It was mid-afternoon one day in spring, about 7 months since their first meeting. Blaine led Kurt to a secret shack deep in the forest that he often visited. His father and him had built it as sort of a playhouse for him as a child, but he still used it to this day. It wasn’t much; in fact it was pretty hideous looking. Years of weather had degraded the exterior. Weeds and plants now grew up the walls and weaved up over the roof. The inside however was clean and kept. It was made completely of wood with a wooden floor. There was a bookshelf along the right wall with an unlit candle sitting in a ceramic dish. There was a wooden chair on the opposite side of the room and even a bed, which fit snuggly along the back wall. Blaine had never slept there, but he did enjoy resting with a book, listening to the sounds of nature all around him as he did so. He had also brought his lute with him more often than not.

It was a safe house. He had decorated the walls with some of his sketches of miscellaneous things he had built over the years. The most recent addition was a large painting of a Chinese-style building that he had discovered in town. The owner of the painting offered to trade Blaine the painting for some errands that needed to be done and Blaine had obliged.

He led Kurt inside, holding open the small slanted door for him and following in after. They sat together on the wooden floorboards, linking their hands together between them.

“In China,” Blaine began. “There is this magician that can make anything disappear: animals, people, an entire house. Anything!” He told Kurt excitedly. Blaine had been doing some research of his own on the subject of magic study. He decided he wanted to become an apprentice, to travel the world and develop his magic further. While he had become quite good in the several months of practice on his own, he was nothing compared to the famous magicians he read about. He wanted to become great.

“You and I, we'll go visit him.” Kurt said, looking up at him and smiling brightly. “You promise you'll take me with you?”

Blaine recalled a conversation during their second outing together when Kurt told him that he wanted to travel the world, to get out of the castle and escape. He told Kurt that it would happen and had secretly wanted to tell him that he hoped he would be the one to make it happen. He felt something strange in his in chest, like somehow he wouldn’t be able to make that happen, that he would disappoint Kurt before they got the chance. He pushed the sensation away and there was a moment of silence between them before Blaine spoke again.

“One day, I will.” He looked at Kurt, giving him a reassuring smile and squeezed his hands.

“One day we'll run away together. We'll disappear.” Kurt whispered to him. The golden light of the sun crept through the cracks of the wooden door and fell across his face. His eyes actually sparkled as they reflected the little light present. He looked so beautiful. Kurt leaned forward, pressing his impossibly soft lips to Blaine’s cheek. Kurt spoke again, soft and airy against Blaine’s face. “They can't stop us if we want to be together.” Blaine let out a shaky breath. He still wasn’t used to hearing things like that. Be together. Sometimes he had to reassure himself that Kurt was really there with him, that Kurt wanted to be with him just as much as he wanted to be with Kurt. He wasn’t sure if he would ever come to terms with that fact.

He reached out for Kurt’s face, cupping his jaw and bringing their faces together again. He looked into Kurt’s eyes, silently asking for permission. Their relationship was open emotionally and mentally, but physically they had not moved past quick kisses and fleeting touches. Both of them were terrified of their feelings for each other, not quite sure what to do around the other, too scared to take chances and cross boundaries. Blaine felt his throat constrict and his left hand become clammy. Kurt looked back at him and nodded slightly. Blaine swallowed down his fear and pressed his lips gently against Kurt’s. His eyes fell closed, moving his lips slowly against Kurt’s. Their noses brushed together and he could feel Kurt clutching at his left forearm like a lifeline as he returned the kiss. It was innocent and chaste, and not at all enough. They split apart on mutual terms, breath coming out a little more heavy than it was a few moments ago.

They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, Kurt hovering in front of him silently on his knees, looking as if he was in thought. He was smiling shyly before he moved in, placing his right hand gently against Blaine’s chest and pushing him backwards onto the floor. His left hand came around the back of Blaine’s neck to support his head when he felt his back brush the floor. Kurt crawled over his body on all fours and all Blaine could manage was to stare at him. Soon Kurt’s lips were back on his for a second time, much different than any kiss between them before. He could feel Kurt’s fingers toying with the curls on the nape of his neck and he tried desperately to breathe normally through his nose, which was admittedly more difficult due to his racing heart. He brought up his right arm to caress Kurt’s back, running his fingers down his spine and pushing him in closer.

