A/N- I apologize for the significant delay! A number of things that are probably of no interest got in the way, but this chapter just started to emerge and insisted time be made for it. Thank you to those who have stuck around and are still reading. Onwards!
"So, dyou wanna get breakfast tomorrow?" Blaine looked over at Kurt. Their hands hung in a joined vee between them, both wrapped up in gloves against the cold. They were back at Dalton, with time to spare on curfew, and were taking the long way from the parking lot to the dorms.
"I can't." Kurt swung his arm playfully, loving the weight from Blaine that counterbalanced him and pulled it back again. "I have to go home and help pick out a Christmas tree for the new house. I'm leaving at like, seven, so I can be there for late breakfast." He rolled his eyes skyward at the prospect of the early hour.
"Okay. Well, have a good time at home then. I'll just be doing school stuff all day, and then BICO with Julia."
"I'll be back in time for that. Even though you don't need the practice." Kurt dropped their clasped hands and reached forwards to open the door to the dorms hall.
"I beg to differ. You or Jules could perform the part anytime, but mine needs some serious work."
"Stop being modest. No one believes you anyways." Kurt knocked Blaine's shoulder gently, as he pulled off his gloves.
"You have to say that now..." Blaine teased, chuffed at Kurt's praise anyways. Kurt shook his head.
"I never lie about talent. If anything I am too brutally honest about bad singing. I'm totally ego blows before hos." Blaine snorted in laughter.
"Do you just call me a ho?" Kurt opened his mouth to make another retort but stopped.
"I think I might have." He looked confused for a moment. "Um. Sorry?"
"It's okay. In this context I think it balances out as an overall compliment somehow."
"I meant it to be." Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand as they climbed up the stairs towards their dorm wings. They stopped at the top, as they always seemed to of late.
"So, I guess...good night?" Kurt offered, holding his hands behind his back.
"Yeah. I had a great time Kurt,"
"Me too." Kurt bit his lip. He stepped forwards, his fingers playing with the fringe of Blaine's scarf. "So you think we'll be doing this again?"
"I'd like to." Blaine replied. "And you?" Kurt nodded fervently.
"Yes. I would like that."
Kurt stepping in closer to Blaine, into his space and wrapped his arms around the boy's neck. Kurt pulled them into a tight hug, teenage angles soften by their heavy coats. Blaine tucked his head down, his forehead against Kurt's shoulder. He adjusted in gentle nuzzles until his nose and cheek were pressed against the warmth of the other boy's skin. He felt Kurt's arms tighten further, fingers clenching the fabric beneath them.
"Hey Kurt?" Kurt caught his breath at the warmth of Blaine's voice against his neck. The both pulled back slightly. He waited for Blaine to say something, but all he got was a wide smile.
"Yes?" Blaine's hand slid up slowly around his neck, curling into his hair.
"C'mere." The gentle hand pulled him forwards into a kiss that Kurt quickly accepted, relaxing his frame and praying that some sort of natural kissing instinct would kick in. It must have, because Blaine hummed slightly as their lips pressed together slowly and softly.
"Hmmmm. Are you sure you have to go tomorrow?" Blaine groaned slightly, letting his teeth just barely graze Kurt's lip.
"Promised." Kurt mumbled back, not really interested in talking as his hands smoothed down from Blaine's jawline to his neck. Blaine let his forehead fall against Kurt's, stealing one last kiss before he stepped back.
"I'll see you tomorrow evening then."
"G'night Blaine." Blaine receded back in his usual way, watching Kurt until he reached his hallway. This time though there was significantly more bounce in his step. Not that Kurt could say anything. He nearly floated back to his room on his toes, falling back carelessly onto his bed. Okay, he may not have had a decent first kiss, but he definitely had the best first date EVER.
"Hello? Dad? Carole?" Kurt dropped his satchel on the chair in the foyer and peeked down the hallway.
"Hey! Kurt, you're home!" The exclamation was followed by heavy thumping as Finn came down the stairs. "Mom and Burt just ran out to get soy milk for you. They'll be back in like, ten."
Kurt smiled. The new house was different, a bit strange, especially because he hadn't really had a chance to live in it yet. But it was a new start for all them, like Dalton was a new start for him. And maybe that was for the best.
"Come on though. I have something to show you." Finn headed back up the stairs, and Kurt sighed as he followed him.
"Can this not wait until after breakfast? I did just drive two hours to get here."
"No, come on. It's really cool. I promise." Somehow Kurt doubted that his and Finn's concept of cool really intersected much. Until he stepped into the room.
"So what do you think?"
It was Kurt's new room. It was the smallest of the three in the house, which was fine. He was boarding at Dalton most of the time anyways, and it did have two very nice windows in it that kept it from being a total cave. But it looked absolutely nothing like it had last time he was home.
The formerly dull blue walls were clean, crisp white, and black curtains with a subtle damask pattern hung from silver rods. There was a bookcase against a wall, with his old desk next to it. His bed was set up, rather than the mattress and box spring resting on the floor with the frame leaning against the wall. There were sheets on it too, even though they were creased with fold marks that just screamed fresh from the package. But as he sat down he noticed that they were soft and cool and well made.
"Finn...what..." Finn grinned and sat down in the desk chair, spinning himself in it slowly.
"It's kind of an early Christmas, late I'm sorry present." He planted his feet to stop spinning, but had to blink several times to refocus. "I used some of those old picture and stuff collections you had, and Mercedes and Tina helped. A lot." Finn admitted.
"I even put up some of your board things." He pointed towards the wall behind Kurt, where several of his best and brightest design boards had been carefully arranged and hung. "Tina called it an "art installation" or something."
"Finn, you didn't have to-"
"No." Finn said firmly. "I did. I should have done more. I should have helped you out, but I didn't. I'm not brave Kurt, not like you or Rachel or Quinn. And I just thought...you should have something nice to come home to, since you had to go away." He gave Kurt one of the sheepish, shrugging half smiles that a year ago would have made his heart squeeze. But a year ago was so far away now. Instead he just felt...happy. Like when he did well on a test, or went shopping with Mercedes. It was a simple uncomplicated happy that he was so glad was now associated with Finn.
"Thank you."
"You can change anything. Or everything, if you want." Finn stood up from the chair and pushed it back under the desk. Kurt shook his head, about to reply when a call from below interrupted them.
"Kurt? You home? I saw the car in the driveway."
"I'm upstairs! Coming!" Kurt looked around the room again, taking in the drip lines in the bookcase's black paint, and the carpet placements that made one look way to big for one spot, and the other far too small where it was. His magazines were all out of order on the shelves. He had no idea what was going on in his closet. There was a plush football resting next to his printer.
"No, it's great Finn. You did a really good job." Kurt smiled, and walked past Finn, messing up his already unruly hair. "Now come on. I am starving."
"I totally agree." Finn laughed, pushing past Kurt and rushing towards the stairs. "Last to the kitchen does dishes."
"Ah!" Kurt ran after him, skipping several steps on the way down. "No way am I ruining these hands in the sink. I just did my cuticles, loser." He jostled past Finn in the foyer, and neither of them payed any attention when Burt yelled at them to settle down.