Fic: Sometimes We Stumble, Sometimes We're Tripped.
Title: Sometimes We Stumble, Sometimes We're Tripped. (Thanks to ang_the_adverse for the new title!)
Disclaimer: I don't own em, I if I did glee would probably have to be on a different channel.
Rating: R
Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Violence, Language. Just read with caution.
Word count: 8406...oh yes it's a monster
Summary: Several years in the future, Puck finds himself trying to help someone he never thought he'd have to help.
A/N: Written for Rofro05, because she's awesome and I wanted to write her something. She said she wanted angst, so baby I gave you angst! I tapped into some personal experience for this one, so I hope you like it hun. Beta'd by the awesome boysinperil
Puck had only lived in the area for two weeks before he started to go to the coin wash down the street from his new apartment. After high school, Puck had done what it took to get himself in order. He had gone to a community college to help get his grades up, gotten some high education under his belt, and then joined the police academy. He transferred to Columbus shortly after he had graduated to fill a position there. He liked it so far, and he was happy to find so many useful things so close to him.
He couldn’t help but hum that laundry song from Dr. Horrible, as his sister had flooded his email with clips from it until he broke down and watched it. The bell over the door went off and it wasn’t until he heard one of the women gasp and move that he bothered to look up. Mrs. Caprci, the sweet older lady who had struck up a conversation with him the first time he had come in, knew everyone who came into the laundromat, including the poor boy she was always worried about because there always seemed to be something wrong with him.
Puck imagined whomever she was crowding around must be that person, and it wasn’t until she moved that he got a shock. She moved to the side and an all too familiar face was trying to soothe her worries, though the deep split in his lip and the black eye certainly wasn’t doing much to help his case. Puck took a moment to look him over, because Christ he looked different. He lifted his hand to reveal a brace wrapped around his wrist and Puck decided then he needed to know what happened, though he wasn’t quite sure why.
It wasn’t like Kurt Hummel had ever been his favorite person.
Still, he didn’t like the state he seemed to be in, and Mrs. Caprci’s earlier concern about how he was always hurt sprang back up in his mind. Alarm bells began to go off in his head and he was moving before his brain even fully caught up to what he was doing. Mrs. Caprci backed off a little when she saw him approaching, but he caught the last part of what she was saying.
“I mean it honey, you ever need anything you call me! I may be old, but I’m still wily yet, boy!” Puck couldn’t help but smile and Kurt laughed, thanking her before turning back towards the washer; he caught sight of Puck from the corner of his eye and flinched, just barely noticeable. Puck wasn’t sure why that bothered him so much, if it was because Kurt knew it was him, or if it was just that someone larger was looming over him.
“Hummel.” Kurt gave a brief clipped nod of his head before glancing briefly back at the other man who had tortured him through most of high school.
“Hello Noah.”
“Thought you’d be off in New York, maybe LA.” Puck said mildly, as if he was just catching up with an old friend, though he wasn’t sure he and Kurt ever actually classified as friends. Kurt shrugged slightly before answering.
“Dad got sick last year, I wanted to be closer in case something happened, so I transferred here.” Puck suddenly felt like an ass for bringing it up. It really wasn’t his business where Kurt lived.
“I’m sorry, I hope he’s ok.” And he means it; he doesn’t miss the flinch as Kurt shifts to put something in the washer. He doesn’t miss the dark bruise on Kurt’s side that is briefly revealed as his shirt rides up ever so slightly.
“He’s getting by.” Kurt tells him, and finally Puck just puts his hand on his arm, gently because god only knows the injuries he can’t see.
“I’m a cop now, you know.” he says suddenly, and when Kurt doesn’t respond Puck shifts slightly. “I can help you if you let me.” For a moment he thinks Kurt’s going to deny anything’s wrong, that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about; Puck had dealt with enough abuse victims to expect that reaction, but after a moment Kurt just sort of deflates and leans gently against the table, as if he needs the extra support but he’s trying not to cause himself any more pain.
“I’ve already left him, I filed a restraining order…but I think he’s psychotic.” Kurt admits before scrubbing his face with his good hand. “He thinks it’s some sort of joke, that the restraining order is a lover’s prank. I changed all my locks, and even am thinking about moving to another apartment.”
“Your face and wrist?” Puck asked gently and Kurt rubs his forehead like he’s trying to ward off a headache, and maybe he is for all Puck knows.
“His reaction when he found out I was leaving him, told me I just couldn’t make a decision like that.” Puck takes in Kurt’s battered face and reaches into his pocket for his wallet before pulling out a card.
“Here, this is my cell phone number. I want you to call me if anything happens or if you need anything, ok?” Kurt stares at him for a moment before he accepts the card and nods briefly.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” And as much as Puck would like to say he’s just doing his job, he knows he isn’t. He’s got a personal interest in this because this is someone he knows. Someone he’s known a long time and Kurt didn’t deserve this. He deserved to be able to go home every night to something safe, not wondering if he was going to get the shit beat out of him for something. He gives Kurt a smile before going to finish up his own laundry, part of him hoping that he won’t hear from Kurt again.
**********************
Three weeks later, Puck sees Kurt again at the laundromat and he looks much better. He takes his own basket and sets it down on the table next to Kurt, and can’t help but grin back when Kurt smiles at him. So they begin to make idle chitchat, and Puck realizes with no small amount of surprise that he and Kurt actually have several things in common. When Puck finds out Kurt’s birthday is coming up and he has no plans for it other than going to work, Puck decides to take him out for drinks, an offer Kurt is a little hesitant to accept, but he does agree to.
They end up having a good time, and over the next few weeks end up kind of becoming friends. They chat at the laundromat and hang out at a little bar that’s a half way point between their jobs on Fridays, and really Puck is relieved to have someone he’s known for so long around, because he’s still trying to adjust. He’s surprised that it’s Kurt who’s making the adjustment easier, but he isn’t complaining.
He helps Kurt move to a new apartment, because as much as he hates moving he really hates the idea of Kurt staying somewhere where his ex could find him, especially since Kurt thought he’d seen him a few times hanging around out by the pool area. So Kurt packs up all his things and they move him out over the course of a weekend. Puck does a little research and gets as much information on Kurt’s ex, Kevin Anderville as possible. Just in case, he tells himself.
Things seem to have settled down, at least mostly, and the two fall into a pattern of sorts, spending at least two nights a week together. Puck isn’t complaining he found a best friend in Kurt, and he likes hanging out with him, even if they are polar opposites in a lot of ways. Nearly six months pass, and Puck realizes hell, he enjoys the life he has now. He has a job he loves, a best friend, which is something he hasn’t had in a while, and things are finally starting to look up for him.
It’s a Tuesday when Puck gets a call during lunch with his partner that turns everything upside down. He spares her a quick glance before flipping open his cell phone.
“Puckerman.” And it’s quiet for just a second before he hears Kurt’s voice, choked and full of fear.
“I’m sorry, Noah.”
“Kurt?” He asks, concerned, and his partner, who he filled in on the situation, raises an eyebrow in alarm.
“I don’t know how he found me, but he did…I’m sorry.” Puck’s breath catches in his throat for a moment and he scrambles for a napkin and furiously scribbles down Kurt’s address and shoves it across the table at his partner. She seems to know exactly what that means, and she’s on the radio with dispatch seconds after the napkin leaves Puck’s fingers.
“Why are you sorry, Kurt?” Puck just wants to keep him on the phone, because as long as he can talk to him, then there‘s still hope they can get to him.
“I wasn’t more careful.” Kurt says softly and there’s a catch in his voice that unsettles Puck even further. “Didn’t know he was watching me so closely, he thinks we’re together and even though-” Kurt’s words are cut off by a sharp cry and the sound of flesh striking flesh, and Puck clenches the phone tighter. Then he hears another voice yelling something, words he can’t quite make out.
“Kurt!” Puck demands, and thankfully Kurt does come back on the line.
“Could…could you do something for me, Noah?” He sounds like he’s crying now, and Puck‘s fingers tighten around his phone even more. “Could you be the one to tell my Dad? I…this will be really hard on him…He kind of knows you, I know it’s asking a lot, but please Noah.” And Puck’s stomach drops because Kurt’s talking like he’s about to die, and he knows Kurt wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t certain he was going to. Their time is rapidly running out and he throws a glance to his partner, who is barking orders into her radio. He swallows thickly before nodding, even though he knows Kurt can’t see him.
“Yeah, Kurt, I’ll tell him.” He hears Kurt let out a relieved little sigh before his breath catches slightly and he hears muffled noises in the background.
“I’m sorry Noah, I have to go now... he…he was just letting me say goodbye.” and before Puck can respond a gunshot cracks over the phone line. Puck’s pretty sure he’s just screamed Kurt’s name, and that almost drowns out the sound of the second shot. He doesn’t actually remember getting into the squad car, or his partner’s rushed reassuring words that they were so close, there was a chance. Once they arrive, he’s relieved to see an ambulance already there and it takes all of Puck’s self control not to barge right through the detectives that are grimacing and talking in low tones.
What Puck sees is that someone is being loaded into an ambulance and there’s someone in a body bag. He swallows thickly, wondering just who had survived, and hardly daring to believe that is could possibly be Kurt. It takes a moment before he feels his partner grip his arm.
“He’s alive, Puckerman; barely, but he’s alive.” And before anyone can stop him, or half of the police offers who are crawling all over the scene even notice him, Puck’s in the ambulance next to Kurt. Who doesn’t actually look alive. There’s blood all over Kurt’s chest and neck, his eyes are shut, and he doesn’t look like there’s any life left in him, but the beeping of the machines and the loud EMT’s are proof that he is, if only barely. He spends the entire ride staring down at Kurt and willing him to keep living.
