A/N Hi everyone! This has been an awful year for me for writing, so I'm trying two different holiday writing challenges to try to break free of the block. This one is for the hummelholidays prompts from the blog of the same name on tumblr. It's an ongoing Kelliott, friends to lovers story with previous Klaine but no active Blaine bashing. I hope you enjoy, and I'm going to ask for reviews since feedback could really help with getting me back to writing more. Thanks, all!

-Liane

Lights

Elliott answered his door to find Kurt Hummel there, holding the handle of a compact rolling suitcase.

"The power went out at my place. I was in the groove, working on a new design, and the lights just went out. I have to finish it for Monday so I'm staying on your couch, okay?"

Since their various bands had fizzled out, Elliott and Kurt kept in touch mostly by liking one another's Facebook posts, so Elliott was definitely surprised to see Kurt. However, he was still a friend and Elliott would never abandon a friend in need, so he stepped aside and let Kurt pass.

"Great. Okay. Thanks. So, what's your wifi password?" Kurt breezed through and dropped into the comfy chair in which Elliott had been sitting, withdrawing a tablet and stylus from the outside pocket of his case and looking up expectantly as he opened the settings on the device.

Elliott sighed and told him.

Several hours and multiple shushings later, Kurt finally set his tools aside and smiled at Elliott, who had long since settled on his couch with a book. The death glare he'd received when he took up his guitar to practice had assured him that Kurt's need for control and getting his own way hadn't changed in the time they'd been estranged.

"Well? Do I get the story now or what?" Elliott asked, half amused and half annoyed at the other man.

"What story? I told you, I lost power."

"And you came to a person you haven't spoken to in eight months?"

Kurt huffed. "You could have said no, if you didn't want me here."

"Kurt, c'mon. Why me and not one of your close cadre?"

"I don't... I don't really have any close friends anymore. Not here in the city, anyway."

Over cups of tea that switched to scotch when Kurt's voice started quavering as he recounted the various fallings-out that he'd had with his former circle of friends, Elliott received enough information to bring a strong image of Kurt in a lonely tower to mind.

"Don't get me wrong, switching to design at Parsons was the right move for me, but everyone else is pursuing their performance or exhibitionist interests, and they all support each other and I'm just..."

"On your own. I get that. I've had some lone wolf times in my life, too."

Kurt looked so relieved that Elliott's heart gave a hard clench of sympathy.

"Okay. Well, I'm going to bed," Elliott declared. He indicated the quilt Kurt had drawn over his shoulders. "That be okay for bedding?"

"It'll have to be, I suspect. You're such a dude, I bet you don't have spare bedding for guests."

Elliott just rolled his eyes and kissed the top of Kurt's head as he moved toward his bedroom.

"See you in the morning, Kurt."

"Goodnight, Ell."