Catalyst

Chapter 16

By Dani J.

Summary: Kurt and Blaine have decided to just be friends and the dapper boy realized he really missed Dalton Academy so he's gone back. No Klaine-bashing is intended, it just wouldn't have worked for this fic. However, Kurt has an admirer in a new kid… and Puck isn't happy at all but doesn't seem willing to step up.

Disclaimer: I own nothing whatsoever. Blame RM and company for this unfairly attractive and addictive group of characters. Well, except for my cute, original character, Kristopher.

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Last chapter: He had been awful to his dad who'd only had his best interest at heart. He knew his dad was worried about his reaction to Puck's defection but he hated anyone seeing him be vulnerable. As to Puck, he wished childishly that he'd never met him or never allowed him to get close, at least emotionally.

As the tears dripped down the side of his face, he almost found himself wishing he had never met Kris and then never met Blaine. In a fit of self-pity, he wished he'd never had to grow up and deal with this kind of pain. Locker checks and dumpster tosses – he could handle those. What he couldn't handle, he thought as he sniffed now, was dealing with a broken heart.

Monday morning found Kurt walking arm-in-arm with Mercedes and Tina down the hallway to their first classes. He and Mercedes waved goodbye to Tina and headed to their first class and Kurt thought that the brief time listening to the girls chattering about their weekend had lightened his spirits considerably. He thought a group trip to the mall was long overdue and figured they needed to get on that soon.

Slipping into his seat, he took his things out of his satchel, hung it on the back of the chair and looked up just in time for his and Puck's eyes to meet. Kurt's lips tightened and he spun around to stare straight ahead of him. Mrs. Hetrick had just come in and Kurt occupied himself with noting that a woman as curvaceous as she was did not need to wear that much floral.

However, as much as he ostensibly paid attention to the lesson and to 'Cedes, he couldn't help but be aware of the hunky jock behind him. Kurt's wayward mind kept going back to the kisses they'd exchanged and the way Puck had felt against him that, at one point, 'Cedes had to ask him if everything was alright.

It was just as the bell went that she asked and Kurt hurriedly gathered his things before nodding at her, a strained little smile on his lips. "Oh, yeah, uh, everything's okay. Why?"

Just as Mercedes opened her mouth to reply, a quiet voice behind them said, "Ladies."

She looked up at Puck and smiled, slapping his muscular arm playfully. "Puckerman, Kurt's not a girl!"

Kurt had stiffened, his back straight and he neither turned around nor acknowledged Puck's presence. That was when 'Cedes started to pick up on the odd tension between the two boys and looked from one to the other.

"Uh-oh," she said and then sighed in an overly dramatic way. "Okay, what is it with you two now?"

Kurt turned fiery blue eyes on her but said nothing. He grabbed his satchel and still without even looking at Puck, dashed from the room, both his friends' eyes on him.

Mercedes turned back to Puck with her eyebrows way up her forehead and demanded. "Oh, no. Tell me you two are not on the outs again!"

Puck looked at her, his eyes sad, and then he shrugged, moving towards the door. The final bell for the next period would go soon and he didn't have time for this. "I don't know, Aretha; best ask Kurt because I'm just as in the dark as you."

With that he headed to his next class, a furrow between his eyebrows as he wondered what had gone down over the weekend. All indications had been that Kurt was going to finally get what it is the Marshall kid had been wanting to give him from day one. Why Kurt was in such a rotten mood was a huge mystery.

Shaking his head, Puck slid into his seat beside Finn in the back of their English class and simply nodded when Finn muttered 'hi'. With only half his mind on the classwork, and who the hell cared about some old dead guy who couldn't spell properly, Puck found himself doodling in the back of his binder.

Finn looked over at his long-time friend and shook his head. He had no idea what was going on between Puck and Kurt and Kurt and that Kristopher kid but it was seriously confusing. Watching how distracted his friend was, though, he finally decided he would corner him after class and try to find out.

