Well, lookee here, another chapter ^.^ I'm so proud of the rate I'm churning these out at. Thank you guys again for all of your tremendous reviews. Unfortunately I got another hateful review but once again it was a Guest, I'm pretty sure it was the same person since it contained the same atrocious spelling. You know, I don't understand why people read a story all the way through just to review and say they hate it. I also find it annoying when someone accuses me of poor writing and then spells incorrectly in their review. Also, if you want to say something horrible about me, why don't you sign up for an account and stop posting anonymously? I just delete your anonymous reviews so if you have something to say, don't be a coward, give yourself an identity so I can respond which I'm sure is what you actually want.
Anywho, as for the rest of you, you're fantastic and your reviews make me smile. I love you all heaps. We're finally moving forward a bit at the end of this chapter and then next chapter: Warblers! Yay! I love the Warblers so I've been waiting for a chance to bring them in :) Enjoy and I'll have the next chapter done soon. xx
Blaine was worried when he woke up and couldn't see Kurt anywhere in the room until a bright purple post-it on the headboard caught his eye. He pulled it off and read it quickly.
Finn and I have already left for school, I wanted you to sleep since you don't seem like you've slept much lately. I'll be home at about four or sooner depending on how long Rachel rants in Glee and how well it goes telling them all about you. Don't worry, they won't be mad at you, but they might be mad at me at first if I misrepresent myself – Blaine frowned at this, he didn't want Kurt's friends to think he was a bad person – But they know me so it'll be okay. Anyway Carole should be up and about, she'll make you anything you want for breakfast, just ask. Enjoy the empty house and play dress up, surprise me with your ensembles when I get back.
I'll miss you today – Kurt
His name was followed by a smiley face with a little top hat and Blaine's eyes stayed on the last words. Kurt would miss him? When he'd only known him two days? That made his heart warm slightly. He reread the note a few times and then spent a while sitting in Kurt's bed, studying his beautiful handwriting. Why was everything about his not-Master so beautiful? He dearly wished he'd met Kurt in a different way.
But this was the way things were.
His stomach had finally had enough of his lack of action and growled rather ferociously at him, echoing around the silent room. Blaine almost laughed at the sound. In two days it had gotten to used to eating filling food that it was constantly growling now.
He wondered if Carole made blue-berry pancakes as well as his mother did?
He jumped up and padded downstairs, for the first time looking at the family pictures hanging and sitting on various surfaces around the house. He paused to look at a picture of Kurt, about five years old, wrapped in a beautiful woman's arms, both of them looking so happy. She looked a lot like Kurt.
"That's Elizabeth, Kurt's mum."
Carole's voice surprised him and she smiled apologetically when he looked at her.
"She's beautiful," he mused.
"She died when Kurt was eight," Carole explained. "How did you sleep sweetie?"
"Better," Blaine explained. It was true. He'd slept the whole night through for the first time since he'd been sold. He knew it had something to do with Kurt but was trying to ignore that fact for as long as he could.
"I noticed your room was empty..."
Blaine flushed. "I... uh... I just..."
"It's okay," Carole assured him. She put a gentle hand on his arm and led him into the kitchen. Blaine knew he didn't mind the contact with Carole because she was female. Women were safe. It was men who wanted to hurt him. Except Kurt. Kurt would never hurt him, he truly believed that after spending two nights in his bed and not once fearing Kurt would attack him.
"Kurt's... safe," Blaine explained as he sat at the table. "He's nothing like the others."
"I know," Carole agreed. "What would you like for breakfast?"
"Um... would you mind making me blueberry pancakes?" Blaine wondered. Carole nodded happily and gathered the ingredients.
"I was thinking that after we eat you and I could enjoy the sunshine in the garden," Carole suggested. "They're predicting snow by the weekend and I wanted to enjoy the last of the sun before it disappears for winter."
Blaine nodded. Sun. He'd missed the sun.
