Birdsong inexplicably wakes Blaine. Gentle light falls upon his closed eyelids. Warmth behind him and movement. A hand on his shoulder, lightly smoothing down his upper arm and taking the sheet with it. A kiss, then. Soft lips and breath on the side of his neck, the tickle of hair against his ear. The birds voices multiply and increase in volume: a melodic jumble of trills, chirps, and bell-like warbling. Blaine opens his eyes to a sunrise.

"Good morning," Kurt murmurs against Blaines skin.

The sunrise is painted on the wall Blaine faces as he lies on his side in Kurts bed. Its an illuminating gradient from buttery yellow to limpid blue to the deeper steel remnants of night. The sun has not yet broken over the horizon. Silhouettes of trees stand before the light. Even knowing its a simulation doesnt detract from its splendor.

"Good morning," Blaine answers, and he stretches as Kurt moves closer until theyre pressed, bare skin to bare skin. Its the most luxurious sensation, the ease of sleep-fogged repose, the comfortable closeness, the smooth warmth of Kurts body.

Kurt hums against Blaines shoulder blade and his hand drifts over Blaines chest. The sky brightens and blushes, and Blaine flushes warmer when Kurts fingertips circle a nipple and the semi-hard curl of Kurts cock against his buttocks pulses and shifts, growing harder. Its early enough, Blaine doesnt need to get up yet. The first bright sliver of the sun breaches the border of land, streaming bright, so Blaine lets his eyes slip shut again, listens to the birdsong, and gives himself over to Kurts touch.

"How are you feeling?" Kurt asks him, his hand having trailed down to Blaines belly. His fingertips stroke idly along the line of hair below Blaines navel.

Memories of last night filter back in response to both the question and Kurts caresses. Sense memory rouses more heat in Blaines body. His penis throbs and thickens, and he remembers vividly the night before. It all happened just hours ago.

Kurt had pushed him to his back and hovered over him with a gaze so sharp, it pinned Blaine, breathless and helpless. "Id like to put my mouth on your cock. Is that all right?" Kurt asked, and his hand resumed its maddening slow play over the head of Blaines penis.

Never had Blaine heard of or imagined a person doing such a thing. But with the nimble work of Kurts fingers bringing such an urgent need for more substantial contact, a sober evaluation of the proposed action was impossible. The only thing Blaine could say was, "Yes."

The recollection catches in Blaines lungs as he tries to answer Kurts present question with more eloquence. He steadies his breath. "This is a nice way to wake up," he says.

Kurt smiles against his shoulder. "With me or the sunrise?"

"Mm, both?" Blaine says, and he twists his head to try to catch a glimpse of Kurt. Kurt lifts up and leans over to meet him, kisses the corner of his mouth.

"Keep your thighs together for me?" Kurt murmurs, and he moves his hand low between them.

"Okay," Blaine says.

Kurt guides the wet tip of his cock down between Blaines buttocks, and Blaine shivers at it, ticklish and pleasurable—startlingly so as it nudges past his anus—and intimate. And then Kurt presses forward with more force and his cock pushes its way between Blaines thighs until it just grazes his balls and Blaine gasps at the bright shock of heat that floods his body. Kurt moves his hips in a single slow-measured thrust.

"May I fuck you like this?" Kurt asks, and reaches around to take Blaines cock in hand.

"Yes, whatever you want," Blaine says.

Kurt laughs softly. "We dont have time for all of what I want, but… mm. I do enjoy a good morning quickie." He picks up a rhythm between Blaines thighs that push-pulls Blaines cock within his firm grip.

"Im definitely… uh… enjoying what youre doing," Blaine says.

Its not long before Blaine comes, so easily, swiftly overwhelmed by how his body responds to Kurts. Kurt holds him close through his orgasm and after. Blaine hangs in bliss while Kurt drives himself more emphatically against Blaines body, and—even sated—Blaine relishes Kurt finding such pleasure with him, of using their bodies together to create and share this physical joy.

