Title: The Boyfriend 10/12
Disclaimer: Glee is not mine.
A/N: I posted this on my LJ a few months ago and never got around to posting it on here hence why it is set around Thanksgiving.
RandomJayjay – 12 altogether plus a missing scene, I'll post the link to it at the end because it has a higher rating.
Stepping out into the cold air, Puck tightened his scarf around his neck and waited for Kurt to close the door behind them.
They walked in a comfortable silence for a few minutes then Kurt glanced towards him "Are you looking forward to going home?"
"I guess."
Contrary to everything Puck had expected, the last week had actually been a lot of fun at times. The Kurt he had seen during the last few days had actually been someone he wanted to get to know and he had a feeling he had barely glimpsed what the real Kurt was like. Considering they wouldn't be spending any time together in the future it didn't seem likely that he ever would.
"I would've thought you'd be dying to get back and start writing."
"I suppose I'm a bit nervous" Puck admitted.
Kurt's lips twitched as if the idea of a nervous Puck was something he didn't quite buy "Why?"
"I might totally suck at it. I mean, I didn't exactly get this promotion because of talent."
And that kinda blew but at least he was going to get the chance to show people who mattered what he could do. The fact that he hadn't earned it took the shine off a bit but if he could prove that he had the talent to succeed then it would grate a little less.
"You're very talented Noah."
"That's not what you said last week" he replied, shaking his head. Puck knew that Kurt was just being nice but come on who was he trying to kid, they both knew the truth.
Kurt looked guilty for a moment "I lied, it was an excellent article. You had clearly done your research and it was informative, yet amusing at the same time."
"Then why..."
"The last four articles you've written were publishable" Kurt interrupted, biting his lip as Puck stared at him in disbelief.
"What the hell?" he demanded, stopping just outside of the grocery store.
Kurt looked away "I didn't recommend you before because you were the closest thing I had to a friend other than Rachel and Finn." He let out a small huff of breath and gave Noah a self deprecating grimace. "How pathetic is that? You don't even like me. Not really."
"I like you just fine."
They stared at each other for a moment then Kurt cleared his throat and walked into the shop. Puck followed, stepping out of the way when Kurt reached across him to pick up a basket. He watched as Kurt glanced around the shop then locked eyes with one of the clerks, who looked ashamed before turning away.
"Was he on the football team?" Puck asked, following Kurt who wandered over to the baking aisle.
Kurt shook his head as he picked up organic flour and placed it in his basket "No but he was there."
Puck glared in the general direction of the guy, he may have been a jerk and a bully in high school but he would never have been able to stand by and watch something like that go down.
"Do you ever worry that one of them will show up at your friend's club when you're there?"
"They're on a blacklist. If anyone let them in they'd get fired" Kurt replied, reading the labels of a couple of little bottles before he chose vanilla extract.
"That guy who was harassing you in the bathroom at Breadstix..."
Kurt tensed then he looked up nervously "Karofsky?"
"Why do you think he did it?"
There were some ignorant bastards out there but there was something about the way the guy had looked at Kurt. There was more to it then extreme homophobia.
When Kurt didn't reply Puck added "Rachel said that it started with locker checks and escalated."
Kurt nodded "He threatened to kill me after..."
"After what?" Puck demanded angrily, taking a step forward. "Sorry" he murmured as Kurt quickly took a step backwards, clearly un-nerved. Puck took a deep breath and began to count to ten in his head.
Kurt let out a heavy sigh and leant against a huge basket of little pots of custard "He kissed me."
The dude was a closet case? If the woman he had been with the other day was any indication Karofsky was still so far in his closet, he was taking tea with Mr Tumnus.
Puck grimaced "That sucks."
"You have no idea" Kurt drawled. "It was my first kiss" he admitted a few seconds later, looking a combination of disgusted and mortified.
"You're first kiss was a face rape?"
"Blunt as ever Noah. Yes it was unexpected and unwanted." He bit his lip "I've never told anyone before."
Stepping closer, Puck bumped their shoulders together "Well I hope your second kiss kicked ass."
Kurt gave him a strange look then smiled enigmatically "It was awesome."