Puck’s sort of shoved out of the ambulance, and he supposes he’s lucky they let him go with Kurt at all. He watches as they seem to explode into motion, shoving the stretcher along the hallway at nearly a dead sprint, trying desperately to keep Kurt alive long enough for the doctors to take over. Puck is one step behind, until they pass through the emergency room doors.
Puck’s left standing in the waiting room as he hears one of the nurses yell “We’re losing him!” and then the doors swing shut and he’s left completely alone, wondering what the hell happened and praying to whatever deity might listen that Kurt pulls through. He can’t sit still so he paces, shifting slightly so he won’t wear a trench in the floor, and it isn’t until he hears a soft voice in the doorway that he bothers to look at anything other than his feet.
Tina looks different, the blue streaks are gone, and she’s dressed in a pair of medical scrubs, with an RN name badge pinned to it. She eyes him in his uniform for a moment, takes in the expression on his face and wonders what’s going on. She hadn’t been informed of an officer down, and normally an event like that was all over the hospital. It isn’t until he sinks down into one of the chairs that she realizes he had hoped she had come with some news for him. She quickly crosses to him and squats down.
“Who are you waiting on?” She asks gently. “I can see if I can get some information.”
“Kurt.” and for a moment Tina thinks he couldn’t possibly mean who she thinks she does, but the brief glance he throws her seems to answer that. She nods a little confused as to when those two became friends, but quickly leaves the room to see if she can get an update on her old high school friend. When she finds out what was going on she feels sick, but heads back to where she knows Puck will be waiting for her.
“He’s in surgery.” She tells him, wringing her hands a little. “What happened to him?” Really, how the hell did Kurt end up with a gunshot through the chest? Puck scrubs his hands across his face and tells her what he knows, because Kurt never told him much about what happened prior to his leaving and Puck didn’t ask. Tina flinches as Puck recounts the telephone call, and her fingers grip his arm lightly. Oh god Kurt, she thinks, as she tries not to think of the horror and fear that must have preceded everything. The two lapse into silence for a few moments.
“He wanted me to be the one to tell his dad.” Puck says suddenly. “I really hope I don’t have to make that trip.” Tina nods, before reluctantly standing up.
“I have to go, but I’ll come back with some news whenever I have it ok?” Puck nods, half distracted. Tina bites her lip and goes back to work, but she can’t fully concentrate on what she’s doing because she’s thinking of Kurt and how the doctors still don’t know if he’s going to make it.
**********************
Puck isn’t quite sure how long he’s been sitting in the uncomfortable plastic chairs of the hospital. He knows that he’s already filled out a police report and spoken to his superior about what happened, which was collaborated by his partner, but after that it was kind of a blur. Puck wasn’t aware anyone had even joined him until Tina’s rather cold fingers touch his wrist. He glanced at her and she gave him a weak smile.
“He’s still in surgery, but I thought I’d wait with you for a while, I‘m done for the night.” If Puck’s honest, he’s grateful for the company. If anyone had told him back in high school he’d be sitting in a hospital waiting room, praying for the first time in god knows how long for the survival of Kurt Hummel, who he now considered to be his best friend, he probably would have laughed until he peed himself. Yet, here he was, hoping against hope that the doctor would come out sometime this century and tell him that Kurt would survive. Puck isn’t dumb, he’s a cop and he knows the kind of damage a bullet can do, but he remains hopeful that Kurt can pull through.
It’s at least another two hours until someone finally comes to talk to them. Puck watches as the doctor approaches and gives a slight nod to Tina, who has stood up and is watching just as expectantly as Puck is. At first very generic information is given, and for Puck it’s like pulling teeth to get any anything useful. He finally ends up pulling his badge, though his uniform should have been enough to give away his profession. Puck decides the doctor is a prick, and he‘s going to throttle him if he doesn‘t get any useful information soon.
“He’s out of surgery.” The doctor repeats rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “We nearly lost him a couple times, but he’s pulled through. His injuries are rather extensive though, and he’s not out of the woods yet. The next forty eight hours are critical. If the bullet had been an inch or so over we‘d be having a very different conversation.”
“Can I see him?” Puck asks, and the doctor looks at him like he thinks Puck is going to go storming in there and demand Kurt tell him details of what happened. He’s losing his patience and he’s about to start snapping that god damn it, that’s his friend in there! He doesn’t have to, the doctor seems to give just a little, Puck isn’t certain but he’s pretty sure he has Tina to thank for that.
“He’s in the ICU right now, but I can let you visit for a few minutes. I should warn you, he‘s on a ventilator to help him breathe, one of his lungs collapsed while we were working on him, he‘s going to look sick, and hurt, and overall he looks pretty bad off. I want you to be aware of this going in.” He nods to Tina and she gently tugs on Puck’s arm.
“Come on, I’ll take you.” He follows her and the closer they get to the ICU, the heavier Puck’s steps get. He can’t help but feel guilty; even though he knows logically what happened was in no way his fault. Once they get there, Puck stalls briefly and Tina gives him a reassuring look before he passes through the door into the dimly lit room. It takes him a minute to move once his eyes settle on Kurt.
Kurt looks so small, the bed seems too large and Kurt is almost as white as the sheets. There’s a pretty massive bruise on Kurt’s face, which Puck doesn’t remember seeing before, and he isn’t sure if that’s from being hit or slamming into the floor; it makes him angry either way. He vaguely hears the rustling of papers behind him, but doesn’t really put too much thought into it, because really he’s too focused on Kurt. The ventilator makes him feel a bit sick to his stomach, but he swallows thickly, because Kurt survived so far, he could make it. If anyone could, it‘s Kurt, he survived being gay in Lima fucking Ohio. If he could survive that, he could survive anything. At least, that’s what Puck’s going to keep telling himself. He only remembers Tina being there when she speaks.
“Oh Kurt,” it’s just barely breathed out and when he turns he sees Kurt’s chart clutched in her hands, and tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Hey…” Puck reaches towards her; damnit he hates to see a woman cry.
“Did he tell you any of this?” Tina asks, the chart still clutched in her hands, and Puck shakes his head.
“We didn’t really talk about it…he was uncomfortable and he’d already taken the steps to get away.” He takes the chart from her, practically has to pry it out of her hands, and she goes to Kurt, gently pushing some hair out of his face. Puck scans the chart, reads the list of old injuries that still left reminders, and he suddenly knows why Tina’s so upset.
It’s a miracle Kurt hasn’t been in this position already.
Puck had never actually asked Kurt how long he had been with his ex, how long this had gone on for, but by the list of old half healed or incorrectly healed injuries, Puck would say it went on for entirely too long. Statistically speaking Puck knows that many people in abusive relationships stay for a variety of reasons, and that it takes many of them years for them to leave…He wonders how long it took Kurt, and if, no when, Kurt wakes up Puck is going to try and get him to tell him just what the hell went on. Puck’s only sorry that the bastard is already dead and he can’t kill him for what he’s done.
He glances back at Tina, who’s taken a seat next to Kurt’s bed, holding one hand, rubbing gentle fingers over his, in a soothing motion. She murmuring softly to him and Puck thinks she’s probably a wonderful nurse. As if feeling his eyes on her Tina looks up. The tears have stopped, but her eyes are still kind of blood shot.
“We couldn’t find an emergency contact number for him.” Tina tells him. “No one knows he’s here, do you think we should call the others, his father?” Really, Puck doesn’t want to. Doesn’t want to have to explain what happened, but he knows Kurt and Mercedes are still friends, Kurt has told him as much, and he thinks she has a right to know, even if he doesn’t want to make that call. He thinks telling Kurt’s dad is something he should do, though, something Kurt asked him to do.
“Do you have Mercedes’ phone number?” He asks tiredly. “I think he’d want her to know.” Tina nods and offers to make the call. Puck appreciates that, because that also means he can have a minute. He thanks her and she steps out of the room, heading down the hall. Puck takes her vacated seat and looks Kurt over, he doesn’t touch him though, he’s almost afraid to.
“Shit, I’m sorry Kurt.” Puck isn’t sure why but he feels like he needs to apologize, isn‘t sure if Kurt can even hear him, but he‘s gonna say it anyway. “I should have been more diligent too; I should have known if he messed you up so bad for wanting to leave he wouldn’t just let you go when you got a restraining order. I should have watched out for you more, we’re friends now, hell you’re the best friend I’ve had in a long time, I should have seen this coming. I’m a cop for Christ’s sake, I should have known!”
There’s no response from the pale still body, not that Puck expected one. Gently, Puck lets his fingers curl around Kurt’s thin wrist so he can feel the slightly thready thrum of his heartbeat. He doesn’t want to have to inform Burt Hummel that his son not only died, but had been murdered. No parent should outlive their child. Puck himself isn’t ready to let Kurt go either. He stays in that spot, with his fingers curled loosely around Kurt’s wrist until the doctor tells him it’s time to go. He stands, casting one last worrying glance over Kurt, before complying with the doctors. He needed to go call Burt Hummel anyway.
**********************
Kurt survived the forty eight hours, and his chances improved, though not enough for Puck‘s liking. With each passing day the doctors were a little more hopeful that he would wake up. They moved him from the ICU into a regular room. Puck was sitting in the small room with Rachel, since she’d come to relieve Mercedes earlier in the day. Once Mercedes had been told what happened, she called Artie, who called Finn, who told Rachel, and they all converged on the hospital. Puck was almost grateful for their presence, except Finn was still only sort of talking to him, even after all these years, and the others he was pretty sure never liked him all that much to begin with. Strangely enough, Puck finds himself to be most comfortable in the presence of Burt Hummel.
It’s on the fourth day after being moved into a regular hospital room that Kurt shows his first signs of life.
Rachel looks up from her magazine when Puck draws in a breath and she smiles, standing and leaning over the railing, when she sees why. Puck’s hand, which was now accustomed to being curled around Kurt’s wrist, now, had Kurt’s fingers twitching slightly.
