Kurt wasted no time. He knew... he just knew... that he had to be right. Ever since they were kids, Carson had always gone to their grandmother whenever he'd reached his absolute limit. Not that he would ever admit to having reached said limit, of course, but certain things didn't need to be explicitly said for Kurt to understand them.

He careened down the cold streets, not even caring if he knocked down several people in his hurry. He didn't dare to let himself think of what he was supposed to do if Carson wasn't there. He had to be there. Kurt reached the home in less than fifteen minutes, arriving breathless and winded, his cheeks stinging from the cold. He didn't say hello to anyone on his way in, hurrying straight down the maze of hallways to his grandmother's room and peeked cautiously around the door frame.

Thank god.

His heart almost broke in two at the sight of his twin curled up in the corner, his knees to his chest and his face swelling with a horrible looking bruise that looked as if it would send Carson screaming in pain if Kurt so much as looked at it wrong. Grandma herself was fast asleep in her bed, probably unaware that Carson was even there at all.

"Go away, Kurt," Carson begged, burying his face in his arms. "Please."

"No," Kurt replied, setting the bags down and crossing over to Carson, sitting down beside him on the floor. He wrapped his arms around him and hugged him tight for a long time, feeling his twin's body still shaking with shock. He stroked his hair and bit his lip to keep from crying. Carson didn't need tears right now. He needed someone to be strong for him. "I'm not leaving you. We're going to get through this together."

"Kurt, no," Carson insisted. "No, you should go home. They kicked me out, not you."

"No," Kurt insisted stubbornly. "Look, you're my... I... we're twins, Carson. When you suffer, I suffer. And you're suffering now in a big fucking way. I'm not going to stand by and let you do it alone. I'm staying with you."

Carson just closed his eyes and sighed, letting Kurt hold him until visiting hours were over and they had no choice but to take the bags and get out.

"Let me look at your eye," said Kurt as they made their way back out onto the street.

"It's fine, Kurt," Carson insisted, reaching into his jeans pocket for a cigarette and a lighter. He took a long drag and let it out slowly, his breath shaking audibly ever so slightly.

"Carson, it's swollen," said Kurt. "Why don't I stop into a shop and get some ice, and-"

"Kurt, it's fine," Carson interrupted him forcefully, taking another drag of his cigarette. "It's just a black eye. It'll heal. You're such a worrywart."

"But-"

"Kurt, really, it's not like I haven't been bruised before," said Carson with a heavy sigh. "Worse than this, even. You know that. It always healed then, and it will heal now. Ok? Let's just concentrate on finding somewhere to go before we freeze our asses off."

Luckily, thanks to Kurt's quick planning and some smooth talking to Seth that convinced him (Kurt hoped) that Carson was hiding out from a drug dealer, they at least had a place to go for the night. Even if Seth was more than a little skeptical about it, which he made very clear as he let them inside the house with a look of apprehension on his face.

"Just for a night, guys," he said nervously, casting a wary glance at Carson's black eye. "My parents will flip shit if they know I'm hiding a criminal. They're not home tonight, and I've got babysitting duty for Regan, so just... behave, alright?"

"Seth, I'm wounded," said Carson, pushing his way inside in his usual give-no-fucks way, which relieved Kurt a little to see, even if he knew damn well it was just a facade to hide what he was really feeling. "Like I'd ever be anything but well behaved."

"Hi, Kurt!" said a small voice, and Kurt smiled down at Seth's little sister, who had suddenly appeared behind him, her brown ponytails bouncing as she gave them a grin full of missing teeth. "Hi, Carson!"

"Hi, Regan," the twins said at the same time, and Regan frowned as she noticed Carson's eye.

"What happened to your eye?" she asked, her brows furrowing together in concern.

"I breathed," Carson answered her, and Kurt seriously just wanted to hug him and never let him go.

"You need some ice for that, mate?" asked Seth.

"Yes, he does," answered Kurt, since he could practically feel Carson getting ready to say no. "I'll get it," he said, making his way toward the Parkers' kitchen and busying himself dropping ice cubes in a towel, which he made into a compress and carried out into the living room. He wasn't exactly prepared to see what he saw when he walked back in, and he had to pause for a minute and just take it in. Carson and Regan kneeling on opposite ends of the coffee table, which littered with various fashion dolls, clothes, and accessories. The little girl was chattering away happily, telling Carson each doll's name and backstory while Carson appeared to be listening intently, the corners of his mouth turned up ever so slightly. Kurt leaned against the doorway and smiled a little as he watched Carson gingerly pick up a doll and hold it out for Regan's inspection.

"What's this one's name?" he asked her, sounding uncharacteristically soft and gentle. It occurred to Kurt that he'd never actually seen Carson interact with a child before. It was actually really sweet.

"That one's Cassandra Camelot," Regan replied seriously. "Georgina doesn't like her," she added, holding up a redheaded doll and grimacing to demonstrate Georgina's intense dislike for Cassandra. "They're enemies because Cassandra stole Georgina's boyfriend and he took her to the prom instead of Georgina, and now Georgina is sad so she spends all her time learning karate so she can get her revenge."

"…...Jesus," Carson said quietly. "Georgina is quite a bada...um... she's... she's tough."

"Mmm-hmm," replied Regan.