Kurt leaned down to him, bracing himself on his forearms and elbows. Their chests connected as the heat of the kiss increased. Blaine moved his unoccupied hand to cup the back of Kurt’s head, sliding his fingers into his soft hair, lips moving heatedly against lips. This was unlike anything Blaine had ever experienced. Everything he never knew he wanted, never knew he needed.

Kurt made a move to straddle Blaine, craning down to kiss at his jaw. It felt incredible and Blaine was making happy little moans in the back of his throat. Kurt must have appreciated the noises because he leaned in closer and their hips connected and, oh. Oh. That was Kurt that just brushed up against him. Blaine moaned audibly, arching up under him to seek more contact but Kurt was off his lap in a second, pushing himself back with his hands onto the floor. He crossed his legs quickly to hide his tented trousers.

“Kurt?”

“I’m so sorry, Blaine…” His face was completely flushed in embarrassment mixed in part with arousal. He couldn’t even bring his eyes up to look at Blaine right now. He made a painful chocked noise from behind his hands, too mortified to show his face.

“Kurt, it’s fine.” Blaine told him, trying not to chuckle at his embarrassed boyfriend. He moved towards him to try and pull Kurt’s hands from his face. Blaine was smiling at him as one of Kurt’s eyes peeked out from behind his fingers. “It’s okay, honestly. I… liked it.”

It would be unrealistic to say that Blaine hadn’t thought about this kind of thing before, especially with Kurt. Because he did. More often than he would admit to. And now it seemed like he was not alone in that department. The thing was, he had no idea what he was doing. There was no instructions on how to do this and he certainly wasn’t going to go ask someone on what to do and how to do it. However if there was one thing Blaine did know, it was that that felt very, very good.

Blaine shifted his body until he was sitting next to Kurt on Kurt’s right, stroking his hand down Kurt’s tense bicep. He moved in closer to kiss at Kurt’s clothed shoulder gently and Kurt sighed under the attention. He mouthed at the fabric gently. Kurt’s hands came down from his face and he looked over at Blaine, who in turn looked up to smile affectionately at him. Kurt’s face was a flushed pink now rather than the vibrant red it had been a few minutes ago.

“Kurt, can I…” Blaine felt the sentence catch in his throat but he continued. “If it’s okay with you, you don’t have to say yes or anything if you’re uncomfortable. But… can I touch you?” Kurt looked at him timidly. He glanced at Blaine’s hazel eyes and made their way to his lips before settling on his eyes again. There was the tiniest of nods and Blaine could see Kurt swallow thickly. Blaine’s left hand slid down over Kurt’s bicep and trailed down to his thigh, rubbing softly down to his knee and then making its’ way back up to his stomach. He slowly began to untuck Kurt’s shirt from his pants, pulling it up to reveal soft skin. Kurt let out a shaky sigh, obviously enjoying the attention as Blaine stroked at his stomach but too tense to really let himself be consumed by it.

“Is this okay?”

“Yes… Kiss me, please.” He spoke in a whisper, moving in close to Blaine and Blaine complied, pressing their lips together. He shifted his hand from the waistband of Kurt’s pants and focused on rubbing Kurt’s inner thigh through the kiss, waiting for Kurt to become comfortable. When Kurt pulled apart to take in a breath, Blaine’s hand made its way down to graze his knuckles over Kurt’s clothed cock. Kurt moaned softly, nuzzling into Blaine neck. He could feel Kurt’s hot breath against his skin, causing his hairs to stand on end. Blaine traced his thumb along the hard line, able to feel its’ outline through the fabric. It was overwhelming, being able to touch another person this way: to touch Kurt this way. Everything was so new and intimidating. He was certainly enjoying the little noises Kurt made against his neck.

