AN: Thanks to DanglingHearts for the beta. Part 1 of 3. My first Glee fic - because Kurtofsky/Karomel/Kurve has consumed my soul since 'Never Been Kissed' has aired, I just had to write something. Spoilers up to 2.06 and delves into AU.

He's heard so much garbage spew from his mother's mouth that it was just second nature for him to act this way. But he knew it was garbage, her own prejudices being forced down his throat and impressionable ears before he even knew what a 'faggot' was.

He gets A's and B's, is the star of the McKinley hockey team, the king of the puck-heads. Polite, well-mannered, respectful. But the only words that his mother said that stuck, the only thing she ever mentioned was that she was so happy her son wasn't a freak, an embarrassment to the family.

Her prejudices, so strong and vile, are the reason his father doesn't get to see his own younger brother anymore. All because he's happily married to his husband. Dave's father talks with his brother on the phone constantly, but they haven't met face to face since Dave turned 11. His mothers disgust and his own fears, taste like poison on his tongue.

When he realised he was gay, he knew he had to keep his mouth shut. His mother would toss him out like yesterday's trash, and this was a woman half the size of her son.

So he takes out his anger on Ladyfa... Kurt. All his issues and his fears and self loathing and he shoves Kurt into lockers and tosses him in dumpsters. He knows that it's wrong, that it's stupid, but it's during these times that he gets to touch him, to just feel Kurt. And it's the highlight of his day.

And then one day, Kurt's anger takes over and he comes after Dave. Kurt's voice is loud, echoing through the empty locker room and Dave is being called extraordinarily ordinary and hamhock and chubby and not Kurt's type. And all his wanting and his feelings consume him.

So Dave kisses Kurt.

Kurt 's face is soft and he has just a hint of stubble on his cheeks. His lips are pinched, but Dave kisses them and he pours all his feelings into the kiss.

Suddenly they're separated and Kurt's face is masked with disgust and shock. Dave tries again but he's pushed away, the slight boy carrying more strength than even he knew.

Dave runs away. From his feelings. From everything.

Now all he can taste is strawberries, peaches and Kurt. And he knows he needs to taste them again.

EEE

So he makes a change. He's politer; quieter. He helps out those who are bullied and distances himself from Azimio and the other bullies. He becomes more withdrawn.

Two weeks after 'the incident' - because what else can he call it? - his grades are picking up again, he's smiling and talking to others more, and he's of two minds to join the Glee club.

It's lunch break when he loses his cool for the first time in weeks. His fellow puck-heads are surrounding someone, taunting and shoving and laughing and when Dave realises whose locker it is, he snarls like a bull and storms into the maelstrom, separating them from their target, standing between them like a buffer.

"What the hell, dude?" Azimio asks, and if you look closely you can almost see a puff of smoke shoot from his ears, like this act broke his brain.

"Leave him alone," Dave growls, his hands clenched at his sides.

"Why? You turned fag now?" Another puck-head asks, his face confused.

"I'm just sick of this – what has he ever done to us?" Dave asks, looking at each of his former friends.

"He flaunts his freakyness around this school like he owns it! Why are you suddenly defending him?" Azimio roars, getting into Dave's personal space, glaring up at his former best friend.

"Because..." And Dave falters. He looks back to Kurt for some sign... some sign of anything. And when the smaller teen smiles slightly, Dave can't help but think – courage. That's what Kurt and that prep school kid said to him. Courage.

"Because I'm gay too."

He doesn't whisper. He doesn't step down. He's out.

And then the punches start flying and he can't see anymore. It's not too long before he passes out.

EEE

He enters the choir room with Sam and Finn, laughing over something stupid that Finn said about football. They sit in the centre of New Directions, sharing greetings with everyone. Dave's practiced this song all week and is just now working up the courage to sing it.

Everyone knows of his not-so-subtle crush on Kurt, and they've all told him to man up and just ask Kurt out. Finn adding that if he broke his step-brothers heart he'd break Karofsky's face. So he chose this song to convey his feelings for Kurt. Even if it was a song from a TV show, it fits the task of the week that Mr. Schue had set them.

Mr. Schue arrives and the afternoon performances kick off. Dave's number is first on the list, and he doesn't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing but he gets to his feet none the less. He passes the sheet music to Mike and takes his mark before his fellow glee clubbers.

