Blaine passed out from exhaustion before Kurt could reply. He was lying awkwardly on top of him; Kurt's arms were trapped to his sides as Blaine had his own arms wrapped tightly around Kurt's body.

Kurt sat, wide awake looking down at the now sleeping Blaine, the events from earlier replaying in his head. What Blaine had said last deeply affected Kurt, he had only known this boy for 2 days, but he could already tell that he needed help – urgently. Kurt couldn't bear to think about what may have happened if he hadn't come over. After managing to free one of his arms Kurt began to lightly stroke the back of Blaine's head, curls soft and free. Kurt eventually fell back to sleep, but with the one dreaded line still playing in the back of his mind.

'It hurts Kurt; I can't take it much longer.'

Blaine awoke to the smell of cinnamon and coffee. He sat up, confused as to why he was on the sofa. Why was there a bag and coat on the floor? He pushed himself off the sofa, albeit slightly light headed – grabbing the door for support - and padded down the hallway into the kitchen.

'Mum?' Blaine called, bewildered as to who was in his kitchen.

'Blaine? I'm in here.' Blaine instantly recognized the voice and peered his head around the kitchen door.

'Kurt, wha-what are you doing in my kitchen? How- what, I'm confused?' Blaine stuttered over his words, still shocked to see Kurt standing in his kitchen, drinking coffee and eating a toasted cinnamon bagel.

'I came over last night – remember?' Kurt questioned, he too seemed slightly puzzled.

'I'm sorry, really. I must have blacked out it usually happens when - wait Kurt did I…' Before Blaine could finish his sentence Kurt was by his side, as he was trembling on the spot.

'Blaine, you have no reason to be scared- if you're meaning that you had a nightmare, then yes you did. Do you really not remember anything?' Kurt asked, slowly walking over to the breakfast bar with Blaine, sitting him down on one of the stools and pouring him a coffee.

'I remember waiting for you yesterday and then I thought you forgot about me so I got upset and then angry at myself. The last thing I honestly remember is eating Redvines. Kurt, please tell me what happened?' Blaine begged and shakily took a sip of his coffee.

'I would never forget about you. I may have only known you for two days but I really do want to help Blaine, whatever it takes. Are you sure you want to know what happened? Kurt asked, carefully placing his hand on top of Blaine's.

Blaine nodded sadly.

'I might as well start right from the beginning. Admittedly I was late, my dad's in hospital you see...' Kurt was cut off by Blaine waving a hand in front of his face.

'I remember that, can you skip to the bit later on…didn't we start watching a movie?' Blaine interjected.

'Impatient aren't we? Anyway, before I was interrupted. So you wanted to watch Mulan – I went into the kitchen to get us some drinks. We started to watch the movie, but you fell asleep pretty quickly. So yeah, then I must have fallen asleep and you woke me up – you were sweating Blaine, like uncontrollably.' Kurt looked at Blaine who was staring at him with wide eyes.

'Do you want me to continue?' Kurt questioned, already regretting telling Blaine anything that happened.

'Y-Yes please, I'm so sorry Kurt, I must have terrified you. I can understand if you want to leave.' Blaine replied, feeling ashamed that Kurt had witnessed it.

'As I said last night, I'm not going anywhere. Where was I? Oh right, sweating. You had this glassy expression and were totally unresponsive, but then you started screaming and when I tried to calm you down you started thrashing around. Eventually you stopped, but you told me something Blaine – you said that you've woken up with cuts and bruises that you can't remember getting and then you said 'It hurts Kurt; I can't take it much longer.'Did you really mean this Blaine? Please be honest, you can trust me.' Kurt finished his explanation, tears beginning to form in his eyes, the whole situation from last night now seemed like a scene from a horror story.

'I told you that?' Blaine asked; his hand was shaking under Kurt's.

'You did Blaine, and truthfully it scared me, why would you say that?' Kurt gripped Blaine's trembling hand tighter.

'Ok here goes.' Blaine took a deep breath, Kurt squeezed his hand.

'Take as long as you want and please don't tell me anything you don't want to, I won't judge you either way.' Kurt exclaimed, hoping it would boost Blaine's confidence.

'Thank You. My parents aren't really accepting of me, you know - being gay – they realized I was different to other boys whilst watching football game – they noticed how I wasn't interested in the game, but was staring at the players.' Blaine was interrupted by Kurt giggling in front of him.

'I'm sorry, carry on – I know exactly what you mean.' Kurt stopped giggling, gesturing for Blaine to continue.

'My parents suspected something at the end of the game, considering I was practically drooling. They never asked me if I was gay then, but in my mind I was certain of it and was pretty certain they knew too. I was only about fifteen at the time. School was always a problem because I was the only guy in my grade that was interested in Musical Theatre, most of the other boys used to called me 'gay' or 'fag' – that really hurt me. I never really had many friends because I was too shy to talk to people and was afraid that they would judge me – not many guys like theatre, well at my school they didn't. I did have two best friends, Nick and Jeff; they were openly gay and really helped me to cope with who I was. So anyway, after talking to them I decided that I should tell my parents. As soon as I told them my father stormed out of the room and claimed that he needed to 'clear his head' and well my mother was sympathetic and all, but even she wasn't supportive of me. It felt like everyone was against me and I had let them down. That's when the nightmares started…' Blaine stopped when he realized that Kurt was quietly crying.

'Kurt, are you okay? Please say something?' Blaine pleaded; he tentatively reached his hand up to touch Kurt's cheek.

'Blaine, I...I don't know what to say. You don't have to tell me anymore. I just really wished I'd known you sooner.' Kurt dried his eyes and smiled weakly.

