A/N: Umm… Happy Valentine's Day slash Kurtofsky hand holding slash "I think I love you" anniversary?

Can you believe it's been seven years?

Anyways... (Please don't hate me).

Also on a more serious note, this chapter comes with a slight trigger warning for what could only be described as someone attempting to "seduce" and "blackmail" another unwilling person. It does not go farther than that, but I realized I should probably put that as a warning.

Chapter 11

Introductions and Inklings

oOo

Saturday, 21 December 2024

12:04 pm

Kurt took a deep breath as he stood in front of the door with the number 703. The golden numbers were shiny enough to see his reflection on the mirror-like surface, so he used it as his chance to check his hair, which he already knew was perfect, having spent a painstaking amount of time on it. It had grown long over the past couple of months, which only added to his height when he styled it.

He tugged on the strand that swept onto his forehead. He would be needing a haircut soon.

He didn't understand why he was so nervous. The hand that held the bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne was clammy, so he set the bottle down at his feet to wipe his hands on his suit. He straightened the rich emerald material after he picked up the bottle, and put his hand to his side, checking his inside pocket to make sure the gift was there (for the tenth time).

It was just a party, he told himself as he held a fist up to the door. A party that Dave had invited Finn and Rachel to, as well, which only he was showing up to. He couldn't remember the last time he had gone to a party that didn't involve his family members, or friends, or his now ex-husband. He spent much of the morning imagining various scenarios, all of which involved him standing by himself while everyone else mingled and enjoyed themselves. Dave's words echoed in his head: "It's not like you have to stay the whole time…" Kurt licked his lips as he rapped his knuckles against the door, hoping that would be the case.

oOo

Dave had never felt so out of place.

And in his own apartment no less.

He stood behind the counter of his kitchen, using it as an equivalent of a security blanket: a blockade between him and the strangers milling around his living room.

He knew he was glowering, practically burning holes into the backs of the well-dressed and well-groomed individuals that Travis let in, one by one. One more person he had yet to be introduced to. One more person Travis would sidle up to, schmooze, and charm with his steel-grey eyes (the same as his suit) and his stately, prim laugh.

He supposed he was partly to blame. After all, when he had woken up that morning Travis had to keep reminding him to put on some clothes as his friends wouldn't appreciate him wandering about the apartment sipping champagne and eating fancy cheese and bland crackers wearing only his briefs. So he had grumbled and put on his suit, as well as the checkered shirt Kurt had picked out for him, to appease his boyfriend.

So now he leaned against the counter, gnawing on a toothpick from the gouda he had snagged.

Dave sighed, before tossing the toothpick in the trash lest he bit it completely in half, accidentally swallow it, and end up in the emergency room.

On second thought, that sounded far less boring than his current ordeal.

It was the sound of the knock on the door that saved him from his tedium. Or at least, Travis, who rounded on him at the sound of it, barely audible through the remnants of laughter from, undoubtedly, a joke he just told his friends.

"David, darling, would you mind seeing who that is?" Travis chimed over the soft, scratchy Christmas music coming from Dave's old relic of a record player. He asked the question as if both of their names were on the lease, leaving Dave's insides aching with annoyance at being treated more like a butler than a boyfriend.

Dave gave Travis a terse grin, which went unnoticed by the other man as he returned to entertaining his guests. He sighed as he rounded the corner of the kitchen counter to the foyer. He didn't bother looking out the peephole into the hallway. It was likely one of Travis' friends anyways.

"Come on i-Kurt?" Dave's exasperated tone diminished as he took in the svelte man from the top of his perfectly coiffed hair, to his pressed suit and shiny Italian leather shoes. Dave was unable to stop the goofy grin from spreading across his face as well as the movement of his feet as he strode towards his friend and enveloped him in a hug perhaps a little too enthusiastically.

"Oof!" Kurt expelled from the force of the greeting and Dave felt a warm hand pat him on the back.

"You don't know how happy I am to see you," Dave said under his breath with a relieved chuckle. He drew back, his arms going to Kurt's shoulders to take in his appearance. Kurt's suit was a dark enough green that it almost looked like it could be black, that is until it caught the light at a certain angle. His waistcoat was the same color but with an elegant paisley design, and red and gold pocket square was a nice accent to the rest of his ensemble. Dave realized he was staring and cleared his throat as he let his arms to drop and took a step back.

"You um… You look great by the way."

"Thank you," Kurt said with a smile. "So do you. Really." And with a laugh, he added, "It's like you didn't need my help at all with your outfit.

