Chapter 1: I Would Do It For You
Kurt watches in horror as the broadcast shows Blaine sleeping alone in a cave, completely unprotected and unhidden. He watches as the tribute—he can't remember their names; he doesn't want to—with the bow sneaks up next to the sleeping boy. He tries to cover his eyes as she slits his throat but he can't move fast enough to block out the sound of the cannon going off seconds later.
Kurt sits up suddenly, eyes snapping open and breaths coming fast and panicked. It was just a dream, he tells himself, letting out a quiet sob of relief. He's been having similar dreams for the past week, but this one was the worst. He can only guess the reason for that; it's the night before the reaping. Nobody can sleep well except for maybe the ignorant puppets in the Capitol.
Shutting out any and all images and thoughts of Blaine dying in the Games, Kurt slowly gets out of his bed which is nothing more than a torn mattress with tattered blankets wrinkled atop it. He pads his way into the small kitchen which is also the living room, glancing over at his father's room. He's still sleeping, so Kurt decides to make breakfast for his dad before heading out.
Once he spreads the hard, oily butter over the stale bread and leaves a glass of milk on the table, he quietly walks outside, clad in his best clothing because the reaping is in a matter of hours. He cautiously looks around for patrolling Peacekeepers but sees nothing and decides it's safe to cross through their yard into the Andersons'.
He knocks on the low window on the side of the house and smiles when he sees Blaine sit up and rub his eyes before walking over to the window. When he opens it and sees Kurt, his eyes light up and he grins. "Good morning. My day just got a whole lot brighter." Kurt blushes and giggles softly when Blaine leans in to kiss his nose. Then Blaine's tone and expression turns serious when he asks, "How are you? And don't say fine because I know you better than that."
Kurt sighs and lets Blaine help him through the window until they're both inside. They move to sit on Blaine's bed, which is significantly nicer than Kurt's, and Kurt meets Blaine's earnest, concerned eyes. "I keep having the nightmares," he admits.
"I have them, too," Blaine tells him, squeezing his hand. Kurt looks at him for a moment before leaning into his chest and letting Blaine hold him. "I know you're scared. I'm scared, too. But it's just one more year. One more year and we'll be safe. It'll be okay, I promise."
"You can't promise that," Kurt whispers. After that, they sit in silence, just holding on to each other and trying not to think about what could happen in just a few hours. Within the next day, one of them could be preparing to fight to the death and there would be no going back. Both of them are fully aware of this, but they have a sort of silent agreement to just enjoy every second they have with each other rather than live in fear every day that they could be next.
"Come on; let's go someplace. Someplace almost as beautiful as you," Blaine says, smiling adoringly at Kurt and kissing his forehead. Kurt looks up at him and smiles, blushing at the praise. He nods in agreement, knowing that he'd follow Blaine anywhere he asked.
They walk together, past the Seam, past the Hob, and even past the fence. Kurt's heart races as they slip through the electrical fence that's never turned on and he follows Blaine through the open meadow until they're hidden by the cover of the forest. Their linked hands don't part even as they walk through the tangle of roots and moss. "Are we almost there?"
"You'll know when we're there," is all Blaine says.
And he does know. He gasps in awe when they reach a beautiful patch of flowers and grass on the shore of a small, crystal blue lake. "Blaine, it's beautiful," he murmurs as Blaine pulls him forward. They sit down in the soft patch of green, purple, yellow, red, and orange. The soft flush of purple flowers and green grass contrast starkly to the vibrant shades of yellow, red, and orange flowers and it all creates a beautiful array of scents that Kurt didn't even know existed.
"Not as beautiful as you," Blaine says with a soft, loving smile. Kurt giggles again and yelps softly when Blaine suddenly lays down, taking Kurt with him. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Kurt answers instantly. There's not a doubt in his mind that he does, either. Ever since they met as kids, Blaine has always been a sure thing in his life. Loving Blaine, even when it was only as a best friend all those years ago, has always been as simple as breathing. So obvious. So undoubtedly necessary to Kurt's survival.
They doze off in that position, waking up every so often only to fall back into a peaceful sleep when they remember where they are and who they're with. However, eventually, they hear the loud chiming of the clock from the town square back in Twelve, signaling that it's time for them to head back. Reluctantly, they walk back to the district together, parting ways with a kiss and returning to their own houses.
Burt doesn't even ask where Kurt was. He knows he was spending what could be their final precious seconds together with Blaine. And he understands. He did the same with Elizabeth the morning before that fateful reaping; the one where Effie Trinket trilled out the name Elizabeth Hummel; the one where Burt said 'I love you' to her for the last time that she would be able to hear it.
So he doesn't ask.
They eat in silence, Kurt sitting unusually close to his father at the table. When he finishes his food before Burt does, he closes his eyes and leans his head on Burt's shoulder. "I love you, dad," he whispers.
