Fic: Two Ducks in Love (3/?)
Title: Two Ducks in Love (2/?)
Author: gemmi999
Rating: PG now, eventually PG-13/R
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: *eventual* Kurt/Blaine (with other side pairings)
Warning: None
Word Count: 2500ish
Summary: When Kurt’s thirteen, his father sits him down at the kitchen table and stares at him. Looks at him and looks through him until Kurt’s shifting uncomfortably because he’s pretty sure this means he did something wrong and is going to get punished, but for the life of him he doesn’t know *what* he did. He knows his dad’s kind of freaked out because he broke his arm, but he’d told his dad that he fell (doesn’t mention being pushed, doesn’t mention being called queer) and he’s pretty sure his dad had believed him. AU
Previous Parts: 1 2
Time passes, as time is wont to do. Burt's shop is open and it's successful (although not as successful as the one in Lima) which means money's tighter then it was before. Kurt doesn't dress in designer/name brand outfits anymore, but he does dress just as carefully, just as meticulously. He's become something of a savant at thrifting and he's good at defining his own style, almost street grunge and surfer and fashionista rolled together. He's really, really, good at pairing bold colors with interesting prints and making them work. Always topped with an unique hoodie because, and this is something he never thought he'd say, he kind of loves them. Not something he'd ever imagined wearing in Lima but everybody wore them in Santa Cruz and they're comfy and good at keep him warm (while hiding his earbuds during more boring classes) and its not like Santa Cruz really got cold enough to justify nice winter coats.
He's long since joined the GSA and befriend a lesbian couple (Tiffany and Maria-the definition of power couple. He's pretty sure Tiffany is going to end up owning the business world one day, just like her dad; and Maria's photos are kind of amazing. Kurt has two of them hanging on his wall, and a few hidden under the bed from when they all snuck to San Francisco pride the previous summer). They have bake-sales and queer awareness events and on Valentine's Day the previous year they'd done Kiss-a-Grams where people could buy Valentine's cards and the GSA would deliver them throughout the day to their intended targets (complete with a kiss on the cheek and a Hershey's candy). Kurt's pretty sure he'd never blushed more, especially when he'd gone to kiss the Captain of the water polo team on the cheek. The senior ended up turning his head at the last second and kissing Kurt (for real kissing, with tongue) in front of his entire senior economics course. Kurt later found out he'd bought himself the kiss-a-gram and asked Tiffany to make sure Kurt delivered it.
Kurt dates around a bit but there's no one special--besides he isn't allowed to get serious about a boy until he can drive (his dad's rule) and Kurt's pretty thankful for it. He likes dating, likes being treated wonderfully and having the excuse to dress up, but he doesn't really want to do more then that. He definitely doesn't want to have sex yet-not after that panel discussion the previous year when Kurt realized exactly how intimate gay sex was.
The gay guy on the panel had stressed that, over and over again. Sex was about intimacy, and while it was really wonderful and definitely something people should have when they're ready, the key was to actually be ready. Not just physically but emotionally. He talked about losing his virginity at 15 and how it had felt wonderful and amazing until he woke up alone the next morning and realized he had to call a cab to get back to his parents house. Kurt had been pretty sure that his health teacher specifically chose the individuals to speak because all of them stressed how important it was to be emotionally ready, to be in a committed relationship, to use protection.
Then the gay guy talked about genital warts and how they were *not* something you wanted on your dick (or vagina) if you could help it. Kurt took the lesson to heart; he'd even gone home and told his dad that he never wanted herpes because seriously, the pictures had been pretty horrifying. Burt had laughed a little and teased Kurt for a few days, but then Kurt used his Google-fu to find a picture even worse then the one they showed in class. He'd casually left it on his dad's bed one evening, along with an entire page full of information about genital warts from Wikipedia.
Burt didn't laugh about it again; instead he took it as a sign that Kurt was mature enough to have a computer in his room (and Kurt didn't even *pretend* to understand how that was a sign of maturity but his dad always had been kind of weird), along with a TV and DVR box. Kurt just thanked his father before taping every episode of Chelsea Lately and Andy Cohen.
