Crash into me:
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee ... or a dragon.
Chapter 4:
It probably wasn't the best decision to make, given the time constraint he was under, but two days passed after finding Blaine before Kurt mentioned having to leave to complete his task. At first Blaine seemed to be improving, the color returned to his cheeks and he was able to stay awake for longer periods of time. They even held a full conversation one night as they sat shoulder to shoulder against the cold wall of the cave.
The snow continued to fall slowly outside the wall of the cave and added another layer to the white forest. Niveus shook her body every now and then to keep the snow from collecting on her. Breaking the chilly silence Kurt asked why Blaine was out in the forest during a snowstorm, and the answer was more than he expected.
After a few heavy moments, Blaine began to speak, telling Kurt about the kingdom he was born in, the hostility that ran through the minds of everyone. After the first few sentences it was like a damn had been broken and everything he had been holding in came rushing out. He couldn't stop. He told Kurt about being kissed by a boy –Sebastian- only to later learn he was royalty, the son of the king's cousin. Blaine later learned the hard way that they had been caught, and Sebastian denied everything, said Blaine had came on to him. It was because of that that Blaine had been exiled. Since he was nobility, Sebastian's word was believed and Blaine was banished, thrown on the back of a random dragon and sent away. He never got to say goodbye to his family or his dragon Viridi.
After that heart wrenching story, Blaine talked more. At random times he would bring up the happy stories from his childhood and about his dragon who he told Kurt all about. He chose Viridi, the green dragon, at eleven years old. It looked like he was on the mend, until he wasn't.
He grew weaker every day, face twisted with pain all the time. Kurt tried to wrap his knee, but Blaine nearly bit through his tongue in pain and Kurt stopped, not trying again.
So after three days had passed, Kurt knew something needed to be done. Blaine wasn't going to get better sitting curled up next to Kurt in a frozen cave all day. He needed to see a doctor; he needed warmth and real food. At night after the curly haired boy had fallen into a restless sleep Kurt's mind would race, trying to comprehend why he cared so much about the injured boy. Why a smile on Blaine's face sent his heart racing, when they caught each other staring his face would heat up despite the chilling temperature. It was growing to more than simple attraction; he cared about Blaine –really cared- which is how he knew that it was time to leave.
Blaine must have noticed Kurt's far off look as he thought how to broach the subject because he reached out and took Kurt's hand in his own, "Kurt, are you alright?"
"Yes," Kurt assured his quickly, squeezing Blaine's fingers and trying to focus on how to best tell Blaine they needed to leave, "I've just been thinking … and I think it's time to leave."
He was too busy staring at their intertwined hands to notice how Blaine's face fell and his shoulders hunched together.
"I haven't told you everything about me, or why I am out here. I'm the king-to-be of Audentia, a small but mighty kingdom to the south of us. As I have just turned eighteen it is my task to secure a stone from the mountain further north and return home. I have seven days and I have already been gone for four. If I don't return home soon they will announce my death and a new family will take over. I can't let that happen so … I think it's time to leave."
With a shaky nod Blaine's voice broke, "I – okay, yes you should leave. I understand how important it is that you return, and you need to. You will make an amazing king, Kurt. I don't want to keep you from that."
It took a moment for Kurt to realize what Blaine meant, that the other boy thought he was leaving him behind. "Wha- Blaine no! I mean that we leave, the both of us. You need to see a doctor and the sooner I finish this task the sooner we can return to Audentia and you can get well. I would never leave you Blaine, I'm not saying goodbye to you."
"Kurt." Blaine voice broke at the name, "Are you sure? I don't want to burden you or"
"You could never be a burden to me Blaine." Shifting his body Kurt cupped Blaine's cheek with his hand forcing their eyes to meet, "I mean it, I care about you – more than I probably should- but I'm not saying goodbye to you. I want you to come back home with me, you deserve to be happy Blaine, and I will do whatever I can to make sure that happens."
He knew how much Blaine needed to hear that, the tears running down the shorter boy's face were evidence enough but Kurt knew. After a life of being told he was not normal, and then being kicked out of his kingdom and abandoned for it, Blaine needed to know how important he was to Kurt.
"Thank you," was the only thing Blaine could say before Kurt's arms wrapped around him, pulling him close and they held each other.
Blaine was the one to pull back. He sniffled before he pressed a kiss so light to Kurt's cheek that the pale boy wasn't even sure it happened. "Okay, what's the plan?"
With a new found hope Kurt straightened up and told Blaine the plan he had formed last night while the other boy was asleep. "We leave early tomorrow morning, you can't walk so when we get to the mountain –which will hopefully be before the sun is high- you will stay with Niveus while I go into the cave and get a stone."
"Won't that be dangerous?" Blaine interrupted.
"No, well yes … there is always danger but there aren't any harmful creatures that I am aware of, it is treacherous leading down to where the stones are, or so I'm told, but it's nothing Niveus can help with."
It wasn't the answer Blaine was hoping for, but he seemed to accept it. "Then what?"
"Well," Kurt began, "After I get the stone we fly home, no stops until we reach Audentia. Our food is too low anyways and.." He didn't want to finish that, not wanting to voice aloud his fear that Blaine might not be strong enough to endure another cold night with little food.
Thankfully Blaine didn't comment on it, instead voicing his agreement with Kurt's plan. While he hated the idea of having to wait with Niveus while Kurt went in to get a stone he wouldn't be much help either. He could barely sit up straight, his body weak from his injury and lack of nutrition.
Kurt made them each a cup of warm water to drink as Blaine asked every question he could think of about Audentia and Kurt's position as a royal. He was surprised at how different their kingdoms were. There were no rules in Audentia dictating who a person could love. As Kurt talked, his eyes sparkling in the fire light, Blaine found it hard to believe that there really was such a place. But he knew that he would do whatever it took to make sure Kurt returned, even if it wasn't with him.
AN: Thank you again to everyone who has commented and is reading this story! There are only a couple more chapters left and updates should be quick. :D