Blaine woke to the sound of the steady stream of water from the shower head stopping abruptly. He heard the shower door open with a faint click, and smiled to himself. He traced random patterns into the sheets with the tips of his fingers, drinking in the morning and the simplicity of waking up feeling loved and content. The bed was warm inside, but the crisp white down comforter was cool to the touch on the shadowy empty side of the bed. He didn’t want to get up. He rolled onto his back, trying to untangle his legs from the twisted sheets. Failing, he quickly gave up, choosing instead to clasp his hands behind his head and bask in the warm sunlight streaming into the room. Steam poured out the cracked bathroom door and he could smell aftershave and body wash. He heard the sounds of a towel roughly drying a head of wet hair, the faucet running and the snap of a toothpaste bottle closing, teeth being brushed and clothes being thrown into the hamper. Sometimes Blaine could listen to these noises in the morning and compose symphonies in his head. Smiling and humming along to the music only he could hear.

After a few minutes of sounds — simple, everyday, routine sound — Blaine glanced over at the bathroom door creaking open.

Kurt was wearing nothing but a dark gray towel wrapped around his lower body. His hair tousled and damp, drops of water still collected in the hollows of his collarbones, his eyes bright and warm and blue. So blue. His eyes tended to change colors in the warmth of showers, and this time they were like ice, only warm and deep. They were beautiful. Kurt was beautiful.

Kurt smiled, familiar and genuine, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly and he walked the few feet to the bed. Blaine smiled back. The bed was warm, but it wasn’t the warmth he yearned for. Since that bright winter day eight years ago at Dalton, when Blaine finally realized just how much he cared for Kurt, how much he loved the sweet, fashion-forward, silly boy of his dreams, there was only one warmth he ever really wanted, and that was Kurt’s body next to his, with their arms wrapped around one another, Blaine’s nose pressed into the curve of Kurt’s slender neck, his breath leaving a thin layer of moisture on the pale skin, and Kurts fingers tangled in Blaine’s dark curls.

Kurt lifted the covers and slid into the bed, somehow keeping the towel from falling off. “Good morning,” he whispered, nuzzling his nose against Blaine’s neck and kissing his stubbly jaw.

“Good morning, Kurt,” Blaine replied, grinning from ear to ear as Kurt slowly kissed his way up Blaine’s jaw and nipped lightly at his earlobe. Even after eight years, Blaine sometimes still got butterflies when Kurt touched him. This was one of those times. He felt like a kid again, unable to stop the heat from flooding his face.

Kurt pulled away and folded his arms over Blaine’s chest, resting his chin on his hands and peering up from beneath his eyelashes.

“What do you want to do today?” Kurt asked.

“Nothing. Breakfast.” Blaine replied, releasing one of the hands still behind his head and tangling it gently in Kurt’s damp hair. “I love it when you’re like this.”

Kurt tilted his head slightly, looking confused. “What do you mean? When I’m inquiring about our day?”

Blaine snorted and smiled adoringly at Kurt. “No… No, not that. In the morning. Before you’ve bothered to even blow-dry your hair. When you aren’t covered in layers and I can feel the heat radiating from your skin and I can touch your hair without you smacking my hand away. Before you’re flying through the day, trying to get everything done. I like your messy hair and the water still dripping down your back. I like that even if you aren’t in bed when I wake up, you’re still the first thing I really see, or hear, or smell. I like you.”

Kurt smiled, his nose scrunching and moving his glasses. “Didn’t we establish that years ago? I like you too, Blaine Anderson.” Kurt scooted up Blaine’s chest and pressed a simple, close-mouthed kiss to Blaine’s bottom lip. It wasn’t passionate or hungry. It was sweet and innocent, but it still sent shock waves through Blaine’s body. Kurt started to pull away, but stopped short, looking into Blaine’s eyes. There was silent communication. The edges of Blaine’s lips turned and he laughed quietly to himself, thinking for the millionth time that he must be dreaming. He and Kurt had been together for so long, but sometimes it still felt like they were looking at each other for the first time. Kurt leaned forward again and pressed his lips back to Blaine’s, lingering with his eyes closed and his breath even. His swiped his mouth against Blaine’s, barely touching him and sending shivers down Blaine’s spine. Blaine thought he could stay like this forever.

