When Kurt got home from the Broadway Ball, he lay in bed unable to sleep, the kiss he shared with Blaine on loop in his head and making him smile so hard his cheeks hurt. He kept finding himself laughing out loud with the delight of it.

After their first awkward meeting, Kurt wouldnt have said that Blaine was the kind of person hed ever fall for, but in the weeks since then Kurt had learned that there was so much more to Blaine under the surface. Thats why Mr. Blackmons warning sat so uncomfortably with him. Blaine couldnt be dangerous. He was all hard outer shell, soft inner goodness. He was sweet and caring, even if he tried not to show it, and he was shy even though he attempted to come off as cocky. Kurt hated that thoughts of their kiss were getting clouded by Richard Blackmons vague warning. Why couldnt he just focus on the sweetness of their first kiss? He eventually pushed Mr. Blackmons words away and fell asleep thoughts of Blaines soft lips on his own filling his mind.

The next morning Kurt was an odd mix of elated and frustrated, he still felt unresolved about the evening before, Mr. Blackmons words like an itch he couldnt reach. He decided to do a little research, maybe he could find out exactly what Mr. Blackmon had been referring to when he had said Blaine was trouble and then hed be able to let this go.

He sat down with his laptop and a mug of coffee and set to work. A few hours later, Kurt had a crick in his neck and his coffee was cold; he rubbed his forehead in frustration and scowled at the laptop set on his lap. He had looked up "Blaine Anderson New York City" and then just "Blaine Anderson", he had tried the phone number he had for Blaine and anything else he could think of.

He wasnt sure what he had expected, but a basic search didnt bring anything up on Blaine. There were a couple of Facebook profiles and apparently a travel agent with that name, but nothing on the Blaine he knew. And though Kurt remembered Blaine saying he hadnt always lived in New York, he didnt know where he was from and expanding the search just brought up more dead ends.

Kurt changed gears and instead looked up Richard Blackmon, who turned out to be an easier find for information. He was a professor at NYU and had written text books on the history of British theater. He also seemed to be a wine enthusiast and a collector of art and manuscripts.

That caught Kurts attention. If Mr. Blackmon was a collector and Blaines job was finding hard-to-get items, maybe theyd met that way. Still, that information didnt shed any light on why a complete stranger would feel the need to warn Kurt away from Blaine.

Kurt shut his laptop and rubbed his eyes, hed been at this for a while with no real answers and frankly he was starting to feel a little guilty about looking up information on Blaine without even talking to him first. Blaine was a friend, and possibly something more, and this wasnt a great way to start a relationship.

Kurt was so deep in thought that he jumped in surprise when his phone went off. He picked it up to see a picture of Blaine; he was sitting at their coffee shop looking down at his mug, his eyelashes long and dark and a small smile on his lips. Kurt had taken the picture weeks ago, surreptitiously raising his camera when Blaine wasnt looking. When Blaine heard the click of the phone hed glanced up in surprise.

"You dont mind do you?" Kurt had asked. "I want a picture to go with your phone number."

Blaine had continued to stare at Kurt in thought before he grinned. "Does this mean I get to take a picture of you?"

Kurt smiled at the memory and then quickly answered the phone. He had kissed Blaine last night and had told him to call soon, and apparently, he was. Kurt could hear the joy in his own voice as he answered; just thinking about the kiss he shared with Blaine made him tingle all the way down to his toes.

"You called." Kurt said, cupping the phone to his ear and lying down on his couch, closing his eyes so he could picture Blaines face.

"You said I should, and honestly I couldnt…" Blaine was quiet for a moment and Kurt just waited, "I cant stop thinking about you."

Kurt could just imagine Blaine nervously looking away as he said those words. Kurt wanted to take Blaines hand and rub his thumb over it, or place a kiss to it, until Blaine realized he didnt have to be so self-conscious and guarded around him. Kurt wanted to get to know him, find answers for the things that were unclear to him, besides he already very much liked what he did know. "Ive been thinking about you too," Kurt answered, not mentioning that some of those thoughts had been spent on trying to find out answers about Blaine.

"Do you have plans for this evening? Can I take you out to dinner?"

