For a few days, Blaine was wrapped in submissive bliss. For the weekend after the collaring they didn't leave Kurt's apartment at all, and Blaine didn't even try to put on clothes. He spent a lot of time on his knees or bent over various pieces of furniture. His jaw hurt, his throat was as sore as his ass, and he loved every minute of it.

Then came Monday. Against his better judgment, he had again stayed the night with Kurt, so he had to rise far too early to get to school on time, but even without the weariness, he would have been distracted.

He had never had so much difficulty concentrating on his work, not even with a plug inside his ass that was, on top of that, still red and burning from a spanking. Every second, he was aware of the collar under his shirt, simultaneously wishing and fearing someone would see it and ask what it was. He could not stop touching it, and still, every time he did it, he had to smile. It was still so new, and the implications it brought with it blew his mind.

He was owned. He was safe, and loved, and the perfect submissive match to an amazing Dominant.

And no one could know.

He didn't mind that. He cherished and valued his 'normal' life, his job and his friends outside the BDSM lifestyle. Submissive wasn't all that he was, even if at times (now, for example), it seemed like a very big part of him.

And having this thing that was just his and Kurt's, made it all the more precious to him.

But it was hard to hide the joy he felt, the smile on his face whenever something reminded him of Kurt, so he didn't even try. There was nothing he wanted to hide about being in love.

So he went about his day, somewhat distracted but radiating happiness, and people just had to smile when they saw him. Still, in the course of the day, everything was somehow more tiring than usual.

Fortunately, due to the upcoming season, he could get away with just practicing Christmas songs with his students, which was far less taxing than trying anything theoretical.

Shortly before lunch, Ruth ambushed him in the hallway.

"As you know," she said excitedly, grinning all over her face, "My birthday's on Wednesday, and I want you to come to the bar with us, and...you have to bring your elusive boyfriend."

Blaine sighed inwardly, but matched her grin. Her excitement was contagious.

"How could I deny you any wish when it's your birthday? I'll see what I can do."

After work, he went home to pack yet another bag. He wouldn't stay here, he couldn't even imagine not going back to Kurt's place. His submission, more or less successfully suppressed over the day, was rising to the surface again, and he needed his Dom. Not a scene, not necessarily, but Kurt's steadying, Dominating presence. And he needed to persuade him to come meet his friends on Wednesday.

He spent ten minutes looking for a pair of pants to pack until he remembered leaving them at Kurt's, and then took a shower and cursed when he noticed his favorite shampoo wasn't here, either.

Something had to change, really.

It was late when he got back to Kurt's apartment, and when he arrived, he found that Kurt had cleaned and was now making dinner.

"Hi, Sir," he said as he walked over and accepted Kurt's kiss. "I was going to do that."

"I know, sweetheart, but it's so late and I got hungry. And in order to cook, I had to clean first, so..."

"I'm sorry."

"No, it's not your fault. You spend so much time driving around, and you have work, too. It'd be unreasonable to expect you to do all the work here on top of that."

Blaine pouted. "But I like serving you. And I've gotten so much better at cooking!"

"I know. And you'll have plenty of opportunity, too. Now go set the table."

"Yes, Sir."

Dinner was, to be honest, much better than anything Blaine could have made, but he didn't really enjoy it. It was too normal, too much like an every day meal, and not what he had craved all day.

He finished his food lost in thought.

Then, somewhat hesitantly, he asked,

"Sir? May I kneel for you?"

Kurt see,ed surprised, but went over to the couch, sat down and motioned for Blaine to follow. Relieved, Blaine knelt down and leaned his head against Kurt's knee, closing his eyes for a moment when he felt Kurt's hand in his hair.

"Why?" Kurt asked.

Blaine relished the moment for a little longer, then answered.

"I had kind of a hard time at school today. Though that's not right, either, because I was ridiculously happy. But...it was kind of like a cold shower, in a way. Very suddenly back in reality. The last few days were so intense, and I felt...I feel like my submission has taken over. It's a great feeling when I'm with you, like this, but when I'm not...it's hard."

Kurt was silent for a moment, his hand in Blaine's hair not moving. "Is it...going to be a problem? For you?"

Blaine shook his head. "I don't think so, not in the long run. I think it's just because of the collar, because it's still so new." He grinned. "If I'm wrong, you just have to build a dungeon where I can be your slave 24/7."

Kurt laughed and pulled him up on the couch. "I like that thought. I'd lock you in while I'm at work, you'd be naked the whole time, you'd have your own, windowless little bedroom where you'd never be because I'd miss you too much...And you'd be completely at my beck and call, fulfilling my every wish."

Blaine buried his head in Kurt's shoulder, laughing. "Basically everything as it is now."

