It had been three weeks since they made their deal, and while Blaine hadn't gotten Kurt into the studio yet, Kurt hadn't mentioned anything about the tattoo, either. If not for the new way Kurt would caress his skin, examining it almost as if he were memorizing each line and dip of his body, Blaine would have thought he had forgotten.

Blaine was afraid at first that Kurt would disappear again, but their meetings actually became more frequent than before. Almost every other day, Kurt would text Blaine asking to meet, now even offering to come to Blaine's place. He claimed to be sleeping better, and he did seem less guarded than before.

He talked more freely about the shop, telling Blaine stories about Baby, Elliott, and the piercer, Micah. He even talked about finding their new artist, Callie, who was moving to New York just to work in their shop. Blaine loved to hear the stories Kurt told about his clients and the pieces he was working on. Blaine finally felt able to open up more, himself. Talking about his own clients and even playing Kurt snippets of the songs he was working on.

It almost felt like a real relationship. Blaine would be lying if he said that wasn't what he really wanted. He longed to go out with Kurt, to take him on the town and share the city with him. He had to remind himself that that wasn't what they had. They weren't boyfriends, Kurt was very clear about that from the start. He had said that that was something he couldn't give Blaine. Even with this new openness, Blaine knew he couldn't ask. He knew that that line of questioning would only lead to heartbreak and having none of Kurt in his life. So he contented himself with the parts of Kurt he could have.

The sex was still mind-blowing. After six months the passion was still there, just as scorchingly hot as the first time they met. Kurt still found ways to make Blaine come undone like he never imagined before. Kurt just seemed to ooze this sexy confidence that Blaine couldn't resist, didn't want to resist. It didn't change the fact that when he was in bed at night alone with his thoughts Blaine couldn't help thinking, I'm going to be burned in the end.

It took a lot of planning for Blaine to have everything ready to bring Kurt to the recording studio. He spent his spare time, when he had no clients, to work recording and perfecting the background tracks he would need. He played the guitar himself, only enlisting the help from one of his coworkers to run the equipment as he recorded. It had been three weeks since their deal and finally he was ready to cash in Kurt's end.

They lay in Kurt's bed that night, happy and sated, still trying to catch their breath when Blaine asked, "What evening are you free next?"

"What do you mean?" Kurt laughed breathlessly. "Surely you aren't ready for more yet."

"I'm talking about our deal." Blaine said propping his chin on Kurt's chest and looking softly up at him. "I have everything ready, finally. I just need you in the studio for one night."

Kurt covered his eyes with one hand, "Are you sure that is the only way I can get you in my studio?"

Blaine kissed Kurt's chest, "You face your fears, and I will face mine."

"It's not my fears as much as..." Kurt paused, playing with the curls hanging over Blaine's forehead. "I used to want to perform. It was one of the things I lived for."

"And?" Blaine asked gently, wanting to understand.

"And I don't know if I am ready to face that again," Kurt admitted.

"Face what?"

Kurt sighed, sounding lost and broken. "Face that part of myself I let go when I graduated high school. I haven't sung in front of anyone since then."

Blaine sat up and looked down at Kurt, who was avoiding his eyes. "Hey, if you don't want to, you don't have to. I would never force you to do anything you are uncomfortable with. All I am asking is for you to trust me and try."

Kurt looked up at him seeming so tired. "Why is this so important to you?"

"Music is such a big part of my life and… I guess I wanted to share it with you." Blaine looked away until he felt a tug at his wrist.

"Come on lay down." Kurt mumbled. When Blaine was once again cuddled up next to him, Kurt whispered, "Can we do it when no one else is there?"

Blaine rubbed a soothing hand over Kurt's chest. "Of course, it just has to be you and me and Max, the late-night security guard. Don't worry he won't hear a thing he is five stories below the studio."

Kurt laughed, a surprising sound in the quiet of the apartment. "If it is after the shop closes I can make it any night next week. If not, I will see what I can do."

Four days later Kurt met Blaine in the lobby of the deserted studios. The security guard was pleasantly surprised when Kurt greeted him by name before signing him into the visitors log. Once in the elevator, Blaine could see the tension riding in Kurt's shoulders and the nervous twitch of his leg.

"Relax," he soothed. "It's just you and me, remember."

