Whaaaaat? A new chapter already? You can all give major kudos to my awesome beta, GleekMom for that, she is amazing and deserves all the love.
I hope you guys enjoy the chapter! I'll try to get the next one out soon, but can make no promises as to when.
Santana Lopez was many things, but a liar was not one of them...well at least when it counted. When she promised something, she tended to keep her word. So when she promised to get both Dani and that idiot Cooper out of Clarington's dungeon, she meant it. She had honestly forgiven Cooper long ago, she just never could drop her facade around him. It kept him on his toes and helped slow down his philandering ways. Plus after all he had been put through due to her involvement, Santana figured she owed him one. She did have a heart underneath all her hurt and sass, he had just broken it back when she was vulnerable enough to believe anything anyone offering love had said.
This is how she found herself plying the lone guard Hunter had left behind while he went to celebrate. She had tried flirtation, but it was well known she had no love for males. Though she was grateful that this guard was not one of the few who wished to reform her on that viewpoint, it made that plan a waste of time. Then she had tried drink, but of course, she got stuck with the one square who did not indulge while on duty. Finally, Santana had enough, and gave him a firm kick right to the groin. When he went down wheezing, she snatched his keys, gave him a whack upside the head with his own bludgeon, knocking him out. She then went running down the hall to where her escapees were waiting. The new guard wouldn't be around for a few more minutes, and she doubted the old one was getting up any time soon, but she wasn't about to press her luck.
She hastily unlocked Dani's door first, gathering her lover into her arms in a fierce embrace. They had not seen each other in nearly two months, but they had no time to revel in the others presence. With a quick, yet filthy kiss, they ran to the cell where Cooper was being kept. They threw open the door, finding Cooper sitting on the floor, looking tired and worse for the wear. "Ready to go?" Dani asked.
"So ready," Cooper said, smiling at Dani. He recognized the voice that had sent him comfort at night in the cells, and had known her face from town, though they had rarely interacted. She was one of the few he had not tried to add to his list of conquests, for whatever reason. He looked at Santana, finding her glancing around, making sure they were not as of yet being pursued. When she looked back at him, he smiled and gave her his sincere thanks.
"Yeah yeah, we're cool. Just don't think I'm going soft or anything. Now let's get the fuck out of here while we still can!" Santana yanked the still weak Cooper to his feet, helping him down the hallway as Dani played look out, kicking the still unconscious guard as they passed. Most of the other servants had been given the day off, and any others they came across were at least somewhat friendly to Santana. Many were in similar situations as her, serving Hunter under duress, so were willing to look the other way when she took things into her own hands. Thus they accepted her lie that Cooper was being moved to the stocks in the front on Hunter's orders and Dani was finally to be freed. No one above the dungeons could question her so by the time they reached the main gates no one looked at the two girls carrying a prisoner, the men at the doors just nodding as they passed. They made their way to the stables and mounted their horses; Santana and Dani on one, Cooper on the other, and began their journey slowly off the grounds. As soon as they were out of sight, they galloped at full pace.
By the time they reached the Anderson farm, all three had racing hearts and the horses were tired. Cooper came to see the place abandoned for the day, but a notice stuck to the door that his managers wished to see him come the end of the week to discuss further help and wages. He smiled knowing the men had yet to abandon him. He entered his home, noting it had been cleaned, the laundry done. He invited the girls to sit, taking out food while he drew a bath for himself, wishing to wash away the filth left on him after so long in captivity.
"Look, I know Hunter plans to move on your brother and Hummel come tomorrow evening, so we should warn them, but in the morning okay? A jail break is exhausting work, and by the time he notices that any of us are gone, we'll already be relaxing at the Hummel manor," Santana said, yawning as she sipped the wine Cooper had poured her.
"Agreed. Now I am going to take a bath and sleep in a proper bed. You ladies are free to stay in Blaine's room if you want, his bed is plenty big. And in the morning we will make a plan. For now, I bid you both good night." Cooper retreated to the bathing room after a curt bow.
