A/N: Sorry for the long wait and cliffhanger! I do want to update as much as I can with senior year and a crazy life, it's hard to find time to sit and type. I'm SO grateful for all the support/reviews (171 FOLLOWERS?!) so that shows that my story isn't that lame lol. I'll work on Ch.10 as soon as I can.

Chapter 9:: Fallen

He ignored the sudden chill that gave him goosebumps while the strong wind blew past him, ruffling his hair as he desperately hailed a cab among the Manhattan traffic.

He ignored the questioning look of the Turkish-accented cab driver when he exasperatedly told him his destination.

He threw a bunch of cash at him once they arrived at Blaine's building, unsure momentarily if it was the right amount of cash—it 99% wasn't—and he yanked open the doors, rushing like a cheetah on steroids for the elevator.

He ignored the receptionist and doorman who threw suspicious glances past him. And for once, he didn't take a step back to admire the lavish lobby of Blaine's building.

It was the desperation and hurt that accompanied his boyfriend's voice during their brief call previously that made Kurt all the more determined to get to him and be there for him.

Several worst-case scenarios sprang up in his mind as the elevator ascended to the top which house Blaine's penthouse but he brushed them off. If anything horrible had happened, he was sure Santana would've handled it. But apparently, Blaine had revealed that even Santana couldn't calm him down...and that made the countertenor anxious.

When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, Kurt whipped forward and he knocked on the door a little too incessantly—momentarily forgetting that Blaine had supplied him with a key of his own. He swallows hard and wonders if this really was a dire situation he's dealing with here.

A few seconds later, Santana opened the door and her eyebrows rose, probably impressed with the minimal amount of time Kurt took to get here. She gave him an apologetic smile and lets him in, telling him that Blaine was in his bedroom.

"Our hobbit's in a very fragile state right now so please don't try and upset him," she warned him and Kurt nodded.

Rushing off to his room, Kurt opened the door to reveal a slightly messy room. It unexpectedly reminded him of the time when Blaine had run up to his own room back at Long Island after that asshole Jeremy visited and insulted him...the time when he'd run after him and ended up kissing him for the first time and admitting his true feelings for him.

"Blaine?" He silently called out as he gingerly walked towards his boyfriend whose back was against the end of his bed, his body resting on the floor in a resigned state while his cane was lying subtly on the far side of his room—it looked like he'd thrown his cane against the wall before it fell down since Kurt could see several books and files planted messily on the ground next to his cane.

He was shivering.

"I came as fast as I could." Kurt bit his lip, looking him down as he inched across the room to stand over him. "Blaine—" he began.

"Kurt," he breathed, wiping a few of his stray tears. "You're here?"

"Of course I am," he murmured, proceeding to sit down and rest his back against the bed beside Blaine. "Tell me what's wrong? What is it?"

"I-I...I was just visiting Graham and MountCrest today and things just got really bad there."

"I shouldn't have left you today—"

"No no no, I completely understand that you wanted to visit your best friend today so don't apologize. Santana was with me the whole time anyway so I don't mind you not being there—"

"Stop pushing me away," Kurt's heart twisted, intertwining their hands, Blaine's broad knuckles under Kurt's slender ones. "The last thing I want is to see you get hurt so please just tell me what happened."

The blind man swallows against the lump in his throat, blinks back the sting of tears. He never thought a man could ever be this sincere, understanding and caring and it tore him into pieces to hear his angel's voice filled with overwhelming concern.

"Okay," his superior murmured. "Keep in mind that this was the first time I've visited Graham in person and to MountCrest ever since I became blind—" He momentarily paused to realize that he hadn't told Kurt how exactly he became blind so he made it a point to be 100% honest with him soon. "—So it was a really intense moment when I arrived there as I could still remember vividly every detail of the building..."

The blue-eyed assistant stared at him, desperately wishing that all of these troubles could just be gone in the blink of an eye but he knew that he wanted to spend much of his time being there to support Blaine. He lets himself get lost in his deep, masculine voice and he never lets go of his hand—as if their touch was the one thing that kept Blaine from breaking down.

