This is ridiculous, I can't believe I'm doing this, Kurt thought as he looked up at the large, rusted gates in front of him. They were enormous, the bars shaped in long swirls, ending in a sharp arrow shape at the very top. They were also weather beaten, deep oranges and light browns coming through the black, cracked paint. 

Kurt took a long inhale, then pushed the question-mark shaped handle, sliding it out of its clasp. He pushed the heavy gate, resulting in a loud, whiny, creaking sound. He pushed it through the tiny stones covering the entire grounds, sending a loud, gravelly sound through the air. He turned and closed it behind him, thinking it was probably the polite thing to do, then swung back around to look up at the huge building towering over him.

Kurt had only ever seen one Institute before. When he'd been about ten, his father had taken him to see his grandparents, his mother's parents, at the Texas Institute. He remembered being frightened, because the place looked like something out of a horror movie. The Ohio Institute was no different.

It resembled a large cathedral, the entire building a dark grey colour, dark windows covering every wall. Long, tower-like sections expelled from every side, ending in sharp points, much like a castle. It reminded Kurt of the towers princesses lived in in fairy stories, but no fairy story could ever be set here, not unless the princess was a mundane little girl and her prince wound up being a Forsaken warrior. 

The tops of the long walls were shaped in step-like parapets. Each window was shaped in a long, narrow rectangle, pointed at the top, the glass stained with various different colours, depicting angels and demons and other figures Kurt could not quite make out all the way from where he stood on the ground. 

Looking up at the Institute made him feel very small and unimportant. He hesitated, wondering if he should just go home and forget about it, just get on with his life, figure out his own way of getting to Idris, but a means of getting to Idris wasn't the solitary reason he was standing here, outside this impressive structure, feeling small and nervous. He knew that he wasn't here simply to question Blaine about the fact that it had been days since they'd met, since they'd discussed the idea of a road trip and going to New York and finding Magnus Bane and getting to Idris before the war broke out, with no follow up or set date. No, part of the reason he was here was because of Blaine himself.

Kurt took a step towards the colossal wooden entrance door, a white statue either side; One of a weeping angel, the other of a smiling angel. Kurt couldn't decide which looked creepier. 

"By the Angel," he hissed beneath his breath and then took a sudden step back, the large door opening inwards, slowly and stopping with a large crashing sound as it hit the wall inside. Nobody was there.

Kurt stood still, stuck to the ground. He didn't know what to do. Should he step inside? Would that be rude? Should he knock first? He darted his eyes around, then stopped when he saw a small, gold button, in behind one of the angel figurines, the smiling one. It was covered in spider webs and dirt. He cursed under his breath as he reached in, his jacket sleeve catching onto the webs, leaving long, raggedy strips of spider silk on the cuffs. He really needed to stop wearing his good clothes in this ridiculous place. He pushed the button, cool against his finger, a clamouring clanging sound travelling through the entire entrance hall, which was very, very dark. 

Moments later, Kurt heard the sound of foot steps nearing him. He held his breath. He hadn't really contemplated what he would say if Blaine didn't come to the door and was only now thinking about the fact that this was very possible, that it might happen. And then it did.

A figure stepped out of the darkness. It was a woman. She was short and on the plump side, her mousey-brown hair pulled back in a tight bun at the back of her head. She had soft, wide green eyes, her face round and wrinkled near her eyes and at the sides of her lips. Her clothing was dark. She wore an ankle-length dress, which covered her arms and was high around her neck. She looked up at Kurt, smiling a little.

"Hello, dear," she said in a squeaky voice. "How can I help you?"

Kurt wavered here, not sure what he should say. He thought about turning around and running out those damned gates and never coming back, but he couldn't do that, not when this lady was standing in front of him, watching him like he might be crazy. 

"Um," Kurt began, shoving one hand inside his pocket, unsure of how to go on.

"Oh, dear, have you gotten into some kind of trouble?" the woman asked, appearing alarmed, her wide eyes widening further. "Where are my manners? Come inside, out of the cold. You must be freezing! Come on, that's it."

Kurt did as she instructed and she closed the door behind him. She had her hands on Kurt's shoulders now, studying him closely, those green orbs running across every inch of him, rapidly.

"What was it? What attacked you?" she was rambling. "You look fine, but by the Angel, you're terrified! Poor dear, can I get you some tea? Something to eat? Anything at all?"

