(Skin Deep) Chapter 6: Sweaters/Scared (6/10)
Title: Skin Deep
Part: Chapter 6: Sweaters/Scared
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG-13
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Kurt/Puck, Kurt/OMC, OFC, OMC and appearances by the glee kids.
Author’s Note: This fic takes place both in the future and past.
- I know there are tons of spoilers out for the upcoming episodes. Please don’t post them in the comments.
Warning: Everything that has aired is considered fair game. There are spoilers if you haven’t seen through “Original Song.”
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Seven years after graduation, Puck learns there are some wounds that are more than skin deep.
Skin Deep:
Skin DeepChapter 6: Sweaters/Scared
In which Kurt makes a decision…
Sitting on the small love seat in Kurt’s bedroom, Puck tapped his foot on the floor in irritation. Kurt had been rushing between his closet, vanity, and bathroom for the past eighteen minutes. (Uh, yeah. Puck totally checked his watch when Kurt had started pacing.) And the constantly changing sweaters, scarves, and shoes, not to mention Kurt’s fashion babble, were driving him nuts. It was obvious that Kurt was jittery about something, but Puck didn’t have a clue as to what that was. But even though he could tell that there was something more important going on, it was the costume changes that were annoying Puck.
To be honest, Puck didn’t get why his boyfriend was so worried about what he was wearing. Well… Ok. Puck knew why; Kurt always had to look just right. If he appeared anything less than perfect, he wouldn’t leave the house. (Unfortunately, Puck had learned this the hard way.) But tonight, they weren’t going out anywhere. It was Saturday evening, and Mr. and Mrs. Hummel had gone out for “date night,” and Finn was…. Puck didn’t really know where Finn was actually. He wasn’t in the house, and that was all that mattered.
So Puck and Kurt were going to take advantage of the privacy and stay home and watch Across the Universe. Puck had never seen it, and he didn’t really want to since it was a musical and all. But Kurt had said that all of the songs were by The Beatles, which seemed kinda cool - tolerable at the least. Plus it was Kurt’s turn to choose what they watched. And that mean that Puck didn’t really have any choice but to sit back and hope that Kurt was more into him than the movie.
However, despite the fact that they weren’t leaving the Hummel house, Kurt seemed extra worried about his outfit being just right. It was strange and kind of irritating, because Puck just wanted to get on with their night. He didn’t care if Kurt had pinned his kilt in the traditional Scottish manner or if his scarf was knotted perfectly. He just wanted Kurt next to him on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn nearby.
So when Kurt rushed by him in yet another sweater with what looked like a leather tie draped over his arm, Puck couldn’t take it anymore.
“Kurt.” Puck’s foot quit tapping. “What is your problem?” Puck knew it was clear that he was irritated, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Kurt had finally quit his pacing.
Standing in the middle of the room, the tie still swinging back and forth, Kurt looked like a deer caught in headlights. His blue eyes were comically wide, and he looked like he was going to heave. Puck wanted to laugh, but before he could, Kurt spoke.
“No….” He looked from the tie on his arm to Puck. “Nothing.” Kurt pulled the tie from its perch and practically ran to his closet to hang it up. When he turned back to Puck, his face was much more relaxed. “Nothing’s wrong.” Kurt’s face split into a gentle, genuine smile.
“Then what’s with all of this?” Puck gestured vaguely to Kurt and his closet.
Still smiling at Puck, Kurt let out a deep breath. “Umh….” Puck watched curiously as Kurt walked over and sat down on the seat next to him. But rather than relax into the soft cushions like Puck had, Kurt perched on the edge of the seat. Kurt’s knees were touching, and his hands folded on his lap, Puck couldn’t help but think he looked doll like. “Noah….” Kurt angled his body towards Puck’s, the tips of his ears flushing scarlet. “I, umh….”
Watching Kurt, who was normally so composed and well spoken, stutter made Puck’s heart begin to beat painfully in his chest. Whatever his boyfriend was trying to say was serious. Only things that were important made Kurt that tongue tied.
The suspense of what was going on quickly began to wear at Puck’s nerves, but he didn’t push Kurt to speak. Puck wanted Kurt to tell him what was on his mind on his own time. He knew that if he were to push the other boy, Kurt would just get more flustered and clam up completely.
“I think I’m ready.” The blush that had started with Kurt’s ears spread down to his neck.
Puck, however, didn’t get what the big deal was.
“Babe, I thought you said you wanted to stay in tonight. For some, you know….” Puck quirked his eyebrow mischievously. “Alone time.”