Kurt visibly swallowed before squaring his shoulders.

"I can do this," he muttered quietly.

Blaine led Kurt into the studio and gave him a quick tour, explaining all the equipment and what would be happening.

"Here are your headphones," he said when he showed him into the booth itself. "This is where you will hear the music, and I will also be able to talk to you through them. All you have to do is sing into the microphone. I'll do the rest."

Kurt nodded, taking the headphones from Blaine.

"Now, the first thing I need to do is set the levels. I'm just going to ask you to sing whatever you want for a little bit so I can make some initial adjustment. Then we will get started. Okay?" Blaine asked, watching Kurt closely.

"Okay." Kurt said quietly.

As Blaine went back to the control room, Kurt carefully placed the headphones on his head, watching Blaine the whole time. When Blaine told Kurt to sing he had to hold back his laughter at what he heard.

"Blaine is making me do this, I feel like an idiot," Kurt sang with a smirk on his face. "I don't know why I wanted to do this professionally, this is not glamorous."

"Okay, Kurt," Blaine chuckled through his own microphone. "I have want I need. Thank you."

"You didn't like my song?" He teased.

"It was lovely," Blaine teased back. "Now you'll hear the accompaniment through your headphones. Just sing like you are in the shower. Pretend I'm not here."

"Like that is easy," Kurt mumbled.

Blaine began the music, hit record, and waited for Kurt to come in. The first take was technically perfect but stiff. He had Kurt sing it again and again. Each take was marginally better than the last, but was nothing like what he had heard in the shower so many weeks ago.

He could tell Kurt was getting frustrated, honestly Blaine was, too. "Kurt," Blaine finally said, "I need you to feel the song. Remember this is a song about taking a bad situation and making it better. About overcoming obstacles. Feel the song. Just close your eyes and feel it."

Blaine began the accompaniment again and watched as Kurt closed his eyes. His face relaxed and when he opened his mouth, Blaine heard what he knew was there all along. Kurt's voice rose and fell with such longing and wistfulness, it made the breath catch in Blaine's chest. Kurt's eyes remained closed as he sang. Blaine didn't interrupt, he just listened and marveled at the man on the other side of the glass. When the song ended, he waited a few moments before hitting the intercom button.

"That, that was perfect Kurt." Blaine sighed, "Can you, can you do it again, just like that a couple of more times? I just want to make sure I have enough takes to work with."

Kurt opened his eyes and blinked at him a few times before answering, "Um, yea, I think so, just give me a minute."

After two more times through, Blaine felt he had what he needed. "That was great. Just hang the headphones on the mic stand and you can come in here. I just need to download the files to my laptop," Blaine said.

Kurt sheepishly walked through the door, but didn't enter any further into the control room.

"Hey, come here," Blaine said when he noticed him standing off to the side. Once he was close enough, Blaine grabbed his hand and pulled him into a kiss. "You were fantastic."

"We did what ten takes? That has to be the worst anyone has ever done." Kurt said morosely.

Blaine soothed his hand down Kurt's back, "Hey, did you ever hear that Mercedes Jones song, 'Love is in the Air'?"

Kurt gave him a strange look before nodding.

"That was one of the first sessions I sat in on. Do you know how long we spent recording just her parts for that song?

Kurt just shook his head.

"Two days. She stood in front of that very microphone, a Grammy-winning performer, and recorded the same song for two days before we got what we needed. It was a total of like, 8 hours. And you were perfect in just over one. Don't sell yourself short, Kurt."

Kurt smiled, "You never told me that you know Mercedes Jones."

Blaine shrugged his shoulders, "I mean I have worked with her a bit. I haven't gotten to edit any of her stuff, I'm not senior enough for that."

"I guess it's fair," Kurt said biting his lip, "I never told you I knew her, too."

"What?" Blaine barked a laugh, "How?"

"We went to high school together. We were friends, but lost touch once we graduated. By the time she became famous, well, it had been too long. I didn't want her to think that was the only reason I contacted her." Kurt said, running his finger over the counter.

Blaine grabbed that hand bringing it to his mouth for a kiss. "Well, if I ever see her I will give her your number, okay."

"That would be nice." Kurt smiled.

