The world was darkening outside of the window, the sun setting with its brilliant, joyous colours, and melting away into the black of night with the stars twinkling silver in the sky. Blaine stared out through the window, his head in his hands, his thoughts melting with the setting sun. He was letting free of his anxieties for just a moment. He was letting himself relax-

Something chimed behind him and Blaine startled, turning around. His phone lit up from where he'd last set it down and he sighed, moving to answer. It was probably just Coop, who still wasn't home, calling to say where he was, telling him not to worry and there’s something in the freezer that he can heat up if he wants...Blaine picked it up, glancing down at the screen without interest, and nearly dropped the phone.

Kurt Hummel blinked across the screen as the phone vibrated in his hand. His heart jumped and without thinking he answered, holding it eagerly to his ear. "Hello?"

The line was silent, and then, "Blaine...are you alright?"

Blaine stopped. Kurt's voice was shaking slightly, and yet he sounded angry-like he was talking through his teeth. His hands gripped the phone tighter and logic started to turn in his head like gears of a clock. Something had to be wrong. The both of them were keeping this up, staying away from each other, and a phone call was too out of place. Kurt would have only called if it was an emergency. Something was wrong. 

"I'm fine," he said quickly. "What's wrong?"

Again there was a pause. "It's Sebastian," he said tightly.

Anger pulsed through Blaine. "What happened?"

Kurt huffed, his breath whistling through the phone. "Well..." Kurt hesitated, like he didn't want to tell Blaine everything. "We're not exactly getting along right now."

"Kurt," he said, hands shaking. He looked around the room and started to throw on a sweater. "I want you to tell me exactly what's going on, right now. Just be careful," he added, pausing as he slipped on a shoe, "don't let him hear."

He breathed out again. "That's a bit hard," he muttered.

Blaine froze. "What?"

"He knows, Blaine," Kurt said and the shoe fell out of his hand. 

Scrambling to pick it up, he jammed it onto his foot and started down the stairs, taking them two at a time and nearly tripping on the last step. "Where are you right now?" 

Kurt didn't reply, a heavy silence hanging over the line, punctuated by the steady sound of Kurt's breathing coming quietly through the phone. Blaine hurried to find his keys, his hands shaking as he scrambled to pick them up. It felt like the entire world was tilting, making him dizzy and unsteady."Kurt," he nearly yelled, his heart racing. "Where are you?" He could hardly steady himself long enough to lock the front door.

"Blaine," he breathed quietly, his voice hushed and yet his words sounding frantic, like he was putting an underlined hurry into them. "Listen to me, okay?"

"Kurt-"

"Wherever you are I don't want you to come and find me. No matter what, I want you to stay away okay-" There was a sharp intake of breath on the other line and then movement, the phone being shifted, and he was sure he could hear Kurt hissing, "Shit-Sebastian-" Something clicked and then a new voice came through the phone.

"Blaine," Sebastian, as per usual, sounded amused, and it made Blaine's skin crawl, "Lovely to talk to you again."

"Where is he?" Blaine asked through gritted teeth.

Sebastian laughed lightly and Blaine nearly screamed. "If you want him safe then you can do exactly what I tell you, is that clear?" 

His hand balled into a fist as he stood on the porch, anger rising inside him. 

"Is that clear?" Sebastian repeated, and Blaine could picture the malicious smile playing around his stupid lips. Somewhere, he was standing with Kurt, feeling superior, and the idea alone that Kurt ever had to stand in a room with the guy made Blaine furious. 

"Yes," Blaine answered stiffly.

There were footsteps on the other side of the line, softly and slowly moving across the ground. Blaine tried to control his trembling hands. "I want you to disregard what Hummel said, alright? You're going to go exactly where I say, and once you get there, you're going to do exactly what I tell you to do. If you make one wrong move your boyfriend is going to pay the price-and I'm sure neither of us wants to deal with that."

Swallowing, Blaine gritted his teeth. "What do you want me to do?"

Sebastian laughed again. "So willing, I love it." Blaine sneered, resisting the urge to snap back. He bit down on his tongue. "I want you to meet me over at the Ryerson building-company Headquarters-alone. You're going to meet me on the twentieth floor, room 216. If you try anything then, he gets hurt. Got all of that, Anderson?"