Kurt smiled before pressing his lips together, for once not complaining about Puck’s preferred nickname. “No, Noah….” Carefully, Kurt unfolded his hands and placed one on Puck’s thigh. The touch was light, barely there, but Puck couldn’t stop focusing on it. “I’m ready to… to make love with you.”
As Kurt’s words sunk in, Puck felt his heart begin to beat even more furiously in his chest.
When their relationship had first started getting serious, Kurt had said that he wanted to wait awhile before they slept together. It wasn’t that he was a virgin or anything like that (that ship had sailed with Blaine). But Kurt, unsurprisingly, was a romantic and wanted to wait for the right moment. Love, flowers, candles, the whole deal… Kurt wanted it all.
But as difficult as it had been, Puck had respected his wished and tried not to push. After all, it wasn’t like Kurt was against getting physical altogether; they’d done pretty much everything but have sex. That, however, didn’t mean that it had been easy for Puck to hold back. And yeah, ok, there’d been times when he’d slipped and pushed Kurt a little more than he should have.
But Puck had (miraculously enough) managed to wait.
Now that Kurt was ready though, Puck didn’t know what to say.
He did, however, know what to do.
That had always come naturally to him. And now was no exception.
Leaning forward, Puck put his hands behind Kurt’s head and pulled him forward. When their mouths smashed together, Puck felt a jolt of pain shoot through his bottom lip. His first instinct was to pull back, to make sure that Kurt was ok. Because if it had hurt him, then it had to have hurt Kurt as well.
But when he tried to break the kiss, Kurt tightened his grip on Puck’s thigh. Against his mouth, Kurt whispered, “no.” The word was said with enough force and clarity that Puck could feel the word being written across his lips. The sensation, forceful and determined, soothed something inside of Puck. And he felt his urgency fade to an anticipation so bittersweet it caused all of his nerves to burn uncontrollably.
It was something he’d never felt before.
Not even with Quinn.
On his thigh, Kurt’s grip tightened once before pulling away. The second Kurt’s fingertips slid off of his leg, Puck felt a severe loss settle into his bones that he couldn’t stand. He wanted, needed every touch that Kurt would give him. But though he always felt that way, that feeling of need seemed intensified tenfold in that moment.
In an effort to reclaim the contact, Puck slid one of his hands away from Kurt’s neck. Reaching out, he grabbed Kurt’s wrist. Puck pulled, trying to bring Kurt’s hand back to his leg. Kurt, however, resisted, moving his hand back towards himself.
Confused, Puck pulled his mouth away from Kurt’s but only enough to break their kiss. Chest heaving, he rubbed his lips together as he tried to gather his thoughts. When he was finally able to speak, his voice was rough, like it hadn’t been used in years. “What are you…. I thought….”
“Bed.” Kurt’s breath ghosted over Puck’s moist lips. “Now.” He pulled the arm Puck was holding once again.
But this time, Puck followed it willingly.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A while later, exhausted but too wound up with emotion to sleep, Puck grabbed the marker off of Kurt’s bedside table. Pulling off the cap, he rolled onto his side to face a sleeping Kurt. Puck studied Kurt’s face for a moment, gently brushing a few stray strands off of his forehead.
After putting the cap on the other end of the Sharpie, Puck began to draw a sweeping design that sprawled over Kurt’s ribs.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
In which a confession is made…
Puck moved through the middle of the tattoo shop, haphazardly pulling a large broom behind him. He knew he wasn’t doing much good with it and that when he finished, the floor would still be a mess. But at that exact moment, he didn’t really care.
After all, it wasn’t like it really mattered if he got the place cleaned up or not. Pixley, the afternoon receptionist, would sweep (and possibly mop if her anxiety was acting up) again when she opened the shop tomorrow afternoon.
So his sweeping up was really just a total waste of time.
And it seemed even more pointless since it had been a very long night at Skin Deep, and he just wanted to go home.
Tonight, the tattoo parlor had seemed to be a hot bed of insanity….
An all-girls college cheer team (twelve girls to be exact) had come in wanting matching tattoos. Normally, Puck would have been all over a bunch of hotties in short skirts and miniscule tops bouncing around him. But this group of girls was just… Puck couldn’t even come up with the proper words to describe how obnoxious they’d been.
Each had wanted a different design, and not one of them was willing to give into another. Puck had spent an hour and a half trying to come up with something that incorporated all of their demands. In the end, it had ended up looking like some deranged pom-pom monster covered in jewelry and wearing strappy heels and a tiara.