Blaine grazed his way down to the head, feeling it twitch under his touch. It felt slightly damp under his fingertips and Blaine groaned, becoming aware of what his touches were doing to Kurt. He could feel the strain in his own pants increase just thinking about it. Kurt let out a breathy moan as Blaine cupped him, pressing down with the heel of his hand. Kurt rocked up slightly into the pressure, letting himself be lost to Blaine’s touch.

Blaine made a move to unbutton Kurt’s pants and then Kurt’s hand was on Blaine crotch, completely distracting him from the task at hand.

“Nnngh, Kurt. Feels so good.” He muttered, his face falling onto Kurt’s shoulder as Kurt stroked him over his pants. “Maybe we should move this…” Blaine motioned to the bed.

“Yes, good idea.” Kurt said weakly, bracing himself against the wall as he stood up from the floor. Blaine’s lips were on Kurt’s again as soon as he was standing. He held Kurt’s face in both hands, sliding his tongue along Kurt’s lips until Kurt opened and let his tongue snake inside. It was better then he ever imagined. He’d never thought feeling someone else’s tongue up against his would feel so good. Kurt moaned, threading his hand up into Blaine’s curls and tugging gently. Before Kurt even realized they were moving, he felt the frame of the bed brush up against the back of his calves.

Blaine broke the kiss, looking into Kurt’s eyes as he moved his hands to the buttons of Kurt’s shirt, starting at his neck. Blaine leaned forward to kiss at the exposed skin as it was revealed, his fingers worked downwards. Kurt moaned again, loving the way Blaine’s lips felt on his collarbone, on his chest, and finally his stomach. When the shirt was open, Blaine stood to push it off Kurt’s shoulder and folded it neatly, placing it on the empty bookshelf. Kurt stepped forward to undo Blaine’s shirt. Blaine shrugged the vest he was wearing off and Kurt worked open the buttons, gently mouthing at Blaine’s neck. His eyes rolled back in his head as Kurt kissed up under his jaw and under his ear. Soon the shirt was off and placed aside. Blaine admired the shirtless boy in front of him while Kurt was obviously doing the same.

“You’re so beautiful, Kurt.” Kurt smiled shyly, looking uncomfortable at being exposed and Blaine hated that look. Blaine wanted to convince him, kiss all his insecurities away. “You really are.”

Shoes were discarded and socks soon after, leaving the boys clad only in their pants and underwear. Blaine wasn’t sure how far this was going to go, but he moved forward towards Kurt again and kissed up his collarbone to his throat, setting to work on unbuckling Kurt’s belt and removing it from the belt loops. Kurt didn’t protest, but he gasped sharply at the sound of his zipper being tugged down.

“This okay?” Blaine questioned, and Kurt nodded reassuringly. Blaine tugged Kurt’s pants down his legs until they were pooled around his ankles. Kurt bent over to collect them and place them with is shirt. Kurt returned the favour, kissing down his chest until he worked open the zipper and Blaine’s pants were thrown with the rest of the clothing.

Both of them were still aroused from earlier, but now with so much skin exposed the lust seemed to grow tenfold. Blaine stepped towards Kurt, placing his hands on Kurt’s chest and easing him back onto the bed. Blaine didn’t waste time resuming what was started earlier, rolling his hips down and upwards against Kurt. It was Kurt’s turn for his eyes to roll back in his head, head falling back against the single pillow on the small bed. Kurt arched up towards him on the next roll of Blaine’s hips and he moaned, his face resting against Kurt’s shoulder.

“It feels so good, Blaine.” Kurt was barely audible when he spoke, his voice a slightly hoarse as it passed over his lips. Kurt stroked both hands down Blaine’s back, down his lower back and back to his shoulders. They rutted against each other, silent except for the uncontrollable gasps of pleasure that escaped.

“Blaine,” Kurt leaned to press his lips to Blaine’s ear. “Can we, can we try something?”

“Yes, always yes Kurt.” It wasn’t until Blaine said it what he realized what he actually said. And just how desperate he probably sounded while he said it. Kurt just laughed at him, easing the tension of the situation extensively. Blaine backed off, sitting back on his knees as Kurt moved up off the bed and extending a hand to Blaine for him to do the same. Kurt slid his arms around Blaine’s waist, playing with the hem of Blaine’s underwear before slowly sliding them down slowly, watching Blaine’s face for a signal to stop.

