Title: I Promise You (2/?)
Author: briandoyle86
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Puck/Kurt, Brief Kurt/OMC
Beta: breea1
Summary: Puck witnesses a fight between Kurt and his boyfriend that turns physical when Kurt ends things with the other boy. Rushing to Kurt's defence, two vows are made to Kurt that day. One promises safety, the other promises anguish.
Disclaimer: SOOO not mine! I'm totally playing with someone else's Barbie dolls.
Warnings: AU-ish, Abuse, Graphically Explicit Male on Male Sex, Violence, Romance, Swearing
Word Count: 4736

A/N: Many thanks to all the lovely people out there who have alerted and favourited this story, it means a lot to me to see that you all like it that much. Many thanks also go out to the lovely people that reviewed, it is muchly appreciated! Enjoy my lovelies!

Puck pulled into Kurt's driveway and turned the truck off. "Well, here we are." He reached for the door handle but Kurt's voice made him pause and look over at him.

"Thank you, Noah... for everything." Kurt said, looking down at his hands before looking over at the jock. He was so grateful he had Puck in his life. He really never let the other boy get too close to him before. Maybe part of him was afraid, but afraid of what?

Puck returned the gaze, looking deeply into Kurt's eyes. "Anytime, Kurt."

Could it be he was afraid of getting too close? Yeah, that was it. He was definitely afraid of that happening before. Given their track record of friendliness in the past, Kurt was afraid that Noah would eventually realize that being friends with him wasn't worth taking all the inevitable abuse. That never happened though, and true to their truce, Puck stuck around. Willingly taking the time to get to know him, to laugh with him, hang out with him, and he began to show signs of an actual person with feelings. Kurt immediately put up minor barriers to keep Puck slightly distant. If he hadn't, he definitely would have fallen for the bigger guy and that would have been awful. Their friendship was very new and very fragile and he didn't need to go and develop feelings for the guy just because he was being nice to him. Then he found Tony, and he was suave, handsome, took pride in his appearance and he wasn't Puck. He took Kurt's mind off the boy who went to great lengths to prove himself to Kurt. It wasn't every day Noah Puckerman got the jocks to stop picking on someone, after all. So Kurt threw himself into the relationship with Tony and it worked, a bit. Puck backed off slightly and Kurt's mind became pre-occupied with Tony.

Kurt laughed bitterly to himself, look how well that turned out though. It was an awful mess and Tony proved to not only be the wrong man for him entirely but completely controlling and obsessive. After everything, Puck was still right by his side. Defending him and then picking up the pieces like he had done so many times in the short time span of their friendship.

"Hey dudette!" Puck chuckled to himself at the nickname, and then frowned, getting a good look at Kurt. He looked upset- was he crying? "Hey... you ok?" He sat down beside Kurt cautiously

Kurt glanced at Puck briefly before letting out a shaky sigh, "Hey Noah..."

"What's up buddy? Everything ok?" Pucked rubbed small circles on Kurt's back, "Do you uh... do you want to talk about it?"

Kurt let out another sigh and responded quietly, his voice quivering slightly, "It's Tony.. we had a fight.."

Puck just nodded waiting for Kurt to continue, he knew he wasn't finished, "I just don't get it. He was all happy and fine before and then all the sudden-"Kurt choked on a sob, turning to Puck and hugging him tightly. Puck was caught off guard for second, not sure what to do. He slowly tightened his arms around the soprano in a warm comforting hug, "He's been a-acting really we-weird lately... like everything makes him angry."

Puck just sat there, hugging Kurt tightly, letting him cry out his frustrations. Whispering sweet, comforting words into his ear.

Puck had been amazing that day, Kurt thought. He didn't want Puck to think he was damaged goods though, and that's why he was feeling a little awkward right now. He wanted Puck to know that he didn't need, or want, time to get better because he had nothing to get better from. Tony was wrong for him and so Kurt left him. Tony hitting him, though it sucked completely, was just a confirmation that Kurt was doing the right thing. Despite his best efforts, and his ex-boyfriend's, he had developed feelings for the jock anyway. He wasn't exactly sure but he felt pretty confident that Noah had to have feelings for him too. He had just run to Kurt's rescue and beaten the shit out of his aggressive ex. Then - they had that moment.

