Author's Note: Holy shit is this chapter long! That's why it took me a week to up-date. Over 7,000 words! I hope you enjoy!

CB: Chapter Two:

Sebastian woke up to the pounding of his own heart. For a moment, in a fit of restless sleep and deep dreaming, he forgot that he wasn't in hiding away in the nearest run down gas station or old house, so that he could live through the night. He freaked out because he found himself slipping away into an unfamiliar comfort sleep and he couldn't risk that while he was on the run to find safety. Any moment uninhibited was dangerous, especially when you were alone and had to stop and sleep before deprivation caught up with you and seriously screwed you over because you were dumb enough not to know that rest was important and needed when you were on the move, always in constant motion. So it wasn't until he was fully awake, no longer wide eyed and taking in his surroundings with a blur of half wakefulness.

He expected to wake up on a dirt matted floor, or some rotted out mattress (which took a while for him to adjust to when he first found himself on the run, he wasn't aware of just how good he had it before all of those fleeting luxuries, such little things like a bed or even blankets, were left behind for freedom). Instead he woke up on a thin mattress on a small iron wrought bed with a thin blanket tangled around his boots (it was always smarter to fall asleep ready to run at the first sign of trouble, even if it meant you were uncomfortable wearing clothes and shoes while sleeping...comfort in general was a luxury few out here people could indulge in). He realized that sleeping on an actual bed was the reason why he was falling so deep into the dreams he never remembered anyway. It was the most comfortable sleep he had had in a long time.

His eyes searched around the tiny room Kurt had brought him to. He and a few others apparently used the old storage rooms and dressing rooms to make actual rooms for people who were passing through into another division. Kurt had also old him that the old attic was fit into an emergency hospital wing, containing the medical supplies to treat more serious injuries. They hadn't had much need of it, but Kurt mentioned that it wouldn't be long until he saw it filled. This room, Sebastian noted, must have been from an old dressing room. The paint was faded, but meant to be a bright cherry color. The floor even still had the thick carpeting, looking old and worn, but still there nonetheless. He could see where shelves and built in privacy partisans were taken out of the room and replaced with the bed. The wardrobe was still there, just a few feet away from the bed, and the long mirror and stretched out counter underneath the mirror were still intact as well, probably more effort than it was worth to tear down. A vase of dead flowers stood on top of the counter, a pile of dried up petals resting at the bottom of the painted vase, briefly Sebastian wondered why they were there in the first place, and then dismissed it as nothing to bother himself with.

A knock on the door startled Sebastian before it swung open and Kurt walked in, tossing something metal toward Sebastian, who managed to catch it, even without any notice of something being thrown in his direction. He held the metal weight in his hands, glancing down at the large barrel and trigger. Sebastian sent Kurt a confused look and received a grin in return.

"You're going to need something more than just that little letter opener around here, especially if things start to get nasty. You won't have to get too up close and personal with the person trying to kill you either, as long as you're not a bad shot," Kurt added in good humor.

Sebastian recalled the hours of training he had received before he had left. His aim wasn't the best, but he always his intended target.

"I think I can do just fine with this," Sebastian said, gesturing with the gun and connecting it to the gun holster he kept strapped to his belt. He had come across a few guns while he was out there and he ended up using up every single one due to a good handful of run-ins with patrolmen or the groups that go out by themselves.

Kurt quirked a brow, "You know how to use it in pressure situations, not just shooting up cans?"

Sebastian scowled, "I know how to use it, no worries there Princess."

"I would ask you to stop calling me that, but if I know anything, it's that a nickname seems to stick, no matter how horrible."

"It could be a lot worse," Sebastian said, standing up from his position on the bed, "I could always call you by your looks, but I think Gay Face would get to be a mouthful."

Kurt's lips thinned and Sebastian figured he hit a nerve and cracked away a bit of that ice-queen's castle, "Come on, get out of here Meerkat, we're going to be late."

