Title: Billy Brown (2/?)

Genre: Angst / Fluffy

Rating: PG for this chapter

Pairing: Dave/Kurt, future!fic

Damn those sleeping pills! The LED clock blared his time of panic beginning at 8:50. An hour late. The new client! Skip breakfast, save 15 minutes. Skip shower, substitute Old Spice, save 15 minutes. Wave to wife instead of kiss, 1 minute. Take back-road at 60mph until interstate, Save 8 minutes. Skip coffee, save 12 minutes….. Get coffee to keep sane, no time saved. Park in more the one spot, kill engine, run to elevator, ignore normal cheery greeting to receptionist. 32 seconds Saved…. 21minutes and 28sconds late for the big new client.

He smoothed down the shining blue tie, shifting his tailored jacket to sit straight on his shoulders. He was still a barrel chested man whose shoulders demanded tailoring in every nice suit he owned. He knew what colors looked good on him, or rather, he knew what his wife picked out looked good. He smoothed the pants of matching gray to his coat. He pulled a small vial of cologne from his briefcase, placing it on his wrists and need to smell like a neanderthal. He sighed, running his fingers through his short curly hair. His look would have to do, slightly more tousled then he would like. He usually took care to tame the natural curl in his hair, but today a few of them fell to his forehead. As the little bell chimed he took a deep steady breath.

A shrill clipped voice rebounded off of the sparse office space, looked like the client was both female and upset. His office was uncomplicated, just like he liked his life. "My time is highly valuable and if your architect hasn't the time to respect that then I will find another. Your company is lucky that I even contacted you!"

As he came forward he cleared his throat. The thin figure that turned to face him was not female as he had assumed. With one hand on his hip and his immaculate fashionable clothing standing before him was a page out of the book of memories in his mind. One brightly colored scarf tucked around the man's slender throat was flicked over his shoulder by those long pale fingers that had once haunted his dreams. Those eyes, so confident filled with disdain for everything Dave was and would become, turned to him. He once more felt like he was in high school, a body grown too big too fast, awkward with his movements and slow in speech.

"Good morning," Pull it together Dave You're 26 not 16. "I'm terribly sorry to keep you waiting."

"Save the apologies, they just waste even more of my time." That haughty voice dismissed his greeting and walked into his office to side down into the chair, one long leg crossed over the next.

Dave couldn't help but admire the strut that the man pulled off. He walked in behind, wondering if everyone felt like a servant to a king when speaking with Kurt Hummel. Kurt looked out of place in his neatly arranged office, the flurry of colors and asymmetrical shapes of Kurt's clothing clashed with everything, Nothing within the office popped with color, nothing was out of place. His maps and drafts were organized in long standing folders on the east wall. His drafting table was in a completely different room so none of his creativity lay here except for one framed set of architectural drawings It was his first commission, a piece he was duty proud of. Dave sat behind his desk, back into his older more confident self. "Lets not waist time then Mr. Hummel. I understand you are commissioning a theater to be built. Do you already have a plot of land picked?"

"It has already been purchased. " Kurt leaned forward, his tone all business, not seeming to take notice of any connection of his past to Dave's.

The planning began and Dave took off his coat to be able to work a little easier. He wrote pages upon pages of notes, many of them filled with sketches. As the time moved by Dave found himself laughing often. Kurt had always had a quick wit, but age and time had smoothed the biting edge. His jokes were well timed, and always with an undertone of scathing sarcasm. Dave knew he wasn't anywhere as charming, but he found Kurt's smile shining at him more then once. His secretary tapped in to let him know she was taking her lunch break. As if on cue Dave's stomach rumbled in protest.

"Sorry. I skipped breakfast this morning…" Dave felt a flush faintly come over his cheeks. "Let me treat you in apology for being late. There's a little French café that's pretty nice in walking distance."

Kurt's face was smiling, like he'd once in youth dreamed Kurt would smile at him. Those beautiful full lips opened. "It only seems fair. "

Dave smiled, standing to put back on his coat, feeling lighter then before. The trip down was quiet, but companionable like he'd never before been with Kurt. He reserved a table for two and sat on the patio to enjoy the spring weather. It was then that Dave began more casual conversation.

"So why Lima Ohio? Of all places to build a theater?" He knew that Kurt had yet to recognize him. He was hoping to keep this air of.. not friendship, but ease between them for as long as possible.

"I am attempting to give to this horrible little state what I could never have as a teen. A place to take in culture. "

Dave couldn't help the laughter. Kurt was still so much the same person. Now that he had time to watch him as he ordered the healthiest thing on the menu with a small indulgence of a frappachino he could see the changes time had made. His face had lost a lot of it's roundness, maturing into a longer more elven then imp structure. His eyes were just as bright, but they held a depth of years. He was taller, only an inch or so shorter then Dave now. He was still so thin that clearly he kept himself in that shape. Dave distracted himself from Kurt's face by commenting after placing his food order.

"Lima never was very good about the arts. It could use it."

"Do you know Lima?" Kurt asked sipping on his drink, his legs delicately crossed.

"My home town…." At Kurt's confusion Dave gave a small crooked bashful smile. "I didn't think you recognized me. I'm Dave Karofsky…. Dave 'The Fury' Karofsky" He felt the blood flush his cheek at his old idiotic nickname. That nickname had been a point of pride on the football field, but sitting here before Kurt if felt like what it truly was, a stupid teenage testosterone boost.

Kurt's face was suddenly unreadable. Dave licked his lips, flustering for a moment. This was a bad idea. Kurt was now a client and he'd just brought up the past, the past where he had been a very stupid and confused teen. One with anger issues and no grip on reality. He had changed himself, but Kurt didn't know that!

Suddenly Kurt was speaking. "You learned how to dress yourself properly."

Dave laughed, how could he not. He smoothed the blue tie and smiled. "Ya, sometimes. I learned it in college. "

"An architect. I never imagined you in such an education heavy field."

"Despite being a jock I was a good student. I went to Ohio State on a Football scholarship. I played there before finding my career. It's actually very rewarding. "

"You seem good at it." Kurt offered. "You came highly recommended as a fresh and creative mind."

"Thank you. I hope I didn't make this too awkward. I know I was an ass in high school to you. I'm really sorry for that. I should have never treated anyone like that." Dave waited for the response, the make or break. Why was it always so impossible for him to tell what Kurt was thinking in a coherent manner?

"I forgive you. In honesty I forgave you a long time ago. I moved on, but that's called growing up. I'm an actor now."

"You were always going to get out of Lima. So what roles have you done?"

"A few commercials, one failed play about an ape and God… don't ask. I then landed a role on a T.V. show called Drama. It's about a high school drama club and the rag tag band of misfits in it. I know, a little young for me, but you'd be shocked what a little makeup and clothing can do for you. "

"That's wonderful! You don't look older then 20." Dave beamed, honestly beamed. "I've never heard of it, but then of course my kids are only 4 and 2. Not the same demographic I'm sure."

"Children? Really you adopted?"

"No they're mine biologically." The conversation was halted by the check being placed on the table. Had they already finished their meal? It didn't seem that long. He glanced up, once again seeing that unreadable look on Kurt's face. He then noticed Kurt glancing at his hand. The one with the plain gold wedding ring. He decided to switch topics.

"So are you off to another meeting or do you want to keep working?"

"I have an interview unfortunately. But I'll have my assistant schedule another appointment for tomorrow while I'm still In town. You can treat me to lunch again."

"I'd love to," And Dave truly meant it.