A few hours later, Puck stood in the hallway with Rachel waiting for Kurt and Finn to come downstairs. Glancing in the mirror on the wall, Puck sighed and ran his hand over his head. He looked at himself, debating whether or not he was too old to rock a mohawk only to decide that Kurt wouldn't like it. He abruptly stepped away shaking his head, since when did he care what Kurt thought?
Puck's head turned towards the stairs a fraction of a second after Rachel's, both frowning as voices were raised above their heads.
"Dude we're going to be late. You don't need all that crap."
"Crap?" Kurt demanded loudly. "This crap is what's keeping me looking younger than you."
Puck's eyes locked with Rachel just as there was a crashing noise followed by a few thumps.
"Give that back right now."
"You have to catch me first" Finn yelled, noisily running down the stairs holding Kurt's jar of moisturising cream high above his head.
He was swiftly followed by Kurt who ran after him, yelling all the things that he was going to do to his brother when he caught him.
Puck lent up against the living room door frame, laughing as Kurt chased Finn all around the house and out of the front door.
"What's going on between you and my son?" Spinning around Puck saw Burt standing behind him, narrow eyed. "Are you using him?"
"No sir. Why would you think that?"
If anyone was being used Puck was pretty sure it wasn't Kurt.
"You start dating him and four months later you have your dream job. What do you expect me to think?" Burt demanded.
If you put it like that it sounded pretty bad. Puck glanced as the door willing Kurt to come back, completely unsure what he should say.
"You planning on sleeping your way to the top, is that what he is to you?"
"No. it's not like that" Puck quickly reassured.
"What is it like then?"
"I care about him" he replied, shocking himself when he realised that it was true.
"Is that the best you can come up with? You care about him?" Burt demanded, crossing his arms.
Puck was saved by Kurt running up to him, spinning them around so he could hide behind Puck's bigger frame.
"Err aren't you meant to be chasing Finn, not the other way around?"
Kurt's fingers dug into Puck's back as he giggled "I couldn't catch up so I taunted him."
"What did you say?" he asked, watching Finn lumbering towards them only to be waylaid by Rachel.
"I may have mentioned how nice Rachel's ass felt."
Puck snorted and turned, tucking Kurt into his side as he swung an arm around him. Kurt looked up at him with twinkling eyes, his smile faltering as he glanced across at his dad.
"What were you talking about?"
Puck and Burt stared each other down until the older dude finally mumbled "Nothing" and turned back towards the television.
"Uhuh" Kurt said, frowning at them both.
"Ready to go?" Puck asked, motioning towards the front door.
The four of them made their way to the garage where they all piled into Kurt's car, shivering as they waited for the heating to kick in. Finn leant forward, turning the dial up on the radio as song from the eighties started then began to loudly sing along.
As they stopped outside a small house, the others unbuckled their seat belts and jumped out so Puck followed, walking up the ramp then waited as Kurt reached across him to knock on the front door. The door was answered a few seconds later by a blonde chick who squealed and threw herself into Kurt's arms.
"My dolphin came home!"
Patting her gently on the back, Kurt pulled away "Lovely to see you too Brittany."
Staring up at Puck, she tilted her head and asked "Are you another dolphin?"
"Err what?"
"You look more like a shark but you're with Kurt so..."
Puck glanced towards Kurt who was trying his best not to laugh "Didn't you know Noah, dolphins are just gay sharks."
Biting back the urge to tell them that if anything he was a sex shark, because really how true was that anymore, Puck shrugged and looked back at Brittany who was nodding earnestly.
Following her into what Puck assumed was Artie's living room he lent towards Kurt and whispered "Is she for real?"
"Oh yes."
There was no accounting for taste, she was hot and everything but he would have imagined Artie's girlfriend to be a bit more intellectual.
As they entered the room, a Latina chick pushed past Rachel ignoring her glares, gave Kurt and Finn a nod then stood in front of Puck, giving him an assessing look.
"Wanky wanky."
Scrunching his face in disgust, Kurt waved his arm in her direction "That charming lady's Santana."
"Good for you Kurt. You finally found a real man to give it to you."
Colour flooded Kurt's cheeks and he quickly looked away, at anything but Puck.
