So, sorry for the time between updates. I'm participating in NaNoWriMo and trying to write a novel at the same time as writing this. I have a daily word count I'm supposed to keep up with and while it is very low (1667 words per day), I'm sick and had fallen way behind. So, I started writing today and ended up writing 12 pages or over 9,000 words. So, I'm glad to have gotten this much out. Enjoy! This chapter takes place right after Blaine leaves for lunch with the guys….
Last time on: Unlock My Heart
"I think what you need to do is forget the entire concept of Doms and subs for now. You're being too much of a Dom and not enough of a Soulmate. You need to take care of him and keep him safe through your own efforts, not rules that you've given him. Let him live the life he desires, not the one you desire for him. It's through that and that alone that love, and eventually submission, will come. Otherwise, all you will have is someone who resents you," Wes said.
Tears streaked down the brokenhearted Dom's face. "I can't lose him," he said.
"We'll help you, Blainers. Don't worry. We won't let you screw this up anymore," Nick said.
Blaine glared at him then gave him a watery smile. "Thanks guys."
"Alright. Operation woo Kurt is a go!" Wes declared.
With the support of his friends, Blaine could only hope that there was a chance for him to build a relationship from the mess he made.
. . . . . . . .
Blaine had been gone about thirty seconds when Jeff bounded into their apartment.
"Shopping time!" he shouted loudly, though he was in the same room with Kurt. He stopped bouncing in excitement when he saw Kurt's tear-streaked face.
"Kurt! Honey, what's wrong?" he cried, coming over to wrap his arms around the distraught man.
"I can't go shopping today, Jeff, I just can't," Kurt said, tears beginning to fall again.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Jeff asked, holding his new friend's hand.
"This whole Dom slash sub relationship thing is not working," Kurt said. "Blaine has taken it too far, and though he apologized before he left, I just can't do it anymore. I am emotionally drained, physically tired, and I can't do it anymore," he finished, tears pouring down his face.
Jeff wrapped his arms around him again, slowly rocking him, wishing he knew how to help. "Can I ask what he did, sweetie?"
"He started giving these Dom orders one after the other. Making me shut up, freaking making me kneel like some sort of slave. He wants to punish me for not getting enough sleep when it is his damn fault I didn't sleep! He came on to me a while back when he was drunk and I wanted nothing to do with it. He pulled the 'I could order you to' Dom card and it freaked me the hell out! If he is going to order me to kiss him, what else would he order me to do?" Kurt said, sniffing.
Jeff's eyes were wide with shock. "Kurt, you know that isn't what Doms are supposed to do, don't you?"
Kurt looked at him, his tears stopping. "What do you mean? I mean, I've never wanted a Dom, so I just figured it was my fault for not wanting what he does. Doesn't Nick use Dom orders on you?" he asked.
"Never!" Jeff practically shouted. "I have never, ever heard Nick even use a Dom tone on me! He would never do it unless I was in danger or in need of some sort of emergency help that would require immediate action."
"What?" Kurt asked, astounded. Jeff sounded horrified at the thought of the use of the Dom tone.
"Kurt, the Dom tone is not something to be used just to get someone to act a certain way. It is wrong. Very wrong," Jeff insisted.
"Well, that's good. It just cements what I had already planned to do," Kurt said, sighing.
"What did you already plan to do?" Jeff asked, though he had a good idea.
"I'm leaving," Kurt said. He looked at Jeff, almost daring him to argue and try to convince him to stay.
"I think that might be a good idea," Jeff said. "Want some help packing?"
Kurt gaped at him, then closed his mouth, not wanting to question things anymore. "Sure, that would be great."
The two worked quietly, gathering Kurt's wardrobe and important knickknacks that he wanted to take. He even took back his gourmet coffee maker. There was no way he was leaving it here for Blaine. The last step was packing up his music and movies. Some of the furnishings would stay for now, until he could get more help. He was more determined to be gone before Blaine got back. There was no way he was going to end up with a Dom order to stay.
Jeff had kept the conversation to asking what would stay and what would go. As they finished loading the last of Kurt's things, Jeff had to say something.
"Will I ever see you again?" he asked, his brown eyes sad.
"Sure you will," Kurt said. "I gave you my number and I'm only a couple hours away. We can find a mid point and hang out or shop any time."
"Good," Jeff said, relieved. "I totally knew we were going to be best friends and I didn't want to give that up just because Blaine is a monumental loser."
Kurt tried to stifle his giggle, but let it loose anyway. Jeff joined him and they leaned on each other, laughing until their eyes glinted with tears.
