Scott stumbled down the corridor without thinking. He'd gotten up with a serious desire for a milkshake. One in the morning and he needed a milkshake. He appreciated the oddness, but didn't comment on it to the appliances. They seemed to agree with him.

But now it was two, and he was heading back to bed. To be able to see in the dark. To be able to see anything. No, just in the dark would be good. Ah. Night vision. One of the things he wanted more than life itself right now.

He paused outside the gym. The door was closed; meaning someone was probably inside. And the light was on. But he couldn't hear a thing. He pressed his ear against the door, but still nothing.

He opened the door, frowning. Oh. Kurt. He went to close the door again when the thought registered. What the?

He stepped in silently and closed the door. Kurt was balancing, holding himself up straight from parallel bars. He carefully shifted his weight onto one arm and lifted the other until he was just balancing on one bar.

"Kurt?"

"Wa-?" Kurt's head snapped up and his eyes widened. He lost his balance, fell sideways onto the other bar and slipped to the ground. He almost landed properly, but his ankle twisted and he dropped, wheezing.

"Kurt!" Scott ran forward and fell to his knees. "What happened? Are you okay? Kurt?"

He coughed and opened his mouth, but couldn't speak. It took almost a minute for him to get air back in his lungs. "Shiesse." He croaked, then smiled weakly up at him.

Scott wasn't nearly as amused. He frowned and bent down to look him in the eye. "Winded?"

"Ja, you think?" he coughed out a laugh and pushed himself up onto his knees. "Oh, Gott..." he bent back down, his forehead touching Scott's knees.

"Come on; let's get you to the infirm-"

"Nein, I'm fine." He muttered, pushing himself up again. "Just need a break for a minute." He coughed again. "Or sixty."

Scott looked at him, then pulled him into his arms.

Kurt stiffened. "What are you doing?"

He rolled his eyes. "I bet the couch would be more comfortable than this, wouldn't you?" He looped Kurt's knees and tail over one arm and held his back with the other. "Not that I'd appreciate you telling anyone about it."

Kurt grinned and put one arm around Scott's shoulders. "Thanks to God that it's too early for anyone to see, ja?"

He nodded with a smile and carried him downstairs to the lounge room, Kurt still coughing every few minutes. "You hit that bar pretty hard, you sure you're okay?"

He smiled up at Scott as he settled him on the couch. "Ja, it's my foot that's the real problem." He lifted it to inspect it. "Think it is broken."

"I can go wake up Hank if you want." Said Scott.

"Nein, It's okay." He put it up on the couch beside him. "Until morning I have another four limbs, right?"

Scott smiled. "I forget that sometimes."

"Wish I could." He looked up at him for a few moments, then looked around. "You just gonna stand there, or what?"

Scott blinked. "What? Oh, um, uh..." he motioned to the free seat behind Kurt. "Mind if I sit?"

"You were here first." Reasoned Kurt, moving his injured leg to the table in front of them so he could sit normally.

Scott smiled and sat beside him. "What were you doing?"

"Exercises." He said, shrugging. "I've been getting sloppy. If I was as good as I should be, I should have been able to talk to you, upside down." He sighed. "My troupe would shoot me."

"Troupe?"

"Ja, used to work in the circus." He smiled and looked at his hands. "I was the star. But, well, if I went back now they'd all be disgusted at how bad I've gotten."

"The star?" Scott raised an eyebrow. "You were a circus star?"

"You don't doubt me do you, mein Scott?" he sat back on one hand to mock-glare at him. "I am mortally wounded! How many amazing trapeze devils do you know?"

"I don't know any devils." He replied calmly.

"And now he denies me my heritage!" cried Kurt, grinning as he threw his hands up. "I am pained, dear Scott, to hear you say such things. Ugh!" he put a hand to his head and fell backwards onto Scott's chest. "And so, I die."

Scott grinned but didn't push him away. "Die, huh?"

He opened one eye. "Ja. Dead as the proverbial doornail."

Scott laughed, but still they didn't move. After a while, Kurt shuffled, putting his feet up on the couch and shifting his tail over his stomach. Scott moved too, so he could sit still for longer. Eventually, Kurt's eyes started to droop close and Scott put an arm over his. Kurt looked up.

"It's okay. You can sleep."

"Danke." He murmured, before closing his eyes again and smiling. "Danke, Scott."

"Don't mention it." He whispered, smiling down at him. He glanced at the glowing numbers on the VCR. It would be hours before anyone was awake.

He looked back at the now sleeping elf and smiled as he shifted, bringing his hands up to his chest.

Not that he'd appreciate anyone knowing, but Kurt felt right in his arms. So while no one was awake, he put his arms around him and pushed hair from his eyes. He cradled what was wrong, feeling right.