Catalyst

Chapter 24

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.

.

.

Last chapter: Smiling absently as he listened to his mom and sister chatter about what was on TV later and would Sarah be allowed to watch any of it, Noah's mind went to Kurt and to the earlier incidents. Somehow he didn't think it was a coincidence that while Santana was here playing seductress, Marshall was over at Kurt's making a nuisance of himself.

Now he swore to himself that, despite his promise to Kurt, he was going to have to find a way to make that guy back off. Kurt wanted him, Noah Puckerman, and Marshall was going to have to find out, maybe the hard way, that 'no' meant 'no'.

.

School the next day was a tension-filled affair for four members of the student body. If the other members felt that something was off, few of them cared. Those who did were mostly in the school's Glee club.

That afternoon, Will Schuester heaved a long-suffering sigh as he gathered his things from the staff room and headed to the choir room. Teen angst seemed so much more intense these days than when he himself had been a teen in this very school and he felt more tired than usual.

'Let's hope things go smoothly today,' he muttered to himself as he turned down the corridor that led to the choir room. As he neared the door he relaxed subconsciously because he couldn't hear any shouting or snarky comments from inside the room.

"Okay, guys," he started as he came through the door. "We have an assembly on Friday – yeah, Principal Figgins just told me – so we have to…"

He trailed off as he took in the odd almost frosty silence in the space and turned slowly after dropping his things on the desk. "Uhm, Kurt?"

The slender fashionista was holding his hand up without saying anything and he looked askance at him before gazing around the room at his schoolmates. As Schue looked, he realized that invisible lines seemed to have been drawn but, upon his life, he couldn't begin to understand what was going on.

Before him and to his right, Santana was sitting alone on the lowest riser and Brittany up behind her with Quinn at her side. In the center were Artie and Sam; up behind them Tina sat with Mike. Above the two Asians were Finn, Rachel and Mercedes. To the left but up on the second riser were Kurt and Puck.

The atmosphere was definitely somewhat cooler than he was accustomed to but Schue remembered Santana's behavior and wondered if this was just a continuation. He heaved a silent sigh and nodded at Kurt to go ahead and say what he was determined to say.

Kurt stood up and stalked – that was the only word Schue could use to describe Kurt's demeanor – to the center of the room. With his head held high and nose in the air, he stood with one hip cocked and Schue suddenly realized what the boy was wearing.

Puck shifted in his seat, suppressing his deep interest in his boyfriend's appearance, trying for nonchalance as his cock twitched. He had no idea what Kurt was going to do or say but from his outfit today, he was about to make one serious statement.

The others sat and stared at Kurt, except for Santana who took out an emory board and proceeded to smooth her nails as if she were bored. Kurt knew otherwise; after her embarrassing blunder with Noah the day before, there was no way she was as disinterested in what he had to say as she was pretending.

He had picked out his ensemble today with meticulous care. After all, it wasn't every day that a boy went to battle for his man – and he just had to dress the part, didn't he?

Schue's fascinated gaze took in the way the very military-looking boots hugged Kurt's muscular calves, the silver of the many buckles glinting in the light. Tight black jeans were tucked into the knee-high boots, jeans that hugged Kurt's body in all the right ways, he tried not to notice. Kurt's thin but surprisingly broad shoulders were snug in a long-sleeved black shirt that sported a high collar and if Schue was not mistaken, a black metal-studded collar was clasped around the boy's long, slender throat. Kurt's outfit screamed hostility in every well-tailored inch and Schue realized he was just as fascinated as the others to hear what Kurt was about to say.

Kurt turned cool, blue-gray eyes on his teacher and addressed both him and class in a light, cold tone.

"Mr. Schue, I think we all know that we'll be performing at the assembly on Friday afternoon." He paused and turned back towards his fellow Gleeks, his chin lifting a tad higher. "I have a song for your consideration."

The band behind them started an upbeat pop song, a little bit different from anything in Kurt's usual wheelhouse and Schue moved over so Kurt would have the 'stage' to himself.