The point is, it's been a few years and they've settled into life in Santa Cruz, established a comfortable base and learned to love the eccentric community. Kurt feels more at home then he ever did in Lima, and while it isn't homophobia free, it is much more accepting. Kurt can walk down the street and see straight couples and gay couples and lesbian couples and he's pretty sure Tiffany's older brother is in a threesome relationship with his best friend and another girl from the senior class, but Kurt doesn't like to spread gossip and Tiffany hasn't said anything so its probably not Kurt's place to ask.
Which is why the last thing Kurt's expecting when he walks in after school one Thursday afternoon is to see his dad sitting at the table, phone to his ear, scrawling notes all over a legal pad. Burt's supposed to be at the shop for at least a few more hours and Kurt had been planning on making a nice dinner for the two of them before tackling his homework. He has a history test tomorrow over the amendments to the constitution and he's having a hard time memorizing all of them in order.
Instead he waves at his dad and heads out of the kitchen, turning into the living room and pressing up against the wall. He can still hear his dad talking on the phone, saying things like: "how much is the rent?" and "you sure you don't mind?" and "thank you." Kurt doesn't really want to hear more, just knows there's a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He's nervous and he knows he doesn't really have any reason to be but he's got good instincts.
JD almost always tries to copy off of Kurt's multiple choice tests because while Kurt might not know the answer, he's good at figuring out what the answer isn't. Good instincts.
Life isn't a multiple-choice test, though. Kurt can't just cancel out bad answers until he's left with the only thing that makes sense. So, Kurt has to decide what to do. He has to either go into the kitchen and sit down at the table and wait for his dad to start talking to him, or go to his room and pretend he hasn't heard anything, pretend he doesn't know that something's coming, something huge. Kurt keeps running the two choices over and over again in his mind.
The answer isn't black and white. He could go get a drink and then go to his room, see if his dad says anything. Maybe give his dad a drink because his dad is probably thirsty and Kurt's good at taking care of him, good at reminding Burt to take time for himself.
Eventually Kurt pulls himself away from the wall and walks into the kitchen. His dad is still sitting at the table so Kurt goes to the fridge and pulls out the orange juice, pours two glasses, and gives his dad one without saying a word. He takes his and is about to walk towards his room when his dad shakes his head and points to the kitchen table. Kurt settles in, stomach nervous, and stares at his dad. He doesn't drink his orange juice, just holds the cold glass between his fingers, and it's nice. It feels nice against his flushed skin.
His dad is frowning a bit and then he's saying: "Bye. Call you back later." and Kurt braces himself, prepares to hear whatever it is Burt's about to say. He knows it's going to be something big just from the expression on Burt's face.
"Hey Kiddo," Burt says. He's smiling but Kurt knows it's a forced smile, it doesn't reach his eyes. "How was school?"
Kurt stares at his dad because he really can't believe it. His dad is trying to pretend that there's nothing going on, that he isn't home from the garage early when Kurt knows he already keeps it open extra hours to catch the after-work crowd. Burt doesn't say anything though, just looks at Kurt and waits. The silence stretches out and its loud and all Kurt wants to do is ask about what he overheard but he can't do that so finally Kurt says: "Alright, I guess."
"How'd you do on that history exam?"
"It's tomorrow." Kurt says, and he knows his dad knows this because they've been studying for it together in the evenings, flashcards and amendments to memorize.
"Oh." Burt takes a breath and Kurt steels himself, sits up straighter and taller and takes a deep breath himself. Burt lets it out and turns his head, looks out the front window of their condo. He doesn't say anything, just stares, and Kurt absently takes a drink of his orange juice before he sets the glass down and looks at his father.
"Just tell me." Kurt says, ripping the band-aid off. "I know something's wrong."
"I can't get anything past you, can I?" Burt jokes but his smile is fake again and Kurt's getting even more worried.
"Dad?" And fuck, Kurt didn't want to say that. His voice sounds shaky and nervous and he really, really, doesn't want to make his dad feel worse about whatever he's about to say.
"That was Uncle Mike on the phone. The garage in Lima isn't doing too well."
