Edited by I AM AIR
Kurt sulked in his car as he drove around town. There was no way he was going to Mercedes since she would pry all the details about what was going on out of him, but by saying her name he got an all night pass to be out late. He knew it wasn't right and could bite him in the butt later, but for right now he just wanted to mope.
As he was passing Barb's diner, he saw a familiar beat up pick-up in the back. Turning around, he parked and cautiously walked in. He knew that the football team sometimes hung out together and he didn't want to be anywhere near most of them at school much less during his free time. But if Puck was there alone, it would at least pass some time bantering with the other boy until he went home.
He looked to see the place completely packed. It wasn't a surprise as Barb's was the town favorite eatery 15 years running. As he craned his head around the corner to see if the football team was there, Barb's voice came from behind him.
"You're Noah's friend from last night." Barb said with a smile.
Kurt blushed lightly as he turned to face Barb. He had hoped not to get noticed but apparently his sleuthing skills needed work. "Yes, ma'am."
Barb smiled. "Well, he's not up there. He's in the back lounging. I'll take you back."
Kurt hung his head like a child who had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar but followed Barb anyway. They went through the kitchen to what looked like a break room. Puck was sitting there flirting with one of the bakers.
"Noah, look who I found up front trying to find you." Barb said as she pushed Kurt towards the table. "I'll get you a menu so you can eat something. You're completely skin and bones."
Kurt blushed a little deeper. Great, now not only was he bad at sneaking around, he couldn't feed himself and Puck knew he was looking for him. He might never live this down.
Puck looked to see Kurt meekly standing in the doorway and started laughing. "I knew you wanted to replace me, but coming two nights in a row? Seriously, Hummel, you got to let them miss you a little."
The petite baker laughed. "You're here almost every night, Puck. We can't get rid of you." She was older, about Barb's age, but clearly enjoyed the flirty nature Puck had.
"Oh Sally, you wound me." He said dramatically covering his heart. He then wiggled his eyebrow. "Want to kiss it and make it all better."
Sally laughed and walked away. "I'm done with my break. Are you sure you can cover for me tonight?"
Puck nodded. "No problem. Have fun with the husband and kids."
Kurt looked at Puck in amusement. It seemed like Barb's was an extra-dimensional portal where Puck was actually human-like. He was kind and considerate. It was a weird side to see from the school horn-dog.
"Pull up a chair and tell me what you're doing here on a Friday night." Puck said as he pushed a chair out for Kurt with his feet.
Kurt daintily sat on the vinyl fold-up chair. "I could be asking you the same question. The Puckasaurus doesn't have plans on a Friday night?"
Puck shrugged and folded his arms over his chest. "Ever since baby-gate not too many girls are willing to check out the action." Puck smirks, "The curse of strong swimmers."
Kurt shook his head. There was a wonderful image. Puck's little sperms swimming to an egg. It was almost enough never to have sex, ever.
"Eww. Thanks for that image." Kurt said as he looked around.
The kitchen was clean, if not a little cluttered. It had the feel of well used and well loved materials. Kurt started to relax, because it almost felt like being in his dad's shop with all the tools of the car trade surrounding him. It felt like this was really a place where people came because they enjoyed the work and not just because they needed the pay.
"So you never answered my question." Puck said as he watched Kurt.
Kurt looked at Puck, who looked like he belonged in the back of the kitchen. Heck, Puck made it look like he belonged wherever he went. Kurt knew he gave off a cold wave of indifference around most people making himself seem snobbish but Puck's devil-may-care attitude worked much better around most people. They seemed to flock to him even with the crude comments and lack of manners. "Didn't feel like dealing with my dad or the questions from Mercedes so here I am."
Puck nodded as if he is agreeing but seemed a little unfocused on the conversation. "This calls for food. I'm starved, man and since Barb thinks you're anorexic, you should eat, too."
Kurt was confused by the change of topic until he smelt the freshly baked bread wafting in. "Good idea but won't Barb get mad if we don't tell her what we want."
Puck moved to a rack holding aprons and took two out. He put one on and handed the other to Kurt. "Maybe but maybe not."
Puck took out a bandana from his pocket and tied it on his head as he moved to the kitchen. Kurt took off his designer jacket and draped it over the back of his seat before putting the white apron on. At least, white went with most of what he was wearing that day.
Kurt watched from just inside the kitchen doorway as Puck navigated his way through the tricky kitchen. He picked up pieces here and there, and then started to cook on the stove closest to Kurt. Kurt was mesmerized. Sure, he cooked for his dad and himself but Puck seemed so into the moment of cooking. It was like something out of a cooking show. A few minutes later, Puck took his creation off the stove and moved to grill the chicken.
Kurt's mouth was watering by the time Puck was done. It looked delicious.
There was a soft laughter next to Kurt. Barb had been standing there watching Kurt watch Puck. "He is something to watch when he's like that. He doesn't do it often mostly because he doesn't want the cooks to get upset but he has a knack for it."
Kurt turned to Barb. "How much do we owe you for dinner?"
Barb smiled. "Hun, Noah's been eating for free here for years. His mom and I are old friends. I used to babysit him sometimes and he has always loved this kitchen. If you want to pay anyone, give it to Noah. Such a good kid, helping out here for extra money for his mom. Good worker, too."
Puck looked up suspiciously at the pair as he put the veggies on the plates. Kurt shook his head and turned back to Barb. "Thank you, ma'am."
"Oh hun, call me Barb and if you'll excuse me, I have people up front dying of hunger." Barb moved past Kurt and grabbed a few plates of food to serve up.
Puck motioned Kurt closer and pushed one of the plates towards him. The plate had grilled chicken with what seemed to be a honey dressing. It looked like it should have been on the cover of a cookbook.