"Well if you're going to be so original," Sebastian said, following Kurt out of the room, closing the door behind him, "But where are we going? Because I don't remember a thing about me actually agreeing to following you around to protect your ass, no matter how fine an ass it is," he added and had that extra satisfaction of seeing Kurt stiffen at his words. Virgin was the first thing Sebastian caught from that and when Kurt only continued his strides through the corridor, he figured that his assumption was correct.

"Noah happens to see this unrealistic version of me. Sometimes he sees me as being strong and as someone who never needs anyone to help, though he's always there just in case. Then there are times when he thinks it's too dangerous for me to do anything but be locked away in a tower," he paused, "He's only ever half right about those situations. What I think he wants from you, and what would actually be quite helpful, is if I had someone around, you, who can accompany me during my runs and side assignments."

"And why is it me that has been assigned this so wonderful post? You don't even know if you can trust me, nor have you seen me in actual action," and on a last thought Sebastian added on, "And why doesn't he help you with all of that shit, if he's so concerned for your safety. Seems smarter to send himself out there."

Kurt turned down another hall and Sebastian pushed forward to walk alongside him so now that the halls left room for him to fit. He hated being forced to follow along like a stray dog.

"He has other things to worry about. Noah is who keeps our communications set up and working, though I'm usually the one who talks to the other divisions, he's surprisingly promising as tech support, he's the best I have in this division. Those connections are more important than even my safety as leader of this whole operation. We need to be able to keep in full contact if we even want to think about surviving this whole mess."

Sebastian nodded absently, because that made sense.

"But I still don't see why I'm here. I just got in last night and for all you know, I could actually be a spy who knows his information."

Kurt didn't falter, "Would a spy actually bring up that there was a possibility of being a spy?"

"Who knows, maybe this is all just a mind-" Sebastian lost his voice as the hair was knocked out of his lungs, his back colliding harshly with the wall behind him. One of Kurt's hands was resting firmly on his throat, not blocking his air supply, just tight enough to be threatening, Kurt's other hand held a gun to his stomach, a much stronger threat of disembowelment than the one on Sebastian's throat.

Kurt's eyes were staring straight into Sebastian's and he easy willed himself to maintain eye contact as Kurt searched for whatever it was he was looking for. And apparently he found it moments later when the hand gripping his throat released the pressure entirely and the gun was settled into its holster.

"You're not a spy. If you were I'm sure I'd have been dead by now. Besides, spies don't look like you. I don't care how well they could dress like someone who's been fighting out there, or how cocky they can be," Kurt said clearly talking about Sebastian, "There eyes are dead," he spit out, "Your eyes don't hold the death that they hold. They don't even show me that you were a civilian wrangled into this mess. There would be fear, and you're not scared of me, and you're defiant and you saved me last night. And as much as I am well aware of the fact that I could have handled them on my own, I'll thank you again for it. That's why I'm letting you do this with me, whether you like it or not. You could turn to be valuable and I would be a complete idiot to ignore that."

Kurt stepped back and away from Sebastian's personal space.

"Now, we'd better get going we're going to be late."

Kurt swiftly headed down the hallway while Sebastian stood there, blinking until he jogged to catch up with Kurt. It irritated him to no end that Kurt still wasn't giving him a straight answer as to where Kurt was leading him in the first place. He didn't think he'd ever get used to it...not that he was planning on it in the first place. He easily matched up with Kurt's speed, long legs carrying him enough that it wasn't even much of a struggle.

"You still haven't told me where we're going. Don't you think that would be a little important to tell me?" Sebastian managed not to bark out the question. He was starting to understand a little bit more about Kurt, and yeah, okay, Kurt was definatly helping him out with this shit, but that still didn't mean that he was going to just follow him around without being answered.

"I'm just going to have you meet a few of our section leaders. I said before that this division is pretty large, Noah and I can't keep this running by ourselves, so we have this division split into three main sections. It's my job, now our job, to make sure that everything is still running smoothly."

