A/N: I am back after a very, very long hiatus, but with a myriad of chapters planned almost from beginning to end. I sincerely thank anyone who would bother to stick around and read this despite the fandom practically dissolving. I would mostly like to thank Maddie (starkurt on tumblr) for bringing back my feelings about Kurtofsky, Mathilde (spookybibi on tumblr), for being a constant voice at the back of my brain telling me to finish this whether she knows that or not, and Janine (sunmontuewrites on tumblr) for being so patient considering she prompted this story for me to begin with. Thanks you guys! And I hope you enjoy what I have in store.

Chapter 6

Up All Night

Part IV

Tuesday, 3 December 2024

3:45 am

At their booth in the tiny, empty diner, the two had settled into a comfortable silence as they took slow sips of their drinks- Kurt, in an effort to avoid an embarrassing brain freeze, and Dave, to avoid burning his mouth.

When Kurt asked Dave if he wanted to get a drink, he wasn't exactly sure what he was expecting, least of all that he would like talking to Dave. Dave seemed genuinely intrigued about his life and was surprisingly comforting as well. Their exchange vaguely reminded him of when they ran into each other at Scandals. At that time, Kurt, in retrospect, should have been at least slightly angry about the fact that Dave had practically abandoned him on the dance floor at prom. But he had understood how these things took time. And Dave had changed in due time, enough that they could laugh and talk and share a drink with each other while… Actually enjoying each other's company?

What world was he in?

"Kind of surreal, isn't it?" Kurt prompted quietly, looking down as he stirred the thick liquid with the straw once more and the syrup mixed with the ice cream, turning it a dull brown. Dave didn't need any any specification as to what he was referring to.

"Just a bit," Dave said nonchalantly, finally able to take a sip of the steaming liquid without it scalding his mouth. He stared out through the parted blinds in the window and out into the hazy, almost sepia-toned streets only marginally aglow from the scattered street lights.

"So, New York Time Sports Columnist," Kurt spoke up, turning his head back to Dave. "That's pretty impressive."

Dave set his mug down, a hint of a frown settling on his face.

"How did you know that?" he asked, more surprised than accusatory.

"I might have heard my sister-in-law's dad mention it at some point."

Dave crossed his arms and leaned upon the table, and Kurt couldn't help but notice how the fabric of his red, black and cream colored flannel, that had been rolled up to his elbows threatened to cut into his forearms at the strain of his muscles.

"You keep saying sister-in-law," Dave said, drawing Kurt's eyes back from his arms to his face rather hastily. "I didn't realize you had siblings." Kurt raised his eyebrow at the change of subject.

"I have a step-brother, Finn Hudson, if you remember him," Kurt explained and saw the realization on Dave's face. "He married Rachel Berry, who also went to McKinley." This was the first time Kurt had mentioned their school where the majority of their culminating interactions had taken place. To think of how they were sitting there in this tiny diner in New York, hundreds of miles from their last encounter. It really put into perspective just how far they had literally come in the past decade.

Dave, on the other hand, seemed guarded once more. His shoulders seemed to tighten visibly and his head dipped slightly, and Kurt wasn't sure if it was from hearing the names of two other victims of his slushie tirade, or the name of their school-this past catching up with him. But rather than waiting for an awkward silence to fill the air, Kurt continued.

"Now don't think about changing the subject. Spill."

Dave squirmed slightly in his seat now that Kurt had taken over the role of giving questions.

"Well, I was working at the Times."

"Was?" Kurt voiced in concern, sitting up a little straighter in his seat. "What happened?"

"I quit," Dave said simply. Kurt deflated slightly, expecting a more dramatic explanation for some reason. Dave took a labored breath before continuing. "Which I'm beginning to think was a huge mistake right about now."

Kurt sat forward in his seat again, intrigued and wondering why Dave would choose to leave such a lucrative career, especially one that could have allowed for promotions, the ability to go to sporting events. Hell, that was one of the reasons why he was so happy he was so grateful he was able to work for Vogue, to be able to attend Fashion Week, travel on occasion, and work in a field he loved.

"What do you mean mistake? I'm sure you had your reasons for quitting. What do you plan on doing now?"

"I want to write." He lifted his mug to his lips and drained the last dregs at the bottom. As he picked up the pitcher to pour himself another cup, Kurt stared dumbly at him.

"Dave, I don't want to alarm you," he said carefully and with a tone that someone would use to tell a person that there was some sort of wild animal behind them about to pounce, "but I think you were in a pretty good place for that before you quit." Dave chuckled, shaking his head.

"Books," Dave amended as he set the pitcher back down with a definitive thunk. "I want to write books. Not columns."

This surprised Kurt. He couldn't exactly picture Dave reading a book let alone writing one.

