Chapter 7 – Broken Crown

"Alright settle down – Hey! Who threw that?" Mr. Perry asked the Glee kids, taking his glasses off before placing them back on his face.

No one answered but Kurt and Blaine snickered behind their hands.

It had been a few weeks since they first really talked and their relationship had gotten stronger and stronger each passing day.

Kurt had found out that Blaine's middle name is Devon, his favorite colour is blue, he has an older brother – Cooper, his parents were divorced, his favorite band was Green Day, his favorite actor/actress is Johnny Depp, he loved the smell of mint and coffee, he broke his arm falling out of a tree when he was five years old and he absolutely loved watching 'Alice In Wonderland' while eating peanut butter mixed with ice cream.

Blaine found out that Kurt's middle name was Evan but changed to Elizabeth when he turned eight, his favorite colour was purple, his favorite actor/actress is either Alan Rickman or Julie Andrews, he's an only child living with his dad since his mother died in a car crash when he just turned eight – the only reason Kurt had changed his middle name. Blaine also found out that Kurt was obsessed with Broadway, 'Big Bang Theory'and 'Miranda'. He also craved gummy bears and bubble baths whenever he's sick.

"You're so cute."

Kurt stopped laughing and looked at Blaine with wide eyes.

Blaine just smiled and winked as Mr. Perry continued talking.

"You know what, forget it. Anyway, remember our very first lesson? The one about courage?"

A few people nodded.

"Good well, since Sectionals are coming up I'd like to re-visit that little memory and do another assignment on it. What I want you to do is find your saddest memory or something that has hurt you and share that anyway possible. Sing, write a poem, dance or just straight up talk about it. You can do it in pairs or in a group but I'd like to hear from everyone if possible."

"Are you going to do it?" Mercedes asked.

"Of course I will. I'd never let you guys do something like this and not join in. I'd like to think that we're close enough as a group to not be afraid to talk and share things with one another – be there when someone needs it and not judge each other for whatever we say." Mr. Perry said with a small smile.

Mercedes smiled and turned to face Sam and started chatting along with everyone else.

"Ah, ah, ah, I'm not finished." Everyone hushed. " Thank you. Now, if anyone feels like they would be uncomfortable sharing or speaking in front of everyone I will not force up you to do this. This is just a little bonding exercise so we can be a better team when Sectionals comes about." Mr. Perry reassured. "You can talk now."

Everyone instantly started chatting.

"So what are you going to do it on, babe?" Blaine asked.

Kurt rolled his eyes at the pet names Blaine had started calling him, just like the ones he used when they first met.

"Pwobabwy on my mother's..." Kurt trailed off softly, tears forming in his eyes.

Blaine grabbed his hand and squeezed. "You don't have to do it, remember."

"I-I want to, it's just... hard."

Blaine hummed and rubbed Kurt's wrist with his thumb. "I'm just gonna do my parents' divorce. Easy, simple, done and dusted."

Kurt looked over at Blaine with a small smile.

"So, what did you think of last night's episode of 'Miranda'?" Blaine asked, changing the topic.

Kurt smiled even more, grateful of the subject change and launched himself into the conversation.

The bell went shortly after and the class rushed out of the room. Kurt and Blaine were still talking as they walked out of the room and towards the school parking lot.

"Need a ride home?"

Kurt thought about it, his dad was working late and he still hadn't got his drivers licence yet so he couldn't take himself home.

"Sure, why not." Kurt replied, obviously not knowing that Blaine drove a motorcycle.

Blaine smirked and took Kurt's hand. "Then let's go beautiful."

The pair made their way over to Blaine's vehicle.

"Wait, where the car? There's onwy a motorbike." Kurt asked.

"I thought you were smart, baby." Blaine chuckled.

"What – No, no, no, no I can't!" Kurt protested, his eyes wide and frantic.

"Aww c'mon babe, you can hold on to me as we go. I'll drive slower than usual if it makes you feel better." Blaine begged.

Kurt hesitated.

"C'mon gorgeous, live a little." Blaine mounted the bike and held out a helmet to Kurt.

Kurt sighed. "Fine." He grabbed the helmet and placed it on his head.

"Well get on, sweetheart."

Kurt did so and grabbed Blaine's waist gently.

"Hold on tight, babe!" Blaine called out as he turned the engine on and drove down out of the school grounds.

Kurt screamed and gripped Blaine even closer, tucking his head into Blaine's shoulder. Blaine laughed as they sped down the street.

10 minutes later, they were at Kurt's.

