Author's note: Another chapter which I know many people have been waiting for. This is LONG. And the ending might make you want to hunt me down… I don't know how many more chapters, but I seem to have a thing for the number 21 with my longer fics, so… maybe?

IMPORTANT: My eternal thanks to Aetheriata for helping out with this. She's fantastic for putting up with me.

Dave writing

Kurt writing

PART FOURTEEN

He feels kind of ridiculously sappy for the following couple of days and wonders if this is what it would be like to have a boyfriend. Life feels good. Not great, or perfect, but he's out to his dad, and nothing has changed. One of the guys on the team knows, has suspected for months, and doesn't care enough to either out him or make a big deal of it. In fact, he's going to the movies with Nick and a couple of other guys from the team to see the new Avengers movie on Friday night, which is equal parts exciting and worrying. He hasn't really done anything social outside of school-related activities since transferring, just keeping his head down, grateful that his skill on the field and rink meant he could orbit on the outskirts of the social groups with little to no grief from anyone.

When he gets home on Thursday night to find his dad sitting at the dining room table, looking serious, he gets worried. Although it's not worry for himself anymore. It's not like his dad can land him with anything that is going to make his life worse, except… oh shit.

"Dad? You okay?"

"David, sit down… I have something to tell you."

He licks his lip and lowers himself into the chair opposite, now nervous for whatever his dad is going to say. His chest is tight with the sudden instant flush of worry that maybe his dad is sick, or… no, that's the only thing he can think of. His dad is staring down at his hands and he doesn't know what to say, but he needs to break the silence before it smothers the pair of them.

"Dad?"

"I have done a lot of thinking, and I haven't been honest with you, and I thought, that now that you've been honest with me, I should… share something with you."

Oh fuck. His dad is gay. Or not his dad. Or dying of cancer. Or secretly a crack addict. Or a drug dealer. Or a hit man. Or a member of the CIA. Damn his overactive imagination because he could go on for hours.

"I have… a lady friend."

He blinks. Rubs his face. Leans back in his chair and then forward, rests his elbows on the table. That's completely anticlimactic after everything his mind has conjured just seconds ago.

"Lady friend? You mean like, a girlfriend?"

"Well, I feel I'm a little too old for a girlfriend, so I prefer to use the term lady friend."

"Okay. That's… fine. But can you tell me her name at least?" Because I feel like I'm talking about some anonymous hooker or something.

"Judy. Her name's Judy."

"Okay. Let's just call her Judy… lady friend just sounds… weird. So, why the big secret?"

"Well, while you were living with your mother every other week I'd see Judy that week, and well, it's usually her week to visit this week, but I wondered if maybe… you'd like to meet her?"

"Yeah. I mean. Why not? How long have you guys been going out anyway?"

"We've been seeing each other for five years."

"Whoa! Holy shit dad… you've kept her a secret from your kids for five years? Did you not think me or Sarah could cope with this?" His dad looks up to meet his eyes and he realizes then that it's not him and his sister his dad was worried about, but his mom. Again. Typical. Right then, there's nothing for it. "Well, I'm not going to go blabbing to mom, we can be mutual secret keepers…" His dad looks at him blankly and he sighs. "It's fine dad, have her over as much as you'd like, I don't care if she stays. Hell, ask her to move in…"

"Hmm. She's already said no to that. Said I'm not ready…"

"Well, you hadn't told your kids and have you considered that Judy might have a problem with the fact that you're still wearing your wedding ring?"

"Oh. Well. I can't it off. It's stuck."

"Dad, go to a jeweler and they can cut it off. Use the gold for something else. Melt it down and I dunno… make fillings with it. Just… come on." Fuck, how stupid can his father be?

"Okay. So how about dinner tomorrow night?"

"Uh, I'm going to the movies with some of the guys from the team… can we make it early?"

His dad nods, and he thinks this will work out. He has dinner and then leaves the house so his dad can have some time alone with… ew gross.

OAA

He's on the phone to Blaine, hearing all about the new boyfriend and discussing clothing choices for the big meet up tomorrow night. Why Blaine feels it necessary for him to meet his new boyfriend he has no idea, but the idea of tagging along on what was meant to be a date had been vetoed. Until Blaine had suggested inviting the entire glee club, which had been met with a variety of responses, but most of them have decided that going to the movies was a good enough Friday night entertainment as any. They have so many parties in the coming two weeks he's sure they'll all be thoroughly sick of each other by the time they actually graduate. He loves his friends, but he's kind of more than ready to move on to the scary and over-whelming next stage of his life.

