"You dont say?" Cooper asked, his blue eyes wide and innocent as he regarded his freshly scrubbed brother from across the marble topped breakfast bar. Blaine had gotten his work-out done early and finished showering just as Cooper was waking up. Blaine was casually getting breakfast stuff together for them, coffee supplies already left out by Kurt who had left for work a while ago.  "A reporter, huh?" 

The Cooper clan had spent the previous night at the house so they could see Uncle Blaine and Uncle Blaines pool.  Jessi and the kids had left early that morning to catch a play date with some neighbors before returning home, leaving the siblings to have a late breakfast together.  The family had been regularly visiting until recently, and this time Blaine had specifically asked Cooper for some personal time. Cooper was frankly relieved to get the invite. It was the first time in a while that hed felt welcome spending time with his brother. Blaine had been distant since the opening night of Coopers new film.
***
The movie premier had gone famously for Cooper, not so much for his little brother. The film had been amazing, Blaine reluctantly admitted when a bouncing Cooper clutched at his arm excitedly. Hed insisted that the couple stay for the after party. Not wanting to disappoint Cooper on his big night, Blaine had agreed.

He had managed to keep himself together for all of half an hour at the party before getting too anxious and dropping back into the safe anonymity of slave manners. The role of pretty arm-candy to Kurts successful designer persona was familiar, safe, and put Kurt firmly in charge of his care.  Kurt responded to Blaines behavioral cues with practiced ease, transitioning from friend and lover to possessive owner without skipping a beat.  Blaine had settled down after that, calm and politely smiling, gaze down, with a gentle hold on Kurts arm.

The peace had lasted until Cooper caught up with them.  Cooper had become visibly angry about Blaine acting like a slave and yelled at Kurt, which resulted in a subdued Blaine being left with Jessi while Kurt hauled Cooper away, furiously whispering to the actor as they walked. Blaine felt miserable for disappointing his older brother and being too weak to be able to maintain the behaviors Cooper had expected of him. Blaine curled in on himself a little, dropping back a step behind Jessi in perfect waiting for orders position.  He knew the hunched look wasnt attractive, but he felt like hed misbehaved and made people angry with him.  He couldnt stop the gut churning fear and nausea that tore at him for being such a failure. A good brother should be stronger than this. Cooper deserved better, and so did Kurt.

But if Kurt was disappointed in him, he didnt show it when he returned a few minutes later. He thanked Jessi and tugged Blaine over to the alcohol bar, sending him over to bring him a drink, then settling them both against a wall to people watch.  After a little while, he pulled Blaine gently against him, whispering in his ear how gorgeous he was, how lucky Kurt was to have the most amazing, desirable man at the party with him.  He stared daggers at anyone who walked too close to them, feeling Blaine relax against him in response to the soft reassurances and possessive behavior.  As Blaine calmed down, Kurts words warmed up, becoming dirtier, cataloging exactly what he was going to do to Blaine when they got home, howd he slowly unwrap him like the perfect present he was, nipping and licking his way down to his prize.

Blaine responded to the approval and heated words, smiling and returning the lusty gaze.  He caught Cooper staring across the room at him, apology in his eyes.  Blaine glared at his older brother, no longer concerned about what he thought and angry that Cooper had come down on him like that and made him feel like...less. He deliberately turned further into Kurt, who caught the exchange and tugged Blaine away to the dance floor.

Once there, locked chest to chest, Blaine picked up where Kurt had left off, whispering sweet obscenities in his ear as he nibbled at the soft flesh, reveling in the catch to Kurts breath and the way his lovers fingers clutched and scratched against his back. Blaine had this, he could do this, with the amazing, beautiful man that he was lucky enough to claim as his.  Kurt believed he was special, and he wasnt disappointed in Blaine at all.  Even if he was having some trouble with the damn party.

