Tree without blossoms - Chapter 8/20
Oct. 21st, 2011 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sunmontuePairing: Kurt Hummel/David Karofsky, mention of past Kurt/Blaine, Kurt/OC and Dave/OC, Mercedes Jones/OC,
Rating: M/NC-17
Word count: ~5,700 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.
Author's note: Sorry, plethora of OCs here – mostly Dave's family, whom he loves dearly, but which may likely drive him to drink several times this holiday period. Thanks to Debraelq for answering all my questions about Thanksgiving, hopefully I don't warp them too much next chapter! This is early because I have a three day weekend ahead of me and family are visiting, back to Saturdays next week.
Erm, despite my lack of disclaimers at the beginning of the last few chapters I do not suddenly own Glee. Nor do I own Sandy Powell, who is a real person who I have never met, but she is an award winning costume designer and Kurt's original mentor.
CHAPTER ONE - AUGUST 2025 (part one)CHAPTER TWO - AUGUST 2025 (part two)
CHAPTER THREE- AUGUST 2025 (part three)
CHAPTER FOUR - SEPTEMBER 2025
CHAPTER FIVE - OCTOBER 2025 (part one)
CHAPTER SIX - OCTOBER 2025 (part two)
CHAPTER SEVEN - OCTOBER 2025 (part three)
CHAPTER EIGHT - NOVEMBER 2025 (part one)
Dave hadn't planned on going back to Lima for Thanksgiving, mainly because his parents had had plans to come and stay with him for four days. However when his sister Pat rang him to ask if he minded if they all went to Lima instead, he'd agreed. Mainly because he can't remember the last time his dad has had all his kids and grandchildren in one place, but also because Pat and Jen seem to be planning something ridiculously big, and for once they're leaving him out of the loop. They of course think they're being incredibly subtle, which Dave equates to neon-camouflage gear.
He really can't bring himself to care or wonder what they're up to, because he's going to be seeing Kurt soon. Hopefully. Kurt had asked via text message a week ago if he was going to be in Lima for the holiday, and he'd been able to answer yes. That's been the limit of their contact all month, four text messages, with Dave's text asking if Kurt will be in Lima answered with a simple 'yes'. He's not sure what to make of the lack of contact. He knows he could have rung Kurt any number of times, but he's trying to mindful of the fact that Kurt is trying to figure himself out, and wants space. Anyway, Kurt is just as capable of ringing him.
He'd briefly considered undertaking the five hour drive back to Lima, but after agreeing to take his four-year old nephew with him, (which would apparently make the drive at least two hours longer but also make it seem double that again according to his sister Jen), he's decided to fly and rent a car at the other end.
He's learnt the hard way that holidays at home with no transport make him feel too much like a teenager again, particularly when he has to ask to borrow his dad's car. And he wants the freedom to see Kurt, needs to be able to grab keys and just go, not answer questions about where he's going and when will he be home.
So he's packed, double checked he's got his favourite jeans, misplaced his phone, unpacked to make sure it's not there, repacked after finding his phone in the fruit bowl of all places, and he's now trying to fall asleep. He's trying every relaxation and meditative technique he knows, but it feels like a lost cause, mind and body both wound too tightly to relax. He gives it up for a bad job and decides to go for a late night run.
Kurt's determined to relax this weekend. He's not going to check his e-mails and he's set his phone so that all numbers classed as work related go automatically to voicemail. Sandy does have his dad's number, but she seems to have accepted his new work attitude with a smile and understanding nod, muttering something along the lines of it being about time he got a life. Kurt thinks that's pretty rich coming from her.
He's got an intern, Vicky, a bright bubbly girl who seems much too young and reminds him all too much of Rachel Berry ten years ago. He's left her in charge for the afternoon, with strict instructions that she's to ring Sandy if there's an emergency. Sandy will act as gatekeeper, especially considering that Vicky seems to class the local coffee shop running out of his favourite flavour syrup to be an emergency worthy of tears. Despite her overly emotional state she's a hard worker, eager to learn, and honestly appreciative to be working with Sandy Powell and himself, once she got over her initial awe.
