"Are you sure this is a good idea?" B asked as he smoothed his hair down with a comb. He'd gelled his curls down flat to his head this evening, and while Kurt liked them a little curlier, he'd noticed that B like to have control over his hair when he was feeling nervous, so Kurt didn't say anything.

"I think it's a great idea," Kurt answered, walking over to B where he was standing by the mirror and tugging on his blazer a little to smooth the shoulders out. Kurt couldn't help the fuzzy feeling in his chest when he looked at B all dressed up and looking devastatingly handsome like an old-time movie star.

B turned around to face him, his expression grim. "I don't know, Kurt…" he said hesitantly.

""B, I want to go out with you," Kurt noticed the small twitch of a smile on B's lips, like he couldn't help but be happy even when he was trying to be serious.

"But you dated him and now you are taking someone else to his concert?"

"We didn't date. We went out once. And Elliott is cool and he wanted me to come to the concert even when I told him I was bringing someone. B, this will be fun."

"It's just that... I'd hate to be in his shoes," B said quietly.

"How so?"

B looked at Kurt and finally smiled. "Having to watch you with someone else would be awful."

Kurt chuckled and leaned in to wrap his arms around B's neck."Well, you don't have to do that, and Elliott isn't crushing on me. He'll be fine." Kurt kissed him lightly and B went all loose against him. Kurt hated to use kisses to win the discussion, but he'd promised Elliot they'd be there and they needed to get going.

"Okay," B breathed, wrapping his arms around Kurt's back. "Unless you want to stay here and keep doing this." It was B's turn to kiss Kurt now, causing Kurt's brain to shut down for a moment. And damn, B could apparently play this game too.

"I pr- promised," Kurt said as B continued to plant kisses on his jaw. And then suddenly he was gone, dropping his arms and backing up.

"Then we should leave before we forget that we're supposed to," B said with a teasing grin, and Kurt rolled his eyes before grabbing B's hand and heading out of the apartment.

Elliott and his band Friday Night Frights were playing at a bar. It wasn't a big venue, but it was a popular place where people actually came to hear the music. They IDed Kurt at the door and then looked at B expectantly.

B looked nervously between Kurt and the bar's bouncer. "I… Um… I won't be drinking," B said.

"We still have to ID," the man said, gesturing to the sign on the door stating that no one under 21 was permitted. Kurt's heart dropped. He hadn't even thought about this.

"Sure," B said, pulling out his own ID, which stated he was an android. The man looked it over, and Kurt started making plans for if he said B couldn't get in. They'd leave quickly and go… get dinner and a movie. Something to distract B so he didn't feel bad. Kurt berated himself. He should have thought of this. Would they even let a droid in?

The bouncer studied the ID and then laughed. "Yeah, I guess you wouldn't be drinking," he said, looking at B. "Shit. I would have never guessed you were a droid. I need your hand."

B held out his hand and the man stamped it with a big blue "A". Apparently androids were allowed in, but they had to let everyone know they were androids.

"Thanks," B said to the man with a smile, and slipped his ID back into his wallet.

"We can just go?" Kurt said. He didn't want B to feel uncomfortable.

B shook his head, and then he casually took Kurt's hand and led him into the bar. If it bothered B that he had that A stamped on his hand letting everyone know what he was, he didn't let on.

"I'm sorry, B," Kurt said once they were inside.

B just shrugged. "It's okay. I was only worried he wouldn't let me in and I'd end up ruining your evening."

Kurt leaned over and gave B a kiss on his cheek. "You're sweet, you know that?"

B beamed at him and brought their hands up to kiss Kurt's. It made Kurt want to giggle.

They were lucky enough to get a small table off to the side and Kurt ordered a drink. Soon Elliott, or rather Starchild while he was on the stage, came on with his band. Kurt stood and cheered for them, and B stood next to him, happily clapping. Friday Night Frights was really good; Elliot was a whole other person on stage. It made Kurt wish the band he'd tried to start his freshman year at NYADA had worked out. He never could get consistent members though.

"Kurt!" Elliott greeted him with open arms after his set, and Kurt immediately gave him a hug.

"Wow, Elliot, you're amazing."

"After four years in NYU, I better be," Elliot joked, and then the turned to B with a winning smile.

"And you must be Kurt's roommate B, right?"

B was standing quietly nearby with his hands in his pockets, but he smiled at Elliot and reached out a hand to shake.

"B is actually my boyfriend," Kurt corrected him, and he enjoyed the pleased look on B's face.

It was in that second that Elliot took B's hand, looking down and seeing the big glaring A stamped on it.

"Nice to meet you, Elliot."

"Oh," Elliot said, scrunching his brows as he and B shook hands. "Nice to meet you too." He let their hands fall and Elliot looked confused for a moment. "Do you know what that A stamp is for? I don't think you meant to get that," he said, speaking loudly enough to hear him over the next band that was playing.

B looked down to the ground, stuffing his hands back in his pockets and clearing his throat. "Yes, I know what it is. It wasn't a mistake," he said in a soft voice that was just barely audible over the music.

"Oh," Elliot repeated, looking at Kurt.

