A/N: I wanted to write another Rory slash fic, but this time with another Gleek. And yes, the story will be full of references to the past two seasons.
The first thing Rory Flanagan saw when he arrived at William McKinley High for his first day was a brown-haired boy shoved against a locker by a burly boy in a Letterman jacket. Rory rushed to the boy's side and helped him up.
"Are you okay?" Rory asked the boy who was brushing himself off.
"Yeah, it's a daily ritual for me," the boy replied, combing his hair back with a hand.
"I'm Rory, and I'm new here. Can you help me find my first class?" Rory offered his schedule to the boy.
"I'm Kurt, and yes, I will help you," the boy said, taking the schedule and scanning it. "It seems to be that you're in my first period Algebra class. Come on, I'll show you the way."
"Thanks." Rory grabbed his bag and followed Kurt.
"Kurt, you're late," Mr. Nixon said as Kurt and Rory walked in.
"Sorry, Mr. Nixon, but I was helping Rory find the class," Kurt replied with a shrug.
"Oh, you're the exchange student?" Mr. Nixon asked Rory, who nodded in response. "Class, this is Rory Flanagan from Ireland." Mr. Nixon pulled Rory in front of him. Kurt looked around the room to see mostly expressionless faces staring at the teacher, but he also saw two expression-filled faces, one evil smirk that belonged to football player Wayne "The Ram" Douglas, and the other being a glossy look from Brett, one of McKinley's resident stoners.
"Hi, everyone," Rory said shyly before walking to the last vacant seat, which was right next to Kurt.
"Now, everyone, page 212," Mr. Nixon ordered.
"So you're from Ireland?" Kurt had asked Rory as the two were getting their lunches in the school cafeteria.
"Derry City, Northern Ireland," Rory explained. "My mum, dad, brother, and sister are still over there. I was chosen for the exchange program out of like one hundred other kids."
"That's pretty cool. I always wanted to be exchanged to Paris or something like that." Kurt mused.
"Hey, faggot," a snide voice cut in and Kurt flinched. He looked up to see Wayne Douglas and his two thugs. "Is Ireland your new butt buddy, Hummel?"
"Shut up," Kurt muttered, not wanting another altercation.
"What'd you say?" Douglas leaned in to Kurt, who could smell Douglas' smoke-billowing breath.
"Nothing," Kurt mumbled, leaning away from Douglas.
"I thought so. So, Irish, why are you hanging around with homos like Hummel?" Douglas asked Rory. Rory just looked at Douglas, and then at Kurt, who avoided his gaze.
"Didn't you hear me, Leprechaun?" Douglas snarled. Rory tried to ignore the Neanderthal, but the boy grabbed his arm and pulled him up. "I said did you hear me or are you deaf?" Rory yanked his arm away, surprised by this sudden burst of bravery. He had never been able to stand up to the bullies at his old school.
"Just leave us alone," Rory snapped.
"Wow, the Leprechaun can talk, guys," Douglas sneered and his two thugs laughed stupidly. "What are you gonna do if I don't, huh, Pixie Boy?" Douglas challenged, shoving Rory.
"Don't touch him!" Kurt pushed Douglas and Rory apart.
"Oh, so Pixie Boy is your butt buddy? You're such a fucking fag, Hummel," Douglas laughed as he shoved both Rory and Kurt onto the floor and walked away, his two thugs in tow.
"Sorry about that," Kurt said to Rory, who was shaking.
"It's fine. It's just I never stood up to the jerks before," Rory replied. "Kurt?"
"Hmm?" Kurt looked up at him.
"Do you wanna be my friend?" Rory asked nervously. Kurt smiled.
"Sure," he said.