And so Blaine recounted every detail of what'd happened...

2 hours ago

"Hey, Short-Stack, if you continue pacing around, you're gonna wear a hole in the floor and you'll fall down into a deep, terrifying sea of molten lava and you'll never get to see Kurt again."

The curly-haired man immediately froze, actually realizing that he'd been pacing back and forth within the elevator with his cane and he bit his lip.

Great, just 20 minutes since Kurt left to see his friend and I already desperately need him with me now!

"Well, technically, I haven't seen Kurt at all—" He countered but his best friend slapped him in the shoulder.

"Shut up, Captain Smartypants." Santana deadpanned, looking up at the screen that told her their elevator had just passed the 30th floor and still going. She was glad that she and Blaine were alone in the elevator because she was sure that he'd be incredibly uncomfortable with strangers around him in such an enclosed space.

"You're crazy, San." Blaine nervously held a tight clutch on his cane.

"No, you're the crazy one. Crazy in love with Kurt Hummel... and you can't deny it!" she quickly added on when Blaine looked up with a shocked expression on his face. "You're crazy in love with an adorable and kind-hearted man who'd really do anything to make you happy."

"I'm not in love with Kurt—"

"You totally are!"

"Nah ah," Blaine shook his head.

"Uh, yeah!"

"Am not."

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"AM NOT!"

"You do realize that the more you deny it, there's an undeniable blush that's already spreading across your face and it's already sickening me."

The man gasped, "I should have fired you a long time ago..."

"But you love me!" Santana defended herself. "C'mon, Blaine, you follow Kurt around like a little puppy in need of a companion and if you could actually see, you'd notice how much he's in love with you too!"

"Why do you even really want us to be together?"

"Because Kurt really cared about you and he's willing to do so much just to make sure you're not as alone as before. Do you remember those months right after the accident when you just shut yourself away from the world at your beach house and you kept on sobbing for nights and days?"

"I did not sob—"

"You did," she clarified, putting her hands on his broad shoulders. "I know things have been tough on you—and I get that!—but don't let an amazing man like Kurt go to waste. He's fallen for you and you've fallen for him too. He's the one!"

He ran a tiring hand through his brown curls, "You...you really think he's in love with me—"

"YES! God, must you always so oblivious?"

He was about to respond when they heard the elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal Graham's floor and the office cubicles ahead. Graham's office was at the end of the wide hallway and Santana saw how Blaine inhaled sharply.

"C'mon, I'll hold you the entire time." She went to hook her arm in Blaine's and before long, they were making their down, their destination...to meet Graham.

It was only when the atmosphere of the once-hectic offices had become hushed, low and awfully silent that Santana realize exactly why Blaine was so nervous now. The employees—no matter whether they were on their computers, talking on the phone, carrying coffee, filing paperwork, etc.—all stared at the man beside her. Their surprised and scared faces already told her that Blaine had been ruthless, cold and horrible towards them prior to his accident. And so, seeing the monster return after 8 months...that had to require more than a double-take.

"Is that really him? Is that Blaine? Oh my God, he's back!" Hushed whispers and minor small-talk only dominated the tense environment and Blaine had to take deep breaths to ignore them. I deserve it, he broke down inside.

But when he thought that he truly was a monster, Kurt's face—rather, the most accurate face and features Blaine could concoct after having felt his face already—flashed through the darkness in his vision and he vividly remembered how the angel always reminded him that it was all in the past now and that he's since matured to become a respectable and kind gentleman.

"Okay, we're here now." Santana hastened to open Graham's door for him, quickly leading him in and away from the harsh jungle of bitter words out there.

Right then, after the door closed, the man in front of them jumped off his slick leather chair with a gasp and Blaine's eyebrows rose up when he heard the familiar voice.

"You actually came," Graham remarked, a huge grin on his face. "I've missed you, buddy!"

The blind man managed to chuckle when Graham all but enveloped him in a tight hug that cold only rival that of an anaconda and he returned the greeting by patting his friend on the back with a smile, momentarily forgetting his insecurities.