"Oh." Kurt takes a deep breath. Uncle Mike isn't really his uncle, just a family friend. Burt had sold him the garage when they left. He doesn't know what this has to do with them, though. He doesn't understand why his dad is looking at him with sadness in his eyes and just-
"He asked me if I wanted to buy it back from him," Burt continues. "That or go into partnership with him."
Kurt nods, slowly. "Okay." He still doesn't really understand what his dad is getting at, why he's saying all this.
"And, see-" Burt looks at Kurt. "Family stands by each other."
"I know." Kurt nods. Burt's said that before, that family sticks together, and even though Uncle Mike isn't blood family that doesn't mean Burt doesn't have to stand by him.
"So I'm going to do it. I'm going to buy half of the business from him."
Kurt smiles because its good that his father is helping Uncle Mike, just like Uncle Mike had helped them when they moved to Santa Cruz.
"Kurt." His dad looks at him with serious eyes. "I need you to listen to me now, really, really carefully. And if you have any questions just wait, okay? I need to say this."
"Alright." And now the nervous feeling is back in his stomach.
"You know money's already been pretty tight around here. I mean, Santa Cruz is a wonderful town but its more expensive then Lima was." Kurt nods. "Well-we're going to have to move back to Lima."
Burt says this kind of fast, enough so that Kurt isn't sure he heard his dad right, because it sounded like they were moving back to Lima, back to where Kurt got his arm broken and people called him horrible names and away from JD and Tiffany and Maria and everybody he knows.
"We're not going to move there forever." Burt continues. "Just through the summer, probably. And I know it'll be tough for both of us, but Uncle Mike's family."
Kurt takes a deep breath. It's February, so what his dad is really saying is that they have to move for six months, seven maybe, and Burt's right, that really isn't forever. They'd come back and he'd be able to see JD and Tiffany and Maria again; be able to eat at Saturn and go to the teen center and maybe, maybe, when they get back he'd be old enough to go to the midnight movies without his dad being there.
"You gotta be there for family." Kurt says, still a little in shock.
"You do." Burt nods. "But Kurt-and I want you to listen to me now, and promise me something, okay?"
Kurt nods. "I promise."
"Wait until you hear what I have to say, kiddo." Burt smiles. "I know it'll be hard for both us, but I know it'll be harder for you. Lima wasn't the nicest place when you were there and people were mean to you. I want you to promise me, right now, that if anybody says anything to you that you'll tell me. If anybody pushes you or calls you a name, you'll come home right after school and tell me because I don't want you to go through that. You don't deserve it."
Kurt stares at his father because clearly his dad has thought about this, knows exactly what he's asking Kurt to go back to, and he wonders how tight things really are and if its them that needs the help more then Uncle Mike. He knows California is more expensive then Lima, and the garage is doing well here but there are other garages in Santa Cruz that have been there longer, are more established. He's seen his dad looking nervous at the end of each month, and Kurt tries to serve pasta and rice and beans after the 25th because they're cheaper to buy and its one less worry off his dad's plate.
But then Kurt thinks about being bullied, about being called names, and its not that he hasn't heard that in the past few years. There have been a couple times when he's been shopping, a few times at the movie theaters, but he's had his friends with him. They've sneered at the homophobes together and put it out of their mind. He isn't sure he can do that without JD beside him, without Tiffany cracking dirty jokes and Maria smiling lewdly and laughing.
He thinks about all this and is about to say no, about to say that he's pretty sure he can't do it without his friends next to him, when he sees his dad's face. His dad looks torn up, sad and hurt and scared; he knows what he's asking Kurt, and Kurt knows what he isn't saying, about money and how tight things really are, so Kurt does the only thing he can do. He turns to his father and looks him in the eye and says: "I promise." And Kurt's lying; he won't tell his dad unless its bad because his dad clearly has enough on his plate worrying about money and they wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for Kurt, if his dad hadn't had to protect him.
"Thank you, kiddo." Burt smiles and it's bright and he reaches out and messes up Kurt's hair a little. Kurt doesn't pull away, just lets his dad mess up his hair, and then he's standing up and walking around the table and leaning down to hug Burt.
"I love you dad." Kurt whispers, voice quiet. He doesn't say anything else, just clings to his dad and holds on tight.
"I love you too, kiddo." Burt says, holding on just as tightly.