"Aw, Jeff, thank you. I needed that," Kurt said, wiping his eyes.
"I live to serve. Oh wait, that's what you're supposed to do for Blaine!" Jeff said.
Kurt was quiet and Jeff thought he'd finally put his foot in it. Then Kurt broke out with a full belly laugh and Jeff joined him, relieved.
"You kill me," Kurt laughed. "I gotta get out of here, though. I have no idea how long Blaine will be. I can't let him have a chance to order me to stay."
That comment got both of them to settle down. The chance was very real that Blaine would do just that and they both knew it.
"Take care, okay Kurtie?" Jeff said, giving his friend a big hug.
"You, too, Jeff. Take care of that man of yours, too. And text me once in a while," Kurt insisted.
Jeff looked at him like he was an idiot. "Um. Duh! Once in a while, my ass. I plan on blowing your phone up! And you better text me when you make it home safe or I will drive to Lima and kick your cute ass," Jeff said with a big grin.
"I will do that," Kurt said and gave him one last hug. "Bye, Jeff."
"Bye, Kurt," Jeff said, smiling sadly. He stood there and watched as Kurt got into his Navigator and pulled out onto the nearby street. Sighing he made his way back into his apartment, worrying about how Blaine was going to take the news that Kurt was gone.
. . . . . . . .
Kurt drove home, refusing to think about Blaine and how he would feel about Kurt being gone. He'd thought silence would be good for the drive to give him time to think. After ten or so miles, though, he couldn't take the quiet anymore. He cranked the stereo, putting it on his iPod playlist called "Uplifting". When 'Defying Gravity' began playing, he filled his lungs with air and began singing out with all of his being. Singing had always been a stress reliever for him and it didn't let him down now.
By the time he reached his house, he no longer felt like he would break down and cry for the relationship that he'd never really had. After texting Jeff that he was home safely, he made the decision to turn his phone off. He couldn't deal with Blaine right now.
Letting himself into the house, he met his dad walking out of the living room.
"Kurt, what are you doing here, bud," his dad said, smiling and coming to hug his son.
Kurt sighed, letting himself sink into the comfort that was his dad's arms. "I left Blaine, Dad."
Burt stepped back, still holding onto Kurt's arms. "Are you alright, son? Do I need to shoot someone?"
Kurt smiled, yes, it was good to be home. "Not so much and I guess not," he said in answer.
"Alright, well, come on, let's talk," Burt said, guiding his son to the kitchen table. After Kurt was seated, Burt made his way to the refrigerator, taking out the milk. Pouring two glasses, he got out a box of animal crackers. Sitting down at the table, he pushed a glass to Kurt and held the box out to him.
"Dad, how old are these cookies?" Kurt asked, though he was secretly delighted that his dad had their favorite childhood treat. For years after his mother died, whenever they needed to have a 'talk', his dad would break out the milk and animal crackers.
"I bought them when you moved out," Burt said defensively. "I was feeling nostalgic."
"I'm glad you bought them," Kurt said with a smile, taking a handful of the small cookies.
"So, what is going on with you?" Burt began, tossing a cookie monkey in his mouth after dunking it in his milk.
Kurt didn't hold back. He told his father everything and like always, his dad stayed silent, only nodding or adding a supportive 'uh huh'. When he finished, his dad wiped his mouth with a napkin and looked at Kurt with a serious expression.
"You made the right choice, Kurt. I think the best thing for both of you is some time apart. I know you said I don't need to shoot anyone, but if Blaine comes around before you're ready to see him, I may have to take out the shotgun. Where did you hide it, by the way?" Burt asked, a humorous glint in his eye.
Kurt raised an eyebrow. "There is no way I am telling you anything," he teased back.
His father helped him empty his Navigator, making trips back and forth to Kurt's bedroom and the basement. By the time they were done, they were so tired, they decided to order in Chinese and watch a movie.
"I'm surprised Blaine hasn't called yet," Burt said as they watched the beginning sequence of 'The Fight Club'. Kurt had had the urge to see some violence and bloody revenge.
Kurt smiled ruefully. "I turned my phone off," he admitted.
Burt grinned back and shook his head. "That's my boy," he said proudly.
. . . . . .
