Kurt missed the sound of Blaines voice. He didnt speak much on their way back through the forest to Kurts village and when he did it was only when necessary. His voice was quiet but steady, barely sounding above the calls of birds. The only solace Kurt found in the long stretches of silence was when night would fall and Blaine would sing. The joy that Kurt felt, curled up in the tent they had bought with them, alone as Blaine insisted, was tinged with sadness as he listened to sorrowful songs he couldnt understand.

With every day they travelled he became more and more aware of how fragile what he and Blaine had shared was. Everything was so new and Blaines silence only reaffirmed his fears that everything could fall apart. The world theyd found in the Green City was idealistic, a haven in the rising tide of war. As he walked wearily beside him day by day the itch to reach out and hold his hand grew too much to bear. Soon the landscape seemed more familiar and as dusk fell on the fourth day they both stood stony faced on the outskirts of the village, hands tightly linked between them.

They walked into the town centre, the quarter eerily quiet. "Kurt look" Blaine whispered pointing to the fountain in the middle of the square. "Its... running." Kurt said slowly, pace quickening as they approached it. "I thought you said there was a drought Kurt." Blaine said suspiciously, dipping his fingertips into the water. The distrust in Blaines voice stung but he looked back at him in desperate confusion. "There was! I swear!"

"Then what-"

"I dont know!" Kurt hissed. Kurt was just as confused as Blaine was. When he had left the ground was as dry as dust, food was scarce and many were sick. He looked around the deserted square, as if the answer to the waters sudden return lay before him in the darkened buildings and the old stonemasonry.

"Lets just- go see my dad." He stalked off in the direction of his home, Blaine following apprehensively behind. He was on edge, almost tiptoeing through a village that was foreign to him. He wanted to apologise for accusing Kurt of lying, but turning up after risking almost everything and nothing being wrong made him wary and tense. His hackles were raised, instinct telling him to stay ready for attack. A part of him marvelled at the quaint settlement, it was where Kurt lived, his home. Another part of him despised knowing that it was the place he would inevitably lose him to, when the time came. He almost didnt realise that they had stopped outside a small cottage and Kurt was raising his hand to knock on the door. He paused to smile reassuringly at him, looking nervous himself, before his hand made contact with the wood.

After a moment or two a shuffling could be heard coming from inside and Blaine frantically tried to make himself look small. "Do you have any idea what time- Kurt?" Burt said as he pulled the door open and saw them both standing on his doorstep.  "Kurt!" He cried with tears in his eyes and Blaine stepped back quickly as Kurt was engulfed in a bone crushing hug. "I thought you were-" Burt stopped himself, unwilling to even let himself think about the fact he had thought Kurt was gone for good, not when he was standing right in front of him. "I know." Kurt said muffled into his fathers shoulder. Blaine shuffled awkwardly behind them trying not to intrude. "Im not even angry kid." Burt added his voice thick. "Im just so damned relieved."

"Im sorry," Kurt couldnt stop crying "I had to do something I couldnt just-" Burt shushed him rocking him back and forth in his arms. Blaine was halfway to reaching out to Kurt but thought better of it, but the sadness and sympathy in his eyes caught Burts attention.

Kurt swiped quickly beneath his eyes, determined. "Um this is- this is Blaine Taliesin." Blaine bowed respectfully and swallowed. He didnt want to embarrass himself in front of Kurts father so he spoke carefully "Its an honour to meet you." Burt looked at him with a mixture of wariness, confusion and amusement. Blaine twitched under the scrutiny but didnt look away. He looked to Kurt who looked encouragingly at his father. Burt nodded and shook Blaines hand. "Well," He said to the both of them "I guess you better come in."

.oO0Oo.

"So youre a dragon?" Burt asked and Kurt is trying desperately not to laugh. Blaine looked ridiculous squished into one of the soft armchairs in the living room, resting a cup of sweet tea on his knee all whilst patiently trying to tell Burt about himself and where he comes from. Blaine also looked completely terrified. Before hed crossed the threshold hed been adamant that he should stay outside, allow Kurt and his father time to talk but Kurt saw through him. The cottage was small and filled with trinkets and ornaments. Being almost completely unable to say no to Kurt, Blaine reluctantly followed him inside, squeezing his wings to him so tightly and making such small careful steps that his muscles began to ache. Kurt also suspected that Blaine desperately didnt want Burt to dislike him and he was right. Every word he said was carefully chosen almost so much so that he could be visibly be seen to think about every sentence before he said it.

Kurt barely stifled his giggle when Burt patted Blaines knee as he stood and he almost threw half his tea over himself with how much he had jumped. Burt gave him the look as he approached the kitchen and caught his eye, the look that said ‘we need to talk in a simple narrowing of the eyes. Burt appraised Kurt with a tilted head as he stood with him, taking in his soft smile and bright eyes. Something had changed, Kurt shone, had shrugged off the dullness and loneliness that had settled on him like dust over the years he had spent living in the village. "Are you-" Burt started, unable to find exactly the right words but continuing anyway, the sentiment too important "are you and Blaine-" he said his name funnily, like he was attempting to pronounce it in the same way Blaine did, it made Kurt smile. "Are you and Blaine involved?" Kurt blushed. "Umm yeah we kinda are." He said looking down at his hands.

