Two chapters at once. Consider it my apology for leaving you guys alone for so long. I own nothing but my love for y'all. Quick note: Bold lyrics are Adam, italics are either Kurt or the ensemble. Without further ado, enjoy! Love-Maya Edit: I think I was half-asleep when I initially typed this, or Fanfiction done misplaced my content, so some minor changes.
In his usual stiff, mic-eating way, Mr. Figgins muttered, "Settle down, children. Be quiet now. Children, settle down, please." When the noise in the gym lowered by a decibel or two, he deadpanned on, "We have a very exciting presentation for you today. I'm sure you've already heard, but we have a special guest here with us. Also, if you have not yet been vaccinated for the human papilloma virus, or HPV, and ate the fish tacos for lunch, please report to the nurse's office, and then the main office. Thank you. Without further ado, please take it away, Glee Club and guest."
As Figgins picked up his mic and stand and made his uncomfortable exit, the curtains on the little stage pulled back to reveal Kurt, sitting alone on a stool with his own mic in hand. He took a breath and lifted it to his lips:
"Broken pieces break into me.
"So imperfectly what you could be."
Making his way to Kurt from offstage with a mic of his own—reclaimed from Figgins—Adam sang (nearly drowned out by the excited screams of the crowd at the sight of him):
"I don't want you to go,
"Don't wanna see you back out in the cold.
"Air you're breathing out
"Fades you to grey."
He reached Kurt and wrapped an arm around him as the boy sang:
"Don't run away.
"Find me."
They harmonized, Kurt taking the high part:
"I know the battles
"Of chasing the shadows
"Of who you wanna be.
"It doesn't matter.
"Go on and shatter.
"I'm all you need."
The Glee Club came out onstage, vocalizing softly, their voices a quietly haunting echo around the gym as Adam and Kurt sang on.
"Broken pieces break into me.
"So imperfectly what you should be.
"Lay here, it's safe here,
"I'll let you be broken open.
"Hide here, confide here,
"So we can be broken open."
Kurt found Karofsky in the crowd, near the top of the risers with the other jockstraps, a deep scowl on his face that Kurt recognized as a fearful warning. Kurt let his gaze slide innocuously away as Rachel's arm wrapped around him on his free side and kept singing.
He would hate himself for it later, but Kurt went through the remainder of the song on autopilot, too distracted to really enjoy himself, even as he swayed with his Gleemates and one of his idols. What did Karofsky think Kurt was trying to accomplish? You know, besides not die? Hell, what did Kurt himself think he was trying to accomplish? Nothing, really; Adam had made the song choices, and Kurt hadn't asked for justification because whatever, they're his songs, he knows what he's doing. But now, as Adam took center stage to sing the last verse alone and Karofsky watched in fear, Kurt wondered (not for the first time) what Adam was doing here.
The song ended to thunderous applause and cheering, snapping Kurt out of his ennui a little, at least enough to smile weakly; he was onstage after all. They had never had applause like that in school before, and he had to reward it in hopes that it would continue.
Alright, so Adam was talented. They all knew that. And from the sound of the crowd, he was totally boosting their street cred.
Puck was still cooler (shut up).
"Have you lost your way,
"Living in the shadow of
"The messes that you made?"
Adam was front-and-center, taking the lead and driving the crowd nuts; people surged forward and reached out, and he reached back. Puck danced obediently with everyone else, singing his "oohs" and "ahhs," but his eyes were on Kurt.
His moves, while as perfectly on-beat and flawless as ever, were as expressionless as his face. His eyes were on the crowd, but unfocused like he was far away. This did not compute; he had been practically vibrating in his seat on the way here this morning. What had him so distracted that he was ignoring Adam?
Puck scanned the crowd for whatever might have so spooked Kurt. Coach Sylvester, maybe? No, she was tapping her fingers to the beat in the crook of her folded arms and nodding a little, the equivalent of her publicly rocking out, and besides, Kurt and Sylvester kind of grudgingly adore each other. Mr. Schue doing something (typically) inappropriate? Well, yes, he was in fact trying to get a very skittish-looking Ms. Pillsbury to slow-dance with him, but that was so normal Kurt probably couldn't be bothered to roll his eyes at it. Figgins dancing in the front row? Possible. Finally, he found his fellow jocks in the back. Everyone was up and sort-of dancing or cheering a little—because, hell, free legit-famous-person concert—except Karofsky. Karofsky was staring at Kurt, his face and posture impassive as ever. His eyes, however, were all but literally shooting hate lasers.
Clearly, there was no call for such fury. The only people who should be mad right now were the theater kids, since the Gleeks had gotten to monopolize Adam. Karofsky slushied theater kids on the regular, though, so this didn't extend to him.
As Puck watched, Kurt's eyes slid hesitantly over the crowd, and Puck could tell the moment they met Karofsky's in the way Kurt's body stiffened, his dancing momentarily wooden until he recovered. Karofsky actually bared his teeth, and Kurt went pale as he looked away.
Not to say that Kurt and Karofsky were besties or anything, but it was rare for Karofsky to show such raw animosity unprovoked; less so than a year ago, but still. Name-calling, the odd locker-check or dumpster-dive, sure—though he was always, almost as a rule, rougher with Kurt—but this was a far cry from all that. This wasn't for kicks; it was as though Kurt had personally betrayed him.
Puck was shaken from his thoughts when the music came to a stop. The Gleeks quietly shuffled to the chairs waiting for them at the back of the stage, and Adam came forward to give his address.
Songs used: Broken Open and Aftermath, both by Adam Lambert. I don't own anything.