“The man who is swimming against the stream knows the strength of it.” - Woodrow Wilson

Kurt watched his husband from his bed made of chairs. Blaine's face was recognizable again, the bandages had come off, the bruises had faded, and there were now only scars where gashes had once been. He was sleeping so soundly, without the help of sedatives or painkillers, and had lost the horrible whining noise that was the result of his nose being broken and healing. It was time to move Blaine out of this room and into something more permanent, but, for some reason, Kurt was having a hard time making that final call. He could have probably done it a few days prior, but each day he made an excuse, and now he was out of excuses to make.

The little voice within him, id, ego, or whatever it was - he had only read that book on old psychology theories once before returning it to the library, told him that it was probably because moving Blaine into a permanent residence would make things permanent, and Kurt wasn't terribly sure if that was fair to Blaine. Finavar had told him that the council didn't want Blaine to reside in the common apartments, and so they had actually had a home built just outside the capital for them. It didn't make any sense to Kurt, who had witnessed the initial news reports on the Tides and seen just how devastating the Others had been to humanity. There was nothing they could fear from Blaine, and yet they did. Enough, at least, to decide to keep him out of town as much as possible. However, Blaine was an absolute kitten at heart - playful, curious, and loving. Regardless of what evils the Others had committed against his family in the past, Kurt knew that Blaine wouldn't have come all the way below the ocean to just create chaos. There was only one reason Blaine was there, and it was him.

Which led Kurt to another set of thoughts that had him concerned. If Blaine had come all that way for Kurt, what if he became tired of Kurt one day? What if they grew apart? What would happen to Blaine then? In Kurt's mind, he wasn't likely to ever tire or fall out of love with Blaine, but he worried that he wouldn't be enough for his husband to be happy with either, and Kurt just couldn't figure out how he would, on his own, be able to replace all that Blaine had given up to be there with him. Friends, children, a job he seemed to like, a home, and, most of all, a community that accepted him for what he was. It was a fair amount to stack up against just one man, and yet Blaine had chosen Kurt over it all. That was a lot of pressure on him to ensure that Blaine was happy.

Kurt couldn't even seem to figure out how to find food that Blaine liked down below.

Still, looking at Blaine, Kurt wanted nothing more than to be able to curl up beside him. Nothing was more inviting than Blaine's side. Kurt knew how much heat he radiated, how he smelled of security, and how Blaine would hold him, and it had dug hooking needles into his heart to watch Blaine sleep as he recovered and not be able to cuddle up alongside him. Moving Blaine to a home they could share would allow Kurt to be able to do that.

“Mmmm-grung…” Blaine huffed out, followed by a series of sleepy snuffles. His body twitched in sleep and Kurt knew that he was dreaming. He had watched him so many times before, and since weaning Blaine off the sedatives, Blaine seemed to dream with more regularity. It was a relief to be able to see that though. Before, Blaine's sleep was dead and lifeless, such that Kurt would regularly get up from his chairs to make sure Blaine was still breathing in slumber.  

“I have the information you requested,” Vila's voice intruded into his thoughts and Kurt looked to the door where she stood.  

“Thank you,” Kurt grunted, forcing his aching body to stand and go collect the paper from her. “Did they say anything else?”

“No. Just that your items have been relocated to this residence.”

Kurt nodded and Vila walked off with that little bit of acknowledgment. He looked over the paper, the map to what would be his new home. His and Blaine's. It was just by the field where he had spent so much time practicing his archery. A nice enough location - not that Kurt had yet discovered a place in this world that wasnt beautiful. Kurt's right arm had gotten soft in the time he had spent in this room, waiting for Blaine to recover. He couldn't recall the last time he had gone so long without shooting off an arrow, and he knew the first time he went to practice again that his arm would be sore.

Eventually, after staring blankly at the paper before him for awhile, Kurt did shuffle back to his self made bed and dozed off, dreaming of the forest where he used to hunt. Remnants of memory tricked him into feeling the cold of the winter forest, and smelling the balsam, spruce, and tamarack trees that grew up in small clusters on the prairie. His boots would crunch as he walked, stepping on the mix of snow and twigs as he sought out his prey. Pudding would sometimes find him out there, threading herself around his feet despite being so tall for a dog. On those occasions he would scold her for being so noisy and also working to trip him up, yet he could never stay mad at that dog, Blaines dog, because, like Blaine, she was always full of good intentions and sweetness.  

