Everything was the same as it had been before Kurt. Blaine woke up in the morning, staring at the white ceiling above him. He got up and made his bed, then got ready for the day. Routine…that was what mattered now. Blaine had to get Kurt out of his head. Just stick to the routine.

In the hallway Mercedes greets him with a smile. “Blaine! How have you been?”

“You see me every day Mercedes. I'm the same as always.” He answered.

“I don't think so. You have been so happy lately. A spring in your step.” She moved closer to Blaine and lowered her voice. “And I know you must have... someone Blaine, someone who has made you feel this way.”

Her bright smile dug at Blaine's heart. “No.” He said. “There's no one.”

Mercedes smiled turned to a frown, and she put her hands on her hips, giving Blaine a long stare. “Really?” she said.

Blaine rubbed the back of his neck and shuffled his feet. “Really.”

“Uh huh.” She said sounding unconvinced. “I have to go or we'll both get behind on our routines, but why don't you stop by this evening? We could talk.”

Blaine nodded and didn't look up at Mercedes.

“Blaine.” she said softly and touched his arm. “Sometimes it helps to talk. Okay?”

“Yeah. Okay. That would be really nice actually.”

Mercedes smiled at him again, before they both went on with their routines.

At work Blaine had a hard time focusing. He was working on a big project to ensure security for Founder's Day, but he didn't really care about it. He just kept thinking of the bright colors and brighter people of the Resistance. He kept thinking of Kurt's body close to his and Kurt's lips softly against his own...

“Blaine.” A voice interrupted his thoughts. “Blaine.”

Blaine looked up to see Trent. “Lunch.” He said simply and fell in time with everyone else making their way to the cafeteria. Blaine got up and followed suit.

Kurt caught him on his way to eat with Trent.

“Blaine.” he said under his breath glancing around nervously. “Please talk to me. I... not here, but please.”

“No Kurt.” Blaine said and continued walking.

Kurt followed him. “Tonight. Give me a chance to-”

“No.” Blaine interrupted. “I won’t tell anyone.” he said barely above a whisper. “I wouldn't put you and your friends at risk like that, and I know you need my help, but my answer is no Kurt.” Blaine said as he glanced away from Kurt's face, not wanting to see his reaction and sat down across from Trent.

Blaine couldn't help lifting his eyes to watch Kurt walk across the room and sit and his table alone. His shoulders were slumped and he looked like he hadn’t gotten any sleep. Blaine hated to see him that way, but it didn't matter. He couldn't get involved. Blaine looked away again and tried to strike up a conversation with Trent, that was sure to be boring.

At the shuttle stop that evening Kurt tried to talk to him again, but Blaine just stood near Trent, knowing Kurt wouldn't say too much in front of him. Kurt gave him a long look as he got on his shuttle. He eyes were a little red rimmed and Blaine's stomach twisted unpleasantly at the sight.

Once Blaine got back to his building, he felt miserable. Part of him just wanted to curl up under his covers and shut out the day, but he knew that spending some time with Mercedes would be good. He smiled a little walking up the stairs, thinking of Mercedes excitement, he hoped she would be able to understand how he was feeling.

Once he got to his floor he froze in fear. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and his hands started to shake. The green uniformed clad Authorities were roaming his hall. There were at least 6 or 7 of them talking to Blaine's frightened neighbors, looking official and intimidating. Blaine thought for a moment that he should turn around and make a run for it, when one of them spotted him.

“Citizen.” He called and walked towards Blaine. “Name and job classification number.”

“I... My name is Blaine Anderson. JCN is 309971.” Blaine said and tried to keep his voice calm, though he thought a certain amount of nerves while being questioned by an Authority would be expected.

“Wrist.” The man said and Blaine obediently help up his left wrist for the man to scan. “Blaine Anderson.” The man confirmed looking down at his digital pad. “You live in apartment 11?”

“Yes.” Blaine answered simply, eyes glancing to the other Authorities milling about.

“Do you know your neighbor Mercedes Jones?”