"B's a droid," Kurt said confidently, hooking arms with B. "And he's my boyfriend."

Kurt could see B folding into himself, trying to become as small as he could, but Kurt stood up tall and looked Elliot straight in the eye. He wasn't ashamed of B and he needed his boyfriend to understand that.

Elliot pressed his lips together and nodded. "Well, cool!" he said and then smiled before motioning for them all to sit. "You two drinking? The next round is on me since you came out to see my show." And as easy as that, the matter was dropped.

B sat next to Kurt and Kurt could see him physically relaxing. Kurt got a second drink while B ordered a water. Everything from there went smoothly. Elliot was just as charming, though not as flirty, as ever and was equally nice and talkative to both Kurt and B. They stayed late, talking about school and music, and as B relaxed, he added more and more to the conversation. He loved music and could play several instruments, so he had plenty to add. Once it was eventually time to leave, Kurt was feeling happy and loose and just a little buzzed from his drinks. He held onto B as they walked down to the subway station.

"That was fun!" Kurt said excitedly. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes, I did," B said, smiling. "I like Elliot."

"Me too," Kurt said. "Not as much as I like you, but he's a good guy."

"I'm... I'm sorry if I embarrassed you," B said as they stopped on the platform and waited for their train.

"You didn't. Why would you say that?"

"Because you had to tell him you were dating an android."

"That doesn't embarrass me, B," Kurt said warmly. "I'm not ashamed of dating you, I'm proud of it. And if Elliot had had an issue with it, that would have been his problem, not ours."

B smiled and leaned into his side. "You're amazing, Kurt."

Kurt sighed happily, letting the warm feeling that B gave him grow inside his chest.

The next morning, Kurt was glad he hadn't drunk too much because he had to get up early to get to the theater. He was the assistant director for this play, and apparently the director had a new vision and wanted to rework most of the background sets. Kurt hoped he could talk him out of it, seeing as seeing as their budget was insufficient for that.

B was off to school soon. He didn't have classes during the weekend, but one of his teachers had asked if he wanted to be part of a special singing group, and he was going in to practice.

Kurt stopped B as he was heading out of the door, pulling on his collar until Kurt could press a kiss against his lips.

"I had a good time last night."

B blushed a little; he still did, no matter how many times Kurt kissed him. "So did I. I was thinking, though… I'd like to take you out some time, just the two of us, you know. We haven't been on an official date yet."

Kurt's wide smile tugged at his cheeks. "I would love that." He kissed him again. "I'll see you this afternoon, okay?"

"Okay," B said with a sweet smile. Kurt straightened the bowtie that he was wearing, which matched his eye patch perfectly - it was a look that no one but B could make seem so lovable - and then B was out the door and on his way to practice.

Kurt was busy at the theater all day, looking over set design ideas and trying to convince the director that they could make changes on a smaller scale. When his phone rang, he was grateful for the chance to step away. He didn't usually take calls at work, but it was his dad and he tried to always pick up for his dad. He answered the call while walking to a quiet place behind stage to talk.

"Hey Dad, what's up?"

"Kurt, we need to talk," Burt said seriously, and Kurt was immediately put on edge. This wasn't good; he could tell it wasn't good. The last time he and his dad had to have a serious talk was when Burt told him he had cancer. He came to New York to tell me that though, he wouldn't call with bad news.

"What's wrong, dad?" Kurt asked breathlessly.

"You want to explain to me why I received a letter from Smythe Industries stating that they are prepared to take legal action against me?"

Kurt was stunned silent for a moment. That wasn't what he was expecting to hear. "Wait… What?"

"It says that I am 'harboring sensitive stolen tech' and I am asked to relinquish my 'improperly acquired technology' or they will take legal action."

"Oh, god." Kurt was still trying to catch up with what that meant, but his stomach plummeted as the words echoed in his head.

"Kurt, I'm assuming this is about B since we don't have anything else from Smythe Technologies, but why are they sending me this? We didn't acquire B illegally."

"Dad… I…" Kurt's throat felt dry. He'd been so stupid, asking questions, making a stir at the expo. They knew he had one of their droids and now they wanted him back. "They want B," Kurt said weakly, even though that was what his dad had just told him.

"I know, but droids left in The Heap are up for grabs. You throw something away and it is public property. So why do they think we stole him and how the heck do they even know we have him in the first place?"

"I… Dad, I…" Kurt bit his lip to keep himself from swearing. This wasn't good. "I went to this Smythe Expo. I used your credentials; I was just trying to get more information about B. I didn't think he was going to be so top secret and I never expected this."

"Top secret?" Burt repeated, obviously confused. "Kurt. Start from the beginning and tell me what's going on."

Kurt closed his eyes and took a deep breath, preparing to tell his dad the whole story, when his phone beeped with another incoming call. Kurt glanced down to send it to voicemail when he saw that it was coming from B's school. That in itself made Kurt nervous. If B wanted to call him, why didn't he just use his cell phone?

Kurt's heart shuddered in his chest, and he lifted the phone back to his ear. "Dad! I have to go. I'll call you back."

