Tree without blossoms - Chapter 11/20

[sunmontue]

Title: 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.
Author's note: Glad so many of you enjoyed the previous chapter (*cough* I wonder why?) Thanks to everyone for all the reviews/alerts/favourites – I couldn't reply to all of them because some of you have the private message function disabled. So thank you. I do like getting reviews. (Och jag kan läser svenska också). Also, even though debraelq saw none of this, her previous advice and help has definitely made it a better chapter (I'm getting some Americanisms down!)

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)
CHAPTER NINE - NOVEMBER 2025 (part two)        CHAPTER TEN - NOVEMBER 2025 (part three)

---

CHAPTER ELEVEN - DECEMBER 2025 (part one)

Kurt has very quickly developed a routine to ensure that he keeps in contact with his friends and family. He runs at least three times a week and does Pilates five times. He's been trying to delegate at work, and he's learnt what Vicky is capable of and knows what he can and can't trust her with (sometimes the hard way). Just a couple of months ago he'd had to make a conscious effort to eat and sleep, but now he's falling asleep easily enough, although getting more than six hours before he snaps awake is a rare occurrence.

Eating wise he's good, always preparing his fruit salad the night before, and getting Vicky to remind him about lunch if he seems likely to forget, although it's rare now that he does. He's found a company that make meals and deliver, so he uses them when he knows he's going to be too tired to make any sort of effort to cook in the evening.

Since Thanksgiving he talks to Dave every second night or so. He'd instigated the calling, and the warmth in Dave's voice the first time had calmed Kurt's fears. Sometimes their conversations are short, but occasionally they talk for hours. He knows Dave's schedule now, what nights he has training, or karate or when he's going out with friends. Occasionally he gets to hear the same stories twice, both from Mercedes and Dave, and he enjoys feeling like a part of their lives.

Today is Thursday, Dave has karate in the evening, so Kurt takes the time to visit Cassie at her sister's place every week, where she has moved in permanently. Their friendship has changed and solidified even further. His other friends have split, most remaining friends with Alex rather than him. He knows why, his previous attitude to work hasn't left a lot of room for friendships, and many of them were Alex's friends to start with. He changes from job to job, so the people he's worked with have always seemed transitionary to him. There is a small core group of people that he has worked with several times, but none that he knows well enough to socialise with.

So Cassie is the start of a new group of friends, along with Carson and Brett. Carson is a set developer, who Kurt's worked with directly on several projects, while Brett is a cameraman. He's known both of them for years, and he'd thought for a while that they were together before Carson had pointed out that they just lived together and that Brett was straight. He has dinner plans with them and some of their friends on Saturday, which is a first and is causing him a fair amount of trepidation. He's thinking of asking Cassie to come just to help ease his way.

He pulls up to the security check point outside Renee's gates and greets the security guard, smiling and waving at the guard as he's let through. It's always a part of his job that amuses him; the lengths people go to protect their privacy. He understands of course, it just makes him grateful that his own job doesn't draw the spotlight; and that he can go about fairly anonymously. He parks beside a car he hasn't seen before and heads for the front door.

"Now's probably not the best time," Cassie says when she answers, and Jamie's on her hip, looking in the same direction Kurt is, which is where the sound of yelling is coming from. Kurt isn't entirely sure, but he's fairly sure one of the people is Renee, Cassie's sister.

"Um, anything I can help with?" Kurt asks.

"Well, actually, you probably can. But not right now. Not until they actually stop yelling at each other."

"Oh-kay…" Kurt says, not sure where to go with that statement exactly, and now not sure whether to leave or not.

"Augh, you might as well come in, maybe it will make them shut up," Cassie decides, opening the door wider and stepping back. Kurt takes a hesitant step forward. "They've always argued, and there's no reasoning with them when they're like this," Cassie states, and she sounds tired and bored.

"Who exactly is doing the screaming?"

"Oh, Renee and Reese." Kurt looks at her blankly until she elaborates. "Reese, our brother? Renee's twin?"