Next
Author: gemmi999
Rating: PG now, eventually PG-13/R
Fandom: Glee
Pairing: *eventual* Kurt/Blaine (with other side pairings)
Warning: None
Word Count: 2500ish
Summary: When Kurt’s thirteen, his father sits him down at the kitchen table and stares at him. Looks at him and looks through him until Kurt’s shifting uncomfortably because he’s pretty sure this means he did something wrong and is going to get punished, but for the life of him he doesn’t know *what* he did. He knows his dad’s kind of freaked out because he broke his arm, but he’d told his dad that he fell (doesn’t mention being pushed, doesn’t mention being called queer) and he’s pretty sure his dad had believed him. AU
Previous Parts: 1 2
Time passes, as time is wont to do. Burt's shop is open and it's successful (although not as successful as the one in Lima) which means money's tighter then it was before. Kurt doesn't dress in designer/name brand outfits anymore, but he does dress just as carefully, just as meticulously. He's become something of a savant at thrifting and he's good at defining his own style, almost street grunge and surfer and fashionista rolled together. He's really, really, good at pairing bold colors with interesting prints and making them work. Always topped with an unique hoodie because, and this is something he never thought he'd say, he kind of loves them. Not something he'd ever imagined wearing in Lima but everybody wore them in Santa Cruz and they're comfy and good at keep him warm (while hiding his earbuds during more boring classes) and its not like Santa Cruz really got cold enough to justify nice winter coats.
He's long since joined the GSA and befriend a lesbian couple (Tiffany and Maria-the definition of power couple. He's pretty sure Tiffany is going to end up owning the business world one day, just like her dad; and Maria's photos are kind of amazing. Kurt has two of them hanging on his wall, and a few hidden under the bed from when they all snuck to San Francisco pride the previous summer). They have bake-sales and queer awareness events and on Valentine's Day the previous year they'd done Kiss-a-Grams where people could buy Valentine's cards and the GSA would deliver them throughout the day to their intended targets (complete with a kiss on the cheek and a Hershey's candy). Kurt's pretty sure he'd never blushed more, especially when he'd gone to kiss the Captain of the water polo team on the cheek. The senior ended up turning his head at the last second and kissing Kurt (for real kissing, with tongue) in front of his entire senior economics course. Kurt later found out he'd bought himself the kiss-a-gram and asked Tiffany to make sure Kurt delivered it.
Kurt dates around a bit but there's no one special--besides he isn't allowed to get serious about a boy until he can drive (his dad's rule) and Kurt's pretty thankful for it. He likes dating, likes being treated wonderfully and having the excuse to dress up, but he doesn't really want to do more then that. He definitely doesn't want to have sex yet-not after that panel discussion the previous year when Kurt realized exactly how intimate gay sex was.
The gay guy on the panel had stressed that, over and over again. Sex was about intimacy, and while it was really wonderful and definitely something people should have when they're ready, the key was to actually be ready. Not just physically but emotionally. He talked about losing his virginity at 15 and how it had felt wonderful and amazing until he woke up alone the next morning and realized he had to call a cab to get back to his parents house. Kurt had been pretty sure that his health teacher specifically chose the individuals to speak because all of them stressed how important it was to be emotionally ready, to be in a committed relationship, to use protection.
Then the gay guy talked about genital warts and how they were *not* something you wanted on your dick (or vagina) if you could help it. Kurt took the lesson to heart; he'd even gone home and told his dad that he never wanted herpes because seriously, the pictures had been pretty horrifying. Burt had laughed a little and teased Kurt for a few days, but then Kurt used his Google-fu to find a picture even worse then the one they showed in class. He'd casually left it on his dad's bed one evening, along with an entire page full of information about genital warts from Wikipedia.
Burt didn't laugh about it again; instead he took it as a sign that Kurt was mature enough to have a computer in his room (and Kurt didn't even *pretend* to understand how that was a sign of maturity but his dad always had been kind of weird), along with a TV and DVR box. Kurt just thanked his father before taping every episode of Chelsea Lately and Andy Cohen.
