fic: Solar Winds (24/?)
“Okay!” a familiar-foreign voice calls out. “I’m on my way in. Fair warning!”
Blaine blearily sniffs and snuggles closer to the soft, warm pillow he happens to have next to him. His back is killing him, his limbs ache, and he is parched beyond belief, but he doesn’t want to move. Couldn’t tell you why, doesn’t want to wake up enough to try. It isn’t until he notices his pillow has a heartbeat that he is fully catapulted into the waking world.
Kurt. He is sleeping with Kurt. Guh- sleeping on Kurt. Kurt is beneath him, beside him, all around him and holding him, sleeping peacefully with tear tracks on his face. Tear tracks that Blaine put there. And yet, he doesn’t remember going to sleep like this. Kurt must have done this himself.
Kurt did this.
Kurt held him while he slept. Kurt is responsible for what currently feels like the most restful sleep he has ever experienced. Kurt, in spite of all the pain Blaine has caused him, stayed here and protected him as if he were something worth protecting, something precious.
He sits up, slowly, so as not to wake him, and it hits him.
Kurt loves you.
The realization is dagger-sharp and quick, slipping into his ribcage, filleting his heart and lungs and making it very difficult not to keel over and die. He can’t believe it. The Avatar loves him. The legacy of thousands, the legendary balance-keeper, guardian of the world… so many of his mother’s stories featured the amazing Avatar, the cosmic spirit who saves, has saved, will save the world and the people within countless times over. That spirit loves him.
Kurt loves him.
It is the second realization that really knocks him flat. Kurt. Kurt Hummel, who came from the Northern Water Tribe, who travels with his friends and has a duty to save the world from a terrible sickness. Kurt who cries so easily for someone he barely knows, who holds his head up and keeps a bearing befitting of any royal no matter how much mud the world slings at him, who can hide his pain like a pro or let it shine from him like a lamp. Kurt.
It was so easy sometimes just to think of him as The Avatar. A figure of legend, an impossible ideal, a power great and magnificent and unreachable. Something to aspire to and admire. It is this moment-this quiet moment in the stillness just before dawn, that the sun breaks over the horizon in Blaine’s mind and the ex-Prince truly understands. Avatar though he may be, Kurt is a person. He is flesh and blood and tears, he is warm and soft and strong. He is the chest that Blaine is laying on, gently rising and falling, complete with a beating heart and breathing lungs. He is pale skin, pink lips, beautiful blue eyes, voluminous hair. He is real. He is real, and fragile, and human.
The Avatar is human. Always, always, always a person, never perfect, never unreachable. To become so would subvert the very purpose the Avatar serves. Behind all the legend and the power, Kurt is just a boy. Kurt, the boy, loves him. And somehow, this is infinitely more terrifying than the first realization.
If Kurt is a boy, he can be hurt. He can be damaged, his trust can be shattered, his heart can be broken. And all of this is now officially wrapped up in Blaine. Kurt’s heart could be supported or it could be dropped, he could make him happy or miserable, he could lift him up or fumble and break him. All of that now rests on his shoulders, and it is a lot of pressure. He’s already hurt him so many times. Last night, when he’d said what he’d said… whether he knew it or not, Blaine basically told Kurt that he wasn’t worth living for. That he wasn’t enough. What a horrible thing to say to someone.
He has no idea what to do with this.
Because when he asks himself the all-important question…
Do you love Kurt?
He is no more certain about that than he is about anything lately. He knows he cares about Kurt a great deal. He knows that he would never, ever want to hurt him or break his heart. But he also knows his own heart is in turmoil-that he can be irrational, snappish, angry and condescending. Rude, arrogant, indecisive and oblivious to others. Kurt deserves better than that. He deserves someone who can actually help him, who can look out for him and love him with certainty. At the very least, he deserves someone who can honestly say that they love him back, and Blaine just doesn’t know. He doesn’t know anything anymore.
He needs to think about this. Long and hard… if he can’t come up with anything long-term, he might at least be able to come up with a short-term idea of what he needs to do. The next time he is alone, he’ll take the time to sit and really think about his feelings for Kurt, and sort them out as best he can.
What have you done? He asks the Universe at large. Why did you let this happen? Why would you trust someone so fickle and flighty with something so important?
Sadly, the Universe has nothing to say to him.
Artie, however, has plenty. “Last chance to protect your modesty,” he calls out, sliding into the clearing with his hand over his eyes. “I’m on my way in, about to open my-oh, you’re wearing clothes,” he says, sounding a little confused. “Anyway, it’s time to go. Mercedes says we need to spend as much time moving as possible…” Something must be showing on Blaine’s face, because Artie suddenly tilts his head to the side and says, quite seriously, “Hey, dude… are you okay?”
To Blaine’s surprise, Kurt continues to sleep despite Artie. “Yeah,” he says, shaking his head. “Sorry. I was just thinking…”
The other boy’s eyebrows raise in anticipation.
“…I should probably take a bath,” he says, successfully evading for the moment. “I’m sure I smell horrible.”
“Nah,” Artie says, waving him off. “I wouldn’t bother. Finn has to put his hands all over you and make you wet anyway. I would use the bathroom while you have the chance. We’re gonna be on the road for a while.”
The Earthbender nudges Kurt, who weakly lashes out at him with an arm. “Go away,” he says.
“No can do,” Artie says, dodging the blow easily. “Up and at ‘em. Mercedes’s orders. Beautify yourself while you can, because we’re leaving ASAP.”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “Just… please, stop making sound.”
Artie salutes Kurt, winks at Blaine, and slides off the way he came.
“Hey,” Blaine says, gently bumping Kurt with his shoulder. “How’d you sleep?”
Kurt groans and proceeds to stretch himself out in ways that open many paths to many thoughts that Blaine probably should be avoiding if he doesn’t want to screw Kurt-screw with Kurt-cause Kurt to think things that aren’t true about their relationship. “Considering I had a giant rock digging into my back,” he says, his voice low and scratchy from sleep, “not bad. Solid seven out of ten.”
“Sorry about that,” Blaine says sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep in exactly that position. I’m pretty sure I intended to shift all the way to the ground at some point.”
“Oh, don’t fret on my account. I’m guilty of the same thing,” Kurt says easily.
