The morning of Cooper's final exam arrives seemingly out of the blue.

"Wish me luck then," Cooper calls as he drops his mug in the sink with a clatter.

"What?" Kurt asks, glancing up from his breakfast to frown at Cooper as he slips on his shoes, Blaine's bed-mussed head popping up over the back of the sofa where he's still lying, one cheek creased with the outline of his pillow.

"My exam is today," Cooper explains, far too happy for a man heading to a final exam.

"I've been here a week already?" Blaine asks, voice deep and rough before he yawns.

"Y'know what they say," Cooper says with a smile as he dashes over to Blaine, "time flies when you're having fun," he grabs Blaine's face in his hands and plants a kiss right on his nose, ruffling his already knotty hair, laughing when Blaine pushes him away, sinking out of sight back into his bed, grumbling under his breath.

"'Good luck Cooper, I hope you do well in your exam,'" Cooper sing-songs in a strangely good impression of his brother.

"Good luck Cooper, I hope you crash and burn in your exam," Blaine responds moodily, followed by the creak of springs, the wriggling of blankets just visible from where Kurt and Cooper are standing.

Cooper rolls his eyes when he looks to Kurt, who can't help but smile, allowing himself to be dragged into a hug. "If he continues to be a sulky little shit don't be afraid to smack him," Cooper whispers before pulling back.

Kurt laughs, glancing in Blaine's direction, watching the shape of the blankets distort as he tosses and turns beneath them. He then wishes Cooper good luck, real, break-a-leg good luck before saying bye to him at the door.

Kurt pushes the door firmly shut after Cooper's exit, listening to the lock slot into place before he turns, pressing his back to the cool wood. He stands there for a moment, face turned down to the floor, wondering where the past week has gone, before he pushes himself away and crosses to Blaine.

"Hey, what's up with you?" he says, climbing onto the bed, dragging the blankets away from where he assumes Blaine's head is, revealing rumpled curls and his scrunched up face.

"I'm sleeping," Blaine says, tugging at the blankets to no avail.

"No you're not," Kurt laughs, rolling Blaine unwillingly onto his back and grinning down at him. He's scrunchy and sleepy and groggy, eyes bleary and face pink on one side, skin so very hot to the touch when Kurt curls his fingers over his throat, around his neck to stroke soothingly behind his ear.

"I was," Blaine replies before a yawn rips through his body, limbs stretching and unfurling, spine arching like a cat in the sun before he slumps, body loose and supple with sleep, on the verge of too hot as his eyes slide open, honey-gold and blistering in the sun. "What?" he asks when Kurt just stares down at him, thumb rubbing behind his ear, a small, indecipherable smile curling his lips.

But Kurt just shakes his head, widens his smile, averts his eyes and says, "nothing," before moving to lie down beside Blaine, sidling up to him to kiss down his neck, revelling in his small giggle.

"No, Kurt," Blaine says through his smile, "what is it?" he asks, concerned.

"Nothing," Kurt shakes his head, leans up on one elbow, kissing over Blaine's jaw, "I'm being stupid," he smiles, moving to slide his lips over Blaine's. But Blaine moves out of reach, curls onto his side, places his hands on Kurt's chest and tries to read his expression. "Honestly," Kurt tries to laugh, "it's nothing, now kiss me," he asks, trying to smile, finally getting his mouth on Blaine's.

And any ideas Blaine had about pushing the conversation evaporate like smoke when Kurt's lips close over his own, wet and warm and so very welcome. He allows himself to be pushed onto his back, shifts his legs when he feels Kurt move to hover half on top of him, their thighs and hip bones pressing together as Kurt slips his tongue into his mouth, unable to hold back the shudder that shakes his body.

Kurt leans back at that, smiles slowly and moves to hover more completely over Blaine, parting the boys thighs with his knee, slotting his legs between Blaine's and leaning down, their bodies pressed so tight together, hot beneath Blaine's blankets, growing hotter between kisses as Blaine's hands slide reverent under Kurt's t-shirt, up his sides, pushing it over his head.

Kurt's hips press him down, sinfully slowly, pulling gasps from Blaine's lips which he captures with his own, kissing over his jaw and mouthing at his neck, smiling when Blaine bucks beneath him, so easy to pick apart, so beautiful to watch fall to pieces.