He's an hour through the flight back to Lima, and he's looking forward to being home, enjoying his father's quiet surprise when Kurt told him he was coming home for the holiday. He hasn't been home for Thanksgiving in six years. Too long. He always made time for Christmas, but he's made the sobering realisation that his father won't be around forever, and spending time with his family should be a higher priority. Work will always be there, his family won't.
With that in mind he's taken to ringing Finn every ten days or so, just to talk to him, much to Finn's initial confusion. Kurt tells him about crazy work stuff, and crazier things he has seen around LA, and Finn talks about the garage, or his kids, or some game which Kurt has no real interest in but listens anyway. He also rings his dad, rather than e-mail. Burt talks about having grandkids, who he clearly loves, and how Finn annoys him in the garage even if he is good at it, how Carol is trying to all these new foods.
He's also trying to build up his friendship with Blaine, but has discovered that it's almost become like an unspoken competition between them, one Kurt isn't taking part in; but in which Blaine always seems to be trying to one-up everything Kurt says and does. It's tiring, so he's considering just letting their friendship languish back into old-friend-status where they see each other once or twice a year, but hardly ever talk. They're meeting for dinner tonight, before Blaine heads home to his parents place, and Kurt's already considered cancelling it twice. But he's going to see how it goes.
When the aeroplane starts to descend Kurt rolls his shoulders and stretches his neck and legs, waiting for the ear-popping sensation and mentally preparing for the much cooler temperatures Ohio has to offer. He's been avoiding thoughts of Dave, because every time he does think of him he has to fight the urge to just jump on a plane and go visit him. Now though, he is on a plane, maybe not with the sole purpose of going to see Dave, but definitely flying with the intention that he will see Dave in the next few days.
Never again, Dave decides, as Kadin sits beside him, finally asleep. He's apologised to the person in front for the numerous kicks to the back of their seat, apologised to the person sitting opposite him in the aisle for the spilt drink, and he's apologised to the air stewardess for the excited toddler running up and down the aisle squealing. He's feeling like he should have a got a t-shirt printed with 'I'm sorry' on the front, for the number of times he's said it already today. Or alternatively 'It's not actually mine.' No wonder Jen didn't want to travel with him, he's no longer the quiet sweet natured toddler, but has become demon-spawn in the space of a few minutes. Dave's exhausted, and he isn't even in Lima yet. Kadin stirs against him and blinks up at him sleepily.
"Are we there yet?"
"No, we're not buddy. But if you look out the window you'll be able to see some clouds. We'll be there in about ten minutes," Dave says, avoiding the word 'soon' because children just don't seem to have a grasp of that concept. Kadin stares out the window for a few minutes, which is longer than Dave thought he'd last.
"I'm feeling dry heated Uncle Davey, can I have a drink?"
"Dry heated huh? I think you mean dehydrated," Dave corrects gently, rustling through the bag he's bought on board for the bottle of water he's purchased.
"That's what I said. Juice?"
"No, you can have some water or some milk. Do you want a snack?"
Kadin pouts for all of a few seconds before happily accepting the apple slices and bottle of water from him. Dave watches with baited breath, but it seems like his nephew is no longer possessed. He relaxes and pulls out colouring books and a Magna Doodle and hopes that time passes quickly and with no reappearance of his nephew's evil twin.
Kurt collects his luggage and heads to the hire car counter. He sees a man he would swear was Dave walking away from the car pickup counter in the opposite direction, his head bent as he talks to the small child in his arms. That effectively dispels the illusion that it could possibly be Dave. Kurt shakes his head ruefully, feeling a bit foolish for seeing Dave in complete strangers.
After calling his dad and confirmed that he's landed, made the obligatory promise to drive safely, he makes the drive into Lima from the County Allen airport. He notes the encroaching suburbs as Lima has grown, the shops that have shut down with new ones replacing them. He always feels a bit distant when he comes back to Lima, like everything has changed, when nothing really has. It usually takes him a day or two to completely get over the sensation of feeling like a visitor.