“I guess we can both be a little thoughtless sometimes,” Blaine says with a self-deprecating smile.
“Blaine… listen,” Kurt says. “I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to push you…”
“No,” Blaine says. “I’m sorry. You were right. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be happy to be alive… to be here, with you.” He reaches out and rests his hand on top of Kurt’s, astounded at how soft it is.
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t be sad, either,” Kurt says. “You’ve lost so much…”
“But I didn’t lose everything. I think… I think I should concentrate on that,” Blaine says. “For now, I think I should concentrate on what I have. On what I can do. And what I can do,” he continues, subconsciously moving his hand to rest on Kurt’s shoulder, “is teach you Firebending, and try to get better.”
Kurt smiles, and it warms his soul. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he says, standing up and helping Blaine do the same. “We should probably get ready. Mercedes is not known for her tolerant tardy policy. She is not above making one or both of us run after the carriage to catch up.”
On pure, wild whim, he reaches out and pulls Kurt into a hug. “I really care about you, Kurt. You know that, right? I don’t… I don’t want to screw up what we have.” He lets it hang there, hoping the tacit confession is enough. He isn’t brave enough to say any more than that.
Kurt deserves someone brave.
The Avatar is stunned, at first, but he soon returns the hug. “You won’t,” he says, somewhat cryptically. “And me too. I mean… I care about you. So much.”
Something in his chest wiggles at that, starts to…
Wait, no, that’s something on his chest. And it’s still wiggling.
Blaine breaks free of the hug and, in what he likes to think is a very masculine display of utter panic, pulls open his robe and frantically tries to beat out the squirming whatever that nests within. After a few moments of flailing, a disgruntled-looking squirrelmunk falls out and scurries off into the underbrush, tittering grumpily at him the whole way.
The ex-Prince just stands there for a few moments, attempting to catch his breath and recompose himself. Kurt is looking at him with no small amount of amusement, his face red with barely-contained laughter just begging to bubble over the wall.
“Don’t laugh,” Blaine says, offended. “That was… it was… there was a thing sleeping in my clothes!” he exclaims.
Kurt is no less amused than before. If anything, Blaine’s indignation just makes it harder not to laugh. “And so the young Prince gets his first taste of the Great Outdoors,” he narrates, before smiling and turning towards the pond to begin his morning routine. “Get used to it. Because the way things are going, the Great Outdoors will probably be your home for a while.”
Blaine has no idea whether or not that was meant to be comforting.
But it definitely wasn’t.
~~~
Later that morning, as the Prince is off being rubbed down by Finn (and how ridiculously unfair is it that Finn gets to touch him more than Kurt? What is with you, the Universe?), Kurt calls a pow-wow with his main lady and the captain of the sneak squad. The topic of discussion: Operation Blainewatch.
“Blaine goes nowhere alone,” Kurt says simply. “Ever.”
Artie quirks an eyebrow at him. “O…kay, Mother Superior.”
“Far be it from me to dig out from under you,” Mercedes says, “but is there any particular reason you’re going all nanny on him all of a sudden?”
Kurt looks appalled. “What, praytell, is wrong with me wanting to protect a very dear, very injured friend from possible threats? What if he is attacked by more assassins? Or gets into a tangle with the local wildlife? Or stumbles on a stray tree root and trips and falls and stabs himself on a rock and bleeds to death?”
Artie is gobsmacked. “I want so badly to make fun of that, but really, there’s nowhere to go. I can’t possibly make that sound any worse than you just did.”
Mercedes puts a hand on his shoulder. “Sweetie… that’s a little much. What’s wrong? What happened?”
Kurt sighs. “Look, it’s just… we already know that Blaine is hurt. The Spirits told me that assassins are coming after him, he’s completely inexperienced in the ways of the world, and worst of all, he can’t even Firebend.”
Mercedes is shocked. “Say what?”
Timebending. Why has he not invented Timebending yet? “…annnnnd I’m pretty sure that’s something he would have wanted to tell you himself, so when he gets around to announcing it, try to act surprised?”
Mercedes puts a hand to her chest and adopts a look of utter shock.
Artie’s eyes roll back into his skull and he flops over.
“…we’ll work on it later.” Kurt deadpans.
“I don’t get it,” Mercedes says. “How do you just lose your bending?”
“It’s a Firebender thing,” Kurt says.
“So… it’s like Firebender E.D.?” Artie says, sitting back up. “Because I hear they have medicine for that now.”
Patience thoroughly depleted, Kurt jams a finger at the crippled cretin. “You! No more talking. Your privileges have been revoked for the next 5 minutes.”
Artie obediently zips his lips and props his head on his hands to listen to the rest of Kurt’s orders.
“Anyway,” Kurt grinds out. “I just thought it would be a good idea to make sure Blaine is always being watched out for. He already almost died once, and I don’t think I can handle that happening again,” he finishes, with a slight shudder.
Mercedes looks at him carefully. “Honey… don’t take this the wrong way, but what is this really about?”
The Avatar breathes out through his nose in an effort to calm himself. “This is nothing more than it appears to be. I am concerned for a friend, and I am acting on that concern. All I am asking of you, my friends, is to help me maintain a secret conspiracy to keep watchful eyes on him at all times and to ensure that he doesn’t actually know that he is being monitored. You know, so he doesn’t feel uncomfortable,” Kurt finishes.
Artie sits in awe. “Again, I could not have put that any worse.”
“I said no talking!” Kurt whispers intensely, and the paralyzed boy holds his hands up in surrender.
“Kurt, baby, I really don’t think this is a good idea and I definitely don’t think it needs to be a secret,” Mercedes says.
“Well… it is. And it is. Please, I’m asking for your help. Don’t make me play the Avatar Card,” Kurt pleads.
The female Earthbender emits heaves a sigh heavier than a ten ton boulder. “Fine. But I when this blows up in everybody’s face, I reserve ‘I told you so’ rights. Deal?”
“Deal,” Kurt says, putting a fist in his palm and bowing. He then turns to Artie. “What about you? Can I count on your cooperation?”
Artie flashes him a thumbs up sign.
“And you even remembered not to talk!” Kurt says with a bright smile. “I’m impressed. Your newfound willingness to follow directions is both noted and appreciated, you wonderful little convicted felon!” he finishes, ruffling Artie’s hair.