Blaine's eyes snapped back to the man, “Wait... what?”

“Mercedes Jones, she lives in the unit across from you?”

Blaine stepped pass the man to see that Mercedes door was open he rushed forward and looked inside. Authorities were searching the place and...and taking down Mercedes pictures and curtains... they seemed to be packing up her stuff.

“Where is she?” Blaine asked, turning back to the man who had stopped him. “What are you doing with her things?”

“Mercedes Jones no longer lives here.” The man said.

Blaine’s heart picked up speed and his mouth felt dry. “Why? Where is she... has she been transferred?” Blaine asked hopefully.

“No.” The man said. “Did you know her? Do you know anything about how she spent her time?”

Blaine felt a little dizzy and had to lean up against a wall. “No... I mean yes, I know her.” Blaine couldn't help but notice the Authority's use of past tense when talking about Mercedes. “But no, I don't know anything about... about how she spent her time.” Blaine watched as two men carried Mercedes’ couch from her apartment and down the stairs. He gulped and tried no to cry.

The Authority questioning him, gave him a long look and then glanced back down at the digital pad in his hands. “You work at World Government Central. It says here that you are a top performer when it comes to The Routine.”

Blaine just nodded barely listening as watched Authorities carelessly throw Mercedes things into crates, not caring about the damage they may be doing.

“You may return to your apartment now.” The man said.

“What?” Blaine answered, looking back at him.

“We need you to return to your assigned living area and continue with your routine.”

“But Mercedes...”

“This matter does not concern you.” The man said, gesturing to Blaine's door. “Go home Mr. Anderson. Don't let this get you behind.”

Blaine looked around at the Authorities and nodded. He turned and went to his apartment, shutting the door quietly behind him, before he slumped down the wall to his knees. He was shaking almost uncontrollably now. He leaned his head down on his knees, trying not to panic. Mercedes was gone. Taken by the Authorities or maybe, hopefully, left on her own.

For a moment Blaine had been so sure that they were there for him, but thinking of Mercedes in trouble wasn't any better. He lifted himself up off of the floor and went to the kitchen to make dinner. It was more important now than ever to keep up with the routine. 

The next day, Blaine stood next to Trent at the Shuttle stop, and got up the nerve to talk to him about what had happened last night.

“Trent... have you ever had... do you know of anyone who just, just moved out?”

“Moved out?” Trent asked in confusion.

“You know. Like a neighbor or a co-worker or someone that was there one day and then gone the next?”

Trent's eyes widened and he looked around at the people near them. He moved closer to Blaine and spoke to him under his breath. “You mean like someone disappearing?”

“I don't know if she disappeared..”

“Who?”

“My neighbor. Last night after work, I got to my building and Authorities were all over the place. She was gone and they were moving things out of her apartment.”

Trent looked a little pale as he whispered “She wasn't a friend of yours was she?”

“Yes. She's a friend.”

“Keep that to yourself. People don't “move”, you know that. And if she had been transferred, movers would be taking her stuff, not the Authorities You should just... drop it. Stay away from that.”

“But she's my friend.”

“Was.” Trent said looking sympathetic as their shuttle pulled up. “Was your friend”

Blaine felt a little sick and couldn't speak for a moment. Trent got on the shuttle and Blaine followed. Once it was moving, Blaine turned to Trent. “She... she'd not dead. You are not saying that...”

“No.” Trent said quickly. “I'm not saying that. Blaine sometimes people disappear. I don't know what happens to them. Sometimes is because they've been breaking the rules, or because they can't keep the routine. Why do you think I try so hard Blaine? It has always been easy for you. You don't go to sleep at night afraid that they might come for you. I don't know... I don't know what happens to these people, but I do know you won’t see her again.”

Blaine's eyes stung with tears and his stomach plummeted. “Trent. I'm so sorry I didn't...”

“Just leave it okay? Can we not talk about it? Please?”

