Warning: I know we have already mentioned violence, but there's some in this chapter so just be warned. It's not that bad though.
Kurt had always felt more alive in the nighttime.
He couldn't help it; that's just how he was. His father had always chided him for stayed up way too late when they had to get an early start and he would lie awake looking at the stars or building an imaginary life where he ran away to New York to chase his dreams.
He would be able to stay up all night then if he wished. If he were to be a performer, that's when he would work. He could sleep through the day and come alive as the sun was setting. He wanted the sparkling glitz and glamour, the parties and the new experiences.
At least, that was the plan until he had stayed awake for two straight nights running for his life.
Kurt had never run more in his entire life. He thought he knew what running was when he was being chased by bullies who wanted nothing more than to see him cry and bleed. It wasn't until now when he was quite literally running for his life that he wished for a mean name or a split lip.
The worst was Blaine's reaction. Kurt had only known him for a few months, but from what he knew Blaine was bouncy and bubbly and rather happy-go-lucky. This wasn't the same Blaine.
His eyes were red and dull and had lost their sparkle. His smile was pasted on, but it was the most insincere one Kurt had ever seen on his face. The worst was the way Blaine was clinging to Kurt's hand, as if he would fall apart if he let go. A few hours ago, he had turned to tell Blaine that they might run faster if he would separate, but the haunted look in Blaine's eyes stopped him cold. This shell of the boy he loved was breaking his heart a little.
It was close at first. After they snuck away from April's camp their hearts racing into their throats, they ran. Blaine had released a relieved sigh and they had begun to slow down when they heard the whistle. It was the kind of whistle a person would do as a signal and it made Kurt and Blaine's blood run cold. Kurt thought he was running for his life, but it turned out he could run faster. He basically dragged Blaine behind him as he tore through the woods, brambles and branches tearing at his arms and face. He knew he was probably just paranoid, but he swore he could hear their previous captors breathing down his neck. They weren't trying to sneak or be quiet, just barreling through the woods like their lives depended on it. It did. Kurt had zero doubts that they would get no mercy were they to end up in the Crawford Gangs clutches again. This thought pushed him on longer and faster than he thought possible. At least, until Blaine collapsed in a heaving ball.
"Blaine!" Kurt wheezed. "Get up! We have to go!"
"I… can't…" he panted. He looked half dead. Kurt yanked on Blaine's arm a little harder than he probably should have, but he was scared.
"Get up! They are still close!"
"I'll slow them down," Blaine sobbed. "Just go without me. I can't run anymore, Kurt." He looked up, shame screwing his face up and tears cutting tracks through his grimy face. "I love you, but I'm slowing you down. Go without me."
"I won't." Kurt shook his head. He wanted to scream and kick at Blaine. How could he just give up? They had been through so much and he was just going to lay there and let them find him? No. He plopped down on the ground. "Fine. If you aren't moving, I'm not moving."
Blaine sniffed and pushed Kurt away halfheartedly. "Go. You have to go."
"No."
"Kurt! I won't let you get taken!"
"You promised!" Kurt spat, louder than he should have considering they were still in danger. "You promised me that we would go together! You can't just lay there and die."
"I'm not!"
"Than get up, Blaine," Kurt ground out with his fists clenched. "Get up and save me. Save both of us."
He looked like he was about to argue again when they heard shouting in the distance. Apparently Blaine got a second wind because he shot up and they took off again. They made it about another mile before they were stopped again.
Kurt didn't feel the pain at first. He just felt his ankle twist the wrong way and he toppled over, his face plowing into the dirt. He tried to get back up, his determination never wavering, but his leg went out from underneath him again. He heard the pop and then the pain shot through him and he stumbled to the ground once again.
"Kurt! Oh no! What happened?"
Kurt could only groan in pain in response as Blaine knelt down in front of him. As Kurt wished he had never been born, Blaine gently and methodically began squeezing Kurt's leg. When he got to the ankle, Kurt hissed through his teeth and almost threw up with pain.
"It might be broken."
"You think?"
Blaine's mouth flattened into a grim line and he glanced around. "We need to get you out of here. Find somewhere to hide."