He gazed down at the ground, terrified, and confused, Noah, saved him? The same, Noah, that used to throw him in the dumpsters? He knew, Noah, was trying to make ammends, but he didn't really know the jock cared this much. He felt a large, warm, calloused hand gently cup his chin and tip his face up. A pair of big, brown eyes met his, "Hey, are you okay?"

Kurt blinked a few times before speaking softly, "N-Noah...Yeah... I'm..I'm ok." His voice thick with emotion as tears very slowly started to fall.

He felt Noah's hand slowly move to his cheek, and caress it slowly, the sweet gesture actually made Kurt feel safe, and cared for, so he didn't flinch away. Noah seemed to notice this and smiled. Damn those pesky tears, he thought angrily, he was crying again. Noah just continued to smile gently at him though and swiped his thumb across his cheek bones, wiping the tears away. Noah spoke gruffly, "Don't cry, it's gonna be okay. I won't ever let him hurt you again, I promise you. I'll keep you safe - always."

He was surprised with himself at how much he really believed what Noah was saying. That he'd keep, Kurt, safe. It was such a foreign concept to Kurt though, feeling safe with Noah. After all, he had suffered a lot through school at the hands of the jock, but none of that seemed to matter anymore. Noah made him feel safe now- protected...and he liked it. He liked it a lot. He gazed back into Noah's big brown eyes as he nodded in response before falling against him, wrapping his arms tightly around the jock's neck as Noah wrapped his arms around Kurt's small frame holding him tightly.

Yes, Kurt thought, there definitely had to be something there! Puck's voice shook him out of his thoughts. "Kurt? You ok?"

Kurt blinked a few times and then shifted his gaze from the window back to Puck. "Yeah, I am; thanks to you."

Puck smiled and raised his hand to Kurt's face, caressing the soft skin. "It was my pleasure. I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Kurt leaned into the touch slightly and placed his own hand on top of Puck's. Puck grinned and continued on, "Where were you just now? I thought you'd fallen asleep at first."

"Oh, sorry, I was just thinking- " Kurt trailed off not sure how to continue.

"Thinking of what?" Puck encouraged gently.

Kurt took a deep breath then let it out - here goes nothing, he thought. "Of everything...of you. How much I appreciate everything you've done for me. I acted so cold towards you and yet you still stayed. Still did everything you could to make sure I knew you were being serious about making things better between us, and I never let myself appreciate it. I was scared...scared that one day you were going to wake up and realize how stupid you were being and go back to treating me how you did before. You never did though. You stayed strong and silent by my side and even developed a friendship with my friends. When I started dating Tony you still did what you could to show me that you cared and I was too afraid to let myself like it."

Puck shook his head slightly. "Hey, I deserved it. I understood then and I understand now. I did nothing to make you believe that I could be a better person, or that you could trust me. I was a jackass to you and you'll never know how sorry I am. You had no reason to believe that I wasn't secretly planning on bullying you still, but I'm not. I swear to you."

"I know... or at least I know that now and part of me knew that then, too. I was afraid to let you in completely because I didn't want to spoil this new relationship we formed with each other. Having you as a friend meant to much me and I was afraid that...that if I did let you in completely or let myself fully enjoy the closeness of our friendship that I'd develop feelings for you, and it would ruin everything. You'd be disgusted in me and never want anything to do with me again." Kurt looked away from Puck's intense gaze and looked out the window - it was now or never. "But...despite everything, it still happened. Not even throwing myself into my relationship with Tony stopped it from happening, you were too wonderful and... and I developed feelings for you anyway."

