Jambo Rafiki ~ Part 1
Title: Jambo Rafiki - Part 1
Verse: Addi Baba
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: AU: Kris Allen left his life behind in the States to follow the intriguing Sheikh Addi Baba (Adam) and work for his foundation. During a trip to Amsterdam, Kris made contact with a charity that brings water to those who don’t have it. Addi’s organization decided to invest and Kris and Addi (and bodyguard Amir) are heading off on the adventure of a lifetime to lead a hand.
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone involved. Entirely a figment of my imagination. Not intended to offend any group.
‘Jambo Rafiki’ is Swahili for ‘Hello Friend’. I did some research but didn’t want to spend more time looking up facts than writing the fiction. If something doesn’t seem correct to you, suspend your belief LOL
Addi Baba Masterlist ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/88865.html
~*~*~*~
“We’re going to Africa!”
Yup, that’s what Kris had gleefully told his brother … over a month ago.
Leaning back in the chair on their private terrace, Kris gazed over the lush courtyard of The Norfolk Resort. It seemed to take forever but here they were, finally one day away from going on the adventure of a lifetime. The Nairobi sky was brilliant blue under the beating sun. Addi and Amir were at the airport hangar making sure the supplies they’d brought were stored in the cargo plane. Tim, their leader and guide for this trip, was with them. Kris could have gone but they were expecting the final government paperwork that allowed them to trek into the wilds of Africa and someone had to stay behind in the shade and sign for it.
Kris sipped his iced tea and thought back on the last month ….
~*~*~*~
The meeting between Addi, Kris and Tim had proven very interesting. Both Kris and Tim had expected Addi’s foundation would donate funds and request updates but the sheikh ventured beyond that … he declared he’d like to go with the charity to their next project and actually help. Tim was surprised and when the shock wore off that a multi-millionaire wanted to get his perfectly manicured nails dirty, he said they were welcomed. Addi then asked Kris what he thought and the young American didn’t have to think twice. When he was a teenager, he was supposed to spend one summer volunteering in Central America with his church but his dad had come down sick and he decided to stay home. He’d always wished he’d had another chance … and now he got a do-over of sorts.
Not trying to dissuade them but wanting them to truly understand what they were getting into, Tim laid it all on the line. Kris could see the carefully masked nervousness in Addi’s eye but there was excitement there too. Once both men declared they wanted to do this, the process began.
Tim had to return to the States to arrange the trip and would be arriving in Nairobi early September. Addi and Kris planned to meet him there; Raja was sitting this trip out but Amir was coming with them. Tim made it clear the expedition couldn’t support someone who just stood around and watched so the bodyguard would have to work as well. There were dangers in the remote areas of the continent and someone with the profile of the sheikh could be a ransom target so he needed to be protected.
In the meantime, a lot of details had to be planned and Kris was taking the opportunity to be schooled by Raja in everything related to the foundation. With the attempted takeover still fresh, Addi felt he needed to make himself available to his Board of Directors and investors and do some first-hand damage control. As a result, the next six weeks would be spent at his home base … Dubai.
The private jet landed just after sunrise. On the drive into the city, Kris felt a déjà vu. When they’d arrived in Amsterdam, he’d stuck his head out the car window and marveled at stepping hundreds of years into the past; doing likewise as they zoomed down the highway, this time he felt like they’d been teleported hundreds of years into the future. He couldn’t wrap his head around what he was seeing. Peering through the window, the cityscape looked more like a graphic artist’s rendering of the future. Even if he stood at the base of these scrapers and touched them with his hands, it would be hard to imagine they were real.
Oddly enough, there were similarities between the two cities. The old buildings in Amsterdam were narrow and close together and so were the buildings in Dubai; however, in Amsterdam they topped out at four stories and here the floors disappeared up into the desert sun.
“Hey guys, what’s the tallest building in the city?” he asked out of curiosity.
“That would be the Burjk Halifa at 2,716.5 feet or 166 stories.”
“I’d love to see that up close,” Kris mused.
“You will Kristopher,” Addi smiled, “I can assure you of that.”
“The Sheikh speaks the truth. I hope you’re not afraid of heights my friend,” Raja teased, “We’ll be spending much of our time there.”
“We will?”
Addi smiled as his lover as he answered, “I live and work there.”
