He was almost mostly conscious when the sound of her voice trickled down the hall, calling his name.

Most of him wanted to ignore it, snuggle back down into the perfect warm cocoon of his bed and go back to sleep. The moment he moved, a flash of pain drew him right back to almost-awake, and he groaned against his pillow. Right. Sore back, sore shoulders, too long bent over the draft table.

An absent voice in the back of his head wondered grumpily if she'd brought some damn coffee with her, because he didn't really want to face sunday morning without it.

He curled his fists around the pillow and pushed it against his face.

Wait, why do my hands hurt?

"You won't believe the night I had!" Her voice was loud and clear this time, coming closer. "Kurt? Are you in the shower? I can hear singing!"

The pipes groaned as the shower shut off.

His eyes flew open.

Oh crap.

"Kurt?"

He was on his feet and stumbling to the door in a heartbeat, blankets and pillows flying across the room as he scrambled for the handle, gripping the frame and pulling himself through to the hallway.

When he made it out of his room, he froze.

She was standing perfectly still, eyes impossibly huge and jaw hanging as she stared through the open bathroom door.

"Rachel," Kurt snapped, but even that didn't draw her attention. He closed the gap between them, grappling for her shoulders. "Rachel, I can explain, he's-"

"Ohhh my," she breathed, still unable to look away from the bathroom.

"Rachel!" he tried again, and jolted when the loud trilling twitter of birdsong echoing off tile suddenly pierced the air.

Kurt turned around in front of her to look, and felt the blood drain from his face.

Blaine.

Blaine was damp. And naked.

Naked Blaine was standing in the middle of his bathroom. With only a towel for modesty.

It hadn't even been drawn around his waist, he was just holding it in front of himself over his stomach and thighs, the cream of the fabric so bright against his smooth, tan skin, supple and shimmering in the morning sunlight with beads of water clinging here and there. The exposed curve of his ass was high and firm, leading up into the muscle of his back and two dimples either side.

Kurt choked silently, unable to blink.

The birds in his bathroom fluttered around Blaine's head and twittered at him incessantly. He watched them with bright and eager eyes as he listened intently and nodded.

"I understand, thank you!" he told them with a smile, pulling the towel around himself at last. "It's always wonderful to meet new friends. Thank you for your welcome!"

The birds chirped at him again, swooping around him in one last circle before they disappeared out the open bathroom window. Tying his towel, Blaine turned around.

"Kurt!" he said, face bright and open in a giant smile. "This room is truly magical. How did you harness the waterfall?" he asked, pointing to the shower.

Kurt stammered, blinking rapidly. "I… I… there's…"

"I made some new friends, they heard my song and came to sing with me!" he enthused. "They told me of New York, and how much there is to see! What an incredible kingdom this is."

Rachel was tugging on Kurt's shirt frantically, letting out tiny squealing noises. He used both hands to slap at her blindly and shush her, keeping her mostly hidden behind him.

"I - that's… nice, Blaine, I - you should … get dressed and I'll… we can… oh god."

Kurt dove forward, grabbing the door handle and pulling it shut frantically before he wheeled around and dragged a giddy, squealing Rachel back out to the living room.

"Where did you find him and where can I get one?" she asked through giggling shrieks.

He shushed her again with an aggravated hiss. "It's a long story, okay. He's just - he needed my help."

"Oh, I bet he did," she said, leaning around him to peer down the hall.

"Rachel!" Kurt scolded her. "It's not like that. He was attacked."

"Oh my god!" she cried. "Is - he okay? Are you okay? Kurt, what happened? I told you not to walk home on your own, I told you! Did you use the pepper spray?!"

He sighed, still reeling from the madness of last five minutes. "He's fine, I'm fine. Nobody got seriously hurt. The pepper spray worked wonderfully, thank you. He just… he didn't have a place to stay."

She studied him carefully. "So you two didn't…?"

"What? No!" Kurt said, unable to fight the blush that crept up from his neck to his hairline. "It's not like that, he … he's a little. Unhinged."

"Unhinged?" she asked, and then snorted quietly to herself. "He looked pretty well hinged to me."

"RACHEL!"

"Sorry, sorry." She waved both hands, but the smile she failed to hide betrayed her actual apology.

Kurt heaved a breath, closing his eyes. "He thinks… he honestly believes he's an actual prince. He thinks he comes from a far-away land, and that he has to find a princess, and that he's going to be king."

"Shut. Up!" Rachel stared at him, mouth agape.

