"Kurt," Blaine started, his voice barely a whisper. Before he could continue, however, Kurt held his hand up to silence him.
Slowly, starting at the bottom, Kurt started unbuttoning his black silk shirt. Because he started at the bottom, Blaine couldn't see his chest until Kurt unbuttoned the last button and removed his shirt. The instant Blaine saw Kurt's chest, he wished he hadn't. Thick scar tissue marred Kurt's perfect chest.
Kurt looked away, thoroughly ashamed. This was it, this was the end. "You don't have to say anything Blaine, I understand, I really do. You deserve someone perfect, someone who you can enjoy looking at. Most of all, you deserve someone that has courage, someone who isn't too weak and scared to take care of himself. I just want you to know that I had the happiest time of my life."
"Kurt," Blaine said softly.
"No, please, just go. Goodbye Blaine." Kurt felt a tear slowly fall from his eye and down his cheek.
"Kurt, look at me." Blaine was floored. How could this beautiful boy in front of him think that Blaine would break up with him because of something like this? "Kurt, look at me, please." Kurt just stared at the floor. Slowly, cautiously, he put his fingers under Kurt's chin. When Kurt didn't pull away, he slowly guided his face so that blue eyes met hazel. "You are the most courageous person that I have ever met. You did what you had to do to survive. No one could ever fault you for that, least of all me. You are the strongest person that I know. You're my inspiration."
"You can't mean that. How could you?"
Blaine sighed. "Because I love you. You've seen the cuts on my thighs. You don't hate me even though I did that to myself. I love you so much."
"I could never fault you for that, honey," Kurt said. "I know why you did it. I don't blame you, I know how hard it is."
Blaine nodded. "This is the same thing. It's not your fault."
"But no one but me would ever see your scars. Why would you want someone so damaged? He was right. No one in their right mind would want me now."
"Well," Blaine said, knowing exactly which "he" Kurt was referring to, "maybe I'm not in my right mind. Maybe I don't want to be."
"Thank you," Kurt said, head down, still clearly ashamed. "but please, don't tell anyone! Please, I don't know if I could deal with anyone else knowing."
Blaine pulled him into a close hug and held the sobbing boy tightly. "I promise, and I love you, baby."
Eventually Kurt's ragged breathing evened out into the slow, deep breaths of sleep. Blaine looked down at the boy in his arms, making a silent promise never to let anyone else hurt the beautiful boy who he was privileged to call his boyfriend.
"Oh Kurt," he whispered down to the sleeping boy, "if only you could see what I see. If only you could see just how beautiful you really are."
So this is what I have for now. Should I leave it here, or should I go on? Should other people find out? Who? Should Karofsky see what he did and feel remorseful? Should there be more comfort? You tell me!