A/N: Trust me when I say I am very sorry and the next chapter will far more satisfying than this one. And the ones after that too. Happy New Year.

Chapter 13

Not With a Fizzle, but With a Bang

oOo

"But we've wandered many a weary foot,

since auld lang syne."

oOo

31 December 2024

"I don't know what you want me to say."

Dave pinched his nose, stifling a frustrated growl as he tossed his laptop on the couch cushion as he sat up, resting his elbows on his knees.

This was just perfect, he thought, rubbing his face with one hand as the other held his cell phone to his ear. The other end of the line was as quiet as he was.

He didn't know what to say at this point. His boyfriend, for whatever reason, was stuck in an airport terminal on the other side of the ocean. As much as he had wanted to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with his boyfriend, he understood those were holidays one spent with their family. But New Year's… That was something he had been looking forward to. He and Travis had been planning for months on going to the New Year's Rockin' Eve at Times Square. Being able to ring in the New Year with his boyfriend while listening to music and ending the night with a midnight kiss... That was something he had been looking forward to doing with Travis.

And now that plan was ruined, because, somehow, Travis' flight had been delayed.

Dave had almost forgotten he was still on the phone until he heard an impatient sigh on the other line.

"Are you still there?"

"Yeah, I'm still here," Dave managed to say, his voice sounding flat and emotionless. He almost believed he didn't care anymore-that he was so used to Travis being away that it shouldn't matter that they didn't get to spend yet another holiday together. Or maybe it was that he wanted to care, but couldn't bring himself to being disappointed anymore. Either way, he felt numb, whether he wanted to or not.

Dave picked up the laptop to refresh the screen on the airline's website for the tenth time.

"It still says the flight is on-time, Trav," Dave said with every ounce of patience he had left.

Travis gave a huff on the other end.

"Well, I am looking at the screen at the terminal and it says that it's delayed. The website must be wrong."

"So, what time do you think you'll be here?" Dave asked, hitting the "Control" and "R" keys to refresh the browser again. A quarter till 8 was when he was supposed to land, and from there they were going to drop off Travis' luggage, change into warmer clothes, and head downtown.

"Probably… Probably not until tomorrow morning."

"Are you serious?" Dave gawked.

"Well, it's a seven-hour flight, David, and if I'm not on the plane now then yes, I suppose my arrival will be a bit delayed," Travis said, not attempting to hide the sarcasm dripping in his voice.

"That's great, then I guess I'll see you next year, Trav." Dave ground out, before pulling the phone from his ear and hanging up.

He felt the guilt even before he tossed the phone on the cushion next to him.

He was an idiot. Taking his frustrations out on his boyfriend for something out of his control. It's not like Travis wanted to be stuck waiting for his flight any more than he did. He rubbed his face with his hand, already thinking about how he could make it up to him.

It felt like all he ever did was argue with Travis whenever they spoke on the phone to each other. The fiery passion that had clicked between them from the day they met had somehow tended to fizzle out to a smoldering flame, only to reignite almost dangerously with the barest spark. He wished they could go back to the beginning with all the passion and none of the frustrations.

And then he felt his phone vibrating on the couch cushion next to him. He once again forgot to turn the ringer on from when he woke that morning. Without bothering to glance at the name to see who was calling him, he hastily swiped the screen and fumbled it to his ear.

"Hey, listen, I'm sorry, okay," he said tiredly.

"Sorry? Did I do something wrong?" a voice that lacked the English accent and deep timbre asked with cheerful confusion. Dave frowned and removed the phone from his ear to glance at the screen which lit up with Kurt's name and a cropped photo of the picture he had sent him on Christmas.

Dave chuckled, his spirits instantly lifted as he returned the phone to his ear.

"Sorry, Kurt. I thought you were…" he shook his head, changing the subject. "Anyways. Is everything… Alright?" It was the first time Kurt had called him rather than text. Not that he minded, but it was a little disconcerting simply because it was so out of the ordinary. Plus it wasn't like they had been texting each other for that long anyway.

"Yeah, um… Hi, David. Sorry... I realize it's late. I didn't wake you did I?" Kurt rambled off hastily, sounding almost as confused as Dave was to be talking to him on the phone.

Dave laughed.

"Kurt, it's New Years. I'm staying up till quarter past midnight at least," he said and, upon receiving no reply, added, "That was a joke."

"Oh, right." Dave heard him chuckle a little nervously. "Sorry, I've had a bit to drink. Listen… You're not. Doing anything… Are you?"

Dave looked around his empty apartment and rolled his eyes to himself.

"Not at the moment, no."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I had plans, but… It's safe to say they've been canceled," he said wryly. "Why, what's up?"

