Post Transitioning. After the double date, Kurt and Walter decide to continue the evening at Scandals. To his complete shock, Kurt sees Karofsky flirting with a man across the room — a man whoisn't Blaine.
Contains some Kurt/Walter and Karofsky

1558 words

"That was really fun!" Rachel said, almost too happily, as she, Sam, Kurt, and Walter walked out of Breadstix.

"Were you expecting something different?" Kurt asked.

"No - it's just. Last time you and I went on double dates…" she trailed off at the end of the sentence, but Kurt knew exactly where she was leading. Last time we went on double dates together, we were each with a man we thought we were going to end up married to.

It's definitely odd, being back in Lima and going on dates and not being with Blaine. Just like seeing Rachel and Sam together weirded him out until he saw just how happy they were together.

"Well, I need to get back home," Rachel said, cutting the tension that had emerged from the almost-mention of her and Kurt's ex-boyfriends. "My dad and I are moving out tomorrow morning, so I need to be well-rested."

Sam followed her like a lost puppy, leaving Kurt and Walter alone in the parking lot.

"God, I thought I was pathetic, needing to be in bed by 12," Kurt said with a laugh. "But it's - it's barely even 8 and she's yawning. I guess a lot has changed for her."

Walter made a small noncommittal noise, the same he always did when Kurt talked about high school or other 'young' things that he couldn't relate to anymore.

"Do you want to do something else?"

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Kurt said. "I'm just too restless to go home and sit around all night." He paused for a moment and then looked up to Walter with a mischievous grin on his face. "Want to go to Scandals?"

"Scandals?" Walter asked, looking a bit surprised. "Isn't it a bit - 'trashy'?"

Kurt giggled, hearing his words from an earlier conversation fall from Walter's mouth. "Kind of. But it can also be fun if you're there with someone. Plus, I've never had the chance to legally go to a bar in Lima before."

"Well, when you put it like that, how can I refuse?"

The two got in Walter's car and drove off towards West Lima and Scandals. They chatted lightly during the car ride, covering inconsequential topics like Golden Girls and Walter's job. That's how it always was with the two of them. Fun, easy, light. Never getting to anything deep or emotional or serious or meaningful. Simple pleasantries. Small talk. It was nice, but sometimes, Kurt found himself wanting more. Remembering when he had more.

He thought again to when he'd seen Blaine earlier in the evening. The younger man had seemed so excited and nervous, almost bursting at the seams. It was probably just something else about Dave that Blaine wanted to share with his friends. Because like it or not, Kurt had broken up with Blaine and so Blaine had moved on and found happiness elsewhere. Not counting those two stupid kisses, he and Blaine were nothing and would never be again. No big deal.

They walked up to the door at Scandals, music already pulsing even at the early hour. Kurt proudly flashed his real ID at the security guard at the door, calling a quick "Aloha!" over his shoulder once he was let in. He laughed to himself at the joke, but quickly stopped when he saw Walter's confused look.

"It's a long story," Kurt said. "The first time I came here was my senior year of high school. This guy we knew, he got Blaine and me fake IDs and mine said I was from Hawaii."

"Oh, of course. That is funny. They really let you in with fakes?"

"Oh yeah. I mean, Blaine's looked nothing like him and said he was 38, but security didn't even care. I guess they just assume that no one's going to make a big stink about there being underage kids in the gay bar because then they'd have to admit that they actually went to the gay bar."

The two walked up to the bar and ordered their drinks, sitting down on the stools to sip and look out at the crowd. Walter began telling Kurt about a call he'd received from his daughter. It's something about her landlord making some ridiculous claims about her apartment, or maybe it's the apartment resident's association - regardless, there's some crazy story about apartments. Kurt tried his hardest to listen, but he just really couldn't interest himself in anything that Walter was saying.

Especially after he spotted a plaid flannel shirt that looked like it belonged to Karofsky.

God, if Karofsky and Blaine were here… well, that would just make his evening, wouldn't it.

Then he looked over and saw that yes, it definitely was Karofsky over there. He was standing against the far wall with a beer in his hand, leaning over Blaine. Except - that wasn't Blaine, was it?

Oh. My. God. Karofsky was at Scandals flirting with another guy, while Blaine was home alone and going to bed early because his cheating boyfriend had to get up early for work? No, that was not okay. People can't just do that to their boyfriends. Especially when they have a boyfriend as amazing as Blaine.

"Excuse me," Kurt said suddenly, interrupting Walter in the middle of another story about his daughter. Or maybe it was about his youngest son? "I'll be right back. I just need - I saw a friend over there and I need to talk to him."

He didn't even wait for Walter to respond, he just charged across the room and tapped Karofsky on the shoulder.

Judging by Karofsky's sluggish reaction, he'd had at least a few beers already. He looked altogether shocked to see Kurt and then seemed to check the rest of the room.

"What are you doing here?" Kurt demanded harshly.

"Huh?"

"Oh, don't play dumb with me, Karofsky. I could see you flirting across the room."

"So? What's it to you?"

"What -? Dave, you have a boyfriend at home, and I might not have any influence on his life anymore, but I still care about him and I'm not going to let you do this to him!"

To Kurt's complete and utter shock, Karofsky just started at him dumbfounded. "I'm sorry, did I just go back in time or something?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I thought Blaine talked to you?"

"Why would he want to talk - oh." And Kurt remembered the heartbroken look on Blaine's face earlier in the evening. "He came when we were leaving for our date, but he said that he had to talk to Rachel."

"Yeah, sure," Karofsky laughed. "You two are the stupidest, blindest people I know. Now, can you please leave me alone? I'm kinda in the middle of something. Looks like you are, too."

Walter had arrived at Kurt's shoulder and was watching the scene in mild confusion and interest.

"But - what about Blaine? Does he know about this? Is he okay with this?"

"Of course. Look, Kurt, I'm not trying to get in the middle of your business. So, just leave me alone, okay? And talk to Blaine if you're so worried. Just, for once, would you really listen to him?"

"What are you - I always listen to him," Kurt sputtered defensively. When Karofsky simply raised his eyebrows and stared a little harder, Kurt's shoulders fell. "Yeah, okay."

Karofsky turned back to the boy he had been talking up earlier, and Kurt was almost surprised to see that he hadn't run off when hearing that Karofsky had a boyfriend, but it was Scandals after all.

"Sorry about that," he said to Walter. "Anyway, where were we?"

Walter looked almost conflicted as he spoke. "Can we go outside where it's a bit quieter to talk?"

Kurt nodded and followed dumbly.

"Look, Kurt, you know how I feel about you and the connection that we have. But I don't think it's really working out. We get along fine, but there's no spark and there never will be because you're not over Blaine."

"What are you - of course I'm over - how can you even -?"

"If you were over your ex, would you really have gone across the bar and spent ten minutes of our evening getting upset for his sake?"

Kurt was silent.

"I've had a lot of fun, and you've really made me feel younger again, but I think this is where we part."

"I'm sorry, Walter. I really tried."

"But I was never what you were looking for."

"No," Kurt agreed, "you weren't."

"Do you need a ride home?"

"No, I think I need some time right now to think."

"Okay. Let me know when you're home safe, okay, Kurt?" Kurt nodded. "It's been fun. Goodbye."

They parted with a slightly awkward hug and then Kurt watched Walter walk across the parking lot and get in his car. After a few moments of simply staring into space, he sank down on to the curb and pulled out his phone.

"Hello?" a familiar voice answered on the first ring. "Kurt, are you okay?"

"Yeah. But this is kinda embarrassing… I'm in the Scandals lot and Walter and I just broke up and I really need a ride home."

"I'll be right there," Blaine said.