"Oh, she has a twin? I remember her saying something about a brother the first time I met her, but didn't realise… Um. So. What they're screaming about?" Kurt asks, watching as Cassie slides Jamie into a highchair and pours two glasses of wine.

"He's just come out. Well, rather, he was caught on someone's phone giving a BJ to some random guy in a club, and of course Renee thinks the world is ending and has accused him of being a selfish prick and how dare he be gay yadda yadda yadda…"

"What?" Kurt asks, and he's shocked, not the whole being caught giving someone a blowjob, because doing that in a club is just asking to have someone record it and use it for their own private use later, but Renee… she's always seemed all-accepting of Kurt, like the majority of people who call LA home.

"Oh, it's not that he's gay, she doesn't have a problem with that, it's how he's been lying to us for years and the timing of everything and then getting caught like he has. She started saying how it was going to be bad for her career and that's when he snapped and started yelling back, calling her a selfish bitch and how the world doesn't revolve around her…"

Kurt blinks. Blinks again. It sounds like a soap opera. He's not sure what to say. He knows Cassie is the eldest, because when she gets drunk she gets maudlin about being the underachiever of the family, and he's pretty sure the brother does something that makes him famous as well, although Kurt has no idea what.

"Um. Right. Maybe it would be best if I left…"

"Don't be stupid. Have a drink and watch the carnage with me. Although I should probably go and put Jamie down first. Just give me a second."

Kurt's halfway through nodding as she leaves the spacious kitchen, taking Jamie with her. It's a massive house, a mansion really, of which Renee and Cassie only live in one small part. He'd been shown around when he'd visited the first time, and he's stayed over a couple of nights, but he's pretty sure he would get lost if he had to venture out further than the first corridor.

Then he hears Cassie, her screaming drowns out the other two easily, and she's telling them to shut up and grow up and using more swear words than non-swear words. He spares a quick thought for Jamie and then hears his name, and she's telling them he's here and that they have to be polite. Kurt snorts. Her voice is softer now, instructing them to go into the kitchen and calm the fuck down because Jamie needs his sleep and two banshees yelling at each other isn't inducive to him sleeping well. Kurt thinks something along the lines of how three banshees are obviously magical at getting a child to sleep but knows he'll keep that thought to himself.

Renee and a man Kurt assumes must be Reese stomp into the kitchen like petulant children, both of them shooting filthy looks not only at each other but at Cassie as well. Kurt feels like telling them all to relax, because even he's starting to feel edgy with the tension in the air. Renee has grabbed another wine glass and pours herself a drink while Reese grabs a bottle of water from the fridge. Cassie instructs them to play nicely and disappears with Jamie.

Kurt sizes him up quickly, he's tall, well-muscled and dressed to show off the muscles. He's handsome, in the movie-star way, which Kurt supposes makes a weird sort of sense given that his twin-sister is a movie-star. His body language though is incredibly defensive and confrontational, and he's staring at Kurt as if his sheer presence in the kitchen is wrong. Kurt doesn't like him, which is odd, because generally speaking he likes everyone.

---

Cassie re-enters the kitchen about ten minutes later and Kurt has finished his wine, the edgy-silence eating at his nerves. Renee has been clicking her nails against each other and Reese has sat down at the breakfast bar and is staring at the marble bench top.

"Miserable bunch of sad sacks," Cassie mutters and Kurt shoots her a quick smile. "Did Renee introduce you Reese? This is Kurt, one of my friends. He's gay too."

Reese lets out a derisive snort. "I told you, I don't need to be set up, especially not with one of your friends. I don't need a pity fuck." He's talking like Kurt isn't even the room, and even though likes him even less now that he's heard him talk, he has never appreciated being ignored.

"Please, even if I was available, I have better taste," Kurt says in his iciest queen bitch voice. He might be pretty to look at, but his arrogance is not attractive in the slightest.

"Well you aren't exactly my type either princess," Reese snaps back, and Kurt feels his hackles rise. He does not like being called that, and it's been a long while since he's had to deal with open hostility.

"Since when?" Cassie asks, and Kurt flicks his eyes to her, eyes drawing down in a frown as he considers her question, distracted.

"What?"