However he still feels a sense of homecoming as he drives down the familiar roads and streets. It's only just gone two, and it's a clear sunny day, and except for the fact that Kurt knows it is only a few degrees above freezing he'd think it was a summer day. When he pulls into the driveway he can't stop the smile from appearing on his face. It feels good to be home, and his dad is standing in the kitchen, looking out at him, and smiling back.
Dave hears his name being called but can't see anyone he recognises when he turns around. He's scanning the street, but everyone is bundled up against the cold, so identification is nearly impossible. Then he spots a waving hand and then Azimio Adams is walking briskly towards him.
Dave is surprised, because Az pretty much wasn't interested in remaining friends when he came out to him fourteen years ago. Back than Dave hadn't been surprised at his response, had been expecting it really, but it had still hurt, letting go of a friend. They've seen each other around. Whenever Dave is back in Lima they seem to bump into each other and are always polite, but this is the first time Az has actively sought him out.
"Dave! Hey man, I thought it was you…"
"Hey…" Dave replies, and he feels a little weirded out by this smiley friendly version of Azimio. "Yeah, back in town for the weekend you know…"
"Cool. That's cool. Do you have time for a drink? Catch-up?"
"Uh. Yeah. I…yeah. Okay. Where?"
"Cookies? That Belgian beer place, you know it?"
Dave nods, still feeling weird.
"Great. I have to go back and shut up the shop, but I'll see you in there okay?"
Dave nods again, starting to feel a bit stupid with his nodding and incomplete barely coherent sentences. Azimio turns and ambles back to the sporting goods store he manages and Dave watches him for a few seconds before turning and heading down to Cookies.
Dave enters the bar, it's generally a quiet place during the day, aiming for the workday lunch crowd. Dave's eaten here before, and while he's never been to Belgium, the food tastes pretty authentic. He takes a small corner table facing the door and places a drink order as well as ordering a bowl of their signature circular potato fries.
It's not long before Az enters the bar, spots him and heads over. He lowers himself into the chair opposite and places his order with the hovering waitress. It's three in the afternoon, and business is obviously slow, most people with more important things to do before the holiday.
"So, how have you been?" Dave asks, although his dad has kept him informed about Az as well, not knowing that they haven't really spoken properly since high school.
"Good. I'm the manager at SportZown now. AJ's in high school now, which is scary shit man…"
Dave smiles. AJ is Az's son, and he'd be nearly fifteen now, the result of a teenage pregnancy, Azimio and his then girlfriend too busy screwing to pay enough attention in sex-ed classes, or the fate of Quinn Fabray. Fortunately for them both their families were supportive, particularly Azimio's, his mother rather ecstatic about becoming a grandmother. Az has gone quiet, and he's studying Dave quietly, suddenly tense, and Dave doesn't know if it's because of him, or talking about his son or what.
"You…seeing anyone?" Az asks, and Dave can feel the tension rolling off him, and he's shocked Az is even asking. He doesn't want to mention Kurt, he doesn't want to mention anyone, so he decides to play it light in an attempt to break the tension.
"Mr Palm and his five sons," Dave says, waving his hand in the air to drive his point home, and yeah, he feels a bit cruel, but he's pretty sure Azimio has an ulterior motive behind inviting him out. He's suddenly filled with icy foreboding. Crap. He should have mentioned a boyfriend, anyone, fuck, anything to stop his ex-best friend proposition him.
"Dude, I didn't need to know that…" and the eye roll he gives Dave reminds him so much of their high school selves that Dave relaxes ever so slightly. So he's wrong, he's not about to be propositioned, which is such a fucking relief he relaxes even further. It's eased the tension though, which has to be good.
"Sorry man, let's just leave that part of my life out of the conversation shall we?" Dave asks before taking a sip of some dark beer served in a thick-glassed almost-wine-glass.
"Uh, actually…I kind of want to know. Are you happy? With your life I mean?"
Dave frowns, this has suddenly gone from a meaningless chat between old friends to something much more serious. He recognises the intensity on Az's face, it's not just curiosity, he needs to know.
