Kurt stared at the envelope.

He had been staring at it for 5 minutes.

It was airmail. From France.

Oh, please. Oh, please. Oh, please. Oh, please.

Okay. Just open it.

Monsieur Hummel:

It is our pleasure to offer you a one year...

Kurt started screaming and jumping up and down. Warren came running down the hall.

"Kurt! What the..."

"I got it! I got it! I got it! I'm going to Paris!"

Warren started jumping up and down, yelling with Kurt. He threw his arms around him and held him tight. Probably too tight and a little longer than necessary, but he couldn't help himself. He was so happy for his friend. And Kurt smelled and felt so good pressed against him.

Once they were done yelling and jumping, Warren asked the crucial question.

"So Blaine is okay with this? He's not going to give you a hard time about going?"

Blaine.

Blaine had never given Kurt an answer and Kurt had been too scared to ask again. He figured he would wait to see if he was accepted. Plus the idea that Blaine could release him from his enslavement, terrified him. Kurt did not want to face that possibility again. Yes, he wanted to go to Paris, but he wanted to remain a slave. He didn't care how crazy it sounded. He loved being Blaine's slave. Absolutely loved it.

"Um...not exactly. We only talked about it once."

"What did he say?"

Kurt stared into Warren's eyes. Could he trust him?

"Warren...my relationship with Blaine is...complicated."

"No it isn't, Kurt. It's actually very simple. He's a controlling asshole and for some reason, you let him control you."

Kurt took a deep breath. "You're right. I do let him control me. But, there's a reason why."

Warren arched his eyebrows and looked at Kurt with cynical curiosity. "Okay. What's the reason?"

Kurt closed his bedroom door and sat down on the floor, leaning against his bed. Warren sat down on the floor across from him.

"Warren...I don't really know how to explain this. Our relationship is very complicated."

"You already said that, and like I said Kurt, it really isn't. He's an asshole who wants to control your every move. And, you let him! Do you know he told me he owns you? He actually looked me in the eye, and told me he owns you. Please tell me a good reason for you to stay with someone who thinks like that!"

Kurt's voice was very quiet. "Because he does."

"Does what?"

"Own me."

"What?"

"I-I'm..."

"Kurt, he doesn't own you. How could you say that?"

"Warren...I...I'm..." Kurt faltered. How do you tell someone you're a slave?

Warren reached over and took Kurt's hand.

"Kurt, please tell me." And then I'll tell you how much I love you.

"Warren...Blaine controls me and says he owns me because he does. He owns me, Warren. I'm his slave."

"W-What?"

"I'm Blaine's slave. He's my master. He owns me. I belong to him."

Warren was shocked and confused. Was Kurt into submission and domination?

"Kurt...I'm not sure I understand. Are you his sex slave?"

"No...well...sort of...but no...it's...it's not what you're thinking. It's not bondage and domination and submission or anything like that. Well...maybe kind of, but not really. He does tie me up but...it's with the control he has over me, not with leather or anything, and...oh, shit." Kurt put his face in his hands. This was coming out wrong. So very, very wrong.

Warren was staring at Kurt with his mouth open. Kurt was Blaine's slave? Blaine ties Kurt up? Warren was ashamed to feel his dick harden slightly at the thought. His head was starting to fill with all sorts of images of Kurt tied to a bed. He was getting turned on. He shook his head and squeezed his eyes shut.

"Kurt...I don't understand."

Kurt sighed. He didn't want to do this. It was a mistake to start this conversation. Especially since he still had to talk to Blaine about Paris. That was going to be a hell of a discussion. Why on earth had he started this with Warren, right now?

"Look Warren. I know it sounds crazy, and I really can't get into all the details. Just know that yes, Blaine does own me and I'm fine with it. I'm happy about it. I love him and he loves me, and this is how our relationship works. Yes it can be difficult sometimes, but I wouldn't trade it for anything or anyone else."

"Not even Paris?"

Kurt looked Warren straight in the eye. "Not even Paris."

Kurt stood up. "I gotta go see Blaine. I need to tell him I got in."

Warren stood up and grabbed Kurt's hands.

"I don't understand anything you just told me. I don't understand how you're a slave and he owns you...I...I don't get any of it. But Kurt, please promise me you won't let him talk you out of going to Europe. You've been dreaming of this since freshman year. Please don't let him stop you from going."

Kurt smiled at Warren. "Don't worry. It will all be fine. And, I promise...one day I'll do a better job explaining everything. Just know that I'm fine and I'm happy and you don't have to worry. Okay?"