"Since when have you become unavailable? And you -" she turns a finger on Reese "Kurt is a good friend and I wouldn't pair him up with your sorry, not to mention rude, arse. Now talk," she says, turning back to Kurt.

"Oh… well…" Kurt pauses, he hasn't told anyone about Dave. Mercedes knows, but it's not gotten any less confusing, some days he feels like he's waiting for some type of epiphany. "I'm kind of with a guy, but he lives in Chicago."

"Oh, long distance. How romantic," Cassie enthuses, and Kurt's kind of touched how she seems to be excited for him, because he'd kind of thought she'd be at least a bit upset that he's moved on from Alex already, found someone new, while she still experiences days of wanting her life with Marcus back.

"Long distance, which never works out," Renee supplies, and Kurt frowns again, because he knows she's speaking the truth, he doesn't know of any relationship that has worked out long-distance.

"Augh, you're such a pessimist. Do you have a picture?" Cassie asks, and she almost bouncing on her toes. Kurt pauses and bites his lip, because he does have a picture. Several pictures in fact. None of which Dave's aware exist, all taken while he was asleep. He'd been trying to replicate the picture of Dave asleep that hangs on Dave's bedroom door. Trying being the operative word, because all he'd ended up with was slightly fuzzy monochromatic shots.

"Show me, show me, show me…"

He pulls his phone out and she grabs it eagerly, flicking through to his photo album. He hears her breath catch and he ducks his head, suddenly embarrassed.

"When did you take these?"

"Uh, Thanksgiving," Kurt supplies, and he knows Cassie is boring holes into his head, and he's studying the pattern on the tiles as if it might hold the answers to life simply to avoid looking at her. The photos aren't nude, but only because Kurt had moved the sheet just so. It's blatantly clear from looking at the pictures what has most likely happened.

"You spent the holidays together?"

"No. He's from Lima as well. He was back visiting his family."

"Nice…" Renee murmurs, and Kurt's head snaps up to see her standing beside Cassie and peering at the pictures, and Kurt feels his cheeks warm. Apparently all this family needs to get on is his sex life to focus on.

"What's his name? Where did you meet him… come on, I want details," Cassie demands.

"Dave. David. Uh, we went to high school together, but…we met up again when I was in Chicago in August. He's Mike's best friend, the guy Mercedes is seeing seriously," he adds, solely for Cassie's benefit, because he knows Renee will have no idea who he's talking about. And although he's trying to appear not to be interested, Reese is clearly listening. "There're probably some better photos of when we were in New York," he adds, and Cassie responds with fingers flicking across the screen of his phone.

"Oh, he's dressed…" she says, clearly disappointed and Kurt rolls his eyes and notes the little twitch from Reese, who is still sitting on the other side of the kitchen and clearly won't move to look at photos of some random guy.

"He's very…masculine. What does he do?" Renee asks, and she's clearly appreciative of Dave's good looks, and Kurt is suddenly incredibly grateful that Dave is not only gay, but likely never to meet Renee, because he's pretty sure she'd try the whole 'are you sure your gay?' line on him. Not that he thinks Dave would respond, but he's feeling distinctly territorial right now.

"He's a cop," Kurt supplies, and both Renee and Cassie make appreciative hums of approval, and he snorts in amusement. He's never seen the attraction of uniforms, and quite frankly, he'd rather see Dave naked than in a uniform. Cassie flicks through the rest of the photos before handing the phone back to him.

"So when do I get to meet him?"

He smiles tightly and shrugs. Dave has made no mention of wanting to come out to LA. In fact, now that he thinks about it, he's made no mention of Kurt coming to Chicago either. They haven't even talked about Christmas, which is weird, because they're both probably going back to Lima anyway. At least that's what Kurt assumes.

"It's complicated," he finally says, and while it is, with each phone conversation and text message he's starting to feel like it shouldn't be complicated, but there's still the matter of distance, and he can't magic that away.

---

It's not a usual time of day for him to call, but they've missed the last two nights, and he can't call tonight because Dave is having one of his dinner party things, which Kurt really wishes he could go to, and for other reasons than just Dave's cooking.

