See Chapter 1 for warnings, still not a nice happy fiction.

Battered Knight In A Letterman Jacket

04

"Did you see David?" Kurt's all but floating next to me.

"Yeah, I saw, dude you killed it, you were amazing," and he was, damn is it wrong to have those thoughts about him? To have to rearrange my pants because of what he did on that stage for his audition?

Yeah I guess it is, great one more thing I've fucked up, he belongs to Blaine if only Blaine would open his damned eyes and see him.

"The judges are going to Miss Pillsbury's office to discuss the male lead," he says and leans in, "I'm going to sit outside her window and listen, I know it's going to be so good!" He beams and walks off.

Maybe eavesdropping isn't a good thing but then what the hell do I know?

Turning the corner people snigger and I sigh wondering if I have something stuck to my back, but no I can see what it is, some idiot's spray painted 'FAG' across my locker, again. It's trailed over the peoples' lockers next to mine.

They've gone for black paint this time, at least black is kinda bad ass. They tried pink but against the red it didn't stand out.

Touching it with a finger I make sure it's dry and then open my locker ignoring the message, it's not like it matters, technically they're right and they spelt it correctly. Now I'm glad Kurt ran off he gets really upset about stuff like this.

Out of the corner of my eye I see one of the Warbler dudes, Trent I think, wow have those kids had a freaking culture shock here, the jocks picked on them until they did this sexy number thing, now the cheerleaders giggle and flirt with them and it's pissed the jocks off even more, not that they can do anything as the cheerleaders threatened to black list them. The jocks came to heel pretty quickly when the sex they were getting was nearly taken away.

"Mr Karofsky," It's Principal Figgins, "I see your locker has been defaced again," no shit Sherlock, "If you step away I'll have our last remaining janitor scrub that for you."

"It's cool," I grab more books, "Just leave it."

"Mr Karofsky, David," Oh god he's doing first names now, that's usually bad news. "Someone has defaced school property, I won't let it stand, I won't let this vandal besmirch the good name of McKinley."

Wait McKinley has a good name?

And I notice he doesn't give a crap about how having that painted on my locker makes me feel. So of course I catch my fucking thumb with the cuts and I don't want to have to swallow all of this freaking hypocritical shit down this time.

Finished with what I want with my locker I lock it and turn to the Principal, "Figgins, as great as it is that you care so much for the lockers in this school, just give it up man, they're gonna keep spraying that stuff on my locker, if you leave it on when they've actually spelt it right for once they can't keep doing it," I appeal to his budget, "And then you won't have to spend money to get it off again.

"It's not like you or any of the other teachers in this school notice any of the bullying, discrimination or damn near physical and violent assaults the so called popular or stronger kids inflict on the weaker or less popular kids, you prefer to avert your eyes, to stick your fingers in your ears and live in a dream world," I'm on a roll now and the corridor is filling up with kids listening to me rant as calmly as I can at him.

"Face the truth and accept that we're not people to you, we're little walking money bags you use to milk as much cash as you can from the district to keep this shitty dump of a school going. You don't care about any of us, you don't care that some of the kids here self harm, or walk around with bruises on their bodies from the locker slams, that they get spat on, get names screamed at them, have their lunch money stolen on a regular basis, or that a few are so damn unhappy and have no other way out of the daily torture this meat factory grinds into them that they're thinking about killing themselves."

Where did that last bit come from?

I'm unhappy but I know killing myself is the only way out. But it's not just for me, it's for everyone, to make them happier without me in the world. I'm not selfish, am I?

"My office now!" The Principal points and I walk off to his office, the kids that had gathered for the show are silent as we pass, they stare at me and I know they want me dead, that I'm taking up space.

God I'm such an idiot why the hell did I lose my temper like that? I'm supposed to be tame, boring, a good boyfriend for Kurt, he's gonna flip his shit when he hears how I lost it.

Collapsing into a chair in the reception I prod my thumb and then look up to catch a glimpse of the girl from earlier, she gives me a sad smile and then she's gone, I jerk my finger away from the plaster, I really have to stop doing that. I deserve this, I deserve all the pain and the hurt and the hate, I deserve it all.