"And what does Cassandra do?" asked Carson. "Besides going around luring men away from their mates, that is?"

"She goes 'round telling people she's gonna beat them up," said Regan. "And then she gets her nails done."

"Sounds a lot like Santana," Carson said.

"Hmm?" asked Regan.

"Nothing," said Carson.

"You have to play Cassandra's voice, ok?" said Regan. "She has to fight with Georgina so she can get what she has coming."

"Um...ok," agreed Carson, grasping Cassandra in hand. He cleared his throat and banged the doll's feet against the table to represent walking over to Georgina. "Hi, Georgina," he said in a mock girl's voice as he thrashed the doll around to make her hair fly back and forth. "I stole your man. What you gonna do about it?"

Kurt giggled in spite of himself, and Carson looked over at him, his cheeks turning pink.

"Having fun?" he asked, and Carson rolled his eyes.

"Shut up," he said.

"I brought you some ice for your eye," Kurt said, settling down beside him and pressing the compress to Carson's face. Carson winced in pain, but allowed Kurt to keep the compress in place, meeting his gaze with his good eye.

"This is temporary," he said pointedly. "We're out of here tomorrow, and you are going home."

"I'm not," Kurt said. "Don't argue with me in front of the kid." Carson scowled at him, but he did stop arguing.

"Hey, what happened to Cassandra?" asked Carson, surveying the coffee table and noticing the absence of the doll where he had left it a moment ago.

"Georgina got her revenge," Regan replied simply, pointing to the couch, where poor Cassandra Camelot was shoved in between the cushions with only her legs and feet visible from where they were sticking up. "She buried her alive," she whispered.

"Ok, I love this kid," said Carson, giving Regan a wide, proud smile. "Don't ever lose that "take no prisoners" attitude," he told her seriously while Kurt continued putting gentle pressure on his eye. "It'll get you far in life."

"Ooookay," said Seth quickly, getting up from his seat and taking his sister by the hand. "Time to get ready for bed, Regan."

"I don't want to!" the girl protested. "I haven't shown Carson and Kurt my new boy doll yet."

"You can show them tomorrow. Mum said bed by eight, and you have your Sunday School field trip thing in the morning," said Seth, leading her away from the coffee table and toward the stairs. "Say goodnight and let's get this over with."

"Uuugh," Regan groaned with a sigh. "Fine. Goodnight, Carson. I hope your eye feels better. Goodnight, Kurt," she said sweetly, facing each twin in turn before allowing herself to be led away.

"Thanks, kid," replied Carson, reaching into his pocket.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," Seth said to the twins as he passed them. "Put that away, Carson," he added when he saw Carson pull out his pack of cigarettes. "My parents will kill me if smoke gets in the walls."

Carson sighed but complied, tossing the cigarettes onto the counter with a frustrated sigh as Seth and Regan disappeared, leaving the twins alone in the living room for the moment.

"As I was saying," he said, taking a seat on the couch next to the dearly departed Cassandra, "We're only here for a night. That's it. Then I'll find someplace else to go, but you really have to go home."

"And as I was saying, there's no way in hell that's happening," Kurt retorted forcefully, playing absentmindedly with the edges of the rapidly melting cold compress in his hands. "I'm not leaving you to wander the streets by yourself and get into god only knows what. We're in this together, and that's it."

"And what happens when Dad sends the police after us?" Carson replied. "What happens when he tells them that I've kidnapped you or some shit like that? Or that I'm a danger to you? Or when he tells them I raped you? What happens then?"

"I don't care about that!" Kurt exclaimed, trying his best to keep his voice under control so as not to alert their hosts. "I don't care, Carson. Do you have any idea how long I've waited to tell him exactly what I think of the way he treats you? Let him do whatever the fuck he wants. I don't want you alone."

"Kurt-"

"Carson, no. I'm done arguing about it now," said Kurt with finality. "You're my brother, and I'm-" He was interrupted by the ringing of his phone in his pocket, and he gave Carson a nervous look before retrieving it, hoping it wouldn't be their father's name on the incoming call screen.

"It's Mom," he said, holding the phone up for Carson to see. "I'm not going to answer it."

"No," said Carson, shaking his head. "No, answer it."

"I-"

"Answer it," Carson insisted.

Kurt sighed and took a deep breath before he slid the screen and accepted the call.

"What?" he said as icily as possible.

"Kurt, come home," his mother answered in an exasperated tone. "Your father's not mad at you."

"Can Carson come home, too?" asked Kurt. "Not that I want him anywhere around Dad for a fuck of a long time."

"Kurt, please try to understand. Your father... a-and I... we're both very upset," she said. "With the whole situation. I mean, I knew you were...I knew you liked boys, but I didn't imagine... it's a lot for your dad to take in at once."

Kurt said nothing, just stared angrily down at his shoes while he waited for his mother to continue.

"It would be best if Carson stayed away for a while," she said at last, after a moment of silence. "And there are... there's places we can send you, just for a bit. Places that can help you with your-"

"I'm not going anywhere without him," replied Kurt sharply, his anger ready to burst by now. "Tell Dad to fuck off. I'm not going anywhere Carson isn't welcome, especially not where he's going to continue to be mistreated for the crime of existing, and I'm sure as hell not going to a Pray the Gay Away camp. Goodbye," he said shakily, hanging up and tossing his phone onto the coffee table, where it bounced off several Barbie dolls before landing, face down, on the edge. He bit his lip and tried not to cry, because he had to be strong for Carson. Tears wouldn't help anyone, especially not right now.

