Author's Note:
I'm dedicating this to the lovely hkvoyage, my best friend in the Klaine fandom and all-round wonderful person, as a birthday gift Enjoy, sweetie, and the happiest of birthdays to you!
"I just don't understand why you wanted to come all the way here for coffee," Cooper complained as Blaine held open the door for him, his voice carrying through the whole coffee shop.
Blaine ducked his head in shame and rued his decision to come to the Lima Bean today. He should have known Cooper would want to tag along. And ruin everything. Ugh.
"I mean, there are so many coffee shops in Westerville and around it," Cooper continued. "There must be one that's decent?"
"Cooper, shut up!" Blaine hissed.
Cooper raised his eyebrows at Blaine, and seemed about to tell him off, but then he noticed something that thankfully shut him up.
"Oh, now I see why you wanted to come here," Cooper whispered, still too loud. "For the eye candy!"
Blaine jabbed him with his elbow. "Shut up!"
He looked at the counter, and saw to his relief that the barista hadn't heard them. He had his back to them – oh, what a drool-worthy sight! – and was stocking the pastry case, and… singing? Oh wow, yes, he was singing! In a high, clear voice, that entranced Blaine straightaway.
"Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes"
"Turn around, bright eyes," Cooper chimed in, and the barista whirled around in shock.
Blaine cringed and hissed, "Cooper!"
"What? I need my coffee fix! A white mocha, please."
After a split second of silence, the barista grinned at the two of them. "Coming right up. And a medium drip for you?"
Blaine's mouth fell open. "You know my coffee order?"
The barista winked at him, turned around and resumed singing.
When he was nearly at the chorus again, Cooper nudged Blaine. "Your turn now."
"What? Coop, I'm not… You can't just…"
"Oh, come on! He liked it when I sang my part!"
Cooper sidled a bit closer and whispered in Blaine's ear. "Go on, sing with him, and slip him your phone number after."
"Coop!"
"Oh! That's your cue! Sing!"
"Turn around, bright eyes," Blaine sang hesitantly, and yes, the barista whipped his head around and beamed at him.
By the time they'd finished the song together, Cooper had already paid for both drinks and was sitting at a table, watching them with a humongous grin and sipping his mocha.
"You have an amazing singing voice," Blaine said.
The barista winked again. "Right back atcha, gorgeous. You and your… friend?... are great singers, too."
"He's my brother!" Cooper enlightened him. "And he's single, and totally into you. We drove two hours just to come and have a coffee here, that should tell you enough."
Blaine wanted to sink through the floor. Now he would never be able to come back here. Why did Cooper always ruin EVERYTHING?
"Hey…" said a low voice, and he felt a hand over his for a second. He looked up slowly, right into those blue-green eyes that had captured his heart from the moment he first saw them.
"I like you too," the barista admitted. "You're the best part of my day. Cute, and dapper, and so polite. And a good singer, too."
Blaine saw Cooper miming "Phone number", and rolled his eyes.
The barista giggled. "Is he always…?"
"This over-the-top? Yes. Lacking boundaries? Yes. Embarrassing me? Yes. He's… Well, he's Cooper."
"And your name is?" the barista asked.
"Blaine," said Blaine, and he held his hand out.
"Kurt," said the barista, and shook Blaine's hand.
"Would you… Would you go out with me sometime, Kurt?" Blaine asked.
Kurt smiled. "I'd love to."
"Take him to Rent, squirt," Cooper boomed. "I'd much rather go see Captain Marvel anyway."
Blaine whipped his head around. "But… But I got you those tickets for Christmas!"
Cooper shrugged. "So they're mine now, and I get to do with them whatever makes me happy. And hey, helping my brother impress his date by taking him to Rent makes me happy. Here you go!"
Cooper handed him the tickets, with a broad grin.
Blaine stared at them for a moment.
"I like Rent," Kurt piped up. "So when and where do we meet?"
Blaine looked up. Kurt was grinning widely, too.
"It's… It's tonight, actually. At eight. At the Westerville Theatre."
Kurt nodded. "So we meet outside, at about a quarter to eight?"
"Perfect!" Cooper boomed, clapping Blaine on the shoulder. "Blaine will be there."
Kurt smiled at Blaine. "Can't wait! Oh, and here's your medium drip."
Blaine took his coffee, waved at Kurt and followed his brother out of the Lima Bean.
"You have no game at all, squirt!" Cooper told him, once they were on the road again. "Thank heavens I was there to take matters in hand. You owe me so bad."
"Don't call me squirt," Blaine snapped at him.
"Hey, don't be mean! I got you a date with the boy of your dreams!" Cooper wiggled his eyebrows. "So the least you can do is say thank you."
Blaine sighed. "Thanks, I guess."
Cooper beamed and started to sing. "Hey, it's okay, you're welcome… For the sun, the sea, the sky. Hey, it's okay, you're welcome…"
Blaine groaned and sank deeper into his seat.
"Oh, come on, you know you want to sing along…" Cooper wheedled.
Blaine looked at the tickets he was still holding, and thought of Kurt smiling at him and agreeing to a date. His stomach fluttered, and the corners of his mouth ticked up, and before he knew it, he was singing along. "Hey, it's okay, you're welcome…"