A/N: Wow o_O Just WOW! 91 FOLLOWERS after 3 chapters? That's insane and I'm forever blessed with your support! Life's getting a bit better and let's hope it stays that way :)

Chapter 4:: Angel in the Darkness

They rutted against each other, their bare sweat-soaked bodies generating a sinful friction that made both men moan brokenly, each thrust more heated and desperate.

Wet, sloppy kisses across each other's glistening skin did little to stop the Herculean load of sweat as their foreheads pressed together and every touch and whimper helped built the wonderful sensation deep in their abdomens.

"NNNNGH! Shit, so close..." Nick Duval moaned, his voice wrecked from the intense pleasure he was experiencing then. "N-not g-gonna last!"

"Ahhh...yes...baby...god..." Jeff Sterling's purr dominated the room, their bare bodies amidst wrinkled bedsheets and sunken pillows. "Fuck, I'm gonna come Nick...gonna come so hard—"

The sight of Nick biting his own lip to try to hold it in made his foundations collapse and he let out a strangled cry as his seed soaked his partner's thigh. Nick, on the other hand, was on the verge of letting go but when Jeff's hand found his cock and pumped him at super-speed, the blonde watched in awe as Nick's features twisted, coming hotly over his chest.

Melting, the junior hummed when he felt Jeff's warm, protective arms envelope him.

"I surrender myself to you." Jeff whispered, kissing Nick's damp forehead, the scent of their lovemaking dominating the ruffled bedsheets.

Nick's heart clenched. "You're gonna make me cry again!"

Jeff chuckled, shuffling closer. "Kiss me." His husband gently leaned to meet the other man's lips, never failing to cherish the minty-coffee smell that was just so Jeff.

Among the most respected doctors at Downtown Manhattan Memorial Hospital, they've grown closer than ever since the good ol' days at Dalton. It's only when they went to medical school afterwards that they decided to try a romantic relationship. What started out as innocent coffee dates resulted in a loving marriage and nights of passionate sex. And Jeff, being the overprotective one, always took care of his husband.

After cooling down, they were about to jump into the shower together when Jeff's cellphone rang.

Jeff motioned to answer it and he froze when he heard the voice from the other line.

"Blaine?"

It had been three weeks since their agreement to go camping together as September crept in and if the chilly weather isn't any sign, Blaine knew that this was going to happen anytime now. But he was nervous and worried.

Getting out of the house was, of course, a daunting task for him. But to put all of his trust and his safety in Kurt's hands. Now that was something else.

Kurt and Blaine continued to work together on the novel, both ecstatic that they had already finished another 70 pages of it. Blaine enjoyed it whenever he sat in his study with his new assistant: hearing his opinions made him thankful that Graham brought this angel to him, hearing Santana secretly tease him about Kurt made him blush and hearing Kurt's voice and laugh... oh, that did wonders to Blaine's heart.

Ever since the accident, Blaine quickly cut himself off from all his friends and family. He ignored calls from his brother, Cooper who was living in London as a part-time actor, from his co-workers from MountCrest Publishing and from his close friends from college and high school—namely, the Warblers. Instead, he only stayed close with Santana and Graham.

Until Kurt came into the picture.

But there was a pair of two men who Blaine still wanted to stay in contact with after the accident: Nick Duval and Jeff Sterling.

Blaine had always been somewhat jealous of them as he too wanted someone to love and take care of him. Being the lead singer of the Warblers, Blaine thought he would meet the one. But he never did.

By the time he met Jeremy Hunt, he'd already grown cold, judgmental and eager to just let himself be groped by some gold digger as his family and friends always said.

When the accident happened, Blaine had been taken to the hospital where Nick and Jeff worked in and the three bonded once again after months of not seeing each other. Nick vividly remembered how much blood was lost when Blaine was in the ICU and Jeff had to console him as they did their absolute best to save their good friend. But after recovering, the blind man grew distant and he never contacted them again. And it hurt both of them.

"Yes, it's me, Jeff." Blaine smiled as he heard Jeff gasp in shock over the line, his former classmates never failing to be drama queens. "I'm sorry I never called—"

"Got that right!" Jeff interjected, mindblown as he listened to his old friend's voice. "We saved your life yet you never bothered—"

"I know and I'm sorry!" Blaine accidentally replied too loudly and he paused to hear any footsteps outside his bedroom. None. "Look, I know I should've called but I was so damaged by what happened. Jeffy, hear me out!"