After Kurts climaxed, wet and hot between Blaines thighs, and after hes caught his breath, he doesnt pull Blaine into an embrace to lie together in the relaxing cool down, but instead he shifts up and asks Blaine, "Come shower with me?"

.

Kurts shower must be designed for sharing. Its spacious and there are two extra jets for water that Kurt turns on. No one else has bathed Blaine since he was a young toddler, but its easy to relax into Kurts hands, scrubbing a rich lather over his body, massaging shampoo into his hair, and even washing his genitals without any discernible intention to arouse.

Blaine remains calm and content until Kurt soaps between his buttocks with a bare hand and lingers at his anus with a warm, slippery fingertip. Its possible Kurts just being thorough, but the way hes looking at Blaines face is curious, and the motion of his finger slows into deliberation. It feels so strange in its delicate, thrilling compulsion.

"Are you enjoying this?" he asks Blaine, pressing more firmly.

"I… oh," Blaine shivers and blinks water from his eyes. "Um?"

"Some people like it, but not everyone," Kurt says conversationally. "Its okay if you dont, but its also okay if you do."

Blaine lets his head list forward to Kurts shoulder, and Kurt just keeps up the slow circling rub around his rim. "Do you like it?" Blaine asks with a whisper thats barely audible over the rush of the hot water.

"I do, but Im more interested in how you feel about it."

"I think so, yes?"

Kurt turns his head and presses a watery kiss to Blaines temple. "Good. Its something we can explore together later, hmm?"

"Yeah," Blaine exhales against Kurts wet skin and Kurt reaches to detach one of the nozzles and rinses them both off.

.

Blaine dresses and smooths his hair as best he can. Hell return to his own rooms to finish preparing for the morning. He still has over an hour, and its an unexpected pleasure watching Kurt get himself ready for his day.

The care Kurt takes in selecting and considering his clothes and accessories is like watching a kind of a meditation in motion. He ends up in white trousers made from a cloth so fine theyre translucent, and all the seams are visible against Kurts skin—as is the line of his briefs cutting across the swell of his backside. Its hard not to stare.

With the unsettlingly revealing trousers, Kurt pairs a bishop-sleeved shirt in iridescent royal purple. Its, in contrast to the trousers, a more opaque fabric that holds its saturated color vividly. Over it, Kurt dons a black waistcoat embossed with a sinuous botanical pattern. It laces tightly up the back, accentuating his slim waist and broad shoulders. Polished black heeled boots follow, a scarf of silver satin knotted at his throat, and a sparkling orange brooch of a fish upon his breast.

.

Once Kurt is dressed, they sit at Kurts small dining table sharing strong bitter coffee mixed with steamed milk, a sweet yellow bread, and fresh fruit. Kurt offers to make Blaine a poached egg or hot cereal, but Blaine declines. Hell eat a more substantial meal with the Ambassador later. With a warm smile, Kurt splits a wrinkled red fruit with his thumbs and passes half to Blaine. It has a fuzzy bitter skin, but a luscious sweet flesh. "Youre thinking again, I can tell," Kurt says, and he sucks the juice from his thumb.

Blaines cheeks heat and he looks down at his mug. Its both disconcerting and rewarding how well Kurt can read him. "Yes," Blaine says. "Theres been a lot on my mind."

"Work or us or…?"

"A little bit of everything," Blaine says, and he starts with the easy things. "Was that the sunrise from the Capitol?"

Kurt shakes his head. "No, that was home on Lima, the view from my bedroom in the house I grew up in."

"Ah," Blaine says. "So thats your sky?"

"Yes, it is," Kurt says. "Its ironic. When I was growing up there, it all felt so dull and small and stagnant. The largest city, Pax Colombae, was a three hour trip on the vactrain and less than a tenth the size of the Capitol. I was overjoyed to get away from Lima. But once I moved to the Capitol and started traveling with the councilor, I became homesick for the quiet of it all. So its become a good way to start the day for me." Kurt shrugs. "As well as a reminder of where I come from."