"I was just thinking, if you wanted, you could come up to the balcony. I mean I am up here… Obviously." Kurt sighed in what sounded like an attempt to stop himself from rambling. Dave frowned, wondering why he sounded so nervous?

"I wasn't just telling you to go up to the balcony by yourself," Kurt continued, "that would be stupid."

Dave chuckled.

"So, how many drinks have you had?" He sat back into his couch, quite amused.

"Approximately… Two and a half hard apple ciders, thank you very much."

Dave shook his head.

"Okay, lightweight. I'll be up in a bit," Dave said, already standing up. He didn't have it in him to find an excuse, despite his foul mood. After all, he could use the company. "Just give me about half an hour."

"Really?" Kurt said, sounding surprised himself as Dave's acceptance. "I mean... Great! I shall see you in a bit."

"Okay, Kurt," Dave said, feeling the corner of his mouth tug upward despite himself, and hung up the phone. Maybe New Year's wouldn't be a bust, after all.

oOo

Kurt stood on the 18th-floor balcony overlooking the city below. He wasn't expecting Dave's enthusiastic acceptance of his invitation to join him on the balcony. After all, he assumed Dave would be spending the evening with his boyfriend of all people. Kurt couldn't help but shudder at the mere thought of Travis, and, since the party, he continued to face the dilemma of whether he would confront Dave about his run-in with Travis the day of their Christmas party.

He didn't understand what he saw in the man… He was haughty, arrogant, self-centered, stuck-up, and numerous other words synonymous with "pompous asshole". And it didn't take him but five minutes in his presence to come to that conclusion. He supposed he was attractive, with his coppery, well-coiffed hair, full lips, slender build, and sharp suits. But, more than anything, he was manipulative and skeezy if he thought he could seduce his way into keeping him silent.

Kurt sighed. Dave was his friend so he knew he would have to tell him about it, and every day he stayed silent, the more he could feel the guilt welling up inside him. Not that he was the one who had anything to feel guilty about. If it meant being able to free Dave from the treacherous little leech, he would do it.

The only thing that had stopped him from telling Dave sooner was the time of year. The last thing he wanted was for Dave to spend the holiday alone.

Though that already seemed to be the case.

When he messaged Dave on Christmas, he revealed that he and Travis weren't even spending the holiday together. The information sent Kurt's mind into overdrive. Had Travis told Dave? Or had Dave found out on his own? Or were they still together, but… Spending the holiday apart?

Everything about their relationship confused him. When he was married, he and Blaine spent Christmas Eve with the Andersons and Christmas Day with the Hudson-Hummel-Berry's. Despite how tenuous his marriage was towards the end, he and Blaine still spent the holidays together and had every year, even before they were married.

Which was why he felt so inclined to reach out to Dave to see if he wanted any company. From what he had gleaned from his short telephone conversation with Dave, he and Travis were once again apart for the holiday. This didn't surprise Kurt in the least, but it did raise his suspicions even further. Travis was keeping Dave in the dark, but Kurt wasn't about to do the same. Once the New Year began, he would tell Dave, and he would be there for his friend. And he would start by making sure Dave didn't ring in the New Year alone.

oOo

Once Dave showered, got dressed, and quickly blow-dried his hair so it wouldn't freeze the moment he stepped outside, he grabbed his phone and his keys and left his apartment, locking the door behind him. He made it to the elevator and once he pressed the "up" button, he went inside. The doors closed in front of him as he found the 18th-floor button. After he pressed it, he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet, feeling antsy. He wondered why Kurt would ask him, of all people, to come up to the balcony.

Dave heaved a sigh as the elevator chimed and the doors opened, unleashing a blast of cold air on his face. He quickly zipped up his fleece-lined suede jacket, wrapped his aunt's handmade scarf around his neck, and pulled his gloves out from the pocket, wiggling his fingers into them. He caught a glimpse of a figure that seemed to glow from the city lights on the further end of the balcony. Tearing his eyes away, he scoped out the rest of his surroundings.

This was the first time Dave had ever come up to the roof, and he had to wonder why. There were several square wooden patio tables, chairs, and umbrellas, now closed but perfect for shade in the summer, as well as plastic chaise longue chairs, and four grills for barbequing. On one of the tables was a small illuminated portable speaker playing what sounded like Top 40 music from his high school and college days. Dave took note that this would be a perfect place to sit and write once the weather permitted.

"Hey," he said, as he sidled his way towards Kurt, returning the man's tipsy, toothy smile with an amused one of his own. He looked Kurt up and down. Kurt, looking impeccable as always, in his black peacoat, wearing fluffy earmuffs the color of snow on asphalt, and jeans as tight as leggings, seemingly sacrificing his warmth in the name of fashion.

"Hey," Kurt said a little breathlessly, the greeting punctuated by the puff of air escaping from his unnaturally pink lips. He held his arms tightly across his abdomen as if shielding himself from the cold. "Glad you could make it to the best view in the city."