They had gym for third period which, for the jocks, was usually just working out in the equipment room, doing weights, cardio, that sort of thing. Finn figured if he volunteered to spot Puck during his weight session, he could talk to him quietly. Most of the other players seemed to prefer working on the cardio equipment or the resistance machines so they would be in a fairly quiet spot in the gym.

When they were changed into their workout gear, Finn followed Puck over to the weight bench. Puck was proud of his biceps, his 'guns' as he called them, and spent a huge amount of his workout time on them. Now though he would be working on his pectorals and as Finn moved behind him to spot him with the weights, he decided now was the moment.

"Hey, dude, what's going on with you and Kurt?"

Puck scoffed; Finn wasn't as subtle as he thought he was. He had seen the repeated looks Finn had thrown at him during English class and figured the other boy was curious about stuff. When he followed him over to the weight bench, Puck was prepared for the questions to start and he had been right.

"Nothing's going on with me and your brother," he muttered now and huffed as he pushed the weights up, feeling it in his chest and arm muscles.

Finn was watching carefully because he was a good spotter and he would hate if anything happened to Puck while he was asking him questions.

"You can't fool me, Puck; one weekend you and Kurt are all over each other, the next weekend he's out with that Kris dude and crying!"

Puck's eyes widened at that and he carefully brought the weights down with Finn's help and then sat up to stare at him. Finn threw a towel at him and then picked up their water bottles, handing Puck's his before sitting on the bench beside him.

"Wait, wait!" Puck turned slightly on the seat to stare at Finn. "What the fuck you mean 'crying'?"

"Shhh, keep your voice down!" Finn looked behind him but no one else in the gym was paying them any mind so he continued. "Yeah, I didn't hear much but when he came home early from his date with the guy, he was in a state and Burt hugged him for a long time!"

Puck stared at him, not knowing what to think but anger and fear and confusion warring in his mind.

What the hell had happened? Kurt had clearly gone on the date but… did the Kris dude do something bad to Kurt? Nah, he couldn't imagine that from the way the guy behaved all the time. Yet Kurt had seemed angry this morning and wouldn't even look at him, Puck, at all. Why was he angry with him, anyway? If anyone had a right to be angry it was him; Kurt had been all over him and then suddenly going on a date with Marshall.

Puck leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, at a loss as to what to think or do. Running a hand through his hair he shot a quick look at Finn, noting how the other jock was wringing his hand that way he does when he's confused. Yeah, they were both confused … by Kurt, no less.

Puck sighed and straightened up, a look of determination on his face and Finn looked at him hopefully. Puck had always been the ringleader and Finn, ever since they were little dudes, had always followed his lead. Now was no different.

"Okay, here's what we do. After school, we corner that Kristopher kid, okay, and make him tell us what he did to Kurt!"

Finn nodded vigorously, fierce determination on his open face and Puck repressed a grin of affection. Even after all the drama that had gone down between them, Finn really was his best friend and he was glad that they had salvaged their friendship. Now, he was done with this fool workout; his body didn't need more pumping up. It was already perfect!

The boys headed to the showers and after the usual horseplay and stupidity they all headed to the cafeteria by the time the lunch bell sounded.

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Kurt sauntered out of the front doors of McKinley High with his girls flanking him, his spirits somewhat restored as they discussed where they would be shopping come the weekend. He felt he had been neglecting 'Cedes and Tina a little and this outing was an olive branch, you could say.

They skipped down the steps, chatting and laughing when gradually the sounds of a scuffle and shouting came to them.

Kurt and the girls stared at one another, their eyes wide and their jaws dropped. It wasn't often there was a fight on campus and now they, as one, turned towards the sounds. Together they hurried to their left and turning a corner, drew up short at the sight before them.

Kristopher and Puck were brawling, throwing punches at each other while Finn and Mike were shouting at them, both trying to pull them apart.

Kurt's heart flew up into his throat even as he heard Tina and Mercedes' horrified gasps and he flew towards the scene.

"Stop! Stop it! Stop now, goddamn it!"

