Kurt sat on his bed that evening looking out to the balcony and the lights of the city.

"Youre Birthday is in a few weeks." Mercedes said. She sat next to him braiding her long dark hair.

"You really dont have to remind me." Kurt sighed and flung himself back on the pillows. "It isnt just the suitors that is the problem Mercedes, I cant keep living like this!"

"What? In a palace where everyone bows to your whim and you never know what its like to be cold or hungry?"

Kurt shot her a glare and she sighed. "Sorry." She shrugged, "Maybe you could just… pick one. A suitor that is. Itd get your dad off of your back.

"No Mercedes."

"What about Prince Adam? He was attractive and seemed nice."

"No Mercedes." Kurt repeated. "I cant. I cant give up on the idea of falling in love. Its the last thing I have to look forward too. I just cant."

Mercedes pursed her lips and looked like she wanted to say something but instead she just shook her hand. "Well then maybe youll like the next suitor."

There was a knock on the door and then the Sultan walked in.

"Good evening Mercedes." He said as she got up off of the bed and bowed to him. "May I have a moment to speak with my son?"

"Of course your Majesty." She said with another bow as she left the room.

"Whatever you have to say, you could have said in front of Mercedes."

His father paced back and forth for a moment before he stopped in front of Kurt looking serious. "Ive have come to a decision. "You have until the end of the week."

"The end of the week?"

His father nodded. "Yes, choose a suitor by the end of the week or… or Ill choose one for you!"

Kurt shot up from his bed. "You wouldnt!" All this time a little part of him believed that if he didnt find someone his father would back down from this law. He couldnt be serious.

"I would Kurt. And I will. You have a week to choose a prince to marry or one will be chosen for you."

"Please." Kurt said tears in the voice. "Please dont do this."

"Kurt my mind is made up,"

"But why?" Kurt watched as his fathers eyes grew cloudy for a moment and his gaze shifted so that he wasnt looking right at Kurt anymore.

"Because I am too important to be bothered with this anymore Kurt! I have a kingdom to run!"

Kurt filched at the words his heart hurting. He felt like hed been hit. He sunk down on to the bed.

"Dad…" He breathed, not understanding what was going on with his father.

"Choose." Burt said and then left the room without another word.

Kurt felt a storm of emotions race through him, anger, fear, grief, but in the end he was left just feeling determined. He grabbed a bag from under his bed and withdrew a pair of pants and vest that use to belong to one of the porters in the place. Kurt had grabbed them when the boy had thrown them out, thinking that one day he might use them to sneak out of the palace and get a look at the city. He had never had enough guts to do it though.

Now he knew he had to leave. He waited until it was almost morning, right before the sun would rise and he slipped on the clothes and snuck out to the dark garden making sure no one saw him. He made his way over to a large tree growing by the garden wall; he started to climb and then stopped as he felt someone tug on his arm. He turned to see Mercedes watching him.

"Kurt, what are you doing?"

"Im so sorry, Mercedes. But I cant stay here and have my life lived for me. "

"But Kurt."

"Ill miss you." Kurt said as he started to climb again. Mercedes gave him a little push up and he looked back down at her as he straddled the wall.

"Goodbye."

Mercedes put on a brave smile. "Goodbye Kurt."

By time Kurt made it away from the palace and into the city the sun was up and vendors had started laying out their wares. Kurt walked among the rows of shops and stalls taking everything in.

There was so much color and activity and the smells; spices and flowers and meat and fruit. Everyone was rushing from one place to the other, or gathered talking to friends and neighbors. Kurt jumped back a little as one vendor held a big fish up for Kurt to see.

"Fresh fish!" He called. "The best in the city."

Kurt shook his head. "No thank you."

He kept walking. He had never felt so alive. Here among these people he could be anything, he could do anything. No one telling him no or where to go, he was free. He didnt even care if he looked like an idiot walking down the street and grinning ear to ear, he couldnt remember the last time hed been so happy.

Kurt stopped and watched a young child standing by a mango stale, trying to reach up and grab the fruit. She was too little to reach. Kurt smiled and walked over; he grabbed a mango and handed it to the child.

"Here you go." He said and patted the child on her head.

The little girls smile was huge as she took the fruit and scampered away. Kurt was about to continue his sightseeing when someone roughly grabbed his wrist, yanking him back and turning him around.
A large frightening looking man had hold of him. "Youd better be able to pay for that!"

"Pay?" Kurt said, his stomach dropping, it was just one mango.

"No one steals from my cart!"

"Im so sorry." Kurt said trying to twist his arm out of the mans grasp. "I dont have any money."

"Thief!" The man yelled.

"No. No, Im not a thief. I can pay. If you let me go to the palace I can get some money from the Sultan!" This was all going terribly wrong, how had he been such a fool?

