Disclaimer: I do not own anything recognizable from either Mag7 or Glee. I also don't own the ATF AU (I think MOG does). I am just borrowing to play! (Disclaimer good for all chapters…just in case I forget to post it!)
Puck opened his mouth, ready to give Finn hell when Rachel's elbow caught him in the side. Moving his gaze to hers, he spotted her giving Schue a wary look. Sure enough, their teacher had a careful eye on all of them. Rolling his eyes, he tried to shift himself into a more comfortable position. They had been stuck in the airport for way too long. If they were on the plane, they would at least be moving. Being trapped in a building on the ground had started to wear on everybody's nerves.
This being stuck really sucks. I'm ready to go postal on Hudson, Satan's going to eat Q alive any minute now, Beyonce's snapping at 'Cedes, and Rae's being quiet. Okay, normally wouldn't complain about that one, but that shit's not normal.
He glanced to his right as Rachel shifted again. She only had another couple of inches or so before she would have to give up and either climb into his lap or sit somewhere else. His vote would be for the first option, but it pissed him off that Hudson could not seem to learn when to back off. Even as he watched, Finn tried once more to shift closer to Rachel, ignoring the dirty look Quinn gave him as well as the irritation practically pouring off of Puck. When Rachel shifted again, turning her back to him, and Finn began to reach out to touch her shoulder, Puck decided enough was enough.
Standing abruptly and pulling Rachel to her feet, Puck looked over towards their teacher.
"Hey, Mr. Schue, be okay if Rae and I take a walk? This sitting around is getting lame fast."
Although he did not want his students scattered around an airport in a strange town, Will Schuster knew some of his students had short fuses and limited patience. At the rate things were deteriorating, he could only be happy no one had gotten physical as yet. Although both he and Emma had a private bet on who would lose their temper first, the one thing they agreed upon was the victim of the attack. Finn Hudson had charm, an excellent singing voice, and some leadership abilities, but he could occasionally be thick as a post. Letting Puck and Rachel stretch their legs might bring the whole situation back to a simmer before it boiled over.
"All right, Puck. Don't go too far, and one of you has a phone, right?" he asked.
"Yes, of course, Mr. Schuster," answered Rachel. "I have my phone, and it has been fully charged and I have already checked to make sure we have a signal. It is not as strong as it could be, but it should still…"
"Great," interrupted Puck. "C'mon Berry, let's book."
He began striding away, pulling Rachel along with him. Glancing back over his shoulder, Puck caught the hangdog look Finn sent after them even while Quinn rolled her eyes. Santana threw him a wink while Brittany smiled. He sent a shrug to the two Cheerios, and continued walking at a fast pace until they were out of sight. Once the rest of the glee club had vanished in the crowd, he slowed down.
Rachel looked up at him as they began to just stroll along.
"In a hurry, Noah?" she asked.
He snorted.
"I figured if we waited too long, that douche might decide to invite himself along," he replied.
"Oh, good thinking," she sighed. "I am not entirely sure exactly what his problem is. I will admit that it hurts, but I have accepted that he will always choose Quinn Fabray when it comes to the sticking point. However, I do not believe that in any way gives him the right to continue pursuing me and not letting me move on. By the way, I do apologize for practically climbing into your lap, but he kept trying to touch me. As a matter of fact, it is beginning to get a bit disturbing. I think he may be the slightest bit obsessive, and while I know as a young starlet I may have to deal with such stalkers, I believe high school is a little early to begin having that kind of a headache."
Puck huffed out a laugh and she looked up at him with a brilliant smile.
"I was wondering where you'd disappeared to," he teased.
When she frowned in confusion, he shrugged. Tucking her hand in the crook of his elbow, he maneuvered them both around a group that had chosen to sprawl across the aisle.
"Before you answered Schue about the phone, you haven't said five words together in over an hour. Even Satan was beginning to look worried," he finally said.
"Now, Noah, I know I am one of the more verbose in our small set, but I do not believe I talk quite that extensively…at least not enough for you to worry when I am simply…"
She broke off as he fixed her with a direct look and one raised eyebrow. Scrunching up her nose, she considered what she had just said and lifted her shoulders in surrender.
"All right," she conceded. "I do talk more than most, but I do not consider that a bad trait."
"Not saying the talking shit's bad," answered Puck. "Just saying its weird when you go quiet for too long. It's not normal."
With her free hand, she gave him a small smack.