Annoyed that Kurt was suddenly all awkward and tense around him again, Puck raised an eyebrow "Who says he's not giving it to me?"
Santana gaped at him for a moment then smirked as she grabbed Kurt's hand, forcing him to high five her "Way to go Ladyface."
Puck was abruptly yanked into the hallway by a wide eyed Kurt.
"Why did you say that? Now they're going to think that we... I mean I wouldn't think you'd like..." he broke off flushing again.
Puck shrugged "I hate stereotypes."
"So you don't like..." Kurt seemed to realise what he was asking and stopped abruptly, pressing his lips tightly together.
Smirking, Puck leant against the wall "Are you asking what I like in bed Boss?"
"N-No" Kurt replied, shaking his head quickly.
"You'd be surprised what I like." Puck winked then slipped Kurt's hand into his, leading him back towards the others.
They left the Navigator at Artie's house, walking the few minutes that it took to get to the club. As Kurt passed the growing queue outside the club, he shot a few glances towards the people lined up before he waved at Charlie and made his way towards the cloakroom with Puck tailing behind him.
"So you know how you said you weren't so good with crowds?" At Kurt's nod he continued "It's just you seemed okay last time we were here last time."
"I cope better if I know it's going to happen. It's mostly if I wasn't expecting it that I have a problem."
Puck nodded, that made sense he guessed.
"I also tend to feel better when I'm with someone else like..." he paused "like Finn."
Holding open one of the double doors, Puck followed him into the club grinning as Kurt clapped excitedly recognising a Lady Gaga song some chick was belting out on the stage.
"Are you going to sign up?"
"I don't think so."
"You should, you have a good voice" Kurt said, eyes still on the stage.
"I've never sang in front of you, not properly. For all you know I could majorly suck."
Kurt laughed "You sing in the shower and you definitely don't suck."
Singing in the shower didn't really count, everyone sounded good in there. Puck glanced nervously towards the stage, the last time he had sang in public, if you didn't count birthday parties, was probably when he had been in a shitty band during his teens.
"Come on, it'll be fun."
Kurt grabbed his arm and manoeuvred him toward the signup sheet left of the stage. He bent over the small table, elegantly writing his name followed by Puck's on the line below.
"If you say so dude" Puck said reluctantly.
Rachel and Finn joined them, writing their names on the sheet then they all wandered towards the bar where Artie was talking to one of the bartenders.
Passing the dance floor, Puck did a double take then stopped in his tracks "Why is Artie's girlfriend making out with Santana?"
Kurt glanced over to the dance floor where the girls were wrapped around each other, playing tonsil hockey and scrunched his face "Brittany and Santana are a couple, have been since senior year."
Huh.
Downing a shot that Finn handed him, Kurt made a Blluggh noise, twisting his face then mumbled "Wish me luck" as he walked towards the stage, followed by Artie.
A few minutes later he stood centre stage, the only sign of his discomfort, the amount of times he reached up to push nonexistent fly aways across his forehead.
I can remember the very first time I cried
How I wiped my eyes and buried the pain inside
Kurt sang the first few lines with his eyes closed, finally opening them as Artie sang the lines asking if Kurt knew who he was.
I want to be a star
He sang the line with such longing it was almost heartbreaking.
Constantly pushing the world I know aside
I don't even feel the pain, I don't even want to try
Puck swallowed, thinking of all the times that Kurt had pushed people away at work and of all the times he had probably overheard them bitching about him.
I'm lookin' for a way to become
The person that I dreamt of when I was sixteen
Kurt closed his eyes as he sang sixteen, head tilting towards the ceiling. Puck knew from experience that life had a habit of not turning out the way you planned but the fact that Rachel had made it on Broadway probably hadn't made things any easier on Kurt. He had a constant reminder of what could have been if he hadn't settled.
Is life good to you or is it bad?
I can't tell anymore
Artie sang the next line staring sadly at Kurt who shook his head as he replied in an uncertain tone.
Do you even know what you have?
I guess not, oh I guess not
In the past when people, mainly his mother, had told him that money doesn't make you happy Puck had thought they were talking out of their asses. Kurt however was walking proof that his mom had been right all along, his large pay check, central park west address and all the perks of being a respected fashion writer clearly didn't make him happy in the slightest.