Blaine found the whole undressing each other incredibly romantic. He couldn’t help himself. He pressed a few soft kisses to Kurt’s shoulder before Kurt was out of reach, sliding the garment down Blaine’s legs to his ankles. Kurt was too shy to let himself look just yet, even though he was pretty much at eye level with Blaine’s dick. Blaine began to help Kurt out of his underwear as well, tossing both pairs to clothes pile. Blaine was not so shy, looking down at the now completely naked Kurt and taking in the sight of his cock, long and thick and flushed, jutting up towards his stomach. Spurred on by Blaine, Kurt looked down as well.

He moved first, lowering his arm slowly to wrap his hand around Blaine. Blaine groaned lowly in his throat, Kurt’s hand felt amazing. It was so much different than his own. Years of woodworking had left Blaine’s hands hard and rough, but Kurt’s were a complete polar opposite. Kurt stroked him a few times from base to tip and then he was gone. Kurt sat down on the bed and motioned Blaine to join him. He sat with his legs out and ushered Blaine to sit down between his legs, facing him. It was a little awkward crawling across the bed, but Blaine sat between Kurt’s legs and Kurt lifted his legs over Blaine’s thighs. Blaine wrapped his legs around Kurt’s back and they were sitting so close, but Kurt shuffled forward just a little bit more and their cocks brushed against each other gently. Their chests were almost touching and soon they were as Blaine leaned forward to kiss Kurt passionately on the lips, wrapping his left arm around Kurt’s shoulder and pulling them flush together.

Kurt reached down to wrap his hand around Blaine again, stroking him slowly. Blaine got the hint, reaching down with his right hand taking Kurt’s dick in his hand, pumping him slowly. This was even better. Kurt kissed him a little more roughly, with more passion than anything. He worked his tongue into Blaine’s mouth, licking at his teeth, his tongue, everywhere. Blaine pushed up into Kurt’s tight grip, loving the friction that his soft hands provided. He had to pull away from the kiss just to breathe as he felt warmth pooling in his stomach.

“Kurt, I’m close.” He groaned. Kurt nudged Blaine’s hand out of the way and used his long fingers to wrap around both of them. His hand didn’t quite fit all the way around them both, but the feeling Kurt’s cock hot against his was overwhelming. Blaine placed his hand over Kurt’s and they both moved against each other into the tight grip. It was a tangle of limbs, arms moving over skin and legs shifting across the bed with each thrust.

The hot drag of skin on skin quickly became too much. Blaine felt his entire body tremor in a way he had never experience before as he came over both their hands, back arched stiffly and calves trembling through his orgasm. He felt himself stop breathing, head falling back and eyes squeezing shut. Kurt followed soon after with a few more rough strokes, spurred on by the bliss on Blaine’s face and the erotic noises escaping his throat. His eyes squeezed shut, feeling his release over his own fingers, mingling with Blaine’s. Blaine continued to stroke both of them as Kurt came down from his high.

Both of them collapsed backwards onto the bed, Blaine lying half on top of Kurt. He could feel every rise and fall of Kurt’s chest and the quick patter of his heart against his shoulder. The silence between them was easy, each taking the opportunity to listen to the other breathe.

“You’re incredible, Kurt.” Blaine whispered, lips ghosting Kurt’s neck and jaw.

Kurt chuckled as blush began to creep up his neck at the compliment. He turned to kiss Blaine on the mouth and pulled him up against his chest. This kiss was slow and lazy, tongues gently trailing along lips.

Blaine had never felt closer to another person in his life. The idea was terrifying, but at the same time thrilling. As he came down from his post-orgasm haze, he realized how much of his heart belonged to the person next to him. This felt like so much more, being able to connect with another person so intimately. As he lay naked, pressed up against the boy of his dreams, he wondered if this was forever.

How did he get so lucky? How was it even possible that Kurt was laying next to him, exposing every last detail of himself to Blaine and somehow making their bond even stronger than it had previous been?

