Prompt Post #7
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Puck talks about his kid too. A lot. Burt knows more about Beth than he ever thought he would, and he’s always amazed to see how Puck’s face changes when he’s speaking about his daughter. The constant furrowed brow lightens, and a there’s just a new softness about him.
Puck asks him questions too. Questions Burt didn’t think he’d have to hear for years. Questions about being a good father, and how do you know you’re doing the right thing because “Mr. H, you’re kinda like the best fucking father I’ve ever seen. Hummel’s all about you. And I want my kid to be all about me.”
And he’s scared too. He’s scared that now Shelby left he won’t be able to see Beth anymore, and he even tells Burt about their relationship, and that he thought he was in love with her. Burt’s immediately sickened that a teacher had been sleeping with a kid, a kid who’s now living in his house, but he’s not surprised that Puck went for it. She told him she believed in him, and let him see his daughter, and those were the two things he wanted most in the world.
“Look, Puck…” Burt puts down the wrench he’d been cleaning, turning towards the boy. Puck had frozen, eyes wide. He looked like he was realizing that he just put his foot in it, bad, and was trying to find a way out of it. “Mr. H, I mean… I’m 18, it wasn’t illegal or, whatever, I just - Beth needs a dad, and why couldn’t it be her real dad, right?”
Burt raised a hand, and Puck fell silent. “Puck. Noah.” Puck’s flew closed briefly when Burt said his real name. “I’m not mad at you, kid. You love your kid, I get that, ‘cause I love my kid more than anything else, and Finn, and I’m pretty fond of you too at this point. Here’s the thing, Noah, you’re not gonna see it this way, but what you want is for someone to tell you you’re worth a shit. And Corcoran, she did that. You’re tough as nails, kid, but you’re still a teenager. And you’re vulnerable…” Puck growled deep in his throat, and Burt laughed. “you’re vulnerable, Puck. Not the same way as Kurt is, who’s too forgiving, or Finn is, who tries too hard, you’re vulnerable because as soon as someone tells you you’re worth it, you’ll do anything to make them keep thinking that.
Here’s the thing, Puck. You are worth it. You’re worth a god damn lot, kid. I’m sorry that I judged you before I knew you, and I bet a hell of a lot of people have made that same mistake, but I feel bad for them, because I got a chance to make it up. I got to know you, and I’m really, really, glad I did. You’re a good kid, Noah. You’re a strong, and you’re smart, and you’re willing to ask questions when you’re not sure, something Finn sure as hell as a problem with.
I’m proud as hell when I hear you talk about Beth. You’re a good dad. You’re more involved than a lot of teen dads, and on top of that you’ve got your sister that you’re looking out for too. You’re doing okay, Puck. You’re doing what you think is best. You’re doing good. And yeah, your dad’s a waste of space, there’s no arguing, but you need anything? You come to me. I’m here, you’re worth it, and I’m willing. And you don’t have to keep killing yourself in the shop to prove it to me.”
Puck’s mouth moved, like he was trying to find his words, but all he could get out was “I like working at the shop…”
Burt laughed, wrapping an arm around his shoulders, and pulling him into a one armed hug. “Alright then, God knows I love having your help. But you take a break when you need it. You’re not forced to be here.“ He knows, even if Puck isn’t able to verbalize it, that the kid had heard what he said, and was thinking about it.
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“Swear to God, Sarah. Do that one more time and you’ll end up on the floor, monkey.” Puck threatened, causing his sister to laugh again.
Burt moved immediately to the kitchen, and started dinner. An hour later, they all sat around the table, a family of four, expanded to include two more. Just as Carole served dessert, the phone rang.
Finn answered, and then hesitated before passing it to Puck. They family all sat anxiously listening to one side of an obviously somber conversation. Sarah stood, latching onto her brother’s hand, as if to anchor him. Puck’s eyes were cautious, as if the was being spun a tall tale, and hadn’t decided if he believed it yet.
“You sure, ma? I don’t want her around him…”
Burt clenched his fists, causing Carole to grab his hand, prying it open and fitting her fingers into his. Puck hung up the phone. Pausing, before turning himself, and his sister, to face the Hummel-Hudsons. “So that was my ma, obviously. Fucktard’s gone. She says for good, so we can come home.”