Blaine glanced around as Kurt moaned into his shoulder, seeing several admiring, and jealous, glances sent their way.  Many of the people at the party had recognized him on Kurts arm, and had offered the usual sickeningly high amounts of money to borrow the pretty slave.  It was well known in their circle that the famous creator of Hummel Designs never rented out his slave models and it had become something of a game in the community to see what price would finally break down Kurts walls.  The ridiculous offers were amusing and somewhat of an ego boost, but only because Blaine knew with all his soul that Kurt valued him far beyond mere money.  They danced for a few more songs before mutually deciding to head home where they created a much better ending to their night then the evening had offered.

Cooper, of course, had called to talk to Blaine and apologize the next day.  Blaine had cooly forgiven him, then ignored most of his calls and texts for a while, not really wanting to deal with his brother.   Hed finally broken the distance when a plain manila envelope on Kurts desk threatened to yet again rock Blaines world.  Suddenly, dumb games and one unfortunate party didnt seem important.
**

"A reporter, huh?" 

"Yeah.  He was supposed to be doing a piece on Kurt, but he just kept staring at me.  Next thing I know hes handing me his business card," Blaine continued, setting breakfast things out on the bar and watching his older sibling out of the corner of his eye warily. Cooper looked...smug.  While it was hardly an unusual expression for the narcissist, it generally meant Blaine was going to have the urge to smack him in the face with a trout in the very near future.

"So, did he get anywhere? I mean, I spent years tracking you down and I already knew all about you."  Cooper asked casually.  Too casually, Blaine decided.

"Yeah, actually, he really did.  He had pictures of me from way back.  Remember when I did that Heart cover in Fifth grade? He found pics of that." 

"Oh yeah, I remember that," Cooper smiled fondly and he reached across the bar to steal Blaines bacon.  Blaine rolled his eyes but added more to his plate.  "Your vocals were well enough, but your choreography was basic and you ran a half beat behind for the first third of the song."  Blaine sighed dramatically, but didnt bother responding to the jibe.  "Any idea how he got so much so quickly?" Cooper asked easily.

"Well, he is an investigative reporter, I guess he has ways."  Blaine picked at his eggs with a fork, a thought worming its way into his mind.

Blaine narrowed his eyes as he regarded his brother.  "He actually had a lot of photos; school pics, both grade and high school, and some...later shots." 

Cooper froze, his coffee cup halfway to his mouth.  "Like, from after Kurt bought you? Model stuff?"

"Well, that too, of course.  My modeling work is everywhere.  I mean just out of the rookery stuff.  You know, from the hotel.  Like right before service and a few of me actually working."  Cooper swallowed at that, paling slightly.

"Wow. Thats...disquieting.  But he hasnt submitting it or anything yet, right?" 

Blaine snorted.  "Of course not.  After all, that was the deal you made with Carson when you told him about me, right?"

Coopers eyes widened.  "He told you about that?"

"Nope.  You did, just now."  Blaine pushed his plate away angrily. He was so not up for eating anymore.  "What, you dont think Ive been through enough?  Or have you still not realized that I can make my own decisions?  Its a rare privilege for a slave, I know.   But its one Ive been lucky enough to have had for several years now, something I will never take for granted, and Im really getting tired of you stomping all over it!" 

Blaine shook his head.  "How did you even know about the article and Carson, anyway?"  As quickly as hed asked, Blaine knew.  The answer was obvious.  Blaine dropped his head into his hands, trying to absorb this new information.  "Kurt told you." 

"Easy, big guy.  It wasnt like that," Cooper countered immediately, coming around to wrap an arm over his shoulder.  Blaine didnt seem to notice.  "Kurt gave me a courtesy call to let me know a reporter was snooping around you so Id be prepared if he showed.  He told me the guys name and description so I could be ready and warn Jessi just in case he did manage to cross his Is and dot his Ts enough to track me down.  Any subsequent conversations I may or may not have had after that were all on me." 

Blaines whole body sagged with relief.  Cooper being high-handed and making major decisions on his behalf was really annoying but not unexpected.  The idea that Kurt had gone behind his back like that had hurt.  But there was the kids to think about, and Kurt extending a cautionary warning to the family was perfectly appropriate and in character for Blaines boyfriend.  Kurt did big picture better than Blaine, who was usually the stronger partner in the here and now aspect of their lives, keeping Kurt firmly grounded when he was overworking himself and stressing over impending jobs.

