A.N. This had to be one of the most frustrating chapters to write. I had a whole plan (pages and pages of notes) but the opening scene just would not blossom. I've found the hardest part is that there are so many different ways I can take the story. I'll give an example: I could stick very, very true to the movie and maintain a heartless-yet-polite Seblaine team (with both having no real attachment to Finn or Kurt, only each other in a way) OR I could perhaps explore Blaine's confusing feelings for Kurt or Sebastian's insecurities under Blaine's command OR I could do something else entirely different. The worst part is every path would be so much fun to write; I love pure evil and sadistic Seblaine and I love the sickening affection Blaine seems to show and Sebastian's morbid fascination with Finn and his partner. Yeah, so updates will happen faster and with more conviction when I finally just decide what's going to happen. Thoughts? What type of plot would you prefer? True to the movie, or deeper exploration?
Review question replies:
Guest: I have been growing fonder of Kurtbastian, I admit, but in this fic despite Kurt and Sebastian DEFINITELY getting to know one another better there will be little romance. If the plot goes in a certain way I can see Sebastian viewing Kurt as a real threat to his world.
Guest: I agree with you that second time round Furt cannot just be victims. It might take a while to get to the full stage but yes, this time Kurt and Finn will give their parent's murderers a run for their money. The question is, will it matter?
Whitegardenia5: Finn and Sebastian were really secondary in FG1, but as I went along I grew to enjoy their...interactions. I foresee some more development in that area! Klaine will take precedence but unfortunately for Finn, Sebastian gets some action too.
Punch Or Judy
It had been one of the quickest shower in history. After scuttling past his uncle upon their return from the walk, Kurt had made a B line for his bathroom upstairs. Stripping as if his sweaty clothes were on fire, he plunged into the bathtub and under the hot steamy flow of water. Washing himself off on autopilot was a feat he had never really accomplished before (thanks to his impeccable attention to proper exfoliation) but at that moment his main concern was scrubbing off any residue of his walk so he could bury his poor head under his pillow and sleep off the imagined horror of the day.
About a minute after stepping in the shower, Kurt stepped out and threw one towel over his wet locks and another two on his dripping body. As he entered his bedroom again he was pretty positive he could hear his aunt and uncle downstairs talking about a boat. Kurt couldn't find it in himself to care beyond that. He closed the door over and slipped on a clean set of briefs before at last collapsing on his bed. His mind whirled; a thousand thoughts exploding like fireworks all at once yet it had a fitting cloudy after effect which helped dull the headache. Before too long, his breaths evened out and he was out for the count.
The creak of a floorboard nearby drew his attention. Mere seconds may have passed since he had first dozed off, but also hours. All Kurt knew was that he still very much wanted to be alone. The click of the door was so faint but still audible; Kurt squeezed his eyes shut and hoped that whoever it was would think he was asleep (which wasn't completely off the mark considering he still had one foot firmly in dreamland) and leave him. No such luck. The person moved closer yet remained silent. If it was Finn, he would either poke him awake in a second or two or ease the blanket over his half-naked frame. If it was Aunt Jenny he was bound to hear her cooing his name momentarily. He would ignore her, he decided. If it was Uncle Louis... Who was he kidding, that delightful man never bothered anyone.
A finger - no, two, three fingers! - Three fingers lightly traced along Kurt's bare back. Kurt opened his eyes a little but his head was still buried deep in his pillow so he couldn't see anything. The fingertips ran down the length of his spine, stopping short of the waistband of the briefs, and ran back up. The teenage boy could not suppress a shiver when they continued past his shoulder blades to the nape of his neck. There was no way it was Finn; despite all they had been through together Finn was still very much straight and awkward about touching Kurt other than reassuring squeezes and comforting bear hugs. Uncle Louis had yet to touch him ever which meant, by process of elimination, it had to be Jenny.
The bed dipped to the side: the person was sitting by his side. Kurt could feel body heat. They were a lot closer than he had initially believed. He shimmied his face in the opposite direction, unsure why his blood was beginning to pump rapidly with his insides lurching.
Something's wrong... Something isn't right, that isn't Jenny. This isn't normal, what's going on? I need to look but I can't. I don't want to look. I need to.
