The epiphany of his love came to him in a letter from Blaine three months ago.

‘Kurt,

I am no longer fighting this war for my country. Okay, I take that back, of course I am fighting for America, but she is not the force that drives me through each and every horrid day. It is you and the prayer that if I can win this battle, and every one after that, that we will win and you will never have to see the battlefield. You are so innocent Kurt. I never wish to see your optimism and happy smile taken from you. I know that it will, though, if you were to fight in this war. The things I have seen and the amount of people who have lost their lives, it would change you forever and I never ever want to see you change from the Kurt I left in Lima or the man that I met that day in church. I must go now, but I hope that you are happy. Have courage Kurt, and know that I am fighting for your safety.

Stay safe,

Blaine

Just the thought that Blaine was out God-knows-where fighting for him made his heart squeeze tight in mixed emotions. He wrote back two weeks later in the only way he could, he wrote the truth of how he felt and made sure that nothing was given away. If the government screened his letter they would never deduct that Kurt had feelings for Blaine, nor would they find evidence that Kurt or Blaine was homosexual at all.

‘Blaine,

Something has happened since your last letter. I have changed, perhaps not for the better, but I have changed nonetheless. Someone very close and dear to me was drafted six months ago and it wasn’t until quite recently that I found out how much they really mean to me. Since they left my days have been void of happiness and of light. I have been walking around this town lifeless because the only thing that gave me any life at all has been fighting in a war that might take it away. It was two weeks ago that I found the answer as to why I have been so empty these past six months. My heart and soul are with them, out there. They always have been. It just took me the damn war to finally realize that. Every day I pray for their safe return so maybe, just maybe, they will one day return how I feel. There is a high chance that day never comes and I will accept that. But just knowing that person is safe and sound here will be gift enough for me. If anything were to happen to them, if they were to die, a piece of me would die with them and I would never be the same.

I realize that this may come as a shock to you, but I felt the need to inform you of this. I believe I would have confided this in you were you home but seeing as how you’re not, and I have no one here whom I trust nearly as much as you, it seems only fitting to tell you. I pray you understand.

Eagerly awaiting your reply,
Kurt.

It was sent and that was that. There was no taking back what he had just admitted. He just prayed that Blaine understood what he meant. A week passed with no reply from Blaine. Kurt merely shook off the lack of communication and worked off the worry in his father’s car shop, a trade he had picked up since Blaine left. But when a month passed by with no word from the older man, Kurt began to worry himself to death. What if he had offended Blaine with his confession? What if Blaine had figured out that Kurt had feelings for Blaine and was disgusted that another man held those kinds of feelings toward him? The questions burned in his mind and choked his heart with rejection. Other thoughts filled his mind as well. Perhaps it wasn’t rejection that had halted the flow of letters into his mailbox. Maybe Blaine was unable to write Kurt back because he was lying in a field or forest somewhere dead, or he was being held captive by the enemies. Images and scenes of Blaine both dead and bloody from torture or artillery fire plagued his every thought. He was no longer able to sustain an honest smile nor was he the same after that.

Kurt never sent another letter to Blaine. Three months passed without a letter from Blaine. Three months brought him to today, sitting idly by on the window seat watching his step-brother blowing out his candles. This was supposed to be a happy occasion, one full of laughter and smiles, but Kurt felt nothing. He was utterly empty. Kurt honestly wished he could feel joy for his brother but this birthday just meant that he was one year closer to being drafted into the war against Germany, a thought that saddened him to his very core. Finn was too naïve, yes, but it was one of his best qualities. If he were to go into this war he would lose that. Kurt didn’t want that in the slightest bit.
In the midst of the cheers and laughter as Finn dived into his cake, Kurt barely heard knocking on the front door. Looking around the room he saw no one else had heard the noise, so he assumed he imagined it. A few moments later louder and harsher knocks sounded at the door. Peeved, Kurt stood and went to the door. Opening it as the person started to knock again he felt his entire heart drop to the floor. There was Blaine, standing on his doorstep in his military uniform. His hair was much shorter than it was when he had left, so much shorter in fact it was hard to believe that it was once curly. His skin in various places held traces of past injuries and his left arm was tied up in a sling. It was his eyes Kurt found himself staring into. They were still the same honey-hazel that had comforted him nine months ago. They still had the same warmth and innocence that he had left with so long ago, that much the war had not taken from him. Blaine was regarding Kurt with a look he had never given him before and it confused Kurt to no end.

“Blaine, I thought you were dead.” Kurt finally breathed as he fought back tears. His entire body was thrumming with need and an ache just to hug him.

Blaine’s face looked pained, “I almost did. I’ve been in a hospital for the past three months. They just let me come home. I-I had to come see you. Kurt-“ His voice broke off and cracked

.
“Do you want to go somewhere and talk?” Kurt whispered trying to help.

Blaine simply nodded.