Dave Strider has never been one for 'love'. In fact, for him, love is an illusion. Well, being in love is. He can't wrap his mind around the concept of giving himself to someone completely, not after his last relationship. He and this guy, Luke, were dating for just short of a year. 6 days to be exact. Everything was good, for the most part. They got in fights, but always made up before the end of the day. Dave couldn't stand someone he cared about being angry at him. They met in the 7th grade. Dave knew his sexuality by then, and didn't care what other people thought of him. He was out, and proud of it. Near the end of 9th grade, he gathered enough courage to ask his best friend out on April 14th . Luke said yes, and for the first two weeks, everything was perfect. They held hands, spent all their extra time together, and were the cutest couple around. After that, though, things changed. Dave crashed, metaphorically. He was happy, and then... Into a pit of depression that had a hold of his legs and wouldn't let him go, no matter how hard he tried, and no matter who was trying to pull him up. He couldn't escape, and it took a toll on the relationship. Dave didn't want to leave to go anywhere, didn't want to do anything, for weeks after that. Luke stayed with him, trying to help, and slowly coaxed him out. Luke was his anchor, his happiness, his reason to be.
Months passed by, and the fighting and arguing got more frequent, yet through it all, they stayed together. Dave thought he fell in love 6 months into the relationship, and was ecstatic when Luke returned the feelings. Things were okay again, but sure enough, it all turned to shit, 6 days before their one year anniversary. Luke didn't feel the same anymore, and it killed Dave. "I can't be seen with a freak like you." were his exact words Luke uttered when he broke up with him, words that played in Dave's mind over and over again. After that, Luke outed him to the school, about his eyes, his strifing habits, everything he could possibly be insecure about.
Bullied throughout the rest of the 10th grade, he had enough by the time summer came. He had it all planned for when Bro, his legal guardian and big brother, and Dirk, his other big brother were out. As soon as they were out the door, he got in the shower. He stood under the water for a moment, contemplating if he was really going to go through with it. A moment of thinking of how he'll deal with school come the fall, and he was sure of it. He grabbed the pill bottles and lined them up side by side carefully. He made sure earlier that night that he had them all. He counted them cautiously, not willing to lose a single one, in case that single one would make the difference between living and dying. He grabbed his largest blade, which was occupying the third pill bottle (along with his several slim ones he had from taken-apart razors), and stared at it. The water made the silver glow and he smiled slightly. He set it down on the side of the tub and exchanged it for a bottle of pills. One, two, three, four, and more, he kept swallowing them until it was empty. He picked up the next one, doing the exact same thing as quick as he can so he could get to the next part. He bit his lip as he picked up the razor, his vision already blurring. He shakily put it against his wrist, and dragged it across. Down the road, not across the street, the advice echoed in his mind, but he paid no attention to it. He just wanted it done. Once both wrists were bleeding, he laid down in the tub, and threw up.
Unconscious, bloody, and covered in puke that hasn't been washed away was how Dave was found by Dirk, when he came back not very long after he left with Bro. He forgot his wallet, then decided to use the bathroom, and screamed when he saw his little brother. He frantically dialed 911, and soon after, Dave was being taken away by the paramedics. it was all a blur for Dave since then. The mental hospital, the anti-depressants, the therapy, and the confessions of why this all happened. As soon as the words left Dave's mouth, Bro was out searching for a new house, away from all the trouble there. A couple of weeks before school started, they packed up, and moved north, away from the Texan heat, all the way to Washington.
The house was nice. It had a basement, and an upstairs. Dave claimed the room furthest from the staircase, and started lugging everything of his in. He put up all his posters, shoved all his clothes haphazardly into the closet and dresser, and had his brothers help him move his bed, dresser, and computer desk around until he had it the exact way he wanted it. After everything was put up and boxes were discarded into the basement in case they needed a future use, Dave climbed out of his window onto the little roof area that sat just below his room. From there, he could see everything. The stars were starting to come out, and the sun was low in the horizon. He looked down at the sidewalk, and locked eyes with a boy.