/

Day is just bleeding into night by the time they leave the cinema, the sky an abundance of dusky pinks and burnt oranges, high buildings imposing silhouettes around them as they wander down the street.

Blaine and Cooper are both babbling away as they walk, both reciting quotes from the film they've just seen, voices loud and laughter even louder as the three of them weave between other people, Cooper caught in the middle of Kurt and Blaine, his attention focused almost wholly on his brother as Kurt just watches people pass them by, smiling every so often as snippets of their enthusiasm reach his ears.

The streets are crowded and busy, and when Blaine looks up at Cooper one time, laughing at a joke, he doesn't see the person in front of him. Their bodies jostle each other, Blaine's shoulder against the mans chest, his small frame taking the brunt of the hit, neck jolting as the much taller man turns, "sorry kid," he apologises, grabbing Blaine's elbow to stop him tripping on a loose paving stone. "Didn't see you," he says with a rushed smile, releasing Blaine's elbow, glancing up at Cooper who'd grabbed Blaine's other arm on instinct.

However Cooper's hand on Blaine tightens protectively when Cooper sees who the man is.

"It's fine," Blaine says with a smile, but the guy isn't even looking at him anymore, his eyes trained on Cooper.

"Long time no see Coop," he says, smiling widely, showing off rows of perfect white teeth, Blaine completely forgotten as he holds a hand out for Cooper to shake.

But Cooper just glares at him, tightens his hold on Blaine's arm and pulls him gently back, away from the man. "Julian," Cooper says, making no move to shake the guy's hand.

Julian, who ever he is, seems unperturbed however, dropping his hand with a shrug. His eyes dart briefly to look at Blaine, back to Cooper, before doing a double take, widening with surprise when he meets Blaine's gaze. His eyes linger on Blaine's face momentarily as the boy stares up, wide eyed and pink lipped, undeniably pretty, before allowing them to slink appreciatively over his small body. The polo Blaine's wearing is clinging over his chest, drawing attention to his tiny waist, tucked into his tight jeans at his small hips, the outline of the muscles just visible as they disappear below his waistband. Julian's smile turns lecherous as he arches one eyebrow, looking back up into Blaine's eyes and smirks almost in triumph at the confusion and innocence so evident in them.

"And who're you?" he says to Blaine, angling towards the smaller boy, not missing the way Cooper's chest balloons with protectiveness

"Who he is is none of your fucking concern," Cooper says, stepping half in front of Blaine and glaring, jaw tightening incrementally with each degree wider Julian's smile gets.

"Well he's sent my gaydar absolutely ringing, so I'd very much like to find out who he is," Julian replies, eyes lingering on Blaine's narrow hips and lean thighs, before he angles his lips to whisper in Cooper's ear. "and just how loud he screams," the words are just loud enough for Blaine to hear, making him frown, feeling his stomach churn as he takes an automatic step back.

Cooper steps more firmly in front of Blaine; hands tightening into fists as Julian crowds into his personal space, shooting smiles over his shoulder to Blaine, who just watches hopelessly from behind Cooper's tensing body, confused by who this guy is.

He's tall, Blaine notices, taller even than Cooper, big, muscled shoulders and strong forearms. His chest is wide and stretching the fabric of his shirt, pinched in at his narrow waist and hips, long, lean legs, wrapped in sinfully tight jeans. His hair is messy and blond, swept back artfully, effortlessly from his face, wide, piercing green eyes which mentally undress Blaine with every look. Blaine feels his skin crawl beneath the man's attention, wraps an arm around himself, self conscious and not at all flattered.

"Guy's what happened? I got half way down the-" Kurt arrives behind Blaine, who feels his body flood with relief at the sound of Kurt's voice, feels his presence behind him, solid and real and there. Kurt takes one look at Cooper's face before his speech falters, following his line of sight to where Julian stands, tall and smirking and, despite the circumstances, undeniably gorgeous, illuminated by the burning, dying sky behind him.

"Ah, should've known you wouldn't be too far away Kurt," Julian croons, eyes raking admiringly over Kurt's slim, slender body, pale skin bright in the growing darkness. "Have you missed me?" he asks, voice an octave lower, eyes dark and sultry, waiting.