Puck's hand cupped Kurt's cheek again and he gently turned Kurt's face back towards him, forcing him to look in his eyes. Puck was nervous, scared, overjoyed and breathless all at the same time. Kurt confessing his feelings to Puck was something he thought he'd only experience in his dreams. He'd dreamt of this moment for awhile now, but now that it had actually happened he found himself mentally stumbling all over the place. He didn't want to come on too strongly, but the intense and anxious look in Kurt's eyes urged Puck on.

"Kurt, I..." Puck swallowed nervously, laughing to himself silently at the sound of his voice cracking like some pre-pubescent boy. He lightly ran his thumb over the soft skin of Kurt's cheek bone and powered on, "I have feelings for you too. I have for a while now and I was never quite sure how to go about expressing them or even if I should express them at all. I know I've been a shit to you in the past and I've done nothing to make you believe I deserve a chance, but that's all I can hope for. A chance to prove I'm better than that; that I'm better than Tony. I'll do anything to prove you can trust me. What I saw today..." Puck shook his head a far away look crossing his features before looking deeply into Kurt's eyes. "I can't experience that again. I can't stand by... no, I refuse to stand by and watch him hurt you."

Kurt's eyes began to water and he whispered brokenly, "Oh Noah..."

"I mean it, Kurt. You deserve better than that. You deserve a man who'll...do shit for you. Stuff he wouldn't do for just anybody..." Puck sighed frustrated with himself. This wasn't coming out the way he wanted it too. He struggled to find the right words to say " You deserve a guy who can be a man and treat you like the fucking princess you are.." Puck's eyes widened and he held his hands up as if to stop Kurt from running out of the truck in a huff of anger. He rushed on frantically, "No..that's not- that's not I meant! That didn't come out right. I just mean... you're so fucking incredible. You're amazing, and smart, and funny, and beautiful. You're special Kurt, and a man should treat you that way. I'm not saying that I'm that man- but I could be." There, he said it. It was all out in the open now, left for Kurt to do with it as he will. He had never been this anxious in his life!

Kurt took a deep breath. Never in his life did he ever think this would happen. His response was immediate and didn't even have to think twice about it. "So be that man."

Four words; four simple words that expressed everything Puck had never known he wanted up to a few short moths ago. Puck's touch on Kurt's cheek remained firm as he slowly leaned forward. Kurt's eyes fluttered closed and his lips parted in anticipation. He was so close-

All the single ladies, all the single ladies, all the single ladies, all the single ladies... Kurt's phone sang out from his bag that rested between them. Kurt's eyes flew open, disappointment coursing through his veins. Of course, he thought, of course someone felt the need to call him now. He opened his bag and reached for his phone, pulling it out. It was his Dad; he should have known he'd get worried and call.

"Hey, Dad." Kurt answered, shooting Puck an apologetic look. Puck smiled and mouthed 'It's okay'. Puck wanted to smash his forehead against his steering wheel several times in frustration. He had been so close to actually kissing Kurt, why couldn't the fates have given him one more minute?

"Hey, Kurt you okay? Where are you?"

"Yeah I'm okay, Dad. I just pulled into the driveway."

"Oh... okay. I never saw Tony's car so I wasn't sure..."

"Yeah, we...uh...I broke up with him. Noah drove me home."

"Oh...Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm ok. I ran into Noah after and was talking to him about it. He gave me a ride home... I'm, uh... I'm still in his car actually."

"Oh...well, uh... do you two want to come in?"

"Just a second, Dad," Kurt held his hand against the receiver and looked at Puck. "My Dad wants to know if you want to come inside."

Puck nodded, smiling a little, he already couldn't say no to Kurt. "Yeah, absolutely,"

Kurt pressed the phone against his ear again, smiling. "We'll be right in, Dad."

Puck held the door open for Kurt before walking inside himself. Burt stood in the entrance way looking at both them before turning a scrutinizing eye on Puck. Puck shifted uncomfortably under the stare before reaching out to shake hands with Burt, smiling. "Hello sir. I'm Noah Puckerman."

