Tree without blossoms - Chapter 5/20
Oct. 8th, 2011 09:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunmontueTitle: Tree without blossoms
Pairing: Kurt Hummel/David Karofsky, mention of past Kurt/Blaine, Kurt/OC and Dave/OC, Mercedes Jones/OC,
Rating: M/NC-17
Word count: ~6,500 words for this chapter
Warnings: None that I can think of as yet that aren’t already indicated by the rating. Original characters needed for a future!fic to be plausible? Is that a valid warning?
Summary: A future!fic set in 2025 where Kurt and Dave's lives intertwine again, proving just how small the world really is, and how Fate has a twisted sense of humour. AU from end of Season 2.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Glee.
Author's Note: I had to get some actual dates going in this, not actually mentioned, but to get things correct, and found that there is a public holiday which fitted in with my imaginary timeline perfectly. Heaps of Dave/Kurt interaction here to make up for the lack in the previous chapter. If you're a fan of Mercedes and Kurt's friendship in this, then I posted a short one-shot of some of their history together.
CHAPTER ONE - AUGUST 2025 (part one)
CHAPTER TWO - AUGUST 2025 (part two)
CHAPTER THREE- AUGUST 2025 (part three)
CHAPTER FOUR - SEPTEMBER 2025
CHAPTER 5 - OCTOBER 2025 (part one)
Dave had thought he was going to be bored for the majority of this trip. Santana had been very cagey and elusive every time he'd asked a question, and he'd started to feel quietly apprehensive regarding her entire attitude toward the weekend. As he sits beside her in first class as their plane descends he knows she's hiding something from him, but he can't pinpoint what. When he sees Mercedes and Mike at La Guardia airport in New York late on a Friday night his stomach clenches and his eyes dart nervously around the baggage claim, worst fears confirmed.
His inklings of ideas that have been rattling around in his head are now starting to take shape. He knows that Rachel Berry lives in New York, and Blaine Anderson (who he always pretended to never know the name of back in high school), so he's fairly certain he's walking into either an ambush, or a reunion. And quite frankly, a glee club reunion and ambush are fairly synonymous with each other right now.
He fights the childish urge to dig his heels in and refuse to leave the airport, but decides (with a surprising amount of forethought), that he can dig his heels in from the comfort of his hotel room, where Santana is footing the bill and he will have food on call. She's splurged, and he now knows why. She's softening the blow for when he realises he's going to be spending the weekend with a bunch of people who pretty much hated him in high school. He wonders when she thinks he's going to click. He's not stupid by any stretch of the imagination.
Of course, Dave has Santana and Mike, and, he supposes, Mercedes on his side now, who will no doubt vouch for his changed character. And Kurt. He stumbles a bit as he realises that Kurt might be here as well. He's not sure why he didn't immediately think of him, but he supposes he was too busy trying to figure out what the hell Santana was up to.
He's not sure if he's ready to see Kurt again. It's been almost two months since he last saw him, but Dave can't get him out of his head. His father on the phone talking about him, Mercedes' casual mentions of him or talking to him on the phone when they are all hanging out. It feels like he's fucking everywhere, and Dave has spent a few nights in his guest room just to ensure a full nights sleep.
He comes back to the present, and he's not surprised when he realises he's carrying not only his own luggage, but Santana's as well. He'd have offered anyway, his father has ingrained in him how to be a gentleman, and even if he's gay and doesn't have much call to use it, it continually pops to the forefront, even with Santana. He gives a start when he hears Mercedes say his name before realising she's talking about him, not to him, and apparently she's berating Santana for using him to carry her luggage.
"What else am I going to use him for? It's not like we want to bump uglies," Santana replies and Dave pulls a face, making Mercedes laugh.
They manage to squeeze in to one taxi to their hotel, and Dave has given Santana an 'I'm not impressed' look to indicate he's on to her, and she'd just smiled back benignly looking incredibly self-satisfied. He's not going to lower himself and ask who exactly she's meeting up with. His best friend is here, so the weekend is still salvageable. And he'll use his hotel room as a bolt hole. And if that doesn't work, well, New York is a big city; he can lose Santana, and turn off his phone to ensure she can't find him until he wants her to.
Santana has booked adjoining rooms, which makes Dave's first point of business ensuring it is locked and she can't waltz in. Last time he fell asleep around her was five years ago and he lost his eyebrows, and he's not risking that again. Karen had tried drawing eyebrows on him, which had made him look like a circus clown, and he had endured ribbing from the work guys for weeks until they had grown back.
When Mike knocks at his door and informs him that they're going down to the bar for drinks Dave sighs and agrees. He's not sure what's going to happen this weekend, but he's grateful that Mike is here. He'd always noticed at school that things always seemed to get crazy when the glee club was involved, and his money is on this weekend being no different.
Dave doesn't know what Santana is playing at, but she's made herself comfortable in his lap, drink in hand, and she's stroking his forearm in an absent minded way. Dave shoots Mike a perplexed look and catches Mercedes trying not to laugh and fall off her bar stool.
"What are you playing at?" Dave asks, voice low, trying to figure out where this might be heading. He knows she's not hitting on him.
"Nothing. Just playing in general really…"
"Great," Dave mutters, and then groans quietly as Finn Hudson and Puckerman walk into the bar, spot them, and head their way.
He does a double take seeing them again, weird visions of their high school selves overlaying the men in front of him, before fading away and just leaving two ordinary looking guys. There are general greetings and introductions all round, raised eyebrows when they recognise Dave, and drink orders placed.
"Huh. So you guys got back together then?" Finn asks, and Dave catches Mercedes' eyes as she snorts in laughter. Mike is looking equally amused, but is hiding it far better.
"Yes, we're inseparable," Santana murmurs, resuming her arm stroking and Dave rolls his eyes. Puckerman is eyeing the two of them speculatively.
"Huh. I never would have picked it. I thought you were a lesbian," Finn states, obviously talking to Santana and ignoring Dave. Which is fine with him, he's starting to be amused too. Puckerman catches his eye and Dave smiles at him politely.
"Oh, I was. But I really can't resist a nice piece of man-meat like Dave here," Santana purrs and Dave yelps as she grabs his knee in a charley-horse. Mercedes is laughing silently, hand clamped over her mouth, but eyes streaming with amusement. Mike's head is bowed, but his shoulders are shaking. Dave eyes the bowl of peanuts and wonders if he'd get thrown out of the bar if he threw them at the pair.
"Oh. Um. That's… more than I ever wanted to know," Finn says, and he's bright red in embarrassment.
"Congratulations on your new baby," Dave says, trying to be nice, and not only save Finn some embarrassment, but steer the conversation away from Santana's apparent appreciation of his man-meat. God, it's a wonder he hadn't sprayed everyone with his drink when she said that, he'd only just stopped a dribble when she grabbed his knee. He's still trying to figure out what she's up to.
"Oh, thanks. Yeah, she's pretty cute. Melanie's parents are visiting this weekend, so she let me come," Finn is explaining, despite not being asked. "Wait, how did you know about her?"
"My Dad mentioned seeing you with them," Dave says, and he's not lying. His father e-mails him at least twice a week, and if he's seen any of the people Dave went to school with, they get an honourable mention. Dave normally scans over those parts quickly, but has to admit that since August he's taken a bit more interest in Finn because of his familial link to Kurt. And that makes him feel just a tad pathetic.
