Why did I think it was a good idea to sit outside at night in November?

It’s so cold out. My fingers are numb already.

What’s taking Blaine so long?

We’re going to miss the beginning of the movie.

But if I text him again, he’s going to say I’m nagging.

There he is. Looking all cute in his navy blue pea coat.

He’s lucky he has me to dress him now.

Although, I do wish he’d cut his hair.

On the other hand, I like playing with his curls.

But I can’t tell him that, he’ll think he’s won.

Seeing as how it’s a competition.

Who does he think he’s talking to?

I bet he doesn’t even realize his lips are moving.

He’s either singing or practicing something for speech therapy.

Either way, I look forward to teasing him about it.

Yes, now you finally notice me, sitting here in the freezing cold.

Who waves like that?

That was the heartiest wave I’ve ever seen.

How can one person be that endearing?

~~~~~

Kurt hops down the steps and allows his face break into a grin as Blaine gets close.

“So, who were you talking to?”

“Oh. Um. You ss-ss-saw that? Um, pp-pp-practicing voluntary stuttering. I dd-dd-dd-don’t even nah-nah-notice I’m doing it anymore.”

“So how’s speech therapy going?”

“It’s fine,” Blaine answers, as he holds out his arms for the obligatory speech therapy inquiry hug.

“You’re Pavlovian with your responses, Blaine, it’s almost annoying.”

“I de-de-deserve a hug.”

“Yes, you do,” Kurt agrees, as Blaine envelops him.

“I actually have another speech question,” Kurt says as the boys walk down the street. “If you don’t mind. Obviously, you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to. It’s something that I’ve been wondering about. I’m not really sure if it’s answerable, or even reasonable, but I’m so riveted by the subject, and by you of course, that I must know.”

Blaine smiles his best tight-lipped smile, the one that says “I’m laughing at you on the inside because I think you’re awfully cute when you ramble.” (Or at least that’s how Kurt always interprets it.) Blaine nods his head and raises his eyebrows encouragingly.

“How much of your stuttering is voluntary lately?”

His mouth drops into a frown and he draws his eyebrows together.

“I-I-I’m nn-nn-not sure if I could... quantify that. Maybe I’ll ask Chad. We mm-mm-might be able to, to, to ff-figure it out.”

“It’s ok. You don’t have to have an answer. I was googling it earlier and I couldn’t get a clear, concise picture of what voluntary stuttering entails.”

“You ww-ww-were googling ss-ss-stuttering? Today?”

Kurt looks a little embarrassed. “Yeah. I’ve been reading a lot about it lately. I want to understand. Everything.”

Blaine’s hand finds Kurt’s and he smiles at him.

“You’ve nn-n-n-nah-noticed that there are certain sounds I-I-I always ss-ss-stutter on, right?.”

“Yes. Pretty much all B-words, usually r’s, w’s and n’s.”

“Wow,” Blaine’s eyes go wide and his cheeks go pink. “You rr-really have bah-bah-been paying attention. There are other ones tt-tt-too. D’s, m’s, sometimes s’s. Buh-buh-but that’s only, what, about a quarter of the alphabet? So, so, so when I-I-I-I voluntary stu-stu-stutter, I mm-mmmake sure to do it on wah-words and ss-ss-sounds that I wouldn’t nah-normally, along with the usual ones.”

Kurt’s nodding, listening closely to everything Blaine is saying. Apparently, all Kurt had to do was tell Blaine he googled stuttering to get him to open up about his speech. If only he’d known that months ago. Hell, he googled it right before he left for what turned into the notebook/diner date. He would have mentioned it then if he knew it would make a difference.

Kurt usually can’t get Blaine to say more than “it’s fine” when speech therapy comes up. And he knows that’s what their deal was, but he wants to learn as much as he can about stuttering and Blaine’s speech therapy. He really wants to know more about what Blaine’s working on and what it entails to improve his speech. Because, truth be told, Kurt has started noticing a lot of improvements, even within the past week or two.

In fact, Kurt has not only started noticing improvements in Blaine’s speech, but he’s also been more than surprised by how verbose Blaine has gotten around him. Blaine’s shyness is slowly peeling away to reveal the guy that Kurt knows so well via text and the internet. He still relies a lot on body language and facial expressions, especially when he’s uncomfortable about something, but for the most part, they can really converse now and Kurt doesn’t feel like it’s nearly as one-sided.

