Falling - Author's note: this piece contains missing scenes from 216 - 217 - S2/3 Summer - and 307 - This concept of this piece is Blaine falling for Kurt, over and over again.

Falling

2.16

The hours following Kurt's performance of "Blackbird" found Blaine in a daze. He moved through the halls as though stunned to his very core, which was in fact the case and although he attended his classes, he couldn't retain anything. His mind was too filled with the torrent of emotions running through him and he was constantly in danger of ploughing into his fellow students as they moved between classes.

It wasn't until his third class was nearly finished that Blaine felt able to focus, he had never been more moved by a performance in his life and more than that, he clearly had feelings for his best friend. Possibly, Blaine thought, he was falling in love with Kurt and had simply failed to notice until now. He had always been rather oblvious to these sort of things, with girls constantly trying to date him throughout middle school and the interest of others during his various theatre activities. He'd never paid much attention to it though, the only real interest he'd felt in a boy had been met with a swift harsh rejection.

Idly, he wondered how he had failed to see before how truly gorgeous Kurt was, tall and thin and radiant as the sun. Just like his voice, which cut through Blaine like a chainsaw, leaving him wrecked. A small part of him knew he'd been lying to himself, he'd been falling for Kurt since they'd met on the stairs all those months ago.

As he was working through various means of explaining this very abrupt change of heart, the desire to give Kurt a solo at Regionals popped into his head. But he knew that wasn't in his power. However, he thought maybe a duet. If he played it right, pointed out all the ways it would benefit the team overall, he might be able to pull it off. Plus a duet would require the two of them to spend a great deal of time alone together, practicing their song and somewhere in there Blaine knew he could find a way to tell Kurt how he felt. But he was getting ahead of himself, for all he knew Kurt's interest in him had deflated since Valentine's Day.

The thought of Valentine's put a bad taste in Blaine's mouth as his mind went over the last agonizing month of his life. He'd seemed to question everything about himself after the disastrous Gap Attack, which was in fact the worst idea he'd ever had. Then there was Rachel Berry's party with too much alcohol and that damn game of spin the bottle. Blaine knew now that he'd just been drowning in insecurity, questioning everything about himself because of Jeremiah's rejection. But now he finally understood Kurt's outrage over the situation, having been too blind at the time to see anything outside of his own struggles.

But Rachel, Rachel… Blaine felt his head shake, how could he have been so stupid!? Not only was Rachel one of Kurt's best friends, she'd already taken a boy that Kurt wanted. She'd already proven to be competition for Kurt in every aspect of his life. It was no wonder that Kurt had been so upset with Blaine, not only had he been questioning his very self, everything he knew to be true. He was doing so at the expense of Kurt's friend, and his feelings.

Feeling like a complete moron, Blaine stood up with the bell, shaking off a little and made his way to his next class, careful to avoid running into anyone else.

Blaine's thoughts revolved around Kurt that day and, his daydreams featured a heartfelt confession followed by a romantic first kiss as "Blackbird" played on repeat in his head. When he passed his best friend in the hallway, Kurt rushing in the opposite direction, he felt his stomach flip. Then he felt ridiculous and insane because this was Kurt, he had looked at Blaine like that every day, given him that winning smile a million times, but now everything was different.

During lunch block, Kurt sat next to Blaine and he had to actively stop himself from reaching out to take the boy's hand. As he watched Kurt discuss homework with Wes and another junior named Ben, who had expressed interest in Kurt many times, Blaine realized he was lucky someone else hadn't snatched up the boy of his dreams from right under his nose.

When he sighed audibly, not really meaning to do so, Kurt turned to him with a wide smile stretched across his face and Blaine felt his breath hitch, certain that his heart stopped.

"Are you okay, Blaine?" Kurt was saying and Blaine had to look up from his lips to focus on the words, hearing only his own name fall around him in Kurt's musical voice. "You look like you've seen a ghost…"

Blaine had to close his eyes, and take a deep breath against all the new feelings running through him. "No, uh…I mean I'm fine" Blaine managed to smile back at Kurt, who didn't look convinced at all but turned away when Ben pulled his attention to the notebook the three guys had laid out on the table.

Blaine lived in a daydream for the rest of the day, realizing only when he'd pulled into the parking lot at the Lima Bean, that he had no idea of anything that had occurred since lunch.

The next day Kurt asked Blaine to meet him for coffee again after school, which was not out of the ordinary. But when Blaine blushed and stuttered out, "ya, sure," Kurt gave him a quizzical look before darting off to class, his hair catching the sun as he disappeared down the hall.