"Yes," Blaine mumbled again, feeling his stomach churning.

He was about to hit the button to end the call when Sebastian's voice bit through the air again. "Just to be clear here, Anderson, I know everything. I know how everyone is trying to stop you, who's tracing you, who wants to see you fall. You should know that if anyone ever knew that Kurt knew, well he'd be in a whole shitload of trouble, and it would be all Silver Spark's fault."

Angrily, Blaine hung up the phone and started off down the street at a sprint. His blood was boiling and his mind was being consumed as instincts took over and mixed with rash impulse-impulse to save Kurt. Sebastian couldn't hurt him. He wouldn’t hurt him. 

By the time Blaine had managed to reach the tall, glass building he was short of breath and running off of adrenalin. Observing from around the corner, he watched as occasionally people popped in and out of the double front doors, the glass catching the light from the grimy streetlights. Hidden by the shadows the monstrous building created, his mind turned, trying to search for a discreet way in. The suit itched to spread over his skin, but he withheld impulse. He needed to think.

Nobody raised their heads as they moved in and out; nobody saw who was around them. They were probably too invested in the phones in their hands or the files under their arms to notice anything. Thinking quickly, Blaine ducked through one of the doors as casually as he could, keeping his eyes on the marble floors, his hands in his sweater pockets. 

The phone in his pocket buzzed and Blaine nearly jumped. Swerving to the side, he answered it without checking the ID.

"I was hoping that Silver Spark would show," Sebastian's voice came smoothly through the phone. Blaine shuddered, biting down on his lip. "If you could ask him to show...?"

"Of course," he answered, feeling breathless. "On his way."

He hit call end and proceeded towards the elevators on the opposite side of the room. Twentieth floor, room 216. He repeated it to himself in his head as the lift rose, his heart hammering wildly, the suit tingling in the back of his neck. His hands were clenched and his jaw tight as he waited impatiently for the ding to sound that would mean he'd found the floor.

The doors slid open with a whoosh of air and Blaine stepped out, his eyes quickly scanning the hall that was laid out in front of him. He leaned against the wall next to the elevator, pulling out his phone to appear casually distracted. The hallway branched off left, right, and then forwards and the one straight ahead opened up into an open floor area, bustling with activity. The other two hallways were lined with closed doors. Blaine looked over each of the plates. 201. 206. 210. 212. 214. 215...216.

Looking quickly around, he put away his phone and moved towards the door. The back of his neck tingled, stinging slightly, his body tensed despite how relaxed he tried to make it. He paused right before the door, swallowing, and then grabbed the handle, twisted it, and pulled the door open.

Inside was a small expanse of room, with a door set in front of him. A single chair and side table were set to the right of it. He was alone, though. Feeling the tingle growing in his neck, he closed his eyes and let the suit slide over him, familiar and cool. The world tinged darker and when he moved his hand to grab the next doorknob, he saw the familiar silver glint.

The door clicked when he opened it and Blaine stepped through, head held high, ready to face Sebastian.

However, he was most definitely not prepared for what he actually stepped into.

The sound of movements filled his ears-behind him, beside him, all around. Footsteps like thunder on the ground. The larger room beyond was filled with people, all raising guns pointed towards him. Faces showing no emotion stared out at him, emotionless soldiers, and he could feel the pressure of eyes all around him, staring, waiting, ready. Standing right in the middle of it all was Sebastian, a weapon at his side, looking smugly towards him. Off to the side, just out of the corner of his eye, Blaine could see him-Kurt standing without a weapon in his hands, staring at Blaine, trying to stay composed just as Blaine was even behind the mask.

"Well this was unexpected," Blaine mumbled.

Sebastian smiled, spreading his arms. "Welcome, Silver Spark," he said, and in some part of Blaine's brain that wasn't panicking, he registered that he addressed him not as Blaine but as Silver. "What a wonderful surprise."

Blaine bit back the urge to sneer. His mind was slowly settling into Silver mode, taking to his composure and the way he spoke. "I thought that I'd...stop by," he said, shrugging, and every person in the room shifted their weapons to follow his movements. "Great welcome."

