Hello again! I'm sorry this took me so long. I was on a bit of a hiatus since my power went out during sandy and just got it back on Thursday night. But I hope this chapter makes up for it!

Thank you for your patience!

I was planning on posting this two days ago. But a wire got knocked down in my backyard so we are without internet and cable. I'm currently posting this at a friends house. I hope your happy!


The Chains

Kurt was smiling.

Oh, who was he fooling? Kurt was fucking beaming.

Kurt didn't plan to kiss Blaine – he just wanted to flirt a bit to see if he was gay, but when Blaine started freaking out, Kurt had worried he'd overstepped.

But instead, Blaine called him his best friend within two months of knowing each other.

And Blaine kissed Kurt.

Kurt never thought a guy like Blaine – hot, built, a college student – despite his faults, would want someone like him. Kurt never even dreamed about something like that happening back in Ohio.

Two weeks after their kiss, Kurt found himself on top of the college student on his living room couch, kissing him lazily.

Blaine hummed and closed his eyes, letting Kurt kiss him but hardly responding because he was finally relaxed and felt so refreshed.

Kurt pulled away after a while, licking his lips. "How was school?" He asked and rested his elbows against Blaine's chest.

Blaine chuckled and opened his eyes. "Uneventful."

The younger boy bit his lip. "That's what you said yesterday."

Blaine shrugged and wrapped his arms around Kurt's middle. When they first started this, Blaine wasn't that affectionate, but after a few days he became more and more comfortable around Kurt, and became what Kurt liked to describe him as 'cuddly-puppy.' Even though Blaine grimaced every time he called him that, Kurt knew he secretly loved the name.

"It's true," Blaine mumbled and shut his eyes again.

"Well…school was very eventful for me." Blaine's tired smile encouraged Kurt to continue. "I had glee, and a math test, and I told my friends you're coming to sectionals."

Blaine's eyes snapped open, looking panicked. "What did they say?"

"They said they were surprised. They didn't even know you're my neighbor, but they want to meet you."

"In a good way or a bad way?"

"A good way."

"…Okay."

Silence filled the room like water fills a glass.

"Did you, um…tell your dad about-about us?" Blaine asked, clearly trying to hold back his fear of the answer.

"No," Kurt replied. "I don't know if there's anything to tell him yet."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're not my boyfriend, are you? Because if I tell him we kissed, he'll just get confused and ask questions I can't answer."

Blaine doesn't answer.

"Are you my boyfriend?" Kurt asked, so confused. Does Blaine want that?

"…I don't really know how to be someone's boyfriend."

"You've never had a boyfriend?"

"I've…slept with willing people who don't know me. But that's it." Blaine almost looked ashamed.

Kurt cocked his head to the side. "But you like me, don't you?"

"Of course!"

"Then that's all it takes. You don't have to prove anything to me. You like me, I like you. That's all we need. Unless you don't want to be my boyfriend."

"No! No, I-I do."

"Good."

Kurt kisses him again.


The night of sectionals, Blaine was shaking in his shoes, and his palms were so wet he could barely hold on to his steering wheel.

As he pulled up to East Kentwood High, he noticed so many cars were already in the parking lot. Blaine couldn't handle so many people. Maybe he could find a nice, quiet spot in the back. But no, he couldn't, Mr. Hummel was saving him a seat.

Shit.

He parked and stepped out of his car, keeping his head low.

He could feel the eyes of students, teachers, and parents clawing at his back, staring at him, hearing their mumbled whispers to their friends.

"Is that him?"

"That's the brother?"

"Yeah I heard he was there."

"He watched his parents die? He didn't try to stop his brother?"

He didn't try to stop his brother.

Blaine speed-walked to the school's entrance, simultaneously keeping his head low and trying not to bump into anyone. Unfortunately, the universe never let him be so lucky, and he knocked right onto someone's back. A tall someone.

"Blainey!" The tall someone said. "I didn't know you were coming!"