The man didnt relent though. "Do you know what the penalty is for stealing?" He took Kurts hand and pinned it down on the table and then lifted a large sharp knife in the air.

"No!" Kurt yelled, fear bubbling inside of him.

The man started to bring down the knife but then someones hand was there, holding the mans arm and stopping him.

"Thank you kind sir." The newcomer said. "I am so glad you found him." He then turned to Kurt, looking at him with large golden eyes outlined in long dark lashes, Kurt has to swallow and blink a little looking at this boy.

"Ive been looking for you everywhere." He said to Kurt.

"For me?" Kurt squeaked out as the man slowly started to let go of Kurts wrist.

"Just play along" The boy said under his breath, his back to the proprietor. Then he turned around and faced the man who had almost chopped off Kurts hand.

"You know this boy?"

"Sadly yes." The boy sighed and then he mocked whispered to the man. "Hes a little crazy."

Kurt was trying to catch up to what was going on. Was this boy helping him or making things worse?

"He said he knew the Sultan!" The man bellowed.

"He thinks hes the Sultan." The boy said pointing to another young man nearby, wearing dirty pants and a patched vest and a huge grin on his face.

Not knowing what else to do, or what he had to lose at this point Kurt bowed deeply to the boy, "Oh wise Sultan, how may I serve you?"

The boy smiled bigger.

Out of the corner of his eye Kurt saw the young man who had saved him sneak a mango from the mans stall.

"Tragic, isnt it?" He said and handed the stolen mango to the proprietor. "But, no harm done." He walked over to Kurt then and took him by the shoulders guiding him away. "Now come on little brother. Time to see the Doctor."

Now that the immediate threat of danger was over Kurt felt like getting into the spirit of things. He stopped in front of a camel and looked at it intently. "Oh, hello Doctor. How are you?"

The boy next to him smiled widely his eyes twinkling, but then schooled his features into something much more serious. "No, no, no. Not that one." Then he turned to his friend. "Come on, Sultan."

The three of them quickly made their way down the street, hurrying before the man figured out that something was wrong.

They turned a corner and both of the other boys burst out laughing. "Youre an idiot!" The taller of the two said to his friend. "I cant believe that worked."

"You saved me." Kurt said looking at the dark, curly haired boy with the golden eyes.

He just shrugged. "Sometimes you got to think on your feet."

Kurt and the boy stood and just looked at each other for a moment, he was dresses just as shabbily as his friend, but Kurt hardly even noticed. All he could see where his expressive eyes and lovely smile. They were both shook out of the reverie though when someone cleared their throat, they turned to look, having forgotten there was even someone else there.

"My names Mike." The tall boy said holding out his hand. Kurt looked down at Mikes dirty hand and then took it, shaking it and smiling. "And this is my boy Blaine." He nodded toward his friend who seemed to still be staring at Kurt.

"Nice to meet you both. Im… My name is…" Kurt stopped, he had left the palace in such a hurry he was beginning to realize he hadnt thought things through very well. "My name is Sebastian." He said and then winced. That would be the first name that came to mind, another prince and an arrogant, slimy one at that.

"Sebastian." Blaine said as if he was mulling the name over in his mind. "It is a pleasure to meet you." He took Kurts hand to shake it, but then just ended up standing there, Kurts hand pressed against the warm rough skin of his hand.

Mike cleared his throat again. "Listen, Im off. I have a… meeting."

"A meeting?" Blaine asked confused, finally letting go of Kurts hand, though Kurt was a little sorry he had.

"Yes… you know…a meeting." Mike said and glanced at Kurt and then back at Blaine.

"Oh! Right! Good. Thanks." Blaine said. "I mean, yeah, better get going."

Mike shook his head and laughed under his breath as he left, like he knew something they didnt.

Kurt stood with Blaine a little awkwardly in the alleyway for a moment. Blaine looked down at the ground, his bare toe digging into the dirt before he looked up again at Kurt through his long eyelashes.

Kurts breath caught in his throat, did Blaine realized how gorgeous he looked when he did that?

"So." Blaine finally said breaking the silence. "Youre new in town?"

Kurt could feel his cheeks and ears blush crimson. "Is it that obvious?

"Well, you do kind of stand out." Blaine said staring at him again with those big, shining eyes. Then he coughed and stood up straight as if he noticed he d been staring. "I could show you around if you like."

"I would love that." Kurt said bouncing on his feet a little. Blaine grinned at him and then grabbed his hand pulling him forward. Kurts heart beat faster with Blaines hand in his. No one had ever made him fell like this before.

They spent the whole day together, it was by far the best day Kurt could ever remember having. Blaine showed him everything. The market place and tapestry row with its bright colors and rich cloths, then he took him down to the fishing dock where they are lunch, legs hanging over the water and shoulders touching, Kurt couldnt keep from blushing every time there eyes met.

