Like A Record Baby epilogue (1/3)
Summary: Our favorite gleeks cope with relationships on top of everything else impending adulthood brings.
Rating: R for language and vague hints of male/male lovin'... eventually.
Pairing: Kurtofsky of course, with hints of Finchel, Wemma, Samcedes, Tike, Brittana, Sartie, and the rest of the gang.
Spoilers: Up to "On My Way" 3x14
Warnings: Possible mentions and allusions to the dark themes from "On My Way", cursing, and I'm afraid it may end up being so fluffy you may very well drown in the down.
A/N- Hello loves! ...Okay see; this was supposed to only be two parts. The first part pick ups where the last part of LaRB left off (April 29th in my head!canon) and was supposed to tell until the end of summer before the second part outlined our character's lives until the new year. But alas, certain scenes wouldn't allow themselves to be told with anything less than palaverous detail (can you tell I've been playing with a thesaurus??).
It doesn't help that my mind couldn't just skate over big events (ie: prom, Nationals) so this is probably going to be 3 parts... unless it just gets totally out of control. This 'verse won't leave me alone!
So much thanks goes out to captain_love, brycelwynn, bevoboy98, hamhocklover and everyone else who took their time to give me feedback. To think- this started with only the Kurtofsky conversation in the 'Like A Record Baby' summary.
Also there is a shameless Harry Potter reference in there somewhere. I couldn't resist :D
Okay okay this entirely too long author's note will end... now.
Disclaimer: I do not own Glee, but Glee definitely owns a part of me. No profit; just obsession.
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"Davey!"
"Zo, hey, I have some crazy news-"
"If it's about the GSA I don't want to hear it. I've decided I'm jealous of not getting to be involved in all of the gay."
"Doesn't OSU have a GLBT Alumni Society?"
"Well yeah, but I'm not G, L, B or T."
"If it makes you feel better you're most definitely queer."
"Thank you!" Sonia paused, taking a sip from her wine glass. She was supposed to be working on her thesis... "What's going on?" she asked, her mind catching up to a certain nuance in Dave's voice.
"I have a date with Kurt on Saturday."
The sip of wine in Sonia's mouth spewed out loudly, and she heard Dave mutter, "Yeesh, dramatic much," as she pulled the phone away to sop the moisture off of her legs with the sleeve of her hoodie.
"Uuum, you're surprisingly blasé for a guy who's been whining incessantly for months. Oh my gosh, I'm coming over to help you pick out an outfit."
"Slow down wine-o." Sonia harrumphed. "That was wine you just blasted everywhere, yeah?"
"It's this lovely pinot-"
"Yeah, don't care; you're not driving."
"I hate it when you cut me off, D-bag."
"I know."
"Sooooo..." Sonia hedged when Dave chuckled but remained silent.
"God, I don't know. I'm still trying to convince myself that it really happened."
"Audio hallucinations are a symptom of quite a few intriguing maladies, wanna hear 'em?"
Dave sighed. "Could you just focus, maybe? I brought up the idea of bringing him to that new barbeque place, EJ's, but I feel like that's too, I dunno, simple."
"You're such a romantic," Sonia choked out, half putting it on and half not. She was so happy for her cousin.
"More brainstorming and less fawning, crazy lady."
-
"So his text said that he'd be picking you up at 4:30 and to dress casually?"
"Yes Rachel, yes, for the fifth time."
"It was hardly the fifth time-"
"Guys, would you stop?"
Mercedes stepped between Kurt and Rachel to head off the rising storm.
Finn watched the drama from Kurt's bed as the three perused the contents of the fashionable boy's burting closet, thinking about the reason his fiancé had been at his house for a day and a half and had barely looked at him twice.
After Glee had ended Friday Kurt and Rachel were still tirelessly working with Finn on some dance moves while Dave watched on in amusement.
Once Finn was able to successfully remember the section of choreography he'd been stuck on the four of them walked out to Finn's truck and Dave's car. Finn had looked on with mounting suspicion and realization, whilst Rachel did the same with a soft expression, as the boys ahead of them held hands (which, okay, they did sometimes when the four of them watched movies and thought no one noticed, but never just right there, out in the open) before, having arrived at his own vehicle, Dave lifted Kurt's hand and pressed a kiss to the top of Kurt's of it, saying something Finn couldn't hear.
As Finn got into his truck and turned the ignition he saw Kurt move to cup Dave's cheek, Dave's hand sliding down to rest loosely around Kurt's wrist. Dave respond by turning his head and laying another kiss on Kurt's palm.
When they just started staring at one another Finn looked away, feeling like he was intruding on their moment. He turned Rachel and her eyes were still on the pair, both hands resting over her heart.
"So wait, Kurt and Dave?"
"Oh Finn don't look so surprised. You agreed with Mercedes and I, we saw this coming a mile back. Did you not see the way Kurt was looking at Dave after his audition?"
"Yeah," he replied, but before he could say anything else Kurt was getting into the car. "Are you and Karofsky, like, a thing now?"
Kurt sat up straighter and raised his nose, a cocky grin on his face.
"We have our first date tomorrow night," he gloated.
His hand tingled and he knew his eyes had to be a little dilated; and that was just from the feel of David's lips on Kurt's palm and the look in his eyes. Now that everything was out in the open Kurt was hyper aware of this magnet-like pull he felt towards David.
Kurt felt like he was someone to be envied. The David he'd gotten to know was this sweet, funny, intense and romantic young man; and he wanted Kurt. That thought always made Kurt feel funny because it reminded him of 'I think I love you' and made his whole chest cavity sort of simmer-
"Kurt!"
"Hmm?"
Rachel rolled her eyes at him, a knowing smile on her face.
"I was just saying how happy I am for two and that you're obviously quite smitten but, well, you proved my point admirably." She reached for the radio but Finn stopped her, serious eyes on Kurt.
"So like, you're a thing?"
