Gahh. This chapter's weird; POV switching goes down. I don't know, but it's here. I wanted to update quickly, since I got such great response for this fic. I love all of you! I don't own, review, murmur murmur, peas and carrots. Love and snuggles- Maya

"Fine. What do you have in mind?"

Puck grinned at him, and Kurt was suddenly very nervous. "Well, you know how I'm a badass, right?"

"I'm assuming the answer you're looking for is 'yes, of course.'"

He just smirked at him. Damn punk. "Out you get," he said, making shooing motions with his hands before following his own advice. Kurt blinked at the empty passenger seat in confusion before complying, getting his things out of the back seat.

No sooner had he alighted of the blacktop than a muscular, leather-clad arm found its way around his shoulders. "What the fuck?" he yelped, jumping a mile.

Right next to his ear, like not six inches away, Puck chuckled. "Ooh, was that a swear? Relax, Princess."

"You are in my bubble, Puckerman," Kurt bit out.

"That's the point. Walk." He set off, dragging Kurt with him toward the building. "Maybe I should carry your bag, too, or would that be too much?"

"What in the name of Armani are you doing?" Kurt demanded, squirming in Puck's grasp.

"Escorting you to your locker, dumbass, what's it look like?"

"Puckerman." Kurt paused in his struggle to glare flatly up at Puck. "I have no idea what this looks like." He looked around to notice the stares they were getting as the crowd thickened nearer to the school, and he fought Puck's hold with renewed vigor. "Actually, yes I do. Got off me! People are staring."

Contrarily, Puck dragged him closer. "Again, Porcelain, that's the point. I want this whole godforsaken school to know that you're the bro of the resident badass."

Kurt surrendered, but pouted mightily. "They're not thinking we're 'bros.'" At Puck's raised brow, Kurt rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Oh come on, you know what people think, and will think." The other brow rose. "Don't you know homosexuality is contagious?" Kurt asked dryly. "They'll think I infected you or some such nonsense."

Puck snorted a laugh. "What happened to Born This Way, Princess?"

"When it comes to public image, we enlightened ones must consider the ignorant masses."

Puck grinned forebodingly at the startled hallway herds. "I'm not sure what that means, nor do I actually care."

Kurt sighed as they neared his locker. "What about your reputation?"

Releasing the boy so he could get into his locker, Puck leaned back against the metal, ankles crossed and hands in his pockets. "I'm a badass, I'll be fine. It's about time I used my badassness for good."

With a sideways glance through his lashes, Kurt considered his former tormentor. His position against the lockers was no different from usual, and his clothes were the same (ew) as ever. Somehow, despite being exactly the same, he seemed more comfortable, like he wasn't making some effort anymore. He didn't look tensed for a fight like he always did, and his lips were a quirk away from a smile rather than a tooth-bearing snarl.

Pursing his lips in apprehensive confusion, Kurt fished his books out of his locker and slammed it shut. Before the noise could finish sounding in his ears, Puck's arm was casually looped around him again and he was being led to his first class. All Kurt could do was thank Gaga no one from Glee or the football team had seen them, but word traveled fast and he knew that Rachel, Mercedes, and possibly Santana would be up his ass by lunch. "So, Puck."

"Mm."

"What, exactly, is your plan?"

The taller boy grinned down at him. "I'm going to make it clear to this whole school that you're my boy and, as my boy, under my protection. Anyone fucks with you, fucks with me, and in case you weren't aware, I'm a badass. No one wants to mess with that." Kurt just stared up at him. "What, I am a badass," Puck insisted. "I mean, have you seen my guns? Jeez, you and Berry…"

"Puckerman," Kurt deadpanned. "Everyone at school has seen your guns."

"So why must you question my badassness? Divas…"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "So we're pretending to be friends for my protection so you don't have to feel bad about people harassing me."

Puck shrugged. "Basically." His grip on Kurt tightened slightly. "Only we're not pretending."

Kurt blinked up at him. "Pardon?"

"After yesterday and this morning, Hummel, I actually kinda like you. You're pretty chill. And you seem cool with me too, given how much fun you had making fun of Finn with me this morning." At this point, Kurt was fairly confident that his jaw was totally slack, but on Puck went. "I think once we agreed that Finn was a dumb, messy puppy, we were friends."

Praying desperately to any designers he could think of that he wasn't blushing, Kurt ducked his head and mumbled, "Fine."

Puck noticed the flush; it was impossible not to, given their closeness and Hummel's fair skin. If Finn was a puppy, Hummel was a kitten: fanged, clawed, and icily indifferent one moment, and cuddly and staring up at you with huge eyes the next. It was a wonder the two got along as brothers.

At the door to Hummel's class, Puck released him from his hold. Hummel looked up at him with those ridiculously-colored eyes—they were bluer today—and it almost hurt to see the wariness still in their depths. Taking matters into his own hands, Puck leaned down and whispered in his ear, "I'm totally serious. I'll protect you." With a smirk at Hummel's gobsmacked expression, he turned on his heel and sauntered off toward the boys' locker room; he needed to lift, work on his guns, you know.

Ignoring the stares that he could feel anyway, Kurt wandered dazedly to his seat and plopped down gracefully, resting his chin on his hand and gazing unseeingly at the chalkboard. Puck had to be the weirdest person ever, or the dumbest. Whispering in the resident Gay Kid's ear in front of everyone after hanging all over him? Tongues would wag. What if people thought Kurt had converted him or some such bigotry? He sighed heavily.

Just as the bell rang, Mercedes burst into the room and threw herself into the seat beside Kurt's. She then thoroughly ignored their mouse of a teacher to demand, "What's all this I'm hearing about you and The 'Hawk?" At least she had the grace to whisper.

Kurt sighed. "Honey, it's news to me, too." At her pointed look, he continued on another sigh, "I don't know; Puck got worried about my bullying problem and somehow got it into his head that the best protection he could offer me was friendship with PDA."

Mercedes blinked at him. "Okay, I think we need to back up a step or seven. He got 'worried'?" Kurt just shrugged helplessly. "Then he decided to help you?" Another shrug, more exaggerated this time. "And this is how he figured he'd go about it." Kurt groaned softly and laid his head on his desk. Mercedes sat back a little. "White people," was all she said. Kurt had no choice but to laugh.