When Puck and Finn walked into the McKinley High boy's bathroom, they didn't expect to see Blaine Anderson with his arms wrapped around Kurt ‘homo' Hummel.

Both boys looked up in shock, barely registering what was happening before Kurt was shoved roughly away from Blaine, who was now wearing a mask of utter hatred and disgust.

"What did I tell you about touching me?" Blaine yelled as Kurt staggered into the sinks, trying to catch himself.

Kurt gasped in pain, biting down on his lip as he slipped and his lower back collided with the edge of the sink. He was about to hit the floor when Blaine rushed forward and grabbed him by the shoulders.

Puck couldn't believe his eyes, was Blaine actually helping Hummel up?

No, he most certainly wasn't.

Blaine slammed Kurt up against the wall, "Stay away from me Hummel, I don't want to catch your disease."

Kurt said nothing; his eyes were alight with understanding and unwavering support. Sure he was scared, terrified, in fact, but this was Blaine, his Blaine, the Blaine who had always been there for him when no one else was.

This was something that Blaine needed to do, something that Kurt had insisted upon.

Regardless, a traitor tear fell down his check, catching Blaine's attention. His resolve faulted, Kurt saw it in his eyes as Blaine watched the single tears make its way towards his chin.

Blaine swallowed loudly and shook his head, eyes meeting Kurt's briefly in a silent apology.

He glanced over to where Finn and Puck were standing. Finn was staring at the two, mouth agape, looking like he was torn between leaving them be and ripping Blaine off Kurt.

He chose to stay silent.

"Anderson," Puck said, glancing between the two boys, "Maybe that's enough."

Blaine growled, causing Puck to stop talking, and stand silently with Finn.

Blaine turned back to Kurt, squeezing his shoulder subtly, before clenching his free fist, and snapping it forward into Kurt's jaw.

The slap of flesh hitting flesh echoed around the bathroom walls, accompanied by Kurt's soft cry of pain.

Blaine released Kurt as though he had been stung, and hastily made his way towards Finn and Puck, shoving through them towards the door. He glanced back at Kurt, his heart clenching painfully as Kurt's head hung submissively, hand rubbing at his jaw as he tucked his knees to his chest.

Blaine swallowed down the sob that was threatening to claw its way up his throat and pushed the door open into the now crowded hallway.

He ran.

He ran away from Kurt, from Finn, from Puck, from himself.

Blaine didn't stop until he reached the large football oval.

He fell to the ground, circling his legs with his arms as he rested his forehead against his knees, trying desperately to keep it together.

He tried to focus on the distant cries of the Cheerio's as they practiced their new routine.

He tried to focus on the sounds of McKinley's students filling the cafeteria, wondering if any of them belonged to Kurt's friends.

He tried to focus on anything, anything that would distract him from what he'd just done to the boy he loved, the feel of Kurt's jaw against his fist, Kurt's whimper of pain as he dropped to the floor.

Blaine started to shake as he glanced down at his hand, seeing the slightly red knuckles of his right fist.

He felt like throwing up.

He had hurt the most precious thing in his life, the one person who understood him, who knew his every quirk and peeve, every fetish, what Blaine liked, what he disliked.

In his seven years of ‘bullying' Kurt, never had he once hit him. He'd called him names, pushed him into lockers, sure, but never had it gone as far as using his fists.

Blaine sucked in deep, shuddering breaths as he tried to reign in his tears. If he was caught crying he would definitely pay for it, he couldn't afford to be found at his moment of weakness, Kurt needed him to remain top of the pack.

He stood abruptly, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand.

He wanted to run back inside, find his Kurt, fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness.

Blaine didn't.

Instead, he made his way towards the bleachers, sitting with his head in his hands until lunch was over.

The bell rang, and a few minutes later a class approached the oval. He stood quickly and hastily wiped the tear tracks from his cheeks.

Blaine spotted Puck and Finn in the group, laughing together with Mike, who was twirling a football in his hands.

