"Kurt, I don't think we want cats."

"I want cats." He said stubbornly, looking along the rows of caged felines.

"But…I don't like cats." Blaine trailed after him with a small sigh, already fully aware that he had lost this battle.

"We'll get a kitten then." Kurt said helpfully, scrutinizing each cage and cat.

Blaine sighed again, looking at one of the cats.

"Hi." He said softly and it hissed at him. Wincing, he sulked after Kurt. "I don't want a cat."

Kurt just smiled. "We're doing a good thing Blaine. We're taking one from a shelter."

"But they don't like me."

"Blaine, they're cats." Kurt told him, scratching one of the cats behind her ears through the cage.

"So?" Blaine asked, hesitantly approaching him. The cat hissed at him, retreating to the corner of her cage. "They don't like me."

Moving on, Kurt stuck his hand through the cage, and the cat hissed and swiped at him.

"I like this one." Kurt said, his eyes sparkling.

"Kurt, that one hates you."

"No. It's fine." He smiled, beckoning to the assistant.

The cat clawed and scratched it's way around until the assistant finally managed to shut it in the cage.

"Are you sure?" he asked, looking slightly disgruntled.

Kurt nodded eagerly, and Blaine watched his boyfriend, a little confused.

^.^

When they got home, Kurt let the cat out of it's carrier, and it tore around the room in a panic until it found a cat scratcher.

"See. It likes it here." Kurt said fondly and Blaine sighed.

"Whatever. That thing is going to eat me. What's the time?" he glanced at the clock before sighing. "I've got to get ready for work. Will you be okay showing 'it' around?"

"Scratcher."

Blaine raised an eyebrow. "Scratcher?"

"His name."

"Brilliant." Blaine sighed.

Kurt had been strange lately. It had been three months since Blaine had found the scars on his stomach, and so far, there had been no other marks. Instead, Kurt had been far more distant. Unhappy. Unresponsive.

Perhaps this cat would make a difference. But Blaine was worried.

He had gone to the counselor for a month and a half, but Kurt hated it there, and Blaine stopped making him go. He seemed happier then.

Half an hour later, Blaine left with a kiss on the cheek to Kurt. Kurt bid him farewell, before turning to Scratcher, ready to continue his plan.

It wasn't self-harm if it wasn't inflicted by himself, right? All he had to do was piss off the cat, and then he had a reason for the angry red lines. And Blaine wouldn't get upset.

That was what mattered.