as the 'musical guy', I guess. We'll see. Okay, enough of that." Kurt visibly shook himself and grabbed Blaine's hand in his. "Have I ever told you that I know a place that sells the best cheesecake in New York? I can see you don't believe me, but eating is believing. Follow me."

=^..^=

Blaine unlocked the hotel room door and Kurt tumbled through it, stopping to perform a particularly complicated spin from the show they'd just seen. He side-stepped into the bedroom and snapped on the lights, gasping when he saw the thousands of rose petals strewn all over the bed and the floor. "Blaine! They're the same kind as the ones you gave me after the Golden Globe nominations. I can't believe you did this!" he exclaimed as he felt Blaine come up behind him.

"I didn't."

Before Kurt could say anything, Blaine pushed him back towards the main door. With a warning look that told him to stay where he was, Blaine slipped quietly back into the bedroom and opened the closet door. Finding nothing there, he looked behind the curtains and out on the balcony before disappearing into the bathroom. He reappeared a few seconds later, shaking his head reassuringly at Kurt, who could see him from his position in the hallway. Blaine checked out the sitting room next and, after checking behind the curtains there as well, picked up the phone and dialed the front desk.

He spoke with the night manager, who confirmed that they had no record of anyone on staff decorating their room. As Blaine waited to be transferred to the security manager, Kurt wandered into the bedroom. He noticed a wrinkle in the bedding over one pillow and looked over his shoulder towards Blaine before walking over to flip the edge of the comforter down.

There, lying on his pillow, was an envelope addressed to him in a handwriting he knew all too well at this point.

He slipped his gloves back on and picked up the envelope. It wasn't sealed, so he opened it and removed the letter from inside. It talked about how much the writer had enjoyed seeing Kurt in New York, how handsome and at ease he seemed now that he was back 'home.' It was full of compliments and loving declarations and didn't say a word about Blaine. All-in-all, it couldn't have been more different from the last letter in L.A.

Just as he was finishing the letter the paper was pulled from his hands and he looked up to find Blaine glaring at him angrily. Kurt flushed, but jutted his jaw out defiantly. He knew he shouldn't have touched the letter, but this was his life, damn it, and he was so sick and tired of not having any control.

Blaine skimmed the letter, his brow creasing in confusion at the change in tone. He slipped it carefully back in the envelope and set it on the bed as he grasped Kurt's elbow and pulled him out into the other room.

There was a knock on the door a minute later and Blaine peered through the peep hole before opening the door and admitting the hotel manager and another man, who turned out to be head of security. They looked in the bedroom and the security manager made a call to the police as they all left to make their way to the security office.

As they waited for the police to arrive they checked the hotel's computer. Someone had entered the room at ten o'clock that night using a housekeeper's keycard, so they called up the security video starting 15 minutes before then. At nine fifty-five a figure entered the elevator, riding it to the top floor where Kurt and Blaine were staying. The manager confirmed that it wasn't a registered guest, but the shapeless long coat and hood made the person impossible to identify beyond that.

Kurt sat at the desk, staring at the figure on the screen, as Blaine made arrangements to have their belongings packed up as soon as the police were finished. He then made a few phone calls and within minutes they were on their way to the airport, headed back to L.A.

=^..^=

Blaine had thought that Kurt might not want to return to his little house in the Hollywood Hills after what had happened there, but his offer of finding them another place to stay was met with a definite rejection. He was determined that he wasn't going to let the stalker drive him away from his house like he had driven them out of New York.

All Kurt asked was that he be given a run-down of the security upgrades that had been made while they were in New York. Blaine showed him the new video surveillance that recorded every inch of the gate and fence, and explained how the cameras overlapped so that disabling one camera wouldn't prevent an intruder from being seen. He walked him through the other changes as well and when they were done Kurt smiled gratefully and went to his room to take a nap, since he hadn't been able to sleep well on the plane due to bad dreams (he wondered if he'd ever be able to look at roses the same way again).

He awoke from his nap to find Blaine waiting with cake and a queued up Emma Stone movie marathon. Late that night, after finishing up Crazy Stupid Love (which had to be one of the best movies ever because of the adorableness of Emma Stone and the lust inspiring beauty of Ryan Goslings abs) they each retreated to their own bathrooms to get ready for bed.

Kurt sighed as the warmth of the shower beat down on him and slowly washed away the tension that still hung onto his shoulders and back. They were just days away from the Golden Globe awards and that alone was enough to put him on edge, but combine that with a re-invigorated stalker who seemed to have multiple personalities? He felt like he wanted to crawl into bed and not come out for a month.

He stood beneath the water for several minutes, watching his skin turn bright pink from the heat and the air become hazy with steam. Finally, he reluctantly turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, toweling off and wrapping himself up in his fluffiest robe. He performed his nightly skin care routine and brushed his teeth before stepping out into his room to find Blaine on the bed, reading through several pages he had pulled off of his Word A Day calendar. "I still can't believe Finn got you that for Christmas," he snickered as he walked towards the bed.

"Hey, it's interesting," Blaine protested. "I'm trying to better myself here."

Kurt sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand through his damp hair. "Well, I happen to think you can't improve on perfection, but I guess you're welcome to try."

"Hmm… Mellifluous, tessellated, susurration —"

Kurt cut him off suddenly by turning and kissing him hard. He didn't know what all of those words meant, but they sounded really sensual and he found it surprisingly arousing to watch Blaine's lips form the unfamiliar syllables.

Blaine smiled as Kurt's lips left his for a second. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that?"

