Chapter Two

At breakfast Hunter started out acting like his usual self – he was courteous and engaging, but only to a certain point – until he yet again revealed his unpredictable nature to Blaine. “Blaine, I fear that you are becoming overworked,” Hunter declared.

Blaine, who was just about to chew the piece of toast hed put in his mouth, quickly swallowed and took a drink of tea to wash it down. “Funnily enough, I was just going to say that myself,” he confessed.

“Of course you were,” Hunter sarcastically assured.

Even when he had planned to bring it up, Blaine wasnt sure what he should do in this instance. If he did admit just how strained he felt, would Hunter start to have second thoughts about choosing him? Would he be sent home like a failure, and without his beloved cello? The thought was too horrible to imagine, leaving him feeling very conflicted. He still didnt want to lie, of course, mainly because Hunter would probably see right through him, but there was no doubt the constant work was wearing him down quickly. “I - I hope I havent let you down too much,” Blaine muttered sheepishly.

Hunter let out a throaty laugh, ignoring Blaines look of annoyance. “Oh, Blaine, you are too polite for your own good. You need to stop fretting over what others may think of you and look after yourself. If you did that, then you would have kept your promise to tell me if you had any problems with the pace Ive set for you.”

“Its not that bad; Im fine,” Blaine argued.

Clearly Hunter thought otherwise, judging by his suspicious glare. “I beg to differ. Youre acting rather cranky, Blaine, a clear sign that you need more rest,” he challenged.

Blaine in turn countered with. “Can we really afford that though?”

Hunter eyed Blaine, challenging the cellist's opinion with only his eyes. “I think we have to, Blaine, especially if youre showing signs of strain only four weeks in. This is my fault as much as it is yours. I didnt notice that I was pushing you too hard. Luckily for the both of us, it is still early enough that we can fix our failure to communicate with one another. I actually have some news to tell you that will, coincidentally, give you the chance to take a much needed break from your work,” he explained.

Blaine waited, but Hunter didnt continue and he realized the lord wouldnt until he was asked directly. Apparently Hunter had a love for dramatic pauses. “Which is...?” Blaine urged, albeit as patiently as he could manage to avoid any unnecessary tension.

“That Ill be away for the upcoming weekend. I was going to ask you to join me, but I think in light of what I know now... It would be better if you sit this one out,” Hunter declared.

Blaine let out a long sigh. “You are right, Hunter. I need to look after myself before everything takes a real toll on me.”

Hunter chuckled, “And we wouldnt want that, would we?”

The almost flirtatious tone – which Blaine knew wasnt actually anything of the sort – still caused him to blush. He pushed the embarrassment aside, happy that, for the most part, there hadnt been any awkward moments between them. Still, sometimes it was hard for Blaine to ignore just how dashingly handsome Hunter was. He got the feeling that Hunter used his looks to his advantage on a regular basis, and Blaine couldnt blame him there either. Part of Blaine wished he could accompany Hunter to wherever he was going, but he really did need to rest.

His meal finish, Hunter wiped the corners of his mouth with his napkin before smiling charmingly at Blaine. “I trust you will take care of yourself while Im away, because I will not be here to ensure you take it easy,” Hunter said.

Normally, Blaine would never roll his eyes nearly as often as he had started to around Hunter, but the young lord had insisted they do away with the formalities. That suited Blaine just fine; it was a nice change from the stiff atmosphere he had grown used to back home, or even at school. So the eye roll he gave Hunter in response was made without worry. “You are acting like I am a child who cannot be left alone, Hunter,” he pointed out.

In the past three weeks, Hunter had proven how he greatly enjoyed when Blaine got catty and Blaine had to wonder if the lord were starting to provoke him on purpose and this time was no different. He laughed at Blaine, shaking his head in amusement before he cleared his throat and his look became more serious. He leaned forward on the table, as if he wanted to get closer to Blaine without standing up. “I need you to promise me one thing, Blaine...” he said softly.

Blaine blinked, enthralled by the pleasant lull of Hunters voice. “What do you want me to promise?”

“I understand that you will still need to practice and I agree that you should. But I want you promise me that you wont play your cello at night, Blaine.”

“I promise, Hunter, I wont touch my cello at night,” Blaine repeated, as if on command.

Content, Hunter nodded in approval. “Good. Then I wont have it locked up after dark,” he said with a smirk.

This time Blaine wasnt sure if Hunter was joking or not, though he hoped he was. Instead of asking to be sure, Blaine smiled at him before turning his attention back to his own meal. He was quite confident that he could rest his aching bones but still make some progress during the daytime. Before taking his leave, Hunter explained how none of Blaines instructors would come for the weekend at all, leaving him free to set his own pace after he promised that he would recognize his limits and make sure not to cross them.

Blaine quickly promised Hunter that he wouldnt ignore his well being this time, because it wasnt just his future riding on the outcome of this competition, but Hunters as well.
___________________________________________________________________________

Recreation was something Blaine hadnt really had the time to experience before today and, so far, he wasnt altogether that sold on it. While he did enjoy getting the chance to put his feet up and not have to please anyone, the novelty was wearing off quickly. He knew what the problem was though; he was bored. And lonely, Blaine thought.

For whatever reason, the staff at the mansion acted so impersonal around Blaine that it was like they werent even there at all. He understood that there was the matter of proper etiquette between the different classes, especially servant to employer, but this was going a bit far. They were polite, but only spoke when spoken too and their responses were vague at best. After his last attempt to at least become a little more familiar with the four servants who worked at the mansion failed, Blaine decided to give up trying.

At least when it came to his health things were far brighter. Hunter had hired a masseuse to come over in the morning to see to Blaines sore muscles, and the result was a release from the stiff tension in Blaines body, leaving him feeling loose and relaxed. With his body renewed, Blaine decided to refuel his soul next and did this through some light reading. Hunters library was quite impressive and it felt nice to have the opportunity to read for pleasure for once.