Burt nodded and shook hands with Puck "Nice to meet you, Noah. Thanks for giving my boy a ride home."

"You're welcome, I was happy to."

Burt turned to back to Kurt. "So... everything okay?"

Kurt walked over and hugged his Dad. Squeezing tightly, he responded, "Yes... everything's fine now."

Burt pulled away slightly so he could get a look at Kurt's face. His expression darkened when he saw the big welt forming on Kurt's cheek. "What happened? Who the hell gave that to you?"

Kurt flinched away slightly from his Dad's touch. He pulled away and looked past him at a spot on the wall before focusing back on his father. "It's nothing... it was an accident."

Puck stood there awkwardly not really sure what to do. Should he leave, should he stay? Should he speak up on Kurt's behalf? Burt's voice interrupted his thoughts. "Don't give me that! Accidents don't leave welts on your face!"

Kurt sighed in defeat, confessing, "Tony happened... I broke up with him and he got angry."

Burt sucked in a breath, his face going red with anger. "That miserable son-of-a...I'll kill him, I'll-"

"Dad, it's okay." Kurt tried to interrupt.

"How is this okay, Kurt? Tony-"

"It's okay because Noah was there!" Kurt interrupted again, surprising both himself and Burt at the strength in his voice. He continued on softly, "Noah showed up Dad. He defended me... he protected me, kept Tony from hurting me even more. It's over with Tony now. This only proved I was making the right choice ending it with him. I appreciate your concern but I assure you I'm okay."

Burt gave Puck a look and hugged his son again. "Okay, I'll drop it. If he tries anything else though, I swear to God, I'll kill him"

Puck didn't doubt it either. Burt looked like he was already planning on what his weapon of choice would be and where exactly he was going to stash the body. He had to bite his lip to keep himself from chuckling - then he thought about Burt giving him that look and he suddenly didn't feel like laughing anymore. He really hoped Burt would approve of him dating his son because he was fully planning on courting Kurt whether Burt liked it or not. It would just make things so much easier if Burt liked him though. He was hoping saving his son and protecting him was a good start.

Kurt laughed and pulled out of the hug. "I know, Dad, trust me. I don't doubt it for a second." He gave his father a peck on the cheek. "I can pretty much guarantee Noah's already half way succeeded though." he said chuckling, looking over at Puck.

Burt looked at Puck impressed, smirking slightly. "Really?"

Puck cleared his throat and gave a nod. "Yes sir. You see... I feel very protective of your son. So when the guy decided to be a dick head and get physical I figured it was only fair that I re-arrange his face."

Burt smiled. "Well thank you. It's much appreciated... my boy here... he's all I have. I don't know what I'd do if he ever got hurt." Kurt rolled his eyes and was about to say something but Burt cut him off and continued, "Would you like to stay for dinner? It's the least I can do."

Puck allowed himself to look at Kurt for the first time since stepping into the house, asking him silently if Kurt would allow him to stay. 'Eyes above the shoulders, Puckerman, eyes above the shoulders'. He silently told himself afraid Burt would castrate him should he catch him looking anywhere else. Kurt smiled and nodded a yes, biting his lip shyly. "Sure, Mr. Hummel," Puck smiled but kept his gaze locked on Kurt's face. "That'd be great."

Burt watched the exchange with a smile before shaking his head "Alright go on, you two; I'll call you when dinner's ready."

Puck walked over to Kurt and gave him a lop sided smile making Kurt giggle. He escorted Kurt to the door leading down to Kurt's bedroom and grinned before swinging his arm out in front of him, "After you, my dear!"

Before they knew it dinner came and went and Puck had never felt so full in his life. Who knew barbequed steak could taste that good? Getting up from the table he smiled in thanks over at Burt. "Thank you very much, Burt, that was awesome!"

"It was my pleasure, son. You heading home now?"

"Yeah, I think I should, my mom's probably wondering where I am." Puck said, heading towards the door. He didn't really want to go yet, but he didn't want to overstay his welcome either. He didn't want Kurt to feel crowded.