"Remind me again why I asked for your help in picking out an outfit," Kurt huffed at Rachel, pulling Finn from his memories. The quarterback had been in shock since that car ride home (sure he'd seen warning signs, he'd even made some comments to Dave about what might happen with them all going to NYC but still...) and as soon as it had been established that Kurt and Dave were, yes, a 'thing', his next question had been, 'So... kissing?'
"Don't be mean to Rachel just 'cause you're a hot mess full 'a pent up frustration," Mercedes scolded, she and Rachel exchanging smirks; they'd been insufferable since Kurt had called an (possibly hasty) emergency sleepover the night before.
-
"You know we caught that little scene in the parking lot yesterday. It was, quite possibly, the grossest thing I've ever witnessed; and I've had front row seats to the Finchel rating mitual."
Santana had just walked through Dave's front door, Brittany in tow, without so much as a knock.
"It was beautiful, like the video I saw of that cat giving birth. Remember Tana?"
"Yeah Britt, I remember" Santana gave her girlfriend a soft look and Dave smirked.
"Beautiful," Brittany whispered out in a reverent voice.
"Thanks Brittany, hope that's like a cosmic analogy for new beginnings," Dave responded before hearing a door close upstairs and sighing. "There goes that."
"There goes what Davey? Who's here?"
"Davey?" Santana grinned devilishly. She knew who that was.
Footsteps rumbled down the steps as Sonia descended into the living room, her newly dyed black hair severe against her pale skin, hazel eyes glinting.
"Santana and Brittany? Well it's about damn time." She eyed the two with a tongue-in-cheek smirk once she hit the bottom. "Which one do you think?"
She held up the two shirts in her hand and Dave facepalmed. He'd been heading to the kitchen to get a drink and some space from Sonia's crazy and now here they were; Satan and the hellcat Zo, united against him at long last.
"The green one," Santana observed difinitively, "though they both look a little small. Might be a bit tight around Big D's beefy shoulders."
"Which would be the point," Sonia grinned at the cheerleader, Santana returning it with a devious smirk.
"Walk with me," she said, strolling up to Sonia and hooking their arms. They walked slowly up the stairs talking quietly with Brittany nodding enthusiastically behind them.
"This is why you two haven't met!" Dave yelled up the stairs only to be answered with (demonic) laughter and a closing door. He hung his head in his hands, try to remind himself that this would have happened at the first chapter meeting next Sunday and he could have worse company before his date with Kurt... oh yeah. His date with Kurt.
That thought was all it took for him to follow them up the stairs, trying to rub the smile off his face before entering his room; after all, it didn't help to be covered in blood before walking in to the lion's den.
-
"Have a good time bro. And no, uh, funny business," Finn said when 4:30 struck and the doorbell rang.
"Aw Finn, you're so adorable when you play the brother card and try to protect my virtue," Kurt observed, floating towards the front door. He didn't even check his reflection in the mirror.
"'m just saying to be smart," Finn grumbled but Kurt was opening the door and slipping out with a wave, giving no indication that he'd heard Finn.
-
When Kurt opened the door he noticed that David had stepped away from the entrance and was standing with his hands behind his back. Kurt hoped David hadn't heard the catch in his breath; the forest green henley David was wearing was unbuttoned enough to show just a peek of hair, the fabric stretched almost too tightly across his chest, biceps, and shoulders excentuated further with the way he was standing. Kurt's heart beat picked up (okay, so maybe David, the real David, was 150% his type), and sheesh, global warming was kicking in as Kurt noticed David's jeans made it obvious that his thighs were all muscle, and-
"This is for you," with a bright blush on his face Dave moved his hands from behind his back revealing a mesh looking bag filled with what looked to be dirt in a little black flowerpot, a green sprout sticking from the top of the blackbrown mass.
"What is it?" Kurt reached for it and took a closer look.
"It's, uh, stargazer lilies and they're just about ready to be planted. If, um, if you leave them in the bag and take really good care of them you can bring them inside during the winter, and if you're really lucky, re-plant 'em in the spring. They're kinda tender but they're really beautiful and they smell incredible." Dave couldn't seem to get his mouth to stop. "Sonia's ex got a bunch them for her try to get them back together and Sonia told him the scent ALMOST covered how full of crap he was."
Kurt had gone from wearing what was totally a besotted expression (because his date had brought him one of his favorite flowers that, if properly cared for, would bloom and last for months, which was better than an entire bouquet of cut roses and chocolate combined), to smiling affectionately and humming in delight.
"David Karofsky are you nervous?" It thrilled him, maybe more than it should have, to elicit such a response.
"How could you tell?" Dave tugged at the bottom of his shirt and stared at Kurt, who was torn between returning the gaze and watching the way the movement of the fabric called his attention back to David's broad chest.
"Don't be; I love them. And you look" -hot, wow, can you wrap me up in those big strong arms- "very handsome."
Usually Dave wore a loose button up over a white tee even though Kurt knew, had noticed, that David was working out and dieting; he really hoped it wasn't because of the horrible things he'd said that fateful day- but no, no more brooding. Not today.
"Very handsome," he repeated, the giddiness flooding back when he noticed that the blush had spread to David's ears.
"Thanks," Dave replied, a slightly pinched look on his face expressing his doubt. Kurt couldn't wait to prove just how attractive he found the athlete.
"You look amazing," David waved a hand toward Kurt before bringing it up to rub his neck. "You always look amazing." The hand dropped and David let out a chuckle. "It's weird being able to tell you that."
Kurt's eyes softened even as his grip on the flowerpot tightened at the urge to touch David. "Good weird or bad weird?"
"Definitely good weird," Dave moved forward and seemed to have had a similiar urge. He reached out a hand to gently brush his knucles against Kurt's cheek who responded with a sigh and a smile.
"Good. So, what do I do with this?" he gestured with the flowerpot.
David gave his head a quick nod. "Right. Just leave it by the front door, they're freshly watered and if you keep 'em fed they should last two or three days in the sunshine before getting planted."
