Unprofessional Without A Witness [Discontinued]

10

"The Warblers are up next," Blaine said, sitting up in his seat a bit straighter.

"I wonder how they'll do," Kurt mused. "You were kinda their front man."

"I still feel bad about abandoning them. I mean-"

Blaine cut himself off, the curtains opening. For once, the words started before the background did.

He didn't think he'd ever been more shocked to see Nick. He sounded perfect on the song.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
That's alright because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
That's alright because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

Kurt's mouth dropped open. He'd never heard any guy able to sing in that pitch besides himself.

Nick shifted back into the lines. For a split second, there was a pause, the sound of a record slowing to a pause.

Then the last thing anyone expected happened. Wes stepped- no, he slid- out of the back of the lines.

The audience was immediately captured.

I can't tell you what it really is
I can only tell you what it feels like
And right now there's a steel knife, in my windpipe
I can't breathe, but I still fight, while I can fight
As long as the wrong feels right, it's like I'm in flight

It was towards the end that Blaine actually gasped.

I don't even know his name, I laid hands on her
I'll never stoop so low again, I guess I don't know my own strength

Wes backflipped, freaking backflipped, revealing Nick behind him.

He flipped over Nick.

The crowd cheered, impressed.

Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
But that's alright, because I like the way it hurts
Just gonna stand there and hear me cry
But that's alright, because I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie
I love the way you lie

They had never heard anything like Wes's voice on the next verse. Particularly towards the middle.

Now you're getting fucking sick, of looking at 'em
You swore you've never hit 'em, never do nothing to hurt 'em,
Now you're in each others face,
Spewing venom, and these words, when you spit 'em
You push, pull each other's hair, scratch, claw, bit 'em,
Throw 'em down, pin 'em, so lost in the moments, when you're in 'em
It's the rage that's the culprit, it controls you both

There was just... Indescribable. Full of passion.

For once, the Warblers danced. They actually had a routine.

The next song, they paused before it. The audience had a minute to soak it in. They placed their hands behind their backs, holding one wrist in the opposite hand.

The lights faded. Their heads tipped down.

Then they started. The background music, lights still dark.

A spotlight shone down on Wes at the exact same time his head snapped up, beginning to sing.

Walking alone 'cause the night is dead
Crossed my mind when I crossed the bridge
How you lost your mind and your wrist got bruised
And you wanted better love when it's sleeping in your bedroom
Hold on, stay on my side, don't go

It seemed impossible, but that song was somehow better than the last.

When the finished, they got a standing ovation.

Not a short one.

The audience didn't seem to be capable to stop clapping.