The show is wonderful. The trapeze artists and aerial performers are breathtaking, every stunt and movement looking riskier and more death defying than the last. Jugglers and acrobats steal the show with each routine but Kurt is waiting for the Flame Folk, waiting excitedly for his favourite part of the show, his favourite performer. And he certainly isn't disappointed.

The lights dim and a primal drum beat thrums through the Big Top. Kurt lunges forward in his seat as the ring goes up in flames, the barrier blazing as the performers enter, tumbling and twirling along the way. He spots him, the man he's been waiting to see again all night. He's the last one into the ring, looking powerful, mysterious and just beautiful dancing in the flames with staffs held aloft.

Kurt is stupidly thankful that the audience is seated a good few feet back from the ring. The heat is stifling and although the performance is definitely majestic, a single slip up and people could get seriously hurt. The flames jump and dance and Blaine's in the centre of it all, almost the pure embodiment of the fire he seems to be in control of. Except the more he watches the more he comes to realise that he isn't in fact in control at all. Fire is unpredictable, it can't be tamed or controlled, Blaine only moves with it, manipulating the flames to curl and lick at his form yet never touch him, never unleash that raw destructive power. Instead he utilises it, hypnotises the crowd with fire Poi and staffs and even a whip at one point and god that's hot in ways that has nothing to do with the fact it's on fire.

The audience watches through flame as they perform watches their figures sway and flicker from beyond the heat waves. It's unlike anything Kurt has ever seen before, watching a dark haired girl throw a staff into the air and catch it after pirouetting on the spot too many times to count. His eyes are always drawn back to Blaine, the way his curls seem to drip with sweat, the muscles in his back and arms shift under glistening tan skin as he manoeuvres the apparatus with expert ease.

The beat pounds and builds until the other man, Puck, breathes fire into the crowd and the fire is extinguished into the dust. The Big Top falls into complete darkness. It's abrupt and the room is silent until the unmistakable crackle of flame drifts through the smoke.

Blaine is illuminated solely by a ring of fire at his feet, torches on his fire fans seemingly lighting themselves one by one. The flames flicker, strong and wild and Blaine lifts his head his arms outstretched. He's bathed in crimson flame, the torches having been dipped in flame dye and his entire being shines with it, eyes dark and hidden in the fire's glow. Slowly, the fans start to flip and Blaine crosses his arms across his body, making the flames spiral and swirl around him.

He picks up speed and momentum until the arena is filled with the roar of fire. Fast and with immense strength he lifts the fans high above his head and they clang together sending waves of sparks cascading over him. He spins to the floor fans kicking up dust and bellowing up smoke. The rushing of roaring flames fills the air, almost deafening this time. With grace Blaine raises up with the fans once more, fire fanning out like the wings of a Phoenix rising from the ashes as his back arches and his head tilts back. The remnants of the flames are distinguished instantly and by the time the Big Top is filled with light once more the arena is empty and the crowd are on their feet.

Kurt can't find it in him to even clap or whoop let alone trust his legs to hold him for a standing ovation. He's frozen in his seat, barely drawing breath, his sharp blue eyes wide with awe and adoration for this enigma, this enchanter. The place is alight with whimsy, a sense of mystery and magic that Kurt hasn't experienced at the Un Spectacle de Joie since he was a child. This time, however, Kurt has been entranced by a beautiful boy who literally burns with something raw, undefined yet so scorching and sensually alluring.

***

Kurt is ushered out of the Big Top quickly after the show and he makes some excuses to his family, hands his snow leopard over to Finn and waits anxious to the side of the entrance. The circus is huge and he has no idea where exactly he's required to meet Blaine or if Blaine actually wants to meet him at all. He hopes because he doesn't think he could handle having to walk away from Fire Boy.

The air is chilly and he's been out so long he can feel the tingle in his nose and cheeks from where the cold has made them rosy. He's about to go search for Blaine when he spots him, sprinting into a near by tent frantically rubbing at his hair. Kurt stifles a laugh watching him hurry along and follows him to the tent.

He peers through the tent entrance cautiously to check that it's somewhere safe to be when he's momentarily struck dumb by the sight that greets him. Blaine's hair is smoking a little and he's simultaneously patting at it and gathering water into a jug. He staggers away from the trough, cursing and muttering before pouring the water over him, hissing as the cold water hits his skin smearing and smudging the crimson and gold body paint.

Kurt serendipitously doesn't manage to bite back a whimper at the sight, this gorgeous Adonis, shirtless and soaked to the bone; the combination almost leaves him steaming. Blaine's eyes dart to the entrance and he grins lopsidedly, beckoning Kurt further into the tent whilst groping for a towel.

"Hi, um sorry I should've told you where to meet me, you - I forgot." Blaine smiles sheepishly as Kurt strides towards him, nervous and jittery. "It's fine you would've found me eventually," Kurt pauses, grinning like the elated child he feels like right now, he's never felt so free, "you were err really good though, spectacular, really powerful, I just - loved it."

