Blaine stopped suddenly, whirling his body around, facing Kurt. He looked into Kurt’s eyes, which had begun to well up, shimmering gold swirling through the topaz blue of his iris. Reaching out, he raised his hand to Kurt’s cheek, where a droplet of blood had begun to dribble down from a small slice in his skin. The scarlet of the blood a stark contrast to the porcelain white of his face. He trailed the pad of is thumb across Kurt’s cheek, wiping the blood away swiftly.

A small “Ouch!” left Kurt’s mouth, gaping as Blaine’s fingers pressed into the tender skin of Kurt’s cheek. Timidly, Blaine let out a worried “Sorry, I’m sorry” as his hazel eyes flicked downwards. Kurt was still topless, his bare chest heaving up and down rhythmically. Blaine began skimming his eyes over the broad muscles in Kurt’s shoulders, remembering how they contracted and tensed when he was bending the water from the river.

Blaine noticed small scratches and smeared, scarlet blood scattered across Kurt’s pale torso, made by the fast flick of branches whilst they were running. Blaine surveyed his own body, noticing similar marks on his upper arms and shoulders. The deep hazel of Blaine’s eyes met Kurt’s again, flicking closed shyly, eyelashes fanning against the pale skin of his face, as a slight blush crept up around Kurt’s cheeks.

“Come on! We have to keep moving.” Blaine said forcibly, dropping his fingertips from Kurt’s face quickly.

Taking his hand again, Blaine pushed forward, beginning to run. The twisted trees around them blurred as they picked up speed, smudging into varied shades of green and brown. Blaine was still unsure if the guards were following them, but he didn’t want to risk stopping, panic rising in his chest at the thought of being taken back to his father. He needed to escape him. He needed to warn the Avatar. Blaine had to stop the rebellion, even if it meant betraying his father.

---------

They had been running for what seemed like hours, slowing every now and then to rest, before resuming a back breaking speed. Paranoia had set in. Each time they would stop, Blaine would talk in hushed whispers, tossing his head back and forth, watching for any signs of the guards. Although they were long gone, Blaine couldn't push the feeling of being watched out of his head. Whilst running, worried thoughts pulsed through his brain, swirling into a mass of worry at the forefront of his mind. Always present, always brewing.

With a final glance behind him, looking past Kurt, Blaine made the decision to stop. Panting, he released his grip on Kurt’s hand and sunk to the ground, pressing his hands into the dirt and pulling up a slab of rock to lean against. He sat, with his back to the slab and his elbows propped up on his knees. Blaine pushed his hands through the chocolate brown curls on top of his head, sweat dripping from his hairline, continuing to breath heavily.

Kurt also sat, slumping down, crossing his legs. They were sat across from each other, at either side of an unclear pathway made in the dirt, tall trees towering over them. It had been travelled on before, but not recently. Kurt pulled his bag to his chest. The bag was a medium sized sack made of tan animal skins, closed at the top with rope. Blaine noticed a small medallion hanging from the bag displaying the water nation emblem. He watched as Kurt tugged it open, pulling out a loose white shirt and a small pouch for carrying water. Kurt looked up, slipping the fabric over his shoulders, meeting Blaine’s gaze. Kurt pushed his hair, out of the way his eyes, flopping it back down on top of his head. Kurt’s hair was dry now, and lighter in colour, gold undertones shining as the sun bounced off of it. He opened the pouch containing the water and withdrew a small stream of water, looping it around in the air, Kurt brought it towards his face. The water began to glow silver, as he moved it across the cut on his cheek, beginning to heal the cut. He swirled the water in the air and replaced it into the pouch, closing it.

“Hey. Come here.” Kurt said, as he motioned towards Blaine. His voice was high, melodic, although slightly strained, his breath still shallow after running. Blaine looked at him cautiously, his stomach flipping when Kurt began to blush. He looked into Blaine’s eyes warmly, repeating himself.

“Come on. I trusted you, remember.”

Blaine moved forward, pulling himself into a kneeling position, shuffling closer to Kurt. Kurt raised his right hand to Blaine’s left cheek, softly brushing he fingertips across the open gashes across Blaine’s cheek. Kurt let his fingers drop down, reopening the pouch and decanting the water back out, gracefully bending the liquid in the air, curling it around his fingers, letting it cover his hand.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to completely heal them, but think about the cool scars you’ll have.” Kurt motioned vaguely to his left eyebrow, Blaine’s imagination running wildly.

Kurt brought his hand up to Blaine’s cheek as the brown haired boy looked on in awe, Kurt’s hand alight. Kurt pressed deep into the first deep cut in his face, feeling a strong tingling as the water rushed into the wound, rearranging the energy, healing the cuts. He released his hand, moving the water to the second cut. Blaine felt the tingle repeat itself, pushing into his face, closing his eyes as he winced with a sudden burst of pain. He didn’t notice Kurt’s hands dropping from his face as he dropped his hands to meet Blaine’s palms, taking Blaine’s right hand in his.

