Disclaimer: Surely you know by now that Glee does not belong to me.

Beyond the Pain

Chapter 4

Puck was really looking forward to the end of Glee rehearsal. He and Kurt had a standing…

what?

It wasn't like a date. No, it was more like a 'meet and greet'. He smirked at that thought.

They would always get together after Glee because that was when they seemed to need each other the most. They had found an unused classroom to meet in. Of course, they could have just met off school grounds, but it was too complicated trying to find a place to get together… and sometimes they didn't want to take the extra time.

Puck knew this was going to be one of those times as he watched Finn walk over to Kurt. Why didn't Finn just leave him alone? Puck had a theory that Finn got off on Kurt's fawning all over him, but he knew to keep his ideas to himself. Still, Kurt was probably going to need back-up.

As he moved closer, his suspicions were confirmed.

"You know ... we haven't hung out in a while, Kurt," he heard Finn say.

"I've been busy, Finn," the other boy replied simply.

"I know… me, too."

Kurt just stared at him. He looked annoyed, and Puck was glad to see that instead of the sadness he usually wore around the quarterback.

"It's just," Finn said in a quieter voice, "I've missed you, Kurt."

Puck almost punched his ex-best friend right then. Really, what kind of thing was that to say?

He could see the sadness and longing return to Kurt's eyes, although the other boy had tried to hide it.

"I thought maybe we could just hang out… like we used to."

"He can't," Puck said, interrupting them. "He's busy."

They both looked at him in surprise.

"We're supposed to be finishing that science project, Hummel. I hope you didn't forget… 'cuz you're not leaving me to do it all by myself."

"Of course, I remember," Kurt snapped, but Puck could hear the relief in his voice… and was there a twinge of regret? Did Kurt really want to go with Finn? Probably, but Puck wasn't going to let him get sucked in again.

Finn just glared at Puck, and he returned the look angrily. He was tempted once again to just start pounding on him.

Kurt must have realized this judging by his next statement.

"I'll be with you in a minute, Puck. Meet you in the same place as last time?"

"Yeah," he replied before reluctantly leaving…

Just walk away…

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Puck waited patiently at their meeting place. He really hoped Kurt hadn't succumbed to Finn's dejected puppy dog act. Otherwise, he might have to hunt them down and… well, he wouldn't think about that.

He felt impatient, although, he was used to being at their meeting place well before Kurt. After all, Kurt had friends he had to separate from after Glee. That was something Puck didn't have to worry about. No one stopped him to chat about what they were doing later. No one really cared…

"Oh, God, Noah," Kurt breathed as he rushed into the room. "Thank you!"

"No prob, babe."

"I am not your babe," Kurt said as he kissed him softly.

"Would you rather I called you dude?"

But Kurt wasn't listening. He was holding on to Puck tightly, and his body seemed to be shaking.

Puck pulled back confirming his suspicions. Kurt had tears streaming down his face.

"Damn," Puck swore softly. "I'm going to kill him."

Kurt laughed a little through his tears.

"No need for that…" he said. "It's my fault, not Finn's."

"Not true, Kurt. He shouldn't string you along like this."

"He doesn't even know how I feel, Noah."

"Really, Kurt? I wouldn't be so sure."

"Why do you say that?" he asked quietly through his sobs.

"Do you remember when Matt got a spider in his ear? He was out for a whole week."

"Yeah," Kurt said obviously confused.

"When he got back… I can guarantee you that none of the other guys said… 'I missed you, Matt'. Guys… Well, they just don't say stuff like that to each other."

"You've told me that you missed me, Noah."

"If you think about it," he continued, "you've just proved my point, Kurt."

"S…so... you're saying that Finn might like me more than just as a friend?"

"It's possible, but that's not really what I'm saying either. I think he knows that you like him, on some level, and he likes the attention. You're just another girl for him to string along."

"I am not a girl!"

"Babe, you don't have to tell me. I know that first hand," he smirked.

Unfortunately, Puck did not get the reaction he wanted from the other boy. Kurt just sighed as he buried his face further into Puck's chest.

"Sorry, Noah," he said tearfully. "I'm just such an idiot."

"Hey, Kurt… it's okay. You think this hasn't happened to me?"

"What?"

"I've cried my eyes out over Quinn more times than I want to think about."

"You… crying?"

"Hey, I may be a badass, but I got feelings, too." Then he added before Kurt could say anything, "And if you tell anyone, I'll give you a patriotic wedgie you will never forget!"

Kurt laughed then but only for a moment.

"Why do I keep doing this to myself? He's never going to want me… no one's ever going to want me…" he mumbled sadly.

Puck pulled Kurt away from him so that he could see his face.

"Are you done yet?"

"What?" Kurt asked, surprised at the tone in Puck's voice.

"With your little pity party. Let me know when you're all done."

"I don't… understand."

"It's just a bunch of crap, Kurt, and you know it."

His attitude snapped Kurt out of his melancholy mood and right into Diva mode.

"Excuse me?" he said pulling away from the other boy.

"Come on, Kurt. You have the hottest guy in school drooling all over you…"

"Stuck on yourself, much?"

But the Mohawked teen just ignored him. "And the Puckzilla doesn't even like guys. Face it Hummel, you are just that hot."

Kurt smiled at him then.

"I'm serious, Kurt. How do you know if guys like you? You can't see past Finn long enough to find out."

"Noah, there just aren't any other gay guys in this school."

"That's where you're wrong, Kurt."

"Really and how would you know?"

"Have you seen my guns?" he said flexing his arms.

Kurt smiled as he took the opportunity to touch Noah's arms, fondly.

"You think the girls are the only ones looking at me? I have caught a few guys drooling over the Puckster's body."

Kurt laughed then. "Names, Noah. I need names."

"Hell, no, Kurt," he replied. "Maybe one day. When you're ready. But for now, you're all mine."

He accented his words with actions as he pulled Kurt closer and kissed him.

Kurt squeaked in surprise when Puck grabbed his behind.

"Mine," he repeated as he kissed Kurt's neck.

"I'm not an object, Noah," Kurt said but he still sounded pleased.

"Course not," Puck mumbled as he nibbled on Kurt's jaw.

"So, Noah, about that science project."

"What did you have in mind?" Puck asked, still distracted by the curve of Kurt's neck.

"We could see how long we can go without breathing…"

"Hmmm," Puck rubbed his hand over Kurt's shoulder blades and down his back.

"Or we could explore the relationship between heat and friction…" Kurt demonstrated by pressing against him, eliciting a moan from the other boy.

"God, Kurt," he said. "It almost makes me wish we actually had a science project."

"Or," Kurt continued as if he hadn't spoken. "We could blindfold you and see if your other senses are intensified…" Kurt leaned in closer to him. "Your sense of smell…" He kissed him below the ear. "Your sense of hearing…" he whispered seductively. "Your sense of touch…" he said as he brushed his hand against the bulge in Puck's jeans. "And your sense of taste… especially your sense of taste…"

"This proves I was right about one thing," Puck said breathlessly as Kurt reached up to kiss him.

Kurt stopped inches away from his lips. "What's that?" he asked his voice lowered by desire.

"You are amazing, Kurt…. I mean, who else could make science sound so hot?"

Kurt chuckled then. 'Oh, Noah," he said. "You haven't seen anything, yet. Wait until we get to the labs portion."

Puck growled then until Kurt, finally, kissed him.

And Puck swore he could almost feel the earth shattering.

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A/N: Wait a minute! How did all that fluff get into my angsty fic? I guess I just can't help myself. :)