A/N: So, I made a mistake… and that mistake was re-reading Dalton again and falling down into "Warblerland" with our "Alice". That still stands as my FAVORITE fic that I've ever read and every time I pick up new details and such that I missed the previous times. I was only 12 when it was published and now in my 20's, it speaks to me in different ways every time I read it and I can't tear myself away. So, I've launched myself into a Klaine spiral and there will be a few chapters and other fics coming that were born of that spiral. On with the chapter!

Song: Bad AT Love: Halsey

Lyrics: "You know, I'm bad at love. But, can't blame me for trying."

Summary: "It was real, right? What we had? That was real to you too?" The questions were whispered so quietly that Kurt almost didn't hear them. He chanced a look up at Blaine's face and all he could see was pain. "I'm sorry if I pushed you too hard too fast. But, I did—I DO—love you…" Kurt felt this heartbreaking in his chest all over again at the other man's confession. Why couldn't he just be out of this damn elevator already?

Rating: T- Mentions of sexual situations and relationship problems. Set in Season 6 the Hurt Locker, both parts 1 & 2. More of an exploration into Klaine being stuck in the elevator. Also, can we take a moment… because that Sue Sylvester doll STILL gives me nightmares 5 years later.

As the sun set and then rose over another day at William McKinley High School the morning started normally. Students congregated in the hallways clutching coffee cups and laptops closely as they rushed to their first period classes. Faculty members grumbled about not having enough time to grade papers or dealing with unruly students due to it being a Friday afternoon. No one even blinked an eye at the newly constructed elevator with a large "out of order" sign slapped haphazardly onto it.

From inside that elevator (well fake elevator, but no one knew that bit of information) Blaine Anderson was blinking the tiredness from his eyes as he shifted uncomfortably. "Right," he muttered to himself as his eyes shift around. "Stuck in an elevator." As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting he became aware of movement to his right. He looked down, sucking in a breath as Kurt cuddled closer to him in search of his warmth. Blaine sighed before squirming away uncomfortably. He still loved Kurt, he did. But, he knew that Kurt didn't feel the same way anymore. As he stared at the taller man's sleeping form he sighed to himself. He was finally starting to get over it all when Kurt had just decided to come, guns blazing, back into Lima. Why couldn't he had just stayed in New York? Blaine had ruined his own life because he had been too depressed to do anything after the engagement broke months ago. He was right back in the place he said he never wanted to set foot in again. How dare Kurt just come back like this. Right when he was finally starting to feel human again like he could actually make something of his life.

For the last 4 years, Blaine's life had been all about Kurt and not about himself. He hand's really known who he was since his Dalton days. When Kurt had come into his life he wanted nothing more than to make that shy insecure boy happy. Now, he realized his mistake. It was why he had cheated in his senior year, it was why he had to move out their first semester in New York, and it was why he had been so depressed when Kurt had broken their engagement… Blaine didn't know who he was. His entire personality was being Kurt's partner and he never had time to explore himself. If Kurt pulled away even slightly Blaine became lost in a too-big world. Now that he was finally forcing himself out of his comfort zone and into an exploratory stage, he was starting to feel important to himself again. He felt sick knowing that all it took was Kurt coming back for a semester to destroy any personal progress he had made.

He also knew that if he let himself get too close again he would ultimately hurt Dave, the man who helped him out of his haze of self-deprecation and depression. Dave was kind and compassionate and helpful. He had been there when no one else would and he couldn't hurt him. He didn't want to be that person again. He didn't want to be the person leading someone on, cheating on someone, not invested in his relationship. He knew who he was now and he had vowed to never get so lost again that he hurt someone else in an unspeakable way. He had done it to Kurt once, and now that he knew why, he was never going to get to that point again. So, it simply wasn't fair that Kurt was here and sitting almost in Blaine's lap. Because Kurt could make him into his old self again, and he's easily let it happen. That's just how it worked like Kurt had permanently taken up a spot in his soul that couldn't be filled by anyone else. It was a truly terrifying notion, especially if he and Kurt were just not destined to be together forever. To have someone take up that much space in the very fabric of his existence was a heavy thought.