"You're going already?" Kurt replied, disappointed

Puck stopped at the edge of the kitchen and turned around. "I don't have to. I could just call my Mom... you know... if you wanted me too?" Puck said rubbing the back of his mohawk.

Kurt bit his lip again and grinned. "I'd like that."

A huge smile bloomed across the larger boy's face. "Alright then; gimme a sec to call." Puck pulled his phone out and dialled the number while Kurt got up and cleared away the dishes putting them in the dishwasher.

"Hey Ma, it's me...yeah, I'm okay...I'm fine, Ma I swear. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner something... something came up... No it's okay, Ma, I swear... I'm, uh, I'm at Kurt's place right now...yup... no, we had dinner... yeah... not too sure when I'll be home...I will, Ma... I'm working on it, Ma...I love you too...bye." Puck hung his phone up and put it back in his pocket before looking back at Kurt who was now standing in front of him. He smiled. "Hi."

"Hi." Kurt replied softly. He tugged on Puck's hand and pulled him towards the door to his room.

Puck grinned and followed him down the stairs. Once at the bottom he tugged Kurt towards him and wrapped his arms around his waist, pulling him close. "I'm glad you asked me to stay."

Kurt pressed his face against his chest, tightening his hold. "I'm glad you wanted to stay."

"I didn't actually wanna go," Puck confessed, "I just didn't want you to think I was crowding you or something."

Kurt looked up at that. "What do you mean? I'd never think that."

He unconsciously pulled Kurt closer as he continued, looking down into Kurt's blue-green eyes. "I just... I don't want you to think I'm rushing you or some shit like that. I really, really, like you, Kurt. Like, a lot. I'm willing to wait as long as you need me to until you.. you know, feel ready and shit... like to start anything with me.. like dating or whatever. That is... assuming you want to start anything with me."

"Oh god, yes-" Kurt stopped, shocking himself with how much he really meant that. "I mean- are you asking...?"

Puck smiled. "Yes... hell, yes."

"Then, yes, I do. You don't have to tip toe around me and act all cautious. I trust you." Though a very small part of Kurt thought he should wait, he didn't want a repeat of what happened with Tony

Puck nodded, gazing deeply into Kurt's eyes. "Okay." He brushed a few strands of hair off Kurt's face resting his hand on his cheek. It was quickly becoming one of his favourite things to do. He tipped Kurt's head up a bit and leaned closer, pausing mere inches away from his lips and whispered, his voice raspy, "Kurt... can I kiss you?"

"Please."

Puck closed the distance between him, pressing his lips against Kurt's warm, soft ones. He pulled Kurt closer and moved his hand to the back of Kurt's neck holding him in place as he gently ran his tongue along Kurt's bottom lip. Mmm...strawberries, Puck thought to himself. Kurt gasped into the kiss and Puck took the opportunity to deepen it, licking against his tongue as he slid it past Kurt's lips and exploring every inch of the soprano's mouth. He slowly ran his other hand down Kurt's back to his ass and gave it a generous squeeze. He smiled against Kurt's mouth when the brunette let out a yelp of surprise. Kurt broke the kiss to take a deep breath and moaned when Puck's mouth began kissing, sucking and nipping at the sensitive flesh on his neck, right behind his ear. He made his way down Kurt's neck, leaving a trail of sloppy wet kisses, stopping once he reached the skin right above his collar bone, sucking lightly. He wanted to leave a mark claiming Kurt as his own so everyone would know he belonged to him.

"Oh God, Noah..." Kurt panted, throwing his head back to give Puck better access. Puck sucked harder on the flesh, a very dark purple colour already starting to form under Puck's lips. He smiled proudly at it and made his way back up to Kurt's lips, claiming them in a searing kiss. Puck broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Kurt's, both of them panting for air.