Sebastian shrugged in return. "You're a highly wanted man."

Tension seemed to hang in the air and Blaine had to resist the urge to look at Kurt. He knew that he couldn't-he knew that neither could show any sign of familiarity or comfort. Silver Spark and Kurt Hummel had to be nothing more than two shadows that happened to pass in the night.

Someone grabbed the back of his arm and Blaine resisted the temptation to yank it back. Even if he thought he could fight all of those who surrounded him-and there were surely a number more behind him-he wouldn't risk it. Sebastian was clearly in control of the situation, and Kurt could be hurt so easily. So he let the person guide him from the room, footsteps echoing dully behind him.

They led him back down the hall and into the wide spaced area he’d seen earlier. Glass windows lined the room and desks were crowded in, people crammed together. Heads turned as the mass of people entered the room, and eyes widened as they caught sight of Silver. They passed through the maze of desks to an empty area right in front of one of the large, glass window that overlooked the busy street below. He could feel the eyes hovering on him-the weapons tracing his every move.

A hush fell over the before bustling room, and people stood, watching nervously or with rapid excitement. Blaine felt his hands trembling and stopped the urge to search the crowds for Kurt. 

Sebastian made his way forwards again and pulled out a chair into the middle of the space, to which he motioned for Blaine to sit down. Feeling outnumbered, Blaine numbly took a seat, taking the moment to stare at Sebastian with a furious hatred.

"This will be fun," Sebastian murmured before moving away. 

Weapons raised and clicked all around him as he joined the crowds again. His arms folded carefully behind his back, Sebastian looked down at Silver with a sense of arrogant superiority. His eyes were alight and his lips twisted into a stupid half smile. Blaine wished that they were alone so that he could simply yell at him, unleash his anger, but he had to remain composed. 

There was a disturbance in the crowd as someone hurried forwards, people moving aside to let him through. A tall man broke through to stand beside Sebastian, a cigar drooping from his lips under a thick, hairy mustache. The crowds all observed him with a level of interest-someone seemingly important, Blaine noted. 

"Mr. Ryerson," Sebastian smiled, speaking smoothly, and Blaine felt his stomach drop.

"You actually did it," Ryerson said with genuine shock. "You got him."

Sebastian shrugged. "I'm true to my word."

Ryerson looked over at him expectantly. "Well, get that thing off of his face and find out who's responsible for all of the shit we've been putting up with."

Blaine tensed slightly. Sebastian, looking pleased, moved towards him again. When he was just a few steps away he reached out towards Blaine's face, pulling at the armor. However, as Blaine had hoped and expected, it didn't budge. The suit was part of him, and if it had been that easy to move, he could have been exposed months ago.

"It...it doesn't...come off..." Sebastian muttered, irritation clear in his tone. He glared down at Silver. "Take the damn thing off," he added under his breath.

He didn't reply, staring up at Sebastian silently.

"Well?" Ryerson said with impatience.

"It won't come off his stupid face," Sebastian spat.

Ryerson folded his arms. "Smythe, you promised me that you'd have the answer to our problems today, right this moment. If we're stuck waiting for you to get a stupid piece of-"

Sebastian whipped around, smiling slyly at his boss. "I know exactly how to remove it, sir, just give me one moment." He scanned the crowds, his eyes moving quickly over the people, and as he searched, Blaine's heart gave a jolt. 'Please don't be looking for him...don’t be looking for him...don't be...' However, Sebastian perked up and said with a lazy grin, "Kurt, could you help me a moment?"

His mouth felt dry as he watched Kurt move swiftly forwards, glaring at Sebastian. The weapon at his side looked so foreign to Blaine-looked wrong beside Kurt, who was always so caring and gentle. 

"I don't get how I could be of any help, Sebastian," Kurt said.

Sebastian shook his head, smiling. He looked down at the gun Kurt held at his side and raised a brow. Kurt stopped right in front of him, his eyes flickering towards Silver, and then back to Sebastian, who leaned forwards and slipped it free of his hand. In an instant, however, he grabbed Kurt round the neck, the weapon pressed to his temple, both of them facing Silver.