In the end, all it took was one deep intake of air.
His heart stopped, and his gut felt like it had been ripped from him as the scent he breathed in strummed the strings of Kurt's sense memory. A sweet and crisp musky aroma he had only every encountered once before. His eyes bulged open and he stared into the darkness. The body above him leaned over, and a lingering kiss was pressed against his temple.
'Good evening, beautiful...'
Time stood still, the air grew thin and cold. Kurt found he could not move one muscle or force the air out from his lungs. This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not here. Kurt's world stopped as the only sound in it was the thumping of his heart coupled with the barely audible breathing by his ear. Those lips dragged down to his jaw, the hand ran smoothly down his back and rounded his side until it spayed it's five fingers across Kurt's pale tight stomach.
Kurt had to run. He had to attack: get away and grab a weapon, use it, run, find Finn - find Finn and run. Or he could hide. Or he could grab his cell - wherever he left it - and dial 911. Or he could at least fucking move! But no, he could do nothing. His entire body was frozen and his mind blank as an untouched canvas. Blaine's warm breath heated his icy skin but did not melt his inability. With the utmost care and consideration, the intruder who himself had haunted Kurt's nightmares for months turned the now fully awake boy onto his back.
Kurt stared up. The devil smiled down.
'Did you miss me?' His perfectly dazzling grin broke out like a flash of light in a sea of black. Even in the darkness, though, Kurt could make out the strong jaw line, the tousled hair and it's defining black strands even blacker than the shadow, and those cheekbones and those...eyes. Hazel; that's what Kurt said when he was asked to describe Blaine to police. Hazel. That was it, but of course, it wasn't. Blaine's eyes had burned into his mind a flawless picture, including the dash-like specks of brown and green. When his pupils dilated - as they were now - his eyes were like coal. When they were wide Kurt could see an array of emotions merging into one and bursting into flames on intensity when they focused on Kurt. Bordered by long thick lashes, they were the most captivating sight Kurt had ever known, and yet also the most terrifying.
How could this be possible? How did they find them, all the way out here? How did he get into his bedroom? And most importantly, why hadn't Kurt known it would happen? He had spent every waking moment of the last few months second guessing every move and every decision from fear of consequences. Nothing had been taken for granted and everything was suspect; it was a tiring way of life but he was religious about it. And yet he had been foolish enough to think out here in the beautiful quiet of the middle of nowhere they were safe. Now his nightmare demon was right there in front of him. Living. Breathing. Skin hot and his touch firm; Blaine defied every notion Kurt had felt and undermined every thought racing through his mind.
'Bl...Blaine?' Kurt whispered, his voice giving out. Blaine tilted his head and regarded him like a child. He was waiting for more but Kurt could not find his throat again. His muscles, though, had rediscovered themselves and began shaking uncontrollably. Bottom lip quivering and his eyes welling up in confused and petrified tears.
Blaine frowned slightly and tore his hand from Kurt's stomach to gently take his shivering lip between his fingers. 'Hey, hey now...' He hushed softly, 'Don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you.' His eyes flashed in a sinister manner and only then did Kurt start to struggle. 'Kurt, stop.' So in control, Blaine easily held the wrestling boy against the mattress. 'I've been waiting so long just to be with you like this again. And look at you,' His gaze slowly swept over the length of Kurt's body before returning up to meet Kurt's bulging stare. 'you're already ready for me.'
The smirk Kurt had learned to tremble before returned. As though he was suddenly stripped bare at that moment Kurt remembered that all he wore was his underwear. The summer night air instantly felt freezing and he huddled his arms around himself and tried to roll away but he did not get far. 'Please-!' Kurt choked. 'Please, get off me-'
'There's so much we need to catch up on,' Blaine continued as though he was deaf to Kurt's pleas. 'So much we need to talk about, especially after how we left things last time. But first,' He leaned down and rested his forehead on Kurt's. 'I want to get 'reacquainted'...don't you?'
Before Kurt could process his meaning, the other man's hand dipped to press his thighs apart.
'No!' Kurt cried out in sheer panic, his legs snapping together so fast his knees and ankles knocked together painfully.