He was, at most, older than Dave by a year. His messy black hair framed his face, and his glasses gave him this dorky appearance. He was wearing simple black skinny jeans, sneakers, and a blue hoodie over a white shirt. His blue eyes are what kept Dave from looking away. His gorgeous blue eyes refused to look away from him. Dave raised his hand to his face to make sure his shades were on, and it broke the spell which bound them. The guy smiled and waved a little before he looked away and continued biking towards his friends, which had left him behind. Dave didn't bother to respond. He turned his attention to the darkening sky, and leaned back, enjoying the view. He ignored his brothers call for dinner, and didn't come in until a couple hours later, when the sky was completely dark. He grabbed a slice of pizza from the box, and plopped next to Dirk. He watched as his two older brothers played Call of Duty: Ghost on multiplayer, beating the opposite teams by a landslide every time. He chewed thoughtfully, his mind on Blue Eyes. Dave didn't understand why he didn't just look away. Maybe it was because of the way the boy was looking at him. He didn't know Dave, and didn't know any of the weird things that ruined his last home. Dave liked that fact, that no one knew him, of him, or anything about him. "Bro, let me play next," he piped up after a few rounds, his pizza long gone.
Bro handed the controller over when the match was done, and Dave got down to business, drowning out the thoughts of Blue Eyes with the thoughts of the game. He held the controller up in triumph when their team won. A few rounds later, Dave stood up and yawned. "I'm gonna head to bed."
"Alright, goodnight," Dirk chimed up, cursing under his breath as some guy shot him.
"See you in the morning," Bro patted his back as he trudged past him. Once in his room, he disposed his body of everything but boxers and fell onto the bed. he curled up against his copious amounts of pillows, falling asleep not even 5 minutes later.
A week and a half later, he was thrust back into the high school life. First day back, he saw Blue Eyes. They shared AP Chemistry together, as well as a couple other classes. Blue Eyes, who Dave later learned was named John, didn't seem to remember him. A few days pass before Dave gets the courage to approach John after Chem. "John, right?"
"Yeah! That's me!" John smiled. "Dave, yeah?"
"Correct," Dave murmured, his face blank as usual. "Uh, I don't understand the homework, and you seem like you know about this stuff, so do you think maybe after school or something you could help?" Dave pushed his glasses up with his forefinger, awaiting an answer as John thought about it.
After a few moment, John shook his head. "Of course I don't. Why don't we start at lunch, you can sit with me and my friends! You're new here, right? I've never seen you around before this year, and I generally know everyone. Well, what they look like at least. I don't do so well with names, but that's okay because..." Dave just watched him chatter along, and they walked to their lockers. With nods and noises of agreements in the correct place, Dave made it through the conversation. "Just meet me here after next hour, and I'll introduce you to everyone!" John finished as he glanced at the time. "Fourth hour is about to start, so I have to go. Bye, Dave!"
Dave sighed slightly, grabbing his History book and making his way across the hall. The next hour was spent thinking and being nervous. Dave was grateful that John was so talkative. He didn't talk a lot, always feeling too uncomfortable to say much to strangers. That would help out immensely during lunch, Dave reasoned. He also thought about the friends he was supposed to be meeting in- Dave checked the time- 15 minutes. He leafed through his book absentmindedly, listening to the teacher drone on. What if they didn't like him? What if they saw his arms? He instinctively pulled down his hoodie's sleeves so his hands were covered, leaving the pages of the book alone. What if they didn't want to be friends?
His thoughts were cut short by the bell ringing, and Dave took his time packing up his things, though there wasn't much. A folder, which had a worksheet of homework in it, the history book, a journal filled with shitty comics, and his pencil. He was one of the last people out of the room, and when he reached his locker, which was across and a little further down the John's, John was already there. "Slowpoke," John teased, smiling. Dave put his things away before closing the locker, turning to the shorter guy.
"Lead the way," he said, hiking his messenger bag's strap high up on his shoulder. John nodded and walked into the cafeteria, instantly spotting his friends.
"There they are!" John grabbed your wrist and Dave flinched internally, but allowed himself to be dragged over to the table his friends were occupying.
