Go on and try to tear me down

I will be rising from the ground

Like a skyscraper

Like a skyscraper

Skyscraper by Demi Lovato

Kurt had a few weeks of perfect performances. He had breaks during the day to run errands and spend time with Blaine, before Anthony finally approached him, out of the blue.

Kurt arrived at the theatre early, offered a few interviews for the press and was sipping his coffee in his dressing room after his last interview when Sara, another PA, had explained someone wanted to see him.

"Anthony!" he exclaimed in surprise at seeing his last director. "I havent seen you in ages."

In fact he hadnt seen him since his last rehearsal for Brave. He had called again a few weeks after the attack, finally explaining a little of why he had left, but hed never seen him in person. Anthony filled in the unexplained upon seeing the press reports.

"How are you doing, Kurt?"

His expression was kind. He sat opposite of Kurt, in the only other chair in the dressing room.

"Good thanks," Kurt said. "I owe you an apology."

"No you dont," Anthony said quickly. "I saw what happened. I understood."

"I just needed a new start; it wasnt the production."

"And look what youve done here," he said, looking around the dressing room that showed how Kurt had made it. "Youre living the Broadway dream. I cant begrudge you that."

"I would have stayed."

Anthonys gaze softened and Kurt briefly thought how he looked a little like his dad. "I know, but you were destined for this. Its what all of us in the business dream of."

Kurt accepted the praise and realised that though his path had changed because of James, it wasnt necessarily unwelcome.

"They say youre due a Tony."

"I dont know about that…" Kurt shrugged, apologetically.

"I saw the performance last night. You definitely deserve one."

"Thank you."

"What are your plans for afterwards?"

"I dont know yet," Kurt said, a little surprised at the question. "I havent thought that far ahead."

No ones approached you?"

"Im not sure Im open to suggestions yet."

"Want to go for a coffee and hear mine?"

A pathway opened ahead of Kurt as he suspected what they would discuss and he finally nodded, opening his dressing room door and leading the way.

---

"They want you back."

One of the reasons Kurt loved Blaine was the complete and utter belief he had in him that he would make it, that his life story would be filled with successes and loves. As they sat eating dinner and discussing the coffee meeting Kurt had with Anthony, there wasnt a doubt or question that Kurt was worth fighting over in the business and was hugely talented. Kurt smiled at the thought.

"Yeah, but Im not sure," Kurt said, his voice a murmur of insecurities. "What about? The production was good, you said so yourself."

"I know, but it could do with some work, especially the music." Kurt thought about it as he ate his greens. The script itself was fantastic and there was obvious depth to the characters that appeared on stage, but there were no songs that could really sell it. And then it hit Kurt.

"You could write the songs," he breathed as if he realised he was stupid for not thinking of it before.

"I dont know, Kurt…"

"Why not? Itll be perfect. Your songs are great, Blaine. You could play a few for Anthony and see if any fit the musical, or maybe you could tighten up the songs already given."

"Wouldnt the person who wrote them be offended?"

"Maybe," Kurt said shrugging, "but we all want the best musical we can possibly make. Who wouldnt want a helping hand?"

Blaine couldnt help it – the idea of writing songs for a possible Broadway musical loomed in his future and even just this whisper of a possibility made him hope. The cynical voice of his fathers, though, held him back.

"I dont know, Ill think about it, I guess." Kurt recognised the tone of defeat and hated it. He wouldnt give up.

"Do you think your parents would approve? Would that be a suitable career path for you?"

Blaine was shocked at the mention of his parents. They rarely discussed them and Blaine enjoyed being a self-made man, someone that stood on his own two feet and supported himself. He kept his parents up-to-date with what he was doing, saw them for various holidays, but what he did in New York only concerned him and Kurt—and he liked it that way.

"I dont know," Blaine swallowed. Hed said that phrase a lot in the last few minutes. He felt a little jittery.

"Because I would be really proud," Kurt continued. "Not only if you succeeded and won Tony awards for your song writing skills, but more importantly because you tried."

Blaine looked like hed been listening to the sensible voices of his parents for a while. His career had taken unusual turns these last few months, more time spent with children rather than furthering his own dreams. Although he loved all areas of his job, his day-to-day activities suggested that he had played it safe, stuck with possibilities that provided stability and money, possibilities that made him think that risk and change were bad. Kurts eyes were shining, staring at him resolutely, daring him to question what Kurt knew to be true.

"A really wise guy once told me that he couldnt let them win."