Kurts heart did a funny little skip. "Yes! I mean… Im not busy; Id love to have dinner with you."

They set up a time and a place. Blaine offered to come pick him up, but seeing as they were both just taking the Subway anyhow, it made more sense to just meet at the restaurant. Kurt got off the phone feeling elated; yes, Mr. Blackmons words still echoed in the back of his mind, but he had to be wrong about Blaine. Kurt wasnt going to let the words of a stranger change the way he felt about Blaine, not without knowing Blaines side of the story.

Blaine swirled the red wine around in his mug as Felix sat across from him equally silent. Blaine had just explained everything hed learned from the soothsayer in London and they were both absorbing the information.

"She said he was the key to finding your heartstone?" Felix broke the stillness.

Blaine looked up at him and nodded. "Yes, she said he was the message from the ritual."

"And indisputably linked to finding what youre looking for?"

Blaine sighed and rubbed his head. "Yes."

Felix let out a low whistle. "Well… what are the chances of that?"

"The chances of what?"

"That the first person youve really let in your life in decades is somehow linked to your heartstone?"

"Ive let you in," Blaine said, his stomach squirming with apprehension; he so didnt want Kurt to be any part of this.

"Yes, as a business associate, but it wasnt until you started spending time with Kurt that you actually began treating me as a friend. I feel like he has softened you."

"Im not soft," Blaine said, staring Felix down so hed remember who he was dealing with here.

"Soft doesnt mean weak Blaine. Dont be so defensive." Felix stared back and Blaine let his expression lighten, Felix had always stood his ground with him and Blaine liked that about their friendship.

"Are you feeling alright?" Felix asked as he studied him.

Blaine rubbed under his eyes. Hed been excessively tired of late and he knew it showed on his face. "Fine. Im fine Felix. I just hoped Id have more answers by now."

Felix nodded in understanding, "What are you going to tell him?"

"Tell who? Kurt? Nothing."

"You have to talk to him about this, how else are you going to use him to find the stone?"

"I dont want to use him at all!" Blaines fingers tightened around his mug, he hadnt gotten to know Kurt and let him into his life just to put him in danger or try to find his heartstone; being with Kurt wasnt about that. Kurt was just… something good, something good Blaine had allowed himself for once instead of hiding away from the world.

"Thats not how I meant it. I just mean that Ive been reading the signs, Im sure you have too. The Dontizu are close, not only to you but to finding your heartstone before you can. And if they do-"

"You dont have to remind me what will happen if the Dontizu find and destroy my heartstone Felix," Blaine answered, unconsciously looking behind his shoulder at Felixs door, knowing the image of a Dontizu was his door knocker. "Ive been running from them for a century now. I know."

Felix let out a deep put-upon sigh. "If you know the danger then how can you not seek help from this Kurt of yours? Apparently he is the key! You should just tell him."

"Tell him what?" Blaine asked incredulously.

"Everything."

"I…" Blaine opened his mouth and sat stunned for a moment. "Everything?"

"Do you love him?"

"I never said-" Blaine swallowed. He wasnt in love, he really didnt want to be in love. He did care about Kurt deeply though.

"If you want to stay alive," Felix continued, "And have Kurt in your life, you are just going to have to tell him who you are. If he is already linked to your heartstone then he is in danger as it is. Besides, if you care about him, does he not deserve the truth?"

Blaine picked up his mug of wine and downed it in one go before thumping it back down on the table and standing. "Ill think about it." Something in Blaines chest felt tight at the thought of telling Kurt everything, and surprisingly it wasnt fear, it was… hope?

"Think fast." Felix advised and stood to let him out.

Blaine got to the restaurant late. He hated that. He meant to be there early so Kurt wouldnt have to wait on him. However his time with Felix had run longer than he expected and his mind was full of questions. He was scared of telling Kurt everything and frightening him off, because at this point losing Kurt would be so much more than just losing a connection to his heartstone.

He reached the little food and wine bar he and Kurt had decided on a good 10 minutes late. He had texted Kurt to let him know he was on his way, but still this wasnt a good way to start off the first official date with the man that Blaine… that Blaine what? That he cared about? That seemed like a way of expressing his feelings for Kurt, but honestly, in his hundred plus years he had never really learned how to express what he was feeling very well. He hadnt had much practice, recently especially.