“Hey Kurt, come on, open those pretty eyes.” Rachel encouraged brightly and after a few moments, Kurt’s fingers stilled. Though disappointment swelled in Puck’s chest, it was quickly squashed when Kurt decided to follow Rachel’s instructions, because he blinked. Once, twice, a third time before he succeeded in keeping his eyes open, half lidded as they were.
He brought the hand that wasn’t pinned down by Puck’s to the tube in his throat and Rachel quickly caught it, beaming down at him, though her eyes seemed a little too bright. Kurt’s eyes opened a bit more, but were panicked, and Puck quickly stood and leaned over him, hoping that he could calm him down at least a little bit, and Rachel backed off a step.
“Hey Kurt, it’s ok.” He assured him, and he didn’t miss the fact that Rachel was still surprised he called him by his first name. “That tube is there to help you breathe; you’ve been asleep for days now, buddy. Rachel, you wanna go get the doctor?” She nodded once before bolting out of the door, and Kurt turned curious eyes on Puck. Understading what Kurt was asking, Puck shrugged.
“Tina’s a nurse here. I thought Mercedes should know, but then I forgot she wouldn’t be able to not tell everyone else.” Puck was pretty sure Kurt would be at least somewhat grateful his friends where here. Puck doesn’t have time to say anything else; the doctor is suddenly there and talking to Kurt in a firm voice, that really Puck thinks could do with a little gentling. Still, he watches as he instructs Kurt on what to do as he removes the tube. Puck’s chest aches as he watches Kurt sputter and cough, sounding raw and painful, and he wishes he could have done something as Kurt wheezes in pain. The doctor gives Kurt a few sips of water and a quick once-over, listening to his chest before finally cracking a small smile.
“You had us worried there for a while, Mr. Hummel, welcome back. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while, you have some very anxious friends waiting for you.” Once he leaves Puck barely has a second to move before the others come flooding in through the doors. Puck decides he’s going to follow the doctor and give the others some time. He gives Kurt a quick grin before stepping out and catching up with the doctor by the nurse’s station.
“He’s going to be fine then, right?” Puck asks, and the doctor sighs before nodding, for once not looking like he was being harassed.
“Barring any complications, he should make a meaningful recovery. The bullet fragmented and did some pretty intense internal damage. We weren’t sure he was going to make it through those forty-eight hours, and every hour past that he did, his chances got better. He must be a fighter; we weren’t expecting him to show any signs of consciousness anytime soon.”
“You said meaningful recovery, not full.” Puck pounces on that one little piece and the doctor sighs a bit sadly.
“He may have some weakness on his left side; a few of the nerves were damaged beyond repair. It should be relatively minor.” Puck nods, accepting that. What else can he do? So he shakes the doctor’s hand, though he still thinks he’s a prick, and goes back to Kurt.
From the doorway, he watches as Mercedes clutches at Kurt’s hand and talks away, a mile a minute. Rachel is fussing, fixing Kurt’s pillow, adjusting the blankets, Puck thinks it’s more to keep her hands busy than anything else. Finn’s bent over the bed, arms resting lightly on the railing as he nods occasionally at what Mercedes saying, but his eyes aren’t straying far from Kurt‘s face, hunting for any trace of pain.
“If they fuss anymore they might drive him back into unconsciousness in an attempt to escape.” Artie’s voice from his side startles Puck, badly enough to jerk and smash his elbow into the door frame. He barely stifled the long string of curses that wanted to escape, and glared down at Artie, who was only looking a little apologetic for it. He had forgotten how Artie could just seem to show up places. “What did the doctor say?” Puck glances back at Artie and sighs, rubbing at his elbow.
“As long as there aren’t complications, he should be mostly ok.”
“Mostly?” Artie’s voice is a bit sharp and really Puck doesn’t want to have to repeat what the doctor told him. He does however, because he really can’t stand that look Artie is giving him.
“There was some nerve damage on his left side, the doctor didn’t really specify, just said it might be a little weak.”
“Oh,” Artie says softly, before sitting up a little straighter in his chair. “Well that isn’t so bad, it could be way worse.” Artie wheels his way into the room then and Finn moves further down the rail so Artie can push himself up to the side of the bed. Puck watches, wishing he didn’t suddenly feel like he was standing on the outside. He moves down the hall to use the phone, smiling at the nurses he’s gotten to know over the past few days. He dials the number for Burt’s hotel room, happy to finally be able to tell the other man some good news. He’s not surprised by Mr. Hummel’s refusal of a ride and he tells Puck that he’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Puck hands up and heads back to Kurt’s room, smiling as he catches Kurt’s eye.
“Hey buddy,” He greets, skillfully ignoring the others; really he isn’t concerned with them right now. He does flinch a bit internally, after everything, hey buddy was the best he could come up with to say?
“Thank you Noah.” Kurt’s voice is raw and harsh and Puck winces internally just a little when he hears it.
“What are you thanking me for? You did all the work.” Puck responds, waving a hand dismissively; really what could Kurt be thanking him for? All he did was his job, but Kurt shakes his head slightly.
“You got help fast. I could hear the sirens before he shot me.” And the rest of the statement is unspoken, but still heard loud and clear by the others, because really if help hadn’t come when it did they probably would have been reunited at his funeral instead of his bedside.
“Oh, my partner called it in while I was…talking to you.” Puck knows he needs to have a talk with Kurt, but he doesn’t want to do it with all the others standing around. Kurt seems to understand this and nods briefly before looking around at his friends. His movements are a bit sluggish, but Puck assumes that’s because Kurt’s loaded up on god only knows what.
“What about my dad?” Kurt suddenly asks, and Mercedes exchanges a look with Rachel, feeling a bit guilty they hadn’t thought to call.
“He’s on his way, I already called him. He should be here in just a few minutes.” And once Burt Hummel does arrive, the others clear out. They knew Burt needed a few moments with his son.
**********************
After a week, Kurt convinces his dad to go home. As much as he wants him around, he needs to think of his dad’s well being, and as much as Burt insists that he’s fine, Kurt can tell this is taxing on him. It takes a lot of effort, but Burt finally agrees to head back home, under the strict conditions that Kurt call him at least twice a week, and that Puck informs him of any changes.
Shortly after that the others begin to disperse as well. Finn is the first to go, apologetic, but he really can’t miss anymore work. Kurt is thankful that he stopped by, but really he’s ok. Rachel leaves a couple days after Finn, and Artie and Mercedes leave around the same time, both reluctant, but knowing it has to be done. Puck himself has been back to work for more than a week now and just makes sure to come by the hospital when he’s off.
He has a rare day off and he knows it’s time to have that over due talk with Kurt. When he enters, he see Tina standing over Kurt’s bed and she smiles when she sees him, nodding briefly before pulling away from Kurt with a grin.
“Getting better each day.” She assured him, before patting Puck’s arm gently as she passed.As it was, the only weakness Kurt seems to be experiencing is in his left hand, and the doctors hoped it would stay that way. Puck takes a seat in the chair next to Kurt’s bed before fixing him with a slight smile.
“You look less half dead today.” He informs him, and Kurt rolls his eyes, but grins nonetheless.
“Well you know, I try.” The mirth fades out of Puck quickly and he pulled the chair forward a bit to rest his arms on the railing of Kurt’s bed.
“I need to talk to you.” He says softly and Kurt sighs; he did know this was coming. It’s quiet for a few moments before Kurt shifts painfully.
“Did you want to know what I told the other officers or you know…”
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, I just wanted to know something about what happened is all.”
“Ok.” Kurt agrees softly and Puck lets his wrists press against the cool metal of the railing for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
“How long?” It’s a bit of an open ended questions that could have been taken a couple different ways, but Kurt seems to know what exactly it is he’s asking.
“We were together for about two years; we lived together for eight months. It only got bad in the last four months or so.” Kurt twists the fingers of his right hand into his blanket, looking down at that instead of Puck. “He lost his job, started drinking. Turns out he was a real mean drunk. I think losing his job was the catalyst. It may have come to this eventually anyway, but I think that’s what sent him over the edge.”
“That’s when it started?” Puck questions gently, Kurt sighs but nods.
“Yes,” Kurt explains quietly. “At first he was just sort of mean, called me names, things like that. The first time it got violent, I wasn’t even sure what set him off. He slammed me into a wall. I think it scared me more than it actually hurt me. So I threatened to leave him, I guess it was my own stupidity for believing him when he promised he’d start going to meetings. At first, things seemed to be getting better. Then one day he came home from job hunting pissed as all hell, and things got out of hand.”
“Out of hand how?” Puck lets one of his hands slide through the railing and rest across Kurt’s left arm, giving it a gentle squeeze in a show of support. He knows how hard it can be to recount these experiences, and it means a lot to Puck that Kurt trusts him enough to tell him so honestly.
“He picked a fight, I think I knew I shouldn’t rise to the bait that he was just looking for a reason to tell me that I deserved it…” Kurt let his eyes drift shut, and Puck’s hand tightens just a little. “Battered me around the apartment, broke my jaw, fractured a bone in my wrist, and cracked a couple of ribs. I blacked out after a while. When I came to it was morning and he was crying. Kept sobbing about how sorry he was, and that I just had to ignore him when he got like that, because he had ‘anger issues.’ I knew I had to get out of there, but I was terrified of him by that point.”
“When did he fracture your skull?” Puck asks and Kurt bites his lower lip slightly, eyes squeezed shut, like he’s trying not to remember something particularly painful.
