Blaine skips down the steps and straight through the back entrance to the kitchen, arms stretched high above his head, biceps bulging and tummy muscles pulled tight, sweats hanging low on his hips, just revealing the low hairy teasing dip as he pulls his arms and head through the openings of his t-shirt.

As his head pops back up, he regrettably realizes that his hair is still in its uncontrolled bed state and as he tries to continuously tug his shirt down over his broad chest and stomach he also realizes that this piece of clothing is old for a reason, it's too small. The hem finally reaches the waistline of his sweats as he jacks them up a little higher but the red fabric is pulled tight over his abs and the still soft flab of belly just below, showing off the definitions, dips and hollows of his chest, ribcage and stomach, down to the cut of his hips beautifully.

Blaine looks up with a flustered huff of breath, cheeks a little flushed, to find Kurt sitting at the breakfast island before him, silently watching with parted glossy looking lips, like he's ran his tongue over them, cheeks tinted with circles of light pretty pink and a cup of coffee half on its way to his mouth. 

For a moment Blaine thinks that he can actually feel the heat directed at him from Kurt's hooded gaze between them in the air, until suddenly Kurt blinks his eyes closed and brings the mug to his waiting lips whilst turning his head.

Blaine fights the urge to bite his lip, ok maybe he should feel a little embarrassed, he's actually commando under those low hanging sweats, but after what's just happened back in his bedroom, he feels like he's good in that department, and it's kind of fun actually.

This sort of thing was just waiting to happen one day right? Why not be only Five days in? And with the way he's caught Kurt looking at him, he endeavours to maybe make a habit out of it.

He turns to the counter where the coffee machine is set up, a mug and spoon and small pot of cream already waiting for him, he smiles to think that maybe Kurt has done that for him, waiting for him.

He should say something, or at least act like he cared that he's just stumbled into his boss's kitchen half naked.

“U-um, morning uh sorry about that, I uh-”

“Good morning Blaine.”

Although Blaine's back is turned, he thinks, he's almost certain that he can hear the smile in Kurt's voice. He feels his stomach flutter and sets about making his coffee with a controlled grin, calling back over his shoulder, “Would you like a refill?”

“Oh, um yes please,” Blaine brings the pot over to the island as well the jug of cream and a small dish of Demerara sugar, he pops up onto a stool beside Kurt and watches how Kurt tries to avert his gaze from Blaine's thinly covered stomach. Blaine lifts and pours the coffee into Kurt's almost empty mug. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Kurt looks at Blaine then, eye to eye, and Blaine is almost shocked when he notices, he thought Kurt may brood for a short while first, but he's looking at him now with clear morning sky eyes and an unreadable expression.

Kurt nods down to a dish in front of him, there's some sort of pastry glazed with white on the top and a small silver fork lying on the side.

“Our house keeper, you'll meet her soon, brings with her the best Polvorones, her mom is an amazing cook-”

Blaine smiles as Kurt picks up his fork and cuts off a small piece for Blaine to try, he hands the fork over and Blaine takes it from him gently, his insides jumping from the very simple but meaningful offer. He places the pastry between his teeth, not touching the metal of the cutlery and pulls it soundly between his lips as he places the fork back down.

“God, that's delicious,” He mumbles after swallowing the bite, licking his lips and picking up his mug to wash it down with. Kurt hums a response as he shifts his gaze suddenly, flicks a hand over the page of the newspaper that Blaine has just realized is lying on the counter.

“There's more on the plate over there, she usually brings a stack-”

“I've met her,”

“Hmm?” Kurt turns his head but doesn't lift his eyes.

“Santana. I've just had the pleasure of meeting her, actually.” Blaine is smirking as he says this and Kurt's eyes darts to his, wide with a slight look of guilt and worry.

“Oh god, she walked in on you didn't she? She said she would wait until you got up, I'm so sorry, she's just-”

Blaine waves a hand. “She's great, don't worry, its fine.” Blaine smiles reassuringly and for a short moment Kurt copies him, and then it's gone again and he's flicking pages and tapping his finger against the rim of his coffee mug.

“My cat seems to like her,” He tries.

“Lucky for him. A word of warning, she usually drops by one night through the week too, your door has a lock, and there should be a key in your night stand.” Blaine laughs quietly whilst nodding and rises from his stool, walking over to the far side of the kitchen.

