Blaine blinked open his eyes.

Wait-how did he do that?

Feeling groggy, he lifted himself into a sitting position. His head didn't spin, he noted. His muscles still ached but it wasn't that bad. But...how? 

Reaching up, he moved to rub his eye, blinking as he stared around at the same room where Sebastian had left him, and froze. His hand rested against his eye-coated in cold, silver metal. Blaine pulled it away, holding it in front of his face. Metal? The same metal moved down his arm and across his chest-it covered his entire body but for his head. The suit-the suit was still there. He could sense it healing him, even if he couldn't feel the lightweight material against his skin. Part of him wasn't gone. 

Confused, Blaine got to his feet slowly. He reached out his hand again, letting the light dance off the metal in bright shards. He had to admit to himself that he was slightly amazed-he'd thought that the suit would be gone when the chip was pulled free. Flexing his fingers, it was almost as though the suit was trying to tell him something just as it clicked in his head.

The suit...was part of him.

The thought struck in his mind like a gear clicking into place. Turning around, testing out every little nook and cranny, the idea seemed to slowly take over, feeling more real every second. Okay, so maybe he felt weaker, but it was still here. He could still will the suit with his mind, still be protected by it and use it to help. He was still Silver. 

And he was not going to let Sebastian get away.

His body reacted before his mind, sprinting towards the door. 'Won't he just hurt Kurt, though?' Wouldn't Kurt want him to fight? 'But what about Coop?' Wouldn't moving into the open give his brother more space from danger? Question upon question ran through his mind, trying to stall, to distract, to stop him. Wouldn't there be more people trying to stop him? Couldn't Sebastian already have turned the city against him? Still, with every thought trying to keep him back, he knew that he had to go. He knew that he had to stop Sebastian, even if the world turned against him, he had to make things right.

As soon as he stepped outside, where the morning light started to touch the skies, instinct took over. His feet moved with the suit, willing him in the direction of Sebastian even if he didn't know exactly where that was. He slipped into the shadows, avoided anyone still wandering around the streets, running faster and faster. His ankle protested but he pushed on, fighting through. 

It was only when he was about a block away that Blaine realized where he was headed-back to the Ryerson Building, where he'd jumped, where he had left Kurt-who was surely still there. He knew that it was dangerous to go there, but if Sebastian was already there, then he had no other choice.

He rounded the corner and the glass building came into view, looming over him. If he squinted, he could see the smashed window twenty stories up. Far below, there were shards of glass sprinkled on the pavement. 

Blaine paused to try and figure out where Sebastian might be. Looking around, he listened for any sign of trouble, but it was quiet. He was sure that Sebastian would've been nearby-the suit had never been wrong before. Maybe without the chip it wouldn't work as well, but he was sure that it would've led him to Sebastian. He had to be around somewhere.

A minute later, not too far away, there was a loud crash, like glass smashing against the ground. Blaine perked up, spinning in the direction of the noise, and took off. It had sounded like it was coming from behind the glass building, somewhere deep beyond the alleyway. He moved through quietly, keeping his senses alert and ready, and ducked around the corner. 

Sebastian stood, shrouded in the suit, in front of a broken glass window. The street behind him was filled with shocked people, staring on in horror as what they thought was Silver Spark destroyed the building, throwing out his arm and smashing through another window so that glass rained around it.

"Hey!" Blaine shouted, stepping forwards.

Everyone gasped, whispers and shouts breaking out over the crowd, as they turned to see the second Silver, standing in the space between the two buildings. Sebastian turned so quickly he nearly stumbled, seething. Without a seconds hesitation he ran at Blaine, holding out his fist to hit him in the gut. Blaine easily dodged, anticipating the move, and Sebastian faltered. Snarling, he turned back around and swung so fast that Blaine didn't have the chance to defend himself. His fist caught him in the side of the jaw, sending him stumbling backwards and sending a fresh burst of pain through his system.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Sebastian sneered.

"What I can," Blaine replied confidently, straightening himself. "Because I can."

Sebastian growled, shooting forwards. He was definitely faster than Blaine, but that didn't matter. The suit was unfamiliar to him, like a whole new body-and seemingly more resistant as though the suit was fighting his instructions. Blaine urged his own suit to move faster, and it responded as best it could as he darted out of the way. 