"Kurt?"

He winced, seeing Blaine now in his dream, and wondering how he had crept up on him so easily. Blaine was many things but a silent stepper, he was not. Regardless, Kurt smiled his way and set a finger to his lips, because something inside him told him a deer was nearby.

"Kurt?"

Didnt Blaine understand that he needed to be quiet? Again he pressed a finger to his lips and then crouched, the deer suddenly before him in a clearing where a moment ago it had been full of trees. He pulled an arrow from his quiver and lined it up, holding in a breath as he aimed.

"Kurt?"

His eyes snapped open, and the dream was gone, though Blaine was still there, crouched in front of him and gently rubbing Kurts arm. "..uh?"

"You were twitching and murmuring in your sleep... I was afraid youd fall off this... setup you have going."

Kurt blinked the sleep from his eyes, refocusing on Blaine, the real one, in front of him now. "Oh god... that position has to hurt. Stand up. Sit.."  he argued upon seeing the way Blaines face contorted with the effort of bending over by Kurt. Kurt sat himself up quickly, making space for Blaine on a chair beside him, which his husband held onto with a hand as he maneuvered his body into it to sit as Kurt beckoned him to.

"Ill be fine," Blaine grumbled as Kurt checked him over, making sure the casts on his hands and legs were still intact and not cracked. "I think youre making too big a fuss over me. It only took me a little while to be able to walk again after all. My bones cant be that bad."

"Mmmhmm..." Kurt huffed, ignoring Blaines attempts to shoo him away from his rib bindings. "And just how long do you think youve been here for?"

"One... maybe two weeks?" Blaine offered, reaching back behind his head to rub it as he thought about the question.

Kurts jaw fell away from his face as he looked up at Blaine and then lifted his head up to look Blaine square in the eyes as he prepared himself to offer Blaine the truth. "Try two months."

Blaines mouth hung open, eyes becoming rounder as he looked to Kurt to see if it was a joke and then swallowing back his breath with a gulp as he realized that Kurt wasnt lying. "Two months? TWO? Oh god... I mean... I knew I slept a lot... but I didnt know..."

"For the first week all you did was sleep," Kurt sighed, remembering how little he slept in turn, not wanting to miss Blaine waking... if he did. "And then you would wake up for a little bit at a time and sleep a day or two between those instances..."

"Kurt… I didnt even realize..."

"It got better once we slowly weaned you off the sedatives and painkillers though... I mean. Of course you were sleeping so much with that in your system, plus the fact that your body was focusing on fixing... "

"Youve been here, in this little room, for two months? Kurt..."

Kurt shrugged, glancing towards the bed that was now void of Blaine. "You came all this way for me. It was the least I could do."

"I missed Christmas."

Kurt blinked and looked back at Blaine curiously, brow perking upwards.

"You always liked that time of year."

The corner of Kurts mouth twitched up of its own accord as he thought back to the effort the community, and himself in turn, put into Christmas. Even though they were surrounded by trees, they would still chop down a few to put up and decorate in the public buildings, and Kurt had made an effort to find a nice small one for their own cabin, threading popcorn with string and using crafts made by the kids as ornaments. Blaine would discover toys on runs to gift the children with and Kurt would make their friends new clothing they needed out of the hides of animals he had killed. They would host a dinner in their home, with Kurt using up many of the rations he had stored away throughout the year for the occasion, and exchange gifts. Every year, Blaine would find him a new phone or music player, and Kurt would make Blaine a new notebook, bound in leather, for him to make his notes in about the animals and people he cared for.  

"I didnt even know... the seasons dont change down here."

"Really?" Blaine asked, looking towards the door. There was no window in the room, and so he had not yet seen any glimmer of what lay outside.

Kurt nodded. "They keep it temperate all year long. No rain, no snow, no clouds... just a fake blue sky. Its never too hot, or too cold."