“That was why I decided to leave. I had to go on a business trip; I was gone for three days. My cell phone died, and I couldn’t call and let him know that my flight was delayed by nearly two hours. By the time I finally got home, he was furious. He...He had wanted to surprise me with dinner. I walked in through the front door, and he punched me in the face, knocked my head into the wall hard enough to break the photo frame there.” Kurt trailed off for a moment before swallowing thickly. “He grabbed me by my throat; I thought he was going to kill me. He choked me until I lost consciousness, and then dumped me under the shower until I came too. Said he was trying to wash the blood off my clothes. I‘m pretty sure he was trying to drown me.” Kurt was beginning to tremble now, and Puck frowned, he didn’t need to know bad enough to cause Kurt severe distress.
“Kurt, it’s ok.” He tried to assure him, but Kurt shook his head, because hell he might as well get it all out since he’s gone this far already.
“No, I’m ok.” Kurt said, though he didn’t really look ok, and he certainly didn’t sound ok. “I flinched away from him, and he flipped out. Slammed my head into the showers wall enough times to knock me out again and leave a big bloody gash there…I can only assume that’s what did it. I decided after that, as much I was scared of him, I was even more scared to stay. So I changed all the locks on my old apartment and packed up my stuff. I moved while he was gone on a trip and when he came back I told him I was leaving him…you saw his reaction to that.”
Puck knew that wasn’t all of it either, but Kurt had given him the main points of what he wanted to know and for the millionth time in how many days, Puck wished that bastard hadn’t been such a coward and taken his own life. Puck didn’t think it was the original plan, Puck didn’t think the bastard had wanted to kill himself after Kurt because he couldn’t live without him. He killed himself because he didn’t want to deal with the repercussions of what he had done. Puck removed his hand from Kurt’s arm and stood, squeezing his shoulder slightly.
“You’re a brave man, Kurt.” Puck pretended not to hear the little snort of disbelief that Kurt let out. “Most people in this situation put up with it for years until their either killed or they get help in getting out. You got out on your own.” Kurt doesn’t reply and Puck settles back down in the seat before propping his feet up slightly on Kurt’s bed, ignoring the slightly annoyed glance it got him.
“Where’s the remote to your TV, there’s a game on.” And Kurt merely rolled his eyes, but motioned to the side of his bed. The next time Puck glanced back over, Kurt was asleep, but he doesn’t leave.
**********************
After what feels like a lifetime has passed in the hospital, Kurt is finally released. He moves again, because even though he knows nothing can happen to him in that apartment, he can’t stand the reminder of what did happen, and he nearly has a panic attack. He calls Puck because he doesn’t know what else to do, and ends up refusing the offer to stay with Puck for a few days and checks into a hotel. He’d rather spend the extra money on that until he can find a new apartment than stay where he is or bother Puck.
It takes them three months to fall back into any kind of a pattern like they once had. Kurt seems a little more low-key now, and he keeps to himself more, but he doesn’t refuse if Pucks asks him to meet him for drinks or to hang out somewhere. He seems to suffer no lasting complications other than the weakness in his left hand. Puck can only assume it’s normal to be different after an event like what Kurt went through. He’s still worried about him though. When Puck carefully suggests that Kurt talk to someone about what happened, Kurt admits that he already is.
Its six months after that that Puck begins to realize he might be starting to like Kurt more than a friend and that’s kind of freaking him out. Puck did a bit of experimenting in school, before he went into the academy, so it isn’t like he’s never had a crush on another guy before, but Kurt’s been through a lot of shit in a short amount of time. Puck doesn’t want to do anything to mess up his head further, plus he isn’t sure if he can handle losing another friend. Still he can’t help but get a little weird around him as time passes and they continue to hang around with each other. He even goes as far as to call Tina and ask for her advice on the whole situation. She’s kind of reintegrated herself into their lives, and he figures she’ll tell him straight if he even has a chance. He really shouldn’t be surprised when Kurt begins to take notice of how he’s been acting though.
“What’s up with you lately?” Puck glances up before sighing. They’re sitting on Kurt’s sofa, and the TV is on, but neither one of them is really watching it. Puck looks moodily down at his beer.
“Nothing.” He doesn’t miss the way Kurt’s eyebrow raises slightly. “Nothing you need to worry about anyway.” Kurt shrugs mildly and looks away, but Puck knows he hasn’t dropped it; he’s just filed it away in his mind for discussion at a later time. Puck tries not to get snappish, because Kurt still has moments of being skittish and the last time Puck lost his temper with him, Kurt ended up kicking him out and Puck felt guilty for a week. Instead he takes a few deep breaths and calms himself down.
“Ok, but if you change your mind, you know where I live.” Kurt replies with a shrug. Crap that seems to do it for Puck, because now he feels nearly compelled to talk to Kurt.
“I think we should talk.” Puck says, reaching for the remote and flicking the television off. Kurt twists around in his seat slightly so he’s looking at him, and for a brief moment Puck wonders if Kurt’s afraid he’s going to start asking for him to tell him more about his ex.
“Ok.” Kurt says simply, waiting for Puck to kick them off, because really he isn’t sure what Puck wants to talk about, but he’s really hoping it isn’t going to be something bad.
“Alright, so…shit I’m not sure how to say this, so maybe I should just say it, that would be best right?” Kurt shifts uneasily on the sofa. Something was telling him that Puck was trying to tell him something he either didn’t want to admit to, or that he was pretty sure Kurt was going to get upset over.
“Are you transferring?” Kurt asks, and when Puck looks surprised he decides that’s not it.
“What, no.” Puck says before groaning and letting his head sink into his hands. “Ok, so I should just say it, Tina said to just tell you and I figure Tina’s a smart lady, and she wouldn’t steer me wrong, because all the girls love you and I don’t want to get my ass kicked by a girl-” and Kurt’s fingers curling around his wrist is the only thing that stops his rambling.
“Puck, you‘re kind freaking me out, just tell me what it is.” Puck frowns because Kurt looks concerned and he didn’t really mean to worry him. Since he can’t seem to get his mouth to work, Puck just leans forward and presses a kiss to Kurt’s lips. When he pulls away, Kurt’s eyes are huge and his breathing is a little hitched. Puck prays to whoever will listen that this will not blow up in his face.
“So there it is.” Puck finally says and Kurt just continues to stare for a moment before he lets out this weird half hysterical laugh.
“Are you kidding?” Puck frowns and reaches for Kurt, but he pulls back a little. “No really, don’t do this Noah, not if you don’t mean it.” Kurt isn’t really sure if he can handle it if Puck’s just trying to figure something out or if he just thinks this is something Kurt might need. “I can’t do this if you’re just mph!” and Puck’s mouth is covering his again, and Kurt can tell by the desperation in the kiss that Puck is anything but kidding.
“No, I’m not kidding, and I do mean this.” Puck says softly as he pulls away. “I don’t want to freak you out, or rush you into anything, but I thought you should know.” It’s silent for a several minutes and Puck’s preparing himself for the rejection he’s sure is about to come.
“I’m kind of surprised.” Kurt admits and Puck takes a chance and grabs his hand. When Kurt doesn’t yank it away he can’t help the slight build up of hope in his chest.
“That I’d want you?” Puck asks
“Well, yeah. I mean let’s face it I’ve got some issues Noah, and really who would want to be? I mean after Kevin…” and Kurt’s free hand absently rubs over the scar on his chest.
“I want to be.” Puck admits and when Kurt finally looks at him he can’t really deny that Puck does look like he honestly means it. Kurt knows Puck wouldn’t have gone through everything they’ve gone through just to set him up to fall.
“But…why?” Kurt really can’t figure it out; as far as he’s concerned he’s pretty much damaged goods at that point.
“I just…I think you’re pretty perfect, scars and all. I love spending time with you, even if it‘s just hanging out in the same room. And I realized it went beyond a friend capacity a while ago.” Puck admits, and even though it’s a little cheesy and much more gooey than he’s used to, he can’t help but feel like it was the right thing to say when Kurt smiles a little. “I do understand if you don’t want this though.” Puck tacks on, because really if Kurt doesn’t want this, he’d prefer if they could still be friends, and Puck is a little scared this gamble won’t pay off.
“What about your job?” Kurt asks uneasy and Puck sighs, he knew that would come up eventually.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell.” And when Kurt bites his lower lip Puck hurries to placate him. “I don’t mean I’m going to try and keep you a secret, Kurt, just…it won’t be their business who I see, it’s not like it’s a part of the job.” and it’s quite for a few moments, and Puck thinks Kurt might be weighing his options and seeing if this really is worth the risk of being hurt.
“We could try.” Kurt agrees hesitantly, and when he leans in to kiss Puck, the other man realizes that this gamble may just pay off after all, and he can’t help but grin into the kiss, because really he’s happy now. He makes a promise to himself that he isn’t going to let anyone hurt Kurt again whether it works out between them or not, but either way he’s got Kurt now, and he’s going to treasure every moment of it. He’s going to show Kurt how he deserves to be treated.
“I can’t believe Tina was right, I thought for sure you‘d turn me down flat.” Puck murmurs and Kurt smiles slightly.
“I can, she’s a smart lady…I really don’t think she would kick your ass though.”
“If I hurt you she would.” Puck tells him and for a moment Kurt looks away and Puck regrets saying anything, but Kurt seems to shake it off before smiling.
“Then I suggest you don’t do that, because Mercedes will want to help, and she has some heels that could cause you some serious harm.”
“Rachel would probably want to help too,” Puck adds.
“Yes probably, maybe Finn…Artie would probably roll over your legs.” Kurt puts in and Puck laughs before going in for another kiss. Though they were kidding, he knew there were some truth in those words, the others all still cared for Kurt; that was shown in how quickly they assembled and came down to see him when he was hospitalized. If he hurt Kurt, in any sense, he was looking at a severely shortened lifespan.
But when Kurt kisses him back, those thoughts flee from Puck’s mind, he has no intention of hurting Kurt in any way, and if it ever does happen, however accidental it may be, he’ll welcome the ass kicking that is coming his way.
He still hopes it doesn’t come from a girl, though.