"Oh, I wish I was kidding," Kurt said, and pointed to the table. "He has a sword. And a cape."

"Oh my god." Rachel pressed both hands to her cheeks. "But wait, no," she turned back, "what if he's a renaissance player? Like, from an art installation or maybe he's performance art. Or he's just dedicated to his character, now, that's dedication - convincing a total stranger to take you in!"

"He's a lunatic!" Kurt hissed.

"Yes, but he's very nice," she countered with a smile.

"He is. Beautiful. And crazy," Kurt conceded. "And I need to get him out of here."

Rachel was beaming at him with a glint in her eye, the way she did when she thought she knew something.

"What?" he snapped.

"You like him," she teased.

"Don't be ridiculous," he said. "You're the one going on about how pretty you think he is!"

"Oho, no," she held up a finger, "I never said pretty. I said nice."

He waved a hand dismissively. "I knew what you meant, it's the same thing."

"No it's not," she shot back. "But it's funny how you heard it. Because I just said nice, but you…"

"What?"

"You said beautiful," Rachel finished, perching a hand on her hip.

Kurt froze, mouth open and poised to argue, but no words would come.

She grinned, jutting out her chin in victory as she smoothed down the lines of her dress.

"Shut up." He glowered at her. "It doesn't matter, look, I need to get him out of here. He needs help, or … a pumpkin carriage or something. Anything. I don't care."

"Princess!"

They both turned at once at the sound of Blaine's voice.

He was standing in the arch of the door, his flawless princely self once again in blue and silver, hair perfectly tamed and eyes bright with wonder.

"You're here!" he exclaimed.

Rachel blinked. "Me?"

"Here I've barely begun my search and I've already found you," Blaine gushed, gliding smoothly towards them.

"Oh god," Kurt groaned with a roll of his eyes, moving away.

With a bright, surprised smile, Rachel let Blaine take both her hands and lift them up in his own as he began,
"I've been searching so long,
for a love and a song,
to sing in a sweet heart's duet,"

Kurt covered his face with his hand. "Oh god, is he singing?"

"Uhuh," she said through clenched teeth.

"When two hearts are one,
and all songs are sung,
in the very first moment we met,"

"Ohhh-kay," Rachel hushed him gently, closing her hand over his mouth. "That's very, very sweet, and you have a beautiful voice. But let's just…" She lead him over to the couch. "Let's just not with the singing for now, okay?"

He nodded, smiling as he sat beside her. "Of course, fair princess, what ever you wish."

"I'm going to go…" Kurt gestured vaguely towards the kitchen, his voice dropping into a barely audible mumble. "Shoot myself."

Rachel gave him a sympathetic wince as he left, and returned her attention to Blaine. "Now, what's your name?"

"My dearest princess, I am Prince Blaine, of the Sovereign Kingdom of Daltasia," he explained seriously, pressing his hand to his heart. "I seek a princess to join me on the throne."

"Uhuh, okay," she shifted slightly, "and which company do you work with?"

He blinked at her. "I'm sorry?"

"Theatre company? Renaissance program?" she asked carefully, searching his face. "Where did you come from?"

"I am from Daltasia," he reiterated, enunciating carefully.

"I'm from Narnia, myself," Kurt added dryly from the kitchen, and Rachel forced down a laugh.

Blaine smiled at the sound of Kurt's voice, leaning up to see if he could spot him, and Rachel watched him carefully as he craned his neck in curiosity.

"I don't know of this Narnia, where is it? Is it a grand kingdom, like this one?"

Rachel caught the exasperated huff from Kurt, and decided on action.

"Prince Blaine?"

"Yes, princess?" he returned his attention to her immediately.

"Why don't you come with me, for a walk in the park," she said, lifting herself to her feet and guiding him to follow. "Get you out of the apartment for awhile, some fresh air, sunshine. Kurt needs some time to wake up properly, and you can tell me about Daltasia."

"Of course, princess! Your heart's desire is my own," he said genuinely.

She pressed her mouth together in a thin line, amusement shining in her eyes.

"Kurt!" she shouted. "We're going for a walk in the park, so you can wake up in peace."

"But-"

"Coffee's on the table," she called back, dress swaying around her knees as she swept out the door and pulled Blaine along with her.

By the time Kurt reached the living room, the door was slipping shut, and the shuffle of their feet gave way to silence. He blinked numbly at the empty space, and glanced over to the table where two coffees sat in a little cardboard holder alongside the folded mass of Blaine's cape, set neatly atop his gloves and sword.