"Ok, it looks like the files are done, what do you say we get out of here?" Blaine asked packing his things away.

"Let's, let's go to your place," Kurt breathed.

There was an intensity about Kurt that night that Blaine had never experienced before. His focus on Blaine was acute and frenetic. He seemed to lose himself as he explored and claimed Blaine's body, as if it were something entirely new he had never seen before. Blaine felt seen in a way he never had been before by Kurt and spent with such completeness he didn't have the brain power to wonder why. He just clung to Kurt as he drifted off into a sated, blissful sleep.

When Blaine wasn't working or with Kurt, he spent all his free time mixing tracks. He loved trying to find the perfect combination to create the perfect song. He spent hours listening to each line, wanting to do his best, for Kurt. He even returned to the studio to get the final piece he needed.

He was so excited to share it with Kurt when he was finished, he didn't text, he called, begging for Kurt to meet that night. It wasn't until after he hung up the phone that he realized that they had never actually spoken on the phone before.

Kurt seemed concerned when Blaine let him into the apartment that night.

"Everything okay?" he asked after greeting him with a quick kiss.

Blaine couldn't help but smile, "Everything's great. I finished your song."

"Oh, God, " Kurt blanched.

Blaine faltered for a moment. "I worked really hard on it."

"No, it's not about you. I'm sure you did a wonderful job on it, I'm just not sure if I am ready to hear myself." Kurt soothed.

"Just, just close your eyes and listen. Don't think, just listen."

Kurt nodded and stood in the middle of Blaine's apartment, his eyes closed, breathing slowly and deeply. Blaine hit play and watched Kurt's face as the guitar began to play. It took a moment after the vocals began before a small smile turned up the corner of Kurt's mouth. When Blaine's voice joined Kurt's on the final chorus, just in the background, supporting and rounding out the sound, Kurt's hand covered his mouth and a soft intake of breath.

The song over, Kurt opened his eyes. "Was that you?" He asked.

"You sounded so beautiful, but it just needed another level. I hope that's okay." Blaine tried to explain.

"You really are good at what you do." Kurt said stalking towards him and wrapping an arm around his waist.

Blaine ducked his head, "Well, I had great material to work with."

"And so do I," Kurt cooed, using his other hand to slowly unbutton Blaine's shirt and placing a kiss on each section of skin exposed.

Blaine's contented sigh was cut short as his meaning became clear. "Oh." was all Blaine could think of to say as his brain began to short circuit not from lust but from fear.

Kurt stilled his movement and looked at Blaine with such soft concern Blaine had to look away.

"If you don't want to do it, I'm not going to make you." Kurt said softly.

Blaine shook his head, "No, our deal..."

Kurt's hand cupped Blaine's cheek.

"A deal is no reason to get a tattoo. Not if you don't really want one. In fact, I won't tattoo you unless you tell me you want it. This is something that you are going to have to live with the rest of your life. And as much as I want to have my art on your body, I would never do anything you weren't one hundred percent on board with."

Blaine wasn't sure how to explain it to Kurt. He closed his eyes trying to focus his thoughts. "It's not that I don't want it. I just... I don't know if I can. I don't want to make a fool out of myself. I don't want you to think less of me."

"Blaine, I have been doing this for a long time. Do you think I haven't had clients that are terrified of needles? We can't help what we are afraid of, but we can face those fears. I was horrified at the idea of singing in front on you. I really felt like I was going to throw up. But you know what? When we started, I realized that it wasn't as bad as I thought," Kurt told him, stroking his cheek lightly.

"Does it hurt?" Blaine whimpered.

"It depends, mostly on where. Some places hurt more than others. I have been told I am pretty light-handed when I tattoo, so that should help. It also depends on your body; some people handle pain better than others. But after a while your body knows how to handle the pain. There is a reason people get more than one tattoo. The adrenaline rush... it can be addicting." Kurt said.

"Do you know where?" Blaine asked.

"I was wanting right here," He said touching the spot right over Blaine's heart.

"And where does this fall on the pain scale?"

Kurt looked at him apologetically.

"It isn't the worst place, but there are better. It's just… the idea I have, it makes the most sense there. I can change it if you want to."

Blaine was intrigued. "What is your idea?"