Blaine blinked up at the man in relief. "Hey, Skylar." He grinned at his brother's old friend and shook his hand. "Is your brother performing tonight?"

"Yeah," Skylar enthused. "So, how are you? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to see my neighbor. He goes here."

Skylar waited, trying to get Blaine to talk more, but when he didn't, he spoke in a quiet voice, "How are you, Blaine?"

Blaine swallowed thickly, "People still have nothing better to talk about, but I'm fine, I guess. I like college."

"I heard you moved back in."

Blaine rolled his eyes at the almost reprimanding tone. "Yes. I want to sell it so I'm fixing it up."

"Are you sure that's healthy? Cooper wouldn't-"

"Stop right there," Blaine growled. "Thanks for the concern, but I have to go inside to find my seat."

"Blaine, wait-"

"Don't need your pity."

Of course. Why couldn't he have a normal conversation with someone for once? Why couldn't someone talk to him without mentioning what happened? But that wasn't possible, was it? Especially with Cooper's friends.

When he stepped inside the large auditorium he immediately spotted a tall, bald, burly man next to an even taller high school student.

"Mr. Hummel!" Blaine called; Burt turned and smiled when he saw Blaine.

"Come on over, Blaine. And how many times do I have to say it's Burt, kid?" Mr. Hummel asked when Blaine was next to him.

"I don't remember you ever telling me that, sir."

"Well I'm telling you now."

Blaine grinned softly.

"Hey, dude."

Finn just said hi to me.

Blaine eyebrows nearly reached his hairline when he returned the greeting.

"Kurt wants you to go to the choir room before he performs," Finn said. "I'll show you where it is."

Blaine smiled in response, glad Finn was starting to act kind towards him, despite calling him creepy the last time they met. He followed Finn out of the auditorium and into a classroom where a bunch of teenage boys and girls were dressed to perform.

Finn left right after to get to his seat, and Blaine was left awkwardly standing by the door, trying to look for Kurt without actually looking for Kurt. Until a girl with thick black hair who only had half of her makeup done spotted him, and her green eyes widened in recognition.

"Kurt!" She yelled, Blaine jumped at her loud voice. "Your friend is here." She sounded quite scared.

Kurt emerged from the group, looking at Blaine happily.

"Hi!" he said excitedly, and jumped forward to grab Blaine's hand. "I'm glad you came."

Blaine squeezed back, feeling comforted. "Me too, I think.

Kurt turned to his friends. "Everyone, this is Blaine, though I'm sure you already know who he is."

Silence rang around the room for a few seconds. Just a few moments for everyone to just stare at Blaine.

Blaine almost shrunk back at their lingering gazes when a girl, maybe a junior, with dark brown hair walked up to him. "My name's Jessica. It's nice to meet you."

Soon enough, the rest of Kurt's teammates walked up to introduce themselves, leaving Blaine feeling much more welcome than he did the first time he walked in.

Eventually Blaine had to go back to his seat, but before he left he gave Kurt a quick peck on the cheek, surprising both his boyfriend and the rest of the room.

Their performance was amazing. Kurt had a solo unbeknownst to Blaine, and his voice was absolutely gorgeous. Blaine wasn't surprised when their group was jumping up and down in victory with the first place trophy in their hands.

When Kurt met up with his family, Blaine gave him the biggest hug he'd ever given anyone, loving how Kurt hugged him just as tight.

But, like Blaine had mentioned before, the universe didn't like him enough to keep him happy for more than an hour.

A member from Kurt's team, Blaine recognized him as Matt, was running towards him, looking quite panicked.

"Dude," he panted, "do you own that red station wagon? Parked right up in the front?"

What happened? "Yes?"

"These guys are completely trashing it! They-"

Blaine didn't stick around to hear the rest.

He rushed out of the building, pushing people out of his way to get to his car.

There they were, holding bats and hammers, destroying his windows and doors and roof, the only car he had, his only way of transportation.

