His routine method of hair styling would have seemed like a complicated process to anyone watching him, but Kurt had done it a million times before. He'd washed, added texture spray, blow-dried, used mousse and finished with a quarter-sized amount of gel to his hair so many mornings that he could complete it blindfolded. Blaine would often be gelling his hair at the same time and it became a morning ritual for the two of them. Kurt had been humming a tune under his breath the morning after their date when he caught Blaine's eye in his vanity table mirror. He smiled softly and Blaine smiled back, ducking his head to busy himself with wiping his hands on a tissue before clearing his throat and adjusting his bowtie.

Kurt was adding some final touches to his hair and smoothing down a few flyaway strands on this particular morning. He wasn't humming this time, and if he had he wouldn't have heard a small sigh coming from his vanity table. Kurt looked down; Blaine was perched on his tub of hair gel, his head tilted as his cheek rested on his hand. When he saw Kurt watching him, he blinked slowly, but continued to observe him with a wistful expression. Kurt returned his eyes to his hair in the mirror while trying to ignore the flush that had quickly spread across his cheeks.

'You're awfully quiet this morning,' he remarked, trying to tame a few stubborn strands that were sticking up at the back of his head. Blaine hadn't been his usually chatty self since their date. Kurt had sincerely hoped that he hadn't made things awkward between them by giving him a kiss on the cheek that night. At the same time, he could not regret showing a little affection after receiving Blaine's thoughtful gift.

'No. I've just been…thinking a lot lately,' Blaine replied slowly.

Kurt paused for a moment.

'Is that so?' he said, reaching for his comb. Blaine's answer hadn't sounded reassuring.

'Yeah.' Blaine blinked again and used his finger to trace the outline of a crease in his jeans over his thigh. He shrugged. 'Or maybe I've just been feeling more tired than normal.'

'You do use up a lot of energy, Blaine,' Kurt said, trying to push down the strands with his comb. 'It might not seem like it, but it takes you more than twice the effort to do things that myself and everyone else normally takes for granted. Not getting enough sleep doesn't help, either.'

'But I like our nightly conversations,' Blaine replied, his voice on the edge of a whine.

'I do too,' Kurt responded. 'But I also know the importance of beauty sleep.'

Not that you need it, Kurt thought. He gave up on his stubborn strands with frustrated sigh and put his comb down. 'How about we schedule some time in the afternoon after our lessons to chat over a cup of coffee instead?'

'That might help,' Blaine said, and Kurt could hear that he wasn't too enthused with the idea. Kurt wasn't thrilled with it, either. There was something quite intimate about hushed conversations in the dark of his bedroom that was different to talking with someone at any other time or place. It was as if the night and the anticipation of sleep allowed them to let their guard down and Kurt was able to share more of his thoughts with Blaine without feeling he needed to keep his tongue in check.

'I think I'm ready to face breakfast,' Kurt said, straightening up. He cast his gaze down at Blaine again, only to find that the smaller boy was no longer glancing back.

…

Blaine smoothed down his sweater and adjusted his hair in front of the phone screen. He had received a text message from Trent that he should be expecting a call that afternoon. Blaine had told Kurt that he could stay in the room, but Kurt shook his head and smiled, saying that he was planning on baking a new recipe in the kitchen.

Blaine knew that something had changed between them since their date. He couldn't quite put his finger on what it was, but it felt like he was more attuned to Kurt's presence now. Whenever Kurt smiled at him, he felt all warm and content inside. The last few times Kurt had picked him up, Blaine had relished the contact of his soft hand on his skin. Whatever it was, Blaine wanted more of it.

Finally, a familiar wallpaper of the Warblers in their ridiculous poses flashed up on the phone. Blaine pressed his hand to the screen to answer the Facetime call.

'Hi Trent,' he greeted cheerfully as Trent's round face came into view. 'How's the stomach bug?'

'All clear, finally,' Trent responded. There was a frown in his voice and Blaine's smile vanished quickly. 'Blaine, there's something we need to tell you.'

Blaine noticed that Trent was calling from the common room; behind him, a few Warblers were either standing quietly or sitting on couches. Trent was the only one speaking, and there seemed to be a somber vibe among the boys. Each boy either looked at his hands or at the wall and avoided making eye contact with his fellow Warblers.