"Music, and how it comes from your soul. It just is you. It comes from here," Kurt said touch that spot above his heart again.

"Okay," Blaine whispered.

"It will make more sense when you can see it. I don't have my sketch with me but…" Kurt continued.

"I said okay," Blaine repeated louder.

"Okay?" Kurt asked. "Are you sure?"

Blaine didn't have to think anymore, hearing Kurt speak like he could see into his very soul, decided it for him. He was still terrified he was going to make an utter fool of himself, but he had to see what Kurt saw in him.

"I'm sure," he said before kissing him soundly and ending the conversation.

Blaine lost himself in Kurt, as Kurt stripped him bare and worshipped his body. Never before had he felt so cherished as when Kurt undid him with such care.

The next morning, Blaine awoke, to Kurt shuffling around the room, already fully dressed.

"Where are you going?" He asked groggily.

Kurt sat gingerly on the side of the bed and carded his hand through Blaine's hair, "I have to go into the shop early. I have a consult. Mondays are by appointment only now, and I wanted to get it over with so I could get some things done today."

"What time is it?"

Kurt looked up at the clock before answering, "9:45. My appointment is at 11. What are you doing next Monday?"

Blaine mentally went through his schedule. "I'm free all day, why?"

"Because, if you are serious, you are my only appointment all day."

Blaine swallowed hard, "The tattoo?"

"If you were serious. I should have everything perfect by then." Kurt said running his fingers again through Blaine's curls.

"Then I am all yours." Blaine said trying to ease his own nerves again.

He would have loved to have spent the interim before his appointment, with Kurt to keep him from focusing on the parts that he feared the most, but that wasn't in the cards. He hurried home, Tuesday night, wanting to shower before Kurt arrived. However, instead of finding the apartment empty like he expected, someone was dozing on his couch.

"Cooper?" Blaine asked throwing his bag down beside his brother waking him. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Hey, squirt!" Cooper exclaimed, jumping up and bringing Blaine into a hug.

Blaine didn't return the gesture just repeated himself, his voice flat, "What are you doing here?"

"What can't a brother come for a visit?" Cooper asked feigning innocence.

"One. You live in LA. It is customary when you visit a relative across country, you call and give them notice. Two. I haven't seen you since the Christmas before I graduated college. Three, what are you doing in my apartment? You don't even have a key."

Blaine was not amused. To say they didn't have the best of relationships would be an understatement. They didn't really have a relationship at all.

Cooper just shrugged his shoulders, "I just told your landlady I was your brother and you had accidentally locked me out of the apartment when you left this morning. She believed me; I do have an honest face."

"Okay, I guess I need to have a talk with Mrs. Wojak. But why are you here?"

"I have an audition, I thought why pay for a hotel room when I could hang out with my brother for a week," Cooper said like he was giving Blaine the best present in the world.

"No, you can't just show up to my apartment after ignoring me for the better part of 3 years and expect to stay with me for free." Blaine yelled. "That is what hotels are for."

"Squirt…" Cooper tried.

"Don't 'Squirt' me," Blaine growled. "God, what makes you think that this is okay?"

"I'm your brother." Cooper looked at him with sad eyes, but Blaine's ire would not be so easily tamed.

"You are my brother who stood by while Dad did everything he could to 'straighten me out'; who barely has spoken to me since I graduated high school; who, when our parents cut me off when they found out my engineering degree was in sound, didn't so much as text to see if I was okay. So excuse me if I don't feel the need to save you a few hundred dollars on a hotel room."

Blaine paced away in frustration, he couldn't look at his brother.

"Blaine," Cooper began sounding so small, "I'm sorry I wasn't the kind of brother you needed. I should have done more to protect you from Dad, but I didn't know how. I didn't even know that they cut you off until that Christmas when I asked where you were. Mom started crying, and Dad started yelling, but by then it had been months. I didn't think you would want to hear from me, it had been so long."

Blaine rolled his eyes, "Yes because knowing I might have one family member in my corner would have sucked so bad."

"I've been a shitty brother," Cooper admitted. "And I will go, but can I at least spend one night. I don't want to have to find a hotel at almost midnight."

"Shit," Blaine exclaimed, "Fine, stay. I just have to cancel my plans."

He pulled out his phone and sent a text to Kurt.