If Kurt had to pinpoint it, it was after the night with the directions debacle (which is what Kurt thinks of it as in his head) that everything started steadily getting better. Blaine seems happier, more talkative, more open and willing to be himself. Kurt, for his part, worries less about saying or doing the wrong thing. He doesn’t even worry about overwhelming Blaine anymore. It was a frustrating incident and a really emotional evening for both boys, but somehow they came out the other side a stronger couple.

“I-I-I dd-dd-dah-don’t know if that’s how everybody dd-does it exactly,” Blaine continues. “That’s ww-what I’ve been dah-doing. Since it’s a way to make mmmme feel desensitized, I-I-I try to ddd-dd-do it as much as possible. Like if I-I-I do it voluntarily and get it out of the way, then I’m nn-nn-not anxious about when it mm-mm-might sneak up on mmmme.”

“That makes sense. That makes a lot of sense, actually,” Kurt says. “Are you voluntary stuttering now? Or not? I guess that’s part of what I want to know.”

“Um. Nah-not rr-really. I, I, I dah-don’t really do it around you.” Blaine inhales deeply through his nose before saying, “That’s actually mm-mm-my nn-nah-next challenge, from Chad. To dd-do mm-more voluntary ss-stuh-stuttering around you.”

“You don’t have to be embarrassed about it,” Kurt says as they stand in line to buy tickets.

“I’m nah-nah-not actually embarrassed. This time.” Blaine rolls his eyes and smiles at Kurt. “It’s mm-more that I-I-I-I-I like talking tt-to you and I ddd-dah-don’t wwwwwant to have to think about adding re-re-re-repetitions and pro-prolongations and all that junk. I just wwwant to … talk.”

“Did you tell Chad that?”

“Yeah, he sss-ss-says that’s part of wwwwwhy it’s important that I dd-dd-do it around you, be-be-be-because I’m comfortable with you and that mm-may-may-makes it a good … testing ground.”

“So, do it and get it over with,” Kurt says with a shrug.

“I know, I wwwwill. Not tonight though, tonight I wwwwant to, to, to hang out wwwwith mm-mm-my fella and have fun.”

Kurt can’t help but tell him “You’re sort of wonderful, you know that?”

Blaine blushes and scrunches his nose at Kurt.

Which is Blaine for “thanks.”

Blaine’s quiet for a while after that. When they get to the front of the line, Kurt takes charge of buying the tickets and then finding them seats. This is the way it is with Blaine sometimes, Kurt has learned. He can go from 60 to 0 out of nowhere. Usually it’s because he’s thinking deep, worrisome Blaine thoughts.

Within 2 minutes of settling into their seats, Blaine turns to Kurt, but doesn’t look at him. He squares his shoulders and takes a deep breath.

“Do... you think mmm-mm-my ss-speech is improving?” Before Kurt even has a chance to answer, he adds, “Don’t lie.” Blaine then turns back in his seat, crosses his arms and hunches his shoulders, as though he needs to physically prepare himself for the onslaught of Kurt’s opinion.

Kurt swivels in his seat and sticks his face directly in front of Blaine’s. “Um. Hello? Do I have to address your profile or can we discuss this like adults?”

Blaine narrows his eyes at Kurt, but he does sit up straighter in his chair and as Kurt sits back in his seat, Blaine once again turns towards him.

“Ok, I’m rr-ready.”

“I like how you think I’m about to be so critical of you that you had to change your body language.”

“I-I-I-I dah-don’t think you’re going to bb-bb-be critical, not on puh-puh-purpose. I care about ww-wa-what you think. I ww-ww-want to hear the truth, but sometimes... the, uh, truth hurts. What if you think I-I-I’m nah-not doing well?”

“What if I think you’re doing more than well? What if I think you’re doing phenomenally? Like what if while we were walking here I was thinking that not only is your speech better, but you’re talking a lot more and I think you’re more yourself lately? What if, Blaine?”

“Is that true?” Blaine bites his lip and blinks several times, but he doesn’t look away from Kurt’s eyes, no matter how much he wants to.

“It’s completely true.”

“Phenomenally?” Blaine lifts an inquisitive eyebrow at Kurt.

“You told me not to lie,” Kurt states. “It would constitute lying if I diluted my opinion.”

The lights go down then but Kurt can see Blaine’s smile even in the dim theater. Blaine takes Kurt’s hand and lays his head on Kurt’s shoulder.

“Phenomenally?” Blaine whispers, still in a state of disbelief.

Instead of answering, Kurt spells out “Y-E-S” in Blaine’s palm with his fingertip.

“Ok. I’ll stop now,” Blaine whispers as the movie begins.