Blaine didnt want to eat alone in the big dining hall, so hed decided to have his lunch in his private study. As soon as Blaine entered the room he felt better and, upon looking at his cello in its usual spot, he even smiled.

“Oh, what an uneventful day I am having,” Blaine sighed as he took a seat.

He ate his meal in silence, and, once finished, wasnt quite sure what to do with himself. Aside from work, there wasnt much to do. That was his whole problem. Blaine looked toward his cello and a light smile spread across his face. “I suppose it wouldnt hurt to play for a while, just for my personal enjoyment,” he said.

Playing his cello had quickly become the highlight of his day. Whenever Blaine played, it filled him with a wonderful feeling of warmth and, dare he think it, love. He had no idea where these feelings were coming from from or why they were happening, but he was grateful for them. It made the struggle worthwhile in the end, and it reminded him of why hed chosen this path in the first place: Blaine loved music. He loved to perform and he wanted to touch others and help inspire them to do great things, too. Such a dream might be more than a little far-fetched, but Blaine still longed for it.

Blaine stood up from his chair to gently lift his cello and settled himself down with it between his legs. He took a few moments to re-familiarize himself with its contoured shape, running his hands down the smooth surface.

“I am going to play something no one else has ever heard before,” Blaine said, “A composition Im working on but am still too afraid to let anyone hear,” he added absentmindedly.

The piece in question was still a work in progress, so Blaines first attempts at playing it were clumsy at best. But he kept at it, slowly working his craft and perfecting the sound and pitch of his music, fine-tuning it until everything came together. Time flew by and when Blaine finally stopped long enough to catch his bearings, he realized it was almost dusk. Blaine leaned his head back to rest his neck against the back of the chair. “Wow... Where did the day go, huh?” he muttered tiredly.

He stood carefully, putting his cello back in its rightful spot before he set to gently stretching his body to fight off any returning stiffness. When the act was done, Blaine looked back at his cello. Maybe he could give it one last try. “I need to keep my promise to Hunter.”

He had a vow to keep, so Blaine obediently left the room without any seconds thoughts. He stepped inside his bedroom to discover his dinner was waiting for him and, as always, the food was delicious and Blaine had no trouble finishing every morsel. A glance at the grandfather clock in the room showed that it was even later than he had originally thought. Hed spent seven hours in his study, playing his cello and working on his original piece and yet, he wished he could go back to that. But his promise to Hunter kept the temptation at bay, so he changed into his night attire and crawled into bed.

Tucked under the covers, Blaine did his best to quiet his mind so he could fall asleep. He was rather tired, or at least he should be at this hour. Yet as he lay there silently, sleep continued to evade him for hours and hours. Finally, he couldnt take his constant tossing and turning anymore and sat up with a frown and a frustrated groan. How was he supposed to get enough rest if his body wouldnt cooperate with him? Would Hunter even believe such an excuse?

Blaine threw the covers back and got out of bed altogether. Fine. If his mind was too active to allow him to sleep, then he would just have to give it something to do. He still refused to go back and play his cello, though, and that left him pondering what he could do instead.

Then, after a moment's thought, Blaine got an idea. Hunter had made it clear that Blaine was free to go where he pleased in the mansion. There was no place in it that was forbidden to him, and yet, since his arrival, Blaine had only seen a small portion of the immense manor. Now was his chance to truly explore it and the idea left him feeling almost giddy.

First he dressed himself in something better suited for a nighttime stroll, going with a loose fitting pair of black slacks and a simple white button up shirt with the three top buttons left undone. It was comfortable enough that Blaine felt relaxed, but if he ran into any of the servants, he wouldnt feel embarrassingly under dressed. Then again, he wasnt sure if anyone aside from himself would be up and about at this hour anyway.

With no real goal in mind, Blaine stepped out into the hallway and just let himself wander about. It was too dark to see much detail but he didnt mind. He needed a bit of excitement in his life, however mundane it might be. So he tread onwards, opening doors to rooms and stepping inside the ones that were unlocked.

None of those rooms were very exciting and Blaine was soon back out in the hallway, aimlessly walking through the empty mansion. All was quiet. Right when Blaine was about to give up and return to his room, he heard something -- the faint of sound of music, coming from somewhere off in the distance. Blaine's dulled awareness perked up. Where was it coming from? He blindly searched for the source, racing down the hall and turning corners until he finally found the place he was looking for. As soon as he set foot into the space, he realized where he was. This was the grand entrance where a beautiful staircase lead to the upstairs wing, and Blaine could make out the music a lot better now as he realized someone was singing softly. He froze in the doorway, afraid that he would scare whoever was singing away.

Blaine looked upward to see a figure at the top of the stairs. They were hard to make out in the darkness but, whoever it was, he didnt recognize the voice.

Hapless doom of woman happy in betrothing,
Beauty passes like a breath and love is lost in loathing

The singers identity might still be unknown, but Blaine did recognize the song. It was Queen Marys Song by Edward Elgar. The lyrics were softly sung but the lack of power did nothing to ruin the performance. It suited the tune very well actually, even without any musical backup. The moment he laid eyes upon the person who was singing so beautifully, he was utterly captivated.

Transfixed, Blaine inched closer to the staircase, his eyes never leaving the figure ahead. Slowly details became apparent: the singer was male and looked to be close to Blaines own age. It was still hard to make him out properly, but Blaine was too focused on his singing to care much anyway. He crept forward. Step after step, he climbed the stairs, slowly so that he wouldnt alert the young singer to his presence.