Mercedes is asking how their drive was, Finn and Puckerman apparently sharing the driving from Lima. Dave is glad that Santana choose to fly, because he couldn't stand being cooped up in a car that long.
When a guy in a wheelchair rolls himself into the bar Dave knows he's now at a fucking glee club reunion. At least with Hudson and Puckerman he could just talk football if necessary, despite the fact that they probably don't play anymore, but now that Double-A is here… and Dave has no idea what the guy's name is, just that he has the same first and last initial as Azimio, which had earned him the secret nickname of Double-A. He can't remember all of the glee club, well, not their names anyway, but is feeling fairly sure he'll know most of them pretty well by the end of the weekend.
And Dave is ashamed to admit it, but if the guy had walked into the bar, he wouldn't have recognised him. It is the wheelchair which is the defining feature, and Dave knows how labels like that just suck arse, so he's determined to not only learn the guy's name, but get to know the guy properly. He listens carefully as Mercedes introduces him to Mike and Dave's brain fizzes with the reminder 'Artie Abrams'.
"So, Puckerman, I hear you're a school teacher now…" Dave starts, hoping he's coming across as polite. He wants to be polite, and things are going well so far.
"Seriously dude, call me Noah. I get enough of fucking Puckerman at work. Mr Puckerman! Mr Puckerman!" His voice goes all high falsetto when he says his own name and Dave grins.
"Done. If you can call me Dave. So, how many of you glee clubbers are turning up?" Dave asks, knowing that asking Puckerman won't raise eyebrows, and he wants to know if he should prepare himself for seeing Kurt again.
"Uh, I'm not really sure. Hey Artie! Where's your old lady?"
"She has to work this weekend," Artie replies and then looks at Dave, his gaze narrowing. "Karofsky?"
"Guilty as charged," Dave replies, grinning, but feeling a bit uncomfortable under the scrutiny he is now receiving.
"He's here with me…" Santana says, hand straying to Dave's leg again, but he grabs it quickly and unceremoniously stands, forcing her off his lap and making her stand as well. Artie's eyebrows have disappeared behind his fringe and he's looking confused. Dave recognises the look and jumps on it. Someone sane!
"I'm here with her, but not like that! She's with Kate," Dave says, trying to fob Santana's hands off from grabbing his arm.
"I knew it!" Puckerman exclaims, doing a little finger waving thing that just looks odd on him.
"Thirty-seven minutes," Mike states, looking up from his watch.
"Damn it!" Santana spits, obviously annoyed. Mercedes looks pleased and is rubbing her hands together.
"Did you guys just bet on me?" Dave asks, eyes narrowing, and Mercedes looks embarrassed while Santana looks unapologetic.
"Of course. If you'd held out another three minutes and I'd be twenty dollars richer…"
Dave let out a long sigh and tries to remind himself why he's friends with her when she's still this annoying after all these years. However obviously Santana was under the impression he'd go along with her version of crazy for a little while longer.
"How did you know she was lying?" Dave asks, turning to Puckerman.
"I'm a high school teacher. I'm used to spotting bull shit."
On Saturday morning Dave wakes feeling very well rested. Despite his initial misgivings he'd enjoyed last night, so isn't too worried about what today holds. No one has mentioned anyone else turning up, so Dave has relaxed slightly. Today they're hanging out in Central Park for at least part of the afternoon, because tossing a football around has apparently gone to the top of the list of thing's Finn wants to do while in New York.
He showers and dresses at a leisurely pace. They're meeting for a late breakfast at some eatery that Rachel Berry has insisted they have to try, and she's meeting them there. She was in a show last night, so had been unable to join them, but Santana and Mercedes have both informed Dave he's not to feel bad if he occasionally feels like hitting her upside the head. Apparently she invokes that response in a lot of people.
He meets up with Mike and Mercedes in the lobby and they wait together for Santana. Artie, Finn and Puckerman are staying in a cheaper hotel a block over, so they're all finding their own way. Santana eventually turns up and Dave is surprised. He doesn't see her in jeans very often, but he can admit she looks good. And he compliments her. She eyes him suspiciously before tucking her handbag under her arm and demanding they get the show on the road.
Breakfast turns out to be even more entertaining than drinks the previous evening. Dave had never realised quite how crazy or highly strung some of these people are. Rachel Berry has arrived in a flurry of flowing scarves that make her look a bit ragged and she'd looked at Dave with narrowed eyes before obviously deciding to simply ignore him.
Dave decides to just be amused by the behaviour, although he does feel a bit miffed. He'd kept a low profile in senior year, cut out the bullying, made a conscious effort to either ignore Kurt, or talk to him politely. He'd made it clear to the football and hockey teams that he was keeping an eye on them regarding the bullying, all of the bullying, not just that directed at glee club members. It hadn't stopped all of the verbal taunts, but the physical attacks had lessened at least.
But it would seem that for Rachel Berry at least, his last year of high school and the preceding thirteen years can't have been allowed to change him. He's obviously still the big-bad-bully in her eyes, and it's unforgivable that he's even here. He wonders if Santana bringing him was a ploy to piss Rachel off, because if it was, it seems to be working. He lays on the charm, offering to take Mercedes' and Santana's jackets and pulling chairs out for them. He shoots Mercedes a wink and a smirk, and she grins back at him, obviously just as amused.
They're at a diner, and Rachel is telling everyone how good the crepes are when a waiter comes over to take their orders. His eyes are flicking over each guy at the table and Dave barely holds back a snort at how obvious he's being. Their eyes meet briefly and there is a flare of interest in the other, much younger, man's eyes. He's cute, Dave concedes, but he's also about ten years too young for him. At least.
He introduces himself as Teddy, takes their orders, and then throws a grin and a wink at Dave. Dave smiles back good naturedly, knowing it's not going to go anywhere. The exchange hasn't gone unnoticed. Mike and Mercedes are both looking amused, most of the other guys seem oblivious, but Rachel is sitting there, eyes narrowed and nostrils flared. Dave really wants to be snarky and ask her if she has a problem, but he closes his mouth firmly.
"You do realise that young man is gay don't you?" her voice demands, quiet in deference to the busy morning crowd. Dave shrugs in response, not sure where she could possibly be going with this. "I'm watching you David Karofsky. You do or say anything to that poor boy and I will report you to the police for hate crimes!"
"What?" Dave replies, in utter disbelief.
"Oh for fucks sake Berry, stop talking shit about stuff you know nothing about. Not only is Davey here a police officer, but he's gay to boot. Dresses up in a tutu every year and dances down the street sprinkling rainbow coloured confetti," Santana interjects and Dave glares at her.
"It was one time, and it was only because I lost a bet," Dave mutters, and Mike is laughing loudly, and Mercedes is asking if he has pictures.
"Wait, you're gay?" Finn asks, voice loud enough that all the people sitting around them turn to look. Dave rolls his eyes, not that he cares anymore, but Finn obviously hasn't developed any tact. Rachel is looking a little like a goldfish, mouth opening and closing slowly.
"Uh, yeah," Dave replies, just suddenly realising that half the people at the table don't actually know he's gay. Well, he's all for coming out a second time. "I'm gay, and yes, I have dressed in a tutu and danced down a street, but it was part of a pride parade and I'd also had a bit to drink."
