The sound of knocking coming from outside his bedroom door spared Blaine the agony of reading another one of Nur’s rants about pigeons. He dropped the well-worn copy of Antia Desai’s In Custody on the floor, mentally making a note to ask Wes if he could write a detailed summary of the dreary novel since only Wes was motivated enough to actually read it, before striding over to the door. He pulled it open, expecting to face first years with homework questions, but was pleasantly surprised to see Kurt instead, still impeccably dressed in his blazer and tie.

“Blaine,” Kurt began, tentatively stepping into the room, “can I ask you something?”

“Of course. You know you can always ask me anything.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Do what?” Blaine asked in confusion.

“Drive all the way from here to Lima, during a school day, to comfort me – a complete stranger who you had met only days before. Why did you give me your number and ask me to text/call you anytime, to let you know when things aren’t okay. Why did you text me courage throughout the day? Why did you care?” Kurt’s voice broke on the last word and tears welled in his eyes.

Blaine was at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to explain to the boy in front of him that it all started when he was stopped on the stairwell by a strange boy who was the most beautiful boy he had ever seen – that this boy seemed lonely and broken and confused, and Blaine saw a bit of himself in this boy – that Blaine brought him to the impromptu Warblers’ performance to allow him to forget about the pain, if only for a moment – that when Blaine saw the boy’s smile during the performance it broke his heart, since it was dazzling but fleeting – that at that moment Blaine vowed to do whatever it took to make this beautiful boy happy and make him smile.

“You reminded me a lot of myself,” Blaine answered, finally. “I went through a similar situation to yours, so I know how hard it is to stay strong and how much it hurts. I thought it would be easier for you to have someone to talk to – someone who understands – someone to tell you that you’re not alone.”

“Oh…” Kurt breathed quietly, disappointment lacing his soft tone. He turned his gaze to the floor, his mouth turned down slightly, before a neutral expression replaced it so quickly that Blaine would have missed it had he not been looking directly at Kurt.

Hating to be the reason that Kurt looked so crestfallen, Blaine blurted out, “And, well, I just wanted to see you smile. During Teenage Dream, your smile lit up the room. It seemed a shame that something that powerful, that beautiful was being suppressed.”

Kurt looked at Blaine in surprise. He hesitantly took a step forward, closing the distance between himself and Blaine, who was now looking away as if he was embarrassed by how much he had said. He impulsively took hold of one of Blaine’s hands, squeezing it slightly.

“Thank you,” Kurt whispered, not quite knowing how to express in words the extent of the gratitude that he felt.

“You’re very welcome,” Blaine said simply before wrapping his arms around Kurt and pulling him in for a hug. The smile that lit up Kurt’s face at this action was thanks enough.