"Are you homesick still?"

"Not as much as I once was. But I do sometimes wish…" Kurt trails off with a wistful exhalation and a flicker of sadness in his eyes. "Ive been away for a few years now, and Im worried about losing it altogether before I have a chance to return. Home is still home."

Its the first time Kurt has spoken directly about the war as it impacts him, and Blaine wants very much to be able to reassure him. But theres nothing concrete or certain he can share with Kurt. "I hope youre able to return sometime soon then," Blaine says. "It looks beautiful and restful."

"Only for a holiday," Kurt says. " Dont get me wrong, it has its charms," Kurt says. "If youre into wide open sky and pursuing the quietly industrious idyllic life."

Blaine laughs. "I dont know, I might enjoy that," Blaine says. "For a little while anyway." He catches Kurts eye. "They must be doing something right on Lima, if such a place produces someone like you."

With a grin, Kurt ducks his head and his cheeks color prettily. "Youre certainly getting better at flirting, Blaine." Then Kurt looks at him with something shyer and more candid in his gaze that Blaine hasnt seen before. "I wish I could take you home with me for a holiday," Kurt says. "We could spend weeks with nothing to do but make love to each other, enjoy all the amazing local food and wine, and go for walks under the sky and stars together. The wildflowers in the growing season are such a spectacle. We could go then. We could take picnics and make love in the meadow under the lilac trees."

Its a lovely fantasy, but it comes with a sharp stab of sadness too, "I doubt well have time for that," Blaine says.

"Oh, dont spoil my daydream with too much reality, please," Kurt says, but hes still smiling as he refills his cup.

Blaine nods in acknowledgment of Kurts words, and considers his reply with care. "It just reminded me of how little time we do have together," he says. "This is—whats between us—its so finite, Kurt." he says. "Of course, we can correspond after I return to Apathea, and I hope we do, but this time spent together, its not long at all. Certainly not enough for me to see Lima with you. Realizing thats impossible? I suppose Im wondering how Im going to say goodbye to you, when the time comes."

Kurts smile diminishes, but it doesnt vanish. It becomes more tender, if anything. "Thats a lot to be thinking about at breakfast," Kurt says softly. "I prefer to focus more on making the most of the time we have than prematurely grieving for the end of it."

"The Ambassador advised me not to pursue anything the loss of which I couldnt bear. So Im only trying to prepare myself to lose you. Its… a way to avoid pain," Blaine explains.

Kurt frowns. "That also sounds like a way to avoid happiness," he says.

"You think so?" Blaine says. "But life has enough trial and difficulty, isnt it better to not add to it if we can help it?"

With a wry shake of his head Kurt replies, "Its a matter of balance, Blaine. Do you want to know how Ill feel when we part? Ill be sad, of course I will be. But most of all Ill be grateful."

"Grateful?"

"Look, Blaine. We have the next four days until we get to the Capitol, and then the five days youre there, and then the journey back. Its enough time for us to enjoy each other and make many wonderful memories. And isnt that one of the best things we can do for each other and our lives? Pursue good experiences that leave us with good memories?"

"Oh," Blaine says. "I hadnt thought about it that way."

"And now you have," Kurt says brightly.

.

Back in his quarters, Blaine does his hair and changes into a fresh uniform. Its so much quieter in his solitude after being so long and close with Kurt. The dark colors and muted lighting are cold and stark, and the coarse synthetic wool of his tunic is harsh under his fingers after the silken heat of Kurts body. The high collar around his neck is too stiff, almost cruel, compared to the tender press of Kurts mouth.

This is what it will be to lose Kurt, Blaine realizes. Hell have the memories, yes, but set against his reality, how is he to reconcile them? Is it possible to be both sad and grateful, to carry on with his life without having to make himself forget?

