Chapter Four: The Hobbit

"Omigod, Blaine!" Kurt exclaimed, standing quickly and wrapping his slender arms around the neck of this Blaine. "How have you been? How are the Warblers? I love the scarf. I haven't seen you in ages!" The countertenor was smiling gleefully as he pulled back and stared at the smaller man opposite him. Puck decidedly didn't like this particular Hobbit.

"Oh, Kurt, everyone's good, missing you, but they're focusing on their studies. I'm good, still a single-pringle, but that's working well for me. The scarf? On sale, of course. And we should totally go out this weekend!" Blaine answered, talking at the same tremendous speed that Kurt had asked the questions before he turned his chocolatey-brown eyes to Puck. "And who's this?"

Suddenly Puck felt as though he was being undressed and he wasn't sure he liked it, Kurt turned towards him and smiled a bedroom smile as he introduced the two to one another, "Noah Puckerman, meet Blaine Anderson, king of the Dalton Warblers; Blaine, meet Puck, my Glee mate." Blaine extended his hand in greeting and Noah accepted it.

"Ah, Puck, as in the garden furniture incident?" He asked in good humour and Puck laughed – maybe he isn't so bad.

"Can't prove anything." He said, gesturing to an empty chair, "Join us for coffee?"

"Sure, as long as I'm not interrupting anything?" He asked, cocking an eyebrow as if he knew exactly what he was interrupting.

"I'll get your drink, Blaine, I owe you after all." Kurt said as he meandered over to the kiosk.

Sat alone with Kurt's friend from Dalton and quickly studied him and his mannerisms. Gentle flicking of the wrists, not much different from Kurt's. A scarf, bought on sale, which Kurt just loved. The satchel… then the penny dropped.

"Are you gay?" Puck suddenly blurted, embarrassment flooding his features as Blaine's eyes widened in shock. "I'm sorry, I just –"

"No, don't worry I was just surprised, that was pretty much how Kurt asked." Blaine chuckled, bringing his hands to under his chin, his fingers entwined with one another. "Yes, I am; why do you ask?"

Noah shrugged, "I was just wondering." He let his eyes wander over to where Kurt was gently bouncing on the balls of his feet waiting for Blaine's drink at the counter.

"You're interested in Kurt." It wasn't a question and Noah looked sharply at the hobbit. "Oh, don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Blaine grinned at him, "But I'll tell you what I tell all the others; I swear to God that if you hurt him, I'll castrate you."

Is this prissy Dalton kid really threatening me? Noah thought. "If you're so worried about people hurting him, then you should keep a closer eye on those bastards at your school." Puck told him in a low voice and Blaine frowned in question. "A few days ago I had to treat a bruise on Kurt's face, given to him by one of your lot; if I have to do it again, I'll march up to your school and take care of the parasite myself."

For the second time of meeting Noah, Blaine's eyes widened with disbelief before his face broke into a smile, "I see. Bully turned protector – the age-old tale." He mused just as Kurt arrived back as the table.

As the two smaller boys began to talk about 'girly crap' – shopping and the like – Puck silently regard them. It was obvious to him that Kurt was a little enamoured with Blaine and that there was a possibility that Blaine felt the same, but he couldn't help but think that the two were more like tutor and student. Kurt was clinging to this new friendship with someone who could understand him, and Blaine was taking pride in the fact that he could offer comfort to someone in need – a kind of maternal instinct that Puck had only ever seen in women.

Quietly, Puck took his phone out of his pocket and scrolled through his contacts, grateful, for once, for Shue's insane idea to get all of the Glee members to exchange phone numbers as he came across Kurt's name. Grinning to himself he began to type out a message.

Sliding the phone back into his pocket he sipped at his drink and waited. Sure enough, Kurt's phone buzzed and, still talking to Blaine, the slender boy took his phone out of his satchel-bag.

Noah watched in amusement as Kurt suddenly fell silent and blushed an attractive crimson before surreptitiously looking at Puck from beneath his lashes.

Kurt. Just imagine what I could do to you with my mouth ;)

Whilst Blaine idly prattled on, Kurt quickly typed out a reply then put his phone back where it belonged.

Puck removed his phone from his pocket as it vibrated, slumping a little in his chair before he opened the message.

Noah… can you hear me screaming your name…? Come to my house, 7pm, don't you dare be late, or I may just have to start without you.

Puck was forced to adjust himself a little and he smirked, unconsciously licking his full lips as he felt his cock harden in anticipation. He looked up at Kurt, who was watching him steadily as he spoke to Blaine. Noah nodded then finished his drink.

"I gotta go. Nice to meet you, Blaine." He took the Warblers' hand in a firm grip, and made to leave, throwing over his shoulder, "I'll see you later Kurt." Then he was gone.

Blaine watched him leave previous to turning to regard Kurt carefully. The paler boy was still staring after Noah's shadow with red cheeks and ears and he gently traced a forefinger over his bottom lip, his blue eyes half-lidded.

"Stop it." He said, smiling as he drank a little more of his coffee.

"What?" Kurt asked, snapping out of his reverie and looking surprised.

"Kurt, it's one thing for it to be a fantasy, but…" Blaine shrugged, still smiling serenely at the countertenor, "Have you ever heard of the phrase: those who play with fire get their fingers burned?" Kurt raised his eyebrows but said nothing. "I just hope you know what you're doing…" The hobbit muttered before they changed the conversation towards mundane topics, enjoying one another's company.