He enjoyed his day with Carole. She didn't press him to talk about anything and he even felt comfortable enough to discuss the issues on the talk show they watched together. Blaine spied a newspaper on the coffee table.
Lima...
Crap! Blaine stared at the paper. He was two hours away from his home? This whole time? He stared in shock and allowed it to sink in before dismissing it. It didn't matter anyway. This was his life now. And really, anybody he used to know would barely recognise him now. He didn't want them to see him.
Carole was doing some cleaning later on and Blaine went to his wardrobe to have a bit of fun with his clothes, picking out outfits and examining them on the mirror inside his wardrobe door. He had this intense desire to have Kurt be surprised and happy with his choice when he got home. He knew it partially because of his Training and that sickened him but the rest of it was because he liked it when Kurt smiled. It made him feel like smiling, and everything seemed better.
He wondered what Kurt was doing and realised... he missed Kurt. It had only been two days but he'd gotten used to Kurt's comforting smile and the safety he felt around him. Blaine looked at the clock but it was only two... another two hours until Kurt would come home.
Kurt wasn't having a good time away from Blaine. He was panicking all day, worrying Blaine would fall asleep and have a nightmare and Kurt wouldn't be there to make him feel better. He was worried someone might come to the house unexpectedly and frighten Blaine.
No, he had to stop worrying or else the day would just go slower than it already was. Besides Carole was with Blaine, she would be able to take care of him.
And worse than that was the situation he was in at that moment.
Every single one of his friends (apart from Puck and Mercedes of course) were throwing insults at him, furious with him the second the word 'carrier' slipped out of his mouth and hadn't even let him try to explain himself.
Quinn called him 'sick and perverted' and Rachel, after agreeing with Quinn's assessment, informed Kurt she would be taking Blaine away from him to stay with her and her dads since they would treat him like he deserved.
Kurt rubbed his forehead and looked at Finn who was standing beside him but neither of them could manage to be heard over the shouting.
"Guys! Guys!" Puck finally shouted, fed up with their behaviour. "You really think so little of Kurt? You're supposed to be his friends!" He got up and walked over to join the brothers. "I met this guy yesterday and he knows how lucky he is to be with Kurt's family. Kurt's not using him like that, he just accepted him because he didn't want somebody else to treat him like that."
"Wait a second!" Mercedes said, glaring at Kurt. "Puck has met him?"
"I didn't know about it until I got home yesterday," Kurt shrugged. "But in Puck's defence he was able to keep Blaine calm. He didn't ask him an insensitive question once."
Puck grinned. "Anderson and I are tight."
Kurt rolled his eyes.
"So… you're taking care of him?" Sam asked to check.
Kurt nodded. "And I want you guys to help me. Eventually he'll get used to us and he'll be ready to meet new people. When you guys meet him, don't ask about what happened to him, about his family or what his life was like before he was sold. Just talk to him about movies and books. He told me last night that music is his passion and we all love music so get him onto that, sing with him."
"We can do that," Artie agreed.
"Is Blaine a dolphin?" Brittany wondered.
"Is he hot?" Santana questioned. Kurt ignored both of them as Rachel started talking loudly about how her musical talent would surely be the best means to bring Blaine out of his shell and help him heal.
"No, that'll traumatise him more," Quinn disagreed.
"When will we meet him?" Tina asked.
"Um… I'm not sure. The next people he has to meet are his tutor and counsellor but we're not bringing them for a while until he trusts us."
"He's on his way, he clearly adores you," Puck noted.
Kurt shook his head. "I'm pretty sure the only reason he lets me touch him and he's okay with being close to me is because I'm his Master, technically, and his instincts from the Training are making him do it. You guys have no idea what they did to him in there. They have a section of Training called Punishment Training that causes each and every one of them to break and they start behaving the way we see slaves acting all the time. It's awful."
"If he only likes you because you're his Master why do you let him touch you, why not stop him?" Finn wondered.