"What's stopping you?" The simplicity of the question made Dave raise his eyebrows.

"Any semblance of an idea whatsoever." He sat back in his seat, his hands cupping the mug and his eyes carefully avoiding Kurt's as if embarrassed with himself.

"So you just… Quit. Without any idea of what you wanted to do next." Kurt frowned.

"Yeah," Dave scoffed as he dragged the mug to his lips and took a swig. "Pretty stupid, right?"

"No," he shook his head. "Not at all. I think it's… Brave, actually."

Dave stared at him dubiously.

"I mean, I don't think that's something I could do," Kurt added. "But you're just chasing your dream. And hey, when all else fails you can write about yourself."

Dave snorted.

"I don't think I'm interesting or vain enough to want to write about myself, but I'll keep that in mind."

"Well, you're undoubtedly talented considering your former place of employment. I'm sure you'll figure it out in no time." Dave seemed stunned for a few moments and seemed to feign a cough.

"Yeah…" Dave said softly. "Thank you, Kurt. I really hope so." Kurt smiled gently as Dave's eyes tentatively meant with his, and he could see the gratitude in them. He blamed the sudden burn in his cheeks on the fryers in the kitchen.

"Speaking of employment," Dave said changing the subject. "Vogue isn't too shabby."

"You know I work for Vogue?" Practically mimicking Dave's tone just as when he had questioned him about the Times.

"Yeah, I uh… Came across your name in a copy not too long ago. Editor, right?"

"Associate editor," Kurt corrected. "It might be Vogue, but the position isn't nearly as prestigious as it sounds." And then something clicked in Kurt's brain and he smiled ruefully. "But hang on… Don't tell me you're a reader?" Dave blanched.

"Oh no… Like I'd read…" Kurt narrowed his eyes defiantly and Dave's mouth snapped shut, suddenly realizing how insulting he sounded. "My boyfriend actually bought it one time for an article on homes or something."

"Oh right. Your boyfriend. The architect?" Dave looked taken aback, but laughed as he raised an eyebrow speculatively.

"No offense, Kurt. But you didn't research me or anything did you?"

"I heard it through the grapevine actually. Hand on next week's issue." He held up his hand in the form of an oath, the other going over his heart. Dave conceded. "I seem to be hearing a lot about you lately. And that reminds me. Is your boyfriend wondering where you are right now?"

"Travis?" Dave seemed taken aback at Kurt's worry, as if wondering why his boyfriend would care about his whereabouts at 3 in the morning. "No, he's in California right now. Working on a new house or something for some entertainment lawyer. He won't be home until later this week."

"That's… Something else," Kurt said carefully. "Don't you miss him? How long have you two been together."

"Off and on for 7 months now."

Kurt smiled, despite Dave neglecting to answer his first question.

"Dave that's great. I'm so happy for you. I still can't believe you're-"

"Gay?" Dave asked curtly. "Or out?" Kurt blanched at Dave's bluntness. He definitely wasn't the scared little boy anymore.

"Here," he amended. "In New York."

"Oh," Dave uttered, looking embarrassed. "I know, right? It's crazy... To think that we were practically neighbors at our workplaces for however many years. Before, y'know, running into each other yesterday."

"And now actual neighbors," he said, still not believing it himself. "You know what. Here." Kurt grabbed the unused rolled up napkin of silverware beside him and pulled out the spare spoon. "We should make a toast," he decided.

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely." Kurt held the spoon out by the handle, his expression showing just how serious he was.

"A toast to what?" Dave said slowly as he pushed his coffee mug aside before tentatively taking the spoon from Kurt.

"How about..." Kurt mulled over his question as he scooped up some ice cream on the end of his own spoon and motioned for Dave to do the same. He wondered if Dave was trying really hard not to roll his eyes at his usual dramatics, though he seemed to be amused.

"To starting over," he finally decided. Dave blinked.

"As neighbors?"

"And friends," Kurt said with a certainty that left Dave with little room to argue. Not that the man seemed to want to.

"I can get on board with that," Dave said with the corner of his lip twitching into a smile. "Cheers."

Kurt clinked his spoon with Dave's as they simultaneously took a bite. Dave let out an audible groan.

"Shit," Dave said through his mouthful. "Okay. That might be the best thing I've ever tasted."

"Right? I tried to tell you. You didn't even try one of the brownie bites yet. Here." Kurt pushed the remnants of the shake closer to Dave so he could indulge himself.

"I'll be sure to listen to your expert palate in the future," Dave teased. Pushing the shake back to Kurt after retrieving, and trying, one of the morsels.

"Don't be jealous that I'm a connoisseur in the art of good diner shakes," he replied stubbornly.

"Ow, way to hit me where it hurts, Kurt," Dave held a hand to his chest as if injured. "What am I supposed to do now that you found my Kryptonite?"