Change of plans, I can't meet tonight. My brother was in my apartment when I got home :(

"What kind of plans do you have at this hour?" Cooper asked.

Blaine was only half paying attention to him as he waited for Kurt to reply. "We don't have the most conventional of schedules, we meet when we can."

Damn! I was looking forward to it. But what a nice surprise! How long is he here for?

You don't know Cooper. Nice surprise is an exaggeration. I don't know... too long.

"You meet?" Cooper asked.

"Really none of your business."

Wow, I'm sorry. Not a great relationship then?

Don't worry about it, it isn't your fault. I have a crappy family.

"I'm trying here, Blaine. Can you at least meet me halfway?"

Blaine sighed and looked up at Cooper. "Just let me finish this. And then I guess we can talk."

He waited for Kurt to reply, feeling his brother's eyes on him the entire time.

I'm still sorry. I guess just let me know when you can meet. Are we still on for Monday, do you think?

Thank you. I will text when I can. Monday for sure, hopefully before then.

Blaine pocketed his phone and turned to his brother. He wasn't sure what to say to him. Cooper never had made a habit to actually listen to him, so Blaine wasn't sure how to talk to his brother.

"So, boyfriend?" Cooper asked.

And of course the first question had to be one Blaine wasn't sure how to answer.

"Not a boyfriend," was the evasive answer Blaine tried.

"So a friend?" Cooper proded.

"He's a guy, I've been… seeing… I don't know, it's a thing."

"A thing?" Cooper laughed, " What does that mean?"

Blaine rolled his eyes, "You're an adult. I'm sure you can figure it out."

"Wait, so it's a sex thing?" Cooper looked shocked.

"Coop, I am almost 25 years old. I am old enough for a sex… thing," Blaine said, sitting down on the couch, avoiding his brothers eyes.

Cooper sat beside him, "It's not that I don't think you are old enough for sex, but I didn't think it was your style is all. You don't do 'no strings attached.' You weave tapestries."

"What does that even mean?"

"I mean, you took all those rom-coms and Disney movies to heart. You see a happy ending in the simplest of interactions," Cooper said.

"I do not," Blaine said defensively. "And how the hell would you know anyway?"

"Two words. Gap Attack." Cooper teased.

"Oh my god, how the hell do you even know about that?!" Blaine grumbled.

Cooper laughed, "Mom. She said you were so mortified you didn't leave your room for a week."

"I was 16. Don't all 16 year olds do stupid things when they think they are in love?" Blaine groused.

"That isn't the only time Mom told me about, just the funniest," Cooper teased before turning serious. "I just… this doesn't seem like you. How long has this been going on?"

Blaine thought back. He hadn't been counting the time since meeting Kurt. They had met in January, it was now September. "About 9 months." Blaine finally said.

"That is an awfully long thing," Cooper said before laughing and looking at Blaine expectantly.

"That's what he said," Blaine dutifully replied. They both broke into giggles like little kids.

When the tittering died down, Cooper leveled him with a serious look again. "But really, that is longer than these things normally last, for me anyway."

Blaine just shrugged.

"Well, tell me about him." Cooper urged.

"Well, he is about your age, I guess." Blaine began.

"You guess?"

Blaine sighed in exasperation, "It's not like he filled out a resume with his date of birth. We met at a bar, and now we just meet whenever we want to. We talk, the sex is great. It… it's less complicated."

"Are you happy?' Cooper eyed him.

Blaine took a deep breath, thinking.

"I am," he said before admitting, "Sometimes, I wish it was more, but for now, it makes me happy."

"That doesn't sound less complicated," Cooper pointed out.

"So how is your love life?" Blaine deflected. It was too late to think about such things.

Blaine ended up letting Cooper stay the rest of the week. He hated not getting to see Kurt, but he had to admit it was nice getting to know his brother again. They talked more than they ever had growing up. Cooper kept trying to steer the conversations back to Kurt, but Blaine didn't want to dwell on the subject. He was having a hard enough time trying to sort out all his feeling without Cooper's interference. By the time Sunday night arrived, Blaine felt he almost had a friend in his brother. He would not, however, be sad to see him go the next morning. He yearned for the simplicity of his normal routine, work, sleep, and Kurt.