"Are you going to help me plant them?" Kurt asked, placing the pot down and following David to his car.
"What, 'fraid of getting your hands dirty?" Dave joked, holding open the car door. Kurt rolled his eyes, though the effect was ruined by the smile stuck on his face.
"You do realize I can put an entire engine together with my bare hands, right?" Kurt sat himself in the passenger seat and Dave shook his head, smiling.
"Touché." He closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat; the keys were already in the ignition and the radio was softly playing Christina Perri's "Arms". Kurt almost burst out laughing at the irony.
Dave snorted as got in, putting on his seatbelt and pulling off.
"It's a mix Zo made me promise to play today. Chicks are..." He didn't even bother finishing the sentence.
"Uh, hello, my best friends are the biggest divas in New Directions. And I made the mistake of asking them to help me get ready today."
"Ha, I'll raise your Rachel-and-Mercedes with my Sonia, Santana and Brittany."
Kurt looked flabbergasted.
"How did that happen?"
Their conversation about their friends' various reactions lasted until they pulled into the parking lot.
Because Dave had called ahead they were able to get a table on the patio. EJ's was a nice barbeque restaurant where they cooked your selection in front of you and Mercedes hadn't been able to stop talking about how nice it was. Sam, who had taken her, told them the ribs were to die for. The boys enjoyed their drinks and shared the recommended rack of ribs over easy conversation.
It felt almost like a regular evening out with a friend save for the moments where Kurt would catch David's lingering glances or one of them would iniate a touch. There would be a heavy moment that made it feel as if they were the only two people in the world before the spell was broken by their waitress (who had given Dave the eye until he reached for Kurt's hand) or a strong breeze ruffling up their napkins or, once, a child shrieking at the top of her lungs and overturning her plate.
After their bill had been paid, David insisting for both of them that they didn't want dessert, Kurt found himself mourning the upcoming conclusion until he remembered what the end of the date would bring.
-
As they drove off from the restaurant Kurt realized they weren't heading back the way they'd come.
"Where are we going?"
"A guy can't give away all his secret," Dave replied, turning up the CD and basking in the comfortable silence, hoping Kurt liked his surprise.
They pulled up to a Rita's across from a park and Dave turned off the ignition, rubbing his hands on his jeans before he exited the car and went to open Kurt's door.
"Zo and I come here a lot, it's halfway between her dorm and my house; it's got a great view of the sunset," he explained nervously. Kurt smiled at the other boy's flustered appearance, feeling slightly ridiculous for the way he melted at more evidence of David's romantic side.
"It's beautiful, David," Kurt said softly as he took in the park and Dave approached the window.
Dave was doing his best to not trip over his words as he placed his order but Kurt's fingers were running up and down his forearms and it was very distracting.
They both decided on mango gelatis because as Kurt studied the menuboard and couldn't decided what he wanted, David had urged him to try the flavor he'd ordered; it was his favorite.
They sat shoulder to shoulder on Dave's favorite picnic bench, the canopy of trees playing horizon to their vision of the pink, purple, and amber hued setting sun.
Dave found himself almost overwhelmed, torn between losing himself in the moment and waiting for the other shoe to drop.
He hadn't even noticed he'd finished his gelati until Kurt was gently lifting the empty cup from his hand, stacking it with his own, and dropping them in the nearby waste basket. As Kurt walked back up to the bench he moved to stand in front of David who ducked his head to block the bright sun. It caused a halo to glow around Kurt's head and Dave felt a little lightheaded.
"I just had the most enchanting first date, but sadly, all good things must come to an end." His hands landed on Dave's knees and he inched forward. "The upside, however, is that I get to kiss you now," Kurt said slowly, determined eyes locking with Dave's until they drifted to his lips.
They met with a passion that spiked Kurt's blood and his last coherent thought before they finally untangled themselves and returned to David's car (the sun had fully set and the park lights were beginning to draw enthusiastic insects to the area) was that he'd always remember how his third first kiss with the enigma that was David Karofsky tasted of mango italian ice and changing tides.
-
Two months after the accident found Quinn sitting in her room at home subconsciously flexing out her left hand as she poured over homework in her new and sinfully comfortable computer chair.
Getting out of the hospital had been a blessed relief. She was steadfastly working on her PT for her hand and looking forward to getting the cast off of her leg. She was at the point where she could walk on crutches for short spurts before her hand went weak but found even pushing the wheelchair caused an ache after a while, and her bones would feel like they were throbbing if she pushed too hard.
"Slow and steady," she muttered to herself halfheartedly. She was still meeting with the therapist on the days she had PT, and between him, Beth, the glee club (especially, for some reason, Puck) she was feeling better... emotionally. It helped when Coach Sylvester had slipped in one night and told her if she thought a broken leg and 'gimpy' hand were going to get her out of her responsibility to the Cheerios Sue would post Quinn's 'Lucy Caboosey' picture to the Yale facebook with a link to Quinn's profile.
It had felt oddly good for someone to stop treating her with kid gloves- even Santana was still being nice; and not Santana nice but genuinely sweet. It was creepy.
Quinn's hand started to cramp and the good thoughts she'd been focusing on evaporated; she was sick and tired of the pain and the waiting and was still dreading finding out just how functional her hand would be once it was fully healed.
She slammed her right hand down on the desk in frustration just as her bedroom door swung open.
"Are you imagining that it's my face?" Quinn rolled her eyes at the mohawked young man who was standing in the doorway eyeing her desk. Puck looked up and rubbed his hands together. "Good news- Guess who has the honor of pushing the Queen Bee around school?" he asked, a cocky grin forming on his face as he plopped himself onto her bed.
"Rachel?" Quinn speculated.
"Nope; this guys right here," he pointed both thumbs at his chest.
"You volunteered?" she asked incredelously. Quinn
was suprised since she knew Puck was still trying to recover from the (not totally untrue) rumors about him being Lauren's bitch.
