Would You?

Author's Note: I know this seems a little fast, but it felt right to me. I apologize if it's too OOC for everyone else! Hope it doesn't ruin anything for anyone! Please review if you have time. I could really use the encouragement and the criticisms. Thank you and happy reading! T.H.

Noah Puckerman didn't date, he realized the next morning as he tried to put together a picnic lunch. He actually couldn't think of a time he had ever taken a girl, much less a guy, on a single date. Even when he had been with Rachael –granted that had only been all of a week and it had consisted of practicing music and making out almost exclusively- they had never actually gone any place to be alone beside her bedroom. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He had tried his hardest to come up with something that he thought Kurt would like, but then he realized that there was nothing in his refrigerator that Kurt would even really touch. It was all junk food and frozen dinners because his mother knew she would be out of town for a week and most likely anything remotely healthy she left in the fridge would go bad because he wouldn't bother to touch it. God, he really was an ass. He reminded himself to actually go grocery shopping so that the fridge would be stocked for her and Miri when they got home after his date with Kurt. Maybe Kurt would want to come with him. That could be fun. He smiled briefly even as he looked down at the empty picnic basket. He could imagine following Kurt around the store as he pulled ridiculous things off the shelves and lectured Puck on the nutritional values and which foods promoted good skin health and better digestion. It was actually kind of fun to think about. He groaned and bent over, pressing his forehead to the cool counter. He had it bad if he was thinking along the lines of the domestic and smiling about it. And his badassness was totally in question here. He was so gay. He moaned again.

"If you don't get your ass moving, Noah Puckerman, you are going to be late," The same sweet voice he had first heard in the library whispered in his ear. He yelped and jumped when he felt an invisible hand swat his butt.

"He might not forgive you if you're late. He's always very punctual, after all," The high, giggling voice surrounded him and he felt himself shoved toward the door. He yelped again and managed to grab onto the picnic basket before he was shoved out of the kitchen.

"Go to a deli. A good one. Get something that's on the expensive line. Show him that you actually care enough to get something that he would actually eat. Your mother left money in your good coat. She's a smart one." The rough voice said and his leather jacket flew out of the closet and smacked him in the face. He pulled it down and tried to turn, to maybe catch a glimpse of the women pushing him, but suddenly the front door opened.

"You broads are pushy!" He grunted as he was pushed out of the apartment and the door slammed and locked. The female giggling behind the door made him groan. He reminded himself to call Artie as soon as he had some time. He wanted to know if They had been this pushy when Artie was dealing with Them.

"I need my…" He called out.

"It's in your pocket, dumbass!" A voice from behind the door called out, "Get moving!"

He pulled his phone and keys out of his pocket and rolled his eyes, "This is really fucked up!" He yelled at the door.

"So is talking to yourself in the hallway! Turn around, crazy!" One voice called, but all three voices laughed. Puck went red and turned to see Mrs. Guttenberg, ninety if she was a day, staring at him from her own door.

"Sorry, Mrs. Guttenberg!" He yelped, "I'm just gonna…I…Have a good day, Mrs. Guttenberg, Freckles." He nodded at her miniature Doberman, satisfied when the dog only growled and didn't bark, and took off down the hall, grumbling about pushy, invisible women the entire time. He didn't see Mrs. Guttenberg smile at his retreating form, or the small bow she leveled at his door before she pulled Freckles inside and went back to her stories.

He realized his palms were sweating when he rang the doorbell to Kurt's house. He'd never actually met But Hummel and he was a little scared, though he didn't even want to admit that to himself. Because as much as he liked to think he was badass, Burt Hummel was the definition of badass. He was a big, working class man who had managed to make a debutante fall in love with and marry him and he had loved her until the day she died. Then, he had raised his son all alone while running his own business and making sure his baby boy had everything he wanted. He was a simple man, didn't really understand his gay son at all, but loved him enough to assure Kurt that his sexuality had no effect on Burt's love for him. He stood up for his son and anyone could see that Kurt was the light of his life. To Noah that kind of love and devotion to your kid was what made a badass. In his more sentimental moments, he wished his own father had been like Burt Hummel. Burt Hummel was what a father should be. And if he had any sense at all, when he answered the door, he'd pull a gun on Puck and tell him not to come anywhere near his son ever again. Puck didn't realize that he'd locked his knees until Kurt opened the door, smiled softly at him, and his knees went weak with relief.