Kurt's voice was high, loud and piercing and all the boys looked up in surprise at the sight of Kurt descending on them like an avenging angel. Finn held onto Puck even though he had stopped struggling and Kristopher shrugged off Mike's grip to swipe a bit of blood from his mouth.

"What the hell is wrong with you?! Why are you doing this?"

Kurt stood just a few feet away from them, his fists on his hips as he glared at them, his eyes finally landing for some reason on Puck first.

Puck moved away from Finn and muttered, "You know why…"

Kurt's eyes widened and then he looked over at Kristopher who was glaring at Puck as if he would launch himself at him again. Finn made a move as if he would gladly get in a few licks if Kristopher even twitched. Mike for his part simply shrugged, looking confused and staring between the two groups.

Kurt had almost forgotten that Mercedes and Tina were with him until 'Cedes blurted out: "What do you mean, Puckerman?"

Kristopher interrupted any reply Puck would have made as he took a step towards Puck. "Listen, I don't know what his problem is, but tell him I didn't do anything to you!"

"WHAT?!"

The voices of the others mingled but Kurt looked up to glare at Finn. He would have been the only one to pass on to Puck what had happened on Saturday. Even though he didn't know everything, Finn had been there when he'd returned from his date, obviously distressed, and probably had leapt to horrible conclusions.

"Finn Hudson, what's wrong with you?" Kurt's voice was only marginally softer than before but it was still loud enough for poor Finn to wince.

"What – I didn't do anything! I just told Puck…"

"Whatever you told Puck – you had no right! My business is my business, Finn, and you'd best remember that. You don't want to get on my bad side!"

Kurt's temper was legendary and the boys cringed as he glared at Finn, Puck almost feeling sorry for his best friend. Mike still looked a little confused but less so because, if it was a case of something happening to Kurt, he could understand that a brother would want to do something about it. Why Puck was involved, though, he had no idea. He edged over to Tina and took her hand, shrugging when she looked a question at him.

By this time, Mercedes had joined in the fray. "Now explain why you knuckleheads were fighting on school property. Y'all are lucky it wasn't one of the teachers who had walked up!"

Kurt's arms were folded tightly across his chest now and one foot was tapping in that universal way that everyone knew meant "speak now!"

Puck found his courage and took a deep breath. "Okay, maybe Finn shouldn't have said anything but he is your brother and I… well," he stared at the ground now. "I care, okay?"

Kurt bit his lip and looked away from Puck, dropping his eyes to the ground. A few seconds passed wherein no one said anything, simply waited and then, "Fighting is stupid, people. Don't let it happen again."

He threw a look at Mercedes and turned to walk away, knowing she would follow him because he could see all the questions teeming behind her eyes.

"Wait, that's it?!"

Kris couldn't believe that that was all Kurt was going to say about the situation. Puckerman had attacked him for 'hurting Kurt' as he'd said. He'd started to explain that what went on between him and Kurt was none of his fucking business and then Puckerman had simply launched himself at him. If Finn hadn't grabbed at him, Kris would have got the full brunt of the blow. As it is, he still had a bloody lip, even if he had gotten in a punch to Puckerman's face, resulting in a scraped cheekbone. The Chang guy had jumped in too to help stop things from escalating.

Kurt turned with one eyebrow raised imperiously. "Excuse me? I don't know about you, but I'm not one for having my business broadcast in the school parking lot."

With that cold delivery, he turned on his heel and walked away, every line of his body taut with anger. Mercedes pointed at Puck. "We are going to talk later, mister," and then followed Kurt.

Puck rolled his eyes and, ignoring Kristopher, moved off with Finn behind Mike and Tina. Kristopher was left standing there wondering what had just happened.

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"So, let me get this straight." Mercedes settled herself comfortably on Kurt's couch, the obligatory bowl of ice cream cradled in her lap and her feet tucked up under her. "You went on a date with Puck; the next day you made out with him here and now you don't want anything to do with him."

Kurt shrugged, looking a tad uncomfortable at her flat delivery. He looked away from her piercing gaze and stirred his now-sludgy ice cream with a sad little twist to his lips. "Yeah, pretty much."