"Yeah," Dave agreed, tearing his eyes away from Kurt to take in the still lights of the city buildings and the steady stream of car headlights that wound its way across the Brooklyn Bridge like a bioluminescent eel. "This is… something else."

Dave turned his head back to Kurt to see his smile grow. His icy-blue eyes twinkling not unlike the city lights. Kurt turned around to gesture at a red ice chest sitting atop the closest wood table.

"Can I get you a drink?" Kurt asked, opening the lid and scanning the contents. It was cold enough that they probably didn't need any of the ice that the alcoholic beverages were buried in. "Right now we have beer, beer, and… What do you know, more beer. Rachel and Finn ran back downstairs to grab some more hot chocolate and ciders."

Dave frowned.

"Rachel and Finn?" he asked, and as if on queue, the elevator behind him opened up, revealing Kurt's step-brother and sister-in-law, carrying more drinks as promised.

"David, you made it!" Rachel beamed, and Dave smiled meekly, despite his initial disappointment. Of course, Kurt hadn't been alone when he invited him up to the roof. "Kurt was hoping you'd come."

"Well, it was either this or watching Rockin' Eve on TV by myself so," he laughed wryly, shaking Finn's gloved hand in greeting, all while trying to ignore the little ball of warmth that spread through his chest at the realization he didn't disappoint Kurt, "this seemed like a better option." He turned back to Kurt who was giving Rachel a rather tight-lipped smile.

"We're all glad you could make it, David," Kurt added.

"We got more drinks," Finn said, putting some more hard apple ciders into the ice chest with the beers to chill and set a silver thermos down on the table. "So help yourself, dude," Finn said, clapping him on the shoulder as he walked past him to stand with his pregnant wife.

"I'm more than happy to share my hot chocolate with anyone that wants it," Rachel added as she wrapped her arms around her husband. "I'm afraid I already drank all the non-alcoholic ciders."

"That's okay," Dave said chuckling, "The beer is fine." He accepted the one Kurt handed him after popping the lid off with a bottle opener before grabbing another cider for himself. Kurt gestured to Dave towards the ledge where they stood before Rachel and Finn's arrival as Rachel and Finn cozied up together on one of the chaise lounge chairs under a thick blanket. Kurt set his drink down and leaned his elbows on the edge to take in the sight of the city before them.

"So, what were you doing all by your lonesome?" Kurt asked innocently.

"Ah, well… There seemed to be a mix up with Travis' flight." Dave took a swig of the cold drink in an attempt to rid his throat of the lump he could feel forming in it. "He should be back by tomorrow."

Kurt nodded, his empathetic nature showing as his eyebrows knitted together in thoughtful understanding.

"I'm sorry to hear that. No one should have to spend New Year's alone," Kurt said softly, and Dave realized that this was the first New Year's Kurt would be spending as a single man. Dave raised a shoulder in a shrug.

"Well I'm not alone anymore now, am I?" Dave pointed out as he leaned against the ledge to match Kurt. He gave Kurt a little nudge with his shoulder. His spirits felt lifted after only a few minutes spent with Kurt.

"Anyways, this is better than being crammed into a crowd like sardines at Times Square," Dave said ruefully. He caught Kurt's eye and wondered if the blush on his cheeks was from the cold or from what he said.

"Is that… What you and Travis were planning to do?" Kurt asked curiously.

"Yeah… I thought it would be fun, but…" Dave trailed off, thinking to himself. He thought it would be fun, even despite his qualms about standing in the cold in a crowd of strangers, but Travis… He would have hated it.

"But what?" Dave felt the press of Kurt's arm against him, the warmth searing into his body like he was standing next to a fireplace.

"What do you do if you have to pee?" Dave inquired and Kurt snorted, covering his mouth with his gloved hand as he laughed. He leaned his forehead against Dave's shoulder and Dave could smell Kurt's cologne and the product in his hair. Dave realized he had never seen Kurt so relaxed before. Kurt sighed happily as he calmed down and Dave couldn't help but smile despite his melancholy.

"I'd rather not think about it," Kurt said as he pulled away. Dave saw him scrunch up his face at the thought. They both took another sip of their drinks.

"That's… Unfortunate though." Kurt added almost cautiously, "I couldn't imagine being away from-from someone I loved that often."

Dave shrugged. "I still see him on the weekends usually." He could hear the sound of his voice and he knew he didn't sound very convincing. Whether it was about how often he saw his boyfriend or whether he was even in love with him was to be determined.

"You don't…" Dave could see Kurt from the corner of his eyes. He was stock still and looking intently at his bottle of cider. "You don't worry about him being unfaithful, do you?"

oOo

Kurt could feel Dave's eyes burning into his head as soon as the question left his lips. His heart rate sped up despite having made his way through his fourth cider.