~~~~~

After the movie, the boys go to the nearest Starbucks. It’s crowded so when a table empties as they walk in, they make a beeline for it and decide to wait out the queue for a few minutes.

“You know, I’m pretty sure that today is the anniversary of the first time I ever saw you.”

“I dd-dd-didn’t think you rr-rr-remembered.”

“Of course. I told you, you made an impression.”

“I dd-dd-didn’t get you anything. I ff-ff-feel like you de-de-deserve ssssome kind of token, at least, for puh-puh-putting up with mm-me.”

“You think you’re being cute, but you know I don’t like it when you’re mean to yourself,” Kurt says in a firm voice.

Blaine makes his poutiest face at Kurt and says “Bb-bb-but I am cute.”

And this moment is a shining example of the changes that Kurt’s been seeing in Blaine. Instead of shying away from Kurt, he engages, he banters. He smiles and he’s silly and he really is adorable.

“Yes, you are, but I don’t like when anyone is mean to Blaine, so you’re not allowed to be mean to him either.” At that Blaine blushes and looks away from Kurt’s eyes, but only for a moment.

“I have an idea, for a token that I would truly appreciate.” Kurt raises his eyebrows suggestively and nods towards the baristas. “You said you’d try to do it for me.”

“Oh man. Ok. I... I’ll try.”

They wait another minute and Kurt nudges Blaine when the line is shorter.

“Are you ready?”

“Do I rr-rr-really have to dd-dd-dah-do this? It’s nah-not going to work.”

“Please, pretty please. Come on, for our sorta-versary.”

“You can’t stah-stare at mmme though. You ppppromise not to sssstare?”

“But I can watch right?”

“Yes. Just like, avert your eyes ss-ss-sometimes,” Blaine gets up, but then turns back. “Wait a second! It’s nah-not like you got mm-mm-mm-me anything!”

Kurt hands him a 20 dollar bill, “I’m paying for the coffee. Happy sorta-versary. Now go make me laugh.”

“I am ss-ss-sighing loudly on the inside.”

“And you promise you’ll wink?”

“Yes, fine. I pp-pp-promise to wah-wink. I can pp-pretty mm-mm-muh-much always wink.”

“Stop looking so put upon. I’ve been desperate to see this.” And with that Kurt gives Blaine a light tap on the ass. Blaine feigns a scandalized look and then scurries over to get in line.

~~~~~

A Moment of Kurt

I settle into my chair for the show as Blaine gets close to the counter.

He runs his hand through his hair and then pats it down. I can’t help but smile as he rolls his shoulders, like he’s stretching for serious physical exercise. He glances back at me and I shoot my eyes up to the ceiling, because I wasn’t supposed to be staring, and then look back over to where Blaine’s barely containing a laugh.

He’s at the front of the line now, so he leans on the counter. I can’t hear what he’s saying, but I have a feeling he’s laying it on thick. Rubbing the stubble on his chin and grinning at the barista as he tells her the order and I very clearly see him say the name “Alex.” Then he pays and waggles his eyebrows as he drops a dollar in the tip jar. She says thanks and then JACKPOT! He winks.

Damn. How does he do that? How does he go from the world’s shyest gay guy to studly ladies’ man in 30 seconds?

~~~~~

Blaine comes back to the table, drinks in hand, grinning, with color high in his cheeks and his eyes shining triumphantly.

“Nah-not too shabby, rrright?” he says as he hands Kurt his non-fat mocha.

“That was sort of amazing. I’m not going to lie. I can see why Matt thinks it’s so funny.”

“So, it was a wah-wah-wor-w-worthy sorta-versary gift?”

“Without a doubt. You should act, that was really amazing.”

“I could nnn-never act. People would be, be, be able to ss-see me,” Blaine replies, entirely serious and wide-eyed.

“People can see you right now, Blaine,” Kurt stage whispers, as he exaggeratedly glances around at the other customers.

“Oh stop it. Don’t be obtuse. You know w-ww-ww-what I mm-mm-mean.”