The opening bars to the music begin to play and only Artie and Kurt recognise it instantly.

"I lived my life in shadow, never the sun on my face."

His heart dancing in his chest, Dave can't tear his eyes away from Kurt's, who is now sitting up and paying close attention to his performance.

"I'm under your spell, how else could it be anyone would notice me? It's magic, I can tell how you set me free, brought me out so easily."

He continues staring, as Artie sings the backup vocals. Soon enough everyone is shimmying with him, humming along as he sings out his love; sings out his soul.

"You make me com-plete, you make me com-plete, you make me com-plete."

He finishes the song on a flourish, his eyes glistening with the emotion he's awakened within himself. He's using the sleeve of his letterman jacket to wipe at his eyes when he feels the softest skin against his own.

Kurt takes his hand in his own and interlaces their fingers. He's smiling up at Dave, his eyes warm and accepting and loving. His other hand reaches up and rests upon Dave's cheek and it's the greatest feeling ever.

Until Kurt pulls his head down closer and kisses him hard and passionately. The room around them erupts with whoops and cheers.

As they separate, some five minutes later, due to lack of breath, Dave mumbles against Kurt's lips, "I love you."

EEE

He awakens to an argument in starched sheets and an off white room. A dull pain radiates through his being, a headache has settled just above his right eye and his left arm is in a cast. His attempt to speak forces the tube that's down his throat to dig into his vocal cords and he groans at the pain and tries to sit up.

And then hands are on him, pushing him lightly back on his back and his dad and Kurt are on each side of his bed, his mother at the foot of it. A nurse rushes to him, explaining that she's going to remove the tube and that his throat may be raw so he should not raise his voice. His father pours him a glass of water and places a straw in it to ease his drinking of the liquid.

"Paul, could you please take this boy out of this room, out of my sight?" Dave's mother requests, glaring at her husband and the short boy at her son's bedside.

"No," Dave forcefully replies, he accepts the drink from his father and quickly swallows the refreshing liquid.

"I don't want that... thing in here with you, Davey," she implores. "He's told us all what happened, but I know the truth. He's confused you, made you think you're a pervert. Once you're better we are gonna get you some help and you'll be back to normal." She explains her sons future within one breath and yet continues glaring at Kurt.

"He's not done anything to me, Mom. It's just the way I am. I've just been terrified of how you'd react – I know that's why Dad and Uncle Joe haven't talked in years, you didn't want him tainting me. But you were too late. I was gay when you gave birth to me. It's only now that I can say it, you had me terrified of ever saying that. I'm gay. I like boys. And there's nothing you can do about it."

"Then you can't be our son anymore. We'll be back this evening with your stuff, then you're out on your own," Rose states vehemently. She gathers herself, clutches her handbag close to her chest. "Come along, Paul."

And Dave fears that his dad won't stand up to her, like he's done for most of his life.

"No."

It's quiet, but his voice is firm and strong.

"No, Rose. Not anymore. I can't do this. He's my son and I will not abandon him, not after he's been so brave and stood up to his friends like this. Not when he's finally showing us his true self. Your prejudices are too much, so much that I can't stand for it anymore. Did you know I'm an uncle? My brother and his partner have a beautiful baby boy that I've not seen because of you? No. We're done."

Paul takes his son's hand in his firmly, squeezing it to show his love.

Neither of them notice her rushing from the room, her scowling face glaring at them all.

EEE

Dave is realeased the following morning, on the condition that he takes it easy for the next few weeks. His dad agrees and aids Dave as they exit the hospital and climb into their SUV. The drive home is quiet, yet comfortable.

Following the argument the night before, Dave's mother has vanished from the family home. Any trace that she ever lived there has been removed.

"I'm sorry, dad." Dave mumbles, as his dad eases him onto the lazyboy in their sitting room.

"Whatever for, Dave?" His dad asks, worry etched across his features.

"You and mother are over, and it's my fault." Dave replies, staring at his lap.

"Never think that, son. Your mother and I have been on the rocks for years, but this was the final straw. Her saying that you weren't our son after being so brave? Neither of us need that in our lives. Okay? I'm just so sorry that you couldn't tell me all that's happened. "

Dave shakes his head, "I've been an ass, Dad."