He shook his head again, and headed for his car; there was no way he was staying at school.

He couldn't risk running into Kurt and seeing his face, which by now would surely have a purple bruise. He couldn't handle seeing those bright, blue eyes rimmed red, or the faint tear streaks on his cheeks.

His stomach churned as he remembered the fear in Kurt's eyes. He stumbled over to a nearby tree, clinging to it as he dry heaved. After moments of trying to empty the nonexistent food in his stomach onto the grass, he took a few deep breaths trying to steady himself.

Blaine ran a hand through his hair as he stood up, tears forming in his eyes as the sound of his fist connecting with Kurt's jaw echoed throughout his ears.

He jumped into his car and sped hazardously away from McKinley High, hands clenched tightly around the steering wheel.

Kurt walked into glee that afternoon with his head held high, symbolizing that no matter what happed, he would always be proud of who he was.

Unfortunately it also gave everyone a perfect view of his freshly bruised jaw.

Kurt ignored Artie's stares and made a beeline for his seat in the back row.

Mercedes gasped, reaching for his chin with one hand. He leant away, shaking his head slightly without meeting her gaze. Brittany and Santana glanced at each other, confused, as Rachel gawked at him, mouth opening and closing in horror.

"Kurt?" Mercedes said gently, toughing his thigh.

After a moment's hesitation, he spun slowly in his chair, and met her eyes.

"Boo, what happened?" She tentatively grabbed his hand, squeezing tightly when he didn't pull away, "Who did this to you?"

"It doesn't matter," Kurt replied, voice clipped as his eyes darted to his teammates, each of whom were staring unabashedly at him.

"Kurt, this looks serious."

"It's not."

Mercedes glanced at Tina quickly, who was watching Kurt, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

"Was it Blaine, because-"

Kurt shook his head. "No. I said leave it alone, it's not serious and it doesn't even hurt. Just drop it."

Rachel, it seemed, couldn't take a hint, and refused to let Kurt be. "Kurt, I have two gay dads and they-"

"I honestly don't care."

"But they know what it's like."

"I don't care."

"They know it's hard to stand up for-"

"I. Don't. Care."

"But we all know Blaine's being bullying you for years and-"

"Oh my god!" Kurt exploded, focusing his glare on Rachel. "Just shut up and leave it alone! It is none of your damn business."

They had absolutely no idea how much Blaine had done for him, what they've been through together. They had no clue as to how much Blaine had sacrificed for the sake of their relationship.

For Rachel to go on about something she didn't have a clue about really pissed Kurt off.

An awkward silence filled the choir room as Rachel took her seat again, mumbling quietly to herself. Mercedes and Tina shared worried looks, each wanting to help Kurt, but not knowing what he needed.

Finn, Puck, Mike and Sam walked into the room laughing loudly.

Puck fell silent when he saw Kurt, as did Finn. The other two boys seemed to finally notice the tension, and they stopped mid step, Mike glancing curiously up at Tina.

All eyes fell on Kurt, who held his chin up higher, refusing to show how uncomfortable their stares made him.

Santana tilted her head at Puck in thought, "Puckerman, what do you know?"

Kurt turned to her in surprise.

"What? Nothing." Puck shifted his weight uncomfortably, trying to look innocent.

"Bullshit. Tell us everything." Santana demanded, glaring heatedly at Puck.

Puck glanced up at Kurt quickly, guilty evident on his face, "I didn't do it, I swear." He hesitated, before sitting in the seat furthest away from Kurt, Finn following, head down.

"Well you know more than you're letting on," Mercedes said, standing up with her hands on her hips as she rounded on Puckerman, "Who did it?"

Puck shrugged, glancing briefly at Kurt again, "I don't kn-"

"Don't you dare say, 'you don't now.' Tell us, Puckerman, or I will cut you," Mercedes threatened.

"Yeah me too," Rachel stood up, not looking half as intimidating as Mercedes.

Santana also spun out of her chair to face Puck, "I'm with Gloria and man hands."

