"Well, you guys clearly deserved the win," Blaine said as he and Kurt navigated to their regular table at the Bean, coffee and nibbles in hand. "I mean, I have never seen an entire panel of judges deliver a standing ovation while sobbing."

"A couple of them were smiling..." Kurt protested.

"While sobbing. Convulsively."

Kurt hid a smile as he took a sip of his latte. Because, really, it wouldn't do to gloat, even though after all the drama that preceded regionals, winning so decisively had been sweet indeed. "And did we make you cry?" he asked archly.

Blaine narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips before replying, "No. I contained myself... For the sake of my eyeliner."

"Speaking of which... How on earth did you convince council to go with a Duran Duran medley for regionals?"

"Well..." Blaine began, dipping his biscotti before taking a bite. "I just pointed out that having lost your voice, we'd be smart to at least exploit your talent by using one of your ideas. It totally would have worked, too, if you hadn't come up with a better idea."

"Wasn't my idea."

"Rachel?" Blaine gave his a skeptical look. "I would've thought she'd at least hog a solo."

"Nope," Kurt insisted. "Dave."

"Dave...?"

"Karofsky. The guy whose date you crashed?" Kurt took a sip of his latte, then cradled the cup in both hands. "He came up with the concept, the set list, helped with the arrangements..."

Blaine still didn't look convinced. "Fine. Don't believe me. But I'm telling you," Kurt said with a secretive little smile. "Dave is going help us win at nationals. Especially once I convince him to join glee and sing."

"Hold up. The neanderthal can sing?"

"Don't call him that!" Kurt's protested. "He's actually really … great. A little quiet. Bit of a computer geek..."

Blaine frowned at the dreamy expression on Kurt's face. He was used to being on the receiving end of that particular smile. It felt weird seeing it directed it at someone else, even if the other guy wasn't here.

"So. He sings."

"Mm-hm. Baritone. Smooth as butter. AND he's totally into music. Mostly indie and foreign pop from what I can tell so far. But- no. He found that Peter Gabriel song, so that's '80s too. Hrm. I'll have to ask about that... What?"

Blaine continued to frown as he picked at the crumbs on his plate, "Guess I'm just having a hard time taking this in... I mean, Kurt! He's a wannabe closet case! You were terrified of him. You said he made your life hell."

"I haven't forgotten," Kurt replied softly. "And you helped me through that. Courage, remember? But, well, I guess now that I'm getting to know him, I can imagine what he must've been feeling back then. And I think I could've handled things differently."

"Wow. That sounds very … grown up."

"Well, you know me: incredibly poised and wise beyond my years," Kurt struck a pose, attempting to inject some levity in this suddenly too-serious conversion.

Blaine shook his head and smiled. "God, Kurt, I have missed you."

"Hey, I'm still here. And you are still my BGF. Best gay friend. That's not going to change."

"Friend," Blaine repeated. "Right... I just … I worry about you. You deserve the best. Someone who's out and proud and knows how amazing you are."

"You don't need to worry," Kurt said. "I'm being smart this time. Promise."

"Not so smart you can see what's right in front of you," Blaine said slowly, head bent, watching as he extended his arm to trace fingers over the back of Kurt's hand.

"What...?"

"Give me another chance?" Blaine asked, looking searchingly into Kurt's eyes. "I know I said just friends, but I miss you. I miss that look in your eye. Just give me a chance to-" He leaned forward suddenly, sealing his lips firmly to Kurt's.

When he sat back, Kurt was looking at him with confusion, and maybe a flicker of … anger?

"What was that?"

"I'm sorry," Blaine said on a nervous smile. "Coffee breath?" He raised a hand self-consciously to his lips.

"No." He cocked his head and decided that Blaine looked like nothing so much as a really cute puppy who was counting on his appeal to get him out of trouble for having peed on the rug. "No," Kurt repeated. "That tasted like sour grapes to me."

"...I'm finally really, truly okay with being just friends, and he has to go and KISS me!" Kurt fumed. Mercedes watched as he stabbed at his salad viciously.

"You sure he meant to kiss you on the lips?" She asked. "It wasn't a kiss on the cheek gone wrong?"

"No," Kurt insisted. "It wasn't a- a misfire. He kissed me on the lips! Hard! … What is it?" he snapped at the person he could feel suddenly standing at his shoulder. He swung his head around. It was Dave. Holding his a tray and looking stunned.

"Uh, you told me to meet you guys here for lunch," he said. "No more self-imposed exile?"

"Right," Kurt said. "Well? Sit!"

But Dave was shaking his head now and backing away. "Thanks, but if you just wanted to tell me that you and prep school boy are together now. Well, now I know."

"Oh for god's sake," Kurt rolled his eyes. "I didn't ENOY it, you idiot. Sit down!"

Dave shot a glance at Mercedes. She offered him a sympathetic shrug that somehow managed to say, 'he's crazy, but what can you do?' Dave sat down. "So. He kissed you, and you didn't enjoy it. He didn't hurt you did he?"

"No. But he did help me reach a kind of … epiphany." Kurt wiped his lips meticulously and folded his napkin away before continuing. "Since that was the second completely unsolicited kiss that's been forced on me, I've had to come to the conclusion that in addition to being outrageously talented and fashion-forward, I am … desirable."

Mercedes's eyes went round. Dave's eyebrows threatened to hit his hairline. They didn't dare look at each other.

"Fine. Laugh," Kurt said, chin up. "But you have BOTH wanted me. So let me put you on notice. See these lips? The next time they're kissed, it's going to be consentual and earned and romantic! Got it? So YOU," he poked a finger at Dave, "don't even THINK of trying anything funny or I'll, I'll-"

"Crush my nuts?" Dave suggested with a little smile. Man, Kurt in a snit was pretty entertaining … and damn hot.

Kurt narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Would you enjoy that?"

"Uh, no."

"Excellent. Then I will crush (poke) your (poke) nuts (poke)." With one final nod, Kurt pushed back his chair, picked up his tray and stalked away.

An amused smile graced Dave's face as he watched Kurt's retreat, admiring the indignant swing to his hips...

"You seriously wanna tap that?" a familiar voice asked.

Suddenly wary, Dave looked up to see Azimio, alone, no other jocks around. He lifted his chin. "I wouldn't put it quite like that ... but yeah."

Azimio face screwed up with confusion. "Why the hell didn't you tell me, bro?"

Mercedes snorted, "The way you talk? Boy, you had a gutter mouth in the sandbox. Fairy this and fag that. Why should he tell you?"

Dave shot a grateful look to his unexpected ally.

"'Cause we were best friends. Man, those were just words..."

"Naw, they were me," Dave said.

"Then why'd you say 'em too?"

"Didn't want it to be me, man," Dave admitted, throat tight.

Azimio looked at him hard, then nodded, shot a look at Mercedes, and walked away. Dave took a deep breath.

"Hey," Mercedes said gently. "Hey, don't worry about him. You've got more important things to figure out."

"Like?"

"Like consentual, earned and romantic..."