As Blaine pulled to a stop in front of McKinley, he sighed. He glanced at the front doors, where Kurt stood with Santana and Karofsky.

It shouldn’t have to be like this.

Blaine should be able to just come and visit his boyfriend and help him with a solo audition without needing bodyguards. But this was Lima, and Ohio, and the general public of William McKinley High School had just voted Kurt Prom Queen.

Bodyguards were needed to feel safe.

He schooled his features, relaxing his face into a smile as he got out of the car and walked over to Kurt. Kurt grinned at him, bouncing a little in excitement.

“Hi,” Kurt said when he got close enough.

“Hi,” Blaine replied, his smile true this time. Kurt stepped forward and hugged him. Blaine wrapped his arms tightly around Kurt, relishing the feel of Kurt in his arms, even if it was for just a brief moment.

“Awww, a Kodak moment,” Santana spoke up. “And me without my camera.” Kurt pulled back, opening his mouth to reply, but Blaine interrupted him.

“So, what’s the plan?” he asked. Kurt bounced again.

“Choir room. I need to pick a song first.”

*

The walk to the choir room was a little awkward – after all, the last time the four of them had stood in that spot, there had been name-calling, and violence, and Santana had claimed to have concealed weapons in her hair.

Still, they went into the choir room, Kurt chirping about what kind of song he wanted to sing.

“Kurt.” Blaine grabbed him by the arm, pulling him to a stop inside the choir room door. Santana sat down in one of the chairs, crossed her legs, and put her iPod ear buds in her ears.

Dave sat down a few seats from her, arms crossed over his chest.

“What?” Kurt asked him.

“Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” Kurt said. Somehow, Blaine didn’t believe him. He was…too cheerful. Forced.

Blaine let it go though, because Kurt was sitting down on the piano bench, and leafing through a few music books.

“So what kind of song do you want to do?” Blaine asked.

“I don’t know,” Kurt answered. “Something upbeat. Something a little showy.”

Blaine just smiled, and opened one of the song books in front of him.

*

“What about this one?” Blaine pointed in the book. Kurt squinched up his face and shook his head. “Kurt, I love you, but we’ve been doing this for a half hour. You have to pick something.”

Kurt gave him a wide-eyed, breathless stare. Oh. Oh. Had he just said…?

“We have got to stop declaring ourselves when there are other people around,” Kurt finally murmured. Dave cleared his throat lightly, and Blaine resisted the urge to sigh again.

He pressed his fingers to the keys of the piano tapping them lightly. The faint strains of “chopsticks” echoed out from the piano, and Kurt gave him a look. Blaine replied with an innocent expression. Kurt smiled, and then the two of them were suddenly playing the song together.

They dissolved into laughter after a moment, the song coming to a stop. Blaine could feel Dave's eyes on them yet again.

“What about Rose's Turn, from Gypsy? I know it's traditionally a girl's song, but it's in your range,” Blaine suggested.

“Well, actually, I sang that last year for...something,” Kurt stammered out. “But...” He trailed off, grabbing the songbook from Blaine's hands, and then flipping the pages. “This one might do.”

*

Blaine watched as Kurt ran through the song a second time. He never tired of watching Kurt perform.

“Are we almost done?” Dave dropped his book with a thud on the floor of the auditorium. He, Santana and Blaine were each seated in the front row. Dave had been doing homework, and Santana was humming something that sounded like an Amy Whinehouse song quietly while filing her nails.

“Kurt's done when he's done,” Blaine muttered, his eyes never leaving his boyfriend. “You're free to go whenever you want.”

“That’s not how this works,” Karofsky muttered, leaning down to pick up his book.

“Why are you here?” Blaine asked him softly. “What are you getting out of this? Prom is over, you and Santana lost.”

“I know that,” Dave growled. “I just…I owe him, okay?”

Blaine gave Dave a glance that indicated he didn’t quite believe him, but then Santana’s voice interrupted them.

