Fic: Hot Mikado, PG-13 (3/?)
Media: Fic
Type: Multi-Part
Title: Hot Mikado
Author: lola_mejor
Betas: sparklegemstone & jennacorinth
Word Count: ~5,100 (this chapter, ~16,000 total so far)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Pairings: Klaine
Spoilers: Only up to what has aired…
Warning: None I don’t think.
Disclaimer: Kurt, Blaine, Rachel, Harmony, Gavroche and whomever else from Lima, Ohio don’t exist, nor did I create them. Which seems like it poses an existential question, but is actually just me saying I’ve borrowed them from the people who did create them.
Summary: Kurt has been approached by the Gerber baby and his doppelganger to help them put on a community production of Hot Mikado, but there’s just one problem…
Go back to the beginning - Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 - or read on J
A/N: So I blame three things for the delay with this update:
- A brilliant new book called “The Rook” by Daniel O’Malley, which I HAD to read to the detriment of everything else my life. It should be in a bookstore near you (or available on amazon - I recommend you read it!)
- I apparently also had to write a NC-17 smutty one-shot, which can be found here if you’re into that type of thing…
- The latest episode was such a mess and so fucking depressing it was too hard to get my head out of it to write us back into cracky Harmony/Gavroche fun. But we get there here I think
So enjoy!
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CHAPTER 3
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Kurt sighed at the image of Blaine in the rear-view mirror as it got smaller and smaller. He almost cried out in frustration, even though he didn’t even know what he was frustrated with. With Blaine for not understanding? With Rachel for being a complication? With himself for getting carried away? He paused in his musings.
Had he gotten carried away?
Blaine’s words of disapproval started to niggle. Blaine. Blaine who was meant to be with him. One hundred percent. But maybe wasn’t after all. Blaine who hadn’t appeared to be in a rush to follow him home.
Kurt shook his head. “No,” he said out loud. He hadn’t gotten carried away. More like Blaine didn’t get it. Blaine had never had to fight for solos, even if he wasn’t always front and center in New Directions, he was still recognized for his talent. There had never been any question of his talent.
Kurt supposed there had never really been an explicit question of his own talent either - but still he had had to fight tooth and nail for every feature in a competition, let alone the chance to sing a duet or solo. Blaine hadn’t had to fight. Not really. He and Finn hadn’t got along for a bit, but Blaine still ended up on lead on two numbers at sectionals. What had Kurt had? A couple of featured lines. The performance was fun and the team did great, sure. New Directions had won of course.
But Kurt wanted to shine.
He wanted to be the lead and that just wasn’t happening in New Directions. Not with Rachel as the biggest diva, Blaine and Finn the go-to male leads. He didn’t begrudge Blaine or the others for any of this, but he wanted his own opportunity to shine, and Hot Mikado was the ticket.
Blaine just didn’t get it.
Kurt felt tears pricking at his eyes and he slammed his hands on the steering wheel, growling at the empty car. Why didn’t Blaine get it? Of course he was going to tell Rachel about Hot Mikado - just after the auditions. Probably when all the parts were decided, definitely by the time rehearsals began. But he would tell her. He’d tell Mercedes too… and Finn, and Carole and his dad. He just wanted the opportunity to get the part by himself and without the complications that his friends and family would bring.
“I want you with me!” Kurt shouted, glad all the windows were up. “I thought you were with me,” he whispered, an echo, any remaining energy from his triumph at the Lima Bean now gone.
He sighed, flicked on the indicator and turned onto his street. It was dusk and the warm yellow light of the living room of his house was flooding out of the windows. The corners of his mouth turned into a tiny smile. Finn always forgot to close the curtains as it got dark and would end up sitting there, a fish in a bowl, on display for anyone walking down the street. Obviously no one had walked into the room yet to close them. Carole’s car was in the drive and Kurt could almost smell the promise of comfort as he imagined the tantalizing aromas that were no doubt emanating from the kitchen as she prepared dinner. Not for the first time, he was thankful that Carole was there. Along with Finn, she made their household a wonderful family and he was forever thankful. And he was grateful at that particular moment that dinner would be prepared by someone else, taking the pressure off him, allowing him to focus on preparing for his audition. Not that he much felt like it.
He sighed as he brought the car to a stop. He didn’t want to do this alone, but if he needed to prepare for and audition without Blaine in his corner, he would.