"Yeah. I'm very happy. I have a great family, awesome friends. A job I love and get huge amounts of satisfaction from…I really like my life, there's nothing I would really change about it."
"But what about relationships. You been in a serious relationship?"
Dave can't help but feel astounded at the direction the conversation has now taken. Az seems intent on knowing, despite how clearly uncomfortable the topic makes him feel.
"Why are you asking me this Az?"
"Just…humour me okay? Tell me, and then… I need to tell you something."
"Okay," Dave starts, wondering if maybe Azimio is about to come out to him, but he's going to remain calm and not jump to any conclusions. "I've only ever had serious relationships. Three of them, and… well, it's complicated. Some people would say I'm in the minority in the gay community, but I know plenty of stable committed monogamous couples.
"Holy shit man, you only been with three people?"
Dave ignores the lack of pronoun use but shakes his head, and holds up four fingers. Azimio is looking at him with googly eyes.
"Dude, I've been with more people than that."
"Az…you'd probably been with more than that by the time you finished high school," Dave replies, and he doesn't intend the words to be mean, but when he hears them he thinks that maybe he does sound a bit bitchy, even if that's not his intention. "Look man, being gay doesn't change who I am or what my values are. I need a connection with the person I'm with, it'd be the same if I was straight," Dave explains.
"Okay, yeah, that makes sense…" Az says, looking thoughtful.
"So, you wanted to tell me something?" Dave prompts after a moment of silence, and Azimio looks at him as if just remembering that he's there.
"Yeah, yeah I do. You know AJ?" Dave nods, and he knows now where this is heading. Why Az wants to talk to him. "Well, he spends most weekends with me, and anyway, a couple of weeks ago he comes home with this boy and I ask if he's a new friend, 'cause I haven't seen him before you know?" Az explains, and Dave is biting his lip to keep himself from either smiling or laughing, neither of which are appropriate responses right now.
"And you know what he says to me? No dad, this is my boyfriend, and he looks at me like I'm stupid. Like I'm somehow meant to know that shit. And then they disappear into his fucking room, close the door and I'm fucking standing there, no idea what to say or do…"
"Oh god…that's hilarious. Sorry man, but that's the best coming out story ever. What did you do?"
"Stop fucking laughing! It isn't funny man!" Az says, throwing a coaster at him.
"Yeah it is. What did you do?"
"I went and knocked on his door, opened it real quick like, but with my eyes closed, and all they're doing is reading my old comic books. Anyway, I told him no closed doors when it was just him and his boyfriend. And asked to be introduced. Jason. Fuck man, that whole closed door shit never worked on me…"
"Comic books huh? They're probably getting different things from your comic books then you ever did…" Dave says, smiling into his drink, but knowing he's failing at not showing how amused he is by the whole situation.
"That's what you focus on? Anyway, don't ruin that part of my childhood man…but he's almost fifteen! I remember what I was like when I was fifteen, all I thought about was sex. I couldn't control myself, how do two guys manage to… ugh, I don't even want to think about it."
"At least he can't get pregnant," Dave quips.
"That's not funny man," Azimio says, and all traces of humour are gone, and Dave swears under his breath. He really didn't mean it that way, but he seems to have developed a chronic case of foot-in-mouth.
"Dude, I didn't mean it like that, seriously I didn't. Sorry," Dave says, honestly apologetic. Teenage pregnancy will always be a sore point for Az. "Look, if you want I can talk to him. I'd want you there, because you need to know what I'm saying to him, but…"
"Would you really? I mean, I have no idea what to tell him. I just want him to be okay, you know?"
Dave's glad that Az is apparently the type of father much like his own, one who loves his children wholly and unconditionally. He sees too much of the opposite with his work, and he's suddenly filled with the need to reassure Az that he's done the right thing, is doing the right thing.
"He'll be okay. There's a massive point I think you're missing here," Dave starts, and Az is studying him intently, waiting for him to continue. "He's obviously very secure in the knowledge that you love him, and that nothing he says or does will stop you loving him. That's a good thing Az. It's a really good thing."
"You think so?"
"Of course."
