Tina plucked the box out of Brittany’s arms, clearly not wanting it to get damaged as the shock wore off and Brittany pulled away from Kurt, practically sprinting across the studio and throwing herself onto Santana. The other girl may have been of smaller stature than her, but she held her own as Brittany’s limbs wrapped tight around her, like a koala holding onto a tree. Kurt felt like he was intruding on some sort of private moment, as silly as that was considering they were all in a room full of people, but couldn’t look away as Brittany reached out with one hand to pull Blaine in and slip her arm around his neck, holding him there.

There was such a mixture of emotions churning around inside Kurt, and he wasn’t sure which one to go with. Shock, because Blaine was there. Annoyance, because they’d been talking on the phone just a couple hours prior and there had been no indication whatsoever that Blaine was doing anything beyond what he usually did on Tuesday nights – which included being in Ohio. He tried to tell himself not to overthink, that maybe it was last minute thing that had come together to let Blaine and Santana make it out for Brittany’s birthday and because of the quick turnaround, Blaine hadn’t wanted to say anything. Still, what if it wasn’t?

“That’d be Santana, Brit’s girlfriend,” Tina supplied, breaking Kurt out of his thoughts. “I don’t know if you know her… she’s not in town much.”

“I know of her,” Kurt replied, shaking his head. “Seen her once or twice but never really met.”

“And then Blaine,” she continued, and Kurt watched as Brittany untangled her legs from around Santana’s waist and dropped her feet back to the floor, taking a step back to let them come further into the studio than just a few feet inside the doorway. “I don’t really know him, but he and Mike have hung out…”

“I know Blaine.” He wasn’t sure what to do, there in that moment, so he quietly excused himself to move over and get something to drink.

His heart felt like it was trying to beat out of his chest as he stood off to the side, sipping at his mad tea and trying not to stare over at where he knew Blaine was talking to his friends. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see him; it was that he wasn’t sure how to explain anything, because it wasn’t like he’d ever mentioned to Blaine that he’d struck up a friendship with Brittany to the point that he would get invited to her birthday celebration. The word ‘overstepping’ kept running through his thoughts, and his drink was completely gone before he managed to tell himself he was overreacting.

This was Blaine. This was the same person he talked to every night, shamelessly teasing back and forth until one or the other had to go. Blaine who quietly sang to him sometimes when they were on the phone a little too late at night. Who wanted to kiss him, wanted more than to kiss him, but wouldn’t let himself because distance and complications and all the words that Kurt hated to hear. Blaine was there, dressed so much nicer than Kurt had ever seen him, very much like that first drawing of his that Brittany had seen. Keeping a careful distance wasn’t going to work when all Kurt really wanted to do was throw his arms around him and not let go.

It was like Blaine had been engulfed by the people there who worked at the bar, but he’d inched his way out of the group to the point where he was just talking to Puck. Kurt had no idea what they were saying, but he easily recognized the expression on Blaine’s face as the one where he was trying not to laugh and about to fail spectacularly, corners of his mouth twitching and his eyes sparkling even more than usual. He didn’t want to interrupt, but he also kind of didn’t care as much as he probably should have about manner or etiquette in that moment – for which he blamed the alcohol – so he walked over and tapped his shoulder.

“I must have missed the latest memo from the highfaluting socialite society,” he said, a light thrill running through him at the way Blaine’s eyes widened and his lips parted just slightly when he turned and saw him. “Because I didn’t know we had any new members.”

Blaine’s arms were around him in an instant, fingers knotting into the back of his jacket to keep him held in close as Kurt’s arms circled around his shoulders and hugged him in. “Are you magic?”

“Not last time I checked,” Kurt murmured, shaking his head. His fingers splayed along Blaine’s shoulders, and he realized belatedly that really, it was the first time they’d ever been together in a somewhat public setting. Other than brief moments in the bars, they’d had the diner, his hotel room, but never a room full of people who clearly knew one of them well.

“If you’re not, then how are you here?” Blaine leaned back just enough to look up at him, but his grip on his jacket didn’t loosen in the least. “Are you real?”

“I hope I’m real, otherwise I’ve been living a lie,” Kurt teased, and his gaze flickered down to Blaine’s lips before he forced himself to look away because much more of that and he’d definitely give in. “I’m here because I was invited. That’s what friends typically do – invite each other to their birthday parties.”

“You’re friends with Brittany.”

“Well one time this pretty cute guy asked me to go check in on a friend of his and he failed to mention that she was a complete doll who just makes you want to love her.”

“Pretty cute, huh?” Blaine raised an eyebrow, grinning.

“I used to think so,” Kurt said with a sigh, keeping his hands on his shoulders but taking a step back to put a little bit of distance between him. Blaine’s brow furrowed as he looked up at him, his hands sliding to Kurt’s waist. “But now I’m reserving judgment because he didn’t bother telling me that he was going to be in the same state as me.”