"No, no," Kurt held up a hand, feeling embarrassed. "I'm not injured, I haven't been attacked. I'm a.." he trailed off, searching for the correct words. "I'm a friend of Blaine's," he finished, because saying he was someone Blaine had sort of saved in a field a few days previously didn't really sound like something that was acceptable to say to someone you did not know at all. 

The woman laughed then, her hands dropping from Kurt's shoulders. She threw her head back, eyes closing.

"Oh, deary me," she chuckled. "I'm sorry, dear. You just looked so terrified, I just assumed—well, never mind. Won't you come upstairs?"

Kurt nodded and followed the woman as she walked inside an open elevator. He stepped in after her and she pulled the white cage-like door shut, then turned and pressed a silver button at the side. It lit up green and the elevator began to travel upwards, making small clacking sounds. The woman turned to look at him now.

"My name is Meabh Aldertree. I'm Blaine's aunt," she held out a small hand, extending her fingers. Kurt reached across and took the outstretched hand, giving it a small shake. 

"Kurt," he replied, with a smile. "Kurt Hummel."

"Hummel," Meabh said, thoughtfully, raising one hand, catching her small chin between her thumb and first finger. "Avery Hummel?"

"My mom," Kurt clarified.

The woman's face saddened, now, her head tilting slightly. "Your mother was such a nice lady, the Angel protect her soul," she said. "Your dad, too. How is he?"

"Fine," Kurt said, simply, because he could tell from the tone in Meabh's voice that she was well aware of his father and his current marital status and talking about that made Kurt feel incredibly awkward. It wasn't that he didn't like Carole, just that he wished that the entire situation wasn't looked upon as so scandalous.

The elevator came to a stop with a small pinging sound and Meabh pulled the doors opened. Kurt followed her into a long hallway, doors flush on either side, running all the way down the hall. The floors were carpeted in a red shag, the walls made of stone. More angel statues were placed in select corners and outside a few doors. He shivered. It was cold here. 

Meabh made a turn onto another long corridor, which mirrored the other one in appearance. She stopped at a white door and turned to look at Kurt.

"I'm in the middle of preparing dinner right now, but if you go to the end of this hall and turn left, you'll find Blaine in the fourth room on the right," she beamed and Kurt tried to memorise everything she had just said. "Are you sure I can't get you some tea?"

"No, I'm fine," Kurt smiled back. "Thank you," he added, before turning away and heading in the direction Meabh had said Blaine would be in.

He walked the long corridor alone, his hands deep in his pockets. It was so cold, how did Blaine live here? Kurt turned left, where he was supposed to and was sent flying backwards, his hand going instinctively to his belt, grabbing at his blades, when a dark, black shape appeared out of nowhere, or so it had seemed. It had actually come from behind one of those freaky ivory angel busts. Kurt felt ridiculous when he realised it was just a cat. He had initially thought it was a demon, which was so incredibly stupid of him. Demons couldn't get inside Institutes, they were blessed. Kurt cursed under his breath as he placed his seraph blade back in position, his heart beat racing. He stood up and brushed his jeans off. 

The cat was looking right at him now, its luminous yellow eyes boring into him, like it was going to pounce on him and tear him apart. Kurt wasn't afraid of cats, it was just that this one looked particularly threatening. He watched it intently for a few moments, as it raised a small paw to its mouth. It's tiny, pink tongue extended and began to brush through its fur. Kurt decided he should probably keep walking, not wanting Blaine to see him looking so terrified because of a damned cat. He slid around the corner, watching the cat, which didn't even give him a second glance.

Kurt kept walking until he reached the fourth door. He heard voices coming from inside, so he stopped and waited, listening. He couldn't make out a word, the voices were far too muffled, so he stepped forward and looked inside. Blaine was sitting at a small table with a little girl. She had warm brown hair, which fell down just past her chin. She was looking down at a picture in front of her, crayons and felt tip pens scattered across the table. Blaine was looking down, too, a smile on his face, his eyes shining. Kurt couldn't resist smiling, too. Then Blaine looked up.

"Kurt," he said, seemingly surprised, which was understandable. The little girl looked up, too. Kurt assumed this was Meabh's daughter, Bríd. She had her mother's bright green eyes and round face. 

"Hi," Kurt said, timidly. "Your, uh, aunt let me in."