"Hell yeah, I get to leave each class five minutes early."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Did you not hear what I said about gettin' outta class early?"
"Puck."
Quinn stared him down, grateful that she hadn't lost her touch with death glares. The cocky grin slid off of his face as he shrugged loosely, the jostling popping the corner of her sheet out.
"Would you believe me if I said I didn't know." She scoffed and rolled her eyes and he sat up, sliding towards Quinn. The movement pulled her sheet out even further as he sat at the foot of the bed, looking at Quinn with a serious, almost imploring, expression.
"I think I'm tryin' to finally, I dunno... I guess do what feels right insteada tryin' to get thrills outta doin' what I know I shouldn't. Plus I really wanna show you I'm not a Lima Loser-"
"Noah-"
"-but it's not for you. It's for me. 'Cause I know I can deserve you and Beth and be everything my old man wasn't. You two are the best things that've ever happened to me and I'm not giving up this time."
And then he was laying back down on the disheveled bed with his hands behind his head, eyes closed, looking for all the world like he hadn't just gone totally mushy. Quinn stared to him, unmoving.
"Finish your homework; you're the freak who wants to go back to school even though you already got accepted. You better hop on it before Rachel sinks her claws in." He shuddered to himself. "Take it from me, Q, you don't want her to decide she'd your self-appointed your tutor. See!" His eyes popped open and he awarded himself a point when he saw Quinn trying not to smile. "I just said appointed."
"Yes Puck, three syllables and it's not a curse word; very impressive." She allowed herself a soft smile before shaking her head and turning back to her homework; were those seriously butterflies in her stomach?
Puck closed his eyes again and gave himself another point when he can't detect any sarcasm in Quinn's assessment. He was pretty impressive, wasn't he?
-
The first PFLAG meeting took place the Sunday after junior Prom and the day before Quinn's return to school. Sugar and Artie, to most everyone (save Blaine, Sebastian, and Rory's) surprise, were snuggling in the corner adorned with their King & Queen crowns.
Artie had run and won by some freak A/V club underground vote and Sugar, after getting her own crown, had forgotten all about Rory and draped herself in Artie's lap whispering "Whisk me away, rollerboy" as the beginning strains of "Chiquitita" (and seriously, who had the hard on for ABBA?) played through the gym.
Kurt was more than surprised that there were about 40 people milling about the 'meeting hall' (they'd rented out the school cafeteria for a very low price after Sue pulled some voodoo nonsense on Figgins) and some were still arriving; the New Directions were there, of course, as were the TroubleTones and most of their parents; Sonia and a couple of her school friends had shown up, Sonia practically beside herself with pride and excitement; some of the GSA members along with a few of their parents, and even more people Kurt didn't recognize. Kurt and David along with Blaine, Carol, and Hiram (who would be co-chairing when David and Kurt were off at school) were making the rounds and greeting everyone.
Since it was the introductory meeting not much went on except for them building their personalized mission statement for the chapter citing what they hoped to accomplish.
They compiled ideas from anyone who offered and Kurt was bouncing on the soles of his feet as he watched David write as quickly as possible, having to slow people down or give out numbers to get all of it on paper. Kurt saw Paul watching his son with a proud smile, randomly sweeping his eyes over the room before they'd land back on David. He'd nod with a puffed up chest and Kurt could practically hear him thinking, 'That's my boy!'
"This is amazing," Candace whispered. She was there in her boy clothes because she still wasn't totally comfortable outside of the GSA. She was accompanied by Robbie, a senior who had quit the hockey team and come out after attending a GSA meeting.
"It is... I wish I'd done it sooner. If I get into NYADA I'll be leaving all of this behind." Kurt found it painfully ironic that he'd finally found the beauty in Lima right before he was due to make his great escape.
"It's your legacy Kurt. You do know you've changed Lima forever?" Robbie commented while tentatively putting an arm around Candace's shoulder.
Kurt smirked but turned his head to the door when Sue barged in. She pointed at Burt who was standing off to the side as Carol had taken center stage to point out the available information on the table by the door.
"You," Sue's voice boomed, a hush falling across the room. "Get ready to cater to the masses; Rod is on his way and he's about to do a spot on your merry little gathering."
Jaws dropped open across the cafeteria as people scrambled to get ready for the onslaught and spotlight, Sue barking orders at the Cheerios in the room to be at practice bright and early before school tomorrow as she protectively cradled the tiny bump on her front; then like the ninja she must be she was out of the room in a blink.
-
"You were on the news, Kurt!" Blaine was jumping around to an LMFAO song as Kurt styled his hair.
"I was on Lima news Blaine," he reminded the younger boy whose enthusiasm had yet to wane since junior prom the week before. "Hardly noteworthy. I really hope it doesn't count against my 15 minutes."
"Huh, Sebastian said the same thing."
"Looks like we may well have something in common," Kurt noted doubtfully.
After the PFLAG meeting Blaine and Sebastian had descended upon Kurt and David, bringing up the idea of a double date. David was reminded of Sonia when the water he was drinking almost spewed out of his mouth but he was able to hold it in which resulted in a coughing fit. Kurt rubbed his back and Sebastian looked on with a smirk, Blaine looking taken aback by the reaction. Kurt had given them a hasty 'We'll think about it,' before he and David scrambled away from the couple.
Ultimately Kurt and David had decided between themselves that it wasn't a good idea, as David wasn't particularly fond of Sebastian (Tweedle-Dick) and Blaine (Tweedle-Dumb) and Kurt, while still close friends with Blaine, wasn't nïave enough to forget that he was the only person Sebastian was genuinely nice to. So he contented him with being happy for his friend's choice in boyfriend from afar and Kurt had told Blaine so, quite bluntly, when he'd arrived to help Kurt get ready for prom.
Well, Kurt did leave out an exchange he and David had shared while Sebastian had given a short little speech on his experiences as an out teen abroad.
"Kurt?"