Oh, I have a all these dreams
Puck joined in the loud applause, glancing across at Kurt's friends, most of whom looked thoroughly depressed as he wandered towards the stage. Once he was perched on a stool with a guitar in his hand Puck began to strum, barely able to believe that he was about to sing such a girlie song in front of a shit load of people.
You find yourself falling down
Puck glanced up searching for Kurt's face in the crowd. He saw Finn first, smiling derpily at the stage, his face twisting in confusion as Puck continued singing. Next to him, Kurt stood staring back at Puck, mouth slightly open until Rachel leant over and said something to him causing him to snap it shut.
And you wake up to realize
Your standard of living somehow got stuck on survive
Kurt's standard of living was pretty damn high but he was totally just surviving, he had no passion, nothing that made him truly happy. As far as Puck could tell, Kurt lived to work and at a job that he didn't particularly love.
When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
Puck could relate to the situation Kurt was in, he knew what it was like to set off on one path in life only to realise that you should have taken another. Turning things around always seemed like an impossible feat but if he could go from being essentially a juvenile delinquent to getting his dream job then Kurt definitely could do it.
It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love
The confused look that had made Kurt's face its home melted into a frown as Puck sang love, making him wonder if this had been such a good idea after all. He hadn't expected Kurt to be totally happy getting advice from his employee but from the glare that Puck was receiving it seemed like he was completely pissed off.
'Cause the chains which once held us are only the chains which we've made
Puck ignored Kurt's crossed arms and annoyed expression singing the words directly at him. The only thing that was holding Kurt back was his own fear and maybe this dumb ass song wouldn't change a thing but at least he would have tried. For some reason Puck hated the thought that once he left, Kurt would be all alone in his big office, dreaming of what his life could have been.
When you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love
It's nothing without love
When Puck climbed off the stage Kurt was waiting for him.
"What the hell was that?"
"A response to your song I guess" he said, shrugging.
"So you think an appropriate response is to tell me to get a boyfriend?"
Puck frowned "What?"
"You sang me a song about life being nothing without love" Kurt replied, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"Dude that's not the point." For a smart guy Kurt really was dense sometimes.
"What exactly is your point Noah?"
Puck let out an exasperated breath "You're not happy, writing doesn't make you happy. It's clear to everyone in the room that music's your passion."
"It's too late. I made my decision" he murmured.
"It's never too late Kurt."
Kurt tilted his head "Why do you care?"
"I don't know. I just do." He shifted uncomfortably "You don't love what you do and you should."
"I'm good at writing."
"It's not the same thing." Puck sighed "You're an amazing writer but when you sing it's like you radiate joy."
Kurt swallowed, his eyes shifting away "I wanted to be a Broadway star... but I was offered so much from the magazine and I took it. I mean, I was never going to have a guaranteed pay check otherwise."
"You mean you settled."
"No that's not what I mean. I love writing and fashion."
"But?" Puck asked.
"Broadway was my dream." Kurt let out a large sigh as he slumped into the nearest chair "Yes, I settled."
Sitting on the chair next to him, Puck slowly reached out and took Kurt's hand, rubbing his thumb against the soft palm. Comforting Kurt surprisingly lacked an awkwardness that had previously been present, which Puck credited to a better understanding of each other as he tried to ignore the pressure building in his chest. Kurt sighed, leaning closer until their shoulders were pressed together and looked up a faint smile on his lips.
Just as Puck's eyes flicked down, Finn clapped him on the back and the moment was gone.
"Good job dude. I mean, it was a totally weird song but you sounded good."
The others soon joined them, rolling their eyes as Finn and Rachel headed towards the stage and began to sing an incredibly soppy love song. Once the love-fest was over, Puck was persuaded to dance with Brittany while Kurt and Artie grabbed some drinks. Thankfully Kurt was waiting for him at the edge of the dance floor as soon as he returned and immediately handed him a cold beer. That Brittany chick had some seriously crazy moves.
"That was hot" Santana murmured pulling Brittany into a kiss before turning towards Kurt. "If he was mine, I wouldn't stop grabbing that ass."
