The next afternoon a shadow fell across Blaine as he was undoing the padlock on the security gate.  He looked up and was surprised, no, shocked to see Kurt.  His initial impulse was to spit, "Why are you here, Kurt?" But years of having good manner ingrained in him made his mouth form, "Hello, how can I help you?" And what ultimately came out of his mouth was "Why hell?"

Kurt started and then threw his head back and laughed.  He had been close enough to Blaine once to know what it meant when Blaine said something incomprehensible.  "Thats a question for a theologian, Blaine.  Hopefully, this isnt a fresh new Hell," he grinned, but quickly sobered when he took in Blaines thunderous expression.  "I need to talk to you; is that okay?"

Blaine shoved the gate up and put his key into the doors lock.  "I guess," he replied warily.  "Come on in." 

Blaine locked the door behind them, switched on the lights, and stashed his coat behind the bar.  His head swirled with questions about Kurts presence.  He was still stung by last nights song, and his own angry, musical response hadnt really helped.  To be honest, it made him feel like a petulant child.  Perhaps it wouldnt hurt to hear Kurt out and then to apologize for being such a dick. He hoped Kurt would do the same.  

Either way, he resolved to be the bigger man.  

Blaine looked up to see that Kurt had removed his own coat and had seated himself at Table 6 where he had slid an empty glass, a bottle of whiskey, and an empty beer bottle to one side.

The beer bottle was new.  Maybe Charlie had branched out to boiler makers.    

"Coffee?" Blaine asked, prepared to switch on the pot. 

Kurt looked down at his beautifully tailored herringbone slacks and grimaced.  "Maybe not until we talk.  I wouldnt want to anger..." he looked up in the air, "...anyone."

Blaine chuckled despite himself and slid into the bench opposite Kurt. 

Kurt folded his hands in his lap primly and said, "I feel like I owe you an apology for leaving without saying goodbye."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. 

"I was just so angry when I left last night."

"You were angry?"

Kurt put up a hand, "Just hear me out, please."

Blaine folded his arms and fixed Kurt with a stare.  It was a more defensive posture than he really wanted to project, given that he really needed to apologize to Kurt, but he also felt the irrational need to protect himself.  Plus he was irked. 

Kurt shifted uncomfortably and forged on, "You sang that song to me last night didnt you?"

Blaine gave a brief nod, just a single up and down motion of his head.  Damn straight.

"You thought I was singing to you, too?" 

Blaine nodded again, this time a little more uncertainly. 

"Is that why you sang...what you did?"

Blaine didnt respond for a moment, and then he realized he had nothing to lose by being completely, soul-baringly honest with Kurt.  They were nothing to each other now, so they surely couldnt hurt each other much.  Not after all this time.  Could they?  He unfolded his arms and placed his hands on the table, palms down, "Yeah.  You hurt my feelings.  It was unnecessary and, frankly, pretty egomaniacal,  and I wanted to hurt you back.  Im not proud of it.  I was childish, and I hope youll forgive me." 

Kurt blew out a breath.  He reached over and took one of Blaines hands in his own.  It wasnt a conscious action.  It was just something they had done so many times when they made up after a fight, and it took them both a second to realize that it was now wrong.  Kurt pulled his hand back, "Sorry."

Blaine shook his head, "No, its okay." 

Kurt folded his fingers together as if to keep them from wandering on their own.  "Its just...Blaine, I promise, last night I sang that song because Sam...he wanted me to sing, and it was the only Dwight Yoakam song I know.  I didnt think...well, you know...I just...the song wasnt about you.  It was just a song." His voice trailed off. 

Blaines eyes widened in surprise; he hadnt expected that.  Still he remained wary; he wasnt sure if he could still trust Kurt, "Why do you know any Dwight Yoakam songs?"

Kurt laughed mirthlessly, "During one of Sam and Mercedes zillion breakups, Sam dragged me to some honky tonk outside of Lima-maybe in Defiance?-I dont really remember where anymore.  He played that song, like, a hundred times on the juke box.  I was singing it in the shower for a week." 

Blaine let his head fall back until it thunked against the wall of the booth.  "Im such an idiot," he moaned.  "God, Kurt.  We had that conversation in the mens room, and then you sang that song, and I thought...Jesus, next time you should sing, ‘Youre So Vain.  Apparently I think all the songs are about me."

"No, Blaine, it was just a misunderstanding.  But if I had talked to you after you sang instead of running out in a snit, we could have put it to rest."  Kurt ran his hand through his hair, and, as last night, Blaine was shocked to see the action.  It displaced a lock of hair, and Blaines hands itched to put it back in place. 

He forced himself to look away from the stray tress.

"Im so sorry," Blaine shook his head and forced himself to stay with the conversation.  "I was an ass.  It wasnt the first time, and it probably wont be the last."  He gave Kurt a rueful smile, and then he continued, "But I know what you mean about Sam.  One time he and Mercedes broke up and he played ‘Need You Now over and over again in his car until I wanted to jump out while it was still moving.  God, those two were the worst." 

"They never could get it together."

"Kind of like us."  Blaine didnt intend for the words to come out bitterly, but they did. 

Kurt shook his head.  "No, we had it together.  Really together.  Then we didnt anymore."

Blaine nodded, reconsidering, "Yeah.  I guess.  That was my fault."

"No.  Its water under the bridge.  We can chalk it up to being young and stupid.  I really hope no one holds us accountable for anything we did before the age of twenty-five," Kurt smiled at Blaine, and Blaine couldnt help but smile back. 

Then Kurt looked at his watch, and jumped up, "Ive gotta go."

"Hot date?" Blaine teased. 

Kurt blushed, and Blaine said, "Oh."

"Its a first date," Kurt explained hastily.  "It probably wont go well.  I never have good luck dating models." 

Of course he was going on a date with a model, because Blaine had clearly aggravated the universe. 

"Well, let me get out of your hair," Kurt continued as he started to put on his coat.  "Im sure you have a million things to do; I know I do." 

Blaine reached out and helped Kurt into his jacket, which earned him a grateful smile.  Then Blaine asked, "Why didnt you just call?  You didnt have to come here in person."

"Oh," Kurt exclaimed as if just remembering.  "I was going to call, but I was taking the subway home from work-I was going home a little early because I had to go in at five this morning-and the subway broke down.  I decided to take a cab instead of waiting thirty minutes for another train.  Wouldnt you know that as soon as I got to the escalator my train started and pulled away?"  He shrugged, "Anyhow, I was on the street, not finding a cab, and I didnt really realize where I was until I saw you." 

"Oh, well its good to see you," Blaine replied, and Kurt gave him a small wave and disappeared out the door. 

Blaine sat at Table 6 for a long time looking at the empty beer bottle.