Kurt led them down the hall to a door marked 'Engine Room', and pushed open the door. The noise inside was deafening as Blaine moved to shut the door.

The brunette glanced around, suddenly very annoyed with himself. He hadn't had a plan for a room, all he'd wanted was some place he and Blaine could be alone. Puck was no doubt looking for him -- even if Sebastian ratted him out, he didn't care.

He'd stopped caring about the consequences of what he was doing the moment he'd seen Sebastian try to hurt Blaine.

It wasn't that Kurt had laid claim to the third class boy -- he wasn't property --, it was the fact that it was wrong that Sebastian had tried to hurt him, and he never wanted to see Blaine hurt like that -- and normally he wasn't one for violence, but something in him had snapped and he'd hit the guy --, he couldn't even imagine himself hurting Blaine in that way.

His brief infatuation with Finn prior to his engagement hadn't even been this strong.

"Kurt?!"

Blaine's shout was barely audible over the noise, but it was loud enough to break his train of thought. He saw the other teen lean over an opening through which bright reddish-orange light could be seen, and -- wow was it really that hot in the room? Of course, they were right near the engines.

Blaine held out his hand, gesturing to the ladder, and without question, Kurt took it, and climbed down after him.

---

Cooper was currently in a state of mixed anger and worry.

Blaine hadn't returned to the cabin, and it had been hours.

Maybe he was still talking to Kurt -- maybe he was on the boat deck --

He inhaled, and tried to calm down.

Blaine wouldn't intentionally scare the shit out of him like he was right now.

There had to be a reason he wasn't back yet.

He grabbed his jacket, told the men they were rooming with (who thankfully spoke and understood English, even if their accents were really thick and Cooper had trouble sometimes deciphering what they'd said) to keep Blaine in the room if he came back, because he fully intended to give the teen one hell of a lecture when they met up again.

They agreed and Cooper headed for the boat deck.

---

"I'm going to kill him." growled Sebastian. "and I'll make Blaine watch."

Puck sighed and handed him a wet cloth with which he cleaned away the blood caked around his nose. It turned out Kurt hadn't so much smacked him as he had punched him. Thankfully all he'd achieved was a bloody nose -- nothing felt broken which was good.

"That may not be the best action, sir." said Puck quietly. "Mr. Hummel would have you -- well not arrested, but he'd ensure you were dead himself -- and if Mr. Anderson's brother knew what you tried with him --"

Sebastian scowled and poured himself a drink. The liquor tasted bitter for some reason, but he didn't care.

His thoughts were locked on the words 'Mr. Anderson's brother'.

His lips curled into a smirk as a plan began forming in his mind: a way to get revenge both against Cooper Anderson and Kurt Hummel.

And as far as Blaine was considered...well, Sebastian hadn't thought that far yet.

"Puck, I have a little job for you."

---

Kurt could hear the crew yelling at them as they tore down the narrow passage, dodging the crew members as they shoveled coal to fuel the ship's engines.

He didn't care, because every now and again, Blaine would turn his head and look at him, and he found himself unable to describe the smile on his lips.

They made their way to the end, and then Blaine pulled him to the left, into -- the Cargo Hold.

The best thing about it was, the silence. He couldn't hear the boilers, he couldn't hear the stokers -- even though they'd probably sent for someone to come drag two passengers out of an area they weren't supposed to be in.

Blaine tugged on Kurt's hand again, and pulled him over to an automobile. Kurt didn't know who it belonged to, and he really didn't care.

He cleared his throat, grinning when the other boy, who'd been looking at the front of the car in wonder, turned and looked at him incredulously.

"Can't keep me waiting all night, you know." he teased.

The curly haired boy snorted, but moved to open the passenger door and Kurt climbed inside. The interior of the car was quite beautiful -- plush velvet seat, light up roses on either side, dark woodwork.

He sucked in a little breath, praying what he was about to do wouldn't freak Blaine out. Fingers trembled slightly as he slid the glass partition down, and wrapped his arms around the teen's shoulders, hesitantly pressing his cheek against the nape of Blaine's neck, relishing the feel of the soft skin.

"And where are we going, sir?" he heard Blaine ask softly.

"I don't care -- anywhere with you." Kurt murmured.

Blaine twisted around in the front seat crawling through the window and twisting himself into a comfortable sitting position.

They spent a few moments in silence. Then --

"Thank you." His voice was so soft that Kurt barely heard it. "Thank you for stopping him."

Kurt smiled tenderly at him.

"You don't need to thank me," he replied.

Blaine bit his lip, hands balled into fists in his lap.

"I-I don't want sex," he stammered, "I -- maybe when I stop thinking about Sebastian, and what he was going --"

Kurt shook his head, and scooted closer to the other boy, tucking one hand under his chin to raise his head so they were maintaining eye contact.

"It's okay." he soothed. "I don't want to do it if you don't want to, Blaine." he leaned forward cautiously, relieved when Blaine didn't push him away. "It doesn't matter -- we can do whatever you want," he hesitated, then whispered. "and you take my breath away."

Hazel eyes widened, and then Kurt felt fingers trail gently against his cheekbone, travel down his neck, and pull him in for a brief, chaste kiss. Kurt's lips curled into a smile, but he didn't move.

Then Blaine's other hand hesitantly came to rest on his hip, and the kiss became more urgent, and there was tongue, and then Kurt felt himself being pushed back gently so that he was sitting against the window, and he felt so -- God, he couldn't describe it, but he sure as hell knew he wanted more...

---

Cooper inhaled and lay back on the deck bench, staring up at the stars. He buried his hands in his pockets to keep them warm from the icy temperatures.

"Mr. Anderson!"

And then all thoughts about Blaine that he'd tried to distract himself from (not easy because he loved his little brother, and the thought of losing him literally terrified him) were brought back full force because he knew that voice -- had heard it the night of the dinner prior to heading to the party in third class. If that was who he thought it was, Sebastian was involved, and the problem most likely had to do with Kurt and Blaine).

He sat up, and saw Puck staring at him, accompanied by the Master At Arms.

"I'm going to need you to come with us, sir."