Fic: The Well Behaved (Part 2)
Most of the Glee club huddles in the hallway, just out of sight of the glass office walls, speaking in low voices. Fifth period has been completely abandoned, but they're fairly certain none of their teachers are going to come looking. Mercedes rubs Sam's shoulder, gently, Quinn leans against Puck's side and Blaine and Kurt hold each other's hands tightly. They all try not to notice that Kurt hasn't stopped shaking since leaving the cafeteria, and how Blaine keeps looking over with a worried expression at his pale, silent boyfriend. Rachel, Artie and Finn still all wear looks of confusion and surprise.
" I've *never* seen him like that," Sam admits, his voice hushed and he avoids making eye contact with the others.
Puck just nods his head, prodding at his cheekbone, which is rapidly turning purple. " Serious, I met some hard guys in Juvie but I really thought Mike was going to kill him." He prods at his nose again. " Good right hook though."
Heavy footfalls come down the hallway, and they see Lauren pushing her glasses up her nose. “ I’m in the weight room for half an hour and I miss a beat down?” she starts in, and it’s so sudden and crass that everyone looks a little taken aback.
“ Tina’s at the hospital,” Kurt spits, his lower lips trembling, and Lauren looks surprised at the tone.
She takes a moment, takes a breath, and seems to sense the feeling of the group, because when she speaks again her voice is a shade less brash. “ Someone should have come and got me. I could have helped…”
“ Fight?” Puck suggests, prodding his nose. “ Think we had enough with Mike going all Jet Li and Santana getting her Tyler Durden on.”
Lauren looks around the group and crosses her arms over her chest. “ I could have helped break it up.”
“ And got a couple licks in between rounds?” Quinn throws out, looking weary but almost amused as she studies the brunette.
Lauren simply shrugs. “ So my fist might have slipped. I look after my people.” At this, the blonde scoffs, but Lauren cuffs her around the shoulder, good-naturedly. “ Even you, Lucy, so shut it.”
They're all kind of standing around, silent and sad and just *waiting*, when they hear frantic steps coming down the hallway and they all turn to see a middle-aged Korean woman, with long dark curls trailing down her back and a face set to concern, followed by a tall man in a suit, and crisp shirt and tie, wearing a look of pure anger.
The woman looks over at the group and recognises the kids, her eyes settling especially on the young man in the tailored blazer and lace up boots whose eyes are suspiciously wet.
" Kurt," Tina's mom breathes, coming towards him, pulling him into a hug that is equal parts relieved and desperate. She pulls away, cupping his face in her hands, noting the shimmering tears. " Are you all okay? Did anyone else get hurt?"
Kurt's just about to answer when he's interrupted by the sound of loud, vehement cursing - in English and Spanish - and staccato boot clacks that signal Santana's arrival. " I will kill that mother-fucking psycho puck-head if it's the last thing I do. He fucks with my girl? I will MESS. HIM. UP."
Everyone flinches as the Cohen-Changs take in Santana - with her language and her cheek cut open and her fingers entangled with Brittany's - and waits for them to bristle, but Mrs Cohen-Chang just lets go of Kurt and moves to hug the dark haired girl. " Hi Santana sweetie," Mrs Cohen-Chang greets, and everyone is completely astounded by that, and even more when Santana hugs her back, fiercely.
" Hi Mrs Double-C," she greets, burying her head in the older woman's shoulder and ignoring the way Puck snorts at the nickname. Her fingers grasp hard at the material of the older woman’s coat, and there's a long pause before Santana pulls back, her eyes notably red. " Is Tina okay?"
Mrs Cohen-Chang releases her, slightly, and nods her head, reaching up to run the pad of her thumb over Santana's wounded cheek. " She's okay. The doctors are just patching her up and we're going to go on and join her in just a second after we've spoken to Principal Figgins." She looks around the group, taking in the melancholy, the streaks of blood, the bruises. Kurt's shaking form and Brittany's tear-stained cheeks. Her eyes land on Puck and his purpling face. " Oh Noah, I hope you didn't get involved," she breathes. " You are much too smart of a boy to break your parole."
Eyes lowered, Puck shifts on his feet. " Just damage control, I swear."
Seemingly satisfied, Mrs Cohen-Chang looks over towards the office, and a frown takes over her face. " Why is Mike in the Principal's office?"
There's a long silence as all the Glee kids side-eye one another, and then Sam clears his throat. " Uh… he's in trouble."
" Figgins might expel him," Quinn adds from her place at Puck's side, sharing the gossip she's heard, but there's no happiness in her voice.
Mrs Cohen-Chang's eyes widen, and she looks so unerringly like her daughter that it's enough to make the entire huddled group flinch. " Does this have something to do with what happened to Tina?"
