"I can't believe you did that, you're an idiot," Kurt sighed, pressing a fresh wad of tissues to Puck's split lip.
"I'd have done a hell of a lot more if Beiste hadn't walked in," Puck grumbled, snatching the compress from Kurt's hand. "That asshole had it coming to him."
"Look at your face!" Kurt exclaimed, standing up. "Your lip's probably going to scar. I hardly think Karofsky's worth that."
"Relax," Puck grinned, "I'm still a stud. Besides, we're both in glee club now. We have to stick together. That means jerks like Karofsky don't get away with pushing you around."
"Well, that's very sweet of you," Kurt sighed. "But there was no need to get yourself hurt. I can take care of myself." He fetched the disinfectant spray from the first aid kit and handed it to Puck.
"Can you, though?" Puck challenged, taking the bottle and applying it to the cut. "Because I'm not sure if you remember, but the last time you stood up to him, he raped your face."
"Yes, I did actually remember that, thank you very much. Not least because it happened about 24 hours ago."
"Well, now he knows that if he touches you again, he'll have me to deal with, right?"
Kurt rolled his eyes. "I don't know if you noticed, Puckerman, but he did just as much damage to you as you did to him."
"Whatever. I'm not finished with him yet."
"Just leave it, Puck. I appreciate you sticking up for me, but I don't want you getting hurt in the process. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go, I'm going to be late."
"Late for what?" Puck asked, standing up too.
"If you must know, I'm meeting a friend for coffee. He doesn't go here."
"Oh, I get it. Is he like, your boyfriend?" Puck asked, casually tossing the bloodstained wad of tissues in the trash. "No," Kurt blushed. "We're just friends."
"Aw, Hummel," Puck smirked, tapping Kurt lightly on the cheek. "You're blushing. You've got a crush."
"I, no, I just-"
"See you around, Hummel," Puck grinned, as he walked away.
"So, what, he just forced himself on you? That's disgusting," Blaine sneered, the disgust clearly visible on his face.
"Yes, it was so weird. I mean, he's bullied me forever, I never would've guessed that it was because he... Whatever. What's done is done."
"No, Kurt, it's not. Who's to say he won't do it again? Who's to say that next time he'll stop at kissing. I'm worried about you, Kurt. You don't have anyone at that school to stick up for you."
Kurt's eyes widened as he considered what Blaine was implying. "You think he'd...? No. He wouldn't. He couldn't. Besides, I do have someone to stick up for me. Noah Puckerman, the last person you'd expect. He's a total jock, he actually bullied me last year. But he's been really sympathetic about this, he even got into a fight with Karofsky over it."
"I just still feel uncomfortable knowing you're there alone, with no one to protect you but your former tormentor. You deserve better than that, Kurt."
"I appreciate your concern, but really, I can handle it. If it makes you feel more at ease, I'll text you at the slightest hint of trouble. You'll be the first to know, okay?"
"...Okay," Blaine smiled weakly, knowing it's the best he'll get. Kurt smiled back.
No, no, no. This cannot be happening. No, no, no. Kurt's the last in the showers after gym class, as he always is. He can't deal with the abuse he gets when he showers with the guys, all of them sure he's about to pounce on them, because they're so damn irresistible and he's a sex fiend with no restraint. He's usually alone in the locker room, but he just heard the clang of a locker closing. Someone was in there. Kurt doesn't even consider that it may be someone other than Karofsky, he's frozen with fear. As he hears footsteps approach the showers, he looks around desperately for a way out that won't lead him straight into Karofsky. The thought of being alone with him is bad enough, but the thought of being alone with him when he's completely naked except for a flimsy towel? That's terrifying. Blaine's fears come rushing back into Kurt's head, and all he can do is stand there, staring stupidly at the the figure enters the shower room, Kurt practically melts with relief.
"Puck," he laughs, "It's you."
Puck starts. "Woah, I thought everyone was gone home. Uh, hey, Hummel," Puck says, somewhat uncomfortably, and Kurt realises he had been staring. He averts his eyes and covers himself with a towel.
"I, uh. I thought you were Karofsky," he explains. "I was scared." Stop staring, stop staring, stop staring!
Puck smirks. "I told you, I handled it. Stop worrying about him."
Kurt blushes as Puck makes his way over to a shower, realising that in order to shower, he's going to have to remove the towel from around his waist, and oh god stop staring, stop staring, stop staring!
"I, um," Kurt stammers. "I have to go, I, uh, bye!" Kurt grabs his supplies and rushes out to his locker. When the hell did he decide to find Noah Puckerman attractive? Sure, he always knew he was sexy, in a rugged, bad boy kind of way, and girls were always falling all over him, but Kurt had never been attracted to Puck. Maybe it was just the fact that he was confronted by a practically naked guy with a great body that had gotten Kurt so worked up, and not the fact that he had been confronted by a practically naked Puck. He shook it off, and set about getting dressed. He made his way over to the mirror to style his hair, when he heard Noah approach him.
"Hey," he smiled without looking away from the mirror, in a manner he hoped came across as nonchalant. When Puck didn't reply, Kurt turned to look at him, and gasped. It wasn't Puck. It was Karofsky.
"You told Puckerman that we kissed," he said through gritted set his jaw.
"We didn't kiss." Kurt started calmly. "You kissed me. I tried to fight you off."
"Yeah? You fucking wish," Karofsky spat, stepping closer to Kurt and grabbing me by the jaw. "You're going to tell Puckerman you made this up," he growled, their faces inches apart. "And you're not going to mention it to anyone else. Or I'll kill you." He stared into Kurt's eyes for a moment, before shoving him roughly against the locker and storming off. Kurt slid slowly to the floor, his heart pounding ferociously, the locker room around him a faint haze of undefined colour.
"Hummel. Hummel!" It was Puck, gently shaking his shoulder. "Are you okay? Was that Karofsky I just saw running outta here? What's going on? Goddammit, Hummel, talk to me."
Kurt turned to look at Puck, his eyes brimming with pure terror, his lip quivering slightly.
"Right, I don't give a fuck. He obviously did something to you, I'm gonna kill the creep." Puck stormed out of the room, and Kurt closed his eyes and tried to draw in deep, slow breaths. After a few minutes, he stood up and picked up his bag. Just as he was about to leave, Puck returned.
"He's gone," Puck told him, punching a locker hard. "I can't find him anywhere. The bastard must've heard me coming. What happened?"
Kurt took a deep breath. "I, he said I, he's going to-" Kurt broke into a course of rough sobs, which shook his entire body. Puck edged over slowly and put a hand on Kurt's shoulder. Without even thinking, Kurt threw himself into Puck's arms and cried harder. Puck hugged him back awkwardly, gently rubbing his back. They stayed like that for a minute or two, until Kurt pulled back quickly, looking for a second like he had no idea how he got there.
"Oh god, I'm so sorry."
"Um, don't be," Puck mumbled. "Now will you please tell me what the fuck happened?"
"He," Kurt sighed. "He said he was going to kill me."
"He said what?" Puck exploded. "He has really fucking crossed the line this time. He's really gonna get it now. I swear. He's gonna wish he never fucking laid eyes on you."
"Noah, don't do anything stupid," Kurt began tentatively.
"He threatened to fucking kill you. I'm not gonna let that slide." Puck was furious. He was a little scary like this, but because Kurt knew it wasn't directed at him, it was kind of comforting, in a way.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Kurt told him softly.
"Why the fuck do you even care?" Puck asked, his tone less vicious than it had been.
"I could ask you the same question," Kurt all but whispered.
They looked at each other for a moment longer, each trying to figure the other out, before Puck turned his face away and walked silently out of the room.
