Scars and Stones: Chapter 1 (Klaine)

Chapter 23

Blaine ran to Kurt, inspecting his body for damage.

"Kurt, baby, are you all right? Where does it hurt?" Kurt stared around the room as his breathing began to get shallower and shallower. His chest was heaving upwards and downwards rapidly, as his intake of breath lessened each time. Kurt's chest felt like it was on fire; like Dean was strangling his lungs shut. His heart was beating at a frightening pace. Blaine could see Kurt's obvious distress as he tried to comfort him. He gently pulled Kurt between his legs, placing a gentle hand on his chest. Kurt's back was flush against Blaine, as he tried to close the distance between them.

"It's ok Kurt, I've got you." Blaine tried to set a rhythm of breathing for Kurt to follow. "Breathe with me, one, two, three." He deepened his breaths, pushing down slightly onto Kurt's chest to get him to mimic the action. However, Kurt was so distressed. Blaine's method wasn't working. His breathing continued to be disrupted and laboured.

"Kurt, what do you want me to do?" He asked a little desperately, as he rubbed one hand over Kurt's chest soothingly, while using the other to comb through Kurt's hair. Kurt, gulping for air, took Blaine's hand and pushed it back into his chest, the way Blaine had previously done.

"Keep - keep me - breathing - in - in - time with you. Just - let me know - you're there." Blaine nodded, starting up his mantra again.

"Come on baby, breathe with me. You're going to be fine." He pushed his hand into Kurt's chest again, raising it up and down in time with his breathing. Kurt tried harder this time, taking deep breaths as he tried to keep them parallel with Blaine's. His breathing began to soften as he felt Blaine surround him, keeping Blaine on his mind the entire time. However, Dean chose that moment to enter Kurt's mind, causing all his progress to halt. His breathing became erratic again.

"Blaine! Blaine! I'm going to die! Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" Blaine, realising Kurt was becoming terrified once more, brought his other hand out of Kurt's hair and took Kurt's hand in his, squeezing tightly.

"Hush Kurt, you're not going to die. Like before, I need you to breathe with me. Don't be afraid. Trust me." Kurt did trust Blaine. The feeling of his hand in Blaine's made everything around him stop, and focus completely on him. Slowly, Kurt's breathing began to even out, as Blaine held him closely, whispering reassurances into his ear.

"Come on Kurt, you're doing so well. You're nearly there. I'm so proud of you." Kurt felt his heart swell in affection for Blaine, even though his chest felt so enflamed. "Come on baby. One, two, three." Blaine continued to whisper in Kurt's ear, as his breathing finally regained some normality. Kurt's chest ached so much, but his breathing pace matched Blaine's. They sat silently, listening to the sound of the other one breathing as they swirled around the cold cellar. Kurt spun round in Blaine's arms, throwing his own around Blaine's shoulders.

"Thank you. I love you, I love you, I love you." Kurt spoke quickly, trying to make Blaine understand just how much he did love him. Blaine reciprocated, keeping his arms around Kurt's waist, stroking his back mindlessly.

"I love you too." He could feel the wetness of Kurt's tears on his naked shoulders again, but he didn't care. It reminded him that they were alive.

Kurt retracted, gazing deeply into Blaine's eyes. His own were red-rimmed, as he reached up to Blaine's forehead, hand glazing over the bruise that was now forming.

"Does it hurt?" He asked mournfully. Blaine didn't nod or shake.

"A little." He lied. Kurt nodded slightly, knowing that Blaine was lying, and that he couldn't do much to help him.

"He's not going to stop, is he?" He stated. Blaine looked down, not having an answer. They both knew, deep down.

"But I swear, if he points that gun at you again, I'll kill him." Kurt said ferociously. Blaine didn't like the undertones he could sense in his voice. He didn't think Kurt was lying. Instead of answering, Blaine looked back up at Kurt, and leaned in. Their lips brushed for the tiniest moment, before Blaine began to speak.

"If we ever get out of this, I just want you to know - you're the best thing that's ever happened to me. You're the one person who keeps me going. Even through all this crap, and torture, the thought that you're still alive is keeping me sane. Next time they come down, please don't get yourself hurt unnecessarily. If you get hurt, it kills me too."

Kurt's breath hitched, as Blaine leaned in again, this time pressing their lips together firmly. Kurt's eyes fluttered closed as Blaine gently pushed him backwards onto the freezing floor. He lay there, waiting for Blaine to clamber on top of him. However, Blaine had stopped kissing him. He was just staring at him, taking him all in. Kurt blushed under his scrutiny.

"What?" He asked nervously. Blaine looked him directly in the eyes, tears streaming down them.

"Nothing - you're just so overwhelming sometimes." An expression of hurt flickered across his face before Blaine could finish. "I don't mean you as a person. It's just, whenever I'm around you, or thinking about you, everything feels right. I don't ever want to be separated from you. You're too much to lose, Kurt. This feeling is so strong, and I don't know whether it should be or not, but -" He was cut off by Kurt's lips on his. Blaine's eyes closed as Kurt pulled him towards him.

This time, Kurt took control of the kiss and gently pushed Blaine onto the ground. He clambered on top of him, straddling him as he swooped in to catch his lips again Desperation took over as the kiss suddenly deepened and became more intense. Blaine intertwined their legs, and ran his hands all over Kurt's body, over his shoulder blades all the way down to his lower back. Kurt, meanwhile, ran his hands through Blaine's hair, mussing it up so it was completely wild. Kurt's lips moved off Blaine's and settled on Blaine's collar bone, planting butterfly kisses all over them. Blaine moaned quietly in appreciation, not wanting Dean to hear them.

"I'm so glad I met you." Kurt said in-between each one. Blaine knew exactly how he felt. He wished that this could last forever. But that was impossible. They no longer had forever.