At World's End

~Finale~

Warning: There is a slight dub-con element in this chapter. I personally think it's understandable, but apologies if people think it's OOC or offensive. This is, after all, a Kink_Meme fill.

The song referenced is My Love by Sia.

Special thanks to Sayuri Rose K, my Beta Reader ^_^

Disclaimer: Don't own.

Her Majesty's Royal Navy was finally returning to Bombay.

Ever since the ships first left port to rescue the Viceroy's beloved, the mysterious beauty whose distress launched the most feared naval fleet in the seven seas has monopolized all after-supper conversations in the land. The subsequent battles and searches, retold countless times in many taverns and tea rooms, have mesmerized an entire kingdom, exalting every little detail into legend and myth. Even the King himself, on occasion, inquired about the lover's plights.

It's no wonder, then, that when words arrived of the fleet's imminent return, that men and women, young and old, from as far as their feet could carry them, gathered at the port hoping to get a glimpse of the face that not only brought the most powerful man in the kingdom to his knees, but also drove the fabled King of the Pirates to his demise.

But just as everyone held their head high, ready to be swooned by the otherworldly beauty that they have only heard of in fairy tales, they were presented with yet another mystery.

The Viceroy was alone.

Well, by his side were his loyal friends, officers of the navy, standing guard in two straight rows as Viceroy and Commander Blaine Anderson slowly descended on the walkway leading from the ship to the dock. But there was no beauty whose voice rivaled the songs of the nightingale and whose porcelain skin was the envy of the gods. Instead, the solemn expressions and the heavy silence from the procession made many of the spectators suck in a shocked breath. Did they come back empty handed? Where is Kurt Hummel?

The crowd hushed as behind the Commander emerged a tiny brunette with a feathered hat in full swashbuckling attire, and by her side, a tall handsome lad.

What drew most people's attention, though, was what the tall man was carrying. Between his arms was a frail frame, draped and hidden in the softest of fabrics. As the man stepped out onto the wooden plank that connected the ship's hull to the dock, the petite brunette quickly adjusted the cloth to shield its face from the unwavering daylight.

Treading carefully and watching his every step, the tall man slowly moved down the walkway toward a four horse carriage waiting at the dock. The crowd wanted to get closer to ask him why he was carrying that person in his arms as if it would disintegrate into pure dust at the lightest tremble, but the solders held them back at a distance, forbidding them to approach.

The officers stood watch as the tall man slowly climbed into the carriage with the Viceroy and the brunette, and then they mounted their horses and followed the carriage as it made its way toward the Viceroy's residence.

As the officers and the carriage disappeared along the horizon, the spectators looked at each other, disappointed at the unexpected turn of events. Yet, at the same time, their interest was renewed by the veiled treasure that returned with the officers. The mystery will no doubt fuel the national gossip for quite a while.

Blaine Anderson walked into his bedroom. His side still hurt a little at where the gun pellet penetrated his waist and exited his body without damaging his vitals. Even though it continues to stud his movements, the wound was healing nicely.

But there was no sign of relief in his dark brows.

Blaine approached his bed and sat down next to a sleeping figure.

It's been two weeks since Blaine brought Kurt home.

Blaine had hoped to put on a welcoming party for Kurt's entrance to their residence in Bombay. Over and over, Blaine had pictured the day he would finally be able to introduce his beloved to their own private sanctum. He had so wanted to show Kurt the dark teak wood canopy bed he had especially chosen for them, with its intricate celestial carvings and sheer draperies that would sway with the wind in hot summer evenings. And alongside the bay windows of the bedroom he had selected embroidered silk screens that would soften the harshest of morning light when they wake up in each other's arms, allowing them to make up for the times they have spent apart.

But while he finally has Kurt back in his arms, the boy has not once glanced at the exquisiteness that surrounded him.

Since the day Blaine dived in the ocean to bring his husband up from the abyss of the sea, Kurt has remained in slumber, never once opening his eyes. Only an occasional stirring would signal what little life remained in his comatose body. But most of the time, Kurt remained motionless, as if his very soul has taken flight away from its earthly vessel.

