Questions.

Puck was broke...he was worse than broke. He was uber-broke. The last couple times he'd gone out to the mall for a movie or eating out at the food court, Kurt had paid with a wave of his pale hand. It was weird, made him feel like a girl on a date. He had to get some cash, and there was only one way he knew to get money that quick.

XxX XxX

Kurt didn't care about the opinions of others. In his world, nothing was big enough to hurt him, nothing was strong enough to get inside his walls. So when he overheard a few people talking about how Puck looked like he'd had the ride of his life on the weekend, he put it out of his mind.

Then Mercedes came to him, asking if he was alright. She mistook his blank look for depression instead of confusion and leapt into a rant on how all men were the same, and that he should be glad this whole business with Puck had never gotten too serious.

“Mercedes...what are you talking about?” Kurt interrupted when he managed to get a word into her vicious monologue.

“You don't know?” She looked at him with a mixture of pity and apprehension, a look he'd been getting for years, one he hated. “I think Puck is sleeping around.”

“You think this why exactly?” Kurt crossed his arms, looking down at the Diva who flushed.

“When you see him...you'll know.”

XxX XxX

“My ma~an. Finally found your balls.” Marcus Blaque clapped Puck on the shoulder as he passed his fellow jock in the hall. “Who was it? Who'd you bang?”

“None of your fuckin' business.” It had been Mrs. MacEwan, and he'd forgotten that she liked it rough when he'd followed her upstairs to unplug her pipes. So now he had scratches on the back of his neck, and hickeys from jaw to crotch.

“Dude, you've never held out on us before.” Marcus threw an arm over Puck's shoulder in a brotherly manner, face full of a concern Puck knew was as fake as a porn star's tits. “You ain't queering out on us are you?” Puck stopped, Marcus realizing too late that he was in danger before the jock slammed his teammate up against the lockers. Several students scattering, not wanting to get caught up in the fight.

“You really wanna join Matthews in ICU, dontcha?”

“You really are queering out on us. How sad is your faggot? Does he know you're still into chicks? Is Hummel crying in the bathroom. Maybe I should go comfort him.” Marcus grabbed his crotch suggestively, and Puck saw red.

It took three teachers to pull Puck off of Marcus Blaque. Later reports from the hospital stated the extent of his injuries.

-Fractured occipital.
-Broken Jaw
-Five missing teeth, believed to have been swallowed.
-Shattered nose
-Two fractured ribs

They were enough to keep him out of school for at least the next three months. And from the way Blaque had been crying when they'd taken him out on the stretcher, he wouldn't be mouthing off to anyone in the near future.

XxX XxX

Puck was sitting in the nurses office, getting his hands wrapped and zoning out to the sound of the Principal lecturing him about violence on school property. He knew he was gonna get something serious for sending Blaque to the hospital. Expulsion was the worst they could do, that would definitely suck, but if he was given a choice. Puck knew for a fact that he would do it again.

Maybe the only way to get through High School was to send everyone who said anything bad about Kurt to the ICU. He'd probably get sent to Juvie, but it would be worth it.

XxX XxX

Kurt was pissed.

It wasn't the fact that Puck had beaten the ever loving crap out of Marcus Blaque that pissed him off. It was that fact that there were rumors going around the school that Marcus had said something about him. Said something so foul that Puck had deemed it necessary to avenge his honor. Like he was a fucking girl.

How many times did he have to tell the jock he wasn't female before it got through his big, stupid, mohawked head? Apparently they had to have this conversation...again.

XxX XxX

Puck blinked. He wasn't quite sure if he was imagining Kurt being in the detention hall. Maybe it was a hallucination from the pain killers the nurse had given him. He'd never known the gleek to ever get a detention, even before he'd actually started noticing Kurt for something other then target practice for slushies.

The gleek took his time choosing a seat to the left of Puck, ignoring the strange glances he received for taking so long to settle in. People didn't normally treat the detention hall like it was their own personal domain.

“Is there a reason your fist just happened to find it's way into Marcus' face fifteen times, other than him saying some less then flattering things about me?” Kurt asked in a voice too low for the teacher to overhear. Puck was silent for long enough that Kurt knew he wasn't about to respond. “If you think I haven't heard any one of the jocks tell me they can 'take care' of me before, you're naive and an idiot.”