A realization crept through his mind and Blaine made no effort to push it away.

He was in love. He was in love with a boy duke by the name of Kurt Hummel.

-----

Blaine sat down at his workbench, in thought. It would be a year exactly in just a few days that Kurt and Blaine made their relationship official (to each other anyways). He didn’t have much but he really wanted to give something to Kurt for their anniversary. Blaine was young; he knew that. He knew he was just a teenager, but this felt different. This felt like forever. He wanted Kurt to know how serious he was about their relationship.

His father had given his mother earrings for their last anniversary; Blaine couldn’t give Kurt earrings obviously but at least it was a place to start. He didn’t exactly have experience buying gifts, especially not for boys, especially not anniversary gifts. But finally the idea came to him and set to work.

Blaine pulled a piece of parchment from the right side drawer and a pencil as well and began sketching a design. He was remarkably skilled with a pencil, just like he was with woodworking. It didn’t take him long to come up with the design. It’s was bit complex but he knew it would be perfect for Kurt. Once he finished the sketch and figured out the dimensions of the project, he began construction.

He grabbed a small wooden block from the shelf under his desk, which is where he keeps the scrap bits of wood that big enough to make things out of but small enough to not be any use to his father. Blaine began to carve out a raised oval shape. Then he cut the oval in half horizontally and hollowed it out. There was a little bit of gadgetry he had to work out, and he made several other cuts to the wood to accommodate that. It was then stained and painted and polished. Blaine admired his handy work and wondered to himself if Kurt would like the gift. He was sure Kurt had received much intricate and more expensive gifts in his day, but hopefully this would be enough.

----

“Close your eyes.”

Kurt looked at him with a coy smile laced with slight skepticism but obliged. He felt Blaine take his hand in his left, gently pulling the fingers open and placing something in his palm. Blaine took his time, running his calloused fingers over Kurt’s knuckles tenderly and Kurt couldn’t escape the shiver that crawled up his spine. Blaine pulled away slowly and Kurt clutched around the mystery item, trying to guess what it is without looking.

Curiosity eventually got the better of him and he looked down, fingers uncurling slowly to reveal a beautifully crafted wooden necklace. The front and back of the locket was detailed with a simple white butterfly design. The wood was dark, elegantly stained to contrast the white design on either side. One end had a golden loop attached to it where a black string was threaded through.

“Blaine, it’s beautiful! You made this? For me?” Kurt ran his fingers over the pendant affectionately as he spoke, feeling the grain of the wood under his fingertips. Blaine nodded sheepishly.

“For our anniversary.” He told Kurt. “And there’s a secret way to open it.” Kurt handed the locket back to Blaine so he could show him how it worked. Blaine held the small wooden locket between his fingers, twisting the oval shaped pendant diagonally so it flipped around into a heart shape. The butterfly design morphed into a different pattern, which kind of looks like two butterflies kissing. Kurt wondered if that was intentional or not. Maybe he just had a wild imagination. Blaine looked up to Kurt’s face and Kurt was staring attentively at his hands. He slid the now heart-shaped locket sideways, pivoting open at the bottom point of the heart. It opened to reveal a small circular picture of Blaine, probably cut from a family photo.

“I always wanted a picture.” Kurt smiled even wider, teeth peeking out behind his lips. He gently took the locket from Blaine’s hands to admire the small photo of Blaine hidden away inside the necklace. It was so clever; even if his family were to find the pendant it was very unlikely that anyone would be able to figure out how to open it without being instructed. He brushed a single finger over the picture before closing it and bringing it to his lips. He pressed a soft kiss to the locket case and Blaine blushed. “And now I have one. Thank you Blaine, I absolutely love it.”

