A/N: Sorry this was so long in coming, Liberty kinda got away from me. But this and the next chapter are much longer than the first three. :) Oh, and sorry now for the text speak in this, I don't text a lot myself and so I'm very much behind on the shortcuts (though I do purposely make kurt write full sentences).

Freedom

Chapter 4 –

The next day started out weird. He had decided the night before to ask Kurt for another ride, maybe this time not be so uppity about… well, he would be uppity, he just wouldn't hide it.

He was heading towards the boy when two things happened in quick succession. First, a letterman jacket clad arm appeared in his vision, holding a slushy cup. Second, a different letterman jacket clad arm appeared, hand over the slushy cup.

Puck stared at the averted disaster before him. What the hell? Then he decided to voice his opinion. "What the hell?"

"Lay off, Az," came Karofsky's voice, and Puck looked over, even more confused. "At least let them get through the first few weeks."

Puck looked at Azimio, wondering what he would do. The other jock practically snarled, before jerking the cup in Karofsky's direction, but only a few drops of slushy made it past the boy's hand.

Azimio growled this time and got up real close to his fellow bully's face. At least, Puck thought they were fellow bullies, until now. "Guess what, Dave," Azimio rumbled, "I don't think I want to talk to you either. You lucked out last week cause of Beiste. But you ever cross me again, I will beat you down."

Puck just stood in shock as the boys, who had been the best of buds last year, were verbally duking it out.

Karofsky puffed himself up, and since he was the same height as Azimio, but slightly broader in the shoulders, he definitely looked bigger. "Screw you Az," he said. "I told you I wouldn't do it any more, and I've decided that I don't think I'll let you do it anymore either. So you can just suck it and grow up."

Azimio was about to retort with something when Puck saw Beiste walk around the corner. Puck cleared his throat, getting both the jocks' attention. He casually waved to their coach and Azimio immediately took a step back.

"Watch yourself, Karofsky," he hissed before walking away.

Puck moved his gaze to Karofsky, still a little confused and disbelieving. "Um, what the hell?" His question had yet to be answered.

Karofsky took the cup in his clean hand, shaking the other to get off some of the stickiness. "Don't mention it," he mumbled, not looking at Puck, but then he did glance up. "Seriously, just don't talk about it."

Puck just nodded. He was about to walk away when Karofsky stopped him with an arm across his chest. "What?" asked Puck, a little annoyed now.

"I've seen your looks before. Take my advice, don't hold back."

"Wha–,"

"Cause if you do, it'll just explode and you'll probably ruin everything." Then Karofsky walked away, dumping the slushy into a trash can and entering a bathroom to wash his hand.

"Okay, that was a little creepy," Puck mumbled to himself. He shook his head and went to his locker, getting his things for class.

It wasn't until the bell rang that he realized he hadn't talked to Kurt yet. Grumbling in annoyance towards Karofsky for distracting him, Puck went to his class, figuring lunch was as good a time as any.

Unfortunately, Puck couldn't find Kurt at lunch. Then he barely made it to glee before Shue started. Apparently Kurt had been practicing a song at lunch and performed it that day for glee.

Puck sat in the back, enjoying being able to watch the way Kurt moved without anyone else noticing. By the time Kurt was finished singing a song from Chicago, Puck realized that he had a goofy grin on his face and a problem down south. He cursed at himself, sitting up a little and trying to recover quickly.

It wasn't until Mr. Shue had let them go that Puck was once again in control and able to catch Kurt by himself.

"Hey, Hummel," he called, stopping the boy in the hallway.

Kurt paused and looked back, eyebrow raised in question.

Puck stopped in front of him, taking a deep breath and just asking. "If you give me a ride home I'll give you a kissing lesson." He made sure to add a little suggestive eyebrow wave as he said it, he didn't want to look desperate or anything.

He was surprised when Kurt frowned. "Seriously Puck?" He turned, continuing down the hallway, Puck following behind. "Kissing lessons for a ride on a motorcycle? Who ever said I wanted kissing lessons?" He stopped, looking at Puck a little angrily, "Who ever said I needed kissing lessons? From what I recall, Brittany didn't have any complaints."

Puck stepped back, his hands in the air in surrender. "Woah, calm down, it was just a suggestion."

"Hmm," Kurt frowned, nodding a little. "Well, besides the fact that it's a bad one, I'm booked. Tina has a dentist appointment today and she hoped the bike ride would calm her down a bit more."

"Oh, okay then, why didn't you just say so?"

"I did say so." Kurt sighed, shaking his head and turning away. "Goodbye, Puck, I'll see you tomorrow."

Puck waved mutely, heading out to his own truck. Okay, so kissing lessons weren't that great of an idea. Maybe there was something else Kurt needed "help" in, because apparently he was a good kisser.

Puck groaned, hitting his head on his steering wheel as he stopped at a light. He did not need to think about how good a kisser Kurt might be. Because that would lead to other thoughts… like how Kurt's mouth would feel on other places.

When the light turned green, Puck floored his truck, suddenly needing to get home. A thought had popped into his head and while he needed to take care of yet another problem, he had plans to make.

This time, Puck figured lunch would be an early enough time to ask Kurt about a ride. Then, because his nerves got the better of him he decided to text the lean boy across the table instead.