"Hi." His voice is sleepy and Kurt frowns, Dave's normally an early riser, he'd definitely thought he'd be awake by now.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean to wake you."

"It's fine, I was having a nap on the couch."

"Oh…" Kurt replies, and his eyes flick to the corner where his visual conferencing gear is, and he bites his lip. He's wanted to suggest it. More than once. But he's afraid that Dave might think he's getting all pervy, and well, he is a bit, but he just wants to see Dave's face, all sleep rumpled and probably creased from where his head has been resting on a cushion. "So, how've you been?" he asks instead, silently throwing his head back and hitting it against the back of his chair several times. He shouldn't be this unsure or shy, but he is and it's just…

"Fine. Normal. Boring. You?" Dave asks, and Kurt can hear his smile, and he smiles back, unable to stop.

"I'm…good. Drama drama, but… do you have a webcam?"

"Do I…? Yeah, I do? What are we using it for?" Dave asks, and Kurt can hear the amused interest in his voice. He really hadn't meant to ask, but it's out now.

"Um, nothing right now, I just…maybe next time."

"What about now? Nothing's wrong with first thing in the morning. Best time of day for it."

"Dave…"

"Kurt…" Dave singsongs back and Kurt feels bubbles of happiness-joy-amusement flood through him.

"That wasn't what I meant."

"Did I say it was?"

"Well…no. But you don't need to. You implied plenty."

Dave lets out a loud laugh, and Kurt really wishes he could see him.

"You're the one that bought them up in the first place you know…"

"I know. But I just…I really didn't mean for us to use it to have cyber-sex. I just…" really want to see your face.

"No need to be embarrassed," Dave murmurs, far too amused and Kurt mutters a quiet 'shut up'. "Anyway, you mentioned drama. On set drama or real life drama?"

"Oh…both. The lead actress broke her wrist yesterday trying to walk down some steps, so they've got to rework the filming schedule around a cast and I have to rework the costumes. Also Cassie's brother came out, which is apparently a big deal, although I have no idea why. He's currently not talking to her, which she seems perfectly okay with actually. He the most arrogant arsehole I've met in ages, which is saying something considering the industry I work in. Anyway, I think she has enough drama in her life without dealing with her bloody brother and sister."

"Guh. I know how she feels. My sisters drive me crazy, and I don't even live with them," Dave mutters, and Kurt wants to ask, because usually Dave has nothing but love for his sisters, except when they're potentially cock-blocking him of course. He doesn't ask though, because Dave will tell him if he wants to talk about it. He changes the subject, talking about his plans for the weekend, what he's planning on cooking for his friends, a practical joke played on a rookie. Kurt listens attentively, adding his own pieces of conversation in, talking about his last few days of work, his own plans for dinner out with friends tonight.

After he's hung up he spares another glance over to the corner. His visual conferencing gear is set to record all conversations, so that he can refer back to them if needed while working. The idea of having that kind of conversation with Dave, and having it recorded so he can refer back to it at any time…fuck. It would be his own personal porn. However he couldn't record Dave without him knowing, and there's no way he's asking him now, especially considering how quickly Dave just assumed he had perverted intentions. Kurt would at least like to seem less perverted than he actually fears he is. Not that Dave seemed to mind. Huh. Actually, he seemed more than happy to go along with it. He considers that and grins slowly.

---

Monday morning doesn't start well, he slept in and missed his morning swim, and someone has burnt the coffee, so he has the bitter burnt taste lingering in his mouth and he's regretting not stopping at his favourite coffee shop on his way into work. There are two case files on his desk, and a quick perusal has left his stomach churning. He only spares Karen a quick glance when she walks into their office, eyes bright with excitement, brandishing a glossy magazine. Dave doesn't care why she's in such a good mood, but he's pretty certain her attitude is going to rub off on him. It's always done so before.

"I feel so cool right now!" Karen exclaims as she lays the magazine down on his desk, and Dave looks at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Cool? You're so out of touch with today's youth," Dave says, but he can't help a small grin.

"Shut up! Look! It's Kurt!"