Blaine grabbed the plates and began cleaning, lost in thought.  Cooper came up next to him to help and Blaine worked around him. Cooper was just relieved he hadnt been kicked out of the room and resolved to wait until his brother had sorted things out in his head a little.  Hed interfered more than enough for the time being. After clean up was done, Blaine wandered outside to a shady area near the pool, plopping on a chair, his brother settling cautiously next to him.

"So, what did you tell him?" 

Cooper raised an eyebrow.  "Not much.  I mentioned that I had a vested interest in your life, is all.  And I told him your last name. Its hardly my fault if he figured out the rest.  And like you guessed, he promised me he wouldnt publish anything without your permission.  He didnt much seem to care what Kurt wanted, but I figured you two could work that out yourselves."  Blaine nodded.

"He told me hed support either decision.  And was completely unsurprised to hear I wanted to go ahead with it." 

"So, did you decide, then?" Cooper asked, leaning forward intently.

"Probably, yeah.  I would like it if you read the article, before you told me what your vote is.   I sent a copy of everything to Kurts family last week.  Ill call them later and see if they are okay with it.  Kurts dad did a stint in congress, and Id hate to cause him any trouble." 

Blaine got up, disappearing into the house briefly before returning long enough to hand a battered envelope to Cooper.   He then went back inside, allowing Cooper to read in peace.  Once in the living room, Blaine pulled out his phone, dialing Kurt without really thinking about it.

"Well, arent you a sound for sore ears? Whats up, babe?"  Kurt answered on the first ring, his tone warm and cheerful.

Blaine wiped at his suddenly teary eyes.  God he loved that man.  Stress and anger melted away, replaced by a slightly goofy smile as Blaine plopped onto the front-room couch.  "First of all, that was ridiculous.  And not much is going on at the moment.  Cooper and I just finished breakfast.  Oh, Cooper totally ratted to that reporter on me.  He all but sent an engraved announcement that we were related. Thats how Carson figured everything out so quickly. He didnt need to track me, just Cooper." 


"Son of a...Blaine, I told Cooper about Phillips.  Im so sorry. Ive just dealt with stalker reporters before and if the guy ever did connect the dots theres every chance hed go after Cooper and I was worried about the kids.  If Carson came close, theyd have to grow up without a mom when Jessi went to jail for killing the reporter." 

Blaine laughed.  "No, its fine.  That was smart of you and I dont mind.  Neither of us could have guessed that Cooper would decided to run off and share our relationship, handing the guy a birdseye view of my life." 

"Sooo, you two are okay, then?"

Blaine shrugged.  "As okay as we ever are, I guess.  He is what he is.  At least I can take comfort in his consistency.  He was a bullying know-it-all when we were kids and now that were adults he still is.  I guess hes worth it, mostly.  Hes family."  And how weird was it that Blaine could say that at this point in his life?  He smiled faintly.  "Anyway, I left him out back with the original information from Carson. Hes reading it now." 

"Do you want me to come home?"  Kurt asked.  Blaine shook his head before remembering Kurt wouldnt see it.

"No, Im okay.  You have a full schedule today. But thank you for asking, it means a lot." 

Kurt took him at his word.  "Alright. Just promise me youll let me know if you change you mind? Or you can come up here.  Wes is stuck in his office and Im sure he would love a chance to escape.  Distracting you from your troubles would make his day." 

Blaine chuckled at that.  "Im sure it would.  Ill consider it if Cooper gets insufferable."  He smiled fondly.  He and Wes were overdue to hang out.  Hed have to rectify that in the near future.  "So...what are you wearing?"  Kurt started laughing, his happy, musical voice warming Blaines heart.

Cooper leaned against the doorframe, watching his brother lounge on the couch.  Blaine laughed and flirted lightly as he chatted on his phone, presumably talking with Kurt.  He looked relaxed and content, resting on his belly, knees bent, swaying his feet idly above him as he talked. It awed him how resilient Blaine was.

