Blaine was possibly the most adorable person that Kurt had ever met. He almost reminded Kurt of a puppy. Eager and joyfully enthusiastic about every topic that came up in conversation, with the cutest little moments of bashfulness thrown in. Completely earnest, but also able to be silly and playful. And his eyes ... like he wanted nothing more than to be loved. Eyes that were made for pleading, for begging. Eyes that, when he had knelt and looked up at Kurt, had been capable of convincing him to do absolutely anything to make Blaine happy.

Kurt was definitely not thinking about that.

Except that when they'd stood shaking hands when Kurt first walked into the coffee shop, he'd noticed that Blaine was just a smidge shorter than him. Just enough that whenever they stood face to face, Blaine's eyes would be cast upward, his chin the slightest bit tipped up to meet Kurt's eyes ...

What were they talking about?

Comic books. Blaine apparently actually did like comic books, his eagerness for the topic of conversation persisting even despite Kurt's light teasing.

"It's not just kid stuff! There's a lot of depth in the more serious ones, you'd be surprised. The comic book is a medium for telling stories, no better or worse than any other medium. It has its own strengths and weaknesses, its own conventions and tropes. And there can be crossovers into other forms, just like you can make a book into a movie. Like, the new Spiderman musical, for example."

"Which is nothing more than a cheap spectacle, an excuse for drawing people into seats and taking their money," Kurt said.

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Have you seen it? Hmm? I didn't think so." He took a sip of his coffee. "Okay, maybe Spiderman was a bad example, but what about Watchmen? Have you read it? Have you not even heard of it? Oh my god, you have to read Watchmen. It's dark and brooding and intensely philosophical. It's a story that really sticks with you. It would make a fantastic musical, trust me on this one."

Kurt smiled. Blaine's enthusiasm was contagious, and the way he stood up for his opinions even in the face of a dom's disagreement, not even pausing to question himself, was something Kurt was not used to. People rarely interacted with Kurt this way. Other doms would butt heads with him, and subs often ended up slinking away with their tails between their legs when Kurt snarked at them, but Blaine responded with his own bit of sass and a self-assured restatement of his well-considered viewpoint. Kurt was more than intrigued.

"Anyway, it's not like you scorn anything that's not high-culture yourself," Blaine said, a note of mischief in his voice. "Didn't you mention Real Housewives a few minutes ago?"

They propelled straight into a detailed discussion of the Atlanta series, laughing happily at themselves and each other. When that ended up spiraling into a conversation about the most recent issue of Vogue, Kurt caught himself wondering whether there was anything Blaine couldn't speak intelligently about. His opinions on fashion, while not completely in line with Kurt's, were certainly well-informed and respectable. Kurt listened as Blaine went on a long digression about collar stays and cufflinks, miming the fastening motions with his fingers in a way that looked almost like ... locking a handcuff. I've seen you naked.

Kurt was definitely not thinking about that. No, he was not watching Blaine's shoulders and biceps as he reached out for his coffee cup, and even if he was, he certainly was not thinking about how those parts of him looked under his shirt. And he was also not thinking about Blaine's lips when he brought the cup there and tilted it back ... farther, farther back, showing off the line of his neck ... no.

"Kurt?"

"What? Sorry? I got distracted."

"I'm out of coffee. Do you mind if I go get a refill? Could I get you something, while I'm up there?"

"Oh, sure, no problem. I'm good, thanks," Kurt said quickly.

Kurt also was not looking at Blaine's ass as he walked to the counter. He turned away.

"So, what kind of music do you like?" Blaine asked when he sat back down. "I mean, aside from musicals."

