Part XI

"I made you another mix CD," Dave mumbles as soon as Kurt piles into his car. "Want to listen to it? I chose some of my favorites, so that you could see what I like."

It's unseasonably warm in Ohio on this March night, and Kurt feels as though he's overdressed for wearing the long-sleeved shirt and jacket that he is. But he smiles at Dave, pretending that he isn't too hot. "Play it."

Yet as soon as Dave does start playing the music as he pulls out of the driveway, he glances at Kurt and somehow knows. With a roll of his eyes, he stops on the side of Kurt's street and reaches over to yank at the collar of Kurt's jacket. "Take it off, Hummel."

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Kurt snaps.

"You're too hot. There's sweat on your forehead and your cheeks are flushed." He snorts, "I swear, Kurt, sometimes you think too much about fashion and not enough about practicality."

Kurt stares, slightly taken aback. He can't even describe how bizarrely touching that is, because even though Dave sounds like he's being petulant and mocking, he's actually being… considerate. Blinking, Kurt mutters as he strips off his jacket, "Thanks, I guess."

"Whatever," Dave mumbles, and moments later they're driving again, and Dave starts to sing along with the music. It's Frank Sinatra's, 'It Was A Very Good Year,' and Kurt is only vaguely familiar with it because of his father's mixed taste in music. He never truly listened to the lyrics before, but as he hears Dave sing them (quite well, Kurt notes), he starts to cry. The melody itself is sorrowful and haunting, and beautiful, and then the lyrics are the same.

"I… never gave much thought to any music older than the eighties," Kurt admits softly. "But this… this is lovely."

Dave laughs shortly. "My taste in music is weird. On the one hand, I have Sinatra and Bublé and stuff, crooner music, but on the other hand I have Bruce Springsteen and Billy Idol, and then there's other stuff, like Thirty Seconds To Mars and Savage Garden." He shrugs. "I don't even know half the stuff I listen to, I just like it."

How come, before this whole secret admirer business, Kurt never saw this other side of Karofsky? This softer version of the bully, the one aptly Biblically named, the one that lacks the creeper-attitude and is just… a normal guy. Well, mostly. Dave still has plenty of issues with himself and his sexuality, but when he's with Kurt, the soprano can almost forget all of that because Dave doesn't act like it. He's openly affectionate, as long as they're alone.

xXx

During the movie, Kurt is so absorbed that he doesn't notice until he feels it, but Dave had been slowly edging closer, and finally, he subtly slipped his hand beneath Kurt's on the armrest, turning up his palm to interlock fingers.

Kurt tenses, not at all expecting the gentle touch to come from the jock beside him. But he welcomes it, and even gives Dave's hand a small squeeze. It's these spontaneous moments that make Kurt feel comfortable, despite the stalking, despite the bullying, despite everything else negative that's happened between him and the individual whose hand he's holding.

xXx

They wind up staying out late, past midnight, going around to places from their childhoods – parks and certain memorable stores – and even to another movie. And through it all, Dave pays for everything, saying that he has a job at the moment and that Kurt shouldn't worry about it. He buys Kurt any snack or refreshment he wants when he wants it, and once, Kurt didn't even have to ask or mention that he was thirsty, and Dave was thrusting a water bottle to Kurt's chest, stating that he thought Kurt might need it.

And the entire time they're out, Kurt is thinking about how he's never had more fun in his life. Sometimes Dave slips into his usual façade, when there are too many people, and he acts more like a reluctant friend or a guy tolerating his annoying cousin, and it would piss Kurt off if it weren't just a tad adorable in a twisted sort of way.

By the end of the night, Dave and Kurt are saying an awkward goodbye, awkward because Kurt can tell by the look in Karofsky's eyes that he doesn't want Kurt go home yet. But Kurt himself is just too tired to do much more.

"I had a lot of fun," Kurt murmurs honestly. "I'll see you again soon."

And just as Kurt pops open the car door, Dave grabs his wrist. "Wait!" he says slightly too loud, and Kurt turns back, staring. Dave releases him, realizing that he might be hurting Kurt. He fumbles, "Um. Are you ever coming back to McKinley? You know I wouldn't bully you anymore if you did, right?"

