A/N: I'm sorry this took longer to update. Real life, work, and bad internet connection all tend to happen at once but alas, chapter 8. I hope you guys are still following this. As a recap of last chapter, Blaine's trip home turned out horribly wrong when his own parents disowned him. In this chapter, Blaine returned to the Capitol and was unprepared for what he encountered. If you enjoy this, please rec and review it. Also, I have a Tumblr where I post updates on my Seblaine WIPs as well as Seblaine drabbles / fan arts that are not posted here. I'd be honored if you can follow me at "rykerstrom . tumblr . com". Thanks!

Chapter 8

There seemed to be so many things Blaine wanted to take with him. He probably wouldn't need any of them in the Capitol, but he wanted to bring everything. This room was his sanctuary, this was the place that he had slept in since he was a child, the only place that Blaine had ever felt safe. Everything in the room had a story behind it and a happy memory that reminded Blaine of times when things were simple.

Blaine looked at the old text books that were on his book shelf and took them down one by one. He hadn't been in school ever since the Games, but he had every intention of learning everything he could. He looked forward to the day when he would be old enough to lose everyone's interest so that he could put what he learned into good use. Blaine wasn't sure how that would really work in the Capitol, but he was sure he could figure something out, somehow.

He had to. Because going forward, the Capitol would be his home.

"Do you need any help?" Cooper was standing by the door, looking awkward as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

"No, I'm fine." Actually, he did need help. There were so many things Blaine needed to put away, but after the revelation about what happened with Cooper's engagement, it just didn't feel right to impose on his older brother any further.

"Blainey, you know they didn't mean it, right?" Cooper sat down on the bed and tried to get Blaine's attention. "Things had been stressful for them now that there was all this demand from the Capitol."

"It's okay, Cooper." Blaine tried to sound neutral. "I don't blame them. I'd hate me too. After all, I did—"

"Don't say that!" Cooper interrupted. "You haven't done anything wrong. You did what you had to. If it had been me, I—I wouldn't have been so honorable."

"You don't know that, Cooper." Blaine continued packing. "I cost you your happiness, that's unforgiveable."

"Listen, Blaine. You have cost me nothing. There's nothing you can do to change what's happened. " Cooper gripped Blaine's wrist gently and shook his head. "When I said I was proud of you, I meant it. You're more courageous and honorable than anyone that I've known. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. And that includes our parents."

Cooper's were bright with what appeared to be unshed tears. He looked determinedly resolute about what he had just said. But Blaine knew that regardless of what Cooper believed, at the end of the day, it was Blaine's involvement in the Hunger Games that brought all the distress upon his family.

"Thanks, Coop." Blaine forced out a smile that he hoped was convincing enough. "I really appreciate it."

"Are you sure you don't need my help with this?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." Blaine put a hand up when Cooper was about to say something. "I mean it. As long as you accompany me to the train station, I'll be fine."

"All right."

It felt rather surreal to be on the train again. One and a half week. Blaine had only been home for one and a half week before he was told to leave and implied to never return. It had hurt more than anything in the world to hear those words from the people he cared for and loved the most.

He tried to get some rest of on the train, but every time Blaine closed his eyes, he would see his parents' disappointed faces. He was physically exhausted, but with his mind racing with so many thoughts, there was no way Blaine could've fallen asleep.

So instead, he settled for watching the scenery pass by.

With each District the train passed through, Blaine was that much closer to the Capitol. This trip had a sense of finality to it, because in a way, the Capitol was Blaine's final destination. There was no home for him to go back to, certainly not his family's.

Capitol was his home now.

Blaine turned his face away from the window and eyed the relatively empty train. There was nothing he could do at this point. This was going to be Blaine Anderson's life. He could either continue to fight it and be miserable, or he could try to make the best of it and prepare himself for the day when he could truly do things on his own.

Even if that day might be decades from now.

As the train went through the final tunnel that would lead its passengers into the Capitol, Blaine decided that in spite of what little control he might have over his life, he would not give up. He might be free from the Hunger Games, but living in the Capitol was a whole different game of its own.

And Blaine was going to do everything he could to win this game as well.

The ride from the train station to his residence in the Capitol seemed to drag on forever. Blaine just wanted to bring his belongings into the unit and put everything in its proper place. He was determined to convert the two spare bedrooms into something that resembled his home in District 7. If he couldn't go home again, then at least there would be something in the Capitol that could hopefully help curb the homesickness.

As Blaine finished moving the trunks into the unit, he noticed sounds of commotions coming from his backyard. Puzzled, he went to the living room and pressed the switch that would automatically open the curtain and the door to the backyard.

Blaine was definitely not prepared for what he was about to see.

There were people and machineries crowding about in the back. It was evident that they were in the midst of a massive construction. But what Blaine hadn't expected to see was what they were constructing.

A forest. One that closely resembled District 7 but much smaller in size.

"You're back early." A familiar voice sounded to Blaine's right as he felt an arm wrapping itself around his waist. "This was supposed to be a surprise. A present, actually."

