As soon as Blaine's flag comes into sight, Kurt feels his resolve waiver. He can't pretend the sight and sound and feel of that man was anything but repulsive. As if sensing his thought, the guard moves forward. They are far enough away from the nearest posted wall guard that their words are private. "It isn't forever. You've already proven how strong you are. It'll be over soon."

Kurt's eyes flutter, breath huffing out as he draws himself taller. He is a prince among his people. He has born pain and heartache in the past years. This will not break him. Nothing these monsters can do will break him. He is stronger than these fragile humans.

"Thank you," he says, so quietly he isn't sure the guard will hear him over the sound of horses clattering on the courtyard below. The time to move is now, and hesitating will not dull the ache.

The guard who has become his constant companion does not follow him now, and Kurt feels as if he is losing another part of himself. He walks the now familiar halls with light footsteps, doing his best to put on a show for anyone who may be watching. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees servants moving to prepare bedrooms left empty for long months.

When the front hall opens before him, he is absorbed in a world of harsh sounds and human movement. There is no pattern to the way that humans move and Kurt shies away from their random paths. The stone of the wall behind him is a cool comfort as he forces his eyes to scan the faces in the courtyard.

"Kurt!" The voice warns him a moment before arms ensnare him and pin down his arms. He tries to melt into the embrace, finding where his body molds into the human's form but there is a disconnect that nothing will bridge. Still, when there is space enough between them Kurt leans in and initiates the kiss, hoping his true motives are not betrayed by the stiff movement of his lips.

"I missed you," he says, voice breathy from the pain of the embrace. Blaine interpretes it as eagerness and lips once again capture Kurt's, cutting off any other words he may have spoken.

The moment stretches so long that Kurt worries his instinct to recoil will over take him. Just before his resolve cracks, someone comes and pulls Blaine away. The prince kisses him, promising to meet him in their chambers as soon as he can, and turns away to oversee the return of his troops.

Kurt's heart pounds in his chest as he walks back into the hall. He worries that it will beat out of his chest as he struggles to rein in the pain from touching his captor. There will be no more hiding as his body accepts dull ministrations. For this plan to work, Kurt must be present for every moment. It's the only way he can hope to convince Blaine to return his cloak.

Taking a detour to the kitchen, Kurt asks food to be brought to Blaine's rooms by a serving boy who looks at Kurt with wide, terrified eyes. The guard had coached Kurt on every moment of the day, but Kurt finds himself worried about a single misstep. It isn't just his life on the line, but the guard and even Beth and Quinn should everything be exposed.

The room is empty when Kurt arrives in it, but a guard takes post outside as soon as Kurt enters. It is not Kurt's guard and he feels another moment of loss, though he isn't certain why. The man was helpful, but still human, still flawed and ugly.

It feels like mere moments later when Blaine enters, heaving a sigh and dropping onto a chair almost immediately. Kurt moves at once, limbs dragging and heavy as he breaks every instinct and approaches his tormentor instead of running away, flinging himself out the window and flying as far as his wings will take him.

"I've asked for food to be brought up," he says, slowing as the distance decreases. Blaine enjoys physical touch, the guard said. The more intimate the better. Kurt braces himself before he drapes himself in Blaine's lap, arm looping behind the human's neck. Their lips meet in a quick kiss and Blaine's arm holds Kurt's hips so he is firmly trapped.

"You're amazing," Blaine says, head dropping to rest against Kurt's body. Before long, he's half asleep in the chair. Kurt lets his hands play through the brown curls, remembering how his mother had done the same to him when he was a child, preening his feathers as he drifted to sleep.

By the time the food arrives, Blaine could hardly be roused. He eats listlessly before allowing Kurt to lead him into the bedroom. Kurt pushed him gently down, removing boots and socks before draping the thick woollen sheet over his prone body. For a heartbeat, Kurt thinks about how easily he could kill this human, but is again stopped by the knowledge that his cloak would then be lost to him forever. Instead, he slips on the bed and curls up near the man he hates beyond all things and wills himself to sleep.