"You've heard him, Finn, he thinks so badly of himself. He's been so hurt that he really believes that the only thing he's good for is being raped and having children as a result of that rape. If I pulled away from any of his contact he'd believe I thought that too and it wouldn't help him at all. I'm sure part of him likes me because I'm nice to him but the rest is because of how he views my position in his life."
The room seemed very sombre and Kurt shifted, looking at the time.
"Okay so that's really all I wanted to say," Kurt managed.
"We'll help you," Mike promised and everyone else nodded. "We'll get him better."
"Thank you all so much."
"Okay everyone, now onto this week's lesson-" Mr Schue said and Kurt turned to him.
"Actually do you mind if I just go straight him? I'm kind of exhausted and I really just… I'm worried about Blaine…" Kurt bit his lip and Mr Schue nodded in agreement, letting him leave the choir room without another word.
Kurt will never admit that he might have driven a tiny bit over the speed limit so that he could get home. He went inside, about to call out when he found Blaine curled up, fast asleep on the loveseat in the living room, the menu for Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire playing on the TV. Kurt picked up the remote and turned it off, kneeling in front of Blaine and gently stroking his curls until he stirred.
He blinked owlishly and looked towards the DVD player to check the time, his eyes widening as they returned to Kurt's face.
"You're home early," he whispered.
"I didn't want to sit through Glee Club when you were here pretty much by yourself," Kurt explained.
"Carole's getting some rest before work," Blaine explained, a little defensively. Kurt rolled his eyes.
"Not what I meant, Blaine." Kurt continued playing with his hair because Blaine was leaning into his hand and looked down at his outfit. He was wearing a red pair of jeans, a black short-sleeved button up and a red bow-tie. He looked absolutely adorable. "Nice choices."
Blaine smiled sleepily. It seemed he was still partially asleep since he didn't seem to mind Kurt so close to him.
"You can go back to sleep," Kurt told him. "I'll just sit here and do homework."
Blaine nodded, his eyes drooping shut.
"I missed you," he mumbled sleepily and Kurt's heart clenched, his eyes pricking with tears at the words that Blaine probably hadn't meant to say. Kurt leant forward and kissed his temple, making Blaine smile slightly, eyes still shut.
"I'm going to change into something more comfortable but then I'll be back," Kurt told him. He changed quickly into sweats and a hoodie before heading down to join Blaine on the loveseat since he was taking up so little space. He pulled out some math homework and started working on the problems while Blaine slept beside him.
When Carole left for work at four Blaine woke up slightly and sleepily allowed Carole to kiss the top of his head as she did with Kurt when she said goodbye. He watched her leave before turning around and lying back down this time with his head on Kurt's lap. Kurt looked down at him in surprise and Blaine smiled up at him, taking Kurt's hand and holding it to his face.
"You're very touchy-feely this afternoon," Kurt commented hesitantly. Blaine nodded. "Any particular reason."
"You make me feel safe," Blaine murmured in the same way he'd told Kurt he missed him.
Kurt wanted to cry again. He really hoped this was actually Blaine and not a result of his Training.
"Good. You are safe with me," Kurt promised softly, leaving his hand on Blaine's cheek as he dozed off again. Blaine didn't wake up properly until Finn came home, slamming the door before cursing as he remembered Blaine's jumpiness.
As it was Blaine jumped to his feet backing away, his eyes darting around wildly. Kurt leapt to his feet.
"Blaine, Blaine, it's alright," he said. "You're safe. It's me, Kurt, there's nothing here. You're fine."
Blaine's eyes moved to focus on Kurt at the sound of his voice, his chest heaving in his fright.
"Blaine? You're okay..."
"Kurt?"
"Yeah, it's me. Come on, now, you're fine." Kurt held his arms out and Blaine took two steps forward until he was able to be wrapped in them, burying his face in the crook of Kurt's neck. Kurt rubbed his back soothingly, still murmuring into his ear until he stopped shaking. "Are you alright, now?"