With that, he happily saunters off. “I’ll handle telling Finn myself. We can leave as soon as I’m done. Thank you guys so much!” he calls back without looking.
Which is why he completely misses the ‘cracker, you crazy’ look shared between the Earth Kingdom natives as he goes.
~~~
“Is this… like… awkward for you, or anything?” Finn asks as he works on healing Blaine’s back.
The Fire National rubs his naked arms to try and generate some heat in the comparatively cold dawn air. “No. Why do you ask?” he replies.
“No reason!” Finn responds, sounding overly cheerful. “It’s just… you know… I do have to kind of put my hands on you, like, all the time, and I just wanted to make sure…” He trails off.
“Make sure… what?” Blaine prods gently.
“Well, I just… you know… I don’t want you to, like, think the wrong things. Like, just because I have to touch your boobs, that doesn’t mean-”
“Okay, what?” Blaine exclaims, turning around to see a rather red-faced Finn making a face like he’s guiltily holding in gas.
Finn opens his mouth to speak, but fortunately for Blaine, Kurt fulfills his position as the Avatar and saves the freaking day by choosing that moment to prance in. “Hello, boys,” he says brightly. “I trust all is going well?”
“Of… course,” Blaine says easily.
“Yep!” Finn agrees. “Definitely absolutely nothing awkward whatsoever happening over here, where we are. Nope!”
Kurt tilts his head to the side as the smile drops from his eyes, but strangely, not from his lips. “Fantastic,” he says. “Are you just about finished?”
Finn nods. “Yup. All done for now.”
“Great!” Kurt says with a clap, before walking past them and bodily dragging Finn along with him. “Let’s have a bro-chat.” He looks at Blaine as he leaves, giving him a benevolent smile. “You are cleared to enter the carriage. I’ll be with you in just a moment.” With that, he continues to drag the slightly baffled Finn off into the forest.
Blaine is just slightly weirded out by the scene, but he’s been weirded out quite a bit lately, so he figures it’s just par for the course right now. Picking himself up off the ground, he walks over towards the carriage, where Mercedes is finishing Earthbending the thing out of the hole she made to hide it last night.
“Well, good morning to you,” Mercedes says. “Sleep well?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says. “I slept very well.”
“I see you finally got all that gunk out of your hair,” she says, and it is then that Blaine realizes he hasn’t had a chance to shave or style his hair in days.
“Oh my gosh,” he says, running his hand over his chin and finding it all… stubbly. His short, curly hair is untamed and slightly manic on top of his head, basking in its newfound freedom. “I must look like such a bum,” he moans.
Artie slides up beside Mercedes. “You can borrow my razor if you want,” he says.
“Actually,” Blaine admits sheepishly, “I don’t… really know how to use a razor.”
“How do you shave, then?” Mercedes asks.
The ex-Prince sighs. “Firebending trick. With practice, you can make just enough heat to burn the hair off. Unfortunately…” He looks off. “Well, I suppose it’s going to come out sooner or later. I… can’t Firebend right now.”
Mercedes puts a hand to her chest and adopts a look of utter shock.
Artie’s eyes roll back into his skull and he flops over.
Blaine’s eyes go wide. “Is he okay?”
“Fine,” Mercedes says through her teeth. “I’m not worried about him. I’m worried about you. What happened to your bending?” she asks.
Blaine turns away (and thus misses Mercedes grinding her foot along the ground and forcing Artie to sit up again). He starts rubbing the back of his neck through the scarf, the scar itching ever so slightly. “It just… left,” he says. “It happens to Firebenders who lose their will, or their driving force.”
“You lost your drive?” Artie asks seriously. “Damn, dude.”
“How do you get it back?” Mercedes asks.
“I just have to find a new goal to strive for, something that can really push me forward again,” he says.
“So… what do you want? Have you thought about it?” Mercedes pushes gently.
“Long-term, I’m… having a little trouble,” Blaine admits. “But I have spent the morning thinking about a short-term goal. One that might help all of us, actually,” he says with a small smile. “I’ll tell you about it when Kurt gets back.”
“I’m glad you’re thinking,” Mercedes says. “I’ve been trying to put that habit in a few people’s heads for as long as I’ve known them. Never seems to stick,” she continues, opening the carriage door. “Want some help getting in?”
“No, thank you,” Blaine says. “I think I can tackle it myself this morning.” With a slightly embarrassing amount of effort, the ex-Prince takes the few steps to the coach and steps inside. “I never thought I could be so proud of my ability to use a staircase,” he says with a slight blush.
“Pffft,” Artie scoffs. “Stairs are for squares. Check me out,” he says with a grin. He slides off a short distance away from the carriage, turning so that he is lined up with driver’s seat. Taking a moment to stretch, he then slides forward, picking up speed gradually until he gets about ten feet away from the carriage, where he makes a ‘raise the roof’ motion with his hands. A piston of earth springs up from beneath him and launches him in a perfect arc through the air, where he lands in the driver’s seat and slides into position.
Blaine raises his eyebrows and gives the boy a round of applause through the carriage window. “Impressive,” he says.
“Just one of my many tricks,” Artie says with a grin, before reaching down and pulling on his fake beard and straw hat.
At this point, Blaine picks up the distant voice of Finn. “…kay, okay!” he says. “I’m onboard, dude, I promise! Just chill!”
With that, the stepbrothers step into view, Finn heading to the driver’s seat with Artie, stopping to give Drizzle the Dragon Moose an apple and a pat on the nose.
Kurt gracefully leaps into the carriage beside Blaine.
“What did you and Finn talk about?” he asks.
“Oh, nothing,” Kurt says, waving him off. “Just… you know, Water Tribe stuff. Moonbeams, fishing stories, seal blubber, nothing you would be interested in.”
Mercedes steps into the carriage and closes the door. “Blaine has an idea he’d like to share with us,” she says, moving to sit on her customary side of the coach.
“Oh?” Kurt says, with a curious quirk of an eyebrow. “Do tell!”
Blaine has a seat himself, the momentary awkwardness forgotten in favor of a chance to actually contribute to the group. “Well… this is element number three for you, right? Air is next in the cycle, so you need to get o an Air Temple.”
Kurt nods. “Indeed we do.”
