Destination [R]

[ilytheira]

Title: Destination
Author: Alex Sorensen (ilytheira)
Summary: All he went out for was a cup of coffee, and while he did manage to get that blended caramel, Michael also got something else so much more meaningful.
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Michael, David, and Stacey aren't mine. Sad, right?
Author's Note: HAPPY BIRTHDAY, matertenebrarum! :D This one's for you, bb. ♥ I'd originally intended this for a "midnight release," if you will, but I was honestly up until 2:00 this morning, getting it right just for you, and then I fell asleep on the couch. x] So sorry it's taken me long to put it up; I woke up late. (Gee, I wonder why. LMAO.) Hope you like it. ♥


Destination

The days have been nothing but chaos. The interviews, the trips back and forth across the country, the White House, the knowledge that there were large names were supporting you, and everything else in between have left Michael completely exhausted. His mind has been on everything, and he attempts to let go of everything, even just for a moment. He leans against the headboard of the bed and closes his eyes, tilting his head up.

Being off of Idol has given him time to think about things; and it seems to Michael that him being back home has given Stacey some time to think about things, too. He doesn't know why, and he knows for a reason he doesn't want to know why, but she's been acting strange ever since he's come back from New York. He opens his eyes, tilts his head, and looks his wife, standing in the restroom and applying makeup, and his eyes narrow slightly. He opens his mouth, ready to say something, ready to question her about where she's going, but he decides against it. He stands up, stretches, and Stacey must have noticed his movements, because she has turned, has stopped applying eyeliner, and she asks him, "Mike?"

He smiles at her gently, "I'm just going to go out for a drive, okay?" He adds as an afterthought, "I might go and pick up a cup of coffee on the way."

"Oh," she answers, her face looking somewhat crestfallen, "I see."

Michael looks at her questioningly, "Did you want me to pick something up for you?"

"Oh, oh, no," she tells him, "it's all right, Mike, thank you," and then she flashes him one of those pretty smiles.

"Are you sure?"

"Mmhm," she says, almost completely absentmindedly. "Have fun."

He walks over to her wraps an arm around her waist, and they exchange kisses on their cheeks. "Thanks," he replies, and then he walks out of their bedroom; he dares not address the lack of enthusiasm in her voice. Grabbing the keys on the table beside the door and exiting their home, he knows by instinct that the paparazzi are hiding out somewhere, and because he is squinting because of the sunlight, he knows they're going to say something untrue and blow everything out of proportion. Michael Johns and Wife - Big Blowup! Ousted Idol and His Wife - Big Fight! He shakes his head, laughs at the ridiculousness of the thoughts, and enters his car.

Just going out for a drive, right? he thinks. So, where to, Michael?

The idea hits him just as his engine starts, and as soon as he's out of the driveway, he's already pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

He doesn't think he's ever been this bored in his entire life.

David looks at the five crosswords he's thrown onto the floor, and shakes his head; there hasn't been anything to do all day --which is the most surprising thing, taking into consideration the craziness that is the Idol schedule-- he must have finished them in record time. He groans in frustration as he stands up and walks around the empty bedroom. He walks to the window and looks out of it, watching Los Angeles breath underneath him. The city is tempting him --Come on, David, they whisper to him, break free and escape for a while-- and as he inhales deeply, closing his eyes and considering his options, a smooth Australian voice singing "Dream On" lets him know that his phone is ringing.

David turns and walks languidly back to his bed and throws shirts onto the floor in search of his phone. Finding it, he smiles as the screen proclaims, Mikey calling.

"Mikey!" he exclaims as he answers the phone.

There is a laugh on the other side of the line, "Hey, Dave. Are you doing anything right now?"

David glances at the crosswords strewn across the floor, "No, not really. Are you?"

"Yeah, actually." The laugh is still present in his voice. "Driving to nowhere. Would you like to give me a destination?"

He looks at his watch, and then says, "Sure. D'you want to go meet up at the coffee shop?"

"All right," Michael answers, "I did mention something about getting a cup of coffee." David could almost imagine the grin on Michael's face as he zips through the streets of Los Angeles. "I'll see you then?" The unspoken I want to see you so much is heard by David, loud and clear.

"I'll see you then," David says firmly.

I need to see you, too.

Michael enters the coffee shop and is pleased that the only occupant is the person behind the counter. The female worker looks up at him, and gives him the look of pleasant shock that he has become accustomed to. "Good morning," she says, "what can I get for you today?"

"I'll take a blended caramel, if you don't mind," he answers, and he spins around with wide eyes as a familiar voice behind him says, "Make it two."

David is smiling at him, and Michael smiles back as he hugs David with one arm. Turning back to the cashier, he tells her, "Yeah --uh, could you make that two blended caramels, then?"

