When Kurt awoke later that evening, he felt both better and worse. He felt better because hed cried a river and finally gotten some sleep, but he felt worse because, well, hed been beaten up, he was in pain, and he had to deal with eating dinner with his family while his face looked as gross as it did.

Of course Kurt knew that his family wouldnt say anything about it - they may question what happened or who did it - but he still felt uncomfortable with it.

The sixteen year old climbed out of bed and made his way over to his desk to look at his face in his mirror. He winced instantly. The bruises on his face had gotten darker significantly, especially the one under his eye, and his swollen lip was red and puffy with a light bruise dotted beneath it. Sighing, Kurt reluctantly pulled away from his mirror and made his way downstairs to the kitchen.

"Hey buddy," Burt smiled softly. "How are you doing?" 

Kurt shrugged, rubbing at his eyes sleepily before pulling away quickly when the bruise became painful, before sitting at the table.

"Finn and Carole just went to pick up dinner, they should be back soon."

Kurt nodded in acknowledgement before pulling his phone out to let Blaine know he was okay and to thank him for helping him, which of course Blaine responded to by telling him he was stupid if he thought Blaine would do any different.

When Finn and Carole arrived home, Kurt instantly curled in on himself and prayed that they wouldnt bring up what happened to him. He couldnt tell them, per se, but he didnt want to sit at the table while his dad explained that hed been beaten up.

"Hey sweetheart," Carole said to Kurt, as she had so many times before, while she entered the kitchen and placed bags of food on the table, Finn lugging shortly behind.

Kurt smiled up at his stepmother the best he could with his swollen lip before returning to staring at the table.

Once dinner was done, Kurt speared a forkful of pasta and brought it up to his mouth, wincing and letting out a hiss when he tried to eat it - eating proving to be a challenge with a puffy red lip.

"You okay, buddy?" Burt asked.

Kurt sighed, nodding before stabbing more pasta onto his fork and once again bringing it up to his lips. He let out a sharper hiss this time as his eyes began to water at the sting.

Before anyone could say anything or question if he was okay again, Kurt got up from his seat and ran into the living room.

"Ill go talk to him," Finn said before his parents could speak and followed his stepbrother into the living room. "Hey," He said as Kurt looked up at him with sad eyes from where he was wrapped in a blanket on the sofa. "Scoot over." He smiled.

Kurt wrapped his blanket around his shoulders and shifted a little to the side, allowing Finn to squeeze in next to him on the sofa.

"Cant eat properly?" Finn questioned as Kurt looked up at him with questioning eyes. "I ran into a door when I was nine and busted my lip, I know what it feels like." He explained, causing Kurt to giggle a little. "Honestly though, itll get better quite quickly."

Kurt smiled up at Finn a little. It was the first time hed really been...brotherly towards Kurt. It wasnt like he hated him or anything; theyd been sort of friends before their parents even married, but theyd never really been brothers.

"You okay?" He asked, not giving Kurt time to respond before he spoke again. "And answer me honestly. Im not mum or Burt, Im your brother."

Kurt couldnt help but smile a little at that, but he knew he had to be honest so he shook his head, tears filling his eyes once again.

"Come here," Finn said, lifting his arm a little and hugging Kurt when he leaned his head on Finns shoulder. "Im not gonna let anyone hurt you. I know Ive never really acted like it but youre my little brother and Im gonna protect you."

Kurt smiled. Even though he was older than Finn by a few months, he love the fact that Finn wanted to protect his "little brother" and he knew that Finn would. He didnt even care that Finn thought of Kurt as his little brother because he found it quite sweet. Plus, Finn suited the role of the big brother better - what with his ridiculous height and need to look after everyone.

Finn held Kurt like that for a while, and little did he know that hed made Kurt feel significantly better just by saying that he would look after him.

Although neither of the boys knew, Burt and Carole were watching the whole interaction from the living room door and smiling at each other. Kurt and Finn had never hated each other, but theyd never been brothers and watching Finn look after Kurt made them ridiculously happy as it meant their little boys had finally become brothers.

"So," Finn said, a mischievous grin on his face. "You and Blaine...."

Kurt groaned and hid his face in Finns shoulder, although there was a small smile on his lips.

"You like him," Finn said matter-of-factly. "Dont even try to deny it."

Kurt looked up at his brother with a question in his eyes.

"What?" Finn laughed. "It's obvious. Youre always hanging out with him. Even if there are a thousand other people in the room youll be staring at him and, well, you practically drool over him whenever he sings in Glee Club..." He trailed off, laughing when Kurt grabbed one of the cushions on the sofa and hit him in the arm with it.

Kurt hit Finn a few times before sitting back and placing the pillow on his lap, a small smile spread across his lips.

"Aw, youre blushing." Finn cooed before Kurt threw the pillow at his face, glaring at him with a dont mess with me look in his eyes.

"Okay, okay," Finn laughed. "Ill stop."

Kurt smiled at his brother forgivingly before cuddling back up to him and switching the TV on.

Kurt may have a horrible looking face; he may be in pain from being kicked and punched, but he knew that hed be okay. He knew that hed be fine because he had his parents, his brother and his amazing best friend there to look after him and to piece him back together when he fell apart.