You are going to need more than a miracle, the doctors told Blaine. He's never going to wake up. He is not going to last long in his current state. He is going to wither away slowly, and you will have to watch him die before your eyes. Rather than prolonging the inevitable, you should prepare him for a dignified death. It's time to let him go.

"No!" Blaine cried out. He reached for Kurt's hand.

"Kurt, wake up, please," Blaine repeated the words he has uttered every night since their return.

"I miss you so much."

But there was not even a flicker of the eyelashes to acknowledge his plea.

Blaine sighed and reached for a bottle of Narayan oil at the bedside. The doctors he had consulted offered many farfetched remedies, such as loud noises, exorcism, and even bleeding. But Nick took him to see an old wise man living beneath a tree outside a remote shrine. At first glance, he would have taken the man as a beggar, with his long unkempt hair and emaciated limbs. But Nick had treated the man with the utmost respect, and Blaine was willing to listen to any advice.

The old man made two comments, but only one of which Blaine was prepared to consider. The old man instructed him to massage Kurt's body every day, making sure to cover every inch of skin and smooth out each muscle.

On their way back from the shrine, Nick agreed with the old man's suggestion, explaining that the massages may help to stimulate Kurt back to awareness. If nothing else, it would help prevent fatal bed sores. So during the day, while Blaine was away taking care of the affairs of the crown, Kurt's nurses would keep to a strict schedule, moving and exercising his limbs every couple of hours. But at night, when Blaine returned home, he would insist on taking over the laborious task himself.

After removing his own clothes, Blaine got up to unbutton Kurt's shirt, slowly stripping off the fine silk that covered the boy's lithe body and then turning Kurt to his stomach. Pouring the Narayan oil that Nick had given him onto his hands, Blaine straddled Kurt and began to glide his palm down his bare back, from the shoulders down to the small of his hips, making sure to knead and squeeze into every contour of Kurt's flesh.

A sad smile crept up Blaine's face as he felt Kurt take a deep breath beneath his fingertips, as if responding to the sensual touch. It was moments like these that Blaine lived for, the feather light connection that he could still make with Kurt, however fleeting, that kept him an inch from despair. But the closeness also made his heart ache more and more each day, because he could feel Kurt getting thinner beneath him each night. It was as if the life force was being drained from his body, little by little, day after day.

Blaine reached down and imprinted a string of butterfly kisses on Kurt's shoulder.

"I'm here, my love. It's me, Blaine." He whispered. "I'm right next to you."

The boy remained absolutely still in his slumber, his fine features motionless as if a marble statue.

But Blaine was determined to bring life back into those frozen limbs. After tendering the muscles on Kurt's back, Blaine spread his hands and started to knead Kurt's butt. The scent of mint and eucalyptus filled his senses as his warm palms pressed into Kurt's yielding flesh. Then, with the remaining oil on his fingertips, he slowly drew circles around Kurt's puckered anus, taking care to work the essences into every crevice as he laid more passionate kisses on Kurt's back.

Working his way toward the front, Blaine massaged Kurt's arms, using his fingers to soften the stiff muscles. Then, taking Kurt's hand, Blaine began to suck on each digit, taking the full length of the finger into his mouth and slowly drawing it out, sucking and smoothing each finger with his lips.

Blaine could tell that his husband felt the hot wetness, for he could see Kurt's cock becoming semi-erect. Kurt's hardened sex became even more pronounced when Blaine reached down and gently squeezed his balls, his fingertips digging against the perineum.

Gently, Blaine lowered himself on top of Kurt, and rubbed their erect members against each other.

Pressing himself close, Blaine slid his body against Kurt's skin as he pumped his cock, his breaths labored as he climbed closer and closer to climax.

Blaine began to whimper as he felt himself coming to his release. He quickened his pace and, instinctually, began thrusting his hips against the slumbering body beneath him.

"Kurt!" Blaine screamed as he finally came. He reached for Kurt's body and drew the boy to him as he rode out the waves of burning ecstasy coursing through his veins.

Blaine could feel Kurt's warm breath against his neck, and without hesitation he reached for the soft lips, allowing his tongue to slowly trace the contour of Kurt's full lips, circling and tasting each form and indentation of the curves. Moving his own head from side to side, Blaine fluttered his eyes, savoring the velvet of Kurt's lips as he brushed their mouths against each other.

