Blaine is antsy, his skin feels tight and his stomach is in knots, he's rived his hand through his hair so many times that he's not sure how he hasn't tugged out some of his curls yet. At this rate he's going to need to wash it using some seriously kick-ass thickening and strengthening treatments.

He didn't think he would feel like this, he's known about the event for a while now, he knew it was a big deal, but for some reason it hadn't really all sunk in, the weight of it all hadn't really settled, until he woke this morning with his stomach feeling like lead and finger tips numb and tingling like they could just drop off. Why had he not better prepared himself for this, mentally if not anything else. Maybe because things were going so well with Kurt recently that he just forgot to worry, forgot to care about everything else.  

He doesn't even know what the hell he's going to wear tonight. How in the fuck has a designer's personal assistant found himself on the day of a big fashion orientated movie premier, not knowing what he's planning on wearing? He feels frozen, like his limbs won't even ease up to assist him out of bed and into his closet to start freaking out about it even more.

It was his Saturday off and he'd spent the most part of the morning, since waking annoyingly at the ass crack of dawn, hiding under the covers, he'd ignored a text from Sam asking if he wanted to go for a morning run followed by breakfast, and now he was enduring a rather heated stare-off with Jester.

“I know that you're hungry, but if you could just work out how to open the door, and go downstairs to feed yourself then that would be great because I don't plan on getting up anytime soon.”

“You're a total freak-loser, do you know that?” The voice, an amused familiar one, comes from the other side of the door as Jester continues to stare unblinking and definitely not amused at him, Blaine groans and buries himself further into his pillows and pulls the covers up over his head as the door is creaked open a moment later. An all too knowing clicking of heels click-clacks in to the room, as Jester jumps down from the bed and makes a hasty retreat out of the room before the door is shut again.

“Good morning sunshine.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Oh it's nice to see you too, well why don't you get your ass out from under the covers and see for yourself.” Blaine adjusts the duvet and allows room for just one side of his face to be uncovered, as Santana strides across the room and hauls open the drapes. He blinks wearily into the suddenly sun filled room, one-eyed as Santana glares back at him, dressed as pristine as usual with a hanger and an attached black zipper bag dangling from one well manicured hand.

“Wha'sat?” He muffles into the duvet as he nods his chin at whatever Santana is holding.

“This is your party dress, you shall go to the ball Cinderella, and you can pay me in cash or vodka or maybe just some Krispy Kreme's or something.” She smirks as Blaine pulls the covers further down away from him to get a good look.

“My what?”

“Your suit, your suit that you're going to wear tonight, and what the hell is the matter with you anyway? You look like something just ate your cat, you should be ecstatic, leaping for joy, bouncing off of the walls that you're attending a big shot a-list thing with the big shot love of your life-”

“Santana,” Blaine almost hisses as he all but lunges out of bed suddenly, “shut up.”

“What? It's the truth, and calm down he's not even here-”

“Who?”

“You know who,” Santana looks utterly bored as she strolls over to Blaine's closet and hangs the black bag up on the edge of the door frame, neatly out of the way. “Kurt, he's gone out to run some errands or something, I don't know, says he'll be back later.” She comes back over to him and sits down on the edge of the bed, moving the unmade uncovers out of the way uncaringly. Blaine feels a momentary flood of panic that Kurt has gone out without him, without saying anything. Blaine feels so dependant on the feeling of doing all that he can for Kurt now, that he hates thinking that Kurt is out doing something that Blaine should be doing, whether it's his day off or not. He doesn't get long to dwell on it before Santana starts speaking again, her voice lowered a little with a firm tone. “Seriously what's with you right now, are you ok?”

Blaine sighs hard and tugs at his hair again, before dropping back down to the mattress beside Santana. “Honestly, I have no idea, I feel nervous as shit, like it's just came out of nowhere, I haven't spoken to Kurt since last night, we haven't really talked about the event at all actually, he's been rather quiet about it and we've been busy with work and stuff-”

Santana places a hand over one of his and pats lightly, “Hey it's ok, I get it, it's a big deal, but don't sweat  it, you're gonna have a great time, just loosen up let your hair down, get drunk, get Hummel drunk, it'll all be good, honestly I'm a little jealous and pissed that I didn't get an invite now that he suddenly wants to be back in the spot light again, but hey ho, I guess you're second prettier after me.” She grins mischievously and Blaine can't help but smile back, she's just that infectious.

