By the time Blaine and Cooper got home, it was after midnight and all the lights were off. Blaine stumbled his way upstairs and found Kurt already asleep in bed. He'd been anxious to hear how Kurt's meeting with his father went, but apparently it wasn't going to happen tonight. Blaine crossed the room to press a quick kiss to Kurt's forehead before heading to his dresser.

He changed into his pajamas and silently slid into bed next to Kurt. He pulled the sleeping boy close and fell asleep quickly. Apparently, far more exhausted by his day than he'd originally thought.

The smell of coffee woke him up. His eyelids dragged open and he stared blearily at the numbers on the alarm clock; it wouldn't go off for another twenty minutes. He scrubbed his hand across his face and slowly sat up, groaning as he stretched.

"I'm sorry," Kurt whispered quietly. "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"'s fine," Blaine mumbled, rubbing his eyes before opening them to look at Kurt, already fully dressed and sipping from his coffee cup. Kurt sat cross-legged at the desk, no doubt working on the design for his latest outfit. He stood up and padded over to Blaine, dropping down next to him and offering him the cup of coffee in his hand.

Blaine mumbled his thanks and took a sip. Kurt carded his fingers through Blaine's hair, watching him drink, a small, adoring smile on his face. He lifted Blaine's chin with a finger and pressed a soft kiss to the sleepy boy's lips.

"Good morning," Kurt said, smiling. He giggled quietly. Blaine smiled and made a soft, questioning noise. "Your lips taste like coffee," Kurt said, his voice full of adoration. He slid his thumb across the apple of Blaine's cheek.

Blaine chuckled softly and let his lips brush against Kurt's, content and totally lost in the moment. "Mmm...love you," he mumbled against the other boy's lips, warmth flooding through him as he felt the way Kurt's lips turned up into a smile against his own.
"Love you, too." His voice was soft and quiet.

Kurt laced their fingers together and slid closer to Blaine, taking the coffee from his hand and taking a drink before handing it back. "Where did you and Cooper end up going last night?"
"Oh...we just went out to that Chinese place next to the theater that we're always ordering take out from," Blaine said, his tone dismissive. "How did dinner with your father go?" He asked, genuinely interested.

Kurt smiled and launched into a rundown of the evening. Apparently, after Burt had gotten out of the hospital and realized that Kurt was gone, he spent the better part of a year trying to track him down. After every lead turned out to be a dead end, not to mention the less than helpful people he had to go through to even get what little he'd been able to find, he'd finally resigned himself to believing that, at least for the time being, Kurt was gone.

He decided to try a different approach and ran for congress instead, hoping that he would be able to make a difference and pass slaves' rights reform, so that others wouldn't have to go through what he did. He even had ideas for a bill that would abolish slavery in the state of Ohio altogether, but he was having trouble finding support.

Blaine continued to listen with a rapt expression as Kurt went on and on about his father. He'd apparently told his father about his past owners. He left out the particulars, because 'There are just some things a father should never hear.' Blaine had squeezed Kurt's hand sympathetically, but he didn't push the issue, and Kurt quickly changed the subject, never wanting to linger on that subject for too long.

A small smile lit up Kurt's face. "We talked about you a little," he teased.
Blaine grinned widely. "Oh yeah?"
"Yep. I told him about how you saved me in more ways than you'll ever know. And how you made me feel like I mattered again, how you treated me like a human being. I told him that I was in love with you and that you really cared about me," Kurt said, a light pink blush coloring his cheeks.

Blaine leaned forward to kiss where the blush colored Kurt's cheek, squeezing his hand again softly. "I do, Kurt. I really, really do," Blaine promised, smiling. "What did he say?"

"He said that, at first, he was skeptical of you, because you were my owner, but he said he could see in your eyes how much you really cared about me. He told me that he hates that I can't just come home with him, but he says that he's happy that at least he knows I'm safe and cared for here." Kurt squeezed his hand gently.

Blaine lifted their intertwined hands to his lips and kissed the back of Kurt's hand before sliding his thumb across it lovingly. "You are safe and cared for here. I'll always do my best to keep you safe, Kurt."