“Got it.” He takes a pastry from the plate and puts it onto a side dish, opening a drawer and picking up a fresh fork too. He slyly enjoys the view as he slowly makes his way back to his stool behind Kurt.

Kurt's dressed in a pair of beige chinos and a loose white button down this morning, the clothes hang from his skin perfectly and cling just where they need to, where his ass tightens as he hunches over the counter. His hair is soft and styled off of his face but looks more casual somehow, and a pair of loafer slippers dangles from his feet where they rest on the metal bar of the stool's frame.

Blaine likes Sunday Kurt. Who's he kidding Blaine likes Kurt everyday.

He sits down once more and slices his fork through his breakfast treat, if there is one thing he is absolutely sure of since moving in with Kurt, it's that his stomach is definitely thrilling and growing from new tastes and experiences. The food that he has been sharing with Kurt these past few days has been nothing short of to die for.   

“So uh, Santana said that you two went to school together and Sam too?” Kurt's head remains lowered, neck bent slightly and shoulders hunched, but he visibly tenses, Blaine's trying not to look at him but he can tell.

“Um yes, we did.” And that's it, apparently. Blaine can't really say that he's surprised, but he had hoped for a little more.

He continues looking down at his plate whilst Kurt takes a long swallow of his coffee, he knows what pressing the matter will do, but he can't help, he's always going to want more, with Kurt.

“So um, how did it-” He's cut off by the sharp scrape of Kurt's stool against the tile and Kurt swiftly sliding down off of the wooden seat, he scoops up his plate and cup and places them on the far counter, not even bothering to empty his leftovers.

“Excuse me, have a nice morning Blaine.” Kurt's voice is soft and also a little rough like he needs to clear his throat.

Blaine doesn't even lift his head to face him, he knows that there's no point, he hears the soft footfalls of Kurt's lightweight slippers over the tile and out onto the hardwood surface of the entrance hall before he can even a mutter a ‘no problem, you too Kurt'. He hears the faint far off soft click of a door and he knows that Kurt is now in his office, hiding away.

Blaine finishes off his pastry and coffee and slides from his stool, he opens the dishwasher and loads the dishes, Kurt's too, inside. He takes what's left of Kurt's breakfast and starts chewing on it, it's a shame to waste, as he makes his way over to the living area, sitting down and flicking on the television, but not actually wanting to watch anything at all.

Blaine doesn't know how long he spends sitting on the couch in the living area, just gazing into nothing until he notices Jes appear in the corner of his eye. The cat slowly wanders past the couch, looking at him as casually as a cat could look and over to his tiny section of the kitchen. Clearly the feline was getting to grips with the place and becoming as comfortable as Blaine.

Call Blaine crazy, and maybe he was a little, or maybe it was just cause he'd gotten used to only having his furry companion as any companion for a long time, but he actually felt like the cat actually got him at times, like knew what was rolling around in his head. They do say that a cat and a human's brain share similar qualities and strengths, even emotions right?

The small cat peeks up from lapping at his water as Blaine shuts off the TV and strolls over to him. Jes's ears twitch and his tail thumps once against the tile behind him with shrewd looking eyes and Blaine just looks back down at him before rolling his eyes and walking away, mumbling “I know, but I don't' know what to do about it.”

Yeah, but who isn't a little crazy right?

* 

The condo's gym proved to be a perfect way to pass a long stretch of time, Blaine never really considered himself to be the highly athletic type and can't even remember the last time he paid his local gym membership. He often went out for a short jog around his neighbourhood back in Queens, but right now he needed something to do and leaving the building was something he didn't feel so inclined to do at that moment, not on a Sunday, not with Kurt still here, so brooding, so annoyingly fascinating.

Blaine had made his way back to his room to find a fresh spread over his bed, clean and light and it smelled wonderful, his curtains were tied back into the plush holds and his bathroom was actually sparkling, and Santana surprisingly gone.

He found some shorts, his running sneakers and a tank top in a drawer of his closet, picked up his phone from the night stand which Santana had obviously found discarded among the sheets and left for him there, thank god for password protect, and his Dre Studio Beats he'd treated himself too for Christmas before heading back down.

The treadmill beeps wildly when Blaine passes his two and half hour mark, he pushes the stop button as his legs slow and he squirts some water from his bottle he's holding into his mouth. He leans down and rests his forearms over the safety bar, his forehead sweaty and chest heaving atop of those as he looks around the room.