Warren hugged him. "Okay." I love you. I love you so much. Leave Blaine and be with me. I'll tie you up if that's what you're into.

Warren walked to his room, confused and feeling disturbingly aroused.

Blaine owns Kurt.

Kurt is Blaine's slave.

Blaine is Kurt's master.

What kind of fucked up sexual game were they playing?

And why did it turn Warren on?

X-X-X-X-X

Kurt decided to change clothes before going to Blaine's. As if the perfect outfit would make this conversation easier. Before getting dressed, he stared at his naked reflection in the mirror and smiled. He was a man. A full grown, confident, beautiful, sexy man. He had grown taller, passing Blaine by a few inches. He wasn't as strong or muscular as Blaine, but his body had filled out and he was now lean, firm and beautifully sculpted. His skin was soft, smooth and radiant. He knew he was beautiful, and not just because Blaine constantly told him. Other men had made it quite clear they found Kurt attractive. Men flirted and made passes at him all the time. He would just smile and turn them down nicely. Only one man had ever kissed him (Karofsky didn't count). Touched him. Sucked him. Fucked him. He had been trained to service the sexual needs of only one man, and he didn't want any other.

Kurt had finally stopped questioning why someone as good-looking as Blaine, chose him. Of course Blaine chose him. Kurt was beautiful, sexy, smart and talented. Yes, he was lucky to have a boyfriend as attractive as Blaine, but Blaine was lucky to have a boyfriend as beautiful as Kurt. They were both gorgeous.

Kurt sat at Blaine's kitchen table. Waiting. This time, there would be no special dinner. No cupcakes. Kurt didn't have the time and he didn't want to spend the energy. He was going to need all his energy to convince his master to let him go away for a year.

As he waited, his eyes drifted to the other kitchen chair. He was reminded of the last time Blaine had punished him with chair sex. Oh, so fucking brutal and cruel and...hot. How would he and Blaine go a year without sex? A year without seeing each other? Sure Kurt would come home for Christmas, but that would probably be his only visit, and he would be going to Lima. Carol would kill him if he didn't come home for Christmas. How would Blaine cope? What if the darkness didn't behave? They'd been lucky the past three years, but things were about to change. Blaine would be under more stress, more pressure. Law school was hard. Competitive. What if someone provoked him and he lost control?

What was Kurt doing?

He was Blaine's slave, and yet he was abandoning him.

Stop it, Kurt. You are allowed to have a life. A career. Blaine will just have to deal.

But Kurt knew this was different. This wasn't living with friends in a loft instead of with Blaine for the summer.

This was Paris.

For a year.

An entire year.

So much could happen in a year. Kurt knew that better than anyone.

O said he had to be a good slave and serve Blaine. Was he being a bad slave?

Kurt didn't have time to answer, because the key turned in the lock.

"Hey beautiful! I love coming home and finding you here."

Kurt felt overcome with emotion. He jumped up and ran to Blaine, throwing his arms tightly around him.

Blaine held him close and spoke quietly. "Hey, what's wrong?"

Kurt held him tight, his eyes squeezed shut. He didn't want to let go.

Blaine pulled back. "Kurt, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I..."

"What?"

"I got accepted. I got accepted to the program in Paris."

Blaine closed his eyes. The darkness started swirling around, growing hot. Blaine took a deep breath. Calm down. We knew this was coming. He opened his eyes. They were three shades darker.

"When would you leave?"

"I start June 20. The school will help me find an apartment and a roommate. I'd probably need to leave around the 10th so I'll have time to get settled and learn my way around."

"I start my internship on the 10th."

"Oh."

Blaine took off his jacket and sat down heavily on the couch. He closed his eyes.

This was bullshit.

Kurt gone a whole fucking year.

Leaving on the day he starts one of the most important journeys of his future.

How the hell was he supposed to survive a year without Kurt? He couldn't let him go. A year was too long. He needed him. Blaine opened his eyes.

Kurt was standing where Blaine had left him. He was staring at Blaine. His eyes were sad, but determined. He was ready to fight.

"Blaine, I know this will be hard, but I want to go. I need to go."

"I need you here with me. I start my internship at the firm I hope to make a career with. This is important to my future. Our future. I need you to keep me strong."

"I need this design experience. It will make me more marketable and give me credibility when I open my own studio."