Blaine feigned hurt, pulling back just enough to play the 'stung' expression. 'What? Don't you want me, Kurt? Are you saying you didn't miss me? But I missed you... I missed you a lot.' His tone was full of hurt despair and but his tearful pout didn't quite reach those sparkling and amused hazel eyes. No, one positive fact you could rely on Blaine for was that at every moment he was playing. It was all a game, after all. Everything was a farce and a role play full of pretence and lies. The hand rested on Kurt's leg once more, this time sliding between Kurt's knees with a firmer hold. He prised his legs apart with alarming ease. Before Kurt could respond, though...
'KURT!'
Finn was screaming from downstairs. Kurt looked towards the bedroom door as if begging it to open and for his brother to come in and safe him. However, no such thing happened. Blaine chuckled as he continued pressing hot, bitey kisses along his neck. 'I guess Sebastian found Finn.' He murmured. Kurt wrestled against him with renewed vigour as he recalled the horrors that other sick criminal tortured Finn with. The memories alone were enough to cause his insides to contort.
'Finn...' A hand grasping at air was all Kurt could manage in his escape attempt. Blaine took the opportunity to intertwine his fingers between Kurt's and forced his hand back onto the bed effectively pinning both Kurt's arms above his head. He growled in mere dissatisfaction as Kurt tried to bring his knees up to his chest to hide at least part of his nakedness, and the older boy tore the legs away before hopping fully on top of Kurt to straddle him. Fists wanted to pound into that chest, legs wanted to kick out; yet all Kurt found himself able to do was thrash about as much as Blaine's hold would allow. Flashbacks to that night in old Mrs Beaton's bedroom hit him like flying bricks. When would he ever learn that he was simply not strong enough? When would he just accept that what Blaine wanted, Blaine would get. And Kurt would be forced to give it to him. A scream tore at his throat in sheer frenzy. No! This can't be happening again, please, please, not again! I can't do this! I can't- This isn't fair, I don't deserve this. Please, Blaine, I beg of you, please-!
'Kurt,' Blaine was growling against his lips now. 'Behave yourself. Stop fighting me. I know you missed me, don't try to hide it.'
The smile in his voice caused Kurt's nerves to explode in vicious anger. No! They cried out,
Bang!
A gunshot. It came from downstairs. Both Kurt and Blaine froze; Kurt in absolute terror and fear, Blaine in irritated concern. They stared into each other's eyes. 'Well,' Blaine finally whispered. 'Perhaps Finn got Sebastian a little...trigger happy.' Even though it had been the first thought that flashed through Kurt's mind, hearing it aloud caused him to choke on a gasp and shove at Blaine hard enough to at last unstable him. 'Hold on there, Indiana Jones,' Blaine uttered, regaining control. 'There will be no rescue missions tonight.' Though his words were calm and casual, there was definitely a hint of something more. That gunshot had bothered him, and had Kurt not been freaking out from the image of Finn lying in a pool of his own blood he may have questioned why. But Finn was all Kurt could think about. He's hurt, Kurt thought, I swore to myself I'd not let anything happen to him again and he's dying. N-no, he can't be dead already- He can't be!
'Finn!' Kurt shouted. He thrashed, he kicked, he swung his arms up at Blaine's head but the older man was already standing up.
'It seems I'll have to punish Sebastian for cutting our private reunion short,' Blaine said with an edge of danger Kurt could not ignore. As the younger man sat up on the bed a stray t shirt was tossed in his face. 'Put that on.' Blaine ordered. His voice was now cloudy and frustrated; his hand lightly traced Kurt's bare chest and abdomen in a clear sign that he did not necessarily want Kurt to be covered up. He went on to explain 'I never thought of myself as the possessive type, but I would rather be the only one to see you like this. You're body is mine.'
Feeling sick to his stomach, Kurt fought himself into the shirt and shakily rose to his feet to follow Blaine downstairs.
Finn was alive. In Kurt's world for one millisecond everything was okay again. Then reality set in. Finn was alive, but bleeding. Thankfully, not from a gunshot wound but rather a few half-serious gashes along his head. His eyes were still very much focused, though, and his tensed muscles were in no obvious pain based on how fucking furious he looked. No one can be that angry and have a dangerous injury.
