Two chapters. One day. One author, feeling like a badass. So, this chapter is short, but I had to cut it off here. The next one will be longer, I promise. Uh, review! Or something. I own nothing, despite my best efforts. Love- Maya

Hummel asked quietly, "Do you need a ride?"

Puck looked at him. "Yeah. You offering?"

Hummel dug around in his bag and produced an umbrella. "Only as a thank-you, since my previous attempt was sub-par."

"Whatever you want." As the taller of the two, Puck took the umbrella and held it over both of their heads, leading them out into the cloud-dark parking lot. The tension in Hummel's posture couldn't be more obvious; his every step was all but on tiptoe, his grip on the strap of his bag turned his knuckles white, his wide eyes shifted constantly. A faint smirk on his face, Puck walked him to the driver's side of that fancy Navigator, then hopped into the passenger seat himself.

Elbows locked, Hummel gripped the steering wheel at ten and two, his eyes fixed on the pavement ahead of him. "You'll have to give me directions," he said, starting up.

"Cool. Head towards Heights Adjacent."

Hummel just nodded and took a left. They rode in silence for awhile, Puck staring at the other boy's tense profile. Finally, Hummel caved and sighed, "I really can't tell you about Karofsky."

So he's talking. "Why not?"

"It's not my problem to spill."

"Sure as hell looked like your problem in the hallway."

Hummel set his jaw, his voice resigned and determined at the same time. "It only bleeds over. I really can't tell you; it's his secret, and it's not my place to share it."

Puck nodded slowly. "I can respect that, but seeing how he literally just treated you, I don't think you're obligated to keep his secrets."

"This one, I am."

"Is it that big of a deal, or are you just that damn nice?"

A grim smile stretched Hummel's lips. "The first one."

"Can you tell me anything?"

Hummel looked at him now, his eyes guarded and uncomfortable. "Why are you so concerned about me, Puckerman? It's nice, I suppose, but… sudden." His gaze returned to the road.

"Because." Even as he said it, Puck knew that wouldn't cut it, he didn't need Hummel's eye-roll to tell him that. "Because I'm tired of—of being a dick. It takes effort, man, and it cost me Quinn and Beth." He was surprising himself with his own honesty.

They were about halfway to Puck's house, but Hummel pulled over on the empty, wet road, his hands still gripping the steering wheel. "I see," he said quietly, and Puck had the unsettling feeling that he did see. This… talk, or whatever, seemed to be getting to him, so on he ploughed, going with this honesty thing that seemed to be working so well.

"And now that I know what it feels like form the receiving end, not only do I not want to be that guy giving shit, but I don't want anyone else getting it either, especially not one of my teammates." At this point, he was just saying whatever non-offensive thing pooped into his head and prayed for coherence.

Hummel was biting his lower lip now, his knuckles white again. "Why today?"

Puck shrugged; he knew the answer to that one. "I saw him attacking you. Couldn't just sit on my ass, let it happen right in front of me."

Hummel released the wheel and leaned back into his seat, dropping his hands to his sides. "Is that right."

"You were weird about the assignment today, too," Puck went on. "Couldn't get your tone out of my head, you sounded so wrong." Hummel bit his lip again. "You've been off for days, to the point that even I noticed. Karofsky after the way you were in Glee today was the boiling point, I guess."

Hummel sighed and turned to face him. It took effort for Puck not to flinch at the inexplicably intense eye contact. "Do you want this to be a regular thing?" Hummel asked. "You playing knight-in-shining-armor? Because it'll be short-lived."

Puck blinked. "Why?"

Hummel's lips thinned, and he faced forward, disengaging the parking brake and resituating for driving. "A few reasons."

"Yeah? What're they?"

He just pulled away from the side of the road. "Don't worry about it," he murmured.

Puck frowned at him, but he didn't push further. Under Puck's guidance, they soon pulled up to the Puckerman house. Silent, Hummel put his baby into park and waited. In the quiet, Puck had been scheming, and it was time to put his plan into action. "Hummel." The boy didn't react, but somehow Puck knew he was listening. "Pick me up for school tomorrow."

That got his attention. Hummel turned 90 degrees in his seat to stare at Puck, his big, weirdly-colored eyes wide. "I beg your pardon?"

"My truck's in the shop, and I hate the bus."

Hummel flapped his hand in a way that was probably meant to be dismissive, but turned out confused. "I fail to see how that is my problem."

"C'mon, Hummel; I'll make it worth your while, I promise."

Hummel's brows shot up doubtfully. "Really."

Puck sighed at him. "Hummel, if you don't agree, I will turn on the charm."

The other boy looked positively aghast now. "You would not."

With a devilish grin, Puck leaned toward him. "Trust me, you'll only be upset after."

"After…?" Hummel shook his head quickly, as if to rid himself of the thought, before casting Puck a withering glare. "Fine, Puckerman, if only to avoid your attempt at seducing me." He wrinkled his upturned little nose. "That's rather high on my 'ew' list."

Puck snorted and opened the passenger door. "Please. Puckzilla is on nobody's 'ew' list." With that, he bolted into the rain to his door, wondering how true that assertion was.