A/N: Yes, you are allowed to kill me. I have no excuse for not updating sooner; school came into my life again, that's it. I'm so sorry.
Blaine had sat in the kitchen for a long time after that, just thinking. There was not really anything he could do to protect Kurt. He could keep an eye on the teen when he was on the street, but he couldn't do anything when Kurt was inside the Karofsky house. Not unless he started working there, and Viola would never let him. And he wasn't sure if Mrs. Karofsky would like it very much either. She sounded like a strict and malicious woman. Blaine shuddered. He wasn't so sure if he'd like to even be near that house. So, he decided, I'll just have to keep Kurt out of there as much as I can.
And that's exactly what the curly haired teen did. He ran all the errands, he possibly could, and he kept an eye out for the other teen. And Kurt did seem to notice. At first he'd been acting like always; ignoring everybody, only focusing on the task at hand (which almost always was carrying heavy things, and for one reason or another it annoyed Blaine to the point where he wanted to go and carry it for the slender boy). But soon the brunette began to show small signs of happiness; or at least something that resembled it. He would catch Blaine's eyes and give an almost invisible nod, and he sometimes he would even smile; not big and bright, but a tiny little smile.
Soon the two boys began to evolve a kind of communication with each other. If Kurt didn't nod, he was having a bad day, and Blaine would take a huge risk and pass him; close enough to nudge him lightly in the side. And if Blaine was having a particular bad day (which normally were the days when he'd dreamt of Aldigree and woken up crying), Kurt would notice. He wouldn't go as far as Blaine; he always kept his distance. But he would frown and search Blaine's face until their eyes locked, and then he'd raise an eyebrow as if to ask are you okay? It always had Blaine smiling, because no one else knew that they were having a word-less conversation across the market. And no one else got Kurt's tiny smiles; they were always directed at Blaine.
After a few weeks they worked out this routine, where Blaine would wait for Kurt to arrive and they would walk next to each other; Blaine helping Kurt carry the heaviest tings. Kurt had protested at first, but he couldn't exactly say anything, yet alone tell the curly haired teen he wanted to carry it himself. From what Blaine gathered, Kurt worked in the kitchen at the inn, where he'd first laid eyes on him. He always walked from the path in the forest to the inn in the village. Blaine had asked him once, what he did in the forest, but Kurt had just shrugged and smiled that little secretive smile of his. Blaine would follow Kurt to the inn and then run his own errands.
The curly haired teen soon found out, that Kurt didn't have much free time on his hands. And when he did have it, he'd spend it alone. But somehow Blaine found a way to wiggle his way into that certain time. He'd first discovered Kurt's 'alone-time' one evening, where he'd been going for a walk. He'd slept badly the night before and really didn't feel like going to bed, so he decided he might as well use his extra energy to something. He had walked up the little paths in the forest and got to a hollow of some kind, where he could sit and watch the stars. Blaine had sat down and then about half an hour later, Kurt had appeared. The brunette had seemed surprised to find Blaine there; but not in the bad way. He'd just looked around and then sat next to him. Blaine had wondered if he should say something, but he'd decided against it. This was Kurt's place to be alone at night, and Blaine's talking would ruin it.
The next day Blaine had walked to the same place again, at proximity the same time. And just as he had hoped, Kurt showed up not long after. And this time there was no surprised look on his face. There was actually a hint of a smile. The two boys met up every evening after that. Viola had looked at Blaine in a funny way in the beginning, but the curly haired teen had just flashed her a smile and made his way to the forest. And after that she began packing food for the two teens. She was not hinting anything, she told herself. She just wanted Blaine to get along with his new… friend. Kurt hadn't seemed to mind much that there suddenly was food, even though it was late in the evening. He ate as if he hadn't gotten anything all day. And maybe he hasn't, Blaine caught himself thinking. He had no idea how Kurt was treated in the Karofsky house.
And then one day Kurt didn't show up at the market. Blaine felt himself panic. The last time Kurt had been gone, Blaine had found him in front of the house; hurt. He couldn't bear to witness that ever again. He never wanted that to happen to Kurt anymore. The boy did not deserve it; he'd had it rough enough already. Blaine stumbled home and put all of his tasks down, then went looking for Viola.
"Vi," he panted. "Where does Karofsky live?" Viola looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"In his house, I would guess. What happened Blaine?"
"Where's the house? Please Vi, I need to go there!" His panic was starting to show, and he couldn't even stand still. He kept jumping from one foot to the other.
"Is something wrong?" The blond woman was beginning to worry.
"No, I don't know, please just tell me where Viola!" And so she did. The curly haired teen thanked her and then sped out the house. He didn't have time for this.
