Chapter Seven: Running Up That Hill

Pain flared up in Kurt's side as he was viciously kicked over and over. He tried to catch his breath, but couldn't seem to suck in enough air. Suddenly he was dragged across the floor before being hauled roughly to his feet and knocked backwards into the lockers. Kurt slid down onto the ground, waves of pain crashing over his body.

"That was for my boy Dave. You almost blinded him, homo. Next time, don't forget your place." Kurt recognized the voice Azimio Adams snarling at him, floating above the heavy thud of retreating footsteps.

Kurt sat on the ground until he could breathe again and then slowly began to move. It didn't feel as if anything had been broken but he was no doubt going to be sore. Azimio was either smarter than Kurt gave him credit for or Kurt had gotten incredibly lucky because it didn't feel like he'd touched Kurt's face at all.

Kurt crawled along the hallway, collecting the books, papers and personal items that had fallen out of his bag. He finally located his phone and dialed.

Blaine was hanging out in his dorm room with David and Wes, glaring at them while they mockingly performed Katy Perry's Peacock when his phone rang.

"Hey guys its Kurt. Turn the music down," Blaine said reaching for the phone.

"Oooh its Kurtie-Kins," Wes mocked.

David wrapped his arms around himself and made kissing noises.

"I swear you guys have the maturity of twelve year olds," Blaine laughed as he picked up.

"Hey Kurt, Blaine wants to see your peacock, cock, cock!" Wes yelled.

"Are you brave enough to let him see your peacock?" David joined in.

"Don't be a chicken boy, stop acting like a beyotch!"

"He's gonna peace out if you don't give him the pay off!"

"Come on Kurtie, let him see what you're hiding underneath!" They both finished before exploding into giggles.

"I am going to kill you two and then burn and salt the bones!" Blaine laughed. "Kurt, are you there?"

"B-blaine? Blaine, I…can you come? I can't…my dad's in Dayton and my car…but I need-"

"KURT!" Blaine yelled, interrupting the hysterical stream of words that were coming out of the countertenor's mouth. "Stop talking. Calm down, and tell me where you are," Blaine ordered as he rushed around the room looking for his car keys.

Wes and David traded concerned looks and turned off the music. Wes nodded at David and they both began pulling on their blazers and gathering their personal effects.

Kurt took a deep breath. Just having Blaine on the other end of the line was calming him down. "I'm at school. Finn…I guess he ditched me and I was going to take the bus home but Azimio, he...I don't really know what happened. One minute I was walking and the next minute I was having the crap kicked out of me."

Blaine went cold, and then felt a tidal wave of anger crash over him.

"How bad?" He asked calmly.

"Not too-"

"Do not even think about lying to me. How bad are you hurt, Kurt?" Blaine snapped.

"What happened?" David demanded.

Blaine waved him off. "Kurt? Kurt answer me or so help me God I'm calling the cops-"

"Blaine, no! It's ok...I'm ok. It wasn't as bad as it could have been. Nothing seems to be broken. I just…I'm scared and I'm stuck here and I don't know who else to call and I don't even know why I called you when you're so far away and-"

"I'm on my way. Get somewhere safe and then don't move. Are there other people around? Anyone you can call to come get you or wait with you? What? Fuck, fuck, I hate being so far away from you. Kurt, do not hang up this phone unless you're calling the cops you understand me?"

"OK. Blaine-"

"Where are you gonna go Kurt? You need to find a safe place to wait."

Kurt thought. Mr. Schue and Ms. Pillsbury were both gone. Figgins might still be there but he might decide to actually act like an educator for once and make him call his father. He didn't want to wander the halls looking like he'd just gotten mugged. He could hide out in the locker rooms but practice would be over before Blaine got there…

Practice. The Cheerios were practicing! "I can wait in Coach Sylvester's office!" He announced. "No one in their right mind would follow me in there." Kurt paused for a moment before continuing, "She may very well kill me if she finds me hiding out in there, in which case you may have to identify my remains."

"Ok, ok, Coach Sylvester's office, I got it." Blaine found his keys and raced out of his room like a bat out of hell. He didn't even notice David and Wes behind him until Wes grabbed him and snatched his keys out his hand.

"David and I are going with you and we're taking my car. You are in no condition to drive," he said pocketing Blaine's keys and steering his friend over to his BMW.

"Kurt, Wes and David are coming with me. We'll be there soon. Just stay with me ok. I need to hear your voice so I know you're alright."

"Thank you," Kurt whispered.

Blaine closed his eyes and clutched the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Don't thank me. I haven't done anything yet."

"You're coming. I called you and you're coming. That's enough."

Blaine pushed past the lump in throat to respond.

"I'll always come when you call."

"Kurt, Kurt we're pulling up now. Where are you? I don't see you."

"Blaine!" Chill out man. He's right there," David said.

Wes pulled up to the curb and got a good look at Kurt and sent up a prayer that Blaine managed to keep a hold of his temper.