He was halfway up the winding staircase before he could get a good look at the singer. The young man was leaning on the railing with his back pressed against it, reclining. His left forearm was stretched out to grasp the edge of the rail, and even his dark profile was enough to take Blaines breath away. Hes stunning, Blaine thought in awe. But however attractive he might be, nothing could outshine the angelic sound of his voice. Blaine had never heard anything so beautiful before; so moving. That captivating voice called to him, reaching down to the depths of his soul, pulling at him, driving him forward despite his fear of scaring him off. Who was this man? Why was he here and why hadnt Blaine seem him before? He had to know; had to speak with him, even if just so he could prove that he was real.

When the song finally ended, Blaine became aware of his body once more and that he was standing at the top of the stairs now. Before he could think of what to do next, the young man hed been intently watching suddenly turned his head to look right at him. Blaines entire body froze. Oh no. He was caught.

But the young man didnt panic. If anything, he actually looked please to find Blaine there. “Hello there,” the boy spoke. “And who might you be?”

The only thing Blaine could manage at first sounded nothing like actual words. He couldnt help it, not when hearing such a enchanting voice address him directly was rendering him dumbstruck. “Im... Uh...” he stammered. Good lord, he was becoming so flustered he couldnt remember his own name! He needed to say something before he made a complete fool of himself, or worse, scared his angel away. “...A friend!” Blaine nearly squawked, immediately cringing at the sound of his own voice.

Amazingly, the young man actually smiled at Blaines reaction. “I could use one of those,” he admitted quietly.

Though hardly inviting, Blaine swore the young man was pleased to see him, and that gave him enough courage to keep their conversation going. “Im Blaine.”

While he made no attempts to offer his hand in greeting, the youth showed no resistance in giving Blaine his name in return. “Kurt,” he replied softly.

“Its nice to meet you, Kurt,” Blaine gushed, the name rolling off his tongue with ease.

Kurt giggled at him; thoroughly charmed and equally smitten – or so Blaine liked to think anyway. “Likewise,” Kurt said flirtatiously.

Blaine couldnt stop smiling. He normally wasnt so bashful, but, then again, hed never met anyone like Kurt before, either. Just the sight of him had Blaine becoming hopelessly tongue tied. Come on, Blaine! You need to say something. Anything! his inner voice shouted at him. Finally, Blaine said the first thing that popped into his mind. “You have a lovely singing voice.”

Kurt fluttered his eyelashes at Blaine, and the coy smile that followed was enough to win Blaine over entirely. “Thank you, Blaine, its very sweet of you to say so,” he replied warmly.

There was something in the tone of Kurts voice that sounded almost personal to him, and perhaps even intimate. The way Kurt was speaking to Blaine, who was not only someone he had just met but had snuck up on, made it seem like the two had known each other for much longer than just a few minutes. When he heard Kurt say his name, it made his whole body tingle with fluttery delight. He normally wasnt so prone to making such a boyish fool of himself, but Kurt was that magical, and his appearance was equally as stunning. But taking the appropriate time to assess and go over every single one of Kurts eye-pleasing features would have to wait. At the moment, he needed to pay more attention to what he was saying. That was still easier said than done, especially as Kurt continued to stare at him with those sparkling eyes of his – which he soon discovered, were a striking blue.

“Well, it is the truth,” Blaine said with a cheeky grin.

Kurt laughed, “Your words, not mine.”

Blaine could still hardly believe this was happening. Was Kurt even real? He couldnt shake the feeling that they knew each other somehow. “Have we...” Blaine began, pausing to see if Kurt tensed at the idea of him asking a question, but so far his stance remained casual. “...Have we met before?” he managed to finish.

Kurt cocked his head to the side and eyed Blaine suspiciously, though his friendly smile was still firmly in place. “I dont think so. If we had, then I think I would remember meeting someone like you.”

As much as Blaine was enjoying Kurts playfulness, there were too many questions for him to simply let the matter go. He doubted Hunter would like to hear how, instead of interrogating a possible intruder, Blaine just ended up flirting with him instead. “All right,” Blaine commented. Here goes, he thought to himself for encouragement. “Then... Who are you, exactly? And why havent I seen you before?”

Nothing Blaine had said was any reason for alarm, and yet Kurt immediately back away from him. His body language was suddenly tense and his eyes darted back and forth nervously. Blaine instantly regretting his actions and, in his attempts at putting enough distance between them for Kurt to feel less threatened, he forgot the stairwell directly behind him. In a blink of an eye, Blaine lost his balance and would have fallen if it werent for Kurts quick reflexes. The young man reached out to catch Blaines arm, stopping him from toppling backwards and pulling enough that he got his balance back. Once upright and with his feet under him once again, Blaine blinked at Kurt in surprise. “Thank you,” he murmured sheepishly. “You saved my life,” he breathed.

Kurt let out a throaty laugh and scoffed, “Oh it was hardly that.”

“You dont know that for sure! What if I had hit my head? Or worse, what if I had injured my hands?!” Blaine exclaimed.

Kurt eyed him curiously. “Pardon?” he said in a cute french accent.

Blaine blushed at Kurt as he rubbed the back of his neck with his hand nervously. “Im a cellist. Its why Im staying here actually.”

“So that means youre a fellow musician.”

No matter how quickly his attraction for Kurt was developing, Blaine wouldnt allow the evasive young man to change the subject. “I am in your debt, Kurt. What can I do to return the favour?”

Kurt bit his bottom lip, unaware of how sensual he looked, and turned away without any warning. Blaine made no protest over his unexpected withdrawal, because he feared any coaxing on his part would only push Kurt further away. Whatever he was hiding from Blaine, it was serious enough for him to look utterly vulnerable and scared, and it made Blaine's heart ache at the sight of him. The sudden urge to sweep Kurt up in his arms and hold him close was almost overwhelming. He did nothing of the sort, though, because even he had that much sense.