He found that Blaine was more than just painfully attractive he was smart and funny and kind. At one point someone started yelling at Blaine, "Get away from my shop! We dont need rubbish street rats like you in this neighborhood!"

Blaine shoulders slumped and he quickly pulled Kurt away. "Sorry about that." He said rubbing the back of his neck, "He sells houseware, it isnt like Id ever take any of that anyway."

Kurt bit his lip, not knowing what to say to that. "Youre not rubbish you know." Kurt said and looked at him with a small smile.

Blaine started back his eyes a little wet he cleared his throat, "Plenty of people would disagree with you."

Kurt shook his head, "Then they dont know you."

Blaine smiled so brightly it was like the sun had come out and Kurt knew hed done said right.

That evening Blaine took him down through the flower vendor street. One of the girls at a flower stall seemed to know Blaine and flirted with him shamelessly. Kurt didnt recognize the heavy, uncomfortable feeling that squirmed in his stomach as she flirted, but he was pretty sure it was jealousy.

Blaine smiled at the girl and asked for a flower, offering a ribbon he had in his pocket, she willing made the trade. When they turned the corner Blaine gave the flower to Kurt. A lovely white Jasmine flower. Kurt lifted it to his nose, it smelled wonderful.

"Thank you." Kurt said a little shyly.

"I wanted to give you something I didnt steal." Blaine replied.

"Why… why do you steal?" Kurt asked. It wasnt just the mango, Blaine had lifted a couple apples for lunch and then and some bread for their dinner.

Blaine raised his eyebrows in surprise. "I cant find work, Ive tried. No one wants to hire a street rat, and the city isnt doing well."

"It isnt?" Kurt asked his turn to be surprised.

"The taxes have grown so heavy the past few years, ever since the Queen died." Blaine sighed and Kurt felt his throat tighten at the mention of his mother. "Its hard on people." Blaine continued. "You do what you have to do to survive."

"I didnt know things were so bad." Kurt said. "I wonder if the Sultan knows."

"Hes the one in charge isnt he?"

Kurt nodded, but he wondered if that was true.

They had been walking and talking and Kurt stopped to look around, they were in a rundown part of town and he wondered where Blaine was taking him.

"Come on." Blaine said and nodded forward.

They came to a house with a ladder on the side and Blaine climbed up, Kurt followed him. Soon they were on the rooftop Blaine grabbed a long wooden pole from the ground. He used it to pole blot to the rooftop of another building leaving Kurt behind.

He then grabbed a wooden plank and started to move it to bridge the two roofs, but Kurt just smiled. He could do this. He grabbed another pole and used it to spring himself to the other building whizzing over Blaines head in the process. He landed on his feet as Blaine turned to look at him stunned. Kurt tossed him the pole

"Im a fast learner."

Blaine blinked and rubbed the back of his neck as a smile formed on his lips. "Yeah, you are." He looked at him like Kurt was the most amazing thing hed ever seen.

William closed the door to his secret chambers. This is where he did his magic and potions and other things no one should know about. He held the Sultans ring up to the light watching it sparkle. He then brought it over to a large sand timer, almost as tall as a man, and placed the diamond in a setting at the top. He then grabbed a glass bottle from one of his shelves, it was filled with a dark purple powder. He closed his eyes and lifted his hands over the diamond and began to chant.

The lights in the room flickered and the diamond started to glow. William continued his chanting his voice rising in volume. The light went out and William threw the bottle down on the sand timer, smashing it and making the dark power float through the air like a cloud.

"Show me the diamond in the rough!" William shouted and then in the glass of the timer a picture slowly started to form. At first it looked like a mirage but then it cleared.

William saw some peasant, a street urchin climbing the rooftops of the city. Some other street rat was following him, but William didnt pay the second person any heed. He had him, he had found his diamond in the rough, the answer to all of his problems.

Blaine led Kurt on until they got to the roof of a large tattered looking building, Blaine reached for Kurts hand which he willingly gave him and then ducked under some boards leading the way. They entered a large almost empty room. Some blankets and pillows, but not much else.

"Is this where you live?" Kurt asked.

"Yup, my own place. I come and go as I please."

"Fabulous."

Blaine walked over to a cloth hanging from one of the walls. "Well, its not much." He said and pulled back the curtain. "But its got a great view."

Kurt walked over and looked out, he could see the whole city and there, in the middle, the palace.

"Palace looks pretty amazing, doesnt it?" Blaine asked.

"Oh, its wonderful." Kurt deadpanned.
Blaine leaned forward looking at the palace with a spark in his eyes "I wonder what it would be like to live there, to have servants and valets..."