As Blaine dragged Kurt into the living room by the collar, they were met by three different sets of eyes and each maintained a very distinct expression. Aunt Jenny had huddled herself into the arm of the sofa, unable to pull herself up onto the cushion due to her uncontrollable sobs. Finn was on his knees in the centre of the room, legs apart and his hands up behind his head. Even in this compromising condition there was more fury than fear. Finally, looking as smug as a fox cornering a big juicy rabbit, Sebastian took directly behind Finn playing absent-mindedly with the quarterback's hair as a gun was lazily resting against his side. Kurt went to move closer to his brother but something from the doorway leading to the kitchen caught his eye.
'Uncle Louis!' Kurt doubled over as his stomach threatened to empty itself only there was nothing in it to empty. The middle aged author lay abandoned at the doorway with the upper half of his body in the living room and the lower half in the kitchen. There were no evident marks on him but Kurt immediately thought him dead.
Behind him, Blaine sighed. 'Don't worry. He's just knocked out - nothing too serious. I got him in the back of the head with the paperweight on the hallway table when we first came in. Unless,' Blaine narrowed his eyes on Sebastian. 'Did you kill him, Sebastian?' The questioned was issued like a parent wanting to know if their child ate the last cookie.
With a childlike look of shocked innocence, Sebastian shook his head. 'Me? No! We agreed, we play by the normal rules: no death before the games begin.'
'Kurt and I heard a gun shot.' Blaine retorted.
'Oh, that was just to keep Finn in line. He heard porcelain boy here screaming and he tried to take off.'
Blaine did not look amused nor interested in the excuse. 'I'm not happy. You ruined a perfect moment with your playfulness.'
'Would you have rather I let Finn burst in on you?' Sebastian then smiled coyly. 'On second thought, it could have been an enlightening experience for him.' Dragging his nails through Finn's locks, Sebastian gripped and tilted the other boy's head back so he was looking up at him. 'It wouldn't have been too scandalous; you're only half brothers, after all.'
A smile tugged on Blaine's mouth. Sebastian caught it and smiled back, knowing he had avoided punishment this time. Kurt was still trying to get to Louis' side but Blaine grew tired of holding him back and eventually hurled him across and onto the floor by Finn. 'Well, seeing as we're all here now...' Suddenly, Blaine looked deeply troubled. 'Oh no...'
Sebastian frowned. 'What is it?'
Finn bent to help Kurt up but Sebastian kept tight hold of his hair so Kurt himself scrambled up into a similar position on his knees. Finn was studying him carefully, his glare demanding to know if Kurt was okay, injured, or in any way hurt. His brother could not bring himself to look back; he could still feel those hands on him.
Blaine turned towards Jenny. 'You must think we are so rude, Miss...?'
'Jenny,' Sebastian supplied.
Blaine nodded, then stretched out his hand in offering to the violently shaking woman. Jenny recoiled. Blaine sighed. 'See? She thinks we're monsters. Normally we remember our manners, don't we Sebastian? Even Kurt and Finn know how accommodating and friendly we can be. I assure you, ma'am, our manners are normally very impeccable. Here, let me sit you up...' Without her permission, Blaine hoisted her onto the sofa and petted her shoulder sympathetically. 'Please accept my apologies for hitting your husband when we first arrived. I have no excuse, we hadn't started the game yet and - Oh!' He slapped his forehead, and Kurt glared at him for this fake gentleman act he was pulling now. No one was falling for it, of course, and it felt like rubbing salt into their wounds bringing back his polite church-boy antics. But that is how they work, he knew. 'We need to explain the game. Darn it, I can't believe we're slipping on this one, 'Bastian.'
Sebastian nodded with a pout. 'Paperweights to the head, gun shots, crude talk - we're not doing well at all.'
Immediately Kurt was ordered onto the couch next to Jenny. He obeyed with no other option available. Finn was then politely asked to drag the unconscious Louis further into the room and onto the armchair. The two gamemasters waited patiently for Finn, who was as careful as possible even cradling Louis' head as he carried him over onto the chair. He was then motioned to sit on Kurt's other side. With all their conscious prisoners on one couch, Blaine perched on the coffee table and smiled brightly.