Sebastian snorted, "And you don't just have them come here and report to you."

Kurt shook his head, ignoring Sebastian's benevolence.

"It's too dangerous. They have to be in their sector at all times, or else who knows what's going to happen. It's just easier, and it's my division in the first place, I should be able to look out for it and keep involved as much as I can."

"I've got to say, I'm a little surprised that this little operation you're running is working. With everyone against one government dictator, who would have thought they would go for the same thing, smaller scale or not."

Kurt bristled at the suggestion, but didn't falter in his steps, only continued to weave through the halls.

"I'm no dictator," Kurt hissed, voice laced with venomous poison, "I just make sure that there isn't anyone in trouble in the divisions. They're all looked over by groups of people. No one more powerful than the other. This is my division, so I make sure that no one needs medical attention or protection. If another division needs help, I send it wherever help is available. Noah keeps track of communications, as I've explained to you not moments ago, and he brings the information back to me, where we both try to see if we can find some solution. If we can't find one good enough, we bring it to the others until we can make a final decision. I may have more sway into what happens, but I am in no way in a position to be making demands to people who are my equals and who are in this fight with me. We are in this together. There is no "I" there's only "we." Without that we might as well be back in Warbler territory because we'd just burn ourselves down until there's nothing left but ash. Does that make any sense to you?"

Sebastian didn't answer. He let Kurt storm out of the building ahead of him before he resumed his strides next to Kurt's.

He huffed and cursed his life.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it like this."

Kurt sighed, "Yeah, you did. I think about it too," he admitted, "But I refuse to be like them. I only want us all to live, not just to survive, but to live through all of this."

Sebastian nodded and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets, strolling along the sidewalk. The sun was glowing bright, a signal of a new day, and that it wasn't even midday yet. The air still held a comforting chill and the sky was pale, nearly white, with the day's new sunlight.

"You mentioned that there were two sectors, which one are we going to first?"

"The farthest one," Kurt answered, "Sometimes I end up staying longer than I should and I'd rather be heading this way than the opposite direction when the sun starts to go down. So you'll get to meet Sam and Quinn first and then Santana and Brittney. Which is probably the best, especially because I have the strangest feeling that you and Santana are going to get along maybe a little bit too well."

"And what do you mean by that," Sebastian asked, actually curious about why Kurt would think he would get along with this Santana person.

Kurt laughed, "Or, I guess, you might at least respect each other. Now that I think about it more. You're personalities are so similar it's almost scary. You're like the male version of Satan."

Sebastian grinned, "Satan? Now Princess, how does she get the name "satan" while I'm left with "meerkat?" That doesn't seem quite fair."

"It's not my fault your face is sadly reminiscent of rodents."

It was high noon by the time Kurt and Sebastian met up with Sam and Quinn, both who greeted them at the edge of the boundary line. At first glance Sebastian let out a laugh, grunting when Kurt's elbow ended in his ribs. He shrugged off Kurt's glare because it really was too funny to see Sam and Quinn standing next to each other. It was like a fucking picture perfect portrait between the two of them. Both blonde with bright eyes, even the pink in Quinn's hair didn't do much to stop him from rolling his eyes at how they looked together.

"Be nice," Kurt hissed, turning a smile straight to the couple they were walking toward, "They're good people, and Sam is one of my closest friends out here."

"Is that supposed to mean something to me Princess?"

"We won't be here long, a few hours to look around and catch up."

"How many times a week do you do this? You don't see them enough?"

"Not really, once or twice, but even that isn't enough."

They walked up to the boundary line, Sam immediately taking the few strides to Kurt and scooping him into a huge bear hug, lifting him off the ground to swing him around. Kurt was giggling and demanding to be put down, even though it was obvious that he was enjoying himself.

