Disclaimer: I don't own Glee, or the characters or anything. Obviously. Hell, it's more like it owns me. But anyway. RIB are dragging their feet giving Kurt and Dave screentime together, so I'm gonna do it instead. *blows raspberry*
Chapter 1: Fashion, Football and Fancy
Kurt was amazed Dave was even here.
It had been enough of a struggle to get his dad to agree to Dave coming over at all, much less being in the house alone with Kurt. He'd used all of his powers of persuasion on his dad to make him acquiesce; recounting how Dave had broken down and wept in front of him had gone a long way. That took Burt by surprise - he just couldn't imagine Dave ever being so... sensitive.
The fact that he was coming over to brainstorm with Kurt for the upcoming PFFLAG meetings should have been the clincher, really. He was so sure his dad would be pleased he was educating Dave about why what he'd done was wrong; obviously, he wasn't about to reveal that it was more about educating him about why what we was wasn't. He wasn't about to out Dave to his dad. He wasn't even out to his own parents yet.
He hoped, maybe not quite beyond hope, that the day would come soon.
"I almost expected you not to come," admitted Kurt as he handed Dave a glass of Coke, his own glass of Diet Coke already one mouthful down.
Dave felt uneasy about the whole thing, and didn't hold back. "You didn't really give me much choice," he noted. "I get that you're trying to help me, and... I, I do appreciate that." He stumbled over the words. Why would he do that? Why was there this sudden twitch in his stomach as it occurred to him Kurt was doing him a favour? "I uh..." He regained his composure. "...I'm just not sure it'll help me as much as you think."
Kurt was disappointed. "We haven't even discussed anything yet," he protested.
Dave pressed home the point that had been bothering him ever since the meeting with their dads, Figgins and Mr Schue. "You remember what you told me in the office? That thing about... who was it, Eve Harrington or someone? How I had to pick up on pop culture references like that if I was gonna be gay?"
Kurt was inwardly kicking himself. Why did he have to be such a smartass about such things? All he'd served to do is confuse the poor boy. "Dave..." he started.
Dave didn't give him a chance to finish. "It's not just that, either. It's like - like I have to be into certain kinds of music. Into fashion. Into soap operas. Into musicals. I'm not into any of that stuff, I'm into video games, documentaries, sports and rock! How the hell can that possibly be gay?" It wasn't an argument, it was a plea. How can I do being gay properly when I fall at the first hurdle? Hell, I can't stop looking at guys, but if I get the whole gay culture thing wrong, I'm screwed.
Kurt's attempts at reassurance took on an urgent tone. "Dave, wait. It's not like that, I promise you," he pleaded. At the back of his mind, a query formed. Documentaries? Dave? He watches ...documentaries? The hell?
Dave retaliated immediately. "Isn't it? I've done my research, Kurt. Project Runway, Will and Grace, Ugly Betty - they all say the same thing. Gay guys are camp, into fashion and style, and don't do sports. I don't even fit," he lamented. "In either world," he noted miserably.
"Dave," Kurt responded resolutely, "do not take your cues for gay behaviour from the media. They all buy into the stereotype because they think that's what people want to see. It's just easier for me because I kinda am the stereotype." He bridled at the notion that he was a cardboard cutout, but if it helped Dave he'd suffer the slings and arrows. "You might want to read up on Drew Boyd. He's this character from Queer As Folk - a closeted quarterback. He may have been fictional, but gay sportsmen exist in real life too, you know."
Dave was sceptical. "Prove it," he countered.
After a while trawling Wikipedia for proof, they stumbled upon something that seemed promising - a page listing noted gay, lesbian or bisexual people, split into pages for each letter of the alphabet. There had to be something there, right? They got as far as I-J, becoming ever more downhearted as the sportsmen listed seemed to be few and far between; Dave was stunned to discover, however, that the lead singer of Green Day was bi. "Holy crap, I didn't even guess," he mumbled under his breath. Maybe it meant he had no gaydar, or something.
Then they reached K. A professional wrestler... an ice hockey player... an American Football player. Their eyes settled on the name: David Kopay. They opened up the link... only to discover that the sportsman in question hadn't come out until the end of his career. He had, however, fought hard to drive homophobia out of sports.
Nonetheless, all Dave could see was that there were so few people like him. Most of the men in the list were creatively minded - actors, musicians, playwrights, authors - and only a handful of sportsmen appeared. It only served to leave him feeling isolated. He was adrift on a sea of gayness, and was doomed to capsize - alone, unloved, unwanted.
Kurt's take on it was different. "These are only the famous ones," he pointed out. "You'd be amazed how many people are gay throughout so many different walks of life. Besides, being all butch and rugged makes you stand out - the fewer of you there are, the more sought after you're likely to be. And besides, the whole bear scene thing wasn't created just to tick a box. I bet there are tons of guys who'd kill for a bit of beefcake like you. Gay men aren't all slender and waif-like like me, I promise you," he insisted, supportively.
But I don't want them, thought Dave, trying to hide his feelings for Kurt. I want you.
(Bit of a short chapter, yeah, but it's more to establish the situation than anything. The story will pick up pace, though, I promise! -Lemm)