“Ah.” Blaine bit his lip, his hands dropping away and one coming up to rub at the back of his neck. “Yeah, he’s kind of a jerk for that. He was hoping to surprise you later.”

“Oh, I’d say he surprised me plenty.”

Blaine looked up at him almost sheepishly, through his eyelashes in that way he did that he had to know would make anyone bend to his will or forgive anything he’d done. That look alone was enough to make Kurt’s breath hitch, and it didn’t help that Blaine’s gaze lowered to look over him, considering he’d hugged him as soon as he’d realized he was there and hadn’t given himself the chance prior. His fingertips brushed over the teapot on Kurt’s lapel, and drifted over to his pocket square. “Well you constantly seem to surprise me, so I think we’re even.”

“Come on, you should have a drink,” Kurt said, rocking back on his heels because he knew he couldn’t stay like that, so close and with feather light touches moving across his chest. “It’s good.”

“I don’t doubt it,” Blaine replied, following him over to where the refreshments were and getting himself a little cake to go with his drink.

“I wouldn’t drink that if I were you,” Santana commented as she came over, refilling her own cup. “You’re short enough as is.”

“You’re shorter than I am,” Blaine pointed out, tipping his cup toward her in a mock toast before he took a sip. “As I constantly remind you, yet you never seem to remember.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes and glanced over at Kurt, her brow furrowing before a glimpse of recognition crossed her face. “Wait. What’s the waif doing here?”

“Excuse me?” Kurt raised an eyebrow at her, and Blaine took a half step in front of him.

“San—”

“Oh, Santana!” Brittany slipped her arms around her girlfriend’s waist and nuzzled in against her hair before kissing her cheek. “This is my friend Kurt!”

“Your friend Kurt,” Santana said slowly, her gaze moving between Blaine and Kurt as her arm slid around Brittany.

“Yes! He draws pretty clothes and makes them, too. He made this,” Brittany said, reaching out and touching Kurt’s arm, indicating his jacket. “He’s my Mad Hatter!”

“Then what am I?” Blaine asked, and Brittany grinned.

“I think you’re the White Rabbit!”

“And Santana’s the Queen of Hearts?”

“Damn right I am,” Santana replied, taking a long sip of her drink. “Come on, Brit. I wanna dance.” She threw one last look Blaine’s way before leading Brittany back over to where other people were dancing.

“Waif?” Kurt asked as Blaine turned back to face him, and he just shook his head in response.

“If it helps, it could have been a lot worse,” he offered, draining what was left of his drink before getting more. “She rarely calls anyone by their actual name, and usually it’s much more insulting. I mean, other than at work when she has to use my name, I couldn’t tell you the last time she actually called me by it.”

“I don’t even want to ask,” Kurt said, watching as Brittany bounced on the balls of her feet, the curls of the ribbon in her hair flying every which way.

“It’s better that way, I promise.” Blaine hesitated, stepping in a little closer holding his cup in both hands, almost like he needed to so he didn’t do anything else with them. “You made that.”

“What?” Kurt looked away from the people dancing and down at himself. “Oh, yes. I made this. It was just something fun to throw together, and I think it turned out really well. I wanted to do some kind of tribute and I don’t think it ventures into the world of costume, at least I hope it’s subtle enough, and Brittany seemed to like it—”

“No,” Blaine interrupted, shaking his head. “The dress that Brittany’s wearing. You made that.” Kurt started, but it wasn’t like he could deny it or he even wanted to. “I remember that sketch, from your book. Kurt.”

“Well it was easy to get her measurements, you were too far away. Besides, pink is hardly your color,” Kurt said, waving his hand airily to try and brush it all off. Blaine was looking at him with those wide, earnest eyes of his again.

“Stop that.” Blaine caught his hand and held it gently, fingertips brushing over his palm as his thumb pressed into the back. “Kurt, you’re so nice, I can’t even wrap my head around it all. How did I get so lucky to have a friend like you?”

“I’m fairly certain I’m the lucky one,” Kurt replied, trying not to bristle too much at friend. It’s what they were, so he knew he shouldn’t have such a reaction to it, but that didn’t stop it from happening. “Here I am at a party with a bunch of people I didn’t know a few hours ago but now am at least acquaintances with, I have a new found friend who just happens to make some of the most delicious drinks in the city, and I also have you, who regales me with tales from the Midwest on a nightly basis. Much luckier than you, considering you just have to put up with me rambling at you and making clothes for your friend.”

“I said stop that,” Blaine repeated, quickly finishing his drink and tossing away the cup, motioning for Kurt to do the same, which he did. “Come dance with me.”