“Well,” Blaine says. “The closest one is the Western Temple. To get to it, you guys would have to travel by ship. So basically, you need both safe passage out of the Fire Nation, and a ship to take you to the temple.”
“You know where we can get those?” Mercedes asks, only slightly skeptical.
“I know who we can get them from,” Blaine nods. “Admiral Kaze Keros, Council Member, and head of the Fire Nation Navy.”
Kurt nods primly, his face betraying nothing. “What makes you so sure he will help us?”
“Keros and my father were good friends,” Blaine says. “I used to sit and spy on council meetings, and they always seemed to have a good rapport. He can actually solve both our problems,” he continues, the beginnings of a smile creeping up on his face. “I know the Council in general practically passes out when Sue glares at them, but Keros is a military man. He’ll be willing to stand up to Sue, especially once he finds out that I’m alive. All we have to do is get to him.”
“Where is he?” Kurt asks.
“Well,” Blaine says nervously, “I’m not exactly up-to-date on my Fire Nation geography, but I know he lives in Sho Fa. It’s to the east of the capital.”
“We’re already heading east, actually,” Mercedes says, a smile slowly creeping up on her face. “So we wouldn’t even need to backtrack to get to him.”
“I must admit, I like where this is going,” Kurt says. “It would be nice to have a friend in a high place, for once.”
“It’s a pretty major village,” Blaine adds. “We can probably just follow the signs along the roads and get there with no problems.”
“Never, ever say that, sweetie,” Mercedes admonishes him gently. “We’ve had to learn pretty quick that saying something will be ‘no problem’ is considered a challenge by the problems of the world.”
“And boy, do they love a challenge,” Kurt sighs tiredly.
“Ah,” Blaine says. “My apologies.”
“Still,” Mercedes says. “Right now, I don’t see anything wrong with that plan. Kurt?”
The Avatar assesses Blaine carefully. “Are you sure we can trust him?”
Blaine nods.
An honest smile graces Kurt’s face, and Blaine is tickled pink. “Well, then, it’s settled!” He opens the window. “Artie!” he says. “We’re heading for Sho Fa. Follow the signs.”
“Got it!” the Earthbender replies.
Kurt turns around and sighs, relaxing his posture slightly. “I’m so happy to have a concrete destination for a change. It’s refreshing to be heading towards something nice, as opposed to away from something horrible.”
The ex-Prince smiles, more than a little soothed by the fact that he is finally doing something helpful. “I know what you mean. Believe me,” he says. “If there is anyone on the Council we can trust, it’s Keros.”
~~~
Chief Attendant to the Fire Lord, Becky Jackson, enters the temporary Throne Tent with an air of utmost purpose. “Fire Lord Sue!” she says. “Councilor Keros is here to see you.”
“Ah!” she says with a grin. “Send him in.”
The tall, somewhat spindly man enters the tent, looking equal parts passive and annoyed. “Fire Lord,” he says, giving her a slightly mocking bow.
“Oh, come now, Kerry,” Sue scoffs. “Why the attitude? I thought you and me were pals,” she continues. “None of this would even be possible if it wasn’t for you.”
“I am quite aware,” Keros says evenly. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Might as well,” Sue says. “This fancy chair and my butt are like heartburn and fire flakes; made for each other.”
“I am exceedingly glad you are so comfortable on your stolen throne,” Keros deadpans. “But I am merely here to inquire as to the status of my payment.”
“Oh yeah,” Sue says with a snap. “Mandatory backstabber fees. I forgot you guys are unionized now. So much paperwork… ah well, just part of the job I guess. I assume you still want the same thing?”
“Yes,” Keros seethes.
“Well, I’m pretty much done with it, so I suppose it’s all yours,” she says, waving him off. “As long as everything is going according to plan. Was the Anti-Quarantine rerouted like I asked?”
“Yes,” Keros says. “None of the survivors reached the mainland. They are being deposited on the island, as you specified.”
“I love a man who can follow directions,” Sue says. “And the ships we requested?”
“Will be ready in time for your arrival with your… minions,” he sighs.
“Useful, useful, useful!” Sue says, almost admiringly. “Such a fantastic tool. An incredible tool,” she continues. “You know what, Admiral, you might just be the biggest, most profoundly toolish tool I have ever encountered in my life.”
“Spare me your compliments,” Keros grumbles. “The payment?”
“I’ll have it sent to your house,” she says casually. “It’ll be the pride of your collection.”
“Splendid,” the man says evenly, turning around to walk from the tent. He stops at the exit, turning only his head to look back at Sue. “Are you certain this will work?”
“Well, it’s a little late to be asking me that now, don’t ya think?” Sue says conspiratorially. “But for the record-yes. Agni as my witness, the sickness will be eradicated on Fire Nation soil, and it will never reach the mainland.”
“Good,” Keros seethes. “Then maybe all of this death and destruction will be worth something after all.” He starts to leave, but can’t part without a few final words. “You do understand that this is the only reason I am helping you, right? I am simply concerned for the safety of this country.”
Sue winks at him. “Whatever keeps you warm at night, Kerry-O. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s about time for me to limber up. Me and mah Chi-Ryus have some complex choreography to practice.”
Without another word, Keros stalks out of the chamber as quickly as he can without seeming undignified. The curtain doors are left flapping in his wake, the only sound in the otherwise silent room…
…other than the popping of Sue’s joints as she stretches.
~~~
A/N: Aaaannnd we’re off! Good to see the Prince’s luck is holding steady at ‘soul-crushingly rotten.’ :P Anyway, for your reading and anticipatory pleasure, I am including here a (tentative!) outline of the remaining chapters in Act 2.
Bonding Sessions: The Lioness
Bonding Sessions: The Smooth Criminal - Both of these, outside of the bonding, will basically be montages to help us fast-forward through Blaine’s recovery and travel time. :P
Blame it on the Alcohol
Avatar Therapy
The Performer
This will lead us to the multi-part, ridiculous centerpiece of Act 2…
Raise Your Glass
And finally, the obligatory action finale (because I love my action scenes)…
Trainwreck Extravaganza
Do please review and/or comment if you have any thoughts. Likes, dislikes, speculation, questions, I appreciate them all. ;)
Blaine blearily sniffs and snuggles closer to the soft, warm pillow he happens to have next to him. His back is killing him, his limbs ache, and he is parched beyond belief, but he doesn’t want to move. Couldn’t tell you why, doesn’t want to wake up enough to try. It isn’t until he notices his pillow has a heartbeat that he is fully catapulted into the waking world.