Kurt rushed off the bike and collapsed onto the grass.

"Oh sweet, sweet gwass, never weave me again." He murmured into the mud.

"It's really ridiculous how adorable I find you." Blaine commented, getting off the bike and holding out a hand for Kurt.

Kurt took it and was pulled up into Blaine's chest.

"Oof." Kurt said as his nose knocked into Blaine.

Blaine chuckled and wrapped his arms around Kurt, looking deeply into his eyes.

"You have such beautiful eyes." Blaine whispered.

And they were. At the moment they were mainly grey with flecks of blue and green randomly floating around in his eye. The real beauty is the yellow-gold ring that was softly wrapped around Kurt's pupil, hugging around the black as if it were a long lost brother.

"I think I've found my new favorite colour." Blaine murmured.

Kurt blushed and looked away before peeking back up at Blaine from under his eyelashes and biting his bottom lip gently.

"Thank you." Kurt replied.

"No problem, beautiful." Blaine lifted his hand and grazed Kurt's left cheek and slowly leaned into Kurt's personal space.

Kurt closed his eyes and waited.

"Kurt!" A sharp voice called out from behind them.

The teens whipped their heads around to see Burt Hummel standing there, his face red and filled with rage. His hands clenched tightly by his sides and his eyes set firmly on Blaine who was smirking and tugging Kurt closer.

Kurt, however, was in a state of utter embarrassment and shock.

"Kurt," Burt growled, pointing to Blaine. "Who is this and what were you about to –" Burt broke off and dropped to one knee, grunted as he did so.

"Daddy?"

Burt grunted again and fell chest first on the ground below.

"Dad – Daddy!" Kurt screamed and ran towards his father.

Blaine stood there, frozen. He didn't move until he heard Kurt's cries for help.

"H-Help! Pwease! Somewon! Help!"

Blaine jumped and grabbed his phone and dialed 911.

Kurt sat there on the ground next to his father's unresponsive body and wept. His hands grabbed Burt's red flannel shirt and he smashed his face into Burt's neck, inhaling the scent of motor oil and after-shave.

A few moments passed and an ambulance finally arrived. They quickly took Burt into the car, Kurt following closely behind, barley letting go of his dad.

The next hours were a complete blur for Kurt. He sat by his father's bed side and let the tears roll once more. Beeps were coming from the machines around him were the only noises to be heard.

Blaine had followed the ambulance but got caught for speeding.

Kurt was all alone.

His mother passes seven years ago and now here he is 15 years old and could quite possibly become an orphan in a matter of moments, days, weeks. It all depended if Burt woke up.

Kurt slowly fell asleep.

Darkness was all that he could see. Silence was all that he heard. Coldness was all that he felt.

Then the rain came. And it poured. Right on top of him as he lied there, motionless. Thunder echoed throughout the land and lightning struck all around him but not at him.

He could feel, listen and see but couldn't – wouldn't move. There was no point. He had nothing.

He was alone.

Completely alone.

No one wanted him and no one was there for him.

Darkness was all that he could see. Silence was all that he heard. Coldness was all that he felt.

Something dripped on his forehead. Over and over.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

He blinked his eyes but still saw nothing.

He heard his name being called.

Louder.

Louder.

Closer.

Closer.

He blinked once more.

A scent. A sound. A face.

Motor oil. A soft male voice. All so familiar. All so comforting.

He opened his eyes even wider.

"Dad..." The rest of the word died out.

The other man smiled and lifted something. Something shiny. Something big.

A knife.

A knife directed straight to his temple, digging in slowly.

Deeper.

Deeper.

Deeper.

Nothing left.

Soundless.

Numb.

Motionless.

Lifeless.

Kurt opened his eyes and looked around.

No one.

Just like in the dream.

Kurt felt tears fall down his face.

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

"Kurt."

Kurt whipped his head over to the doorway.

A familiar voice. A familiar face.

"Kurt, buddy. Hey I –" Kurt rushed and embraced the body.

The warm, living body.

"It's okay, it's okay."

Kurt didn't understand to why they were saying that but it didn't matter. Kurt wasn't alone. He had someone there for them, even if it didn't seem like it.

Mr. Perry stood there with an armful of Kurt, staring into space and saying... something.

20 minutes passed and Kurt didn't let go of Mr. Perry, even for a second. The pair sat in silence and looked over at Burt lying in the hospital bed, monitors beeping. The only thing breaking the silence.

"And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.

Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.

And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.