“Are you in some sort of danger?” Blaine asked.

Kurt dramatically whirled around to purse his lips at Blaine in alarm. “No!” he snapped, and Blaine jerked back, hands held in front of him placatingly. “Its not anything like that... At least... Not exactly,” he muttered nervously.

It was obvious to Blaine that asking too many questions was getting him no where and, despite the possible danger, he really didnt want Kurt to leave. “Im sorry -”

But Kurt interrupted him, shaking his head adamantly “- No, Im the one whos sorry. I mean… I am the one who you know nothing about... So asking who I am isnt anything to apologize for,” he pointed out.

Did that mean Kurt already knew more about him than he let on, or was that just a slip of the tongue? “What would you like in return, Kurt? I do owe you,” he said.

Relief washed over Kurt's face even as he kept his apprehensive gaze on Blaine, until he finally pushed himself into voicing his wish. “Will you... Stay with me for a while? Just to talk? I find myself missing human contact far too much,” Kurt whispered.

It was such a simple request and yet all it took was for Blaine to look into Kurts woeful eyes and he was lost. It didnt matter what his reasons were, in that moment Blaine needed to stay just as badly as Kurt wanted him to. He wanted to talk to Kurt, to spend time with him, to learn everything he could about this wonderful boy who had captured his heart just by the sound of his voice. Blaine gulped. Did this mean he was falling love?

“Blaine?” Kurt unsteady voice called out.

Blaine really needed to be more aware of others, or else he would have realized that stalling in this instance, even to think, was the worst thing he could do. Kurt had obviously taken his long pause as rejection and Blaine was forced to watch him withdraw even farther behind his emotional barriers. “Im so sorry, Kurt! I let my minder wander! I would love to stay with you. Nothing would make me happier!”

It wasnt long before Blaines exuberance won Kurt over and soon he was giggling away at his adorable flailing. But even then, Kurts smile wavered. Trust, it seemed, was no easy feat for him. “What if I cant tell you very much about myself? Is your answer still yes?” Kurt said.

This time Blaine didnt stop to think, he just smiled at Kurt warmly. “My answer is still the same. Im sure you have your reasons. I trust you.”

Kurt looked like he was about to cry and bit down on his quivering lip. “Why?” he breathed.

Blaines smile widened. “Im not sure. I just do. Maybe if we spend some time together, I might understand why exactly,” he replied softly.

The fear of rejection in Kurts eyes was difficult for Blaine to watch, but he couldnt push Kurt too hard to accept his sincerity. He knew nothing about Kurt and what he might have been through, so all he could do was wait as he decided.

“I trust you too, Blaine,” Kurt whispered softly. “It might not seem like it right now... But I really do. So please stay, just for a few hours... Thats all Im asking for.”

If Kurt had asked him to stay with him for the rest of his life, Blaine would have said yes just as eagerly. When was the last time someone had wanted to be with him, not to hear his music but to just spend time with him? It would be so easy for Blaine to fall hopelessly in love with this boy, but he couldnt allow himself to think like that. No matter how magical Kurt might seem, no matter how pretty his voice was or how handsome he looked, they had just met. Blaine trusted him, but he couldnt put that much pressure on their budding friendship. “Id like that, Kurt,” Blaine said.

Kurt nodded in approval and gestured for Blaine to follow him over to the bench along the back wall. Kurt took a seat and patted the spot beside him and Blaine giddily strolled over and sat down. As much as they were enjoying themselves, it still felt a little awkward (considering they had just met only minutes before), but Blaine managed to ignore it for the most part.

“So how long have you known you wanted to be a musician?” Kurt began.

Music was a very good (and safe) topic to start with and it was something Blaine could ramble on and on about for a very long while. “Since as long as I can remember. Ive always loved music. My parents noticed it right away and they encouraged it as well. I started taking piano lessons when I was four and it built from there. Though I finally realized my true love was the cello when I was, oh, around eight years old,” Blaine babbled.

“You heard musics call that young, huh?” Kurt said.

Blaine nodded. “Yes, and it shaped and guided my whole life. Ive always wanted to be a musician; there was no other choice for me. Its hard to explain what it feels like when I play... It just... Takes me over.”

Kurt softly murmured, “It is a wonderful feeling... Isnt it?”

“Words cannot describe it, so I wont even try,” Blaine declared. He paused to make sure Kurt was fine with the conversation before he continued. When he saw nothing but encouragement on Kurts handsome face, he decided it would be okay to ask a harmless question. “I supposed its similar for you when you sing?”

Kurts far off dreamy look changed every so lightly to show mild surprise, but it lasted only for a moment. “You have no idea. Thats why you were able to sneak up on me so easily. When I sing, everything else blurs into nothingness. I become utterly lost in the music. Which is why I dont like to sing in front of other people... It leaves me feeling too exposed,” he admitted.

“Ive felt like that before myself,” Blaine said.

Kurt eyed him warily, though he was still smiling. “Are you sure youre not just saying that to make me feel better?”

“Not at all,” Blaine tutted. “Its true that Ive never had much trouble when it comes to performing in front of others. But that doesnt mean that I dont struggle with containing my emotions while I play. The cello especially. I just, as you said, lose myself to the music and nothing else around me matters. Whenever I manage to play my heart out -- I mean really let myself become exposed in that way -- it is so intense. But those are the times when I think my musical ability is at its best, when I leave myself so unhinged,” he explained.

There were tears in Kurts eyes and he took a long shuddering breath before wiping them away. “Im sorry... I dont know why Im getting so emotional,” he wept.

Blaine grinned at him. Oh he was so utterly smitten with this boy, there was just no helping it. “I think I may know...” he offered.

“Do you ever plan on telling me?” Kurt teased.

