Chapter 36

January 2, 2013

Kurt's mind was going a mile a minute. His instincts told him to step back, to fight against the strong hold on his hips but all he did was standing there obediently while Karofsky kissed him sloppily.

"Kiss me back," the jock growled at his lips and Kurt complied.

The boy had to put all his strength into not throwing up as their lips moved together. He moaned in pain when the other boy bit his bottom lip hard.

"You like it," Karofsky smiled into the kiss. "Open up, want to taste your mouth."

Kurt's eyes flew open at the request and he hesitated a second too long. The jock's hand grabbed his jaw and Kurt couldn't help but open his mouth due to the pain. Karofsky used this opportunity to shove his tongue into the teen's throat.

It could be seconds or minutes later that the jock pulled away, leaving Kurt's breathless.

"I'll be coming for more," Karofsky promised and left Kurt alone in the locker room.

The boy made his way into the bathroom and made it just in time before throwing up. He could still feel the taste of the jock's mouth, he could still feel his tongue sliding next to his. His dried-out spit was still covering Kurt's mouth and the smell of sweat was overpowering. Just thinking about it made Kurt dry heave a few minutes longer.

When the boy was sure he could safely make it home without any stomach accidents, he washed his face and drove home, the images of what had just happened never leaving him.

Only when he entered his house did he finally feel safe. It was warm and welcoming and most importantly it had Blaine waiting for him with a huge smile.

"Ku-urt, you are later," he whined jokingly when Kurt entered the kitchen with a fake smile plastered on his face where Blaine was reading the newspaper. "You teased me with a surprise and then you decided to not come home on time. It's unfair!"

Blaine acting so childishly made Kurt feel warmer inside but not enough to make him feel better. "But now the surprise will be even nicer so you don't get to complain," he forced a laugh, relieved to hear that it sounded natural enough.

"Well, what is it? I'm dying here!" Blaine exclaimed excitedly and Kurt thanked all the powers for the tease text he had sent earlier, which turned the slave, who was normally quite observant, into a clueless five-year-old.

Kurt put his bag on the kitchen table and opened it. Blaine quickly peeked inside and followed Kurt's every move when the boy took the box out of the bag and put it in front of him.

The slave boy inhaled deeply and his eyes lit up. "Is it...?"

"It is," Kurt nodded and watched Blaine open the box with excitement.

"Oh my god, Kurt, these are amazing," he said before even trying the cookies.

"Try first, maybe they aren't as good as before."

"I'm sure they are just as good or even better," Blaine said and took a bite of a warm cookie. "Mm, this is amazing! You are the best cook ever."

Kurt tried to smile but instead his face turned into a pained mask as Blaine's moan reminded him of the sounds Karofsky made while kissing him. He didn't want Blaine to see his face as the risk of him noticing something was too great.

"I'll get you some milk," he said turned away from the slave.

"You know, your lips are like dark red. Looks like you've been kissing someone," Blaine laughed.

Kurt froze not knowing what to say. He didn't want to lie but he couldn't tell the truth either. And before he could even react his silence was good enough for an answer.

"It's because you have been kissing someone..." the slave said slowly. The observant boy was back. "Um, any boyfriend I should know about?"

Kurt took the milk out of the fridge before answering. "No... not really," he managed to keep the façade while he felt sick in his stomach again.

"But you are seeing someone..."

"You can say so," Kurt opted to say while pouring milk into a glass with shaky hands.

"Oh, well... I'm happy for you," the boy said and took the glass from Kurt. "Thanks."

The teen only smiled at Blaine's words as he couldn't think of any other response.

"Do you want to gush over the guy?" the slave offered somewhat strained.

Kurt shook his head. "No, I'm... not feeling well. I think I'll go take a nap," he said, feeling like he was about to break down any moment.

"You do look pale," Blaine commented on his looks. "Go get some rest and if you need anything just let me know, okay?"

"Cuddles maybe?" Kurt joked hopefully.

Half of him wanted to be left alone but the other half screamed for a warm Blaine's embrace where he could feel sheltered from the rest of the world. The latter side of him was stronger and even though he didn't want to cry in front of the other boy, he couldn't help but want the comfort that the slave boy could offer.

"Oh," the slave squirmed uncomfortably. "I don't... now that you are seeing someone... I don't think we should, you know, be so touchy-feely."

"Oh, yes, of course, you are right," Kurt nodded and left without another word.

In the privacy of his bedroom the boy let himself cry. He was glad that Blaine refused him the cuddles. He didn't deserve to be exposed to the dirt that was all over Kurt now.

January 8, 2013

Karofsky was true to his word – he did come for more. Every day at school he would find a way to get Kurt alone in a private place, be it an empty classroom or a janitor's closet. Every time he would remind Kurt why they were doing it and each time Kurt's mind accepted the deal with more ease.

