A/N: I know I have stories to update and a book to write, but after watching NBK I could not resist writing something. I would like to mention I was not a big fan of this pairing until after last weeks episode. There was just so much angst! And Max Adler did an amazing job. He really humanized the character. Anyway, I know there are some against it... and probably those people are not reading this. And while canon Karofsky has been awful to Kurt...slushies, threatening, shoving... fanon Karofsky has been insane...I've read stories that included attempted murder, rape, beating with a bat... So I think we need to keep it in perspective. Warnings: suicidal ideations.

The Art of Deflection: Chapter One

I can't take the pain anymore

Kurt stared at the screen on his phone. The text he had received moments ago had come from an unknown number. He had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Surely, his suspicions couldn't be correct. Still, he had to ask.

Who is this?

It seemed like forever before he received an answer. Part of him didn't even want to know. It was Friday night, and they had just had their Hummel/Hudson family dinner. After everything that had happened in the last week, Kurt felt drained. He was still worried about his dad and just so angry at Finn. Really, all he wanted to do was sleep.

I'm tired of hurting all the time.

While Kurt could definitely relate to those feelings, he wasn't sure he was in any position to help anyone. The person still hadn't identified themselves, but Kurt thought he knew who it was. He just didn't know how he'd gotten his number.

Karofsky?

This pause was not as long, and he felt as if the other boy had come to a decision of some sort.

You don't have to worry about me hurting you anymore, Kurt.

The words themselves should have made him feel better, but in the context of everything else they just seemed ominous. Kurt found he was suddenly afraid. Texting was no longer an option. He had to be sure.

Kurt listened to the ringing on the other end, and each ring increased his anxiety. The other boy was not going to answer.

Answer the phone Dave. Talk to me.

It felt strange using the other boy's first name, but he knew he needed to reach him somehow. Each second that ticked by was torture, as he waited for an answer. Was he already too late? He hated Karofsky for the things he did to him, but he also knew the pain he was going through.

There's no point. I'm too tired. I can't fight it anymore.

And before Kurt could even answer, he received another text, and his heart almost stopped.

I'm sorry I hurt you. Goodbye, Kurt.

Kurt didn't know what to do. He should call someone… maybe 911… but he didn't even know where the hockey player lived. Maybe they could get that from his phone number. He decided to try one more time. If that didn't work he would call for help.

Kurt almost gave up when he heard someone finally answer the phone. He sighed in relief.

"Dave?"

There was no answer, but he knew the other boy was there. He could hear him sobbing.

"Please let me help you," Kurt said softly. He wasn't sure why he was so willing to help the other boy after everything he'd done to him, but he knew he couldn't live with himself if he didn't.

"No one can help me." The voice on the other end sounded nothing like the bully Kurt had known throughout his time in high school.

Kurt wasn't sure how to ask this, but he knew he had to. Time could be an important factor.

"Did you do anything to hurt yourself?"

There was no answer, and Kurt feared the worst.

"Dave?"

"Not yet," he finally said, and Kurt felt a surge of relief.

"Are you by yourself?"

The other boy took a shuddering breath. "Yeah. My parents and my sister are gone…somewhere…"

"What…what were you thinking about doing?" He wasn't sure if he should ask him that, but he thought it was important to know.

"My dad has a gun…"

Kurt couldn't help the sudden gasp that escaped his lips.

"But I couldn't do it… He has it locked up, anyway. And my sister…. It would be messy. I couldn't do that to her."

Kurt was somewhat surprised at the affection in the other boy's voice… and it gave him hope.

"How old is your sister, Dave?"

"She's seven. And she's the only one who really cares about me."

"I care about you…" And before he even finished his sentence, Kurt knew it was the wrong thing to say… that it would undo everything he was trying to do.

"You don't care about me, Kurt! I saw the look of disgust on your face. Don't pretend you care. That just pisses me off!" He was yelling and sobbing again.

"You hurt me over and over," Kurt replied. He didn't yell though. He needed the other boy to remain calm. "You stole my first kiss… what did you expect?"

"As I said… it won't happen again." Dave's voice was like steel then… inflexible and Kurt panicked.

"Don't hang up … please, talk to me." He knew he sounded desperate, but he was so afraid of what the other boy would do.

"I hate myself, being who I am… for what I've done to you, Kurt. But I couldn't stop."

Kurt didn't say anything then. He was afraid to stop the flow of words.

"Have you ever wanted something so much… someone so much… that it tore you up inside just to see them and know you could never have them?"

Kurt thought of Finn and everything he'd been through. "Yes," he said softly.

"And knowing that they didn't want you… were disgusted by you… it hurts to even breathe."

Kurt felt the tears fall as he remembered the look on Finn's face that day in his bedroom. And ever since then how Finn had treated him as if there was something wrong with him… something wrong with him wanting to find love… "Yes, I know how that feels," he admitted.

"And it makes you angry… you want to hurt someone… to make them pay for all the pain they put you through. Even though it really wasn't their fault.

How many times had he wanted to hurt Finn? For treating him like crap…. For trying to steal his dad… for not loving him. He could definitely understand those feelings. "Yes…"

"We're not so different, Kurt."

And even though he could agree to a certain point, there was one thing that made them different.

"I never physically hurt anyone. That's the difference."

"But you made fun of people… called them names…"

"Only people who made fun of me first… well, except for Rachael. I have no defense there… except she doesn't know how to dress."

And Kurt thought he heard the other boy laugh. It wasn't much… but it was music to his ears.

It was quiet then. Kurt could hear shuffling as if the other boy was moving around.

"My mom gets depressed sometimes," Dave finally said surprising Kurt. "They have her on all these pills."

Kurt was confused at the change of topic, until he heard the rattling of the bottles.

"Dave…" his voice sounded breathless even to his own ears.

"Yeah?" He sounded distracted, and Kurt was afraid of what he was doing.

"Stay on the phone, okay? I might lose you but if that happens I will call you back. Okay? I need you to not do anything. Promise me, Dave."

"Okay, Kurt," he said, calmer than he had been before. "I won't do anything… yet."

"Good." Kurt didn't know why, but he believed him. "Now tell me your address. I'm coming over."