WATC 5

Kurt feels a little silly that he hasn't realized it sooner. But it hits him like a ton of bricks.

The summer fashion show last year that Isabelle had attended (that Kurt could not because he had assignments to finish off and hand in under a strict deadline) is where she met and apparently liaised with Blaine Anderson.

Kurt realizes this during their main course of pan seared Salmon, when Blaine is telling him about the catwalk he ambushed, and that's when he was offered his current Dior for men contract. It figures.

Those billboard ads are to die for— But he's not about to tell Blaine that.

"So you and Isabelle met, you talked, how on earth did you get around to talking about me? You wouldn't have known that I worked with her—"

Blaine smiles at Kurt closed lipped as he chews his current mouthful and reaches for his water glass. Their booth is only lit by a single candle sconce hanging on the wall behind them and the shadows casting across Blaine's face highlights every facial expression he makes. His eyes are lit up and Kurt realizes that there is a subtle difference to the way Blaine looks tonight as opposed to the way he usually looks at movie premiers and TV interviews and others things of the like that he's obligated to attend.

Tonight he looks relaxed, unguarded…happy. Probably because he's getting what he wants—

"Well, I asked about her line of work. She asked me about my upbringing, where I graduated…it was a series of questions from both parties, really, that simply lead to one answer. Well an answer for me anyway. You." Blaine replies smoothly.

Blaine's smug grin returns, and Kurt is just dumbfounded. "Me? You really remembered some student who sung one song at a stupid college talent show months before? I was the first thing that came to your mind during your conversation with some stranger at a fashion show?"

"It's not stupid. I did one of those when I was a student there." Blaine looks a little affronted but Kurt finds it a little funny. "And yes, I already told you I was impressed by you… by all of you. You left a fine, ever-lasting print on my memory."

"I thought you don't go there with fans."

"Ah, but you weren't a fan—"

"You didn't know that—"

"But you're a fan now?"

"Don't change the subject."

They smile at each other, Blaine's a little more enthusiastic than Kurt's, and both reach for their wine glasses.

Kurt is surprised to find he's rather enjoying the taste of a crisp white Chianti; it bubbles across his tongue and mixes extremely well with the meal they're eating, which is of course outstanding.

"So, the whole thing was a set up?" Kurt says after a pause. "You got talking with Isabelle, realized she was my boss and that I was the guy from the talent thing and you two set up that whole Vogue meet and greet charade?"

I wasn't getting out of that no matter how hard I tried. The whole thing was created for me! Holy shit!

"Ta-da." Blaine sings, smiling immaculately. "Impressed?"

"Don't flatter yourself," Kurt replies bluntly, a bored looking expression on his face; though it doesn't deter Blaine, Kurt's not sure that there is anything that would ever be successful in deterring Blaine and taking him down a peg or two.

Kurt must admit that he actually is a little impressed with Isabelle's dedication to this whole thing. How did she pull it off? "What did Isabelle actually say to you about me that was the hook?" Kurt blurts out, though, not quite knowing if he actually wants to know the truth or not.

Blaine glances up at him from beneath his naturally long, curling lashes, all dark and feathered out. He raises his chin and neatly places his cutlery to the side of his plate, dabs at the corner of his mouth with a linen napkin.

"When I realized it was you as in the guy from the NYU mixer, I started asking more questions; aaannd Isabelle gave me a bunch of interesting answers." His eyes are twinkling.

Kurt does his best not to huff out a frustrated groan. Blaine just can't get to the point; it's all games with him. Fortunately for Kurt he's clever and gets to the end of the puzzle just a little bit before Blaine. And Kurt will not let anything go without being the last one standing.

"Ok, so you know that I was a fan. She told you that. Big deal. It only really just makes you a hypocrite because you said earlier that you don't go "there" with fans. And you knew I was a fan even though I claimed that I wasn't because surely Isabelle would have told you that I stopped liking you—"

Kurt is interrupted from his ramble by Blaine giggling, loud and watery. It's probably one of the most adorable, infectious sounds that Kurt has ever heard. He starts to smile and immediately regrets it but can't stop himself.

Blaine keeps chuckling high pitched and airily, his eyes glaze over and start to slip closed; his teeth are gleaming, dimples out, smile almost reaching his eyes. Kurt doesn't know if he's ever seen this smile on any magazine spread before. It looks too real, too natural. Something that can't be faked.

"Wh-what?" Kurt asks a little shyly, shaking his head.

"Just…you." Blaine replies instantly. "You are so interesting to me. I find you… wonderfully surprising." He says this with such conviction that Kurt momentarily forgets how to breathe.

But I'm just…me.

"But-but I- you—"

"Kurt." Blaine interrupts, a hand stretched across the table. His thumb brushes against the bone of Kurt's wrist. "Don't over-think this, please." For a moment, Blaine's perfect smile slips and he looks a little lost in his own thoughts. "Why do you doubt yourself so much? Why do you find it so hard to believe that somebody likes you?"