"Come on babe, let's go to bed." Dani said with a wink, leading Santana to Blaine's room with a smile.
Heaven. Kurt was determined he had found it, waking up being snuggled by Blaine Anderson. Even through his bleary eyes he could see the small contented smile on Blaine's face, the dim light coming in through his curtains giving his skin a golden glow. Curls in disarray, sleep clothes pushed low on his immaculate hips, Kurt was happy to lie here in bed and stare at this perfection for the rest of the day. However, he did have one last meeting to attend to, and he was sure Blaine wished some time to find more appropriate attire or to enjoy what was sure to be a lovely day out on the grounds. As Blaine began to stir, Kurt pressed a kiss to his forehead and rose, stretching out his limbs from their nightly neglect. He extracted a clean cloth and used what little water was left in the wash basin to wipe down his face, and passed it to Blaine to do the same when he felt the other man's arms slink around his waist.
"Mmm, good morning, thanks." Blaine said as he washed the sleep from his eyes, giving Kurt a warm smile. "How did you sleep?"
"The best sleep I've had since I was a child. Thank you for last night Blaine. It was wonderful." Kurt opened his wardrobe to find himself new clothing for the day.
"It was. Are you okay with it though? Don't think we rushed into anything or that I pressured you?" Blaine asked, a hint of nervousness touching his voice.
Kurt's smile was nothing but reassuring. "No one can make me do anything I don't want to Blaine. It's a perk of being like this" he said with a flex of his muscles, causing a snort from Blaine. "But no, it was with someone special, and we used it to connect, to feel closer, so I am perfectly fine with it. We've been such good friends for almost the length of time we've known each other, we've practically been courting with how close we are. So no, nothing felt rushed. It was perfect." He smiled and gave Blaine a small peck, who had redressed in his shirt, gathering his soiled trousers to be put in for laundering, and escorted him to his room. "I'm going to take a bath, and then be off to meet with Artie and Elliot for any final preparations we have to make. You bathe and we'll meet for our evening meal as usual, okay?"
Blaine nodded, and waved as Kurt went off in search of a bath, and sighed as he slumped against his door, completely ignoring Rachel's sly questioning of where he had been the night prior. He was too happy to even hear a single thing she was saying.
As the sun set that evening, Blaine had failed to keep a smile far from his lips. He had spent the day composing a song for Kurt, plunking out a melody on the keys, scratching out the notes and words on the parchment he always kept close to the piano. His plan was to present it to Kurt as a name day gift, something he could play for him before Kurt opened the court that evening. But before that he intended to tell Kurt the one thing he had desperately been holding in all day. That one word that they had yet to use, but that they both seemed to feel. Blaine had bitten his lip to keep from uttering it last night, afraid it would seem insincere after being intimate, so he knew that he would need to find the right time tonight when Kurt would believe that it was not a result of them moving forward physically, but emotionally as well. Potentially before they retired for the evening, hopefully to the same bed again, for nothing had felt quite as nice as falling asleep in Kurt's arms. So tonight would be the night...when Blaine finally told Kurt he loved him.
A knock on his music room door down the attic stairs drew Blaine away from the song floating around his head. When he opened the door, he found Sam, looking a bit distraught. "Hey buddy, what's wrong?" Blaine asked, squatting so he could be as close to eye level to Sam as possible.
Sam sniffled, his voice wavering as he answered. "It's Brittany. She and I have been on and off for the last little while, she's not sure she wants to be with me if we ever become human again or even if we stay stuck as objects. She says she's bored, and wants space. Is it wrong that I didn't really fight for her? That I let her go and don't really know if I should try to get her back?"
Blaine had never been told how the curse could be broken. He assumed part of the enchantment on the servants prevented them from discussing the particulars with anyone not already in the know, since no one had ever mentioned it. Even Kurt seemed incapable of getting into it, as if he wanted to tell, but was not allowed to by some rule. He had also been party to observing Sam and Brittany together, and though there was a passion between them, there seemed little warmth or love anymore, potentially lost after years trapped as objects who could not show their love in many ways.
