Kurt is met in the street by a rather familiar man. Kurt can't remember his name, can't even remember where he remembers him from. He just knows the boy's gold eyes and the wild, dark, curly hair.
They're in London, walking down a very quiet street. Kurt passes the boy, and the boy passes Kurt. Just another stranger.
Kurt peers over his shoulder at the boy, and is surprised to see the other boy doing the same. Their eyes meet in a quiet recognition.
Blaine. That's the boy's name. Blaine, from all those years ago. Blaine, from his old school.
Blaine, his first love.
Blaine's eyes widen as he looks at the blue-green eyes. He instantly remembers Kurt as they first see each other on the street. A few passers-by watch the two as they just stop in the middle of the sidewalk, staring back at each other. In unison they turn around and walk back to each other.
Kurt now realizes why he didn't notice Blaine at first. His eyes are darker, sadder, with dark bags under them. Bruises cover his face and arms, purple and yellow alike. He's dressed as nicely as ever, but there's still a sense of homeless-ness.
"Hi." Kurt breathes. He's not sure what else to say. What are you supposed to say when you reunite with your first love from five years ago?
"Hey." Blaine returns with the same air. He eyes Kurt greedily, never wanting to look away. Kurt's still clad in designer labels, from his scarf to his boots. He looks much, much better than Blaine. His eyes are twinkling with an emotion Blaine couldn't exactly point out- joy? It didn't even matter to Blaine.
"I… I haven't seen you since graduation…" Kurt stumbles over his words. He can't help it; he's never really in a conversation anymore.
"Yeah, it's been really, really long." Blaine mimics Kurt's thoughts.
Blaine was always more eloquent than Kurt. It was one of the things that Kurt always loved about him.
A sole curl fell out of the casually messy hair Blaine is dawning. Kurt reaches out two pale fingers and twines the curl around them, just feeling the hair. He hears Blaine's soft gasp and notices the closing of his eyes in his peripheral view. Once he's finished playing with the lock, he tucks the hair back into the gelled array.
Blaine's eyes flutter open, somehow softer and brighter. Kurt smiles a small smile and looks down into the older man's eyes.
"Would you like to get together and talk? You know, catch up…?"
Blaine can't say "yes" fast enough.
They exchange phone numbers and head on their respective paths.
With a new spring in his step, Blaine decides to hold on a little longer. When he reaches his miniscule apartment, he ditches the booze for tonight. He sleeps peacefully with a smile on his face and dreams of the blue-eyed man he fell back in love with.