Blaine reached to take the pendant in his hands again, untying the knot in the thread and bringing the two ends around Kurt’s neck. Kurt leaned into him to make it easier for Blaine to tie it around his neck, briefly nuzzling his cheek up against Blaine’s just because he could. Blaine chuckled, tying a knot at the back of Kurt’s neck and stepping back. Kurt instinctively brought his hand up to cradle the locket and pressed it against his chest. It was long enough that Kurt could hide it under his clothes so no one would see him wearing it, Blaine made sure of that. As much as he wanted the world to know they are together, he knew that they couldn’t make their relationship public in the slightest. Not if they wanted to be together at all. And Blaine was okay with that, because it meant he got to be with the boy that he was in love with.

“I got you something as well.” Kurt piped up, interrupting Blaine’s train of thought. “But you’re not allowed to badger me about it.”

“Badger you?” Blaine giggled. Only Kurt would say something like that.

“Yes, you’re not allowed to get mad or hassle me about it.” Kurt huffed, clearly trying to make a point without giving away what he wanted to give to Blaine.

“Why would I get mad Kurt? I could never be mad at you.” Then Blaine realized why. Because odds were that Kurt has gotten him something expensive and that’s why he’d made a big deal out of it.

“Just- I just wanted to get this for you so just enjoy it, okay? And don’t ask me what I paid for it.” Kurt looked nervous, but Blaine nodded and a smile grew on Kurt’s face. He reached towards the ground to pick up his bag that he brought with him. He pulled out a large object from the bag that was wrapped in simple brown paper, and Blaine immediately knew what it was.

“Kurt…” He stared at the object as Kurt brought it up between them and placed it in his hands.

“I hope you like it, Blaine.” Kurt shied away, clearly wondering if he made the right choice. Blaine could feel the smooth, curved back in his hands and the long neck was a dead giveaway. He started at the neck, pulling the paper away carefully. Immediately he was greeted with a beautiful dark ebony fret board and golden tuning pegs on the head. He continued to peel the paper down, eyes growing wider as he did so. Soon he could see the soundboard, a pale pine colour with an intricately designed grille to cover the sound hole. The intertwining vine design of the grille was painted gold. Eventually the paper was completely off and Kurt took it from him, crumpling it up and tossing it into his bag. Blaine turned the object towards himself, spinning it around in his hands as he admired the back. Cherry wood ribs covered the entire back, the entire instrument just screamed expensive and Blaine couldn’t believe that he was even holding the thing.

“I know you already have one, but I saw this one and it made me think of you. Your old one is falling apart; I noticed when you showed it to me the first time… I hope it’s okay.” Blaine just stared at him open mouthed for a moment, unsure of exactly how to speak again.

“Kurt, this is the most incredible lute I’ve ever seen in my life!” His voice squeaked at the end of his sentence due to excitement and shock. He caressed the neck in his hand and strummed his hand over the strings, nails catching which caused a tune to float through the air. “I can’t believe you got this for me, it’s beautiful…” He wanted to say more, wanted to protest that Kurt shouldn’t have spent all that money on him but he said he wouldn’t. Instead he grabbed the neck in his right hand and threw his arms around Kurt’s shoulders (carefully avoiding any instrument collisions) and squeezed him tightly. “Thank you so much, Kurt.”

“Maybe you could play me something sometime?” Kurt offered with a cheeky smile after they pulled away. He wasn’t sure if he’d ever told Blaine how much he liked musicians and music in general, but he did. Blaine spun the instrument in his hands.

“Why don’t I play you a little something right now?” Blaine grinned, strumming the strings again. He invited Kurt to sit down with him and began strumming the opening chords to a tune. It’s very upbeat and peppy, and unfamiliar Kurt.

There once was a farmer who took a young miss
In back of the barn where he gave her a...
Lecture on horses and chickens and eggs
And told her that she had such beautiful-

“Blaine!” Kurt smacked him in the arm and Blaine couldn’t help but burst out into laughter.

“What?” He feigned innocence. “You’ve never heard Sweet Violets?” He arched his brow at Kurt and Kurt just shook his head, giving Blaine a look of obvious distaste. He knew he was going to get a rise out of Kurt for that song, but he couldn’t resist.

“Maybe another song then.” Blaine said through his chuckles. He strummed out another chord, trying to recall the song from memory. The song was much slower and sweeter, and Kurt actually knew what song it was.