Kurt nodded to Tina and 'Cedes who hurried up to flank him and it was then that Schue realized the girls were dressed in basically what were feminine versions to Kurt's outfit. What the_? When did these kids have time to plan this, Schue wondered a little dazedly as he stood near the door to the corridor.

Kurt and his chanteuses started "oohing" in breathy but nevertheless defiant tones and then launched into a song Schue knew he had never heard before.

Bite the dust
Trust me, anything you can do
I can do better than you
Bite the dust
Some things remain impossible
You're no exception to rules
Bite the dust
How many times I got to tell you?
He don't even see you
Bite the dust
You see, I'm really helping you
I'm keeping you from looking a fool
She's got a plan to have my man
She's going to have to deal with me

Ooh, sugar I got him
I got 20/20 vision
I can see that you want my man
Ooh, sugar I got him
'Cause it's my job
To make you understand
Ooh, sugar I got him
Try to make a move
And I'm on him like 5-0
Ooh, sugar I got him
So you can go
'Cause I got him
Got him

Bite the dust
Baby girl, I really hope
You get the message I'm trying to convey
Bite the dust
'Cause you're pushing me to the edge
And I ain't got time to play
Bite the dust
How many times I got to tell you?
He's where he wants to be
Bite the dust
Keep on, act like you didn't know
My hands going to do the talking today
She's got a plan to have my man
She's going to have to deal with me

Ooh, sugar I got him
I got 20/20 vision
I can see that you want my man
Ooh, sugar I got him
'Cause it's my job
To make you understand
Ooh, sugar I got him
Try to make a move
And I'm on him like 5-0
Ooh, sugar I got him
So you can go
'Cause I got him
Got him

Oh
Oh
Give it up
Give it up (Oh)
Give it up
Give, give, give it up

As Schue got an idea what the song was about, he startled a bit. He knew these kids had a lot of self-made drama going on but, from the lyrics, it sounded as if Kurt was warning someone off his 'man'. Did Kurt have a boyfriend? Schue stared dazedly at the talented kids as they performed in a sexy, somewhat aggressive manner. He had never seen Kurt in this light before but the boy was certainly giving it all he had. His voice at some points had a definite growl to it and gave Schue pause; what else was Kurt capable of – that he really hadn't noticed before? Hmmmm.

I know what she wants
I know
My man
She's got a plan to have my man
She's going to have to deal with me

Ooh, sugar I got him
I got 20/20 vision
I can see that you want my man
Ooh, sugar I got him
'Cause it's my job
To make you understand
Ooh, sugar I got him
Try to make a move
And I'm on him like 5-0
Ooh, sugar I got him
So you can go
'Cause I got him
Got him

Kurt's voice was a surprisingly good fit for the vocals, being high and pretty clear and Schue found himself bopping his head along to the catchy tune. Hmmm, he had to find out what else Kurt could sing and he glanced over at the kids to see most of them grinning and getting into the performance. Mercedes and Tina were certainly into it, backing up Kurt's vocals in a fierce style that actually suited them, especially Mercedes.

Bite the dust
I got 20/20 vision
I can see that you want my man
Bite the dust
'Cause it's my job
To make you understand
Bite the dust
Try to make a move
And I'm on him like 5-0
Bite the dust
So you can go
'Cause I got him
Got him

Your other girl bites the dust
(Yeah)
Your other girl bites the dust
(Yeah)
Your other girl bites the dust
(Yeah)
Your other girl bites the dust
(Yeah)

The loud music came to a crashing, clashing crescendo on the last 'Yeah!' and the other kids – except Santana – erupted into applause, a piercing whistle coming from Puck's vicinity. Schue found himself grinning and clapping along with them, too, and then he moved over to Kurt who was breathing a little harder after that energetic performance.

When Schue got closer and saw the anger in the boy's eyes, he realized then that this had been a declaration of war. Throughout the song, Kurt and the girls had sung looking mostly in the general direction of the other kids. Now, though, as Schue followed the direction of Kurt's furious gaze he saw that Santana was staring back just as furiously.

