Blaine grabbed his pillow and hugged it against his chest. Keeping his mouth shut as much as he did today was difficult, but not as difficult as processing the state of Westerville and its people. He had nearly lost it several times and nearly grabbed the little girl they had found in the dark of the alley to take her back with them and take care of her.

His sisters may have been married off young and denied the freedoms that the women in the Hummel army clearly had, but they never went hungry or without proper shelter and clothing. He was beginning to see how truly isolated he was from the world and he wanted to retreat back into the past with its predictability and guiltlessness.

Kurt also hadn't said anything about dinner the night before which meant that Blaine wasn't going to bring it up either. He certainly didn't invite Kurt for dinner tonight either, not wanting a continuation of the night before. He also didn't want to talk about what he had seen today. He was still trying to cope with the idea that so many were so in need and he didn't know where to begin to change their lots.

He looked over to his dresser. It had been built with finery in mind and showed off the wealth of his family with gems adhered around the edges on on the drawers. If one of those gems made that beggar break down and cry, what could all of that do? It wouldn't make it any less of a dresser to remove the gems, like removing the gems from the comb had made it any less useless for brushing through hair.

He started picking at the gems on his dresser and on the furniture and decorations around his room, which is where Kurt found him an hour later, spitting curses at a sticky ruby on his bed frame. Blaine had one foot pressed against the headboard to brace it as he was trying to use a spoon to dig out the ruby. A small pile of various gems sat on the nightstand beside him from various spots in the room where he managed to get them out without much trouble. His fingers told a different story - cut and torn at the ends where he had been getting out his anger in pulling out the gems with as much brutality as he had been able. He was drenched in his own sweat and hadn't changed from the clothing he had worn out before.

Kurt stepped towards the bed, but Blaine didn't stop growling at the gem and pulling at it, both hands on the spoon trying to wrench the damned thing from the bed. "May I ask why you are trying to make your room more of a mess than I thought was possible?"
Blaine released his grip and leaned back in the bed, taking a breath and brushing the sweat soaked hair from his eyes as he looked up to Kurt, "I thought..." he heaved and pauses a moment to take a breath before continuing, "If I got enough of these out of my room we could use them to finance an orphanage and I might feel less guilty."

Blaine watched as Kurt glanced to the nightstand and then back to Blaine, his eyes softening, "Do you want some help?"

Blaine sat himself up and shook his head, "No... you were right last night. My innocence came at the cost of the innocence of others. I don't want to be a scapegoat for people anymore though, so I need to do something to fix what's wrong."

Kurt appeared confused for a moment and then stepped over to the nightstand, surveying the gems that Blaine had pulled, which unfortunately wasn't many since some of those had been stuck on quite well. "I'm sorry I said that. I wasn't myself last night." He looked back to Blaine, "With what you have here you know you could finance an orphanage and its staff already..."

Blaine stretched his fingers out and in. They had become stiff with the exertion and by taking a break right now, the cuts in them were starting to sting. "I was thinking we could probably hire Bry to help with it. See if he knows anything about managing files or something where he didn't have to stand. Help him feel useful again."

Kurt nodded, "That's a fabulous idea..." He looked down at Blaine's hands, "I have a poultice for small cuts and aches in the hands if you'd like. I know how sore the fingers get when I've been handling my sword for long lengths of time."

Blaine shook his head, "No." He balled his hands into fists and used them to lean back with on the bed, putting pressure back on them to dull the ache, "I need this pain. I felt dull after we went out today and the pain is waking me up. Helping me figure out things."

Kurt shifted from one foot to the other and finally nodded again, "I think I understand. But please... let me know if that changes, and don't kill yourself over a diamond. A human life is always worth more than a nice rock."

A knock sounded on the door, saving Blaine from having to force a response. "Come in."

The door opened and Trent entered, carrying a large tray, "Supper as requested."

Blaine screwed up his forehead, "I hadn't requested my supper yet..."

"I did." interrupted Kurt, "Apparently I need to make up for last night's supper so I asked Trent if he could make us some, though I hardly know where we'll eat in this mess..." Kurt kicked at some clothing on the floor as if to make a point.

Trent laughed, "Oh. I'll let someone know they need to clean up in here..."

Blaine shook his head, "No you won't." He stood up and walked to the table in his room, pushing the clothes and books and random items off of it and onto the floor to make a place for the food. "I'll clean it all up tonight. I need to take care of things myself if I'm ever supposed to take care of Dalton."

