The Line is Crossed

'Kurt-!'

Kurt, there is a moment when you say to yourself 'Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you forever.'

'Kurt, open the fucking door! Kurt!'

Watching you do 'Blackbird' this week…that was the moment for me…about you.

'You can't stay in there forever. You know you'll have to come out sooner or later.'

You move me, Kurt. And this duet would just be an excuse to spend more time with you.

'Fuck-Kurt, open the fucking door before I kick it down!'

Without wasting another second, a sharp and heavy thud against the door caused it to shake on its hinges. Blaine must have been wearing his steel-toed shoes to make that type of impact. Cowering under the sink, Kurt could barely sniff, never mind blubber helplessly like he had been only minutes before, and he shook so much his eyes could only focus on the vague rectangular shape that was the bathroom door. His arm, still aching from where Blaine had been gripping him, was wrapped around his stomach in an attempt to ease the searing pain. He felt like his insides were being continuously pierced-was this what broken ribs felt like? Had Blaine really gone that far this time?

Kurt knew he was stupid to be surprised. Over the past few weeks Blaine's actions had been escalating fast. It had been at least three weeks since Blaine had actually apologised for what he had done to his boyfriend. Since then he didn't even bother. There was no regret anymore. Maybe that's why he can do those things…

Another sharp kick against the door brought the petrified boy out of his racing thoughts and back to the stone cold present.

'You listening? Don't hide from me! Fucking little-‘There was anotherthud. ‘I swear, when I get my hands on you, Kurt…' Blaine's angered voice trailed off, but it only made Kurt panic more as the rest of his sentence was left to his imagination. What's more, Blaine had proven in the last month alone that he was capable of much worse than Kurt’s imagination could possibly fathom.

'P-pl-please…please, Blaine…' Kurt cried, unable to raise his hand up high enough to touch his own face. 'Please…st-stop…' His voice was too quiet for the other boy to make out the words but there was no mistaking the fact he was pleading.

In reply Blaine's own tone became a great deal more sinister, as if he was smirking through his fury. 'Oh, cry all you want, baby. You know I won't ever leave you.' Then there was sudden silence, and for the briefest of moments Kurt accidentally allowed himself to consider Blaine might actually be leaving him alone. Yet, after hearing what sounded like scratching, he realized what Blaine was doing. He was picking the lock. Kurt let out a horrified sob and lunged towards the door to stop the locking tab from moving back. But it was too late. His legs, still shaking uncontrollably, could not carry him any further than the centre of the tiled bathroom before the door swung open. Kurt’s lungs lost the ability to take in air at that moment. His heart seemed to stop in mid-beat, and every inch of the world around him fell into nothing other than the boy standing before him. He could only stare up at his boyfriend. His best friend. His tormentor. And Blaine, wearing a twisted, wicked smile, took two steps towards the crumpled mess in the middle of the floor with only one thing in mind-punishment.

How did this happen? When did it all start? Could anything have been done to stop it getting to this stage?

Kurt had always known Blaine was passionate: he could sense it from the very first moment they met on the staircase in Dalton’s halls. It shined out of him like a burning desire through his beautiful, dark hazel-brown eyes. Often his passion would be about music and performance. Sometimes Kurt would be deeply depressed over his McKinley oppressors, or about his dad who still displayed signs of awkwardness towards him, or when he questioned how he would deal with his sexuality - Blaine would without fail be there to place his warm hands over his and assure him with his passionate words. Every utterance was a nugget of pure gold wisdom, and Kurt loved that look he gave; that look of complete belief and love.

Of course, there was that stint with Mr GAP when Blaine proved his passion was even more searing as it was focused on a person. He had been hooked, although admittedly not as hooked as he would be when he finally realized his feelings for Kurt. Kurt had been fluttering in happiness when he knew that Blaine's complete devotion was now aimed straight at him. His heard was his, and soon all previous notions of jealously soon ebbed away and were replaced with blissful bouts of joy.

However, at some point, a line was crossed. Kurt could never quite pinpoint that moment no matter how hard he tried. It seemed so hazy looking back. When had Blaine's passion turned from 'perfect, loving committed partner' to 'controlling, jealous and manipulative tyrant'? And when exactly did Kurt allow himself to firmly become his prisoner?

Early on in their official 'relationship’ both got giddy at the idea of holding hands as they strode down the Dalton hallways. Blaine's grasp had been affectionate, and his doting thumb would rub gentle circles on Kurt's palm. When they laughed together with friends Blaine would discreetly pull Kurt into him and place soft kisses on his neck. Whenever Kurt had to move away from him, the most Kurt would get in response was a pouting look which begged for his return. Then, in a transition Kurt missed completely, things changed. His grip turned vice-like and they often squeezed so hard Kurt's fingers would turn deep red. They would spend evenings and weekends alone together in their rooms rather than going out with friends at Blaine’s insistence because ‘he just wanted Kurt to himself for once’ and Kurt felt continuous pressure to cancel plans with the likes of Mercedes because, as Blaine says, 'you see her all the time'. There were rarely any soft kisses anymore. Instead, he received rough manhandling which he repeatedly excused as simple lust on his boyfriend’s part. True, Blaine's actions had begun to get more intimate and his 'needs' were steering their physical relationship at a staggering speed, but Kurt found he was not able to move away anymore. Any attempts would lead to a sharp tug back into Blaine's arms, along with a disapproving frown.

'Ow-Blaine stop that, it hurts!'

Laughter. 'Oh, Kurt, you're such a baby…'

To say Blaine had started to worry Kurt would be an understatement. He quickly realized it wasn't 'normal' to be nervous around your partner-especially when they were coming up for your first anniversary.

A year. Kurt felt he should be proud that his first, and hopefully only, relationship had got off to such a good and promising start. Yet…he couldn't find any pride in him. He wasn't singing in the showers anymore. He couldn't remember the last time he had a proper conversation with any of his friends or family which hadn’t been cut off by his boyfriend. He lost an embarrassing amount of weight - something Blaine found 'amusing' and ‘cute’ when Kurt could only look in the mirror with a sickly expression on his face.

'Don't worry, baby, you hardly notice it under the uniform. Only I'll see.'

Of course…all of his mental games seemed to pave the way for the next storm of changes. And this time round, Kurt would have 'pretty little marks' to go with his feeble and weak body that Blaine grew to love so much.