It was, in Puck’s humble opinion, hideous.
But the girls had been unanimously (and loudly) ecstatic about it. So rather than try to dissuade them, he’d given up and went with it. They were the ones who would have to deal with it five years from now. Not him.
After getting the stencils made, Sully had had to call in some of the artists who’d had the day off to help out. There were just too many of them for the five on duty artists to handle, even with Sully’s help.
Once they’d gotten through the pep squad, they’d had to deal with a girl who possessed absolutely zero pain tolerance. Then there was a belligerent ex-con who had wanted a tattoo commemorating his time “in da joint.” And that wasn’t to mention the three drunks, one of whom had puked purple sludge all over Stacey an hour ago. (The place still reeked.)
As soon as it had come time to close for the night… everyone, Sully included, had run for the doors. Puck, however, was scheduled to close so he was stuck there. Was he angry about that? Yeah. But he couldn’t really blame them. He’d have done the same if someone else had had to close. However, that didn’t mean he wasn’t bitter about it though.
Making a wide U-turn with the broom still trailing behind, Puck made his way back to the rear of the shop. He knew that the bristles weren’t really picking up anything, and as he walked, Puck spotted pieces of paper and other debris in the floor. But he couldn’t have cared less. Once he reached the back of the shop, that was it. He was done for the night.
Ignoring the floor, Puck continued to walk, his eyes trained on the door to the backroom like it was his salvation. After what felt like the longest few minutes of his life, Puck reached the door that would release him for the night. With relief washing over him, Puck reached out and placed his hand on the door knob.
But before he had a chance to turn it, he heard the bell above the shop’s entrance tinkle evilly. As the noise died away, he couldn’t help but think that he so didn’t need this now.
Not bothering to turn around or even take his hand off the doorknob, Puck called out, “Sorry. We’re closed.” He wanted to keep going, to walk through the door to the backroom, but there was no response to what he’d said. No closing of the door as they walked out, no ring of the bell. There wasn’t even an answering yell of any kind.
So even though he knew he’d regret it, Puck let go of the handle that was his freedom and turned around.
And just like he’d expected, he regretted it.
Instantly.
“Noah….” Kurt was about halfway into the shop. And even from the back wall, Puck could make out the hesitancy that seemed to be radiating off of him.
Leaning against the door, Puck crossed his arms over his chest. The broomstick was still clutched in his hand. But now, instead of feeling like a weight, it was a security blanket. “I told you. We’re closed.”
Kurt took a few more steps forward, and Puck wished that he could move backwards. But with the wall there, there was nowhere to go. Feeling trapped, he tightened his arms around his chest a little more as he waited to see how Kurt would respond.
“Noah.” Kurt stopped moving about five feet away from him. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Puck felt his jaw clench and anger set into his shoulders. He was tired, and now he was upset. No way was he just going to stand there like all was right with the world.
“You know what.” Kurt’s words came out as an angry hiss. And once again, Puck mind flashed back to his high school days and how often he’d heard Kurt speak like that. It was almost frightening to see how much Kurt hadn’t changed. “Don’t make this harder than it is.” His voice had softened, and Puck could see the pleading sincerity in his eyes. “Please.”
Just like old times, Kurt saying “please” was almost enough to do Puck in. That single word caused his shoulders to relax and his jaw to loosen. But Puck refused to be a slave to memories or feelings. He couldn’t give in just because Kurt was… Kurt.
“Whatever.” Puck tried to inject the word with as much indifference as possible. That, however, wasn’t much. And from the look of resolve on Kurt’s face, Puck could tell that he hadn’t bought it.
Finally giving into the anger, stress, and heartbreak that he’d been in since coming back from Lima, Puck gave up trying to be cool. He didn’t have the energy for the façade anymore. “Why are you here, Kurt?” He stared at the other man, willing him to answer honestly, no matter what the truth turned out to be.
“Biff is from around here.” Kurt tried to smile but failed. “His parents’ anniversary is this weekend.”
Puck tried to swallow a hundred more questions that had come to mind. But as they fought for dominance, Kurt waited with apologetic eyes.
When one question finally surfaced as more important than the others, Puck dropped his eyes to the floor. “Did… did you know I was here?” Puck’s heart began to beat painfully as he waited for an answer.
“No.” Kurt’s response came out without hesitation, and Puck shut his eyes in response. Whatever he’d expected or wanted, it wasn’t that. “I mean….” Puck’s head snapped up. “I remembered that you went to school around here. But I didn’t….” This time it was Kurt’s turn to drop his gaze to the floor. “I didn’t expect to run into you. I thought you’d have moved somewhere else by now.”
