12.
The first time one of his college professors hit on Kurt, he froze. He was strong, independent, and had been dealing with the horrible old memories successfully for years. None of that stopped the ingrained reaction that caused all of the countertenor's emotions and thoughts to shut down, like a computer met with a "fatal systems error". The gleam in Mr. Pilne's eyes was completely different and, somehow, exactly the same as the one his childhood violin teacher had worn when Kurt was originally introduced to him. He had never been more grateful for Brittany when his phone started cheerfully blasting "Girls Run the World". Kurt jumped, smiled apologetically at the professor, grabbed his things and rushed out of the room, out of the building, to collapse on a bench outside. Answering the call, Brittany's first words were short and confusing, asking if Bi-corns could fly, and she sounded excited and giggly. Kurt's quiet, pained laugh was all it took to send her into a panic. She announced quickly that she was coming to pick him up. He tried to protest - they were both currently in the middle of classes, after all. Brittany didn't even acknowledge his argument, simply told him to wait and she would be there in ten minutes. True to her word, nine minutes and 37 seconds later, she was bounding out of a taxi, across the plaza and up the stairs to pull him securely into her embrace was the final trigger, and Kurt couldn't help the terrified gasps and tears as his arms shot out to hold her tightly enough to make it hard for Brittany to breathe. She didn't ask, just ushered him back to the cab and carefully gave the driver their apartment address. The drive was made while she cuddled her sobbing friend in the backseat of the vehicle.