Blaine ran to the Karofsky house; it was placed in the light part of the forest. So that's why he always comes from the forest! Blaine didn't know what else to do. He knocked on the door, but nobody answered. Not that he would know what to say, if anybody opened. 'Excuse me, I'm worried for Kurt, because I'm pretty much in love with him, so is he here?' Blaine froze in his thoughts. In love. He was in love with Kurt. He knocked harder on the door. Still nothing. Then he heard noises from his left; their barn. It sounded like something had been knocked over. He sneaked to the door and looked inside. He felt his blood turn ice-cold. Up against a wall stood Kurt; with his arms pinned over his head by a broad hand. His hair was a mess and his clothes were ripped. Blaine could see tears running down the teen's red cheeks. But the eyes were not sad; they were angry. And Kurt was biting his lip from the inside. It looked like he was trying not to scream or yell at whoever it was, that was holding him.
Then Blaine looked at the other man. He was tall and broad, his hair was brown and his clothes were dirty. The man spoke. It was so low; it could be described as a whisper. But Blaine heard it clearly.
"So you thought I didn't know, huh? How you always run around with that brat?" It was David Karofsky. And he was mad. Blaine had no idea what to do. He was half Karofsky's size, and even though he was strong, the upper hand would surely go to the bigger man. The curly haired teen looked around the barn for something to use as a weapon. He was a trained soldier for God's sake, there had to be something he could do. As he looked around, his gaze reached at Kurt. They made eye-contact and the brunette's eyes grew big; as if in fear or shock. This made Karofsky turn around, but Blaine ducked behind the door. He wasn't seen.
"What are you looking at, slut?" Blaine gritted his teeth at the way Karofsky spoke to Kurt. That was the way the soldiers back at the castle had spoken to the homosexual kid. And Blaine hated it. He had hated it then; and he hated it now. The only difference was that this time he couldn't just stand and watch. This was Kurt. This was the boy he'd fallen in love with. This was the boy who, even though he didn't speak, could make Blaine laugh and smile and feel those precious butterflies in his stomach.
Blaine bent to his knees and crawled into the barn as quietly as he could. He slowed his breathing just like he'd learned it at the castle; just before an attack. Calmed down his nerves. Crawled further into the barn. He searched the floor and walls. There has to be something I can use. His eyes locked in a shovel, and he bit his lip as he slowly sneaked closer and closer to it.
Okay Anderson, you have to be quick here. No mess ups. Blaine slowly rose from the floor; eyes shifting between the shovel and Karofsky. It would never work, if he was heard or seen; he had to have the advantage of surprise, or he'd never be able to help Kurt. Blaine reached his hand out and wrapped it around the shaft of the shovel. He gripped it tightly and got it down from the wall without a noise. He locked his eyes to Karofsky's back.
He could hit him in the head; that would surely make the older man pass out. But Blaine had never been a fighter. There was a possibility that he could hit Karofsky in a wrong way, and he'd die. Blaine couldn't have that on his consciousness; even if he did hate the man. But then he caught Kurt's eyes again. Karofsky was kissing, or biting him on the neck and Kurt looked like he was about to vomit. His lips were pressed together in a tight line and his eyes were shining with unshed tears; tears of anger and humiliation. Kurt's eyebrows frowned and he looked like he just begged Blaine to do something, before the broad man had his way with him. Blaine sneaked a look at Kurt's ears; they were still there. He had come in time.
Blaine lifted the shovel soundlessly and swung it down hard on Karofsky's head. He was both relieved and concerned when he didn't hear any bones breaking. But the bigger man fell to the ground with a groan and Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes. They were free of tears and had a look of determination. He stepped over Karofsky, and Blaine thought he saw him almost stomping on the other man. But apparently Karofsky wasn't completely unconscious, and he grabbed Kurt's leg so the slender teen fell into the ground. Blaine lifted the shovel and brought it down on the broad man's wrist. Karofsky made a sound of pain and Blaine was about to run over to help Kurt up; the brunette had made his way to the door. But before Blaine even had the chance to get over to Kurt, he felt a tight grip on his ankle and soon he found himself lying in the dirt. He quickly turned to his back; just in time to see Karofsky get on top of him. Luckily Blaine knew what to do; he'd practiced this exact attack with the other boys at the castle a million times. He curled his legs up and placed them in Karofsky's stomach when the bigger man lowered himself to set in another punch. Then he stretched his legs in a fierce kick and sent the other man stumbling back.