Disclaimer: I don't own em, I if I did glee would probably have to be on a different channel.
Rating: R
Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Violence, Language. Just read with caution.
Word count: 8406...oh yes it's a monster
Summary: Several years in the future, Puck finds himself trying to help someone he never thought he'd have to help.
A/N: Written for Rofro05, because she's awesome and I wanted to write her something. She said she wanted angst, so baby I gave you angst! I tapped into some personal experience for this one, so I hope you like it hun. Beta'd by the awesome boysinperil
Puck had only lived in the area for two weeks before he started to go to the coin wash down the street from his new apartment. After high school, Puck had done what it took to get himself in order. He had gone to a community college to help get his grades up, gotten some high education under his belt, and then joined the police academy. He transferred to Columbus shortly after he had graduated to fill a position there. He liked it so far, and he was happy to find so many useful things so close to him.
He couldn’t help but hum that laundry song from Dr. Horrible, as his sister had flooded his email with clips from it until he broke down and watched it. The bell over the door went off and it wasn’t until he heard one of the women gasp and move that he bothered to look up. Mrs. Caprci, the sweet older lady who had struck up a conversation with him the first time he had come in, knew everyone who came into the laundromat, including the poor boy she was always worried about because there always seemed to be something wrong with him.
Puck imagined whomever she was crowding around must be that person, and it wasn’t until she moved that he got a shock. She moved to the side and an all too familiar face was trying to soothe her worries, though the deep split in his lip and the black eye certainly wasn’t doing much to help his case. Puck took a moment to look him over, because Christ he looked different. He lifted his hand to reveal a brace wrapped around his wrist and Puck decided then he needed to know what happened, though he wasn’t quite sure why.
It wasn’t like Kurt Hummel had ever been his favorite person.
Still, he didn’t like the state he seemed to be in, and Mrs. Caprci’s earlier concern about how he was always hurt sprang back up in his mind. Alarm bells began to go off in his head and he was moving before his brain even fully caught up to what he was doing. Mrs. Caprci backed off a little when she saw him approaching, but he caught the last part of what she was saying.
“I mean it honey, you ever need anything you call me! I may be old, but I’m still wily yet, boy!” Puck couldn’t help but smile and Kurt laughed, thanking her before turning back towards the washer; he caught sight of Puck from the corner of his eye and flinched, just barely noticeable. Puck wasn’t sure why that bothered him so much, if it was because Kurt knew it was him, or if it was just that someone larger was looming over him.
“Hummel.” Kurt gave a brief clipped nod of his head before glancing briefly back at the other man who had tortured him through most of high school.
“Hello Noah.”
“Thought you’d be off in New York, maybe LA.” Puck said mildly, as if he was just catching up with an old friend, though he wasn’t sure he and Kurt ever actually classified as friends. Kurt shrugged slightly before answering.
“Dad got sick last year, I wanted to be closer in case something happened, so I transferred here.” Puck suddenly felt like an ass for bringing it up. It really wasn’t his business where Kurt lived.
“I’m sorry, I hope he’s ok.” And he means it; he doesn’t miss the flinch as Kurt shifts to put something in the washer. He doesn’t miss the dark bruise on Kurt’s side that is briefly revealed as his shirt rides up ever so slightly.
“He’s getting by.” Kurt tells him, and finally Puck just puts his hand on his arm, gently because god only knows the injuries he can’t see.
“I’m a cop now, you know.” he says suddenly, and when Kurt doesn’t respond Puck shifts slightly. “I can help you if you let me.” For a moment he thinks Kurt’s going to deny anything’s wrong, that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about; Puck had dealt with enough abuse victims to expect that reaction, but after a moment Kurt just sort of deflates and leans gently against the table, as if he needs the extra support but he’s trying not to cause himself any more pain.
“I’ve already left him, I filed a restraining order…but I think he’s psychotic.” Kurt admits before scrubbing his face with his good hand. “He thinks it’s some sort of joke, that the restraining order is a lover’s prank. I changed all my locks, and even am thinking about moving to another apartment.”
“Your face and wrist?” Puck asked gently and Kurt rubs his forehead like he’s trying to ward off a headache, and maybe he is for all Puck knows.
“His reaction when he found out I was leaving him, told me I just couldn’t make a decision like that.” Puck takes in Kurt’s battered face and reaches into his pocket for his wallet before pulling out a card.
“Here, this is my cell phone number. I want you to call me if anything happens or if you need anything, ok?” Kurt stares at him for a moment before he accepts the card and nods briefly.
“Thank you.”
“Of course.” And as much as Puck would like to say he’s just doing his job, he knows he isn’t. He’s got a personal interest in this because this is someone he knows. Someone he’s known a long time and Kurt didn’t deserve this. He deserved to be able to go home every night to something safe, not wondering if he was going to get the shit beat out of him for something. He gives Kurt a smile before going to finish up his own laundry, part of him hoping that he won’t hear from Kurt again.
**********************
Three weeks later, Puck sees Kurt again at the laundromat and he looks much better. He takes his own basket and sets it down on the table next to Kurt, and can’t help but grin back when Kurt smiles at him. So they begin to make idle chitchat, and Puck realizes with no small amount of surprise that he and Kurt actually have several things in common. When Puck finds out Kurt’s birthday is coming up and he has no plans for it other than going to work, Puck decides to take him out for drinks, an offer Kurt is a little hesitant to accept, but he does agree to.
They end up having a good time, and over the next few weeks end up kind of becoming friends. They chat at the laundromat and hang out at a little bar that’s a half way point between their jobs on Fridays, and really Puck is relieved to have someone he’s known for so long around, because he’s still trying to adjust. He’s surprised that it’s Kurt who’s making the adjustment easier, but he isn’t complaining.
He helps Kurt move to a new apartment, because as much as he hates moving he really hates the idea of Kurt staying somewhere where his ex could find him, especially since Kurt thought he’d seen him a few times hanging around out by the pool area. So Kurt packs up all his things and they move him out over the course of a weekend. Puck does a little research and gets as much information on Kurt’s ex, Kevin Anderville as possible. Just in case, he tells himself.
Things seem to have settled down, at least mostly, and the two fall into a pattern of sorts, spending at least two nights a week together. Puck isn’t complaining he found a best friend in Kurt, and he likes hanging out with him, even if they are polar opposites in a lot of ways. Nearly six months pass, and Puck realizes hell, he enjoys the life he has now. He has a job he loves, a best friend, which is something he hasn’t had in a while, and things are finally starting to look up for him.
It’s a Tuesday when Puck gets a call during lunch with his partner that turns everything upside down. He spares her a quick glance before flipping open his cell phone.
“Puckerman.” And it’s quiet for just a second before he hears Kurt’s voice, choked and full of fear.
“I’m sorry, Noah.”
“Kurt?” He asks, concerned, and his partner, who he filled in on the situation, raises an eyebrow in alarm.
“I don’t know how he found me, but he did…I’m sorry.” Puck’s breath catches in his throat for a moment and he scrambles for a napkin and furiously scribbles down Kurt’s address and shoves it across the table at his partner. She seems to know exactly what that means, and she’s on the radio with dispatch seconds after the napkin leaves Puck’s fingers.
“Why are you sorry, Kurt?” Puck just wants to keep him on the phone, because as long as he can talk to him, then there‘s still hope they can get to him.
“I wasn’t more careful.” Kurt says softly and there’s a catch in his voice that unsettles Puck even further. “Didn’t know he was watching me so closely, he thinks we’re together and even though-” Kurt’s words are cut off by a sharp cry and the sound of flesh striking flesh, and Puck clenches the phone tighter. Then he hears another voice yelling something, words he can’t quite make out.
“Kurt!” Puck demands, and thankfully Kurt does come back on the line.
“Could…could you do something for me, Noah?” He sounds like he’s crying now, and Puck‘s fingers tighten around his phone even more. “Could you be the one to tell my Dad? I…this will be really hard on him…He kind of knows you, I know it’s asking a lot, but please Noah.” And Puck’s stomach drops because Kurt’s talking like he’s about to die, and he knows Kurt wouldn’t do that if he wasn’t certain he was going to. Their time is rapidly running out and he throws a glance to his partner, who is barking orders into her radio. He swallows thickly before nodding, even though he knows Kurt can’t see him.
“Yeah, Kurt, I’ll tell him.” He hears Kurt let out a relieved little sigh before his breath catches slightly and he hears muffled noises in the background.
“I’m sorry Noah, I have to go now... he…he was just letting me say goodbye.” and before Puck can respond a gunshot cracks over the phone line. Puck’s pretty sure he’s just screamed Kurt’s name, and that almost drowns out the sound of the second shot. He doesn’t actually remember getting into the squad car, or his partner’s rushed reassuring words that they were so close, there was a chance. Once they arrive, he’s relieved to see an ambulance already there and it takes all of Puck’s self control not to barge right through the detectives that are grimacing and talking in low tones.
What Puck sees is that someone is being loaded into an ambulance and there’s someone in a body bag. He swallows thickly, wondering just who had survived, and hardly daring to believe that is could possibly be Kurt. It takes a moment before he feels his partner grip his arm.
“He’s alive, Puckerman; barely, but he’s alive.” And before anyone can stop him, or half of the police offers who are crawling all over the scene even notice him, Puck’s in the ambulance next to Kurt. Who doesn’t actually look alive. There’s blood all over Kurt’s chest and neck, his eyes are shut, and he doesn’t look like there’s any life left in him, but the beeping of the machines and the loud EMT’s are proof that he is, if only barely. He spends the entire ride staring down at Kurt and willing him to keep living.
Puck’s sort of shoved out of the ambulance, and he supposes he’s lucky they let him go with Kurt at all. He watches as they seem to explode into motion, shoving the stretcher along the hallway at nearly a dead sprint, trying desperately to keep Kurt alive long enough for the doctors to take over. Puck is one step behind, until they pass through the emergency room doors.
