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Stockholm Syndrome Chapter 3: Afraid of the dark-do you hear me whisper?

October (6 months ago)

Even though Puck had told Kurt to come to him if he needed help, he didn't really expect the smaller boy to take him up on his advice. So when he opened his front door on an unseasonably warm October day to see Kurt standing there hugging his arms close to his body, he wasn't sure what to think.

"Kurt? What's wrong? Are you okay?" Considering the fact that Kurt had been covered in bruises the last time Puck was close to him, the jock could help but panic.

"Um, I'm-I'm fine, Noah," Kurt stammered, never once pulling his arms away from his body. "I-I just need a little help. My, um, my ribs are just kind of tender. And I tried wrapping them myself but it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. And you're the only one that knows, so can you help me?"

At first, Puck just stared at the smaller boys unbelievably. He was being treated horribly and he talks about it so naturally. Realizing he was staring, Puck quickly stepped back letting Kurt into his house. The smaller boy followed Puck to his room, swaying slightly on the stairs but brushed it off like nothing had happened. Upon entering Puck's room, the Kurt sat on the edge of the bed and pulled an ace bandage out of his coat pocket. He fiddled with it for a moment before handing it to Puck without looking up.

"You're going to have to take off your shirt, Kurt," Puck said as gently as he could. Kurt flinched and continued staring at the floor. "It's worse isn't it?" Kurt let out a shuttering breath, still refusing to look up.

"He doesn't mean it. This is hard on him. I mean the whole football team makes fun of him for being gay. Az is okay with it I guess, but he doesn't make things easier for Dave. And even though his dad has accepted him, he still makes little comments how Dave's a disappointment and stuff like that. And besides, I-I…I mean sometimes I deserve it."

Puck flinched, knowing his friend believed that he truly did deserve this. He began thinking of ways to make Kurt feel better while moving to his bed side table. Reaching into the top drawer he pulled out a bottle of pills before turning back to Kurt. He handed the smaller boy one pill and smiled when Kurt gave him a questioning look.

"My doctor gave them to me after I dislocated my shoulder at football. I don't think I ever used more than one or two. It should help take the edge off a little." Kurt nodded, giving him a small smile while swallowing the pill. "I know you don't want me to see, but I need you to take your shirt off to wrap your ribs. I'll be gentle, I promise." Letting out a loud sigh, Kurt allowed Puck to help him lift his shirt over his head. Taking in Kurt's broken appearance, Puck closed his eyes and started taking deep breaths to calm himself. When he was sure he could look at Kurt without leaving to go kill Karfosky, he pulled the boys arms a little away from his chest and began wrapping the bandage around him.

"How bad has it gotten?" He asked, causing Kurt to flinch.

"It's just about three days a week. That's all I normally see him outside of school, and I'm pretty sure he wouldn't hit me there," Kurt said quietly. He kept his eyes closed so he didn't panic and hit Puck to get away. Puck growled slightly and Kurt couldn't help but flinch again.

"Why are you staying with him? After everything he did to you before you started dating and now this? I don't get it, Kurt. He's killing you." Puck was trying to make the smaller boy see reason but all Kurt could do was shake his head as tears welled up in his eyes.

"No! It's not like that, Puck. You don't know him like I know him. He loves me. He's the only person who's ever going to love me like that. I don't want to leave him. Just please, please just try to understand that." Puck sighed but didn't push the subject anymore. He was afraid that if he did, Kurt would get mad and never come to him again when he was hurt.

After he finished wrapping the bandage around Kurt's chest, Puck ran a quick glance over Kurt's body trying to see if there were any open cuts or worse bruises he should take care of. Seeing none, he offered Kurt's shirt back to him and sat back on his heels watching him.

"Do you want to stay and watch a movie?" Puck suggested. Anything that could keep Kurt away from his abusive boyfriend seemed like a good idea. Kurt smiled sadly at him before shaking his head no.

"I have to meet Dave in about an hour. I don't want to be late." Puck nodded and stood to escort Kurt out of the house. Before Kurt reached the door, puck grabbed his wrist and turned the boy to look at him. "You don't have to do this, Kurt."

"Yes, I do, Noah. Thanks for…you know." And with that Kurt walked out the door, leaving Puck alone.


As the weeks past, Puck found his eyes searching for Kurt more. The smaller boy still seemed to walk with his head held high, but the pride didn't reach his green eyes anymore. He would always walk beside Dave, a death grip on his boyfriend's hand. Azimo would always be with them and Puck wondered for a moment if the jock knew what his best friend was going to Kurt. He quickly shook the thought away though. There was no way he'd let his best friend almost kill his boyfriend, or so Puck hoped.

One day, Dave must have caught Puck's eye lingering on Kurt. Puck watched as the linebacker walked his boyfriend to class, kissing him deeply at the door. Puck's trained eyes alone noticed the small pinch Dave gave to the smaller boy, causing Kurt to wince. Dave looked up, reaching Puck's eyes, and the mohawked boy lowered his gaze, trying to hurry off to his class. He wasn't quick enough however, and he groaned as he was slammed into a nearby locker.

"Stay away from my boyfriend, Puckerman. Don't make me say it again." With that, Dave shoved him again before walking away.


Kurt showed up at Puck's house the next day. He was holding his wrist close to his body, and Puck thought he saw blood on Kurt's shirt. Ushering the smaller boy up to his bedroom, Puck grabbed a first aid kit and his camera.

"I know you don't want to turn him in. But just in case, you know, you change your mind can I take pictures of your injuries? Just so if you change your mind we'll have proof. I promise I won't show anyone else." Kurt hesitates before agreeing. Puck helps the boy pull his shirt over his head, flinching when he realized there was more bruising. Sighing, Puck began taking pictures of the bruises and cuts before moving to clean out a small cut on Kurt's shoulder that seemed to have bled a lot. He also took a picture of Kurt's bruised wrist before wrapping it in an ace bandage.

"He-he didn't mean it?" Kurt said, and to Puck it sounded more like a question than a statement. He looked up at his gleemate and closed his eyes when he saw the tears in Kurt's eyes. He pulled the boy into a gentle hug, keeping one hand behind the boy's head.

"Yes he did, Kurt," Puck said gently and Kurt let out a choked sob.

"You have to stop staring at me at school. It just makes him mad. You aren't helping, Noah." Puck shook his head and ran a hand over his face.

"I can't believe you are expecting me to just sit back and watch what's happening to you and not do anything about it."

"That's exactly what I'm expecting you to do, and you must do it! I can handle it right now, Noah. But if you keep at it, it just makes things harder to deal with. Just please, stop." Puck nodded, pulling the smaller boy in for another hug.

"I'll stop. Just…Just promise me you'll keep coming to me. I won't tell. I just want to take care of you." Kurt sighed, but nodded. As he stood he ran a hand through the strip of hair on Puck's head.

At that moment, Puck was sure that this was the worse that things were going to get. He was sure that Kurt would come to his senses. He was sure that Karofsky couldn't hurt him any worse than he already had. Oh how wrong he truly was. This was just the beginning.


AN: I hope you guys like it. Please review!