Kurt breath came out in a gasp as Sebastian's arm covered his neck, but the sound was lost in the shock of the crowd. Outraged shouts and jeers rose from the people as Kurt tried to free himself. 

"Just keep still," Blaine heard Sebastian murmur.

"Mr. Smythe!" Ryerson's voice rose above them all, and the crowd fell silent, listening intently. "How dare you!"

Sebastian, still smiling evenly, shook his head. "Oh there's so much more to it, though," he said quietly, his voice carrying easily over the crowd. "And in a minute Silver Spark can be unmasked, and you'll all understand."

"Sebastian-"

But Sebastian had turned away towards Silver again, smiling. "Show them who you really are," he said steadily, "or else Hummel gets it."

Blaine opened his mouth to reply, a mixture of anger and worry playing inside him, chasing each other, but he couldn't find the words. He could only focus on Kurt. His eyes were full of fire, anger pulsing through him, but his hands shook slightly, and he was biting down on his lip. His eyes caught onto Blaine and he shook his head the slightest, eyes pleading with him. "You wouldn't do it," Kurt hissed bitterly, speaking now to Sebastian.

The malicious smile twisted his lips. "I was hoping you'd say that," he said.

In one swift movement the gun was moved from being pointed to the side of Kurt's head to the floor-right at his foot. Sebastian's finger pulled back and there was a loud bang as the gun went off and everyone jumped. It hit right on target and Kurt let out a sharp yelp. 

"Smythe! Are you insane?" Ryerson demanded angrily.

Sebastian lazily lifted it back to Kurt's temple, smiling. "Perhaps," he said softly. His eyes turned back to Silver, but Blaine was staring at Kurt again-concern seeping through his carefully composed mask. Kurt was chewing on his lower lip, the pain evident on his face. A deep crimson was spreading out from the material of his shoe. 

"Show them," Sebastian said, the voice cutting through Blaine's concentration.

Kurt, who seemed vaguely dazed, shook his head slightly again. 

He wouldn't let them hurt him. He would never let anything hurt Kurt. Kurt, always gentle, always caring. Kurt, who said he would do anything to protect Blaine. The one who he'd fallen for-he wouldn't lose Kurt. "Fine," he said hoarsely, and for once he let it all drop, let the mask fall that he wore when he was Silver, showing the cracked human hidden behind.

"What's the worst that could happen if they found me?" Blaine whispered.

"The best you would hope for is some sort of warning and you’re done....the worst," he said, swallowing, "is that they lock you up and keep you there, hidden, and explain the disappearance as an accident..."

Kurt was shaking his head fully now, but Blaine stood up, holding out his arms as the armor retracted. The on looking crowd watched in awe as it moved away, disappearing towards his neck like water siding up over his skin. His face was the last to show, the mask sliding away, his eyes closed, collective gasps coming from the crowds of people.

"He's...he's a kid," someone breathed.

Blaine opened his eyes, facing the crowd. He looked round at Kurt, the gun dropped from his temple but the arm still reaching across his throat, and gave a weak smile. Kurt stared at him, shaking his head, his eyes sad and pleading even as he knew things couldn’t be undone.

"Who is this kid?" Ryerson asked loudly.

"Blaine Anderson," Sebastian said proudly, putting more pressure on his arm so that Kurt exhaled sharply. "Hummel's precious boyfriend."

Eyes turned towards Kurt, who was trying to pry Sebastian's arm off of his neck, in shock. In a moment people were yelling their outrage, shouting accusations of betrayal. Weapons were leveled between Kurt and Blaine, both of which were very aware of how outnumbered they were-both weighing their options of how best to help the other. 

"Hummel, is this true?" Ryerson practically yelled.

Kurt could barely speak. He pushed at the arm around his neck, which loosened when Ryerson spoke. Kurt took in a deep breath, taking a moment to regain himself and catch his breath before directing his attention to Ryerson. "Yes, it is, sir-" He was cut off by more infuriated shouts, which Ryerson quickly silence. "However," he said, speaking over the din, "Sebastian-" He gasped as the arm tightened around his throat again.

"Sebastian," Blaine said, finally finding his voice. 