Puck’s left standing in the waiting room as he hears one of the nurses yell “We’re losing him!” and then the doors swing shut and he’s left completely alone, wondering what the hell happened and praying to whatever deity might listen that Kurt pulls through. He can’t sit still so he paces, shifting slightly so he won’t wear a trench in the floor, and it isn’t until he hears a soft voice in the doorway that he bothers to look at anything other than his feet.
Tina looks different, the blue streaks are gone, and she’s dressed in a pair of medical scrubs, with an RN name badge pinned to it. She eyes him in his uniform for a moment, takes in the expression on his face and wonders what’s going on. She hadn’t been informed of an officer down, and normally an event like that was all over the hospital. It isn’t until he sinks down into one of the chairs that she realizes he had hoped she had come with some news for him. She quickly crosses to him and squats down.
“Who are you waiting on?” She asks gently. “I can see if I can get some information.”
“Kurt.” and for a moment Tina thinks he couldn’t possibly mean who she thinks she does, but the brief glance he throws her seems to answer that. She nods a little confused as to when those two became friends, but quickly leaves the room to see if she can get an update on her old high school friend. When she finds out what was going on she feels sick, but heads back to where she knows Puck will be waiting for her.
“He’s in surgery.” She tells him, wringing her hands a little. “What happened to him?” Really, how the hell did Kurt end up with a gunshot through the chest? Puck scrubs his hands across his face and tells her what he knows, because Kurt never told him much about what happened prior to his leaving and Puck didn’t ask. Tina flinches as Puck recounts the telephone call, and her fingers grip his arm lightly. Oh god Kurt, she thinks, as she tries not to think of the horror and fear that must have preceded everything. The two lapse into silence for a few moments.
“He wanted me to be the one to tell his dad.” Puck says suddenly. “I really hope I don’t have to make that trip.” Tina nods, before reluctantly standing up.
“I have to go, but I’ll come back with some news whenever I have it ok?” Puck nods, half distracted. Tina bites her lip and goes back to work, but she can’t fully concentrate on what she’s doing because she’s thinking of Kurt and how the doctors still don’t know if he’s going to make it.
**********************
Puck isn’t quite sure how long he’s been sitting in the uncomfortable plastic chairs of the hospital. He knows that he’s already filled out a police report and spoken to his superior about what happened, which was collaborated by his partner, but after that it was kind of a blur. Puck wasn’t aware anyone had even joined him until Tina’s rather cold fingers touch his wrist. He glanced at her and she gave him a weak smile.
“He’s still in surgery, but I thought I’d wait with you for a while, I‘m done for the night.” If Puck’s honest, he’s grateful for the company. If anyone had told him back in high school he’d be sitting in a hospital waiting room, praying for the first time in god knows how long for the survival of Kurt Hummel, who he now considered to be his best friend, he probably would have laughed until he peed himself. Yet, here he was, hoping against hope that the doctor would come out sometime this century and tell him that Kurt would survive. Puck isn’t dumb, he’s a cop and he knows the kind of damage a bullet can do, but he remains hopeful that Kurt can pull through.
It’s at least another two hours until someone finally comes to talk to them. Puck watches as the doctor approaches and gives a slight nod to Tina, who has stood up and is watching just as expectantly as Puck is. At first very generic information is given, and for Puck it’s like pulling teeth to get any anything useful. He finally ends up pulling his badge, though his uniform should have been enough to give away his profession. Puck decides the doctor is a prick, and he‘s going to throttle him if he doesn‘t get any useful information soon.
“He’s out of surgery.” The doctor repeats rubbing a hand across the back of his neck. “We nearly lost him a couple times, but he’s pulled through. His injuries are rather extensive though, and he’s not out of the woods yet. The next forty eight hours are critical. If the bullet had been an inch or so over we‘d be having a very different conversation.”
“Can I see him?” Puck asks, and the doctor looks at him like he thinks Puck is going to go storming in there and demand Kurt tell him details of what happened. He’s losing his patience and he’s about to start snapping that god damn it, that’s his friend in there! He doesn’t have to, the doctor seems to give just a little, Puck isn’t certain but he’s pretty sure he has Tina to thank for that.
“He’s in the ICU right now, but I can let you visit for a few minutes. I should warn you, he‘s on a ventilator to help him breathe, one of his lungs collapsed while we were working on him, he‘s going to look sick, and hurt, and overall he looks pretty bad off. I want you to be aware of this going in.” He nods to Tina and she gently tugs on Puck’s arm.
“Come on, I’ll take you.” He follows her and the closer they get to the ICU, the heavier Puck’s steps get. He can’t help but feel guilty; even though he knows logically what happened was in no way his fault. Once they get there, Puck stalls briefly and Tina gives him a reassuring look before he passes through the door into the dimly lit room. It takes him a minute to move once his eyes settle on Kurt.
Kurt looks so small, the bed seems too large and Kurt is almost as white as the sheets. There’s a pretty massive bruise on Kurt’s face, which Puck doesn’t remember seeing before, and he isn’t sure if that’s from being hit or slamming into the floor; it makes him angry either way. He vaguely hears the rustling of papers behind him, but doesn’t really put too much thought into it, because really he’s too focused on Kurt. The ventilator makes him feel a bit sick to his stomach, but he swallows thickly, because Kurt survived so far, he could make it. If anyone could, it‘s Kurt, he survived being gay in Lima fucking Ohio. If he could survive that, he could survive anything. At least, that’s what Puck’s going to keep telling himself. He only remembers Tina being there when she speaks.
“Oh Kurt,” it’s just barely breathed out and when he turns he sees Kurt’s chart clutched in her hands, and tears dripping down her cheeks.
“Hey…” Puck reaches towards her; damnit he hates to see a woman cry.
“Did he tell you any of this?” Tina asks, the chart still clutched in her hands, and Puck shakes his head.
“We didn’t really talk about it…he was uncomfortable and he’d already taken the steps to get away.” He takes the chart from her, practically has to pry it out of her hands, and she goes to Kurt, gently pushing some hair out of his face. Puck scans the chart, reads the list of old injuries that still left reminders, and he suddenly knows why Tina’s so upset.
It’s a miracle Kurt hasn’t been in this position already.
Puck had never actually asked Kurt how long he had been with his ex, how long this had gone on for, but by the list of old half healed or incorrectly healed injuries, Puck would say it went on for entirely too long. Statistically speaking Puck knows that many people in abusive relationships stay for a variety of reasons, and that it takes many of them years for them to leave…He wonders how long it took Kurt, and if, no when, Kurt wakes up Puck is going to try and get him to tell him just what the hell went on. Puck’s only sorry that the bastard is already dead and he can’t kill him for what he’s done.
He glances back at Tina, who’s taken a seat next to Kurt’s bed, holding one hand, rubbing gentle fingers over his, in a soothing motion. She murmuring softly to him and Puck thinks she’s probably a wonderful nurse. As if feeling his eyes on her Tina looks up. The tears have stopped, but her eyes are still kind of blood shot.
“We couldn’t find an emergency contact number for him.” Tina tells him. “No one knows he’s here, do you think we should call the others, his father?” Really, Puck doesn’t want to. Doesn’t want to have to explain what happened, but he knows Kurt and Mercedes are still friends, Kurt has told him as much, and he thinks she has a right to know, even if he doesn’t want to make that call. He thinks telling Kurt’s dad is something he should do, though, something Kurt asked him to do.
“Do you have Mercedes’ phone number?” He asks tiredly. “I think he’d want her to know.” Tina nods and offers to make the call. Puck appreciates that, because that also means he can have a minute. He thanks her and she steps out of the room, heading down the hall. Puck takes her vacated seat and looks Kurt over, he doesn’t touch him though, he’s almost afraid to.
“Shit, I’m sorry Kurt.” Puck isn’t sure why but he feels like he needs to apologize, isn‘t sure if Kurt can even hear him, but he‘s gonna say it anyway. “I should have been more diligent too; I should have known if he messed you up so bad for wanting to leave he wouldn’t just let you go when you got a restraining order. I should have watched out for you more, we’re friends now, hell you’re the best friend I’ve had in a long time, I should have seen this coming. I’m a cop for Christ’s sake, I should have known!”
There’s no response from the pale still body, not that Puck expected one. Gently, Puck lets his fingers curl around Kurt’s thin wrist so he can feel the slightly thready thrum of his heartbeat. He doesn’t want to have to inform Burt Hummel that his son not only died, but had been murdered. No parent should outlive their child. Puck himself isn’t ready to let Kurt go either. He stays in that spot, with his fingers curled loosely around Kurt’s wrist until the doctor tells him it’s time to go. He stands, casting one last worrying glance over Kurt, before complying with the doctors. He needed to go call Burt Hummel anyway.
**********************
Kurt survived the forty eight hours, and his chances improved, though not enough for Puck‘s liking. With each passing day the doctors were a little more hopeful that he would wake up. They moved him from the ICU into a regular room. Puck was sitting in the small room with Rachel, since she’d come to relieve Mercedes earlier in the day. Once Mercedes had been told what happened, she called Artie, who called Finn, who told Rachel, and they all converged on the hospital. Puck was almost grateful for their presence, except Finn was still only sort of talking to him, even after all these years, and the others he was pretty sure never liked him all that much to begin with. Strangely enough, Puck finds himself to be most comfortable in the presence of Burt Hummel.
It’s on the fourth day after being moved into a regular hospital room that Kurt shows his first signs of life.
Rachel looks up from her magazine when Puck draws in a breath and she smiles, standing and leaning over the railing, when she sees why. Puck’s hand, which was now accustomed to being curled around Kurt’s wrist, now, had Kurt’s fingers twitching slightly.
