Will The Real Rachel Berry Please Stand Up?

18

Quinn had decided if she wasn't so desperately in love and lust with Rachel then her constant vetoing of Quinn's plans for revenge (usually involving public humiliation or violence dished out by Santana) would have infuriated her. If Rachel started on about the circle of violence once more Quinn thought she might be driven to singing the Lion King song with amended lyrics and no-one would be happy. Ali had been watching her carefully, staying out of the conversation and giving Quinn sympathetic looks.

"Look Rachel, I'm prepared to accept that today's outburst of violence inflicted on Finn and threatened towards the footballers was an aberration," she could see Rachel looking uncomfortable," but, and we've had this conversation before, turning the other cheek just results in you looking like a doormat and everyone having a go"

"You think of me as a doormat?" Rachel's tone was ominously steady

Quinn paused – this was all about to go pear shaped if she wasn't careful. She reached out to squeeze Rachel's hand and decided to side step the question

"What I mean is you've been amazingly self-controlled and strong willed in never hurting people who have set out to hurt you and that makes you a so much better person than the rest of us" she paused to see whether her words were having an effect and noted Rachel's posture relax a little, "yet that didn't change anything. I'm suggesting we take a more Old Testament like approach and give as good as we get."

Rachel turned her hand so she could intertwine her fingers with Quinn's

"We're currently the number one topic on McKinley's gossip circuit and your tussles with Finn are only adding to that interest factor" Rachel explained patiently.

"Pot and kettle after today" interjected Quinn with a grin recalling the kneeing and insulting of Finn with amusement.

"What I'm saying is everyone knows we're a couple and that we're not ashamed of that. There's no mileage to bullying if it doesn't provoke a reaction.."Rachel looked Quinn in the eye and Quinn felt her heart rate increase. Oh to be able to stroke that face.

"You didn't react and the bullying didn't die down" Quinn pointed out trying to ensure her voice wasn't too husky. Face stroking could wait until the conversation finished.

"Okay let me put it this way then. I'm not happy deliberately setting out to hurt or upset or embarrass other people – no matter how much any rational person thinks they might deserve it. I'd prefer we acted together and I'm not adverse to delivering an occasional lecture " Rachel said with an earnest expression.

"So this is your plan? Rachel, we can't bore them into submission" Quinn tried to keep her exasperation, crossed with adoration, out of her voice.

"Quinn you need to do what you feel is right for you but I want nothing to do with any activities designed to humiliate or physically hurt anyone else. " Rachel considered her afternoon for a moment," Or rather, I aspire to that. I understand why you want to Quinn as I don't think I have ever felt so – satisfied?- as I did today kneeing Finn," Quinn noted the massive smirk on Rachel's face as she recalled the moment in her head," but I should be better than that. You must do what you think best"

Ali stood behind Rachel shaking her head and mouthing 'No' at Quinn. Quinn considered her options carefully," Okay well then let's try and come up with things that you would be happy with and take it from there. We're in this together"

It seemed posters saying 'I like to bully girls' was as radical as Rachel was prepared to be and this was only when Quinn pointed out that this was a factually correct statement and hence any humiliation was in fact the responsibility of the bully. Anything else Quinn suggested, no matter how tame, was rejected. Quinn mentally resigned herself to a slushy filled future and wondered whether it would be appropriate to pray for the strength to not retaliate - her and God weren't exactly on good terms.