A/N: Just a reminder that this is canon up until NBK. So FURT and everything after did not happen. Thanks for reading, and any feedback would be appreciated. Thank you to everyone who reviewed, alerted, favorited or even just read. There will be an epilogue after this chapter.

Art of Deflection: Chapter 10

Dinner was interesting. The tense atmosphere was broken only by Sally's excitement over their guest. Kurt liked her almost immediately. Mostly because of the apparent love she had for her older brother, and the stories she told, causing Kurt to double over in laughter.

Mrs. Karofsky was like a stone. Unmovable and just as unfriendly. Her comments were terse and obviously meant to show her displeasure.

Paul Karofsky on the other hand was pleasant, although he continuously threw worried glances at his wife. Kurt had the impression that she was the dictator in that family.

Dave was quiet for the most part. Only responding when Sally said something directly to him. The cheerful girl chatted through the whole meal, with no one attempting to stop her.

Kurt was on edge just waiting for things to blow up. If it wasn't for Dave's pleading look, he would have refused the invitation from the beginning. He'd caught Mrs. Karofsky glaring at him on more than one occasion. He was thankful when Sally excused herself from the table, thinking surely the ordeal was almost over.

He was so wrong. Now that their buffer was gone, things went downhill fast.

"Are you a homosexual?"

"Um…" Kurt choked on his water. He looked over at Dave for support, but he only saw panic in the other boy's eyes. "Yes. I…I'm gay."

"I thought as much. Well, David is a good boy so you can try to turn someone else's son."

"Enough, mom." Dave said, standing up so quickly his chair almost toppled to the floor. "You can't talk to him like that."

"I'm just trying to help you."

"Oh, you are helping. Seriously. Just not in the way you wanted."

"I don't understand," she said frowning.

But he'd already turned toward Kurt, ignoring her. "I was wrong."

"About?" He stood up. Ready to fight or flee if necessary.

"I can do this. Because you're worth it," he said. "I'm worth it."

"What are you talking about, David?" she demanded, looking panicked.

"I'm gay."

"No. You can't be," she said. "You're just confused."

Dave shook his head. "I'm not, mom. Not anymore."

"Homosexuality is a sin." Her voice rose in volume until she was yelling. Anger and fear radiated off of her in waves.

"That's your hang up. Not mine."

Before Kurt realized what was happening, she'd turned on him. "You did this! You infected my son with your disease."

He should have expected it, but he could only stare at her in disbelief. In that moment he realized how lucky he'd truly been. His dad, his family, his friends accepted him. Dave didn't have any of that, and yet here he was… coming out. He felt a surge of affection for the other boy, as he glanced over at his sad but determined face. Surely his mom would change her mind… for her son's sake.

"Get out of my house. You've done enough."

Obviously not. Kurt sighed. He'd leave, if only to spare Dave from having to choose.

Dave stepped in between them, facing his mom. "Do you want to know what he did?" he said, his eyes flashing. "Mom, you should be thanking him, instead of treating him this way. He saved my life. Even though I was nothing but awful to him. I was this close to killing myself. If it hadn't been for Kurt…" A few tears escaped, flowing down his face, as his voice cracked with pain.

"David, no…" his father said, a look of shock on his face.

"I hated myself. I was afraid no one would accept me." He was staring at his dad, silently pleading for him to understand.

"And no one will. You need to repent. Ask God for forgiveness."

"Patricia, stop," Paul said sternly. "You're fanatical ideas are tearing this family apart."

"Your son thinks he's gay, and I'm the one ruining the family? Why don't you be a man for once and stand up to your son?"

Kurt wanted to disappear. The situation was beyond awkward, but he knew Dave was having a difficult time as watched uneasily as his parents argue back and forth.

"He almost died! Doesn't that mean anything to you?" Paul asked.

"Better a dead son, than a gay one."

The room went silent, as everyone stared at her in shock. Dave's face was pale, and he looked like he was going to cry or throw up or both.

"You need to leave. Right now."

Kurt was sure Mr. Karofsky was talking to him, but when he glanced over he realized he was glaring at his wife in disbelief.

"Paul…"

"Now, Patricia," he said. "I can't stand to look at you."

No one spoke as she gathered her purse and jacket.

"I will be at my sister's until you come to your senses," she said. "I hope you're happy." She glared at Kurt as she brushed past him.

Once the door slammed shut, Mr. Karofsky let out the breath he'd been holding. "I'm going to check on Sally. There's no way she didn't hear at least part of that."

"I'm so sorry, Dave," Kurt said, rushing over to him after his dad left. The other boy shook his head sadly.

"Not your fault," he said softly, pulling Kurt into his arms and hugging him tightly.

"I know this is probably the wrong thing to say, but I'm proud of you. I know this was hard."

"You remember what I said before… about not really being in love with you?"

Kurt tensed, trying to ignore the now familiar pain.

"I meant it. I wasn't really in love with you. I just thought I was."

"Okay," Kurt said, trying to pull away.

Dave held on tight as he tipped Kurt's chin up. "Don't you want to know how I know?"

"I'm not sure…"

He laughed, his thumb stroking the side of his face. "Because this is how it feels to be in love with Kurt Hummel. It's painful and scary but above all amazing."

"Dave," he said, fresh tears in his eyes. "I love you so much."

The kiss they shared was sweet and tender, with an edge of passion, of a promise of what was to come.

The anger, the fear, and the regret were finally gone.

And although this wasn't their first kiss, Kurt knew it was the first kiss that mattered. The one in which they were both stripped bare... and they were finally, truly themselves.