"You don't have to open a studio! You don't have to work. I will always take care of you. Always. All you have to do is take care of me. That's your job. You are supposed to take care of me. You can't take care of me if you are running around Europe."

Kurt said nothing. He had decided not to get into the whole stay-at-home husband argument. They had argued about if for almost five years. Kurt was working. Arguing about that today would just distract from the real issue. Paris.

Kurt was prepared to beg.

"Blaine, please let me go."

"I start law school in the fall. Law school is hell. I need you. I need you to take care of me, Kurt."

"Blaine...I love you, but I want to go. Please? Please try to understand. I need to go."

"Kurt...I need you with me."

"Please Blaine? Please let me go? It's only for one year."

"Why are you always trying to leave me?"

"I don't want to leave you, but I have to do this. I have to. Please Blaine? Please?"

"You don't have to do anything but take care of me."

"Please Blaine?"

Blaine closed his eyes. Shit. Shit. Shit. This was a conflict nightmare. How was he supposed to be a good master and not hurt Kurt, and at the same time, keep his slave under control? He could force him to stay, but that would break Kurt's heart. He didn't want to do that. Blaine didn't want to be selfish like his grandfather. But letting Kurt go...it felt dangerous.

Kurt walked over to Blaine and kneeled before him taking his hands in his.

"Please Blaine? Please let me go? I'm willing to beg if you want me to."

"Kurt, what about the darkness? What am I supposed to do if something happens?"

"It's been four years and there's been nothing."

"We've been lucky."

"You will just have to keep it together. Stay in control."

"I can't believe you just said that to me."

"Blaine...think about it. I won't be here for you to lose it over. Every time something's happened, it's been because someone threatened me. I won't be here for that to happen."

"No. You will be thousands of miles away where I can't take care of you. You know, that is a part of this too, Kurt. I'm supposed to take care of you. Protect you. I can't take care of you if you aren't with me."

"I'll be fine."

Blaine sighed and closed his eyes. The darkness was hot and growing angry. It could feel Blaine giving in and it did not approve. Not at all.

"Kurt...this is dangerous."

"Why?"

"We aren't supposed to be apart. Not like this. Not for that long."

"We'll be fine Blaine. It will be hard, but we can do it. Look at how well we've managed the past three and a half years."

"I need to fuck you, Kurt. I can't go months without fucking you."

Kurt had no answer for that.

"Please Blaine?"

Blaine looked into Kurt's eyes. He loved him so much. So damn much. It was hard for him to deny Kurt anything. He wanted to give him everything. Everything. He never wanted Kurt to want for anything. He just wanted him happy. And with him.

The darkness punched him with a sharp jab. Don't do this Blaine. Don't let him leave. He's your slave. He should be with you.

"The darkness doesn't like this Kurt."

"What?"

"It doesn't approve."

Kurt was silent.

"This is dangerous. It's dangerous for you to leave me."

"Blaine...please?"

The darkness was boiling. Blaine closed his eyes, but it wouldn't calm down. It knew what was about to happen. Don't you dare Blaine. Don't you fucking dare.

"Please Blaine? Please? It's only for one year. We have the rest of our lives to be together. I promise I'll be careful and I'm sure the darkness will be fine. Nothing's happened the past four years. You've been fine. It will be fine. Please Blaine? Please? I'll do anything you want. You can punish me for days, weeks, months even. Just, please let me go. Please? Please?"

Blaine reached down and fingered the K&B pendant hanging around Kurt's neck. He stared into Kurt's beautiful blue-gray eyes. He loved Kurt so much. Too much.

The darkness was punching Blaine's chest, screaming at him.

Kurt was staring at him, his eyes pleading with him.

Blaine couldn't deny him this. He knew he should, but he couldn't. He just couldn't. His love for him was too strong. Dangerously strong.

"Okay, Kurt. You can go to Paris."

X-X-X-X-X

That night, Blaine lazily caressed Kurt's hair. Kurt was asleep, but Blaine lay awake, thinking.

Blaine was sure this was dangerous.

They weren't following the rules.

Blaine was being a weak master and Kurt was being a bad slave.

Blaine was sure the darkness would make him pay. After all, Blaine was the master. He was in charge. He was supposed to control his slave.

But he didn't want to deny Kurt.

So he would pay the price so Kurt could be happy.

Blaine tightened his hold around Kurt and tried to fall asleep.

As the darkness thrashed about within him.

Hot and angry.

Very, very angry.

Downright pissed the fuck off.

Does Kurt really think it is going to be that easy for Blaine to let him leave?