"Okay. Good. It just…the whole thing, made me think about you, you know? Was your Dad okay with it?"
"Yeah. I was lucky. Like AJ is. Some parents can't deal with it. Put the importance of a book above their own kid, or just can't deal with it so pretend it doesn't exist…" Dave says, shrugs, and looks away. Az is looking pleased with himself, but then turns pensive.
"I just want to protect him, and this is just another thing that's going to single him out and make him different…" Azimio says, and Dave can almost hear the silent 'you know?' at the end, something Az always seemed to use when trying to drive his point across.
"There's nothing wrong with being different."
"Yeah. Now. In high school? Do you remember the shit we used to give that Hummel guy?"
"Yeah. I remember," Dave replies, and his voice sounds short now. He'd rather not think about that period of his life. He knows he's changed, and obviously it doesn't bother Kurt. But he finds it still occasionally bothers him.
"You stopped picking on him. Was that because you were gay?"
Dave lets out a soft snort of bemusement.
"If only it were that simple. I was picking on him because I was gay. But even if I was straight, I'd probably have picked on him, just to go along with the crowd. I made the realisation that I didn't want to be remembered as a bully. Particularly by Kurt. Anyway, Santana was blackmailing me." She still bloody well blackmails me.
"What, so you never nailed her?"
"Az, what did I just say about me needing connection. You seriously think I had enough of a connection to sleep with Santana Lopez when I was seventeen?"
"Dude, we were seventeen. Connections-smections. Sex is sex. Wait, so you've never had sex with a chick? How do you know that you're gay then?"
"You ever had sex with a guy? How do you know you're not gay?" Dave responds quickly. He's heard that argument before. Azimio pulls a disgusted face and Dave raises an eyebrow. "I rest my case."
"Yeah yeah, we can stop talking about your sex life now."
"Good. I'm all for that. I have enough fucking friends who take too much interest in it as it is…" Dave says, although a bit of him wants to point out that Az is the one that kept on bringing it up in the first place.
"Fair enough. So, any ideas how I stop AJ being picked on?"
"You can't. The best you can do is give him the skills to cope with it. Make sure if it is happening he can talk to you about it. I'd say you need to make him feel loved and supported at home, but I think you've got that covered. If he is being bullied he'll need a safe space, and you just got to hope he'll talk to you."
"You sound like a shrink," Az states, and it's not derogatory, at least Dave doesn't think so, just matter-of-fact. He shrugs and takes another sip of his drink. "So you want to come round and watch the game tomorrow? You still like football right?"
"Fuck off Az," Dave says, but he knows they've turned a corner, even if it is fifteen years late and it's taken AJ to be the catalyst. "I still play football. Unlike you, you lazy arse." Azimio sneers at him, gives him the finger and then signals the waitress for another round of drinks.
The restaurant that used to be Breadstix is now a dedicated steak house, completely redone with a weird butcher-shop type theme which Kurt finds slightly macabre, being so clearly reminded of where the meat has come from. The food apparently is amazing though, and as long as it is amazing, then Kurt knows he will forgive what he considers to be a décor disaster. He's only been sitting at the table and taken the first sip of his water when Blaine joins him, sliding into the chair opposite after they've exchanged an obligatory hug.
He listens as Blaine complains about his flight, then goes on to talk about how great his job is now that he's been hired by a new theatre. He talks about going to see Rachel in her show, and the possible love interest he's found at his local coffee shop. Kurt listens, and listens, and listens. Now that's he's paying attention he realises that Blaine can be very self-centred. Something Kurt knows he can be just as guilty of, but Blaine hasn't even asked him how he is.
Kurt ponders on that fact, before realising if there was something wrong in his life, he'd have blurted it out and be talking about it the same way Blaine is now complaining about his little sister getting married in Hawaii in January. They're very similar, which is probably why he occasionally wants to thwack him on the head, and no doubt Blaine sometimes feels the same way about him.
Kurt's attention is drawn by a familiar laugh that he knows is Dave. God, if he gets this wrong as well he's going to consider getting his head seen to, his eyes flick to the restaurant door behind Blaine where a small group of people have entered and sure enough Dave is among them. Kurt's fairly certain that the two women of the group are Dave's sisters, and the two men are probably their husbands.