The boys continue their banter while they drink their coffee. Kurt knows he needs to bring up Paris. He knows it. He keeps telling himself that he’ll wait for the right moment. While this might not be the right moment, per se, it’s no better or worse than any other moment. At least Blaine’s talkative tonight.

“We need to talk about Paris, Blaine.”

“I-I-I-I-I know.” Blaine sighs and stares at his coffee.

“I keep telling myself that it’s far away and it is. But maybe we need to at least acknowledge it and start thinking about what we’re going to do about it.”

“Ok,” this is not where Blaine had thought their date was going tonight. “Ok. Um. I-I-I-I understand if you ww-ww-wah-want to bb-bb-bray-bray-break up with mm-me.”

“Seriously? Where did that come from? I don’t want it to sneak up on us without ever talking about it. I didn’t say anything about breaking up.”

Blaine looks at Kurt suspiciously. “You... dd-dd-don’t want to bbb-bbb-bray-break up with me? Nnn-nah-not even wwwhile you’re away?”

“Um. No, I think we should try it long distance. I mean that’s sort of how this whole thing started and we were pretty good at it.” Kurt looks at Blaine then, equally suspicious. “Do you want to break up with me?”

Blaine laughs. “Why wwww-would I ever do that? That www-www-would be incredibly ss-stuh-stupid of mm-me.”

“Alright. Good. This is progress. Neither of us want to break up.”

“Yes, I-I-I-I’m glad we’ve re-re-re-resolved... that. And you’re rrr-right, last ss-ss-summer was sort of... practice for nn-nn-next semester.”

Blaine and Kurt are quiet for a few moments then, neither of them certain where the conversation should go from there. January is still far away.

“Perhaps we should table the topic for now and get back to it when it’s closer?” Kurt suggests.

“Yes.” Blaine quickly agrees. “We’ve, uh, uh, acknowledged it. It’s there. Bb-bb-buh-but it’s ssstill two months away.”

“It is. That’s longer than we’ve been together. All in favor of tabling?”

Both boys raise their hands and smile.

They’ve finished their coffee, so they get up and make their way back into the November chill.

“So, fella, what shall we do with the rest of our evening?” Kurt asks. Blaine snakes his arm around Kurt’s waist as they walk.

“I-I-I don’t know. What’s everyone else up tah-tah-to?”

“I’ll text Rachel, you text Matt?” Kurt replies.

Both boys stop to get out of the way of the other pedestrians and huddle together to text.

Matt gets back to Blaine first.

Blaine laughs loudly as he reads the text. “He ss-ss-says he’s around and thirsty.”

“Hmm. I’m guessing that means he wants to drink? And it looks like Rachel started without us.” Kurt turns his phone to Blaine to show him Rachel’s almost unintelligible text.

November 8th
10:28 pm
Rachel: we r droinkin
Rachel: Pcukj said he bo4ught enaough for sh3ariong.

“D-d-did she type that with her no-nose? Or dd-did she attend the Kurt Hummel School of Dd-dd-dru-drunk Texting?”