'Well,' He began. 'Here we are again. Finn, you're looking incredible. How is your...' He pointed to Finn's stomach.
Finn remained silent with his jaw locked tight. He didn't trust himself to speak. Finally Kurt murmured 'He got the last of his bandaging removed the other day...'
Blaine's eyebrows shot up in delight. 'Really? May I see?' There was a terrifying pause during which Kurt was positive Finn would refuse and they would he hurt, but then Blaine waved the idea away. 'No, no, forget I said that. It was very rude of me. Though Sebastian is pretty proud of his scar - aren't you?'
Stepping forward as he lazily lifted his own shirt, Sebastian displayed a rich red three inch long scar running from the tip of his navel downwards. 'I think it looks kinda sexy.' He mused.
Blaine frowned and eyed the older woman. 'Sebastian, don't use that word in front of Jenny... Speaking of which - Jenny!' The woman jumped and her sobs hit a higher pitch. Kurt tried to comfort her but she was shrinking into the arm rest and shook too bad for his arms to settle. Blaine gave a very good impression of someone showing sympathy. 'Shh, it's okay, Jenny. We're not bad people. I know it seems that way but really right now - at this moment - you don't need to be scared of us.' 'At this moment' being the key phrase...Kurt thought darkly. 'I think you'll feel a whole lot better once we catch you up on the rules of our game. It's like a bet-'
'She knows.' Finn growled, knowing exactly where Blaine was going.
'You guys bet that you'll still be alive tomorrow 9am, and we bet that you'll be dead.'
Nearly six months ago Finn and Kurt heard those words and they never for a second forgot them. It was not a statement one normally forgets in a hurry, no matter how much they wish they would. Jenny was all too aware of the 'game' Blaine and Sebastian's evenings focused around. Blaine smiled in understanding, his kind gaze seeming psychotic as he said 'Of course she does... But just for formality's sake, let's give an overview. It is now...' He checked his watch, 'Almost eight o'clock. Last time we gave the boys eleven hours but seeing as there are four participants tonight I think we should extend game time to sixteen hours. Noon tomorrow. If any of you are alive by then, you win! If you are all dead...'
'We win.' Sebastian finished. He hung the gun over his shoulder casually and inspected Louis, who had just slumped over the side of the armchair. 'Simple, really.'
'We won...'
Blaine's smile faltered as he, Kurt, Jenny and Sebastian all turned to look at the seething Finn. 'Sorry, did you say something?' Sebastian challenged.
Raising his head higher, Finn shouted 'We - won - last time!' There was a long pause of silence. Neither tormentor reacted. 'We won the bet. You lost. We survived and we won, you couple of fuckers, so leave us the fuck alone! We won!'
Kurt hushed him rapidly, already scared for the retaliation on it's way. However, Blaine cocked his head to the side and smiled. Sebastian joined him and gave an alarmingly honest grin. 'But Finn...that's the point. When you win, you simply play again. When you lose, we find ourselves some new playmates. It's the circle of life.' He laughed.
Finn almost flew out of his seat at him, but Kurt managed to climb on top and force him back onto the cushion. Behind him, Blaine's eyes flashed dangerously. 'Please, Finn, calm down - for the love of God, just breathe and keep control...' Kurt pleaded in his brother's ear. Finn's fists pounded the sofa and his glaring eyes never left Sebastian's wicked smile.
Blaine suddenly stood up and caught Kurt's arm, yanking him up into his chest. 'I think we're all a little tense right now,' He began, 'I know what would settle things down: Jenny, what's that incredible smell coming from the kitchen? Are we too late for supper?'
'Mmm, smells delicious, Jenny,'
The older woman shook so violently she almost scalded herself as she stirred the cooking pot's contents. Sebastian had pressed himself up against her back with his chin leaning on her shoulder to observe all of her movements. The gun was resting easily in his right hand. Kurt watched from the dining table, his face pale and wet from tears that just wouldn't stop flowing even when he had managed to pull himself together. This can't be happening...not again...