Kurt didn't pause in his conversation with Mercedes as he pulled out his vibrating phone. Though, when he read it, he nearly choked on his bottled water. Puck looked away before Kurt looked up, glaring at him. Instead, he waited for his own phone to vibrate and looked at the new text.

What do you mean, have I ever gotten a blow job? Why the hell would you care?

Puck smirked at his phone and typed and sent an answer.

That's a no then. Want 1? 4 a ride? -P

Puck watched out of the corner of his eye as Kurt's eyes narrowed when his phone buzzed. He looked down at it and all but threw the poor phone across the table.

"Dammit, Puck," he yelled, "NO!" Then he calmed himself down, apologized to the nearest of his friends and turned back to Mercedes.

The girl gave him a funny look but continued where she had left off before his out burst.

Puck was surprised to feel his phone vibrate a minute later.

Just because you're a sex shark doesn't mean everyone will welcome an attack. Now leave me alone, I can't give any more rides this week, I'm booked. –K

Puck sighed a little and looked up to see Kurt purposely put his phone in a pocket, a front pocket. Smiling a little, Puck couldn't help but send another text.

K but u no u want it.

Kurt sighed a little and looked at his phone before rolling his eyes and putting it in the back pocket this time.

Thinking a moment, Puck decided to send one last text.

Which is better, the front or back when it vibrates?

Puck got his answer when Kurt just glared at him, not bothering to pull out his phone, and wiggled in his seat, just the slightest bit.

The following week, Puck was sitting in the lunchroom, waiting for Kurt to show up, and hoped he'd be able to talk to him one on one. Unfortunately, Kurt showed up with what looked like the rest of the glee club.

It was Mercedes who addressed the entire group as they sat down.

"Hey, have you guys noticed how Karofsky hasn't been bullying us this year?" she asked.

"You know," said Rachel, "I don't think I've been slushied once this year."

"Yeah," Puck said, "Last Tuesday Azimio was about to slushy me when Karofsky actually stopped him. It was really weird."

Kurt frowned, "Weird how?"

"What, like stopping a slushy isn't weird enough?" asked Mercedes.

Kurt just shrugged, looking at Puck expectantly. They both knew what Karofsky had promised.

"They just kinda… fought. Like, right in front of me as if I wasn't even there." The words Karofsky said to him afterward popped back into his mind and he looked away from Kurt, only to have his eyes land on the subject of conversation. "Hey, isn't Karofsky always on the phone at lunch?" he asked, changing the subject.

Kurt looked over, a small grin on his face. "Yeah, he is, isn't he?"

"Do you think we should invite him to sit with us?" asked Tina.

Kurt looked over at her, surprised. "Umm, don't you think he's happy to be on his phone?"

"Oh, come on, Kurt," Mercedes said, nudging Kurt in the side, "Even considering what he did to you last year, and what he hasn't done so far this year, I think maybe we can give him a little chance."

"Seriously? Mercedes you were one of the first ones to threaten to kick his butt after I left."

"Yeah, well, again, considering what he did for Puck I think we can give him a little chance. What do ya say?"

Kurt sighed, rolling his eyes. "Fine, but the minute he screws up I'm scorning him."

"Deal," said Mercedes.

There was a moment of silence before Kurt sighed again. "Well, I'm not going to be the one to invite him over."

"I'll go," said Puck, standing up. "If he starts anything, I'm probably one of the few guys that can fight back."

There were a few protests of 'hey' but Puck just walked away, ignoring them. As he approached Karofsky he heard a mumbled "Hold on a sec," before the lone boy looked up.

"What do you want, Puckerman?"

Puck noticed that, though a little annoyed, Karofsky's tone of voice wasn't actually hostile. "Chill, Karofsky," said Puck, stopping a few feet away. "We were just talking, thought you might like some company. If you ever want any, you're welcome to join us."

Karofsky looked over at the table full of gleeks then back at Puck, a little surprised. "Um, thanks. I'll think about it." He put the phone back to his ear and grinned a little before asking, "You say anything to him yet?"

Puck frowned, "I have no idea what you're talking about. Just, come on over when you want." Then he walked away, not even wanting to think about how Karofsky knew. Hell, he barely knew himself.

Karofsky didn't join them that day, but he did leave a little earlier than normal and nodded to the group as he left.

Later that afternoon Puck finally came up with a plan that might actually work. Before glee met up he approached the countertenor at his locker, leaning close enough to be suggestive, but far enough so that observers wouldn't notice.

"Can I convince you to take me somewhere this week?" he asked.

Kurt raised an eyebrow. "What, no sexual propositions? With the way you were escalating last week, I would have expected an offer to sleep with you."

Puck glanced away, knowing that Kurt was right. He had considered it, but he knew had to change his tactics when it came to Kurt. "Yeah, well, I don't have much else to trade so I'm just asking a favour."

"Well it depends," says Kurt, closing his locker and leaning against it, facing Puck. "Which day?"

"Any day your free," shrugged Puck, grinning, liking this flirtatious positioning, if not conversation. "It's out of town, but not too far. If you were to take me we'd be back no later than seven. Maybe sooner, depending on what all happens." God, he hoped it wouldn't be sooner.

Kurt looked away, thinking. "How about Wednesday? That should be enough time to give my dad a heads up."

Puck nodded. "Great."

TBC...