Two weeks went by before Kurt had the chance to visit the coffee shop again. He had missed it, having someone to talk to, regardless of the fact that it was just for a few short hours. Maybe the fact that he felt so lost all of a sudden was an indication of the fact that he needed to broaden his social horizons, or perhaps it simply meant that he should attempt another conversation with Blaine. Being a fairly reserved type of person, Kurt decided on the latter.

It was one of those rare days when Kurt had no classes and his workload had been diminished the day before. Feeling nothing short of complete and utter pride – that mock exam had been a mammoth task in itself, let alone the load of assignments he also had had due – Kurt decided that he deserved some more of the delicious cheesecake that had brightened up his day two weeks previously. He just hoped that the dashing young gentleman who so kindly gave it to him was there also.

Blaine flicked idly through the pages of the latest Vogue edition, wrinkling his nose at one of the more garish ensembles displayed on the page. Business was too busy for him to lose himself in his latest novel, yet too slow for him to be in so much demand that he didn’t notice. These were the worst kind of days, and the fact that each customer’s first comment was “lovely day, isn’t it?” pissed him off even more. Maybe he was just being petulant, or maybe the shine of the city was finally wearing off and Blaine was actually seeing that this was now his life. Free from constraints yet still so limited and, well, basic.

The gentle clearing of a throat interrupted his musings and Blaine looked up, startled, his gentlemanly reflexes kicking into gear immediately.

“Oh! Oh, man I’m so sorry,” he fumbled with his words as he picked up the Vogue copy that had fallen to the floor before realizing who his customer was. “Kurt! Wow, it’s good to see you again!”

The other man blushed slightly and tugged at the strap attached to his bag before smiling lightly.

“I um, I finished all of my work so,” he cleared his throat again, casting his eyes towards his (admittedly fabulous) boots, “I, er, thought I might treat myself to some of that cheesecake.” He met Blaine’s eyes briefly before his boots regained his attention.

“Ah, so it was real commitments that kept you from coming back. I was beginning to think my attempts at cooking had scared you off,” Blaine said with feigned nonchalance, his instinct telling him that gentle reassurance was needed to make conversation easier for Kurt. “Nice to know that my cheesecake can be considered a study reward,” he added, grabbing a plate and placing a slice of cheesecake on it before sliding it over the counter towards a nervously smiling Kurt.

“Thanks, and a, er, a small mocha please too,” Kurt added, pulling his wallet out and sorting through for some change. Blaine nodded and set the machines to work, deliberately taking longer than he should to give himself time to survey the strange man in the mirrored menu.

Kurt really was quite handsome. His hair was swept into an elegant yet unassuming quiff, not enough to make him stand out in a crowd but enough to frame his face and make him look impressive. His stance was protective, he stood with his head lowered ever so slightly and his shoulders just a little hunched over. The glasz eyes, while beautiful, held a sort of distrust that couldn’t be denied even by the most unobservant of individuals. Without studying him you wouldn’t notice; he was perfectly put together, seemingly made to be strolling around New York, only Blaine got the impression that Kurt wouldn’t really stroll as much as step tentatively.

The coffee completed, Blaine spun back around and placed the cup onto the counter with a flourish, grinning as Kurt let out a small snort. So being goofy made him smile? Blaine could do that, it was worth a little self-humiliation to see the way that Kurt’s features lit up unguarded for a second.

“How much?” Kurt asked, his wallet at the ready.

“Oh don’t even think about it, you’re by far the most polite guy to walk in here trust me, the pleasure is mine.”

Kurt flushed again, opening his mouth to protest before Blaine silenced him again.

“I’m allowed to help myself to whatever I fancy so this is just me taking more than I can manage and offering it to the nearest customer, its fine Kurt,” he reassures him, but Kurt still looks apprehensive.

“I can pay for it,” he mutters into his hands. Blaine’s smile falters before flickering away altogether.

