He woke to a hand curled over his heart, knobby knees bracketing his thigh, tacky hair gel at the hollow of his throat. He smiles before his eyes can open, smiles before he can remember. Only his fiancé would climb into his hospital bed like a crazy person.

Kurt goes to move his bandaged hand to Blaine's, but it gets caught in the cats cradle of conflicting wires, and he drops it. Blaine notices, hypersensitive, and is upright in a second, ghosting a hand over fragile open cuts, smoothing the other down Kurt's hospital gown. His eyes are frantic, and Kurt wants to stroke the loose hair at the back of his neck and whisper reassurances.

"Are you okay?" They ask at the same time, and while Kurt laughs, Blaine frowns.

"Of course I'm okay, you're the one who… you're the one…" his head ducks, and Kurt watches, dismayed, as tears mar the blue knit of his blanket.

"Woah, hey," he reaches his free hand out to cradle Blaine's jaw, nudging upwards until he can see his eyes again.

"I'm okay." Kurt says. He sees Blaine search his face, watches his eyes catch on the angry cuts and bruises, and fill up with tears again.

He scrubs angrily at his eyes, shaking Kurt's hand loose.

"I'm sorry, I-" He groans in frustration, too loud.

"I didn't want to wreck this, I wanted to be strong, I know you'd have been strong if-"

"If nothing, shut up Blaine, I would've been as wrecked as you are." He does reach up this time, wrapping a hand around to the back of his neck, and pulling him in close.

"You cry if you damn well please, Blaine Anderson, there will be no "being strong" in this relationship, we're honest, and that's a hell of a lot better." Blaine looks down and nods in that way he does when no words will come out.

"Y-you just want a weeping audience at your sick bed." His eyes flicker up, and there's a sly smile there now, if weak.

Kurt laughs, light and buoyant, and Blaine's whole body relaxes.

"It does feel very hollywood."

Blaine bites his lip on a smile, and then leans in suddenly to kiss him, pressing them together hard, like jamming puzzle pieces together. When they pull away, there are tears at both their eyes.

"Why did you have to be this macho, bully-defying, brave idiot?" Blaine presses his words into Kurt's cheek, nuzzling into his skin and breathing his air.

"I did it for you, you know that? I did it so that Sadie Hawkins could be safe again, so I'd never have to see another 16-year-old boy wake up screaming because of a hate crime. I did what was right, and good-"

"And stupid."

"And stupid, and I did it because you're so wonderful, and some glorified bully only saw your sexuality when he looked at you, only saw his own ignorance. Do you understand Blaine?" Kurt's words are slurring as he holds Blaine's hands between their hearts, clasped tight enough to hinder blood flow.

"You taught me to stand up to bullies, and you showed me with your kindness, and your strength, that I didn't have to let things happen to me, happen to my friends. And I don't regret it."

Blaine cups his face with both hands, and shakes his head slowly until he finds his words. Kurt waits, tracing his lips with his fingertips and prompting him with silence.

"I'm so proud… to be yours." his voice is coarse with emotion.

"But please never put yourself in danger like that. I can't lose you. I could never lose you."

Kurt pulls him in the rest of the way so that they're pressed together all the way down.

"I promise." They rock a little after a while and Blaine whispers -

"Burt's gonna give you hell."

Kurt gives a watery laugh, pushing Blaine out so he can wipe away his tears, and straighten his curls.

"I can take it."

Blaine runs a hand through Kurt's mussed hair and smiles so that his eyes scrunch.

"See, that's true bravery."