"Jesus," said Carson in a low voice. "Do they really want to send you to a-"

"Yes," Kurt interrupted him quickly. "So, as I was saying, I'm not going home. We'll need to figure out somewhere else to go tomorrow. Somewhere a little more long-term," he said, crossing over to sit beside Carson on the couch. He handed his twin the cold compress and silently ordered him to use it, meeting no resistance as Carson complied.

"Well, between the two of us, we have some money," Carson pointed out sensibly. "It's not a lot at the moment, but it could get us bus tickets, maybe."

"What about Sebastian?" Kurt mused thoughtfully as he picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts, pausing on the boy's name. "Just for a couple of days? I mean, he did say we were welcome any time."

Carson balked at him, his face reminiscent of someone who had just heard the most outlandish news of his life. "How about no?" he replied.

"Why not?" asked Kurt. "He's our friend. He used to be your best friend when we were little."

"I wouldn't have quite called him that," said Carson. "We... we barely know him now, anyway."

"What other option do we have?" asked Kurt, trying his best to remain calm and sensible. "We can get a bus ticket, yes. To where? And what do we do once we've arrived? Wander the street? I'm telling you, staying with someone we know is best for now. Until we have a more solid plan."

"Kurt, I really don't want to stay with Sebastian," Carson pleaded. "I just... I don't. There has to be something else we can do. Maybe we can stay with Santana for a few days."

"Her place would be the first place they'll look for us," said Kurt. "For that matter, here is one of the first places they'll look for us. I doubt they even know that Sebastian's family is back in the UK."

Carson sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, which caused him to wince as he made contact with his bruised skin. "Whatever. I'm going outside for a smoke," he said, grabbing his cigarettes and heading for the door.

"Put your coat on," Kurt told him, standing up. "It's freezing out there. I'll come with you."

"No, just... I just need a few minutes," said Carson quietly, but he did take the coat that Kurt held out to him and began to put it on. "I need to think for a bit."

"Ok," agreed Kurt, biting his lip and nodding. "Don't stay out too long, ok? You'll catch your death."

"What a shame that would be," murmured Carson, sounding so lost it made Kurt's heart hurt. He shoved his cigarettes in the coat pocket and disappeared out the door as Kurt sat back down on the couch. He lifted the blinds a tiny bit and watched as Carson took a seat on the front stoop. His twin lit up a cigarette, taking a long drag of it and letting the smoke out slowly as he glanced up at the night sky, and more than anything, Kurt wanted to know what was going through his mind right now.

Help me help you, Carsey.

He knew that Carson would probably kill him for what he was about to do, but Kurt honestly didn't see how he had any other choice. The reality was, they needed a safe place to stay until plans could be made. And Kurt really didn't have any better ideas.

I'm sorry, Carson. I really am, he thought as he took his phone and dialed Sebastian's number.

Carson sat on the Parkers' front stoop and ignored the cold that was numbing his fingers as he steadfastly smoked his cigarette. Right now, that damn cigarette was the only thing keeping him from losing his mind. He hadn't really let himself absorb the meaning of what had occurred in the past few hours, but now it was hitting him all at once like a ton of bricks.

The punching wasn't anything new. Not by a long shot. It wasn't even the worst thing his father had ever done to him. Being locked in his bedroom all night with all the light bulbs taken away when he was younger and in trouble had actually been far worse. And he'd been hit before with worse things than a fist. Belts, especially.

But to compound the situation, he'd been thrown out. Tossed out of his own home as though he were worthless garbage, and he was now, essentially, homeless. And the thing was, he really wasn't at all surprised. To be quite honest, he'd always sort of expected that it would come to this, sooner or later. It wasn't like his parents made it a big secret that he was an unwelcome presence at home, for the most part. So, he supposed that if it hadn't been for incest, it would have been for some other perceived wrongdoing. Actually, he was surprised that he and Kurt had managed to go on this long without being caught sooner.

The worst of it, though, the absolute worst, was that Kurt had been dragged into it. Granted, it was by Kurt's own choice and stubbornness, but still. Carson having to fend for himself was one thing, but the last thing he'd ever wanted was for Kurt to suffer along with him. It was part of the reason why he had even agreed to stay at Seth's place for the night. If he was alone, he would have just as soon spent the night in the park, no matter how cold it was, but that was simply out of the question. He wouldn't have Kurt freeze to death because of him.

And now he wants us to stay with Sebastian, of all people, Carson groaned to himself. He hated to admit it, even privately, but Kurt was probably right. If they were in this together, and Carson didn't want Kurt out on the street, then, well... they did have to stay somewhere until they had some sort of action plan. And the least likely they were to be easily found by their parents, the better. And Sebastian would take them in. Carson knew he would. The boy may have generally acted like a dick, but he wasn't made of stone.

But still. That didn't mean that he wanted to watch Sebastian flirt with Kurt day in and day out, on top of all the misery he had already endured. On the other hand...

What the hell other choice do you have?

Well, he at least didn't have to easily concede. Kurt was going to do what he thought was best anyway, so Carson decided to just let him. The chips could fall where they may. It didn't mean Carson had to help it along.