Kurt. He is sleeping with Kurt. Guh- sleeping on Kurt. Kurt is beneath him, beside him, all around him and holding him, sleeping peacefully with tear tracks on his face. Tear tracks that Blaine put there. And yet, he doesn’t remember going to sleep like this. Kurt must have done this himself.
Kurt did this.
Kurt held him while he slept. Kurt is responsible for what currently feels like the most restful sleep he has ever experienced. Kurt, in spite of all the pain Blaine has caused him, stayed here and protected him as if he were something worth protecting, something precious.
He sits up, slowly, so as not to wake him, and it hits him.
Kurt loves you.
The realization is dagger-sharp and quick, slipping into his ribcage, filleting his heart and lungs and making it very difficult not to keel over and die. He can’t believe it. The Avatar loves him. The legacy of thousands, the legendary balance-keeper, guardian of the world… so many of his mother’s stories featured the amazing Avatar, the cosmic spirit who saves, has saved, will save the world and the people within countless times over. That spirit loves him.
Kurt loves him.
It is the second realization that really knocks him flat. Kurt. Kurt Hummel, who came from the Northern Water Tribe, who travels with his friends and has a duty to save the world from a terrible sickness. Kurt who cries so easily for someone he barely knows, who holds his head up and keeps a bearing befitting of any royal no matter how much mud the world slings at him, who can hide his pain like a pro or let it shine from him like a lamp. Kurt.
It was so easy sometimes just to think of him as The Avatar. A figure of legend, an impossible ideal, a power great and magnificent and unreachable. Something to aspire to and admire. It is this moment-this quiet moment in the stillness just before dawn, that the sun breaks over the horizon in Blaine’s mind and the ex-Prince truly understands. Avatar though he may be, Kurt is a person. He is flesh and blood and tears, he is warm and soft and strong. He is the chest that Blaine is laying on, gently rising and falling, complete with a beating heart and breathing lungs. He is pale skin, pink lips, beautiful blue eyes, voluminous hair. He is real. He is real, and fragile, and human.
The Avatar is human. Always, always, always a person, never perfect, never unreachable. To become so would subvert the very purpose the Avatar serves. Behind all the legend and the power, Kurt is just a boy. Kurt, the boy, loves him. And somehow, this is infinitely more terrifying than the first realization.
If Kurt is a boy, he can be hurt. He can be damaged, his trust can be shattered, his heart can be broken. And all of this is now officially wrapped up in Blaine. Kurt’s heart could be supported or it could be dropped, he could make him happy or miserable, he could lift him up or fumble and break him. All of that now rests on his shoulders, and it is a lot of pressure. He’s already hurt him so many times. Last night, when he’d said what he’d said… whether he knew it or not, Blaine basically told Kurt that he wasn’t worth living for. That he wasn’t enough. What a horrible thing to say to someone.
He has no idea what to do with this.
Because when he asks himself the all-important question…
Do you love Kurt?
He is no more certain about that than he is about anything lately. He knows he cares about Kurt a great deal. He knows that he would never, ever want to hurt him or break his heart. But he also knows his own heart is in turmoil-that he can be irrational, snappish, angry and condescending. Rude, arrogant, indecisive and oblivious to others. Kurt deserves better than that. He deserves someone who can actually help him, who can look out for him and love him with certainty. At the very least, he deserves someone who can honestly say that they love him back, and Blaine just doesn’t know. He doesn’t know anything anymore.
He needs to think about this. Long and hard… if he can’t come up with anything long-term, he might at least be able to come up with a short-term idea of what he needs to do. The next time he is alone, he’ll take the time to sit and really think about his feelings for Kurt, and sort them out as best he can.
What have you done? He asks the Universe at large. Why did you let this happen? Why would you trust someone so fickle and flighty with something so important?
Sadly, the Universe has nothing to say to him.
Artie, however, has plenty. “Last chance to protect your modesty,” he calls out, sliding into the clearing with his hand over his eyes. “I’m on my way in, about to open my-oh, you’re wearing clothes,” he says, sounding a little confused. “Anyway, it’s time to go. Mercedes says we need to spend as much time moving as possible…” Something must be showing on Blaine’s face, because Artie suddenly tilts his head to the side and says, quite seriously, “Hey, dude… are you okay?”
To Blaine’s surprise, Kurt continues to sleep despite Artie. “Yeah,” he says, shaking his head. “Sorry. I was just thinking…”
The other boy’s eyebrows raise in anticipation.
“…I should probably take a bath,” he says, successfully evading for the moment. “I’m sure I smell horrible.”
“Nah,” Artie says, waving him off. “I wouldn’t bother. Finn has to put his hands all over you and make you wet anyway. I would use the bathroom while you have the chance. We’re gonna be on the road for a while.”
The Earthbender nudges Kurt, who weakly lashes out at him with an arm. “Go away,” he says.
“No can do,” Artie says, dodging the blow easily. “Up and at ‘em. Mercedes’s orders. Beautify yourself while you can, because we’re leaving ASAP.”
“Fine,” he grumbles. “Just… please, stop making sound.”
Artie salutes Kurt, winks at Blaine, and slides off the way he came.
“Hey,” Blaine says, gently bumping Kurt with his shoulder. “How’d you sleep?”
Kurt groans and proceeds to stretch himself out in ways that open many paths to many thoughts that Blaine probably should be avoiding if he doesn’t want to screw Kurt-screw with Kurt-cause Kurt to think things that aren’t true about their relationship. “Considering I had a giant rock digging into my back,” he says, his voice low and scratchy from sleep, “not bad. Solid seven out of ten.”
“Sorry about that,” Blaine says sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep in exactly that position. I’m pretty sure I intended to shift all the way to the ground at some point.”
“Oh, don’t fret on my account. I’m guilty of the same thing,” Kurt says easily.
“I guess we can both be a little thoughtless sometimes,” Blaine says with a self-deprecating smile.
