REACTION FIC! (so obviously if you haven't watched yet, spoiler alert)

Ah, Glee. You've done it again. And we all loved it. This is the aftermath of the elevator kiss!

How many reaction fics do you think have this title right now? Whoops, here's another one!

It Must've Been Love

"Kurt, wait!" Blaine runs after him as he heads to his car.

"Oh, what's wrong?" Kurt stops walking, turns around to look at him worriedly.

"Nothing- nothing's wrong, I, um. I wanted to speak to you. P-privately?"

God, he looks so terrified. Kurt knows just what he's going to say, of course he knows. Even if he couldn't read Blaine the way he does, just like an open book longing for a pair of curious eyes, it's obvious.

"Is my car good?" Kurt asks. Blaine is pale as he nods; maybe Kurt should make him sit down and drink some water before he admits the obvious. It can wait.

You're thinking about him like he's your boyfriend again.

"Yeah, yeah." It takes Kurt a second to remember what Blaine's talking about, before he unlocks his car and opens the passenger door for Blaine; it doesn't seem like Blaine notices, and he sits down heavily as Kurt walks around the car to the driver's side. Blaine watches his every move while he sits down and reaches for the water bottle in the cup holder. He opens it and hands it to Blaine.

"You look pale."

Blaine looks at him, maybe graciously, possibly like he's going to puke, and take the bottle. He sips from it, closing his eyes as he does, and Kurt lets himself think, for one moment.

He knows what Blaine's going to say. How will he react? Should he pretend to be surprised? Should he accept the offer, go back to Blaine like nothing's happened? Schedule another date with the same wedding venue? Jump back into the deep water without learning to swim first, once again?

"Thanks," Blaine breathes, and Kurt jumps, startled.

"You're welcome," he says. There's a drop of water at the corner of Blaine's mouth that catches his attention. He wants to kiss it away. Oh god. You'll agree to any word that comes out of his mouth, there's not even room for argument.

"Kurt, I…" His knuckles are white with the force of him gripping at the water bottle. "In the elevator. It… I know we promised." He swallows. But Kurt knows; he doesn't have to finish that sentence.

"We did. But I knew no kiss with you could ever be just a kiss," Kurt says, looking into Blaine eyes.

"I should've guessed this… this would happen. I- Kurt." His eyes are begging, pleading Kurt to understand. Needlessly so, because Kurt does. "And I- I know I can't do this, but I can't- I can't not, Kurt, kissing you was like breathing again, and-" His hands are shaking so hard the water in the bottle makes a splashing noise against its plastic confines. Kurt grabs his forearm.

"I know, Blaine. It's okay."

Blaine swallows a shaky breath. "I have to break up with Dave."

That name alone burns a hole through Kurt's chest.

"It's- it hasn't been good. For me. Being with him- it was never, never like you. No love. Just… comfortable. I think he knows. I think he knew for a while. But- I don't want to hurt him."

Kurt heart goes out to him, to his big, teary eyes that hide a broken soul. He couldn't harm a fly, not even if that fly was one David Karofsky.

"I'm sorry," he says.

"No, no, don't be sorry, Kurt. Don't be sorry for us," Blaine says, breathing hard. "Just because- because I love you-" I love you too I never stopped loving you I love you Blaine Anderson I love you "-doesn't mean we can't be- be grownups about this, right?"

Wait. What? "I'm not sure I understand."

"Well, we should take things slow, of course," Blaine says in a reasonable tone of someone who's thought about his words over and over before speaking them. He puts down the water bottle, and takes Kurt's hand in his. "Date for a while, not move in together right away. Engagement is a conversation for another day entirely. I don't want to risk anything this time, Kurt. You- you mean the world to me," he whispers. "I can't lose you again. I've had enough heartache for a lifetime, trust me."

Kurt hasn't seen this coming. Definitely not. "Oh."

"Oh?"

"I just- I thought I knew what- you surprised me, is all," Kurt says, and feels like crying. Once again, in their time apart, Blaine has grown. Gotten older and more serious, and Kurt wasn't there to watch.

Maybe, just maybe, they needed this, because Kurt knows deep down that if he'd have been there to watch, nothing would've happened.

"So you agree, right?"

I'd agree even if you weren't so goddamn smart all the time, dumbass. Kurt leans in, and feels time slow down; they kiss softly, just for a second, just one reassuring touch. "Yes," Kurt breathes. "I agree."

Blaine smiles, a tiny smile, a flower that's yet to bloom even though it wants to.

"And Blaine," Kurt whispers. "I love you."