“Problem, ladies?” She appeared in front of them. Kurt stopped what he was doing mid-song and frowned at them.

“Everything’s fine, Santana,” Blaine replied, putting on a cheerful smile.

“Good. Why don’t you two save the dick measuring contest for later, then, okay?”

Dave looked like he was going to say something and then changed his mind, looking away.

“Am I so boring you two need to start a fight?” Kurt arched at eyebrow at Blaine.

“No!” Blaine got up and walked to the edge of the stage. “Of course not.”

“Well, I’m obviously not keeping your attention.”

“It’s because you’re being too vanilla,” Santana said.

“Oh, this should be good.” Kurt rolled his eyes.

“Hey, if there’s anything I know, its sex.” Santana pointed out. “Really, really great sex.” Blaine’s mouth fell open just a little.

“True,” Kurt agreed. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard any complaints.”

“Damn straight,” Santana put her hand on hip. “So my advice is to spice it up, Hummel.” He gave her a long look.

“How do I know this isn’t your way of sabotaging my audition so you get the solo?”

“You don’t.” Santana smiled at him. Kurt thought about it for a second, and then smiled back.

“Atta boy.”

*

Blaine didn’t understand why Kurt’s performances still shocked him. Maybe it was because Kurt had spent most of his time at Dalton subdued – trying to fit in (something Blaine regretted saying the moment it came out of his mouth), that Blaine never got to see this side of him while he was with the Warblers. Blackbird had been the first hint that there was more to Kurt than Blaine had realized. It had taken that moment for Blaine to really see Kurt, and realize the feelings that had been there all along.

So when Kurt started the song again, Blaine wasn’t sure what to expect.

He certainly hadn’t expected Kurt to slap his own ass or slide across the stage (which Blaine was totally taking credit for, because Kurt totally ripped off his move from the Gap serenade), or the fact that his boyfriend was so damn flexible he could slide on his knees and then bend back and touch the floor.

If Born this Way hadn’t given him enough ideas, he definitely had plenty now. Blaine glanced at Dave as Kurt stood up. It seemed Dave was having all kinds of ideas as well, and that just cinched it for Blaine.

Dave was in love with Kurt, and it had to stop now.

“And Man Hands thinks I’m the one who’s going to wind up a stripper,” Santana said, and Kurt laughed.

“Thanks, I think,” Kurt told her.

“Anytime.” She tossed her hair. “Are we done here? Cause now I have to go home and work on my song so I can kick your ass.”

“I think so,” Kurt replied. “I just need to grab my stuff.”

“I’ll go check the hallway and see if it’s clear,” she agreed. “You boys stay here and don’t cause any trouble.”

Blaine and Dave exchanged a look.

*

“When did you know?” Dave’s voice was quiet.

“Know what?” Blaine replied.

“That you were….gay.” Blaine glanced at him. Dave looked nervous.

“I think some part of me probably always knew,” Blaine told him. “But I realized it when I was fourteen,” He paused. “Can I ask you a question?”

Dave hesitated and then nodded.

“You’re in love with Kurt, aren’t you?” Dave opened his mouth to reply when Santana spoke up from the back of the auditorium.

“Yo, ladies. Move your asses,” she called. “We’re getting wrinkles just waiting for you.”

*

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Blaine asked as the four of them headed out to the parking lot. Kurt had fallen quiet again.

“I’m fine, Blaine,” Kurt replied. “But thank you for asking.”

“You know you can talk to me about anything.”

“I know.” Kurt smiled, his voice soft. He reached over and took Blaine’s hand, squeezing it tightly. “Are you coming over for dinner?” Blaine shook his head.

“I can’t, I have a paper due tomorrow, and it’s not going to write itself.”

“Call me?” Kurt asked as they reached Blaine’s car.

“You never have to ask.” Blaine kissed him quickly, mindful on their audience, and then got into his car. He drove off with wave, and then sighed.

He was going to convince his parents to let him transfer. The distance between him and Kurt was just too much.

And he might have competition.