Kurt smiled and rested his free hand against Blaine's cheek, leaning forward for a kiss.

Since taking their time with the conversation, and spending too much, but never nearly enough, time kissing, Blaine was running late for school. He dressed quickly and pressed a chaste kiss to Kurt's lips as he took the travel mug full of coffee from the taller boy's hands with a quick 'thank you'.

-xXxXx-

Blaine had chosen to skip lunch in favor of working on the English paper that wasn't going nearly as well as he'd hoped. He took another sip of coffee and set aside the empty cup as he combed through yet another book on Victorian Age literature, wondering idly if slamming his head down against the hard cover of the book would alleviate some of the crushing boredom or just result in a headache. He propped his head up on his hand and flipped another page, sighing.

He jumped and looked up when he heard a familiar voice call his name. Sebastian was sauntering toward him, holding two cups of coffee. He smiled and pushed one toward Blaine as he sat down. At least one good thing came out of all of this, even if it did mean dealing with Sebastian.

"Thanks," Blaine mumbled, barely looking up from his book.

Sebastian looked unfazed. "No problem. Hey, I was wondering if you wanted to meet up later to finish up our project. I know you said you would finish it, but I'd like to help a little bit at least." He pulled out his best puppy-dog expression.

Blaine sighed and suddenly felt a little guilty for having been so harsh toward Sebastian. Truth be told, he hadn't made any moves on Blaine since he'd put his foot down. Maybe it was worth giving him another chance. Maybe Sebastian genuinely did want to be friends.

"Umm, yeah sure. I'm going to be late getting home today, because I have to finish this stupid essay, but you're welcome to go on over after school. If I'm not there by the time you get there, Kurt will show you where my room is," Blaine said, still half distracted by the work in front of him and not really excited by the prospect of more work waiting for him when he got home.

Sebastian smiled, a glint that Blaine didn't catch flashed in his eye. "Your parents still live on Sycamore Street, right?" Blaine nodded. Sebastian's tone was all innocence when he spoke. "Well, if you're not home when I get there, why don't I just start without you? It will take some of the load off of you."

Blaine looked up at that, met by the too-helpful smile on Sebastian's face. "Uh...that sounds good. There are markers and posterboard upstairs in my room. Kurt will show you where everything is. You can use whatever you want."

The bell rang and Blaine started packing his things into his bag in a rush to get to class. He couldn't afford to be late again, but Sebastian had distracted him and he hadn't had enough time to pick up and return the book. He gathered all of his things in his arms and called a dismissive goodbye in Sebastian's direction, but he quickly got up and followed.

Blaine rolled his eyes at the annoyingly persistent boy. "I can use whatever I want?" Sebastian asked, a trace of something Blaine didn't trust colored his tone, but he didn't have time to question it; he was already running late.
"Yeah, yeah. Use whatever you want," he repeated, darting toward the door and disappearing around the corner. "See ya later."

Sebastian leaned back against the wall; a dark smile spreading across his face. "Yep, see ya later," Sebastian laughed quietly to himself, pushing off the wall and adjusting the strap to the messenger bag slung over his shoulder.

The rest of the day passed quickly and Kurt had been upstairs doodling some new designs in a notebook when he heard the doorbell ring insistently. He dropped his pencil and quickly went downstairs to answer it. He heard Cooper buzzing around in the kitchen, probably washing dishes. He straightened the hem of his shirt and answered the door with his eyes cast to the floor.

"May I help you?" He asked, doing his best to keep his voice low. Slaves are required to remain submissive to all free citizens and are not allowed to make eye contact until directly given permission to.

A condescending male voice answered, "You may look at me."

Kurt looked up toward the speaker's face, immediately distrustful of the glint in his eye. A sly smile spread across the teen's face, making his green eyes flash, as he leaned in the door and looked around the empty living room. "Is your owner home?"

"No, sir," Kurt answered politely. "His brother is in the kitchen. I could get him if you'd like."
"That won't be necessary," the boy answered, stepping through the door and closing it behind him. "I think we'll just go wait for Blaine upstairs."