So he still grumbled about it when he came back inside and Kurt nervously informed him that he had called Sebastian and the other boy had instantly agreed to let them hide out from Carson's "drug dealer" for as long as they needed. He complained, but honestly, he was a bit relieved that he wouldn't have to worry about how he was going to protect Kurt during this little adventure.

He didn't sleep very well that night, though. He slept in fits, waking up periodically short of breath and sweating as his dreams swirled into a giant vortex of wondering just what the hell he and Kurt were supposed to do in the long term.

We're not ready. Jesus, we're not even remotely ready for this.

He didn't know if it was Kurt who started holding him close at some point during the night, or if he had buried himself in Kurt's arms without realizing it. All he knew was that every time he woke up, panicking and ready to jump out of his skin when he realized he was sleeping on Seth's parents' fold-out sofa bed instead of in his own room, and why that was so, all it took was the comforting embrace of Kurt's arms around him, the warmth of his skin, and the steady thump-thump of his twin's heartbeat in his ear to calm him down.

Not that he needed calming down. He'd been through much worse than this, he reminded himself. This was just a bump in the road, that was all. And he and Kurt were a resourceful pair. There was no need to feel so melodramatic about it, even if they were going to have to stay with Sebastian for a while.

It's ok. It'll be ok. We'll get through this. We get through everything.

They were out of the house early the next day, not even an hour after waking up and packing their stuff back up while thanking Seth profusely for taking them in for the night. Well, Kurt was thanking him profusely. Carson was busy doing some mental math, trying to figure out how much money he could possibly make in the next week if he really busted his ass. Santana would probably loan him some money if he asked her. Her parents gave her a very generous allowance, and it wasn't like she would miss a week's worth. Plus, he did have connections who could get him some weed to sell, and he knew he wouldn't have any trouble at all moving it. But would that be enough to get him and Kurt very far?

Barely, but it'll have to do.

For the time being, he resigned himself to the fact that he was going to be relying on Sebastian Smythe's charitable heart for the next few days, whether he felt comfortable with it or not.

"What did you tell him?" he asked Kurt as they boarded the bus that would take them to Sebastian's neighborhood and selected their seats in the far back. "Did you give him the same excuse you gave Seth, or did you say something else? I don't want to fuck up and say the wrong thing if he asks."

"Yes, I gave him the same excuse," replied Kurt smoothly as they sat down.

"Did he buy it?"

"Not sure about that one," said Kurt, chewing his lip nervously. "He didn't question it, but with Sebastian, you never know. I'm still not sure if he suspects or not that we go a bit beyond brothers."

"Even if he doesn't, he'd probably think it was hot," murmured Carson thoughtfully. "He seems to have definitely grown into quite the pervert since we were children."

"I won't argue with you there," said Kurt. "He's a bit... well, he's Sebastian. But I don't know. I find it to be just the right combination of irritating and endearing."

"I bet you do," said Carson.

The rest of the ride was silent, and by the time they finally got out at their stop, Carson had had a little talk with himself wherein he had almost convinced himself that everything was perfectly under control.

"My phone's ringing," Kurt said quietly as they got off the bus. "I put it on vibrate last night. It's Mum again."

"Persistent, she is," replied Carson.

"What should I do?" asked Kurt.

"Let her rot," answered Carson with a noncommital shrug. "If she's gonna take his side, then to hell with her."

"Right," said Kurt, his voice almost in a whisper. "You're right. To hell with-" His words were interrupted by the beeping of a car horn, and the boys turned around to find Sebastian beaming at them from behind the wheel of a very fancy, very expensive looking car.

"Get in, hot stuffs," he said cheerfully, gesturing to the empty seats all around him. "I got a lot of empty space, and I need some cute boys to fill it."

Carson could practically feel his eye twitching as Kurt blushed beside him. "Jesus," he muttered. "I like the guy, I really do, but...Jesus."

"Be nice, Carson," said Kurt, elbowing him gently in the ribs.

Carson sighed. "Fine." He and Kurt approached the car on either side of the backseat and got in, Carson settling their various pieces of luggage in a nice little mountain in the middle of the seat between them.

"I didn't realize you would be picking us up," Kurt said, clearly trying to sound bright as Sebastian started driving down a series of side streets.

"Well, you know, I could have made you walk with your adorable little duffel bags, but then what kind of a host would I be?" replied Sebastian, looking through the rearview mirror at Kurt and smiling. "Besides, don't you think it's a little dangerous for Carson to just wander about? Being a wanted man and all," he added, catching Carson's eye in the mirror and winking. "So, how much money did you skip out on, Carson? Do you stand to lose your knees, your balls, or your life?"

"I stand to lose everything, let's just put it that way," replied Carson.

"What happened to your eye?" asked Sebastian. "That shit looks rough. Did the drug guys do that to you?"

"It's nothing, Sebastian," said Carson pointedly. "It's fine. And we promise we'll be out of your hair as soon as possible."

"Hey, it's no skin off my ass," Sebastian replied with a shrug. "My parents are barely ever around, and truthfully, it's fucking dull as powder around the house most of the time, unless I've brought home a gentleman caller or two."

"And how many gentleman callers do you typically entertain in a usual week?" asked Carson, not sure why the hell he was even asking that question.