'Cedes straightened up a bit and fixed a glare on him now. "Nuh-uh, that can't be all. You can't fool me, Kurt Hummel, we know each other too well. Out with the rest of it."

Kurt returned her glare and then suddenly deflated. It did help to talk about this stuff; he just wished he wasn't the one going through this. He could hardly describe how he felt, walking up and seeing the two boys fighting. Discovering that it was about him, too, was a kick in the head. However romantic it might seem on paper, actually watching that happen was a bit nauseating.

"I don't know how to begin – not really." He sighed and stirred the mixture that was starting to look a little disgusting. He set the bowl aside and then turned fully towards his best friend, also tucking his legs up beneath him. He put his elbow up on the back of the couch and then rested his head on his hand, his eyes drooping.

Mercedes rubbed one knee soothingly before saying, "You don't have to if you don't want to… I guess I'm just confused."

A bitter little chuckle escaped him. "Yeah, you and me both." With a sigh, though, he continued. "I don't know when or why it happened but… okay, don't think I'm a slut, right, it's just that I find both Noah and Kristopher really attractive."

The silence stretched before Mercedes put her own bowl down and turned fully towards Kurt. "'Noah', huh?" She giggled when Kurt rolled his eyes at her but continued. "Well, I can't say that I blame you and I would never think of you as a slut, boo. Damn, both those boys are fine and if it hadn't been for Puck's – oooh, excuse me, 'Noah's – reputation, I would have hit that long ago!"

"Mercedes Jones! Well, I never…!" and the two friends cracked up laughing, Kurt with relief that he could find anything funny in the moment. Still, when they sobered, he continued.

"Yeah, well, I'm finding out that he's not just a walking pile of testosterone, you know? He can be surprisingly sweet and almost… shy?... I don't know; he's just different from what I expected."

Mercedes was nodding with a little smirk lurking in her eyes at the soft way Kurt was talking about Puck. Hmmm, there seemed to be more than just sex talking here and she would bet her last dollar that what he was experiencing with Puck was missing from his interactions with Kris.

"So," she cleared her throat after the silence had lasted long enough in her opinion. "What is it you like about Kristopher? He seems like a nice guy, too…"

Kurt nodded his head rapidly as he stared at her with his eyes a little wide. "Oh, yes, yeah, he's a really cool guy. And 'Cedes, you should see that house!"

She nodded as Kurt spent maybe the next ten minutes going on and on about the gorgeous house, its décor and amenities and finally, the magnificence that was Kristopher's room.

"And the Wii was the latest generation, I swear!"

Mercedes grinned at the flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes and then asked, "So what did you guys do then?"

That was when the light dimmed slightly and she knew she was coming to the real meat of the matter. Kurt shifted away from her a bit and although she was no body language expert, she could tell he was going to try and downplay whatever had happened. She leaned forward and took one of his unfairly soft hands, stroking the back of it with her thumb.

"Look, boo, I love you and I'm not going to judge you, okay? Just… it's good to get this out so it doesn't eat at you."

Kurt smiled at her softly and leaned his forehead against hers briefly before sitting back. "When did you get so smart?"

They chuckled and then he spoke, his voice a little lower although there was no danger of anyone overhearing them down there in his basement suite.

"Okay, last Saturday, before the date with Kris, I got ready," and when she nodded, he smirked at her. "It was a little bit different from my usual getting ready to go out so don't be shocked. You wanted to hear it all."

Her eyes widened and she felt her face heat a bit but was thankful that, because she was dark-skinned, no one could see her blush. "Okay, I can handle anything you can throw at me, Hummel!"

He laughed and nodded. "So, I did some very special preparations – I won't go into details so as to spare your blushes. You know I haven't been active since Blaine, right?" He waited for her to nod and then continued. "So, I dressed a little sexier than usual because, hey, I could tell what he wanted and I wanted it too… so, yeah, I went for it."

Mercedes eyes widened dramatically and then they narrowed just as suddenly. "Tell me you at least wore underwear, boy?!"

Kurt threw his head back and laughed and laughed at the look on his friend's face. "I can't tell you that!"