The point is, it's been a few years and they've settled into life in Santa Cruz, established a comfortable base and learned to love the eccentric community. Kurt feels more at home then he ever did in Lima, and while it isn't homophobia free, it is much more accepting. Kurt can walk down the street and see straight couples and gay couples and lesbian couples and he's pretty sure Tiffany's older brother is in a threesome relationship with his best friend and another girl from the senior class, but Kurt doesn't like to spread gossip and Tiffany hasn't said anything so its probably not Kurt's place to ask.
Which is why the last thing Kurt's expecting when he walks in after school one Thursday afternoon is to see his dad sitting at the table, phone to his ear, scrawling notes all over a legal pad. Burt's supposed to be at the shop for at least a few more hours and Kurt had been planning on making a nice dinner for the two of them before tackling his homework. He has a history test tomorrow over the amendments to the constitution and he's having a hard time memorizing all of them in order.
Instead he waves at his dad and heads out of the kitchen, turning into the living room and pressing up against the wall. He can still hear his dad talking on the phone, saying things like: "how much is the rent?" and "you sure you don't mind?" and "thank you." Kurt doesn't really want to hear more, just knows there's a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. He's nervous and he knows he doesn't really have any reason to be but he's got good instincts.
JD almost always tries to copy off of Kurt's multiple choice tests because while Kurt might not know the answer, he's good at figuring out what the answer isn't. Good instincts.
Life isn't a multiple-choice test, though. Kurt can't just cancel out bad answers until he's left with the only thing that makes sense. So, Kurt has to decide what to do. He has to either go into the kitchen and sit down at the table and wait for his dad to start talking to him, or go to his room and pretend he hasn't heard anything, pretend he doesn't know that something's coming, something huge. Kurt keeps running the two choices over and over again in his mind.
The answer isn't black and white. He could go get a drink and then go to his room, see if his dad says anything. Maybe give his dad a drink because his dad is probably thirsty and Kurt's good at taking care of him, good at reminding Burt to take time for himself.
Eventually Kurt pulls himself away from the wall and walks into the kitchen. His dad is still sitting at the table so Kurt goes to the fridge and pulls out the orange juice, pours two glasses, and gives his dad one without saying a word. He takes his and is about to walk towards his room when his dad shakes his head and points to the kitchen table. Kurt settles in, stomach nervous, and stares at his dad. He doesn't drink his orange juice, just holds the cold glass between his fingers, and it's nice. It feels nice against his flushed skin.
His dad is frowning a bit and then he's saying: "Bye. Call you back later." and Kurt braces himself, prepares to hear whatever it is Burt's about to say. He knows it's going to be something big just from the expression on Burt's face.
"Hey Kiddo," Burt says. He's smiling but Kurt knows it's a forced smile, it doesn't reach his eyes. "How was school?"
Kurt stares at his dad because he really can't believe it. His dad is trying to pretend that there's nothing going on, that he isn't home from the garage early when Kurt knows he already keeps it open extra hours to catch the after-work crowd. Burt doesn't say anything though, just looks at Kurt and waits. The silence stretches out and its loud and all Kurt wants to do is ask about what he overheard but he can't do that so finally Kurt says: "Alright, I guess."
"How'd you do on that history exam?"
"It's tomorrow." Kurt says, and he knows his dad knows this because they've been studying for it together in the evenings, flashcards and amendments to memorize.
"Oh." Burt takes a breath and Kurt steels himself, sits up straighter and taller and takes a deep breath himself. Burt lets it out and turns his head, looks out the front window of their condo. He doesn't say anything, just stares, and Kurt absently takes a drink of his orange juice before he sets the glass down and looks at his father.
"Just tell me." Kurt says, ripping the band-aid off. "I know something's wrong."
"I can't get anything past you, can I?" Burt jokes but his smile is fake again and Kurt's getting even more worried.
"Dad?" And fuck, Kurt didn't want to say that. His voice sounds shaky and nervous and he really, really, doesn't want to make his dad feel worse about whatever he's about to say.
"That was Uncle Mike on the phone. The garage in Lima isn't doing too well."