'Trent, what's going on?' Blaine asked. Had the Warblers gotten into a fight? Were they apprehensive about attending Regionals? Trent sighed and looked back at him through the screen.

'It's about Pavarotti,' Trent said, each word weighing heavily in his voice. 'He hadn't been chirping as much over the past few weeks and he seemed a little weak, but he wasn't molting. We had left a window open to let some fresh air in, and we opened the door of his cage to clean it and he just…flew away.'

Blaine felt his heart sink to the bottom of his stomach. 'He's…he's going to come back, right?'

Trent shook his head sadly. 'It's been two days, Blaine. We would have told you earlier but we weren't certain. We know that birds fly away for two reasons. Either because he wanted his freedom…'

'Or because he flew away to die,' Blaine whispered back to him. He looked down at his hands laying in his lap. He could hear Trent talking through the phone but like the other Warblers, he couldn't meet his eyes.

'I'm sorry, Blaine. We all know how much you cared about him.'

Blaine could only nod as Trent promised that they would try and visit him after Regionals. The call ended shortly afterwards and Blaine sat on the vanity table where the phone had been placed, his knees hugged to his chest. He didn't know how long he'd been sitting there when Kurt came upstairs but it must have been later than he thought, having noticed that the afternoon sun was starting to settle behind the clouds.

'I don't want to boast, but the raspberry and buttercream cake with chocolate ganache was a success,' Kurt said as he wandered into the room. Blaine could hear his footsteps falling short by the desk. 'Blaine, what's wrong?'

Blaine sighed out a deep breath as he sense Kurt kneeling by the vanity table. 'I got a video call from the Warblers this afternoon,' he said slowly. Kurt was listening patiently so he continued. 'You know how I told you about my feathered friend Pavarotti?' Kurt didn't say anything but Blaine saw that he had nodded. 'Well he's…gone. He might have passed away, I don't know.' Blaine felt a tear roll down his cheek. 'At least…at least he got what he wanted. He's free now, so…' He gulped, unable to find the words to express his grief.

'Blaine,' Kurt said gently above him. Blaine could feel Kurt moving closer and soon, a warm finger was placed on his left shoulder. 'I'm so sorry.'

Blaine nodded, another tear falling down his cheek. 'He was a good friend, you know. I would go to him for advice, and he always knew what to say. I'm…I'm going to miss him.'

'Of course you will,' Kurt replied softly.

They sat in silence for a while. Kurt's finger was a comforting weight on his shoulder until Kurt moved it away. Blaine was still staring down at his hands when Kurt spoke again.

'You know, some wise little person once told me that singing was a good thing to do when someone needed cheering up.'

Blaine managed a small smile. 'I really don't feel like singing right now, Kurt.'

'I know.' Blaine looked up; Kurt was gazing down at him, his blue eyes considering him quietly. 'Can I sing to you?'

Blaine looked into his lap again. 'I…I guess so.'

Kurt shifted his weight from his knees. 'You may have heard this one before. It's called Blackbird.'

Blaine closed his eyes as Kurt began to sing softly to him, the lyrics washing over him like a gentle wave.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise…

He glanced up as Kurt as he reached the chorus of the song. Kurt had been watching him while he was singing, but now he seemed to be lost in the song, looking in Blaine's direction but not really seeing. His eyes were bright and clear, his pale skin flushed with his singing. Blaine almost wanted to lay down and fall asleep to Kurt's soothing tone but he forced himself to keep his gaze fixed on the other boy.

Yes, something had changed between us, Blaine thought. Slowly, a realization began to dawn on him about halfway through Kurt's song, and he sat up curiously. Kurt was looking back at him now, pausing to give him a gentle smile before continuing to sing.

Blaine felt his heart skip a beat. The warm feeling inside his belly returned, and suddenly Blaine understood. It had been there all along.

When Kurt stopped singing, he placed a finger on Blaine's cheek to wipe away a tear that Blaine hadn't even noticed had fallen.

So that's what it was, Blaine thought to himself. He opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. All he could do was gaze up at the boy who had made his tiny heart overflow with love.