Blaine's PoV:

[1st message] Where are you? You were supposed to call me two hours ago! :( – K

[2nd message] Blaine… I'm starting to get worried. Please text or call me as soon as you can. - K

[3rd message] Okay. My dad is the only reason I am not driving to your house right now. Seriously, I am thinking of a dozen horrible things that have happened, so please, please, /please/ call me first thing in the morning - K

Blaine re-read the messages again, his eyebrows knitted together and a small frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. How had it not occurred to him to call his boyfriend? They always talked before bed, and with everything they had been through, naturally Kurt would be concerned if he didn't hear from Blaine. His stomach did an unpleasant flip as guilt flooded his mind. Without sparing another second, he pushed the speed dial button for Kurt and pressed the device to his ear.

He didn't have to wait long before a soft click sounded and a voice began speaking. "Thank God, Blaine! Where have you been? Are you okay?" Kurt's voice was filled with apprehension, and Blaine had to refrain from groaning at how stupid he'd been for not having called him sooner.

"I'm fine. Kurt, I am… so sorry for not calling you last night," Blaine breathed, keeping his voice low in the hopes of not disrupting the boy sleeping next to him. "I'm at Puck's right now." He knew he should tell him more, but every sentence he formed in his head sounded awful. Which, okay, sure – he had been pretty badly hurt, but he wasn't dying, and telling Kurt he had been jumped in the McKinley parking lot would only cause him to panic.

Kurt knew him better than anyone, however, and must have been able to sense his discomfort. A sharp intake of breath could be heard on the other end of the line followed by the sound of something being set down. "What happened and whose ass do I have to make Finn kick?"

Blaine couldn't help but chuckle softly. "It's fine, I'm fine. I just… had a run in with some jocks yesterday. Puck ran them off before things escalated too badly." Which wasn't far off from the truth; Blaine would probably be much worse for wear if the boy hadn't stepped in when he did.

"Jocks? Oh my god, are you hurt?" Kurt's voice had risen in pitch, fear and trepidation lacing his voice.

"Kurt, please calm down. I'm fine, I promise, just a little banged up."

There was a brief moment of silence as Kurt took a few shaky breaths. "You're right, I'm sorry. I don't mean to freak out, it's just… ugh. I knew I should have stayed with you. Do you want me to pick you up? Puck doesn't live too far from us."

Blaine smiled feebly, upturning his face to stare blankly at the ceiling. "No, it's okay. I'd like to properly thank Puck, and he's sleeping like a log so it might be a while…" He trailed off for a second, glancing at the lump almost affectionately.

It wasn't a lie, but he also couldn't deny that the idea of Kurt seeing him like this wasn't an appealing one. If he knew Kurt (which he did), he'd start overreacting and fussing over him, which Blaine really couldn't handle at the present. This wasn't the first time he'd been injured, and he sadly doubted it would be the last.

He wanted to think that at least Puck wouldn't be as smothering, but if last night was any indication… he shook his head, again finding himself smiling. Puck had really shown a different side yesterday, and it had been uplifting to see. He may be a badass, but he can also be extremely caring and nice when he wants to be. "I'll visit you first thing tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay, be sure to rest and take it easy. And… and tell Puck thanks for me too. If you need anything, call me - I mean it." He could hear the sadness in Kurt's voice and knew he had been hoping to see Blaine today, but he just couldn't bear to let Kurt see him right now. They hung up shortly after exchanging goodbyes, and he tucked his phone back into his pants pocket.

Blaine considered trying to go back to sleep, but after a few minutes it was made apparent that he was officially awake. Sighing gently, he slid out of bed, taking care not to irritate any of his wounds as he snuck over to the bathroom. He paused with his hand on the doorknob, wondering whether he should wake Puck… after all, his alarm was probably set for a reason. But he was snoring (something Puck would later argue otherwise) so peacefully that Blaine couldn't bring himself to rouse him from sleep.

He slipped easily enough into the bathroom, relieving himself before wandering over to the sink to wash his hands. Blaine had been trying to avoid looking in the mirror, but the temptation was too much; he exhaled loudly at the image. He hadn't expected to look like sunshine and rainbows, but neither did he imagine this.

"When did that happen..?" he murmured, gently touching the cut on his cheek. To be honest, he barely remembered anything from the fight. Well, except the bat. I definitely remember that, he thought dryly.

He'd only been able to stare at his reflection for a while before he had to force his attention away; the sight brought with it bad memories from a time he didn't want to remember. He took only a few extra minutes to splash his face and attempt to do damage control on his head before moving back into the bedroom.

During his bathroom session, Puck had managed to sprawl out on the mattress, his arms wrapped loosely around the pillow Blaine had previously vacated. Now that he wasn't buried under the covers, Blaine was able to see what he was wearing… or wasn't, as the point may be. He was stripped down to his boxers… his very form fitting boxers… and Blaine couldn't stop himself from staring.

He'd look like a model from a catalog if it wasn't for the open mouth and the river of drool coming from it. Regardless, Blaine couldn't help himself from thinking how hot he looked. There was seriously no denying Noah Puckerman had a very attractive body.

-TBC?-

Ohhh boy, sorry for the HUGE wait! I've been distracted by trying to keep up with TV shows and other people's a-mazing fanfics that I just sort of… put this off. *wince* Forgivesies?