"Yeah... sorry," Blaine mumbled against his neck, his breath raising goosebumps on Kurt's skin and he repressed a shiver, trying to ignore the feeling of Blaine's lips moving against the sensitive spot where his neck met his shoulder. "Startled."
"I figured." Kurt gently pulled Blaine from him and gave him a smile. "So, what do you want for dinner?"
Blaine looked relieved to have the matter dropped and pondered the question.
"I've been craving Chinese all day," he admitted.
"There's a menu on the fridge. Finn!" Kurt turned and walked from the room, holding on of Blaine's hands and pulling him along. "We're ordering Chinese food for dinner! What do you want?"
"Satay-beef combination!" Finn shouted back.
Kurt smiled. "Should have known." He pulled the Chinese takeaway menu from the fridge and handed it Blaine. "And Dad will get his usual too, I assume. He should be home soon." He checked the time while Blaine studied the menu.
"I think I'll have whatever you're getting," Blaine said. "I can't choose."
"Are you sure?"
Blaine nodded so Kurt called up the take-out place and put in their order before turning back to Blaine.
"What?" Blaine asked.
"I wanted to talk about the tutor and counsellor we're getting you," Kurt explained. He gestured back to the living room and retook his seat. Blaine hesitated before sitting next to him. "It's really up to you when we get them."
"Why?"
"Well, right now you're not really comfortable where you are. Don't argue, I see you flinch when someone gets too close," Kurt explained. Blaine dropped his gaze. "We don't blame you in the slightest. But since you're not, we want you to decide when you feel safe enough with us to have new people introduced into your life so that if they upset or hurt you, you'll come to us."
Kurt inched forward a little and tentatively reached a hand out to lift Blaine's face so he could look at him. Blaine flinched a little but allowed the contact. When they were looking at each other Kurt moved his hand to Blaine's cheek. This was another contact that Blaine allowed without fuss, Kurt knew it was probably because of his Training but liked that there were a couple of ways he could touch Blaine without upsetting him.
"Do you understand?"
"I do. Thank you." Blaine bit his lip for a moment. "I don't think I can handle it yet."
"And that's what I wanted to know." Kurt smiled warmly and gently stroked Blaine's cheekbone without conscious thought. "So, how was your day?"
"It was good. Carole's really nice. Did it go okay telling your friends about me?"
"Not at first but your new best friend stood up for me."
Blaine frowned in confusion. "Who?"
"Puck. Since he'd actually seen you he knew what was going on."
"Oh. I like Puck. He seems like a bad person on first sight but he's really a bit of a dope."
"Yeah, you should see him with his daughter." Kurt smiled fondly at the memory of seeing the photos of Puck cuddling Beth that he'd shown off in Glee.
"Puck has a daughter?" Blaine frowned. "How...?"
Kurt didn't understand his tone but then noticed his eyes. "Oh, not like that. He accidentally got Quinn pregnant in our sophomore year. Rachel's biological mum adopted their daughter but they're allowed to see her."
Blaine nodded. "What do you mean Rachel's biological mother?"
"She has two dads."
"Neither of them was a carrier?"
"No. They had to get a surrogate."
"She's lucky. I bet if I had two dads they would never have sold me." Blaine slumped back on the lounge. He didn't seem as disturbed as usual at the mention of his parents. He seemed to be getting used to the fact of what they had done to him.
Kurt rubbed Blaine's shoulder and shifted closer.
"You want to watch another movie?" he asked. Blaine smiled slightly at him.
"Sure. Like what?"
"You pick. Go on." Blaine and Kurt held each other's gaze for a moment until Blaine went over to the cabinet and browsed with a thoughtful face, humming softly.
"You told me yesterday that you love music," Kurt said.
"Yes, I do."
"Do you sing, though?"
Blaine hesitated. "I did."