"But Santana was sitting on you last night," Finn says, as if that type of logic is infallible. Dave doesn't hold back his eye roll.
"Sorry to break this to you man, but Santana is a lesbian, and anyway, a woman sitting on me doesn't make me straight."
"But…How long have you been gay?" Finn asks, and the confusion on his face is both endearing and irritating.
"Seriously? Kurt is your brother and you're asking me that question?"
"You know what I mean!" Finn whines, and Dave realises he's actually asking when Dave came out. Huh.
"Um, I came out in College. Mike was the first person I told, outside of my parents," Dave states, and he's not including Kurt and Blaine, because not only does that open a whole other can of worms, but he didn't actually say it out loud to either of them.
"When did you tell your parents?" Rachel asks, and her voice is quiet and her eyes are now assessing him with a far more sympathetic tone.
"Uh, beginning of senior year," Dave answers, and he's a bit embarrassed by being the centre of attention, particularly in this group of people.
"So that's why you were such an arse to Kurt," Rachel surmises, and Dave nods his head in agreement. That's an oversimplification of it, but if it's a summation that people can get their heads around then he'll go with it. Puckerman and Finn are both nodding in agreement, as if the universe suddenly makes sense to them.
Mike has an eyebrow quirked, he knows it's not that simple, but Dave shrugs his shoulders. These people don't need to know more. The important people know, and maybe if Kurt is still speaking to him, Dave might go into more depth if he ever shows an interest, but Dave is quite happy to leave it in the past.
Their orders arrive, and true to Rachel's claims, they are indeed some of the best crepes Dave has ever eaten. At least in the USA. Talk turns to daily lives, reminiscence of high school, and plans for the weekend. Dave learns that Kurt is arriving tonight, which causes his stomach to do a little half-clench half-flip. He tries to remind himself why Kurt is off limits, the distance, the fact that he's not heard from him in two months, the fact he's still fresh out of a relationship. His logical mind is listening and nodding, all the other bits of his mind (including his libido) are sitting back, feet up on imaginary coffee tables with arms crossed, smirking and muttering about how well logic worked last time they saw each other.
At the end of the meal the waiter slips Dave a napkin, and a quick look confirms that there is a name and number written on it. Puckerman sees it and elbows him in the side, leering at him, eyebrows waggling and muttering 'go get some'. Dave shakes his head and leaves the napkin on the table.
Dave enjoys the afternoon in Central Park, and not only because he and Mike are running circles around Finn and Puckerman. Dave is secretly glad that he's been able to maintain his level of fitness since school. In fact he's pretty sure he's fitter now. Finn and Puck had been so sure that they'd win the two-versus-two football game, and then been forced to eat their words.
Mercedes had taken some of the sting out of the defeat by informing them that Dave and Mike train at least twice a week and have a game every weekend, so not only workout, but also still play on a regular basis. It makes Finn and Puckerman split them up, and after that they are fairly evenly matched.
It's an unseasonably warm day, especially after running around, so they hunt down a bored ice cream vendor, and then proceed to walk around. Dave has started calling Puckerman Noah occasionally, but still calls him Puckerman in his head. He on the other hand has had no trouble switching to calling Dave by his first name, and neither has Finn. Dave is pretty sure it's because Mike, Mercedes and Santana repeatedly call him Dave, whereas Puckerman is still getting called Puck at least half the time.
Dave has spent some time talking to Artie, trying to get to know him. He's an electronic engineer and designs thermistors. Dave barely understands what he's talking about, but he's obviously passionate about it, whatever it is. He shows him pictures of Brittany and Jasmine, clearly a proud father, and Dave responds by fishing out photos of his niece and nephews.
Rachel sidles up to him at one point when he's alone, laying a hand on his arm. Dave looks down at her, not saying anything.
"You've changed quite a lot from high school."
Dave feels like this is another oversimplification, but also a bit stupid. It's been years.
"I started changing in high school. Only a few people actually took notice though."
"Kurt did, didn't he? He always said back then that you were trying to change. That I shouldn't be so harsh about you. Did he know you were gay?"
Dave nods, a bit taken aback by the fact that Kurt had obviously been standing up for him back in high school. The idea is odd, and doesn't fit easily in his mind, but it doesn't stop him liking it. Rachel pats his arm again, squeezing it slightly, before leaving to go and walk arm-in-arm with Mercedes.
Dave's not sure what the name of the restaurant is, but it's upscale, and he's glad Santana told him to pack a dinner jacket. He's still wearing jeans, but his best pair, and he's even put on a tie at Santana's express demand. He feels less like an overdressed fool when Mike comes out of his room in a full suit. They'd all had to go back to wherever they were staying and have a shower, despite the sudden cold rain shower which had suddenly appeared and drenched them all except Rachel, who had expertly pulled an umbrella from her bag mere seconds after the first drops of rain.
They're in a separate side room that Rachel has reserved for the ten of them. Drinks have arrived, but Dave decides to stick with water for now. Blaine arrives and Dave overhears Finn (in what Finn obviously assumes is a whisper) tell him that Dave is gay. Dave rolls his eyes, and then Blaine catches Dave's eye and the smile he's giving Dave is so…proud. Dave smiles tightly back but can't stop thinking that he's still an arrogant bastard. Dave knows he probably doesn't mean to be condescending, but that's how it comes across, so Dave just elects to try and avoid him as much as possible.
This weekend trip has coincided with Columbus Day, a holiday which the state of California has not recognised now for ten years, so Kurt has taken Monday off so that he can spend at least Sunday with everyone. He's flying in late as it is, missing the Saturday daytime activities and he's told Rachel he'll meet everyone at dinner. He's had a long week, after several other long weeks, and quite frankly getting on a plane to fly to the opposite coast was the last thing he wanted to do this afternoon, despite the fact he hasn't seen either Rachel or Blaine for over six months.
Sure, he's speaks to them when he has time (which isn't as often as any of them like), but he's starting to realise that nothing is a substitute for spending actual time with the people he loves. Even if he does want to duct tape their mouths shut sometimes. Or most of the time. His time in August with Mercedes has made him realise how much he misses her in particular, because she's an easy friend to be with. If he doesn't want to talk, she doesn't push him, unlike Rachel and Blaine, who sill both go at him hammer and tong until he breaks down and screams. Usually at them.
He tries to doze in the cab on the way to the hotel. He's got to go there first, check-in, drop his luggage, and then get to the restaurant. If he has enough time he really wants to shower, but judging the flow of traffic he's going to be hideously late. He can't do anything about it, so he simply sends Rachel a quick message and tried to make himself as comfortable as he can in the back of the cab.
Dave feels the change in atmosphere at the table instantly and he turns to look at what has caught everyone's attention. Kurt is standing at the head of the table and he looks… terrible. He looks exhausted, skin far too pale, and there are dark grey circles around his eyes. Finn, Puckerman, Artie and Rachel are exchanging worried glances between himself and Kurt, as if expecting some major exclamation from either one of them. Dave smiles at him, eyebrows both quirking up in a form of greeting. Then chairs are being pushed back and Kurt is enveloped in a multitude of arms as Rachel, Blaine and Mercedes all jostle to hug him. Dave notes that Kurt just looks like he wants to be anywhere but here. Probably in a bed. Sleeping.