"But…"

He tried to process exactly what had just happened.

Blaine was going to the park with Rachel. For a walk. With Rachel. Because he thought Rachel was his princess.

Kurt tried to fight the nausea that rose in him when he remembered Blaine's face in that hallway the moment he'd seen her.

Rachel was his princess. Of course she was. It's not like fairytale princes knew any better than that. See a beautiful girl, fall in love. Isn't that how it worked?

He scoffed, scooping up his coffee and taking a sip. It didn't mean anything. Rachel wasn't a princess. She'd set him straight, she'd explain it all. She always had her own unique way of making even the craziest things make sense.

Still, his stomach churned. Why did it have to be Rachel?

He ran his fingers over the fabric of the cape, smoothing out the lines as his thoughts wandered over warm hands in his and huge hazel eyes. The cape was soft and silky to the touch, strange but familiar at the same time.

He wiped the dopey smile off his face the moment he realised it was there, mentally kicking himself. What is wrong with you?

The apartment was too quiet all morning, and he felt the silence weighing heavy all around him, even through his shower and morning routine. He found himself stopping too often and staring into space as his mind wandered back over the previous evening, over every lingering stare and slow breath, the flashes of light in those huge, beautiful eyes.

He's looking for a princess. You're making this up in your head.

Kurt kept a spotless apartment even at the very worst of times, but he'd still cleaned it again twice before they got back.

When the door clicked and slid open he scrambled in his seat, finding the nearest book and opening it to a random page, doing his best to look inconspicuous and not at all like he'd been sitting there staring at the door for the last two hours.

"We're home!" Rachel called cheerily, gliding through the door and letting Blaine close it behind her as she slipped off her coat. "Kurt?"

"Hmm?" he looked up, managing his best 'interrupted' expression.

She smirked at him, eyes glittering as she looked at the book, and back up. "We had a lovely time in the park, didn't we Blaine?"

"It was amazing. Kurt, the park is a wondrous place," he exclaimed, hanging Rachel's coat for her.

"I'm sure it is," Kurt drawled.

"What have you been doing all day?" Rachel asked, a teasing note to her voice.

"I've been busy," Kurt said quickly. "Designs. Work calls. Reading."

"Your book is upside-down," she whispered, and Kurt dropped it like it was on fire, ignoring the peal of giggles as she pressed her hand to her face.

"Kurt, the city is amazing, I learned so much," Blaine gushed, dropping on to the couch beside him. "Did you know they have food in glass boxes that you can buy and eat? Twisted bread and sweet things I've never dreamed of, and people dressed as monsters and music everywhere, it - it was," he let out a shaky breath, overwhelmed. "It was magical."

Kurt couldn't help the smile on his face as he watched Blaine speak, stunned and a little awed at the passion and excitement in his voice.

"I know," he said softly. "It's a wonderful city. Sometimes."

Rachel inclined her head in a nod of agreement, and Kurt glanced at her when he caught the movement. A cold rush of envy swept through his veins again at the little adoring look she was giving Blaine.

"So you and your…" Kurt's eyes flicked down and up to Rachel again, "princess are going back to Fantasia?"

"Daltasia," Blaine corrected him kindly.

"Right."

"And the Lady Rachel has kindly explained to me that she is not a princess," Blaine said, face lined with disappointment. "I fear it was my mistake, I had… I had hoped it would be that easy."

"It's rarely easy, but it was sweet of you to think of me as a princess," Rachel said with a smile, and Blaine graced her with one in return.

"So you're not…" Kurt's voice trailed off.

"No," Rachel said, leaning in and patting his knee. "You seem to forget, I'm… spoken for."

"Again, my sincerest apologies for my mistake," Blaine insisted, leaning towards her. "If I had known-"

"It's fine," she said, holding up a hand. "But for now I should go, I have a dinner this evening and a show before that."

Kurt watched her glide away effortlessly, scooping up a different coat and changing over her bag.

"Kurt," Blaine said suddenly, and Kurt turned in his seat to find him far closer than he expected.

"Y-yes?"

"I fear I may have imposed on you far too much already, but I was wondering if you could help. I need… I don't know where to start looking."

"For…?"

"For a princess," Blaine said softly, his eyes almost cartoonish in size. He shook his head for a moment. "I don't seem to know them by sight alone, else I wouldn't have made such a mistake today."

"Why did you think Rachel was a princess?" Kurt asked quickly, shifting so they weren't quite so close together.