It was still hard. At first he thought he was doing it for his dad and Blaine. Then he realised that he was doing it because it was all his fault and this was his punishment for messing up. He was the one who let Rachel into his house and let her see Blaine. If it wasn't for him, Karofsky wouldn't have found out about the stray slave living with them. Once again Kurt fucked up and had to make it right no matter the cost.

The fear of someone, especially his dad or Blaine, finding out was always there with him everywhere he went. Even in his sleep he wasn't safe. He would be kissing Karofsky and out of nowhere Blaine would appear and start calling him a whore, a slut. He knew that the real Blaine wouldn't say that but what if he would secretly think he was just a cheap toy anyone could use? He would lose his best friend and he didn't want that to happen. He had to make sure to not give himself away.

That's why he became more distant with Blaine and his dad – there was a smaller chance of them suspecting anything. Which was a wrong approach, Kurt found out soon. One evening he overheard the duo talking about him and the change in his demeanour.

"Burt?" Kurt heard Blaine's timid voice. "Could I have a word with you?"

"Sure, kid, what's up?"

"It's... Kurt. I'm worried about him."

"Join the club. He seems weird to you too?"

"Yes... He doesn't really talk to me anymore. And when he does it's all rushed. I was thinking maybe he told you something?"

"He didn't and I didn't ask. Normally if there is something bothering him he would come to me so I'm still waiting. Do you have any idea what's going on?"

"I, um... I was thinking maybe... he changed his mind about me? Maybe he doesn't want me here anymore and that's why he is so cold to me. And it's okay, really, I can leave if he's not comfortable around me anymore. I will give you your ring back and all. I just want Kurt to be comfortable in his own house."

"Blaine, calm down. Nobody is kicking you out, okay? And now that you agreed to stay I'm not letting you leave without a fight. As for Kurt, when I first talked to him about inviting you to stay with us, I told him that it was a permanent offer. I told him that even if you two got into a fight, he would not have the right to kick you out. He agreed. Now, if he has a problem with you he will have to get over it because you are staying."

"But–"

"I'll talk to him, okay?"

Later that evening Burt asked Kurt if he had a problem with Blaine. Kurt pretended to be clueless and assured his dad and he and Blaine were doing fine. His dad didn't buy it so Kurt made sure to act a little bit more normal. After all, he didn't want the slave boy to leave, not after what he had been through in order to keep him safe with them.

Kurt was doing better not only with the act around other people but also with Karofsky. After their fourth 'meeting' Kurt didn't throw up for the first time. He called that victory.

Another victory, only on the jock's side, was that nobody had seen them yet. It was surprising how they got away with it for so long. Secretly Kurt wished that someone would see them. Maybe if Karofsky's secret got out he would be too busy dealing with it. Or maybe he would be angry enough to rat him and his dad out despite Kurt keeping his side of the deal.

There were so many 'what if's' that the boy was lost. He was sure that the best way was to let Karofsky do whatever he wanted and keep his mouth shut. There was no need for anyone to know that he was being blackmailed. He could deal with Karofsky. He could, until he couldn't anymore.

It was Tuesday and Kurt found himself lazily kissing the jock in an empty classroom. Everything went the same way as always – Karofsky taking the lead while Kurt mindlessly moved his lips. The teen got quite good at separating his mind and body so he could escape what was happening. He was thinking about his English essay when a rough squeeze on his ass made him yelp.

"You look so good in these jeans," the jock moaned and pressed their bodies closer so that Kurt could feel his erection. "Can you feel how good you make me feel, huh?"

"Oh god, stop," Kurt started hyperventilating feeling his own cock hardening at the friction as Karofsky started to slowly move his hips.

"This is not enough anymore," Karofsky ignored his plea. "I want more."

"No, don't," Kurt tried to push the other boy away but he wasn't strong enough. "I don't want–"

"Do you want your dad in prison then?" the jock asked, stilling his movements.

Kurt shook his head quickly.

"Now this is what's going to happen. I will go to the parking lot. You will come out in two minutes. Then you will follow my car to my house and we will have some fun. Got it?"

"I–"

"If not, I'll be calling the police," the boy interrupted and exited the classroom with his jacket covering the front.

Kurt watched him leave and as soon as he was alone he fell apart. His legs gave in and the boy ended up sitting on the floor, his back pressed to the wall. So many thoughts ran through his head that he could no longer keep up with them. He could only cry into his knees that were pressed tightly to his chest.

He thought he could do it, go through with Karofsky's plan. What he didn't know was how far the other boy wanted to take things. Kissing was terrible but it was something Kurt could deal with. Now the jock wanted more and he just couldn't do it. He wanted to protect his dad and Blaine but he couldn't do what the jock wanted from him. He was too weak.