Sarah squealed, jumping up and down, hand still clasped to one of her brother’s. Puck looked more wary himself, his dad had left before, for a day at a time, and he’d experienced that paralyzing moment of finding him standing in front of you unexpectedly one too many times.
“I’ll go pack your clothes, Noah!” Sarah cried. “Kurt can help me, right Kurt? Please?” Kurt looked to Puck for permission, who just nodded, and the two left the room.
“Noah, do you think it’s a good idea?” Carole questioned softly. She stood, pulling Burt to his feet by their clasped hands, and used her free hand to pull Puck into her.
“She wants us home, Carole. You know she can’t fucking function on her own. She needs me. And Sarah needs her… you saw, she’s excited as shit to go home. I can’t keep her away… s’not fair to her. Or ma.”
Finn speaks up from the table. His arms are crossed, and he staring at his plate. “Puck, last time… she said he was gone, then you ended up at the house the next night with a broken arm.” He looks worried, and they all understand that. It’s been years since all of this happened the last time, and he thought his friend was safe, and now…
“Finn, I was fucking 14. He can’t break my arm anymore, I’d break his first. If he comes back… I won’t be stupid, okay? I’ll keep my head down, and I’ll get Sarah, and I’ll come here. I fucking promise, dude. Now stop being a girl, Finnessa.”
Sarah and Kurt come back then, with a bag packed. “Kurt said maybe we shouldn’t pack all your stuff yet, ‘cause short notice, and you can come back for it tomorrow or whatever.”
Puck met Kurt’s eyes, and nodded. Kurt had packed him enough for a couple of nights because he wanted Puck to know he was welcome in their home. That if things got bad, his shit was there, and all he had to do was come back.
Carole took the bag from Sarah, leading her out to Puck’s newly finished car. Finn stood, giving his friend a bro-hug, and telling him not to be an idiot, and to call him tonight, please, or he’s gonna be a big girl and call him over and over and over until he answers. Kurt looks apprehensive, but smiles when Puck raises a fist, and he bumps his against it, before leaving the kitchen with Finn.
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Burt reaches for Puck’s shoulders, holding him at arm’s length, for just a moment, trying to catch his eyes. As soon as they meet, he pulls him into his chest, and pretends he doesn’t hear the kid’s shaky exhale.
“Remember what I said, Noah. I’m here, you’re worth it, and I’m willing. Your dad comes back, I want you here. In less than five minutes. You call Finn tonight, and when you do, you tell him to put me on the phone. I want to talk to you and I want to hear you say that everything is okay. Got it?” Puck nods against his shoulder, and Burt pushes him back out to arm’s length. Puck meets his eyes evenly now, even if they’re a little glassy, and Burt smiles tightly. “And you don’t have to wait for “fucktard” to come back to come see me, okay?” Puck chuckles when Burt swears. “That’s what I’m going to call him now. Well, to you. Not in front of the missus. ‘Cause as far as I’m concerned, Puck, if you need a dad, you come see me.”
A few traitorous tears leak their way down Puck’s cheeks, and he wipes at them angrily. Finally, he nods gruffly, trying to get himself back under control. “Got it.” He whispers. “I guess I gotta… go?” He still looks nervous, like he’s leaving a place of relative safety (aside from wrestling matches with Finn that sometimes go a bit too far) for something he can never be sure of. “Just feels, I dunno, man… fast. Like my fucking brain can’t keep up, and Sarah’s out in the car and fucktard’s gone and ma’s waiting and…” This time it’s Puck himself who grabs onto Burt’s flannel shirt and pulls them back together.
“It’ll be good, right? ‘Cause, I’m smart and I… I do the good thing?”
Burt exhales, large and shaky, and rubs his hand over the back of Puck’s stupid hair cut. “Everything’s going to be okay, Noah. Because you’re smart, kid, and you try to do the right thing. Because you’re worth it. And if you hit a bump in the road, you come to me. Just because you leave this house, doesn’t mean you leave my family. Last year I got a new step son, and this year, I got you. Family dinners are Friday nights, and I expect to see you in your seat.”
Puck pulls fully away, shaking his head as if to clear it. Finally, he smiles “See you Friday then, Mr. H.” and turns away. Burt watches him go, and prays, like he never has before, that he hasn’t made a mistake letting his new son go home.
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Thanks for the story. :)
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