Blaine nodded and gestured towards a chair. "Sit down," he said and Kurt went and pulled out the chair. He sat down, aware of the little girl's eyes still watching him, curiously.

"Kurt, this is Bríd, my cousin," Blaine said, realising. "Bríd, this is my friend, Kurt."

Kurt stared, open mouthed at the sound of Blaine referring to him as his friend, then dismissed the thought, it was ridiculous to dwell on such a small detail. "Hi," he said, giving the little girl a smile, which she returned. "What are you drawing?" he asked.

Blaine was smiling at his cousin, his eyes bright and filled with admiration. 

"Forsaken warriors," the child explained, grabbing a blue crayon and colouring in what appeared to be a sky.

"Oh," Kurt said, confusedly, looking down at the picture and yes, she really was drawing Forsaken warriors. "Nice."

Blaine laughed and looked up at Kurt. "She saw them in a book earlier today," he explained, then looked back down at Bríd. "Hey, Bríd, Kurt and I are going to go talk in the weapons room, okay?"

"Mm hmm," the girl mumbled, not raising her eyes from the drawing. 

Blaine stood up and Kurt copied him. He followed him outside and fell into step with him in the hall. They passed the cat again.

"Hey, Widget," Blaine said, eyes going to the dark ball of fur, now sleeping by one of the closed doors. "We'll have more privacy in the weapons room," Blaine said, this time to Kurt. "Bríd's very susceptible to everything around her."

"Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression," Kurt muttered, remembering a quote he'd heard once.

Blaine nodded, slowly, eyes falling over Kurt and then looking away again, "Right," he said, then stopped at a door, which looked exactly the same as the others. He opened the door and stood back allowing Kurt to walk inside.

Blaine closed the door behind them. Kurt looked around. The walls were metal, with various types of weapons covering them. One side of the room was filled with Shadowhunter clothing; Boots, pants, gloves. In the centre of the room, was a long mahogany table, chairs surrounding it. It smelled like copper in here. Blaine sat down and Kurt sat across from him. 

"So," Blaine said, looking right at Kurt. "What's up?"

Kurt hadn't really planned this scene out. He had no idea what he was going to say or if he should assume the entire thing was still going ahead. He took a few breaths, endeavouring to sort it all out in his head.

"I'm sure you've heard already," he began. "Valentine broke into the Bone City and killed the Brothers. He has the Sword now."

An air of surprise washed over Blaine's face, his caramel eyes widening. He leaned forward, hands flat on the table in front of them.

"Valentine killed the Silent Brothers?"

"Yes," Kurt confirmed. "He has Maellartach now," he told him, referring to the soul sword.

"Wow," was all that Blaine said.

Kurt waited a moment, then went on. "So, what I'm getting at," he said. "Is that the war is drawing near and that.." he paused, pondering on just how he should finish that, but Blaine spoke first.

"We should leave soon," he said, which gave Kurt relief. "I realised a day or two ago that I had no way of contacting you, which was stupid of me. When do we leave?"

Kurt just stared at Blaine, the silver of the walls reflected in his eyes. Kurt wasn't good at making decisions, especially when it concerned other people. Especially people with eyes like Blaine's.

"Your decision," Kurt lifted his hands and laid them back down.

"I've got a car," Blaine said.

Kurt said nothing, wondering if he was supposed to act like it impressed him.

"I mean," Blaine clarified. "I've got a car we can use to drive."

"Oh," Kurt said. "Oh, cool."

Blaine looked thoughtful for a few heart beats then, his hands folded, his eyes narrowed, eyebrows meeting in the middle as he furrowed them. He looked up then, eyes level with Kurt's.

"Tonight."

"Tonight?"

"Why not?" Blaine shrugged his shoulders. "Better to have an early start, right?"

Kurt supposed he was right. The fact that this was all really happening was what caused him to hesitate. He wanted to go, to leave without a word, to do what he was destined to do and he'd known when they'd made the plans to leave that he was deadly serious, but it all still felt a little surreal. 

"Okay," Kurt nodded, twice. "Tonight."

"Great," Blaine said, a broad grin spreading over his face. "I'll pick you up. What's your cell number?"

It was the first time Kurt had ever given a guy who was not his step-brother his phone number. 

Every thing was changing and for the first time in his life, Kurt felt like change might be something good.