For a moment it seemed like Louis had stirred but it turned out just to be a jerk caused by Blaine's manhandling of him as he tied the unconscious man to the chair at the head of the table. According to Blaine, Louis was still the man of the house and deserved the pride of place spot at the dinner table. Finn sat opposite Kurt. His wide alert eyes bore into his brother's still trying to decipher just what had happened upstairs. Kurt refused to look at him; he was ashamed. It wasn't his fault, but now, in a way, he felt like he sort of deserved it. He let his guard down, he wasn't prepared. Maybe had he been paying attention he could have saved his family from this. Blaine hummed in approval of his handiwork and smiled at the two teenagers as if they were old friends. 'I think he's secure. Wouldn't want him to fall over and hurt himself as we're eating. That wouldn't do.'
'Wouldn't do at all.' Sebastian murmured from the kitchen area. He took hold of Jenny's wrist and directed a spoonful of her home-made stew towards his mouth. After blowing few times, he tasted it and groaned in delight. 'Mmm! Good, Jenny, so good! Blaine-' He let Jenny's hand fall onto the worktop as he motioned for Blaine to come. 'You gotta try this.'
Without a care, Blaine stepped up and tried a spoonful. Why isn't he being more watchful? Kurt questioned. It was occurring to him that after the numerous tricks and running numbers he and Finn had pulled last time that it seemed only natural to be closely monitored now. Yet Blaine had essentially just left them at the table. Both of them could have ran. In fact, that is probably what they should have been doing. He caught Finn's eye and saw the same notion mirrored in his gaze: uncertainty. Something was different. Blaine and Sebastian were calculated. The mere fact Blaine felt comfortable taking his eyes off them to taste food in the kitchen unnerved both boys enough that they both remained silent and seated, motionless as if awaiting orders. The feelings were not natural and the repetitive urge to vomit graced both of them.
'Mmm... Mmm-hmm, that's delicious.' Blaine agreed with his partner's verdict and happily returned to the table to take the seat next to Kurt. He drew his arm over the back of the slighter boy's chair, and in response Kurt jumped and shrunk smaller away from him. Everyone noticed, but no one commented. Finn began to seethe again. 'Better hurry. These boys look famished, Jenny.' Blaine called. He was eyeing Finn and Kurt's stomachs in amusement: Finn had lost all of his flabbiness after that first night of games, and his numerous operations had taken a tow leading to his flat stomach and Kurt (who rarely ever had any form of appetite nowadays) felt like a shell of his former physical self.
'My mom was never really around when I was a kid,' Sebastian was telling Jenny in a low tone. 'She didn't cook. Or clean. We had maids and cooks for that kind of stuff. I always felt like I...missed out. Could I help you serve dinner?' Jenny didn't respond, but it didn't matter. Sebastian happily set up a series of bowls and discovered the cutlery drawer. Both teenagers sitting at the table eyed him warily as he laid out the table perfectly. Blaine and Sebastian shared a smile, as if they were enjoying a private joke. When Jenny managed the near-impossible task of removing the pot from the stove without dropping it completely, Sebastian gave the gun to Blaine before rushing to her 'aid'. He insisted she sit down. She did, and promptly fell onto her husband and buried her face into his shoulder. Blaine allowed her this, having now turned his full attention to Kurt as Sebastian ladled out stew into their bowls. With eyes on him, the frightened teen forced himself to swallow a few mouthfuls over the course of the many minutes of silence which followed. Blaine and Sebastian ate, murmuring occasionally in approval. Finn didn't even touch his spoon.
Eventually, Blaine's silent interest in Kurt reached a peak. 'What was your mom like, Kurt?' he asked wistfully, 'You're real mom, I mean, not...' He dismissively waved a hand in Finn's direction, 'his.' If it were not for the gun now residing in Blaine's hand, Finn may have snapped. Kurt threw his stepbrother a pleading look, praying he wouldn't do anything stupid. Kurt wasn't sure he could cope seeing Finn beaten and tortured again, no matter how inevitable it really was. When Kurt couldn't find the words to answer Blaine's query, the dark haired boy pressed on. 'Was she beautiful? Tell me what she looked like.'
'I-I can't remember...' Kurt choked out, trying to control his sharp intakes of breath. 'M-my dad said she and I were r-really similar.'