"Sam..." Blaine started, being cautious as to how he proceeded. "Do you still love Brittany? Because if you do, then you owe it to yourself to fight, or at least talk it out. Just make sure that you're still in love with her, not just trying to hold onto her because it seems right or you feel that your plans with her are all your future holds. If you no longer feel she's the one for you, then just tell her you understand, and stay friends. Maybe one day you will find your way back together, but if not, you can still be happy for one another."
Sam looked at Blaine, nodding his understanding. "Thanks man. You're a good friend. Oh! Kurt told me that dinner is ready on his balcony, so just go straight to his room." With that, Sam began to go back towards the stairs, his mind full of what he needed to do. "Oh and Blaine? Don't get Kurt's hopes up. Let him know how you feel, and please don't break his heart."
Blaine smiled. "I have no intention of hurting Kurt. His heart is safe with me...just as I hope mine is with him." With a smile between the two, Blaine made his way to Kurt's room. The door was open to allow him in, but he did knock and called out for Kurt before entering and closing the door behind him.
"Out here!" Kurt called from the lovely balcony outside his room. There was a small table laden with fruit, cheeses and bread, as well as a bottle of wine. "Sorry for the simple fare, but there's not a lot of room out here, and I really wanted the best view of the sunset with you," Kurt said with a shy smile, taking Blaine's hand to guide him to his lap in the sturdy chair he had dragged out.
Blaine smiled and began to feed Kurt grapes and strawberries with his fingers. They shared the bottle of wine, caring not for glasses, nor the crumbs that littered their laps from the bread when kisses could be shared. As the sky was painted with fire, a sliver of moon rising in the sky, they remained snuggled in the chair, just enjoying the others company. A chill began to permeate the air with the loss of the sun and they decided it was past time go inside, a desire for warmth beating out the beauty of the last vestiges of a sunset. Though neither would admit to it, they both knew that they had a lifetime of sunsets together.
As they sat on Kurt's bed, neither wished to make the first move. Both of their minds were abuzz with questions. Was it okay to be intimate again? Did the other wish to go further? Was it okay to do so with Kurt as he was? That last one weighed heavily on Kurt's mind. Though Blaine had confessed that he had no problem with Kurt being more animalistic, Kurt himself found it improbable that any man would wish to lay with a beast in the way he knew two men could. He did not know if he would ever again be human. Yes, Blaine cared for him, and he now was positive what he felt for Blaine was true love, but what if Blaine did not feel the same? What if he did and the two of them did not declare as such and share that kiss of true love afterwards that would break his enchantment?
"Blaine?" Kurt asked, receiving a small mummer from Blaine who was starting to snuggle into Kurt's neck. "Are you sure you want this? With me? As I am? What if I am always like this? You deserve someone...perfect."
Blaine looked up at Kurt, wishing he could just shake this doubt from Kurt's mind and heart. "I don't want perfect Kurt, I want you. And you're perfectly imperfect. Like this, or in any other form you might take. If you stay this way, then that's fine, I still find you attractive, I thought last night proved that. Your soul, your personality, those are what drew you to me. So fur and fangs or skin and hair, Kurt you have to know that I l..."
A sudden knock came at the door, utterly ruining the moment. Kurt knew it had to be urgent for anyone to disturb them, especially after the servants were all told to give himself and Blaine space now that they had an actual courtship. "Hold that thought, I have to go kill whomever is at the door, be right back," Kurt said, noting Blaine's grimace at being interrupted.
He threw open the door, to find Elliot, almost cowering at the sharpness of it hitting the wall. "I hope for your sake that this is a life and death thing, Elliot. Otherwise I may make it into one," Kurt said, his voice menacing.
"Marley was in town, passing by the Clarington estate. She saw two young ladies leaving with a man who looked like he had gone three or so rounds with Hunter's guards. From the way she described him, he sounded very similar to Blaine's brother, and I thought you might want to check. If he's been beaten without reason you may have a way to take Hunter down, as well make sure that the elder Mr. Anderson is okay. She passed word along to Artie's parents and he just got back," Elliot said, nodding towards the now dark sky.
