Disclaimer: I don't own Glee or "Mean".

Note: I know I already did a Taylor Swift song, but this one not only fits with the "theme", but with Kurt's story. I was listening to this in the car on Saturday, and saw a scene-by-scene music video in my head for this one involving Kurt and That Person. Who will be revealed in this chapter. Let's get to it, then! And review!

Kurt couldn't stop thinking about yesterday, about the flashback that he'd had. He could still hear the chilling words running through his mind. "You belong to me, my snow white queen." If ever there were a song written about Kurt, this was the one. He'd been buying all the songs they'd been singing in Glee on iTunes as soon he was able to, and had made a playlist that he kept on repeat, just running the beautiful, haunting songs through his ears at all possible times. He found himself singing them in the shower and to himself as he sifted through his clothes in search of that perfect outfit. He found the melodies constantly playing in his head, the harmonies doing their twisted dance in his mind. He was beginning to think that something was seriously wrong with him if he was singing a song like "Twisted Ballerina" in the shower, but thought nothing of it, playing it off as "it's just catchy".

"Seeing as how assembly is tomorrow," Mr. Schuester said in Glee later that day, "does anyone have a last minute solo or duet they'd like to share before we work on the group number?"

Rachel raised her hand excitedly.

"All right, Rachel," Mr. Schue sighed, hoping she wouldn't freak out on Finn again.

"In my continuing homage to Taylor Swift, I will sing one of her latest songs, 'Mean'." She looked directly at Finn, who shrank back in his chair.

You, with your words like knives
And swords and weapons that you use against me
You have knocked me off my feet again
Got me feeling like a nothing

This one is interesting, Kurt thought. Yeah, I can relate to this. That Person's words were like swords and knives and weapons. He did make me feel like a nothing. He's knocked me off my feet more times that I can count. Kurt crossed his legs and straightened his hat in anticipation for the rest of the song, which, he could tell by the up-tempo beat, would be a more positive one than the rest of the weeks' songs.

You, with your voice like nails on a chalkboard
Calling me out when I'm wounded
You, picking on the weaker man

Sing it, Rachel. Or Taylor Swift. Whoever, Kurt thought. Yeah, That Voice was like nails on a chalkboard. And yeah, calling me out when I'm wounded. Always, always, ALWAYS when I'm wounded. And yeah, picking on the weaker man. Just because I'm not an athlete or whatever, just because I'm "the gay kid" doesn't mean I'm the weaker man. Because I'm the strong bitch. I always will be.

Well you can take me down with just one single blow
But you don't know what you don't know...

Kurt nodded approvingly. Take me down with just one single blow, indeed. Kurt had never been that big of a Taylor Swift fan, but he was really enjoying this song. He began to tap his foot a little in time to the music. This is catchy, he thought. And Kurt liked songs that were catchy.

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Kurt perked up. This was indeed a happy song! Finally, he thought, an abuse-related song with a positive message, one where the good guy actually won. All He was ever going to be was mean. Why did he have to be so mean? Kurt thought. But at least he could take heart to the living in a big city part. It was Kurt's dream to live in New York, or possibly, Los Angeles. Kurt also took to heart the "I'll be big enough so you can't hit me". A good message, he decided.

You, with your switching sides
And your wildfire lies and your humiliation
You have pointed out my flaws again
As if I don't already see them

Humiliation, Kurt thought, something he was an expert on by now. Between the beatings and the Slushiees to the face and the…rape…Kurt Hummel knew humiliation inside and out. The wildfire lies, the ones that Kurt was faking the bullying, that he was this or that, that he liked this guy or that one. The flaws that were pointed out over and over and over again. "Gay". "Porcelain". "Talentless".

I walk with my head down
Trying to block you out 'cause I'll never impress you
I just wanna feel okay again

Kurt did walk around with his head down fairly often. And yes, this was in part to trying to block Him out. Not necessarily because he'd never impress Him, though. Kurt didn't care about impressing That Person. No, not at all. But yes, he did just want to feel okay again. It had been a long time since Kurt had genuinely felt okay. Months, Kurt thought, perhaps even a year.

I bet you got pushed around
Somebody made you cold
But the cycle ends right now
Cause you can't lead me down that road
And you don't know, what you don't know...

Kurt cocked his head. He'd never thought of it that way. Perhaps He'd been pushed around by a family member. Maybe that's why He was so cold inside his heart, why He took all of His rage out on Kurt, the weakest target in His eyes. But the cycle ends now, Kurt told himself. Now. He can't lead me down that road. No. I won't allow him to lead me down that road, to continue the cycle of violence.