Blaine snaps his head back, looking over his shoulder at where Kurt is frozen behind him, mouth slightly parted, eyes wide and shocked, his throat working to swallow before he drops his eyes from Julian's. He glances once at Blaine, then at Cooper, before speaking, "can we go, guys, please?" he begs.

"Gladly," Cooper agrees, glowering at Julian one final time before making to walk off.

"Hey, no wait, come on, don't ruin all the fun," Julian laughs, rolling his eyes at Kurt and Cooper before leaning out to take hold of Blaine's wrist as he moves to follow his brother. "We were just getting to know each other," he smiles down at Blaine, taking a step closer, fingers curling around the wrist in his hand, small in his large palm, the skin soft, pulse racing, "weren't we babe?" he drawls, eyes flicking up to Kurt to read his reaction.

Anger spikes through Kurt's body so fast he feels it to the tips of his fingers, the rapid tha-thump of his heart in his ear almost deafening as he steps forward instantly, closer to Blaine, his chest almost against his back. One hand curls unthinkingly, protective and possessive around the curve of Blaine's waist as he glowers at Julian, teeth clenched and eyes shining, free hand balling into a fist by his side.

Blaine tries in vain to tug his hand away from Julian, pressing back into Kurt, feeling his own heart pound in his chest because who the fuck is this guy? And then Cooper's there, hand closing over Julian's forearm, nails digging into the muscle, almost drawing blood, knuckles white with the strength behind them as he grits his teeth, gets right up in Julian's face, "let, him, go," he says, enunciating each word, venom lacing each syllable.

Julian releases Blaine's wrist, raises his hands as if to surrender, but he's still smirking, as if he's just won a game none of them knew they were playing, mocking them in his own way as he takes a step back. He glances at Kurt one final time, eyes darting to his hand tight on Blaine's waist, the nonexistent gap between their bodies, the obvious way Blaine has pressed back against him. He smiles, locks eyes with Kurt, darting back to Cooper before he speaks, "I wouldn't worry about me if I were you, looks like someone beat me to him," Julian smirks, nods behind Cooper's back, winking at Kurt and revelling in the scowl his words elicit from him, before turning.

He sends all three of them a wave, a wink for Blaine and a knowing look for Kurt before he disappears into the crowd.

Cooper continues to glare at him until he's out of sight, before turning around to face Blaine and Kurt, who have stepped an appropriate distance from each other, shaking his head at Kurt, face still drawn and tight.

"Who was-" Blaine begins to ask, before Cooper yells over him, answering his question unknowingly.

"I cannot believe you dated that dickhead Kurt!" he all but growls, body still thrumming with residual anger.

"Can we not talk about it?" Kurt begs, feeling suddenly exhausted, stepping even further away from Blaine.

"Wait a minute," Blaine pipes up between them, "you dated him?" he asks, turning to Kurt, looking up at him, eyes so wide and shocked, confusion evident in the creases on his brow, hurt lingering in the bow of his lips.

"I justsaid can we not talk about it?" Kurt repeats, rolling his eyes at Blaine, feeling unjustly annoyed. He steps around him to begin walking home, ignoring the whispered conversation he hears between the brothers behind him as they walk.

They travel home in near silence, the day sinking completely into darkness around them, Kurt giving one word answers to almost every question asked of him. Cooper unlocks the front door and allows Kurt to enter first, saying his name as he passes, but Kurt ignores him.

Kurt toes off his boots, slings his thin jacket uncaringly over a chair and runs a hand through his hair. He's vaguely aware of Cooper and Blaine moving around him, the flicker of lights coming on, the TV in the background, conversation being had, but he ignores all of it in favour of two aspirins and a glass of water, gulped down quickly.

"I'm going bed," he finally decides, feeling his head thrum with tension.

"Kurt, it's barely ten o'clock," Cooper says, frowning at his friend's behaviour.

"I've got a headache," he says, and it's not a lie.

"Kurt can you just…" Cooper trails off, glances at Blaine who looks just as confused, before looking back to Kurt who looks plain defeated, "just talk to me?" Cooper finishes. "You always talk to me about what's bothering you…" Cooper says, and he's half pleading, wanting to understand why bumping into Julian has obviously gotten to Kurt so much.