Maybe on another day he'll try out the weight benches and the bikes or the rowing machines, maybe he'll check out the steam room and sauna next door, maybe the Jacuzzi for some downtime. The gym is a wide but small in length, its walls are painted a muted grey colour with spotlights in the ceiling which glint off of the black laminate flooring and there's chilling cabinet in the corner stocked with bottles of water, fresh juices and energy drinks. There's a couch opposite the far wall lined with mirrors and wooden floor space before them and a small boom box is plugged in at the wall.

It's nice and modern and seems almost new, like nobody actually comes down here, maybe Kurt doesn't have the time, but how else would he have such strong muscles in the curve of his lean back, the bulge in his upper arms and the breadth of his chest and shoulders. Blaine cannot even deny at this point that yes, he does check the guy out whenever he gets the chance to do so discreetly.

After catching his breath Blaine dismounts the machine and leaves the gym, he spends the short elevator ride back up running his hand through his damp curls and pulling at the hem of his shorts. The metal doors slide open before he knows it and his feet tiredly carry him over the threshold and into the main hall over to the steps that lead to the bedrooms.

“Yeah I get that Santana but-”

“No, you listen here Hummel, do you want things to go back to the way they were? Is that what you want? Things are better now, things are good, stop being such a-”

Santana stops herself with a low unintelligible foreign sounding mutter. Blaine freezes as the quiet but bold voices reach his ears, just before he crosses past Kurt's office, Kurt's office which has the door wide open. Blaine knows that he shouldn't eavesdrop, he's not, he's not intentionally listening, but he doesn't want to make himself known, this conversation is private and none of Blaine's business, and he doesn't want to embarrass the two by knowing that they've been heard.

“I'm not and you know I'm not-” Kurt's voice is so gentle, a little like defeated and Blaine wishes he could see his face.

He's just about to make a U-Turn and head into the living room instead when he hears, “Remember what Carole said to you, what she's done for you? Give yourself a break here Kurt, give yourself this chance, come on, get over yourself.”

There's a small silence, and Blaine blinks owlishly, bringing his empty water bottle to his lips, to nip at the plastic cap with his teeth. Santana does not sound unfriendly or even intimidating, she sounds like she's speaking from experience, she's speaking like a friend, the way only a true friend would have the balls to talk like. They did go to school together after all, even if Kurt didn't think that the topic was a one he wished to talk about.

“It's hard San, you know what I'm up against here, you know that I want that, god do I want that-” Blaine doesn't even know exactly what this is about, but he feels something in his chest crack at Kurt's words, his almost broken tone. He doesn't sound sad, just tired, politely dismissive, like's he's sick of explaining himself to the world.

Blaine quietly pads out of the room and into the next, making his way over to the kitchen and sets about loudly making himself a fruit smoothie, using the power blender. Kurt doesn't need anybody listening to that, he knows that Kurt would be disappointed if he thought Blaine had heard him, and Blaine has his morals.

But Blaine would be completely lying if he said that he doesn't want to know exactly what it is that Kurt wants so badly, so much that he sounds broken for it, resigned to not ever having it. Somebody so worldly wise and powerful in his own right, appearing to have all that one could want, beaten down to such hollow words.

Blaine knows that he could spend the next weeks, months…god, years even, working for Kurt and figuring him out.

*

It's a Thursday evening during Blaine's second week, it's hitting Eight Pm and Blaine is just scanning some documents through to some of Kurt's affiliates when he's hears some kind of commotion come from the grand room.

His glasses are hanging from the unbuttoned collar of his white and pale blue striped fitted shirt and his sleeves are undone at the cuff and rolled up. Blaine likes to look his best during the day and he know that Kurt likes him to look his best also, he sees the way Kurt eye's up his outfits, the way he matches and mixes, he knows that they are appreciative looks, but at this late hour when they are in the privacy of the condo, the rules of attire slacken slightly.

He hears voices and knows that's it Kurt and Santana, she's been here since Six-ish dusting and wiping over the counter tops, little bits and such. Blaine finishes up, logs off from the system and clicks the light off in his office and then Kurt's as he exits.