As his passion subsided, Blaine gently laid Kurt down beside him.

"Please," Blaine begged. "Open your eyes, Kurt. You are home, safe. Why can't you just open your beautiful eyes and look at me?"

But tonight, like every other night, Kurt did not answer.

"Miss! Miss! The Master is still resting!"

Blaine was woken up by a series of loud protests outside their bedroom in the morning.

"Mmm…" Blaine muttered, rubbing his eyes as he untangled himself from Kurt's body. He had the nurse wake him up every two hours during the night to turn Kurt's body, which meant he hasn't had a good night's sleep for two weeks.

"Oh please," Rachel's shrilled voice could be heard outside the door. "I have two gay dads. Trust me, there ain't nothing that I haven't seen before. Stand aside, I am the captain of the most fierce and most powerful naval warship in the seven seas!"

Before the butler could protest further, Rachel Berry kicked open the heavy door and barged in unannounced into the bedroom. Two nervous men stood close behind, a short and stubbly one that was wringing his hands at his failed intercept, and the other tall, handsome one with a hand covering his eyes.

"Oh please, Finn. Kurt's in a coma for god's sake, it's not like we are going to watch them have hot steamy sex," Rachel rolled her eyes at Finn's prudish behavior.

But then she saw Blaine pull up the sheets up to cover his bare chest.

"Blaine Anderson! Do not tell me you are naked under there! Is Kurt naked, too?"

"What?" Blaine quickly glanced over to make sure he did dress Kurt after their session last night. "No!"

"Oh please kill me now," Finn moaned, still keeping his eyes covered. "This is so wrong…"

"Master Blaine," The butler would not stop apologize in the meantime. "I couldn't stop Captain Berry…"

Blaine thought he was going to get a splitting headache from them all talking on top of each other. Finally, he put his hands up and yelled, "Stop!"

"Mr. Bartholomew, thank you very much, I can handle it from here." Blaine first turned to his butler.

"Yes, Your Lordship," The old man nodded in relief as he excused himself from the room. "Breakfast is served in the solarium, sir."

Blaine nodded.

Next, Blaine turned toward the brunette with her hands on her hips.

"Whatever is going on between the two of you, let's move over to the solarium so the nurse can come to give Kurt his morning bath," Blaine rolled out of the bed and pulled a shirt over his body. "But before we go, Finn, can you help me turn Kurt?"

Finn nodded as he lowered his hand, and slowly walked over to Kurt's side of the bed.

"How is he?" Finn said in a whisper, studying his slumbering brother. "Any signs of improvement from yesterday?"

Blaine shook his head. Together, they turned Kurt's body 90 degrees and arranged his limbs in a comfortable position, before adjusting the covers.

"You know, Burt and my mom will want to see him, immediately," Finn added.

"I know," Blaine replied. "We've had this discussion already, Finn. The doctors made it very clear that at Kurt's current condition, he wouldn't survive long-distance travel on a ship. Believe me, I would do anything to let him be near Burt and Carol right now."

"I understand," Finn nodded. "I just don't know what I am going to say when I see them, you know. I just feel like I've let them down. I let Kurt down…"

"It's not you," Blaine corrected. "It's me who's failed Kurt. I shouldn't have asked him to travel here; I don't know what I was thinking…"

"Okay, stop sulking, both of you," The petite brunette punched both grown men on their arms. "Neither of you are at fault. And stop talking as if Kurt's gone. Do you really think he wants to hear you guys talk like that?"

Rachel took Kurt's hand into her palms.

"Kurt, when you wake up, we are going to be the best of friends and we are going to tear up this town," Rachel said in her most cheerful voice. "And just letting you know, if you don't open your eyes soon, I am going to have to redecorate this entire house for you. So unless you like ponies and lots of pink, you better wake up soon, okay?"

Blaine and Finn both smiled. Captain Rachel Berry may be a walking train wreck extravaganza, but you can always count on her for her fighting spirit.

Blaine has an idea of why she is here this morning.

"Shall we have some breakfast?" Blaine offered, and began to lead the way out the bedroom. This problem is going to require some serious couples mediation.

At the breakfast table in the solarium.