And of course Dave's interest is immediately snared and he picks up the magazine. It's open to the trashy 'spot the celeb' page, and indeed there is Kurt, eyes furious as he glares at the photographers, and Dave's stomach drops as he takes in the arm he has around the other guy in the picture, like he's trying to protect him, other hand out like he's about to push someone out of the way.

"I know someone famous!" Karen is saying, but her voice sounds far away.

Dave reads the caption 'Reese Walker and his mysterious friend'. Dave isn't sure what is so mysterious about Kurt, but then he realises who the other man is. The picture isn't clear, his head is ducked and Kurt's body is partially shielding him, but Reese Walker is the fucking quarterback for the Steelers, and Dave would recognise the name anyway, especially seeing as Reese Walker was outed last week in such a spectacular fashion, the clip too racy to be shown on news channels, but it's all the sports news have been leading with for the last five nights.

Last week he'd felt for the guy, not only being outed, but so clearly against his wishes and obviously not prepared for the media storm it would create. Now though, seeing this picture, he isn't sure what to think. He wants to ring Kurt and ask him. Find out when it was taken, what it means.

"You have a thing for him…" Karen says, her voice penetrating through the fog that has entered his mind and he looks up at her from studying the picture. He's not going to find answers there.

"I…we have a thing for each other. I just… he hasn't mentioned…this."

"There's nothing there, they're leaving a restaurant together, not a hotel. They're probably just friends."

Dave looks at her incredulously, wondering if she actually believes what she's saying. She shrugs, and takes the magazine off his desk.

"If he hasn't told you anything about him, then there's obviously nothing to tell. Just go with whatever is logical," Karen informs him and Dave bites back a groan.

"Yeah, 'cause that's worked so well for me in the past," he mutters.

When he receives the usual good morning text message from Kurt he ignores it. He needs to think. He trusts Kurt. If Kurt has met someone he wants to be with; he'd tell him, that's their fucking agreement. But Kurt hasn't mentioned Reese Walker at all, which makes his stomach and heart both ache. He hasn't felt this insecure in years, but Kurt has always been able to build him up with a look and cut him down with another, although Dave doubts Kurt is aware of it.

---

Monday slips into Tuesday and Kurt is starting to feel annoyed. Dave is either hurt, or avoiding him. If he is hurt, he's sure Mercedes would have called and told him. So he's being passively avoided. No responses to text messages and his calls are going straight to voicemail. He doesn't leave any messages, but he's sending plenty of texts, and he knows they're getting shorter and angrier, but he can't help it. It's been three and a half days since they spoke last, which is the longest they've gone since Thanksgiving. He'd be fine with it, if he knew why.

He tries Dave's phone one last time before calling Mercedes to get Mike's number. It's a Tuesday night, they're meant to be at training, so Mike can pass his bloody phone to Dave because he is going to speak to him. Except when he answers Mike isn't at training. He's at work, and Kurt can hear hospital-like sounds in the background when he answers.

"Hi Mike, it's Kurt."

"Kurt?" Mike asks, and he sounds a bit bewildered as to why Kurt is calling him.

"Yeah, sorry to call you at work," Kurt says, and he's not really sorry, and he knows Mercedes would have told him Mike was working if he'd allowed her to get a word in edgeways when he spoke to her, but he has more important things to think about right now.

"It's fine…is everything alright? Is Mercedes okay?"

"Yeah, she's fine. I called her just before to get your number. I was hoping you'd be at training so you could put Dave on."

"Uh…" Mikes awkward non-statement tell him everything he needs to know.

"So, he is avoiding me. Any idea why?"

"Uh, well…he thinks that maybe you're with Reese Walker now…?"

"Oh, for fucks sake," Kurt spits, and he's going to kill that photographer.

Saturday night had turned into a circus. Cassie had begged him to take Reese out to dinner with his friends, saying he needed some time to relax in the company of people who didn't care that he was gay. Never again. Reese had got ridiculously drunk, made a pass at Brett (much to the amusement of Carson) and then noted the photographers and wanted to go and punch them all. Kurt had ended up leaving dinner early and driving a comatose Reese back to Cassie and Renee's. After the three of them had carried (half-dragged) his unconscious form inside Kurt had informed them that their brother needed professional help, because he had some serious issues.