"Oh, sure." Kurt replied. "People who tell you where to go and how to dress."

"Its better than here. Always scraping for food and ducking the guards."

"Youre not free to make your own choices." Kurt said sighing.

"Sometimes you feel so…"

"Youre just…"

"Trapped." Both Kurt and Blaine said the word at the same time; they looked at each other and smiled.

Kurt sat down on the ledge, feet hanging off the side as he looked at the city. Blaine sat down next to him. They shared a comfortable silence for a moment before Blaine spoke. "Did you run away?"

Kurts head snapped to Blaine, did he know? "W-what?"

"Wherever youre from, did you ran away from home?"

"Yes... I did." Kurt said slowly.

Blaine nodded "A lot of the street kids are runaways."

"Are you?"

"No, not me. Im a good old fashioned orphan."

Kurts heart sank, he knew what it was like to lose a mother he couldnt imagine losing both of his parents, the thought actually made him miss his dad.

"Im so sorry." Kurt said and reached over to place his hand on top of Blaines.

Blaine looked down at their hands for a moment before he turned his over to hold Kurts. He looked up at Kurt and smiled. "So where are you from?"

"Why does it matter?" Kurt answered. "I ran away and Im never going back?"

Blaine nodded. "Why?"

"My fathers forcing me to get married." Kurt said shortly. It wasnt unheard of in upper-class families and it wasnt like Blaine hadnt already figured out Kurt came from a more comfortable background.

"I…that…" Blaine looked at him with wide eyes. "Thats terrible."

Kurt just shrugged.

"I wish there was something I could do." Blaine said and leaned forward just a tiny bit.

Kurt looked at Blaines earnest eyes and then down to his soft cherry lips. He had never wanted to kiss someone as much as he wanted to kiss Blaine.

Kurt had never had a real kiss. One of his suitors, Prince Karofsky had stolen a kiss once, but Kurt didnt count it. Now with Blaine so close and Kurts heart hammering in his chest he knew he wanted Blaine to be his first real kiss.

He leaned forward as well bringing his face closer to Blaines, Kurt bit his lip and glanced back and forth between Blaines eyes and his mouth.

"Thank you, by the way." Kurt said breathlessly.

Blaine looked at him like he was a little stunted by his closeness before his answered softly. "For what?"

"For saving me today. For showing me the city. For... for caring."

Blaine smiled and blushed a little; he looked so perfect right now in the fading light of the sun. Kurt reached a hand up and held the back of Blaines neck leaning forward until their foreheads touched. Their lips were less than an inch apart; Kurt could feel Blaines warm breath brush against his skin.

Kurt closed his eyes as Blaines hand made its way to cup his cheek, he parted his lips and then...

Bang!

Something loud and heavy crashed behind them. Both Kurt and Blaine jumped back and were on their feet in a flash.

"Now Ive got you!" A voice snarled at them. It was Hunter, the Captain of the Guards.

"Hes after me!" Kurt said at the exact same time Blaine did.

They turned to each other. "Hes after you?" they said in unison again.

"Arrest him!" Hunter called and a dozen guards started swarming the room.

Blaine turned to Kurt. "Do you trust me?" He asked urgently.

"What?"

Blaine held out his hand. "Do you trust me?"

Kurt took his hand. "Yes." He answered quickly.

"Then jump!" Without any other warning Blaine jumped from the building taking Kurt with him.

Blaine had grabbed the cloth while he was at it and it billowed out over them slowing their fall as Kurt clung to Blaine. Then they landed on a pile of hay. They both quickly scrambled to their feet and started to run. But they were stopped by another group of guards. It seemed Hunter had been ready for that.

Hunter joined them in a matter of minutes. "We just keep running into each other, dont we, street rat?"

A guard grabbed Blaine, roughly pinning his arms behind his back, Kurt watched in horror.

"Its the dungeon for you boy!" Hunter said and spat in his face. Blaine struggle but couldnt get free.

"Let go of him" Kurt said in his most commanding voice.

"Oh look what we have here." Hunter mocked. "It looks like the street rat found a little friend." Then he pushed Kurt down onto the hard ground.

"Dont!" Blaine cried. "He hasnt done anything!"

Kurt stood to his feet and brushed off his pants, stepping forward so he could be well seen in the light of the moon. "I said, let him go, by order of the Prince!"

"Prince Kurt?" Hunter said surprised.

"The Prince?" Blaine echoed.

"I am so sorry Prince Kurt. I didnt know, but I... I have to arrest him."

"On whos orders?"

"By order of William." Hunter said with a bow. "Youll have to take it up with him."

He turned back to his guards and dragged Blaine away.

Kurt crossed his arms across his chest. He wasnt going to let this happen. "Oh trust me I will." He said to himself, William wasnt going to get away with this.