Author's Note:
So, when thinking about how to fill the Glee Fanfiction Friday prompt for October 23, I came up with a monster story that ended up developing into what you'll be reading over the next few months. Our boys make a reappearance as princes, roles I apparently enjoy writing them in since this is my second go at it. This story is not all written, but it is all plotted, and I have the first four chapters done. Here's to hoping I can keep this story going during NaNoWriMo and Klaine Advent in December. Enjoy!
"Any idea what kind of lives you'd like to live next?" Caphriel asked, smiling as Kurt and Blaine realized where they were. It had taken them a little longer than normal, probably because they'd been together in that world since they were practically three years old, but he was happy they were back in The Unknown, if only for a little while.
Kurt and Blaine looked at one another. The possibilities were limitless. Anywhere they chose, they'd be able to find one another.
"What do you think, Blaine?" Kurt asked softly, squeezing his soulmate's hand. He smiled as the golden ring around them squeezed in just a little, too. "We can go anywhere you want."
"We can go anywhere you want, too," Blaine replied, leaning in to kiss Kurt. "What's been your favorite place so far?"
Kurt thought for a moment, silently ticking worlds off on his fingers. He couldn't believe, when he'd added them all up, that they'd already gone on 10 adventures together. "I liked the ones where we discovered a connection to our other selves," he answered finally, looking Blaine in the eyes. "There's something extra special about learning that we've been made for one another since the beginning, about knowing that no matter what difficulty we're facing, we're designed to be it for one another. Could-Do you think we could have another adventure like that?" Kurt asked, his eyes misty.
How could Blaine say no to his soulmate when there was hope radiating from his eyes. "Caphriel?" he asked, looking up at the man. "Is there somewhere like that for us to go?"
A wide smile lit up Caphriel's face. "I know just the one," he said, flipping to one of the very last pages in his book. He pointed to a picture. It was a tree, all black, with little black tufts of what would typically be green foliage coming off of the many branches. Inside each tuft of leaves was a small picture that Blaine and Kurt had to crane their necks to see.
"What is it?" Kurt asked, looking up at Caphriel. "What does the picture mean?"
"Do you remember the adventure you went on where you both were princes?" Caphriel asked, looking between the two men who were both looking at him now with wide, curious eyes.
They nodded.
"This adventure takes place in the same world, and it's only through you that soulmates are possible. There is a tree in the forest, the very tree that you reunited under the day Blaine returned from the war, that unites soulmates. You will both be drawn to the tree at the same time, and when you touch the tree, you'll be given soulmarks." Caphriel paused, directing their attention back to the picture. "At first, your soulmarks will mean nothing to you. They'll be plain, simple. After you get them, you'll barely remember that they're there. But when you begin to fall in love with one another, the more time you spend together and the more activities you do together, the more elaborate your soulmarks will become until they turn into this." He pointed to the picture, smiling wide as they both looked at the picture again.
"But Caphriel, what do the symbols mean?" Blaine asked. "Why are there tiny pictures and our initials on the tree?"
"That is where Kurt's wish comes in," Caphriel explained. "As you spend time together, you'll find that you relive tiny parts of each of your previous adventures. Each time you do, a new symbol will grow on your tree."
"But how will we know what they mean?" Kurt asked. "We won't remember what you've told us, will we?"
Caphriel chuckled at that. "No. The All-Knowing does not allow infinites to retain their knowledge gained in The Unknown unless there is a very special reason to."
"So, then how will we know?" Kurt asked. He liked the sound of going somewhere that all their lives were important to, but he just couldn't wrap his mind around how all of it would work.
"That I won't tell you," Caphriel answered. "Trust that the All-Knowing will provide you with someone to explain everything." He took a small step backward to give the boys a bit of breathing room. "Do you think you'd like to try it?" he asked kindly, waiting.
Kurt turned to look at his soulmate. "Blaine? What do you think?"
"It might be nice to be princes again," Blaine answered honestly. "Maybe we'll avoid some of the bullying and forced separation that usually comes along with these adventures, at least in the beginning." He glanced at Caphriel to gauge the man's reaction, but his face remained the same, just smiling pleasantly.
"Maybe," Kurt agreed. "No matter what, though, we'll end up together. Right?" he asked, turning toward Caphriel once again.
"You will," the man confirmed. "Infinites always find one another in the end. The All-Knowing has deemed it so."
"Can we try it?" Kurt asked, turning back to his soulmate. "I think it could be fun."
"Of course we can," Blaine replied, rising up on his tiptoes to press a kiss to Kurt's lips. "I could never say no to you."
"You're sure?" Kurt asked. "I want you to want to go, too."
"I want to go wherever you are," Blaine replied, kissing him again. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a desperate need to be close to his soulmate for a few moments longer.
"You're a cheese," Kurt breathed, his lips still brushing against Blaine's.
"You love your cheese," Blaine replied, pressing closer for another kiss. Their interactions became more heated after that, Blaine's hands rising to cup Kurt's face, his lips and tongue seeking contact as often as possible, only moving away slightly to breathe.
Caphriel turned away, not wanting to intrude on this private moment. He knew that, despite the excitement of beginning a new adventure, this was effectively a goodbye for the two of them, at least for a while. After having spent so much time with Kurt while Blaine was a vampire, Caphriel had realized that he'd grown more attached to these two than he had any other set of soulmates to ever come through The Unknown. He was feeling choked up just thinking about them leaving again. He only ever got such a short amount of time with them when they passed through on the way to their next adventure.
Finally, Kurt pulled away, smiling as Blaine chased his lips with a tiny whine. "I love you, Blaine," he whispered, pulling his soulmate into a tight embrace. "I love you so much. Are you ready to show the world?"
"Ready as I'll ever be," Blaine replied, his head pressed tightly against Kurt's chest.
"Do you want to stay? You can always stay for a while longer," Caphriel offered, sensing a bit of hesitation from his favorite infinites. He didn't say it aloud, but his own heart leaped at the idea, hoping they'd say yes.
Kurt looked at his soulmate questioningly. "Do you want to stay?"
"No," Blaine answered, pulling away and making eye contact. "I'm ready for our new adventure."
Smiling, Kurt leaned in to brush one more kiss against Blaine's lips. "Me, too," he whispered. He grasped onto both of Blaine's hands before turning to Caphriel. "We're ready."
"Have fun," the man answered, waving to them as they disappeared into a new adventure. He adjusted the small TV screen on his podium, given to him by the All-Knowing so he could watch the lives of his favorite soulmates play out in front of him. "I can't wait to watch another Klaine love story unfold."
Author's Note:
Caphriel's TV is a headcanon I had while JayhawkWrites was writing a chapter of Guarding the Shadows a few months ago. We decided we loved it, so now it's a reality!