"Oh and Santana, it's always nice to see you." His voice relaxed and she nodded amicably.

"Nice to see you too, Graham."

"Well, come sit, you two." He gestured to the two guest chairs across the desk from his own and once they all settled down, they began to catch up: Graham sighing with relief that Blaine has gotten better, Blaine informing that working on the novel has reminded him of his love for literature and Santana cutting in by blurting out that Blaine and Kurt were going out now.

"Wow," Graham laughed. "So you two actually like each other?"

"They're so in love with each other," Santana shrugged and Blaine kicked her foot, annoyed once again for her babbling. "Hey!" She winced but Blaine ignored her.

"Okay, so you mentioned that you wanted to talk to me about something important." He changed the subject and the Latina huffed, Graham rolling his eyes.

"Okay, so I have this idea that once you publish the novel, MountCrest will host a formal banquet one night where I'd like to announce how you're finally back and I want to commemorate all of your amazing literary works so far. It's like an important dinner attended by socialites, literature enthusiasts and other noted New Yorkers. I'm sure you'd like to bring Kurt as your plus-one?"

The man faltered. Just as he thought about knowing that he'd loved to bring Kurt along as his date, he grew troubled.

"Graham, I appreciate that you want to celebrate my career as a writer with such a glamorous dinner...but I don't think it's a good idea."

"What?" Graham asked, puzzled. "Why not?"

"No one would come," he admitted, twirling his cane absently. "Look, I know that you mean well but I know that people wouldn't want to come to honour someone like me. I've been horrible to so many people—"

"Blaine—" Santana started.

"No, I don't want to be on the cover of gossip magazines and hear all the negative comments thrown my way again. I deserve it, yes, but I just can't anymore. I'm still slowly letting that part of my life go but it's hard and I don't think it'll benefit me."

"I understand your concern but if we do have this commemorative dinner event, people would realize how much you've changed." Graham offered, he was honestly shocked by Blaine's response to all this.

"I just don't think it's the right time," Blaine shook his head. "Once again, I appreciate it but I'm not ready. I'm still very nervous when I'm in a crowd nowadays and I...I can't—"

"You sure?" Santana questioned.

"Did you hear how everyone outside were talking badly about me? How they wished I hadn't come here in the first place? How I actually deserved becoming blind? How me being blind is just karma for being an asshole?" Blaine's voice rises and he doesn't try to lower it. "They hate me and I perfectly know that I've been an ass to so many other people out there."

"But that's not you anymore," she reaffirmed. "You've changed for the better."

"I ruined my reputation, I even made two people here quit their jobs here!" He cried out, suddenly standing up. "I need to get out of here. I-I can't do this..."

"Calm down, Blaine." She tried but the man remained stubborn.

"Bring me back home now, Santana." He demanded, backing away unknowingly from Graham's desk and the man himself stood up with concern.

"I didn't mean to upset you," Graham reasoned and Blaine sighed, his heart pounding.

Night Sky. I need you now.

"Okay, I'll take you home." Santana went to place a supportive hand over his arm and the blind man shivered. "Do you want me to call Kurt for you?"

"I'll call him when we're back home," he murmured lowly, knowing that his angel was off visiting his friend at the moment and he didn't have the heart to interrupt that now.

Nodding, the woman turned towards an alarmed Graham with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I know you mean well too but apparently Blaine just doesn't want anything like that yet. He's still fragile."

"Call me anytime if you want to talk or if you change your mind then, Blaine." Graham offered wholeheartedly, understanding Blaine's refusal. "And again, sorry I didn't mean to upset you—"

"It's fine," he raised a forgiving hand. "I'll try to call you when I feel better."

"Take your time, bro." The publishing manager walked up to clap a hand on his shoulder with a smile and Blaine nodded, Santana advancing to lead him out and walking fast for the elevator to avoid the hushed whispers again.

It was when he was seated alone in his Town Car, Santana cruising around Manhattan to return to his fortress of solitude, that he started to collapse inside, tears slowly gathering in his once-hazel-now-blue eyes.

Present

Blaine pulled away from Kurt's warm hands, facing away from him, failing to notice that Kurt had shed a tear beside him.