The Lima Bean was quiet when Blaine arrived, an array of people sat inside but the atmosphere was subdued, as though everyone was just as lost to their thoughts as he was. He spotted Kurt at their most frequently used table, two steaming cups in front of him, and his heart quickened in his chest. The nervousness that had begun yesterday seemed to be getting stronger the longer he kept his feelings to himself.

Kurt, still unaware of Blaine's change of heart, looked up from a pile of homework and smiled, waving Blaine over to him with a little more enthusiasm than was strictly necessary. But it made Blaine grin and when he reached the table he scooped up his cup and took a slow sip, trying in vain to rearrange his features so he didn't give the whole thing away. He'd already convinced the Warblers to give them a duet at Regionals but now he needed a prompt to tell Kurt why. While he wanted very much to be Kurt's boyfriend, he wanted to do it right. He wanted to give Kurt everything he'd always dreamed of, especially the romance and Blaine knew he was capable if he could just think of a way.

"You know my coffee order," Blaine said poignantly, stopping himself from taking Kurt's hand as sat down across from him.

Kurt smiled sheepishly, a soft embarrassed blush colored his cheeks and simultaneously Blaine felt his palms start to sweat. It would be much easier to think about how he was going to ask Kurt out, if Kurt would stop being so distractingly beautiful.

"Of course I do," Kurt said, an infection of mocking in his voice but his eyes were dancing. That was until they landed on Blaine's and for a split second Blaine was sure Kurt could see the longing there. But Kurt just shook his head and turned back to the books laid out before him, "Ms. Fredrick's is an evil woman."

"Well she teaches Math, doesn't that like, require her to be evil?" Blaine asks, pulling a notebook from his bag.

"Fair point," Kurt chuckled and without looking up he reached for his coffee cup. His fingertips brushed across the back of Blaine's hand, making them both jump. Kurt quickly snatched up his coffee and took a long drink to hide his face.

Across the table Blaine felt certain he's losing his mind, heartsick over his best friend. He'd always been attracted to Kurt, but this was different. This was bigger. And there was still a small part of his mind that was worried, what if he did the whole thing wrong? What if Kurt didn't have feelings for him anymore? What if his confession changed things? But something had already changed when Kurt had performed Blackbird yesterday, something had clicked and now Blaine was in no way unsure of his feelings. He couldn't worry about consequences when every cell of his body had been woken up by Kurt. In fact, his mind had already gone so far as to declare Kurt the one.

Before Blaine can catch himself staring, Kurt looks up to meet his gaze, and a question dies on his lips. For a moment they are both transfixed, then Kurt's eyes fall and he shakes his head, looking defeated and confused. Throwing caution to the wind, Blaine reaches across the table to squeeze Kurt's hand. "Sorry, spaced out. What were you going to ask?"

"Well, I, um," Kurt stammers, his eyes on their hands. "Was just wondering when you want to start practicing our duet for Regionals?" As he finished he looked up to Blaine's wide, hopeful eyes and quickly looked away again, seeming more confused. "And I wanted to thank you…"

"No need. How about tomorrow, after school?" Blaine proposes, pulling his hand back to his coffee cup. "We can meet in the common room on the second floor."

"The one with the cappuccino machine?" Kurt asks knowingly.

"That's the one," Blaine said with a smile and he reluctantly turned to his notes, intent on getting some work done.

Awhile later as Blaine looked away from his economy notes to reach for his cup, he caught sight of Kurt muttering to himself. His lips parted slightly, his brow furrowed in concentration, his fingers holding a pencil still as he worked through a problem in his head. He truly looked beautiful. When Kurt's eyes popped up to meet Blaine's they were shining and full of a curious shock at the intensity with which Blaine was watching him.

"Are you sure you're okay, Blaine?" Kurt asked, his hand falling to the page in front of him, the genuine concern on his face made Blaine's lungs feel heavy with emotion. The yearning he felt for the boy across the table seemed to be growing, treading through his chest, nesting in his brain and seeping through his veins till it consumed him, body, mind and soul. For a split second he almost said it, those three words on the tip of his tongue that should be saved for a later time. There was more to say now, and better ways to go about asking Kurt to be his.

"I'm great," Blaine said instead, smiling at Kurt in a way that made him beam. "Really great," he murmured and still smiling, they both turned back to their work.

217

Three days ago Blaine had taken the leap, confessed his feelings and was currently making his way to his boyfriend's house. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon and as he pulled into the Hummel's driveway he stifled a great wave of giddiness. He and Kurt didn't have any plans laid out for the day, just time to waste together.