Blaine rolled his eyes. “So much for me trying to set the mood... But Ill still indulge you,” he flirted back. “It means youre a true musician, Kurt. You sing because you love to. Not to advance yourself in society. The fact that you dislike singing in front of others, but still throw your heart into your performance... Is truly wonderful. I wish there were more people out there like that.”

Kurt slowly reached out his hand to touch Blaines and Blaine felt a sudden spark that was oddly familiar to him. Kurt must have felt something, too, because his eyes widened before his cheeks flushed red. Whatever it was, neither boy wanted to ruin the tender moment by acknowledging it.

“Im glad that when someone did hear me sing, it was you, Blaine. I believe were kindred spirits of a sort...” Kurt began. “...Fellow musicians of the heart,” he added to sound less personal.

It was hard for Blaine to stop himself from reaching up to stroke Kurts cheek. He felt like he was falling in love with him and, to his amazement, he wasnt afraid of that. Instead he toned it down enough to smile lovingly at Kurt, hoping he wouldnt shy away from the show of affection. “Im so glad weve met, Kurt,” he whispered. “I feel like my soul has been waiting to meet you.”

Kurts dropped his hand and pulled it away from Blaines. It had served Blaine right for acting so personal with someone he had just met and still knew next to nothing about.

Blaine sighed, “Im sorry. Im acting too forward.”

Kurt hesitated but he was finally able to look Blaine in the eye again and he rubbed his shoulder soothingly. “Its not that... I just... I cannot give into these new emotions youre causing in me. I wish I could say everything that is in my heart... But my life is not my own to give,” he struggled to explain.

What did that even mean? Was he insinuating that he was an actual slave to someone, or did he mean something far less sinister? Perhaps he was betrothed to a girl who he could never love but was forced to commit his life to? If not that, then Kurt might have meant his life had no room for romance of any sort. There were too many unknown variables, too many missing facts for Blaine to come up with any solid theories. All he knew was that he wished he could protect Kurt from whatever was holding him back emotionally.

“Is there anything I can do?” Blaine said.

Kurt shook his head. “You are already doing so much, Blaine, by just spending time with me,” he assured.

That was enough for Blaine to let his many questions drop and just focus on enjoying Kurts splendid company. He tried his best to keep their conversation light and pleasurable and his reward was for Kurt to become playful once more. Flirting had never been something Blaine had gotten to experience, but when Kurt was his partner, the witty remarks kept coming. The pair talked about a great deal of things, from their shared love of music to how they both loved to read. Even when Kurt wasnt telling much about himself, Blaine felt like he was getting to know him better regardless. So what if he didnt know where Kurt came from, or why he was in the mansion at night? He was still learning things about Kurt, like the fact that he was an artistic individual with many of the same hopes and dreams as him.

But as much as he was enjoying their playful banter, Blaine was still a human being, and one who had gotten very little sleep, at that. So right when he planned to tease Kurt a little, he ended up letting out a loud yawn instead.

Kurt glanced out at the window and his body went rigid but he quickly calmed himself back down. “Poor Blaine; Im afraid Ive kept you up far too late with my caterwauling,” he observed teasingly.

Blaine was about to protest that he was fine, but all he did when he opened his mouth was yawn again. “Curse my body's need for sleep,” he grumbled.

Kurts musical laughter filled his ears, and it was enough to revive his tired spirit... But his body was another matter.

“I guess its time for you to go to sleep,” Kurt said.

Blaine pouted. “I dont want to go yet. The nights still young.”

“The night is almost over, Blaine, and your cranky state only proves that you need to go to bed,” Kurt chimed.

He was right, of course, as much as Blaine hated to admit it. The trouble was, if he went to sleep would he wake up the next morning to find out everything had been a dream? No. Kurt was too real for even his vivid imagination to create. “Please tell me Ill get to see you again?” he asked desperately.

The look of remorse Kurt gave him in reply was more than concerning. Just what was he hiding from Blaine, and why?

Kurt glanced at the window and the realization that dawn was only a short while away seemed to spur him forward. He stood up from the bench and offered his hand to Blaine, who took it and was pulled up beside him. Kurt placed his hands on Blaines shoulders for a moment, as if trying to signify just how much Blaines friendship meant to him. “I cannot promise you anything, Blaine, but I will try... I really will,” he said.

His promise would have to be enough for Blaine, because he couldnt bare to ask Kurt for anything else. So he smiled at Kurt, complete with affectionate heart eyes and allowed one final moment in his company before he would let him go. “Then, ‘til next we meet, Kurt,” he whispered.

Kurt smiled at him before it slowly began to waver. “I have no right to ask you... But I need you to promise me something, Blaine. I need you to be safe. Can you do that for me, please?” he pleaded.

“Id do anything for you, Kurt,” Blaine said.

The ease that Blaine would so willingly offer his heart to Kurt touched him deeply and he clearly had trouble keeping his own feelings at bay. He managed to, once he took a moment to recollect himself and, even then, he had to put a short distance between them. “You cannot tell anyone about tonight, not even Hunter,” Kurt explained.

Blaine eyes widened. “How do you know Hu -” he began but quickly trailed off when Kurt showed signs of breaking under the strain.

“I cant tell you that, either. Dont ask anyone here about me. I know you want to know why... But theres nothing I can do about it. I simply cannot tell you my reasons... Im sorry,” Kurt stuttered as fresh tears welled up in his eyes.

Before he could stop himself, Blaine rushed forward to hug Kurt, who didnt push him away and, instead, seemed to melt into his warm embrace. The wonderful moment didnt last for very long and Kurt was the first to pull away, but at least he was no longer crying. He took another step backwards, glancing at the doorway behind him. “I have to go, Blaine,” he said.