"We have to end this," the curly-haired novelist whispered. "You should live your life away from me. I can't risk being responsible for burdening the rest of your life."

"How could you say that?" Kurt inhaled deeply. "I want to be with you. I need to—"

"You're just saying that—"

"NO!" Kurt's voice cracked and Blaine shook his head, trying to will the wrench in his heart upon hearing his angel collapse. "You mean so much to me, Blaine. And I don't know what I'd do if I had to be away from you. Today, even though we were 3 hours apart, I never stopped thinking about you, I never stopped worrying about you and I never stopped caring about you. So don't you dare act like a hero and push me away just because you think it's what's best for me...to just get away from all this before it's too late. Don't I get a say in this?"

"I don't...want to risk...hurting you," Blaine paused occasionally to clench his fists, tears now trickling down as he slumped in anguish. "I know you believe in me but I just don't trust myself enough to be there for you as well. Is that what you want? I just—mmph!"

He was blissfully interrupted by the heavenly pair of Kurt's luscious lips and he felt the man's hand hold the back of his neck to steady himself as he slipped his tongue, reducing the insecure blind man to a low moan. He lets himself drown in it, falls into the deep end and doesn't try to stop for oxygen. The taste of salt and tears is between them, Kurt clinging on desperately and Blaine whimpered once more. And then—Blaine came to a realization.

He wanted Kurt to stay.

He wanted him to be by his side all the time.

If there ever is a way to get better, Kurt has to be there with him.

He needed him.

"Would you do me the honour of becoming my boyfriend?" Blaine's breath ghosted over Kurt's pale skin and his heavy heart pounded insanely. He raised his hands to cup the man's cheeks and he swallowed nervously. "I know that you could be throwing your life away just to be with me...but I'm selfish and I can't imagine moving forward without you."

Kurt bit his lip, a tear glistening in his eye. "I'd love to be your boyfriend, Blaine." He rested his forehead against his, still cherishing Blaine's hands over his cheeks. "Just please stop pushing me away..."

"I won't anymore," Blaine planted a kiss on the tip of Kurt's nose, causing his lover to chuckle lightly. "I just don't want you to hate me if I ever hurt you in the future—"

"You won't," Kurt cut in. "And I could never hate you."

Smiling genuinely for the first time, Blaine nudged his nose against his. "Can I kiss you, Night Sky?"

His boyfriend heaved a sigh of relief and nodded, his voice shaky. "You better."

"Well, look at you two, being all domestic and adorable!" Santana grinned as she watched the couple snuggle together under a great shady tree in Central Park. "It makes me want to puke."

"Shut up, Satan!" Blaine called her out before sighing when he felt Kurt kiss him on the cheek. "I still can't believe I haven't gone on a picnic in ages."

It was Kurt's idea that they all go out to have a picnic in the city's only calm location and after spending time making sandwiches, hot chocolate and salads, they trekked down the street—the penthouse was just across from the famed park—and Santana managed to find the perfect spot away from the blaring, angry sun. After setting the basket and mat down, that was when she'd asked if the two were now official—and both men nodded with annoying smiles and a kiss on the lips.

"What's this?" Blaine questioned when he felt Kurt's hand place a sandwich on his.

"Egg and ham," he answered, chuckling at how Blaine was examining the sandwich as if it's completely something else.

Santana had to admit: while the sight of Kurt and Blaine being all lovey-dovey irritated her eyes, she was happy for them. She hadn't seen Blaine smile legitimately for so long and it was clear that he was in love with Kurt. But he's just too stubborn to admit that now.

"Here, I made some coffee—" She fished out a thermos bottle but she rolled her eyes when Kurt glared at her. "Fine, Kurt made some coffee."

Laughing, Blaine took a bite of his sandwich and his lips curved into a smile. Sure, he's blind but he could feel how Kurt's presence did wonders to his heart and then, he knew.

I'm falling in love.

A/N: Hope this angst/loving chapter is worth the long wait. There's still a lot of drama ahead but this time, Klaine's strong and together now. Let me know what you think!