"Kinda?"

"Well things dont really work the same way where he comes from and its complicated."

"Sounds shifty to me kid." Burt commented suspiciously.

"No, no its I - its true I promise. Look do you need a character reference? Hes smart and kind and funny and hes been through so much. Hes a leader where he comes from, he has two children..."

"He has children?"

"Well theyre like his children, theyre orphans that he took in and now he cares for them like they were his own. Hes so gentle and strong and he saved my life and helped me get here." Burt nodded but his suspicions remained. "I dunno kid, all that sounds a little far fetched. You sure hes told you the truth?"

"A little far fetched!" Kurt exclaimed "Hes got wings and a tail and horns sticking out of his forehead yet you find the part where hes kind and looks after two young children far fetched oh."

The worst part is that Kurt could see what Burt meant. Blaine could look formidable, dark and powerful and fierce. Kurt remembered how scared he had been when hed first laid eyes on him, his posture stiff and poised for attack, eyes a stark amber and the pupils narrowed into slits. But Blaine had also been the one to cradle him softly, to tell him it was all going to be okay, to mend him, to help him, to bring him into his home, to give himself to him, to love him. They hadnt said the words but just how upset Blaine had been when he had thought Kurt was in love with another proved enough. He didnt know if there was another way to say it in Blaines language but Kurt most definitely loved Blaine. Thats how he knew Blaine was telling the truth.

"I know what he looks like." Kurt said, staring through the gap in the kitchen door to where Blaine sat uncomfortably in his chair, sniffing at his tea and wrinkling his nose at it. No more sweet tea for Blaine, Kurt thought idly. "But I know him. Its probably weird for you, complete stranger and hes half dragon but look at him." He pointed to the crack in the door and Burt sniggered as Blaine took a cautious sip of his tea, eyes popping wide and then sticking his tongue out in revulsion at the taste of it. He looked around quickly for somewhere to put it and looked at the beverage as if it had offended him. "I guess he isnt a fan of sweet tea." Burt said before leaving to retrieve the cup. "Are you finished?" He asked him and Blaine tried not to nod too vehemently. "Yes thank you, it was lovely." Burt tried not to laugh.

.oO0Oo.

They talked well into the night about everything and nothing until they even considered talking about the drought but when they asked how and why the water had come back Burt simply shrugged. It had suddenly begun to run again, filling the nearby river and ponds. As Burt spoke a prickly feeling of dread began to rise beneath his skin. "Well then-" He cleared his throat "Ill be leaving tomorrow morning."

"You will? We will silly." Kurt said laughing.

"No Kurt," Blaine said seriously "this is your home I cant ask you to-"

"Youre not asking Im telling you. Im going with you." Kurt said adamantly clutching at Blaines hand. "But your dad Kurt and it wont be safe for you with me, you know that."

"I dont care!" Kurt shouted and stood up.

"I do." Both Blaine and Burt replied quietly in unison and Burts respect for Blaine grew tenfold. He could see it, that Blaine would do anything to keep Kurt safe, even if it meant being away from, saying goodbye.

"This isnt happening." Kurt cried "Youre not leaving without me, not when-"

There was a deafening scream and chaos descended. They ran to the window and in the darkness encroached figures, striding into the village with towering dragons on iron leashes. Fire engulfed everything and people were forced to flee into the streets and surrounding forest. "It was a trap." Blaine said hurriedly, searching through his things. "The Morrigan. Were not the only ones she mustve delivered the prophecy to but she must have foreseen this ages ago and told the warlocks weeks if not months before. We never wouldve had time." Blaine stood quickly and rushed back to the window, strapping a sword around his waist. "What? Blaine youre not making any sense." Kurt said desperately. "The drought. Kurt, the entire thing was probably a ploy; the Morrigan probably saw it all. She probably knew Id meet you, that wed become a part of this. The warlocks probably caused the drought attempting to lure me here, knowing this was where you lived. She probably told them about the war and let slip about us, about me. The warlocks have a kill or be killed mentality. What better way to start a war than to strike first, take down the weakest of the leaders of one of the most prominent dragon clans."

"The Morrigan she-"
"No she just does what she wants, meddles where she can, she didnt start this. But she can influence its end."

"Blaine what do we do." Kurt asked quickly, terrified and desperate but willing to do anything to protect his loved ones.

"We give them what they want." He said, eyes shifting, pupils narrowing into slits as he prepared to fight. Blaine kissed him hard and bruising but before Kurt could protest, cling to him and keep him from leaving, Blaine was unsheathing his sword and throwing open the door, disappearing into fire and smoke.