He's greeted by Jester as he enters the room, who is perched on the back of one of the couches, which technically he's not allowed to do, and the first few times he had tried it Blaine swatted him down. But then Blaine caught him snuggling up to the back of Kurt's head one day as Kurt leaned back against the cushions, one hand holding his phone up to his ear as he chatted professionally and one hand up and back, raising and falling gently with the curve of Jester's back and tail.

Blaine had stopped reprimanding his pet after that, but did find himself oddly jealous of him.

Kurt and Santana are stationed at the bar in the centre, Kurt is leaning back on a stool and Santana is hovering over the other side, a clear bottle in each hand, pouring generously into a row of three cocktail glasses.

“Ms Lopez, please do remember that it is indeed a work night.” Kurt drawls but Blaine can tell that he doesn't actually care. He looks good tonight, he's looked good all day, god when does he not, with his dark brown plaid fitted suit, matched with an impeccable figure hugging shirt as usual. But now the jacket is discarded and his sleeves are scrunched up, much like Blaine's current attire, they both look damn good if he says so himself and for Santana being gay like she said she was, she certainly likes to look. He's starting to understand, that that is just her, who she is, unashamed.

“Oh please, like we didn't do this all the time, when you got over your dedicated driver phase-”

“The cocktails were never that strong back then, or we wouldn't be here to tell the tale.”

“Just stop talking, we do this like every Thursday, its cocktail Thursday-”

“You should be emptying my dishwasher-”

“Bite me, now tell me, do you want a curly straw?”

Blaine approaches them with an amused grin, Santana notices as she picks some cherries out of a pot and toys them into the glasses with a look of delight.

“Oh joy, Prince Dapper you're right on time-” Blaine blushes and ducks his head as he comes to stand before them, Kurt's head turns and their eyes catch, his lips quirk slightly.

“Santana-”

“Oh he knows, come on he needs a name, everyone has a name,” She drawls and secretly Blaine preens inside, he feels like he's fits in some how, a part of the family.

“Could be worse I suppose, I'll take it.” Blaine provides as he pulls a stool out and perches on top, his knees a short knocks worth away from Kurt's long lean legs.

“You would, it's very fitting compared to everybody else's.” Blaine's eyes lift to Kurt's, a little surprised but delighted at the comment. Santana is watching them gleefully, obnoxiously.

“My names are variable depending on mood and circumstance, so be warned.” She says as she hands them both a glass and winks awfully.

They drink and talk, mostly Santana, on both accounts and by the time the second round is almost finished they have moved over to the couches. Kurt and Santana are sharing one, with Santana not caring at all about personal boundaries, bumping her knees against his and prodding him in the shoulder conversationally.

Blaine is sitting diagonally opposite on the other couch, legs crossed and an arm draped over the back.

Jester sits in the middle of the group on the floor, watching and listening, sometimes providing entertainment by way of a body roll or trying to catch dust bunnies as they appear visible from the stream of sun-setting light from the window.

Blaine doesn't ask questions or make conversation, he doesn't need to, Santana seems to be on the right path with her relentless tongue and that's without the alcohol.

“So Blaine, private school in our lovely Ohio huh, and you like Music? I bet you went to that preppy boys school with the blazers and were in their Glee Club, what were they again, The Crooners, The-”

“Santana, oh my god-” Blaine laughs and lifts a hand to Kurt who sits up looking scandalised and livid at the girl beside him.

“It's ok, The Warblers, and yes you're right I was-”

“Mmm, knew it,” She quips as she drains her glass, she gestures a finger between herself and Kurt, “We were in our schools Glee club too, not like I wanted to boast about it at first, but it was cool, hey we probably competed against each other at one time. Kurt was, is awesome at hitting those high notes and shaking his stuff”

Santana stands and heads towards the kitchen, she places her glass in the sink and picks up her coat and bag from the counter top, “Ok so I'll leave you two to talk about that, my girlfriends waiting for me, adios, see ya Sunday.”

The sounds of clip clopping across the floorboards and the elevator doors opening and closing fade off and Blaine is left looking at Kurt across from him, who is looking down into his drink as if there is something very interesting going on in there, he look's mortified.

Blaine knows exactly what Santana was trying to do, and he loves her for it, but he doesn't want to make Kurt feel uncomfortable for whatever reason.