"Oh." Kurt takes a deep breath. Uncle Mike isn't really his uncle, just a family friend. Burt had sold him the garage when they left. He doesn't know what this has to do with them, though. He doesn't understand why his dad is looking at him with sadness in his eyes and just-
"He asked me if I wanted to buy it back from him," Burt continues. "That or go into partnership with him."
Kurt nods, slowly. "Okay." He still doesn't really understand what his dad is getting at, why he's saying all this.
"And, see-" Burt looks at Kurt. "Family stands by each other."
"I know." Kurt nods. Burt's said that before, that family sticks together, and even though Uncle Mike isn't blood family that doesn't mean Burt doesn't have to stand by him.
"So I'm going to do it. I'm going to buy half of the business from him."
Kurt smiles because its good that his father is helping Uncle Mike, just like Uncle Mike had helped them when they moved to Santa Cruz.
"Kurt." His dad looks at him with serious eyes. "I need you to listen to me now, really, really carefully. And if you have any questions just wait, okay? I need to say this."
"Alright." And now the nervous feeling is back in his stomach.
"You know money's already been pretty tight around here. I mean, Santa Cruz is a wonderful town but its more expensive then Lima was." Kurt nods. "Well-we're going to have to move back to Lima."
Burt says this kind of fast, enough so that Kurt isn't sure he heard his dad right, because it sounded like they were moving back to Lima, back to where Kurt got his arm broken and people called him horrible names and away from JD and Tiffany and Maria and everybody he knows.
"We're not going to move there forever." Burt continues. "Just through the summer, probably. And I know it'll be tough for both of us, but Uncle Mike's family."
Kurt takes a deep breath. It's February, so what his dad is really saying is that they have to move for six months, seven maybe, and Burt's right, that really isn't forever. They'd come back and he'd be able to see JD and Tiffany and Maria again; be able to eat at Saturn and go to the teen center and maybe, maybe, when they get back he'd be old enough to go to the midnight movies without his dad being there.
"You gotta be there for family." Kurt says, still a little in shock.
"You do." Burt nods. "But Kurt-and I want you to listen to me now, and promise me something, okay?"
Kurt nods. "I promise."
"Wait until you hear what I have to say, kiddo." Burt smiles. "I know it'll be hard for both us, but I know it'll be harder for you. Lima wasn't the nicest place when you were there and people were mean to you. I want you to promise me, right now, that if anybody says anything to you that you'll tell me. If anybody pushes you or calls you a name, you'll come home right after school and tell me because I don't want you to go through that. You don't deserve it."
Kurt stares at his father because clearly his dad has thought about this, knows exactly what he's asking Kurt to go back to, and he wonders how tight things really are and if its them that needs the help more then Uncle Mike. He knows California is more expensive then Lima, and the garage is doing well here but there are other garages in Santa Cruz that have been there longer, are more established. He's seen his dad looking nervous at the end of each month, and Kurt tries to serve pasta and rice and beans after the 25th because they're cheaper to buy and its one less worry off his dad's plate.
But then Kurt thinks about being bullied, about being called names, and its not that he hasn't heard that in the past few years. There have been a couple times when he's been shopping, a few times at the movie theaters, but he's had his friends with him. They've sneered at the homophobes together and put it out of their mind. He isn't sure he can do that without JD beside him, without Tiffany cracking dirty jokes and Maria smiling lewdly and laughing.
He thinks about all this and is about to say no, about to say that he's pretty sure he can't do it without his friends next to him, when he sees his dad's face. His dad looks torn up, sad and hurt and scared; he knows what he's asking Kurt, and Kurt knows what he isn't saying, about money and how tight things really are, so Kurt does the only thing he can do. He turns to his father and looks him in the eye and says: "I promise." And Kurt's lying; he won't tell his dad unless its bad because his dad clearly has enough on his plate worrying about money and they wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for Kurt, if his dad hadn't had to protect him.
"Thank you, kiddo." Burt smiles and it's bright and he reaches out and messes up Kurt's hair a little. Kurt doesn't pull away, just lets his dad mess up his hair, and then he's standing up and walking around the table and leaning down to hug Burt.
"I love you dad." Kurt whispers, voice quiet. He doesn't say anything else, just clings to his dad and holds on tight.
"I love you too, kiddo." Burt says, holding on just as tightly.
Next