"Have you ever had cybersex?" He asks suddenly, cutting Blaine off mid-diatribe about his cord pants which his mom shrunk in the drier and he listens as Blaine splutters down the phone and grins.

"No!"

"Hmm. I didn't think so…"

"I really don't think I should be discussing sex with my ex-boyfriend. Wait. Have you had cybersex?"

"Maybe," Kurt says, but from him that's tantamount from screaming 'YES!' at the top of his lungs and Blaine knows it.

"Oh my god Kurt! With who?" Blaine pauses then, and Kurt grins again at the next question. "What was it like?"

"I really don't think I should tell you, what with you having a new boyfriend and all…"

"Kurt…"

"It was… an experience. One I want to repeat many many times. Because I'm sure there's a lot of room for improvement. And practicing will be fun."

"How though? I mean, who with?"

"Um, does the name HookedonHope ring any bells?"

"The fanfic writer? Oh my god! You had cybersex with a fanfic writer?"

"Maybe?"

"Kurt!"

They both collapse into laughter and it feels good to be talking about it like this, openly, because he knows Blaine understands fanfiction, and well… he's a gay teenage boy and apparently they both have sex drives that rev a thousand-times-faster when they aren't together. He doesn't go into details, has already implied enough that he enjoyed it, but he just wanted to share it with someone, someone who would understand and not be grossed out. He talks, explains how his friendship with HookedonHope has developed and evolved. Blaine is apparently a read-and-run type, never reviewing, which means he's never received a reply message from HookedonHope. He's kind of glad, although he suspects HookedonHope replies to all his reviews and it's not like he has any claim over him…

"So, do you know his name?"

"No. Is that a bad thing? I know a lot of other stuff about him…"

"I'd probably ask for a name. If you're going to be having cybersex with the guy on a regular basis then his name's probably easier to type out…" Blaine says, sniggering.

"I'm never sharing anything with you ever again…"

"Liar. I got to go ring Luke, but thanks for the help with the clothes. I'll see you tomorrow."

He hangs up and turns to his computer and sure enough there's a message waiting for him. It's almost routine now, they talk every day, sometimes for hours, other nights just for a half-hour or so, and he clicks open the message and reads.

So my dad just came out and told me he had a girlfriend. For the last five years. He tells me now, is walking around wearing his wedding ring and wonders why his 'lady-friend' (his words, not mine) doesn't think he's serious. He clearly fails at understanding women.

He actually called her his lady friend? Sounds like he's visiting a prostitute.

That's exactly what I thought! Anyway, how has your day been?

Good. Fun. Was talking to my ex about you. And other things.

Other things huh? Tuesday night other things?

Maybe.

LOL. I don't know how I feel about you talking about me to other guys, but your ex is an improvement on your dad at least.

Only marginally, trust me. I think you'd get on better with my dad. So, your dad has a girlfriend. You get to meet her?

Yeah. Tomorrow night. She's coming round for dinner. Going to be interesting. I can't hang round for very long, for some reason I'm behind on my chapters. Plus I have some work I need to do as well. You're not good for my time management… *wink*

You've never complained before. But that's fine. I expect my three chapters this weekend. You've not failed me yet.

Ah well, you see I've been holding out on you. Some of them I am a chapter or two ahead, but you'll just have to wait, because I know how patient you are.

You sir, are a tease.

I'll think you find I'm not. *wink*

Kurt grins, because he likes this, likes it so much, and Blaine makes it sound easy, just to blurt out and ask his name, but he can't, it would break up the flow of their conversation, and he doesn't need to know a name. He knows enough for now.

OAA

Dinner had gone as well as expected, which was slightly awkward. Judy had been nice, and fortunately hadn't tried too hard to impress him or make conversation. His dad had definitely been the most nervous, glancing between them as if they were about to attack each other with their cutlery across the table. And now he's on the way to the movies, picked up Nick from his place, and it's kind of odd to be making a friend so close to the end of the school year, but he goes with it. He parks the car and they get out, heading to the pre-arranged meeting place.

"Hey, isn't that the guy from Valentine's Day?" Nick asks, voice just barely audible and his head whips around, and sure enough there's Kurt, along with nearly the entire glee club. He lets out a sigh and nods minutely.

