Blaine grimaced and sniffled as he hobbled up, pulling his pajamas up in a futile attempt to regain a little dignity. It was always hard at a time like this to focus on anything but the lingering sting across his backside. Kurt always makes his point.
Kurt stood and looked him over.
"Learn your lesson?" he asked quietly.
"Yes, sir," came a quiet watery reply.
Sympathetic, Kurt wiped at his fiancé's tears before putting his arms around him.
"I'll do better," Blaine whispered into his ear.
"I know," Kurt assured, rubbing his back. "You just needed a reminder."
Blaine pulled back, shy, but gave a little nod. He hoped such reminders might not be needed for awhile again. Kurt offered him a chaste kiss, which Blaine breathed in gratefully. Kurt glanced in the direction of the curtain the other side of which Rachel was surely still sitting.
"Maybe we can continue studying in here tonight?" he offered, knowing Blaine would probably not be in any hurry to face Rachel right now. "I just want to run through my flash cards a couple more times before bed. But don't let me stay up too late, I'll do better if I'm fresh tomorrow."
Blaine nodded, grateful. Of course he knew Rachel would never purposely embarrass him about this, but not having to navigate extra attention was a nice reprieve. Getting his hide tanned had a way of making him feel small in addition to sore, and somehow her knowing he'd been chastised amplified all of that. He wondered if she felt the same way when she got in trouble. Even after a few months of not being the only one, of sharing Kurt as a disciplinarian, it still was awkward thing between them that they avoided discussing too much.
Blaine watched as Kurt slipped through the curtains, taking the opportunity to absently rub his still-stinging backside. That soreness wouldn't linger too long, he knew—but that never stopped him from wanting to hurry it along. I'm forgiven. It's over. He resolved to try to be on top of his finances more, knowing trying to avoid getting disciplined like this again would likely help. Even if he couldn't imagine outsiders ever understanding (or ever wanting anyone else to know), he felt the discipline helped him. It would help with this as it had helped with other things in the past. It was worth it, even if he didn't think he would ever not find it embarrassing. He spread out on the bed, awkwardly trying to find a semi-comfortable position. He wondered if he was horrible person for crossing his fingers that next time it'd just be Rachel's turn.
On the other side of the curtain, Kurt was collecting his notes. Rachel feigned interest in her tablet but couldn't keep quiet long.
"Is he okay?" he whispered.
Kurt could have lectured her that they had already discussed her need to mind her own business about these things once tonight, but it struck him as sort of sweet that she was concerned.
"He's fine. Lesson learned," he dismissed with a shrug.
"I till can't believe he ran out of money. You sounded… uh, thorough."
"He expected nothing less. You know I don't go halfway when a punishment is earned." Kurt replied, pointed.
Rachel didn't reply. Obviously she knew that was true but didn't so much like to be reminded of it. They both knew it was likely only a matter of time before she got in trouble again herself. Kind of took the intrigue out of gossiping about Blaine's predicament. Kurt picked up his school materials.
"We're going to bed soon. Don't leave the light on when you're done here like last night. We don't need to be wasting electricity."
"…Yes sir."