Dave felt his face heat up from the compliment. It meant something coming from Kurt. He wore his cream-colored sweater vest over the checkered shirt Kurt had picked out for him, along with a pair of tawny corduroy pants and an ash gray blazer. The only time he dressed this nice was when he went out to eat with his family. Kurt's approval towards his outfit made him feel less awkward than he did when he first put the outfit on a few hours ago.

"Oh, this is for you," Kurt said suddenly as he held a bottle out to Dave.

"Thanks," Dave said appreciatively as he took the bottle. "You didn't have to go through the trouble."

"I didn't want to come empty-handed," Kurt explained. "Speaking of which, this is also for-"

Just as Kurt looked like he was going to slip his hand inside his jacket, Dave heard the slightly ajar door behind him squeak open as Travis popped his head out.

"David? What are you…" Travis' eyes moved from Dave to the unfamiliar man standing in the hall. His brows creased slightly in suspicion and he tilted his head. "Oh… Who are you?"

Dave cleared his throat as Travis stepped into the hall.

"Babe, this is my friend Kurt Hummel. I invited him to the party. Kurt, this is my boyfriend, Travis Moore."

"It's nice to finally meet you, Travis," Kurt said, extending a polite hand in greeting. Travis stared at it briefly, contemplating the appendage like it was something more lethal, before taking it in his own and letting go as quickly as their palms touched.

Dave had to use all of his muscle strength not to frown, or shake his head, or roll his eyes at his boyfriend's rudeness. It was Dave's least favorite quality about Travis that he begrudgingly put up with time and time again, usually apologizing on his behalf or ignored so as not to start an argument. Kurt, he knew, would have to earn Travis's respect just like every person he let into his life. All carefully selected. He would have to give him something to be impressed by, a hook, line, and sinker. Reel him in and make him believe you were worth his time.

It made Dave sick for putting up with it.

"I wish I could say the same," Travis said brusquely, brushing down the front of his suit, almost like he was wiping his hand. "But I don't believe I've heard David mention a Kurt." He smiled coldly and it faltered slightly as Dave glared at him.

Travis ground his teeth together like a child that had been scolded, which was nowhere near as painful as the look of hurt on Kurt's face at the notion of Dave never mentioning him.

Dave cleared his throat, feeling guilty. It wasn't like he had much of a chance with Travis gone all the time and how busy he had been making so many phone calls to his invitees. But Dave also didn't know how to bring up the topic of Kurt. How does one go about explaining how the guy he tortured and basically fell in love with in high school and hadn't seen in twelve years now lived in the apartment below him and was now his friend?

"Well, I am sure we will have the pleasure of becoming acquainted more during the party," Travis said, not sounding very interested in the prospect at all. And then, turning to Dave, "See you inside, darling?" he asked, placing a hand on his chest, and pecking his cheek. Dave covered his hand with his own.

"Course, Trav."

Travis gave him one of his winning smiles, which he returned before Travis slipped through the door, leaving Dave alone in the hall with Kurt.

"So, um…" Dave coughed into a fist with embarrassment when he remembered he wasn't alone. "Sorry… About that," he said awkwardly.

"For what?" Kurt asked dumbfounded.

"Y'know…" Dave had half a mind to apologize for Travis's behavior, but then he realized he was partly to blame. "Not mentioning you? To Travis. That was shitty of me."

Kurt shrugged, almost coolly. "Why would you?"

Dave frowned.

"Because you're my friend." Kurt blinked, pressing his lips together.

"It's not a big deal. He…" Kurt seemed to be selecting his words carefully. "He travels a lot, right? I could see why it might have slipped your mind." And then he smiled, and Dave could feel his shoulders sag and the knots in his stomach loosen slightly.

And then brightly, Kurt said, clasping his hands and rolling on the balls of his feet, "Are you going to invite me in or…?"

"Oh, shit, right. Sorry," Dave said hastily, and pulled the door open for Kurt, allowing him to enter his apartment for the first time.

oOo

Kurt didn't know what he was expecting to see when he followed Dave into his apartment. He certainly expected more people, for one. Though now after meeting Dave's boyfriend he could understand he wasn't one to throw "raging" parties. Kurt did a headcount of twelve unfamiliar faces, some sitting on the couch, others circling the oblong table on the opposite side of the room that was filled with plates and trays of an assortment of cheese, little meats, and crackers. A tinkling of Christmas music filled the air from an old record player on the other side of the room.

Once Kurt was able to look beyond the occupants in the room, Dave's apartment was less boyish than he expected. In fact, it was perfectly normal, if not modern and stylish, something he wasn't expecting from the former football player who easily could have taken after Finn. Though it was possible Travis, with all his architectural prowess, played a part in making Dave's apartment for what it was.