Blaine was the most interesting person Kurt had ever met. It was incredible how well they got along, how easily the conversation flowed between them. Before he knew it, they were talking about personal subjects, about Blaine's parents who had hardly paid any attention to what he did even before sending him off to boarding school, and about Kurt's mother's death—which he never talked about, especially not with people he hardly knew—and his changing relationship with his new stepmother and stepbrother. About how Blaine came out the first time, and why he hadn't at Dalton. About Kurt's experiences being bullied at McKinley. About not really fitting in, no matter where you are. About having friends that were nice in their way, but didn't really understand you. It hardly seemed like a conversation between a dom and a sub at all. Kurt could hardly imagine opening up about these thing to even the closest of his sub friends, like Finn or Mercedes.

Kurt's eyes locked with Blaine's. You really understand me, don't you?

Was it an illusion? The way they'd met, forced into an intimacy that neither of them had expected, that one really shouldn't share with strangers. Were they bonding now because they really liked each other, or because they'd gone through a scary experience together and felt a misplaced connection because of it? Was his mind playing tricks on him?

Kurt considered it for a long moment. He didn't think so. He and Blaine had so much in common. They could be good friends, probably, if they hadn't met in such a weird and embarrassing way.

Maybe they could be good friends anyway. Maybe they could find some way around the awkwardness. Life was so lonely. It seemed like such a waste to avoid someone as wonderful as Blaine just because they'd gotten in too deep, too fast.

"It's getting late," Kurt said, glancing at the clock in the corner of the room. They'd been talking for nearly four hours. It didn't even seem possible. The time had flown so quickly. "I need to get home for dinner."

"Oh yeah. Me too." Blaine's eyes darted away uncomfortably.

Kurt cleared his throat, suddenly nervous. "If your parents don't mind losing you for so much of the weekend, how about getting together again tomorrow? See a movie or something?"

Blaine's whole face lit up. "That would be great! I ... I'm sure my parents won't mind. It would have to be in the afternoon, though. I'll need to drive back to Dalton before it's too late at night."

"Sure, no problem. How about we meet for lunch and then head over to the theater after that?"

"That sounds perfect. I'm ... thank you. I'm really looking forward to it. It was great meeting you. Again."

Kurt barely managed not to hug him before they walked to their separate cars.

-----------------------------------

Walking up to the movie theater with Kurt, Blaine wondered how it was possible that they hadn't run out of things to talk about yet. His original plan had been to drive back to Dalton in time for dinner on Saturday, but after a coffee date that had somehow lasted four full hours and ended with plans for the next day, he'd been happy to pick up fast food at a drive-through window and let himself into his parents' empty house for the night.

At lunch, they'd picked up right where they'd left off, as if no time had passed since they'd parted. Blaine had never felt like this with anyone before. Like he was completely accepted for who he was, without the need to hide or posture or pretend. Even when Kurt disagreed with him about something, he was funny and kind and Blaine didn't feel like he needed to run away or pretend to agree just to smooth things over. It was wonderful to be able to relax around someone this way.

And Kurt ... Kurt was endlessly fascinating. There were so many depths to him, so much mystery to discover. Blaine had been talking to him for ... he snuck a glance at his watch ... six hours now, counting both dates together, and he felt like he'd barely scratched the surface of who Kurt was. He wanted to know everything. He was almost disappointed that they were headed into a movie theater, where they'd be forced to sit quietly. But honestly, nothing about being with Kurt could be disappointing, whether they were talking or not.

Kurt was looking up at the marquee above the theater. "What do you want to see?"

Blaine read the titles quickly. He didn't even care what the movie was, as long as he was watching it with Kurt. He shrugged. "Whatever you want."

Kurt turned to look at him. "But what do you want?"

Kurt's eyes moved the slightest bit back and forth, searching Blaine's face. He was so full of concern for Blaine's happiness, it was lovely. Blaine's heart opened in a way that felt almost physical. He answered honestly, even though it was a leap of faith to put himself out there for Kurt. "I want to watch a movie with you. I want you to choose it."

Kurt watched him carefully for just another moment. "All right," he said, and then without another word he stepped forward to buy the tickets. Blaine shut his eyes for a moment in relief. It was a small thing, picking the movie, but it meant a lot to him that Kurt was willing to be in control when Blaine asked him to.