He doesnt want to forget. Blaine knows that much. Even now, he can close his eyes and remember the way Kurt kissed him last night, deep and languorous and hungry, and how those kisses had moved down his body. How Kurt had applied himself to Blaines nipples, licking and sucking. It had seemed, at first, a strange focus for Kurts attention, but for the way the sensation arced beneath Blaines skin, feeding into the deep desire growing in Blaines belly. Feeding, too, the needful ache between his legs, until Blaine was gasping, "Please…"

"Please?" Kurt had asked him, one loose hand skimming down Blaines penis.

"I dont know," Blaine said.

"I do," Kurt replied. And he kissed down Blaines belly until he was dipping his tongue tip in Blaines navel and Blaines cock was surging against the tender skin of his throat and Kurt said, "So you know what to ask for, Blaine, the word for what Im about to do for you is fellatio."

"Fellatio," Blaine repeated to the ceiling. And then Kurts mouth was on him, so hot, liquid, and enveloping, and the pleasure was so severe and sudden, Blaine believed for an instant he would lose his mind or pass out. It seemed impossible to endure.

And he didnt, in the finish, endure it well. He came fast and hard, helpless to do anything but. Hed flooded Kurts mouth with his semen before he could warn Kurt of it.

To his embarrassment after, Kurt had smiled and said, "Its okay, Blaine. I prefer to swallow it," and, "Youre adorable, you know?" And then Kurt had kissed him, and Blaine had tasted it—himself—on Kurts tongue. Then Kurt had asked Blaine to masturbate him. "Take your time," Kurt said.

So Blaine lay on his side beside Kurt, one hand on Kurts penis, kissing his mouth and neck while stroking him, trying to replicate some of the agility hed enjoyed in Kurts hand on him. Shyly, hed ventured lower to kiss Kurts nipples (which elicited the most rewarding sighs of pleasure and restless tension in Kurts body). Blaine had watched his hand on Kurt while wondering about putting his mouth there. He didnt, but he had watched Kurt come, watched the way the semen pulsed from his penis and spilled upon his belly.

With his head resting upon Kurts chest, Blaine had watched Kurts cock soften in his hand. Then Kurt had reached down and dragged two fingertips through his own semen. He held them in front of Blaines face. When Blaine lifted his head, Kurt gently pressed his fingers to Blaines lips in silent offering. Curious, Blaine sought Kurts eyes, and Kurt held his gaze with a brief nod. To which Blaine replied by opening his mouth and Kurt slid his fingers inside to give Blaine a taste—

The ding of Blaines rig reminds him its time to go out and prepare the room for the Ambassador. Disoriented by the abrupt transition back to his present, Blaine opens his eyes to see himself, in front of the mirror in the bathroom, his cheeks flushed and eyes dark. Between his legs his penis is heavy. Its good that the uniform tunic is long. He presses a cold cloth to his face and wills his body to calm itself.

.

Blaine has all the relevant new reports collected and sorted by priority for the Ambassador by the time she comes out. He sends them to her account, and pours her tea.

"You didnt sleep here last night," she observes.

Though Blaine knows its unavoidable that his privacy be compromised, he still flinches and has to steady his breath to reply. "No, maam, I did not."

He hears the rustle of her clothes as she shifts back in her seat. "Is this going to become a problem, Blaine?"

"No, maam," he says.

"And yet, the summary I received from you yesterday suggested you were distracted at some points during the afternoon meetings."

"I apologize," Blaine says. "I admit I was feeling unwell yesterday afternoon, but I promise you that any source of distraction has been resolved."

Over the rim of her teacup the Ambassador studies him with a raised eyebrow. "How charmingly oblique," she says, and theres amusement in her voice. "Im proud of you, but make sure youre getting enough sleep."

Blaine has to bite down on the smile that threatens to break his professional demeanor. "I understand," he says.

"Now, I need you to work closely with me today, so shall we get started?"

"Of course."