All he knew was that Kurt was special, and he deserved someone special. Not someone who showed up out of breath and late for their dinner together. He had called ahead and made reservations so Kurt should be seated already. The hostess showed him to the table and Blaine thanked her with a smile and a $20 to her palm. Then his eyes landed on Kurt.

Kurt with his shining chestnut hair and perfect pale skin, in a maroon suit jacket and pastel colored shirt, leaning on his elbow and looking as lovely as piece of art. Blaine cleared his throat and Kurt looked up from where hed been scrolling through his phone.

"Im so sorry Im late," Blaine said and watched as Kurts blue eyes crinkled up in a smile. "I brought you these." Blaine held out the bouquet of red roses hed bought on his way and Kurts smile only widened.

"You brought me roses." Kurt reached for the flowers as Blaine took a seat across from him.

Blaine couldnt help but grin at the enamored look on Kurts face.

"Thank you so much," Kurt reached over to the empty seat next to him and lifted up a nearly identical bouquet of roses, "Turns out I got you flowers too."

Blaines brows shot up in surprise before he started to laugh, taking the flowers from Kurt gratefully. "Please tell me you didnt stop at that little flower stall down the block."

"I did!" Kurt said happily. "You too?"

"Yes." Blaine smelled his roses for a moment, he couldnt remember the last time someone had bought flowers for him. "I guess we could have just bought ourselves flowers at this rate," he said with a chuckle.

"Dont say that," Kurt said, still holding his bouquet. "I love that these are from you."

They caught each others eyes, and for a moment, Blaine was filled with such a deep desire to lean over the table and kiss him that he couldnt think of anything else. The moment passed as their waitress came to the table asking for drink orders. She noticed the flowers and gave them both oh my god are you too cute looks before promising to see if she could bring out pitchers or something with water to keep the flowers fresh.

Blaine smiled and told her how much he appreciated it and thank you for keeping their table even though he was late for the reservation. When he turned back to Kurt, he found him beaming at him.

"What?" Blaine asked, "Did I do something wrong?"

"Its just that you are very good with people when you arent really thinking about it. I think that waitress would bend over backwards for you."

"I dont know about that."

Kurt shook his head. "You said at the ball that people didnt want to get to know you, but I just cant see how that is true. You are so… kind."

Blaines heart hammered against his chest. "Kind" was not a word often used to describe him. Was Kurt kidding? He felt his face harden and Kurts eyebrows arched slightly in worry.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"You mean that dont you?" Blaine asked as he watched Kurts face, "Thats actually how you see me?"

Kurt stretched his hand over the table and took Blaines hand in his, swiping across it with his thumb. "I think youre a good man, Blaine. I really do. Do you disagree?"

"I havent spent much time trying to be a good man." Blaine answered without thinking and then stopped. He used to, when his heartstone was first created Blaine had tried so hard to be good. Hed kept that up for nearly 70 years, until… until everything changed. Until he lost his connection to Cooper and decided he just didnt care anymore. "I used to try to be a good man." Blaine amended. "But not since I was younger."

"What changed?" Kurt tilted his head in curiosity, having no idea of the enormity of what he was asking and how little Blaine could answer that question without telling him things he just couldnt tell him yet.

Blaine just shrugged, like he always did when he wasnt sure what to say.

Kurt let out a little sigh that made Blaines heart sink. Kurt opened his mouth to speak just as the waitress brought them their wine, she took their orders and Kurt kept a hold of Blaines hand but his face looked solemn. When they were alone again he met Blaines eyes and smiled, but it didnt seem like a truly happy smile.

This was it then. Blaine had messed things up one too many times and Kurt was going to tell him hed had enough.

"Blaine, I feel like Ive made it pretty clear by now that I like you."

Blaine swallowed nervously.

"And you kept coming to the coffee shop to see me and even flew in from London to surprise me at the ball and that kiss was obviously not one sided. So if I had to guess, Id say you liked me too."