Blaine's hand hit the table fast, Kurt gasped and squeezed his eyes shut in terror but Blaine was not angry; he was pleased. Proud. 'I knew it. I knew you got your looks from her. I mean, no offence to your father but you look nothing like-'
'Shut up, you fucking asshole!' Finn burst out, shoving the table violently. Blaine turned to him, irritated but half-bored. Sebastian silently laid down the pot of food and studied Finn with interest. 'You know what you guys are?' Both men arched their brows, encouraging him to continue. He needed no encouragement. 'Pussies. Fucking jackass pussies, with your guns and your-your paperweights and powertrips - stop hiding behind your goddamn weapons and fight like men! But you won't, will you? No, because you know I could kick your ass!'
Click
With the most tired of smiles, Blaine cocked the gun. The sound itself cut Finn off sharply. 'So little you know, Finn...' He rested his chin in his hand and regarded Finn like a simplistic child. 'Maybe when all you have going for you is your muscle mass, such a fact is true. But in the real world, where real men play, the rules change. You know the real people in charge of this country? Are they the mainstream politicians, or the president? Or, heaven forbid, the American people? No... No, the people who handle this country like a ten dollar slut are the puppet masters. You never see them, you don't even know their names or their very existence but they are there. And they pull strings.' He mimed pulling at invisible strings, and Sebastian chuckled. 'They can make people dance, jump, fall - even burn. And you know how they do it?' He grinned and suggestively stroked the barrel of the gun in his hand. 'By going all S&M on the power. Tying it up and owning it. Find it's weak spot and fuck it raw. Allow me to demonstrate...' Blaine turned to Kurt and threw him a sweet smile. 'Kurt...' Kurt only didn't whimper because his body refused to breathe under that intense gaze. 'Put your hand on my leg.' There was a short moment in which Finn's face grew redder in anger and Kurt blinked in sickened confusion. Then Blaine cocked the gun again and lazily pointed it towards Finn without breaking eye contact with Kurt. With a frightened gasp, the smallest male immediately obeyed. He leaned over and placed his shaking hand on the older man's muscular leg. Blaine's smile widened. 'That's a good boy. A little further up...that's it. Good boy.' His hazel eyes then flashed back to Finn. 'You see? When you pull on those puppet strings - when you wield the power, you are the man. You control everything, and everyone.'
The gun became slack in his hand and eventually drooped, the immediate threat gone. Kurt peeled his hand away wishing it didn't feel so contaminated and filthy. Blaine and Finn held each other in a deadlock of glares. Sebastian's eyes were positively shining in excitement, though finally he broke the silence, albeit reluctantly. 'I guess the time for pleasantries is over. Perhaps it's time we start on our first game?'
Once again, Finn and Kurt found themselves essentially carrying Jenny and Louis back into the living room. Finn remained kneeling by the armchair where Louis sat hunched over the side. Kurt had quietly insisted to his aunt that she do as she was told, which was to sit back on the sofa, when she was desperate to be with her husband. At long last, she conceded and allowed Kurt to settle her down.
'I hope you'll appreciate the careful thought and consideration we have both put into tonight,' Blaine rubbed his hands together appearing excited yet nervous. 'We knew about your new guardians and felt that it would be very unfair of us-'
'So unfair,' Sebastian nodded.
'-to not include them. So...we came up with a new game.' Kurt's blood ran cold, and in his arms Aunt Jenny froze and her sniffling cut off in shock. 'We call it... 'Punch or Judy'.'
Sebastian's smile stretched from ear to ear, obviously proud of their creation. 'We didn't know the names of your kind aunt and uncle at the time of conception, so 'Punch' and 'Judy' worked. And the best part is it a very simple game. Kurt and Finn, you just have to choose...Punch,' He motioned to the unconscious Louis, 'or Judy.' He looked to Jenny. '
Kurt stared at the carpet until his eyes burned hot. Wait...what did that mean? He raised his head and saw Finn shared his fearful confusion. Punch or Judy? Punch or Judy what? In the end, though, it was neither Kurt or Finn who spoke first. 'Wh-What are they choosing f-for?' Jenny's shiny wet eyes gaze up, lost, at Sebastian. With just a tiny smirk, the tall young man raised his gun and feigned a shot.