The hostess leads Dave and his sisters past their table, and as they walk past Kurt catches Dave's eye and smiles, feeling almost shy. He knows Blaine is watching him, eye shrewd, and Kurt ignores him. Dave smiles back at him, and it's a slow smile that morphs into the same broad grin which makes Kurt's stomach flip happily and smile even wider in return.
"There is definitely something going on between you two," Blaine states, and Kurt rolls his eyes, knowing that if he protests too much Blaine will see it as confirmation that there is something going on. "If there isn't, then you definitely both want there to be," he continues, and Kurt resists turning to watch Dave and instead focusses back on Blaine. Who is still frighteningly perceptive.
"You're right, we're carrying out a torrid love affair from our respective locations," Kurt says, and it's the first words he's spoken in a while, excluding placing his order with the waitress. Blaine shrugs good naturedly, even now he's pretty hard to ruffle. Kurt grins at him and they both crack up laughing.
Even though he knows that it's innocent, his gut had still clenched when he saw Kurt sitting at the table with Blaine, looking far healthier and vibrant than when he last saw him. When Kurt had looked up at him and smiled he'd felt a rush of warmth fill him and if he didn't know before he knows now, he's falling in love. If he hasn't already fallen. Which he suspects he has. Because if he were Blaine right now he'd be looking at Kurt and wondering why the hell he'd ever let him go.
"Friend of yours Davey?" Jen asks, poking Dave in the side, and Dave glares at her, his attention being drawn back to the table, where his sisters are both looking at him expectantly and their husbands both looking amused. He has a feeling that wasn't the first time she'd asked him that question.
"Yeah, I went to high school with one of them."
"Hmm. They make a cute couple," Jen opines and Dave rolls his eyes. She imagines every pair of guys she sees to be together romantically. He feels like introducing her to Finn and Puckerman just to see what she'd made of them.
"They aren't together. Just friends. But yes, they are both gay," Dave supplies, knowing she'd ask all those questions eventually anyway. She, along with Karen, have to be some of the nosiest people he knows. Although they both insist it is just curiosity.
"Really? They look close."
"They used to be together, back in high school."
"They were out in high school?" Jen asks, her voice is serious now, and Dave nods in answer both to the question and to the unspoken one in her eyes. Jen knows what happened in high school. She's the one he's always been closer to, and they've only built on that since Dave moved to Chicago. Dave meets her eyes with his, expression serious.
"The one with his back to us is Kurt, Mercedes' best friend."
"Mike's girlfriend?" Pat asks, and Dave isn't surprised. She's always liked Mike, made googly eyes at him simply because of his accent.
"Yeah, went to high school with her too. Small world huh?"
The others nod in agreement and Steve, Pat's husband, mentions something about some person and Dave zone's out. Jen scoots closer to him.
"You seem to know a lot about him. Now I mean," Jen says, her voice quiet. Dave gives her his best poker face, and then shrugs.
"He came to Chicago back in August to visit Mercedes and we ended up catching up a few times then. And again last month we were both in New York for Columbus weekend."
"Sounds like he's forgiven and forgotten…"
Dave remembers their toast to the shitty things they did as teenagers, with his secret toast to the hope that he's a better man now. He knows Kurt has forgiven him, but he sometimes struggles with why Kurt has forgiven him, when he can sometimes not forgive himself. He can only keep on trying. Smiling at that thought, he picks up his phone.
Ever since his Dad's heart attack and Finn's car accident Kurt doesn't turn his phone off. Ever. So when he feels his phone vibrate with the message tone he feels an instant flash of annoyance before remembering that all work numbers are currently blocked.
"It's probably my dad making sure I'm still alive," he says to Blaine, fishing his phone out of his pocket. Blaine nods solicitously and smiles as he waits for Kurt.
'You look good. Really good. Would say something nasty & dirty but I don't think it's quite the right atmosphere.'