Blaine nodded, reminded of his own confidence in his striving, his catching of dreams.

"I seem to remember another guy saying that wed fight them together," Blaine said, smiling, and Kurt caught it and laughed.

"I think that guy sounds like the absolute best," he said with a grin.

---

Kurt signed back onto the production over coffee. As he finalised contract details and information, he let it slip that he knew a guy who could improve the songs. Anthony was willing to accept a little direction and gave Kurt his card, asking Blaine to contact him in the near future.

Blaine tentatively called and Anthony actually seemed happy to hear from him. A meeting was arranged to see the guy, Derek, who had written the songs, music and lyrics, and Blaine brought all he had to the table.

"He liked them?" Kurt asked over dinner that night.

"He loved them, but there werent really any that matched the script. Were looking over the existing songs tomorrow."

Blaine tightened the melodies and helped with the lyrics, and after several meetings they had a much better score that could go with the musical.

Kurt, still playing Gabe in the evenings, was now rehearsing Brave again in preparation for its debut in a small theatre off Broadway. Patty was mainly happy to see him again.

"I see youre on Broadway now. I thought you might be too big for this little production."

Kurt recognised the sass that covered the hurt and he said nothing, but gave her a big hug. Her startled face as they parted told him she had really missed him since his departure.

"I was worried about you," she said quietly, as if it pained her to admit it, just as much as the knowledge of what James had done and how it had caused her heart to hurt.

"I know but Im back now, doing what I love and striving to make this musical big and Broadway bound. With me?"

He looked so hopeful, his eyebrows raised quizzically and his mouth open in a grin, and she could only nod and laugh.

"All the way."

---

Kurt, in the end, was only nominated for a Tony that year for his role as Gabe in Next to Normal, though he won a few less prestigious Broadway gongs. Ana, won Best Actress and thanked Kurt profusely in her acceptance speech, almost telling off the committee for missing him as a winner. He laughed proudly as he clapped loudly at her win.

Blaine had never worked as hard as he did now to write a fantastic song that would make the musical amazing and show its critics that it was worthy of the Broadway stage. In the end, two songs were included and the production began serious preparation for its fight to Broadway.

They had a definite theatre, which was to house the musical for a short time in the hopes that eventually someone would see the good in the production and move it forwards. Kurt and Patty made the musical as good as possible, Kurt finally able to put his all into the production. He was no longer tired, no longer worrying about home life, and seeing Blaine work so hard at the score made him want to fight even more. All they spoke of, all they did was for the musical.

Eventually the musical opened in a tiny theatre off-Broadway to amazed reviews, singing both Kurt and Blaines praises. Patty was described as a star to watch, but generally the critics couldnt believe it was opening to such a small crowd. During its opening night, Kurt sang the song that Blaine had written which ensured his standing ovation at the end of the performance. He was singing as Edward, alone on stage, despondent at the unrequited love he felt for another man. Blaine watched, tears in his eyes at seeing his creation sung by the love of his life.

I wish you were a bad man

I wish you made it easier

I wish youd done something unforgivable

Cause holding onto you is that all I can do until

I learn the hands around my throat are my own

Dont let me know if it hurts

If it hurts you

I dont want to be your friend that you turn to

That you wont pull me close

But you cant let me go

Dont let me know

Dont let me know

Dont let me know

Dont let me know

On the basis of their reviews, they were invited to fill a theatre on Broadway, after a few weeks of rehearsal, as soon as another production finished. Kurt and Blaine were ecstatic.

"I knew youd make it so much better," Kurt said, clutching Blaines shoulders. "Im so proud of you." He kissed him, gasping as he parted. "You take my breath away."

"Kurt," Blaine breathed, his eyes still closed. "It was your performance, you were amazing."

Kurt didnt dispute it and worked extremely hard to keep the production going so well, even in its move to Broadway and a much bigger theatre.

The last song of the performance, another song by Blaine, was magnificent and as they were both nominated for Tony awards the following season, Kurt was invited to sing it at the ceremony.

Kurt was nervous, his hands shaking behind the curtain as he waited for his entry. He could see Blaine nervously sitting next to his parents, who had been invited, along with Cooper, to possibly watch their son accept an award for his musical contribution. As he spotted just a glimpse of coiffed hair in the wings, Blaine smiled to give encouragement and waited to see Kurt bring his song to life. Kurt came onto the stage and saw, for one second, the multitude of people that were watching just like any other night, but then his eyes alighted on Blaine, sitting next to his parents whom had doubted he would amount to anything. He started to sing, not for himself, not even for his character, but for Blaine – the person who had written the song and built Kurt up in the best way possible.

