Chapter 10: Safe And Sound
When Kurt wakes up, he's immediately met by too-bright lights and the strange feeling of a comfortable mattress beneath him. He groans and shuts his eyes, trying to block out the light. He feels something wrap around his arm and he flinches away, nearly falling off the bed before his other arm is securely held down.
"No!" he cries, only struggling more when his legs are held down as well. "No! No, please!"
He doesn't open his eyes, too afraid of what he'll see. I thought I was done in the arena, he thinks miserably. But it will never end.
He feels a sudden pinching in his arm and he freezes, slumping like deadweight onto the mattress. As he loses consciousness, he has only one word on his lips and one picture in his mind.
Blaine.
…
When he wakes again, the lights aren't so bright. He cautiously blinks his eyes open and lolls his head from side to side, lazily looking around. He whimpers in frustration when he tries and fails to shift into a sitting position. He digs his fingers into the sheets, feeling helpless.
"Finally you're awake," says a familiar voice and his heart leaps with relief.
"Haymitch?" he asks, though it sounds more like "Ay-mish" in his drowsy state. He opens his eyes a little more and smiles when he sees his oldest mentor's face.
Haymitch smiles sadly and puts a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "You did it, kid. You won."
Kurt tries to sit up again but he just falls backwards, his wobbly arms giving out on him. "Why can't I get up?" he asks.
"They gave you some strong pain medication after repairing the damage in your leg and your arm, so it'll take a while to wear off. As soon as it does, you'll be good as new," Haymitch explains.
Kurt nods, or tries to, and relaxes into the pillow. "I want to see Blaine. And my dad. And Sophia. And—"
"They're all waiting for you in District Twelve," Cooper says from behind Haymitch. Kurt, noticing him for the first time, peeks around Haymitch to see Cooper by the door. Cooper's face is emotionless for a moment before he smiles kindly and steps forward. "You won."
"I don't want to think about it," Kurt says, frowning. "I just want to see them… They need to know I'm all right."
"They know," Haymitch says.
"I contacted your dad," Cooper says. "I told him it'd be at least a day before you can go home."
Kurt can feel tears building up in his eyes and he shakes his head. "Please… I just want to go home. Why can't I go home?"
"Kurt—"
"Let me go home!" Kurt cries. "I spent too long in that damn arena and I just want to go home!"
Kurt feels his heartbeat quickening and a nurse comes in to check his vitals. When he still doesn't calm down, she sticks a needle in his arm and Kurt feels the world slip away again…
…
Kurt wakes up screaming, hands clenched in the sheets, breathing in quick and unsteady gasps. He reaches for the closest thing to him, which happens to be Cooper's arm, and opens his eyes hesitantly. He looks at Cooper, who understands judging by the look on his face. Kurt remembers that Cooper had to face the arena, too, and he probably has nightmares just like Kurt just had.
Kurt tries to sit up, relieved when he can manage it, and wraps his arms around Cooper tightly, burying his face in Cooper's chest. What he really needs is to feel Blaine's warm arms around him, but this'll do for now. He can pretend that Cooper is Blaine because the two brothers are similar enough. "Does it ever go away?" he asks in a whisper, his voice shaking.
Cooper is quiet for a few moments before he answers, rubbing Kurt's back. "Not completely. In my experience, it stays with you, probably forever. There's no getting out of it."
"Does it get easier?"
Cooper smiles a little. "You've got Blaine and you've got your dad, and now you've got me and Haymitch. You'll be okay eventually."
"Thank you, Cooper."
"For what?"
"For everything. Just… everything."
Again, they're silent for a long few minutes before Cooper speaks. "Are you ready to go home?"
Kurt looks up at him, eyes lighting up. "I can?"
Cooper smiles. "Yeah, the train will be ready for you in thirty minutes. Get dressed and freshen up if you want to. You're going home."
Kurt grins despite everything, excited by the idea of seeing his family again. Once Cooper leaves the room, Kurt finds some clothes in the drawer by his bed—Cooper must have brought them—and gets dressed after taking a quick shower. He fixes his hair and then finds Cooper so they can wait for the train. He's surprised that his leg and arm don't hurt from being stabbed, but he figures the Capital has the most high-tech medicine known to man. Of course they'd be able to make it like the whole thing never happened—physically, at least. Mentally and emotionally, it can never really be hidden or taken away.
Once Kurt is on the train, he goes to his room and decides to lie down. He pulls his locket off of his neck and smiles as he opens it and sees Blaine's smiling face. "I'll be home soon," he whispers, brushing his thumb over the flower petal before kissing it tenderly.
A few hours later, though it feels like longer, the train comes to a stop and Kurt hops up eagerly. He practically runs out of his room and out of the train, hopping onto the platform and scanning the area for Blaine or his dad. He sees Blaine first and he runs to close the distance between them, throwing his arms around the smaller boy. Blaine buries his face in Kurt's neck and spins him around, hugging him tightly.
"You're home," he whispers, his voice cracking with emotion. "You're home and you're safe and you're alive… I love you so much, Kurt."
"I love you, too, Blaine," Kurt says with a tearful laugh, bringing his hand up to tangle his fingers in the curls at the base of Blaine's neck. "I won for you… I won for you…"
Blaine pulls back just enough to look Kurt in the eyes, smiling in pure adoration and relief. "Your dad is almost here," he says. "I kind of ran ahead when I saw the train…" he adds with a nervous laugh.