"Kurt?" he heard a soft voice when the door opened widely. He didn't need to look up to know it was Rachel.

"I can't," Kurt sobbed more to himself than the girl.

"What can't you do?" the girl asked, her voice filled with worry. "Kurt, what's going on?"

"I can't protect him... them... oh god, I want to but I can't," the boy's sobs became hysterical.

Rachel was lost. She stroked the boy's arm awkwardly and tried to ask more questions but it seemed that the boy couldn't hear her at all.

"I'll get some help, okay? Wait here for me," she whispered and ran into the corridor.

It was the end of school and most students were gone together with teachers who didn't make it a habit to stay behind. Nevertheless she had to try.

The girl rounded the corner just a little too fast and collided with a strong body.

"Watch where you're going, Berry," Lauren from the wrestling team threatened her.

Rachel took a step back and was about to apologise when she saw that Lauren was not alone. "Puckerman! I need your help."

"Fuck off," Puck snorted and walked passed her.

Rachel turned around and started walking by his side. "It's not for me. Kurt, he is... he is crying and muttering something about not protecting someone and it's all scary and I have no idea what to do! And you two–"

"Where is he?" Puck cut her off.

"I'll show you," she said and started running in small steps as her high heels didn't allow moving faster.

When the teens made their way into the classroom they found a small figure crying silently, with his shoulders shaking violently as if he was trying to hold back.

"Princess, it's me, Noah," Puck said shaking Kurt's body. "Talk to me."

"I can't... he wants to... and I can't... sex, no... oh god, please, Blaine... and dad... can't..."

"What the fuck?" Lauren looked questioningly at Rachel who was equally confused.

"I don't know. I found him like this. Should we call someone?"

"No," Puck responded quickly. "Come on, talk to me. What's going on?"

Kurt raised his head and met Puck's eyes. "He knows... and he will tell... I tried to stop him but he wants too much... I can't do it. I can't save Blaine... and dad... they will take him..."

"Who knows?"

Kurt wiped his nose onto his sleeve not caring about the mess. "Karofsky..." he choked out.

"What did he do?" Puck asked, anger shooting through his body.

"He told me to kiss him... he said... police... now... more... can't," Kurt said pulling at his hair.

Rachel was the first to catch up. "Kurt... did Karofsky blackmailed you into... making out with him?" she asked carefully.

Kurt didn't respond, he only cried harder.

"That son of the bitch!" Puck yelled and started running towards the door when his body was shoved onto the ground and he felt a heavy weight on top of him.

"Calm the fuck down," Lauren said forcefully into his ear. "Karofsky has most likely left the school by now and Hummel needs you now."

Puck let out a strangled noise and forced himself to calm down at least marginally. "Get off me, I won't do anything stupid."

Lauren lifted herself up off him and helped him to stand up. In the meantime Rachel was trying to sooth Kurt, who was now frantically looking for his phone.

"I need to warn Blaine, need to call dad," he spoke to nobody in particular.

"Princess, listen to me," Puck said when he ducked in front of the boy. "Try to calm down, okay? We will take you home and call your dad, alright? We will sort this out. And don't worry about Karofsky, he's a dead man now."

"I came to school with my car," Rachel chimed in. "I can take us all to Kurt's."

Puck looked at both his girlfriend and the Berry chick. It was too dangerous for them to see Blaine since they could recognise him. On the other hand, they were already doomed if Karofsky talked and he was sure that the jock would. Besides, there was no way he could get rid of the girls and they were short on time.

"Okay, fine. Let's go."

Blaine was having a shitty day. Actually, it had been a shitty week. Kurt hardly talked to him anymore, always pretending to have a lot of homework. Homework that they used to do together before the sudden change in the other boy. Now they spent most of the time in their respective rooms. It was unnerving.

After his talk with Burt Kurt started talking to him a bit more and Blaine had a feeling that Burt had something to do with it. Despite that whenever they talked it seemed that Kurt's mind was somewhere far away and all the slave boy wanted to do was shake him and yell pleading to talk to him. He doubted it would work though.

Nights were just as bad. He used to have nightmares from his past about the slave training and numerous times he had been beaten up. Now a new nightmare found its way into Blaine's mind. He would see Kurt being pressed to a wall by a faceless man, kissing him, making him feel good. Kurt would moan into the kiss and Blaine's mind would go crazy as he couldn't do anything in the dream, he could only watch as someone else got to be with Kurt. After such dream Blaine would wake up with an aching heart. Now that Kurt had someone, someone who might turn into a real boyfriend, he lost the last hope. Not that he had a chance anyway but it used to be a nice daydream.

Tired of the current situation Blaine decided to take matters into his own hands. Meaning that he would do something nice to Kurt and try to talk to him, like really try without giving up after Kurt brushed him off yet again. For the first time he had to be the one to take the initiative and try to figure out a way to help his friend.

