[Small town Texas isn't the best place for a blossoming gay romance. There are a lot of old friends that aren't talking to Dave right now, and he has no faith that they're ever going to start again. They won't let him in the locker rooms for swim practice anymore, and the coach had done nothing about it. The 'get the fuck out' is plastered in thick, sticky strands over a lot of social things he used to enjoy, and there isn't much they can do about it.]
[Dirk had, uncharacteristically, given Dave the biggest hug he's ever gotten from anyone other than John when he came out. Dave had known, on some unspoken level because hell if they ever talked about it, that Dirk wouldn't have had a problem with it. There'd always been something suspicious about his weekends at "Uncle Jake's" apartment. His brother was the first one in their corner, and it wasn't exactly crowded in there. His cousin Rose had been the first person he came out to and she'd had his back through the entire "crushing on John" phase, and their homeschooled friend Jade was equally enthusiastic. Apart from that, "best friends" Terezi and Vriska were on their side, and a few of the drama club kids gave them encouraging smiles in the hallway. Eridan was the exception, which was likely because they'd stolen his thunder as the only out kid in school (he had some weird idea that being bisexual made him better than everyone else). Stage manager Karkat and leading lady Feferi were always there to smack him in the back of the head if he got snappy, though.]
[Dave wonders, late at night, if it had been a terrible, terrible idea to let his relationship with John out of the bag. They hadn't exactly gotten on top of a lunch table and made out, but maybe holding hands while they told Rose that first morning had been a mistake.]
[But there was no going back now, and Dave holds his head high as he entwines his fingers with John's on the way out of the cafeteria. An unfamiliar sophomore walking next to them shifts away with an uncomfortable look on his face and Dave squeezes John's hand lightly. They have study hall up next, one of the few classes they have together, and Dave will be damned if he lets a few assholes get him down.]
2 > 4
[Dirk had, uncharacteristically, given Dave the biggest hug he's ever gotten from anyone other than John when he came out. Dave had known, on some unspoken level because hell if they ever talked about it, that Dirk wouldn't have had a problem with it. There'd always been something suspicious about his weekends at "Uncle Jake's" apartment. His brother was the first one in their corner, and it wasn't exactly crowded in there. His cousin Rose had been the first person he came out to and she'd had his back through the entire "crushing on John" phase, and their homeschooled friend Jade was equally enthusiastic. Apart from that, "best friends" Terezi and Vriska were on their side, and a few of the drama club kids gave them encouraging smiles in the hallway. Eridan was the exception, which was likely because they'd stolen his thunder as the only out kid in school (he had some weird idea that being bisexual made him better than everyone else). Stage manager Karkat and leading lady Feferi were always there to smack him in the back of the head if he got snappy, though.]
[Dave wonders, late at night, if it had been a terrible, terrible idea to let his relationship with John out of the bag. They hadn't exactly gotten on top of a lunch table and made out, but maybe holding hands while they told Rose that first morning had been a mistake.]
[But there was no going back now, and Dave holds his head high as he entwines his fingers with John's on the way out of the cafeteria. An unfamiliar sophomore walking next to them shifts away with an uncomfortable look on his face and Dave squeezes John's hand lightly. They have study hall up next, one of the few classes they have together, and Dave will be damned if he lets a few assholes get him down.]