Sebastian glanced over to Quinn, who had been watching Kurt and Sam with a wary eye, and was now regarding Sebastian with a cool indifference of someone who didn't seem to really care what was going on as long as it didn't bother her in anyway. She fixated her gaze back to where Sam was putting Kurt back on the ground, careful to make sure Kurt has his feet below him and steady before backing a respectable distance away, grin large and genuinely happy to see Kurt. Sebastian wondered if there had been something between either of them before and if that was the reason for Quinn's close eye on the both of them.

"Sam, Quinn," Kurt said, addressing them both as Quinn took her spot next to Sam, "I'd like to meet Sebastian," Kurt introduced, gesturing to Sebastian, "He came in just last night."

Sam skimmed over Sebastian, clearly trying to take him for a first impression.

"How'd you and Kurt meet if you just got in last night?" Sam asked directly.

Sebastian shifted, standing a little bit taller, just to make it clear that he wasn't going to be intimidated, and if he attempted just a bit to seem intimidating well, as long as it worked out all right, there wouldn't be a problem.

"Ran into him and a few guys when I first got in. Caught Kurt in a tough spot in one of the alley ways," he glanced over at Kurt, who looked like he really didn't want Sebastian to tell Sam exactly how they met.

Sam's eyes widened and he looked back over to Kurt, searching for any injuries that might be visible.

"Why were you out there so late? You know that isn't safe/"

Kurt sighed, "I'm fine Sam. I just lost track of time and ended up farther than I wanted to be. I was heading back to the theater and I would have been fine, Sebastian just helped me out a little bit."

"Sam," Quinn interjected, "Kurt's fine, no need to worry. And now he finally has some help," she said, motioning to Sebastian, "So let's go and start this so we don't waste any of Kurt's time, he's going to want to visit Santana and Brittney soon after us, right Kurt?"

Kurt nodded stiffly, giving her a wary grin, "We don't have to rush, but I guess it would be smart to not stay very late, especially if I want to get to the girls."

Sebastian watched him curiously. Not long ago Kurt was telling Sebastian about how quick they had to be to get to Sam and Quinn early and now Sebastian was pretty sure Kurt wanted to get here early so that he could see Sam longer. And something told him that Kurt wouldn't have minded staying later and staying with Santana and Brittney for the night. Or even staying around here for the night.

The walk around was awkward to say the least. It felt like Kurt was trying to keep the peace between himself and Quinn, all the while trying not to get caught up with Sam, who wasn't keeping it a secret that he was happy to see Kurt. Nonetheless, it was quick and nearly painless, and Sebastian caught the look of disappointment Kurt had when he realized that he had done everything that was required of a normal visit.

And it didn't help that Sam and Quinn weren't in charge of watching over a very large expansion of land or as many people as most looked after. This section of the division was mostly for population control. If the other section was over flooded with more people than they could look over and protect volunteers would cross over. There also weren't any problems or threats. With the section also being a bit separated from the inner city there were less troops searching through the streets, looking for strays out at night. There food supply was still strong and they weren't in need of any medical supplies, nor was there anyone who was in need of medical attention that required them to be brought back with him and Kurt for better care.

So when Kurt announces, albeit a bit regrettably, to Sebastian that they didn't need to stay any longer now that they had been through everything, Sebastian didn't miss Quinn's expression of both relief and triumph. He could see the little tick in her facial expression that showed that she was at least attempting to control the fact that she wanted Kurt as far way from her and Sam as possible, but her eyes were what caught her. They were bright and starving as she was nothing but bones and Kurt leaving meant that she was going to be well fed.

Maybe that was exactly how it was going to be, Sebastian thought to himself, but he kept all thoughts to himself. Well...almost to himself. While Kurt and Sam were saying their quick good-byes, which consisted of another hug, Sebastian couldn't help but nudge a little at Quinn. It wasn't much, just a slip of the tongue, but it was enough to get her hackles raised and a saccharine smile sent his way as he and Kurt made their departure.