Puck continued to stare at Kurt, who refused to look up. After Kurt’s confession, he was at a complete loss for words. Everything he’d been feeling seemed to slip away, leaving him drained of energy and emotion.
“I’m so sorry, Noah.” Kurt lifted his head, and Puck could see the truth of the apology in his eyes. “If I’d have known you worked here, I’d have gone somewhere else. I should have turned around and walked out the second I saw you.” Puck watched as the base of Kurt’s neck began to turn red. “This wasn’t fair to you.”
Even though Puck had seen the words coming out of Kurt’s mouth, he could barely believe them. And as they sank in, Puck realized just how wrong he’d been before.
Kurt had changed, and he’d changed a lot. Never would the boy he’d known in high school have been able to admit something like that. It was almost impossible to believe that this was the same person he’d dated all those years ago.
“Look….” Puck watched as Kurt seemed to struggle for what to say next. “I just wanted to apologize for everything.”
Puck’s eyes widened as he watched Kurt. He’d heard every word of Kurt’s apology, but the only one that truly stood out was everything. It was just that… everything meant everything. But what did that really mean? Was Kurt apologizing for lying about the infection or for showing up with Biff? Or was he apologizing about how they’d fallen apart?
Or…
Was it possible that he was apologizing for not showing up at McKinley?
Puck wanted to yell, to demand that Kurt tell him what exactly everything meant. He was sick of the uncertainty, of not knowing what was going on with his life right now. But as he stared at Kurt, his sweet face a mixture of pain and regret, Puck said the first thing that came to mind. “Why didn’t you show up?” Puck’s voice was low, but he knew Kurt had heard him.
Across from him, Kurt sighed deeply, the sadness etching its way into his soft features. Puck watched, waiting for Kurt to say something. With each passing second of silence, Puck’s heart began to beat a little harder, a little faster.
When he thought he could no longer stand it, Kurt shrugged apologetically. “I was scared.” Puck’s racing heart thudded to a stop before restarting with a shudder. “I’m so sorry.” Puck watched Kurt hungrily as he dropped his face to the floor and rubbed at his eyes, a sure sign he was crying.
Puck didn’t know what kind of answer he’d expected out of Kurt. But to hear that he hadn’t shown up because he was scared….
He pressed his lips together angrily. “And you think I wasn’t?” Kurt’s tear-stained face snapped up to meet his, and anger began to bubble in Puck’s stomach. “Do you think….” His voice trailed off, the irritation suddenly abating. As upset as he was, he just didn’t have it in him to hold onto the anger anymore. Puck was too tired, physically and emotionally. “What happened to us, Kurt?”
Puck knew the answer, had known it for years, but he needed to hear it out of Kurt’s mouth. Because that way, their break up would be official in a way it never had been before. And just maybe, he’d be able to find some resolution or closure so he could move on.
Taking a deep breath that almost sounded like a laugh, Kurt looked at him. Shrugging again, he said, “Life.”
Nodding, Puck smiled sadly. That was it. Life had happened to them. “Yeah.” The word was so soft that even Puck hadn’t heard himself say it.
“Look….” Kurt tried to smile, and Puck watched him, wondering suddenly how life had faired for Kurt. “Biff wants to spend time with some friends from high school tomorrow night. And I am just… not interested.” Puck snorted at the thought of Kurt hanging out with Biff’s friends. (In Puck’s mind, they were all polo-playing yuppies with equally ridiculous names.) “Let’s… Let’s get dinner to make up for my not showing up in Lima.”
“But won’t he care if you go out with the guy who did your tattoo?” Puck’s mind went into overdrive, coming up with all of the reasons this was a bad idea. There was no way that that could end well. But part of him was desperate to spend time with Kurt, if only as old friends.
The impish smile on Kurt’s face, however, shut that voice up immediately. “He thinks I’m going shopping and to the spa.”
Chapter 7: Marked/Joe’s Place
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- To everyone who is following this story, thank you so much. I appreciate the support more than I can say.
- Quack: It doesn’t get more amazing than you. Thank you for all your help. Also… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D
- Reviews are love.
Skin Deep
Chapter 1: Promises/Seven Years
Chapter 2: Acceptance/Inked
Chapter 3: Out/Initials
Chapter 4: Decisions/Infected
Chapter 5: Doo Wop/Muffins
Part: Chapter 6: Sweaters/Scared
Author: Squeeka Cuomo
Rating: PG-13
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Kurt/Puck, Kurt/OMC, OFC, OMC and appearances by the glee kids.