They watched a standard rom-com. It was enjoyable but forgettable, sweet and a bit sad and completely formulaic, with a bit of Christmas element in it for the season. But it didn't matter at all what the movie was. What mattered was that Blaine was sitting here in a movie theater next to Kurt, and that meant that everything was absolutely perfect.

The movie got a bit emotional, and Blaine was a sucker for these things. He sniffled and wiped his eyes, holding himself back and trying not to let his emotions overwhelm him. Kurt noticed the movement, though, and looked at him, checking to see if he was okay. Blaine gave him a little smile in return, trying to convey that he was fine. And then Kurt put his arm on the armrest between them, palm up, still looking at him.

Blaine leapt at the invitation, placing his hand on top of Kurt's and interlacing their fingers. Kurt reached over and put his other hand on top, enveloping Blaine's hand entirely.

Blaine took a deep breath. He'd never felt so safe and warm and cared for in his life. He rested his head on Kurt's shoulder, and after a moment Kurt leaned into him too, his cheek brushing against the top of Blaine's head. This was paradise, Blaine thought.

They didn't talk about it, but after that, they were inseparable. They talked on the phone every night that week, and texted all day long. Blaine felt like he was walking on air.

Are you visiting your parents again next weekend?

I think that could be arranged. :)

-----------------------------------

They couldn't keep their hands off each other. Not in a sexual sort of way, just in a needing-to-touch-all-the-time sort of way. If they weren't actually holding hands—which they often were—their shoulders brushed against each other as they walked. Their knees bumped under tables, and their feet lined up together too. Kurt's hand would guide Blaine at his shoulder or the small of his back when they moved up in line for coffee or tickets or to pay for their purchases at the mall. But they were two boys, and this was a small town in Ohio, and the constant stares got to be too much. So Sunday afternoon found them side by side on the couch in Kurt's living room, reading through Blaine's copy of Watchmen.

Kurt looked up after he finished the first chapter. "I'm sorry, is this boring, sitting here watching me read? I only meant to look at the first few pages, I didn't realize ... I got really into it. You were right."

Blaine looked up at him happily. "No, it's fine." I could sit here and watch you forever. "I could read this book a hundred times. And I like seeing your reactions. What do you think so far?"

Kurt slipped an arm around Blaine's waist as they talked, their thighs pressed together under the book open across their laps. By the time Burt walked in after his shift at the tire shop, they were in the middle of chapter three.

Burt stood in front of the couch, a bemused expression on his face. He looked from Kurt to Blaine and back again. "Something you want to tell me, Kurt?"

Kurt looked up. "What are you talking about? We're reading a comic book. I know it's not my usual fare, but is it really that surprising?"

"I didn't mean the book, Kurt."

Kurt stared at him blankly.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? What's going on here? Is this the same boy from before? Blaine? You dating him and you didn't tell me?"

Kurt looked at Blaine, and then back at his father, and laughed. "No, no! I mean, yes, this is Blaine. But we're just friends. We're not dating."

Blaine felt like he'd been slapped. He couldn't breathe. They weren't dating? The whole idea of it was laughable?

"Just friends doesn't look like that," Burt said in a gruff voice. "Especially guy friends. They don't snuggle on the couch with their arms around each other."

Kurt pulled his arm out from behind Blaine. "No, Dad, really, we're just friends, it's nothing."

Blaine ripped himself away from Kurt and stood up. He had to get out of here. He had to be alone. He was going to break down any minute now and he didn't want it to be in front of Kurt and his father, who he hadn't even met yet. "I think I'd better be going," he said.

Kurt stood up quickly and looked at him. "No, don't go," he ordered, then whipped around to look at his father again. "Look, you've got the whole thing wrong..." he started to say.