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

I'll talk to Him after Glee, Kurt decided. I will. No backing out of it this time. Besides, I have that rape whistle now, if He tries to do anything again. I must do this. I have to heal myself. Kurt repeated this mantra to himself, taking extra care to mark down the lyrics of the song in his mind so that he could quote them back at Him if he needed to.

And I can see you years from now in a bar
Talkin' over a football game
With that same big loud opinion

But nobody's listening

Damn straight, Kurt thought. Nobody's ever listening, you big old bully. Not even me. I was never listening to you, all along. Nobody ever believed you…well, okay, they did, but not my friends. Yeah, you have a big and loud opinion. But you know what? I really don't care anymore. I'm gonna do me.

Washed up and ranting about the same old bitter things
Drunk and grumbling on about how I can't sing
But all you are is mean

Kurt smiled to himself. He could see it happening, actually. And the thought of Da—being washed up in the end was one that tickled Kurt pink. And so what? I can sing, he assured himself. I'm the best damn singer in the club. Well, besides you, Rachel, he quickly thought, seeing her glare his way. Could she read his—oh, wait, no, she was glaring at Finn.

All you are is mean
And a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life
And mean, and mean, and mean, and mean

Kurt started dancing a little in his chair. Yeah! He thought. You're a liar, and pathetic, and alone in life! Oh, and you know what else? You're MEAN! Haha, I said it, DAVE! You're just a mean, pathetic, lying scumbag! A scumfuck douchebag! Hahaha! Take THAT, Dave Karofsky! I'm the winner in this round! Kurt began to smile, really smile, for the first time in days, smile at something other than the flames.

But someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever going to be is mean, yeah
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Kurt was grooving in his seat by now. Mr. Schuester looked over at him and smiled. This was the happiest he'd seen Kurt in weeks, and he sincerely hoped it was genuine. Maybe this was Kurt's breakthrough, he thought to himself. Maybe this song, this day, will be the day he finally stands up for himself.

Someday I'll be living in a big ol' city
And all you're ever going to be is mean, yeah
Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me
And all you're ever going to be is mean
Why you gotta be so mean?

Kurt stood up and applauded enthusiastically as Rachel finished. She looked startled, but curtsied anyway. After they'd rehearsed their assembly number for the next day a few times, they were dismissed, instructed to get a good nights' sleep.

"Rachel, I think your song really spoke to Kurt today," Mr. Schue said to the diva as she was leaving.

"You think so?"

"That was the happiest I've seen him in weeks," Schue said.

"Hmm," she hummed. "Interesting. Well, I'm glad to have helped him, I guess, even if I didn't intend on doing that."

Meanwhile, Kurt was at his locker. He hummed the song to himself as he twiddled with the lock, swinging the door open and staring at his collection of Vogue covers. He began to cheerfully put his notebooks in his bag.

Then a hand slammed his locker closed.

"Hey, faggy boy," came the voice.

"Karofsky," Kurt nodded, continuing to put his things away.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you," Karofsky snarled.

"Why should I?" Kurt demanded, giving him a brief ice stare.

"Because I'm your superior," Karofsky said in a dangerous voice.

Kurt scoffed. "As if, Dave."

"WHAT did you say to me?"

"I said, 'as if'," Kurt replied, staring into those cold, dark eyes.

"You'd better take that back."

"No. Because you know what? You're a liar, Karofsky. You're a liar, and you're pathetic, and you're alone in life. And you know what else you are? You're mean."

Kurt didn't even see the punch coming towards his eye. He almost didn't feel it. He staggered backwards for a moment, before righting himself and continuing. "Someday, I'll be big enough so you can't hit me," he said. Another first swung at him, which he narrowly avoided. "I'll be living in a big old city, and all you'll ever be is mean!" he yelled. Another punch, another fist. He managed to avoid them both. "The cycle ends right now, because you can't lead me down that road," Kurt said with one last glare. He gathered up his bag, turned on his heel, and strode quickly down the hall. It was only then that he felt the bruise blossoming around his eye, not caring, but rather, wearing it as a badge of pride. He had finally won, if only for a moment.

"Why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?" His dad questioned at dinner that night. "You know what? I don't want to know. Probably some sort of fashion trend thing, right?"

"Yeah," Kurt nodded. "They're all the rage."

Burt sighed. "Fine, as long as they're not distracting in school."

Kurt smiled to himself. He was able to cover for now, but what was he going to tell the kids tomorrow in school?

He knew what he'd tell them.

That he'd won.

And the flames hadn't.