“Why do you think it is, that he wants back in the ‘spotlight' now?”

“You.” She says it so simply and matter of fact that when Blaine tilts his head at her with a questionable raised eyebrow she just shrugs her shoulders. “I'm serious, I think that it's you, he feels comfortable enough to be himself with you, you remind him of who he used to be before he got all high and mighty, I don't think it's so much that he wants the attention like he used to, more like he doesn't mind it now, because he has you to keep him grounded.”

Blaine is a little speechless, it's not the first time he's been told something like this, but he still doesn't know how to take it when he does hear it. He's not exactly sure how much Kurt and Santana have talked about him, especially recently. Though honestly he is pretty damn sure that Santana knows exactly where they're at in their ‘relationship' he still doesn't know the correct word for it, but for whatever reason she's choosing to actually be respectable and not just come straight out and point fingers at them.

Since Kurt's little outcry the weekend that Blaine had returned from La, a few weeks back, nothing much had changed within their personal or professional dynamic, outwardly. But behind closed doors Blaine could hardly move for Kurt hovering around him like a bored child, or get more than a couple of pages typed up before he's pulled from his desk, and wheeled around to face Kurt's waiting lips and hands. The affection that Kurt has been showing him recently has done nothing to harbour Blaine's feelings and keep his emotions at bay. With every glance, every innocent fleeting touch of skin and teasing brush of lips as they speak, Blaine's heart beats more prominently, skin shivering with anticipation of what is hopefully to come.

“Hey,” Santana's voice brings him back to the here and now, she shakes his shoulder lightly, “I know what you're thinking, what you're worrying about, and all I can say is don't, you just be the person who you know he wants you to be tonight, be yourself, you know how to work the cameras and the pap's now, ignore them and what they think of you and just be you.” She stands and brushes down her dress, Blaine catches her wrist and tugs her back around, standing and wrapping her up in a warm hug.

“Thank you, just, thank you.” Santana eases herself into his embrace for a few silent seconds. Blaine has learnt that she's never been one for signs of affection, only if in a leering or crass, typical Santana way, and he appreciates the way she just lets him hold her, as if feeling his need for this simple sign of reassurance. She pulls back and winks at him before making a disgusted face.

“Ok you, go and get yourself cleaned up, because there's no way you're gonna work the whatever coloured carpet they're choosing tonight, looking like that.” She looks him up and down as she back steps towards the door. Blaine grins shaking his head as he walks towards the bathroom and waving at Santana as she leaves. “Enjoy tonight wonder gay, you'll be perfect, as always.”

“Thank you Santana, have a good day.” And then she's gone with a not so gentle shut of the door, leaving Blaine with a bright smile and in a somewhat more relaxed state than before.

*

Hours later Blaine is sitting on his freshly made bed, wearing clean sweats with his hair shiny and dry-frizzed all around his head, ready for styling later. The patio door is open, allowing a gentle spring mid-day breeze to drift lightly through the room, washing over his skin and calming him in a way he can't understand. He's shaved, trimmed and moisturized, picked out his underwear and socks and shoes for tonight and now he's sitting cross legged against his pillows with the black zipper bag Santana had brought earlier laid out on the mattress in front of him.

He tugs at the zipper, a little lost in thought. Santana must have been asked to pick the suit up from the tailor, but why hadn't he been asked to go for any fittings, why hadn't he been asked for his preferences. The tailor obviously already has Blaine's sizes and preferred textures and fits, and maybe Kurt had already told him what he wanted the suit to look like, what his vision was. Blaine lets the thought go with a shrug of his shoulders, if he's honest he feels mostly relieved that he hasn't had to worry about it, and that the choice has just been made for him.

If he's extra honest that is a part of why he loves being here with Kurt, strangely even through the slight heart ache and aggro, Kurt makes life a little easier for him. Blaine likes the feeling of being told what to do, likes the demands and the satisfaction of wanting to please. He likes just being, not having to choose or think for himself so much, because now there is Kurt, he has Kurt, to fill up the loose gaps and empty spaces of bottomless choices his life once was.

He unzips the bag right down to the bottom, and is just about to peel back the sides of the plastic to reveal the suit inside when there's a slight knock on his door, pulling his head up, smiling towards the noise. The knock is familiar, a short light pattern, one that is only used by one person, and they know that they don't have to wait for Blaine to answer before opening and entering.