Blaine felt trapped, all of a sudden. Kurt had given him an order, and his need to obey Kurt all but froze his muscles, struggling against his own desire to flee. Kurt's order felt stronger to him than an ordinary dom's, many times stronger, and he didn't know why. They weren't in a claim. They weren't even dating, apparently. Blaine felt stupid for thinking they were. His brain was moving too slowly and he couldn't decide what to do, so he just stood there, looking at his feet, wishing he were anywhere else.

Burt took Kurt by the shoulders to stop him from talking. "Kurt. Turn around. Look what you just did." He spun Kurt around to face Blaine.

Blaine wanted nothing more to run away. He didn't want to be here, watching Kurt stare at him in shock and something that looked suspiciously like horror. He wanted to be at home, or back at Dalton, or at least locked in his car speeding down miles of empty freeway. Anywhere that he wouldn't have to look at Kurt and feel this awful disappointment in the pit of his stomach.

Burt was still talking. He gestured at Blaine. "That is not what 'just friends' looks like. And you are acting completely irresponsibly. You gave him an order, and it looked to me like you didn't even know you were doing it. Like you didn't take half a second to consider how he'd respond. Didn't even care what he wanted. That is not okay. Even if you're just friends, you don't speak like that to a sub. I raised you better than that."

"I'm sorry, Blaine," Kurt's voice came out in a hoarse whisper. "You can go, if you want."

"Nuh-uh-uh-uh, no," Burt said. Blaine felt like he was being ripped apart at the seams. There were two doms here saying opposite things, plus his own desire to run away and hide, and it was too much, it was too overwhelming, he didn't know what to do. "You do not get to do this to him and then send him away, no way, no how. You sit right back down on that couch ... and you too, young man, and you don't leave, neither of you, until you are on the same page with each other. I don't care what page that is, but you figure it out now." He paused, and then tacked on, "Sorry I had to do that, Blaine."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Blaine said it automatically. He was already sitting on the couch. How had that happened? Kurt's father was a force of nature. Kurt sank down on the opposite end, leaving a wide chasm between them.

"I'm not joking around," Burt said sternly. "Figure it out." He stalked off into his bedroom and closed the door.

Blaine stared at Kurt, wide-eyed, as terror and shock and sadness and embarrassment coursed through his mind, leaving him in a shambles.

-----------------------------------

Kurt tried to center himself and figure out what to say. Things had gotten terribly out of hand, and it was entirely his fault, and he had no idea how to fix it. "Blaine, I am so sorry," he said. "I never meant to lead you on. Looking back at everything now, I see how it might have been confusing, but I didn't think ... and when I said not to go, just now, I didn't even think of it as an order ... I ... oh god, where do I even start?"

"It's okay," Blaine said, his eyes downcast. "You never said we were dating. I didn't really think ... I shouldn't have assumed ..."

Kurt shook his head. "No, Blaine, none of this is your fault. It's my fault. I really like you, and I want to be your friend, and I should have made it clear from the outset that I didn't want anything more than that."

Blaine nodded, still looking down.

"I really wish you would look at me," Kurt said as gently as he could.

Blaine looked up, still not quite meeting Kurt's eyes but giving him a view of his face. His eyes were glassy with unshed tears, and his face was flushed. Kurt ached with sadness, seeing Blaine this way, and especially knowing that it was his fault. He wanted to reach out and touch Blaine, hold him close, kiss his forehead and tell him that everything would be okay. Except that would be entirely inappropriate. That was exactly the kind of mixed signal he'd been sending all along. He just wanted so badly to make Blaine happy again.

"I'm so sorry, Blaine. I like you so much, and I love spending time with you, and I feel so comfortable around you ... I forgot to think about what the whole thing would look like from your perspective."

"It's okay," Blaine said again, but his tone was not convincing at all.

"I hope we can still be friends," Kurt said. "You're ... really important to me. I can talk to you in a way that I can't with anyone else. I feel like we're well on our way to being best friends. If this doesn't ruin everything, I mean. I'm ... not lonely when I'm around you, and I don't remember ever being not lonely before. I understand if you don't want to be friends after this, but ... god, I would miss you so much."