He was sure that Kurt would want to take a nap after school which had become a norm so he knew he would have some time to plot some evening activity that would allow them to talk.

Blaine was in the middle of brainstorming when he heard the door unlock.

"Hey, Kurt, how was–" he said coming into the corridor to meet Kurt when he saw the group of teenagers there. "Puck, what's going on?"

Puck was about to respond but first Blaine got an armful of Kurt.

"I'm sorry," he heard Kurt's broken voice as he sobbed into his neck.

Blaine felt the other boy shaking with sobs in his arms and tightened his hold on Kurt.

"What's going on? Somebody tell me!" he looked at Puck sternly.

"Let's go into the living room," Puck sighed, which left the slave boy even more anxious.

Blaine helped Kurt out of his boots and the coat and they all went into the living room where the slave situated Kurt onto the couch, never letting him go.

"Sorry," Kurt kept muttering.

"It's okay, Kurt, everything is okay," Blaine said softly, running his hand over Kurt's back. "Please, someone talk to me."

Puck looked at the girls who looked curiously at the boys on the couch. There was no use to hide anything anymore. "One guy at school found out about you. And he blackmailed Kurt."

Blaine's eyes widened in surprise. "How long has this been going on?"

"We don't know," Rachel answered.

"Kurt," the slave boy cupped his cheek and made him look at him. "How long?"

"Since... after break," the boy admitted, not looking into Blaine's eyes. "I'm sorry..."

"Shh, you have nothing to be sorry about," Blaine said and let Kurt lower his head onto his chest again. "Can you tell me what he made you do?"

"He," Kurt hiccupped, "I'm sorry, I didn't want... I swear, I didn't... I'm not a whore, please..."

Rachel saw Kurt's distress and decided to help him out. "From what Kurt's been saying we figured the guy made him make out with him," she looked questioningly at her other classmates for support.

"And apparently today he wanted more," Lauren added.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't..." Kurt started but Blaine stopped him.

"No apologies, Kurt, you did nothing wrong, you are not at fault here," he said gently. "And god you are not a whore, you hear me? You are the most selfless person I have ever met. Please, don't let that monster make you think you are anything but wonderful."

At the same time Blaine tried not to start screaming. It was all his fault that this sweet loving boy was crying onto his chest. If he had left after Christmas this wouldn't have happened. He was so selfish and now the other boy was suffering from it, had been suffering for more than a week now.

"He will talk... Karofsky will call the police and–"

Blaine's body stiffened at the name. "Karofsky?"

"Dave Karofsky," Puck explained. "I didn't even know he was gay."

"He said he wasn't," Kurt said. "Don't... out him. Nobody deserves to be outted... Not even him..."

"Are you serious right now?" Puck raised his voice. "The guy practically molested you and you are protecting him?!"

"I let him do it," Kurt said in a small voice and Blaine kissed the top of his head to show that he was there for him.

"God, Kurt, you shouldn't have," the slave boy said. "You should have told me and your dad and I would have left. You shouldn't have let that asshole use you. You are too precious to me... And you suffered to protect me–"

"I couldn't lose you," Kurt said, his tears subsiding a little. "You are not safe out there."

"I'm sorry," Lauren interrupted, "but I don't get it. What's the big deal with Karofsky knowing about this guy?"

Blaine shared a look with Puck who shrugged as if letting the slave to choose the answer. "I'm... I don't belong to Hummels. I'm a stray."

Rachel gasped as the realization hit her. "Oh my god, you are smelly-a– I mean, you are the..." she trailed off. "I thought you left Lima or died."

"Almost did," Blaine said, his attention fully on Kurt even though he was talking to the girl now. "Kurt and Puck found me on time. Actually I have to thank you for indirectly saving my life."

"What?" Rachel looked at him confused while Puck stared at him like he was crazy. Lauren on the other hand seemed curious.

"If it wasn't for you Kurt wouldn't have gone looking for me," Blaine explained. "He told me what happened. I know you weren't talking nice things about me but still, thank you."

"Oh," Rachel blushed. "I'm sorry for talking horrible things about you. And how I treated you. And–"

"Guys," Lauren interrupted, "as wonderful as this is, I think there are more important things now. We have an illegal slave here and police might be on its way."

"We need to get papa Hummel," Puck said. "He will know what to do."

"We could forge ownership documents," Lauren suggested. "There must be some examples online."

"I could bring our slaves' papers," Rachel offered. "We have several slaves so it would be good to see differences for reference."

"I'll call a friend, who can get us a fake ID," Puck said and took his phone out of his pocket. "This won't win us a lot of time but there isn't much we can do."

The teens started talking about other things they could do but Blaine wasn't really listening to them because he knew what he had to do. He was the only one who could get them out of that mess.