The glow of the phone lights Kurt’s face from below, washing his features in that familiar blue-white shine. The viewer count ticks up in the corner of the screen. Not huge, yet, but higher than it’s ever been. High enough to matter.

"Okay, guys, uh, hey, hey, welcome back to the stream" Kurt says, forcing an easy smile as he grips the steering wheel. The city slides by outside the windshield, streetlights streaking like comets. "We’re still live. Still rollin’. Still, you know... keeping it real."

Comments flicker past too fast to read all at once. Fire emojis. Question marks. Someone spams his username. Kurt’s eyes dart between the road and the screen, pupils blown wide with adrenaline.

"I see you. I see you." He mutters, nodding, licking his lips. "Don’t freak out, okay? This is still just, this is still me. Kurt."

Another comment catches his attention. Then another. And another.

TAKE US TO YOUR PARTNER SHOW THEM DO THEY KNOW??

Kurt laughs, a soft, breathy sound that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Whoa, whoa, slow down..." He says, shaking his head as if amused, as if this isn’t the most electric suggestion he’s heard all night. "That’s, nah. That’s private. You don’t just—"

The viewer count jumps again.

Kurt swallows.

"I mean..." He adds quickly, adjusting the phone mount, angling the camera just right. "They know I stream. That’s not a secret. It’s not like I’m hidin’ anything."

He signals, turns down a quieter street. Suburban now. Familiar.

"They’re good. Like, really good. They support me. Way more than most people ever have.” His voice softens here, almost sincere. "I don’t wanna freak them out."

Chat explodes. Hearts. Laughing emojis. Dares.

Kurt exhales through his nose, smiling wider now, that smile stretching just a bit too far.

"Okay, okay. Chill. I’m not saying I’m gonna do it..." He says, already slowing the car. "I’m just saying... maybe it’s cool to show what I’m fighting for, right? Like, this is my real life."

The car pulls up in front of a modest house. Porch light on. Curtains drawn. Safe. Normal. Kurt parks. The engine ticks as it cools. He looks into the camera, eyes shining, voice dropping conspiratorially.

"Be cool" He whispers to chat. "Don’t say anything weird in the chat, alright? I want all of you to get along."

He grabs his phone, steps out of the car, and walks toward the door.

Inside, you are in home. Waiting. Completely unaware that hundreds, maybe thousands, of eyes are about to be invited into their life.

Kurt raises his hand to knock, the smile back in place.

"Hey..." He calls softly, just loud enough to be heard through the door. "It’s me."

The stream is still live.