It started at a cafe.

Actually, that was a lie. Technically it started with a favor; Kurt had taken over several of Rachel's shifts at the diner while she was out auditioning for show after show, only to get recommended for a lead role in a movie. She'd thanked him countless times and even promised to take him to the set at some point.

That's where he met the one and only Cooper Anderson, the latest hot, young face of Hollywood. His career had all but exploded after he'd starred in the Free Credit Rating Today commercial and had been on the rise ever since. As it turned out, he would be Rachel's co-star- and love interest. The pair had unbelievable chemistry, at least according to Rachel. Kurt wasn't shocked by this, seeing as Rachel tended to think every guy who smiled her way had the potential to be her soulmate.

“This is different,” she would always argue. “He's the real deal, Kurt, I promise.”

And then Kurt would end up comforting her as she sobbed over her latest heartbreak, devastated that she'd been wrong yet again.She was never down for long, though, always bouncing back after a few days and putting herself back out there.

Which was how she landed this role: after getting rejected on Broadway time and time again, she finally decided to audition for a commercial but got shot down even for that. In the midst of her wallowing and wondering if she should give up on acting altogether, she'd received a phone call and a life-changing opportunity.

Several weeks later, he finally cashed in all of his favors for the chance to visit the set and meet the most attractive man in North America.

Cooper was… not exactly what he'd anticipated; Kurt had been starstruck for the first hour or so, hanging on his every word until he actually started listening to what was being said.

“I find eye contact distracting in a scene,” Cooper had told him at one point. “I suggest ignoring your partner completely.”

That was when the illusion shattered. Cooper may be talented and beyond handsome, but he was also as dumb as a pile of rocks.

His brother, on the other hand…

He'd met Blaine when they arrived on location and immediately become smitten. It was like he was back in high school, observing him at every chance he got and blushing bright when he was caught. Rachel teased him endlessly about it and when the director called for the extras to take their places, she'd loudly commented that Blaine sitting alone with a newspaper looked too out of place for such a potentially iconic scene. Kurt had been asked to wait a few lines before entering and mime an apology for his feigned tardiness.

“Then just make casual conversation,” the director instructed him. “I don't care what you talk about, just keep the volume down.”

Kurt stood off to the side, observing intently while Rachel delivered her first lines. He felt a rush of pride for her as the gravity of the situation finally set in: his best friend was starring in a movie. He was going to be an extra i said movie.

Speaking of- shit. He should probably walk on screen soon.

He waited until Cooper was several words into his response before hurrying to where Blaine was sitting, blushing a bit when the man stood to help him into his chair.

“Glad you could make it,” he winked and Kurt very nearly swooned. “Have you ever been an extra before?”

“No, actually,” Kurt answered, “this is my first time.”

“I'll be gentle,” Blaine grinned at him and Kurt nearly choked. “So tell me about yourself, Kurt.”

“There's not really much to tell, really. I'm a waiter and I intern at Vogue.com, but I want to be a performer,” he told him, sipping the “coffee” that had been provided by the crew. “What about you?”

“I act, but I'm more wood stage and less silver screen,” Blaine leaned closer. “But I'm not opposed to it if it means I get to meet men as stunning as you while I'm at it.”

Kurt's eyes widened and he felt himself turning pink for the dozenth time that day, far from used to being so blatantly flirted with. He gaped for a moment before regaining his confidence and casually leaning back in his chair.

“The feeling is mutual,” he volleyed back. “I'm a fan of wood myself.”

It was Blaine's turn to choke.

“Cut!” the director called. “That was decent, we're gonna reset and do it again and then you can all take five.”

“I'm impressed,” Blaine told him. “You broke me first, I like to think that's hard to do.”

“You'd better step your game up then, Mr. Anderson,” Kurt teased, standing to take his place behind the scenes. “I expect a challenge this time around.”

“I'll see what I can do,” Blaine lifted the newspaper again, schooling his features back into a more professional expression.

“And… action!”

