Blaine's body ached. His knuckles were sore, his ribs bruised and his legs shaky. He just had to work through the pain. Maybe he'd be able to steal some pain killers off someone later if it got too much for him.

He stood, leaning against his locker, trying not to look as weak as he felt. A few jocks walked by giving him dark looks but none of them approached him. He only hoped that they weren't bothering Kurt. He didn't know whether anyone knew that Kurt had been involved but if they did they would be more likely to start something with him than with Blaine. Kurt was an easy target, walking around in his tights pants and other fashionable accessories. He stuck out like a sore thumb.

Walking slowly and trying to appear as casual as possible, Blaine made his way to the hallway where Kurt's locker was. And there was Kurt, stood next to his locker, where he had been attacked before. Blaine clenched his fists, his knuckles protesting to the action.

Kurt looked pale, standing there. He appeared to be in his own world and Blaine wondered what he could be thinking about. But at least he was being left alone.

"You know it's getting kind of creepy with you just staring at him all the time. Just ask him out."

Blaine turned around to see Mercedes Jones standing there with her hands on her hips and a smug look on her face.

"I don't stare all the time." Blaine said, ignoring the last part of her comment.

"Oh, sweetie. You do and it's obvious. And if the two of you have been caught smooching..." She trailed off, a knowing grin on her face.

Blaine just grunted.

"Look," She dropped the teasing tone, opting for a more serious one. "Kurt wouldn't just play around with you, if that's what you're worried about. If Kurt kissed you then there is a reason behind it."

"I don't get it. We're not even friends." Blaine said motioning between the two of them.

"We may not be but that boy there is my friend. My best friend. I want him to be happy. You may not be my first choice for him but you're what he wants. Don't screw it up."

Mercedes turned away from him and Blaine went back to looking at Kurt. He guessed he was doing a lot of staring, though he would never admit that to anyone.

Should he ask out Kurt? Relationships, well, let's just say they weren't really his thing. He'd only ever been in one and it had been horrible and destructive. Did Blaine really want to go there again? Plus relationships meant being honest with one another and there were just some things that Blaine would never ever want Kurt to know. And being faithful? That one would be difficult as well. He didn't see Kurt opting for an open relationship and he would never expect him to. But Blaine needed the random sex. It kept him from going insane and spilling out his anger.

Kurt deserved so much better. He deserved something more than what Blaine could give him. When he had started pursuing Kurt he had only wanted a hook up with him. Watching him walk around in his tight pants had made Blaine's own pants feel a little tighter, so much so, he had had to jerk himself off in the toilets so that he could hide his hard on.

He didn't even know how he'd gotten to the stage that he was at with Kurt. It was probably because Kurt didn't put out like so many other guys had. Because he couldn't have him, Blaine's mind seemed to always move Kurt to the forefront.

Blaine simply refused that his heart had anything to do with it. Nope, his heart didn't skip a beat whenever Kurt looked in his direction. Much like he was now. Shoot.

XXXX

Kurt's mouth went dry and the palms of his hands went clammy as he approached his locker. The memory of what had happened here had been suppressed by worrying about Blaine but now came to him in full force and he felt panic rising in him.

He completely forgot the reason that he was at his locker. If he could close his eyes he could picture everything that had happened so clearly. The hallway seemed to get quieter and everyone else disappeared. It was just him, Blaine and Karofsky.

Kurt tried his best to halt his mind. He knew where it was travelling to and he didn't want to go there. He refused. Concentrating as hard as he could he dragged his gaze away from the locker and decided to just go to his first class early.

But there Blaine was. Watching Kurt as he had so many time before. Normally seeing Blaine watching over him would calm Kurt but as he took in the boys appearance he felt anything but. A gasp escaped from his lips and he hurried over to him.

"What happened to you?" Kurt asked, lightly grazing his fingertips over a bruise on Blaine's cheek. "This wasn't from Friday."

"I'm good, don't worry about me." Blaine said.

He took Kurt's hands away from his face and Kurt noticed the state of his knuckles. He felt tears welling up in his eyes. Blaine was obviously really hurt and Kurt didn't like to think of him being in pain.

"Oh, Blaine. Your hands." Before he even knew what he was doing, he had brought their hands to his lips and gently kissed Blaine's knuckles.

Blaine let out a shaky breath and he closed his eyes tight shut.

"You haven't cleaned these up properly , have you?"

Kurt didn't wait for a response. Taking Blaine by the wrist, so not to hurt his hands, he went back to his locker. Pushing down the rising panic he quickly got a first aid kit out of it and then dragged Blaine to the boys toilets, locking the door behind them.

"You come prepared?" Blaine asked, he wore a smirk but sadness tinged his voice.

"You never know." Kurt murmured. "Here let me clean you up."

XXXX

Blaine couldn't help but watch Kurt as he tended to him.

It angered him that Kurt felt that he needed a first aid kit in his locker. The thought of someone doing something to harm Kurt sent his blood boiling.

But anger wasn't the emotion that he was feeling most strongly now. Watching Kurt take care of him made Blaine's chest feel tight and tears welled up in his eyes, which he refused to let fall. Luckily Kurt was so focused on his hands.

No one had ever tried to look after Blaine before. He couldn't even recall childhood memories of someone caring for him in this way. His father was always at work, his mother was either at work or out with the 'girls'. His older brother Cooper had tried but being ten years older than Blaine and having as much energy as he did, looking after his younger brother was just too boring.

"There. All clean." Kurt smiled up at Blaine.

Blaine cleared his throat. "Thanks."

Kurt gave him another smile but then it slipped from his face and he looked like he wanted to say something.

"Umm... I actually wanted to ask you something." Kurt said nervously.

"Sure go ahead." Blaine tried to give him a reassuring smile when inside he was just as worried about what the question might be.

Kurt took a deep breath, as if preparing himself before he spoke in a quiet voice.

"Will you be my boyfriend?"