And now this.

Kurt is not going to lose Dave over that fucking bloody useless waste of space, and Dave should know that. Feeling only slightly melodramatic he calls the airline company and books a flight to Chicago, glad that he doesn't have to worry about money anymore, because there are only first class seats left on the one flight that suits him time wise. The flight isn't until tomorrow afternoon, Kurt still needs to work, but hopefully he can have a few days in Chicago and knock some sense into Dave.

---

Dave flicks through the text messages from Kurt. There's about twenty now, and they range from 'Morning. Hope you slept well,' to 'Are you ignoring me?' to 'You're an idiot Dave Karofsky.' The last was received last night, about an hour after his last missed call from Kurt, and fuck, he is an idiot. He knows why he's been avoiding calls from Kurt. He thought that if he gave Kurt the chance to talk to him, what they have together is over. But he's wrong, because Kurt wouldn't repeatedly be calling and texting if he was about to dump Dave, or terminate their agreement, or what-the-fuck-ever. At least hadn't been, except Dave's been ignoring him. Oh fuck fuck fuck.

His fingers feel thick and clumsy as he thumbs through to Kurt's contact number and selects call. He holds it to his ear and his hand is shaking. When it continues ringing and then goes to voicemail he bites his lip, and hangs up halfway through Kurt's professional spiel. He has no idea what to say. He doesn't like saying sorry. Not the small type of sorry, when you accidentally bump into someone, but the big type of sorry. The type which rips you apart inside because you know you're wrong, and you'd do anything to make it right, but a small five letter word doesn't seem enough. Because he might have just fucked everything up. He calls back and isn't surprised when it goes through to voicemail again.

"You're right… I am an idiot. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. I…if you call me I'll pick up. I promise. I just…am an idiot. A massive idiot. That seems my most valid and accurate defence right now. I really am sorry."

He almost ends with an I love you but manages to hold it back, because there's no way he's putting himself that far out there when he has no idea of how Kurt feels. Except for really pissed off at him. He has no idea if Kurt will even listen to his message. He might just delete it. He's thinking that depressing thought when his phone chimes and vibrates with a new message alert.

'At least we agree on one thing. I.e. you are an idiot. Am busy today, but we ARE talking tonight. Clear your plans.'

Dave lets out a long shuddering breath, filled with relief. Kurt's not ignoring him, and even though the idea of talking is making his stomach churn unpleasantly it's pretty much on par with how he's been feeling for the last few days anyway. At least tonight he will know. He's feeling cautiously optimistic, but also expecting the biggest bitch fit from Kurt, because one thing he knows, and that is that Kurt does not like being ignored.

---

When Kurt lands in Chicago it's already seven in the evening. He hasn't told anyone he's coming, mainly because he wants to surprise Dave. Catch him off guard and gauge his response in person. Try and figure out exactly what the fuck Dave had been thinking. He's had to find out Dave's address, but having Mike's number is coming in handy. He's given the address to the taxi driver and hopes it won't take long to get there. He's filled with a weird sense of déjà vu from the last time he came to Chicago four months ago, and he can't believe it's only been four months, because it feels like so much longer.

When the taxi pulls away from the curb Kurt glances up at Dave's apartment building. There are Christmas decorations brightening the dark windows, and Kurt's pretty sure it's starting to snow and he's not bought a proper winter jacket. Fucking LA making him forget what real winters are meant to feel like. He strides towards the door to the building, managing to catch it when there are people both entering and exiting. When the couple who entered the building with him ask him what floor he replies easily and they swipe their security dongle. Kurt can't believe how relaxed the security is. They wish him Merry Christmas when they exit the lift after three floors and Kurt returns the greeting, suddenly shocked to realise that it's only a week or so until Christmas.

He stands in front of Dave's apartment door, suddenly nervous about turning up unannounced. He hasn't organised another place to stay, because he'd just assumed…but, he really shouldn't have. They aren't a couple with automatic rights to each other's beds when they turn up, although he has no doubt that's where he's going to end up. He needs to stop worrying. He knocks on the door.