Author’s Note: This fic takes place both in the future and past.
- I know there are tons of spoilers out for the upcoming episodes. Please don’t post them in the comments.
Warning: Everything that has aired is considered fair game. There are spoilers if you haven’t seen through “Original Song.”
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Summary: Seven years after graduation, Puck learns there are some wounds that are more than skin deep.
Skin Deep:
Skin DeepChapter 6: Sweaters/Scared
In which Kurt makes a decision…
Sitting on the small love seat in Kurt’s bedroom, Puck tapped his foot on the floor in irritation. Kurt had been rushing between his closet, vanity, and bathroom for the past eighteen minutes. (Uh, yeah. Puck totally checked his watch when Kurt had started pacing.) And the constantly changing sweaters, scarves, and shoes, not to mention Kurt’s fashion babble, were driving him nuts. It was obvious that Kurt was jittery about something, but Puck didn’t have a clue as to what that was. But even though he could tell that there was something more important going on, it was the costume changes that were annoying Puck.
To be honest, Puck didn’t get why his boyfriend was so worried about what he was wearing. Well… Ok. Puck knew why; Kurt always had to look just right. If he appeared anything less than perfect, he wouldn’t leave the house. (Unfortunately, Puck had learned this the hard way.) But tonight, they weren’t going out anywhere. It was Saturday evening, and Mr. and Mrs. Hummel had gone out for “date night,” and Finn was…. Puck didn’t really know where Finn was actually. He wasn’t in the house, and that was all that mattered.
So Puck and Kurt were going to take advantage of the privacy and stay home and watch Across the Universe. Puck had never seen it, and he didn’t really want to since it was a musical and all. But Kurt had said that all of the songs were by The Beatles, which seemed kinda cool - tolerable at the least. Plus it was Kurt’s turn to choose what they watched. And that mean that Puck didn’t really have any choice but to sit back and hope that Kurt was more into him than the movie.
However, despite the fact that they weren’t leaving the Hummel house, Kurt seemed extra worried about his outfit being just right. It was strange and kind of irritating, because Puck just wanted to get on with their night. He didn’t care if Kurt had pinned his kilt in the traditional Scottish manner or if his scarf was knotted perfectly. He just wanted Kurt next to him on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn nearby.
So when Kurt rushed by him in yet another sweater with what looked like a leather tie draped over his arm, Puck couldn’t take it anymore.
“Kurt.” Puck’s foot quit tapping. “What is your problem?” Puck knew it was clear that he was irritated, but he didn’t care. All that mattered was that Kurt had finally quit his pacing.
Standing in the middle of the room, the tie still swinging back and forth, Kurt looked like a deer caught in headlights. His blue eyes were comically wide, and he looked like he was going to heave. Puck wanted to laugh, but before he could, Kurt spoke.
“No….” He looked from the tie on his arm to Puck. “Nothing.” Kurt pulled the tie from its perch and practically ran to his closet to hang it up. When he turned back to Puck, his face was much more relaxed. “Nothing’s wrong.” Kurt’s face split into a gentle, genuine smile.
“Then what’s with all of this?” Puck gestured vaguely to Kurt and his closet.
Still smiling at Puck, Kurt let out a deep breath. “Umh….” Puck watched curiously as Kurt walked over and sat down on the seat next to him. But rather than relax into the soft cushions like Puck had, Kurt perched on the edge of the seat. Kurt’s knees were touching, and his hands folded on his lap, Puck couldn’t help but think he looked doll like. “Noah….” Kurt angled his body towards Puck’s, the tips of his ears flushing scarlet. “I, umh….”
Watching Kurt, who was normally so composed and well spoken, stutter made Puck’s heart begin to beat painfully in his chest. Whatever his boyfriend was trying to say was serious. Only things that were important made Kurt that tongue tied.
The suspense of what was going on quickly began to wear at Puck’s nerves, but he didn’t push Kurt to speak. Puck wanted Kurt to tell him what was on his mind on his own time. He knew that if he were to push the other boy, Kurt would just get more flustered and clam up completely.
“I think I’m ready.” The blush that had started with Kurt’s ears spread down to his neck.
Puck, however, didn’t get what the big deal was.
“Babe, I thought you said you wanted to stay in tonight. For some, you know….” Puck quirked his eyebrow mischievously. “Alone time.”