And there will come a time,
you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart,
but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see
what you find there,
With grace in your heart
and flowers in your hair.

And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.

And I will die alone
and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
because death is just so full
and man so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind
and what's before.

And there will come a time,
you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart,
but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see
what you find there,
With grace in your heart
and flowers in your hair.

And there will come a time,
you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart,
but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see
what you find there,
With grace in your heart
and flowers in your hair."

Mr. Perry's voice drifted off and tears rolled down both men's faces, but for different reasons.

"Tha-Thank you." Kurt whispered.

Mr. Perry just hummed and rubbed his eyes.

The couple stayed there in silence once more till they were issued out of the room, despite their attempts to stay.

"Please let us stay, we won't be disturbing anyone." Mr. Perry begged.

"I'm sorry sir, we just can't let you do that." The nurse argued.

"Why not?" Mr. Perry challenged.

"We just can't, sir. I hope you understand – "

" – This kid could lose his father! His only living parent! How is he supposed to be understandable?"

The nurse sighed and stalked off.

"Son of a bitch." Mr. Perry muttered as he dropped down into the chair beside Kurt.

"A-At weast y-you twied." Kurt said. He tried to smile but it just wouldn't come.

"Look at you. Trying to cheer me up. Isn't it supposed to be the other way round?"

Kurt looked up and huffed out a breath.

"Do you wanna go home?" Mr. Perry asked.

"I-I ca-can't stay th-there. It's j-just to – "

"No, no, no it's okay. You can – you can stay with me if you like." Mr. Perry offered.

Kurt looked up at him with wide eyes. "Weally?"

"Yes, Kurt, really. I'd never let you go through something like this alone." Mr. Perry looked directly into Kurt's eyes as he spoke.

That sentence alone made Kurt burst into tears again.

"Hey, c'mere." Mr. Perry tugged Kurt into a soft embrace and kissed his hair.

"Wanna go?"

Kurt nodded softly into Mr. Perry's chest as the moved apart from one another.

"Let's go." Mr. Perry held out his hand and Kurt gripped it tightly as they walked out of the hospital.

They moved towards Mr. Perry's BMW and buckled themselves in as Mr. Perry drove out from the parking lot.

"Should we stop by your house?"

Kurt felt tears well up in his eyes and shook his head.

"Okay." Mr. Perry changed direction and drove a different way.

Unfamiliar trees and homes passed through Kurt's line of vision as they weave in and out of streets.

"Here we are." Mr. Perry turned the car off and got out.

Kurt looked around and saw a small white flat beside of him. He got out and followed the teacher to the door.

Mr. Perry opened the door as a voice yelled out from inside.

"Marc? That you?"

"Yep!" Mr. Perry called back.

Kurt looked inside. It appeared to be a living room. It was small but warm and cozy with light brown walls and soft looking dark carpet.

"Make yourself at home. If it becomes too much, I'll tell my brother to leave. Kay?" Mr. Perry looked over at Kurt who shrugged.

"Do you have a date? Wait no, forgot who I'm talking to." The same voice from before joked.

Kurt looked up towards the man.

He looked the exact same as Mr. Perry only without a beard and dressed differently.

"Ha ha, so funny." Mr. Perry sarcastically replied.

"Hello." The Mr. Perry-look-a-like greeted Kurt.

"Hi." Kurt answered and looked down at his feet.

"Kurt, this is my brother Simon, Si, this is Kurt." Mr. Perry introduced.

"Hello Kurt." Simon held out his hand for Kurt to shake.

Kurt took the hand and shook it gently. "Hello."

Simon smiled and went back into the same room he came out of.

"C'mon, follow me." Mr. Perry walked over to a room tucked away in the corner.

The teacher opened the door to reveal a small bedroom. It was painted a soft lilac colour and the walls were covered with Mumford & Sons posters. There was a small green bed placed in the corner of the room and an acoustic guitar and a banjo placed on the opposite side of the room.

"It's not much, but it's what I need and want. I'm happy."

Kurt hummed.

"This is where you can sleep, just until Burt wakes up."

'Wakes up...' Kurt thinks. 'When he wakes up. Not if, there's no if.'

"I'll let you get used to the room and stuff. Come out whoever you're ready." And with that, Mr. Perry left the room.

Mr. Perry left his room and walked into the kitchen.

"Finlay's coming over tonight for our music jam session thing, want me to cancel it?" Simon asked as Mr. Perry walked in.

"Na, let him come over. Hopefully Kurt will come out and laugh at us."

"What happened?"