"Wouldn't you love to know?" said Sebastian with another wink. "Anyway, here we are. Chez Smythe."

He pulled the car into a long and winding driveway, at the end of which sat the hugest house Carson had ever seen. It was so large and grand, and had so many windows and perfectly manicured shrubs in the front that Carson actually had to suck in a breath for a second. He quickly coughed to hide the fact that he was slightly impressed, while Kurt practically started gushing at the sight.

"Oh my god, Sebastian, it's gorgeous!" he squealed, almost bouncing in his seat with excitement, like an overgrown puppy. "You never told me your house was so freaking gorgeous!"

"It's not nearly as impressive as our house in France was," said Sebastian with a shrug as he parked the car. "About half the size, actually. I think it's cozy."

"Cozy?" Carson hissed under his breath. Kurt kicked him in response.

"It's beautiful," Kurt said as he and Carson got out of the car and took hold of their bags.

"Well, let's not stand out here all day," said Sebastian brightly. "I'm freezing my ass off. Let's go drop off your shit and I'll give you the grand tour."

"Ok," agreed Kurt eagerly. They followed Sebastian inside the front door and into a giant foyer with marble floors and creamy, bright walls. Carson felt more than a little out of place standing in it, but Kurt seemed to be in his element.

"Oh my GOD!" he exclaimed, looking around at the foyer in amazement. "This is, like, the perfect house! How many rooms did you say it had?"

"Seventeen," replied Sebastian casually.

"Lord."

"Anyway," Sebastian said, gesturing for them to follow him. "Let me show you the place. I have a guest bedroom ready for each of you. Unless, of course, you prefer to sleep together," he added, grinning over his shoulder at them.

"Do we?" asked Carson in a whisper, glancing over at Kurt.

"Together will be just fine," said Kurt with a nod. "We don't want to put you out any more than necessary."

"Oh, come now, Kurt, you can never put out enough," answered Sebastian without missing a beat as Carson steadfastly resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Isn't that right, Carson?"

It's going to be a very long couple of days, isn't it?

After Sebastian had given them the grand tour of the house and the boys had settled their things into their room and each had a long, hot shower, they met the other boy in the gigantic kitchen and helped him prepare lunch.

"Nothing fancy, I'm afraid," Sebastian said apologetically as he set out sandwich ingredients for everyone to help themselves. "The grocery shopping hasn't been done in a bit. I'm usually much more robust than this in the kitchen."

"You cook?" asked Kurt.

"Sure do," said Sebastian with a nod. "It's a useful skill to have, you know. Especially because I've been known to wear a guy out so much that he needs to eat to regain his strength or he'll faint."

"Oh," replied Kurt with a blush as Carson, once again, tried not to roll his eyes.

"Anyway, Sebastian, thank you for taking us in," he said, rushing quickly through the words "Thank you," because if there was one thing that made him feel awkward as hell, it was thanking anyone for anything. "I just... it's just for a bit, and as soon as we can make other arrangements we'll be gone."

"Like I said, you can stay as long as you like," said Sebastian, giving him a dismissive hand wave. "So, what about your parents? Aren't they going to wonder where you've gone? Especially your dad?" he added, giving Carson a careful glance out of the side of his eye.

"They don't give a toss," replied Carson quickly, concentrating all his efforts on spreading strawberry jam on a piece of bread with a butter knife. "And we would prefer that they didn't know."

"Yeah, it's really best that they don't," Kurt added.

"Right," said Sebastian, nodding. "From what I remember, your dad can be a bit... well."

"Yeah," mumbled Carson. He'd almost forgotten that Sebastian had once spent almost every day playing with them and was familiar with the way Neal Phillips could be.

"Are you sure your eye is ok?" Sebastian pressed. "I mean, it looks like it's healing, but it still looks pretty bad. Did someone punch you?"

"No, Sebastian. I woke up like this," Carson replied, rolling his eyes. "What do you think?"

"Ok, ok, dumb question, I know. Just asking," said Sebastian.

"Yes, I got punched, but it's fine," Carson insisted. "Just forget it's there. I already have."

"They must have been pretty pissed at you," Sebastian mused. "The bruising goes almost all the way down your cheek."

"It's fine," Carson said again. "Please, just drop it."

"Ok," Sebastian said, nodding. "Ok, I was just curious.

"He'll be ok," Kurt said, looking between the two of them nervously. "I put ice on it last night, and it's healing now. He'll be fine."

"Right," said Sebastian, smiling. "So, who's up for taking our sandwiches into the screening room? We've got films out the ass."

After two days in Sebastian's house, Kurt was beginning to grow increasingly more worried about Carson. Neither twin had gone to school with Sebastian that Monday, not sure if they should or not. Kurt, at least, didn't really feel like it, and he wasn't sure how Carson was feeling. That was the problem. His twin had almost completely shut down except to discuss practicalities. There had been plenty of talk among the two of them, about plans and possible sources of money, and where to go once they had enough. Kurt had forbidden Carson to try selling weed, even though he knew damn well that Carson was going to do what he wanted, no mater what Kurt said.