"See you tomorrow, boys! Have fun!" Rachel called as she swept out the door a second time.

Kurt ignored her, keeping his eyes on Blaine.

The prince watched her go, and sighed. "I don't see many young women around Daltasia, I know very little about them. I'm certain I am…" he let his eyes flicker down, like he was trying to figure out the right words, "supposed to know? Supposed to feel the surge in my chest of love or affection for the right girl. The right princess. But I haven't felt it yet."

Kurt paused, eyeing him carefully before he drew a very deliberate breath. "You felt it for Rachel?"

His face fell. "I …"

Kurt felt his stomach churn again.

"I don't think so, no."

Staring, Kurt tried to dim the shrill cry of victory in the back of his head.

"I thought - she seemed like a beautiful lady, but I didn't feel…" he wet his lips, trying to work through it in his head. "I thought if I did what I was supposed to do, if I … courted her like I was supposed to, that it would happen. That's how it works, isn't it?" he asked imploringly, eyes desperate and confused.

Kurt smiled weakly. "Not really."

"I have so much to learn," Blaine lamented quietly. "I feel like a fool for kissing her."

Kurt froze.

Something in chest twisted grotesquely, a strange awkward flutter that left him raw. "You- did what?"

Blaine nodded guiltily. "I thought that was what I was supposed to do. You find the princess. You share true love's kiss. It… wasn't what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Kurt asked, trying to curb the irritation in his voice and failing.

"For my heart to soar," he breathed, eyes unfocused and mouth curling into a dreamy smile. "My pulse to race, my head to spin, I expected… love."

Kurt rolled his eyes, pulling himself up from the couch and collecting his dropped book to rest it on a lamp table. "It's just a fairytale."

Blaine watched him move, nodding. "My mother told me many fairy stories when I was a child, they all say the same thing. The prince, the princess, the magic of true love. Marriage. Happily ever after."

"They're just stories," Kurt sighed. "It's more complicated than that."

Blaine's brow fell into puzzlement. "Complicated?"

"Yes," Kurt insisted. "You can't just - see somebody and know. Love at first sight, it doesn't happen. There is no happily ever after."

The look on Blaine's face was dark, and entirely new. He spoke very slowly. "Of course there is."

"No," Kurt said, leaning in. "There isn't."

Blaine wet his lips, eyes low. "Why are you saying this?"

"Because I'm frustrated," Kurt almost shouted, throwing his arms up.

"W-what?"

"Don't you ever get frustrated?" Kurt asked.

"F- frustrated?" Blaine tried the word on his tongue.

"Angry. Fed up." Kurt clarified. "Frustrated."

Blaine considered for a moment. "I'm familiar with the words but-"

"But of course you don't," Kurt sighed in exasperation, and covered his face with his hands. "Because everything for you is sunshine and bird song and true love happily ever after."

Blaine smiled softly. "What's wrong with that?"

"What's…?" Kurt gaped at him. "It's not real, Blaine. It's a fantasy."

He flinched. "Kurt, please, why are you saying that? Of course it's real."

"No," Kurt shook his head. "It's not. Not here."

With a look of incomparable hurt, Blaine curled in on himself, folding his arms tight across his chest. "Then… perhaps it's best I find my way back to Daltasia."

Kurt let out a soft, humourless laugh, rubbing his eyes.

Blaine seemed to find some new resolve at that, and straightened. He moved from the couch, sweeping smoothly over to the table and gathering his things, slowly putting them on one by one.

As he watched, Kurt couldn't fight the rising heat in his throat, flashing in warning. Stop him.

When Blaine turned, he lifted his chin, hand diving to hold the hilt of his sword. "I am a man of my word, and a man of honour. I promised I would only impose on you one night, and I meant it. I will go."

Kurt eyed him for a moment, unsure. "That's probably for the best."

With a curt nod, Blaine turned and moved to the doorway, pulling it open and stopping halfway through to look back. "Kurt."

He looked up to catch the prince's eye.

"Thank you, for everything you've done. I would have been lost without you here," he said, and smiled just as sweetly as the first time Kurt saw him. His eyes were bright and soft as he spoke reverently. "I wish you… every happiness."

Kurt paused, wordless and cold in the empty space as the door slipped closed.

"Blaine," he called softly.

There was no answer.

Go after him, his heart cried.

Kurt swallowed against the lump in his throat, the war caught somewhere between his head and his chest leaving him numb and glued to the spot.

He drew a quick breath, closing his eyes, and letting himself say it out loud: "I do not believe in fairytales."