" Mike found out who did it and…he kind of flipped out," Mercedes admits, biting her lip gently, not wanting to see Tina's parents any more angry or hurt than they already are.
Tears well in Tina's mom's eyes, and she presses a hand to her mouth.
Behind her, Mr Cohen-Chang stands stock-still. He's tall, and so impeccable, and so the opposite of Mrs Cohen-Chang with her long curls and her rumpled red coat and mascara smudges around her eyes. He stares at the principal's office. When he speaks his voice is tinged with a mild accent, but his words are precise and crisp. " Do you mean to tell me that instead of taking Mike to the emergency room they have him in the Principal's office and are threatening to punish him for being violent towards this…other student?"
Everyone nods and there is a scattering of murmured agreement.
Holding his head up, Mr Cohen-Chang brushes off his jacket, and holds his hand out for his wife. " Gloria, I think we need to talk with Mr Figgins."
XxX
As soon as the Cohen-Chang's push the glass doors open, the band of Glee kids begins to disperse. Quinn and Rachel drag Puck to the nurse for an icepack, and he complains loudly but allows them to pull him by the hands.
Lauren, Artie and Finn wander off, primarily to head to Geometry but really to ask around for more information about what had led up to this.
Mercedes tells the others she's going to go collect Tina's things from the hallway, and make sure nothing's been lost, and Sam agrees to go and help her, their hands linked and their bodies close together.
That leaves Santana, Brittany, Kurt and Blaine standing in the hallway. There's a long pause before someone finally speaks. " I can't believe this is happening again." The words are Kurt's, and his body is shaking, and his eyelids when he blinks are notably red.
" Kurt…" Blaine's voice is soft and soothing but Kurt just shakes his head.
" I hate to make this about me - God, I *know* it's not about me, it's about Tina and I can't *believe* anyone would do this to her - but it feels like last year all over again."
Brittany's eyes widen and her lips downturn. " Is Tina going to have to go to Gay Hogwarts as well?" she whispers, and her lower lip trembles.
" No Brit," Santana assures, even as Blaine can't help but let out a small, sad chuckle at her words. " Tina isn't going anywhere. We're not going to let her, okay?" She holds Brittany's hand tightly as she turns to face Kurt and Blaine. " Look, Kurt, I know this sucks for you because Karofsky was a massive closeted asshole and he made your life hell. And I know you don't forget that kind of shit when it goes down. But we need to focus. Figure out how to make this better for Mike and our girl, 'kay?"
Taking a deep breath, Kurt nods, his face set and resolute. " What were you thinking? Talk to Coach Bieste? Coach Sylvester? Principal Figgins?"
Santana scoffs. " Sure, if you want to be a big girl. Me, I'm all about the vengeance. Scott Cooper is going down. Right now, I'm tossing up between arsenic in the mouthwash or just a good old fashioned wrench to the head."
" My dad has wrenches," Kurt smiles, complicit. " I'm sure he wouldn't mind loaning us one. He likes Tina."
Blaine laughs, low and soft and squeezes Kurt's hand gently. His voice is a whisper in his boyfriend's ear. " You're going along with one of Santana's plans. Really?"
Kurt's looks over at him, his blue eyes bright. " It can't happen again," he says simply.
Blaine squeezes his hand. " We won't let it."
XxX
Mike's sitting in a chair, his head bowed and wondering exactly how many ways his parents are going to eviscerate him and whether if he prays for it hard enough the floor will just open up and swallow him whole, when he hears Figgins gulp. Audibly.
Daring a quick glance over his shoulder - curiosity getting the better of him - Mike feels first relief, and then utter guilt when he sees Tina's parents standing at the door.
" Mr and Mrs Cohen-Chang," Figgins greets, standing up from his chair, his body language hesitant in a way that makes Mike frown. " Please come in."
They do, Mrs Cohen-Chang flashing Mike a small, concerned smile, and Mr Cohen-Chang standing with his hands clasped behind his back. Figgins gulps again and fiddles with the blinds behind him, adjusting them to allow more sunlight into the room. " Please sit down."
Mrs Cohen-Chang takes a seat on one of the low, squashy chairs, but her husband seems to ignore the invitation completely. " Is there a reason Mike is here?" His voice is hard, and impassive, and it makes Mike wince.
Coach Bieste is the one that answers, her hand on Mike's shoulder, firm and comforting. " We haven't been able to get a hold of his parents yet," she explains, her voice soft but direct.
Mike feels his stomach twist, because if he's expelled his parents are going to kill him. And even if he's not, he's pretty sure he'll never be allowed out of the house again. And certainly not within fifty feet of Tina. His heart beats harder at the thought of her, and he dares a peek at Mrs Cohen-Chang. She's practically curled in one of the chairs - uncharacteristically quiet, because she's usually all laughter and teasing and warmth - and her eyes are very bright.