Mercedes shook her head and then smiled reluctantly at the way he was enjoying shocking her. "You… okay, continue, please."

Wiping at his eye, Kurt grinned at her. "Well, you know my cobalt shirt that I hardly ever wear? Yeah, that one; well I wore it without an undershirt," and he blushed when her eyes widened because she knew everything about him, "and black jeans with black boots. Oh, and I took my black leather jacket, too, the Zara one."

She nodded appreciatively; while he was her best friend and as gay as she was straight, she could admit that he was pretty damn hot. "Okay, I can see it – sex on a stick."

Chuckling, Kurt nodded with a faintly smug air. "Well, Kris certainly thought so. After we researched some stuff for his A/V club project, he took me to dinner at that sushi place. Then we went to his house and – okay, after I stared and gawped like a tourist in a museum – things got a little hot and heavy with us."

A little silence fell then and Mercedes gave him time because she could see that the memory of whatever had happened was throwing him off a bit.

"Okay, so, Kris was doing what he does best," and he quirked his eyebrow in such a way that she immediately got the picture and nodded, "and we started undressing. Well, he was fully undressed but only my shirt was off. So, he was on top of me, kissing me and it was so good."

Mercedes felt her heartbeat speed up and her face warm but she showed no reaction to hearing what the two boys had gotten up to. It sounded hot and she just barely refrained from squirming as she listened. Finally Kurt continued his narrative.

"So, it was all good and I was really ready, you know? Then," he paused and color flooded his face but 'Cedes held herself still. "He was kissing me and I was really into it and – gosh, this is so, uh! – anyway, he kind of slid his finger, uhm, inside…"

Mercedes swallowed, a little uncomfortable now and she was glad Kurt wasn't actually looking at her as he told her this part.

"I don't know what happened, 'Cedes, I really don't!" Kurt looked back at her in distress, his eyes swimming and when she tightened her grip on his hand, he sniffed. "I just… couldn't go through with it."

His voice was a whisper by the end of the sentence and Mercedes felt her eyes prickle too. She made a soft, comforting murmuring sound and watched him take a deep breath, obviously trying to pull himself together.

"I pushed him off of me and jumped up. I put on back my shirt and zipped up… Well, he was furious! Really, really angry, but I get it … and I-I don't blame him." He looked at her reassuringly, taking in the anger that was clear now on her face as she listened to him.

"Tell me that boy did not hit you, Kurt! I'll kill him… I'll cut him so bad!"

"'Cedes, no, no! Nothing like that happened. Jeeze, you're almost as bad as Noah!"

Kurt stared at her sternly and she subsided with a huff. "Just so you know, white boy, I'ma go keep my eye on him from now on!"

Kurt shook his head and then suddenly giggled. "Gosh, you were like a mama bear just then," and he chuckled when he saw a little smile peek out.

"Okay, so, as I was saying, he was pretty angry but when he saw how upset I was he just calmed down immediately, took me to wash my face and got me some water to drink. He was such a gentleman about it all, I felt like a shit!"

Her mouth dropped open and then she closed it before nodding. "Okay, so I won't cut him, then."

Kurt smiled again and patted her hand. "No, no cutting. Anyway, by the time I got home I was still pretty upset and when I walked in, my dad was watching TV with Carole and Finn. I guess maybe it's that parent sixth sense they all seem to have because he took one look at me and just came and hugged me. For a long time."

'Cedes felt her eyes well up again and thought how lucky Kurt was to have a dad like Burt. She nodded, though, and then asked, "So what is Finn's part in all of this?"

Kurt rolled his eyes. "Well, you know Finn – not the sharpest tool in the shed. I guess he assumed something bad had happened and mentioned it to Noah."

She frowned. "But why Noah? Why would Finn think he had a right to know if anything had happened between you and Kristopher?"

Kurt shrugged and looked away and at her piercing glance he sighed. "Okay, okay, gosh, you are so nosy!"

She folded her arms across her ample chest and mock-frowned at him. "Yeah, yeah, schoolchildren in England know that. Now spill!"