The girl looks as though she can't believe her luck, but recovers herself quickly, "Of course."

David hands her a ten before Michael can say anything, and tells her, "Keep the change."

"Thank you." And then she turns to make their drinks.

David and Michael take a seat near the back of the coffee shop, and suddenly, Michael feels as though he cannot breath. He calms himself down, breathing deeply for a moment --he feels ridiculous, like a schoolboy talking to the girl of his dreams, and then he finds himself thinking, No, not girl of his dreams; man of his dreams-- and taking in David's appearance as though he is trying to etch him into his memory.

His hair is messier than usual, but that doesn't stop Michael from wanting to run his fingers through it. Although David is smiling happily at him, Michael can see that he is more tired than usual, the most obvious sign being that the circles underneath his eyes are larger; all of the Idol contestants have the makeup artists for hiding their tiredness so deftly.

"How've you been?" he asks.

"Oh, wow," David grins at him. "I should be the one asking you that question, Mikey."

"You know the answer to that, I think," Michael answers as he shakes his head. "Exhausted sums it up about right."

David laughs. "I could use the exact same word to answer your question." David looks out the window for a moment, before he turns back to Michael and looks him in the eye, "Neil Diamond week, you know? Meeting Neil Diamond --it's like-- ridiculous."

"Wish I could've been there, too," Michael laments for a moment, before he asks again, this time much more seriously, "How've you been?" His voice drops lower as the girl comes and gives them their drinks, and they nod their thanks as she walks away.

David shakes his head. "Lonely."

The very word breaks Michael's heart; the pained look on David's face does him no good. "I'm sorry," is all Michael has to offer.

"No, no," David is quick to say, "it --it isn't your fault, you know."

Yes, it is. Of course it is.

There is a silence between them, an awkward pause for reflection before Michael speaks, "I --well, uh, we-- were watching last night." David looks disappointed as Michael says 'we.' Shit, Michael, are you doing this on purpose? "We --I thought you were great."

"Thanks," David mumbles as he idly sips on his drink. Come on, David, he says to himself, honestly. Pull yourself together.

The way Michael says 'we' burns holes in David's heart, because he knows for a fact that of course he was going to stay with her. Who are you kidding? They've known each other longer than you've ever known him. You're the one who shouldn't be keeping his hopes up. But he very well couldn't keep them down. He hadn't ever experienced the electricity he shared with Michael, not in his life. It was something --totally unexpected, David supposes best explains what he and Michael had? have? might have had? might have?

"You know," he starts again, slicing through the silence that has fallen on them, "those songs --they-- they were for you."

"I had a feeling," Michael tells him, and there is nothing more there.

The simplicity of Michael's answer sends David reeling. Have I been that obvious? Well, there really wasn't much to hide behind during "Always Be My Baby," but have his song choices for the past two weeks been that transparent?

"Well, I've missed you, you know," David says when Michael does not speak any further.

"I know."

The two words frustrate David, and he's going to tackle this head-on, whatever it is. "There's something wrong, isn't there?" You're not paying attention like you always do, Mikey. Michael opens his mouth, and by instinct, David knows that he is going to protest. "Don't you dare try and hide it, Mikey, I know you."

Michael sighs and faces defeat. "I --I think something's going on."

David frowns. I think something's going on, too. "Stacey?"

He receives a nod in reply. "Ever since I've gotten back from New York," Michael tells him, "she's been acting so --apologetic, as though she's committed the crime of the century or something."

The situation is clearly troubling him, because David can see the frightened look in Michael's eyes; he may not be the best at interpreting people's emotions, but he knows sadness when he sees it. David restrains himself form holding his hand out and grasping Michael's only for a moment before he unwraps Michael's fingers from the cold cup, and holds on tightly to the older man's hand. His support is wordless, but his message is clear.

"I don't know what I'd do without you," Michael confesses to him in a small voice, in a voice so raw and vulnerable.

"It's going to be okay," David offers, and Michael is gripping his hand as though he never wants to let go.

"I think that as long as I've got you with me, I can take on the world --and then some."

And to think, Michael had a desire to only offer a light "I hope so." Not seeing and simply hearing David for weeks hasn't stopped the fire in his heart from burning at all. Michael still admittedly gets butterflies as he looks at the younger man, and his breathing still quickens and he cannot do anything --does not want to do anything-- about it. He watches the other man as David's cheeks become tinted with pink, and Michael cannot help the smile forming on his face. I've missed you so much.

There is another silence that comes between them; Michael's hand begins to sweat and he pulls away, averting his eyes to avoid the look in David's.

"Do you realize how hard it's been without you in that house?"