"Weird..." Blaine uttered and then shrugged up his shoulders. "I guess Ill have to get used to not complaining about the cold."

Kurt let out a small chuckle and then pinched his lips back together, standing up as he reached for Blaines hands. "Come on. One last clean up and then well get you in some clothing and Ill show you our new home."

Blaine was nothing if not grateful for being dressed, and if it had been up to Kurt, he would have been dressed a long time ago. He knew the Ilu were as asexual as they came, completely disinterested in Blaines body in that sense, and they very rarely sired Halflings, but Kurt still didnt like that he had to be exposed all the time, and he fathomed that Blaine probably felt the same, even if he didnt say as much given how eager Blaine was to pull on the clothing Kurt had ordered for him. It was cotton, simple and loose, so that Blaine was comfortable. In addition, Kurt gave him another quick beard and hair trim, and then bade farewell to the little room that had been their prison for the past two months as he escorted Blaine out into the main hall, and out the front door.

Blaine took in a small gasp as he first adjusted to the light, and then to the capital before him, eyes once again forming into saucers as he took it all in. Again his mouth hung open, but this time in wonder instead of shock. Kurt followed his gaze over the buildings that continued on for miles, to the field and forest beyond it. Blaine paused in place and Kurt let him, standing aside him patiently before he squeezed his hand to let him know he was good to keep walking.

“Are you sure we're under water?”

Kurt smiled weakly and nodded Blaine's way. “Yeah.  Kind of… unreal huh?”

“No kidding. I can't even…How is this possible?”

“Magic.”

“Yeah… yeah…”

Their walk was slow. Blaine needed occasional breaks and during those points Kurt pointed out the different things around them while Blaine sat to catch his breath. The tea house, the training center, the different markets, all of it - excluding the open bathing area which he saw Blaine look towards with ever widening eyes. Kurt still couldn't look that way without blushing, though it seemed his husband had no such problem, even turning his head to continue to look at them as they passed by.

“Uh... Kurt?”

“Yeah. I know.”

As they walked, Kurt couldn't help but notice the stares they got from others. The Ilu, who had worked on Blaine, didn't pay him any mind, but the rest watched and whispered. Purebloods pulled away from them, even if they were already on the other side of the street, and the Halflings gawked. Kurt held back the trembling threatening to rise within him - outraged on Blaine's behalf, and instead walked taller with his chest puffed out, eyes glaring back at them all in challenge.  

They reached the newly built home, made just for them, and Kurt opened the door for Blaine who trudged in, eyed the chairs set by a table, and went to sit directly in one. It was the longest stretch of walking he had done, and while Kurt was proud of him for it, he also knew it couldn't have been easy.

“You want to just rest there while I check this place out?” Kurt suggested, getting a weary nod in response.

The home was made with the same floorplan as his mother's home was. There was an entry that opened to both sides - one with the table and chairs that connected to a kitchen that was already stocked for them, and one side with a living area that led back to what would be their bedroom, which already had Kurt's clothing along with a few sets of clothing made to Blaine's size hung up in the wardrobe. His quiver and bow were hung up in the entryway, and the books he had left at his apartment, homework from Mab, were sitting on a table beside the couch in their living area. It was as open as his apartment had been, yet, with two people intended to occupy it, it seemed so much more homey.

“Kurt. This dining and kitchen area is bigger than our whole cabin was…” Blaine commented, having caught his breath, upon Kurt's return to him.

“They believe in comfort,” Kurt noted as he went to the kitchen to collect two glasses which he filled with water for them both, holding one out to Blaine who took it greedily and chugged it down.

“Well… it's nice they have that option… being comfortable that is.”

Kurt helped Blaine to their room, where again Blaine made mention of the opulence as Kurt showed him the bath and how to use the faucets there. Then he helped Blaine lay down and no sooner than he had, Blaine was patting the space beside him.

