Blaine squirmed as he observed himself in the mirror. He was anxious, his stomach twisted in heavy knot. Everything just felt wrong, like he was going to completely screw everything up and on top of that Kurt kept pricking him with his damn needle.

The most recent of pokes sent Blaine whirling around and jabbing his friend in the shoulder.

"Ow! What- Blaine? What the hell?" Kurt shrieked rubbing his shoulder defensively and scowling at Blaine.

"You keep poking me with the needle Kurt!"

"Well if you would freaking hold still and let me pin these pants I wouldn't poke you" Kurt huffed gently pulling his shirt off his shoulder. "Blaaaiiinne!" Kurt whined as he examined the little red mark left in the wake of Blaine jab. Blaine immediately felt guilty and reached out to sooth Kurt's shoulder. He never wanted to hurt Kurt. Not ever.

'

"I'm sorry Kurt I didn't mean to. It's just I'm so nervous and you just kept poking me, granted I kept moving but…" Blaine spoke quietly as he stared determinately at the mark he had made on Kurt's alabaster skin, brushing over it carefully, back and forth. Back and for-

"Okay Blaine," Kurt cut through Blaine's trance with an awkward cough. He grabbed the hand that was still on his shoulder and placed it in both his hands as he leaned his head in search of Blaine's eyes.

Kurt's eyes were soft with concern and the slightest twinkle of humor. As soon as their eyes locked it was like a wave of relief washed through Blaine. In that moment, at least, there was nothing to worry about—nothing to fear—as long as he had Kurt and Kurt continued to look at him like that. His eyes, his smile, the firm hold of his hands around Blaine's, so sure and supportive, and caring. Blaine felt a warmth rush through him, which he decided to chalk up to Kurt being his best friend. He was there and he cared and he always would.

"-freaking me out. Oh my g-Blaine, are you even listening?" Blaine snapped out of his reverie smiling guiltily at his friend. He tried to brush it off with a shrug and turn back around so they could continue where they left off, but Kurt was having none of it.

"Okay what's going on Blainey? You're being weird." Blaine observed the crease between Kurt's eyebrows, the resolve in his eyes, his set jaw, and the thin line of his lips; he wasn't going to let this go.

Blaine sighed and shuffled over to Kurt's bed pulling said boy with him. They settled in next to each other, cross-legged on the soft comforter with knees touching and hands still firmly in each other's clutch.

"Okay." Blaine paused sighing dramatically.

How was he supposed to say this? He knew Kurt would be mad, at the very least concerned and the last thing he wanted was to worry Kurt, or to be snapped at. Kurt was scary when got into his rants. There was a lot of finger pointing and sharp hand gestures and if he was really passionate about something, sometimes his hair bounced and his face turned an angry red. Blaine couldn't' deny it was kind of adorable when Kurt got like that, but the side that was scared of it being directed at him was at the forefront of his mind telling him to make something up. Whispering into his minds ear to say it was his parents (Lord knows that was more than plausible) but this was Kurt, his best friend and they were always honest with each other no matter what.

"Okaaay?" Kurt urged, elongating the 'a' to convey his impatience.

"So I decided gotwouuuanceithTyler." If there was an award for actively avoiding eye contact the winner would be…

"Yeah, so you lost me somewhere in between 'gkajldfg' and 'gjalkgj'" Kurt mumbled his words purposefully in an attempt to mimic Blaine.

"I'm going to the dance with Tyler. I decided I would go with him" Blaine enunciated slowly.

"Tyler."

It wasn't a question

"Yes."

Silence.

"But, what about— Blaine, the kids in our schools aren't very…tolerant. Don't you think this could make things worse?"

"It's not—" He stopped himself. He wasn't going to tell that lie because yeah, it was bad—sometimes worse than he'd let on.

"We'll be at a school dance with chaperones and faculty and it's not like we're going to dance together, I just, I don't want to go alone Kurt, and it could be fun…to go with someone like me—to have a friend there with me."

Since Kurt was now in the 9th grade and attending McKinley High he couldn't accompany Blaine to the middle school homecoming dance. Blaine wasn't going to go at first, but then Tyler Watters walked up to him between third and fourth hour blushing furiously, eyes wide all hope and nerves, and asked him to go to the dance. Kurt and Blaine had talked about this for exactly two weeks. Kurt making it his daily mission to come up with reasons why it was on the list of worst ideas ("after teen mom and crocs") since things hadn't exactly been a bowl of sunshine and giggles when everyone found out about him.

"One: You don't have to go alone; you don't have to go at all; you can stay with me and watch reruns of RuPaul's. Two: You just came out Blaine."

"Okay, I didn't come out, I was outed. They outed me, and then alienated me. I-I w-wasn't even ready, and I don't have anyone anymore, barely anyone talks to me, and it' like I'm some k-kind of walking disease. Tyler, he knows what that feels like—he gets it—and he's looking for someone who understands too. I know I could just stay here with you, but where would that leave Tyler? What if he doesn't have someone like you? Please understand that, I don't want to fight about this."