Unlike Kurt's pristine white walls, the walls in Dave's living room that weren't covered with windows were painted a slate gray. His L-shaped couch was just slightly lighter in color and was decorated with tangerine, as well as black and white, pillows. Kurt's eyes traveled to the chandelier above Dave's kitchen table. Unlike the one in his own apartment that was similar to a starburst, Dave's featured almost antique-looking light bulbs that stuck out from copper metal piping that twisted perpendicularly in every direction. Someone had strung up multicolored, twinkling fairy lights above the windows, but, much to Kurt's dismay, his apartment was lacking a Christmas tree.

"So." The deep timber pulled Kurt from his reverie. He turned to look at Dave who was standing at the corner of the couch with the bottle of champagne. "No Finn or Rachel?"

"Oh… No," Kurt said, and then Dave cocked his head towards the kitchen behind him and Kurt followed him away from the chatter of Travis telling a story about crown molding that was somehow hilarious to his guests.

"Rachel has morning sickness, unfortunately. And I guess… She needs someone to hold her hair back, so Finn…" He trailed off with a grimace.

Dave mimicked his expression in understanding as he pulled open the door of the refrigerator and put the bottle of champagne inside to chill, "That sucks. Tell her I hope she feels better."

"I will," Kurt said with a smile. "Rachel was adamant that Finn go with me, but perhaps Finn just felt guilty leaving her alone to come and join the festivities."

"Can't say they're missing out on much," Dave said in a stage whisper. Kurt tried and failed to hide his amusement.

"It's… Charming," he managed to say. Dave smirked.

"You know, you are ridiculously and unnecessarily kind."

"What? No! It's…" he stammered in an attempt to find the least insulting, but still accurate, words to describe the "party".

Dave leaned over the counter. "It's lame, Kurt. You can say it."

Kurt gaped and Dave laughed when Kurt knew he let the facade slip, showing his slight dismay.

"See?" Dave said, picking up an empty champagne glass and an already opened champagne bottle. He poured the gold, bubbly liquid into the flute, and then he handed it to Kurt. "You're too nice."

Kurt made a hmph noise before snatching the glass, trying not to preen at the compliment.

"What about you?" Kurt said, flummoxed. "Mr. Doting Boyfriend, getting all dressed up and going along with his boyfriend's get-together even when he obviously has no interest."

"I have my reasons." Dave picked up one of the full champagne glasses that sat on the kitchen counter that he must have been drinking out of before he arrived. Dave winked at him before downing it. "When you go back to the apartment later, I'd recommend turning the volume to your TV up."

"What are you… Oh." Kurt didn't have to think very hard about what Dave meant. The suggestive raise of his eyebrows was enough to allude to "thank you for putting up with my boring party" sex. Kurt scrunched his nose as his cheeks warmed with the unwanted information.

"Thanks for the heads up," Kurt said with mock enthusiasm as he tried to ignore the burning in the pit of his stomach with an emotion he could not put a name to.

"So, can I asked how you two met?" Kurt said before taking a sip of the champagne and letting it swirl around his tongue. It was too bitter for his liking, and he was sure it cost more than what he could afford, now that he was beginning to understand Travis.

Dave chuckled, his eyes narrowing slightly as if reliving the memory.

"It's kind of a long, boring, and only slightly self-congratulatory story," Dave said, ducking his head slightly. Kurt's curiosity, however, was peaked.

"Really? How?" Kurt asked, surprised by Dave's suspicious amount of modesty.

Dave sighed, "If you really want to know… It was seven months ago before I quit my job at The Times. There was this… Thing… I had to go to… A conference, I guess… At this hotel. A hotel owned by one of Travis' friends."

Kurt nodded along to Dave's story, genuinely interested despite the continuous buzzing of his phone in his pocket, alerting him of a phone call rather than a text message. He bit his lip as he slipped his hand into his coat pocket if only to see who was calling him. An action that didn't go unnoticed by Dave.

"See, I told you it was boring," Dave pointed out with a good-natured laugh.

"No, it's- I'm so sorry," Kurt said as the phone stopped buzzing. When he looked at the screen it displayed Finn's name in the "missed calls" box. He went to slip the phone back into his pocket. "What were you-" Just as he turned his attention back to Dave, the device began vibrating again, almost like a creature that had been angered. Kurt sighed when he was able to see Finn's goofy face on the display.