Kurt finally shrugs off the well intentioned hugs and then catches the nervous looks people are giving him, and then giving Dave. For a moment Kurt feels like his heart has stopped beating, he thinks that Dave has told them of their little hook-up two months ago. But the looks are actually quite nervous, like they aren't sure how he's going to react to Dave's presence. Kurt snorts internally.
"Oh honestly," he mutters, and indicates for Noah to move over a seat so he can sit beside Dave, forcing Rachel and Blaine to close the gap they'd intentionally left between them for Kurt. Noah raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything. Rachel is looking a bit put out that he isn't sitting beside her, and Blaine is watching the byplay with a speculative look.
Kurt ignores all of them, knowing he cannot face being the filling in a Rachel and Blaine sandwich right now; he just doesn't have the energy. Instead he's between Dave and Noah, which will be much easier to cope with. In theory. As long as he doesn't drink too much and can keep his hands to himself.
"Dave…" Kurt greets, his smile small and tired, and Dave smiles back, which instantly relaxes him. He'd worried that Dave might resent him, or be angry, and he's a bit embarrassed by the whole 'coming and crying' thing, but if he repeats his mantra of 'friends' often enough it has to eventually sink in. Right?
"Hey Kurt, rough flight?" Dave asks, and even though Kurt looks like shit, Dave can't stop the flare of attraction as Kurt settles into the chair beside him.
"The flight was fine, it's the last month that's doing my head in," Kurt says, pouring himself a glass of wine after inspecting the label. Kurt looks around the table quickly and notes that apart from Mike, Mercedes and Santana everyone is looking at them with a variety of looks, ranging from knowing (Blaine), confused (Finn) to sulky (Rachel).
"When did you two become friends?" Rachel demands, tone indignant despite her apparent acceptance of Dave that very afternoon. Dave feels the resounding urge to thwack her. This is what Mercedes and Santana had warned him about. Kurt is rolling his eyes and this makes Dave feel slightly warm inside, that despite the fact the two are good friends she obviously annoys Kurt as well.
"When I went and stayed with Mercedes back in August, Dave and I hung out a lot. Him and Mike are best friends," Kurt supplies, calmly taking a sip of his wine, but Dave notices the slight pinking of cheeks, but only because he's looking for it.
Their eyes meet for a brief moment and they both look away at the same moment, and unfortunately because they're sitting beside each other it's pretty obvious and Kurt knows that at least two people at the table are likely going to pick up on it. He takes a deep steadying breath, trying not to be paranoid.
"When did you see Dave? You never told me you saw Dave!" Finn is saying, and Kurt turns to look at him incredulously.
"Finn, I told you that I saw Dave when I was in Chicago…that I saw Santana at the same time?" he prompts, getting nothing but a blank look from Finn. "It's what led to this whole semi-reunion thing in the first place!" Kurt huffs, and finally there is a dawning look of comprehension on Finn's face as he obviously recalls the conversation.
Kurt mutters under his breath about men being impossible and Dave snorts softly in amusement. The two of them share a smile again, and then conversations start up again, and Kurt just goes with the flow. People move places more than once, and he's not trying to do it intentionally, but he notes that Dave seems relaxed and at ease with everyone at the table, except maybe Blaine.
He avoids sitting down beside Rachel or Blaine for any extended period of time, just not having the energy, and he has sent Mercedes an SOS text saying she has to rescue him after ten minutes. She carries out her best friend duties valiantly and when the meals arrive Kurt finds himself once again sitting beside Dave, with Artie on his other side.
Dave can feel Kurt's knee pressed against his thigh, and he's not sure if it's intentional or accidental, or if it started out as accidental and now Kurt is fucking messing with him… but the worst part is that Dave wants to put his hand under the table and rest it on Kurt's knee to ease the nervous jiggling. Except he's fairly sure that it's tired nerves, rather than genuine nerves, because Kurt should feel at ease in the company of these people.
Unless it's Dave that is making him nervous. But Dave doesn't think so, because he's noticed Kurt avoiding spending too long with either Rachel or Blaine, and he doesn't need to know why if the result is this; Kurt's body warmth seeping through two layers of fabric and Dave's body zinging with awareness. The logical part of his brain is cowering in the corner while the other parts throw rotten fruit at it.
Kurt waits at the bar, fingers drumming against the smooth marble as he waits, mind considering several different things at once. Work. Home. Dave. He feels bad, but he's been using Dave to keep awake, pressing his leg against him, because his whole body sat up and paid attention like it's just had three double espressos.
"Hey," Blaine greets, bumping his hip with one of his own. Kurt smiles at him weakly. He knows he's not his usual self, but he's too tired to put on a façade and pretend, even if it would help stop the imminent questions. "So…you and Dave huh?" Blaine says, eyes watching Kurt carefully. Kurt lets out a long breath and shakes his head slowly.
"There is no me and Dave, Blaine. He lives in Chicago. I live in LA. We aren't a unit. And I only broke up with Alex two months ago."
"Well, yeah, okay. But you want something with him, because you have this little guilty but hungry look on your face each time you look at him and think no-one is watching. Makes me pretty sure that you guys have already done something. Just not sure what," Blaine says, shrugging his shoulders slightly, and Kurt keeps his face carefully blank.
Blaine used to know him very well, but they don't see each other often enough for that type of all-knowing nature to have endured, so Kurt knows he can bluff his way through this.
"He's attractive. Even you have to admit that," Kurt says, and Blaine shrugs noncommittally. "I may have expressed interest when I was last in Chicago, a fling type thing to get over Alex, you know," Kurt waves a hand in an all-encompassing gesture. "He turned me down. Very graciously. He doesn't do flings. So no… there is nothing between us, and never will be. LA. Chicago. End of story," Kurt states, and really hopes that's the end of it.
"Huh. Okay. Shame really, he seems to be able to calm you down," Blaine says, and Kurt feels a little insulted. He doesn't need calming down! "So, if he doesn't do flings then I don't suppose I have any chance with him either," Blaine muses and Kurt refuses to react. His gut had clenched at the idea, but he knows Blaine is trying to garner a reaction, and Kurt isn't going to give him one. Fortunately his drink arrives and Kurt accepts it, before heading back towards the private dining room.
Dinner is over, and Dave is tired, but his mind is too busy to fall asleep straight away. He's changed into sweat pants and is working through some kata, trying to quiet his mind, when there is a knock at his door. He breaks form, trying to figure out whether it's the internal door that leads to Santana's room, or the one that opens to the corridor. He heads to the front door, pressing the video surveillance button so he can view who it is knocking.
Kurt is standing there, either unaware he's being watched, or not caring, as he scrubs at his face with a hand and simply looks like he's going to break into a thousand pieces. Dave takes a deep calming breath and opens the door.
"Hi. Everything alright?"
"Yeah. Can I come in?"
Dave steps back and opens the door wider to allow him to pass. He's not sure why Kurt is here, but he looks like he's about to fall asleep on his feet. He shuts the door behind him and turns to face Kurt.
"So, what can I do for you?" Dave asks, suddenly feeling a bit exposed without a shirt on, but refraining from crossing his arms to cover himself, knowing it will make him appear nervous. Which he isn't. Not really.
