Kurt didn’t know why he decided to enroll in private skating lessons. It made perfect sense when he was signing up online, winter time skating in New York with a boyfriend was on Kurt’s bucket list, and he vowed to get to it eventually, but there was one problem. Kurt couldn’t skate. At all. 

Kurt waited by the rink while a lone skater made his way around, gliding smoothly against the ice with polished skates. The elegance of skating was always something Kurt had been interested in. The man got closer, we was wearing a black coat with wooden buttons, dark form fitting jeans and a bright red scarf wrapped around his neck. His hair was gelled back, and his face somewhat resembled that of a puppy.

”Hi there!” He waved at Kurt. “I assume you’re Kurt Hummel? Here for your skating lesson?” the man smiled brightly at him, making Kurt lose his train of thought briefly.

“Uh, yes! Kurt Hummel, that’s me…learning to skate.” He exclaimed, almost awkwardly. 

“I’m Blaine Anderson, I’ll be helping you learn the ins and outs of skating over the next three weeks.” Blaine extended his hand for Kurt to shake. 

“I’m warning you,” Kurt said after a brief moment of hand-shaking. “I’ve never skated before. Well, I did once when I was a little kid, but never since then.” Kurt blushed nervously.

“Well that’s what I’m here for, Kurt.” Blaine smiled. “Now, put on your skates, I’ll be waiting right over here.” Blaine skated closer to the middle of the rink, doing figure-eights while he waited.

Kurt had no trouble lacing up the skates-he had shoes that were far more hard to lace up- but standing up and staying up was the issue.

“Um, Blaine?” Kurt called nervously.

“Yeah?” Blaine glided over. 

“I um, I don’t know if I can-“ 

“Oh! Don’t worry about it Kurt, here take my hands. For Safety.” Kurt gripped Blaine’s hands to try and steady himself. “Okay, now you’re going to step onto the ice. It’s going to feel like you have no traction but, I won’t let go until you’re confident you won’t fall.” 

“Okay..” Kurt sighed. He stepped forward off of the raised step, onto the ice. Blaine skated backward ever so slightly so Kurt would have some personal space. Kurt’s feet stumbled slightly as the second foot joined the first on the ice. Blaine giggled slightly as he steadied Kurt. 

“See? I’m like bambi.” Kurt sighed.

“Well, as adorable as that analogy is, you’ll be fine once you learn how to coast.” Blaine smiled. Kurt blushed at the word adorable, feeling like a middle schooler who just had been spoken to by their crush.

“Okay so let’s start by doing some small steps okay? I literally mean walking like you would on the sidewalk.” Blaine demonstrated walking backward. 

Kurt took a few steps forward, amazed that he didn’t fall. 

“See? Was that so hard?” Blaine laughed at the amazement on Kurt’s face. “So, just remember, if you feel like you’re going to fall, just revert back to doing this. Wanna try some gliding, because I believe that you can do it.” Blaine smiled.

Kurt regarded him cautiously. “And you won’t let me fall?”

“Never.”

Kurt blushed, Blaine’s hands still grasping his in a gentle but sturdy way. Warmth radiated through Blaine’s thin gloves and his own. “Okay, what do I do now?”

“Basically what you want to do it to push out with one foot at a time, I know that sounds weird, but no matter how hard I try to explain it, it usually never makes sense.” Blaine sighed. “How about I just demonstrate?” 

“Alright, that’s fine with me.” Kurt smiled.

“I’m going to have to let go, but just stay still and don’t move your feet and you’ll be fine.” Blaine winked. Kurt’s heart picked up in speed slightly. Blaine skated away from Kurt, and then turned around and started skating back. Kurt tried to pay attention to Blaine’s skates, he really did, but the coat he was wearing accented his trim waistline. And the pants the man was wearing fit him perfectly, like they were made for him. 

“Do you see what I did there? It’s really easy.” Blaine smiled bashfully, as if he had caught Kurt checking him out.

“Y-yeah. I get it.” Kurt stuttered. “I think i’m ready to try…?” it sounded more like a question. Blaine grabbed both of Kurt’s hands after skating so he was in front of him. 

“No pressure Kurt, nice and slow.” Blaine eased him. Kurt did exactly as Blaine had told him, he pushed outwards and then brought his foot back in, and did the same with the other foot. He had a rhythm going for a few seconds as Blaine skated in front of him backwards, but something happened with the rink under his foot and it caused him to lose that rhythm and ended up stumbling forward. 

“Whoa, careful!” Blaine caught him around the waist, his hands firmly planted there as Kurt fought to regain his balance. Wow, Blaine was really close right now. Kurt was close enough to smell the scent of coffee almost embedded into his coat, as well as the sweetness of peppermint of his breath. Realizing what he was doing, Kurt straightened up slightly and told Blaine he wanted to try again.

So they were at it once again, Kurt was slowly getting better.  He only stumbled a few times after his first almost-wipe-out. He began to grow more and more confident with his gliding. Soon, Blaine let go of his hands and let Kurt meander his way around the rink, laughing euphorically while the faint sounds of christmas music hung in the air.

Blaine skated close by to Kurt right before he was going to teach him about coasting, however, Kurt’s feet had different ideas. He ended up bringing his dominant foot too close to the other after pushing out, and clashed skates accidentally. Blaine sped forward to try and steady him or do anything to help him not fall over. But he was too late.

Kurt grabbed at Blaine’s hand as it skimmed his waist and ended up pulling Blaine down with him. Kurt ended up on the ground with Blaine falling on top of him. They looked at each other for a moment and then burst out laughing. They were crowding each other’s personal space for quite a while, but neither of them noticed. Kurt saw how Blaine’s eyes crinkled at the sides when he laughed, he also remarked on his beautiful teeth that were revealed even more in this moment. Kurt’s laughter died down upon looking at Blaine’s mouth for the second time that night. His lips looked so soft, and kind. Could you call lips Kind? Kurt didn’t know, nor did he care.

Blaine took that moment to regard Kurt’s face, mapping it out with his eyes, and eventually settling on his lips as well. They both leaned forward slightly, almost unconsciously. And then they both realized what they were doing, and Blaine brought himself into a sitting position on the cold ice. 

“Kurt, do you like coffee?” Blaine asked, breaking their silence. Kurt’s stomach fluttered at the question.

“Why yes I do.” he replied.

“Would you like to join me for some? It is awfully cold out here, and I think we’ve done enough practicing for tonight.” Blaine looked down and his gloved hands, blush darkening his cheeks.

“I’d love to Blaine.” Kurt grinned. Blaine’s head shot up and he beamed happily at Kurt before getting up and offering Kurt his hands once again. Kurt took them and pulled himself up, Blaine released one of his hands, but kept the other firmly gripped in his 

“For safety.” He winked

“For safety.” Kurt smirked at him, bringing his body closer to Blaine’s until their arms were pressed together with their fingers intertwined.

For safety.