Kurt got up and went to kneel next to him. "Did you stop because of what was happening?"
Blaine nodded slowly. "Nothing that used to make me happy did the job anymore. It all seemed so pointless. I was in the Glee club at my school, like you are."
"Will you sing with me?" Blaine looked a little panicked so Kurt backtracked. "Sorry, that was thoughtless. We have a piano in the den... if one day you feel like playing you're welcome to."
Blaine nodded and then pulled out a DVD of Les Mis 25th Anniversary show.
"Can we watch this?"
"Of course. Put it on." Kurt returned to his spot on the lounge and curled up, reading to sing along with Valjean and Fantine. Blaine joined him and looked at Kurt before settling at the opposite end of the lounge but by the time Burt was home, the Chinese had come and they'd eaten and Javert was about to commit suicide Blaine was settled on Kurt's chest, starting to doze off again. He couldn't help the affection he was feeling in that moment since he was so full and sleepy. Kurt noticed.
"You're really tired today," he noted. "And you get cuddly when you're sleepy."
Blaine smiled a little and shifted so he could look up at Kurt. "I didn't sleep well in the compound. And I used to be a really huggy kind of guy. Wes used to call me a full-sized teddy bear."
Kurt smiled and giggled a little, the sound making Blaine shut his eyes again.
"I can see why he would think that," he agreed. He decided he liked it when Blaine was sleepy. He was relaxed and open, allowing Kurt to get closer. This was yet another glimpse of the real Blaine and he really wanted to start bringing this guy out when he was awake.
Over the next two weeks Blaine started to settle properly into the Hudmel home. He would spend time with Carole when she was home and he finally felt well enough that she was able to go back to day shifts without panicking about him being alone – the night shifts were so exhausting, especially with Burt in Washington for most of the week.
When Kurt got home from school he and Blaine would watch movies together or Blaine would sit with Kurt and read while he did his homework. He spent the entire first week sleeping with Kurt but then decided he wanted to try sleeping on his own – he ended up climbing into Kurt's bed at three in the morning and the boy simply woke up enough to pull Blaine into his arms and fell back asleep.
He started smiling more. He really felt like he could breathe again in their home... until the nightmares came or someone moved too suddenly. Blaine could now let all of them sit close to him but only Kurt and Carole could really touch him without freaking him out. Blaine knew he needed help so he went to Kurt one afternoon while he was rehearsing for Glee. They'd won their Sectionals and Kurt was hoping to get a solo for Regionals. Blaine's heart skipped a beat when Kurt told him they were competing against the Warblers. His old Glee Club.
Blaine waited for Kurt to finish singing before he spoke to him because he really loved the sound of Kurt's voice. It was so pure and beautiful. He deserved solos and didn't understand why he didn't get them.
Blaine clapped when Kurt finished and he looked around, beaming at Blaine and patting the piano bench. Blaine walked over to join him.
"That's was beautiful," Blaine complimented, not for the first time. Kurt blushed, his pale cheeks turning a pretty shake of pink so Blaine had to look away when his stomach flipped at the sight.
"Did you want to talk?" Kurt asked and Blaine smiled. The older boy was so good at reading him now that he barely had to voice a desire or concern, Kurt just knew. He had finally stopped thinking of him as his Master but was still conscious of the fact that if Kurt changed his mind he would still have to bow to his every whim though he trusted him, he knew Kurt would never, ever harm him.
"Yeah... I think I'm ready for that counsellor," Blaine told him. "I want to get it all out. I want someone to help me stop flinching every time someone walks too close to me. I want to be able to sleep in my own bed without waking from a horrible nightmare. I mean, I don't mind sleeping with you but it'd be nice not to have to be so dependent."
"I understand," Kurt assured him. "I'll let Dad know, okay?"
"Thank you." Blaine played with the keys on the piano starting the melody to Teenage Dream and Kurt smiled at him.
"Play it," he urged. "I still haven't heard you sing."