"Um, it wasn't so much what you can do for me, but what I can do for you… I kind of owe you one…" Kurt says, and the blush high on his cheeks makes it blatantly obvious what he's referring to. Dave tries to recall how much Kurt had to drink at dinner, but can't recall more than the one glass of wine.
"Kurt, it doesn't work like that. You don't have to pay me back. You just… obviously needed it last time, and, well… I'm just glad I could help."
"You did help. I haven't slept that well in ages," Kurt admits, and Dave feels his ego deflate a little bit. No mention of the kissing or hand job or… just a good nights rest. Good to know he's useful for something. He lets out a long loud shuddery breath, mind made up.
"Come on," Dave says, reaching a hand out for Kurt's and tugging him gently towards the bed.
"Have you changed your mind?" Kurt asks, and Dave thinks he might have been trying to be seductive, except the effect is ruined by a massive yawn.
Dave shakes his head, pushing Kurt to sit on the bed before kneeling to undo his shoes, taking them off, followed by the socks and Kurt's pants. Dave grabs a t-shirt from his bag and pulls it over Kurt's head after removing his shirt. He tries to ignore the spark of arousal he feels at seeing Kurt in his clothes. He looks ever more tired and vulnerable now. So much smaller, even though it's all illusion. He pulls back the blankets and slides in, pulling Kurt down beside him so that Kurt is enveloped in the blankets as well as Dave's body.
"Mmm, you feel good," Kurt murmurs, nuzzling into Dave's shoulder, his hand reaching for Dave's cock before Dave grabs his wrist and guides it to his hip instead. "Wanna suck you off…" Kurt slurs and Dave can't help a rueful smile.
"Just go to sleep Kurt. If you really feel like returning the favour we'll revisit the idea tomorrow when you're both fully sober and well rested," Dave says, and in his head his libido is whacking his compassion over the head with a chair. Kurt agrees with a sleepy 'okay', already drifting off, and Dave feels both touched and amused at how comfortable Kurt must feel to simply curl up and sleep with him. It's the second time in as many months he's gone to sleep with Kurt Hummel in his arms. He tries to ignore the part of his brain which is saying he could get used to this.
TBC...
Pairing: Kurt Hummel/David Karofsky, mention of past Kurt/Blaine, Kurt/OC and Dave/OC, Mercedes Jones/OC,
Rating: M/NC-17
Word count: ~6,500 words for this chapter
Warnings: None that I can think of as yet that aren’t already indicated by the rating. Original characters needed for a future!fic to be plausible? Is that a valid warning?
Summary: A future!fic set in 2025 where Kurt and Dave's lives intertwine again, proving just how small the world really is, and how Fate has a twisted sense of humour. AU from end of Season 2.
Disclaimer: I still do not own Glee.
Author's Note: I had to get some actual dates going in this, not actually mentioned, but to get things correct, and found that there is a public holiday which fitted in with my imaginary timeline perfectly. Heaps of Dave/Kurt interaction here to make up for the lack in the previous chapter. If you're a fan of Mercedes and Kurt's friendship in this, then I posted a short one-shot of some of their history together.
CHAPTER ONE - AUGUST 2025 (part one)
CHAPTER TWO - AUGUST 2025 (part two)
CHAPTER THREE- AUGUST 2025 (part three)
CHAPTER FOUR - SEPTEMBER 2025
CHAPTER 5 - OCTOBER 2025 (part one)
Dave had thought he was going to be bored for the majority of this trip. Santana had been very cagey and elusive every time he'd asked a question, and he'd started to feel quietly apprehensive regarding her entire attitude toward the weekend. As he sits beside her in first class as their plane descends he knows she's hiding something from him, but he can't pinpoint what. When he sees Mercedes and Mike at La Guardia airport in New York late on a Friday night his stomach clenches and his eyes dart nervously around the baggage claim, worst fears confirmed.
His inklings of ideas that have been rattling around in his head are now starting to take shape. He knows that Rachel Berry lives in New York, and Blaine Anderson (who he always pretended to never know the name of back in high school), so he's fairly certain he's walking into either an ambush, or a reunion. And quite frankly, a glee club reunion and ambush are fairly synonymous with each other right now.
He fights the childish urge to dig his heels in and refuse to leave the airport, but decides (with a surprising amount of forethought), that he can dig his heels in from the comfort of his hotel room, where Santana is footing the bill and he will have food on call. She's splurged, and he now knows why. She's softening the blow for when he realises he's going to be spending the weekend with a bunch of people who pretty much hated him in high school. He wonders when she thinks he's going to click. He's not stupid by any stretch of the imagination.
Of course, Dave has Santana and Mike, and, he supposes, Mercedes on his side now, who will no doubt vouch for his changed character. And Kurt. He stumbles a bit as he realises that Kurt might be here as well. He's not sure why he didn't immediately think of him, but he supposes he was too busy trying to figure out what the hell Santana was up to.
He's not sure if he's ready to see Kurt again. It's been almost two months since he last saw him, but Dave can't get him out of his head. His father on the phone talking about him, Mercedes' casual mentions of him or talking to him on the phone when they are all hanging out. It feels like he's fucking everywhere, and Dave has spent a few nights in his guest room just to ensure a full nights sleep.
He comes back to the present, and he's not surprised when he realises he's carrying not only his own luggage, but Santana's as well. He'd have offered anyway, his father has ingrained in him how to be a gentleman, and even if he's gay and doesn't have much call to use it, it continually pops to the forefront, even with Santana. He gives a start when he hears Mercedes say his name before realising she's talking about him, not to him, and apparently she's berating Santana for using him to carry her luggage.
"What else am I going to use him for? It's not like we want to bump uglies," Santana replies and Dave pulls a face, making Mercedes laugh.
They manage to squeeze in to one taxi to their hotel, and Dave has given Santana an 'I'm not impressed' look to indicate he's on to her, and she'd just smiled back benignly looking incredibly self-satisfied. He's not going to lower himself and ask who exactly she's meeting up with. His best friend is here, so the weekend is still salvageable. And he'll use his hotel room as a bolt hole. And if that doesn't work, well, New York is a big city; he can lose Santana, and turn off his phone to ensure she can't find him until he wants her to.
Santana has booked adjoining rooms, which makes Dave's first point of business ensuring it is locked and she can't waltz in. Last time he fell asleep around her was five years ago and he lost his eyebrows, and he's not risking that again. Karen had tried drawing eyebrows on him, which had made him look like a circus clown, and he had endured ribbing from the work guys for weeks until they had grown back.
When Mike knocks at his door and informs him that they're going down to the bar for drinks Dave sighs and agrees. He's not sure what's going to happen this weekend, but he's grateful that Mike is here. He'd always noticed at school that things always seemed to get crazy when the glee club was involved, and his money is on this weekend being no different.
"What are you playing at?" Dave asks, voice low, trying to figure out where this might be heading. He knows she's not hitting on him.
"Nothing. Just playing in general really…"
"Great," Dave mutters, and then groans quietly as Finn Hudson and Puckerman walk into the bar, spot them, and head their way.
He does a double take seeing them again, weird visions of their high school selves overlaying the men in front of him, before fading away and just leaving two ordinary looking guys. There are general greetings and introductions all round, raised eyebrows when they recognise Dave, and drink orders placed.