Kurt watched the muscles in Puck's jaw jump as the jock ground his teeth, hands clenching into fists at the though of any one of his teammates cornering Hummel. Putting their hands on him, ugly gestures that mirrored uglier words.

“Who?”

“All of them.” Kurt intertwined his fingers, looking Puck straight in the eye. “As for the other matter, that one that's making everyone pissed at you and sorry for me.” The jock flinched at Kurt's tone. Winter in the Arctic circle could learn a few things from Kurt Hummel.

“I won't do it again.”

“Noah. We aren't dating. You, are not my boyfriend.” Kurt smiled at him, bitter and jaded in a way that made Puck reconsider the gleek. “Who you choose to sleep with on your own time is none of my business.”

“You don't care?” Was it supposed to hurt?

“Why do you always assume I must think just like one of the Cheerio's. Is it because of my clothing choices? My voice? Am I too pale to count as one of the boys?”

“No.” Puck replied sullenly, staring down at his desk.

“I want you to know, that out of everyone in this school...you are the only one, who expects yourself to change.” The jock blinked up at Kurt surprised at the change of his tone. “I can't even imagine what it's like to live your life, thinking you know who you are. And then waking up one morning to discover that there's a whole 'nother side to you, one that's running in the opposite direction you've always traveled.” Puck looked down at his desk again, a weird feeling in his chest. “And for all you know, I am just a phase in your life.”

“Don't. Don't say that.” The weird feeling was getting bigger, like there was something squirmy inside him.

“Noah, I don't know what the future holds for either of us. But I refuse to trap you in any semblance of a relationship when you still don't know who you are, or what you want.” Kurt stood, face free of the emotion Puck knew lurked just beneath the surface. “My father sends an invitation to join him for watching football this weekend.” Kurt paused, looking at his shoes before meeting Puck's eyes again. “This...whatever this is. This stays between us. You have my word.”

The gleek walked out of detention with his head held high, and Puck knew with a sudden clarity that he wanted Kurt for the rest of his natural life, or as long as the gleek would have him.

XxX XxX

Kurt blinked in surprise. A single red rose rested on his biology text book. There were only three people who knew the combination to his locker including himself, and he knew Mercedes would never give him any sort of flower. The gleek narrowed his eyes, what the hell was going on in Puck's mind.

Hadn't he just talked to the jock about not treating him like a girl. Kurt groaned, resting his head on his locker door. Maybe Puck would get the hint before this thing got out of control.

“Who's giving you flowers?” Kurt groaned louder as Mercedes plucked the rose out of his locker. A frown covering her face. “Do I have to be on the lookout for someone other than that man whore?”

“I appreciate that you're looking out for me, but stop this. It's none of your business.” Kurt's voice was quiet.

“Kurt, he'll only hurt you in the end. Why are you standing up for him? After the way he's treated you, you're acting like none of it ever happened.”

“You don't know what you're talking about. Stop.”

“I can't believe you.” The Diva took a step backwards, looking Kurt up and down. “He's nice to you for a couple of months and you're ready to jump on the Puck bandwagon?” Kurt took a steading breath, trying to calm his temper. “Are you sleeping with him?”

“YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO I WAS BEFORE GLEE!!!!” Kurt exploded, surprising Mercedes. “You don't know anything about Noah. You don't know anything about what he's been going through. Stop prying into my business and stop trying to be my mother. She's gone, she's been gone for so long I forget what her smile looks like sometimes.” Kurt took a few steadying breaths. “I don't need a replacement for her.” Kurt slammed his locker and took off towards Spanish class.

XxX XxX

Mr. Schuester had thrown a pop quiz at them, so Puck hadn't been able to ask why Kurt looked angry and hurt. The jock had kept giving little side glances at the gleek until Schue told him to keep his eyes on his paper.

Kurt didn't seem like he'd be in the mood to talk, even if Schue had just been ranting on the proper use of conjugating verbs.

XxX XxX

“Would you care to accompany me to the mall?” Kurt asked, tone dry and bored.

“Seriously? On the day Schuester's finally letting you geeks sing show tunes, and you wanna skip?”

