"This counts, be the way," Blaine's voice sang mischievously through his laptop that was perched precariously on the crowded counter top.
"Counts as what?" he replied curiously, peering up from the bag of flour that his arm had disappeared in.
"As baking you cookies at least twice a year. This counts as one," the other replied with a smug grin removing his own arm from his own flour bag and dumping the full measuring cup into the large mixing bowl. The flour landed with a thud and Kurt could not help but laugh at the way it sprayed back into Blaine's face, wiping away the smirk. His own smirk appeared as he retrieved his own arm and very neatly transferred his flour to his bowl.
"What? I'm doing way too much work for this to count," he mock protested as he heaved the five pound bag back to the bottom shelve in the cupboard.
"You're the one who moved away so I couldn't actually do it myself," Blaine reasoned as he returned his own bag of flour to the cupboard. Kurt turned to the monitor to reply but his words were quickly lost in the flexing muscles of his boyfriend's arm. The pure art that radiated from a human form as perfect as Blaine's was not lost on him. It might have even been enhanced for there were no raging hormones to cloud his view. He snapped out of it when he noticed the other boy's movements had halted and as he brought his eyes to meet Blaine's, Kurt noticed that the playful smirk had returned. "Plus, you seem to be enjoying the view alright."
"It'd be a better view if you were actually here," he replied. There was a definite uncertainty in his voice. Innocent and playful flirting, especially of this nature, was not something that came naturally but he had recently begun to realize just how much Blaine responded to it. It seemed to put a spring in the other boy's step and a sparkle to his eyes. And as much as the comment was one that supposedly would rile someone up, Kurt noticed that it almost had a relaxing effect on Blaine. His best guess was that it took away some of the Warbler's constant need to keep things PG. Kurt knew Blaine was flirty by nature but ever since the boy's Freudian slip the previous weekend, Kurt began to realize just how much the other had been holding back. Together was one place neither of them should have to hide though and so he kept his word when he told Blaine that he would work on his comfort levels with topics of sexual connotation, especially when between the two of them. It wasn't sex, nor was it pressure to have sex or change who he was. It was simply making allowances for Blaine to be who he was.
He had also begun to somewhat enjoy it himself. Even though he still found it awkward and slightly embarrassing, he preferred to be the one making the objective comments instead of the other way around. It just felt safer and took him lesser out of his comfort zone. The more and more times he slipped little comments into conversation though, the less he thought about that sexually, objective element to them. They began to seem friendlier and increasingly innocent and fun. It became less about sex and more about intimacy. He would not say these things to just anyone. Blaine was it. He was the only person who could make him feel comfortable enough to explore this territory and at the same time the Warbler was the only person whose happiness mattered enough to him to make him consider meandering cautiously down that path. In Kurt's mind it brought them closer and gave them another piece of each other that no one else could have.
"Only four more months," Blaine responded softly after a pause. Kurt knew the beat was out of surprise. The other was still getting used to the comments.
"And then you'll have another five months until the end of the year to bake me cookies twice," he stated without hesitation.
"Okay but only if you promise not to get mad at me." Kurt picked up on the guilt in his boyfriend's voice and was flooded instantly with worry.
"What'd you do?" He asked as he put down the bag of chocolate chips and turned his full attention to his computer screen.
"I transferred back to Dalton," he whispered shamefully. Kurt was caught off guard. It was nothing terrible but it just had not been what he was expecting nor did he understand why Blaine had not told him. Clearly made anxious by the lack of response, Blaine launched into defense. "It's just that I feel like I actually have friends there and I can board again and not have to deal with my parents and it'll look better on college applications which are due next week and schools in the city are hard to get into-"
"Blaine," he cut the other's rambling off. "Take a breath. It's okay. I'm surprised and a little curious as to why you didn't tell me but I'm not mad. Why would I be mad?"
"Yeah, it uh, it was kinda a spur of the moment thing. I ran into my dad in the kitchen the other night and I just asked. He agreed, most likely to get me out of the house. But, I don't know, I just didn't want you to think that I felt McKinley was beneath me or that I resented you in any way for making me transfer."
"There's something else. I can hear it your voice," he stated softly. There was another pause where Blaine continued adding ingredients to his cookie dough and avoided the webcam pointed in his direction.
"It feels like I'm running again," he eventually admitted to the counter. Without realizing, Kurt stepped closer to his computer and brought his hand to the monitor as if to reach out and touch Blaine, to bring him some source of comfort.
"From what though?"
"Loneliness." Blaine's whisper was barely audible and his eyes were still down.
"Oh, Blaine. Why didn't you tell me it was this bad? I had no idea. I could have helped."
"No, no you couldn't," the other corrected. There was no resentment or disappointment but his words were sure. "The only thing that would have made this better was if you were here but you can't be here." Kurt let the words sink in for a moment. They were true but it hurt to know that his happiness was causing the boy he loved so much distress. It also broke his heart to see how ashamed Blaine was about this.
"Why can't I be there?"
"What?"
"Just answer the question."