“I know,” Blaine replied.

“I honestly will miss you.”

“So will I, but well see each other again.”

“I told you... I dont know if that will be possible, Blaine. It might be months from now if it happens at all,” Kurt said.

Blaine grinned cheekily at Kurt, even when conflicting emotions raged inside him. He was also tired, so very worn out, both physically and emotionally. “Trust me, Kurt, meetings like this happen for a reason. It will not be easy, but I shall strive to be patient.”

Kurts final gift to Blaine was the warmest, most wonderful smile he had ever seen. Gosh he was so breathtaking, so full of life.“Goodnight, Kurt,” he said in closing.

“Sleep tight, Blaine,” Kurt whispered before he suddenly bolted out of the room without warning and was gone.

And, like that, Blaine was alone again and his life felt more empty than ever before. His whole being felt like sighing and if he werent so tired, he might have tried to. But all he could manage was to stumble his way back to his room and fall on the bed with a thump. If the world was kind to him, maybe hed dream about Kurt, just to help him survive the wait until he could see him again.

And he would see Kurt again. He had to.
______________________________________________________________________________

Blaine slept like the dead well into the afternoon and, when he finally awoke, Blaine was ravenous. Fortunately for him, there was a warm breakfast waiting for him in his room. He was still too groggy to think about how the staff were hardly ever seen and sat down to his meal. Once enough food was consumed for his brain to begin to function properly, he was finally able to grasp the two thoughts that had been repeating in his brain over and over. It wasnt a dream. Kurts real. He was sure of it. After all, he was still dressed in his slacks and white dress shirt from last night rather than his usual night attire. Then there was the fact that he was so tired after staying up the whole night. So all of this, and, of course, the lingering impression Kurt had left since their meeting, was more than enough to convince Blaine completely that it had been real.

With his breakfast finished, Blaine was just about to dress himself when there was a light knock on the door. Blaine froze. Was that Kurt? “Come in,” he called out anxiously.

It wasnt Kurt but Hunters head butler, who informed him that he had drawn the young cellist a warm bath. That sounded very good to Blaine, so he followed the man out of his room. At Blaines insistence, he finally was allowed to disrobe and enter the bath without any help and was left alone to soak. Blaine rested the back of his head against the tall rim of the large brass tub and sighed.

He let the hot water soothe the remaining stiffness in his body as he took a moment to organize his many thoughts. Yes, Kurt was real. He still knew next to nothing about who he was and yet, it didnt matter. Well, yes, of course it did, but Blaine was fine to put those many questions aside for the time being. Besides, hed much rather focus on the things he did know about Kurt anyway. He had nothing to go on persay, but right from the start, Blaine swore Kurt was like him – in the most personal way. From his obvious flirting to the affectionate way he had looked at him during their time together, Blaine highly doubted he was misreading Kurts intent. Their connection went beyond friendship and, already, was turning into something romantic.

While Blaine had finally learned to accept his attraction to the male gender, he never thought he would get the chance to act on it. Yet what he felt for Kurt -- or was starting to feel, at least -- went beyond mere physical attraction (or a silly crush). Blaine had never been in love before, so it was hard to know for certain if his feelings ran that deep. Even if they didnt, then it was only a matter of time before it reached that point.

Blaine still faithfully believed that he would see Kurt again, he just didnt know when. Why couldnt Kurt make any real promises? What was he hiding and why? Blaine dunked his head under the water, wishing it would wash his troubles away. He rose back up and wiped the water running down his face away from his eyes. He frowned; his skin was starting to prune. “No more brooding, Blaine, that will get you no where,” he muttered as he got out of the tub.

This was hardly the first time Blaine had been faced with an issue he couldnt share with anyone, so he knew what he needed. Music. He hurried off to his study next, right to his cello and he lifted it up so he could sit down and play his heart out. He quickly threw himself and all of his emotions into his music and it soon began to quiet his overactive mind. At least at first. Three songs later and Kurt and who he could be disrupted Blaines normally solid focus. Midway into the fourth song, Blaine suddenly stopped his movements. “He said he isnt in any real danger... But if thats true, then why the need to be so secretive?” Blaine muttered outloud.

Blaine frowned when he realized he had stopped playing and tried to finish the song without any more interruptions -- to no avail. “If Kurts life isnt his own, who does it belong to?” Not Hunter. It couldnt. The very idea that Kurt was Hunters prisoner was ludicrous. If Hunter had a boy stashed in his mansion, he wouldnt leave him to roam the halls while he was gone. It made no sense and Blaine was happy to toss the notion aside without a second thought.

“Perhaps he's a local who decided to explore the mansion?” Blaine said.

That theory sounded far more believable, except for the fact that there were no villages – or homes, for that matter – for miles. He was back to square one, then. Fabulous. What Blaine needed to do was focus on the positive, because meeting Kurt had been just that: a good thing. Now he had a new friend, a kindred spirit, who he could share things with that he never could before. He trusted Kurt, and trusted the bond forming between them. There was nothing left for him to do but keep his promise to Kurt, focus on his music, and wait.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Hunter returned later that evening and found Blaine in his study, playing his cello, and doing a very good job of it, too. He waited until Blaine finished the song to bring attention to himself by giving the cellist a light round of applause. “I thought you were supposed to take it easy, Blaine,” he said.

Blaine looked up and smiled at him, a little too much for it to appear completely genuine. “I am taking it easy, Hunter. I slept in today and made sure to take appropriate breaks to rest. In fact, that was my last song of the night,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Im glad to see your usual wit is still there. Thats a good sign, at least,” Hunter remarked.

“Im doing very well, thank you, and I know better than to push myself too far now. I am sorry to have worried you, Hunter, and trust me, it wont happen again.”