After reading all that his brother had endured, Cooper had painstakingly gone through each painful picture.  The ones from their childhood made him smile a little, remembering the cheerful little ball of kinetic crazy that had been young Blaine.  Hed shown so much talent so early in life.  Cooper had been a tad jealous, okay, maybe more than a tad, and he might have overcompensated for the emotion with his not-quite-constructive criticism.  But he truly had loved his little brother, and wanted the best for him.

Then of course, there were the later photos.  Cooper didnt know if hed ever be able to get those horrifying pictures out of his mind. Theyd shown in graphic detail exactly what Blaines purpose had been at the hotel, revealing him in various stages of undress, usually kneeling, crouched next to some obviously eager stranger.

He looked painfully thin and gaunt in those photos, curled into a tiny ball at his renters feet.  Then Cooper had come to the last hotel photo.  Blaine was naked, bent over a bed, hands bound behind his back with a belt, and legs splayed uncomfortably wide. Someones hand tugged at one reddened ass cheek to spread him open for the camera.  Blaines head rested sideways on the bed, turned so that you could see the upturned part of his face.  He wore a resigned expression, eyes hollow as he waited for whatever was about to be done to him.  And that was the point when Cooper and his breakfast had parted ways.

The rest of the photos had been taken after hed been bought from the hotel, and evidence of Kurts care clearly showed.  Cooper had grabbed all the remaining pics and gone in search of his brother.

Cooper realized he owed Kurt a serious apology.  Being aware in the abstract of what had happened to Blaine and seeing actual evidence of it were two different things.  Blaine had to have been a mess by the time Kurt got him.  It was a wonder there was anything left to salvage.  Part of that was a testament to Blaines endurance, and being brave enough to risk himself with something as potentially destructive as trust.  And Kurt was, well he was Kurt.  Beautiful outside and in, with his angelic face and expressive blue eyes.  It was no wonder Blaine was willing to take the chance and allowed himself to attempt to trust one more time.  And Kurt had earned that trust, probably many times over, Cooper imagined, before Blaine was anything like the strong, confident person Cooper had finally found.  And dangerous, to boot.  Cooper frequently forgot that under the pretty clothes and gym-bunny muscle there was a trained fighter.  He imagined it must have been therapeutic, learning how to fight.  Even if Blaine wasnt allowed to hurt anyone, or even wanted to, it probably felt good knowing that he was capable of wrecking the people who might hurt him.

After seeing the hotel photos, Cooper wasnt sure he could have brought Blaine back from the brink.  He couldnt imagine the time, faith, and patience required on both mens parts to get through it.  Cooper was never going to judge Kurt again for how he handled Blaine.  Getting to the point theyd reached, Kurt had to have learned by now what worked best for them, even it seemed mean or controlling to Cooper.  And Blaine had his own coping mechanisms and knew what he needed to keep himself together.

The couple trusted each other implicitly; it was high time Cooper start to do the same.  And that, Cooper realized, was exactly what Jessi had been trying to tell him all this time.  He groaned to himself, yet another person hed have to apologize to.  And Jessi never let him live it down when she was right. He smiled at the thought.

After repeated good byes, each getting sappier then the previous one, Blaine finally hung up the phone.  "About time," Cooper told him, walking into the room.  "I was beginning to think that I would need insulin if you two got any more sugary-sweet." 

"No one forced you to listen in," Blaine grumped at him, though he sat up, making room on the couch.  Cooper plopped next to him, waving the handful of photos.  "I thought maybe youd tell me about these?" 

The wary look in Blaines turned to the warm chocolate brown of amusement when he saw the pictures were all from his modeling.   Blaine took the first, smiling softy.  "This was my very first runway experience, the Mayflower Fashion Show.  Kurt was just beginning to build a name for himself and I was so freaking terrified.  I think my shadow was enough to make me jump back then.  That was also my first run in with my Jujutsu instructor, Kitten.  Kurt hired her as my bodyguard.  God, look at how scrawny I was!"  He laughed a little.

