Love's A Loaded Gun

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or concepts from the show Glee.

A/N: Aw, no reviews for my first contribution. :( Hope it wasn't that terrible! Well, anyway, I have a new chapter for anyone who is reading the fic. Hope you like it.

Chapter One: Bang Bang

Glee practice had been dramatic. Mercedes had left rehearsal after venting about being under-appreciated and overlooked. Kurt glared at the group to show his disappointment in them before running after Mercedes. She was no where to be found in the hallways. He checked the girls bathroom as well, but no luck. It was outside near the parking lot that he found her, slumped over and crying. He swung his book bag off his shoulder and sat down beside his friend, fiddling with the strap.

"I'm always going to be in her shadow," Mercedes said between sobs. "No one is ever going to see me with Rachel Berry hogging the spotlight every chance she gets."

Kurt ran one finger idly up and down the strap of his book bag. "Don't let her get to you, Mercedes."

"That's easy for you to say," she retorted bitterly. "You're a boy. None of the boys can sing like you. I'm always butting heads with Rachel. She always gets her way and I'm tired of it."

"So, quitting Glee is the answer?" Kurt asked. "Whether you're there or not, Rachel is going to be on that stage. Quitting won't do anything but make it easier for her."

"I know," said Mercedes in a frustrated manner. She wiped away her tears and sighed. "Thanks, Kurt."

He smiled at her.

"Look, I'm going to go back in and get my things and I'll take you home," she said getting up.

"Okay," Kurt said. "I'll wait for you right here." He watched Mercedes make her way back into the school, sighing deeply.

An arid thought crept into his mind as he waited:

Courage. That's the wisdom Blaine Anderson bestowed upon him when he had trouble confronting Karofsky a while back. Courage led him after the bully into the locker room; it challenged the jock and broke him down. Courage collapsed the bully's wall of defense, exposing him for the first time. Courage cornered Karofsky, none of his threats working against the determined boy. Kurt could still feel the desperate nature of the act that followed; the whimper Karofsky let out after their lips were pressed together; the jock's big hands on either side of Kurt's face holding him in place. Nobody knew what pain looked like on Karofsky. But when Kurt pushed him away after the bully attempted a second kiss, it was then revealed. The look of dejection on his face; Kurt would never forget it. That would be the last time Karofsky would ever let himself be vulnerable.

"Looky what we have here, guys."

Kurt was instantly alarmed at the sight of three goons approaching him not even taking notice of the group until it was too late...

"A fairy has gone straying from his magical rainbow," one said jeering. "My slut of a sister doesn't even wear clothes that tight." They closed in on him, leaving him no where to run.

Kurt stood up clutching his bag tightly. "I'm not looking for any trouble," he trembled. He stepped backwards instinctively but was shoved from behind. Kurt fell forward to the ground and the thugs began laughing and mocking him.

Kurt lifted his head from the ground, a glimpse of a certain jock catching his eye. He could see through the spaces between the legs of his attackers that circled him, Dave Karofsky. There he stood a few yards away, watching. His expression was unreadable. Their eyes locked.

The thugs that surrounded Kurt finished toying and taunting the boy, now resorting to more physical attacks. Through kicks and stomps, Kurt never let his eyes stray from Karofsky's.

Kurt crawled, his body wrought with pain from being kicked and shoved around. He inched his way towards the only hope left for him. He reached for Karofsky's leg and pulled himself to the boy. He looked up at him, his vision beginning to blur. He cried, holding onto his bully's leg for dear life. "P-Please...," he begged helplessly, blood lining his mouth.

Karofsky looked down upon the beaten boy. And for the first time since the kiss in the locker room, conflict seemed to arise in him.

"Let's cut him up a little bit," one of the goons said, stepping towards the pair, exposing a blade.

"Yeah, carve faggot into him so he never forgets," another one said.

Karofsky's blood began to boil. His jaw locked into place, taking another glance to the boy at his feet. He stepped forward finally, acting as a shield for him. "Put the knife down," he growled at Kurt's attackers.

"You want some too, punk?" one of them taunted, walking up to him and pushing him. Karofsky was hardly phased by it.