Kurt comes in to the room quietly, literally knocking the wind from Blaine's lungs and out through his lips, like he usually does. He's also wearing sweat pants, light grey with a white tank top, exposing too much glorious uncovered skin and muscles, barefoot and hair hand swept upwards, it's a look that Blaine loves on him far too much than he's willing to admit. His cheeks are freshly shaven with just a light trickle of whiskers underneath his jaw line, sort of teasing. Blaine can smell him as he comes closer, the distinct scent of shampoo and shower gel, the light trace of his moisturizer and skin cleanser fills Blaine's nose, fills him inside out.       

He climbs onto the bed, opposite Blaine and mirroring his sitting position, smiling lightly when he sees the suit bag in Blaine's hands. He nods down to it, “You haven't seen yet?” Blaine shakes his head and starts to pull the suit out from the folds of dark plastic.

“Was just about to.” Kurt sits back and let's Blaine pull the suit out completely from the bag, holding it up high in the air, as high as his arm can stretch above his head. Blaine has never seen a suit like it before it, it's nothing like the tailor usually creates for them, and his cuts are always impeccable, but this, this is out of this world.

The colour is simply grey, not too dark but not too light, Blaine isn't sure he knows what shade it is exactly, but it's beautiful, everything about it all is beautiful, stunning rather. The fabric is soft to the touch, thick and very carefully, intricately stitched. Inside the jacket, the lining is silk and soft in a beautiful navy colour, subtly patterned with a lighter blue floral design. There is a crisp white shirt tucked carefully inside the jacket and a bowtie draped around it, the same pattern and colour of the lining of the jacket. The pants are perfectly pressed, a neat seam running along the centre of each trouser leg and stitched rather uniquely at the hem. Blaine can see by looking, by tracing a careful finger tip along the fabric that it's going to be the perfect fit for him, he doesn't need to try it on to know that. The whole ensemble is completely unique, traditional yet slightly understated and totally beautifully crafted, from each stitch to pocket and the carefully folded pocket square on the right hand side breast plate.

He looks up at Kurt, with wide bright eyes, and whistles under his breath, “Wow, this is really something huh, it's gorgeous, the guy's really outdone himself this time, I can't wait to see what you're wearing.” Kurt smiles and nods, his gaze flicking between the suit dangling from Blaine's hand and Blaine's face, soft and open and a little in awe.

Blaine stands from the bed, taking the suit with him and hanging it neatly back over the closet door.

“Consider it a gift, an anniversary gift.”

“Huh?” Blaine whips back around, eyes wide and face scrunched up in a completely confused manner. Kurt is still sitting on the bed, head tilted to the side, with a smirk on his lips, and sparkling eyes to match, watching him intently.

“You don't remember do you, you seriously have no idea?” He stands from the bed and takes a few small steps forward, Blaine meets him half way slowly, racking his brain to work out what the hell Kurt is going on about.

Anniversary, consider it a gift. Shit. It hits him, it hits him like a freight train. It's April, Kurt hired Blaine in April, on this day exactly one year ago.

“I've been working for you a year today.” He breathes out in surprise, a little louder than a whisper. Kurt reaches forward and draws circles and shapes into Blaine's t-shirt covered chest, lightly with his finger tip.

“You've been here a year, yes.” Kurt reiterates, his voice, a touch too husky. “How time flies when you're having fun huh?” Blaine smiles, skin tingling as Kurt's fingers stretch out into a wide warm palm and settles over his chest. Blaine settles his hands around Kurt's waist, he squeezes lightly.

“Wow, I can't believe I never thought about it, you're right, time gets away from you I guess, when you're in a place when you don't have to worry about time getting away from you anymore, weird huh?” He tilts his chin, eyes gazing off into the room, slightly unfocused. Wow a full year, it doesn't even feel like it, he hopes and prays and wishes for many more, many of the same, he can't bear thinking of time when Kurt wasn't around or involved in someway, his life has never had more purpose until he met that man. He's brought back with Kurt's fingers tugging at his chin, his lips brushing against his jaw, breath warm against his skin.

“You ok?” Blaine shudders, as he feels the words mouthed into the side of his throat, a tongue teasing, sliding wetly. Blaine groans, lost in the completely delicious feeling of Kurt's mouth and his hands rubbing over his chest.

