"There he is – the man of the hour!" Darren cheered, sidling up to Chris on the balcony. "You've been a surprisingly hard person to track down given that this is your premiere after-party," Darren teased gently, bumping Chris with his hip as he settled in next to him, gazing at the lights of Los Angeles that sparkled in the hills below them.
"This is for you, kind sir," Darren said with a tip of his imaginary cap, handing Chris a glass of chilled champagne, frowning a little as he watched Chris wipe at his eyes before taking the glass.
"Hey, are you okay?" Darren asked gently.
Chris let out a choked laugh, shaking his head ruefully. "I'm good. Great even. Just a little overwhelmed."
Darren nodded knowingly. "Yeah, it's a big night, huh?"
"Huge," Chris acknowledged, sniffling slightly. "I just had this flash of being sixteen and writing this movie in my bedroom on a Saturday night because I had no friends and everyone hated me, and now I'm here and the movie was in a proper theater and I just – I honestly never thought I'd get here. I always hoped, but I never truly believed it would happen for me, you know?"
Darren moved in closer, wrapping an arm around Chris' waist and pulling him closer as he rubbed his back, silently encouraging him to continue.
"Writing this movie was always my way of escaping from reality. When I was a kid and things would get hard, I'd come home and channel all my rage and frustration into the script. And sometimes I think about how easily it could've gone the other way. Like what if I hadn't auditioned for Glee or Ryan hadn't written me this character? It's scary to think that all my dreams are becoming a reality when the truth is that most of it is due to luck. Fate, even," Chris continued, resting his chin on Darren's shoulder.
"I know, Chris. I know. We are insanely lucky to be here. I bawled my eyes out after my first night on Broadway. I was convinced it was a dream. I still can't believe it really happened," Darren spoke softly.
He reached up, taking Chris' chin in his hand and wiping a tear from Chris' cheek. "But there's something you need to understand," Darren continued, his voice barely pitched above a whisper. "You were always going to get here. I don't know how if not for Glee, but it would have happened for you. You have more talent than anyone I've ever met and you've succeeded because you truly deserve it. So breathe it in while you can, okay?"
Chris bit his lip to stop a strangled sob from escaping, basking in the intensity of Darren's warm gaze. His heart too full to speak, Chris simply wrapped his arms around Darren, enveloping him in a tight hug. Darren returned the hug happily, squeezing Chris' shoulder and humming contentedly.
"Thank you," Chris whispered reverently. "I just – thank you. I really needed to hear that tonight."
"I'm glad I could be the one to tell you what the rest of the world already knows. You are amazing, Colfer," Darren answered, pulling back to look at Chris with a wide grin.
Chris laughed, pulling out his pocket square and using it to dab his damp eyes. "Had a feeling this would come in handy tonight."
"Very dapper," Darren replied agreeably. He plucked the champagne flute from the railing of the balcony, handing it to Chris once more. "And now for a toast..."
"A toast, huh?" Chris said, raising his eyebrows as he took the glass. "Well, this I've got to hear..."
Darren raised his glass, staring deeply into Chris' eyes. "To Chris Colfer, the boy who flew..."