"Huh. So you guys got back together then?" Finn asks, and Dave catches Mercedes' eyes as she snorts in laughter. Mike is looking equally amused, but is hiding it far better.
"Yes, we're inseparable," Santana murmurs, resuming her arm stroking and Dave rolls his eyes. Puckerman is eyeing the two of them speculatively.
"Huh. I never would have picked it. I thought you were a lesbian," Finn states, obviously talking to Santana and ignoring Dave. Which is fine with him, he's starting to be amused too. Puckerman catches his eye and Dave smiles at him politely.
"Oh, I was. But I really can't resist a nice piece of man-meat like Dave here," Santana purrs and Dave yelps as she grabs his knee in a charley-horse. Mercedes is laughing silently, hand clamped over her mouth, but eyes streaming with amusement. Mike's head is bowed, but his shoulders are shaking. Dave eyes the bowl of peanuts and wonders if he'd get thrown out of the bar if he threw them at the pair.
"Oh. Um. That's… more than I ever wanted to know," Finn says, and he's bright red in embarrassment.
"Congratulations on your new baby," Dave says, trying to be nice, and not only save Finn some embarrassment, but steer the conversation away from Santana's apparent appreciation of his man-meat. God, it's a wonder he hadn't sprayed everyone with his drink when she said that, he'd only just stopped a dribble when she grabbed his knee. He's still trying to figure out what she's up to.
"Oh, thanks. Yeah, she's pretty cute. Melanie's parents are visiting this weekend, so she let me come," Finn is explaining, despite not being asked. "Wait, how did you know about her?"
"My Dad mentioned seeing you with them," Dave says, and he's not lying. His father e-mails him at least twice a week, and if he's seen any of the people Dave went to school with, they get an honourable mention. Dave normally scans over those parts quickly, but has to admit that since August he's taken a bit more interest in Finn because of his familial link to Kurt. And that makes him feel just a tad pathetic.
Mercedes is asking how their drive was, Finn and Puckerman apparently sharing the driving from Lima. Dave is glad that Santana choose to fly, because he couldn't stand being cooped up in a car that long.
When a guy in a wheelchair rolls himself into the bar Dave knows he's now at a fucking glee club reunion. At least with Hudson and Puckerman he could just talk football if necessary, despite the fact that they probably don't play anymore, but now that Double-A is here… and Dave has no idea what the guy's name is, just that he has the same first and last initial as Azimio, which had earned him the secret nickname of Double-A. He can't remember all of the glee club, well, not their names anyway, but is feeling fairly sure he'll know most of them pretty well by the end of the weekend.
And Dave is ashamed to admit it, but if the guy had walked into the bar, he wouldn't have recognised him. It is the wheelchair which is the defining feature, and Dave knows how labels like that just suck arse, so he's determined to not only learn the guy's name, but get to know the guy properly. He listens carefully as Mercedes introduces him to Mike and Dave's brain fizzes with the reminder 'Artie Abrams'.
"So, Puckerman, I hear you're a school teacher now…" Dave starts, hoping he's coming across as polite. He wants to be polite, and things are going well so far.
"Seriously dude, call me Noah. I get enough of fucking Puckerman at work. Mr Puckerman! Mr Puckerman!" His voice goes all high falsetto when he says his own name and Dave grins.
"Done. If you can call me Dave. So, how many of you glee clubbers are turning up?" Dave asks, knowing that asking Puckerman won't raise eyebrows, and he wants to know if he should prepare himself for seeing Kurt again.
"Uh, I'm not really sure. Hey Artie! Where's your old lady?"
"She has to work this weekend," Artie replies and then looks at Dave, his gaze narrowing. "Karofsky?"
"Guilty as charged," Dave replies, grinning, but feeling a bit uncomfortable under the scrutiny he is now receiving.
"He's here with me…" Santana says, hand straying to Dave's leg again, but he grabs it quickly and unceremoniously stands, forcing her off his lap and making her stand as well. Artie's eyebrows have disappeared behind his fringe and he's looking confused. Dave recognises the look and jumps on it. Someone sane!
"I'm here with her, but not like that! She's with Kate," Dave says, trying to fob Santana's hands off from grabbing his arm.
"I knew it!" Puckerman exclaims, doing a little finger waving thing that just looks odd on him.
"Thirty-seven minutes," Mike states, looking up from his watch.
"Damn it!" Santana spits, obviously annoyed. Mercedes looks pleased and is rubbing her hands together.
"Did you guys just bet on me?" Dave asks, eyes narrowing, and Mercedes looks embarrassed while Santana looks unapologetic.
"Of course. If you'd held out another three minutes and I'd be twenty dollars richer…"
Dave let out a long sigh and tries to remind himself why he's friends with her when she's still this annoying after all these years. However obviously Santana was under the impression he'd go along with her version of crazy for a little while longer.
"How did you know she was lying?" Dave asks, turning to Puckerman.
"I'm a high school teacher. I'm used to spotting bull shit."
He showers and dresses at a leisurely pace. They're meeting for a late breakfast at some eatery that Rachel Berry has insisted they have to try, and she's meeting them there. She was in a show last night, so had been unable to join them, but Santana and Mercedes have both informed Dave he's not to feel bad if he occasionally feels like hitting her upside the head. Apparently she invokes that response in a lot of people.
He meets up with Mike and Mercedes in the lobby and they wait together for Santana. Artie, Finn and Puckerman are staying in a cheaper hotel a block over, so they're all finding their own way. Santana eventually turns up and Dave is surprised. He doesn't see her in jeans very often, but he can admit she looks good. And he compliments her. She eyes him suspiciously before tucking her handbag under her arm and demanding they get the show on the road.
Dave decides to just be amused by the behaviour, although he does feel a bit miffed. He'd kept a low profile in senior year, cut out the bullying, made a conscious effort to either ignore Kurt, or talk to him politely. He'd made it clear to the football and hockey teams that he was keeping an eye on them regarding the bullying, all of the bullying, not just that directed at glee club members. It hadn't stopped all of the verbal taunts, but the physical attacks had lessened at least.
But it would seem that for Rachel Berry at least, his last year of high school and the preceding thirteen years can't have been allowed to change him. He's obviously still the big-bad-bully in her eyes, and it's unforgivable that he's even here. He wonders if Santana bringing him was a ploy to piss Rachel off, because if it was, it seems to be working. He lays on the charm, offering to take Mercedes' and Santana's jackets and pulling chairs out for them. He shoots Mercedes a wink and a smirk, and she grins back at him, obviously just as amused.
They're at a diner, and Rachel is telling everyone how good the crepes are when a waiter comes over to take their orders. His eyes are flicking over each guy at the table and Dave barely holds back a snort at how obvious he's being. Their eyes meet briefly and there is a flare of interest in the other, much younger, man's eyes. He's cute, Dave concedes, but he's also about ten years too young for him. At least.
He introduces himself as Teddy, takes their orders, and then throws a grin and a wink at Dave. Dave smiles back good naturedly, knowing it's not going to go anywhere. The exchange hasn't gone unnoticed. Mike and Mercedes are both looking amused, most of the other guys seem oblivious, but Rachel is sitting there, eyes narrowed and nostrils flared. Dave really wants to be snarky and ask her if she has a problem, but he closes his mouth firmly.