"Finn, I can't believe you didn't tell me you were boarding a ship this afternoon to go back home!" Rachel Berry nearly knocked the plate of mangosteens out of the butler's hands as she gestured her dismay. "How can you do this to me?"

Blaine looked disapprovingly at an embarrassed Finn. "Finn, I thought we decided that you were going to tell Rachel about your going home."

"I know," Finn nodded. "I just…. I tried so many times but nothing would come out of my mouth, you know."

Finn turned toward Rachel. "I am so sorry, I was going to tell you. I even had this big speech prepared. But I guess I just kind of freaked. I knew you were not going to be happy, and I didn't know how I could change that."

"Well, you can start by telling me now," Rachel said indignantly. "We finally got Kurt back, you are doing so well on the Warbler and Blaine is helping you to negotiate a commission with the Royal Navy. You are going to be an officer, and we are going to travel the world together. I thought that was our plan. Why are you leaving me? What about us, Finn?"

"That is still our plan, Rachel," Finn was finally able to get a word in when Rachel paused for a breath. "But remember I told you, I had a fiancé before I joined the navy. We were going to get married."

"Quinn," Rachel whispered in a pained voice. "Do you still love her?"

"I love you, Rachel," Finn looked directly into Rachel's eyes. "But in my mom's letters, she said that Quinn has never moved on, and is still waiting for me. I just… I need to go back and explain to her in person. I owe her that, and much more. What kind of a man would I be if I just leave her hanging like that? I need to go back and make things right."

"And if she refuses to break off the engagement," Rachel was biting back tears. "Then what?"

"I…" Finn stuttered. "I don't know, Rachel. But I love you, only you, please believe me."

"Rachel, Finn is also carrying a letter for me to Kurt's parents," Blaine explained. "After what happened to Kurt, I really should take Kurt back to see them. But Kurt is… I mean, I can't risk anything with Kurt right now, he's so fragile."

"I know," Rachel said. She stood up from the table and addressed Finn.

"Fine, you can go back. But I am not going to come say goodbye to you this afternoon when you board. And I may or may not still be here when you get back, just so you know. Because Rachel Berry waits for no man." With that, the brunette stomped out of the solarium.

Blaine patted a grim looking Finn on the shoulders.

"Hang in there. Concentrate on dealing with Quinn first. I am sure Rachel will still be here when you come back. I've never seen her look at another person like the way she looks at you."

Finn nodded, and replied, "What about you? Do you think Kurt will ever wake up?"

"I don't know," Blaine closed his eyes. "I honestly don't know what to do anymore, Finn. The waiting, the constant waiting, it's killing me."

"Maybe I should stay a while longer," Finn said quietly, cautiously glancing over at Blaine. "Some of the doctors seem to think Kurt may pass soon. Maybe I should stay until after the funeral –"

"No!" Blaine stood up abruptly, angered by Finn's suggestion. "There is not going to be a funeral, because Kurt will be with me, forever. I am never leaving him ever again, and he is not going to leave me."

Blaine addressed Finn one last time before storming out of the solarium: "This conversation is over. Please see yourself out."

Finn shook his head as he watched Blaine leave the room. Blaine has kept his cool throughout the ordeal, as any good leader would. Even as he was bleeding out after being shot by Karofsky in Eden, Blaine had kept his wits about him, giving orders to Rachel to contact the Yenban to begin tracking the Titan, and passing instructions for Thad and Trent to rendezvous with them immediately to begin pursuit.

But Finn knew how much Blaine loved Kurt. Blaine had been relentless, even obsessed, with rescuing Kurt. When they watched Kurt fall from the cliffs of Skull Island, despite his weakened state, Blaine was still able to shake loose Nick and Jeff to dive into the icy waters. When he reemerged from the sea with deep blue lips and convulsing arms, they all thought that was going to be the last of Blaine Anderson.

And now, with Kurt in a coma, and the possibility of him withering away in his sleep, next to Blaine…

Finn and the officers were all deeply concerned about their friend. What would happen to Blaine if Kurt passes? David even raised a disturbing thought – What if Blaine loses his will to live when Kurt is gone?

Blaine kept himself busy after Finn departed for home.