“Maybe I'm sick of show tunes.” Kurt's mouth curled into a snarl and Puck shrugged. If the gleek wanted to cut class that badly...well, there were worse places he could be then at the mall, hanging out with his...something. Puck frowned then, Kurt had said they weren't dating. And yeah, he got that, making out in someone’s basement didn't qualify as 'dating' or he'd have been like married years ago.

XxX XxX

A normal day of cutting class for Kurt usually involved retail therapy and listening to Mercedes bitch about why designers didn't make amazing clothes for bigger girls. So having Puck at his side, whining about 'why do I have to try on all these clothes' was similar enough to be therapeutic.

“Retail Therapy is the one thing that keeps me from bringing a gun to school and blowing everyone away.” Kurt had snapped, pawing through a rack of shirts, pulling out a few, holding them up against Puck's chest and pushing him towards the dressing room.

It was weird, having Hummel paying for a new wardrobe. And a couple of the cashiers had smirked at him as they were ringing everything through, like they thought Kurt was his sugar daddy or something. Though the moment Kurt saw the smirk his expression would turn absolutely icy, and on one occasion he simply walked from the store, refusing to pay for any of the carefully picked clothing. Puck had to admit, hearing that squawk of indignant rage from the cashier, was like music to his ego.

XxX XxX

“Where were you yesterday? You skipped Glee, you haven't replied to any of my texts for the last three days.”

“I've been busy.”

“With Hummel?” Santana's eyebrows shot to her hairline, face curling into a snarl. “You're ignoring me for a queer?” She took a step backwards, disgust growing on her features. “Can't get it up for girls anymore?”

“I can get it up for girls just fine.” Puck glowered down at the Cheerio.

“Just like boys better now? I can't believe I ever thought you were boyfriend material.” Santana whirled, ponytail whipping outwards as she stalked down the hall, pushing anyone too slow to remove themselves from her path.

XxX XxX

“I thought I told you to back off my man.”

“Are we really having this conversation again?”

“Apparently you can't keep your manicured fag hands off the straight boys.”

“Yes...it's been such a problem for me.” Kurt rolled his eyes, shutting his locker door and heading for English.

“Don't you walk away from me!” Santana's voice was louder then it should have been and Kurt sighed and stopped. Drama didn't have a place in school, though the halls were full of it. All those hormones made teens lose track of the important things. Like the exam waiting for him in English.

“What?”

“Obviously you'd want this kept quiet.” Santana hissed, getting into Kurt's bubble of personal space. “What would Daddy think?” Kurt's lips twitched at the 'threat'.

“My father knows about Noah.”

“He does?” Santana looked confused for only a second, and Kurt had to give her credit for thinking on her feet. “Your father may know, but I highly doubt that Puck's mother knows about you.” Kurt's eyes widened only a little, but it was enough to tip off the Cheerio. “That's what I thought. Hummel's a German name...isn't it?” Santana's smile was predatory as she shifted around Kurt. “Wonder how she'd feel about that?”

XxX XxX

“You need to talk to your mother.”

“What...why?”

“Because...if you're serious about this whole thing then she needs to hear it from your mouth, and not someone else's. Like Santana for example.” Kurt's voice was subdued.

“What did she say?”

“Nothing I haven't heard before.”

“What did she say?”

“Noah. Family comes first, before anything. Before fame, before fortune, and before High School flings.”

“You're not a goddamn fling.”

“Prove it. Tell your mother, tell your sister. You owe it to them, you owe it to me. I know how fucking terrifying it is, telling that one person, in the entire world, that you'd rather die than disappoint. That you're not what they thought, what they wanted you to be.” Kurt looked up, met Puck's eyes. The jock couldn't look away from all the self loathing, all the disappointment, all the hidden shame.

XxX XxX

“Ma.”

“What is it, Noah?”

“I gotta....I gotta tell you something.” Riva Puckerman knew something was up. Her son was never this quiet, never this unsure of himself. He was practically fidgeting. This must be about the girl he'd knocked up then. She'd figured it out when she'd found a brochure for raising a child on a fixed budget.

“Noah. I already know.”

“You...do?”

“Yes. I figured it out weeks ago.”

“Oh man. I thought you were gonna hate me.”