Nick wrapped his tired arms around his husband's bare neck and Jeff looked back at his partner, momentarily lost in his chocolate eyes. "Blaine's still hurt, sweetie. Last thing he needs is for us to lecture him and be angry."

Jeff sighed. Always the wise one. "Okay, Blaine... We forgive you."

A pause, "We?"

"Yeah, bro. Jeff and I forgive you," Nick smiled as Blaine heard his voice on the phone. The blind man sighed contentedly, "Nicky, I've missed you!"

"Miss you too, Blainers!" The black-haired man chuckled. "We need to catch up!"

Blaine hesitated. Means I have to get out of the house again. "I-I'd love to. Soon, I promise."

After a few minutes of chatting lightly about life and what's going on back in Manhattan, Jeff had to announce the giant elephant in the room.

"Okay, dude. Why exactly did you call?"

Busted. "I told you... I wanted to apologize—"

"Cut the crap, Anderson. We know you and obviously you have something that's on your mind," Jeff cut in.

Blaine bit his lip. I should tell them. "Okay, so I met this guy—"

"YOU MET A GUY?!" He was rudely interrupted by a loud squeal from Nick and he winced as his enhanced hearing backfired. "HOLY CRAP, BLAINERS!"

"Jesus, Nick. Calm down, I almost lost my hearing there," Blaine laughed when Jeff scolded his lover. "So you met some guy... What's up?"

Blaine looked down in resignation. "I really like him. He's nice, he's funny, he's... he's amazing, guys. And I still don't know how he even looks like!"

Hearing Blaine feel so insecure over a guy made the couple smile as memories of their first date clouded their minds. "Then, go up and shove your hands in his face! Don't blind people feel people's faces to get a better idea of how they look like?"

Jeff rolled his eyes at Nick's idea, "Blaine, have you ever been alone with this guy yet? That way, you can connect and get to know him."

"Not really, Santana's always around—"

"Push her aside and spend some quality time with your man!" Nick cut in and Blaine laughed.

An idea popped into his head.

"I think I have an idea." The blind man smiled, his heart racing. He wanted to grow closer with Kurt.

He needed to.

"Step away from the kitchen, woman!" Blaine declared loudly as he heard Santana gasp in shock at his sudden appearance. "Kurt and I are going to head to town for lunch today."

"Blaine! You scared—" The woman frowned, "Town? You're going into town?"

"You're right. I need to start living again and the only way I can do that is if I get out of this house. And I need you to drive us there."

Astonished, Santana grinned. "Where to?"

"Le Bellisimo," the man replied. "I want Kurt to try the Italian breads there. Plus, it's by a small river there so I'm sure he'll enjoy the landscape—"

"Somebody's really obsessed with Kurt these days, huh?" She teased and Blaine blushed, running a hand through his curls. "You really like this guy, don't you?"

A bit lip, "I do—"

He suddenly felt tight arms envelope him and he chuckled when Santana squealed. "Go get him, Blaine. You deserve real romance and I think Kurt really likes you too."

"Really?"

"Really," She smiled. "Now tell him to get ready and I'll drive you guys—"

"I want to spend time with him alone, San. Y'okay with that?" He hoped that his best friend wouldn't hate him for making her the third wheel here but she nodded, "Fine by me."

"Okay, I'll go get Kurt and you prepare the town car!" Blaine beamed as he quickly walked off and as he ventured down the hallways, Santana couldn't help but smile. She was happy for him. He really does likeKurt and the fact that he just ran off to find him made Blaine look like a lost, adorable little puppy in need for a soulmate.

Soulmate, she thought. I really need to find someone to love me too. Just someone.

"I can see the Empire State Building from here!"

Rachel grinned when Brittany looked out the balcony and she walked over to tell her that lunch was ready. Three weeks in and Brittany was still amazed by Rachel and Kurt's apartment. Bunking in the only guest bedroom, Brit was also looking for a new job because she knew that waitressing wasn't her dream job. Wanting to still be a dancer and when she came across a dance studio that was looking for a dancer to teach students several choreographies, she jumped at the chance and after sending an application, she was waiting for a response through mail anytime now.

"Come, let's eat." Rachel called her over and with the urban sounds of taxis, construction and a chorus of pedestrians from the streets below, Brit motioned to sit, her ears still loving Manhattan's daily noises.

"How's the job hunt going?" Rachel asked as she poured Italian dressing over her salad. As she was preparing for a Broadway audition for Funny Girl in a week, Rachel had been very nervous about it and she was hoping that Brit also get a great job as well.