Blaine's eyes widen. Cooper beaten up? For what reason? "Did she send word about either of the ladies with him?" he questioned Elliot.
"Umm I think she said one was a brunette with an attitude and the other a curvy blonde. Otherwise no, sorry," Elliot responded.
"Damn. That's Santana all right, and probably Dani, so they may have done some of the damage to him, but I have never known them to be overtly violent other than a swat to the head. So now I just have to wonder why they were helping him or what any of them were doing at Hunter's in the first place," Blaine said, beginning to pace around the room.
Kurt gave Elliot a nod of thanks and quietly shut the door. He wrung his paws out, wondering if this was the right course of action. Blaine loved his brother, they had many a lengthy discussion about their relationship, and how complicated it was. If it was true that Hunter was potentially torturing his citizenry, something that Kurt knew to be quite illegal, then he would have him, no one could contest that. He went to his nightstand, pulling open the drawer and taking out the mirror. He handed it to Blaine who looked confused. "This is a magic mirror. It will show you anything you wish to see. All you need do is ask it."
Blaine took it hesitantly, knowing how Kurt felt about magic, but at Kurt's urging, he held the mirror to his face and quietly stated, "I would like to see my brother, please."
The mirror gave a flash, before showing a heavily wounded Cooper, stripping off dirty and bloody clothing, revealing deep wounds as the steam of a bath rose behind him. "Stupid Clarington, stupid torture." As he was about to remove the tatters that were once trousers, Blaine put the mirror down, not wishing to see any more of his brother than he already had. But then he thought of what he had seen. His brother captured, beaten for some unknown reason by the man who was charged with ruling the land. He knew they had hoped that Hunter would step down calmly especially when losing the Mages should their plan come to fruition, but now they knew that Hunter had to be punished, taken out of power. But first he had to get Cooper's side of the story, find out what had happened, and more importantly, make sure that his brother was okay.
Blaine looked at Kurt who had obviously also seen or at least heard what was going on. He knew what must be done. "Kurt...I have to go. I have to make sure Cooper is alright, get his side of the story. I will bring him here if he's alright to travel as soon as I can, but I need to go to him. I will return before your name day though, I swear that to you."
Kurt tugged Blaine into a hug. "I am never saying goodbye to you. So go home, get your brother and come back to me when you can."
"This is my home," Blaine said, kissing Kurt soundly before turning to go grab his things and get on his way, dark or not. If he waited and spent the night, especially in Kurt's arms, he would find it all that much harder to leave come morning. He was nearly packed when Kurt caught his wrist, pulling him back, and handed him the mirror.
"In case you need it. Hunter won't be happy Cooper escaped, so keep on watch for him. He'll go for him long before he thinks about looking here. Now go, and come back home as soon as possible." Kurt pushed the mirror into Blaine's hands and shoved him out the door, refusing to see Blaine off, not wishing to see his love ride away, potentially to never return.
He heard Blaine rushing about, packing his satchel with essentials, and muffled orders for a lantern to be provided. Eventually he could hear nothing but Blaine's door closing until a soft knock came on his own. "Kurt? I hope you can hear me sweetheart. I will be back. I intend to spend as little time away from you as possible. When I return, there will be so much to say, and I don't care if the kingdom is on fire then, I will say it. But if I say it now, I will never leave. I could not do that to you, to us. I just hope you know what I intended to tell you tonight. Wait for me, darling," Blaine whispered. Then his footsteps sounded down the stairs before disappearing into the night. Kurt prayed that Artie was going to at least escort Blaine to the edge of the forest to prevent any other attacks. He then smiled to himself. He fully knew what Blaine intended to say that evening, and he made himself a vow. If Blaine returned, then whether the curse was broken or if it was too late, he was going to ask Blaine to become his upon his name day. Beast or man, if Blaine was willing to be his intended, Kurt could gladly live out the rest of his days happily.