Sebastian patted himself on the back for his control, especially when he didn't even bother Kurt about what he had witnessed. He allowed the silence to stretch between them for a while, letting Kurt stew in whatever emotional shit he was throwing himself into. Personally, Sebastian really didn't know why he realled in his tongue as long as he did. He was pretty sure it was because it was that he knew that he'd might as well get used to Kurt's company, even if that meant that he was going to be such a girl.

"So what was all of that back there," he asked smoothly, casually, because he was genuinely curious and thought that Kurt might answer his question if he was at least somewhat less direct about asking what he wanted to know straight out.

Except Kurt apparently was not in the mood to justify his perfectly nice question with an accurate response.

"I'm not sure what you mean."

Sebastian rolled his eyes.

"You've got to be shitting me. Even I could see the bitch glare that Quinn chick was sending you. You'd think we were in high school and you were stealing the football star right from under the head cheerleader's pretty little nose," he grinned when Kurt looked away, not daring to meet his eyes, "Unless that's exactly what happened. Can't say I'd put you into the category of taking someone right from under a friend's nose. Forget Ice Queen, that's just down right Evil Bitch right there. Nice grab by the way. I could see why you would go for that, especially with the mouth that guy had-"

"That's not what happened," Kurt cut him off and sent a bitch glare worthy of defeating Quinn's own signature glare, "I would never do that to someone, and don't you think that would be a pretty petty thing for me to do, especially now?"

Sebastian shrugged, "People have done worse things in worse circumstances. And you cannot tell me that you haven't done a single thing wrong in your life. After witnessing that little stunt, which was pretty tame so maybe Quinn is just a bitch, but there was defiantly some history right there, and I want to know about it."

Kurt grinned a little bit, "You didn't really like Quinn did you?" He asked and threw Sebastian off for a moment, "I caught a bit of what you said to her. It wasn't very nice of you, but I can't say that I don't sometimes imagine what it would be like to tear her down off of her thrown every now and then."

"You still haven't answered my question."

Kurt sighed and started to walk at a slower pace, they were pretty close to the next boarder, maybe a mile out of its way.

"I guess you could call what Sam and I had history. It didn't last very long and it kind of started in high school, before the Warblers really gained as much power as they have. We dated before I...before I had to leave and go to another school," At Sebastian's questioning look he briefly stated, "There were some bullying issues. Anyway, Quinn had her eyes set on Sam since he arrived at our school and when I had to leave we made the decision to take a break and see what happens. Well, then they dated for a bit...and after the Warblers broke into power and we all ended up on the run, Sam and I started back up again. He and Quinn had already broken up," Kurt added hastily, "It was mutual, somewhat, I don't really know all the details on that whole thing."

"And are you and him still fucking around and that's why she's all bitchy? Because I have no clue as to why you put them in charge of a division together if there's hostility there."

Kurt shook his head, "We're just friends, things got too complicated not long ago and we decided that it was for the best. She only hates me for taking him away from her, as she so graciously puts it. And those two work decently well together. They're not, by any means, a perfect match, but they get things done and with Sam with her all of the time and his loyalty to me, well..."

"If she ever chooses to go against us all and side with the Warblers, you'll be aware of it as soon as it happens," Sebastian finished, oddly impressed.

"Exactly. I guess I should feel bad for thinking that she would go against us, but I know she hates me enough that it wouldn't take much for her to betray me and if she betrays me-"

"She betrays everyone."

Kurt grinned and Sebastian felt like vomiting where he stood when he realized he was finishing Kurt's sentences and using "we" and "us." It was odd and new and just...

"You're starting to get it. Now come on, we've got some very special girls to meet."

Sebastian followed Kurt's lead, "Still not sure how much I'm going to even like these fag hags of yours," he commented.

"Oh, I'd be careful about saying that," Kurt replied in a sing-song voice, "You just might not walk out of this alive."