It just wouldn’t be as much fun.
---
After dinner, Kurt was onto the third YouTube clip of his chosen audition song when he failed to hear a knock at the door. By now he knew the words without any trouble and was singing along with the performance, walking around the room and acting out the part with all the pompous bravado that the character demanded.
It had taken him a while to get into it, shake himself out of his bad mood and slide into the skin of the character, but now his eyes were gleaming and he was thoroughly enjoying himself. This was right. This was what he wanted to be doing. This is why he was going to do whatever he could to get the part. He needed it for the experience. And he was going to get it.
There was a second, more insistent knock on the door and it started to open. Kurt still didn’t notice, putting all his energy into singing as the sarcastic and sardonic Ko-Ko:
As some day it may happen that a victim must be found
I’ve got a little list - I’ve got a little list
Of society offenders who might well be underground
And who never would be missed - who never would be missed!
He felt a grin creeping over his face as he reeled off the various crimes that these society offenders could commit to warrant execution at Ko-Ko’s hands - having flabby hands, irritating laughs. Even being an old person with a penchant for eating peppermint seemed to offend. He belted out the longer notes with theatrical glee.
He swirled around on the spot to point at the imaginary piano player (“And the piano-organist - I've got him on the list!”) to see Burt leaning against the doorframe, eyebrow raised. Kurt stumbled out of the spin and stopped singing. He blushed slightly and moved towards the computer to stop the video.
“Hey, don’t stop on my account,” said Burt, shaking his head. “You sound great kiddo, real sarcastic - just like how he’s singing it,” he motioned towards the computer, where the YouTube clip of the 1995 West End production was still playing.
Kurt’s hand hovered over the spacebar for a moment but he ultimately tapped it to restore quiet to the room. He was a bit breathless from practicing, and a bit giddy with the excitement of performing. He sat down on his desk chair and looked at Burt.
“Hey, Dad.”
“Hey yourself.” Burt hadn’t moved from his spot leaning against the doorframe. “This a new number for Glee or are you just singing for the sake of it?” There wasn’t any accusation in his voice. He knew Kurt didn’t need an excuse to sing. He was curious, however, as he’d heard nothing but the Kurt singing the same song over and over for the past hour at least.
“Neither,” Kurt smiled at him, a little shyly. “I’m auditioning for community theater.”
“This close to graduation?” asked Burt. “Not that I don’t think you’d be great in the play, but do you have the time?”
“Seriously, Dad? Your son, who wants to do musical theatre, should not do a community theater production in his senior year? In what world does that make sense?”
Burt looked like he was about to answer, but Kurt spoke again, softer in tone this time.
“Sorry, it’s been a weird day,” he sighed. “Yes, I have the time - and if I didn’t I’d probably make the time. I want to do musical theater Dad. I want to sing, dance and act on a stage. No matter what happens with NYADA, I’ve got to start taking every opportunity I need to learn this craft - my craft - if I’m going to make my dreams come true. And I’m going to do it. You taught me that, Dad - that I need to be the one to make my dreams come true.”
Burt nodded and moved into the room, sitting on the edge of Kurt’s bed. “So what’s the musical about? You going for the lead?”
Kurt’s face relaxed into a smile. “It’s a Gilbert and Sullivan - a comedy, and I like to think of the role I’m going for as the lead. It’s definitely the most interesting and gets the most fun songs.”
“What part is Blaine going for?”
Kurt paused, sucking in a breath. Of course his dad would assume Blaine - and probably the rest of New Directions - would be involved in this.
“He… um…”
A small look of understanding registered on Burt’s face. “He was meant to come over for dinner right?” Burt asked. “You wanna tell me what happened?”
“Oh nothing drastic,” Kurt said quickly before his brain could stop him - or at least figure out if he was lying or not. “He was going to come help me rehearse my audition song but something came up.” Kurt knew he was definitely lying at this point, but until he talked to Blaine he didn’t want to get into it. He couldn’t get into it. “He’s not going in for a part. I’m kinda doing this separate from McKinley, with some kids I met at the NYADA mixer a couple of months back.”
“Expanding your horizons huh?” Burt straightened up a little where he was sitting. He smiled. “I never had any worries about you, you know? You know what you want, and you’re getting out there and grabbing it. I’m proud of you.”
Kurt looked straight into his father’s eyes for a moment, registering the sincerity of the words. No matter the circumstances, Kurt knew in that moment that he was doing what he wanted. He was reaching for his dreams, taking that first but difficult step.