Kurt's eyes narrowed "He's not yours and you most definitely will not be grabbing his ass."
Puck choked a little at the possessive tone and tried not to show just how much he didn't mind it, quite the opposite in fact.
"Let's give them a show" Puck said with a grin pulling Kurt towards the dance floor.
Spinning Kurt into his arms, Puck smiled happily when instead of tensing he let out a small giggle and ran his left hand up Puck's shoulder as their right hands intertwined. They danced together for a few minutes, grinning each time Puck attempted to dip Kurt then burst into hysterical laughter when Kurt tried a spin and almost tripped.
They both glanced across dance floor as Santana reached centre stage, taking a moment to dedicate her song to her girlfriend then flipping off the catcallers before the opening bars began.
Tonight you're mine completely
You give your love so sweetly
Tonight the light of love is in your eyes
Will you love me tomorrow?
Without speaking they moved closer, their cheeks brushing against each other's as Puck moved the hand holding Kurt's to his chest. The hand resting on his shoulder slowly trailed its way down until it was also pressed against his chest. He suppressed a shudder as Kurt's fingertips glided over his nipple ring, finally resting on Puck's hip just above where his shirt was tucked into his jeans. Pulling back an inch or two, Puck stared into unreadable eyes then he leant forward, his lips ghosting across Kurt's.
They swayed together for a few minutes, their cheeks continuously caressing until someone cleared their throat behind them. Turning, then looking down Puck saw Artie giving them an awkward look.
"Yo dudes, Santana stopped singing like a minute ago. The DJ's setting up."
Coming to his senses, Puck looked around realising that they were the only people still on the dance floor and the music had most definitely stopped. Glancing back at Kurt, he watched as a dreamy expression slid off his face and was replaced by shock then embarrassment.
Kurt's ears turned pink and his face began to flush as he mumbled that he needed a drink and walked away without looking at Puck. Artie laughed and waved him on as Puck also declared the need for alcohol, making a beeline towards Kurt.
Blue eyes flicked towards him as he leant sideways against the bar "So do you think that was a good enough show?"
Following Kurt's quick glance towards the others, Puck swallowed a feeling strangely similar to disappointment as he realised that whatever the hell had just happened wasn't real.
"Yeah I guess."
Kurt studied him for a moment then looked away nodding slightly.
"What can I get you?" the bartender asked in a flirtatious tone, giving Puck a clear view down her low cut top as she purposefully leant forward.
He almost laughed as Kurt muttered "A fashion sense" under his breath.
"I'll have two of those please" Puck said, pointing to the yellow coloured bottles in the left hand fridge.
"Is there anything else you want?" she asked, clearly not meaning anything behind the bar.
Grinning, he turned to Kurt "Babe, you want anything else?"
Kurt glared back at him, not in the least impressed by the attention his fake boyfriend was receiving.
"I wasn't asking your friend."
"My boyfriend probably has an opinion anyway" Puck corrected, trying his best not to laugh at the barmaid's shocked expression as he handed her a few notes.
Kurt smiled up at him then scrunched his eyebrows together in confusion as Puck guided him across the room. "Why did you say I was your boyfriend? You could've just said you were gay or not interested."
Puck shrugged, he had no idea why he had said it but it was totally worth the chick's reaction. "Dude, did you see her face?"
A few hours later, Puck was beginning to regret agreeing to Santana's idea of playing drinking games, not so much because of himself but for Kurt's sake. Despite the fact that Puck rarely drank anymore or even went out, he still knew all of the games from his teenage years. Kurt on the other hand had never played any of them so lost every single round, add that to the fact that while Kurt was by no means a lightweight he clearly wasn't a heavy drinker either.
By the time Kurt had almost fallen off his chair for the fifth time in as many minutes, Puck decided to call it a night. Once they had waved goodbye to a very cheerful Finn, a topless Brit, an angry Santana, a snoring Rachel and a relatively sober Artie, they left with a steadying arm around Kurt's waist.
Collecting their coats on the way out, Puck managed to get Kurt into his wool coat and scarf with only a little difficulty before he guided the happy drunk into the street.