"It's Finn," Kurt explained apologetically to Dave, who leisurely took a sip from his champagne glass. Kurt set his back down on the counter. "I'm just going to text him that I will call him back after the party."

"Don't do that," Dave said, waving him off, "It might be urgent. Go call him. I can wait." Dave smiled.

"Thanks," Kurt said, giving Dave an appreciative smile in return as he received the second missed call notification. "I'm going to go out in the hall, I'll be right back."

"I'll be here. Though if you decide to not come back, I won't blame you."

Kurt shook his head, trying to look stern as he held back a smile. The corner of Dave's mouth twitched as his eyes sparkled playfully before he turned towards a back room, probably to find Travis who Kurt realized was missing from his own festivities.

Kurt pulled open the front door, his phone in hand ready to return Finn's calls, when he discovered Travis had sought out the silence of the hallway to make a phone call of his own, as well.

"Yes… Yes of course." Kurt heard him say in a hushed tone as he pulled the door shut behind him. Must be work-related, Kurt thought with little interest in the one-sided conversation.

"I know, darling."

Kurt froze.

"I'll see you soon."

And then he frowned.

"Bye, my love."

And his head whipped towards Travis as his breath became trapped in his throat.

Kurt felt his hand become sweaty once more from where it remained on the door handle. A cold sense of dread filled his stomach from what he had overheard. Travis, on the other hand, looked quite pleased as he hung up the phone, having not noticed Kurt's presence.

He could just go back inside, Kurt pondered. Forget anything had happened. Go back to his conversation with Dave and…

Dave. He would have to tell Dave.

Unless… There was nothing to tell Dave. Travis could have been talking to anyone. English people said "love" all the time, didn't they? It didn't mean… What he thought it meant.

With bated breath, Kurt placed his hand on the door to slowly open it without catching Travis' attention.

And then he heard the soft footfalls on the carpet as the shadow of a figure fell over him.

"Leaving so soon already, Burt?" Kurt frowned as he turned to face Travis.

"It's Kurt, actually," Kurt failed to keep the snarl out of his voice. In any other situation, he would have considered being mistakenly called Burt, of all names, humorous, but at the moment he was in no mood for laughter.

"And no," Kurt added with a tilt of his head, "I also came out here to make a phone call."

Kurt didn't miss the flash of fear mixed with anger that flitted across Travis' angular features. But then the look turned into something far more feral and the cold, sinking feeling in Kurt's stomach released a tidal wave of nausea as Travis stepped towards him. Close enough that his back pressed against the door, the door handle dug painfully in the back of his hip, and he could hear the Christmas music on the other side.

"And yet…" Travis said with a wolf-like grin. "You've yet to make said call." Travis took the knot of Kurt's tie in his hand, adjusting it even though it was already perfectly straight.

"I didn't want to interrupt yours," Kurt ground out, his eyes not leaving Travis' face.

"That's…" Travis nodded almost thoughtfully. "Very considerate of you."

Travis was close enough that Kurt could count the freckles on the stranger's nose if he wanted to, smell the alcohol on his lips whether he wanted to or not, and that was when it occurred to him that he wasn't trying to intimidate him into staying silent, he was trying to seduce him into it.

Like that would actually work.

Kurt felt sick. If him overhearing Travis' conversation wasn't proof enough of his infidelity, then his suffocating presence, keeping him trapped against the door with more than just his hands, was.

"You're disgusting," Kurt spat, as he shoved against Travis' chest with enough strength to surprise the lanky man as went stumbling backward. Or perhaps he wasn't used to being rejected. Breathily, Travis smoothed out the wrinkles in his suit and ran a hand through his coppery hair.

"You know, Kurt," Travis began with no ounce of shame or embarrassment in his voice. In fact, he looked disappointed. Like he lost out on a lucrative business deal. "You seem like a smart man."

"No shit," Kurt bit back. He hoped somewhere in upper Manhattan and Lima, his brother and dad would be proud of him. Travis chuckled.

"Who did you say you worked for, Kurt?"

Kurt frowned, confused by the change of subject.

"I didn't," Kurt retorted, and Travis tutted as he began to pace slowly in front of him like a wolf did its prey.

"You don't have to tell me, mind you," Travis explained calmly. "It wouldn't be difficult to find out. I could simply ask David. He examined his fingernails with a bored expression. "And if not? It wouldn't be difficult to find out. I could do the research. And not to mention I have many close friends in very high places," he nodded towards Kurt, or the apartment behind him, rather, "who would make it very easy for me to make your life very difficult. Do you understand what I'm saying, Kurt?"

Kurt guffawed.