“Oh, definitely the latter. Tell Matt to meet us at my apartment in 20 minutes.”

~~~~~

When Blaine and Kurt arrive at Kurt’s, they find Rachel literally rolling on the floor, with Puck standing above her on the coffee table, trying to drop popcorn into her mouth.

“But it keeps floating instead of dropping!” Puck yells.

“You’re doing it wrong then.”

“I have no fucking idea how to do this right!”

“It’s air popped! That’s why it’s floating!”

Blaine looks over at Kurt, “I-I-I think we have some ssssserious catching up to do.”

Matt and Kerry show up within a few minutes and the night devolves into silliness from there. Though Rachel and Puck never do perfect their popcorn dropping, it turns out that Kerry has impressive skill with the useless task.

Kurt and Blaine have trouble keeping their hands off of each other, the more drunk they get. They haven’t really gotten much farther than kissing, Kurt knows that Blaine is inexperienced and when he’s ready, they’ll do more. Kurt’s wondering if tonight's the night that Blaine might be ready to do more.

As the evening winds down, everyone is lounging about, watching a movie. Blaine and Kurt are cuddled together on the floor, lazily kissing every once in awhile.

“Hey Puck,” comes Matt’s voice from the love seat.

“Yes Matt?” is Puck’s answer from the couch.

“You know what’s really annoying?” Matt replies.

“The sound of people kissing on the floor while you’re trying to watch Independence Day?” Puck shoots back.

“Got it in one dude. Got it in one,” Matt agrees.

“Fuck you guys,” Blaine pipes up.

Then Blaine whispers to Kurt, “I think we should go to your room.” Blaine has been whispering more to Kurt lately, but Kurt’s never heard his voice sound so deep, so confident and never this downright sexy.

Kurt, wide-eyed, whispers back, “Give me two minutes to clear the bed and then meet me in there.”

Blaine waits it out, watching the clock. He gives Kurt five minutes, mostly because he needs to prepare himself. And then he gives himself five minutes, because he still doesn’t quite feel prepared. He’s drunk enough that his inhibitions are low, but even drunk, he’s still Blaine, so the promise of a heavy make out session with his boyfriend leaves him a little nervous.

He stands up to go to Kurt’s room and tries to seem casual about it. But then Matt’s waggling his eyebrows and Rachel’s saying “have fun boys!” and Puck lets out a loud wolf whistle and Kerry’s giggling.

When Blaine re-emerges from Kurt’s room moments later everyone looks up.

“That dd-dah-dumbass passed out,” he mutters as he drops back to his spot on the floor.

The room is quiet for a minute and then everyone, including Blaine, can’t help but laugh.

~~~~~

November 2nd
11:42 am
Kurt: I’m sorry I passed out last night. :(
Kurt: I was trying to lay on the bed seductively
Kurt: But you took longer than I expected
Kurt: And I just … fell asleep
Kurt: you could have woke me up

11:48 am
Blaine: No. You looked so peaceful
Blaine: And not at all seductive
Blaine: You can make it up to me by... taking me to brunch?

11:52 am
Kurt: Delightful! Brunch!
Kurt: and then we can go back to my apartment
Kurt: Puck and Rachel are in Pennsylvania for the day
Kurt: at Puck’s cousin’s wedding

11:55 am
Blaine: Yes. Let’s eat the fastest brunch on earth
Blaine: and then GO TO YOUR EMPTY APARTMENT!!!
Blaine: I would cancel the whole brunch idea entirely but now I really want crepes.