“Yeah, yeah I totally am.” He ducks his head and meets Kurt's lips with his own, soft and loose and pliant. They brush against each others slowly, mutual slight grins breaking out and threatening to disrupt the lazy pattern. “Hey,” Blaine pulls back, a little suddenly, grins at the way Kurt's mouth tries to chase after him. “You said a gift, consider the suit a gift?”

Kurt nods, his eyes lighting up, “A gift from me to you, a thank you for everything you've done the past year.” Kurt shrugs as he trails off, a slight blush creeping over his cheeks, and Blaine finds it entirely too adorable.

“But how is it a gift from you?” Kurt leans back and watches him silently, a grin on his lips and quirk of his eyebrow that says ‘really you can't work this out?' until Blaine finally does, and his eyebrows shoot up to his hairline, chest flooding with warmth.

“You-you made the suit? It's your design?” His words are barely audible, caught in his dry throat. Kurt nods, a soft subtle bob of his head, he smiles that smile, the shy one, so beautiful and simple that lights up his entire face, the entire room.

Blaine thinks about the times when Kurt had locked himself away somewhere within the condo during quiet hours or just some downtime, when he thought he'd been working or sleeping or just having time to himself. He remembers the handful of occasions when he'd went into the study to have a small guitar jam session, and stumbled into Kurt in the door way, with what looked to be a large craft box in his hand and glasses clipped to the bridge of his nose. Or the time more recently when he was sitting at his keyboard, creating a new melody just out of boredom and the stretch of his fingertips when he glanced over to find Kurt's sewing machine mysteriously vanished from its usual spot.

Blaine can now place the quiet humming sound, and the gentle vibrating noise he could hear so many times coming from down the hall when he'd enter or exit his bedroom early in the morning or late at night, after he and Kurt had done their bit and said their piece, had their way with each other for the day.

Kurt had been preparing this for Blaine, all of this time, Kurt has created something for him, something so wonderful, so perfect, so personal and it has Kurt's stamp, his touch and his name all over it. The very thought makes Blaine's head pound, feeling like he's spinning in the very spot where he knows he's standing still.

“Kurt, I, I don't know what to say, thank you, thank you so much.” For some reason, he feels glued to the spot. Kurt is smiling back at him so openly, so ready for Blaine to just take him in his arms and thank him over and over, but all Blaine can do is stand there stiffly, with a throat that feels too tight and eyes that feel too full, his heart threatening to beat right out of his chest. “I, I don't have anything for you.”

Blaine looks so small, his shoulders sagging inwardly, sadly, with a ridiculous hangdog expression on his face. Kurt actually laughs at him, grabbing at his shoulders and wobbling him side to side playfully. “What's the matter? You didn't have to get me anything dummy.”

Blaine pouts up at him, blinking his liquid golden eyes, ok so maybe some of it is for show, because of the way is Kurt is looking back at him right now, like he just wants to kiss the pathetic sadness away from all over his face. “It's just the suit is so, it's just so, it's perfect Kurt and I-”

Blaine's words are swallowed up by Kurt's tongue, licking its way into Blaine's mouth, the rest of his rant dissolving with breathy pants and moans and that familiar need for just more, more, more. Blaine has never felt this way before whilst kissing somebody. Kissing Kurt is an experience which renews its greatness each and every time, he will never grow old of it, he will never get over the fact that he is allowed to. He won't let himself imagine a time when he can kiss Kurt outside of the condo, outside of the privacy of their walls and doors and work façade. Kurt doesn't want that, he's not ready to open himself up like that to the world, and Blaine respects that, he does, he understands and won't ever push. Blaine never breaks his promises, but he can hope, if Blaine knows anything at all, he knows that there is always hope.

Kurt rips his mouth away from Blaine's, lips parted slick and pink and swollen, breath rushing out of him and cheeks gorgeously flushed. “Believe me, when I say that by wearing it you'll be doing more than enough.” There is something so sincere in Kurt's words, his tone so final, so sure, that Blaine can't chalk up anything else to say or do. There is something inside of him that just knows, that is telling him to just accept this one and let it go. So he does, he lets it go, he lets everything go, and throws himself back into Kurt's arms, with the feeling that maybe another shower maybe needed later before their big night ahead.

