This is not a slash, nor will it become one, this is strictly friendship between my two favorite Glee characters. Hope you enjoy and hope even more that you review.

Kurt shut his eyes and waited for the kicks and punches to stop, wondering if they ever would. He was lying in the fetal position as kick after kick was slammed into his small, shaking body. He grabbed one kick to his stomach, hugging it to him, praying it would stop them, it didn't.

"Let go of me, Fag," Karofsky bellowed, jerking his leg free. The next moment Kurt let out his first sound, which was a scream as a kick was directed, brutally to his knee. The abuse to his stomach, chest and face continued for 30 seconds more until a voice echoed in the hall and his heart dropped lower.

"Coming to join the party, Puckerman," Azimio asked, in a sickly pleasant tone.

"Yeah I wanna get in a few swings," Puck's voice was laced with hatred and fury and despite the fact that Puck had been nicer to him lately, Kurt felt this wasn't going to end well for him. The kicks stopped and Kurt opened his eyes slightly to see that Karofsky and Azimio had stopped to give Puck a clear shot. Kurt's hazy eyes went down to Pucks feet and nearly vomited when he saw the jock's steel toed boots. They were going to kill him, he was going to die in the hall of this damn high school. "You fucker!" Puck growled, revving his leg back and Kurt shut his eyes again, waiting for the pain. A cry of surprise and pain was released, but not from Kurt. Puck had kicked Karofsky's feet out from under him and punched Azimio, knocking in to the ground. "It's different when it's someone your own size. And two hockey players against one small kid would make anyone win a fight, you assholes." Kurt stared in surprise as the school badass pummeled two guys for the school gay. Puck kicked and punched the two bigger teens until they were desperately crawling away. Kurt started to climb to his feet, using the wall as support, clutching his side which throbbed dully. It was then Puck realized Kurt was standing and he stopped, turning to the smaller boy. "Are you ok?" Puck asked, gently taking Kurt's arms to help him fully to his feet. Kurt flinched slightly at the contact but as he looked up at the mohawked teenager and seeing the worry and softness in his hazel eyes and Kurt relaxed a bit.

"Noah Puckerman just saved me, I think I may be dying of shock," Kurt stated his normal biting tone soft and almost playful. Puck chuckled lightly but then really looked at Kurt and his face fell.

"Damn, they really did a number on you," Noah growled looking down the hall where Karofsky and Azimio had run and for a moment considered chasing them.

"They would have done worse if you hadn't shown up," Kurt admitted, "thank you."

"Wow, I think now I'm the one dying in shock." Puck feigned amazement, "Did the ice princess just thank me?" Kurt frowned,

"Don't degrade me Puckerman." Then a smirk appeared "It's ice queen," Puck smiled genuinely and Kurt raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow, Puck, you don't seem like such a horrible person when you smile."

"And you're not such a snob when you nose isn't stuck in the air."

"Well it's my weakened state, I'll be back to normal tomorrow," Kurt reported.

"Too bad," Puck shrugged.

"Yeah but if I don't act that way…" Kurt cut himself off, remembering who he was talking to. "Never mind, I have to get home" Kurt moved to take a step but his knee that had been kicked flamed in pain and he cried out, stepping back off of it.

"Easy," Puck said kindly, taking Kurt's arm again to help him keep his balance. Kurt winced slightly at the discomfort of having a former bully so close but he was grateful for the support. "Do you need a ride home?" Puck asked, unhesitant as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Kurt paused but knew he didn't have much of a choice, he could barely walk and nodded slowly. "Ok put your arm around my waist," Puck insisted, guiding the gleek's arm around his toned torso. Kurt felt himself flush at the touch but Puck didn't mention it and put his arm under Kurt's to brace him. "Ok, here we go," Puck directed, taking a slow step so that Kurt could set the pace. Kurt hopped ungracefully, trying to put as little pressure as possible on his knew without relying solely on Puck. Every few steps his face contorted in discomfort but thanks to the football player with his arm around him, it wasn't all that bad. He couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief at the situation, Puck looked down at him confused. "What?"

"I never expected Noah Puckerman to come to my rescue." Puck looked down ashamed,

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I've done some shitty things to you." He admitted and Kurt stopped short just as they exited the school. Puck looked at his knee anxiously but Kurt stared at him, one hand on his hip in that familiar Kurt Hummel stance.

"Ok Puckerman, what is this about? Why are you helping me and being nice to me and APOLIGIZING?" Kurt asked accusatorily. Puck bit his lip self-consciously.

"Well you know, we're team mates with glee now…." Puck claimed quietly.

"Mmmhmm," Kurt said in a tone that told Puck that he didn't believe him for a minute.

"Anquinnreallylikesyou." Puck said fast but Kurt was able to understand, but just to draw out the jocks torment Kurt put his hand to his ear,

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that." He said smirking smugly. Puck rolled his eyes at Kurt's grin but said,

"Quinn calls you her second real friend and I can tell when she talks about you that you mean a lot to her. And I figure if I get on your good side, I can get on her good side and….you know." Puck finished almost in a whisper,

"Knock her up again?" Kurt asked, though his voice was soft and caring as they continued to walk to Puck's truck.

"No, I just… want a chance with her." Puck ducked his head shyly. "You know a date," Kurt smiled warmly and nodded,

"I could tell you liked her, you can't act as well as you think." Puck looked down at Kurt who looked up at him sympathetically.

"And I actually think you'd be good together, you're a good guy Puck, you just have to show that side of yourself a little more." Kurt explained,

"That's what I thought I was doing," Puck exclaimed motioning to the two of them.