Brittany, as per usual, mirrored Santana, and stood, linking Pinkies with her best friend.

"Whoa," Puck put his hands up defensively, "There's no need to go all Mean Girls on me. It was Blaine."

"I knew it," Rachel screeched.

"Oh, hell to the no!"

"That bastard."

"What did Blaine do?" Sam asked the group at large.

"He hurt my dolphin!" Brittany shrieked, "Look at what that curly headed monster did to him."

Santana, seeing Sam's confused frown, explained, "Go look at Kurt and see what that asshole did to him."

Sam's frown deepened as he and Mike walked towards Kurt, stopping as they caught sight of his purpling jaw.

After a few moment of relative silence, "Kurt, did Blaine do this to you?" Mike asked softly.

"Yes," Kurt relented, sick of everyone asking and trying to prevent Finn or Puck telling the group some misguided version, "But I don't want to report it, I don't want anyone to say anything."

Mercedes rounded on him, "Kurt you have to say something."

"No, I don't. Just leave it alone." Kurt said firmly, staring her down.

An awkward silence fell over the club.

"Noah? Finn?" Rachel said cautiously after a few minutes.

They turned to look at her, mirrored expressions of fear and guilt splashed across their faces.

"Yeah?"

"How did you know that it was Blaine?" She asked wearily, not really wanting the answer, "Because, you see, that bruise on Kurt's face looks to be fairly recent, so how did you know it was Blaine when neither Sam or Mike did? Did you see what happened?"

Kurt's stomach dropped.

He knew if Rachel was able to figure out that Puck was there, then she would come to the conclusion that Finn was also there, and then she would-

"Oh my god," she gasped, as Puck's eyes fell guiltily to the floor.

"You were there," she accused, "And if you were there then that means that Finn was there, oh how could you Finn? You mother is dating his father!"

Everyone gasped when they realized what had happened.

Finn sunk lower in his chair, hunching his shoulders as his face paled.

"There was nothing we could do," he tried.

Kurt stood up sharply, causing his chair to clatter backwards.

"You could have stopped him," Kurt told Finn, who sunk impossibly lower under Kurt's gaze, "You could have stood up for me, but you didn't."

Kurt ran a hand through his hair, past caring about vanity.

He took a deep breath, "I need to go."

And he bolted out the door.

Kurt had always promised himself that he would never run away, he promised himself that he would always stand and fight. But he couldn't do it, not this time. He couldn't stand the sight of Finn or Puck, two boys who, despite their differences, he'd believed to be friends, or at least acquaintances.

Kurt was sick of everything, of everyone.

He needed to go home, and call Blaine.

Kurt stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening in realization.

He hadn't checked on Blaine.

Kurt knew Blaine, better than anybody else. He knew that Blaine would be beating himself up, torturing himself over something that they'd both agreed upon.

Blaine punching Kurt had been a mutual decision, and though Kurt was feeling the physical effects, he was damn sure that Blaine was mentally berating himself at this very moment.

He whipped out his phone, calling speed dial one and pressing it against his ear as he continued his trek to the parking lot.

"Hey this is Blaine, I can't come to the phone right now-"

Kurt cursed at his phone, unlocking his car swiftly and jumping in. The sooner he got home the sooner Blaine would come over.

Kurt just knew that Blaine would be upset. The first time Blaine had pushed Kurt into a locker he'd cried the whole night in Kurt's arms, repeating, over and over, ‘I'm so sorry Kurt.'

Blaine walked down the dim street, kicking stones absentmindedly as he made the familiar path to Kurt's house.

When he reached the house he didn't even bother with the front door, opting instead to go straight around the back, and climb the huge oak tree next to Kurt's window.

He slipped a few times, due to how exhausted he was, but eventually made it up the tree, flattening himself out against the thickest branch, and slowly pulling himself along it.

It began to dip, so he pulled himself up, straddling the branch and pushing himself into a crouch.

Blaine took a deep breath and leaped, sailing through the air for a few seconds before landing on the roof of the high patio with a quiet thump.

