At 8 o’clock, a courier showed up with the latest information for Blaine’s case and rang the doorbell before Kurt could get to the door. Blaine came out to see what was going on and started looking through the files. Apparently his assistants had entirely messed up a whole load of organization that could set him back days and Blaine spent the next hour on the phone arguing with people. Kurt had decided to get out of the house for a while but went to open his closet and found nearly every single pair of shoes he owned covered in doggie drool and bite marks. Needless to say, Hemingway was currently residing in the back yard for a while and not in the house.

Kurt and Blaine were in a foul mood all day and had barely spoken two words to each other by the time late afternoon rolled around, Kurt dressed for the engagement dinner that night with Finn and Rachel grudgingly, putting on a new green shirt that Rachel had talked him into buying the other day because it ‘matched his eyes’ and she wanted him to wear what she wanted for her night.

He walked into the kitchen only to find Blaine still sitting at the table in a T-shirt and jeans, not dressed.

“You’re gonna go alone tonight, to that thing with Rachel and Finn,” he said without looking up.

Kurt stared at him. “What are you talking about? Why?”

Blaine started to say something as he looked up but paused when he caught sight of Kurt, staring for a moment.

Finally, he sighed. “I’ve had a shitty day Kurt and I’m not in the mood.”

“Well, I’ve had a shitty day as well, and if you’re not going, I’m not going,” he shot back.

“Well one of us has to go and it’s not gonna be me,” Blaine said calmly.

Kurt stared at him. “They’re our best friends, Blaine. He’s my brother.”

“I’m not gonna argue about this Kurt, it’s already decided,” Blaine said with a tone of finality in his voice.

Kurt continued to stare at him. It hadn’t gone unnoticed to him that Blaine usually got his way with the people in his life. And he didn’t want to intentionally tick him off, but he wasn’t going to pander to his every whim.

“No,” Kurt said finally, in a calm voice.

“No?” Blaine said, staring back at him and narrowing his eyes.

“That’s right,” he said, “I’m not going unless you’re going.”

“You’re going,” Blaine said again, and Kurt could hear a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.

Kurt had been around him enough to know that when Blaine got angry he just shut himself off, closed up like an impenetrable fort. Kurt hadn’t seen him yell for years. It suddenly seemed clear to him that maybe it would be good for Blaine to release a bit of that pent up anger, even if it was on his roommate.

“No, Blaine. These are your friends, I’m not gonna make up some excuse for you and I’m not gonna be a substitute all night.”

Blaine’s eyes were now blazing.

“You’ll do it or maybe you won’t live in my home anymore,” he said, but his tone was still low, lower even than it had been before.

“Then I guess I’ll be leaving. That’s up to you. But as far as me going tonight, I win and that’s all there is to it.”

It was the word ‘win’ that had done it and Blaine jumped out of his chair, heading for the door. Kurt jumped up as well, blocking his path and staring at him.

Suddenly, as though a fuse had been lit, Blaine exploded.

“This isn’t about you and your fucking stubborn pride Kurt. You think I’ve never been with a guy who didn’t try to go head to head with me? Didn’t try to get under my skin and yank me around by my dick? I learned my lesson on that one a long time ago sweetheart!” he shouted furiously, inches from Kurt’s face.

And Kurt could feel his own anger starting to rise as well. “I’m not some insecure little boy that gets off on pushing your buttons. But you’re not going to play with me either. You’re a man, and I’m damn well going treat you like one, not some little boy that needs his ass wiped. So you’d better start acting like it!”

Blaine grabbed him by both arms and yanked Kurt to him till he was half an inch from his face.

“You’re gonna make me into a man Kurt?” he whispered, his eyes still blazing.

He picked him up by the arms and sat him down on the kitchen table, standing between his legs.

Kurt just stared at him the whole time, not even flinching when he’d grabbed him. It was the first time he'd ever even touched him. The tension in the room was thick and he could feel it in every part of her body.

Blaine leaned in close until his mouth just barely brushed his ear as he whispered. “What if I’m not half the man you think I am Kurt? What if I just use you up and throw you away like all the other men you’ve ever loved?”

Kurt still hadn’t moved away and he could feel his body trembling as Blaine’s hand slid down from the grip it had on his arms, traced its way down his body and came to rest on his hip, creeping under his shirt to graze the skin there. His other hand moved, sliding along his neck and up to his jaw until it reached Kurt’s lips.

His mouth fell open as Blaine’s thumb moved across his bottom lip and he continued to stare into his eyes, which were watching his fingers as they danced across Kurt’s skin. They slid down the pale skin of his neck and Blaine’s hand stilled on his pulse point, as though checking if he was still alive. He shivered when Kurt’s heart started to beat faster.

Suddenly, he stepped away from him, as though he’d been burned, and turned to face the kitchen counter, his head bent.

The doorbell rang, disturbing the silence that had fallen over the room. Finn and Rachel had arrived.

“You should go,” Blaine said quietly.

“Blaine…” Kurt whispered.

“Just go!” he shouted, and Kurt hopped off the counter, brushed past him and out the door.

He leant against the counter, where moments ago he’d held Kurt. He could still smell the scent of lavender perfume in the air.