The pair went back to their table in the back where Puck immediately started eating. For a few minutes, Kurt just watched. Maybe, there was more to Puck than a dumb jock.
"I realize that you might not understand this but you have to eat the food. It doesn't magically get into your stomach no matter how much fairy dust you use." Puck had laughter in his eyes as he spoke.
And then again maybe not.
Kurt glared at Puck but started to eat his dinner. From the first bite, Kurt thought it was the best thing he had ever eaten. Kurt gasped lightly.
Puck smirked. "Got some of my meat in your mouth and you get all orgasmy. God, you're gay, Hummel."
Kurt blushed deeply. He didn't have a reply for that. "Shut up, Puck."
"Aww, the princess is all hot and bothered." Puck said as he ate another bite.
They ate in silence for a few minutes. Both enjoying the delicious food. "So how did you learn to cook?" Kurt said as he finished his main course.
Puck looked at him for a few seconds before answering. "My mom worked a lot of long nights when I was little, so I started cooking for me and my sister."
"Oh." Kurt said. He wasn't completely expecting a real answer.
Puck smiled a little. "Bet you weren't expecting that." Kurt shook his head. "Told ya I could be nice if I wanted to." Puck smirked as he started on the veggies.
Kurt watched Puck for the rest of the night as if he had never seen the boy before. In a way, he hadn't. Puck was still flirty with any... well, any woman at all, but it seemed out of sorts with what he learned today. Puck could be as considerate as he was a pig. Puck also seemed just as loud and brash as always but Kurt found it funny rather than crass. Maybe it really wasn't Puck that had changed but Kurt finally being able to see past the egoist mask that the boy had on most days.
A little while after they finished eating, Puck took their plates and started to do the dishes. Not just theirs but seemingly all the dishes for the diner. Kurt watched for a while before trying to help Puck with the clean up. All Kurt got for his offer was a deep growl from Puck. Putting his hands up in defeat, Kurt leaned back and giggled as Puck started to sing dirty limericks as he cleaned. It was a weird but calming way to spend a Friday night.
Barb kicked the pair out somewhere near eleven o'clock saying that they should find something better than loiter in her kitchen on a Friday night. Kurt knew he was pushing it as far as curfew went but amazingly he wanted to hang out with Puck for a while longer. The jock wasn't so bad when he wasn't acting like a complete ass.
Kurt started to move towards his car. He turned back to see Puck head over to his pick up.
"Well, I'll see." Puck said as he got in his truck and took off.
"Yeah, see ya." Kurt said as he got into his car. Unlike the night before, he was in no rush to get home. He was sure no one would notice him coming up home late if they were half as involved in fixing Finn's car as they were in the game last night. Anyway with an excuse like Mercedes, his dad wouldn't even ask what they were up to. Most of the time, Kurt could see his dad's eyes glaze over when he tried to tell him about what had happened at her house. Kurt didn't really take it personally because he knew he did the same thing when his dad started talking about some football game that he had watched when he was in his teens. Both of the Hummels knew when to just sit back and nod at the appropriate times to keep the peace.
He went half way up the driveway and stopped because Finn's car was in his normal spot. He wasn't that upset since it was necessary for the car to be in garage to get a good look at what was wrong. Kurt, however, couldn't say that he was happy about it either. He walked up to Finn and Burt, who were leaning under the hood still.
"Hey guys." Kurt said holding his bag close to him.
Burt looked up and smiled. "Hey, Kurt. You're back. How was your night?"
Kurt smiled widely. "It was pretty good."
Burt looked a little confused. "Your manicure was that much fun was it."
Kurt's smile faltered for a second. "Yes, it was."
Burt smiled. "You know your mom loved her days off. She would always call some of her friend and do mini spa days, too."
Kurt flushed. Finn was standing right next to his dad looking just as uncomfortable as he was.
Kurt plastered a smile on. "I'm exhausted though so I'll see you tomorrow. Night. Go to bed soon." Kurt gave his dad a hug mindful of the grease on his overalls.
Burt hugged him back. "Night, kid."
Kurt went down to his bedroom and put his things down. He started to take off the layers of makeup he always used and looked at himself. His dad always said that he looked like his mom. Most of the time Kurt could see it. But right now he saw his dad's chin, his dad's hands, his dad's forehead and even his dad's eyes. So maybe he did look more delicate than his dad, but he knew if he was really that soft, the almost daily dumpster dives would have destroyed him. If he was really that weak, he wouldn't be able to tell off the dumb jocks who jerked him around all the time. If he was really that fragile, he wouldn't be able to give up his dream to sing Defying Gravity at sectionals just to save his dad some grief over his son being gay. So why didn't his dad see himself in his son?
Kurt shook his head. No, he was stronger than that. He wasn't going to cry over something like this. He was stronger than that. He was a Hummel.
Kurt's phone buzzed. He reached into his bag and grabbed his always stylish iPhone. There was a message from a number he didn't know. Curious, he opened it.
"Princess U 4got ur coat. school mday"
Kurt's eyes widened. Cheese on a stick. He loved that coat. He had had it for years and it finally was perfectly sized.
Kurt texted back a little cheeky. "Thank you, Noah."
An instant later another message appeared saying "Puck Princess Puck."
Kurt smiled. "I'll use your name when you use mine."
The next post was a simple "W/E"
Kurt looked up at the mirror at his smile. It was a happy smile. Weird that he could smile when he was so hurt. He looked at the rest of his skin care regiment waiting to be begun and then his bed. Missing out on one day couldn't hurt that much could it?
He got up from his vanity, changed into his comfiest PJs, and got under his sheets. He had placed his phone next to the head of the bed as he always did and started charging it. Looking at the number on the phone, he put a name to it. "Noah."