"Kurt, run!" Blaine yelled as he scrambled to get up. He didn't get far, before Karofsky was over him again; shoving him to the ground. Blaine got the breath knocked out of him, but he didn't have time to even inhale, before Karofsky had picked up the shovel and swung it down at him. The curly haired teen rolled away and quickly got to his feet. He bent in his knees and focused his breathing. So all that training is finally going to help me out, Blaine thought sarcastically as Karofsky threw himself at the smaller teen.
Blaine strode to the side and got a good kick in; directed at Dave's lower ribs. He heard a sickening crack and cursed himself for having used too much strength, but when the big man just spat insulting words and swore at him, he went in for another punch. Please just pass out, I don't want to ki- But when Karofsky hit him on the side of the head, his fighting instincts took over. They used to tease him at the castle; for being too weak and for not wanting to fight all the time. But when he was forced into a corner, Blaine fought better than all the others.
His head became clear and he circled around Karofsky; ignoring the throbbing over his right eye, where he'd been hit less than a minute ago. He got in to a punching-range but then fell to his knees right in front of the man; who had swung his arms out in a hit. Blaine shot up and knocked the bigger man over, then got his hands around Karofsky's neck. He put pressure on the exact places where he'd learned. He'd always hated this exercise; but it proved to work pretty well, because soon the man underneath him fell silent.
Blaine sighed heavily and put a hand on his swelling eye. It hurt like hell. Then he looked up and locked eyes with Kurt. The brunette looked at him with big eyes, and then glanced to Karofsky as if to ask did you kill him? Blaine shook his head as he stood.
"I made him faint," he explained and arched his back, so it made a cracking sound. Then he looked down at the unconscious man on the ground. "We need to get away from here," he mumbled. Kurt nodded and limped out of the barn. Blaine followed him.
"What happened?" The hazel eyed teen asked. He knew Kurt couldn't answer him, but he felt like he should ask.
Kurt locked eyes with him and his lips formed a tight line again. Then he gestured to his clothing; which were ribbed and ruined and hanging down his body in weird clumps, only held up by the brunette's hands. Blaine could've slapped himself. Yea, great, so not obvious. But then he shook his head.
"Are you okay?" He asked and took a step closer to the other teen.
Kurt just shrugged as an answer and pulled the ragged clothing tighter around him.
Suddenly they heard a groan from the barn. Fuck. I didn't do a very good job, Blaine thought, and then - without thinking - he grabbed Kurt's hand and ran as fast as he could down the path leading away from the Karofsky house.
"We need to get away from here, Kurt. I am not leaving you with him again!" Blaine panted as they ran. He didn't expect Kurt to react, but he felt the brunette squeeze his hand. They ran past all the people on the market, and everybody looked after them, but they didn't have time to care. They reached Blaine's house in record time. The curly haired teen ran inside the house and almost collided with Merv.
"What the hell-" He got a look of the two boys. Blaine with a black eye and dirty clothes; and Kurt with ruined clothes and bruises everywhere. "What happened?" Merv demanded.
"I don't have time to explain, we have to get away right now!" Blaine said and tried to walk past the older man, but Merv wasn't having any of that.
"Why, Blaine?" Blaine flinched at the mention of his name. Merv didn't use his name very often, he'd normally address him as 'kid' or 'son'. "Don't we deserve to know, why you're running away?" Merv looked at Kurt. "And with him?"
"I…" Blaine looked helplessly at Kurt. The other teen weren't going to be much help in explaining, but that meant, that Blaine had to be very careful in how he told Merv this. He didn't know if Kurt wanted people to know. But then again, this was Merv.
"Karofsky is abusing Kurt," Blaine said with a calm voice. Kurt's head snapped up and Blaine saw the humiliation clearly through the blue eyes. "I'm sorry Kurt, t but they need to know," he mumbled softly.
Merv looked from one boy to the other. He couldn't believe his own ears. He knew Dave was kind of giving the kid a hard time, but he had no idea, that was what was happening behind the walls of the Karofsky house. He gritted his teeth. There was nothing he could do, what happened in one's home, was one's business, that was the rules of the village. But then he looked at Kurt again, and this time really looked at him. The slender teen was covered in bruises and cuts; old and new. His lips were bloody, and you couldn't even call the rags he was wearing clothes anymore. Merv sighed.
"We have to get you some clothes, and then we need to pack a bag. You'll borrow one of my horses," he said and walked up the stairs to find a riding-bag. Blaine looked after him with eyes big with surprise. Then he turned to Kurt.
"It's going to be okay now," he said with a tiny smile. "He won't ever hurt you again."
Blaine wasn't sure, but he thought he saw Kurt's shoulder relax a little bit at the statement. But he didn't have much time to think about it; they had to pack. And they had to pack fast - because down in the village a raging Karofsky was stomping around looking for them.