The Storm: Redemption
Chapter Three
By Gayforkurt
Summary: Famous countertenor Kurt Hummel and billionaire entrepreneur Dave Karofsky must come to terms with the past but bitter feelings make a future for these two headstrong men highly unlikely. This fic is rated M.
A/N 1: Wow, guys, thanks so much for all your reviews, alerts, PMs, etc., as they totally blew me away! I'll do my best to move things along but I can't promise faster updates just yet. Keep reading and reviewing though because it just spurs me on to update more quickly. Thanks again.
Disclaimer: Messrs. Ryan, Falchuk, et al are the owners of my favorite boys. Only the OCs belongs to me, alas.
KHDK
"How is David?"
For several minutes the two men sat staring at each other, the one wondering if he'd heard aright, the other wondering what in seven hells had made him ask the question.
Puck cleared his throat and stared, his grey eyes piercing, before asking his question. "Are you alright?"
Kurt reddened and his elegant eyebrows dipped into a formidable frown as he all but snarled at the larger man. "Of course, I'm alright. I simply asked a bloody question!"
Puck sat back, his arms spread on the back of the sofa, and smirked at the fuming singer. "Well, excuse me if I'm a little 'gobsmacked', as these Brits say." He chuckled briefly, and then sobered. "My employer is the last person I'd think you'd want to know about." His eyes held an inquisitive gleam as he took in Kurt's suddenly downcast eyes.
Kurt muttered beneath his breath then looked squarely at Noah again. After apologizing to his cast mates earlier, he felt easier in his mind about coming clean with regard to his behavior and, maybe, the underlying cause.
"Okay, just let me get this out – and don't interrupt me or I'll kick you out." Kurt's determined expression made Puck raise his hands, palms outward in the universal sign of surrender.
"Okay, okay, don't get your panties in a bunch. (Do you wear panties, though? Okay_ okay, sorry!) Well, get whatever it is off of your chest – then maybe we can get back to more – interesting things…" Puck's voice trailed off suggestively as he leered at the still-flushed singer.
Kurt huffed and folded his arms, waiting for the twit to take him seriously. Finally, he started speaking.
"Two months ago, my life was normal – well, hectic but still that's normal for me. I was looking forward to my break; a little fun, a little frolic in the sun, that sort of thing." He paused and looked over at his guest. Noah had a thoughtful expression on his face but other than that, he seemed to be listening carefully.
"Imagine if you will, how I felt when I woke up not knowing what was happening – I was scared out of my fucking mind!" Kurt's voice had risen slowly and by the end he was practically shouting. He took a breath and sat back in the armchair, grasping the arms so tightly his fingers hurt.
The other man shifted, a look of guilt, regret or remorse, Kurt couldn't tell which, flowing over his tanned features. He took a deep breath and continued, his full lips sneering now.
"Then, on top of waking up naked in a strange bed, in a strange house, in a different FREAKING country, I meet your boss. He proceeds to introduce himself quite calmly as if we were at a blasted garden party." He narrowed his eyes at Puck who just in time stifled a chuckle. "Then he proceeds to threaten to keep me naked and chained to HIS BED!"
Kurt was yelling again and had surged to his feet, his hands waving about in his agitation. Puck had to admit he was a little shocked; he hadn't known that any of that had happened. He stared as the small bundle of energy paced before the coffee table, cuss words escaping him every now and then. Puck got to his feet and moved slowly towards the slender man, intending on offering comfort, if he could.
Kurt spun around and glared at the larger man, unaware that tears were spilling onto his cheeks. "I didn't deserve for that to happen to me, no one does, and I hate that I can't get to punish him for it." He swiped his hand across his face when he realized he was crying and turned his back to the man who had helped perpetrate this wrong.
Oh no, he hadn't forgotten that Noah was the accomplice in all this; he just didn't feel as strongly about him as he did his boss. A part of Kurt hated that he couldn't hold on completely to the vindictiveness that had overtaken him when he'd been on the island. Every time his memory conjured up David's face or replayed his voice, his stomach twisted because deep down he regretted how things had started out and how they'd ended.
Color flooded his cheeks and his body warmed as he remembered the way David had kissed him that day in Kurt's bedroom. Kurt hadn't wanted to be turned on by the very man who'd abducted him but the feel of his big, hard body pressing Kurt's down into the cool sheets, the way he'd kissed and nibbled on his neck, a definite hot spot, made Kurt shiver in remembrance. He'd been determined to taunt Karofsky with something he would never really have but the heat and friction between them as they rubbed against each other had been too much and he'd brought Kurt to one of the best orgasms he'd ever had. He'd had to cling to his mask of indifference as he'd gotten up from the bed because he was damned if he would let Karofsky know how much he'd enjoyed everything.
He remembered the way he'd left the other man on the bed to go have a shower, tempting him with the possibility of sharing it and then slamming the door shut almost in the stunned man's face. Kurt could admit that he'd been a thrice-dyed bitch but he'd felt at the time, in his desire for revenge, that Karofsky deserved everything Kurt could dish out.