Kurt had obviously made an effort to salvage his disheveled appearance but it had been for naught. There were several buttons missing from his shirt, his pants were ripped at both knees and he looked like he'd been ridden hard and put away wet.

"Son of a bitch," David said under his breath.

Blaine leapt out of the car before Wes had it completely in park.

"Kurt!" He yelled pulling the smaller boy into his arms. "Do you need to go to the hospital? I think you should go to the hospital. You could have internal injuries and we need documentation in case you decide to press charges and-"

"Blaine, I'm fine, I'm fine now that you're here," Kurt said, burrowing his head into Blaine's neck.

Blaine tightened his grip. "I'm here and you're safe," he dropped a small kiss on the top of Kurt's head.

"Uh, guys. Hate to interrupt the moment here, but I think we should be getting Kurt home," Wes said.

David moved into the passenger's seat so that Blaine could sit in the back with Kurt. He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Kurt folded into Blaine's lap with Blaine running his fingers through Kurt's hair.

"What are you gonna say to your dad, babe?"

Kurt paled. "Nothing," Kurt whispered.

"Kurt, you have to tell him," Blaine said. "Last time it was Karofsky at the movie theater, now its Azimio at school. You aren't safe, Kurt. You have to let him know-"

"He's sick, Blaine. And…he's happy. He's dating Carol and for the first time since my mom died he's happy. I can't…please let me handle this my way."

Wes glanced back at the duo. He knew his friend. It was in Blaine's nature to take over, to follow his own agenda regardless of what anyone thought about it. He nearly ran over the curb when he saw the small nod Blaine gave Kurt.

"Fine babe, your dad, your call. But Kurt, this can't keep happening."

"I honestly don't think it will," Kurt answered. "They've never actually beat me up before. I think this was just payback for getting the better of Karofsky the other night."

Blaine didn't answer and the quartet made their way into the Hummel household.

Kurt suddenly realized he'd never had a group of boys over before.

"So uh…you guys hungry?"

Wes and David grinned. "We could eat," Wes answered.

Blaine laughed and wrapped his arms around Kurt. "They can always eat."

Kurt rolled his eyes and gave a small laugh before stepping away. "I'm just gonna go change and I'll be right back up and make something. Fair warning, my dad had a heart attack not too long ago so this is pretty much a healthy eating household."

"Kurt…its food," David said.

"And it's free," Wes added.

"So rich and yet so cheap," Blaine joked.

"Frugal. The word you'll looking for is frugal, Blaine."

Kurt laughed and hurried downstairs to change.

"Oh my god, Kurt can I keep you?" David asked later, pushing himself back from the table.

"Sorry David, but I've got dibs," Blaine grinned.

"All the good ones are taken," David moaned.

Wes laughed. "What about Caitlin?" Wes asked referring to David's girlfriend.

"That girl burns water. She made me a hot pocket once that was burned on the outside and raw on the inside," David grimaced.

"Melina is a great cook," Wes bragged.

David rolled his eyes. "Pop tarts and cereal do not a great cook make."

"Whatever man she rocked those Trix and you know it."

"You two are hopeless and I pity the poor unfortunate girls who have found themselves saddled with you," Kurt said.

Wes pretended to wipe away a tear. "You wound me."

"You know if my self esteem weren't so healthy I'd be hurting right now man," David said with fake severity.

Kurt shook his head. "Thank goodness Blaine is normal," Kurt grumbled.

"Blaine? Normal? I call shenanigans!" David said.

"Shenanigans? You are officially five years old," Blaine groused at David.

Wes checked his watch. "Yeah well, we hate to eat and run…" Wes began

"But it's a school night and we have a bit of a drive ahead of us," David said.

Blaine sighed. "They are right. But we'll stay…if you want us to hang here until your dad comes back-"

"No…it's probably best if you guys go before he gets here. The last thing we need is for him to get out his shotgun twice in one week," Kurt replied.

"Shotgun?" Wes repeated before breaking out into a grin and humming Dueling Banjos.

David started to laugh. "Did Pa Hummel take you to the woodshed and ask you about your intentions regarding his little boy?"

"Kurt, they're being mean to me," Blaine pouted.

"Leave Blaine alone or I am never feeding either of you again," Kurt threatened.

"We're sorry," David and Wes said in unison.

"We'll be out in the car, dude," Wes said, clapping Blaine on the shoulder. "Take it easy, Kurt."

"I guess I should keep that one company while you two say goodbye," David smirked. He surprised Kurt by giving the smaller boy a quick hug. "I put my number in your phone while you were changing. I want you to call me if you ever find yourself in a situation like this again. Or you just wanna talk, or hang…or you find yourself making more snackage and need someone to taste test."

Kurt's mouth opened and closed twice before he could formulate a response. "I…thank you, David. I will. I just…thanks," Kurt said softly.

"No problem, 007. I'mma get to getting now."

