Kurt looked furious, more furious than Alannah had ever seen him. "Kurt, it is not as bad as it looks, " Alannah started to say, but he didn't hear her. He walked over and punched Vicktor repeatedly. Vicktor did not fight back; to do so against a chairman would be suicidal.
"Kurt! Stop it NOW! " Alannah shouted as she sat up and got onto her feet. She looked into his eyes, and they were hard as stone. Alannah rushed over and grabbed his arm.
"Stop!" Alannah shouted, and Kurt turned to glare at her. Vicktor was a bloody mess on the ground.
"Let me go! This has nothing to do with you, Alannah! " Kurt said, in a cold, distant voice.
"He is my friend and.." Alannah started to say.
"You are standing by him, rather than your future husband and King? He failed in his duties, and I don't accept failure. Especially when it comes to protecting you. " Kurt snapped.
"It was not his fault, just like it was not your fault when Akihiko kidnapped me! Please, my love, he has been punished enough and I am tired. Come to bed with me. I feel much safer in your arms, " Alannah said softly. She could see Kurt softening, and she put her forehead on his.
"Come back to me, Kurt, I am alright," Alannah said. Alannah saw Kurt's eyes starting to fill with warmth again and he pulled Alannah into a bear hug. He buried his face in her hair.
"I was so scared, Alannah. I could not bear it... if something happened to you, "Kurt whispered in her ear.
"I am fine and I am here with you," Alannah said, cupping his face in his hands.
"But you're in pain! It is his fault!" growled Kurt.
"I am fine and I am with you. Come let's go back to our room," Alannah said, softly grabbing his hand. Kurt nodded and lifted Alannah into the bridal hold.
Before he got to the door, he turned and said, "Oh Vicktor, just so you know, the negotiations have been completely agreed upon, and Alannah and I are officially engaged. If I see you flirting with her again, I will kill you if you stand! " Kurt said before exiting the room.
John ran over to check on Vicktor. "You alright, mate?" John said, assessing his injuries.
"I had worse and I was lucky. He would have killed me if it was not for Alannah having stepped in," Vicktor said.
"Really?" John said as he helped Vicktor up to his feet.
"Yes, he skinned the last man who crossed him, and he is slightly protective over his queen if you haven't noticed," Vicktor said.
John chuckled and said, "Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
Kurt carried Alannah back in complete silence, as Alannah wanted to give him a chance to cool off. When they arrived at their bedroom, Kurt gently put her on the bed and stroked her hair.
"Tell me what happened," Kurt commanded. Alannah was just about to tell him when there was a knock at the door. Theo, James, and Kurt came walking in with worried looks on their faces.
"We heard Alannah was hurt, so we went there. We saw the aftermath of Kurt's temper on Vicktor, " Theo said.
"I am fine, Dad," Alannah said as she sat up.
"You are not fine and you need to start looking after yourself!" Kurt snapped.
"I am a Nine Tails and I kind of know-how to look after myself," Alannah said.
"You are not anymore. They don't exist and you are never fighting again. Do you understand me?" Kurt said, through gritted teeth.
"You can't tell me what to do, Kurt. I know you are worried, but.." Alannah said, desperately trying to keep hold of her temper.
"But nothing and I can tell you what to do as I am going to be your future husband," Kurt growled.
"The negotiations might have been completed, but you forgot one important thing," Alannah said.
"What is that?" Kurt snapped.
"I have not agreed!" Alannah snapped back as she got up and started to walk out of the room.
"Don't you dare walk away from me! Come back here right now! " Kurt commanded, but Alannah ignored him and went out, slamming the door behind her.
"Go after her and make sure she is alright," Theo ordered Frank. Frank nodded and left, leaving Theo glaring at Kurt.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? I saw the mess you left Vicktor in! " Theo snapped.
"He was lucky I didn't kill him. He failed to protect Alannah," Kurt growled.
"From five highly trained Ninjas in a surprise attack. He took two out himself and got Alannah to safety. " Theo retorted.
"Ninjas? Does that mean it is Akihiko? " Kurt suddenly said.
"Of course it is! Who else uses fucking dipped Assassin's needles? Anyone else would be dead by now! " Theo said.
It seems he will keep going after her until she is married. This is currently a problem because you keep upsetting her! " James scolded.
"You are supposed to be on my side!" Kurt snapped.
"Dude, I am. I have never seen you so happy as when you are with her. You sleep through the nights and are much more relaxed as a result. But you always had a temper, and Alannah is not the sort of woman who would put up with it! " James said. Part of being a good second in command and indeed, a good friend was, to be honest.
Kurt closed his eyes and sighed before saying, "She has become the centre of my world. If something happened to her... if she died.. I am not sure I would cope".
"I know, dude, I feel the same way about Annie. But you keep pushing her away. She needs to see more of your romantic side. In fact, why don't you kill two birds with one stone? Take her to that Spar you have been researching when you think I am not looking. She should be out of here whilst the investigation takes place and you can get some quality alone time. I mean, you never really had that, "James said.
"That is not a half-bad idea! "She wouldn't have much of a choice in a spar," Theo said.
And no hot-blooded woman could resist the romance of watching the Northern Lights in a private, cosy glass igloo! James said with a smirk.
"Is nothing private?" Kurt grumped.
"Not to me, boss. I have taken the liberty of hiring out the whole spar for the next two weeks, your privacy assured and romance guaranteed," James said with a smirk.