When Blaine arrived home that afternoon, he saw Kurt's Navigator was gone and figured he and Jeff were still shopping. He walked into the apartment thinking about making a pot of coffee. Kurt enjoyed coffee at any time of the day. Maybe it would warm him up enough to allow Blaine time to grovel. Making his way into the kitchen, he went to the coffee pot, only to find it missing. Confused, he looked around the kitchen, not seeing the appliance. Wandering into the living room, he noticed that the movie shelf was half empty. His stomach sank and he started feeling like he might be sick. Running into the bedroom, he went to the closet and burst into tears. Three fourths of the closet was now empty, Kurt's clothes gone. He turned and saw his alarm missing, the charger for his phone. In the bathroom, it looked empty without Kurt's face products lining the shelves. He was really gone and he wasn't planning on coming back.
Making his way back to the living room, he sank down on the couch, burying his face in his hands as he sobbed. He'd brought it all on himself. He deserved to be left behind. But he had had plans, plans to woo Kurt, to make him fall in love. Now, everything was going to change. He would have to move out of the Soulmate dormitory, he would have to make sure Kurt's place at Dalton was removed. He would be alone. His Soulmate was gone.
Wiping his face, he made his way to Jeff and Nick's apartment. Knocking on the door, he walked in. The first face he saw was Jeff's guilt stricken face. He wanted to question him endlessly, but he didn't deserve to know all the details anymore. He had ruined it and now he had to live with the consequences.
"All I need to know is if he is okay. Did he make it home alright?" Blaine asked quietly.
"Yeah, he did," Jeff said in a whisper.
"Thanks," Blaine said and left the apartment.
"Hey Blaine? Do you want to talk?" Nick asked, behind him.
"No, not really. Um, I'll be packing up to move over to the singles dorm. Any chance you might be available to help?" he asked, not meeting his friends eyes.
"Of course. Jeff and I will both help," Nick said, sorry for his friend.
"Thanks," Blaine said and made his way into his apartment, closing the door behind him.
Sinking onto the couch again, he saw Kurt's throw blanket hanging from the arm of the couch. Grabbing it greedily, he pulled it up to his nose and breathed deep. The scent of Kurt was overwhelming and caused tears to once again fall. He wrapped the blanket around himself and lost himself in his grief.
Later, as he was packing up the dishes that he and Kurt would never get the chance to share, he grabbed his phone and made a call. Expecting the voice mail, he prepared to speak after the beep.
"Hi Kurt. I am sorry that things got so bad here that you needed to leave. I know now that I have been wrong all along. About everything, pretty much. I owe you the biggest apology of my life and I offer it to you now. Please know, however, that though I screwed up severely, I do love you. I think I've loved you since the first time I saw you. Your smile that lights up the entire room," he said with a light chuckle. "Those gorgeous blue, green, and gray eyes that can snap at you, captivate you, and tell you an entire story, all the while enchanting the one who is lucky enough to look at you. Your laugh makes me want to leap with joy, just to hear how happy you are in that one moment. Your voice can capture, cut, and cure a heart with a simple change of tone. Kurt, you could cure the woes of this world with one song from those beautiful lips. I admire you so damn much. I guess I never told you any of these things. I was too busy being full of myself and I am so very sorry for that. I learned a lot of things today, Kurt. Things that will make me a better person. A better Soulmate. Not that I'm going to force that on you, because I won't. I'm going to work on making a better me and give you time to heal from what I've done to you. I will be here, though, Kurt, if you ever need anything. Anything. Money, favors, coffee, someone to talk to or yell at. I'm here and I will continue to be. I know I don't have the right to say this anymore, but I love you, Kurt. And, well, I'm here. Bye."
As Kurt listened to the message, he felt tears well up in his eyes. He was glad to hear the things that Blaine said, he just wished he couldn't hear the heartbreak behind it. When the message was over it, he stared at his phone as it gave him options for saving or deleting the message. In the end, he simply ended the call, unable to make up his mind. But as he lay in bed that night, he couldn't help the small smile playing about his lips as he thought about Blaine's opinion on his features. He'd never realized Blaine had paid so much attention. Though he'd been sure he would fall asleep in tears, instead he fell asleep with a small smile on his face.
. . . . . . .
To answer a few reviews, I wrote Jeff as Jeff Lynch because I searched around and couldn't find his last name on the show, so I used his real name, thank you for letting me know what his show name is. As for using the 'Last time on' at the beginning of each chapter, it isn't really taking up that much of the story. I typically use less than 300 words. I will lessen the amount I use, however, so it doesn't detract from the story. Also, thank you everyone who has sent me story prompts. I am taking several of them on and will be writing one shots at some point between writing chapters, a novel, and trying to be mom and wife. Thanks to all who read!