"Your dad isn't home?" It escaped his mouth before he could stop the words.

"No," Kurt looked confused, "He's out to lunch with my grandparents. We usually do that on Sundays. I told him I had too much homework. Should I have said something else? Did you want to meet him?" He cocked his head to the side like a puppy and Puck had to resist the urge to lean in and kiss the sense out of him. They had plenty of time for that.

"No!" The word wooshed out of him and they both laughed a little nervously, "I mean, your dad terrifies me, dude, and if you had told him we were going on a date he probably would have busted my kneecaps or something."

"First of all, Noah, that's the Russian. We're German. We break arms. Secondly, I've told you not to call me 'dude.' And lastly, is that what this is? Are we going on a date?"

Noah rolled a shoulder back uncomfortably, "Kinda what I thought it was."

"Well, then, do I get flowers?"

Puck shrugged and held out his empty hands.

"Hmm," Kurt set a finger to his lip as if considering, "Granted, you've never been on a date with me and don't even know my favorite flowers yet. I don't eat chocolate very often, so that would have been a waste…So what else it there? Ah, yes…Aren't you going to tell me how nice I look?" Kurt set a hand to a cocked hip and raised an eyebrow. For the first time Puck actually looked at him. What he saw made him smile. Kurt had on skinny jeans (Puck didn't think he owned a pair of jeans that weren't cut like a girls), a pinstriped button down that he'd rolled up to his elbows and left untucked, and a plain black vest. He looked almost normal. Puck would never admit it, but he actually admired that Kurt loved to experiment with fashion. It was one of the things that made Kurt, well, Kurt. He wouldn't be himself without it. But, the fact that he'd toned it down for Puck, thinking it would make him more comfortable, made him smile.

"Fuck, Kurt," He mumbled, looking down, "You look good in anything you wear. Are you…are you actually wearing All-Stars?" The shoes were obviously new, but the fact that Kurt was wearing them made Puck look up and raise an eyebrow at him. Kurt blushed and Puck was glad he was off the hook because trying to tell Kurt how nice he looked was way too uncomfortably close to talking about his feelings and if they were going to be talking about feelings later, which he was sure they were, he wanted to get them all out at one time. He was still a teenaged boy, after all. Sharing was damn hard.

Kurt looked down at his shoes, "I thought I'd try understating today. Fashion for today's teen and all that. Especially if we're going to be on the grass. I can't ruin my Gucci shoes, after all, can I?"

"Guess not," Puck mumbled, "Hey, Kurt?"

"Yes, Noah?"

"I really want to kiss you right now." Okay, so maybe he wasn't going to be able to hold back completely, but he knew he'd said the right thing when Kurt looked back up at him.

Kurt's smile was like the sun before he schooled his features into an accepting, gracious look, "Well then, by all means, Noah, kiss me."

Gentle, a voice said in Noah's head, try being gentle. See how he reacts. He took a step forward and took Kurt's face between his hands, leaning in until his lips were just hovering over Kurt's. He paused a moment, waiting until Kurt had taken a shaky breath in, then pressed his lips tenderly, chastely to Kurt's. He didn't rush, didn't make this kiss anything more than it was, and simply allowed himself to enjoy the feeling of Kurt's lips against his for a moment before pulling back and smiling down at Kurt, whose eyes had closed.

"You got the blanket and the drinks?" He asked quietly, his voice a little rough from the emotion that had unexpectedly risen in it.

"Hmm?" Kurt's eyes opened and Puck was happy to see them clouded and a little dazed, "What?"

"Blanket and drinks? Picnic? Ringing any bells?" Puck laughed.

Kurt snapped himself out of his daze, "Oh! Of course! I'll just go get them. Be right back."