As if on a queue a gun shot rang out, the bullet pushing up dust from where it narrowly missed at Sebastian's feet. Sebastian jumped back when it fired again, missing him by marginal error, glaring when he heard Kurt laugh at his, minor, distress. He could not see the humor in being fired at, by a deadly weapon for fuck's sake!

"How the hell do you think this is funny? Do you have any clue at who could be firing at us."

Kurt glanced around the tops of the buildings that surrounded them on the streets.

"It's no one to worry about I'm sure," he mumbled, turning his head every which way, eyes scanning their surroundings.

Sebastian gaped at him.

"Nothing to worry about! No wonder these people are concerned about you. You don't seem to understand the difference between life and death."

Another bullet hit the dust, this time much closer to Kurt than Sebastian, but Kurt was as calm and collected as ever.

"Is there some bulletproof vest you're wearing that I should know about? Because if not, we have to get out of here."

Kurt rolled his eyes, "We're fine, just give me a second," he said, waving Sebastian's concerns away with a flick of his wrist.

Sebastian's hand twitched to the gun around his waist.

"Honestly there's nothing to be freaking out..." Kurt trailed off, looking triumphant.

"What now...what the hell are you doing!" Sebastian asked as Kurt pulled out his own gun, aiming it to a window that Sebastian clearly saw as empty, "I thought you said that there was nothing-"

"Dammit Sebastian! Would you take one minute and just relax. Jesus christ, if you would give me a minute, they'll stop trying to make you dance with their bullets. They're most likely laughing at both of us right now and I am not dealing with that shit the whole time we're here. I'd much prefer if Santana bugged the shit out of your flailing than my inability to find her as fast as I normally would."

"Care to explain?"

Kurt ignored him and pulled the trigger, glass shattered and a burst of female laughter was pulled out from the building in front of them. Not a moment later and there was a woman, very clearly Latina, half out of the window, face shaped in annoyance.

"You've got to be kidding me! How the hell did you even know that was there?!" She called out, and Kurt sent her a shit eating grin.

"You forget that I've been through all of these buildings a hundred times over, and I never forget a room!"

The woman scowled and then set her talons on Sebastian.

"Who's the new twink? 'Cause it looks like you've found a tasty one!"

Kurt giggled, "Get your ass down here and you can meet him!"

"Who the hell was that," Sebastian demanded when he lost sight of the Latina.

"That," Kurt emphasized, "Was Santana. Brittney's probably with the others, out and about somewhere. They're not usually separated, but Santana enjoys being the head of the welcoming party."

"That, was her idea of a welcoming party?"

Kurt shrugged, "You get used to it. And we've kind of made it like a game; I guess you could call it that."

Sebastian huffed, "Some game."

"Either this or end up subjected to razors."

"What about razors?" Sebastian's eyes were equal parts interested and unnerved.

"In her hair," Kurt explained, "Apparently, I've never actually seen them, but with Santana you really don't take risks."

Sebastian nodded absently, "So what did you break in there?"

"A vase, nothing too special if I recall. I'm pretty sure it was one of the ugliest vases i'd ever seen, so nobody will miss it much, and if they do, well they have their own horrible taste to deal with."

He rolled his eyes, "I'd hate to see what you would do with curtains that didn't match the rest of the room. I doubt anyone would even find the curtain's remains."

Kurt was cut off from retorting when Santana cut in to pull his back into her chest, hands wrapping around his waist in a backwards hug.

"Didn't think you'd be here so early Lady Lips. Not with you out to see Quinn and Sam," surprisingly enough there wasn't a double meaning to her words when she mentioned Quinn and Sam, not like Sebastian was expecting, and he doubted that she wasn't aware of that particular history between the three of them. He did, however, snort at the nickname.

Santana sent him a glare, "I don't see what you're laughing at. What is with your hair anyway? Stuck somewhere around preppy rich boy I see."

Kurt elbowed her gently in the ribs, "Play nice Satan," he told her, adding his own name for her into the mix.