"I did. I do, Kurt," Blaine said quickly; with all he couldnt say, he didnt want Kurt to have any doubt on that matter. Hed started to develop feelings for Kurt the first time he met him; he just didnt recognize what they were because itd been too long since Blaine had felt this way. Or really it had been too long since hed felt any emotion this strongly besides anger.

"Okay," Kurt said and nodded. "Then, I need the communication between you and me to go both ways. I tell you everything about myself. Some would say too much." He smiled. "You know about the time I threw up on my school counselors shoes because I went to school hung-over."

Blaine chuckled at that, he loved stories of Kurt growing up, except for the ones of Kurt being bullied. Kurts life hadnt been idyllic, but it had been so full of love. Maybe that was why Kurt was such a compassionate person.

"Meaning, if you want things to work between us, you have to open up to me. Not about everything, but I want to know you, Blaine."

Kurt was looking at him so earnestly that Blaine felt a lump in his throat. "Okay." Blaine nodded slowly. "Okay, I can do that. What do you want to know?"

Kurt smiled and sat back in his chair. "Well, lets start with your family. I dont know anything about them."

Blaine only just held back his groan, he could understand why Kurt thought that was an easy question, but it really, really wasnt. He had just agreed to open up though, "I know you have a good relationship with your dad," Blaine began. "My father was a good man too. Strong and protective of his family."

"Was?" Kurt asked, his eyes widening.

"He died; both of my parents died when I was very young. I dont remember them as much as Id wish. They were brave and kind, and for a long time, I tried to live in a way that would make them proud."

Kurts eyes were so expressive and right now they seemed to almost brim with tears, as if he was feeling more about this revelation than Blaine had in years. "I cant imagine losing both of my parents, Im so sorry."

"It was a long time ago." Blaine did miss his parents, missed the lives they never got to have with each other, but it was an old wound, still there but he was use to carrying it.

"Who took care of you?"

"My older brother. He was only 17 but he raised me."

Kurt lifted his eyebrows, "I didnt know you had a brother. You must be close."

"No," Blaine said quickly. "We arent."

"Oh." The conversation fell flat and Blaine was wracking his mind to think of something to say to show Kurt that he was trying. He was given a little extra time when the waitress brought their food out.

"You asked when things changed for me," Blaine spoke up once she left. "When I stopped trying so hard. It was when my brother and I had our falling out, years ago. He… betrayed me. I decided then that no one was looking out for me so I had to look out for myself."

Kurt twirled some pasta around on his fork and nodded, he could tell Kurt was trying to think of what to say to that. "Im sorry." He glanced up at Blaine with a compassionate look on his face. "I am so sorry youve felt that way for so long."

Blaines shoulders sagged in relief, he had told Kurt something he never talked about and Kurt just accepted it, it felt… amazing. Maybe he could tell Kurt more, slowly, maybe it wouldnt be the end of everything if Kurt knew the truth. Not if Kurt still wanted him.

"What about friends? You must have friends you can count on?"

Blaine thought about that for a moment; he opened his mouth to answer and then shut it again. What friends did he really have? "Felix," he said knowing that was true. "I work with him and I trust him. Manual sells fruit at the corner outside my apartment, hes a good guy."

Kurt tilted his head and studied him for a moment. "I dont understand you sometimes."

"What? Why?" Blaines heart felt tight in his chest again.

"It makes sense to me, why you help others and dont even realize youre doing it. Its because you feel no one is there for you so you are just naturally there for others-"

"I dont know if thats-"

"Dont fight me on this," Kurt said, playfully. "I think Im a better judge of your character on this than you are at this point. What I dont understand is how that hasnt garnered you friends. Do you not want people in your life?"

Blaine chewed on his lip and looked away.

"Sorry," Kurt added quickly. "That sounded much more judgmental than I meant. I just meant that I dont see how someone like you doesnt have a lot of people in his life. Ive been lucky, I have a bunch of good friends Ive known since highschool and my dad and step-mom are wonderful. I wish you had more of that."

Blaine looked back at Kurt and smiled. "I have you."

Kurt blushed a little, the color high on his cheeks, and it made Blaines smile widen. "Yes, you do."