'No, I want to tell you the rest, I wished I'd known you too – maybe it was fate we met now, I don't know.' Blaine wanted Kurt in his life.

Maybe there is hope - Blaine thought.

Kurt just nodded and stared at Blaine with what could only be described as admiration. Blaine was so much braver than Kurt ever had been.

'The nightmares started six months ago, to begin with they were less violent – but then I would start sweating and often a panic attack would follow. Then it got worse, I would wake up with cuts on my arms and bruises on my chest and back, with no recollection of how they got there. My parents don't know about them, or if they do they've never confronted me.' Blaine looked into his half-full coffee cup, avoiding Kurt's gaze.

They were both silent for several moments, caught up in their own thoughts.

'Blaine, can I ask you something.' Kurt asked apprehensively.

Blaine smiled and nodded.

'Haveyoueverselfharmed?' Kurt's words came out so fast Blaine could barely understand him.

'Self-harm?' Blaine queried, all Kurt could do was nod.

'Some days are difficult; I feel as though I just want to give up on life. But Nick or Jeff were always there to comfort me – if they weren't I would transfer my emotions into lyrics and create music. Music helps a lot; I kind of go into my own world and forget about everything.' It had been the first time Blaine had confessed all of this to someone apart from Nick or Jeff, then again apart from them two; Kurt was the only person he trusted.

'I wish I was as courageous as you Blaine, you've been through so much – I wouldn't have been as strong you.' Kurt admitted - memories of his own past flashing back into his mind.

'I'm honestly not courageous or strong- what do you see in me Kurt?' Blaine asked.

'What is it going to take me to get you to believe what I say?' Kurt's voice rose slightly, but not too loud so not to startle Blaine.

'Hmm... maybe a hug would help. Whenever you hug me I feel as though nobody can hurt me.' Blaine blushed slightly.

Kurt enthusiastically jumped off his stool, knocking it to the floor, lunging towards Blaine, clutching him in a bone crushing hug, filled with love and compassion. Blaine automatically returned the hug, gripping Kurt's shirt. Eventually they parted, both missing the contact of each other.

'What was you planning on doing today Blaine? Your parents aren't coming back yet are they? I really think you should take a shower, I can make some lunch if you want.' Kurt looked at his watch, it read - 12:30pm. He wanted to see his dad later, but making sure Blaine was okay was his first priority.

'You really want to stay? I mean thank you, for not running, everyone else literally has – I think I'll take a shower and lunch sounds good, I'm starving! I can't thank you enough Kurt, your amazing – I can't express how amazing you truly are.' Blaine blushed and leaped off his stool and began to run towards the stairs.

'Blaine, wait!' Kurt came running out of the kitchen.

'Yes Kurt?' Blaine was standing on the bottom step of the stairs, practically jumping up and down.

'Um.. don't gel your hair, you look... cute without it.' Kurt then dashed back into the kitchen, face turning strawberry red.

Blaine ran up the stairs, straight into his bedroom – he opened his wardrobe doors and picked out an outfit. After much deliberating he chose dark blue jeans and his favourite red polo shirt, opting for going without a bowtie.

Meanwhile Kurt was busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. He couldn't believe what Blaine had been through and what he was still going through – an inspiration in Kurt's mind. The fact that Blaine had confided and trusted Kurt made him want to help him even more.

Around twenty minutes later Blaine reappeared in the kitchen looking considerably more dapper, but with ungelled hair, just as Kurt had instructed him.

'I see you followed my instructions.' Kurt noted, he reached up and brushed a curl out of Blaine's face.

'Well you did tell me I looked c-cute, so I assumed that was a good thing.' Blaine sat down on the stool he had previously sat on and watched Kurt finish making lunch.

'Blaine, have you ever – had a boyfriend?' Kurt asked as he made over to the table, placing a plate of sandwiches and snacks on the table.

'Not as such, I mean I've liked guys before, but they've always turned out to be straight… just awkward.' Blaine paused mid-chew to look at Kurt who was crying with laughter.

'I… I used to have a crush on my step-brother, well that was before he became my step-brother – and he's straight.' Kurt stopped laughing, wiping his eyes.

'That.Is.Hilarious.' Blaine could barely form a sentence he was laughing so much, nearly toppling off his seat.

Both boys continued to eat in silence for a few minutes, each stealing glances at each other when they thought the other wasn't looking. The tips of Blaine's ears began to turn red as he could sense Kurt looking at him. Kurt on the other hand was feeling rather flushed, Blaine's glances hadn't been particularly discrete.

Just as Blaine was about to ask Kurt if he had a boyfriend a door slammed, Kurt looked up at Blaine who had suddenly stopped eating, his hands slightly shaking. He took Blaine's hands in his own.

'BLAINE! WHERE ARE YOU?' A man's voice came booming down the hallway, scaring them both.

'My father,' Blaine silently mouthed to Kurt.

The kitchen door flew open, a hard-faced man, slighter taller than Blaine, possibly around fifty burst into the kitchen, he looked a Blaine, then at Kurt, a look of fury on his face.

'WHO IS THIS? AND WHAT IS HE DOING HERE.' The man practically spat at Blaine, his tone bitter.

Blaine couldn't even speak he was so afraid; Kurt instinctively leapt to Blaine's side and wrapped his arm around him. Blaine buried his head in Kurt's shirt, facing away from his father.

'GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN! BOTH OF YOU.' Blaine's father bellowed.

Blaine grabbed Kurt's hand, dragging him out of the kitchen, straight up the stairs and into his bedroom, locking his door behind him.

Please don't hurt me, or Kurt. Blaine silently pleaded.