And his dad was proud of him. He just ignored the fact that he hadn’t told Burt the whole story.
“Thanks Dad,” he said. “That means a lot.”
Burt got up from the bed, wincing a little at his creaking knees. “Love you kiddo,” he said, clapping his hand on Kurt’s shoulder and then turning to the door.
“Love you too,” Kurt echoed, swiveling back towards the computer and hitting the spacebar again.
---
The next day was Friday. Usually Kurt found Fridays frustrating because his and Blaine’s class schedules kept them at opposite ends of the school grounds for most of the morning. On this particular Friday, his schedule was a blessing.
The more he thought about everything that had happened the day before - and, in particular, Blaine’s words - the more Kurt was certain that he was doing what was right for him. What still worried him was that it was possible Blaine would never quite be able to see it that way. He was so good and fair it made him naïve.
Rachel would get over it when she found out about Hot Mikado. Her ego would be hurt that she wasn’t in the loop, but she’d get it. She would do the same in a heartbeat if she thought it would propel her forward in her dreams. Mercedes too - she was quite prone to diva moments herself and was increasingly focused on achieving her goals. West Side Story had really shown that. Both her and Rachel would be annoyed, and for slightly different reasons, but they would get over it.
Blaine, however, was sweeter, kinder. Kurt could imagine Blaine, years in the future, as a superstar but still quite oblivious to the charm and natural leadership ability he’d tapped to get there. Kurt was trying to help Blaine understand what it was like for him - he had been open and honest with Blaine about his wishes, desires and plans, more than he ever thought he’d be able to be with another person, but it was to no avail. Kurt’s approach to the production was driving a wedge between them. He didn’t like it. He could do Hot Mikado without Blaine in his corner. Hell, he would if he had to.
But.
Kurt wrenched the locker open with such force that it smashed against the locker next to it and bounced back to hit him in the shoulder, the sharp edge of the internal latch somehow hooking into his skin through three layers to cause a painful pinch.
“Ow!” he cursed at the locker - as much as his state of mind - and rubbed his shoulder while surveying the row of books and other paraphernalia before him. A strange shadow against one of the locker walls caught his attention and he cocked his head. As he looked more closely he realized it wasn’t a shadow, but the dull black veneer of a plain DVD case he knew he hadn’t put there.
He reached his hand in, ignoring the sound of the warning bell, and pulled it out. A scrap of paper had been lodged just inside the plastic covering, Blaine’s handwriting scrawled on it:
Hot Mikado - Ko-Ko
Kurt smiled, and opened the case. Inside was a standard disc with the same words written on them with a permanent marker. He was about to close the case and put it in his satchel when he noticed there was a note stuck in the inside cover of the DVD case as well:
I really *am* with you. You should tell people though - they’ll want to support you. Like I do. xo B.
Kurt’s hand shook and he felt his grip on the DVD case falter. Tears pricked in his eyes but he didn’t know whether they were due to relief and love or a continued frustration. He leant his head further into the locker and closed his eyes, trying to tune the world out and concentrate on whatever he was feeling.
“You’re with me,” he whispered into the metal box, smiling and almost laughing with relief. “Of course you’re really with me - you’ll always be with me, there was never a question.”
He took a couple of deep breaths, calming himself and letting the warmth of his relief wash over him, encasing him in a bubble inside his locker. Too soon, however, he was brought back to the world around as the final bell sounded. He opened his eyes and looked at the note again. The bubble burst and he felt himself deflate.
“But you don’t get it,” he sighed, closing the locker.
A flash of red and white brushed past him with a little too much force and he stumbled, forced into the wall of metal like had happened so many times in the past in those halls. It didn’t matter whether the letterman-jacketed nobody had meant it or not - Kurt just felt like he could scream. The world continued to push him around, that failed to value him. And Blaine failed to understand. He gritted his teeth, pushed himself back upright off the wall of lockers, and started walking down the hall, head held high but every muscle in his body tense.
He just couldn’t tell Rachel or anyone else about this at the moment - no matter what Blaine thought.
---
Lunchtime was the first he saw Blaine that whole day. Kurt found himself feeling insanely nervous as he sat at the table in the cafeteria with Mercedes, Tina and Mike. He knew Blaine would be there any moment. He just didn’t know what would happen then.