Dad's in a meeting so can't come and that leaves mom.

Awesome.

I cool my heels for half an hour before she turns up, luckily everyone is back in class so at least we can do with without an audience gawking at me.

In the main office Principal Figgins gets mom to sit and then he takes up his throne of power behind the desk. "Mrs Karofsky, I called you here because of David's lack of respect of authority and also the defilement of his locker with the word 'Fag' by some of the other children."

And mom takes control of the meeting, "David, are you trying to get that washed off? Because you deserve it you godless creature."

"Ma'am I didn't ask him to take it off, I asked him to keep it on," I barge in, politely, I don't want another slap from her.

"Oh. Then what's the problem?" She asks Principal Figgins who looks shocked. "Is it his horrible lifestyle choice of being a homo faggot? I'm sorry Principal we are trying," she eyes me up, "But David is being difficult and saying he was born this way, but there's no way I'd have given birth to such a disgusting human being that's an abomination in the eyes of God." She shakes her head, "David I want you to try harder to change yourself back," she pleads with me, "Please David I want my son back."

Standing up she nods at the frozen man, "If you think we should try more drastic actions to make him snap to his senses please let me know, now if you'll excuse me I have an important appointment to keep," and then she sweeps out.

We both watch her leave and then turn to stare at each other, he clears his throat "David? How's your home life?"

"Awesome," I lie.

His eyes flick back to the door, "Really?"

"No it sucks, but here sucks too, the only place I ever get any peace, where I'm not under constant attack is driving in my truck, but gas costs money," I tell him honestly then I stand up, "Have we finished?"

"David…" He starts.

"Principal," it's the over worked under paid janitor, "They've done it again and I only just got it off."

Strolling along behind them I follow them to my locker where the word 'FGA' is gleaming wetly in green this time.

"Told you. You shoulda left the better spelt one on. You'd save money and you could plough it into the literacy budget because the spelling in this place sucks," I pat the smaller man on the shoulder. "I'm going to class."

"David, what you said, are you okay?" And I'm stunned the Principal asked.

Tired I'm so fucking tired but I nod because it's the truth, "It's going to be just fine, soon, you'll see."

If anything he's more worried but I walk off and leave him.

Class sucks and I don't see why I have to write up notes, I'm only passing the time until I can go, permanently.

Leaving school my feet pick up and I smile to myself, I'm going to Kurt's tonight and yeah his dad fucking hates me, not that I blame him but hanging at Kurt's isn't that bad, okay I have to watch musicals or do homework and I'm only allowed downstairs but that's cool, it's not home, it's not school.

Beeping my phone let's me know I have a message, Kurt's going to be late but Carole will be there so he'll meet me there.

Great.

She hates me too.

But Finn never does any yard work and it'll mean I get a bigger portion of dinner if I pitch in and help her. A dinner I can eat surrounded by people not screaming homophobic abuse at me and I'll be next to Kurt.

Climbing into my truck I start her up and for a little while I don't have to afraid.

Pulling up at the Hudmel's I park where I'm allowed to and then go to knock on the door. Carole opens it, "Dave? Kurt's not home yet."

"I know Mrs H, he said he was going to be late, I was wondering if you needed any yard work doing while I wait for him," I'm polite to her and act as non threatening as possible.

I over heard Mr H saying he didn't like me being here with her and Kurt on their own, he wanted to be here or Finn, or preferably Puck.

My volunteering means I get more food, I build up bonus points with Kurt, Finn will only glare but not pick on me not that the guy is any good at it, and Mr H always nods and relaxes when he knows I've not tried to get in the house.

"Of course there is David, you know Finn I daren't let him near any of the tools and frankly Kurt's so busy putting gloves on and keeping his clothes clean he's fairly useless too," she walks off and returns with a list, we're slowly working our way through it, a few things pop up again like sweeping leaves and I don't mind doing that.

Going to the shed I get the stuff I need and start on the back yard, by the time they get home I should be finishing up the front yard.

A/N: Sorry for any and all mistakes, I've tried to catch those I could, but I'm only human.