So another thing I love is the idea that Kurt is down with cars. They never say he isn't in the show, though they also never had him do anything but desk work when he was helping out around the garage (I'm holding onto a feeble dream that we'll still one day get him in coveralls as part of canon). Still I can't imagine he'd be as eager to please his dad as he always seems to be and have not tried to at least learn about cars. Especially during/before season one, which was the one season where he was willing to change himself to make his dad happier.

4. Autumn 2006, Seventh grade - the time he lied to his dad's friend

Twelve was far too young for Kurt to have a job but he and Burt had struck a deal. Kurt wanted more money and there were only so many chores a boy his size could do. So he had brought the kid into the auto shop. He was going to trade money for 'work.' Like if Kurt went and got the guys coffee or if he just generally hung around and kept the customers happy. He was really good with people. Especially the younger kids or the ladies who came in by themselves. They loved it when he sang for them. Burt didn't say it too often, but he loved it too. Kurt had a talent.

Sometimes his boy would even peek over and they'd talk car stuff. All on his own. At least Burt was pretty sure none of the other guys were prompting him. Which meant that this was a miracle. Of course he wasn't getting his boy in a jumpsuit anytime soon but it was something they could bond over. There was so little they had in common. Some days it was like Burt was living with an alien in his house. He just wanted to spend time with his kid and he really didn't know how. Everything he usually tried left Kurt bored out of his skull, and everything Kurt liked left Burt bored or, worse, confused. If this was their connection then so be it. At least it was something Burt was an expert on.

"Ok, so, this one is the oil, I get that. That one's easy." Kurt pulled the oil and checked it like a pro.

"Good, good. You keep this up and I'll have to get you your own car the minute you get your permit. You'll be miles ahead of all the other kids."

"Really?" Burt glanced over, then ruffled that perfectly coifed hair. "Hey!"

"You need to get that out of your eyes if you're going to drive."

"I won't be able to drive for another three years."

"Gonna keep it like that till then huh?"

"Yes." Burt ruffled it again. Kurt started to fix the strands but he realized his hands were dirty. "Dad!"

"Tell me, which one's the - Heath! Hey!"

"Hey! Burt! My wife's car is making that noise again. I swear, I had nothing to do with it."

"Like hell you didn't. You've been trying to tinker around with things you don't understand and we both know it." Kurt put on a forced but firm smile. His dad's friends were just like his dad. Only they weren't his dad. Which meant he didn't really get along with them. "Alright, let's have a look at her."

"Hey Kurt, you getting into the family business?"

"Just trying to make some extra cash," the boy responded.

"What, for your clothing fund?" Kurt dropped his eyes to his shoes. He knew the guys looked at him funny sometimes. He didn't know why. Well, he guessed at why. Their clothes were all old, baggy, messy, covered in strange stains. He wore the classiest things he could get his hands on. They were different. In more ways than just appearance. It felt like everyone knew that. Just by looking at him. All of his secrets were just there written on his face. And it felt like everyone who looked at him was immediately judging him for what they saw there without ever giving him a chance.

"For my college fund."

"Aren't you a bit young for that?"

"Well I want to go to New York, and I know that costs a lot, so you can't ever really start too early."

"You're smart kid. When you go to college you should look into economics or whatever. It pays well and you'll be able to help your dad out with this place without getting your hands dirty. Not bad right?"

"Right."

"Hey Kurt, want to give me a hand with this one?" Burt said with a wave. Since Kurt had come over on his own accord to check out the car they'd been looking at before, he was hoping maybe Kurt would be ok with this one. The kid was, just not for the reasons Burt wanted him to be. Kurt scurried over and tucked his thumbs into his pockets. "Hear that?"

"It sounds like someone stuck something in it."

"Or just moved something to where it shouldn't be. Alright! You can shut it off now!" The worker who'd been sitting in the car killed the engine then went about his business. Burt leaned right in. Kurt found a towel to finally rub his hands off on. It wasn't perfect but it got some of the gross off.

"So, Kurt," Heath continued. "Meet any cute girls yet? I mean besides my daughter. You know Hannah's off limits."

"Of course," Kurt murmured. "Uhm, well there is this one girl, I guess I kind of like. She's really nice. I mean cute. We talk a lot sometimes." He spied his dad stealing glances. "It's nothing serious but I might ask her out. I think she really likes me." Burt tried not to hold his breath. Kurt had to figure himself out at his own pace. Or maybe he already had and this was just a cover. Burt couldn't be sure.

"No kiddin? Good going kid. Hey, if you plan on kissing, I definitely recommend keeping some mints on you. You know. Just in case. If things start seeming like they might go that direction then pop one in real quick, chat her up, and once it's gone go in for the kill."

"Don't you think Kurt's a bit young to be thinking about kissing?" Burt called from under the hood.

"What, he's thirteen now right?"

"Barely!"

"It's fine dad!" Kurt interrupted. "I'll keep that in mind, thank you Heath. But I really don't expect anything past hand holding until high school." He didn't want to hold any girl's hand. The middle school was all crazy for that stuff with kids hugging and stealing kisses in the halls, holding hands, passing notes and giggling, and really Kurt didn't want much to do with any of it. Mostly because he didn't want to do any of it with a girl. He was becoming more and more hyper aware each day that he wasn't opposed to a man's fingers locked between his. Two strong arms to hold him. He had tried to bury it but it just wouldn't go away. Just like when he was little he wanted a prince and didn't care even the slightest about the princesses.

"Aw, have a little fun! Break a few hearts. You're good looking so it won't be hard."

"Hey hey hey!" Burt straightened up and waved his finger at Heath. "Don't go telling my son to hurt anyone's heart."

"It's no harm, they're still kids. They need to date around a bit, get a feel for things. We did! That's how we knew what to do when we finally found the one, right?"

"I knew what to do when I found Elizabeth because I knew she was worth doing things right for. I'd probably have started dating her sooner if not for my stupidity. Why do we hang out again?"

"Cos I'm your best friend."

"Hm. Keeping filling Kurt's head up with crazy talk and I might have to fix that."

"Dad, it's fine," Kurt said again. "Mom always told me to respect the people I date and to expect the same from them."

"There, see?" Heath laughed. "He isn't having none of this. He's definitely Liz's kid." Burt let his hand brush over the back of his son's head. Kurt waved him off as he made a face. "Your wife is going to be one lucky lady Kurt Hummel."

"Yeah, really lucky."

"Luckiest person alive," Burt sighed. "Why don't you go clean up the office a bit. Wait until the bad air clears out of this place."

"You don't mean that," Heath laughed.

"Oh yes I do! Go on son, get going." Kurt shuffled away quickly. He only glanced back once. His ears caught some joke about keeping him from knocking someone up. No matter what he was feeling in his heart and soul, he knew he had to pretend to be normal. For his dad. Everyone expected so much from him. Take over the car shop, marry the perfect girl, have a perfect family. He didn't want any of it any more than he wanted to play football. But maybe he could pretend if it would make his dad's life better.

So far the taunts hadn't followed him outside of the middle school bathrooms. He knew he couldn't let his dad hear them. It was embarrassing. To be called a girl, a lady, to be told he was a fairy, messed up, not fit to be a man. Not fit to be his dad's son. His dad loved him. He couldn't let his dad down.

So he was going to keep pretending. On the outside. On the inside, maybe it would be ok for him to acknowledge his feelings. Understand them. Then when he went to New York - that wonderful perfect city where everyone could be themselves - he would finally be free.