Blaine ran across the parking lot, adrenaline pumping through his veins when he noticed who was standing on top of his car, beating it down. It was his old middle school tormentor – Eric Walsh – who beat him up in eighth grade. Of course it was him, who else wouldn't have grown up in seven years?

He reached his car and pushed through the crowd of high schoolers surrounding it, cheering for them to keep bashing the automobile. He swung his arm up and, without even a second thought, caught Eric's leg and pulled it down, making Eric drop to the ground. The crowd screamed at his 'horrible' act.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Blaine shouted. He was seething, so tired of everything. Why couldn't people just leave him alone? Why couldn't they stop staring?

Eric pushed Blaine off him and got to his feet, an air of superiority around him as the crowd cheered him on. "I could ask you the same question! I came here to see my little sister perform, but instead I seem you here trying to ruin everyone's evening! I had to teach you a lesson. Like I used to, remember, Blaine?"

Blaine did remember. He remembered Eric outside his house when the police were taking him away, laughing at his dead family. Blaine couldn't handle the memory.

He couldn't handle anything anymore.

The first punch came with shocked silence; the second punch was followed by Eric slamming back to the asphalt, along with the rest of his friends attacking Blaine all at once.

Blaine went crazy, punching and kicking as many of them as he could reach. But he was too slow, and there were too many of them. Someone jumped on his back, and Blaine collapsed to the ground, completely helpless.

People were shouting again, cheering them to finish off the crazy kid who helped his brother kill his parents. No one would help him. No one wanted to help him.

"Stop it! Leave him alone!"

Kurt.

Kurt would help him.

No, Kurt couldn't get hurt. Blaine wouldn't allow it.

Before he was too weak to move from the gang's continuous hits, he saw Eric aiming for a punch to his chest, and grabbed his arm before it reached his skin, and twisted with all his might.

A popping sound and earth shattering screams was all anyone heard next.

The group backed off enough for Blaine to stand up and lean against his car, backing away from the screaming boy.

There they were. Their eyes all staring at him in horror, just like they've always looked at him. Kurt was among them, covering his mouth with his hand, staring in shock.

He ran.


"Blaine, wait!" Kurt tried to rush after him, but too many people in the crowd were panicking, and Blaine was already gone.

His dad was there too, watching the chaos unfold. Everyone was trying to help the guy who totaled Blaine's car. No one seemed to notice the absence of Blaine.

"Dad," Kurt shook his father's shoulder to get his attention, "You have to find the sheriff. He's around here somewhere. Tell him what happened, and that it was self-defense, okay?"

Burt nodded quickly, still a bit in shock from what he just witnessed. "Of course. The sheriff knows Blaine wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose. He likes Blaine. But where are you going?"

"He probably ran home. I need to see if he's okay."

Kurt stepped into his car and started driving toward Blaine's house, hoping beyond hope he was alright.


By the time he pulled up to Blaine's driveway, most of the lights in the house were already on.

How did he get here before me? Kurt wondered. The thought soon sprinted out of his mind when he heard a blaring crash coming from inside.

He slammed the front door open. "Blaine?" he called. No answer. Another crash.

Kurt turned to where he thought was the source of the noise, turning towards the door leading to the basement. Kurt's never been down there before, Blaine's never shown him. He opened the door and walked down the steps. He found nothing except an old washing machine and pipes.

But soon enough, something caught his eye: a small handle, shining under an old rug next to the washing machine. He pushed the rug away to find a cellar door. He pulled on the handle, thinking himself lucky it wasn't locked, facing him with more stairs. They lead him to a long hallway, and to another door that was slightly ajar.

He opened the door, his eyes widening in fear.

A room, with no sign of human contact in years, had nothing but two single beds, with chains attached to their posts.

Kurt's eyes couldn't, wouldn't register what he was seeing.

"What are you doing here!" A voice shouted. Apparently, neither could Blaine's.


This was longer than I anticipated. I'm not very confidant about this chapter. It didn't really turn out the way I wanted it to. If you felt like it jumped around too much, please tell me.

Please review! Danke!