Blaine nodded, but that wasn't really an answer.

"Do you want to say something?" Kurt prompted.

"It's just ..." Blaine chewed on his bottom lip for a second. "Did I do something wrong? Am I ... is it because I'm not submissive enough?"

"Oh no, no, no!" Kurt's hands flew out toward Blaine of their own accord, and he leaning forward and grasped both of Blaine's hands in his. They stared at each other for a second, and then Kurt let go and brought his hands back to his lap awkwardly. "Sorry," he whispered, berating himself silently for losing control yet again.

Kurt took a deep breath. "No, Blaine, sweetheart, you didn't do anything wrong at all. When we're together ... I mean, when we're just hanging out together, not when ... oh my god ... the way we talk together, the way you stand up for yourself and don't shy away from me, it's not something I'm used to from subs. But I love it. I love that we can have these intense conversations and you don't give up and shut down or agree with me on everything. And it doesn't mean you're not a good sub, trust me, I am well aware that you are incredible at submitting ..." Kurt had to stop. He was blushing as red as a fire engine.

"What I mean to say is," Kurt continued after a minute. "You are an excellent sub, and I love that you can be that way and still be ... you. I still see the little gestures, how you like to be taken care of, the way that friends do. There's nothing wrong with you for being strong, even around a dom. I like it. I bet there are a lot of guys who like that kind of sub."

Blaine blinked at him. "Then what is it? Why don't you want me? Am I ... not attractive enough? Because you're stunningly beautiful, and I guess you could have any guy you wanted and I'm just ..."

Kurt almost laughed. He'd never thought of himself as beautiful. If anyone had asked, he'd have said that someone as hot as Blaine was way out of his league. "It's not that at all. You're drop-dead gorgeous, Blaine. If I were looking for a boyfriend, you are everything I would want. You're absolutely amazing."

Blaine was still looking at him questioningly, so Kurt continued. "I'm not looking for that kind of relationship. With anyone. I can't be someone's dom. I'm arrogant and self-centered and I have no clue what I'm doing. The idea of being responsible for someone like that terrifies me. I'd mess everything up. I already have, I mean, just look at what happened here." He sighed. "You deserve to be with someone who isn't going to make mistakes constantly. I can't offer you what you need. I'm just not ready. I'm sorry."

Blaine met his eyes for the first time. "Okay. It's okay. You don't have to apologize." His voice broke just the tiniest bit.

"It's not okay," Kurt said. "I messed up, and I led you on, and I hurt you, and I feel awful about it. I should have recognized that with me being a dom, and you a sub, and with this ... history that we have ... that I should have been more careful about how I was acting ... and about what I said. I am really truly sorry about everything, and I wish there was some way I could make it up to you."

"You ... could you hold my hand?" Blaine looked at him hopefully.

Kurt wrung his hands together in his lap, trying not to instantly reach out for him. The pull to help comfort Blaine was incredibly strong. "Isn't that what got us into this mess in the first place?"

"Well, but now I know that it's just friends. And I like holding your hand. It helps me feel better. Feel connected to someone. So now that I know we're friends, I think I can just enjoy it for what it is. Without any expectations."

Kurt smiled and held out his hands. Blaine took them, a small smile on his face, too.

"Kurt?"

"Hmm?"

"I forgive you."

The words sounded unusual in Kurt's ears. It was a formulaic response to an apology, wasn't it? Not particularly meaningful. But it's not a thing people often say. One person apologizes, and the other brushes it off with it's okay or don't worry about it or no problem. But those responses pretend the hurt never happened. I forgive you is something different, Kurt realized. It acknowledges the hurt and accepts that the other person wants to change. It means adding up the good and the bad and seeing that the good is worth preserving. It's a statement of hope, not denial.

Kurt pulled Blaine into a hug. "Thank you. That means so much to me. I'll do everything I can to be a good friend."

"Me too," Blaine murmured into his shoulder.