When he reopened his eyes, they were met by the shining blue of Kurt’s, gazing back at him. He felt the warmth of the other boys hands in his, tensing around them as he blinked, startled. Kurt grasped Blaine’s wrist, tugging his arm upward, towards his face. Kurt pressed his finger tips to the back of Blaine’s fingers, dragging them slowly across the scars across his cheeks. Blaine felt the blush creep over his cheeks as Kurt continued to gently brush his own fingertips over the two scars, the light pink skin shimmering in the broken sunlight of their surroundings. He quickly became flustered by the sudden intimacy of the moment, backing away from Kurt’s touch.

“See? Cool scars.” Kurt said timidly, as he dropped his hands to his sides, releasing Blaine from his grip.

“Yeah. I guess. Thanks for that.” Blaine replied, gesturing wildly towards his cheek, no longer feeling pain from the newly formed scars.

“I think we lost those guards. You should be safe to go now. Thanks, again, for everything.”

“Oh, okay. Yeah, thats fine. Okay.” Kurt sounded disappointed, letting small huff escape his mouth. He begun to turn ascend, his weight shifting on his knees as he begun to rise from the ground. He moved his hand through his hair, smoothing it between his fingers, pushing it backwards. He was on his feet quickly, his body swerving, and turning to walk away. Blaine remained on the forest floor, twirling his fingers in the dust covering the pathway. He pushed his right hand into the ground, pulling the earth up and down distractedly.

“Hey, Blaine?” Kurt questioned, the teal of his eyes meeting Blaine’s hazel.

“Huh? Yeah?” Blaine replied, as he continued the repetitive push pull of the earth beneath him, his eyes on Kurt’s.

“Why are you running?” Kurt asked confidently, cooly.

“Why are you?” Blaine explored Kurt’s eyes, searching for an answer. He wasn’t ready yet. Just the thought of his father sent pulses of anger through his body, slamming the earth down harder, pulling it up defiantly.

“What happened up north to make you run?” Kurt bowed his head down, hair falling over his eyes, blocking Blaine’s vision. He heard Kurt let out a small sniffle as he tossed his hair back over his head, running the back of his hand under his nose, breathing in deeply.

“Who said I’m running?” Kurt didn’t want to give away any information either. He looked up defensively, the steely confidence returning as he glared at Blaine, making his stomach clench hotly. Blaine looked him over, the loose white shirt hanging on his slender frame. He could see the sharp angles of Kurt’s protruding collar bones. The air stirred with uncomfortable silence.

Finally breaking it, Blaine announced, “Republic City. I have to get to the Avatar. Need to warn-” He cut himself off, his words hanging loosely in the air. He wasn’t really comfortable with sharing everything yet. He didn’t want to scare Kurt off. After a few moments of silence, Blaine had

“Hurricane.”

“Hmm?” Blaine asked, confused.

“That’s what happened. I needed to get away...“ He was silent, shoulders slumped, as his emotions took control, tears swelling in his eyes, clinging to the lashes.

“I don’t know what I’m doing.”

Blaine reached out to him, grasping his shoulders, straightening him up, rubbing his thumb under Kurt’s left eye, tears spilling out over the bottom lid.

“Well, neither do I.” Blaine placed emphasis on the end of the statement, indadvertedly asking Kurt along with him. Kurt didn’t respond, staring blankly at Blaine, eyes glistening. He dropped his hands from Kurt’s shoulders, gesturing wildly with his hands, pushing one through his unkempt dark curls in frustration. He wasn’t getting it. Blaine shrugged his shoulders, asking “You could always come with me. I mean, to see the Avatar.”

He continued awkwardly, turning from Kurt, “From what I saw, you are a pretty good bender. I could use all the help I can get.” He gestured again, this time facing the trees, eliminating his embarrassment. He huffed quietly. He was adamant Kurt would say no.

He wasn’t even sure why he cared. He could do it by himself. All he had to do was travel to the city and somehow warn the Avatar. He didn’t need a water bender, like his father said, “You are a competent young earthbender.” Blaine repeated the phrase in his head, mockingly, grasping at any trace of acceptance from his father. He liked Kurt though, and although he didn’t want to admit it, he didn’t want to go at it alone. Nothing like a good rebellion to create a friendship. He wasn’t lying. Kurt was an excellent water bender.

“I am pretty good, aren't I?” Kurt replied with a wink. Blaine swung around, taking in Kurt’s appearance, standing with his hand poised on his hip, bag slung over his left shoulder. The sun shifted through the leaves as they rustled in the slight breeze, shining on Kurt’s skin. He looked beautiful. Blaine let out another huff of defiance, shifting his gawking eyes to the dust swelling from the path as he kicked at it.

“So, you’ll come to Republic City with me?” Blaine asked overtly, looking into Kurt’s eyes, pressing fro a response.

“Yeah. I’m not busy.”