“Sing the chorus?” Blaine grinned at him and Kurt smiled back and nodded.

Once in the dear ol’ days beyond recall,
When on the world the mists began to fall,
Out of the dreams that rose in happy throng
Low to our hearts Love sang an old sweet song;
And in the dusk where fell the firelight gleam,
Softly it wove itself into our dream.

Blaine looked wistfully at Kurt; he’d chosen this song on purpose. It made him think of their relationship whenever he’d played it before. How he’s dreamed of being with Kurt and the dreams they now share together. He hoped Kurt would feel the emotion in every word he sang.

Kurt took over the verse as requested and Blaine continued to strum on his brand new lute.

Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low,
And the flick'ring shadows softly come and go,
Tho' the heart be weary, sad the day and long,
Still to us at twilight comes Love's old song,
Comes Love's old sweet song.

Blaine picked up again.

Even today we hear Love's song of yore,
Deep in our hearts it dwells forevermore.
Footsteps may falter, weary grow the way,
Still we can hear it at the close of day.
So till the end, when life's dim shadows fall,
Love will be found the sweetest song of all.

Kurt and Blaine sung the last verse together, gazing intently at each other while they sang.

Just a song at twilight, when the lights are low,
And the flick'ring shadows softly come and go,
Tho' the heart be weary, sad the day and long,
Still to us at twilight comes Love's old song,
Comes Love's old sweet song.

The last line of the song finished and there was a moment of stillness and silence between them both.

“Let’s do it.” Kurt stated. Blaine stared at him in confusion.

“Do what?”

“Let’s leave. Let’s go to China together, see the world. Let’s live our dreams.” Kurt had so much emotion in his eyes; Blaine knew he wasn’t kidding around. He knew this is serious.

“Are you sure, Kurt? Are you sure you’re ready to leave everything behind just for me? For us?” Blaine didn’t want to talk Kurt out of it, not really. Of course he wanted Kurt to come with him. But at the same time, there would be no turning back. Once they realized Kurt was gone, everyone would be looking for him.

“I want this more than anything, Blaine. I love you.” Kurt crawled forward on his knees, wrapping his arms around Blaine’s shoulders and hugging him close. Blaine pressed his lips to Kurt’s cheek.

“I love you too, Kurt.” He said, placing the lute next to him on the ground and pulling Kurt into his lap. He wrapped his arms around Kurt’s waist, just holding each other for a moment. It’s the first time they’ve actually said it out loud to each other like that. Blaine knew he was in love with Kurt for such a long time and he’d always guessed Kurt felt the same way, but they’d never said it. And now, it just feels like so much more. It feels like he’s giving the last piece of himself to Kurt and Kurt is doing the same.

Blaine threaded their hands together; smiling at how much taller Kurt is than him when he’s sitting in his lap like this. That is until Kurt leaned his head back on Blaine’s shoulder and Blaine pulled them both to the ground, backs brushing against dirt which wasn’t exactly the most comfortable, but Blaine didn’t mind. Kurt fit perfectly against his shoulder, nuzzling into his neck and just holding each other. Blaine felt like he could stay like this forever.

“This Friday, we’ll go.” Blaine said definitively and Kurt didn’t argue. He wanted to give Kurt time to change his mind, but he secretly wished they could leave together right now. Kurt moved up over Blaine, hovering over his chest and pressing their lips together. Blaine sighed into the kiss, moving his arm up behind Kurt’s neck and stroking along his jaw. Kurt smiled against his lips before pulling back, face slightly flushed and eyes shining happily.

“Friday.”

-----

“Kurt, where are you?” Blaine towed a mule along side him with bags full of necessities for the trip thrown over its’ back; food, water, clothes, etc. They were finally going to do it; they were finally going to run away together.

Except Kurt didn’t get away cleanly this time. The guards noticed when Kurt left. And now they were being followed, which definitely wasn’t part of the plan.

“Blaine, I’m here.” Kurt called, running through the trees of the forest towards him. It was their plan to meet up at the safe house, the shack in the forest, before heading off together.

“Quickly, we must hurry. They’re coming.” Blaine whispered, starting to walk.