"You're supposed to be bleeding on the floor of that busted down warehouse," he spat.

Blaine smiled innocently, "I guess that didn't work out."

"You aren't Silver Spark anymore," he hissed, pacing around Blaine. "I took that away from you, you're nothing now."

"You can't take Silver away from me, Silver is part of me."

He started towards Sebastian, willing the suit to move faster, to be stronger, and he could feel it reacting, recalculating, fixing itself. The suit moved so easily with him, just like a second skin, or like it was already flesh and bones. He moved quickly, striking Sebastian in the stomach. Any normal blow wouldn't have left the slightest dent in the suit, but because Blaine’s strength was equal, he was able to deliver it. Sebastian stumbled, wincing. 

"Not too easy, is it," Blaine said.

Blaine ran forwards, throwing a punch to Sebastian's side, which he narrowly avoided. Sebastian threw a hit towards Blaine's skull, but he was able to duck, kicking his feet out from under him.

"I'll still destroy you," Sebastian sneered, rolling out from under Blaine's foot. He got to his feet unsteadily, a child learning to walk. "I can still hurt Kurt, send them off to harm every one you've ever known-"

"No," Blaine said loudly. "I'm never going to let you hurt anyone again."

Sebastian darted backwards, towards the crowds of people and Blaine’s heart was flutter-fast, taking in their fear and panic as though it were his own. They screamed, surging away from the fight. "You can't save everyone!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the street. "You can't stop everyone! There's a city full of people, ready and willing to destroy you even as bits and pieces of it are torn apart without you! This city is prepared to be torn down in order to see you gone!"

Blaine clenched his fist, shaking his head. "I'll protect them even if they hate me," he said, his voice ringing. "Even if they want me gone, if I can help, I will."

Somewhere behind him, footsteps echoed over the ground, like a military march. He glanced at Sebastian, who was watching over Blaine's shoulder. He kept his face steady, his expression hidden by the mask, but Blaine could see him contemplating, see the shift of his jaw. Blaine glanced over his shoulder quickly, feeling like he was letting his guard down, only to see two dozen men all holding weapons steady on both him and Sebastian. Standing in front, his gun aimed at Blaine, Ryerson stood examining the situation, all set jaw and angered eyes.

"Stand down!" he shouted.

Blaine scanned over the crowd, knowing it was foolish to think Kurt would be standing among them, but hoping nonetheless. He wasn't hidden among the people, but Blaine could see confusion flickering through some of their eyes. 

"Mr. Ryerson," Blaine said, keeping his voice steady. He glanced behind himself. Sebastian was still standing amongst the crowd. "Sebastian-"

"Sebastian Smythe is inside, assisting with guarding the prisoners-where you should be kept!" he snapped, cutting Blaine off before he could finish.

"That is Sebastian," Blaine said, pointing towards where the other boy stood amongst the crowd. "He left position, check for yourself. He's done nothing but cause trouble, and he's trying to fight against you. He's trying to fight against everyone." He looked towards the broken glass windows of the building as though the shard of glass would reflect the past. "Ask if Sebastian is still standing down in that building. I bet you anything he made up some excuse to leave."

"Smythe left a little while ago, sir," someone spoke cautiously from the mass. "He said he had to go check over data."

"Does anyone else have confirmation that Smythe left position?" Ryserson asked angrily.

"I saw him leaving the building earlier," another voice added.

Ryerson furrowed his brow in thought, looking between the two Silvers. Blaine waited impatiently for him to say something; every second wasted was another second he could spend stopping Sebastian. As he stood there, though, something inside him was going off. Somewhere in the back of his mind the suit was trying to tell him something...

"I'm still Silver," Blaine continued, looking over the crowd, all pointing weapons at him-I'll protect them even if they hate me, "I am Silver Spark and he-that is Sebastian."

He felt it again-a nagging thought going off in the back of his mind. It was almost as though the suit was putting thoughts into his head-ideas into his conscience, like drops of rain hitting the surface of water. Just as he willed the suit to move, he willed the thought to be louder, to be heard in his sea of ideas. Suddenly, it was like it was screaming in his mind, making sense of all the nonsense in the world. He could sense it too-not only was his suit still linked to him, but the chip itself was too. He looked over to Sebastian, standing tall amongst the crowd, and concentrated. Watching Sebastian through the tinted lenses, he willed the mask to slide away-to show the truth. 

