Kurt stared at the framed woven quote all night in Ben's arms. He couldn't sleep, but every part of him was exhausted. He was sore everywhere, and for good reason. He was supposed to be content, but the eminent feeling of disaster was still at bay.

Why would Ben have something like that hanging on his wall?

Kurt's mind wandered, working over every detail as Ben breathed evenly in his ear, snoring so soft it was barely there. Their legs were tangled comfortably under a soft blanket; serene and relaxed in their own world. Kurt nuzzled his nose into the fabric, hoping slumber would take him soon.

Was it even possible to fall in love so quickly? Kurt felt it deep in his bones, whatever it was.

Kurt started at the beginning, his lashes fluttering shut.

***

"I know your father wouldn't approve but-"

More kisses. Kurt deepens it, his hold sure on Ben's head to make him shut up, but to no avail.

"I-I'm glad you came."

The two boys stumbled their way up to Ben's room, though Kurt couldn't be too sure since it was all happening so fast. Ben kept saying things to him, murmuring, accentuated with each peck and nip against flesh continually exposed.

Kurt found himself with his fingers lubed and Ben bowed under him, stunning and glistening with beading sweat, ass spread open wide in anticipation of first initial, glorious penetration.

He let out all his energy in fucking Ben roughly and passionately. His grip was forceful against Ben's narrow waist, the smack of his bony hips against Ben's fleshy ass was electrifying.

Ben was a perfect, begging mess. He took Kurt's cock like they were molded for each other. Kurt could lean down and slot their bodies as if they were yin and yang. When Kurt slowed to allow himself to feel everything, he could tell there was a semblance of making love.

Much later, deep into the night, Kurt found himself straddled a-top Ben's thighs, kissing him passionately and thoroughly. Their lips slid experimentally. They tasted each other; sucked each other, felt each other.

All around Kurt was the scent of Ben. The scent of his pleasure, the scent of his beautiful body, the scent of his come. The scent of leftover shampoo and deodorant soaking into the sheets, and Kurt couldn't get enough.

Most memorable of all was Kurt riding Ben's cock for what felt like hours.

They had clutched each other, looking deep into each other's eyes. Kurt felt something stir within him like nothing before. Ben would cup his cheek, stroke his hair, blink slowly as if a man already deeply in love.

Kurt spent the rest of their night closing his eyes so he couldn't see all that. His heart remained in his throat no matter how much he cried out in pleasure. No matter how many times he came. No matter how bad his thighs burned.

Because he could never forget Ben's whimpery, whining voice as he rubbed Kurt's clenching, aching asshole as he rocked up and down.

"Please keep fucking me for a while longer, please."

He said it like he knew Kurt was leaving him. Like he would die if this didn't last longer; longer than forever.

Kurt understood completely, but never made any mention of it. He felt like if he said anything, the fantasy would shatter all around him.

So he fucked Ben until he could no longer move.

***

The next morning, they went at it again. Ben bit Kurt's neck as he thrust into Kurt's asshole in one go, fucking him quick and sharp from behind.

Later, Ben spread himself out on his back and pleaded for Kurt to fuck him face-to-face so they could kiss the whole time.

It was nothing like Kurt ever imagined. It blew all else out of the water, and nobody in the world existed but Ben.

Kurt never thought once he would ever be lucky enough to experience this.

***

When they finally fully woke, they both stretched and smiled, eager to wash themselves clean. And most likely, make love again.

That was until Ben ruined it.

"W-what..what are you doing?" Kurt asked suddenly; forcefully.

Ben paused fiddling with his wrist cuff, looking slightly startled. Kurt didn't understand it, he seemed so casual about it, undoing the clasps despite the fact it was utterly forbidden.

"You can't-"

"Relax," Ben assured him, the cuff now falling limply around his wrist. "You don't have to look, you could even turn away if you wanted to. I just always take it off before I shower because the water will ruin the material design."

Ben scoffed like Kurt was being ridiculous. Maybe he was. What he he really was, was bordering on panic.

On one hand, if Kurt took a little peek, he'd finally know. Going down the path of knowing always carried more weight and significance than the path of blissful ignorance.

On the other hand, he'd be completely and totally devastated if the name wasn't his, even more devastated too, if it actually was. There was no winning for Kurt. He would lose, and there was no happy ending for him either way.

However, Ben only gave Kurt less than 10 seconds to prepare for something so earth-shattering because in a blink it was off, placed carefully on the night stand. Ben kept his wrist downturned, but the visual of a bare wrist with no means of protection from prying eyes made Kurt feel like he was falling down stairs.

Kurt shut his eyes tight.

He could hear Ben breathing and moving toward him. Ben then framed Kurt's face with his warm palms, breath puffing sweetly over his face. Kurt's heart went a-flutter, but he had to keep his eyes closed, no matter what.

"Kal, why are you shaking?"

Kurt pressed his lips tightly together, refusing to answer. Ben thumbed over his cheek, his voice softer now.

"What's the worst that will happen?" Ben reasoned gently. "You know I don't care about that name. It's merely a blemish as far as I'm concerned. You are the only one I see."

Kurt tried to control himself, but broken sobs made him gasp; he felt tears leaking traitorously out from under his iron-clad lids.

He wasn't sure if he was crying more for himself or Ben, because Ben wasn't even close to understanding the magnitude of the situation. He was just so clueless; he had no idea...

"Come take a shower with me," he then whispered against Kurt's lips, causing him to shiver all the way down to the soles of his feet. "Let's wash the rest of the world away."

The prospect was temping of course, more than that; it sounded sublime.

But Kurt knew better.

He knew the moment his eyes opened he'd greedily seek out the name, unable to stop himself. It was like he could feel a magnetic pull from Ben's left wrist, and his eyes would have no choice but to submit to the gravitation.

"Please Kal, look at me," Ben begged, now sounding a little on edge. His concern was the only reason Kurt cracked open his lids, guilt immediately washing over him as he witnessed the worried lines all over Ben's features.

"Okay," Kurt managed, opening his eyes more, hand reaching up to twine with Ben's, holding it sturdy and away at his side. "Lead the way, but I'm keeping mine on."

Ben chuckled a little, nodding his head in understanding. He then pushed open his bathroom door, Kurt amazed by the ornate yet cozy design.

Kurt admired the raised marble step to the all-glass shower facing the mirror. He then felt heat surge in his gut, almost giving him a sense of whip-lash in his desire.

"I want to fuck you against the shower door, watching you take it," Kurt said in a low, growly voice.

Ben grinned, free hand reaching down to rub himself, obviously taking a liking to the idea. He leaned in a kissed Kurt briefly, filthily; so much intent that had them both panting.

"Let me go heat the water up," Ben offered lightly, untwining his fingers from Kurt's to open the door to reach for the faucet, not realizing it was the biggest mistake of his life.

Something other, something bigger than Kurt forced him to look down in that moment, almost as if in slow motion, down past the raging hard on waiting for him, beyond the canvass of glistening golden skin, watching the tendons of Ben's marked wrist turning-

Kurt saw, but everything inside him froze, all the chaos in the world at a standstill while everything came to him, grounding him in that moment.

He felt like he was on the precipice of the end of his life.

Steam was all around. Ben's voice was echoing and carrying, but falling upon deaf ears, because of two little words.

Kurt Hummel.