Kurt reached out and grabbed David's arm. "Seriously, you and Wes…you guys don't know how much it means to me that you came today and you hung with me and…just thanks."

David placed his hand over Kurt's and squeezed. "Like I said man, it was no problem."

Blaine watched his friend and his…Kurt with interest. He knew that David was just being his usual good hearted self and he was grateful that he was reaching out to Kurt, but he was also a little bit territorial.

He hadn't forgotten David's flirty smile or his calling Kurt endearing when they'd first met.

Blaine caught David's eye and looked meaningfully at the door. "Shotgun!" he called, hoping David would get the picture and leave.

David shook his head but took the hint and left.

"And then there was one," Kurt said as he turned within the circle of Blaine's arms.

"I still think you should tell someone what happened, what's been happening," Blaine said. "But I respect your right to make your own choices."

"Thank you. You better get going. It's a long drive back to Westerville."

Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes and was overwhelmingly grateful the brunette hadn't been seriously harmed. He knew that Kurt wanted to take things slowly but at that moment all he could think about was how right the other boy felt in his arms and how much he wanted to keep him there, keep him safe.

"Babe," Blaine said softly, running the pad of his thumb over Kurt's bottom lip. He hadn't planned on trying anything with Kurt, but he found himself unable to resist once they were alone and Kurt was in his arms. He'd been on edge ever since Kurt had called, his imagination torturing him with images of a battered and bruised Kurt filling his mind. Blaine wasn't taking advantage, he simply needed to hold him, to touch him, to kiss him, to reassure himself that Kurt was there, that he was safe and that Blaine hadn't lost him before he had a chance to figure out exactly where Kurt fit into his life.

When he heard Kurt's breath hitch and saw his eyes flit shut Blaine took it as a sign of consent. Blaine slowly fit his mouth over Kurt's and the gentle press of Blaine's lips coaxed a tiny sigh of pleasure out of Kurt. Blaine cupped Kurt's face, nibbling gently on Kurt's bottom lip, before deepening the kiss and mapping Kurt's mouth with his tongue.

It had felt too soon on their date to kiss Blaine, he'd felt like he didn't know the other boy well enough, he wasn't sure enough that kissing him would matter to Blaine, that he mattered to Blaine but after the way the other boy had dropped everything to be by Kurt's side and shown such care and concern Kurt no longer had those doubts. As he felt Blaine's lips slowly close over his Kurt couldn't imagine feeling closer to Blaine than he did in that moment.

It was Kurt's first kiss and it was sweet and hot, gentle and spontaneous. To make it all the more wonderful it was with Blaine: a gorgeous, funny, sweet, caring, intelligent, talented, amazing boy who'd dropped everything to be there when Kurt needed him. While he had always imagined his first kiss happening after a moonlit walk on the beach or a heartfelt serenade, those were fantasies and this, Blaine in his arms strong and sure, kissing him with slowly and sweetly was reality and Kurt didn't think he could have come up with anything more perfect if he'd tried.

Entirely too soon for either of their liking they broke apart, Blaine placing one last kiss on Kurt's forehead. "I'll call you as soon as I get back and we'll talk until you fall asleep," Blaine promised. Kurt nodded happily then walked Blaine to the front door, just as Wes leaned on the horn, causing a couple of Kurt's neighbors to look curiously out their windows.

"Wesley Montgomery, I know you have to have been raised better than that and even if you weren't, I was! This is NOT Lima Heights Adjacent!" Kurt yelled furiously.

Blaine laughed, gave Kurt one final kiss goodbye and went and got into the passenger's seat of the car. Kurt waited until he saw the taillights of Wes's BMW disappear before he went back inside.

"Blaine, you have been remarkably calm about this whole thing," Wes commented once they got on the open road.

Blaine exhaled and settled back into his seat. "It wouldn't have done Kurt any good for me to be hysterical or bark orders at him. He needed me to be his soft place to fall right now so that's what I was," Blaine replied.

"We should have stuck around and made sure he told his dad," David frowned.

Wes hummed his agreement but Blaine was silent. Now that the immediate danger had passed, Blaine was analyzing the situation and trying to formulate a plan that got him what wanted while making sure Kurt got what he needed. Kurt needed to be safe and Blaine...Blaine just needed Kurt.

While on one hand he would have been relieved to have Kurt confide in Burt because the situation was rapidly becoming too dangerous for the boy to try to continue to handle on his own, he couldn't deny that it suited his purposes for Kurt to continue to confide in and lean on him as a primary source of support. The more isolated Kurt felt, the more important Blaine would become to the counter tenor.

And Blaine planned to become very important to Kurt.

"So what happens now?" David asked

Blaine turned around, fury in his eyes and steel in his voice.

"Now, anyone and everyone who had any part in making Kurt's life a living hell had better pray for mercy from whatever or whomever it is they believe in," Blaine said coldly, "because they sure as hell won't be getting any from me."