"Can this day really get any worse?" Kurt groaned, as he pressed all his weight against the rear-end of the car.

Blaine was half way in the door on the driver's side, as he endeavoured to start the car for the umpteenth time. He pushed his foot down on the pedal and the wheels turned violently. Kurt felt it before he saw it, the clatter of thick, wet mud hitting his jeans and splashing every inch of them.

"That's it!" he exploded, storming over to where Blaine stood near the front of the car. He stood back and spread his arms out. "Look at me!"

Blaine's eyes travelled down his body, making him feel uncomfortable. He wished he hadn't said that now, but he was just so angry and frustrated that he didn't know how to conceal it a second longer. Blaine's eyes moved back up his body and stopped when they reached Kurt's eyes. He was stifling a laugh, Kurt could tell and it just made his blood boil to a point where he was sure steam was about to burst from his ears.

"Why in the name of the Angel Raziel would you even think about taking a short cut through a field? Who does that? What kind of sane person does a thing like that?" he was rambling now, but he honestly could not have cared less. "I can't believe this. First, we get arrested—"

"We didn't get arrested," Blaine interjected.

"What?"

"I said.." Blaine trailed off, catching the wild gleam in Kurt's eyes. "Nothing, never mind," he mumbled, conceding that Kurt might probably attack him if he continued that sentence.

"No, no," Kurt said, voice high-pitched. "Do go on, I would love to hear what you have to say. I mean, it's 'not so bad', right? All of this? Everything's just peachy. I would love to live in whatever world you reside in inside that twisted mind of yours, Blaine, I really would, because apparently, reality isn't a problem to you. Everything's all rainbows and sunshine, when actually, in the real world, life sucks."

Blaine gaped at him, not sure whether he had insulted him or not. Kurt breathed hard, exhausted from everything. He leaned back against the car and sighed in frustration.

"Kurt," Blaine said, quietly.

"What?" he spat out, still not looking at him.

"I think you'd like it inside my head."

"What?"

"Yeah," Blaine shrugged, a small smile playing on the corners of his lips. "We don't have Raums inside my head, you'd get on swimmingly—"

Blaine stopped talking, because Kurt pounced on him, pushing him to the ground and into the mud. Blaine gasped as Kurt gripped his shoulders and pushed him down, his eyes wide and menacing, his teeth clenched like some sort of animal. Blaine flipped him over and pushed him down, small groans escaping both of their lips as they fought one another to get back up. Blaine was ready to stand back and end this entire charade, but Kurt turned him over again and gripped his arms, pressing him to the ground.

He'd stopped moving now, his knees on either side of Blaine's thighs, fingers surely leaving bruises all along Blaine's forearms. He hovered above him, his bottom lip caught between his teeth, his eyes wide, but not with the same fervent anger as before. Now, they were softer and level with Blaine's. They were both breathing hard and fast, their chests heaving manically. Blaine shook the idea from his head almost as quickly as it had occurred to him, but he had to admit, Kurt looked sort of hot like this.

"I could kill you right now," Kurt said, breathlessly, his voice hitching.

"You need me," Blaine said in a voice just as breathless as Kurt's had been. "I need you. We need each other."

Kurt watched him for a few fast-beating thumps of their hearts. He kept his gaze locked with those eyes, now a deeper hazel than ever before. Blaine's lips were parted slightly, his fingers pressed to the ground beneath them. 

You need me. I need you. We need each other.

Kurt wondered what Blaine had meant when he'd said it. He wondered if he needed Blaine in ways he could never explain. He wondered if Blaine needed him in similar ways.

"You're an idiot," Kurt said, softly, loosening his grip on the other boy.

"I'm more than aware of this," came Blaine's reply and he smiled.

Smiled. Like Kurt had not just tackled him and threatened his life, like he hadn't pushed him into a puddle of mud and rain water and the Angel knew what else. Like he forgave him.

"As lovely as it is to have you above me and this would be a perfect time to try out the seraph blade for entertainment purposes, we really should get going," Blaine told Kurt, amusement flush in his eyes. 

Kurt sprung backwards away from Blaine, his face flushing a deep shade of rose pink. He was forever getting himself into these difficult situations. He wondered when it was going to stop. Blaine sat up, smiling still and pushed himself up off the ground. He walked towards Kurt and pulled him up by the arm. Kurt gaped at him, eyes wide. 

"Come on," Blaine sighed a little. "Let's get out of here."

"I don't like you," Kurt muttered, following Blaine towards the car.

"Oh, but darling, we are in love, for our eyes met across a crowded hallway and thy hath placed a kiss upon mine lips," Blaine teased. "The snake in me is tamed by virtue of our love!"

"Another word out of you," Kurt warned. "And your snake will become acquainted with the sharp end of my blade."

Blaine turned and grinned at Kurt, his eyebrow cocked.

"Ooh, kinky," he said, voice purposely low and raspy.

"Do you have a death wish, Anderson?"

"Maybe," he said, gravely this time, before opening the trunk of the car.

They had to leave the car there. There was no other option. They thumbed down a car, an old lady with grizzled hair and a hearing aid. She didn't say much, so they rode mostly in silence until she dropped them off at the institute. She asked why they wanted to be left there, where there was nothing but an empty lot. They brushed it off and said their thank yous and she drove away, leaving them outside the church-like building.