But as far as feelings, there was nothing being discussed. It was almost like Carson was choosing to ignore the entire reason they were currently planning to run away. Like their parents no longer existed. Not that Kurt could blame him, but still. It was worrying Kurt to see Carson acting as though this whole thing wasn't having any effect on him whatsoever. Especially because, if the way he smoked like a chimney and almost desperately clung to Kurt while he was asleep was any indication, he very much did need and want to be comforted and soothed. Kurt didn't even think Carson realized what he was doing, but it never failed. Soon after his twin had fallen asleep, Kurt could count on feeling him edging closer and closer to him until he found himself with an armful of a very clingy, and very deeply asleep, Carson.

Poor baby, Kurt thought on Monday night, holding him close and softly stroking his sleeping twin's hair. My poor Carsey.

Unfortunately, his bladder called, so he very gently disengaged himself from Carson, who whimpered in his sleep and reached out for him with a frown.

"Shhh, I'll be right back," Kurt whispered, stroking Carson's cheek and kissing him on the forehead. Carson did calm down a little, and Kurt slipped quietly out of the room and into the nearby bathroom. He did his business and made to tiptoe back to the bedroom, not expecting to run smack dab into Sebastian on his way.

"Jesus, you scared the shit out of me," Kurt hissed.

"Sorry," whispered Sebastian. "Nature calls, you know. How is he?"

"Carson? He's fine," Kurt replied. "He's sleeping."

"Look, I remember more than you think I do," said Sebastian, looking at Kurt pointedly. "I remember how they treated him."

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Kurt quickly, trying to move past Sebastian, but Sebastian pressed a hand gently to his chest to keep him in place.

"How did he get the black eye?" asked Sebastian, his eyes meeting Kurt's in the darkened hallway. His hand was still pressed against Kurt's chest, which made Kurt flush a little, even though he knew that was the last thing he should have been focusing on at the moment.

"We told you, he got punched," replied Kurt nervously.

"By who?"

"I don't want to talk about it," said Kurt with a sharp hiss, and Sebastian sighed, removing his hand from Kurt's chest and gesturing for him to go.

"Ok," he said. "See you in the morning."

Kurt hurried back into the bedroom, climbing back into bed and wrapping his arms quickly around his sleeping twin, almost scooping him up in order to cuddle him as close as possible as he kissed the top of his hair.

"Kurt, whatteryou doing?" murmured Carson, waking up slightly and blinking up at him sleepily. "I'm not your infant, you know."

"I know," replied Kurt, trying to sound as normal as possible. "I just... um... I can't sleep very well. Mind if I use you as a teddy bear?"

"You're insane," mumbled Carson, but he didn't protest when Kurt squeezed him gently and kissed him on the nose.

"Good night, Carson."

"Night, Kurtsie."

Tuesday morning dawned, and Kurt awakened slowly, blinking at the sunlight streaming through the bedroom window and slowly realizing that he was alone in the bed. He figured Carson must be in the bathroom and took the opportunity to stretch out his limbs, granting them their freedom from the cramped position they had been in all night. He wondered what the plan of action was for the day, since Sebastian would be in school until the afternoon. He hoped maybe Carson would want to just take a relaxation day and hang out. Maybe have a movie marathon in that screening room.

He waited around in bed, thinking that Carson would surely come in soon and he could ask him then. He waited ten minutes, and then ten more, growing increasingly worried with every passing second. What was taking Carson so long? He got up out of bed, hurrying out into the hall toward the bathroom.

"Carson?" he called, his voice rising in panic as he realized that the bathroom door was open and the very much unoccupied room was dark. "Carson? CARSON?" he called out, almost yelling now as he frantically started peering into room after room.

"Carson Phillips, answer me right the fuck now!" he screamed, searching everywhere he could find that could possibly be hiding a sixteen year old boy. "This isn't funny!" His search was fruitless, turning up nothing but empty room after empty room.

"Goddammit, Carson," Kurt muttered in a shaky voice, marching back up to their bedroom and rooting around for his phone. He dialed Carson's number quickly, ready to unleash hell the second his twin picked up, especially because it was only at that moment that he realized that one duffel bag was missing.

"Kurt, before you yell at me-" Carson's voice said after several rings, and Kurt was so relieved to hear him that he sighed and smiled as he flopped down onto the bed. The relief lasted only a moment, and then he remembered that he was very pissed indeed.

"Carson James Phillips, I'm going to fucking kill you!" he shouted into the phone, gripping it so tightly he could almost feel his knuckles turning white. "What the fuck do you think you're doing, leaving me here? I thought we were in this together!" He was on the verge of tears as he sunk further down into the bed and began to realize fully what Carson had done. He'd left him. Fucking left him to go back home while Carson went god only knew where, and he wasn't even going to say goodbye, and-

"Kurt, hear me out. Ok? Just hear me out," Carson said quickly. "I was going to leave this morning. I wasn't going to tell you because, well... I knew how you would react. I was going to buy a bus ticket to London and call you when I got there."

"You asshole!" Kurt screeched. "I was worried you could be dead, and you were on your fucking way to London?"

"I said hear me out!" Carson protested with a sigh. "I didn't get a bus ticket. I had a better idea."

"And what, pray tell, might that be?" asked Kurt testily.

"Don't get shirty with me, Kurt Elizabeth Phillips," Carson said dryly. "See? I can use full names, too."

"Carson, I swear to god, if you don't start talking in five seconds, I will track you down and stick my foot so far up your ass..." Kurt muttered.