Kurt hesitated, and he couldn't figure out why as he finally crawled up into the spot beside Blaine and finally… FINALLY… nestled up alongside Blaine, ever mindful that Blaine was still healing and that he had to be careful where he set himself. His heart raced as he looked Blaine up and down, ensuring that he was well supported and that he wasn't putting any strain on his body anywhere. Then his heart lurched upwards and settled, matching time with Blaine's pulse that he could now feel through his skin. This was home. This was real comfort.

“These sheets are softer than anything I've ever felt before…”

“Yeah... they're pretty nice,” Kurt admitted, fingering the white cloth below them that he often imagined was made of clouds and silk.

“And these pillows don't smell like the chicken coops…”

“They stuff them with something puffy… not feathers.”

“Do we even need a blanket without the cold?”

Kurt smirked, reaching up to press a finger gently against Blaine's lips to silence his line of questions. “Rest. You had a long walk.”

Blaine complied and they napped together, Kurt reveling in the sleep. Too long he had been forcing himself to rest on those hard, wooden things the Ilu had in their center, and never for very long as he wanted to make sure he was always available for Blaine when he was awake. In fact, Kurt napped so long, and so soundly, that when he did wake up, it was Blaine who was up before him, running the water into the tub and adding soap to make a mountain of bubbles - some of which had floated off the pile and were hovering around the tub until they popped into nothingness.

“What're you doing? You want a bath already?” Kurt murmured, hugging the pillow to him that Blaine had been resting on and inhaling his scent. Blaine didn't quite smell as Kurt remembered him, probably because of the different oils and soaps that were used on him, but his sweat still smelled the same. A blend of salt and freshly tilled dirt - which sounded unappealing but was heavenly as far as Kurt was concerned.

“No. It's for you.”

“You think I smell?”

“You've only been giving yourself washdowns with rags while you've been ensuring I've been thoroughly scrubbed.”

Kurt held Blaine's gaze and clucked his tongue down. “So I stink.”

Blaine chuckled, the sound so beautifully musical that it lit up Kurt's heart as he sat up and then ambled over to the tub, where he stripped himself down and stepped in. It had been so long since he'd had a proper bath, and he groaned in delight as he sat down and back in the tub and shut his eyes. “Thank you.”

“I owe you a few.”

“You owe me nothing,” Kurt murmured, letting his head drape back over the edge as he enjoyed the moment, though he thought it would be better if they were sharing cheesecake. The foods the Others had were good, but lacking in saccharine, and while the community only occasionally had desserts, they at least made ones thick with honey to sweeten it.

“I thought that after this you could practice your shooting,” Blaine said, breaking up Kurt's images of cakes and pies and pastries and replacing it instead with targets and arrows and bows.

“I'm okay with doing whatever you want to do Blaine….”

“I saw the bow and arrow by the door Kurt, so I know you haven't given it up, which means you haven't even aimed the thing while I've been bed bound. Don't give up your biceps on account of me.”

Blaine still knew him.  He hadn't forgotten, or at least still appreciated Kurt's muscular arms which did feel rather doughy at present. “Fine. But you're expected to sit on the grass and watch. No overexerting yourself.”

“Yes, dear.”

Kurt enjoyed the bath as long as he could, waiting until the water went cool to the touch and his hair was already drying after he had shampooed and rinsed it. Then he dressed himself and gathered up the pillows from the bed to make Blaine a nest to sit in outside.

“I'll be alright, Kurt…”

“And you'll be better if you have some cushion.”

He received an eyeroll in response, along with a snorted out, “yes mother,” but Blaine conceded and sat himself down in the pile of pillows as Kurt stretched his arms and shoulders out to prepare for what was going to be a lesson in why one should never stop practicing.

As he predicted, his arm grew cramped quickly, but he pushed himself through it so that he could let Blaine take in his surroundings for as long as possible. The usual crowd gathered to watch Kurt shoot arrows, but what Kurt hadn't anticipated was that several of them turned their attention to Blaine instead of Kurt, whispering among themselves as they stared. The change in their attentions put Kurt on edge, and along with the spasming in his arms, his spine tensed.  

Blaine seemed to take it in stride though, just watching Kurt practice and offering him those giant toothy smiles whenever Kurt looked his way. He clapped when Kurt made a particularly difficult shot, and though Kurt was sure that Blaine was aware of the eyes on him, Blaine ignored them, all his attention on Kurt instead.