"Where can we hide?" Kurt asked, tears welling up in his eyes. He wasn't sure if it was because of the pain or the hopeless feeling or the weariness. Maybe it was all three.
Blaine didn't answer. Instead, he helped Kurt onto his good leg and supported his injured side. They limped until Blaine found a small dip in the bank in front of the creek. Roots of a small tree hung over it, hiding them from view unless someone were to walk up right next to them.
Kurt spent the next half hour trying to catch his breath while simultaneously admiring how amazing Blaine was at taking care of him. He worked efficiently and quietly, wrapping Kurt's ankle up in a makeshift splint cobbled together with some sticks and torn scraps of Blaine's own shirt. He had protested when Blaine had begun to shred his shirt, but Blaine silenced him with a kiss. He was outgrowing it anyway and he told Kurt the material on his shirt was too flimsy to hold up since it was made of a finer material. Kurt rolled his eyes, but smiled as Blaine carefully wrapped up his ankle.
They sat in silence now. It was almost dawn and they hadn't heard anyone come close to where they were hiding, but they were under no delusions that the gang was close. Blaine had Kurt's injured ankle propped up in his lap and was dozing lightly with his head against the dirt wall of their hiding pace. His neck was stretched out and his eyelids were twitching in his sleep. His hair was a bushy mess and he was covered from head to toe in grime, but Kurt thought he was never more beautiful. He wished sleep would claim him too, but between the fear that they would be found and the dull ache of his ankle, his mind refused to shut down.
Blaine snored and it caught in his throat. The sound startled him awake and he shuffled a little. He blinked sleepily, confusion making his eyebrows bunch before he remembered where they were and he yawned over at Kurt.
"You been awake long?" Blaine's voice crackled from sleep and he cleared his throat. Kurt shrugged. They hadn't really spoken since Blaine tried to get Kurt to leave him.
"I haven't really been able to sleep."
Blaine gave him a little sympathetic half smile. "How does your ankle feel?"
"It's been better," he said.
Blaine took this in before he groaned and rubbed tiredly at his face. They couldn't keep this pace up. They were going to collapse soon.
"I'm sorry, Kurt."
Blaine's shoulders were hunched like he was trying to curl in on himself. Tears were gathering in his eyes and threatening to drip down his face.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Kurt asked, grabbing Blaine's hand and kissing his fingers softly. "I mean besides the fact that we are hungry and tired and running for our lives from a murderous gang and my ankle is probably broken?"
Blaine choked out a wet laugh and squeezed Kurt's hand. "Yes. All of that. But also I'm sorry I almost gave up." He met Kurt's eyes with his own and blinked away tears. "I am just so scared and I don't want to do this anymore. I feel like I keep letting you down."
Kurt pulled Blaine down into his chest and Blaine immediately wrapped his arms tight around him.
"Hey, first of all, I'm scared too," Kurt said after kissing Blaine's temple. He rubbed his back with the other hand not clutched in Blaine's. "This is just awful. But you are not letting me down. You saved us from getting killed, remember? You're just tired and hungry, but we are going to make it through this."
They stayed cuddled up long enough that it was mid morning by the time that they decided to try to make a break for it. Kurt wasn't sure how they were going to make much progress because his foot hurt like hell, but he knew they couldn't just sit there.
After drinking their fill of water, Blaine slung Kurt's arm around his shoulders again and helped him limp along the bank.
"You know, this is what it will be like when we are old."
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Well, one day we will both be old and have to help each other around."
Kurt gave him a soft look. "You think about that?"
"Of course," Blaine said with a little half smile. "I am with you for as long as you'll have me, Kurt."
Kurt's chest warmed at the sincerity in Blaine's eyes and he was about to kiss the breath right out of him when they heard a whistle.
"I heard something that way!" a gruff voice yelled out. Kurt and Blaine had frozen in their tracks. Blaine's face had drained of all color and he was shaking slightly. Kurt was sure he was mirroring Blaine's terror on his own face. He could never outrun them with his ankle injured.