"Kinky," said Carson. "But no need. Get dressed and meet me out in the driveway. Take your stuff."

"But what about Sebastian?" asked Kurt, biting his lip as he wondered just what the fuck his twin had up his sleeve.

"Yeaaah, it's probably best we leave him out of this," said Carson. "We can send him a thank you note later. Just... get your shit and meet me out here."

"I swear to god, Carson," Kurt muttered, hanging up the phone and getting dressed as quickly as he'd ever done in his life. He packed up his stuff, swiftly making the bed up and feeling guilty for leaving without thanking Sebastian or saying goodbye.

I'll call him later and explain, he thought, brushing his guilt aside. Sebastian would understand. Hopefully.

Kurt hurried out of the house and into the driveway, stopping dead in his tracks when he realized that Carson was out there, alright... behind the wheel of a car. A car that looked very much like a car neither of them could even dream of affording.

"Don't ask, just get in," Carson said, interrupting Kurt before he even had a chance to open his mouth. "I want to be in London by this afternoon."

"We're going to London?" asked Kurt, desperately trying to piece together what the hell was happening as he got into the car and fastened his seatbelt. "In this?"

"Yep," replied Carson with a curt nod as he pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. Kurt just sat and stared straight ahead for a good ten minutes, opening and closing his mouth and trying to find the mental capacity to figure out how the hell he had gotten into this situation.

"So... we're going to London," he said at last as Carson pulled onto the highway.

"Yes," replied Carson.

"In a car."

"Yep."

"A car that was not in our possession yesterday."

"Sounds about right."

"Carson," Kurt said slowly, feeling the beginnings of a migraine coming on. "Just whose car is it exactly that we're currently running away in?"

"I don't think you want to know that, Kurt."

"Yes, I do," Kurt insisted. "And tell me the truth. I can see right through your bullshit. Twin telepathy."

"Ok, ok. It kind of, sort of, used to belong to Mr. Smythe," Carson replied, keeping his eyes trained fully on the road and refusing to look at Kurt.

"It what?" asked Kurt, his mouth dropping open in shock.

"Ok, it recently belonged to Mr. Smythe," Carson added.

"How recently?"

"Ok, it basically still belongs to Mr. Smythe," Carson said with a sigh.

"CARSON! What the hell? This car is expensive as shit!" exclaimed Kurt, entering full-on panic mode. "It's worth more than both of our lives! We could go to prison!"

"God, will you relax?" said Carson, shaking his head. "You worry entirely too much. It's not like he'll even miss it. Have you seen their garage? There's like 700 cars in there, and I took the one that looked the cheapest."

"How the fuck did you even manage to take it?" asked Kurt, rubbing his temples in frustration.

"Being Santana Lopez's friend has its perks," replied Carson with a shrug. "That girl knows how to hotwire a car like nobody's business."

"You fucking hotw- you know what? I give up," said Kurt. "I just... I give up. We're going to prison. Some guy is going to make me his bitch, and he probably won't even be cute."

Carson snorted. "You're such a dork. And yeah, I hotwired this thing, before I realized that the keys were hanging on a damn hook in the garage."

Kurt sighed, leaning back into his seat and staring out the window as the scenery passed him by. He stayed that way for almost an hour, refusing to open his mouth again because he was afraid if he did, he would start screaming.

Ring ring

Kurt sighed, reaching into his pocket and gulping as he saw his mother's name pop up on the caller I.D. screen.

"It's Mum, isn't it?" asked Carson,

"Yes."

"Answer it," said Carson. "Give her a final goodbye."

Kurt hesitated a moment, almost letting the call go to voicemail, but changing his mind at the last minute. He slid his thumb across the screen and answered the call, putting the phone up to his ear.

"Hi, Mum," he said quietly into it.

"Kurt? Kurt, honey... where are you?" his mother's voice came through the other end, sounding worried. "Is... is your brother with you?"

"Why do you care?" muttered Kurt.

"Kurt, don't hang up on me," Sheryl said quickly. "Please. I want to talk to you. Both of you. Is Carson there?"

Kurt sighed. "Yes."

"Put me on speaker phone?" Sheryl asked. "I want him to hear me."

Kurt exchanged a look with Carson before complying and putting the call on speaker.

"Talk. We can hear you," Kurt ordered coldly. "You have two minutes."

"Ok," said their mother, taking a deep breath. "I want you to come home. Both of you."

"Sorry, not happening," said Kurt, shaking his head for emphasis even though his mother couldn't see him. "Not after the way Carson was treated, not to mention all the other bullshit. We're not coming back."

"No, Kurt, please," Sheryl pleaded. "Listen to me. I don't want to lose both of you, ok? You're my kids. You're sixteen years old. You can't make it out there yet."

"Watch us," Kurt snapped.

"I've discussed it with your father," their mother continued. "You have our word that Carson will be safe if you both just come home."

"You expect us to believe that?" asked Kurt. "Did you see what he did to him, Mom? His face is still bruised!" He noticed Carson focusing very intently on the road, as if ignoring the conversation going on next to him.

"Kurt," Neal's voice interrupted on the other end of the line. "Your mother and I both want you to come home. We know you won't unless your brother can come home too, and we're willing to consider that, but the... activities you two have been up to need to stop."

"Fuck off," said Kurt.