That didn't stop the staring though, and a couple of the ones who seemed particularly interested in Blaine slowly crept towards him until Blaine could no longer ignore them. Kurt watched carefully, ready to launch an arrow into anyone who dared do anything to his husband, as the pair sat themselves near Blaine, and Blaine, being his typical friendly self, offered them a kind hello.

Based on how Finavar had told him that the council didn't want Blaine living in town because the people there feared that Blaine would pose a threat, Kurt was sure that the intentions of the Others near Blaine couldn't possibly be kind. However, as Kurt lowered his bow and walked towards his husband, he was shocked to hear that not only had the greetings been returned, but that those Others sitting by Blaine were actually being quite polite in turn.

“Your dark hair reminds me of my human father.”
“I forgot how short humans were.”
“Do you know how to play a lute? My father could play a lute.”
“I had human siblings and a human mother. They all died awhile ago. I miss them.”

Kurt stood, dumbfounded by what he was hearing. This wasn't at all what Finavar had him expecting the reaction to Blaine to be. Still, it made sense that Halflings wouldn't be as distrusting of humans as Purebloods were, and Purebloods were the ones running the council after all. That being considered, Purebloods had also been the ones to mate with humans to sire Halflings in the first place. Though trying to make sense of things in this place was something that was beyond Kurt.  

Blaine smiled, peeking over at Kurt with a twinkle in his eyes that told Kurt he was okay, before responding to each of the questions and comments with patience and care. Eventually, more Halflings joined the fray, and Kurt was left to watch in stunned silence as the attention previously afforded to him and his archery was instead given to Blaine.  He returned to practicing his archery then, watching Blaine out of the corner of his eye and letting relief flood over him. Not just because it seemed like Blaine might be able to find a place in this world after all, but because, for the first time since he had been down below, Kurt was finally able to practice without everyone's eyes on him.

When Kurt could no longer move his arm without swearing under his breath, he declared his practice over and Blaine said his farewells to the gathered group, insisting on helping Kurt take the now grass stained pillows back into the house.

“They were really fascinated by my hair.”

“Maybe it's because you get furrier the older you get,” Kurt muttered, rolling his shoulders back and popping them out a bit with a groan.

“Very funny. Seriously though - none of them have beards or anything and you always took forever to grow anything on your face. Is hairlessness a thing here?” Blaine asked, his hands being swatted away by Kurt when he tried to reach over to massage Kurt's shoulders.

“Save your strength for your own healing, and there are hairy Others - but they mainly stay in the forest because they're Berserkers and their hair is on account of the animal they shift into.”

“Like that dog-man-Other thing we saw by the lake…” Blaine muttered, withdrawing his hands into his lap.

“Exactly. Apparently, they just hang around naked in the forest and don't bother to wear anything unless they come into town,” Kurt explained as he cracked his fingers and then stepped towards the kitchen. “Tea?”

“Yeah… wow. Tea. I haven't had that in ages… it would be such a waste of water up top,” Blaine said with awe in his voice. It was true, tea was a treat up top, but down below it was an expected part of the day. “So they just run around naked all day?”

Kurt made a hum of affirmation as he went into the kitchen, rooting around the teas he had been supplied with until he found one he hoped Blaine would like and then set the kettle on the blue-fired stove. “As far as I know. I haven't really looked into it.”

“Why not?”

“Because… I just haven't.”

“Seems to me like you should try to learn more about the place and the occupants if you're going to be here for a while Kurt.”

Kurt sighed. His mother had said something very similar to him when he had been there for a couple weeks and had interrupted her latest explanation of one custom of some group or another. He didn't care then, and he still really didn't. Unless it was of some kind of importance to his survival, Kurt didn't see the point in learning all the minutia of Other life. “Anyhow… just like that bath on the street we passed by -”

“Yeah. That was kind of crazy.”

“- they really don't care about nudity here.”

“So have you ever…” Blaine began, just as the kettle began to whistle. Kurt grimaced at the suggestion and poured their teas, not answering until he stepped back to the table and set the tea out before them both.