" Obviously this is a very serious matter," Principal Figgins begins, and Mike's stomach twists and his hand throbs.
" Obviously," Mr Cohen-Chang spits back. " My daughter is in the hospital after being assaulted in *your* school."
" And the student in question will be appropriately punished."
" I think he already has been," Mrs Cohen-Chang's voice is barely a whisper, but it's vehement and gains her a look from her husband. Pushing herself up a little straighter, she adds, " I heard he's been taken to the hospital as well?"
It's a passing query from down-turned lips, and Coach Bieste answers. " He's pretty beat up." Her hand grips Mike's shoulder again, and he almost wants to tell her to let go because it hurts when she does that, but the comforting presence - and the feeling that someone is on his side - is too much to pass up. " But I think we have to keep in mind that Chang here was just protecting his girl," she hedges, trying to keep her voice gentle, reconciliatory. " He's a kid, he acted on instinct."
" Instinct does not crack skulls Shannon," Principal Figgins shoots back, his hands spread on the hard wood of his desk, his voice firm.
Mike curses in his head and clutches his fist tighter against his body. He can barely bend his fingers and he must gasp, because Tina's father shoots a look his way. " I think perhaps this is a conversation that should continue after Mike's been to the hospital," he suggests, firmly, and Mike's waiting to see if Principal Figgins will agree or whether he's going to have to continue sitting in bloody purgatory with his ribs threatening to cave in, when Figgins finally nods.
" I want you in my office tomorrow Mr Chang, 9am."
Mike nods, and the acceptance of his upcoming punishment seems to be enough, because Mrs Cohen-Chang is straight away pushing herself off the chair and coming to his side, cupping his face in her hand as she takes a better look at the rapidly blossoming bruise on his face. " You look a sight," she shakes her head at him, but her words are softened by a small, fond smile.
He leans into her touch, just briefly. " Is Tina really okay?"
Mrs Cohen-Chang wrinkles her nose, " A few stitches and a couple days in bed, she'll be right as rain."
Mike doesn't realise that Mr Cohen-Chang has moved until he is right by his side. His firm hand lands on Mike's shoulder, and this time Mike can't help but wince. " Come on Mike, time to go."
Standing up, gingerly, Mike's just about made it to the office door when a voice stops him. " Mr Chang?"
Principal Figgin's stands behind him, his eyes wide. He holds his hand out for Mike to take what's inside, and, confused, Mike does. He's even more confused when he finds a bulb of garlic sitting in his palm. He lifts his eyes to Figgin's face. " Uh…thanks?"
Mike's just about to put it in his pocket when a grip on his forearm stops him. Mr Cohen-Chang shakes his head, and Mike almost swears there's a twinkle behind his dark eyes. " He won't need that," he says, and his voice sounds even deeper than normal. His hand lands on Mike's shoulder, gripping tightly. " He's one of us."
There's a nod, and Figgin's gulps and pales, and Mike's amazed to see the Cohen-Changs sharing a small, knowing grin.
" Ready to go?"
XxX
The hospital is full of rhythmic beeping and cloying smells, and it instantly makes Mike nauseous. Mrs Cohen-Chang leads him down the hall with a hand on his elbow, and he's just about to ask if he can sit down (because his ribs are starting to *scream* in protest) when they stop at a door and he is met with the most beautiful sight.
Tina's sitting up on the bed, a large square of gauze taped over her forehead and her face washed clean of blood. She's still a little pale, and her gaze is still a little spaced, but the smile that lights up her face at the sight of him is real. " Mike!"
He's at her side in a second, arms wrapped around her, ignoring the way his body aches and throbs. " Are you okay?" he asks, pulling back, staring at her face, into her eyes, ignoring completely the fact that her parents are twenty feet away, filling in forms at the nurses' desk. His fingers ghost her cheek. " Does it hurt?"
" Mmmkay," she murmurs back, her hand mirroring his by pressing against his face. " What happened to you?"
He's embarrassed, almost, so he keeps his chin ducked down to his chest. " I kind of got in a fight."
Her eyes are wide. " Did Puck try and steal your french-fries again?"
He almost laughs, then, because he *wishes* all of this was a friendly dead-arming over a couple of fries. " No," he shakes his head, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. " No, T, do you remember what happened?"
Her head cocks to one side, and seems to be thinking about it, and he's about to prompt her further when a nurse bustles into the room. " Hello children," she greets, her red hair bobbing behind her in a sensible, short ponytail that wouldn't have looked out of place on a Cheerio. If a Cheerio was to gain fifty pounds and start wearing teddy-bear themed outfits. " I hear someone else in here has been in the wars?"