Blaine hesitated. "Not yet... soon, though. I feel more connected to music since I've been listening to you."
"That's good." Kurt leant his head on Blaine's shoulder. Blaine looked at him in surprise but the contact hardly bothered him anymore. If he ever felt uncomfortable he could tell Kurt to pull away and he would, he knew that, so it made Kurt touching him something that he didn't mind.
Days later Blaine was reading on his bed, waiting for Kurt to get home from school when there was a knock at his door. He looked up to see Kurt and a smile lit his face without his consent.
"I didn't hear your car," he said, sitting up and putting his book aside. Kurt forced a tiny smile. "What?"
"I need to talk to you about something," Kurt said softly. Blaine nodded and patted the end of his bed so Kurt sat there, a catalogue of some kind in his hands and looking worried. "I don't want you to freak out but this is kind of... not good."
Blaine tilted his head. "Go on."
"You know how we're getting you a tutor and a counsellor?" Kurt wondered and Blaine nodded, not understanding where this was going. "Well... they, like everyone else, need to think that you're being... owned."
"Oh..." Blaine chewed his lip for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, we need to make it seem like you're being used for what you were bought for," Kurt explained shifting guiltily. "Otherwise someone could take you off us and send you someplace that you don't want to be."
Blaine's heart skipped a beat and his shook his head quickly. "I don't want that."
"Neither do I," Kurt assured him. "Which is why for when they're here or when you end up going outside for whatever reason you're going to need..."
He held out the catalogue for Blaine to take and he noted it was a catalogue for... accessories to accompany slaves. Kurt had dog-eared a section and Blaine opened it and examined all of the different kinds of collars advertised.
"You want me to wear...?" He looked at Kurt, stricken. He'd promised he wouldn't be treated like a slave in their house. He started to feel a panic attack coming on but Kurt crawled closer, shaking his head.
"Blaine, shh, it's alright," Kurt cooed. "Come here." Blaine crawled into his waiting arms and let Kurt rock him gently. "It's only for when people are around who aren't my family or my friends because they won't understand. They'll try and take you away because I'm not "utilising" you. So if you go outside and when people come over you need to wear it but otherwise no."
Blaine let himself be soothed by Kurt's gentle rocking and the tiny kisses he was dropping onto his curls without thinking about it. Blaine shut his eyes and leaned into Kurt's chest feeling safe and warm.
"So, I want you to pick out one of these that you'd feel most comfortable wearing for short periods of time," Kurt explained, reaching over and bringing the catalogue in front of them. "There are some really nasty ones in here but there are also a lot that just look like choker necklaces. See, this one is sort of like a charm bracelet in necklace form."
Blaine examined it.
"Whatever we got it'd have to say 'Property of Kurt Hummel', wouldn't it?" Blaine questioned. Kurt nodded sadly.
"It has to be believable, sweetheart, I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay. This is so I can stay safe. I'll do it." Blaine perused the various designs while Kurt held him tightly, rubbing his side and kissing his hair occasionally. It was nice, he thought. Kurt never expected anything of him and would always back off whenever he became uncomfortable, but this kind of touching was just... nice and comforting; Blaine welcomed it.
"I like this one," Blaine finally decided, pointing to a collar that looked like it was made of plaited silks. It was three shades of blue: sky blue, royal blue and a turquoise colour. It had a small heart dangling from it to have the slave's name engraved and above where the heart hung was a special plate to have the Master's name engraved. It was very pretty, all things considered.
"You want that one?" Kurt checked and Blaine nodded. "Alright, I'll order it."
Blaine smiled at him and leant into his chest again. "Don't go yet."
Kurt settled against Blaine's pillows, holding the younger boy to his chest. Blaine moved so his ear rested over Kurt's heart and he sighed happily when he started to sing quietly. He could quite honestly stay right here in Kurt's arms forever.
And that knowledge terrified him.