"Quite so."

…...

Of course Kurt agreed to go see Blaine's friends with him on Wednesday. Oh, he made him blow him as a manner of persuasion, but that was a given, and it wasn't as if Blaine minded. He even bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Ruth as a birthday present.

That didn't mean he wasn't nervous. So many questions he didn't know the answer to...Would they like him? What if they didn't? Would it be an uncomfortable evening, full of awkward silences? Or would they ask intrusive questions that he and Blaine wouldn't be able to answer without spinning a web of intricate lies?

Would Blaine, in his current state, be able to ignore the Dom/sub part of their relationship?

Would he?

He decided not to dwell on these questions. There was nothing he could do about it, nothing he could plan, and he preferred not to fret over things he couldn't influence if he could help it.

So he was as calm as he possibly could be when he went to pick up Blaine from school on Wednesday. There were a couple of curious glances when he greeted him with a kiss, and the moment it happened, a bubbly brunette appeared in front of them, clapping her hands and saying,

"So you're the boyfriend he keeps talking about, aren't you?"

"I am," Kurt said, then mock-frowned. "At least I hope he doesn't mean someone else."

Blaine blushed and smacked him on the arm, and the brunette laughed.

"I'm sure he means you. I'm Ruth."

"Kurt," he said, then presented the flowers. "Happy birthday."

"Oooh," she said delightedly, "Blaine, keep him. I like him."

"I intend to," Blaine said. "I like him, too."

He was introduced to more people, especially small children who came to see who Mr Anderson was talking to, and was relieved when they finally were ready to go.

The bar was nice, and the company pleasant enough. There were two other colleagues with them, David, a P.E. teacher, and Tina, who taught biology and home ed and was, Kurt understood, the friend who taught Blaine to cook.

"I'm so thankful that you taught Blaine to cook," he said. "I should have brought you flowers, too."

"Seriously," Blaine added, "I don't know what we would have eaten the last few months if it weren't for you."

Tina smiled, but then asked with a slightly suspicious expression, "Why don't you just cook, Kurt? Wouldn't it be easier?"

For a moment, Kurt was at a loss for words, but thankfully, Blaine jumped in.

"Kurt often works long into the evening. If we wanted to have dinner together at all, and not have take out all the time, it had to be me."

Somehow, it got worse after this. Kurt didn't think they revealed too much about the nature of their relationship, but still, at least Tina seemed overly suspicious. Of course they got asked how they met, and they stayed as close to the truth as possible, saying that they got to talking at a club – they just didn't say what kind of club it was.

But Tina didn't let go after that. She asked all sorts of questions and never seemed satisfied with the answer, until Kurt suspected that she was in fact trying to find some proof that he didn't treat Blaine well.

The other two just sat there, looking slightly bemused, as he and Blaine tried to answer Tina's rapid-fire questions, some of which they had no answer to, especially when they concerned their plans for the future.

At some point, when they had enough, they pretended the ballad just playing was their favorite song and escaped to the small, nearly empty dance floor. Kurt took Blaine in his arms, and they swayed to the music without any pretense of actual dancing. Kurt found himself wishing they could just spend the rest of the evening like this, but when he looked up, he saw Tina sitting at their table, passive-aggressively sipping on her drink and staring daggers at them.

"What's with her?" he couldn't resist asking. Tina's behavior had been puzzling him more and more. He could understand being curious, but this was borderline rude, especially towards someone who was effectively a stranger.

Blaine looked up. "I don't know. I'll talk to her after the song." Then he put his head back on Kurt's shoulder, sighing contentedly.

When the song was over, Blaine asked to talk to Tina, and they went to get more drinks to have a little privacy from the rest of the group. Kurt watched them go, shaking his head.

David cleared his throat. "Sorry about her. I don't know what's the matter with her today, this isn't her usual behavior."

"Oh please," Ruth scoffed, "we know exactly what's the matter. She has a giant crush on Blaine. She knows he's gay, but I guess it was easier to make herself believe that her crush could return her feelings when he's not being all affectionate with his very attractive boyfriend."

"I see," Kurt said, smiling and inclining his head. "And thank you."

But when he continued watching Blaine and Tina, he stopped smiling. She had wrapped her arms around his neck as she whispered in his ear, and as she saw him watching them, the look she gave him over Blaine's shoulder was nothing less than proprietorial.

Kurt had enough. He gave David and Ruth and apologetic look. "I believe Blaine and I should be going home. It was very nice to meet you."

They protested a little, but Kurt could see that they understood. He made his way to the bar to remind his sub and make it abundantly clear to his friend whom Blaine belonged to.

He put every bit of possessiveness and Dominance into his voice as he said, without preamble or explanation,

"Blaine. We're leaving"