Kurt smiled before pressing his lips together, for once not complaining about Puck’s preferred nickname. “No, Noah….” Carefully, Kurt unfolded his hands and placed one on Puck’s thigh. The touch was light, barely there, but Puck couldn’t stop focusing on it. “I’m ready to… to make love with you.”
As Kurt’s words sunk in, Puck felt his heart begin to beat even more furiously in his chest.
When their relationship had first started getting serious, Kurt had said that he wanted to wait awhile before they slept together. It wasn’t that he was a virgin or anything like that (that ship had sailed with Blaine). But Kurt, unsurprisingly, was a romantic and wanted to wait for the right moment. Love, flowers, candles, the whole deal… Kurt wanted it all.
But as difficult as it had been, Puck had respected his wished and tried not to push. After all, it wasn’t like Kurt was against getting physical altogether; they’d done pretty much everything but have sex. That, however, didn’t mean that it had been easy for Puck to hold back. And yeah, ok, there’d been times when he’d slipped and pushed Kurt a little more than he should have.
But Puck had (miraculously enough) managed to wait.
Now that Kurt was ready though, Puck didn’t know what to say.
He did, however, know what to do.
That had always come naturally to him. And now was no exception.
Leaning forward, Puck put his hands behind Kurt’s head and pulled him forward. When their mouths smashed together, Puck felt a jolt of pain shoot through his bottom lip. His first instinct was to pull back, to make sure that Kurt was ok. Because if it had hurt him, then it had to have hurt Kurt as well.
But when he tried to break the kiss, Kurt tightened his grip on Puck’s thigh. Against his mouth, Kurt whispered, “no.” The word was said with enough force and clarity that Puck could feel the word being written across his lips. The sensation, forceful and determined, soothed something inside of Puck. And he felt his urgency fade to an anticipation so bittersweet it caused all of his nerves to burn uncontrollably.
It was something he’d never felt before.
Not even with Quinn.
On his thigh, Kurt’s grip tightened once before pulling away. The second Kurt’s fingertips slid off of his leg, Puck felt a severe loss settle into his bones that he couldn’t stand. He wanted, needed every touch that Kurt would give him. But though he always felt that way, that feeling of need seemed intensified tenfold in that moment.
In an effort to reclaim the contact, Puck slid one of his hands away from Kurt’s neck. Reaching out, he grabbed Kurt’s wrist. Puck pulled, trying to bring Kurt’s hand back to his leg. Kurt, however, resisted, moving his hand back towards himself.
Confused, Puck pulled his mouth away from Kurt’s but only enough to break their kiss. Chest heaving, he rubbed his lips together as he tried to gather his thoughts. When he was finally able to speak, his voice was rough, like it hadn’t been used in years. “What are you…. I thought….”
“Bed.” Kurt’s breath ghosted over Puck’s moist lips. “Now.” He pulled the arm Puck was holding once again.
But this time, Puck followed it willingly.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
A while later, exhausted but too wound up with emotion to sleep, Puck grabbed the marker off of Kurt’s bedside table. Pulling off the cap, he rolled onto his side to face a sleeping Kurt. Puck studied Kurt’s face for a moment, gently brushing a few stray strands off of his forehead.
After putting the cap on the other end of the Sharpie, Puck began to draw a sweeping design that sprawled over Kurt’s ribs.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
In which a confession is made…
Puck moved through the middle of the tattoo shop, haphazardly pulling a large broom behind him. He knew he wasn’t doing much good with it and that when he finished, the floor would still be a mess. But at that exact moment, he didn’t really care.
After all, it wasn’t like it really mattered if he got the place cleaned up or not. Pixley, the afternoon receptionist, would sweep (and possibly mop if her anxiety was acting up) again when she opened the shop tomorrow afternoon.
So his sweeping up was really just a total waste of time.
And it seemed even more pointless since it had been a very long night at Skin Deep, and he just wanted to go home.
Tonight, the tattoo parlor had seemed to be a hot bed of insanity….
An all-girls college cheer team (twelve girls to be exact) had come in wanting matching tattoos. Normally, Puck would have been all over a bunch of hotties in short skirts and miniscule tops bouncing around him. But this group of girls was just… Puck couldn’t even come up with the proper words to describe how obnoxious they’d been.
Each had wanted a different design, and not one of them was willing to give into another. Puck had spent an hour and a half trying to come up with something that incorporated all of their demands. In the end, it had ended up looking like some deranged pom-pom monster covered in jewelry and wearing strappy heels and a tiara.