"This, the forest?" It was definitely a forest. Dimly, Blaine wondered how they had managed to convert such a small space into something believable.

"I have access to the backyard, but not the inside unit." Sebastian seemed pleased with himself. "Do you like it? I designed it actually. Everything was imported directly from your home District."

"I—I, well yes. Yes, I do." Blaine wasn't sure whether it was his fatigue or the conflicting emotions that he was currently experiencing that hindered his ability to speak. In spite of his experience in interacting with Sebastian, Blaine had to admit that this was a kind gesture.

"Speechless? Good!" Sebastian took Blaine's hand and led him into the constructed area. "The backyard is spacious enough to allow for several big trees. I had to use some hologram to create the illusion of spaciousness. And that stream over there? Touch it."

"What?" Surely Sebastian didn't install an actual water source into the backyard. Tentatively, Blaine reached out and touched the flowing stream. He felt the cool, welcoming wetness of the water washing over his hand. "It's real."

"Of course, it is." Sebastian gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I didn't know you were coming back early. Had I known you were coming back today, I would've sent someone to pick you up."

One of the workers came by with questions for Sebastian. While the two were engaged in what appeared to be a discussion on how to finish landscaping the backyard, Blaine couldn't help but feel curious about Sebastian.

"I swear, people don't know how to follow instructions these days." Sebastian looked agitated as he grabbed Blaine's hand again and led him back into the residence. "Come on, let's head back in. The forest won't be done till later today."

Blaine let himself to be led into the residence, the fatigue finally hitting him as he sat down on the sofa and rubbed his eyes. He looked up when he felt Sebastian watching him.

"All these from home?" Sebastian gestured at the trunks that were still by the door. Their presence immediately reminded Blaine of what had happened with his family.

"Yeah." Blaine hoped that Sebastian wouldn't ask any further. He wasn't sure if he was ready to discuss the reason for his early return yet.

"Do you need help unpacking?" In spite of his question, Sebastian had started to push some of the trunks into the living room.

"Wait. Let me do it." Blaine dragged his tired body up from the sofa and opened the first trunk.

"Are those text books?" Blaine had expected to hear fascination and intrigue behind that question, considering all books in the Capitol were probably electronic, but Sebastian sounded more surprised than anything.

"Yes. I want to continue to learn, maybe I can put it to use when I'm older." Blaine didn't want to meet Sebastian's eyes. He didn't want to invite more questions. He heard the sound of pages being flipped and looked up in curiosity.

"I can teach you." Sebastian held up the text book. "I can get you a tablet, miniature computer. It can store all the books on there."

"But I want to keep them." The thought of throwing away his connection to his home was horrifying.

"I'm not saying you can't, I'm just saying it's more portable and manageable if you get the electronic version." Sebastian started putting the books in a neat stack. "It's your things, you can do whatever you want with them."

"I'll go move the rest of the trunks."

"You look like you're about to fall over." Sebastian gave him a dismissive wave. "I'm not weak, you know."

"I'm not saying you're weak." Blaine wondered if he had managed to fall asleep on the train and that this was all some kind of a strange dream, because not only was Sebastian not demanding sex from him, he was trying to help. "I just—I mean, why?"

"Why what?" Sebastian stopped what he was doing and met Blaine's gaze.

"Why are you offering to help me with all these?" Blaine knew Sebastian didn't have to do anything for him. No one had to do anything for Blaine. While it wasn't the first time Sebastian seemed to have gone out of his way to help, Blaine couldn't help but find it bewildering. "The backyard, the trip home, everything."

Someone who bought him for sex wasn't supposed to be kind. Everything about Sebastian so far seemed to contradict in so many ways.

Sebastian didn't answer right away. He appeared deep in thought as he mauled over the question before finally answering.

"I know how hard it is to be away from home." There was no mockery or patronization in those eyes. Sebastian actually looked sympathetic. Blaine wanted to ask Sebastian what he meant by that, given that Sebastian was from the Capitol, but something told him today was not the day.

"Well um—" Blaine cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm really thankful for everything. I know you didn't have to."

He was expecting Sebastian to say something suggestive, or even do something, but instead he heard the sound of things being shuffled about in the trunk as Sebastian removed more contents.

"There're a lot of things in here." Sebastian sat back on his heels and looked at Blaine. "Why don't we unpack together?"

It was an odd suggestion especially coming from someone like Sebastian Smythe, but there was something comforting about the idea.

"Okay." Blaine nodded and kneeled down next to Sebastian as they sort out its contents.

It wasn't until later that night that it occurred to Blaine that this was the first time that they had spent time together without any physical intimacy or awkwardness. And to Blaine's surprise, he found that in spite of how upset and tired he was about what happened at home, spending the afternoon with Sebastian had actually made him feel better.

Blaine knew that this sense of comfort probably wouldn't last long, but for now, he would savor it while it lasted.

(TBC)