“Oh sweetie, you're not the first boy to get a cheerleader pregnant. And you won't be the last.”

“....”

“That's what this is about...right?”

“No.” Riva's eyebrows furrowed at the look of terror on her son’s face.

“Noah. What's wrong.”

“I.....there's this....at school. I don't know how to say this.”

“What did you do? Did you send someone else to the hospital?”

“NO....” Puck swallowed convulsively.

“Well then what is it? You're not gay are you?” She'd meant it as a joke, but the moment it was out of her mouth, Riva could see it in her son's face. He went grey, swaying a little, and she knew. “Noah, that's not funny. Tell me your joking.”

“Ma.” He looked off to the side, hands clenching into fists.

“You are not gay. ALL THOSE WOMEN....ALL THOSE WOMEN I KNOW. THEY LAUGH BEHIND MY BACK IN THE SUPERMARKET. NOW YOU SHAME ME WITH THIS?”

“Ma.”

“Get out. I can't see your face right now.”

“Ma?”

“OUT!!”

XxX XxX

Burt Hummel looked slowly over at the door. Seven at night and someone was ringing the doorbell. He sighed and pushed himself out of his chair. Might as well see who it was, might be important.

“Mohawk?”

“I...didn't know where else to go.”

“What's wrong?”

“My mother...kicked me out.” Burt blinked, then stepped away from the door and ushered Puck into the house.

“Let me grab Kurt.”

“You still...love him right? Even with the whole...gay thing?”

“He's my son. How could I not love him?” Burt had always been confused by the parents who tossed their kids on the street for being gay. Your kids were your kids. End of story. Yeah, it might take him some time to get used to the idea that Kurt would never find a nice girl, have a big wedding, settle down, and have a few kids. But he still loved his son. “I think your mother might need some time to get used to the idea.”

“Did you?”

“I've known Kurt was gay since he was three years old. I had time to adjust.” There was a slice of humor in Burt's voice as he opened the basement door and called for his son. The sound of pounding footsteps and Kurt appeared at the door.

“What now dad? I was just...” He trailed off when he saw Puck standing in the foyer, looking miserable. “Oh no...” Burt's eyes narrowed at his son, that tone implied he knew more then he was letting on.

“You know something about this, Kurt?”

“Yes.” Kurt swallowed and looked at his feet. “I...told Noah to speak with his mother. I knew there was a chance she might react like she did.” Puck looked up, meeting Kurt's gaze. The gleek held it a few moments before turning to his father. “There's always a chance your parents react badly when you tell them...I'm just one of the lucky ones.” His voice was quiet, and Puck felt like he was intruding on a moment.

“Yes...well.” Burt cleared his throat after a few moments. “You boys can talk downstairs. You can use the second room on the left Mohawk, when you're ready to sleep.”

“Sure...thanks.” Puck shuffled a little, nodding to Burt who watched him with a soft expression. Like Puck was a lost animal he could bring home and pass off to his son to patch up.

XxX XxX

“I'm sorry Noah. This is all my fault.”

“No...you were right. I do feel better, telling her about it. It doesn't feel like I'm hiding anymore, pretending to be someone I'm not.” Puck took a deep breath, and Kurt could tell he was near his breaking point. The gleek shifted a little closer, not sure how to offer comfort to someone like Puck. Wasn't sure if the jock would accept it. “I just...” Puck's voice cracked and he looked away, not wanting to admit the emotions running beneath the surface of his facade.

“Come here.” Kurt shifted a little closer, moving to slip his arms around the jock.

“Dude...what are you doing?”

“You helped me when I needed it, I'm only trying to return the favor.”

“I ain't gonna cry. I'm not a chick.”

“Oh...and I am? What, because I'm gay you think I sit around and sob?”

“No..I just...I ain't gonna have some sort of breakdown cause my mother had a fit.” His voice broke again and Kurt sat back, huffing and crossing his arms.

“Why are you so stubborn?”

“Why are you such a girl?”

“I am not a girl.” Kurt's voice went shrill and he slapped his hands over his mouth. Puck started laughing, first normally, then a little hysterically, little gasping sobs that were too close to actual sobs for his liking. But he couldn't stop, even as Kurt slid next to him, wrapping those skinny toothpick arms around him and making soft noises.