Blaine brushed himself off and crept quietly toward the window on his right. He slid it open, wincing as the old wood groaned quietly in protest, and climbed through, landing softly on the plush carpet.

Edward Cullen had nothing on him.

Blaine shook his head, clearing it of any Twilight related thoughts, and focused on the sleeping form in the bed.

Kurt's luminescent skin truly made him resemble an angel.

Blaine's angel.

He crept silently over to Kurt's bed, gently sitting himself down by Kurt's waist and taking a few moments to just admire the beauty that was his boyfriend.

Kurt was sleeping on his stomach, his face buried deep within the pillow.

Blaine frowned, Kurt always slept on his back or side.

Why the sudden change?

Blaine stretched a hand out and gently stroked Kurt's hair, raking his fingers through it slowly. Kurt sighed in contentment and snuggled further into his pillow. Blaine paused, scared that he'd awaken Kurt. Kurt stilled, and Blaine resumed running his fingers through Kurt's locks.

He ghosted his fingertips down the pale skin of Kurt's long neck, across his shoulder blades, continuing down his back, gently tracing patterns into the warm flesh. Blaine's hand touched Kurt's lower back he flinched in his sleep.

Blaine retracted his hand quickly, a sick feeling filling his stomach.

Blaine reached for Kurt again, hesitantly peeling Kurt's shirt from his back. Kurt shifted as the cold air assaulted his skin, but continued sleeping.

Blaine froze when Kurt's lower back was exposed, dropping the shirt and pulling away in horror.

He couldn't move.

The once flawless, creamy skin of Kurt's back was now a sickening purple, highlighted by the beams of moonlight flowing through Kurt's open window.

Blaine had caused that.

He began to shake, eyes widening and hand coming to clasp over his mouth, trying to keep his violent sobs from waking Kurt.

Kurt stirred in his sleep, Blaine pulled further away from him, standing on shaky legs. Kurt rolled over, wincing slightly as his back hit the mattress and his eyes fluttering open.

He sat up quickly, the pain in his lower back irrelevant as Kurt took in the sight of his hysterical boyfriend. He reached out and grasped Blaine's hand, pulling him down into his arms as he continued to convulse.

Blaine tried to pull away, but Kurt kept him locked to his chest, arms tightening around Blaine's body.

Blaine's sobs gradually resided, and when he was quietly whimpering into Kurt's chest, Kurt released the tight lock he had around Blaine, threading his fingers through his boyfriend's curls comfortingly.

"I'm so sorry Kurt. I'm so, so sorry," Blaine whispered, hand fisting tightly into the side of Kurt's cotton pajamas.

Kurt's fingers continued to thread through Blaine's hair, "You did what you had to."

Blaine let out another heart wrenching sob, hand tightening in Kurt's shirt.

Kurt pulled back from Blaine, "Blaine, look at me."

Blaine's eyes remained locked to Kurt's chest.

"Blaine," Kurt tried again, cupping his jaw gently and forcing his face towards his.

Blaine's eyes flicked up to Kurt's face, gaze instantly falling on the ugly bruise on his jaw.

Blaine's face crumpled as another sobbed escaped his throat.

"Blaine," Kurt said firmly, "If you didn't do what you did, we would have been in a lot more trouble. You saved us."

Blaine shook his head, eyes focused on Kurt's comforter.

"Yes, you did," He whispered softly, once again forcing Blaine to look at him, "I love you so much it scares me, Blaine. What you did today, it took a lot of courage. Did it hurt? Yes, but it was to protect me, to protect us," He grabbed Blaine's hand and placed it above his beating heart, "What we have is strong, Blaine, we're strong, and you're brave, so, so brave for what you did today."

"I'm sorry," Blaine whispered hoarsely, blinking away the wetness in his eyes.

Kurt gently kissed Blaine's forehead, his fingers resuming their trek through his curls.

They sat in silence, relishing in the feel of the other, and the quiet sounds of their combined breathing.