He barely stopped himself from rolling his eyes and then admitted grudgingly, "I might have made out with Noah a bit the weekend before…"

At her continued silence during which he tried not to look at her face, he smirked a little to himself before saying, "Remember I told you I'm attracted to both of them!"

"Okay, yes, you did say that but you happened to leave out the part where you gave it up to Puckerman!"

"Mercedes Jones, I did not 'give it up' to Noah Puckerman!"

They stared at each other with mirror expressions and then suddenly cracked up. Mercedes shook her head, wondering when her life had turned into a teen rom-com. "Okay, so you made out with Puckerman… and then?"

Kurt sobered slowly, a soft look in his eyes… again. "God, 'Cedes, it was… wow, I know now why he gets all those Cheerios panting after him." He paused for a bit and then, with a slightly puzzled air he said, "But I kissed him first."

The brief silence was broken when Mercedes blurted: "You kissed him first?"

He nodded, a little smile on his face. "Yeah, we had had dinner at this really great little roadhouse out of town and when we were leaving, just before he reached to turn the engine on, I just… leaned over and kissed him!"

Mercedes looked at him, a mix of awe and admiration on her dark face. "Wow, Kurt, you never fail to impress me, boo… but how come?"

He shrugged. "I dunno; maybe it was that he had been so great, such a gentleman – yeah, surprising, huh? – the whole evening and for some reason, that translated to shy. I kinda find that a turn on, I guess, and I couldn't stop myself from kissing him."

Mercedes had a considering look on her face as she watched him smiling down at his hands. She was just getting the picture now and finally she chuckled, looked at his widening eyes, and chuckled again.

"Oh, boo, I know what you are!"

"Are you laughing at me, Ms. Jones?"

"No, no," she hurriedly assured him. "No, baby, not at all. It's just that, after seeing how meek and easygoing you were with Blaine, it never occurred to me that deep down, you really are a dom!"

His eyes widened at what she's aid, automatic denial coming to his lips. He stopped, however, and allowed himself to remember how very hot he'd found it that, even though Noah was clearly turned on by him, he hadn't made a move first. Kurt had felt strong and sexy when he'd made the first move both that night and the next day in the front hall of the house.

"Oh," he said now, his eyes wide and his cheeks red. "Oh, I see what you mean!"

Mercedes nodded knowingly and a huge smile lit up her face. "Oh, yes; it means that you will be the one in charge if you decide to get serious with Puck… and he's going to love it."

Kurt felt as if his face was in flames and he lowered his head to his hands. "Okay, you're freaking me out with how happy you're sounding about this, woman!"

She laughed and tousled his hair, ignoring his indignant squeak. "All I can say, boo, is that – if Noah being submissive is what floats your boat – go for it!"

Their laughter floated up from the basement and Finn, Noah and Burt looked at one another, wondering what that was about.

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"No, Kris, I'm heading to the mall with the girls this weekend."

"No, it's not about the fight. 'Cedes, Tina and I were discussing it when we came upon that fight."

"Okay, we'll talk tomorrow… Yeah, you too. Bye!"

'Cedes waited for Kurt to end his call and looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "Well, I guess he's concerned about his status?"

Kurt looked at her and wagged an admonishing finger. "Now, be nice. No, he was just calling to check up on me."

"Kurt, dinnertime! Is Mercedes staying?" Carole's voice drifted down to them. "We have plenty of pasta!"

Kurt looked at her and when she nodded he called up back to Carole, "Yes, she's staying – thank you!"

Mercedes got up to go wash in Kurt's en suite, admiring its spaciousness as usual. She finished and checked her hair in the mirror before going back out to Kurt and then they headed upstairs.

They were just discussing the merits of switching skincare products to a new line that was to come out soon when she felt Kurt stiffen beside her. Looking up, she barely repressed a smirk at the sight of Finn and Puck staring apprehensively at Kurt. Finn was the first to speak.

"Uh, hey, Kurt, Mercedes."