Puck slid an arm around Kurt's waist and pulled the gleek into his lap, wrapping both arms around him as the tears just kept coming. A little voice in the back of his brain kept telling him he was being a girl, kept saying that no one looked good crying and Kurt was probably mad about his shirt getting ruined. But Kurt's soft hands were petting his head, running over the small strip of hair. Puck's face pressed into his neck, and the gleek was humming softly. His mother's favorite song. It was oddly comforting knowing Kurt was choosing to share something he usually kept private.

XxX XxX

“Feel better.”

“Shut up Hummel.” Puck sniffled wetly, scowling at nothing as Kurt passed him a box of tissues.

“I am sorry you know...about everything. I should have just kept my mouth shut.”

“You really don't think I'm serious. Do you?” Kurt looked away, sorrow in his eyes.

“I've watched my father run on auto pilot for the past ten years because he lost the love of his life. I don't know if I could survive finding something like what they had, and then losing it” Kurt's smile was a little wobbly. “It's not you, don't ever think that. I'm just...neurotic.”

“You know...you're just as messed up as the rest of us.”

“True. But I hide it better.” Kurt smiled over at Puck who mock glared at him before blowing his nose. The gleek peeked at the clock, then winced. “We should probably get to bed, we've got school tomorrow.” Kurt stood and headed for the stairs.

“Couldn't I just...stay down here?”

“Noah...my father is just getting used to the idea of you. We don't want to give him a stroke.” Kurt's smile was wicked.

XxX XxX

“Mohawk. You awake?” Puck looked over at his door, he'd been awake for an hour, staring at the ceiling and thinking about ways to get out of going to school today. When Quinn's parents had kicked her out, it had been all over the school the next day. He knew everyone would know, would be looking at him differently. Knowing that his mother had kicked him out because of Kurt.

He knew he should care more, should be enraged that she didn't love him enough to accept him. But this, falling asleep in a bed not his own. Waking to a ceiling that wasn't his own, getting a wakeup call from a male voice rather then a female one. It wasn't as bad as he'd thought.

“I'm up.”

“Just checking. Shower’s free.”

“Thanks...I'll...be out in a moment.” Puck lay there for a few more moments, thinking about the last few days. How fast things had started to change. He wasn't the same person he had been, he doubted he'd even recognize his old self.

Sighing softly Puck pushed back the covers and stood, stretching. He shuffled over to his clothes, and yeah, he may not be some crazy fashion dude like Kurt, but he didn't like to wear the same clothes two days in a row. Though with how his mother had freaked on him, he supposed he'd have to make due.

XxX XxX

Kurt was already up and dressed, talking to his father a mile a minute as he buttered toast. Puck shuffled a little, feeling awkward.

“Morning Noah. Towel's on the counter, aaaaand you look about the same size as dad. So I'm sure he'd let you borrow a change of clothes.” Kurt stared his father down as he spoke, as if daring him to refuse.

“Fine...I've gotta get to work.” Burt ruffled Kurt's hair, smirking at his son's indignant squawk before turning to look at Puck. “Stay here as long as you need to...it's fine.” Puck nodded, not sure what to say to that. Burt looked at him a while longer, then nodded and left.

“What was that about?” Puck asked, heading towards the shower. Kurt shrugged gracefully, pouring a glass of juice and settling at the table.

“You're family now.”

XxX XxX

The first think Kurt noticed when he arrived at school the next morning was Mercedes standing by his locker. She didn't look pleased to be there, waiting for him, and Kurt would bet his favorite coat that she had been persuaded by the rest of Glee to apologize to him. His glee-mates knew something had happened between the two of them, they just didn't know what. Considering he and Mercedes were joined at the hip most of the time, it didn't take a genius to figure out that they had been fighting.

“Kurt.” Oh, so she wanted to play it that way.

“Mercedes.” Her jaw twitched, trying to hold back any comments she would no doubt regret after Kurt out-bitched her. They both knew her insults were no match for his, even on her best day.

“I was out of line, the other day. Saying what I said.”

