Title: Losing Ground

Author: msathenaxf

Summary: As a rule, fathers do not like Puck. Which is why talking to one of Rachel's two dads is always uncomfortable.

Author's Notes: This was inspired by a prompt at the puckrachel meme, except after I read it, I couldn't find it again. Sorry if it was yours, especially if I'm not remembering the prompt correctly.

Losing Ground

"So, Noah. I understand that you and Rachel have been spending a lot of time together lately."

Noah paused, his glass halfway to his lips. He looked at the other man from his seat at the kitchen counter. True fact-Puck didn't like fathers, and they definitely didn't like him. It was the natural order of things and Puck both accepted and respected it. He'd dealt with a lot of fathers—and some sons and husbands—over the years and recognized when one was throwing down the gauntlet. This was one of those times.

For whatever reason, though, it was quiet Brian Berry that freaked him out more than any other father he'd ever met. And the man didn't even know that Puck and Rachel had dated until well after things had ended. Puck could handle yelling, blatant attitude, dirty looks. But Brian went for the sneak attack and Puck never knew where he stood with him. Something was about to go down.

So, he went the safe route. "Yes." Easy, simple. Honest, even. Brian just nodded and continued to flip hash browns onto plates. There was nothing in his face that implied he wanted any more information, or that Puck's answer was unsatisfactory.

Puck squirmed anyway.

Before he even realized it, Puck found himself filling the silence. "Well, when I moved to New York, I knew she could show me around. Plus, it turns out our apartments aren't too far apart, so it just seems easier to meet up with each other than anyone else." Puck glanced quickly at the other man. "We're just friends, though."

Brian looked at him, taking a short break from cooking breakfast. His expression was amused. "Really," Brian said dryly. "You know, I'm not quite so naïve to think that my daughter is completely innocent."

"Honestly, we're just friends. If she's doing anything…not innocent, it isn't with me." Puck wondered why that sentence tasted like sawdust on his tongue.

"Hmm. My mistake. Only a matter of time, I suppose, before she finds someone to bring home."

Puck paused, wondering where on the battlefield he stood. Brian seemed to believe him about their relationship, but Puck didn't know his angle. Unless…maybe she'd mentioned some guy and Brian was fishing for intel. Except—what guy?

"Has she talked about bringing anyone home?"

"Just you."

Oh. Back to quiet. And squirming. Puck really wished Rachel would come down for breakfast soon. Brian calmly scrambled eggs—and one serving of egg replacement—before pouring them into two separate skillets.

"Well, I don't know of anyone either, if that's what you want to know. I mean, Rachel and I are friends, but not that kind of friend. We don't have slumber parties and talk about boys, or anything like that."

Brian smiled. "So what do you do?"

"Um, I don't know. Hang out, I guess. Like she drags me to hole-in-the-wall vegetarian restaurants and I make her go see a movie. Or we just listen to music. She took me to see some Broadway show once, and I made her watch a Mets game. Fair's fair," Puck smirked. "I mean, really, we're just friends. Sometimes we don't even go out. We'll just hang in one of our apartments. She'll read while I mess around on the computer. We won't even be talking or anything. Just kind of nice to have her around, you know?"

Brian laughed, and his face reflected complete understanding. "I know. I had a friend like that once."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I married him."

And just like that, Puck felt the trap spring shut.

~fin