The car came to a stop and the men got out. Kris bent his head back as far as he could without toppling over.
“Welcome to my home.”
~*~*~*~
The Burj Khalifa was mind blowing and it was insane to think he’d be calling it home for the next six weeks. If it wasn’t enough to hear how tall it was, experiencing it was incredible. The building housed an observation deck, restaurant, private residences, corporate offices, a hotel, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, nightclub and gardens and fountains. The world’s largest shopping mall was next door and tunnels below ground connected the architectural marvel to countless shops and restaurants in the heart of downtown; it was entirely possible to do everything you needed to do without setting foot outside in the oppressive heat. Raja told him August was the worst month to visit Dubai, the average temperature 109F, not including the humidity. There was little rainfall and the palm trees didn’t exactly provide a lot of shade.
Fortunately and unfortunately, there wasn’t much time to sightsee. Though the men did get out for dinner and the occasional change of scenery, their time was spent working. While Addi wooed his investors and endured endless cocktail parties, Kris spent his time learning the business from the inside out with Raja’s help. The private secretary also gave Kris a crash course in Arabic etiquette and taught him some basic phrases and words. Kris was in contact with Tim everyday, making arrangements. As well as lending physical labor and monies towards the actual building of wells, they wanted to help out more so Tim sent a list of other items that would be helpful. Using Addi’s connections and name, Kris collected medicine, food, water purification tablets, mosquito nets, eye glasses, clothing, shoes, books for schools, and toys for the children.
They also had to prepare themselves.
Addi, Kris and Amir all had physicals then started rounds of shots to protect them from tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR, cholera, hepatitis A & B, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid, TB, yellow fever and malaria. They all felt like there were more vaccines running through their bodies than blood. Amir lead them in daily exercise to build their strength for the physical demands of their trip and by the end of each day, Addi and Kris just wanted to curl up and relax, ice packs on sore injection sites and heating pads on aching muscles.
~*~*~*~
Kris was smirking into his iced tea as he recalled a particular massage session when the door to the hotel room opened and Addi strolled in.
“The courier was at the front desk,” he declared, holding up an envelope, “and the cargo is all secured. We’re ready to take off in two hours.”
“We’re all packed up here too,” Kris replied, looking at the backpacks and rucksacks beside the door. Setting down his glass, he fished out an ice cube and slowly ran it down his neck, the ice water melding with his sweat. “So how are we going to pass the time?”
Addi dropped the envelope on the couch and grabbed his lover, licking up the rivulets with his tongue.
“We won’t have much time alone for the next few weeks,” the sheikh signed, hands caressing Kris’ back.
“Then let’s make the time we have now count.”
Kris drew the curtains … Addi locked the door … and they made wise use of every one of their 60 minutes.
~*~*~*~
Gone were the luxury seats, televisions, bathroom and soundproofing. The men climbed into the cargo plane and took their metal seats lining one side of the interior. They strapped on parachutes before securing themselves with harnesses to the wall so they wouldn’t bounce around in turbulence. The engine roared to life as everyone put on their ear protection.
Kris and Addi sat next to each other and squeezed the blood out of the other’s hand as the massive tin can became airborne. It was impossible to talk to each other but they could read each other’s face - both were terrified and excited beyond belief.
Tim gave them a thumbs up and Amir looked like he was going to lose his lunch.
Ethiopia, here they come.
Fairmont The Norfolk bedroom ~ http://www.fairmont.com/norfolk-hotel-nairobi/
Downtown Nairobi ~ http://dolecek.name/travelling/east_africa/nairobi-skyline3.jpg
Burj Khalifa (full shot) ~ http://www.dubaitours.net/images/dybaiattractions/burjkhalifa.jpg
Burj Khalifa (Kris’ first view) ~ http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-6203390713-hd/Great_Architects_of_the_World/by_firms/Skidmore_Owings_and_Merrill_USA/Burj_Khalifa/Burj_Khalifa_Dubai.jpg
Dubai view from Addi’s condo ~ http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/72110282.jpg
Bedroom ~ http://www.isysportal.com/images/photoalbum/photoalbum25/Isys-HotMasala2-burj%20dubai%20khalifa%20interior%2018466.jpg
Living Room ~ http://media.expedia.com/hotels/1000000/530000/527500/527497/527497_53_b.jpg
Verse: Addi Baba
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: adam/kris
Summary: AU: Kris Allen left his life behind in the States to follow the intriguing Sheikh Addi Baba (Adam) and work for his foundation. During a trip to Amsterdam, Kris made contact with a charity that brings water to those who don’t have it. Addi’s organization decided to invest and Kris and Addi (and bodyguard Amir) are heading off on the adventure of a lifetime to lead a hand.