Kurt smiles and kisses him, holding Blaine's face tenderly between his hands. Then, he moves his hands to grab the locket and fastens it around Blaine's neck, kissing him a few more times before pulling away. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Blaine says, smiling softly.
Kurt turns around when he feels a hand on his shoulder, tensing up until he sees who it is. As soon as he sees his dad's warm eyes and crooked smile, he launches himself into a hug. "Dad…"
"I love you, Kurt," he says, choking up. "I don't say it enough. I love you. I'm so grateful to have you home."
"Speaking of home…" Kurt glances over his dad's shoulder, indicating that they should go to the house. Burt shakes his head, though.
"They've already moved us into the Victor's Village," he explains.
Kurt's eyes widen in surprise. "Oh… Okay. Well, um… Let's go there, then." He glances behind him and smiles hesitantly at Blaine. "Will you… um…"
Blaine smiles softly and nods, letting Kurt know that he understands. Kurt feels a weight lifted off his heart. Blaine always knows him so well and he couldn't be more grateful for that, especially now when words escape him.
So, the three of them walk to the new house in the Victor's Village. But Kurt remembers something—someone—as they're leaving the train station. "Sophia," he says, looking around as if she'll appear behind him. "Where's Sophia?"
"She's with Sam," Blaine says. "She's… she's okay. Sam said she hasn't been the same since she returned to District Twelve."
Kurt frowns, concern building. He grabs Blaine's hand and laces their fingers together, needing the comfort.
Once they reach the house, they walk inside and Kurt doesn't even bother looking around as Blaine leads him to the room that's his. Kurt lets Blaine lay him down on the bed and he cuddles close to Blaine as soon as the hazel-eyed boy settles down beside him. "Stay with me tonight," Kurt whispers. "Please…"
"There's no place I'd rather be," Blaine says, kissing Kurt's forehead. "Try and get some sleep. I know you've had a… difficult day."
Kurt nods. He doesn't say that 'difficult' is an understatement, because he doesn't really have words for it either. He just buries his face in Blaine's shoulder and enjoys being held, quickly falling into a deep sleep.
In his dreams—no, nightmares; he doesn't have dreams anymore—he sees nothing but death. He watches Chandler's death and Quinn's death and Puck's death, and there's nothing he can do about it. He sees the life leaving the eyes of the two tributes he killed personally and it shakes him to the core. He sees faceless strangers killing Blaine, as if to get him out of the way and have Kurt for themselves. And the newest addition to his nightmares, he sees his mother dying in the Games, brutally murdered when Kurt was only a baby.
But he never sees his own death. That would be merciful compared to seeing everyone he loves taken away from him.
He wakes up with a choked scream, muffled by Blaine's shirt as he clings to his boyfriend. "Blaine," he chokes out. Tears run down his face as Blaine pulls him closer and strokes his hair. "I… I…"
"Shh, I know," Blaine says. "I remember when Cooper used to have nightmares every night. He never talked about them. I understand if you don't want to."
"I… I don't… not yet," Kurt says, breathing heavily. "I just need you… Just hold me…"
"Always," Blaine says fiercely and yet so tender. "You've got me, my love."
Kurt sighs a little in relief, trembling slightly. "Blaine…" he whispers, shutting his eyes and clutching Blaine's shirt.
"I'm right here," Blaine reaffirms. Stroking his fingers through Kurt's hair, he starts to sing softly.
I remember tears streaming down your face when I said I'll never let you go
When all those shadows almost killed your light
I remember you said don't leave me here alone
But all that's dead and gone and passed, tonight
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be all right
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be
Safe and sound
Don't you dare look out your window
Darling, everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone
Gone
Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be all right
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light, you and I'll be
Safe and sound
You and I'll be safe… and… sound…
Kurt sniffles a few times, relaxing into Blaine's embrace. "I love you," he whispers.
"I love you, too," Blaine says sweetly. "Always. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
Kurt's about to say something but he yawns, breathing out shakily afterwards. He rests his head against Blaine's chest and falls asleep again, comforted by the warm, strong presence of the boy who's been his anchor for nearly three weeks now. For the first time since he volunteered as tribute, he feels truly safe.
…
When Kurt wakes up, he looks up and sees that Blaine is already awake, and he's looking at something in his hand, smiling softly. Curious, Kurt follows his gaze and his eyes widen when he sees the silver ring in between Kurt's thumb and index finger. "Blaine…"
"I found it when I was helping them move your things into the new house," Blaine says, still smiling softly at the piece of jewelry. "You really bought a ring."
"I was going to ask you," Kurt admits quietly. "But then you were reaped and I volunteered and… I never really got the chance to see what you'd say."
Blaine's gaze shifts to Kurt's face as he twirls the ring between his fingers. "Do you want to know what I'd say?"
Kurt smiles. "Maybe I'm a little curious."
Blaine chuckles and reaches to brush his fingertips over Kurt's cheekbone lovingly. "I'd say yes," he says, slipping the ring onto his own finger. "I could never say anything except yes, Kurt."
Kurt grins and leans up to kiss him, feeling better than he has in weeks. "Does this mean you're my fiancé?"
Blaine matches the bright smile, wrapping his arms around Kurt's waist. "Only if you'll be mine."
"I think I can handle that."
A/N: What's this?! An update in the middle of the week?! How unlike me!
Hope you guys enjoy :)
Until next time!
Review please ^.^