7: The Patriarchy

Finn's still really trying – it's hard. Rachel still won't talk to him, and that makes Glee awkward to say the least. He can't help but feel she's kind of overreacting to one tiny comment he made, but he doesn't want to think that, because what right does he have to judge her? Won't do him any favors.

Anyway, he's settled in his usual routine – school, Glee, football. He knows he's acting weird, and feels bad about it, but doesn't have any real control over it. He's distant and distracted in class, but he always did so badly anyway that no-one really notices the difference (which is a bit upsetting, because he used to try). People don't talk to him much in Glee right now, which is funny, because none of them seem to like Rachel much either – however, he does kind of keep flipping his shit at them, so that might explain it.

As for football... well, it's a three-or-more times a week requirement to be half-naked with his fucking rapist. Does he really need to explain why that sucks?

Speaking of which, he's at football practice. Which sucks.

Sam has talked to him less since the whole debacle that led to the Rachel break-up; whether out of fear that Finn will reveal what happened, or irritation about his behavior, or because Kurt told him about his other outburst (which could have aspects of both), Finn doesn't know. He doesn't care all that much, because hey, whatever keeps Sam away from him is good in his book.

Well except for the bit where Rachel's pissed at him and he has no idea how to make it better, and Kurt just eyes him with wariness and slight distrust. Those bits suck.

"Dude?" Someone taps him on the shoulder, and Finn stands up.

It's Sam.

So he stands up straighter.

"Do you know what's going on with Kurt? He's been... kind of distant lately," says Sam. The rest of the guys roll their eyes, and Finn tries to block out the murmurs of 'fags', because he really does not need to hear the implications from that plural. "I was just wondering... if he'd said anything..."

Finn shakes his head and grits his teeth. "Nah," it comes out quiet and pathetic, so he tries again. "No."

Sam shrugs. "Really? Because your the one who lives with him. Even if he hasn't told you exactly what's going on, wouldn't you have picked up something? Like, even if he's acting this way around everyone or just to–"

"I don't know anything, okay?" yells Finn. "Will you leave me alone?"

He roughly shoves Sam, who stumbles, but doesn't fall. Finn snatches his hands back, and tries to resist the odd sensation that makes them feel like they're burning. Don't be stupid.

Everyone stares. Sam seems more than a little taken aback. "I was just asking. Take a chill pill, man."

Finn inhales and does his best not to cry. He is so fucking sick of this.

"You got a problem, Hudson?"

Finn looks and realizes that came from Coach Tanaka. Fuck. He so doesn't need to get shit from him too.

"No, I just..." Finn trails off when he realizes he doesn't actually have an excuse. "Whatever."

He can't help but look down at Sam – like, really look. He's not really scary looking. Finn wouldn't have to put much force in to knock him over – mostly because Finn is like, six foot five, but that's kind of his point. Sam doesn't look scary. He looks like a nice, normal guy, and a neat beat-down of the idea all gays are alike and whatever (not that Kurt isn't awesome himself). Sam doesn't look like he could hurt Finn – honestly, he reckons if anyone'd even think about it they'd be worried about it happening the other way around – so why did it happen? Why couldn't Finn defend himself? Why was he so pathetic he just let it happen?

Okay, drugged. But why was he stupid enough to drink the damn beer anyway?

He just wishes he could have stopped it, okay?

Finn comes back to reality, and Tanaka is still staring at him.

"Fine," his coach grumbles. "All of you, out on the field!"

Ken Tanaka's a decent guy.

Maybe he's not perfect, but he's not going to look at the fact his quarterback's clearly facing a complete nervous breakdown and think what the hell, doesn't matter to me. The kid is sixteen, for christ's sake, Ken'd get fired if he did nothing about it. Well, not really, because McKinley High isn't so great with things light that. But it's the principle of the thing.

However, Ken Tanaka's also a guy who knows his flaws.

Namely, he's not so great at the compassionate sensitive guy act. And he has no fucking clue what's going on at Finn Hudson, nor any idea what to do about it. Plus, he's still kind of pissed at the kid because he keeps fucking up practices and he brought up the Emma thing. So trying to deal with it himself would probably not end well for anyone.

So Ken's got a different plan.

He's just really not looking forward to it.

"Hey? Will?"

Said guy looks pretty confused about Ken showing up. And they're off to a bad start, folks.

"Ken? What is it?"

Ken sighs. "It's about one of your Glee kids. Hudson. I don't see him much except for practice, but... he's been acting pretty weird for the last couple of weeks. Almost started a fight yesterday because Sam Evans dared to ask about the Kurt thing, and Finn's always been pretty okay with that thing, so..." he trails off. "Plus, he just keeps insulting everybody and acting jumpy. It's not like the kid. Look, I'm no good at this stuff, Will. I think the last student I tried to advise wound up flogging his pinky toes as pieces of new age art. I know you and Hudson are... close, so maybe you could talk to him about whatever's going on?"

Will nods thoughtfully. "Okay. I had noticed that; he has been acting strangely for a while – I kept meaning to talk to him about it, but stalling. But I'll do it. We owe him that."

Ken nods. "Alright. You figure this out, because I need my quarterback back."

"Duly noted."

"Finn? Could you stay back for a second?"

Finn looks worried, and Kurt flashes him a look as he pauses in the doorway. "It's cool," says Finn. "I'll see you at home, dude."

Kurt nods, looking a little bit relieved, even. Then he's gone with the rest of the kids; it's just Finn and Will and Will really doesn't know what to say.

"So, Mr. Schue," says Finn, and Will can help but notice how he slides his hands in his pockets and slouches down like he's trying to seem shorter. Like he's trying to be less visible. "What's this about?"

Will sighs and walks a little closer to the boy. Finn shuffles away slightly, and it furthers Will's concerned frown. "This is... people are worried about you, Finn," he says, and Finn just looks confused. "You've been acting... strangely, for a few weeks. I've noticed how moody and withdrawn you've been acting. Rachel's often complained about the circumstances that led to your break up... Coach Tanaka came to see me yesterday, Finn. You almost started a fight with Sam for little to no reason. Apparently you've been acting out at football practices a lot."

Finn looks away from him. "So what?" he asks, voice flat. "You wanna scold me?"

Will shakes his head. "No, Finn, like I said. I'm worried about you."

"How nice," Finn murmurs.

"Finn–"

Will lays a comforting hand on his arm, but Finn jumps away.

"Don't touch me!"

Will briefly thanks god that they're having this conversation in private, and no-one can get bad ideas from that. Then that train of thought starts creeping him out, so he cuts it off.

"Okay," he says. Finn's finally looking at him. "Finn... did something happen? Something that's making you act this way?"

Finn just stares for a few seconds. The awkward silence hangs between them, well, awkwardly.

"I..." he trails off. "No. I'm sorry, Mr. Schue... but I'm fine. I'm okay."

Will sighs.

"Really," Finn insists. "Well, uh, maybe I'm not fine... I've just been stressed and crap, you know? And the Rachel thing... it's been getting to me. Especially with Kurt and Sam always being around, and like, in love... so when Sam was asking me about him, I guess I just kinda snapped?"

He sounds on the edge of tears by the end of his speech, and Will can only stare at him for a few seconds.

"I..." Will's never heard a conversation with so many pauses and awkward silences. "Okay."

Finn nods slowly. He buries his hands further in his pockets. "So... can I go home now?"

Will bites his lip. "Alright," he says.

Finn nods. "Cool."

Then he leaves.

Will doesn't buy any of that crap about him being okay, but he really doesn't know what to do.