"Hmm?"
"You know who Sebastian reminds me of?"
"Who?"
"Cormac McLaggan."
"You're such a nerd... I totally agree."
"I'm sorry?" Kurt breathed out when he realized he'd missed what Blaine said. He let out a deep breath to try to regain his compure, a dreamy smile looking back at him in his vanity mirror.
"Wow Kurt, you might try sublety. I mean usually Santana exaggerates but when she compares you two to those gay penguins-"
"Hey!"
"Sorry, I know how you feel about penguins." Blaine had the decency to look abashed. "But! She kind of has a point."
He poked Kurt in the nose, smiling playfully and threatening to ruffle Kurt's perfectly placed hair before ducking the hands aimed his way.
Blaine fell back onto the bed as Kurt glared, pink in the face, through the mirror.
"You've got it bad, my friend. And David," Blaine sobered a bit, "he really is good for you. I'm so, so glad that things worked out..." between us; between Sebastian and I; between you and David.
Kurt turned around in the chair slowly with a warning glare. "Don't you dare go maudlin; if I cry I'll have to re-moisturize and David will be here in less than half an hour."
"With bells on," Blaine chirped, jumping right back in to his bubbly demeanor.
"I'll never understand that expression," Kurt muttered as he turned back to his vanity to quadruple-check his hair, Blaine singing loudly along to a Katy Perry song. The dreamy smile was once again staring back at Kurt in the mirror.
-
After the hoopla of pictures and gawking was finished (Dave had capitulated to Kurt's insistence of helping him choose a suit; they only had 2 weeks and Kurt didn't want either of them showing up looking any less than perfect, Kurt of course had been preparing his own suit weeks in advance; both choices were inspired greatly by "The Artist") the two teens were heading towards the limo (Kurt gazing fondly at the lilies sprouting under the porch light) and Kurt nudged David, whispering, "We look like something right out of one of your old movies."
When they got to the limousine (the Hummels and Berrys had sprung for it; Finn had already clamored into the backseat, Rachel waiting at home to be swept up by her handsome fiancé, her fathers having promised Carol a copy of every picture) David pretended to cock a hat before sweeping a hand towards the open door.
"After you, good sir."
"Why thank you. Such a refined young man you are."
Kurt had moved towards the door but was distracted by the dark grey vest stretched across David's chest; his hands reached of their own accord to touch the smooth material-
"Could we get a move on!" Finn yelled impatiently, leg jangling in anticipation of seeing his sweetheart.
Both boys shook themselves out of their stupor and popped into the limo.
"Two proms?" Kurt asked when he spotted Artie lounging across the bench seat opposite him.
"Pfft, you really think I'd miss this? I can't wait to see Puck try to sneak a flask past a preggo Sylvester."
"Wait," Kurt looked confused. "Last year you were at junior prom because New Directions performed..."
"On paper I'm going as Brittany's date."
"Santana's okay with that?" Dave asked, looking bewildered.
"You guys didn't know?" Finn turned away from the window, the movement of his leg ceasing. "It was Santana's idea. She brought it up in Glee!"
Kurt and David looked between the two and then each other, both of them shrugging a little.
Artie snorted as the vehicle came to a stop.
"Guess you guys have been pretty distracted, am I right or am I right?"
"Usually," Puck answered as he swung the door open. He moved away only to come back with Quinn in his arms, grumbling something with a dark look on her face. Artie slowly brought down the hand he'd raised for a high five.
"You love it," Puck asserted smugly, placing her gently onto the seat before reaching down and grabbing her crutches.
"I could've done it myself," Quinn insisted, still glowering as she snatched the crutches from Puck and laid them on the floor at her feet.
"I know," Puck affirmed, "but it would've taken you forever and Babsy said if I made her late she'd buy Sarah a karaoke machine."
Quinn made to respond but Finn beat her to the punch.
"Dude, she's gonna get her one either way for a graduation present."
That made Quinn's disposition shift, a satisfied smile lighting up her face as Puck cursed.
"You look beautiful, Quinn."
All eyes turned to Dave whom was still taking in the way Quinn's choppy hair was twisted back on both sides, the twists adorned with just a sprinkling of babies breath. It all met in a small green and purple dragonfly clip that glinted in the light, along with her purple chandelier earrings. Her seafoam green and plum dress had a thick bottom that hid her cast leg. She looked like a sea princess.
"Thanks, Dave," she whispered.
They came to another stop and Puck quipped, "Howcome when you tell her she looks nice she's all Thanks, Dave but when I say it she's all suspicious glances and eye rolls."
Everyone just sort of looked at him as Tina, who wore a stunning pink and black gown, Mike, Santana and Brittany piled into the limo. Santana had gone with a black number while Brittany rocked a bright yellow and purple dress that only she could have pulled off.
Finn was once again staring out of the window, his leg bouncing along.
"Just one more stop and we'll be at Rachel's," Kurt said soothingly before smacking Finn's thigh to stop his leg.
"Yeah and don't take so long with the preening and sucking face crap. Some of us want to get our grind on," Santana tugged Brittany into her lap as she spoke.
Mercedes and Sam were the next to join the fray, Mercedes practically glowing (she'd finally chosen Sam because it was kind of pathetic of Shane to cry to keep a girl who didn't really want him, and she hoped he realized that and found a girl who deserved him) in the midnight blue dress Rachel had helped her choose.
Finally they arrived at Rachel's and after ten minutes Kurt was able to finally take in Rachel's medieval-esqe dress, absolutely stunned that the former fashion disaster had picked it out herself (she was obviously learning).
The group gossiped about who might win King (three seniors were running, two of them slightly brainless dolts from the football team, one a decent kid from the debate team, Nicholas; they all knew Ashley Zeppa would be winning Queen since no one was running against her) or who they definitely weren't voting for while Rachel and Quinn were huddled in a private discussion that was making Finn look uncomfortable.