“Of course.” Blaine said, trying to breathe normally, but fear and disbelief were warring inside him. He had heard of disappearances, of course he had, every little kid was afraid of it. He had thought it was something made up, like monsters under your bed. Something scary to keep you in line. He never realized it could actually happen.

And Mercedes... why? She never had trouble with the routine she... she just broke rules, Blaine realized. The colorful decorations in her apartment, her seeing her friend Sam, when she knew she shouldn't. Cold fear crept up Blaine's back and he felt nauseous and clammy. This was real. This was actually happening to people.

Blaine did his best to keep up with his work all day, a new fear in his mind. It was hard though, he kept looking for Kurt throughout the day, not to talk to him, no... but to see that he was still there and okay. Blaine also couldn't help but think of Mercedes, her with her smile and naturally happy demeanor. God, would he really never see her again?

Kurt didn't try to talk to him all day. At lunch or at the shuttle stop that evening, but Blaine would catch him glancing at him from time to time, a sad look in his eyes. Blaine wanted to talk to him, but then he'd remember seeing his own face staring back at him from the screens in the Resistance hideout... and he couldn't.

When Blaine finally got back home that evening, he felt spent and heavy. He walked up the stairs and then stopped outside of Mercedes apartment. His throat felt constricted and he tried not to cry. He was about to turn back to his apartment, when her front door opened. Blaine's heart leapt hoping Mercedes would be there, but instead a tall broad shoulder young man with blonde hair came out. They stared at each other for a moment, before Blaine found his voice.

“Do you live here?”

The man scrunched up his eyes, and looked Blaine slowly up and down. “Do you?”

“Yes. Well, no not that apartment. I'm here.” Blaine said gesturing behind his shoulder. “Apartment 11.”

The man's shoulders dropped a little and he seemed to relax. “You're Blaine.”

“Yes.” Blaine answered. “How did you know.”

“Mercedes talked about you. She said you were friends.”

Blaine looked at the man, and then glanced back at the apartment he'd just come from. “You didn't just move in did you?”

The man shook his head. “No I didn't.”

“Are you Sam?”

The man looked surprised at that and then smiled, proceeding to stick out his hand. “Yes. Sam Evens. Nice to meet you. Oh, you shake it. The hand.” He said.

“I know.” Blaine took Sam's hand a shook it. “I've met someone else who does that.”

Now that Blaine was really looking at him, he could see how exhausted he looked. Dark circles under his eyes that seemed red and bloodshot, like he been crying. “Do you want to come to my apartment for a little bit?” Blaine asked hoping Sam would be able to tell him something about Mercedes.

Sam chewed on his lip for a moment, before answering. “Sure. Since you're a friend of Mercedes.”

Blaine entered his apartment with Sam right behind him. He gestured Sam to a chair and they both sat down. “Where is she?” Blaine asked wasting no time.

Sam took a deep breath and rubbed his hands down his face. “I don't know. I came to see... I hoped her stuff would be there. If there was still clothes in her closet and food in her refrigerator, that meant she'd be coming back. Maybe they would have brought her to be re-assimilated, but she'd be coming back.”

Blaine shivered at the thought of re-assimilation. “You hoped she'd been re-assimilated? No one wants that.”

Sam folded his arms across his body and stared down at his knees. “It be better than this. Better than... She's gone Blaine.”

“You don't mean... What does that mean?” Blaine said in a small voice, feeling like he might be sick.

Sam didn't look up, but he shook his head. “Just... gone. When people disappear, they are rarely found again.” Sam's voice was scratchy like he was on the verge of tears.

Blaine and Sam were quiet for a long moment, lost in their own thoughts, before Blaine spoke again. “Why? Why is she gone? Did she not keep up with the routine?”

Sam didn't answer for such a long time, that Blaine thought he wasn't going to, then he let out a long breath and looked back up at Blaine. “Mercedes…she trusted you Blaine. She talked about bringing you along some time. I... Can I trust you?”

Blaine's eyes were wide, but he nodded.