Since then it seemed that karma was a bigger bitch than Kurt because he couldn't put what had happened on the island out of his mind at all. His colleagues were paying for his nearly sleepless nights and his temper was so uncertain, his assistant and personal attendants were all but tiptoeing around him these last few weeks. Kurt felt guilty about that, hence the apology tonight, but he still felt as if he was just hanging by a thread.
Puck stepped up to Kurt and put his arms around the shaking man. For just a minute Kurt relaxed into the embrace and just accepted the simple warmth of human touch. He was so tired of trying to stay angry, to stay strong but the anger was the only thing that made sense these days. He hated himself for wishing that things had been different; he hated himself for being weak. Slowly he registered that Noah was rubbing his arms, the warmth of his large hands soothing Kurt and almost lulling him. But he didn't want to be lulled; his strength was the only thing he needed.
Now he struggled to haul his mask back into place as he turned to look angrily up at Noah. "I hate that he did what he did because truthfully, I could have been into him – had we met in a normal way. There, I said it," he glared defiantly at the stunned man in front of him. "He's just the type of man I'd always wanted – and he had to go and spoil it, damn him to hell!"
Kurt flung himself away and onto the couch Puck had vacated, his face buried in his hands and Puck ached to go and comfort him. Given the astounding revelations about Kurt's nascent feelings toward his boss, though, Puck felt a mite awkward, remembering how he'd earlier stuck his tongue down the singer's throat without knowing if it was welcome. He cleared his throat after a while and then sat gingerly beside the struggling man.
"Well, if it's any comfort to you, you got part of your wish," Puck muttered as he wondered whether he should pat Kurt's back. The singer had been rocking himself back and forth but he stopped, turning his head towards Puck, his eyes red-rimmed and his cheeks pale again.
"What do you mean, part of my wish?" Kurt couldn't imagine what Noah was on about now. His head ached and he wished he could sleep for several days, without any dreams to disturb him.
The other man looked away, a resigned expression taking over his face. He turned back to Kurt, a slight sneer pulling at one corner of his full lips. "You'll be happy to know that he's sick, won't you. You'll get part of your revenge, though you won't be there to see it."
Kurt leapt to his feet, his heart pounding. Noah's words sounded as if they were echoing down a long tunnel and Kurt swayed as he backed away from him. "Wait_, wait! What do you mean 'he's sick'?" His stomach clenched and the coffee seemed to have turned to acid in his stomach.
Puck stood as well, his face grim as he took in the shock on Kurt's. "The doctors say it's pneumonia compounded by exhaustion – and stress." His eyes took in the way Kurt had paled even more and he felt a grim sort of satisfaction that Kurt was suffering a little, too. "Personally, I think that he's depressed."
Kurt stared at him, wide-eyed, his arms wrapped around his torso and one hand covering his mouth, the very picture of horrified concern. Puck knew he was being a little unfair to the diva but his loyalty to Dave and his own attraction to Kurt made him feel as if he was on an emotional rollercoaster. He hadn't known that Dave had said those things to Kurt back on the island but he knew his boss very well. He knew Kurt must have pushed him somehow; Dave was one of the kindest people Puck had ever met and knew that the threats would have been empty ones. He acknowledged, however, that Kurt would not have known that.
He sighed and brushed his hand over his hair – these two men would be the death of him, surely. His gaze softened as he waited for Kurt to gather himself and say something.
Kurt's hands were shaking; it was one thing to wish something bad on someone in anger and another thing to hear that your wish had come true. He tried to calm his racing heart, wanting to bombard Noah with questions but not wanting him to see how very much the news had affected him.
"I take it he's getting the very best care his money can buy?"
Oh shit, he hadn't meant for it to come out so sarcastically but he did want to know if David was getting better.
Puck stared at him, an odd mix of anger and disappointment appearing briefly in his eyes. Shaking his head, he turned away to grab his jacket and then headed towards the door before answering the singer. If he stayed any longer, he didn't know what he would do to the vicious little bitch.
"Don't worry, he's not dying yet. There's still time to get your revenge," and he yanked open the door, his footsteps pounding down the stairs towards the exit.
"Noah!" Kurt shouted, but by the time he'd made it out of his flat to the banister and leaned over its edge, Noah was already outside on the street. "I only meant…" the street door slammed and Kurt was alone.
Kurt crumpled, pulling his knees into his chest as the tears once again spilled over. The sound of his sobs echoed down the stairwell and he would have been mortified to know they were being overheard. The minutes passed and he struggled to breathe but the tears just kept coming. Finally, when strong yet gentle hands tugged at him, he just went with it.
He turned into the warm, solid chest and let everything out. He flung his arms around his comforter, not caring who it was, only that someone was there and he wasn't alone anymore in the flood that was trying to drown him. Soft words were being whispered into his hair but hearing and sight were lost; only the comfort of touch remained.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
TBC
A/N 2: I know Kurt's a bit of a drama queen but, given his personality as we've seen it in canon, I think he would behave just this way. How would you react were you in his position? Was Puck being unreasonable to walk out? Please let me know what you think.