“Blaine… listen,” Kurt says. “I’m sorry about last night. I didn’t mean to push you…”
“No,” Blaine says. “I’m sorry. You were right. There’s no reason I shouldn’t be happy to be alive… to be here, with you.” He reaches out and rests his hand on top of Kurt’s, astounded at how soft it is.
“There’s no reason you shouldn’t be sad, either,” Kurt says. “You’ve lost so much…”
“But I didn’t lose everything. I think… I think I should concentrate on that,” Blaine says. “For now, I think I should concentrate on what I have. On what I can do. And what I can do,” he continues, subconsciously moving his hand to rest on Kurt’s shoulder, “is teach you Firebending, and try to get better.”
Kurt smiles, and it warms his soul. “I’m glad you’re feeling better,” he says, standing up and helping Blaine do the same. “We should probably get ready. Mercedes is not known for her tolerant tardy policy. She is not above making one or both of us run after the carriage to catch up.”
On pure, wild whim, he reaches out and pulls Kurt into a hug. “I really care about you, Kurt. You know that, right? I don’t… I don’t want to screw up what we have.” He lets it hang there, hoping the tacit confession is enough. He isn’t brave enough to say any more than that.
Kurt deserves someone brave.
The Avatar is stunned, at first, but he soon returns the hug. “You won’t,” he says, somewhat cryptically. “And me too. I mean… I care about you. So much.”
Something in his chest wiggles at that, starts to…
Wait, no, that’s something on his chest. And it’s still wiggling.
Blaine breaks free of the hug and, in what he likes to think is a very masculine display of utter panic, pulls open his robe and frantically tries to beat out the squirming whatever that nests within. After a few moments of flailing, a disgruntled-looking squirrelmunk falls out and scurries off into the underbrush, tittering grumpily at him the whole way.
The ex-Prince just stands there for a few moments, attempting to catch his breath and recompose himself. Kurt is looking at him with no small amount of amusement, his face red with barely-contained laughter just begging to bubble over the wall.
“Don’t laugh,” Blaine says, offended. “That was… it was… there was a thing sleeping in my clothes!” he exclaims.
Kurt is no less amused than before. If anything, Blaine’s indignation just makes it harder not to laugh. “And so the young Prince gets his first taste of the Great Outdoors,” he narrates, before smiling and turning towards the pond to begin his morning routine. “Get used to it. Because the way things are going, the Great Outdoors will probably be your home for a while.”
Blaine has no idea whether or not that was meant to be comforting.
But it definitely wasn’t.
~~~
Later that morning, as the Prince is off being rubbed down by Finn (and how ridiculously unfair is it that Finn gets to touch him more than Kurt? What is with you, the Universe?), Kurt calls a pow-wow with his main lady and the captain of the sneak squad. The topic of discussion: Operation Blainewatch.
“Blaine goes nowhere alone,” Kurt says simply. “Ever.”
Artie quirks an eyebrow at him. “O…kay, Mother Superior.”
“Far be it from me to dig out from under you,” Mercedes says, “but is there any particular reason you’re going all nanny on him all of a sudden?”
Kurt looks appalled. “What, praytell, is wrong with me wanting to protect a very dear, very injured friend from possible threats? What if he is attacked by more assassins? Or gets into a tangle with the local wildlife? Or stumbles on a stray tree root and trips and falls and stabs himself on a rock and bleeds to death?”
Artie is gobsmacked. “I want so badly to make fun of that, but really, there’s nowhere to go. I can’t possibly make that sound any worse than you just did.”
Mercedes puts a hand on his shoulder. “Sweetie… that’s a little much. What’s wrong? What happened?”
Kurt sighs. “Look, it’s just… we already know that Blaine is hurt. The Spirits told me that assassins are coming after him, he’s completely inexperienced in the ways of the world, and worst of all, he can’t even Firebend.”
Mercedes is shocked. “Say what?”
Timebending. Why has he not invented Timebending yet? “…annnnnd I’m pretty sure that’s something he would have wanted to tell you himself, so when he gets around to announcing it, try to act surprised?”
Mercedes puts a hand to her chest and adopts a look of utter shock.
Artie’s eyes roll back into his skull and he flops over.
“…we’ll work on it later.” Kurt deadpans.
“I don’t get it,” Mercedes says. “How do you just lose your bending?”
“It’s a Firebender thing,” Kurt says.
“So… it’s like Firebender E.D.?” Artie says, sitting back up. “Because I hear they have medicine for that now.”
Patience thoroughly depleted, Kurt jams a finger at the crippled cretin. “You! No more talking. Your privileges have been revoked for the next 5 minutes.”
Artie obediently zips his lips and props his head on his hands to listen to the rest of Kurt’s orders.
“Anyway,” Kurt grinds out. “I just thought it would be a good idea to make sure Blaine is always being watched out for. He already almost died once, and I don’t think I can handle that happening again,” he finishes, with a slight shudder.
Mercedes looks at him carefully. “Honey… don’t take this the wrong way, but what is this really about?”
The Avatar breathes out through his nose in an effort to calm himself. “This is nothing more than it appears to be. I am concerned for a friend, and I am acting on that concern. All I am asking of you, my friends, is to help me maintain a secret conspiracy to keep watchful eyes on him at all times and to ensure that he doesn’t actually know that he is being monitored. You know, so he doesn’t feel uncomfortable,” Kurt finishes.
Artie sits in awe. “Again, I could not have put that any worse.”
“I said no talking!” Kurt whispers intensely, and the paralyzed boy holds his hands up in surrender.
“Kurt, baby, I really don’t think this is a good idea and I definitely don’t think it needs to be a secret,” Mercedes says.
“Well… it is. And it is. Please, I’m asking for your help. Don’t make me play the Avatar Card,” Kurt pleads.
The female Earthbender emits heaves a sigh heavier than a ten ton boulder. “Fine. But I when this blows up in everybody’s face, I reserve ‘I told you so’ rights. Deal?”
“Deal,” Kurt says, putting a fist in his palm and bowing. He then turns to Artie. “What about you? Can I count on your cooperation?”
Artie flashes him a thumbs up sign.
“And you even remembered not to talk!” Kurt says with a bright smile. “I’m impressed. Your newfound willingness to follow directions is both noted and appreciated, you wonderful little convicted felon!” he finishes, ruffling Artie’s hair.