Puck stepped off the stoop and went to open his passenger side door, satisfied that he'd made the right move when Kurt turned around from locking his front door and his eyes went all soft and dewy again. He allowed Noah to help him in, looking on him with shock when he kissed his hand. Too much, Puck realized. Kurt laughed and it lightened the mood when Puck leered at him over the hand he held to his lips and waggled his eyebrows. Kurt had opened his door by the time he got over the drivers side and he said quick thanks before starting the car. They didn't speak on the way to the park. Puck had chosen one nearly out of town to give them some anonymity, but the silence wasn't uncomfortable. Kurt hummed under his breath and looked out the window while Puck concentrated on driving and not taking Kurt's hand. Maybe, just maybe, if he played all of his cards right, they'd be ready for hand holding on the way back from the park this afternoon. When they reached the park he stuck the thermos Kurt had brought in the picnic basket and threw the blanket over his arm. He knew exactly where he was headed and spread the blanket under the tree on the hill that overlooked the small pond where ducks, geese, and a single swan made their summer homes.

"I've never been to this park," Kurt said quietly as he sat on the blanket and looked down at the pond, "It's beautiful."

"Yeah. Guess so," Puck looked around before he sat down, "My mom used to bring us here a lot after my old man took off. We used to sit by the pond and feed the ducks. Miri was just a baby. I used to come here when I needed to think. Took two busses and walked half a mile to get here. Ma taught me to be still here. Guess I haven't tried to be still in a while. Maybe it would have saved me a lot of grief." He chuckled darkly under his breath. When he turned back to Kurt, he saw that the smaller boy's eyes were wet.

"Noah…" Kurt murmured.

"What? What is it? Did I say something wrong?" He reached out to Kurt, but stopped when Kurt held up a hand.

"You didn't say anything wrong," he said, after taking a moment to compose himself, "I just…I think that's the truest, most open thing you've ever said to me."

"Jeez, Hummel," Puck shrugged uncomfortably, "Don't get all girly on me or anything."

"I think we've progressed past last names, Noah," Kurt said quietly, "I would appreciate if you wouldn't call me Hummel anymore. Please."

"Sure." It was the only answer that Puck could possibly give when Kurt had requested it so sweetly, "You, um, you hungry?"

Kurt simply nodded.

"I, uh, tried to make stuff this morning, but then I realized that I only had stuff that I liked and not stuff that you liked and by that time it was too late to go to the store to get stuff to make something so I just went to that little place on Main that you're always raving about."

"Was that all seriously one sentence?" Kurt smiled and Puck relaxed automatically, laughing a little, "It's okay, Noah. I'm a little nervous, too. It's our first date, after all. You're doing fine. What did you choose?"

"The lady looked at me like I was insane when I ordered for carry out, but…like what she thinks matters. I got the spinach and artichoke salad and Sindhi Chicken. I have no idea what either of them taste like, but they looked good."

"They are good. They're two of my favorites."

"If we eat now the chicken will probably still be hot."

"Then, we'll eat now."

They were quiet as they ate the little take away plates that were prepared beautifully and presented just as beautifully. Noah didn't think he had to mention that when the hostess had looked at him like he was insane he had lost it a little bit and kind of pleaded with her, spilling that he was going on a his first date with a guy he really liked and he really needed to impress him. Luckily, she had found it all terribly romantic and had made sure that their meals were prepared quickly and looked picture perfect. Then, she had wished him luck. Puck had nearly slammed his head into the steering wheel when he got back in his car. He might as well just give it up now. He'd become a complete flamer. Or a chick. He couldn't decided which or which was worse. But, then he looked at Kurt, thoroughly enjoying his meal, a small smile on his face, and decided that he would remain a flaming chick if that smile stayed on Kurt's face. Kurt had made iced tea, his mother's recipe, and they laughed as they shared it out of the thermos because neither of them had thought to bring cups. When they were done completely, they took the rolls neither of them had bothered to eat and went down the hill to feed the ducks. Puck couldn't help but smile at the joy that spread across Kurt's face with the simple act.

"What is being still?" Kurt asked, as they sat by the pond side, "Obviously it's more than just sitting."