Alarm bells rang, hearts pounded like the hooves of racing horses and both teens leapt to their feet as the older woman wailed in horror.
'No!' Kurt cried.
'You can't do that!'
Sebastian giggled. 'It's like they don't even know us, Blaine.' He wandered up and leaned against his smirking partner. 'They've forgotten the last time we were together. I feel offended, underestimated.'
'You can't make us choose...they don't have to die.' Kurt felt his throat catch. He thought he had cried all the tears humanly possible already tonight but it seemed like there was a little more to seep out. 'That isn't fair...'
With the corner of his mouth curling up in a cruel grin, Sebastian leaned down and petted Kurt's cheek patronisingly. 'These. Games. Aren't. Fair.' He said with each tap. 'Either you choose one, or they both go. One after the other.'
'No!' Jenny screeched, clawing at her face. 'Please - Please, don't touch him! He doesn't deserve-! He's such a good, good man, he can't-!' She collapsed into unyielding howls of mourning.
Kurt watched her fall apart, and his heart broke and then turned to sludge. Was this how they played his dad and Carol? Did they torture them even when they had no real interest in them? The thought had not occurred to him before yet now it was the only thought he had. Had his dad or Carol been forced to watch their beloved spouse die in front of their very eyes? It was too sickening for words, and Kurt was overcome with distress. Sebastian stood in his way but Kurt pushed past him without a second thought and came to a halt in front of a curious Blaine. 'This-this game - It's between us. You, Sebastian, Finn and I, not them. Please, I'm begging you, don't kill them. They have nothing to do with this. I swear I will do whatever the hell you want-' Never in his life had Kurt ever pictured begging for the lives of his aunt and uncle to be spared. Finn, sure: Finn was everything to him now and he had had far too many nightmares reliving those moments he pleaded for his safety, but he did not think his heart had made room for the older couple. It came as an alarming and distressing shock to discover he was becoming hysterical for their sakes, after all he had seen before. He knew it was no use, though. He was being so stupid showing his hand when it was obvious Blaine would now purposefully kill them just to cause Kurt to break. What the hell was he thinking?
And there it was: a flicker. A flicker of consideration. Blaine was listening. Blaine was listening and considering his plea and his eyes were softening as his head tilted to the side. Kurt continued: 'Please...please, Blaine.' He dropped to his knees, and Blaine's eyes widened though his expression remained otherwise passive. 'Just...leave them. You've already destroyed enough of my family.'
There was silence. Finn had held his breath, trying not to burst in fury that once again he had to witness his step brother begging for mercy from these tyrants because he knew one sound would undo all the good Kurt was trying to achieve. Jenny continued to blubber nonsense as she clawed wetly at her hair. Blaine stared down at Kurt with piqued interest. A small smile was forming on the corner of his lips. He stepped forward until he was standing directly in front of the begging boy. Both hands slipped under Kurt's face and he gently cradled his head. Thumbs stroked his cheeks as palms pressed along the underside of Kurt's neck. The actions were so warm, so loving, that it seemed almost private and disclosed. Softly, Kurt was urged back up onto his feet. He stood there shaking with his head still trapped between Blaine's careful grasp. Blaine's smile grew. 'Kurt...' He murmured.
BANG!
The shot rang out taking nearly everyone by surprise. Kurt crumpled to the floor as his knees gave way in fear. Finn had stumbled into the wall. Blaine narrowed his eyes. One by one the three young men turned their eyes towards the middle aged woman who, mere moments ago, had been cowering against the couch. They watched as she fell back as in slow motion, a smoking bullet hole the size of a golf ball gracing her forehead. She hit the floor. Her eyes remained wide but now lifeless.
A quietly angry Sebastian lowered the handgun to his side and issued one statement: 'Too late.'
A.N. Was Blaine really going to give in? Was Sebastian acting out in retaliation to his partner's potential yielding? Apologies to those who asked me NOT to kill off the aunt or uncle... And yes, I am all too aware just how all over the place this chapter was and the ridiculous amount of typos - forgive me, it's 6am and I've been writing for hours. Please review, and tell me which of the three directions mentioned at the start you'd prefer!