“I was just saying you don’t have to. If you want to pay then it’s six fifty, if not then the offer’s there.”

Kurt drops the money onto the counter and grabs his drink with a forced polite smile. He turns and Blaine guesses where he’s headed. The table in the corner with one chair, where you sit when you need to be alone. But Kurt didn’t come in to be alone, did he? He came asking for cheesecake and trying his best to be friendly (albeit an extremely nervous attempt), and Blaine will not let him spend his afternoon sat on the socially awkward table. No way.

“Hey, Kurt?”

He turns, swallowing a gulp of his drink and raising his eyebrows questioningly.

“Are you busy tomorrow night? I, er, I saw a new restaurant has opened a couple blocks away and I wanted to try it out. Would you be interested in accompanying me?” Blaine asks with all the confidence he can muster. If Kurt says no, it won’t have any effect on Blaine’s current lifestyle. He lives alone, he doesn’t really need friends so why is his stomach suddenly fluttering as though he is a teenage girl waiting for a response to a love note slipped in class? He keeps his smile fixed in face, careful to add in the hopeful element to remind the other man that Blaine isn’t just asking out of pity.

There is pregnant pause in which Blaine considers withdrawing his invite before –

“I’m not busy.”

Blaine grins and lets out a huff of air. “Great,” he breathes, his smile completely and utterly real this time. Kurt wants to go out to dinner with him. He will be spending an evening having a conversation with a man who genuinely fascinates him and he is actually excited for something since he left home months ago.

“But can I please pay for myself?” Kurt asks in a valiant attempt at sassiness but he just can’t pull it off with his lips curling upwards as he tries to control his smile. Blaine laughs then, because Kurt is actually quite funny when you get past the shy. Maybe Blaine will make a friend who is actually appropriate for him and needs his company in equal amounts. Joan will be thrilled.

“Hey sweetie, this is early isn’t it?” Carole says with a surprised tone, her eyes twinkling nonetheless.

“I needed your advice and you won’t interrogate me like Dad will,” Kurt explained, switching his phone off, not that it will be of much interruption.

Carole laughs and nods encouragingly at her stepson. Kurt takes a breath and continues.

“I’m going out to dinner with a guy tomorrow night,” he says proudly, still unable to get over the fact that someone as perfect as Blaine would even consider asking him out.

“Oh honey! Oh that’s brilliant!” Carole gushes, causing Kurt to laugh without even the attempt to hide how much of a relief it is that he isn’t completely invisible. “Is he cute?”

Kurt opens his mouth to answer but shakes his head.

“It doesn’t matter. He’s straight I think, although the amount of product in his hair does indicate otherwise, but he’s nice. He’s… charming I guess. He seems to want to just get to know me; I get the impression that he doesn’t see his family much. And he likes Vogue, and makes the best mochas in the entire city.”

“He sounds lovely, honey, but what did you need me for? Your Dad should be back in a few minutes,” Carole reminded him with a smile.

“It’s a little restaurant down a side street where they play live music every other night, and I have two outfit choices narrowed down with others to be considered,” Kurt briefs before holding the laptop so that Carole can see the two combinations currently hanging on his wardrobe doors.

“The one with the grey shirt and vest is nice, and those jeans always did suit you,” Carole suggests, nodding when Kurt holds it against himself so she can make out the contrast on his skin through the camera.

“It looks great, sweetie,” Carole assures him, before alerting him to his father’s arrival.

Two hours and a lot of catch up later, Kurt was closing the lid on his laptop and burrowing into bed. He smiled to himself as he nuzzled into the pillows to get more comfortable; tomorrow he would be going on a not-date dinner with a very attractive guy who didn’t seem to have any psychological issues that could cause him any potential harm, and who gave him some weird sense of security. Strange considering he had actually only spoken to him on two occasions, and yet here he was letting his walls down. But then again, maybe not everything in Kurt Hummel’s life had to be completely shit.