"Nothing's bothering me," Kurt lies with a smile, "I'm just tired's all, I might ring dad," Kurt tells Cooper, who's still stood frozen, looking completely lost. "Goodnight," Kurt says, kissing Cooper lightly on the cheek as he passes him, "night Blaine," he adds, shooting a small wave to where Blaine's leant against the dining table, face drawn in concern.

"G'night," Blaine replies, voice small.

They both watch as Kurt slinks into his room, gently pushing the door shut behind himself, the silence left in his wake thick and deafening.

Blaine stares at his closed door for a moment, wanting nothing more than to follow after him and kiss him till he smiles, till his eyes shine like usual and he laughs into Blaine's neck.

But instead he just turns to where Cooper has fallen onto the couch, "is this because of that Julian guy?" Blaine asks, unable to work out what about the interaction could have bothered Kurt quite so much.

"Probably," Cooper says with a shrug.

"But why? What- what happened between them?" Blaine asks, falling down next to Cooper, waiting for an answer.

But instead his brother shoots a look over his shoulder at Kurt's bedroom door, heaves another sigh, before fixing Blaine with a sad look. "It isn't really my story to tell," he begins, "but basically Julian is the biggest fucking douchebag I've ever meet. Him and Kurt met when we first moved here. Kurt had never- well, I mean, he had his first boyfriend who he adored but, this was different… I mean, suddenly he's in New York and guys are paying him attention, a lot of guys. And Julian sort of, staked his claim on Kurt." Cooper's shaking his head the entire time he's speaking, throwing glances over his shoulder to Kurt's door.

Blaine listens raptly, trying to remember what he can of Kurt when he was 18.

"So, to cut a long story short, Julian was an absolute bastard to Kurt. He used him. He chewed him up and spat him out and then walked all over him. He accused Kurt of cheating on him with me," Cooper laughs at the idiocy of what he's just said, "and then cheated on him himself, a dozen or so times, and Kurt kept taking him back because he thought he loved him and- well," Cooper stops mid rant, takes a deep breath, "and all these other bullshit reasons," he rolls his eyes. "Anyway, eventually they broke up, thank god, and a couple months later Kurt started dating this other guy…" Cooper trails off.

"What happened?" Blaine asks, torn between rage and intrigue.

"Kurt turned up at his boyfriend's apartment one day to find Julian fucking him over the couch," Cooper sighs, part angry, part exhausted. And when his eyes find Blaine's he looks so sad and tired that Blaine can't help but wonder how many nights his brother's spent consoling Kurt.

"Shit," Blaine breaths, unable to stop his eyes darting to the closed bedroom door, feeling his heart tug towards the man hidden so far away.

"Yeah," Cooper sighs, "so that's why we hate Julian," he tries to smile, although the sadness is still evident in the curl of his lips, the ache which hasn't quite left his eyes.

Blaine doesn't say anything in response, just bites his inside cheek and glances at Kurt's closed bedroom door one final time, before settling in next to his brother, turning his attention to the TV. He can't focus though, his mind preoccupied with Kurt and Julian and how anyone could ever cheat on Kurt, could even be willing to risk losing him for a quick fuck.

Not long later Cooper pleas exhaustion and escapes to his room, but not after hugging Blaine close to his chest, muttering into his ear, "promise me you'll never be dumb enough to fall for a guy like Julian? I can't go through that again."

And Blaine tries to laugh, promises he wont, says nothing about who he's starting to think he's falling for, and then Cooper's gone.

Blaine stands in silence for a few minutes, mind racing. He doesn't know what to do. Whether to do anything at all, or to just get in bed and burrow into the now familiar blankets and wait till morning. But he can't. He can't bear the thought of Kurt alone in his room, upset over some guy who didn't deserve him in the first place.

So he makes a decision.

He pads into the kitchen, takes a pan from the cupboard as silently as possible and begins to heat some milk. He doesn't really know how long it takes, never having done it before, but as soon as bubbles begin to form around the edges he figures that's it. He grabs a mug from the rack, holds it steady as he pours the milk in, bottom lip trapped between his teeth in concentration. And if he spills a little and it burns his fingers, that's a small price to pay if it cheers Kurt up even just a little bit.

Eventually he creeps over to Kurt's bedroom door, knocks gently on the wood and listens for any sound from within. But there's silence.