Schue hurried to break the once-again tense silence that had fallen on the room and he clapped his hands together.

"Well, Kurt, wow, that was excellent… and Tina and Mercedes, great job!"

Kurt barely acknowledged the praise but Will forged on.

"So, I say we have a great song for the assembly on Friday. It wasn't what I had been thinking of – I think Journey would have been good in a pinch – but this was great, guys!"

His overly-enthusiastic tones just seemed to make the tension in the room more noticeable and he cleared his throat before continuing. "So, ahh, you guys can take a seat – and we'll, uh, go through some of the other songs we'll be doing… Uhm, right!"

As Kurt and the girls moved back to their seats, Kurt's disdainful sniff quite audible, Schue sighed and shook his head. 'This is never gonna end,' he muttered while going over to the sheet music and shuffling through them. 'This year's gonna be longer than ever.'

Mercedes rolled over on the large bed and watched her friend pace back and forth like a hunting cat. She had never seen her best friend in this mood before and she was, admittedly, a little worried for him.

"Come on, Kurt, you know she ain't worth a damn! You're going to wear a hole in that expensive flooring of yours," she said as her eyes followed him worriedly.

Kurt stopped and looked back at her, his full lips tight in a thin line. "Mercedes, you should have seen how Noah was when I got there yesterday. The bitch! He said she was all spread out on his bed when he got there, barely dressed. And she'd sprayed perfume everywhere, skank that she is!"

Mercedes sat up and patted the bed beside her. Kurt sighed and then dragged himself over to her, climbing up and then settling down with his head on her shoulder.

She smiled and brought her arm up around him as she rested her head on his sweet-smelling hair. Her boo was very possessive, she already knew that. What she had not quite realized all this time was what a temper he had. She snorted quietly and thought to herself that Santana had better not get him too riled, or she wouldn't know what had hit her.

The friends sat like that for a bit before Kurt sat up, turning to her with a pensive expression in his eyes.

"I didn't think I would feel like this, you know," he said softly. He sighed and then, pulling his satin pajama-clad knees up, rested his chin on them before continuing. "Noah brings out this deep, almost dark, possessive thing in me, 'Cedes. It almost frightens me."

Mercedes brought a hand up and ran her fingers – one of the rare times she was allowed to – through his thick hair soothingly. "Mm-hmm, I think I get it, boo. I think we love people in different ways. With Blaine, I think you were more grateful to have another gay kid around than that you were deeply in love with him. Probably with Puck, you see something vulnerable in him?"

Kurt thought about that for a bit and then smiled a little sheepishly. He turned his head and smiled at her and then nodded. "Yeah, yesterday I just wanted to rip her to pieces for even thinking to touch what was mine. That's a little scary for me, believe me. I always thought I'd be as calm and cool as I was when Blaine seemed interested in that male-skank, Sebastian."

Mercedes made a scoffing sound, not liking a thing about the boy who had essentially taken her friend's boyfriend from him. Even though Kurt and Blaine had decided to remain friends, she still sort of thought very little of Blaine for choosing the other boy over Kurt. Sebastian, to be honest, probably had more in common with Blaine than Kurt did, but it offended her sense of loyalty and she knew she would never like that pointy-faced, snooty interloper.

Kurt continued talking in an almost dreamy way, subconsciously relaxing as Cedes continued playing with his hair. "I want to be with Noah all the time and … the things I think of doing with him… and to him, god, Mercedes, I just can't…"

"Shhh, it's okay, boo, some people just bring out the animal in us, I guess."

Kurt looked up at her for a speechless few seconds… and then they both started laughing. The remaining tension seeped out of his body as the laughter continued and then they decided to settle down for the night. It was, after all, a school night but Kurt had pleaded an emergency to get Mercedes to come over for an unplanned sleepover. He really needed to get a lot off of his chest and the only other person he could unburden himself to was Noah… and he didn't want to scare him away.