"Neal, let me handle this," Sheryl said, sounding exasperated. "Kurt, honey, look. Carson can come home, and I promise you, it will be fine. Just please come home."

Kurt was about to repeat what he had said to his father, until he felt the car pulling over onto the shoulder of the road.

"I'll call you back," Kurt said, hanging up and looking at Carson curiously. "Carson, what are you doing? Keep driving."

"No," said Carson, shaking his head.

"What do you mean, no?" asked Kurt incredulously. "We're not going home."

"Kurt," Carson said, pinching his nose and sighing. "Yes, we are."

"NO."

"Kurt, look at us," Carson said. "Look hard. We're two sixteen year old boys in a stolen car, thinking we can just pop right into London and make it on our own straight away. It's not going to be as easy as that. It'd be different if it was just me, but..."

"Carson, we can't just go back home now!" Kurt exclaimed. "Not after the way they treated you. Treated us! Are you insane?"

"I'm only thinking logically!" Carson retorted. "We still have two years of school! I've worked too hard to just drop out now and fuck any chance at university. And so have you. And... Grandma," he added quietly. "London is two hours away. I can't go visit her every day if I'm there. I know I won't be able to at uni, but... I'm not ready."

Kurt sighed, leaning back into his seat. "But... Dad..."

"I can handle myself," Carson said, meeting Kurt's eyes. "Why don't we just... just give it a go, and if anything happens again, we can come up with a plan? A more sensible one?"

Neither of them said anything for a moment, until Kurt finally broke the silence.

"Is this really what you want?"

Carson hesitated and nodded. "I have to finish school, Kurt. I have to. I don't know what I was thinking."

"What about your Grand Theft Auto?" asked Kurt, attempting to lighten the mood a bit.

Carson snorted. "I guess I'll have to return it, won't I? You don't think Sebastian will be bothered, do you?"

"Carson, I swear to god..."

"Just call Mum back and tell her we're coming back," said Carson, starting the engine and turning the car around.

Kurt hesitated a moment before taking a deep breath and dialing his mother's number back. Sheryl picked up on the first ring.

"Kurt?" she said, sounding hopeful.

"Put Dad on," he ordered her. "No, you know what? Put me on speaker. I want him to understand one thing. If we're to come back home, it's on MY terms. And he will NOT lay one hand on my brother ever again. Is that quite clear?"

The ride back was uncomfortable as Kurt nervously wondered if their parents would actually keep their word about not giving Carson any unpleasant consequences for recent events. He had the feeling that Carson was mainly agreeing to come home for Kurt's sake, and if he was putting himself in this position just for Kurt...

Relax. They promised. They know I'll leave again if they hurt Carson anymore, and that it will be permanent this time.

By the time they had returned the stolen car to a very amused Sebastian, Kurt had halfway managed to convince himself that they were doing the right thing.

"Please don't call the police on us," he begged Sebastian.

"Relax. I don't plan on it," Sebastian said with a grin. "Dad never would have missed it, anyway. By the way, you did pick the ugliest car of the lot."

Well. Kurt supposed that was something good, at least.

The atmosphere when they arrived home was as uncomfortable and tension filled as Kurt had ever felt it, and he gripped Carson's hand tightly as they faced their parents, daring them to say a damn thing about it. They didn't. Sheryl hugged Kurt, and Neal just grunted and went upstairs.

"If he didn't hate me before, he hates me now," Carson remarked that night as the twins brushed their teeth side by side in the bathroom. "Did you see his face? He wants to kill me."

"He won't dare," said Kurt. They turned off the light and made for their separate bedrooms, but Kurt stopped, gripping Carson by the hand before his twin could leave him for the night. "Do you... um... just for tonight... stay with me?" he finished at last. Carson looked into his eyes and nodded, letting himself be led into Kurt's bedroom and into the bed as Kurt climbed in on top of him, kissing him deeply and letting his tongue explore as his hands roamed over Carson's body. Kurt hadn't realized how much he had missed this intimacy between them. They hadn't been together like this the entire time they had been runaways, and he'd almost forgotten how intoxicating it could be.

They took their time, slowly removing each other's pajamas and letting their hands roam where they may. Kurt worked his way down Carson's neck with his mouth until he reached his chest, sucking one of his twin's tiny, delicate nipples into his mouth and laving his tongue over it as Carson moaned quietly beneath him. He didn't even register that he had reached for the lube and condoms until they were in his hand and he was staring from them to Carson, suddenly bewildered.

"Do you... do you want me to...?" Kurt stammered. Carson bit his lip and nodded, surging up to kiss him.

It was different, with Kurt topping. He felt like a whole other dimension of sex had been opened up to him now, and he wondered why they had never tried it this way before. He went slowly, gently thrusting in and out of Carson as his twin closed his eyes and hugged him close, moans and breathy utterances of "Yes... yes..." leaving his mouth every so often. Carson came first, his face freezing into a look of pure ecstasy, his mouth forming a perfect, beautiful O shape. He looked perfect, and Kurt buried his face in Carson's neck as he stilled and reached his own climax, filling up the condom as they held each other tight.

For a moment, only their breathing filled the room in their post-orgasmic haze, and Kurt started to think about how he should probably pull out soon.

He was entirely unprepared for the first words to leave Carson's mouth, so soft and quiet they were almost a whisper.

"I love you."