"You do realise that young man is gay don't you?" her voice demands, quiet in deference to the busy morning crowd. Dave shrugs in response, not sure where she could possibly be going with this. "I'm watching you David Karofsky. You do or say anything to that poor boy and I will report you to the police for hate crimes!"
"What?" Dave replies, in utter disbelief.
"Oh for fucks sake Berry, stop talking shit about stuff you know nothing about. Not only is Davey here a police officer, but he's gay to boot. Dresses up in a tutu every year and dances down the street sprinkling rainbow coloured confetti," Santana interjects and Dave glares at her.
"It was one time, and it was only because I lost a bet," Dave mutters, and Mike is laughing loudly, and Mercedes is asking if he has pictures.
"Wait, you're gay?" Finn asks, voice loud enough that all the people sitting around them turn to look. Dave rolls his eyes, not that he cares anymore, but Finn obviously hasn't developed any tact. Rachel is looking a little like a goldfish, mouth opening and closing slowly.
"Uh, yeah," Dave replies, just suddenly realising that half the people at the table don't actually know he's gay. Well, he's all for coming out a second time. "I'm gay, and yes, I have dressed in a tutu and danced down a street, but it was part of a pride parade and I'd also had a bit to drink."
"But Santana was sitting on you last night," Finn says, as if that type of logic is infallible. Dave doesn't hold back his eye roll.
"Sorry to break this to you man, but Santana is a lesbian, and anyway, a woman sitting on me doesn't make me straight."
"But…How long have you been gay?" Finn asks, and the confusion on his face is both endearing and irritating.
"Seriously? Kurt is your brother and you're asking me that question?"
"You know what I mean!" Finn whines, and Dave realises he's actually asking when Dave came out. Huh.
"Um, I came out in College. Mike was the first person I told, outside of my parents," Dave states, and he's not including Kurt and Blaine, because not only does that open a whole other can of worms, but he didn't actually say it out loud to either of them.
"When did you tell your parents?" Rachel asks, and her voice is quiet and her eyes are now assessing him with a far more sympathetic tone.
"Uh, beginning of senior year," Dave answers, and he's a bit embarrassed by being the centre of attention, particularly in this group of people.
"So that's why you were such an arse to Kurt," Rachel surmises, and Dave nods his head in agreement. That's an oversimplification of it, but if it's a summation that people can get their heads around then he'll go with it. Puckerman and Finn are both nodding in agreement, as if the universe suddenly makes sense to them.
Mike has an eyebrow quirked, he knows it's not that simple, but Dave shrugs his shoulders. These people don't need to know more. The important people know, and maybe if Kurt is still speaking to him, Dave might go into more depth if he ever shows an interest, but Dave is quite happy to leave it in the past.
Their orders arrive, and true to Rachel's claims, they are indeed some of the best crepes Dave has ever eaten. At least in the USA. Talk turns to daily lives, reminiscence of high school, and plans for the weekend. Dave learns that Kurt is arriving tonight, which causes his stomach to do a little half-clench half-flip. He tries to remind himself why Kurt is off limits, the distance, the fact that he's not heard from him in two months, the fact he's still fresh out of a relationship. His logical mind is listening and nodding, all the other bits of his mind (including his libido) are sitting back, feet up on imaginary coffee tables with arms crossed, smirking and muttering about how well logic worked last time they saw each other.
At the end of the meal the waiter slips Dave a napkin, and a quick look confirms that there is a name and number written on it. Puckerman sees it and elbows him in the side, leering at him, eyebrows waggling and muttering 'go get some'. Dave shakes his head and leaves the napkin on the table.
Mercedes had taken some of the sting out of the defeat by informing them that Dave and Mike train at least twice a week and have a game every weekend, so not only workout, but also still play on a regular basis. It makes Finn and Puckerman split them up, and after that they are fairly evenly matched.
It's an unseasonably warm day, especially after running around, so they hunt down a bored ice cream vendor, and then proceed to walk around. Dave has started calling Puckerman Noah occasionally, but still calls him Puckerman in his head. He on the other hand has had no trouble switching to calling Dave by his first name, and neither has Finn. Dave is pretty sure it's because Mike, Mercedes and Santana repeatedly call him Dave, whereas Puckerman is still getting called Puck at least half the time.
Dave has spent some time talking to Artie, trying to get to know him. He's an electronic engineer and designs thermistors. Dave barely understands what he's talking about, but he's obviously passionate about it, whatever it is. He shows him pictures of Brittany and Jasmine, clearly a proud father, and Dave responds by fishing out photos of his niece and nephews.
Rachel sidles up to him at one point when he's alone, laying a hand on his arm. Dave looks down at her, not saying anything.
"You've changed quite a lot from high school."
Dave feels like this is another oversimplification, but also a bit stupid. It's been years.
"I started changing in high school. Only a few people actually took notice though."
"Kurt did, didn't he? He always said back then that you were trying to change. That I shouldn't be so harsh about you. Did he know you were gay?"
Dave nods, a bit taken aback by the fact that Kurt had obviously been standing up for him back in high school. The idea is odd, and doesn't fit easily in his mind, but it doesn't stop him liking it. Rachel pats his arm again, squeezing it slightly, before leaving to go and walk arm-in-arm with Mercedes.
They're in a separate side room that Rachel has reserved for the ten of them. Drinks have arrived, but Dave decides to stick with water for now. Blaine arrives and Dave overhears Finn (in what Finn obviously assumes is a whisper) tell him that Dave is gay. Dave rolls his eyes, and then Blaine catches Dave's eye and the smile he's giving Dave is so…proud. Dave smiles tightly back but can't stop thinking that he's still an arrogant bastard. Dave knows he probably doesn't mean to be condescending, but that's how it comes across, so Dave just elects to try and avoid him as much as possible.
Sure, he's speaks to them when he has time (which isn't as often as any of them like), but he's starting to realise that nothing is a substitute for spending actual time with the people he loves. Even if he does want to duct tape their mouths shut sometimes. Or most of the time. His time in August with Mercedes has made him realise how much he misses her in particular, because she's an easy friend to be with. If he doesn't want to talk, she doesn't push him, unlike Rachel and Blaine, who sill both go at him hammer and tong until he breaks down and screams. Usually at them.
He tries to doze in the cab on the way to the hotel. He's got to go there first, check-in, drop his luggage, and then get to the restaurant. If he has enough time he really wants to shower, but judging the flow of traffic he's going to be hideously late. He can't do anything about it, so he simply sends Rachel a quick message and tried to make himself as comfortable as he can in the back of the cab.
"Oh honestly," he mutters, and indicates for Noah to move over a seat so he can sit beside Dave, forcing Rachel and Blaine to close the gap they'd intentionally left between them for Kurt. Noah raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything. Rachel is looking a bit put out that he isn't sitting beside her, and Blaine is watching the byplay with a speculative look.
Kurt ignores all of them, knowing he cannot face being the filling in a Rachel and Blaine sandwich right now; he just doesn't have the energy. Instead he's between Dave and Noah, which will be much easier to cope with. In theory. As long as he doesn't drink too much and can keep his hands to himself.
"Dave…" Kurt greets, his smile small and tired, and Dave smiles back, which instantly relaxes him. He'd worried that Dave might resent him, or be angry, and he's a bit embarrassed by the whole 'coming and crying' thing, but if he repeats his mantra of 'friends' often enough it has to eventually sink in. Right?