Just as they pulled up to the Hampton Kurt slid further into David's side, the hand that had been resting on the singer's knee coming up to slide behind his shoulder.
"You ready for this?" he asked David, looking up with big eyes full of anticipation.
"Yep. It's already better than last year," Dave confessed with a huge grin, sweeping in for a quick, strong kiss before Brittany was throwing open the door with a shriek.
Just as Kurt, hand locked with David's, was about to slip through the front door he turned and saw Puck helping Quinn out of the limo; this time instead of a glare and threats she rewarded him with a kiss on the cheek.
Kurt turned back to the entryway with a muttered, "Those two," under his breath.
-
Two hours into the dance and David's cheeks hurt from smiling. When they'd first arrived the glee clubbers had drifted the corner containing senior GSA and TroubleTones members, Dave going misty eyed when he saw Candace decked out (she was practically unrecognizable, glowing in her pale yellow ballgown) on Robbie's arm.
Twenty minutes in there was a slight kerfluffle when two members of the hockey team approached Dave, Kurt, Santana, and Brittany. The pair, however, barely had a chance to toss out, "Hey, it's the homo brigade," before their expressions turn terrified as they were laid upon by Sue, Will, Emma, Bieste, Cooter, New Directions, the TroubleTones girls and GSA members.
"Problem?" Puck gritted out, teeth grinding. Quinn stood next to him, one crutch holding her weight as the other seemed poised as a possible weapon.
Suffice it to say the Neaderthal meatheads hightailed it to the other side of the banquet hall and after that not even a scathing glance was sent their way.
The DJ had begun taking requests half an hour earlier causing the New Directions to incite a flash mob with "Thriller". It brought so many memories back but Dave found even the painful recollections were laced with bliss as long as Kurt kept looking at him like that.
Dave could hardly believe that these past two weeks had been real; especially the day that he and Kurt had ended up pressed against each other on Dave's couch as his father has been out grocery shopping, Kurt straddling David as the jock smoothed shaking hands up and down Kurt's back, allowing one to slip beneath his shirt-
"... goes out to Kurtofsky!"
"What?" Dave's head turned to the stage when he heard he and Kurt's portmanteau.
The acoustic version of "Everlong" began playing and Kurt dragged David back onto the dance floor.
"Santana dedicated it to us," Kurt explained quietly, pressing himself against David as they swayed to the song, both of them unaware of the eyes on them. It was the first slow song they'd danced to all night.
Kurt let out a squawk when David used the skills he'd learned from Rachel to spin him around before he ended up pressed against David, Kurt's back to the taller boy's chest.
That got a catcall from Santana who blew them a kiss before she turned her attention back to her girlfriend.
Dave spun Kurt again until they were back in a classic waltz position.
"Not bad for a jock, Hamhock."
"I still have a have few tricks up my sleeve, Fancy."
They ended up pressing closer together again, the jazzy footwork forgotten as they went back to contentedly swaying.
"I finally got my dance," Kurt whispered into David's neck before pressing a light kiss there. He held in a shiver as he watched goosebumps rise in the wake of his touch.
"Sorry it took so long," Dave replied forlornly.
"Actually your timing was just right. I don't regret a single thing that happened to get us here, to this perfectly cliché moment. Do you?"
Sometimes Dave still had a hard time forgiving himself for so much; bullying Kurt, screwing up his grades, hurting the people he loved by trying to take his own life. But...
"No," he responded, he and Kurt sharing a loaded gaze. Just as they were leaning in to prove to themselves, and each other, how far they'd come, just as their lips were about to meet- the song ended and Figgins' monotonous voice was coming through the speakers.
"And now- the moment you've all been waiting for." With a flourish that didn't match his tone he ripped open an envelope.
"This years Prom King is; Nicolas Martinez!"
Applause rang out as the boy graciously accepted his crown, David and Kurt sharing a look as they remembered Dave's acceptance the year before.
"You should've worn yours," Kurt joked, releasing a knot that had been forming in Dave's gut at the unpleasant sensations of deja vú.
"Wouldn't want to draw attention from tonight's real stunner," he nudged Kurt; his suit, with the subtle pinstripes, fit him perfectly and he looked the part of a gentleman right down to his wingtipped shoes. Dave secretly thought he could've come in a full King's wardrobe and still Kurt would outshine him.
Kurt scoffed but turned his attention back to the stage as the applause died down and Figgins held up another envelope. A student member of the prom committee interrupted with a yelp and ran across the stage, whispering something to the principle and handing him a new envelope.
"It seems we've had a write in vote," Figgins said warily and Kurt felt himself go tense, the hand on David's forearm registering a similar reaction from the other boy.
"The McKinley 2012 Prom Queen is," Figgins took a deep breath and screwed his eyes shut as he slowly opened the envelope, squinting one eye to look at it as if direct contact would cause it to explode. The theatrics were not calming Kurt's racing heart... "Quinn Fabray!"
Kurt's mouth dropped open, as did Dave's, and they turned to Quinn who was sitting at the table with wide eyes, a beaming Puck nudging her to awareness.
She stood as gracefully as she could and started hobbling her way towards the stage as her fellow classmates clapped and whistled. When she reached the stairs Puck, who'd been trailing behind her discreetely, offered his arm and, after Rachel appeared and took the crutches, helped her onto the makeshift stage.
He remained by her side as she was crowned but hung back with Rachel (who was fending off a crying Ashley), who'd returned the crutches as Quinn approached the microphone.
Still staring hesitantly out at the sea of her gussied up classmates Quinn teared up and she forced herself to speak.
"I used to think winning this crown was the most important thing in the world but," she tipped her head back, trying to keep her composure. "But after everything it's not the crown that matters; it's that you all gave it to me. For whatever reason. So thank you."
The assembly cheered again as Quinn shuffled back towards Puck and Nicholas, Rachel having disappeared with a distraught and pissed off Ashley.
"Does that mean you're gonna give it back?" Puck asked, motioning towards the crown with a smirk.