Rather than focusing on Rachel and Cooper this time, Kurt opted for observing Blaine's face as the scene went on. He waited a moment before entering with purpose, stooping low to press a kiss to Blaine's cheek.

“Hey, baby,” he said before pulling out his own chair. “Sorry I'm late, traffic was a bitch.”

“No worries,” Blaine grinned, unphased. "I havent been waiting long."

"I see," Kurt paused, considering his options. He was about to make some kind of innuendo when he had an idea. “So… I was thinking about us.”

“Oh?” Blaine raised an eyebrow and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Do tell.”

“Mhmm,” Kurt mirrored Blaine's movements, reaching forward to tangle their fingers together and ignoring the rapid beating of his heart. “We've been together for such a long time.”

“These past several minutes have been life changing,” Blaine snickered and Kurt ignored him.

“I think I'm ready for the next step,” he continued. “So, Blaine whatever your middle name is Anderson…”

“Yes?” Blaine reached for his other hand, his eyes shining with laughter under the LEDs.

“Will you marry me?”

Blaine yanked his hands back to cover his face, shoulders shaking with the force of his giggling.

“Cut!” The director called. “Is there a problem, boys?”

“No, no,” Blaine took a deep breath to steady himself. “We're okay, sorry about that.”

“Don't let it happen again,” the director raised an eyebrow. “Reset for take three.”

Kurt stood and replaced his chair, pleased to have won that round. He was fine with calling it a tie and would rather not get kicked off the set, so he decided to actually do his job this time.

"Hey, sorry," he murmured when he hurried into the shot. "I hope you havent been waiting too long."

"I havent been," Blaine told him. "You look lovely, by the way. Very chic."

"Thank you," Kurt smiled softly. "So do you. I love your blazer."

Blaine fingered his lapel before thanking him for the compliment.

"So youre here with Rachel Berry, whats she like?"

"Shes- interesting," Kurt started cautiously, fully aware that Rachel was only a table away. "She works hard, which is both nice and incredibly annoying to live with. She's actually the one who helped me find my passion in performing.”

“Really?” Blaine leaned forward. “I'm glad she did."

“How did you get into acting?” Kurt wondered, resting his chin on his hands. “I'm sure having Cooper as a brother must've had something to do with that.”

“Yeah,” he sighed, “Cooper was definitely a character. He tried to be encouraging in his own way, it just- wasn't right for me, I guess. I got here on my own.”

“Sounds like there's a story there.”

“There is,” Blaine lifted his gaze back to Kurt's face with a grin. “But that's too heavy for a first date, don't you think?”

Kurt rolled his eyes and blushed, amused.

"Only if you plan for there to be a second," he winked despite his nerves, determined to let Blaine know that he was interested in more than just flirting. “Otherwise you might as well just tell me now.”

“I mean, I'm definitely hoping for a repeat of this- maybe without the cameras, though,” Blaine leaned in as if he was going to spill some kind of deep, dark secret. “At least for now.”

“I'm alright with that,” Kurt covered his face and grinned before regaining his composure and sipping at his fake coffee.

“Cut!” the director yelled out for what felt like the dozenth time. “Boys. Could you try to look a little less like you want to leap across the table and rip each other's clothes off? It's rather distracting.”

“Yes sir,” they chorused and Kurt all but leapt out of his seat to take his place behind the cameras again, ignoring the wide eyed gaze of one miss Rachel Berry. He'd definitely be getting an earful later- he just wasn't sure if she'd be pissed or desperate for details.

He came on sooner this time and his apology was more sincere than it had been during the previous takes.

“Sorry about that,” he smiled ruefully. “I'll save the bedroom eyes for when we aren't being watched, I suppose.”

“I think that sounds like a marvelous idea,” Blaine told him. “I'm not really a fan of sharing, anyway.”

“Okay, we should probably tone down the flirting,” Kurt gave himself a mental shake down and schooled his features into something more professional. He was not about to get kicked off the set, even if it would be worth it to get some alone time with Blaine. He was an actor over everything, and having a mark against him when he's only an extra would not bode well for future casting opportunities.