"Blaine-"
Before he could say anything else, Blaine's jaw jumped and his eyes narrowed in determination. He scooped Kurt up in his arms and carried him as fast as he could back to the little alcove they had hidden in.
Blaine set him down gently but quickly back in the shelter before shoving his pack down by Kurt.
"Blaine-" Kurt tried again. They would be found in no time if they hid there.
"Kurt," Blaine shook his head and cupped Kurt's neck. His throat worked as he swallowed back tears. "You can't run. This is the only way." His eyes were shining with unshed tears and he licked his lips. "I love you so much and I'm so glad I got the opportunity to be with you for this long."
He was saying goodbye. His plan came into sharp focus and made Kurt's heart drop.
"No! Blaine, you can't! We are in this together! You promised!" Great, now he was crying. He was simultaneously touched at Blaine's thoughtfulness and angry at him for suggesting they spilt up.
"I promised myself that I would keep you safe. We don't have a lot of time." Blaine's voice cracked as he bumped his forehead into Kurt's.
"Let me be the distraction," Kurt begged. He clung to Blaine like they were fused together. "I'll sit here and scream-"
"No, Kurt," Blaine rasped. "Please let me save you. You have to be safe."
"What about you?" Kurt sobbed. "It's not fair!"
Blaine kissed him hard on the mouth, putting all his feelings into one kiss. Kurt kissed him back desperately. Something cold was shoved into his hand as Blaine tore away and backed out towards the creek.
"Bye, Kurt. I love you so much."
"No! Blaine, wait!"
But with one last fond look at Kurt, Blaine took off into the woods towards the sound of shouts. Kurt sobbed and thought about yelling out, but he knew that the gang would catch Blaine in no time. He had to stay hidden so he could rescue Blaine. He wiped his face, but the tears just kept coming. He looked down at what Blaine had put in his hand and saw the old pocket watch that had belonged to his dad. Fresh tears dripped down his face as he held on tight.
A snap in the woods caused Kurt to look up sharply towards the sound. He backed up as far as he could into the shadow of the overhang and tried not to breathe. His heart hammered against his chest and sweat poured down his face and back. He heard murmured voices close by.
Please let Blaine have gotten away.
Kurt willed himself smaller and invisible as footsteps fell closer.
"It looks like someone came this way," a man's voice said. Kurt held his breath. "Look, these tracks are fresh."
"Check in there," another voice whispered. Oh no. Kurt felt like he was going throw up. They had found him and soon they would round up Blaine if they hadn't already. Then they would be murdered and it would be all over. Kurt grit his teeth and grabbed up the pack. It wasn't very heavy, but he would throw it at them and make a run for it. He didn't really have a choice. Kneeling on his good leg, Kurt gripped the pack in his hands and listened to the steps get closer. A shadow fell over the entrance and he sprung into action. He threw the pack at the man with a yell and pushed him into the creek. The man yelped in confusion as he splashed into the shallow water. Kurt hobbled away as fast as the pain in his leg would allow as he crashed through the trees with Blaine's watch clutched in his hand.
"Kurt?"
The voice stopped him dead in his tracks. He knew that voice. It was the sound of his childhood and the voice of the person he loved most in the world.
"Dad?" He turned around slowly and then he was swallowed in his dad's warm embrace. Burt's shoulders shook as he cried into Kurt's neck.
"I thought I lost you, kiddo," Burt rasped and he squeezed Kurt tighter. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I mean, I hurt my ankle, but I'm okay." Kurt's fingers dug into Burt's coat and he inhaled the scent of oil, grease, and smoke. "But Blaine…"
"Where is he?" A slightly frantic voice asked. Burt let his son go enough to turn towards a distraught Cooper. He was dripping wet from the waist down and a worried frown made him look older than he was. Kurt realized it had been Cooper he shoved into the creek and his heart throbbed painfully as he imagined Blaine's reaction. He would have laughed and teased Cooper. Kurt brushed away a tear and met Cooper's eyes.
"We… we heard them coming. I had twisted my ankle and I couldn't run. I wanted him to leave me and run, but he wouldn't. He hid me in there and took off so he could lead them away."