As they snuggled down in the comfy, queen-size bed, Kurt smiled to himself in the dimness of his room. He really did want to do all sorts of things to Noah, things he hadn't even thought of with Blaine, and for a second he wondered if that's how Blaine felt about Sebastian. A tiny moue of distaste tugged at his plump lips; he couldn't stand the tall, stringy singer his ex-boyfriend had supposedly fallen in love with and the thought of them together like him and Noah was a bit off-putting.

He fell asleep, though, to the memory of the kisses he and Noah had shared just that evening when the tanned jock had walked him to his car. There were very few students and faculty about at that hour and Noah had taken the opportunity to slide into the passenger seat and kiss Kurt breathless. He had been hard in his tight jeans when Noah had left him fifteen minutes later and it had taken the entire drive home for him to calm himself down.

It was as he pulled into his driveway that he'd thought of having Mercedes over so that he could vent in the safety of his huge bedroom and not alarm his parents. Somehow he didn't think his dad would approve of him basically 'throwing down the gauntlet' to Santana. Still, the bitch deserved everything he could unleash on her for daring to go after Noah.

Sleep finally tugged him under with the thought of 'mine' echoing in his mind, a slight frown tugging his dark eyebrows together. 'Noah's mine.'

For his part, Noah Puckerman felt like strutting – and he probably had when he'd jumped out of his truck when he got home. Kurt was pretty badass, sexy and a killer singer, and he was his boyfriend. He had every reason to feel like puffing his chest out and a part of him wished Marshall could have seen Kurt performing for him.

Basically, Kurt had been telling everybody that Puck was off-limits because he belonged to him. He had no problem with that whatsoever and now he wondered how he could do the same for Kurt. Marshall, with his smugness, needed to be made aware of who he, Noah Puckerman was, and if he had to wear a collar saying he was Kurt's property, he probably would, just to see the look on the bastard's face.

As he laid in bed that night, wondering how Kurt's sleepover was going with Mercedes, an idea came to him. Hmmm, maybe not a collar but… Smiling, he turned over and shuffled until he got comfortable. Yes, that would be just as good as a collar, and he would make sure that Marshall got the message.

Monday, lunch time, found the Gleeks having lunch at the same time, minus the Cheerios who were, apparently having a training session with their psycho coach instead of being allowed to eat like normal kids.

"Matching bracelets?" Kurt's eyes widened when he looked down at the contents of the gift box Noah had presented him the next day.

Once again they were all in the lunch room, the sound of hundreds of kids having their lunch break at the same time fading to white noise as Noah stared at Kurt's delighted face.

He rolled his eyes though as he reached for the box and took out one of the items. "Babe, they're not bracelets – they're leather cuffs!"

'Cedes and Tina laughed as they tried to get a good look at the cuffs. They were beautifully crafted black leather cuffs with a Celtic-looking design and they oohed and aahed as they tried to touch. Kurt shook his head admonishingly at them, inwardly pleased at Noah's gesture but trying to play it cool.

"Cuffs, bracelets, it's a beautiful gift, Noah. Thank you!" and he stopped himself just in time from leaning forward to kiss his boyfriend.

Rachel, as loud as ever, wanted to know the occasion, if it was some kind of anniversary gift. It was Kurt's turn to roll his eyes as he exchanged somewhat heated looks with Noah.

"No, no special reason, Berry," Noah told her now. He shrugged as if it was no big deal. "I saw it and it kind of screamed 'buy me, buy me', so I did." His eyes gleamed though as they flicked from Kurt's smiling lips to his beautiful eyes.

"Well, what are you waiting on, boy, put it on him!"

Mercedes's commanding tones jerked him out of his mini-daze and he flushed before reaching for one of the cuffs. Kurt held out his wrist, glad that he'd worn his sleeves rolled half-way up his forearms. Blaine had once told him that it was a sexy look for him and he had happily accepted it as fact. Plus, the vibrant purple of this particular Alex Wang top seemed to make his skin glow and he knew he was looking fine.

