“I'm trying. But your hideous bow ties are provoking me.”

The words echoed in Blaine’s mind as they packed up their stuff to head home. Kurt was waiting for him, like always, at the door. He offered a soft smile and headed that direction. He was a foot away before Kurt started in.

“I can’t believe you told them we sing that to each other in the car,” he giggled, walking as close to his boyfriend as he could. Blaine just laughed a little, giving him a hip bump. He reached up to scratch his neck, then discreetly slipped his bow tie off and into his pocket. But not discreetly enough.

Kurt glanced over to say something else to him, and caught him taking his bow tie off. He decided not to say anything quite yet; it didn’t look like Blaine knew that Kurt saw him do it, so he left well enough alone for now. “Okay, I’m going to head out to my car. I’ll meet you at your house in a few minutes?” They had been alternating going to each other’s houses to do homework recently. Blaine’s parents had specific days that they worked later, so on those days they would go to Blaine’s house. On the other days, Kurt would have them over, where Carole would greet them with snacks that had far too many calories. Blaine would always take one anyway, because he thought it was impolite to refuse something.

Today was a day to go to Blaine’s house, so Kurt drove over there, following behind Blaine. They pulled side by side into the driveway, and Kurt climbed out of his car. He looked over at Blaine, and he sunk a little, seeing that Blaine still had his bowtie off. Kurt bit his lip, resigning to ask him about it when they got settled.
Blaine smiled at him and took his hand, squeezing it a little. “Everything okay?” he asked, unlocking the door. Kurt nodded, offering a smile and stepping inside. They made their way up to Blaine’s room, where the put their bags on the bed and started pulling out homework.

During Kurt’s ridiculous calculus work, he glanced up. Blaine was off the bed, pulling his little bow tie out of his pocket. He held it a second, then draped it carefully over the rack with the rest of them. Kurt sighed a little, standing up and going over to him. “Blaine, I wanted to ask you. Why…why did you take your bow tie off after class?”

Blaine swallowed, fingering the fabric. “Because maybe Santana’s right, and they just look stupid. I mean, you see the looks and hear the snickers. I don’t want to embarrass you more by my 50’s throwback look.”

As Kurt was about to reply, he paused. “More? Blaine,” he stood in front of his boyfriend and wrapped his arms around his waist. “What do you mean, ‘embarrass me more’?”
“Well, you know, the way I act and stuff. The music I like to sing, all that oldies stuff that no one under the age of 30 listens to. It’s embarrassing…”

Kurt sighed, leaning up and pressing a soft kiss to Blaine’s forehead. “Honey, listen to me. All the little romantic gestures, your clothes, your affinity for music that sounds like it belongs in a malt shop, all those things? I love those about you. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a little old fashioned myself some times. And you see what I wear. I’m not the person to talk about different clothes.” He smiled a little, tilting Blaine’s chin up. He looked into the hazel eyes, that were downcast a little. Kurt called it his dejected puppy look, and he hated seeing that look. “I love you, and I love your bow ties.” He turned around, reaching up and plucking one off of the rack. “Tomorrow, I want you to come to school wearing this, okay?” He turned back around, handing it over.
Blaine took it gingerly, then laid it on the dresser where he would lay his clothes out for the next day. “I will.” He leant over, pressing a gentle kiss to Kurt’s lips. “Come on,” he said softly, breaking the kiss, “let’s finish our homework, then maybe we’ll have time to do more…productive things.” He grinned, leaning down and kissing Kurt again.

The next day, Kurt waited by his locker for Blaine. When the shorter boy made his way over, Kurt smiled wide, spotting the gray bow tie around his neck. He turned around, tapping the end of Blaine’s nose. “It looks amazing on you.” Blaine just smiled, walking with Kurt to their class.

Blaine glanced over, spotting Santana by her locker, talking to Brittany. Santana glanced up, quirking a plucked brow at the tie and smirking.

Blaine swallowed, waiting until Kurt turned into the classroom. He reached up and took it off, putting the folded fabric in his pocket. He never wore another for the rest of the week.