"Why would I worry about that?" Dave snorted as he raised the bottle to his lips. Kurt bit his lip. He shouldn't have said anything. Why did he have to say something?

Before the rim of the bottle could touch Dave's lips, Kurt looked away, already sensing Dave's unease in his body language.

"Why would I worry about that, Kurt?" Dave repeated, this time his voice flat rather than amused.

"It's just that… He's gone a lot and," he stammered, taking a step back from Dave and his frowning face that was trying to hide the look of betrayal in his eyes.

"What aren't you telling me, Kurt."

The silence between them was cut only by the sound of an Imagine Dragons song playing from the speaker and Rachel and Finn laughing as they danced somewhere behind them, unaware of the conversation they were having.

"Dave, I've only spent two minutes with the man. But I just..." He sighed exasperatedly, his chin dropping to his chest in anguish. He knew he was going to have to tell Dave, and it was now or never.

"Just what?" Dave pressed.

"I think he might be seeing someone behind your back," Kurt sputtered, opening his eyes, which he hadn't realized he closed. And he hated what he saw. He may as well had struck Dave because that was the look he was giving him.

Dave breathed deeply and Kurt could see the rise and fall of his chest. He couldn't help but remember the temper the man had when he was younger, but this Dave was different. He could still feel the anger radiating off of him, but rather than lashing out he breathed through it and Kurt could feel his anger coming off of him in frigid waves.

"What gave you this idea?" Dave asked softly.

Kurt wet his lips and wrung his hands. He took a deep breath and when he exhaled he said calmly, "That day of the Christmas party… I went out into the hall and Travis was out there on the phone. The way he was talking to this person… He called them "darling" and… he said he loved them." Kurt said firmly though his voice shook. "I know I don't know him like you do, and I thought maybe he could be talking to a family member at first, but…."

"You're right," Dave said interrupting him. His voice was as cold as the air around them and his jaw clenched and unclenched. He shook his head as if he couldn't believe the words coming from Kurt's mouth.

"What?" Kurt asked, dumbfounded.

"You don't know him like I do," Dave said, and Kurt gaped. He took a step forward only for Dave to take a step back.

"You don't know the whole story, Dave, you weren't there." Kurt pleaded for Dave to listen, but his concerns only fell on deaf ears.

"Yeah, speaking of which, if what you're saying is true, why would you wait until now to tell me?" Dave crossed his arms waiting for an answer. Kurt could feel his emotions getting the best of him as they always did, especially when he drank, and he could see Dave wavering in his eyesight as tears began to pool in his eyes.

"I didn't want to hurt you, David," Kurt said firmly, though he could feel his body shake with unexpected anger.

"That's funny. Because it seems like that is exactly what you wanted to do."

Kurt was dumbstruck and at a loss for words. The only time he felt so enraged, so in shock, was the day Finn had used a slur towards him in high school. So he stood there, watching as Dave began to back away from him, as he wondered how everything about his friendship with Dave could turn sour so fast.

"Clearly you don't know the first thing about me." Kurt crossed his arms in front of him, feeling like, if he didn't, he would be inclined to throw his bottle of cider in Dave's direction.

"Just because it took you eight years to see everything wrong with your marriage to Blaine doesn't make you enough of an expert to pick other people's relationships apart."

Kurt, who had been turning away, froze, except for his head which snapped towards Dave's direction.

"Fuck you, Karofsky," Kurt spat before he could stop himself. Dave blinked upon hearing Kurt utter his last name with such malice and the twinge of guilt Kurt felt disappeared as quickly as it came. He stood there shaking despite feeling like he was having an out of body experience. Dave didn't even give him a chance to explain everything.

'Let him find out on his own,' he thought to himself, ruefully. 'Like you did.'

Dave merely huffed, as if their exchange was entertaining to him, though Kurt knew he could see through Dave-though all the lies the man was telling himself. All of the pain of being in a loveless relationship.

"Happy New Year, Kurt," Dave said with a sense of finality as he turned around and made his way back to the elevator. Kurt could see Finn and Rachel, oblivious up until this point, craning their necks to witness Dave's departure as he slammed his thumb in succession on the elevator button.

"Hey, tell him to bring more hot chocolate," Rachel said, holding up her now empty thermos.

Kurt sniffed, ignoring her as he turned his eyes back to the city and his back to Dave. He listened to the sound of Finn and Rachel giggling as the elevator doors chimed shut. Kurt let the tears fall from his eyes knowing he would be following behind Dave shortly to return to his apartment.

Despite the company of his family, the last thing he wanted to do was to watch the fireworks and ring in the New Year feeling as alone as he did now.