Cooper's face fell and he motioned to someone farther away.
"Blaine's still out there! Keep looking!" He nodded once to Kurt and took off.
The relief of finally being safe set in and Kurt suddenly felt exhausted. He slumped into his father's side and allowed him to lead the way.
"We have to find him, Dad."
"Shh. We will. I'm not stopping until you are both home where you belong. But we need to get you back to the town first. Cooper and the others will keep looking. I just hope they find him before…"
The others do, Kurt finished in his head as he swallowed back his tears. He was actually surprised that he had any left after the last few days. Even though he was safe, there was a piece of his heart lost out there in the woods. He pressed the pocket watch to his chest and hoped Cooper and the others found Blaine first.
After running as far as he could, Blaine slowed down and tried to cover his tracks. He had been loud and obvious enough that it was impossible to miss. He just hoped it was enough to lead them away from Kurt.
Kurt. His heart clenched in his chest as he thought of the lovely boy. He said a little prayer to whoever was listening that he was safe. He would never forgive himself if something happened to me the boy he loved.
The sharp whistle yanked him out of his thoughts and turned his blood cold. They were closer than he had expected. He was hoping that he had lost them, but unfortunately luck wasn't on his side today. Seeing some thicker trees, Blaine decided he would try to hide. He was so tired. Maybe they would pass right by him and he could sneak back.
He was grabbed roughly by his shirt collar and shoved to the ground. The air was knocked out of him and pain cracked through his ribs as someone landed a kick to his side.
"Found you," growled whoever had kicked him. "You are gonna wish you had never been born when we are done with you."
Blaine sucked in a breath and looked up at a member of the Crawford Gang. Before he could breathe right again, he was hauled up and shoved back the way he had come.
He was pushed and prodded all the way back to where the gang had camped for the night. At first, fear had almost paralyzed him, but a strange calm had come over him and he was ready to face whatever would happen. Even if it meant his death.
They got to camp in the late afternoon and Blaine tried to exude calm and show no fear in the face of all the sneering men. He was taken straight to the leader who glared at Blaine like he could shoot knives at him with his eyes. As soon as Blaine was jerked in front of him, the boss punched him hard in the mouth, causing Blaine's head to snap backwards. Pain shot through his face and head as he found through the starbursts in his vision. Someone pushed him to his knees and he bowed his head, ready to face his fate.
"We have searched everywhere for you idiots," the leader snarled. "I will take great pleasure in taking every mile we've had to run out of your backs. If you didn't have a ransom, I would kill you now. I may just kill you and forget about the money." He let go of a breath and paced in front of Blaine who was kneeling quietly. He stopped and stroked his scarf covered chin. "Where did you hide your little friend?"
Blaine finally looked up at him and narrowed his eyes before he spat. The leaders eyes glittered with barely controlled rage and he motioned to one of his men. Blaine was punched again, this time on his jaw and he spit out the warm blood that filled his mouth.
"Where is he? And where are my blue prints?"
Blaine blinked up at him. How hard had they hit him? He was sure he had said blue prints, right?
"What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. My plans. You stole them from my tent, so give them back."
"I…" Blaine racked his brain. They thought he and Kurt had stolen from them? They hadn't taken anything that wasn't theirs except for…
"The map," Blaine whispered. That must be what he wanted. And it just happened to be stuffed in the pack with Kurt.
"I don't have it," Blaine said. Talking hurt his jaw, but he pushed the pain aside.
The leader looked sharply at the man who had brought Blaine back. "Did he have anything with him?"
The man shook his head. "He was alone. I think they split up so we would follow him."
"The other one was found. One of our men spotted that posse from the town taking him back. He might have them."
"He does," Blaine smiled, triumphant. Kurt was safe and they had what the Crawford Gang wanted. This was perfect. Well, besides the part where he had been captured again.
"Okay, I've got it," the leader said through gritted teeth as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "I think we can get everything we want."
Blaine didn't like the way he was eyeing him.
Ooh we are getting to the end! Depending on circumstances, we might end this earlier than planned. So it will be 2-3 more chapters. Hope you enjoy, see you next week!