"It'll all be okay," Burt says even though he knows there's no way to promise that. He knows that Kurt's taken out as much tesserae as possible for the two of them for the past seven years. And now, at eighteen, he has forty-two cumulative entries being put into the bowl. And even with the tesserae, they're barely surviving in the depressed District 12.
The odds are surely not in his favor.
Blaine's family, on the other hand, has never needed to worry about tesserae. Even before Cooper won the games at eighteen, when Kurt and Blaine were ten, their family was well off. Mr. Anderson was good friends with the mayor and he was a very successful tradesman. Although their house was right next to Kurt's, it was much nicer and much warmer in the winter. Which is one of the reasons Mr. Anderson agreed to let Blaine stay in that house even after the rest of his family moved into Cooper's house in the Victors Village. He'd wanted to stay close to Kurt.
However, Blaine does have a few extra entries in the bowl. Each year, he's taken out one—his father wouldn't allow anything more—tessera under the pretense of taking it out for himself. But, unbeknownst to the Capitol, he has been giving it to Kurt and his father for the past seven years. Because of this, he has a total of thirty-five entries.
While slightly less depressing, the odds are weighing against him as well.
Before they know it, it's ten minutes to one o' clock, the time when they're supposed to be assembled in the square.
Kurt meets up with Blaine and they walk hand-in-hand to the sign-up table. Their fingers are pricked and their prints are recorded before they're rounded up in the eighteen-year-old boys section. They somehow lose a hold of each other in the crowd and Kurt's heart races as he tries to catch Blaine's eyes overtop of the other boys' heads. When he finally does, he relaxes and keeps the image of Blaine's shining eyes in his mind to calm himself while he waits for Effie Trinket to take the stage.
Five minutes later, Effie wobbles up the steps with her too-high heels, followed by the mayor, Haymitch Abernathy, and Cooper Anderson. Kurt takes a deep breath to calm down as the crowd silences.
"Welcome! Welcome to the sixty-first annual Hunger Games!" Effie announces cheerily, beaming bright at the dull crowd. Annoyed at the lack of enthusiasm, she clears her throat and hums before continuing into the same introduction that she gives every year. She turns the time over to the mayor, who clearly isn't happy about having to give this same speech again; talking about how the Games are a time to celebrate and how everyone should be thankful to have such an organized society and a wonderful president. It makes Kurt sick. "Now!" Effie trills as soon as the mayor has effectively put some of them to sleep, including Haymitch. "As always, ladies first!"
Her heels click as she waddles over to the left side of the stage, drawing out the moment. She reaches one delicate hand into the bowl, moving it around before snatching a paper out and unfolding it. "Sophia Tarring!" she announces and Kurt's heart sinks. He knows that girl. She's a tiny twelve-year-old who roams around the Seam in tattered clothing, as thin as a twig, in search of a kind stranger who might give her food and shelter. Nobody knows what happened to her parents, but there are rumors. There are always rumors. Kurt thinks that the Capitol punished them because of Sophia's older brother who rigged the games all those years ago. Now Sophia is homeless and without a family. Kurt knows she won't last a day in the games. She's too small, too innocent.
He feels his disgust for the Capitol take on a newly-lit fire in his heart. This isn't fair. None of this is fair.
"That's it, dear," Effie coos as she the crying girl is led up onto the stage. "Moving on!" she exclaims with a bright smile. Kurt's entire body tenses as Effie reaches the bowl on the right side of the stage and reaches in. She unfolds the paper and Kurt closes his eyes, hoping against all hope that Blaine's name won't be called.
Blaine is hoping the same thing about Kurt. And, to his relief, Kurt's name isn't called.
But the name that is called makes his knees buckle.
"Blaine Anderson!"
No.
No!
No!
"I volunteer!"
Blaine is being walked in a haze towards the stage and Kurt stands in the middle of the aisle, helpless as two Peacekeepers hold him back. He doesn't even realize that he's struggling or that he's screaming or even what he's screaming until his own voice reaches his ears.
"I volunteer as tribute!" he shouts desperately and the Peacekeepers let go of him as the other two walk Blaine back to his spot. His eyes are wide and desperate when he passes Kurt. Kurt wants to cry and hug him and tell him he's sorry, but he's being pushed forward by the Peacekeeper behind him. He stumbles before walking towards the stage, stunned.
"How exciting!" Effie says giddily. She makes Kurt and Sophia stand beside each other as the crowd stays silent. Kurt has to give them some credit; most other districts would probably cheer and hoot at the turn of events, but each and every face in the square is solemn and silent. He catches sight of his dad's face and his heart clenches painfully. He hadn't been thinking of the effect his actions would have on his dad. He'd just been thinking about Blaine; save Blaine. Keep Blaine alive. But now he saw the heartbreak in his father's eyes and he has to avert his gaze.
Then he finds Blaine, whose eyes are wide and desperate and terrified. However, he doesn't see anything else because then he's being hauled away by Peacekeepers to the Justice Building. He's moved roughly into a room with plush, comfortable couches, but he doesn't sit down. He just waits.
