Misunderstandings: An Epilogue in Three Parts

Part 3 – Gifts

Kurt managed to open his locker just moments before his best friend verbally attacked him.

"Who is he?"

Sighing, Kurt gave his usual answer. "Nice to see you too, Mercedes. I had a lovely weekend, thank you for asking."

"Screw all that," said Mercedes, "Tell me who he is or I'll… tear up your latest copy of Vogue Magazine. The one with all your notes."

Finishing with his locker, Kurt closed it and leaned against it, frustrated with the girl. Ever since Valentines Day when he disappeared for the night she had been asking him who his boyfriend was. And quiet frankly it was starting to piss him off. "There are so many things wrong with that threat. Least of all being that I know you would study my notes and therefore give me ample time to take it."

"Boy, you've been holdin' out for more than a month! You need to tell me who he is. We tell each other everything."

"Oh believe me," said Kurt, "I want to tell you everything, but he's just not ready. Only his mom and my dad know. Not even Finn knows."

Mercedes stared at him a moment, as if trying to decide if any of that meant she still couldn't know. Then she looked down at his outfit and got distracted. "You dressed down today. Any one planning on a slushy attack I don't know about?"

Kurt looked down at his old red shirt. It belonged with the black one he had worn to Dave's that first time, but because the jock liked them so much he couldn't part with them. Then of course that was paired with the old skinny jeans. "No," he said simply.

"Well then why are you wearing all that?" asked Mercedes, annoyed that she had to fish for an explanation.

Kurt shrugged. "I honestly have no idea." Dave had called him earlier that morning and told him to wear what he had worn for Valentines, just with jeans instead of black slacks. Kurt blushed when he remembered what they had done later that night. Shivering, Kurt shook his head and smiled at Mercedes. "It was suggested that I wear it today. I decided to oblige."

Mercedes' eyes got wide. "He asked you to wear something not in season and you agreed? Boy, how long have you been seein' him?"

Kurt opened his mouth to answer when Mercedes glanced away and gasped.

"Daaamn!" she said under her breath. "He looks hot without that bulky jacket on."

Raising an eyebrow Kurt asked, "Who?"

Mercedes just nodded over his shoulder in answer.

Kurt turned and was glad he was already leaning against the lockers, because Dave was walking straight towards him, determined, and wearing all black. Kurt heard a whimper and realized too late that it was him. Dave looked… amazing… sexy. Hell, he looked good enough to eat, or swallow at least.

Taking a deep breath Kurt willed away his erection. No way was he going to get through the day with it if he didn't take care of it soon.

He was so entranced by the jock walking towards him that he didn't notice Mercedes looking back and forth between them until she cursed under her breath again.

"Damn, boy. That's him?"

Kurt glanced at her, suddenly afraid of accidentally outing his boyfriend. But Dave walked up before he could say anything.

"Morning, Kurt," he said softly.

"M-morning," stammered Kurt. What's happening right now?

"How long?" demanded Mercedes, crossing her arms over her chest.

Kurt looked at her only after he saw Dave give a slight nod, a suppressed grin on his lips. "It will have been a year…" he took out his phone to glance at the date. Oh my God! "Today!" he said in surprise, turning fully to Dave. "You planned all this?" he asked, incredulous. "You waited this long on purpose?"

Dave relaxed a bit and smiled more fully. "I was ready a few weeks ago, but yeah, I wanted to make it a bit more special." He shrugged. "I couldn't really think of a good one year anniversary gift and my mom suggested something along these lines."

"Wait, wait, wait," said Mercedes, pushing her way in between the two boys. "Let me clear this up. You two have managed to date for an entire year without anyone but your parents figuring it out?"

Dave nodded, still grinning.

"And for your one year anniversary," she continued, "You wore an outfit that apparently means something to each of you and decided to officially come out of the closet?"

Dave nodded again.

Mercedes stared, squinting her eyes until Dave took half a step back. Then she gave a sharp nod, "You watch your step, Karofsky. No one messes with my Kurt."

"Oh, Mercedes stop," gasped Kurt, something caught in his throat. "I've handled myself this long, I don't think he needs any threats."

Mercedes shrugged and moved back. "It comes with the territory, best friend. I don't want you to forget that."

Kurt nodded and took and step closer to Dave, just staring at him, trying to hold back the tears of joy. "You came out for me? As an anniversary gift?" He bit his lip when Dave nodded yet again, starting to look a little nervous.

"Did you want something specific? Icanstillgetyousomething," said Dave, running the second part together in his need to please.

Kurt shook his head. "That is the sweetest thing you could ever do for me," he whispered. Leaning up, he paused at the last second to give Dave the chance to pull away. When he stayed still, Kurt closed the inch between their lips and gave him a chaste kiss.