11:57 am
Kurt: Yes. Crepes. We have all afternoon for other... stuff. First we need crepes.

~~~~~

The boys exchange mischievous smiles (Kurt) and bashful grins (Blaine, of course) for the duration of a quick brunch.

When they enter Kurt’s apartment, they take their coats off and look at each other for the length of a breath before they can’t keep their hands away from each other any longer. From the moment their mouths touch, there’s a certain knowledge that more needs to happen. Kissing isn’t going to be satisfying enough today. They sit heavily on the couch, barely losing contact even as they fall onto it.

Kurt lays down sideways, pulling Blaine down next to him and deepens their kiss. Blaine’s hands are everywhere, wanting to touch every inch of Kurt he possibly can, while Kurt tangles his hands in Blaine’s hair.

“Oh God, I love your hair,” he hums into Blaine’s ear, as Blaine is trailing hungry kisses down Kurt’s neck.

“Oh God, I love your neck,” Blaine murmurs as he starts the trail over on the other side.

Blaine sits up for a second and whips his sweater over his head, and leans down to kiss Kurt again. Kurt’s hands trace lines under Blaine’s t-shirt. “I think you need to take this off too. There’s too much I want to see under it,” Kurt says.

Blaine blushes and says “I-I-I-I think there’s st-st-stuff I want to see under yours, too.”

Blaine’s shirt is off in a blink and as Kurt sits up to pull his own off, Blaine’s hands are faster, deftly sweeping it off, and tossing it on the chair next to them. Kurt shifts on the couch and Blaine takes the opportunity to straddle his legs. He takes in Kurt’s light dusting of fine chest hair and the way his collar bone trails off into his broad shoulders. Kurt runs a hand over Blaine’s darker, curlier chest hair and immediately feels turned on by the way Blaine’s hip bones dip into a v as they disappear into his low slung jeans.

They both gaze at each other for another long moment and then Blaine begins planting sweet kisses all along Kurt’s collar bone. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispers, not stopping, not thinking, not worrying about what words are coming out of his mouth, just enjoying being with Kurt.

Kurt lifts Blaine’s chin, wanting to feel his mouth on his own again. Needing it really.

They tighten their grasp on each other, allowing their bodies to press together firmly, and Kurt becomes aware of Blaine hardening, at the same moment Blaine feels Kurt. It’s happened before but never in such a perfect situation, where they can actually do something about it.

Without hesitating or overthinking Blaine’s hands are undoing the button of Kurt’s jeans. Blaine pauses only briefly, meeting Kurt’s eyes and Kurt nods, ceding control of the moment, because he loves watching Blaine’s instincts take over.

Blaine sits up, undoes Kurt’s zipper and pulls down his boxers, taking in the sight of Kurt’s erection. He places his hand around it and gives a gentle tug. It’s experimental, so he looks at Kurt and shrugs. Kurt has to stop a laugh from bubbling up, because the humor of Blaine’s face and his hand on his cock and the little shrug is once again fairly endearing. But it’s not the right time, he doesn’t want Blaine to think he’s doing anything wrong. Nothing Blaine does in this moment could be wrong.

Blaine takes a quick pump from the “Berry Me In Kisses” moisturizer that’s on the coffee table and begins running his hand up Kurt again, finding a better rhythm. He suddenly looks up at Kurt, vaguely panicked. “Shit. I shouldn’t have used that ssssstuff if...” Blaine pauses and blushes before mumbling, “if I was going to give you a bb-bb-buh-blow job.”

Now Kurt does laugh and he sits up to kiss away Blaine’s concern. “Next time,” Kurt says and he leans back with his arm under his head. With his other hand he guides Blaine’s hand a bit, helping him find the perfect speed and the motion that finally leave Kurt a bit speechless.

Blaine’s hands are strong and sure, the hesitation gone out of his movements. He truly wants to make Kurt happy. Right before Kurt comes, Blaine grabs his t-shirt off the ground to catch it. Kurt shudders and smiles lazily up at Blaine. He takes a few minutes to enjoy the haze of orgasm, kissing Blaine’s biceps, and his chin, not being able to get enough of him. Wanting to thank him for everything, just everything. Blaine matches Kurt, kiss for kiss, feeling so confident in this moment, knowing he did something for Kurt, something wonderful.

Once Kurt has his focus back, he pushes Blaine off of him.

“What... wait...” Blaine blinks confusedly at Kurt.

“It’s your turn now,” Kurt says.

“Oh, no,” Blaine turns away blushing. “You rr-rr-rr-really dah-don’t have to.”

Kurt cups the front of Blaine’s jeans and Blaine can’t help but buck a bit from the contact.

“I think I really do,” Kurt responds. “However, I believe I’ll skip the Berry Me In Kisses.”

Blaine chuckles nervously and keeps his eyes trained on Kurt, not wanting to miss a minute of what’s about to happen.

Kurt slides to the floor. He takes Blaine’s hands and pulls him into a seated position on the couch. Blaine has become quiet, passive, almost compliant.

Kurt kneels before him and leans his arms on Blaine’s thighs.

“Hey, are you ok?” Kurt asks seriously, making sure to catch Blaine’s line of sight. Blaine smiles and nods his head slowly. “Don’t be nervous, this is going to be awesome.” Blaine just nods again, swallowing and blinking at Kurt.

Kurt kisses his lips, and then his chin and then licks Blaine’s Adam’s apple as it bobs. Kurt presses kisses down Blaine’s chest as he undoes his jeans. He kisses the spot right below Blaine’s belly button, making Blaine’s eyelids flutter as he digs his fingers into the couch. He eases Blaine’s jeans down, followed by his boxers and takes Blaine in his hand. Kurt takes a quick glance at Blaine’s face and finds that his features have relaxed and his eyelids have lowered slightly.

Kurt leans down and begins expertly and smoothly teasing Blaine’s cock with his mouth. He can feel tremors moving through Blaine’s body and soft moans of pleasure that make him smile and want to make this the best blow job he’s ever given in his whole life.

Blaine can barely think. No matter how many times he’s gotten himself off, he’s never known it could feel like this.

After Blaine comes, Kurt leans up and places his head on Blaine’s heart. He has a feeling Blaine won’t be able to say much right now, but he can hear the effect he’s had on him by listening to the pounding in Blaine’s chest and the way his breath hitches. He feels Blaine’s arm go around his back and his fingers play lightly along the hairline on Kurt’s neck.

They stay in this position as several minutes tick by and Blaine leans down to kiss the top of Kurt’s head. As Kurt feels Blaine’s breathing slow and his heartbeat evens out, he looks up to see Blaine the most relaxed he’s ever been. His head lolled back on the couch and his eyes closed and a dopey smile drawn across his lips. Blaine continues rubbing his thumb softly across Kurt’s neck and then opens his eyes.

“Wow. So you like, rr-rr-really like me, huh?” He says with a playful smile.

“Cheese on a cracker! You finally get it! Yes! I really like you!” Kurt can’t help but smile back at Blaine. Kurt can’t ever really help but smile when Blaine is smiling. “Come on. Let’s go clean you up. Apparently my reflexes and hand eye coordination aren’t as good as yours.”

Blaine stands and wavers a moment, feeling like his whole body is loose. Kurt snakes his arms around his waist and Blaine starts kissing his neck again. “I,” kiss, “really like,” kiss, “you,” kiss, “too.” And then he rapid fires kisses all over Kurt’s face.

“Jeez Blaine. You’re like a dog.”

Blaine just responds by scrunching his face up at Kurt and giving a quick flick of his tongue on Kurt’s cheek.

After they’re done in the bathroom, Blaine’s about two feet from the couch when he lays down on the floor. “Too tired. Go on ww-ww-without mm-me,” he says dramatically. Kurt tries to drag Blaine by his arm, but he’s pretty much dead weight.

“Come on,” Kurt whines, “the couch is more comfortable than the floor.”

“I can’t dah-do this on the, the, the couch,” Blaine says as he throws all of his limbs out like a starfish on the floor.

“Fine,” Kurt huffs. He goes to the couch and grabs all the pillows and blankets and throws himself down next to Blaine. Kurt creates a nest for them and then settles into the crook of Blaine’s arm. Blaine rolls a bit and cuddles into Kurt.

Bare chests pressed together, legs entwined, smiling faces, eyes drifting closed. Happy boys in a heap. They take a nice long nap in a sunny spot on the floor.