It wasn’t a question or a request, and Kurt let Blaine lead him over to where the rest of the group was. The music was loud, but not enough to completely drown out the laughter and conversation happening. Mike was spinning Tina around in a dance that didn’t match the music in the least, but that didn’t seem to matter because it looked like they were enjoying themselves. Blaine tugged him in closer, and the jolt of it reminded Kurt of how many drinks he’d had because the room seemed to wobble for a moment before it went into focus again.

“You’re such an incredible person,” Blaine murmured close to his ear, his breath playing across his skin and making Kurt’s heart race. “Don’t you dare try to play that off.”

Kurt completely lost track of how much time they spent there, pressed in against each other and moving with the music. The songs blended together with so many of the backbeats and bass lines sounding the same, and Blaine would occasionally sing along but that did nothing to help Kurt pay attention to anything other than the words being sung so close to his ear, essentially just for him because there was no way anyone else was able to hear Blaine over the actual music.

There was something so reassuring about having Blaine there against him, the way his hands curled around him like he wasn’t going to let him go. It was intoxicating, being so close, and Kurt just wanted to dip his head down and kiss him until he couldn’t remember how to breathe. Not the time or place, he reminded himself over and over, and tried to enjoy the moment while it lasted. And it lasted for a while.

Puck was the person who brought it to an end, asking Blaine to come help him mix up more mad tea because the punchbowl was getting far too low for his liking. Blaine’s hands had lingered on Kurt’s waist, and he’d looked up with an apology clear in his eyes, before he ducked off the dance floor and trailed after Puck to the dressing room where the liquor was being stashed. A petite girl who called herself Sugar slid into the spot Blaine had vacated, offering Kurt a smile and raising an eyebrow as an invitation to dance, which he accepted.

By the time Blaine and Puck reappeared, they both had flushed cheeks and were giggling endlessly as they poured the mixture into the punch bowl. Sugar, who Kurt learned had just recently started working at the studio, leaned up and commented that she was pretty sure they’d had more to drink than they’d actually made. Watching the way Puck stumbled toward the wall when Blaine playfully shoved him away, Kurt was inclined to agree.

The party went on, drinks passed around until the punch bowl was empty and there was nothing left to refill it. Brittany opened the rest of her presents, though none of the other bows or ribbons made their way into her hair. Blaine had stayed near Kurt as well as he could the entire time, though he kept getting pulled into conversations with people from the bar who hadn’t seen him since the last time he was there – and that was to be expected, Kurt supposed. It didn’t help matters that Blaine was clearly drunk, though it was nice to know that he was adorable and endearing when he was wasted, and he kept ahold of Kurt’s hand anytime they were close enough for him to manage it. Kurt wasn’t about to discourage him, especially since he wasn’t exactly sober himself.

Santana practically dragged Brittany out the door when they left, after Brittany had managed to hug and kiss everyone there at least once and thank them so very much for making her birthday special and magical. She was fairly drunk too, considering how she’d hung onto Kurt when she’d told him goodbye, and informed him that she was convinced he was a unicorn just like her and they should talk about it sometime. But Santana had come up and whispered something in her ear and they’d been headed toward the door in an instant.

Once Brittany was gone, the rest of the crowd started to dissipate. Kurt had a feeling he was one of the least intoxicated people there, and he tried to help Mike clean up a little but it was a half-hearted attempt from them both. He was assured that there were cleaners coming in the morning anyway. “I didn’t figure it would be any good to try and get things done,” he’d said, and they both held onto each other’s shoulders to stay steady on their feet. “Forethought! Before booze thoughts… they were helpful.”

“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?” Blaine asked, his arms snaking around Kurt’s waist and his face burrowing between his shoulder blades. “It’s late.”

“Yes and it is,” Kurt mumbled, swaying back against him before gently moving his arms so he could turn around. “I’ll get you wherever you’re staying first, though. Come on.”

“I’ll see you later, right?” Blaine said to Mike, getting a slightly off-center high five before letting Kurt lead him off through the door and carefully down the stairs to the street.

“Where are you staying?” Kurt asked, his arm looped around Blaine’s shoulders to keep him from toppling over as he started to lean.

“We always stay with Bri—oh.” Blaine frowned, looking up at him. “Brittany,” he said slowly, shaking his head. “But I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of sex going on there. Shit.”

“I…would bet on it.” Kurt rubbed his face and sighed. “There isn’t—you didn’t realize that before now?”

“No.”

Kurt’s head felt a little hazy, but he wasn’t out of it enough that he didn’t know what he was about to suggest. He tried to tell himself it was nothing, because it was and he would do it for any of his friends if they needed it, but Blaine wasn’t just anyone. “My… my apartment is small, but you can stay with me if you don’t have someplace.”

“Really? That’d be amazing. I don’t want to have to sleep on the street.”