During the day he had endless tasks as the representative of Her Majesty, and at night, he would devote his entire time taking care of Kurt. He had kept up a good front, making sure appearances are just like as they have been before. But he knew that his friends are concerned, as their visits have become more frequent. Blaine's mental state was also painfully obvious, as anyone could tell by simply looking at Kurt. The boy was barely just skins and bones, and his breathing has become unstable. Despite Blaine's refusal to believe, he knew, deep down inside, that Kurt was going to pass soon.

One long and dark night, Blaine sat by Kurt's bedside and closely studied his slumbering beloved under the candlelight.

In the evening before, Blaine woke up in a maddening panic when he suddenly realized that Kurt had stopped breathing. He could feel his own blood drumming again his ears as he desperately pressed on Kurt's chest, calling out for Kurt to remember to breath. The only thing Blaine remembered, as he cried out to Kurt, was that he was consumed with fear, the fear of being apart from the one that he loved more than anything in the world.

"Never again," Blaine whispered as he reached for Kurt's hand. "I promised you that I will never leave you again, and I intend to keep that promise, my love."

When Blaine and Nick visited the remote shrine, the wise man had given Blaine two pieces of advice. The first he had taken faithfully, making sure that Kurt's muscles, however, atrophied, would be tended to day after day. The second, however, Blaine had never considered.

But now, Blaine was having second thoughts.

Blaine went over to the dresser and began putting on a navy-colored captain's uniform. It was the same outfit he wore on that fateful day when he first met Kurt at the township masquerade ball, complete with gold studs and a red satin belt. It was one of the best days of his life, and now, as his and Kurt's journey was drawing to an end, it would be fitting for him to be in the same clothing.

Blaine also prepared Kurt in a beautiful white and blue embroidered tunic. He still remembered the white and blue outfit Kurt wore on that day. Together with his tight white breeches, Blaine's first impression of Kurt was that he must have been an angel that wondered out of heaven.

With his pistol holstered to his side, Blaine wrapped Kurt in a saffron-colored blanket and gently carried the boy, bridal style, out of their bedroom.

Holding Kurt close to his heart, Blaine quietly rode off on his horse beneath the soft moonlight. It would take them a while to reach their destination. The night air was chilly, and Blaine laid a gentle kiss on Kurt's head as he rubbed the boy's cool arms with his free hand, keeping him close and warm.

The old wise man was very specific in his directions. Though, even if he hadn't, Blaine was well aware of the place he spoke of:

The River of Souls.

Blaine had studied the native cultures and traditions when he arrived, and he knew the locals believed that when a person passes, his or her soul will pass through the River of Souls before ascending to heaven to be reincarnated. The sacred river was a bridge, a passage point between the realms of life and rebirth.

And, as one is not permitted to carry the memories of this life to the next, the River of Souls was also place where the spirits would cleanse themselves of their past so that they may start anew.

The wise man had told Blaine that Kurt's soul was lost between the land of the living and the land of the dead.

Take your beloved to the River of Souls, the wise man said. Bathe him in the sacred water. If your love was meant to be, then perhaps you will find him there and he will return to his earthly vessel.

The wise man's words were simple and succinct, but Blaine knew of another legend of the River of Souls, one where the old man did not utter. When star-crossed lovers wanted to make sure they would be together again in the next life, they would both descend into the River of Souls with a red stash that bound their hands together. It was said that heaven's gate keeper would take pity on the lovers and allow them to retain their memories of their love as they passed through.

It was almost dawn when Blaine reached the River of Souls. The first rays of the sun were just about to peak over the blue mountains as Blaine walked toward the middle of the river with Kurt between his arms.

Stopping as the water reached his waist, Blaine gently relaxed his arms and allowed Kurt to float atop the surface of the river.

Then, very softly, Blaine began to sing.

My love, leave yourself behind,

Beat inside me, leave you blind.

My love, you have found peace,

You were searching for release.

You gave it all, into the call;

You took a chance and, you took the fall for us.

You came thoughtfully, loved me faithfully.

You taught me honor, you did it for me.

Tonight, you will sleep for good.

You will wait for me, my love.

Now I am strong, you gave me all.

You gave all you had, and now I am home.