Blaine contemplates not bothering, Kurt's probably ignoring him anyway. He thinks about dumping the milk down the sink and just crawling into bed, leaving Kurt alone when that is so very obviously what he wants. But his heart pulls towards Kurt, like the strings of a puppet, and he decides to just check before completely giving up.

He pushes the door open and steps inside. The room is shrouded in darkness, all the lights are off, blinds down, a thin slice of light creeping around the edge, illuminating the foot of Kurt's bed, the outline of his feet just visible beneath his thin summer duvet.

Blaine crosses the room, both hands on the mug for fear of spilling it. He feels the edge of the bed against his knees, and turns to gently sit down, reaching a hand out to feel for the bedside table when Kurt speaks behind him.

"I'm awake Blaine," he says, making Blaine jump, almost spilling the milk when it knocks against the edge of the table.

"I- oh, sorry, did I wake you?" he can't help but whisper, despite it being futile now he knows Kurt's awake.

"You didn't wake me. What're you doing?" Kurt asks, rolling onto his back, and as Blaine's eyes adjust to the darkness he can just make out Kurt's face, frowning slightly, confused.

"Oh I brought you some erm, warm milk," Blaine stammers, picking the mug back up and turning to hand it to Kurt.

Kurt's frown deepens as he pushes himself up, sitting with his back against the headboard. He leans around Blaine to flick on the lamp behind him, filling the room with warmth and light. Blaine smiles at Kurt, tries not to let his eyes flicker down to his bare chest and ignores the fading redness around his eyes, holding out the mug, hoping he hasn't overstepped some invisible line.

"Er, thanks," Kurt says, hesitantly taking the mug, staring at it for a moment before looking up at Blaine questioningly, "why warm milk?" he asks.

"I remember you sometimes had it before bed when you stayed over, back home I mean, before you and Coop left," Blaine explains, fiddling with the edges of Kurt's bedding, sending him a small smile before looking down, feeling suddenly unexplainably nervous.

"You remember that?" Kurt asks, a smile beginning to curl his lips as he leans down, pink lips a stark contrast against the white ceramic as he takes a sip, smile widening with the warmth which sinks slowly through his body, made warmer by Blaine's proud, bashful shrug.

"Yeah, I guess," Blaine says, pleased to have apparently done something right.

"Thanks," Kurt says, wrapping his hands more firmly around the mug.

They fall into silence, verging on awkward as Kurt sips his drink, eyes fluttering closed every so often as Blaine tries not to stare, fiddling with some loose thread on the hem of his top, wondering whether he should just get up and say goodnight. But he can't just leave when Kurt is so obviously troubled by something.

"Cooper told me about what happened with Julian," Blaine says quietly, without thinking, breaking the silence, feeling the atmosphere thicken with tension.

"He did? How nice of him," Kurt replies, anger simmering gently beneath his skin. But he holds it back, knows it's useless.

"No I- he didn't give me any details, he just said-" Blaine rushes to explain, feeling his cheeks flush in shame.

Kurt stops him with a hand on his thigh, warm even through the jeans he's still wearing, "it's fine, seriously, it doesn't matter," Kurt says, smiling a little sadly, averting his gaze back to his mug.

"I'm sorry if bumping into him earlier bothered you."

"Why are you apologising? It's not your fault," Kurt genuinely laughs at that, small and strained but genuine none the less. "Come here," Kurt then says, motioning to the space beside him.

Blaine shuffles up, bends his legs onto the bed and scoots over to sit beside Kurt, his back against the head board, sending Kurt a bashful smile before turning away.

Kurt finishes off his milk in silence, slides the mug onto his bedside table and gravitates towards Blaine, warm and solid and close, shuffling over until their sides are flush and Kurt can feel the heat radiating from his skin. Kurt slumps down a little, tilts his head and places a single kiss to the knot of Blaine's shoulder, watching the boy smile beside him and tilting his head, resting it against Kurt's shoulder, his cheek warm on Kurt's bare skin.

"So…" Blaine breaths after a moment, not moving his head from where it rests against Kurt's bare, slumped shoulder, the skin a little cold beneath his face, but the rest of his body thrumming warmly where he's pressed up close to Kurt. "He's your type then?" he finally says, although it's rushed and whispered and barely audible.

"Huh?" Kurt mumbles beside him, scooting his legs closer to Blaine's, taking advantage of his warmth.