"Being nice to one person, one time is not enough to be worthy of Quinn. I mean think about the fact that she chose Finn when she was pregnant. He's sweet and innocent and caring, you sexted Santana when she was trying to give you a chance to prove that you could be a good dad."

"You know about that?" Puck asked slightly betrayed.

"There is very little Quinn hasn't told me and Mercedes about you," Puck looked at the asphalt sadly. Kurt stopped them once again and used Puck's chin to force him to look him in the eyes. "You are going to be a great man one day, you just have to grow up some. But I mean you're 17, you aren't supposed to be ready to be a dad yet. You are supposed to want to have sex with everything that moves, that's being a teenager. But one day you will be the kind of man Quinn or any woman would deserve." Puck was now looking at Kurt in wonderment and confusion,

"Are you coming on to me, cuz, I can't handle that." Kurt laughed heartily and patted Puck's head patronizingly,

"No, Puck I'm just being a friend." The words slipped out before Kurt could stop them and for a moment he expected to get beaten up all over again.

"Oh good, I think I can do that." Puck smiled and Kurt grinned back, having a badass as friend could be good for him. "So why do you think I'll be a good person?" Puck asked knowing it had to do more than Puck just saving him.

"You remind me of someone." Kurt smiled thoughtfully as they got closer to the truck.

"Who?" Puck asked. Kurt's lips curved up a bit more.

"No one." Puck rolled his eyes but didn't ask anymore. They finished the walk in a surprisingly comfortable silence and Puck helped him into the truck before shutting the door calmly. When he started the beaten up old ford it tried and failed to turn over, Puck groaned in frustration,

"Damn the spark plugs are probably loose." At the same time Kurt said,

"The spark plugs are probably loose." They met each other's stare, surprised but instantly both grinned. Puck jumped out of the truck, lifted his hood and worked under it for several minutes before slamming it shut and getting back in. This time the motor purred, or rather growled to life but Puck smirked at the smaller boy,

"We were right," Kurt smiled back and realized at that moment, that maybe he and Puck had more in common than they realized.

Kurt told him the way to his house as they talked small talk the entire 10 minutes and both found themselves laughing at the other's jokes and every once in a while they would shake their head at the unexpectedness of how much they could relate to each other. True Puck knew nothing of fashion and Broadway, and Kurt knew nothing of Ohio State's seasonal statistics but music, cars, movies and talks of Quinn made the two boys see that they weren't that different.

Upon arriving at Kurt's house, Puck let out a low whistle,

"Damn," he breathed impressed. "I always wondered how you could afford those clothes you wear." Kurt shrugged,

"Dad owns one of only 2 garages in town, he does pretty well."

"I'll say," Puck said, looking up at the 2 story house with a wrap around porch. He put his arm once again around Kurt's torso as they walked slowly up the sideway.

"You may want to brace yourself," Kurt murmured as he saw the front door open furiously.

"WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?" Kurt could hear the fear and worry in his father's voice but all Puck could hear was the anger and he almost released Kurt and ran back to his truck. Instead Kurt held up his hand to stop his father,

"I'm fine Dad, couple of idiots at school got in a few lucky hits but Noah saved me."

"Tell me who did this!" Burt growled though he knew it was fruitless,

"Come on, Dad, we've been through this how many times, you going to school ranting about it would only make things worse." Burt sighed sadly but nodded, it was then he realized that Kurt couldn't walk without help.

"What happened to your leg?"

"They kicked him in the knee," Noah spoke for the first time, his voice coming out harsher than he intended. Kurt sighed and shrugged but then paled,

"Oh god Ms. Sylvester is going to KILL me if I can't practice tomorrow." He moaned, immediately trying to put weight on his knee.

"Stop,"

"Stop," Burt and Puck both scolded and Kurt almost smirked. "You're going to hurt it worse if you force it." Burt continued. Kurt groaned in annoyance but nodded slightly and leaned against his dad to take the weight back off.

"Just rest it tonight and tomorrow you can talk to Ms. Sylvester about it," Puck suggested "Deal?" Kurt exhaled again,

"Ok," he said, heavily.

"Ok," Puck said satisfied as Kurt lifted his foot completely off the ground. "I'll see you tomorrow?" he asked as he began to walk backwards slowly to his truck. Kurt glanced up at his father who met his eyes and instantly saw the question.

"Carole is making meatloaf if you'd care to join us." Kurt offered, smiling as Puck beamed but then as quickly as it had come, the grin fell from the jock's face.

"Actually things still aren't great between me and Finn, so I don't know if that's such a good idea." Puck admitted, scrubbing the sideway unconsciously with his toe.

"Don't be ridiculous, this is my home and you saved my son, you are welcome any time." Burt corrected him, "Now come on, Carole's meatloaf isn't something to be missed." Puck allowed a small, shy smirk to appear,

"It's my favorite actually, I would always eat at their house when Mrs. Hudson was making meatloaf." Both Hummel men smiled as Puck started to walk back towards them. Kurt eyed Puck's clothes skeptically,

"Puck, if you are ever going to win Quinn's heart, we are going to have to start you off with a make-over, starting with those awful undershirts you are so fond of wearing. And those wholly jeans, are going to have to go. And nothing acid washed or faded." Kurt paused, looking at the now wide eyed Noah Puckerman. "You know what, Puck, Saturday, I am taking you shopping." Though Kurt was limping as leaning on his father, Puck could see the very excited strut that Kurt would have been walking if he were able.

"Should I be afraid?" Puck asked Burt softly. Burt shook his head,

"No, son, you should be terrified."

….to be continued. Soon. By at the latest Wednesday night. Please review. Please!