“No. Not my style.”

“I figured as much,” Blaine said with a chuckle as he sipped the tea and then peered down at it. “What flavor is this?”

“Some kind of plant that grows deep in the ocean waters. I've never been able to pronounce the name…”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, and while Blaine lifted a curious eyebrow, Kurt stood up and went to open it, finding Midhir standing there with a bright, sunshiny face and a basket of more teas.

“Hello Midhir. Come in,” Kurt said as he stood back, accepting what he assumed was a housewarming gift and closing the door behind Midhir. “Blaine. This is Midhir.”

“Howya sir!” Midhir said, his voice suddenly changing in pitch as an accent overtook him. He went to offer Blaine his hand who shook it from where he still sat.

“I'd get up to say hello but Kurt would probably scold me for it.”

Kurt snorted at that, even though it was true, and went to the kitchen to collect a cup of tea for Midhir while the water was still warm. “You like that Ash Spice right?”

“Right,” Midhir responded, voice going back to what Kurt considered normal for him. “So Mab wants to know when you will be back to train.”

Kurt rolled his eyes, shook his head and held out a cup of tea to Midhir, who took it where he sat himself at the table beside Kurt. “I'm not. I told you that already when you came by the Ilu center.”

“You should though. What else do you intend to do with your time?”

“Enjoy it for once maybe?” Kurt said with a huff, glancing sidelong to Blaine who looked confused by the conversation.

“With him? You'll outlive him Kurt. You should put some thought into that.”

Blaine continued to look confused, his brow bunching those caterpillar eyebrows together as he watched Midhir. A thought struck Kurt and his own eyes narrowed as he looked back to Midhir. “Are you speaking in Other?”

“Well, yes. Of course,” Midhir stammered, looking confused as to why that would even be a question to be asked of him.

“Well stop. Speak English. You grew up in Ireland right? You can speak it.”

“Why? It's not like it concerns him.”

“Because it's rude,” Kurt huffed, trying to contain the irritation rising in his body.  

“Apologies then,” Midhir said, a noticeable shift in his voice once again that made Kurt wonder how they managed to switch from one language to another since Other was evidently innate. With the shift came back the accent he had noticed earlier, but one that was still understandable. “You should still continue your training.”

“What training?” Blaine piped up then, verifying to Kurt that he could understand what was being spoken.

“I was training with an Other named Mab to try and figure out my abilities,” Kurt answered, glancing back to Blaine. “She was reporting back to the council about my progress though.”

“It's her job to,” Midhir insisted with a shake of his head. “Can't fault her for that. Besides, your grandfather wanted to know how things were going.”

“Grandfather?” Blaine sputtered, setting his own teacup down on the table.

Kurt sighed, “yeah… he's the one in charge of support magics on the council.”

“She's pretty insistent Kurt. I told her I'd come out and broach the subject with you again, but next time it'll be her that stops by, I'm sure.”

“So let her,” Kurt said, waving a hand dismissively at the thought. “I'll tell her the same. I wasn't learning anything from her anyhow.”

“It's a shame to waste your potential though.”

“Kurt's potential has always been limitless,” Blaine spoke up, eyes set on Midhir. “I don't think it could be wasted.”

“His magical potential though.”

Blaine shrugged, and Kurt felt Blaine's hand set itself on his knee under the table. “Kurt saved us, and me, several times over through the years. I think he's got it figured out as much as he needs to.”

Midhir looked from Blaine to Kurt, eyes flickering with thoughts unspoken before he directed his attention solely back to Kurt again. “You could be so much more.”

“I'm happy to be what I am.”  

Midhir shook his head, a frown creasing his features. “Oh well then. It's been good to see you Kurt. I've missed our tea times. Perhaps once you settle in here we can reestablish them.”

Kurt let out a sigh, watching Midhir rise up and standing to see Midhir out. “Yeah. Sure. Good to see you Midhir.”

It was frustrating to Kurt, though he could partially understand Midhir's concern as a Halfling that had lived more of his life in this place where magic was the center of every custom, attitude, and belief. Blaine wore a scowl on Kurt's return to the table, and as Kurt poured him another cup of tea, the reason behind the face came out.