Trent's laughing stopped and he blinked in surprise, moving over to set down the tray. "Well then... I hope you enjoy your meal. General Kurt helped me out with the menu for tonight. A little bit different than what you're used to but I think you'll find it delicious."

Blaine took a seat and gestured to the chair across from him to Kurt. "Thank you Trent. I have no doubt if you were involved, it will be decadent."

Trent bowed and left, closing the door behind him. Kurt waited until Trent was gone before moving to sit across from Blaine. "That's very ambitious of you, cleaning up this room I mean."

Blaine let the corners of his mouth arch up in a weak smile and reached over to unlid the tray, revealing two plates with generous helpings of salad, roasted salmon, and steamed carrots. "This does look good..."

Kurt took his plate and smiled, "It's been awhile since I've had a good full meal, but when I do I try to eat what's good for the body."

Blaine took his own plate and stabbed the salad with his fork, taking a small nibble before putting it all into his mouth, groaning with pleasure. He hadn't realized, once again, just how hungry he was.

"Good to know you like it." Kurt responded to the groan and sat back in his chair, "Tomorrow morning you'll be working with some of our messengers to check your geographic understanding of Westerville, Dalton, and the surrounding lands. I need to work with my people to figure out some supply line issue and the smithies have some concerns over the way horses are shoed here that I somehow have to figure out."

Blaine nodded and looked at Kurt over the edge of his fork as he fed himself. This was not the same man he had dinner with last night. Kurt was more reserved, more calm, and less agitated.

Before he spoke, Blaine finished off his salad so he wouldn't interrupt the conversation with an ill-timed stomach growl.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

Kurt swallowed a bite of food, "Well my father and I do need to speak to you tomorrow. Apparently there's been some... developments that we want you to be aware of, but we're waiting on confirmations before we take these developments as facts."

"Have you located my father?"

"No. Not yet anyhow. We know your brothers are moving their brigades back to Westerville but given the range of their exploits and the spread, we can't pinpoint where they might end up meeting yet."

Blaine nodded and dabbed his face with a napkin before starting on the salmon and carrots, taking one bite of salmon, then one of carrots, and repeating the cycle.

Kurt pushed away his plate when it was only half done and leaned back in his chair. "I'm afraid I'm not used to the portion size you are."

Blaine looked at Kurt and let a laugh escape which which appeared to confuse Kurt as he furrowed his brow. "You have more height on me and certainly get more exercise and I can out eat you? Well at least I know I can best you in something."

Kurt smiled back at Blaine, "My step-brother makes up for it, believe me. Besides, I hear you're quite a talented musician which is something I can't brag about. I would love to hear your playing sometime."

"On what?"

Kurt shook his head, "I don't understand. What do you mean on what?"

Blaine explained, "I play several instruments. What instrument do you want to hear me play? Piano, harp, guitar, lute...?"

Kurt blinked and Blaine realized that Kurt wasn't aware of the details of Blaine's musical prowess. "Tell you what. When we have time, I'll introduce you to my favourite room, the music room, and you can pick then. It will be nice... I usually play for my sisters and I imagine I won't get to do that... at least not for awhile."

Kurt seemed to catch the pain in Blaine's voice when he spoke about his sisters and leaned across the table, putting his hand on Blaine's. Blaine looked down at it, capturing the softness which captured him.

"I would love to, and I can't promise that we'll find your sisters... but we're going to try." Kurt pulled his hand back and leaned back into his chair. Blaine's hand immediately felt cold and lonely.

Blaine swallowed the last bite of his meal and put his plate back on the tray. "Thank you."

Kurt shook his head dismissively, "I was brought up to care for others. It's what I do."

"Then who takes care of you?" Blaine reached over to put Kurt's plate on the tray and then cover it back up. His first real effort at cleaning up after himself.

"My family. When you take care of others, they are able to care for you."

Blaine smiled weakly at that. He wasn't sure if his father and family had really cared for him or not. He certainly was fed and sheltered, but he didn't truly feel cared for. Perhaps he was as spoiled as Kurt had alluded to the night before and didn't know how good he really had it.

"Hey Blaine..."

Blaine lifted his head and looked at Kurt inquisitively.

"Where's Cat?"

Blaine smiled and stood up, stepping over to the trunk and opening it. Cat jumped out and took a minute to hiss up at Blaine angrily before scampering over to Kurt and hiding under his chair.

Kurt laughed and reached down to give Cat a pat on the head, "Poor thing. What did you do to deserve a time out?"

Blaine smiled and closed the trunk, sitting down on top of it. "Let's just say that when I clean Cat's litter box I'm hoping to find a nice amethyst."