Kurt looked up. It looked very similar to the Ohio institute, with the turrets and pointed towers. The windows were similar and the large door was almost identical. He watched as Blaine pushed the heavy gate inwards, the followed him inside.

"I hope she remembers me," Blaine muttered before ringing the bell.

"I'm sure she does," Kurt said. "I'm sure few forget you, Anderson."

"Why, thank you," Blaine mock smiled.

"It wasn't a compliment."

The door opened before Blaine could reply. A boy stood there, dressed entirely in black, his eyes the colour of stained blue glass, his hair dark as night. It fell around his face in small curves, his delicate features framed by the dark halo. He was tall, taller than Kurt and most certainly taller than Blaine. He studied them , curiously, then scowled. Somehow, he remained pretty even whilst scowling, Kurt thought.

"Can I help you?" he said, finally.

"Alec," Blaine said, with a smile.

The boy's bright eyes went to Blaine and narrowed, as if he was trying to recall a previous encounter, but none came.

"Do I know you?"

"Blaine," Blaine informed him. "Blaine Anderson. We met many years ago."

"I remember you," the boy, Alec, said thoughtfully. "Though you did seem to get on better with my sister."

Blaine glanced at Kurt and then back to Alec.

"That's why we're here, actually," he said, seriously. "Is Isabelle around?"

Alec eyed them for another moment and Kurt felt more than awkward, those deep eyes watching him like he might steal something. He sighed, finally, as he stood back from the door.

"I suppose you had better come in."

They followed Alec into the elevator, much like the one at the Ohio institute and rode up in silence. Kurt and Blaine exchanged a look of uncertainly. Alec saw, but ignored them, only rolling his storm blue eyes. They reached the top and Alec gestured for them to follow him. He lead them along the cold, dark halls, angel statues around every corner, then stopped and opened a set of mahogany doors.

"Wait inside, she'll be right down," he ordered, before stalking off.

Blaine walked in first. The room was huge, a long table in the centre, book shelves against two of the walls, paintings on the remaining two. Blaine pulled out a chair and sat down, so Kurt did the same.

"Alec looked pleased to see you," Kurt said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"He was," Blaine smiled. "That's Alec at his most enthusiastic. You should see him when he's really down."

Kurt couldn't tell if he was joking or not. He didn't have time to think because a figure came through the doors, followed by an ankle high ball of grey fur. Kurt eyed the cat first, with its bushy tail and yellow luminous eyes. It stopped half way across the room, falling onto its side, eyeing both Kurt and Blaine suspiciously, before proceeding to twist its head and lick its foot.

"By the Angel, Church, I almost tripped over you!" came a female voice, the other figure which had entered the room.

She stepped into the light, then and Kurt thought that this must be Isabelle. She had her brother's delicate features and dark hair, which fell down around her shoulders in cascading waves. It came to her tiny waist, which had a golden object coiled around it. Like her brother, she was dressed entirely in black, but her clothing was sequined and glimmering against the light. Kurt approved of this. Her eyes were not a striking blue, like her brother's, but a warm, chestnut brown. Her skin was pale, the tips of Marks peeping our from her collar and the cuffs of her shirt. She was wearing thigh-high boots with a thin, long heel, so she towered over both Blaine and Kurt.

"Blaine Anderson," she grinned, pulling out a chair next to Blaine. "It's been a long time."

"It has," Blaine nodded, smiling now, too. He turned and laid a hand on Kurt's shoulder. "This is Kurt. Kurt, Isabelle Lightwood."

"Charmed," Kurt smiled.

She was looking at him now, smiling back. She was more pleasant than her brother, that was for sure.

"Likewise," she said, her smile developing into a grin. "Are you guys..?"

Blaine dropped his hand then.

"No, no, Kurt and I are just friends," he laughed, weakly.

Isabelle raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Okay, sure," she said and sounded as if she didn't believe him for a moment. "So, what are you doing here?"

Blaine then explained the entire plan to her, she responded with small nods. By the end of it all, she looked confused and as if she had a hundred questions. Instead, she just asked one.

"So, what do I have to do with any of this?"

Blaine sat up straight in his seat.

"You pretty much know everyone there is to know," he began and Isabelle nodded a little. "We were wondering if you could get us an appointment with the high warlock."

A small sound echoed from outside the door and Kurt and Blaine twisted their heads around to see from whence the sound had come. Isabelle, however, simply sighed.

"Go away, Alec," she shouted and they heard the sound of clapping heels disappearing down the hall.

"Is he okay?" Blaine asked, eyebrows furrowing.

Isabelle waved a long, thin, sequined arm.

"Has he ever been okay?"

Blaine simply smiled.

"Well, I think it should be fairly easy to get Magnus to see you," Isabelle continued. "He's been very much involved in this entire affair with the Instruments, you know. I'll give him a call and set you guys up. In the mean time, where are you staying?"

"We're not sure, yet," Kurt spoke up.

Isabelle looked at him, then back to Blaine, then she rolled her dark eyes.

"Come along, I'll show you to your rooms."