They stumble back towards Blaine's bed, hands grabbing at articles of clothing as they go. The backs of Kurt's knees hit the edge of the mattress and he falls back, almost pulling Blaine down with him, he grabs Blaine's wrist and looks at him deep and steady. “You're ok aren't you? About tonight, you're ok?”

Blaine nods weakly, he wasn't entirely sure or certain, but with every passing second spent looking into Kurt's piercing eyes and feeling him under his hands, every worry and fear and doubt that seemed to have sparked up out nowhere, dissipated into thin air.

“I've got you, you know that right, I'll look after you.”  

Blaine feels the force of Kurt's words in the intensity of his gaze, like a direct line to his heart. He wasn't ok, he didn't feel ok before, but now it's like he suddenly has the courage he didn't know he possessed within him, and he knows that the movie premier is now just a small part of a bigger picture. With Kurt by his side no matter the situation, he knows that he'll somehow always be ok, tonight, tomorrow, always.  

*

Blaine had thought he had gotten used to the whole razzmatazz of this other way of life, this world. He'd learnt how to hold and present himself, what to say and what not to, when to smile and when to act and hide what he was really feeling inside, just in case somebody misinterprets something that they see on the other side of a camera lens. It's all incredibly juvenile and tedious, like a game which you have to learn the secret method to and keep playing at the top of your game, but it's something that Blaine has adjusted to, to the best of his ability.  

But this, tonight, seems to be some whole other different ball game, altogether. The noises are almost deafening from the moment they step out of the blacked out car and ushered by event staff and security to the holding area before making their way out on to the carpet. Screams and chants, a chorus of cries and well known song lyrics and names, mixed with the constant clicking of camera shutters, names being called out from all directions, demands of ‘stand this way, over here and look that way', it's almost too much to take in already.

Blaine breathes steadily with short even breaths, in through his nose, out through his mouth, he allows himself small glances at Kurt and seems to draw strength and courage from just one look, even though he feels weak at the knees and like he could just keel over every time he does. Kurt is dressed to kill, and Blaine thinks he could actually accomplish that tonight. His suit is a very similar cut and fit and finish to Blaine's though their colours are reversed slightly. Kurt's suit is a deep navy, shimmering with each way he turns under the night stars and the blinking of flashing lights, his shirt underneath is clean bright white like Blaine's and his skinny tie is a beautiful light grey His trousers are slim line and cling to his ass gloriously in a way that Blaine cannot allow himself to look at, not even once. They compliment each other in their suits, matching yet not so much, drawing  attention to just the right places. Kurt is a very, very, clever and talented man.

A small lady wearing all black, with a headset and a clipboard ushers them onto the carpet lined with silver metal barricades and big burly men dressed in black coats and shades, where crowds of fans and press and the general public are pushing each other this way and that, holding out pens and posters and cameras. The carpet is a refreshing deep shade of purple, it's rather lovely and quite thick to stand on, and Blaine has to stifle a nervous giggle as he keeps instep just behind Kurt, he's always wondered it feels like to walk on one of these when watching at home on the TV or looking at pictures in a magazine.

The instantaneous flashes all big and bright and constant, are everywhere, everywhere Blaine looks, he's squinting and trying not to look directly into somebody's camera or videophone somewhere. He keeps his head down as he watches where he's walking, following Kurt into what looks to be a walking version of a conveyer belt of celebrity personalities, all making their way down a line, talking into different microphones and smiling into different lenses. Blaine makes sure to smile, keep his features soft and expressive, but not too much, and lifts a hand to offer a polite wiggle of fingers whenever he hears his name called out, which appears to be an awful lot tonight, for some reason.

Kurt stops beside a barrier where there are a cluster of fans chanting his name, they're all wearing similar items of clothing and accessories, all vaguely familiar. When Blaine looks harder as discreetly as he can, he notices that they are all items from Kurt's previous lines of fashion. Blaine smiles and watches, stepping back slightly as Kurt poses, signs his name on random objects, leaning himself backwards over the barrier and taking ‘selfies' with the fans who are giggling and calling his name over and over. Blaine can't hide his surprise when they suddenly direct their attention towards him, calling for him with bright smiles and hopeful stares, asking for him to come and pose with Kurt. Blaine is even more stunned when Kurt beckons him forward, nudges him playfully with his shoulder and leans very slightly into Blaine's side so that multiple photo's can be taken from all angles.