"Really?" Blaine asks honestly and he's modest, humble even though he can do stunning breathtaking things. He's confident and sure in his ability but he doesn't quite realise that he isn't just good, he's phenomenal. "Of course!" Kurt exclaims "If you think it wasn't your crazy!" Blaine ducks his head with a light laugh, "Hey I must be I literally play with fire." He swipes the towel across his shoulder blades and winces slightly.

His shoulders hunch and he quickly pulls the towel away, balling it up and throwing it in a basket in the corner. "Are you- are you hurt?" Kurt coaxes him to turn around with a hand on his bicep. Blaine's shoulders are scattered with dozens of tiny round burns. "It's fine," he starts "they heal pretty quick. It's just the cascade, there's no way to keep the sparks from making contact with your skin."

"If it was going to hurt you then why did you do it?"

"Because I couldn't resist the opportunity to impress you." Blaine shrugs.

"You were watching me?" Kurt whispers astonished and Blaine cranes his head over one shoulder to be able to look at him. His eyes are bright, kind and oh so honest. "With every glance I could spare without risking accidentally setting myself on fire."

"Yet you thought burning yourself would impress me?"

"I never said it was a good idea. Clearly I didn't heed my parents' warning about not playing with matches."

Kurt laughs breathlessly before placing his hands hesitantly on the centre of Blaine's back. A slight tremor ripples through him and Kurt marvels at all the bare skin, feeling the shifting bones, muscle and tendons underneath. His skin is still hot despite being splashed with cold water and chilling in the bitter air. "You're so hot." Kurt murmurs in awe and then immediately wants to slap himself.

Blaine smirks and turns to face him, guiding Kurt's hands by the wrists to rest on his chest before wrapping his arms around his waist. "Thanks, I do try." Blaine says airily stepping closer and Kurt grins. He can smell smoke and feel the scorching heat of Blaine's skin, the rhythmic beat of his heart as it rests beneath his palms. Kurt's eyes flick down to the lush bow of Blaine's lips and taking that as a signal they lean in.

Blaine hovers over Kurt's lips, hot breath making the skin tingle before he presses their lips together. They fall into it like they've been kissing for years a sure hard press that sends sparks racing to every corner of their bodies. Blaine's lips part on a breathy groan and Kurt traces his bottom lip with his tongue before delving inside where it's hot and slick and he feels as if he's melting right there in Blaine's arms.

Blaine pulls back first, eyes wide and startled like he doesn't really know where the audacity to just swoop in and kiss Kurt came from. There's no doubt he's enamoured by this boy and he's not likely to let him go but the Un Spectacle de Joie is moving on in three days.

"You're something else Fire Boy." Kurt whispers.

"As are you Blue Eyes." Blaine mumbles and they don't say anything else for a while they just stare at each other, trying to gleam information from the other's eyes in a single look, trying to figure out a path that they can take now some certainty on where everything they've shared will go.

"Kurt I-" Blaine starts quietly "I want you to know that even though I'm just some scruffy circus performer this isn't a regular thing for me. I don't go around seducing beautiful boys in every town we stop at, this means something to me, you mean something to me."

Kurt lets out a shaky breath. It scares him to think that they've only known each other one night yet they were talking and holding one another like lovers. "But the show is moving out and I would be honoured if you'd-"

"I'll go with you." Kurt interrupts.

"No, you won't." Blaine's eyes pleaded with him.

"Oh and why's that?"

"Because you're not a runaway."

"And you are?"

"Yes." Blaine breathes out as a brief flicker of pain flashes across his features.

"It's just- I know it's a lot to ask but will you wait for me? I'll call and I'll write to you and I'll only be gone for two weeks." Blaine begs and his eyes burn into Kurt's. He doesn't think he'd be able to say no even if he wanted to. Blaine really is something else. Kurt stares and doesn't say anything and Blaine begins to panic, scared that he's crossed some proverbial line but he's too far gone to take it back.

"If you wait, if I haven't screwed everything up and you still want me," Blaine pauses, breathes deeply and tightens his grip on Kurt's waist, "I can stop running."

He's willing to go back, to make amends, fix things and chase down his demons for this. If Kurt is even half the boy Blaine suspects he is. Kurt doesn't realise just how breathtaking he is. Blaine uses props and dangerous stunts and a fiery showbiz smile to impress and dazzle and worm his way into the hearts of crowds and colleagues. It's hard to identify where the showman stops and where just Blaine begins and it's Kurt's ability to be so unapologetically himself that has captivated him so entirely. He spotted him from a mile off, dressed impeccably but that smile, sparkling and accompanied with the most adorable dimples stole the show. But those eyes, a plethora of greens and blues and greys, cool as they gazed in wonder at him through the flames could just maybe steal his heart.

Kurt still hasn't said anything and Blaine curses himself, berates himself for being so pushy, so desperate. He goes to apologise, to pull away and stutter through a broken heart and the inevitable goodbye.

But it never comes; Kurt pulls Blaine in with arms around his neck and kisses him hard and fierce, playfully nipping at his bottom lip and then soothing it with teasing flicks of his tongue. When Kurt pulls back his grin is blinding and Blaine feels heat flare in his chest.

"I'll wait for you." He says carefully, as if what he's found at the Un Spectacle de Joie is something sacred, a flame he's determined to keep from going out. "I'm never saying goodbye to you Fire Boy."