A few seconds later, his dad enters the room and Kurt immediately throws his arms around him in a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, dad," he whispers.
"Hey, none of that," Burt says soothingly. "I would've done the same for your mother if I could have. I just want you to promise me something."
"Promises don't seem to work out when it comes to the Games," Kurt says flatly.
"Just promise me that you'll fight. Tell me you'll fight to come home to me and Blaine. I don't know about you, but I think that kid's one hell of an incentive to stay alive."
"He is," Kurt whispers, just hugging his dad in silence until the Peacekeepers come to escort him out.
"I love you, Kurt," he says just before the door closes.
"I love you, too…" Kurt whispers, shutting his eyes and wrapping his arms around himself. A few seconds later, he feels another pair of arms wrapping around him.
"Kurt," Blaine says softly. "You shouldn't have done that." His voice sounds so heartbroken and it cracks when he says, "You're so stupid… Why would you do that?" He starts crying into Kurt's shoulder, clinging to him like his life depends on it. "You have to win, Kurt," he says forcefully, looking up at Kurt solemnly. Kurt reaches up to wipe Blaine's tears away and cup his cheeks. "You have to fight and you have to win and come back to me, okay? You can't leave me."
"I'll try," Kurt says, because that's the most he can promise. "I'll really, really try. I promise."
"I love you so much, Kurt. I love you," he whispers before pressing his lips to Kurt's in a passionate kiss. In that kiss, he does his best to put every ounce of love, fear, desperation, and strength that he has into each tiny movement. By the time they break apart, all he can do is slump into Kurt's arms.
"I love you, too," Kurt murmurs. "I'll do everything I can to come home to you."
After that, two Peacekeepers come to escort Blaine away and Blaine struggles, crying desperately. "No, please! Kurt! Kurt, you have to win—"
And the door closes behind them, leaving Kurt alone. A few seconds later, the door opens again, surprising him. He's surprised to see Sam Evans, a boy in his year. But he's never spoken more than five words to him at once. "Hi," he says.
"Hi," Kurt answers, a little confused. "I'm sorry, I—"
"I'm not saying you need to protect her, because I know she can't win and I know you need to come home to your dad, but please make sure she doesn't suffer. She's so small and so sweet and—"
"You mean Sophia?" Kurt asks, understanding a little better now.
Sam nods, sighing. He reaches into his pocket and hands Kurt a golden locket. "Blaine told me to give this to you since he didn't get the chance. He wants you to have a token to take into the arena."
Kurt takes the locket and opens it, examining it carefully. His heart catches in his throat when he sees what's inside. It's a tri-fold locket; one side has a picture of Blaine, one side has a picture of his dad, and the middle is a pressed flower petal, bright yellow. It's a tulip, Kurt can tell, because tulips have always been their thing. The yellow ones have always been Blaine's favorite because they're like a symbol of hope and happiness. And ever since Blaine came to Kurt's door with a bouquet of tulips that he'd picked from the meadow, confessing that he loved Kurt as more than a friend… Well, Kurt has always loved the flower; it's always held some sentimental value for him.
"Thank you," he says earnestly, finally meeting Sam's eyes again. "And I'll make sure she'll be okay. She won't suffer."
"Thank you," Sam says, moving forward and awkwardly wrapping Kurt in a hug.
"Time's up," says a Peacekeeper outside the room, ordering Sam out. Then Kurt is ushered towards the train. When he gets there, he finds Cooper, Effie, and Sophia sitting at a table.
"Where's Haymitch?" he asks quietly.
Effie sighs, longsuffering, and says, "He's in the liquor car of the train." The distaste in her tone is obvious and actually a little amusing. Kurt nods before taking a seat next to Cooper.
"Blaine came to see you?"
Kurt looks at him and frowns. "Of course."
Cooper nods. "Sorry. I just… This is going to make me sound like a horrible person, but thank you for what you did for my brother. If he was in the Games, he… he wouldn't last. He could never hurt someone, let alone kill them. He's too good of a person. No one decent ever wins the Games."
Kurt sighs, nodding. "Well, maybe I don't want to be a good person anymore. I need to get home to him."
"Good. Keep that in mind. Never forget that you're fighting for him; not for them. How else do you think I was able to make myself actually kill those people when I won my Games? I just thought of him and I knew I had to get home for him."
Kurt doesn't answer. He stays silent and pulls out his locket, opening it up to see Blaine's face. And he makes a promise to himself right then. He's already made the promise to Blaine, but now he needs to convince himself. I'm going to come home. I'm going to fight. I'm going to get back to Blaine whatever it takes.
A/N: Oh my gosh! This is so fun. I love writing HG Aus. And add in Klaine and it's even better :) So this is only the first chapter. I might spout out another chapter tonight, but if I don't it'll be out next weekend. But I'm kind of on a roll tonight. We'll see :)
Love you, my lovelies!
Review please :)