"Be-because… You're you and I'm me and you could have anybody you wan—"

"You have got to stop saying that." Blaine sighs while leaning back in his chair. He rolls his eyes in a way that could rival Kurt's prestigious eye-roll. "Look, I don't know how or why I know this, but you're just different. You appeal to me. Your voice spoke- sang out to me and resonated somewhere deep within and I want to learn more of your hidden talents."

"Isn't that a script from one of your plays or movies?" Kurt asks with a smirk.

Now it's Blaine's turn to look exasperated. "Kurt! I gave you my card with my personal number and email. You did nothing. I texted you on my personal number. You didn't text me back. I've shown nothing but interest in you and you've been batting me off with every chance you get." Blaine says all of this honestly but he's still smiling; and Kurt recognises the shimmer in his eyes, he's impressed.

Blaine tilts his head to the side and lowers his voice. "I like it. I like that you don't fall at my feet. You're not here because of who I am or what I can give to you—"

"—you're right, I'm here against my will" Kurt responds, nodding his head a little too enthusiastically. His eyes are wide and playful, a teasing lift to his lips.

Blaine's jaw drops comically, his eyes large like dinner plates. "I'm kidding," Kurt laughs, hands held up in surrender. Blaine relaxes back in his seat.

"You should know that I like a challenge" he murmurs, smiling as he brings his wine glass to his lips.

"Oh that has definitely been noted" Kurt says picking up his glass and making the wine swirl around like he's seen people do on TV. "I mean you're probably the only person I know who would continue to go after somebody who you know dislikes you."

"Oh, Kurt. There is a fine, fine line between love and hate."

"I didn't even use that word" Kurt scowls.

"Ah, so you admit it."

"Admit what?" Kurt exclaims.

Their server suddenly sweeps back in and clears the table. Their eyes remain locked on to each other's. When he's gone, Blaine leans back in. "Before, when you were talking about why I would be interested in you. You said it as though you were interested in me too but didn't think there would be a possibility of that?"

Kurt scoffs. He knows where Blaine is going with this. But, instead of giving Blaine an answer and probably not the one he's looking for, Kurt leans in too, arms crossed in front of him on the table.

"Can I be honest with you?" Kurt hushes himself to an almost whisper, rasped and wet.

"I'd love that." Blaine beams, licking his lips.

"You're still…kind of a douche." He sits up straight grinning to himself happily. Blaine stays where he is, hunched over the table towards Kurt. His eyes are narrowed and his grin is still there. There's not a lot that could deflate his ego. Kurt knows this but he likes to try.

"And?" Blaine responds smartly, eyes lashes fluttering.

"Well, you've been very forthcoming and honest. You've told me about the role you have to play in this showbiz life. You've successfully managed to keep me here, actively listening. But you know, you- sometimes you say things that make you sound like the jerk that you insist that you're not—"

"Is jerk the right word?" Blaine makes a think-y face. "I think that it's just the way you interpret me. Others may refer to me as mischievous and light-hearted. A playful rascal, a scallywag—"

"Alright, alright." Kurt shushes him, regretting that he even said anything in the first place. Blaine winks and flashes a knowing, good-humored grin.

"Kurt, I told you that this kind of life requires a character that you slip in to. I didn't say that I don't do it. Just that it's not always enjoyable. Look at it like a kind of barrier, a defence mechanism to keep the crazies away from knowing the real me."

"But you said that you wanted me to know the real you?"

"Are you a crazy?" Blaine's fakes a look of shock followed by a ridiculous, audible gasp.

Something about me must be to still be here and having this conversation with you.

The curtain surrounding them is whipped back once again and one very generously sized, heart shaped china dish is placed on the center of the table between them. Along with two spoons.

Kurt looks at it curiously. It looks like chocolate pudding with grated, chocolate flakes sprinkled over the top. It's much bigger and not at all what he had expected for desert at this place. Their previous dishes had been miniscule compared to this and more tidy and well decorated. And there had been two of them—one each.

"Mocha Pots De Crème." Blaine whispers to him, his tongue appearing to tickle the words as they roll off and passed his lips. "Isabelle told me about your sweet tooth. I had this made for us." He picks up a spoon and holds it out to Kurt expectantly for Kurt to take.

Only, Kurt hesitates and eyes him and the spoon suspiciously.

This would be his perfect exit. He's heard all that he needs to hear—the whole reason why he came tonight. His mission is complete and he's fairly happy with the way he has handled the enigmatic Mr Anderson, tonight.

But something is keeping him in his seat. Is it the chocolate or is it Blaine?

"Come on," Blaine whispers, he takes the spoon and dips it in to the desert before holding it out towards Kurt's lips. "Take a chance on me. Another one. Please."