"I don't know why, but you saying those big words kind of turns me on."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Sesquipedalian," he said pointedly.

A shiver ran through Kurt before a thought occurred to him and collapsed onto the bed laughing.

"What?" Blaine asked as he leaned over Kurt, balanced with an arm of either side of his body.

"It's like that scene in A fish Called Wanda where Kevin Kline pretends to know Italian because it really gets Jamie Leigh Curtis hot, but all he's really saying is names of random food and stuff. I have no idea what you're saying, but keep saying it, baby."

"Callipygian… perspicacious… alexithymia… penumbra…" Blaine punctuated each word with a searing kiss until finally Kurt wound his arms around his neck and silenced him.

=^..^=

It was the Friday before the Golden Globes and Kurt had still not decided on what he was going to wear. The tailor was coming by in an hour for a final fitting and he needed to have made a choice by then.

The Golden Globes were certainly formal, but not as rigid as the Oscars, so he wanted something a little unusual, but still 100 percent classy and fitting for the occasion. There was a reason men's formal fashions weren't on the tip of everyone's tongues the day after award shows, though. There wasn't much you could do with a suit or tux to make it your own and the fashion blogs tended to really tear people apart who tried to be too individualistic. It was a fine line he had to walk.

He had narrowed his choices down to three options and the suits were hung up on a rack in his bedroom as he paced in front on them, flipping through the photos of him modeling each look. "I don't see how I can possibly choose just one of them. I mean, this one is Gucci, but Tom Ford made a custom suit for me. Custom! I swear that is the best part of this whole awards season right here." Blaine glanced up skeptically from the computer he had been working on for the past hour. "Don't look at me like that. Think how you'd feel if Brooks Brothers made a line of cardigans just for you."

Blaine raised his eyes to the ceiling and smiled dreamily. "Mmm… cardigans."

Kurt laughed and turned back to the rack. He took a deep breath before selecting the gorgeous dark navy blue, slim-cut Tom Ford. The waistcoat was also blue, but had subtle silver embroidery that shimmered and caught the light. The accompanying silver and blue patterned tie was perfect and once he finished accessorizing with the brooch Blaine had gotten him for Christmas and an intricate pair of cuff-links he knew it would make a stunning statement on the red carpet.

He nodded his head decisively and made the choice official by picking up the other two suits and putting them away in his closet to be used for future events. He placed the navy suit back on the rack to await the tailor and collapsed down onto his oversized chair, exhausted from making such an important decision so early in the day.

Blaine wiggled in next to him and reached over to massage his shoulder. "Are you going to write an acceptance speech?"

Kurt leaned into the massage and closed his eyes, coming dangerously close to falling asleep. "I don't think so. If I do win, I want to be spontaneous and heartfelt. Growing up I remember being so bored when people would read their speeches off of cards. All of the greatest speech moments seemed to be spur of the moment."

"I think all the worst moments were too." Kurt turned around to glare at him. "Sorry, I'm sure you'll be great. I have the utmost confidence."

=^..^=

Time seemed to move faster than usual and before Kurt knew it, Sunday had arrived and he and Blaine were in the limo on the way to the ceremony.

The Golden Globes security team had been notified about the stalker and Steve was dressed in a suit (and looked extremely uncomfortable) so that he could follow them down the carpet. Lynn wasn't happy, as the added security would probably result in some uncomfortable questions, but the ceremony was too public and the crowds too big to risk trying to keep a low profile.

Kurt walked the red carpet with confidence. He knew he looked good and having Blaine on his arm at such an event was a dream come true. He gave interview and after interview and stopped to get his head-to-toe look documented by the fashion cameras. At every opportunity he made sure to include Blaine, who looked devastatingly handsome in his simple black suit.

The first half of the ceremony was devoted to the television awards, so Kurt was able to sit back and relax a little. He laughed with the rest of the audience through the host's short opening monologue and was thrilled when an actress he knew won Best Actress in a Comedy and when his favorite show won Best Drama.

Then the television awards were finished and the movie portion of the ceremony began. He was shocked to find that his category was one of the first ones to be announced. He gripped Blaine's hand tightly as his name was announced and tried to look calm when a camera came within two feet of his face to record his reaction as the presenters named the winner.

Unfortunately, it was Don Hampton's name that was called out into the auditorium. Kurt smiled and clapped politely along with the rest of the audience, masking his disappointment from the camera that still filmed him. Blaine squeezed his hand and smiled sympathetically. Kurt smiled back and shrugged to show that he was okay.

Half an hour later, Kurt presented an award with Dakota Fanning. He was happy that the audience was going to see his suit on stage. If he couldn't win, then this was the next best thing. It was far too striking an ensemble to be relegated to a few mid-chest close-ups from the seats. He looked out in the audience and grinned at Blaine, who beamed up at him from the third row.

The rest of the evening moved on fast-forward and soon the host was saying goodnight to the television audience and the auditorium began to empty out. They had already decided to forego any of the after parties, so it wasn't long before they were back in the limo and speeding towards home.

Kurt leaned back against the soft leather seats and contemplated his first major awards show.

"Disappointed?" Blaine inquired softly as he ran this thumb back-and-forth across Kurt's knee.

Kurt shook his head. "I actually didn't think I was going to win, so not really. Being nominated was enough." Blaine stared him down. "Okay, it truly is a lie when people say that. I really wanted to win, alright?"

Blaine pressed his lips against his temple and laid his head on Kurt's shoulder. "Next time. You'll get 'em next time."