“If we must,” Blaine sighed and shot him one last wink. “I do kind of feel bad… Cooper is probably going to yell at me later. ‘If you're gonna flirt on my set, you can't get mad at me for doing the same thing to you, little brother.' Not looking forward to that conversation.”

“Rachel is definitely going to want to know what happened between us,” Kurt answered, already dreading the lecture. “I have no idea what to tell her.”

“I would have to suggest you lead with the proposal,” Blaine chuckled and reached forward to grab his hand. It felt strangely natural. “Everything after that will seem like less of a big deal.”

“An excellent idea.”

“I do tend to have those every now and then,” he deadpanned and Kurt resisted the urge to giggle. That's what got them in trouble last time and he was determined not to be the reason the scene didn't get finished.

“Good to know,” he smirked instead. “I'll keep that in mind.”

“Cut! Take five, everyone.”

Kurt let out a sigh of relief and stood, stretching his arms high above his head; Blaine eyed the bit of skin the action revealed with a hungry gaze. Kurt preened under the attention and was about to comment on it when he felt a hand on his arm.

“Kurt Hummel, you better follow me right now,” Rachel dragged him away before he could respond. “What was that?!”

“What was what, Rach?” he decided to play innocent. She rolled her eyes at him, unamused.

“You know exactly what I'm referring to,” she hissed, tightening her grip. “What's with you and Blaine? You've never been this flirty! Even in high school!”

“What, am I not allowed to enjoy the attention?”

“I didn't say that! I'm happy that you're happy, Kurt, of course I am,” Rachel lead them outside and stopped at a small table in front of the windows. “I'm just confused. You guys were making eyes at each other like you were high school sweethearts, not extras that were introduced to each other not even an hour before filming.”

“Yeah,” Kurt sighed happily. “We've got wicked chemistry.”

“I'll say.”

“Should I ask him out?” he wondered. “I mean, we joked about a second date, but I couldn't tell if he was being serious or not.”

“I say go for it,” Rachel reached forward and squeezed his hand encouragingly. “I haven't seen you blush so much since Santana tried to give you the sex talk back in high school.”

“I thought we agreed never to speak of that again.”

Rachel waved his comment away and grinned at him before straightening up in her seat.

“Okay,” she started, her tone all business. “How are you going to do this?”

“I have no idea, honestly,” Kurt confessed. “I thought maybe I'd just- ask him for coffee after filming is done for the day.”

“That seems like a good plan,” Rachel nodded to emphasize her approval. “Personally, I'd have serenaded him with a classic number from miss Barbra Streisand, specifically I Finally Found-”

“Rachel,” he interrupted her before she could start describing her ideal lighting and other unnecessarily miniscule details. “I'm not going to sing to him. Believe it or not, I don't actually want to send him running for the hills.”

“Fine,” her shoulders slumped the tiniest bit and she jutted her lip out in a pout. “We'll go with your plan, then.”

“Sorry to interrupt, but your five minute break is up, Ms. Berry,” a member of the crew told them apologetically.

“I guess I'd better get back to work then!” Rachel responded enthusiastically. “Tell me how it goes.”

Without another word, she flounced back inside; Kurt stood to follow but stopped dead in his tracks when he noticed Blaine collecting his coat just inside.

“Oh, hey,” he said when he bumped into Kurt on his way out. “They said the last take of that scene was good enough and they don't need the extras anymore. I was actually just about to come find you.”

“Lucky I was here, then.”

“Would you- would you maybe wanna grab a cup of coffee with me? Or dinner, we could do dinner,” Blaine seemed nervous, which was adorable. Kurt cut him off before he could stumble through another invitation.

“I would love to,” he positively beamed. “Coffee sounds wonderful right about now.”

“Excellent,” Blaine grinned back at him, extending his elbow for Kurt to latch on to.

...

A year and a half or so later, Kurt brought them back to the same cafe- but this time, his proposal wasn't a joke.