Looking startled as it happened, Sebastian’s shock turned to horror as the mask tore itself away, retracting rapidly. Blaine heard the crowd murmur behind him. 

"Smythe!" Ryerson shouted in outrage.

Still seemingly confused, Sebastian touched his face as if making sure he wasn't imagining the suit gone. He blinked, closing his eyes and Blaine could imagine him trying to push the mask back over his flesh, but he withheld it, urging the rest of the suit to fall away as well. With just his thoughts, he was able to guide it away, the armor falling away and revealing Sebastian underneath. He looked mortified as it slipped, desperately trying to keep the suit intact. 

"I-I," Sebastian stuttered, staring at Ryerson. "He-he tricked me!"

"Take him in," Ryerson commanded.

The men nodded and moved to grab Sebastian, who tried to fight them off with no luck. They dragged him towards the building as he continued to try and free himself. Blaine watched him pass, just as Sebastian lifted his head to glare at him. 

"There's a computer chip, in the back of his neck," Blaine told Ryerson, "it needs to be taken out-"

"Yes yes," Ryerson said waving him off. He mentioned this to another man beside him who nodded and turned to follow the others. "Thank you, I guess," Ryerson said, directing his attention back to Blaine. "Your service has been noted." Blaine waited for him to continue, to tell him that he was free of all charges, that Kurt would be okay, but he didn't say anything more.

"Well then?" Blaine said, raising his voice slightly.

"Hmm?" 

"Are the charges dropped, is Kurt free to go?" Blaine replied angrily.

Ryerson looked at him, tilting his head. He pursed his lips in thought, examining Blaine. "You're just a kid."

"I realize that," Blaine said, standing taller.

He looked at him again. "These...these criminals," he said, speaking lowly as though afraid anyone could hear. "They've been trouble and you've stopped them. You've caused mass problems here, making us look like damned fools in comparison. You're a pest, you know?"

"Thanks," Blaine said sarcastically.

"You're something though," he breathed, staring off across the street. "And I can't just lock something like that up just because he's a bit of a pest."

"So Kurt-"

"Blaine!"

Blaine raised his head at the familiar voice. Hurrying from the building, a weapon attached to his hip, Kurt ran towards them. With the soft morning light slanted across his skin, his eyes seemed to light up and sparkle. The smile that tugged at his lips was enough to make Blaine’s heart dance in his chest-a sight that was so welcoming and familiar that Blaine wanted to fall into it. Stepping away from Ryerson, not caring who was around, Blaine surged forwards just as Kurt tackled him with a hug. He pulled back, cupping Blaine's face and pressing their lips together. 

"That was so stupid," Kurt murmured against his lips, keeping their mouths together. "Why the hell would you jump from a twenty story building."

Blaine laughed as Kurt kissed him fiercely, responding to him eagerly. After being apart for so long Blaine felt like things were finally coming back together. "I'm sorry," he said breathlessly. 

Kurt pulled back, keeping one hand on his cheek, his thumb stroking over Blaine's chin in the spot just before the mask. "You are so...amazing," he said softly. "And I'm just glad that you're okay." He gave a small smile, "Besides, if you hadn't gone after Sebastian I would've had to hunt him down and kick his ass myself."

"Hummel!" Ryerson snapped loudly, suddenly beside them. Kurt pulled away from Blaine, keeping his hand on Blaine's arm. He looked at Ryerson steadily. "How the hell did you get out?"

Kurt smiled. "Snuck in a key."

Ryerson's face turned bright red. Blaine resisted the urge to laugh, but he could see Kurt smirking out of the corner of his eye. 

"I presume that all charges will be dropped, then?" Kurt asked innocently, smiling at Ryerson. "For both myself and Blaine. As well, none of his identity will be set into any data and any that has been will be erased completely." When Ryerson just stared at him, the corner of Kurt's mouth quirked up and he patted Ryerson gently on the arm, "Correct?"

Ryseron's face was beet red, but his brow furrowed. Kurt smirked at Blaine, who bit down on his lip to stop himself from laughing. "Yes," Ryserson finally said, sounding like it was taking all of his restraint to keep from yelling. He looked between the two of them for a moment, folding his arms over his chest. "What about you?" he said suddenly, turning to Blaine. "Everyone here knows who you are."