He takes a deep breath to say something but Kurt beats him to it. “I'm so sorry about her, about that,-”

“Honestly Kurt it's fine, you don't have to keep apologising on her behalf, it's cool, I-I like her-”

“But the- the confidentiality thing, I swear it's strict it is, it's honoured, nobody knows anything about my employees that they shouldn't.”

Oh. Blaine never thought about that, how Santana knew he was Gay and his school and background. He doesn't mind, he trusts, he knows he can, and he suddenly gets Kurt's coolness around her, and just in general really. Kurt has a reputation to uphold, rules to abide by, but everybody has a friend like Santana.

“Oh don't worry about that Kurt, its fine, totally fine, I'm not worried, so you shouldn't be.” He's smiling brightly as he says this, stirring around the remnants of his drink in his glass, he takes a sip, looks up and Kurt is watching him with a look that's close to wonder, his shoulders are eased back for once and his hands and fingers are not clenched tightly around his glass.

Its like a magic button has been pressed, Blaine has spoken some kind of tension relieving words and Kurt is looking back at him wide eyed, like nobody has ever gave him an out from this sort of situation before, nobody has ever cared enough to tell him not to care. 

Kurt opens and closes his mouth, he licks his lips, “She's um, she's right you know, we have competed, I remember The Warblers at one of our Regional's events, you guys were good, too good.” Blaine's face lights up and he scoots a little in his seat.

“Did-did you like it? Singing and stuff?” Kurt's eyes shimmer like two bright blue orbs shining through the dullest of days, and his strong jaw tremors so subtly.

“I loved it.” He replies softly, he looks a little sad somehow and Blaine knows that there is no room to expand on that right now, he stores the thought for another time.

“The New Directions right? McKinley High's New Directions, you guys had a hell of a front runner if I remember rightly, the short brunette, bad-ass set of lungs-”

“Rachel yeah, she was a treat alright.” Blaine smirks, she did seem a bit full on.

“Was Sam in the group too? We're looking back Ten years or something like that now, a lot of competition, a lot of faces to remember.” Kurt smiles and nods lightly and finishes his drink.

“Uh yes he was, he joined in my junior year.”

Blaine nods but stays quiet, he can sense that Kurt is gearing himself up to say something else, he can see the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers are curling and uncurling, he waits, he can wait for Kurt, no problem.

“He was a good friend to me back then, they uh, they both were, he and Santana, well at first she wasn't but later turned out to be pretty damn helpful.” He's smiling tightly like he's looking back into his mind's eye to yesteryear, but he's still not finished, and Blaine will be patient.

“I know it um, it may seem strange or whatever that two of my high school friends are now my staff, but it's, it's not like, I-I wasn't very popular back then, and I guess I, I just like to keep what and who is loyal close to me.”

Blaine is totally taken aback, he wasn't expecting such a confession and knows that would have been so hard for Kurt to admit, Kurt didn't have to tell him that, but he's glad that he did. He won't press, not on this, he answers carefully.     

“I can understand that, it's not weird at all…I'm friends with a cat-” Kurt's eyes dart to his and after a beat of understood silence they both laugh, loud and breathy, and Blaine just wants to crawl across the floor and join Kurt on his couch and make him laugh more, again and again.

Right on cue, Jester gets up from his sprawl on the floor and hops up onto Blaine's lap digging his claws in as if proving the point, Kurt smiles at the sight like he totally gets it somehow. The laughter fades.

“They're both great people Kurt.” Blaine's eyes are smiling.

“They are.”

“So are you.” Kurt swallows hard, he smiles tightly and nods but cannot meet Blaine's eyes this time, his foot taps against the floor.

“We've uh, we've got that early breakfast meeting tomorrow right, best get some rest,” Kurt stands, but instead of walking away with his empty glass he steps closer to Blaine with his hand extended. It takes Blaine a moment to realize what Kurt is doing and when he does he swallows his last mouthful, and pops the leftover cherry into his mouth, handing Kurt the empty glass.

Their fingers meet over the glass and brush for much longer than needed, and it's painfully obvious how intentional the action is, from both parties.

Kurt's eyes flash with something unreadable and he can't hide the small barely hidden smirk as Blaine's reddening glossy lips part and close around the small fruit.

“You're a great guy too Blaine, pretty damn great actually, I'm glad that you came in for interview that day.”

And then Kurt is walking away before Blaine can even to try say something, or at least stop from choking on his cherry.