“Hey Kurt, come on, open those pretty eyes.” Rachel encouraged brightly and after a few moments, Kurt’s fingers stilled. Though disappointment swelled in Puck’s chest, it was quickly squashed when Kurt decided to follow Rachel’s instructions, because he blinked. Once, twice, a third time before he succeeded in keeping his eyes open, half lidded as they were.
He brought the hand that wasn’t pinned down by Puck’s to the tube in his throat and Rachel quickly caught it, beaming down at him, though her eyes seemed a little too bright. Kurt’s eyes opened a bit more, but were panicked, and Puck quickly stood and leaned over him, hoping that he could calm him down at least a little bit, and Rachel backed off a step.
“Hey Kurt, it’s ok.” He assured him, and he didn’t miss the fact that Rachel was still surprised he called him by his first name. “That tube is there to help you breathe; you’ve been asleep for days now, buddy. Rachel, you wanna go get the doctor?” She nodded once before bolting out of the door, and Kurt turned curious eyes on Puck. Understading what Kurt was asking, Puck shrugged.
“Tina’s a nurse here. I thought Mercedes should know, but then I forgot she wouldn’t be able to not tell everyone else.” Puck was pretty sure Kurt would be at least somewhat grateful his friends where here. Puck doesn’t have time to say anything else; the doctor is suddenly there and talking to Kurt in a firm voice, that really Puck thinks could do with a little gentling. Still, he watches as he instructs Kurt on what to do as he removes the tube. Puck’s chest aches as he watches Kurt sputter and cough, sounding raw and painful, and he wishes he could have done something as Kurt wheezes in pain. The doctor gives Kurt a few sips of water and a quick once-over, listening to his chest before finally cracking a small smile.
“You had us worried there for a while, Mr. Hummel, welcome back. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while, you have some very anxious friends waiting for you.” Once he leaves Puck barely has a second to move before the others come flooding in through the doors. Puck decides he’s going to follow the doctor and give the others some time. He gives Kurt a quick grin before stepping out and catching up with the doctor by the nurse’s station.
“He’s going to be fine then, right?” Puck asks, and the doctor sighs before nodding, for once not looking like he was being harassed.
“Barring any complications, he should make a meaningful recovery. The bullet fragmented and did some pretty intense internal damage. We weren’t sure he was going to make it through those forty-eight hours, and every hour past that he did, his chances got better. He must be a fighter; we weren’t expecting him to show any signs of consciousness anytime soon.”
“You said meaningful recovery, not full.” Puck pounces on that one little piece and the doctor sighs a bit sadly.
“He may have some weakness on his left side; a few of the nerves were damaged beyond repair. It should be relatively minor.” Puck nods, accepting that. What else can he do? So he shakes the doctor’s hand, though he still thinks he’s a prick, and goes back to Kurt.
From the doorway, he watches as Mercedes clutches at Kurt’s hand and talks away, a mile a minute. Rachel is fussing, fixing Kurt’s pillow, adjusting the blankets, Puck thinks it’s more to keep her hands busy than anything else. Finn’s bent over the bed, arms resting lightly on the railing as he nods occasionally at what Mercedes saying, but his eyes aren’t straying far from Kurt‘s face, hunting for any trace of pain.
“If they fuss anymore they might drive him back into unconsciousness in an attempt to escape.” Artie’s voice from his side startles Puck, badly enough to jerk and smash his elbow into the door frame. He barely stifled the long string of curses that wanted to escape, and glared down at Artie, who was only looking a little apologetic for it. He had forgotten how Artie could just seem to show up places. “What did the doctor say?” Puck glances back at Artie and sighs, rubbing at his elbow.
“As long as there aren’t complications, he should be mostly ok.”
“Mostly?” Artie’s voice is a bit sharp and really Puck doesn’t want to have to repeat what the doctor told him. He does however, because he really can’t stand that look Artie is giving him.
“There was some nerve damage on his left side, the doctor didn’t really specify, just said it might be a little weak.”
“Oh,” Artie says softly, before sitting up a little straighter in his chair. “Well that isn’t so bad, it could be way worse.” Artie wheels his way into the room then and Finn moves further down the rail so Artie can push himself up to the side of the bed. Puck watches, wishing he didn’t suddenly feel like he was standing on the outside. He moves down the hall to use the phone, smiling at the nurses he’s gotten to know over the past few days. He dials the number for Burt’s hotel room, happy to finally be able to tell the other man some good news. He’s not surprised by Mr. Hummel’s refusal of a ride and he tells Puck that he’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Puck hands up and heads back to Kurt’s room, smiling as he catches Kurt’s eye.
“Hey buddy,” He greets, skillfully ignoring the others; really he isn’t concerned with them right now. He does flinch a bit internally, after everything, hey buddy was the best he could come up with to say?
“Thank you Noah.” Kurt’s voice is raw and harsh and Puck winces internally just a little when he hears it.
“What are you thanking me for? You did all the work.” Puck responds, waving a hand dismissively; really what could Kurt be thanking him for? All he did was his job, but Kurt shakes his head slightly.
“You got help fast. I could hear the sirens before he shot me.” And the rest of the statement is unspoken, but still heard loud and clear by the others, because really if help hadn’t come when it did they probably would have been reunited at his funeral instead of his bedside.
“Oh, my partner called it in while I was…talking to you.” Puck knows he needs to have a talk with Kurt, but he doesn’t want to do it with all the others standing around. Kurt seems to understand this and nods briefly before looking around at his friends. His movements are a bit sluggish, but Puck assumes that’s because Kurt’s loaded up on god only knows what.
“What about my dad?” Kurt suddenly asks, and Mercedes exchanges a look with Rachel, feeling a bit guilty they hadn’t thought to call.
“He’s on his way, I already called him. He should be here in just a few minutes.” And once Burt Hummel does arrive, the others clear out. They knew Burt needed a few moments with his son.
**********************
After a week, Kurt convinces his dad to go home. As much as he wants him around, he needs to think of his dad’s well being, and as much as Burt insists that he’s fine, Kurt can tell this is taxing on him. It takes a lot of effort, but Burt finally agrees to head back home, under the strict conditions that Kurt call him at least twice a week, and that Puck informs him of any changes.
Shortly after that the others begin to disperse as well. Finn is the first to go, apologetic, but he really can’t miss anymore work. Kurt is thankful that he stopped by, but really he’s ok. Rachel leaves a couple days after Finn, and Artie and Mercedes leave around the same time, both reluctant, but knowing it has to be done. Puck himself has been back to work for more than a week now and just makes sure to come by the hospital when he’s off.
He has a rare day off and he knows it’s time to have that over due talk with Kurt. When he enters, he see Tina standing over Kurt’s bed and she smiles when she sees him, nodding briefly before pulling away from Kurt with a grin.
“Getting better each day.” She assured him, before patting Puck’s arm gently as she passed.As it was, the only weakness Kurt seems to be experiencing is in his left hand, and the doctors hoped it would stay that way. Puck takes a seat in the chair next to Kurt’s bed before fixing him with a slight smile.
“You look less half dead today.” He informs him, and Kurt rolls his eyes, but grins nonetheless.
“Well you know, I try.” The mirth fades out of Puck quickly and he pulled the chair forward a bit to rest his arms on the railing of Kurt’s bed.
“I need to talk to you.” He says softly and Kurt sighs; he did know this was coming. It’s quiet for a few moments before Kurt shifts painfully.
“Did you want to know what I told the other officers or you know…”
“You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to, I just wanted to know something about what happened is all.”
“Ok.” Kurt agrees softly and Puck lets his wrists press against the cool metal of the railing for a moment, gathering his thoughts.
“How long?” It’s a bit of an open ended questions that could have been taken a couple different ways, but Kurt seems to know what exactly it is he’s asking.
“We were together for about two years; we lived together for eight months. It only got bad in the last four months or so.” Kurt twists the fingers of his right hand into his blanket, looking down at that instead of Puck. “He lost his job, started drinking. Turns out he was a real mean drunk. I think losing his job was the catalyst. It may have come to this eventually anyway, but I think that’s what sent him over the edge.”
“That’s when it started?” Puck questions gently, Kurt sighs but nods.
“Yes,” Kurt explains quietly. “At first he was just sort of mean, called me names, things like that. The first time it got violent, I wasn’t even sure what set him off. He slammed me into a wall. I think it scared me more than it actually hurt me. So I threatened to leave him, I guess it was my own stupidity for believing him when he promised he’d start going to meetings. At first, things seemed to be getting better. Then one day he came home from job hunting pissed as all hell, and things got out of hand.”
“Out of hand how?” Puck lets one of his hands slide through the railing and rest across Kurt’s left arm, giving it a gentle squeeze in a show of support. He knows how hard it can be to recount these experiences, and it means a lot to Puck that Kurt trusts him enough to tell him so honestly.
“He picked a fight, I think I knew I shouldn’t rise to the bait that he was just looking for a reason to tell me that I deserved it…” Kurt let his eyes drift shut, and Puck’s hand tightens just a little. “Battered me around the apartment, broke my jaw, fractured a bone in my wrist, and cracked a couple of ribs. I blacked out after a while. When I came to it was morning and he was crying. Kept sobbing about how sorry he was, and that I just had to ignore him when he got like that, because he had ‘anger issues.’ I knew I had to get out of there, but I was terrified of him by that point.”
“When did he fracture your skull?” Puck asks and Kurt bites his lower lip slightly, eyes squeezed shut, like he’s trying not to remember something particularly painful.