Blaine untied the red stash and tightly bound his left hand to Kurt's, and watched as the undulating waves began engulfing Kurt's frail frame. The water slowly rose until the boy was completely submerged beneath the clear waters.

As Blaine watched the soft reflecting light dancing and glistening on Kurt's milky white skin, Blaine couldn't help but marvel at how peaceful Kurt looked. His angel was taking flight, suspended in midair and waiting for him.

Blaine reached for his pistol.

Kurt felt weightless; it was as if he was floating in the air.

It felt like everything was just standing still. And ever so slowly, images began to move before his eyes. Drawn to the colors like a moth to a flame, Kurt looked closer to the scene before him.

It was his first date with Lord Blaine Anderson, the young captain of the Warblers. The dapper gentleman had invited him on a picnic in the meadows, and Kurt could not stop giggling as his young lordship clumsily tried to uncork a bottle of wine.

That day, Blaine spoke fondly of the sea and of his travels. Kurt remembered being mesmerized by the light in Blaine's hazel eyes as he spoke of the freedom he experienced when he took sail for the first time, of trying to make it on his own, creating a life for himself.

Then he spoke of his battles, his encounters with pirates while sailing in the Caribbean, and of the uprising and mutinies he had encountered while still a young officer on the Warbler.

So it is not all fun and games? Kurt asked, not able to fathom the kind of life Blaine have. How do you move on after such terrible experiences? Do they haunt you in any way?

Kurt remembered Blaine being very candid in his response. Life was never perfect, Blaine said, it may never be. There were always moments when he felt that everything was going wrong, and that he will never be free of the shackles that keep him down.

But regardless of what happens, I try to do right by others with what I can and what I have, Blaine explained.

Then he reached for Kurt's hand, and Kurt felt his heart flutter.

"Courage," Blaine whispered with a smile. "Always remember that."

The word flashed before Kurt's mind, and suddenly he felt like he was forgetting something. He tried to look around him, but it was only him, alone, floating in the abyss.

Then, just as Kurt was becoming content in his state of being, a woman's soft voice caught his attention.

Kurt spun around, and saw a beautiful lady with auburn hair and a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

"Mom!" Kurt cried, reaching out to the woman whose touch he lost too soon as a child.

"Kurt, it's time to go back," Elizabeth's soothing voice was lyrical, much like her son's. "Blaine is waiting for you. Go back to him, that's where you should be."

"No," Kurt snuggled close to his mother, inhaling her familiar lavender scent. "I want to stay with you."

"My dear," Elizabeth hugged him back. "We will soon meet again, I promise."

"But mom," Kurt shook his head. "I don't know if I can do this anymore. All I wanted to do is find my own happiness, to be free. But I don't know why it just seems to bring everyone around me such misery."

"Oh sweetie," Elizabeth cupped Kurt's cheeks. "You will find your happiness and freedom. Just remember, first you need to accept who you are, deep inside, and understand how much you mean to those who love you."

Elizabeth kissed Kurt tenderly. "So go back, darling. Go back to those that love you. Don't keep them waiting."

Kurt watched his mother fade as light slowly seeped into his surroundings. He could feel the caress of the soft waters all around him.

Then he heard a singing voice. It was unmistakably Blaine's, his gorgeous melody like a siren's call, serving as a beacon for Kurt.

Blaine thought the dawn's light was playing a trick on his eyes when he saw Kurt's eyelids flicker beneath the waters.

Stilling his movements, Blaine held his breath as he fixated his gaze on Kurt's serene face. Then Blaine felt the entire world came to a halting stop as Kurt's eyelids flickered again, and slowly unveiled the most beautiful eyes he has ever seen, a galaxy of blues, greens, and bright stars.

Then Kurt smiled.

Post Note: Wow I can't believe I actually finished a story *throws flower petals* There is still one more chapter, the epilogue, where I will go into what happened to Blaine after he was shot, as well as give more closure to the various characters that came up throughout the story, such as Santana and Brittany.

THANK YOU for sticking with this story along the way. I know I am super slow at posting new chapters, so my sincere apologies for taking so long to finish. It's the second fanfic I ever started, first to finish, so I am still learning how to write and deal with various stylistic challenges. Thank you again for reading! XOXO!