"You're awake." Blaine was brought out of his self-reflection by the soft voice coming from the floor.

"Yea..."

"How long?" Kurt shifted, struggling to try and sit up against the wall and lift his body off of the hard cement floor.

"I've only been up for about 15 minutes or so... I think." Blaine paused and let his fingers trails over the phone in his pocket. It had been dead for hours, now a useless brick of plastic and circuits weighing him down. "There isn't exactly a clock or anything. I think its morning though, I keep counting the bells and I can hear students.

"Maybe they can help us!" Kurt was on his feet quickly and banging on the door, attempting to pry it open with his bare hands. Blaine only sighed knowing how hard he had tried that exact thing the night before with no success.

"Kurt, I already tried that yesterday."

"Well, maybe I want to actually try for myself!" Kurt yelled before whirling around and plopping himself back down on the floor as far away from his ex-fiancé as possible.

Silence engulfed them easily; it was something the two of them had always been comfortable with. When Blaine reflected on their relationship he would remember all of the times he didn't talk or the times he tried and was shrugged off. When Kurt reflected he would remember all of the times he built up walls he wouldn't let the other man through and how he enjoyed the silence and just not talking about the hard things. In the end, both men knew that had been the reason their relationship had fallen apart. Silence was comfortable, silence was usual, and silence meant they didn't communicate. This type of silence was different, however. It wasn't comfortable. They both simply sat, trying to avoid eye contact with the other. The tension in the air was heavy with unsaid words, confessions, and apologies that neither were ready or willing to utter aloud.

Finally, it was Blaine who couldn't take it anymore and just had to speak. He had to know otherwise it would eat him away inside until there was nothing left but the shell of a man. "It was real, right? What we had? That was real to you too?" The questions were whispered so quietly that Kurt almost didn't hear them. He chanced a look up at Blaine's face and all he could see was pain. "I'm sorry if I pushed you too hard too fast. But, I did—I DO—love you…"

Kurt felt this heartbreaking in his chest all over again at the other man's whispered confession. Everything was suddenly too hot and too close. The elevator felt smaller than it was and the walls were closing in on him, pushing him closer to Blaine and why couldn't he just be out of this damn elevator already? He had come back to Lima to get Blaine back, but he needed it to be on his terms. He needed time to heal, re-create himself, and find the answers to the difficult questions.

As it stood he still didn't know WHY he broke up with Blaine in the first place. It was a rushed decision based on his own insecurities and a lack of proper communication. He just wasn't ready for a conversation like this. Yet here he was trapped in an elevator with puppy dog eyes looking up at him longing and waiting for an answer. "God, Blaine, is that even a question?" The words were out of his mouth before he could even think about what he was saying. "I've always loved you and I probably always will. I fucked up, okay? And now you have someone else and you're happy, but you need to believe me." He took a step closer to the curly-haired man across from him and met his gaze. "It was real. All of it was real. You were the first person I ever truly loved, Blaine. I couldn't lie about that."

"Did you—" Blaine paused for a moment trying to properly form the question that had haunted him for months. "Did you love me when you agreed to marry me?"

"I've never stopped loving you."

In one swift move, Blaine was suddenly throwing himself into Kurt's arm, sobs wracking his body. Kurt held him until he cried himself out, laying him down on the hard ground and using his own jacket as a pillow.

As Kurt watched Blaine sleep fitfully a sense a peace suddenly settled in his stomach. It was like he just knew they were going to be okay. When Blaine woke up they'd find a way out of this situation and then they'd work on repairing their relationship. Kurt knew that no matter who they each dated, no matter how much they tried to ignore it… they were made for each other. Like puzzle pieces, Kurt and Blaine fit together perfectly and in the end, they'd be together. Kurt just knew it.

A/N: The Hurt Locker always made me feel uneasy. Like, it was kind of funny and I know it was meant to be used as a plot device yet also make fun of the intense fan girls at the same time… but I felt there was SO much more they could have done. So, this was just me trying to fill in the time gaps we didn't get to see. I know it's short but it's what I've got. Expect some more chapters soon.