Hello and welcome to my Out With A Bang piece, a story I've been working on for months.

Two amazing artists had been working with me so I can now present you a 'movie' trailer and a poster for After Echoes.

The author of the poster is one and only heartstringsduet (tumblr) who depicted my favourite scene from the whole story. I can proudly use it as a cover for the story. For a bigger picture, go to her blog and add – / post / 123230057501 - without spaces.

Applause for the trailer should go to 47mel47 (tumblr) who created something beyond my imagination. I couldn't hope for a better video. Make sure you watch it at this link – youtu . be / mX08FHQeosI

During the progress of writing I had a pleasure of meeting three amazing people without whom this story wouldn't be the same – lyingxiscariot (FFnet), FangirlingFanatic (FFnet),and stulti. I can't thank them enough for all their help.

Only thanks to the moral support from Cutiekins (FFnet)and precious-passenger (FFnet) this story was finished on time. The last half a year was a real roller coaster and I couldn't have done it without them.

Lastly, this story probably wouldn't exist without GleekMods, the people behind Out With A Bang. Only because of them, organizing this huge Glee bang, we will all have a pleasure of reading many amazing stories.

About the story:

Summary: Blaine Anderson is a prostitute whose client is murdered before his eyes. He is thrown into witness protection together with Special Agent Kurt Hummel, whose job is to keep him safe. But, with nosy neighbours and a notorious crime family snapping at their heels, it's not that easy. Especially when feelings get involved.

Warnings: prostitution, dub/con, alcohol use, minor OMC death, mention of child abuse, mention of domestic violence, mention of various kinks

Pairings: Kurt/Blaine, Sugar/Artie, Quinn/Puck, Cooper/OFC

Length: 65k; 16 parts altogether

Updates: weekly on Mondays (unless I'm physically unable to update)

Chapter notes: the prologue takes place 3 months into the story; in the Chapter 1 we go back and get to see how the characters get into the situation they are in now

PROLOGUE

Out of all the possibilities of how he could have died, the last thing on Blaine's mind was being killed by the man he loved. But, here he was.

"On your knees," Blaine heard as soon as he entered the living room. He turned around.

Kurt was standing in the doorway of their house, his gun pointed at Blaine. He gulped audibly. He had seen that gun numerous times, but never aimed at him. And while he didn't fear his boyfriend, it made him feel unsettled.

"Warn the guy before attempting roleplay. You might give me a heart attack next time," Blaine joked, but Kurt didn't even smile.

"I said, get on your knees," he said, his voice getting tighter.

"I'm not in the mood, Kurt," he said apologetically and dropped on the couch. He was exhausted. "Can we watch a movie and snuggle instead?"

Kurt closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, they shone with determination, in a way he reminded Blaine of a madman. He was about to make such comment when an ear-splitting gunshot echoed throughout the house.

"The fuck are you doing, Kurt?" Blaine nearly jumped out of his skin as soon as he noticed that the bullet tore the material of the couch, leaving a hole in it. An inch away from where he had been sitting when Kurt took a shot.

"My job," the man responded calmly. "Get on your knees."

Blaine didn't move. "What? I don't understand. Isn't your job to protect me? It's called witness protection, not witness murdering for a reason, you know?" he tried to laugh it off.

"New orders. I hate to kill you but my superiors think it's too risky to keep you alive. It's nothing personal."

"Not personal? Did it mean nothing to you?" Blaine asked, hurt vivid in his voice. "I mean us. I… thought we had something special."

Kurt laughed. Cold and short. "You are a whore, Anderson. Nobody can have something special with you. The only way I could keep you out of trouble was by pretending to have interest in you. Now, be a darling and get on your knees like you do for living."

Blaine felt a pang in his heart at the cruel words thrown at him. He had heard countless insults before, but hearing them from the person he cared about, hurt so much more. Without a second thought he dropped into an overfamiliar position, defeated.

"Please, don't do this. I won't tell anyone. I will leave the country, disappear. Just, don't kill me," Blaine pleaded, his voice breaking at the end of the sentence. He knew he sounded pathetic, but he didn't know how to beg without looking pitiful.

Kurt sighed but his hardened features didn't soften. "What do you have to live for? No family, no friends, no respectable job. Isn't it easier to just end it? I promise it will be quick."

Blaine winced at the words. He couldn't believe he was hearing them from none other than Kurt. He knew the bullet couldn't possibly cause more pain than those hurtful words. He looked Kurt in the eye.

"Do it then," Blaine braved to say, yet his voice was shaky. "Don't keep me waiting."

"Thank you," Kurt said and that was it.

It happened quickly. Blaine didn't even manage to blink before another gunshot, this time aimed directly at him, disturbed the silence. He choked when pain hit his chest and spread through his whole body like electricity. Slowly he looked down to see a dark red stain spreading further on his shirt with each passing moment. With one last look at Kurt, he fell face down on the floor.

As he was losing consciousness, he felt Kurt's fingers on his neck, and soon heard his words, "Hey, Elliot, it's me, Kurt. I need your help… I just killed Blaine."