"Nono?" Puck raised an eyebrow, he hadn't been called that since his sister was five. "I like you... you know why I like you? Coz I like you."
"That's great dude. I like you too."
Kurt nodded happily "You're my friend. You said so."
"That I did."
"I like having a friend" Kurt said, tripping over his own feet.
Puck grabbed him, laughing as Kurt frowned and looked around for whatever had tripped him up.
"My Noah shaped friend" he sighed happily, latching onto Puck's arm.
"Come on then, let's get you home."
"How come you're arms are so huge?" Kurt demanded, poking Puck's arm.
"I work out" Puck replied smirking.
Kurt's eyes roamed his body "I can tell."
"The roids probably helped too."
Kurt frowned "You don't take stera steri stere... thingy pills do you?"
"Not anymore" Puck soothed, patting the hand that rested on his arm.
"You shouldn't take them... your junk will shrivel up and fall off" Kurt exclaimed, staring at Puck's crotch.
Puck snorted at Kurt's use of the word junk "My junk is just fine thanks"
"I'm sure it's just lovely. I mean I'm glad... I mean... I don't know what I mean." Kurt stared up at him with the most adorable confused expression.
"Never mind." Puck wrapped his arm around Kurt's waist, once more guiding him up the street.
"M'kay" Kurt replied, blinking unnaturally slow as he nodded his head. "I have a confession... I didn't need toilet paper."
"Huh?"
"That night I called you. I had loads of toilet paper" Kurt said, exaggerating the word loads.
"Uhuh" Puck muttered, trying his best not to get angry at the adorable drunk in his arms. He hadn't particularly enjoyed getting out of bed in the middle of the night to buy toilet paper for someone else. "Then why did you call me?"
"I was lonely" Kurt admitted.
Puck didn't reply for a few minutes then quietly asked "Why me?"
He yawned, making his reply almost indecipherable but Puck caught the gist of it. "You were the only person I knew would come."
They caught a cab easily enough, the only difficulty being when it came to getting Kurt out since he had fallen asleep as soon as he sat down. Entering the house as quietly as possible Puck half carried Kurt upstairs then deposited him on the edge of his bed.
A dopey smile spread across Kurt's face as Puck sat down, attempting to catch his breath before he had to get Kurt into bed.
The next thing he knew, Kurt had leant or more accurately fallen towards him and their lips were pressed together. Getting over his initial shock fairly quickly, Puck groaned as Kurt's tongue ran across his bottom lip, then pushed for more sliding into his mouth. A warm hand ran up Puck's chest and clung onto his shirt, using it to pull Puck closer as Kurt half climbed onto his lap.
Kurt suddenly pulled back, blinked at him a few times then quickly stood and ran towards the en suite. The hurling noises that followed were hardly a compliment to Puck's kissing skills but he just sighed and trudged towards the bathroom, sitting down next to a heaving Kurt who was hugging the toilet. Rubbing soothing circles on his back, Puck brushed Kurt's hair out of his eyes and sat with him until he finished. Passing Kurt some toilet paper and flushing the toilet, he got up and held a flannel under the cold tap before ringing it out. Gently pressing the cloth against Kurt's face, Puck wiped away the sweat that had formed on his brow and the tear tracks on his cheeks.
"Why are you so nice?" Kurt whispered, voice hoarse.
"I'm really not."
Instead of arguing Kurt slumped against Puck's chest, not complaining when Puck scooped him into his arms and carried him into the bedroom.
"Come on kiddo, let's get you in bed."
Placing Kurt gently on the bed, Puck turned away and kicked off his jeans. Glancing over his shoulder as a disgruntled noise came from the bed, he noticed Kurt struggling with his button fly. Smacking Kurt's hands out of the way, Puck hooked his finger into the denim and pulled hard, ripping it open.
Kurt looked up at him in shock then blushed before he wiggled out of his super tight jeans. Averting his eyes Puck stepped away, stopping when a soft hand wrapped around his wrist.
"Stay with me?"
"I... umm... I'm not sure that's a good idea."
Kurt looked pitiful for a moment "I don't feel well."
"Kay, scoot across."
Puck wrapped an arm around him, smiling into soft hair as Kurt made a content noise and snuggled into his side.