Hunter laughed and actually went so far as to pat him on the shoulder. “Oh, Blaine, stop being so dramatic. It wasnt like your life was in danger. You kept the truth from me, but you managed to fix the problem mostly on your own. I did tell you the task would be challenging, so really, this outcome... Isnt that surprising.”

Blaine raised an eyebrow at Hunter curiously. It was impossible to figure him out sometimes. “Im surprised you remained so calm, honestly. Your whole future as a luthier is at stake with this competition,” he admitted.

“Lucky for you, or rather, us, it is still early yet. If this had happened a week before the performance, rest assured, you would see what my darker side is like,” Hunter alluded.

What did that even mean? Was Hunter giving Blaine some sort of warning? If that were so, Blaine was almost offended. On the off chance that he was wrong, he made no comment and just nodded absentmindedly. He stood up to carefully put his cello away and smiled at it for a moment. “Youve created something truly amazing, Hunter, and I want the whole world to know.”

Hunter grinned back at Blaine, nodding in approval. “Just so you know, Blaine, win or lose, the cello is yours. It shall be your payment for the past year. If we win, then you will need it to play for the foreseeable future anyway, with all the invitations we shall both receive. But if we lose, it wont be because of your inability to play the cello well enough... It will just mean I havent managed to create perfection just yet. So I will strive to keep trying and start anew,” Hunter explained.

The casual announcement hit Blaine like a ton of bricks. He had no idea Hunter would actually give him the cello, even if they lost the competition. Such generosity touched Blaine to his very core and made him that much more determined to win. “I might doubt my ability from time to time... And obviously, I still have much to learn. But even at the risk of sounding, well, silly... Whatever the results... I will not fail you,” he breathed.

Hunter burst out laughing, ruining the near-tender scene. His continued hysterics made Blaine regret trying at all to convey his honest feelings to Hunter.

“Your instincts were right, Blaine, you sound ridiculous... But then... That is part of your charm.”

Meeting Kurt was making one thing clear, Hunter, and all of his apparent charm, wasnt as great as the young lord thought. While Kurt felt so real to Blaine, Hunter in comparison felt almost superficial. There was more to getting people to like you than just smiling and giving flattering comments; you needed to mean it. The one thing Blaine didnt doubt about Hunter was his desire to show the world his worth, and Blaine shared that trait. None of this meant that Blaine would go back on his word, though. He understood why sometimes you couldnt be honest with yourself – or others. Whatever Hunters reasons where, Blaine didnt think they were bad.

“I think Ill retire for the night,” Blaine said as he turned toward the door.

“Ill leave you, then, and well see each other at breakfast,” Hunter replied.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Another three weeks flew by and nothing; no sign of Kurt whatsoever. No matter how much Blaine had tried to prepare himself for such an outcome, he was growing more concerned with every new day. The next time Kurt did appear, Blaine would need some answers, because his heart couldnt take much more at this rate.

The resuming of his regular schedule had helped pass the time but, throughout the last few weeks, Kurt was never far from his thoughts. He missed him so goddamn much. One of Blaines worst fears was that he would forget the sound of Kurt's voice… Forget how it felt to be in his company, how it had felt to hold him. How long would it take before Kurt was only a vague memory?

To make matters worse, Blaines day hadnt gone very well. Hunter, for whatever reason, kept antagonizing him at dinner. Blaine wasnt the only one who needed a good tension release, it seemed. The trouble was, there wasnt anyway for him to get what was bothering him off of his chest, not without breaking his promise to Kurt. In the end, hed decided to call it an early night, because he had barely stopped himself from shouting at Hunter before hed taken his leave.

He stormed back into his room, feeling quite hot and bothered, and not in a good way. Blaine swore the near-fight was not his doing. What in the world did Hunter expect of him? He was still human, after all. Not some new wonder boy who could create the most beautiful sounding music without even trying. What had really stung, though, were Hunters words at dinner, when hed actually gone and said, You are so naive, Blaine. Such a child.

“Being young and inexperienced is not the same thing, Hunter!” Blaine muttered angrily to himself. If only hed had the nerve to say that to the arrogant mans face instead of to himself hours later.

Blaine was too wound up to go to bed just yet, so he allowed himself to pace back and forth in the hopes of burning off some of his anger. Playing his cello in his current state wasnt an option, because he refused to risk damaging it. Hed already had to live through yesterday when hed accidentally dropped it on the floor. To his relief there was no visible damage, but he'd still felt guilty about it, even when Hunter told him not to worry so much.

“You think he would be more concerned about what he calls his finest creation!” Blaine spat.

In his frustration at everything, Blaine didnt hear the light tap at the window, not until a louder thud soon followed it.

“What in the world?” Blaine muttered, annoyed that his brooding was being interrupted.

He stormed over to the window, pulled the drapes aside, and squinted outside to see what was going on. It turned out not to be hard to locate the source, because the moonlight of the sky lit the ground below quite well. Blaines heart skipped a beat. It was Kurt! Blaine barely managed to calm himself down enough to open the window.

“Kurt! Please tell me its you!” Blaine called down below.

Kurt beamed back at Blaine, like his sudden appearance was nothing out of the blue. “Were you expecting someone else?” he teased.

Three weeks apart hadnt lessened the giddy feeling Blaine felt when he got the chance to flirt with Kurt, and he was eager to let their playful banter resume. He still felt more than a little abandoned (whatever Kurts reasons were) but bringing that up was out of the question. Still, as happy as Blaine was to see him – the understatement of the world – Kurt needed to learn he wasnt so easily swayed. “No. Luckily for you, Kurt.”

“I thought appearing at your bedroom door was pretty ingenious of me,” Kurt countered.

Acting coy wasnt so easy when Kurt was involved and, really, what was the point in trying to resist him at all? There was none, so Blaine laughed heartily at the witty remark and leaned further on the windowsill. “It is rather romantic,” Blaine said.