“Yes. You were.” He didn't have to make this easy for her. She took one look at him and thought she had him figured out, just like the rest of the school. She may have been one of his closest friends, but that didn't mean she had taken the time to delve into what made him as sarcastic and icy as he was. Mercedes had taken the offers of coming over to watch Reality TV at face value, wanting his friendship. Because Kurt's friendship came with car rides, a plasma flatscreen, a nearly unlimited visa and killer fashion advice

“I was jumping to conclusions.” Mercedes crossed her arms, taking a defensive angry stance. Kurt looked over at her, then leaned forward, motioning the Diva in as well.

“If I hear any of this around school. We are through as friends.” Mercedes looked shocked, like she couldn't believe Kurt would choose Puck over her.

“Alright. I promise I won't tell anyone.”

“No one. Not Tina, not Artie. No one.”

“Yeah. I get it Kurt.” The gleek shot her a look that said he wasn't sure she did, and Mercedes started to wonder for the first time, if the Kurt she knew, was the real Kurt. She had never had any reason to doubt him before. His bitchy attitude, his amazing clothes, she had just assumed it was the way he was, not wondering if years of being bullied to an extreme point had made him this way.

“Noah's mother kicked him out last night.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I told him to talk to his mother if he was serious about me. I knew there was a risk she would take it the wrong way, there's always a risk. If this was just a joke to him, he never would've taken that risk.”

“Oh my god.”

“Next time. Think before you leap to conclusions about something you know nothing about.” Kurt shut his locker with a click, turning back to face the Diva. “I don't want to lose your friendship, but if you make me choose between you and him. You won't like the outcome. Family comes first.” Mercedes stood frozen, shocked to the core that Kurt already considered the jock part of his family. She wanted to tell someone, anyone. But she knew that if she did, even the tiniest whisper, she'd lose Kurt forever. The gleek wasn't someone to forgive and forget.

XxX XxX

Puck was surprised that this wasn't all over school. He had expected pitying glances, whispers, slurs from the jocks. But it was just another day. Mercedes was treating him differently now, and Puck figured that Kurt had told her, them being best friends and all. Kurt wasn't treating him any differently either, not that he expected the gleek to be fawning all over him, giggling like some of the girls he'd dated.

Lunch was a little awkward, Puck had started sitting at the Gleek table since he'd sent Blaque to ICU. The jocks didn't talk to him anymore outside a football huddle. They avoided eye contact, and Puck was okay with that. Having the jocks too scared to say anything that might send him off the deep end, that was a good thing. It meant they'd finally start leaving him and Kurt alone. The Gleek hadn't gotten hit with a slushie in three weeks, though every time a jock walked past with a Big Gulp he still flinched, expecting to be hit.

Mercedes kept looking between him and Kurt, as if expecting them to stand on the table and declare their undying love for each other. How fucking stupid was she? Puck scowled down at his burger, wondering how someone that considered herself to be Kurt's best friend, could jump to assumptions so easily. Kurt's foot nudged his, and the jock glanced over to find half the table staring at him.

“Is...there something wrong with your lunch?” Artie asked after a moment.

“No.” Puck knew that on anyone else his expression would be a pout, but everyone was too afraid to call him on it. The jock ignored Kurt's half smirk and shoved half his burger into his mouth. Artie snickered at Kurt's grossed out expression.

“Noah, I know you're closer to an ape then the rest of us, but please, chew with your mouth closed.”

XxX XxX

Glee was surprisingly fun. Though Mercedes looked like she was about explode every time she met Puck's eyes. The jock looked over at Kurt who was ignoring the Diva. That was new, he had expected them to be joined at the hip again. Giggling over some fashion magazine.

“What's up with her.”

“She tried to stick her nose in business that not only isn't hers to know, but that she couldn't understand if she tried.”

“Oh.”

“Indeed. She's a friend, the closest I have in this little slice of hell that we call home. But if my father considers you family, that's enough for me.” Puck gaped at the gleek and Kurt turned to face him, slender fingers sliding under Puck's jaw to shut his mouth with a click. “I told you before Noah. Family comes first.”

XxX XxX

A/N: I know I didn't say anything about it in the fic, but Puck has three weeks of ISS for his stunt with Blaque. Figgens was going to expel him, but a couple of kids overheard Blaque talking...and Burt probably got involved again. That man loves to throw lawsuits around. ~<3