“That was why I decided to leave. I had to go on a business trip; I was gone for three days. My cell phone died, and I couldn’t call and let him know that my flight was delayed by nearly two hours. By the time I finally got home, he was furious. He...He had wanted to surprise me with dinner. I walked in through the front door, and he punched me in the face, knocked my head into the wall hard enough to break the photo frame there.” Kurt trailed off for a moment before swallowing thickly. “He grabbed me by my throat; I thought he was going to kill me. He choked me until I lost consciousness, and then dumped me under the shower until I came too. Said he was trying to wash the blood off my clothes. I‘m pretty sure he was trying to drown me.” Kurt was beginning to tremble now, and Puck frowned, he didn’t need to know bad enough to cause Kurt severe distress.
“Kurt, it’s ok.” He tried to assure him, but Kurt shook his head, because hell he might as well get it all out since he’s gone this far already.
“No, I’m ok.” Kurt said, though he didn’t really look ok, and he certainly didn’t sound ok. “I flinched away from him, and he flipped out. Slammed my head into the showers wall enough times to knock me out again and leave a big bloody gash there…I can only assume that’s what did it. I decided after that, as much I was scared of him, I was even more scared to stay. So I changed all the locks on my old apartment and packed up my stuff. I moved while he was gone on a trip and when he came back I told him I was leaving him…you saw his reaction to that.”
Puck knew that wasn’t all of it either, but Kurt had given him the main points of what he wanted to know and for the millionth time in how many days, Puck wished that bastard hadn’t been such a coward and taken his own life. Puck didn’t think it was the original plan, Puck didn’t think the bastard had wanted to kill himself after Kurt because he couldn’t live without him. He killed himself because he didn’t want to deal with the repercussions of what he had done. Puck removed his hand from Kurt’s arm and stood, squeezing his shoulder slightly.
“You’re a brave man, Kurt.” Puck pretended not to hear the little snort of disbelief that Kurt let out. “Most people in this situation put up with it for years until their either killed or they get help in getting out. You got out on your own.” Kurt doesn’t reply and Puck settles back down in the seat before propping his feet up slightly on Kurt’s bed, ignoring the slightly annoyed glance it got him.
“Where’s the remote to your TV, there’s a game on.” And Kurt merely rolled his eyes, but motioned to the side of his bed. The next time Puck glanced back over, Kurt was asleep, but he doesn’t leave.
**********************
After what feels like a lifetime has passed in the hospital, Kurt is finally released. He moves again, because even though he knows nothing can happen to him in that apartment, he can’t stand the reminder of what did happen, and he nearly has a panic attack. He calls Puck because he doesn’t know what else to do, and ends up refusing the offer to stay with Puck for a few days and checks into a hotel. He’d rather spend the extra money on that until he can find a new apartment than stay where he is or bother Puck.
It takes them three months to fall back into any kind of a pattern like they once had. Kurt seems a little more low-key now, and he keeps to himself more, but he doesn’t refuse if Pucks asks him to meet him for drinks or to hang out somewhere. He seems to suffer no lasting complications other than the weakness in his left hand. Puck can only assume it’s normal to be different after an event like what Kurt went through. He’s still worried about him though. When Puck carefully suggests that Kurt talk to someone about what happened, Kurt admits that he already is.
Its six months after that that Puck begins to realize he might be starting to like Kurt more than a friend and that’s kind of freaking him out. Puck did a bit of experimenting in school, before he went into the academy, so it isn’t like he’s never had a crush on another guy before, but Kurt’s been through a lot of shit in a short amount of time. Puck doesn’t want to do anything to mess up his head further, plus he isn’t sure if he can handle losing another friend. Still he can’t help but get a little weird around him as time passes and they continue to hang around with each other. He even goes as far as to call Tina and ask for her advice on the whole situation. She’s kind of reintegrated herself into their lives, and he figures she’ll tell him straight if he even has a chance. He really shouldn’t be surprised when Kurt begins to take notice of how he’s been acting though.
“What’s up with you lately?” Puck glances up before sighing. They’re sitting on Kurt’s sofa, and the TV is on, but neither one of them is really watching it. Puck looks moodily down at his beer.
“Nothing.” He doesn’t miss the way Kurt’s eyebrow raises slightly. “Nothing you need to worry about anyway.” Kurt shrugs mildly and looks away, but Puck knows he hasn’t dropped it; he’s just filed it away in his mind for discussion at a later time. Puck tries not to get snappish, because Kurt still has moments of being skittish and the last time Puck lost his temper with him, Kurt ended up kicking him out and Puck felt guilty for a week. Instead he takes a few deep breaths and calms himself down.
“Ok, but if you change your mind, you know where I live.” Kurt replies with a shrug. Crap that seems to do it for Puck, because now he feels nearly compelled to talk to Kurt.
“I think we should talk.” Puck says, reaching for the remote and flicking the television off. Kurt twists around in his seat slightly so he’s looking at him, and for a brief moment Puck wonders if Kurt’s afraid he’s going to start asking for him to tell him more about his ex.
“Ok.” Kurt says simply, waiting for Puck to kick them off, because really he isn’t sure what Puck wants to talk about, but he’s really hoping it isn’t going to be something bad.
“Alright, so…shit I’m not sure how to say this, so maybe I should just say it, that would be best right?” Kurt shifts uneasily on the sofa. Something was telling him that Puck was trying to tell him something he either didn’t want to admit to, or that he was pretty sure Kurt was going to get upset over.
“Are you transferring?” Kurt asks, and when Puck looks surprised he decides that’s not it.
“What, no.” Puck says before groaning and letting his head sink into his hands. “Ok, so I should just say it, Tina said to just tell you and I figure Tina’s a smart lady, and she wouldn’t steer me wrong, because all the girls love you and I don’t want to get my ass kicked by a girl-” and Kurt’s fingers curling around his wrist is the only thing that stops his rambling.
“Puck, you‘re kind freaking me out, just tell me what it is.” Puck frowns because Kurt looks concerned and he didn’t really mean to worry him. Since he can’t seem to get his mouth to work, Puck just leans forward and presses a kiss to Kurt’s lips. When he pulls away, Kurt’s eyes are huge and his breathing is a little hitched. Puck prays to whoever will listen that this will not blow up in his face.
“So there it is.” Puck finally says and Kurt just continues to stare for a moment before he lets out this weird half hysterical laugh.
“Are you kidding?” Puck frowns and reaches for Kurt, but he pulls back a little. “No really, don’t do this Noah, not if you don’t mean it.” Kurt isn’t really sure if he can handle it if Puck’s just trying to figure something out or if he just thinks this is something Kurt might need. “I can’t do this if you’re just mph!” and Puck’s mouth is covering his again, and Kurt can tell by the desperation in the kiss that Puck is anything but kidding.
“No, I’m not kidding, and I do mean this.” Puck says softly as he pulls away. “I don’t want to freak you out, or rush you into anything, but I thought you should know.” It’s silent for a several minutes and Puck’s preparing himself for the rejection he’s sure is about to come.
“I’m kind of surprised.” Kurt admits and Puck takes a chance and grabs his hand. When Kurt doesn’t yank it away he can’t help the slight build up of hope in his chest.
“That I’d want you?” Puck asks
“Well, yeah. I mean let’s face it I’ve got some issues Noah, and really who would want to be? I mean after Kevin…” and Kurt’s free hand absently rubs over the scar on his chest.
“I want to be.” Puck admits and when Kurt finally looks at him he can’t really deny that Puck does look like he honestly means it. Kurt knows Puck wouldn’t have gone through everything they’ve gone through just to set him up to fall.
“But…why?” Kurt really can’t figure it out; as far as he’s concerned he’s pretty much damaged goods at that point.
“I just…I think you’re pretty perfect, scars and all. I love spending time with you, even if it‘s just hanging out in the same room. And I realized it went beyond a friend capacity a while ago.” Puck admits, and even though it’s a little cheesy and much more gooey than he’s used to, he can’t help but feel like it was the right thing to say when Kurt smiles a little. “I do understand if you don’t want this though.” Puck tacks on, because really if Kurt doesn’t want this, he’d prefer if they could still be friends, and Puck is a little scared this gamble won’t pay off.
“What about your job?” Kurt asks uneasy and Puck sighs, he knew that would come up eventually.
“Don’t ask, don’t tell.” And when Kurt bites his lower lip Puck hurries to placate him. “I don’t mean I’m going to try and keep you a secret, Kurt, just…it won’t be their business who I see, it’s not like it’s a part of the job.” and it’s quite for a few moments, and Puck thinks Kurt might be weighing his options and seeing if this really is worth the risk of being hurt.
“We could try.” Kurt agrees hesitantly, and when he leans in to kiss Puck, the other man realizes that this gamble may just pay off after all, and he can’t help but grin into the kiss, because really he’s happy now. He makes a promise to himself that he isn’t going to let anyone hurt Kurt again whether it works out between them or not, but either way he’s got Kurt now, and he’s going to treasure every moment of it. He’s going to show Kurt how he deserves to be treated.
“I can’t believe Tina was right, I thought for sure you‘d turn me down flat.” Puck murmurs and Kurt smiles slightly.
“I can, she’s a smart lady…I really don’t think she would kick your ass though.”
“If I hurt you she would.” Puck tells him and for a moment Kurt looks away and Puck regrets saying anything, but Kurt seems to shake it off before smiling.
“Then I suggest you don’t do that, because Mercedes will want to help, and she has some heels that could cause you some serious harm.”
“Rachel would probably want to help too,” Puck adds.
“Yes probably, maybe Finn…Artie would probably roll over your legs.” Kurt puts in and Puck laughs before going in for another kiss. Though they were kidding, he knew there were some truth in those words, the others all still cared for Kurt; that was shown in how quickly they assembled and came down to see him when he was hospitalized. If he hurt Kurt, in any sense, he was looking at a severely shortened lifespan.
But when Kurt kisses him back, those thoughts flee from Puck’s mind, he has no intention of hurting Kurt in any way, and if it ever does happen, however accidental it may be, he’ll welcome the ass kicking that is coming his way.
He still hopes it doesn’t come from a girl, though.