"My mom explained it to me this way…She said, when you can sit in silence and hear everything, when you can forget everything on your mind and know anything, and when you can look at yourself and see only possibilities you know you're still. I was a hyper kid. I think she just made it up for me, but it helped me work through a lot of anger after my old man left us. I never quite got there, but…"

"When did you stop trying?" Kurt asked, reaching out to brush his fingers along Puck's wrist.

"I was thirteen. Couldn't see the point anymore."

"It has a point, Noah," Kurt whispered.

"Yeah, I know," Noah rolled his shoulder uncomfortably. He jumped up, "You ready for desert?"

"Desert?" Kurt allowed Puck to help him up and neither of them thought about it as they held hands while they walked up the hill to their blanket again.

"Yeah. I figured a little bit of chocolate would be okay." He pulled out the half dozen chocolate covered strawberries he'd bought out of the basket and laughed when Kurt groaned.

"I can't turn down a chocolate covered strawberry. I'm going to have to add an hour onto my workout tomorrow just to work off everything I've eaten today."

"Naw," Puck laughed and pushed one of the strawberries into Kurt's mouth. The smaller boy looked at him indignantly, but Puck just laughed harder when he began to chew, "You look great and you know it. If anything, you could stand to put on a little weight."

"Just because I'm not some over-muscled, empty-headed jock does not mean that I need to put on weight." Kurt glowered.

"You know what, Hum…Kurt?"

"What?" Kurt had crossed his arms, pouting. He turned his nose up at Puck.

"You talk too much."

"I…" Puck cut him off with a firm kiss pressed to his mouth.

"You can't just kiss me every time you want me to stop talking, Noah," Kurt pouted, but his eyes were laughing when Puck pulled away.

"Sure I can," Puck shrugged, "It's my right as your…" He stopped.

"As what, Noah? As my…boyfriend? You want to be my boyfriend? We've only gone on one date." Kurt tucked his legs up to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. He was shutting down. Noah felt the panic rise in his chest.

"We've been fucking for months, Kurt!" He tried.

"Exactly, Noah. Fucking. Sex is nothing like affection. Sex is nothing to base a relationship on. You didn't even really look at me until three days ago. How am I supposed to trust that you're not going to turn around and change your mind again when it stops being convenient for you to show me a little bit of affection? And, you could never come out of the closet! They expect me to be gay. They pick on me, but it's nothing that I can't handle. You…They'd tear you apart for destroying all of their well loved illusions, and then kill me for turning you. I'm fine with where we were, Noah. I can go back to sex twice a week and nothing else for as long as you want it. I don't need fancy words and I don't need you to be my boyfriend. So…don't feel obligated to give me anything of the kind. I'm not a girl, Noah. I never will be."

"Fuck, Kurt," Noah knelt in front of the Kurt, "I know you're not a girl. I wouldn't want you to be. I just want…I want you."

"Why do you want me, Noah?" Kurt didn't look at him, but back down at the pond.

"I want you because you're sarcastic, and a much better person than me, and you never let anyone give you any shit because you know that you're so much better than the rest of us and you're getting out of here. I want you because you make me…Fuck, I can't believe I'm actually going to say this…You make me want to be better than I am, okay?"

"How?" Kurt scoffed, and Noah could hear the tears in his voice, "You couldn't even look at me three days ago."

"Then, I'll apologize for everything but the last three days, Kurt! It was my shit! Not yours! I want it to be different. I want us to be different."

"You aren't even really gay, Noah," Kurt buried his face in his knees. Puck worked his hand under Kurt's chin and lifted his face so that their eyes were on level again.

"Kurt, I've hand my dick up your ass more times than I can count. And when I…touched you on Friday…I liked it, okay? It was hot. I'm pretty sure I am gay. If not it's something pretty damn close."

For the first time, Puck saw hope in Kurt's eyes and he dared a gentle, chaste kiss. Kurt accepted it.

"You're right about one thing, though," Puck said thoughtfully when he pulled away.

"What's that?"