"Kurt Hummel has been certainly well informed about this for a while now," Sebastian said, as though neither Kurt nor Blaine had said anything. "A matter as serious as this should be reported immediately, no matter who it is behind the mask. It's practically harbouring a fugitive-"

"Oh shut up," Kurt gasped, still working on moving the arm.

Sebastian glared down at him, keeping his grip firm. 

"Let go of him," Blaine said steadily, keeping his eyes on Sebastian as he spoke. When Sebastian only grinned, Blaine glared at him. "Sebastian."

The grip loosened slightly and Kurt gulped in air, slipping a hand up between the remaining space between Sebastian's arm and his neck, pressing it outwards. His other hand massaged his neck as Sebastian watched Blaine with cautious eyes, sending a silent warning towards him. 

"Sebastian is planning on handing Silver over to McKinley Industries," Kurt said, rushing his words."He met with them before and they planned to use our technology to track down Silver Spark an-and...." Kurt swallowed, glancing at Blaine with a sort of numbed pain. "They wanted to use it to...end his life."

Blaine stared at Kurt as his voice wobbled with his last words, his hands clenched at his sides. For a moment their eyes met and the world melted away and it was just them, standing too far apart, seeing in each other's eyes just what the other was thinking. Kurt swallowed, biting his lip, staring at Blaine with a kind of compassionate sadness. Their gazes broke and suddenly flames lit his eyes, determination building.

"Sebastian wants you to tag Silver Spark as someone who is highly dangerous and using the attention to do wrong," Kurt continued, his voice stronger, his hand keeping Sebastian from cutting him off again. "He wants to expose him as a monster, but isn't it obvious that we're only dealing with someone who cares that people are safe? Someone who was given the ability to do some good and acted on that?" He looked over at the crowd. "You can't pin Silver Spark as wrong just because he's making us look a little off our game. He's here to help, not to harm, and we shouldn't be discouraging that."

"He has done wrong," Sebastian snapped angrily, "and he's made us look like fools."

"You just want to see him gone and hand him over to the people we're supposed to ward away," Kurt replied furiously, his voice dangerously low.

"By proof of my eyes Sebastian's story is obviously true," Ryerson said suddenly, speaking over the two. Everyone glanced over at him, silence falling. "Kurt Hummel has been harboring information necessary to a case. However, there is no proof at all that Sebastian is supposedly going to turn Silver Spark in to those he's helping to keep away. Why would he lead Silver here?"

"To expose him," Kurt said with frustration and Blaine saw that Sebastian was trying to cover Kurt's throat again with his arm. "To turn you against both Blaine and myself-"

"Silver Spark has been nothing but trouble and we need to act on that," Ryerson practically shouted. "Even if he is only a kid," he spat, and Blaine turned to look at him, breathing heavily. "We still need to show consequence. If any of those criminals-jokes more like it-show up we'll turn them in just as well."

"He's never done anything wrong-"

"As for yourself, Hummel," he continued and Blaine's heart sank, "you'll be facing consequences as well for harboring this information."

Sebastian grinned. "Why don't we take the both of them down to the holding cells then?" he said easily. "I'd be honoured to escort them down."

Ryerson, to Kurt's surging anger, nodded.

Sebastian started to force Kurt forwards, and people moved to grab Blaine. Frantically, Kurt looked over at Blaine, who looked so small standing alone in the middle of the floor, shrinking away from the surge of people. Without the suit he really was just a kid. Their eyes caught again and Blaine swallowed, his mind reeling as he tried to find a way out. Kurt looked around, searching as well, but the only thing behind Blaine was the giant glass window. It took a second for Blaine to realize this too.

And in that split second his mind clicked and the armor started to pour over his skin rapidly, Blaine backing away towards the window. The cool glass pressed against him and he took a deep breath, lifting his head to see Kurt staring at him, shaking his head, knowing exactly what Blaine meant to do.

Turning around, putting together all of his energy, he threw his fist towards the glass and watched as the shards rained down the side of the building. Glittering glass raindrops.  

They were twenty floors up, cars looking like ants as they sped across the roads, seeming to go faster than they ever had before. Holding his breath, his heart racing, Blaine took one more step...and fell.