Michael frowns at David's question; he doesn't expect it at all. All this time, he's thought that the Idols have lived their lives pretty well after him. Unable to form an answer he thought might please David, he settles for shaking his head no. Every time I've called, you said everything was fine.

"People weren't eating after you left," David continues in a voice that leads Michael to believe that by 'people,' David means himself.

"You said you all were doing fine the first chance I got to call you," Michael says. "You said everybody was still in shock, but you guys were doing great." I had no idea you weren't eating.

"I --well, I didn't want you to worry," David answers. "I mean, you had enough to worry about --interviews, fans, Stacey--" David's voice breaks off immediately.

"And do I look like I'm not worried now?" Michael cannot help that his voice has gradually risen.

"Mikey, Mikey, calm down," David shushes him with frantic motions. There isn't anybody in here, David. "I've been eating, you know. D --don't worry."

Michael doesn't look convinced at all, and David refuses to look Michael in the eyes, because the moment he does so, everything will spill out. "No, I haven't been eating" is the first truth that will come out, followed by "No, I haven't had much sleep, either" with a meek "It's just been so hard living without you there."

"Don't worry?" Michael's tone is sharp and incredulous as he slams his hand down onto the wooden table. "You're kidding me, right?"

"See, this is why I didn't feel the need to tell you anything was wrong!" David's voice has risen, too. "Especially while you were still there with us! You'd always blow everything out of proportion, and you'd worry more about everyone else and you probably wouldn't care about yourself even if you were --you were, I don't know, if you caught a fever or something!"

"Now I care too much?"

"Yes, you care too much!" David exclaims. "Too much about other people that you neglect yourself sometimes!"

"That's not true!" Michael says in defense of himself, "I happen to care about myself very much."

"Oh, yeah?" David challenges. "Then be selfish for once, Michael! Think about you."

"That's --hard to do," Michael replies, and David stops in mid-shake of his head as the Australian continues, "since all I've honestly thought about is, you know, you."

Silence befalls them again, but only for a short moment, because David cannot stand any more of the quiet. This is enough.

"You. Me. Restroom, now."

I've been waiting way too long for this.

Michael cannot believe this is happening again. He has lived far too long --two weeks too long-- without feeling David on him, with him, in him, around him, and feeling David's weight pinning him to the restroom wall, it overloads his senses and he tilts his head back, a moan escaping his mouth. "You'd better --make sure that door is locked," Michael says with heavy effort as he pants, the hairs on his neck rising as David's hand moves up and down his arms.

David nuzzles his neck, "You sure you don't want people to burst in here and catch us having hot oral sex together?"

"It's a lovely thought," Michael tells him sarcastically, "but I'd rather not."

The other rocker grins and reaches for the doorknob, turning the lock, and then returns to caressing Michael's skin, and Michael is under his spell once more. Michael is intoxicated by the way David has unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned and unzipped his pants, the very way David pulls off his jeans, and Michael does not hesitate to shiver underneath David's touch. It's been way too long is the final coherent thought that Michael has before David has pulled off his boxers and has taken Michael's throbbing member into his mouth. Michael gasps for air and then moans, planting one of his hands in David's hair as he uses the other to somewhat stabilize him. It would do neither of them good to have Michael fall over David.

Or, well, it could possibly one of the best things that could possibly happen, but they're not going there right now.

Watching David with half-lidded eyes, Michael can feel his skin heat up, and it is the best feeling in the world. David removes his mouth from Michael's cock, and then begins to trace a stripe from the base to the head of his cock, and Michael is very close to ecstasy.

Then David once again takes the whole of Michael into his mouth, and Michael is there. He comes with a moan, grip on David's hair tightening, and he says, "Oh, God, David."

Oh, my God, Michael, you don't know what you do to me.

David swallows it all, the very essence of Michael, and he concludes that it has been surprising how he's managed to live for so long without the Australian. "It," David tells him with a satisfied tone, "has been far too long since we've done that."

David is painfully hard, and as Michael removes his hand from David's hair and helps him up, David captures Michael's mouth in a kiss that is hungry and powerful and needy. It is a kiss so strong it makes David's knees weak, and if it weren't for Michael's arms supporting him, David would have hit the ground. It makes David so much harder as he thinks of Michael tasting his own semen from David's mouth, and as the dirty thoughts run through his head, he barely takes notice of the fact that Michael has switched their positions, barely takes notice of Michael getting down on his knees before him and stripping his lower half of clothing, and only takes notice of what has happened when Michael's hot mouth is around his cock.

"Nngh," is the sound that comes out of David's mouth, and watching Michael's head moving up and down on his member, David thinks, has to be the largest turn-on in the world. Michael's tongue skillfully laps up the pre-cum that is leaking from David, and David is gasping out words incoherently, and -- "Oh, my God, Michael, I'm --oh, God."