Kurt stood frozen, taken aback by the stranger's forwardness. He was sure Blaine hadn't mentioned expecting company today. The tall boy brushed past him, walking toward the stairs. "I suggest you follow me," he said without turning, his voice low and dark. "Quietly."

Kurt followed the tall stranger up the stairs, pointing to Blaine's room when he was asked.

As soon as he walked through the door, the stranger shut it behind him. Even though he was expecting it, the click of the door closing made him jump. It sounded final. There was something about the atmosphere of the room that made him uncomfortable. It reminded him too much of his past owners.

The tall stranger threw himself down on Blaine's bed, stretching his legs out in front of him and crossing his arms behind his head as he reclined against the headboard, the picture of leisure.

"Alright. Here's what's going to happen. My name is Sebastian Smythe. I go to school with Blaine and I overheard him on the phone with you the other day," he said matter-of-factly, businesslike. His voice turned mocking as he continued. "It was funny. At first, I didn't even realize he was talking to a slave. It sounded like he was talking to an old friend...well...maybe more than a friend, but you get my drift."

Kurt swallowed thickly as he listened to the boy speak. The tone of his voice was sarcastic and threatening. It honestly seemed as though he was very much enjoying keeping Kurt on edge, enjoying dragging it out for as long as possible.

Kurt knew what was going to happen, so he wasn't shocked what the boy said next, but it hit him like a wrecking ball all the same.

"Now, how do you think the Department would feel about you getting all chummy with your owner? I don't think they'd be to happy about it. From the looks of you, he's treats you like a prince instead of the reject that you are," Sebastian said, his teasing voice thick with menace.

Kurt knew that, if the Department came and found the way that Blaine was treating him, he'd be removed immediately. It was strictly forbidden to "spoil a slave", as it made them defiant and useless to future owners. The current owner would be given a hefty fine, and the slave would be relocated to a different home.

Kurt tried to keep his body from shaking. From the look on the other boy's face, there was nothing he'd like more than to see Kurt be taken from Blaine. He felt helpless. He didn't dare try to speak. He'd learned long ago not to argue with a free citizen. It always ended in pain or something much worse.

"I'll tell you what..." he trailed off, gesturing in Kurt's direction, prompting him to say his name.
"Kurt."
Sebastian smiled, nodding once in acknowledgment. "I'll tell you what, Kurt. Since Blaine doesn't seem to be getting much use out of you, I figured I'd do it for him. We wouldn't want you to get rusty, now would we, Kurt?" He chuckled darkly at his own humor before schooling his expression back into something more commanding. "So, to clarify, you do what I want, and I won't have my father, the state attorney, have the Department put a rush on your transfer out of the little paradise you have here."

The green eyed teen smiled widely and watched Kurt shift his weight uncomfortably as the words crashed over him like a boiling tidal wave.

Terror and sadness flashed in his eyes, but he worked to hide it.

He couldn't lose Blaine. Not only because with him was the only place he had felt safe in over three years, but because Blaine made him feel wanted, cared for. Even before he'd been put into circulation, he'd never dreamed that he'd find someone who cared for him the way Blaine did, nor did he ever think he'd care for anyone as much as he cared for Blaine.

No one had ever made him feel as safe and protected as Blaine did. Blaine had nursed him back to health and made him feel like himself again. For the first time in three years, Kurt had an ally, and he didn't think he could stand to lose him. The idea alone felt like knife being plunged into the center of his chest.

The boy smiled again and continued. "And if you don't," he drawled. "I'll still get what I want. My father has got a lot of pull, and I'm sure he'd be more than happy to get me any slave I wanted."

Kurt swallowed thickly, understanding the implication behind the words. It wasn't as though he could refuse. As a citizen, Sebastian was free to do whatever he wanted to him. The familiar feeling of hopelessness washed through his body like ice. If he called for Cooper, he'd be taken out of the house and both Blaine and Cooper would get fined for spoiling him.