---

Dave hears the knock but doesn't move from his position on the couch. He's not expecting anyone, and if any of his neighbours want to borrow a cup of sugar then they can find someone else to hit up. He's not taking a chance of missing Kurt's call, eyes flicking to his phone every few seconds from the book he is reading, and he's checked the volume is on four times already. The second round of knocking is sharper and Dave frowns, still not moving. Then there is a sharp thump, some more knocking and he has to go and investigate, because he's curious now. When he peers through the peephole to see Kurt scowling at his door his fingers fly on the latch and lock, pulling the door open to reveal a very angry looking Kurt Hummel. He looks amazing and Dave grins.

"Hi," he breathes and he knows his eyes are probably bright and betraying exactly how he feels right now but he can't bring himself to care. Because Kurt is here, standing in front of him. Real.

"Hi. Idiot. Going to let me in?"

Dave shakes himself mentally and steps aside. Kurt walks past him just far enough to place his small piece of luggage beside the door and shut it before turning to Dave, pushing him against the wall and kissing him. Dave goes with it, because if this is the talking Kurt had in mind then he can get behind it. And he really is feeling like an idiot for all his worries now, given that Kurt is pushed up against him, hands at his waist, sucking on his lower lip and…

"Hi again…" Kurt says, pulling away.

"Hi. Fuck it's good to see you. But what are you doing here?"

"To see you obviously. And talk to you. Seeing as you weren't answering your phone I had to take drastic action. You're such a drama queen…"

"Wha…? Me?" Dave says, and then he supposes he has been, maybe, just a tiny bit, but he prefers being called an idiot. He'd always figured Kurt would be more of a drama queen, but he apparently makes grand gestures, like flying halfway across the country just to talk.

"You obviously came to your senses this morning, but I booked my flight last night, and it was non-refundable non-negotiable so here I am. Starving. You have to feed me. And then you have to talk to me. Or talk to me while you feed me. I'm not fussy."

Kurt's rambling and the simple fact that he's here make Dave's fingers curl around Kurt's waist, pulling him in close again. Dave starts a pattern of nipping and sucking and licking down Kurt's throat until he hears an appreciative moan and feels a thrust against him. The fact that Kurt is here, that he's made all this effort to just slap some sense into him in person, well… Dave isn't sure if Kurt realises it, but that means something to Dave. It means a lot. Because now, well now he's pretty sure Kurt has feelings for him. Even though he doubts those feelings have been realised by Kurt himself Dave can't resist a mental fist pump.

"You like Thai food right?" he asks, pulling away, and Kurt stares at him with a look of incomprehension for a split second before nodding. "Prawns?" Dave asks and receives another nod.

---

Kurt lets himself be led into Dave's kitchen and sat on the bench top in a slightly out-of-the-way spot. He watches as Dave cuts fresh vegetables, mixes some herbs and coconut cream together, adds some prawns and suddenly his mouth is watering, the smell of ginger and coriander causing his taste buds to riot. He's letting Dave work in silence, not wanting to distract him while he has a sharp knife in his hands, but also giving him time to order his thoughts.

When Dave sets a plate in front of him no less than fifteen minutes later Kurt is impressed. He'd never be able to create something so quickly with no prior knowledge of someone turning up for dinner. In fact, he'd never be able to create something that quickly period. He obviously needs to take lessons.

"So, now you talk," he instructs, before forking the first mouthful of creamy-spicy curry into his mouth. Dave leans against the bench, shrugging uncomfortably and Kurt frowns and decides to open up the path of communication with a tyre iron. "Why did you ignore me?"

"I…saw a picture of you and Reese Walker leaving a restaurant together and I was an idiot…"

"Clearly…" Kurt mutters, but he wonders how he'd have responded if he'd seen a picture of Dave and someone else. Even with their non-relationship status, he'd have felt…something. But he's far more likely to ring up screaming and demanding an answer. Unlike Dave, who apparently goes quiet and thoughtful before realising he's being an idiot. Or being told he's being an idiot.