Kurt nods. "I do know that, but… it's March, and school ends the first week of June, and that's only two months from now. It would be pointless and messy to try and transfer those credits. But… I'll be back next year. And there's the entire summer when you can see me all you like without anyone having to know."

Dave gives Kurt a torn look. Then, with a flare of anger, Dave punches the back of his seat as he pivots in it to face Kurt further. "That's so fucking stupid! Why do I keep hiding?"

And Kurt knows that Dave isn't angry at the soprano, but rather at himself. Kurt reaches over and touches Dave lightly on the arm. "It's okay, Dave. I know that it's scary for someone like you to come out, and that you fear rejection above all else. You feared me rejecting you; you fear your friends and parents rejecting you. I get it, David, I really do." He pauses, daring Dave to utter the stereotypical throwback, the spiteful, 'No you don't,' or, 'Yeah, do you really?' But when it doesn't come, Kurt decides to share quietly, "When I thought my dad didn't know I was gay, I was scared shitless. But you get past it, because the people who truly care about you come around sooner or later."

The jock nods stiffly, thoughtfully. Then, slowly, he turns back to grip the steering wheel. "You should get inside now, Kurt. I bet your dad is pissed."

Kurt smirks. "No, he isn't. I texted him every time I went to the bathroom. He knows that I'm out late, and after assuring him that I'm not drinking, doing drugs, or having sex, he's fine with me breaking curfew."

Dave glances at Kurt, blinking. "Damn, Kurt. You're fucking fortunate. My parents, I'm sure, are either going to tear me a new asshole for this, or ground me. And if I'm really lucky, they haven't noticed and don't care. But that's rare."

The glee member shrugs. "Yeah, well. As sorry as I am for you, I honestly couldn't be happier for myelf."

Dave chuckles, a hint of sarcasm lacing the sound. "I bet you are." He exhales through his nose. "Anyway. It's late. So… goodnight."

Kurt smiles earnestly. "Goodnight, David." And without planning it but doing it because he knows Dave wants him to, Kurt leans over and gives the jock a peck on the cheek.

Then Kurt is out the open car door and entering his home, briefly greeting his dad when he finds the middle-aged man flipping channels in the dark living room lit only by the television screen.

"Enjoy yourself?" his dad asks cheerfully. "And I know that must have been your admirer and not a 'friend' like you said, because you're smiling too damn much."

Kurt giggles breathlessly. "You caught me." He plops down on the couch beside his father. "But I promise nothing major happened. We saw some movies, went to a playground and sat on the swings, having a who-can-reach-the-highest contest, and then got some ice cream at Dairy Queen from the drive-thru. It was… nice."

He dad pats him on the knee for a passing moment. "I'm glad, son. I love seeing you as happy as I feel as a married man."

Kurt laughs. "It's hardly the same, Dad." He yawns. "Oh, boy. I need to get my beauty sleep. I'll see you in the morning, most likely late, around ten in the AM. G'night."

"'Night, son," Burt replies, un-muting the TV.

And after a speedy version of his usual nightly routine, Kurt gratefully collapses onto his mattress, snuggling under the covers and sighing. Somehow, something that should be so undeniably wrong feels so undeniably right, and he'd like to think it's because of the indescribably powerful chemistry between him and Karofsky.

And Kurt can tell that, despite how it ignited (with bullying) and how it set on fire (with secret admiring), this chemical burn is something that is guaranteed to stick around for a while, because as long as Kurt and Rachel are able to help him, Dave can turn out to be a remade man, one that just might be worth holding on to.

END.

A/N: I decided to end it here, and while I know this isn't very satifsying for some/most people, please understand that there are plenty of fics (even my own) that do the whole, "falling in love, introducing to parents, yadda yadda coming out yadda" stuff between Kurt and Dave afterward, so yeah. I wanted it to just be like this.

Thanks for sticking with me, you guys! And be on the lookout for other stuff of mine (if you like Karomel/Kurve/Kurtofsky)~! Tootles! 8D