"We can't come out. Not here. Not now. There's too much working against us here. We could go on like we have been, Kurt. Us when we're together. No one else ever has to find out. There's only a year and a half until we both graduate. We could hold out that long. Maybe go to the same school, or at least schools in the same state. We could be us there. Not so long from now when the rest of this shit doesn't matter. I don't think I want anything else to change, Kurt, just what's between us. There are too many homophobes and bigots in this town."

"Yes, there are," Kurt agreed, "So, let me get this straight…you want to be my boyfriend when we're alone and be the same asshole you've always been to me when there are people around?"

"When you put it that way…" Puck groaned.

"Noah!" Kurt cut him off sharply, "I can accept that."

"What?" Puck's mouth fell open in shock.

"As long as it only lasts for the next year and a half, like you say, and when we go to college we can be us all the time, I can accept that. I…I've wanted it. I'll take what I can get if it means I get you. I just have one condition."

"What's that?" Puck lifted an eyebrow in suspicion.

"I want to tell my father about us. I'll explain the situation before hand, but I want him to know. I can't explain why, because I don't even know why. I just need him to know."

"S'fine with me," Puck smirked, "I already told my mom about us."

It was Kurt's turn to have his jaw drop, "You came out of the closet to your mother?"

"Yep. Thursday night."

"You really do want to be my boyfriend!" Kurt laughed joyfully.

"Fuck, Kurt! What have I been trying to say for the past twenty minutes?" He threw up his arms in exasperation, and let out an undignified yelp when Kurt threw himself at him, laughing the entire time. His joy was contagious and Puck laughed with him as the smaller boy kissed lightly all over his face. He allowed himself to fall back and cradled Kurt in his arms, breathing in his scent and smiling up at the clouds. It had been close and now it perfect. It was all perfect. He pressed a kiss to Kurt's hair. He'd be able to Keep Kurt away from the school on Friday, no problem. Kurt was going to live and in a year and a half they would never have to hide anything ever again. And he hadn't even had to say the words he wasn't ready to say yet. He could work up to them.

They laid together for a long time, just soaking each other in. They held hands when they walked back to the car and held hands on the ride home. When they reached Kurt's house, they parted reluctantly, sharing sweet, slow kisses in the truck before whispering promises to see each other in the morning. Puck drove home on cloud nine and practically floated up to his apartment. He froze when he opened the door and there were three women lounging around his living room.

They looked completely different from each other. One had dark, dark skin and black hair braided close to her scalp, one had pretty almond eyes and tan skin, and the third was pale as milk with hair so blonde it was almost white. They were all stunningly beautiful and they only other trait they shared was the fact that all of their ears came to points. None of them looked happy with him.

"Well, come in!" The rough voice came from the blonde.

"Sit down," Pretty eyes, laughing voice, said.

"We need to talk," Braids, low, sweet voice, agreed.

"Now you show yourselves," Puck muttered, locking the door behind him.

"You didn't need to see us before," Rough voice shrugged, "Call me Crystal."

"I'm Sakura!" Laughing voice said.

"And I'm Aziza," the third said, "And before you can ask, no, these are not the names and forms we came into existence with. We change form and name as often as it amuses us. We immortal. You have to change it up or you get very, very bored."

"Which is why, incidentally, we gave you this week with Kurt. We've watched him since Artie. We like him. We like you, too. We were distressed that you were both so stubborn and Kurt had to die like that." Crystal said. All three of them looked sad for a moment.

"But, you don't have to worry now!" Puck said happily, "It's done! Kurt trusts me. We're dating! He's not going to die! We're gonna have a great life together! And I didn't even need the whole week! I only took four days because I'm just a badass that way, but…"

"Oh, Noah, we should have told you sooner," Sakura sighed softly. Suddenly all three of them stood and surrounded him, but it didn't feel threatening. It felt…comforting.

"You've made him happy and for that we are grateful and we know that you will have no regrets," Aziza smiled at him, but there were tears in her eyes.

"But, there are some forces even greater than us," Crystal said, "There are some things we cannot control. Like death."

"No matter what you do now, Noah," Sakura set a hand to his shoulder and a tear fell from her eye, "On Friday…Kurt will die."

Puck felt the blood drain from his face and then everything went dark.