It was, in Puck’s humble opinion, hideous.
But the girls had been unanimously (and loudly) ecstatic about it. So rather than try to dissuade them, he’d given up and went with it. They were the ones who would have to deal with it five years from now. Not him.
After getting the stencils made, Sully had had to call in some of the artists who’d had the day off to help out. There were just too many of them for the five on duty artists to handle, even with Sully’s help.
Once they’d gotten through the pep squad, they’d had to deal with a girl who possessed absolutely zero pain tolerance. Then there was a belligerent ex-con who had wanted a tattoo commemorating his time “in da joint.” And that wasn’t to mention the three drunks, one of whom had puked purple sludge all over Stacey an hour ago. (The place still reeked.)
As soon as it had come time to close for the night… everyone, Sully included, had run for the doors. Puck, however, was scheduled to close so he was stuck there. Was he angry about that? Yeah. But he couldn’t really blame them. He’d have done the same if someone else had had to close. However, that didn’t mean he wasn’t bitter about it though.
Making a wide U-turn with the broom still trailing behind, Puck made his way back to the rear of the shop. He knew that the bristles weren’t really picking up anything, and as he walked, Puck spotted pieces of paper and other debris in the floor. But he couldn’t have cared less. Once he reached the back of the shop, that was it. He was done for the night.
Ignoring the floor, Puck continued to walk, his eyes trained on the door to the backroom like it was his salvation. After what felt like the longest few minutes of his life, Puck reached the door that would release him for the night. With relief washing over him, Puck reached out and placed his hand on the door knob.
But before he had a chance to turn it, he heard the bell above the shop’s entrance tinkle evilly. As the noise died away, he couldn’t help but think that he so didn’t need this now.
Not bothering to turn around or even take his hand off the doorknob, Puck called out, “Sorry. We’re closed.” He wanted to keep going, to walk through the door to the backroom, but there was no response to what he’d said. No closing of the door as they walked out, no ring of the bell. There wasn’t even an answering yell of any kind.
So even though he knew he’d regret it, Puck let go of the handle that was his freedom and turned around.
And just like he’d expected, he regretted it.
Instantly.
“Noah….” Kurt was about halfway into the shop. And even from the back wall, Puck could make out the hesitancy that seemed to be radiating off of him.
Leaning against the door, Puck crossed his arms over his chest. The broomstick was still clutched in his hand. But now, instead of feeling like a weight, it was a security blanket. “I told you. We’re closed.”
Kurt took a few more steps forward, and Puck wished that he could move backwards. But with the wall there, there was nowhere to go. Feeling trapped, he tightened his arms around his chest a little more as he waited to see how Kurt would respond.
“Noah.” Kurt stopped moving about five feet away from him. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t what?” Puck felt his jaw clench and anger set into his shoulders. He was tired, and now he was upset. No way was he just going to stand there like all was right with the world.
“You know what.” Kurt’s words came out as an angry hiss. And once again, Puck mind flashed back to his high school days and how often he’d heard Kurt speak like that. It was almost frightening to see how much Kurt hadn’t changed. “Don’t make this harder than it is.” His voice had softened, and Puck could see the pleading sincerity in his eyes. “Please.”
Just like old times, Kurt saying “please” was almost enough to do Puck in. That single word caused his shoulders to relax and his jaw to loosen. But Puck refused to be a slave to memories or feelings. He couldn’t give in just because Kurt was… Kurt.
“Whatever.” Puck tried to inject the word with as much indifference as possible. That, however, wasn’t much. And from the look of resolve on Kurt’s face, Puck could tell that he hadn’t bought it.
Finally giving into the anger, stress, and heartbreak that he’d been in since coming back from Lima, Puck gave up trying to be cool. He didn’t have the energy for the façade anymore. “Why are you here, Kurt?” He stared at the other man, willing him to answer honestly, no matter what the truth turned out to be.
“Biff is from around here.” Kurt tried to smile but failed. “His parents’ anniversary is this weekend.”
Puck tried to swallow a hundred more questions that had come to mind. But as they fought for dominance, Kurt waited with apologetic eyes.
When one question finally surfaced as more important than the others, Puck dropped his eyes to the floor. “Did… did you know I was here?” Puck’s heart began to beat painfully as he waited for an answer.
“No.” Kurt’s response came out without hesitation, and Puck shut his eyes in response. Whatever he’d expected or wanted, it wasn’t that. “I mean….” Puck’s head snapped up. “I remembered that you went to school around here. But I didn’t….” This time it was Kurt’s turn to drop his gaze to the floor. “I didn’t expect to run into you. I thought you’d have moved somewhere else by now.”