"I just…" Dave shrugs and Kurt watches, chewing. "He's fit, attractive, famous…I can…see why you'd want to be with him. You seemed to fit, in the picture I mean…"

"Dave…" Kurt starts, and he's not sure how to go on. I like you. I respect you and trust you. "I would have told you if something was happening or even had the potential to happen. Fuck Dave, I like you, I wouldn't hurt you with something like that," Kurt says, and he almost adds with anything, because he doesn't want to hurt Dave. Ever. What a startling revelation that is.

"There's always potential for something to happen…You didn't tell me about him," Dave states, and his tone isn't accusatory at all, but Kurt frowns, because he knows he's talked about Reese, if only to complain about what a complete bastard he is.

"What? Yes I did. Cassie's brother."

"What?" Dave replies, and Kurt frowns, trying to recall now if he ever actually mentioned Reese's name. Obviously not.

"My friend Cassie? The arrogant piece of shit I told you about on Saturday morning?" Dave nods. "That's Reese Walker. The guy who I had to escort out of a restaurant because he got so drunk he kept on threatening to attack the photographers. And then me, Cassie and Renee had to get him into the house. Trust me when I say you have nothing to worry about where he is concerned. He is nowhere as nice on the inside as he is on the outside…"

"So you did notice."

"I'm not blind Dave. You clearly noticed as well…"

"I just…I'm an idiot. So Reese Walker is a jerk huh? Figures."

"Yes, idiot status definitely confirmed. Why does it figure?"

"He plays for the Steelers. He's useless."

"Uh huh…and what team do you support?"

"Chicago Bears."

Kurt bites back a smile of amusement about the whole bear reference, because Dave probably wouldn't find it nearly as amusing.

"So, if he played for the Chicago Bears, would he still be useless?"

"Erg, probably. Don't jinx my team like that…"

"Sorry," Kurt says mock seriously, and then a thought occurs to him. "In high school, did your game suffer when you were struggling with the whole coming out thing?"

"What? I…not my game so much, but my grades definitely did. What, you think that's what making him a shitty player? He could just be a shitty player you know."

"Maybe. But if it has been affecting his game… that's only got to be making him feel worse. Which would explain his absolutely terrible fucking attitude to everyone."

"Some people are just jerks," Dave responds. "You finished there?"

Kurt looks down at his empty bowl and nods, handing it to Dave to be rinsed and placed in the dishwasher. He's now curious about whether Reese truly is a complete arsehole through and through, or whether there are traits there which actually make it clear that he's related to Cassie and Renee. He stops caring very quickly though when Dave comes to stand in front of him, bracing a hand either side of his legs and leaning in.

"So, how long are you in town?"

"Well, I didn't buy a return ticket, so I don't know…" depends how long you want me here.

"So…what do you want to do?" Dave asks him, and he's moved in closer so that he can feel Dave's breath whisper over his lips as he speaks.

"Well, my first job was to talk to you. Think we've cleared that little misunderstanding up?" Kurt asks, and they're so close he knows Dave has got to feel his own breath move over his face. Dave makes a quiet ah-hmm of agreement and Kurt tingles. "Well then…my next step is to go into your bedroom and remove all of my clothes…with me so far?" Kurt asks, and he leans back, pushing Dave away from him slightly so he can see his face.

"I'm with you…" His voice is low and gravelly and he's watching Kurt closely. Kurt slides off the bench, moving so that he's pressing Dave against the bench instead.

"Well, once I'm in your bedroom and naked want to know what I'm going to do next?"

"What?"

"Have a shower…" Kurt supplies, taking a step backwards away from Dave and he feels a tiny bit cruel, but he's more amused than anything. From the look on Dave's face he's torn between disappointment and amusement, but Kurt knows he's not going really going to be disappointed. He holds out his hand. "You coming?"

TBC...

Author's note 2: Erm, just a warning for the next chapter – I don't prescribe to strict bottom/top roles. Just letting you know. Haven't decided who is going first though, so if you want to sway me in either direction let me know.