Day 11: Kinship/Charity

Kurt leaned across the vanity table to check his hair in the mirror one last time. He was deeply regretting his decision to comply with Rachel's request to help with her latest charity cause. As he nervously fidgeted with one lock of hair that would not submit to his will, he heard a voice close by.

"I cannot believe I let Cooper talk me into this," the voice grumbled, as if to himself.

Kurt looked up in the mirror and spotted the source of the voice – and what a handsome source it was.

"I take it you were suckered into this, too?" Kurt commented, turning around and smirking.

The other man started, clearly having been lost in his own thoughts. "Oh, geez. Did I say that out loud?" he asked sheepishly.

Kurt chuckled. "Kinda. I'm Kurt," he introduced, extending his right hand. "Bachelor number 7."

"My name's Blaine," Blaine replied, taking Kurt's hand firmly in his own. "Bachelor number 12."

"My, my, the closer!"

Blaine sighed. "That's what happens when your brother is the co-chair of the event. That also, apparently, means that you have to sell yourself like a piece of meat to a hungry mob for a good cause," he added.

"Oh, you're Cooper Anderson's brother!" Kurt exclaimed. Blaine's wince didn't go unnoticed, and Kurt instantly dialed it back. He perched on the edge of the vanity table. "I knew I felt a kinship with you," Kurt said. "My best friend, and the evil mastermind who is responsible for me being here, is Broadway diva Rachel Berry, your brother's co-chair."

The two had time to get to know one another as Bachelors 1 through 6 took the stage. All too soon, a woman with a clipboard poked her head through the door of the dressing room. "Bachelor 7, you're up!" she barked, disappearing as quickly as she'd arrived.

"Good luck," Blaine offered, touching Kurt lightly on the arm. A moment passed between them, then Kurt took a deep breath and strode out the door, head held high. As soon as Kurt left, Cooper entered through a door on the other side of the room.

"Hey, Squirt! Is my baby brother all…"

"Cooper!" Blaine interrupted, nearly knocking over his brother as he rushed towards him. "You know how you said you owed me for doing this?" he asked in a rush.

"Um, yeah," Cooper answered, confused.

Blaine grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around, shoving him towards the door. "Well, payback starts now. Bachelor 7. Kurt Hummel. Buy him for me," Blaine demanded.

"What?" Cooper blurted, stumbling as Blaine kept pushing him forward.

"Hurry! You go out there right now and BUY HIM!" Blaine ordered.

"All right, all right," Cooper complained, shaking free of Blaine's hold and straightening his jacket.

"NOW!" Blaine yelled.

He watched Cooper head out to the main floor, then flopped onto a couch in the dressing room. After being auctioned off, the bachelors didn't return to this area, being free to join the party and mingle with the guests, instead.

Blaine was again lost in his own thoughts when the clipboard-wielding woman returned and called his number. Honestly, the least she could have done was called him by name, Blaine thought with a shake of his head.

Several minutes and a very heated bidding war later, Blaine heard the auctioneer bang her gavel and holler, "Sold! To our very own co-chair, Miss Rachel Berry!"

Rachel approached the stage amid applause, waving as she went. Blaine met her at the stairs, offering his arm like the gentleman he was raised to be, and escorting her to the table where winning bidders gave their financial information.

"I'm honored, Miss Berry. I'm such a fan," Blaine complimented her.

"Well, don't get too excited," she responded with a wink. Before Blaine could inquire as to her meaning, she slipped her cell phone out of her purse and pulled up her text messages, showing Blaine the screen.

KURT: Buy #12 for me.

RACHEL: What? Why?

KURT: Do not question me, Rachel. Just win me that man! You do NOT want to know what is going to happen if you don't.

They reached the table, where Cooper and Kurt were waiting for them. Cooper looked very proud of himself, grinning broadly. Kurt had eyes only for Blaine.

"Kurt, I believe this belongs to you," Rachel teased, gesturing towards Blaine, who blushed beside her.

"And Squ – I mean, Blaine," Cooper caught himself when Blaine glared at him, "I think I have something of yours, as well." Cooper gave Kurt a light push from behind in Blaine's direction.

Without any hesitation, Blaine took Kurt by the hand. "Shall we?" he proposed.

Kurt simply nodded and bit his lower lip in reply, suddenly shy.

They strolled backstage, away from the main ballroom, leaving Cooper and Rachel to settle up with the cashier. They each brought out their credit cards and handed them over.

"At least it's for a good cause," Rachel noted as she signed a receipt.

Cooper glanced over her head to the backstage area where Blaine and Kurt had disappeared behind a curtain. "Yeah, and it raises some money for charity, too," he murmured, smiling warmly.

A/N: I love AU first meetings!