"Am I honestly supposed to be scared? Is that how you made all those friends in there?" Kurt pointed his thumb back behind his shoulder. "By blackmailing them, too?"

"There's no need to blackmail anybody when you're as successful as I am. You just have to throw a little money around and watch them all dance."

Kurt shook his head in abhorrence.

"You could have anyone you want and yet… Why Dave? To use him to throw your little get-togethers? I don't understand."

Travis laughed.

"You're right. You don't understand. David is very important to me. Which is why you aren't going to say anything to-David!"

Kurt turned around at Travis' sudden exclamation to see a concerned Dave standing in the threshold.

"Hey, is everything alright? I was wondering where you went," Dave said, directing his worry towards his boyfriend.

Travis laughed as Dave stepped towards him, brushing past Kurt. Kurt felt his mouth dry up like smoldering ashes of anger had replaced the icy dread in his stomach.

"I'm sorry, my darling." Kurt felt himself fume at the noun. "I just had to step out for a moment, clear my head, you know," Travis said sweetly as Kurt stood there shaking, watching as this man dare wrap his slimy, duplicitous hands around Dave's waist and slip his lying, deceitful tongue down Dave's throat.

Kurt felt bile rise to his own throat at the sound Travis made.

Dave's cheeks were red when they separated and Kurt could see the way his eyes glazed over, completely ignorant to the fact that they weren't alone in the hall.

And then Kurt gasped involuntarily as his eyes began to sting. And Kurt understood something Travis didn't. While Travis went through all the unnecessary effort to intimidate and threaten Kurt into keeping quiet, Kurt only had to remember the pain Blaine had caused him at the beginning of their relationship to know there was no way he could be the one to break it to Dave. To be the one to cause him that pain.

"'See?'" Dave's words echoed in his head. "'You're too nice.'"

But... He had to.

"Kurt? What...?" Dave started as Kurt covered his own mouth to stop the sound from coming out again.

"I'm going to go back inside," Travis said. Kurt stared blankly as Travis ran his hand down Dave's front as if he hadn't just done the same to him mere minutes ago. Dave glanced between the two of them, completely baffled by the juxtaposition of emotions between his boyfriend and friend.

"Yeah, sure," Dave said in a daze, letting his boyfriend's hand slip through his grasp. Travis slipped through the door, but not before winking at Kurt behind Dave's back, completely reveling in the man's state of distress.

Once the door was shut, Dave placed a large hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, Kurt," Dave said, squeezing his hand gently. "What's wrong? Is it Rachel? Or Finn? Is everything okay?"

"I…" Kurt sniffled, thinking fast on his feet. "Yeah, yeah she's fine um…" Kurt wiped his eyes, staring at the raw worry etched in this kind, caring man's face.

"Yeah, they're fine. Well… I…" Kurt stuttered. "I talked to Finn and… He's going to take her to the hospital. He thinks she might have the flu, not morning sickness."

"Oh," Dave said simply, patting Kurt's shoulder. "Well, that's not a big deal, even for someone who is pregnant. She and the baby will be fine. But I could see why you would be upset."

"Right," Kurt said, the weight of Dave's hand helping him calm down, despite the sinister presence he knew existed on the other side of the door. "Not a big deal," he echoed. "But… I think I'm going to go, just to make sure. I'm sorry, Dave."

"No need to explain, Kurt. Hell," Dave chuckled as he let his hand drop. "I wish I could go with you just so I could escape this shitty party, but…"

"I know," Kurt interrupted sullenly, realizing he probably wouldn't see Dave again until after Christmas. Which reminded him…

"Here," Kurt said, pulling a thin square box from his pocket.

"It's not much," Kurt explained, placing it into Dave's hands. He looked taken aback. "But hopefully you find it useful."

"Kurt, I… Thank you. You didn't have to get me anything." Dave ran his thumb over the shiny red material of the box. He looked up, his warm brown eyes staring into Kurt's.

"I just wanted to say thank you. For being a good friend." Kurt tried his best to smile, but he knew that it came across as sad.

Dave finally blinked, after what felt like an eternity, and he shook his head as he pulled Kurt in for another hug.

Dave didn't say anything, and neither did Kurt. Once Dave let him go, almost reluctantly, he made an effort look anywhere but Kurt's face.

"You take care, David," Kurt said before turning around to walk towards the elevator. He held his breath until he pressed the "down" button, which was the same time he heard the door close down the hall.

Once he was safely inside the elevator, Kurt felt himself sag as the little amount of energy he had left drain from his body. As he slumped against the wall, he had only one thought running rampant in his mind.

How was he going to tell David?