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone involved. Entirely a figment of my imagination. Not intended to offend any group.
‘Jambo Rafiki’ is Swahili for ‘Hello Friend’. I did some research but didn’t want to spend more time looking up facts than writing the fiction. If something doesn’t seem correct to you, suspend your belief LOL
Addi Baba Masterlist ~ http://cunningdeb.livejournal.com/88865.html
~*~*~*~
“We’re going to Africa!”
Yup, that’s what Kris had gleefully told his brother … over a month ago.
Leaning back in the chair on their private terrace, Kris gazed over the lush courtyard of The Norfolk Resort. It seemed to take forever but here they were, finally one day away from going on the adventure of a lifetime. The Nairobi sky was brilliant blue under the beating sun. Addi and Amir were at the airport hangar making sure the supplies they’d brought were stored in the cargo plane. Tim, their leader and guide for this trip, was with them. Kris could have gone but they were expecting the final government paperwork that allowed them to trek into the wilds of Africa and someone had to stay behind in the shade and sign for it.
Kris sipped his iced tea and thought back on the last month ….
~*~*~*~
The meeting between Addi, Kris and Tim had proven very interesting. Both Kris and Tim had expected Addi’s foundation would donate funds and request updates but the sheikh ventured beyond that … he declared he’d like to go with the charity to their next project and actually help. Tim was surprised and when the shock wore off that a multi-millionaire wanted to get his perfectly manicured nails dirty, he said they were welcomed. Addi then asked Kris what he thought and the young American didn’t have to think twice. When he was a teenager, he was supposed to spend one summer volunteering in Central America with his church but his dad had come down sick and he decided to stay home. He’d always wished he’d had another chance … and now he got a do-over of sorts.
Not trying to dissuade them but wanting them to truly understand what they were getting into, Tim laid it all on the line. Kris could see the carefully masked nervousness in Addi’s eye but there was excitement there too. Once both men declared they wanted to do this, the process began.
Tim had to return to the States to arrange the trip and would be arriving in Nairobi early September. Addi and Kris planned to meet him there; Raja was sitting this trip out but Amir was coming with them. Tim made it clear the expedition couldn’t support someone who just stood around and watched so the bodyguard would have to work as well. There were dangers in the remote areas of the continent and someone with the profile of the sheikh could be a ransom target so he needed to be protected.
In the meantime, a lot of details had to be planned and Kris was taking the opportunity to be schooled by Raja in everything related to the foundation. With the attempted takeover still fresh, Addi felt he needed to make himself available to his Board of Directors and investors and do some first-hand damage control. As a result, the next six weeks would be spent at his home base … Dubai.
The private jet landed just after sunrise. On the drive into the city, Kris felt a déjà vu. When they’d arrived in Amsterdam, he’d stuck his head out the car window and marveled at stepping hundreds of years into the past; doing likewise as they zoomed down the highway, this time he felt like they’d been teleported hundreds of years into the future. He couldn’t wrap his head around what he was seeing. Peering through the window, the cityscape looked more like a graphic artist’s rendering of the future. Even if he stood at the base of these scrapers and touched them with his hands, it would be hard to imagine they were real.
Oddly enough, there were similarities between the two cities. The old buildings in Amsterdam were narrow and close together and so were the buildings in Dubai; however, in Amsterdam they topped out at four stories and here the floors disappeared up into the desert sun.
“Hey guys, what’s the tallest building in the city?” he asked out of curiosity.
“That would be the Burjk Halifa at 2,716.5 feet or 166 stories.”
“I’d love to see that up close,” Kris mused.
“You will Kristopher,” Addi smiled, “I can assure you of that.”
“The Sheikh speaks the truth. I hope you’re not afraid of heights my friend,” Raja teased, “We’ll be spending much of our time there.”
“We will?”
Addi smiled as his lover as he answered, “I live and work there.”
The car came to a stop and the men got out. Kris bent his head back as far as he could without toppling over.
