Kurt had set up Blaine's room in the small spare bedroom across from his. All Blaine would ask for was a mattress, proper sheeting (more of Kurt's request than Blaine's), a pillow (Kurt made sure he had at least two), and a blanket, but no other clothes than the ugly red outfit he was brought to Kurt in, no extra paper and pens, no extra food -- nothing. But what really surprised Kurt was that he could just tell that Blaine was thankful to be where he was now.

Kurt tried to be kind with the chores he gave Blaine. On Saturdays, Kurt asked that Blaine would tidy-up the house, cook, and leave Kurt in peace to create more of his outfits. On Sunday's, Blaine was only asked to cook. During the week, Blaine was asked to serve customers in the shop, help keep things in stock, and to cook. Usually on Fridays, Kurt took a turn to cook since he loves cooking and was sure he always would. But when there would be guests over for a party, dinner, or private meeting, Blaine was asked to just stay in the background, cook, and serve the guests.

Today was a slow day as Kurt counted his money and Blaine was hanging up a fallen suit. Kurt had to close up early with how slow the day was being. But usually, business was busy.

Sunday. The day of the Reaping. Everybody was so keen as to make sure they watched it, but Kurt found it nowhere close to his taste. He still has images burned into his memory from when he was forced to watch the Reaping with his family back in his old District. The horror on their faces, the tears, and the screaming. Kurt had to admit, he was incredibly lucky he never got picked. He now was able to hide behind his job in the Capitol so he wouldn't have to worry about being so nervous about being picked he'd hurl out anything he had in his stomach when he'd get home, safe from the Capitol.

Suddenly, the shop door opened and in came Kurt's new Capitol friend Rachel Berry. Her brown hair was puffed up in a fashionable hairstyle with red tips. Her lips were the same red and so where the tips of her long eyelashes. Her large brown eyes were surrounded with a navy blue eye shadow. She wore a red and navy blue suit, personally designed by Kurt himself. Her matching red pumps were by a different designer though.

Kurt smiled and closed his register, waiting as Rachel walked over to him. "Hello Kurt!" she greeted with a big smile. "I just wanted to stop by and say 'hi' while everyone else pines over the Reaping." Rachel's face twisted into complete distaste.

Kurt sighed. "You too?" he asked in his naturally friendly and personal tone he only used around friends.

She just nodded her head.

"Well do you wanna come upstairs -- you hungry?" he asked her as he motioned his head over to the hallway that led to the door which led up to his apartment.

She quickly nodded her head. "Famished."

Kurt's eyes caught with Blaine, who instantly knew what was happening. So Blaine hurried up to the apartment before Rachel would know about his presence.

"Perfect. I think my specialty is what would be what's needed for a day like today." So Rachel followed Kurt up to his apartment where Blaine stood cleaning the kitchen counter for Kurt's future use. Rachel immediately noticed Blaine.

"Well what a surprise. First I get to finally see your lavish apartment and now I find out you have an Avox. Lucky."

Kurt just smiled and nodded his head as he walked into his kitchen and began taking out supplies. Blaine waited for commands but found Kurt doing what Blaine was supposed to be doing. So he stood nearby, looking at the floor with wide eyes as if he felt like he were doing something wrong.

Rachel's smiled faded. "Um, just wandering...but isn't your Avox supposed to be doing that?" Rachel asked with confusion.

"Nope. Blaine doesn't know my specialty recipe yet," replied Kurt as if it were no big deal.

Rachel didn't know what set her off first. "Blaine" or "yet". "You named him?" she asked in a worried kind of awe.

Kurt didn't know what was the problem due to his ignorance. "Okay, Rachel, I didn't name him. His parents did," he said in a tone that made it seem almost as if he were talking to someone who was irrevocably stupid.

Kurt didn't name Blaine -- Blaine told Kurt. It all made sense to Rachel now. "Kurt, the Capitol doesn't care for people who make friends with their Avoxes. I hope you know that."

Of course I don't. "Of course I do, Rachel." Kurt looked at Blaine. "Blaine, would you please go to your room?"

Blaine dared to look up at Kurt in his presence, but he managed a nod of his head before he headed out of the kitchen and down the hallway where his room was.

Rachel sighed, shaking her head. "It's illegal, Kurt. I don't want to see you banished from the Capitol."

Kurt began chopping up vegetables as he sighed. "Blaine is a good guy, Rachel. You know me. I'm not really rude to ones below me." That was true. Kurt was kind and considerate -- a good friend, though sometimes sassy and stuck-up -- but never rude or incredibly bossy. He was a good person by heart. "They were going to execute him if I didn't take him in. I don't have the heart to treat him how others treat their...Avoxes." Kurt had trouble saying the very word. It felt so inhuman and unearthly.

"Kurt, Avoxes are betrayers -- disobeyers of the Capitol. They's why they get their tongue cut out. They're not good people," Rachel stressed to Kurt as she sat down on one of the bright red stools placed at the kitchen island.

Kurt froze. It all made perfect sense now, like the missing piece from a simple puzzle. That's why Blaine is mute. He has no tongue to talk with. And maybe that was why Blaine stayed away from most solid foods. Blaine could occasionally eat bread with butter and cheese, but never any other solid foods. That's why Kurt had to stock up more on his yogurt, pudding, gelatin, and such. Suddenly, Kurt pitied Blaine all the more. But what did Blaine do that was so wrong in the eyes of the Capitol? He suddenly felt determined to find out.

Blaine was such a shy and good Avox...how could he be a bad person?

"How about we change the subject. All this talk about Avoxes is starting to hurt my soul," murmured Blaine as he resumed his cooking.

Rachel just sighed and slowly shook her head.

Rachel left an hour after dinner, thanking Kurt for such an amazing meal. When Kurt saw her safely out the door, he finished closing up the shop, locked everything up, and headed back upstairs to talk to Blaine about all this. He made sure to have a notepad and pen in hand for Blaine to use as his communication.

Kurt knocked on the door before he entered. And just when he was about to turn the doorknob, the door opened, catching Kurt by surprise to find Kurt stumbling forward slightly, finding his face inches away from Blaine's as Blaine leaned back with shock and worry in his large brown eyes, his cheeks blushing deep red at the proximity of Kurt. After a moment of staring, Blaine moved aside for Kurt to enter the rather empty-feeling room. But somehow, the room screamed that it was Blaine's.

So Kurt walked in and sat down on Blaine's bed that was still made from this morning. Blaine eyed the notepad and pen, which caused a slight panic to be read in his eyes.

Kurt opened the notepad and handed it to Blaine, along with the pen, not taking his eyes away from Kurt.

Kurt opened his mouth to say something but stopped himself when he found Blaine already writing. "Did I do something wrong?" it read.

Kurt quickly shook his head. "No, no, no! I just came to talk to you about something. Come sit down beside me," said Kurt as he pat the space next to him on his right.

Blaine hesitated before he obeyed and sat down beside Kurt, looking at him directly.

"When I took you in...I didn't understand what an...Avox was." Blaine nodded his head as if to say 'I know'. "But my friend Rachel, the woman who was here earlier, explained it to me."

Kurt waited for Blaine's reaction. Instead, he got a page reading, "This bothers you? How exactly? You're a really nice master, so I'm not afraid to tell you what you want to know about me." Kurt smiled softly at the 'nice master' comment.

Kurt sucked in a careful breath. "I want to know...how you became and Avox."