Noah fumbled a bit as he slipped the cuff around Kurt's pale, slender wrist and locked the little silver disc in place. It was then that Kurt noticed writing on the disc's surface and brought it closer to his eyes. He squinted at it for a couple of seconds and then he looked up at Noah, a brilliant smile lighting his face.

Mercedes, watching the interaction, grabbed his wrist before he could move his arm and stared at the disc.

"'Cedes!"

Noah rolled his eyes and waited for the inevitable comment. He braced himself when she looked at him with one eyebrow raised.

"Ahm, excuse me, why does this thing say 'Noah's'?"

He gulped and then looked at Kurt who was only smiling softly at him. He felt his face heat up as he reached into the box for the cuff's match and handed it to Kurt.

Kurt's cheeks pinked as he took it and placed it onto Noah's thicker wrist. "It's okay, 'Cedes, I have a feeling I know what this one says," and he smiled shyly at his boyfriend.

Tina and Rachel fidgeted while the other Gleeks rolled their eyes at the mini-drama. Finally, Finn asked, "So, what does that one say?"

Artie shook his head and said, drily, "One guess that it says 'Kurt's'."

The collective soft gasp of 'awww' was enough to have Kurt's face flaming but he didn't let go of Noah's wrist even after locking the little disc into place. Once again it was Rachel who provided the unnecessary narrative to their little moment.

"Awww, that is so sweet, Noah! I had no idea you could be so romantic!" Her big brown eyes were glistening as she smiled at them both and Kurt couldn't find it in his heart to slap her down.

He really was touched by Noah's gift, the second such that he'd received from him and his heart swelled.

Noah swallowed and looked away from the intense look in Kurt's eyes, knowing that he was seconds away from dragging the slender boy into the nearest janitor's locker and letting him know what that look was doing to him.

Eventually, all attention drifted away from them but the two boys still seemed hyper aware of each other as they finished their lunch. When the bell rang and they all got up to dump their trays, gather their stuff and then head to the remainder of their classes, no one commented on the way the two boys walked unusually close together. They were all getting used to the idea that Kurt and Noah were together, and they were all cool with it.

Well, everyone but one green-eyed boy sitting across the room from the Gleeks. They had been so caught up in their little romantic drama between Kurt and the Puckerman guy that they hadn't noticed him. Yet he had been completely aware of what had taken place and when he saw that Puckerman had given Kurt another gift, anger roiled in him.

As he got up with the other members of the A/V club, he thought of ways he could show up Puckerman. He knew the guy didn't have the kind of money that he had access to, so maybe that could be a way to drive a little wedge between the two.

All the way to his first afternoon class, Kris planned and schemed, drawing upon the sparse knowledge that he had of the boy he'd set his sights on. Ever since he realized that Lopez's plan had come to nothing, he knew he had to find his own way into Kurt's heart – or jeans, whichever came first.

From what he'd seen, Kurt seemed to like nice things and he knew those designer outfits of his weren't cheap. Oh, and he also knew his dad liked rare cars… somehow he had to find a way to get on the old man's side without making it look conspicuous. That shouldn't be too hard… these people weren't particularly sophisticated, no matter how they fooled themselves. Lima was a little nothing town and these folks, as nice as they'd been to him, couldn't compare with someone like him who had seen the larger world.

Yeah, it was time to pull out the big guns… but he had to be smart about it… and he smiled to himself throughout all his classes. He didn't give a damn about his grades; his family was pretty well-off but he had to maintain a certain grade average, simply to impress people. Kurt's father would probably prefer someone like him for Kurt anyway, rather than the Puckerman punk. Really, which dad wouldn't?

As Kurt and Noah went about their afternoons, eventually separating when Noah had to leave him to go to football practice, Kris continued planning. By that night, he had a solid plan in place. To make things more interesting, he gave himself a time limit. He would have Kurt begging for it in two weeks' time and Puckerman wouldn't even be a memory.

.

TBC

A/N: The song is the Pussycat Dolls' "Bite The Dust". Hang in there, folks, to see Puck's plan for Kris.

PLEASE REVIEW