Michael hums, sending vibrations through David's member, and the sensation is unbelievable; David feels his knees buckling from underneath him, and he is instantly thankful for Michael's athlete's reflexes as he shifts back and catches David in his arms.

The younger man is the first to recover, "That was --"

"'Un-fucking-believable'?" Michael jokes, and the two of them share something that isn't quite a girlish giggle, but isn't quite the manliest chortle, either.

"Took the words right out of my mouth," David smiles goofily, and then Michael kisses him. David shivers as he tastes himself in Michael's mouth, but keeps smiling against the other man's lips, because this is where he wants to be.

Well, not in the public restroom, of course; but with Michael.

And then the world is absolutely perfect.

"We just had sex in a public bathroom."

The very way the sentence is worded is just so funny that Michael cannot help but laugh at them the very moment the words fall out of his mouth, and David is laughing along with him, "She's probably outside wondering where we went."

"Well, what does she care?" Michael drawls, and then gently stroked David's face, staring him right in the eyes. "You're beautiful."

Michael smiles tenderly as David looks away. It's true, you know. You're beautiful. Inside and out. Michael lets out a groan as he stands up and pulls on his boxers and his jeans, zipping, buttoning, and buckling his belt, and holds out his hand for David to take. David takes it eagerly, interlocking their fingers, and once David is dressed, they share another kiss, caught up in the moment, and as they break apart, Michael sings, "I'm living for the only thing I know."

The smile on David's face is contagious. "Did you know that song topped the charts in Australia?" he jokes, and Michael responds, "Why d'you think I'm singing it?"

They laugh again, but then the moment is serious as they look each other in the eyes. Michael can see questioning in David's eyes, and although there is also some sort of satisfaction, he knows that David is wondering where they stand. I want to know where we stand, too.

"I love you," Michael tries, and David opens his mouth to say something, but closes it just as quickly. "If you're willing to wait --"

"How long, Michael?" It pains Michael to hear the unsureness in David's voice. "How long will it take you to choose between --between me and her?"

How long? "I need to know whether you're willing to wait, Dave. I need to know if everything we're going to face after this is going to be worth it."

"What do you think I am?" David draws himself up indignantly. "Of course I'm willing to wait, Michael, but how long will it take? A week, a month, a year? Or is this just --just a phase you're--"

"Don't you dare think that my love for you is just some sort of crazy fashion trend that'll disappear within a few weeks, David," Michael says firmly. "This is the real deal."

"Then I think it's going to be worth it," David whispers. "Whatever we're going to have to face, I think it's going to be worth it in the long run."

Michael wraps his arms around David, and he feels the younger man wrap his arms around his waist, and suddenly, he feels secure in the warmth radiating from David's body; nothing in the world could touch him now. "I love you," he says again, and this time, he says it with so much more conviction that David has no hesitation present in his voice when he says it in reply.

"I'll wait until the end of the world if I have to," David murmurs into Michael's shoulder; Michael rubs his hands up and down David's back, "It's not going to take that long, Dave."

When they exit the restroom, they are holding hands. Nobody else has entered the coffee shop --or, if that wasn't the case, people had entered, bought their drink, and had exited right away-- because when they come out, they are by themselves, and only the cashier is there. She throws them an innocent smile, and David averts his gaze. Holding Michael's hand tighter as they return to their table, he comments in a low voice, "D'you think she heard anything?"

"Unless they've got paper-thin walls," Michael answers as he takes a seat and reluctantly lets go of David's hand to pick up his cup where his drink has already melted, "then, no, I don't think so." He grabs David's as well, and says, "D'you want me to throw this away?"

David nods his head, "Thanks, Mikey," and Michael says, "Don't mention it."

As soon as Michael dumps the two plastic cups into the trash can by the door, they exit the coffee shop and Michael turns to David, "Where's your ride?"

David shakes his head, "I had Jason drop me off."

"I'll get you back home, then," Michael offers. I'll do anything to have more time with you.

David smiles, as though he had expected the offer, "Of course."

Michael leads David to his car, although not without drawing attention to themselves as fans begin to crowd around them and take pictures, and before getting into the car, Michael thinks he signed at least ten autographs, David signing an equal number, if not more. He grins, "You're quite the ladies' man, aren't you?"

"I'd rather be your man," David throws at him in hushed tones.

The rush that Michael feels is astounding, and he knows it isn't from the starting of the engine or their whizzing through the streets of Los Angeles. Michael's right hand is intertwined with David's left, and as Michael's instincts take them to the Idols' temporary home, they don't let go.

Not once.

"Would you like to give me a destination?"

"Yeah, actually, I would. How about we drive off into the sunset?"

"Drive off into forever? Sounds like an idea."

"Let's do it. You know I'll go anywhere with you."