With that, he happily saunters off. “I’ll handle telling Finn myself. We can leave as soon as I’m done. Thank you guys so much!” he calls back without looking.
Which is why he completely misses the ‘cracker, you crazy’ look shared between the Earth Kingdom natives as he goes.
~~~
“Is this… like… awkward for you, or anything?” Finn asks as he works on healing Blaine’s back.
The Fire National rubs his naked arms to try and generate some heat in the comparatively cold dawn air. “No. Why do you ask?” he replies.
“No reason!” Finn responds, sounding overly cheerful. “It’s just… you know… I do have to kind of put my hands on you, like, all the time, and I just wanted to make sure…” He trails off.
“Make sure… what?” Blaine prods gently.
“Well, I just… you know… I don’t want you to, like, think the wrong things. Like, just because I have to touch your boobs, that doesn’t mean-”
“Okay, what?” Blaine exclaims, turning around to see a rather red-faced Finn making a face like he’s guiltily holding in gas.
Finn opens his mouth to speak, but fortunately for Blaine, Kurt fulfills his position as the Avatar and saves the freaking day by choosing that moment to prance in. “Hello, boys,” he says brightly. “I trust all is going well?”
“Of… course,” Blaine says easily.
“Yep!” Finn agrees. “Definitely absolutely nothing awkward whatsoever happening over here, where we are. Nope!”
Kurt tilts his head to the side as the smile drops from his eyes, but strangely, not from his lips. “Fantastic,” he says. “Are you just about finished?”
Finn nods. “Yup. All done for now.”
“Great!” Kurt says with a clap, before walking past them and bodily dragging Finn along with him. “Let’s have a bro-chat.” He looks at Blaine as he leaves, giving him a benevolent smile. “You are cleared to enter the carriage. I’ll be with you in just a moment.” With that, he continues to drag the slightly baffled Finn off into the forest.
Blaine is just slightly weirded out by the scene, but he’s been weirded out quite a bit lately, so he figures it’s just par for the course right now. Picking himself up off the ground, he walks over towards the carriage, where Mercedes is finishing Earthbending the thing out of the hole she made to hide it last night.
“Well, good morning to you,” Mercedes says. “Sleep well?”
“Yes, ma’am,” he says. “I slept very well.”
“I see you finally got all that gunk out of your hair,” she says, and it is then that Blaine realizes he hasn’t had a chance to shave or style his hair in days.
“Oh my gosh,” he says, running his hand over his chin and finding it all… stubbly. His short, curly hair is untamed and slightly manic on top of his head, basking in its newfound freedom. “I must look like such a bum,” he moans.
Artie slides up beside Mercedes. “You can borrow my razor if you want,” he says.
“Actually,” Blaine admits sheepishly, “I don’t… really know how to use a razor.”
“How do you shave, then?” Mercedes asks.
The ex-Prince sighs. “Firebending trick. With practice, you can make just enough heat to burn the hair off. Unfortunately…” He looks off. “Well, I suppose it’s going to come out sooner or later. I… can’t Firebend right now.”
Mercedes puts a hand to her chest and adopts a look of utter shock.
Artie’s eyes roll back into his skull and he flops over.
Blaine’s eyes go wide. “Is he okay?”
“Fine,” Mercedes says through her teeth. “I’m not worried about him. I’m worried about you. What happened to your bending?” she asks.
Blaine turns away (and thus misses Mercedes grinding her foot along the ground and forcing Artie to sit up again). He starts rubbing the back of his neck through the scarf, the scar itching ever so slightly. “It just… left,” he says. “It happens to Firebenders who lose their will, or their driving force.”
“You lost your drive?” Artie asks seriously. “Damn, dude.”
“How do you get it back?” Mercedes asks.
“I just have to find a new goal to strive for, something that can really push me forward again,” he says.
“So… what do you want? Have you thought about it?” Mercedes pushes gently.
“Long-term, I’m… having a little trouble,” Blaine admits. “But I have spent the morning thinking about a short-term goal. One that might help all of us, actually,” he says with a small smile. “I’ll tell you about it when Kurt gets back.”
“I’m glad you’re thinking,” Mercedes says. “I’ve been trying to put that habit in a few people’s heads for as long as I’ve known them. Never seems to stick,” she continues, opening the carriage door. “Want some help getting in?”
“No, thank you,” Blaine says. “I think I can tackle it myself this morning.” With a slightly embarrassing amount of effort, the ex-Prince takes the few steps to the coach and steps inside. “I never thought I could be so proud of my ability to use a staircase,” he says with a slight blush.
“Pffft,” Artie scoffs. “Stairs are for squares. Check me out,” he says with a grin. He slides off a short distance away from the carriage, turning so that he is lined up with driver’s seat. Taking a moment to stretch, he then slides forward, picking up speed gradually until he gets about ten feet away from the carriage, where he makes a ‘raise the roof’ motion with his hands. A piston of earth springs up from beneath him and launches him in a perfect arc through the air, where he lands in the driver’s seat and slides into position.
Blaine raises his eyebrows and gives the boy a round of applause through the carriage window. “Impressive,” he says.
“Just one of my many tricks,” Artie says with a grin, before reaching down and pulling on his fake beard and straw hat.
At this point, Blaine picks up the distant voice of Finn. “…kay, okay!” he says. “I’m onboard, dude, I promise! Just chill!”
With that, the stepbrothers step into view, Finn heading to the driver’s seat with Artie, stopping to give Drizzle the Dragon Moose an apple and a pat on the nose.
Kurt gracefully leaps into the carriage beside Blaine.
“What did you and Finn talk about?” he asks.
“Oh, nothing,” Kurt says, waving him off. “Just… you know, Water Tribe stuff. Moonbeams, fishing stories, seal blubber, nothing you would be interested in.”
Mercedes steps into the carriage and closes the door. “Blaine has an idea he’d like to share with us,” she says, moving to sit on her customary side of the coach.
“Oh?” Kurt says, with a curious quirk of an eyebrow. “Do tell!”
Blaine has a seat himself, the momentary awkwardness forgotten in favor of a chance to actually contribute to the group. “Well… this is element number three for you, right? Air is next in the cycle, so you need to get o an Air Temple.”