"How long was that after Kurt bought you?"  Cooper asked curiously, eyeing the image of a smiling, if slightly nervous, Blaine as he posed at the opening of the curtains.

"Oh, umm, just under two months.  I mean, I know I look much better than in those...other images, but still."  Blaine lifted an arm and flexed, showing off the defined, corded muscle that was absent in the old images.  Cooper rolled his eyes at the display.

The brothers went through the various shots one by one, watching the progression from Scrawny Blaine with his cautious smiles and scared eyes to the slightly more muscular version sporting a flirty gaze and a wicked grin, to the last ones depicting full, well-defined arms and abs, this Blaine oozing confidence and charm as he stood frozen mid stroll down the runway.  They had finished the pictures and moved on to the latest film scripts Cooper had been offered when the doorbell rang.

Blaine looked surprised, but hopped up to answer.  As soon as he opened the door a middle aged woman threw her arms around him, holding him smotheringly tight and not even trying to hide her tears as she sobbed into his chest.  She walked him backwards into the house, not letting up on her deathgrip for a second.

"Oomph," Blaine grunted at the impact.  "Carol, please, Im okay.  Its alright. Im good now.  Really.  Please stop crying, Im fine. Better than fine, great even."  Blaine was patting the woman on the back, continuing to offer his slightly breathless reassurances.  Cooper figured his intervention wasnt necessary and stood back, waiting patiently while his brother tried and failed to extricate himself from the womans grip.

An older man in a ball cap crammed his way around the hugging pair so that he could get into the house.  He took the two in, looking amused as he pulled his cap off to rub at his bald head.  Blaine looked up at him pleadingly but the man only grinned.  "You think this is bad, you should have seen her when she read that thing," the man told Blaine.  "She had me arranging to make sure I had a manager covering my business while she got us packed within the hour." 

He glanced over at Cooper and walked over, offering his hand.  "Hi. Im Burt Hummel, Kurts dad.  Im guessing youre the guy who sucker punched my son in the gut?"

Cooper flinched at the unfortunate, if accurate, description.  He looked over to Blaine, who had succeeded in disentangling himself from Carol, but now had his arms crossed over his chest and a disapproving look on his face.  Yep, no help there.  Apparently, Blaine was still mad at him about that.

"Uh, I apologized," Cooper offered weakly.  "And Blaine put me in a choke hold."  He shook Burts hand with some trepidation, relieved when the big mans grip was firm and brief instead of joint crushingly tight. Cooper was fond of his fingers.

"Yeah, he told me."  Burt grinned over at Blaine who smiled back before hastily putting a reassuring arm around Carols waist when she started getting sniffly again.  "The beautiful lady your little brother is putting the moves on over there is my wife, Carol, Kurts stepmom."  She waved, smiling politely.  He turned to Blaine. "You mind if we move this to the kitchen?  Cause Im starving."

"Of course," Blaine broke away and led them that direction.  "Should I call Kurt and tell him youre here?  If he was expecting you to visit he didnt mention it to me and I just got off the phone with him a little bit ago.  Um, we have sandwich stuff, chicken tacos, and spinach lasagna."  The last part came out slightly muffled as Blaine buried his head in the fridge.

"Nah, we didnt tell him.  Id rather just talk to you first if your okay with that.  And chicken tacos sound great."  Carol concurred so he took the pan out.   

Blaine warmed up the oven and set out some pita chips and bread, salsa, and hummus on the breakfast bar to graze on while they waited.  Given the way both Hummels went at it, they hadnt stopped to eat on the way.  Coopers stomach reminded him that his breakfast hadnt stayed with him and he helped himself to the hummus.  

"So, umm what did you want to talk to me about?" Blaine asked, grabbing a pita.  "Im assuming the article."

"You assume right.  You sure you want to do this, kid?  It has the potential to stir the pot a little."

Cooper snorted at that, though he eyed Blaine with interest.  He seemed to respond well to the older man.  Cooper remembered Blaine had mentioned that Kurts family adored him.  It seemed he hadnt been overstating.  It made sense though.  A moral code like Kurts had to come from somewhere, and while kinder treatment of slaves was become more and more the thing, it hadnt quite made as big a dent in the Midwest population as it had on the coasts.