What happened was oddly normal and awkward all at once. Conversation bubbled freely across the table and everyone carried on as if there was nothing amiss between Kurt and Blaine. At the same time, the two boys only spoke to each other as necessary, and in a perfunctory manner: “Hi,” and “Can you pass the ketchup?” There was none of the normal leaning into each other, furtive looks, grazing hands or giggling at in-jokes.
The others, one by one, cottoned on to the weirdness and made various excuses to leave the table. All too quickly, and before Kurt could also leave to avoid this exact situation, it was just him and Blaine left.
“Hi,” Blaine said, chewing on his lip slightly as he waited for Kurt to answer.
“You said that before,” Kurt replied quietly.
“Yeah…” Blaine searched the table in front of him for inspiration. “I, uh, I didn’t see you at Lima Bean this morning...”
Kurt looked up from where he’d been studying his hands. “Oh! I didn’t mean… I mean we didn’t specifically arrange to meet, did we?” He’d avoided going to the Lima Bean before school out of fear for what Blaine may say - and, even more than that, out of fear that Blaine wouldn’t be there. The fact that he had made that very fear come true for Blaine made him feel horrible about himself.
“No, I guess not,” Blaine sighed, shrinking into himself.
“But we always meet up…” Kurt trailed off. “I should’ve texted or something… sorry.” He fiddled with the cuff of his jacket. “But then, you didn’t text either. This morning or last night.” He looked at Blaine sharply.
“I… no. Did you, um… get my present though?” Blaine looked at Kurt hopefully.
Kurt pulled the DVD out of his satchel and placed it on the table in front of him. Blaine looked relieved and reached a hand to place it over Kurt’s. Kurt moved it away, however, to open the case and reveal the note inside. Blaine held his breath as he waited for Kurt to respond.
“I’m not going to tell anyone,” Kurt said with finality. “Not yet.”
Blaine nodded, his hand frozen in front of him on the table, nearly touching Kurt’s, but not quite. Before he could say anything or move closer, Kurt snapped the case shut, scooped it into his satchel and got up from his seat.
“I’ve got to practice tonight,” he said, looking anywhere but at Blaine. “I’ll see you soon.”
He made a point of not looking back as he left the cafeteria, so he didn’t see Blaine slump back into his chair. He didn’t hear him whisper “love you” to the empty seat now at the table.
Instead, Kurt moved away as fast as he could, determinedly not thinking about anything other than his audition; because to do so would be to dwell over everything he and Blaine had said to each other over the past 24 hours. And he wasn’t sure where that would lead. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, humming his audition tune and planning his costume for the next day. Twenty minutes into his next class, as he sketched additional ideas for accessories to the Japanese-inspired ensemble, a smile had returned to his lips.
---
Saturday morning announced itself with bright sunshine and a crisp wind. Kurt awoke early, buzzing with nervous excitement about his audition.
Immediately following Friday night dinner the night before Finn had left for Rachel’s house, leaving Kurt completely free to sing and rehearse as loud as he wanted without getting any uncomfortable questions from Finn (not that he would have got any - Finn was just as used to Kurt singing pretty much non-stop as Burt was). By the time Carole had appeared at the door in a dressing gown and fluffy slippers to ask if he would perhaps be able to finish up so she could get some sleep, Kurt had felt like he was Ko-Ko - and nothing was going to stop him being just that at the audition tomorrow. There was a lingering niggle at the edge of his mind about Blaine - he would have loved to rehearse with him - but Kurt refused to think about that, and Burt and Carole both seemed so supportive that he knew he was doing the right thing.
He was barely out of his morning shower, scrubbing his face with his special face towel when his phone started buzzing with a message. Kurt looked at his phone curiously, because it was not even 8am on a Saturday and the message was from someone other than Blaine (it wasn’t Blaine’s special message tone, the sound of a bird chirping). Pulling the phone from where it was plugged into the wall, Kurt frowned at the unknown number, but tapped on the screen to read the message anyway.
Today’s the day! We’re going to shine!! I can’t wait to work with you closely!!! xo
Kurt’s eyebrow quirked at the increasing exclamation point use - it wasn’t hard to figure out who had sent the message. He tapped out a quick reply.
Looking forward to it too Gavroche - see you soon J
The reply came as Kurt was rubbing moisturizer into his face:
You knew it was me!!! I’m so glad you asked Harmony for my number!!!! We’re meeting at the theatre at 8.30 to warm up - Harmony told me not to tell you but you should come!!!!!!