"Still waiting for the mail," she deadpanned. "I think I didn't get it—"

"Don't be like that, Brit. You got this," Rachel encouraged her and Brit sighed.

"Thanks again for letting me stay here for now, Rach. Once I get enough money—"

"Hey, you can live here with us for as long as you need. The guest bedroom's always free."

"Okay," Brit nodded before proceeding to dine.

The comfortable silence was unfortunately broken by Rachel's cellphone, her Barbra ringtone echoing across the brick walls.

"Hello?" she answered.

"Rachel, I have a problem."

It was Quinn. And she sounded like she was afraid.

"Quinn, what is it?" The mention of their friend's name made Brit look up in concern.

"Puck relapsed today. His alcoholism's back, Rachel! He won't listen to me cuz he keeps on drinking and drinking and Beth's really afraid—"

"Oh my God, me and Brit will be right there."

When she hung up, Brit stared at her in confusion. "What's going on?"

"Remember how I told you that Puck is a recovering alcoholic?" She stood up, quickly finishing her lunch.

"Yeah...?"

"Quinn needs our help." She sighed, "Now."

Kurt had been very confused ever since Blaine told him that they're going out to town for lunch and while he was proud that Blaine was finally getting out of the house, he can't help but feel like there's something more his superior isn't telling him.

"Seriously, where are we going?" He voiced his concern but this time, instead of being answered with a 'You'll see' from Blaine, Santana announced that they're here.

Kurt peered out the glass window of the Lincoln Town Car and he frowned when he saw a restaurant deep in town.

"You're not gonna kidnap me, right?" Kurt mumbled and Blaine laughed. He laughed.

"We're having lunch here, Kurt." Blaine finally answered. "Just a little something special after all the hard work we've been doing."

Kurt looked at him, touched. "Blaine—"

"You don't have to say anything, Kurt. Let's just have a nice lunch out on this nice day. Sounds good to you?"

The unexpected confidence in Blaine's soft voice surprised the assistant. The man had always been very shy and insecure but hearing such a different tone from him made Kurt smile. Blaine's slowly healing. And he's getting better!

"Um, isn't Santana coming?" Kurt blurted out when he noticed that the woman hadn't left the car. They were now about to head inside and with the bright sun and a collection of clouds over them, Kurt didn't know why she wouldn't want to join them.

"Oh, she's not joining us today. She has to fulfil some... errands." Blaine hated to lie but if it's what he had to do to get to spend some alone time with Kurt, then hell he's gonna do it!

Kurt could only feel his heart stop. Eating lunch. With Blaine. Just the two of them.

Alone.

"Why today?" Kurt leaned forward against their table, both men seated out on the balcony, overlooking a small river which just made it all seem so casual. He personally loved the restaurant and its setting, how serene and calm its atmosphere brought and he sighed in contentment.

"I'm sorry?" Blaine quirked a triangular eyebrow, producing faint wrinkles over his tan forehead.

"Why'd you suddenly want to just leave the house today?" Kurt pressed on, picking up the menu and he was awfully surprised at the amount of choices there. "Don't get me wrong, I'm really happy that you're not as afraid as before... but why?"

Because of you, Kurt. This... this lunch we're having? It's just an excuse to spend more time with you.

Blaine smiled discreetly as he shifted his menu aside, already knowing what he wanted to get since he's been coming here to eat for a long time now. Plus, the dumbass waiter didn't even notice that he was blind and yet he gave him a menu?

"It's been seven months since I became blind and I'm so tired of being afraid and alone. I hate not being able to move on. So, I just figured that it was time to finally just let it all go."

Kurt nodded understandingly although he wasn't 100% convinced. "Good for you, Blaine. That's great."

The blind man simply shrugged and he so desperately wanted to see Kurt's face. He hated that his vision was pitch black but one thing was for sure: he truly cherished Kurt's voice. How soft, gentle and masculine it was. He'd do anything to hear that voice everyday.

He suddenly heard foreign footsteps and he realized that it was a waiter. They both ordered their meals and once their drinks arrived, Blaine cleared his throat.

"So how's everything going, Kurt? Been three weeks since you've left New York. Don't you miss the city?"

Kurt sipped at his wine, "I do. I still Skype and call my friends and family everyday but I do like it here in Long Island. More peaceful yet still urban. Have you always wanted to live here?"

"Initially, no. While I own a penthouse apartment back in Lower Manhattan, I'd bought the beach house here a few years ago because every now and then, I'd like to leave the dirty, noisy city and just relax and work quietly here."