Mike allows her to fuss over him, making him sit still atop the scratchy white sheets. She carefully wraps his hand, checks his shoulder - " Not dislocated, but it's going to feel like hell for a couple days" - and prods his face enough to know that it's just bruised, not broken. She stands with her hands on her hips. " You know, we get enough people in here that get this way by accident, we don't need people to go *looking* for trouble." Mike feels himself blushing, shame faced, but then her words are softened by a gentle pat to the shoulder. " Let me see if I can find you kids some jello. You like strawberry?"
They both nod, and Tina grins somewhat absently, and Mike laces their fingers together. The nurse smiles at them knowingly before leaving the room.
Sighing, Mike leans his forehead against Tina's, careful of her wound and his growing black eye.
" I don't care if I get expelled," he says, only half meaning it, but fully meaning what he says next. " I'd do it again if someone hurt you."
XxX
By the time they both get released from the hospital it's late, and dark, and Mike's parents are waiting for him at home. Tina's parents have piles of papers about concussion and strict instructions to wake Tina every couple of hours, and come back immediately if she feels nauseous or blacks out. Mike's handed painkillers and told to rest.
They drop Mrs Cohen-Chang and Tina home first, and Mike helps Tina with the front step and up to her bedroom. By the time they get to the top, he's practically carrying her and she's giggling against his neck. " Stay?" she whispers against his skin as he settles her onto her mattress, but he pulls back, instead tugging off her shoes and tossing them aside.
" I can't," he tells her, rubbing her bare calf with his warm, large palm. " I have to go face my parents."
She seems to come to herself then, and pushes herself up on her elbows. " Will you be okay?"
He nods his head, standing up from the bed, leaning over for a moment to place a long, slow kiss against her lips. " I'll be fine. You just get some sleep and I'll call you in the morning, okay?" Cupping her face, he stares into her eyes. " Love you T."
" I love you, Mike."
XxX
The drive back to his house is silent and awkward and Mike's running through all the possible ways he might be disowned. Then he switches to running through all the curse words he knows and it makes him feel slightly better, but his stomach won't stop churning and he keeps his lips pressed tightly together because he's afraid otherwise he might puke all over the interior Mr Cohen-Chang's smart Audi.
He's barely through his Spanish list when the car pulls up the curb, and Mike realises they're outside his house. Absently, he remembers that his piece-of-shit Honda is still at school and he's going to have to walk tomorrow. Taking a deep breath, Mike's just reached for the door handle when a touch on his elbow stops him.
Turning, slowly, Mike finds Mr Cohen-Chang staring at him, his face set and serious. Mike quickens his recitation of inner-curses, and steels himself for the shouting to begin. But instead, Mr Cohen-Chang just leans back in his seat and sighs, deeply. " Mike…you know how important Tina is to me, yes?"
" Yes Sir," Mike nods rapidly.
" She's my only child, my little girl. And today...today I realised how important she is to you too." There's a long pause while Mike tries to let the words sink in, but then Tina's dad is speaking again and he just tries to concentrate. " I'm a peaceful man. I don't - I don't condone violence. But…there's a way to be a man, Mike. And… I just want you to know, when you're older, when you're ready to ask... you have my blessing."
It's not what Mike expected, it's so far from what he expected to hear right at that moment that he's pretty sure his mouth is hanging open.
" Your…your blessing?" he echoes dumbly.
At this, Mr Cohen-Chang finally breaks into a smile, and it's the first time Mike's realised how much his daughter looks like him. " You do want to marry my daughter, don't you?"
" No!" Mike's reaction is automatic, and he curses out loud this time, and back pedals, and Mr Cohen-Chang is just grinning like he's enjoying Mike's complete and utter discomfort. Mike takes a breath. " I mean, yes, of course I want to marry her, but we're only seventeen, and I thought maybe…maybe you'd kill me if I asked her." His words tumble out of his lips, and he's unable to hold them back. " I mean…I have this ring but I was saving it 'til like, after college and oh, God," he realises. " You meant in the future didn't you?"
Mr Cohen-Chang just nods, amused.
Mike can't help but raise a hand to his face, feeling foolish, and weary, but somehow hopeful. " Yes," he says simply, gathering himself. " When we're both older…and if she'll have me…I want to marry her."
" And I don't have to ask if you'll protect her?" Tina's father asks, suddenly serious.
Mike shakes his head. " No Sir. I mean…I know Tina can look after herself but... I'd fight for her with my last breath."
There's a long stretch where neither man says anything, and they just sort of stare at each other, and Mike tries really hard not to move, not to spoil the moment. He realises he must have succeeded when Mr Cohen-Chang nods his head. " Right, get inside. This might take some explaining to your parents."
Surprise colours Mike's tone. " You're coming with me?"
There's that smile again, and Mr Cohen-Chang laughs as he opens his door. " Do you really want to try and explain that eye to your parents on your own?"
XxX
Part One: http://mike-tina.livejournal.com/80711.html#cutid1