"Dave, these are my friends! Terezi, Karkat, Jade, Rose, Kanaya, and Jake." He went on to explain that Terezi is blind, Karkat is loud (which earned him and punch and a 'I'm not fucking loud.'), Jade was his cousin, Rose and Kanaya were dating, and Jake was his best friend. He sat besides Jake, and had Dave sit next to him. The whole Chemistry help was forgotten, but Dave didn't mind. He sat there quietly until Rose turned the attention onto him.
"So, tell me about yourself, Dave." Her smile was slightly predatory, her gaze unnerving.
"What do you want to know?" Dave responded, not looking away from the violet eyes. He wondered briefly if they were contacts, but didn't think much of it.
"Why are you wearing sunglasses?" Jade piped up, taking a bite of what Dave assumed to be a Pb&J.
"Medical reasons," was his short reply.
"Okay, my turn!" Terezi laughed, leaning over the table to lightly touch his face. "You feel handsome. Got a girlfriend?"
Dave tensed, and Terezi definitely felt it, but didn't say anything. The smile on her face told him that she knew exactly why. "No, I'm as single as a lone pencil that drifted away from its owner and is now hiding in the back of the classroom, covered in cobwebs and dust bunnies."
Rose raised an eyebrow at the comparison, before voicing her own question. "You're certainly a new face here, where'd you come from?"
"Texas, born an' raised, darlin'," he drawled out. Jade giggled at it, and John looked confused.
"You don't usually have an accent, right? I mean, I guess I wouldn't know, we don't really talk, but when we have, you never had an accent. Maybe I just didn't realize it or something, but was it-"
"I've practiced so it doesn't come out as much, don't need the attention," Dave interrupted his rambling.
"Okay, blondie. I have a question," Karkat stated, using his fork to poke holes in the Styrofoam lunch tray. "What type of movies do you like?"
"Not shitty ones," Dave responded. He gave a few examples of movies he liked.
Karkat looks disturbed. "No romcoms?"
"Nah, romance isn't my thing," Dave's voice became distant. He flicked an imaginary spec of dust off his jacket before shifting his gaze to Karkat, who's mouth was wide open. "Might wanna shut your food shoot before a fly get's in." Karkat closed his mouth with a huff, going silent.
The lunch continued on with questions flying between Dave and the group. Dave asked some about everyone, and in return, he answered some. The homework was never mentioned, not until Dave and John were standing by John's locker. "Okay, so after school, I'll meet you by your locker. Do you want to come to my place, me go to yours, or just go somewhere else?" Dave took a moment to think. His place: Brothers and possible strife that would scare away John and end any friendship he would have with the kid. Johns house: Him, his dad, and Dave, probable cake, and not many people. Outside somewhere: too many people.
"Yours."
"Alright! Well, lets head to fifth hour, we'll talk more later.
They entered the classroom, yet Dave didn't pay attention.
After that class, and the next, Dave was by his locker, and John, as he said he would be, was next to him. Dave packed up all the homework and books he needed before closing the locker. "My dad is picking us up, so let's go wait outside." Dave nodded and followed John as he picked his way through the mass of students. Dave leaned against the wall, pulling out his phone and calling Bro. John shut up when he realised the phone was calling someone.
"Bro?"
"The one and only, kid. What do you need?" Dave could hear the tinkling of tools in the background, and sighed.
"I'm not coming home right away, Dirk already knows. I'm getting help with homework from a... Friend?" He glanced at John for confirmation to what they are. John hummed and nodded in response. "Yeah, friend."
"Oh? Is this friend cute?"
"Bro," Dave muttered, exasperated. "Okay, yeah, but it doesn't mean anything. I just wanted to let you know, but I have to go now. I'll be home whenever." Dave quickly hung up, shoving his phone into his bag. Johns dad rolled up in his car, and John got in the backseat, and Dave followed his actions. John talked about his school day most of the ride there, and Johns Dad asked Dave a few questions, which he answered, but for the most part, Dave was silently watching the landscape pass by. Once they reached their destination, John's father parked the car and got out. John slid off his seat to the sidewalk and smiled, opening his arms dramatically.
"Welcome to La Casa de Me."