"Wow." Puck broke the silence

"Wow." Kurt agreed, resting his head on Puck's shoulder and hugging him. Puck returned the embrace and the two stood there in a comfortable silence for a couple minutes. Puck scooped Kurt up, effortlessly it seemed, and carried him over to the couch. He sat down with Kurt in his lap and laughed when Kurt snuggled closer to him - he could definitely get used to this.

Brittany watched as Mercedes paced the room back and forth, it was starting to make her feel dizzy. She brought her hand up to the side of her head and closed her eyes, shaking the feeling away. "Mercedes, you're making me dizzy!"

"I'm sorry, but I can't help it! Kurt still hasn't stirred his skinny ass and called me yet to tell me how things went this afternoon and it's, like, seven o' clock now! I don't know if he's dead, alive, injured, or perfectly fine!" Mercedes exclaimed, exasperated.

"Maybe he's talking to Puck?" Brittany suggested.

"Maybe... I guess it could be a possibility. I mean... he's never called Puck to bitch about things before though. He never really wanted too, Puck and Kurt have never really been that close."

"Yeah, I guess... Hmm...well..." Brittany scrunched her nose again, gazing at the wall. "Maybe he's bailing his dad out of jail?"

Mercedes burst out laughing and looked over at Brittany in confused surprise. "What? Where would you get an idea like that?"

"Burt's always been very protective of Kurt. Maybe Kurt told him that he broke up with Tony 'cause he was being like... all like, telling him what to do and stuff. Burt probably snapped and actually killed him! He'd totally do it, too. I saw him kill this big spider one time!"

Mercedes blinked a few times before responding, "Okay, so killing a spider is different than killing a person, but I actually agree with you. Kurt's Dad would totally snap if he found out how awful Tony was."

"Yeah, have you tried calling Kurt?" Brittany asked suddenly.

"Yes! I've called him three times! ARRGGGHH! Hmm.. Maybe I'll try calling one more time."

"Couldn't hurt" Brittany shrugged and then happily played with a piece of string on her bed as Mercedes called Kurt.

Puck heard Kurt's phone go off. He shook him lightly whispering in his ear, "Kurt... baby... your phone's ringing."

Kurt frowned. "I'm too comfy, I don't wanna get up."

Puck chuckled, "It could be Mercedes. You should answer it."

Kurt sighed and got up. "Ugh.. you're right..." He walked over to his bag and pulled his phone out, answering it, "Hello?"

"Hey Kurt, it's me!"

"Hey girl, what's up?"

"Oh, you know, just called to ask how to make brownies. Hello? How'd it go? Are you alright? You never called me! I've called you three times already!"

Oh yeah. He knew he'd forgotten to do something. "I'm sorry, Mercedes, I got distracted." He walked back over to Puck and sat back down in his lap, smiling up at Puck when he wrapped his arms around him.

"Yeah, yeah. So are you okay?"

"Yes. I'm okay. Tony, uh... he didn't take it very well... but uhm... Noah was... he was there." Kurt bit his lip, not really sure how to tell her what happened.

"Oh God, I didn't think he wou- wait... what do you mean Puck was there?"

"When I... when I told Tony it was over he snapped..." Puck squeezed him supportively. "He got all angry and was screaming and... I told him it was over again. He got really quiet and this... and this cold, creepy look appeared on his face." Kurt heard Mercedes take a sharp breath in. "He asked me to repeat what I said... but as I started to..." Kurt swallowed and Puck held Kurt tighter, showing him he wasn't alone, that Puck was right there holding him. "He hit me."

"WHAT? That fucking asshole! I'll-"

Kurt held the phone away from his ear for a second then brought it back. "Mercedes it's okay. I'm okay. That's when Noah showed up. I didn't even know he was still around. Tony hit me and I fell to the ground, before I knew it Noah was there, letting Tony have it. He's with me right now actually."

"Oh my God... thank God he was still around at school... Oh God I don't even want to think what might have happened if he-"

Kurt cut Mercedes off. "I know; me too."

"So, he's still with you now, huh? Does this mean...?"

Kurt grinned; he'd known she'd ask. "Yes, It does."