It's summer.

It's summer, and they're being lazy, and everything is the kind of carefree that inches under your skin and tinges everything with a warm, happy glow.

But it's also hot. And Blaine's hair is getting a little ridiculous. He hasn't gelled it since school let out, and he hasn't let a pair of scissors anywhere near his head. The tight, black curls that had once been cropped close and were easily controllable had transformed into a mass of loose ringlets that had to be constantly shaken out of his face.

At first, Kurt had loved the way his fingers sunk just a little deeper into the soft mess, but he was starting to get fed up. He was sweating just looking at Blaine, and he longed to take to it with his shears and make it a little more manageable again.

Blaine, of course, was firmly opposed. "Kurt, it's summer," he whined. They'd been having this argument at least once a day for the past two weeks. Blaine took a strategic step behind one of the chairs in his kitchen as if to protect himself if Kurt decided to tackle him into submission.

"Yes, and it's also ninety degrees. And you're starting to look a little homeless." Kurt had one hand on his hip as he stared his boyfriend down. "Just a trim, Blaine. That's all I ask."

Blaine shook his head, making his curls bounce wildly. "You say just a trim, but I know that's not really what you mean."

Kurt sighed. "Fine," he relented. He was going to have to work on his strategy.

Blaine grinned and bounced back forward, kissing him quickly on the corner of his mouth. "Good. Now come on, we're going to be late for the movie."

A week later, after a rare and revered weekend alone in Blaine's bedroom, Kurt tiptoed out of bed early in the morning. He dressed quickly and paused to admire the way the first rays of sunlight began to stream into the room and make mottled patterns on the smooth skin of Blaine's back. Blaine snuffled and buried his face deeper into his pillow as he tried to block it out. Kurt smiled adoringly down at him before padding quietly out of the room and out to his car.

He'd stashed his supplies in his trunk before he'd left, knowing that if he'd put them in his overnight bag with the rest of his things, Blaine would find them somehow. He grabbed the case containing his good scissors and an assortment of products and headed back into the house.

Blaine didn't appear to be awake yet, so Kurt took one of the kitchen chairs out to the backyard and set it up underneath the scrawny apple tree that Blaine had planted with his mother when he was little.

Back in the house, he walked as quietly as he could back up the stairs, careful to skip the squeaky steps that were mapped out in his brain by now. He pushed the door to Blaine's room open further and watched him for a moment with a small smile. Blaine sleeping had always intrigued Kurt; his features were completely smooth and tranquil, but every so often his dreams would make the space between his eyebrows crinkle adorably, and he'd snuffle and burrow deeper into whatever was closest, which was usually Kurt.

Kurt sat on the edge of the bed and ran a hand down the warm, soft skin of Blaine's back. Blaine shivered and hummed happily, turning his head and cuddling closer to where Kurt was sitting. Kurt's hand migrated up into Blaine's hair, running his fingers through the silky mass.

"Good morning," he crooned quietly, scratching his nails along Blaine's scalp.

Blaine groaned and rolled over. "What time 's it?" he mumbled sleepily as he cracked an eye open.

"Almost nine." Kurt brushed the hair back from Blaine's eyes. "Get dressed, I have a surprise for you."

He stood up as Blaine reluctantly complied, stretching languidly as he slipped out of bed and retrieved his underwear from the floor. Kurt stared unabashedly as Blaine pulled his jeans on and reached for a t-shirt. "Actually, leave the shirt off."

Blaine quirked a dark eyebrow in his direction but shrugged and dropped the shirt to the floor. "Breakfast?" he asked hopefully.

"Later," Kurt promised, holding out a hand.

Blaine took it and allowed himself to be lead down the stairs and outside to where the chair was sitting beneath the tree.

"Sit," Kurt ordered, steering Blaine in front of the chair and pressing on his shoulders until he dropped heavily into the seat.

"Kurt, if this is what I think it is..." Blaine warned. He turned with wide eyes to where Kurt had taken his place behind the chair.

Kurt raised his eyebrows. "Blaine Anderson, I swear to god I will tie you to this chair if I have to. You are going to sit still, you are going to let me cut your hair, and you are going to like it." He glared icily down at Blaine, who blinked owlishly back at him.

Blaine sighed heavily and turned back around, grumbling something about summer and who says I have to look presentable. Kurt grinned triumphantly and retrieved his scissors from his back pocket. He tipped Blaine's head forward and considered it for a moment. "Kurt, please don't do it too short," Blaine pleaded.

"I promise, love. Just relax." He ruffled Blaine's hair affectionately. "I used to cut my dad's hair before he went bald."

Blaine whirled back around in horror. "Don't you dare make me go bald."

Kurt burst into loud, pealing laughter at the panic-stricken expression in Blaine's eyes. "I won't! Now turn around and trust me."

Reluctantly, Blaine turned, and Kurt made his first few snips, pretending not to hear Blaine's gasps and hisses. He rolled his eyes and set to work.

Ten minutes later, Blaine's hair was as close to perfect as Kurt could get it. It was soft and gently curled and fell just right over Blaine's forehead and ears. Kurt held a mirror up for Blaine, who couldn't hide the surprised smile that lit up his face. "Perfect." He grinned, his eyes flicking back to the smug expression on Kurt's face. "I think I may have to give you permanent hair privileges."

Kurt chuckled. "You don't really have much of a choice, do you?"

Blaine laughed and pulled Kurt to him, settling him across his lap. "Thank you." He kissed Kurt's smile and ran both hands through his hair. "Now, if you just let me get at yours..."

Kurt made a strangled noise in his throat and launched himself from Blaine's lap as Blaine laughed brightly. It took him a second to realize Blaine was teasing, and as angry as he wanted to be, he couldn't stop the laughter that bubbled up out of him as he dropped to the soft grass and leaned back, letting the summer sun warm his face.