Blaine, to the very core of his being, was kind. That was something Kurt could never be infuriated by. It was something he loved most about him. For that Kurt would push back his disappointment that Blaine was going to the dance with someone else, but most importantly his fear and slight anger that Blaine would put his safety right into the hands of those bigots.

"You have me. You said you don't have anybody. You'll always have me" Kurt whispered. He knew he was going to submit to Blaine's wishes of understanding and support even though he was sure some of his own martyr complex had finally brushed off on Blaine and was making its appearance.

"I know." Some of the anxiety that had found its home back in the pit of Blaine's stomach dissipated under Kurt's warm understanding gaze.

They sat, staring at each other silently like they were known to do from time to time, allowing the comfortable silence to blanket over them as they listened to each other breathing.

As things are also known to happen, what started out as a sentimental moment became an immature staring contest, both boys desperately trying to make the other laugh first before they both broke out into fits of laughter. Kurt clutched his stomach and leaned back as Blaine doubled over shaking with each quake. Kurt fell sideways and turned over on his back. He reached up and pulled Blaine back with him and looked into Blaine's eyes.

"It's really brave what you're doing. I still don't like it but I understand." Kurt placed his finger over Blaine's lips before he could interrupt him.

"I know what it's like to feel alone. I don't really have anyone either at McKinley—aside from cedes—and it's certainly a lot lonelier in the closet now that you're not in it." They let that hang there in between them for a moment, taking in the weight of that confession before they found themselves laughing again.

They settled into blissful moment. Blaine's sides burned with exertion and he found himself wrapped around Kurt's waist heaving for air as Kurt sporadically giggled into his, regrettably, curly hair. (Kurt pouted, so the curls were free.)

Once they both calmed and got their breathing back on track, Blaine leaned up over Kurt on his elbow and locked eyes with cerulean orbs that were bright with laughter.

"Kurt, I'm not saying you should come out now but maybe tell your dad. I don't think it will be as bad as you—"

"Do you like him?"

"Wha-Kurt? Like who? You can't just—"

"Tyler. Do you like him?" Kurt's features were set in that expression that let Blaine know he didn't want to, nor was he going to get into that conversation right now. Blaine liked that they could read each other so well even though in moments like this, it could be incredibly frustrating.

"I like him as a friend" Blaine relented. He missed the relief in Kurt's eyes while he was searching for the right way to word what he wanted to say. He missed the look that could have changed everything for them in that moment had he just looked down into Kurt's eyes and read him like he always could.

"I think I could like him, in that way but I think we both just want someone so we don't feel so alone. So we can feel like we can be ourselves and have something as normal and simple as school dance. I don't know, it's stupid."

Kurt bumped his forehead against Blaine's shoulder softly (it was the closest thing he could reach in the position they were in) to get his attention.

"It's not stupid Blaine. It's courageous. So we'll have to make sure you look extra fabulous, especially now that I know this suit isn't for another one of your parent's functions." They both shuddered at the mention of Blaine's parent's functions. They had both attended once, when it was being held at Blaine's house. Needless to say, they both would rather be electrocuted then attend one of those again.

Kurt got up off the bed and pulling Blaine with him. "Now, stand still this time, 'cause if you jab me again I'll dump out every single bottle of gel you buy." Kurt gently pushed Blaine back towards the mirror by his bed with a playful slap on Blaine's ass.

"I getting a little concerned with your obsession with my ass."

"Says the boy who spent the entire morning staring at mine instead of participating in any actual yoga, besides, I'm not sure you can blame me."

With a blush Blaine turned back to the mirror as Kurt got back to pinning his pants.

"Yeah well that was a fail of epic proportions in-and-of itself." Both boys laughed as they thought back to that morning's attempt of "leading a healthier, active life," that resulted in them giggling absurdity of the poses.

This was a development of their friendship Blaine loved. They were completely comfortable with each other. It wasn't that they hadn't always been this way, but this was a new type of comfort level they had that sprouted between them in the past year. There was the awkward stage after they had just come out to one another and didn't know how to be around each other.

Both boys constantly worried themselves with Now that we know we're both gay do we have to like each other that way? Were they allowed to like each other? Could they both be gay and remain just friends?

It had actually began to cause a drift, both boys assuming they had to physically put distance between them, or to filter out what they say to each other in fear that it would be misinterpreted. Eventually they had talked it out and come to the agreement that they were both being ridiculous and nothing had to change, that it was better in fact.

They talked about things they never thought they would be able to say without being judged. Total honesty.

They started complimenting physical features in each other they wouldn't have before when they were both coming to terms with their own sexuality and hiding it. Blaine found that Kurt really, really liked his ass, and had no qualms with touching it every once and again, in a strictly platonic "I'm just appreciating your bodacious features" way of course.

Kurt wrapped his arms around Blaine's shoulders. They were about the same height so Kurt had to stand to the side a little so his face could be seen in the mirror. He leaned in to kiss Blaine on the cheek and whispered "Just be careful okay."

The boys made eye contact in the mirror and Blaine nodded.