"Put the god damn knife down!" Karofsky warned again, gritting his teeth.

"Let's beat the crap out of him!" one of the guys yelled launching himself at the jock. Karofsky was quick to dodge him, sending a solid fist straight into the guy's jaw knocking him senseless. Another one joined and started to tussle with him, both of them jabbing each other in the stomach with hard blows.

With a snarl of fury, the goon who carried the knife charged forward, scrambling up in a venomous rage towards where Karofsky and the other guy were grappling each other.

"Dave!" Kurt managed to shout, trying desperately to warn him of the advance.

Karofsky pushed the one guy off of him and turned just in time to hop backward, the slash of the knife slicing his shirt and nicking the flesh of his abdomen. A frenzy of other attempts were made, but Karofsky managed to tackle his assailant and knocked the knife out of his hand. But it was only a matter of time before the others rallied and overwhelmed him.

Karofsky growled, captured and held back by the other thugs. He looked over to where Kurt was laying motionless, finally passing out from being beaten so badly.

The one with the knife regained the weapon and walked over to Karofsky grabbing his face and pointing at him with the blade. "Now you're going to pay!"

Karofsky spat in the guy's face. "Eat shit." The jock gave one final struggle against his captors and somehow released himself from their grasp. He made an attempt to put the one with the knife out of commission, but as he advanced the weapon poked him in the ribs. Karofsky fell to his knees, holding his side.

"Let's get out of here!"

The three goons left the wounded jock there, slumped over breathing heavily. He pulled his hand away from the stab and noticed the blood coating his palm. And then suddenly, everything went dark.

Kurt woke up first. He tried to move but felt instantly uncomfortable. There were several medical tubes patched into him, monitoring his health. Every part of his body ached. The whiteness of the room was blinding, the sterile walls and floors illuminating with the reflection of the light. The nurse caring for him took notice of his wakened state when Kurt groaned with pain.

"Oh!" The nurse quickly attended to him. "Are you alright?"

Kurt could barely keep his eyes open. "What... happened? How did I get here?"

"Try not to move around so much," the nurse said, pulling out some pain medication. "Here. This will help you relax." The nurse sat by Kurt, tilting his head back. "Can you open your mouth for me?"

Kurt did as he was told, a few pills were dropped into his mouth.

"Here," the nurse said, handing him a glass of water. "You should be okay, now. You were beat up pretty bad. I think your friend over there saved you."

Kurt turned instantly. Karofsky was in the next bed to him with his eyes closed. His shirt was removed and a bandage wrapping was covering his ribs.

"Call if you need anything. For now, please try and get some rest." The nurse exited the room, leaving the two boys alone.

Kurt studied the jock next to him. He was so broad and strong, breathing lightly, his stomach going up and down with each breath. Kurt noticed the hair on his chest as well, never actually seeing any on the other boys at school. His arms were thick like tree trunks. It was no wonder that he survived the attack. Nobody else could have fended off three guys like that.

"Quit staring at me," Karofsky mumbled.

Kurt gasped not noticing the jock had been watching him while lost in his stare. "S-sorry... I... I'm sorry."

Karofsky grunted and closed his eyes again.

Kurt looked his way again, biting his bottom lip. "Thanks for saving me..."

The bully snorted. "Don't think this changes anything, Fancy. I'm not your guardian angel. I'm not even your friend."

Kurt frowned, his heart swelling up in his chest. How would he ever be able to tell Karofsky what was going on inside of him if he was always being met with hostility and rejection? "Say what you want," Kurt sniffed, wiping away some tears running down his cheeks. "I knew you'd stop them. I just had this feeling."

"Let's get something straight," Karofsky replied coldly. "I only stopped those guys from beating the crap out of you because I was there, and if I hadn't done anything people probably would have thought I did it. I don't give a damn if anything happens to you." The bully turned over onto his side facing away from Kurt showing he was done talking. It was a dismissal.

Kurt nodded, miserably still sniffling from crying. "I hate you..." he uttered, closing his eyes tightly. He received no response from Karofsky.

I hate you.

To be continued in Chapter Two: Heart of Stone