“We snuck out. A lot. After hours. At night in the dark. We weren't meant to see each other, but we did anyway. Blaine there is... there is a whole other world during the night, for people who are tired of the life they've been given, for people who are looking for more. Artists, musicians and just regular people, who want to make their own choices and be their own people. I think the Authorities must have found out... about Mercedes.”

Blaine didn't know what to say. He hardly understood what Sam was talking about. “I. I... I've been out at night.” Blaine said.

Sam lifted an eyebrow at him. “Really?”

“Yes and I've never seen anything. Never seen anyone else out.”

“Well, you wouldn’t. We don't just go dancing down the streets. We meet in secret, the location changes. We call it the circus. The floating circus.”

“Oh.” Blaine had a million questions, but that was all he could think of to say, until a thought hit him. “Are you part of the Resistance?”

“No. Nothing like that. I mean I think sometimes Rebels show up, though we wouldn't know who they were. We don't work against the World Government. We just try to live a life of our own.”

“The World Government would consider that working against them.” Blaine said.

Sam laughed but it sounded close to crying. “Apparently.”

“What can we do? You must know someone who can find out about Mercedes? Who could help?”

Sam closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were wet with tears. “I don't actually. That doesn't mean I'm giving up, but yeah... I don't know what I'm going to do next. Wish I did know some Rebels... I'm not giving up on her.”

“No, you shouldn't. You don't give up on people that you... that you...” Blaine couldn't finish the thought.

“That you love?” Sam supplied.

“Love?” Blaine said as the word hit him like a ton of bricks. “Yes... people that you love.”

“That's why I'm not giving up. But Blaine? You should put it out of your mind. This isn't your battle.”

“Right.” Blaine said slowly and nodded.

“I should go.” Sam said standing. Blaine followed him to the door.

“She cared about you a lot.” Blaine said suddenly. “She cares about you a lot. She told me about you once and she said... you were worth the risk.”

Sam smiled for the first time since Blaine had met him. “So is she.”

Once Sam left, Blaine felt a strange energy buzzing through him. He walked back and forth in his living room, trying to calm down and think straight, until finally he had made up his mind. He left his apartment, walking a few blocks down, until he got to a neighborhood where hopefully no one would recognize him. He waited and waited at a Shuttle stop, before what was probably the last Yellow Shuttle of the night, came. He got on board, and rode it all the way to Kurt's neighborhood.

Once he got there, he went straight to Kurt's building, up the stairs, and four doors down on the right. He knocked softly and soon heard someone moving in the apartment. Kurt opened the door, and his mouth dropped open in surprise. 

“Kurt, I have to talk to you.” Blaine said.

Kurt immediately grabbed Blaine's arm, pulling him into the apartment, closing the door behind him.

“Blaine!” Kurt said his voice high and tight. “You can't keep doing this! What if you are caught? What if someone finds you out after hours?”

“I had too, it isn't like we can talk at World Government Headquarters, and if I was caught, I wouldn't give you up Kurt. I wouldn't tell them about you. You can trust me.”

“That's not what I mean!” Kurt snapped, before he sighed and continued. “I don't want anything to happen to you Blaine. I can't... I can't have anything happen to you. I need you to be okay.”

“For the mission right?” Blaine said. “You still need me for that.”

Kurt's face crumpled and he reached for Blaine's hands, holding them tight. “No. I don't mean that the Resistance can't lose you. I mean I can't. Blaine I don't know... I don't know what I'd do if...”

Blaine's stomach felt tight. He was exhausted with worry, fear, and determination. He didn’t have the energy to hope Kurt meant what he so desperately wanted him to mean. “I want to do it.” Blaine interrupted. “I want to help the Resistance. I want in Kurt. I'm going to do it.”

Kurt stood there gaping, mouth open, and eyes wide. “No.” he finally said.

Blaine gritted his teeth and stared Kurt down. “Yes Kurt. You can't stop me. I'm going to do it. Now are you going to help me get back to your secret headquarters, or should I just leave now and go on my own?” And with that Blaine made his way to the door.