"Yeah, with his boyfriend…"

"Oh. Dude. That sucks."

He shrugs, tries to ignore the other group as they meet up with the other guys, and he's starting to relax, joke around while they wait when he feels small warm hands cover his eyes. He can hear the other guys snickering, but he can also feel the press of breasts, and he knows it has to be Santana.

"Guess who?"

"Santana."

"Well, that was no fun. What are you boys here to see?"

"Avengers…"

"Us too. It was the only movie we could all agree on without causing a bloodbath. Artie boycotted though…"

"Dude, you going to introduce us?"

"Oh. Uh. Sorry. Nick, this is Santana, Santana, this is Nick. Brian, Jarvis, James, Mitchel, Al…"

"And she is?"

"His ex-girlfriend," Santana replies, eyes flashing, and he knows she doesn't like being talked about, and Nick is looking at him with a questioning glance and he shrugs, half-nods and rolls his eyes. Nick has the audacity to look amused and elbows him in the side, and he just shakes his head.

OAA

When Santana returns he kind of wishes he'd had the guts to at least wave at David. Instead they'd exchanged tight smiles. He'd looked happier though, amused by Santana, and also like he was just hanging out with friends, like him. Although Santana had provided a complete crack-pot theory that Nick and David were actually a couple he doesn't believe it, not only because he recognizes Nick from Valentine's Day and he was out to dinner with a girl, but he doesn't strike him as Dave's type. And sure, it's a little conceited, but he's pretty sure Dave's type is him. And guys like him. Like last weekend he has the fleeting though of 'what if' and ignores it.

The next day he heads to the mall, mainly just to look, but he has one store he needs to visit, and it's been a while, but it feels a bit like coming home as he enters the book store. He's never been to the classical fiction section before, but clearly displayed, almost like they were waiting for him, are the books. Attached to the front is a sheaf of paper with a short review, and he figures that the TV series has probably made the books popular again. Popular enough for them to be front-and-center of the classical fiction section anyway. He reads all three reviews, trying to decide which one to try reading first and then decides to just buy them all. He has long and multiple trips to and from New York in his future, and books don't need charging.

He selects copies without the review slip and turns to head for the counter at the front of the store before deciding to briefly pop into the popular-fiction section just in case there is anything there that might be interesting. HookedonHope could probably recommend something, but he'll take a quick look. He rounds the corner of a shelf and there's the familiar all-black of the staff uniform, the guy kneeling and arranging hardback books in an artful circular turret starting from the floor and even with the multiple masturbatory sessions he's been having aren't enough for him to ignore the tight pull of fabric over quite an attractive ass, broad shoulders and… oh god.

"David!"

OAA

He's unpacking a new box and setting up a display when he hears someone behind him say his name, and he knows it's Kurt before he even turns around. No one squeaks his name out like that, although to be fair it's usually Karofsky that Kurt called him, so it's an improvement in that regard at least. He stands slowly, moving upwards and away slightly, brushing dust from his knees.

"Kurt. Hey."

"Hey. I didn't know you worked here."

He shrugs. He likes working in Barnes and Noble, he likes working with books full stop, and the fact that they like him enough to want to organize a transfer for him so he can keep working within the company when he starts college is something he considers himself incredibly lucky for.

"Yeah. Since sophomore year. Can I help you with something, or are you just looking?" Dave asks, and he's glad he has the professional façade to hide behind, because as always Kurt makes him kind of nervous, although the nerves have lessened from thousands of butterflies to maybe just a hundred or so, he still feels too big, too clumsy and too much of an idiot when Kurt's around.

"I've got what I need. I thought I'd give real fiction a try for a while."

"Real fiction? Is there a type of non-real fiction?"

To his surprise Kurt blushes and then he spies the books in Kurt's hands. A Study in Scarlett, The Hound of the Baskervilles and The Complete Sherlock Holmes Short Stories all by one Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. His blood runs cold. It's just a coincidence. It has to be.

"Those are… not what I would have picked for you."

"Me neither, but a friend of mine recommended them to me. Said I'd get more…um… enjoyment from the… er, show, if I uh… had a better understanding of the characters. Why, have you read them?"

Dave's skin prickles as Kurt talks and he cannot believe this is happening. Kurt can't be… him. Kurt has a boyfriend, one he saw him with last night, and FruitLover is single, but he can't be standing here holding those three books, it's just… too much of a coincidence.