"Because you've dreamed of New York your whole life. It's what makes you happy," Blaine stated.
"And Dalton makes you happy. Seeking out that place of acceptance and belonging does not mean you're running from where you are." He paused trying to gauge the other's response but Blaine's eyes were still on the counter and his arms had snaked protectively around his body. "This isn't running, B. And really, it wasn't running before either. No one is going to think that," he soothed. Blaine's eye lifted slightly at this and it was then that Kurt knew what the other needed to hear him say. "Blaine, look at me. This does not change anything, okay? I still love you and I'm still incredibly proud to have you on my arm. You have no idea how good it felt when you picked me up from class with coffee and everyone got to see you. It'll always be that way, B, always." The golden eyes finally found his through the computer screen and although they appeared to have tears threatening to spill, they were bright and open.
"S-sorry," he finally mumbled, swiping away the tears with the back of his hand. "I didn't mean for this to get so emotional," he finished with a forced chuckle.
"Don't be. You're allowed to let it out. Now, you're going to rejoin the Warblers, right?" Kurt asked brightly, trying to make Blaine get excited about returning to Dalton again.
"I don't know," the other sighed sadly. "It's right before regionals and I'm coming from the competing team. I don't think they'll let me."
"Of course they will. They're your friends. They let me join and you used to be lead. You probably won't get a solo but I can guarantee they'll invite you back with open arms," he stated assuredly. The Warblers were the key to all this. It was with them that Blaine first found acceptance and belonging and it was with them that he would truly feel happy again.
"Do you know how many strings I had to pull to get you on the team? They don't just let people join."
"I know but you're already one of them. You've never stopped being my Warbler. Just promise me that you'll try, okay?"
"Okay, I promise," Blaine relented, looking him in the eye through the monitor and smiling lightly. There was a thankfulness about it. It was as if Blaine knew this is what he needed too but he was too far into a depressed state that he needed that push and reassurance in order to make it happen.
"Now, did you get your old room back?" He moved on, keeping things as cheery and as light as he could.
"No, I'm on the senior floor now but it's still next to Jeff's so that'll be fun."
"That's good," he replied with a grin, mimicking the light one spreading on his boyfriend's face. "Although, I have to admit that I miss your old room sometimes. It feels so long ago that we used to do homework in there or have movie nights."
"Well my new room will look exactly the same so you're more than welcome to come by and we can recreate all the bashful blushing and lingering glances that plagued our friendship."
"Plagued? Really, Blaine. Why not graced or decorated?"
"I was trying to not sound gay," the other dead panned as he began placing cookie dough on his baking sheet. "Oh and you're making your cookies too small."
"Excuse me?" Kurt answered in mock offense. "I'm the master baker in this relationship. I believe I know what I'm doing," he stated with pride and continued placing his own dough onto the cookie sheet.
"I'm not questioning that," Blaine chuckled back. "But this is as close as you're going to get to me baking for you so in order to keep it authentic, you're going to have to do it the way I would. Now, they need to be big. There needs to be a sense of childlike wonder when you open the cookie jar and take one out because it's just so much chocolate and sweet that you're not sure if you can actually eat it all."
"You are ridiculous," he replied with a fond eye role. "They should be small. They bake more evenly that way and then you can have one without the need to run a mile to work it off."
"But Kuuuuurrrrrrtttttt," Blaine whined. "Cookies are a youthful treat. You can't get all grown up about them. That just ruins everything."
"I'm not ruining anything by actually making it better and taking away the guilt from it."
"You're insufferable," the other pouted, his plump lower lip sticking out and his eyes widening and brow furrowing adorably. Kurt found himself about to give in but then his boyfriend turned away from the computer in huff to place his baking sheet in the oven and the new view gave Kurt a little inspiration.
"Well if you're so disturbed then you should get your cute little ass out here and make them for me." He heard Blaine chuckle and could not help but laugh himself as his boyfriend began to wiggle his hips in what Kurt supposed was a seductive manner. For him though, it was purely joyful and the sparkle and life he saw in the golden eyes when Blaine finally turned back around with a wink simply made it all brighter.
"Kurt?" The familiar voice of the blonde rang with curiosity as he answered the phone.
"Hey Jeff, how are you doing?"
"I'm fine. How's the big city?"
"It great but um, I was wondering if you had talked to Blaine recently."
"Can't say I have. Is everything okay?"
"Yes, I think it's fine but he's transferring back to Dalton. I'm a little worried because he seems somewhat disappointed in himself for it even though we both know it's what'll make him happy.
"Are you serious? He never said anything. Did something happen?"
"No, no, nothing happened. McKinley just isn't home for him like Dalton was. He's not too proud of the decision though so I was hoping you and Nick could just keep an eye on him and make sure he's embracing it all again and not fighting it."
"We can do that," The other responded chipperly.
"I know being back on the Warblers would help so if there was any possibility there"
"Definitely! The guys will be thrilled to have him back. I'm sure we can sort something out."
"Thank-you, Jeff. I really, really appreciate it," he stated earnestly.
"Happy to help!"