He felt Dave's hands on his waist and he pulled back before they went too far and forgot they were in a school hallway. He quickly wiped away the tears on his cheeks and smiled. He had a gift at home, not expecting to be able to give it to Dave at school, but there was one thing he could give now. One thing that meant just as much as Dave's gift.

He caught Dave's gaze and swallowed before giving that gift. Three little words the jock had waited a full year to hear. And he more than deserved them. "I love you, Dave," he whispered.

There was a moment when Dave just stared, incredulous, searching Kurt's face, maybe to make sure he had heard correctly or that he truly meant them. Apparently he saw what he wanted because he picked Kurt up and swung him around.

Kurt yelped in surprise and hit at his boyfriend's large shoulders. "Put me down, Hamhock!" he ordered, laughing.

Dave did as he was told and gave Kurt another, slightly deeper kiss before pulling away. Kurt didn't think he had ever seen such a huge smile on anybody's face.

"Come on, Fancy," said Dave, "I wanna walk you to class."

Kurt nodded, taking the offered hand. "Of course." They turned and he quickly grabbed Mercedes' arm and pulled her along.

They were only half way down the hall before he felt himself shoved into Mercedes and consequently into the lockers. It was as they were recovering that he heard the homophobic remarks, but he was confused when he didn't feel the usual ice cold of a slushy on his face.

After checking to make sure Mercedes was fine, having taken the brunt of the hit into the lockers, he turned to check on Dave. But instead of leaning against the other side of the hallway where Kurt had expected to find him, he stood in the middle, dripping from head to foot in what had to be at least three different colored slushies.

"Oh my God," cried Kurt. When he rushed forward to help he nearly slipped on even more slushy. Mercedes righted him before he fell completely on the floor and continued on to Dave's rescue.

"Man, Karofsky," she said, "I knew you had some strength, I never realized you could match it in speed."

Dave chuckled, wiping the colored mixtures from his eyes. "Sorry if I pushed too hard," he said, licking his lips, "I was just trying to get you out of the way."

Kurt pulled out a towel he had in his bag, just for these circumstances and used it to wipe off Dave's face. "Well you succeeded," he said, "There's a puddle on the floor where I would be right now. Thanks for thinking of us."

Kurt noticed him blush, despite that he was already red from the cold. He was about to ask why when Mercedes spoke up.

"Kurt, please, you know he was trying to save you. I was just lucky enough to be on your other side." She grinned at Dave, "But don't worry, I won't hold it against you. I think it's cute."

Dave frowned at the idea of being called cute, but didn't say anything.

The bell rang and Kurt turned to Mercedes. "Can you go on and tell Mr. Shue I'll be late to Spanish. I'm going to help him get cleaned up."

"Mmm, no tongue, Kurt," she said as she turned and walked away, "You never no what those meatheads might have done to those slushies."

Kurt just laughed, taking Dave's hand and leading him to the closest bathroom. Once there he stood Dave in front of the sinks and ran the already wet towel under some warm water.

"Shirt off," he ordered.

Dave did as instructed though he added smarmily, "I thought we were saving this for tonight?"

Slapping him playfully on the arm Kurt silently traded the towel for the shirt. He started to rinse it off as Dave wiped down his face and torso. After checking the wash instructions, Kurt took the shirt to the blow driers and held the shirt underneath to help it dry.

"What about your pants and shoes?" he asked over the mechanical whirring.

Dave shrugged. "I can change into the jeans I have in the locker room. And as long as I'm careful when I take them off, I should be able to just wipe down my shoes." Rinsing the towel off real quick, Dave added, "Don't worry, I kind of expected something like this to happen. That's why I wore black and not white."

"And the fact that you'd starve all day for having to avoid any form of food," added Kurt, inspecting the now almost dry shirt. "You know, I don't think it'll be too noticeable. I should where black tops more often."

Dave came over, taking the shirt and kissing Kurt's cheek. "Again, why I wore it. Now go on to class. I'd let you come with me while I changed my pants but I think we'd end up playing hookie."

Sighing, Kurt nodded. "I know. I'm pretty close to that point already." He returned to the counters and picked up his bag. "Just toss the towel in with the rest of the stuff in the locker rooms. Beiste is pretty good about getting it washed and back to me."

He kissed Dave's cheek, running a hand over his bare chest and groaning quietly. "I'll see you at lunch," he said, pushing himself away. "I assume you'll be sitting next to me from now on? Not across the room."

"Duh, Kurt," said Dave, smiling. "I'll see you there."

Kurt nodded and pulled open the door only to look back when he Dave spoke again.

"And Kurt?"

"Yeah, Dave?"

"I love you, too."

Kurt smiled. "I know."

Fin

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