Kurt coughs to cover his snort of laughter and fights his immediate impulse to turn and grin at Dave. Or poke his tongue out. Except Dave would probably make true with the nasty and dirty comments if he did that. He shuts the screen of his phone off and puts it face down on the table, and he can feel the heat in his cheeks.
"I take it that that wasn't your dad…" Blaine says, amusement all over his face. Kurt shakes his head, and he can't stop the smile on his face. "So, a mystery guy huh? You're not going to share details?"
For some reason he can't explain he doesn't want to share this with Blaine, and not only because he's been denying anything happening between himself and Dave. Blaine would offer his two cents, and Kurt doesn't want to hear it.
"It's complicated. But he's… pretty special. Just taking it slowly."
"You? Slowly?" Blaine raises an eyebrow and Kurt shrugs. He may have been a shy inexperienced virgin with Blaine, but he quickly found a level of confidence in his own sexuality pretty quickly and knows he pushed Blaine into trying everything under the sun, moon and stars. "Well, if he makes you look the best I've seen you in years then he must have something going for him," Blaine states, and he's watching Kurt carefully.
"Yeah, he's definitely got something going for him. I really like him."
"Good. That's good. I hope he knows how special you are. You deserve someone just as special," Blaine says, and he's so intense that Kurt has to duck his head in embarrassment. This is why he's still friends with Blaine.
Dave's suspicion that something was up with his sisters was spot on. It has only taken Pat two glasses of wine before she is whining and begging Jen to be able to tell him whatever big secret they've been keeping. Jen lets out a huff of mock-annoyance but nods at Pat. Dave feels like rolling his eyes at the melodrama.
"We're moving to Lima!"
"What? Why would anyone move here?" Dave responds, and Jen kicks him in the leg for his trouble. Pat looks a bit put out and is scowling at him as well. Dave pulls a remorseful face, trying to pull off the dumb younger brother that's worked so well for him in the past.
Apparently Steve has a job at the Ford factory as a mechanical engineer. Dave's zoning out again, Pat obviously excited about the move, and Jen excited for her. He feels like a bad brother, but all he can think about is his disappointment that Kurt hasn't replied to his text message, and that disappointment has morphed into worry that maybe he's over stepped whatever imaginary line Kurt has drawn around their non-relationship. He doesn't think so, but it doesn't stop the worry either.
He notes Kurt and Blaine's departure with a sense of detachment and when his phone chimes he flicks it on, hopeful, but not actually expecting a response now that Kurt isn't even in the restaurant. But it is from him.
'Last time we were in a restaurant together I got hard every time I looked at you. I think it's the perfect atmosphere.'
Dave stares at the message in his hand, trying to think about the last time they were in a restaurant together, trying not to think about Kurt getting hard simply by looking at him. The things that that knowledge is doing to his ego, not to mention his dick. He remembers then. New York. Sunday afternoon. Fuck. His phone chimes again and Jen has turned an enquiring head in his direction and he waves her off.
'And now I am going home to jerk off to thoughts of that particular 24 hours and feel like a dirty nasty teenager because I'll be in my bedroom at my dad's house.'
Dave bites back a groan, knowing he's being deliberately teased and having a love-hate response. If he were anywhere but at a dinner table with his two sisters and their husbands right now he'd be enjoying it, but as it stands…
'Cocktease' he sends back, and he's drumming his fingers on the table in his little nervous two-two-two-two way that causes Jen to slap her hand over his in annoyance. It still leaves his other hand free to read Kurt's response.
'Not for too long I hope.'
His groan this time is audible and Jen has grabbed his phone from him and is reading his messages, which is utterly mortifying, however she doesn't read them aloud, so he's thankful for small mercies. She's now looking at him with wide eyes, her expression torn between excitement and complete bafflement.
"Kurt Hummel? Really?" Jen asks, passing his phone back to him, and Dave knows he's going to have to give her an explanation. He won't get peace until he does. However there are much more preferable ways he'd be spending his time then trying to explain the intricacies of his relationship status with one Kurt Hummel. As much as he loves Jen, sometimes he really doesn't like her.
TBC...