Puck continued to stare at Kurt, who refused to look up. After Kurt’s confession, he was at a complete loss for words. Everything he’d been feeling seemed to slip away, leaving him drained of energy and emotion.
“I’m so sorry, Noah.” Kurt lifted his head, and Puck could see the truth of the apology in his eyes. “If I’d have known you worked here, I’d have gone somewhere else. I should have turned around and walked out the second I saw you.” Puck watched as the base of Kurt’s neck began to turn red. “This wasn’t fair to you.”
Even though Puck had seen the words coming out of Kurt’s mouth, he could barely believe them. And as they sank in, Puck realized just how wrong he’d been before.
Kurt had changed, and he’d changed a lot. Never would the boy he’d known in high school have been able to admit something like that. It was almost impossible to believe that this was the same person he’d dated all those years ago.
“Look….” Puck watched as Kurt seemed to struggle for what to say next. “I just wanted to apologize for everything.”
Puck’s eyes widened as he watched Kurt. He’d heard every word of Kurt’s apology, but the only one that truly stood out was everything. It was just that… everything meant everything. But what did that really mean? Was Kurt apologizing for lying about the infection or for showing up with Biff? Or was he apologizing about how they’d fallen apart?
Or…
Was it possible that he was apologizing for not showing up at McKinley?
Puck wanted to yell, to demand that Kurt tell him what exactly everything meant. He was sick of the uncertainty, of not knowing what was going on with his life right now. But as he stared at Kurt, his sweet face a mixture of pain and regret, Puck said the first thing that came to mind. “Why didn’t you show up?” Puck’s voice was low, but he knew Kurt had heard him.
Across from him, Kurt sighed deeply, the sadness etching its way into his soft features. Puck watched, waiting for Kurt to say something. With each passing second of silence, Puck’s heart began to beat a little harder, a little faster.
When he thought he could no longer stand it, Kurt shrugged apologetically. “I was scared.” Puck’s racing heart thudded to a stop before restarting with a shudder. “I’m so sorry.” Puck watched Kurt hungrily as he dropped his face to the floor and rubbed at his eyes, a sure sign he was crying.
Puck didn’t know what kind of answer he’d expected out of Kurt. But to hear that he hadn’t shown up because he was scared….
He pressed his lips together angrily. “And you think I wasn’t?” Kurt’s tear-stained face snapped up to meet his, and anger began to bubble in Puck’s stomach. “Do you think….” His voice trailed off, the irritation suddenly abating. As upset as he was, he just didn’t have it in him to hold onto the anger anymore. Puck was too tired, physically and emotionally. “What happened to us, Kurt?”
Puck knew the answer, had known it for years, but he needed to hear it out of Kurt’s mouth. Because that way, their break up would be official in a way it never had been before. And just maybe, he’d be able to find some resolution or closure so he could move on.
Taking a deep breath that almost sounded like a laugh, Kurt looked at him. Shrugging again, he said, “Life.”
Nodding, Puck smiled sadly. That was it. Life had happened to them. “Yeah.” The word was so soft that even Puck hadn’t heard himself say it.
“Look….” Kurt tried to smile, and Puck watched him, wondering suddenly how life had faired for Kurt. “Biff wants to spend time with some friends from high school tomorrow night. And I am just… not interested.” Puck snorted at the thought of Kurt hanging out with Biff’s friends. (In Puck’s mind, they were all polo-playing yuppies with equally ridiculous names.) “Let’s… Let’s get dinner to make up for my not showing up in Lima.”
“But won’t he care if you go out with the guy who did your tattoo?” Puck’s mind went into overdrive, coming up with all of the reasons this was a bad idea. There was no way that that could end well. But part of him was desperate to spend time with Kurt, if only as old friends.
The impish smile on Kurt’s face, however, shut that voice up immediately. “He thinks I’m going shopping and to the spa.”
Chapter 7: Marked/Joe’s Place
Squeeka Cuomo’s Notes
- To everyone who is following this story, thank you so much. I appreciate the support more than I can say.
- Quack: It doesn’t get more amazing than you. Thank you for all your help. Also… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D
- Reviews are love.
Skin Deep
Chapter 1: Promises/Seven Years
Chapter 2: Acceptance/Inked
Chapter 3: Out/Initials
Chapter 4: Decisions/Infected
Chapter 5: Doo Wop/Muffins