Kurt's jaw dropped. "You have a penthouse apartment in Manhattan?"

"I must've never mentioned it to you before," Blaine muttered guiltily. Truth is, he wanted to make sure that Kurt wasn't the kind of guy who pretends to fall for him just because of his wealth and fame. While he wasn't entirely sure yet, he could tell that Kurt was nowhere like his ex, Jeremy at all. He didn't want another gold digger to break his heart again and he heartwrenchingly wanted Kurt to like for who he is, not what he has. "Well, it's got gorgeous views of Central Park and it's near MountCrest's headquarters. But after I lost my sight, I chose to indefinitely stay here in my beach house instead because with my enhanced hearing, the city can really give me a headache."

Kurt chuckled, "But you still own it?"

"Yup but I never got around to staying back there since," Blaine admitted, suddenly having this crazy idea to bring Kurt to his Manhattan penthouse someday. He shook the random yet tempting thought away.

"You should go back to the city one day, Blaine." The assistant suggested honestly, never failing to flail internally, his eyes awestruck at how Blaine's curly hair swayed lightly to the gentle breeze and how the man's stubble helped emphasized his dapper smile.

"Only if you come with me," the elder blurted out. "For some reason, I feel safe and adventurous whenever I'm with you, Kurt. I may be blind but I can still recognize someone who I can perfectly trust."

The pale man felt his heart stop. Holy shit. The way Blaine leaned forward against their table, the man's broad arms nestled peacefully over his chest. He could sense the hope and pleading in his faint blue eyes. Blaine was slowly letting him in and Kurt knew that he needed an answer.

"Okay," he breathed. "We'll do it someday. Together."

The relieved smile on Blaine's visage did wonders to Kurt's heart. While he was ecstatic that Kurt had just agreed to help him eventually overcome his fear of returning to New York City, he couldn't get that word off his mind. Together.

Biting his lip in anticipation, his deep, velvet voice broke the comfortable silence. "So tell me about yourself, Kurt. I think I deserve to know about where you come from and how you managed to get Graham to recommend you to come live with some blind schmuck like me."

The small laugh that filled his ears almost killed him. "Absolutely."

From then on, the two men lapsed into a long conversation where they traded their family backgrounds, shared favourites (movies, books, TV shows, music etc.), their college experiences and Blaine was thankful that the table was obstructing the view of his lower body whenever Kurt's appreciative moans at the meal's superior quality filled his ears. His enhanced hearing only made the groans sound almost illegal. As lunch came into a conclusion, they opted to take a walk down the river under the warm sun while they waited for Santana to pick them up and Kurt smiled when Blaine clung on tightly to his hand the entire time.

He trusts me.

Arriving back home was the hardest thing for Blaine to do. He wanted to continue their time outside in the fairly nice, warm September sun. If he had it his way, he'd travel around the world with this angel beside him. He never thought such a heavenly bell that is Kurt's voice could make him feel so whole... so complete. Which was probably why his fingers were linked so tightly in Kurt's under the guise that he was still very nervous about finally going outside in a long time.

It was already 5pm and Blaine told Kurt that they would continue working on the novel another time instead of today as he was tired already.

"Anything you want," Kurt agreed wholeheartedly. Just as he was leaving for the kitchen, Blaine sensed this and stopped him.

"Kurt, wait!" He bit his lip. Don't go. Not yet. I want to know more about you, I need to. "I just wanted to say that... I genuinely had a great time with you today. Thank you."

"What for?"

"For pulling me out of my insecurities and always being there with me when we went out." He admitted, nervously fiddling with his fingers over his cane. "It was so scary that I had to leave but with you, I feel like I can start living again. Start a new leaf, y'know?"

"Yeah, I'm happy that you're coming out of your shell, Blaine. If you ever want to go out again—"

"Tomorrow," Blaine declared. "Let's go camping out on the beach tomorrow. I've been so afraid all this time but... I-I think I'm ready now. I'm ready if you are?"

Eyebrows shot up. "Let's do it," Kurt smiled. "The night sky looks beautiful at this time of year. And I'll be there to hold your hand every step of the way."

I'm sure there's something else that'll still be beautiful tomorrow.

A grin lighted up Blaine's visage, "Perfect."

A/N: Drama's gonna ensue with Puck's alcoholism and when a mysterious person comes into the picture next chapter—Uh-oh! But Klaine'll still going to grow closer when they go camping ;) Let me know what you think so far!