Burt's face appears around the door after Blaine knocks, his attention clearly focused on a game on TV. He points Blaine towards the kitchen before returning to the couch to snatch a bowl of popcorn from Finn's hands. As Blaine enters the kitchen he sees Kurt, a dish towel thrown over his shoulder. Taken aback by the beauty of the scene, Blaine freezes, staring at Kurt's face as he works over a bowl. The sharp line of his jaw, the perfect curve of his cheekbones, the hard muscles rippling under his shirt, the gleam in his eyes, and thus he doesn't notice when Kurt's eyes dart in his direction. But Blaine does notice the swoon, Kurt sways lightly on his feet, a soft blush colors his porcelain cheeks and the soft smile touches his lips.

Before he can react, Kurt said, "You're doing it again, Blaine"

Ignoring the smile he knows is stretched across his face, Blaine said, "I already told you, I can't help it."

"And I told you the fee for that, this show ain't free, babe," Kurt said, his smile growing cocky as he set down the bowl and spoon in his hand. Moving around the counter gracefully, Kurt took note of the timer as he passed the oven and then he's kissing Blaine. It's a kiss filled with what Blaine hopes is love, despite the fact that he knows they've only been dating for a few days, he knows he's in love. Or falling, anyway. Falling for the boy whose arms are around his neck, the boy whose tongue just slid across his own in the most tantalizing way possible.

From behind them comes a soft chuckle, and they snap towards the voice. "Sorry, I just never realized how charming you were, Kurt." Carole said from the doorway, an awed look on her face.

Laughing, Kurt's head falls to Blaine's shoulder and for a long moment they're both giggling, holding onto each other until the oven timer beeps and Kurt bounces over to fetch a plate of cookies. The moment, Blaine realizes later, was far too intimate for Kurt's stepmother to witness and yet he's glad she was there, because he finally had a witness to Kurt's charm.

Summer season ⅔

It's a perfect summer's day, bright and warm when Blaine shows up at Kurt's house at noon on a Sunday in late June. Burt and Finn are working on Finn's truck in the driveway and Burt casually sends Blaine upstairs, explaining that Kurt is still asleep.

It still feels odd for Blaine to walk into Kurt's house by himself and make his way upstairs, the sounds of Carole wafting down the hall from the kitchen. After climbing the stairs quietly, Blaine knocks on Kurt's door softly and gets a faint moan in response. The sound makes him blush, both fascinated and aroused. Pushing Kurt's door open he moves into the room and his breath hitches, his body freezes at the sight before him.

Kurt is completely out, laying across the bed on his stomach with his bare back uncovered, plains of perfect pale skin moving with his soft breaths. His hair is messy, his mouth open just slightly. Blaine watches as Kurt shifts, burying his face into the pillow a little, the ripple of muscles down his back making Blaine's mouth go dry.

Kurt rolls over as his eyes flutter, groggily he kicks his legs out of the tangle of blankets before he notices Blaine staring at him. "Blaine?" He asks in a raspy voice. "Am I still dreaming?"

"No, but apparently I am," Blaine said his eyes fixed on Kurt's pale, bare chest as though thinking of devouring him.

Kurt fumbles, grabs the shirt he took off unconsciously and pulls it over his head, blushing fiercely. "What are you, I mean, why are you here so early?"

"I'm not early." Blaine points out with a chuckle. "We have a date and you overslept." And when Kurt frowned, pulling himself to the edge of the bed. "Your father told me to come wake you," Blaine said into the silence as Kurt rubbed his eyes.

"Of course, sorry," Kurt muttered, stretching in a way that Blaine felt was designed to turn him on. Then a thought occurred to him and he stepped closer to the bed.

"Wait, still dreaming?" He asked sheepishly.

The little bit of blush that had retreated from Kurt's skin intensified tenfold, and his face burning he met Blaine's inquisitive gaze with a sea of hope in his eyes. Twice he opened his mouth as if to speak but nothing came out, so Blaine took another step forward and asked in a sumptuous voice. "Do you dream of me, Kurt?"

Kurt's eyes softened, and he grinned, unashamed. "Of course, what else would I dream about?"

"What do you… dream of?" Blaine stuttered, his voice betraying his interest.

"That's probably best saved for after I brush my teeth." Kurt said with a smirk, a mischievous light playing across his face.

For a moment, a sensation passed between them, a feeling full of anticipation and memories and it effectively broke the little remaining awkwardness in the room. Blaine had never seen Kurt without his shirt on and the charge that filled the room finally shifted to something more natural.

"Even Finn's awake," Blaine snickered, dropping his school bag next to Kurt's desk chair.

"I was up late, on the phone, with you." Kurt pointed out in a snarky voice and Blaine laughed. Kurt pulled his cell from under one of his pillows and, shifting through missed texts he said. "Um, I'll need to like, shower and stuff."

"It's okay, I can wait." Blaine shrugged, dropping onto the chair.