“You look very handsome tonight Blaine-”

“You two are so cute-”

“Blaine I've watched some of your old stuff on you tube, it's all so good, will you be making anymore?”

That last call out catches him off guard slightly, he doesn't know if he should answer, he doesn't know how to. How people get such information, how people know the things that they know, is always a fascinating thing for Blaine, the depths that people will go to, he's only glad that in this instance the outcome has been a positive one. He hadn't seen or heard of anything that came from the last bad experience he'd shared with press at the fashion event last year, he's thankful for that but is aware that these things can pop up at anytime, he knows now to always be prepared, just in case.

He smiles and waves politely, mouthing a ‘thank you' to the crowd as Kurt starts to move away and continue along the line towards the press segment. Kurt slows down a step, allowing Blaine to catch up with him and lowers his voice as he leans in closer towards him.

“How you holding up? You're doing great, you have fans.” Kurt pulls back to look at Blaine fully, as he continues walking with the current, he's smiling brightly, reassuringly and Blaine can only beam back and nod his assent. It's all slightly breathtaking and hard to grasp, like he's just taken some happy pills and currently riding the high as normally and appropriately as he can.

Kurt is called over to a young man with almost lilac hair, wearing a boldly patterned shirt and fancy looking glasses, Blaine strongly believes that Kurt has only chosen to actually go over to him because of the way he looks. There is no pattern or reason or rhyme to who talks to who, or who gets what picture, and everybody knows that Kurt Hummel only talks when he wants, to who he wants to, it's known in the press world that whoever Kurt chooses to stop and chat to should consider themselves privileged.

“Kurt! Hey, hi, thank you for talking to us tonight, how are you?” The guy looks elated, he's polite with a soft voice and an easy smile, holding out a microphone as a guy beside him balances a video camera on his shoulder. Kurt smiles, digs his hands into his pockets and looks over to Blaine before back at the guy.

“Hello, I'm good thank you, how are you?”

“Oh we're great, even better now that you've stopped by,” They share a small laugh, the guy's giggle is apparently infectious and Blaine watches how Kurt falls into his easy, laidback demeanour. “So it's nice to see you, we don't see much of you these days, are you excited for the movie tonight?”

“Oh thank you and yes, I have become some what of a hermit these days,” They laugh together again, like both just know how and when to, “I've been rather busy, but yes, I'm very excited for the movie, I've heard some great things about it.”

“Oh yeah, for sure, it's going to be totally amazing. So tell me, could you let us in a little on what's been keeping you so busy?” The guy's gaze flicks over to Blaine, a little too happily, his eyes flashing and his smile growing wider.

“Well,” Kurt's eyes follows the reporter's as he pauses, as if looking for words, and then as if something has been said out loud between them Blaine starts to inch closer to him, with a small smile, like he knows through just one simmering gaze that Kurt is asking him to join him. Kurt turns back to the guy, his smile bright and a tad mischievous. “Do you know my assistant Blaine?”

“O-ooh,” The guy looks even more elated than before, his smile breaking out into an all toothy grin, eyes widening and his glasses almost popping off of his nose, “Oh no, well we've heard of Blaine, of course, but this is the first time we've had the privilege of meeting him.” The young guy offers Blaine a dazzling smile, cheeks a little flushed and Blaine waves in return. “You're looking very gorgeous tonight Blaine, if I may be so bold, you both are of course.”

Blaine blushes, and has to stop himself from scuffing his shoe against the carpet, he looks to Kurt for some kind of assistance, not sure if he should speak or not. Kurt looks back at him, his eyes bright and sparkling, and something crosses his face, something fleeting, like a silent reassurance, a silent confirmation that he needn't worry or over think too much. As if reading his mind, Kurt turns back to the reporter and starts speaking, saving Blaine from having to make an apparently tough decision, and Blaine's heart beats with silent thanks and reverence. “I've um, I've actually been working on a new line, sort of, just a little personal project,”

“Oh really?” The reporter looks suddenly mystified, he turns to his camera guy who shrugs back at him, looking equally curious, like they somehow let something slip through the net during their research. Blaine is standing beside Kurt feeling exactly the same way but trying not to let it show too much on his face. Kurt carries on, seemingly undeterred.