She looked up at Kurt who was holding Puck's gaze with a look that she could not decipher. She reached up surreptitiously behind his back and pinched the back of his arm. When she got his attention she smiled at Finn. "Hey, Finn, did you help your mom with dinner?"

He looked happy for that opening gambit and took it and ran with it. "Yeah, me and Puck helped. We used to do it when we were little so she's used to us."

"It was more painful than helpful," Carole called from the vicinity of the kitchen and Kurt had to bite his lips to hide the grin that surfaced at the boys' disgruntled look.

"Mom, that's not nice!" Finn moved off to go and help her in the kitchen, leaving Puck to stand there beneath Kurt's stare like a mongoose before a cobra.

He cleared his throat and Mercedes looked at him. "You alright, Puckerman? Did Finn give you something for that bruise on your cheek?"

He nodded, dragging his eyes from Kurt. "Uhm, yes… uh, no, Carole put some stuff from the medicine cabinet on it."

He moved aside as she and Kurt headed into the dining room, falling in behind them, and listened as Kurt said 'hi' to his dad.

Burt looked at the three kids before him, sighing at how grown-up they looked. He hoped Mercedes' parents had an easier time of it than he had with a high-strung kid like Kurt. Now as he watched the wary way that Puckerman was eyeing his son, he sighed again. Maybe he would have to sit Kurt down and force him to tell him what was going on. He had a feeling that whatever drama had gone down at school that resulted in Puckerman getting bruised up had something to do with Kurt… and probably that Kristopher kid.

Carole bossed them all about until finally everybody was seated with a heaping plate of spaghetti and meatballs in front of them. "And don't forget the salad, everybody!"

Burt rolled his eyes at her and she smiled happily. He knew she liked having a crowd around and the four kids at the table made her happy. It was a pity she'd only ever had just Finn, he thought as he helped himself to a large amount of the tossed salad. He hummed in appreciation though when he took a forkful and chuckled at the way her eyes sparkled.

When the first edge of their hunger was dulled, however, Carole looked at the children, her eyes lingering on Noah's bruise.

"So, anything exciting happen at school today?"

The four of them froze and Carole suppressed a grin… and waited. Naturally, Finn was the first to crack.

"Uhm, exciting?" His voice was a whole octave higher and Carole almost shook her head at him. Her son would never hold out in an interrogation but it served her purposes.

"Well, yes, exciting. I assumed as much from the shifty way you're all behaving… and Noah's bruise."

Puck kept his eyes on his spaghetti although he was only just twirling the strands around the fork and not eating. He could feel Kurt's– well, everybody's – eyes on him and finally he shrugged.

"Well, uh, it wasn't exciting as such… more annoying." Puck's voice was quiet but clear enough.

Burt snorted quietly, looking at Puck with something pretty close to admiration. He thought the kid had big brass ones and now he waited to hear what else he would say.

"Seems there was a situation… I heard about it," and here Puck shrugged, "from what I thought was a good source… and confronted the guy."

Everyone could almost hear the roll of Kurt's eyes although he refrained from speaking.

Mercedes cleared her throat. "We were just happy that no teachers were around at that moment, yeah?"

The other three nodded, some more vigorously than others, and Burt and Carole exchanged a glance.

Burt knew he was going to sit Kurt down and talk to him eventually. He could almost guess exactly what had happened; after all, Finn had been present when Kurt had come in the weekend before, so distressed that he was pale with it. No doubt Finn had expressed his concerns to Puckerman and he, like the modern caveman he was, probably went ape-shit on Kurt's behalf.

Conversation became general after that, Burt regaling them with a couple of anecdotes from his day at the shop and the atmosphere relaxed considerably. Carole and Mercedes talked a bit about Mercedes' siblings who were as annoying as only younger siblings could be and Puck and Finn gave mostly monosyllabic replies to Carole's occasional questions.

Finally, as they were finishing up, only Kurt, Mercedes and Puck declining dessert, Kurt thanked Carole for dinner, the others following suit. Getting up and pushing in his chair, he turned to Puck with an imperious look and said, "Come with me."

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TBC