Kurt rolled his eyes but smiled.
Sure - see you there.
If Kurt hadn’t been motivated for his audition before, Gavroche’s sweet enthusiasm and the specter of Harmony continuing to be… well… Harmony gave him a jolt. He had renewed enthusiasm as he assembled his perfect outfit for the occasion (which he had chosen the night before after a lengthy elimination process involving bringing every item of clothing he owned out of the closet), and came down stairs to enjoy a light but healthy breakfast of orange juice and muesli.
He hummed through his audition number as he moved, feet tapping the floor from his seat at the kitchen table. While doing the dishes, he moved according to the choreography he’d figured out, pointing accusingly at the faucet, then the oven, then the refrigerator as the number reached its climax.
Just as he was placing the final dish on the drying rack, he spun around to see Burt watching him, a loving smile on his face.
“You go get ‘em, Kurt,” he said, walking towards the fridge and squeezing his arm as he passed. “You got this in the bag.”
“Yep - I do!” Kurt breathed as he sailed out of the room. “Remember - NO bacon OR egg yolks!” he added over his shoulder as he retrieved his jacket and satchel and burst into the crisp winter air.
Kurt pulled into the parking lot at the theater at almost precisely 8:30. There was only one other car there - and by the general pink of it all, he was pretty sure it was Harmony’s.
His suspicion was confirmed as soon as he got out of his car and walked around the corner to the front, where Harmony and Gavroche were seated in portable chairs with steaming drinks to-go in hand.
The noticeable surprise and suspicion in Harmony’s eyes upon seeking Kurt was easily outdone by Gavroche’s ecstasy at Kurt’s arrival.
“Kurt! You’re here early too - how wonderful!” Gavroche thrust a large cup towards him. “I bought you a coffee just in case you were going to make it here early - Harmony thought it was going to get cold haha!”
Kurt had to suppress a giggle at the pretense Gavroche was peddling. He could see Harmony wasn’t buying it, but that she wasn’t going to push the issue either.
Nevertheless, he politely declined the offer of coffee. “Oh that’s really sweet of you, Gavroche, but I don’t drink caffeine before an audition - it constricts the vocal chords. I had a specialized blended fruit juice at home before coming.” Kurt was lying, but something had kicked in at the sight of Harmony and he was watching her carefully even as he kept his tone light in talking to Gavroche. “Caffeine - not to mention dairy - does no favors to the vocal chords, especially not in the morning when you really need something to loosen them up, don’t you find?”
Gavroche looked at his and Kurt’s coffee in his hands as if they were poison, hastily moving to the trashcan a couple of feet away and dropping both offending containers into it.
Harmony watched the scene, her eyes narrowing, and took a large swig from her cup. “Well I’ve never had any problems with my chai latte and I have yet to be reasonably rejected at an audition, so I’ll keep drinking my beverage thank you,” She raised her eyebrow at Gavroche, daring him to pick a side in the conversation. Gavroche looked paralyzed, still standing by the trashcan, eyes darting from Kurt to Harmony.
“Whatever works for you, Harmony,” Kurt smiled and moved to lean against the wall of the building. Gavroche lurched towards him and urged Kurt to take his seat. Kurt went with it, enjoying the attention and treatment. “But then you’re only a sophomore so maybe you’ll learn with time that the sky is the limit with your voice - and you’ll just be better if you take better care of yourself.”
Harmony scowled, and tipped her cup up against her mouth again, but Kurt was pretty sure she didn’t take another sip. She placed the cup in the cup-holder of her portable chair and, Kurt was amused to note as the time passed, did not touch it again.
“So,” Kurt said brightly to Gavroche, “do you two have a routine for warm up vocals or something? I always like to get to an audition early to get my energy in the right place and do some scales. Care to join me?”
Gavroche squealed and clapped his hands, clearly not needing to gather more energy that particular morning. Speaking a mile a minute, he explained the complicated vocal warm-up routine that Harmony had dictated since their meeting. Kurt was smiling and nodding at Gavroche, while occasionally shooting sidelong glances to Harmony to see how she was dealing with all of this.
Her expression seemed to oscillate between disinterested and annoyed. Gavroche had started demonstrating some of their scales, the pleasant timbre of his voice leading the way for him to lean closer and closer to Kurt. Kurt was on the point of joining in when Harmony finally had enough.