“Yes, well it's um it's kind of a work in progress, it's not finished and it's not publicised, well now it is,” He laughs again, a short chuckle and the guy copies him before suddenly starting to bounce on his toes with excitement.

“Oh my gosh, a new Kurt Hummel line, how amazing,” He turns himself to face the camera, face beaming, “And you heard it here first folks!” He spins back around, swinging the microphone back to Kurt's face. “So Kurt, when can we get a little snippet of what you're working on, hopefully you'll not leave us hanging too long right?”

Kurt smiles, but it's too bright, too well pasted, his cheeks are starting to flush that pretty colour it does and his eyes are twinkling, he has that look about him, the one Blaine has come to know only too well. The look that means he's up to something and he'll let you in on it only if he damn well wants to. He turns to Blaine who is still trying to rack his brains for any conversations or meetings about this new fashion venture Kurt is talking about, has he completely zoned out of something majorly important or is Kurt just bullshitting this poor kid for kicks and giggles.

Kurt's eyes travel up and down Blaine's body, slowly dragging glances as if proving a point until they land back up on his face, where he's watching Kurt back cautiously. It's like one of those slow-mo moments when everything happens at the same, realization dawns and there's too much time but also not enough. Blaine, the reporter and the camera guy also, all seem to catch on to Kurt's thought train just as Kurt starts grinning shyly.

“No freaking way, Blaine is your model  for your new range? Wow! Good call!” The reporter has his shit eating grin pasted firmly back in place as the camera guys starts zooming in on Blaine's suit. Blaine looks like he doesn't know where to place himself, his eyes darting over his own body like he's suddenly naked, his cheeks flushing adorably. Before he can look back at Kurt and at least try to say something coherent Kurt starts speaking again, seemingly unfazed and unaware of the mini panic attack Blaine thinks he's going through.

“Well no, not willingly anyway, it's experimental like I said, nothing's set in stone, but the suit that Blaine is wearing is going to be featured somehow somewhere, the one I'm wearing too, but I've spent a lot longer on Blaine's, I'm rather proud of it and I must admit I can't imagine anyone else doing it quite as much justice.” The reporter for the first time in the past four minutes has gone quiet, and when Blaine is able to pull his eyes away from Kurt's face he sees that the guy and the camera guy are grinning from ear to ear, looking between the two of them.

Kurt wraps up the interview pretty rapidly after that, a photo is taken for the guy's website and Kurt thanks him for being kind and polite and promises to talk to him next time they cross paths. Blaine gives a bashful grin and a wave and then he's following Kurt back along the bulk of the carpet, where event staff are starting to usher the guests inside of the theater.  More photos are taken, the flashes and the sounds seeming to rain down on them from all directions, Kurt pulls Blaine to the side as they reach the entrance just before they step inside.

“I um, I should have told you I know, I'm sorry if I put you on the spot, but it's just that-”

They're standing just by the corner of the building, in the shadows of one of the main beams of spotlights, there's a barrier to the right of them, and an on-hand ambulance and paramedics team parked up to the left, along with a team of security, all wide shoulders and bulked arms. They're not exactly standing in complete privacy, but they're also not in the direct public eye.

Blaine tugs Kurt's hand out from where it's been clinging to the inner lining of his pants pocket, he squeezes his fingers around his quickly, reassuringly. He drops his voice, barely above a whisper.

“Hey no sorry's ok, you got me and I got you, it's cool, honestly, I'm-I'm speechless Kurt, I'm touched, but now's not the time or the place to get into that.” Blaine's eyes sparkle under the night sky as Kurt hangs on every word he says, his own eyes wide and bright and glistening.

Kurt smiles shyly and leans in closer, Blaine's lips part automatically, his eyes widening as he watches. Kurt really can't be, he isn't going to- is he-

Kurt gives Blaine's hand one last squeeze before tugging and pulling until they both are stepping back out from beyond the shadows and rejoining the crowds who are currently filing into the building. At the very last second before they stumble into an older actor who Blaine recognises from a well known trilogy, Kurt unlinks their hands, sends a quick wink over his shoulder to Blaine and effortlessly strides through the doorway, murmuring something about needing a drink.

A drink sounds very good to Blaine right about now, the night is still young, and he gets the feeling that Kurt is not completely out of surprises just yet. Maybe he'll get a double.