Kurt wasn't entirely sure how it had happened, but somehow his ordinary Wednesday had turned into an attempted mugging, and now he was being walked home by a superhero. An actual superhero. He had, of course heard of Nightbird before - everyone in New York had, he was kind of famous - but he hadn't exactly expected to find himself in somewhat casual conversation with the man.

"So, Nightbird," he asked, "what do you do when you aren't out rescuing people?"

"I, uh," Nightbird coughed, clearing his throat. "Secret identity."

Kurt rolled his eyes, "What can you tell me then? Favorite coffee order? Favorite movie? Where the idea for Nightbird came from? What exactly your super powers are?"

Nightbird laughed, causing a pleasant flutter in Kurt's stomach. "Well, Nightbird doesn't drink coffee. He works strictly off water and hot chocolate. He does have a favorite movie though."

"Which is…?" Kurt prompted.

"Captain America."

"And does he always talk about himself in the third person?" Kurt asked, daring to nudge him in the side lightly as they turned the next corner.

"Sometimes," Nightbird replied, a small smile twitching across his lips. He lowered his voice, "It helps me keep it all separate in my mind."

"Should I be touched that you're telling me your secrets, or do you do this with all of your rescuees?"

Nightbird laughed, brushing their arms together. "Is rescuees a real word?"

"You're avoiding the question," Kurt accused.

"You should be touched that I'm telling you my secrets," Nightbird said, rolling his eyes as they walked. "And my superpowers are speed mixed with some intense martial arts training over the years."

"Speed like Superman speed?" Kurt asked, pausing by a light a block away from his apartment.

"No," Nightbird giggled. "I wish I had Superman speed. I can move like five times faster than the average human without losing any of my precision though."

"Huh." Kurt replied, "So instead of using your powers to go to the Olympics, you're using them for the good of the city?"

"What can I say," Nightbird said, a definite blush coloring his cheeks. "I like being a good Samaritan. Besides, where's the fun in a competition if you greatly out match your competitors?"

"So you're one of those people who don't see any glory in winning if it's not a fair fight?"

Nightbird chuckled, "Sure, we can go with that."

To Kurt's dismay, they reached his building moments later. He'd been enjoying their conversation, and was a bit said to say goodbye, although he was looking forward to taking a shower and going to sleep after the mostly awful night he'd had.

"This is me," he sighed, gesturing to the door.

"Oh," Nightbird said, coming to a halt beside him. "I guess this is where I leave you then." He scuffed his foot on the ground lightly looking… disappointed.

"You can, uh, come in if you want?" Kurt asked, gesturing aimlessly at the door, not really expecting a yes, but hoping for one anyways.

Nightbird shook his head sadly, "I've got another hour or two of patrolling before I call it a night. Class in th-" He cut off quickly, looking like he wanted to smack himself.

Kurt waited a moment for him to speak before saying, "I didn't realize you taught a superhero class."

There was a long pause, during which Kurt was afraid Nightbird had misunderstood his joke, until Nightbird huffed out a laugh. "If only." He clapped a hand on Kurt's shoulder, "I'll see you around, okay? Be safe though! I don't want you getting mugged again." With a final nod to Kurt, he took off running down the street, leaving Kurt to open his door and wonder why that smile and those eyes felt so familiar.

Halfway through his shower a while later he was jolted out of his sleepy trance when he realized, he was reminded of Blaine. Blaine his partner in Intro to Theater who was never free for group work after 7pm and would sometimes show up to class looking like he'd been in a fight despite being the gentlest person Kurt had ever met.

—

Blaine trudged into his Intro to Theater class the next morning, coffee in hand, before glancing around the room and straightening his posture as he saw Kurt. Kurt, the boy who sat a few seats away from him and was always his partner when they had to do group work. Kurt who he had a crush on. Kurt who he'd saved from a mugging last night while fulfilling Nightbird's duties. He noticed Kurt's eyes on him and attempted to give him a normal smile and a small wave before sitting down in his usual seat.

"You look tired," Kurt commented, leaning across the empty space between them as Blaine began pulling his notebook out of his bag.