“Duke von Teschen!” Shit. The soldiers sounded a lot closer then Blaine had realized. There was no way they were going to be able to outrun the soldiers in the dark, not with both of them and the mule. These were soldiers after all, physically built for these kinds of scenarios. Blaine made a decision and swung open the shack door. Kurt ran inside, pulling the mule along with him and led it to the opposite side of the shack. Blaine closed the door swiftly behind them.

Kurt pulled Blaine to him and they slid to the floor, backs to the wall. Blaine prayed that some God would make it that the soldiers didn’t find the shack, that the soldiers didn’t find them. Kurt fisted his hands into Blaine’s shirt desperately and nuzzled his face into Blaine’s neck.

“Make us disappear. Please Blaine, make us disappear.” Kurt sounded so desperate and broken. Blaine tried not to cry. He closed his eyes, evening out his breath and he tried to focus, tried to make them disappear so the soldiers wouldn’t find them. He’d never done it before. He’d never made a person disappear, definitely not two people. But he had to try.

“Duke von Teschen!” The guards were yelling in the forest and every time their screams cut into him, setting a fire to his concentration and his mind went racing trying to get it back. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t make them disappear. He felt Kurt’s tears against his neck and there was nothing he could do.

“Stop, there.” One of the men pointed to the shack. It was impossible to hide it but Blaine had hoped they’d run past and not notice. He was wrong. Suddenly he felt a flash of d�j� vu, that feeling of failure that he’d had in the shack with Kurt that he’d tried to push away. He had failed after all. The man in front swung open the door and immediately grabbed at Kurt, pulling him, no dragging him from Blaine’s embrace and out onto the forest floor. Blaine followed after him.

“Don’t do this!” Kurt sobbed, tears streaking down his face. Kurt knew what this meant. He knew it was over and he just wasn’t ready. He would never be ready for this. Blaine wrestled harder, moving forward a few steps and was able to take Kurt’s hand in his. He tried to thread their fingers together but they were pulled apart before he could get a solid grip.

“Let him go!” Blaine screamed, roared, as two men grabbed his arms. He shoved roughly at their forearms as he was held back.

“Let me go, let me go!” Kurt cried, trying to tear away the large hands on him. It was hopeless. He and Kurt were only teenagers, there was no way they could escape the soldiers’ grasp. The man moved to grab Kurt around the waist, pulling him farther away from Blaine.

“No! Kurt!” Blaine called after him, pushing forward with every last bit of strength in his body. His feet slid against the forest floor with effort but he made no progress.

“Please, let go of me! Blaine!” Kurt was looking at him through his tears, trying desperately to claw the hands off his body as he was being pulled farther away. Blaine couldn’t take his eyes off him. He tried to memorize every detail of him, tried desperately to think of something to say or something to do to make this better.

“Kurt! I’m sorry!” Blaine called cried out, unable to think of anything else. The men held him back and away from Kurt, and then shoved him harshly to the ground. He felt his back and head slam roughly against the ground and he briefly forgot where he was. And just like that, Kurt was gone. He tried to stand, to run after him but he was shoved roughly back to the ground again. He winced at the pain in his back and neck.

“Stay away from him, peasant, or next time we will arrest you.” The man spat in disgust. “And you’re family too.” He added before both men walked away, taking the mule with them, leaving Blaine alone on the forest floor.

Blaine felt tears prick his eyes. Of course: of course they’d threaten his family. They couldn’t just threaten him and leave it at that. Blaine would have risked his chances of going to prison if it meant he could be with Kurt for just a moment longer. But as much as he loved Kurt, he could not be the reason for his parents ending up in prison. He couldn’t, he loved them too much and he was not so selfish as to put his happiness before his family.

He leaned forward on the forest floor, bringing his hands to cover his face. He could feel dirt under his knuckles as he wept, the wetness seeping into his hands and running down his face. His knees and forearms felt damp against the moist soil, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. The sobbing increased as he fell onto his side, curling up into a fetal position.

This was it. This was truly the end. Blaine would never see Kurt again.