"Hey Kurt, rough flight?" Dave asks, and even though Kurt looks like shit, Dave can't stop the flare of attraction as Kurt settles into the chair beside him.
"The flight was fine, it's the last month that's doing my head in," Kurt says, pouring himself a glass of wine after inspecting the label. Kurt looks around the table quickly and notes that apart from Mike, Mercedes and Santana everyone is looking at them with a variety of looks, ranging from knowing (Blaine), confused (Finn) to sulky (Rachel).
"When did you two become friends?" Rachel demands, tone indignant despite her apparent acceptance of Dave that very afternoon. Dave feels the resounding urge to thwack her. This is what Mercedes and Santana had warned him about. Kurt is rolling his eyes and this makes Dave feel slightly warm inside, that despite the fact the two are good friends she obviously annoys Kurt as well.
"When I went and stayed with Mercedes back in August, Dave and I hung out a lot. Him and Mike are best friends," Kurt supplies, calmly taking a sip of his wine, but Dave notices the slight pinking of cheeks, but only because he's looking for it.
Their eyes meet for a brief moment and they both look away at the same moment, and unfortunately because they're sitting beside each other it's pretty obvious and Kurt knows that at least two people at the table are likely going to pick up on it. He takes a deep steadying breath, trying not to be paranoid.
"When did you see Dave? You never told me you saw Dave!" Finn is saying, and Kurt turns to look at him incredulously.
"Finn, I told you that I saw Dave when I was in Chicago…that I saw Santana at the same time?" he prompts, getting nothing but a blank look from Finn. "It's what led to this whole semi-reunion thing in the first place!" Kurt huffs, and finally there is a dawning look of comprehension on Finn's face as he obviously recalls the conversation.
Kurt mutters under his breath about men being impossible and Dave snorts softly in amusement. The two of them share a smile again, and then conversations start up again, and Kurt just goes with the flow. People move places more than once, and he's not trying to do it intentionally, but he notes that Dave seems relaxed and at ease with everyone at the table, except maybe Blaine.
He avoids sitting down beside Rachel or Blaine for any extended period of time, just not having the energy, and he has sent Mercedes an SOS text saying she has to rescue him after ten minutes. She carries out her best friend duties valiantly and when the meals arrive Kurt finds himself once again sitting beside Dave, with Artie on his other side.
Unless it's Dave that is making him nervous. But Dave doesn't think so, because he's noticed Kurt avoiding spending too long with either Rachel or Blaine, and he doesn't need to know why if the result is this; Kurt's body warmth seeping through two layers of fabric and Dave's body zinging with awareness. The logical part of his brain is cowering in the corner while the other parts throw rotten fruit at it.
"Hey," Blaine greets, bumping his hip with one of his own. Kurt smiles at him weakly. He knows he's not his usual self, but he's too tired to put on a façade and pretend, even if it would help stop the imminent questions. "So…you and Dave huh?" Blaine says, eyes watching Kurt carefully. Kurt lets out a long breath and shakes his head slowly.
"There is no me and Dave, Blaine. He lives in Chicago. I live in LA. We aren't a unit. And I only broke up with Alex two months ago."
"Well, yeah, okay. But you want something with him, because you have this little guilty but hungry look on your face each time you look at him and think no-one is watching. Makes me pretty sure that you guys have already done something. Just not sure what," Blaine says, shrugging his shoulders slightly, and Kurt keeps his face carefully blank.
Blaine used to know him very well, but they don't see each other often enough for that type of all-knowing nature to have endured, so Kurt knows he can bluff his way through this.
"He's attractive. Even you have to admit that," Kurt says, and Blaine shrugs noncommittally. "I may have expressed interest when I was last in Chicago, a fling type thing to get over Alex, you know," Kurt waves a hand in an all-encompassing gesture. "He turned me down. Very graciously. He doesn't do flings. So no… there is nothing between us, and never will be. LA. Chicago. End of story," Kurt states, and really hopes that's the end of it.
"Huh. Okay. Shame really, he seems to be able to calm you down," Blaine says, and Kurt feels a little insulted. He doesn't need calming down! "So, if he doesn't do flings then I don't suppose I have any chance with him either," Blaine muses and Kurt refuses to react. His gut had clenched at the idea, but he knows Blaine is trying to garner a reaction, and Kurt isn't going to give him one. Fortunately his drink arrives and Kurt accepts it, before heading back towards the private dining room.
Kurt is standing there, either unaware he's being watched, or not caring, as he scrubs at his face with a hand and simply looks like he's going to break into a thousand pieces. Dave takes a deep calming breath and opens the door.
"Hi. Everything alright?"
"Yeah. Can I come in?"
Dave steps back and opens the door wider to allow him to pass. He's not sure why Kurt is here, but he looks like he's about to fall asleep on his feet. He shuts the door behind him and turns to face Kurt.
"So, what can I do for you?" Dave asks, suddenly feeling a bit exposed without a shirt on, but refraining from crossing his arms to cover himself, knowing it will make him appear nervous. Which he isn't. Not really.
"Um, it wasn't so much what you can do for me, but what I can do for you… I kind of owe you one…" Kurt says, and the blush high on his cheeks makes it blatantly obvious what he's referring to. Dave tries to recall how much Kurt had to drink at dinner, but can't recall more than the one glass of wine.
"Kurt, it doesn't work like that. You don't have to pay me back. You just… obviously needed it last time, and, well… I'm just glad I could help."
"You did help. I haven't slept that well in ages," Kurt admits, and Dave feels his ego deflate a little bit. No mention of the kissing or hand job or… just a good nights rest. Good to know he's useful for something. He lets out a long loud shuddery breath, mind made up.
"Come on," Dave says, reaching a hand out for Kurt's and tugging him gently towards the bed.
"Have you changed your mind?" Kurt asks, and Dave thinks he might have been trying to be seductive, except the effect is ruined by a massive yawn.
Dave shakes his head, pushing Kurt to sit on the bed before kneeling to undo his shoes, taking them off, followed by the socks and Kurt's pants. Dave grabs a t-shirt from his bag and pulls it over Kurt's head after removing his shirt. He tries to ignore the spark of arousal he feels at seeing Kurt in his clothes. He looks ever more tired and vulnerable now. So much smaller, even though it's all illusion. He pulls back the blankets and slides in, pulling Kurt down beside him so that Kurt is enveloped in the blankets as well as Dave's body.
"Mmm, you feel good," Kurt murmurs, nuzzling into Dave's shoulder, his hand reaching for Dave's cock before Dave grabs his wrist and guides it to his hip instead. "Wanna suck you off…" Kurt slurs and Dave can't help a rueful smile.
"Just go to sleep Kurt. If you really feel like returning the favour we'll revisit the idea tomorrow when you're both fully sober and well rested," Dave says, and in his head his libido is whacking his compassion over the head with a chair. Kurt agrees with a sleepy 'okay', already drifting off, and Dave feels both touched and amused at how comfortable Kurt must feel to simply curl up and sleep with him. It's the second time in as many months he's gone to sleep with Kurt Hummel in his arms. He tries to ignore the part of his brain which is saying he could get used to this.
TBC...