Blaine glanced up, "Yeah, I, uh, lots of homework to catch up on, you know." Blaine took a breath and met Kurt's eyes, "I have a paper due in my music theory class this afternoon."

Kurt gives him a once over before smiling. "Well, in celebration of finishing it on time, would you be interested in getting coffee with me after class? I'm sure you could use some more before sitting through one of Professor Bergman's lectures."

"Please," Blaine says in agreement before remembering that he should be trying to avoid Kurt for a few weeks at the very least on the off chance that he recognizes him as Nightbird.

Kurt grinned broadly as he packed his things up after class. He was kinda sorta going on a date with Blaine! His head shot up when he heard a throat clear next to him.

"You ready for coffee?"

Kurt nodded, standing up and hitching his bag over his shoulder with a smile. "I have another class in an hour, so does the place on the corner work for you?"

"Ooo yes, that place has the best scones," Blaine agreed as they exited the classroom.

Walking down the hall, Kurt started asking Blaine about his Music Theory essay in a poor attempt to not blurt out that he knew Blaine was Nightbird. Luckily, Blaine brought up Vogue, which sufficiently distracted Kurt.

"So," Kurt said as they sat down ten minutes later with their coffees and Blaine's scone. "What made you decide to go to New York for school?"

"Is this you asking for my life story?" Blaine teased, pausing to take a sip of his drink. "Honestly? I'm not really sure, I've just always wanted to be here, you know? Well – I say always, but there was a brief phase in my life when my grand plan was go to MIT and become an astronaut."

"Aww, I think every kid has that phase at some point."

Blaine laughed, blushing. "It was actually my plan like two years ago when I was freaking out about applying to colleges. But yeah, let's pretend it happened when I was 8 or 9, it's a lot more adorable that way."

Kurt lifted his coffee to his mouth to hid his smile. They should have done this a long time ago.

By the time they had finished their drinks, Kurt really needed to head for class. After exiting the shop, Kurt pulled Blaine into a quick hug. "Thank you for last night," he whispered in Blaine's ear. He felt Blaine tense for a moment, but before Blaine could say anything. Kurt kissed his cheek bolted down the street so he wouldn't be late for his next class.

—-

A few nights later, Kurt was in his room studying, when he heard a loudthump outside his window. Jumping out of his seat, he cautiously approached the window. Living in New York, he was used to all of the noise at night, but this was different. This was right outside his window. The window with the fire escape beneath it.

He crept closer to the window, wishing Rachel were home. She might not be very much help in any emergency that didn't involve singing, but she definitely had panicked screaming in the bag.

Kurt let out a shriek moments later when there was a knock on the window. Forget Rachel, he should have just called Blaine.

He stepped next the window, bracing himself against the wall as he peaked behind the curtain and- "Nightbird," he breathed out, slumping against the wall for a moment before opening the window, ready to not act as though he had been panicking moments before.

"And to what do I owe this pleasure?" Kurt asked, a teasing grin on his face when Nightbird made eye contact.

Blaine looked down, fiddling with his cape before glancing back up and mumbling, "You know, don't you? About me."

Kurt opened the window wider, glad he hadn't found the time to put the screen in. "I'm pretty sure all of New York knows about Nightbird. It's difficult to miss a superhero taking up residence in your city." Blaine blinked at him through the mask, not even cracking a smile. Kurt sighed. "Yes, I know."

"And you haven't…. told anyone?"

Kurt shrugged. "It's not really my secret to tell, is it? Plus, I have a feeling that would hinder my chances with Blaine."

Nightbird stared at him in silence for a moment. Just as he was about to say something however, they're interrupted by a scream down the street. Nightbird glanced down, and then back up at Kurt.

Before Kurt could say a word, Nightbird – Blaine – was leaning in and pressing a kiss to his lips. He was pulling away, and focusing his attention on the ground before Kurt could wrap his mind around what was happening.

"Wha-?"

Nightbird glanced back over at him, face softening. "Coffee tomorrow? We can – talk-" He was interrupted by angry shouting below. "You should really move to a safer neighborhood," he added.

Kurt opened his mouth to respond, but before he could even get two words out, Blaine had swung over the railing and was gone.