"Son, you've told me all this already, okay? From now on, just be who you are, not who you expect people to want you to be, alright? Although," Paul starts, and then stops.

"What?"

"Is Kurt your boyfriend?" Seeing Dave's wide eyes and worried face, Paul quickly continues, "It's just, he was defending you so much when we were waiting for you to wake up. Your mother had forbidden him from waiting with us."

"I heard that... That's why I woke up, I couldn't let her hatred put Kurt down. He's... amazing, dad." Dave blushes, not used to this type of discussion.

"He's a force of nature, that's for sure."

Dave smiles, and their discussion continues into everything that wasn't mentioned when Rose controlled the home.

By the time dinner rolls round, Dave has never felt so loved in his life.

But it won't be this way forever. He still has school to deal with, once he recovers completely.

"Oh, I forgot, Kurt wanted me to give you this. Something about courage, I think he said? I was a little distracted, kid, but I think that was it."

Paul passes his son a slip of paper, folded in halves, before grabbing the phone and ordering a large cheese pizza for dinner.

Dave opens the paper to find a note.

I'm proud of you, Dave - Kx

And Dave can't help but smile.

"Is pizza okay for dinner? I'm just not in mood to cook." Paul asks, sitting across from his son. He notes the smile on his sons face and doesn't ask. He figures it was a message from his son's crush.

"Yeah, pizza's good."

The phone suddenly rings, and Paul rushes to answer it.

EEE

Dave's recuperation at home passes all too quickly for his liking and now, suddenly, it's his first morning back to school. But ever since returning home from the hospital, Dave has been in constant contact with Kurt, talking about anything and everything. He's talked with his uncle in New York and spoken with his baby cousin for the first time.

"Ready for school, son?" Paul asks, plating up the fried breakfast and passing the plate to his son, who is sat at the dinner table.

"As I'll ever be. I've heard from all the guys and they all say that they've got my back, so I should be okay... but it's not like anyone can take me on, right? Look at me, I'm built like a brick house." He smirks as he puts on a gun show for his father.

"Yeah, I think you'll be fine... but if anyone does say anything, just call me, okay? For that matter, just let me know you're okay no matter what."

"I will dad. You worry too much, you know?" Dave replies, enjoying the warmth of his fathers love.

"You're my kid, it's my job to worry."

And Dave smiles even brighter.

"So, what's on the agenda for you today?" Dave asks, slicing his hashbrown into quarters before smothering the pieces in tomato ketchup.

"I'm meeting with the lawyers to discuss the divorce." Paul replies, throwing away the topic as if he was discussing the weather.

"Already? Are you sure, dad? I mean, you've been married for 20 years... I know you love her."

"Son, don't think like that. You're the most important thing in my life now, Dave. My marriage to your mother was... out of convenience, especially for the past few years."

And then Dave is consumed in his dad's arms in the tightest hug that he can ever remember.

"I love you son, don't you ever forget that."

"Love you too dad."

EEE

School, for the most part, has been bearable. It doesn't hurt that Azimio has been expelled due to his violent outburst. But he lied to his dad. His friends hadn't been in touch. They avoid him during school hours and shun him during hockey and football practice. Lunch hour is the worst. He queues up, grabs his lunch (salad burger and tater tots), sits at a table by himself. He eats quickly and then spends the rest of the lunch break in the library, catching up on work he missed when he was out of commission.

The only highlight of the day comes when he catches Kurt in the corridors, who smiles at him and asks him how he is.

EEE

It's been a week since he outed himself and was beaten to a pulp by his so-called best friend. And he's finally made a decision. He's going to talk to Kurt and ask him to help him perfect his singing so that, when he does try out for the glee club, he cannot be shamed from being an awful singer.

So, during his first period French class, he sits beside the fashionista and smiles and quickly scribbles out a note and passes it to his neighbour.

Can you meet me in the auditorium during lunch?

Kurt just smiles at him and nods his head to show he will.

The rest of the morning drags on forever and Dave counts down the hours. And he is definitely not thinking about that smile incessantly. Not at all.

But then the teacher calls out his name and he can't help but shake himself from the daydream of kissing Kurt again.

Just another hour, he thinks, another hour until I'm alone with him... to practice singing.