I can hold my breath

I can bite my tongue

I can stay awake for days

If thats what you want

Be your number one

I can fake a smile

I can force a laugh

I can dance and play the part

If thats what you ask

Give you all I am

Kurt lifted his head slightly as the music lifted and he got louder.

I can do it

I can do it

I can do it

But Im only human

And I bleed when I fall down

Im only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

Cause Im only human, yeah

I can turn it on

Be a good machine

I can hold the weight of worlds

If thats what you need

Be your everything

I can do it

I can do it

Ill get through it

Blaine thought back to the day he had doubted, when he had a silly conversation with his parents about money, and they brought him down just like they did when he was a child. He knew, as Kurt sang, that he had done it, been through lifes struggles and won.

But Im only human

And I bleed when I fall down

Im only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

Cause Im only human, yeah

Blaine looked fleetingly at his parents, who often had that power in his life, and his mother turned to face him, seeming to understand she was being watched. She beamed at her son and the pride was finally obvious to Blaine.

Im only human

Im only human

Just a little human

I can take so much

Until Ive had enough

Cause Im only human

And I bleed when I fall down

Im only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

You build me up and then I fall apart

Cause Im only human, yeah

Blaine and Kurt had the same thought at exactly the same time: they were built up by the other, beautifully and gloriously, not letting anyone get in their way. They might have had knocks, James might have tried a little harder than most to reduce Kurt to rubble, but they couldnt be knocked down anymore. Blaines eyes shone at Kurt as he finished the song, bright and so proud that they had made it. No matter the outcome tonight, they were like skyscrapers.

---

Of course, Blaines category came first: Best Original Score and the nominees were announced. Kurt clung to his hand as they waited; Blaine did his best winning smile at the camera when it was his turn and schooled his face in preparation for his failure. Except it didnt come.

"And the winners are Blaine Anderson and Derek Luson."

Blaine went pale, only the clutching at his hand told him he had heard correctly. "You won Blaine. You won." Kurt was shouting and he was hoisted up by his dad, he vaguely realized.

"Were so proud of you son," his father said, as he embraced him tightly and then he was encouraged up onto the stage.

Blaine had never been gladder to see someone in his life as he was when Derek walked beside him. So relieved that he had a moment to recollect and figure out what he was going to say, Blaine let Derek speak first.

"Thank you so much," Derek gushed, clutching the award in his hand and beaming. "The musical has come so far and from such a humble background that we just really appreciate being here. I think I speak for both of us when I say that our cast is amazing and wed love to thank them for their tireless performances each night. They bring to life our songs in such a perfect way. Thank you to our director, Anthony and the whole of the cast and production crew who do an amazing job. Blaine?"

The microphone was suddenly in front of Blaine, but as he looked into the crowd, it was just a haze. The important people stood out and he smiled.

"I simply want to say thank you to the love of my life, Kurt Hummel, for believing in me when no one else seemed to. For helping me to strive for my dreams because without him, none of this would have been possible."

They were ushered off stage, both so happy and Kurt suddenly thought, if only one person could win tonight, he would be just as happy if it was only Blaine. But of course, as the nominations for best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical were read out, the process began again. Blaine was now clutching his golden award and he took Kurts hand as the winner was announced.

"And the winner is Kurt Hummel for the musical Brave!"

Kurt was up and out of his seat like a jack-in-a-box and Blaine was right beside him, kissing him profusely on the cheek.

"Oh my gosh," Kurt said as he finally managed to get to the stage. "Thank you so much. I have so many people to thank, so many people that helped me get here. Thank you to Anthony, my director, who let me come back after all that time. Thank you for the brilliant cast, especially Patty, who keeps me going strong when all I want to do is sleep. Thank you to everyone who ever believed in me and thanks to those people, who tried to knock me down. This proves that they could never succeed." He thrust his Tony award into the air, shaking it for emphasis, proving his point. Blaine cheered loudly.

"Thank you to my dad and family, for everyone who comes to watch the show and most importantly to Blaine. The love of my life, without whom I wouldnt be here. Thank you my love."

The Broadway critics had been nothing but amazed, and their real life critics, people who tried to knock their confidence, or physically tear them down, hadnt succeeded. They were left realizing that here, today, they were a power couple for the century of changing equal rights, and a celebration of love.