"Like, y'know," Blaine shrugs, turns his face to press his forehead against Kurt's shoulder, his breath fanning warm on Kurt's upper arm, "how he looks, he's the kind of guy you're into…?" he trails off, pressing his lips to Kurt's skin in the hope of being less downright obvious about what he's asking.

"What," Kurt laughs bitterly, tilts his head away slightly as Blaine trails his lips like stepping stones up the slope of his shoulder, skimming his neck, "tall, blonde and a cocky dickhead?" he asks, lifting a hand absently to card through the hair at the nape of Blaine's neck, thick and soft, holding him close, encouraging.

Blaine laughs into his skin, the sound warm, the vibrations almost against Kurt's pulse as he turns slightly, a steadying hand behind Kurt's back as he leans closer. "No-" he says, smile pressed against Kurt's neck, "not the dickhead bit," he stops kissing for a moment, waits, takes a breath and speaks, "but like, y'know, tall and built and blonde …" Blaine trails off, waits with his lips hovering over Kurt's goosebumped skin, his eyes trained on what he can see of Kurt's profile from the awkward angle. He watches Kurt's eyelashes flutter where they've fallen shut, the pink of his tongue as he licks his lips, feels anticipation slink down his spine with every stroke of Kurt's fingers in his hair.

But Kurt just shakes his head, "not really," he says, oblivious to Blaine's quickened heartbeat, the unsteady rhythm of his breathing against his shoulder.

"No?" Blaine breaths, holding still and waiting, daring to trace a few more kisses over Kurt's skin, shuffling onto his knees and turning to face Kurt properly, moving forward and sliding an arm low and loose around his body, tugging him close, smiling when Kurt leans willingly into the touch.

"Nahh," Kurt sighs, his eyes batting tiredly closed as he rests his head on Blaine's shoulder, tilted to welcome his lips. "I mean, take away his personality and yeah, he's generically attractive," Kurt shrugs, makes a small, noncommittal hum of pleasure when Blaine's lips swoop down over his collarbone. "But," he sighs, shuffles unconsciously closer, "I dunno, I much prefer smaller guys," he says before yawning, "dark hair, big eyes. Cute, adorable guys who don't even realise how gorgeous they are," he finishes, head turning, face pressing almost flush against Blaine's throat as he inhales deeply.

And Blaine feels his heart pick up even more, fingers splaying and tightening where he hasn't realised they're gripping Kurt's waist, dropping his eyes to try and see Kurt's face. He can't see his expression, but he can feel his breath warm and regular on his skin and his wonderful weight pressing against him. He shivers at the feel of Kurt's hand slipping, falling from his neck to the base of his spine, the delicate tickle on his skin as Kurt's eyelashes flutter when he blinks them open, tilts his head up, locks his night-sky navy eyes on Blaine's and just stares.

He takes Blaine's breath away. Slow and sleepy, gentle and almost smaller, vulnerable with his bare skin and his messy hair, lips pink and parted, breath warm, eyes both scared and shocked at the words which hang heavy and unmoving in the air, irrevocable.

Blaine feels a sharp, sudden ache in his chest, but he swallows it down and remembers to breath. "Yeah?" he asks almost silently between them, not entirely sure how to respond.

"Yeah," Kurt agrees, eyes darting lightening fast to Blaine's lips, back to his eyes, a small, nervous smile stretching over his face.

Blaine wants to lean forward and seal his lips over Kurt's, to coax sounds and sighs and stutters from his body, to lay him out and kiss him till he's flushed and breathless and then kiss him some more, enough to taste him on his tongue when he falls asleep, one room and miles apart.

But instead he refrains, bites his tongue and doesn't take the chance.

And a moment later it's too late, because Kurt's pulling away, distance between them now unconquerable as he sits up, rubs his eyes, drags a hand through his hair and smiles slowly. "You've made me sleepy," he says.

"Is that good?"

"Definitely, I couldn't sleep before," he admits, still smiling, eyes no longer red and skin not quite so cold anymore, infinitely more alive.

"That'll be the warm milk," Blaine says with a grin, stands up from Kurt's bed and takes the now empty cup in hand.

"Yeah," Kurt looks up and nods with a smile, eyes lingering on the cup in Blaine's hands, "the warm milk."