Kurt squeezed Blaine's shoulder. "I-I don't know," Blaine said truthfully, sighing. "There's nothing that can really be done-"

"What about procedure 57?" Kurt piped.

Blaine glanced at him in confusion, but his eyes were fixed on Ryserson. "Would that be the best idea?" Ryserson asked, contemplating the thought. He looked somewhat reluctant.

"What's procedure 57?" Blaine asked, looking between them.

Ryseron pursed his lips. "It's a system built into the building-a substance set to be pumped out through the sprinklers-that can be set off in case of emergencies. It sprays a chemical that seeps through the skin and traces itself to the brain, erasing the memories over the past twenty-four hours exactly."

"So everyone would forget?" 

Kurt nodded. "You'd be safer that way," he said quietly, speaking more to Blaine than to Ryerson. "You're at risk right now, somebody else could find out. Even if Sebastian's been dealt with and the company gets shut down, there's always going to be something."

"I can order everyone inside," Ryserson said. "If you want."

Kurt squeezed Blaine's arm again. "It's up to you, Blaine," he said, lowering his voice so only Blaine could hear him. "I think it'd be safer if they didn't know."

Blaine searched his eyes for a second and nodded. "Alright," he said. "Make the order."

Ryserson nodded and turned to enter the building. His hand hovered over the handle and he paused, turning back to look at Blaine. "Take care of yourself, Anderson," he said, the faintest of smiles crossing his lips. "If you mess up the entire crew may be confused, but Hummel and I will know who to blame."

"You too, sir," Blaine said, smiling. "Thank you."

The corner of his lip turned up and he ducked inside, the door closing silently behind him. 

"Come on," Kurt whispered, taking Blaine's wrist and guiding him away from the building.

"Where're we going?" Blaine asked, yawning widely.

Kurt glanced back at him, and then down at his ankle. "Somewhere to take care of your busted ankle," he said quietly. "And so that you can rest."

Blaine gave a light laugh, “First off, you’re the one who was shot in the foot. And what about the rest of them?" Blaine asked, remembering that Acid and the others were still going around the city, causing havoc. "Someone needs to go and stop them. People could get hurt or they could escape or-"

"Someone else can take care of that," Kurt said. They'd stopped in front of his car, and Kurt moved forwards to unlock the door. "You're exhausted, Blaine. You need to rest before you go out trying to heroically save the day again." Blaine watched him duck into the car, his hand resting on the hood, before getting inside himself. Kurt was pulling out his keys and starting the car, when he looked over at Blaine, a small smirk playing around his lips.

"Car doors open," Kurt said with a laugh.

Blaine laughed, pulling it shut and remembering that time months ago, when there were layers upon layers of secrets between them, when Kurt had told him exactly that. Even still, with Kurt laughing softly beside him, his heart danced inside his chest. 

"You know, Blaine," Kurt said, keeping his eyes traced to the road as Blaine let the suit slip away from his face, "I am really proud-of everything you've done and...and just to be with you."

The sincerity and care in his voice was like a blanket, wrapping Blaine in warmth. He smiled, wishing he could take Kurt's hand, or hug him, or kiss him senseless, and turned to watch him. "Thank you," he said, hoping his voice dripped with the same emotions, reflecting all the warmth and care and love that was rushing through him. "I-Kurt?"

"Mhmm?" Kurt hummed, glancing over at Blaine.

He swallowed, suddenly feeling nervous as he could feel the words rolling around on his tongue. "I-I love you."

Kurt paused, watching him. He seemed like he was at a loss for words, for once, when a smile formed around his lips. "I love you, too," he said, a little breathlessly. He looked back at the road, still grinning. "I'd kiss you right now but I think crashing would ruin the moment."

Blaine laughed, rolling his eyes, and turned to look out the window. 

Something beeped and Blaine looked over to see if Kurt noticed, but his eyes were still fixed on the road, that small smile playing around his lips. The noise went off again and Blaine realized that it was the suit, registering danger. Biting down on his lip, he tried to ignore it as the slightest of shocks went through his neck, trying to persuade him to go and fight. 

"Are you alright?" Kurt asked, glancing over at him.

"It's just the suit," Blaine murmured, staring at his hands, knuckles scarred and scratched.