"Uh yeah. I have," they're my favorite. "Your friend's probably right… uh. How are you and Blaine?"

"Good. He's just started seeing some guy from Dalton… what? David? Are you okay?"

"You guys broke up?" He asks, and he's pretty sure he's gone pale, because he feels suddenly light headed and he bends his knees slightly, because he sure as hell isn't going to keel over while at work. Throw up, maybe. Oh god, this can't be happening.

"Well, yes. About a couple of weeks after Valentines Day actually. Um…" Kurt looks away, suddenly embarrassed.

It's him. It has to be, and his mind flies through the dozens of little facts he knows about FruitLover that also fit Kurt. Senior in high school. Dad's alive but mother has died. Going to New York to study. Confident although admitted to only being able to talk about sex online and not in person and can have some really delicate sensibilities. Has an ex-boyfriend and described himself as bossy and demanding. Is out at school and apparently out before he told anyone but had the support of family and friends. Enjoys singing and designing clothes. First crush was on a jock. Hudson. Oh fuck. It's official. He really is an idiot. Looking at all this lined up in his head, paired with seeing Kurt standing there holding the books he recommended means it's him. There's no doubt in his mind, and holy shit he's had cybersex with Kurt Hummel. Oh fuck.

"David? Are you okay?" Kurt asks, and he wonders if Kurt has had to ask more than once, because he looks kind of worried.

"Sorry, I'm fine. Just… realized something. Can I ring those up for you?" He asks, gesturing toward the books, and Kurt nods, looking equally grateful that there's something they can do. He wonders for a brief second that maybe Kurt's fucking with him. Has somehow figured out that he's HookedonHope but… no. Kurt's looking completely unconcerned. There's nothing for it, he has to try something.

"So, what are your plans for after school?"

"I'm moving to New York. I got into NYADA so I'll be moving there in September. What about you?"

"I'm going to New York as well. Um. Journalism." There's no flicker of recognition, and maybe mentioning writing in such an oblique way is just too subtle. "I really like writing," he states, sliding the books into the bag and then handing the bag to Kurt, who is suddenly looking distracted.

"Um. New York too. That's pretty cool. We should meet up before we move, find out where we'll each be living and stuff. It'd be nice to know someone there already…"

"Yeah. Definitely. Here you go. Enjoy."

"I'm sure I will. Thanks," Kurt says, and he grins and he's suddenly filled with the horrible thought that maybe it's all a coincidence anyway, and Kurt and FruitLover aren't the same person, because right now, he doesn't know if he wants them to be the same person or not.

He's desperate to get home, but he works through the rest of his shift diligently, but his mind is racing, going through all their conversations. Not the sex ones, but hell, do those have a whole new level of interest, but the other ones. He has no idea what to do, how Kurt will react, and fuck, he really wants FruitLover's advice right now. He stares at his computer and the sudden need to write is overwhelming and he turns it on, his fingers tapping impatiently. He opens a new document and starts writing, lets it flow onto the screen, because right now this is the only way he can think of to communicate with him, and he really needs to communicate with him.

OAA

Kurt gets home and drops the bag of books on the sofa where his dad is sitting watching something sport related on TV.

"You said you weren't going to buy anything…"

"No, I said I wasn't going to buy any clothes or related accessories. I bought a few books."

"Are they about clothes or related accessories?"

"No. They're Sherlock Holmes. The guy I talk to online said I'd probably enjoy them…"

He pulls the books from the bag and waves them in the air and his dad looks suitably surprised, and he controls the mutual urges to roll his eyes, or stick his nose in the air and stalk away triumphant.

"Huh. Real books. You know how those work then do you?"

"Shut up dad," he mutters, turning and leaving the room to the sound of his dad chuckling.

He turns on his computer and logs in to his e-mails, smiles when he sees there's a message from HookedonHope, as well as a couple of other alerts for his stories. The message is short though, and a bit odd.

Hey. I've just written something and I just… need you to tell me what you think.

He frowns and goes back into his Inbox. There's a new story from HookedonHope, titled 'Unmasked'.

He clicks.

You now need to go and read "Unmasked" by Aetheriata

You can either find it in my favourites or go to h t t p : / www (dot) fanfiction (dot) net / s / 8040172 / 1 / (removing all the spaces and replacing with dots etc.)

You need to read this so that the next chapter will make sense.

Putting a link in is much easier on tumblr and LJ.