Burt tried to say something else, but Kurt was already hanging up and frantically answering the call from B's school.

"Hello? B?"

"Mr. Kurt Hummel?" a female voice said from the other end.

"Yes."

"Mr. Hummel, we need you to come down here to the annex right away." The woman spoke quickly and her voice sounded strained.

Kurt pressed a hand up against the nearest wall to hold himself up; he knew he wasn't going to like anything he heard next. "What's going on?"

"Mr. Hummel, there are some men here saying that your android belongs to them? They are going to take him away."

Kurt's heart sped up and he pushed off from the wall and started running to the theater exit. "You can't let them do that," Kurt said anxiously. "I'm on my way... Just, please don't let them take B."

"I'm trying, but they are insistent. They brought a police officer," she whispered into the phone.

This couldn't be happening. Kurt was outside waving down a cab, but he was still a good half hour away from B's school. "Let me talk to them!" Kurt pleaded. "They can't have B."

Kurt's hands were shaking as he gripped his phone and climbed into a taxi. He knew it had to be Smythe Industries that had come for B, and if the secrecy of the Expo was anything to go by, Kurt was terrified that if they took B, he would never see him again. That thought made Kurt feel ill and he leaned forward, his head resting on the back of the seat in front of him as he told the cab driver to hurry.

The woman from the school was trying to get someone on the phone for Kurt to talk to, but she came back a few moments later sounding even more upset, possibly crying. "There isn't anything I can do! They won't listen to me… and B was standing his ground saying he wouldn't leave with them, and they just shut him off."

"They aren't allowed to do that!" Kurt said, thinking of how scared B must have been, people trying to take him away and then forcibly shutting him down. How dare they! "I'm coming. Just… stall them," Kurt said. His breath was short and he felt close to panicking.

This was all happening too quickly. B had been safe and happy just that morning. What did Smythe Industries even want with B? And what would they do with him once they got him?

"Please, no." Kurt swallowed nervously as he willed the cab to go faster. "Don't hurt him."

The woman on the phone said she had to go, voice high and panicked, and as she hung up, Kurt lost his one link to what was going on with B.

The taxi driver made good time getting to the learning annex, but as Kurt rushed out of the car and paid him, he knew that it was going to be too late. He hurried into the school with his heart in his throat. "Where's B?" he said, skidding to a stop and asking the first person he saw, a young woman standing behind the welcome desk.

Her eyes were red-rimmed and she looked upset. "Are you Mr. Kurt Hummel?"

"Yes. Please. Please tell me B is here." They couldn't really just have taken B away, kidnapped him in broad daylight. How could something like this happen?

The young woman bit her lip and didn't answer. Instead, she pressed a button on her phone. "Ms. Huang?" she called over the intercom. "Mr. Hummel is here."

Kurt knew Ms. Huang was B's favorite teacher and the one that had invited him to be part of the singing group. She came up front a minute later, face pale and posture stiff.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Hummel-" she began, but Kurt cut her off.

"No! You need to tell me where he is. I trusted him to you here at this place. Don't you have security? People can just walk in here and take someone that doesn't belong to them?" Kurt was trembling, his throat tight with suppressed tears.

Ms. Huang sighed. "That's the thing, though. They had a warrant and a police officer and a lawyer saying that B was property of Smythe Industries. Believe me, we didn't want them to take him. He was so upset, and we all think very highly of B around here… but it was out of my control."

"No, no no." Kurt turned away from her, covering his mouth with his hand and trying to breathe evenly. He pulled out his phone and dialed B's number. It only took a moment for it to start to ring. He spun around when he heard B's ringtone.

Ms. Huang held out the phone. "I'm so sorry."

Kurt reached for the phone as it continued to ring. A picture of Kurt was displayed on B's screen. Kurt hung up and stood in shock. This had happened. They had actually taken B.

"Did they… Did they hurt him?" Kurt asked, looking up at the teacher.

"B refused to go with them. He said he was the property of Burt Hummel and living here in New York with his permission," she explained. "He wouldn't go willing. When they found he was too strong to drag off, they just shut him down. I don't think they were interested in hurting him though, just in getting him away from here."

"Right," Kurt nodded, voice rigid. He couldn't stay here and talk about it any longer. Apprehension was pulsing under his skin, and without another word he quickly walked back outside.

Kurt leaned against the side of the building and tried to think of what to do next. He needed to call his dad back, Burt would be worried, but he didn't know if his dad would be able to do anything to help though. And time wasn't in Kurt's favor; somehow he knew that to get B back, he had to move fast, before Smythe Industries did something to him. God, what would they do to B?

Kurt swallowed back tears. He had to focus. He had to find B. No one at Smythe Industries would help him; anyone at the expo that had known about the B line had been hostile. The only person there that Kurt remembered pleasantly was Candice, and it wasn't like she would risk her job to help him...

"I just have to find a way into their offices," Kurt said to himself as he looked up Smythe Industries on his phone. He made himself count his breathing as he tried to calm down and form a plan. Kurt made two quick phone calls before hailing another cab.

I'm coming B, I'm coming, Kurt thought to himself as he gave the cab driver an address. Please be okay.