“Come down and join me, Blaine! Im oh so lonely down here!”

He bit his lip to keep himself from shouting back a very overzealous yes in reply. As much as he wanted rush down to be with Kurt, there was still the matter of safety. “Are you sure? What if we get caught together?”

“That wont happen. Hunter is off entertaining a lady friend of his tonight. So hes not here to discover us and the staff were given the night off, too,” Kurt explained.

Blaine frowned. “How do you even know all that?”

Of course Kurt didnt even bother to acknowledge the question. Instead he placed his hands behind his back and started to sway from side to side. It would be so easy for Blaine to become angry at Kurts side-stepping, and yet he knew it was pointless to resent him.

“Dont you want to join me for a romantic moonlight stroll, Blaine?” Kurt chimed.

“Do I ever! Wait right there; Ill be down in a moment,” Blaine responded excitedly.

“Make sure you put on a jacket! We wouldnt want you to catch a chill!”

Blaine rolled his eyes at the attempts to coddle him but he did quickly grab a sweater out of his wardrobe and threw it over his head as he raced out of his room. His quick footsteps broke the silence of the empty hallway. Soon he made it outside and actually ran toward the area right outside of his bedroom. The minute he cleared the corner he saw Kurt, who was right where Blaine had left him. He strolled toward Kurt, taking his time to reach him, watching him with heart eyes as he closed the gap between them. There was so much he wanted to say. Telling Kurt everything that was in Blaines heart would take too much time, so he would start off with something simple. “Its good to see you,” Blaine told Kurt softly.

“Im sorry the wait was so long,” Kurt began.

“You dont need to apologize,” Blaine said. “Just tell me that youre happy to see me too.”

“Im happy to see you, Blaine,” Kurt confirmed. “More than you could ever know.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

Kurt laughed, wiping a single tear from his eyes. He beamed at Blaine and took a moment to recollect himself before holding his hand out. “Shall we then?”

Blaine took Kurts hand and the pair laced their fingers together as they started to walk side by side. He noticed how close Kurt was keeping to him. Just the idea of being so near a boy, who was there because he wanted to be, was incredible. When that boy was Kurt, someone who Blaine felt so connected to already, his mind could barely comprehend it.

“Its such a beautiful night,” Kurt sighed.

Blaine turned his attention away from Kurt so he could look up at the night sky. The moon was full and bright and the stars were just as striking. “It sure is,” he agreed. “Just like my company this evening.”

Kurt fluttered his eyelashes at Blaine coyly, acting all flattered by the compliment, which in turn only encouraged Blaine further. He leaned closer to Kurt and, to his delight, Kurt wrapped his arms around him. The added weight made walking a little awkward, but he hardly minded that. “You know... Ive lived here for almost two months and this is the first time Ive actually walked around the grounds,” he admitted.

“Im glad your first time was with me then,” Kurt said cheekily, without any warning.

Caught off guard by the obvious double meaning, Blaine choked out an awkward laugh. He didnt know what he found more amusing, the fact that Kurt would make such a racy comment, or that he had said it so easily. Either way, Blaine ignored his flushed cheeks and pushed against Kurts shoulder lightly.

“I think I will start practising my cello outside during the day. I bet the fresh air would do me some good,” he said, pushing past the fun but sheepish moment.

“Feeling a little caged up, Blaine?”

“Hmm? Not exactly. Usually when I play I tend to shut off the outside world, so the setting hardly matters. I just think it might be time for a change of pace, you know? To keep things interesting,” Blaine explained.

Kurt studied Blaines expressive face for a moment before smiling at him warmly. He straightened up slightly to prevent them both from tripping. During their lovely little moonlit walk Kurt kept his attention solely on Blaine. He smiled and laughed whenever Blaine said something funny and was always ready with countless flirty comebacks. While he was obviously enjoying Blaines company, every now and then a flash of regret would show through. It never lasted long enough for Blaine to notice – or, if he did, he knew well enough not to comment – but it was still there.

Once again Blaine found himself forgetting that this was only his second encounter with Kurt. They felt like lifelong friends – maybe more than that, even. “Its strange...” Blaine began, choosing to share his thoughts with Kurt. “...Us being together like this feels so familiar. I feel like I know you already,” he confessed.

Kurt grinned back at him, although his smile gave no hint at what his real thoughts might be. “Do you?” he asked teasingly.

Despite the playfulness in Kurts voice, Blaine didnt want to give just another flirtatious response. He wanted to know if Kurt felt the same way he did. “Do you think thats strange?”

Kurt shook his head. He squeezed Blaines arm with his hands lightly as a show of affection. “No, I think its sweet.”

Blaine was about to ask Kurt outright if his feelings toward Blaine were romantic in nature, when Kurt dropped his hold on Blaine. There was no time for Blaine to worry that Kurt was withdrawing from him, not when he reached out to clasp the side of Blaines face. The way Kurt was staring at him sent shivers down his shine. His heart was racing and his mouth was dry and he couldnt move.

“Kurt...”

“Would you do something for me, Blaine? A favour? Even though I have no right to ask?” Kurt whispered.

He had every right; if only Kurt could understand that. Blaine gulped. He would do anything for Kurt, anything, and that was almost frightening. How he could give himself away so easily to someone he knew practically nothing about? But Blaine couldnt turn away from him, whoever he was, because what he might be would be well worth it. Blaine took Kurts free hand and brought it up to rest over his heart as he stared lovingly into Kurts deep blue eyes. “Anything,” he breathed.

With Blaines blessing, Kurt's face showed every sign that he would voice what this favour actually was, only it never happened. Instead Kurt smiled at Blaine, leaned in close, and kissed him.