"Wow, James, that is impressive," Kurt said with a smirk.
"Trust me, it is for my benefit. You are much easier to be around when she is here," James said, and Kurt glared again. "See what I mean?" James said.
"Do you think she will go?" Theo said quietly.
"Of course, let me talk to her," James said with a confident smile as he walked out to find his future Queen.
Alannah was in one of the many libraries, sitting in a comfy chair, watching a roaring fire. Her mind wandered back to China and her simple life. The truth is that she missed the simplicity of her old life. She knew she loved Kurt with every bone in her body, but he kept being so angry! She just wished he would relax and be the caring person she keeps getting glimpses of.
Alannah was just drying her tears when James came in and saw her.
"Ahh Alannah, there you are! How are you? " James said with a dashing smile.
"Fuck off, James, I'm not interested in whatever it is, "Alannah said.
"Woah, who says I am offering you anything?" James said
So cut the crap. I have known men like you all my life. What do you want? " Alannah snapped.
James's smile dropped and he sighed. "I forgot you were so dam perceptive."
"I had to be or I would be dead now," Alannah said frankly as she watched James sit down.
"It never surprises me how much like you and Kurt are," James said with a smile.
"What do you mean?" Alannah said, and James mentally smiled. He knew Alannah's weakness was curiosity.
"What apart from you both being stubborn, extremely hard-working and fiercely protective of the family? You both had difficult times growing up. You have both been betrayed by people who were supposed to protect you. For you, it was your brother. For Kurt, it was his mother, "James said.
"His Mother?" Alannah asked. Kurt never spoke about his mother or childhood.
"His mother was a drug addict who used to... well... pimp him out for drug money," James said sadly.
"My God, no!" Alannah said, putting a hand to her mouth in shock. Kurt's mother did that to him!
"Yes, he was left to fend for himself from about the age of 7. He was used to people always wanting something from him. I suppose that is why he became obsessed with Grace. It was the first time a person went out of their way to help him without conditions attached, "James said
Alannah said nothing. It made sense now! It made sense why Kurt had never had a long-term relationship and said he was learning to love.
But then you came along, and he fell in love with you hard. You've become the centre of his universe, his oxygen, and it fucking scares him. He has no idea how to deal with his feelings for you; all he knows is that he cannot live without you right now. So what does Kurt do? He does what Kurt does best: he goes into overdrive! " James said
"Still.." Alannah said.
Yes, I know... it comes across all wrong. But in Kurt's mind, he is keeping the one thing in the world safe.. you! " James said
"But he left me to go save Grace!" Alannah said
"You can't have it both ways. Do you want him to treat you like you can take care of yourself or not?" James said, frankly,
"Oh," Alannah said. It was true, she had given out mixed messages on that score.
"Not that I'm making excuses, but the party scene was just pure jealousy! But again, he does not want you to leave him, "James said.
I won't leave him... I am in far too deep. I loved him from the moment I saved his arse that time. I never believed in love at first sight, but bang, it happened! " Alannah admitted it.
"Yeah, it gets you like that!" James said with a smile. James was going to bring up going away with Kurt, but he noticed something. "Alannah, you are bleeding!"
Alannah looked down and saw the red stain getting bigger on her old t-shirt.
"Dam, I like this T-shirt!" Alannah cursed
"We need to get you back to the medical wing!" James said, expecting an argument, but instead, she nodded her head.
"I need your help. I am afraid I feel a bit dizzy," Alannah said, and James helped her back down to the medical wing.
"It is fine, I just need to give you another injection," John said
Need to rest? Yeah, I know! " Alannah said as she looked away. She hated getting injections and it always helped to look away.
"All done!" "John said happily."
Kurt then burst through the door again.
Twice in one day? "I am truly honoured, Chairman Blackwood," John said sarcastically.
"Alannah, are you OK?" Kurt said, rushing over.
"We need to have a serious talk, Kurt," Alannah said, and Kurt looked panicked.
"I think that is a hint for us to leave," James said to John, and they both left them alone.
Alannah began to say, "Kurt I."
"No! Wait before you speak. Alannah I will do anything you want, just please don't leave me! If...if you want to take other lovers then fine...we can work something out. If you want to stay here in Russia, then we will sort something out. Fuck! I will relinquish my position as chairman, and we can flee! Just you and me! How does that sound? " Kurt said, with a broken voice.
"You would let me take other lovers?" Alannah asked, shocked. Alannah knew it would kill him if she went with another man, but here he was offering it to her as a possible solution!
"Yes, I will sort out a flat in London for your private use, as long as you stay with me!" Kurt said, putting his forehead on hers and closing his eyes. "Is that what you want?" he asked softly.
Kurt, I was about to say I am sorry, but I snapped. I was in a lot of pain, and I know I sent out a lot of mixed signals about things. I have not been fair to you and I am sorry. Will you forgive me please? " Alannah said
It was Kurt's turn to be surprised! He said, "You're not going to leave me?"
"No, I will never leave you, Kurt. How could I leave the other half of my heart and soul? Alannah said with a smile. "I am yours, you are mine, and together our fates will always be entwined."
Kurt smiled and said, "I never had you down as a romantic."
"I have my moments," Alannah said, kissing him.
"I am sorry, my darling," Kurt said before kissing Alannah again. He felt whole again.