“You’re not going to sleep on the street, oh my God, come on.” Kurt got them to the corner of the block before he saw a taxi and flagged it down, steering Blaine into it before climbing in the other side and giving the driver his address.

It was a struggle for Kurt to stay awake, feeling warm and loose thanks to all the alcohol, and Blaine’s head resting on his shoulder wasn’t helping matters much. He turned his head, brushing a barely-there kiss against Blaine’s hair, and he got sleepy huff of breath in response. The only thing that kept him from falling asleep was the monologue the cab driver seemed to be carrying on with himself, and that he kept pulling out his phone to check the time, if for no other reason than to have the light from the screen jolt him out of potential sleep.

Blaine got out of the cab easier than Kurt had expected him to once they were at his building, and Kurt let them into his apartment once they got to his floor. He felt oddly exposed, even though Blaine wasn’t sober enough to really take any of it in. There were very few people who had been to his apartment – Rachel, Ryan, his dad. It was like his sanctuary away from everything else in his life and he didn’t really have people over if he could help it, to maintain the quiet energy he felt it had. Yet there they were.

It wasn’t until Blaine was sitting on his bed, tugging off his shoes, that Kurt realized he hadn’t completely thought any of it through. Blaine didn’t have anything with him except the clothes on his back, and Kurt’s bed was big enough for two people, but this was Blaine. This was the person that he spent every night wishing was there, wanting to be with more than anything and knowing that if there weren’t so many miles between them, they would have a chance. And he was there, sitting on Kurt’s bed, practically falling off as he yanked at a shoe.

“Easy, tiger,” Kurt said quietly, crouching down and brushing Blaine’s hands away, taking off his shoes and setting them at the end of the bed. He glanced up at him, looked into those trusting, seemingly deep eyes of his, and bit his lip. “I… I can sleep on the floor, so you can have the bed.”

“No, hey.” Blaine shook his head, cupping Kurt’s jaw in his hands for a moment before bringing them up to rub his own face. “I can… floor.”

“No,” Kurt replied firmly, getting up to his feet and slipping off his jacket. “You’re sleeping on the bed.”

“Well then you’re sleeping here with me,” Blaine retorted, fingers fumbling at the buttons of his shirt. “Okay?”

“Okay.” He knew he gave in too easily, especially when Blaine dropped his hands, exasperated, and looked up at him hopefully. Rolling his eyes, he reached down and undid the few buttons left, breath quickening, though he hoped not noticeably as he pushed the shirt back off Blaine’s shoulders. He was wearing a thin tank top undershirt, but it didn’t exactly hide the broad muscles of his shoulders or the defined biceps that Kurt had felt before, though always through layers of fabric.

“You have no idea how happy I was to see you there tonight,” Blaine said softly, his hands resting on Kurt’s hips, fingers curling around them. “I wish I could see you every day.”

“You’re drunk.” Kurt gently prized his hands off and took a step back.

“Doesn’t make it any less true.” Blaine lay back on the bed and started undoing his pants. Kurt cleared his throat and went over to his dresser, pulling out the first shirt and pair of shorts he could find before disappearing into the bathroom to change. He took his time washing his face, applying his moisturizer and changing into more clothes than he’d worn to bed in years, and trying to get his heart to stop racing so much at the thought of Blaine in various states of undress in his bed, saying the things that he was.

By the time he made it back out, Blaine was sprawled out on his stomach, wearing just his tank top and boxers, and somehow taking up the entire bed. Kurt bit his lip, not sure if he was asleep but definitely wanting him to move him so he wasn’t face down. As much as he didn’t want to think Blaine would throw up in his bed, because gross, he didn’t know what was going to happen while he was asleep. So he
worked him over onto his side and moved to grab his pillow to take it to the floor, but then Blaine grabbed his wrist.

“Where’re you going?” he murmured, eyes half open as he looked up at him. “You should stay.”

“Are you sure?” Kurt asked, even though he didn’t feel like he could trust the answer no matter what it was. “Blaine?”

“Stay.”

“Okay,” Kurt whispered, flexing his wrist a little in Blaine’s grip, which wasn’t tight but he was almost certain it might get that way if he tried to pull it away. “I have to turn off the light, though.” Blaine nodded a little, letting go, and Kurt moved across the room to double check the door was locked and to turn the light off. He laid on top of the covers, not wanting to feel tangled in his clothes and the sheets, and let Blaine take his hand, pulling his arm around his waist.

In his wildest dreams, Kurt never would have imagined his night ending that way. He never would have imagined that was how it would be the first time he was in the same bed as Blaine. Either way, that was what had happened, and he still got a faint flutter in his stomach as he breathed in Blaine’s cologne. He could feel Blaine’s breath slowing, his hand being held against his diaphragm, and he didn’t fall asleep until after he’d heard the soft, faint snoring coming from the man beside him.