“I don't like him.”

“He's the only friend I've made down here,” Kurt said plainly, adding more water to his own tea.

“He likes you.”

Kurt snickered at that and shook his head. “Doubtful. I'm pretty sure he has a thing for Mab.”

“He has a stupid cherub face and he likes you.”

It forced more chuckles out of Kurt and he sniggered as he looked to his husband. “Honestly?  You're jealous of him?”

“Yes… No…” Blaine sighed. “I don't know. I don't like the way he looks at you though.”

“And just how is that?” Kurt asked, leaning back in his seat as he sipped his tea.

“Like he wants to eat you and I'm getting in his way.”

Kurt rolled his eyes, and for the first time in months knew the gesture wouldn't be wasted because Blaine understood it well enough. Hell, if anyone got their eyes rolled at, it was Blaine. Kurt had rolled his eyes at him when he was being sappy, when he was being goofy, and now when he was being unreasonably jealous. Kurt had only seen the jealous side of Blaine once before though, and it was because Kurt had been spending more time helping with Sam and Mercedes' twins than with him.  

“So… do I get to meet your grandfather?” Blaine asked that night as they settled into bed, watching Kurt expectantly where he was closing the curtains to block out the artificial light that was perpetually cast over the town.

“No,” Kurt said firmly, settling down beside Blaine and tucking his outstretched arm in so he wouldn't crush it with his weight on top of it like Blaine seemed to intend him to. “Because then I'd have to see him too and I don't even like him.”

Blaine smoothed his thumb over Kurt's arm, looking at him adoringly with those bright honey eyes. “Why's that, angel?”

Kurt took in a breath at the term of endearment, never tiring of hearing it. He was sure Blaine used it purposely to break down the walls inside him, and it worked. “Families aren't the same out here as they are with humans. He's only blood, and he's only interested in me at all because I'm a Quarterling and therefore novel. He has no interest in me as an individual at all.”

“Well, then he's foolish,” Blaine murmured drowsily, snaking a hand under Kurt to wrap around his waist even though Kurt had tried to prevent it. “I've been looking forward to this since we napped.”

“Sleeping?” Kurt asked, smirk on his face as he let his hand swing over Blaine's hip. “Or sleeping with someone who no longer stinks?”

“Holding you,” Blaine uttered, slanting his head forward so it was pressed against Kurt's. “Being with you like I should.”

It wasn't at all lost on Kurt that Blaine was sporting an erection through his cotton trousers, and while he was admittedly getting flush in the cheeks and hard in his own pants, his fingers grazed over the bumps of Blaine's scarring on his back - a sharp reminder of the raised flesh stained in purple and red that came from Sebastian or one of his lackeys. It was a quick antidote to the arousal swirling in his stomach, and allowed Kurt to gently nudge Blaine to lay on his back, the best position for restorative sleep, and kissed his cheek before settling down in a similar position aside him.

“Good night, Blaine.”

Breakfast the next morning was when Kurt finally had to tell Blaine something he had been dreading. As they sipped their tea, Kurt still half asleep with his mouth pressed against the rim of his cup so he could easily take another sip once one was downed, Blaine looked up at him and tilted his head to the side.

“Hey Kurt?”

“Hmm?”  

“Do you think we could maybe find some deer jerky or rabbit stew or something? I mean… what you've been making is great… but I could really go for something meaty.”

Kurt sighed, looking down into the steamy liquid just under his nose before setting the cup down and looking at Blaine steadily. “I need to tell you something.”

“What?”

“They don't… they don't really eat meat down here…”

Kurt cringed as he watched Blaine's expression fall, like he had crushed a dream. “You mean… they're vegetarians?”

“Well… not exclusively.  I mean… most of the Halflings I've spoken to have eaten meat back on the surface… but out of respect to the Berserkers, they don't eat it down here.”

“Oh… God…”

“I'm sorry.”

Blaine nibbled over his lower lip, absently looking at the table top before looking back to Kurt. “I really liked your rabbit stew…”

“I know.”