~~~~~

Kurt’s awakened several hours later by Blaine’s throaty whisper in his ear. “You make me so happy.”

Kurt rolls over to face Blaine and says “You are the best big spoon I’ve ever known.”

Blaine’s face is so open right now, his eyes are shining and his forehead is free of the stress lines that often appear when he’s trying to speak. Kurt brings his hand up to run through Blaine’s hair. Blaine cuddles into Kurt’s neck, inhaling his scent and then sighing.

“I-I-I have to go,” Blaine says wearily, sitting up and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

“No!” Kurt protests. “You could just stay here forever, on the floor. We could just live in this nest of blankets on my floor. Forever.” Kurt rubs Blaine’s warm back with his hand, not wanting him to leave.

“We could,” Blaine agrees easily. “However, then we mmm-might fail out of ss-ss-school. I-I-I have homework I nn-nah-need to dd-dd-do.”

“Booooo. Homework. Quit school and we’ll join the circus.”

“Kurt,” Blaine says, “if the carnies dd-didn’t wwwwwant us, why ww-ww-would the circus folk?”

“How dare you use logic?” Kurt asks.

Blaine stands up then and reaches his hand down to Kurt, who accepts it and pulls himself up. The boys dig around by the couch for their shirts and Blaine puts on his shoes and coat. He walks to the door and Kurt follows. As they stand in the doorway, Kurt leans in to kiss Blaine again, the kind of kiss that says “you should stay.” After a minute Blaine pulls back and gives Kurt a questioning look.

“Earlier, dd-did you tell mmmmme that you quote unquote ‘love my hair?’ Which wwwwwould mm-mean that every time you tell me I-I-I nah-need a haircut, you ddddon’t rr-really mean it?”

“Yes. Grumble, grumble. I love your hair. I love touching it, I love the way it curls, I love the way it smells.”

“Hell. Yes. I ww-ww-win this round, Kurt Hummel!” Blaine plants a quick kiss on Kurt’s cheek and bounds down the stairs, laughter echoing behind him.

“Who said it’s a competition?” Kurt yells over the railing.

“I’m pretty sure you dd-did!” Blaine’s face smiles up at Kurt as he backs out the door to the street.

Kurt walks into his apartment, a fond smile on his face. He’s not surprised to realize that he’s falling in love with the boy that just beat him at his own game.