Santana untangled herself from Kurt's waist and took a spot on his side, looping her arm with his in a gesture that clearly sent the message of her close relationship with Kurt and that she was asserting her position as a clear sign against Sebastian. The message was received high and clear. Mess with Kurt, end up meeting a lovely demise via Santana's gun, if he was lucky, though it seemed more likely that she was the kind of person that would kill if anyone even so much as gave a hint that they were going to mess with the people she cared about. And Santana, by her body language, clearly placed Kurt on the list of people she cared very much about.

"Come on," she said, lightening the mood, "I don't want to leave Brittney alone too long, she's missed you and besides," she started pulling Kurt along with her and Sebastian laughed as he watched Kurt allow himself to be manhandled by her, "I've got to make sure that you get back to Puck in one piece, all nice and pretty and defiantly not scrambling around in the dark, new guard dog or not."

Sebastian walked beside them, on Kurt's other side. Santana pulled him along and Kurt somehow managed to keep up with her fast pace without ending up being dragged across the gravel road.

"How have you two been doing," Kurt asked a little breathlessly, "There hasn't been as many troopers around during the night like there used to be, but there's been a bit of an attraction by some of the stranglers looking for a fight. There hasn't been any incidents, has there?"

Santana shrugged, "I think we had a real problem once a week or so ago, tried to go after one of the teenage groups that were running against the sunset. I had already gone out to check for them so there wasn't a huge confrontation going on before I arrived."

"They haven't come back," Sebastian asked, thinking about the groups that didn't always enjoy being threatened by people who they didn't believe even had the authority, let alone a woman. It seemed that, no matter how many times a woman kicks ass, some people in general just don't enjoy their "toughness" being attacked, even if it they were in the wrong in the first place.

"Nope," Santana popped out cheerfully, "Dusted their asses out of there. And before you say anything about the kids being right there, remember where we are. They're going to see a hell of a lot worse and it won't be because someone was protecting them. They already hesitated to draw out the guns that they had in the first place."

"I know Santana," Kurt told her and Sebastian let them talk, just listened in on what they were saying, absorbing it all. He could tell that Kurt was hesitant and reserved, but that he knew what had to be done and understood that, even if he hated it.

"And I didn't say a thing," he continued, "I'm glad they're okay. None of them were hurt and that's what actually matters. Besides, I'm getting tired of them coming here. Though I suppose it's better that they're here and not in one of the younger divisions. At least here we have people that can take care of them if they step out of line."

He stole a look toward Sebastian, "Did you run into a lot of them, before the other night?"

Sebastian thought about it for a moment. Sure, he had a few run-ins with the stragglers out there, but he wasn't quite sure if it was more than what was to be expected. It had only really been his first time out there so it wasn't like he understood what a dangerous amount roaming around would be. He did think that there might have been more heading this way than what should have been. They seemed to be moving in the same direction, and from what he had learned about them before, they weren't known for migrating together, preferring to stay out of each other's way and in their own little circle of meat heads. So, yeah, he could say that there was an abnormal amount of stragglers headed their way and maybe even there right now, and that could pose a problem.

"I didn't run into them, not really. But I saw them out and about, a lot more than I expected them to be. And they all seemed headed in this general direction. I can't say I thought too much of it before now."

Santana pursed her lips.

"That's really strange. They've never bothered us too much before," she sent a concerned look Kurt's way, "Those guys from the other night; they didn't say anything to you, did they?"

Sebastian glanced over at Kurt as well. He might have been there for the end of it, but he wasn't sure how long Kurt was dealing with them. He didn't think it had been very long, the signs of a fight were hardly there. It was mainly set in the intimidation stages when Sebastian had arrived. Or, if maybe they weren't there just to attack on some poor fool who had been caught wandering the streets after dark, they were there for another reason, and the intimidation was there so Kurt wouldn't run and they could take their time to get out the details they wanted. If that were true, then either they knew who Kurt was, which Sebastian doubted if that was the case, if Kurt was so "high up" then wouldn't they be looking for him, not wasting time trying to 'talk' to him?