“Is there anything else I should know?”

Kurt sucked in a breath, his mind spinning with the memory of the deal he had made for Blaine's safety. He still hadn't told Blaine a thing about it, and now just didn't know how to bring it up. This was the opportunity though, and yet, he couldn't seem to get the words out of his mouth.

“I… uh… my mother is alive too.”

“She is?”

Kurt nodded, looking down at the tea once more. His brain hammered with the word LIAR repeatedly, and while he knew he hadn't lied, he also hadn't been forthcoming with the truth. All he had done was admit one thing Blaine might have presumed instead of telling him the thing he should know.

“Do I… get to meet her?”

“You already have actually,” Kurt murmured quietly, forcing himself to take a sip of his tea so Blaine wouldn't catch on that anything was amiss. “She was the one who found you up top.”

“She was?” Blaine blinked a few times and then made a small o with his mouth. “She said your name. She said your name and that's when I knew everything would be alright.”

“You can meet her when she comes back down. She's on duty right now… a healer,”  Kurt explained as he made a mental note to thank his mother and ask her forgiveness for his dramatics when she got back down. She had, in a roundabout way, given Blaine back to him after all.

“... and that's how you found out that I couldn't be healed…” Blaine murmured thoughtfully as Kurt continued to suck back his tea and hope for its caffeinating effects to kick in.

Their first few days together was a medley of rediscovering one another without having Ilu around them, and letting Blaine get used to the new home. They napped leisurely, cooked and ate together, and otherwise just reminisced about things they had done in the community. Kurt showed Blaine that he had, indeed, found the Christmas present Blaine had brought for him, and together they listened to the music that they had once spent time analyzing the meaning of. Blaine even sang for him, testing the limits of his voice that had been still for far too long. It was beautiful. The most difficult parts of the day were the morning and evening. His body reacted to Blaine, and Blaine's reacted to him, but Kurt made a point of pulling away and giving Blaine space in the bed because he didn't want to hurt him by doing something Blaine wasn't ready for.  

So it came as no surprise when, a few days into their settling, that Blaine watched Kurt with ravenous eyes after Kurt stepped out of the bath and patted himself dry with a towel.

“Do I really look that bad?”

Kurt blinked and looked over his husband. Blaine had begun to put the weight he had lost back on, his casts were merely supportive bandages now, and the only remnants of his attack that Kurt could see were the scars. Regardless of that, he still, and always, had been attractive to Kurt because he was not just handsome, but also the only person to truly care for Kurt and make him feel safe since his dad died.

“No. Why would you even say that?”

“Because… every time we nap or sleep or cuddle on the couch you end up pushing me away…”

“Oh for…” Kurt took in a deep breath, rolled his eyes, and stomped over to Blaine. “You are fine… but you're also healing. I know us. If I let us get too far then I could hurt you or-”

“I'm not that fragile, Kurt.”

Kurt looked over his husband's face, so sweetly insistent, and spared him a small smile. “I will not be the cause of another break or strain or anything else for you.”

It seemed like Blaine was only listening to his own voice though, or that perhaps Kurt hadn't come across as adamant as he intended, because Blaine set his hands on Kurt's naked hips and bent his head forward to start kissing Kurt's lower abdomen. “I'm fine.”

“Clearly parts of you are fine,” Kurt said, shaking his head as he watched Blaine but couldn't pull himself away. To be touched like that was something Kurt didn't know he needed until it happened, and it felt like his body was being magnetized to Blaine's. “I don't want to hurt you.”

“Then don't…” Blaine whispered, his breath warm against Kurt's belly which made shivers catapult up his spine. “... Don't leave me to ache here. I want to be with you again Kurt… I want to make you feel good and want you to make me feel good. Let me show you how healthy I am. Please.”

It was the final ‘please' that shattered all semblance of Kurt's resolve, spoken with just a touch of whimper mixed with Blaine's heavy breaths. Kurt's fingers found themselves winding themselves into Blaine's curls, and his body leaned forward into the sweet kisses still being spread below his navel as his cock rose up to greet the underside of Blaine's jaw.

“...Okay.”