Quinn looked at him like he was crazy.
"And insult everyone who voted for me?" Quinn asked as she reached up reverently to touch the bejeweled metal hoop around her head.
"Yeah you're a real Mother Teresa," he muttered as Nicholas looked between the two of them nervously. "Dude she's not dancing with you."
"Puck!"
"What, do you want to dance with him?"
Quinn looked at Nicholas; he was cute, sure, but only the guys from Glee knew how to dance with her in the cast and Quinn really didn't want to make dancing with a stranger even more awkward by clunking him with her cast.
"Not really," she acquiesced. "No offense," she turned to Nicholas with a shrug.
"No it's, ah, it's cool," he shrunk off at Puck's glare and hoped to maybe find and console Ashley.
"It Will Rain" started up as Puck carefully led Quinn down the steps and in to the spotlight, her crutches forgotton on the edge of the stage.
He pulled her close enough to be able to keep her steady but he'd seemed to have drawn a line that Quinn wanted to skirt with- something told her it would be worthwhile. She snaked her arms around his neck and pressed in closer, laying her head on his shoulder. She could feel the smug grin on his face and pulled back a fraction when he moved to speak.
"Noah, do you really want to ruin this moment by saying something Puck-ish?"
She felt him shrug lightly but had almost forgotten what he was responding to as she pressed close again; he smelled so good...
"Guess I'll let the song speak for me then," he whispered into her ear and she shivered even as she rolled her eyes. And yet despite the utter corniness she couldn't quite contain the sigh that left her when Noah really did start whisper-singing the song as they slowly spun around.
Dave and Kurt stood together, David behind Kurt with his arms around him, chin resting on the slighter boy's shoulder as their hands rested together against Kurt's stomach, rocking to and fro to the beat of the song. They watched their two friends dance closely in the spotlight surrounded by other friends, acquiantances and strangers alike.
"What do you think he's saying to her?" Kurt pondered as Puck whispered to Quinn.
"Something sweet?" Dave guessed.
Kurt laughed disbelievingly. "Puck?"
"I actually think he's serenading her."
"I repeat; Puckerman?!"
Dave turned Kurt in his arms, a sardonic look on his face.
"Crazier things have happened, Hummel." He looked pointedly between them.
Kurt turned himself back around, leaning further into David with a happy sigh.
"Good point, Karofsky."
-
May 11th arrived far too quickly, bringing with it a flight into Florida that Friday morning; the excitement of competition was almost worth waking up early. The New Directions along with, Emma, Sue (to everyone's and yet no one's surprise), and of course, Will, arrived in Orlando at 11:30am; Nationals began the next morning at 9am on the dot.
They'd be flying back home Sunday evening (when Will added 'if we win' to the end of his schedule run down Rachel nearly lost her shit and started ranting to him about positive thinking and what, did he expect her and Finn to fornicate on stage this year?!) and as such had limited free time to muck about; unlike New York. Also, unlike New York, they had three different set lists prepared and all they had to do was choose which one they were 'feeling' the day of the competition.
Quinn had gotten the cast off three days earlier, still using the wheelchair for long distance as the crutches continued to give her a hard time after a while. She'd had been easily swayed to stick with Glee, especially after Mr. Schuester had shown up himself at her house to see that it happened. She and Rachel had even written a song together.
The set lists consisted of a mash-up of Mad World/Free Bird with Finn and Artie on lead and the second song was to be a choice between the work of three different writing teams: Rachel and Quinn, Santana and Mercedes, Blaine and Tina.
Even with all of Mr. Schue's posturing about 'getting straight to work' as soon as they landed, right after they checked in to the hotel they found themselves at Disney instead of getting in extra practice. Of course, how were the adults to say no when they'd all presented the ticket money, Brittany singing "It's a Small World" while wearing Mickey ears and a Pocahontas shirt. Sue had said yes just to make the blonde stop with that damn song; the baby LIKED it and Sue would not have that.
Once they arrived back at the hotel everyone agreed they were too tired to practice. Will tried to convince them to change their minds but Puck, of all people, stepped in to assure him that they'd practice in the morning.
"Plus there's a heated pool Mr. Schue. How can we not take advantage of that." He did not pose it as a question and Will knew no answer he gave would matter, anyway.
"So you're too tired to practice but not to swim?" Will reiterated to the collective, receiving general nods and affirmations in return.
"I'm tellin' ya the heat'll keep our muscles loose."
"I'm waking you all up at 6-"
"It doesn't start until 9!"
"-to practice. If I were you I'd go to sleep at a decent hour. Have fun!" He shot them an evil smile and a salute before turning on his heel and taking Emma's hand.
Everyone headed to their respective rooms (Kurt was rooming with the girls, of course, especially since he and Rachel were reworking her wedding plans; they'd set a new date for August 18th - not to mention Kurt was Rachel's go to when her therapist couldn't handle her mood swings in regards to Shelby's presence) to retire or change into their swimwear.
"You guys coming?" Finn asked excitedly; it was only mid-May, still nowhere close to pool weather in Lima, plus Rachel had mentioned something about a new bikini and given Finn a smoldering look at Artie's 'bouncy bouncy'.
"Nah," Dave responded as he lounged on the soft hotel mattress. "I'm beat."
Artie agreed with a grunt, hoisting himself into bed and putting in his earbuds. He fell asleep as he was placing his glasses on the bedside table.
Finn in all of his modest glory shuffled into the bathroom to change.
"'m gonna go change in the hallway bahthrum," Rory said on his way out of the door with his towel and trunks in hand looking more excited than Finn; he'd never swam in a hotel pool.
Mike had the same idea and he headed out of the door as Puck changed in the middle of the room.
"You worried about being shirtless around Beyoncé?" he asked once he'd pulled up his trunks.
This was how Dave knew Puck was a secretly a hopeless romantic; he had been egging Dave on since he'd first realized the ex-bully was totally ass over head for their teammate. Of course, it always in the worst possible ways.
