Kurt and his dad had a good relationship. It wasn’t great but it was good. Kurt would get home from school to an empty house, maybe do his homework or practice a song or two before starting on dinner. It’d be ready for when Burt got home and they’d eat at the table, exchanging small talk about their days, what Kurt had learned at school, what cars Burt had serviced that day. Then when they were finished Kurt would do the dishes while his dad has a shower and they might watch something on television. Unless it’s football, after being on the Cheerios Kurt’s seen enough of that to last him a lifetime.

It’s not that they don’t talk, they do. Kurt can tell his dad anything, well almost anything. And he does, he tells him that he wants to quit the Cheerios and his dad honestly looks a little relieved. “Sure thing kiddo, the girls on that team don’t seem very nice anyway, you’re probably better off” and a firm pat on the back. So they talk, but they never really talk. About Kurt’s life and his choices and why he’s so different. Kurt decides, one night, that it wouldn’t matter if his mom was still alive. It’s not the reason his relationship is so, strained, with his father. It’d probably be exactly the same if Elizabeth was still there. It just means that it’s at the forefront of his mind more often than not, because his dad is all he has in the world.

Which is why Kurt doesn’t want to lie to him anymore, it’s why Kurt doesn’t want to lie to himself. He owes it to his father, who brought him up all by himself, even when his heart was broken, owes it to him to be himself. It’s not a particularly significant day, they’re eating dinner, pasta bake that Kurt made quickly when he got home because Glee practice went longer than anticipated and his dad would be home soon. He’s grateful for the large plate and sits wearily.

“Long day?” Kurt asks, pouring him a glass of soda and picking up his fork to eat. Burt simply nods, shoveling food into his mouth. Kurt smiles in an endearing way. They eat in silence for a few moments, Kurt’s subdued. He’d found out Blaine was moving schools. He didn’t know how he felt about it, disappointed sure, the kiss hadn’t meant nothing to him, he wasn’t an idiot. Except he was because he said it meant nothing. It obviously meant nothing to Blaine if he was leaving. Kurt’s head was whirling with confusion, he just wished he had someone, anyone to talk to about it, even if they couldn’t give him the magic answer he needed, at least he could talk about it. Get it out. He vaguely registered his dad was speaking.

“And then Jeff, that idiot just trips and spills oil freaking everywhere and I have to spend three hours on my hands and knees cleaning the crap up” he growls, shaking his head and eating another heaped spoonful of pasta. Kurt makes his mind up.

“Pass the salt” Burt asks reaching his hand out.
“Dad I’m gay” Kurt blurts.

There’s silence, it’s long and awkward, only broken by the clatter of Burt’s fork as it falls against the plate. Kurt passes him the salt with a shaky hand and continues to eat, except it tastes sort of like cardboard now and he’s only doing it so he doesn’t start crying or yelling or laughing instead, he’s not sure how to feel. He doesn’t realize he’s started crying until his dad hands him a napkin.

“Thanks” he mumbles, pressing it to his eyes and taking a measured sip of water.
“I know” his dad says softly.
Kurt looks at him, eyes wide with shock.
“You know?”
He nods, “Of course I know, Kurt, not offence but buddy you’re not exactly the most masculine of guys, that and the fact that you asked why princes couldn’t be rescued by other princes in fairytales when you were six kind of pointed it out to me. That was the start of a long list of hints” he said softly, smiling at him a little.Kurt’s confused, but his shoulders feel light, like an actual weight has been lifted off.
“I’m sorry” he says quietly, but all his dad does is shake his head, his hand digging into his shoulder.

“No, kid, don’t ever apologize for being yourself” he looked at Kurt so seriously, more serious than he ever had. Kurt nodded, but he felt pain clawing at your chest “I’m sorry though, for not being what you wanted” his dad had wanted a son, a football playing, female loving son, Kurt was sure of it.
Burt shook his head “I wouldn’t trade you for anything; you’re perfect Kurt, I promise, don’t let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Don’t stand for it cause it ain’t true.” He said before standing up. Kurt stood too.
“Listen, bud, I’m not going to lie, I’m not over the mood with the idea, you understand that.” He looks into Kurt’s eyes, willing him to believe him “But I love you and I will fight for your right to love whoever you want to” before pulling Kurt into a tight hug. Kurt cries, because his dad is wonderful and he feels the weight on his shoulders lessen considerably, and because he should have done this so much sooner.

“I love you dad” he says, closing his eyes and pulling his dad close, reveling in the comfort and the closeness.“I love you too kid.”