"His father had a heart-attack. He saw the whole thing." Mr. Perry replied bluntly and took his glasses off and rubbed his face.

"Jesus. Poor kid. How are you feelin'?"

"What do you mean?" Mr. Perry aid placing his glasses back on his face.

"What happened when we were 12, I know you haven't completely forgotten about it." Simon said looking into his brothers eyes.

Mr. Perry tensed and closed his eyes. "I told you not to bring it up again."

A bark broke through the silence.

"Hey Mumford." Simon bent down and picked up a young male Siberian Husky. His left eye was green and his right eye was blue. His pink tongue darted out and licked Simon's face as the pup's tail wagged furiously.

"Hey boy." Mr. Perry said softly but he was still tensed.

"Hey Marc," Mr. Perry looked up and saw Mumford being faced towards him, Simon moving his right paw up and down and pouting. "Pwease don't be mad at me? I'm sowwy."

Mr. Perry chuckled. "Best not do that around Kurt, he'll think that you're mocking him."

Simon put Mumford back on the ground and frowned.

"He has a lisp." Mr. Perry clarified.

"Ah."

Meanwhile, Kurt was sitting on Mr. Perry's bed texting Blaine.

(19:34) Blaine – Hey babe, you alright?

(19:35) Blaine – Forget that, stupid question.

(19:35) Blaine – How are you holding up, beautiful?

(19:50) Kurt – I feel so empty... I really need to someone to hold me and tell me it's gonna be alright...=,(

(19:52) Blaine – Well where are you, cause I'll hold you whenever and wherever babe. =)

Kurt smiled at Blaine's latest text.

(19:52) Kurt – Don't be mad but... I'm at Mr. Perry's...

(19:53) Kurt – Please don't be mad.

Kurt waited for Blaine's reply but it never came.

(20:03) Kurt – I need you, please.

(20:08) Blaine – Sorry baby, I just needed to do something. Don't worry. =)

(20:08) Blaine – What's the address, I'll take you to my place and hold you for as long as you want me to. ;)

Kurt breathed out a big breath. He got up and walked out to the teacher.

"Hey Kurt, what's up?"

"Umm, what's the addwess?" Kurt asked in a timid voice.

"8E Wicker Vale Road, why?" Mr. Perry wondered.

"N-No weason." Kurt dismissed and ran back into the room.

(20:15) Kurt – 8E Wicker Vale Road.

(20:16) Blaine – Be right there babe. =D

Kurt smiled to himself and waited.

20 minutes later there was a knock on the door and Kurt rushed out but was beaten by Simon.

"I'll get it!" Simon announced and opened the door.

"Hello?" Simon asked.

"Hey Mr. Perry, is Kurt here?" Blaine asked looking past the man.

"Ahh... Marcus! Door!" Simon walked away and Mr. Perry appeared.

"Oh, hey Blaine."

"Is Kurt here?" Blaine asked once more, not realizing that there were two different men.

"Wight here Bwaine." Kurt moved past Mr. Perry and into Blaine's arms.

Blaine hugged Kurt tightly and kissed his temple.

"What do you –" Mr. Perry started.

" – Right! You kids have fun! Be back before midnight or tomorrow, we don't care! Bye!" Simon interrupted and closed the door and looked back at his brother.

"I hate you."

"Love you too."

Kurt and Blaine stood by the door and looked at each other before walking away.

"I brought the car instead of the bike, I thought it would be better for you."

"Thank you."

The pair got inside Blaine's car and drove off. Blaine held on to Kurt's hand as he drove down the streets and towards his house.

They were soon at a big fancy house with a well-trimmed garden out the front and a couple of cars parked outside.

"Let's go." Blaine pulled Kurt into the house and upstairs into a room off to the left. It was big and painted maroon with a king sized bed in the middle and a TV on the opposite side of the room.

"This is my dad's house. He's mega rich and just throws his moments around."

"It's gorgeous." Kurt muttered.

"Not as gorgeous as you." Blaine said.

Kurt blushed and Blaine pulled him towards the bed.

"Come here." Blaine held out his arms and Kurt instantly climbed into them and snuggled in close.

Blaine chuckled and held Kurt tighter. Kurt finally let the tears fall after holding them in for so long, since he left Mr. Perry's car.

Kurt breathed in the smell of cinnamon and coffee. Completely and utterly Blaine.

Blaine breathed in the smell of vanilla and honey. Completely and utterly Kurt.

They both sighed and fell into a deep sleep but dreaming of completely different things.