The next period was gym class, which Blaine didn’t mind. He really wasn’t as much of a nerd as he let on. Under the dress shirts and bow ties and khakis, he had a boxer’s body. He had been boxing for a couple years now to learn how to protect himself, and it had really paid off.

The plan for class today was swimming…and Blaine couldn’t help smile at the thought of the shock when he walked in. People just didn’t expect a nerd to have abs, and the reaction was always glorious.

He draped his blue and yellow plaid shirt over the bench and grabbed his white towel. His white swimming trunks sat low on his hips and he couldn’t help chuckle at the thick rimmed glasses on the butt of the trunks.

He smiled as he walked into the pool area, but the first thing he saw was a flash of white and red splash into the pool and the sound of laughter. He was confused at the sight of Coach Sylvester arms crossed looking into the pool…that was until he saw someone come sputtering to the surface.

Wait…was that…Kurt? In fact it was Kurt…a fully clothed Kurt who looked less than happy. His hair was sticking to his forehead and it looked like he had makeup that was smudging. Kurt seemed to have tried to calm himself but he let out an enraged yell before he swam to the edge of the pool and climbed out. Blaine watched confused as Kurt ran into the locker room. Blaine glared at David and his friends…who were laughing hysterically.

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Kurt stalked into the locker room, a scowl plastered on his face. That, he thought, was humiliating. He started to undress, prying the soaked Cheerio uniform from his body to put his swim trunks on.

What he didn’t hear, however, was Blaine sneak in behind him. As Kurt pulled the shirt of his uniform over his head, he heard a loud gasp. He whipped his head around just in time to see an appalled Blaine backing up into the lockers behind him, a hand over his mouth in surprise. Kurt let out a small yelp and pulled a towel over his chest.

“What are you doing?!”

“I-I, uh, wanted to make sure you were…y’know, ok…what happened?”

Kurt looked away. “What do you mean?”

“The-…God, Kurt, all the bruises.”

“I don‘t know what you‘re talking about-”

“Kurt. Did…did David do that?” Kurt looked down, his eyes tearing up. Blaine walked over to him and put his hand on his shoulder. “It’s ok. You don’t have to live like that. You can leave him. You can-”

“I’m not leaving him.” Blaine paused and looked at him.

“Your no-…what?”

“He loves me. He loves me and I love him.”

“Kurt, if he’s hitting you like this, he doesn’t-”

“Don’t tell me what to do with my life.” Kurt was crying now, and Blaine was on the verge too, seeing Kurt like this. “I can date whoever I want. I don’t have to run it by you.”

“Kurt. Please, just listen to me. I know. I-”

“No! Just-…just go.” Blaine stood there for a minute, looking at Kurt. Kurt was sobbing now, tears running down his cheeks. “Go!” With that, Blaine took one last look at Kurt and left the locker room, glaring at David as he came in.

“What are you waiting for, Hummel, Coach is waiting.” Kurt looked at David, and all he could see was Blaine’s face when he saw all the bruises on Kurt’s back. Maybe…maybe Blaine was right. And every time Blaine had tried to help, Kurt just pushed him away. He was defending David…but what did David do for him? “Hummel. Coach is waiting. What are you waiting for? Get it in gear, would ya?” David turned and began to walk back out to the pool. All of a sudden, the words just came up, first in a whisper.

“We’re done…” David whipped around to face Kurt again.

“What did you say?” This time he found the strength to say it louder.

“I said, we’re done. I’m breaking up with you, David.” David stared at him, shocked.

“Your…your what? No no no, you can’t do that to me. No, after all I did for you?”

“You mean using him as your own personal punching bag?” Kurt looked behind David and saw Blaine standing there. Man, that guy could not take a hint…but Kurt had to admit that it worked in his favor this time. Plus…he kinda wanted Blaine there.

“You stay out of this.” David dismissed Blaine and went back to Kurt.

“Don’t talk to him like that.” It was Kurt’s turn to defend someone for once. Oddly enough, it really did make him mad hearing David blow Blaine off like that.

David stood there looking from Kurt to Blaine. “Fine. Fine, we are done. But not because you said so. Because I said so.” David left, punching a locker on his way out.

Blaine walked slowly over to Kurt, not sure how he would react. He was still crying with his head in his hands sitting on the bench in front of his still open locker. Blaine sat down next to him and out a hand on his bare shoulder. Kurt shuddered and looked up at Blaine, his whole face red from crying. Through sobs, he spoke in a whisper to Blaine.

“Wh-why did you come back?” Blaine scooted closer to Kurt and put his arms around him, careful of the bruises on his back. Kurt leaned into Blaine’s exposed chest and continued to sob, yet felt comforted by Blaine’s presence. Blaine rested his chin on Kurt’s head.

“Because I care about you.” As Blaine whispered the words into Kurt’s silky hair, Kurt rose from Blaine’s chest and kissed him. Blaine moaned into the kiss at the contact of Kurt’s soft lips on his own. This is what he’d wanted since the day he came to William McKinley High School. This is what he’d craved, but never thought he could have. But now…now that he felt Kurt’s arm sneak around his torso, he knew that he was in love.