"How're things going with Quinn?" Dave countered. His lack of self esteem over his appearance was a touchy subject, especially when it was Puck, their resident Adonis, who was bringing it up. He still couldn't quite forget 'chubby boys who sweat too much and will be bald by the time they're 30'.
"She digs me, but we already knew that." Dave forced out a begrudging laugh. "Just like Hummel's totally into you. He wants your bod, dude."
"Whatever," Dave grunted as he turned a lovely shade of scarlet.
Dave thanked the universe when Finn steamrolled out of the bathroom and barely spared either of them a second glance on his way towards the door, clearly looking forward to a half naked Rachel. It was enough to break the tension and Puck let it go by throwing his hands up in surrender.
Puck headed out as Dave reached for his tablet but stuck his head back in at the last second.
"You do realize Mercedes has a pool."
The sound of the door almost managed to muffle Dave's response.
"Shit."
-
It only took 30 seconds after Mr. Schue had roused the room for Puck roll over and punch Dave in the arm.
"Still can't believe you missed your boy in a bathing suit, Grizz."
Dave groaned into the pillow at Puck's booming voice. It was way too early for this and, no lie, Santana was going down for telling the biggest ballbuster on earth about the bear thing.
"Give it a rest, asshole," Finn said, only half joking. From what Dave was able to gather before he'd thrown a pillow over his head and tried to sleep, Puck had made a pretty tasteless comment the night before about the guy's needing to avoid any Cinco de Mayo moments in the pool due to the warm water. Dave wasn't sure what any of it meant but Finn had been pretty pissed. Still was if the pillow chucked at Puck's head was any indication.
"You guys need to learn how to take a joke," Puck said slightly sheepishly as he headed to the bathroom.
"He's such a dick," Finn continued to grumble, snagging a fresh set of clothes from his suitcase.
"Let it go Finn," Mike said sagely as he threw off his covers, Dave forcing himself to follow the dancer's lead and drag himself out of bed.
"Yeah we don't need any more drama today." Artie raised his voice imperceptibly. "Sugar just texted me; Quinn's withdrawing her and Rachel's song from the choices 'cause she doesn't think her hand will hold up."
Artie ignored Rory's glare at the mention of their shared love interest (even though a few girls had finally expressed interest in his accent after a local cable broadcast of "The Boondock Saints") instead taking in the sight of Puck hastily exiting the bathroom and grabbing his shoes, not even bothering to put them on, before running out of the room. There was still toothpaste on his chin.
"Very slick," Mike said approvingly as Finn nodded, trying not to smirk.
-
The first thing Mr. Schuester had them do when they arrived, bleary eyed (Kurt had brought along the mug David had given him as well as his favorite coffee from home; he was sipping his second serving and glaring daggers at Brittany and Santana) and grumbling, was decide on which set list they were going to be practicing. The order of the songs and some choreography depended on whose piece they chose.
"Mr. Schue I already told the girls, my hand is really sore and I don't think I'm up to it," Quinn insisted.
While she'd reluctantly but happily remained in Glee the only songs she was due to sing and dance (well, wheel around) in were the group number they're perform once they got to the top ten, the other the song she and Rachel had written; a beautiful and mournful ballad that spoke of growing up and facing obstacles that, when overcome, revealed endless opportunities if only you faced the fear and went for it.
It was the popular choice for the song to use and she really was so proud; proud of herself, proud of Rachel, proud that she'd finally grown enough to experience her old nemisis' friendship... But she didn't quite feel ready to share it, nor did she truly feel competition ready. She had easy choreography for the group number but not if she sings lead. One wrong turn of the wheel...
"Then I think we should go with Mercedes and Santana's song. I'm not saying you guys didn't do a wonderful job," Rachel looked at Tina and Blaine, "but theirs just seems like the right choice."
"I agree," Tina spoke up. She was very happy with her and Blaine's spunky pop-punk love song but she hadn't been able to get the Destiny's-Child-meets-No-Doubt Jopez brainchild out of her head.
"I'll second that," Blaine added in. He knew it would mean so much to the two seniors and it really was a ridiculously catchy tune.
Santana had been staring at Rachel oddly, as if she wasn't sure whether to be suspicious or complimented but came back to herself and smiled arrogantly as everyone else agreed as well.
"I knew you'd all realize we wrote the best song."
-
The competition began at 9 am sharp, yes, but they'd drawn slot #35 and thus had to sit through hours of less impressive (no one was claiming to be unbiased) show choirs interlaced with intermissions that only gave them time to dwell on their nerves (but did give Dave the chance to find out that Santana and Brittany had 'slept' (loudly!) on the floor; had even brought sleeping bags and extra blankets just for that purpose... ick).
Yet by the time they finished performing it had all gone by in a blink; and not just them finally being onstage at Nationals getting a standing ovation but all it had taken to get there.
Quinn watched them with tears in her eyes from the wings, Sam rolling her out with them as they took their bows. Rachel came over and hugged her as the crowd continued cheering, whistling and clapping.
Another blink and they were back stage and moving towards the green room. There was a buzz in the air, they all felt it; that had been a flawless showing and they KNEW it was going to pay off.
This was their year.
-------
The Kurt in my head became obsessed with David's chest due in large part to this picture of Max Adler being adorable.
And blame the stargazer lily thing on the ones that are sitting next to be right now. :( I'm so sad they're cut.
Moving on!
The next part should be out shortly. This was the HARDEST part the write, not sure why.
Anywho, if you've stuck it out my many many thanks. You guys are amazing. I blame hiatus for this monstrosity but if someone is enjoying it then it's worth every word.
The next part is already begun and should be up soon.
Until then, my fellow gleeks <3
p.s. Did anyone else notice every dress I chose was sleeveless. Totally not purposeful- guess that's just what's in.
Alright, really, I'll shut up now.
(When does Glee come back? I'm going through some serious withdrawals.)