“I think it’s time to let our new protégé show us what he’s made of, don’t you Gavroche sweetie?” She motioned for Kurt to stand up. “We can be your practice audition Kurt, seeing as you’re so inexperienced at this. You’ll help me help Kurt, won’t you Gavroche?” She curled a finger through her hair, eyes wide and innocent. “Sit down next to me and we’ll let Kurt do his thing.”
Kurt stood calmly and nodded his approval to Gavroche, who was beside himself at the prospect of being able to help Kurt. He couldn’t help but smile at the eager expression on Gavroche’s face as he resumed his seat and looked at Kurt expectantly.
“Well this certainly is kind of you Harmony,” Kurt purred, “but I think I’ll keep my audition piece for the audition itself - I wouldn’t want to jinx it, now would I?” He quirked an eyebrow and held out his hand to stop Harmony from speaking. “I do think that a performance is in order, however,” the idea had only just come to him and he could feel a thrumming in his muscles in excitement and anticipation. “Since you’ve been so generous, Harmony, how about we sing something together? Neither of us prepared so it’s just a pure warm-up and exercise in exploration - no expectations or judging, right?”
Harmony seemed to be considering the proposal, while Gavroche looked on. “I would love to hear you sing together,” Gavroche said breathlessly. “Please Harmony?”
Harmony seemed to come to a decision, and stood up, smoothing down the polka-dotted skirt she was wearing as she did. “Ok, but it’s ladies’ choice for the song.”
“Of course,” Kurt bowed his head a little, as if he were a 19th centry gentleman preparing for a duel. He knew he was capable of keeping up with her - and he was secretly hoping she would pick something she thought would be beyond him. She must have heard about his range, but she had not heard it first hand and would probably be curious.
“I don’t think I want a traditional duet,” Harmony said as she walked back and forth around Kurt in a semi-circle. Inside the imaginary boundary being drawn by Harmony’s steps, the air was silent but vibrating with anticipation, the sound of increasing traffic failing to penetrate even as it approach 9am. “Let’s sing something together that’s designed to be a solo, and let’s really go for it.”
“Sure,” Kurt said, holding his ground and never looking away from Gavroche. To follow Harmony in her movements around him would be to accept that she was in control, and zeroing in on him. Instead he remained focused, unperturbed.
“So I assume you’re familiar with Wicked?” her voice was becoming quieter with the excitement.
“I think it’s safe to say that I am,” Kurt fought to keep his voice low and steady. He had an inkling as to where this was going and couldn’t wait.
“Well then, I’m sure you’ll know which song I want to perform,” Harmony finally stopped pacing and stood next to Kurt so that they were evenly spaced in front of Gavroche, whose mouth was fused open, gaping, as he watched the scene before him. Kurt noticed abruptly how Gavroche looked like he’d taken a picture of Blaine and Kurt’s wardrobes and tried to combine them both, with uneven results. He wondered briefly how much Facebook-stalking Gavroche had done to come up with that outfit, but then pushed it out of his mind, feeling Harmony’s eyes on him.
“I think I might,” Kurt finally looked at her, unblinking, and matched the determination in her face.
“Obviously there will be parts that one or the other of us is better suited to sing…” Harmony instilled more diplomacy into her comment than Kurt thought she would - clearly it was intended as a veiled threat or insult.
“Oh I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Kurt smirked. “I may have sung this once or twice before.”
“Ah but singing outside like this,” she motioned to the empty space behind them and the brick wall of the imposing building in front of them, “is different to singing in the shower, Kurt.”
Kurt resisted the temptation to smile. “Indeed it is. Do you have backing music or shall we do this clean?”
“I don’t need music,” Harmony turned away from Kurt to look at the wall behind Gavroche and began to sing Defying Gravity. Kurt watched patiently, appreciating her voice but also calculating the best interjection points for him to demonstrate just how screwed she was if she thought she - a standard run-of-the-mill wannabe Broadway starlet - was going to outsing him.
As she reached a natural pause that would allow him to jump in, he smiled, winked at Gavroche, took in a breath and began to sing.
Just like his dad said, it was in the bag. The duet, the audition, everything.
---
A/N: I had planned on having the auditions themselves here but this seemed a much better spot to break off and I have fun plans for the audition, where we meet the director etc J
Chapter 4