"Ive given it a lot of thought and Im sure that I want to," Blaine replied, his eyes glued to the salsa as he took a swipe.  "And Kurt is on board. Im going to assume Cooper doesnt mind since he gave my name to the reporter in the first place."

"What?" Carol glared at Cooper.  "You two are grown men and make your own choices, but if you were my son and you pulled something like that Id swat you hide." 

"Noted," Cooper replied.  He treated her to his best Disney Prince smile, complete with a full dose of his saphire blue gaze, gratified when her eyes went round and she gasped slightly.  He flinched when a rolled ball of pita bread clocked him square in the forehead, breaking the spell.

"Stop that," Blaine told him, shaking the other half of the pita at him threateningly.  He turned back to Burt when Cooper looked properly chastised, grinning when he heard the oof as Carol smacked his brother in the belly.

"Ive been meaning to talk to you both, though I didnt expect it to be face to face."  The chime of the oven briefly distracted him and he put the tacos in.  "I needed to know your opinion on this.  Honestly, more than likely no one will read it, or care, or it will get buried before anyone even gets the chance to see it. But still, if youre uncomfortable..."

"Im not," Burt interrupted.  "This isnt about me.  Its about you and Kurt.  I know its your life, but hes the one whose gonna be held responsible if there is fallout.  You belong to him, and any response, good or bad, is gonna hit him square in the teeth.  Hes a tough kid...man.  But you know how he gets.  If things get rough, I need to know youll be there to help him keep it together.  Im not sure you really get just how much he depends on you." 

"I dont think I did, until that fallout after I met Cooper that first time."  Blaine admitted. Burt nodded knowingly.  Blaine had talked to him about the whole thing after the fact.  He wasnt sure why.  Maybe for advice, or out of guilt, or maybe blame or absolution.  Burt had listened to the whole thing, informed Blaine that hed screwed the pooch royally, and told him he was proud of him for manning up and taking the necesssary steps to fix things. Blaine remembered the conversation clearly.  You screw up, you admit it, grovel a little and make up, then you spent the rest of your life making different mistakes and do it all over again.  Thats what being in a relationship is about.  Loving and trusting each other enough to know that you both will screw up, but when you do, the other person will still be there, still with you even if theyre hurt or think you suck at that particular moment."  Blaine had laughed at that, hearing Burt clear his throat, pretending he hadnt made the accidental innuendo.

"I think I do, now."  Blaine told Burt, seeing only concern in that frank gaze.  "And I cant promise I wont freak out, or have panic attacks.  Because that still happens as it is.  But I can promise I wont leave him hanging.  Ill be here no matter what." 

"Then if its my blessing youre wanting for this, or my support, you got both."  He glanced over at Carol who nodded agreement.

"Its never a bad thing to mix things up a little. We as a species tend to get too complacent and set in our ways," she told him, smiling warmly.

Blaines phone beeped and he reached over, grinning foolishly at the kissy face image Kurt had sent him.  He texted back that he missed him and it was in Kurts best interest to make it a short day at the office, deciding to leave Burt and Carols presence a surprise.  He knew if he didnt encourage him to come home Kurt would stay late so Blaine and Cooper could have private brother time.  Blaine didnt really want that, but they both knew that Cooper didnt completely open up when Kurt was around so he tended to make himself scarce.

As soon as he sent the message to Kurt, Blaine wrote a brief message to a number hed never used but had memorized a dozen times over, pressing send before he could rethink it.
****

A phone vibrated silently, shaking the uneven table it rested on in what could charitably be called a dive bar.  Its owner set down the paper he had been reading, checking the message absently.  The man raised an eyebrow at the number that popped up. He recognized it, of course.  Hed bribed his contact at Verizon $500 to leak it to him.

Go for it.

Carson Phillips grinned wolfishly and opened his laptop, sending the email hed been holding on to for weeks. This was going to be fun.