Kurt furrowed his brow as they pulled to a stop at a light. "What about it?"

"Must be Acid or something..." Blaine said, staring out the window. 

"She's still out there," Kurt said, and Blaine could hear him processing his own words. "They all are. Ryerson's got the building on lockdown to erase everyone's memories..." He shook his head, the car moving again. "Blaine you're hurt."

"I know."

He knew that Kurt could hear it in his tone-that desperate need to help. "Blaine," he sighed.

Blaine twiddled his thumbs in his lap, looking at the scars that covered his knuckles. "I can help them, though," he said quietly. "There are people out there who are terrified and hoping for a hero, and I could be there to protect them." Kurt didn't reply, trying to keep his face straight as he stared out at the road. "We could help them."

"How well can you walk?" Kurt asked slowly.

The smallest of smirks twitched at the corner of Blaine's mouth. "With the suit I'm fine, Kurt."

He brushed his thumb over the steering wheel, thinking. "Are you sure?"

"I need to help them, even if that means endangering myself."

Kurt nodded and Blaine felt the car turning in the opposite direction. "Tell me where to go," he said with his usual determination Blaine had grown to love.

Blaine quickly described the building Sebastian had been in to Kurt, giving him the fastest route he could think of. The suit was beeping madly, trying to divert him, but they both knew that if they wanted to end this, they needed to end it from the source. Whoever it was that was running the operation needed to stop calling the orders. Blaine recalled the other voices he'd heard that night he had overheard Sebastian. He still remembered the crazed sound of the man who'd been so determined to crush him.

"The reason that I ever took this job was to help people," Kurt said. They'd been driving in silence for the past few minutes. "I wanted to do something good for the world."

"And you are," Blaine said, watching him with admiration. "Kurt you're amazing."

Kurt shook his head. "I'm not you." He smiled, his eyes dancing as he glanced at Blaine. "In every story I always thought there had to be a hero. When my mom told me stories I thought, 'I want to help people. I want to save the day just like that.' I admired their bravery, selflessness, compassion. I always thought they had to be super though, not...people. I thought they were practically impossible to find."

"And?" Blaine prompted when Kurt paused.

"Then I met you," he said, his smile widening. "You and your way of putting your life in danger to help others, being oblivious to the consequences of stepping in the line of fire sometimes, doing whatever it takes to make things right."

"I also happen to have a one of a kind super suit that's basically resistant to everything."

"Yeah, and that's what makes you the city's hero," Kurt said, "but you also became my hero."

Blaine watched him, his eyes softening. "What do you mean?"

"The world is full of horrible things, Blaine," Kurt said, his thumb ghosting over the wheel. "Things brought upon us by people, by nature, by instinct and reaction. Sometimes it just, well it seems like a lot. I've been going out and fighting for justice and rights for so long, I've seen the world in the darker lights. It's how I've had to learn to think. People are cruel, nobody can be trusted, and if you ever tell anyone the truth well then they might just take it, turn it against you, and then let it dance in front of your face like a cheap puppet.

"It got to the point where someone who was just a good person was rare and hard to stumble upon and then there you were. The way that you smiled, the way that your eyes shone, how you spoke with that bounce of joy. You and your humour and the fact that when you got nervous you stumbled on your words. You were that person, who just stumbled right out in front of me and shook me awake, screaming, 'Look there are good people, and I'm one of them. Right in front of you. Don't let me pass.'

"I never got the saying 'you're my better half' before; I thought it was stupid, just another sappy way of saying I love you. I think I understand now though, because you're my better half, Blaine. When something seems so dark and awful and twisted, there you are like a sunbeam, reminding me that the world is a wonderful place full of brand new things and dreams and joys that we need to take time to experience."

For a second Blaine didn't really know what to say, watching Kurt with the sort of awe that one would observe a nebula with. Such beauty, flow, wonder, all twisted together into one thing. Except Kurt Hummel was right beside him, so close he could reach out and run his hand down the side of his face and watch his eyes light up and shift colours with his mood, watching light reflect and dance in his hair and hear the soft sound of his musical laugh. Blaine had never really expected love to be his, but now that it was, he was breathless with it. 

"Kurt," he said, trying to gather his senses. "I-I love you."

Kurt laughed, his eyes flickering to Blaine. "Did I mention I also love how eloquent you are?"