Taking a deep breath Kurt stands up and stretches again, his shirt riding up to reveal the line of his pants, the skin of his stomach and Blaine stares, open-mouthed. When Kurt notices he freezes, "What?" He asks.

"You're honestly the most beautiful man I've ever seen," Blaine whispered softly, his voice full of awe.

"Stop that, I'm not going to kiss you until I've brushed my teeth," Kurt said hitting Blaine's chest playfully as he turned toward the bathroom door.

Chuckling, Blaine watches Kurt disappear around a corner and hears the sound of a faucet being turned on. Followed by the sound of the shower, and Blaine frowns, he'd been hoping for a kiss. But then the door clicks open again and Kurt comes back out to his bedroom, wiping his mouth with a towel. Blaine meets his eyes, enchanted. The kiss tastes of mint toothpaste, but it still makes Blaine's knees weak. When he pulls away his eyes lull, his head sways and Kurt swoons.

"That's what I dream about, cutie." Kurt says, "I won't be too long," Blaine nods, dazed and Kurt leans in for a quick sweet peck before the bathroom door closes behind him.

3.07

Santana is pissed because of Finn's big mouth, that's really all Kurt and Blaine have gotten out of the rant she's been on for what seems like half the hour. They are sitting in the choir room waiting for Schue to show, hands together between two chairs, finalizing their plans for after school when Santana is suddenly in Kurt's face.

"What the hell is wrong with your giant loser of a brother?" She yells, looking like she wants to slap him.

"Do you want a list or..?" Kurt asks, annoyed at the interruption.

"Oh shut up, you don't get it," She shouted, throwing her hands up as she backed away from the group, drawing herself a circle at the head of the room.

"I don't get what it's like to be humiliated in these halls by some stupid jock?" Kurt asks poignantly, his eyebrows raised as if to dare her.

"Shut Up, Lady Hummel." Santana shoots back at him, "a slushie facial is nothing next to what he just did to me."

"What did he do Santana?" Rachel said in a placating voice, her eyes never leaving the sheet music in front of her.

"He announced my personal business in the middle of a crowded hallway," Santana's voice rose till it echoed around the small room, seething with anger.

"Finn wouldn't do that," Kurt insisted, his eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"He did though," Rory said from the doorway, looking wary. "She started it, but Finn totally called her out for being trapped in the closet. I was there. A bunch of people were there."

"I didn't start anything, I only told him that the blubber in his boobs would light Rachel's Hanukkah Menorah for eight magical days," Santana shrugged as though she didn't see any problem with this statement.

"And that he would spend the rest of his life riding on Rachel coat tails," Rory pointed out, taking a seat.

"Santana!" Rachel said, finally looking up, appalled.

"Oh please, I didn't tell him anything he didn't already know," Santana insisted, shooting Rachel a malevolent look.

"Well most everyone knows you're a lesbian by now, so he really didn't tell anyone..." Kurt began reasonably, eyeing her as though surprised by her reaction.

"Oh what would your little virgin ass know about it?" Santana interrupted, her voice spitting as though her words would harm Kurt's ego.

"My ass is not a virgin, Santana." Kurt blurted out evenly, annoyed at her presumption. Then he blushed deeply, realizing that his voice had somehow echoed over the rest.

The room went still and silent for a long moment as all eyes focused on the two of them. Rachel's jaw was hanging down to her collarbone, her eyes wide with shock. Mercedes is pointing between Kurt and Blaine as though working something out in her head. Artie and Sam are both gaping from the corner where they were hiding from Santana's wrath. Tina and Mike are staring at the pair, clearly impressed. Brittany was inexplicably bouncing in her seat, trying to remain silent through her clear excitement as Santana gawked with an almost insulting level of disbelief.

"Ya boy! Get some!" Puck shouted suddenly, hitting Blaine across the shoulder and the quiet broke. Then half the room were shouting a mix of approvals and questions that were lost in the gail.

"Oh my god, " Kurt whispers to Blaine still blushing deeply his as head fell to Blaine's shoulder. "I can't believe I said that."

"Nor can I," Blaine whispers, snaking an arm around Kurt's back to lean closer and whisper in his ear. "But it's true anyway."

"You would know," Kurt murmurs, his voice growing throaty and then he was kissing Blaine, ignoring the uproar around him. And from deep within Blaine's chest he feels his heart plummet further, his lungs tighten as he falls more in love with every shared breath.

"Excuse me, but as happy as I am for our resident butt boys getting their bump on, I thought we were talking about me!" Santana suddenly shouted again and then the room was laughing, Kurt and Blaine gripping each other though their amusement. In that moment Blaine felt that there was nothing to stop him from holding Kurt forever.