Kurt took over the conversation from there, seemingly realizing Blaine had shared a lot, he talked more about his glee club days and how much he loved New York. He talked about losing his mom and later his step-brother and Blaine felt guilt swirl in his stomach thinking about Cooper and how he still had a brother but had given up on him. Towards the end of dinner, Kurt seemed too hesitate, pushing the remains of his dessert around on his plate a little.

"Just ask," Blaine finally said, feeling Kurts nerves. "You can ask whatever it is youre thinking."

"Um…" Kurt looked up at him. "You remember Richard Blackmon from the ball?"

"Your teachers friend."

Kurt nodded. "You said you didnt know him."

"I do know him," Blaine answered. He might not tell Kurt everything, but he wasnt going to lie to him. "I just didnt say so at the time because he hadnt seemed to place me and I didnt think hed appreciate me saying how wed met."

"He talked to me later, after you left. He said… I should be careful around you. That you were trouble?"

"Oh." Blaines heart sunk, it was just Blaines luck that they would run into someone at the Broadway Ball who knew about Blaines less than lawful activity. And that hed go out of his way to warn Kurt.

"And I just wanted to hear your side of that," Kurt continued.

"Do you think Im trouble?"

"I think you think youre trouble," Kurt said with a coy smile, "But my gut is telling me there is more to you than that."

"I sold Blackmon a book," Blaine confessed.

"A book?" Kurts brow furrowed in confusion.

"A rare book thats provenance was questionable. The transaction wasnt completely without illicitness, though I gave Blackmon a fair deal. Richard Blackmon got my name from someone who had done business with me before, and among certain clients, I have a… dubious reputation. Some of it Ive earned and some of it I let people believe because it means they take me seriously and dont try to double cross me." Blaine shrugged. "Who knows what Blackmon heard about me or if it was true or not. I am sometimes trouble, I guess." That was more than hed meant to share, but it was better than letting Kurt come up with his own scenarios, and much better that the other things Kurt didnt know about him.

"Oh," Kurt said, and then a slow smile spread to his face. "Thats all?"

"Thats all Blackmon meant, Kurt."

"Not all of your business is legal?"

"Definitely not," Blaine said, wondering if that would be a deal-breaker for Kurt.

"But you dont sell drugs or guns or government secrets?" Kurt asked, and he was full-on smirking now.

"No. Just old, rare items mostly."

Kurt took the last bite of his cheesecake. "Well… Im okay with that."

Blaines heart felt like it started beating again. "Really?"

"I had kind of figured that out already."

Blaine sat up straight, leaning forward against the table. "So, Ive answered your questions and passed the test?"

Kurt rolled his eyes playfully. "This wasnt a test, Blaine, its a date. A date where two people get to know each other."

Blaine smiled and felt his heart flutter. Decades since hed let himself go out on a date, and now he was here with Kurt talking more about himself than he ever did and falling hard. And Kurt was taking all of it in stride; he was actually enjoying Blaines company.

After dinner, they decided to take a walk, carrying their bouquets of roses with them. It was a nice neighborhood and the evening was mild, Blaine didnt even feel that cold. After a long internal debate, Blaine pulled his free hand out of his pocket and reached for Kurts. Kurt smiled at him and just squeezed his palm as he swung it back and forth between them happily-like holding Blaines hand was the most natural thing in the world.

"Someday, will you tell me more about your brother?" Kurt asked softly once theyd been comfortably quiet for a little while.

"Cooper," Blaine said. "His name is Cooper, and yes… someday I hope to tell you everything." Blaine was settled with his decision; if he could, he really did want to tell Kurt everything one day.

Kurt lifted their clasped hands and placed a sweet kiss to Blaines, making the breath shudder out of his lungs.

"I can wait," Kurt assured him.

They kissed outside of a Subway station before saying goodnight and Blaine let his lips linger, hoping to show Kurt in that kiss how much this time together meant to him. If Kurts shining eyes were any indication, he understood. All evening, Blaine hadnt thought about his heartstone or the persistent danger nearing him at all.

All he could think about was Kurt as they kissed goodnight. All he could think of was Kurt as he rode the Subway home. And all he could think of was Kurt as he entered his apartment building, he didnt even notice the dark snarling figure across the street watching his every move.