A/N: I don't own Glee (Ryan Murphy and Fox do) or anything else you might recognize here, but use them here with love.
[Cue the Glee voiceover guy] Sue's plot to leave Kurt and Blaine alone at the restaurant worked like a charm – she even pumped Rachel for details on what to have Kurt sing for closing time. Rachel's been waiting impatiently for Kurt's return (maybe she wasn't really so sleepy after all), and wow, I hope they all get enough sleep for work tomorrow. So, that's what you missed!
"You're home! You're home, you're home, you're home!" Rachel danced around Kurt, grabbing both his arms. He raised an eyebrow at her and headed into their shared living room, undeterred in his bee-line for the couch.
"You do realize our other two apartment mates may be interested in sleeping?" he stage-whispered to her, indicating their closed doors.
"Oops! Sorry!" she mouthed back, then crowded into him on the couch. "But I just couldn't sleep! Tell me!" she insisted, and he wondered how she could sound so frantic and quiet at the same time.
"Fine! I mean, I know I have you – and Sue – to thank." He grinned at her evilly. "And the award for Most Obvious Set-Up goes to," he dropped his voice and paused, miming opening an envelope, "Miss Rachel Berry!"
"I couldn't have done it without my co-stars, Sue and Rob, but yes, I will accept this award on their behalfs, of course." She jabbed him in the ribs. "Very funny. But now, details!"
"We … we talked a lot. And I did sing Bring Him Home – a master stroke, madam puppetmaster," he waited as she inclined her head graciously, "and Rachel, they have the most awesome cheesecake there – wait! Did you tell him that's my favorite dessert?"
Rachel chuckled and cuddled into his side, enjoying his warmth in the chilly air-conditioned common room. "No. He managed that all on his own, scout's honor." Still in a quiet voice, she sang to him, "tell me more, tell me more!"
"I will, if only to stop that song. Besides, it wasn't even really a date!"
She crossed her arms. "You sure about that, babe? I mean, there was food, there was karaoke, you serenaded him -"
"I did not!"
"Whatevs. And there was cheesecake. And he drove you home." She swatted his arm. "But I think we're missing the obvious here. You're here an hour after closing time and Sue and Rob said the restaurant is only 15 minutes away. Oh, and his eyes? He looked like he was going to melt on the spot every time you smiled at him, not to mention the puppy eyes when you stole my solo together..."
"Which you totally told me to steal," he teased her back.
"I mean, he's a total cutie, and he's definitely into you." She scrutinized his face, her gaze then trailing down to his neck. "Is he a good kisser?"
"I hope so!" Kurt turned scarlet, thinking of how many times tonight he'd already thought of exactly this question.
"What? You mean to tell me there was no kissing!"
He narrowed his eyes and backed away a little, turning to fully face her. "Rachel, honestly. I mean, no, we didn't kiss, but I've had dates with lots more than that that didn't feel anywhere near as close as I felt to him. I mean, we talked! Nonstop, if we weren't eating or singing, that is, and, well, he did hold my hands a lot when we were together." He sighed. "And he hugged me when he walked me to the door – and I can tell you that his hugs are fantastic." He smiled a faraway smile, remembering all of Blaine's many touches, his different smiles, how animated (and adorably dorky) he could look when they talked about the things they loved. His eyes were shining when he returned to looking at his friend. "I mean, does it make sense to feel like there's not enough time in the world when I think about him, and at the same time maybe we have forever, that there's no need to rush?"
Now Rachel's eyes were shining with unshed tears, and he could guess why. "Babe, I get it." She launched herself into his arms, craning up to squeeze him tight, and he returned her embrace. "I think Sue may be right, and I am so happy for you." He heard her sniffle a little. "I mean, he's a sort of old-fashioned guy, according to her."
"And it's not like I'm some floozy," he giggled into her hair, patting her back before letting her go.
"We are not going to have a discussion on my early New York look again, babe."
"Babe? That's Fashionista, or Mr. Fashionista to you," he smiled, glad to have lightened the mood as they remembered the night at the loft when Santana, Britt, Artie, and Sam had been over and they'd had to give each other superhero personas (they would argue later as to whether it had been Artie's or Sam's idea, both of them claiming bragging rights). Kurt's Mr. Fashionista was part Tim Gunn and part inspired by The Mask (Sam's influence on that bit, for sure), and his superpower, they'd all agreed, was the power of instant make-overs: deadly (or deadly embarrassing) to his foes, and helpful (and occasionally tactical) to his allies. His suit had been a classic black tux with a sweeping black opera cloaklined in pearl grey satin, worn with a matching mask. An ebony cane with a silver handle was the only accessory he wore that he hadn't personally chosen (it was Artie's idea).
"Too bad we didn't have room in our luggage for our superhero costumes," Rachel sighed.
"Because after being in costume all day all we want to do is get back into costume?" he teased back.
She smiled at him and resumed her previous spot, curled against his side. "Okay, but you will tell me when he kisses you, right?"
"Totally. Pinky swear," he held up his hand to her.
"And those are totally binding," she reminded him, completing the gesture with him. He chuckled as she yawned hugely.
"Time for sleep?" he asked, stretching.
"Yah. You totally kept me from my beauty sleep," she quietly scolded him.
"I'm feeling very guilty," he answered, folding her into a hug. He bent down to kiss the top of her head and gave one last squeeze. "Bet I beat you to the coffee maker in the morning."
"Bet I let you do it," she said, over her shoulder as she walked over to her room.
He headed off to do the comforting ritual of his moisturizing regimen in his own room. He allowed himself to feel envy for just a moment: Rachel was a champion sleeper. Why hadn't they made that her superpower?
Blaine smiled, glad this time of the time difference as he waited for Wes to pick up.
"Blainers! What're you still doing awake? Don't you have innocent youth to corrupt in the Ways of the Mouse?"
He grinned as he tugged at his bow tie. "Ignoring that," he sassed back. "I've got something better than that to talk about. Do you remember the counter tenor New Directions had?"
"They had a counter tenor? I totally forgot," Wes dead panned. "Look, Blainers, it's getting late, even in Cali time. And the reason for this particular excursion down memory lane..." he trailed off.
"Kurt Hummel. His name is Kurt Hummel," Blaine repeated breathlessly. "And I've been singing with him half of the night!" He sighed. "And he's … amazing."
A/N: Sorry, I know this is sort of short, but I wanted to get back to updating more frequently (and not leave you hanging too long, dear readers).
Thank you all for reading and for your encouragement. As always, I love hearing from you, and hope to update in less than a week (I'm going away this weekend and so I don't want to make a promise I can't keep). Happy Friday, everyone!