He shut his eyes tightly and wished for Blaine to come home. He needed to hear his voice and know that everything was going to be okay, that he didn't have to be scared anymore. He wanted Blaine's arms around him, but instead he suddenly felt another pair of arms wrap around him. He wanted to wiggle out of the stranger's hold, to run and lock himself in the bathroom and call Blaine, but he couldn't.

A hand slid down Kurt's chest and over his stomach. He bit his lip as he felt the hand slip underneath the hem of his t-shirt and slide across the skin of his stomach. "Y'know, for a slave, you're actually in pretty good shape," the boy whispered lowly into his ear. The tone made Kurt's stomach turn. "Let's get this off so I can look at you."

He grabbed the hem of Kurt's shirt and wrenched it over his arms, tossing it aside and stepping back to appraise Kurt. "Not bad," he offered. "A little soft for my taste, but good enough."

Sebastian stepped forward and buried his face into Kurt's neck, sucking roughly at his collarbone as he slid a hand across the pale expanse of his chest. Kurt whined and shifted away slightly from the unwanted attention, but the other boy held him firm.

"Where ya goin', sweetheart?" He laughed, sliding his hands down Kurt's back and grabbing his ass roughly to pull him closer.

Now that he was pressed flush against Sebastian's front, he could feel the hard line of the other boy's cock pressing against his leg. Sebastian laughed and ground forward against Kurt's thigh. "You feel that?" When he didn't get an answer, he grabbed Kurt's hand and held it to the front of his jeans. "Do you want it?"

Kurt swallowed thickly and shook his head.

A throaty chuckle slipped past the other boy's lips as he brought them close to Kurt's ear. "Well, that's too bad, isn't it?" Another laugh. Sebastian's breath ghosted hotly against Kurt's ear. "Because I'm going to fuck you until I decide I'm ready to stop."

Kurt felt helpless as a tear slid down his cheek, and his breath hitched desperately.

Sebastian threw his head back and laughed freely before bringing his lips back to Kurt's ear. "I'm gonna fuck you so hard, pretty boy."

He brought a hand down to the front of Kurt's jeans and grabbed him roughly as he started mouthing over the dip where Kurt's shoulder met his neck. Kurt just hoped that Sebastian couldn't feel the choked sobs that kept threatening to escape.

Sebastian laughed quietly and another helpless tear slid silently down Kurt's cheek. He could feel his body shaking with fear and humiliation.

There was no way that Sebastian would be gentle with him or even stop if Kurt said that something hurt.

To Kurt, there was nothing worse than the feeling of getting fucked. It was impersonal. He was nothing more than a means to an end. That, more than anything, made him feel worthless.

With his first owner, he hadn't known what to expect. He'd always wanted his first time to mean something. He wanted to give himself to the person he loved, feel them touch him and take care of him, make love to him. He had always assumed that that was the way the first time would be. It was the way he'd seen it in all the movies, but he'd been proven wrong.

His first owner had wasted no time in making Kurt strip off his clothes as he watched, eyeing him lasciviously. Kurt had never felt more exposed or vulnerable. He'd learned early on that it did no good to beg. He'd been told to lie face down on the bed and not make a sound.

He couldn't tell his owner that it was his first time and that it hurt, but he was sure that the man knew. And almost just as sure that he'd gotten off on it. Kurt had just let the tears stream silently down his cheeks as he buried his face in the pillow and felt himself be used, felt himself being fucked. At least after that, he knew what to expect.

Over the years, there had been slight variations, one owner wanted Kurt to look at his face while he fucked him, but it had always been essentially the same. He'd always felt used and worthless and broken afterward.

Just like now, Kurt knew exactly what to expect from Sebastian. As he felt the other boy's hand palming at the front of his jeans, he already felt the feelings of worthlessness begin to seep in.

Neither boy heard the sound of Blaine returning until the sound of the doorknob turning made Kurt jump. Sebastian stilled and looked toward the door. Blaine spoke softly through the door as he slowly pushed it open. His voice held an undercurrent of worry. "Kurt, why didn't you answer your phone. I've tried to call you like six times, but-"

Blaine's voice broke off in a furious gasp as the door swung open.