 Blaine eventually broke the silence with a broken, "I don't want to do this anymore." He pulled away and reached for Kurt's cheek, fingers hovering over the bruised skin, "I don't want to hurt you, I don't want to be someone I'm not and I want the world to see us for who we are, not what they want us to be."

Kurt once again pulled Blaine tightly against his chest, breathing in the smell of him as he buried his cheek in Blaine's curls.

"I agree," Kurt whispered eventually, fingertips now dancing patterns across Blaine's back, "I talked to my dad when I came home today."

Blaine's breathing halted.

Kurt smiled gently, "Don't worry, he knows that you had no other choice and he's not angry. He understands and, well, he thinks it's about time we stopped this."

When Blaine and Kurt first started dating, they hid their plan of Blaine being Kurt's bully from their parents. Four years later, when Kurt and Blaine were darn sure that it was working, they decided to tell them.

Long story, short. They had been extremely angry.

Kurt and Blaine explained everything, and, after their parents were assured that both boys were safe, and watching after one another, they decided no harm could come from what they were doing, and let them be.

Letting their parents in on their charade had caused no major hitches, until Carole's car had broken down, and been towed to Hummel's tire and Lube, where Burt and Carole met, and became enamored to the other.

They started dating and, as they got to know each other better, Burt was introduced to Finn. He realized how dangerous it could be for Kurt and Blaine if Finn ever found out about their relationship, so Burt had been lying to Carole.

"My parents said that too," Blaine breathed out, "But I don't think we should do it just yet." He pulled back from Kurt, reaching up to rub his thumb gently across Kurt's cheekbone, "I'm terrified Kurt. When we do go public with our relationship, it's going to be hell for the both of us. I'll get shit for being gay, and they'll accuse me of peeking at their junk because I've always changed with them in the locker room. You'll get shit because they'll accuse you of ‘infecting' me. I think we need to find a way to gradually get the football team to accept who you are. And I need to find away to connect with your friends, because they're going to be the only people at school who will support what we have."

Kurt leaned into Blaine touch, reveling in the comforting warmth, "You're so smart."

Kurt pulled back slightly and kissed Blaine's palm, "I love you."

Blaine's eyes met Kurt's and they both smiled gently, "I love you too," he returned.

Kurt shifted under Blaine, wrapping his arms around his waist again and nuzzling into his shoulder.

"Stay with me tonight," Kurt whispered into Blaine's neck, kissing it lightly.

"I'll stay forever if you'll let me," Blaine whispered back, turning to face Kurt and kiss him softly.

Kurt lay down, pulling Blaine with him and Blaine willingly obliged, lying down next to Kurt and pulling off his jeans, leaving him in only his boxers and shirt.

Kurt rolled onto his back again, wincing slightly as the bruised skin on his back stretched, and Blaine pulled the cover across their bodies.

This was not new to them, they've shared the same bed so many times that they've lost count, even in the earliest stages of their relationship, where they would only kiss lightly and hold hands, they still slept side by side.

The fact is that, their sexual relationship had taken a long time to get where it was today. It had taken them a whole year before Kurt worked out the courage to tentatively slip his tongue into Blaine's willing mouth. They had been very young and it was a scary thought.

It had taken them another three years to realize that if you grind your hips together you create a very lovely friction. When they were fourteen they dared to slip their hands under the waistband of the other's pants, about twenty minutes later they had experimented with mouths. They have fingered each other a few times but they're both content with taking the physical aspects of their relationship slow.

Sex would happen soon, they both knew that, but they were in no rush and were happy honing their oral skills for the time being.

Kurt snuggled closer to Blaine, flinging an arm across his chest and pulling him closer.

"Blaine?"

"Yeah?"

"I'd like it if you'd stay forever."

"So would I."

"Night babe, I love you."

"Goodnight gorgeous, I love you too."

As they waited for sleep to take them they both lay awake, listening to the soothing sound of the other breathing, wondering what tomorrow would bring for them.