Kurt pulled away again and sat up a bit, leaning down and touching his forehead to Blaine’s. Collecting water dripped from his hair and landed on Blaine’s cheeks.

“Kurt, darling, you’re dripping on me,” Blaine said, eyes still closed from the kiss, a smile playing on his lips.

“Sorry,” was all Kurt whispered back, holding back a smug grin. “I could shake it out like a dog, if you’d like.”

“No, no, none of that. You’ll get water everywhere.” Blaine laughed, opening his eyes again and looking up into the oceans above him. Kurt playfully whined, pawing at Blaine’s chest like a dog. “You always tell me I’m the puppy, but look at you.” Blaine laughed again, gesturing with a glance at Kurt’s hand still pawing at Blaine’s chest. Suddenly, with a surprised yelp from Blaine, Kurt stuck his tongue out and licked a long line of saliva up the left side of Blaine’s face, from his chin to his temple. “Ughhh.” Blaine groaned, trying to hold back a laugh and failing. “That’s not fair! I can’t even move because you’re laying on me and I’m trapped like a mummy in Egyptian cotton!”

Kurt laughed and pulled away, sitting up fully and yanking on the sheets, untangling Blaine’s leg with one swift moment.

“Jesus, Kurt. You’re like a fucking wizard!” Blaine laughed full out, unable to hold back the giddiness building in his chest. He lived for mornings like this. “I tried forever to untangle myself, and you just tug on the sheets and you’ve practically remade the bed.”

“You probably just tangled yourself more. What did you do, kick at the bedding until you’d cocooned yourself?” Kurt asked, a mischievous grin settling on his face.

“No…” Blaine replied, feigning a look of offense. “Well, yes, maybe…”

Kurt laughed again and his nose scrunched in a smile. It was Blaine’s favorite smile.

“Anyway,” Kurt said, “Get in the shower. I’ll get dressed and start breakfast, and we can eat in bed.” Kurt slipped from the mattress, his towel a little rumpled and out of place.

“Really?!” Blaine asked, sitting straight up and smiling hopefully.

“Oh, my God. Blaine, your puppy is showing,” Kurt laughed and ran his hand through the impossibly messy hair falling into his face. “I won’t even do anything with my hair, since I know you like it untamed.” He continued in a slight baby voice, as if speaking to an actual dog, “And if you’re a good boy, we can stay in bed and watch musicals and bad movies all day!” The enthusiasm is his voice sounded sarcastic, but Blaine knew Kurt was secretly excited about the prospect of not doing anything all day long.

Blaine walked on his knees across the bed and knelt in front of Kurt. He reached up and held Kurt’s face between his hands, staring into Kurt’s eyes and brushing his thumbs across Kurt’s cheekbones.

“I love you,” Blaine said, all teasing and laughter aside.

“I love you too, Blaine,” Kurt replied without hesitation. He smiled and leaned down. He took Blaine’s bottom lip between his own and kissed him slowly. Blaine groaned somewhere deep in his chest, and Kurt sucked Blaine’s bottom lip further into his mouth, nibbling lightly. Kurt pulled away and Blaine whimpered, looking upset. “Like a kicked puppy,” Kurt thought, and he laughed internally.

“Get in the shower, babe,” Kurt smiled, pulling Blaine off the bed. “Breakfast will be ready when you’re done.”

Blaine wobbled a little and started on his way to the bathroom, shedding his pajama pants as he went. Kurt watched him for a moment, and then walked toward the closet. He heard the shower start, and he turned around when Blaine open the door a crack to peek out.

“Kurt?”

“Yes?”

“Happy anniversary.” Blaine smiled, all heart-eyes and nerves Even today, eight years later, Blaine could still feel the rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins when Kurt smiled.

Kurt could almost hear the metaphorical symphony playing. God, his life could have been a movie sometimes.

“Happy anniversary, Blaine.”