Kurt nods. “Indeed we do.”
“Well,” Blaine says. “The closest one is the Western Temple. To get to it, you guys would have to travel by ship. So basically, you need both safe passage out of the Fire Nation, and a ship to take you to the temple.”
“You know where we can get those?” Mercedes asks, only slightly skeptical.
“I know who we can get them from,” Blaine nods. “Admiral Kaze Keros, Council Member, and head of the Fire Nation Navy.”
Kurt nods primly, his face betraying nothing. “What makes you so sure he will help us?”
“Keros and my father were good friends,” Blaine says. “I used to sit and spy on council meetings, and they always seemed to have a good rapport. He can actually solve both our problems,” he continues, the beginnings of a smile creeping up on his face. “I know the Council in general practically passes out when Sue glares at them, but Keros is a military man. He’ll be willing to stand up to Sue, especially once he finds out that I’m alive. All we have to do is get to him.”
“Where is he?” Kurt asks.
“Well,” Blaine says nervously, “I’m not exactly up-to-date on my Fire Nation geography, but I know he lives in Sho Fa. It’s to the east of the capital.”
“We’re already heading east, actually,” Mercedes says, a smile slowly creeping up on her face. “So we wouldn’t even need to backtrack to get to him.”
“I must admit, I like where this is going,” Kurt says. “It would be nice to have a friend in a high place, for once.”
“It’s a pretty major village,” Blaine adds. “We can probably just follow the signs along the roads and get there with no problems.”
“Never, ever say that, sweetie,” Mercedes admonishes him gently. “We’ve had to learn pretty quick that saying something will be ‘no problem’ is considered a challenge by the problems of the world.”
“And boy, do they love a challenge,” Kurt sighs tiredly.
“Ah,” Blaine says. “My apologies.”
“Still,” Mercedes says. “Right now, I don’t see anything wrong with that plan. Kurt?”
The Avatar assesses Blaine carefully. “Are you sure we can trust him?”
Blaine nods.
An honest smile graces Kurt’s face, and Blaine is tickled pink. “Well, then, it’s settled!” He opens the window. “Artie!” he says. “We’re heading for Sho Fa. Follow the signs.”
“Got it!” the Earthbender replies.
Kurt turns around and sighs, relaxing his posture slightly. “I’m so happy to have a concrete destination for a change. It’s refreshing to be heading towards something nice, as opposed to away from something horrible.”
The ex-Prince smiles, more than a little soothed by the fact that he is finally doing something helpful. “I know what you mean. Believe me,” he says. “If there is anyone on the Council we can trust, it’s Keros.”
~~~
Chief Attendant to the Fire Lord, Becky Jackson, enters the temporary Throne Tent with an air of utmost purpose. “Fire Lord Sue!” she says. “Councilor Keros is here to see you.”
“Ah!” she says with a grin. “Send him in.”
The tall, somewhat spindly man enters the tent, looking equal parts passive and annoyed. “Fire Lord,” he says, giving her a slightly mocking bow.
“Oh, come now, Kerry,” Sue scoffs. “Why the attitude? I thought you and me were pals,” she continues. “None of this would even be possible if it wasn’t for you.”
“I am quite aware,” Keros says evenly. “That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“Might as well,” Sue says. “This fancy chair and my butt are like heartburn and fire flakes; made for each other.”
“I am exceedingly glad you are so comfortable on your stolen throne,” Keros deadpans. “But I am merely here to inquire as to the status of my payment.”
“Oh yeah,” Sue says with a snap. “Mandatory backstabber fees. I forgot you guys are unionized now. So much paperwork… ah well, just part of the job I guess. I assume you still want the same thing?”
“Yes,” Keros seethes.
“Well, I’m pretty much done with it, so I suppose it’s all yours,” she says, waving him off. “As long as everything is going according to plan. Was the Anti-Quarantine rerouted like I asked?”
“Yes,” Keros says. “None of the survivors reached the mainland. They are being deposited on the island, as you specified.”
“I love a man who can follow directions,” Sue says. “And the ships we requested?”
“Will be ready in time for your arrival with your… minions,” he sighs.
“Useful, useful, useful!” Sue says, almost admiringly. “Such a fantastic tool. An incredible tool,” she continues. “You know what, Admiral, you might just be the biggest, most profoundly toolish tool I have ever encountered in my life.”
“Spare me your compliments,” Keros grumbles. “The payment?”
“I’ll have it sent to your house,” she says casually. “It’ll be the pride of your collection.”
“Splendid,” the man says evenly, turning around to walk from the tent. He stops at the exit, turning only his head to look back at Sue. “Are you certain this will work?”
“Well, it’s a little late to be asking me that now, don’t ya think?” Sue says conspiratorially. “But for the record-yes. Agni as my witness, the sickness will be eradicated on Fire Nation soil, and it will never reach the mainland.”
“Good,” Keros seethes. “Then maybe all of this death and destruction will be worth something after all.” He starts to leave, but can’t part without a few final words. “You do understand that this is the only reason I am helping you, right? I am simply concerned for the safety of this country.”
Sue winks at him. “Whatever keeps you warm at night, Kerry-O. Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s about time for me to limber up. Me and mah Chi-Ryus have some complex choreography to practice.”
Without another word, Keros stalks out of the chamber as quickly as he can without seeming undignified. The curtain doors are left flapping in his wake, the only sound in the otherwise silent room…
…other than the popping of Sue’s joints as she stretches.
~~~
A/N: Aaaannnd we’re off! Good to see the Prince’s luck is holding steady at ‘soul-crushingly rotten.’ :P Anyway, for your reading and anticipatory pleasure, I am including here a (tentative!) outline of the remaining chapters in Act 2.
Bonding Sessions: The Lioness
Bonding Sessions: The Smooth Criminal - Both of these, outside of the bonding, will basically be montages to help us fast-forward through Blaine’s recovery and travel time. :P
Blame it on the Alcohol
Avatar Therapy
The Performer
This will lead us to the multi-part, ridiculous centerpiece of Act 2…
Raise Your Glass
And finally, the obligatory action finale (because I love my action scenes)…
Trainwreck Extravaganza
Do please review and/or comment if you have any thoughts. Likes, dislikes, speculation, questions, I appreciate them all. ;)