This is an AU in which Kurt turns to his father instead of Blaine when kissed by Karofsky.

I don't own Glee or any of these characters.

"Sup Hummel?" Dave said as Kurt walked in trying to act like nothing was out of the ordinary.

Kurt just stopped and starred at him incredulous.

"sup? really?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"You could start with an apology and then explain why if you're gay yourself, you've been tormenting me"

"I not gay!"

"Really? so straight guys kiss each other when they're mad?"

"I didn't mean to do that"

"I could buy that, if you hadn't tried for seconds"

Dave slumped in his chair.

"What is going on here, David?" Kurt asked earnestly with no malice in his voice, the usual bitchiness replaced with what sounded like concern. Dave looked up at the use of his name and found Kurt's blue eyes boring into him."

"I don't know..." Dave said weakly. He had a hard time thinking on his feet at the best of times, and this was not one of them. He really hadn't expected to be put together with Kurt to just talk it out. He had expected to be facing a very angry Mr. Hummel and spent so much time dreading that, that had not gathered his thoughts about what actually happened with Kurt. Of course he really didn't have to. He had begun noticing things were different in middle school. When the other boys started being interested in girls he just wasn't. He didn't understand what that difference was or meant until later, but by now he has a pretty good idea.

"Kurt, why did you follow me into the locker room? did you have a death wish? I could have done bad things to you with no one there to see? How can little you be so fearless, while I cower in fear?" Dave slumped in his chair.

"Fearless? I'm scared all the time. I'm scared that Neanderthals on the football and hockey team will someday decide to up their game from just shoving and slushies to really hurting me. What do you have to be afraid of?"

"That someone will see me, the real me, the one that's like you. The guys on the team are afraid you'll want to see them naked, but I actually have and they won't be the least bit happy about that. That physical violence you fear could actually happen to me. They mess with you because they think it's funny. They will feel like I violated them just by being in the room with them." Dave surprised himself by saying all that.

"I'm not like you Kurt. I don't want to be like you. I don't know anything about fashion or musicals or anything else gay and I really do like sports, everything about it. I can't be gay! I just can't."

"Being gay isn't about fashion, it's about loving someone of your same sex. I love fashion and musicals, because that's the kinda guy I am. Being gay isn't about becoming someone else, it's about being honest about who you are. If you're gay, you will continue to be the same fashion impaired, sports loving neanderthal you have always been. The one difference is that you might just have a boyfriend instead of a girlfriend cheering you on at your games."

"if only it were that simple" Dave said weakly

"Nobody said it would be simple. In fact most days it will just suck, but when I came out I was finally able to stop worrying about who really liked me and who only liked the persona I presented to the world. I would rather have people hate the real me than like a fake me."

"no offense, but by the time you came out everyone already had a pretty good idea it was true. Your friends were pretty much the same after as before. If I came out, everybody would hate me, who would there be to like the real me. I have worked so hard to push everyone away that even your friends, the only people in the school that might not care about the gay thing would still hate me."

"That will be an issue, I'm not going to lie. You're going to have to work to get past it. Why did you bully everyone? What did you think it would get you?"

"Part of it was just me trying to fit in, part was trying to keep as much distance between us as possible in people's minds. The more I did it, the more I wanted to."

"What?" Kurt exclaimed, a mask of confusion on his face.

"I don't know, being near you and actually touching you, even if only to push you into a locker, was thrilling. It would make my heart race in anticipation of seeing you again."

"is that why you, kissed me?" Kurt asked hesitantly.

Dave starred intently at his shoes for a moment before answering weakly

"yes, you were just so fierce and passionate and beautiful, I couldn't help it."

Dave took a breath gathering his courage.

"You are the bravest, strongest most amazing person I know. Part of me hates you for having everything I could ever want, for being everything I could ever want and knowing you would never want me. It's my own fault, I know I've screwed up and given you every reason to hate me, but I wish I hadn't." tears welling up in his eyes he dropped his head into his hands.

Kneeling next to Dave's chair Kurt gently placed his hands on Dave's forearm and began gently stroking it.

"It didn't have to be this way. If you had just come talk to me instead of shoving me, who knows. You are not the person I thought you were. I don't really know who you are, but I'm not opposed to finding out."

Dave's head snapped up and found Kurt's watery eyes look at him.

"But first all bullying must stop. No slushies, no shoving, no name calling, nothing. Not against me or any of my friends. I don't expect you to stop the other athletes, but I do expect you to not join in or encourage them. Do you think you can do that?"

Dave nodded his head, not trusting his voice.

"Good, that will be a good start." the boys smiled warmly at each other.

"You know, there is no reason you HAVE to come out in high school. If you don't think friends or family will take it well, don't tell them. Wait until college, when you're out of this little town. You'll meet new people who don't know the old you and will only know the new, real you. I don't actually know any other gay people, so by definition ALL my friends are straight. So as far as the world is concerned you can be just another of my straight friends. If you ever decide to come out I will be there waiting to help you through it. Now give me your phone." Kurt held out his hand expectantly. Dave looked puzzled for a moment, but handed it over. Kurt fiddled with it for a bit before handing it back.

"do you mind unlocking it?"

"sorry dude"

retrieving the phone from Kurt he quickly unlocked the phone and handed it back.

"thanks and don't call me dude."
Kurt smirked at him then quickly went to the address book and added an entry with his phone number then sent himself a text from Dave's phone. He handed back the phone and pulled out his own, saving Dave's number. He then texted back his email address.

"I've given you my contact info, use it anytime you like, just don't make me regret giving it you."

"I won't, I promise" Dave said smiling at Kurt.

"Good, well I better get back to work, those tires aren't going to change themselves" Kurt said standing up and dusting off his knees.

"you actually work here?" Dave blurted out before he could stop himself.

"Not quite as effeminate as you thought I was" Kurt smirked

"I didn't mean it quite like that" Dave said blushing.

"just messing with you" Kurt said as he headed for the door.

Burt looked up from the car he was working on when the door opened. He was pleased to see Kurt emerge with a smile on his face, quickly followed by the deeply blushing Karofsky boy.

Hmm he thought, maybe I should have kept a closer eye on those two.