Kurt resigned, "They didn't say much when they cornered me. But they weren't just there because of random circumstances," he grimaced, "I think the Warblers might have found a way to apply to the straggler's...demands I guess you could say. They might be working with the Warblers. Either in return for freedom or money, I don't know," At Santana's worried glance he quickly added, "But I could be wrong."

She shook her head, "Doesn't matter. Even if there's the slightest hint that they're working for the Warblers, this is something we need to be aware of. I'll push for everyone to follow curfew more carefully, I'm not going to risk any of them being caught in the crossfire of the Warbler's attempting to find out information, especially if they're so desperate to resort to working with complete and utter garbage in order to get what they want. Did they give you any idea of what they were looking for?"

Kurt wouldn't meet her eyes and it was obvious what the answer was. It was less of a matter of what they wanted as to who they wanted.

"They were asking about how they could find me. Obviously they weren't given any information and had just entered the city, because nearly everyone here knows what I look like. They didn't tell me why they were looking for me, I guess they're not that dense for Neanderthals, but if it has to do with the Warblers, it can't be good for any of us."

Santana opened her mouth to say something, cut off by excited laughter and a body barreling into both her and Kurt in a mess of dancer's limbs and blonde hair.

Even Kurt couldn't continue with the severity the previous conversation had demanded. And Sebastian saw just how weak and vulnerable Kurt actually was. It seemed pretty stupid to keep this many people he cared about so close to danger. Sam, although he was farther out, was still dangerously close to Kurt's location, near the line of fire, in the city where more people died than any other division. Then there was Santana, and it was obvious in Kurt's face that he was so close with her. She might be bad ass, but she was still a liability. And now Sebastian sees how his eyes are bright and shining as he talks excitedly to Brittney, divulging into her radiant innocence. The enthusiastic kiss Brittney pulled Kurt into was a surprise, but it only furthered Sebastian's feeling that this was a horribly stupid tactic on Kurt's part.

"Keep thinking like that and you'll end up bleeding out of your ears," Santana's sharp voice pulled Sebastian out of his musings, but he quickly collected himself and sent a scowl her way.

"Is there something you want?" He asked, biting back a horrible reference from the past that he would have said once if it even mattered anymore.

"This arrangement isn't as dangerous as you think it is. Actually, this is the best way any of this could have been set up, favoritism aside."

Sebastian raised a brow, "And how do you figure that? Most people don't have a death wish, for themselves or the people they're the closest to, and all of that seems to be resting in this city. Anyone could pick up on that, uneducated stragglers included."

Santana crossed her arms, but her face was set in serious lines.

"Just wait until you meet the rest of the division leaders. There's a reason why I'm here, why Puck's here and why Sam is here. I'm sure Kurt's already told you the reasoning for Quinn to be here and Brittney is here because he knew that she and I were never going to allow ourselves to be separated," she sent a brief look of longing Brittney's way, "War be damned. Me, Puck and Sam are the strongest people he knows. All of the other's are in the safer areas because that's where they need to be and what they can handle. None of them could cope, mentally or physically, with the demands that this city pushes onto us. So yeah, we're his weak spots, but we're the strongest links he has. We would all die for this cause, and if that means we die to protect Kurt, then that's what we do. He's the only one of us that really understands what we're up against and can defeat this threat hanging over our heads. So I don't want to hear any bullshit about weaknesses because we've all been through that shit and understand what is being asked of us."

Sebastian nodded, put off by her bluntness and loyalty.

"You really think he's worth all of that? This danger you've set yourself into?"

Santana didn't even pause to think about his question, "Of course he is, and if you stick around, you'll see it too."

Sebastian sighed, "I think I'm starting to already."

She punched his shoulder, "Now come on so I can make sure that Kurt doesn't end up whooing my girlfriend any more than he already has."