“Welcome to my home.”
~*~*~*~
The Burj Khalifa was mind blowing and it was insane to think he’d be calling it home for the next six weeks. If it wasn’t enough to hear how tall it was, experiencing it was incredible. The building housed an observation deck, restaurant, private residences, corporate offices, a hotel, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, nightclub and gardens and fountains. The world’s largest shopping mall was next door and tunnels below ground connected the architectural marvel to countless shops and restaurants in the heart of downtown; it was entirely possible to do everything you needed to do without setting foot outside in the oppressive heat. Raja told him August was the worst month to visit Dubai, the average temperature 109F, not including the humidity. There was little rainfall and the palm trees didn’t exactly provide a lot of shade.
Fortunately and unfortunately, there wasn’t much time to sightsee. Though the men did get out for dinner and the occasional change of scenery, their time was spent working. While Addi wooed his investors and endured endless cocktail parties, Kris spent his time learning the business from the inside out with Raja’s help. The private secretary also gave Kris a crash course in Arabic etiquette and taught him some basic phrases and words. Kris was in contact with Tim everyday, making arrangements. As well as lending physical labor and monies towards the actual building of wells, they wanted to help out more so Tim sent a list of other items that would be helpful. Using Addi’s connections and name, Kris collected medicine, food, water purification tablets, mosquito nets, eye glasses, clothing, shoes, books for schools, and toys for the children.
They also had to prepare themselves.
Addi, Kris and Amir all had physicals then started rounds of shots to protect them from tetanus, diphtheria, polio, MMR, cholera, hepatitis A & B, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, typhoid, TB, yellow fever and malaria. They all felt like there were more vaccines running through their bodies than blood. Amir lead them in daily exercise to build their strength for the physical demands of their trip and by the end of each day, Addi and Kris just wanted to curl up and relax, ice packs on sore injection sites and heating pads on aching muscles.
~*~*~*~
Kris was smirking into his iced tea as he recalled a particular massage session when the door to the hotel room opened and Addi strolled in.
“The courier was at the front desk,” he declared, holding up an envelope, “and the cargo is all secured. We’re ready to take off in two hours.”
“We’re all packed up here too,” Kris replied, looking at the backpacks and rucksacks beside the door. Setting down his glass, he fished out an ice cube and slowly ran it down his neck, the ice water melding with his sweat. “So how are we going to pass the time?”
Addi dropped the envelope on the couch and grabbed his lover, licking up the rivulets with his tongue.
“We won’t have much time alone for the next few weeks,” the sheikh signed, hands caressing Kris’ back.
“Then let’s make the time we have now count.”
Kris drew the curtains … Addi locked the door … and they made wise use of every one of their 60 minutes.
~*~*~*~
Gone were the luxury seats, televisions, bathroom and soundproofing. The men climbed into the cargo plane and took their metal seats lining one side of the interior. They strapped on parachutes before securing themselves with harnesses to the wall so they wouldn’t bounce around in turbulence. The engine roared to life as everyone put on their ear protection.
Kris and Addi sat next to each other and squeezed the blood out of the other’s hand as the massive tin can became airborne. It was impossible to talk to each other but they could read each other’s face - both were terrified and excited beyond belief.
Tim gave them a thumbs up and Amir looked like he was going to lose his lunch.
Ethiopia, here they come.
Fairmont The Norfolk bedroom ~ http://www.fairmont.com/norfolk-hotel-nairobi/
Downtown Nairobi ~ http://dolecek.name/travelling/east_africa/nairobi-skyline3.jpg
Burj Khalifa (full shot) ~ http://www.dubaitours.net/images/dybaiattractions/burjkhalifa.jpg
Burj Khalifa (Kris’ first view) ~ http://i.images.cdn.fotopedia.com/flickr-6203390713-hd/Great_Architects_of_the_World/by_firms/Skidmore_Owings_and_Merrill_USA/Burj_Khalifa/Burj_Khalifa_Dubai.jpg
Dubai view from Addi’s condo ~ http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/72110282.jpg
Bedroom ~ http://www.isysportal.com/images/photoalbum/photoalbum25/Isys-HotMasala2-burj%20dubai%20khalifa%20interior%2018466.jpg
Living Room ~ http://media.expedia.com/hotels/1000000/530000/527500/527497/527497_53_b.jpg