"Noah, language!"
"Whatever, Rae," he laughed, rolling his eyes.
Both of them chuckled and then continued wandering. As she relaxed, Rachel fell back into her habit of talking about Broadway, music, and just about everything else. Puck just grinned down at her whenever they had to stop to avoid walking into people. He usually did not mind her talking, even if he would complain about it just to see her get wound up. Letting her do all the talking let him enjoy the scenery. Her eyes would light up when she got going, and her delicate hands would move in their own dance, providing a supporting argument for whatever she was discussing. Best of all, he could usually get away with staring at her legs. While he had always preferred tall, stacked girls, it was hard to deny that Rachel had a great pair of legs. No one that short should have legs that went for miles.
"You are not listening to me at all, are you Noah?" asked Rachel, smiling up at him.
"Sorry, Rae, were you talking?" he replied. "Hadn't noticed."
She rolled her eyes and then shifted closer to him to avoid stepping on someone as they rounded a corner.
"Damn," Puck said half in amazement as he looked around. "How many people fit into this place anyway?"
"Well, it is a rather large international airport," she answered as her eyes roamed over the crowd.
"Wait, look, that hallway looks less full."
With that, Puck began steering her through the crowd until they reached the less congested hallway. As they strolled down it, she hugged his arm just a bit tighter and leaned into him. Looking down at her, he gave her an affectionate half-smile. They glanced into the open doors they wandered past until they found a room with plenty of empty chairs. As Puck walked in, he noticed a group of familiar looking men sitting in the back corner. It was the same group that had passed the glee club earlier in the crowd. Giving them a long intent look, he continued into the room until Rachel pulled him to a stop.
"Noah," she said, looking back over her shoulder. "We are not supposed to be in here."
She pointed to a sign on the wall by the door – "Airport staff only". He groaned softly and gave her a pleading look, but she shook her head. His shoulders slumped slightly, but he began to follow her back out. A voice from behind them brought them to a stop.
"You might as well have a seat," said a tall, mustached man from where he lounged. "The staff've got more important things to worry about than someone sittin' in here. We'll tell 'em we said it was okay."
The man's friends smiled or nodded at the two teens, but Rachel still looked undecided. The youngest of the men stood up and walked over, pulling something like a billfold out of his pocket. When he flipped it open, it revealed a badge declaring him to be Agent Dunne of the ATF.
"Really," he said reassuringly. "It's awful crowded out there, and you'll be a lot more comfortable here."
She bit her lip and looked up at Puck. He stared at the agent and then over to the rest of the team; his eyes serious and considering. Despite everything, Rachel trusted his instincts in dangerous situations over hers. When he gave a slow nod, she gave a sigh of relief and smiled at the men.
"Would it be all right if we invited a couple of more friends?" she asked. When the men exchanged glances, she hurried to reassure them. "I promise we will keep the numbers contained. It should only be four more people."
At that, the men looked to a lanky blond man who gave a quick nod. Agent Dunne turned a boyish smile on the pair of teenagers.
"Sure," he answered. "Four more people won't hurt anything."
Rachel turned her brightest smile on the group. A couple of the men blinked and gave her odd looks, but the others melted just a bit, smiling back at the pretty brunette.
"Thank you so very much! I cannot begin to tell you how much we appreciate this. Those crowds were simply too much! Anyway, my name is Rachel Berry, and this is…"
"Puck," he interrupted before she could give his full name.
With another smile from Rachel, the two teens moved to the other side of the room. She pulled out her phone and typed out a lengthy text. Puck gave her a questioning look.
"I texted Santana," she replied. "I told her where we were in case she, Britt, Tina and Mike wanted to join us."
He nodded before sitting down and stretching out. Groaning as his joints popped, he gave her a relaxed grin.
"Just think we can do our waiting without having to deal with Saint Finn or…"
"All right," she interrupted, taking a seat beside him. "I am certainly glad to be away as well, but we do not have to belabor the issue. We can just forget they are here for a bit."
"I'd ask if you wanted to make out," he started, grinning.
She laughed.
"Not in public, Noah."
He blinked at her answer before a wicked smile broke over his face.
"So," he said, "how about we talk about it when we get home, somewhere private?"
She just gave him her sweetest smile and then put her legs across his lap so she could look at him as they talked. His hands came to rest on her shins and rubbed gently. They talked and laughed quietly, paying no attention to the ATF agents across the room.