"Maybe create an alter ego so no one else can exploit your weakness towards frozen dairy treats," Kurt said, licking the last of the ice cream off the end of his spoon. "Though with those glasses you really give off a Clark Kent vibe."

"Gee, thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

Dave held the door for Kurt as the exited the stifling building and ventured out into the freezing cold once more. After the two of them had spooned the last bits of melted ice cream and brownie pieces from the bottom of the glass, Dave downed the last dregs of his cup of coffee and paid for their order, a leaving a generous tip for Marnie despite the small bill.

They had talked for an hour, Kurt being far more warm and open than Dave had expected him to be, and, for whatever reason, was apt at steering the conversation away from their time at McKinley.

Kurt was practically the same in every way since the last time he saw him, from his porcelain-like skin and small frame. In the yellow glow of the streetlights, Dave could already see the mottling of a red stain upon Kurt's cheeks due to him being severely underdressed for the time of year. As they stood by a curb, a few late night stragglers such as them moseying down the block, Kurt stepped closer to Dave's larger frame almost instinctively (for protection or warmth, he wasn't sure) as he crossed his arms in front of him, attempting to mask the chattering of his teeth.

"Here," Dave said without even thinking about it, his hands unraveling the scarf around his neck and handing it to Kurt. "It's not much but… Yeah." He finished lamely as Kurt stared at him in surprise before tentatively winding it around his own slender neck.

"Thank you." Kurt sounded genuinely grateful, regardless of whether the accessory would help him or not.

Dave nodded and shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat. From sharing milkshakes to scarves with Kurt Hummel…

Who would have thought.

"So I guess it's time for me to get an hour of sleep before I have to wake up and go to work," Kurt said ruefully as the elevator came to a stop on the sixth floor. They were, for the most part, silent during their short ride back to the apartment, both too tired to say much else after their playful discussion at the diner. He gave a smile and a sigh before stepping out onto the landing, Dave following shortly behind him.

"Man, that sucks. I'm sorry." He slipped his phone out of his pocket to check the time, the screen coming to life with a 4:45 am on the face of it.

"It's not your fault. I had a great time regardless. Oh, um…" Kurt paused outside his door to slip off the scarf, folding it over twice seemingly out of habit before hold it out to him. "Thanks for not letting me get hypothermia." Dave chuckled as he accepted it and crossed his arms over it at his chest.

"It's the least I could do," Dave said as Kurt extracted his keys from his tight jeans pocket. A part of him realized how he could have talked to Kurt for five more hours and still enjoy himself, and another part of him feeling guilty for it and the notable absence of his boyfriend.

"So I'll see you again sometime, okay?" Kurt said, looking unsure of what to do with his hands, as if deciding whether he should shake Dave's hand or something equally awkward.

"I'd say that's a given considering we're neighbors," Dave chuckled as he took a tentative step back. 'Friends', a small voice just had to remind him at the back of his head.

"Right. Well, you have a good night, Dave," Kurt said, finally putting the key in the lock.

"You too, Kurt, it was good seeing you. Again. And actually being able to talk this time."

"Yeah, we'll have to do this again sometime. Though maybe not as late. And my treat next time too. I promise." Kurt gave him a rosy smile before removing the key and opening the door to his apartment.

"Sounds good," Dave held his hand up in farewell and started to walk away, but not long after, Kurt called him back just as he hit the button to the elevator.

"Hey, Dave?"

"Yeah?" Dave said, turning around expectantly as Kurt jogged halfway back down the hall.

"I was just thinking… And you can say no if you're busy, obviously. Or if you don't want to, but…" Kurt took a deep breath. "If you're not doing anything, you should come over this week. I mean, since you said your boyfriend was out of town. I mean, he could come over too if he was here, but I just thought if you'd like some company we could watch a movie or something." Kurt blushed after his long tirade and waited for Dave's reply.

"Yeah, that would be great, Kurt," Dave said simply as the elevator chimed and he held it open.

"Oh! Okay, great!" Kurt said jubilantly, as if he honestly expected Dave to say no. "Then I'll see you around sometime this week then."

"Yeah, I'll see you later, Kurt. Try not to fall asleep at work, alright?" Dave called out as he stepped into the elevator.

"No promises," Kurt called out a little too loudly for the hour, and as if on cue Dave could hear the angry, fumbling sounds of someone unlatching the lock to their front door to stick their head out to inspect the source of the noise.

"Shit, I mean… I'm so sorry, Miss Jameson. No, everything is fine I'm..."

Dave could hear the residual sounds of Kurt's apologetic tone and an elderly woman's scolding as the elevator dinged closed. His face ached as he laughed and held himself up by the elevator railing despite feeling lighter than he had in months.