Work Text:
Kurt yawned as Reza pulled up to the house. Exhaustion had set in quickly once he was outside the station. He was still a little shaky, but tried to hide this fact from the close watch of his friend. Reza looked over at Kurt as he turned the engine off. Kurt’s eyes were closed, and Reza wondered briefly if he had fallen asleep on the way over.
“Hey,” he said softly. “We’re here.”
Kurt opened his eyes and nodded. “Right.”
“You want to go in? Jasmine’s not home, so it’ll be quiet. Just you and me.”
Kurt nodded again. “Alright.”
The single-word answers concerned Reza, but he shrugged it off. Kurt would be fine after some rest. He got out of the car and unlocked the front door. Kurt joined him a second later.
“Do you want some tea? Ah, don’t answer that. I’ll make some anyway. Go and make yourself comfortable.” He gestured towards the living room, and Kurt made his way to the sofa sluggishly. He slumped down into the seat and shut his eyes again. His head was throbbing, both inside and out. He resisted the urge to rub his temples. He could feel the bruise there. It was pulsating angrily, a painful reminder of what had happened. What had nearly happened.
You almost died, said his brain.
Kurt squeezed his eyes shut tighter.
You could have been killed.
In front of all your colleagues.
Your friends.
Kurt flinched.
Your friends would have watched you die. They wouldn’t have been able to stop it. To save you.
The voice grew louder. Mocking. Kurt tried to shake it off, to clear his head. The bruise throbbed harder; his head felt like it was about to explode. The cold barrel of the gun was pressing against it. He was staring at Reza, who was glaring at the owner of the gun digging into his friend’s head. He felt something start to drip down his cheek. Is he crying? Or bleeding? He wants to raise his hand to wipe it away, but he can’t move. Reza is looking at him now.
You’re going to die.
“No…” Kurt moans.
You’re going to die, Kurt. Reza’s eyes are burning into his, unblinking. Watching him.
Kurt tried to speak, to ask for help. But no sound would come. He tried to shout with his eyes, begging Reza to save him. Reza just laughed.
No one is coming to save you.
BANG.
Kurt shot up, scrambling backwards, pushing himself as far away from danger as he could. He breathed heavily, the sound filling his ears and drowning out anything else. He looked around, trying to remember where he was. Something dripped down his cheek. No. No, no… He raised a hand. It was wet, but not red.
Tears. Just tears. Not blood. He wasn’t dying.
Kurt tried to take a deep breath, but it caught halfway and he coughed. He tried again. His chest hurt. He tried to shout instead. To call for help. Who was there to help him? He looked around the room he was in again. There were voices in the background. A man’s, and a woman laughing. He listened, using the voices to ground him. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but they sounded nice. Kind. Safe. His breathing slowed, the ache in his chest dissolving. Kurt took one last deep breath and wiped a hand over his face. His eyes were, thankfully, dry.
Soft footsteps came towards him, and he looked up.
Shabana stood at the end of the sofa, looking at him with an odd expression. She was holding something carefully with both hands.
“Are you okay, Uncle Kurt?”
Kurt smiled softly. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
“Daddy said to bring you this. He said you’re tired.” She held out the mug of tea to Kurt. Kurt let out a soft laugh, taking the drink from the little girl.
“Yeah. I am tired. I had sort of a hard day at work.”
“Is that why you were crying?”
Kurt felt guilt start to creep up his throat. He nodded.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. I didn’t hear you come in.”
Shabana shrugged. “I cry sometimes, too.”
Kurt smiled and put his tea down on the table. “Will you give your Uncle Kurt a hug?”
Shabana nodded and moved towards him, throwing her arms around his neck and squeezing him tightly. Kurt tensed briefly, the pressure against his chest and neck feeling all too familiar, but he shook off the thought and squeezed her back.
Shaba pulled away after a moment. “Are you feeling better now?”
Kurt nodded. “Much better, sweetheart. Thank you.”
Kurt settled back onto the sofa, taking his tea and Shabana with him. She curled up beside him to wait for her parents, seemingly knowing that Kurt needed her company more than they did.